Summary not available
"Apple has promised a privacy-first advertising model." -- 9to5Mac (article text; no attributed speaker quote with a named individual present)
Apple has begun rolling out its first sponsored listings in Apple Maps on iPhones across parts of the US and Canada, fulfilling its March confirmation that ads would come to the platform.
The ads, part of the broader Apple Business rollout, appear in two places: when users tap the search bar before searching, and within actual search results when relevant. Apple is positioning its advertising as privacy-first, with significantly stricter rules than Google Maps — outright banning categories like bail bonding services, cryptocurrency ATMs, and home services, while medical services ads will be evaluated case by case. The gradual rollout arrives roughly in line with the tentative Summer 2026 timeframe Apple had previously set.
"Ads on Maps builds on Apple's broader privacy-first approach to advertising, and maintains the same privacy protections Maps users enjoy today. A user's location and the ads they see and interact with in Maps are not associated with a user's Apple Account." -- Apple Newsroom
Apple has officially launched ads in Apple Maps, with the rollout beginning in recent days in the US and Canada and ramping up to all users in the coming weeks.
The rollout fulfills Apple's earlier promise to bring ads to Maps in the US and Canada by summer's end, just ahead of the September deadline. Ads will appear in two places: as sponsored Suggested Places on the search screen before searching, and within search results when relevant. The ads look like normal business listings but carry a small blue "Ad" badge. Apple emphasizes that its privacy-first advertising approach remains intact, noting that location and ad interaction data are not tied to a user's Apple Account, stay on the device, and are not shared with third parties.
"The harm is happening now—every day that passes without an injunction allows OpenAI to embed their knowledge of Apple's stolen information into its hardware development efforts, further damaging Apple and making it increasingly more difficult to unwind the harm." -- Apple
Apple has filed a reply brief urging a court to grant expedited discovery in its trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against OpenAI, io Products, and former employees, pushing back against the defendants' opposition.
Apple argues it needs early document production, forensic imaging, and depositions to uncover the full scope of alleged trade secret theft before facts dissipate, while OpenAI contends the requests are overbroad and aimed at peeking at competitive product plans. Apple narrowed its document requests to communications dated on or after August 1, 2023, and warns that OpenAI could keep using Apple's hardware trade secrets while racing to launch its own device if discovery is delayed. The expedited-discovery motion is set for a hearing before Judge Edward Davila on October 1, though the judge could rule sooner.
"All signs point to the M6 models being close to launch, and you should be able to buy one before the end of the year." -- Mark Gurman
Following today's launches of the Mac mini and Mac Studio, Apple is rumored to release three more Macs this fall: an M6 MacBook Pro, a new high-end touchscreen MacBook, and an M6 iMac.
The rumored fall lineup represents significant updates across Apple's Mac range. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro will gain the newly unveiled 2-nanometer M6 chip with major performance and efficiency gains, while a new high-end MacBook Pro or MacBook Ultra will introduce firsts for the Mac including a touchscreen, OLED display, and Dynamic Island. The iMac, which reportedly skipped an M5 update, will jump straight to M6—offering up to 4x faster AI performance and 40 percent faster CPU performance compared to the M4 model—with launches expected in October, though the high-end MacBook could slip to early 2027.
"Most US adults say they aren't interested in buying a new foldable phone. A CNET survey that polled 2,605 US adults found that 75% aren't interested in buying a foldable Apple device." -- CNET
A CNET survey of 2,605 US adults found that 25% are interested in a folding iPhone Ultra — but their willingness to pay falls far short of the expected price.
The real story is that a quarter of US adults find a foldable Apple device appealing, with interest highest among Millennials (32%) and Gen Z (31%). However, the average respondent is only willing to pay $781 — with Gen Z topping out at $919 — while the iPhone Ultra is expected to start at no less than $2,000. Even accounting for buyers typically paying more than surveys suggest, the combination of high pricing and lack of pocketability means the foldable will likely remain a niche product.
"[T]he new Mac Studio is our most powerful Mac ever," -- Johny Srouji
The product: Apple's refreshed Mac mini and Mac Studio desktops, featuring new M6, M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra chips, designed to deliver high-performance local AI inference with generous unified memory — though at premium prices driven by rising memory costs.
Cost: Mac mini: M6 at $899 or M5 Pro at $1,699 (32 GB upgrade adds $400). Mac Studio: M5 Max at $2,499 or M5 Ultra at $5,499; 256 GB memory adds $4,000 (maxed-out 256 GB/16 TB SSD configuration costs $18,299).
Availability: Available for pre-order now, shipping September 22, 2026; the 512 GB memory configuration for the M5 Ultra Mac Studio won't be available until October. All models ship with macOS 27, expected to debut in mid-September.
"Based on your new selection, other parts of your configuration have been updated. Please review the changes." -- Apple
Apple's new Mac Studio with M5 Max chip kept its $2,499 starting price, but a hidden $300 cost in the GPU upgrade means buyers actually pay $600 more than the displayed price.
Apple lists the upgrade from a 32-core to 40-core GPU as costing $300, but selecting it also forces a memory upgrade from 32GB to 48GB, adding another $300. The change is disclosed only in an opaque notification, which caught out John Gruber when summarizing configuration costs. This makes the effective GPU upgrade cost double what Apple's website indicates, a pricing gotcha for prospective Mac Studio buyers.
"The improved processing power is nice, but that doesn't make the M5 Max Mac Studio a must-buy if you've already got a M4 Max Mac Studio." -- AppleInsider
The product: The Mac Studio (2026) is Apple's top-of-the-line desktop computer, updated with the M5 Max chip featuring an 18-core CPU (with new "super cores"), 32- or 40-core GPUs with Neural Accelerators in each GPU core, and Apple's N1 wireless networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Thread support. Apple claims up to 30% better general processing, 50% better graphics, and up to four times the AI/LLM performance compared to the M4 Max predecessor, though the design is unchanged.
Cost: Starting at $2,499 at launch ($500 more than the M4 Max model's $1,999 launch price), configurable with 36GB to 128GB memory and up to 8TB storage.
Availability: Available for pre-order now through Adorama, B&H, and Expercom.
"This should help make the M6 Mac mini an absolute AI powerhouse." -- AppleInsider
The product: The M6 Mac mini is Apple's compact desktop computer updated with the new 2-nanometer M6 chip, featuring a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Externally identical to the M4 model, it offers improved performance, higher memory bandwidth (170GB/s), and upgraded networking including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
Cost: Starts at $899 with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage (a $300 increase over the M4's $599 launch price). Memory upgrades are $200 for 24GB and another $200 for 32GB; storage upgrades run $200 to 512GB, $300 more for 1TB, and $500 more for 2TB; the 10Gb Ethernet upgrade is $100.
Availability: Not specified beyond its announcement in an unusually timed update ahead of Apple's main iPhone event.
"This is the heart of the update, and the reason the new Mac Studio exists. Apple has built the M5 generation around accelerating on-device artificial intelligence." -- (no direct speaker attribution; article text)
The product: The Mac Studio with Apple's new M5 Ultra chip, a high-end desktop computer aimed at AI workloads. It features up to a 36-core CPU, up to 80-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in each graphics core, and claims up to 4.3 times the peak AI compute of the M3 Ultra model it replaces, enabling large language models to run locally.
Cost: Starting at $5,499 (versus $3,999 for the M3 Ultra model).
Platforms: macOS (runs macOS, Apple silicon desktop hardware).
"Meanwhile, OpenAI could continue to use Apple's hardware trade secrets while racing to design and launch its own hardware device," continues the filing. -- Apple's filing
Apple has filed a response pushing back against OpenAI's attempts to delay a trade theft lawsuit, arguing that OpenAI is using "boilerplate objections" and misdirection while continuing to profit from allegedly stolen information.
Apple first sued OpenAI over alleged mass IP theft in July 2026 and is seeking expedited discovery to depose key witnesses and obtain documentation about what information OpenAI allegedly acquired. Apple argues that OpenAI's proposed timeline could delay key depositions for "months or years," during which OpenAI could continue using Apple's hardware trade secrets as it races to launch its own hardware device. OpenAI counters that the requests are unnecessary and overlap with the normal case schedule, and has dismissed Apple's concerns—including an incident where an Apple email was misdirected—as competition-driven. Apple is now requesting discovery of documents dated on or after August 1, 2023, roughly six months before key witness Tang Tan left Apple for OpenAI, with a hearing on the expedited discovery request scheduled for October 1, 2026.
Summary not available
The product: Apple's new lineup of desktop Macs — the Mac Mini (M6 and M5 Pro chips) and the Mac Studio (M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips) — offering configurations ranging from a $900 base M6 Mini to a fully specced M5 Ultra Studio costing $18,300.
Cost: Mac Mini M6 starts at $900 (RAM up to +$400, SSD up to +$1,000); Mac Mini M5 Pro starts at $1,700/$1,900 (RAM up to +$1,000, SSD up to +$3,800); Mac Studio M5 Max starts at $2,500/$3,100 (RAM up to +$2,000, SSD up to +$3,800); Mac Studio M5 Ultra starts at $5,500/$6,800 (256 GB RAM +$4,000, SSD up to +$7,500).
Availability: Announced August 25, 2026; most configurations available now, though 512 GB RAM for the M5 Ultra Studio is "Coming late October."
"My view very much remains that Apple has no business being in the ad business." -- Ben Lovejoy
Apple has begun rolling out ads in Apple Maps in the US and Canada, and 9to5Mac's Ben Lovejoy argues they are every bit as bad as expected.
Apple warned in March that ads would appear in Maps by summer, and the company confirmed the rollout began in recent days, reaching all US and Canadian users within weeks. While Apple insists its ads follow a privacy-first approach—location and ad interactions are not associated with users' Apple Accounts and personal data stays on-device—Lovejoy contends the move is damaging for two reasons: most people will assume Apple tracks users like other companies, eroding its privacy reputation, and ads look cheap on a company that already charges premium prices for premium hardware.
"So I'm getting the newer Mac mini early, at a discount. I'll take it. 🎉" -- Chris Lentz
Apple is upgrading recent, backordered M4 Mac mini orders to the newly announced M6 and M5 Pro models for free, while honoring original prices.
Apple launched a new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chips, and because many M4 configurations had been backordered, some customers awaiting delivery would have missed out on the new models. Instead, Apple has begun contacting those buyers and upgrading their pending orders to the new machines — in some cases speeding up delivery and saving customers hundreds of dollars, as one Reddit user reported effectively saving $300 versus the equivalent M5 Pro's price. This suggests Apple is having an easier time producing the M6 and M5 Pro versions of the Mac mini than M4 models.
"We won't know if these shots are really of the iPhone Ultra's motherboard until someone buys the costly device just to strip it apart." -- AppleInsider
Two separate leakers have released what appear to be images of the motherboard for Apple's rumored folding iPhone Ultra, just weeks ahead of its expected announcement.
The leaks — a video and photos from leaker Lusi Roy and an annotated graphic from Weibo user "Findmeow~" — appear to show the same component, lending credibility to their authenticity. The Weibo graphic claims to originate from Mijing Tools, a Chinese iPhone repair firm, which would be unusually early for Apple to share repair information with third parties. With Apple expected to announce its first folding iPhone on September 9, 2026, the timing and corroboration make it more likely than not that these are genuine components, though a sophisticated hoax cannot be ruled out.
"Apple's unit sales grew 5% YoY despite a broader market decline," -- Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan
The iPhone 17 remained the world's best-selling smartphone in Q2 2026, with Apple taking the top three spots and half of the entire top ten, according to Counterpoint Research.
Apple's dominance comes amid a shrinking global smartphone market, which contracted by 11% as the chip shortage pushed manufacturers toward premium devices. iPhone sales grew across India, Japan, and the MEA, and nearly doubled in South Korea, driven by the iPhone 17 series. Counterpoint attributes the iPhone 17's continued demand to its significant upgrade over the previous model, as Apple narrowed the gap between regular and Pro models. The results mirror Apple's 2025 performance and its earnings strength: despite 23% of global shipments, Apple captured 49% of worldwide smartphone revenues.
"That is a bigger change than a new hinge. The September keynote has been the fixed point of the consumer technology calendar for well over a decade, and moving the volume model out of it changes what the event is for." -- (article author, unattributed)
Apple has confirmed its autumn event for 9 September at 10am Pacific time at Apple Park under the tagline "Surprise and shine," where it is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone — reportedly priced between $2,000 and $2,500.
The most consequential change isn't the foldable itself but what's missing: the standard iPhone 18 is expected to slip to a spring launch, splitting Apple's annual iPhone cycle across two events for the first time and altering the role of the September keynote, which has anchored the consumer tech calendar for over a decade. The foldable, reported as the iPhone Fold or Ultra with a 5.3-inch outer and 7.8-inch inner display, titanium frame, and Touch ID in the power button, would be Apple's most expensive iPhone yet — arriving late to a category Samsung has never turned into a volume business. iPhone 18 Pro models, new Apple Watches, and first real home hub hardware are also expected, though Apple has confirmed only the date, venue, and tagline.
"Titled "Surprise and shine," the event will be taking place on September 9, starting at 10 A.M. Pacific, 1 P.M. Eastern Time." -- AppleInsider (no attribution given; per rules, omit?) — Better to omit quote attribution concerns; there are no direct quotes with speaker attribution.
Apple has confirmed its September special event for September 9, where it is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, its first folding iPhone, and other products — and where John Ternus will make his debut as CEO.
The event, Apple's annual fall showcase, will be the first under new leadership, as John Ternus takes over from Tim Cook on September 1 and will helm the presentation. The headline launch is expected to be Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored to carry a $2,000–$2,500 price tag, alongside iPhone 18 Pro models that could cost $300 more than their predecessors due to the memory crisis. Additional expected announcements include Apple Watch updates, smart home refreshes like a Home Hub with a seven-inch screen, an OLED iPad mini 8, and potentially camera-equipped AirPods Pro.
— no direct quote with clear speaker attribution is present in the article, so this line is omitted.
Apple announced on Wednesday that its next launch event will take place on September 9 at the Apple Park Campus in Cupertino, California, under the tagline "Surprise and Shine." The event is expected to be notable because Apple is rumored to unveil its long-awaited foldable iPhone. It will also be the first Apple event led by John Ternus, who takes over as CEO from Tim Cook on September 1. Apple is additionally expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra, new smart home devices, and possible launch dates for software updates including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate.
"Apple has officially announced its next event for September 9: 'Surprise and Shine.' Rumors say iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Ultra, new Apple Watches, and more are coming!" -- Chance Miller
Apple has officially announced a product event on September 9 at 10 am PT, where it will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and its first foldable iPhone, rumored to be called iPhone Ultra.
The event marks a major shift in Apple's product strategy, with the company reportedly splitting its annual iPhone launch — the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 will follow in spring 2027. The biggest announcement is expected to be Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored to feature a book-style design, titanium frame, and virtually crease-free display, with a starting price around $1,999. The event also signals a leadership transition, as John Ternus takes over as Apple CEO on September 1, with Tim Cook moving to executive chairman.
“deliver more than 10 million shipments in its first year” -- Nabila Popal (IDC senior research director, via Bloomberg)
IDC forecasts that Apple will ship more than 10 million units of its first foldable iPhone during the device's first year of availability. With Apple widely expected to announce its first book-style foldable iPhone at its September 9 "Surprise and shine" event — at a rumored price of roughly $2,500 — analysts are increasingly optimistic about the category. IDC joins Counterpoint Research in projecting strong performance, with Counterpoint estimating Apple could capture 25% of foldable shipments in 2026 and IDC predicting Apple will eventually account for 40% of all foldable shipments in 2027. IDC also notes Apple's entry will help "avert a double-digit percentage decline for foldables this year," with the category expected to grow 12.6% this year and accelerate to 18% growth next year.
"Apple certainly could have built a foldable iPhone sooner. But it sounds like the time is right for a foldable with the level of quality that the iPhone deserves." -- Ryan Christoffel
The product: The iPhone Ultra is Apple's first foldable iPhone, set to debut at the September 9 event, featuring a virtually crease-free inner display, an ultra-thin design without major compromises to battery life or performance, and a durable liquid metal hinge over 15 years in the making.
Availability: Will be unveiled at Apple's September 9 event.
"The latest software update also brings Spatial Audio support in CarPlay* to the Volvo EX90 with Dolby Atmos technology. Enabled by the Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system including 25 high-performance speakers, Volvo drivers can enjoy a multi-dimensional and immersive sound experience that places music and vocals around the cabin." -- Volvo
The product: A software update from Volvo that adds Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos to CarPlay, delivering an immersive, multi-dimensional sound experience for Apple Music and other audio, enabled by the Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with 25 high-performance speakers.
Availability: Available on the Volvo EX90, EX60, and ES90; requires a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, which can be chosen when ordering those models.
Platforms: Apple CarPlay
"The most obvious reason Apple would launch these Macs early is that the 'Surprise and shine' event is already jam-packed with other products to unveil." -- Ryan Christoffel
Apple broke from its usual pattern this week by launching new Mac mini and Mac Studio models in late August, just two weeks before its September 9 event.
Late August hardware launches are exceptionally rare for Apple — the only one in the past decade was the 2020 iMac, and even that was pushed by COVID-related scheduling. Since the new Macs don't ship until September 22, Apple had no urgency to announce them early, suggesting the September 9 event is simply too full. Rumors point to as many as nine or more products debuting there, including the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, the first-ever foldable iPhone Ultra, new Apple Watches, AirPods 5, and refreshed Home products — potentially making it one of Apple's most packed events in some time.
"Even though the current HomePod and Apple TV may not support Apple Intelligence directly, both now have an Apple Intelligence reporting toggle in the latest betas." -- Apple Home Authority
New evidence found in the iOS 27 beta suggests Apple is preparing to bring Apple Intelligence features to Apple TV 4K and HomePod devices.
When Apple announced its major software updates at WWDC, tvOS and HomePod were barely mentioned, leaving those platforms seemingly stuck with the old Siri despite Apple's messaging about a consistent AI experience across devices. Now, an 'Apple Intelligence Report' toggle discovered in the tvOS 27 and HomePod 27 betas hints that AI support—possibly including Siri AI—is in the works, likely tied to unreleased hardware expected this fall. Apple's September event is anticipated to reveal what's next for Apple Home.
Insufficient direct quote with clear speaker attribution in available article text.
Apple announced a new Mac mini this week with its brand-new M6 chip, but also released a second model powered by an M5 Pro chip that costs significantly more — $1,699 versus $899. The seemingly counterintuitive pricing — an older-generation M5 Pro chip costing nearly double the new M6 — highlights that chip generation numbers don't tell the whole story. While the M6 is faster and more efficient than the last generation, "Pro" tier chips typically offer more CPU/GPU cores and higher performance ceilings that may justify the premium for professional users. The article aims to explain why new doesn't always mean better when choosing between Apple's Mac mini configurations.
"If all of the above products do launch on September 9, it will be quite the kickoff event for new CEO John Ternus." -- Ryan Christoffel
Apple has announced its annual iPhone launch event for September 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, with the iPhone 18 Pro, first-ever foldable iPhone Ultra, new Apple Watch models, and other products rumored to debut.
The 'Surprise and shine' event marks the product launch that kicks off John Ternus's CEO era, making it especially significant for Apple. While press are invited to Apple Park, the event will stream live globally via Apple's YouTube channel, the Apple TV app, and Apple's Events website. iPhone and Apple Watch refreshes are the safest bets, but according to Mark Gurman, AirPods 5 and new Home products like a HomePad smart home hub and HomePod mini 2 may also make appearances.
"Machine translation is wrong, 「亮新篇，來耀眼」just means “Shining a new chapter, come be flashy”" — icon (5-core GPU) (@iconredesign)
Zac Hall reports that Google Translate's machine translation of Apple's China-localized tagline for its September event appears to include a hidden "foldable" teaser ahead of the expected first foldable iPhone.
Apple announced its September event with the tagline "Surprise and shine," where it is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone. In China, running the event image through Google Translate yields "A new chapter unfolds, dazzling and brilliant" — seemingly a nod to folding. However, other translation tools produce different results, and at least one commenter argues the machine translation is simply wrong, noting the Chinese phrase never alludes to unfolding or a book. Either way, it's a fun teaser for fans counting down to the announcement in two weeks.
"there's no red option coming for iPhone Ultra" -- Mark Gurman
Leaker Evan Blass claimed the upcoming iPhone Ultra will launch in three colors including a surprise red option, a claim directly disputed by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
With Apple's iPhone event officially set for September 9, rumors about the foldable iPhone Ultra's color options are intensifying. Prior reporting suggested the Ultra would come only in black and white, or possibly just white, making a red variant unusual—especially since the iPhone 18 Pro is already rumored to offer a Dark Cherry/Burgundy option. The author notes Blass's images appear AI-generated (with inconsistencies like the old iOS 26 battery indicator), urging caution, though AI-generated imagery doesn't necessarily mean the color information is wrong. All will be confirmed at Apple's event in two weeks.
"If all of the above products do launch on September 9, it will be quite the kickoff event for new CEO John Ternus." -- Ryan Christoffel
Apple has announced its annual iPhone launch event for September 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, with the iPhone 18 Pro, first-ever foldable iPhone Ultra, new Apple Watch models, and other products rumored to debut.
The 'Surprise and shine' event marks the product launch that kicks off John Ternus's CEO era, making it especially significant for Apple. While press are invited to Apple Park, the event will stream live globally via Apple's YouTube channel, the Apple TV app, and Apple's Events website. iPhone and Apple Watch refreshes are the safest bets, but according to Mark Gurman, AirPods 5 and new Home products like a HomePad smart home hub and HomePod mini 2 may also make appearances.
"confirms, rather than cures, the Complaint's central defect" -- OpenAI
OpenAI, Chang Liu, Tang Tan, and io Products have filed a new petition asking the court to dismiss Apple's trade secret misappropriation lawsuit with prejudice.
Apple sued two former employees, along with OpenAI and Jony Ive's io Products, alleging the ex-employees took confidential Apple information after leaving and coached hires on evading Apple's security systems. OpenAI argues Apple failed to identify protectable trade secrets with specificity, failed to plausibly allege misappropriation, and failed to show harm. A dismissal with prejudice would prevent Apple from bringing the same claims again, and briefing is now complete ahead of a hearing scheduled for October 1.
"a major leap in performance and power efficiency" -- Apple
Apple launched its M6 chip this week in the new Mac mini, and rumors point to a MacBook Pro and iMac getting the chip this fall, followed by the iPad Pro and MacBook Air in spring 2027.
The M6 rollout will be unusually selective. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is skipping Pro and Max versions of the M6, meaning only the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will get the new chip, while higher-end machines wait for M7 Pro and Max in 2027. The iMac gains the M6 and possibly new colors, while the 2027 iPad Pro is expected to add a vapor chamber for cooling in its ultra-thin design. For both the iPad Pro and MacBook Air, the M6's 2-nanometer process could deliver notable battery life improvements.
On the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, hosts Benjamin Mayo and Chance Miller discussed Apple's announcement of new Mac mini and Mac Studio models, official invites for the September iPhone event, and a rare round of layoffs affecting roughly 200 Apple employees.
The episode covers one of Apple's busiest news weeks, headlined by refreshed Mac mini (M6 and M5 Pro chips) and Mac Studio (M5 Max and M5 Ultra) launches alongside confirmation of the September "Surprise and shine" event for the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Ultra. The hosts also dig into why Apple laid off around 200 employees across its Vision Pro and Siri teams — an unusual move for the company — plus rumors of new AirPods 5 models expected next month.
The product: The M6 Mac mini is Apple's compact desktop computer, newly unveiled with M6 and M5 Pro chip options. Beyond Apple's announced highlights, it features varying memory bandwidth by configuration (153GB/s to 307GB/s), a new Apple-designed N1 chip that adds Thread support new to the Mac mini line, and macOS Golden Gate preinstalled.
Cost: Starting at $899.
Availability: Available for pre-order now, with the M6 Mac mini shipping September 22.
Platforms: macOS Golden Gate (preinstalled).
"Fix passwords with a tap." -- Apple
The product: In iOS 27, the Apple Passwords app gains an agentic AI feature powered by Apple Intelligence that can automatically change weak or compromised passwords on your behalf, rather than requiring manual fixes.
Availability: Expected to ship in iOS 27.0, which is currently in beta and launches to all users in the next few weeks, though the feature's availability in the beta has been inconsistent and might get pushed to iOS 27.1.
Platforms: iOS 27
"With just a tap, customers can connect to a participating merchant's iPhone for a more personalized and faster in-store purchase experience that allows for secure sharing of information, such as email and other contact information, shipping address, loyalty rewards information, and more." -- Apple
The product: Apple Pay, Apple's mobile payments service, is receiving four new features: a redesigned checkout interface in iOS 27 that makes switching between cards easier, the ability to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points at checkout, a "Tap to Share" feature for personalized in-store purchases, and the ability to reload supported debit cards directly in Apple Wallet or at checkout. Additionally, Apple Pay is now rolling out to Walmart and Sam's Club stores across the United States.
Availability: The redesigned checkout, Tap to Share, and debit card reloading arrive with iOS 27 this fall (iOS 27 is currently in beta); the American Express rewards feature was recently announced; Walmart began rolling out Apple Pay in Arkansas this week with all U.S. stores expected by the end of the year.
Platforms: iPhone (iOS 27)
"none of [the DOJ's] arguments in support of its application for reconsideration are persuasive" -- Special Master Jose Linares
Special Master Jose Linares has rejected the DOJ's request to reconsider his earlier ruling, clearing Apple for the second time to seek documents from 14 federal agencies as part of its defense in the DOJ's antitrust lawsuit against the company.
Apple's defense hinges on arguing that practices the DOJ challenges are legitimate security and privacy safeguards, and the company wants to examine how federal agencies evaluate security and privacy in their own smartphone policies and purchasing decisions. Linares ruled the agencies are part of the United States for purposes of party discovery, meaning the DOJ cannot invoke the greater protections normally afforded to third parties under Rule 45. The decision also criticized the DOJ for misunderstanding the legal framework and claiming the documents had minimal relevance "without citation to any support," leaving Apple's discovery requests intact.
"Today is going to be a truly historic day for the Mac," -- Tim Cook
As Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO and hands the baton to John Ternus, AppleInsider looks back at his most memorable WWDC keynote moments from 2012 to 2026.
Over 14 WWDC keynotes, Cook evolved from a nervous successor to Steve Jobs into a confident steward of Apple's biggest transitions, including the radical iOS 7 redesign, the pivot to pre-recorded events during COVID, and the landmark announcement of Apple Silicon in 2020. His tenure also included somber moments, such as leading a moment of silence for the Orlando Pulse shooting victims in 2016 and addressing racism and inequality in 2020. While the 2023 Apple Vision Pro announcement was meant to be momentous, the headset has yet to achieve the impact Cook envisioned, with reports of staff layoffs as he departs.
"tweaked Apple TV remote" -- Mark Gurman (as reported in the article)
Apple is expected to unveil a new Apple TV 4K soon—possibly at its September 9 event—featuring an updated Siri Remote, Siri AI, a new A-class chip, and an N1 wireless chip.
The new Apple TV 4K is long overdue, having originally been expected to launch last fall, but with Siri AI finally ready, all signs point to an imminent announcement. Code leaked in a macOS 26.7 build seemingly confirms an updated Siri Remote, while evidence suggests tvOS 27 will bring Siri AI—likely only on new hardware. The device is also rumored to gain a more powerful A-class chip to enable AI features, plus an N1 wireless chip bringing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread networking support, a significant upgrade over the current four-year-old hardware's Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.
N/A — the article contains no direct quotes with clear speaker attribution.
Apple's long-rumored first foldable iPhone — potentially called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra — is expected to debut in September 2026, though rumors continue to conflict over whether the device will arrive on time or face delays into 2027. Apple has yet to enter the foldable smartphone market that rivals like Samsung have embraced with the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip, despite more than a decade of rumors and years of supply chain research. The rumor mill has repeatedly shifted the device's release date, with predictions ranging from 2020 to 2027, but recent reports — including references found in an iOS 27 developer beta — point toward a September 2026 announcement. Lingering concerns remain over hinge and circuitry issues and whether the phone will actually ship to customers at announcement or months later, as happened with the iPhone X in 2017.
Summary not available
"Pricing for apps and In-App Purchases will be updated for Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo if you haven’t selected one of these storefronts as the base storefront for your app or In-App Purchase." -- Apple
Apple announced on its Developer blog that new tax changes affecting developer proceeds take effect today in Morocco, the Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania, with App Store price updates in four countries following on September 14.
The changes reflect new or updated taxes—Morocco's 20% VAT introduction, the Republic of the Congo's 18% VAT, and Tanzania's digital sales tax increase from 2% to 3%—which will reduce developer proceeds in those regions. Starting September 14, prices will also be adjusted in Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo unless developers chose those storefronts as their base. Apple describes the updates as part of its routine process for keeping up with tax regulations and foreign exchange rates, and the new prices are already visible in App Store Connect.
Ahead of Apple's fall launch, 9to5Mac's Ryan Christoffel outlines four key ways the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to outperform the more expensive, foldable iPhone Ultra.
While the iPhone Ultra will be Apple's new premium flagship, the iPhone 18 Pro line reportedly retains several advantages: a variable aperture main camera, the best-ever battery life on the Pro Max, Face ID (which the thin Ultra must forgo in favor of Touch ID), and a dedicated Telephoto camera. These rumored differences matter because they suggest Apple's pricier foldable will involve real tradeoffs in photography, battery, and biometric security — making the traditional Pro models arguably the better choice for many users.
"We know that an M5 Mac with 64 GB of RAM is a big ask. We are not going to pretend otherwise, and we know it puts Junie Local out of reach for many people reading the post." -- JetBrains
The product: Junie Local is JetBrains' free, fully local AI coding agent running Qwen3.6-27B at 4-bit, which JetBrains claims performs on par with Claude Sonnet 4.5 and close to GPT-5 at medium effort.
Cost: Free to install, but requires roughly a $2,699 Mac mini with M5 Pro and 64GB of RAM to run.
Availability: Available now on Mac; installs with a single command (type /local into Junie) and takes about 20GB of space. Linux support (DGX Spark, RTX 5090, 24GB cards) is in development.
Platforms: macOS (M5 Macs with 64GB RAM minimum), with NVIDIA hardware support planned.
"The most noteworthy benefit of the Echo 21 over its predecessor is that all Thunderbolt ports have been upgraded from Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 5." -- Jeff Benjamin
The product: The Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock is a Thunderbolt 5 dock that adds extensive I/O to Macs via a single cable, including three Thunderbolt 5 ports (80 Gbps, with up to 120 Gbps via Bandwidth Boost), 140W power delivery, 10Gb Ethernet, nine 10Gbps USB 3 ports, hi-res 24-bit/192 kHz audio, SD/microSD UHS-II slots, an M.2 NVMe SSD slot supporting up to 8TB (reaching ~3300 MB/s), and support for up to three displays via HDMI, DisplayPort, or Thunderbolt.
Cost: $499
Availability: Available now
Platforms: macOS (Macs such as MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and Mac Studio)
The product: TMOG is a native system metrics console and task manager for macOS, Windows, and Linux that combines the clarity of Activity Monitor with the depth of Task Manager, offering detailed views of CPU, memory, GPU, storage, network, energy, thermals, and processes at 60 FPS with live meters.
Cost: (not mentioned — omitted)
Platforms: macOS 13+ (Apple silicon + Intel x64, Swift + AppKit), Windows 11 x64 (native Win32), and Linux desktops via X11/Wayland (C++ + Qt 6, available as AppImage, .deb, or .tar.gz).