MacRumors

Apple is currently beta testing iOS 26.1, which will be the first major update to the iOS 26 operating system. It's not going to bring the new version of Siri that we've been waiting for, but it does include useful new features and interface changes. We're nearing the end of the beta testing process, and iOS 26.1 could be released early next week.

We've rounded up all of the new features that are included in iOS 26.1.

Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle

Apple added a toggle for customizing the look of Liquid Glass. In Settings > Display and Brightness, there's a new option to switch between Clear or Tinted settings.

Clear is more transparent and is the standard version of Liquid Glass that displays the background underneath buttons, menu bars, and other interface elements, while Tinted increases the opacity of Liquid Glass and adds contrast.

Lock Screen Camera Swipe

In the Camera section of the Settings app, there's a Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera setting, and turning it off disables the feature where you can swipe left to open the camera from the Lock Screen.

The iPhone has long allowed users to open the Camera app directly from the Lock Screen with a swipe, but it can be a setting that's easy to activate, and it provides a way for someone that gets ahold of an ‌iPhone‌ to use it to take unwanted photos.

There was previously no way to turn off Lock Screen camera activation without disabling the camera app entirely.

Phone Haptics

In the Phone app, there's a toggle to turn off haptic feedback when a call is connected or dropped.

Alarms and Timers

Alarms and timers that you set up in the Clock app now have a slide to stop button rather than a tap to stop button on the Lock Screen. You can snooze an alarm with a tap, but to turn it off entirely, you need to use a slide gesture.

The change makes it much harder to accidentally dismiss an alarm when you're trying to tap on the snooze button.

New Apple Intelligence Languages

Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese.

AirPods Live Translation Languages

AirPods Live Translation works with additional languages in iOS 26.1, including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese (both Mandarin Traditional and Simplified).

Apple Music

You can swipe on the music player in Apple Music to switch songs. Just slide a finger over where the song title is listed, and it'll go to the next song or back to the previous song.

Apple TV App

The Apple TV app has a new, more colorful icon that adopts the Liquid Glass aesthetic that Apple added alongside the ‌Apple TV‌+ name change. Apple is no longer referring to its streaming service as ‌Apple TV‌+, and is instead just calling it ‌Apple TV‌, like the app.

Fitness App

You can create custom workouts in the Fitness app on ‌iPhone‌. There are options for selecting workout type, estimated Active Calories, effort, duration, and start time.

There were workout creation options before, but they were more structured than the open, custom creation options that are in iOS 26.1.

Settings App

Apple changed the alignment of icons and text in the Settings app. All settings with headers that feature text now have that text aligned to the left instead of center aligned. It's a small change that makes a big visual difference.

This includes General, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular, Personal Hotspot, Accessibility, and more.

Home Screen Folders

When you tap into a folder on the Home Screen, the name of the folder at the top is left aligned instead of center aligned, matching the changes made in the Settings app.

Phone

The Phone keypad now uses Liquid Glass for the numbers.

Photos

The slider for scrubbing through videos in the Photos app has been updated.

The navigation bar also has a slightly more frosted look that makes it easier to see on light backgrounds.

The interface for managing multiple photos that you've selected has been tweaked slightly. Play as Slideshow, Favorite, and Hide are now at the top of the menu.

Safari

The Tab Bar (Bottom) in Safari is wider with less padding around the edges. In Reduce Transparency mode, there's more padding, so it no longer looks odd.

Background Security Improvements

The Privacy and Security section of the Settings app now has a toggle to automatically download and install security improvements. It's a revamp of the prior Rapid Security Responses feature.

Display Settings

The Display section of the Settings app now has iOS 26-themed wallpaper instead of iOS 18 wallpaper.

Liquid Glass

The light refraction effect around apps is now more subtle with darker icon colors and background colors.

Wallpaper

When setting a wallpaper on the Lock Screen, instructions like Pinch to Crop show up momentarily and then disappear, rather than being shown all the time.

Display Accessibility

Under the Display and Text Size section in the Accessibility settings, there is a new "Display Borders" toggle. It adds a border to all buttons, and replaces the prior "Button Shapes" setting.

Local Capture Settings

There's now an option to set a location in the Files app for audio and video recordings from calls. It's available by going to Settings > General > Local Capture.

Bonus: iPadOS 26.1

Many of the changes above are in iPadOS 26.1 too, and iPadOS 26.1 also makes some changes to multitasking.

Slide Over

With iPadOS 26.1, Apple is reintroducing Slide Over. Slide Over works alongside the window-based iPadOS 26 multitasking functionality, so you can have multiple windows open and still swipe over to quickly access a Slide Over app.

You can only have one Slide Over app at a time in iPadOS 26.1, and you can use the feature by tapping on the green window resizing button and toggling on Enter Slide Over.

External Microphones on iPad

There's now an option to adjust input gain on the iPad when using an external microphone.

Download iOS 26.1

iOS 26.1 is available for both developers and public beta testers, so if you want to get your hands on the new features now, you can. It's easiest to sign up for public beta testing by visiting Apple's beta website. You don't have long to wait for a public release, though.

Compatibility

iOS 26.1 is available on all iPhones that support ‌iOS 26‌.

Release Date

Apple could release iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3 or Tuesday, November 4.

Apple held its earnings call for the fourth fiscal quarter (third calendar quarter) of 2025 today. With quarterly revenue of $102.5 billion, Apple set a new September quarter revenue record, beating analyst expectations. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple CFO Kevan Parekh provided insight into iPhone sales, holiday quarter expectations, and more.

We've rounded up the most interesting takeaways from the call.

iPhone 17 Sales

Cook said that demand for the iPhone 17 models is "off the chart." Traffic in stores is up significantly, and Cook said that consumer reception is "very strong." Apple set a September quarter record for upgraders.

‌iPhone‌ supply was constrained during the quarter, and several ‌iPhone 17‌ models are still constrained. Cook said Apple is working hard to fulfill all the orders that it has.

When asked why the ‌iPhone 17‌ was doing so well, Cook said the following:

I think it's all about the product. The product lineup is incredibly strong or strong as ever. The 17 Pro is the most pro phone we've ever done. It's incredible. And the design sings. The iPhone air feels so thin and so light in your hand, it feels like it's going to fly away. And then the 17 phone is an incredible value, and takes several of the features that were reserved for pro before and brings them down to the consumer lineup. So overall, strongest iPhone lineup ever, and it's resonating around the world.

iPad

Though Apple refreshed the iPad lineup with the iPad Pro, many other iPads haven't had an update as of late. ‌iPad‌ sales were flat, with $6.95 billion in revenue.

Half of customers who purchased an ‌iPad‌ during the quarter were new to the product.

Mac

Mac sales were up, thanks to the launch of new MacBook Air models this year. Mac revenue was $8.7 billion, up from $7.7 billion last year. The Mac install base reached a new all-time high.

Apple said next quarter's Mac sales won't be as impressive because of an "extremely difficult compare." Last year, Apple launched several Macs late in the year, but this year the company only released the M5 MacBook Pro.

Wearables, Home and Accessories

Apple's wearables category includes the Apple Watch and Vision Pro. Sales were slightly down at $9.01 billion compared to $9.04 billion last year.

Services

Apple's Services segment hit a new all-time revenue record, reaching $28.8 billion, up from $25 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Services set revenue records in Americas, Europe, Japan, Rest of Asia Pacific, and a September quarter record in Greater China. Payment services hit an all-time revenue record and there was double-digit growth on Apple Pay active users.

Services revenue has surpassed $100 billion for the year, up 14 percent.

Siri Revamp

Apple is still on track to release an upgraded version of Siri next year, according to Cook. Apple is also planning for more partnerships like the ChatGPT integration in Apple Intelligence.

AI

Parekh said that Apple is "significantly increasing" its investments in AI, with operating expenses between $18.1 and $18.5 billion expected.

Cook said that Apple is continuing to develop its Apple foundation models, and several are in development. But he also said that Apple continually looks at the market and is open to pursuing an acquisition if it will advance the company's roadmap.

China

Despite strong ‌iPhone‌ sales, revenue in China was down significantly. Cook said that China is expected to return to growth in the December quarter because of the reception to the ‌iPhone 17‌.

Revenue in China was $14.5 billion, down from $15 billion last year, and below analyst expectations of approximately $16.4 billion.

Tariffs

Apple said that it had $1.1 billion in tariff-related costs in Q4 2025. Apple expects $1.4 billion in tariff-related costs next quarter, assuming that nothing changes. It does include the recent tariff change on goods imported from China, which dropped to 10 percent from 20 percent.

December Quarter

Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ said that total company revenue would grow 10 to 12 percent year over year in the December quarter. ‌iPhone‌ revenue is expected to grow double digits, and Apple is projecting that it will have its best December quarter ever.

WhatsApp today provided its TestFlight users with a new Apple Watch app for testing purposes, which means a version of WhatsApp for the wrist could be coming soon.

The app supports reading WhatsApp messages, sending replies, sending message reactions, sharing voice messages, and more, without the need to open the app on another device.

A connected iPhone with the WhatsApp app installed is required to use the Apple Watch app, and it is only available to beta testers at this time.

WhatsApp has not previously offered an Apple Watch app. There's no word on when a public launch might happen.

During today's call for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2025, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave rare insight into Apple's expected performance in the holiday quarter. Cook said that Apple believes it will set a new all-time revenue record in the December quarter.

"We are incredibly excited about the strength we're seeing across our products and services," said Cook. "We expect the December quarter revenue to be the best ever for the company and the best ever for iPhone." Overall revenue is expected to grow 10 to 12 percent year over year, while ‌iPhone‌ revenue is expected to grow double digits.

Cook went on to say that Apple is heading into the holiday season with a "truly remarkable lineup that includes the biggest leap ever for ‌iPhone‌." Apple has received a "tremendous response" to the iPhone 17 lineup despite supply constraints for some ‌iPhone 17‌ models and also iPhone 16 models before the ‌iPhone 17‌ launched.

Apple set a new ‌iPhone‌ September revenue record at $49 billion, up six percent year-over-year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told CNBC's Steve Kovach that a more personalized Siri remains on track to launch at some point next year, with the new set of features expected to debut on the iPhone as part of iOS 26.4 in March.

Cook told Reuters that Apple is "making good progress" on the revamped Siri, which is the same thing that he said last quarter. He shared this comment ahead of Apple reporting record earnings results for the third quarter of 2025 today.

Apple first announced the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote, but in March it announced that they were delayed. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

Apple is facing multiple class action lawsuits over the delayed features.

Apple today announced financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2025, which corresponds to the third calendar quarter of the year.

For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $102.5 billion and net quarterly profit of $27.5 billion, or $1.85 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $94.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $14.7 billion, or $0.97 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Apple's profits in the year-ago quarter were hit hard by a one-time charge of $10.2 billion over tax issues in the European Union. Without that one-time charge, Apple's profits in the year-ago quarter would have been $1.64 per share.

Gross margin for the most recent quarter was 47.2 percent, compared to 46.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.26 per share, payable on November 13 to shareholders of record as of November 10.

Apple set September quarter records for total revenue, iPhone revenue, and earnings per share, and an all-time record for Services revenue.

For the full fiscal year, Apple recorded $416.2 billion in sales and $112.0 billion in net income, compared to $391.0 billion in sales and $93.7 billion in net income for fiscal 2024. Both numbers set all-time fiscal year records for Apple, topping previous highs set in fiscal 2022.

"Today, Apple is very proud to report a September quarter revenue record of $102.5 billion, including a September quarter revenue record for iPhone and an all-time revenue record for Services," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "In September, we were thrilled to launch our best iPhone lineup ever, including iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and iPhone Air. In addition, we launched the fantastic AirPods Pro 3 and the all-new Apple Watch lineup. When combined with the recently announced MacBook Pro and iPad Pro with the powerhouse M5 chip, we are excited to be sharing our most extraordinary lineup of products as we head into the holiday season."

As has been the case for over five years now, Apple is once again not issuing detailed guidance for the current quarter ending in December, though it should provide some color on things in its conference call.

Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q4 2025 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.

Conference call recap ahead...

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Apple recently refreshed the Apple Vision Pro, adding a new M5 chip for improved performance. There aren't design changes, but Apple did introduce a new Dual Knit Band that's supposed to be more comfortable. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera picked up one of the new Vision Pro headsets to see how it compares to the prior-generation M2 versions.

Software and hardware are the same if you've been using visionOS 26, but with the M5 chip, performance is noticeably improved. Creating a Persona, generating spatial photos, and using multiple apps at once are all tasks that are quicker.

Apple didn't update the micro-OLED displays in the Vision Pro, but the M5 is able to render 10 percent more pixels and it supports a 120Hz refresh rate, so things look smoother than before. Mac Virtual Display, where the Vision Pro works as a screen for your Mac, looks like two sharp 5K displays side-by-side. Personalized Spatial Audio support adds more accurate directionality for more immersive audio.

To improve the wearing experience, the Vision Pro ships with a Dual Knit Band that replaces the prior Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop that came with the ‌M2‌ model. The Dual Knit Band has a strap that goes over the top of the head and one at the back of the head, which allows for better weight distribution. The back band has weights inside for counterbalance, and it does make a difference in how it feels.

The top and bottom straps can be adjusted using an updated Fit Dial, so each Vision Pro wearer can get an ideal fit. The Dual Knit Band isn't a miracle fix, so while it does make the Vision Pro a little more comfortable to wear, it's still a heavy headset. The M5 Vision Pro continues to be priced at $3,499, and it can be purchased from Apple. ‌M2‌ Vision Pro owners can buy the Dual Knit Band standalone for $99.

Tomorrow is Halloween, and then November is upon us. Below, we outline what to expect from Apple next month, as the slower holiday season approaches.

Apple is expected to kick off November by releasing iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1. With beta testing now wrapped up, the updates will likely be released this Monday, November 3 or Tuesday, November 4.

iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1 let you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. iPadOS 26.1 also reintroduces a version of the Slide Over feature for multitasking, and it expands the Apple Vision Pro app to iPads. With visionOS 26.1, videos in the Spatial Gallery app will show playback controls and video length while in immersive view.

watchOS 26.1 and tvOS 26.1 are minor updates, with bug fixes and performance improvements.

The beta train never stops, with Apple likely to seed the first betas of iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS 26.2 in the first or second week of November. Apple typically releases the "point-two" updates in mid-December, before Apple's software engineers take time off for the holiday season.

We are still waiting on Apple's promised U.S. passport feature in the iPhone's Wallet app. Apple said the feature is "coming later this year," but it is unclear if it will require iOS 26.2, or if will be enabled with a server-side update.

Earlier this month, Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, and previous rumors have indicated the company still planned to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year. However, as we head into November, it is unclear if that will still happen.

The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025:

• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.
• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.
• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.

The following products are rumored to launch in late 2025 or early 2026:

• MacBook with A18 Pro chip: A lower-cost MacBook model equipped with an A18 Pro chip — or perhaps an A19 Pro chip, although this might be wishful thinking — is rumored to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Studio Display: A new version of the Studio Display with an A19 Pro chip and mini-LED backlighting is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.
• Pro Display XDR: A new version of the Pro Display XDR with a built-in Center Stage camera is expected to launch in late 2025 or early 2026.

Apple rarely announces new products in November, but it is not unheard of. Apple introduced the first 16-inch MacBook Pro in November 2019, and the original HomePod mini debuted in November 2020. Apple has even announced a few products in December over the years, such as multiple Mac Pro models, the Pro Display XDR, and the AirPods Max.

HomePod mini and Apple TV inventory is starting to dwindle at select Apple Store locations around the world, as often happens ahead of new models.

There is one big caveat, though. Apple delayed its more personalized version of Siri until next year — it is expected to launch with iOS 26.4 in March — so perhaps it is holding off on releasing a new HomePod mini until then. Apple's long-rumored smart home hub was reportedly delayed until the all-new Siri is ready. However, this is just a theory.

Apple's professional video editing tool Final Cut Pro often receives a major update in November, and we recently reported that the company is possibly planning to release iPad versions of its Final Cut Pro companion apps Compressor and Motion, Logic Pro companion app MainStage, and Pixelmator Pro. Maybe those will come out next month, too.

Finally, Apple has been heavily promoting its upcoming sci-fi drama series Pluribus, which hails from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. The first two episodes of Pluribus will be released on Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) on Friday, November 7, and a new episode will follow every Friday through December 26.

Of course, these are only the things that we know to expect, and Apple could have some other announcements in store this November. Apple will likely implement its extended return policy for the holiday season next month, announce year-end awards for services like Apple Music and the App Store, and more. Stay tuned!

Best Buy today opened up $50 discounts across the board on Apple's new M5 iPad Pro, with prices starting at $949.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch model. Amazon is matching some of these deals, and has steeper markdowns on the higher-end 13-inch M5 iPad Pro.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Specifically, you can save up to $100 on the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro on Amazon this week. If you're shopping for the 2TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi model, Amazon has this tablet for $2,299.00, down from $2,399.00, as well as a few other 13-inch models between $75 and $90 off.

In regards to the Best Buy discounts, you don't need to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership in order to see these deals. On Amazon, all sales have been applied automatically and don't need any coupon codes to see the final sale prices.

11-Inch M5 iPad Pro

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $949.00 ($50 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,149.00 ($50 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,549.00 ($50 off)
• 1TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,649.00 ($50 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,949.00 ($50 off)
• 2TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $2,049.00 ($50 off)

13-Inch M5 iPad Pro

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,249.00 ($50 off) [matched at Amazon]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,440.00 ($60 off) [only at Amazon]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,824.00 ($75 off) [only at Amazon]
• 1TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $1,920.00 ($79 off) [only at Amazon]
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,209.00 ($90 off) [only at Amazon]
• 2TB Nano-Texture Glass Wi-Fi - $2,299.00 ($100 off)

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple launched the Apple TV HD, the Siri Remote, tvOS, and their accompanying App Store a decade ago today, marking a major overhaul of the device.

The new vision for the ‌Apple TV‌ was unveiled on September 9, 2015 during Apple's "Hey ‌Siri‌" event in San Francisco, where CEO Tim Cook introduced the device with the statement, "The future of TV is apps." The announcement represented a major strategic shift from previous ‌Apple TV‌ models, which had primarily focused on streaming iTunes and partner content. Pre-orders opened on Monday, October 26, 2015, and devices began arriving with customers and in stores on Friday, October 30, 2015.

With the new ‌Apple TV‌, Apple introduced tvOS, a dedicated operating system derived from iOS 9, and opened the platform to third-party developers for the first time. Apple services chief Eddy Cue presented the new system, demonstrating a redesigned interface and an entirely new ‌App Store‌ built for the living room. Developers could create apps and games using Xcode 7 and the same frameworks used for iPhone and iPad, including UIKit and Metal. Cue emphasized that the unified architecture would allow iOS developers to transition easily to tvOS. The new interface introduced universal search, enabling users to query content across multiple platforms such as iTunes, Netflix, and Hulu simultaneously.

A major hardware change accompanied the software overhaul. The fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ featured the A8 processor, originally used in the ‌iPhone‌ 6, paired with either 32GB or 64GB of storage. The new model supported HDMI 1.4 video output at 1080p and included Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and a Lightning port for service and development. The device's design was thicker than its predecessor, allowing for active cooling and more processing power.

Apple also introduced the ‌Siri‌ Remote, a touch- and motion-sensitive controller with dual microphones for voice input. The top surface of the remote was made of glass, allowing users to swipe to navigate or scrub through video playback. The controller included a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, making it compatible with motion-based games. It charged via a Lightning connector and connected to the ‌Apple TV‌ via Bluetooth instead of infrared, enabling input without line-of-sight requirements.

During the demonstration, Apple showcased voice control capabilities integrated directly into the tvOS interface. ‌Siri‌ could execute commands such as "Show me new comedies," "What did she say?," or "Rewind two minutes." When asked to "show me James Bond movies,” ‌Siri‌ displayed results aggregated from multiple services.

Apple also positioned the device as a casual gaming platform. Independent developers such as Hipster Whale demonstrated the hit title "Crossy Road" with support for multiplayer gameplay using the ‌Siri‌ Remote and iPhones as secondary controllers. Other demonstrations included fitness and shopping apps.

A decade later, Apple's hopes to turn the ‌Apple TV‌ into a device driven by ‌Siri‌, an ecosystem of third-party apps, and gaming seem to have not panned out as much as it hoped. Nevertheless, the ‌Apple TV‌ HD and tvOS defined how the platform looks and works to this day. A new ‌Apple TV‌ is rumored to launch this year, featuring a newer processor and Apple's custom N1 chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Meta today announced it is rolling out two new Threads features that will give users more control over the visibility of content on the platform.

First, new "mentions" and "people you follow" filters in the Activity tab will allow you to fine-tune the replies that are visible in the feed.

Second, a new "review and approve replies" option when drafting a post will allow you to approve replies to your post before they are visible to the public.

The features will be available in the Threads app on iPhone, and presumably on other platforms.

Threads is a social media platform that competes with X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky and Mastodon. Meta launched Threads in 2023, less than a year after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, and it works with an Instagram account.

Meta says Threads has hit 150 million daily active users.

Apple this week made iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max parts available to order through its self-service repair store in the United States, Canada, and some European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, and others.

For all four new iPhone models, there are parts available for repairing the display, battery, cameras, enclosure, speakers, logic board, and more. Apple also lets customers rent an iPhone toolkit for seven days, with U.S. pricing set at $49.

Apple's website offers repair manuals for the devices:

• iPhone 17
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Pro Max

Launched in 2022, Apple's self-service repair program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones, iPads, Macs, Studio Displays, and Beats Pill speakers. Apple says the program is "intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices."

Electronics repair website iFixit today shared a teardown video for the iPad Pro with the M5 chip, revealing a "repair paradox."

Specifically, iFixit said the iPad Pro remains one of Apple's least-repairable devices, yet the company did start offering self-service repair parts and manuals for iPads earlier this year. As a result of the self-service expansion, iFixit gave the latest iPad Pro a provisional repairability score of 5/10, which is higher than previous models.

Given the iPad Pro only received a spec-bump with the M5 chip, the teardown video does not reveal any notable internal changes.

The new iPad Pro launched last week, and Apple should release self-service parts for this particular model in the coming months.

iFixit shared a teardown video for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip last week.

OWC kicked off a new Halloween sale this week, offering big discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. Some of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

There are a few notable deals in this sale, including $100 off the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $179.99, which is the steepest discount we've seen since the summer on the accessory. If you purchase a qualifying new or used Mac at the same time as this dock, you can get an additional $20 off the accessory at checkout.

Docks and Hubs

• OWC USB-C Travel Dock - $24.99, down from $49.99
• Thunderbolt Mini Dock - $84.00, down from $129.99
• Thunderbolt Hub - $118.99, down from $129.99
• 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock - $179.99, down from $279.99

External Drives and Enclosures

• 1TB 1M2 SSD - $229.99, down from $249.99
• 2TB 1M2 SSD - $349.99, down from $399.99
• 2TB Envoy Pro FX SSD - $329.99, down from $379.99
• 4TB 1M2 SSD - $549.99, down from $629.99
• 4TB Envoy Pro FX - $529.99, down from $649.99
• 8TB 1M2 SSD - $1,099.99, down from $1,399.99

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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OpenAI has rolled out another update to its Sora AI video app, one that builds on its existing video generation features with new tools designed to help users create longer, more narrative-driven content.

For anyone unfamiliar with the name, Sora is an invite-only AI video app and social network. It lets you create realistic, cinematic, and anime-style AI videos of yourself, friends, and other people, complete with synchronized speech and sound effects.

The headline feature in the latest update is character cameos, which expands on Sora's ability to create AI videos of real people. Users can now create reusable characters from any video upload – whether from their camera roll or existing Sora-generated content – and tag them in future video generations.

Once created, each character gets its own display name and handle, along with customizable permissions. Users can keep characters private, share them with mutual followers, or make them available to everyone on the platform. OpenAI is launching the feature with a selection of starter characters, including Halloween-themed options like Frankenstein, Dracula, Witch, and Ghost.

The update also introduces video stitching, allowing users to select multiple clips from their drafts and merge them into a single sequence. There's also a new community leaderboards feature that showcases the most remixed videos and most frequently used characters and cameos.

OpenAI has temporarily relaxed Sora's invitation requirements to coincide with the update, allowing users in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Korea to sign up without an invite code for a limited time. The app is now also available in Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The character cameo feature has already landed OpenAI in hot water – celebrity video platform Cameo filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against OpenAI just days before the update launched, challenging the company's use of "cameo" in Sora's features.

The Sora app debuted late last month and crossed one million downloads faster than ChatGPT did, despite being invite-only and available in just two countries at launch.

Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle next year, adopting a two-phase rollout starting with the iPhone 18 series. That means the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold will be released in September 2026, followed by the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027.

Design

iPhone 17 Pro Style

Rumors suggest the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will largely retain the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro models. The rear camera system will look identical to the current generation, featuring a raised "plateau" with three lenses arranged in a triangle. Display sizes are also expected to remain unchanged, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max continuing to use 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch panels, respectively – the same dimensions introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro series. One rumor suggests that the Ceramic Shield area for MagSafe charging could have a "slightly transparent" design, but it is not clear what that means.

Smaller Dynamic Island

Under-Screen Face ID?

Rumors continue to circulate about whether the iPhone 18 Pro models will introduce under-display Face ID, but reports remain divided on when the technology will actually arrive. The feature would move the TrueDepth camera system beneath the display, eliminating the need for the current Dynamic Island cutout.

According to Wayne Ma of The Information, Apple is targeting a design without a Dynamic Island, replacing it with a single pinhole camera in the upper-left corner of the screen. However, other sources dispute that claim. Display analyst Ross Young believes under-display Face ID is possible for the iPhone 18 Pro, but says a smaller Dynamic Island will still be present. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has echoed this view, reporting that the new models will feature a slimmed-down Dynamic Island rather than removing it entirely.

Meanwhile, Chinese leaker Instant Digital has offered yet another version of events, saying the Dynamic Island will shrink in size, but that under-display Face ID and camera technology won't debut next year. Overall, the consensus suggests Apple may be refining the Dynamic Island before fully transitioning to an all-screen design in future generations.

A20 Pro Chip

2nm Process

Apple's upcoming A20 Pro chip, set to power the iPhone 18 Pro models, will reportedly be built using TSMC's third-generation 3nm process – the same node expected for the A19 Pro chip in this year's iPhone 17 Pro, according to analyst Jeff Pu. This suggests that year-over-year performance gains between the A19 Pro and A20 Pro may be modest, at least in terms of raw CPU and GPU improvements.

However, Pu notes that the A20 Pro will feature a more advanced packaging method known as CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate). This technology enables tighter integration between the processor, unified memory, and the Neural Engine, which could potentially enhance performance in AI-related tasks. The shift could be part of Apple's broader push to support on-device Apple Intelligence features in future iPhones, as the company ramps up its machine learning capabilities.

C2 Modem

Replacing Qualcomm

Apple plans to include its next-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models, according to supply chain analyst Jeff Pu. The chip will succeed the C1 modem, which debuted in the lower-cost iPhone 16e as Apple's first in-house cellular modem, and the C1X modem chip in the iPhone Air, which Apple says is up to 2× faster than the C1. The C2 is expected to bring faster speeds, improved power efficiency, and support for mmWave 5G in the United States – a feature missing from the C1 and C1X.

Apple's modem roadmap is part of a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, which currently supplies 5G modems for the rest of the iPhone lineup. The company has been working on developing its own cellular chips for years, aiming for deeper integration and greater control over power management and performance.

New Camera Sensor

Samsung-Made

Samsung is working on a new three-layer stacked image sensor, reportedly intended for the iPhone 18. The sensor, referred to as PD-TR-Logic, integrates three layers of circuitry, which would improve camera responsiveness, reduce noise, and increase dynamic range. The leak comes from a source known as "Jukanlosreve," who claims the sensor is being developed specifically for Apple's 2026 iPhone lineup. Sony has long been Apple's sole image sensor supplier, so Samsung's entry would be a big shift in the iPhone's camera supply chain.

Variable Aperture

DSLR-Style

Apple intends to equip next year's iPhone 18 Pro models with a variable aperture lens, according to reports. Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims the main rear camera – what Apple calls the 48-megapixel Fusion camera – on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. A variable-aperture system physically adjusts the lens opening, letting more light in for low-light shots or narrowing the opening for brighter scenes and deeper depth of field.

The main cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro, 16 Pro, and 17 Pro all use a fixed ƒ/1.78 aperture, where the lens is permanently set to its widest setting. With a variable lens, the iPhone 18 Pro would allow users to manually shift the aperture, similar to on a DSLR camera. This would mean more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in November 2024 that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models will get the feature.

5G Satellite Internet

Non-Terrestrial Data

According to a report by The Information, Apple plans to add support for 5G networks that operate via satellites rather than Earth-based towers as early as next year. This advancement would allow future iPhones to gain full internet connectivity through satellite, not just limited emergency features.

If Apple meets the 2026 target, the first devices to feature 5G satellite internet would likely be the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone. Apple partners with Globalstar for its iPhone satellite features, but there is currently no service that delivers full 5G satellite internet directly to a smartphone, and the report did not specify who would supply it.

Simplified Camera Control

New Design

Apple is reportedly working to simplify the Camera Control button's design on iPhone 18 models in order to reduce costs. The current Camera Control button on iPhone 17 models uses both capacitive and pressure sensors beneath a sapphire crystal surface. The capacitive layer detects touch gestures, while the force sensor recognizes different pressure levels for taps, presses, and swipes.

However, according to the Weibo-based account Instant Digital, Apple will remove the capacitive sensing layer and retain only pressure sensing recognition in the second iteration to achieve all Camera Control functions on the iPhone 18. The simplified version is not about reducing functionality in the button, but about saving money. The current solution is said to be very expensive for Apple and is generating costly after-sales repairs.

Some AirPods Pro 3 owners have been experiencing a problem with a static-like sound when Active Noise Cancellation is on but no media is playing, according to complaints on Reddit and the MacRumors forums.

Those who are affected have described the noise as static, an audible hiss, white noise, rain, and an ocean-like sound similar to holding a seashell up to the ear. There have been reports of users hearing the static sound in ANC, Adaptive, and Transparency modes. From MacRumors reader ugh:

It's very strange, I would think it's defective, but it's on both ears?? You can switch ANC from on to off, clearly ANC is quieting down the lower frequencies, but the higher frequencies seem to actually get LOUDER in a quiet room when turning ANC on. It just sounds like I have a small fan on in the room all the time (I do not).

From xJohnyxx:

Very pronounced in mine but only in Transparency/Adaptive mode. And only, or at least way more pronounced, in the right one. Had absolutely zero static noise with APP2. Will be returning since I also don't quite like the new sound profile and they are less comfortable for me.

From rolan2q:

OMG after one week of ownership I had to exchange my AirPods Pro 3. During a flight from NYC to Chicago I had a whistling/wind noise on my right Airpod the whole time. I reset, repaired, cleaned them and same thing. Hopefully this is not a widespread issue.

Some users say the static is worse in one AirPod than the other, and others suggest that high frequencies also seem to be oddly amplified. Music mitigates the problem for some users, but not others. From EdRecde on Reddit:

I have the same problem. It's not possible to hear music at a low level around 30 db because the static is too much. It's my first pair of AirPods so I can't compare but only switching the microphones off makes the headphones silent

Not all ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ units seem to be affected, and there are people who appear to be experiencing no issue at all. Some users may also be less sensitive to any kind of ambient static sound.

One user who reported the issue to Apple received replacement AirPods, and other people have exchanged the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ but experienced the same issue with the replacement pair. One user said that Apple is directing store employees to exchange the AirPods Pro 3 for users who report static issues.

It's not clear if the static that people are hearing is related to hardware or software, but if it is a software issue, Apple could address it in future firmware updates. The only option for eliminating the static entirely appears to be turning ANC and Transparency off, which can be done in the Settings app when wearing the AirPods.