Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year.
In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum frame, with a glass section on the back of the devices to preserve MagSafe and Qi wireless charging support. This part-aluminum, part-glass design for iPhone 17 Pro models was previously reported by The Information's Wayne Ma, and it is now backed by an additional source.
Apple has continued to use aluminum frames for the lower-end iPhone models each year, including the latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The higher-end iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature titanium frames, so the return to aluminum for the Pro models would be a notable change. Instant Digital said the aluminum frame will be very thin, and they expect the iPhone 17 Pro models to feature ultra-thin bezels.
Aluminum is lighter and cheaper than titanium, but Apple's reasons for allegedly shifting back to the material are unknown at this point.
Instant Digital has more than 1.4 million followers on Weibo, and the account has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, like most sources, the account does not have a perfect track record.
Apple will announce the iPhone 17 series in September, so we will find out if and why the company returns to aluminum in a few more months.
Amazon this week has Apple's AirTag 4-Pack for $67.99, down from $99.00. This is the first time since February that we've seen the AirTag 4-Pack hit this record low price, making it another great Prime Day deal.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Amazon provides delivery dates as soon as today for Prime members at some residences in the United States, and you won't need to clip an on-page coupon in order to see this deal. If you're shopping for just one AirTag, Amazon has the AirTag 1-Pack for $19.99, which is a record low price.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past.
The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are planned for the Dynamic Island, but the mention of a new user interface makes it sound like there will be some changes on the software side. It may be that iOS 26 introduces a redesigned Dynamic Island exclusively on all iPhone 17 models.
On the hardware side, Dynamic Island rumors have been conflicting. It was initially rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might have a smaller Dynamic Island area compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and earlier iPhone models, but it was later reported that such a change might not be happening until the iPhone 18 Pro models. And if a smaller Dynamic Island cutout ends up happening this year, one source said it would be on all iPhone 17 models.
All in all, it sounds like there is a decent chance that the Dynamic Island will change in some way on iPhone 17 models, for the first time since the feature was introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022. Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in early September, so we will find out for sure in around two months from now.
Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature the thinnest bezels around the screen of any product it has ever released, and it has now been rumored that this design change will expand to more iPhone models later this year.
The entire iPhone 17 series will feature thinner bezels, according to Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked information about future Apple products in the past, such as camera-related details for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
Notably, this means the iPhone 17 base model and the all-new "iPhone 17 Air" model would have ultra-thin bezels, rather than only the Pro models.
Here is what Apple said about the iPhone 16 Pro bezels in a press release last year:
The new Pro lineup features the thinnest borders of any Apple product and introduces larger display sizes: 6.3 inches on iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches on iPhone 16 Pro Max — the largest iPhone display ever.
Here is what to expect based on all rumors to date:
iPhone 17: 6.3-inch display with ultra-thin bezels
iPhone 17 Air: 6.6-inch display with ultra-thin bezels
iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display with ultra-thin bezels
iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch display with ultra-thin bezels
In line with previous rumors, Digital Chat Station said that the iPhone 17 base model will look more or less the same as the iPhone 16 base model. They also reiterated that the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a much larger camera bump across the back of the devices, plus an upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera with up to 5× optical zoom.
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September.
Apple is appealing the 500 million euro ($570 million) fine that it is facing in the European Union for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act.
In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that the fine is unprecedented, and goes beyond what the law requires.
Today we filed our appeal because we believe the European Commission's decision--and their unprecedented fine--go far beyond what the law requires. As our appeal will show, the EC is mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms which are confusing for developers and bad for users. We implemented this to avoid punitive daily fines and will share the facts with the Court.
Apple was fined in April for restricting app developers from informing users about purchase options available outside of the App Store. The European Commission said that developers should have the ability to direct customers to outside of the App Store.
"App developers distributing their apps via Apple's App Store should be able to inform customers, free of charge, of alternative offers outside the App Store, steer them to those offers and allow them to make purchases," said the EC in its ruling.
Besides fining Apple 500 million euros, the EC also ordered Apple to change its App Store rules around steering or face further fines. Apple made the required changes in late June to prevent being further penalized during the appeals process. Apps that are distributed through EU storefronts can now freely link to deals available outside of the App Store, and can even provide alternate purchase options that don't use Apple's in-app purchase system.
Apple also updated its fee structure in the European Union, and by January 1, 2026, all EU developers will pay a Core Technology Commission, an initial acquisition fee, and a store services fee. Fees will vary based on the level of App Store service that developers opt to use, and Small Business Program participants will pay lower fees. The maximum fee under the new system for App Store app distribution with Apple's full suite of services is 20 percent, 10 percent lower than the prior 30 percent fee.
There is a tiered system for App Store services to lower fees. Developers that want to pay less can choose tier 1, and Apple will not provide automatic app updates, ratings, reviews, search suggestions, App Store features and marketing, and analytics. Tier 2 provides all of the current App Store services. Tier 1 is mandatory, and tier 2 is optional.
Apple says that the European Commission required it to offer different tiers that would let developers pay less for fewer services, which is why there is a new, more complex system. The EC also instructed Apple on which services developers should be able to opt out of, resulting in Apple moving search discovery and browse options out of its mandatory tier.
Apple plans to argue that the EC is telling it how to operate its business, and that the commission has expanded the definition of steering beyond what the law requires.
TikTok will launch a new U.S.-exclusive version of its app on app stores on September 5, as part of an ongoing effort to comply with federal legislation requiring the divestment of its American operations due to national security concerns, The Information reports.
The existing version of TikTok, internally codenamed "M," will be removed from U.S. app stores on the day of the new app's debut, and users will be directed to download the replacement version, internally referred to as "M2."
U.S. TikTok users will need to migrate to the new version in order to maintain access to the platform beyond March 2026. The current app will cease functioning after that date.
Apple does not allow developers to create region-specific forks of apps within a single listing, meaning TikTok is required to distribute "M2" as a distinct bundle identifier under a new App Store entry. The move is unusual for an app of TikTok's scale, especially given its estimated 170 million U.S. users. All user data will reportedly be transferred to U.S.-based infrastructure as part of the switch.
The decision to release a separate app for the United States follows the passage of a law by Congress mandating that Chinese parent company ByteDance either sell its U.S. TikTok business or face a nationwide ban. The U.S. version of the app will then will be managed under the oversight of a U.S.-based ownership group, including Oracle.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side.
The device is also expected to move to an aluminum frame that encompasses the new camera bump design, similar to the iPad Pro. To enable wireless charging, there will be a cutout in the aluminum frame below the camera bump for a glass segment.
Most recently, it emerged that the Apple logo will likely be repositioned to the center of this glass segment. The repositioning means the Apple logo will now appear lower than before when viewed relative to the full height of the device.
This has a subsequent impact on the appearance of MagSafe accessories, since the magnetic ring on clear cases would obscure the Apple logo. To resolve this, Apple will apparently change the distinctive MagSafe magnet array to add a break in the circle to allow the Apple logo to show through.
The latest render from the leaker known as "Majin Bu" depicts both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in clear cases, showing how Apple apparently proposes to change the MagSafe magnet array to allow the relocated Apple to be clearly shown in its new, lower position, centered to the glass cutout.
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to launch in the fall, with upgrades including a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, 24-megapixel front-facing camera, and the A19 Pro chip.
Apple's latest original film, "F1: The Movie," has become the company's highest-grossing theatrical release to date, earning over $293 million globally within ten days of release, Variety reports.
According to Variety, the film earned $146 million globally during its opening weekend and has since surpassed $293 million worldwide, overtaking Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" ($221 million) and Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" ($158 million) as Apple's highest box office performer to date. Two of Apple's movies, "Fly Me to the Moon" ($42 million) and "Argylle" ($96 million), severely underperformed.
IMAX screenings have been a significant contributor to revenue, accounting for $60 million globally, or roughly 20% of total ticket sales. Outside of the United States and Canada, where F1 has grossed $109.5 million to date, the top-performing international markets include China ($22 million), the United Kingdom ($17.3 million), Mexico ($12.3 million), France ($11.5 million), and Australia ($9.8 million).
The production cost for F1 is estimated to have exceeded $250 million, with marketing expenses reportedly adding another $100 million. While the film's box office performance has exceeded that of Apple's previous theatrical titles, the total gross remains below the estimated break-even threshold for a film with such a high combined budget. Box office returns are also typically split between studios and exhibitors, with studios often receiving around 50% of domestic ticket revenue and a smaller share internationally. As a result, it is unlikely that F1 has yet recouped its full investment from theatrical ticket sales alone.
Following its run in theaters, F1 is expected to become available on Apple TV+ later in 2025.
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further.
Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that support iPhone car keys, but it has not been updated in a while, so it is missing some recent additions. Our list below is more up to date, but if we are missing any vehicles, let us know.
How It Works
There are three levels of this feature, as explained in an Apple support document. Availability varies by vehicle model.
Lock, unlock, and start your car with passive entry
Lock, unlock, and start your car by proximity
Lock and unlock your car remotely
Express Mode lets you use your Wallet app key without unlocking your iPhone, or authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
You will need an iPhone XS or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 5 or newer. Passive entry requires an iPhone 11 or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer.
Existing Vehicles
Audi
2025 and newer A5
2025 and newer Q5
2025 and newer SQ5
2025 and newer A6
2025 and newer S6
2025 and newer Q6
2025 and newer SQ6
BMW
2021 and newer 1 Series
2021 and newer 2 Series
2021 and newer 3 Series
2021 and newer 4 Series
2021 and newer 5 Series
2021 and newer 6 Series
2021 and newer 8 Series
2021 and newer X5
2021 and newer X6
2021 and newer X7
2021 and newer X5 M
2021 and newer X6 M
2021 and newer Z4
2022 and newer i4
2022 and newer iX
2022 and newer iX1
2022 and newer iX3
2023 and newer i3
2023 and newer i7
2024 and newer i5
MINI
Aceman (produced from May 2024)
Cooper (3-door) C / S (produced from March 2024)
Cooper (3-door) E / SE (produced from November 2023)
Cooper (5-door) (produced from July 2024)
Countryman (produced from November 2023)
Hyundai
2023 and newer Palisade
2024 and newer Elantra
2024 and newer Kona
2024 and newer Santa Fe
2024 and newer Sonata
2025 and newer Tucson
2025 and newer Santa Cruz
2025 and newer IONIQ 5
2023 and newer IONIQ 6
2026 and newer IONIQ 9
Kia
2023 and newer Telluride
2023 and newer Niro
2023 and newer Seltos
2024 and newer EV3
2024 and newer EV6
2024 and newer EV9
2024 and newer Sorento
2025 and newer Carnival
2025 and newer K5
Genesis
2023 and newer GV60
2023 and newer G90
2024 and newer G70
2024 and newer GV70
2024 and newer GV90
Mercedes-Benz
2024 and newer E‑Class
2025 and newer EQE
2025 and newer EQS
Polestar
All models of the Polestar 3
All models of the Polestar 4
RAM
2025 and newer RAM 1500
Volvo
2024 and newer EX30
2024 and newer EX90
Lotus
2024 and newer Eletre
2024 and newer Emeya
A few other automakers have started offering iPhone car keys, like BYD, NIO, and Lynk & Co.
Availability may vary by country.
Future Vehicles
During its WWDC 2025 keynote last month, Apple said that the following 13 automakers would "soon" offer vehicle models with iPhone car keys:
Amazon has the AirPods Pro 2 for $159.99 ahead of Prime Day, down from $249.00. Free delivery options provide an estimated delivery date of around July 11, while Prime members should get the headphones sooner in most cases.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Compared to past sales, this an all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 2. Amazon also has the AirPods 4 available for $99.99 during this sale, an all-time low price.
We've begun tracking all of the best early Prime Day deals in our dedicated post, and it also includes every color of the USB-C AirPods Max on sale at $449.99, down from $549.00. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors.
Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each.
iPhone 17 Series
iPhone 17: Same design and A18 chip as iPhone 16, but with a larger 6.3-inch display. Upgraded 24-megapixel front camera, and possibly 120Hz support.
iPhone 17 Air: All-new model with an ultra-thin and lightweight design, 6.6-inch display, A19 chip, 12GB of RAM, single 48-megapixel rear camera, 24-megapixel front camera, single speaker, and an optional battery case.
iPhone 17 Pro: A redesigned rear camera bump with a trio of 48-megapixel cameras, an aluminum frame, an A19 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, and potentially a vapor chamber cooling system for improved heat dissipation.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: All of the iPhone 17 Pro features listed above, plus a slightly thicker design for a larger and longer-lasting battery.
Apple Watches
Apple Watch Ultra 3:5G support, plus satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages in supported areas without Wi-Fi and cellular coverage. Other likely upgrades include an S10 chip or newer, faster charging, and a wide-angle OLED display that is brighter when viewed from an angle.
Apple Watch Series 11: Spec-bump year with an S11 chip and smaller changes, following bigger design updates with the Series 10 last year.
Apple Watch SE 3: Initially rumored to feature a plastic case in bright color options, but that might not be happening anymore. Not many rumors beyond that yet, but the Apple Watch SE has not been updated since 2022, so it should catch up with a handful of new features and improvements this year.
Apple TV 4K (4th generation):Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 support, and likely a newer chip than the A15 Bionic in the current model, for faster performance. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model.
HomePod mini (2nd generation): Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 support, and likely improved sound quality.
AirTag (2nd generation):Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, and a more tamper-proof speaker as an anti-stalking measure.
Wild Cards
AirPods Pro 3: Updated design and improved active noise cancellation, but rumors have been conflicting about a 2025 or 2026 launch.
Apple Home Hub: Apple has long been rumored to be planning an all-new smart home hub, which might be something like a HomePod with a square iPad-like screen. It would allow users to control smart home accessories, make FaceTime video calls, use Apple's delayed personalized Siri features, and more.
Most of the devices in this list should be announced in September or October this year.
Amazon has introduced a new all-time low price on the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, available for $649.00, down from $799.00. This is the first time in a few weeks that we've tracked any notable discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Amazon also has a few of the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 models with the Titanium Milanese Loop on sale for Prime Day at $749.00, down from $899.00. You'll find the Large, Medium, and Small sizes all available at this price.
We've begun tracking all of the best early Prime Day deals in our dedicated post. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Given the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and longer battery life. Nothing new.
It has been rumored that the Pro Max model will go one step further this year, though.
In March, it was rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be approximately 5% thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, likely in order to accommodate a larger battery. This would result in the iPhone 17 Pro Max having even longer battery life compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, which is not expected to be any thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro.
It was recently rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro Max's battery capacity will reach the 5,000 mAh mark, up from 4,676 mAh for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The thickness rumor originated from Ice Universe, an account with more than 1.5 million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has previously shared accurate information about future Apple products.
It was initially rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro Max might have a smaller Dynamic Island compared to the iPhone 17 Pro and earlier models, but it was later reported that such a change might not be happening until next year. Even if it does happen this year, one source said the smaller Dynamic Island would be on all iPhone 17 models.
All in all, the iPhone 17 Pro Max might be pretty similar to the iPhone 17 Pro, beyond its larger screen and even bigger lead in battery life.
Amazon is soon to be back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront, and there are already many deals you can get on sale ahead of the event.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For our coverage, we're focusing on early discounts for Apple and Apple-related products that can be purchased right now on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook Air, and more. We're also sharing deals being matched at retailers like Best Buy in some cases.
As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated over the next few days, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles next week.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
Special for 2025, Amazon is also offering a free six month trial to Prime for Young Adults right now. Prime for Young Adults is a discounted Prime membership for anyone age 18-24 that offers all of the Prime benefits at $69.00 per year, half of the price of regular Prime.
AirPods
Amazon has the USB-C AirPods Max on sale for $479.99 in all colors, down from $549.00. This is an overall second-best price on the headphones. You'll also find an all-time low price on the AirPods 4 for Prime Day.
Amazon is taking up to $55 off Wi-Fi and cellular models of Apple's 11th generation iPad for Prime Day. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this model.
Amazon has record low prices on every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7 this weekend, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.
Compared to past sales, this is a match of the best price we've ever tracked on the tablet, and it's available in all four colors. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.00, both $100 discounts and available in all colors.
Deals on cellular models are a bit rarer on Amazon, with two colors of the 128GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $549.00 and a few colors of the 256GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $649.00, both $100 off.
MacBook Air
Amazon today has low prices across nearly the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, with up to $175 off both 13-inch and 15-inch models.
Starting with the 13-inch models, Amazon has $150 off all three configurations of this notebook. Prices start at $849.00 for the 256GB model, then raise to $1,049.00 for the 16GB/512GB model and $1,249.00 for the 24GB/512GB model. All of these are solid second-best prices on the M4 MacBook Air.
Moving to the larger display models, Amazon has both 512GB versions of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this weekend, as well as the 256GB model. The 16GB/512GB model is available for $1,249.00 and the 24GB/512GB model is on sale for $1,424.50. Across the board, these are all second-best prices on the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air.
Amazon has introduced a new all-time low price on the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, available for $649.00, down from $799.00. This is the first time in a few weeks that we've tracked any notable discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
More details on iOS 26 and related updates continue to surface as Apple moves through beta testing in the wake of last month's WWDC, but this week also saw a number of hardware-related rumors for later this year and beyond.
The most intriguing rumors were in reference to a mysterious MacBook running an A18 Pro chip, but we also shared details on the iPhone 17 Pro models, AirPods Pro 3, and an array of vision-related products ranging from future Apple Vision Pro-like devices to smart glasses.
New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code
The A18 Pro has performance roughly on par with the M1 chip found in the 2020 MacBook Air model that is still being sold by Walmart for $649. This A18 Pro-powered MacBook could be a successor to the M1 MacBook Air with some additional updates and be sold directly by Apple and across other sales channels.
iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo
The much larger camera bump coming on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will lead to moving the Apple logo lower on the rear of the devices, according to recent rumors. That change will force accessory makers to use a new MagSafe ring layout for their products, although existing MagSafe accessories should remain compatible with the iPhone 17 Pro models.
In other iPhone 17 news, a new report claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of approximately 5,000 mAh, which would make it the biggest battery ever in an iPhone. The upcoming Pro models are rumored to be a bit thicker than the current versions, which will make room for bigger batteries.
iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone
If you're frustrated by having to enter your information on each of your devices whenever you join a captive Wi-Fi network like those found in hotels, gyms, airports, and other public places, a new feature in iOS 26 and related releases will sync the details across your devices to make it easier to get everything up and running.
Aside from a shift from Lightning to USB-C on the case in 2023, the AirPods Pro haven't been updated since 2022, but it looks like a more substantial update may be arriving later this year.
We're expecting some new features like the heart rate monitoring that debuted in the Powerbeats Pro 2 earlier this year, improved Active Noise Cancellation, and some design tweaks, so they should be a worthwhile purchase for both new and existing users.
Building upon the annual Replay playlists that feature your most-played tracks for a given year, Replay All Time includes your 100 most-played songs across the entire time you've been an Apple Music subscriber, and it will dynamically update based on your ongoing usage.
Aside from a spec bump to the M5 chip for the Vision Pro later this year, we'll apparently have to wait until 2027 to start seeing more of these products hit the market, but expect lighter and cheaper models of Vision headsets, smart glasses similar to the Meta Ray-Bans, and eventually more powerful mixed-reality glasses with built-in displays.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple's new Liquid Glass design is noticeable on the Home Screen right when you unlock your iPhone, though the degree of change is customizable. We've rounded up everything that's changed with the iPhone's main interface.
Liquid Glass Design
By default, app icons have a layered look with subtle depth, essentially appearing as multiple sheets of glass stacked on one another to create a glass-like translucent look.
Apple created Liquid Glass app icons for apps like Safari, Maps, Photos, the App Store, Mail and more. Third-party app icons are adopting the same aesthetic, and for apps with a simple design on a solid background, no update is needed. Icons like this already have a Liquid Glass look.
The dock is transparent and blends into the background behind it, and the same goes for the search button. App folders have a frosted glass design that also changes tint based on your wallpaper. When you edit your Home Screen, the buttons that you interact with are also transparent.
Interface elements like the dock, folders, and the search button have a lighting effect that changes when you move your iPhone, making them look like real glass.
Light, Dark and Tinted Modes
The Liquid Glass effect is apparent in both Light Mode and Dark Mode, with icons continuing to feature the same stacked glass look, just with a lighter or darker background.
Apple technically changed Light Mode to "Default Mode" in the customization settings where you can adjust color (long press on the display and tap on customize).
There are new "Always" and "Auto" toggles for enabling permanent Light or Dark styles or adjusting them based on time, and the Small and Large buttons for changing icon size have been relocated to the upper right of the customization interface.
Tinted mode looks different in iOS 26 than it did in iOS 18. Rather than icons featuring a black background with colored graphics, icons adopt the full color that you select with white graphics in Light Mode. In Dark Mode, backgrounds are a much darker shade of the color you choose, but aren't entirely black.
With Tinted icons, the layered glass look isn't as obvious, but it's still present.
Clear Icons
Apple added a "Clear" icon option in iOS 26 that's available alongside Default, Dark, and Tinted. As the name suggests, Clear has a dramatic Liquid Glass look with icons that are entirely transparent. The icons adopt the color of your wallpaper, with white text and designs.
There are Light and Dark options for the Clear setting. Light looks like frosted glass, while Dark looks like tinted glass. If you want to go all-in on Liquid Glass and have your iPhone look notably different, Clear is the option to choose.
Widgets
Widgets have some of the same aesthetic as icons, but on the whole, they don't look too much different from how they looked in iOS 18 in the Default mode.
With the Clear option turned on, widgets are transparent and have a more cohesive design that matches with your wallpaper.
Wallpaper
You can edit your wallpaper directly from the Home Screen in iOS 26. Long press on the display and then tap on the new "Edit Wallpaper" option.
The wallpaper interface lets you change the image that you're using on the Home Screen, but it doesn't affect the Lock Screen. If you have a photo set as a wallpaper, for example, you can change the color, select a gradient, or choose a photo, plus you can turn blurring for images off or on.
Wallpaper takes a starring role in iOS 26 because it affects the color of the dock, folders, and icons, depending on your settings.
Control Center
Control Center adopts Liquid Glass, so while the functionality is the same, the general look is different. Compared to the iOS 18 Control Center, the iOS 26 version has depth for the icons with the Liquid Glass shifting light effect.
The icons are tinted to look like frosted glass, and some of the underlying buttons for adjusting Control Center have been tweaked with the updated look. Icons are a little larger, and some of the bar-shaped icons for volume, brightness, and other settings are rounder.
Other Home Screen Elements
The Dynamic Island, Notification Center, long press gestures, and App Library have not changed beyond aesthetics. App Library folders are translucent and the search bar is rounded, and for widgets, there is a glass look of varying intensity depending on your icon color choice.
App Library icons are also slightly larger, with less padding between them.
Web Apps
When you add a website to your Home Screen in iOS 26, it always opens as a web app. Web apps were available on the Home Screen in iOS 18, but web developers needed to configure them to operate as web apps.
If websites weren't configured properly, they would open in Safari when added to the Home Screen. Now a website will open as a dedicated web app, even if it hasn't been explicitly set up to work that way.
There is an Open as Web App option that can be toggled off when adding a website to a Home Screen if you prefer that websites open up in Safari.
Read More
We have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup that goes into detail on all of the new features that are available in the update.
Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a stainless steel frame. The back of the devices will supposedly have a new "part-aluminum, part-glass" design.
Larger battery: The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to have a slightly thicker design that allows for a larger battery.
A19 Pro chip: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to use Apple's next-generation A19 Pro chip, which will reportedly be manufactured with TSMC's newer third-generation 3nm process. Like usual, expect modest year-over-year performance gains and power efficiency improvements compared to the current iPhones.
Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip: All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to get a Wi-Fi 7 chip designed by Apple rather than Broadcom.
24-megapixel front camera: All four iPhone 17 models are said to feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, whereas all iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
8K video recording: Apple allegedly tested 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but such functionality is still not available. With the iPhone 17 Pro models expected to have entirely 48-megapixel rear cameras, perhaps 8K video recording will debut on those devices.
12GB of RAM: iPhone 17 Pro models, and even the iPhone 17 Air, are rumored to have 12GB of RAM. This upgrade should help to improve the performance of Apple Intelligence and multitasking. All four iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.
Improved cooling: All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to feature internal design changes that result in better heat dissipation. A vapor chamber cooling system has been rumored for the Pro models specifically.
Apple is reportedly developing smart glasses that could compete with the Meta Ray-Bans, but they are not expected to launch for a few more years.
Earlier this week, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects Apple's smart glasses to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2027. Similar to the Meta Ray-Bans, he said that Apple's glasses will allow users to take photos, record videos, and listen to music, with both touch and hands-free voice control. These type of smart glasses are intended to let you capture a moment without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.
Kuo said that Apple plans to offer multiple frame and material options for its smart glasses, but he did not indicate if it will partner with a major glasses brand, such as Ray-Ban or Oakley. Meta's smart glasses are offered with three different Ray-Ban frames, including the iconic Wayfarer style that has been popular for decades.
Like the Meta Ray-Bans, Kuo said Apple's first glasses will not have built-in augmented reality displays. However, next-generation Meta Ray-Bans with such displays are expected to launch later this year, so Apple will remain well behind.
Meta's glasses are equipped with a 12-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, dual speakers, five microphones, a touchpad on the right arm, and an LED that indicates when video recording is active. Meta says the glasses last up to four hours with a single charge, and up to 36 hours with a fully-charged carrying case.
Meta Ray-Bans were released in September 2023, with U.S. pricing starting at $299. In February, Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica announced that it had sold more than two million pairs of the glasses, making them a relative hit in a growing device category.
For now, Apple's only head-mounted device is the Vision Pro, which starts at a hefty $3,499. It is estimated that Apple has sold only 500,000 to 700,000 units of the Vision Pro, at best, since it launched in February 2024. Kuo believes that Apple's smart glasses will be far more successful, with shipments reaching 3-5 million units or more in 2027.
The unfortunate part is that 2027 remains quite a while away, with Apple's competitors in this space innovating at a much faster pace.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Image via 
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
