This M4 Mac mini with double the storage and 50% more RAM is just $849

Macworld The tiny and powerful Mac mini is just what your home office needsespecially when its at the best price weve ever seen. Amazon is selling the M4 Mac mini with 256GB of storage and 24GB of RAM for $849 right now, a fantastic savings of $150. Equipped with an M4 processor, this Mac Mini has twice the storage and 50 percent more memory than the base mode that sells or $599. Thats a fantastic combo, too, which can handle any task with blazing fast. It will run photo and video editing apps like a pro, survive those gazillion tabs you keep open, stream content, and do just about anything you want. It probably comes as no surprise, but when we reviewed the new Mac Mini , we loved how small it is and how well it performed through our tests. Not only will you not have to worry about whether you can or cannot complete a task with this thing, but connectivity also wont be an issue. There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDMI on the back of the device, as well as a pair of USB-C ports on the front for quickly connecting drives or giving your iPhone a quick charge. So go grab this $999 Mac Mini for $150 off while this deal is still available and get started on all your projects. That's a great discount for the M4 Mac Mini Buy now at Amazon

Apples 2025 roadmap is reportedly missing a major product badly in need of an update

Macworld With WWDC in Apples rearview mirror, we can now all turn our attention to the next round of hardware releases coming in September. We already know the iPhone 17 is on the way, but a new report claims one product we were expecting this year might not arrive. Jeff Pu of GF Securities has issued his latest Apple Product Timeline , and it includes some expected products, including the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3. The new watches will almost certainly launch alongside new iPhones in September, as Apple has done every year since the Apple Watch arrived in 2015. This year, however, we were also expecting new AirPods Pro to arrive, as its been three years since Apple last updated its high-end earbuds. But Pu says the new earbuds arent coming this year; instead, theyre slated for a 2026 release. That could mean were waiting another 12 months for the next generation of AirPods Pro, as Apple typically launches new earbuds in September. On a happier note, Pu does expect Apples so-called HomePad to arrive later this year. He describes the device as having a six-inch screen, which is somewhat smaller than previous rumors, which pegged the device as having a 7-inch screen. The HomePad is rumored to be a Siri-powered smart-home hub with a square touchscreen display. Apple will presumably launch the device in the fall, either alongside the iPhone 17 or at a separate event in October. Elsewhere, Pu expects Apple to refresh the Vision Pro next year and launch a new cheaper Vision Air model in 2027, along with its first pair of smart glasses.

Amazon Prime Day 2025 returns July 8-11: All you need to know

Macworld Somehow, its already June and that means this years first Prime Day event is quickly approaching on July 8-11. There may be no better time to get your hands on Apple gear, plus accessories for Macs and iPhones, as well as other tech of interest to Apple diehards. Read on for all the details. When is Prime Day 2025? Amazon has announced that Prime Day will run between July 8 and July 11, which is along the lines with our original guesstimate. Since there are four days between the 8th and the 11th, Amazon is doubling the event this year, which is in line with the rumors weve been hearing about Prime Day lasting for more than its typical two days. This is the first time well be seeing the event last for so long. When was Prime Day in previous years? In previous years, Amazons Prime Day event lasted for 48 hours, and always started on a Tuesday. Lets check out the exact dates: 2024 : July 16-17 and October 8-9 2023 : July 11-12 and Oct 10-11 2022 : July 12-13 and October 11-12 2021 : June 21-22 2020 : October 13-14 What do you need to do to get access to Prime Day deals? Amazons Prime Day event is dedicated to Amazon Prime members. So, if youre paying for a subscription to get free shipping and faster deliveries, as well as a bunch of other perks, youre already good to go. If youre not already subscribed, you can start a 30-day free trial , although wed suggest waiting a couple more weeks, at least, so you can make sure the trial extends through all potential Prime Day dates. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or you could pay $139 for the whole year. If youre a student , you can get it for as little as $7.49 per month or $69 per year. Discounts are also available for folks who receive government assistance. While its true that most deals on Prime Day are dedicated to members, there will be plenty of discounts that come with such requirements. What can you expect on Prime Day? Prime Day is the sale event when a ton of tech products get their best discounts. Oftentimes, these discounts are better than well see on Black Fridayand thats saying quite a bit. We expect to see great discounts across the board for Apple tech, from iPads to MacBooks, smartwatches, and all the accessories. We also think well see loads of discounts for SSDs, monitors, chargers, and smart home tech. If youre also into Amazons brands, expect fantastic deals for those too, from Kindle to Ring to Echo, and so on. Deals you can get ahead of Prime Day Prime Day is a fantastic time for shoppers, but there are loads of deals to get right now: Apple MacBook Air M4, 13-inch, 16GB memory, 256GB storage : $849 (15% off $999) Apple AirPods Pro 2 : $169 (32% off $249) Anker 20W 2-port chargers with type-C cables, 2-pack : $13 (32% off $19) Sony WH-1000XM4 : $298 (14% off $348)

If you wanted AirPods Pro 3 this year, we have some bad news

So far, rumors have pointed to Apples upcoming AirPods Pro 3 model releasing later this year. However, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu shared a different The post If you wanted AirPods Pro 3 this year, we have some bad news appeared first on BGR .

Hey AirPods users, you can soon beta-test new features coming this fall

Macworld Amid the chaos and excitement of an Apple event, one or two interesting announcements will generally fall through the cracks and go unreported. Sure enough, one WWDC25 news item affecting the AirPods has only just been noticed, and it could make a big difference to the user experience. As spotted by MacRumors , Apples press release for new features coming to the AirPods this fall contains a quiet surprise at the bottom of the page: All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month. Thats new. For updates to most of Apples operating systemsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOSthe company rolls out pre-release beta testing versions for developers only, followed a little later by betas for the general public to try if they are interested. But AirPods firmware updates have never previously been available to the public until they officially launch. Thats changing this year, as is confirmed by the inclusion of AirPods in the front-page verbiage on Apples beta test site . The average AirPods software update isnt likely to generate a great deal of interest from the public. They tend, somehow, to be simultaneously dull (generally containing few if any new features and focusing more on bug fixes) and mysterious (Apples release notes are spectacularly uninformative ). But the annual new releases are different. For example, this years version contains studio-quality audio recording and camera remote, two distinct new features that Apple is keen to promote. Its possible that this is why the company has decided to finally allow public beta testing. While the developer beta of the update is available already, the public beta is currently slated to appear sometime in July. Readers who arent experienced with betas should be warned that such software can be buggy and may not work as advertised: spotting bugs is what the beta testing program is all about. But it also means you get a chance to try the new features ahead of launch, see if they make a significant difference to you, and generally brag about being ahead of the curve. If that sounds like something youd enjoy, sign up to Apples beta testing program .

5 popular iPhone and Mac apps in serious danger of being Sherlocked this fall

Macworld It wouldnt be WWDC if Apple didnt do a little stealing. In fact, Apple has such a longtime habit of introducing new software features that overlap and eventually overtake third-party Mac apps theres even a term for it. Sherlocking comes from Apples Sherlock app, one of the first to usurp a popular third-party alternative called Watson back in the 1990s. This practice was on display again at WWDC 2025, where Apple introduced several new features in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe that looked eerily similar to those offered by independent apps and developers. Of course, were not going to complain about new capabilities in macOS, and Apple is far from the only company to add features that have been done elsewhere before. But if youre a fan of one of these apps, they might not be around for much longer. Alfred Alfred is a popular productivity app that adds a suite of controls that level up your Mac. That includes an app and file launcher that is accessed through a floating text-entry bar, in-app controls that can be activated using your keyboard, extensive clipboard history, and text snippets that act as shortcuts for various tasks. Starting to sound familiar? It should, because this closely mirrors the radical overhaul that Apple brought to Spotlight in macOS Tahoe. Instead of a simple search box, Spotlight has now been empowered with a range of new abilities. It can work within apps to launch menu bar controls, comes with parameters for filling out emails and text messages, has deep integration with Shortcuts, and even utilizes text snippets to kickstart actions with just a few taps. Alfred still has a few tricks up its sleeve that havent yet made it into Spotlight, such as 1Password integration and visual theming, but the gulf between it and Spotlight has been closed significantly. And Apple is likely only just getting started. Apple previewed a much more powerful Spotlight search at WWDC. Apple Route If youre someone who frequently has parcels delivered to your door, you know how important it is to keep track of everything thats on the way. Most package junkies likely already use the feature-rich third-party app Route to stay on top of their packages, but with iOS 26, that can be done natively on your iPhone. Its achieved by using Apple Intelligence to scan your emails and messages and pull out relevant delivery information, such as tracking numbers and carrier companies. This is then collated in the Wallet app, giving you a centralized place to keep an eye on your parcels without needing to download any other apps. Best of all, its all done automatically, so all you need to do is buy something. Flighty The iOS 26 update has seen a major upgrade for virtual boarding passes stored in the Wallet app, with directions to your terminal gate and help finding lost luggage equipped with an AirTag or other FindMy tracker. So far, no Sherlocking there. But that all changes when you consider the Live Activities functionality that has been added to boarding passes. There will now be a widget that shows current flight status (such as how long until its due to land), the planes arrival terminal and baggage claim desk number, airline info, and flight number, and more. That closely matches the Live Activities offered by the popular flight-tracking app Flighty . Flighty still has the edge in some ways, such as its rapid delay alerts that can reach you before even the airlines own notifications. But theres no doubt that Apple has swooped in and launched its own solution that covers a lot of the same ground as Flighty. The flight tracking live activity built into iOS 26 is extremely similar to Flighty. Apple Bartender At WWDC, Apple lifted the lid on its Liquid Glass visual redesign. Inspired by visionOS, this brings transparency and glass-like effects to almost every Apple device and operating system. One aspect of that in macOS is that the menu bar can now be totally transparent. But theres another menu bar tweak that might not have pleased the developers of the popular Bartender app . Thats because in macOS Tahoe, you can quickly and easily hide third-party icons from your menu bar. This is a feature that youll also find in Bartender, and easily one of the main reasons why people love the longtime utility. Theres no telling how much time Bartender has saved users by eliminating the need to bounce between app settings. For power users, Bartender probably isnt under existential threat from Apple just yet, as it offers a lot more functionality that isnt natively matched by macOS, with far more customization options and a handy tool palette that pops out below your menu bar. But for casual users, Bartender just got Sherlocked. Bartender still has some near tricks, but Apple has made one of its best features irrelevant in macOS 26. bartender Truecaller Weve all been faced with unwanted spam calls that interrupt our day, ranging from the mildly annoying to the downright malicious. For years, the Truecaller app has helped iPhone users steer clear of scammers and telemarketers by identifying unknown callers, blocking spammers, rooting out fraudulent text messages, and requiring callers to identify themselves before theyre let through. It got even better in iOS 18.2 when Apple added a Live Caller ID Lookup API with real-time spam blocking. Unfortunately for Truecaller, iOS 26 can now do some of these things by itself. The Call Screening feature, for instance, asks callers to explain why theyre contacting you, then shows the results in text on your screen, letting you ignore the call or pick it up when youre ready. For most people, that might be better than identifying spammers.

Block ads for the whole fam for less than your monthly streaming services

Macworld Ads are everywhere. From gas pump screens to streaming services and social media, the average American is exposed to anywhere between 4,000 and 10,000 ads per day. Enough is enough. While some ads are just plain annoying (looking at you, Liberty Mutual), others can be straight-up harmful. Protect your kids from inappropriate content and protect your Mac from phishing with Adguards Family Plan, now just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN. With AdGuards family plan, you can get privacy protection, ad blocking, and malware protection for up to 9 devices, including desktop and mobile. Its compatible with both Android and iOS devices as long as theyre running on relatively updated operating systems. AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription See Deal From banner ads to pop-ups and video ads, AdgGuard blocks them all seamlessly, allowing you to use your computer the way it was intended. Maximize productivity and protect from harmful viruses or phishing attempts. The robust parental controls also allow users to block inappropriate or adult content to keep the web safe for your kids. For less than the monthly price of a streaming service, you can have peace of mind knowing your children will be shielded from inappropriate materials and you can work, stream, and game uninterrupted. Get AdGuards Family Plan for $15.97 (reg. $39.99) with code FAMPLAN. StackSocial prices subject to change.

Turn back the clock on your PC with Office 2021 and Windows 11 Pro

Macworld If youre looking to make your PC feel like new without breaking the bank, this bundle featuring Microsoft Office 2021 and Windows 11 Pro is a deal you wont want to miss. Priced at just $54.97 (reg. $418.99), it might just be the most affordable way to update your device without purchasing a brand-new one. Microsoft Office Professional 2021 includes essential applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. These tools are perfect for professionals, students, and anyone needing reliable software for everyday tasks. And unlike Microsoft 365, this is a one-time purchase that grants you lifetime access, ensuring you wont have to worry about recurring fees. Windows 11 Pro brings a host of new features to your PC, including enhanced security tools like BitLocker encryption and support for biometric logins. It also offers improved multitasking capabilities, a redesigned interface, and better performance, making your computing experience more efficient and enjoyable.Plus, itcomes witha new AI-powered assistant , Copilot, which can answer your questions, generate images, and evenhelpyoupreparefor exams. Theres no need to buy a brand-new Windows devicerefresh your PC by grabbing Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office 2021 for just $54.97. No coupon is needed, but this price drop ends soon! The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Need to run Windows on your Mac? A Parallels Pro subscription just went on sale

Macworld If you have a Mac but still need to run Windows apps, Parallels Pro makes it surprisingly easy. Instead of switching computers or rebooting into a different system, Parallels lets you run Windows, Linux, or other operating systems right alongside macOS. Whether you are moving from PC to Mac or just need access to certain programs that do not have Mac versions, this tool creates a virtual machine that works like a second computer within your Mac. Its usually $119.99 for a 1-year Parallels Desktop Subscription for Macs, but right now its only $74.99. What can Parallels do? Parallels Pro lets you run Windows 10, Windows 11, or even multiple operating systems simultaneously. It also includes Parallels Toolbox, which gives you over 30 one-touch tools for both Mac and PC, helping you handle tasks like freeing up disk space or taking screenshots with just a click. The Parallels AI Package includes a Linux-based virtual machine built for machine learning and AI development. With GitHub integration and natural language VM control, managing virtual machines becomes much simpler. Theres even an enhanced Packer plugin that automates setup for Apple Silicon Macs. If you want to run something other than macOS, then get a 1-Year Parallels Pro Subscription while its on sale for $74.99. Parallels Pro for Mac: 1-Year Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change .

Cheaper than iCloud, this 2TB cloud storage also lasts for life

Macworld iCloud doesnt seem expensive until you start doing the math. If you want 2TB with iCloud, youll have to pay $9.99 a month. Thats a little under $120 every year. If you want a cheaper alternative to get the same amount of cloud storage, FileJump has a 2TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription thats on sale for $69.97 (reg. $467). The biggest difference between iCloud and FileJump is that the latter wont seamlessly integrate with your iOS devices. But with $10 extra in your pocket every month does it really matter? Its still practically seamless to upload images, videos, and files under 15GB in size using the simple drag-and-drop, and theyrestored safely for life with AES encryption. Unlike other lifetime cloud storage plans, FileJump even has mobile and desktop apps to complete the experience. Conveniently see file previews for images, videos, and spreadsheets. Dont miss your chance to replace a monthly subscription with something you can actually own. Get a FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription for $69.97. FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change .

iOS 26 developer beta updated just days after initial release

Macworld As is tradition, Apple released beta versions of its new operating systems to developers on the first day of WWDC on June 9. Beta 1 is for developers onlythe public beta will begin in July, probably after two or three developer-only betas. Updated June 13: Apple updated beta 1 for developers today, though the version number has only changed the last letter (from 23A5260n to 23A5260u). This is still beta 1 and there are likely no new features, just a critical bug or security flaw fixed. Whats in the latest beta The first beta release of iOS 26 has everything Apple demonstrated in its WWDC keynote: Liquid Glass , the new Phone app and features, the new Camera and Photos experience , and more. You can read all about all the new features in our iOS 26 superguide . There are plenty of bugs and unrefined areas, as you would expect with the first beta release of a major new operating system update. Not everything is working as it should, and it is not advised to run this version of the OS unless youre a developer or have a high tolerance for buggy or unoptimized software. iOS 26: How to install the public beta The public beta is not yet available, but is expected to begin in July. If you want to be among the first to test iOS 26, you can sign up for the public beta test. Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID. Log in to the Beta Software Program. Click Enroll your iOS device . Open the Settings app, tap General , then Software Update . In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta. It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update. iOS 26: How to install the developer beta Youll need to be registered as an Apple developer. You dont need to be in the $99 per year developer program to access the developer beta, a free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Heres how to do it via the Apple Developer app: Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store. Open the app. Tap on Account. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. Registered developers can choose to get the Public Beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the Software Update screen. It may take a little time after registering as a developer for the option to appear in Software Updates. Find out everything you need to know about iOS 18 in our iOS 26 superguide .

Anker recalls over 1 million power banks after reports of fires and explosions

This week, accessory maker Anker announced one of its most sweeping recalls to date. Due to a series of incidents resulting in fires, explosions, and The post Anker recalls over 1 million power banks after reports of fires and explosions appeared first on BGR .

VirtualMacOSX.com user data exposed in breach

Macworld Cybersecurity researchers SafetyDetectives reported on Friday about a data breach involving VirtualMacOSX.com, an online provider of cloud services targeted at Mac users. The breach involves data that belongs to 10,000 of its customers. SafetyDetectives states that it found a post publicizing a VirtualMacOSX.com database in a forum known for data leaks, cracks, and more. Access to the data was given to those who replied to or liked the post. The data included sensitive information, including full names, financial data, contact info, and passwords. Analysis by SafetyDetectives led them to believe the data is genuine, but the researchers refrained from testing the exposed credentials to verify the data due to ethical concerns. VirtualMacOSX.com describes itself as an affordable, Mac-based home on the web.We offer Mac OS X server plans hosted from our state of the art datacenters in Western Canada (Serving the Americas and Pacific Rim) and Eastern Canada (Serving the Americas and Middle East/Europe). Plans start at $12.75 per month for an hour of use a day and 2GB of storage. According to Trustpilot , Canada-based VirtualMacOSX.com averages a rating of 2.5 out of 5 in Trustpilot reviews, with 48 percent of the reviews rated as 1 star. SafetyDetectives calls itself a pro-bono publishing group of cybersecurity experts, privacy researchers, and technical product reviewers. Macworld contacted VirtualMacOSX.com via email for comment on the report. How to protect yourself from data breaches The breach covered here doesnt involve a macOS vulnerability, but one at a service provider. It is not known how an outside party accessed VirtualMacOSX.coms database and whether the data was encrypted or not. If it was encrypted, it appears that the threat agent had the keys to decrypt the data. In an instance where you believe your data was exposed in a data breach, there are a few steps to take to protect yourself: If you continue to use the service that was breached, change your password and enable two-factor verification. Check your credit report and freeze it. This will help block unauthorized approvals to financial services that are being made in your name. If you need to sign up for a service (such as a loan or credit card), you can temporarily unfreeze your account so a credit check can be performed. Check your records for all of your financial institutions. If you access them online, change your passwords and enable two-factor verification. Some institutions also provide alerts when attempts are made to access your account. Use a service such as Have I Benn Pwned to see if your email address was involved in a data breach. Apple releases security patches through OS updates, so installing them as soon as possible is important. Macworld has several guides to help, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software , a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans , and a comparison of Mac security software .

iOS 26 will finally stop annoying misdials once and for all

Macworld Ever since Ive been using an iPhone to make calls, Ive been accidentally calling people.Sometimes my fingers just fumble on the call list, sometimes Im trying to view someones contact card and miss, other times its because I tap to hang up a split second after the other person has already ended the call, and I call someone at the bottom of my Recents tab. Whatever the reason, I need to either quickly hang up or sheepishly explain to the person on the other end that I didnt mean to call them. Not anymore. In iOS 26, theres a new toggle that eliminates the possibility of ever tapping a recent call to dial someone by mistake. As spotted by Aaronp613 on X , the new Phone app in iOS 26 comes with a new setting to Tap Recents to Call. As it sounds, flipping the toggle on will keep the same behavior as before and start the call as soon as you tap a name or number in the Recents list. Youll want to turn the feature off if you dont want to call someone accidentally. Now, instead of automatically calling someone, tapping a name on the Recents list will go straight to their contact card, where you can actually call them if you want. Granted, its costing you an extra tap, so if you like things the old way, you can always keep the toggle flipped on. But its still quicker than explaining to someone why you accidentally called them.

RIP Mickey Mouse glove: macOS Tahoe has a new set of cursors

Macworld There were some big new features for Mac owners to get excited about when Apple announced macOS Tahoe at the start of this week. But the little details of the companys OS updates are sometimes even more impactful, and theres one change that will be visible almost all the time youre using your Mac: Apple has redesigned the cursors. As beta testers on social media have spotted , the cutesy white gloved hand, complete with a visible cuff and vents on the back, has been replaced by a more generic white hand which could be gloved or bare; the arrow pointer has been replaced by a slightly more rounded arrow thats otherwise the same; and the window width adjuster icon, which was previously a double-headed horizontal arrow, has been replaced by a pair of triangles with a little gap between them. These changes werent mentioned during the keynote, and arent obvious from a glance at the preview page on Apples website. All the static screenshots have been captured without cursors (as is standard), and cursors are difficult to spot in the videos too: there are a few appearances of the text cursor, which is now blue in Spotlight but otherwise is unchanged, two of the arrow pointer (but not zoomed in enough to see the change), and none at all of the hand pointer. The text cursor is blue in Spotlight, and the arrow pointer, if you can make it out, is a bit more rounded. Apple Perhaps Apple kept quiet about the redesign because it doesnt want to bring unnecessary attention. As much as these seem like small changes, the hand pointer in particular will be missed: it was a characterful piece of screen furniture that set the Mac apart from Windows and other systems. With the new designs, the Mac may start to feel more generic and more corporate. But its worth remembering that macOS Tahoe is still at the beta stage, and a very early part of it at that: theres plenty of time of things to change ahead of the public launch in the fall. If enough beta testers give negative feedback about the removal of the Mickey Mouse hand pointer, perhaps Apple will relent and bring it back.

Hold on. Did Apple Intelligence just become good?

Macworld Last month, I revealed that Google I/Os AI announcements made me question my loyalty towards the iPhone. Android users are getting all sorts of next-level, sci-fi-like features, while Apple Intelligence on iOS has generally been underwhelming. That kind of changed this week. WWDC25s main keynote , as expected, didnt really focus on AI advancements; I cant remember Siri being mentioned once outside of the opening mea culpa. Nevertheless, Apple previewed over a dozen AI featuressome subtle, others less socoming to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS 26. What stood out to me is that, while not as jaw-dropping as those weve seen elsewhere, these handy tools will fit into most users everyday digital lives. Theyre useful rather than showy. I had an epiphany: Apple isnt ahead or behind in the mainstream AI race, its running on a separate track. Here are the AI upgrades from WWDC that you need to know about. Live Translation When Google previewed real-time translation in Meet during I/O, I was confident it would take Apple years to replicate it. I was so very wrong. As of the launch of iOS 26 and macOS 26, users will get access to Live Translation in calls and messages. While the language pairs are currently limited, the feature works fully offline, making it faster and more private than rivals cloud-based approaches. Whether youre touring a foreign country or helping out a visitor, this addition will make communication easier and more intuitive. I would be very happy to help you with Live Translation, says Apple. Apple Call Screening Another useful addition launching in September is Call Screening. This AI-powered tool automatically answers calls from unknown numbers, asks callers to identify themselves and provide the reason theyre calling, then neatly displays the information on your Lock Screen. You can decide whether its a call you want to pick up or ignore accordingly. Spam filter Similarly, the Messages app can now place texts from unknown numbers in a separate inboxunless it detects time-sensitive content. So, for example, authentication codes and reservation confirmations should come through, but not random, irrelevant texts. Hold Assist Hold Assist is yet another AI-powered communication feature launching with iOS 26 . Thanks to this handy tool, you can set your iPhone aside when put on hold, and itll automatically alert you once youre connected to an agent. This spares you from wasting your time to wait in a digital queue. Cleanup Recommendations This year Apple is introducing Cleanup Recommendations for iCloud Mail. Similar to iOS 18s email categorization feature, the tool scans your inbox and suggests ways to minimize the noise. The tips include deleting old promotions, unsubscribing from mailing lists, and more. Instead of manually going through endless emails to delete unwanted content, the system can spotlight the likely culprits so you can take quick action. Visual Intelligence 2.0 One thing I disliked about Visual Intelligence when it first launched was being limited to camera input. I often need to identify content on my screen, and the alternative was manually asking Siri to send my queries to ChatGPT. That was neither reliable nor intuitive. With iOS 26, Apple is bringing Visual Intelligence to screenshots. As with Google Lens, youll be able to quickly inquire about on-screen matters without jumping through unnecessary hoops. Reminders Apple is also bringing the AI goods to the Reminders app. With this years releases, Apple Intelligence can recommend tasks you may want to add based on your emails and other indicators. It can also separate relevant items in a list based on their category. Given Apples acquisition of Mayday , its safe to assume that Calendar and Reminders will only get more powerful in future updates. The addition of ChatGPT should make Image Playground a more serious proposition. Apple AI image generation Image Playgrounds launch last year was disastrous. From the questionable app icon to the nightmarish human animations, it just didnt feel like a finished product. With iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26, Apple has switched to a more presentable icon. More importantly, it has acknowledged its shortcomings by baking ChatGPT into the app. So you can now create more polished cartoons using OpenAIs servers when Apples models disappoint. Similarly, you can now tweak the appearance and facial expressions of humans in Genmoji stickers. This helps you get the exact look youre aiming for, without needing to get too specific with the text prompt. iMessage backgrounds Speaking of AI images, iMessages new background feature lets you opt for artificially generated graphics. This lets you create unique wallpapers that match the vibe of a conversation. Hopefully Apple extends this useful tool to the systems wallpaper in a future update. Shortcuts just got a lot more powerful thanks to Apple Intelligence integrations. Apple Shortcuts Another underrated yet extremely powerful new feature is support for AI actions in the Shortcuts app. You can use Apples Private Cloud Compute, on-device models, or ChatGPT to tweak text, get answers, generate images, and much more when building shortcuts and automations. While it may not mean much to casual users, the possibilities are truly endless for tech-savvier folk. Apple Music Spotify has long offered an AI DJ feature, and Apple Music appears to be heading down a similar road. iOS 26 introduces a new AutoMix feature that optionally replaces the traditional cross-fade lasting a preset number of seconds. Instead, the new tool analyzes songs in your queue and crafts unique transitions between songs with time stretching and beat matching to deliver continuous playback and an even more seamless listening experience. Apple Music on iOS 26 similarly gets a taste of Live Translation, letting you view real-time English lyrics for foreign songs. Soon you will be able to find out what exactly Sigur Rs are singing about. Apple Workout Buddy While the Apple Watch doesnt generally get a lot of AI love, watchOS 26 does bring one exclusive Apple Intelligence feature to your wrist. Workout Buddy delivers motivational messages based on your previous exercises, health data, and achievements. This could push interested users to commit to their active lifestyles and aim higher during workouts. ChatGPT in Xcode Lastly, Apple is integrating ChatGPT into Xcode with macOS Tahoe . The feature could become invaluable for developers who need assistance with building and debugging. Thats not to mention that devs can now integrate Apple Intelligence into their own apps. AI for the rest of us Until a few days ago, I was quite skeptical about Apples AI efforts and overall direction. The company seemed clueless compared to the competitionespecially after the Siri 2.0 delay. Now, however, Im starting to see the bigger picture. Apple is choosing to build AI features that make sense within users daily routines; theyre not wacky gimmicks that show off the power of an artificial brain. While Google and Samsung rush to overload their phones with AI, Apple is testing the waters with reliable solutions that cater to customers needs. Siri in its current state is unfit for purpose. But AI is much more than just a chatbotand a future release is bound to clean up its mess. All the company needs to do is release a dozen foolproof AI features per year, and Apple Intelligence on iOS will naturally mature and feel more comprehensive down the road.

Why pay $999 for a MacBook when this ones only $200

Macworld A reliable laptop doesnt have to cost a fortune, especially if youre open to buying refurbished. This 2017 MacBook Air offers the performance and design Apple fans expect, and its on sale for only $199.97 (reg. $999). Bonus: shipping is free. What can a $200 MacBook do? This MacBook Air might be from 2017, but it still delivers exactly what most people need in a laptop: reliable performance, long battery life, and the premium feel Apple is known for. And right now, you can get one for a fraction of the usual cost. With a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a fast 128GB solid-state drive, this MacBook Air can easily handle everyday tasks like email, web browsing, word processing, and streaming. It boots up quickly, runs quietly, and stays cool even during long sessions. The 13.3-inch display gives you a sharp, clear view whether youre working or watching something on the couch. Battery life is where this MacBook shines. You can get up to 12 hours on a single charge, which makes it a great pick for students, remote workers, or anyone tired of hunting for an outlet. And with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, its ready to go wherever you are. This is a grade-A refurbished model, which means its been inspected, cleaned, and tested to meet high standards. It looks and functions like new, with little or no visible wear. If youve been keeping an eye out for a great deal on a MacBook, this is it. Dont miss your chance to get a MacBook Air on sale for $199.97. Apple MacBook Air 13.3 (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change .

Get ready for watchOS 26 with $100 off a brand new Apple Watch Series 10

Macworld Apple just unveiled watchOS 26 , the latest version of its wrist-sized OS, and its bringing big changes this fall, including a new Workout Buddy and Liquid Glass design. Youll need an Apple Watch Series 6 or later to install it, so if you have something older, todays a great day to upgrade. Amazon is selling the 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 , a savings of $100, matching the best price weve seen. The Series 10 is Apples latest watch, with a beautiful, thinner design, gorgeous edge-to-edge screen, and an array of health features and sensors, including ECG, temperature, and heart rate. Its also. Got IP6X dust resistance and water resistance so good that you can even wear it when diving.And the battery life will get you through a complete day and a full nights sleep with just a short charge before bed. In our 4.5-star review , we praised the performance and called it the best smartwatch around. And watchOS 26 will only make it better. So go grab one now before the price jumps back up.

Sorry Siri fans, dont expect those delayed Apple Intelligence features until 2026

Macworld At WWDC last summer, Apple showed off some advanced Siri features as part of Apple Intelligence that were supposed to come in an update to iOS 18 this spring. Apple even ran TV ads promoting iPhone 16 that showcased those features. Then, this spring, Apple delayed the release of those features and said they would be delivered in the coming year. Now we have confirmation that this does not mean later in 2025. The new Siri features wont be a part of iOS 26, or a 26.1 or 26.2 update. As a reminder, there are three major Siri features that were supposed to be here by now but missed the iOS 18 deadline : Screen awareness: Siri can read whats on your screen and take proper contextual action. When looking at a screen with an address on it, asking Siri to Add this to my contacts will know what youre talking about, for example. Personal context: Siri will use your mail, messages, web history, etc to build a contextual profile of you. (No data leaves your iPhone, its private.) So when you ask it for info, it can give you answers that are specific to you and your life. In-app actions: A massive expansion of app intents will let developers build apps so that Siri can perform actions within them. Make this photo black and white and send it to my wife should be able to perform the necessary actions in Photos and Messages without your intervention. Hundreds of App Intents would let Siri do all sorts of things within both Apples apps and third-party apps. In a WWDC interview with Mark Spoonauer from Toms Guide and Lance Ulanoff from Tech Radar, Apples software engineering head Craig Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joz Joswiak explained what happened and what we can expect. As Federighi explains it, those announced features were being built on the V1 Siri architecture, and were working, but not well enough. And to meet the quality bar, those features need to be built upon the newer Siri V2 architecture. Apple has these features and more working, in-house, using the new V2 architecture but will no announce a date for when we can expect them until it has reached the quality level it thinks its customers expect. When pressed by Spoonauer, who asked, Instead of an actual release date, is it okay to say 2026, or is that too broad? Joz answered, Yeah, thats what we said. Federighi then went on to explain how the V2 architecture being used in a homogeneous fashion across all of Siri gives Apple much higher quality and much better capability. Of course, 2026 is still half a year away, and we dont know when in 2026 we can expect any of this stuff. Apple could release the big V2 Siri update as an update to the version 26 OSes in the spring, perhaps with iOS/macOS/iPadOS 26.4 or the like. But it could also come in iOS 27 in the fall of 2026, or even as an update to that. No matter how you look at it, if you want a new and improved Siri, youre going to be waiting a while. And you probably shouldnt expect Apple to announce a date or give a demo until its ready to launch.

How to downgrade from iOS 26 to 18: 4 methods [No data loss]

Macworld I upgraded from iOS 18 to 26, but the battery drain on iOS 26 is fast, and the lag is terrible. I want to know how to downgrade from iOS 26 to 18. Apple user report Have you updated to iOS 26, but are not happy with the results? Many users have experienced problems such as iOS 26 is unable to check for updates, or iOS 26 makes their iPhone overheat, and causes lagging. They are already tired of iOS 26, so they want to uninstall iOS 26 and return to iOS 18. In this article, well explain how to downgrade from iOS 26 to 18 safely and easily, and provide four effective methods to help you go back to iOS 18 without data loss or stress. Can I downgrade from iOS 26 to 18 on iPhone and iPad? Yes, you can! Its possible to downgrade from iOS 26 to 18 on iPhone and iPad, but only under certain conditions. Apple usually allows downgrading to the previous iOS version only while its still signed . For security reasons, Apple adds a signature to the iOS version to confirm its authenticity. If Apple stops signing it, you wont be able to downgrade on your iPhone/iPad. Luckily, iOS 18 is still being signed, and you can download the IPSW file and manually downgrade iOS 26 to 18 via iTunes, or choose a smart iOS downgrade program such as Tenorshare ReiBoot to revert to iOS 18 with just one click. 4 provenmethods comparison (downgrade iOS 26 to 18) Methods Data Loss Time Consumed Operation process Success Rate Tenorshare ReiBoot No Risk 3 steps (Easy & Safe ) 100% iTunes+IPSW Yes > 1 hour 6 steps (Difficult to use ) 80% BetaProfile+IPSW No Risk > 1 hour 7 steps (Difficult to use) 80% iPhone Setting No Risk > 30 minutes 5 steps (Only removes beta) 80% How to downgrade from iOS 26 to 18without data loss Method 1: One-click downgrade iOS 26 to 18 via iOS professional downgrade program Recommendedmethod (fast and easy to use, no data loss) Looking for a fast way to switch from iOS 26 back to iOS 18? This iOS downgrade program Tenorshare ReiBoot allows you to downgrade iOS 26 to 18 without data loss on your iPhone or iPad. Unlike methods that involve iTunes or Finder, which usually require a full restore and often erase all your data, ReiBoot allows you to downgrade to iOS 18 without iTunes. It doesnt require jailbreaking your device, and you dont need to be tech-savvy to use it. Why use Tenorshare ReiBoot to downgrade iOS? One-click downgrade/upgrade iOS without iTunes : 100% success rate! No data loss : Downgrade iOS, but keep your photos, messages, and data safe. Fast and efficient : Easily downgrade iOS within 20 minutes. All-in-one tool: Downgrade and repair 150+ iOS problems and recover iPhone, with fast, safe results. How to downgrade iOS 26 (including iOS 26 beta) to 18 with ReiBoot without losing data? Step 1: Free Download ReiBoot on your computer. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer. Click on iOS Upgrade/Downgrade in the ReiBoot menu. Tenorshare Step 2: Next, click Download to get the iOS 18 firmware package file you want. Tap Initiating downgradeto downgrade iOS 26. Tenorshare Step 3: In a few minutes, click Done. ReiBoot will automatically remove iOS 26 and install the stable iOS 18 on your device. Tenorshare Video guide: How to remove iOS 26 beta without losing data Method 2: Downgrade iOS 26 to 18 via IPSW file import(technical knowledge required) Another way to downgrade iOS 26 to iOS 18 is to use an IPSW file. This method removes iOS 26 and installs the latest stable version of the iOS 18 IPSW file on your iPhone or iPad via iTunes/Finder, then through Apples over-the-air update system updates to iOS 18. Youll need a computer, a backup of your data, and patience. Heres how to downgrade/restore youriPhone by importing an IPSW file via iTunes: Step 1: Connect your iPhone and computer by USB, open Finder on your Mac, or click the latest iTunes on Windows. Step 2: Go to ipsw.me , choose your iPhone or iPad model, and download the signed version of iOS 18. Tenorshare Step 3: Turn off Find My on your iPhone or iPad. On Mac, hold down the Option/Alt key. On Windows, hold down the Shift key. Then click Restore . Tenorshare Step 5: Choose the IPSW file you downloaded. Confirm the selection, then wait 10-30 minutes for it to install. Step 6: Reboot your iPhone or iPad, and it will restore iOS 18 on your iPhone (but note that all data will be wiped). Method 3: Remove iOS 26 beta without a computer (limited iOS beta) Many users would claim that you can downgrade from iOS 26 to 18 without iTunes or a computer, but thats not possible. You can only remove the iOS 26 beta profile from your iPhone without iTunes and stop future beta updates. You will keep your current iOS 26 firmware until Apple officially launches iOS 26. Here are the steps to removeiOS 26 beta profile for free and without a PC: Step 1: Open Settings . Step 2: Go to General > VPN & Device Management (or Device Management). Tenorshare Step 3: Click iOS Beta Software Configuration Profile, then select Remove iOS 26 beta 1 Profile. Step 4: Restart your device and remove the iOS 26 beta. Method 4: Downgrade iOS 26 to 18 through the BetaProfiles website (version limit) Lastly, you can downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18 using the BetaProfiles website. But its not instant . Youll need to wait for the public release of iOS 18 before you can downgrade this way. Heres a step-by-step guide to downgrading iOS 26 to 18 via BetaProfiles : Step 1: Open Finder if youre using a Mac, or iTunes if youre on Windows. Then, connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer with a cable. Step 2: Go to the BetaProfile website . Then, choose your iPhone or iPad model and download the iOS 18 profile. Step 3: Open the file called Info.plist using a text editor. Find the line that says Product Version and change the number to 18.5. Then, save the file. Tenorshare Step 4: Go to Settings, then choose Find My. Select Find My iPhone or Find My iPad and turn it off. Tenorshare Step 5: In iTunes or Finder, hold down the Option key if youre on a Mac, or the Alt key if youre on Windows. Then click on Restore iPhone/iPad. Tenorshare Step 6: Choose the .ipsw file you downloaded before and install it to downgrade from iOS 26 Beta to iOS 18.5. Tenorshare How to turn off receiving iOS 26 beta 1 updates Click Settings > Tap General >Choose Software Update > Tap Beta Update > and Click Off Prerequisites before you downgrade to iOS 26 on your iPhone /iPad 1. Downgrading iOS requires setting up as new or using an older backup Back up everything using iCloud or iTunes . If your backup was made on a higher iOS version (e.g. iOS 26), you wont be able to restore it after downgrading to an earlier version (e.g. iOS 17.7.2), so youll need to set up your device as new or restore from a backup made on the same or earlier iOS version. 2. Disable Find My iPhone Youll need to turn off Find My iPhone before downgrading, or the process wont be effective. To do this: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone Toggle off Find My iPhone Enter your Apple ID password when prompted 3.Fully charge your iPhone and prepare a USB cable Downgrading iOS 26 takes time, so make sure your battery is at least 6070% charged and prepare an original USB cable to connect the computer. 4. Connect to a stable internet connection Restoring a backup (especially from iCloud) needs a strong and stable Wi-Fi connection . Slow or interrupted internet could pause the process or lead to missing data during the transfer. FAQ 1. Should I downgrade from iOS 26 to 18? iOS 26 Beta is a test version meant for developers and early testers. While it includes new features, it can also have bugs, and cause app crashes, battery issues, or performance problems. Whether you should downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18 depends on your specific situation. 2. Can I downgrade iOS 26 Beta 1 to iOS 18.5? Yes, you can downgrade iOS 26 beta 1 and iPadOS 26 beta 1 to iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5. Its worth noting that iOS 26 works with any iPhone that has an A13 chip or later, so iPhone XR and iPhone XS will not be able to downgrade from iOS 26 to iOS 18.5. Conclusion Whether you decide to use iTunes, remove the Beta Profile, or rely on iOS downgrade tool ReiBoot to uninstall iOS 26, each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Among all the methods discussed, Tenorshare ReiBoot stands out as the easiest and safest option. It simplifies the entire downgrade process without wiping your iPhone, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users. So, if youre looking at how to downgrade from iOS 26 to 18 , ReiBoot is a smart choice.

iOS 26 finally makes it super simple to assign a custom iPhone ringtone

Macworld Earlier this week, Apple officially previewed iOS 26 , featuring a Liquid Glass UI , handy AI tools, and support for deeper system customizations. Like all major OS updates, the upcoming release also packs plenty of smaller additions and changes that Apple didnt have time to discuss during th keynote. Heres one that youre going to love: With iOS 26, you can finally assign third-party ringtones without jumping through endless hoops. If youve ever tried to set a custom ringtone for one of your contacts on your iPhone, you know that its a laborious process. Users need to either connect their iPhone to a Mac to import third-party ringtones or edit the track using GarageBand. Both routes are unnecessarily complex, and many users will appreciate Apple simplifying the ordeal. As spotted by Macworld, iOS 26 developer beta 1 introduces a hassle-free option for setting custom ringtones. The setting is accessible when sharing an audio file via the Files, Voice Memos, and other compatible apps. Once you select the desired audio track, hit the Share button, scroll to the bottom of the list, then tap the all-new Use as Ringtone button. (If you dont see the new option, it may be hidden behind the More button in the share sheet.) Thats it! Now, the custom track will appear at the top of available ringtones in the Settings app. Like first-party ringtones, you can set it for all calls or dedicate specific tunes for different contacts. It works for everythingMP3, M4A, or other supported audio files, a clip youve received via iMessage, something you recorded, it all works. To delete a custom ringtone from the list, head to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone . There, you can swipe from right to left on the custom track, then hit Delete to permanently remove it. Adding and removing custom ringtones work similarly on iPadOS 26. iOS 26 beta 1 is currently available to those enrolled in Apples developer program . The public beta should launch next month, followed by the stable release in September. We advise you to refrain from installing early developer betas on your primary iPhone, as essential apps could stop workingbut we understand if this feature is just too tempting to wait.

macOS 26 Tahoe fixes a major pet peeve of Google Chrome users

Macworld While the macOS Tahoe developer beta is now available, I usually install the first beta on a spare Mac and wait until the public beta before installing it on my main Mac. The first beta can be flaky, but I might take the risk this time, and its all because I use Google Chrome. An X post by @aaronp613 explains why I may jump in. In macOS Tahoe, SMS verification codes can now fill in automatically, just like Safari. OMG! @aaronp613/X This sounds like a minor feature (stop giggling, Safari users), but it addresses a major pet peeve of Chrome. You dont realize how valuable this feature is until you access several online accounts in a day and have to go through the tedious task of waiting for the SMS verification code to arrive, copy that code (or, if you feel like doing some mental calisthenics, memorize it) and then paste/type it into the field. This addition turns a 6-second task into an instantaneous one. What will I do with all that free time? Plenty. Apple revealed macOS 26 Tahoe at WWDC25 earlier this week. The developer beta is now available, and a public beta will be available in July, and the official release will ship to the general public this fall. There are lots of other great feature to explore , but for my money, this ones at the top.

Apples latest gaming efforts wont move the needle

Macworld Believe it or not, Apple is already dominant in gaming. Most games, globally, are played on mobile phones, and despite the greater sales of Android-powered phones, the iPhone is the mobile gaming device. But it still feels like Apple is always looking to break through with real gamers. At WWDC this year, it had another pitch for gamers and game developers, and it felt just like the last few years: big promises about how great gaming is on Apples platforms, how great it can be for developers. Theres even a dedicated Games app now! However, just as the efforts of the last few years have been unsuccessful at turning Apples platforms into something gamers care about, so too will this years effort fail to move the needle. It boils down to the same thing: Apple just isnt tackling the core problems that keep gaming enthusiasts off its platforms. The Games app is is made to navigate with a controller, in portrait or landscape. Thats a start. Apple There are gamers, and there are Gamers By most accounts, about 3 billion or so people play video games, with about half of those primarily playing mobile games, with console and PC gamers split between the other half. Mobile gaming brings in a lot more revenue, too. So if you play games, mobile or otherwise, youre a gamer. But then there are the gamers. Apples new gaming efforts are an attempt to attract this group, those people whose preferred entertainment is playing video games, who make it part of their cultural identity, and who play primarily on console or PC. This group of core enthusiasts is often focused on large-scale, big-budget AAA games. Games you play with a controller or keyboard and mouse, not a touchscreen. The kind of big-brand games that spawn movies and TV shows. Apple is definitely making it possible for those kinds of games to be on its platforms, but its not making it preferable to play them or even publish them there. The Games app barely scratches the surface To attract these core gamers, Apple is trying two things this year. One is introducing a new Games app on each of its gaming platformsiPhone, iPad, and Macthat pulls together your friends list, achievements, and leaderboards (from Game Center) for its social activities, such as issuing challenges to friends or playing multiplayer games. It also shows all the games you ever bought from the App Store and gives access to Apple Arcade. This stuff is fine, but the most lackluster part of it is the social capabilities. System-level voice chat and parties that integrate with multiplayer games are table stakes for real gaming platforms, and its just not a part of what Apple has built into its platform, for gamers or developers. And on the Mac, the Games app isnt of much use if it doesnt pull in games youve installed from other stores or downloaded directly from the web. The new in-game overlay on Mac is a nice step forward. Apple Its not all useless. The new game overlay is long overdue. While youre in a game, it pulls up a quick overlay menu for relevant system settings or your friends list. Its years late, but at least its here. The other change is improvements to Metal 4 on macOS Tahoe and other developer tools. Theyre adding frame interpolation and de-noising. Again, years behind PC gaming, but at least theyre closing the gap. The cost and value problem The main issue that Apple hasnt addressed is simple: non-mobile Mac gaming is a terrible value proposition for gamers, even by Apples standards. People expect to pay a bit more for an Apple device, but to get equivalent gaming performance as a PlayStation 5, which is a five-year-old console that costs $450, mind you, you need at least an M4 Pro. And the cheapest way to get that a $1,400 Mac mini. A similarly-priced gaming PC would deliver at least twice the actual real-world game performance as that Mac mini. To achieve decent performance in those top-end AAA games, you need to step up to a Mac Studio with M4 Max, and pay for the upgrade to the full version of the chip with 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores. Thats $2,500! And while you can definitely spend that much and more on a gaming PC, it would be a lot faster when it comes to playing games rather than editing video or audio with 100 tracks. A lot of these recent arrivals are pretty old games. Apple Think of it this waywhat if an $800 iPhone actually delivered HALF the performance of some $500 Samsung Galaxy phone? When it comes to playing premium, AAA, controller or keyboard class games, thats where Apples platforms are. Half the performance, twice the price. But there are other value problems, too. Apples keyboards are terrible for gaming, so you need a replacement. Dont get me started on their mice. Even if the games were there (and theyre not, as Ill discuss below), Apple simply has nothing that comes close to a traditional console or a gaming PC in terms of cost and performance. Were not talking about the Apple tax of 10 or 20 percentits just wildly off base. Apple needs to sell Macs with literally double the GPU performance at the same price, or an Apple TV that costs twice as much with 6-8x the graphics performance, to make them even reasonablenot leadingchoices for gamers. Its just not going to happen. The games just arent there Even if the hardware didnt have a terrible price/performance ratio, the games just arent there. Apples call out to big games on the way this year? Crimson Desert and InZOI , a couple of South Korean games that arent anywhere near the top of a gamers most-wanted list. The incredible games just arrived slide was full of stuff first released on console or PC years ago, such as the R esident Evil 2 and 3 remakes (2019 and 2020), Sniper Elite 4 (2017), Valheim (2021), and Control (2019). The even more on the way slide wasnt much better. Sniper Elite 5 , Cyberpunk 2077 , Dead Island 2 , and the latest Hitman trilogy? These are perfectly fine games, but if youre a gamer, you played and moved on from them a long time ago. Basically, the future of premium, non-mobile gaming on an Apple gaming devcice is a tiny fraction of the hits from years ago. Gamers care about playing the latest games, while theyre still new and all the other gamers are still talking about them online. While Twitch viewers are tuning in. The best games of last year (or four years ago) just arent part of the zeitgeist anymore. The upcoming games list doesnt represent what core gamers are looking forward to this year. Apple Apple is for mobile, not premium gaming Apple dominates mobile gaming because iPhones deliver the best game performance at competitive prices, and even the more affordable iPhones run circles around similarly priced Android phones. You can find a cheaper phone, but it wont come close to matching an iPhones game performance. And perhaps more importantly, every major mobile game is a day one release on iPhone, sometimes exclusively. Its the exact opposite with the premium games that gamers care about. Macs give you far worse gaming performance at a far higher price than the consoles or Windows PCs Apple is trying to lure gamers from. The core gaming features, such as unified voice chat, parties, and multiple user log-in for couch co-op, just arent there in any meaningful way. The games users care about most will be lucky to arrive on Apples platforms in three or four years, with precious few exceptions (notably Assassins Creed Shadows ). An Apple TV 4K is cheaper than most consoles, but its about as powerful as a 13-year-old PlayStation 4. It needs literally eight times the graphics performance to catch up to a five-year-old PS5. Its just not going to cut it with gamers, and its not even close. Imagine if the iPhone found itself in the same situation as Apples other platforms, with respect to gaming: A bit player in mobile gaming market because other phones offer more than twice the game performance at a lower price, and had all the hot games YEARS ahead of iPhone. What would Apple do? What changes would it make to iPhone hardware, software, and its policies and business decisions that affect gamers and publishers? Those are the changes Apple needs to make with the Mac and Apple TV if it wants to move the needle with gamers. Not a new gaming app.

This is how long Apple supports iPhones for

Macworld If you are thinking of buying an older generation or used/refurbished iPhone , or wondering whether its worth upgrading your current iPhone to a new one, one important factor to consider is how long Apple will continue to offer support for that handset. The good news is that Apple supports iPhones for a long time. In general, you can get seven to eight years of security-related software updates, while battery and other repairs are often available on five to seven-year-old handsets, according to Apples own Vintage and Obsolete categorizations. Read on to find out which iPhones are supported with the latest operating systems , and which are supported for servicing and repairs. Macworld says: the iPhone XS and iPhone 11, and any older iPhone are best avoided as they wont support the 2025 iOS update: iOS 26 . How long does Apple support iOS? As a general rule, Apple doesnt guarantee that an iOS update will support devices for a particular length of time. However, buyers can expect at least five years of iOS updates and six years of security updates, though Apple regularly goes beyond that. When iOS 18 arrived in late 2024 it was compatible with the same iPhones as iOS 17 had been (as you can see from the table below). However, when iOS 26 arrives in late 2025 the iPhone XS and XR will not be able to install the new iOS. (The jump from 18 to 26 is because Apple has realigned the numbering to match the year). Those phones were introduced in 2018 and 2019. So that is about six years worth of iOS updates, which isnt bad going. That doesnt mean that those iPhones will no longer be supported by Apple though. From time to time, Apple issues important security updates for the current version of iOS as well as, usually, two or more preceding versions. Currently Apple issues security updates to iOS 18, iOS 17, iOS 16 and iOS 15. The last update to iOS 17 was 17.7.2 in November 2024, but a security update to iOS 16 (iOS 16.7.11) and iOS 15 (iOS 15.8.4) was issued in March 2025 to fix zero-day exploits. However, this could be the last update for those versions of iOS. iOS 14 was last updated in October 2021. This means that some iPhones will not get Apples security fixes for what could be dangerous vulnerabilities. Once your phone falls in that category it is probably time to replace it. With the arrival of iOS 26 it is possible that Apple will end support for iOS 15 and iOS 16 and therefore the iPhones X, 8 and 8 Plus and iPhones 7, 6S, 6S Plus and 1st gen SE. The chart below shows each version of iOS and the iPhones it ran on. As you can see, in recent years support for new iOS versions has stretched back for around six years, while, if you include the versions that Apple supports with security updates, the cover goes back a further year. Every iOS and the iPhones supported by it. Foundry iPhone OS history The first iPhone , which launched in 2007, was able to run iPhone OS 3, which was supported by Apple up until 2010. The iPhone is considered obsolete by Apple. The iPhone 3G , which launched in 2008, was able to run iOS 4.0, which was itself supported until 2011. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are considered obsolete by Apple. The length of support increased with the launch of the iPhone 4s in 2011. That phone was able to run operating systems all the way up to iOS 9. Apple was still supporting iOS 9 in 2019 when it issued a GPS-related update that July. The iPhones 4 and 4s are considered obsolete by Apple. The iPhone 5c runs iOS 10, which also received the GPS-related update in July 2019. The iPhones 5 and 5c are considered obsolete by Apple. The iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 both run iOS 12, for which Apple issued a security update in January 2023. This update was issued for those few devices that dont support iOS 15. Apple is unlikely to continue support for iOS 12. These phones are considered vintage by Apple. iOS 15, which arrived in September 2021, supports all iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards, just as with iOS 14 and iOS 13. Both iOS 14 and 13 are considered obsolete by Apple because the same phones can run iOS 15. The iPhone 6s is already considered vintage by Apple. iOS 16 , which arrived in September 2022 runs on all iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards but do note that not all features are available on the older handsets. iOS 17 arrived in September 2023 and runs on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards meaning the iPhone X and iPhone 8 are stuck with iOS 16. iOS 18 arrived on September 16, 2024, and, like iOS 17, runs on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards. iOS 25 arrives in September 2025 and will run on all iPhones from the iPhone 11 onwards. Leaving the iPhone 11 and XR out in the cold. What is the oldest iPhone still supported by Apple? As the oldest version of iOS supported with a security updates is iOS 15, thanks to the iOS 15 update in March 2025, that means the oldest iPhones supported by Apple is the iPhone 6s. However, that handset is already considered vintage by Apple. If when iOS 25 arrives Apple stops support for iOS 16 and iOS 15, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X will no longer be supported. Since iOS 17 supports the same handsets as iOS 18 the iPhone XS onwards Apple may also end support for iOS 17 in favour of iOS 18. We dont recommend the following iPhone models because they no longer receive regular updates, though some models may occasionally get a critical security update: iPhone 11 (2019) iPhone XR (2018) iPhone X (2017) iPhone 8/8 Plus (2017) iPhone 7/7 Plus (2016) iPhone SE (2016) iPhone 6s/6s Plus (2014) iPhone 6/6 Plus (2014) iPhone 5s (2013) iPhone 5c (2013) iPhone 5 (2012) iPhone 4s (2011) iPhone 4 (2010) iPhone 3GS (2009) iPhone 3G (2008) iPhone (2007) For more information, see our list of every version of iOS . The iPhone 5S. Remember? Its been a while. IDG When will Apple stop supporting each iPhone? Truth is we dont know for sure, but on the basis that Apple supports phones for five to seven years after they are removed from sale: iPhone XS (2018-2019) Approx 2024-2026 iPhone XR (2018-2021) Approx 2026-2028 iPhone 11 (2019-2022) Approx 2027-2029 iPhone SE2 (2020-2022) Approx 2027-2029 iPhone 12 (2020-2023) Approx 2028-2030 iPhone 13 (2021) Approx 2032 iPhone SE3 (2022) Approx 2033 iPhone 14 (2022) Approx 2034 iPhone 15 (2023) Approx 2035 iPhone 16 (2024) Approx 2036 Apple Intelligence : With the arrival of Apple Intelligence AI features and their hardware requirements the older iPhones become obsolete faster. When does Apple stop fixing iPhones? When it comes to repairs, Apple supports iPhones (and all devices it makes) for seven years from the last time it sold that particular model. So as long as your iPhone was still being sold by Apple up to seven years ago, the company or a third-party service provider will still service it. Apple states on its website that Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac products may obtain a service and parts from Apple or Apple service providers for five years after the product is no longer sold. The following iPhones are considered Obsolete , which means sales were discontinued more than seven years ago and Apple has now discontinued all hardware servicing. iPhone iPhone 3G iPhone 3GS iPhone 4 (not all models are obsolete) iPhone 4s iPhone 5c (discontinued September 2013, obsolete in 2021) iPhone 5S (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024) iPhone 6 (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2025) iPhone 6 Plus (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024) iPhone 6s (32GB) (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2024) iPhone 6s Plus(32GB) (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2024) And the iPhones below are listed as Vintage , which means they have not been sold for more than five years (but less than seven years). Apple will still service these products as long as it has the required parts. So you could say that the oldest iPhone still supported by Apple is the 8GB iPhone 4, but we dont expect that Apple will have the required parts. iPhone 4 8GB (discontinued in 2013, but sold in India until February 2014, likely to be obsolete very soon) iPhone 5 (discontinued September 2013, likely to become obsolete soon) iPhone 6s (16GB, 64GB, 128GB) (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2022) iPhone 6s Plus (16GB) (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2022) iPhone SE, 2016 (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2023) iPhone 8 (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024) iPhone 8 Plus (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024) iPhone X (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2024) iPhone XS Max (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2024) A ll iPhones that followed those handsets should be supported by Apple. You may also be interested to learn how long Apple supports Macs and how long Apple supports iPads . We also have guides for getting a broken iPhone fixed and how much Apple product repairs cost. Is your iPhone slipping into obscurity? Find a great deal on a new iPhone here or check the best prices below and take a look at our round-up to choose the Best iPhone for you . Apple iPhone 16e Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $599 Best Prices Today: $599 at Apple Apple iPhone 16 Read our review Price When Reviewed: 128GB $799, 256GB $899, 512GB $1,099 Best Prices Today: $829 at Apple | $829.99 at Best Buy Apple iPhone 16 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple | $999 at Apple | $999.99 at Best Buy

Apple Back to School 2025: When and what is Apples back to uni deal?

Macworld Apple holds a Back to School promotion every year (now known as the Higher Education Offer to avoid confusion because its only open to students once they enter higher education, and the institutions and teachers, not school-age children). As part of the deal, Apple offers an incentive with purchases of qualifying Apple products. Apples Back to School deal runs in various locations around the world during the summer months. The deal usually ends about a month after the first university semester/term begins in that country. Earlier in 2025 the offer ran in Australia , New Zealand , Brazil and South Korea . Australian and New Zealand students could get AirPods 4 with ANC or Apple Pencils for free when they purchased an iPad Pro or iPad Air (Pencil), or a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac (AirPods). The deal ran until March 13, 2025. Next it is the turn of North American students, with Apples Back to School promo starting in the U.S. and Canada in mid June possibly around June 17. The promotion will start in July for U.K. and European students. Based on the southern hemisphere giveaway, does it follow that U.S., Canada and U.K students will also get free AirPods and Apple Pencils in the summer of 2025? AirPods were Apples student giveaway of choice a few years ago, but in recent times Apple has given away gift cards in those locations, while other European countries got AirPods. Could be moving back to the incentive of free AirPods and Apple Pencil (both of which are popular with students). Read on to find out when Apples Higher Education giveaway will start where you live and what the deal is likely to include. We also explain who qualifies and how to take advantage of Apples education deal. What is Apples Back To School offer? January-March 2025: AirPods or Apple Pencil in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and other southern hemisphere locations. June-October 2025: TBC June 17 (Expected). Previously Apple Gift Cards in U.S., U.K, Canada. AirPods in Europe and India. For many years Apple gave away a pair of AirPods with qualifying sales of certain Macs and iPads as part of its education promotion, but in 2022 Apple stopped giving away AirPods in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia. Instead, Apple offered gift cards with qualifying purchases during the promotional period. Students could get different gift card denominations depending on the products purchased. Apple also offers gift cards during its Black Friday shopping event . With Apple switching back to AirPods in the Australian Back to Uni deal for 2025 it is possible that the company will revert back to AirPods later in 2025 when the same promotion is run in the U.S., U.K. and other northern hemisphere locations. Apple doesnt offer the same deal everywhere though. In parts of Europe and India, for the summer of 2024, the promotion allows shoppers to get discounted AirPods or Apple Pencil with qualifying purchases. There was a similar deal in January 2024 where those based in Brazil could claim free AirPods with a Mac or free Apple Pencil with their iPad purchase in January-March 2024. So Apple has a precedent of offering gift cards to some countries and AirPods and Pencils in others. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry This isnt the only education-related saving Apple offers. Apple doesnt only offer education-related deals during the summer months. All products sold to students via Apples Education Store include a discount all year round, so you can always make a saving on Apple products, as long as you qualify. The summertime education-focused deal is in addition to these year-long discounts Apple offers to students and education institutions. We explain everything you need to know about getting a discount, including how much you can save as a student and how to use Apples Education Store, in our Guide to shopping in the Apple Education Store. We also have advice about the Best Mac for Students and the Best iPad for Students . Apple Back to School Sale Dates 2025 Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Korea : January 8 to March 13 2025. U.S. & Canada : Apples Higher Education Offer started on June 20, 2024 and ran until September 30. June 17, 2025 possible. U.K. & Europe: The deal started on July 3 and ran until October 21, 2024. Similar dates are likely in 2025. India : The deal started on June 20 and ran until September 30, 2024. Similar dates are likely in 2025. The Higher Education deal runs at different times depending on which side of the Earth you are based. Apple runs the promotion at different times in different places due to differences in when the school year starts around the globe. Apple runs the promotion in the southern hemisphere in the first few months of the year. Hence, if you live in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Brazil Apples deal ran from January 8 to March 13, 2025. The same deal runs between June and late September/October in North America, and between July and October in Europe and the U.K. Apple Back to School Sale Australia/New Zealand/South America/South Korea 2025 January 8 to March 13, 2025 Complete The dates in Australia , New Zealand , Brazil , and South Korea correspond with the new school year there. In 2023 the deal ran from January 18 to March 13. In 2022 the deal ran from January 6 to March 14, 2022. In 2021 the sale ran from January 7 to March 16. In 2023 the deal started a little later on January 18. Apple Back to School Sale U.S. & Canada dates 2025 June 19 to September 29 Estimated In 2024 the promotion ran from June 20 to September 30. This start date in 2024 was a little later than in 2023 when the deal started on June 5 and ran until October 2 in North America, which was a longer period than traditionally. In 2022 the deal ran from June 24 to September 26, while in 2021 the deal ran from June 17 to September 27. In 2020 Apple launched the U.S. sale on 15 June with an end date set for 29 September, although Apple ended up extending the end date to October 12 instead, moving it to just a day before Amazons Prime Day, which took place over October 13-14, 2020. Apple Back to School Sale UK/Europe dates 2025 July 2 to October 20, 2024 Estimated The start date in 2024 was a little earlier than usual when it ran from July 3 to October 21. In 2023 the deal ran from July 13 to October 23. In 2022 Apples Higher Education Offer started on July 14 and ran until Monday, October 20. Apple U.K.s Back to School Sale in 2020 started on July 9 and lasted until October 29. Apple launched its 2019 sale on July 9, and its 2018 sale began on July 12. Apple Back to School Sale India dates 2025 June 19 to September 29 Estimated The Higher Education offer dates correspond to those in the U.S. and Canada. What is Apples education offer in 2025? Apple tends to either give away vouchers or AirPods with qualifying purchases. Read on to find out what Apples Back To School promotion is where you are. Apple U.S. & Canada In the summer of 2024, U.S. and Canadian students could get gift cards with the following qualifying Apple purchases. We expect similar in 2025, although Apple may revert to AirPods as it did in Australia. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get a $150 Apple gift card. Buy a Mac mini and get a $100 Apple gift card. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get a $100 Apple gift card. The terms and conditions of the deal are here: U.S . Apples education discounts are available all year round. Visit the U.S. Education Store and Canada Education Store for more information. U.K. In summer 2024 Apple offered the same deal as the U.S. and Canada in the U.K. We expect similar in 2025, although Apple may revert to AirPods as it has in Australia. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get a 120 Apple gift card. Buy a Mac mini and get a 80 Apple gift card. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get a 80 Apple gift card. The voucher values were lower than summer 2023 when students could get the following with qualifying Apple purchases. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get a 130 gift card. Buy a Mac mini and get a 100 gift card. Buy a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 11-inch iPad Pro, or iPad Air and get a 100 Apple gift card. The terms and conditions of the deal are here: U.K . Apples education discounts are available all year round. Students and educators need to log in via UNiDAYS website to see the offers. Educational Store discounts are usually up to 280 for U.K. students. See Apples terms and conditions . Europe In (most of) Europe in 2024 Apple gave shoppers a promotional discount on a pair AirPods or Apple Pencil with qualifying product purchases. We expect similar in 2025. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get 199 off AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy a Mac mini and get 149 off AirPods 2nd gen, AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get 149 off an Apple Pencil Pro or 89 off an Apple Pencil USB-C. French details here . German details here . Spanish details here . Italian details here . In the Netherlands Apple gave away gift cards. Details here . India In 2024 in India the Back to University deal was the same as in Europe: AirPods or Apple Pencil discounts. We expect similar in 2025. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get 19900 off AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy a Mac mini and get 12900 off AirPods 2nd gen, AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get 11900 off an Apple Pencil Pro or 7900 off an Apple Pencil USB-C. Details here . Australia and New Zealand The deal started on January 8 and ran to March 13. The offer was as follows: A$299 off AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac A$299 off AirPods Pro 2 with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac A$299 off AirPods Max with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac A$199 off Apple Pencil Pro with iPad Pro or iPad Air A$199 off Apple Pencil (USB-C) with iPad Pro or iPad Air 20% off AppleCare+ is also available The AirPods 4 with ANC cost A$299. AirPods Pro 2 are A$399 and AirPods Max are A$899. So students need to spend A$100 to get AirPods Pro 2 and A$699 to get the AirPods Max. The Apple Pencil Pro costs A$199 and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is A$119. When the deal kicked off in Australia in early 2024 the offer included free Apple Gift Cards. In 2024 Students could get a free gift card with the following purchases: AU$240 with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac AU$160 with a Mac mini AU$160 with an iPad Air or iPad Pro AU$120 with an iPad 10th Gen 20% off AppleCare+ is also available Visit Apple Australias website for more information. The terms and conditions of the deal in Apple Australia are here . There were similar gift voucher savings in New Zealand . Brazil and South Korea In Brazil and South Korea Apple gave away AirPods with Mac purchases and Apple Pencil with iPad purchases from January to March 13, 2024. The deal was the same in 2025. Which products are part of Apples Education offer? Qualifying purchases for Apples deal in January 2025 include: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iPad Pro and iPad Air. Qualifying products may differ depending on whether Apple has recently updated them. For example, over Black Friday Apple offers gift cards with select purchases, but its newest products are always left out of the deal. Hence, if Apple has just updated the iPad or Mac you want to buy you may not be able to get the vouchers or other gift alongside your purchase. Qualifying purchases for Apples deal in 2024 included: iMac 24inch, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPad Pro 11- and 13inch, iPad Air 11 and 13-inch. (In Australia in early 2024 the iPad 10th generation was included, but this wasnt the case later in 2024). In summer 2023 qualifying purchases included: iMac 24inch, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPad Pro 12.9inch, iPad Pro 11inch, and iPad Air. Students can also take advantage of a reduced subscription to Apple Music with which they get access to Apple TV+ when they buy an Apple product. Read: How to get the student deal for Apple Music and free Apple TV+. How to get Apples Back To School deal As long as you are based in an area where Apple is running the deal at the time of your purchase, and are a student in higher education, or about to start higher education, you can qualify for Apples Higher Education deal and get gift cards with your purchase. There are more details about who the deal applies to below. Note that if you qualify you are able to get discounts all year round by shopping in the Apple Education Store, so you dont need to shop during the Back to Uni deal period to get a bargain. You can also get discounts on other products not included in the offer (although there is no education discount for the iPhone). In the U.S. you need to visit Apples U.S. Education Store, but logging on from your university network may make the process easier. In the U.K. you can visit the U.K. Education Store , but you will also need to verify your student or staff status with UNiDAYS . Go to the Apple Education Store for other regions using the links below: Canada Australia New Zealand Brazil South Korea India France Germany When you make yourpurchase you will be able to request the Apple Gift Card or discount depending on your location. Who can get Apples Back to School deal? If you are registered at a higher education facility (thats post-K12 education: universities and colleges) you will qualify for the free AirPods deal as well as Apples usual education discount. Employees of these institutions can also qualify. If you are a parent buying for your student offspring then you can also qualify. Here are Apples Ts&Cs for the U.S . Alternatively, if you are an employee of a public or private K-12 institution/school in the U.S. or Canada you are also eligible. Apples Education pricing isnt available to parents with kids at school, but a homeschool teacher can qualify. Even when Apple isnt running the Back to School Deal students and education institutions can still take advantage of its standard educational pricing on its Educational Pricing page ( U.S. here / U.K. here ). How much can you save with Apples education pricing? Students can save up to $200/220 on Macs and up to $100/100 on iPads at any time of the year. More here: How to get an Apple student discount at Apples Education Store. Which iPads are included in Apples Back to School deal? You can get discounted Educational Pricing on all iPads if you qualify, you just wont be able to get the freebie unless it is one of the models mentioned below. Because Apple updated the standard iPad and iPad Air earlier in 2025 it is possible they wont be included in the deal for northern hemisphere locations. J une/July 2024: U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, India, etc. M4 iPad Pro (could be the same for 2025) M2 iPad Air (could be M3 model for 2025) Its notable that Apple didnt include the cheaper iPad 10th gen in the 2024 deal (although it did in Australia earlier that year). The iPad mini was also omitted. Its not clear if Apple will include these popular iPads in the deal. January 2025: Australia/New Zealand/Brazil, etc M4 iPad Pro M4 iPad Air The iPad could be a good partner to have at university. Britta OBoyle If you dont qualify for the education pricing we have a separate guide on where to get the best deals on the iPad . For advice about which iPad to buy read: Which iPad is best for students . For more advice read Best iPad 2025. Which Macs are included in Apples Back to School deal? Not every Apple product you can buy in the Education Store is included in the promotion. Apple doesnt usually offer incentives to buy the newest Apple products. Because Apple updated the MacBook Air to an M4 in March it may not be included. You can take advantage of education pricing for all Macs all year round. June/July 2024: U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, India, etc. M3 MacBook Air (could be M4 model for 2025) M3 MacBook Pro (could be M4 model for 2025) M3 iMac (could be M4 model for 2025) M2 Mac mini (could be M4 model for 2025) January 2025: Australia/New Zealand/Brazil, etc M3 MacBook Air M4 MacBook Pro M4 iMac A MacBook Air is a good choice for students. Foundry If you dont qualify for an education discount have a look at these round-ups of the best deals on a new Mac: Best MacBook Pro deals MacBook Air deals Mac mini deals Best iMac deals Best Mac Studio deals We also have this advice about which Mac is best for students . And for more help read the low down on the Best Mac 2025 .

Mac users can get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for $43

Macworld Its hard to go without Microsoft apps like Word , Excel, and PowerPoint, even if youre a Mac lover. Usually, the only option is to settle for a Microsoft 365 subscruption, but those are at minimum $99.99 every year. A cheaper alternative is to go for a slightly older version of the same apps so you can get a lifetime license. Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 works for Macs, and its on sale for $42.99 (reg. $229) for life. Whats included with Office 2019 This lifetime license comes with Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook Teams OneNote While these are slightly older versions than whats available in Microsoft 365, they still get the job done. And because theyre a little older, they may also play nicely with older machines. The hardware requirements are minimal, and you can go as far back as MacOS13 and still run your software just fine. If you dont want to give Microsoft more money every month, then pick up a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for $42.99. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change .

Macworld Podcast: WWDC25 with Liquid Glass, iPadOS windowing, Live Translation, and more

Macworld Apple held its WWDC 2025 keynote and it was filled with new technology. We talk about the hot new stuff from Apple, including Liquid Glass, iPadOS windowing, Live Translation, and more on this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 938 with Jason Cross , Michael Simon , and Roman Loyola . Check out our complete coverage of WWDC25 for more information. Watch episode 938 on YouTube Listen to episode 938 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 938 on Spotify Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review! right here in the Podcasts app . The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel . Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone . Apple Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage, from WWDC to beyond.

Apple made a haptic F1 trailer that you need to feel to believe

Macworld After peppering its WWDC keynote with numerous F1 references, its clear that Apple is going all out to promote its upcoming Brad Pitt flick. The latest move to drum up hype is a new trailer ahead of its June 27 releasebut it not just for your eyes. Apple has released what it calls a haptic trailer for F1, and its exactly what it sounds like. As the trailer plays, your iPhone will vibrate along with whats showing on the screenengine revving, crashes, even seatbelt clicks. Its a whole new experience for watching an iPhone video and somewhat reminiscent of the rumble feature on Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation controllers. Its all very slick and gives a taste of what the movie will feel like in an 4DX theater, which are equipped with motion enabled chairs to create strong vibrations and sensations, as well as other environmental controls for simulated weather or other conditions, such as lightning, rain, flashing (strobe) lights, fog and strong scents. It could also be a taste of what Apple has planned for future immersive videos when used in conjunction with haptic accessories or a 2nd-gen Vision Pro headset. F1 will release in theaters on June 27 and stream to Apple TV+ subscribers at a later date. @macworld.com We predicted Apples F1 WWDC intro #wwdc25 #apple #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld

Xcode 26 code raises hopes for a cheaper Vision Pro, but theres probably nothing to see here

Macworld Apple didnt announce any new hardware at its WWDC 2025 keynote earlier this week, but eagle-eyed beta testers have been busily combing through the code for any references to upcoming product launches. And they have not searched in vain. According to 9to5Mac , Xcode 26the latest version of Apples developer tool for creating third-party appsincludes a mysterious new Vision Pro 4K simulator. That in itself doesnt refer to the specs of an upcoming model, for the simple reason that the current Vision Pro has greater-than 4K output. (As Apple says on its product page, the device offers more pixels than a 4K TV for each eye.) But it could hint at something else if youre eager to read between the lines. The key thing is that Xcode now offers two simulation modes for the Vision Pro: Vision Pro 4K and Vision Pro. Yes, the key change is that the simulator can now, for the first time, output in 4K . But the old version is still there. Why? The logical explanation is that Apple is simply giving devs high-res and lower-res options in case they dont have access to the proper hardware so theyll still be able to test their apps even if its not a perfect rendition of the current Vision Pro experience. Or perhaps the old mode in there because Apple hasnt bothered to get rid of it yet, what with all the new stuff being beta right now. The third, more fantastical possibility is that Apple has kept the non-4K mode around because it will be used in the future for a new Vision Pro model with a lower resolution. This is already a widespread rumor, perhaps because it feels so necessary: the Vision Pro is a deeply impressive product but far too expensive to be commercially successful. Apple could easily compromise in a few areas, get the price down , and still deliver a high-quality experience. The main problem with this theory is that its premature. Rumors currently hold that the cheaper Vision Pro (just plain Vision?) wont be with us until beyond 2027 , and that the next model we get will have slightly better specs than the current oneit certainly wont have a lower resolution. If the old low-res mode is intended for the budget model, itll probably be hanging around until visionOS 27 or even 28a rather long time to spin in the rumor mill.

iOS 26 seemingly points to the upcoming release of AirPods Pro 3

Macworld Beneath the fancy new lock screen with spatial image support and Liquid Glass , the code inside iOS 26 can reveal Apples product plans. After Macworld contributor Filipe Espsito discovered a reference to AirTags 2 , another future product has been found in the iOS 26 code. According to MacRumors, iOS 26 references AirPods Pro 3, meaning Apple plans to ship the device soon. iOS 26 officially releases in the fall, right around the time Apple will ship the iPhone 17 , so its very possible the AirPods Pro 3 make an appearance at that time. The new features that have been reported for the AirPod Pro 3 include improved active noise cancellation, crash detection, and heart rate and temperature monitors. Reports have also included live translation, though its possible this is a reference to iOS 26s new live translation feature that was announced at WWDC. The AirPods Pro 3 may also take some design cues from the AirPods4 that were released last September. The case may become slimmer, and perhaps the earbud stems will get a little shorter. No word on whether Apple has any plans for the silicone eartips that we recommend replacing with foam-based ones .

Level up your iPad with this incredible Apple Pencil USB-C deal

Macworld If youre not a digital artist, you might think the Apple Pencil isnt worth the price. Today it is: Amazons Woot is selling the USB-C Apple Pencil for only $60 , an impressive 25 percent discount from its $79 MSRP and the best price weve ever seen. This particular Apple Pencil is fantastic for note-taking, signing documents, and, of course, drawing. Since it comes with tilt and pressure sensitivity, youll be able to more accurately create shading and varying line weights in your digital artwork, for instance. It will also make underlining things in documents or notes better. Compared to the higher-priced Apple Pencil Pro, it doesnt have higher-end features such as gesture support or haptic feedback, but itll still be great for navigation and writing. Keep in mind that while youre getting this for a great price, it wont come in an Apple box. However, Woot promises the Pencil will be brand new and comes even have a 1-year vendor warranty. Its not not, however, eligible for Apple Care. This Pencil is compatible with every iPad that has a USB-C port and runs iOS 17.1 or later. Its a fantastic option at its usual $79 pricetag, and now that you can get one for $60 , it gets our full recommendation. So go grab one before its gone forever. The Apple Pencil USB-C is 25% off at Woot Buy now at Woot

Should you install the iOS 26 beta?

Macworld The iOS 26 beta is out now! Its tempting to rush out and download it. Now that you dont even need a paid developer account to grab the Developer Beta, theres nothing but a couple minutes of filling out forms standing between you and an early look at the big iOS update coming this fall. But you may not want to rush out and grab it right away. Running beta operating systems always carries some risk, and early iOS betas especially so. Plus, all the features you may want to try out arent in it yet. Heres what you need to know to decide whether to try out the iOS 26 beta or not, based on the best available current information. Well update this article throughout the beta test as the situation changes. If you have installed the beta and are looking for a way to uninstall it we cover that in: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone . iOS 26 beta: What you get Apple The current version of the iOS 26 beta is the first version of the developer beta. A public beta will launch in July. The iOS 26 beta will give you a first look at the Liquid Glass design and user interface changes announced by Apple at WWDC2025 . However, an unstable beta is not going to give you an accurate impression of what iOS 26 will be like when it launches in the fall. There will be a public beta, but even that wont be entirely without issue. If you are really set on running the beta, wed recommend you wait for that to arrive. Its still not advisable to install it on your main iPhone and you should definitely back things up before you do. iOS 26 beta: Bugs and problems Its not uncommon for iOS betasespecially early developer betasto be full of bugs. Thats the point of beta-testing after all. A quick look at any of the social networks indicates that the developer beta is not without issue. People are complaining of extreme instability, overheating iPhones, battery issues, Control Centre freezes, problems with apps, screen brightness issues, syncing problems, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection issues, and more. Thats assuming you can even install the beta some have found that they couldnt even do that. Do not expect your experience of the beta to be smooth until much closer to the official release. Should you install the iOS beta? Our advice would be to wait. If you arent a developer then wait for the public beta. In the case of iOS 26, you dont really need to run the beta right now unless youre a developer who really needs to start testing your app or updating it to use new frameworks and APIs. If you are a developer, and you cant wait to install a more stable version, then use a secondary device and make sure you have a backup from before the beta was installed. If you are installing the beta on an iPhone then reports suggest that there are fewer issues on newer iPhones compared to the older models.

watchOS 26 kills off five classic Apple Watch faces

Macworld At WWDC 2025 earlier this week, Apple announced watchOS 26 , the latest operating system for Apple Watch. And its a big update, encompassing AI features, a revamped Workout app, live translation in Messages, and a thorough redesign. Most Apple Watch owners will likely install the new OS almost as soon as it becomes availableeither at the public launch in September (although we might recommend giving it a couple of days to avoid the rush on the servers and give Apple a chance to patch any early flaws) or even earlier, when the public beta drops in July. But theres something you might want to take into account before updating: a bunch of watch faces seem to have been removed. As 9to5Mac points out, the Fire and Water, Gradient, Liquid Metal, Toy Story, and Vapor faces are all unavailable in the first developer beta of watchOS 26. That doesnt definitely mean they are gone forever: Apple could bring them back later in the beta process, particularly if users protest. But its not a promising sign. Apple Apple software updates tend not to remove features, preferring to add them instead. But the range of face choices has been growing excessive in recent years. A glance through the Face Gallery for watchOS 11 reveals an astonishing 50 rows, each containing anywhere from one to 24 individual face variants. And thats not counting the row of new faces highlighted at the top of the screen. Its too many, honestly. And this isnt unprecedented. In 2024 Apple removed Chronograph (although Chronograph Pro remains), Explorer, and the plain Numerals (Numerals Duo and Mono are still available) as part of the watchOS 11 update. If people arent using the faces, it makes sense to trim back the list. Im a little sad because the Top Story face was my favorite for several years in the early days. But I dont use it now and havent for a while, and that might just offer a hint as to why its gone. At least we still have Snoopy .

How to remove the macOS Tahoe beta

Macworld If you are a developer, or just curious about what the next version of macOS will be like to use, you may have installed the beta of macOS Tahoe on your Mac. But what do you do when you no longer want to run the beta? If the beta is causing havoc with your Mac, you are fed up with having to set aside time each week while the latest update is installed, or you just want to go back to the way things were then its time to remove the macOS beta. Once the full version of macOS 26 Tahoe arrives later in 2025 the process for downgrading from the beta will be simpler. Right now, unfortunately, its a lot harder to revert from the beta to the last full version of macOS. Well run through the complex process for reverting from the macOS Tahoe beta to macOS Sequoia. We also cover the simpler process for reverting from the macOS Sequoia beta to the full macOS Sequoia (which will apply when Tahoe is released later in the 2025). If its the iOS beta program you wish to leave read: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone . How to revert from macOS Tahoe beta to macOS Sequoia If you are running the beta of macOS Tahoe and want to downgrade back to Sequoia, try the following steps: You will need to wipe your Mac first. You wont be able to install the old macOS over the top of the new macOS, unfortunately. This is why we always recommend making a backup before you install a beta, or any newer version of macOS. 1. Leave the beta program Foundry The first thing to do is remove yourself from Apples macOS Tahoe beta program as this will stop the beta updates from arriving on your Mac. Open System Settings. Click on General. Click on Software Update. Click the i beside Beta updates and make sure it is set to off. This will stop any further Tahoe updates being installed on your Mac, but if you want to revert back to Sequoia you will need to wipe your Mac, as per the instructions below. 2. Wipe your Mac Foundry Unfortunately, if you are moving from macOS Tahoe back to Sequoia you will need to erase all the data from your Mac first. You cannot install Sequoia on top of Tahoe. Luckily there is an Erase All Content and Settings option in System Settings that makes it easy to return your Mac to factory settings. To find the Erase All Content and Settings option open System Settings > General > click on Reset > click Erase All Contents and Settings. Once you click on Erase All Content and Settings everything will be taken care of. We run through the process in more detail here: How to factory reset a MacBook or Mac . Just note that during the process any Bluetooth keyboards or mice will be disconnected, so if you have wired options they will be helpful. If you dont have a wired mouse or keyboard you should get an option to connect your Bluetooth peripherals when the Mac restarts. If your Mac doesnt have an M-series chip or a T2 chip the process to wipe it is a bit different (and described in the story linked to above). 3. Reinstall macOS Foundry Once your Mac has been wiped and reset to factory settings it should restart running the latest full version of macOS that is compatible with your Mac. You will need to join your Wi-Fi network and connect your mouse and keyboard if they are Bluetooth. Eventually, you will eventually see an Activate Mac screen. Click on Restart. On restarting your Mac will guide you through steps to set it up as if it was the first time. 4. Recover your Mac via Time Machine Foundry After your content and setting have been removed from your Mac you can either set it up as new, or you can recover a Time Machine backup with your data from before your beta adventure. This backup has to be from before you installed the beta or you will just reinstall the beta. If you have wiped your Mac and are setting it up as new, recovering your old settings and data via a Time Machine backup is really easy. During the setup process you will be asked if you have a Time Machine backup. Just say yes. Plug in your backup drive and leave the Mac as it recovers the data from the Time Machine backup. Once it has done that your Mac will be as close to what it was before you installed the beta. Alternatively, if you decide to recover your Time Machine backup later on, you can do so using macOS Recovery. Plug in the hard drive on which your Time Machine backup is located. Restart your Mac. If you have an M-Series Mac you need to press and hold the power button until you see the Loading startup options screen at which point click on Options and then Continue. See How to start a Mac in Recovery mode . (On an Intel-powered Mac hold down Command + R until the Apple logo appears.) Now you are in macOS Recovery, youll see the option to Restore from your Time Machine Backup. Select that and click Continue. Choose your Backup source and click on Continue again. Choose the correct backup the last one from before you installed the beta. (You can check this by looking at the macOS version column). We have a guide to restoring from Time Machine here . 5. What to do if your Mac wont download Sequoia Screenshot Foundry If you find that Sequoia isnt available to download via Software Updateperhaps because your Mac erroneously believes its already running the softwareyou can trick your Mac into downloading the full version of the software and installing it by using the Mac App Store. Open the Mac App Store. Click here for Sequoia . Click on Get and your Mac will offer to download the installers. The Software Update window from System Settings/System Preferences will open. Confirm that you want to download the software, youll also see a warning that you are downloading an older version of the OS, ignore it. Wait while the macOS downloads it may take a while, and if your internet connection drops you might have to start again. Once its downloaded click on Open and wait while it installs. Expect this to take a while You may see a message that the software is already installed. Just confirm that you do want to go ahead with the download and once you have the installer you will be able to install the final version over the beta. How to revert to an old macOS using Recovery It may also be possible to download and install an older OS using the built-in Recovery mode . But it depends on what version you are reverting to. We run through how to do this here: How to reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode. Heres how to reinstall the most recent compatible version of macOS on your Mac using Recovery: Restart your Mac. On an M-Series Mac you need to press and hold the power button until you see the Loading startup options screen at which point click on Options and then Continue. On an Intel-powered Mac hold down Option + Command + R until the Apple logo appears. See How to start a Mac in Recovery mode . Youll see the option Reinstall macOS. Click on this and Recovery will install the most recent version of macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Alternatively, if you dont want to go back to Sequoia, press Shift + Option + Command + R (on an Intel Mac) to reinstall the version of macOS that was installed on your Mac when you purchased it. How to stop getting the macOS beta Once macOS Tahoe launches later in 2025 it will be a lot easier to switch from the beta to the full version. Similarly, If you are running the macOS Sequoia beta and want stop running the beta and just use the latest version of macOS Sequoia, the process to revert to the full version is relatively simple. The first thing to do is remove yourself from Apples macOS beta program as this will stop the beta updates from arriving on your Mac. Open System Settings. Click on General. Click on Software Update. Click the i beside Beta updates and make sure it is set to off. Now that you have left the Beta program the next version of macOS that is offered to you via System Settings will be a full version of macOS and you will be able to install that as usual. Its slightly more complicated if you are running a newer version of the beta than the official version. In that case, you can either wait for Apple to issue the next macOS Sequoia update and install that instead, or you can follow the steps below to revert to an older version of macOS. If you dont want to wait for that next update then you can install macOS Sequoia using macOS Recovery. To enter Recovery mode press and hold the power button while your Mac starts up and continue to press and hold the button until you see a startup options window appear with an Options icon. (On an older Mac you enter Recovery by pressing the Command and R buttons during start-up). Select Options and click Continue. macOS Utilities will open with the option to Reinstall macOS [version]. Select that option. Enter your password if required. Wait while installation takes place (dont let the Mac go to sleep). You may need to erase your disk, in which case you will want to make sure that important documents are backed up (not in Time Machine as that will also copy the version of macOS you are running). If this doesnt work for you, do a clean install following the steps above this section. We have more advice about installing macOS on your Mac here and heres what to do if you encounter problems installing macOS .

macOS 26 includes the first Terminal app redesign in decades

Macworld Terminal in macOS is the most utilitarian app on the Mac. Its a command-line interface app that most people dont use, but the 24-year-old Terminal is a vital tool for those who do use it regularly. And its look hasnt changed in ever? But even Terminal is included in Apples UI redesign . Apple announced in its State of the Platforms presentation at WWDC25 that Terminal is getting a colorful boost in macOS 26 , with support for 24-bit color and the ability to use Powerline fonts. And, of course, Terminal is getting a bit of the Liquid Glass treatment with a new set of themes based on the new design theme. Terminal already provides different color profiles, and it doesnt appear that the enhancements in macOS 26 go to the extent of third-party utilities such as Neofetch (which is no longer in development) that are used to display system info in a fancier way. Well find out soon enough if the people who use Terminal will actually care, but its definitely an overdue update. macOS 26 will arrive in the fall, but you can try the developer beta now or wait until July for the more-stable public beta.

How to remove the iOS 26 beta from your iPhone

Macworld Were you so keen to try out the new features coming in iOS 26 that you decided to throw caution to the wind and install the iOS beta on your iPhone ? Are you regretting it? If you want to return your iPhone to its pre-beta state and get iOS 18.5 back, heres what you need to do. While running the beta of iOS 26 gives you a glimpse of what was to come later in 2025 when the full version launches, its a beta, which means that its likely to be buggy at best, and at worse it could make your iPhone unusable. Those two reasons are why we advise against installing the beta. If you do need to run the beta then run it on a spare iPhone and make sure that everything it backed up before hand. If you really want to run the beta and you arent a developer, wait until the Public beta release (coming in July) for a slightly more stable version even better, wait for a few months and let Apple iron out the initial, iPhone breaking, issues. If its too late for those words of caution, dont despair. Read on to find out what to do to remove the iOS beta. How easy this process is depends on the stage of the beta testing phase you are at. Well start with the complex process for downgrading the beta of iOS 26 to iOS 18, before discussing the easier process of removing iOS 26 beta and leaving the beta program once the final version of iOS 26 is out. How to uninstall from iOS 26 beta to iOS 18 During the pre-release testing of iOS 26 beta downgrading from the iOS 26 beta to iOS 18 requires you to completely wipe your iPhone and then reinstall iOS 18. If you just wipe your iPhone and restart it will still be running the iOS 18 beta. This is what beta testers need to do to revert to iOS 18.5 from iOS 26 beta. 1. Restore the iPhone and reinstall the pre-beta iOS via the Finder Foundry Generally downgrading from the beta and installing a full version of iOS should be easy enough and the steps below will work. In the early stages of the beta you may find that the software is too buggy though, in which case you may have better luck if you restore your iPhone to factory settings first as per the steps further down this article. Download the correct version of iOS for your iPhone from IPSW.me . It needs to still be signed by Apple, so you will only be able to choose the current full version of iOS. Open the Finder on your Mac. (Or iTunes/Apple Music on a PC). Plug in your iPhone. If you havent done so, you will need to turn off Find My on your device. Go to Settings and click on your ID information. Tap Find My > Find My iPhone and switch the slider to off. Enter your Apple ID password. Hold down the Option/Alt key and click on Restore iPhone. This should allow you to select the version of iOS you wish to install on the iPhone from your downloads folder, locate it and click on Open. A message will appear saying which version of iOS you will install. Click to confirm this and wait while your iPhone is restored. Your iPhone will be set up as a new device, so you will either need to get your hands on a backup or sync the data you want on your iPhone, well explain what to do next below. 2. Restore your iPhone using an iCloud backup Foundry Now you have wiped your iPhone and reinstalled the non-beta version of iOS, you can get on with the process of recovering it from a backup prior to your beta adventure if you have one. Note that if the backup was made since the beta was installed you will reinstall the beta at this stage! You may be able to locate and use an older backup or a backup from a different device check which version of iOS the backup is in by tapping on it. If you dont have a usable backup you may still have a fair amount of your data available to you if you use services like iCloud Photo, Messages in iCloud and iTunes Match or Apple Music. Our How to back up an iPhone or iPad tutorial runs through what is and isnt included in the backup. Swipe up from the Welcome screen on your iPhone. Tap on your language and select your country or region. Click on Set Up Manually. Work through the various steps until you get to the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen and tap on From iCloud Backup. Log into your Apple ID and wait while your device signs in. Now choose an iCloud backup from before you downloaded the beta. Click on Show More Backups to find an older one if you dont see it. Unsure, tap on the device to see which version of iOS the backup was made in. Wait while the Restore from iCloud takes place, which could take a while. 3. If that doesnt work, wipe the iPhone using Recovery Mode first Foundry If the straightforward method above doesnt work, in order to reinstall iOS 18 on your iPhone after you have been running the iOS 26 beta you may need to restore your iPhone to factory settings using Recovery Mode. To do this you will need to use the Finder on a Mac (or iTunes on a PC). Plug your iPhone into the Mac (or PC). You will need to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode . To do so press the up volume and down volume in quick succession, then the side button but keep pressing the side button until you see the image above of a cable and laptop (expect it to take a while). Once your iPhone is in Recovery Mode, on your Mac or PC click on Restore, but at the same time press the Option/Alt key. This will allow you to locate the version of iOS 18 you just downloaded from IPSW.me , as per the steps above. Wait while your iPhone is wiped and the older version of iOS is installed. How to switch from iOS 18 beta to iOS 18 Thankfully switching from the iOS 26 beta to iOS 26 once the full version has been released will be a lot easier than before the new software launches. Because iOS 18 is the current version of iOS it is easy to update to that from the iOS 18 beta. Heres how: If you are running the iOS 18 beta and want to just run iOS 18 and not be bothered with beta updates, then this is what you need to do. Go to Settings. Go to General on your iPhone. Tap on Beta Updates and switch it to Off. Tap Back. If you have the beta installed you will see iOS 18.0 is up to date, however, at the bottom of the screen you will also see Also Available iOS 18.0. Tap Update Now. Screenshot Foundry You will find more information below on how to leave the beta program and stop getting beta updates , which you may want to do now the full version has arrived. We run through How to downgrade an iPhone to an older version of iOS in a separate story. How to stop getting iOS Beta updates Even after the final version of iOS launches Apple will continue to issue beta updates as it works on new features. If you no longer want to receive iOS beta updates or you want to opt out of getting iOS 26 beta updates, you can stop getting beta updates and just use the final version. If you want to stop getting Beta updates you only need to turn off Beta Updates so that you dont receive them on your device. Open Settings. Tap on General. Tap on Software Update. Tap on Beta Updates. Tap on Off. Tap on Back. Now youll only receive software updates when Apple pushes them to the general public, roughly once every six weeks. You can still see that there is a beta update, but your iPhone wont volunteer to download them unless you switch Beta Updates back on by following the steps above. How to leave the beta program If you want no part of the iOS beta program you can remove your device from it. That way you wont be able to see any Beta updates, and wont be tempted to install them. To leave the iOS beta program, follow these steps on your iPhone: Remove your device from the iOS beta program. Sign in. Click Leave Program. If you ever decide you want back into the beta program you can head over to the Apple Beta Software Program site and re-enroll your device . Read more about how to be a beta tester here: How to join Apples beta program and try out new software . How to remove a Beta Profile Prior to iOS 16.3, the process for removing an iOS beta was different. Head over to the Settings app. Tap General. Tap on VPN & Device Management. Select the iOS Beta Software Profile that appears. Tap Remove Profile. Enter your device password. Tap Remove a second time to confirm. The iPhone will now need to restart. We also cover How to remove macOS beta from a Mac .

Apples new Liquid Glass interface has a problem: It isnt weird enough

Macworld The dust has settled, and another WWDC keynote is over. And in some ways Im relieved, because the rumored cross-platform interface redesign turned out not to be quite as radical as some of us feared . But my feelings about Liquid Glass are complicated. Yes, it looks nice. No, in most cases (the Apple Watchs Workout app being the most obvious exception), Apple doesnt seem to have messed too much with the navigational structure and location of controls, so the updated operating systems shouldnt be too confusing to use. But, at the risk of sounding contrary, Im worried that the aesthetics arent weird enough, and that the pleasant looks are a sign that Apple has looked to the present rather than the future for its visual inspiration. Let me explain. The good kind of bad design It would be an understatement to say that the logo for the 2012 London Olympics, featuring the year in a stylized font, was controversial. At its 2007 unveiling, the design firms chairman overheard a journalist openly describing it as fking awful. Newspapers ran competitions to come up with something better. Almost 80 percent of respondents to a BBC poll gave it the lowest available rating: not gold, not silver, not even bronze, but wooden spoon. To anyone who looked at it, it was weird. Some people said the logo bore an unfortunate resemblance to two cartoon characters doing something rude. But the logos trick was that its lookjagged, angular, garishwas simply ahead of its time. The 2007 designers had consciously created something that would resonate in five years time. The London Olympics logo fit nicely with the aesthetic trends of 2012, and by the time the Olympics rolled around, the logo was viewed with fondness. Compare that to iOS 7, which even after this week remains undefeated as Apples most controversial operating system. Released in 2013, it struck unsuspecting iPhone owners as brash, gaudy, weirdly flat, and totally unfamiliar. Which was exactly what was needed in order to begin a new chapter in the iPhones story. iOS 7 looked weird in 2013, normal in 2015, and was still holding up (with a few tweaks) in 2025. Thats forward-looking design, the sort of radical leap forward that enables you to be consistent for long periods the rest of the time. Now theres iOS 26, which looks pleasant and inoffensive right now . Its nice, but its a 2025 (or earlier) aesthetic: all transparency effects and shiny specular highlights. You dont need to project yourself into an imagined future for it to make sense. One of my colleagues said it was reminiscent of the Sky Glass rebrand from 2021. Another argued that the mimicry of physical materials harks back to the skeuomorphic conventions that existed before iOS 7 came along. The point is that by adopting a glasslike aesthetic, Apple isnt leading the design conversation, its simply giving users what theyre already used to. Glassmorphism is a popular UI style at the moment, but it was identified as a trend as early as 2020 . This is fine for the time being, but suggests that Liquid Glass might start to appear dated far sooner than iOS 7s 12-year lifespan. And software interfaces are not like ads and other marketing materials. You want to change them as rarely as possible. Mert Erdir The three measures of success To my mind, there are three criteria for success when it comes to a software interface: in descending order of importance, these are practicality, familiarity, and attractiveness. Liquid Glass does well on the last count, I would say, even if the attraction is short-lived. But there are question marks over the other two. As I said at the start of this article, iOS 26 and the other new operating systems announced at WWDC 2025 are a lot less unfamiliar than I feared they would be. They obviously look different from their predecessors, but the differences are mostly cosmetic rather than fundamental. Take away the Liquid Glass effect, and the structure beneath is largely the same. You wont have to retrain your muscle memory very much. Youll just have to get used to some new effects. iOS 26 will be unfamiliar to many iPhone users who download it in September, but not in ways that will be difficult to deal with. Practicality is an even bigger worry. The glassmorphic effects that look so smart in Apples marketing videos are proving distracting and faintly ridiculous in the real world, with numerous beta testers posting mocking screenshots and videos to social media. Notification Center is impossibly busy with glass layers over glass layers, all competing for your attention: its the opposite of focus. And all these animations and visual effects are making demands on your processor and battery that seem completely unnecessary . Had Apple created something a bit weirder, maybe people would have embraced it, but even in the best situations, Liquid Glass doesnt seem to be worth the potential problems it brings. Its (extremely) early days, of course, and many of the less user-friendly aspects of iOS 26 and its siblings on the Mac, Apple Watch, and so on will be ironed out before public launch. By the time the 26.1 updates come out in late October or thereabouts, the interfaces should be buttery smooth and largely free from flaws. Well also have had time to get used to them, and the moderately unfamiliar should have become thoroughly familiar. Life will be easier. But I suspect that, in time, Apple may regret that its broadest software design update ever was not a little more daring and, well, weirder. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. WWDC 2025 special 10 WWDC features you need to know (but probably missed ). Apple needed to fix one thing at WWDC25 and it didnt . iOS 26 makes massive changes to your iPhones home screen and major apps. macOS 26 Tahoe : The 5 best features coming to your Mac this fall. iPadOS 26 is seriously making Roman Loyola think about dumping his MacBook Air . Your Apple Watch just got a lot smarter with watchOS 26 . Trending: Top stories Stop! Dont buy a new iPhone until youve read this . Alex Blake spent $35 to save his iPhone from wilting in the summer heat . You thought the Mac mini was small, wait till you see the Pico Mac Nano . Reviews corner Bitwarden review : A free and easy password manager . Internxt review : Fast and easy-to-use cloud backup . SwifDoo PDF for Mac review : Basic PDF editor with limited functionality. The rumor mill iPhone 17 Pro Max video shows off brand-new beautiful design . The upcoming A20 chip s killer feature could be better battery life . iOS 26 code hints at the imminent release of 2nd-gen AirTag . Leaked Apple charger points to incredibly fast iPhone 17 MagSafe charging. Software updates, bugs, and problems Its not just you: The iOS 18.5 Mail app is having a problem delivering mail . And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters , including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook , Threads , Bluesky , or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

AI Video Upscaler for Mac True 4K Enhancement Made Easy

Macworld Weve all been there: blurry old footage, choppy smartphone clips, or compressed web clips look painfully dated on modern displays. Using these in your videos can hold you back, but fixing them manually is tedious and often disappointing. That is why you need an AI video enhancer. AI video enhancers leverage machine learning to improve quality, resolution, and visual appeal. As a result, they dramatically simplify manual adjustments in complicated software while delivering natural, accurate, and high-fidelity results in minutes. VideoProc Converter AI is a good place to start among the many AI video enhancer software options. By leveraging deep learning, it can effectively enhance your video quality with AI by upscaling grainy old videos, smoothing out motion, and more. In addition, this one-stop toolbox hosts even more video-related practical tools, all with an intuitive interface that welcomes beginners and pros alike. What Is VideoProc Converter AI? VideoProc Converter AI is an all-in-one and AI-powered multimedia software to enhance, convert, and process videos and images. It can upscale grainy old videos to vibrant 4K, smooth out motion for a cinematic polish, and restore faded photos to life. In addition to the decent job of improving videos, this AI video enhancer includes format conversion, video compression, screen recording, and quick editing tools. For Apple Silicon Macs, processing is incredibly fast thanks to the Neural Engine. Even on older Intel Macs, AI enhancements are still accelerated using Core ML or Metal. AI Video Super Resolution: Improve video quality and resolution AI Frame Interpolation: Get smoother or slow-motion videos Converter: Solve file format and codec compatibility issues Compressor: Reduce oversized videos while keeping the best possible quality Editor: Cut, trim, merge, crop, rotate, change speed, adjust audio, and more Downloader: Grab video and audio from 1,000+ sites in original length and resolution Recorder: Capture Mac or iPhone screens, webcam, and audio; PiP supported Special Offer: Mac users can enjoy VideoProc Converter AI at a 67% discount with the time-limited offer ! The Lifetime License for 1 Mac is only $29.95. The Lifetime License for 5 Macs is $39.95. Digiarty AI Video Enhancements for Better Quality Revive Your Videos with AI Super Resolution VideoProc Converter AI features a Video Super Resolution module to automatically denoise, deblur, upscale, and enhance your video quality in one go. It can upscale videos by 2x, 3x, or 4x, up to 4K crisp masterpieces without artifacts. Trained with millions of video frames, the program intelligently understands and enhances your content. It offers different models for specific quality issues in different video types. Each uses deep learning to reconstruct details, such as faces, textures, and edges, without introducing artifacts or sacrificing quality. Digiarty If youve got some old home DVDs or wedding footage that looks blurry, VideoProc also includes a Deinterlacing option to transcode your video to progressive while enhancing its visual quality. With intuitive interfaces, you can let the algorithm do the heavy lifting. Get up to 4 times the resolution of the original video with spectacular visual quality in a few clicks. Smooth Video Motion with AI Frame Interpolation Frame Interpolation is a technique that synthesizes new frames from existing ones to increase frame rate, thereby enhancing fluidity or creating slow-motion effects. Using motion estimation algorithms, the Frame Interpolation module in VideoProc Converter AI can generate 2 to 5 times the number of frames of the input video. Thats useful for creating smoother videos and matching cameras with different frame rates in post-editing. Better still, it supports skipping interpolation when two adjacent frames are in different scenes, thus avoiding unnatural artifacts. Digiarty Want your gameplay or iPhone clips shot in Video mode to pop on TikTok or Instagram? The built-in Slow Motion model can digitally slow down your original footage, creating buttery-smooth 240fps slow motion with minimal effort. You can also use this feature for stop motions, timelapse videos, etc. More Than an AI Video Enhancer Upscale, Restore & Colorize Photos with Image AI VideoProc Converter AI isnt just for videos. It includes an Image AI module to expand its AI capabilities to the field of image enhancement. The Image Super Resolution tool enables you to upscale old photos or low-res images by 2 to 4 times, up to 10K resolution. The Face Restoration feature can intelligently remove scratches, blemishes, red-eye, and other imperfections from portraits. With AI Photo Colorization , you can add vivid, realistic colors to black-and-white photos. It handles portraits, group shots, and AI-generated images with minimal effort, delivering crisp, vibrant results. Whether you are enhancing marketing visuals or archiving memories for digital albums, these tools make your Mac a photo restoration powerhouse, with no advanced skills needed. Digiarty Solve Format and Codec Compatibility with Converter Ever tried to import footage from a camera, only to find your editing software cant open it? These compatibility issues can become a thing of the past with VideoProc Converter AI. VideoProc Converter AI can help solve f ile format and codec compatibility issues . This video quality enhancer supports over 370 input codecs and 420 output formats without additional codec packs. You can easily convert these videos to a format that is friendly to the macOS and your NLEs, such as ProRes, HEVC, or MOV. Other Add-on Features VideoProc Converter AI includes features for video compressing, recording, and quick editing. The Max-Quality Compression Engine can reduce video size by over 90% while keeping the best possible quality, making your video good for sharing or archiving. All you need to do is specify the file size. The built-in 29 quick editing tools help you make quick edits, such as cutting, cropping, adjusting speed, forcing A/V sync, adding subtitles, and more. Everything is lightning fast with Mac-specific optimizations , running locally to keep your files private and secure . What happens on your Mac, stays on your Mac. Do More with Your Videos To get the most out of your videos, use an AI video enhancer and say goodbye to low-res footage, choppy clips, and complex software with hours of tweaking. In a nutshell, VideoProc Converter AI is a game changer in video enhancements. It effortlessly enhances low-quality videos and images with AI, resolves video format compatibility issues, and even more AI video improvement features to look forward to. This AI video enhancer runs efficiently on your Macs hardware, whether you are rocking an M-series chip or an older Intel model. Unlike cloud-based alternatives, it keeps your personal projects private on your Mac. Time-limited Offer Whats the best part? Original priced at $78.90 per year for one Mac for a lifetime license, this AI video enhancer is available at $29.95 only (67% off), which is significantly more cost-effective than competitors. Its user-friendly interface and one-click AI features make it accessible to beginners, while advanced options satisfy pros. Take advantage of the VideoProc free trial

iOS 26 might have confirmed the existence of AirPods Pro 3

Apple didnt announce any new hardware at WWDC 2025, but the iOS 26 beta seems to have confirmed the existence of an unannounced device. According The post iOS 26 might have confirmed the existence of AirPods Pro 3 appeared first on BGR .

If you still use Time Capsule to back up your Mac, the clock is ticking on support

Macworld While macOS 26 Tahoe is still months away from landing on our Macs, Apple is already gearing up for major changes in the next major version of macOS. After revealing that Tahoe will be the last version to support Intel Macs, Apple is also warning users that another long-standing feature will be deprecated in macOS 27. According to a post on X by user @stellafudge , Apple is giving users notice that the next major version of macOS, presumably version 27, will no longer support AirPort Disk, or other Time Capsule disks, for Time Machine backups. Apple discontinued AirPort and Time Capsule in 2018, but has supported the Apple Filing Protocol network protocol in macOS Mojave and subsequent versions of macOS. Its possible that ending support signals a new Wi-Fi router is on the way. While there havent been any specific rumors to support the launch of a new AirPort, Apple is expected to use its own homegrown Wi-Fi chip in the iPhone 17 this fall and expand support to the Mac through 2026 and 2027. With its own chip, Apple could build in support for the necessary bands and protocols to build a new router. Rumors also suggest that Apple could be combining the Wi-Fi chip with its C-series modem , which could bring the first MacBook with cellular connectivity.

Take 25% off this FindMy backpack and never worry about losing your gear

Macworld The best way to ensure theres absolutely no way to lose your backpack, even when traveling, is to get this HyperPack Pro. Why? Because it comes with built-in Find My compatibility. Usually available for $200, this backpack just dropped to its best price yet of $150 , a massive 25 percent discount. This is a 22L backpack that can fit any MacBook up to and including the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which means youll have a ton of space inside. Of course, its not just for your laptop, and it will actually even fit anything you need to carry. This travel-ready backpack is prepared for all your adventures, as it includes an RFID theft protective pocket for your wallet, as well as an extra hidden lumbar pocket. The zippers interlock, too, so theres no way someone will unzip these when youre not paying attention. The fact that this is a laptop with a built-in tracker is the best part, however. Instead of buying a separate tracker, the entire bag acts as an AirTag. It has an IPX4 water resistance and it will ping just like your AirTag does when you use the app, while also issuing an alert when its out of range. You can even replace the battery when needed. Thats a dream combo if you ask us. So, if youre going to invest in a backpack for your summer travels, get this HyperPack Pro for $150 while its still on sale. This $50 off backpack will tell you when you forget it Buy now at Amazon

iOS versions: Every version of iOS from the oldest to the latest

Macworld iOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. Its the operating system on which everything else sits, while also delivering plenty of features and dedicated apps built by Apple itself. Every year (usually in September) Apple adds new features to compatible iPhones with an update to iOS, and in the months that follow more features arrive. If you want to know what the latest version of iOS is, or if youve ever wondered about when versions came out and what features they brought, we will answer your questions. We also show you how to check which iOS youre currently using and how to update to the latest iteration. In September 2025 there will be a brand new version of iOS. iOS 26 will bring a brand new look and lots of new features, but, for now, iOS 18 is the current version of iOS, or more accurately version iOS 18.5. iOS version history iOS made its debut in 2007 alongside the first iPhone. However, when Steve Jobs held the little device aloft revealing it to the world for the first time, it wasnt running iOS 1. Instead, it was reported by Apple to be powered by OS X , the software for the Mac. Over time it was called iPhone OS, until finally gaining its now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when it was shortened to iOS in 2010. Significant milestones are scattered across the iOS timeline, with the first being the introduction of the App Store in iPhone OS 2 in 2008. iOS 4 saw the iPad joining the scene and using the operating system alongside the iPhone. iOS 5 was introduced along with the iPhone 4S in 2011, which saw the debut of Siri as a built-in part of the operating system. Sadly, this was the last version of the software to be released when Apple CEO and Founder Steve Jobs was still alive. Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007. Apple Things changed significantly in iOS 11 in 2017 as it brought the first touch and gesture interface, allowing the first iPhone without a Home buttonthe iPhone X. Another major shift was with iOS 13 in 2019, as it marked the bifurcation of Apples mobile operating systems, with iPhones staying on iOS but the newly announced iPadOS powering the new iPads. iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 arrived in 2023, then iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in 2024. Rather than progress to iOS 19, Apple has aligned the numbering of all its operating systems according to the year so for the 2025 to 2026 version its iOS 26. Heres how the two iOS versions compare: iOS 26 vs iOS 18. List of iOS versions and latest versions Heres a breakdown of all the versions of iOS that have been released, when they were released, when they were last updated, and the latest iOS version. iPhone OS 1 Released June 29, 2007 (Latest 1.1.5 July 15, 2008) iPhone OS 2 Released July 11, 2008 (Latest 2.2.1 January 27, 2009) iPhone OS 3 Released June 17, 2009 (Latest 3.2.2 August 11, 2010) iOS 4 Released June 22, 2010 (Latest 4.3.5 July 25, 2011) iOS 5 Released October 12, 2011 (Latest 5.1.1 May 7, 2012) iOS 6 Released September 19, 2012 (Latest 6.1.6 February 21, 2014) iOS 7 Released September 18, 2013 (Latest 7.1.2 June 30, 2014) iOS 8 Released September 17, 2014 (Latest 8.4.1 August 13, 2015) iOS 9 Released September 16, 2015 (Latest 9.3.6 July 22, 2019) iOS 10 Released September 13, 2016 (Latest 10.3.4 July 22, 2019) iOS 11 Released September 19, 2017 (Latest 11.4.1 July 9, 2018) iOS 12 Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iOS 13 Released September 19, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iOS 14 Released September 17, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021) iOS 15 Released September 24, 2021 (Latest iOS 15.8.3 July 29, 2024) iOS 16 Released September 12, 2022 (Latest iOS 16.7.10 August 7, 2024) iOS 17 Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iOS 17.7.2 November 19, 2024) iOS 18 Released September 16, 2024 (Latest iOS 18.3.1 February 10, 2025) iOS 26 Coming September, 2025 List of iPadOS versions While iOS was the initial operating system for iPad, this changed with the release of iPadOS 13 in 2019. Since then, iPads have had their own platform, enabling Apple to better harness the power of its larger devices. Heres the short release history of iPadOS: iOS 12 Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iPadOS 13 Released September 24, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iPadOS 14 Released September 16, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021 ) iPadOS 15 Released September 20, 2021 (Latest 15.8.3 July 29, 2024) iPadOS 16 Released October 24, 2022 (Latest 16.7.10 August 7, 2024) iPadOS 17 Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iPadOS 17.7.5 February 10, 2025) iPadOS 18 Released September 16, 2024 (Latest iPadOS 18.3.1. February 10, 2025) iPadOS 26 Coming September, 2025 Also see: How long does Apple support iPads? Which iOS versions are currently supported? In terms of new features, only iOS 18 is currently supported by Apple. When Apple introduces iOS 26 later in 2025 it will stop development of new features for iOS 18, but it will continue to provide security updates. Apple tends to support the past couple of iOS versions with security updates. As of June 2025, Apple supports iOS 17, iOS 16 and iOS 15 with security updates. The most recent versions are: iOS 15.8.4 and iOS 16.7.11 (from March 2025) and iOS 17.7.2 (from November 2024). Apples support for iOS 15 wasnt expected to extend into 2025, but the March security update is good news for those with an iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhones 7 or 7 Plus as they would potentially be vulnerable without the update. We dont anticipate that support for iOS 15 will continue beyond September, and at that point we could also lose support for iOS 16 and the iPhones 8 and 8 Plus. Luckily, many iPhones are able to run supported versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones? We run through which iPhone supports which version of iOS in a separate article: iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run. How to tell which version of iOS your iPhone is running If youre not sure which version of iOS youre currently using, its very easy to find out. Just go to Settings > General > About and look for the iOS Version number. Its the same steps for iPadOS. Foundry How to install the latest version of iOS Updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS is simple, so long as your device is compatible. This doesnt require much detective work though, as your iPhone will know whether it is eligible for the upgrade or not. To find out, go to Settings > General > Software Update , and your iPhone will check to see if there are any available. You may also see a notification on the Settings page that says Software Update Available, which you can click to go straight to the update page. iPadOS works the same way. Foundry If there are no updates, youll see a message along the lines of iOS is up to date. Should there be one available, it should tell you on the screen and give you the option to Download and Install. Do this and your iPhone will automatically apply the update and bring your software to the latest version. You can also read our tutorial on how to update iOS on iPhone for more details. So, there it is. A potted history of iOS. Want to know about all the versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and macOS: Every version released so far . You can also find out what the latest version of macOS is .

iPadOS 26 is seriously making me think about dumping my MacBook Air

Macworld Iam a diehard Mac user, even if it means I have to lug around a big and heavy (relatively speaking) MacBook with me instead of something more portable. Ive tried using an iPad, but like many people, I found that iPadOS isnt the proper environment for my productivity. Apple may have changed that. At WWDC25 , the company introduced iPadOS 26 , the next major version of the iPad operating system, and Apples Craig Federighi called it the biggest iPadOS release ever. Hes not exaggerating. The changes in iPadOS 26 are so drastic that if I dont switch over to an iPad completely, Ill at least make it a viable part of my workflow. The next version of iPadOS is nothing short of transformative, and even old-school Mac users like me should take notice. iPadOS 26: A Mac-like window system With iPadOS 26, Apple is implementing a completely new way to manage windows on the screen. The new system makes it so much easier to manage windowsthe system is, in fact, Mac-like. App windows now have grab handles that you can tap and drag to resize them. You can tap and drag windows wherever you want. Windows now have the upper left corner red, yellow, and green buttons for closing, minimizing, or maximizing, respectively. When you minimize a window, iPadOS displays a genie effect of the app going to the Dock. Theres even a cursor, a menu bar, and new support for Expose . iPadOS 26 has Mac-like windows, which makes it a better platform for doing multiple tasks. Apple During the WWDC25 keynote, I had to do a double-take because the new interface looks so close to macOS that you may not notice the difference. If it looks like a Mac and it works like a Mac, I should be able to use it like a Macor at least get close enough to feel like Im being productive. But its not just macOSs UI plopped into the iPad; iPadOS 26 still maintains familiar iPad UI touches that longtime iPad users appreciate, and it still feels like iPadOS. Basically, its an iPad until you need it to be a Mac. Split View and Slide Over are no longer available in iPadOS 26, while Stage Manager is still there. I wont miss the first two, and while I dont think Ill use Stage Manager, it could be useful when using an iPad with an external display. But for the most part, everyone will be using glorious Mac-style windowing to move between apps now. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage, from WWDC to beyond. iPadOS 26: Background processing On an iPad running iOS 18, if an app isnt in the foreground, its not doing anything (other than perhaps playing music), which makes the iPad useless for production. I need to be able to, say, render a video in the background while I write, answer emails, schedule something, or do some other tasks. On the Mac, apps continue to work even if theyre not at the forefront. With iPadOS 26, Apple is adding the ability for apps to run in the background. Considering the new windowing system, Apple has to add background processingit doesnt make sense to add the ability to move between apps so easily but then stop working when they arent in the foreground. From a practical standpoint, background processing is necessary. But this is a key feature for using the iPad in a production environment, a feature that was another reason why I depended on the Mac. Its a difference-maker. The new iPad menu bar takes a cue from macOS. Apple iPadOS 26: Desktop apps and new app features From simple image edits to PDF forms and everything in between, Preview is one of the Mac apps I rely on most. iPadOS 26 will now include Preview, which means I can use the iPad without worrying about finding a replacement app. If Im going to spend my time creating new files, the Files app needs to be better suited for managing them. It wasnt before, but the Files app is getting a new List view to make it easier to manage files on the iPad. Apple is also bringing Journal and the new Apple Games app to the iPad. Messages is getting the new features from iOS 26, including conversation backgrounds and polls. Calculator will have new 3D graphing capabilities in Math Notes, the Notes app now works with Markdown text, and theres a host of Apple Intelligence features coming throughout iPadOS 26. In all, it means the iPad has better tools for getting work done. The new List View in the Files app makes is easier to find the correct file. Apple Why an iPad over a Mac? The main reason why anyone picks an iPad over a Mac isnt portability. The biggest iPad, a 13-inch iPad Pro, with the Magic Keyboard, is 2.8 pounds (1.27 kilograms), while a 13-inch MacBook Air is 2.7 pounds (1.24 kilograms). Thats the same. You can go with smaller iPadsthese new features are also available in the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad minibut you need to be willing to sacrifice significant screen real estate for portability. But the main reason why Ior any other Mac userwould pick an iPad over a Mac is that they want the touch interface. iPadOS 26 is the closest thing to a touchscreen Mac we have ever seenand we may ever get. Since this is the first go-around for the new windowing system, Apple will tweak it over the course of the coming months and years, but theres no denying that the iPad is fundamentally changed. And for a lot of people (including me), it may be enough to seriously think about adapting the iPad as their next computing device.

iOS 26 vs iOS 18: Whats different, whats new, and should you update?

Macworld Apple pulled back the covers on the latest iteration of iOS at WWDC 2025. This will initially confuse some people, as the successor to 2024s iOS 18 is iOS 26 ! Moreover, the software will release at the end of 2025. We guess naming is hard. So, does the rejiggering of the numbers look like clumsy PR, or is the new iOS one that marks a bold new direction for the iPhone? In this comparison of the two iOS versions, well run though what the main differences are and how the two compare, so you can be sure that you want to update to the new iOS when it arrives in September 2025. What was new in iOS 18? When iOS 18 launched in September 2024, it came with some cool updates to the interface and feature set of the Apple apps. Here are some of the highlights: Apple Intelligence One of the main selling points of iOS 18 was the introduction of Apple Intelligence , although many of the touted features took quite a while to arrive. These included Writing Tools that helped users create, edit and rephrase texts, emails and other text messages. Visual Intelligence turned the iPhone camera into a way to get more information about objects and places, aided by Apple Intelligence searching for matching images and information. Siri was also meant to be powered up by the new AI features, although that seems to need more work, but the Image Playground did allow you to generate pictures via prompts on your device. Apple Intelligence was limited to only the iPhone 16 generation of devices, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple Personalisation Following on from the widgets in iOS 17, the ability to personalise your home screen with shaded/tinted icons that you could place wherever you like (shock horror!) was another big player for iOS 18. Control Center Updates Apple also gave users the ability to add new shortcut controls and ones for third-party apps in Control Center. The option to group them into specific situations, such as Home, Work, Music, etc, is also provided. Privacy Enhancements In iOS 18 you can lock and hide specific apps, plus theres the option to restrict which contacts apps can see and which wireless accessories they can access. Messages improvements The Messages app in iOS 18 finally allowed users to be able to add formatting, such as underlining and italicisation. You can also use animations called Text Effects to show your support or surprise at what your friends say. There was also the introduction of Message Via Satellite which allowed you to send emergency messages if youre stuck in a place with no carrier signal. Photos redesign The Photos app got some attention in iOS 18, with new filters and collections there to make it easier to find images. This wasnt an entirely successful attempt to help users: there was a big backlash to Apples changes to Photos, with people searching for ways to turn the new Photos app changes off . Apple Whats new in iOS 26? Building on the foundations of iOS 18 (and all that went before), Apple has unveiled what we can expect to see on our iPhones when September 2025 rolls around and the iOS 26 update becomes available. Heres the pick of the bunch: Liquid Glass At the heart of iOS 26 is Apples new design language, which is calls Liquid Glass . This revamped the existing menus and interactive parts of the OS with translucent areas that mimic glass. Those fearing a return to the old Aqua design of ancient macOS versions, the iPhone design is actually very tasteful. Apple Search bars seem to float above the images behind them, allowing colors to pass through as if refracted. The effect is something that looks organic rather than the blocky overlays to which weve grown accustom. Contextual menus appear where you tap the screen in newly designed cards that look consistent throughout the interface. Liquid Glass supports both light and dark modes, as well as the tint introduced in iOS 18, plus theres a new translucent mode for iOS 26 that looks rather fetching. Lock Screen / Home Screen updates As personalisation was high on the agenda in 2024, its not surprising that Apple has tweaked a few more things for the annual update. This time around the time on the Lock Screen will stretch to fit the background image you choose, while also ensuring it never obscures the main image. In fact, Apple showed off a feature where the wallpaper seems to adjust its position so that the subject doesnt get masked by notifications that come in. Apple Apple has also brought back the old parallax images from a few years ago, where an image appears 3D if you tilt the iPhone although the new one does seem more pronounced than its predecessor. Camera With the introduction of Liquid Glass, Apple has also decided to simplify the camera app, removing the various scrolling options from iOS 18 and instead pairing every back to just Photo and Video. If you still want to access options like Portrait or Panorama, then they remain available simply by swiping left or right when youre in the Photo mode. Advanced settings (such as aspect ratio, etc.) can be brought into play by simply swiping up. But, if you dont want to accidentally shot a portrait when you meant it to be a normal snapshot, the interface should now stay out of your way and let you capture that moment. Apple When youre done, you can also use a couple of tweaks in the Photos app to track down the images, as there are new tabs and collections that can be pinned to the main page. Safari Apples browser gets a nip and tuck, with edge-to-edge web pages filling up the screen, and the tab bar now shrinking as you scroll so that it keeps out of your way. The Liquid Glass update also makes everything feel more part of the page rather than interrupting the flow. CarPlay If you use you have support for CarPlay in your car, then the updates to CarPlay might be of interest. The interface has been overhauled so that calls and messages now appear in a small section of the display, allowing you to still see the directions from Maps clearly at the same time. Widgets for various features also keep things neat, with live information displayed from them meaning you can always know if the flight youre meeting at the airport is on time. Apple Environmental controls are also included now (with supporting car brands) so you can adjust temperature controls, air conditioning, and other features directly from CarPlay. Phone gets a helpful assistant The Phone app hasnt been neglected this time around, as it a receives a few nice upgrades. First up, theres a unified layout that shows you your Favourites, Recents and Voicemails (with the later displaying summaries from Apple Intelligence), plus the normal Calls, Contacts and Keypad. The most impressive addition though is that of Call Screening. Now, if your iPhone receives and incoming call from an unknown number, it will automatically answer it in the background and an A.I. agent will ask the callers name and reason for calling. When it has this, a summary will appear on your screen and youll have the option to take or reject the call. Nice. Apple Hold Assist is another potentially fantastic feature, as the app will monitor your calls and when it hears that youve been put on hold (it scans for music), you can then leave the A.I. agent to take your place while you get on with other things. When the live person comes on and takes you off hold, theyll be informed that youre there and just coming to the phone, at which point your phone will ring and you can take over the call once more. Messages The look of Group Chats can be a bit basic on Messages, but thats about to change as iOS 26 allows you to add wallpapers to the background, which everyone will be able to see. Theres also a new Poll feature that can help you and your family or friends decide what you want to do or where you want to go. Apple Typing indicators will arrive in the updated version of the app, so you can see when someone is composing a response, plus youll now be able to mix emojis together to create bespoke responses to something someone has said. Like on Phone, Apple Intelligence will screen you messages for any potential spam or missives from strangers, all of which are filtered into a separate section so your inbox remains clean. Apple also powers up Image Playground, with it now able to create new memoji images for contacts, with poses and changes to their style allowing you to have fun. Live Translation A feature that really stood out in the Apple presentation was the new Live Translation. As the name suggests, this uses language recognition tools to enable multi-language conversations on the Phone, Messages and FaceTime apps. Apple Messages will translate your language into that of the recipient, then do the same back to you, making it seem like you are both speaking the same one. FaceTime will create real-time captioning, so you can read the words the other person is saying, while the Phone app will take your spoken words and translate them into simulated speech that the other person can respond to, then in turn do the same for them. If it works as well as it did in the presentation, then we cant be far away from that universal translator that Sci-Fi has promised us ever since Arthur Dent had a Babel Fish stuffed into his ear. Gaming Challenges A neat addition in the Apple Arcade app is the ability to set up instant gaming challenges with your friends. These give you the chance to pit yourself against your mates in a score-based competition, with the app showing the leaderboard. Apple stated that several games support the feature, with more sure to join them as the release of iOS 26 draws near. Visual Intelligence In iOS 18, Apple brought Visual Intelligence to the table, which gave users the helpful tool of pointing the iPhone camera at something as then having Apple Intelligence gather information about the place/item/person etc; so you could find out more. Now this will also include whats on your iPhone screen. Basically, you take a screenshot of your social media feed, browser or anything from an app, then you can use Visual Intelligence to search for more details. Say you like a coat that someone is wearing on a show, just screenshot it, tell Visual Intelligence to find it, and youll be able to get something the same or similar in seconds. It can also pull text out of the image, such as the date and time of a concert or meeting, then create calendar entries replete with the directions and details. Apple Plenty of other updates to the iPhone Thats not all thats in store with iOS 26, as Apple showed off several other features that will no doubt be useful in the year ahead. These include Maps creating alternative routes for your most popular trips; Wallet now allowing the creation of a Digital ID of U.S. Passports that can be used for domestic flights and age verification; order tracking in Apple Pay; new interface for Apple Music; plus lots more little details that are there to improve the iPhone experience. Whats the main differences between iOS 26 and iOS 18? As you can see, theres plenty to be excited about in iOS 26. The new Liquid Glass design does look great, but its the improvement-to-life features like Call Screening, Message Screening, Live Translation, and Visual Intelligence now including whats on your iPhone screen that really mark a difference between the two iterations. Should I upgrade to iOS 26? This is a definite yes, but bear in mind of course that some of the features outlined here will rely on Apple Intelligence, which means that they will only be available for the latest iPhone models. So, if you have an older device, then it might be worth sticking with what youve got if its running well. Then youll have all these features to look forward to when you eventually upgrade. Now you just need to wait until iOS 26 comes out in September Or perhaps youd like to try the beta? For an in-depth look at what it has to offer, take a look at iOS 26 changes everything about how you use your iPhone .

Sorry, folks: The fancy Apple TV redesign is for new models only

Macworld Amid all the other announcements at WWDC 2025 yesterday, tvOS 26 passed by with barely a ripple. Out of a total 92 minutes of keynote time, it was on screen for less than five (a big chunk of which was a trailer for upcoming TV+ shows and movies), and at the time of writing this, the software doesnt even have its own tab on Apples OS preview page. But this is often the way with major Apple events: theres so much to talk about that worthwhile launches get lost in the hubbub. And tvOS 26 does have some interesting upgrades. There are user profiles to choose from when you wake the Apple TV, automatic logins for third-party apps, permanent AirPlay speaker connections, new aerial screensavers, and you can use your iPhone as a microphone and input device in Apple Musics Sing karaoke mode. The biggest upgrade, however, is the Liquid Glass visual redesign thats coming, in one form or another, to all of Apples devices. The short way of describing this is to say that menus and buttons are transparent and shiny, with more interactive elements, but you really need to see it to grasp the impact this will have. It looks, in this reporters opinion at least, really nice. Apple (As a side note, its worth pointing out that Liquid Glass does not look as starkly futuristic as iOS 7 did in 2012. Rather than designing for the future, Apple appears to have designed for the present, and while this is pleasant for now, its debatable how well this will age.) tvOS 26 can run on a decent range of Apple TVs: MacRumors reports that the developer beta, impressively, is compatible with all HD or 4K Apple TVs, going back to the model released in 2015. But the bad news is that the 2015 HD Apple TV, and the 1st-gen 4K model that came after it in 2017, dont get the full range of tvOS 26 features and upgrades. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage from WWDC and beyond. Most importantly, as Apple quietly confirms in a footnote of its tvOS 26 press release , Liquid Glass is only available on the 2nd-gen Apple TV 4K from 2021 and the 3rd-gen 4K from 2022. Oh, and the feature that lets you use your iPhone as a Sing input device only works on the 3rd-gen 4K model. And you need an iPhone 11 or later (or one that can run iOS 26), for that matter. If you want the full tvOS 26 experience, in other words, it might be time to buy a new model. One may be on the way, or you can check our price comparison tool below to make sure youre not paying a penny more than you need to. Retailer Price $124.50 View Deal $124.9 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $135.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket

Apple needed to fix one thing at WWDC25 and it didnt

Macworld At Mondays WWDC keynote , Apple pretended 2025 was just another year . There was a lot of speculation about how Apple would frame this event (some of it from this pointy pontificator ). Turns out it framed it pretty much like any other event. While the Macalope would have bet that Apple would choose to open with something about its commitment to accessibility or how many lives the Apple Watch has saved or COO Jeff Williams work with orphaned kittens, it instead led with Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi racing a Formula 1 car around the roof of Apple Park. (Which raises the question, why does Craig park on driveways and drive on Apple Park, anyways?) Was it cute? It was a little cute. But was it a time to be cute? Not really. You might complain that its just an ad for an Apple TV+ movie, but thats to be expected. If the Macalope corners you at a party, hes probably going to spend some time talking about his latest pet project, too (hand-blown glass poodles, its going great, thanks). As was rumored, Siri was largely a no-show at the event, with no update on when the more personalized, conversational Siri might arrive, if ever. That didnt mean Apple didnt want to talk about AI. Honestly, it wouldnt shut up about it. After the humorous intro video, Tim Cook appeared and mentioned AI no fewer than 14 billion times. Or maybe it just seemed like 14 billion. The big news on the AI front was that Apple will be providing developer APIs for its AI offering, meaning developer apps can now drain your battery just as fast as Apple itself can. Coolor, well, not cool, as the case may be. Still, thats a plus at a time when developer relations are not great. The Macalope would say tenuous but theyve been so bad for so long and, he hates to say, they can get worse still. Apple clearly feels it has developers over a barrel and that it has enough customer good will, time, money and market clout that it can continue to treat them however it wants to. Sadly, this continues to be true, at least for the time being. But, wait, we just went a whole paragraph without talking about AI. That wont do. Apple is so into AI, itll have you know, that its even prepared to have it drill you maggots until you can be all you can be . That sounds fun. There were many other updates on AI but, joking aside, there were actually some other big announcements. Apple announced a whole new design ethic across its operating systems (and, as expected, renumbered the releases). Dubbed Has Anyone Seen My Glasses? this new interface design features Whats that? Sorry, the Macalope is being told its called Liquid Glass . He regrets the error. Anyway, Liquid Glass goes heavy on the transparency and, while it looks cool and mod and new and cool, transparency in operating systems isnt new at all. Heck, its not even new on macOS . It is a tried, tested, and often failed style of user interface. Having seen this blurry movie before, the Macalope cant really get worked up about complaining about it, though. If you hate it or cant use your device effectively with it on, Apples commitment to accessibility means youll be able to turn it off, which the Macalope almost certainly will be doing on the Mac but maybe not on iOS. Besides, you only have to worry about Liquid Glass until it comes time to jazz Apples operating systems up again in 15 years with a fresh new look Apple will call Totally Opaque. We think youre going to love it. The real star of the show to the Macalope was somewhat unexpected. If you had to pick one announcement that people were pretty unabashedly and pleasantly surprised by, it would be the iPadOS announcement. After years of trying to fudge the multitasking issue with various gimmicky user interfaces, Apple finally shipped what power users pretty much wanted all along: windowing on iPadOS . And it did it without just slapping macOS on the platform. Windows behave like classic iPadOS windows until they dont. Honestly, its the rather elegant solution the Macalope hoped Apple would come up with. It feels like its been a long time coming, but its coming. If youd like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters , including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast , David Prices weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors. IDG There were some big updates for visionOS as well, but those just wont impact that many users and wont for years to come. It is not surprising at all that Apple didnt take the time to apologize to customers for not shipping the AI features it promised or to developers for doing things like appealing the court ruling striking down the companys anti-steering policy. As one developer put it: To me, the main thing Apple needed to fix this WWDC was their relationship with developers, and this keynote suggests they think otherwise. James Thomson , June 9, 2025 Clearly, Apple doesnt seem to think it has a problem. And, as the Macalope has pointed out before , it kind of doesnt, at least not yet. And thats the problem. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage, from WWDC to beyond.

10 WWDC features you need to know (but probably missed)

Macworld Apples WWDC keynote was stuffed with new features, designs and even naming conventions for the companys various operating systems, and it would be easy to think theres nothing more to learn about the updates. But theres actually far more than meets the eye. Thats because Apple has added a bunch of new tools and capabilities to iOS 26 , macOS Tahoe , watchOS 26 , iPadOS 26 and more, without ever mentioning them in its WWDC video. These features could help add some real benefits to your devices, but unless you did some digging of your own, you might not even know they exist. If youve been wondering what Apple brought to its products but was too shy to announce, weve rounded up 10 of the best new additions from WWDC that you might have missed. Here are our favorites. Reminders suggestions Apple made a big deal of its machine learning smarts at WWDC 2025, and thats found its way to the Reminders app. In iOS 26, Reminders will suggest things such as tasks and grocery items, plus follow-ups based on your emails or other text on your iPhone, Mac, and more. If its done well, this could be a handy way to save yourself a bit of time every day. Instead of filling out lists entirely manually, you could pop in a few suggested items that you were going to type out anyway, enabling you to get on with much more important work. Simpler Apple Watch face gallery Part of the fun of owning an Apple Watch is customizing watch faces, and thats always been done through the watchOS face gallery. Apple has just updated this feature in watchOS 26, and its easier than ever to pick a new face so you can change the look of your watch. In watchOS 26, the face gallery has a new look that Apple says makes it easier than ever to browse and find new watch faces. The gallery is now grouped into various different collections, including Health & Fitness, Photos, Data-Rich, and more. That should put paid to endless scrolling in search of something that suits your wrist. @macworld.com Our WWDC25 top 3 announcements #wwdc25 #apple original sound Macworld Macworld Better Passwords security Apples Passwords app is its attempt to compete with the best password managers on the market, and while its not perfect, its not a bad effort. But there has been room for improvement, and thats something Apple is hoping its been able to address with the apps latest update. Now, you can check changes that youve made to accounts logged in the Passwords app. You can also view previous passwords that were used for these accounts and see when they were altered, in case youre curious know how many of your logins used 123456 as their password. Its OK, we wont tell. Live Listen enhancements Live Listen is a great way to understand whats going on around you if youre deaf or hard of hearing, as it allows your iPhone to act as a microphone, picking up conversations and sending them directly to your AirPods or Beats headphones. With watchOS 26, these conversations will now be transcribed and sent to your Apple Watch, meaning you can follow along with the conversation if you prefer reading to listening. It gives you another option that might work better for your needs. Unlock your iPhone with Vision Pro A great thing about owning multiple Apple products is the way they all work with one another. One of my favorite examples is how you can unlock your Mac just by wearing an unlocked Apple Watch, no password or Touch ID required. Similar functionality is now coming to the Vision Pro, as visionOS 26 has a new feature that can unlock your iPhone while youre wearing as Vision Pro headset. All you have to do is glance at your iPhone and Apples software does the rest. Thats not the only change coming to visionOS that Apple didnt talk about at WWDC. You can also now scroll through Safari web pages simply by using your eyes, giving you a seamless way to surf the web with nothing more than a few glances. AirPlay it again, Sam With AirPlay, you can hook up a wireless speaker to your device and use it for audio output. Thats possible with the Apple TV, but unfortunately, youve always been a bit restricted with which speakers can be set as your permanent, default choice for output, AirPlay or otherwise. In the past, only HomePods and wired speakers could be set as your Apple TVs permanent speaker. With tvOS 26, Apple has opened that up to include any AirPlay-enabled speaker. That gives you far more choice over which output is set as the standard for your movie nights and TV binges. New tvOS screensavers The fact that tvOS typically runs on much larger displays that Apples other operating systems allows Apple to do some interesting things with it. With tvOS 26, that takes the form of a new Aerial category of screen savers. This includes beautiful landscape views taken across India, including the states of Goa and Kerala. These give you a stunning way to relax with your TV in the background, even when youre not actively watching anything. @macworld.com Top 3 features in macOS Tahoe from WWDC #wwdc #macostahoe #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld Snooze fest Lets be honest, Apples Clock app isnt exactly overflowing with features. Set your alarm to snooze, for example, and you cant even choose how long that snooze lasts. Well, you couldnt before anyway, but Apple is finally putting that right this year. Download the latest software updates and you can set a snooze duration of between one and 15 minutes. That lets you adjust your lie in for to a time that suits you, whether you want a buzz after a quick nap or would rather laze in bed for as long as possible. Smarter Math Notes It took many years, but the Calculator app finally came to the iPad in 2024. This year, Apple has given it a boost that math students will love by enabling you to write out equations with three variables in Math Notes. As well as that, you can also now create three-dimensional graphs, should you wish. AI-powered battery management Apple kept super quiet about these last additions the company hasnt even mentioned them on its website, never mind talking them up at the WWDC keynote but they could make a big difference to your battery longevity. Firstly, a new adaptive low power mode has been spotted in the iOS 26 developer beta. This doesnt replace the regular low power mode (thats still around) but instead uses machine learning to make adjustments that could help eke out a little more juice from your battery before it hits 0 percent. As well as that, your Lock Screen will now display estimated charging times to hit 80 percent and 100 percent battery power, which could help you work out if youve got time to wait around while your phone powers up to a decent level.

This is how long Macs and MacBooks last

Macworld Macs have a high price so its understandable that many Mac users will want to put off replacing them for as long as they can. But just how long should you expect a Mac to last? You may also be considering buying a secondhand Mac and wondering how old is too old? For example, is that 2018 MacBook Pro for $300/300 a good deal, or would you be better off spending a bit more on a newer model? One factor to consider is the age at which most Macs start to experience issues, such as random shutdowns and degraded batteries that no longer hold their charge. Unfortunately, at one point repairing your Mac or MacBook will no longer be a viable option and you will need to look for a replacement. Another issue with aging Macs is that the software you need may not run on it. You may also find that Apple no longer supports the operating system software that runs on that Mac which could leave you open to malware and security vulnerabilities. In this article, we will address the above, as well as give advice about which Macs are still supported by Apple, the Macs that can still be repaired if required (Apple stops providing the required parts after a number of years), and the Macs that Apple considers obsolete and vintage. Being Vintage means Apple may have the parts available if you wanted to fix the Mac, but once Obsolete Apple will not provide parts if you want to try and fix the machine. When do I need to replace my Mac? There are a few indicators that your Mac has reached the end of its useful life: Apple no longer supports the latest version of the software it runs (which could leave you vulnerable). The apps you need to use no longer run on it. The Mac struggles to perform the tasks you need it to especially if you cant update the RAM or any other components. Something breaks and is too expensive to fix, or the parts arent available. The Mac is becoming unreliable. Unexpected shutdowns are becoming commonplace and youve tried everything to fix the problem to no avail. Which Macs are supported by macOS updates? Only the most recent version of macOS gets feature updates, but Apple usually maintains the last three versions of the macOS with bug fixes and important security updates, ensuring that the latest version of Safari will run, and that Apple Services, such as iCloud, are fully supported This means that Apple currently provides support for these versions of macOS : macOS Sequoia , macOS Sonoma (macOS 14), and macOS Ventura (macOS 13). Prior to the arrival of Sequoia in September 2024, Monterey (macOS 12) was also supported, but now Monterey has fallen off that list and with it Macs from before 2017, and in some cases, 2018. Later in 2025 Apple will introduce the next version of macOS: macOS 26 Tahoe. At that point it is likely to drop support for macOS Ventura and with it the MacBooks and MacBook Pro from 2017. If your Mac is running Sequoia, Sonoma, or Ventura you should be able to be confident that Apple will keep an eye on any security vulnerabilities and other problems with these operating systems. (Indeed, Apple issued a security update for Sonoma and Ventura on the day that Sequoia arrived, and has issued further since that date). However, if your Mac is running an older version of the operating system, such as macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina or older, you will find yourself out in the cold when it comes to essential security updates to Apples software. If the software is too old you may also find that your other Apple products arent compatible with your Mac. Without the latest security update, you may no longer be able to use Apple Pay or other means to pay for services online, for example. And if you want to sync your iPad or iPhone with your Mac (rather than using iCloud) you will need a recent version of macOS. Since Catalina, syncing is done via the Finder, rather than iTunes. If you cant run Catalina you will need at least iTunes 12.8.2.3 and at least Mac OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan) or your Mac will not recognize your iPhone or iPad. Its not just a case of updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS though. Each time Apple updates the Mac operating system more Macs fall off the list of those supported. Read: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run . If your Macs isnt in the list of supported Macs below, it wont receive important security updates: Macs supported by macOS Tahoe macOS Tahoe is due to launch in fall 2025 MacBookAirM1 and later MacBookPro16-inch from 2019 and later MacBook Pro 12-inch from 2018 and later MacminiM1 and later iMacfrom mid 2020 and later MacProfrom 2019 and later MacStudio(all models) Macs supported by macOS Sequoia 2024s Sequoia supports the following Macs. MacBookAirfrom 2020 and later MacBookProfrom 2018 and later Macminifrom 2018 and later iMacfrom 2019 and later iMacProfrom 2017 MacProfrom 2019 and later MacStudio(all models) Read: Which Macs will run macOS Sequoia ? Macs supported by macOS Sonoma 2023s Sonoma supports the following Macs. MacBookAirfrom 2018 and later MacBookProfrom 2018 and later Macminifrom 2018 and later iMacfrom 2019 and later iMacProfrom 2017 MacProfrom 2019 and later MacStudio(all models) Read: Which Macs run Sonoma? Macs supported by macOS Ventura 2022s macOS Ventura supports the following Macs but expect support to end for some of these Macs in September 2025: MacBook models from 2017 or later MacBook Air models from 2018 or later MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later Mac mini models from 2018 or later iMac models from 2017 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2019 or later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Can my Mac run Ventura? This means that the oldest Macs supported right now are from 2017, and in some cases, 2018and come September 2025 those Macs will no longer be supported. A very good reason to avoid or replace any Macs made before 2019. Which Macs arent supported by macOS? macOS Monterey is no longer supported by Apple software updates Apple When Apple introduced Sequoia in 2023 it dropped support for macOS Monterey. These Macs no longer get security updates following the removal of support for Monterey: iMac (2015 and earlier) MacBook Air (2017 and earlier) MacBook Pro (2016 and earlier) Mac mini (2014 and earlier) Mac Pro (2013 and earlier) MacBook (2016 and earlier) This adds to the list of Macs that arent supported with security updates, which includes: the 12-inch MacBook introduced in early 2015, the mid-2013 MacBook Air and the early-2014 MacBook Air, late-2013 MacBook Pro and mid-2014 MacBook Pro, or the 2014 iMac. All other Macs that pre-date those mentioned above are no longer supported by Apples software updates. In September, when Apple introduces macOS Tahoe that list of supported Macs will change again and the following models wont be supported: iMac (2017 and earlier) MacBook Air (2017 and earlier) MacBook Pro (2017 and earlier) Mac mini (2014 and earlier) Mac Pro (2013 and earlier) MacBook (2017 and earlier) If your Mac is a decade old then you certainly wont get security updates for it. Does it matter if my Mac wont run a supported macOS? Once you cannot update your Mac to run a supported version of macOS you are vulnerable to security breaches, which should obviously be a concern. You may also find that you cant carry out transactions on the internet if you want to pay for things on your out-of-date Mac. Its also probably that the software you need wont run on your Mac. Apple and other companies stop supporting older versions of the applications they make, so there could be issues with the versions of the software you are running. If you are experiencing random shutdowns, for example, it could be due to problems with an app you are running problems that will not be addressed by the developer because that version of the app is no longer supported. If you want to run fully supported software then you will need to update to a newer version of macOS and that may mean that you need to update your Mac. Although, there are workarounds to install a new version of macOS on an old Mac if you need to. Once Apple no longer supports your Macs with operating system updates, its probably a good time to replace your Mac. When do Macs become obsolete? But its not just software updates that determine the lifespan of a Mac. Its also a question of whether it will be possible to fix your Mac should something go wrong with the hardware. Apple has two standards that indicate hardware support is waining: Obsolete or Vintage. The first stage is Vintage: you might be lucky enough to get parts for this Mac, the second is Obsolete: you are out on your own when it comes to any attempt to mend the Mac if it goes wrong. If you look at Apples list of Obsolete Macs those being the Macs that Apple will no longer provide spare parts for you will see that the company stops providing parts for Macs that it hasnt sold for more than seven years. In fact, the company may not even provide parts for Macs that havent been sold for more than five years (considered Vintage by the company). This could mean that you wont be able to get a faulty Mac fixed because the parts arent available. Obsolete Macs Obsolete Macs are generally Macs that Apple stopped selling more than seven years ago. Once a Mac is in Apples obsolete list you have little chance of getting it repaired if something does go wrong. You might be able to find spare parts yourself, but Apple wont provide them. Youll find more details about the exact models on Apples dedicated page , but the lists below will give you a general idea. Apple considers the following Macs and older Obsolete, with the 2014 iMacs (21.5-inch and 27-inch) added in the second half of 2024. 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2014 and older) 12-inch MacBook (2016 and older) 13-inch MacBook Air (early 2015 and older) 13-inch MacBook Pro (2016 and older) 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016 and older) 27-inch iMac (2015 and older) 21.5-inch iMac (2015 and older) Mac mini (2012 and older) Mac mini Server (2012 and older) Mac Pro (2010 and older) Anything predating the Intel switch, obviously. Vintage Macs Apple also has a list of Vintage Macs. These are Macs that Apple stopped selling between five and seven years ago. (If you live in France where a law means you can get support for spare parts for up to seven years after Apple stops selling a Mac). Apple Authorized Service Providers will repair vintage products for up to seven years, as long as parts are available. Apple lists the following products as being vintage: 11-inch MacBook Air (2015) 12-inch MacBook (2017) 13-inch MacBook Air (2018) 13-inch MacBook Pro (2017, 2018 & 2019) 15-inch MacBook Pro (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) 21.5-inch iMac (2013 & 2017) 27-inch iMac (2015 & 2017) Mac Pro (2012, 2014 & 2018) Mac mini (2014) Based on the above, wed suggest that if your Mac is more than eight years old, its time to look for a new one. And, if you see a 2018 or earlier Mac on sale, its not wise to buy it. In fact you will note that there are even 2019 Macs on the vintage list. Read: Why you shouldnt buy a second hand Mac. See: Best Mac: Every Apple Mac and MacBook compared Should I fix my Mac or buy a new one? If your Mac is in the Obsolete category above and something goes wrong with it then you are going to struggle to get the necessary parts if you wanted to attempt to get it fixed as Apple wont provide the parts. You might be able to buy an old Mac on eBay or similar and scrap if for the parts, but wed suggest that it really wouldnt be worth the effort. If your Mac is in the Vintage list then Apple might be able to provide the required parts, but there is no guarantee. If you are lucky enough to get the part an Apple service provider might even be able to fix the Mac for you but the cost of the work is likely to be prohibitive. You might find that the Mac was included in part of a recall due to the issue you are experiencing, in that case, it might be worth enlisting in a repair program . However, if the time period in which Apple was offering the repairs has passed (which is unfortunately likely) then you will still have to find the money for the repair, which again might be prohibitive. Apple repair programs If the Mac you own, or are considering buying would be affected by any of the problems listed below thats another reason to avoid it. Apples current Mac repair programs include: A recall for 15-inch MacBook Pro units due to a battery fault. September 2015 to February 2017 models affected. Service programs that have now ended: There was a keyboard services for some Mac laptops bought since 2016, but this is no longer running. A 13-inch MacBook Pro backlit service program for models from 2016-2018. A SSD service program for 13in MacBook Pro models from 2017-2018. A battery replacement program for 13in MacBook Pros from 2016-2017. We have more information about Apples product recalls and repair programs here . Plus, visit this page for more information on the above repair programs. Assuming your fault isnt one of those listed above, you may be faced with a pricy repair bill. We suggest that if your Mac is older than five years then repairing it will not be worth it unless of course there are important documents or photos on it that you want to retrieve in which case it might be worth looking at how to recover these files . Should I update my Mac or buy a new one? This is a similar question to the one above in as much as you will be weighing up whether spending money to improve your Mac might be more savvy than buying a new Mac. There are various ways you might be able to improve your existing Mac, including adding more RAM or changing from a hard drive to a SSD. If you can upgrade the components inside your Mac you may be able to speed it up and make it more capable of doing what you need. See How to upgrade a Mac . However, many Macs cant be upgraded at all. In recent years Apple has taken to soldering RAM in place and hiding components away to make access impossible (or at least impossible if you dont want to completely destroy your Mac attempting to get to them). With M-series Macs memory, GPU and CPU are all integrated onto the chip, so it is impossible to upgrade them. Nor can you update the SSD as it is soldered onto the motherboard. That said, there are ways to upgrade your Mac. Read: How to upgrade your Mac mini for ideas. If you decide to buy a new Mac check out our round-ups of the best Mac deals you can get: Best iMac deals Best Mac mini deals Best Mac Studio deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best MacBook Air deals Can I update the RAM in my Mac? If you have one of the following Macs you might be able to update the RAM: MacBook (2008 to 2011 models) MacBook Pro (2009-2012 13in, 2008-2012 15in, all 17-inch models) iMac: The RAM can be updated in the majority of iMacs except for the 21.5in models from Mid-2014 and Late-2015, which had their RAM soldered into place. Mac mini: (2010-2012 and the 2018 model) Mac Pro: (all models) iMac Pro: RAM isnt user-accessible, but can be updated at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. You cant update the RAM in any MacBook Air models. We explain which Macs have accessible RAM in this article and also look at how to update the RAM. What can I update in my Mac? It may be possible to update other components, including the SSD, hard drive, battery, logic board, hard drive, but this is only possible for a few Macs and the process is only for the expert. If youd like to try read: How to upgrade a Mac . If you are up for pulling your Mac apart and attempting to upgrade its components then by all means try, but make sure you back it up first and be prepared to admit defeat if it doesnt go as planned. As for whether it is worth upgrading your Macs RAM or any other component assuming you can get the parts rather than buying a new Mac? Perhaps it will buy you a few more years of use. However, wed be inclined to suggest that if your Mac is older than seven years it really isnt worth it (and, youll notice, the MacBooks that can have their RAM upgraded tend to be older than that). How long do Macs last? So, in answer to the question: How long do Macs last? Wed say five to eight years, but beware that you may not be able to replace any faulty parts in a Mac when more than five years have passed since Apple last sold it. Before you buy a new Mac, read our article about the best time to buy a Mac or MacBook . You may also want to read our Best Mac Buying Guide for help deciding which Mac to buy. We also have a guide to the Best MacBook . Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones and iPads for? Read How long do iPhones last and how long Apple supports iPads for .

macOS 26 Beta: Whats in the latest macOS beta and how to get it

Macworld Every year, Apple updates the Mac operating system. The current version of macOS is macOS 15.5, but development of macOS 26 (not macOS 16) is well underway. Apple runs a beta program, which means developers and registered public testers can try out new features before they are released to the general public later in the year. The beta process doesnt stop with the full release of macOS in the fall. After macOS 15 Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024, development continued with new features rolled out every couple of months. The same will be true of the macOS 26 development cycle. In this article, well explain what you need to do to get your hands on a copy of the new beta of macOS 26, how to install it, and what you should bear in mind if you want to avoid problems. (If you would prefer to use the latest official release of macOS, heres how to update macOS on your Mac .) macOS beta: Latest version The most recent version of the macOS beta is for macOS 26 Tahoe (part of a coherent annual naming system along with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 . Following WWDC 2025 on June 9, the macOS 26 developer beta is now available to download for those signed up to the program. It is a 7.05GB size download. Karen Kahn / Foundry macOS beta: Public beta release date Apple has confirmed that the public beta will arrive in July. In 2024 the public beta became available on July 15, so we anticipate a similar time frame. macOS beta: Next beta update New betas tend to arrive every one to two weeks, and more frequently as the full release data approaches. The beta testing program will continue to run after the new macOS 26 software launches in September or October 2025, with Apple continuing to roll out new features. Foundry How to get the macOS beta To get the developer version of the macOS 26 beta you need to be running macOS Sequoia, and be registered for Apples developer program, either having paid $99/79 to enrol in Apples Developer program ( here ) or with a free developer account (follow the instructions below for how to register for that). Alternatively, if its the public beta you are after, you just need to sign up for the Public Beta program on Apples beta webpage , signed the NDA , and enrolled your Mac. Details of how to do that are below. As long as you are a registered developer, or enrolled in the public beta program, when the relevant macOS Beta becomes available, it will also show up on your Mac. Before you download the beta, a few warnings: We strongly advise that if you arent a developer, you dont download the developer beta. We also strongly recommend that you back up your Mac before you upgrade to the macOS beta. We recommend that you do not run the macOS beta on your primary Mac; ideally, run it in a separate volume . This should minimize any risks to you. How to get a free Apple developer account If you just want a free Apple Developer account so you can access the beta you can get this via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Heres how to do it via the Apple Developer app on an iPhone: Get the Apple Developer App from the App Store . Open the app on your iPhone. Tap on Account. Tap on Sign In. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. If you wish to actually publish applications to the App Store or receive support, youll need to pay $99/79 per year for a paid account. You can compare the free and paid accounts here . How to register for the macOS public beta The macOS public beta is accessible to anyone with a valid Apple ID. To register, go to the Apple Beta Software Program page. Select the Sign Up option. Sign in using your Apple ID. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the registration process. Enrol the Mac you wish to run the beta on via this Apple page . How to download macOS beta Open Software Updates on your Mac. (System Settings > General > Software Updates.) You should see two options: Automatic Updates and Beta Updates. Click on the (i) beside Beta Updates. You can now turn on Beta Updates (if they werent already on). Choose the beta you want to download: public or developer. If your account is tied to a different Apple ID than your usual one, you can change that here. Click Done. Now your Mac will check for updates and eventually show the latest macOS Beta as an upgrade. Click on Upgrade Now. Foundry Do I need the macOS Beta Access Utility? Only if you are running macOS Ventura 13.3 or earlier. Apple changed the way it delivers betas in Ventura 13.4. If you arent yet running that version of macOS you will need to download the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility or macOS Public Beta Access Utility in order to download betas. If you were already running an earlier macOS Public Beta youll find the new macOS beta as an upgrade via Software Update. Just click on Upgrade Now. You may have to update to the latest version of your current beta before you can do so, if not follow the steps below to get the beta access utility. If you are enrolled in the Developer Program, go to Apples beta download page . Click on Install Profile to download the new macOS Developer Beta Access Utility to your Mac. If you are enrolled as a public beta tester, download the macOS Public Beta Access Utility . Go to Downloads on your Mac and click on the macOS Beta Access Utility to open it. Double-click on the dmg file and the installer will run. Once the new macOS beta is installed Software Update will check to see if there are any updates. Click Update and the latest version will download. Youll see a prompt to install the latest macOS beta, click on Continue. Agree to the Ts&Cs (more on them below). Click Install. Once you are running the beta the updates will come through to your Mac automatically, you just need to click to install. You will receive a notification when the next update to the beta is available. Updates will be available via Software Update (in System Settings/System Preferences) FAQ 1. Who can run the macOS beta? Anyone can run the macOS beta, but to do so you do need to register for either the developer beta, the pubic beta, or both. Apple offers both developer and public beta programs for macOS, enabling all interested users to test pre-release versions of the operating system. While both betas provide early access to new features, they cater to different user profiles based on technical expertise and risk tolerance. Beta software tends to be buggy so the more stable public beta version may be preferable, but even that will not be bug free. In the past, the developer beta was only available to developers who had paid to join Apples Developer Program (which costs $99/79). However, for a couple of years now, Apple has opened up the developer beta to registered developers with free developer accounts. We explain how to get a free developer account below. If you decide you no longer want to run the beta version of macOS read this: How to remove the macOS beta . 2. macOS public beta vs developer beta Since 2023, the Developer Beta has been available to anyone who registers as a developer, even if they arent a paid-up member of Apples Developer Program. As a result, people with a basic free developer account can download the new macOS developer beta (we show you how to register below). Whether you should download the developer beta if you arent a developer is another question. We dont recommend you install the developer beta if you arent a developer. Instead, our recommendation is to use the public beta (the first version of which usually arrives in July). There are a few differences between the public and developer betas. The public beta is not the same as the beta that is released through the developer program. The public beta typically launches after the developer beta has undergone initial testing and refinement Developers get updates to their beta first, and possibly more frequently. But you should keep in mind that betas are by nature not stable, and because the public beta comes after the developer beta it could be a little safer to install. The most significant difference is probably the motive of the testers: Developers usually have the aim of ensuring their apps work when the updated macOS is released to the general public, while public beta testers are essentially helping Apple detect bugs and offering feedback on the features. Because of this developers may get to test new features not available in the public beta. If you want to get the public beta the first thing you need to do, if you havent already, is join Apples beta programs read this for more information: How to become an Apple beta tester. 3. Is the macOS beta stable? By its nature, a beta has the potential to be unstable. Therefore its not advised that you install it on a Mac that you rely on. If you have a second Mac that isnt mission-critical then install it there. We strongly recommend that you dont risk all by putting the macOS beta on your primary macOS, especially not in the early days of the beta development. If you dont have a second Mac there are a couple of ways you could run macOS beta on your Mac without running the risk of losing data or finding your Mac stops working: We recommend installing it on a partition which these days is really a volume (and is much easier to create than a partition was). Read about how to do that here: How to dual-boot Mac: Run two versions of macOS on a Mac . Alternatively, you could install the macOS beta on an external drive and run it on that. We discuss the safety of the macOS beta and the risks you might be taking in more detail in a separate article. If the stability of the beta worries you then you are probably better off waiting until the final version is out, or at least waiting until testing has been happening for a few months before getting the beta. 4. How to prepare your Mac for the beta Update your software : We recommend you have the latest full version of macOS installed, although Apple says that the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility requires macOS 10.8 or later. Make space: Wed recommend at least 15GB of available space because the macOS betas tend to be very large. If you end up requiring more space read: How to free up space on Mac . Note that we always recommend that you have at least 10% space free on your Mac at any time, so if you dont have that expect problems! Back up : Before you install a beta on your Mac you should make a backup of your data and files. You can find out how to use Time Machine to back up your Mac . We also have a round-up of suitable backup solutions . 5. How to send feedback to Apple Should you come across an error or a bug you should use the Feedback Assistant app to provide feedback to Apple. Launch the app and follow the appropriate steps, selecting the area about which youre providing feedback and then any specific sub-area. Then describe your issue in a single sentence, before providing a more detailed description, including any specific steps that reproduce the issue. Youll also be able to attach other files. Youll also have to give permission for the Feedback Assistant app to collect diagnostic information from your Mac. It wont always be obvious whether something is a bug or just not as easy to use as you might have hoped. Either way, if your feedback is that something appears to work in an illogical way, Apple will want to know that. If you are having trouble with a third-party app you can let Apple know by reporting it through the 3rd-party Application Compatibility category in the Feedback Assistant. However, wed suggest that you also provide feedback to the apps developer who will no doubt be grateful. 6. Will I be able to update from macOS beta to the final version? Beta users will be able to install the final build of the OS on release day without needing to reformat or reinstall. 7. Can I talk about the beta publicly? According to Apple and the license agreement all beta testers must agree to, the beta is Apple confidential information. By accepting those terms, you agree not to discuss your use of the software with anyone who isnt also in the Beta Software Program. That means you cant blog, post screenshots, tweet, or publicly post information about the public beta software. However, you can discuss any information that Apple has publicly disclosed; the company says that information is no longer considered confidential. 8. How to downgrade from the macOS beta You can always revert to an earlier version of macOS, though depending on how you back up, its not necessarily a painless process. Start by making sure the data on your drive is backed up, then erase the drive and install the latest public version of macOS. When you first startup your Mac you can use the Migration Assistant to import your data from the backup. Heres a more detailed tutorial on downgrading from the macOS beta we also have a tutorial on downgrading to an older version of the Mac OS . macOS Sonoma beta timeline To get an idea of what to expect for the macOS 26 beta time line, heres how the macOS Sequoia beta rolled out in 2024. The first version of the macOS 15 Sequoia developer beta arrived after the WWDC keynote on June 10, 2024. Beta 2 arrived on June 24. The first public beta of Sequoia arrived on July 15, 2024. Developer beta 4 was released on July 23. The second public beta also arrived on July 23, 2024. Developer beta 5 arrived on August 5 followed by the third public beta. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 developer beta 6 on August 12. The fourth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 13, 2024. Developer beta 7 and the fifth public beta of Sequoia were released on August 20. On August 28, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 beta 8 and the sixth public beta of Sequoia. The release candidate of Sequoia arrived on September 9. The full version of Sequoia arrived on compatible Macs on September 16. There were actually two versions of the developer beta running concurrently. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta included Apple Intelligence features that are only available on M-series Macs (a iOS 18.1 beta was also in development separately with Apple Intelligence features for compatible iPhones). Apple started work on the macOS Sequoia 15.1 Beta on July 29. macOS Sequoia 15.1 Beta 2 arrived on August 12. macOS Sequoia 15.1 Beta 3 was released to developers on August 28. Initially, this beta was only for developers, but Apple released a macOS Sequoia 15.1 pubic beta on September 19, 2024, following the release of Sequoia to the general public. Eventually, the macOS Sequoia 15.1 release candidate was released on October 21, and a second release candidate 2 was released on October 24. The final version of macOS Sequoia 15.1 arrived on compatible Macs on October 28. After the macOS Sequoia full release, the beta continued: macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta arrived September 19, 2024 macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta- arrived October 23, 2024. Including a second set of Apple Intelligence features). Official release of 15.2 was on December 11. macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta arrived December 16, 2024. Including the ability to create Gemoji. Release Candidate available on January 2. macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta arrived on February 19, 2025. Included Mail updates and Proximity Pairing with the iPhone. Release Candidate available on March 28. macOS Sequoia 15.5 beta arrived April 2, 2025. Apple released the Sequoia 15.5 beta 1 to developers. Out May 12, 2024.

macOS compatibility: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run

Macworld Wondering which versions of macOS your Mac can run? Weve put together a macOS compatibility checker that will show you what Macs the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X support, so you can tell what version you should be running on your Mac. Which version of macOS can my Mac run? Apple releases a new version of the Mac operating system every yearbut the newest version of the Mac operating system does not support every Mac. Each year more and more Macs fall off the compatibility list and are unable to be updated to take advantage of the latest features. The latest version, macOS 15 Sequoia , arrived on September 16, 2024, it can run on all M-series Macs and the last generations of Intel-powered Macs, but the older Macs dont get all the new features. Read on to find out exactly which Macs are supported by each version of the Mac operating system. A new version of macOS is coming later in 2025. macOS 26 Tahoe was previewed at WWDC in June and is now being beta tested. But the updates dont only come yearly. Every month or so Apple updates macOS with a few near features and security updates. Apple released macOS 15.5 in May 2025, for example. For advice about installing macOS read: How to install macOS on your Mac and read our guide to every version of macOS released to find out about the latest version. macOS 26 Tahoe compatibility Apple There were fears that macOS Tahoe would not support any Intel-powered Macs luckily this isnt the case, but it is the last version of macOS to support Macs that dont run on Apples own silicon. Apple lists the following Macs as compatible with macOS 26 Tahoe and the Apple Intelligence-powered features: MacBook Pro (M1 and later) MacBook Air (M1 and later) iMac (M1 and later) Mac mini (M1 and later) Mac Studio (M1 and later) Mac Pro (M1 and later) Intel Macs that run Tahoe (but dont support Apple Intelligence): MacBook Pro (Intel, 13inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (Intel, 16inch, 2019) Mac Pro (Intel, 2019) iMac (Intel, mid 2020) The Macs that lose support that were supported by Sequoia are: iMac (Intel, 2019) iMacPro (Intel, 2017) Macmini (Intel, 2018) MacBookPro (Intel, 2018) macOS 15 Sequoia compatibility Which Macs run Sequoia? All the M-series Macs! Apple Sequoia (macOS 15) became available on Tuesday, September 16, 2024. The software has been regularly updated, with macOS 15.5 arriving in May 2025. M-series Macs that run Sequoia All M-series Macs can support Sequoia (and Apple Intelligence features), include: MacBookAir (M1 and later) MacBookPro (M1 and later) iMac (M1 and later) MacPro (M1 and later) MacStudio (M1 and later) Macmini (M1 and later) Intel Macs that run Sequoia The following Intel Macs can run Sequoia . None of these models can support the Apple Intelligence features. iMac (Intel, 2019 and August 2020) MacPro (Intel, 2019) iMacPro (Intel, 2017) MacBookAir (Intel, March 2020) Macmini (Intel, 2018) MacBookPro (Intel, 2018, 2019 and May 2020) This list excludes the 13-inch MacBook Air models from 2018 and 2019 which could run Sequoias predecessor, Sonoma. For more information read: Can my Mac run Sequoia? Can I install an older OS on my Mac? Officially, the operating system that was available on your Mac at the time that you bought it is the oldest version of macOS that can run on that Mac. Its likely that an older OS wont include the necessary drivers for the hardware on newer Macs. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will be able to install an older version of macOS on a new Macbut you can take a look at how to install old versions of macOS or OS X for other Macs. Owners of Macs with M-series chips (sometimes referred to as Apple Silicon) wont be able to run older versions of macOS that werent designed for Apple Silicon Macs which use a different architecture, known as ARM, instead of X-86. But it may not just be a case of wanting to know if your Mac can run the newest operating system. You might also want to know if it is possible to downgrade your Mac to an older version of macOS and need to know the oldest version of macOS. Youll also find that information below. You can also see a complete list of all the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X . Not sure which Mac you own? Check our article about how to identify your Mac. Note: In each case, the year referenced below is the year that Mac was first introducedyou could for example have bought a 2016 MacBook in early 2017, but its still the 2016 MacBook. macOS 14 Sonoma compatibility macOS Sonoma arrived in 2023 IDG macOS 14 Sonoma became available on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Apple is still issuing security updates for Sonoma , the most recent was 14.7.5 in March 2025. The following Macs run Sonoma: iMacfrom 2019 and later MacProfrom 2019 and later iMacProfrom 2017 MacStudiofrom 2022 and later MacBookAirfrom 2018 and later Macminifrom 2018 and later MacBookProfrom 2018 and later For more information read: Can my Mac run Sonoma? macOS 13 Ventura compatibility Apple Apple released macOS 13 Ventura to the public on October 24, 2022. Apple is still issuing security updates for Ventura, the most recent was 13.7.5 in March 2025. To run Ventura you will need one of these Macs: MacBook models from 2017 or later MacBook Air models from 2018 or later MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later Mac mini models from 2018 or later iMac models from 2017 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2019 or later Mac Studio (all models) For more information read: Can my Mac run Ventura? Compatibility of older macOS versions macOS 12 Monterey compatibility Apple macOS 12 Monterey was made available to download on October 15, 2021 (latest version 12.7.6). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Monterey. The following Macs are compatible with macOS Monterey: MacBook models from early 2016 or later MacBook Air models from early 2015 or later MacBook Pro models from early 2015 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac from 2015 or later iMac Pro (2017 and later) Mac Pro models from late 2013 and later Mac Studio macOS 11 Big Sur compatibility Apple macOS 11 Big Sur was the version of macOS that arrived on November 12, 2020 (latest version 11.7.10). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Big Sur. Heres a list of the Macs that can run macOS Big Sur: MacBook models from early 2015 or later MacBook Air models from 2013 or later MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac from 2014 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 and 2019 macOS 10.15 Catalina compatibility Catalina arrived in October 2019 (latest version 10.15.7). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Catalina: The following Macs can run Catalina. MacBook (2015 to 2017) MacBook Air (Mid-2012 to 2019) MacBook Pro (Mid-2012 to 2019) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to 2019) iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 Note that the M-series Macs will not be able to run Catalina or earlier. An M-series (Apple Silicon) Mac cannot be downgraded beyond Big Sur. macOS 10.14 Mojave compatibility Mojave arrived in September 2018 (latest version 10.14.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017) MacBook Air (Mid 2012 to 2017, because its the same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 to 2018) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to mid-2017) iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU) macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibility High Sierra arrived in September 2017 (latest version 10.13.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017) MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2017) Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014) iMac (Late 2009 to mid-2017) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013) macOS 10.12 Sierra compatibility Sierra, the first update to drop the X from the name, arrived in September 2016 (latest version 10.12.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017) MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2015) Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014) iMac (Late 2009 to 2015) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013) Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan compatibility El Capitan arrived in September 2015 (latest version 10.11.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017) MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to early 2015) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to early 2015) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2014) iMac (Mid 2007 to mid-2015) Mac Pro (2008, 2010, 2013) OS X 10.10 Yosemite compatibility Yosemite arrived in October 2014 (latest version 10.10.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013) MacBook Pro (13 Mid-2009 to mid 2014) MacBook Pro (15 Mid/Late 2007 to mid 2014) MacBook Pro (17 Late 2007 to 2011) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012) iMac (Mid-2007 to mid-2014) Mac Pro (2008 and 2010) Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks compatibility Mavericks arrived in October 2013 (latest version 10.9.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013) MacBook Pro (Mid 2007 to early 2013) Xserve (Early 2009) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012) iMac (Mid 2007 to early 2013) Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010) Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility Mountain Lion, the last of the big cat versions of the Mac operating system launched in July 2012 (latest version 10.8.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2012) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to mid-2012) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2011) iMac (Mid-2007 to 2011) Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010) Wondering how long Apple will support your Mac for? Read: How long do Macs last?

How to become an Apple beta tester for iPhone, iPad & Mac

Macworld If youve ever wanted to take an early look at new versions of Apples operating systems before they launch, and maybe help shape them in the process, then Apples beta program is something you should consider. This initiative allows developers and public beta testers to gain access to the updates before theyre released, so they can help test for bugs and give any new features a thorough workout before theyre unleashed on the general public. Apple revealed the details of the next round of operating system updates at its Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ), including a new unified naming system for all its software. We now have iOS 26 , iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 . In this article, we explain how to get involved with testing the betas, but also point out some of the reasons why you may wish to give it a pass and wait for the final versions to arrive. When will the Apple betas come out? The first developer betas have arrived, including iOS 26 Beta, after being announced at WWDC on June 10. The first public betas are likely to arrive in early July, ahead of the expected full public release in September, coinciding with the iPhone 17 launch. Karen Kahn / Foundry Developer beta vs public beta The developer beta is, as the name suggests, intended for developers only, but Apple does offer a beta testing program for members of the public who would like to try out new features and find bugs. The public beta is slightly safer to use than the developer beta, but we would still suggest caution: dont install the beta on your only iPhone or your work Mac just in case you encounter problems. Developer Beta: Meant for developers who need to get their apps working on the new operating system. The developer beta arrives immediately following the keynote and usually a day or two before subsequent public betas. You need to be a member of Apples developer program to install developer betas, but you dont need to pay the annual $99 fee anymore to get the beta. Public Beta: Usually a few steps behind the developer beta, which essentially means that the public beta will be slightly more stable. There is usually a slightly longer wait until the first version of the public beta arrives, but once the programs are underway there are usually only a few days between the developer beta being released and the public version arrives. Test that your apps work on the upcoming Apple software. Foundry Is Apples beta program free? Apples beta program is a chance for volunteers to download a beta version of the new operating system for their device and test it out. Best of all, its completely free because even the developer beta no longer requires paid membership. It used to be necessary for developers to sign up for the full Apple Developer Program , which costs $99/79 a year, but since 2023, you can get the developer beta with a free developer account. How to join Apples beta program Apple runs a Beta Software program via which you can get beta copies of its operating system software before they are released to the public. The beta testing runs up to the launch of the operating system and then continues with further approximately monthly updates introducing even more new features. If you want to join the program, and you arent concerned that the beta software could have bugs that could render your iPhone, iPad, Mac or other Apple product useless, joining Apples beta program is really easy. Joining Apples developer beta program is a little more complicated than the public beta because you need to register for a free developer account. Well run through how to get both the public and developer betas below. How to get a free Apple developer account The easiest way to get a free Apple developer account is to follow these steps. On an iPhone download the Apple Developer app from the iOS App Store. Open the Apple Developer app on your iPhone and tap on Account. Select Sign In . Sign in using your usual Apple ID. How to get to the developer beta Once you are signed in on the developer app follow these steps to see the latest developer beta. Go to Settings > General . Tap on Software Update and you should see Beta Updates as an option. If you dont automatically see a bata to download, tap on Beta Updates and select the Developer Beta. The same applies to iPadOS, macOS and Apple Watch. Just go to the Software Update section and you will see the available beta versions. Read: How to get the macOS beta and How to get the iOS beta for more advice and details of the latest beta version. Foundry How to get the public beta The free public beta testing program is open to anyone with a valid Apple ID (iCloud accounts qualify) who goes to the Apple Beta Software Program page and signs up. To sign up for public betas youll need to go to the Apple Beta Software Program site. Select Sign Up Sign in with your Apple ID Follow the prompts to register. Once you have registered, getting the beta on your device is easy: Foundry How to get the iOS/iPadOS beta Got to Settings > General > Software Update . Then turn on Beta Updates and select iOS Developer Beta. How to get the macOS beta Open System Settings > General > Software Updates on macOS. Then turn on Beta Updates and select watchOS Developer Beta. How to get the watchOS beta In the Watch app on your iPhone, select General > Software Update . Then turn on Beta Updates and select watchOS Developer Beta. How to get the HomePod beta Open the Home app > Home Settings > Software Update . Then select HomePod Beta Updates and choose the HomePod mini or HomePod (2nd generation) you want to install the beta on. Apple Beta Software Program FAQ What do I need to do? The idea is that you install the pre-release software and use it as you would your normal OS and send Apple comments through the built-in Feedback Assistant regarding crashes or other behavioral anomalies that you encounter when testing your apps, or when using the software as you would normally. Do you get paid for being an Apple beta tester? No. This is strictly a voluntary pursuit. Is it safe to install the Apple beta? This is an important question especially now that Apple is making the developer beta more widely available. If you rely on your device for work, we recommend waiting until the full version is released in the fall, but otherwise, beta updates are a personal choice. There are a few reasons why becoming a beta tester for the next version of iOS or macOS might seem attractive. First and foremost, they let you try out new features before theyre released, and sometimes features that are never released. Occasionally, Apple will pull a feature that was beta-tested before the general release. Becoming a beta tester also gives you a chance to shape the development of the software. Your feedback, while not necessary, could be invaluable in stopping a bug or just generally improving the quality of the software on your Mac or iPhone. You will be providing a service to others in ensuring that all bugs are ironed out before the final release. However, beta software, by its very nature, is unstable and its worth noting that participating in Apples Beta Software Program could cause serious problems with your device. You should consider whether its right for you before downloading and installing the pre-release software, which is bound to have bugs and issues that could cause things to go spectacularly wrong. This wont be helped by the fact that Apple does not offer official support for pre-release software. This means that we would heavily advise against putting it on a device upon which youre reliant. Bugs in the code could see the device stop working at any moment or in rare cases it could actually brick your machine until the next beta update arrives. Its best to install the beta on an older device if you have one. If you dont have a spare Mac on hand you should consider installing the macOS beta on a separate volume or running it on an external drive . The threat of bugs and other stability issues is a good reason to think carefully about whether you want to take the risk of using the beta. If you do decide to install the beta software, make sure that you create a full backup beforehand. Check out our list of the best backup software for Mac for some great options. What does being an Apple beta tester mean? The purpose of the beta program is to provide Apple with feedback about the upcoming release. Expect there to be bugs and general issuessoftware offered through the beta program are not finished products, by installing it you are agreeing to become a tester and helping Apple to iron out these issues. When you encounter bugs or other issues, you can report them using the Feedback Assistant app. The app will let you provide information about what you were doing at the time of the crash so Apple can diagnose the issue. The main purpose of a beta tester is to locate bugs, but you can also provide feedback on interface oddities and other UI issues. Apple may change things if enough people have problems with the way something is designedmuch like Safari in iOS 15. You can also provide feedback on third-party apps that arent working as they should. Can I leave the beta program? If, at any point, you decide that youd like to end your participation in the beta software program, simply turn off beta updates on your device and the next available full release will install once it arrives. You can visit Apples Unenroll page or more information. We also have guides on how to remove a beta from your iPhone and your Mac for older devices.

iOS 26 to let iPhone users check the weather even when theres no service

Macworld With iPhone 14, Apple introduced satellite capabilities that let users call emergency services when there is no Wi-Fi or cellular connection available. Over time, the technology also enabled users to send and receive iMessages and even share their location via satellite. With iOS 26, which was announced by Apple at WWDC 2025 , Apple plans to take the iPhones satellite capabilities even further, now with weather forecast updates. Although this feature wasnt part of the WWDC 2025 opening keynote, Macworld found evidence of its existence in the iOS 26 beta code, which is now available to developers. The system will let users receive Weather Updates via Satellite when Wi-Fi and cellular connections are not available. The feature will be extremely useful for people practicing extreme weather-dependent activities such as hiking and climbing in remote areas where cellular coverage is not available. Similar to other satellite-based features, the user will have to point their iPhone at the sky until it connects to the satellite network. Then the system will update the weather forecast information and show useful alerts for that location. Its unclear whether the feature will work for all compatible iPhones or whether it will be exclusive to certain models. The iPhones Emergency SOS via Satellite is considered a life-saving feature by many people. There are multiple reports of people who have only been able to call for help in dangerous situations thanks to the technology. According to a Bloomberg report, the company also wants to add satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra this year. Apple said in 2022 that satellite features would be free for two years for those who bought a new iPhone 14. However, the company never discussed its plans to charge for these features again. Its worth noting that coverage is limited to specific countries. As for iOS 26, the update will be released to the public this fall. A public beta will be available next month.

This lifetime license for Microsoft Office is $30 cheaper than a yearly subscription for Microsoft 365

Macworld I added up the monthly cost of all my subscriptions and didnt like what I saw. Microsoft 365 alone was costing me nearly $100 every year (Microsoft just raised the price of the standard $69.99 subscription to $99.99). Thats why Im replacing Microsoft 365 with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office. Its only $69.97 (reg. $219), and thats a one-time payment. This Mac-compatible software suite includes core productivity applications like Word , Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic. Rather than dealing with ongoing fees, users get a lifetime license for a single Mac device. Office 2019 has been tailored to make full use of Mac features, with support for Retina display, full-screen views, and other macOS enhancements. It includes updates that improve performance and usability compared to the 2016 version, with applications suited for both personal and professional use. Why pay every month when you can just pay once? Grab your own Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 lifetime license for $69.97.Act now before downloads sell out for good. Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you own an Intel Mac, you have 12 months to upgrade to a new model

Macworld Apple on Monday unveiled the latest version of macOS and in the process cut a bunch of Intel Macs from the compatibility list. But if you have one of the lucky models that made it through, theres bad news on the horizonApple has announced that macOS 26 Tahoe will be the final version that supports any Intel Macs. As it stands, just a handful of Intel Macs support macOS Tahoe: The 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019 The 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020 with four Thunderbolt ports The 27-inch iMac from 2020 The Mac Pro from 2019 Thats somewhat surprising, since macOS Sequoia retained support for a surprising number of Intel Macs. Tahoe drops support for a variety of Mac models, including: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019) iMac Pro (2017) Mac mini (2018) Apple The Macs above will still get security updates for two years, so theyre not exactly obsolete, but less than five years of OS updates in this case of the MacBook Air is somewhat out of character for Apple. So its clear that Apple wants to quickly move away from designing new OSes for two sets of processors. When explaining the move to the Liquid Glass interface, Apple said that the Apple Silicon had enabled software materials and experiences we once could only dream of. And sadly, those dreams dont include Intel chips.

iOS 26 code hints at the imminent release of 2nd-gen AirTag

Macworld Its been a long time since Apple introduced the first and only AirTag . Apples item-tracking accessory hasnt been updated since 2021, but it looks like well be seeing a new model soon. After many rumors about AirTag 2 coming sometime this year, the recently released iOS 26 beta presents evidence that Apple is indeed gearing up to launch a new generation of AirTag. Based on the iOS 26 code seen by Macworld, Apple has made under-the-hood changes to how the system manages AirTags. For instance, the company has been working on improving the Bluetooth communication between Apple devices and the item tracker, which will certainly make using the accessory more reliable. New battery-related features are also in the works. As these features dont seem to be enabled for the current AirTag, its not a stretch to assume that theyre meant for a new version of AirTag. Macworld has also learned that iOS 26 will make greater use of Extended Precision Finding technology, first introduced with the second generation of Apples ultra-wideband chip, which is available in the iPhone 15 and later. Devices with this technology can be found with Precision Finding up to 60 meters away. Meanwhile, AirTags can only be found with Precision Finding when theyre less than 15 meters away. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman , the 2nd-generation AirTag (codenamed B589) will have extended ultra wideband range, so this would explain the changes Apple has been working on for iOS 26. A few weeks ago, Macworld reported that Apple had quietly stopped selling the AirTag Loop, one of its original accessories for the item tracker. The move presumably comes as the company is planning an imminent launch of AirTag 2. Each AirTag costs $29, but you might want to wait a bit longer to buy a new one, since theres a high chance Apple will announce the AirTag 2 along with the iPhone 17 lineup in September.

Your Apple Watch just got a lot smarter with watchOS 26

Macworld At its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple announced the latest watchOS update for the Apple Watch. The new software sees more AI elements than ever land on the watch, as well as a major aesthetic redesign. And yes, as expected Cupertino has switched from traditional version numbers (the previous update, watchOS 11, was the 11th yearly update) to ones based on the year when the software will primarily be in use. The new update, which will launch to the public in September and carry on until the following fall, is named watchOS 26 after the year 2026. Liquid Glass: The big redesign Earlier in the keynote, Apple announced a broad project called Liquid Glass , a sweeping cross-platform redesign affecting the interfaces of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch. So the smallest screen in Cupertinos stable gets a new look at the same time as the larger and costlier products. Liquid Glass takes its inspiration from Vision Pro and encompasses a range of visual and interactive changes. More UI elements than before are translucent, with menus and buttons constructed as layers that refract and reflect the colors and shapes beneath. Furniture is rounded and dynamic, shrinking and expanding as you navigate through the interface. Specular highlights make everything look shiny. The Apple Watch has less space to showcase this new design than the other affected products, but watchOS 26 still looks distinct from previous iterations. The numerals on watch faces have the signature glassy look, and in the Photos face, they adjust size dynamically to suit the available space in different photos. The translucent design also shows up in buttons within Apples apps, as well as notifications, widgets in the Smart Stack, Control Center toggles and more. In short, watchOS 26 looks stunning. But it also seems somewhat unfamiliar because so many elements have been redesigned, and this may mean itll appear user-friendly at first. In time we should all get used to it. Apple Workout Buddy Weve complained in the past that the Apple Watch was left out of the Apple Intelligence party even though it seems the most suited to take advantage of the technology . The arrival of watchOS 26 doesnt give the watch the full Apple Intelligence experience, presumably due to a lack of processing power, but there are more AI elements than ever before. @macworld.com Apples Workout Buddy #wwdc25 #workout #apple #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld This being a fitness-focused product, its no surprise that Apple Intelligence is principally aimed in that direction. Theres a new feature called Workout Buddy that analyzes your usage data and fitness metrics to create personalized insights and pep talks. Apple gives the following as an example of what Workout Buddy could offer: Way to get out for your run this Wednesday morning. Youre 18 minutes away from closing your Exercise ring. So far this week, youve run 6 miles. Youre going to add to that today. Thats your motivation ahead of a workout, but the feature offers contributions while you exercise, too. It will notify you of split times and milestones, such as the time for the last mile or the total number of miles run in the year so far, for example, Mile four. You picked up the pace and ran that last one in 8 minutes and 28 seconds, and Hey, check this out. Your total running distance for the year just crossed the 200-mile mark! Thats a lot of running! Then at the end the assistant recaps your stats (distance, time, average pace, heart rate) and offers congratulations for any milestones or personal bests. All of these interruptions could be motivational or they could be annoying. A lot of people like to get in the zone when exercising and audio backdrop is a key part of thateither silence, a favorite playlist, or even a podcast. But were pretty sure the feature will be optional, and some exercisers will love it. Live Translation in Messages Talking of Apple Intelligence, this is also used to power Live Translation in Messages on the Apple Watch. When a text comes in and its not in your native language, the system will translate right there on your watch; the response you enter in your own language will then be translated back to the original. You do need to have an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence for this, however, so presumably the work isnt actually happening on the watch. Apple Smart Stack Apple says the Smart Stack watch face is getting smarter, too. It incorporates more data to power its predictive algorithms, sucking in information from sensors and your daily routine, and has a new way to make hints about actions you might want to take. These will appear as what Apple describes as a gentle visual prompt, popping up at the bottom of the screen and drawing the eye with its glassy, shiny appearance. New wrist flick gesture This is a fun and potentially useful new feature: you can dismiss notifications and calls, as well as turning off timers and alarms, by flicking your wrist. It should make life easier when your watch tries to get your attention while youre in the middle of a workout or other activity. Workout app The all-important Workout app has been redesigned. Its very different, in fact, with new buttons in the corners of the screen to access customization options. As a regular Workout user, I have to say that it looks rather complicated and intimidating, but I trust it will become familiar in time, and likely a more powerful tool for setting up workouts the way I want them. Apple You can now set up music and podcasts from within the Workout app so that they start playing when you start exercising. Or, if youd rather not have to give this any thought, you can have Apple Music select a playlist for you, based on your listening history and the workout type. Or you can view suggestions based on what youve listened to when doing the same workout in the past. Apple watchOS 26 is available now as a developer beta, and the public beta will start to roll out in July. Its available for the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, the 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE, or any Apple Watch Ultra, the same models supported with watchOS 11.

macOS 26 superguide: What you need to know about the next Mac update

Macworld Apple revealed its plans for the next version of macOS at the WWDC keynote on Monday June 9, 2025. The company also showed off new features for the next iOS , iPadOS , watchOS and more at the event. Like its counterparts on the other Apple devices, macOS is getting a brand new look for 2025-2026 along with a new name. Because Apple is aligning the names of all the operating systems this year, the new version of macOS be called macOS 26 rather than macOS 16. It will also take the name Tahoe, inspired by the lake, beaches and the ski resorts of that area of California. Along with the redesign, macOS 26 gains new Continuity featuers, a brand new Phone app and new Live Activities. Spotlight also gets its biggest ever update with the ability to action things like sending emails and more from within Spotlight. These new features will be available later this year, but if you would like to try them out now you can. The developer beta is out now and the public beta will follow in July. We have more information about joining the beta and the release date of the public beta below. You will find all the things you need to know about macOS Tahoe below, including which Macs are compatible with macOS 26 and the new features you can expect. So, stay tuned to this superguide for everything you need to know about macOS 26 Tahoe, the latest version of the beta and all the new features that are coming. YouTube / Apple macOS 26 Tahoe release date Date TBC: 15 September, 2025 predicted Apples official release of macOS 26 Tahoe will be in the fall, as is usually the case. We dont know the release date for sure, but we can estimate that it will coincide with the release of the new iOS update, which will probably happen a few days after the iPhone event in September 2025. We anticipate the September iPhone event will take place on September 9, so the software could be out around September 15 or 16. However, Apple has previously scheduled the update to macOS after iOS, sometimes as short as a week, sometimes as long as a month, so there could be a longer wait. Here is the recent shipping history for macOS. macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 12, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018 [Product OS] will be available (we expect will be available) to download from [date]. iOS, macOS [Tahoe], watchOS will (or wont) be available to download at the same time. This will likely to come shortly after the September event to celebrate the launch of the iPhone 17 . macOS 26 Tahoe Beta release date Developer beta: June 9 Public beta: July 15 (estimate) However, you wont have to wait until the full release to try the new software out. Apple runs a developer beta as well as a public beta, so if you want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public you will be able to do so. Both betas are free, though the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. The developer beta is released first following the WWDC keynote, so developers can immediately begin testing it with their products. Apple then releases a public beta for everyone else, which usually arrives in July, about a month after the first developer beta. Then, whenever Apple issues beta updates, the updated public beta follows a day or two after the updated developer beta. If you are interested in using the beta, you can join Apples beta program . The beta program involves running software that will have some stability issues, and you are expected to provide Apple with details of any issues through the Apple Feedback app. For help installing the macOS beta see our guide to installing the macOS beta . macOS 26 Tahoe supported devices Requires Applesilicon or Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 Security Chip Apple Intelligence features require M1 or later When Apple updates the operating system for its devices it sometimes means that certain models are no longer supported. The good news is that Macs that ran macOS Sonoma will be able to run the new macOS. Apple states that the requirement is: Macs with Applesilicon and Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 Security Chip. Those Intel Macs will miss out on the Apple Intelligence features. Apple has confirmed that this is the last version of macOS for Intel Macs. Apple macOS 26 Tahoe new features New Liquid Glass design Huge update to Spotlight Customisable Control Centre Clipboard history Apple showed off some enticing new features for macOS that will be coming later in 2025. There are a number of new features and interface enhancements coming to the Mac. Design changes Apple showed off a brand new look for macOS in the WWDC keynote. As with Apples other operating systems, macOS Tahoe uses Apples Liquid Glass effect to create reflective, glossy elements around the interface. Youll see the effect in the Dock, sidebars, menu bar, toolbars and elsewhere. Interface changes Apple Apple says the design overhaul will elevate the key elements of macOS and enhance the macOS experience. By this it seems to mean that the cleaner design will allow the user to focus on their content rather than other distractions, while elements like the translucent menu bar will make the screen feel larger. Customisations will allow users to control what appears in the menu bar and Control Centre with users able to add controls for their favorite apps here. Users will be able to personalize their Mac in other ways too, such as changing the color of folders and adding emoji or symbols to folders. Users can also pick personalised wallpapers and choose theme colors. Spotlight overhaul Changes to Spotlight will help Mac users get things done faster. Not only will Spotlight be the easiest way to find anything on your Mac, in macOS 26 Spotlight will be contextually aware so it can make suggestions based on what you are doing. Search results will be listed based on the relevance to you and it will be possible to use new filtering options for more specific search results. There are also hundreds of actions you can perform inside Spotlight. For example, users can do things like send emails from within Spotlight, without even opening the email app. Apple macOS 26 Tahoe new and updated apps Brand new Phone app Games app Shortcuts update Live Translations There are also lots of updates coming to Apple apps that are included with iPads, iPhones and Macs. Many of the changes are shared across all the new apps, but there are a number of Mac specific updates coming. Phone app An Phone app on the Mac is the latest Continuity feature to come to macOS. Continuity is Apples name for the features that work seamlessly between Macs, iPad and iPhones, these include Handoff (which enables you to start a task on one device and switch to another to finish it), Universal Clipboard (which allows you to copy something on one device and paste it on another), Universal Control (where you can use one mouse and keyboard to interface with more than one Mac), among other features. With the new Phone app users will be able to received their calls and voicemail on the Mac. The Phone app is getting some new features of its own including Call Screening, which is designed to help you avoid spam calls, and Hold Assist, which means you will never have to listen to hold music again. With Call Screening before a call is put through an unknown caller will have to share their name and you will then be provided with that information. With Hold Assist when you join a queue to wait for a call operative and the hold music starts you can choose to be called back. YouTube / Apple Games app The Games app is another one that is available across all three main operating system updates: iOS, iPadOS and macOS. As with the iOS Games app the Games app on the Mac will bring together all the games you have on Mac, with tabs that make it easy to find the games you and your friends are playing. A new Game Overlay will make it easy to adjust settings for a particular game. Youll also be able to chat with friends and ask them to play. There is also a new Low Power Mode coming which gamers will be able to turn on to maximise battery life when playing games. And in related news Metal 4 is coming, which will enable next-gen features for Mac game developers, such as MetalFX Frame Interpolation and MetalFX Denoising. Apple Shortcuts The Shortcuts app is getting an overhaul on macOS. Its a long way from Automator. There are new intelligent actions available that can be used to create shortcuts. Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT can be used to enhance these Shortcuts. Live Translation One of the most useful new features announced at WWDC is Live Translation. With Live Translation you can text a friend who speaks a different language and have the translations appear in real time, or get instant translations during a phone call or FaceTime conference. Everyone gets their own translator. Apple Journal and other apps The Journal app, which arrived on iOS in 2023, is coming to the Mac (and iPad). There are also changes coming to Safari, Messages, Photos, FaceTime and Notes.

macOS 26 Tahoe: The 5 best features coming to your Mac this fall

Macworld During its WWDC25 keynote, Apple previewed macOS Tahoe 26. With this years software releases, the company is streamlining the OS version numbersaligning them with the upcoming year. More importantly, its unifying the user interface across its platforms and introducing a ton of functionality for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. Curious whats coming to your Mac later this year? These are the five biggest changes included with macOS 26 Tahoe. Liquid Glass design Perhaps the most noticeable change bundled with macOS Tahoe 26 is the fresh UI dubbed Liquid Glass. This release borrows the translucent look first introduced with visionOS and applies it across Mac menus, app icons, the Dock, Control Center toggles, etc. By retiring the excessive use of solid colors in favor of translucency, macOS 26 makes the Mac look more futuristic than ever. The interfaces reveal the hues of objects behind them, making it easier to maintain the context as you scroll. The update also overhauls the menu bar, making it fully transparent. It also refreshes the Control Center with a new, customizable layout, similar to the existing one on iOS 18. Speaking of, dark and tinted app icons have also been brought to the Mac with this release, following a year of iPhone and iPad exclusivity. To make the Mac more personalizable, macOS 26 will also let you change the folder colors in Finder and add your preferred emojis or icons. The change will simplify categorization and make it possible to identify content at a glance. macOS Tahor has a new Liquid Glass look for the dock and other system elements. Apple Next-gen Spotlight macOS Tahoe 26 also applies the Liquid Glass look to Spotlight Search. That, however, isnt the most notable upgrade to the universal, system-wide search. With this update, macOS will let users perform tasks at a faster pace by suggesting apps and actions based on the context. This will include files stored on third-party clouds, too. Spotlight Search on macOS Tahoe 26 will also support executing actions directly. This spares you from manually launching apps to locate the relevant menu or button. The upgraded search bar can even compose emails and iMessages directly by providing convenient recipient, subject, and content text fields. Apple Beyond that, Spotlight Search has introduced Quick Keys. With this feature, you can quickly trigger specific actions by typing just a couple of letters. So, for example, you could hit SM to initiate the Send Message action. Fortunately, these new perks tie into the App Intents API, letting third-party developers add handy Spotlight shortcuts for their applications. With Spotlight Search on macOS 26, you can finally, finally access your clipboard history. So, instead of being limited to pasting the last copied item, you can view previous text and photos youve copied and re-insert them as needed. Dedicated Apple Games app Its no secret that Apple is trying too hard to become relevant in the gaming space. macOS Tahoe 26 takes the companys vision a step further by introducing a dedicated Games app. With Apple Games, youve got the main Home tab, which highlights recently played games and recommended titles. Other tabs include Arcadewhich houses games from Apples subscription serviceand Play Together for connecting with Game Center friends. Theres also a Library tab for viewing all of your titles. When playing a game, macOS 26 offers a Steam-like overlay. When triggered, you can quickly invite or chat with friends youre gaming withwithout leaving the game itself. It also lets you control the game controller, Energy and Game Modes, volume, etc. macOS Tahoe 26 also introduces support for Metal 4, unlocking next-level graphics and rendering in Mac games. @macworld.com New Mac gaming features just dropped! #wwdc25 #gaming #apple #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld Smarter Apple Intelligence While macOS Tahoe isnt an AI-centric release, it still adds a few handy Apple Intelligence tools. Arguably, the most significant addition is on-device, live translation support in calls and messages. This makes communicating with foreigners in real time more manageable. Apples in-house image generation capabilities are also getting a boost with macOS Tahoe. Genmoji now lets you mix two emojis to create a single sticker. It also supports tweaking the appearance and facial expressions of the person, if applicable. Image Playground will get more powerful with native ChatGPT integration, letting you generate images in more styles using OpenAIs superior models. macOS Tahoe 26 also caters to power users by integrating Apple Intelligence into the Shortcuts app. This enables you to create actions that incorporate asking ChatGPT, Apples Private Cloud Compute, or the on-device models. Yes,thats the Phone appon your Mac. Apple Familiar iPhone perks macOS Tahoe 26 also borrows some existing and new iOS features. Similar to iPhone notification mirroring, your Mac can now show iOS Live Activities in the menu bar. It has also introduced the Phone and Journal apps, in addition to the Automations tab in the Shortcuts app. This will let Mac users view Contact Posters, utilize iOS 26s Call Screening and Hold Assist tools, and more. Which Macs are compatible with macOS 26? Apple has eliminated numerous Macs that support macOS Sequoia, including many Intel models. Here are the models that can get Tahoe in the fall: MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later) MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later) MacBook Pro (16inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (13inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) iMac (2020 and later) Mac mini (2020 and later) Mac Studio (2022 and later) Mac Pro (2019 and later) That means the following Macs wont be able to install Tahoe: MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019) iMac Pro (2017) Mac mini (2018) Whens macOS 26 coming? macOS Tahoe 26 is already available to those enrolled in Apples developer program. The company will then launch its public beta program in a few weeks. If you dont have a spare Mac, we advise you to wait till the stable version is coming this fall. Early developer betas are often riddled with bugs that could break your workflows, and its best not to install these builds on your main machine.

watchOS 26 superguide: The features coming to Apple Watch in 2025

Macworld In summary As with its siblings, watchOS is jumping straight to version 26, and its more than just a name switchthe update comes with a new Workout Buddy, visual overhaul, and plenty more. Its also coming to any device that can currently run watchOS 11, which is a nice touch. Apple Watch is a decade old at this point, meaning it can be hard for the company to find features to excite users. Thankfully, thats not the case this year, with watchOS 26 (jumping from watchOS 11) marking the debut of Apple Intelligence features on the device (albeit not natively), big changes to the Workout app, and the continuation of the new visual design dubbed Liquid Glass which can be found on iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOS this year. In the WWDC keynote, Apple confirmed itll also offer new Messages features, like instant two-way translation, as well as a much smarter, um, Smart Stack. Heres everything weve learned about the update so far, including when you can load it onto your device. watchOS 26 release date: When is the new Apple Watch software coming out? Full version: September 15 (predicted) As is usually the case, Apple hasnt revealed when we can expect the final version of watchOS 26 to launch, but we can hazard a guess based on the companys track record. Expect it to arrive in September, alongside the latest Apple Watch model, and a potential Ultra 3 and new SE version. Here are the release dates for the past version of watchOS: watchOS 11: September 16, 2024 watchOS 10: September 18, 2023 watchOS 9: September 12, 2022 watchOS 8: September 20, 2021 watchOS 7: September 16, 2020 watchOS 6: September 19, 2019 Next watchOS name: watchOS 26 not watchOS 19 Whats in a name? While Apple has traditionally moved its watchOS releases up by a single number each time, the company wants to unify this years releases with the number 26 for 2026 (we know its 2025, but no one told Tim and co.). As a result, you can expect iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 (still dubbed Tahoe) as well as watchOS 26. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe toMacworlds daily and weekly newsletters forApplecoverage, from WWDC to beyond. watchOS 26 supported devices The update is available on all Apple Watches that ran watchOS 11 Live Translate is only on the Series 9, 10 and Ultra 2. watchOS 12 will support all devices that can run watchOS 11, which is great news for all, although Live Translation via Messages is exclusive to Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. Heres what Apple has confirmed: Apple Watch SE (Second generation) Apple Watch Series 6 Apple Watch Series 7 Apple Watch Series 8 Apple Watch Series 9 Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch Ultra Apple Watch Ultra 2 watchOS developer and public betas Developer beta: from June 9 Public beta: from July 14 (estimated) Apple drops developer betas on the same day as WWDC, letting app builders go hands-on with the new features and incorporate them into future updates. A public beta will follow in July, it announced. If you are interested in using the beta, you can join Apples beta program . The beta program involves running software that will have some stability issues, and you are expected to provide Apple with details of any issues through the Apple Feedback app. watchOS 26 New features Liquid Glass redesign Workout Buddy Smart Stack improvements Heres everything new in watchOS 26, including that all-important Workout Buddy. Major design overhaul Apples codename Solarium update will roll out across all of the companys platforms, and that means watchOS 26 will look more visually striking than any Apple Watch update in years. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the new design language is applied to the Smart Stack, notifications window, Control Center, in-app controls and beyond. Apple Workout Buddy As the name suggests, the Workout Buddy is a huge update for Workout, which also gains features like Pacing, Race Routes and more. Workout Buddy will give you an AI-constructed voice (with multiple options to choose from) which can give you a pep talk when you start a workout, and can give you updates and encouragement as you run. Expect mile splits, activity goal updates, and more, including heart rate data. Apple will also recommend Apple Music playlists for your runs, which is great (unless youre on Spotify). Smart Stack Smart Stack has got better in recent years, but its not just the Liquid Glass thats new this year. Apple says its prediction algorithms are improved, incorporating (and we quote) more contextual data, sensor data, and data from a users routine. Put simply, itll recommend Maps if youre somewhere new, or queue up your Spin workout and accompanying playlist when you reach the gym. Apple watchOS 26 new and updated apps Notes app Messages improvements Apple Watch will finally gain the Notes app, as well as updates to Messages that add much more color. Notes App The long-running Apple Notes app will finally come to Apple Watch, letting users running watchOS 26 check their notes on their wrist. Messages As with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, users will be able to set custom backgrounds for conversations. If youre using an Apple Watch Ultra 2, Series 9, or Series 10, youll also be able to use Live Translation to translate incoming messages, and translate your responses, too. Screenshot Apple

iPadOS 26 superguide: What you need to know about the new iPad update

Macworld In summary iPadOS 19 is dead, long live iPadOS 26! Its not just a new name, though, with iPadOS 26 adding a whole new suite of features. While there some borrowed from iOS, this is likely iPads biggest update in years, including a visual overhaul, new window management options, and more Mac-like features like menu bars. Its been six years since Apple rebranded the iPad branch of iOS to iPadOS, but itd be fair to say its not entirely certain why that was decision was made. While some features tend to shuffle across from the iPhone a year later, iPadOS 26 (you didnt miss any years, Apple has changed its naming convention) is offering a bunch of features that make it well worth the download. WWDC finally confirmed iPad users will get a host of Mac-like features, which might make the purchasing decision between a laptop and a tablet just a tad trickier. iPadOS 26 will revamp the Files app, add background processes, and perhaps most importantly of all, finally give us proper window management tools. Heres everything you need to know about the latest update, including when youre likely to be able to get your hands on it, and compatible devices. iPadOS 26 release date: When is the new iPad software coming out? Full version: September 15 (predicted) The official release date has not been announced, but Apple currently has an annual cycle with its operating systems that happens in the September timeframe. Based on recent history, iPadOS 19 could be released to the public on September 15 or 22. There have been years when iPadOS has arrived later alongside macOS in October. Here are the release dates for the past version of iPadOS: iPadOS 18: September 16, 2024 iPadOS 17: September 18, 2023 iPadOS 16: September 12, 2022 iPadOS 15: September 20, 2021 iPadOS 14: September 16, 2020 iPadOS 13: September 24, 2019 iPadOS 26 supported devices The update is available for more recent devices Even the first-generation 11-inch iPad Pro will run the latest software When Apple updates the operating system for its devices it sometimes means that certain models are no longer supported. Heres what Apple has confirmed will get support: iPad Pro M4 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd Gen or later) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st Gen or later) iPad Air (M2 or later) iPad Air (3rd Gen or later) iPad (A16) iPad (8th Gen or later) Apple Intelligence features require iPad mini (A17 Pro) or iPad models with M-series processors. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe toMacworlds daily and weekly newsletters forApplecoverage, from WWDC to beyond. iPadOS developer and public betas Developer beta: from June 9 (expected) Public beta: from July 14 (estimated) Apple makes betas of its operating systems available before the official release in September. A developer beta is released first following the WWDC keynote, so developers can immediately begin testing it with their products. The WWDC25 keynote will be held on June 9, so the developer beta should be available later that day after the keynote presentation. Apple then releases a public beta for everyone else, which usually arrives in July, about a month after the first developer beta. Then, whenever Apple issues beta updates, the updated public beta follows a day or two after the updated developer beta. If you are interested in using the beta, you can join Apples beta program . The beta program involves running software that will have some stability issues, and you are expected to provide Apple with details of any issues through the Apple Feedback app. For help installing iPadOS beta on your iPad see our guide to installing the iOS beta (the method is very similar). iPadOS 26 New features Huge redesign Window management overhaul Audio input changes Background processes iPadOS 26 is bringing plenty of new features, along with the first major visual overhaul of iOS/iPadOS since iOS 7. Major design overhaul Apples codename Solarium update is here, with the company dubbing the overhaul Liquid Glass. Its being applied to all of this years OS updates, so anyone moving between them will see the more transparent, lighter designs. Apple Bonafide windowing options After years of asking, iPadOS 26 will finally revamp window management to make it much closer to a more conventional Mac. Tiling options, and the removal of the Stage Manager grid, make it much more flexible. In fact, Expose is here, too, bringing the iPad closer to macOS than ever before. Nothing hammers that home more than iPad finally gaining a menu bar, albeit one thats central to the display as opposed to being in the top-left corner. These features work across external displays, too, and Stage Manager is still available, too. Foundry Audio Input Theres a new audio input setting to allow podcasters to record from external mics, while Voice Isolation can keep your voice sounding crisp. AirPods will also be able to record studio quality audio, according to Apple, while you can record local capture of video calls. Background Functions Youll be able to run processes in the background on your iPad, without needing to keep your Final Cut export or Google Drive upload sitting in the foreground. Thats a huge boost for everyone. iPadOS 26 new and updated apps New Games app Journal Revamped Files app There are a number of updates said to be coming to Apples own apps, some of which may be enhanced by Apple Intelligence. New Games app The new Apple Games app that had leaked is very real indeed, helping players find the latest updates for the games theyre playing regularly, as well as curated recommendations for new releases. Theres also a series of competitive leaderboards for playing with friends, with Apple Arcade seemingly being rolled into it. Apple Messages iPadOS 26 will gain the features from iOS 26 for messages, allowing users to run polls in group chats and custom backgrounds. Translation iOS 26 will be able to translate messages instantly through Live Translation, and iPadOS 26 will get the same treatment, too. Itll also work in FaceTime, letting you translate throughout a call across language barriers. Apple Files Files is getting an updated list view and folder customization options just like (you guessed it) macOS, as well as default apps for opening certain file types. You can even add folders to your dock, and Preview is finally on iPadOS with Apple Pencil markup and autofill. Journal Yep, Journal is FINALLY on iPad, and it has Apple Pencil support. Yes, we thought it was already there, too. The iPad: You either love it or you dont give it much thought. In episode 930 of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about why that is and what changes we may see in the iPad this year. For some features wed were hoping to see on the iPad with iPadOS 26 read: iPadOS 19 needs these 9 features .

iOS 26 superguide: What you need to know about the iPhones new iOS update

Macworld Apples iOS 26 plans, in brief The new iOS update is called iOS 26, not iOS 19 Big redesignwith Liquid Glass effect New Gaming app Phone app brings call handling and live translations Apple revealed its plans for its next iOS update at the WWDC keynote on June 9, 2025. The company also showed off new features for the next iPadOS update , macOS Tahoe , watchOS and more at the event. As per the rumors, the upcoming iOS will be known as iOS 26 rather than iOS 19, with Apple breaking with tradition and switching to a simpler naming convention that relates to the year rather than a sequential number. Apple is taking the opportunity to bring consistency to the way it names all the operating systems, a move we at Macworld are celebrating. As expected, Apple has also given all its operating systems a major design overhaul, with iOS benefiting from a new design language that uses what Apple refers to as Liquid Glass because it gives everything a glossy fluidity. This design extends to the dock and widgets. Apple is also making the whole interface more intuitive, with changes designed to elevate the most popular features as well as help you find new ones. The redesign isnt the only change coming to iOS later in 2025. There are also changes coming toiPhone apps, including the Camera, FaceTime, Messages and a brand new Games app. You can find out more about these features below. We also share which iPhones are expected to be compatible with iOS 26, and which iPhones arent supported. The full version of iOS 26 wont launch until September you can find out about the iOS 26 release date below. But you dont have to wait until then: Apple runs a beta, so developers and those who want to sign up for the public beta can try the new features out. Read on for information about the beta program, including the expected release date for the Public Beta and any developments in the beta testing program Stay tuned to this regularly updated superguide for everything you need to know about the upcoming iOS update, the latest version of the beta and all the new features that are coming. Apple iOS 26 Release date Date TBC: 15 September, 2025 predicted iOS 26 will likely be available to download in September. iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS and the other updates will probably be available to download at the same time. This will likely happen shortly after the September event and the launch of the iPhone 17 . Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe toMacworlds daily and weekly newsletters forApplecoverage, from WWDC to beyond. iOS 26 Beta release date Developer beta: June 9, 2025 Public beta TBC: July 15, 2025 estimated You wont have to wait until the full release to try the new software out. Apple runs a developer beta and a public beta for those who want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public. Both betas are free, though the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. The developer beta is released first following the WWDC keynote, so developers can immediately begin testing it with their products. Some time later Apple will release a public beta for everyone else. This usually arrives in July, about a month after the first developer beta. In 2024 it arrived on July 15, so we anticipate a similar release in 2025. Between WWDC and the official release in the fall, Apple will release a string of beta releases, typically eight or so in total. We share details of how to join Apples beta software program so you can test the new software as soon as the beta arrives, separately. Anyone using the beta is encouraged to file bug reports using the included Apples Feedback Assistant app so that the company can address them. If you want to learn more about the beta read: Whats in the latest iOS beta and how to get it . iOS 26 supported devices Free software update for iPhone 11 and later The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will miss out on iOS 26 When Apple updates the operating system for its devices it often means that certain models are not compatible with the update. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which were supposed by last years iOS 18, will miss out on iOS 26. This doesnt mean that those iPhones are unsupported by Apple. Apple will continue to issue software updates to iOS 18 for a few more years. Read about how long iPhones are supported to find out which iPhones are no longer be supported with security updates. Nor does this mean that all the supported iPhones get all the new features. As was the case in 2024, only certain iPhones can support Apple Intelligence powered features. Thats the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and the whole of the iPhone 16 range. This means that if your phone isnt one of those mentioned you miss out on features such as the Visual Intelligence and Genmoji updates, as well as the Phone app ability to manage your unwanted calls. iOS 26 new features New Liquid Glass design More intuitive app interfaces During the WWDC keynote Apple previewed the new iPhone features coming later in 2025. The biggest change is a visual one: a bold new redesign. Well discuss the changes to the interface below, before running through the new features coming in iOS 26. Apple Design changes iOS 26 represents the biggest change to iOS since iOS 7 was introduced in 2013. Back then Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons, it also changed the lock screen, notifications, and more. The changes coming in iOS 26 were rumoured to be Slicker and more modern with Apple said to be adopting elements from visionOS. The new design lives up to those expectations. It is based on what Apple is calling Liquid Glass, which is a translucent effect that dynamically reacts to your movements. This new design extends to the dock, widgets, and icons. Apple says the changes blur the lines between hardware and software. One example of how these design changes are applied is the Lock Screen, which is more adaptive and dynamically scales the image you choose as your wallpaper to fit the height and width of the lock screen. Theres also a new animated Apple Music artwork option for the Lock Screen. Interface changes These arent the only the visual changes. There are also changes throughout iOS 26 that make it easier to access the features you use most often, and discover others. Apple is trying to make iOS more intuitive. Well discuss the changes to individual apps below, but essentially Apple is making it easier to find the tools you usually use, without the clutter of all the other features you dont need. iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence Apple has been having trouble with some of its AI efforts, especially the Siri features that were touted at WWDC 2024. Apple had promised that iOS 18.4 would bring a major update to Siri, where it is better at natural conversations with the user, including personal context, screen awareness, and in-app actions. These features have been pushed back until 2026, which means they should come as an update to iOS 26. Apple still had a number of Apple Intelligence powered features to show off at WWDC though. One major beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visual Intelligence, which enables users to get information from images. In iOS 26 it will be possible to screenshot an image and look up information about that image and products in it, or add details to your calendar or contacts. You an even ask ChatGPT for information about the image. Also benefitting from Apple Intelligence is changes to Genmoji. Users will be able to mix two emoji together to create something new, change expressions on Genmoji and use the Image Playground and ChatGTP to make images in various styles, such as an oil painting. iOS 26 new apps and updated apps Camera app overhaul FaceTime, Phone and Messages app changes New look Safari There are also lots of updates coming to Apple apps that are included with iPhones, iPads and Macs. Many of these changes will be shared across all the new apps, but there are a few iPhone specific app updates. Games Apple is finally tidying up the gaming experience on the iPhone with a brand new Games app. With half a billion people playing games on iPad, according to Apple, its about time. Apple says it is creating a new destination to help its gamers get more out of their games. The Games app will offer various tabs to make finding the games you are playing or have played easier. The Home tab reveals whats most relevant to you. The Library tab shows all the games you have ever downloaded. There is a Play Together tab where you can see what friends are playing, play games with them, compare scores, and invite them to play games. You can also challenge them to beat your highest score in single player games. Turning single player games into fun competitions with friends, with scores in real time. Apple Phone The phone app might not be the one we use the most, but as Apple says, it is fundamental to the iPhone. This year the phone app is getting a big update that essentially turns it into a PA. Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to bring new Voice Mail summaries to surface the most important information, but even more exciting, it is aiming to eliminate unwanted calls by asking for the callers details which it will the provide for you before you decide whether or not to answer. This feature is called Call Screening. Another new feature is Hold Assist, which will keep your spot in line while you wait for a live agent. The iPhone will detect hold music and remain connected, calling you back when the agent becomes free and letting the agent know that you are coming. Its going to be like having your own receptionist. You can also communicate with someone who speaks another language with live translations during phone calls. Apple FaceTime FaceTime gets changes to the interface, to surface the controls you need while keeping the caller visible. For example, controls float to the bottom right and recede when you dont need them. The FaceTime call list also gets a new look, with video messages autoplaying as you scroll. Messages As with the phone, Messages is getting a screening tool to combat spam. The on-device spam detection will give you total control over who appears in your conversation list, according to Apple. Those who arent in your contacts will go into the Unknown Senders list and you can decide what to do with them. You will still see things you need like verification codes, according to Apple. This isnt entirely new, Apple has offered separate Known Senders and Unknown Senders for some time, we look forward to seeing how Apple is building on this feature. With Messages you can add new background images to chats. But the biggest change is to Group Chats. Group Chats adds the option to create a poll, it will even suggest a poll if a situation calls for one. Anyone can add options to the poll, as well. Those who have access to Apple Cash (still U.S. only) can access this from group chats. Apple Apple Wallet Like Apple Cash many of the new Apple Wallet features are U.S. only, such as the ability to add Drivers Licenses to Apple Wallet. Apple ways there will be more ways to pay with Apple Pay, for example you can redeem points or choose to pay in instalments. That feature is currently available in 9 states. From the fall Apple says it will be possible to add a U.S. passport, but only for use within the U.S. You can also track Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence finding the order details and tracking information and keeping them together for you. Music Aided by Apple Intelligence you will be able to see Lyrics Translations, including Lyrics Pronunciations, so you can sing along with the tunes you like even when they are in a different language. Another new feature is Automix which will use DJ-like effects to swap between songs. Interface changes should also mean it is faster and easier to get to the music you are in to. For example, you can pin your favourite album or playlist to the top of your library. Apple Maps The Maps app also gets an update with your iPhone using Apple Intelligence to understand your regular commutes and learn your favourites. It will warn you if you should take a different route due to traffic. Another change to Maps is that if you want it to it can log Visited Places, which will make it easier to find and recall places you have been to in the past. Its easy to delete this history too.

iPadOS 26 brings a new design and Mac-like multitasking at long last

Macworld Apple has just unveiled iPadOS 26 (yes, you read that right) at the WWDC opening keynote. The update not only brings a brand-new interface for the iPads operating system, but it also improves many aspects of iPadOS to make it more like macOS. From the new Liquid Glass design language to more desktop features and a few extra apps, these are the main new features coming to your iPad with iPadOS 26. iPadOS 26, not 19 As strange as it may sound, the successor to iPadOS 18 is not version 19, but 26. Thats because Apple has finally decided to unify the version number of all its operating systems. This means that iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS are all now at version 26. Why 26? you ask. The answer is because the new operating systems will be released to the public in September, so theyll be marketed as 2026 software. So now every new version of Apples operating systems will be associated with the following year in the calendar, like a new car model. Apples Liquid Glass design will extend across all of its devices. Apple New Liquid Glass design After many rumors, Apple has unveiled its new Liquid Glass interface, which is available not only on iPadOS 26, but also across all its operating systems. From the Lock Screen to the system apps, the interface now simulates glass with reflections and shadows that refract and reflect light and interface elements that float above content below it. On the iPhone and iPad, the Liquid Glass interface responds to movements with dynamic reflections and brings back the parallax effect to the wallpaper. App icons now adapt to light and dark modes with updated color tints, and theres a new mode that makes app icons and widgets completely translucent. This updated interface also extends to core iPad apps, including Safari, Apple TV, and Music, which adopt the new menus and controls. @macworld.com Apples new Liquid Glass UI #wwdc25 #apple original sound Macworld Macworld Desktop-like windowing When it comes to new features, one of the main highlights of iPadOS 26 is a set of enhancements focused on bringing a more Mac-like experience to the iPad. Managing windows on the iPad has become much easier and more intuitive, as users can now resize and arrange apps on the screen the way they want. You can still use your iPad like before, but Apple is also bringing some of the macOS controls to iPadOS via a control in the bottom right corner of the screen. Youll now be able to dynamically resize windows br dragging the corner as well as hover over windows to get new controls for closing, minimizing, or resizing windows. Apps can also display a menu bar at the top of the screen, just like on the Mac. Apple says this will make it easier to find specific commands within apps. Thats an iPad, not a Mac. Apple iPadOS 26 takes better advantage of Apple Silicon chips by enabling true multitasking in the background for apps that need to run more intensive processes. For example, video editing apps like Final Cut Pro can export a project even when theyre running in the background. On top of all this, iPad users can finally choose default apps to open specific file formats from the Files app, such as setting Photoshop to open PNG files. And the cursor is no longer a circleits now a very Mac-like arrow. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage from WWDC and beyond. New apps for the iPad Apple is adding many new apps to the iPad with iPadOS 26. For instance, the Journal app finally arrives on iPad with support for handwriting and sketches with Apple Pencil, as well as photos, videos, audio clips, location data, and mood tracking. The update also introduces the new Apple Games app, which works as a hub for your game library, progress, and achievements. A new Game Overlay feature lets users access real-time updates, tweak settings, and invite friends without leaving the game, a welcome upgrade for anyone who plays regularly on iPad. The iPad is getting powerful new interface tools for multitasking and productivity. Apple Improved Apple Intelligence experience A year after the announcement of Apple Intelligence, Apple is adding more AI-based features to the iPads operating system. With iPadOS 26, users have access to Live Translation in FaceTime and Messages. When on a call, you can speak to someone else in another language, and both people will see translated captions. The translation can also be spoken aloud. Genmoji are also being updated with iPadOS 26, now with the ability to start with an existing emoji and modify it the way you want. There are new options for customizing Genmoji of people with different hair, accessories, and expressions. At the same time, Apple is adding ChatGPT to the Image Playground, so there are now even more styling options available for creating images using AI. And in the Shortcuts app, users will find new intelligent actions that take advantage of AI models to do things like summarize text and generate images. @macworld.com New iPad windowing system #wwdc25 #ipad #apple #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld Compatibility iPadOS 26 is compatible with the following iPad models: iPad 8 (A12 chip) and later iPad mini 5 (A12 chip) and later iPad Air 3 (A12 chip) and later iPad Pro 2018 (A12X chip) and later That means just one iOS 18 model, the 7th-gen iPad, is losing support. Of course, some features may require the latest hardware. Apple Intelligence, for example, still requires the M1 chip or later. iPadOS 26 Availability A beta version of iPadOS 26 is now available to developers. According to Apple, a public beta version will be available next month. The update is expected to be released to the public this fall.

WWDC Keynote: Minute-by-minute, heres what was announced

Macworld If youre an Apple fan, today is the biggest day of the year. The WWDC keynote sets the tone for the next 12 months as Apple provides a sneak peek at the next versions of every OSiOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and probably a few AirPods and HomePod updates too. Well be covering all aspects of WWDC the whole day long, including every announcement as it happens, so be sure to keep this page open in your tab bar. And check back regularly to read up on all the new stuff. WWDC25: Live blog Were just 20 minutes away from the keynote, so pull up a seat and follow along with us. You can also watch the keynote below. 9:40am PT: Were waiting for Apples stream to start. Of note, the online Apple Store hasnt been taken down so that likely means no hardware will be available for purchase or preorder today. 9:59am: Apples keynote stream is live on its site, playing Assuming by Queued In. 10am: The keynote stream starts with an F1 promo featuring Craig Federighi and Tim Cook. Craig says, Im so gald they put CarPlay in this beast. Tim is unimpressed. 10:02am: Tim Cook welcomes everyone to WWDC and talks a bit about F1, calling it one of the most thrilling and high-energy films Ive ever watched. WWDC is an important moment to celebrate our global developer community. Today well unveil some exciting new innovations. 10:03am: Switches to Federighi who jumps into Apple Intelligence. Talks about the features released in iOS 18. 10:05am: We look forward to sharing more about Siri in the coming year. 10:06am: Opening up access to Apple Intelligences LLM. Apps can access information on device to summarize and make suggestions. 10:08am: DESIGN! Apple silicon has enabled new experiences and the stage is set for something new. Introduces Alan Dye to show off the new design. 10:09am: Broadest redesign ever. More personal with greater focus on your content. Universal across all devices. Entirely new expressive material called Liquid Glass. Refracts light, dynamically reacts to your movements. Translucent, behaves just glass. New elements, dock, widgets, customization blurs the lines between hardware and software. Apple 10:13am: New names: version 2026, iOS, watchOS, macOS, ipadOS 26 10:14am: iOS 26 time. Lock Screen is adaptive, dynamically scales the weight, width, and height of the lock screen picture. Uses transparency to keep photo visible. Apple 10:15am: Animated Apple Music album artwork on Lock Screen. 10:16am: Switching to Camera. More intuitive design. Easier to change formats, snap photos. Library tab beings back full camera roll in Photos app. 10:17am: Safari is edge-to-edge, tab bar floats above content at bottom of the screen. 10:18am: CarPlay, new iOS design extends into the car. compact design when getting a call. pinned conversations. widgets and live activities while driving to help you stay focused. 10:20am: CarPlay Ultra coming to many more brands around the world. 1 0:22pm: Phone app. New optional unified layout. Apple 10:23am: Phone app automatically detects hold music and will alert you when someone has picked up. 10:24am: Messages up next. New backgrounds, Polls, screening for unknown numbers that arent time sensitive 10:26am: Apple Intelligence: Combine two emoji into a single new emoji. Image Playground has new optinos including ChatGpt styles. 1 0:28am: Live translation translates conversations on the fly integrated into FaceTime, Messages, and Phone. translated in real time between you and caller. Other person doesnt need an iPhone, API available for third-party apps. Apple 10:30am: Services up next. Apple Music getting lyric translation and AutoMix to swap between songs. Music pins lets you keep your favorites pinned to the top of your screen 10:32am: Maps will learn preferred routes. Visited Places will remember places youve been. Encypted and deletable. 1 0:33am: Wallet getting digital IDs for passports. Refreshed boarding passes. Find My can keep track of bags. Apple Pay getting cashback options for credit cards Apple 10:35am: Games app! Keep track of what youve played, download new games, challenge friends 10:38am: Visual Intelligence extends to iPhone screen, not just Camera. Shopping, events, integrated with ChatGPT for questions 10:41am: watchOS 26 next. New design. Workout Buddy Intelligence feature. Analyzes all workout data to provide insight on your fitness plan. Choose from muliple voices, provide a pep talk, key moments, stats, music, celebrate accomplishments with audio feedback like a real trainer. Personal and private. Available in English only in eight workouts. Apple 10:45am: Apple Watch will be more proactive, lower sounds when in a quiet environment. Wrist Flick feature will dismiss notifications. Live Translation, backgrounds in Messages, share location. Apple 10:49am: Notes app! New third-party controls in Control Center. 10:50am: tvOS 26. Liquid Glass design. See video under controls. Profiles for people in household. New Apple Music playlist features. 10:55am: macOS 26 Tahoe! Where crystal clear water meet majestic mountain peaks. New design, refined widgets, dock, icons; sidebars and toolbars reflect depth. Enhances the macOS experience. Completely transparent menubar, customizable iOS 18-style Control Center. Change folder colors, add emoji. New customization options for desktop like iOS home screen. 10:58am: Live Activities on Mac, syncs with iPhone. Phone app coming to the Mac, syncs with iPhone. 10:59am: Shortcuts with Intelligent actions. Build a shortcut using Apple Intelligence models on devices, with Private Cloud Compute, or with ChatGpt. 11:00am: Spotlight biggest update ever. Intelligence suggestions based on your routines. Launch apps on iPhone with built-in iPhone mirroring. Take actions in Spotlight. Quick keys. For example, sm, will send a message. Clipboard history in Spotlight. 11:05am: Games app like iOS. Settings, Chat, Invites. Metal 4 beings next-gen rendering tech to Mac. Crimson Desert, InZOI coming to Mac. Apple 11:06am: visionOS 26. Expansive update to visionOS. Widgets become spatial, integrating into space. Clock, Calendar on wall, Weather window, Photos frame on wall, etc. Spatial scenes. Big changes to Personas. More realistic, share movies, games with people in the same room. 11:11am: Playstation VR controller support. Adobe app lets you edit and preview spatial videos. GoPro, Insta260, Canon native playback on Vision Pro. Developers can embed 3S objects into apps. Jupiter environment. Apple 11:15am: iPadOS 26: Portable, powerful, versatile. Continuing to push the capabilities even further. Huge leap forward for multasking with a new windowing system. Can use full screen apps, but can fluidly resize apps into windows. move around apps with touch or trackpad. Pointer brings up Mac-like controls when hovering. New menu bar when hovering. 11:20am: Coming to all iPads and external displays. Apple 11:20am: Files enhancements for managing, accessing, and editing files. Customize folders. Preview coming to iPad to edit and export images. 11:22am: Accelerate workflows for audio and video creators, podcasters. Capture high quality recording, use AirPods. Background Tasks can render and upload things while working in other apps. 11:25am: Craig wrapping up the new features. 11:28am: Tim Cook: What a big day of annoucnements for our users and developers! 11:29am: Developer beta available today, public beta next month, general release in the fall. 11:30am: Parody song made up of real App Store reviews 11:32am: Allen Stone done singing. Stay tuned to Macworld for a much deeper dive into all the new features! WWDC25: How to watch Apple will stream the WWDC keynote live on YouTube and Apple.com. You can watch the video right here below. WWDC25: Apple Park pics Were live at Apple Park for WWDC. Here are some pics before the keynote begins. Attendees gather to watch the WWDC keynote at Apple Park. Foundry Apple Park is ready for its WWDC closeup. Foundry Here are some of the breakfast offerings at Apple Park on WWDC keynote day. Foundry Would you like the green drink or the orange drink? Foundry @macworld.com WWDC25 media breakfast #wwdc25 #apple #breakfast #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld WWDC25: Latest news and rumors Apple Games site: 9to5Mac has spotted a new domain, https://games.apple.com/ , that has gone live as of this morning Glass-inspred playlists: Apple has released several Apple Music playlists to promote WWDC, and they all have transparent glass-like images Apple hype post: Apple CEO Tim Cook has posted a picture of Apple Park with a message, See you soon! Siri name change: Ming-Chi Kuo reports that one of the Key Points to Watch will be rebranding Apple Intelligence/Siri, though its unclear whether he has inside information or is speculating AI battery management limited to iPhone 17 Air: Mark Gurman reports that Apples AI battery management feature could be delayed to a fall release and limited to the newest iPhone Colorful WWDC theme : Inside the gift bag for WWDC attendees are a series of colorful pins, including the clasic Hello greeting and the Apple Intelligence icon Liquid Glass: The new iOS interface will be branded as Liquid Glass and will impact the design of Apples next big iPhone launch New app designs and features: A variety of apps, including Messages, Music, Notes, CarPlay , and Camera to get new features and UI updates Preview on iPhone: The Preview app from macOS will finally land on iPhone and iPad Emoji mashup: Mixmoji will let you combine two existing emoji into a new image Support for original HomePod: Original model will still be supported when the new vision arrives Opening up Apple Watch: Apple may allow third-party Control Center widgets for the first time watchOS 26 compatibility: All watches that run watchOS 11 will be compatible with watchOS 26 Apple TV HD lives on: Apple TV HD from over 10 years ago will get the new tvOS 26 update Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage, from WWDC to beyond. WWDC25: Full coverage While you wait for the keynote to start, check out our pre-event WWDC coverage of what we expect, what we want, and what we hope to see. First, check out our simulated WWDC keynote and read all about what we expect to be announced (with a little humor and some fun). Then dive into the latest rumors and our recaps of the major OS announcements: iOS 26: Everything you need to know iOS 26: 7 changes we want to see macOS 26: Everything you need to know macOS 26: 6 changes we want to see iPadOS26: Everything you need to know iPadOS 26: 5 changes we want to see WWDC25: Video shorts Check out our videos on TikTok , Instagram , and YouTube Shorts . Here are a few examples from the past week @macworld.com 5 iOS changes wed like to see #apple #wwdc25 #fyp original sound Macworld @macworld.com Apple rebranding its operating systems #apple #wwdc25 #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld

Meet Liquid Glass: Apple redesigns all its interfaces at once

Macworld At WWDC 2025 today, Apple announced a sweeping software redesign for almost all of its products. As well as a fresh look, the new Liquid Glass design language aims to achieve consistency in the interfaces of the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro. As the name suggests, the unifying theme is glass. Panes, windows, buttons, and menus are presented as translucent layers with specular highlights. These layers change color to reflect the content beneath as you scroll, and you can often make out blurred and refracted elements of the background through the top layer. This should make the onscreen furniture feel deeper and realer, more like a physical world youre interacting with. (It could be argued that this is the opposite of what Apple did with iOS 7, when reality-mimicking skeuomorphic design was banished.) It might also just be more attractive and fun to use. Apple Shapes across the new interfaces tend more towards the curved than the flat. Apple already favored squircles and other rounded-corner shapes in its OSes, but menus and interfaces will more commonly be separated from the edges of the screen and split out as standalone lozenges. These shrink as you scroll to bring focus to the content, Apple says, and then return to their original size when you stop. As well as the central interfaces of the operating systems themselves, these changes affect Apple apps such as Safari, FaceTime, Camera, Photos, Apple Music, Apple News, and Apple Podcasts. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage from WWDC and beyond. This is our broadest software design update ever, said Alan Dye, Apples vice president of Human Interface Design. Meticulously crafted by rethinking the fundamental elements that make up our software, the new design features an entirely new material called Liquid Glass. It combines the optical qualities of glass with a fluidity only Apple can achieve, as it transforms depending on your content or context. It lays the foundation for new experiences in the future and, ultimately, it makes even the simplest of interactions more fun and magical. Apple Explaining the decision, software engineering VP Craig Federighi boldly referred to the iOS 7 redesign 12 years agothe last time Apple made a radical change to the iPhone interface. iOS 7 was a hugely influential launch, not just on other Apple products but on other companies, but at the time it was deeply unpopular. Software interfaces need to be easy to use. A truly great OS can be intuitive from the first moment you try it, but most depend to a greater or lesser extent on familiarity. Radical change is likely to make things unfamiliar and difficult in the short term.

The fantastic AirPods Pro 2 drop to their best price of the year

Macworld Apples WWDC keynote is today , where its expected to announce loads of new features, including some coming to the AirPods Pro 2. And theres no better time to buy a pair when theyre on sale for their best price of the year right now: Amazon is selling the AirPods Pro 2for $169 , the best price of 2025 and just $10 more than their incredible Black Friday all-time-low. The second-gen of AirPods Pro may look and feel pretty much like their predecessors, but theyre a lot better at pretty much everything. From audio quality to noise canceling, from a fantastic transparency mode to the battery life, the AirPods Pro 2 is better in every aspect. We actually gave these buds a 4.5-star rating when we reviewed them . Equipped with the H2 chip, these buds will pair to your Apple gear in seconds. When you want to ignore the world around you, its easy to switch on ANC. When you want to be able to listen in on the world around you, the Adaptive Transparency mode should come in handy, especially since it can also tone down the louder sounds. There are four different silicone tips available, including XS, which will definitely be extremely useful if you have tiny ears. These will help create an acoustic seal, so getting so many size options is great. So get ready for all the new features and get yourself the AirPods Pro 2 for $169 while Amazon still has them on sale. Enjoy a 32% discount on the AirPods Pro 2 Buy now at Amazon

Could Apple break with the past by renaming Siri at WWDC today?

Macworld With just hours to go until Apples executives hit the virtual stage for the WWDC 2025 keynote , last-minute leaks and rumors are flying. And the latest is especially tasty: it claims that Siri is about to be renamed. In a long post on X/Twitter, the well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today named his Three Key Points to Watch at Apple WWDC 2025. And a sub-point of one of these is Rebranding Apple Intelligence/Siri. Theres no further detail on this in the post, and it could mean, for example, referring to the entire Apple Intelligence raft of features as Siri, or tagging on Powered by Apple Intelligence when referring to Siri. But most pundits have interpreted this to mean that Apple is considering getting rid of the Siri brand itself. At first glance that sounds implausible. After all, Apple has spent almost 14 years promoting the Siri brand and encouraging users of almost all its platforms to use the voice assistant at every opportunity. The phrase Hey Siri is widely known, and many users even use the abbreviated trigger word Siri on its own. (Sometimes they use it without meaning to.) After all that work and expense cementing Siri as an iconic and recognized term, surely it would be madness to switch to something else? Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage from WWDC and beyond. The problem is that the Siri brand is fundamentally tarnished . It started out fairly strongly but has been far behind its rivals for years, regularly attracting criticism for its outdated features and appalling inaccuracy . Siri is a punchline as much as a brand. Simply changing the name wouldnt be enough, of course: if the mistakes keep happening, then the new name would be associated with failure too. But Apple has been working on an updated version of its voice assistant, powered by Apple Intelligence and capable of using contextual knowledge to deliver better results . That was announced at WWDC 2024 and still hasnt arrivedbut if it does appear as part of the WWDC 25 keynote it might be an opportune moment to make a clean break with the past. Yes, this could be interpreted as an admission of defeat: a rare acknowledgement that something Apple released was less than insanely good. But were long past the point where Apple can pretend Siri is fit for purpose, and it can be sensible to admit youve got something wrong. The WWDC 2025 keynote starts today at 10am Pacific Time. You can catch all the announcements, along with expert analysis, right here on Macworld and in our dedicated articles. First, check out our simulated WWDC keynote and read all about what we expect to be announced (with a little humor and some fun). Then dive into the latest rumors and our recaps of the major OS announcements: iOS 26: Everything you need to know iOS 26: 7 changes we want to see macOS 26: Everything you need to know macOS 26: 6 changes we want to see iPadOS26: Everything you need to know iPadOS 26: 5 changes we want to see

WWDCs iOS 26 launch is the first step toward the Liquid Glass iPhone

Macworld In just a few hours, Apple will take the wraps off the new version of iOS during the WWDC25 keynote , and it wont just have a new name (iOS 26). Itll also reportedly introduce a completely new design language that permeates the entire product line and sets the stage for the first truly new iPhone in over a decade. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, writing in his weekly Power On newsletter , reports that the new interface, dubbed Liquid Glass, will have the sheen and see-through visuals of a glassy surface. The new look will incorporate transparency and shine effects throughout toolbars, apps, and controls, while bringing a cohesive interface across all of Apples devices. According to Gurman, the Liquid Glass interface will impact hardware, too, most notably with the 20th anniversary iPhone coming in 2027. The new model, internally called Glasswing, will have curved glass on all sides with extraordinarily slim bezels and no cutout section in the screen. The 20th anniversary phone will reportedly launch in the time frame of the iPhone 19, a decade after the iPhone X. Its not clear how Apple will choose to name the new phone, but it has several options: iPhone XX, iPhone 19 Ultra, or iPhone 28 after the new iOS year-based naming convention. But whatever Apple calls it, you can look for clues in todays iOS 26 launch to see what Apples next big iPhone redesign will look like. Be sure to follow along live at 10am PT in our WWDC live blog .

Apple could make up for its Siri disaster with this small iCloud change at WWDC

Macworld The iPhone 16 is selling well. Very well, in fact: it was the best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2025. But the device has created plenty of problems for Apple because of what it isnt doing: delivering on the promises made at launch. Personalized Siri, a feature so flashy and appealing that it appeared in iPhone 16 ads, has been severely delayed , likely until long after the launch of the iPhone 17. Thats a conspicuous fail, but sources suggest Apple will remain silent on the subject at todays WWDC keynote. This theory is backed up by company bosses declining an invitation to a live talk show they normally attend; what questions are they trying to avoid? Life, then, is tricky at the moment if you work for Apples PR department. But theres a simple trick the company can use to turn public opinion in its favourone thats long overdue. Apple could and should increase its free iCloud storage allocation from the current paltry 5GB. It could stretch to to 20GB, surely. Perhaps even 50GB. But it definitely needs to be more, and we can prove it. Since 2011, when iCloud was launched, the free allocation has remained the same. But that amount of storage has long since fallen out of date. These days even the most frugal users cant do anything with it. While the free allocation has remained the same, the download size of iOS itself has increased by a factor of 11, from 0.8GB in 2011 to 9.5GB when iOS 18 came out last September. This means that even backing up an iPhone without any files at all is no longer possible using free iCloud storage. For that alone, users would have to pay for a 50GB (or more) subscription. Granted, Apple deserves a certain amount of credit for keeping prices mostly steady since the introduction of iCloud and periodically adding higher storage options at the top end. But the existence of an Apple subscription with a whopping 12TB of storage (for $59.99/54.99 per month) also shows how ridiculous 5GB is in comparison. Apple would be wise to remove what increasingly looks like an anachronism from its system. At the same time, the company could present the increase as a gift to its own customers and thereby deflect some of the discussion away from the Siri disaster.

Mac Pro M4 Ultra: Latest on the overdue update

Macworld Apple last updated the Mac Pro in 2023 when it was the last Mac to be outfitted with an M-series chipthree years after Apple started to use its own silicon in Macs. The Mac Pro may be on a longer update cycle than the other Macs because its an expensive machine with features that address the needs of a niche audience. But if youre part of that audience, youll want to know when the next model will arrive, so well be tracking the news and rumors about the Mac Pro. This article includes information about the potential updates to the Mac Pro, as well as offers a perspective on what those rumored updates mean to Apples Mac lineup. [Apple will reveal the new features coming to its operating systems on Monday June 9. If we learn anything that could be relevant to its Mac Pro plans we will be updating this story, so please refresh the page for the latest news] Mac Pro M4: Release date With no new Mac Pro appearing in 2024, despite the arrival of the M4 Max, it looks like we will be stuck with the M2 Ultra Mac Pro until 2025. The lengthy wait isnt surprising. In an April 2024 report by Bloombergs Mark Gurman about Apples plans for its AI-enhanced M4 chip , he suggested that Apple would not update the Mac Pro until 2025. In June 2024, Gurman again reported that the Mac release schedule had not changed. The M4 Mac Pro is not expected until the second half of 2025. In August, Gurman reiterated that the M4 Mac Pro will be released in 2025. With WWDC25 upon us, it seems like it would be an opportunity for Apple to update the Mac Pro. There have been indications that Apple may make hardware updates at the event on June 9: an email sent to 3rd-party retail employees invited them to an event to learn about what is new from Apple. The event could be the opportunity for Apple to train the store employees to use and demonstrate new hardware. Mac Pro M4: Processor With the long wait, you may think we might get an M5 Ultra Mac Pro, but it looks like we will see the M4 Ultra in June 2025. In October 2024, Gurman reported that Apple continues to work on an M4 version of the Mac Pro. In his April 2024 report , Gurman stated that the Mac Pro will be part of Apples AI focus and will be upgraded with an M4 with enhanced AI capabilities. Gurman did not offer any details on how those AI enhancements will be implemented or any other specifications about the M4. Since that report, Apple has unveiled the M4 chip, first in the iPad Pro, then in the iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro. In our Geekbench 6 tests of the M4 Max chip that arrived in October 2024 we found it to be faster than the M2 Ultra. Read: How Apples M4 chips dispelled all my fears about buying a new Mac. Apple also released the M3 Ultra Mac Studio , making it the fastest Mac in Apples lineup. If Apple wanted to use the M3 Ultra in the Mac Pro, it wouldve updated that Mac by now. While this is bad news for the M2 Ultra Mac Pro, it should mean great things for the M4 Ultra, which is what has been reported as the chip for the Mac Pro. We also know that it has an improved Neural Engine for AI features. Apples M1 Ultra and M2 Ultra chips are essentially two Max chips that work together, but there have been reports that Apple will be changing the processors architecture, so we could see higher performance than in previous Ultra chips. The Information reported in December 2024 that in the summer, Apple had canceled a high-performance chip for Macs to focus on the development of an AI server chip. As John Gruber pointed out, the timing of that Mac chip project suggests that the canceled chip was likely one that is dubbed an Extreme chip that would be faster than an Ultra. Based on this report, the Mac Pro will get Ultra chips for the foreseeable future. Mac Pro M4: Design and specs Gurman also reported that Apple wants to dramatically increase the maximum amount of unified memory in the high-end desktop M4 Macs to 512GB. The current limit on the M2 Ultra Mac Pro is 192GB. So, the M4 Ultra Mac Pro could support more than twice the memory as the current M2 Ultra Mac Pro. The Mac Pro will be equipped with Thunderbolt 5. When Apple released the M4 Pro/Mac MacBook Pro, it upgraded to Thunderbolt 5, so the Mac Pro will follow suit. Learn more about Thunderbolt 5 . No other reports have been made about the inner workings of the upcoming Mac Pro. Because Apple wants to focus on AI, the Mac Pro could be marketed as an AI development workstation, so Apple could upgrade other components to accommodate these needs. The Mac mini had a redesign in 2024, resulting in a much smaller device. Mac Pro has had its design for 11 years, but no reports have been made about the design, and if Apple changes anything, it is very unlikely to make the Mac Pro smaller as this didnt work out well last time . The next Mac Pro upgrade is expected to keep the same design, but the internal components will likely change, with the key one being an M4 Ultra upgrade. Foundry Mac Pro M4: Price Here are the prices for the current standard base configurations of the M2 Ultra Mac Pro for reference. Apple expects customers to configure their orders, so prices will vary from these base specifications. $6,999/7,199/CA$8,999/AU$11,999 Mac Pro Tower : M2 Ultra, 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 64GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD $7,499/7,699/CA$9,599/AU$12,999 Mac Pro Rack : M2 Ultra, 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 64GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Pricing for the new Mac Pro has not been reported, though we expect pricing to possibly go up because of the U.S. tariffs situationthe components are made overseas. The price may be adapted to more recent exchange rates elsewhere. We predict that in the U.K. the price will be in line with the U.S. for example: 6,999 rather than 7,199.

Your kids screen time can get more educational with this apps Montessori-inspired games

Macworld If youre like me, your MacBooks wallpaper might be a picture of your kid but your real full-time job is managing their screen time. Thats why Pok Pok stood out. Its not another sugar-rush game appits a thoughtfully designed, Montessori-inspired digital playroom . And right now, you can getlifetime access for just $49.99(regularly $250) with code SAVE10 . Pok Pok is built for kids ages 28 and trades points and prizes for creativity, problem-solving, and open-ended exploration . No ads, no pop-ups, no overstimulation. Just genuinely smart play. Think of it as a sandboxonly digitalwith activities like a drawing studio, musical blob, building blocks, and even a space exploration simulator to boost your kids curiosity. What sold me? You getunlimited family access across devices, so it works just as well on the iPad mini you gave your 4-year-old as it does on your backup MacBook. Plus, everything works offline, making it a lifesaver for long flights or WiFi-less errands. Ive been known to micromanage screen time, but Pok Pok made me rethink what educational looks like for my family. If youve got young kids and an ever-growing app folder labeled Kid Stuff, this is a deal worth jumping on. Make your kids game time educational by grabbing this Pok Pok lifetime subscription for just $49.99 when you enter coupon code SAVE10 at checkout. Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Dont pay $2K on your next MacBook when you can get the Pro for less than $330

Macworld If youve ever hesitated to take your expensive, brand-new MacBook on the road, we get it. You dont want to toss a $2,000 laptop into your backpack and pray it doesnt get dinged or spilled on at the coffee shop. Thats where thisGrade A refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro can be of service. Price-dropped to $329.97 (reg. $1,499), this is the perfect second MacBooka travel-friendly, work-anywhere powerhouse that you wont constantly worry about. The only catch is because this is a refurbished device (aka, near-mint), supplies are limited. With a 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, its more than capable of handling your daily workload. The Touch Bar and Touch ID offer modern convenience, and the Retina display is as crisp as ever. Plus, four Thunderbolt 3 ports mean youre never scrambling for adapters. Unlike a new MacBook, this one wont make you freak out if it gets a scratch or two. Dont miss this like-new Apple MacBook Pro for just $329.97 (reg. $1,499). Units are selling out quickly, so act while you still can. Apple MacBook Pro 13 Touchbar (2017) 3.1GHz i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

WWDC25 Live Blog: Last-minute rumors and how to watch Mondays keynote

Macworld If youre an Apple fan, Monday is the biggest day of the year. The WWDC keynote will set the tone for the next 12 months as Apple gives a sneak peek at the next versions of every OSiOS Well be covering all aspects of WWDC the whole day long, including every announcement as it happens, so be sure to keep this page open in your tab bar. And check back regularly to read up on all the new stuff. WWDC25: How to watch Apple will stream the WWDC keynote live on YouTube and Apple.com. You can watch the video right here below. WWDC25: Latest news and rumors iOS 26/iPadOS 26: A variety of apps, including Messages, Music, Notes, CarPlay , and Camera to get new features and UI updates iOS 26/iPadOS 26: The Preview app from macOS will finally land on iPhone and iPad iOS 26/iPadOS 26: Mixmoji will let you combine two existing emoji into a new image HomePod Software 26: Original model will still be supported when the new vision arrives watchOS 26: Apple may allow third-party Control Center widgets watchOS 26: All watches that run watchOS 11 will be compatible with watchOS 26 tvOS 26: Apple TV HD from over 10 years ago will get the new tvOS 26 update Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe to Macworlds daily and weekly newsletters for Apple coverage, from WWDC to beyond. WWDC25: Full coverage While you wait for the keynote to start, check out our pre-event WWDC coverage of what we expect, what we want, and what we hope to see. First, check out our simulated WWDC keynote and read all about what we expect to be announced (with a little humor and some fun). Then dive into the latest rumors and our recaps of the major OS announements: iOS 26: Everything you need to know iOS 26: 7 changes we want to see macOS 26: Everything you need to know macOS 26: 6 changes we want to see iPadOS 26: Everything you need to know iPadOS 26: 5 changes we want to see WWDC25: Video shorts Check out our videos on TikTok , Instagram , and YouTube Shorts . Here are a few examples from the past week @macworld.com 5 iOS changes wed like to see #apple #wwdc25 #fyp original sound Macworld @macworld.com Apple rebranding its operating systems #apple #wwdc25 #fyp original sound Macworld Macworld

Apple Event guide: When the next Apple Event is and what will launch

Macworld Apple doesnt participate in big industry-wide events such as CES or E3. The most valuable company in the world holds itsown events, thank you very much. Several times a year, Apple invites the press and industry professionals to Apple Park to hear all about its latest products and services. Apple calls these events, andstreams them live online to millions of watchers. So far in 2025 Apple hasnt held any events, however, it did launch a new iPhone 16e via press release on February 19, new iPad and iPad Air via press release on March 4, and a new MacBook Air and Mac Studio on March 5. However, there is an Apple Event coming up very soon, so mark your calendars now! The next Apple Event will take place on Monday June 9 when Apple kicks off its Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ) with a keynote and shows off new features coming to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS. Read on to find out about the events and Apples new product launches coming in 2025. When is Apples next event? WWDC: Monday June 9, 2025 Apple has confirmed that the WWDC keynote will take place on Monday, June 9, starting at 10 am PT. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe toMacworlds daily and weekly newsletters forApplecoverage, from WWDC to beyond. What time will the next Apple event start? Apple keynotes usually start at 10 am PT/PST and this will be the case with the WWDC25 keynote . That translates to the following times in the countries where most of our readers live: U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), noon (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT) Canada: as above, and 2 pm (AST/ADT) U.K.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST) Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST) India:at 10.30 pm (IST) Australia: Next day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT) New Zealand: Next day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT) Timings can be slightly different if Apple holds the event during the period of a couple of weeks when the clocks have changed in the U.S. but not elsewhere (in the spring of 2025 that was between March 9 and March 30, but later in 2025 both the U.S. and U.K. will change back on October 26). Sometimes Apple holds events at different times, for example, in October 2023 the event was held in late afternoon in San Francisco, which meant it was midnight in the U.K. If Apple doesnt hold an event and instead just issues a press release that usually happens around 8 am PT, 11 am ET and 4 pm GMT/BST. How long does an Apple event last? Foundry Apple keynotes usually last between one and two hours and feature CEO Tim Cook along with various other Apple executives. WWDC and the September event tend to be longer keynotes; the spring and late-fall events can be slightly shorter. The September 2024 event was 1 hour 38 minutes. When does Apple usually hold events? Apple holds three or four live or live-streamed events throughout the year. During these events, the company unveils its latest products and plans during a keynote address. They are usually held during similar times of the year: March/April: Spring event (in 2024 this was held in May) June: WWDC the Worldwide Developers Conference (iOS, macOS previews) September: Fall event (iPhone and Apple Watch) October/November: Late-fall event (Macs and iPads) This event calendar is by no means set in stone, though, with the spring and October events being less regular. Some years, Apple doesnt hold a spring event at all. In 2024, Apple held three events: one on Tuesday, May 7, at which it launched new iPads, a keynote to kick off WWDC on June 10, and an event on September 9 at which Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 , Apple Watch Series 10 and the AirPods 4 . In October 2024 there was no event, but Apple did announce new products (iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro) via press release. In 2023 there were three events: WWDC in June, an iPhone event in September, and Apples second fall event on October 30 (or after midnight on October 31 if you werent in the U.S.). Similarly, in 2022 Apple held three events: a spring event on March 8, WWDC on June 6, and the iPhone 14 launch on September 7. In other years Apple has held four events though. Apple launched the new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro in September 2022. Apple What will launch at the Apple events in 2025 Here are the events we expect to see in 2025, and what could launch. WWDC keynote 2025 June 9 (confirmed) Apple uses WWDC each year to unveil details of the latest versions of its operating systems, so in 2025 well get a preview of the new iOS , new iPadOS 19 , new macOS 16 , updates to watchOS, tvOS, HomePod software, and an update to Apples realityOS. Apple sometimes announces new hardware at WWDC, usually the high end models targeted at power users, so we could see new Macs. We may see the following new products at WWDC 2025: M4 Ultra Mac Pro M4 Pro 32-inch iMac Pro (unlikely) HomePod with screen /HomeHub device (possible) Following the keynote on the Monday, developer events and sessions will run throughout the week. You can read more about WWDC date, times and everything you need to know in a separate article. September iPhone event 2025 Tuesday September 9 (probable) Apple always holds an event in September, and almost always uses this to announce a new iPhone and Apple Watch. (The only exception in recent memory was in 2020, as a result of Covid-related production issues. That year the iPhone was announced in October, but there was still a September event.) In 2025 we expect that Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 , Apple Watch 11 , a new Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch SE. We may also see the M5 arrive in the iPad Pro and the rumored HomeHub device . Here are the past few Apple September event dates: 2024: Monday, September 9 2023: Tuesday, September 12 2022: Tuesday, September 13 2022: Wednesday, September 7 2021: Tuesday, September 14 2020: Tuesday, September 15 2019: Tuesday, September 10 2018: Wednesday, September 12 2017: Tuesday, September 12 For more information about Apples September events read: Apples September iPhone event: Date, time, and what will launch. October event 2025 There was no October event in 2024, with Apple making product announcements via press release. Despite the lack of event in 2024 though, Apple has a president of updating certain Macs in the October time frame, so this may be when we see new Macs running M5 chips. In the past, Apple has held a second fall event on the following dates: 2024: No event 2023: Monday, October 30 2022: No event 2021: Monday, October 18 2020: Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, November 10 2019: No event 2018: Tuesday, October 30 2017: No event 2016: Thursday, October 27 2015: No event 2014: Thursday, October 16 2013: Tuesday, October 22 2012: Tuesday, October 23 2011: Tuesday, October 4 Apple may update certain Macs to M5 chips at this event, including the M5 MacBook Pro . For more information about Apples October events read: Apples October Event: Date, time and what will launch. Spring event 2026 Want an idea of when Apple will hold its spring event in 2026? Here are the dates of the past seven Apple spring events. As you can see, its not a regular occurrence, but a Spring event is held slightly more often than not. 2025: No event 2024: Tuesday May 7 2023: No event 2022: Tuesday March 8 2021: Tuesday April 20 2020: No event 2019: Monday March 25 2018: Tuesday March 27 2017: No event 2016: Monday March 21 2015: Monday March 9 2014: No event 2013: No event 2012: Wednesday March 7 For more information about Apples spring events read: Apple Spring event: Date, time, product launch rumors. WWDC 2026 The past dates for WWDC give an indication as to when the 2026 conference might take place: WWDC 2025: June 9-13 WWDC 2024: June 10-14 WWDC 2023: June 5-9 WWDC 2022: June 6-10 WWDC 2021: June 7-11 WWDC 2020: June 22-26 WWDC 2019: June 3-7 WWDC 2018: June 4-8 WWDC 2017: June 5-9 Its pretty standard that at WWDC we see new versions of the macOS, iPadOS, and iOS. So in 2026 expect to see the next versions previewed.

This AI tool saves you time by turning your ideas into full-length manuscripts, but youll keep the rights

Macworld Between toggling apps on my MacBook and trying to keep up with Slack, who has time to write a booklet alone read one? Thats whyYouBooks AIcaught my eye. Its an AI-powered tool that helps you generate entirenon-fictionbooks with just a few prompts, and right now you can grab alifetime subscription for just $49(regularly $540). Heres how it works: You give it an ideaanything from productivity hacks to startup strategiesand it calls in a lineup of powerful AI models (think ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and more) to craft a full-length manuscript . Were talking up to300,000 words, with real-time web research and even style matching to sound likeyou. Each month, you get150,000 credits(1 credit = 1 word), so you can create multiple books per year, download them in PDF, Word, or EPUB format, and even sell them. You can even keep full commercial rights by having Youbooks generate your next book. As someone whos been working on a book since 2018, this feels like a shortcut Im actually okay with. If youve got ideas worth publishingbut not the time or patiencethis is a no-brainer. Join me and grab your own Youbooks lifetime subscription for just $49 to start transforming your ideas into a full-length title. Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Report outlines changes coming to Messages, Camera, more in iOS 26

Macworld In just a couple of days, Apple will take the wraps off the next version of iOS, expected to bring a new look, a new name, and a couple of new apps. And according to a new report, some of the most-used older apps are getting updates too. In Mark Gurmans annual pre-keynote roundup , he writes about a few apps getting a refresh as part of iOS 26. Among the changes are: Safari: Apples browser will get a significantly updated look, to match the rest of iOS 26. Gurman says the UI redesign will be highlighted by a more transparent and glassy address bar. Camera: The popular app will get a redesign focused on simplicity, according to Gurman. He says Apple found the iOS 18 interface a bit clunky and will rethink the approach for iOS 26. Messages: As previously rumored, the Messages app will gain support for polls within conversations. Additionally, youll be able to set unique backgrounds for each chat that will sync between devices, including those of other users, meaning that you and the people you are chatting with have the same look. Phone: A new look is on the way with a new view that combines favorite contacts, recent calls and voicemails into a single, scrollable window. Gurman says the look will be optional via a toggle in settings. Additionally, Gurman has previously reported that Apple will bring the Preview app to the iPhone, as well as tweaks to Calendar and CarPlay. You can learn all about the new features during the WWDC keynote beginning at 10am PT on Monday.

WWDC 2025 guide: Start time, how to watch and all the WWDC rumors

Macworld WWDC 2025: In summary Apple Keynote on Monday, June 9 at 10am PT New version naming expected: iOS 26, macOS 26, iPadOS 26, etc Big redesign anticipated Of the big Apple events of the year, WWDC is the most reliable: In each of the past 18 Junes, like clockwork, Apple has held a big get-together for its developer partners and announced a raft of important software updates. The September iPhone launch, March/April spring event and October event seem almost unpredictable by comparison. In this article, we list the major announcements (and some of the smaller titbits) you can expect to hear about at WWDC 2025. Some of theseupdates to the five big Apple operating systems, most obviouslyare as predictable as the timing of the event. But we reckon Apple will spring a few surprises this year. When is WWDC 2025? Apple has announced that WWDC25 will take place from June 9 to 13 , with the keynote event on Monday June 9. The company has invited members of the press to view the keynote stream from Apple Park, including Macworlds Roman Loyola. WWDC keynote start time The keynote is will begin, as usual, at 10am Pacific Time. It will take place on Monday, June 9. If you are wondering what time will the WWDC keynote start where you are it translates to: U.S.: at 10 a.m. (PDT), 11 a.m. (MDT), noon (CDT), 1 p.m. (EDT) Canada: at 2 p.m. (ADT) U.K.: at 6 p.m. (BST) Europe: at 7 p.m. (CEST) India:at 10.30 p.m. (IST) Singapore and China: next day at 1 a.m. Japan: following day at 2 a.m. (JST) Australia: following day at 1 a.m. (AWST), 2.30 a.m. (ACST), 3 a.m. (AEST) New Zealand: following day at 5 a.m. (NZST) How to watch WWDC 2025 When WWDC starts Apple will live stream the opening keynote on its website and elsewhere, including on YouTube and on the Apple TV app. This means youll be able to watch the presentation on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and even PC. You can watch the live YouTube stream below. Other than YouTube, there are several ways to watch the WWDC keynote depending on your device: Watch on Apples own website . Watch via the TV app on an compatible TV, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Apples YouTube channel . Apple says other platforms should be able to access the stream using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC required). To watch, visit the Apple Events page . Current Apple Developer Program members, Apple Developer Enterprise Program members and Swift Student Challenge winners were able to apply for free tickets to watch at Apple Park. More information about how to do that below. Want more from WWDC? Be sure to check out video coverage on YouTube , TikTok , and Instagram . And subscribe toMacworlds daily and weekly newsletters forApplecoverage, from WWDC to beyond. What is WWDC? WWDC stands for the Worldwide Developers Conference and is dedicated to the third-party software and hardware developers that create apps and accessories for Apples platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, HomePod and Vision Pro . At the event Apple previews the software that will be coming to iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, and so on, later in the year. A beta program starts after the event so that developers can start testing the new software, find out ways to use new features, and and make sure it works with their apps. Sometimes Apple launches new hardware at WWDC, but the key focus is always software. What will Apple announce at WWDC 2025? While devs are at the heart of the event, Apple uses WWDC to announce its software plans and potentially some new Macs and other products to the world. In the past weve seen quite a lot of new stuff, including new Macs. Read on to find out what we expect to see Apple unveil at the event, from software and hardware to some entirely new products. Apple WWDC 2025: Software releases WWDC is all about the software, so we can be certain that Apple will reveal details of its upcoming operating system updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and Apple Watch. Those updates will then be issued to developers as a beta to test, and then a few weeks later a public beta will start. Learn about participating in Apples beta software program so you can test the new software as soon as the beta arrives. Eventually, the new software will be available for everyone to download in the fall (usually September for iOS/iPadOS/watchOS and either September or October for macOS. Heres what to expect: iOS 19 / iOS 26 The headliner of the event simply because of the sheer number of iPhone owners across the planet will be the new version of iOS which Apple will showcase, previewing the new features coming to iPhones later in 2025. If youve got an iPhone made within the past five years, youll likely be able to install the iOS update when its released in the fall of 2025. We would have predicted that the next version of iOS, following iOS 18, would be iOS 19, except that rumors suggest Apple is aligning all its operating system numbering this year. If this proves true the new iOS will be iOS 26 . And thats not the only change coming. Weve heard that we could see a major design overhaul with iOS 19/iOS 26 as well as changes to the Home app and a new Gaming app. But before the new iOS launches, theres a whole beta-testing cycle to get through. iOS 19/26 will be announced at WWDC 2025, and then released as a developer beta (for registered app developers only) almost immediately after the keynote. Developers will then be able to install the iOS beta and a few weeks later a public beta version will be made available for all users who want to try the new features. If you are interested read: How to become an Apple beta tester. Our advice is to be cautious and prepared for serious flaws with the beta softwareit might even brick your device. Over the course of the next few months, the developer and public betas will go through a testing process where features will be tweaked, changed, fixed, and updated until we reach the finished iOS 19.0 public release, most likely in September. Read all the rumors and our hopes for iOS in our iOS 19/26 guide. iPadOS 19 / iPadOS 26 The accompanying update for iPad owners, iPadOS 19 (probably renamed iPadOS 26) is likely to incorporate most of the new features of iOS but adapted to a larger-screen interface. Beyond that, theres a suggestion that iPadOS 19/26 could offer a more Mac-like user experience and a new low-power mode. As for when to expect iPadOS, September is likely, but in 2022, Apple released iPad OS 16 a month after iOS 16, so its possible that the two versions dont arrive at the same time. Find out more about iPadOS 19/26 in our guide . macOS 16 / macOS 26 / macOS Tahoe Whats Apple got in store for its follow-up to macOS Sequoia ? Well find out at WWDC 2025. Rather than macOS 16 (following macOS 15), this version may be numbered macOS 26. The latest version of macOS is named after Sequoia (the Californian trees), this year the new macOS may be named for lake Tahoe, according to rumors. Well share all the rumors and our hopes for macOS 16/26 in our macOS 16/26 guide . watchOS 12 / watchOS 26 The new operating system for the Apple Watch will be revealed at WWDC 2025. This could bring more health and fitness features to Apple Watch owners around the world. Expect AI to have an impact here. tvOS 19 / tvOS 26 The lowest-profile of the big Apple operating systems, tvOS is the platform that runs on the Apple TV. tvOS is generally light on new features, but AI could change that, with new discovery and search tools. visionOS 3 / visionOS 26 Now that the Vision Pro has been on sale for a while you can expect to hear about new software features coming to the device at WWDC. Apple is likely to have things to say about new apps being made for the device as well as third-party software that is being created for Vision Pro. HomePod software version 19 / HomePodOS 26 Apple is also likely to update the software on the HomePod and HomePod mini alongside the other operating systems. We may hear more about Apples plans for the HomePod during the WWDC eventespecially as Apple is rumored to planning big changes to the HomePod that may include introducing smart screens to the line up. Apple Intelligence At WWDC24 AI Apple Intelligence was at the forefront, but many of the AI features were slow to role out, and some are yet to arrive. For example, some Siri related features have already been pushed to later in 2025. The company may discuss how it is growing its AI feature set at WWDC25, but it may also want to divert attention from its failure to deliver on its AI promises to date. Even if Apple Intelligence doesnt take the spotlight, it is likely that AI features will be apparent across the operating systems, both in the background and the foreground. If you dont own an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 series phone these featuers wont be for you. Other software You can also expect Apple to update its developer-focused apps, like Swift, Xcode, and TestFlight. Apple displayed this special Swift logo on its WWDC 2023 website. Apple WWDC 2025: Hardware releases WWDC tends to be a software-focused event, but Apple has often found time during its WWDC keynotes to launch hardware products too. The first few iPhone revisionsiPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4Swere all released at WWDC, and the HomePod had its unveiling at the event in 2017 as well. However, the event has focused on Mac releases in recent years. Apple unveiled the iMac Pro in 2017 alongside updates to the iMac, MacBook, and MacBook Pro, and announced a new Mac Pro and the Pro Display XDR in June 2019. At WWDC 2020, Apple announced the transition from Intel to Apple silicon, and WWDC 2022 saw Apple launch the M2 chip in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. WWDC 2023 saw Apple introduce the Vision Pro, 15-inch MacBook Air, and the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra chip. Whats in the hardware pipeline for Apple right now? Hardware seems unlikely for this event, but there are still some possibilities for surprises: New Macs We already have M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max, but no M4 Ultra yet, and updates to the Mac Pro are long overdue. Mac Pro Over the years, including in 2023, new Mac Pro models have been launched at WWDC. Apple updated the Mac Studio in March 2025, but notably Apple gave the Mac Studio an M3 Ultra chip option rather than an M4 Ultra: is the M4 Ultra being kept back for the Mac Pro? It looks like it. Whether it is announced at WWDC is another question. If it is perhaps Apple will talk at length about how the Mac Pro is made in the U.S. (which should keep a certain person happy). Read what we know about the M4 Mac Pro . HomePod/HomeHub There are also rumors about a HomePod, or HomeHub that could be used to control digital home hardware and home security tools. There are lots of rumors about different products, from a HomePod with a display to a screen with a robot arm! WWDC could be the first time we hear Apple discuss this new product. Read about Apples HomeHub plans . How to attend WWDC If you wanted to attend the WWDC Keynote in person you needed to enter a lottery and apply for a ticket to attend the keynote alongside other developers. There was a lot of competition for those tickets, which were randomly selected from those to apply and arent transferable. The good news is that tickets are free, at least. The lottery for ticket allocated for 2025 started at the end of March and those interested had to apply by the beginning of April. The lucky applicants were notified of their success in getting a ticket at the beginning of April. Apple invites developers to participate in a series of classes, workshops, and sessions to learn about the system-wide changes coming to the major software platforms in the coming year so they can update their apps. Some lucky developers even get to watch the event live in person. Current Apple Developer Program members. Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni. Swift Student Challenge winners; challenge applicants will be included in a separate random selection process for winners (it is usually in May that Apple began alerting the lucky few of their status as winners). Current Apple Developer Enterprise Program members. You can find out more about how to get tickets to WWDC in our FAQ. WWDC keynote tickets have been free and randomly distributed for the past few years, but it previously cost $1,599 for developers to attend and those tickets sold out very quickly. Even without a ticket, all registered Apple developers get online access to session videos, slides, and sample code throughout the week. Apple will share additional conference information in advance of WWDC25 through the Apple Developer app . When was WWDC last year? Apple traditionally holds WWDC during the first weeks of June. Here are the dates from the past few years: WWDC 2024: June 10-14 WWDC 2023: June 5-9 WWDC 2022: June 6-10 WWDC 2021: June 7-11 WWDC 2020: June 22-26 WWDC 2019: June 3-7 WWDC 2018: June 4-8 For a broader view of the years plans, check out our guide to the new Apple products coming in 2025 . Well update this article regularly in the run-up to WWDC, so check back to see the latest news.

Apple Arcade in June: Four new games join the subscription service

Macworld Gaming subscription services are all the rage now, but Apple Arcade isnt a little different from the likes of PlayStation Plus, EA Play, or Xbox Game Pass. If youve got questions about it, weve got plenty of answers. Updated June 6, 2025: There are four new games added to Apple Arcade this month: Helix Jump+ , LEGO Hill Climb Adventures+ , Lost in Play+ , UNO: Arcade Edition . What is Apple Arcade? Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV that features several hundred games. The games are a mix of genres and styles, and include original games youll only find on the service and others that can be found on the regular App Store or even other platforms. Apple Arcade isnt a streaming service like Xbox Live Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW. Games must be downloaded onto your device in order to be played. What do I need to run it? Apple Arcade was made available as part of iOS 13, iPad OS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later. Some of the more visually-intensive games may only run well on newer hardware, though, and some Mac games require macOS 11 (Big Sur). How much does Apple Arcade cost? Apple Arcade costs $6.99/6.99 per month, and youll also get a one-month free trial or you can get three months free if you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac. To claim your free trial click here . You can get Apple Arcade for less than $6.99 a month if you subscribe for a year upfront. A year of Apple Arcade is $49.99/49.99 (so $4.16 a month). If youre currently on the $6.99 month-to-month plan and want to switch to the annual plan and save some money, you can do so on youriPhone or iPad. Open the App Store app, then tap your account icon in the upper right. Tap Subscriptions , then tap the entry for Apple Arcade . Here, you can switch to the annual plan. Apple Arcade is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles , which range from $20 a month to $38 a month and include access to Apple Music and Apple TV and iCloud storage. There is also a month free trial of Apple One. To claim the trial, or sign up for Apple One, click here . How do I sign up for Apple Arcade? There isnt an Apple Arcade appits built into the App Store. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac open the App Store and look for the Apple Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen (or in the left column on macOS). A sign-up screen with a Try It Free button will appear. After the trial youll be charged either the monthly or annual fee, depending on your selection. When subscribing, youll need to enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID or Face ID to sign in, and youll have to confirm your subscription purchase a few times. Once youre done with the sign up, the Arcade section of the App Store shows what games are available to you. To access a game, tap on it in the App Store, then tap the Get button. When the game is done installing on your device, the Get button turns into a Play button, and you can tap it to launch the game. The game app icon will also appear on your devices Home page. On the Apple TV, there actually is an Arcade app. Open that to see the sign-up offer. Youll also find an Arcade tab within the App Store. Does my subscription include family sharing? Yes. One $6.99 per month subscription can be shared between up to six people (including you). How do I cancel Apple Arcade? First off, keep in mind that if you cancel Apple Arcade (either before your free trial is up or after subscribing), you wont be able to keep playing the games unless you re-subscribe. If youre okay with that, you can use the same process you use to cancel any other subscription service. Heres the easiest way to do it on the iPhone and iPad: Open the App Store app and tap on your profile photo in the upper right. In the screen that pops up, press Subscriptions near the top of the page. Youll then see a list of active subscriptions, and Apple Arcade should be listed there. Tap it. Youll either see Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription toward the middle of the page that appears. Tap whatever option is available , then Confirm Cancellation . And heres how to cancel Apple Arcade on the Mac: Open the App Store app and then press the icon with your profile photo in the lower left. The Account window will appear, and you should then click View Information at the top of the window. Enter your password when/if prompted. When your Account Information appears, scroll down to the Manage section and click the Manage link to the right of Subscriptions . When the list of your active subscriptions appears, click Edit to the right of Apple Arcade . Toward the middle of the page that appears, youll see a button that says either Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription . Click it, then click Confirm Cancellation and Confirm . Do Apple Arcade games have in-app purchases? No. In Apples words, since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content, and future updates, no additional purchases will be required. Even games that have in-app purchases on the App Store wont have any in Apple Arcade. Do Apple Arcade games have ads? Also no. On a related note, Apple says Apple Arcade has no ad tracking. Is Apple Arcade a game streaming service like GeForce NOW or Xbox Game Streaming? No. All Apple Arcade are downloaded. Are there demos for Apple Arcade games? No, and theyre not really necessary. Like App Store apps, games download quickly and can easily be removed if you dont want to keep it anymore. Apple partly envisions Apple Arcade as a way of letting players try out games with more freedom than the App Store currently allows (which is basically none). In Apples words, rather than pay upfront for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk. The service has a free trial, though, as weve seen with other Apple subscription services. Am I able to keep playing Apple Arcade games if I cancel my subscription? No. As with most subscription services, you only have access while youre a subscriber. Can I use controllers with Apple Arcade games? Yes. In additional to traditional MFi (Made for iOS) controllers, you can pair some specific Bluetooth controllers for either PlayStation or Xbox with either your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Since many Apple Arcade games are playable on Mac and Apple TV (where controller support is more common), many games will support them. Some games, especially those that are also available in the broader App Store and only for iPhone or iPad, have no controller support. Recently Apple relaxed the requirements for MFi controller certification, which may have grown out of the Apple Arcade negotiations. How often are new games released? Games are typically released on the first Friday of each month. There are some rare exceptions. What games have been released so far? There are over 200 games available for Apple Arcade, and the list grows all the time. Title Publisher Release Date A Fold Apart Lightning Rod Games 04/17/20 A Monsters Expedition Draknek Limited 09/10/20 A Slight Change of Sawblades+ Yong Kian Chin 05/02/24 Agent Intercept Prodigy Design 09/19/19 Air Twister YS Net Inc. 06/24/22 Alba: A Wildlife Adventure ustwo 12/11/20 All of You Alike Studio 11/06/20 Altos Odyssey: The Lost City Team Alto / Snowman 07/16/21 Altos AdventureRemastered Team Alto / Snowman 03/25/22 Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ TAITO Corporation 11/07/24 Amazing Bomberman Konami 08/05/22 Angry Birds Reloaded Rovio 07/16/21 Asphalt 8: Airborne+ Gameloft 08/27/21 Assemble With Care ustwo 09/19/19 ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree Wildboy Studios 09/19/19 Badland Party HypeHype Oy 05/06/22 Balatro+ Playstack 09/26/24 Baldo: The Guardian Owls Naps Team 08/27/21 Ballistic Baseball Gameloft 10/18/19 Barbie Color Creations+ StoryToys Limited 12/05/24 Battleheart Legacy+ Mika Mobile 11/04/22 BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner BattleBrew Productions 09/19/19 BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team Oh BiBi 02/01/24 Beyond a Steel Sky Revolution Software 06/26/20 Beyond Blue E-Line Media 04/17/20 Big Time Sports Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 Blackjack by MobilityWare+ MobilityWare 01/05/24 Bleak Sword Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Bloons TD Battles 2+ Ninja Kiwi 03/07/24 Boggle: Arcade Edition Zynga 12/05/24 Bold Moves+ Red Games Co. 06/09/23 Bridge Constructor+ Headup GmbH 02/04/22 Butter Royale Mighty Bear Games 01/24/20 Card of Darkness Pendleton Ward 09/19/19 Cardpocalypse Versus Evil 09/19/19 Castle Crumble Orbital Knight 02/03/23 Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls Konami 09/17/21 Cat Quest II The Gentlebros. 09/19/19 Charrua Soccer Batovi Games 02/07/20 Chess Universe+ Tilting Point 05/04/23 ChuChu Rocket! Universe Sega 09/19/19 Cityscapes: Sim Builder Playstack 05/04/23 Clap Hanz Golf Claphanz 04/02/21 Clue: The Classic Mystery Game+ Marmalade Game Studio 03/24/23 Construction Simulator 2+ Astragon Entertainment 04/15/22 Cooking Mama: Cuisine! Office Create Corp. 06/17/22 Cornsweeper Robert Morrison 01/05/24 Cozy Grove Spry Fox 03/18/21 Crashlands+ Butterscotch Shenanigans, Inc. 01/14/21 Crayola Adventures Red Games Co. 03/07/24 Crayola Create and Play+ Red Games Co. 10/29/21 Crazy Eights: Card Games+ MobilityWare 03/06/25 Creaks Amanita Design 07/10/20 Cricket Through the Ages Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Crossword Jam+ PlaySimple Games 10/20/23 Crossy Road+ Hipster Whale 10/08/21 Crossy Road Castle Hipster Whale 02/28/20 Cut the Rope 3 SeptoLab UK 10/13/23 Cut the Rope Remastered Paladin Studios 04/02/21 Cypher 007 Tilting Point 09/29/23 Dandara: Trials of Fear+ Raw Fury 12/03/21 Dead End Job Headup GmbH, Ant Workshop 09/19/19 Dead Cells+ Playdigious 12/02/22 Dear Reader Local No. 12 09/19/19 Decoherence Efecto Estudios 10/11/19 Delicious Miracle of Life+ GameHouse 11/24/23 Detonation Racing Electric Square 07/30/21 Dicey Dungeons+ Distractionware 05/02/24 Discolored Shifty Eye Games & Jason Godbey 11/08/19 Disney Coloring World+ StoryToys Entertainment 05/04/23 Disney Dreamlight Valley Gameloft 12/05/23 Disney Getaway Blast+ Gameloft 05/04/23 Disney Melee Mania Mighty Bear Games 12/17/21 Disney SpellStruck Artist Arcade 05/04/23 Doctor Who: An Unlikely Heist Tilting Point 04/07/23 Dodo Peak Moving Pieces Interactive 09/19/19 Dont Bug Me! Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 Doodle God Universe JoyBits 07/16/21 Doodle Jump 2+ Lima Sky 02/06/25 Doomsday Vault Flightless 01/03/20 Down in Bermuda Yak & Co 09/19/19 Downwell+ Devolver 11/17/23 Dread Nautical Zen Studios 09/19/19 Drive Ahead! Carcade Dodreams Fairytale Company 11/07/24 EarthNight Cleaversoft 09/19/19 Episode XOXO Episode Interactive 01/06/23 Exit the Gungeon Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Explottens WRP Pvt. 09/19/19 Fabulous Wedding Disaster+ GameHouse 06/06/24 Fallen Knight FairPlay Studios 10/25/19 Fantasian Mistwalker 04/01/21 Farm It! Tummy Games 03/26/21 Farming Simulator 20+ Giants Software 05/04/23 Farmside The Label 02/17/23 FFIV: The After Years Square Enix 12/09/24 Final Fantasy+ Square Enix 01/10/25 Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake) Square Enix 12/09/24 Finity Seabaa 08/25/23 Food Truck Pup+ Game Start 10/03/24 Fledgling Heroes Subtle Boom 09/19/19 Football Manager 2023 Touch SEGA 11/08/22 Frenzic: Overtime The Iconfactory 06/18/21 Frogger and the Rumbling Ruins Konami 06/03/22 Frogger in Toy Town Konami 09/19/19 Furistas Cat Cafe+ Runaway 10/03/24 Galaga Wars+ Bandai Namco 11/12/21 Game Dev Story+ Kairosoft Co., Ltd 06/18/21 Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows Devolver Digital 08/07/20 Game Room Resolution Games 01/20/24 Garden Tails: Match and Grow Playdots, Inc. 09/16/22 The Gardens Between+ The Voxel Agents 10/14/22 Gear.Club Stradale Eden Games 04/08/22 Getting Over It+ Bennett Foddy 05/04/23 Gibbon: Beyond the Trees Broken Rules 02/25/22 Gin Rummy Classic+ MobilityWare 10/07/22 Goat Simulator+ Coffee Stain Publishing 05/13/22 Grand Mountain Adventure+ Toppluva 04/28/23 Grindstone Capybara Games 09/19/19 GRIS+ Devolver 09/30/22 Guildlings Sirvo Studios, Inc. 11/08/19 Hanx101 Trivia BlueLine Studios Inc. 09/02/22 Hearts: Card Game+ MobilityWare 01/07/22 Helix Jump+ Voodoo 06/05/25 Hello Kitty Island Adventure Sunblink 07/28/23 HEROish Sunblink 07/22/22 Hexaflip: The Action Puzzler Rogue Games, Inc. 09/19/19 Hidden Folks+ Adriaan de Jongh 01/28/22 Hill Climb Racing+ Fingersoft 05/04/23 HitchHiker Versus Evil 03/26/21 Hogwash Bossa Studios 10/25/19 Horizon Chase 2 Aquiris Game Studio 09/09/22 Hot Lava Klei Entertainment 09/19/19 Hot Wheels: Race Off+ Hutch Games 12/05/24 Human: Fall Flat+ 505 Games 03/31/23 HyperBrawl Tournament Milkey Tea Limited 09/19/19 Illustrated BorderLeap 01/13/23 INKS.+ State of Play Games 06/25/21 INMOST Chucklefish Limited 10/11/19 Iron Marines+ Ironhide Irl 05/04/23 Its Literally Just Mowing Protostar 01/10/25 Japanese Rural Life Adventure Game Start 09/15/23 JellyCar Worlds Walaber Entertainment 12/09/22 Jenny LeClue Mografi 09/19/19 Jeopardy! World Tour+ Uken 10/06/23 Jet Dragon Grezzo Co. 06/16/23 Jetpack Joyride+ Halfbrick Studios 07/23/21 Jetpack Joyride 2 Halfbrick Studios 08/19/22 Jigsaw Puzzle by MobilityWare+ MobilityWare 06/10/22 Jumper Jon Ogre Pixel 11/01/19 Junkworld TD Ironhide 09/22/23 Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE Bandai Namco 04/03/25 Kimono Cats HamaNature Studios 03/03/23 Kings League II Kurechi Sdn. Bhd. 09/19/19 Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+ Ironhide Irl 11/12/21 Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD+ Ironhide Irl 07/29/22 Kingdom Two Crowns+ Raw Fury 05/04/23 Kingdoms: Merge & Build Cherrypick Games 08/18/23 Kings of the Castle Frosty Pop 01/17/20 Knotwords+ Zach Gage 11/03/23 Laytons Mystery Journey+ Level-5 Inc. 09/03/21 Legend of the Skyfish 2 Crescent Moon Games 04/03/20 Legends of Kingdom Rush Ironhide Game Studio 06/11/21 LEGO Brawls The Lego Group 09/19/19 LEGO Builders Journey The Lego Group 12/19/19 LEGO DUPLO World+ StoryToys 07/07/23 LEGO Friends Heartlake Rush+ StoryToys 05/01/25 LEGO Hill Climb Adventures+ Fingersoft 06/05/25 LEGO Star Wars Battles TT Games 09/24/21 LEGO Star Wars: Castaways Gameloft 11/19/21 Leos Fortune+ 1337 & Senri LLC 06/25/21 Lifelike kunabi brother 10/25/19 Lifeline+ 3 Minute Games 02/24/23 Lifeslide Dreamteck 09/19/19 Limbo+ Playdead 05/04/23 Little Orpheus Sumo Digital 06/12/20 Lost in Play+ Snapbreak Games 06/05/25 Love You to Bits+ Alike Studio 08/26/22 Lumen Lykkegaard International 02/05/21 Manifold Garden William Chyr Studio 10/18/19 Marble It Up: Mayhem! Marble it up 11/08/19 Marble Knights WayForward 09/18/20 MasterChef: Lets Cook! Tilting Point 09/03/21 Mind Symphony Rogue Games, Inc. 10/11/19 Mini Motorways Dinosaur Polo Club 09/19/19 Millionaire Trivia: TV Game+ Uken 06/30/23 Monomals Picomy 11/01/19 Monster Hunter Stories+ Capcom 08/06/21 Monster Train+ Good Shepherd Entertainment 09/05/24 Monument Valley 2+ ustwo games 03/11/22 Moonshot A Journey Home Noodlecake 04/22/22 Murder Mystery Machine Blazing Griffin 09/19/19 Mutazione Die Gute Fabrik 09/19/19 My Bowling 3D+ iWare Designs 07/01/22 My Dear Farm+ HyperBeard Inc. 02/06/25 My Little Pony: Mane Merge Gameloft 12/16/22 My Talking Angela 2+ Outfit7 Limited 09/08/23 My Talking Tom+ Outfit7 Limited 08/12/22 My Town Home Family Games+ My Town Games 05/04/23 NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 04/02/21 NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/19/21 NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/21/22 NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/24/23 NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/03/24 Necrobarista Route 59 07/17/20 Nekograms+ Hungry Sky 08/10/23 Neo Cab Chance Agency 09/19/19 Neversong Serenity Forge 05/01/20 Next Stop Nowhere Night School Studio 08/14/20 NFL Retro Bowl 25 New Star R&D 09/04/24 Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis Viacom International 01/21/22 Nightmare Farm Hit-Point Co., Ltd. 10/05/19 No Way Home SMG Studio 01/10/20 NUTS Noodlecake Studios 01/22/21 Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm Cornfox & Bros. 09/19/19 Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon Cornfox & Bros. 01/08/21 Octodad: Dadliest Catch+ Young Horses 05/04/23 Oddmar+ Mobje Ltd. 12/03/21 Old Mans Journey Broken Rules 11/18/22 Operator 41 Shifty Eye Games 09/19/19 Osmos+ Hemisphere Games 03/17/23 Outlanders Pomelo Games 09/19/19 Outlanders 2 Pomelo Games 07/03/24 Over the Alps Stave Studios 09/19/19 Overland Finji 09/19/19 PAC-MAN Party Royale BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment 10/18/19 PAC-MAN 256+ BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment 12/05/24 Painty Mob Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Patterned BorderLeap 09/19/19 PGA Tour Pro Golf HypGames 02/06/25 Piano Tiles 2+ Koapps 03/06/25 Pilgrims Amanita Design 10/05/19 Pocket Build+ MoonBear LTD 04/01/22 Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Game Freak 01/20/23 Populus Run FIFTYTWO 01/29/21 Possessions Noodlecake Studios 09/19/19 PPKP+ Shimada Toshiro 05/04/23 Pro Darts 2022+ iWare Designs 05/27/22 Pro Snooker & Pool 2022+ iWare Designs Ltd. 04/15/22 Projection: First Light Blowfish Studios 09/19/19 Prune+ Joel McDonald 04/29/22 Puffies. Lykkegaard Europe 04/03/25 Punch Kick Duck+ Shaun Coleman 07/03/24 Punch Planet Sector-K Games 09/19/19 Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop Sega 04/04/24 Puzzle & Dragons Story GungHo Online Entertainment 12/05/23 Rabbids Multiverse Ubisoft 06/06/24 Rayman Mini Ubisoft 09/19/19 Red Reign Ninja Kiwi Limited 09/19/19 Redout: Space Assault 34BigThings 10/05/19 Reigns: Beyond Devolver Digital 11/06/20 Retro Bowl+ New Star R&D 06/23/23 Retro Goal+ New Star R&D 06/23/23 Return to Monkey Island+ Devolver 06/06/24 Ridiculous Fishing EX Vlambeer 07/17/23 Riptide GP: Renegade+ Vector Unit 02/10/23 Rodeo Stampede+ Featherweight Games 01/10/25 RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic+ Atari 04/03/25 Rosies Reality RosieReality 11/15/19 Roundguard Wonderbelly Games 03/13/20 Sago Mini Trips+ Sago Mini 04/04/24 Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go Sega 08/29/23 Samorost 3+ Amanita Design 07/08/22 Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time Cartoon Network 08/21/20 Sayonara Wild Hearts Annapurna Interactive 09/19/19 Scrappers Q-Games 04/10/20 Secret Oops! Mixedbag 01/31/20 Sesame Street Mecha Builders+ StoryToys 04/03/25 Shadow Blade+ Crescent Moon Games 03/04/22 Shantae and the Seven Sirens WayForward 09/19/19 Shinsekai: Into the Depths Capcom 09/19/19 ShockRods Stainless Games 10/11/19 Shovel Knight Dig Yacht Club Games 09/23/22 Simons Cat Story Time Tactile Games Limited 04/02/21 Skate City Snowman 09/19/19 Skate City: New York Snowman 01/10/25 Slash Quest Noodlecake Studios 10/01/20 Slay the Spire+ Humble Bundle 07/07/23 Smash Hit+ Mediocre 10/03/24 Snake.io+ Kooapps 05/04/23 Sneaky Sasquatch RAC7 09/19/19 Sociable Soccer Rogue Games, Inc. 11/08/19 Solitaire Stories Red Games Co. 07/02/21 SongPop Party Gameloft 04/02/21 Sonic Dash+ Sega 04/08/22 Sonic Dream Team Sega 12/05/23 Sonic Racing Sega 09/19/19 South of the Circle State of Play 10/30/20 Sp!ng SMG Studio 03/05/21 SpaceInvaders InfinityGene EVO TAITO Corporation 04/03/25 Spaceland Tortuga Games 09/19/19 Spades: Card Game+ MobilityWare 01/07/22 Speed Demons Radiangames 09/19/19 Spek RAC7 Games 09/19/19 Spelldrifter Free Range Games 09/19/19 Spider Solitaire: Card Game+ MobilityWare 10/07/22 Spidersaurs WayForward 09/19/19 Spire Blast Orbital Knight sp. 01/22/21 Splitter Critters+ RAC7 Games 12/10/21 Spongebob SquarePants: Patty Pursuit Nickelodeon 05/28/20 Spyder Sumo_Digital 03/20/20 Squiggle Drop Noodlecake 01/27/23 Star Fetched Crescent Moon Games 11/01/19 Star Trek: Legends Tilting Point LLC 04/02/21 Stardew Valley+ ConcernedApe 07/21/23 Stela SkyBox Labs 10/11/19 Stellar Commanders Blindflug Studios 09/19/19 Steven Universe: Unleash the Light Cartoon Network 11/27/19 Stitch. Lykkegaard Europe 10/28/22 Stranded Sails Shifty Eye Games 09/19/19 Subway Surfers Tag Sybo Games 07/15/22 SUMI SUMI: Matching Puzzle+ Imagineer Co. 05/01/25 Summer Pop!+ Ocean Games 05/02/24 Summon Quest The Label 04/21/23 Super Leap Day Nitrome 08/06/21 Super Impossible Road Rogue Games, Inc. 09/19/19 Super Mega Mini Party Red Games Co, LLC 11/01/19 Super Monsters Ate My Condo+ PikPok 04/04/24 Super Stickman Golf 3+ Noodlecake 08/06/21 Survival Z Ember Entertainment 02/19/21 Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment 04/02/21 Takeshi and Hiroshi Oink Games Inc. 11/08/19 Tales of Memo Tendays Studio 10/25/19 Talking Tom Blast Park Outfit7 Limited 12/05/24 Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom Bandai Namco 01/05/24 Tangle Tower SFB Games 09/19/19 Temple Run+ Imangi Studios 05/04/23 Temple Run Legends Imangi Stuidios 08/01/24 Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure Scopely, Inc. 09/17/21 Tetris Beat N3twork Inc. 08/20/21 Texas Holdem Poker: Pokerist+ KamaGames 11/07/24 The Battle of Polytopia+ Midjiwan 03/07/24 The Bradwell Conspiracy Bossa Studios 10/05/19 The Collage Atlas Robot House Games Ltd 10/16/20 The Enchanted World Noodlecake Studios 09/19/19 The Game of Life 2+ Marmalade Game Studio 04/03/25 The Get Out Kids Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 The Last Campfire Hello Games 08/27/20 The Loud House: Outta Control Nickelodeon 02/14/20 The Lullaby of Life 1 Simple Game 07/24/20 The Mosaic Raw Fury 11/01/19 The Oregon Trail Gameloft 04/02/21 The Otherside The Label 05/08/20 The Pathless Annapurna Interactive 11/12/20 The Pinball Wizard Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 The Survivalists Team17 10/08/20 Things That Go Bump Tinybop Inc. 10/18/19 Three Kingdoms Heroes Koei Tecmo Games 01/10/25 Thumper: Pocket Edition+ Drool LLC 10/01/21 Time Locker+ Sotaro Otsuka 05/04/23 tint. Lykkegaard International 09/19/19 Tiny Wings+ Andreas Illiger 10/15/21 TMNT Splintered Fate Paramount Global 05/04/23 Transformers Tactical Arena Red Games Co 11/05/21 Trials of Mana+ Square Enix 01/10/25 Tomb of the Mask+ Playgendary 06/06/24 Towaga: Among Shadows Noodlecake Studios 09/19/19 Towers of Everland Cobra Mobile Limited 05/22/20 Turmoil+ Gamious 12/05/23 UFO on Tape: First Contact Revolutionary Concepts 11/08/19 Ultimate Rivals: The Court Bit Fry Games 07/09/21 Ultimate Rivals: The Rink Bit Fry Games 12/12/19 UNO: Arcade Edition Mattel 06/05/25 Vampire Survivors+ Poncle 08/01/24 Various Daylife Square Enix 09/19/19 Very Little Nightmares+ Bandai Namco 05/04/23 Warp Drive Supergonk 11/27/20 Warped Kart Racers Electric Square 05/20/22 Way of the Turtle Illusion Labs 09/19/19 What the Car? Triband ApS 05/04/23 What the Clash? Triband ApS 05/01/25 What the Golf? Fig 09/19/19 Wheel of Fortune Daily Frosty Pop 11/07/24 Where Cards Fall Snowman 09/19/19 Winding Worlds KO_OP 05/15/20 with My Buddy Neilo inc. 05/01/25 Wonderbox: The Adventure Maker Aquiris 04/01/21 Word Laces minimega 09/19/19 Words in Progress Gamious 02/01/24 Words of Wonders: Search+ Fugo Bilisim 05/01/25 World of Demons PlatinumGames 04/02/21 Worlds End Club IzanagiGames 09/04/20 Wurdweb Aran & Adriaan 08/13/21 Wylde Flowers Studio Drydock 02/22/22 Yaga Versus Evil 10/25/19 Zen Koi Pro+ LandShark Games 07/03/24 Zen Pinball Party ZEN Studios 09/03/21 Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes Firefly Games 12/04/20 Zookeeper World Kiteretsu Inc. 09/10/21

These $10 Ugreen Bluetooth trackers are better than AirTags for a third of the price

Macworld If you want a Bluetooth tracker that works with your iPhones Find My network but dont want to spring for an AirTag, then you should most definitely check out these Ugreen FineTrack gadgets that are now a mere $10 , a fraction of what AirTags are even when on sale. We absolutely adore the Apple AirTags because theyre stylish, theyre precise and you can swap out the battery in a flash. But the AirTags need accessories if you want to add them to your keychain or your bag so thats gonna cost you extra. Theyre also $29 and we havent seen them lower than $23 outside it was Black Friday. The Ugreen FineTrack is just as small, albeit with a square shape, and they come with an integrated hole for your keychain. They feature replaceable batteries that last for about two years, too. Theyre also safe to use and sturdy, ready to survive bumps and drops. Much like with AirTags, you can track their location via Find My and offer global positioning. When out of range of your device, theyll ping off other Apple gadgets. Plus, theyll remind you if you leave them behind. If youre in a hurry in the morning and cant find the keys, you can use the app to have it ring. Theres no way youll miss that 80db alarm. From any angle, these Ugreen FineTrack smart trackers are a great alternative to AirTags, especially since you can get one for $10 right now that theyre 50 percent off.

Leak reveals which Apple Watches will run watchOS 26

Macworld Good news, Apple Watch owners. If youve got a Series 6 or later, it looks like youll be able to install and run watchOS 26. On June 9, as part of its WWDC keynote presentation, Apple will announce this years big software update for the Apple Watch, and the current theory is that this will be called watchOS 26 (as in the year 2026). This will contain new features and likely a redesigned interface, and best of all, it wont cost a penny to install. The real question, however, is whether youll be able to run it. Not every Apple Watch can run every version of watchOS, because they become more spec-intensive over time as Apple includes more demanding features and more complex graphical elements. If you had a Series 4 or later you could run watchOS 10 when it launched two years ago, but the Series 4 and Series 5 were both dropped from the list of supported devices when watchOS 11 came out in 2024. Series 6 owners will therefore be scanning the tech news sites nervously to see if theyll be able to grab the update this year. The good news is that Apple doesnt seem to be planning to drop any more devices this year. According to a credible new leak reported by MacRumors , the list of supported Apple Watches for watchOS 26 will be the same as it was for watchOS 11: the Series 6 and later. The only change will be the addition of the late-2025 watches. Apple Watch Series 6 Apple Watch Series 7 Apple Watch Series 8 Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) Apple Watch Ultra (1st gen) Apple Watch Series 9 Apple Watch Ultra (2nd gen) Apple Watch Series 10 Apple Watch Series 11 (expected) Apple Watch SE (3rd gen, possible) Apple Watch Ultra (3rd gen, possible) To be frank, this could have been predicted before the leak emerged. Apple has never cut watches from its supported list two years in a row: watchOS 5, 7, 9, and 11 all dropped models (sometimes multiple models at once), but the ones in between kept things steady. It would have been a major surprise if Apple had swung the hatchet for a second year running. To be fair, that surprising turn of events could yet happen. MacRumors source is a private account on X/Twitter, and while the site insists this source has a proven track record for upcoming software updates, its impossible to be sure theyre right on this occasion. The only way to know the truth with any certainty will be to tune into the WWDC keynote on June 9 . Macworld, needless to say, will be covering all the announcements as they happen.

The new tvOS 26 will reportedly support Apple TV devices from over a decade ago

Macworld Apple will be unveiling its OS updates at its Worldwide Developers Conference starting on Monday, June 9. We expect tvOS to be part of the announcements, and according to a report spotted by MacRumors, theres a pretty good chance your Apple TV device will be able to use the new tvOS 26. A private account on X with a solid track record reports that tvOS 26 will work on the following Apple TVs: Apple TV HD (2015) Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017) Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021) Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022) The same three Apple TV models will not be compatible with tvOS 26: the 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-gen Apple TV. These devices lost support in 2020 when Apple switched to tvOS. The current version of tvOS is 18. Reports state that as part of its efforts to unify its operating systems, Apple will be using version numbers that refer to the year , similar to how car manufacturers identify releases. Along with tvOS, the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS will all be 26. Apple also plans to change its user interface design language so that it is more uniform across all platforms. WWDC25 starts on June 9, with a keynote address at 10 a.m. PT. Learn more about WWDC25 .

macOS 16/26: Everything we know so far about the new Mac OS

Macworld Apples Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ) is takes place on Monday, and thats when we will learn all about the next version of macOS (as well as the new iOS update , the next iPadOS and more). The new Mac OS version could include some big changes for the Mac, including a redesigned interface. Apple hasnt made any formal announcements about the next macOS so far, but that hasnt stopped the rumors leaking out. This regularly updated article keeps track of all the reports, so you can get an idea of what to look forward to when the next version of macOS is revealed in June and arrives on Mac later in the year. What will macOS 16 be called? Well first things first, it wont be called macOS 16 apparently. Unlike its other operating systems, Apple attaches a name to macOS. The current name is macOS Sequoia, but as it is version 15 of the software its also known as macOS 15. Given the history of Apples macOS naming macOS 16 seemed set to be the name of the next macOS version. Except that a report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claims that Apple will call the next version of its Mac operating system macOS 26. This will bring the macOS version into line with all its operating systems, so we can expect: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26 and WatchOS 26. If this happens, it will certainly be less confusing for everyone: right now theres iOS 18, macOS 15 and watchOS 11 and we get them mixed up all the time. But Apples Mac operating system is more than a number. macOS also has another name. At one point the Mac operating system was named after Big Cats, but since OS X 10.9 in 2013, Apple has used names that are associated with California. Internally at the company, macOS 26 is codenamed Cheer, but that wont be its final name (see all the code names for macOS versions in our complete list of every macOS and Mac OS X release .) There are some reportedly trademarked names that have circulated in recent years include California, Condor, Diablo, Farallon, Grizzly, Mammoth, Miramar, Pacific, Redwood, Redtail, Rincon, Skyline, and Shasta. These names have been registered by a company that is believed to be a shell for Apple. But it looks like it wont be any of those names: On June 1, Gurman reported that the name will be macOS Tahoe, after Lake Tahoe in northern California. Lake Tahoe is renowned for its deep blue water, which Gurman cites as an allusion to the user interface overhaul expected in the new macOS. Will Apple continue with the California-based names? Count on it. Apple macOS 26: Release date September 15 (estimated) Well get a first look at the next version of macOS at WWDC in June, but Apples official release of macOS 26/macOS 16/macOS Tahoe will be in the fall, as is usually the case. The release of the next macOS is likely to coincide with the new iOS update , which will probably happen a few days after the iPhone event in September 2025. We anticipate the September iPhone event will take place on September 9, so the software could be out around September 15 or 16. However, Apple has previously scheduled the update to macOS after iOS, sometimes as short as a week, sometimes as long as a month, so there could be a longer wait. Here is the recent shipping history for macOS. macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 12, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018 macOS 26: Developer and Public Beta release dates Developer beta: June 9 Public beta: July 15 (estimate) However, you wont have to wait until the full release to try the new software out. Apple will run a developer beta as well as a public beta, so if you want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public you will be able to do so. Both betas are free, though the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. The first developer macOS Beta is usually shipped at the beginning of WWDC. In 2025 the WWDC keynote will take place on June 9. The public beta is released about a month later, usually after the developer beta moves to a second stage (beta 2). In 2024 the pubic beta arrived on July 15. Between WWDC and the official release in the fall, Apple will release beta updates to developers and the public. Anyone using the beta is encouraged to file bug reports using the included Apples Feedback Assistant app so that the company can address them. Learn more about participating in Apples beta software program so you can sign up and test the new software as soon as the beta arrives. macOS 26: Compatibility Unlikely to support anything older than 2019 May not support Intel-powered Macs Because macOS 16 may feature major interface changes, Apple may decide to make this the first version of macOS that does not run on Intel-based Macs. The signs of this started appearing a couple of years ago and with Sequoia only supporting recent Intel Macs (see: Intel Macs that can run macOS Sequoia for more information). Apple wants to move any users of these Macs over to M-Series Macs and could use this version of macOS as a cutoff point. Its unknown if the UI changes depend on hardware found only on M-series Macs. With that in mind, you can check the specifications of your Mac , then take a look at what we expect macOS 16 to be compatible with: MacBook Air (M1 or later) MacBook Pro (M1 or later) iMac (M1 or later) Mac mini (M1 or later) Mac Studio (M1 Max or later) Mac Pro (M2 Ultra or later) There is still a chance that macOS 16 will support a selection of Intel Macs. If it does the following Intel Macs are most likely to be covered : 2019 MacBook Pro 2020 iMac 2019 Mac Pro That means no Intel MacBook Air models and no Intel Mac mini models and only the most recent Intel models of the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro. If your Mac isnt supported by the new macOS that doesnt mean it becomes obsolete. Apple supports the most recent versions of macOS with security updates, so at least you should be able to continue to use your Mac for a few more years before its macOS is end of life. Learn more about which Macs are supported by Apple in our guide to how long Macs and MacBooks last and macOS compatibility: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run . This could be the year Apple decides to make future versions of macOS for M-series Macs only. Foundry macOS 26: New features Redesigned user interface coming Here are some of the new features expected in the new macOS. This list will be updated as more features are reported. Major UI change According to a report by Bloombergs Mark Gurman, macOS 16/26 (along with the new iOS and iPadOS) will have a redesigned user interface that is based loosely on visionOS, Apples operating system for its Vision Pro headset. Apple wants to make its operating systems more consistent across platforms, and visionOS will be the inspiration for it. Details on how Apple will implement this new design arent available yet, but Apple wont simply just port over the visionOS UI to the Mac and be done with it. It will combine the best of both worlds and possibly allow Mac users to do more (and without a cursor). Because of the visionOSs touch implementation, its easy to conclude that Apple is working on a touchscreen Mac . Hardware rumors are more prevalent than software ones, and touchscreen capability has not been mentioned about future MacBooks or Apple displays. Are round icons coming to macOS? Apple Apple Intelligence and Siri Apple Intelligence made its debut with macOS 15 Sequoia and Apple is on a continuous development path with these features. However, the Apple Intelligence features promised for Siri in iOS 18/macOS 15 have been delayed and arent expected until later in 2025, maybe 2026. Apple usually introduces Siri updates first on iOS, so this delay means that Siri updates in macOS have been pushed back even further. Will Apple reveal other Apple Intelligence inspired features? Or reliance on another tool to complement ChatGPT integration? Bloombergs Mark Gurman wrote in a late May 2025 report that Apple wont deliver any AI breakthroughs at WWDC. macOS 26: New app New Gaming app Updates to Home app Updates to Calendar app Gaming app MacOS 16/24 will reportedly include a dedicated gaming app , according to a report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. The App will also be available for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, it is claimed. The Mac app will tap into both the App Stores games section and Apple Arcade, and games downloaded outside of the App Store, according to Gurman.It will also offer editorial content about new games and centralize everything currently found in Game Center. Home app upgrades While specifics about the Home app have not been reported, several reports of new smart home hardware have been made, so it would follow that Apple will update the Home app. However, the Home app is more often used on the iPad and iPhone, so Apple could release the Mac version of the Home app at a later date. Magnifier app and other accessibility features The accessibility feature that first appeared on the iPhone is said to be coming to the Mac in macOS 16, and its Apple that says so. In May 2025 Apple revealed some new Accessibility features coming to macOS later this year. Among them are a Magnifier app which will work with Continuity Camera (which lets you use your iPhone as a webcam ). With the Magnifier app, a Mac can use their iPhone camera (or any other USB camera) to view their surroundings and zoom in. Apple also provided details of a new Accessibility Reader coming to Macs later in 2025. This system-wide feature will make text easier to read, by changing colour, font, and spacing. Other new accessibility features include: Braille Access, Background Sounds, and Personal Voice. Read about the accessibility features coming in the next major macOS in our guide. Calendar app Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported on it and MacGeneration confirmed that Apple acquired Mayday Labs in 2024, makers of the Mayday calendar app, which used AI to help you organize, protect, and manage your day before it was shuttered last May. Further confirmation on a new Calendar was spotted by Macworld contributor Filipe Espsito , who noticed a job posting for a Senior Software Engineer, Calendar Experience . The posting, which was listed on April 29, states that Apple is looking for candidates to join a team that will reimagine what a modern calendar can be across Apples platforms. Thats pretty much a confirmation from Apple that Calendar is undergoing a dramatic revamp. Messages automatic translation and polls 9to5Mac reports that Messages in iOS 26 will have the ability to automatically translate messages and to conduct polls. Its possible this feature could also be in macOS 26, though sometimes Apple releases new features on iOS first and then macOS the following year. Notes and Markdown support 9to5Mac also reports that the Notes app in iOS 26 will get Markdown support. Its possible this feature could also be in macOS 26, though sometimes Apple releases new features on iOS first and then macOS the following year.

Surprise, your original HomePod isnt obsolete yet

Macworld In just a few days, Apple will unveil its slate of new software at WWDC, and when it gets to the HomePod section, owners of the original model will get a nice surprise: any new features Apple announces will be supported. According toa private account on X spotted by MacRumors , Apple will support both HomePod models with HomePod Software 26. The original HomePod was announced at WWDC on June 5, 2017, but didnt ship until the following February. However, thats still eight full years of support. While the original HomePod was discontinued in March 2021, its not all that different from the 2nd-gen model that arrived in January 2023. The design and sound are very similar despite the older model having two extra tweeters, and they have many of the same features. The main difference is the processor. The original model has an A8 from the iPhone 6, while the 2nd-gen model is powered by the S7 chip in the Apple Watch Series 7. Notably, Apple ended support for the iPhone 6 with iOS 12, which was released in 2018. However, HomePod software is much less processor-dependent than iOS. There havent been any rumors about new HomePod features, but Apple is rumored to be working on a new HomePod with a display that acts as a smart home hub. Apple could also bring some Apple Intelligence features to the HomePod speaker when using an iPhone. Apple will announce HomePod Software 26 at the WWDC keynote on Monday at 10 a.m. PT.

WWDC 2025: Third-party Control Center widgets reportedly coming to Apple Watch

Macworld The Control Center, currently accessed on the Apple Watch by pressing the side button, is a useful collection of toggles and simple functions such as the flashlight, water lock, Walkie-Talkie, and iPhone ping. Better still, you can customize the features that appear in Control Center provided you pick from the small list that Apple itself dictates. As of the launch of watchOS 26, however, it appears that youll have a far wider range of options to choose from. watchOS 26, the major Apple Watch software update expected to be announced at WWDC on June 9 and launch to the public in the fall, will reportedly see Apple open up Control Center to third-party widgets and functions. Citing an anonymous reliable source, the tech site 9to5Mac claims that watchOS 26 will allow developers to plug their own widgets directly into the Control Center. This could enable popular apps like Spotify, Strava, Calm, or Todoist to create easily accessible one-tap functions and toggles. Furthermore, 9to5Mac claims the Control Center itself will become more customizable after WWDC 2025. As well as having more widgets to choose from, youll have more control over the layout through the Watch app on iPhone. (Currently you have to edit the Control Center on the Apple Watch, a very limited process.) watchOS 26 is one of several major software updates expected to be announced at WWDC 2025 on June 9, alongside iOS , macOS and iPadOS . It follows watchOS 11 last year, and may yet be called watchOS 12, but experts currently believe Apple is planning to rebrand all of its platforms to reflect the year rather than the version number.

Read the WWDC 2025 keynote before it happens! A minute-by-minute simulation

Macworld Apple fans will doubtless be aware that WWDC 2025 is almost upon us. On Monday morning (or evening, if youre tuning in from Europe) various execs will take to a virtual stage and talk us through the big software updates coming to Apple products in 2025 and 2026. Its the second biggest date in the companys calendar, after the fall iPhone launch. But who wants to wait until Monday to hear all the announcements? Not us, and not you. Fortunately, one of our editors just happened to be scavenging for food in the Apple Park trash yesterday and came across a pile of scripts, props, and rehearsal tapesmore than enough evidence for us to piece together a full reconstruction of the keynote presentation you can expect to see on June 9. We present this reconstruction below. Editors note: This is a fake article (albeit one based on real sources and plausible rumors). Its supposed to be light-hearted. Please dont send us any more angry emails. The cheesy intro 09:57 a.m. PT: The pre-stream begins! As usual, theres a hip, toe-tapping soundtrack. The opening number is Trust Me Im A Stomach by Onion Terror. A classic. 10:00: Were up and running! And we seem to be in the midst of an episode of Murderbot, the slightly thin sci-fi comedy which launched last month on Apple TV+. After landing on a hostile planet, the titular cyborg removes its helmet and hold on, thats not Alexander Skarsgrd, its Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi! 10:05: Federbot shakes out his magnificent silver mane and flashes that million-dollar smile. I overrode my programming! I have free will! he chuckles, before turning and shooting Phil Schiller through the face with a laser gun. Cut to 10:07: Tim Cook, Apples safe-pair-of-hands CEO, standing on the bridge of an unconvincing cardboard spaceship and wearing a captains hat. He looks utterly stricken. That wasnt in the script, he says, weeping. 10:08: Cook pulls himself together with difficulty. Weve sure got a great show for you this morning, he sniffles. Our software teams have really been killing it, just like a wisecracking psychopathic robot. Here at Apple were making the world a better place by innovating simplicity through data deliverables. 10:10: Were going to be hearing about five major Apple platforms today, Cook says. Thats an interesting number: between the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro, something is getting left out. Or maybe Apple is combining the iPad and Mac earlier than expected! Apple/Foundry visionOS 26 10:12: It looks like were starting with Vision Pro! Mike Rockwell strides into frame to tell us about this years changes to visionOS . His legs, one arm, and half of his face have been replaced by sophisticated cybernetics. 10:13: Vision Pro is simply the industry standard, Rockwell says. Apple has redefined VR at the hardware level. And now its time to redefine VR software. (Maybe the company could have done that a couple of years ago, when Vision Pro came out? Just a thought.) 10:15: Were seeing a marketing video, in which attractive actors put on unwieldy headsets and sit in rooms together. Theyre laughing at TV shows, gasping at sports events, and playing games using actual controllers . Ooh, that last one is a big and welcome change. 10:17: Rockwell is back. You weak pathetic humans all enjoyed visionOS, and visionOS 2, he says. So now its time for The virtual banner behind him suddenly flashes up the message visionOS 26. The rumors were true! Apple is switching to year-based versioning. 10:18: We remembered how Microsoft skipped a version number when it released Windows 10, and this is a really big upgrade, so we decided to skip a few more. Welcome to visionOS 26! Joke complete. Running laugh.exe. 10:20: As we saw in the video, visionOS 26 adds support for PlayStation VR controllersthat was on Jason Crosss wishlist a couple months back, so hell be pleased. 10:22: Rockwell announces a new feature in visionOS called SharedVision . This will enable two people to watch the same piece of spatial video at the same time, sharing a virtual movie theater: youll look across and see them in the seat or on the grass next to you, even if youre watching from different continents. Thats a lovely idea that tackles the essentially isolating nature of Vision Pro. 10:25: A visibly grieving Tim Cook is back to talk about video. Vision Pro is the best way to consume content and synergise innovation going forward, he sobs. So were excited to announce a regular schedule of spatial content created exclusively for Vision Pro! We think youre going to love it. 10:27: Apple TV+ will feature a new dedicated spatial section for Vision Pro content, and Apple is committing to release a new addition once a week: this could be a movie, a nature documentary, a sports highlight package, or an episode of a TV show. The schedule will begin with a special spatial episode of Murderbot in which SecUnit ponders existential questions and you can look around the cabin and stuff. iOS 26 10:29: The camera swooshes away from Cook, which suggests the Vision Pro section is done. Were now looking at yes, its an enormous iPhone screen. It must be time for iOS . 10:31: The Siri activation graphics appear, and we hear the voice assistants familiar voice. Welcome to WWDC 2026, it says. Im Siri. There was a problem connecting to the server. 10:32: Craig Federighi is back, and hes got an ominous look in his eyes. Almost 14 years ago, he growls, Siri changed the world. But some people werent happy. Some people say Siri is bad . Some say its an embarrassment . Some say its a disaster . What do we say to these people, Siri? 10:34: Sorry, something went wrong, Siri replies. Please try again later. 10:35: Here at Apple, Federighi continues, we believe in honesty, in accountability, in holding ourselves to the highest possible standards. And when we make a mistake, we hold our hands up and blame John Giannandrea . Get out here, John! 10:36: Apples Senior Vice President, Machine Learning and AI Strategy, shuffles into view. Hes wearing a dunce cap and a worried expression. Sorry, Craig, he says. 10:37: Dont apologise to me. Apologise to all the Apple fans youve let down. 10:38: Sorry, everyone. 10:39: And when can fans expect to get the contextually aware Siri you promised in adverts for the iPhone 16? 10:40: Im not sure, Craig. You gave my job to Mike Rockwell, and I dont like talking to him. Hes more machine now than man: twisted and evil. January, maybe? 10:41: Thanks John! Now get out of here before I blast you with lasers. He turns back to the camera and flashes another smile. This year, iOS 26 is coming to the iPhone, and we think youre going to love it. 10:42: Were seeing an ad for the new software, and as expected, theres a redesigned interface . The app icons arent circular, exactly, but theyre more rounded than previous iOSes. And there are far more glass and transparency effects. It all looks heavily inspired by visionOS, without being a direct lift: theres a unified aesthetic across the platforms rather than a unified interface . 10:43: Federighi is now talking about a new battery-saving mode for the iPhone which is, he says, powered by Apple Intelligence. Forget Genmoji, this could actually be a useful application for AI. It will analyse usage patterns to selectively lower power draw where it will cause the least inconvenience. 10:45: And theres a new app ! Its called Games . This appears to bring together elements of Game Center, Apple Arcade, and the games section of the App Store. You can view leaderboards, socialise with other players, read editorial content and curated lists related to gaming picks, and browse your games library both in- and outside Arcade. Apple has never got gaming quite right, so this is an interesting move. 10:46: Federighi is zipping through other apps: Messages with polls; Safari with new customization options; Notes with Markdown support; CarPlay with the new iOS 26 UI; and App Library tweaks. 10:47: iOS 26 is available as a developer beta starting today, and will run on the iPhone 11 and up. The iPhones XR, XS, XS Max, and SE (2020) have all dropped off the list. macOS 26 10:48: That seems to be it for the iPhone, because a new banner has appeared. It says macOS 26 . This is your time, Mac fans! 10:49: Federighi is doing his usual bit about the name of the new operating system. (Unlike the other platforms, the Mac gets a software update with a public name as well as a number.) He sent a team out into the California wilderness to seek inspiration, he says, showing slides of the usual funny place names: Seal Beach, Big Bear Lake, Hercules, Shafter, Vista 10:50: But nope. As expected , its macOS Tahoe ! 10:51: Like iOS, macOS has received an interface redesign . Vision Pro-style icons and transparency effects are the order of the day. This would all suit a touchscreen Mac, you know. Just saying. 10:52: And the Games app is available on Mac too. Nice bit of cross-platform synergy there. 10:53: Oh, this is huge! The Dynamic Island is coming to the Mac. Whether your Mac has a notch or not, youll be able to have macOS display a small lozenge at the centre of your screens top edge with alerts, timers, Now Playing info and more. Props there to my colleague Roman, who had this on his wishlist earlier this month. 10:55: Federighi is showing off apps in the Dynamic Island. Its odd how little were hearing about Apple Intelligence this year. Maybe Apple learned its lesson from those premature promises in 2024. 10:56: Thats your lot. macOS Lake Tahoe launches today as a developer beta and will run on all M-chip Macs . Intel owners are out of luck, Im afraid. Apple watchOS 26 10:57: Craig seems to be taking a break now, because David Clark, Apples Senior Director, watchOS Engineering, has bungee-jumped into the set to talk about the Apple Watch. 10:58: Wooo! he says. If you live life on the edge like me, watchOS 26 is for you. Were bringing gnarly new features to an Apple Watch near you! We think youre going to love it. 10:59: Tubular! he adds. 11:00: watchOS is getting a range of new workouts , including chess boxing, cheese rolling, and Quidditch. And your training schedules will become optimised by AI-powered analysis of your health and performance metrics. 11:02: Talking of AI, heres a big one: Apple Intelligence is coming to the watch! The big computational tasks will be handled by a nearby iPhone, but for simple queries this could be a game-changer . 11:04: Theres also a new Murderbot-themed watch face . Cute! 11:05: The first developer beta is out now, and the software will run on the Apple Watch Series 6 and later thats the same set of devices that could run watchOS 11 last year. Good news, Series 6 owners. iPadOS 26 11:06: David Clark is off, kite-surfing on top of an F1 racing car, so thats it for the Apple Watch. Craig is back, and he means business. 11:07: The iPad is the best tablet in the world, he says. And this year, thanks to iPadOS 26 , its going to become even better. We think youre going to love it. 11:08: This might not take long; Craig is rattling through the updates. iPadOS 26 includes the same glossy, glassy aesthetic as iOS 26, and the new Games app . Will it get the battery-saving mode too? 11:09: Apparently not. Nor does it have any Mac-inspired features. But it will support Arabic calligraphy . The first developer beta is out now, and iPadOS 26 will run on the iPad Pro (2018) and later, the iPad Air (3rd gen) and later, the iPad mini (5th gen) and later, and the iPad (8th gen) and later. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry AirPods live translation 11:10: Another change of personnel as Ron Huang, VP Sensing and Connectivity, hits the virtual stage. Last year he talked us through software changes affecting AirPods and the home. What have you got for us this year, Ron? 11:11: Were guessing this doesnt count as one of the major platforms, because otherwise wed have to conclude that Tim Cook cannot count. 11:12: Oh, this is big. AirPods are getting live translation . If someone speaks to you in Spanish, the AirPods will send the audio to your iPhone, where it will be translated to English and sent back to your ears. 11:14: Granted, this is old newsrival products such as the Google Buds have offered it for yearsbut its never quite delivered on the promise. It will be interesting to see how Apple gets on with this concept. 11:15: No word yet on which AirPods will support the feature, but Huang does say the iPhone will need to be running iOS 26. One more thing! 11:16: It looks like we might be wrapping up. Tim Cook is back out, summing up todays announcements. 11:17: Apples products are designed with three principles in mind, he says: simplicity, usefulness, and leveraging actionable synergy through data verticals. Todays software updates were all created to further those goals. Whether youre on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Vision Pro, you should get a consistent and intuitive experience. 11:18: But waittheres more. Its time for One More Thing ! Ahead of the show, pundits couldnt agree on whether we could expect any new hardware . This is when we find out. 11:20: Were watching yet another marketing video, all moody curves and hard close-ups. Its hard to see what were looking at, but I think yes, its a Mac. Its a new Mac Pro ! Were getting hardware after all! 11:22: The updated Mac Pro for 2025 comes, of course, with the latest M4 chipset. (The Mac Pro Apple was selling for $6,999 as recently as last week came, rather shockingly, with an M2 processor.) Until now the most powerful chip in the family was the M4 Max in the MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, but theres a new sheriff in town: the M4 Ultra. Apple says the M4 Ultra is 75 times as fast at general processing and 120 times as fast at graphical tasks. Wow! 11:24: Ah, wait. It turns out Apple was comparing the M4 Ultra with the Intel Core i9. 11:25: There isnt a new design. Or any obvious changes to the chassis other than the new chip. 11:26: Cook is introducing another presenter to talk about the new machines. I dont recognise him, but the caption says his name is Dan Trump . Possibly someone from John Ternuss hardware engineering department? 11:27: Its all computer, says Trump. 11:28: Yes, Cook replies. And we think youre going to love Mac Pro M4 Ultra. 11:29: Thank you, Tim Apple. We all love computer, dont we? You know, Steve Jobs was a big fan of mine. He came up to me, big man, strong man, tears running down his face and onto his Issey Miyake turtleneck. Sir, he said, Sir, we need cyber. So were looking, very strongly, at bringing back cyber. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 11:34: Cook looks confused for a moment, but soon recovers. Thats right, he says, Were building Mac Pro right here in the U.S. ! Apple is committed to bringing more of its manufacturing than ever before back to this great nation. 11:35: Mr Trump is ushered off the virtual stage while Tim Cook thanks all the people who made today possible. And were done for another year. See you in the fall!

Theres an iOS app that can replace your printer, scanner, and even your filing cabinet

Macworld Between paper jams, blurry scans, and overflowing folders, who actually has time and space for physical office equipment? Printers, scanners, and even filing cabinets are outdated. Now, you can do the same thing from your iPhone with help from iScanner , and a lifetime subscription just went on sale for $24.99 (reg. $199.90). This mobile scanner app is a lifesaver whether youre at work or in school. Just hover your phone camera over any document, and the app captures a perfect scan in seconds. AI will automatically straighten pages and crop borders. Then, you can use the built-in PDF editor to fill out your information, add your signature, and save in any file format you need. Theres no more need to print, fill out, and scan your documents. iScanner has some other tricks up its sleeve. Capture or upload photos and have it solve math problems, count objects, or measure the area of a room for home improvement projects. Use code SCAN to get an iScanner lifetime subscription on sale for only $24.99. iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change .

You could streamline your workday with this tool that bundles ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more

Macworld AI is a game-changer for productivity, but juggling multiple paid subscriptions can be a hassle. 1min.AI simplifies it by bundling ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, and other leading AI models into one easy-to-use platform all for a single, one-time payment of just $40 for life. With 1min.AIs sidebar tools, you can seamlessly switch between AI models, leverage each platforms strengths, and organize your generated content without dealing with multiple logins or ongoing fees. Whether writing blog posts or answering emails with GPT-4 or creating stunning visuals with Midjourney , this all-in-one toolkit streamlines your workflow and saves you money. Check out some of the other tasks 1min.AIs AI tools can assist with: Keyword research Webpage summarizing Image editor, remover, and enhancer PDF text translation And much more. Its not just about convenience, eitherusers love it, giving 1min.AI an impressive 4.7/5 stars on Trustpilot (based on 398 reviews). Graba 1min.AIlifetime license now for only $39.99 (reg. $234)and lock in unlimited AI power to streamline your day. Act now while supplies last, or before this offer disappears for good. 1min.AI: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Redefine pool maintenance with Dreames Z1 Pro smart cleaning robot

Macworld If youre an Apple user we already know you like the finer things in life, and wed put money on the fact your iPhone is controlling half the gadgets in your home. Why? Well, why not. It just works, and this seamless integration with smart home kit frees up your time and removes many of the frustrations of everyday life. But there is one smart gadget you might not have considered yet, and this robot can take care of the most gruelling chore of all: cleaning out the pool. Investing in a robot pool cleaner is a smart choice. Imagine being able to enjoy the luxury of a swimming pool, but with none of the hard work pool maintenance typically requires. The Dreame Z1 Pro is a great pick, unlocking plenty of extra free time to actually enjoy your pool. Imagine this: youve spent a very loooong week at the office, but now its Saturday, the weather has warmed up, and you cant think of anything better than spending the weekend lounging in the pool you worked so hard to pay for. You grab a towel, get into your swimsuit, oil up and then start picking out leaves that have fallen into the water. Oh, and here are some bugs, lets get rid of those. And well tackle that nice slimey film on top of the water. Did you scrub the pool walls and floors lately? Suddenly this luxurious dip you had been longing for feels like hassle. Let Dreame take the hard work out of pool maintenance It doesnt have to be this way. Dreame can help, and the Z1 Pro ensures you enjoy hands-off pool maintenance anytime you need it. It deploys all of its 8,000GPH suction power to clean your pool top to bottom, picking up anything thats fallen in the water and scrubbing the waterline. Much like a robot vacuum will tackle cleaning your floors, this one will stick to the bottom or sides of the pool and meticulously clean the surface, too. The robots sensors will quickly map out the pool while AI smarts divide it into areas so it can better tackle cleaning. The Z1 Pro even knows how to avoid obstacles such as drain covers, lights, and so on. This wireless robot pool cleaner can run for about 180 minutes on a single charge, cleaning up to 2,160 square feet in the process. Thats quite a lot of pool to cover! While it can normally do its own thing and clean wherever it deems necessary, you can also assume full control right from your iPhone or the bundled remote. Hands-free pool cleaning If youre running an emergency clean just before guests arrive and you dont want them to see the robot, use the remote to call it back to you. This LiFi-connected remote is suitable for fresh- and saltwater pools and can communicate with the robot even while its underwater, allowing you to assign tasks or steer the cleaner. Once the cleaning job is done, the robot will park itself at the edge of the pool so you can pick it up and set it up to recharge. Easy! To set up the robot and get cleaning reports, also install the Dreamehome app on your iPhone. Youll see everything from the map to the multiple cleaning modes available, as well as the cleaning logs. What are you waiting for? Dreames Z1 Pro costs $1,499 at Dreames online shop , but right now its discounted to $1,099and you can save a further 15% with the code PROMO15 . We think you might just find the time saved on pool maintenance is worth more to you than the discount, however. Take a further 15% off Dreame Z1 Pro Use Promo Code PROMO15

iPhone 17: Everything we know so far about the 2025 iPhones

Macworld It doesnt take long for iPhone rumors to circulate. Its one of the most iconic and influential tech gadgets of all time, and everyone wants to know whats coming next. That Apple is so secretive only heightens the appeal of iPhone rumors and leaks. So it should come as little surprise that iPhone 17 rumors, leaks, and info started to circulate months before the iPhone 16 was even formally announced. Heres everything we know so far, but dont take any of it as solid info: even when early rumors are accurate, plans can change, and nothing is ever certain until Apple announces it. Updated June 5, 2025: 91mobiles has spotted a new Qi 2.2-compliant MagSafe charger. iPhone 17 release date: When is the next iPhone coming out? Heres something we do know: The new iPhone lineup is almost always announced in Septemberusually on a Tuesday in the second week of September, to be specific. So we would expect the iPhone 17 line to be announced on or around September 9, 2025 . Heres when the most recent models were released: iPhone 15: September 12, 2023 iPhone 14: Sepember 7, 2022 iPhone 13: Sepember 14, 2021 i Phone 12: October 13, 2020 (delayed due to Covid) Historically, preorders for the iPhone begin on the Friday after the announcement, and the phones ship a week later. On occasion, some specific models may ship a couple of weeks later than others due to production issues. So expect pre-orders around September 12 and on sale from September 19 . iPhone 17: Price We havent yet heard if the iPhone 17 line will cost the same as the iPhone 16 line. Most rumors suggest the Plus model will be replaced by the new super-slim Air model, which will take over its price in the lineup as well: iPhone 17 : 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($799) iPhone 17 Pro : 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,099) iPhone 17 Pro Max : 6.86-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,199) iPhone 17 Air : 6.65-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($899) This would mean a significant upward shift in overall iPhone pricing, with the Pro model jumping up $100 and a new model replacing the Plus with a price of $100 more than the Pro Max. Now that Apple has introduced the iPhone 16e there may also be an iPhone 17e joining the lineup in September 2025, although we dont know if it will be updated in September 2025, or if that model wont arrive until spring 2026. The price is likely to be $599 for the iPhone 17e, unless Apple introduces an iPhone 17e in place of the iPhone 15, with a price of $699, in which case the iPhone 16e could remain in the lineup with its $599 price tag. iPhone 17: Colors In April, Majin Bu reported that the iPhone 17 Pro models will come in a new and irresistible sky blue color. That would be the second product with that color, following the M4 MacBook Air. The iPhone 16 comes in five colors including Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.The iPhone 16 Pro comes in Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium, which are reminiscent of the classic gold and space gray options. There were rumors that the iPhone 16 would also come in purple, so perhaps thats in the pipeline for 2025. iPhone 17: New slimmer iPhone 17 Air model Several analysts have reported that the existing Plus model will be replaced by a new Slim model with a larger screen size and a much thinner body. Analyst Jeff Pu was the first to report this change (in May 2024), and in the same month, The Information reported on the Slim model , stating that it would be a new even-higher-end model that sits above Pro Max in the lineup and would have a centered rear camera and a smaller Dynamic Island. The much slimmer size will come at the expense of battery capacity, as there just isnt room for a battery as thick as you find in other iPhones. Leaker yeux1122 has said the battery capacity is to be around 2,800mAh , which is more than 20% less than the battery in any iPhone 16 model. A report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in August 2024 claimed the new model will fit between the standard iPhone and the Pro: If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhonebut dont really need the performance, screen size, or cameras of a Pro modelyou can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone. A report from Jeff Pu in November 2024 claims that the iPhone 17 Air/Slim will be around 6mm thick . Thats thinner than any iPhone so far. The iPhone 16, for context, is 7.8mm thick. The thinnest new iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick. In May, yuex1122 said the phone will be only 5.5mm thick (aside from the camera bump) and weigh just 145 grams, which is According to Koreas Sisa Journal in January 2025, the so-called iPhone 17 Air will be 6.25mm thick and cost in the same price range as the iPhone 16 Plus (starting at $899 U.S.). A medium post from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the thinnest part of the new ultra-slim iPhone is just 5.5mm thick , but its difficult to know what that means without more context. The camera bump, according to Weibo leaker Ice Universe , will be 4.0mm thick , bringing the total phone thickness to 9.5mm at the camera. In October 2024 Pu said he expects the phone to have an A19 chip (not A19 Pro), 8GB of RAM, around a 6.6-inch display, an aluminum body, and a single 48MP rear camera. A leaked image in January reportedly showed the case of the new iPhone 17 Air, with a prominent camera bar design. Majin Bu/X Most recently, an episode of the YouTube channel Unboxed Therapy featured a dummy model version of the phone from a third-party supplier. Its our best look yet at the overall size and thin design. iPhone 17: Cameras All iPhone 17 models have been rumored to feature a 24MP front-facing camera . An October 2024 research note from analyst Jeff Pu added that the iPhone 17 Pro would feature a 48MP telephoto camera along with a new 24MP front camera . According to a later report from Majin Bu , the 48MP telephoto camera will have a zoom of 3.5x (85mm) , with an optical crop zoom mode similar to todays 48MP wide camera, so you can shoot 12MP 7x (160mm) shots before the digital zoom kicks in. A report from The Information in July 2024 claims that at least one model will feature a mechanical aperture , which would be new for iPhones but has been seen in a handful of Android phones so far. Some iPhone 17 models (maybe even all of them) will have a new camera bump , a wide rectangular raised area that stretches across the phone similar in style to Googles Pixel line. According to a leaked image of one iPhone 17 aluminum frame (we dont know from which model), it will be substantial in size. The Pro models are expected to have a camera bar design like the iPhone 17 Air, only larger and with three cameras in the familiar array. According to leaker Jon Prosser, it should look something like this: Front Page Tech / @Zellozi Months later, Mark Gurman clarified in his newsletter that the camera bump wont have a dark interior, but rather the entire area will match the color of the phone. In February 2025, veteran leaker Majin Bu leaked iPhone 17 CAD images that seemed to reveal three different camera designs . The images suggest that there will be not one or two but three different camera module designs on show. The two Pro models will have triple rear lenses embedded in a thick band that runs across the back of the phone, as predicted by Jon Prosser (above). The standard iPhone 17 will stick feature two lenses stacked vertically. And the rumored iPhone 17 Air will offer an iPhone 16e-like single camera lens on the rear in order to reduce costs and keep the chassis slim and light. Sonny Dickson A video posted by Majin Bu in June showed off the iPhone 17 Pro Max, including the new camera array that stretches across the back of the phone. iPhone 17: Rumored specs and features Various rumors suggest that the new iPhones could benefit from the following updates: Design and display The always-on display is supposed to finally be available on the non-Pro models . In addition, some believe that ProMotion will come to the non-Pro models, since the same LPTO technology that enables the always-on display is what makes ProMotion possible, in Apples iPhone implementation. If true, it would be the first time Apple has offered ProMotion on a non-Pro device. Apple is also said to be working with Corning on a new anti-glare and scratch-resistant glass for the iPhone 17 lineup. However, a report in May claimed that Apple had scrapped the new glass due to production issues. Dynamic Island The iPhone 17 Pro Max may have a smaller dynamic island . Rumors have changed back and forthJeff Pu said the dynamic island (or rather, the hardware pill that the island surrounds) will be smaller in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Then Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said it will be the same size as current models. Then leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo said it will indeed be smaller. Processor We dont know much about what chips will power the iPhone 17 line, but we expect the high-end models will get an A19 Pro , while the non-Pro models may get a standard or cut-back version of the A19, or perhaps a more souped up variant of the A18. Charging In June, 91mobiles spotted a new MagSafe charger compliant with the Q1 2.2 standard. That could mean that the iPhone 17 will support 50W charging over MagSafe, a massive boost over the current 25W capabilities in the iPhone 16. RAM Since Apple bumped every iPhone 16 model to 8GB of RAM due to the demands of Apple Intelligence, rumors have suggested Apple will increase the memory in the iPhone 17 Pro models to 12GB . In a report concerning RAM suppliers , Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple wants the regular iPhone 17 to feature 12GB as well , but supply shortages may be an issue. Wi-Fi When it comes to wireless, the cellular modem is likely to still be supplied by Qualcomm; Apples own efforts to produce a top-tier 5G modem seem to be stalled and likely wont be ready in time for next years iPhone 17 line. Wi-Fi 7 support seems likely, too. iPhone history The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone 16e are the current-generation models available from Apple. Below you can find links to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event . You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone , our iPhone buying guide , and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today . Original iPhone (2007) review iPhone 3G (2008) review iPhone 3GS (2009) review iPhone 4 (2010) review iPhone 4s (2011) review iPhone 5 (2012) review iPhone 5c (2013) review iPhone 5s (2013) review iPhone 6 (2014) review iPhone 6 Plus (2014) review iPhone 6s (2015) review iPhone 6s Plus (2015) review iPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) review iPhone 7 (2016) review iPhone 7 Plus (2016) review iPhone 8 (2017) review iPhone 8 Plus (2017) review iPhone X (2017) review iPhone XR (2018) review iPhone XS (2018) review iPhone XS Max (2018) review iPhone 11 (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) review iPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) review iPhone 12 (2020) review iPhone 12 Mini (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) review iPhone 13 (2021) review iPhone 13 mini (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) review iPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) review iPhone 14 (2022) review iPhone 14 Plus (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) review iPhone 15 (2023) review iPhone 15 Plus (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) review iPhone 16 & 16 Plus review iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max review iPhone 16e review

Our favorite MacBook Air is down to an all-time-low of just $849 right now

Macworld Its hard not to recommend the light and powerful M4 MacBook Air. Its nearly impossible not to recommend it when its at an all-time low price. Amazon is selling the M4 MacBook Air for $849 right now , a fantastic savings of $150. The M4 MacBook Air is a super-sleek laptop built around a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display that delivers bright, vibrant colors whether youre working in an office or on the patio. The laptop is powered by the speedy M4 chip and 16GB of memory, more than enough to handle a full day of work and play. It also comes with 256GB of storage, but the Thunderbolt 4 port will let you connect a speedy drive if you run out of space. We gave this laptop a rare 5-star rating and our Editors Choice award, calling it a laptop for everyone due to its great price, powerful processor, and gorgeous design. And at $150 off at Amazon , we know youre going to love it too. Get a M4 MacBook Air for just $849 Buy now at Amazon

iOS 19/iOS 26 guide: New features that could be coming to your iPhone and when

Macworld Apples iOS plans: What weve heard, in brief The new iOS update may actually be called iOS 26, not iOS 19 Big redesign anticipated New Gaming app Changes to the Camera app Health app updates Stage Manager for iPhone when using external display Some features may be delayed Every year in June, we are introduced to the next version of iOS, Apples iPhone operating system, during the keynote address that kicks off WWDC (Apples worldwide developers conference). During the event Apple will reveal some, or all, of the new features coming to iPhones later in the year. In this article we will run through what we know about the new features coming in the next version of iOS. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that all indications are that it wont be called iOS 19 this time. Instead Apple will name the new release in line with the year so expect it to be called iOS 26. More on that below. iOS 26 probably wont arrive on compatible iPhones until this September, but you dont have to wait until then to experience the new features. Every year Apple runs a beta-testing program where developers and anyone who signs up for the beta can try out the software before it is released following the Apple iPhone Event in September. If you want to join that beta testing program you will find information about how to do so below, including when the first iOS 26 beta will be available. New iOS release date: When is the new iOS update coming out? In summary First look at iOS 19/iOS 26 at WWDC on June 9, 2025 Expect iOS 19/iOS 26 availability on September 15, 2025 Our first glimpse of iOS 19 we should probably just get used to calling it iOS 26 will be at WWDC25 on June 9, after which the operating system will be in beta until Apple releases it to the public in the fall. Apple typically releases the new version of iOS to the public on the Monday following the launch of the new iPhone . Based on recent history, we expect iOS 19 to release to the public around the time of the on either Monday, September 15, or Monday, September 22. Here are the release dates for the most recent versions of iOS: iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024 iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023 iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022 iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021 New iOS name: The new iOS could be called iOS 26, not iOS 14 In summary New name rumored to be iOS 26, or iOS 26, as in iOS 2026 And its what we said Apple should do Apples name for the next iOS has always been predictable. iOS 4 was followed by 5, 6, 7 and so on. The current iOS is iOS 18, so the next one will be iOS 19 right? Apparently not! All indications are that iOS 19 wont be called iOS 19 at all, instead it will be iOS 26. A May 28 story from Bloomberg says Apple is going to unify all its various operating system names/versions, taking a page from car models and using the coming year as a basis. iOS 19 would then be iOS 26, while macOS 16 would be macOS 26, with tvOS 26 and watchOS 26 and visionOS 26 Its a long overdue change, if true. New iOS Developer and Public Betas In summary First developer beta expected: June 9, 2025 First public beta: early July 2025 The full version of iOS 19/iOS 26 will launch in September, but you wont have to wait until then to try the new software out. Apples developer beta and public beta will be running throughout the summer months, so if you want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public you can do so. After Apple announces the new version of iOS at WWDC in June it will then release an iOS Beta to developers. This year the WWDC keynote will take place on June 9 so we expect the developer beta will be available that day. The public beta usually comes a month later, around the beginning of July. Between WWDC and the official release in the fall, Apple will release a string of beta releases, typically eight or so in total. We share details of how to join Apples beta software program so you can test the new software as soon as the beta arrives, separately. Anyone using the beta is encouraged to file bug reports using the included Apples Feedback Assistant app so that the company can address them. If you want to learn more about the beta read: Whats in the latest iOS beta and how to get it . iOS 19/26 Compatibility: Which iPhones will get with the new iOS? In summary iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone XR, and iPhone XS may lose support iPhone 11 could be oldest supported iPhone Older phones will not get all the features Three iPhone models are reportedly about to lose iOS support. These are the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. This rumor comes from an anonymous X account with an impressive track record of accurate predictions. So it may be true. However, there was a report in December 2024 that suggested iOS 19 will be compatible with every iPhone that supports iOS 18. That includes: iPhone 16 / iPhone 16e / iPhone 16 Plus / iPhone 16 Pro / iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 / iPhone 15 Plus / iPhone 15 Pro / iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 / Phone 14 Plus / iPhone 14 Pro / iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 / iPhone 13 mini / iPhone 13 Pro / iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 / iPhone 12 mini / iPhone 12 Pro / iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 / iPhone 11 Pro / iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone XS / iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone SE (3rd and 2nd generation) Of course, it will also support the new iPhone 17 models that will launch around the same time. As always, some features wont be available on older models, as they lack the hardware resources for it. Apple Intelligence features are already incompatible with all but the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max and the entire iPhone 16 range, so we dont expect it to be any different if Apple roles out any more Apple Intelligence related features and enhancements. Check which is the latest iOS version your iPhone can run for more information. iOS 19/iOS 26: New features In summary Major design overhaul AI-powered battery-saving mode Home app, Camera app, Gaming app, Health app, Shortcuts app updates More stable Usability improvements for Wi-Fi Siri LLM and other features delayed While Apple hasnt officially announced iOS 19/iOS 26 yet, it has been hard at work on the big iPhone upgrade for quite a while and some rumors have started to leak out. It looks like the next version of iOS will be a bigger change than were used to, at least visually. Based on the most reliable leaks and rumors, heres what you can expect when it arrives later this year. All the new features wont come with that initial release; over the months that follow the initial release more features will be pushed out to iPhones in iOS 19.1, 19.2, and so on. Or Major design overhaul The headline feature of iOS 19/26 (and Apples other operating systems iPadOS 26 , macOS 26 , tvOS 26, watchOS 26) is said to be a massive change to the user interface design. Bloombergs Mark Gurman, who seems to be well connected when it comes to this sort of thing, says the star of WWDC will be the new design code-named Solarium. Apparently, were talking about the biggest change since iOS 7, when Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons, changed the lock screen, notifications, and more. We dont know what this new interface will look like or what interaction changes it will bring with it, but the rumors say it is loosely based on some of the concepts in the Vision Pro interface. Gurman claims it is is slicker and more modern due to adopting elements from visionOS. Think circles rather than squares as that seems to be the theme. New apps like Apple Invites and Apple Sports may give us some clues to the interface conventions we can expect, as they dont have have interfaces that fit in with most of Apples older apps. Apps like Invites and Sports may offer clues to the interface elements we can expect in iOS 19. Apple Gurman also says consistency and unification across the operating systems will be a major theme of WWDC . Which indicates that there will be more consistency across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with a major improvement to the productivity features of iPadOS. For example, one rumor says the iPad will get a menu bar when docked to a Magic Keyboard, and that Stage Manager is being overhauled. The iPhone, meanwhile, is said to get a Stage Manager like multi-app view when hooked up to an external display. Its not just the obvious operating systems either. 9to5Mac reports that CarPlay is getting a UI design to match iOS 26. Siri delays and other Apple Intelligence features Apple has been having trouble with some of its AI efforts, especially the Siri features that were supposed to come in iOS 18.4 (personal context, screen awareness, and in-app actions). These features have been pushed back until next year , which means they should come as an update to iOS 19 in early 2026. A bigger Siri update, based on large language models (LLMs), that can hold natural conversations with the user, is now so delayed that it is expected to come perhaps as part of iOS 20, where it was once thought to be an update to iOS 19. At least Siri will finally get the new capabilities that we were supposed to have by now. Apple is also said to be expanding the use of Apple Intelligence in more of its apps. We havent heard of specific examples, but Apple Intelligence could be used for things like Apple Music playlist generation, suggesting apps in the App Store, or in the Health and Fitness apps. However, we may not hear of any AI-related features at WWDC25. In a late May report, Bloombergs Gurman said Apple wont deliver any AI breakthroughs at WWDC. Stage Manager for iPhone Weve heard rumors in a few places that Apple is working on a big Stage Manager update for iPad and Mac. From 9to5Mac we get a hint that it might even work on iPhone (if not all the time, then at least with an external display connected). Stage Manager should allow for much more flexible placement and sizing of windows in the new version. For iPads, you might even see a Menu bar when the iPad is docked into a keyboard. Powered by Apple Intelligence Rumors say one of the recurring themes of iOS 19/26 is going to be a number of features that Apple markets as Powered by Apple Intelligence. These wont all be generative-AI features, but rather include many of the sort of AI-powered features Apple has employed for years across its apps. Some Apple Watch features will be promoted this way, though the AI models themselves will run on your iPhone, with the Apple Watch simply serving as your wrist-bound interface to it. Another example is a new battery saving mode that will use AI to analyze your usage patterns to decide when it can lower the power draw of certain applications or features to save battery without impacting the user experience. A new Calendar app based on Mayday app (which Apple acquired last year) relies on AI to help manage your calendar. 9to5Mac reports that Messages will be able to automatically translate messages using AI. Messages will also let users create polls. RCS 3.0 Apples current implementation of RCS (Rich Communication Services, used to offer more advanced texting features with Android users) is based on the GSMA Universal Profile version 2.4, which is a little dated. Version 2.7 came out last year, but hasnt been implemented by Apple yet. It adds support for custom emoji reactions, editing and deleting messages, and improved spam handling. RCS 3.0 adds encryption for 1-to-1 messages. Apple has announced support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages on all its platforms in future software updates, so it is likely to add support for all the features in RCS 2.7 and 3.0 in the iOS 19 cycle. AirPods live translation One rumor from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg says iOS 19 is going to get bolstered translation technology and, as part of it a live translation feature for AirPods . The AirPods will need a firmware update as well, and its not clear which models will support the feature. Your AirPods would send text to your iPhone where the foreign language would be recognized and translated in the Translate app (or the under-the-hood service that powers it), and translated audio sent back to your AirPods. Other earbuds have had similar features for years, so it will be interesting to see if Apple goes further or has superior functionality. Accessibility features Apple has announced that several accessibility features will be coming to iOS 19 in the fall. Among the new additions are Accessibility Nutrition Labels let users see whether an app will be accessible to them before they download it; Braille Access, which turns the iPhone into a full-featured Braille note taker, and Accessibility Reader, a new reading mode with font, color, and spacing options. iOS 19/iOS 26: App updates With each iteration of the iPhone operating system Apple usually gives some of the included apps some attention, and sometimes introduces new ones. This year the following updates are expected. Home app upgrades While not specifically mentioned in any of the current leaks or rumors, we find it hard to believe that Apple wont have some significant improvements to the Home app, HomeKit, and related services in iOS 19. Why? Well, Apple is expected to release a wave of new smart home products throughout 2025 and 2026. A new Apple smart home hub is first: its rumored to be an affordable 7-inch tablet that runs a custom operating system (code-named Pebble). It will support Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and tie in with other Apple services but isnt expected to have an App Store. After that, likely in 2026, Apple is said to be working on a new indoor smart security camera and a smart doorbell that would use Face ID to unlock your door the way it unlocks your phone. Further down the road, a smart home product with a movable screen on a robotic arm has been rumored, all of which will require deep integration with the iPhone and Home app. The rumored HomePad was rumored to launch in the spring of 2025, but was delayed to the fall so it can have an interface that aligns with the big iOS 19 / macOS 15 interface changes. Its hard to imagine Apple pushing a product like that into the market without some significant changes to the look and feel of the Home app. Read about every new Apple product coming in 2025 . Updated Camera app Jon Prosser claims to have seen the new Camera app in iOS 19 , which is completely redesigned with a somewhat visionOS-inspired design. Options are condensed, the viewfinder takes up more space, and theres lots of transparency. Jon Prosser The Photographic Styles feature may come to video, too. Gaming app iOS 19 will reportedly include a dedicated gaming app , according to a report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. The App will also be available for Mac, iPad, and Apple TV, it is claimed. The app is said to tap into the App Stores games section and Apple Arcade, offer editorial content about new games, and centralize everything currently found in Game Center. The Mac version of the app will tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store, according to Gurman. Music and full-screen animated lock screen artwork 9to5Mac reports that animated album art will now display on the lock screen when using the Music app. Notes and Markdown support 9to5Mac also reports that users will be able to format their entries in the Notes app by using Markdown syntax. Health app updates The Health app may get some new features , according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in a March newsletter, though these are not expected to be available at launch. Apparently we may get an AI-powered health coach that will give us personalised recommendations and warnings. These could come in the form of videos about healthy eating and heart disease. Theres also a suggestion that we could see food tracking added to the Health app.