We began tracking early Black Friday deals this past weekend, and a new discount has now emerged on the Apple Watch SE 3. You can get the 44mm GPS model for $229.99, down from $279.00, a $49 discount and the best price we've ever seen on this brand new Apple Watch.
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, this is the Starlight Aluminum Apple Watch SE 3 with Starlight Sport Loop in Medium/Large. We're also tracking a $49 discount on the 40mm GPS model, available for $199.99 from Amazon.
In addition to the Apple Watch SE 3 discounts, Amazon has $99 off the Apple Watch Ultra 3 right now, which are new record low prices on the wearables. For more holiday shopping discounts, our main post on early Black Friday deals has sales on iPad, MacBook Air, Apple Pencil Pro, and more.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple will update the MacBook Air with an OLED display for its 2028 incarnation, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman says that he expects the MacBook Air's transition from LCD to OLED to occur with the product's 2028 update, as part of a larger migration to OLED across the company's flagship iPad and MacBook models that includes the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air – and likely in that order.
Apple already uses OLED displays in the iPad Pro. There are apparently no plans to add OLED to the low-cost iPad. The MacBook Pro will be updated with an OLED display when it is next redesigned, perhaps as soon as late 2026, and it will include touch screen functionality, according to Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple is expected to update the MacBook Air with M5 chips early next year and that model will continue to feature an LCD display. If Apple follows an annual upgrade cycle, the first OLED MacBook Air will likely feature M7 chips. Gurman previously reported that Apple has already started early work on an OLED MacBook Air.
When the MacBook Air moves from LCD to OLED display technology, it will gain several advantages – brighter screens, deeper blacks with higher contrast, improved power efficiency that can extend battery life, and other enhancements.
Apple today announced a campaign inviting people across the United Kingdom to design digital Christmas trees on iPad, with the winning artworks to be projected onto the chimneys of London's Battersea Power Station in December.
The "Your Tree on Battersea" campaign encourages participants to "express their creativity on iPad" by drawing and submitting original Christmas tree designs. Hosted by British comedian and presenter Munya Chawawa, the project will culminate with 24 winning public entries being displayed on Battersea Power Station's river-facing chimneys and wash towers, alongside digital artwork from artists and public figures, including Sir Stephen Fry and David Shrigley OBE.
Submissions for Your Tree on Battersea open immediately and will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on November 23, 2025. The winning entries will be unveiled on December 4 at 5 p.m. on Battersea Power Station's chimneys.
To help participants create and submit their entries, Apple is hosting special 30-minute Today at Apple sessions across all 39 of its UK retail stores from November 6 to November 22. The company added that the same sessions will continue through December 22 "so that the public can get creative on iPad and Apple Pencil throughout the festive season." Participants can also submit their artwork from home using downloadable templates provided by Apple.
Previous years' installations featured commissioned works only, including Bigger Christmas Trees by David Hockney, created on the iPad Pro in 2023, and a Wallace & Gromit animation produced by Aardman on the iPhone 16 Pro Max in 2024.
Support for Apple Pay's Express Mode has been added to Edinburgh city's tap-on, tap-off tram network and Lothian bus services in Scotland, enabling passengers to pay for travel without unlocking their iPhone or Apple Watch.
The new functionality went live a couple of weeks ago, and it comes after a similar rollout in August for Greater Manchester, the first time a UK integrated public transport system has implemented Express Mode outside London.
Apart from allowing users to pay for rides without having to wake or unlock their iPhone, Express Mode also bypasses the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. Users simply need to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless payment reader until a checkmark appears on the display.
In the Apple Wallet app, users can set a debit or credit card as their default transit option under "Express Travel Settings." When Express Mode is turned on, they only need to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a transit reader to pay – no Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode required.
For most people, the card already set as their default payment method in Wallet will automatically be used for Express Mode, but this can be changed anytime in Settings.
Express Mode is available in major cities worldwide, including London, New York, Beijing, Tokyo, and Sydney.
Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod mini, which are set for launch soon, will also "help showcase" next year's new Siri and Apple Intelligence features.
The new version of Siri will apparently "lean" on Google's Gemini and include an AI-powered web search feature. Gurman warned "there's no guarantee users will embrace it, that it will work seamlessly or that it can undo years of damage to the Siri brand."
Apple is said to be paying Google to create a custom Gemini-based model that can run on its Private Cloud Compute servers to power Siri. Gurman clarified that this doesn't mean Siri will include Google services or Gemini features. Instead, Siri will simply be powered by a Gemini model in the background, enabling it to deliver the features that users expect with an Apple user interface.
Apple will preview iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and other operating systems at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The updates will apparently focus on major updates to Apple Intelligence and the company's broader AI strategy.
The company is also apparently still running into problems with the launch of Apple Intelligence in China. Despite partnerships with Chinese companies, Apple Intelligence in China is still mired by regulatory issues and the launch is now a "rolling target."
In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple retail stores are planning an overnight refresh on the evening of November 11, where changes will be made after closing, such as refreshing displays and placing new products for the following day.
The timing of the overnight refresh could simply be related to the holiday season, but there is a possibility that it relates to the launch of new Apple TV and HomePod mini models. Gurman notes that inventory of current models has become tight, likely signaling that new versions are on the way. He added that even if they do not launch by the end of 2025, they "shouldn't be far off."
The new Apple TV and HomePod mini will apparently "help showcase the new Siri and Apple Intelligence features planned for next year." During its earnings call earlier this week, Apple seemingly suggested that any more new Macs are off the table for the rest of 2025, making the new Apple TV and HomePod mini the most likely candidates for any remaining Apple product releases this year.
Apple is planning to launch at least 15 new products in 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Gurman outlined what to expect from Apple in 2026 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter. He said the company is heading "into one of its most pivotal years in recent memory," with the rollout of major new Apple Intelligence features, intense regulatory pressure on the App Store, and the risk of new tariffs.
The "early portion of the year" should see the release of the iPhone 17e, iPad (12th-generation) with A18 chip, iPad Air with M4 chip, MacBook Air with M5 chip, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and new external displays. Around March to April, Apple should roll out the long-awaited revamped version of Siri alongside a new smart home display with speaker-base and wall-mount options.
In the fall, the company will release new Apple Watches and iPhones as usual. The iPhone 18 Pro models will drop Qualcommm modems for Apple's own C1 chip. The first foldable iPhone is also expected to launch.
The company is likely to debut smart home security products such as a camera in 2026. A new Mac mini with the M5 chip is also expected, along with a new Mac Studio. A new iPad mini with an OLED display should also arrive, but an update to the iPad Pro is not due until 2027.
Before the end of the year, the company could unveil redesigned MacBook Pro models with M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, thinner chassis, touchscreens, and OLED displays. Apple could also preview its smart glasses product before the end of 2026, with suppliers already producing small quantities.
WhatsApp this week announced that it is adding passkey-encrypted chat backups, allowing users to protect their stored messages using Touch ID or Face ID instead of a 64-digit key.
The feature extends the app's 2021 end-to-end encrypted backup system, which previously required users to create and save a lengthy key to restore chats. With passkeys, authentication uses each device's built-in authentication hardware like Touch ID or Face ID, meaning the private cryptographic key never leaves the phone. This makes backups both more secure and much easier to restore.
The rollout is set to be global and gradual over the coming weeks. Users can enable it via Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup once available. iCloud and Google Drive remain the storage destinations for iOS and Android, respectively. The move continues Meta's broader adoption of passkeys, which WhatsApp first supported for account logins in 2023.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 has hit a new all-time low price on Amazon this weekend, available at $99 off select models. This includes the higher-end model with the Milanese Loop and a few Ocean Band options.
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 Apple Watch Ultra 3 with Black Titanium Case and Black Ocean Band for $699.99 ($99 off) and the Black Titanium Case with Anchor Blue Ocean Band for $699.99 ($99 off). Finally, there's the Black Titanium Case with Black Milanese Loop for $799.99 ($99 off).
We've started tracking early Black Friday deals in our main post, also including great deals on AirPods, iPad Pro, and more. 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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Beyond those nearer-term software and hardware update expectations, this week saw fresh rumors about the iPhone 18 lineup, several future Mac and iPad models, and more, so read on below for all the details!
Top Stories
Apple Seeds iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidates
iOS 26.1 brings several new features and changes, including a toggle to adjust the opaqueness of the new Liquid Glass design. We took a look at whether using the Clear or Tinted design, as well as trying several other accessibility adjustments that can affect the Liquid Glass look, has any impact on battery life, but didn't find anything significant.
iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Support Full 5G Satellite Internet
While Apple has been gradually building out satellite-related features for its lineup of iPhone and more recently Apple Watch models, all of the features have so far been limited to low-bandwidth applications like messaging.
Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box.
In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple's plan to bring more ads to iOS is "gaining traction," with the Maps app being next in line. The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in search.
Apple Expanding OLED Displays to iPad Mini, iPad Air, and MacBook Models
We've known for some time that Apple has been working to bring OLED displays to the MacBook Pro, but a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reveals Apple's OLED plans are much broader than that.
On the Mac side, following the MacBook Pro in late 2026 or early 2027, the MacBook Air should also eventually be upgraded to OLED, but probably not until 2028 at the earliest.
M4 MacBook Air vs. M5 MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide
Apple has now refreshed both tiers of its MacBook lineup in 2025, first updating the MacBook Air with the M4 chip and just this month introducing the MacBook Pro with the new M5 chip, so how do the latest models compare?
While the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air continue to start at $999 and $1,199 respectively, moving to the 14-inch MacBook Pro requires spending at least $400 more. For some buyers, the extra cost is unnecessary; for others, the Pro's hardware advantages meaningfully change the experience in ways the Air cannot match even with higher configurations. Our latest guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two popular laptops is best for you.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple's new Vision Pro headset features the M5 chip for better performance and efficiency, 10% more rendered pixels, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, longer battery life, and an all-new counterweighted Dual Knit headband with a focus on improved comfort. Arriving 20 months after the original model, the Vision Pro now runs visionOS 26 and offers widgets, hands-free scrolling, enhanced Mac Virtual Display mode, significantly improved Personas, a broader selection of immersive content, and more.
We discuss how much better the new version really is and whether it's finally time to give Apple's spatial computing device another chance. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important.
Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped.
The new "slide to stop" control looks very similar to the classic "slide to unlock" bar that existed on the iPhone's Lock Screen from 2007 until 2016.
Given that the iOS 26.1 Release Candidate was seeded earlier this week, Apple will likely release the update next week, on either Monday or Tuesday.
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple will be making a donation of an undisclosed amount towards Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
"Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by the destruction of Hurricane Melissa," said Cook. "Apple will be making a donation to help with relief efforts on the ground."
Hurricane Melissa has caused catastrophic damage, flooding, and loss of life in several Caribbean countries this week, including Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti.
Apple has donated to the Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts in the past.
This week we saw deals on Apple's new M5 iPad Pro, M4 MacBook Air, Apple Watch bands, and Samsung monitors. In addition to all of these ongoing sales, we're tracking a few big Halloween sales that are set to end either today or later this weekend, so be sure to check them out soon.
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.
Halloween Deals
Today is Halloween, and in celebration of the holiday multiple retailers are hosting notable sales and discount events this weekend. These events include savings on MagSafe-compatible chargers, Mac docks, iPhone 17 cases, noise cancelling headphones, and more.
Best Buy this week opened up $50 discounts across the board on Apple's new M5 iPad Pro, with prices starting at $949.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch model. Amazon is matching some of these deals, and has steeper markdowns on the higher-end 13-inch M5 iPad Pro.
Amazon and Best Buy are hosting big discounts across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, with deals that represent all-time lows across every model of the computer. In total, you'll find $200 off the M4 MacBook Air notebook right now, with both 13-inch and 15-inch models on sale.
Woot this week has introduced a big sale on Samsung monitors, offering up to 53 percent off select monitors. Every monitor in this sale is in new condition and comes with a one year Samsung limited warranty.
Apple Watch Bands
What's the deal? Take up to 70% off Apple Watch bands
Woot this week is still hosting a big sale on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands for Apple Watch, with as much as 70 percent off these accessories. This sale is set to end on November 14, or until stock runs out.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in a new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker.
The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy.
The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in lavender or purple, but there have never been coffee or burgundy iPhones before. A coffee-colored iPhone 18 Pro could be a good successor to the gold iPhone XS or the "desert titanium" iPhone 16 Pro.
Coffee sits in the brown family as a deep and earthy shade. Burgundy belongs to the red family, blending rich crimson with traces of brown or purple for a darker, wine-like tone. Purple lies between red and blue, but when muted or darkened, it leans warm.
The leaker added that there will still be no black iPhone 18 Pro next year. The iPhone 17 Pro is available in Silver, Deep Blue, and Cosmic Orange. There was no black or gray option for the first time in the device's history.
The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to launch in the fall of next year, featuring the A20 chip made with TSMC's 2nm process, a variable aperture main camera, the C2 modem, a simplified Camera Control, and more.
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year.
Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:
On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.
Parekh essentially gave a heads up that Apple's Mac revenue in the fourth quarter of 2025 might not grow significantly compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, likely because there will be fewer new Macs released this quarter than in the year-ago quarter.
In other words, he implicitly suggested that Apple has no further Mac releases planned for 2025.
Earlier this month, Apple updated the lowest-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip, but it did not release any MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, and the Mac mini and iMac did not receive any hardware updates.
AppleInsider previously reported that MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips would launch in 2026, and Parekh's comment seems to support that. Mac mini and iMac models with M5 chips also appear to be slated for 2026, while the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro were always rumored to be updated next year.
A lower-cost MacBook with an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip is also rumored to launch in late 2025 or early 2026, but given Parekh's comment, early 2026 sounds more likely. This model is expected to be the spiritual successor to the MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is still sold exclusively by Walmart for $599 in the United States.
After acquiring Serif last year, Canva has overhauled its Affinity design suite, consolidating three creative tools into a single free app for Mac and Windows.
The newly launched Affinity by Canva unifies vector, photo, and layout capabilities that were previously spread across separate Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps. So instead of juggling multiple apps, users can now switch between the three modes through dedicated Vector, Pixel, and Layout tabs within one interface.
The redesigned app includes a customizable workspace where creators can mix tools from different studios, rearrange panels, and save multiple setups for specific project types. Custom configurations can also be shared with teams and communities for standardizing workflows.
Following Canva's 2024 acquisition of Serif, the integration brings some other changes that might give longtime Affinity users pause. Everyone now needs a Canva account to access the software, but signing up is free. Canva premium subscribers also get AI tools directly within Affinity, including Generative Fill, Expand & Edit, and Remove Background features.
In a clear bid to rival Adobe, Canva's decision to ship the app for free is likely to be a welcome surprise for users who feared a subscription model was looming. "There's no catch, no stripped-back version, and no gotchas," said Ash Hewson, CEO of Affinity, commenting on the launch. But while Affinity insists the core app will remain free without restrictions, the account requirement and AI upsells signal a freemium approach. Whether longtime users will appreciate trading a one-time purchase for ongoing Canva integration remains to be seen.
An iPad version is planned for release next year, and existing Affinity V2 license holders can continue using their purchased software if they prefer to stick with the older model without the Canva integrations. Affinity can be downloaded from the Affinity Studio website.
Apple is building up inventory for its first foldable iPhone in preparation for the device's launch next year, claims a Chinese leaker with proven sources within Apple's supply chain.
According to Weibo-based account Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is now stockpiling key components for its long-rumored foldable iPhone, which we are tentatively referring to as "iPhone Fold." The leaker did not elaborate, but Apple is likely securing supplies of advanced parts including foldable OLED displays, titanium frames, and complex hinge assemblies that reportedly combine several materials.
The move suggests Apple is entering the crucial pre-production phase, where suppliers begin ramping output ahead of full mass production. Some of these components may have long lead times and high failure rates, so early stock-building helps reduce risk and smooth the eventual launch pipeline.
Apple's foldable iPhone is reportedly similar in style to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, which uses a book-style folding mechanism, rather than the clamshell design of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
When folded, users will interact with a 5.5-inch outer display that is similar to a typical iPhone screen, while unfolding it will reveal a larger 7.8-inch iPad-style screen. The inner display is said to be virtually crease-free, with some sources claiming it features an under-screen camera. The outer screen is said to have a punch-hole camera, while authentication is handled by Touch ID integrated into the side button, rather than Face ID. There's also a dual-lens camera on the rear.
According to analyst Jeff Pu, the frame is made from a mix of titanium and aluminum. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said Apple is using multiple materials, but he believes the main ones are titanium and stainless steel. Kuo also believes some hinge components will be made from Liquidmetal for further durability.
The foldable iPhone is rumored to be as thin as 4.5mm when opened up, which would make it even thinner than the iPhone Air, so titanium is likely being used to prevent bending issues. With display and mechanical engineering challenges unlike any current iPhone, Apple's logistical groundwork hints that its first foldable device may finally be nearing reality. The iPhone Fold is expected to be part of the iPhone 18 lineup, launching in September 2026.
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.
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.
