The wait for Apple’s latest gear is over. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max hit retail stores Friday alongside the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
Crowds lined up outside Apple Stores around the world, even as a highly unusual launch cycle took place for the latest iPhones.
iPhone price hikes in 2027 could already be locked in. Apple reportedly accepted Samsung’s new memory prices, securing its supply for the first quarter of next year. And that extra supply chain cost could boost the price of next year’s iPhones as well as iPads and Macs.
Apple quietly killed one of the Apple Watch’s oldest tricks. The Digital Crown double-click action no longer switches between apps in watchOS 27, and longtime users already miss it.
The change lands in watchOS 27, and is related to a new feature in the brand-new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, but it is not limited to those models. So the gesture disappears for all those who update, and the feature meant to replace it won’t even work on most people’s devices.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max appear to bring two upgrades you will appreciate in everyday use: faster charging and better cooling.
Apple hyped these improvements during its September 9 launch event. And early testing suggests the upgrades are real.
Word of a new iOS 27 freeze bug is spreading fast across social media. It can lock up your iPhone’s home screen with nothing more than a few quick swipes.
The glitch has already turned into a prank between friends. It’s completely harmless, but can make your iPhone feel dead until you know the fix.
Apple seeded the first iOS 27.2 beta to developers on Wednesday, giving them the chance to test several notable changes and improvements.
The company is skipping beta testing iOS 27.1, an unusual move but one with a good “Duo” reason behind it. Below is a rundown of all the new stuff in iOS 27.2 beta 1. (We will update the post as we discover more.)
Apple wasted no time moving beyond iOS 27 and macOS 27. Just two days after releasing its major new operating systems, the company began beta testing iOS 27.2 and macOS 27.2 with developers.
No, you didn’t somehow miss beta testing iOS 27.1 and macOS 27.1. Apple made the unusual move of not putting these through public beta testing, and for good reason.
Every September, Apple pulls off a logistical magic trick that most people are completely unaware of. You preorder an iPhone, open the sealed box on launch day, and hit the ground running. But have you ever wondered how that’s possible? Apple only finalized the release version of iOS 27 last week after already assembling millions of new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units.
Here is how Apple does its final-week iOS update at an astronomical scale.
Apple just reshuffled its trade-in values, and most iPhone owners didn’t come out ahead. Trade-in estimates for older iPhones dropped this week, even as values for iPads and Macs increased.
The update comes days after Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro series but before the expected launch of new Macs and iPads later this year.
The first Geekbench scores for the Apple processors inside the M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio surfaced online, giving us a glimpse of their expected performance when the new computers hit stores next week.
Based on the scores, it looks like Apple’s new high-end and entry-level Apple silicon chips will set new standards in their respective categories.
Apple TV enjoyed a huge night of wins at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, taking home 29 trophies to beat out all rivals. Leading the charge was Widow’s Bay, which made Emmy history as the most decorated freshman comedy series ever.
The breakout show won 14 Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series. That also makes Widow’s Bay the comedy series with the most wins in a single season.
Upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max? You’ll need a new case to protect your expensive purchase. Since you’ll see and hold a case every day, it’s worth spending a few extra minutes choosing the right one.
To make the choice easier, check out our roundup of the best iPhone 18 Pro cases from popular case makers, along with some of their standout options.
Apple is now rolling out iOS 26.7. It’s a cautious option for iPhone users who aren’t ready to jump into iOS 27 just yet.
Apple ships these companion updates every fall alongside its new, big annual release. This year follows the same pattern. iOS 26.7 exists purely to patch security holes for users who want to sit out iOS 27 for now.
Apple Wallet in iOS 27 just got a glow-up. The app now splits restaurant bills, tracks Apple Card subscriptions and even builds custom passes. The best part? All of it happens without needing to leave the Apple Wallet app.
The update landed as part of Apple’s iOS 27 rollout. It pushes Wallet closer to becoming a true everyday hub, instead of it being just another simple card holder.
Of two minds about upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro from your current iPhone? While the newest iPhone packs some compelling upgrades, it might not be worth the higher price tag. Plus, wanting an upgrade and needing one are two different things.
With the 20th-anniversary iPhone rumored for next year, you might want to consider holding off on buying the iPhone 18 Pro this year. Here are some reasons you should not upgrade.
Your iPhone’s next big software update just arrived. Apple released iOS 27 on Monday, fixing many of the annoyances that iOS 26 inadvertently introduced last year, while also tweaking Liquid Glass to improve readability.
Alongside iOS 27, Siri AI also launches in beta today, finally bringing Apple’s AI assistant on par with Google, ChatGPT and others.
Apple’s new iPhone Duo reportedly comes with a new Shift Left Edge setting that lets users add a fake bezel to its outer display. The toggle is built for one job: helping the first folding iPhone play nicer with cases.
The setting lives inside iPhone Duo’s display options. Turn it on, and content will shift away from the left edge of the screen. That way, a case that extends over the display won’t cover anything important.
Apple’s Surprise and Shine product launch event is now in the rearview mirror, but that doesn’t mean the company is finished unveiling new products. Cupertino still has plenty of hardware in the pipeline, with several new Macs and iPads expected before 2026 comes to a close.
And the product pipeline doesn’t stop there. Apple is also expected to have more new hardware ready in early 2027, making the next several months a busy period for the company.
Here’s what we have to look forward to.
iPhone Duo doesn’t use Face ID, but adding facial recognition to the foldable is reportedly on Apple’s roadmap. And so is the third camera that so many people want!
A new report says facial recognition and a telephoto camera are Apple’s top priorities for future versions of its new folding phone. Apple Intelligence could be the key to both.
UPDATE: This article is now moot because the wait is over! iOS 27 is now out for everyone:
iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate are ready for public release. After previewing the updates at WWDC26 in June, Apple will release them on Monday, September 14.
But when exactly does iOS 27 land on your iPhone on September 14? Here’s when you can expect Apple’s latest updates to go live in your region. (Though you have the option to skip the wait and get iOS 27 now.)
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s Surprise and Shine event is in the books! The iPhone Duo is real, and it definitely folds. New Apple CEO John Ternus didn’t, though. He acquitted himself admirably as he briefly uncapped Apple’s magic product pipeline.
We discuss how things went down and our reactions to iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.
UPDATE: This article is now moot because the wait is over! iOS 27 is now out for everyone:
iOS 27 will roll out to iPhones everywhere on September 14, but there’s no need to wait. You can install the final version this weekend and start exploring the new features whenever you have time.
Best of all, there’s nothing dodgy or risky involved. You’ll be downloading the same final release Apple will push to everyone else — just a few days ahead of schedule.
Apple began accepting preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this morning. Both phones arrive in stores on Friday, September 18, when the first preorder deliveries also reach customers.
The Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and new AirPods 5 were already available for preorder, with all three launching the same day. However, if you want the folding iPhone Duo, you’ll need to wait until October to place your preorder.
Visual Intelligence ads could be headed for your iPhone. Code buried in iOS 27 suggests Apple is exploring a new way to slip sponsored results into its camera-based search tool.
The change won’t have Apple selling the ad slots directly. Instead, search providers like Google may supply sponsored images. And these could sit right on top of the results Visual Intelligence already shows you.
Apple’s Edge Light feature may soon make the jump from Mac to iPhone. Code in the iOS 27 release candidate suggests the glowing screen-border effect could be coming to the iPhone Duo. It could eventually make its way to other iPhone models, too.
The discovery comes from an analysis of Apple’s latest software beta. The code points to the Mac feature being adapted for iPhone, creating a soft ring of light around the edge of the display. The catch is that it’s still an early build, and some key settings aren’t finished yet.