ConnexionApple fights India antitrust authority over access to global financials
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more…Vue lecture
WhatsApp to let users share recent chat history with new group members
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more…iPhone Air gets a SIM card slot in this interesting mod project
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more…Apple's Siri Chatbot in iOS 27: Everything We Know
Apple is planning to upgrade Siri twice in the coming year, adding personalization features in iOS 26.4 before turning the personal assistant into a full chatbot in iOS 27.
As long as timelines don't change, we'll see the Siri chatbot as soon as June 2026. Here's everything we know so far.
With iOS 27, Apple will change the way that Siri works. Right now, Siri can answer basic questions and complete simple tasks, but you can't engage it in a back and forth conversation, get help with multi-step tasks, or ask complicated questions.
Based on the current Siri chatbot rumors, Siri will be able to do all of that and more with the upcoming upgrade, and it will work like competing chatbots.
Apple wasn't initially planning to introduce a full chatbot that users can interact with similarly to Claude or ChatGPT, but chatbots have become too popular for Apple to ignore. Simply adding AI capabilities to apps and features isn't enough for Apple to stay competitive with the way people have embraced chatbots for everything from web searches to coding help.
Google has already integrated Gemini into a range of Android devices, and chatbots like ChatGPT have hundreds of millions of weekly active users.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Siri's chatbot capabilities will be "embedded deeply" into Apple's products at the system level. Siri won't be an app, but will instead be integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS like Siri is now.
Users will activate Siri in the same way they do today, speaking the Siri wake word or pressing on the side button of a Siri-enabled device. Siri will be able to respond to both voice and text-based requests.
We don't yet know what the new Siri interface will look like. Apple will need to make big changes to the way that Siri looks and feels if it wants to match functionality offered by companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.
People are used to opening up an app and having a full text interface that includes conversation history, and it's not clear how Apple will provide that if there's no dedicated Siri chatbot app. People will want to be able to access their past conversations and have tools for uploading files and images.
It's possible activating Siri could lead to an app-like interface that takes over the iPhone, iPad, or Mac's display, but that will be a departure from Siri's current minimalistic design. Apple could alternatively log conversations in a place like the Notes app, or in the clipboard on the Mac.
Gurman says that Siri won't be an app, but that might mean that it won't only be an app. There could be some kind of dedicated chatbot app that people can use, with Siri also able to be activated and used on a system level and in and across apps.
It sounds like the Siri chatbot will be able to do everything that current chatbots can do, and more.
Siri will also be integrated into Apple's core apps, including Mail, Messages, Apple TV, Xcode, and Photos. Siri will be able to search for specific images, edit photos, help with coding, make suggestions for TV shows and movies, and send emails.
In iOS 26.4, Apple plans to introduce a new, updated version of Siri that relies on large language models, or LLMs. Apple has been working on this version of Siri since Apple Intelligence features were added to iOS 18, but it was delayed because Siri's underlying architecture needed an overhaul to run LLMs.
Starting in iOS 26.4, Siri will be able to hold continuous conversations and provide human-like responses to questions, plus Siri will have new personalization features that will let it do more than before. What Siri won't have, though, is full chatbot capabilities. Here's what we're expecting:
With personal context, Siri will be able to keep track of emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent.
Onscreen awareness will let Siri see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell Siri to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask Siri to do it for you.
Deeper app integration means that Siri will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what Siri will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect.
You're not going to have a chat-like interface for back-and-forth conversations with Siri when iOS 26.4 launches, but the personal assistant should be very different than it is now. Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi told employees last summer that the Siri revamp was successful. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned," he said.
With all of the new functionality coming to Siri, Apple is planning to make visual design changes. It's not quite clear what that will entail, but for the upcoming table-top robot that's in the works, Apple has tested an animated version of Siri that looks similar to the Mac's Finder logo.
Apple could start rolling out that new, more personalized design when Siri gets the major iOS 27 revamp.
Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini can remember past conversations and interactions, retaining a memory of the user. Apple is said to be discussing how much the Siri chatbot will be able to remember.
Apple may limit conversational memory to protect user privacy.
Siri is getting a major overhaul, but Apple will probably continue to refer to it as Siri. It'll just be a much smarter version of Siri.
Apple has inked a deal with Google that will see Gemini powering upcoming versions of Siri. Apple plans to use Gemini for the iOS 26.4 updates that it is introducing, and Google's technology will also power the Siri chatbot.
"Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," the two companies said in a statement in January.
The Siri chatbot specifically will rely on a custom AI model developed by the Google Gemini team. Gurman claims that the custom model is comparable to Gemini 3, and that it will be much more powerful than the model behind Apple's upcoming iOS 26.4 features.
Apple and Google are also discussing running the Siri chatbot on Google's servers powered by Tensor Processing Units, probably because Apple doesn't yet have the infrastructure to handle chatbot queries from billions of active devices per day.
In the future, Apple will be able to transition Siri to a different underlying model, so when the company does have in-house LLMs powerful enough to compete with ChatGPT or Gemini, it can move away from Google. Apple will also potentially be able to offer chatbot capabilities in China by partnering with a Chinese AI company.
China restricts foreign companies from offering AI features in the country.
Siri's chatbot functionality will be the key new feature in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, and Siri's capabilities will be integrated into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Siri chatbot features could also come to other platforms like visionOS and tvOS.
There is no word yet on whether there will be some kind of fee associated with the Siri chatbot. The Siri chatbot won't be able to run entirely on device, and Apple is going to need major cloud processing power. Without taking into account any development or hosting costs, Apple is paying Google approximately $1 billion per year for access to Google's models.
Companies like Google and OpenAI spend billions on infrastructure and compute costs each year, and no AI service is entirely free. Apple will likely need to charge something, but it could do what Google has done with Gemini.
Google offers a free version of Gemini on Pixel smartphones and other Android devices that have integrated AI. The basic version of Gemini is able to answer questions, summarize text, write emails, and control apps and smartphone features.
Android users can pay $20 per month for Gemini Advanced to get access to the more advanced version of Gemini that offers better reasoning, longer context for analyzing bigger documents, and improved coding.
Apple is planning to introduce Siri's chatbot capabilities when it announces iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 at the June Worldwide Developers Conference. If the chatbot features aren't ready to go, Apple will likely hold off on showing off the new functionality because of the major mistake it made with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.
The Siri chatbot is expected to be introduced in the new updates in September after several months of beta testing.
This article, "Apple's Siri Chatbot in iOS 27: Everything We Know" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
As long as timelines don't change, we'll see the Siri chatbot as soon as June 2026. Here's everything we know so far.
SiriBot
With iOS 27, Apple will change the way that Siri works. Right now, Siri can answer basic questions and complete simple tasks, but you can't engage it in a back and forth conversation, get help with multi-step tasks, or ask complicated questions.
Based on the current Siri chatbot rumors, Siri will be able to do all of that and more with the upcoming upgrade, and it will work like competing chatbots.
Apple wasn't initially planning to introduce a full chatbot that users can interact with similarly to Claude or ChatGPT, but chatbots have become too popular for Apple to ignore. Simply adding AI capabilities to apps and features isn't enough for Apple to stay competitive with the way people have embraced chatbots for everything from web searches to coding help.
Google has already integrated Gemini into a range of Android devices, and chatbots like ChatGPT have hundreds of millions of weekly active users.
Siri Capabilities
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Siri's chatbot capabilities will be "embedded deeply" into Apple's products at the system level. Siri won't be an app, but will instead be integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS like Siri is now.
Siri Activation and Interface
Users will activate Siri in the same way they do today, speaking the Siri wake word or pressing on the side button of a Siri-enabled device. Siri will be able to respond to both voice and text-based requests.
We don't yet know what the new Siri interface will look like. Apple will need to make big changes to the way that Siri looks and feels if it wants to match functionality offered by companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.
People are used to opening up an app and having a full text interface that includes conversation history, and it's not clear how Apple will provide that if there's no dedicated Siri chatbot app. People will want to be able to access their past conversations and have tools for uploading files and images.
It's possible activating Siri could lead to an app-like interface that takes over the iPhone, iPad, or Mac's display, but that will be a departure from Siri's current minimalistic design. Apple could alternatively log conversations in a place like the Notes app, or in the clipboard on the Mac.
Gurman says that Siri won't be an app, but that might mean that it won't only be an app. There could be some kind of dedicated chatbot app that people can use, with Siri also able to be activated and used on a system level and in and across apps.
What Siri Chatbot Can Do
It sounds like the Siri chatbot will be able to do everything that current chatbots can do, and more.
- Search the web for information
- Generate images
- Generate content
- Summarize information
- Analyze uploaded files
- Use personal data to complete tasks
- Ingest information from emails, messages, files and more
- Analyze open windows and on-screen content to take action
- Control device features and settings
- Search for on-device content, replacing Spotlight
Siri will also be integrated into Apple's core apps, including Mail, Messages, Apple TV, Xcode, and Photos. Siri will be able to search for specific images, edit photos, help with coding, make suggestions for TV shows and movies, and send emails.
iOS 26.4 "LLM Siri" vs. Chatbot Siri
In iOS 26.4, Apple plans to introduce a new, updated version of Siri that relies on large language models, or LLMs. Apple has been working on this version of Siri since Apple Intelligence features were added to iOS 18, but it was delayed because Siri's underlying architecture needed an overhaul to run LLMs.
Starting in iOS 26.4, Siri will be able to hold continuous conversations and provide human-like responses to questions, plus Siri will have new personalization features that will let it do more than before. What Siri won't have, though, is full chatbot capabilities. Here's what we're expecting:
Personal Context
With personal context, Siri will be able to keep track of emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent.
- Show me the files Eric sent me last week.
- Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.
- Find the books that Eric recommended to me.
- Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?
- What's my passport number?
Onscreen Awareness
Onscreen awareness will let Siri see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell Siri to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask Siri to do it for you.
Deeper App Integration
Deeper app integration means that Siri will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what Siri will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect.
- Moving files from one app to another.
- Editing a photo and then sending it to someone.
- Get directions home and share the ETA with Eric.
- Send the email I drafted to Eric.
You're not going to have a chat-like interface for back-and-forth conversations with Siri when iOS 26.4 launches, but the personal assistant should be very different than it is now. Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi told employees last summer that the Siri revamp was successful. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned," he said.
Siri Redesign
With all of the new functionality coming to Siri, Apple is planning to make visual design changes. It's not quite clear what that will entail, but for the upcoming table-top robot that's in the works, Apple has tested an animated version of Siri that looks similar to the Mac's Finder logo.
Apple could start rolling out that new, more personalized design when Siri gets the major iOS 27 revamp.
Memory
Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini can remember past conversations and interactions, retaining a memory of the user. Apple is said to be discussing how much the Siri chatbot will be able to remember.
Apple may limit conversational memory to protect user privacy.
Naming
Siri is getting a major overhaul, but Apple will probably continue to refer to it as Siri. It'll just be a much smarter version of Siri.
Underlying Architecture and Servers
Apple has inked a deal with Google that will see Gemini powering upcoming versions of Siri. Apple plans to use Gemini for the iOS 26.4 updates that it is introducing, and Google's technology will also power the Siri chatbot.
"Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," the two companies said in a statement in January.
The Siri chatbot specifically will rely on a custom AI model developed by the Google Gemini team. Gurman claims that the custom model is comparable to Gemini 3, and that it will be much more powerful than the model behind Apple's upcoming iOS 26.4 features.
Apple and Google are also discussing running the Siri chatbot on Google's servers powered by Tensor Processing Units, probably because Apple doesn't yet have the infrastructure to handle chatbot queries from billions of active devices per day.
In the future, Apple will be able to transition Siri to a different underlying model, so when the company does have in-house LLMs powerful enough to compete with ChatGPT or Gemini, it can move away from Google. Apple will also potentially be able to offer chatbot capabilities in China by partnering with a Chinese AI company.
China restricts foreign companies from offering AI features in the country.
Platforms
Siri's chatbot functionality will be the key new feature in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, and Siri's capabilities will be integrated into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Siri chatbot features could also come to other platforms like visionOS and tvOS.
Cost
There is no word yet on whether there will be some kind of fee associated with the Siri chatbot. The Siri chatbot won't be able to run entirely on device, and Apple is going to need major cloud processing power. Without taking into account any development or hosting costs, Apple is paying Google approximately $1 billion per year for access to Google's models.
Companies like Google and OpenAI spend billions on infrastructure and compute costs each year, and no AI service is entirely free. Apple will likely need to charge something, but it could do what Google has done with Gemini.
Google offers a free version of Gemini on Pixel smartphones and other Android devices that have integrated AI. The basic version of Gemini is able to answer questions, summarize text, write emails, and control apps and smartphone features.
Android users can pay $20 per month for Gemini Advanced to get access to the more advanced version of Gemini that offers better reasoning, longer context for analyzing bigger documents, and improved coding.
Launch Date
Apple is planning to introduce Siri's chatbot capabilities when it announces iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 at the June Worldwide Developers Conference. If the chatbot features aren't ready to go, Apple will likely hold off on showing off the new functionality because of the major mistake it made with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.
The Siri chatbot is expected to be introduced in the new updates in September after several months of beta testing.
This article, "Apple's Siri Chatbot in iOS 27: Everything We Know" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple TV comedy returns soon with ‘outstanding’ new season: reviews here
Shrinking is one of Apple TV’s most beloved comedies, and it’s returning next week with a new season that early reviews say is another winner. Here’s what reviews say to expect from Shrinking season 3.
more…Class action seeks $2 billion over claims Apple Pay harmed UK consumers
Apple is once again under fire over how it operates Apple Pay, and whether that model is anticompetitive. Here are the details.
more…What to Expect From iOS 26.4
iOS 26.3 is shaping up to be a relatively minor update, with only a couple of notable new features, but iOS 26.4 is expected to be much more significant.
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a few weeks away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public at some point in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.4 features so far.
Earlier this month, Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power a more personalized version of Siri coming this year.
The more personalized version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, following a lengthy delay. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls, but some of this functionality might not be available until iOS 27 later this year.
For example, all the way back at WWDC 2024, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps.
Looking ahead, Apple is reportedly planning to launch a full-out Siri chatbot on iOS 27, allowing users to have ChatGPT-like conversations with Siri.
Last year, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are expected to be added to the iPhone with iOS 26.4.
Here are nine of the new emoji:
Macworld's Filipe Espósito last month leaked some other potential iOS 26.4 features:
This article, "What to Expect From iOS 26.4" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a few weeks away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public at some point in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.4 features so far.
Personalized Siri
Earlier this month, Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power a more personalized version of Siri coming this year.
The more personalized version of Siri is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, following a lengthy delay. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls, but some of this functionality might not be available until iOS 27 later this year.
For example, all the way back at WWDC 2024, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps.
Looking ahead, Apple is reportedly planning to launch a full-out Siri chatbot on iOS 27, allowing users to have ChatGPT-like conversations with Siri.
New Emoji
Last year, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are expected to be added to the iPhone with iOS 26.4.
Here are nine of the new emoji:
- Trombone
- Treasure Chest
- Distorted Face
- Hairy Creature (aka Bigfoot or Sasquatch)
- Fight Cloud
- Apple Core
- Orca
- Ballet Dancers
- Landslide
More
Macworld's Filipe Espósito last month leaked some other potential iOS 26.4 features:
- If you have credit card information stored in Apple's Passwords app, you will be able to AutoFill those details in third-party apps.
- You will be able to create folders in the Freeform app.
- Apple is apparently working on a new sports tier for the Apple TV app, but the report did not offer any further details about this.
- There are signs of "a new validation system that will check the integrity of the device before logging into Apple ID and iCloud."
- A new "Precise Outdoor Location" feature for AirPods in the Find My app.
Related Forum: iOS 26
This article, "What to Expect From iOS 26.4" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple will launch 20+ new products this year, here’s what’s coming
The new year is upon us, and Apple has a packed lineup of new products coming. Rumors indicate at least 20 new Apple products will launch before 2026 ends. Here’s an overview of everything new on Apple’s roadmap.
more…Apple tops Fortune’s 2026 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies
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more…HomeKit Weekly: Shelly Flood Gen4 brings cable water leak detection to Apple Home via Matter
Nothing in my life brings more stress than worrying about water leaks. Especially during the coldest part of winter, thinking about freezing pipes bursting, etc, it somewhat keeps me up at night. I have written before about how much I rely on water leak sensors to ensure I don’t have leaks that I’m unaware of.
While “puck” style sensors are awesome for slipping under a sink, they have a fatal flaw: water has to touch that specific 1-inch spot to trigger an alert. If the leak starts six inches to the left, you might not know until your floorboards are already warping. This week, I am taking a look at the new Shelly Flood Gen4 sensor.
more…iOS 26 added four new features I’ve been using almost every day
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more…Apple Cash Instant Transfer Fees Are Going Up Soon
Apple today began notifying Apple Cash users about an upcoming fee increase for the Instant Transfer feature. Starting on February 18, 2026, choosing the Instant Transfer option will cost 1.7 percent of the transaction amount, with a minimum of $0.25 and a maximum of $25.
Instant Transfer is the Apple Cash option that allows you to transfer money from Apple Cash to your bank account with no waiting period. The current fee is 1.5 percent of the transaction amount, with the same $0.25 minimum fee and a lower $15 maximum fee.
Using Instant Transfer to deposit $1,000 from Apple Cash to a bank account currently requires users to pay a $15 fee, for example, but that will increase to $17 after February 18.
An ACH transfer that takes one to three business days will continue to have no fee, and that is always an option for Apple Cash users.
Transferring money from Apple Cash to a bank account can be done by choosing the Apple Cash card in the Wallet app, tapping on the three-dot more button, and then selecting the Transfer to Bank option.
Apple Cash continues to be limited to the United States. It can be used to send and receive money from friends and contacts right in the Messages app as an alternative to services like Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.
This article, "Apple Cash Instant Transfer Fees Are Going Up Soon" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Instant Transfer is the Apple Cash option that allows you to transfer money from Apple Cash to your bank account with no waiting period. The current fee is 1.5 percent of the transaction amount, with the same $0.25 minimum fee and a lower $15 maximum fee.
Using Instant Transfer to deposit $1,000 from Apple Cash to a bank account currently requires users to pay a $15 fee, for example, but that will increase to $17 after February 18.
An ACH transfer that takes one to three business days will continue to have no fee, and that is always an option for Apple Cash users.
Transferring money from Apple Cash to a bank account can be done by choosing the Apple Cash card in the Wallet app, tapping on the three-dot more button, and then selecting the Transfer to Bank option.
Apple Cash continues to be limited to the United States. It can be used to send and receive money from friends and contacts right in the Messages app as an alternative to services like Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.
Tag: Apple Cash
This article, "Apple Cash Instant Transfer Fees Are Going Up Soon" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Cash is making instant transfers more expensive soon
Apple Cash users, there’s a change coming soon to the fee for instant transfers to a debit card, with increases both to the percentage and max fee. Here are the details.
more…Best Apple Deals of the Week: Apple Studio Display Hits Lowest Prices in Months, Plus Accessory Discounts From Satechi and More
This week saw a wide range of Apple-related deals, including some of the lowest prices we've seen in months on the Apple Studio Display, plus solid discounts on the M4 Mac mini, Mac-compatible monitors from Samsung, popular desktop accessories from Satechi, and even more.
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.
Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Ecovacs, Jackery, and Anker. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible chargers to portable power stations and robot vacuums.
Woot this week started a new Apple sale that includes some of the lowest prices we've tracked on the Studio Display in months. The items that we're focusing on in this sale are all in new condition and come with a one year Apple limited warranty, but there are other items that are refurbished.
Prices on the 27-inch Studio Display start at $1,349.00 for the standard glass/VESA mount adapter, down from $1,599.00, and also include all of the nano-texture glass options. We haven't tracked deals on the Studio Display in quite a while, so these are solid markdowns for anyone who's been waiting for a sale.
Amazon this week has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at low prices, starting at $499.99 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $130 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.
Satechi announced a few products at CES this month, and to mark the launch it's providing a 20 percent discount on these devices for early adopters. You can use the code CES2026 at checkout to get 20 percent off all five of Satechi's newest products.
Additionally, Satechi recently kicked off a new sale that has its most popular desktop accessories at 20 percent off for a limited time. To get this discount, enter the code REFRESH20 at checkout on the accessories found in Satechi's "Desk Refresh Collection."
Samsung recently introduced a sale across its most popular Vision AI-supported monitors and TVs, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame and the Smart Monitor series. These deals have all been applied automatically on Samsung's website, and many match all-time low prices on these products.
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.
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Apple Studio Display Hits Lowest Prices in Months, Plus Accessory Discounts From Satechi and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
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.
Amazon Sale
- What's the deal? Take up to $450 off popular accessories
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
Amazon this week has a few notable sales from popular brands like Ecovacs, Jackery, and Anker. These include discounts on everything from MagSafe-compatible chargers to portable power stations and robot vacuums.
- Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop - $699.00, down from $799.00
- Ecovacs Deebot X11 OmniCyclone Robot Vacuum and Mop - $1,099.00, down from $1,499.99
- Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Qi2 Charger - $61.98, down from $89.99
- Anker 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube - $97.49, down from $149.95
- Anker 14-Port Prime Docking Station - $169.99, down from $269.99
- Anker SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern - $179.99, down from $249.00
- Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 Portable Power Station - $399.00, down from $799.00
- Jackery Explorer 1500 Portable Power Station - $898.99, down from $1,399.00
Apple Studio Display
- What's the deal? Take up to $450 off Apple Studio Display
- Where can I get it? Woot
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
Woot this week started a new Apple sale that includes some of the lowest prices we've tracked on the Studio Display in months. The items that we're focusing on in this sale are all in new condition and come with a one year Apple limited warranty, but there are other items that are refurbished.
Prices on the 27-inch Studio Display start at $1,349.00 for the standard glass/VESA mount adapter, down from $1,599.00, and also include all of the nano-texture glass options. We haven't tracked deals on the Studio Display in quite a while, so these are solid markdowns for anyone who's been waiting for a sale.
Mac Mini
- What's the deal? Take up to $130 off M4 Mac mini
- Where can I get it? Amazon
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
Amazon this week has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at low prices, starting at $499.99 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $130 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.
Satechi
- What's the deal? Take 20% off Satechi's new products
- Where can I get it? Satechi
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
Note: Use code CES2026 to see this discount.
Note: Use code REFRESH20 to see this discount.
Satechi announced a few products at CES this month, and to mark the launch it's providing a 20 percent discount on these devices for early adopters. You can use the code CES2026 at checkout to get 20 percent off all five of Satechi's newest products.
Additionally, Satechi recently kicked off a new sale that has its most popular desktop accessories at 20 percent off for a limited time. To get this discount, enter the code REFRESH20 at checkout on the accessories found in Satechi's "Desk Refresh Collection."
Samsung
- What's the deal? Save on Samsung monitors and TVs
- Where can I get it? Samsung
- Where can I find the original deal? Right here
Samsung recently introduced a sale across its most popular Vision AI-supported monitors and TVs, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame and the Smart Monitor series. These deals have all been applied automatically on Samsung's website, and many match all-time low prices on these products.
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.
Deals Newsletter
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Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Apple Studio Display Hits Lowest Prices in Months, Plus Accessory Discounts From Satechi and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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iOS 27 sounds like exactly what the iPhone needs right now
Apple will unveil iOS 27 at WWDC in June, and rumors are already painting a clear picture: it sounds like exactly the update iPhone needs.
more…Apple to Show More Ads in App Store Starting in March
In an email to developers this week, Apple indicated that it will begin showing additional ads in App Store search results starting Tuesday, March 3.
The extra ads will first appear in the App Store in the U.K. and Japan, followed by other markets like the U.S. by the end of March, according to Apple.
Apple first announced that it would be expanding the number of ad slots in the App Store search results last month, but it had not provided an exact date for the change until now. Currently, developers can only pay to have an app appear in a single slot at the top of the search results, but Apple said there will now be multiple slots further down.
Apple shared more details on its website:
The extra ad slots will be visible on iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 26.2 or iPadOS 26.2 and later. Apps with paid placement have an "Ad" label.
Ads are also shown in the App Store's "Today" tab, in a "You Might Also Like" section at the bottom of individual app listings, and in the search tab's "Suggested" section. Apple rebranded its "Search Ads" business as "Apple Ads" last year, as it reportedly prepares to begin showing ads in more places, such as Apple Maps.
This article, "Apple to Show More Ads in App Store Starting in March" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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The extra ads will first appear in the App Store in the U.K. and Japan, followed by other markets like the U.S. by the end of March, according to Apple.
Apple first announced that it would be expanding the number of ad slots in the App Store search results last month, but it had not provided an exact date for the change until now. Currently, developers can only pay to have an app appear in a single slot at the top of the search results, but Apple said there will now be multiple slots further down.
Apple shared more details on its website:
Search is the way most people find and download apps on the App Store, with nearly 65 percent of downloads happening directly after a search. To help give advertisers more opportunities to drive downloads from search results, Apple Ads will introduce additional ads across search queries. The additional ads will roll out in phases, appearing across all markets by the end of March. You don't need to change your campaign in order to be eligible for any new positions. Your ad will run in either the existing position — at the top of search results — or further down in search results. If you have a search results campaign running, your ad will be automatically eligible for all available positions, but you can't select or bid for a particular one.Additional ads equals additional services revenue for Apple.
The extra ad slots will be visible on iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 26.2 or iPadOS 26.2 and later. Apps with paid placement have an "Ad" label.
Ads are also shown in the App Store's "Today" tab, in a "You Might Also Like" section at the bottom of individual app listings, and in the search tab's "Suggested" section. Apple rebranded its "Search Ads" business as "Apple Ads" last year, as it reportedly prepares to begin showing ads in more places, such as Apple Maps.
This article, "Apple to Show More Ads in App Store Starting in March" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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9to5Mac Daily: January 23, 2026 – Apple’s AI team, creator event
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 Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year.
Apple’s rumored ‘HomePad’ device gets encouraging launch update
Rumors indicate there’s a big year ahead for Apple Home products, including a brand new device that could be called ‘HomePad’ or ‘HomePod Touch.’ Here’s the latest launch timing update.
more…The MacRumors Show: Apple's Upcoming Siri Chatbot and AI Pin
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's plan to turn Siri into a chatbot with iOS 27, alongside plans for new hardware such as an AI pin.
Apple reportedly plans to turn Siri into a chatbot that will rival Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and OpenAI's ChatGPT later this year. Apple's chatbot will apparently be able to search the web, generate content like images, help with coding, summarize information, and analyze uploaded files.
It will be able to leverage personal data on a user's device to complete tasks, and it will result in a much improved search feature. Apple is also said to be designing a feature that will let the Siri chatbot view open windows and on-screen content, as well as adjust device features and settings.
Siri will integrate directly into all Apple apps, including Photos, Mail, Messages, Music, and TV, and it will be able to access and analyze content in the apps to respond to queries and requests. There will be voice and typed interface options.
Apple plans to power the chatbot with a custom model based on Google Gemini. It may even run on Google's servers. The Siri chatbot will purportedly be the key new feature in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
In related news, Apple is said to be working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with standard and wide-angle cameras to capture photos and videos, a speaker, microphones, and a physical control button. The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape and an aluminum and glass design.
This week also saw rumors that Apple's smart home hub device will tout a robotic swiveling base, with a heavy emphasis on AI features. It is expected to finally be released in the spring, following a heavily delayed launch.
The MacRumors Show 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 to hear our discussion about CES 2026, Apple Creator Studio, and the confirmation that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri.
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 Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, 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, 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: Apple's Upcoming Siri Chatbot and AI Pin" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos
Apple reportedly plans to turn Siri into a chatbot that will rival Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and OpenAI's ChatGPT later this year. Apple's chatbot will apparently be able to search the web, generate content like images, help with coding, summarize information, and analyze uploaded files.
It will be able to leverage personal data on a user's device to complete tasks, and it will result in a much improved search feature. Apple is also said to be designing a feature that will let the Siri chatbot view open windows and on-screen content, as well as adjust device features and settings.
Siri will integrate directly into all Apple apps, including Photos, Mail, Messages, Music, and TV, and it will be able to access and analyze content in the apps to respond to queries and requests. There will be voice and typed interface options.
Apple plans to power the chatbot with a custom model based on Google Gemini. It may even run on Google's servers. The Siri chatbot will purportedly be the key new feature in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
In related news, Apple is said to be working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with standard and wide-angle cameras to capture photos and videos, a speaker, microphones, and a physical control button. The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape and an aluminum and glass design.
This week also saw rumors that Apple's smart home hub device will tout a robotic swiveling base, with a heavy emphasis on AI features. It is expected to finally be released in the spring, following a heavily delayed launch.
The MacRumors Show 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 to hear our discussion about CES 2026, Apple Creator Studio, and the confirmation that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri.
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 Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, 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, 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.
Tag: The MacRumors Show
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple's Upcoming Siri Chatbot and AI Pin" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple turning to Intel for future iPhone chips, analyst reaffirms
Multiple reports have indicated that Apple is turning to Intel for future iPhone chips. Now, analyst Jeff Pu is out today with a new research note once again affirming an upcoming partnership between the two companies.
more…Deals: M5 iPad Pro $150 off, M4 Pro Mac mini $150 off, Trail Loops, and more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is kicking off with another chance to land AirPods Pro 3 back down at holiday pricing (although they are going in and out of stock at this point). As far as today’s more stable discounts, we have nearly $150 off the most affordable 13-inch M5 iPad Pro models as well as a solid $150 in savings on the M4 Pro Mac mini. From there, we have added additional price drops on official Apple Watch bands, including this green Trail Loop, this Anker5-port travel adapter at $20, and more.
Apple Rumored to Partner With Intel on iPhone Chips
It has once again been rumored that Apple might revive its chipmaking partnership with Intel, but the chips would be designed by Apple rather than Intel.
In a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu reiterated his expectation that Intel will begin supplying some Apple chips using its future 14A process, which will reportedly be ready for mass production in 2028.
Last month, Pu said that he expected Intel to reach a chip supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone models starting in 2028. Based on that timeframe, Intel could supply Apple with at least a portion of future A21 or A22 chips for iPhones, but TSMC is expected to remain Apple's primary chipmaking partner.
There is no indication that Intel would play a role in designing the iPhone chips, with its involvement expected to be strictly limited to fabrication. That would differ from the era of Intel Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture. Apple began transitioning away from Intel processors in Macs in 2020.
Intel also supplied Apple with cellular modems for some iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.
Apple's return to Intel might also involve some Mac and iPad chips. Last year, Tianfeng Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Intel to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip for select Mac and iPad models as early as mid-2027. For this, Kuo said Apple planned to utilize Intel's 18A process. He did not mention the iPhone.
Intel would help Apple diversify its supply chain, which could come at a pivotal time, as Nvidia has reportedly surpassed Apple as TSMC's largest customer amid rising competition for chip supply for consumer devices and especially AI servers. Apple would also be boosting its U.S. manufacturing, in line with the Trump administration's push for domestic production.
This article, "Apple Rumored to Partner With Intel on iPhone Chips" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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In a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu reiterated his expectation that Intel will begin supplying some Apple chips using its future 14A process, which will reportedly be ready for mass production in 2028.
Last month, Pu said that he expected Intel to reach a chip supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone models starting in 2028. Based on that timeframe, Intel could supply Apple with at least a portion of future A21 or A22 chips for iPhones, but TSMC is expected to remain Apple's primary chipmaking partner.
There is no indication that Intel would play a role in designing the iPhone chips, with its involvement expected to be strictly limited to fabrication. That would differ from the era of Intel Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture. Apple began transitioning away from Intel processors in Macs in 2020.
Intel also supplied Apple with cellular modems for some iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.
Apple's return to Intel might also involve some Mac and iPad chips. Last year, Tianfeng Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Intel to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip for select Mac and iPad models as early as mid-2027. For this, Kuo said Apple planned to utilize Intel's 18A process. He did not mention the iPhone.
Intel would help Apple diversify its supply chain, which could come at a pivotal time, as Nvidia has reportedly surpassed Apple as TSMC's largest customer amid rising competition for chip supply for consumer devices and especially AI servers. Apple would also be boosting its U.S. manufacturing, in line with the Trump administration's push for domestic production.
This article, "Apple Rumored to Partner With Intel on iPhone Chips" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Here’s everything new Apple TV has coming in February
The early theme of Apple TV’s 2026 is new seasons of existing shows. January was packed with five such series, and now a couple more are coming in February—including a big-budget sci-fi epic. Here’s everything new coming to Apple TV in February.
more…Apple Raised UK Banking Costs, Lawsuit Alleges
A new UK class action lawsuit against Apple seeks billions in damages by alleging that the company unlawfully restricted competition in contactless payments on the iPhone through Apple Pay, The Guardian reports.
The proposed opt-out collective action filed this week in the UK alleges that Apple abused its position in the market by limiting access to the iPhone's near-field communication (NFC) technology and charging fees to banks for the use of Apple Pay. The claim seeks up to £1.5 billion (approximately $2 billion) in damages on behalf of an estimated 50 million UK consumers.
The complainant argues that Apple Pay has effectively been the only contactless mobile payment option available to iPhone users in the UK since its launch in 2015. According to the filing, Apple declined to grant third-party developers access to the iPhone's NFC hardware and Secure Element, preventing rival wallets from operating on equal terms and leaving banks and card issuers with no alternative but to participate in Apple Pay if they wished to offer mobile contactless payments to iPhone users.
The case heavily focuses on fees Apple reportedly charges issuing banks for Apple Pay transactions, commonly cited in industry reporting as approximately 0.15% of the transaction value in the UK. These fees are allegedly not consistent with industry norms and were only possible because Apple restricted competition on its platform. The suit further contends that banks passed the costs of those fees on to consumers through higher charges across a wide range of financial products, including current accounts, credit cards, savings accounts, and mortgages.
Around 98% of UK consumers hold accounts with banks that support Apple Pay and were therefore exposed to higher costs regardless of whether they personally used the service. On that basis, the claim seeks damages on a population-wide basis. The average payout per affected consumer would be relatively modest, estimated at roughly £26 to £35 if the claim were successful.
In a statement, Apple said that the lawsuit was "misguided and should be dismissed," adding:
Apple also emphasized changes to its platform that have occurred since the period covered by the claim. The company said it has recently expanded access to key technologies, including NFC and the Secure Element, allowing third-party developers to offer contactless payments within their own apps in the UK.
The claim has been lodged with the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which must determine whether the case can proceed as a collective action.
This article, "Apple Raised UK Banking Costs, Lawsuit Alleges" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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The proposed opt-out collective action filed this week in the UK alleges that Apple abused its position in the market by limiting access to the iPhone's near-field communication (NFC) technology and charging fees to banks for the use of Apple Pay. The claim seeks up to £1.5 billion (approximately $2 billion) in damages on behalf of an estimated 50 million UK consumers.
The complainant argues that Apple Pay has effectively been the only contactless mobile payment option available to iPhone users in the UK since its launch in 2015. According to the filing, Apple declined to grant third-party developers access to the iPhone's NFC hardware and Secure Element, preventing rival wallets from operating on equal terms and leaving banks and card issuers with no alternative but to participate in Apple Pay if they wished to offer mobile contactless payments to iPhone users.
The case heavily focuses on fees Apple reportedly charges issuing banks for Apple Pay transactions, commonly cited in industry reporting as approximately 0.15% of the transaction value in the UK. These fees are allegedly not consistent with industry norms and were only possible because Apple restricted competition on its platform. The suit further contends that banks passed the costs of those fees on to consumers through higher charges across a wide range of financial products, including current accounts, credit cards, savings accounts, and mortgages.
Around 98% of UK consumers hold accounts with banks that support Apple Pay and were therefore exposed to higher costs regardless of whether they personally used the service. On that basis, the claim seeks damages on a population-wide basis. The average payout per affected consumer would be relatively modest, estimated at roughly £26 to £35 if the claim were successful.
In a statement, Apple said that the lawsuit was "misguided and should be dismissed," adding:
Apple Pay is a seamless and secure way for users to make contactless payments, and one of many payment options available to consumers. Apple does not charge fees to consumers or merchants for using Apple Pay, and banks see meaningful benefits from offering Apple Pay to their customers - most notably fraud reduction.
Apple also emphasized changes to its platform that have occurred since the period covered by the claim. The company said it has recently expanded access to key technologies, including NFC and the Secure Element, allowing third-party developers to offer contactless payments within their own apps in the UK.
The claim has been lodged with the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which must determine whether the case can proceed as a collective action.
This article, "Apple Raised UK Banking Costs, Lawsuit Alleges" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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