Despite being over two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. Rumors suggest AirPods Pro 3 could arrive as soon as September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 lineup, giving prospective AirPods buyers a dilemma: snap up the proven AirPods Pro 2 at today's prices, or hold off for the next‑generation model that could raise the bar once again?


Apart from their sonic strengths, the enduring popularity of AirPods Pro 2 owes much to Apple's ongoing feature rollouts. iOS 17 (2023) introduced Adaptive Audio, mute controls, and faster device switching. iOS 18 (2024) followed up with head‑gesture Siri commands, Voice Isolation, finer Adaptive Audio sliders, and a Personalized Spatial Audio mode for gamers. Apple then used iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 to add FDA‑authorized hearing‑aid functionality in supported regions, letting AirPods Pro 2 double as over‑the‑counter hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss.

2025 AirPods Pro: What the Rumors Say

Design and Case Tweaks

Every credible report agrees that AirPods Pro 3 will inherit today's software feature set, but hardware refinements are also expected. Multiple supply‑chain sources point to a refreshed look for both the buds and the case, with rumors of a slimmer form factor, a concealed status LED, and a front‑facing capacitive pairing button – an approach taken for Apple's fourth‑generation AirPods.

Audio Processor and ANC Upgrades

Under the hood, Apple is said to be testing a faster audio chip that drives "much better" Active Noise Cancellation than the already‑impressive AirPods Pro 2 manage. That bump will be crucial if Apple hopes to stay ahead of rivals like Sony's WF‑1000XM5 and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra.

Health Sensors: Heart‑Rate Monitoring

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is developing in‑ear heart‑rate tracking for AirPods Pro 3. The company's recent Powerbeats Pro 2 already capture heart data during workouts but cannot stream music to gym equipment simultaneously. Apple will need to nail seamless audio playback alongside biometric reporting if AirPods Pro 3 are to satisfy fitness‑focused users.

In‑Ear Temperature Detection

Apple is also researching ear‑canal temperature sensing, which – if it ships – could offer faster, more reliable body‑temperature readings than the skin‑temperature estimates produced by Apple Watch Series 8 and later. Whether the sensor will be production‑ready in time for a 2025 release remains unclear.

On‑Device Live Translation

One rumor claims AirPods Pro 3 will partner with the iPhone's Translate app to deliver real‑time conversation translation directly through the earbuds. Imagine an English speaker hearing an instant English rendition of a Spanish counterpart's words (and vice versa) without fumbling with handheld devices. Implementation details are still thin, but the idea fits in with Apple's broader AI push.

iOS 26 Feature Updates

Apple's upcoming iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe updates will add several new features to AirPods via a firmware update, including the auto-pausing audio when you fall asleep, the ability to use AirPods as a camera remote, an option to keep audio in your AirPods when your iPhone connected to other playback devices (like car stereos), and improved call quality.

Looking Ahead

Longer‑term, analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo believes Apple is prototyping AirPods with infrared cameras to enhance spatial‑audio experiences, while Gurman has heard of small cameras being explored for AI‑driven features. The infrared cameras could potentially enable "in-air gesture control" as well, allowing for device interaction with hand movements. Both projects are said to be high priority inside Apple, but neither is likely to debut before 2026.

AirPods 4 Hints

The fourth‑generation AirPods offer useful clues to Apple's design cues for AirPods Pro 3. Apple has replaced the rear setup button with a hidden capacitive sensor under the status light on the case front, and the LED itself now disappears when inactive. These stealth touches make for Apple's smallest and lightest charging case yet, and it is hard to imagine the company not extending them to the Pro line.

Release Date

While there are widespread expectations for a 2025 launch, there have been some conflicting reports more recently. Analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong suggests Apple may not launch the AirPods Pro 3 until 2026, while fellow analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also hinted at potential delays.

That said, evidence continues to mount for a 2025 release, including recent Apple beta software updates that leaked code hinting at AirPods Pro 3 happening soon. iOS 26 code includes a specific mention of "AirPods Pro 3" by name hidden in audio interface elements.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who initially reported on the 2025 timeline, has said nothing to suggest that his original report is outdated or that delays have occurred. Earlier this year, he said the updated earbuds are "months away."

Historically, Apple has launched significant AirPods updates alongside new iPhones, so an early September event, likely shared with the upcoming iPhone 17 series, remains the most plausible window. Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely dates.

Summing Up

With AirPods Pro 3 potentially arriving soon, should you wait or pick up an existing model? AirPods 4 put Active Noise Cancellation within reach at $179, while AirPods Pro 2 continue to satisfy with top‑tier sound, proven ANC, and hearing‑aid mode. But if heart‑rate tracking, live translation, and even better ANC sound appealing, AirPods Pro 3 promise the biggest leap since the original Pros, and hopefully without raising the $249 price tag.
This article, "AirPods Pro 3 Could Be Just Weeks Away – Here's What We Know" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Ahead of iOS 26 launching this fall, Apple Music for Android is beta testing version 5.0.0 with new features and design tweaks.

more…

Heads-up if your Mac is still running macOS 11 Big Sur: Valve has announced that, in a few weeks, the Steam Client will stop running on these Macs due to a Chromium compatibility limitation. Here are the details.

more…

Apple is expanding its growing lineup of original podcasts with Unicorn Girl, a new nine-part investigative series debuting this month. Here are the details.

more…

David Pogue’s been covering technology (and Apple) for longer than many 9to5Mac readers have been alive. And to celebrate Apple’s upcoming 50th anniversary next April, the “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent is where he promises stories, photos, and “fresh interviews” that will help tell the story of how 1976 Apple became today’s Apple.

more…

The most notable change to iOS 26 is the Liquid Glass design overhaul, which is the first major iOS design update since Apple rolled out iOS 7 back in 2013. There are new features in ‌iOS 26‌, of course, but added functionality has definitely been sidelined in favor of the design refresh.


We've compiled a walkthrough of Liquid Glass, so you know what to expect when you install ‌iOS 26‌. A lot of what's here is also applicable to iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe too.

Keep in mind that Apple is still refining Liquid Glass and some of the design could see further changes, but we'll update this guide with each revision.

Overview

Liquid Glass is translucent, and it's meant to behave similarly to real glass. It allows light and color to filter through, so you'll see bits of the background behind buttons, menus, and other interface elements.


Light is subtly reflected off of Liquid Glass buttons, which is noticeable when you move your iPhone. Apple says that Liquid Glass is designed to use real-time rendering to dynamically react to movement with reflective highlights.

App Icons

App icons are meant to look like layered glass, giving them a subtle depth. Apps like Messages, Weather, Photos, and Maps have a top layer icon design over a bottom color, for example, so you can see a hint of a 3D look.


Apple designed icons to have the same general colors as iOS 18, but there is an option to turn on an all-glass icon look by choosing the "Clear" option in the Home Screen customization interface.

Lock Screen

Liquid Glass is unmistakable from the moment you pick up an ‌iPhone‌ running ‌iOS 26‌. The Lock Screen features Liquid Glass Control buttons (which are customizable like before), an option for a Liquid Glass design for the clock, and translucent notifications that use a more frosted variant of Liquid Glass.

• iOS 26: New Lock Screen Features

The Clock is particularly interesting, because Apple designed it to merge more seamlessly with your wallpaper. If you use a photo wallpaper, the time readout will change in size to fit inside the empty space on the display.


Widgets that are on the Lock Screen also have a Liquid Glass design, with widgets, the Control Center buttons and the time reflecting the light with the movement of your ‌iPhone‌.

Home Screen

App icons have the aforementioned layered look with the option for entirely clear icons, and widgets have the same design. When you turn on the clear icon option, widgets also adopt a much more translucent Liquid Glass design.


The dock is transparent and blends into the background behind it, and the same is true of the search interface. App folders have a soft, frosted Liquid Glass design that changes tint based on your wallpaper. The App Library has a similar look.


As you tilt and move your ‌iPhone‌, you can see subtle glints of light reflecting off of the app icons, dock, folders, and search bar.

iOS 26: What's Changed With the iPhone's Home Screen

Control Center

When Apple released the first beta of ‌iOS 26‌, Control Center was so translucent it was almost unreadable. Apple made the Control Center buttons darker and more opaque, improving readability.


Control Center buttons now have a frosted glass look, but you can still see hints of what's in the background behind them.

Apps

In apps, Liquid Glass is noticeable in menu bars, navigation bars, and buttons. Most of Apple's apps have received a Liquid Glass update, and you'll see Liquid Glass almost anywhere there's a button, bar, or menu. Apple wanted navigation bars and menus to appear to be floating over the content in the app, and there is a distinctive layered look to navigation elements.


Navigation bars in apps are translucent and you can see some of the app's background behind them, especially when scrolling. Interface elements tend to fade more into the background to put the focus on content. Liquid Glass is accompanied by design changes in the form of pop out menus, rounded button designs, and disappearing navigation bars in select apps, with some of the more notable changes listed below.

• Safari - Safari's Tab Bar uses Liquid Glass, and there's also a new Compact option. When you scroll, the Tab Bar collapses down, and you'll only see the website address. Scrolling back up brings it back. The interface for swapping between tab groups has changed, and all buttons also use Liquid Glass.


• Photos - ‌Photos‌ no longer has a unified design, and there are separate Library and Collection tabs, along with a dedicated search button. Navigation bars disappear as you browse through your images, and all buttons have a rounded look.


• Camera - The Camera app features one of the most notable design updates. Navigation has been distilled down into just a Video and a Photo button, though you can swipe to get to other modes. Tapping on a button displays pop out menu with a Liquid Glass design.


• Messages - Messages looks largely the same, but buttons have a frosted glass look and the keyboard's edges are rounded. Buttons and bars have the same rounded look as the rest of ‌iOS 26‌.


• Maps - Maps also looks similar to the ‌iOS 18‌ version of the app, but with more rounded interface elements and slightly more translucency.


• App Store - The App Store app has a slimmed down navigation bar at the bottom with a frosted glass look. It can be almost translucent on some darker backgrounds.


• Apple Music - Apple Music has the same translucent navigation bar as the ‌App Store‌, with a design that shows the background through the bar.


• Phone - The Phone app has an opt-in unified view with Liquid Glass-style buttons.


• Weather - There's no more bottom bar in the Weather app, and instead, there are Liquid Glass buttons for changing locations and accessing settings.

Mail, Notes, Reminders, Health, News, and other Apple apps all have similar changes, primarily in the form of buttons that are slimmed down, rounder, and slightly more translucent.


Functionally, it's only the Camera app, the ‌Photos‌ app, and the Phone app (if using the unified view) that have significant navigation changes. For the most part, app buttons are in the same place and work in the same way, even though they have a different look.

How Liquid Glass Has Evolved

In the first developer beta, Liquid Glass had a heavy emphasis on translucency. So much so that text in areas like the Notification Center and the Control Center could be difficult to read.



Almost all of the interface was transparent, with color showing through behind everything. With white text and Apple having little to no control over the background colors of wallpapers and content, usability was a problem.

In the second developer beta that came out on June 23, Apple addressed the translucency of the Control Center, which was one of the areas that received heavy initial criticism. Apple increased the opacity of the buttons in the Control Center, and further blurred the background. Translucency for interface elements on the Lock Screen and the ‌Home Screen‌ also saw minor tweaks.

Apple made further changes in the third developer beta, rolling back some of the Liquid Glass translucency in app menu bars and buttons.





In the fourth beta, some of the translucency was reintroduced, and now we have a design that's not quite as transparent as the Liquid Glass that was demonstrated at WWDC, but that isn't as opaque as what we had in the third beta.





With every beta update, there have been complaints from people who think there's too much transparency, and those who want more transparency. Apple is still working to find a balance, and we could see further changes in the future.

Criticism

People have strong opinions about Liquid Glass. Some love the novelty of a fresh look, and others think that it's a usability nightmare that's almost unreadable in some situations.

Apple so far hasn't managed to strike enough of a balance to satisfy everyone, and so far, it doesn't look like the company plans to compromise with a slider for customizability.

Do you like the Liquid Glass design, or do you want to see Apple scrap it? Let us know in the comments.

iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe

The Liquid Glass design extends to ‌iPadOS 26‌, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26, with all of the updates adopting similar translucency for various interface elements. ‌iPadOS 26‌ is the closest to ‌iOS 26‌, featuring the same general design across the operating system and in Apple apps.


Apple wanted to improve design cohesiveness for its software across different devices, so you'll see Liquid Glass on all of your Apple products when you update to the latest operating systems in the fall.

Read More

For more on the features that are included in ‌iOS 26‌, check out our iOS 26 roundup.
This article, "iOS 26: Everything You Need to Know About the Liquid Glass Redesign" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Perplexity has long been accused of deliberately bypassing anti-scraping measures to retrieve web content. While the company has historically dismissed these accusations as disingenuous or misunderstandings, a new report shows that not only is the practice still happening, but it may actually be getting worse.

more…

OpenAI is making several changes to the way that ChatGPT works, with the aim of helping people use the chatbot in a healthier way.


Starting today, ChatGPT will provide users with "gentle reminders" about how long they've been using the service, with suggestions for breaks. OpenAI says that it isn't measuring success by time spent on ChatGPT, but by ensuring that people leave the product after finishing what they came for.

We build ChatGPT to help you thrive in all the ways you want. To make progress, learn something new, or solve a problem -- and then get back to your life. Our goal isn't to hold your attention, but to help you use it well.

OpenAI is working to improve ChatGPT's responses to certain kinds of questions. Rather than providing a direct answer to a high-stakes, sensitive question, ChatGPT should help users weigh pros and cons and think it through. OpenAI is updating ChatGPT's behavior for important personal decisions soon, so users will see more helpful responses for questions like "Should I break up with my boyfriend?"


OpenAI is still improving its models to better detect signs of mental or emotional distress, to ensure that ChatGPT does not feed into signs of delusion or emotional dependency and can direct users to helpful, evidence-based resources.

The company says that it has worked with more than 90 physicians across 30 countries to build custom rubrics for complex, multi-turn conversations. Human-computer interaction researchers have been recruited to give feedback on how ChatGPT has identified concerning behaviors and to stress-test product safeguards, plus OpenAI is putting together an advisory group of experts in mental health, youth development, and human-computer interaction.
This article, "OpenAI Adds Break Reminders and Mental Health Features to ChatGPT" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple CEO Tim Cook has long been skilled at talking up the company’s products. But in new remarks made just days ago, Cook hinted that he’s never been as excited about Apple’s product roadmap as now.

more…

Apple may say that most iPhones sold in the U.S. are now assembled in India, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Apple has reduced its reliance on China. Patrick McGee, who literally wrote the book on , explains.

more…

Castro, the inbox and queue-based podcast app for iPhone, has just launched its first ever iPad app. Here are the details.

more…

Every month, JustWatch reveals the most-watched shows and movies among its users worldwide, which can offer a glimpse into what the wider audience is into. Here’s what topped the charts on Apple TV+ in July.

more…

It’s going to be a big fall for Apple, with 15+ new products expected—including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. But what about Apple’s flagship Pro models? Here are seven new features coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

more…

Amid ongoing uncertainty around when AirPods Pro 3 might finally arrive, one thing is very clear: AirPods Pro 2 just keep getting better. Here’s how the trend of AirPods Pro 2 improvements will continue in iOS 26.

more…

This is one of the few I’ve found that supports six cards and still strikes a nice balance between slim and functional. It has a kickstand. It has strong magnets. It also doesn’t feel like I’ve strapped a brack to the back of my iPhone either.

more…

Spotify today said that it is raising prices for Premium subscriptions in multiple countries across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region.


Spotify is sending out emails to customers who will see their subscription prices go up.

A sample email suggests that prices in an unnamed European country are increasing by a euro, from €10.99 to €11.99. Price hikes will vary by location, and Spotify users can see the new pricing for their country by visiting the Spotify website.

Prices are not going up in all markets at this time including the United States. In the U.S., a Premium individual subscription continues to be priced at $11.99 per month.

Spotify says prices are increasing so that it can "continue to innovate" on product offerings and features and "bring users the best experience."
This article, "Spotify Raising Prices in Multiple Countries" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

OpenAI is updating how ChatGPT works to encourage healthier use and avoid unintended consequences. One change that OpenAI says ChatGPT users will see “starting today” is a technique used by other digital services.

more…

Google today used Apple's Siri failure to lure customers to the upcoming Pixel 10 series, sharing an ad that calls out the delayed Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ functionality.


With the spot, Google is shaming Apple for the misstep, suggesting Apple users should purchase a Pixel 10 smartphone instead.

If you buy a new phone because of a feature that's coming soon...

But it's been coming soon for a full year...

You could change your definition of soon. Or you could just change your phone.

At WWDC 2024, Apple showed off personalized ‌Siri‌ features powered by ‌Apple Intelligence‌. When the iPhone 16 models launched, Apple used those ‌Siri‌ features to promote the new smartphones, and listed the ‌Siri‌ functionality as coming soon.

Apple was not able to deliver personalized ‌Siri‌ functionality as planned, and earlier this year said that it would be delayed until 2026. Apple is now on track to release ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ in spring 2026, a year after it was supposed to launch. The delay has led to upset customers and even class action lawsuits for false advertising.

Google plans to unveil its new Pixel 10 smartphones later this month.
This article, "Google Makes Fun of Apple Intelligence Siri Delay in Ad Promoting Pixel 10" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 26, currently in beta, gives you two distinct ways to add websites to your iPhone's Home screen – as web apps or traditional bookmarks. They might look similar at first glance, but choosing the right option can dramatically improve how you access your favorite sites.

Understanding the Difference

When you add a website to your Home screen via Safari's "Add to Home Screen" option, iOS 26 automatically detects whether the site supports progressive web app (PWA) functionality. Web apps run almost like native apps, with features like offline access, push notifications, and a streamlined interface without Safari's address bar. In contrast, traditional bookmarks simply open the website in Safari when tapped.

This choice matters more than you might think. Web apps can provide a faster, more app-like experience, whereas bookmarks work better for informational sites you visit only occasionally.

Add a Web App or Bookmark to Home Screen

If a website supports PWA functionality, iOS 26 will automatically offer the web app option when you try to add it to your Home screen.

1. Open Safari and navigate to the website you want to add.


2. Tap the three dots to the right of Safari's address bar, then tap Share in the pop-up menu.
   
   
3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.


4. If the site supports web apps, you'll see the Open as Web App toggle in the dialog – switch it off if you want a bookmark instead.


5. Customize the app name if desired, then tap Add.
   
   

Web apps appear on your Home screen with a dedicated icon, and tapping it will launch the site in its own window without Safari's browser interface. Bookmarks display with a generic website icon or the site's favicon, and tapping them opens the page in Safari.

Remove Bookmark or Web App From Home Screen

Both web apps and bookmarks can be deleted from the Home screen, much like any other app. To remove either kind, long-press the icon on your home screen, then tap Delete Bookmark (for some reason iOS doesn't differentiate the kind in this menu).

iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are set for a general release in September 2025.
This article, "iOS 26: Add Web App or Bookmark to iPhone Home Screen" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

With a little over two weeks until the announcement, a new Pixel 10 “Soon” teaser from Google heavily needles how Apple hasn’t been able to ship the Siri AI upgrades for the iPhone 16. 

more…

Apple’s Siri-related news hasn’t been great so far this year, but the company sounds confident it can turn things around. Here’s the Siri update that software head Craig Federighi reportedly shared in Apple’s all-hands meeting.

more…

Five years ago, Apple reportedly considered acquiring podcast studio Wondery for around $400 million. At the time, Spotify and other companies were spending millions on putting podcasts behind paywalls to boost their businesses and steal mindshare from Apple.

more…

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is starting off with the most affordable current-generation AirPods 4 back down at $99 alongside some exclusive iPad deals for 9to5 readers – 13-inch M2 iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cell at $299 off and a giant $500+ off Apple’s 1TB M4 iPad Pro. We also have the return of the 32GB M2 Max Mac Studio at $900 off the original price and a notable discount on the 24GB M3 MacBook Air at $450 off the list price – M4 models are still starting from $799 as well. Everything else awaits below. 

more…

Missing the familiar Safari design from iOS 18? In iOS 26, currently in beta, Apple has learned from past criticism and made it easy to ditch the new Compact layout in favor of the classic tab layouts you may well prefer.


iOS 26 introduces a new "Compact" Safari design as the default, but Apple has included two additional layout options that essentially restore the iOS 18 experience. Here's how to get your old Safari back in just a few taps.

How to Switch to the iOS 18 Layouts

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.


2. Scroll down and tap Apps, then locate and tap Safari in the alphabetical list.


3. Scroll down to the "Tabs" section.


4. Select either Bottom or Top instead of Compact.

Both the Bottom and Top options function exactly like the Safari tab bar layouts from iOS 18, so you don't need to relearn how to navigate between tabs or access your bookmarks.

What's the Difference?

• Compact Layout (Default): Hides the share, bookmark, and tab settings behind a three-dot button on the right side of the URL bar. It saves screen space but requires an extra tap to access frequently used features.


• Bottom Layout: Places all Safari controls at the bottom of the screen, making them easily reachable with your thumb during one-handed use.


• Top Layout: Keeps the traditional desktop-style layout with controls at the top of the browser.

All three options now feature Apple's new Liquid Glass translucent design that blends the URL bar and buttons into the background of whatever webpage you're viewing. The translucent effect works in both Light and Dark Mode, and auto-adapts to match the webpage's color scheme.

Apple Learned From Its Mistake

This isn't the first time Apple has rethought Safari's design after user feedback. During iOS 15's beta testing, Apple initially changed Safari's design without providing layout alternatives and received full-throated negative feedback in return. It ultimately added options to revert to the original design. This time, Apple has gotten ahead of potential complaints by building choice directly into iOS 26, which will see a general release in September 2025.
This article, "iOS 26: Restore Safari's Old Layout From iOS 18" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums