MacRumors

Now through September 15, you can get 5% Daily Cash when you use the Apple Card via Apple Pay on up to $750 in combined eligible purchases at Booking​.com, Hertz, ChargePoint, Exxon, and Mobil. The maximum total Daily Cash you can earn through this offer is $37.50, according to Apple, with complete details outlined on this page.

Ordinarily, the Apple Card offers 3% Daily Cash at these partners, but this limited-time promotion provides an additional 2% Daily Cash on eligible purchases up to the $750 limit. Apple has given the offer an "August road trip" theme, as the eligible purchases include hotel rooms, rental cars, gas, and electric vehicle charging.

Apple's credit card is available in the U.S. only.

OpenAI is adding a ChatGPT mode for teenagers that includes parental controls, enhanced content safeguards, and a focus on learning.

ChatGPT for Teens is "designed to help teens learn, think critically, deepen understanding, and use AI with confidence," said the company in a blog post announcing the feature.

The feature includes learning-focused starter prompts for facilitating studying, practicing skills, or exploring ideas. ChatGPT's Study mode is baked in, as are learning tools (including quizzes when available), and Study hours that let the teen or a linked parent/guardian choose when eligible new chats start in study mode.

OpenAI says reminders encourage users to take breaks, and there are built-in provisions for making it clear that ChatGPT is AI, and does not have consciousness, experience feelings or emotions. That backstop aims to discourage relationship-forming with the chatbot.

ChatGPT automatically enables ChatGPT for Teens for eligible accounts identified as belonging to someone under 18. Users who think they are seeing the feature by mistake can verify their age and ask ChatGPT to remove the teen protections.

OpenAI says ChatGPT for Teens is rolling out globally to eligible teen accounts on Free and paid personal ChatGPT plans beginning August 18, with full availability in Australia expected September 8.

In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple will be donating to relief efforts on the ground in Indonesia as the country reels from a deadly earthquake and aftershocks.

Apple has donated to the Red Cross following past natural disasters, but it does not disclose the dollar amounts.

Amazon and Best Buy this week have multiple discounts on the M4 iPad Air, providing $100 off these 2026 models. These are the best prices we've seen in the wake of Apple's summer price hikes.

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.

You'll find savings on both the 11-inch and 13-inch models of the M4 iPad Air, with savings mainly focused on 128GB and 256GB Wi-Fi tablets. All of these discounts have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code or a special membership.

The new iPad Air features the M4 chip, C1X modem, and N1 networking chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. In terms of design, the 2026 models are identical to the 2025 iPad Air tablets, with an edge-to-edge display, slim bezels, and aluminum chassis.

11-inch M4 iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $649.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]
• 256GB Wi-Fi - $749.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]

13-inch M4 iPad Air

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]
• 256GB Wi-Fi - $949.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($100 off) [matched at Best Buy]

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.

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The next-generation Apple TV 4K will ship with an upgraded Siri Remote, according to macOS 26.7 code findings.

The code does not reveal any specific changes planned for the remote, but it suggests that a new Apple TV is finally coming soon, following years of rumors. The new model, expected to be powered by an A17 Pro chip or newer, will likely be unveiled this September or October.

Apple's AirTag 2 is on sale for $89.00 this week on Amazon, down from $99.00. This deal is on the 4-Pack of the AirTag 2, and it's a match of the record low price first seen during Prime Day.

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.

We're also tracking a smaller deal on the AirTag 2 1-Pack, available for $24.00, down from $29.00. This is another record low price on the AirTag 2, and both have estimated delivery dates of August 23.

The new AirTag is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling the Precision Finding feature to work up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous-generation model.

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.

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The commission Apple earns from the App Store is shrinking in markets where it has been forced to relax its grip on in-app purchases, based on new analytics data.

According to Appfigures, cited by the Financial Times ($), Apple's U.S. commission revenue has fallen 18 percent since the start of 2026. It also found App Store revenue declining in Brazil and Japan since both countries introduced new regulations.

Separately, Sensor Tower said U.S. consumer spending through the App Store was down 6 percent in the second quarter, compared to 9 percent growth a year earlier.

The figures follow Apple's admission during last month's earnings call that regulatory changes have started to weigh on its Services growth. Apple reported services revenue of $30.7 billion for the June quarter, a record for the period but short of the $31.4 billion that analysts expected.

Apple traditionally has taken 15 to 30 percent of digital purchases made inside apps on the App Store. However, a U.S. injunction won by Epic Games now forces the company to let developers steer users to outside payment options without taking a cut. Sensor Tower said the U.S. slowdown had been heavily affected by the ruling. Apple has not collected fees from link-outs in the U.S. since April 2025.

Sonos just updated its iOS app with new Live Activities support, providing quick access to playback controls from your Lock Screen.

Sonos shared a Reddit post announcing the new feature, which appears after you initiate playback on a Sonos device and then close the app.

The Live Activity shows the current room or group you were last playing audio from and allows you to play/pause or skip tracks. Even if you initiate playback on Sonos from outside the Sonos app (Direct Control from supported services, Bluetooth, or AirPlay) you can still use the local playback controls that appear on the Live Activity.

As things stand, album art can't be displayed on the Live Activity, but the company said it's looking into alternative ways to enhance the Lock Screen experience. Sonos also mentioned that Live Activities work on Apple Watch and CarPlay, but "right now the controls aren't supported" in these instances.

Sonos called Live Activities support a "much requested, anticipated, and needed feature."

(Via 9to5Mac.)

In a notable addition to the unreleased Apple products referenced in yesterday's macOS Tahoe 26.7 software update, AirPods 5 models have also been spotted. Internally codenamed B868M and B868E, the models almost certainly refer to AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Active Noise Cancellation. Current AirPods 4 models, launched in September 2024, have the codenames B768M and B768E.

While next-generation features are unknown, AirPods 5 could get an updated H3 chip with improved sound quality and lower latency. Launch timing however remains unclear. On a side note, macOS 26.7 also contains a reference to an unreleased Beats Solo Buds model.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models may be differentiated by a new camera feature that could be exclusive to the larger Pro Max model, if a Chinese leaker is to be believed.

Since 2024, we've been hearing rumors about Apple's plans to introduce a variable aperture camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models – a first for any iPhone – but it was understood until now that the feature would come to both devices.

Leaker Ice Universe claims that's not the case. The iPhone 18 Pro Max will "exclusively feature a variable aperture," they said in a new post on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform.

"Looks like even Apple can't escape the reality that if you want the absolute best camera experience, you'll have to put up with a phone that weighs like a brick," the leaker added.

We already know a variable aperture lens is coming to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, thanks to the June leak of internal files from Apple supplier Tata Electronics. The files revealed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a new Sony IMX905 sensor with variable aperture support.

The smaller iPhone 18 Pro model was not mentioned in the leaked file, but it wasn't clear if that meant it wouldn't get a variable aperture lens, or it the leaked files simply didn't include that information.

Apple has never implemented a variable aperture on an iPhone. From the iPhone 14 Pro through the iPhone 17 Pro, the main camera uses a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, meaning the lens remains fully open at all times when capturing images.

With a variable lens, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could allow users to manually shift the aperture, similar to on a DSLR camera. It could mean more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. That all depends on how Apple implements the feature, of course. It may be more automated than that.

Beyond size and battery life, the last time Apple differentiated its iPhone Pro models was with the iPhone 15 Pro, which lacked the tetraprism telephoto lens that was included to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to be bigger and heavier than its predecessor this year. Apart from the rumored aperture lens, it is expected to be otherwise equivalent to its smaller sibling. Both iPhone 18 Pro models are set to launch next month alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone, the "iPhone Ultra." The most likely date for Apple's annual fall iPhone event is September 9.

Apple is working on camera-equipped AirPods that appear to be nearly ready to launch, based on a video MacRumors found in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate.

In a short demo, a man holds a book up so the camera in the AirPods can see the title. "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later," says the voiceover text.

The camera on the AirPods will feed information to ‌Visual Intelligence‌, and Siri will be able to answer questions about the wearer's surroundings and log information. There is a direct reference to setting up ‌Visual Intelligence‌ on the AirPods.

If hair is covering the AirPods up, you'll receive an alert. "To get the most accurate information about things in your environment, make sure AirPods are not covered," it says.

The camera-equipped AirPods have the codename B790, which was also previously mentioned by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman suggested the AirPods could launch as soon as September, so we could see them at the iPhone-centric event where Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.7 has multiple other mentions of the B790 product, as well as references to a long list of other unreleased Apple products.

The macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate that Apple seeded today has references to several unreleased products, from home devices to iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and Macs.

Some of these codenames have shown up in prior software updates but have new feature flags, while others haven't been seen in the code before.

Home Accessories

• Home Hub (J490/HomeAccessory17,1 and J491/HomeAccessory17,2) - There are references to Siri setup for a "J490" home accessory, which has previously been identified as Apple's upcoming home hub. There's a second reference to J490 and J491. J490 is believed to be the version of the home hub with a base, while J491 is the version that's meant to be mounted on a wall.
• HomePod mini (B525) - Code mentions "Argentium" has been installed on a product codenamed B525, which likely corresponds to the HomePod mini. The current HomePod mini has a B520 codename.
• Home Accessory (J229) - There is a reference to "J229Architecture," a codename for an unreleased Apple product. J229 previously popped up in iOS 26 last December and was found by Macworld. The site said it was a device with multiple sensors and the ability to detect alarm sounds and capture images. It's possible J229 is the rumored security camera Apple is working on, or some kind of accessory to go with its home hub products.
• Pebble - There's a reference to "Pebble," which Bloomberg previously said was Apple's codename for the homeOS operating system that runs on the home hub.
• HomeAccessory17,3 (J595) - A tabletop robot.
• Mystery Colors - There are references to colors for a home accessory, which might be linked to the HomePod mini 2, the home hub, or something else. The colors are Rose Pink, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight.
• Audio Accessory Visual Reasoning - There is an audio_accessory_visual_reasoning string, which could be for the home hub.

Headphones

• AirPods with Cameras (B790) - B790 is the codename for AirPods with a camera, according to Bloomberg. Confusingly, these are not the camera-equipped AirPods rumored for 2027 because those have a B798 codename, but are a "separate camera AirPods project" that could come out as soon as September. Code specifically mentions an image stream for the device: "B790 start image stream failed for left bud."
• Beats (B518 and B522) - B518 and B522 could reference upcoming Beats headphones.
• AirPods Pro 4 - There is a reference to AirPodsPro1,4, which could be fourth-generation AirPods Pro. The current AirPods Pro 3 are AirPodsPro1,3. There's also a reference to AirPod3,5.

iPhone

• iPhone Air 2 (V62) - V62 was previously seen in iOS 27 code, and Macworld says it's the iPhone Air 2. The ‌iPhone Air‌ 2 isn't expected until spring 2027.
• iPhone 18 Pro (V63) - V63 was previously seen in ‌iOS 27‌ code, and Macworld says it's the iPhone 18 Pro. The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ is expected in September.
• iPhone 18 Pro Max (V64) - V64 was previously seen in ‌iOS 27‌ code, and Macworld says it's the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max. The ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max is expected in September.
• iPhone 18 (V67) - V67 was previously seen in ‌iOS 27‌ code, and Macworld says it's the iPhone 18. The ‌iPhone 18‌ isn't expected until spring 2027.
• iPhone Ultra (V68) - V68 was previously seen in ‌iOS 27‌ code, and Macworld says it's the foldable iPhone Ultra. The ‌iPhone Ultra‌ is expected in September.

Mac

• MacBook Pro (J804) - J804 is the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro that's going to be updated with an M6 chip before the end of the year. The current M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌ is J704.
• iMac (J833 and J834) - J833 and J834 are the codenames for new iMac models Apple is working on, according to Bloomberg.
• MacBook Pro - K114c, K114s, K116c, and K116s reference upcoming ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. It's possible these are the higher-end OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ models Apple is working on.

iPad

• iPad mini (J510 and J511) - J510 and J511 are the codenames for the next-generation iPad mini rumored to be getting an ‌OLED‌ display and A19 Pro chip.

Headset

• Headset (N109) - N109 is in the code. Bloomberg previously said N109 was a second-generation Vision Pro, while The Information said it was a cheaper version of the Vision Pro. A more affordable version of the Vision Pro was reportedly canceled last year.

Apple TV Remote

There's a mention of ATVRemote1,5, which appears to be a new Apple TV remote. Rumors previously suggested the next ‌Apple TV‌ could come with an updated remote control.

Apple Intelligence in China

There are references to Writing Tools coming to China. Code mention temporary restrictions due to triggering safety alerts, and content that won't be able to be edited with Apple Intelligence.

• Content safety update required. iPhone will be able to use Writing Tools once the automatic update completes.
• Unable to edit this text. %1$@ may be able to help with this type of content. This text will need to be sent to %2$@.
• Writing Tools are temporarily restricted due to triggering safety alerts multiple times.

Unknown Model Numbers

There are multiple model numbers listed that do not correspond to any existing Apple product and they don't have a clear link to an upcoming product.

• A3436, A3437, A3438, A3439, A3440, A3441
• A3456, A3457
• A3465
• A3529, A3530, A3531, A3532, A3533
• A3543
• A3577
• Device1,8234
• Device1,8236
• Device1,8238
• Device1,8240
• Device1,8241
• Device1,8242
• Device1,8246
• Device1,8247
• Device1,8248

We'll see the first devices on this list launch this September, when Apple is expected to introduce the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, and ‌iPhone Ultra‌. We don't yet know when new home products or Macs might come out. Apple often holds two fall events, so there could be a second event in October or November for the ‌MacBook Pro‌, ‌iMac‌, ‌iPad mini‌, and home accessories.

Apple today released the fourth public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. The fourth betas come a week after Apple seeded the third betas and just a few hours after the sixth developer betas.

You can get started by signing up on Apple's beta website and then opting in to the public beta by opening up the Settings app on your device, selecting General, and choosing Software Update.

We are nearing the end of the beta testing process, and few new features were found in today's developer betas. ‌macOS Golden Gate‌ includes new wallpapers, while ‌iOS 27‌ has a Shortcuts splash screen and a new Game Center icon.

Apple today added two new Golden Gate-themed wallpaper options in the sixth beta of macOS 27.

There are new Golden Gate Day and Golden Gate Evening wallpaper options that join the Golden Gate Sunset and Golden Gate Night wallpapers that Apple introduced in earlier betas.

macOS 27 also includes abstract Golden Gate wallpaper options for those who don't prefer scenery.

Golden Gate Day and Golden Gate Evening animate when you unlock your Mac, and can be set as a screen saver. When used as screen saver, both wallpapers feature cars slowly driving across the bridge.

Apple also tweaked the look of the traffic light buttons in macOS Golden Gate beta six, adding a Liquid Glass aesthetic.

‌macOS Golden Gate‌ is available for developers and public beta testers, with a public launch coming in September.

The iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 updates Apple released today fix almost 30 security vulnerabilities, according to Apple's security support document. This is Apple's third security release in three weeks as AI surfaces bugs faster than the company's typical release schedule can absorb.

Apple says the software includes security fixes that were previously added to the iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate betas.

There are fixes for an audio vulnerability that could allow an app to leak sensitive user information, an image vulnerability that could allow for arbitrary code execution, a trio of kernel vulnerabilities, and several WebKit bugs that could cause memory corruption or Safari crashes. Of the 29 CVEs outlined in the document, 21 are WebKit-related, and nine are credited to OpenAI Codex Security.

On iOS, Apple also fixed a telephony bug that could allow an attacker in a privileged network position to bypass IPSec authentication and intercept network traffic.

None of the vulnerabilities are known to have been actively exploited, but Apple always recommends updating to new versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS as soon as possible. Now that the vulnerabilities have been made public, attackers could target devices still running earlier versions of the software.

Apple also released iOS 18.7.10 and iPadOS 18.7.10 for devices unable to run iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Apple did not ship macOS Sequoia or macOS Sonoma updates for Macs unable to run ‌macOS Tahoe‌.

The updates can be installed by opening up the Settings app, tapping into the General section, and selecting Software Update.

In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and eligible iPhone users could receive up to a $95 payout. Apple's settlement received preliminary approval last month, but final approval is not expected until next year, according to a new court document.

The judge presiding over the case last week set the final approval hearing for February 24, 2027, and payments will not begin for several months beyond that date. For now, no action is required from customers, as the settlement website with a claims form has yet to go live. We will continue to provide updates on the case as they become available.

Best Buy is hosting its big 60th Anniversary sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones, monitors, and much more. This event is set to last for the rest of this week, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to see most of the deals.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In terms of Apple devices, you can find solid deals on AirPods Pro 3, iPhone Air, Beats accessories, and MacBook Pro. You can get the AirPods Pro 3 for $189.99 ($60 off), as well the AirPods Max 2 for $429.00 ($120 off).

Another notable Apple offer is on the MacBook Neo, which isn't discounted itself, but Best Buy is throwing in a free $25 Starbucks gift card with any MacBook Neo purchase this week. You can also get up to $160 off iPhone Air unlocked models in this event.

Apple

• AirPods 4 - $99.99 ($30 off)
• AirPods Pro 3 - $189.99 ($60 off)
• AirPods Max 2 - $429.00 ($120 off)
• iPad Air - Get $100 off M4 models
• MacBook Neo - Get a free $25 Starbucks gift card
• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 36GB, 2TB) - $3,999.00 ($400 off)
• 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 48GB, 2TB) - $4,499.00 ($500 off)

TVs

• 55-inch Toshiba C350 4K Smart Fire TV - $249.99 ($150 off)
• 55-inch Insignia 4K UHD QLED Smart TV - $249.99 ($450 off)
• 65-inch LG UA7050 4K Smart TV - $329.99 ($160 off)
• 98-inch Hisense QLED 4K Smart Google TV - $999.99 ($1,400 off)
• 65-inch Samsung The Frame TV (2025) - $999.99 ($600 off)
• 65-inch LG OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,499.99 ($1,200 off)

Audio

• Beats Pill - $99.99 ($50 off)
• Beats Solo 4 Headphones - $129.99 ($70 off)
• Beats Studio Pro Headphones - $169.99 ($180 off)
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones - $329.99 ($45 off)

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.

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"iPhone Ultra" supply will be very limited when the foldable device is first released later this year, according to Fixed Focus Digital, a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

The account also claimed that the iPhone 18 Pro's A20 Pro chip will be up to 18% faster and up to 30% more power efficient compared to the iPhone 17 Pro's A19 Pro chip. The A20 Pro chip will be the first iPhone chip manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process, rather than the current 3nm process.

Apple's annual iPhone event is likely less than a month away.