Apple today confirmed that "several" car makers still plan to support next-generation CarPlay in future vehicle models. Apple said each car brand will share more details as they near the announcements of these vehicles, but it did not provide a timeframe. Apple previously said next-generation ‌CarPlay‌ would launch in 2024, but that did not happen.


Apple's statement about next-generation ‌CarPlay‌:

The next generation of CarPlay builds on years of success and insights gained from CarPlay, delivering the best of Apple and the automaker in a deeply integrated and customizable experience. We continue to work closely with several automakers, enabling them to showcase their unique brand and visual design philosophies in the next generation of CarPlay. Each car brand will share more details as they near the announcements of their models that will support the next generation of CarPlay.

Apple also remains committed to its current ‌CarPlay‌ platform, and said it is available in over 98% of new cars sold in the U.S. over the past few years.

Apple previously said committed car makers included Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo. In December 2023, Aston Martin and Porsche previewed next-generation ‌CarPlay‌ designs, but have yet to deliver. It is unclear which car makers are currently working with Apple.

This news comes just minutes after Apple updated its website to remove the missed 2024 timeframe that it had previously stated for next-generation ‌CarPlay‌. Apple first previewed the software system at WWDC 2022.
This article, "Apple Says Several Car Makers Still Plan to Support Next-Generation CarPlay" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today released new beta firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases. The firmware has a build number of 7E5067b, and it is only available to developers at the current time.


It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find out. Non-developers will have 7B21 firmware on the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and 7B20 firmware on the ‌AirPods 4‌, with no change until the beta firmware sees an official launch.

There is no method for manually forcing the installation of a firmware update on AirPods. Firmware updates are generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or a Mac.
This article, "Apple Releases Beta Firmware Updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Big discounts have appeared today on Apple's M3 MacBook Air, with both Amazon and Best Buy offering up to $250 off 13-inch and 15-inch models. At Best Buy, these deals are available to all shoppers with the exception of two 15-inch models, which are only available to My Best Buy Plus/Total members.

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.

Prices start at $899.00 for the M3 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB SSD, down from $1,099.00, and also include both 512GB models at both Amazon and Best Buy. If you're shopping for the bigger MacBook Air, prices start at $1,099.00 for the M3 15-inch MacBook Air with 256GB SSD, down from $1,299.00, and reach up to $250 off for both 512GB models.

M3 13-inch

• 8-Core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $899.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 10-Core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 10-Core GPU, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,299.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]

M3 15-inch

• 10-Core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,099.00 ($200 off) [matched at Best Buy]


• 10-Core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,249.00 ($250 off) [matched at Best Buy for members]


• 10-Core GPU, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,449.00 ($250 off) [matched at Best Buy for members]

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.

---

This article, "Amazon's New MacBook Air Sale Has Up to $250 Off M3 13-Inch and 15-Inch Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

One of the biggest features of the RTX 50 series GPUs is the inclusion of Multi-Frame Gen in DLSS 4. And, since this is a topic that interests a lot of gamers, we’ve decided to have a separate article for it. So, time now to see what Multi-Frame Gen does, and whether it’s worth enabling … Continue reading NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Gen Benchmarks & Impressions →

The post NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Gen Benchmarks & Impressions appeared first on DSOGaming.

NVIDIA has lifted the review embargo for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. And, since the green team has provided us with a review sample, we can benchmark it and compare it against the mighty NVIDIA RTX 4090. For our benchmarks, we used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D with 32GB of DDR5 at 6000Mhz. We … Continue reading NVIDIA RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 Native 4K Benchmarks – 20 of the Most Demanding PC Games Tested →

The post NVIDIA RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 Native 4K Benchmarks – 20 of the Most Demanding PC Games Tested appeared first on DSOGaming.

Gamesir has been quite active in the recent years, releasing newer and refreshed gaming controllers. Having used and tested a few of Gamesir's controllers, I can say that I am a bit more impressed with their mid-range offerings, like Gamesir Tarantula Pro than the budget ones, like GameSir T7. The company is back again with another controller, the "Gamesir Cyclone 2", a successor to the first Cyclone controller. There are already some visible changes when you keep both side by side but apparently, the layout isn't changed. There are some small changes on the outside but some are significant, which […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/gamesir-cyclone-2-review/

Samsung today announced the launch of its new Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup, debuting the Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S25+, and its top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new devices will directly compete with Apple's iPhone 16 lineup, and unsurprisingly, AI is a major focus.

Design

Samsung hasn't made major changes to the look of its Galaxy S25 devices, but the S25 Ultra has rounded edges for a more comfortable grip, and Samsung says that it is the slimmest, lightest, and most durable Ultra device to date. It continues to have a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy S25+ offers a 6.7-inch display and the Galaxy S25 offers a 6.2-inch display.


The smartphone has a titanium shell and Corning's Gorilla Armor 2 for the front display, which Samsung says is more durable than glass. Gorilla Armor 2 is like Apple's Ceramic Shield, and it is made from a glass-ceramic material that is meant to improve drop protection and cut down on scratches.

Updated Galaxy Chip

All three of the new smartphones are equipped with a customized Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that is built on a 3-nanometer process. There is a 37 percent improvement in CPU performance, a 30 percent improvement in GPU performance, and a 40 percent improvement in neural processing and image processing compared to the S24 lineup. Samsung says that the new chip makes it possible to process more AI experiences on-device, mirroring one of Apple's key artificial intelligence aims.

Samsung added a Vulkan Engine for improved ray tracing to compete with Apple devices on the mobile gaming front, and there is a 40 percent larger vapor chamber along with thermal improvements for better heat dissipation.

Camera Technology

There is a new 50-megapixel ultra wide lens for the S25 Ultra, which joins the 200-megapixel wide lens and the 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens with 100x space zoom and 10x AI-powered "optical quality" zoom. The upgraded ultra wide lens is an S25 Ultra exclusive, and it makes a big improvement to macro shots.

10-bit HDR recording is a default option, which provides "four times richer color expression" for better detail in any lighting condition. Samsung says that the S25 devices are able to analyze movement and time to better reduce noise, providing clearer low-light videos.

Samsung mimicked an ‌iPhone 16‌ audio feature, adding Audio Eraser for video. Audio Eraser isolates categories of sounds like voices, music, wind, nature, and crowds to tone down or eliminate excess noise. Apple did something similar with Audio Mix for improving the sound captured in videos.

Samsung updated its built-in Filters feature to include new analog filters with a film-like aesthetic for photos and videos, which is akin to Apple's Photographic Styles feature for the ‌iPhone 16‌ models.

There is a new Virtual Aperture option for controlling depth-of-field, and Galaxy Log recording is available for precise color grading for professional video production.

AI Improvements

According to Samsung, the S25 series includes a "true AI companion" that understands the context of user needs and provides personalized AI experiences. Here are the new AI features:

• Personal Data Engine - Uses on-device learning to provide "highly tailored experiences" such as the Now Brief.


• Now Brief - There is a Dynamic Island-like "Now Bar" on the that contains a "Now Brief" that guides users through their day.


• Circle to Search - This existing AI option now supports phone numbers, email, and URLs. You can call, email, or visit a website with a tap.


• Quick GIFs - Circle to Search works in all kinds of new ways. If you circle a video in the YouTube app, for example, you can create a wallpaper or a GIF, adding the number of frames from the video that you want.


• Quicker Photo Editing - Samsung's generative editing features provide suggestions on what to remove from a photo, and the actual removal is an improvement over what's available on the iPhone.


• Actionable searches - The S25 supports interactive search with context-aware suggestions for next steps. When you highlight anything with an Circle to Search, you can get suggested actions.


• Natural language - Samsung says that the S25 series supports a "breakthrough in natural language understanding." Users can ask for things like a specific photo in the gallery, to adjust settings, and more.


• Third-party integration - Gemini, which can be activated by pressing the side button, can perform actions between Samsung apps, Google apps, and third-party apps like Spotify.


• Multi-step commands - Gemini and Galaxy AI work together to complete multiple tasks with a single command. For example, you can ask the S25 to find the next few games for your favorite sports team, and add them to your calendar while also sending a link to a contact.


• Portrait Studio - The Portrait Studio for the camera has been improved for creating personalized avatars that have more true-to-life facial expressions.

One of the main new features is the Now Brief, which can be found in the Now Bar. The Now Bar looks a lot like the ‌iPhone‌'s Dynamic Island, and it displays information from select apps throughout the day. In the morning, it displays a morning brief with sleep scores, top news headlines, weather, and more.


Later in the day, it can provide live sports scores, info from Google Maps, timers, and more. It's also interactive, like the ‌Dynamic Island‌.

Pricing and How to Buy

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is priced starting at $1,300 for 256GB of storage. The S25+ is more affordable at $1,000, and the S25 is priced to compete with the ‌iPhone 16‌ at $800. Samsung also has a new "Galaxy Club" early upgrade program that costs $8.33 per month and eligibility to get a new smartphone every 12 months.

Pre-orders are available for the Galaxy S25 smartphones starting today, with customers able to make a purchase from the Samsung website. Buyers who reserved a device already can apply a $50 discount, and Samsung is offering up to $1,250 in credit for an eligible trade-in plus 15 percent off Samsung Care+, a program that provides $0 screen repairs.

Note that pre-ordering the Galaxy S25 smartphones from the Samsung website offers customers the chance to get exclusive colors. The Samsung-only colors include Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Jadegreen for Ultra models, and Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold for the S25 and 25+.

The Galaxy S25 smartphones will see an official launch on February 7.
This article, "Samsung Launches Galaxy S25 Smartphones With New AI Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Amazon today has up to $175 off a collection of Apple's M4 iMac computers, and it's matching a few all-time low prices on the higher-end models. The cheapest M4 iMac available is the 8-core/16GB RAM/256GB 24-inch iMac at $1,194.00, down from $1,299.00.

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

You'll also find the 512GB models on sale, and each configuration has multiple colors available at these discounts. For the steepest markdown, Amazon has the 10-core/24GB RAM/512GB 24-inch iMac for $1,724.00 in two colors, down from $1,899.00.

• 8-core/16GB RAM/256GB - $1,194.00, down from $1,299.00


• 10-core/16GB RAM/256GB - $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00


• 10-core/16GB RAM/512GB - $1,549.00, down from $1,699.00


• 10-core/24GB RAM/512GB - $1,724.00, down from $1,899.00

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.

---

This article, "Get Up to $175 Off Apple's M4 iMac on Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 18.3 today, and with it comes release notes confirming what's new. While we knew about several of the features that are in the update, there are some lesser known tweaks and bug fixes.


The update adds new Visual Intelligence features for iPhone 16 models, it tweaks Notification summaries on all devices that support Apple Intelligence, and there are also bug fixes for Siri and Apple Music.

Visual intelligence with Camera Control (All iPhone 16 models)
- Add an event to Calendar from a poster or flyer
- Easily identify plants and animals

Notification summaries (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock Screen
- Updated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyph
- Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes available

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes: - Calculator repeats the last mathematical operation when you tap the equals sign again
- Fixes an issue where the keyboard might disappear when initiating a typed Siri request
- Resolves an issue where audio playback continues until the song ends even after closing Apple Music

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

The release candidate version of iOS 18.3 represents the final version of the software that will be released to the public in the near future should no additional bugs be found;

We are expecting iOS 18.3 to see a launch alongside iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3 next week.
This article, "Here Are Apple's Full Release Notes for iOS 18.3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

With iOS 18.3, Apple made a small but meaningful change to the way the Calculator app works, reintroducing repeating operations. When you tap the equals sign twice, the app will now repeat the last mathematical operation.


So, for example, if you type in 5x5 and tap the equals sign, you'll get 25 as a result. If you hit the equals sign again, it will multiply 25x5, and will continue multiplying by 5 every time you tap the equals symbol.

Repeating operations were an option in the Calculator app prior to iOS 18, but ‌iOS 18‌ removed the functionality. Users who have missed the feature will get it back after updating to iOS 18.3. Being able to repeat operations is useful for calculating compound interest.

Note that this feature has also been missing in macOS 15, but the macOS 15.3 update reinstates it.
This article, "iOS 18.3 Tweaks Calculator App Functionality" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today seeded out the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.3 update, and provided there are no underlying bugs discovered, the RC is the version of macOS that will be released to the public in the near future.


With the RC, Apple provided the release notes for ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3, so if you want to know exactly what's coming, here are the details.

This update introduces Genmoji, powered by Apple Intelligence, and also includes other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.
- Genmoji creation in Messages and other apps
- Calculator repeats the last mathematical operation when you click the equals sign again
- Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock Screen (Mac with Apple silicon)
- Updated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyph (Mac with Apple silicon)
- Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes available (Mac with Apple silicon)
Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100

With the exception of Genmoji, a feature that was already available in iOS and iPadOS, these release notes also pertain to iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3.

We're expecting ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3, iOS 18.3, and iPadOS 18.3 to see a public launch next week.
This article, "macOS Sequoia 15.3 Launching Soon: Here Are the Release Notes" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

When installing macOS Sequoia 15.3, iOS 18.3, or iPadOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be turned on automatically on compatible devices, Apple says in the developer release notes for the updates.

For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device

With ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1, ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2, iOS 18.1, and iOS 18.2, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ was opt-in rather than opt-out, and users who wanted the feature needed to turn it on in the Settings app. Going forward, it will be enabled by default, and Mac, iPhone, and iPad users who do not want to use the feature will need to turn it off.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3 also brings Genmoji to the Mac for the first time, so Mac users will be able to create custom emoji characters after installing the update. All three new software updates add tweaks to the Notification summaries feature to make it more clear when a notification contains AI-generated information.

Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3 today, which means the software updates will see a release in the near future. We are expecting the updates to launch to the public next week.
This article, "macOS Sequoia 15.3 and iOS 18.3 Enable Apple Intelligence Automatically" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

With the iOS 18.3 update, Apple is adding new Visual Intelligence features for the iPhone 16 models. After installing the software, ‌iPhone 16‌ users will be able to add an event to the Calendar app when using the Camera Control ‌Visual Intelligence‌ option to view a poster or a flyer.


Using ‌Visual Intelligence‌ to add an event to Calendar was a promised function that Apple showed off when introducing Camera Control, and it will be usable in iOS 18.3. To add an event, view a document such as a poster with a date, and then tap on the date when the feature pops up in the ‌Visual Intelligence‌ interface.

The update also adds a feature for easily identifying plants and animals with ‌Visual Intelligence‌. The Photos app is already able to provide insight into plants, animals, and insects when opting to view additional information in the editing interface, but Camera Control will now show these details in real-time.

When viewing an animal or a plant with ‌Visual Intelligence‌, you may see a tappable bubble that lets you know what you're looking at. Tapping it provides more information.


‌Visual Intelligence‌ is an Apple Intelligence feature that is exclusive to the ‌iPhone 16‌ models. It can be activated by long pressing on the Camera Control button.
This article, "iOS 18.3 Adds New Visual Intelligence Features for iPhone 16" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today provided developers with the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.3 update, with the update coming a week after Apple released the third beta.


Registered developers can opt-in to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. An Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.3 brings Genmoji to the Mac, a feature that was previously limited to the iPhone and iPad. With ‌Genmoji‌, Mac users can create custom characters with a text-based prompt, similar to how Image Playground works.

‌Genmoji‌ characters behave just like emoji on devices running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ 15.1 and later, but on earlier versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, ‌Genmoji‌ are sent as images. ‌Genmoji‌ can be added from the emoji interface, and image generation is done on-device.

All macs with an Apple silicon chip support ‌Genmoji‌ and other Apple Intelligence features.
This article, "Apple Seeds macOS Sequoia 15.3 Release Candidate to Developers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the third betas.


iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update.

With the update, Apple made several changes to Apple Intelligence Notification Summaries, such as removing news-related summaries temporarily.

Additional ‌Apple Intelligence‌ Siri updates are coming later in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates that will follow iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. We're expecting to see the new software launch toward the end of January.
This article, "Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple plans to release at least one new iPad Pro model this year, according to a supplier-focused report today from Korean website The Elec. It is likely that the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models would be updated simultaneously.


After receiving an OLED display last year, the report said the iPad Pro will receive only "minor" changes this year. Overall, the next iPad Pro is expected to look "similar" to the current models, suggesting that the device will not receive any major design changes this year. All in all, expect a spec bump only for the next iPad Pro models.

The report is focused on the possibility of South Korean company LX Semicon supplying display drivers for the new iPad Pro this year. It said that components for the device would go into mass production in April or May, suggesting that the next iPad Pro models are still many months away. A launch will likely occur later in the year.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple could have its next-generation M5 chip ready for the next iPad Pro by late 2025 or early 2026.

The current iPad Pro models with OLED displays and the M4 chip launched in May 2024.

Earlier this year, Apple is expected to release new iPad Air and entry-level iPad 11 models. Those devices will likely launch by March or April. According to Gurman, the iPad 11 will be equipped with an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence, while a recent leak indicated that the new iPad Air models will have an M3 chip.

It is unclear if the iPad mini will be updated this year, but it is typically only updated once every several years. After receiving the A17 Pro chip and more last year, the iPad mini might be the only iPad model that is not updated in 2025.
This article, "New iPad Pro Reportedly Launching This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

A new iPhone SE is widely rumored to launch this year, and the device has potentially been confirmed today by known leaker Evan Blass.


In a private social media post, Blass shared an image of what appears to be source code mentioning an iPhone SE (4th Gen), which casts doubt on the alternative "iPhone 16E" name rumored for the device. However, the name in the source code could be a placeholder, so there is no guarantee one way or the other yet.

Blass also shared a purported image of the new iPhone SE, and the device has a Dynamic Island instead of a notch. So far, the Dynamic Island is available on the iPhone 14 Pro models, all four iPhone 15 models, and all four iPhone 16 models.


There have been conflicting rumors about whether the next iPhone SE will have a Dynamic Island or a notch, so we will ultimately have to wait and see.

No further details were revealed about the next iPhone SE in this leak.

The new iPhone SE is said to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14 or iPhone 16. Rumored features for the device include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a newer A-series chip and an increased 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support, and the first Apple-designed 5G modem.

According to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone SE 4 will be released around the quarter mark of 2025. That means the device will likely be released this March or April, just like all three previous iPhone SE models were.

The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. Pricing starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems probable for the next model.

The leak from Blass also mentioned new iPad Air and entry-level iPad 11 models, which do not appear to have any obvious design changes. Those devices are also likely to be announced by March or April this year.
This article, "iPhone SE 4 Leak Shows Dynamic Island, Casts Doubt on Rumored 'iPhone 16E' Name" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's next-generation iPad Air and entry-level iPad models have seemingly been confirmed today by known leaker Evan Blass.


In a private social media post, Blass shared an image of what appears to be source code mentioning unreleased 11-inch iPad Air, 13-inch iPad Air, and iPad 11 models. It is unclear where this information was obtained from, but Blass has a pretty good track record with leaks. In 2020, for example, he revealed marketing images for the iPhone 12 lineup and HomePod mini a few hours before those devices were announced.

Notably, the leak reveals the next iPad Air models will apparently be equipped with the M3 chip. There had been speculation that Apple might use the iPad Pro's M4 chip for the next iPad Air models instead, in a move away from chips manufactured with TSMC's expensive and lower-yield first-generation 3nm process, known as N3B. There was a six-month period in 2022 where both the iPad Pro and iPad Air had the M1 chip, so there is precedent for such a thing. Nonetheless, it appears the iPad Air will use the M3 chip.

The leak does not mention which chip the iPad 11 will use, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously said the device will be equipped with the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM to enable Apple Intelligence support on the entry-level iPad.

The leak also seems to confirm the widely-rumored iPhone SE 4.


iPad 10 models have an A14 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM.

Apple unveiled the iPad 10 in October 2022, with pricing starting at $449 at the time. Apple lowered the iPad 10's starting price to $349 in the U.S. in May 2024. It is unclear if the iPad 11 will start at $349, or if pricing will return to a higher level.

Apple last updated the iPad Air in May 2024 with the M2 chip, and it also introduced the first-ever 13-inch iPad Air model at the time.

Apple will likely announce these new iPads by March or April this year. No major design changes have been rumored for the devices.

The new iPads are expected to be accompanied by new Magic Keyboards too.
This article, "New iPad Air Models With M3 Chip Seemingly Confirmed by Leaker" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

In September, Apple said that it would be launching Powerbeats Pro 2 in 2025, and it appears the wireless earbuds are coming very soon.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the Powerbeats Pro 2 are "due imminently." In addition to Apple filing the Powerbeats Pro 2 in regulatory databases last month, Gurman said Apple is planning to hold product briefings with the media "in a week or so" to go over the new features of the wireless earbuds.

Powerbeats Pro are a sportier, fitness-focused alternative to AirPods Pro with built-in, adjustable ear hooks for a secure fit. Apple's teaser video last year showed MLB star Shohei Ohtani wearing the Powerbeats Pro 2, revealing a more vertical, slimmer design compared to the original Powerbeats Pro, which are now discontinued.


We previously reported that the Powerbeats Pro 2 will offer heart rate monitoring during workouts. Based on our iOS 18 code findings, you will be able to connect the Powerbeats Pro 2 to gym equipment like a treadmill to measure heart rate, and the data will be visible in the Health app and other supported apps on the iPhone.

We also confirmed that Powerbeats Pro 2 will support Active Noise Cancellation, Spatial Audio, and Adaptive Audio. The earbuds and charging case will be available in Jet Black, Quick Sand, Electric Orange, and Hyper Purple, and the case should have a USB-C port.

Based on other recent Beats headphones, other potential upgrades for the Powerbeats Pro 2 include improved sound quality, longer battery life, and improved cross-platform compatibility with Android features like Find My Device.
This article, "Powerbeats Pro 2 Coming Soon: Apple to Announce Them 'Imminently'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Both Amazon and Best Buy have nearly every model of the 10th generation iPad for $70 off this weekend. Prices start at $279.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad [Amazon/Best Buy], which is a match of the best price we've tracked so far in 2025 and an overall second-best price on the tablet.

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

You'll also find the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad on sale for $429.00 [Amazon/Best Buy], down from $499.00. Both Wi-Fi models are available at these $70 discounts in all four colors: Yellow, Silver, Pink, and Blue. Both the Amazon and Best Buy discounts have been automatically applied and do not require any coupons or exclusive memberships.




Stock isn't as abundant for cellular models at either Amazon or Best Buy, but you can still find a few on sale. The 64GB cellular is down to $429.00 [Amazon/Best Buy] and the 256GB cellular tablet is available for $579.00 [only at Amazon], both of which are $70 discounts as well.

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

---

This article, "Get Apple's 10th Gen iPad for $279 at Amazon and Best Buy" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action.


Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google risked enormous fines if they did not remove access to TikTok and other ByteDance-owned apps.

In a support document published today, Apple said it is "obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates."

Apple removed TikTok, and other ByteDance-owned apps such as CapCut and Hypic, pursuant to the law that required them to.

"Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries — including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others — will no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025," wrote Apple.

Apple's support document also states that foreign visitors to the U.S. may have limited access to ByteDance app functionality due to the law.

iPhone and iPad users in the U.S. who already installed TikTok can no longer use the app as of late Saturday, as TikTok has made the app "temporarily unavailable." Outside of the U.S., the app remains available on the App Store and is fully functional.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office this Monday, January 20, and he reportedly might give TikTok a 90-day reprieve on the ban. However, it is not clear if TikTok will ever be able to operate again in the U.S. under ByteDance ownership, or if it will simply be given more time to sort out American ownership.
This article, "Apple Explains Why It Removed TikTok From the App Store in the U.S." first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

We're finally coming out of Apple's slower holiday season for news and rumors, and it looks like we've got some hardware and software updates arriving in the fairly near future to kick off what's expected to be a busy year for Apple.


The iPhone 17 lineup will be the big launch of the year as usual, but there's plenty more on the docket that should keep our attention all year long. Apple TV+ is also starting the year off with a bang with the highly anticipated season two premiere of Severance, the season two finale of popular sci-fi show Silo, and more, so read on below for all the details!

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 8 New Features

While the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max won't launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Among the more recent reports have been claims that the main camera sensor will be smaller than the one on the iPhone 16 Pro models and that all three rear cameras on both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature 48-megapixel resolution.


Meanwhile, Apple is preparing to launch an all-new "iPhone 17 Air" model that will be the thinnest iPhone ever, measuring as little as 5.5 mm at its thinnest points.

MacBook Air Likely Apple's First Product Update of 2025: What to Expect

We're expecting several product announcements from Apple over the next few months, but it sounds like an updated MacBook Air may be the first out of the gate in just a few weeks.


We're not expecting major upgrades for Apple's cheapest laptop, but it will get the latest M4 chip and potentially some additional upgrades like an additional Thunderbolt port and an improved camera with Center Stage support.

Hearing a Mysterious Chime From Your AirPods Pro Case? It's a Feature

If you've been hearing a chiming sound from your AirPods Pro 2 case when the AirPods are charging, it's a feature that Apple added with the launch of Hearing Health last year.


In a support guide, Apple says that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ may play a sound every so often while in the case to ensure the microphones and speakers are working as intended.

Apple Promotes Severance Season 2 Premiere With Lumon Industries Pop-Up and Visits From Actors

With the highly anticipated second season of Apple TV+ series Severance debuting this week, Apple has been hyping things up across its social media channels and even brought cast members and producer Ben Stiller to a special pop-up event at Grand Central Terminal in New York.


The pop-up event featured a glass cube with computer workstations as seen in the series, with Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Patricia Arquette, Britt Lower, and Tramell Tillman showing up as their characters to spend time in the office setting as their "innies."

Popular sci-fi series Silo also saw its season two finale released this week, adding to the flurry of Apple TV+ activity.

Apple Focusing on These Eight New Low-Cost Devices in 2025

While Apple looks to be planning upgrades across a broad array of products in 2025, the lower ends of the lineups may receive some special attention this year as there are at least eight products on the cheaper end of the scale that we're hoping to see this year. That's among the more than 20 total product launches we're expecting to see across 2025.


In addition to updates for major lower-end products like the iPhone SE, Apple Watch SE, standard iPad, and MacBook Air, we may also see smaller products like the HomePod mini, AirTag, and Apple TV receiving updates, plus the introduction of an all-new "command center" for the home.

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

iOS 18.3 is currently in beta for developers and public beta testers, with a public release expected as soon as later this month.


The upcoming iPhone software update appears to be relatively minor in scope, although the latest beta released this week includes some notable changes to Apple Intelligence Notification Summaries to address complaints about inaccuracies. For the time being, Apple has turned off Notification Summaries for the News and Entertainment category entirely while it works on improvements.

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 17 Rumors, MacBook Air Updates, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

For the last several months, we've been hearing rumors about a redesigned version of the iPhone 17 that Apple might call the ‌iPhone 17‌ "Air," or something along those lines. It's going to replace the ‌iPhone 17‌ Plus as Apple's fourth iPhone option, and it will be offered alongside the ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max.


We know the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air is going to be super slim, but there have been mixed rumors on just how thin Apple will be able to make it. Rumors have coalesced around 6mm, though in a recent report, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expects the ‌iPhone‌ to measure in at about 5.5mm.


At 5.5mm, the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will be the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date, a title currently held by the 6.9mm ‌iPhone‌ 6 that came out in way back in 2014. 5.5mm would be approximately 30 percent thinner than the iPhone 16, which measures in at 7.8mm thick, and 33 percent thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are 8.25mm thick.


It won't be too far off from the 12.9-inch iPad Pro that Apple came out with last year. The new ‌iPad Pro‌ is also super thin, measuring in at 5.1mm. It's Apple's thinnest device to date, in fact.

Apple is hoping a super thin design will entice people more than the ‌iPhone‌ mini and ‌iPhone‌ Plus models, neither of which has sold as well as the standard and Pro models. Apple discontinued the 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ mini option after the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, and the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus will apparently be the last "Plus" ‌iPhone‌.

Kuo says the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will be 5.5mm at its "thinnest point," so it sounds like we can still expect a camera bump. Apple is planning for a single 48-megapixel rear camera, with the company opting for just one lens because of space constraints in such a small chassis.


Some of the early rumors about the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air suggested it would be more expensive than the Pro models, but it doesn't sound like that's going to be the case. It will be a mid-tier model in size and functionality, featuring a 6.6-inch display and an A19 chip that won't be as quick as the A19 Pro expected for the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro models. It's also going to sport Apple's custom modem chip, which won't offer the fastest mmWave 5G speeds.

While Kuo has targeted 5.5mm, it is worth noting that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in December that the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air will be 2mm thinner than the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, which would actually put it at 6.25mm. 5.5mm will be closest to the ‌iPad Pro‌, but even at 6.25mm, it will be the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ Air is expected to launch alongside the ‌iPhone 17‌, ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max in September of 2025. More information on what to expect from the entire ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup can be found in our dedicated roundup.
This article, "Here's How Thin the iPhone 17 Air Might Be" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

iOS 19 will feature a redesigned Camera app inspired by visionOS, according to a new video from Jon Prosser, host of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech.


Prosser obtained video of the alleged new Camera app, but he elected to share his own re-created images to protect his sources. The images reveal that the app will allegedly gain translucent menus for various camera controls, with the design of these menus looking very similar to the visionOS interface on the Apple Vision Pro headset.

The camera controls are split into photo and video categories, with 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.

Overall, the new design has a cleaner aesthetic, with more of the Camera app's viewfinder visible on the screen compared to iOS 18.

A previous rumor indicated that iOS 18 would feature a visionOS-like redesign, but that never happened. An alleged screenshot of the Camera app with translucent menus even leaked a few months after that initial rumor, but it appeared to be fake. In the end, perhaps these are changes that Apple was working on for ‌iOS 19‌ instead.


It is possible the visionOS-like design changes could extend to other ‌iOS 19‌ interfaces and built-in apps, but this is purely speculation. For example, Prosser visualized the translucent design extending to Home Screen widgets.

‌iOS 19‌ should be announced at WWDC 2025 in June, and released in September.
This article, "iOS 19 Rumored to Feature Redesigned Camera App Inspired by visionOS" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums