MacRumors

For the 10th anniversary iPhone that came out in 2017, Apple introduced the ‌iPhone‌ X with Face ID, notch, and minimized bezels, providing more display space than ever before. The 20th ‌iPhone‌ anniversary is approaching and Apple wants to take the ‌iPhone‌ X design even further.

We're two years away from the 2027 ‌iPhone‌, but it's tough for Apple to keep major changes under wraps. We've rounded up all the rumors that we've heard about the 20th anniversary ‌iPhone‌ so far.

Bezel-Free Design With Curved Display

Apple's longtime goal has been an ‌iPhone‌ that looks like a slab of glass with no cutouts and no bezels, and that might become a reality in 2027.

Apple is supposedly working on a display that curves down around all four edges of the device for a borderless visual experience. There would be no bezels with a display that wraps around the ‌iPhone‌'s frame. That kind of design would be delicate and might restrict the kind of cases that could be used, but Apple has started improving the durability of the ‌iPhone‌. This year's models use Ceramic Shield 2, which is more resistant to scratching and breakage.

Samsung did displays with curved edges for its Galaxy smartphones for several years, but its designs were never entirely bezel-free. Samsung ditched the curved look with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

If Apple does go with the curved display, we could get an ‌iPhone‌ that resembles a flat slab of glass.

Under Display Face ID and Camera

To make the all-glass design happen, Apple needs to get rid of the Dynamic Island and the cutout for the front-facing camera. Rumors are mixed on whether that's going to happen.

Display analyst Ross Young said that Apple won't have under-display ‌Face ID‌ ready to go for a 2027 ‌iPhone‌, but other leakers think it's possible. If Apple can't get everything under the display, we may see under-display ‌Face ID‌ and then a small hole-punch cutout on the front for the front-facing camera.

OLED Improvements

Apple is planning to use a brighter, thinner OLED panel for the 20th anniversary ‌iPhone‌. Rumors suggest that Apple will adopt Samsung OLED displays with Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) technology. COE displays remove the polarizing film from an OLED panel, applying the color filter directly onto the encapsulation layer of the display.

The technique reduces the thickness of the overall display stack, and it lets more light through to improve brightness while reducing power draw. Reflections are harder to deal with when there's no polarizing film, but in this year's iPhones, Apple added a new anti-reflective coating that could be improved for future versions of the ‌iPhone‌.

With deeply curved edges, Apple also plans to add a crater-shaped light diffusion layer that will provide uniform brightness across the display.

Camera Improvements

Apple might adopt a custom HDR sensor for better dynamic range for the Fusion camera. This would join improvements rumored for the iPhone 18 models like a variable lens aperture.

The upgraded sensor would be able to capture detail in bright highlights and dark shadows in a single frame, for up to 20 stops of dynamic range. That would be comparable to a high-end cinematic camera.

An Apple-Designed Modem Chip

So far, Apple has used its C1 and C1X modems in the iPhone 16e and the iPhone Air, but the company's plan is to bring its modem technology to the entire ‌iPhone‌ lineup. Apple is aiming to have modems that outperform Qualcomm modems by 2027, which is coincidentally the year we're expecting the 20th anniversary ‌iPhone‌.

Apple-designed modems are much more power efficient than Qualcomm modems due to Apple's ability to better integrate the different hardware components in the ‌iPhone‌. Apple expects to outperform Qualcomm in speed and AI functionality in 2027, and an Apple modem will also bring a major efficiency boost for better battery life.

A-Series Chip

Apple could transition to smaller, faster, and more efficient 2-nanometer chips with the ‌iPhone 18‌ lineup, but the 20th anniversary models would likely use a second-generation 2-nanometer chip. The ‌iPhone 18‌ models are expected to get A20 chips, so the ‌iPhone‌ 20 models could get the A21.

Apple chipmaker TSMC is already working on a 1.4-nanometer node, but it won't be ready until 2028 at the earliest.

No iPhone 19

The iPhone 17 came out in 2025 and we're expecting the ‌iPhone 18‌ line in 2026. The ‌iPhone‌ 19 in 2027 would be the next logical step, but Apple is probably going to skip the ‌iPhone‌ 19.

In 2017, Apple released both the ‌iPhone‌ 8 and the ‌iPhone‌ X with no ‌iPhone‌ 9, and in 2027, we'll probably transition from the ‌iPhone 18‌ to the ‌iPhone‌ 20, the ‌iPhone‌ XX, or whatever else Apple decides to name the anniversary ‌iPhone‌.

Foldable iPhone

While Apple has been targeting 2026 for the first foldable ‌iPhone‌, we've recently been hearing rumors that there might be delays. A Japanese analyst firm said earlier this month that the first foldable ‌iPhone‌ could be delayed until 2027, which would mean a launch during Apple's 20th anniversary.

Launch Timing

The first-generation ‌iPhone‌ was announced in January 2007 and then launched in June 2007, so technically the ‌iPhone‌'s 20th anniversary will happen on June 29, 2027. Apple isn't likely to debut a new ‌iPhone‌ outside of the September timeframe though, so we're still expecting the 20th anniversary ‌iPhone‌ to be released in September 2027.

It's possible that Apple will announce the ‌iPhone‌ earlier in the year or hint at a 20th anniversary device, but that didn't happen with the ‌iPhone‌ X and it simply launched in September as normal.

Meta today announced that the Threads social network is gaining support for disappearing posts. "Ghost posts" are Threads posts that will be automatically archived after a 24-hour period.

Replies to ghost posts are sent to the user's direct message inbox, with no comments or likes shared publicly. Creating a ghost post can be done by tapping on the new ghost icon that's available when composing a post.

Ghost posts appear as a chat bubble with a gray background in the Threads feed, so they stand out compared to regular posts.

Meta says that the feature will allow Threads users to share "unfiltered thoughts and fresh takes without the pressure of permanence or polish." Ghost posts are available now.

Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box.

We've rounded up all the latest ‌Apple TV‌ rumors.

• New A-Series Chip - The next-generation ‌Apple TV‌ is expected to get an updated A-series chip, and Apple backend code we found suggests that it'll use the A17 Pro. The A17 Pro is the chip that Apple first used in the iPhone 15 Pro models, and it would bring Apple Intelligence support to the ‌Apple TV‌ for the first time. The A17 Pro is built on 3-nanometer technology and it would also bring support for console-quality games thanks to much improved CPU and GPU performance. It'll be a significant improvement over the current A15 Bionic chip.
• Apple-designed Wi-Fi Chip - Apple debuted its custom N1 networking chip in the iPhone 17 models, and rumors suggest that the N1 will also be used in the upcoming ‌Apple TV‌. It adds support for Wi-Fi 7, which is not a current ‌Apple TV‌ feature. With Wi-Fi 7 support, the ‌Apple TV‌ will be able to connect to Wi-Fi networks that support the faster and less crowded 6GHz band. Users can expect faster Wi-Fi speeds and lower latency.
• Better Siri - With a faster chip that supports ‌Apple Intelligence‌, the next-generation ‌Apple TV‌ will support the LLM version of Siri that Apple plans to debut next year. ‌Siri‌ will be more like Claude or ChatGPT, which could lead to better ‌Apple TV‌ recommendations, the option to use voice commands to do more than before, better support for questions about actors and music in movies and shows, and much more. ‌Siri‌ improvements won't come until spring 2026.
• A Camera? - This is far from guaranteed and we haven't heard anything about it for quite some time, but there have been rumors suggesting that a future version of the ‌Apple TV‌ could have a front-facing camera for FaceTime. Right now, the ‌Apple TV‌ requires a connected ‌iPhone‌ for ‌FaceTime‌ calls, but if a built-in camera is added, an ‌iPhone‌ wouldn't be needed. A camera could also add support for gesture-based controls.
• tvOS 26 - The next-generation ‌Apple TV‌ will run tvOS 26, the latest version of tvOS that came out in September. tvOS 26 has the new Liquid Glass design, changes to the ‌Apple TV‌ app interface, easier profile selection when logging in, Live Captions for ‌FaceTime‌, and new aerial screensavers. There's also an option to use an ‌iPhone‌ as a microphone with the Apple Music Sing karaoke feature on the ‌Apple TV‌.
• Pricing - There's a possibility that Apple will cut costs for the next ‌Apple TV‌, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that Apple is targeting a price point around $100. With the A17 Pro chip and the N1 chip, Apple might not be able to hit that price with the flagship model, but there could be a lower-end entry-level option that's more affordable. Pricing right now starts at $129.

Apple could release the new ‌Apple TV‌ model before the end of the year in November or December, but at this point it's also possible we won't be seeing it until early 2026.

For more on the next ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, we have a dedicated rumor guide that receives regular updates.

Apple this month refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026. However, these machines will represent the final update to the current design, with Apple reportedly developing a completely new version of the MacBook Pro packed with next-generation hardware features.

If you are planning to skip the M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌, or you're just plain curious about what's coming next, here are the biggest changes rumored to be coming to Apple's premium laptop line and when to expect them – as well as what you'll likely have to pay.

M6 Series Chip

2nm Process

Apple is in the process of updating the current MacBook Pro lineup with M5 series chips, with the base model already refreshed and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models expected early next year. The chips are manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P, resulting in typical year-over-year performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the M4 series of chips. However, Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro models are expected to boast M6 chips, which could adopt a completely new packaging process.

According to one rumor, Apple's A20 chip in next year's iPhone 18 models will switch from the previous InFo (Integrated Fan-Out) packaging to WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging. WMCM integrates multiple chips within the same package, allowing for the development of more complex chipsets. Components such as the CPU, GPUs, DRAM, and Neural Engine would therefore be more tightly integrated. While we don't know for sure, this could see Apple develop the M6 using the 2nm process while taking advantage of WMCM packaging to make even more powerful versions of its custom processor.

OLED Display

Goodbye, mini-LED

Several rumors have indicated that Apple is developing MacBook Pro models with OLED displays. Display analyst Ross Young in September 2024 said that Apple's supply chain is expected to have sufficient notebook-optimized OLED display production capacity in 2026 to bring the technology to MacBook Pro. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple is readying a revamped MacBook Pro with OLED technology, citing people within Apple with knowledge of the matter. Compared to current MacBook Pro models that use mini-LED screens, the benefits of OLED technology would include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Thinner, Lighter Laptop

Major Redesign

The switch to OLED displays could allow future MacBook Pro models to have a thinner design, and rumors suggest that is indeed what Apple intends. When the M4 iPad Pro was unveiled in May 2024, Apple touted it as the company's thinnest product ever. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman subsequently called the iPad Pro the "beginning of a new class of Apple devices." He has since reported that the new machines, code-named K114 and K116, will have "thinner and lighter frames." Apple is apparently focusing on delivering the thinnest possible device without compromising on battery life or major new features.

Notably, the MacBook Pro got thicker and heavier with its most recent redesign in 2021. A major highlight was the reintroduction of several ports that were removed in previous iterations in favor of chassis thinness. How Apple will make its redesigned MacBook Pro thinner without removing the functionality it reintroduced fairly recently is the big question.

Punch-Hole Camera

No More Notch

If you are fed up of the notch intruding on your Mac display, here's some good news. Apple plans to remove the notch from the redesigned MacBook Pro, according to a roadmap shared by research firm Omdia. The roadmap indicates that redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will have a hole-punch camera at the top of the display, rather than the notch we've become accustomed to. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has since corroborated the claim, saying that the design "leaves a display area around the sensor... similar in concept to the Dynamic Island on the iPhone."

Such a move would mirror Apple's iPhone evolution, since the iPhone's notch became the current Dynamic Island starting with the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022. It's unclear whether the MacBook Pro would include Dynamic Island functionality or simply adopt the visual design, but the change would at least address long-standing user complaints about the notch, which physically ingresses into the macOS menu bar.

5G Modem

Cellular Connectivity

Earlier this year, Apple introduced the C1, its custom-built 5G modem chip which debuted in the entry-level iPhone 16e. More recently, Apple debuted the ‌iPhone Air‌ equipped with a new C1X chip, which is up to 2x faster than the C1. According to Apple, the C1X is the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is considering bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup for the first time. The company is said to be "investigating" the possibility of adding a second-generation C2 modem chip to a future Mac as soon as 2026. The C1 and C1X modem chips are limited to sub-6GHz 5G speeds, but the second-generation version will support faster mmWave technology, according to Gurman.

Touch Screen Display

On-Cell Touch Technology

Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro will feature a touch screen display, according to the latest from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The claim has since been corroborated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, noting that the touch-screen MacBook Pro will retain a full trackpad and keyboard. Additionally, Kuo believes the panel will use on-cell touch technology. On-cell touch technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top layer (the "cell") rather than requiring a separate, dedicated touch layer. Kuo says that the shift "appears to reflect Apple's long-term observation of iPad user behavior, indicating that in certain scenarios, touch controls can enhance both productivity and the overall user experience."

Reinforced Hinge

Touch Resistance

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has developed a reinforced hinge and screen hardware to prevent the display from bouncing back or moving when touched, which the company has identified as a common drawback of existing touch PCs. Details remain scant about Apple's approach at this time, but it could potentially combine a higher-torque hinge with a reinforced display frame to reduce flex, as well as subtle damping features to absorb vibrations from touch input.

Pricing

Premium Line

Apple's redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to see a fairly hefty price bump, reflecting the cost of newer, more advanced components. Apple currently sells the higher-end configurations starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch model and $2,499 for the 16-inch version, but the next refresh is expected to push those base prices up by several hundred dollars, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Release Timing

Predicted Launch Period

Research firm Omdia says Apple is "highly likely" to introduce new MacBook Pros featuring OLED displays next year, while Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said the new OLED machines are being readied for late 2026 or early 2027. Apple has yet to update the current high-end MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and that is expected to happen in early 2026. It would be unusual for Apple to introduce two ‌MacBook Pro‌ refreshes in the same year, but there is precedent for it: Apple updated the MacBook Pro lineup twice in 2023, first with M2 Pro/M2 Max chips in January and then with M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max chips in late October.

Amazon and Best Buy are hosting big discounts across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, with deals that represent all-time lows across every model of the computer. In total, you'll find $200 off the M4 MacBook Air notebook right now, with both 13-inch and 15-inch models on sale.

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.

Prices start at $799.00 for the 13-inch 256GB model at Best Buy, down from $999.00. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $999.00 at both retailers, down from $1,199.00.

Of course, you'll also find all of the 512GB models of the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week. 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 will "soon" be able to add a digital version of your U.S. passport to your iPhone, according to Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

Bailey reiterated that the feature is coming soon during her keynote at the Money20/20 USA conference in Las Vegas on Sunday.

On its iOS 26 page, Apple says the delayed feature will be "coming later this year."

Apple's website previously said a software update would be required to use the feature, but it no longer mentions that. As a result, it is unclear if the feature will require an update like iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2, or if it will be enabled with a server-side update.

After creating a digital passport in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

It will also be possible to use the Digital ID feature for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

Apple says the feature will be compatible with U.S. passports only. However, perhaps it will expand to additional countries in the future.

Other details mentioned by Bailey:

• Apple Pay is available in 89 countries and regions
• Apple Pay is accepted by 90% of retailers in the U.S.
• Apple Wallet's car key feature is available in more than 300 vehicle models across 29 brands
• Apple Wallet app's hotel key card features works with more than 65,000 hotel rooms
• Tap to Pay on iPhone is live in 48 countries and regions

Woot this week has introduced a big sale on Samsung monitors, offering up to 53 percent off select monitors. Every monitor in this sale is in new condition and comes with a one year Samsung limited warranty.

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

There are many different monitors on sale at Woot, including cheaper entry-level models for anyone looking to add a second screen to their work station. There's also Samsung's high-end Odyssey series of gaming monitors and the iMac-like Smart Monitor series.

We've rounded up a few of the options in the list below, but be sure to check out Woot's website for the full sale. Woot says that this sale will end on October 31 or until they sell out, so if you're interested be sure to shop soon.

• 27-inch S3 LED Monitor - $99.99, down from $149.99
• 27-inch Essential S3 Curved Monitor - $114.99, down from $159.99
• 32-inch S3 LED Monitor - $144.99, down from $299.99
• 27-inch Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor - $284.99, down from $699.99
• 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 - $324.99, down from $499.99
• 34-inch ViewFinity Ultrawide Curved Monitor - $379.99, down from $799.99
• 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 - $389.99, down from $699.99
• 32-inch Odyssey Smart Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,299.99
• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $979.99, down from $1,899.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,399.99, down from $1,799.99

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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Apple's upcoming iPhone 17e may feature the Dynamic Island, according to a known online leaker.

The leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" shared the information on Weibo in the comments of a post detailing that Apple's apparent plan to equip next year's iPhone 18 Pro models with a variable aperture lens.

The ‌Dynamic Island‌ is a pill-shaped interactive area at the top of the screen that displays ongoing activities, incorporating the camera and other front-facing sensors. It was introduced in place of the "notch" with the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max and expanded to the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus a year later. It has yet to be present on any entry-level iPhones.

The leaker added that despite the presence of the ‌Dynamic Island‌, the ‌iPhone‌ 17e will retain a 60Hz OLED display. This would mean the device essentially shares the same panel as the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 15 and iPhone 16, which seems believable as Apple's entry level devices largely re-use slightly older technology from other products.

The leaker corroborated reports that the device will launch in the first half of 2026, probably around a year after the launch of the iPhone 16e in February. It is likely to feature the A19 chip, with few other enhancements.

Apple might be preparing iPad apps for Pixelmator Pro, Compressor, Motion, and MainStage, according to new App Store IDs uncovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. All four of the apps are currently available on the Mac only.

A quick overview of each app:

• Pixelmator Pro: Professional image editing app acquired by Apple earlier this year
• Compressor: Final Cut Pro companion app for compressing audio and video files
• Motion: Final Cut Pro companion app for creating 2D/3D titles, transitions, and effects
• MainStage: Logic Pro companion app for live performances

There is already a less-capable Pixelmator app available for the iPad and iPhone.

Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro have been available on select iPad models since May 2023, but Apple's companion apps have remained limited to the Mac.

A subscription is required to use Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on the iPad. In the U.S., the iPad versions of both apps cost $4.99 per month, or $49 per year.

Pixelmator Pro, Compressor, Motion, and MainStage are available for one-time purchase on the Mac, with prices ranging from $29.99 to $49.99. It is unclear if Apple would make the iPad versions of these apps require a subscription too.

It is also unclear when Apple would announce these iPad apps. The annual Final Cut Pro Creative Summit is typically held in November, and Apple occasionally times these sorts of announcements with the conference, but the next edition of the event is postponed until spring 2026. However, an announcement could still happen at any time.

Apple could debut LOFIC camera sensor technology in its 2027 iPhone lineup, according to new information coming out of Korea. The tech would allow iPhones to capture photos with far more detail in both bright and dark areas of the same shot without losing information in either.

LOFIC, or Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor, is a next-generation imaging technology that enables each pixel to store varying amounts of light based on scene brightness. This allows a sensor to capture detail in both bright highlights and dark shadows within a single frame, potentially reaching up to 20 stops of dynamic range – comparable to high-end cinema cameras and approaching the range of human vision.

According to the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, Chinese manufacturers including Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei plan to adopt LOFIC technology in their 2026 flagship smartphones using new Sony sensors, while OPPO and Vivo are also developing LOFIC-equipped models for release next year. Apple's adoption will reportedly follow in 2027.

Apple first detailed LOFIC in an image sensor patent filed in July, describing a stacked sensor design with a dedicated light-capture layer and a processing layer that handles real-time noise reduction. Apple has reportedly already developed a working prototype and may be testing it in developmental hardware.

Apple currently uses sensors made by Sony across the iPhone lineup. Those sensors also use a two-layer design, but Apple's proposed version includes several innovative features and takes up less space. Based on the adoption roadmap in today's report, Apple could be planning to debut its custom image sensor in the 20th anniversary iPhone. Apple is reportedly considering a radical redesign for the anniversary model that could feature a completely bezel-less display that curves around all four edges of the device.

Apple intends to equip next year's iPhone 18 Pro models with a variable aperture lens, according to a Chinese leaker with information allegedly sourced from Apple's supply chain.

According to the Weibo account Digital Chat Station, the main rear camera – what Apple calls the 48-megapixel Fusion camera – on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. The leaker also claims that the devices' main and telephoto lenses will feature a larger aperture.

A variable-aperture system physically adjusts the lens opening, letting more light in for low-light shots or narrowing the opening for brighter scenes and deeper depth of field.

The main cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro, 16 Pro, and 17 Pro all use a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, where the lens is permanently set to its widest setting. With a variable lens, the iPhone 18 Pro would allow users to manually shift the aperture, similar to on a DSLR camera. This would mean more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur.

It isn't the first time we've heard rumors of Apple planning to bring variable aperture to the iPhone. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in November 2024 that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models will get the feature.

Variable aperture was rumored for at least one iPhone 17 model, but it failed to materialize. iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to launch in September 2026.

Digital Chat Station has a decent track record for Apple rumors. They accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro Max, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020.

This week Apple's AirTag 4-Pack hit an all-time low price at $34 off, and we're still tracking this great deal today, along with big discounts on AirPods, charging accessories on Amazon, and the 11th generation iPad.

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.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $69 off AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The AirPods Pro 2 are at a solid $79 discount this week on Amazon, available for $169.99, down from $249.00. You can also get the AirPods Max for $479.99, down from $549.00.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Get $34 off AirTag 4-Pack
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon has the AirTag 4-Pack for the all-time low price of $64.99, down from $99.00. You can also get a 1-Pack for $24.99, which is a second-best price.

Amazon Sale

• What's the deal? Save on popular brands like Anker, Jackery, and Ecovacs
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Satechi, Jackery, Anker, and Ecovacs. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible car chargers to portable power stations, Find My compatible wallets, and robot vacuums. You can find every deal in our original post.

• Nano USB-C 30W Foldable Charger - $15.99, down from $19.99
• 10,000 mAh Magnetic Power Bank - $34.99, down from $49.99
• Soundcore V40i Open-Ear Headphones - $49.99, down from $79.99
• 10,000 mAh MagGo Qi2 Power Bank - $56.99, down from $89.99
• 140W 4-Port USB-C Charger - $79.99, down from $99.99
• Power Station with Lantern - $79.99, down from $149.99

iPad

• What's the deal? Get $50 off 11th gen iPad
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this model.

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 Maps could feature integrated ads as soon as next year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple's plan to bring more ads to iOS is moving "gaining traction," with the Maps app being next in line. The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in search.

The system is said to be similar to Search Ads in the App Store, which allows developers to pay to have their software appear in a promoted slot above other results for relevant queries. Apple's approach reportedly leverages AI to deliver relevant and useful results, in a better interface than similar offerings from Google and other companies. Gurman warned that the move risks some amount of consumer backlash.

Apple is planning to bring an iPhone 17 Pro-style vapor chamber to the iPad Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that with increasingly powerful chips, Apple is planning to bring vapor chamber cooling to the ‌iPad Pro‌. The new feature could arrive as soon as with the next generation, which will likely feature the "M6" chip made with TSMC's 2-nanometer process. The liquid cooling system would help mitigate throttling, especially as the ‌iPad Pro‌ becomes more capable at handling intense workflows.

If the move to bring a vapor chamber to the iPhone and ‌iPad Pro‌ prove successful, Apple could turn its attention to bringing the technology to other passively cooled devices like the MacBook Air. Apple is now seemingly operating an approximate 18-month refresh cycle for the ‌iPad Pro‌, so next-generation model should arrive in the spring of 2027, according to Gurman.

Apple used the launch week of the M5 Vision Pro this week to run a two-day "Meet with Apple" program for developers, with a focus on building immersive media and interactive apps for visionOS 26.

Apple invited developers to its Developer Center in Cupertino, hosting sessions on how to create Apple Immersive Video, design spatial interactions, and use features such as SharePlay and spatial Personas.

During this Day 1 livestream, we'll show how visionOS 26 can help you tell impactful immersive and interactive stories. You'll learn how to frame your creative ideas for formats like Apple Immersive Video and explore real-world examples from past productions. You'll discover how to design for spatial interaction and tell stories that make the audience part of your experience. And you'll find out how to use SharePlay and spatial Personas to help people connect over your ideas.

On Day 2, we'll dive deep into Apple Immersive Video and Apple Spatial Audio. You'll discover how to create entirely new media experiences, get started with Apple Immersive Video, explore new production workflows, and dig into previous Apple Immersive productions.

Full recordings of both day one and day two are available for replay on the Apple Developer YouTube channel. Apple announced the M5 Vision Pro on October 15 and in-store availability began on October 22.

The first preview release of the Swift SDK for Android was published this week, allowing developers to build Android apps in Swift with official tooling and making it easier to share code across iOS and Android.

The SDK enables Android apps to be built in Swift using officially supported tooling rather than community workarounds. In June, it was announced that Apple's Swift programming language would be officially extended to support Android app development through the establishment of a dedicated Android Working Group within the Swift open-source project.

Android interoperability is handled by swift-java, which can automatically generate bindings between Java and Swift so developers can use Swift code alongside existing Android APIs and Java code. The Swift Package Index now marks packages with Android support and says over 25% of all packages already build on Android, giving developers a base of reusable code.

The Swift SDK for Android is already available in nightly preview form bundled with the Swift for Windows installer or as a separate download for Linux and macOS users. A new Getting Started guide with end-to-end setup instructions and a set of example Android projects written in Swift to illustrate complete workflows is also available.

The group is preparing a vision document to set future priorities and is tracking progress on a public project board.

Yesterday we started tracking notable discounts on Apple's new M5 iPad Pro, with deals mostly focused on 13-inch models. Today, Amazon has now introduced a new all-time low price on the entry-level 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, available for $949.00, down from $999.00.

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.

In terms of the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, this is still one of the only steeper discounts, with others sitting around $25 off. If you're shopping for the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro, you'll find the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $1,249.00 ($50 off), the 512GB Wi-Fi model for $1,449.00 ($50 off), and the 2TB Wi-Fi Nano-Texture Glass model for $2,299.00 ($100 off).

The M5 iPad Pro launched this week, and features the new M5 chip, faster SSDs, N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and more. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Roughly a month after the release of the latest flagship iPhone models, it's looking the new iPhone Air isn't selling as well as Apple had hoped for, and that's leading to significant production cuts as Apple seeks to balance supply to meet demand.

This week also saw a new round of betas for iOS 26.1 and related updates with a significant tweak for Liquid Glass, while we heard more rumors about Apple's plans for future iPhone models, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

Apple's iPhone Air Experiment Fails as Supply Chain Cuts Production by 80%

A number of supply chain reports in recent days have indicated that Apple's new ultra-thin iPhone Air is not selling well overall, and Apple has reportedly dramatically scaled back production to meet the current levels of demand.

Analysts at Mizuho Securities indicated last week Friday that Apple was planning to cut iPhone Air production amid underwhelming sales, and this week another analyst survey revealed "virtually no demand" for iPhone Air while noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that iPhone Air suppliers are expected to reduce capacity by more than 80%.

Reports of dire overall sales of iPhone Air come just as the device sold out upon launch in China last week, although it's unclear what the sustained levels of demand will be there. The eSIM-only iPhone Air saw a delayed launch in China due to required approvals for the technology.

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Lets Users Control Liquid Glass Transparency with New Toggle

Apple made a big change to its new Liquid Glass design in the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 released this week, introducing a toggle that allows users to choose between a more glass-like Clear look and a more opaque Tinted look.

We went hands-on with the new option to see how the two looks differ, with the Clear one emphasizing the glassy aspects of the new design and the Tinted one making buttons and other user interface elements more readable in some circumstances.

The fourth beta of iOS 26.1 features a few other changes, including an option to turn off the Lock Screen swipe gesture that normally opens the Camera app, an option to turn off haptic feedback when phone calls are connected or dropped, and more.

Apple's Plan to Launch Three New iPhone Designs Allegedly Revealed

We've been hearing rumors about Apple introducing several new phones in the coming years, and a new report corroborates details on Apple's plans.

Apple will reportedly be launching its first foldable iPhone in 2026, featuring a book style similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, although some analysts have concerns that work on the crucial hinge of the device could push a release back to 2027.

After the first foldable, Apple is expected to release a special 20th-anniversary iPhone with "zero" bezels around the display with the OLED display bending around all four sides of the device. And in 2028, Apple will reportedly release a clamshell-style foldable iPhone similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip.

M4 vs. M5 Chip Buyer's Guide: How Much Better Really Is M5?

Apple debuted its new M5 chip last week in the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro, but just how much better is it than the previous-generation M4 chip?

Apple emphasizes strong improvements in graphics and AI capabilities, with more modest gains in CPU performance, although it still features the highest single-core CPU performance score ever seen in Geekbench benchmark testing.

GM to Remove CarPlay from All Future Vehicles, Including Gas Cars

Back in 2023, General Motors made waves for its decision to end support for CarPlay and Android Auto in its electric vehicles, forcing users toward what it claimed was a more integrated experience in the native infotainment system.

While the decision didn't sit well with many potential car buyers, GM not only didn't back down but has now revealed that it will be making the same move in its gas-powered lineup as those vehicles get major refreshes.

Calling it "a very Jobsian approach to things," GM likened its decision to Steve Jobs' efforts to phase out the disk drive and other technologies in favor of more modern solutions. GM didn't give a timeline for the transition and told MacRumors that existing gas-powered vehicles will continue to offer CarPlay for the "foreseeable future," but that they will "gradually move to a better, more deeply integrated experience."

Former Apple Employee Sam Sung Changed His Name to Avoid Attention

Apple fans who have followed the company for a while may remember the story of Sam Sung, an Apple retail employee from Vancouver, Canada, who drew attention for his name's similarity to that of one of Apple's primary competitors.

Business Insider recently caught up with him, learning about the stress he endured due to the publicity. Sung left Apple in 2013 amid a desire to move on from retail, and he later changed his name because he "didn't want to be known for being an internet joke."

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