iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report.
Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain.
Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports that Apple has approved BOE's latest displays for mass production. However, the iPhone 17 Pro models with BOE displays will apparently be limited to the Chinese market.
Today, Apple sources the majority of its OLED panels for iPhones from South Korea-based Samsung Display and LG Display. BOE has struggled to replicate the panel brightness, efficiency, and long-term durability of Samsung and LG's offerings.
In May 2022, Apple halted BOE's inclusion in the iPhone 13's supply chain after detecting unauthorized design modifications. The crisis began when BOE, facing component shortages and yield issues, expanded the circuit width of thin-film transistors in its panels without Apple's approval. When Apple discovered this, Apple instructed BOE to halt production.
Since then, BOE has gradually sought to return to Apple's good graces. The company was later granted approval to resume supplying OLED panels for the iPhone 14, albeit in limited quantities. The Chinese supplier apparently intends to play a major role in iPhone production in the future and grow its share of Apple's highly competitive display supply chain.
A new Apple-backed AI model trained on Apple Watch behavioral data can now predict a wide range of health conditions more accurately than traditional sensor-based approaches, according to a recently published study.
The research paper, titled "Beyond Sensor Data: Foundation Models of Behavioral Data from Wearables Improve Health Predictions," introduces a machine learning model that analyzes user behavior to flag potential health issues. Unlike earlier methods that focus on real-time sensor outputs like heart rate or blood oxygen, the new model identifies patterns in how people move, sleep, and exercise over time.
At the center of the study is a foundation model that the researchers call the Wearable Behavior Model (WBM). It analyzes high-level behavioral metrics such as step count, sleep duration, heart rate variability, and mobility, which are all calculated by the Apple Watch using on-device algorithms.
The researchers found that this approach allows the AI model to detect certain health conditions more effectively than models based solely on direct biometric data. The WBM showed particularly strong performance in identifying what the researchers called static health states, such as whether a person takes beta blockers, and transient health conditions like sleep quality or respiratory infection. For pregnancy detection, the model achieved up to 92% accuracy when combined with traditional biometric data in a hybrid approach.
Apple collected data for the model through the Heart and Movement Study, which involves more than 160,000 participants who voluntarily share data via the Apple Watch and iPhone. The foundation model was trained on over 2.5 billion hours of data and evaluated on 57 different health-related prediction tasks. It uses a time-series machine learning architecture designed to identify changes in behavior over days or weeks, allowing it to identify health conditions that unfold over time rather than instantaneously.
The researchers argue that wearable devices have now evolved to the point where they can support this kind of AI-powered analysis at scale. Whether such a model will be integrated into a user-facing feature in the future is unknown, but it goes to show that current Apple Watch hardware can go much further in terms of accurate and intelligent health analysis.
Apple has successfully secured the dismissal of a federal lawsuit accusing it of conspiring with Visa and Mastercard to suppress competition in the payments network industry and inflate merchant transaction fees (via Reuters).
The Southern District of Illinois ruled in favor of Apple, Visa, and Mastercard in the case brought by Illinois-based beverage retailer Mirage Wine & Spirits and other merchants, which alleged that Apple had entered into anticompetitive agreements with the two major card networks. The plaintiffs claimed that Visa and Mastercard made ongoing payments to Apple, described as "a very large and ongoing cash bribe," to ensure Apple would not build its own rival payment network.
According to the complaint, these payments amounted to 0.15% on the value of all U.S. credit transactions and 0.5 cents on each U.S. debit transaction processed through Apple Pay on the Visa and Mastercard networks. The plaintiffs argued that the arrangement disincentivized innovation, preserved high transaction fees, and ultimately harmed merchants by limiting competitive pressure in the payments ecosystem.
Since its launch in 2014, Apple Pay has relied on existing card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, to process transactions. Similarly, Apple Card is operated on the Mastercard network. Likewise, Apple Cash uses Visa's network.
In the original complaint, plaintiffs argued that Apple's long-standing exclusive reliance on these networks constituted evidence that the company had foregone competition in exchange for a steady stream of payments. They further alleged that Apple's control over its iPhone's near-field communication (NFC) hardware, which facilitates tap-to-pay transactions, effectively blocks third parties from launching alternative payment solutions on the device, further entrenching Visa and Mastercard's market position.
The court concluded that the plaintiffs had failed to provide sufficient factual allegations to support their claims, saying that they were largely circumstantial and speculative. The judge noted that Apple's existing agreements with Visa and Mastercard included language that explicitly preserved Apple's right to compete with them. He also pointed to the inherent complexity, risk, and cost associated with launching a new payment network as additional context undercutting the plausibility of the plaintiffs' claims.
While the current version of the lawsuit has been dismissed, the plaintiffs have been granted 30 days to amend their complaint and refile a second amended class action complaint. If they do not meet this deadline, the case will be dismissed with prejudice.
Apple is working on a more affordable version of the MacBook that's powered by an A-series iPhone chip rather than an M-series Apple silicon chip. We've rounded up all of the rumors about the new machine, which is expected next year.
Design
The upcoming low-cost MacBook will have a 13-inch display (approximately), according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. That means it will be right around the same size as the 13-inch MacBook Air that Apple already sells.
Apple used to have a super thin 12-inch MacBook and there have been some off and on rumors over the years suggesting it could see a revival. A thin and light MacBook with an iPhone chip in it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.
The first version of the 12-inch MacBook had a low-power Core M chip, and it came out in 2015, well before Apple transitioned to Apple silicon. There were no fans inside and that kept it thin and quiet, a design that Apple has continued with the MacBook Air.
An A-series chip would not run as hot as an M-series chip, and it would need even fewer heat dissipation features. Even though thinner and lighter often means more expensive with Apple devices, that might not be the case with an iPhone chip in a body the size of the MacBook Air.
Colors
Apple reserves stately colors for its "Pro" machines, and often uses fun colors for its lower-cost products. Rumors suggest that the low-cost MacBook could be made available in silver, blue, pink, and yellow. Those color options actually sound similar to the color options that Apple offers for the iMac, so we could be looking at iMac-style shades.
Chip
Kuo says the low-cost MacBook will use an A18 Pro chip, and we've also seen signs of a MacBook with an A18 Pro in Apple's code, so all signs point to the A18.
The A18 Pro is the chip that Apple introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro. It uses a second-generation 3-nanometer process and for an iPhone chip, performance is impressive.
There's a 6-core CPU with four performance cores and two efficiency cores, along with a 6-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine for AI-based tasks. In Geekbench benchmarks, the A16 Pro has an average single-core score of 3451, and a multi-core score of 8572. For comparison, the M4 chip in the iPad Pro earns a single-core score of 3694 and a multi-core score of 13732.
The A18 Pro outperforms the M1, which is the chip that Apple kept around in a lower-cost version of the MacBook Air for several years.
So an A18 MacBook wouldn't be too far off from the M4 Mac/iPad chips in terms of single-core performance, but there would be a difference in multi-core performance.
Thermal Design
The iPhone 16 Pro has a thermal architecture that combines a titanium frame with a graphite clad aluminum substructure, and some parts of that build could translate to a MacBook.
RAM
Macs start with 16GB RAM, but the iPhone 16 Pro has 8GB RAM, the minimum for Apple Intelligence. We can expect an A18 Pro MacBook to have at least 8GB RAM so it can support Apple Intelligence, but it's possible Apple will give it the 16GB that all Macs have.
Ports
The A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro models doesn't support Thunderbolt, so the MacBook will be limited to USB-C (10GB/s) and won't offer Thunderbolt speeds. That will limit display connectivity, so it's likely the A18 Pro MacBook will only support a single external display.
Price
The MacBook Air with M4 chip is priced starting at $999, and it comes with a 10-core CPU, an 8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The A18 Pro MacBook could be a couple hundred dollars less expensive, though we have no insight into pricing right now.
Apple probably won't want to undercut its iPad pricing. The low-cost iPad with A16 chip starts at $349, and the iPad Air with M2 chip starts at $599. A price around $599 to $699 could make the most sense because it wouldn't be as expensive as the MacBook Air or iPad Pro, but would come in at or just over the iPad Air's cost.
$599 would be on par with some of the highly rated Chromebook options that people often purchase for school use. $599 is also the cost of the iPhone 16e, Apple's most affordable iPhone that uses a slightly less powerful A18 chip.
Launch Date
Kuo says Apple is going to start producing the low-cost MacBook late in the fourth quarter of 2025 or early in the first quarter of 2026. That would align with a spring 2026 launch timeline.
Refreshed iPad Pro models will be the first device to get Apple's faster M5 chip, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple's high-end tablets could be refreshed as soon as October.
Apple last updated the iPad Pro line with the M4 chip and OLED display technology in May 2024, so there will be about 17 months between the M4 launch and the M5 launch.
Since the iPad Pro got a major design overhaul with OLED in 2024, the 2025 models aren't expected to feature design changes. They'll have the same slimmed down chassis and OLED display, but will be equipped with the faster M5 chip. The M5 chip will be built on TSMC's improved 3-nanometer process, and it will bring performance and efficiency improvements.
Apple is working on new display technology that will slim down the iPad Pro's bezels, but it's not clear if that will be ready for the M5 models.
Belkin today informed customers that it is ending technical support for older Wemo devices, with service set to end on January 31, 2026. When that date rolls around, some Wemo devices will no longer be accessible through the Wemo app.
Belkin says that any features that use cloud connectivity, such as remote access or voice assistant integrations, will stop working. Wemo products configured with HomeKit before January 31, 2026 will continue to function through HomeKit without needing Wemo cloud services or the Wemo app. Customers who have HomeKit can continue to use their devices as normal, but Amazon Alexa and Google Home users will not be able to continue to operate Wemo products.
Devices that will no longer be supported were released between August 2015 and November 2023, with a list available on Belkin's website.
There are only four Thread-based Wemo devices that won't be affected by Belkin's Wemo cloud service shutdown, including the Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way, the Wemo Stage Smart Scene Controller, the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread, and the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell Camera.
Belkin says that it is ending support because it needs to focus its resources on different parts of the Belkin business, and the company has issued an apology to customers for the inconvenience.
Customers who have a Wemo device that is still under warranty may be eligible for a partial refund. For customers who have devices that are no longer under warranty and that will be rendered non-functional on January 31, 2026, Belkin recommends disposing of them at an authorized e-waste recycling center.
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026.
Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be "internally targeting" a launch early next year.
The current M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max MacBook Pro models were announced in October 2024 and released in November 2024, so pushing the M5 models back to 2026 would see Apple skipping a yearly refresh. It is typical for new Macs to come out in October or November after the September iPhone event.
Gurman does not give a reason why Apple is potentially "delaying" the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro models, but he says the timing is fluid, so there may still be a chance that we get the new Macs before the end of the year.
The M5 MacBook Pro models will have few changes beyond the M5 chip update, because Apple is planning for bigger changes in for the M6 MacBook Pro. The next MacBook Pro models are expected to transition to OLED displays and new case designs. Rumors have suggested the OLED MacBook Pro would come in 2026, but if Apple is planning to launch the M5 MacBook Pro models in 2026, that might mean the OLED model will be pushed to 2027. Alternatively, Apple could debut the M5 MacBook Pro in early 2026 and the OLED version in late 2026, but that would be unusual.
Apple is also planning to release M5 MacBook Air models in 2026, which will replace the current M4 models. Other rumors suggest Apple is working on a MacBook that has an A18 Pro chip in it for 2026, but Gurman didn't mention it.
The M5 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models could be accompanied by a new display that Apple has in the works. Apple is developing an external monitor that is expected to be a follow up to the 2022 Studio Display. It is expected to launch in early 2026.
Apple has a long list of devices that it plans to launch during the first half of 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said today. Apple is working on an iPhone 17e, along with several Macs and iPads.
Here's what's in the works for 2026:
iPhone 17e - Updated A19 chip, could launch in February.
MacBook Air - M5 chips.
MacBook Pro - M5 chips.
Updated Apple Display - A follow up to the Apple Studio Display and Pro Display XDR.
Low-cost iPad - Will get a faster chip. Slated for March/April.
iPad Air - Expected to get M4 chip. March/April launch timeline.
Smart home hub - Expected in the first half of next year.
Later this year, Apple plans to launch new iPhone 17 models, new versions of the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch SE, and new iPad Pro models.
Apple today introduced new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, with an 8A5308b version number, up from 8A5293c. The firmware is only available to developers at the current time, and a device running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. Apple has seeded three beta updates so far.
The new firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe.
The AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.
With the latest updates, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
iPads have had some of the biggest discounts during Prime Day this year, and you can still find multiple record low prices on the iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Air today. Our main post has all of the Apple Prime Day deals that you can find on Amazon this year.
11th Gen iPad
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 is taking up to $55 off Wi-Fi and cellular models of Apple's 11th generation iPad for Prime Day. Prices start at $279.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a new all-time low price on this model.
Amazon has record low prices on every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7 this week, starting at $379.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.
Amazon this week has discounts across nearly the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, offering $100 off these tablets. Prices start at $479.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M3 iPad Air, down from $599.00.
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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The official Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears apps gained CarPlay support earlier this year, followed by the official New Orleans Saints app this week. All three apps are developed by a company named YinzCam, which says it develops the official apps for a total of 25 NFL teams, 18 NHL teams, 17 NBA teams, 16 MLS clubs, and more.
In the CarPlay apps, fans can listen to live audio and radio broadcasts for their favorite team's games, right on their vehicle's dashboard.
YinzCam will presumably continue to roll out CarPlay support across its portfolio of NFL apps, but for now only Bills, Bears, and Saints fans can take advantage. The only NFL teams that the company does not develop apps for are the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots.
Starting with iOS 18.4, released in late March, CarPlay apps that stream audio for live sports events can show a scoreboard for the game on the CarPlay screen, right alongside controls for the audio feed. The revamped Now Playing view can show team logos, scores, the game clock, and more. Based on screenshots shared by YinzCam last month, however, it appears that the company has not yet implemented this feature.
I was able to test the Doorbell Camera Hub G410 ahead of launch, and it's a solid doorbell camera, and even better if you have an Aqara setup or plan to get more Aqara products. The G410 includes a Matter controller and it is able to serve as a hub for other Aqara Zigbee devices, like Aqara's door locks, so you don't need a standalone hub that doesn't serve another purpose. For Thread-based devices, it's also a Thread border router that can improve connectivity.
Aqara's camera has a unique look that sets it apart from other cameras like Ring. It has a simple, sleek look with a large main camera and a button that can be pressed to ring the doorbell below. If you have the wiring for a doorbell set up, you can use that to power it, or you can use 6 AA batteries that come with it. There are also multiple options for mounting, including a sticky backing or screws. Aqara includes a wedge plate that can be used to angle the doorbell out from the wall if needed. I don't know the IP rating of the G410, but it has survived rain and heat with no issue.
6AA batteries is a lot of batteries, so a wired connection might be the best option. I haven't had the doorbell long enough to get a good feel for how long the battery lasts, but Aqara says the batteries should be good for up to five months. Other camera systems like Ring include a rechargeable battery, but with the Aqara doorbell, you'll need to keep standard AA batteries on hand. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether you prefer standard batteries or a proprietary battery pack. To get to the batteries, you need to unscrew the backing from the side, which is an extra step during replacement that's inconvenient.
Setup requires connecting the Chime to the Aqara app, then following the steps to pair the doorbell. From there, it can be added to HomeKit through the Aqara app's settings. This is a HomeKit Secure Video camera when linked to HomeKit, so it respects those settings. You can choose different recording modes for when people are home and when people are away, turning off video recording entirely if you want. Facial recognition is also supported, and it can detect people who are stored in the People album of your Photo Library.
There's a Chime that is included with the G410, and that's the hub component. It needs to be plugged in all the time, and you need to supply your own power adapter. Unlike the accompanying chime from Ring, Aqara's model attaches to a surface using mounting tape that's included. The Chime and the G410 both play a sound when the doorbell is pressed, so you can position the Chime anywhere inside to be able to hear the doorbell.
The video feed is wide-angle with a 176 degree field of view that captures most of what's around it. It's 2K video, and it's fairly crisp in good lighting, but it's nothing outstanding. It's comparable to Ring video footage. When the doorbell is on and recording, the light on it turns red. When it's off, there's no light. The light can be turned off in the settings.
The button to sound the doorbell is satisfying to press, and it's larger and easier to press than buttons on Ring doorbell cameras. Volume and tone of the doorbell can be customized, and you can even upload your own MP3 sound.
There's a motion detection option that can be paired with other devices, as well as alarms that will sound if it's over or under operating temperature outside (-4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit). You can also set up automations with other HomeKit devices in the Home app, or in the Aqara app with Aqara devices. If you have an Aqara lock, for example, the doorbell camera can be set to start recording when the lock is accessed.
At night, there's an infrared night vision option. It's not the clearest video ever, but it's adequate to see what's going on around your home if someone is close. I appreciate that there are two versions of night vision, one that's the standard black and white and a second that turns on a light to capture color. Select areas can be excluded either in the Home app or the Aqara app, and audio recording can be turned off if desired.
Face detection, lingerer detection (for when someone is approaching), doorbell ringing, and tamper detection are all Aqara app settings that the doorbell can detect. Facial recognition is done on device with no data uploaded to Aqara or Apple, though there is an option to save recorded videos to the cloud when a face is detected. For when you don't want the doorbell to ring, there is a do not disturb option. If you're in an area that your doorbell is at risk of being stolen, there's a tamper alarm and a setting that prevents it from being reset without the Aqara app.
Aqara says there's a mmWave sensor that can better detect people while filtering out other movement, and I haven't seen it struggle, but my Ring cameras also don't have a problem with person detection so I'm not sure how to judge the sensor. There is a built-in microphone and sensor so you can converse with someone that comes to the door. There are also robot, clown, and anonymous voice options if you want to disguise your voice for some reason. Video recording seems to start when motion is detected, and the live view loads within a couple of seconds when you open up the app.
While Aqara supports cloud-based storage, both through HomeKit Secure Video and through the Aqara HomeGuardian service, local storage is also an option. The doorbell takes a microSD card (up to 512GB) and video can be saved locally. The microSD card is in the Chime that's inside the house, so it can't be tampered with. Having Aqara's paid cloud service and HomeKit Secure Video is confusing, but if you want to use the G410 with HomeKit and have a paid iCloud plan for HomeKit Secure Video, you don't need HomeGuardian. If you don't use HomeKit or have HomeKit Secure Video, you can only use local storage unless you pay for HomeGuardian.
Aqara provides a free 30-day trial, but it does cost $4.99 per month for one camera or $9.99 for multiple cameras, with yearly purchase options also available. With HomeGuardian, there's continuous recording and 90-day storage for footage, but that footage is stored on Aqara's servers rather than in iCloud or locally. I don't think HomeGuardian is absurdly priced or anything, but I do think it's confusing for consumers in conjunction with HomeKit Secure Video. Aqara doesn't do much to explain HomeKit Secure Video in the Aqara app, or how it can be used as an alternative to HomeGuardian.
Given that this is an Apple-focused site, most people here are probably going to want to use the G410 with HomeKit and the HomeKit Secure Video functionality rather than Aqara's paid solution. Almost all HomeKit Secure Video cameras have a wired connection, but the G410 can be battery operated, and as far as I know, there aren't many HSV cameras that are able to do that.
The timeline for events in the Aqara app is easy to use to find what you're looking for, with multiple view options and filters. It doesn't have alerts for animals, vehicles, or package deliveries, but HomeKit Secure Video does that if you're looking for that functionality.
Bottom Line
Aqara's Camera Hub G410 is an affordable video doorbell, with an option to use HomeKit Secure Video or local storage. If you have other Aqara products, want a HomeKit Secure Video doorbell, or if you're just looking for a reasonably priced video doorbell, the G410 is worth considering.
How to Buy
The Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 in black or gray can be purchased from the Aqara website for $130 with a 1-month HomeGuardian plan included. There's also a G410 Select model that's available for $135, and it includes a 3-month HomeGuardian free trial. The Select model comes in black or white.
We're just a couple months away from the launch of new iPhone models, and rumors are starting to really pick up. This year, we're expecting an all-new iPhone 17 Air, which will be the first notable redesign to the iPhone's form factor since the iPhone 12 launched.
It's super thin. As we saw in a video of a dummy model shared by Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Air looks sleek and modern. It's thinner than any iPhone that has come before it, and we're expecting it to be super light in the hand due to the thin design.
No frills. Since it's thin, Apple had to cut space. There's a 48-megapixel single-lens rear camera instead of multiple cameras to swap between, so if you like a straightforward setup, this is the iPhone for you. No fussing with Telephoto lenses or Ultra Wide lenses, but you do get Apple's best and most versatile lens. Plus a front-facing selfie camera, of course.
Price. Apple's fresh new design isn't going to be the most expensive iPhone. It's going to be priced similarly to the iPhone 16 Plus that it's replacing, and it won't be as expensive as the iPhone 17 Pro models.
The A19 Pro chip. The latest rumors say it's going to get the same A19 Pro chip that Apple plans to use for the Pro models, but with one fewer GPU core. It should also have 12GB RAM, so it's going to be a super-capable thin device.
The colors. The iPhone 17 Air could come in a very light blue shade that's almost silver, possibly like the M4 MacBook Air. It's also expected to be available in black, silver, and light gold, and if the black shade is similar to the dummy model in the video, it should look quite nice.
OWC kicked off a new sale this week, offering big Prime Day-like discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, memory cards, 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 $100 off the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $179.99, which is the first time we've tracked a big discount on the dock all summer. 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.
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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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!
Apple's iOS 26 finally brings custom conversation backgrounds to the Messages app, letting you personalize your chats with photos, colors, or images generated by Image Playground. Third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp have offered this kind of feature for years, so finally iPhone owners can now also add their own visual flair to text conversations in Apple's stock messaging app.
Custom backgrounds can help you organize conversations at a glance and add a personal touch to your most important chats. You might choose a sunset photo for family group chats, a solid color for work messages, or a fun AI-generated image for conversations with friends. Just note that when you change the background, everyone in the conversation will also see it.
Bear in mind that iOS 26 is currently in beta testing and will see a general release this fall.
The following steps show you how to customize any conversation background in iOS 26:
Open Messages on your iPhone, then tap the conversation you want to customize.
Tap the contact name or group name at the top of the conversation, then tap Backgrounds.
Choose from the available options: Photo (select an image from your photo library), Color (pick from preset solid colors), or Playground (describe an image for Image Playground to generate it). Alternatively, choose from Sky, Water, Aurora, or one of the Suggestions.
Swipe left and right to preview the available Styles.
Tap the top-right check button to apply your selection.
How to Reset to Default Background
If you want to return to the standard Messages background:
Open the conversation with the custom background, then tap the contact name or group name at the top.
Tap Backgrounds.
Tap the None option, foremost in the selection screen, then tap the back arrow to confirm.
Tips for Better Backgrounds
Choose backgrounds that don't interfere with text readability. Dark photos work well with light text bubbles, while lighter backgrounds pair better with dark text. iOS 26 automatically adjusts text contrast, but some combinations work better than others.
Custom backgrounds sync across all your devices signed in with the same Apple Account, so changes you make on your iPhone will appear on your iPad and Mac as well, provided they are updated to iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, respectively.
Although in previous years Amazon Prime Day would be finished by now, this year the event is in its third day. Prime Day 2025 is set to run through tomorrow, July 11, making it the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront and we're tracking numerous all-time low prices on Apple gear right now.
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 our coverage, we're focusing on discounts for Apple and Apple-related products that can be purchased right now on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook Air, and more. We're also sharing deals being matched at retailers like Best Buy in some cases.
As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated over the next few days, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles next week.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
Special for 2025, Amazon is also offering a free six month trial to Prime for Young Adults right now. Prime for Young Adults is a discounted Prime membership for anyone age 18-24 that offers all of the Prime benefits at $69.00 per year, half of the price of regular Prime.
AirPods
Amazon has the USB-C AirPods Max on sale for $429.99, down from $549.00, and the AirPods Pro 2 for $149.00, down from $249.00. You'll also find an all-time low price on the AirPods 4 for Prime Day.
Amazon is taking up to $55 off Wi-Fi and cellular models of Apple's 11th generation iPad for Prime Day. Prices start at $279.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a new all-time low price on this model.
Amazon has record low prices on every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7 this week, starting at $379.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.
Amazon this week has discounts across nearly the entire M3 iPad Air lineup, offering $100 off these tablets. Prices start at $479.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M3 iPad Air, down from $599.00. Best Buy is matching all of these deals on the iPad Air.
Amazon today has low prices across nearly the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, with up to $175 off both 13-inch and 15-inch models.
Starting with the 13-inch models, Amazon has $150 off all three configurations of this notebook. Prices start at $849.00 for the 256GB model, then raise to $1,049.00 for the 16GB/512GB model and $1,249.00 for the 24GB/512GB model. All of these are solid second-best prices 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 $1,249.00 and the 24GB/512GB model is on sale for $1,427.14. Across the board, these are all second-best prices on the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air.
Amazon is offering numerous all-time low prices on Apple Watch Series 10 devices during Prime Day, including both GPS and cellular models at $119 off original prices. Best Buy is matching these prices in many cases.
Amazon has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for $279.00, down from $399.00, as well as the 46mm GPS model for $309.00, down from $429.00. Both of these are record low prices on the Apple Watch Series 10, and they're available in numerous case colors and band styles.
SE
In addition to Series 10 deals, Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $169.00 today, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've tracked so far in 2025, and it's available in Starlight, Silver, and Midnight Aluminum color options.
Additionally, you can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $199.00 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is also available in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.
Amazon has introduced a new all-time low price on the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2, available for $649.99, down from $799.00. This is the first time in a few weeks that we've tracked any notable discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Deals Newsletter
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!
Apple today updated its trade-in values for some iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models.
The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values for these devices in the United States, according to its website.
Many of the values decreased, but some others are unchanged, and iPhone 14 Pro Max and entry-level iPad values went up very slightly. In addition, Apple is no longer accepting 12-inch MacBook or Apple Watch Series 4 trade-ins.
iPhone
iPhone Model
New Values
Old Values
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Up to $600
Up to $630
iPhone 15 Pro
Up to $480
Up to $500
iPhone 15 Plus
Up to $430
Up to $440
iPhone 15
Up to $380
Up to $400
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Up to $470
Up to $455
iPhone 14 Pro
Up to $380
Up to $380
iPhone 14 Plus
Up to $290
Up to $300
iPhone 14
Up to $270
Up to $290
iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Up to $100
Up to $100
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Up to $360
Up to $370
iPhone 13 Pro
Up to $300
Up to $300
iPhone 13
Up to $230
Up to $250
iPhone 13 mini
Up to $200
Up to $200
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Up to $280
Up to $280
iPhone 12 Pro
Up to $210
Up to $220
iPhone 12
Up to $160
Up to $170
iPhone 12 mini
Up to $110
Up to $120
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
Up to $50
Up to $50
iPhone 11 Pro Max
Up to $180
Up to $180
iPhone 11 Pro
Up to $150
Up to $150
iPhone 11
Up to $120
Up to $130
iPhone XS Max
Up to $110
Up to $120
iPhone XS
Up to $80
Up to $90
iPhone XR
Up to $90
Up to $100
iPhone X
Up to $60
Up to $60
iPhone 8 Plus
Up to $60
Up to $60
iPhone 8
Up to $45
Up to $45
iPad
iPad Model
New Values
Old Values
iPad Pro
Up to $710
Up to $710
iPad Air
Up to $435
Up to $450
iPad
Up to $190
Up to $185
iPad mini
Up to $190
Up to $190
Mac
Mac Model
New Values
Old Values
MacBook Pro
Up to $730
Up to $770
MacBook Air
Up to $345
Up to $380
MacBook
No longer accepted
Up to $60
iMac
Up to $290
Up to $295
iMac Pro
Up to $360
Up to $385
Mac mini
Up to $195
Up to $260
Mac Studio
Up to $990
Up to $1140
Mac Pro
Up to $530
Up to $550
Apple Watch
Apple Watch Model
New Values
Old Values
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Up to $375
Up to $385
Apple Watch Series 9
Up to $150
Up to $150
Apple Watch Ultra
Up to $285
Up to $295
Apple Watch Series 8
Up to $120
Up to $120
Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
Up to $75
Up to $75
Apple Watch Series 7
Up to $85
Up to $85
Apple Watch Series 6
Up to $70
Up to $70
Apple Watch SE (1st generation)
Up to $50
Up to $50
Apple Watch Series 5
Up to $40
Up to $45
Apple Watch Series 4
No longer accepted
Up to $30
Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. Visit the trade-in page on Apple's website to learn more.
Amazon is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers for Prime Day, including an all-time low price on the Powerbeats Pro 2. You can get this new 2025 model for $179.95 in three colors, down from $249.99. We've been tracking all of the best Apple-related accessories for Prime Day, including TVs, monitors, 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.
This sale also includes major discounts on products like the Beats Pill, which has hit $97.95 on Amazon, down from $149.95. This discount is available in four colors of the Bluetooth speaker.
Additionally, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds+ for $89.95, down from $169.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.
You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $169.95, down from $349.99. Many of these deals are matches for the record low price on each pair of headphones.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Deals Newsletter
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
