One of the odder aspects of Apple’s history is that the company has gone in 14 years from one of the leaders in intelligent assistants to one of the biggest laggards.

We’ve gone from the futuristic-feeling Siri way back in 2011 to a painfully inadequate-feeling Apple Intelligence in 2025 ….

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The UK’s privacy watchdog has announced a “major investigation” into the child protection measures of three popular apps: TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said that it has previously succeeded in bringing about child protection changes on X, Sendit, BeReal, Daily Motion, and Viber …

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Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Air models with the M4 chip as soon as this week, and new iPads should follow shortly after.


iPad Air and iPad 10 inventory is running low at Apple Stores, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes this is a sign that new iPads will be introduced soon.

However, unlike the new MacBook Air, he said the new iPad models "probably won't come in the next few days."

So, the timeframe for the new iPads is not narrowed down yet, but it seems like the devices will not be unveiled at the same time as the MacBook Air with the M4 chip.

Our best guess is that these iPads will launch at some point in March or April.

No major design changes have been rumored for the next iPad Air or iPad 11, with the devices expected to receive under-the-hood improvements only. The next iPad Air is expected to be powered by the M3 chip or M4 chip, while the iPad 11 is rumored to be equipped with an A16 Bionic chip or A17 Pro chip.

As for the iPad Pro, do not expect a new model until Apple announces the M5 chip. And the iPad mini was just updated months ago.
This article, "New iPads Expected Shortly After This Week's Likely M4 MacBook Air Announcement" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this weekend is providing record low prices on multiple models of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. Best Buy is also matching many of these deals.

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.

Amazon has all four colors of the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 on sale at this price, and it's a match of the best price we've ever tracked on the tablet. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.99, both $100 discounts and available in multiple colors.





Deals on cellular models are a bit rarer on Amazon, with a few colors of the 256GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $649.00, down from $749.00. If you prefer shopping at Best Buy, remember that the retailer is matching all of these sales on the iPad mini 7.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

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This article, "Amazon Takes $100 Off iPad Mini 7 With Return of All-Time Low Prices, Starting at $399" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last month reported that Apple was considering delaying at least some of its promised Apple Intelligence enhancements for Siri until iOS 18.5, and that plan appears increasingly likely based on his latest information.


Gurman said Apple was initially planning to launch the Apple Intelligence enhancements for Siri in iOS 18.4, but it seems that the features have been pushed back until iOS 18.5 due to a lack of readiness and software bugs. Accordingly, none of the promised features are available in the first beta of iOS 18.4 released last month.

In his Power On newsletter today, he said the features will be available in iOS 18.5:

The follow-up release, iOS 18.5, is where the good stuff is supposed to wind up. It has the AI-infused Siri that the company showed off last June, as well as support for Apple Intelligence in China.

Apple's software engineers have been internally testing iOS 18.5 since at least the start of February, according to the MacRumors visitor logs.

Gurman expects iOS 18.5 to be released in May, but beta testing should begin sooner:

The next version of Siri will be a test of whether Apple can mount a comeback. The software is likely be released in May, a full 11 months after it was introduced.

It is still possible that some of the Siri upgrades could arrive in a later iOS 18.4 beta, but Gurman seems to be leaning into iOS 18.5 timing for now.

The upgrades coming to Siri will include on-screen awareness, understanding of a user's personal context, and deeper per-app controls. For example, during its WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model.
This article, "Apple Intelligence Upgrades for Siri Likely Pushed Back to iOS 18.5" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year reported that Apple was planning a "more conversational" version of Siri for iOS 19.4, powered by "more advanced large language models." However, in his Power On newsletter today, he said that development of this more ChatGPT-like Siri is now running behind schedule within the company.


Gurman said Apple is no longer planning to unveil the more conversational Siri at WWDC 2025 in June this year, and it appears that the feature is no longer on track to launch as part of iOS 19.4 in March or April next year. Instead, he said that some Apple software engineers believe that the Siri overhaul will not launch until at least iOS 20.

This is yet another sign that Apple remains behind OpenAI in the generative AI space.

Gurman still expects iOS 19 to include some changes to Siri's underlying architecture that will allow it to handle more advanced queries.

In the meantime, iOS 18.2 added ChatGPT integration to Siri, and Google Gemini integration should follow in a later software update. And with iOS 18.5, which should be released in May, Siri is expected to gain on-screen awareness, understanding of personal context, and deeper per-app controls. Those features were initially expected to arrive with iOS 18.4, which further underscores Apple's internal delays in this area.
This article, "Apple Delays Major iOS 19 Feature Announcement" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Happy M4 MacBook Air week for those who celebrate! In his first edition of Power On since officially becoming Bloomberg’s managing editor of consumer tech, Mark Gurman reports that there are no delays in the way of Apple unveiling the 2025 model MacBook Air this week.

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According to iPad Air and models. The MacBook Air announcement is ‘imminent’, while the iPad models are slightly later.

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With the iPhone 16e now in the hands of customers, Apple reportedly plans to move on to its next product announcement in the coming days.


Apple plans to announce new MacBook Air models with the M4 chip "as early as this week," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

"I expect the M4 MacBook Air to be introduced as early as this week," said Gurman, in a post shared on X today. "Inventory has significantly wound down and Apple is preparing a Mac-related announcement in the next few days."

He also shared this information in today's edition of his Power On newsletter.

Expect new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with Apple's already-released M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.

Apple already updated the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini with M4 chips in October last year. Geekbench 6 results showed that the M4 chip is up to 25% faster than the M3 chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance.

Also in October, Apple increased the minimum RAM included in all MacBook Air models from 8GB to 16GB. The maximum RAM option could rise to 32GB.

Longer battery life is also likely.

Following in the footsteps of the MacBook Pro, the next MacBook Air models will likely have an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with support for Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps you centered on video as you move around. The camera should also support Desk View, which shows both you and an overhead view of your desk.

Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models were the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.

The new MacBook Air models will likely be equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas the current models have two Thunderbolt 3 ports. And the new models will likely support up to two external displays, even when the lid is open.

The latest MacBook Pro and iMac models can be configured with a nano-texture display, which has a special coating that better scatters light to further minimize glare on the screen. It is possible that Apple will extend this option to the new MacBook Air models, but it could opt to keep the option exclusive to the MacBook Pro for differentiation.

No major external design changes have been rumored for the next MacBook Air models. Apple last redesigned the MacBook Air in 2022.

As always, there could be a surprise or two beyond these expected upgrades.

If the new MacBook Air models do arrive this week, expect a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, and perhaps a YouTube video announcement.
This article, "New MacBook Air Announcement Reportedly 'Imminent' — Here's When" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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According to the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Apple is facing multiple major hiccups in its AI rollout. While that isn’t a surprise, it does mean that many of its roadmapped features are being delayed, and technical challenges are resulting in certain features, including the ‘more conversational’ Siri update – shipping later.

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For the past couple years, I’ve noticed a weird bug on Apple’s Messages app – specifically to do with images. I’ve been hoping that Apple would get around to fixing it for the longest time, but they haven’t thus far.

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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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Fluro provides a delightful recap of everything you’d need to know in a day, all in a neat Mac interface with a special LED scroller. It delivers the weather, your calendar events, reminders, the news, and more – all with a pinch of nostalgia.

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

A new IT report explains that IT teams are ready to ditch passwords. 85% of surveyed IT admins believe requiring biometrics would improve security, but 68% of IT admins report that less than half of the
devices they currently manage have biometric support. That’s a massive gap, and Apple might be the best company to fill it as every Apple device comes with biometrics out of the box.

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iOS 19 is still around three months away from being unveiled, but there are plenty of rumors about the upcoming update.


Below, we recap iOS 19 rumors so far.

Redesigned Camera App

A leak earlier this year allegedly revealed a redesigned Camera app coming with iOS 19.

On his YouTube channel Front Page Tech in January, Jon Prosser shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to visionOS, the software platform for Apple's Vision Pro headset.


More of the camera's viewfinder is visible compared to iOS 18. The camera controls are split into Photo and Video categories at the bottom of the app.

The camera controls include options for recording spatial video, turning on a timer for a photo, and more. Additional controls for video resolution and frame rate pop over at the top of the screen as necessary, according to the video.


It is unclear if the alleged visionOS-like design changes will extend to other parts of the iOS 19 interface, or to more of Apple's built-in apps.

It was previously rumored that iOS 18 would feature visionOS-like design changes, but that never happened. Perhaps the changes were for iOS 19 all along.

More ChatGPT-Like Siri

iOS 19 will introduce a "more conversational Siri" powered by "more advanced large language models," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This will make Siri more like ChatGPT, allowing the assistant to "handle more sophisticated requests."


Apple will likely preview the revamped Siri during its iOS 19 announcement, but Gurman said it will not be available until as early as spring 2026. That suggests the feature will be released as part of iOS 19.4 in March or April next year.

In the meantime, iOS 18.2 added ChatGPT integration to Siri, and Google Gemini integration should follow in a later update. And with iOS 18.4 or iOS 18.5, Siri will gain on-screen awareness, understanding of personal context, deeper per-app controls, and other upgrades.

Update: Gurman has since said that the more conversational Siri has been delayed, possibly until iOS 20.

Staggered Features

A large number of new features coming with iOS 19 are expected to roll out in later versions, ranging from iOS 19.1 through iOS 19.4.

Compatible iPhones

According to French website iPhoneSoft.fr, iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that is capable of running iOS 18, which would mean the following models:

• iPhone 16e


• iPhone 16


• iPhone 16 Plus


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max


• iPhone 15


• iPhone 15 Plus


• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 14


• iPhone 14 Plus


• iPhone 14 Pro


• iPhone 14 Pro Max


• iPhone 13


• iPhone 13 mini


• iPhone 13 Pro


• iPhone 13 Pro Max


• iPhone 12


• iPhone 12 mini


• iPhone 12 Pro


• iPhone 12 Pro Max


• iPhone 11


• iPhone 11 Pro


• iPhone 11 Pro Max


• iPhone XS


• iPhone XS Max


• iPhone XR


• iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

The oldest devices in that list are the iPhone XS, iPhone XS, and iPhone XR, all of which were released in September 2018.

Of course, some iOS 19 features will be unavailable on older iPhone models.

If this report is accurate, it would be the second year in a row in which Apple did not drop support for any iPhone models with its major annual iOS release. iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17 is.

iOS 17 dropped support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.

Timing

The first iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 betas should be released during WWDC 2025 in June, and the updates are likely to be released in September.
This article, "iOS 19 Rumored to Include These New Features for Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In 2020, Apple announced the Mac transition to Apple Silicon. Replacing Intel was a large undertaking, but it proved successful. Apple was able to develop chips that were both faster and more efficient than the Intel processors they replaced, all in an under 3 year transition.

Now, Apple is trying to replace Qualcomm, starting off with the new C1 modem in the brand new iPhone 16e, it’s the first step in a much larger journey. In the end, Apple wants all networking to be handled in-house.

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Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Apple offered a line of Wi-Fi routers that it referred to as AirPort base stations. There was a standard AirPort Express, a higher-end AirPort Extreme with more advanced networking features, and an AirPort Time Capsule that doubled as an external storage drive for backing up a Mac with Time Machine.


Apple discontinued the AirPort line in 2018, but the company could return to the Wi-Fi router market in an unexpected way in the future.

Back in December, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was developing its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that will debut in new Apple TV and HomePod mini models later this year. He said the chip is "so sophisticated" that it could "theoretically" turn these devices into a wireless access point. However, it is unclear if Apple will actually follow through with that idea, so temper your expectations for the time being.

Apple is reportedly aiming to make a bigger push into smart home products, with the company rumored to be planning an all-new smart home hub for release later this year. Apple is also said to be planning a HomeKit-enabled smart home camera that can connect to the hub, and together the products could serve as a home security system. If future Apple TV and/or HomePod models could effectively double as AirPort routers for Wi-Fi, that would be another way for Apple to expand its presence in the smart home market.

Apple's chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, according to Gurman, whereas the final AirPort models supported what is now known as Wi-Fi 5. However, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu believes the chip will actually support Wi-Fi 7.

It remains to be seen if the Apple TV and HomePod actually become Wi-Fi routers, but Apple is seemingly developing technology that allows for it.
This article, "Apple's Discontinued Line of AirPort Wi-Fi Routers Could Return in an Unexpected Way" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple introduced app privacy labels to help people better understand what data an app may collect, including what data is linked to them or used to track them across the web. When released back in 2020, the labels set a precedent in the industry and were a major first step in raising awareness of privacy-invasive apps. It was now easy for users to compare something like Signal, which collects virtually no data at all, and Facebook Messenger, which gobbles up anything it can use to sell advertising or better its services. The feature set out to help users make informed downloads.

However, in recent years, I have seen a growing conversation around whether these entirely self-reported labels located further down on the application’s App Store page still impact the user’s decision before hitting “Get” to install.

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The thin and light design of Apple's rumored "iPhone 17 Air" will require some compromises. The device is rumored to lack three features found on many iPhone models, including a bottom speaker, an Ultra Wide camera, and a SIM card slot internationally.


The Information last year reported that the ultra-thin iPhone 17 model will have only a single speaker, built into the earpiece at the top of the device. This rumor appears to be accurate, as 3D renders of the iPhone 17 Air that have surfaced in recent weeks show only a few holes on the bottom edge of the device, which are likely for microphones.

Like the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be equipped with a single 48-megapixel rear Fusion camera, which is a main 1× camera combined with a 2× zoom option with "optical-like" quality. This means the iPhone 17 Air would lack an Ultra Wide camera for 0.5× photos, but this extra internal space should allow for a larger battery.

Apple started phasing out the physical SIM card slot on iPhones in the U.S. with the iPhone 14 lineup in 2022, so it should come as no surprise that the iPhone 17 Air is also expected to work with digital eSIMs only in that country. However, The Information reported that Apple planned to eliminate the SIM card slot on iPhones in more countries this year, so the iPhone 17 Air might only work with eSIMs internationally too.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 Air in September.
This article, "iPhone 17 Air's Ultra-Thin Design Will Result in These 3 Missing Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple’s recently announced iPhone 16e hit store shelves yesterday morning. It serves as a new entry point to the iPhone lineup, and replaces the family. While the iPhone 16e has a number of big upgrades over the iPhone SE 3 that it replaced, there are some smaller ones that might’ve slipped under the radar.

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This week's best Apple-related deals focus on the AirTag 4-Pack, Apple Pencil Pro, and Apple Watch Series 10. You'll also find a few new deals on Anker charging accessories on Amazon below.

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.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Take $31 off AirTag 4-pack


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

When we originally posted a deal on Apple's AirTag 4-Pack earlier this week, it was available for the previous record low price of $69.99. As the week continued, the 4-Pack continued to drop in price, and it's now available for $67.99, down from $99.00. Overall, this is a solid second-best price that's just about $3 higher than the previous low price.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker accessories


• Where can I get it? Amazon

Anker has a few new discounts on Amazon this week, including a 10,000 mAh USB-C portable charger for just $12.94 when using the code ANKER1688011 at checkout. You also have an opportunity to get this accessory for free when you purchase the popular 60,000 mAh Power Station with Smart Digital Display and Retractable Lantern for $113.00, down from $139.99.

Apple Pencil Pro

• What's the deal? Take $30 off Apple Pencil Pro


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Another all-time low price available on Amazon this week was on the Apple Pencil Pro, and it's still available for $99.00 today, down from $129.00.

Apple Watch Series 10

• What's the deal? Take $70 off Apple Watch Series 10


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon this week has numerous all-time low prices on Apple Watch Series 10, including both GPS and cellular models. You'll find $70 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 10 models in multiple case colors and band styles, and this time the deals do not require any coupon codes.

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, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Save on AirTag, Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and Anker Accessories" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In late 2022, initial payments for the Small Developer Assistance Fund started going out, with each eligible US developer receiving at least $1000 – up to 4x the projected minimum payout. A second round of payouts begun toward the end of 2023, and now the third and final round of payments started going out this week.

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With Friday's launch, the iPhone 16e has become the newest member of Apple's iPhone 16 family and the company's latest low-cost iPhone option, though it does come in at a significantly higher price point than the outgoing iPhone SE.


Other major Apple news and rumor stories this week included new details on both the iPhone 17 lineup coming later this year and Apple's first foldable iPhone expected in 2026, as well as additional tidbits from the initial iOS 18.4 beta and more, so read on below for all the details!

iPhone 16e Reviews: Is It Worth $599?

Following last week's introduction of the new iPhone 16e, the first media reviews landed just ahead of the device's official launch on Friday.


Apple's new cheapest iPhone includes excellent battery life thanks to a larger battery, Apple's custom C1 modem, and other optimizations, though there are some compromises such as a single rear camera, a lack of MagSafe support, and a lower-spec A18 chip than in the regular iPhone 16.

Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Reportedly Has No Visible Display Crease

Apple is making significant headway on its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with a new report suggesting the company has achieved a major breakthrough by effectively eliminating the screen crease that plagues current foldable devices.


Another rumor claims that Apple's foldable iPhone will have a 5.49-inch external display with an inner display that measures 7.74 inches when unfolded, while both displays will have an "unprecedented aspect ratio."

6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model. While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way.


Hypertension detection is expected to make its way into the Apple Watch Ultra after many years of development, satellite connectivity is expected to expand from the iPhone to the Apple Watch, brighter displays are likely in the works, and more.

Revealed: Entire iPhone 17 Lineup's Striking New Camera Designs

We're expecting some significant changes for the iPhone 17 lineup when it launches later this year, particularly with the rear of the devices, and a new set of CAD renderings shows what we may see.


The renderings are in line with previous rumors about a dual-material back casing for the Pro models with a significantly larger camera bump across the entire top portion of the devices, while the all-new ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air" will have a similar but smaller camera bump.

iOS 18.4 Includes a Small But Useful Change for CarPlay

While the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri overhaul appears to have been pushed back to a later update, the first iOS 18.4 beta does include some new features, and one of the small but welcome ones is a nice CarPlay improvement to display more app icons on CarPlay Home in some vehicles.


Other features in the initial iOS 18.4 beta include Priority Notifications for Apple Intelligence devices to help identify which of your notifications are likely to be the most important and bring them to the top of your Lock Screen, a new Ambient Music feature, and a new Food section for Apple News+ subscribers.

iOS 18.4 and related updates are scheduled to be released to the public in early April.

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch in May or June With These New Features

We've been hearing for some time about a second-generation AirTag, and a new rumor claims it could arrive in May or June.


While the claim doesn't include any detail about what to expect in the updated model, previous rumors have pointed to range improvements, a more tamper-resistant speaker to help address stalking concerns, and potentially some sort of special Apple Vision Pro integration.

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: iPhone 16e Launch, iPhone 17 and Foldable Rumors, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Together with Chargeasap, we’re giving away Apple’s latest MacBook Pro to one reader this month to kick off the launch of the company’s new Flash Pro Ultra, the world’s first dual OLED 275W powerbank. Keep reading to learn more about the new Flash Pro Ultra by Chargeasap and enter the giveaway now.

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iOS 18.4 was supposed to bring new Apple Intelligence Siri features, but Apple ended up needing to pull those capabilities from the update to continue testing. There are fewer new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ additions now, but there are still some new features that will make the update worth installing when it comes out in April.

Priority Notifications

Apple introduced Priority Notifications back at the June 2024 WWDC, and it's another ‌Apple Intelligence‌ feature that we've been waiting on since the September iOS 18 release.


With Priority Notifications, Apple analyzes your incoming notifications and highlights the ones that are important, based on context and time. If you've ordered food and your order is approaching, Apple will highlight that notification as a priority, placing it above other notifications. The same goes for anything that has a time-based component, or something else that needs immediate attention.

Priority Notifications is opt-in in the iOS 18.4 beta, so it needs to be turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications.

When turned on, Priority Notifications show up first in your list of notifications on the Lock Screen, in a separate box with an icon that stands out. You can still see all of your other notifications by swiping.

Image Playground

When the Image Playground app launched, it only had Animation and Illustration styles to choose from for the images you make, but there were always meant to be three options.


With the iOS 18.4 beta, the third "Sketch" option is available as well. Sketch is a style that looks more like a hand drawn image, and it is distinct from Animation, which is a 3D style, and Illustration, a simpler 3D image.

Apple describes Sketch as a "highly detailed and academic" style that "produces gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds," while the illustration style features strong outlines, bold colors, and simple shapes. Apple says the animation style has a "whimsical, 3D cartoon look."

New Languages

iOS 18.4 adds ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support for new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), plus localized English for Singapore and India.

iOS 18.4 Release Date

Apple has seeded one beta of iOS 18.4 to developers and public beta testers so far. A second beta will come next week, and it will be beta tested through the month of March.

Apple plans to release iOS 18.4 in early April.

Apple Intelligence Siri Features

There's a chance that we could still see the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features implemented in a later beta of iOS 18.4, but that's looking unlikely given that there's just a month until the update is set to come out.

Instead, Apple will likely add the ‌Siri‌ capabilities in an iOS 18.5 update. It is unusual for major new features to come in a .5 update as those updates often come out around the time when Apple transitions focus to a new version of iOS, but it's not unheard of. Apple has been releasing ‌iOS 18‌ features gradually, and we'll probably see a similar tactic with iOS 19. Rumors already suggest ‌iOS 19‌ development is being pushed back so that Apple can continue to work on ‌iOS 18‌.
This article, "These New Apple Intelligence Features Are Coming in iOS 18.4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 16e is now officially available in stores. Apple’s new entry-level phone looks similar to an iPhone 14 from the outside, but features the A18 chip inside. And thanks to a teardown video shared on the web, we can now take a better look at what’s new and what’s different inside the iPhone 16e.

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Instagram last month announced Edits, a new video editor app for mobile platforms that aims to compete with CapCut (owned by ByteDance, which is behind TikTok). Although Meta promised to launch the new app on March 13, it now appears that it will be released a bit later than expected.

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After years going mostly unchanged, Apple’s Calendar app has started improving quickly over the last few months. And there’s one recent feature in particular that I’ve long wanted, and it’s made a big difference for me: integrating Reminders with the Calendar app.

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There’s a new Priority Notifications feature in iOS 18.4 to ensure important messages and alerts get prominent Lock Screen placement. But a different feature entirely was added in a recent iOS update—‘Critical Messages’—that enables apps to send your iPhone highly important messages via SMS. Here’s how it works.

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Apple TV+ is currently airing Severance season two, a hit that’s even surpassed Ted Lasso in viewer numbers. But if you haven’t yet tried Apple’s streaming service, there are a variety of ways to access Apple TV+ completely free—from trials and free periods to ongoing subscriptions. Here’s how.

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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with GRID Studio to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 128GB iPhone 16 Pro from Apple. For those unfamiliar with GRID Studio, it is a company that recycles discarded Apple products into art that celebrates Apple's history.


GRID Studio is having a special spring sale on some of its most popular products this week, plus there is a 15 percent off site wide discount available with the promo code SS15. As part of the sale, the GRID iPhone 2G, which features Apple's most iconic iPhone, is available for $299.

The ‌iPhone‌ 2G is also known as the original ‌iPhone‌, and it was the first ‌iPhone‌ that Apple made back in 2007. GRID's ‌iPhone‌ 2G piece features all of the device's internal components, labeled and artfully arrayed. The iconic original ‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌ casing is positioned next to the power button, headphone socket, speaker, logic board, ear piece, and other components, and this is before the days where Apple started making its own chips so there are some unique components to see.

The GRID iPhone 3GS is half off and just $99. The ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 3GS followed the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 3G, and that "S" was meant to represent speed. It had a processor that was twice as fast as the prior model, and it was Apple's first foray into really focusing on blazing fast performance. The GRID 3GS features the classic pre-iPhone 4 design, and it looks great framed and on the wall.


You can also get the GRID 4S for $99, and it features approximately 40 internal components from the ‌iPhone‌ 4S. The ‌iPhone‌ 4S was actually the last ‌iPhone‌ that was introduced in Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' lifetime, and it was the first Apple ‌iPhone‌ that Tim Cook introduced on stage without Jobs. The "S" stood for Siri, and it was the first ‌iPhone‌ with Apple's personal assistant.


GRID Studio offers plenty of other iPhones, too, plus iPads. If you have a favorite ‌‌iPhone‌‌ generation, it's likely that GRID has taken it apart. With each art piece, GRID separates out each of the components and provides labels for the parts.

To celebrate the spring sale, GRID Studio is giving away an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ to one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.


The contest will run from today (February 28) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 7. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after March 7 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone 16 Pro From GRID Studio" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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eufy cameras have long been some of the best options for outdoor HomeKit cameras. I had the original model of the in my old house, and I loved them. They were a breeze to install, and the battery life was fantastic. They worked great with HomeKit Secure Video, but they also worked great as HomeKit motion sensors and recording back to the eufy base station. Overall, I had zero complaints. I recently picked up the eufy E30, and it’s a fantastic HomeKit camera if you’re looking for an indoor camera that supports HomeKit Secure Video.

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Apple has released some of the first video ads for the iPhone 16e on its release day, including six new shorts plus a traditional video ad. The videos hit on a variety of talking points and feature promotions, but all seemingly supporting a single message: the iPhone 16e is the best iPhone for the average person.

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iPhone 16e reviews are now out, and Apple's custom-designed C1 modem has been put to the test. The results so far are quite surprising, as the C1's speeds are not as slow compared to Qualcomm modems as originally expected.


While the C1 does not support ultra-fast mmWave 5G in the U.S., it appears to offer comparable 5G performance to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X71 modem found in the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

First, here is what some reviewers said.

The Verge's Allison Johnson did not notice much difference between the C1 and the X71:

Much of the 16E is familiar, but there is one entirely new component: Apple’s C1 modem. This is its debut appearance, and the road to Apple's first in-house modem was reportedly full of setbacks and delays. I've used it for the past week to make FaceTime calls, upload large video files in crowded places, and stream YouTube on the bus. I tested it alongside a regular iPhone 16 equipped with a Qualcomm-made modem — both on Verizon — and I didn't see any consistent difference in performance between the two.

Tom's Guide's John Velasco didn't seem to notice any major difference either:

And finally, you should know that the iPhone 16e is the first device in Apple's portfolio to feature the company's in-house C1 modem. It's a departure from the Qualcomm modem that Apple's relied on for years now, but it's difficult to say if it ultimately delivers faster 5G speeds. I ran speed tests on both the iPhone 16 and 16e at three different locations in New York City, with only one test showing faster speeds with the iPhone 16e.

What about actual numbers?

In his iPhone 16e review video, Andru Edwards said the device achieved a peak 5G download speed of 673 Mbps in his suburban New York yard, while connected to the AT&T network. In the same location, he said the iPhone 16 Pro Max achieved up to a 667 Mbps download speed, so the results seem to be roughly equal.


In the middle of New York City, Edwards said his iPhone 16e achieved a download speed of 127 Mbps on AT&T, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max clocked in at 75 Mbps on the same network. In that test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max did have a superior upload speed of around 50 Mbps, compared to around 30 Mbps for the iPhone 16e.

In another iPhone 16e review video, shared by Dave Lee of the YouTube channel Dave2D, a speed test shows the device getting around 30 Mbps to 40 Mbps faster 5G download speeds compared to an iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both devices were connected to the Bell network in Toronto, the most populous city in Canada.


And finally, more scientific testing was shared on YouTube by the Chinese channel Geekerwan.

The channel tested 5G performance on various smartphones with an artificial 5G network in a lab environment, and the iPhone 16e had comparable 5G speeds and reliability compared to the iPhone 16 and other devices.

Apple says the C1 modem is the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever. More specifically, Apple seems to have told reviewers that the modem is up to 25% more power efficient than Qualcomm modems in other iPhones, and that appears to be an accurate statement. Geekerwan's testing found the iPhone 16e had an average power draw of 0.67W, versus 0.88W for the iPhone 16, which is indeed around a 25% improvement in efficiency.


All in all, these results are surprising compared to reported expectations, and they prove that the C1 modem works just fine in both the real world and lab.
This article, "How Fast is Apple's First-Ever 5G Modem? The Results Are Surprising" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today is the iPhone 16e's launch day, and Apple has shared a new ad promoting its most affordable iPhone. The short spot features an inflatable air dancer holding an ‌iPhone 16e‌.


Designed for social media and other quick ad placements, the ad features the song "Talk" from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco. It's focused on showing off the design of the ‌iPhone 16e‌, including the all-display design with Face ID and the single-lens rear camera.

The ‌iPhone 16e‌ is priced starting at $599, and while it is more expensive than the prior-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE 3 that it replaces, it features an A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, Apple's super efficient modem, ‌Face ID‌, 48-megapixel camera, and a range of other features that make it a solid alternative to the other iPhone 16 models.
This article, "iPhone 16e Stars in Apple's Latest Ad" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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On this week's special episode of The MacRumors Show, we answer your listener questions.


Responding to your queries from over the past few weeks, we talk pocket cameras, our own devices, the Mail app, visionOS, foldables and our dream iPhones, TV shows, hobbies, and more. The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



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


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our in-depth discussion about the all-new iPhone 16e.

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

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

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While we are still tracking a host of big-time deals on major Apple releases, including the latest Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Pencil Pro, M3 MacBook Air configurations at up to $420 off the original prices, and more, today’s deals are largely focused on big-time accessory offers. Firstly, the 4-pack of AirTags has now dropped to its best price ever at $64.50 (that’s $16 per AirTag). Next we move over to official Apple Watch bands – the Solo and Braided Solo Loops are now starting from $15 (that’s over 70% off) while the army green-style Alpine Loop is seeing a massive 55% price drop at $45. You’ll also find some M4 MacBook Pro deals and more awaiting below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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Apple has updated its support document for the recently introduced purchase migration tool, removing the EU and UK from the availability exclusion. India is the only remaining region listed where the Apple Account purchase migration tool isn’t offered.

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President Trump has chimed in on the UK’s attempt to force Apple to add a global backdoor to iCloud, likening the demand to “something that you hear about with China.”

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The biggest Apple series yet, Severance, will wrap up its second season in the weeks ahead. But Apple TV+ has several buzzy new March releases planned to keep subscribers around: Dope Thief will join the streamer’s growing slate of crime thrillers, Seth Rogen’s The Studio looks hilarious, and the new Mythic Quest spin-off Side Quest debuts. Here’s everything coming to Apple TV+ in March.

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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 ChargeASAP: Check out the Flash Pro Ultra, featuring a new 275W power bank with an OLED screen that can charge up to 6 devices simultaneously, including your MacBook, phone, smartwatch, and more!

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