MacRumors

Satechi and MacRumors have partnered up this week to offer our readers an exclusive 30 percent discount on select products for a limited time. This sale is available only on Satechi's website, and it will run through December 15.

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

To get the discount, add anything from the lists below to your cart and head to checkout. Once at checkout, you can enter the code MRHOLIDAY to get 30 percent off your order for this week only. This discount code takes 30 percent off each item in your cart, so you can purchase multiple accessories at once.

Products in this sale include Satechi's newest Qi2 charging stations and travel chargers, including the 3-in-1 Foldable Charging Station for $91.00, down from $129.99. You can also get both of Satechi's On The Go chargers on sale for 30 percent off with our exclusive code, priced at $56.00 for the 2-in-1 model and $70.00 for the 3-in-1 model.

It's also worth noting that some products are under a "last chance" discount, leftover from Satechi's Cyber Week sale, and our exclusive code stacks with these markdowns. This means you can get ultra-steep discounts on Satechi's 2-in-1 Headphone Stand and Wireless Charger ($39.20, $40 off) and Thunderbolt 4 Dock ($147.00, $152 off).

The code also covers 30 percent off Satechi's range of FindAll Bluetooth trackers, including the FindAll Keychain, FindAll Card, FindAll Luggage Tag, FindAll Glasses Case, and FindAll Passport Cover. We've listed every product that works with our exclusive MRHOLIDAY discount code below, so be sure to shop the sale before it ends on December 15.

Wall Chargers

• 67W On The Go Slim Wall Charger - $42.00, down from $59.99
• 165W USB-C 4-Port GaN Charger - $84.00, down from $119.99

Wireless Chargers

• 2-in-1 Headphone Stand and Wireless Charger - $39.20, down from $55.99
  

• 2-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Charging Stand - $56.00, down from $79.99
• On The Go 2-in-1 Charger - $56.00, down from $79.99
• On The Go 3-in-1 Charger - $70.00, down from $99.99
• 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Charging Stand - $91.00, down from $129.99

Bluetooth Trackers

• FindAll Keychain - $21.00, down from $29.99
• FindAll Card - $24.50, down from $34.99
• FindAll Luggage Tag - $31.50, down from $44.99
• FindAll Glasses Case - $35.00, down from $49.99
• FindAll Passport Cover - $42.00, down from $59.99

Docks and Hubs

• Pro Hub Slim - $56.00, down from $79.99
• 7-in-1 Slim USB-C Multiport Adapter - $56.00, down from $79.99
• Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro - $140.00, down from $199.99
• Thunderbolt 4 Dock - $147.00, down from $209.99
• Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock - $245.00, down from $349.99

Miscellaneous

• On The Go Bluetooth Keyboard - $56.00, down from 479.99
• On The Go Bluetooth Mouse - $21.00, down from $29.99
• Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable - $28.00, down from $39.99

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.

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Australia's new social media law goes into effect on December 10, 2025, and ahead of that date, Apple is sharing information on developer tools that are designed to help social media apps adhere to the law.

Children under the age of 16 will no longer be allowed to use Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube (except for YouTube Kids), Snapchat, X, Twitch, Threads, and Kick in Australia, and those apps have to take "reasonable steps" to remove underage users from their platforms starting Wednesday. Apps will also need to prevent new signups from users under the age of 16, and there is a one-year transition period before penalties will begin.

To assist developers, Apple provides the Declared Age Range API, which gives developers access to the age range of users. Other tools available include an option for an age suitability URL that provides more information on the app and its age-related content, app description pages that indicate age restrictions, and tools for setting higher minimum age ranges.

Platforms that don't deactivate accounts created by children will face serious fines. Australia may also add more apps to its banned list over time, depending on the apps that kids adopt after not being able to access their current favorites.

Australia is the first country to implement a total social media ban for children.

More information is available on Apple's developer website.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple today seeded the second release candidate version of iOS 26.2 to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming one week after Apple seeded the first RC. The release candidate represents the final version iOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found.

Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone 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 list of all the features available in iOS 26.2 in our guide.

iOS 26.2 will likely see a launch later this week.

Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji has reportedly indicated that he plans to continue working for the company for the foreseeable future.

"I love my team, and I love my job at Apple, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon," said Srouji, in a memo obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Here is Srouji's full memo, as shared by Bloomberg:

I know you've been reading all kind of rumors and speculations about my future at Apple, and I feel that you need to hear from me directly. I am proud of the amazing Technologies we all build across Displays, Cameras, Sensors, Silicon, Batteries, and a very wide set of technologies, across all of Apple Products. Together we enable the best products in the world. I love my team, and I love my job at Apple, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

Last week, Gurman said that Srouji recently told Apple CEO Tim Cook that he was "seriously considering leaving in the near future." Srouji did not explicitly deny the report, but it appears that he has no plans to leave Apple for now.

Srouji informed colleagues that he would be interested in working for another company if he did leave Apple, rather than retiring, according to Gurman.

Srouji is Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies. He joined the company in 2008 to lead development of the iPhone 4's A4 chip, the first Apple-designed system-on-a-chip. He previously held senior positions at Intel and IBM.

Apple's chips have achieved many performance records, making Srouji one of the company's most important executives. For example, the A19 Pro chip in the iPhone 17 Pro models offers the world's fastest CPU in any smartphone, while Apple silicon chips in Macs continue to deliver industry-leading performance per watt.

Apple is facing turnover among its top ranks. Apple's operations chief Jeff Williams recently retired, and he will soon be followed by the company's AI research chief John Giannandrea, environmental chief Lisa Jackson, and general counsel Kate Adams. In addition, Apple's software design chief Alan Dye is joining Meta's Reality Labs later this month. Finally, Cook is reportedly planning to step down as CEO as early as next year.

Apple today shared a new "Outrun" Apple Pay ad on its YouTube channel, highlighting the usefulness of the payments service when a physical payment method is unavailable.

In the spot, a woman fleeing from an attacking monster pulls into a gas station, then realizes she doesn't have her wallet to pay for gas. She's able to make her purchase with her iPhone instead. "Count on ‌Apple Pay‌," reads the video's tagline.

Apple has been running the 35-second ad on TikTok and other social networks since November, but it is new to YouTube as of today.

‌Apple Pay‌ works on all modern iPhones and Apple Watch models, allowing users to link a debit or credit card to a device and use the Wallet app to make contactless payments in supported locations.

Apple led global smartphone sales with the iPhone 16 in the third quarter of 2025 while simultaneously accelerating demand for the iPhone 17 lineup and expanding its promotional footprint in the United States, according to new analyses from Counterpoint Research.

Counterpoint Research's Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker shows that the ‌iPhone 16‌ was the best-selling smartphone worldwide during the third quarter of 2025. Well into its second year of life, the device's sustained performance is attributed to continued demand among users upgrading from older iPhone generations, expanded carrier promotions in developed markets, and the broad appeal of the standard ‌iPhone‌ configuration in regions where ultra-premium models represent a smaller share of total volume.

Alongside the ‌iPhone 16‌'s continued leadership, Counterpoint says the iPhone 17 Pro Max entered the quarterly global top-10 list and became the best-selling smartphone in September 2025, despite "limited availability towards the end of the quarter." According to the firm, demand for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max was strengthened by a large cohort of users who purchased iPhones during the COVID-19 period and returned for major upgrades this year. New features such as a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 8x optical zoom and a vapor-chamber cooling system represent one of Apple's most substantial year-over-year camera and thermal architecture revisions and contributed materially to monthly sales growth.

The same dataset indicates that, while Apple maintained its position at the top of the global rankings with the ‌iPhone 16‌ and expanded momentum with the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max, Samsung increased its presence in the top-10 list to five positions, all from the Galaxy A series.

A separate Counterpoint analysis of the global foldable smartphone sector shows that the premium market segment where Apple has not yet entered continued to grow at a materially faster pace than the broader industry. The firm reports that global foldable shipments increased 14% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, which is the highest quarterly shipment volume ever recorded for the category.

Counterpoint attributes much of this performance to Samsung's Galaxy Z 7 series, especially the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which generated "exceptionally strong consumer response" due to a slimmer and lighter enclosure, reduced crease visibility, and an upgraded hinge mechanism designed for improved durability. While Apple has not released a foldable ‌iPhone‌, rumors suggest that the company will debut such a device as soon as next year.

Meanwhile, Counterpoint's U.S. Weekly Smartphone Promotions Index shows that Apple intensified its promotional activity in response to unusually early and aggressive Pixel 10 discounts led by Google. Apple finished the period overtaking Google.

Apple Wallet car key support is coming to Rivian's second-generation R1S and R1T electric vehicles with a 2025.46 software update later this month, according to the company's software chief Wassym Bensaid. He did not provide a specific date.

This feature will allow you to remotely unlock, lock, and start a second-generation R1S or R1T with an iPhone or Apple Watch, without needing to use the Rivian app. Express Mode will be supported, meaning you can keep your iPhone in your pocket as you approach the vehicle, as unlocking the device with Face ID is not required.

Rivian is implementing a newer version of the feature with Ultra Wideband technology for passive entry, eliminating the need to place your iPhone near an NFC reader.

If your iPhone battery runs out, a Power Reserve feature ensures the Apple Wallet key can still be used for up to five hours after the device shut off.

You can share an Apple Wallet car key with up to eight family and friends via AirDrop or any messaging app, such as the Messages app or WhatsApp.

Apple Wallet car keys will not be supported in Rivian's first-generation R1S and R1T vehicles that were built through the 2024 model year.

Despite implementing Apple Wallet car key support, Rivian remains opposed to CarPlay. The electric vehicle maker does offer a built-in Apple Music app with a Connect+ subscription, which costs $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 have returned to the low price of $219.99 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. We first tracked this deal during Black Friday, and today is one of the first times it's returned since that event ended.

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.

The AirPods Pro 3 have 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.

In other AirPods deals, the AirPods 4 with ANC is available for $99.99 on Amazon, down from $179.00, which is another match for a record low price.

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.

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Apple today announced that Fitness+ is expanding to 28 new markets on December 15 in the service's largest international rollout since launch, accompanied by new language dubbing and a K-Pop music genre.

Apple Fitness+ will become available in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and additional regions on December 15, with Japan scheduled to follow early next year. The expansion increases total availability to 49 countries.

Hundreds of sessions will initially be available with digitally generated voice dubbing in Spanish and German, with Japanese added when the service launches in Japan. New dubbed episodes will be released weekly across all supported regions.

The new dubbing system uses a generated voice modeled on each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers' real voices. Users will be able to switch audio tracks after starting a session or set a preferred language in the Fitness app, which will automatically default to the dubbed version when available. Apple has not previously offered dubbed workout content on Fitness+, instead relying on subtitles for non-English markets since the service launched in 2020.

Apple is also adding a new K-Pop music genre to the service, which will be available across workout types. The new category joins existing genres such as Upbeat Anthems, Latest Hits, Hip-Hop/R&B, and Latin Grooves. Apple also noted that the latest episode of Time to Walk features Japanese Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda, and is available today.

Fitness+ is currently available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S. The service will reach the newly announced 28 markets, which include Norway, Poland, the Philippines, Sweden, Vietnam, and others, on December 15.

Amazon and Best Buy today introduced new all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. These discounts beat the Black Friday prices we saw last month by about $30.

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 $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and three of the 46mm GPS models on sale.

If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.

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

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Apple is actively testing under-screen Face ID for next year's iPhone 18 Pro models using a special "spliced micro-transparent glass" window built into the display, claims a Chinese leaker.

According to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shared accurate supply-chain details on Chinese Android hardware, Apple is testing the special glass as a way to let the TrueDepth system's infrared sensors pass through the panel without distortion.

The approach is similar to existing industry techniques that use micro-perforated or nano-patterned glass to selectively improve IR transmission in a localized region above the sensor array.

The report also suggests Apple's work has already prompted related suppliers to accelerate preparation for potential production.

There have been several rumors suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro models will include under-display Face ID, but some disagreement over whether we'll see the technology in 2026. A May report by The Information claimed that iPhone 18 Pro models will have no Dynamic Island with just a pinhole cutout located at the upper left of the display, but other rumors suggest there's still going to be a Dynamic Island.

Analyst Ross Young said that the iPhone 18 Pro models could have under-display Face ID, but that doesn't mean there won't be no Dynamic Island at all. Instead, the pill-shaped hole will be smaller. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also spoken of a slimmed down Dynamic Island for the iPhone 18 Pro models.

The new claim of a micro-transparent glass window supports the view that there will be a smaller Dynamic Island that shifts TrueDepth sensing components below the screen while retaining a smaller cutout for the front camera. While Smart Pikachu does not specifically mention the Pro models, supply-chain sources often use "series" loosely when discussing early panel and materials testing, and all previous rumors have related to Apple's high-end models.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, alongside an all-new foldable iPhone, as part of a new split cycle launch. The regular iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e are not expected to debut until early 2027.

Apple today announced an expansion of the Apple Manufacturing Academy with a new set of virtual training programs for small- and medium-sized businesses across the United States.

The update marks the first time the Academy's training has been accessible online. It was previously only available via in-person sessions in Detroit. Apple describes it as a free resource intended to accelerate innovation among American manufacturers as part of its broader plan to invest $600 billion in the U.S. economy over the next four years.

Apple said the new online courses cover a range of advanced manufacturing topics, including automation, predictive maintenance, quality control optimization, and the use of machine learning with vision systems. The training program also incorporates professional development content on communication and presentation skills to help participants prepare for operational and leadership roles.

The expanded program is intended to increase access for companies that have not been able to attend in-person sessions. Launched in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) in August, the Apple Manufacturing Academy has already provided hands-on training and consultation to more than 80 businesses from Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah.

Businesses enrolled in virtual programming at manufacturingacademy.msu.edu. The current learning materials form the initial phase of what Apple says will be a continuously expanding digital curriculum.

A new image shared by prototype collector and leaker Kosutami appears to show parts designed for an unreleased all-black Apple Vision headset.

The image shows what seems to be a Vision Pro's left power strap and audio pod with the attached power cable. It seems to be identical to Apple's existing hardware, but uses a dark finish not seen on any production Vision Pro hardware.

Kosutami previously claimed that Apple has been testing a thinner and lighter mixed-reality headset referred to internally as "Vision Air," featuring a Midnight-colored exterior and reduced weight achieved by switching several structural components and the battery enclosure to titanium. According to the leaker, this model would retain an aluminum exterior but adopt a deep bluish-black finish rather than the Vision Pro's current silver and white.

Earlier this year, Kosutami also shared images of a new Lightning-style connector in Midnight said to be intended for a next-generation Vision headset. The existing Vision Pro uses a 12-pin connector, while the unreleased cable featured only eight pins, which seemed to indicate that Apple may have been redesigning the external battery system for future headsets.

Apple had been widely expected to release a lower-cost headset called the "Vision Air," as well as a redesigned second-generation Vision Pro. However, Bloomberg reported in October that Apple paused development of all Vision headsets in order to accelerate work on AI-powered smart glasses.

India is reviewing a proposal that would require Apple to keep GPS location services permanently active on every iPhone sold in the country, according to Reuters.

Under the proposal, smartphone makers including Apple would be required to activate satellite-assisted GPS on their devices at all times with no option for users to disable the feature. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) argues that location data from cell tower triangulation is not sufficiently precise for investigative use and that authorities should have access to meter-level coordinates provided by GPS.

GPS is typically activated only when specific apps request location access or when an emergency call is placed. The COAI has also asked the government to require smartphone makers to disable pop-up notifications that inform users when a carrier is attempting to access location information.

Apple has formally opposed the proposal. In a letter sent in July by the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents Apple and Google, the companies warned the government that forcing GPS to remain active at all times would constitute a regulatory overreach.

The news comes shortly after India reversed a separate directive that would have required all smartphone makers, including Apple, to preinstall a government app and prevent users from disabling its functions. The order was rescinded after widespread criticism.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji could be the next leading executive to leave the company amid an alarming exodus of leading employees, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

Srouji apparently recently told CEO Tim Cook that he is "seriously considering leaving" in the near future. He intends to join another company if he departs. Srouji leads Apple's chip design and pioneered the transition to Apple silicon.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Meta had hired multiple significant Apple employees, including longtime Apple designer Alan Dye, while conducting its own recruiting blitz for AI and smart glasses development. Meanwhile, Apple announced the retirement of Senior Vice President and General Counsel Kate Adams, Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, and AI chief John Giannandrea. Earlier this year, Apple lost Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, who is retiring, and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri. There have also been rumors about Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ retiring, with rumors suggesting he is preparing to leave his role as soon as next year.

Gurman says that the losses are partly due to veteran executives nearing retirement age, but there is still a "disconcerting brain drain" taking place in the company. Nevertheless, Gurman says the accumulative weight of the departures all adds up to "one of the most tumultuous stretches of Cooks tenure." Some of the losses are said to be a "cause for deep concern," and Cook is now looking to prevent further loss of leading talent with stronger compensation packages.

Gurman notes that "Apple hasn't launched a successful new product category in a decade," leaving it increasingly vulnerable to having its talent poached by more agile rivals who are said to be better equipped to develop the next generation of devices and AI technologies.

Cook himself is thought to be likely to join the exodus and step down in the not-too-distant future. He turned 65 last month and now exhibits a noticeable, unexplained tremor in his hands. He is likely to transition to the role of chairman, rather than vacate the company entirely.

The departure of Srouji is said to be "a more imminent risk" and Cook is purportedly working hard to retain him by offering a substantial pay package and the potential of more responsibility. Some executives have suggested elevating Srouji to the role of chief technology officer. This would move him to oversee a broad range of hardware engineering and silicon technologies, making him Apple's second-most powerful executive.

Gurman says this change would likely require John Ternus to be promoted to CEO, but Srouji apparently would prefer to not work under a different CEO, even with an expanded remit. If he does leave, Srouji would likely be replaced by Zongjian Chen or Sribalan Santhanam. Beyond Srouji and the other reported departures, Apple is believed to be contending with a significant talent drain among its key engineers.

Gurman explains that there has been "a broader collapse within Apple's artificial intelligence organization" triggered by AI models chief Ruoming Pang departing earlier this year, along with colleagues such as Tom Gunter and Frank Chu. Apple lost Siri and search overseer Robby Walker, as well as his replacement, Ke Yang, to Meta.

Apple's AI group is apparently suffering from low morale and there is growing worry over the increasing use of external AI technology such as Google Gemini. Around a dozen of Apple's leading AI researchers have also now departed.

The company's AI robotics software team has seen widespread departures, including its leader Jian Zhang, who joined Meta. The user interface team has also lost members, such as Billy Sorrentino, culminating in Dye's exit.

Apple's hardware design group "has been nearly wiped out," with many employees vacating to other companies or following former design chief Jony Ive to his studio, LoveFrom. Abidur Chowdhury, the designer behind the iPhone Air who narrated its unveiling in September, left for an AI startup.

The company has lost a key director in charge of display technologies, Cheng Chen, to OpenAI. He also oversaw the optics of the Vision Pro headset. In addition, one of Apple’s top hardware engineering executives, Tang Tan, similarly left for OpenAI.

Apple has even lost the dean of Apple University, Richard Locke. Apple University is the internal program intended to preserve the company's practices and culture following the death of Steve Jobs.

The exodus has become a major concern for Apple's leadership, which has instructed human resources to ramp up recruitment and retention efforts. See Gurman's full report for more information.

OWC's Cyber Week sale is set to end soon, and it's still offering big discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. Some of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.

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

There are a few notable deals in this sale, including $130 off the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $149.99, which is the steepest discount we've seen since the summer on the accessory. If you purchase a qualifying new or used Mac at the same time as this dock, you can get an additional $20 off the accessory at checkout.

Docks and Hubs

• OWC USB-C Travel Dock - $24.99 when added to cart, down from $49.99
• OWC USB-C Travel Dock E - $49.99, down from $59.99
• Thunderbolt Mini Dock - $69.99 when added to cart, down from $129.99
• 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $279.99
• OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock - $179.99 when added to cart, down from $299.99

Memory Cards

• Atlas Pro 240GB - $89.99 when added to cart, down from $134.99
• Atlas Pro 512GB - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $179.99
• Atlas Pro 480GB - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $199.99
• Atlas Ultra 1TB - $279.99 when added to cart, down from $299.99
• Atlas Pro 960GB - $299.99 when added to cart, down from $399.99

External Drives and Enclosures

• 1TB 1M2 SSD - $199.99 when added to cart, down from $249.99
• 2TB 1M2 SSD - $329.99 when added to cart, down from $399.99
• 4TB 1M2 SSD - $559.99 when added to cart, down from $629.99
• 8TB 1M2 SSD - $949.99 when added to cart, down from $1,399.99

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.

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Samsung's Cyber Week event will come to a close later this weekend, and you can still find great deals on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and home appliances for a few more days.

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 65-inch The Frame TV for $999.99 ($1,000 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 $389.99 ($310 off), the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Gaming Monitor for $899.99 ($900 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.

For even more potential savings, eligible shoppers have the chance to get additional discounts through Samsung offer programs. These programs provide extra discounts for students, military, and employees of select businesses, and they provide up to 30 percent extra savings on Samsung's website, so be sure to check whether you're eligible for any of these programs.

TVs

• 65-inch The Frame - $999.99, down from $1,999.99 (extra $100 off available through offer programs)
• 75-inch The Frame Pro - $1,999.99, down from $3,199.99
• 85-inch The Frame Pro - $3,299.99, down from $4,299.99 (extra $660 off available through offer programs)
• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,699.99
• 65-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $1,399.99, down from $2,699.99
• 77-inch OLED S90F TV - $1,999.99, down from $3,499.99
• 75-inch Neo QLED QN90D TV - $1,499.99, down from $3,299.99

Monitors and Storage

• 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 - $389.99, down from $699.99
• 40-inch Odyssey G7 G75F Curved Monitor - $749.99, down from $1,199.99
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Monitor - $899.99, down from $1,799.99
• 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor - $1,499.99, down from $2,299.99 (extra $200 off available through offer programs)

Appliances

• Bespoke Smart Dishwasher - $749.99, down from $1,299.00
• Large Capacity Side-by-Side Fridge - $999.00, down from $1,666.00
• 4-Door French Door Fridge - $1,799.00, down from $2,999.00
• Bespoke All-in-One Combo Washer/Dryer - $1,849.99, 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 - $3,049.99, down from $4,999.00

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy XR - Save up to $1,140 with the Explorer Pack
• Galaxy S25 Ultra - Save up to $700 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 8 - Save up to $200

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.

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You'd expect things to be starting to wind down for the holidays by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case yet in the world of Apple news, with Apple just about ready to release iOS 26.2 and other operating system updates to the public.

There was also a flurry of news this week about Apple executive departures, some expected and some not so expected, while we also learned that Apple and Intel may be developing a new chipmaking partnership, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 Release Candidate Ahead of Public Launch

With the Thanksgiving holiday in the rear-view mirror and the calendar turned to December, Apple is putting the final touches on iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, and related updates, with several new features and tweaks. Apple this week seeded release candidate versions of the updates to developers and public beta testers, suggesting an official release for everyone will come next week.

The imminent iOS 26.2 update arrives as Apple has started to more aggressively push users still on iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26. Since ‌iOS 26‌ launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app, with iOS 18 updates displayed more prominently.

Starting this week, that's changed. iOS 18 users who have not upgraded to ‌iOS 26 now see iOS 26.1 (and soon iOS 26.2) as the recommended iOS update in the Settings app. iOS 18 updates are still an option, but are now displayed at the bottom of the app.

Apple UI Design Chief Alan Dye Leaving for Meta

In a move that came as a surprise to most observers, Apple design chief Alan Dye has decided to leave the company after 19 years and take a role as chief design officer at Meta.

Dye oversaw the major Liquid Glass design update that debuted this year, which has not arrived without controversy, and some both inside and outside of Apple are not exactly sorry to see Dye go.

Dye's departure follows closely on the heels of Apple announcing that AI chief John Giannandrea has stepped down from his position and will serve as an advisor until he retires early next year. Giannandrea has been under pressure as Apple has fallen behind in the race to develop and deploy AI capabilities, and some of his responsibilities had already been shifted to other executives.

As if that wasn't enough, Apple also announced this week that general counsel Kate Adams and environment chief Lisa Jackson will both be retiring in 2026, with the company working to transition their responsibilities to other executives.

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac and iPhone Chips in a New Way

While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027.

If this rumor proves accurate, Intel could supply Apple with M6 or M7 chips for future MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models at a minimum. However, while previous Intel chips for Macs were designed by Intel and based on x86 architecture, M-series chips are designed by Apple and use Arm architecture. Intel would only assist with manufacturing.

The partnership may also extend to the iPhone with Intel producing future chips for non-pro iPhone models starting in 2028, which could perhaps mean the A22 chip for devices like the iPhone 20 and iPhone 20e.

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device.

As rumors continue to surface, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Apple will allegedly call the device the "‌iPhone‌ Fold," which is the name the media has already adopted when sharing rumors about the product.

Apple Music Replay 2025 Now Fully Available

The full Replay 2025 experience is now available in the Apple Music app, allowing you to reflect on your listening habits over the past year.

There are two main components of the Replay 2025 experience. First, there is a full year-end playlist containing the Apple Music songs that you listened to the most over the past year, and second, there is a Highlight Reel with images and a video that are designed to be shared on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC.

Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to ‌iPhone 17‌ demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple.

Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to grow 1.5 percent, primarily because of the success of the iPhone.

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