MacRumors

Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3.

AirDrop

Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts.

iOS 26.2 includes an option to generate a one-time AirDrop code, which can then be shared with someone who is not in your contacts list. The code allows file exchanges over AirDrop for a 30-day period.

People you have shared a one-time code with can be managed by opening up the Settings app, selecting the General section, choosing AirDrop, and tapping on "Manage Known AirDrop Contacts."

Hypertension Notifications

According to Apple's developer notes, Hypertension Notifications are now available for reading with a new API. Apps can request authorization to read notifications resulting from the Hypertension Notification feature on Apple Watch.

This suggests a third-party app can read data from the Health app, so your medical app could be alerted if you receive a hypertension alert.

Privacy

When you access your Apple Account for the first time after installing iOS 26.2, you'll see an alert letting you know that Apple's privacy information for Apple Accounts has been updated to better explain how personal information is collected and used by Apple.

Side Button

Apple is laying the groundwork for a new option that will let iPhone users in Japan choose a different default voice assistant. A press and hold gesture on the Side Button only activates ‌Siri‌ in the current version of iOS 26, but there are multiple references to new Side Button behavior in the beta.

The wording indicates that Japanese users will be able to select a new app to activate with the Side Button, potentially allowing alternative assistants like Gemini or Alexa to be used on the iPhone. Developer documentation confirms that it will only be available for Japanese Apple Accounts owned by people living in Japan.

Liquid Glass Settings

When using the new Liquid Glass "Tinted" option that reduces transparency, there's a warning that the Tinted option cannot be used in tandem with the Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast Accessibility settings.

Turning on Tinted mode is able to turn off Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast automatically. In the prior betas, there was no option to turn on Tinted mode without turning off these features manually.

Games App

There is a new splash screen that confirms features coming to the Games app in iOS 26.2, including options to filter the games library, better support for navigating the Games app with a controller, and real-time updates challenge scores during gameplay.

Alarms in Reminders

There's now a small reminder about the option to mark a reminder as urgent to get an alarm, functionality that is new in iOS 26.2. The reminder shows up when you go to add a new entry in a list for the first time.

There's also a splash screen that lets users know about the new feature.

iPadOS 26.2 Multitasking

In the third iPadOS 26.2 beta, Apple added an option to drag and drop apps from the App Library, Dock, and Spotlight into Slide Over and tiled views, restoring some functionality that was removed in the iPadOS 18 to iPadOS 26 transition.

More Features

Know of a new feature in iOS 26.2 beta 3 that we left out? Let us know in the comments.

Following signs of new Side Button functionality in the iOS 26.2 beta 3 update, Apple developer documentation has confirmed that assigning a third-party voice assistant to the Side Button will be a feature available to iPhone users in Japan.

Developers are able to set up an App Intents framework that will allow voice-based conversational apps to be launched directly from the Side Button in Japan.

Right now, a long press on the Side Button activates Siri, and there is no option to change that. Japanese iPhone users will soon be able to select a new default, opting to activate Alexa, Gemini, or another voice assistant instead. App developers will need to expressly adopt this functionality for Side Button access to be available to consumers.

From Apple's developer documentation:

In Japan, people might place an action on the side button of iPhone that instantly launches your voice-based conversational app. People expect the voice-based conversational functionality to be instantly available when they launch your app with the side button, so make sure to let them immediately use it by starting an audio session - for example, with AVFoundation.

Apple makes it clear that the option to activate a third-party personal assistant using App Intents will only be available on the iPhone in Japan, not in other countries. To use the feature, the country or region of an Apple Account must be set to Japan and a user must be located in Japan.

iOS 26.2 also adds support for third-party App Stores and provides a Safari Search Engine choice screen during setup in Japan. With these features, Apple is complying with Mobile Software Competition Act Guidelines established by the Japan Fair Trade Commission.

When we initially shared details of the Side Button code, it looked like it might be available to iPhone users in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act. It's possible that might still happen eventually, but it's clear that the initial implementation will be limited to Japan.

In the initial version of iOS 26, Apple removed Slide Over and Split View multitasking in favor of a new window-based multitasking system. A replacement for Split View was available in an added tiled mode, but Slide Over was entirely gone.

iPad users missed Slide Over, so Apple brought basic Slide Over functionality back in iPadOS 26.1. In the latest beta of iOS 26.2, Apple is further tweaking Slide Over to make it work more like it did in iPadOS 18.

As long as you have at least one app open on the Home Screen, you can drag and drop other apps into various multitasking views, including Slide Over. You can drag an app from the Dock, Spotlight search, or the App Library to the far left or far right of the display to enter Slide Over mode, or to the left or right sides to enter a tiled view that's similar to Split View. You can also drag an app to the middle to open up a bigger or smaller window. There are visual indications that let you know when an app is in a left, right, or Slide Over position.

If you already have an app open in Slide Over or two apps in a tiled view, you can drag an app over the top of one of the existing apps to put the new app in its position. Unlike iPadOS 18, the prior app stays open so you can go back to it if you close the new app.

iPadOS 26 users who missed how multitasking worked in iPadOS 18 will now have options to use the ‌iPad‌ in much the same way. iPadOS 26.2 is expected to launch to the public this December.

In iOS 26.2 beta 3, Apple is laying the groundwork for a future option that will let iPhone users in Japan choose a different default voice assistant. Right now, a press and hold gesture on the Side Button only activates Siri, but there are multiple references to new Side Button behavior in the beta.

The wording suggests that the iPhone will permit users to choose a different app to activate through the Side Button, though Apple has confirmed this will be limited to iPhone users in Japan. Some of the code snippets:

- Press and Hold to Speak is not available while the Side Button is assigned to %@.
- Side Button Settings
- Select Another Default Side Button App
- The default Side Button app cannot be hidden. You can change your default apps in Settings.
- The default Side Button app cannot be locked. You can change your default apps in Settings.
- %@ is no longer eligible for use with the Side Button. Contact the app developer for more information.
- %@ is not available for use with the Side Button in your region.

The code is in Apple's private ‌Siri‌ frameworks, which implies that the change is related to virtual assistants, plus it references a long press. The updated functionality will let users in Japan to set Gemini, Alexa, or another voice assistant app to launch instead of ‌Siri‌ when the Side Button is held down.

Back in August, Japanese regulators passed the Mobile Software Competition Act, requiring Apple to provide third-party apps with access to core operating system functions, including voice assistants. There is specific language that says platform holders cannot preference their own services for virtual assistant access or hardware-level user interactions.

Japan's new guidelines go into effect in December 2025, so it makes sense that the functionality will be added in iOS 26.2.

In an earlier version of this article, we said that the functionality would be available in the European Union, and while it may also launch in the EU in the future, activating an assistant other than ‌Siri‌ with the Side Button will only work in Japan, according to Apple's current documentation.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg said that Apple would soon give users in the EU the option to set a default voice assistant other than ‌Siri‌, and there are interoperability requirements in the Digital Markets Act that could require Apple to make the change there, too.

The DMA says that gatekeepers like Apple have to provide app makers with access to the "same hardware and software features" that are available to the operating system or virtual assistant run by the gatekeeper. There's also wording that says users must be able to "easily change the default settings on the operating system, virtual assistant and web browser of the gatekeeper that direct or steer end users to products or services provided by the gatekeeper," which can be interpreted as requiring Apple to support third-party voice assistants at the system level.

If Apple does have plans to bring the same voice assistant flexibility to the EU, it's not clear when it might happen. iOS 26.2 will limit the feature to users with a Japanese Apple Account located in Japan.

Apple has announced it will be opening an all-new store at the Livat Centre shopping mall in Beijing, China on Saturday, December 6, at 10 a.m. local time.

Opened in 2014, the Livat Centre is one of the most popular shopping malls in Beijing. The mall has a Scandinavian design and is anchored by IKEA, as a result of being owned by Sweden's Ingka Group, the world's largest IKEA franchisee.

To celebrate the store's upcoming opening, Apple has shared a special wallpaper for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, as well as a special Apple Watch face.

iOS 26.2 beta 3 includes new iPhone AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add each other as contacts.

There is a new option to get an AirDrop code, which can then be shared with someone who is not in your contacts list. The code provides AirDrop access for a 30-day period, with options to remove access in the Settings app.

Share a secure code with people not in your contacts to use AirDrop. You will be able to find each other for the next 30 days. You can manage access in Settings.

When you generate a code, the person that you're planning to use AirDrop with can input that code so that your devices can communicate with one another.

There are already options to turn AirDrop off entirely, limit AirDrop to contacts only, or turn AirDrop on for everyone for 10 minutes. The code-based option provides a way to create a connection with someone you don't want to create a contact card for, while avoiding having to turn AirDrop on for all people nearby.

People you have shared a one-time code with can be managed by opening up the Settings app, selecting the General section, choosing AirDrop, and tapping on "Manage Known AirDrop Contacts."

Samsung kicked off a sitewide early Black Friday sale a few weeks ago, and today the company has expanded this sale with even more savings, as well as even steeper discounts on existing deals. This includes sales on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, home appliances, and more.

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

Highlights from this event include quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including a new all-time low price on The Frame Pro models. You can get the 2025 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,199.99 ($600 off), as well as The Frame Pro for $1,999.00 ($1,200 off).

Other deals include savings on monitors like the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 for $399.99 ($300 off), the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Gaming Monitor for $1,099.99 ($700 off), and more. We're also tracking big markdowns on home appliances including refrigerators and washer/dryers, and a few Galaxy device discounts.

Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset also has a few notable offers during this event, including up to $1,140 in savings with the Explorer Pack. This features various content at no extra cost with the purchase of the Galaxy XR, like one year of YouTube Premium, one year of Google AI Pro, and more.

If you purchase the Galaxy XR alongside other Galaxy products, there are also a few bundle offers during the early Black Friday sale. You can get 70 percent off Galaxy Buds3, 44 percent off Galaxy Buds3 Pro, and 25 percent off Galaxy Watch8 Classic when bundled with the headset.

TVs

• The Frame (2025 Models) - Save up to $600
• The Frame Pro - $1,999.99, down from $3,199.99
• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99
• 65-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $1,799.99, down from $2,699.99
• 77-inch OLED S90F TV - $1,999.99, down from $3,499.99
• 75-inch Neo QLED QN90D TV - $1,799.99, down from $3,299.99

Monitors and Storage

• 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 - $399.99, down from $699.99
• 40-inch Odyssey G7 G75F Curved Monitor - $749.99, down from $1,199.99
• 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor - $979.99, down from $1,599.99
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Monitor - $1,099.99, down from $1,799.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark Gaming Monitor - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99

Appliances

• Bespoke Smart Dishwasher - $999.00, down from $1,399.00
• Large Capacity Side-by-Side Fridge - $1,099.00, down from $1,666.00
• 4-Door French Door Fridge - $1,699.00, down from $2,999.00
• Bespoke All-in-One Combo Washer/Dryer - $1,999.00, down from $3,299.00
• Mega Capacity 3-Door French Door Fridge - $2,399.00, down from $3,499.00
• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $2,050.00, down from $4,099.00
• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge - $3,299.00, down from $4,999.00

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy XR - Save up to $1,140 with the Explorer Pack
• Galaxy S25 Ultra - Save up to $480 in instant trade-in credit
• Galaxy Z Fold7 - Save up to $1,000
• Galaxy Ring - Get up to $150 trade-in credit
• Galaxy Watch Ultra - Save up to $250
• Galaxy Watch 7 - Save up to $150
• Galaxy Buds3 Pro - Save $40

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Apple today provided the third beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the second beta.

Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.2 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.2 beta 2 includes Edge Light, a new feature for video calls. Edge Light adds a border of soft light around the edges of the Mac's display to illuminate your face in darkened rooms. Edge Light is meant to mimic the look of a physical ring light.

Edge Light uses the Neural Engine for positioning, so it is optimally placed around your face in the video frame. Light color can be adjusted from warm to cool, and intensity varies based on ambient lighting. Edge Light is available in video conferencing apps like FaceTime and Webex alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, and Voice Isolation. It works on Macs that support Apple silicon.

Along with Edge Light, the Reminders app is getting an option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due, the News app has some design updates, and Apple is adding new features to the Podcasts app.

The ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.2 beta is limited to developers and public beta testers right now, but it won't be a long testing period. We'll likely see Apple release the update right around mid-December given past launch timelines.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple seeded the second betas.

Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

iOS 26.2 has a Liquid Glass slider on the Lock Screen to adjust the transparency of the clock, plus it brings AirPods Live Translation to the European Union. The Reminders app now supports alarms for when tasks are due, and there are updates to the Podcasts and Apple News apps. Menu animations have been revamped, and CarPlay supports disabling pinned messages in the Messages app.

We have a full guide on all of the features available in iOS 26.2 in our guide.

iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 will see a launch in December.

Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.2 and tvOS 26.2 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple seeded the second betas.

The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

watchOS 26.2 features updated Sleep Score ranges that better match how people might be feeling after a night's rest.

In tvOS 26.2, Apple added support for creating a profile without an Apple Account, plus there is a dedicated Apple TV app kids mode for profiles created for kids.

The new updates will probably launch sometime between December 9 and December 16, given Apple's historical release timelines for .2 updates.

Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today celebrated the fifth anniversary of Apple silicon. The first Macs with Apple's M1 chip were announced on November 10, 2020, and they launched on November 17, 2020, which is five years ago as of today.

"Hard to believe it's been five years since Apple silicon transformed the Mac," said Joswiak, in a social media post. "The performance, battery life, new designs, amazing features, and user creativity it unlocked have been remarkable. The impact has been profound, and the Mac has never been better!"

After years of rumors, Apple unveiled its plan to transition the entire Mac lineup from Intel processors to its own custom-designed chips at WWDC in June 2020. Later that year saw the release of the first three Mac models powered by Apple silicon, including a 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini.

Apple had plenty of experience after a decade of making custom iPhone and iPad chips.

The company promised, and delivered, industry-leading performance per watt for Macs. This feat allowed it to remove the fan inside the MacBook Air, given the improved power efficiency resulted in less heat being generated in the thin laptop.

Apple said macOS Tahoe is the final macOS release that will support Intel-based Macs.

On Friday, the Financial Times reported that Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO as soon as next year, but he might not fully retire. Instead, it is possible that he will become the next chairman of Apple's board of directors.

Apple's current chairman is Arthur D. Levinson, who turned 75 on March 31. Apple has a policy that states that its directors generally may not stand for re-election after age 75, so Levinson has reached that age limit ahead of Apple's next shareholder meeting, which is when he would otherwise be up for re-election next.

Here is the exact wording of the policy, from Apple's Corporate Governance Guidelines:

A director may not stand for re-election after age 75, but need not resign until the end of his or her term.

Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, according to the Financial Times, but it said an announcement could happen early in the year. That timeframe — after January but still early in the year — would align with Apple's annual shareholder meeting, which is typically held in late February or early March.

There is one potential wrinkle: Apple typically releases the proxy materials for a shareholder meeting in mid-January, and that filing would need to indicate that Cook is up for election as chairman. That would be before Apple's next earnings report in late January, so the specific timing of how this might all play out remains to be seen.

If this theory does prove to be accurate, Apple could announce that Levinson is leaving the board due to the age policy, and that Cook will succeed him as chairman. Apple would likely say this move was part of its long-planned succession plan.

At 65, Cook could serve as chairman for up to a decade, before the age policy applies to himself.

In this scenario, it is unclear if Cook would become chairman or executive chairman. In the former role, he would focus more on managing the board and corporate governance. In the latter role, Cook would remain more involved in Apple's day-to-day operations and decision-making, which could help to ease the transition to a new CEO.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, is widely viewed as Cook's most likely successor when the time comes.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber and some other commentators have speculated that Apple may have intentionally fed the information about Cook preparing to step down to the Financial Times, so that the actual announcement and the timing of it does not come as a complete surprise to investors and the general public.

Cook has been CEO since August 2011, so he is nearing 15 years at the helm of the company.

This is only one possibility for Apple's succession plans. Alternatively, the company could opt to exempt Levinson from the age policy, as it did for now-77-year-old director Ron Sugar last year. Apple could also elect someone other than Cook as chairman. However, with Cook having reached the typical retirement age of 65, and Levinson having reached the policy age of 75, the stars might align for Cook to become Apple's next chairman.

Amazon and Best Buy today have introduced a new record low price on the AirTag 1-Pack, available for just $17.99, down from $29.00.

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.

This is a new record low price on the solo AirTag, just beating out the low price we first tracked last week. Amazon also has an ongoing lowest-ever price on the AirTag 4-Pack, on sale for $64.99, down from $99.00.

You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.

Amazon today has some of the first big discounts on Apple Watch Series 11 GPS and cellular models, with $49 off select devices. These deals join the abundance of early Black Friday deals on Apple Watches, also including great discounts on Apple Watch SE 2 and SE 3.

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 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $349.99, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $379.99, down from $429.00. Only one of the 42mm GPS models is on sale at this all-time low price, but you'll find four of the 46mm GPS models discounted by $49 in this sale.

If you're shopping for cellular models, you can also find new record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $449.99, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $479.99, down from $529.00.

In addition to Series 11 deals, Amazon has big deals on multiple Apple Watch models this week. This includes $89 off Apple Watch SE 2 and $49 off Apple Watch SE 3.

Apple Watch SE 2

• Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm GPS) - $159.99 ($89 off)
• Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm GPS) - $189.99 ($89 off)

Apple Watch SE 3

• Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm GPS) - $199.99 ($49 off)
• Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm GPS) - $229.99 ($49 off)

You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.

Next year's Apple Watch lineup will not include any major design changes, with a redesign not expected before 2028, according to the leaker Instant Digital.

In a Weibo post in Chinese (machine translated), the leaker said Apple's watch 2026 lineup would not look significantly different, and suggested Apple would not reveal a new design until the year after the release of its 20th anniversary iPhone, expected in late 2027.

The claim puts a dampener on expectations that Apple is readying a major Apple Watch redesign next year.

In August, DigiTimes reported that at least one new model launching in 2026 would have "significant" changes to its exterior design that would be related to new sensors. This led to speculation that the changes could be linked to Apple's development of noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technology, but the Apple Watch feature is still believed to be a few years away while Apple works on further miniaturization.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported long ago on the possibility of a redesigned Apple Watch with a thinner case and a magnetic band system. While the Apple Watch Series 10 debuted a thinner case, no magnetic band has materialized, and there were no additional design changes in the Series 11 released earlier this year.

Leaked Apple code has suggested the company is experimenting with biometric authentication in the form of Touch ID for 2026's Apple Watch lineup, but it's possible that could be an under-screen implementation which doesn't change the watch's outward appearance.

Instant Digital has a mixed but occasionally reliable track record. The account previously revealed accurate details such as the Yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus finishes and the Titanium Milanese Loop for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, though not all of its past claims have proven correct.

The free Apple Sports app on the iPhone was released in additional European countries today, including Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, and others.

The app was already available in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Austria, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

Launched in February 2024, the Apple Sports app shows scores, stats, standings, upcoming games, and more for a variety of leagues. Today's update, which brings the app to version 3.5, is rolling out now in the App Store.

A few months ago, Apple Sports was updated with a few improvements, including the addition of a Home Screen widget and the ability to schedule Live Activities for upcoming events. The app remains available on the iPhone only.

X has launched Chat, an end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) replacement for its existing direct messaging service.

Chat is rolling out on iOS now via the X app, and it includes support for video and voice calls, disappearing messages, and file sharing, as well as the ability to edit and delete previously sent messages.

Any old messages should be carried across to Chat from the old DM system on X (formerly Twitter). Users also have options to block screenshots and get notified of attempts to take them. However, it's worth noting that the E2EE support doesn't encrypt message metadata, and this can include information about the sender as well as the recipient.

X also says that its system lacks safeguards against man-in-the-middle attacks, meaning an encrypted chat could be intercepted without either participant realizing it. So a determined insider or even X itself, acting under legal obligation, could theoretically access a conversation without triggering any warning to the sender or recipient. The company added that it is developing tools to let users confirm the integrity of their encrypted exchanges.

X has been previewing its new chat tools for months, launching an early version of encrypted messaging earlier this year before pausing it in May to resolve undisclosed issues. A voice memo feature for users to exchange audio messages is currently being developed, and an Android version is apparently coming soon.

Apple is developing official iPhone cases that act like secondary touch interfaces for future devices, claims a new rumor out of China.

According to known Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital, Apple is looking to make protective cases for its Pro models that directly integrate touch-based sensor layers.

The leaker provided no further details, but there are some clues to be found in previous research conducted by Apple. A patent application filed by the company in 2024 describes a "case with input for an electronic device" and outlines a protective iPhone case designed to act as an input surface rather than passive shielding.

The document describes touch-sensitive areas embedded in the case – using capacitive or pressure-based sensors – that can trigger actions typically handled by the phone's physical buttons. When the case is attached, the iPhone detects it and reroutes button behavior so that taps, presses, or sliding gestures on the case activate system functions.

The patent also details how the case communicates with the device, including identification and signal transfer through interfaces such as NFC. Some versions also include provisions for biometric input, allowing a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the case to unlock features on the phone, for example.

The filing shows Apple has already explored treating the case as an extension of the iPhone's controls. What makes the idea more timely however is Apple's rumored work on a bezel-free iPhone. Apple is said to be pursuing a radical redesign for its 20th anniversary iPhone, with a display that curves around all four edges of the device.

This approach could leave almost no room for mechanical buttons. Indeed, there have been reports that Apple may shift to solid-state, capacitive layers on the anniversary model, enabling a visually uninterrupted design that could make an interactive case a natural companion.

A case with integrated touch zones could relocate things like volume changes and camera control to larger, more ergonomic surfaces, while reducing accidental edge input on an all-screen design. In effect, the case could supply the tactile cues and grip-based controls that would otherwise be obstructed by a normal case on a bezel-free, button-light iPhone.

Whether Apple's work on interactive iPhone cases is related to its anniversary model is of course speculation at this point, but the convergence of rumors provides another intriguing set of possibilities for the device, which is expected to launch in the fall of 2027.