Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 lineup in September. As usual, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to have a wide range of new features, including a USB-C port, A17 Bionic chip, titanium frame, and more.
Below, we have recapped the top five new features rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models.
USB-C port: iPhone 15 Pro models are widely rumored to feature a USB-C port, providing a more universal charging standard. On the Pro models, the USB-C port is expected to support at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3, which would result in the devices having significantly faster data transfer speeds over a wired connection compared to existing iPhones with a Lightning port.
Action button: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with a customizable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra. The button would replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included on every iPhone model since 2007. Users would likely be able to assign the button to various system functions, such as Ring/Silent, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Low Power Mode, and more.
Titanium frame: A second Apple Watch Ultra feature that iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to adopt is a titanium frame, versus stainless steel on the iPhone 14 Pro. The titanium frame is said to have more of a brushed finish.
A17 Bionic chip: iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be equipped with Apple's next-generation A17 Bionic chip. The chip will reportedly be manufactured based on TSMC's advanced 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm A16 Bionic chip in iPhone 14 Pro models.
Amazon Prime Day is officially underway today, and we've started tracking all of the best deals you can find on Apple products. This includes solid markdowns on a range of AirPods, with the best price of the year so far on AirPods 2.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Specifically, you can get the AirPods 2 with Charging Case for $89.99, down from $129.00. This is an overall second-best price on the AirPods 2, but it's a match for the best price we've tracked so far this year on the accessory.
You can also get the AirPods 3 (Lightning Case) for $139.99, down from $169.00 and the AirPods Pro 2 for $199.00, down from $249.00. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.
Amazon Prime Day is back again, and this summer it will last for two days. During this time, you'll find a large selection of deals and offers across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For our coverage, we're focusing entirely on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48 hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPad mini, and more.
As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
AirPods
Starting with AirPods, you'll find a wide selection of solid deals across the AirPods lineup on Amazon during Prime Day. Prices start at $89.99 for the AirPods 2 ($39 off), then increase to $199.00 for the AirPods Pro 2 ($50 off).
This is an overall second-best price on the AirPods 2, but it's a match for the best price we've tracked so far this year on the accessory. We're also tracking the AirPods Max at a discount during Prime Day, available for $449.00, down from $549.00.
Update: Since we posted yesterday, most AirPods deals have remained strong, but the AirPods 3 have gone up to $149.00, which is still a solid second-best price. AirPods Max are also slipping into August and September, so be sure to place your order soon if you plan to buy one.
Big discounts have hit across the Apple Watch family this Prime Day, including record low prices on both Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 8.
Apple Watch SE
Starting with the Apple Watch SE, Amazon has the 40mm GPS model for just $199.99 in select colors, down from $249.00. The 44mm GPS model is available for $229.99, down from $279.00. These are now the best prices we've ever seen on both versions of the second-generation Apple Watch SE.
Update: All Apple Watch SE model discounts have expired today. If they return, we'll be sure to update this section again.
For the main Apple Watch Series 8 models, prices start at $279.99 for 41mm GPS and rise to $309.99 for 45mm GPS. Similar to the SE devices, this is the first time we've ever seen these watches go this low, and they're available in multiple colors.
Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi model of the 9th generation iPad for $249.99, down from $329.00, which is a match of the previous all-time low for this tablet. The 256GB Wi-Fi model is on sale for $389.99, down from $479.00, and this one is a new record low price.
For the newer 2022 10th generation iPad, Amazon is introducing fresh all-time low prices for both Wi-Fi models. The 64GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $379.99, down from $449.00; and the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $529.99, down from $599.00. Both beat the previous low price by more than $20.
Update: The sale on the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad has ended today, but you can still get the 256GB Wi-Fi model at its best-ever price.
Amazon is offering fresh discounts on the iPad mini 6. With these sales, you can get the 8.3-inch tablet for the best prices we've ever seen.
You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $379.99, down from $499.00. The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini is available for $529.99, down from $649.00. At $119 off, these are both new record low prices on the iPad mini 6, and the Prime Day price beats the previous record low by about $20.
The iPad Air from 2022 is seeing notable discounts this week, starting at $499.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and $649.99 for the 256GB Wi-Fi model. Both of these are record low prices for the tablet, and are available in multiple colors.
Amazon has Apple's M2 13-inch MacBook Pro (256GB) for $1,099.00, down from $1,299.00, which is an all-time low price. You can also get the 512GB model for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00.
A new all-time low price has appeared on the 13.3-inch M1 MacBook Air from 2020, available for $749.99, down from $999.00
It's on sale in all three colors of Gold, Silver, and Space Gray at this price, with a fast one-day shipping estimate for Prime members. At $249 off, this is now the best price that we've ever tracked for the M1 MacBook Air, and right now only Amazon has the sale.
Apple in iOS 17 has introduced a handy new camera feature that helps to straighten up your shooting angle before you even hit the shutter. Running the iOS 17 beta? Then keep reading to learn how to take advantage of the new Level option.
For a while now, Apple's Camera app has included a few optional settings that can help you line up your shots. There's a Grid that can be overlaid on the viewfinder to help apply the rule of thirds, and a somewhat-hidden leveling feature for top-down photos that displays a floating crosshair to help you line up your subject properly.
With iOS 17, Apple has further enhanced the camera leveling functionality by separating it out from the Grid mode. By making it an individual option, Apple has also included an additional horizontal level for more traditional straight-on photos.
Turning the Level option on will pop up a broken horizontal line on the screen when your iPhone senses you're lining up for a straight-on shot and you tilt your device slightly out of horizontal. The line appears white while your phone is out of level and then turns yellow once you achieve a level orientation to indicate success.
How to Enable the Camera Level
The new Level option is off by default if you don't have Grid mode enabled. You can turn it on manually by following these steps.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and select Camera.
Under the "Composition" section, toggle on the switch next to Level.
Now open the Camera app and try shooting a subject at a straight angle, and you should see the broken horizontal lines in the center of the viewfinder. Straighten your angle up to connect the lines and make a single yellow line.
The leveling pop-up only appears briefly and only within a narrow range of angles close to horizontal (in either portrait or landscape orientation), so it won't intrusively pop up when you're intentionally trying to take a photo at an angle.
Apple has launched an online store in China's WeChat app, the Tencent-owned social media platform has announced (via Reuters).
China's dominant messaging app will host the Apple store via one of its mini-programs, which typically offers e-commerce, financial, and live-streaming services to WeChat's over 1.2 billion users.
Customers will be able to purchase the full line of Apple products including iPhones, iPads, and Macs on the store. Orders via WeChat are eligible for free shipping, and some users can pay for three-hour delivery and access Apple's trade-in program.
The move follows a pattern of Apple branching out its sales in China by turning to social media platforms, which Chinese consumers increasingly use to shop.
As Reuters points out, Apple already operates a similar shop on Tencent-rival Alibaba Group's Tmall online marketplace, while JD.com, China's second-largest online retailer, is an official Apple reseller. Apple also tried marketing its products on a livestream in China in May for the first time with an hour-long show.
China's smartphone sales in the first quarter fell 5% year on year, marking the lowest first-quarter sales figure for the country since 2014, according to data from Counterpoint Research cited by Reuters.
However, the research firm said Apple bucked the trend in the same quarter by recording a 19.9% share of the Chinese smartphone market – its biggest since 2014 – as it increased sales by 6% year-on-year in a declining market.
Apple's Vision Pro headset will use a new type of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, that has been custom designed to support Apple's R1 input processing chip, reports The Korea Herald.
Apple Vision Pro is powered by a pair of chips. The main processor is the M2, which is responsible for processing content, running the visionOS operating system, executing computer vision algorithms, and providing graphical content.
The R1 chip meanwhile processes all of the information coming from the 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones in the headset, and streams images to the displays within 12 milliseconds – eight times faster than the blink of an eye – providing the wearer with a virtually lag-free view of the world.
To support the R1's high-speed requirements, the headset will reportedly use a 1-gigabit low latency DRAM chip supplied by SK hynix that features an increased number of input and output pins to minimize delays.
The DRAM chip is also said to utilize a unique packaging method called Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging, which enables it to be attached to the R1 chipset as a single integrated unit, allowing for a doubling in processing speed.
Apple's $3,500 headset is set to go on sale early next year. Chinese contract manufacturer Luxshare will initially assemble the device. However, according to one report, Apple may limit production to fewer than 400,000 units in 2024, due to issues related to the supply of the two micro-OLED displays for the wearer's eyes and the outward-facing curved lenticular lens.
Apple earlier today released new Rapid Security Response updates for iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1, and macOS Ventura 13.4.1 users, but Apple has pulled the software, likely due to an issue that caused certain websites not to work after the RSRs were installed.
According to reports on the MacRumors forums, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Zoom, and other websites started giving a warning about not being supported on the Safari browser following the Rapid Security Response updates.
The iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1, and macOS Ventura 13.4.1 Rapid Security Response updates fixed a WebKit vulnerability that Apple says may have been actively exploited. Unfortunately, it appears that the updates changed the Safari user agent to include an (a), leading some websites to break.
Apple will likely re-release the RSRs when the issue has been addressed.
Apple has pulled the Rapid Security Responses released earlier today.
There are reports on the MacRumors forums that it broke certain apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Zoom to name a few.
— Aaron (@aaronp613) July 11, 2023
Those who have already installed the update can downgrade on iOS by going to Settings > General > About and tapping on iOS Version. From there tap on Remove Security Update. On the Mac, updates can be removed by following our how to.
With iOS 16, Apple introduced a whole new look for the Lock Screen complete with widgets and customizability, and in iOS 17, the Lock Screen was further refined. Widgets are more useful than ever before, and there's a new StandBy mode that turns your iPhone into an information hub when it's not in use.
This guide highlights everything that's new with the Lock Screen in iOS 17.
StandBy
StandBy is a Lock Screen mode that activates when an iPhone is plugged into a charger and positioned in a horizontal (or landscape) orientation. It works with a MagSafe charger, which is arguably the most useful way to use it, but it also activates with a Qi-based wireless charger or a Lightning charger.
There are several different StandBy screens that you can choose from, some of which are customizable and some of which require unlocking the iPhone.
Dual Widget Stacks - With this StandBy screen, you can swipe through widgets of your choice. You can set up two separate widget stacks with multiple Home Screen widgets, displaying two sets of information side by side. You can customize the widgets in each stack, and swipe through each side individually to change them.
Photos - One of the StandBy screens shows content from your Photo Library, with the current time overlaid in the top right corner. You can see the date and location of the photo if you tap, and using this requires the iPhone to be unlocked so no one can see your images without your permission. You can swipe to change between themes like Favorites, Nature, Pets, Cities, and People. You can hide any themes that you don't like, and add additional albums.
Time - The time StandBy screen displays the time and information like the current weather, the date, or when your next alarm is set for. You can select digital or analog time, and there are four digital themes including standard Digital, World, Solar, and Float. Float shows the time in big bubble numbers in customizable colors, Solar has more of a standard font with a solar flare design in different colors, and World shows the time with a map of the world and your current location highlighted. The Analog theme has customizable accent colors, and Digital has bold numbers with different color options.
With all of these StandBy screens, you can swipe left or right to swap between one of the three display options, and then you can swipe up and down to choose what's displayed. So if you've set up different Time screens, for example, you can swipe to change between digital and analog.
Notifications
Incoming notifications will be shown full screen when you have your iPhone in StandBy mode. So if you get an iMessage, for example, it will pop up with the name of the person and the Messages icon to let you know you have a message.
Content that would not normally be shown in a notification will not show up in StandBy mode unless you are nearby and have unlocked your device with Touch ID or Face ID.
On any of the StandBy screens, you can long press to open options for customizing what you see. Long press on either of the widgets on the widget screen, for example, and you can choose the widgets that you want to see.
There are customization options for almost all of the StandBy display options, and it's worth swiping through and long pressing where applicable to change your setup to meet your needs.
With the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (and future iPhones), StandBy is more useful because of the always-on display. StandBy content is always on and active on these devices, without the need to interact with the iPhone.
On iPhones without always-on display technology, you need to tap the screen to activate it because it turns off after a short period. You can use StandBy with all iPhones, but it is a better experience with the always-on display.
Lock Screen widgets were introduced with iOS 16, but in iOS 17, they're interactive, making them much more useful. On iOS 16, tapping a Lock Screen widget launches the accompanying app, but that step is not necessary for certain widgets that have tasks you can complete without an app.
You can check off a task right in the Reminders widget, for example, or use the Home widget to control a smart home device without opening the Home app. Apple apps have interactive features, and third-party developers have an API to adopt interactivity too.
Interactive widgets are available on the Lock Screen and the Home Screen, so they can do more wherever you're using them.
Apple has announced that it will report its earnings results for the third quarter of the 2023 fiscal year on Thursday, August 3. The report will be available at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time, and Apple's CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the results on a conference call with analysts at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
A live audio stream of the call will be available on Apple's Investor Relations page, and a recording will be available later in the day for replay.
Apple has not provided formal revenue guidance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but analysts currently expect the company to report revenue of around $81.5 billion this quarter on average, according to Yahoo Finance. This would be a decline of around 2% compared to the $83 billion revenue the company reported in the year-ago quarter.
Maestri provided the following commentary on Apple's earnings call last quarter:
We expect our June quarter year-over-year revenue performance to be similar to the March quarter, assuming that the macroeconomic outlook does not worsen from what we are projecting today for the current quarter.
AAPL is trading at around $188 as of writing, as shares approach a 52-week high of $194.48.
Apple today released Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates that are available for iPhone and iPad users running the iOS and iPadOS 16.5.1 updates and the macOS Ventura 13.4.1 update.
Rapid Security Response updates are designed to provide iOS and macOS users with security fixes without the need to install a full software update. Today's updates address an actively exploited WebKit vulnerability, so it is a good idea to update as soon as possible.
iOS Security Response 16.5.1 is available through the standard Software Update mechanism in the iPhone or iPad Settings app, but is a quick update, requiring just a couple of minutes to download the update and then a quick restart for the install process. The macOS update can be installed through System Settings.
Once the Rapid Security Response update is installed, iOS 16.5.1 users and macOS Ventura 13.4.1 users will see an updated version of the software, and tapping on the version in the About section of Settings will display information about the installed OS version and the Rapid Security Response update. Those who want to disable Rapid Security Response updates on iPhone can do so by following our how to. The updates can also be disabled on the Mac.
Apple has been testing the Rapid Security Response feature since last year, with RSRs first introduced with the launch of iOS 16 and macOS Ventura.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of macOS Ventura 13.5 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta introduced two weeks after the release of the fourth beta.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, with the betas available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.
No notable features have been found in macOS 13.5, so it's not yet clear what's included in the update.
With macOS Sonoma now in development and slated for launch this fall, Apple's work on macOS 13 will soon be wrapping up. macOS 13.5 is likely to be one of the final updates to macOS Ventura.
Apple today seeded the fifth betas of upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after the release of the fourth betas.
Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the “Beta Updates” option and toggling on the iOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.
iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 may lay the groundwork for iMessage Contact Key Verification. The feature is meant to let Apple device owners verify that they are messaging with the people they intend to message rather than a malicious entity that has intercepted a message or is eavesdropping on a conversation.
In the first beta, hints of iMessage Contact Key were available, but the option was not fully enabled and the references have since been removed, so it remains unclear if this is something we can expect to see in iOS 16.6.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming two weeks after the release of the fourth beta.
To install the watchOS 9.6 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.6 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the iPhone it is paired with.
It is not yet known if there are new features in the watchOS 9.6 update, but we did not find anything in the first beta. This is expected to be one of the final updates to the watchOS 9 operating system as Apple has shifted its work to watchOS 10, the next-generation version of watchOS.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after the release of the fourth beta.
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 16.6 update by downloading a profile on the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS updates are usually minor, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the tvOS 16.6 update, but we'll update this article if we find anything new.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
Porsche today announced an updated My Porsche App that adds new vehicle functionality to the CarPlay experience in Porsche vehicles. With the app integration, audio, climate, comfort, lighting, and entertainment functions can be controlled directly in CarPlay.
According to Porsche, car owners can use the combined My Porsche App and CarPlay feature to do things like change radio stations, control the in-car temperature, and adjust the lighting. The car model shows up through CarPlay, and there are wellness modes like "relax," "warm up," and "refresh" that can be activated using the CarPlay quick actions feature.
All of the available vehicle functions can be controlled using Siri voice commands for hands-free adjustments when driving.
Porsche owners can activate the feature by scanning a QR code displayed in the PCM, and new CarPlay functions will be made available to Porsche owners as they are developed. The first vehicle to support the new My Porsche App and CarPlay integration is the Porsche Cayenne, which is available now. The updated app will be rolled out to other model lines in the future.
Note that while Porsche is using a clever app integration to allow for vehicle functions to be controlled through CarPlay, this is not the next-generation CarPlay experience that Apple has in development.
Apple last year previewed a range of new CarPlay functions that are in the works, including multi-screen support and CarPlay controls for vehicle functions. The next-generation CarPlay will be available only in new vehicles, and the first that support the updated CarPlay experience are expected later this year.
We've been tracking all of the best deals you can get during Prime Day this year, and this includes a new all-time low price on the 13.3-inch M1 MacBook Air from 2020.
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 can get the 256GB M1 MacBook Air for $749.99, down from $999.00 today on Amazon. It's available in all three colors of Gold, Silver, and Space Gray at this price, with an estimated delivery date of July 11 for Prime members.
There are many internal and external differences between the 13.3-inch M1 MacBook Air and the newer 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch M2 MacBook Air models, but as an entry-level computer the M1 device should work great for common tasks, especially at this Prime Day pricing. You can read our guide to get a better look at all the similarities and differences between the generations.
Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.
Beats has collaborated for a third time with fragment design founder Hiroshi Fujiwara for a monochromatic limited-edition version of Beats Fit Pro earbuds.
The two new white and black pairs of Beats Fit Pro are available now from Apple, SSENSE, END, and more, and are priced at $199.99.
First released in November 2021, the Beats Fit Pro feature flexible wingtips for a more secure fit in the ear. The fitness-oriented earbuds have a similar design and features as the AirPods Pro, including silicone ear tips, active noise cancellation with a "Transparency" mode, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, an H1 chip for one-tap pairing and automatic switching between Apple devices, hands-free "Hey Siri" support, and more.
Beats and Fujiwara have collaborated on several previous projects, including limited-edition Powerbeats Pro and Beats Flex in a similar design scheme back in 2021.
Apple has shared two new ads on its YouTube channel, one promoting the long battery life of the iPhone 14 Plus and the other using the iPhone 14 Pro to highlight Apple's Crash Detection feature.
The first one-minute ad, "Battery for Miles," depicts a man slowly driving a tractor as he tows a gigantic pumpkin along a long, straight road seemingly in the middle of nowhere. "Two Miles An Hour" by Ludacris plays in the background.
Mounted in front of his steering wheel is an iPhone 14 Plus running Apple Maps, which tells him "In 102 miles, continue straight." After the man briefly raises an eyebrow, the tagline appears: "Our longest lasting battery life ever. Relax, it's iPhone 14 Plus."
In the second ad, "Crash Test," a car crash test takes place in a hangar, to the tune of "You Can't Hurt Me No More" by Gene Chandler. The collision occurs in slow motion and tracks a crash test dummy, until the vehicle comes to a rest.
Mounted on the dash is an iPhone 14 Pro with a display that reads "It looks like you've been in a crash." Then the tagline reads: "Crash Detection can sense a severe car crash and automatically call 911. Relax, it's iPhone 14 Pro."
At this point, customers interested in purchasing a new iPhone should consider waiting for the iPhone 15 series, which is expected to launch in September. Various changes are expected for the next iPhones, including Dynamic Island for all models, USB-C instead of Lightning, and a Periscope lens for at least one of the Pro models. Check out our dedicated iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro guides for all the details.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
