Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is likely to arrive next year, so here's what to expect.
The current iPad mini came out in 2024, with the main upgrade over the previous version being the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. The previous generation introduced a complete redesign and the A15 Bionic chip.
In August, Apple mistakenly shared code that revealed key information about the next-generation iPad mini with the codename codename J510/J511: The device features the A19 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The current iPad mini uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the iPhone Air also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the iPhone 17 Pro models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next iPad mini.
No other new features or changes are likely beyond some refreshed color options. The iPad mini is essentially a smaller version of the iPad Air, which has only seen minor improvements such as chip upgrades since its redesign in 2020. Apple is reportedly working on more substantial upgrades such as an OLED display for future models in 2026 or 2027.
There are no specific rumors about when the next iPad mini will be released, but a launch alongside new iPad Air models in the first half of next year seems likely.
Starting with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, Apple provides app developers with access to a new Foundation Models framework that allows their apps to tap into the on-device large language model at the core of Apple Intelligence.
Apple today highlighted some of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps utilizing the Foundation Models framework to power new features and capabilities.
For example, in the fitness app SmartGym, users can now describe a workout and turn it into a structured routine with sets, reps, rest times, and equipment adaptation. SmartGym also generates insightful summaries of workout data, and more.
In the journaling app Stoic, users can now receive contextual journaling prompts that are generated from their recent entries, and there are other new features.
SwingVision, an app that helps users with their tennis or pickleball skills, uses the framework to generate advice for players to improve their game.
Foundation Models powers new Listen Mode and Scan Mode options in the to-do app Stuff.
The task management app OmniFocus 4 can now generate projects and next steps on a user's behalf, such as helping them know what to pack for an upcoming trip.
Apple's press release highlights many other apps using the framework.
Amazon's second Prime Day for 2025 is just around the corner, with Prime Big Deals Days set to kick off on Tuesday, October 7 and run through Wednesday, October 8. Even though we're still over a week away from the event, Amazon is hosting a few notable early deals for Prime members.
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.
Prime Big Deal Days will officially kick off at 12:01 a.m. PT on October 7, and new discounts will appear throughout the event. Like all Prime Day sales, most of the discounts will be exclusive to Prime members.
In terms of early deals, we're tracking a few notable discounts, including a new all-time low price on the 2025 MagSafe Charger (2m). You can get this accessory for $29.00, down from $49.00, and there are also still solid sales on the official Silicone and TechWoven cases for iPhone 17.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the fall? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
On the latest episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, released today, Ford CEO Jim Farley told guest host Joanna Stern that the automaker does not entirely like Apple's current implementation of its CarPlay Ultra software system for vehicles.
"We don't like the execution in round one of Ultra, but we're very committed to Apple," said Farley. "I've talked to [Apple CEO] Tim [Cook] many times about this."
Farley implied that Ford is currently passing on CarPlay Ultra because it would result in Apple having "control of the entire experience inside a vehicle."
In addition, he said it is important that Ford's entertainment system of choice integrates with its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
"We just believe ADAS integration with your entertainment system is so critical when you're flying down the highway with your eyes off the road, you know, in three or four years at 80 miles an hour on the I-5," he said.
When it announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra in May, Apple said the system can show information from a vehicle's advanced driver assistance systems, but it sounds like certain functions provided by Ford's systems would not be supported.
CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can choose from various preset design options. The connected iPhone provides app-related data, while the vehicle provides driving data like current speed, and other info like tire pressure.
When it first previewed the next generation of CarPlay (now known as CarPlay Ultra) in 2022, Apple said Ford was committed to offering the software system. However, Farley's comments suggest Ford currently has no plans to offer CarPlay Ultra, unless Apple is willing to make changes that loosen its control over the system.
In iOS 26, Apple quietly added a neat new option that lets you send smaller-sized previews of images over Messages so that recipients get them right away, before the full-resolution images arrive.
Thanks to the new setting, your recipient will receive a lower-quality preview almost instantly, followed by the full-resolution image. And if you're traveling with limited cellular data or using a metered data connection, they only get the compressed preview version – ensuring the original high resolution image doesn't hoover up your data.
How to Enable Send Photo Previews
Apple has made this feature easy to toggle on or off depending on your needs. Here's how to enable it:
Open Settings on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Apps.
Select Messages from the app list.
Toggle on the switch next to Send Low-Quality Photo Previews.
Once enabled, the feature works automatically, so you don't have to do anything else.
A Note on Low Data Mode
You can make sure that only smaller-sized previews of images are sent to recipients by keeping your iPhone in Low Data Mode. You can enable this manually by going to Settings ➝ Cellular Service. Choose your primary service, then tap Data Mode and toggle on Low Data Mode. The same setting appears under individual Wi-Fi network settings in Settings ➝ Wi-Fi (tap the encircled "i" button next to the Wi-Fi network name).
When Low Data Mode is active and Send Low-Quality Photo Previews is enabled, you may see photos in your Messages conversations appear slightly pixelated. Just bear in mind that they will only be delivered in higher quality versions if you send them when Low Data Mode is turned off.
Samsung Display president Lee Cheong has confirmed plans to make foldable smartphone displays for a major American company, which is widely believed to be Apple.
As reported in Chosun Biz, Cheong last week told journalists in Seoul that the company is accelerating preparations for mass production of OLED displays designed for foldable smartphones to be supplied to a "North American client." He declined to provide further information about the client, but it is widely expected to be Apple.
The comments reflect the solidification of rumors around Apple's first foldable iPhone, which is now believed to be less than a year away from launch. It is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026, featuring an inward-folding crease-free display, Touch ID instead of Face ID, the A20 chip, and two rear cameras.
Apple and the NFL have announced that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The performance will take place at Levi's Stadium, in Santa Clara, California.
Pre-orders for LG's new UltraFine evo 6K display (model 32U990A) with Thunderbolt 5 support will begin on September 30, according to a major U.S. retailer listing.
LG first revealed the 32-inch display at CES 2025 in January, teasing its status as the first monitor to support Thunderbolt 5. At the time, LG only provided high-level specs, but left pricing, availability, and full technical details unconfirmed. We can now fill in some of those details.
The 32U990A features a 6,144 x 3,456 resolution Nano IPS Black panel with 224 pixels per inch. For comparison, the 32-inch Retina 6K display of Apple's Pro Display XDR outputs over 6,016 x 3,384 pixels, for a pixel density of 218 pixels per inch.
LG claims its display covers 99.5% of Adobe RGB and 98% of DCI-P3 color spaces. The Nano IPS Black technology also enables a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, which is double that of standard IPS panels. What may come as a disappointment to some is that the display has a 60Hz refresh rate.
Peak brightness reaches ~600 nits in HDR mode based on the VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, while SDR brightness sits at 450 nits. In contrast, Apple's Pro Display XDR achieves 1,000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness and peaks at 1,600 nits (for HDR content), far exceeding the LG's 600 nit maximum.
The display's Thunderbolt 5 connectivity offers bandwidth up to 120Gbp/s in one direction, 80Gb/s bi-directional, and 96W power delivery. It's also capable of daisy-chaining another 6K display and includes DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth support. There are five USB-C ports in total, alongside DisplayPort and HDMI inputs.
In terms of UltraFine displays past, perhaps the most obvious change is the XDR-esque design. The 32U990A adopts an almost borderless four-sided design with a minimalist L-shaped stand. The display offers full ergonomic adjustments including tilt, pivot, height adjustment, and 90-degree rotation in either direction for portrait mode. LG has also included TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort certification for reduced blue light emission.
A listing on B&H's online store puts the price of the LG 32U990A at $1,999.99. For comparison, Apple's Pro Display XDR starts from $4,999 (not including Apple's Pro Stand, which adds another $999). The B&H listing also says preorders will begin on Tuesday, September 30 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Now, LG has not independently confirmed this September date for the U.S. market, but the company's Canadian website says will preorders begin on October 10, suggesting regional variability. We've contacted LG for clarification and will update this article if we hear back.
Apple plans to release two new external monitors either later this year or in early 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple is nearing mass production of the new Mac external monitors, which will be the first time the company has revisited the product category since debuting the Apple Studio Display in 2022.
The two monitors are internally code-named J427 and J527. Gurman in February reported that Apple was "ramping up" work on a new Studio Display. However, since July, Gurman hasn't specifically linked either code name to a new Apple Studio Display or a new Pro Display XDR.
For what it's worth, Gurman in March reported that Apple is working on a second new monitor code-named J527. At the time, Gurman suggested Apple could be developing two versions of the Studio Display and would choose one to launch, or it was developing a second model with a different screen size or set of specifications. Apple's high-end Pro Display XDR debuted alongside the Mac Pro in 2019, and it has not received an update since its launch.
Gurman has not revealed any new features or changes planned for a possible Studio Display successor. However, display industry analyst Ross Young in January said Apple was developing a new 27-inch display with mini-LEDs that could launch in late 2025 or early 2026. Young believes this display could be a new Studio Display with mini-LED backlighting.
Mini-LED technology would provide benefits such as increased brightness and higher contrast ratio compared to the current Studio Display with LEDs.
Apple launched the Studio Display alongside the Mac Studio in 2022. The monitor features a 5K resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 600 nits of brightness, built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. Pricing in the U.S. starts at $1,599.
Apple's next MacBook Pro models will enter mass production soon, according to the latest information shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said he continues to believe the new MacBook Pro models will be released at some point between late 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, meaning they should be available to order by March at the latest.
Apple often releases new Macs in October, but both Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the next MacBook Pro models might not arrive until early 2026. Apple announced the MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023, so there is precedent for such a timeframe.
The next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro are expected to be powered by M5/M5 Pro/M5 Max chips, but no other major changes have been rumored so far.
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions.
The account initially said iOS 26.0.1 would have a build number of 23A350, but they now expect the update to have a build number of 23A355. This suggests that the software update will include more bug fixes or changes than initially planned.
MacRumors has also seen evidence of iOS 26.0.1 in its visitor logs in recent days, as Apple's software engineers test the update internally.
iOS 26.0.1 will likely address a handful of software bugs and issues:
This week's best Apple-related deals include a big sale on Amazon that has discounts on popular charging accessories and more, plus we're tracking the first markdowns on official iPhone 17 cases. Below, you'll also find solid discounts on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and a sitewide sale at Logitech.
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.
Logitech kicked off a new fall sale this week, offering 20 percent off your purchase of two items, or 30 percent off your purchase of three or more items.
iPhone 17 Cases
What's the deal? Save on Apple's new cases for iPhone 17 and iPhone Air
Amazon this week introduced a new round of discounts across Apple's Clear, Silicone, and TechWoven Cases for the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air lineup. Although the largest discount in this sale is about 10 percent off, these are some of the first notable cash discounts on these brand-new cases, so if you haven't purchased one yet it's definitely a good time to do so.
Amazon Sale
What's the deal? Save on popular brands like Jackery and Anker
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.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the fall? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
iPhone launch month is coming to a close, but there's still plenty to talk about in the Apple world including ongoing discoveries with the new hardware and software.
Apple is also preparing some tweaks and additions in iOS 26.1 and other updates, while we're still expecting some other hardware updates before the end of the year. If you're a student, you should also take note that Apple's annual Back to School promotion in many countries will be wrapping up soon, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1
Yep, Apple is already moving forward with the first significant update for iOS 26, as it seeded the first beta of iOS 26.1 and related updates to developers and public beta testers this week.
Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily
Some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores on launch day were already exhibiting scratches and scuffs, particularly on darker finishes like the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue and the iPhone Air in Space Black.
iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?
For several years, Apple has allowed iPhone users to set a custom charge limit for their devices, capping the charge at 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% with an eye toward preserving battery health.
We ran a one-year experiment with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, setting its charge limit to 80% and seeing how its battery health compared over time to another device used without any restrictions. Check out the results of our test to see whether it might be a good idea to adjust your charging habits!
Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features
We're still expecting several hardware updates before the end of the year, and the Apple TV is one of those products on the list.
In the wake of Apple's iPhone and other announcements earlier this month, we've revisited and recapped rumors about what we may see with the next update to Apple's set-top box.
Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025
One of the announced iOS 26 features that was missing at launch was the Digital ID feature that will bring U.S. passports to the Wallet app on iPhone.
With the launch of iOS 26, Apple said that the feature would be coming in a software update, and the company has now updated the wording on its iOS 26 features page to confirm the feature will be coming later this year.
There's no visible sign of the feature in the first iOS 26.1 beta seeded this week, but many of these Wallet ID features like driver's licenses for various U.S. states (including the imminent addition of North Dakota) can be activated server-side by Apple without necessitating a specific iOS update.
Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3
In addition to everyday discounted pricing for students, the promotion offers free or discounted accessories such as AirPods or Apple Pencils with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad. Notably, the new AirPods Pro 3 are now included in the promotion as a discounted accessory option.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is no longer targeting Apple for a 2021 email that Apple CEO Tim Cook sent to employees, reports Bloomberg. The NLRB said that it is withdrawing most of the claims in a complaint that accused Cook of violating U.S. labor law by warning employees about leaking confidential information.
Cook sent the email in 2021, stating that Apple was working to identify people who had leaked information, and that such people do not belong at Apple. Cook's email followed a leaked Apple meeting that included topics like pay equity and working from home.
The NLRB said that Apple's rules around leaks "tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees" from the exercise of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
Claims that Apple broke the law by imposing confidentiality rules and surveilling workers are being withdrawn.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple's iPhone 17 models have been out for a week now, so we thought we'd do a longer-term review of the flagship iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max now that we've been able to spend more time with them.
MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has a Silver iPhone 17 Pro and a Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, and despite a lot of concern over scratches and the state of iPhone 17 Pro models in Apple Stores, they remain in pristine condition with caseless home use. iPhones may be scratching in stores, but that appears to be less common in daily use at this point.
Apple used Ceramic Shield 2 for the front of the iPhone 17 Pro models, and made some big claims about its scratch resistance. So far, the iPhone 17 Pro's display is holding up. Dan's been testing the display with keys, coins, and other common pocket items, but there isn't a single scratch. With past iPhones, sticking a key in your pocket was a sure way to cause damage.
The display is supposed to have an anti-reflective layer, but it's hard to notice a difference compared to the iPhone 16 Pro. It's definitely a subtle change and not a major selling point.
Dan has already seen major improvements with the updated vapor chamber cooling system and aluminum frame for thermal management. Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro models, the iPhone 17 Pro models barely get warm.
There's been time for more substantial battery life testing a week in, and both the 17 Pro and Pro Max have impressive gains. The 17 Pro Max in particular can last for hours longer than the 16 Pro Max, but it's definitely heavier and thicker than before.
The front camera is a major improvement in terms of quality, and selfies look much better than before. The option to take a wider-angle landscape selfie is great for group shots. As for the new Telephoto lens that supports up to 8x optical zoom, as long as you have solid lighting, your 8x shots will look great. Low-light performance isn't as solid, but the 4x lens still performs well in poorer lighting.
If you're still on the fence about upgrading from an older phone to one of the iPhone 17 Pro models, it's potentially worth it. The thermal changes make a huge difference, Apple's claims about scratch resistance seem to be true, and battery life will be night and day. If you already have an iPhone 17 Pro, let us know what you think of it in the comments below.
Apple's Beats brand recently introduced new color options for several of its products, and most of the updated shades appear to be retailer exclusives.
Beats Solo Buds in a new Matte Ivory color can be purchased from Walmart in Canada, Argos in the United Kingdom, and JB Hi-Fi in Australia.
For the Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones, the new Metallic Pink color is available from Amazon in the United States and John Lewis in the United Kingdom. The Metallic Gold version is available from Target in the United States and JB Hi-Fi in Australia, and they should also be available from Walmart in Canada although we have not been able to find a listing for them.
And finally, the Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones are available in Sand Gray from Amazon in the United States and United Kingdom and from Best Buy in Canada. A Soft Pink color is also available from Target in the United States, Best Buy in Canada, and JB Hi-Fi in Australia. A
All of the new color options were spotted in iOS code in early September, which is around the time Apple began quietly rolling out the new shades.
The Beats Studio Pro are priced at $350 in the United States, while the Beats Solo 4 cost $200. The Solo Buds are the most affordable model available in a new color, selling for $80. You can get standard colors at most retailers, but if you want one of the new special colors, you may need to seek them out at a specific shop.
Update 7:00 pm: This article has been updated with availability for additional retailers and countries.
There is a bug that seems to be preventing some iPhone 17 users from being able to download Apple Intelligence on their new devices, but it could be fixed in the near future.
A small number of users seem to be experiencing an issue that prevents Apple Intelligence from fully downloading, leaving Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, and more inaccessible.
According to two affected users, Apple's support staff is aware of the issue and is planning to address the bug. It is not clear if Apple can make a server-side adjustment or if an iOS update will be needed to fully resolve the problem.
Some users who have experienced issues with Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 17 have been able to solve the problem, but others say several troubleshooting steps have not worked. Here are some of the successful fixes:
Turning off cellular and joining a Wi-Fi network.
Changing the iPhone's language and then changing it back.
Wiping the iPhone and reinstalling from an iCloud backup.
Turning Airplane mode on and off again.
Changing the region and resetting network settings.
Apple designed a ChatGPT-like app to help its engineers test the overhauled version of Siri, reports Bloomberg. Unfortunately, the Siri app isn't going to be released to the public, and it's strictly for internal testing.
The app is being used to test new Siri features that Apple has planned, such as more contextual awareness, an ability to do more in and between apps, and deeper integration with personal data.
It is said to look similar to other chatbot apps, organized into multiple conversations across different topics. The app is able to remember and reference past chats, and it supports extended conversations.
Apple has been working on a smarter version of Siri since the launch of iOS 18. The company initially planned to debut an Apple Intelligence Siri as part of the update, but ended up delaying the functionality until 2026 because it did not meet Apple's standards.
The Apple Intelligence Siri plan was scrapped, and Apple decided to entirely overhaul Siri with second-generation architecture, speeding up an LLM transition. The upcoming version of Siri that Apple plans to release will use advanced large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI chatbots.
LLM Siri will be able to hold continuous conversations, provide human-like responses to questions, and complete more complex tasks.
Apple is on track to launch the LLM version of Siri in early 2026, likely as part of an iOS 26.4 update that could come in March. That will see Siri introduced a full year after Apple originally wanted to launch the updated version of the personal assistant.
At the end of next year, Apple is planning to unveil a new look for Siri, giving it a more humanoid design that could be similar to the Mac's Finder logo.
Apple has held talks with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, and it may use a third-party company to power the new version of Siri rather than relying on its in-house AI models.
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.
