MacRumors

Early production operations for Apple's custom microLED displays indicate that the technology is headed to a broad range of products, including headsets, iPhones, and automotive applications, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce reports.

TrendForce also repeated their claim from last month that Apple's first microLED display will launch on a new Apple Watch Ultra model in 2026, rather than 2025, due to supply chain adjustments. The microLED display is expected to be 2.12-inches in size, a 10% increase over the display of the current Apple Watch Ultra.

In January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported Apple is likely planning to bring custom microLED displays to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac after the technology debuts in a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra. He believes Apple's long-term plan is to bring microLED displays to all of its key products, but it could be a decade before it emerges in the Mac owing to the complexity of the technology at this early stage. For comparison, Gurman noted that the iPhone will have had OLED displays for over six years by the time they are expected to come to the iPad. Other reports from DigiTimes, Nikkei Asia, and The Information have indicated similar plans for Apple to transition to custom microLED displays across multiple product lines in an effort to become less reliant on Samsung.

Apple is believed to have spent more than six years developing microLED technology for what will become the first display custom-designed by the company itself, mirroring its work on Apple silicon. Apple reportedly kicked off the current form of its microLED project, codenamed T159, around 2017. At an earlier stage, it even wanted to introduce the technology with the iPhone X. The advanced display offers improved brightness, color reproduction, and viewing angles, making images look more like they are "painted" atop the display glass, and replace parts currently supplied by companies like Samsung and LG.

Amazon today has a few deals on the 2023 MacBook Pro lineup, including all-time low prices on 14-inch and 16-inch models.

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.

14-Inch

The best deal this week on the 14-inch MacBook Pro can be found on the 12-core M2 Pro/1TB model at Amazon, priced at $2,199.00, down from $2,499.00. This is the cheapest we've ever seen this model, and it has an estimated delivery date of August 14 through the 21.

Amazon also has the 10-core M2 Pro/512GB model for $1,749.99, down from $1,999.00, but there is a shipping caveat for this notebook. Both colors are delayed into September as of writing, with the earliest delivery date set for September 8.

This is an all-time low price, so if you've been waiting for a discount, and don't mind waiting a little bit longer, it could be a good idea to lock in this deal today. Right now, only Amazon has the sale.

16-Inch

Moving to the larger notebooks, Amazon has the 12-core M2 Pro/512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,249.00 in both colors, down from $2,499.00. This one is also facing dwindling stock, so be sure to place your order soon if you're interested. B&H Photo is matching this deal, which is an all-time low price.

Lastly, the 12-core M2 Pro/1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,449.00, down from $2,699.00. This one is only available in Silver and Amazon has an estimated delivery date of August 16. B&H Photo is matching this deal, which is a record low price.

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

Apple supplier LG has reportedly purchased multiple patents that could help it produce the displays for Apple's rumored next-generation Apple Watch Ultra model with a microLED display.

The Elec reports that the patents purchased from a Taiwanese company have to do with the "transfer printing process" in microLED, as well as microLED technologies related to stacking, touch control sensing, AR, VR, and HUD.

The transfer printing process is said to be one of the most challenging aspects of the technology because the process involves planting chips that are a few micrometers (μm) to several dozen nanometers in size into their correct positions.

The small size of the chips makes execution difficult, while the low yield of the transcription process requires a repair process to replace defective microLEDs, all of which leads to higher costs.

Despite this, LG's purchase of the microLED patents is said to be a reflection of its willingness to improve the profitability of microLED production. LG is already constructing a small production line to supply Apple with microLED displays destined for an Apple Watch model. Opening in the second half of 2024, the facility will reportedly supply microLED backplanes and assemble Apple's displays.

Information shared in April by display analyst Ross Young suggested that an Apple Watch Ultra with microLED display would launch in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, rather than late 2024 as was originally rumored.

However, a July report by TrendForce claims it has been postponed for a second time and is unlikely to emerge before the first quarter of 2026, due to problems relating to high manufacturing costs which need to be solved before Apple can proceed to mass production.

The current ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ uses standard OLED technology, whereas microLED offers many of the benefits of OLED along with some improvements.

Compared to LED displays, microLED is much more energy efficient and it would likely notably increase battery life on the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ and other devices that adopt the technology in the future. Unlike OLED, there's much less risk of screen burn-in, and microLEDs have a longer potential lifetime.

MicroLED displays also provide contrast improvements and faster response times because of the pixel-level individual lights, plus the color is better and brighter. In a nutshell, it's a next-generation technology superior to OLED and miniLED.

The ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ is expected to be the first Apple device to adopt a microLED display, due to the small screen and pixel density of smartwatches. Apple is said to be planning to adopt the technology in smartphones, AR devices, and other devices in the future.

References to four unreleased iPhone models have been found in tvOS 17 by code delver @aaronp613, and the model numbers appear to confirm Apple's chip choices for the devices.

Apple added references to identifiers that include iPhone15,4, iPhone15,5, iPhone16,1, and iPhone16,2 in the first beta of tvOS 17 and they stuck around for several betas before Apple noticed and pulled them out in beta 5. The numbering fits with rumors that Apple will use the 3nm A17 chip for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus get the same A16 chip used in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

15,4 and 15,5 are in the same sequence as the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which are iPhone15,2 and iPhone15,3, respectively. Apple uses the "15" to denote devices with the A16 chip. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, for example, are iPhone14,7 and iPhone14,8 because they're using the A15.

So because the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will get the A16 chip already used in the 14 Pro and Pro Max, the 15,4 and 15,5 likely reference these two devices. 16,1 and 16,2 will be the first iPhones with a new chip, aka the rumored A17, so these model numbers likely refer to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Aaron also found references to an iPhone14,1 and an iPhone 14,9, devices that would have an A15 chip. It is not clear if these are significant or even reference devices that are coming in the future. iPhone14,1 in particular is curious as Apple has already used the iPhone 14,2 through iPhone 14,8 identifiers.

We've heard multiple rumors about Apple's plans to use the A16 chip for the standard iPhone 15 models and the A17 chip for the iPhone 15 Pro models, so the code findings are no major surprise. Apple is planning to introduce the new iPhone models in just under a month, with rumors suggesting they will be unveiled at a September 12 event.

Disney is planning to raise the price of its ad-free Disney+ and Hulu streaming services starting on October 12, the company said today during an earnings call (via CNBC). The ad-free Disney+ plan will be priced at $13.99 per month, while the ad-free Hulu plan will be priced at $17.99 per month.

Right now, ad-free Disney+ is $10.99 per month, while ad-free Hulu is priced at $14.99 per month. When Disney+ launched three years ago, Disney was charging $6.99, so the price for ad-free access has more than doubled.

Disney is planning to offer an ad-free bundle that includes Hulu and Disney+ for $19.99 per month, which is a $12 discount from the separate pricing. That happens to be the current price of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle, which will be going up to $24.99 per month. The Hulu and Disney+ bundle is not yet available, but will presumably be launching in October when the price increase is implemented.

The price of Disney's ad-supported plans will not be changing. Disney+ with ads will continue to be $7.99 per month, which is the same price as the Hulu with ads plan. The ad-supported bundle will be $9.99 per month.

In addition to raising the cost of its streaming plans, Disney is also planning to put a stop to password sharing, following in the footsteps of Netflix. Disney CEO Bob Iger said that Disney will "roll out tactics" to end password sharing starting in 2024.

The pricing increases and the crackdown on password sharing come after a $512 million loss for Disney's streaming division in the third fiscal quarter of 2023, which is better than the $1.1 billion loss from the year-ago quarter. Disney has over 105 million Disney+ subscribers, adding 800,000 subscribers during the quarter.

Apple today provided the third beta of the upcoming macOS Sonoma update to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to test the new operating system ahead of its fall launch. The new beta comes two weeks after Apple released the second beta.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 14 Sonoma update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after signing up on Apple's beta testing website and opting into the public beta under the Beta Updates section.

macOS Sonoma introduces interactive widgets for the desktop, making widgets more useful and more prominent. You can even use your iPhone widgets on your Mac's desktop through a new Continuity feature.

There are updated screensavers that are similar to the high-resolution animated screensavers available on the Apple TV, and for video calls and presenting, there's a Presenter Overlay option that lets you move, walk, and talk in front of content you're sharing from your Mac.

Safari supports web apps so you can add your favorite websites to your Dock, plus there are new Profiles to separate your work browsing and personal browsing. iCloud Keychain supports sharing passwords with others, and private browsing windows are locked when they are not in use.

Enhanced AutoFill is available for PDFs so you can quickly fill in information like names, addresses, and emails, plus users can collaborate on PDFs and see real-time updates through the Notes app.

For more on what's new in macOS Sonoma, including a new Game mode, we have a detailed macOS Sonoma roundup that highlights all of the features in the update.

Apple today seeded the third betas of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. The third betas come two weeks after the second betas. The third public beta features the same content that's in the fifth developer beta.

Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates by opening up the Settings app, going to General, tapping on the Software Update section and toggling on the iOS 17 Public Beta option.

iOS 17 adds a new StandBy option for the iPhone, allowing it to serve as an information hub when it is in a horizontal position and connected to a charger. StandBy mode displays the time, Live Activities, incoming notifications, and tons of widgets.

Speaking of widgets, widgets you use on the Lock Screen and Home Screen are interactive, so you can do things like control a smart light or check off a Reminder without opening an app. Autocorrect is smarter than before, and it's easier to correct mistakes with a quick tap.

AirDrop has a new NameDrop feature for quickly sharing contact information with a person nearby, and the Phone app has customizable Contact Posters that let you choose what people see when you call them.

Live Voicemail shows the voicemail that someone is leaving right on your Lock Screen so you can pick up if it's important, and the Messages app has a refined look and a Check-In feature that's meant to help you get to your destination safely.

FaceTime supports video messages so you can leave a video voicemail if someone misses a call, plus you can use it on the Apple TV. Safari has a locked private browsing window and a password sharing feature, and better tracking prevention. The Maps app now works offline, the Photos app can recognize your pets, and Visual Look Up works with food, symbols, videos, and more.

There's a new mood tracking feature available in the Health app, and later this year, Apple also plans to add a journaling app.

For a complete overview of all of the new features in iOS 17, we have a dedicated iOS 17 roundup. iPadOS 17 also has some iPad-only features like a revamped Lock Screen, with details available in our separate iPadOS 17 roundup.

Apple has also released new public betas of watchOS 10 and tvOS 17.

Apple's upcoming A17 chip that is set to be used in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models includes a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU, according to leaker Unknownz21. The current A16 chip has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, so the A17 will bring notable GPU improvements to the new higher-end iPhone models.

The A17 chip will feature a 3.70GHz maximum clock rate, up from 3.46GHz in the A16 chip. Notably, the information shared by Unknownz21 suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature the same 6GB RAM that's available in the iPhone 14 Pro models. Prior rumors have said the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would have 8GB RAM, which the leaker says is "unlikely," but not impossible.

Built on a new 3-nanometer process, the A17 chip will bring speed and efficiency improvements to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. We should see a decent increase in GPU performance along with faster CPU speeds and perhaps better battery life compared to the A16, which is built on a 4-nanometer process. Performance could increase by 10 to 15 percent, while power consumption could be down by up to 30 percent.

Because 3nm technology is new, the A17 chip is expensive to manufacture, which means it will only be available in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 models will adopt the A16 chip, which is currently limited to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhones in September, and current signs suggest the iPhone event will be held on Tuesday, September 12. For more on what's coming, we have dedicated iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro roundups that aggregate all of the rumors we've heard to date.

Apple does not need to change its "anti-steering" App Store rules while its legal dispute with Epic Games continues to play out, the U.S. Supreme Court decided today. Apple can maintain the ‌App Store‌ rules as is while the Supreme Court considers its appeal, according to Bloomberg Law.

Apple's anti-steering rules prevent developers from directing customers to make purchases for digital goods outside of the ‌App Store‌. In the Epic vs. Apple case that started in 2020, the judge decided that Apple should change its ‌App Store‌ rules to allow developers to direct customers to purchasing mechanisms outside of the ‌App Store‌, which paves the way for alternate payment methods.

Since 2021, Apple has been able to delay implementing changes pending various appeals. In April 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the original court and kept the ‌‌App Store‌‌ rule change mandate in place. Apple then decided to request that the Supreme Court hear the case.

The appeals court gave Apple 90 days to make a filing with the Supreme Court, and said at that time that Apple did not need to change the rules until the Supreme Court made a decision on whether to hear the case.

Apple has not yet filed with the Supreme Court, but ‌Epic Games‌ made an emergency appeal with U.S. Supreme Court Judge Elena Kagan to ask that Apple be forced to implement the anti-steering rule changes immediately. Kagan ruled against Epic, in yet another major blow to the gaming company.

As a result, Apple can continue to temporarily avoid tweaking the ‌App Store‌ rules. Apple still needs to file its Supreme Court appeal, and the Supreme Court could decide not to hear the case. If that happens, the rule change will need to be implemented right away as the appeals court decision will stand.

Apple has argued that changing the ‌App Store‌ rules will "upset the careful balance between developers and customers provided by the ‌‌‌‌‌‌App Store‌‌‌‌‌‌," causing irreparable harm to Apple and consumers.

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.

Apple's new Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones are now available for purchase in more than 20 additional countries following their July 19 launch in the United States, Canada, France, and Germany.

According to Beats, the headphones are for sale in Australia, Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the UK as of today.

The fourth-generation Studio headphones are priced at $350 and feature adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, USB-C charging and connectivity, sound improvements, and other new features compared to the prior-generation model. Design wise, they look the same as the past Studio headphones.

Apple aimed to make the Beats Studio Pro compatible with a wide range of devices, so they do not have a dedicated Apple audio chip. Apple users will miss automatic switching when swapping devices, but the Beats otherwise support features like Find My, one-touch pairing, and Hey Siri support.

The Beats Studio Pro can be purchased from Apple through each country's storefront, and they are also available from Best Buy, Amazon, and other third-party retailers.

iPad deals continue this week with fresh discounts on the iPad mini 6 at Amazon, starting at $399.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $499.00. Amazon provides an estimated delivery window between August 10 and August 14 for most United States residences.

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.

This $99 discount is available in all four colors of the iPad mini 6: Pink, Purple, Space Gray, and Starlight. Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the tablet and just about $20 higher than the record low price we saw during Prime Day.

Besides this model, there is only one other notable discount on the iPad mini 6 on Amazon right now. You can get the 256GB cellular tablet for $629.00, down from $799.00. At $170 off this is an all-time low price, and it's only available in Pink.

In addition to these iPad mini 6 deals, so far this week we've tracked discounts on the previous generation M1 iPad Pro at Woot and on the iPad Air at Amazon. All of these sales are still live and provide as much as 52 percent off select tablets.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Apple is planning to release a new band for the Apple Watch Series 9 later this year, according to the Apple device collector known as "Kosutami."

The new Apple Watch band will reportedly be made out of a woven fabric material and feature a magnetic buckle, similar to the existing Modern Buckle band. It is set to be introduced alongside new Apple Watch models this year. Kosutami told MacRumors that the band is likely designed for the Apple Watch Series 9, rather than the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra. The magnetic band will retail for $99, the same price tag as the Braided Solo Loop.

Apple announced the Modern Buckle leather band with the original Apple Watch back in 2014. "What looks like a solid buckle is actually a two-piece magnetic closure that's delightfully simple to secure," Apple writes. It is only available for the smaller Apple Watch casing size and costs $149.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra are expected to be "basically unchanged" compared to the current models, other than the S9 chip for improved performance and a couple of new color options including a pink aluminum and a black titanium finish. The refreshed devices are likely to be announced alongside the iPhone 15 lineup in September.

Apple's latest beta of watchOS 10 has added Apple Watch support for its forthcoming NameDrop feature, as spotted by avid code scrutinizer Aaronp613.

NameDrop was Apple's headline new AirDrop feature in its ‌iOS 17‌ preview. Rather than type in the number of someone new to call or text them so that they have your number, NameDrop allows you to simply hold your ‌iPhone‌ near their ‌iPhone‌ to swap contact details.

Bringing the two devices together will automatically pop up a contact sharing interface, and tapping the popup shows a person's contact information and their Contact Poster, with options to "Receive Only" or share your own contact information in response.

NameDrop works between two iPhones running ‌iOS 17, and between an ‌iOS 17‌ iPhone and an Apple Watch running watchOS 10. As shown in action in the embedded video clip above, it also works between two Apple Watches via a new My Card sharing option in the Contacts app, or by tapping the My Card watch face complication.

• 5 New AirDrop Features Coming in iOS 17

Apple is expected to announce final details and launch dates for iOS 17 and related operating system updates at its upcoming iPhone 15 event on September 12.

Popular note-taking app and PDF editor GoodNotes has received its first major update in four years, introducing new AI-powered handwriting recognition features, a marketplace for digital stationery, new pen gestures, and more.

The sixth version builds on Goodnotes 5's iPad handwriting recognition by adding AI-powered Spellcheck, which draws heavily on the neural engine in Apple silicon to recognize mistakes in writing and suggest a correction or rewrite the word in the user's handwriting style.

Currently, the spellcheck feature supports English, Spanish, German and Dutch. GoodNotes 6 also introduces an experimental word autocomplete feature for handwriting in English.

Elsewhere, GoodNotes 6 brings new pen gestures include Scribble to Erase and Circle to Lasso, while a new in-app marketplace allows users to download new templates, stickers, and digital stationery directly within the app.

There are additional options to customize folders and dynamic templates that allow users to customize the size and color of the digital paper in their notebooks. The app also introduces AI-driven writing features, enabling users to extend or condense text, modify its tone, or paraphrase content.

Lastly, this version includes interactive exam prep materials for SAT and other standardized tests, with built-in hints and AI Math Assistance to identify errors.

Goodnotes 6 is free to download on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, and free to use for up to three notebooks. The full suite of features can be unlocked with unlimited notebooks for $9.99 per year or $29.99 as a one-time purchase.

Existing paid GoodNotes 5 users can continue using GoodNotes 5, or upgrade to Goodnotes 6 at a discount. Goodnotes 6 will continue to be free for educational institutions through Apple School Manager.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 event on September 12 will adopt the same format as last year's iPhone event, involving an in-person component with members of the media invited to Apple Park, a pre-recorded video presentation, and hands-on time with Apple's new products afterwards, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In a post-pandemic 2023, some may have hoped that Apple would hold a traditional live presentation on stage in front of an audience for its flagship iPhone unveiling this year, but it was arguably already clear at WWDC in June that this is now Apple's preferred event format going forward.

WWDC 2023 was held online with an in-person component, and like the previous WWDC, randomly selected developers and students were invited to ‌Apple Park‌ for one day to watch the pre-recorded keynote video, meet some of the teams at Apple, and attend event activities.

Recording its presentations in advance allows Apple to have strict directorial control over announcements and avoid any embarrassing mishaps, while applying digital production effects and slick transitions as it segues between product unveilings.

Apple is expected to introduce four new iPhone models, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The event should also see the debut of the Apple Watch Series 9 and a new Apple Watch Ultra, final details and launch dates for iOS 17 and related operating system updates, and perhaps other announcements.

Apple is calling the Vision Pro headset's external battery pack a "Magic Battery," based on code references found in tvOS beta 5.

Previously referred to as "MagSafe Battery Pack" for its similarity to the iPhone battery pack of the same name, the Magic Battery provides Apple's mixed reality headset with two hours of tethered power. New references to the name were spotted by independent Apple code researcher aaronp613.

There is a single woven braided power cable that attaches to the left side of the Vision Pro headset. The cable can be plugged into a static power source or plugged into a Magic Battery for use on the go.

The Magic Battery is designed to fit in a pocket, and can be swapped out for additional power on the go, but the device ships with a single battery, so users will have to buy more battery packs to extend battery life when away from a power outlet.

Apple's Vision Pro has been criticized for relying on a separate battery pack that is worn at the waist. Most AR/VR headsets on the market have an integrated battery, but Apple decided in testing that the added weight of an internal battery would make the Vision Pro too heavy and uncomfortable to wear.

Set to be released in early 2024, the $3,499 Vision Pro includes more high-end hardware than any headset currently on the market, featuring two high-resolution 4K micro-OLED displays, 12 cameras and five sensors for monitoring hand gestures and mapping the external environment, two Apple silicon processors, and more.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 event is likely to be held on Tuesday, September 12, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said today. In a tweet, Gurman said that "signs are increasingly pointing to September 12," which would line up with the timing of past iPhone events.

In his Power On newsletter shared over the weekend, Gurman had suggested September 12 or September 13 as two potential dates for the event, but now it sounds like Tuesday is the more probable candidate.

Apple's fall iPhone events are usually held during the first two weeks of September, and often take place on a Tuesday. Launching in early September allows Apple to push iPhone sales ahead of the end of the fiscal quarter.

If the iPhone 15 models are unveiled on September 12 and Apple sticks to its usual debut timing, pre-orders will take place on Friday, September 15, and a launch will follow on Friday, September 22.

We are expecting Apple to introduce four new iPhone models, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Dynamic Island is expected to expand to all iPhone 15 models, plus Apple will adopt USB-C for charging instead of Lightning. Most other changes will be limited to the Pro models, with those set to feature slimmer bezels, a faster A17 chip, new camera technology, and more, as outlined in our iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro roundups.

The fall event should also see the debut of the Apple Watch Series 9 and a new Apple Watch Ultra, and shortly after the event, we'll see the launch of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10.