Apple will introduce four new iPhones next week, and the standard iPhone 17 will arguably be the least interesting of the bunch. It's not going to get the super slim design like the iPhone 17 Air, nor will it have the upgraded camera setup like the 17 Pro. There are still a handful of features to look forward to, though, which we've outlined below.


This guide is limited to the standard ‌iPhone 17‌, which will be Apple's most affordable ‌iPhone 17‌ model. We've done similar rumor roundups for the iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 Pro if you want to check those out.

Size and Design

There are usually two standard ‌iPhone 17‌ models, but this year, we're limited to one. Apple is eliminating the "Plus" model and replacing it with the ultra thin iPhone.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ will look a lot like the iPhone 16, but Apple is expected to increase the display size. Instead of 6.1 inches, it'll be 6.3 inches, similar to the iPhone 16 Pro. There will be a single 6.3-inch standard ‌iPhone 17‌ this year.

While the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ and the iPhone 17 Pro models will have a pill-shaped camera bar that spans most of the back of each device, rumors suggest the ‌iPhone 17‌'s camera bump isn't going to change. It will continue to have a dual-lens camera setup with a small vertical pill-shaped bump.

Colors

The standard ‌iPhone 17‌ models could come in black, white, steel gray, green, purple, and light blue if rumors are correct.

Display

The ‌iPhone 17‌'s bezels could be slimmer to bring it in line with the other ‌iPhone‌ models, and it is expected to use the same LTPO display as the current ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌. The display allows for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, so smoother scrolling is a feature we could see come to the standard ‌iPhone‌ for the first time.

A-Series Chip

We're expecting the ‌iPhone 17‌ to be equipped with the standard A19 chip, built on an updated 3-nanometer process. The A19 will bring speed and efficiency improvements compared to the A18, but there won't be radical differences.

Compared to the A19 Pro that's expected for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, the A19 will likely have fewer GPU cores.

All ‌iPhone 17‌ models are rumored to feature vapor chamber cooling technology that will disperse heat across a larger surface area to prevent thermal throttling and keep performance stable.

Connectivity

The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will feature Apple's C1 modem, but the ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models are expected to use Qualcomm modem technology for 5G connectivity.

All four ‌iPhone 17‌ models are expected to get Apple's first custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Apple's chip could bring efficiency and connectivity improvements that result in better battery life.

Charging

The ‌iPhone 17‌ will be able to charge at up to 25W with third-party wireless chargers that support the new Qi 2.2 standard.

Cameras

All four ‌iPhone 17‌ models will get an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, which will improve image quality and allow for more cropping in for selfies. The current selfie camera is limited to 12 megapixels.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ will have the same 48-megapixel Wide and Ultra Wide lenses that are in the ‌iPhone 16‌, and we haven't heard rumors about upgrades for these lenses.

Pricing

Rumors about pricing have been mixed, and some analysts have suggested Apple might raise prices. If there is an increase, the base ‌iPhone 17‌ could start at $850 instead of $799, but it continues to be unclear if there will indeed be a price hike.

Apple could opt to increase prices for the Air and Pro models while keeping the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ at $799.

Launch Date

Apple will introduce the ‌iPhone 17‌ at the "Awe Dropping" event that kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 9. If Apple follows the same pre-order and launch timing that it has used in the past, pre-orders could take place on Friday, September 12 with a launch to follow on Friday, September 19.

Read More

We have more information on the features rumored for the ‌iPhone 17‌ in our iPhone 17 roundup.
This article, "One Week Until iPhone 17: Here's What We Know" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Following months of testimony for the remedies phase of the Google antitrust trial, Judge Amit Mehta just issued his decision, and it is largely beneficial to Apple’s deals with Alphabet. Here are the details.

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Google will not be barred from entering into search agreements with companies like Apple, the judge presiding over the antitrust case between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice said today (via Bloomberg).


Google is not allowed to enter into exclusive contracts for search engine distribution, but it is still allowed to pay to Apple to be a search engine option on iPhone. Apple earns around $20 billion annually from Google, and there was a risk that the two companies could be banned from entering into search engine agreements.

"Cutting off payments from Google almost certainly will impose substantial -- in some cases, crippling -- downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers, which counsels against a broad payment ban," said the judge.

Google is specifically allowed to make payments and offer "other consideration" to distribution partners for the preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, and Gemini.

Google will not have to sell its Chrome browser, or the Android operating system. The judge said that the government "overreached in seeking the forced divestiture" of the assets.

Besides being barred from entering into exclusive search engine distribution contracts, Google will also need to share data with rival search engines. The DOJ had asked that Google be forced to provide data on how it decides what to surface based on a given search.

Google was found to have a search monopoly back in August of 2024, and the court has been deciding what action to take to break up Google's monopoly since then. The DOJ was pushing for the divestiture of Chrome and the possible divestiture of Android.

Google is appealing the ruling, likely due to the data sharing component.
This article, "Court Allows Google-Apple Search Deal to Continue With Conditions" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today, Apple announced the launch date for the Ruby Red Special-Edition JENNIE , which features a pair of attachable red bows and more custom-made features for fans of the K-pop superstar. Here are the details.

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Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices.


Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac:

Model	Starting Price	Model	Starting Price	Change
iPhone 16	$799	iPhone 17	$799	—
iPhone 16 Plus	$899	iPhone 17 Air	$899-$949	$0 to +$50
iPhone 16 Pro	$999	iPhone 17 Pro	$1,099	+$100
iPhone 16 Pro Max	$1,199	iPhone 17 Pro Max	$1,199	—

If these estimates prove to be accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro's starting price would increase by $100 compared to the iPhone 16 Pro. However, previous rumors have indicated that the iPhone 17 Pro will start with 256GB of storage, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro starts at 128GB. So, the starting price would only be increasing because of Apple eliminating a SKU. Still, it would break an 8-year streak of the Pro model or equivalent starting at $999.

The good news is that the standard iPhone 17 and the highest-end iPhone 17 Pro Max will avoid price increases, if these estimates prove to be accurate.

The all-new iPhone 17 Air's starting price might be $50 higher compared to the iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple has largely managed to avoid raising iPhone prices in the U.S. for a long time now, despite rumors of price increases year after year. So, on one hand, the company deserves the benefit of the doubt currently. On the other hand, nothing lasts forever. We will find out the real prices during Apple's event on Tuesday, September 9.
This article, "iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Using digital boarding passes on the iPhone has become common practice for many of us. But after years with no changes to the feature, iOS 26 is about to upgrade Apple Wallet’s boarding passes with several handy new features.

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Apple today released the sixth public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and tvOS 26, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of their September launch. The sixth public betas come a week after the fifth public betas, and the updates correspond with the ninth developer betas that were released earlier today.


Public beta testers that have registered on Apple's website can download the latest ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS 26 public betas by opening the Settings or System Settings app, going to the General section, tapping on Software Update, and choosing the ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 26 Public Beta options.

‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ feature Apple's Liquid Glass design, with a visual aesthetic that focuses on transparency. Icons, menu buttons, navigation bars, and more reflect and refract light with subtle animations. There are pop-out menus in some areas, tab bars shrink down, and everything has a more rounded look.


There are new Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence for screenshots, updated order tracking in the Wallet app, new features in Reminders, and Live Translation for the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps. Image Playground has ChatGPT style options, and Genmoji supports mixing two or more emoji characters to make something new.


2D photos have a more 3D look with a Spatial Scene feature, and Safari has updated navigation. In the Phone app, there are new Call Screening and Hold Assist features that will save you time, while the Messages app supports customizable backgrounds and polls. Apple Music has a DJ-like AutoMix feature, CarPlay has an overhauled interface, there's a new Apple Games app, and Preview has come to the iPhone for the first time.


macOS Tahoe has the same Liquid Glass design as ‌iOS 26‌, and it extends to app icons, folders, the Dock, in-app navigation, menus, the Control Center, and the Menu Bar. The Control Center and the Menu Bar are customizable, and you're also able to customize folders, app icons, and widgets.


Safari has an updated tab design and a redesigned sidebar, and Apple has brought the Phone app to the Mac for making phone calls through Wi-Fi Calling. The Phone app supports the new Call Screening and Hold Assist features.

Spotlight has been overhauled with improved search and the ability to execute hundreds of actions without opening up an app. There's a new Games app with a Game Overlay feature, and developers have access to Metal 4.

More on what's new can be found in our iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe roundups.
This article, "Apple Releases Sixth Public Betas of iOS 26 and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's Beats brand will soon come out with new color options for several of its products, according to information discovered by MacRumors. The Beats Studio Pro headphones are set to be released in colors that Apple is referring to as dark slate and pink internally. It is worth noting that we've previously seen mentions of unreleased Sand Gray and Soft Pink colors for the Studio Pro, and it’s possible these are same colors currently labeled by Apple as Dark Slate and Pink.


Apple plans to debut the Beats Solo 4 with rose gold and champagne gold color options.


The Beats Solo Buds will come in a new cream color that Apple calls "icing" internally.


The Beats Studio Pro, priced at $350, can be purchased in Navy, Black, Sandstone, and Brown. The $200 Beats Solo 4 come in Matte Black, Slate Blue, Cloud Pink, and a special edition JENNIE Ruby Red. Apple's $80 Solo Buds are currently available in Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, and Transparent Red.


There is no word when the new Beats colors might come out, but Apple could introduce them at the upcoming September 9 event.
This article, "Beats Working on New Colors for Solo Buds, Studio Pro, and Solo 4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It looks like Meta’s hiring freeze definitely does not apply to Apple engineers. As reported by Bloomberg, Jian Zhang, Apple’s Lead AI Researcher for Robotics, will be joining the Meta Robotics Studio. And he’s not the only one leaving. Here are the details.

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Apple's lead artificial intelligence researcher for robotics is leaving the company for Meta, reports Bloomberg. Jian Zhang joined the Meta Robotics Studio on Tuesday.


Three additional AI researchers are also leaving Apple's Foundation Models AI team for OpenAI and Anthropic, continuing an exodus that began in July. At least a dozen AI experts have left Apple for Meta, OpenAI, and other companies since January.

Meta has been offering AI engineers massive pay packages that other AI companies are not able to compete with. Meta was able to lure Apple's Foundational Models team lead Ruoming Pang with a $200 million pay package. Zhang was developing automation technology and exploring the role of AI in tech products, but his team was separate from the group that is working on creating a robot virtual companion.

According to a recent report from Financial Times, industry recruiters see the mass departures from Apple as a "crisis of confidence" around the company's AI future. Apple is continuing to work on a smarter LLM version of Siri that's expected to debut next year, but it had a serious misstep with the delayed Apple Intelligence version of Siri that failed to make it into iOS 18.

In an employee meeting in August, software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that Apple has successfully developed a second-generation ‌Siri‌ architecture that will bring major improvements to ‌Siri‌ in 2026.

Apple is considering a third-party solution to power ‌Siri‌'s AI capabilities, and has reportedly held discussions with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. A final decision hasn't been made as of yet, but Apple's wavering has caused tension within its LLM team. Additional AI team members are said to be actively interviewing for jobs at other companies.
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AirPods Pro 3 are almost here, and rumors indicate Apple plans to follow the highly successful proven playbook of AirPods Pro 2. Here’s what that means.

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Apple has a new Vision Pro 2 launching soon, but two of the main complaints about Vision hardware—weight and cost—likely won’t be addressed until 2027’s rumored ‘Vision Air’ ships. Today, a new report outlines how much cheaper and more affordable that Vision Air product might be.

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Dolby today unveiled Dolby Vision 2, a next-generation version of the popular Dolby Vision HDR format.


Dolby Vision 2 features a more powerful image engine that Dolby says "unlocks even more out of your TV," plus it supports new Content Intelligence tools to optimize TV sets for a "captivating picture" based on the content that's being watched. Specifically, Dolby says that Content Intelligence will gain the following benefits:

• Precision Black reduces consumer frustration that the image is "too dark" by making it crystal clear and improving clarity in any viewing environment without compromising artistic intent.


• Light Sense fine-tunes picture quality through advanced ambient light detection and new reference lighting data from the content source to optimize your TV for the ideal viewing experience.


• Sports and Gaming Optimization introduce new enhancements such as white point adjustments and motion control designed specifically to address the unique needs of live sports and gaming.


• New tone-mapping that takes advantage of modern TV improvements like brightness and color improvements.

TVs will be able to provide higher brightness, sharper contrast, and more deeply saturated colors "while preserving the artist's creative vision," according to Dolby.

In addition to these HDR features, Dolby Vision 2 includes Authentic Motion, described as a creative driven motion control tool that can make "scenes feel more authentically cinematic without unwanted judder."

There's a core Dolby Vision 2 product that will provide improved picture quality to mainstream TVs, and a Dolby Vision 2 Max designed for the highest performing TVs. The Max product will utilize the full capabilities of higher-end displays.

Dolby Vision 2 will come first to TV sets from Hisense, but other manufacturers are likely to add support in the future. The current Apple TV models support Dolby Vision, so it makes sense that a future version of the ‌Apple TV‌ would include Dolby Vision 2.
This article, "Dolby Vision 2 Debuts With Solution for HDR Content That's 'Too Dark'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this 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.

Additionally, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $595.92 ($53 off). Free delivery estimates are placed around September 7 for these iPad models, but Prime members should be able to get same-day delivery in many locations.





The 11th generation iPad is mainly a spec bump for the tablet line, now featuring the A16 chip and more storage, with the same design as the 10th generation iPad. The new ‌iPad‌ starts with 128GB of storage, and is also available in 256GB and a new 512GB configuration. The previous model was only available in 64GB and 256GB configurations.

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.

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This article, "Amazon Takes Up to $53 Off 11th Gen iPad, Available From $299" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple launches new flagship iPhones every year with a variety of upgrades. But after years of relatively stagnant innovation on the design front, the iPhone 17 launch will kick off several years of exciting new innovations that put an end to the recent ‘boring’ iPhone era.

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Once again, our friends over at Relay have launched their annual campaign to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Relay community has raised over $4 million for St. Jude since 2019.

I’ve set up a 9to5Mac fundraising page for St. Jude through the Relay campaign. You can visit that page to make your donation and earn some rewards in the process.

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Apple plans to release a lighter weight and more affordable version of the Vision Pro in 2027, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


The upcoming device, which he refers to as the "Vision Air," will supposedly be over 40 percent lighter than the current model. The Vision Pro weighs in at round 1.375 pounds, so a version that's 40 percent lighter should come in at under a pound.

Kuo also says the Vision Air will be over 50 percent cheaper, which could make it much more attractive to prospective buyers. The Vision Pro costs $3,499, which means a half-priced version would be $1,750. That's still more expensive than an iPhone, but it is closer in price to a higher-end Mac and could be priced similarly to the upcoming foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Prior rumors about the "Vision Air" suggest that it will have an internal structure made from titanium to reduce weight, along with a thinner design and a new battery enclosure.

Kuo thinks Apple could sell one million Vision Air units in 2027, up from 400,000 of the Vision Pro.
This article, "Lighter, Cheaper Vision Air Coming in 2027" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s first ‘iPhone Fold’ is still about a year away from launching, but according to a new analyst note, the company recently raised shipment expectations significantly for the new model.

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Apple plans to release a foldable iPhone in 2026, and will then follow it up with a foldable iPad in 2028, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.


Multiple sources have now confirmed that Apple is planning to release its first foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2026, with the device coming as part of the iPhone 18 lineup. Launch timing on a larger-screened foldable device has been more uncertain.

Originally, rumors indicated that the foldable ‌iPad‌ or MacBook would come before the ‌iPhone‌, and there have been launch rumors with dates ranging from 2026 to 2028. Rumors have also varied between calling the foldable device an ‌iPad‌ and a MacBook, but it seems like all of the information about a larger foldable refers to the same product. The foldable ‌iPad‌ could have a screen between 18 and 20 inches when unfolded, with a smaller form factor when closed.

According to Kuo, Apple is using ultra-thin cover glass for both the foldable ‌iPhone‌ and foldable ‌iPad‌, which is a rumor that we've heard before. Corning will supply the ultra-thin cover glass, but General Interface Solutions (GIS) will work with Corning on cutting, corner treatments, inspection, packaging, and shipping.

Kuo expects Apple to sell somewhere between 8 to 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026, and up to 25 million in 2027. The larger-screened foldable is not expected to sell as well because Kuo says it will be priced "considerably higher" than the foldable ‌iPhone‌.
This article, "Foldable iPhone Coming in 2026, Foldable iPad to Follow in 2028" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As a techie, it’s easy to get caught up in the trap of buying the most expensive devices with the most features. And, for the most part, it’s still a problem. That said, I recently made the decision to switch to Apple’s , the budget model with an A16 chip. I’m pleasantly surprised with how incredibly useful it truly is – while costing less than a third of an .

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Apple has just released another wave of beta updates for its forthcoming major software versions, including beta 9 for iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, and more.

Update: Apple has now shipped public beta versions of the same builds, just a few hours after the developer releases.

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Contrary to expectations, Apple is rolling out a new wave of developer betas ahead of next week’s “Awe Dropping” event. Here’s what to expect.

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Apple today provided developers with the ninth betas of watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 for testing purposes, with the betas coming one week after the eighth betas were released.


The software updates can be downloaded through the Settings app on each device. A developer account is required.

‌watchOS 26‌ and tvOS 26 adopt new Liquid Glass design changes inspired by visionOS, much like iOS 26 and macOS 26. watchOS has a new AI-powered Workout Buddy for motivation and the Smart Stack incorporates more personal context for better suggestions. There's also a new Notes app and support for Live Translation.

tvOS 26 supports karaoke using an iPhone as a microphone, improvements for using AirPlay speakers with a TV, new Aerial screen savers, and support for quicker logins to apps at setup thanks to Apple Account syncing.

visionOS 26 adds support for spatial widgets that can be placed anywhere in the space around you, along with refinements to make personas more lifelike and support for shared spatial experiences between two Vision Pro users.

The visionOS 26 beta is limited to developers, but developers and public beta testers can download ‌watchOS 26‌ and tvOS 26. The updates will launch this fall.

This article, "Apple Seeds Ninth watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 Developer Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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