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Apple in October 2023 introduced its third-generation Apple silicon chips, the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. The chips are Apple's first that are built on the new 3-nanometer process, an upgrade over the 5-nanometer process used for both the M1 series and M2 series chips.

This guide covers everything that we know about the M3 chips Apple has developed.

M3 Chip Explained

The M3 is Apple's latest System on a Chip (SoC) developed for use in Macs and iPads. As a "System on a Chip," the M3 integrates several different components, including the CPU, GPU, unified memory architecture (RAM), Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, SSD controller, image signal processor, encode/decode engines, Thunderbolt controller with USB 4 support, and more, all of which power the different features in the Mac.

Before Apple silicon, Macs used multiple chips for CPU, I/O, and security, but Apple's effort to integrate these chips is the reason why Apple silicon chips are much faster and more efficient than Intel chips. The unified memory architecture that Apple has included is also a major factor because all of the technologies in the M3 are able to access the same data without having to swap between multiple pools of memory.

Built into the M3 chip, the unified memory architecture means the CPU, GPU, and other processor components don't need to copy data between one another, and are able to access the same data pool. This memory architecture means that the RAM is not user upgradeable, which isn't too much of a surprise because few Macs have user-accessible RAM.

Chip Specifications

The M3 chip has an 8-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, while the M3 Pro has up to a 12-core CPU and up to an 18-core GPU. The M3 Max has up to a 16-core CPU and up to a 40-core GPU.

The M3 Pro and the M3 Max are also available in variants with fewer CPU and GPU cores in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, while the M3 in the 24-inch iMac is available in 8-core and 10-core GPU options. There is no M3 Ultra as of yet, but when it comes out, it is likely to feature a 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU as it will be a doubled up version of the M3 Max.

Apple says that the M3 chips are able to deliver 2.5x better GPU speeds than the ‌M1‌ chips while using half the power. The M3 performance cores are up to 30 percent faster than the ‌M1‌ performance cores and up to 15 percent faster than the ‌M2‌ performance cores. The M3 efficiency cores are up to 50 percent faster than the ‌M1‌ efficiency cores, and up to 30 percent faster than the ‌M2‌ efficiency cores.

Chip Comparison

	‌M2‌	M3
Standard	8 CPU cores (4 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient) 8 or 10 GPU cores	8 CPU cores (4 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient) 8 or 10 GPU cores
Pro	10 or 12 CPU cores (6 or 8 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient) 16 or 19 GPU cores	11 or 12 CPU cores (5 or 6 high-performance and 6 energy-efficient) 14 or 18 GPU cores
Max	12 CPU cores (8 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient) 30 or 38 core GPU cores	14 or 16 CPU cores (10 or 12 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient) 30 or 40 GPU cores

3-Nanometer Technology

The ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ series chips used TSMC's 5-nanometer technology, but the M3 chips are built on TSMC's newest 3-nanometer chip technology. A smaller node size equates to more transistor density, which improves both efficiency and performance. Apple's 3nm chips could offer up to 35 percent better efficiency, allowing for longer battery life for some Mac models.

Apple supplier TSMC is one of the only chip companies that is able to make ‌3nm‌ chips, and rumors suggest that even TSMC's yield rates are just above 55 percent right now because the technology is so new. Apple's shift to ‌3nm‌ marks the first node update since the 5nm ‌M1‌ chip came out in 2020, and it will bring a bigger performance update than we saw with the ‌M2‌.

GPU

Apple says that the M3 chips represent the "biggest leap forward in graphics architecture ever for Apple silicon" with faster and more efficient graphics technology. The M3 GPUs support Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and mesh shading.

Dynamic Caching allocates the use of local memory in hardware in real time, so only the exact amount of memory needed is used for each task. It increases the average utilization of the GPU, thereby increasing performance for demanding pro apps and games.

With hardware-accelerated ray tracing, light looks more realistic as it interacts with a scene, allowing for more physically accurate images. Game developers can use the ray-tracing and mesh shading for more accurate shadows and reflections as well as more efficient geometry processing.

Battery Life

Apple silicon chips are incredibly battery efficient in addition to being faster than most Intel chips. With the M3 chip, the battery in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ can last for up to 22 hours.

M3 Mac Lineup

Macs That Use the M3 Chip

• 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌
• 24-inch ‌iMac‌

Macs That Use the M3 Pro Chip

• 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌
• 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌

Macs That Use the M3 Max Chip

• 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌
• 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌

Macs Expected to Use M3 Ultra Chip

• Mac Studio
• Mac Pro

Apple Silicon Mac How-Tos

Since the Apple silicon Macs are using a new type of chip designed by Apple, there are some tips and tricks for doing things like transferring files, entering recovery mode, and finding apps optimized for the new machines. We have several Apple silicon-specific how tos that are worth checking out.

• How to Use Apple Diagnostics to Test Your Mac
• How to Tell Which Apps Are Optimized for Apple Silicon Macs
• How to Transfer Files Between an Apple Silicon Mac and Another Mac
• How to Reinstall macOS on an Apple Silicon Mac
• How to Install Rosetta on Your Apple Silicon Mac
• How to Start Up in Safe Mode on an Apple Silicon Mac
• How to Install iPhone or iPad Apps on an Apple Silicon Mac
• How to Repair the Startup Disk on Apple Silicon Macs
• How to Turn Off Optimized Battery Charging in macOS
• How to Check the Battery Health of Your Apple Silicon MacBook
• How to Launch the Intel Version of a Universal Apple Silicon App

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the M3 chip or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Nomad today introduced its most powerful charger to date, the 130W USB-C Power Adapter that's equipped with three USB-C PD ports. The 130W adapter joins Nomad's existing 65W, 30W, and 20W adapters.

Priced at $110, the 130W Power Adapter features the same design as Nomad's prior adapters, so if you have one of the smaller varieties, you can have a matching set. It's got a sleek black "carbide" enclosure, and it does use GaN (gallium nitride) technology to ensure a compact size.

I always find myself wishing Nomad made its accessories in white or other colors, but black is the Nomad aesthetic and it works. I can say without hesitation that this is the snazziest charging brick I've used, though I have to admit I don't often think too much about the build quality of the power adapter I'm using since it's out of sight and under the desk. If you have a charging setup on a desk or somewhere that looks matter, you won't be disappointed with the design of Nomad's Power Adapter.

Though the power adapter has three ports, it is smaller in size than the 140W charger from Apple that's designed for the 16-inch MacBook Pro models, and it is close in size to the Apple 96W power adapter. There are flip out prongs so when the charger is not in use, it folds down into a little cube that can be tucked away in a bag or a suitcase. I do want to point out that it has some heft - it's not a lightweight charger.

Each port is capable of 100W charging, but that is the maximum. You won't be able to get the 140W charging you're able to achieve on the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the MagSafe power adapter from Apple, but 100W is plenty for keeping power levels up while the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is in use. I rarely use the ‌MagSafe‌ port on my ‌MacBook Pro‌ for charging, and it's always at full battery when I'm at my desk regardless of what I'm doing. 100W is also enough power to max out all of Apple's other notebooks, and plenty for iPhones, iPads, and other USB-C accessories.

When charging multiple devices, Nomad's power adapter is able to intelligently split power. With two devices, it sends 100W to the top port and 30W to the other port, so you can charge a MacBook at full speed while also having 30W available for an iPhone or an iPad. With all three ports in use, the top port charges at 70W, while the two bottom ports get 30W each.

If you use just the bottom two ports and not the top port, you can get 65W with each port for evenly split power, and it's nice to have so many different charging options with one charger depending on which ports you opt for. With a minimum of 30W going to each port regardless of what's being charged, all three ports can fast charge an iPhone.

Bottom Line

Nomad's 130W Power Adapter is a convenient all-in-one power adapter thanks to its three ports and smart charging modes. It's useful for charging several devices at home, and equally helpful when traveling because you only need to pack a single power adapter.

At $110, the only downside is the price. That's a lot for a charger, but it is only $10 more than Apple's 140W charger, and it is not to far off of the price of similar chargers from companies like Anker and Satechi.

How to Buy

The Nomad 130W Power Adapter can be purchased from the Nomad website for $110.

Note: Nomad provided MacRumors with a 130W Power Adapter for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

With the transition to USB-C, the iPhone 15 models could get faster charging speeds up to 35W. 9to5Mac says that it has heard from industry sources that "at least some" of the iPhone 15 models are able to charge at this higher wattage.

At the current time, the iPhone 14 models can charge at a maximum of around 27W, with the Pro models able to charge a bit faster. An increase to 35W would speed up charging times.

Apple does not sell a power adapter with the iPhone anymore, but the company recommends a 20W+ charger for fast charging purposes right now. If the iPhone 15 models support up to 35W charging, Apple could start recommending its 30W MacBook Air charger or its 35W Dual USB-C charger for maximum charging speed.

Earlier this year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 15 models would support faster charging speeds due to the transition to USB-C. He said that the faster speeds would be available with MFi-certified USB-C chargers, including the 20W power adapter.

There have been rumors that Apple will limit faster charging speeds to MFi-certified cables and chargers, and it is also possible that the fastest charging speeds could be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Apple Card is the "Best Co-Branded Credit Card for Customer Satisfaction with No Annual Fee" in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, Apple announced today. This is the third year in a row that Apple and Goldman Sachs have taken the number one spot, and the third year that Apple has highlighted the study.

"Since the start, we've been committed to delivering tools and services that help users live healthier financial lives, and it's been rewarding to see customers using and finding value in the benefits of ‌Apple Card‌. We are honored that ‌Apple Card‌ has been recognized as a leader in customer satisfaction," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. "In partnership with Goldman Sachs, we are continuously working to expand the value users receive from ‌Apple Card‌, most recently with the launch of Savings, and we look forward to continuing to develop tools and services that put our users and their financial health first."

The ‌Apple Card‌ earned a score of 655 on the J.D. Power scale, beating out the Hilton Honors American Express Card (638), the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (636), and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard (636).

This year's results come as rumors suggest that Goldman Sachs is looking to get out of its partnership with Apple. Goldman Sachs reportedly wants to exit consumer banking, and is seeking a partner that would take over its ‌Apple Card‌ and Apple Savings offerings. It is not yet clear if Goldman Sachs and Apple will be able to work out a deal to sever their relationship.

Apple today released macOS Ventura 13.5.1, a bug fix update for the macOS Ventura operating system released last October. macOS Ventura 13.5.1 comes three weeks after the launch of macOS Ventura 13.5.

The ‌‌‌‌macOS Ventura‌‌‌‌ 13.5.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings.

macOS Ventura 13.5.1 addresses a bug that impacts location services settings on the Mac. Mac users have complained since July of an issue with the location privacy settings, with the bug preventing them from accessing and controling location permissions for first and third-party apps.

Under System Settings > Privacy and Security > Location Services, macOS Ventura 13.5 had no apps listed, preventing users from accessing location services toggles or seeing apps that have access to their location information. Newly installed apps were also unable to be given access to location.

According to Apple's release notes, the macOS 13.5.1 update fixes the issue, so Location Services should work as expected going forward.

Amazon has numerous deals on the 2022 Apple Watch SE this week, starting at $219.99 for the 40mm GPS models, down from $249.00. Along with this model, Amazon has low prices on nearly every other configuration of the Apple Watch SE, including cellular models.

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 the 40mm GPS model, you can get all three colors: Starlight Aluminum, Silver Aluminum, and Midnight Aluminum. Additionally, each color has both S/M and M/L sizes in stock and on sale, with delivery dates as soon as August 19 for many models. Overall, this is a solid second-best price.

The 44mm GPS model is on sale for $249.99, down from $279.00. Like the smaller model, this one is available in all three colors and various band sizes with a delivery date around August 19-22 for the fastest options. It's another second-best price.

Moving to cellular models, the 40mm cellular Apple Watch SE has hit $269.99 on Amazon, down from $299.00. Discounts on both cellular models have been more rare than the GPS versions of the Apple Watch SE, so this is a great opportunity to purchase the wearable at its lowest price.

Lastly, the 44mm cellular Apple Watch SE is available for $299.99 in all three colors, down from $329.00.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Satechi to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Satechi's brand new Dual Dock Stands and a 13-inch MacBook Air to go along with it. Satechi is also including its 200W USB-C 6-Port GaN Charger and a USB4 Pro Cable to provide a full Mac accessory setup for the winner.

Satechi's Dual Dock Stand is a docking station that includes an NVMe SSD Enclosure, allowing Mac owners to have a convenient array of ports and access to extra storage. The SSD enclosure that's at the bottom of the dock works with NVMe and SATA SSDs, so users can add in an SSD they may already have on hand.

Transfer speeds up to 10Gb/s are supported, and adding the SSD to the dock is as simple as unscrewing it, popping the SSD in, and putting the cover back on. The necessary screws and screwdriver are included.

Along with an SSD enclosure, the Dual Dock Stand features two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort to connect up to two 4K 60Hz displays. While two displays are supported, Macs with M1 and M2 chips are limited to one external display. There's a USB-C power port that provides up to 75W power delivery for charging a connected Mac, plus there are two USB-C data ports (one 5Gb/s and one 10Gb/s), two USB-A ports, and an Ethernet port.

The dock itself is made from a space gray aluminum with black accents, and it matches well with Apple's hardware. The docking station is designed to fit underneath a MacBook Pro or ‌MacBook Air‌, offering an elevated angle that improves the ergonomics of the display. Satechi says the slight angled lift provides heat dissipation through strategically placed vents.

For those who need a dedicated charger for a Mac and other devices, Satechi has a 200W 6-Port USB-C Charger, which is priced at $150. It uses GaN technology for a compact size, and offers multiple charging configurations depending on the devices that you're charging up. There are two USB-C PD 3.1 ports that charge at up to 140W, and four USB-C PD 3.0 ports that charge up to 100W. One device can be charged at the full 140W, but if all six ports are in use, power is divided into 65W, 45W, 20W, 20W, 20W, and 20W.

To connect the Dock or Charger to a Mac, Satechi has a 1.2M USB4 Pro Cable, priced at $30. It supports 240W Power Delivery, 40Gb/s data transfer, and up to 8K resolution for external monitors. It has a braided design for durability, and is universally compatible with Thunderbolt and older USB versions.

For those interested in Satechi's Dual Dock Stand, Satechi is offering a 20 percent discount off of the $150 price tag with the promo code NVME20. The discount will be available until August 24. Satechi's 200W 6-Port USB-C Charger can be purchased for $150 as well, and the USB4 Pro Cable is available for $30. All of the accessories are available from the Satechi website.

We have one Dual Dock Stand, Charger, cable, and 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ to give away to a lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (August 17) at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 24. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after August 24 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Apple may not release any leather cases for the iPhone 15 lineup, according to the Twitter leaker known as "DuanRui."

DuanRui sources information from Chinese social media platforms, often revealing accurate insights into Apple's plans in the process. There is little other information about Apple's apparent move to discontinue leather cases at the current time, but "ShrimpApplePro" and 9to5Mac claim that they have heard the same information from other sources, so the rumor seems worth taking seriously at the current time.

Apple first released a series of leather cases in 2013 alongside the iPhone 5S. A refreshed selection of colors has accompanied every new iPhone model since then, featuring minor design refinements, such as the addition of aluminum buttons and MagSafe. Rather than overtly discontinuing premium case options, it seems likely that Apple could replace leather with an alternative high-end material that is vegan and has a smaller carbon footprint.

Apple in iOS 17 added new features to the Health app, introducing a mood logging function, tools for maintaining eye health, and more.

This guide highlights all of the features that are new in the Health app in iOS 17.

Mood Tracking

With iOS 17, Apple added a "State of Mind" feature to the Health app. This option is designed to allow you to track your emotions on a daily basis, to get an overall picture of mental wellbeing.

Through Health app notifications or the Apple Watch, you can log your mood at different times throughout the day and input an overall mood for the day.

Logging a mood presents a slider bar with options ranging from Very Unpleasant to Neutral to Pleasant. The options are color coded (very unpleasant is purple, neutral is blue, and very pleasant is orange), and the idea is to drag the slider to the closest representation of your current mood.

From there, Apple asks you what best describes the feeling, and presents a list of adjectives related to the mood that you can select from. The "Very Pleasant" mood, for example, has options like Amazed, Peaceful, Joyful, and Calm. The "Very Unpleasant" mood includes Angry, Sad, Drained, and Stressed, while Neutral moods include Peaceful, Indifferent, and Content.

You cannot input your own adjective, and must use one of the suggestions from Apple. There are a few dozen total options, so the idea is just to choose the closest match.

After you've selected a mood and an accompanying adjective for it, Apple asks what's causing the mood. Options include health, fitness, family, friends, partner, dating, weather, money, and current events, but again, you have to choose from Apple's list. You can, however, add context in this section, so you can write down details on why you've chosen a specific category.

Your mood over time can be viewed on a chart with breakdowns for the week, month, six months, or a year. States, Associations, and Life Factors can all be tapped into so you can see contributing factors to what has influenced how you feel.

You can see what's causing issues or making you happy with a list of every entry broken down by association, the category that includes factors like work and relationships.

Apple also logs life factors to show you patterns on actions that can influence your mood. Life factors include exercise minutes, mindfulness minutes, sleep, and time spent in daylight. Apple directly compares mood over time to exercise over time and other listed factors, so you can figure out if spending time working out or meditating has an impact on overall mood.

Mental Health Questionnaires

The Mental Wellbeing section of the Health app includes health questionnaires that screen for anxiety and depression so you can talk to your doctor if needed. These are screening tools typically used by doctors, and they ask questions related to how you have been feeling over the course of the last few weeks.

Taking these questionnaires populates anxiety and depression risk charts so you can see at a glance if you might need more self care or the help of a doctor at different periods throughout the year. Filling out the questionnaires will give you Anxiety Risk and Depression Risk readings.

Eye Health

Apple in iOS 17 is adding new tools for improving eye health, most of which are aimed at children, but can be used by anyone. In Screen Time, there's a new "Screen Distance" setting that is meant to reduce eye strain by making sure an iPhone or an iPad is not held too close to the face.

If the iPhone or ‌iPad‌ is too close, an alert will let you (or your child) know that the display needs to be further away. Apple recommends a viewing distance of 12 inches for the eyes, and offers a position guide to help users know where to hold the device for optimal viewing without eye strain.

Time in Daylight

The Apple Watch can measure the amount of time that is spent in daylight, and this is another feature aimed at children. There are studies that suggest spending 80 to 120 minutes outdoors can lower the risk of nearsightedness or myopia, and so paired with an Apple Watch running watchOS 10, the Health app is able to tell you how much time was spent in the daylight.

Apple says that daylight is also useful for adults as spending 20 minutes outdoors has physical and mental health benefits. Time spent in daylight is one of the metrics that Apple uses for tracking Mental Wellbeing.

Medications

Apple added Follow Up Reminders for Medications that you track using the Health app. If you don't log a medication within 30 minutes after you receive an official notification, you can opt into getting a second notification so you don't miss taking your medication.

Further, Critical Alerts can be enabled, and these will appear on the screen and play a sound even if a Focus mode is enabled or a device is muted.

Health App for iPad

The Health app has been limited to the iPhone since it was introduced, but with iPadOS 17, it's also available on the ‌iPad‌. The ‌iPad‌ isn't collecting Health data, but it can display all of the information collected by the iPhone and other accessories on a bigger display.

It essentially shows you all of the same information that's available on the iPhone app, but it's sized for the ‌iPad‌ and has a navigation bar on the left side of the display.

Design

Apple has tweaked the design of the Health app. Sections like Heart, Medications, Sleep, Mobility, and more have their own background colors to add more visual interest to the data that the app presents.

Much of the Health app look is the same, but there have been small updates to colors and other tiny changes that refine the look.

Read More

More information on all of the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Photography accessory company Moment today announced the launch of its third-generation lenses, which are its first add-on lenses that are designed for Apple's modern iPhones. T-Series lenses are compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones, and there are multiple lenses available.

This is the first time that Moment has come out with new iPhone lenses since 2017, which was back when the iPhone 7 came out. Priced between $120 and $150, here are the new lens options:

• Anamorphic 1.33x ($150) - Designed to bring a cinematic look to video capture on iPhone. There are gold flare and blue flare options for the anamorphic flare look. Gold flare provides rich golden tones, while blue flare offers an early 1960s cinematic look. 1.33x works for photos and videos with less distortion.
• Anamorphic 1.55x ($150) - Both of the Anamorphic lenses have a 20 percent wider aperture compared to the M-series lenses from Moment, along with a three-element design for better low-light performance. The 1.55x lens provides the most dramatic effect for video capture.
• 58mm Telephoto ($150) - The 58mm telephoto lens offers 2x optical zoom, and it can be used with the built-in telephoto lens on Apple's Pro iPhones. There's also a 4x zoom option using the Moment app.
• 18mm Wide ($130) - The 18mm Wide lens offers a wide-angle view similar to the Ultra Wide camera on the iPhone, but with less distortion. It can be paired with the Ultra Wide camera for more zoomed out shots.
• 14mm Fisheye ($120) - The 14mm Fisheye is a super wide-angle lens that has a 200-degree field of view. It can use the full image sensor on the newer iPhones with no vignetting or dark corners. This is a fisheye lens, so there is some distortion.
• 10x Macro ($120) - The Macro lens can take zoomed-in images of small objects from an inch away. It pairs with the Wide for improved texture and detail compared to what you can get with the iPhone's built-in macro feature.

Using the lenses requires a compatible Moment case. Moment is offering cases for the latest iPhone models, and also plans to support the iPhone 15 when it launches. Pre-orders are available with an iPhone 15 case, with the case set to ship out following the launch of new iPhones.

Moment's T-Series lenses can be used with the iPhone 13 and later with a compatible Moment case. Moment is offering a trade-in program for M-Series lenses that will provide up to $50 per lens in store credit to put toward the new T-Series lenses.

The T-Series lenses can be ordered from the Moment website starting today, with shipping to begin on September 7.

Apple is expected to release iOS 17 in mid to late September as a free software update for the iPhone XS and newer. The update includes a wide range of new features, but not all of them will be available right away, according to Apple's website.

Below, we have listed three features that Apple says are "coming later this year" as part of a future iOS 17 version, such as iOS 17.1 or iOS 17.2. Apple has already been testing iOS 17.1 internally for several weeks, according to our MacRumors analytics logs, and the update is likely to be released in late October based on precedent.

Journal App

An all-new Journal app will allow iPhone users to reflect on their day and memories, complete with text, photos, music, audio recordings, and more. The app will provide personalized suggestions based on recent on-device activity.

Collaborative Apple Music Playlists

A new Collaborative Playlists feature for Apple Music will allow multiple people to add, reorder, and remove songs in a shared playlist.

AirDrop Transfers via Internet

If you send content like an image or video to another user via AirDrop, the transfer will be able to continue over an internet connection if you leave AirDrop range, so long as both you and the recipient are signed in to an iCloud account.

New York City has decided to ban TikTok from city-owned devices used by NYC employees, reports The Verge. The New York City Cyber Command said that TikTok is a "security threat to the city's technical networks."

City employees are no longer allowed to download or use the TikTok app on city-owned devices, and they are also not allowed to access the TikTok website. New York state previously banned TikTok on state-issued devices, but some employees were still able to use it for marketing purposes.

"While social media is great at connecting New Yorkers with one another and the city, we have to ensure we are always using these platforms in a secure manner," a NYC City Hall spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge Wednesday. "NYC Cyber Command regularly explores and advances proactive measures to keep New Yorkers' data safe."

U.S. government officials have been backing legislation that would result in a nationwide TikTok ban. There are concerns that U.S. TikTok data is stored in China, though TikTok owner ByteDance has said that is not the case.

As of earlier this year, TikTok is not allowed on federal devices and systems in the United States. The UK, European Union, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous other U.S. states also prohibit TikTok on government devices. Montana has gone as far as banning TikTok downloads and usage statewide, but TikTok has sued the state.

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.

Last week, we began tracking a sale at Woot that offered steep discounts on Apple's 2021 M1 iPad Pro. This sale is set to end tonight at midnight, so we're sharing it again for anyone who might have missed it the first time around. All tablets in this sale are in new condition and come with a one year Apple warranty.

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

Woot's sale covers both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models of the M1 iPad Pro. Starting with the 11-inch tablets, Woot is selling these models with the Apple Smart Folio in select colors. Prices start at $659.99 (22 percent off) for 128GB Wi-Fi and rise to $849.99 (50 percent off) for 2TB Wi-Fi.

Woot has multiple 12.9-inch iPad Pro models at a discount, and these do not come with the Apple Smart Folio. Prices start at $859.99 (22 percent off) for 128GB Wi-Fi and rise to $949.99 (27 percent off) for 512GB Wi-Fi. Both the 1TB and 2TB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch models have sold out since the sale began.

In addition to Wi-Fi models, Woot still has a few cellular versions of the 11-inch and 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro tablets on sale.

We haven't tracked discounts on the M1 iPad Pro in about a year, given that recent sales have shifted to focus on the M2 models that launched in 2022. These tablets are fairly similar to one another, with the biggest advantages in the 2022 model being the M2 chip's internal upgrades and Apple Pencil hover. You can find out more information on the tablets in our guide.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple's iPhone 15 is believed to have been identified in India's regulatory database, less than a month before the device is expected to be officially unveiled.

Last August, just a few weeks before the announcement of the iPhone 14 lineup, a single iPhone 14 model was spotted in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) database with the model number A2882. This turned out to be the standard iPhone 14 model built for "other countries and regions."

Now, MySmartPrice has spotted an Apple device with the model number A3094 in the BIS database. The iPhone 14 has the model numbers A2649, A2881, A2884, A2883, and A2882. No Apple device with the model number A3094 currently exists and with iPhone model numbers roughly increasing with each successive generation, this is likely the iPhone 15. If so, this would be the first time that the iPhone 15 has been officially seen.

Earlier today, Bloomberg reported that production of the iPhone 15 has started in India – the first time that a new iPhone model has started production outside china prior to the device's announcement. It seems likely that the device filed in the BIS is the same model being mass produced in India.

New Apple devices being spotted in regulatory databases often indicates that launch is imminent. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to announce the iPhone 15 lineup at an event on Tuesday, September 12.

Today we're tracking a few deals on popular Apple accessories, including the AirTag 4-Pack on Adorama, the MagSafe Charger on Woot, and the Magic Keyboard on Amazon.

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

AirTag 4-Pack

Adorama today has the AirTag 4-Pack for $85.00, down from $99.00. There's an estimated shipping window of 1-2 days for the accessory, and Adorama provides free shipping.

Today's deal beats the sale we saw during Prime Day by around $5 and is one of the best deals that we've seen in a few weeks. Overall, there haven't been many steep discounts on any version of the AirTag in 2023, so if you've been shopping for the device be sure to check out Adorama soon.

AirTag provides a way to keep track of your items in the iOS Find My app, with a way to play a sound on the built-in speaker to find something locally or with Precision Finding when it's farther away.

MagSafe Charger

Woot has Apple's MagSafe Charger for $28.99, down from $39.00. This is just about $1 off from the all-time low price that we previously tracked on this accessory, and it's the best price of the year so far.

The MagSafe Charger is in new condition on Woot and comes with a one year Apple Manufacturer Limited Warranty.

Magic Keyboards

Lastly, we're tracking a pair of solid discounts on the 11-inch and 12.9-inch Magic Keyboards on Amazon. You can get the 11-inch version for $249.00, down from $299.00.

The 12.9-inch model is on sale for $289.13 on Amazon, down from $349.00. This is among the lowest prices of the year so far on this accessory, and right now it's only available in Black on Amazon.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Some iPhone 15 models will be equipped with a Thunderbolt/USB 4 retimer chip for high-speed data transfer, according to ChargerLab.

Following last week's leak of alleged images of the iPhone 15's USB-C port components, ChargerLab has seen further images of the parts and believes that they show an integrated circuit (IC) for Thunderbolt data transfer speeds.

The IC, known as a retimer, rebuilds signals and mitigates jitter. It augments signal transmission stability for high-capacity data ports and extends transmission ranges. Such chips are seen in other Thunderbolt/USB 4 devices, and ChargerLab believes it is clearly identifiable on the iPhone 15's USB-C components.

All four iPhone 15 models are expected to feature USB-C instead of Lightning. The iPhone 15 Pro models with USB-C ports are expected to support higher-speed data transfers, likely up to Thunderbolt speeds, while the standard iPhone 15 models will likely continue to feature USB 2.0 speeds – the same as Lightning. For comparison, the iPad Pro features a Thunderbolt port for transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, while the entry-level iPad's USB-C port is limited to just 480 Mbps.

Apple supplier Foxconn is starting production of the iPhone 15 in India, the first time that a new iPhone has been made outside China prior to its announcement, Bloomberg reports.

The devices are to be manufactured at a Foxconn plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The facility is preparing to deliver devices just weeks after they begin shipping from factories in China, narrowing the gap between manufacturing operations in India and China even further. Prior to the release of the iPhone 14, iPhones made in India lagged operations in China by around six to nine months.

This is the first time that a new iPhone model has started mass production in India before it has been announced by Apple. Last year's iPhone 14 models started production in India in late September.

The scale of iPhone 15 production in India apparently depends on the availability of imported components and and the ramp-up of production lines. Pegatron and Wistron factories are also due to soon come on stream to assemble the iPhone 15.

In addition, DigiTimes today reports that Foxconn plans to manufacture AirPods in India by the end of 2024 at its facility near Hyderabad, Telangana.

Manufacturing in India is a key part of Apple's plan to diversify its supply chain away from concentration in China. Apple reportedly plans to produce 25% of all iPhones in India by 2025, with other products such as the iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods set to follow.

Google today announced that it is adding updated generative AI capabilities to its search functionality, with the aim of helping users to "better learn and make sense of information" on the internet.

With the Google Search app, there is now a beta option to summarize a long article. The summary feature is able to provide "key points" from a webpage, along with a "Explore on page" section with questions and answers pulled from the content.

Google says that the new "SGE while browsing" feature is meant to help people "more deeply engage" with long-form content from creators. It shows key points on articles freely available on the web, and will not summarize articles that are paywalled.

As of now, the new AI functionality is available in the Google app on iOS and Android devices, with Google planning to expand it to the desktop through the Chrome browser "in the days ahead."

In the near future, Google also plans to add improvements to AI-generated responses that will allow users to hover over words to preview definitions and see related diagrams or images on the topic.