Apple has reached a new agreement with Tencent that will allow the company to process payments and collect a 15% commission on purchases made inside WeChat mini games and mini apps on the iPhone, establishing a major new revenue stream in China after over a year of negotiations, according to Bloomberg.


Under the arrangement, Apple will begin handling in-app payment processing for qualifying mini apps and mini games distributed inside WeChat, China's dominant all-purpose mobile platform. Developers participating in the system will need to adopt specific Apple software requirements, including a feature that allows parents to share a child's age range.

Unlike users in the rest of the world, most Chinese ‌iPhone‌ users do not access services by downloading separate apps from the App Store. Instead, they use WeChat as a single interface for services, utilities, and entertainment. These functions are powered by a vast network of mini apps contained entirely within WeChat.

Purchases made through these mini apps have historically not generated ‌App Store‌ commission because many developers direct users to external payment systems. As a result, Apple's new agreement gives the company a foothold in a major segment of Chinese mobile payments from which it previously received no revenue.

While the new 15% commission is half of Apple's standard 30% rate for many ‌App Store‌ transactions, Bloomberg estimates that the size of the WeChat ecosystem makes the agreement potentially worth billions of dollars to Apple. The agreement is expected to be disclosed publicly by the companies at a later date.

This article, "Apple Reaches Deal to Take Billions of Dollars in China's WeChat" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple’s new accessory, the iPhone Pocket, officially goes on sale tomorrow. But some Apple Stores have started featuring the new ISSEY MIYAKE collaborative product already, so user hands-on videos have arrived. Here’s a roundup of first looks.

more…

Some 2 billion email addresses and 1.3 billion passwords have been compromised in a series of data breaches highlighted by a cybersecurity company.

Microsoft regional director Troy Hunt, who runs the site Have I Been Pwned, says the stolen data is more extensive than anything the site has ever processed …

more…

Amazon today has dropped the price of the new M5 MacBook Pro to $1,480.00, down from $1,599.00. This is the 10-Core model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD in Space Black, and it's a new all-time low price on the M5 MacBook Pro.

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.

This version of the MacBook Pro just launched last month and it comes with the newest M5 chip, which offers up to 15% faster CPU performance and up to 45% faster graphics when compared to the M4 chip. For the 512GB model, Amazon provides a November 18 estimated arrival date for free shipping without Prime.



If you're shopping for any other models of the M5 MacBook Pro, you'll want to take a look at our exclusive offers at Expercom. In regards to both 1TB models, as well as a few custom higher-end models, you'll find the best prices here, and our discount has been applied automatically to every computer. Some examples of deals are listed below.

• 10-Core M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB - $1,673.07, down from $1,799.00


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


• 10-Core M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB - $1,859.07, down from $1,999.00

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

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

---

This article, "Amazon Takes $118 Off M5 MacBook Pro With New Lowest-Ever Price" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose.


Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages app. After installing the beta on your iPhone, simply open the Settings app on CarPlay, look for the Pinned Conversations toggle in the main menu, and turn it off if you prefer to.

iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, according to Apple.

• Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 1


• Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2

CarPlay received many other upgrades on iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities, widgets, a compact view for phone calls, and more.

• iOS 26 Adds These 10 New Features to CarPlay

This article, "iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple was today denied permission from the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to appeal a ruling that found its App Store commission practices to be unlawful and could result in damages of over $1 billion.


The hearing follows a decision made in October by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) saying that Apple unlawfully abused its position in the distribution of iOS apps. The case was brought forward in 2023 on behalf of more than 1,500 UK developers who alleged that Apple charged excessive commission rates on paid apps and in-app purchases.

The tribunal agreed, ruling that Apple holds a monopoly over the sale and distribution of iPhone apps and that its commission structure resulted in higher prices being passed on to consumers. According to the CAT's published judgment, it accepted the claimants' argument that Apple's control over app distribution meant developers had "no economically viable alternative" to the ‌App Store‌.

The tribunal also cited comments made by Steve Jobs in 2008 that Apple did not intend to profit from the store and aimed only to cover operating costs. That early statement was referenced by the claimants as evidence that Apple's current commission structure had diverged significantly from its initial framing.

The latest hearing sought to establish a methodology for calculating compensation for both developers and affected consumers. Apple used the same hearing to request permission to appeal the October ruling, which was denied. Apple is now entitled to apply directly to the Court of Appeal to challenge the refusal and continue pursuing an appeal of the main ruling.
This article, "Apple Denied Permission to Appeal UK App Store Ruling" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is Apple TV’s big-budget sci-fi epic starring Kurt Russell and more importantly, Godzilla. Now, Apple has announced that Monarch season 2 is coming soon and shared the first teaser trailer.

more…

The leaker who first revealed the name of the iPhone 16e is now saying that demand for the device has been very low. However, they say that despite this setback, Apple is for now still planning to proceed with plans for the iPhone 17e.

They also say that production of the iPhone Air has now ceased completely, following an earlier report that output levels had been slashed …

more…

1Password today announced a redesigned unlock system for Mac and Windows that allows the app to open automatically when a user unlocks their device.


The new setting lets 1Password unlock alongside the operating system when a user authenticates with Face ID, Touch ID, a PIN, or a system password. According to 1Password, this removes the repeated reauthentication many users encounter when returning to their computers after brief periods away, while still relying on the device's built-in authentication hardware to validate identity.

1Password said the feature is optional and forms part of a broader update introducing new security presets that define how frequently the app locks. The presets offer three default configurations ranging from automatic unlock with the device to more frequent password prompts. Each preset can be adjusted per device, and settings do not sync across platforms.

The update also introduces a security review prompt that explains how each preset works and, in some cases, recommends creating a recovery code. Recovery codes provide an additional fallback if users forget their password or lose access to a trusted device.

1Password said that mobile versions already support a similar device-based unlock, though the app will only reopen automatically if it was accessed within the previous 10 minutes.

The company said the new features are first rolling out to Individual and Family accounts. Business and Enterprise users will receive a separate update and no settings will change without administrator approval.
This article, "1Password Simplifies Access With New Unlock Setting" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple’s App Store commission might be under threat in multiple countries around the world, but the company has just gained a huge new source of commission thanks to a WeChat deal struck in China.

The situation arises because the way most Chinese iPhone users buy apps is very different to anywhere else in the world …

more…

Apple's entry-level iPhone 16e model is selling poorly, just like the iPhone Air, according to an Asia-based leaker.


The Weibo user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the ‌iPhone 16e‌ is not selling well and the attempt at delivering a popular, low-cost iPhone has "failed." That being said, both models are expected to see successors. The ‌iPhone‌ 17e is expected to debut in the spring of 2026, while the ‌iPhone Air‌ 2 is likely to arrive at a later date owing to a delay. Meanwhile, demand for the iPhone 17 lineup continues to surge, with production orders increasing.

The ‌iPhone 16e‌ was introduced earlier this year, offering the A18 chip, an OLED display, the C1 modem, a 48-megapixel camera, and more, for $599. There have been few reports about its sales performance until now.

On the other hand, the ‌iPhone Air‌ is widely reported to have seen low demand. All production is expected to stop by the end of this month. There were plans for a second-generation ‌iPhone Air‌ that would be released alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026, but The Information says Apple has decided to delay the fall 2026 launch.

The ‌iPhone‌ 17e is expected to feature the A19 chip and potentially the Dynamic Island. The ‌iPhone Air‌ 2 is rumored to offer an additional rear camera, a larger battery, and a vapor-chamber for cooling. Apple is seemingly hoping that these enhancements will help lift sales.
This article, "iPhone 16e Has Apparently 'Failed' Just Like iPhone Air" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple was today denied permission to appeal the result of a billion-dollar lawsuit filed by UK app developers accusing the company of abusive commission levels.

The company last month lost the case and a hearing today is deciding how the damages are calculated. If the ruling stands, it is expected to end up costing Apple anywhere between £1B and £2B ($1.3B to $2.6B) – but Apple is expected to counter this with four arguments …

more…

The iOS 26.2 developer beta released earlier today brings a few animation and interface tweaks, indicating that Apple is still working on the balance between practical usability and its original vision for Liquid Glass. Here’s what’s changed.

more…

WondLa, Apple’s animated adventure trilogy, returns on November 26 for a final run of six episodes. Watch the trailer below.

more…

Apple today provided developers with the second beta of iOS 26.2, which adds a few new features worth knowing about.

Measure App

Apple's Measure app now features a Liquid Glass design for the level, with two Liquid Glass bubbles instead of white circles.

Games App

There's now an option to sort games in the Games app Library by size, in addition to Name and Recent.

CarPlay

The CarPlay app supports disabling pinned messages in the Messages app.

Menu Animations

For pop-out menus that expand from a corner button, there's a quicker, bouncier animation that looks like the animation that Apple showed off at WWDC.

Alerts

Apple now provides more information on the Enhanced Safety Alerts added in the first beta.

Enhanced Safety Alerts can provide you safety alerts on your iPhone and Watch to notify you of an emergency event, such as an earthquake or flood. These alerts are sent over available connectivity, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and, when available, mobile data. Apple can deliver Enhanced Safety Alerts to your current region, which is determined using your device location. A region may be a country, or for some countries (such as the US), a region may be a group of states. Your Apple device can be associated with this region. Apple does not store information about your device location in a region.

Enhanced Safety Alerts are turned on by default. You can disable or re-enable Enhanced Safety Alerts by going to Settings > Notifications > Enhanced Alerts > Enhanced Safety Alerts, then tapping to turn one or more types of Enhanced Safety Alerts on or off. Enhanced Safety Alerts are delivered by Apple and will appear and sound different to a Government Alert sent by your local government.

Improve Alert Delivery uses your approximate location to improve the timeliness and reliability of Enhanced Safety Alerts. For example, Earthquake Alerts might be delivered quicker and more reliably when Improve Alert Delivery is turned on. Apple does not store your approximate location. You can enable Improve Alert Delivery in Settings > Notifications > Enhanced Alerts > Enhanced Safety Alerts > Improve Alert Delivery.
To receive Enhanced Alerts, you must have enabled Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Alerts & Shortcuts Automation.

Other Features

There are several other new features coming in iOS 26.2, such as a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen and Live Translation support for the AirPods in the European Union. More information can be found in our iOS 26.2 beta 1 guide.

Download iOS 26.2

iOS 26.2 beta 2 is available for developers right now, but a public beta is likely coming later this week. You can sign up for public beta testing by visiting Apple's beta website.

Compatibility

iOS 26.2 is available on all iPhones that support iOS 26.

Release Date

We're expecting Apple to release iOS 26.2 in December, sometime between December 9 and December 16.
This article, "Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.


‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 232 includes fixes and updates for CSS, JavaScript, Media, Rendering, SVG, Storage, Web API, and Web Inspector.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe, the newest version of macOS.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
This article, "Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 232 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Aqara today launched its latest sensor, debuting the Presence Multi-Sensor FP300. Aqara’s sensor is able to determine when someone is in the room, providing a useful way to control HomeKit-connected lights and devices.


There are dual mmWave and passive infrared sensors inside the FP300, and in our testing prior to launch, the sensors worked well to detect presence and keep lights on even when sitting still.

A wide 120-degree field of view provides coverage of most of a room depending on where the sensor is located, and Aqara added extra sensors for ambient light, humidity, and temperature. It’s handy to have extra sensors for keeping an eye on room conditions or activating scenes based on parameters like light levels.

Unlike prior Aqara sensors that detect presence, the FP300 is battery powered so it can be placed anywhere, and it’s also more affordable. At $50, it’s an easier buy for rooms where you want better control over when the lights are on and off. The sensor is small and unobtrusive with a rotatable base, so it can be placed almost anywhere. It comes with screws, adhesive and a magnet for mounting it on the wall or another surface.

Compared to the more expensive FP2 Presence Sensor from Aqara, the FP300 is not as advanced and does not include multi-person detection, sleep tracking, or fall detection capabilities.

There are plenty of sensors that can detect movement to turn on lights or activate other devices, but those mostly work by detecting movement upfront and then turning the lights off after a set period. Aqara’s Presence Sensor works much better than these static motion sensors. It keeps the lights on inside the closet for the entire duration that I’m in there before turning them off again. It has a range of almost 20 feet, so it works in most rooms.

The FP300 is able to connect to HomeKit using Matter, and it also includes Zigbee and Thread protocol support. When used in Thread mode, it can connect with Apple Home without a hub, but Zigbee mode requires an Aqara Zigbee Hub.

It supports ‌HomeKit‌ automations, so you can create actions for turning on lights or other devices when you enter the room, or use features like the ambient light detection to automate your lights when it starts to get dark.

Combining the included sensors is useful too. You can set up an automation for turning the lights on in the dark only when presence is detected, or activating the thermostat only if it’s over a certain temperature while someone is in the room. Aqara designed the sensor with AI, and it can adjust detection sensitivity to the room where it is placed.

There are two CR2450 batteries inside, which will need to be replaced approximately once every two years when it’s connected via Thread.

The Presence Sensor FP300 can be purchased from Amazon for $50 as of today.
This article, "Aqara Launches Matter-Supported FP300 Presence Sensor" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Today, 1Password announced a new “unlock with device” setting that auto-unlocks the app when you unlock your Mac. Here’s how it works.

more…

Apple continues to test the next iPhone software update with iOS 26.2 beta 2 released today. The pre-release iPhone software update includes a surprising amount of changes and refinements. Here’s everything new so far:

more…

iOS 26 brought major changes to CarPlay, including a new Liquid Glass design, widgets, Live Activities, and more. The Messages app also added new features like Tapbacks and pinned conversations.

With today’s release of iOS 26.2, Apple has added a new toggle that lets you simplify the Messages app …

more…

The second beta of macOS 26.2 introduces a new Edge Light feature that's designed for video calls on FaceTime and other video calling platforms. It adds a light border around the edges of your Mac's display, providing improved lighting. Apple says that it is meant to help you look your best on video calls.


Edge Light mimics a ring light, eliminating the need for a separate device. It can provide illumination when you're in a dark room, and customize the light to match the brightness of the ambient lighting.

The Mac's Apple Neural Engine is able to detect your face, relative size, and location in the video frame to position the light appropriately, and it will fade out to allow you to access content on your screen when needed by detecting your mouse cursor. You can adjust the color of the light using a slider that transitions between warm and cool options.

Edge Light can be accessed in the settings of video conferencing apps alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Voice Isolation. The feature is available on Macs that support Apple silicon, and it works with both webcams and external cameras that are connected.

On Macs from 2024 and later, Edge Light can turn on automatically when ambient lighting in the room drops.

Developers can try Edge Light today, and macOS Tahoe 26.2 is set to launch to the public in December.
This article, "macOS Tahoe 26.2 Gets Edge Light Feature for Video Calls" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple released iOS 26.2 beta 2 earlier today, and it continued its system-wide overhaul of the Liquid Glass visual concept with a nice interface update to the Level tool inside the Measure app. Here’s what it looks like.

more…

iOS 26.2 is coming next month, and developer beta 2 just arrived today, highlighting three new improvements for Apple’s Games app.

more…

Apple has released a new wave of beta updates, with developer beta 2 rolling out for tvOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, visionOS 26.2, and more.

more…