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This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Now that we’re all running the latest software versions on our iPhones and Apple Watches, it’s time to go over the coolest new features.

Yes, Apple’s new Liquid Glass user interface takes some getting used to, but it’s pretty sweet in the end. And there are a bunch of other great additions we love. Join us for the conversation!

Also on The CultCast:

• A MacBook Pro with a touchscreen?!? It might be in the pipeline.
• The updates in iPadOS 26 finally fix the tablet’s multitasking problem.
• The Mac App Store is currently broken — but there’s a workaround.
• Cult of Mac’s buyback program buys everything from AirPods and iPhones to MacBooks and Magic Keyboards, damaged or not. Get your quote now.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast 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 live stream, embedded below.

Enough customers are snapping up the base-model iPhone 17 that Apple reportedly asked the companies that assemble the handset to increase production.

There are also signs that the top-of-the-line iPhone 17 Pro Max is selling well.

Spike Lee’s crime drama starring Denzel Washington keeps pulling in a large audience, defying a possible second week drop off. Highest 2 Lowest earned a spot among the most popular films on streaming, according to two companies that track ratings. It’s a win for Apple TV+.

Plus, Apple TV+’s comedy The Studio had a comeback after winning lots of awards this week, and Apple’s adaptation of the sci-fi classic Foundation stayed popular even as its third season wrapped up.

An iPhone 17 Pro Max teardown confirms Apple sticking with Qualcomm’s modem for its flagship iPhones this year. The company did not specifically confirm using Qualcomm’s baseband on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models while unveiling them.

This is unlike the iPhone Air, which uses Apple’s second-gen C1X modem.

The new cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro is undeniably orange. It’s not bronze, it’s not burnt umber, it’s not sepia or some other subdued shade that fades into the background.

No, Apple finally — after years of begging and pleading — produced a pro-level iPhone in an unapologetically bold color.

As a man in a loincloth once screamed while staring at something unfathomable: “Oh my god … [you] finally, really did it. You maniacs!”

To be fair, in that instance, the bare-chested man was ranting about something horrific. With the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro, Apple did something previously unthinkable — and totally welcome.

In a flashback to past launch day problems, Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 17 lineup faces an unexpected setback as users across China report iPhone 17 Pro scratches on the device’s redesigned glass-and-aluminum back, according to a new report.

Social media platforms have been flooded with images showing scuffs and scratches appearing on display models after just hours of store exposure.

Professional photographer Austin Mann dropped another edition of his annual iPhone Pro camera reviews Wednesday. He took his new iPhone 17 Pro up into northern Italy’s Dolomite Mountains during a biking, cycling and paragliding trip. Stunning photography resulted.

“At Apple’s keynote last week, I was most interested in the new 48-megapixel 4x telephoto lens, the 8x telephoto lens, Center Stage selfie mode, 4K ProRes Log at 120FPS and the new Photographic Style, Bright,” he wrote. “As always, Apple’s presentation is full of flashy new tech, but I always have one question: How will this new tech make our pictures and videos better?”

Find his in-depth video and a link to his full review with many more photos below.

Crowds thronged to Apple stores around the globe Friday to pick up the newest iPhones — the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air — on launch day. Apple CEO Tim Cook himself threw open the doors of Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City on Friday morning.

Alongside the exciting new iPhone lineup, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and AirPods Pro 3 also arrived at Apple retail stores and authorized outlets on Friday

Alongside the iPhone Air, Apple launched a MagSafe Battery Pack specifically for the phone. And interestingly, it uses the same capacity battery as the iPhone Air.

The folks over at iFixit tore down the iPhone Air accessory and discovered its unusual shape. Based on preliminary evidence, they conclude Apple might be using the same battery inside the iPhone Air, too.

How would you like to be the lone U.S. marshal covering a vast Alaska region when a jet loaded with dangerous convicts crashes, setting dozens of killers free? And that’s just the beginning shown in Apple TV+’s new trailer for The Last Frontier — because before long it becomes clear it may not have been an accident at all, but just the first step in a terrifying plan.

The 10-episode series debuts October 10 on Apple TV+. 

A major new health feature for recent Apple Watch models can alert users to possible hypertension (aka high blood pressure) by analyzing patterns in their heart data over time. Apple offered a document earlier this week explaining how the Hypertension Notifications feature works using existing sensors.

Available with watchOS 26, the feature works on Apple Watch Series 9 and later models, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.

Following the success of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Meta has launched its Ray-Ban Display glasses. This is a step up from its previous efforts, as the smart glasses feature a built-in display in the right lens.

The glasses come with a Neural Band that recognizes your hand movements and helps you navigate through the glasses’ UI.

Tired of blurry, grainy or low-resolution videos? Whether you’re dealing with low-light night footage, fast-action clips, old camera recordings, drone shots or AI-generated content, Aiarty Video Enhancer brings them to life. It delivers sharp, true 4K videos with natural details right on your Mac or Windows PC.

And better yet, the launch deal going on now will save you a bundle on the software.

Award-winning Apple TV+ drama The Morning Show returned Wednesday with season 4, drawing fans back into the chaotic, backbiting world of the title national morning news program and its troubled network in a changing media landscape. And he show will return for a fifth season, the streamer said Tuesday.

“The Morning Show has been a standout from the very start, debuting as one of the flagship series on Apple TV+,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming at Apple TV+. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see it not only entertain but also resonate with audiences worldwide.

“Thanks to the outstanding cast and creative team, The Morning Show continues to deliver addictively entertaining and provocative stories that we’ve all come to love,” he added. “We’re excited for viewers to experience the next chapter of this Emmy Award-winning drama.”

Apple’s next-gen OLED MacBook Pro supposedly will feature a touchscreen panel, further blurring the line between iPads and MacBooks.

TF International Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo thinks the new OLED MacBook Pro will enter mass production in late 2026.

Apple Sports app stepped up its game in two ways Tuesday, Apple said — with an update bringing customizable widgets to iPhone, iPad and Mac users, and an expansion to eight new countries in Europe.

And the timing should work well for many sports fans. The enhancements arrive just as NFL and college football kicks into high gear stateside and soccer season rolls on in Europe, site of the expansion. 

iPhone users who just installed iOS 26 might notice a reduction in their battery life, or that their phone is heating up. The devices might even be running a bit slower. A new Apple support document explains that this is temporary as the iOS update process continues in the background.

iOS 26 introduces a new Adaptive Power mode to extend your iPhone’s battery under load. And Apple’s newest iPhones — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air — will ship with this feature enabled by default. 

On older iPhones, you must manually enable Adaptive Power to boost their runtime.

Apple released iOS 18.7 and iPadOS 18.7 on Monday to close a lengthy list of security holes.

The updates address a wide array of threats, from unexpected app or system termination to an app being able to spy on users’ keystrokes. If you’re not updating to iOS 26 or iPadOS 26, which also arrived Monday, you should grab these security updates as soon as possible.

Apple TV+ delivered its strongest Emmy Awards performance to date Sunday night, taking home a personal record of 22 trophies across its original series lineup. The streaming service’s comedy hit The Studio dominated the evening at the 77th annual awards, becoming the most awarded show of the entire ceremony with 13 wins.

The Studio won so much that Seth Rogen said, after accepting the big Outstanding Comedy Series trophy, that he was “legitimately embarrassed” at how happy it made him. And from the stage, he thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook for Apple’s support. 

Weekend preorder demand for the iPhone 17 family outpaced last year’s iPhone 16, says TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. As per Apple’s production estimates, the analyst says the Pro Max model remains the undisputed demand leader.

The strong iPhone 17 preorder should help boost Apple’s Q3 2025 results.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max seems to be the favorite of those rushing to grab a new Apple device on the first day of preorders. Order this model now in the United States, and the wait for the delivery stretches out until October.

In contrast, the super-slim iPhone Air can still be ordered for delivery on launch day, September 19. The same is true for iPhone 17 Pro and the base model iPhone 17.

UPDATE: Two days after 2025 iPhone preorders began, the wait time to have most iPhone 17 Pro Max configurations delivered from the U.S. Apple Store has slipped to mid-October. But the situation hasn’t changed for the iPhone Air: You can still order the super-slim phone for delivery on launch day, September 19. Meanwhile, early stocks of the base-model iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are starting to run out. 

Apple’s September Awe Dropping event was only the beginning. There are so many new products coming out of Cupertino this fall that rumors point to an Apple October event.

And for some people, the best is yet to come: the Apple M5 processor, a new iPad Pro and (hopefully) the next MacBook Pro. And there could be more.

Apple is finally ready to release iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS Tahoe to the public. After initially showcasing these operating systems at WWDC25 this spring, the company will release the first stable build on September 15.

So when will iOS 26 actually land on your compatible iPhone? With all the new features packed in, you’ll want to be first in line to grab the update. Here’s when iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS Tahoe go live in your region.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After Apple’s truly Awe Dropping event, we’re picking up the pieces and discussing iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and the rest of the new hardware.

Also on The CultCast:

• Apple built iPhone 17 Pro like a tool for professionals. But is the cosmic orange color undeniably vibrant?
• The new Apple Watches look like solid additions, although the Apple Watch SE 3 gets the most meaningful upgrades.
• AirPods Pro 3 make one of our favorite Apple products even better.
• Somewhat surprisingly, Apple extends marquee features of Apple Watch Series 11 and AirPods Pro 3 to older devices.
• And finally, we go over the results of our Awe Dropping predictions game.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast 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 live stream, embedded below.