iOS 26.2 launched last week, and among its many new features, AirPods Live Translation has expanded to more users. Here’s how to use AirPods’ powerful recent addition.

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Apple's next-generation iPad mini will be equipped with an A20 Pro chip, according to a MacRumors tipster who analyzed a macOS kernel debug kit containing internal Apple codenames. The kit was accidentally released on Apple's website earlier this year, but it was quickly pulled after information started leaking out of it.


A previous rumor indicated that the next iPad mini would be powered by the A19 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 17 Pro, but our tipster is confident the codenames actually point towards the device using an unreleased A20 Pro chip.

We cannot say for sure whether the next iPad mini will use the A19 Pro or A20 Pro. It is possible that Apple initially tested a model with the A19 Pro, but the company's plans do change from time to time. If the iPad mini will next be updated in September or October of 2026, perhaps Apple ultimately decided to give it the A20 Pro.

In September 2021, Apple introduced the A15 Bionic chip across the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPad mini all at once. But over the years, the iPad mini has not always received Apple's newest A-series chip at the time it was updated, so the A19 Pro cannot be entirely ruled out at this time.

iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to use the A20 Pro chip, which will reportedly be fabricated with TSMC's advanced 2nm process.

Other rumored features for the next iPad mini include an OLED display, a redesigned speaker system with vibration technology, and a water-resistant design.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the next iPad mini could be unveiled as early as next year. The current ‌iPad mini‌ was unveiled in October 2024, with key features including an A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support.
This article, "Next iPad Mini With OLED Display Now Rumored to Feature A20 Pro Chip" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It’s no coincidence that pCloud is based in Switzerland, which has the strictest laws in the world when it comes to personal data. This is one of the reasons the cloud storage service has over 22 million users worldwide.

Now for a limited time, pCloud’s holiday deal lets you save up to 62% off its Family Lifetime 3in1 Bundle and all Family Lifetime plans.

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While the European Commission has signaled that it may be satisfied with Apple’s proposed changes to comply with the Digital Markets Act, recent U.S. court rulings are leading a group of developers to press European regulators for tougher enforcement in the region. Here are the details.

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OpenAI added several new features to its flagship ChatGPT product today, introducing Apple Music support and upgraded image generation capabilities.


ChatGPT has supported app integrations since earlier this year, and it will soon work with Apple Music. With ‌Apple Music‌ integration, ChatGPT will be able to make music recommendations and playlists based on listening history and user suggestions.

Music recommendations made by ChatGPT will be able to be clicked to open the ‌Apple Music‌ app on desktop or on an iOS device. ‌Apple Music‌ is not available as an app integration just yet, but it is coming in the near future.

Along with ‌Apple Music‌ support, ChatGPT now has better image generation capabilities. ChatGPT Images is able to generate images up to 4x faster, and can make precise edits to an image while preserving details. OpenAI says that ChatGPT can tweak only the details you want updated, keeping lighting, composition, and people's appearance consistent across inputs, outputs, and edits.

The new model "excels" at adding, subtracting, combining, blending, and transposing for more realistic image creations using real photographs. It is better at adding text to images and altering layouts, and OpenAI says that it follows instructions more reliably than the prior-generation version.

With the update, the ability to generate some specific art styles like anime has regressed and it is no longer as good at altering images featuring many people, but OpenAI says that using preset filters can help, and the previous version of the image generator remains available to use.

ChatGPT Images, an image editing experience built into ChatGPT, includes dozens of preset styles and prompts that users can try out. It's available in the mobile app and on the web.

The updated Images model is rolling out today for all ChatGPT users, as is the new Images experience built into ChatGPT. ChatGPT's new image functionality will allow it to better compete with Google's Nano Banana image generator.
This article, "ChatGPT Gets Apple Music Integration and New Image Generator" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As holiday shopping enters the final stretch, it’s not too late to secure your favorite Apple gear. Whether you’re looking to score a new pair of AirPods Pro 3, new Apple accessories, or a MacBook Air, time is running out but you can still act quick.

Head below for the official 9to5Mac last-minute gift guide.

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Apple is hosting an Apple Watch Activity Challenge on Sunday, December 21 to honor World Meditation Day. The challenge will show up for Apple Watch owners starting on December 19.


Apple first did a World Meditation Day Activity Challenge in May 2024, but later in 2024, the date of World Meditation Day was moved to December 21 by the United Nations General Assembly. December 21 coincides with the timing of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, marking a time when days are short and nights are long.

Before 2024, World Meditation Day was informally observed on May 21, but it had not been officially designated as a UN-recognized international day.

Apple Watch owners can earn the Meditation Day badge by recording five or more mindful minutes with the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to the Health app.

Time to celebrate World Meditation Day! On December 21, record five mindful minutes or more with the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health to earn this special badge.

Apple Watch owners who earn the Meditation Day award will unlock a dedicated badge in the Fitness app, and a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.








Back in October, Apple also did a similar Mindful Month Activity Challenge, bringing awareness to mental health, self care, meditation, and mindfulness.
This article, "Apple Celebrating World Meditation Day With December 21 Apple Watch Activity Challenge" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In line with previous rumors, The Information today reported that Apple is planning to release a special 20th-anniversary iPhone less than two years from now.


The report said the device will have a seamless design, with a curved glass enclosure and no cutouts in the display. Apple is expected to move Face ID under the screen starting with the iPhone 18 Pro models next year, and the report said the 20th-anniversary iPhone will also feature an under-screen front camera.

The publication said it could not yet learn if the display itself will curve around the edges, as shown in our conceptual mockup above. Nevertheless, it appears that Apple is working on a very ambitious design for the 20th-anniversary iPhone, much like the iPhone X was a game-changer for the iPhone's 10th-anniversary.

At a minimum, the report said the 20th-anniversary iPhone will lack bezels around the screen for a true edge-to-edge experience. It said the device has only a "narrow metal band running around the midpoint of the device's edge, where the buttons sit."

Many of these details were previously reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple is expected to release the 20th-anniversary iPhone around September 2027, so it is still early, and the device's design could change. If these rumors pan out, though, the 20th-anniversary iPhone could be something out of a dream.
This article, "The iPhone of Your Dreams is Reportedly Less Than Two Years Away" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's next Apple Watch Activity Challenge will begin on Thursday, January 1, with Apple Watch users able to earn an award by closing all three rings for seven days in a row in January.

Start the year strong and stay active! Earn this award by closing all three Activity rings for seven days in a row in January.

Apple Watch owners will need to complete their stand, exercise, and move goals for seven days sequentially at any time during the month of January to get the New Year's award. It will show up for Apple Watch owners starting on December 28, and can be completed between January 7 and January 31.

Like all of Apple's Activity Challenges, the New Year challenge will be accompanied by an award that can be viewed in the Fitness app as well as a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.










The Ring in the New Year Activity Challenge happens every January, and it is one of many Activity Challenges that Apple offers throughout the year to encourage people to meet their Fitness goals and stay active.
This article, "Get Ready to Earn the 2026 New Year Apple Watch Activity Challenge Badge" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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All of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models are equipped with a Camera Control button that provides quick access to the Camera app and camera settings, but not everyone is a fan of it. Fortunately, though, Apple apparently plans to improve it.


The Information today reported that Apple plans to remove touch sensitivity and haptic feedback from the Camera Control on the standard iPhone 18 model, which suggests that it will be removing the button's capacitive layer. The report did not say if this change will extend to the iPhone 18 Pro models, but it seems likely for consistency.

A simplified Camera Control button for iPhone 18 models has been rumored previously.

With this change, iPhone 18 users would not be able to swipe on the Camera Control, which is something many users have complained about doing by accident. The redesigned button would only have pressure sensitivity.

The report said simplifying the Camera Control would reduce Apple's costs, but it seems quite likely that the company is also listening to customer feedback.

Apple has already taken steps to give users more control over the Camera Control's behavior, including adding a "Require Screen On" setting in iOS 18.2. And when you set up a new iPhone, the swipe gestures are now turned off by default.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models next September, while the regular iPhone 18 model reportedly will not launch until spring 2027.
This article, "iPhone 18 Expected to Fix a Major iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 Annoyance" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Powerbeats Pro 2 just got new firmware from Apple, here are the details and instructions on how to update.

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Soon, you’ll be able to ask ChatGPT to quickly create Apple Music playlists, among other things. Here’s why.

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Apple has announced its annual “Ring in the New Year” challenge for Apple Watch users. A new Apple Watch Activity Challenge is set for January, encouraging you to begin 2026 on the right foot by closing all three rings for seven days in a row.

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Apple today released new firmware for the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds that came out earlier this year. The updated firmware has a version number of 8A359, an update to the prior 8A353 firmware that was released in September.


It's not clear if the updated firmware adds new functionality, but it is likely to be a bug fix and performance improvement update. The prior-generation firmware update added iOS 26 functionality to the ‌Powerbeats Pro‌, introducing compatibility with the Fitness app and support for real-time performance metrics.

The ‌Powerbeats Pro‌ 2 were Apple's first earbuds to offer in-ear heart rate monitoring, but that capability has also now expanded to the AirPods Pro 3.

The updated firmware can be installed on the ‌Powerbeats Pro‌ 2 by connecting them to power and ensuring that they are in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. Firmware can be checked on the ‌iPhone‌ by going to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the Info button next to the Beats headphones in the list. Android users can download new Beats firmware through the Beats app for Android.
This article, "Apple Releases New Powerbeats Pro 2 Firmware" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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We have been covering iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Fold details from The Information's report about future iPhone models, and next up is the iPhone Air 2.


The report says that Apple aims to make the iPhone Air 2 more attractive in two ways.

First, Apple is apparently considering adding a second rear camera to the device, which would resolve a key limitation. The current iPhone Air has a single 48-megapixel Fusion rear camera, with Telephoto-like, optical-quality 2× zoom, so the additional camera on the second-generation model would likely be an Ultra Wide lens.

Second, the report said Apple is considering lower pricing for the iPhone Air 2. In the U.S., the current iPhone Air starts at $999, despite having only a single rear camera, a single speaker, shorter battery life, and a few other minor limitations.

While it has a bold, ultra-thin design, the iPhone Air has seemingly been unpopular relative to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, and Apple's suppliers are reportedly significantly scaling back production of the device as a result.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone Air 2 in spring 2027.
This article, "Apple Aims to Boost Popularity of iPhone Air 2 in Two Ways" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's first foldable iPhone will be equipped with a 7.7-inch inner display, and a 5.3-inch outer display, according to The Information.


Earlier this year, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the foldable iPhone would have a 7.8-inch inner display, and a 5.5-inch outer display, so the sizes shared in today's report are slightly smaller. However, specs might not be finalized yet.

The publication said the iPhone 18 Pro will have a camera in the top-left corner of the screen, and it expects the same for the foldable iPhone's inner screen.

The foldable iPhone's displays are made with a "complex" mix of "specialty glass and materials" from companies like Corning and SCHOTT, according to the report.

Apple is expected to release the foldable iPhone in September 2026.
This article, "Foldable iPhone's Screen Sizes Leaked" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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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 Backblaze: Give yourself the gift of peace of mind. Till the end of the month, 9to5Mac listeners get 30% off with code 9to5Xmas. 

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Apple is working to finalize designs for next year’s flagship iPhone lineup, and a new report says the highly anticipated iPhone Fold could have a unique shape, with an inner display that’s more wide than tall. Here are the details.

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In February, Apple discontinued the iPhone SE and released a new entry-level iPhone 16e. The device features a 6.1-inch OLED display, an A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, an Action button, a USB-C port, and more, but one capability that it lacks is MagSafe wireless charging.


In a wide-ranging report today about future iPhone models, The Information's Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu said that the iPhone 17e will address this limitation.

Specifically, the report said the iPhone 17e will support "magnetic wireless charging," which implies that the device will feature MagSafe for faster, magnetic wireless charging — likely at speeds of up to 20W or 25W. The iPhone 16e is limited to Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W speeds, and it is not a magnetic system.

The iPhone 17e will be equipped with Apple's second-generation C1X modem for cellular connectivity, according to the report. The iPhone 16e is equipped with Apple's first-generation C1 modem, while the C1X modem debuted in the iPhone Air.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 17e in spring 2026. Overall, the report said the device will be an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 16e.

In the United States, the iPhone 16e starts at $599. It is unclear if the iPhone 17e will maintain that starting price, and it is also unknown if the device will move to a pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout instead of a notch.
This article, "iPhone 17e Will Reportedly Fix iPhone 16e's Biggest Limitation" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today The Information published an extensive report on future iPhone models, and it included an exciting new detail about the forthcoming iPhone 17e. MagSafe support is reportedly coming.

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Apple's internal code suggests the iPhone 17e may ship with Apple's first-generation C1-series cellular modem technology, while omitting Apple's N1 wireless chip, and it indicates Apple is still deciding between the C1X and C2 for the iPhone 18 Pro.


These details came from a version of a Kernel Debut Kit for macOS that was not supposed to be released to the public — it was later pulled by Apple.

For the ‌iPhone‌ 17e, the code showed the device may be equipped with either the C1 or C1X modem, but no N1 wireless chip. The Information today reported that the device will use the C1X modem, which would be a natural progression over the C1 chip in the iPhone 16e.

The omission of the N1 wireless chip may be consequential, since without N1 the ‌iPhone‌ 17e may lack Thread support, even if it uses an Apple-designed cellular baseband.

For Apple's next Pro iPhones, the internal code points to a less settled picture. The ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro is listed in separate rows with both C1X and C2 basebands, indicating Apple had not fully committed to the C2 across all configurations at the time the kernel debug kit was created. Apple seemingly intends N1 to be present on in the Pro models even while the baseband choice was still being evaluated.

Since this information was sourced from Apple's internal code, there is no guarantee these are the finalized specs. The ‌iPhone‌ 17e is expected to launch in the spring of 2026, while the ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall.
This article, "iPhone 17e and iPhone 18 Pro Modem Specs Leak Online" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple and Amazon are facing a new UK opt-out class action seeking more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) over claims that the companies struck an unlawful deal that pushed independent Apple and Beats sellers off Amazon and kept prices higher for consumers.


The claim centers on an agreement from October 2018, from which point it is alleged that Amazon restricted third-party sellers from offering Apple products on Amazon's marketplace, while Apple gave Amazon better wholesale terms for Apple products sold directly by Amazon as a retailer. The lawsuit claims that by January 2019, most independent Apple resellers had effectively disappeared from Amazon, reducing discounted listings and leaving consumers paying closer to full price.

The proposed class includes UK consumers who bought new Apple products since October 2018, whether from Amazon or other retailers, on the basis that the alleged conduct affected prices more broadly. It covers Apple hardware and Beats products, plus accessories, but it excludes Apple products bought as part of mobile network contracts.

This is not the first attempt at a case over the same issue. A similar case was triggered in the United States in 2022. Collective action was brought forward in the UK in 2023, but the tribunal did not allow it to proceed. The new filing argues the core competition allegations remain strong and should be heard with a different proposed class representative and structure.
This article, "Apple Hit With Another Lawsuit Over Alleged Collusion With Amazon to Keep Prices High" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with under-screen Face ID, and the front camera will be moved to the top-left corner of the screen, according to a new report from The Information's Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu.


As a result of these changes, the report said the iPhone 18 Pro models will not have a pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout at the top of the screen.

Nevertheless, the devices will look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models, the report said.

Apple is also planning to add a mechanical iris to at least one rear camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models, enabling variable aperture, according to the report.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the main 48-megapixel camera on iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, meaning that users will be able to adjust the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor.

The main cameras on all of the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro models have a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78, and the lens is always fully open and shooting with this widest aperture. With the iPhone 18 Pro models, users would be able to manually change the aperture, which would provide greater control over depth of field.

However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be.

iPhone 18 Pro models are widely expected to use an A20 Pro chip fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process. The report said Apple plans to use TSMC's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) chip packaging technology, and this would result in RAM being integrated directly onto the chip's wafer with the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, rather than being adjacent to the chip and connected with a silicon interposer.

This packaging change could contribute to a wide range of benefits for the iPhone 18 Pro compared to previous models, including faster performance for both overall tasks and Apple Intelligence, longer battery life, and improved thermal management. The change could also result in the A20 chip having a smaller footprint than previous chips, which could free up some space inside the iPhone 18 Pro models for other uses.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Features Leaked in New Report, Including Under-Screen Face ID" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is highlighting some of the best Apple holiday deals you can still land under the tree. Those include down at $30 (nearly 25% off), up to 25% off TechWoven cases for iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and the new Last-Minute Savings sale at Best Buy. Check it all out below.

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