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Apple rumors - page 4

AirPods with cameras are real, and Apple just showed how they’ll work

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AirPods with cameras are real! Hello AirPods Ultra?
Apple accidentally revealed AirPods with cameras in macOS 26.7 RC.
Screenshot: Apple

A video file found in the new macOS 26.7 release candidate code gives us our first look at Apple’s upcoming AirPods with built-in infrared cameras. The video shows the AirPods Pro working in tandem with Visual Intelligence to let you save information about objects you see in the real world.

In the short demo, a man holds up a book so the AirPods’ cameras can identify its title. He then asks Siri to save it for later, showing how the IR cameras could give Apple’s earbuds a better understanding of the world around you.

iPhone 18 could bring Pro-level features to Apple’s base model

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A picture showing the iPhone Pro alongside the base model used in a story about iPhone 18 getting two iPhone 18 Pro upgrades.
The iPhone 18 could get features that bring the standard model closer to Apple’s Pro lineup.
Photo: Pixabay

The standard iPhone 18 may finally close the gap with its pricier Pro siblings. New supply chain research suggests a jump in iPhone 18 RAM. A smaller Dynamic Island, once tipped only for Pro models, could be on the way as well.

Both upgrades would put the base iPhone 18 closer to Apple’s premium lineup. The changes are still unconfirmed, and one prominent analyst disagrees on the memory number.

Here’s what we know now. 

Apple Watch’s popular Modular face is getting a 9-color makeover

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A picture of Apple's Modular Apple Watch face used in a story about watchOS 27 bringing new color options.
New options spotted in iOS 27 beta could offer a hint at new Apple Watch band colors coming this fall.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple looks set to refresh one of the most popular Apple Watch faces, with nine new colors reportedly coming to the Modular face this fall.

The colors surfaced in the latest iOS 27 beta code, and they could point to a broader refresh landing alongside new Apple Watch hardware and accessories this fall.

2026 iMac rumors: What to expect from Apple’s next all-in-one

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2026 iMac could arrive this fall with M6 chip
An M6 iMac could arrive soon with a faster chip and fresh colors.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The first new iMac in two years is right around the corner. This fall, we can look forward to Apple’s updated all-in-one desktop getting a significant improvement in performance thanks to the M6 processor, which is good news for those wanting to use it with Apple’s new AI features. And new colors!

Here’s what to expect from the 2026 iMac.

iPhone 18 Pro Max battery leak points to a massive upgrade

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iPhone 18 Pro Max battery rumor
iPhone 18 Pro Max may outlast the iPhone 17 Pro Max, thanks to a bigger battery.
Photo: iFixit

Apple could give the iPhone 18 Pro Max a massive battery upgrade this year. A new leak points to a nearly 12% increase in capacity.

An allegedly leaked image of the phone’s battery points to a 5,391mAh capacity. If accurate, that would give the iPhone 18 Pro Max a nearly 12% larger battery than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

iPhone 20 radical all-glass redesign remains on track for 2027

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iPhone Air held in hand.
The 2027 iPhone may ditch the aluminium back for an all-glass design.
Photo: Unsplash

Contrary to an analyst’s claim, Apple still plans to launch an all-glass iPhone on its 20th anniversary in 2027.

“The company expects to launch iPhone Pro models next year that will make use of a new glassy look,” wrote Mark Gurman in a Bloomberg report on Monday. Apple tested a version with even more glass but scrapped the plan early on due to design and manufacturing problems.

Apple reportedly tests Chinese memory chips for iPhone and MacBook

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A picture of RAM chips used in a story about Apple potentially talking to CXMT about buying memory chips.
Apple is looking for a workaround so it can keep building products despite worldwide memory shortages.
Photo: Pixabay

Apple is reportedly testing Chinese memory chips for possible use in future iPhones and MacBooks. The move comes as the company scrambles to secure memory supply during a global shortage.

The tests, which might span multiple product lineups, follows early talks with Chinese chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies about supplying components. Apple also seems to be seeking approval from the White House before moving forward with deals involving devices sold in China.

The biggest threat to the iPhone Pro Max isn’t Samsung — it’s Apple’s folding iPhone

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iPhone 18 Pro versus folding iPhone Ultra concept images
The first folding iPhone looks set to challenge the iPhone 18 Pro Max as Apple's true flagship this fall.
Photo: Majin Bu/Apple/Cult of Mac

If Apple launches the first folding iPhone next to the iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, it won’t just add a new phone. It will force an awkward question: How many “best iPhones” can Apple sell at once?

For years, the iPhone Pro Max has been the undisputed top of the line. Now rumors point to a foldable model, possibly called the iPhone Ultra or the iPhone Fold, arriving at the same time.

Apple plans to reinvent Apple Watch lineup

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Apple Watch lying on a desk
A screen-less Apple Watch tracker sounds intriguing.
Photo: Unsplash

Apple plans to overhaul the Apple Watch lineup as new types of wearables start gaining traction among consumers. As part of the revamp, it supposedly wants to reintroduce a ceramic casing for the Apple Watch.

Apple could even use a round display on future Apple Watch models, though nothing is confirmed yet.

Should you buy an iPhone now to avoid the coming price hikes?

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A picture of the iPhone 17 Pro used in a story about whether to buy a new iPhone now or wait for the iPhone 18 series.
Rumored price hikes make timing your next iPhone purchase trickier than usual.
Image: Apple

Apple’s September event is just weeks away, but the real question isn’t which iPhone 18 model to buy. It’s whether you should buy an iPhone now, before prices climb. A global memory chip shortage means this year’s iPhone 18 Pro price hike could be the steepest Apple has ever pushed onto Pro buyers. And the latest rumors indicate Apple might even jack up the price of the iPhone 17 lineup.

The good news: If you just want a solid, everyday iPhone, you don’t need to wait. The iPhone 17 models are still available at their original prices. Buying now locks in today’s price before everything gets more expensive.

Apple faces iPhone 18 Pro DRAM shortage weeks before launch

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Photo of an iPhone 17 Pro used in a story about iPhone 18 DRAM shortages
The iPhone 18 Pro DRAM shortage stems from a packaging bottleneck at chipmaker TSMC.
Photo: Reynaldo Yodia/Pexels

An iPhone 18 Pro DRAM shortage is threatening to leave Apple’s next flagship phone in short supply the moment it launches. Roughly $1 billion worth of finished processors are reportedly stuck at chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, with no memory to pair them with.

The holdup traces back to the global memory crunch that’s already reshaping Apple’s lineup. With the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s first foldable, possibly called the iPhone Ultra, just weeks away, the clock is ticking.

M6 MacBook Pro rumor roundup: Faster chip, familiar design

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An M6 speed boost for the MacBook Pro
Apple's next MacBook Pro could arrive this fall with the new M6 processor.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple plans to refresh the base-model MacBook Pro this fall with its new M6 processor, according to numerous rumors. The performance boost should make it more appealing to those who want a macOS laptop with more ports than a MacBook Air, but at a lower price than Pro models with Pro and Max chips.

Here’s what to expect from the first (and possibly only) M6 MacBook Pro.

iPhone 18e rumors: RAM, chip, design, price and more

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A picture of the iPhone 17e used in a story about iPhone 18e rumors.
iPhone 18e rumors point to a strange new RAM configuration, even as most other specs carry over unchanged from the iPhone 17e.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

A handful of small but real changes are coming to Apple’s next budget iPhone, with iPhone 18e rumors pointing to a new chip and a RAM configuration nobody expected. None of it amounts to a redesign – this is still a budget phone, just slightly better.

The extra memory is the most interesting shift, but it comes with a catch. Most other specs, including the screen and camera, look set to carry over largely unchanged from the iPhone 17e. Here’s everything reported so far, and how solid each claim actually is.

Apple job listing hints at fitness features for rumored smart glasses

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A picture of a person wearing glasses used in a story about Apple's rumored smart glasses.
Fitness features in Apple's rumored smart glasses could pick up where Vision Pro’s shelved workout plans left off.
Photo: Pexels

A new job posting reveals that Apple is already thinking about how to bring fitness features to its long-rumored smart glasses.

The company is looking to hire a “strategic product design leader” for its Vision Products Group. The role focuses on shaping health, wellness and fitness experiences across future visionOS hardware.

2026 Mac mini rumor roundup: Not the usual speed boost

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Mac mini rumors: M6 for everyone, M5 Pro for power users
Rumors indicate the 2026 Mac mini won't be a standard "ship and ship" upgrade.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s smallest desktop could get an unusual processor upgrade this fall. The 2026 Mac mini is reportedly moving to the basic M6 processor, but not the M6 Pro as would be expected.

Here’s everything the rumor mill says about Apple’s next Mac mini.

Micron fights to kill Apple’s Chinese memory chip plan

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An AI generated picture illustrating Apple's fight with Micron for sourcing memory chips from China.
Apple’s Chinese memory chip plan has triggered a lobbying war with Micron.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple’s plan to source memory chips from China could be running into serious trouble. Micron, the only major memory chip maker in the United States, is lobbying the White House to shut it down.

The clash pits Apple’s push for cheaper memory against fears of hollowing out America’s chip industry. And now, it’s up to the Trump administration to pick a side.

Apple smart glasses might skip the feature I want most

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Apple smart glasses face familiar privacy concerns
Apple needs to protect people's privacy without hobbling its smart glasses too much.
Photo: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple will reportedly enter the smart glasses market in 2027, but the company is apparently worried the wearable will tarnish its reputation for protecting privacy. The cameras built into rival devices face criticism, and a new report describes Apple’s efforts to avoid the controversy.

Unfortunately, many of its options would block the feature that makes smart glasses most interesting to me.

Why Apple’s touchscreen MacBook will be worth the wait

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Touchscreen MacBook moves from rumors toward reality
The touchscreen MacBook could pack so many new features it's a potential game changer for Apple.
Concept image: Cult of Mac/Apple/ChatGPT

Persistent rumors leave little room for doubt that Apple will finally build a touchscreen into a MacBook, burt that’s only one of the significant changes we can look forward to. It could launch as early as this fall as the biggest revamp to macOS notebooks since 2020.

It’s important enough that there’s speculation the device could be the first MacBook Ultra, not simply another MacBook Pro version.

Here’s what the latest rumors say about the touchscreen MacBook.

Apple wants a 20% price cut on iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED panels

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A picture of the iPhone 17 Pro Max used in a story about the display price of the rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple wants to pay less for the iPhone 18 Pro Max's OLED panels.
Photo: Apple

Apple seems to be squeezing its display suppliers hard this year. The company is reportedly asking for approximately a 20% price cut on iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED panels, even though the screens are getting harder to make.

Apple’s per-panel costs usually go down with each new iPhone generation, but that’s a steeper drop than usual.

iPhone price hike looms as TSMC increases chip costs

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Image of an iPhone with $100 bills on the screen, used to illustrate a story about TSMC's price hikes on processors
An iPhone price increase could hit customers in 2027. Here's why.
Image: Cult of Mac

Your next iPhone could cost more, and it won’t be because of rising RAM costs or a fancier camera. TSMC reportedly plans to increase its processor prices by up to 10% starting in 2027, and Apple would have no option but to pay.

This could drive up the amount consumers shell out for a range of Apple devices, not just iPhones. Pricier chips for MacBooks, iPads and more would drive up production costs.

iPhone 20 Pro Max display could stretch to a massive size

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An AI-generated image of what the bezel-less 20th anniversary would look like.
The iPhone 20 Pro Max display could grow to nearly 7 inches if this new leak holds up.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

A new leak claims Apple is testing a nearly 7-inch panel that could become the iPhone 20 Pro Max display. If it makes it to production, this would become the largest screen Apple ever put on a phone.

The huge panel would arrive as part of Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone lineup next year. Apple hasn’t increased its flagship screen size since 2024, but this could be a real sign that the company is once again planning to do so.

iPad mini and 3 more iPads getting upgrades: What to expect

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iPad rumors reveal Apple's big plans
There's so much for iPad fans to look forward to.
Image: Cult of Mac/Apple/ChatGPT

Want to know which iPad models will get revamps in the next year? The answer is easy: all of them. Every single one.

An iPad mini upgraded with an OLED is reportedly at the top of the list, and we can look forward it being followed by new versions of the basic iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro… each before the end of spring 2027.

Here’s what is coming down the line.

iPhone 20’s glass design just got a lot more real

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An AI generated image of the iPhone 20 concept used in a story about the same.
Rumors suggest Apple is chasing a “slab of glass” design for the 20th-anniversary phone.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Word on the street is that the iPhone 20’s all-glass revamp recently moved from “maybe” to “the factories are literally getting ready for it.”

Seems like anyone ready for Apple to shake up iPhone design can look forward to 2027.