Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple's products and ecosystem.
Vivo's latest foldable packs impressive Apple integration. Photo: Vivo China
Apple’s walled garden approach means you can’t use the Apple Watch with a smartphone other than the iPhone. But with its latest Android foldable, Vivo claims full support for the Apple Watch.
The Vivo X Fold 5 even promises deep iPhone and Mac integration, apparently mirroring your calls, messages, and notifications.
A lawsuit forced OpenAI to take down public details related to its acquisition of Jony Ive's company io. Photo: OpenAI
OpenAI and Jony Ive’s io have removed all public details about the latter’s acquisition. The much-hyped video announcing the acquisition is also no longer live on YouTube. Contrary to rumors, this is not due to the deal between the two companies falling apart.
The issue stems from a trademark dispute over the name “io” used by Ive’s firm.
iOS 26 will supercharge your AirPods experience. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 26 will not just make your iPhone better. It will also add several new features to AirPods, improving the already excellent experience of using Apple’s super-popular earbuds.
The changes will further deepen the AirPods integration with the iPhone. Find out all the ways iOS 26 will improve your AirPods experience.
Will Apple acquire Perplexity? Photo: Apple/Perplexity
Apple reportedly held internal discussions to acquire AI startup Perplexity AI. The latter is an AI-powered search engine. It uses a large language model (LLM) to process the answers and presents them in an easier-to-understand format.
The discussions inside Apple are seemingly at an early level, and it may not even officially provide an offer to the young startup.
Older iPhones will get iOS 26 but with some key features missing. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26 introduce a host of new features in addition to the Liquid Glass design makeover that will bring glossy, translucent harmony to Apple’s software ecosystem this fall. However, not all of those advanced features will make it to every compatible device when Apple releases its next-gen operating systems.
If you own an old iPhone or Intel-based Mac, you will miss out on several improvements. Here’s a look at what won’t make the cut.
Apple's 2025 Back to School promo will get you a free AirPods. Screenshot: Apple Store
Apple’s yearly Back to School sale is now live in the United States, India and other countries. As part of the deal, eligible students and teachers can get Macs and iPads on education pricing, along with an accessory worth up to $179.
Unlike the last few years, Apple will not bundle a gift card with your purchase. Instead, it will bundle a free accessory, ranging from the Magic Keyboard to AirPods 4 with ANC.
There are plenty of smaller, hidden improvements in iOS 26. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult Of Mac
Apple focused heavily on the new Liquid Glass design language during the iOS 26 unveiling last week. But there’s more to the operating system than the glossy new look that’s coming to all the company’s operating systems.
While Apple highlighted iOS 26’s major features during the WWDC25 keynote, many meaningful quality-of-life improvements flew under the radar. Here are some of the smaller, hidden features in iOS 26 that you shouldn’t miss.
Your M2 Mac mini might need a repair. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple has issued a No Power Issue service program affecting a “very small percentage” of M2 Mac minis. The affected units may unexpectedly fail to power on without warning.
The issue only appears to affect the 2023 M2 Mac mini and no other generation.
1Password's new app unlock presets promise a seamless experience. Photo: 1Password
1Password is testing a new unlock system on Mac, aiming to reduce the need for constant reauthentication. The app introduces three preset modes — Convenient, Balanced and Strict — giving users control over how frequently they unlock the app based on their security preferences.
The changes are currently only available on 1Password’s beta channel for Mac.
Will Apple launch the AirPods Pro 3 this year? Photo: Apple
iOS 26 developer beta hints at Apple launching the AirPods Pro 3 sooner rather than later. The first beta of the OS contains references to the upcoming wireless earbuds.
Conflicting reports surround the AirPods Pro 3 launch. Some point to a fall 2025 release, while others suggest the earbuds might not arrive until 2026.
iOS 26 will finally tell you how long your iPhone will take for a full charge. Screenshot: Rajesh PandeyCult Of Mac
iOS 26 introduces a small but useful feature for iPhone users: the ability to view the estimated time remaining for a full charge. This information appears directly on the Lock Screen while your device is charging, giving you a quick glance at how long you need to wait.
You can get an even more detailed breakdown in the Battery sub-menu in the Settings app.
iOS 26 tweaks the swipe-back gesture Screenshot: Rajesh PandeyCult Of Mac
Apple may finally solve a major navigation issue on iPhones with iOS 26. It tweaks the swipe-to-go-back gesture to trigger from anywhere, not just the edge.
In iOS 18, going back requires swiping from the left edge of the screen. The problem? Reaching that corner with your thumb can be tough, especially on larger Pro Max models.
iOS 26 introduces a new Adaptive Power mode for a longer iPhone battery life. Photo: Apple
iOS 26 adds a new Adaptive Power Mode to newer iPhones to extend their battery life under heavy load. It will achieve this by lowering the display brightness and making other under-the-hood changes.
Additionally, iOS 26 revamps the Battery Usage menu, providing more details about power consumption from various apps.
Apple's newest operating systems drop support for some older devices. Photo: Apple
Apple kicked off WWDC25 Monday by showing off iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and macOS 26. The company’s latest operating systems debut a new unified Liquid Glass visual design and pack several other improvements. Not every iPhone, iPad, or Mac will make the cut this year, though.
Find out the full list of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs eligible for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26 below.
The Phone app gets smarter and powerful in iOS 26. Photo: Apple
Apple reinvents the act of making, taking and dodging phone calls with the updated Phone app in iOS 26, thanks to a bold new design and the addition of several cutting-edge features. They include Call Screening and Hold Assist, enabling you to screen unwanted calls before answering them.
“This year, we’re giving you the option to choose a new, unified layout that brings your favorites, recents and voicemails,” said Darin Adler, Apple’s vice president of internet technologies, during Monday’s WWDC25 keynote video. “So, your most used features are right at your fingertips without having to switch views.”
But that’s not it. macOS 26 Tahoe includes a redesigned Control Centre, a revamped Spotlight, and, for the first time ever, brings the Phone app to the Mac.
“macOS is the heart and soul of the Mac, and with Tahoe, we’re building on what users love most. Whether you’re a power user or just getting started on Mac, there’s something for everyone, with even more features to turbocharge productivity and make working across Mac and iPhone more seamless than ever before,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering.
Going forward, Apple operating systems will be named after the upcoming year. Image: Apple
In a significant shift in its software branding strategy, Apple is moving away from its traditional iOS and iPadOS version numbering. Instead, the company announced the move to a year-based naming convention at WWDC25.
So, rather than iOS 19 and iPadOS 19, the company will market its releases this year as iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Apple’s other operating systems will also adopt the same naming style.
“We’re unifying our version numbers across all our platforms. Our releases for the fall that will power us through the coming year, 2026, will be version 26,” said Craig Fedrighi during WWDC’s opening keynote.
Apple's Back to School promo goes live soon, too. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s yearly Back to School promo will supposedly go live in the US later this month. Like every year, the company will bundle gift cards with selected devices as part of the promo.
Additionally, Apple will double the carrier promos in its retail stores from late June to boost iPhone sales.
2027 iPhone may build on iOS 26's new visual design. Photo: ChatGPT
Apple’s new visual language for iOS 19/iOS 26 reportedly will lay the groundwork for its upcoming hardware products. This will include a revamped design for the 2027 iPhone, dubbed “Glasswing.”
The device apparently will feature an all-glass design, with a “extraordinarily slim bezels” and a notch-free display.
iOS 19 can make up its missing AI features with other changes. Illustration: ChatGPT
iOS improvements over the years have made the iPhone more customizable, more useful and more fun. But iOS 19 (which might be called iOS 26 instead) could raise the bar even higher by adding the features on my wish list.
Leaks strongly suggest the iPhone’s next operating system update will introduce a bold new visual design, drawing heavy inspiration from visionOS, which powers the Apple Vision Pro headset. But that visual overhaul — part of a project reportedly called Solarium that will unify the look and feel of all Apple operating systems — should not be the sole talking point during the iOS segment of next Monday’s WWDC25 keynote.
From long-overdue interface changes to smarter multitasking and better system controls, iOS 19 (or iOS 26, if Apple goes ahead with a rumored change to its naming system) has the potential to push the iPhone experience forward in meaningful ways.
With WWDC25 just days away, here’s what I hope Apple delivers with its next big update.
watchOS 12/26 will apparently work with your old Apple Watch. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly does not plan to drop support for any older Apple Watch models with watchOS 12 (or watchOS 26). A leaker indicates the upcoming watchOS release will support Apple Watch Series 6 and newer models — the same as watchOS 11.
Apple discontinued support for several older Apple Watch models with the release of watchOS 11 in 2024