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iOS 27’s Call Context feature makes customer service calls less of a pain

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A picture of iOS 27 Call Context feature used in a story about how it works.
iOS 27 Call Context displays flight and reservation details right on the call screen.
Photo: Apple

iOS 27’s Call Context feature is shaping up to be one of the most useful additions in Apple’s fall software update. The Phone app will automatically show confirmation codes, reservation details and other relevant info whenever you call a business.

The feature works by pulling information straight from your Mail app, saving you the hassle of digging through your inbox in the middle of a customer service call. And Apple processes all of this locally, without sending anything to the cloud or a third party.

Convert your iPhone’s Live Photos to video in seconds

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Save Live Photos as a Video
Turn your many, many cat photos into a few great videos.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can turn multiple Live Photos shot on your iPhone into a video. Simply select a group of Live Photos taken in a burst, and you can create a single, stitched-together video that you can save to your library and share on social media. It’s a much more accessible way to enjoy those little snippets of video. 

Here’s how it’s done.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 raves are great news for folding iPhone

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Photo of a person using a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 to take a photo.
The new Galaxy Z Fold8 gives a glimpse of the foldable iPhone's rumored form factor.
Photo: Samsung

Overwhelmingly positive first impressions of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 bode extremely well for Apple, which is prepping to launch a folding iPhone with a similar design.

People who went hands-on with the Z Fold8 after its Wednesday launch praise the device’s wide, compact form factor, which makes it easy to carry and improves the content consumption experience.

That’s great news for the upcoming folding iPhone, possibly called the iPhone Fold or the iPhone Ultra, which reportedly will arrive later this year.

Apple Upgrade leasing program could lock iPhone over late payments

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A photo of the iPhone used in a story about Apple said to be working on a new upgrade leasing program.
The Apple Upgrade leasing program could let you pay for an iPhone like a subscription, but there’s a catch.
Photo: Apple

Apple apparently wants you to stop buying iPhones outright, with the rumored Apple Upgrade leasing program the clearest sign of that shift. But code hidden in the iOS 27 beta hints at what happens if you fall behind on an Apple Upgrade payment — and it isn’t pretty.

According to information that leaked Tuesday, Apple Upgrade will enable consumers to pay monthly for an iPhone, Mac, iPad or Apple Watch. To go with that, Apple appears to be working on a system that could restrict a financed iPhone if payments lapse.

Apple Upgrade subscription service could change how you buy Macs and iPhones

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Lease a MacBook from Apple Upgrade, rather than buying one
Would you be interested in getting a Mac like a subscription through Apple Upgrade?
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly preparing a major shake-up in the way customers buy its products. The company plans to launch Apple Upgrade, a subscription-style leasing program that lets customers upgrade to newer devices more easily while lowering monthly payments, next week, according to an unconfirmed report.

It’ll apparently be similar to the long-running iPhone Upgrade Program — which is reportedly getting canceled — but with a much broader range of products covered. There’ll be other differences as well.

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.

How to ping your lost Apple Watch from your iPhone

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Ping Apple Watch from iPhone: “Where Did It Go?”
It's not easy to find in a pile of miscellaneous clutter.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can ping a lost Apple Watch from your iPhone, giving you an easy way to find your misplaced wearable.

If you take your Apple Watch off at the end of the day, forgetting to throw it on the charger, you might not remember where you left it the following morning. Luckily, you can find a lost Apple Watch from your iPhone. Here’s how it works.

Today in Apple history: World’s first third-party iPhone app arrives

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A photo of an iPhone with the words,
An intrepid hacker gets the iPhone to say "hello." While the message is simple, the meaning is profound.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

July 20: Today in Apple history: World's first third-party iPhone app arrives July 20, 2007: Just a month after the original iPhone goes on sale, a hacker compiles the first third-party app and launches it for the new platform. The Hello World app serves more as a proof of concept than a serious tool. However, it clearly demonstrates that third-party apps will become a cornerstone of the new iPhone economy.

It’s a shame Apple doesn’t get the memo.

Roblox’s AI game creation tool is coming to iPhone and iPad

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Roblox AI game creation tool Build
Roblox adds AI creation to its promise that “You make the game.”
Image: Roblox

Got a game idea but no idea about how to code it? Roblox just made that far easier. The company is now rolling out Build, a new AI game creation tool for iPhone and iPad. Simply type a prompt in plain English, and Build turns it into a playable — no desktop editor required.

Roblox is betting that generative AI can dramatically lower the barrier to game development.

Apple closes unlocked iPhone loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon buyers

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A picture of the iPhone 17 Pro max used in a story about Apple closing the unocked iPhone loophole.
The unlocked iPhone loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon financing just got shut down.
Photo: Apple

Apple closed the unlocked iPhone loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon buyers. If you’ve financed an iPhone through any of these carriers, it used to stay unlocked. Not anymore.

Every iPhone financed through T-Mobile or Verizon will now stay locked to that carrier until you fully pay it off. This is exactly how AT&T’s financing has always worked. It means no more SIM swapping, joining an MVNO or popping in a travel eSIM on the go.

AppleCare+ price increase lands for new Mac and iPad buyers

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A picture showing AppleCare used in a story about AppleCare+ price hike.
New Mac and iPad buyers are facing an AppleCare+ price increase starting this week.
Photo: Apple

Apple is pushing an AppleCare+ price increase, with Mac and iPad owners footing the bill. Sign up for coverage on a new Mac or iPad today, and you’ll pay 50 cents more per month than you would have last week.

The change just went into effect and only affects new AppleCare+ enrollments. If you’re already subscribed, you’ll keep your current rate for now. But Apple hasn’t clarified how long that will last. It’s a small bump, but lands just weeks after Apple hiked hardware prices.

iOS 26.6 will flag malicious iMessages with a warning before you tap

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An AI-generated picture of an iPhone with iMessages open used in a story about Apple adding new malicious message warnings.
The iOS 2.6.6 malicious message warning tells you when Apple thinks an iMessage is trying to harm your iPhone.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Your iPhone will soon speak up before a booby-trapped text message can do damage. The iOS 26.6 malicious message warning is a new pop-up that tells you when Apple thinks an iMessage is trying to harm your device or steal your data. And it gives you a quick way to send that message straight to Apple for investigation.

The alert hasn’t gone live for anyone yet. It was spotted buried in iOS 26.6 beta 5 code, which means it’s still in the testing phase. But its presence indicates iPhone users will soon get a much more visible security layer that makes it harder to ignore message-based attacks.

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.

Strong iPhone 17 demand keeps Apple climbing in global smartphone market

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Apple gains ground worldwide as iPhone 17 demand stays strong
Robust demand means iPhone 17 remains the world's top-shipping smartphone.
Photo: Rubaitul Azad/Pexels

Apple continued to gain ground in the global smartphone market during the second quarter of 2026, according to new data from a market-analysis firm. The iPhone posted another quarter of year-over-year growth, increasing total shipments by 3% while boosting Apple’s global market share to a quarterly record.

The iPhone 17 series continues to experience strong sales, according to the analysts. One main reason for the success might seem surprising, coming from Cupertino: small price tags! Apple maintained iPhone prices while rivals increased theirs due to sharply rising memory costs.

iOS 27 public beta arrives soon — prep your iPhone now [Update: It’s here!]

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A picture of iOS 27 used in a story about iOS 27 public beta coming out soon.
Get ready now so you can grab the iOS 27 public beta as soon as it arrives.
Photo: Apple

Update: Apple released the first iOS 27 public beta on Monday.

The iOS 27 public beta is coming soon — if Apple’s previous release pattern holds up, it could hit your iPhone any day now. Developers have been having all the fun since early June, playing around with Siri AI and the new Liquid Glass slider while the rest of us waited. Now, that wait is almost over.

Once the public beta drops, which should be more stable than the initial developer betas, anyone can install iOS 27 for free. But your iPhone does need some prep first, and there are a few reasons you should think twice before hitting the Install button.

Today in Apple history: iPhone 3G brings a big speed boost

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Marketing image of the iPhone 3G showing the black and white models from the back as well as the front screen, used to illustrate a story about the iPhone 3G launch
The iPhone 3G brought major upgrades.
Photo: Apple

July 11: Today in Apple history: iPhone 3G goes on sale, brings big speed boost July 11, 2008: The iPhone 3G goes on sale. Expectations for the smartphone sequel run high, and Apple delivers with the addition of GPS, faster 3G data and a higher-quality build. The iPhone 3G launch also brings a new mobile operating system packed with features.

Apple’s second smartphone runs iPhone OS 2, which introduces a better Mail app, turn-by-turn navigation and a little something called the App Store.

Folding iPhone Ultra might not pack the big, beautiful battery we hoped for

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An AI-generated photo showing a concept of the iPhone Ultra.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone — possibly dubbed the iPhone Ultra — might come with a smaller battery than previously leaked.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

The latest leak about the first folding iPhone says Apple might not deliver the extreme battery capacity that most early rumors indicated.

If you were banking on a foldable with all-day battery life, this is worth pausing on.

Apple talks with startup that could cram GPT-class AI onto your iPhone

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A picture of a smartphone used in a story about a company cramming a LLM onto the iPhone.
PrismML claims it has compressed a 27-billion-parameter AI model down to 4GB — small enough to run on an iPhone 17 Pro.
Photo: Unsplash

Apple’s on-device ambitions just got more interesting. The company has reportedly been talking to a startup called PrismML that claims to run a massive, server-grade language model on the iPhone 17 Pro — no cloud required.

If the discussions turn into a deal between Apple and PrismML, it could be a significant upgrade for Apple Intelligence. Here’s why.

Siri AI can now talk to your iPhone apps — starting with your car

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Siri AI's integration with third party apps begins
In iOS 27 beta 3, Siri AI can now pull data from select third-party apps, including Tessie.
Image: Max Weinbach/X/ChatGPT

In the latest iOS 27 developer beta, Siri AI can pull live information from third-party apps on your iPhone. It’s the kind of feature Siri should’ve had years ago — and now, it’s finally here.

Right now, it only appears to work with a couple of electric vehicle apps, letting you ask Siri things like your car’s battery level. But it’s a signal of where Siri AI is headed — an assistant that finally acts as a bridge across your entire phone, not just Apple’s walled garden.

iPhone 18 Pro Max battery might get bigger battery (but 18 Pro won’t)

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A picture of the iPhone 17 Pro Max used in a story about the iPhone 18 Pro Max's increased battery capacity rumors.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is getting a battery jump — the iPhone 18 Pro, not so much.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is reportedly getting a huge battery upgrade — while the standard Pro model might get almost no bump at all.

That could make this the year the Pro Max truly earns its name with a battery gap wider than anything we’ve seen before.

Apple may pull an iPhone X with its first foldable iPhone

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Foldable iPhone may not go on sale for a few weeks.
Foldable iPhone may not go on sale for a few weeks after launch.
AI image: ChatGPT

For the first foldable iPhone, Apple might follow the same launch strategy it used for the iPhone X in 2017. While the company will reportedly unveil the device alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this fall, it may not open preorders or begin sales until later.

That’s according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who shared the latest details about the foldable iPhone’s launch timeline in an X post over the weekend.

Your iPhone will soon call your scammer’s bluff — here’s how

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A picture of the iPhone used in a story about iOS 27's new Trust Insight features.
iOS 27's Trust Insights feature can flag suspicious activity before you fall for a scam.
Photo: Unsplash

Scammers are tricky, but your iPhone will soon get a lot less gullible, thanks to a new iOS 27 feature called Trust Insights. It watches for the tell-tale signs you’re being coached through a scam — and steps in before you actually lose money.

The system runs quietly in the background regardless of what you are doing on your iPhone. If it thinks your behavior looks suspicious, your iPhone will flag it, slow you down, or make you verify twice before you go through with it.

While Trust Insights didn’t get a flashy keynote moment during WWDC26 in June, it will be one of the most useful things Apple ships this fall.

How to take fabulous fireworks photos with your iPhone

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These tips will help you take better fireworks photos.
These tips will help you take better fireworks photos.
Photo: Richard Dongses/Flickr CC

With a little know-how, you can photograph fireworks with an iPhone and achieve great results. But just pointing and shooting with no prior planning can lead to blurry, unexciting fireworks photos.

For instance, does this sound familiar? Last year’s fireworks made you say ooh and ahh, but when you look at your iPhone photos from that night, the sound you make is more of an ugh. Don’t blame Siri or some engineer in Cupertino for previous photo fails. The iPhone camera, as mighty as it is, can’t do all the thinking for you — especially in challenging lighting conditions like a fireworks display.

But with a little thought and preparation, you can make this holiday worth reliving on your iPhone camera roll. Below are some simple tips to make your iPhone fireworks photos sizzle.