Warner Bros. Discovery has completed its reversal from Max back to HBO Max today, marking the end of a widely criticized two-year experiment.
The streaming service's website and mobile apps now display the HBO Max branding once again. Max.com redirects to hbomax.com, while both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have updated their listings. Users won't need to download a new app, as existing installations will automatically update to show the HBO Max name.
The App Store update includes a cheeky note: "Same app. New-ish name. The plot twist everyone has been waiting for: Max is now HBO Max."
This change reverses the 2023 rebrand that dropped the HBO name in favor of the generic "Max" moniker. The original decision aimed to incorporate Discovery content following the companies' merger, but the move faced immediate backlash from subscribers and industry observers.
Warner Bros. Discovery acknowledged the misstep in May, citing consumer feedback and the strength of the HBO brand's reputation for quality content. The company said it wanted to focus on "something distinct and great" rather than trying to be "everything for everyone."
The streaming service has now cycled through HBO Go, HBO Now, HBO, HBO Max, Max, and back to HBO Max again.
This year, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Air," so-called because of its ultra-thin profile.
Below is a compilation of every rumor and leak we have registered from reputable sources thus far about Apple's new entry in its flagship smartphone lineup.
iPhone 17 "Air"?
About the Name
There has been some uncertainty about Apple's strategy for the new slimmer iPhone model and its position in the lineup. YouTuber Jon Prosser was first to suggest that the device could be positioned as an "iPhone Air." Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since come out in agreement about the naming, which Apple could use to boost sales.
Replacing the iPhone "Plus," which, like the "mini" models before it, has not sold well, the iPhone 17 Air will represent a new approach in Apple's iPhone lineup, offering a device with a substantially thinner design that sits between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.
Gurman believes that the design of the iPhone 17 Air will "just be a step toward something better" since Apple will eventually want to "squeeze the power of a Pro model into this smaller design." However, he does not expect this to occur before 2027 at the earliest.
Device Thickness Rumors
Thinner Than iPhone 6
According to The Information, Apple's all-new iPhone 17 model will have a "significantly thinner" design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium casing like Apple's Pro models.
There have been mixed rumors on just how thin Apple will be able to make it. Rumors have hovered around 6mm, however in a recent report, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects the iPhone to measure in at about 5.5mm at its thinnest point. At 5.5mm, the iPhone 17 Air would be the thinnest iPhone to date – thinner than the 6.9mm iPhone 6 that came out in 2014. 5.5mm would be approximately 30% thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33% thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are 8.25mm thick.
The device is said to have only a single speaker, in the earpiece, as there is apparently not enough room for a second speaker on the bottom edge. The Information also claims that the device will feature a narrower Dynamic Island, though this specific claim has since been contested. Internally code-named D23, the device's redesign has been described as a major one equivalent to the iPhone X.
Display Size
Smaller Than Plus Model
The first details about the size of the device's display arrived courtesy of Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who said it would be 6.6 inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since corroborated Pu's claim.
Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young says the device will feature a 6.55-inch display, which could be rounded up to 6.6 inches. Complicating matters, YouTuber Jon Prosser more recently claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a 6.7-inch display, rather than a 6.6-inch display as previously rumored. For context, the existing iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. However, in response to Prosser's prediction, Young reiterated his 6.55-inch display size claim for the iPhone 17 Air.
In mid-March 2025, we reported on a rumor out of China claiming that the iPhone 17 Air shares the same dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the only difference being in the thickness of the devices. Days later, Bloomberg reported that Apple prototyped a larger ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air with a 6.9-inch display, but ultimately decided not to go ahead with the device because of fears that it could be susceptible to bending. It's quite possible the China-originating rumor had its origins in Apple's canned prototype.
The iPhone 17 Air could have ultra-thin bezels as could the entire iPhone 17 series, according to one leaker. Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature the thinnest bezels around the screen of any product it has ever released, so perhaps we can expect a similar sized bezel for the Air.
Always-On Display
ProMotion Support
Apple intends to expand ProMotion to the entire lineup in 2025, including the iPhone 17 "Air," allowing all iPhone 17 models to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when necessary. This will be enabled by Apple's use of Samsung's high performance "M14" OLED display panel.
Previously, only "Pro" models in Apple's iPhone lineup used the M1 OLED panel, which is why they have exclusively supported ProMotion. Notably, ProMotion would also enable the display on the iPhone 17 "Air" to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that can show the Lock Screen's clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper even when the device is locked.
Camera Redesign
Relocated Lens
The Information claimed that the iPhone 17 Air will have cameras in locations we haven't seen before on an iPhone. According to a May report, the rear cameras could be moved to the "top center" of the device. Some Android phones like Google's Pixel 9 Pro have rear cameras in a top-center position, or in a runway-style horizontal bar, but Apple's iPhone camera system has occupied the top-left corner ever since the 2007 model.
Adding to the intrigue, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that the device will have only one camera, as opposed to two or three.
Since then, YouTube channel Front Page Tech has revealed the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Air. The renders show an all-new camera bar across the top of the device's rear shell. On the left side of the bar is a single rear camera, and on the right side there is a microphone and an LED camera flash.
Most recently, a CAD render of all the devices in Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup has been shared online by leaker Majin Bu, specifically showing the allegedly different rear camera system designs of the standard iPhone 17, including the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. The CAD shows the described horizontal camera bar design accommodating the single camera lens.
Alleged iPhone 17 Air shown on far left
Weibo-based leakers Fixed Focus Digital, Ice Universe, and Digital Chat Station have all backed the accuracy of the CAD image, based on their own information from Apple's supply chain in China. "The appearance is basically like this," commented Digital Chat Station in reference to the image.
More Durable Screen
Anti-Reflective Coating
All iPhone 17 models will feature an anti-reflective display that is more scratch-resistant than Apple's Ceramic Shield found on iPhone 15 models, according to Chinese Weibo leaker Instant Digital.
The outer glass on the iPhone 17 series is said to have a "super-hard anti-reflective layer" that is "more scratch-resistant." It's not clear whether Apple is planning to adopt the Gorilla Glass Armor that Samsung uses in its Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the description of Corning's latest technology matches the rumor.
Improved Front Camera
Better Selfies
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the entire iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens. The iPhone 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements, and the iPhone 16 lineup features the same hardware.
The upgraded resolution on the iPhone 17 will allow photos to maintain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, while the larger number of pixels will capture finer details. The upgrade to a six-element lens should also slightly enhance image quality.
Haitong analyst Jeff Pu has claimed the iPhone 17 Air will feature 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. However, more recently, Ming-Chi Kuo has said that all iPhone 17 models will be equipped with 12GB of RAM, including the Air.
It's worth noting that all iPhone 16 models (including the new iPhone 16e) are fitted with 8GB of RAM – a hardware requirement of on-device Apple Intelligence – so it's almost a surety that the slim device will also have at least this amount of memory.
Next-Gen Processor
Better Performance
According to The Information and Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu, the device will be equipped with Apple's A19 chip, which is likely to be based on an optimized version of TSMC's 3nm process, possibly N3P or N3X.
In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to include an A19 Pro chip. Compared to earlier versions of 3nm chips, the N3P chips offer increased performance efficiency and increased transistor density.
Battery Life
Questions Remain
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air will utilize the same C1 modem that recently debuted in the iPhone 16e. The C1 is Apple's first custom-designed modem chip, and should bring significant advantages to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.
The C1 is the most power-efficient modem ever featured in an iPhone, and promises very good battery life even within the frame of the iPhone 17 Air's ultra-thin design. According to Apple's tech specs, the iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of battery life for video playback, compared to up to 22 hours for the standard iPhone 16. This efficiency comes from Apple's complete control over the modem's design and integration with its custom silicon. The only minor drawback to the C1 is that it does not support mmWave.
The iPhone 17 Air could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June. One leaker has claimed the device's battery capacity is 2,800mAh, which wouldn't be far off the iPhone 12, which has a 2,815mAh battery.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has said the iPhone 17 Air will provide battery life that is "on par with current iPhones." However, according to a report by The Information, the device will have "worse" battery life compared to previous iPhone models, which could influence Apple's decision to release a battery case as an optional accessory for the iPhone 17 Air.
Camera Control
Photography Button
The iPhone 17 Air will feature the same Camera Control button that iPhone 16 models have on the right-side of the device, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The button provides quick access to the camera and related settings, but some people find the button's touch sensitivity finicky, and many users disable it.
Wi-Fi 7 Support
For Enhanced Connectivity
Apple will use its own custom-designed Wi-Fi chip in all upcoming iPhone 17 models, including the iPhone 17 Air, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo said the switch to in-house Wi-Fi chips will "enhance connectivity across Apple devices" while also giving Apple a cost reduction.
Apple's custom wireless chip will support Wi-Fi 7 specification, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain. All current iPhone models are equipped with a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip supplied by Broadcom.
Despite the thinness of the iPhone 17 Air, the device will support MagSafe, according to a reliable Chinese leaker. The leaker said that all four iPhone 17 models this year will support MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories. Apple dropped MagSafe from the low-end iPhone 16e, which left some uncertainty that the technology would feature in the iPhone 17 Air.
Notably, Apple appears to be moving to the next-generation Qi 2.2 wireless charging standard, according to regulatory filings, which increases the likelihood that the upcoming iPhone 17 models will support the new charging standard. Qi 2.2 is technically capable of up to 50W charging output – but that doesn't guarantee Apple's iPhones will charge at the maximum 50W. In addition to faster charging, Qi 2.2 offers improved magnetic alignment and charging efficiency compared to its predecessor. The standard also features backward compatibility with older Qi chargers.
eSIM Worldwide
No SIM Card Slot
The slim device will lack a physical SIM card slot, and instead rely entirely on digital eSIM technology, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. In the U.S., all iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 models lack a physical SIM card tray already, but all iPhones sold in other countries still have one for now.
The lack of a SIM card slot in all forthcoming iPhone 17 models worldwide has been previously reported, but it is not clear how the devices would be sold in the Chinese market, where the use of eSIMs in smartphones is not currently authorized.
Color Options
Unique Blue Finish
A new light blue finish is rumored to be the signature color of the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, according to a leak from Asia. The tip, shared by Weibo leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," suggests that this blue shade will be central to Apple's marketing for the new device, which will replace the Plus model in Apple's iPhone lineup. Described as significantly lighter than any previous blue Apple has released, the color may appear almost white in low-light conditions.
The iPhone 13 Pro's "Sierra Blue" finish (2021).
The finish is said to echo Apple's past use of lighter tones, particularly the iPhone 13 Pro's "Sierra Blue." That color marked a shift toward more subtle, pastel-like shades – metallic and icy, it shifted between blue and light gray depending on the lighting. Apple continued this trend with the softer, pastel finishes introduced in the iPhone 15 lineup.
Pricing Rumors
Premium or Affordable?
The Information reported that the slimmer iPhone 17 could have a higher price tag than the Pro Max model, which currently starts at $1,199, despite suggestions that it will not be as feature-rich as Apple's top-tier Max.
However, Haitong International analyst Jeff Pu believes the device will be a mid-tier iPhone that replaces the Plus model. Additionally, a report out of China has claimed that the ultra-thin iPhone 17's price will be similar to that of the iPhone 16 Plus, which starts at $899 in the United States. More recently, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told that the device may start at roughly $899 in the US, while a newer report by The Wall Street Journal has suggested that all iPhone 17 models may have higher prices than usual because of the impact of U.S. import tariffs on foreign goods.
Apple experienced the strongest year-over-year growth in global PC shipments during the second quarter of 2025 among the top five vendors, according to new preliminary data released by IDC, despite flat performance in the United States.
Apple shipped 6.2 million Macs globally in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 21.4% increase from the 5.1 million units it shipped during the same period last year. This outpaced all other top PC manufacturers. Apple's global market share rose from 8.0% in the second quarter of 2024 to 9.1% in the latest quarter, although it maintained its fourth-place position behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell in terms of total volume.
The broader PC market grew 6.5% year-over-year to 68.4 million units, rebounding for another quarter of positive growth after a period of pandemic-related volatility and supply chain disruptions. Lenovo led the market with 17 million shipments, a 15.2% increase from the year prior, followed by HP with 14.1 million units and Dell with 9.8 million. Dell was the only one of the top five vendors to see a decline, falling 3.0% from the same quarter in 2024.
IDC attributed much of Apple's growth to strong performance outside the United States, where shipments rose 9% year-over-year. In contrast, the U.S. PC market posted zero percent growth during the quarter. IDC believes that the flat U.S. performance likely reflects inventory buildup and anticipation of upcoming tariff increases. As a result, shipments recorded in the second quarter could reflect efforts by Apple and its retail partners to front-load deliveries to the U.S. before potential cost increases take effect.
Apple's 21.4% shipment growth in the second quarter followed a similarly strong performance in the first quarter 2025, when Mac shipments rose 14.1% year-over-year. That trend stands in contrast to the slower growth reported by other major vendors this year.
Apple has been granted a patent for a next-generation Apple Pencil that uses optical sensors to work across a wide range of surfaces, including devices such as the iPhone, MacBook Pro, and Apple Watch.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office this week granted Apple the filing (via Patently Apple), which is titled "Input Device With Optical Sensors." The patent describes a stylus equipped with advanced optical tracking systems capable of detecting movement, tilt, rotation, and position in three-dimensional space.
Unlike current models, the proposed Apple Pencil would not rely on interaction with a capacitive touchscreen. Instead, it would utilize sensors embedded in the Pencil itself to capture motion and translate it into digital input.
In one configuration, the tip of the Apple Pencil is described as being formed from a partially or fully transparent material, such as cover glass. This would allow light to pass through the tip to the target surface and back to the internal sensor system.
The Pencil would then analyze the light data to determine characteristics of the movement, including direction, speed, tilt angle, and rotational orientation, without requiring direct contact with a touch-sensitive display. The patent also outlines an alternative implementation using a trackball mechanism.
Beyond drawing, the patent envisions broader use cases. In addition to supporting sketching, writing, and gesture input, the Apple Pencil could act as a spatial controller for system-level actions. These include cursor manipulation, file navigation, audio controls, or initiating phone calls. The patent's illustrations depict the stylus in use with a variety of Apple products, including the iPad, MacBook Pro, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
At WWDC 2025, Apple showcased the Logitech Muse, a third-party spatial stylus developed for the Apple Vision Pro headset. The Muse allows users to draw in mid-air with precision, relying on spatial tracking rather than contact with a physical surface.
The Apple Pencil patent echoes similar design goals, hinting at potential in-house development of new input devices that extend beyond the iPad. Patent filings cannot be taken as evidence of Apple's immediate plans, but they do indicate areas of active research and interest for the company, as well as what it is considering developing for future devices.
WhatsApp has begun testing support for threaded message replies on iOS, expanding a feature previously only available on Android.
As spotted by WABetaInfo, the feature is now under active development in the WhatsApp for iOS beta, which is available to users through TestFlight. While the feature is not yet functional for end users, its appearance in the latest beta indicates that a public release could be approaching.
Threaded message replies will allow users to respond to specific messages in a structured format, separate from the main chat feed. This is different from inline replies, which still show in the main feed. The feature should enable clearer conversation tracking when multiple discussions occur simultaneously in the same chat.
The feature works by displaying a small reply counter on any message that has received responses. Tapping this indicator opens a separate screen containing the full thread. In this view, users can read all replies tied to the original message in sequence, as well as send additional replies in the same thread.
WhatsApp typically conducts staggered rollouts for major features, and further beta releases are likely before full public availability.
Following the success of "F1: The Movie," Apple now wants to buy the streaming rights to Formula 1 itself, according to The Financial Times.
The company is now apparently in active talks to acquire the rights to stream Formula 1 in the United States. The move comes amid the success of "F1: The Movie," which is Apple's first major box office hit, earning over $300 million globally already.
The move puts Apple in competition with Disney, which is Formula 1's current American broadcaster, via its subsidiary ESPN. ESPN had exclusivity to negotiate a renewal deal without competition from other bidders until last year, and the process is now open to rivals.
Disney pays $85 million per year for the rights, and Formula 1 also charges fans directly for its own streaming service. Liberty Media, Formula 1's U.S. owners, hope that the Apple Original Film and Netflix's "Drive to Survive" documentary has increased the value of Formula 1.
Formula 1 viewership doubled from 554,000 to around 1.1 million in 2024, rising further to 1.3 million in the first 10 events tis year. The next U.S. Formula 1 streaming deal could now be worth in excess of $121 million a year—a considerable increase.
Apple moved into live sports streaming in 2022, and now streams Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer on Apple TV+, so adding Formula 1 to its portfolio is highly plausible. Following its run in theaters, "F1: the Movie" is expected to become available on Apple TV+ later in 2025.
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes.
With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID.
If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also visible in the App Store and Apple Store apps, as well as a new card in the Wallet app.
To add the card, open the Wallet app and under "Available Cards," tap on "Add Apple Account." As long as you have an Apple Account balance, you'll be able to add the card.
Once added, you can view your Apple Account balance right from the Wallet app and use it to purchase Apple products, apps, games, and music. It works in the same way as any other card in the Wallet app when at an Apple Store. The Apple Account Card replaced the iTunes Pass that used to be available quite some time ago.
Now, backend changes to Apple Pay spotted by MacRumors suggest the feature is expanding to additional countries in Europe: Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal.
When Jeff Williams leaves his position as Apple's Chief Operating Officer later this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook will apparently be taking over the design team leadership.
Right now, Williams oversees Apple's design efforts, but when he departs, Apple says that the design team will "transition to reporting directly to Cook."
Williams is in charge of several departments at Apple, and he has been overseeing Apple's design team since 2023. After Apple designer Jony Ive left Apple in 2019, Evans Hankey took over as Apple's design lead. Hankey left Apple in 2022, but Apple opted not to replace Hankey. Instead, the design team began reporting to Williams, and now it will report to Cook. Apple's design team includes software designers and hardware designers,
Williams is stepping down as Apple's Chief Operating Officer later this month, but he will continue to lead the design team, Apple's health initiatives, and the Apple Watch development until he leaves the company at the end of the year.
Apple's longtime senior vice president of Operations Sabih Khan will take over as Chief Operating Officer to continue overseeing Apple supply chains.
Apple has been refining Liquid Glass during the developer beta testing process, and both beta two and beta three have introduced some major tweaks. There was little outcry over the updates that Apple made in the second beta, but the third beta's design updates have frustrated some users who feel that Apple is removing too much of the Liquid Glass aesthetic.
For context, Apple made navigation bars more opaque across many apps in iOS 26 beta 3, and we've got a series of side-by-side comparisons that demonstrate what's different. In all of the comparison images, beta 2 is on the left and beta 3 is on the right.
Apple Music
Apple Music's bottom navigation bar is more opaque, and it has the frosted glass look that Apple is now favoring. The change is most noticeable when scrolling over a background that has color. In beta 2, the navigation bar was almost translucent, allowing much of the background color to shine through. That effect is significantly reduced in beta 3.
Safari
The changes in Safari vary depending on what you're doing, the background color of the website, and which Tab View design you're using. In general, the URL bar is more opaque and less prone to notable shifts in color. Less of the background comes through.
The URL bar will still change from light to dark if the content you're scrolling over is predominantly dark, but there's a higher threshold for that to kick on.
It's easiest to see the difference with the Compact View, because it was the most translucent view to begin with.
App Store
The App Store's navigation bar has one of the most noticeable changes, and it's almost entirely opaque now.
As with Apple Music, translucency has been almost entirely eliminated in the Podcasts navigation bar. The change is easiest to see with backgrounds that have color.
Apple TV
The Apple TV app has a darker background and the change is more subtle. The overlaying navigation bar is a darker glass color, but transparency appears to be similar.
Photos
For the Photos app, Apple tweaked the design in a similar way to the Apple TV app. The navigation bar is darker, but there's been little change to transparency.
Calendar
Calendar's navigation buttons are more opaque, both in Light Mode and Dark Mode.
Keyboard
The Spotlight Search keyboard is both more and less translucent. The keyboard itself has slightly more background visible, but the search bar is darker.
Dark Mode
Dark Mode has retained more transparency than Light Mode for the most part, so you may see less of a difference if you have Dark Mode enabled permanently. Some menu bar elements are darker than before, but white text on a dark background is more readable so Apple had to increase the opaqueness less.
This isn't true for all apps, though, and there are areas with dark navigation bars that also have less translucency.
Color Dependency
The difference that you see between beta 2 and beta 3 can vary quite a bit depending on the color in the background. With some white backgrounds, it's hard to tell that the Liquid Glass has a more frosted appearance, and the updates are mostly noticeable with light colors.
Over content that is are darker, navigation bars will often transition to their Dark Mode view that appears more translucent, as can be seen in the Safari screenshot below. This is the same effect you'll see with Dark Mode enabled.
Notifications, Lock Screen, and Home Screen
On the Lock Screen, the time is ever so slightly more opaque than it was before. With some background colors, notifications also have a darker background than before, but this isn't always noticeable. Home Screen and Control Center haven't changed much if at all.
For App Library, the search bar doesn't have blurred edges when scrolling, which makes it easier to see. Apple hasn't changed translucency.
Other App Changes
Most of Apple's built-in apps have tweaked buttons and navigation bars in iOS 26 beta 3, with repeats of the design changes listed above.
Weather - The buttons at the bottom of the app are much darker than before, and the search button is no longer translucent.
Camera - No noticeable change.
FaceTime - No noticeable change.
Messages - The search bar isn't as translucent, nor is the message compose bar. Popover buttons haven't changed.
Maps - Maps is actually more translucent, because it's using Liquid Glass for the turn-by-turn directions that are shown at the top of the app.
Mail - Buttons have less translucency.
Notes - The buttons and navigation bar in the Notes app already had little translucency, but it's been reduced further and is almost non-existent.
Reminders - When you're composing a Reminder, the toolbar has less translucency. The search bar and popover menus are the same.
Clock - No change.
Health - The Health app's navigation bar and search bar are a little less transparent, but it was already fairly opaque.
Wallet - Buttons aren't as transparent, so if you scroll over something with bright colors, it's no longer visible behind the button.
Settings - The Search bar is more opaque.
Find My - No change.
Stocks - The translucency of Top Stories is unchanged, but the search bar has increased opacity.
Home - Less opacity overall for navigation bar and home control buttons.
Books - Navigation menus and search have less translucency.
Fitness - Little change because the app uses a darker background, but the buttons are a touch darker than before.
Contacts - Less translucency for search.
Files - Less translucency for navigation bar and search.
Translate - No change.
Shortcuts - Less translucency for navigation bar. Keyboard translucency remains the same.
Calculator - History interface is more opaque.
Voice Memos - No change.
Compass - No change.
Passwords - Navigation bar and search interface lost translucency.
Games - Navigation bar is darker and less translucent.
Preview - No change.
What do you think of the changes that Apple made in iOS 26 beta 3? Are you hoping for some of the Liquid Glass design to be reimplemented, or do you prefer the more opaque look? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple appears to be developing an AI-based "Support Assistant" for the Apple Support app. Signs of the feature were found in Apple code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris, but the Support Assistant doesn't appear to be live in the app as of yet.
Apple users will interact with Support Assistant through chats. The Apple Support app already has a chat feature that relies on Messages, but it is used for communicating with Apple's live support agents. Support Assistant would likely allow customers to open the Apple Support app, type in a problem that they're having, and get generative AI-based solutions as a step before contacting a live person. Apple's code says that users will have the option to consult with an Apple advisor for help after using the Support Assistant feature.
The code states that the Support Assistant "uses generative models," and that it will provide answers "related to certain Apple products and services." Apple warns that generative models can sometimes provide "incorrect, misleading, incomplete, offensive, or harmful outputs," and that customers should not rely on information from Support Assistant as a substitute for professional advice.
There is a reference to uploading content, which suggests Support Assistant could allow users to upload images, PDFs, or documents related to support requests. Apple also says that it works with partners to provide Support Assistant, so it's possible that this will be a ChatGPT-powered feature.
There isn't any indication of when the Support Assistant feature might launch, but Apple is already testing a ChatGPT-style generative AI tool for AppleCare support advisors.
That tool, called "Ask," is designed to generate responses to technical questions that advisors receive from customers. Ask brings up information from Apple's internal knowledge base, and advisors are able to ask follow-up questions.
Apple today announced a major executive shakeup: Jeff Williams will be stepping down as COO of the company later this month, and he will be succeeded by Sabih Khan, who has served as Apple's Senior Vice President of Operations since 2019.
Since being promoted to COO in 2015, Williams has overseen Apple's entire worldwide operations, as well as customer service and support. He has also led Apple Watch engineering and health initiatives, and he took over Apple's design team in 2023.
Williams will remain at Apple in a transitionary role until he fully retires from the company towards the end of this year. He will continue reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook and overseeing Apple's design team and Apple Watch engineering until he retires, at which point the design team will report directly to Cook.
Cook shared a heartfelt message about Williams, who has worked at Apple since 1998:
Jeff and I have worked alongside each other for as long as I can remember, and Apple wouldn't be what it is without him. He's helped to create one of the most respected global supply chains in the world; launched Apple Watch and overseen its development; architected Apple's health strategy; and led our world class team of designers with great wisdom, heart, and dedication. I am and will always be beyond grateful for his numerous contributions to Apple over the years and his loyal friendship. Jeff's true legacy can be seen in the amazing team he's created and, while he'll be greatly missed, he leaves the work of the future in incredible hands.
Williams shared his own heartfelt farewell message:
I have a deep love for Apple. Working with all of the amazing people at this company has been a privilege of a lifetime, and I can't thank Tim enough for the opportunity, his inspirational leadership, and our friendship over the years. June marked my 27th anniversary with Apple, and my 40th in the industry. Beginning next year, I plan to spend more time with friends and family, including five grandchildren and counting. I've had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years and I think he's the most talented operations executive on the planet. I have tremendous confidence in Apple's future under his leadership in this role.
Apple said Khan will gradually transition into the role of COO starting later this month, as part of a "long-planned succession." For the past six years, he has been in charge of Apple's global supply chain, overseeing everything from manufacturing to logistics.
Cook expressed confidence in Khan, who has worked at Apple for more than 30 years:
Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple's supply chain. While overseeing Apple's supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple's manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges. He has advanced our ambitious efforts in environmental sustainability, helping reduce Apple's carbon footprint by more than 60 percent. Above all, Sabih leads with his heart and his values, and I know he will make an exceptional chief operating officer.
These carrier-based capabilities have always been limited to Apple's Phone and Messages apps, so this is a big change. Apple likely expanded these features in response to current or anticipated regulations under the EU's Digital Markets Act.
Third-party apps could already offer Wi-Fi calling and messaging.
Apple says iPhone users in the EU will only be able to make cellular phone calls and/or send and receive SMS/MMS/RCS messages in a supported third-party app when they have selected the app as their default dialing app and/or default carrier messaging app on iOS 26. Otherwise, the functionality is not enabled.
These capabilities will not be available in third-party iPad apps, or in iPhone apps running on macOS or visionOS, according to Apple.
For the cellular phone call functionality in particular, even the developer of an app requires an Apple Developer account registered in the EU. Given how locked down these capabilities are, do not expect them to expand to the U.S. or elsewhere any time soon.
iOS 26 is currently in beta. The update should be released to the general public in September.
As Prime Day continues today, we're highlighting all of the best Apple deals you can get for under $100 on Amazon. This includes AirPods, Apple Pencil Pro, AirTags, iPhone cases, USB-C chargers, and 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 accessories priced between $30 and $50, there are a few sales on Amazon for Prime Day. You can get the 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter for $49.98, down from $59.00, as well as discounts on iPhone 16 cases.
Lastly, we're tracking a few deals on Apple products that are just under $100 for Prime Day. You can get an AirTag 4-Pack for $64.99 ($34 off), an Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00 ($30 off), and AirPods 4 for $89.00 ($40 off).
If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event.
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Apple today provided developers with the third beta of tvOS 26 for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after the second beta was released.
The software updates can be downloaded through the Settings app on the Apple TV.
tvOS 26 adopts new Liquid Glass design changes inspired by visionOS, much like iOS 26 and macOS 26. The update also includes support for karaoke using an iPhone as a microphone, improvements for using AirPlay speakers with a TV, new Aerial screen savers, and quicker logins to apps at setup thanks to Apple Account syncing.
The beta is limited to developers right now, but tvOS 26 will be available to public beta testers in the near future ahead of its fall launch.
iPhone 16 Pro models are 8.25mm thick, so the iPhone 17 Air would be 33% thinner than those devices, if Kuo is accurate. This ultra-thin design can be seen in the hands-on video, along with some of the device's other rumored features, including a 6.6-inch display with a Dynamic Island, a single 48-megapixel rear camera on a wide pill-shaped bump, a USB-C port, a single speaker, an Action button, and a Camera Control button.
The device is also expected to lack a physical SIM card slot worldwide, meaning it will rely entirely on eSIM technology, even outside of the United States.
Apple will likely unveil the iPhone 17 Air in early September, so there are only around two months to go until the device is finally official.
Like previous iPhone software updates, iOS 26 adds several new features to Apple's AirPods. While iOS 26 will be officially released this fall, there's nothing stopping you from installing the latest iOS 26 beta – and getting access to the new AirPods features today.
New AirPods Features
Apple's upcoming iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe updates add the following new features to AirPods, thanks to an AirPods firmware update (more on that below). Controls for the new features are also listed.
Pause Audio for Sleep: If you're listening to music, a podcast, or a book while you're in bed and you're wearing AirPods, the AirPods will pause your audio when you fall asleep. (Settings ➝ [Your Name]'s AirPods ➝ Pause Media When Falling Asleep.)
Camera Remote: AirPods can be used as a camera remote with the Camera app on iPhone or iPad. Just press and hold on the AirPods stem to take a photo or start a video recording. (Settings ➝ [Your Name]'s AirPods ➝ Camera Remote.)
Keep Audio in Headphones: When you use AirPods, you can opt to keep audio in your headphones when other playback devices like cars and speakers connect to the iPhone. (Settings ➝ General ➝ AirPlay & Continuity ➝ Keep Audio with Headphones.)
Improved Call Quality: The H2 chip in the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 brings more natural vocal texture and clarity to voice recordings, iPhone calls, FaceTime calls, and all CallKit-enabled apps like Zoom. (No change in Settings necessary.)
How to Get the New AirPods Features
Step 1: Install iOS 26 Beta
In order to gain access to the new AirPods features in beta, you'll first need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 26 beta or iPadOS 26 beta, respectively. Apple has released the beta versions to developers, but even non-developers can download beta software updates on their iPhones and iPads for free. Follow this link to learn how it's done, then meet us back here.
Of course, if you have reservations about installing the developer beta on your main device, you can always wait for the public beta that will be released very shortly. Apple said to expect availability sometime in the month of July.
Step 2: Install AirPods Beta Firmware
Once you have your device running the iOS 26/iPadOS 26 beta, you need to give Apple permission to install beta firmware on your AirPods.
Connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad, then open Settings ➝ [Your Name]'s AirPods.
Swipe to the bottom of the menu and tap AirPods Beta Updates.
Toggle on the switch next to AirPods Beta Updates to the green ON position.
After you've completed these steps, the firmware update will be installed automatically when your AirPods are in their charging case and near to your iPhone or iPad. This could take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, so be patient.
Once the firmware update is complete, additional options to control the new AirPods features will appear within the Settings app, in the menu screens described above. Bear in mind that the new features are in beta and as a result cannot be guaranteed to work consistently.
Apple today announced that four additional games will be added to the Apple Arcade library on Thursday, August 7, including Play-Doh World.
Exclusive to Apple Arcade, Play-Doh World lets you create digital Play-Doh characters and more.
"Whether sculpting, stretching, squishing, or squashing, kids are invited to unlock their imagination with creative activities, fun games, and rewarding interactions," part of the App Store description for the game says.
Apple's full description of the game, from its press release:
Play-Doh brings its magic to the digital space with Play-Doh World, allowing players to craft their own characters and watch them spring to life. From inventing wild zoo animals to styling outrageous salon hairdos, every corner of this colorful universe responds to the player's creative whim. With dozens of interactive zones, collectible special Play-Doh, and regular content updates, Play-Doh World offers creative activities and open-ended, imagination-led play — all in a safe, ad-free environment.
The three other games that are coming to Apple Arcade on August 7:
Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans.
Amazon this week has Apple's AirTag 4-Pack for $64.99, down from $99.00. This beats the previous all-time low price by about $3, and it's one of the all-around best discounts during Prime Day.
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.
Amazon provides delivery dates as soon as today for Prime members at some residences in the United States, and you won't need to clip an on-page coupon in order to see this deal. If you're shopping for just one AirTag, Amazon has the AirTag 1-Pack for $19.99, which is a record low price.
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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