In the future, Apple users should expect more paid upgrades and subscription bundles just like what the company launched with Apple Creator Studio last month. As said by Mark Gurman in this week’s Power On newsletter, “I believe Apple is looking at all areas of its software and services” for further services monetization opportunities.

Obviously, the appeal of more subscription bundles depends on the particulars. For instance, Apple One has been very popular and seems relatively consumer friendly. But, while Creator Studio is a reasonable deal for hardcore users of Final Cut and Logic Pro, it also introduced exclusive paid features and upsell banners into Apple’s previously free-with-no-asterisks iWork suite of Pages, Keynote and Numbers.

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Apple’s long-awaited Studio Display refresh might be happening soon. As noted by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, shipping times for Apple’s Studio Display are slipped to late February and Early March in some configurations…

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Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.


In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. At the time, it said CarPlay Ultra would begin expanding to more vehicles around the world "in the next 12 months."

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told that CarPlay Ultra will come to at least one major new Hyundai or Kia vehicle model "in the second half of this year." It is unclear if he is referring to Hyundai's upcoming IONIQ 3, as previously reported, or if it will be a different model.

CarPlay Ultra features deeper integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in apps for radio and climate controls, rear-view camera feed support, and more. The connected iPhone provides app-related data, while the vehicle provides information like the current speed, fuel level, tire pressure, engine temperature, and more.


The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can choose from various preset design options.

BMW, Ford, and Rivian are among the brands that have publicly downplayed CarPlay Ultra, while General Motors controversially ditched the regular version of CarPlay in its new electric vehicles, so it is likely to pass on CarPlay Ultra too. That means vehicles from brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC are likely out of the running.

It is improbable that Tesla would offer CarPlay Ultra either, but it is reportedly working on offering the regular version of CarPlay in a major pivot.


This article, "Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's first foldable could feature the biggest ever iPhone battery and eclipse rival devices, according to a known leaker.


In a new post, the Weibo user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" says that the foldable's battery could be over 5,500 mAh in size, which would make it the largest capacity of any current or previous ‌iPhone‌. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the biggest ‌iPhone‌ battery to date at 5,088 mAh.

Competing foldables already on the market feature a noticeably smaller battery than the rumored size. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a battery capacity of 5,015 mAh, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a 4,400 mAh battery. As a result, any foldable smartphone from Apple with a battery over 5,500 mAh in size would be class-leading.

Last year, the leaker known as "yeux1122" said that Apple was testing a battery for the device in the 5,400–5,800 mAh range, citing supply chain sources. A March report from the same Korean account claimed that Apple has placed a heavy focus on improving power efficiency while slimming down key components of its foldable ‌iPhone‌, with battery life said to be a key priority for the company. Separately, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device will use high-density cells to deliver superior battery life.

Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display, a 5.5-inch cover display, Touch ID, two rear cameras, the A20 chip, and the "C2" modem. It is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max later this year.
This article, "Apple's Foldable iPhone Rumored to Feature Unrivaled Battery Life" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is "exploring" the idea of a foldable iPhone with a "square, clamshell-style" design, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


A so-called "iPhone Flip" — unlikely to be the real name — would compete with devices such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the modern-day Motorola Razr.

The clamshell iPhone would be released at some point after Apple's first foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch in September this year.


The first foldable iPhone is expected to open up like a book, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7. This design will provide users with a large 7.7-inch inner display for watching videos and gaming, and there will likely be multitasking functionality. A clamshell iPhone, on the other hand, would be more about portability and pocketability.

"Apple is betting that its first foldable iPhone will be successful enough to generate real demand for the category and that customers will want additional shapes and sizes, much as they have with traditional slab-style iPhones," said Gurman. Nevertheless, he said a clamshell iPhone is "far from guaranteed to reach the market."


This article, "Apple is Exploring an 'iPhone Flip'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In today’s Power On newsletter from Mark Gurman, an interesting new possibility was shared for the iPhone lineup: a smaller, clamshell foldable iPhone. This model is far from fruition, though Apple is currently considering it.

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Apple officially launched CarPlay Ultra last year, but only for Aston Martin vehicles. It’s the next-generation version of CarPlay that the company first teased at WWDC 2022 with a revamped design and deeper integration with the car itself.

Today, a new report from Bloomberg reveals that CarPlay Ultra will come to at least one major new car later this year …

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In his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman provided an updated release timeline for the new MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max. Previously, these models have been expected to launch before the spring.

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Amazon this weekend has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. This is only the second time so far in 2026 that we've tracked $100 markdowns on the Series 11, and nearly every aluminum model is on sale right now.

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.

You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and four of the 46mm GPS models on sale as well.




If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.




Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

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This article, "Apple Watch Series 11 Hits $299 Low Price on Amazon, Get $100 Off Nearly Every Aluminum Model" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.

"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from February through March," he explained.

macOS 26.3 remains in beta testing, but the update should be coming soon, with a wide release expected in February. Gurman was careful to also mention March, but this seems rather unlikely, unless the macOS 26.3 beta testing cycle drags on longer than expected, or the new MacBook Pro models are tied to macOS 26.3.1 or later.

As of now, we expect the macOS 26.3 Release Candidate to be seeded in the first half of February, so a new MacBook Pro announcement could be just around the corner.

In October, AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic was first to report that MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips were "expected to ship with macOS 26.3," so this rumor has now been shared by multiple sources.

Beyond the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, no major changes are expected for these models.

In late 2026 or in 2027, the MacBook Pro is expected to receive a major redesign, with rumored features including an OLED display with touch capabilities, M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, a thinner design, and built-in cellular connectivity.


This article, "New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amid the heap of an EU fine levied on X earlier this month, Elon Musk announced that the platform’s entire recommendation algorithm would go open source. Seemingly to help cool the regulatory waters by providing greater transparency into how the social media giant organizes users’ timelines.

Usually, IT professionals would see news around something going open source, smile, and move on with their lives. But last week, I came across an interesting thread on none other than X that explains how this move can actually expose anonymous alt accounts through “behavioral fingerprints”…for better or worse.

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Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact.

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Obesity remains a rampant concern in America, with 2 in 5 adults struggling with obesity. GLP-1 medications have become popular in recent years to help people manage their weight – and Within Reach is a companion app to help you track everything related to the journey.

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Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.


There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an iPad.

This change was spotted by Macworld and the French blog Consomac, among others.


On the MacBook Pro ordering page, for example, you start by choosing a 14-inch or 16-inch display and a color. Next, you have the option to upgrade to a nano-texture display. Then, you choose from the list of M-series chips and core counts that are available for the MacBook Pro size that you selected. Finally, you can customize the amount of RAM and SSD storage, choose a power adapter, and choose a keyboard language.


Before, there were some preconfigured models available, and you could proceed to upgrade certain specs after selecting one. Now, it is entirely à la carte.

Unfortunately, the MacBook Pro still cannot be configured with an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, as the wait continues for new models. Hopefully that changes soon!
This article, "Apple Changes How You Order a Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has updated its website with changes to the checkout flow when buying a new Mac. Previously, the Apple Online Store would show you a range of preconfigured options with specific processors, RAM, and storage configurations, before letting you dive into the granular configurator.

With this week’s revamp, however, this process has been overhauled…

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Apple Watch certainly feels like a rather mature platform at this point. Software wise, there isn’t usually a ton I’d like to see – though there probably is a lot of potential for the Apple Watch to serve as an AI wearable. Nonetheless, there is one nifty software upgrade I’d really like to see them add to the Apple Watch.

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This is about the time of year when most people’s enthusiasm for their New Year’s resolutions starts to wear off. Gym visits decline, diets get less strict, and those screen time goals we set with much determination have likely already been broken.

But if you are one of those who decided 2026 will be the year you take control of your online privacy, then keeping a resolution has never been simpler …

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Amazon is offering discounts across the M5 iPad Pro lineup this weekend, including both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The highlight this time around is a return of a low price on the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M5 iPad Pro, which is on sale for $899.00, down from $999.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Many of the deals in this sale match — or beat — the record low prices we tracked during the holiday season. Amazon provides an estimated delivery date around February 5 for free delivery, but Prime members should see earlier delivery dates in many cases.




There are fewer 13-inch M5 iPad Pro models on sale this time around, but the ones that are on sale have reached record low prices. You'll find $149 off three Wi-Fi models, with prices starting at $1,149.99 for the 256GB Wi-Fi 13-inch M5 iPad Pro, down from $1,299.00.

11-Inch M5 iPad Pro

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $899.00 ($100 off)


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($100 off)


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,499.99 ($99 off)


• 1TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,576.00 ($123 off)


• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,851.00 ($148 off)


• 2TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,999.00 ($100 off)

13-Inch M5 iPad Pro

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,149.99 ($149 off)


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,349.99 ($149 off)


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,749.99 ($149 off)

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, "Get Up to $149 Off M5 iPad Pro on Amazon This Weekend" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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RR Auction has announced that an Apple check signed by the company's co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak fetched a whopping $2.4 million at auction this week. The check was for $500, meaning that it sold for 4,800× its original value.


According to RR Auction, the $500 check was issued to printed circuit board designer Howard Cantin, shortly after Jobs and Wozniak opened Apple's first bank account. Cantin was responsible for translating Wozniak's Apple-1 schematic into a manufacturable printed circuit board, leading to Apple's first commercial product.

Dated March 16, 1976, the Wells Fargo check is marked "No. 1." It was issued a few weeks before Apple Computer was officially founded on April 1, 1976.

“This is the most important financial document in Apple history," said Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction. "It captures Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's first true business transaction, and the final result shows that collectors recognized its significance above any other Apple material ever brought to market."
This article, "Apple Check Signed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak Sells for 4,800× Its Original Value" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It was a busy week with Apple's first real launches of 2026, led by the release of the Creator Studio app bundle and the second-generation AirTag.


We also got some rumors about Apple's plans for Mac updates in 2026, timing on the more personalized Siri finally arriving, and a significant acquisition by Apple, so read on below for all the details!

Top Stories

Apple's 'Creator Studio' App Bundle Now Available for $12.99 Per Month

Apple this week launched the new Creator Studio bundle that was initially unveiled earlier this month, providing content creators with access to six Apple apps for $12.99 per month or $129 per year.


Creator Studio includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro on Mac and iPad, along with Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac. Final Cut Pro is Apple's video editing software, Logic Pro is for audio editing and creation, and Pixelmator Pro is an image editing app that Apple purchased in 2024.

The Creator Studio bundle unlocks AI features that are not otherwise accessible in these apps, plus it adds new features to free apps like Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, with Freeform coming later.

Be sure to check out our initial hands-on overview if you're thinking about subscribing to the bundle.

Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More

Apple this week introduced the second-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker.


The new AirTag is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling the Precision Finding feature to work up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous-generation model, according to Apple. The new AirTag also has an upgraded Bluetooth chip for improved overall range outside of Precision Finding mode.

Apple also introduced this year's Black Unity band for Apple Watch, a Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop featuring the red, green, and black colors of the Pan-African flag.

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Apple released iOS 26.2.1 this week to support the new second-generation AirTag, but the company also released a slew of other iOS updates for older devices that can't run iOS 26. That includes an iOS 12.5.8 update for the iPhone 5s and 6, which is remarkable considering the iPhone 5s will turn 13 years old later this year.


The iOS updates released this week for older devices extend a certificate required for device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime, allowing these aging devices to remain functional for those who are still using them.

Apple Reportedly Aiming to Upgrade the MacBook Pro Twice This Year

Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In his Power On newsletter this week, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year.

It would be a rare but not unprecedented move for Apple to update the MacBook Pro twice in a year, but while previous rumors had indicated the M6 generation could arrive in either late 2026 or early 2027, Gurman now seems to be leaning more heavily toward the update arriving before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the wait for the M5 Pro and M5 Max models continues.

Here's When Apple Plans to Unveil a New Siri Powered by Google Gemini

A more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini is expected to be introduced next month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


"The company has been planning an announcement of the new Siri in the second half of February, when it will give demonstrations of the functionality," he wrote, in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter.

The interim improvements to Siri will come ahead of a much bigger upgrade to include chatbot functionality and significantly more capabilities in iOS 27, which will be introduced at WWDC in June.

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Apple has been criticized by some observers for slow-rolling its entry into AI technology, with some suggesting the company needs to make a major acquisition to try to catch up to rivals already establishing themselves in the space.


Apple made a bit of a splash this week with its acquisition of Q.ai, which uses AI to analyze facial expressions to understand "silent speech." It's not nearly a deal on the scale of acquiring one of the major chatbot players, but at a valuation of nearly $2 billion, according to reports, it appears to stand as Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever behind Beats in 2014.

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, AirTag 2, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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For the last decade, the technology industry has been obsessed with the cloud. The assumption was that the future of AI will also rely on massive data centers, infinite GPUs, and an always-on internet connection. Apple, however, took a different path. With Apple Silicon, they bet that the most important processing would happen locally on the Neural Engine. I believe Apple made an incredibly important decision.

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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 AirTag 2, a blockbuster Apple acquisition, and iOS 26.3 beta testing continues. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories.

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A new website takes Apple’s most persistent software bugs and reframes them as a hilarious scoreboard, using intentionally over-the-top math to estimate how many collective human hours they’ve supposedly wasted over the years.

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From time to time, OpenAI removes older models from ChatGPT’s model picker, as users become accustomed to newer ones. Here are the models being retired on February 13.

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Apple is apparently pushing to turn its newly launched creative bundle into a brand of its own. Here are the details.

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