Apple surprised us all on Tuesday with an all new subscription offering for creative professionals, with the launch of Apple Creator Studio. In all honesty, it seems like a great value. After reading through all of the details though, I can already think of some easy improvements Apple could make.

more…

I have been an Apple Watch Ultra user since its release in September 2022. Over the years, I have owned the regular Ultra and currently own the Ultra 2 in Black Titanium, and I have worn it nearly every single day. I wanted the Ultra for the little things: a better battery, a larger display, and better build materials. I just wanted to see what Apple could do with its “best” Apple Watch. After using it for nearly four years, I can confidently say that this is the best Apple Watch Apple has ever made, but it’s also an Apple Watch that I just don’t need. Let me explain.

more…

Amazon is discounting a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini this weekend, starting at $499.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $129 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.

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 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid second-best price. You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $689.00, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $889.99, down from $999.00.






Apple last updated the Mac mini in late 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. 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.

---

This article, "Apple's M4 Mac Mini Hits $499 Low Price on Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

We have our first Apple product announcement of 2026, and it's a software subscription known as Apple Creator Studio featuring Apple's video, audio, and image editing apps, as well as some AI-powered features and premium content for iWork apps and Freeform.


In other news this week, Apple made it official that next-generation Siri will leverage Google Gemini, while we got the second round of betas for iOS 26.3 and other updates, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year

Apple this week introduced a new Apple Creator Studio bundle that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year.


Apps in the bundle include Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro for both Mac and iPad, plus Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on Mac. It also includes some premium content and features for Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Freeform.

As noted, Pixelmator Pro for iPad is included in Apple Creator Studio, and that's a new app making its way from the Mac to a tablet-optimized experience. The existing basic Pixelmator app for iPhone and iPad will, however, no longer be updated.

Apple will continue to offer standalone versions of its pro apps alongside the Creator Studio subscription option, but some content and perhaps some new features may not come to the standalone versions, though they will continue to be updated and receive at least some new features.

Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year

Apple and Google this week confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year. "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," the statement said.


It appears the partnership, which is reportedly worth billions of dollars, will extend beyond next-generation Siri, with the companies noting the models will "help power future Apple Intelligence features" including Siri.

Apple Is Expected to Launch These Four MacBooks in 2026

2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop.


Check out our overview of everything we might see in the MacBook lineup this year, with some speculating we could see the first of the releases before the end of this month.

Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far

Following a holiday break, Apple this week seeded a second round of betas for iOS 26.3 and related operating system updates. Among the most notable changes in the latest iOS 26.3 is new references to end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages.


Support for E2EE on RCS would seemingly be part of a larger upgrade to RCS messaging on Apple platforms that would bring the texting experience closer to that of iMessage with several new features.

Beyond potential RCS changes, be sure to check out our full list of everything new in iOS 26.3 so far. We're expecting a public release around the end of this month.

Verizon Goes Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage

Verizon experienced a major outage across the U.S. on Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There were also numerous complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms.


The outage lasted for many hours, with Verizon issuing an apology as service started to come back online. Affected customers can redeem a $20 credit as part of the apology.

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices.


In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous rumors, the leaker claimed that both of the models will have a breakthrough new feature: under-screen Face ID.

As for the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2, the leaker expects those devices to have a Dynamic Island, and the same 6.3-inch and 6.5-inch display sizes as the equivalent previous-generation models, respectively.

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, "Top Stories: Apple Creator Studio, Google Gemini-Powered Siri, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

If you have managed Macs with remote work for any length of time, you know the specific sense of issue that comes with having to restart. You have a long wait for the screen-sharing part to come back online. The problem isn’t the network. The problem boils down to FileVault. When a modern Mac reboots, it shows a pre-boot macOS login screen that is not yet fully connected to the network or has not yet loaded the full OS. It is encrypted, secure, and completely unreachable until someone physically types a password. For IT folks managing a fleet of devices in various locations, this is a nightmare. Twocanoes Software has a tool called Password Utility that finally fixes this annoyance, and for $10 a year, it belongs on every Apple Silicon Mac you manage remotely. I found this tool because I recently had this issue with a Mac I manage so I went searching for a solution.

more…

Welcome to 9to5Mac’s top stories of the week, where we recap the biggest news in the Apple world every Saturday. This week, we have Apple’s new Creator Studio subscription, Apple’s deal with Google for Gemini, and iPhone Fold specs. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories.

more…

Apple recently announced that its environmental chief Lisa Jackson would be retiring this month, and today she was removed from the company's leadership page.


Since 2013, Jackson served as Apple's Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In this role, she oversaw Apple's renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. Apple aims to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030.

Jackson also led Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, and she was responsible for the company's worldwide Government Affairs team.

"I am deeply appreciative of Lisa's contributions," said Cook. "She has been instrumental in helping us reduce our global greenhouse emissions by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels. She has also been a critical strategic partner in engaging governments around the world, advocating for the best interests of our users on a myriad of topics, as well as advancing our values, from education and accessibility to privacy and security."

Prior to Apple, Jackson served as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, during President Barack Obama's first term.

Following Jackson's retirement, Apple said that its Environment and Social Initiatives teams would report to the company's operations chief Sabih Khan, while oversight of the Government Affairs team is transitioning to Apple's general counsel.
This article, "Apple's Environmental Chief Lisa Jackson Retiring After 13 Years" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes.


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest.

A new iPad Air is expected to be released this year, but Gurman said it will have an LCD display. He expects a subsequent iPad Air model to have an OLED display, suggesting that the device will not adopt the technology until at least 2027.

Last month, the South Korean publication The Elec reported that Apple is planning to release a 24-inch iMac with an OLED display in 2027 or 2028.

All in all, here is when each device is expected to get an OLED display:

• iPad mini: 2026


• MacBook Pro: Late 2026 or 2027


• iPad Air: 2027


• iMac: 2027 or 2028


• MacBook Air: 2028

OLED displays have better overall image quality compared to LCD displays, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks.

All of the new iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro models that Apple sells today already have OLED displays, while the Apple Vision Pro has micro-OLED displays.
This article, "These 5 Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

With a new tool called Mobile Apps by Replit, users can describe their idea, let Replit do its thing, and then scan a QR code to test the app on their iPhones. Here are the details.

more…

Apple celebrated today the reopening of its Sainte-Catherine store, where it more than doubled its footprint after being relocated to a revived historic building in downtown Montreal. Here’s a closer look.

more…

Apple is gearing up for one of the most anticipated halftime performances in a while, for a wide variety of reasons. Watch the trailer below.

more…

Apple and New Jersey consumer protection officials have settled a state investigation that found repeated pricing and refund policy violations in Apple stores. Here are the details.

more…

Apple's Sainte-Catherine store in Montréal, Canada has a new home at the northeast corner of Rue Saint-Catherine and Rue de la Montagne. The location officially opened to the public today, and the first people who visited received a complimentary tote bag and toque (the Canadian term for what Americans call a beanie), the latter of which will come in handy given Montréal's temperature is currently hovering around -15ºC (5ºF).


The store spans the first floor of a historic building that was extensively renovated for Apple. The second and third floors are not accessible to customers.

The new space is more than double the size of Apple's original location on Rue Saint-Catherine, which is now permanently closed. There are side-by-side counters for the Genius Bar and Apple Pickup, where customers can receive technical support and collect items they ordered through Apple's online store, respectively.


The interior design of the store is familiar, but there are a few unique elements, including the entrance and a curved wood ceiling. Apple says the store's façade blends historic Saint-Marc stone from Québec with local granite, while local copper artisans extensively restored the cornice that tops the building.

To celebrate the store, Apple shared a custom Mac and iPhone wallpaper on its website.

At the store, customers who make a purchase can receive a complimentary Apple Store shopping bag with an illustration by Montréal-based artist Catherine Potvin this Saturday, January 17, between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time.

Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien attended the grand opening.
This article, "All-New Apple Store Now Open in Downtown Montréal" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is testing a new design for App Store search ads on iPhone. Some users on iOS 26.3 are noticing that the blue background around sponsored results is no longer shown, blurring the line between what paid ad results look like and the real search results that follow.

This means the only differentiator between organic results and the promoted ad is the presence of the small ‘Ad’ banner next to the app icon. Right now, it appears to be in some kind of A/B test phase.

more…

The VSCO app is adding yet another AI-based feature to help photographers with their workflows: prompt-based image editing. Here’s how it works.

more…

In September, Apple and the NFL announced that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday, February 8. The performance will take place at Levi's Stadium, in Santa Clara, California.


Super Bowl LX will air on NBC and stream on Peacock and NFL+, with live coverage set to start at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Bad Bunny's performance will likely begin around 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, depending on how the game progresses.

Apple Music today shared the official trailer for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show:


Bad Bunny is one of the biggest Latin music artists of all time, with many chart-topping hits. He was named Apple Music's Artist of the Year for 2022.

Apple Music has sponsored the Super Bowl Halftime Show since 2022, with previous performers including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and others.
This article, "2026 Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show: Watch the Trailer Now" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

After a tumultuous relationship with Goldman Sachs, Apple reached a deal with JPMorgan Chase to take over Apple Card.

I have a lot of questions about what this means for Apple Card. I’ve laid some of them out below so we can speculate together…

more…

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year.

more…

OpenAI today announced that its lower-priced ChatGPT Go subscription tier is now available worldwide, with U.S. pricing set at $8 per month.


ChatGPT Go provides expanded access to ChatGPT's latest model, GPT‑5.2 Instant, with 10× more messages, file uploads, and image creation allowed compared to the free tier. ChatGPT Go also offers longer memory than the free tier, so that ChatGPT can remember more information about you for a longer period.

ChatGPT now offers three subscription tiers worldwide:

• ChatGPT Go: $8/month


• ChatGPT Plus: $20/month


• ChatGPT Pro: $200/month

ChatGPT's more advanced GPT‑5.2 Thinking model still requires ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro, for tasks that require deeper reasoning.

ChatGPT Go was already available in India and select other countries.

OpenAI also announced that it plans to begin testing ads in both the free and ChatGPT Go tiers with logged-in adult users in the U.S. in the coming weeks. ChatGPT Plus and Pro will remain ad-free, as will ChatGPT Business and ChatGPT Enterprise.

To start, OpenAI plans to test ads at the bottom of answers in ChatGPT when there is a relevant sponsored product or service based on the current conversation. Ads will be clearly labeled and separated from the answer. Users will be able to learn more about why they are seeing a particular ad, and any ad can be dismissed.


OpenAI said ads will not influence the organic answers that ChatGPT gives users, and it ensured that conversations with ChatGPT will be kept private from advertisers, and that it will never sell user data to advertisers. OpenAI also promised there will always be at least one paid ChatGPT subscription tier available that is ad-free.

Ads are not eligible to appear in ChatGPT conversations involving sensitive or regulated topics like health, mental health, or politics, according to OpenAI.

"Ads support our commitment to making AI accessible to everyone by helping us keep ChatGPT available at free and affordable price points," said OpenAI.

"We'll learn from feedback and refine how ads show up over time, but our commitment to putting users first and maintaining trust won't change," it added.
This article, "ChatGPT Introduces Lower-Priced Subscription Tier, Ads Coming Soon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

OpenAI has announced several important changes to ChatGPT. First, the company says it is rolling out its more affordable ChatGPT Go plan in the United States for $8 per month. OpenAI also confirmed it will soon start testing ads in ChatGPT …

more…

On this year's first episode of The MacRumors Show, we take a look at CES 2026, Apple Creator Studio, and the confirmation that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri.


Following ‌CES 2026‌, we talk through this year's tech showcase, which saw major announcements related to robotics, AI, and display technology, as well as plenty of new Apple accessories. We discuss some of our favorite products highlighted at the event, such as Strada and the Clicks Power Keyboard.

Apple this week announced a new bundle called "Apple Creator Studio" that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Six apps are included with the subscription:

• Final Cut Pro on the Mac and iPad


• Logic Pro on the Mac and ‌iPad‌


• Pixelmator Pro on the Mac and ‌iPad‌


• Motion on the Mac


• Compressor on the Mac


• MainStage on the Mac

For college students, Apple Creator Studio costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. If you set up Family Sharing, you can share an Apple Creator Studio subscription with up to five other family members with a linked Apple Account for free.

Pixelmator Pro was previously only available on the Mac, but it is now coming to the iPad. Apple Creator Studio subscribers will receive access to exclusive AI features and premium content across not only the Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro apps, but also the iWork apps Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, and the Freeform app later this year.

Apple Creator Studio will be available through the App Store starting on Wednesday, January 28. Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage will each remain available for one-time purchase, and free versions of the Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and Freeform apps will continue to exist, but only Apple Creator Studio subscribers will receive access to some of the premium new AI features and content.

In other news, Apple this week released a statement confirming that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of ‌Siri‌ that is slated to launch later this year, as was widely rumored. After a considerable delay, the new capabilities will deliver better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls.

Apple's decision to lean on Google's artificial intelligence technology should result in the revamped ‌Siri‌ being more capable and advanced than it otherwise would have been, as Gemini's large language model is significantly larger than Apple's own model. Apple and Google added that Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features.

The next-generation version of ‌Siri‌ is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, which will likely be officially released to the public in March or April.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about all of Apple's major announcements and new products from 2025.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple Creator Studio and Gemini-Powered Siri" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple increasingly has to compete with other companies for chips made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), as surging demand for artificial intelligence reshapes capacity and customer priority.


According to a detailed report published by semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan on his blog Culpium, Apple is no longer guaranteed preferential access to leading-edge manufacturing capacity at TSMC, marking a notable change after more than a decade in which Apple's chips were central to the foundry's expansion strategy. Apple is now competing directly with AI-focused customers such as Nvidia and AMD for supply, particularly at the most advanced process nodes.

AI accelerators consume substantially more wafer area per unit than smartphone system-on-chips, meaning that even a smaller number of AI customers can absorb a disproportionate share of advanced manufacturing output. As a result, Apple's chip designs are no longer automatically prioritized across TSMC's two dozen fabrication plants.

Nvidia likely surpassed Apple as TSMC's largest customer by revenue in at least one or two quarters in 2025, but exact customer rankings are unknown. Apple ceased to be the primary driver of TSMC's revenue growth about five years ago.

The report suggests that Apple may face higher silicon costs for future chip generations as it competes with AI customers willing to pay premiums for priority access. While Apple is unlikely to be unable to ship products due to insufficient wafers, sustained pricing pressure with advanced nodes could influence product margins or pricing strategies over the next several years.
This article, "Apple Now Facing Unprecedented Competition for Chip Supply" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Last year, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are expected to be added to the iPhone with iOS 26.4 in March or April.


Here are nine of the new emoji:

• Trombone


• Treasure Chest


• Distorted Face


• Hairy Creature (aka Bigfoot or Sasquatch)


• Fight Cloud


• Apple Core


• Orca


• Ballet Dancers


• Landslide

Notably, Distorted Face is a popular emoji in Discord servers. It is essentially a distorted version of the embarassed face emoji.


Apple most recently added new emoji to the iPhone with iOS 18.4, an update that came out in March last year. iOS 17.4, iOS 16.4, and iOS 15.4 also introduced new emoji over the years, so the timing has become predictable by this point.

On the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, there is an Apple Intelligence feature called Genmoji that allows you to create your own emoji, or combine existing ones.

The new emoji listed above would be added directly to the iPhone's emoji keyboard.
This article, "iOS 26.4 Will Add These 9 New Emoji to Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Our Friday edition 9to5Toys Lunch Break is ready and waiting below starting off with a giant $699 price drop on this M4 iPad Pro model over at Amazon. We have also highlighted up to $200 in savings on Apple’s most affordable current-generation Mac releases for folks looking towards a less pricey upgrade for 2026 starting at $499. From there, the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 with Milanese Loop is live with hundreds in savings, AirPods Max is nearly $100 off, select Apple Studio Displays are up to $237 off, we have loads of charging gear deals, and more waiting below. 

more…