Apple plans to enter the foldable smartphone market in September 2026, debuting its first foldable iPhone. We've heard multiple rumors about the design of the upcoming device, but little has been revealed about the operating system or the software features.


Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone‌ Fold will be around 5.4 inches when closed, and approximately 7.6 inches when open, giving it a 4:3 aspect ratio. We did a video featuring a rough ‌iPhone‌ Fold mockup at those dimensions yesterday, which provides an idea of what the device will look like.


When unfolded, the upcoming ‌iPhone‌ will be bigger than any ‌iPhone‌ to date, and not too far off in size from the original iPad mini. The current ‌iPad mini‌ has an 8.3-inch screen size, but the first models had a 7.9-inch display.

Since the ‌iPhone‌ Fold's inner display will be close to an iPad in size, will it run iOS or iPadOS? Will it work like a standard ‌iPhone‌ when the display is closed, and an ‌iPad‌ when it's open? Or will it get something in between?

We haven't heard much about iOS 27 as of yet or what Apple has in store for the ‌iPhone‌ Fold, so it's still a mystery. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that iOS 27 will lay the foundation for the foldable ‌iPhone‌ and future foldables, but that's about it.

With a larger display, the ‌iPhone‌ Fold will probably support some kind of split screen view or multitasking option, perhaps even adopting Slide Over. Apple Pencil support for a 7.6-inch display could make sense, but the ‌iPhone‌ Fold's display will be an awkward middle size between an ‌iPhone‌ and an ‌iPad‌. We haven't heard rumors that the ‌iPhone‌ Fold will work with the ‌Apple Pencil‌, but we also haven't heard rumors that it won't.

‌Apple Pencil‌ support could be useful for quick note taking, sketches, signing documents, editing photos and videos, and more. Steve Jobs famously said "Nobody wants a stylus," but in the years since he touted the ergonomics of the finger, the stylus has evolved. The ‌Apple Pencil‌ isn't one of the tiny plastic pens or imprecise rubber-tipped styluses that were around back in 2007 when Jobs commented on them. It's a writing implement that accurately mimics a pen or a pencil, and it feels natural to use.

Samsung's foldables supported the optional S Pen for many years, but the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 dropped the feature for a thinner and lighter design, which might not bode well for Apple offering the functionality. Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone‌ Fold is going to be somewhere around 4.5mm thick when unfolded, which will make it thinner than Apple's 5.1mm iPad Pro, the thinnest Apple device to date.

Some dedicated Samsung Galaxy Fold users are unhappy with the feature's removal, so there are definitely foldable smartphone customers out there who like the flexibility of being able to use a stylus. Rumors suggest that Samsung is considering bringing S Pen support back to the next-generation Galaxy Fold, which will, coincidentally, have a shorter, wider design to match the iPhone Fold. If Apple implements ‌Apple Pencil‌ support and Samsung doesn't, it's possible Apple will draw some switchers who don't want to use a foldable without a pen option. The opposite is also a possibility, so Apple could lose customers who don't want a foldable without a pen.

Google didn't design a stylus for the Pixel Fold, but it did implement support for the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI), so the device works with third-party USI pens. USI pens don't have the same functionality as the ‌Apple Pencil‌, lacking features like pressure sensitivity, but the basic stylus functionality is there for those who want it.

Apple could do something similar to Google. Add support for the ‌Apple Pencil‌ for those who want it, without making it a primary marketing point. That would make the ‌Apple Pencil‌ available for those who want the extra functionality, but it wouldn't be a necessity. Apple could also design an ‌iPhone‌ Fold-specific ‌Apple Pencil‌ that is sized to the device and able to be charged with it, but it all depends on how Apple wants to market the ‌iPhone‌ Fold.

If it's marketed as an ‌iPhone‌, ‌Apple Pencil‌ support is unlikely. Apple has long championed a touch-first approach, and no ‌Apple Pencil‌ support for the ‌iPhone‌ clearly separates it from the ‌iPad‌. If it's marketed as an ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ hybrid device, ‌Apple Pencil‌ support seems like more of a possibility.

Apple might not be able to implement ‌Apple Pencil‌ support at all because of technical limitations. Rumors suggest that the ‌iPhone‌ Fold is so thin that it doesn't have the space for the TrueDepth camera hardware for Face ID, so Apple is instead adding a Touch ID button to the device. With space at such a premium, a digitizer layer for the ‌Apple Pencil‌ is probably impossible. Apple also needs to take into account how an ‌Apple Pencil‌ would impact ‌iPhone‌ Fold features like the crease in the middle, and that might add too much complication.

Even if the first-generation ‌iPhone‌ Fold doesn't get ‌Apple Pencil‌ support, it could be a feature that Apple adds in the future as display technology improves.

Do you want ‌Apple Pencil‌ support for the ‌iPhone‌ Fold? Let us know in the comments below.
This article, "Will the Apple Pencil Work With the iPhone Fold?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+.

• What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year?


• Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+


• The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here


• 2026 Plans Still Under Wraps-For Now

There are rumors that an AI-based Health+ service will be introduced at some point in 2026, but the Apple Fitness+ post may simply be referencing some kind of fitness program or fitness promotion that's designed to help people meet their New Year's Resolutions. It sounds like an announcement is planned for January 1, 2026.

The Health+ service that's in the works will supposedly incorporate AI for personalized health recommendations and health coaching. Health+ will rely on the LLM version of Siri that Apple has planned, which isn't expected until iOS 26.4 in the spring, so we're probably not hearing about the service in January.


Apple has a "Ring in the New Year" Apple Watch activity challenge that kicks off on January 1, so the Fitness+ announcement could be related to that.
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This holiday season, Apple donated $5 to The Global Fund for every purchase made using Apple Pay on Apple.com, the Apple Store app, and Apple retail stores in the U.S. and other countries.


The Global Fund this week said that Apple raised a total of $3 million for the organization, which is dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries.

Apple capped donations at $3 million, so that means Apple customers raised the total possible amount through their purchases. Apple ran the promotion from November 28 through December 7 to fund critical health programs that save lives.

Apple has long supported The Global Fund with similar promotions and through sales of devices manufactured in (PRODUCT)RED colors. Apple has not offered any of its iPhones or accessories in (PRODUCT)RED colorways since the launch of the 2022 iPhone 14 models, but it does raise money each December in honor of World AIDS Day.

Apple has raised more than $250 million for The Global Fund during its 19-year partnership with the (RED) brand.
This article, "Apple Raised $3 Million for Global Fund's AIDS Fight Through Apple Pay Promotion" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max owners are having trouble with the speakers of their devices, and have complained about a static or hissing noise that occurs when the iPhone is charging.


There are multiple discussions about the issue on Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and Apple's Support Community, where affected users say there is a noticeable static noise "like an old radio." Some people report hearing it when playing audio and turning the volume down, while others say the static is audible without anything playing from the speakers. In some cases, there is a low crackle or a hiss when scrolling through webpages when the ‌iPhone‌ is charging, and some people hear the noise at low volumes even when the ‌iPhone‌ isn't on a charger.

Affected users report that the noise can be heard with chargers of all types, including Apple's official chargers. MagSafe charging causes the problem as well, but users report that the static noise is quieter. Unplugging the ‌iPhone‌ from the charger eliminates the sound for users who are experiencing the static noise when charging.


Some ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ users have exchanged their devices for new ones, but have run into the same issue.

One Reddit user has been in contact with Apple support, and says the issue has been forwarded to Apple engineers. Apple is apparently working on a fix, but the iOS updates that have been released so far do not appear to solve the problem. The sound is subtle according to most reports, so it may be a widespread issue that only those sensitive to the noise have noticed.
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Ahead of 2026 and associated New Year's resolutions, Apple has started sharing new social media ads focused on the Apple Watch as a motivational tool.

In a series of "quit quitting" spots, Apple Watch owners run away from a bed, a recliner, and a bar stool. Each spot includes a glimpse of the Apple Watch Workout app and messages that the device provides while running. The Apple Watch is able to provide updates on pace and activity segment, as well as alerts when activity rings are closed.







Each ad ends with the tagline "Don't Give In," and one ad also says that most people have quit their resolutions by January 9. Each ad is titled "Quit quitting with Apple Watch."

Apple has been sharing the ads on social media, and they've also been uploaded to YouTube Shorts.
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Over the last few weeks, iRobot has added Matter support to more of its Roomba robot vacuums, allowing them to be integrated with the Home app and used with Siri voice commands.


Matter integration has been available for the Roomba Combo 10 Max since earlier this year, but existing Roomba Plus 500 Combo, Roomba Max 700 Vac, and Roomba Max 700 Combo vacuums can get Matter support through a firmware update. Matter has not yet been re-added for the Roomba Combo J7 and J9.

Matter-enabled Roomba vacuums can be added to the Home app on devices running iOS 18.4 or higher, as long as a Home hub is available (Apple TV or HomePod). The Home app doesn't support the full suite of features available with robot vacuums, but basic commands are available. Vacuums can be set to vacuum and mop an entire home, or a specific room or area with ‌Siri‌ voice commands.

Once added to the Home app, a Roomba vacuum with Matter can be set to clean automatically with automations and can integrate with other HomeKit devices. You could, for example, set the Roomba to vacuum whenever you leave the house, or at a certain time. Automations can be triggered by presence, time, sensors, or when an accessory like a light is activated.

Apple added support for Matter-connected robot vacuums in iOS 18.4 earlier this year. Several companies have since come out with Matter options, including Roborock, Ecovacs, Switchbot, and Roomba.

iRobot's added Matter support comes as the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in December. iRobot has been sold to Picea Robotics, a Chinese company that already manufactures some of the Roomba devices. The acquisition is expected to be completed by February 2026, and iRobot says there will be no disruption in app functionality, product support, or customer programs.

Going forward, iRobot will remain a private company owned by Picea, and the Roomba brand will continue with new models planned for the future.

(Thanks, Max!)
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Apple is rumored to be introducing a foldable iPhone in September 2026, and since it will bring the biggest form factor change since the ‌iPhone‌ was introduced in 2007, curiosity about the design is high. A 3D designer created an iPhone Fold design based on rumors, and we printed it out to see how it compares to Apple's current iPhones.


The foldable ‌iPhone‌ is going to be smaller than any current ‌iPhone‌ when it's closed, and it'll be shorter than Samsung's Galaxy foldables. Rumors suggest it'll be somewhere around 5.4 inches, which would make it as small as the now-discontinued ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini.

When open, the ‌iPhone‌ Fold will be somewhere around 7.6 inches. It'll be smaller than the iPad mini, but the display will be larger than any ‌iPhone‌ to date. The ‌iPhone‌ Fold will be short and wide, for a book-like form factor and usage experience with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

We don't know the dimensions of the foldable ‌iPhone‌ yet, and rumors vary somewhat, so the 3D print isn't an exact representation of the device that Apple has in the works. The 3D model was based on a mockup created by MacRumors reader iZac, who based his design on rumors that were circulating in May. He mocked up a 5.49-inch display when the ‌iPhone‌ is closed, and a 7.76-inch display when it's open. There are no sizing rumors that are significantly off from those figures, but we've heard 5.3 to 5.5 inches for the outer (closed) display, and 7.6 to 7.8 inches for the inner (open) display.

iZac's design also uses a 4.8mm thickness for the device when it's unfolded, and rumors about thickness vary too. It could be 4.8mm, or it could be as thin as 4.5mm.

The hinge on the 3D print is just a stand-in, because we don't know what Apple's hinge will look like. Rumors suggest that Apple spent a lot of time and effort creating a hinge that will make the crease between the two halves of the device almost invisible. We also don't know what the camera area will look like.

Even though the 3D print isn't a spot on representation of the device that Apple is planning to launch, it's close enough to the rumors to provide a good idea of how the ‌iPhone‌ Fold will look and feel in the hand.

Do you plan to get an ‌iPhone‌ Fold? Let us know in the comments below.
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2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out.

1. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows.


2. One Thing (Free) - One Thing is a super simple menu bar app that helps you remember the one main thing that you need to accomplish. Whatever you type in will show up in your menu bar so it's front and center. Text and colors are customizable, and you can use emoji.


3. Launchy (Free, $6.99 Pro upgrade) - Launchy is a customizable app launcher and switcher with a radial menu interface that you can use to launch and switch between your seven favorite apps.


4. Folder Preview ($2.99) - Folder Preview lets you see what's inside a folder or a zip file by pressing the spacebar in Finder.


5. Command X ($4) - Command X brings the Windows cut and paste workflow to Mac. You can use Command X and Command V keyboard shortcuts to cut and paste folders in the Finder app.


6. ImageOptim (Free) - ImageOptim uses quality preserving compression to reduce image file size, plus it removes private EXIF metadata, thumbnails, comments, color profiles, and other image cruft.


7. Monocle ($9) - Monocle blurs your background apps and brings the main app you're using to the forefront, so you can better focus on what you're doing. Monocle says it's noise canceling for your screen.


8. Dockdoor (Free) - Dockdoor adds live window previews to the dock, and enables option + tab window switching. Hovering over an icon on your Mac's dock will show a preview of the app and all windows from it.


9. Substage ($3.99/month) - Substage adds an AI-based natural language text bar to the Finder app so you can control your Mac with simple written commands instead of tricky command lines. It supports converting, organizing, and managing files and images. It can also answer questions about files, do calculations, and manage settings on your Mac.


10. Bauhaus Clock ($19) - Bauhaus Clock adds an elegant clock screensaver to your Mac. It's design-forward, with careful attention to detail and a sharp look that makes the Mac a focal point in the room when it's idle. The look is customizable with different colors and day and night settings.

Have a favorite Mac app we didn't mention? Let us know about it in the comments below.
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Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far.


On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 ‌iPhone‌ Fold replica (via Macworld), which can be 3D printed to give you a rough idea of the size of the upcoming foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Subsy claims that the model is "based on recently leaked CAD drawings of the ‌iPhone‌ Fold," but there haven't been actual CAD leaks to our knowledge. There were reports of CAD drawings earlier this month, but it turns out those drawings were concept drawings and renders created by MacRumors reader iZac back in May.

iZac designed a mockup with a 5.5-inch display when the device is closed, and 7.76 inches when open. That's in line with the multiple rumors that we've heard, but so far, we don't have exact dimensions.

While you can now print a 3D mockup of iZac's concept, the design isn't based on an actual CAD render. It's likely somewhat similar to what the ‌iPhone‌ Fold will look like in terms of size, but Apple's design for the cameras and the hinge will probably differ quite a bit.

If you have a 3D printer, it's a useful way to get something that's close to the size of the ‌iPhone‌ Fold so you can see how it compares to your existing ‌iPhone‌. We'll likely see more accurate CAD renders and dummy models starting to surface in the first months of 2026.
This article, "Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A Texas federal judge today blocked an App Store age verification law that was set to go into effect on January 1, 2026, which means Apple may not have to support the changes after all.


The Texas ‌App Store‌ Accountability Act (SB2420) requires Apple and other app marketplaces to confirm user age when a person creates an Apple Account. Apple Accounts for users under 18 would need to join a Family Sharing group, with new controls available for parents and restrictions for minors.

In a preliminary injunction that delays the implementation of the act, Judge Robert Pitman said that it violates the First Amendment and is "more likely than not unconstitutional."

The Act is akin to a law that would require every bookstore to verify the age of every customer at the door and, for minors, require parental consent before the child or teen could enter and again when they try to purchase a book. As set out below, the Court finds a likelihood that, when considered on the merits, SB 2420 violates the First Amendment.

The injunction was in response to a motion filed by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), a group that includes Apple and Google. Today's decision is a win for Apple, as Apple has been fighting against age assurance requirements in Texas and other states. Apple says that the Texas law impacts user privacy.

While we share the goal of strengthening kids' online safety, we are concerned that SB2420 impacts the privacy of users by requiring the collection of sensitive, personally identifiable information to download any app, even if a user simply wants to check the weather or sports scores.

The court will move on to determining whether the law is facially invalid, which would mean that it is unconstitutional and will be entirely thrown out.
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