MacRumors

In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.

Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois.

The announcement confirmed that the Apple Wallet ID will be accepted at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, as well as at Lambert airport in St. Louis, Missouri.

Illinois' Secretary of State's office is launching a free Mobile ID Verifier app for businesses to check proof of age for restrictive purchases, such as the sale of alcohol. This app will be available in the App Store starting tomorrow.

To set up the feature, open the Wallet app and tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, select Driver's License and ID Cards and follow the steps.

Apple says the feature requires an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16.5 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 9.5 or later.

Below, we have outlined information about the feature's availability.

Supported States

The following 12 states offer driver's licenses in the Wallet app:

• Arizona (since March 2022)
• Maryland (since May 2022)
• Colorado (since November 2022)
• Georgia (since May 2023)
• Ohio (since July 2024)
• Hawaii (since August 2024)
• California (since September 2024)
• Iowa (since October 2024)
• New Mexico (since December 2024)
• Montana (since August 2025)
• North Dakota (since September 2025)
• West Virginia (since October 2025)
• Illinois (since November 2025)

The feature is also available in Puerto Rico.

Future States

Apple previously announced that the following U.S. states have signed on to adopt the feature in the future, but it did not provide any timeframes:

• Connecticut
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• Utah

Participating Airports

Apple says travelers should refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability of the feature.

As mentioned above, the feature will be supported at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, as well as at Lambert airport in St. Louis, Missouri.

Apple previously said Wallet IDs can be used at select TSA checkpoints in the following U.S. airports, but it no longer maintains a public list:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
• Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
• Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
• Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
• Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)
• Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
• Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
• Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
• Great Falls International Airport (GTF)
• Missoula International Airport (MSO)

Apple Wallet IDs can also be used to show proof of age or identity at select businesses and venues in the U.S., but there is no list of locations.

Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time.

Options for monthly and annual ‌AppleCare‌+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide ‌iPhone‌ Product Marketing, Kaiann Drance, said:

AppleCare gives our customers peace of mind knowing that their products are protected and supported by Apple experts. With today's updates in India, we're making it easier and more affordable to get trusted protection, including access to our most complete coverage for iPhone.

‌AppleCare‌+ with Theft and Loss for ‌iPhone‌ allows for up to two incidents of theft or loss every year, along with all of the other benefits of ‌AppleCare‌+, such as battery replacement services, 24/7 priority support, and unlimited repairs for accidental damage. Plans start at INR 799.

Customers can view options for ‌AppleCare‌+ coverage on eligible devices directly from the Settings app, where it begins immediately once initiated.

Klarna is now available as a buy-now, pay-later option when using Apple Pay in Denmark, Spain, and Sweden, with France to follow in the coming weeks. This financing option lets you pay for your Apple Pay purchase in monthly installments.

Klarna was already available via Apple Pay in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Apple discontinued its own buy-now, pay-later service called Apple Pay Later last year, and instead started partnering with third-party providers, including Klarna, Affirm, and Synchrony. Availability of these providers varies by country.

When checking out with Apple Pay online and in apps, iPhone and iPad users can select "Other Cards & Pay Later Options" to access installment payment plans from Klarna and other financing partners, where available. Starting with iOS 26, the buy-now, pay-later options are also available for in-store Apple Pay purchases.

Sony is hosting an early Black Friday sale with savings on the company's best headphones, speakers, sound bars, TVs, photography equipment, and more.

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

We've collected a few of the most notable products on sale in the lists below, but be sure to head to Sony's website for the full list of deals. Most devices have an option for free pickup if you live near a Best Buy location that offers local pickup.

You can get Sony's popular WH-1000XM5 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for $249.99 during this event, down from $399.99. There are also a few earbuds and other noise canceling headphones on sale with notable discounts, all of which have been applied automatically and do not require any coupon codes.

Headphones

• WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones - $39.99 ($30 off)
• WH-CH720N Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones - $99.99 ($80 off)
• ULT WEAR Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones - $149.99 ($100 off)
• WH-1000XM4 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones - $199.99 ($150 off)
• WH-1000XM5 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones - $249.99 ($150 off)
• WH-1000XM6 Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones - $429.99 ($30 off)

Earbuds

• WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds - $49.99 ($20 off)
• WF-C710N Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds - $79.99 ($50 off)
• WF-1000XM5 The Best Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds - $229.99 ($100 off)

TVs

• 43-inch Bravia LED 4K HDR Google TV - $419.99 ($80 off)
• 55-inch Bravia OLED 4K HDR Google TV - $999.99 ($500 off)
• 65-inch Bravia Mini LED 4K HDR Google TV - $999.99 ($500 off)
• 65-inch Bravia 4K HDR Google TV - $1,499.99 ($500 off)
• 65-inch Bravia II QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV - $2,299.99 ($1,000 off)

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

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We're getting closer to Black Friday, which lands next week on Friday, November 28. In the lead-up to the shopping holiday, we're tracking a few lowest-ever prices on Apple's most popular Macs, including the M4 MacBook Air and brand new M5 MacBook Pro.

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.

If you're looking for something other than Macs, be sure to visit our Black Friday Roundup for all of the best deals and discounts happening this season. For more Apple-specific devices currently on sale, our main post on the best current Apple Black Friday deals is the best place to look.

MacBook Air

Amazon is hosting best-ever prices across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup for Black Friday. In total, you'll find $249 off every M4 MacBook Air notebook right now on Amazon, with both 13-inch and 15-inch models on sale.

Starting with the 13-inch models, Amazon has $249 off all three configurations of this notebook. Prices start at $749.99 for the 256GB model, then rise to $949.99 for the 16GB/512GB model and $1,149.99 for the 24GB/512GB model. Every deal represents a new all-time low price on the M4 MacBook Air.

Moving to the larger display models, Amazon has both 512GB versions of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week, as well as the 256GB model. The 16GB/512GB model is available for $1,149.99 and the 24GB/512GB model is on sale for $1,349.99. Across the board, these are all record low prices on the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air.

MacBook Pro

Amazon has dropped the price of the new M5 MacBook Pro to $1,473.00, down from $1,599.00. This is the 10-Core model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD in Space Black, and it's a new all-time low price on the M5 MacBook Pro.

If you're shopping for any other models of the M5 MacBook Pro, you'll want to take a look at our exclusive offers at Expercom. In regards to the higher-end models you'll find the best prices here, and our discount has been applied automatically to every computer. Some examples of deals are listed below.

Note: We're currently seeing an issue where clicking on the Expercom links may not show the discounted pricing. Opening the links in a new tab/window or manually copying and pasting them into your browser should, however, work. The issue seems to only affect Safari, with Chrome, Firefox, and several other browsers working fine in our testing.

• 10-Core M5, 24GB RAM, 512GB, Nano-texture - $1,812.57, down from $1,949.00
• 10-Core M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB - $1,859.07, down from $1,999.00

Mac Mini

Amazon is taking $100 off the 256GB model of the M4 Mac mini in early Black Friday deals, as well as over $100 off 512GB models.

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

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Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone next year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the book-style foldable's design and cameras, there are still questions surrounding its potential battery life, particularly given Apple's recent focus on thinness.

According to the leaker and news aggregator account "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, Apple is testing a battery in the 5,400–5,800 mAh range, which would make it the largest capacity of any current or previous iPhone. For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088 mAh battery.

As for how it would compare to rival foldables already on the market, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a battery size of 5,015 mAh, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 4,400 mAh battery, so anything in Apple's alleged testing range would likely offer superior battery life.

A March report from the same Korean aggregator account claimed that Apple has placed a heavy focus on improving power efficiency while slimming down key components of its foldable iPhone, with battery life said to be a key priority for the company. Separately, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the device will use high-density battery cells.

The latest post claims that Apple will eventually settle on a capacity at the higher end of its testing range, as it apparently did previously with the iPhone Air. The details allegedly originate from a supply chain source, and the blog has offered accurate insights into Apple's component strategy in the past, but it has also been wrong, so a degree of caution is warranted.

Multiple sources agree on key specifications for Apple's first foldable iPhone, including a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display. That's the consensus among Kuo and fellow analyst Jeff Pu, as well as the Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station. The device is also expected to use Touch ID integrated into the side button instead of Face ID, similar to the iPad Air and iPad mini.

Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to be equipped with four cameras, consisting of one front camera, one inner (possibly under-screen) camera, and two rear cameras. The device will reportedly use Apple's second-generation C2 modem for cellular connectivity, but it will lack a physical SIM card slot.

Barring any unexpected delays, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes the foldable iPhone will launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in the fall of 2026.

Apple today highlighted its use of 3D-printed titanium in a trio of devices, the step-by-step process involved, and a few benefits of the technology.

The titanium case on Apple Watch Ultra 3 models, the titanium case on higher-end Apple Watch Series 11 models, and the USB-C port on the iPhone Air are all 3D printed with 100% recycled aerospace-grade titanium powder, according to Apple.

3D printing involves creating an object layer by layer with powdered metal, until it is as close to the final shape needed as possible. It is an additive process, meaning that materials are only used as needed, whereas conventional forging is a more wasteful process that involves taking a solid block of metal and shaving it down into a desired part.

Apple says its use of 3D printing enables Apple Watch Ultra 3 and titanium Apple Watch Series 11 cases to use just half the raw material compared to the equivalent previous-generation models. In total, Apple estimates that more than 400 metric tons of raw titanium will be saved this year alone thanks to this new process.

Apple is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire footprint by 2030, and 3D printing helps it get one step closer to that goal.

"A 50 percent drop is a massive achievement — you're getting two watches out of the same amount of material used for one," said Sarah Chandler, Apple's Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, in the press release.

In addition to the environmental benefits, Apple said 3D printing improves waterproofing for the antenna housing in cellular Apple Watch models, as it provides better bonding between the metal case and the thin plastic strip for antenna signals.

Apple previously said the iPhone Air's 3D-printed USB-C port offers three benefits compared to one made with a conventional forging process: it is thinner, stronger, and uses 33% less material to be more environmentally friendly.

Apple goes on to detail its step-by-step process for 3D printing titanium Apple Watch cases. First, raw titanium is atomized into powder. Then, a machine with lasers uses that powder to build a set of cases layer by layer. Next, excess powder is removed from the cases. After the cases are separated, they are put through a final quality check.

The full article on Apple's website is a worthwhile read if you are interested in learning more.

Apple today shared its annual Apple Podcasts Top Charts of 2025, highlighting the most popular shows, episodes, and listening trends of the year.

The 2025 charts are now available in the New tab of the ‌Apple Podcasts‌ app and will remain accessible through the end of the year. Listeners in more than 15 countries will also see a curated Best Shows of 2025 selection chosen by its editorial team.

Apple identified The Joe Rogan Experience as the most popular podcast in the United States for 2025, based on overall listenership. The company also published full top-ten lists for all major categories:

Top Shows

1. The Joe Rogan Experience
2. The Daily
3. The Mel Robbins Podcast
4. Crime Junkie
5. Dateline NBC
6. SmartLess
7. Call Her Daddy
8. This American Life
9. Huberman Lab
10. The Ezra Klein Show

Top New Shows

1. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2. Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
3. Deadly Mirage
4. Blink | Jake Haendel's Story
5. Murder in the Moonlight
6. Devil in the Desert
7. What Happened to Holly Bobo?
8. Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska
9. Unicorn Girl
10. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace

Top Series

1. The Telepathy Tapes
2. The Binge Cases
3. Deadly Mirage
4. Blink | Jake Haendel's Story
5. Dateline Originals
6. Murder in the Moonlight
7. Serial
8. THREE
9. Devil in the Desert
10. CounterClock

Top Episodes

1. The Telepathy Tapes: "Unveiling the Hidden World of Telepathic Communication in a Silenced Community"
2. Crime Junkie: "MURDERED: The Feeney Family"
3. New Heights: "The Taylor Swift Episode"
4. The Joe Rogan Experience: "#2223 - Elon Musk"
5. The Daily: "Trump, Again"
6. Blink: "Blink"
7. Deadly Mirage: "Death in the High Desert"
8. SmartLess: "Amy Poehler"
9. Good Hang with Amy Poehler: "Tina Fey"
10. Murder in the Moonlight: "In Cold Blood"

Most Shared Shows

1. The Telepathy Tapes
2. The Mel Robbins Podcast
3. Sold a Story
4. Blink | Jake Haendel's Story
5. The Bible in a Year
6. The Daily
7. Huberman Lab
8. The Bible Recap
9. Scamanda
10. The Ezra Klein Show

Most Shared Episodes

1. The Mel Robbins Podcast: "The Body Reset"
2. The Telepathy Tapes: "Unveiling the Hidden World..."
3. The Ezra Klein Show: "Don't Believe Him"
4. The Shawn Ryan Show: "#163 Gary Brecka"
5. The Peter Attia Drive: "Women's sexual health..."
6. The Joe Rogan Experience: "#2294 - Dr. Suzanne Humphries"
7. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart: "Trump Won. What Now?"
8. The Daily: "The Secret Power of Siblings"
9. On Purpose: "Let Them Theory"
10. Armchair Expert: "Mary Claire Haver"

Most Followed Shows

1. The Mel Robbins Podcast
2. The Joe Rogan Experience
3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
4. The Charlie Kirk Show
5. Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
6. The Telepathy Tapes
7. The MeidasTouch Podcast
8. The Shawn Ryan Show
9. Call Her Daddy
10. The Daily

Top Subscriber Shows

1. The Daily
2. Apple News+ Narrated
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Unicorn Girl
5. Morbid
6. Extrasensory
7. Dateline NBC
8. Scamtown
9. Big Time
10. The New York Times Narrated

Top Channels

1. SiriusXM Podcasts
2. Wondery
3. iHeartPodcasts
4. The New York Times
5. audiochuck
6. Dateline NBC
7. Dear Media
8. Cumulus Podcast Network
9. Audacy
10. Vox Media Podcast Network

The Top Charts of 2025 are localized for audiences around the globe, offering a distinct regional perspective on the year's top podcasts.

The ‌Apple Podcasts‌ Show of the Year will be announced on Thursday, December 4. The annual award recognizes a single podcast that made what Apple described as a "significant cultural or creative impact" across the platform over the past year.

Apple had a bumper month for iPhone sales in China in October, with sales jumping 37% compared to a year earlier on strong demand for iPhone 17 models, according to data from research firm Counterpoint.

One in every four smartphones sold in the country for the month was an iPhone – a market share milestone Apple hasn't achieved since 2022, when there were fewer rivals in the premium segment. The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max reached mid-to-high double-digit percentage growth, led by the standard iPhone 17.

New iPhone models accounted for more than 80% of Apple's unit sales, Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam said. It is the best ever start to a December quarter for Apple, far surpassing its previous peak in October 2021.

"There is always some risk, especially with the much-expected Huawei Mate 80 series launching on November 25," said Lam. "But there's a lot of momentum behind Apple at this point. There is not much tapering to indicate a steep drop off."

China's overall smartphone sell-through grew 8% year-over-year in October, thanks to the performance of Apple's iPhone 17 series as well as that of domestic manufacturers like Xiaomi, which climbed to the number 2 spot for the first time in over a decade.

The data paints a rosy picture for Apple in the Chinese market, despite reports of a lukewarm reception for the iPhone Air, which has also performed poorly in other markets.

The designer who introduced the iPhone Air at Apple's September event left the company, reports Bloomberg. Abidur Chowdhury recently departed Apple to join an AI startup, a move that apparently "made waves" internally because he was a rising star on the design team.

Chowdhury worked on the ‌iPhone Air‌, and he described its feature set in a two-minute presentation in September. His departure was not related to the ‌iPhone Air‌ or the disappointing sales of the device.

Chowdhury joined Apple's industrial design team in 2019, the same year that Jony Ive left the company to create a new design firm. After Ive departed, several other members of the design team left, either joining him or moving on to other companies.

There are very few designers remaining at Apple who worked under Ive, and Apple has lost several high-profile designers over the last six years.

Former Apple operations chief Jeff Williams had been overseeing the product design team since 2023, but he retired from Apple last week. Apple's design team will now report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Apple appears to be gearing up to add car key support to select Cadillac vehicles, based on backend code found by MacRumors. Cadillac is now on an internal Apple list of vehicles that offer car key integration.

Apple has supported NFC-based digital keys in the Wallet app since 2022, and vehicle manufacturers have been adopting the feature since then. Digital keys allow users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles with an iPhone or Apple Watch using NFC.

At WWDC 2025, Apple confirmed that 13 vehicle brands would "soon" add support for digital car keys, and Cadillac was on the list. Other brands included were Acura, Porsche, GMC, Chevrolet, Rivian, Smart, Lucid Motors, Tata Motors, Hongqi, WEY, Chery, and Voyah.

Apple has now added backend support for GM, Voyah, and Smart vehicles, but car manufacturers have yet to add support. For car key to come to Cadillac vehicles, GM will need to add the functionality.

GM has not yet provided details on which Cadillac models will support car key.

Some newer vehicles from BMW, Genesis, Kia, Audi, Hyundai, Lotus, Mercedes, Volvo, and more offer car keys support, with a list available on MacRumors.com.

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

AirDrop

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

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

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

Hypertension Notifications

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

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

Privacy

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

Side Button

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

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

Liquid Glass Settings

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

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

Games App

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

Alarms in Reminders

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

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

iPadOS 26.2 Multitasking

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

More Features

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

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

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

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

From Apple's developer documentation:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TVs

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

Monitors and Storage

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

Appliances

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

Galaxy Products

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

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

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