Apple News
Apple tests ceramic Watch cases, always-on heart tracking, and a foldable iPhone pencil
Apple is preparing incremental updates to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 for its September 9th event, while internally experimenting with a shorter Apple Pencil for its first foldable iPhone — an accessory that is unlikely to ship with the phone.
According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, neither the Series 12 nor the Ultra 4 is expected to receive a major design overhaul versus last year’s Series 11 and Ultra 3. Touch ID is not expected this cycle. What Apple has tested is a return of ceramic cases for the Series 12, in both white and dark gray finishes reminiscent of the high-end Series 3 from 2017. New band colors and configurations are also in the works.
The more meaningful work is inside the watch. After multiple years on essentially the same silicon, the new models are expected to get a faster chip — likely an S11 or similar — along with health and fitness upgrades. One feature in testing would let the heart-rate sensor collect data continuously throughout the day rather than in periodic snapshots. Apple is also reworking its Health and Fitness apps so they surface wellness metrics in a style closer to dedicated trackers such as Whoop and Oura.
A broader Apple Watch redesign is still planned, but not for this generation. This year’s watches are framed as a modest step: more speed, richer all-day health data, and a premium ceramic option, not a new silhouette.
The foldable iPhone, expected to debut at the same September event and often referred to internally as iPhone Ultra, prompted a more unusual experiment. Apple prototyped, tested, and considered selling a dedicated Apple Pencil sized for the device. The stylus was stubbier than iPad Pencils to match the shorter height of the folded phone. Like current Pencils, it was designed to snap magnetically to the side for storage and charging.
That side mount is part of why the accessory is not expected to launch next month. A Pencil parked along the tall edge gets in the way when the phone is opened — including the many times a user has no intention of drawing. The other problem is the display itself. Foldable panels use a softer top layer than conventional glass; a hard stylus tip can leave visible marks similar to a fingernail.
Steve Jobs famously dismissed phone styluses when the original iPhone launched. Apple later built a highly refined Pencil for iPad. For the first folding iPhone, the company got far enough to weigh a companion stylus, then appears to have concluded the engineering and product-fit problems outweigh the benefit — at least for day one.
MacDailyNews Take: The September 9th event is still expected to center on iPhone 18 Pro models and the foldable, with Series 12 and Ultra 4 as the wearable counterparts. Buyers looking for a ceramic Watch or continuous heart-rate logging may find those in the new hardware and software. Buyers hoping the foldable arrives with a pocket-sized Pencil should plan on fingers for now.
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How to use Grok AI on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Grok, the AI assistant from xAI, is still one of the most useful AI tools on Apple devices. The standalone iPhone and iPad app is mature, grok.com is the full desktop experience, and since August 2026 there is also an official Grok Bot Mac and iPhone app — a separate product for handing off real work, not a replacement for chat.
There is still no official native Grok chat app for macOS. If a site offers a “Grok for Mac” DMG that isn’t Grok Bot from x.ai/bot or Cursor’s downloads, treat it as unofficial.
On iPhone and iPad (best everyday experience)
The official app is Grok (listed as Grok – AI Assistant, “AI chat & video generation”). Developer: xAI; App Store seller: X Corp. It runs on iPhone and iPad and also supports Apple Vision.
- Open the App Store and search Grok. Confirm the listing is from xAI / X Corp. (App ID 6670324846).
- Download the free app. It requires iOS 17 or later or iPadOS 17 or later.
- Sign in with your xAI / X account, Apple Account, or email.
What the app actually does:
• Real-time answers with web and X search, plus deeper research modes
• Grok Imagine: images and short videos (including ~6-second clips with sound, and photo-to-video)
• Image 2.0 editing: background removal, targeted edits, resizing
• Voice Mode, including Live Camera so Grok can see what you see
• Photo, document, and link analysis
• Optional AI companions (Ani, Rudi, Valentine) if you want character-style chats
• Model switching inside the app as newer Grok 4.x models roll out
Older iPhones that cannot run iOS 17 cannot install this app. Use the X app (older iOS supported) or Safari at grok.com instead.
Useful iPhone extras
• Add a Home Screen or Lock Screen widget if the app offers one in the widget gallery.
• Action Button: Settings → Action Button → Shortcut, then pick a Grok shortcut if the app published one.
• Siri Shortcuts still work if you’ve added Grok actions.
Separate app: Grok Bot on iPhone (and Mac)
Do not confuse this with the main Grok app.
Grok Bot is an agent product: AI teammates that get their own cloud computer, sign into the tools you already use, and keep working after you close the laptop. The iPhone app is iPhone-only, requires iOS 18 or later, and is listed separately in the App Store. It is not an iPad app.
Access started as a tight beta (SuperGrok Heavy / high-end Cursor plans) and has been widening. Eligibility still depends on plan; check x.ai/bot or the App Store listing before you assume you can sign in. Android for Bot is not the main path yet.
On Mac
For chatting, Imagine, voice-on-web, research, and coding help: use the browser.
- RecommendedOpen Safari (or Chrome) and go to grok.com.
- Sign in.
- In Safari: File → Add to Dock to get a standalone window. That is still the cleanest official “app-like” Grok chat on a Mac.
Also useful:
• Grok inside the X.com website
• iPhone Mirroring (recent macOS + a paired iPhone) to run the full iOS Grok app on the Mac screen
• Grok Bot if you want agents, not a chatbot: official macOS app (Apple silicon and Intel builds) from x.ai/bot. Drag Grok Bot.app to Applications and sign in with an eligible account. Homebrew Cask even tracks it as grok-bot.
What is not official:
• Random “Grok Desktop” wrappers on GitHub or third-party download sites
• Mac App Store apps that merely wrap the API and use the Grok name
• “Grok Build” community GUIs — the official coding path is the Grok Build CLI / web / mobile Build features, not a consumer Mac chat app
xAI has said native Grok chat desktop apps are in development. As of August 29, 2026, they have not replaced grok.com.
@samat
Quick start tips (all devices)
• Free tier exists, with rate limits. Paid tiers unlock higher limits, newer models, and Imagine/video headroom. Names you’ll see in the app: SuperGrok Lite, SuperGrok, SuperGrok Plus, SuperGrok Heavy, plus X Premium / Premium+ bundles. List prices have been in the roughly $10 / $30 / $100 / $300 range in the U.S., but they move and are localized — confirm in the app or on xAI’s pricing page before you subscribe.
• Be specific. Grok is better when you give constraints, files, and the outcome you want.
• Switch models in the picker when you need speed versus heavier reasoning.
• Advanced Imagine canvas work is still often better on the web than on the phone.
• Same account follows you across grok.com, the Grok app, and X.
MacDailyNews Take: In a nutshel: On iPhone and iPad, install the official Grok app and you’re done. On a Mac, grok.com in a Dock web app is still the real Grok. Add Grok Bot only if you want agents that work in your tools — it is a different product, with different requirements.
Whether you’re brainstorming ideas on your Mac, analyzing a photo on your iPhone, or just having a fun conversation on your iPad, Grok brings a refreshingly honest and capable AI experience to your Apple devices.
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Apple Watch Ultra 4 rumors: sensors, silicon, and a quieter redesign
Apple’s fall event is set for September 9th, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is widely expected to share the stage with the Series 12, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, and, of course, Apple first foldable iPhone. With only days to go, the rumor picture is clearer on internals than on looks.
The Ultra line does not refresh every year. When it does, buyers tend to want more than a new number on the box. This cycle, most of the credible reporting points to health hardware and a new processor, not a radical new shape.
A new chip, timed for on-wrist AI
The last meaningful Apple Watch performance jump was the S9 in 2023. Last year’s Ultra 3 and Series 11 reused the S10. This year’s models are expected to debut a new S-class chip, usually described as S11 or S12.
That timing is not accidental. watchOS 27 is expected to bring Siri AI to the wrist. A faster, more efficient system-in-package would help those features feel usable rather than sluggish, and it is also the simplest path to better battery life without a bigger cell. Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman has framed this year’s watches as getting a long-awaited bump in chips and speed.
Sensors are the main hardware story
Digitimes has said more than once that the Ultra 4 will get a “significant upgrade” to sensing, including claims that the number of sensor components could double. Some write-ups describe an eight-sensor rear array instead of the current clustered pack used for heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and ECG.
The practical payoff, if true, would be better signal quality and less reliance on software guesswork – useful for altitude work, sleep, and long-term heart-health tracking. Gurman has separately said fitness-tracking upgrades are coming. Exact sensor names have not leaked in a way that can be treated as confirmed.
Blood pressure: more alerts, not a cuff on your wrist
Hypertension notifications already exist on compatible watches. The next step rumored for this fall is a refined high-blood-pressure feature that Digitimes said has been under FDA review. Most reporting treats this as trend detection and better alerts, not a medical-grade, cuff-style reading on demand. Glucose monitoring is not expected this generation.
That is still a meaningful Ultra-class addition: the watch that already lives on an athlete’s wrist becoming a better early-warning device for cardiovascular risk.
Design: thinner in some reports, familiar in others
This is the split in the rumor mill.
Digitimes has talked about a major or “full” redesign and a thinner titanium case—sometimes cited as roughly 10–15% slimmer while keeping the 49mm footprint, sapphire front, and rugged identity. A few outlets have also floated Touch ID in the Action button or side button.
Gurman has pushed the other way: no major design overhaul for this year’s watches. That comment also weakens Touch ID, because a new biometric control would count as a visible hardware change. Treat slimmer cases and fingerprints as possible, not locked in. Titanium should stay. A ceramic option has been mentioned as something that could return this year or next, not as a sure Ultra 4 exclusive.
Battery, software, and price
Battery talk is mostly about efficiency from the new chip rather than a giant cell. Some older speculation floated multi-day endurance in the 48–72 hour range depending on settings; that should be read as aspiration until Apple publishes numbers. Display rumors mostly keep a bright always-on OLED around the current 3,000-nit class rather than a sudden jump to microLED.
Software will matter as much as the case. watchOS 27 is expected to carry Siri AI and a Health app that surfaces longer-term trends more clearly. Rumors of a single place for health, fitness, and medical data are consistent with Apple’s direction even if the exact UI is still unknown.
Pricing is the other open question. The Ultra has sat at $799. Several reports say this could be the first Ultra that starts higher: $849 to $899 is the range that keeps circulating. That would match a richer sensor pack and new silicon, but it is still speculation.
What looks solid versus what is noise
• Most consistent: September 9th announcement, new chip, sensor/health upgrades, watchOS 27 with on-device AI, continued titanium Ultra identity.
• Contested: thinner case, Touch ID, a true full redesign, a price hike.
• Unlikely this year: cuff-accurate blood pressure, glucose sensing, a complete visual break from Ultra 3.
MacDailyNews Take: If you already own an Ultra 3, the upgrade case is “better sensors and a chip built for Siri AI,” not a new silhouette. If you have been waiting for the first Ultra that feels like a generation leap inside the same rugged brief, that’s the bet the rumor mill is making, until Apple actually reveals its flagship Apple Watch on September 9th.
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Apple’s new Mac mini hides three details the keynote skipped
Apple unveiled a new Mac mini this week with M6 and M5 Pro options, but the announcement left a few important specs offstage. According to 9to5Mac’s Ryan Christoffel, three details buried in the fine print could matter more to buyers than the headline upgrades.
First, memory bandwidth is not the same across every M6 configuration. The base model with 16GB of unified memory is listed at 153GB/s. Step up to 24GB or 32GB and that figure rises to 170GB/s. The top bandwidth of 307GB/s still requires the M5 Pro chip. Every option is faster than the previous M4 Mac mini, Christoffel notes, but the RAM choice now affects more than just capacity.
Second, the new Mac mini includes Apple’s N1 wireless chip. Apple promoted Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 during the event — clear upgrades from the M4 model’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. What it did not spotlight is Thread support, which arrives with the N1. Thread has been on iPhone since the iPhone 15 Pro and is used for smart-home accessories and automation. It is new to the Mac mini.
Third, the machine ships with macOS 27 Golden Gate already installed. That is not spelled out on Apple’s product pages, but the company confirmed it to John Gruber. The Mac mini does not ship until September 22, after macOS 27 is expected around September 14, so the preload is not a surprise. Anyone who prefers to delay major OS upgrades should plan accordingly.
Pre-orders start at $899.
MacDailyNews Take: These details do not change the overall story of a faster, better-connected mini desktop, but they do change how configurations should be compared before checkout.
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Apple TV climbs to $14.99 a month as Apple also ups Apple One Individual price
Apple is raising the price of Apple TV in the United States, lifting the standalone monthly plan from $12.99 to $14.99 and the annual plan from $99 to $119. The Individual Apple One bundle is going up as well, from $19.95 to $21.95 a month. Family and Premier Apple One plans are unchanged this time.
The new rates take effect immediately for new subscribers as of Friday, August 28, 2026. Existing customers will get about a month’s notice before they are charged the higher amount. MacRumors reports that Apple TV prices also rose today in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, with no other countries listed as affected.
This is the fourth U.S. price increase for the service since it launched in 2019 at $4.99 a month as Apple TV+. Subsequent jumps took it to $6.99 in 2022, $9.99 in 2023, and $12.99 in August 2025. The monthly price has now tripled from launch.
The move comes weeks after Apple raised Apple Music and the Family and Premier Apple One tiers in July. That earlier round left the Individual Apple One plan untouched; today’s Apple TV increase is what finally pushed that cheapest bundle higher.
Apple has spent the past year expanding what a standard Apple TV subscription includes. Formula 1 races in the U.S. are now part of the regular plan after an exclusive broadcast deal announced last October. Major League Soccer, previously sold as a separate Season Pass, was folded into the main subscription earlier this year. Live sports sit alongside a growing slate of originals, including the record-setting return of Ted Lasso Season 4, the Season 2 premiere of Dark Matter, and Slow Horses Season 6 arriving in mid-September.
Even after the hike, Apple TV remains cheaper than many ad-free rivals. Netflix’s standard ad-free plan is $19.99 a month (premium is higher), Disney+ with Hulu is around $19.99, and HBO Max’s ad-free tiers sit in the high teens to low twenties. Paramount+ is still a dollar cheaper on its comparable plan. Apple’s catalog is smaller than Netflix or Disney’s, but the company has leaned on a higher hit rate for prestige series rather than a vast library.
The timing fits a broader 2026 pattern. Netflix, YouTube Premium, Prime Video, and Peacock have all raised prices this year. Streaming services have treated annual or near-annual increases as routine while they add sports rights, returning hits, and higher production costs. Apple has not broken out Apple TV subscriber counts, but executives said in July that viewership hit an all-time high last quarter.
• New sign-ups pay $14.99 a month or $119 a year starting today.
• Current Apple TV and Apple One Individual customers should watch for an email roughly a month before renewal.
• Apple One Family and Premier customers are not affected by this specific change.
• Annual billing still works out to about $9.92 a month, versus $14.99 billed monthly.
MacDailyNews Take: Whether $14.99 is a fair price depends on how much of the lineup a household actually watches. For viewers who mainly want F1, MLS, Severance, Silo, Slow Horses, and a strong lineup of other originals, the service is still priced below lower-quality rivals. For anyone stacking multiple streamers, another $24 a year is one more increment in a year already full of them.
As always, as Apple One Premier subscribers, we recommend Apple One plans as the most cost-effective way to get Apple services like Apple TV and to make the most of your Apple devices.
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Apple expands Emergency SOS Live Video to Brazil
Apple is rolling out Emergency SOS Live Video to iPhone users in Brazil, the first time the feature has launched outside the United States. The company said the service lets people share encrypted, real-time video with emergency responders during a crisis.
The Brazil expansion puts the tool into a large market with high smartphone use and significant public-safety demand. Apple framed the feature as part of a broader set of iPhone safety tools that sit alongside hardware, software, and services.
Emergency SOS Live Video is designed for high-stakes moments when a voice call alone may not be enough. Users can stream live video so dispatchers and first responders can see the scene, while the connection remains encrypted. The rollout is tied to Brazil’s emergency network: about 190 emergency centers using RapidSOS UNITE are the near-term benchmark for how widely the feature can be used.
From an investor perspective, the story is less about a single product add-on and more about ecosystem lock-in. Safety features that work only on iPhone can make the device harder to leave. They also support Apple’s longer-running pitch that services, connectivity, and on-device intelligence — not just new hardware cycles — are what keep customers in the platform.
What matters next is adoption, not the announcement. Watch how many Brazilian emergency agencies actually activate and use the live-video workflow over the coming quarters. If usage becomes routine, the feature looks like a durable part of the iPhone experience in another major country. If it stays limited to a handful of centers, it remains a headline more than a habit.
MacDailyNews Take: This is yet another example of something an iPhone can do that a non-Apple phone cannot, and one more test of whether tools like Emergency SOS Live Video travel well outside of the U.S.
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Apple TV to premiere captivating comedy series ‘Small Prophets’ on October 7th
Apple TV on Friday announced it has landed season one of “Small Prophets,” the acclaimed six-episode comedy from BAFTA Award-winning creator, writer, and director Mackenzie Crook (“Detectorists”) which premiered on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two in the U.K. earlier this year. The series will premiere on Apple TV on October 7, 2026, excluding the U.K., where it will be available to Apple TV subscribers in 2027.
The series features a host of beloved comedy stars including Mackenzie Crook, Pearce Quigley (“Detectorists”), Lauren Patel (“Waterloo Road”), BAFTA Award winner Sir Michael Palin (“Monty Python”), BAFTA Award winner Sophie Willan (“Alma’s Not Normal”), BAFTA Award nominee Jon Pointing (“Big Boys”) and SAG Award nominee Paul Kaye (“Game of Thrones”).
Hailed as a “jewel-like, unhurried masterpiece that is funny, profound and manages to break and mend your heart in equal measures,” the “truly fantastic” first season of the series, which is “full of gorgeous surprises,” holds a rare, perfect 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and won the Best Series Award, International Panorama at Series Mania in March 2026. Celebrated as “completely lovely” and “compulsory viewing,” “Small Prophets” is “richly steeped in Mackenzie Crook’s glorious brand of gentleness, his ability to imbue the ordinary with extraordinariness,” and is an “impossible marvel of TV making.”
“Small Prophets” is a comic tale of the eccentric Michael Sleep (Quigley) who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has lived a very ordinary life. He works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian (Palin) and hopes for Clea to return. One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and more than a little alchemy. With recipe in hand, Michael sets out (albeit with some skepticism) to create homunculi — magical spirits that can predict the future — in the hope they have the answer to his burning question: “Will I ever see Clea again?”
Michael gets help from his young coworker Kacey (Patel), an unlikely friendship that blossoms partly, but not wholly, through their mutual dislike of store manager Gordon (Mackenzie Crook). Their friendship adds to the frustration and intrigue of his nosy neighbors (Willan, Pointing) who are obsessed with trying to find out what the hell is going on in the garden shed.
“Small Prophets” was filmed and set in and around Manchester. The series incorporates visually stunning animation elements throughout a story of friendship and hope, the magical and the mundane, and where secrets and lies lurk in a suburban cul-de-sac.
The series is produced by Treasure Trove Productions and Blue House Productions, and is created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. Executive producers are Mackenzie Crook and Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions, and Christine Gernon and Emma Strain for Blue House Productions. Apple TV acquired “Small Prophets” from international distributor Sphere Abacus.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 878 wins and 3,819 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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‘Dark Matter’ season 2 returns to Apple TV, opening a new chapter beyond the novel
Apple TV’s multiverse thriller “Dark Matter” is back. Season two premieres today, Friday, August 28, more than two years after the first season wrapped — and this time the story leaves Blake Crouch’s 2016 novel behind.
The 10-episode run starts with a single episode, “A Quiet Life.” New installments arrive every Friday through October 30. Apple typically makes Friday premieres available the night before in some regions; 9to5Mac reported the opener was already live for subscribers Thursday evening Pacific time.
What season two is about
Season one adapted Crouch’s book almost to the end: Chicago physicist Jason Dessen is abducted into another version of his life, then fights his way back through the Box — a corridor that opens onto every life he might have lived.
Season two is original. Apple’s official logline:
Season two picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe, until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, and their son Charlie starves for a sense of stability as their family is threatened. Elsewhere, Amanda and Ryan join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home. With Blair determined to stop him, Leighton relentlessly chases his grand vision of creating a perfect world.
Crouch is still showrunner. He co-wrote every episode with Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry. That matters for book readers: there is no published sequel. The new season is the author’s own continuation, not a studio rewrite of leftover pages.
Who’s back — and who’s new
Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly return as Jason and Daniela Dessen and again serve as executive producers. Also back: Alice Braga (Amanda), Jimmi Simpson (Ryan), Dayo Okeniyi (Leighton), Oakes Fegley (Charlie), and Amanda Brugel (Blair). Chris Diamantopoulos joins in a recurring role as Agent Mitchel MacMara. Sony Pictures Television produces the series for Apple TV.
Apple unveiled the season two trailer in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con in July. The streamer is also launching Dark Matter: The Official Podcast, hosted by Crouch and Ben-Zekry, with a season-one recap dropping ahead of the premiere.
Weekly schedule
- A Quiet Life – Aug. 28
- A Perfect World – Sept. 4
- Everything Beautiful, Everything Terrible – Sept. 11
- Stars, Hide Your Fires – Sept. 18
- Love and Be Loved – Sept. 25
- What the Universe Is Made Of – Oct. 2
- The Pyramid – Oct. 9
- The Basic Oneness of Everything – Oct. 16
- How to Build the Box – Oct. 23
- No Quiet Life – Oct. 30
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Pikachu meets Apple’s incoming CEO John Ternus
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook used one of his final weeks in the job for a campus visit that mixed succession planning with a very yellow guest.
On Thursday, Cook hosted incoming CEO John Ternus and The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara at Apple Park — with Pikachu in tow. Cook posted the moment on X with a short video of the mascot touring the Cupertino campus.
“Today’s agenda at Apple Park: Introduce the @Pokemon team to John, talk gaming, and politely ask Pikachu to stay out of the pond,” Cook wrote. “Two out of three were accomplished.”
The clip, posted Thursday afternoon, quickly circulated. By Friday morning it had drawn more than 2.3 million views and tens of thousands of likes.
Today’s agenda at Apple Park: Introduce the @Pokemon team to John, talk gaming, and politely ask Pikachu to stay out of the pond. Two out of three were accomplished. pic.twitter.com/KzirV3VX8U
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 27, 2026
A campus tour, then a handshake
The video is less than 30 seconds and plays like a short campus travelogue. Pikachu first appears dancing under Apple Park’s rainbow arch, then peers through glass at a row of iPhones inside the visitor center. Next comes the pond Cook warned about: the mascot stands at the water’s edge, looking ready to test the “stay out” request. After that, Pikachu heads into the orchard and reaches for fruit still on the trees.
Cook, Ternus, and Ishihara then walk into the shot. Cook is holding an apple. Ternus puts a hand on Pikachu’s back as the four of them continue down the path. In a later beat, Ishihara raises an iPhone toward the mascot — Apple Insider reported he used Pokémon GO to send out Applin on campus.
Neither company published a formal readout of the meeting. Cook’s post framed it as a gaming conversation and an introduction to Ternus, who takes over as CEO on September 1. Cook will stay on as executive chairman.
Why Pokémon was at Apple Park
The visit landed on the eve of the Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, scheduled for August 28–30 in San Francisco. Apple Insider said the Pokémon team stopped at Apple Park on the way to that event.
The business backdrop is larger than a photo op. Pokémon titles have been fixtures on Apple platforms for a decade, including Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, and Pokémon Champions. Cook had already met Pikachu once before, during a September 2025 trip to Japan for the reopening of Apple Ginza.
MacDailyNews Take: The meeting also comes as Apple has pointed to weaker mobile gaming as a drag on App Store growth. Sensor Tower reported mobile gaming revenue down 4.5% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, and Apple CFO Kevan Parekh cited “headwinds in mobile gaming” on the company’s most recent earnings call. Neither Apple nor The Pokémon Company said whether those numbers were on the agenda.
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Apple adjusts App Store taxes and prices in Morocco, Congo, Tanzania, Israel, and Indonesia
Apple is updating developer proceeds and App Store pricing in several markets to reflect new tax rules and keep prices aligned across storefronts.
In a developer notice dated August 27, 2026, Apple said the App Store supports 43 currencies across 175 storefronts, and that it periodically changes prices or proceeds when tax laws or exchange rates shift. Those changes use publicly available rates from sources such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News.
Proceeds already changingAs of August 27, Apple has modified proceeds from eligible apps and In-App Purchases in three countries:
• Morocco: introduction of 20% value-added tax (VAT)
• Republic of the Congo: introduction of 18% VAT
• Tanzania: digital sales tax (DST) rising from 2% to 3%
Exhibit B of the Paid Applications Agreement will be updated to state that Apple collects and remits applicable taxes in Morocco and the Republic of the Congo. Translations of the updated agreement are expected on the Apple Developer website within a month.
Price changes start September 14
Beginning September 14th, Apple will update prices for apps and In-App Purchases in Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, and the Republic of the Congo — unless a developer has chosen one of those storefronts as the app or IAP’s base storefront. Those updates also account for the new VAT rates in Morocco and Congo.
If a developer has selected Israel, Indonesia, Morocco, or the Republic of the Congo as the base storefront, prices there will stay the same. Prices on other storefronts will be adjusted so they remain equalized to that base price.
Two important exceptions:
• Auto-renewable subscriptions will not change price in any region.
• Prices will not change on storefronts where a developer already manages prices manually instead of using Apple’s automated equalized pricing.
What developers should do
App Store Connect’s Pricing and Availability section already shows the upcoming changes. Developers can still change prices for apps, In-App Purchases, and auto-renewable subscriptions at any time.
Apple pointed developers to tools for viewing or editing upcoming price changes, editing an app’s base country or region, checking pricing start times by country, and setting In-App Purchase prices.
MacDailyNews Take: In a nutshell: tax collection is shifting in Morocco and Congo, Tanzania’s digital tax is going up, and equalized App Store prices will move in several markets on September 14th unless a developer has locked in a local base price or is managing prices by hand.
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Your Mac and iPhone are building a private search engine in the background. That’s why Spotlight sometimes feels broken.
Apple’s Spotlight is not just a search box. It is a local, on-device index of almost everything on your phone, iPad, Mac, or Vision Pro: documents, emails, messages, photos, notes, contacts, music, settings, and more. Siri can pull from the same index. Apple says the index stays on your device and is not shared with Apple or your other devices.
That last part is the point. Spotlight is not a cloud search product. It is a private catalog that has to be built, updated, and occasionally rebuilt on the hardware in your hand or on your desk.
The index never really finishes
Indexing starts when you first set up a device. It runs again after a software update or upgrade. It also runs whenever data changes: new apps that allow their content to be indexed, new mail, new texts.
Apple is unusually blunt about the timeline. Depending on how much data you have, the first pass can take hours or even days. Incremental updates after that are much faster. The process finishes sooner when the device is idle, plugged in, and on Wi-Fi or Ethernet so email and other data can be downloaded for indexing.
While it is working you may see:
• On Mac, an indexing progress indicator at the top of the Spotlight or Siri window (Command-Space).
• On iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro, a Settings notification that search and Siri are “optimizing.”
• A Mail notification that indexing is incomplete.
If search feels incomplete or random after an iOS, iPadOS, or macOS update, this is often why. The catalog is still catching up.
When results look wrong
Apple’s first recommendation is the obvious one: install the latest software. Then check whether the category you care about is even enabled for Spotlight.
• Mac: System Settings → Spotlight (or Siri & Spotlight).
• iPhone/iPad: Settings → Search.
• Vision Pro: Settings → Search (or Apple Intelligence & Siri / Siri & Search).
On Mac, a more stubborn fix is to force part of the index to rebuild. Add the disk or folder to Spotlight Privacy, wait a few seconds, then remove it. Spotlight will reindex that location. If you hit a permissions error, the user account may not own some of the files; Apple links to its permissions guide for that case.
Why this matters more than it used to
Spotlight has quietly become the front door to the device. People search for settings, files, messages, and apps the same way they used to hunt through folders. When the index is stale or still building, the whole machine feels dumber.
Apple’s support page, updated this week, is essentially an admission of that tradeoff: keep the index local and private, accept that it can take a long time to build, and give users a few levers when it goes sideways.
The interesting part is not that search sometimes fails. It is that Apple is still doing the hard, unglamorous work of indexing a user’s entire digital life on-device instead of shipping it to a server. The cost is patience. The benefit is that the catalog of your files never has to leave the machine.
MacDailyNews Take:
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What’s expected at Apple’s ‘Surprise and Shine’ September 9th special event
Apple has confirmed its fall hardware showcase for Wednesday, September 9th, at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The invite uses the tagline “Surprise and shine,” with a glowing Apple logo framed like a rising sun. The keynote will stream on apple.com, YouTube, and the Apple TV app.
This is not a routine September event. It will be the first major product launch under new CEO John Ternus, who takes over from Tim Cook on September 1st. Ternus, a longtime hardware engineering leader, is widely expected to open the show.
The bigger structural change is the lineup itself. For the first time in years, Apple appears to be splitting the iPhone cycle. September is expected to focus on premium models. The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and next-generation iPhone Air are widely reported to debut in spring 2027.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
These are the conventional headliners. Design is expected to stay close to the iPhone 17 Pro generation, with refinements rather than a full redesign. Rumors include a smaller Dynamic Island, more uniform back glass instead of last year’s two-tone look, and a new Dark Cherry color alongside silver, dark gray or black, and light blue.
Under the hood, the story is silicon and cameras. Both models are expected to use Apple’s A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process, plus Apple’s own C2 modem. Reports also mention an N2 chip for Wi-Fi and AirDrop reliability, and 12GB of RAM standardized across the Pro lineup. Battery capacity is expected to rise, with the Pro Max possibly slightly thicker to accommodate it.
The most discussed camera change is a variable-aperture main lens. Some reports say that feature may be exclusive to the Pro Max this year. A larger telephoto aperture is also in the rumor mix. Analysts have called the camera hardware one of the more significant upgrades in recent generations.
Pricing is expected to climb. Component costs, especially memory, have driven estimates of a starting price around $1,200 to $1,299 for the Pro, with the Pro Max higher still. Pre-orders are typically expected later the same week, though some reporting has floated a Saturday start this year.
iPhone Ultra: Apple’s first foldable
This is the event’s “surprise.” Apple’s first book-style foldable is widely expected to be branded iPhone Ultra, though iPhone Fold still appears in some coverage. Supply-chain and analyst reports describe a wide “passport” form factor: roughly a 5.3- to 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.6- to 7.8-inch inner OLED. Unfolded thickness is rumored around 4.5mm. Apple is said to be chasing a near crease-free panel, with a Liquidmetal hinge as a durability play.
Expected trade-offs are as important as the specs. Face ID is widely rumored to give way to a side-button Touch ID. The rear camera system is expected to be dual (main plus ultra-wide), not the triple array of current Pro models, so no dedicated telephoto. Software is the other half of the bet: iOS 27 is expected to add fold-aware layouts and more iPad-like multitasking when the device is open.
Pricing estimates cluster between about $2,000 and $2,500, which would make it Apple’s most expensive iPhone. Availability could be tighter than the Pro models at launch because of hinge and display manufacturing. Some reports still leave open the possibility of an announcement now and slightly later shipping.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4
Apple almost always pairs new iPhones with new watches. Series 12 and Ultra 4 are the expected pair. Reporting points to a faster S-class chip, longer battery life, fitness and health updates, and possible design tweaks such as a ceramic case option on Series 12. Ultra 4 rumors include extra satellite features, such as maps and photo-capable Messages over satellite. A major redesign is not the consensus this cycle.
Other possible announcements
The event could be denser than a three-phone-plus-watches show. Mark Gurman and other sources have flagged AirPods 5 (with and without ANC) as likely. A refreshed Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini successor, and a broader home-hub product have appeared in September speculation, though they are less locked in than the phones and watches. Software dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and the next macOS are also typically announced at this keynote.
Apple already moved some Mac announcements into late August, which several outlets read as clearing the September stage for phones, the foldable, and wearables.
How to watch
The presentation starts at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT on September 9th. Watch on Apple’s events site, Apple’s YouTube channel, or the Apple TV app. The keynote itself is expected to be a pre-recorded production, with press at Apple Park. Ternus is expected to introduce it live.
MacDailyNews Take: What to treat as firm versus fluid: the date, time, tagline, and livestream are official. The product list is rumor-driven but unusually consistent across Bloomberg News, supply-chain analysts, and Apple-focused outlets. The real variables are naming of the foldable, whether variable aperture is Pro Max-only, final pricing, and whether any home or AirPods products make the cut. If Apple follows the current script, September 9th will be less about a full iPhone family refresh and more about a premium-only fall, a first foldable, and the opening act of the Ternus era which is blessedly just days away!
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iOS 27 beta hides Apple Intelligence toggle for Apple TV and HomePod
A new setting buried in Apple’s Home app is the latest sign that Siri AI and Apple Intelligence are being prepared for the living room — even if today’s Apple TV 4K and HomePod hardware still cannot run those features themselves.
In the latest iOS 27 betas, Apple TV and HomePod accessory pages now include an Apple Intelligence Report control. The toggle does not appear just because an iPhone is running iOS 27. The attached Apple TV or HomePod also has to be on the tvOS 27 or HomePod 27 beta.
Apple Home Authority first flagged the change on X, posting screenshots of the setting on both devices and noting that current models “may not support Apple Intelligence directly.” The account offered two possibilities: Apple could route some features through Private Cloud Compute so older boxes and speakers can participate, or the menu is simply shipping early ahead of new Home hardware expected this fall.
That second explanation lines up with months of software clues and reporting from Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman.
Even though the current HomePod and Apple TV may not support Apple Intelligence directly, both now have an Apple Intelligence reporting toggle in the latest betas.
This is purely speculation, but there are a couple of possibilities. Apple could be planning to use Private Cloud… pic.twitter.com/7SMcvQqlBr
— Apple Home Authority (@helloapplehome) August 24, 2026
At WWDC, Apple sold Siri AI as a single assistant that should feel the same on a wrist, a phone, or anywhere else in the home. tvOS and HomePod software barely appeared in that pitch. The omission looked odd then. It looks less odd now.
Code hunters have already found Apple Intelligence frameworks in tvOS 27, references to Apple’s Siri AI codename during HomePod setup, and mentions of the N1 wireless chip — a part that does not exist in any shipping Apple TV or HomePod. A later leak also listed a Siri app entry tied to the “campo” identifier in tvOS 27’s Device Hub, a string associated with the new assistant. None of that is present in tvOS 26.
The Home app toggle is different because users can see it. It is not a buried framework or a simulator string. It is a customer-facing control sitting next to Intercom, Sound Recognition, and Accessibility — and it is labeled as if these devices already have something to report.
New hardware is the likeliest destination
Gurman has reported that refreshed Home products are nearly ready and that Apple held them back until the new Siri was ready to ship with iOS 27. The devices most often named:
• A new Apple TV 4K with a much faster chip (widely rumored as A17 Pro or newer), more RAM, Siri AI support, Apple’s N1 chip, and Wi-Fi 7
• A new HomePod mini, and possibly a full-size HomePod refresh
• A separate home hub / HomePad with a roughly 7-inch square display, tabletop and wall-mount versions, and Siri AI as the center of the experience
Apple Retail Stores are also preparing larger changes in the Home sections this fall, which Gurman has said look bigger than a routine Apple TV and HomePod mini refresh.
Current devices are not dead in the water. HomePod 27 still supports the original HomePod. Existing Apple TV 4K and HomePod models already pick up smaller iOS 27-era upgrades such as faster AirPlay and Apple Music AutoMix. HomeKit Secure Video also gets Apple Intelligence features — generated clip descriptions, search, and smarter notifications — but those run with help from a compatible iPhone or iPad and a home hub, not from on-device Apple Intelligence on the speaker or set-top box itself.
On-device Siri AI is a different requirement. That is why the industry consensus has been that the full assistant arrives with new silicon, not as a free gift to 2020 HomePod minis and 2022 Apple TV 4K units.
What “Apple Intelligence Report” probably is
Apple has not explained the menu. The name tracks with privacy and usage reporting elsewhere in Apple Intelligence: a place to see what the system processed, and to turn that reporting on or off.
If Private Cloud Compute is involved, older Home devices could offload some requests the way iPhones already send certain Apple Intelligence tasks to Apple’s private servers. Replies on the original post floated another idea: a newer Apple Intelligence device on the same network could handle requests for older speakers and TVs. Both remain speculation. The safer read is that Apple is wiring the software stack before the September hardware window.
MacDailyNews Take: iOS 27 is close to public release. Apple’s September event is the obvious place for the company to show whether the living-room version of Siri is real, which boxes get it, and whether existing HomePods and Apple TVs get a thinner cloud-assisted slice or nothing beyond the reporting toggle. Until then, the Home app has already given the story away in miniature: Apple is treating Apple TV and HomePod as Apple Intelligence devices in software, even while the hardware that can actually run the full stack is still waiting backstage.
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Apple Arcade subscribers get big ‘Sneaky Sasquatch’ treats
Today, the sneakiest crossover of the summer lands exclusively on Apple Arcade. Through October 7, Sneaky Sasquatch transforms the iconic world of Subway Surfers+ with the charm and aesthetic of the hit open-world Arcade game. Players can unlock four character skins and two unique hoverboards, and dash through a reimagined level inspired by Sasquatch Valley locations, with raccoon coins replacing the classic gold ones and the security guard trading his usual look for a ranger disguise. But the sneakiness doesn’t stop there — fans have plenty more to look forward to with a major update arriving September 17.
“Sneaky Sasquatch is the most beloved game on Apple Arcade and has had one of the most passionate communities of players since day 1,” said Alex Rofman, Apple’s senior director of Apple Arcade, in a statement. “This exclusive crossover with Subway Surfers+ and the new birdwatching update are just the latest ways players can enjoy Sneaky Sasquatch, with more awesome updates planned for the game over the coming months.”
Add birdwatching to the extensive list of fun and mischievous adventures players can experience in Sneaky Sasquatch, from skiing down snowy slopes to racing customized sports cars to becoming a doctor — and everything in between. On September 17, more than 30 species of birds will appear in Sneaky Sasquatch’s world, ready to be spotted, snapped, and logged. Players can snap a photo and deliver it to the birder to log in the bird database to earn rewards. Not every shot is created equal, though: Photos are graded on the quality of composition and subject, with bonuses for a bird’s rarity, a brand-new sighting, or a lucky multi-bird shot.
That’s not all — available now in celebration of Sneaky Sasquatch’s birthday are all-new Messages stickers featuring 11 festive designs full of Sasquatch-size fun. They have been added to the previously released Sneaky Sasquatch sticker pack featuring silly expressions and campground shenanigans.
Download all-new stickers in Messages in celebration of Sneaky Sasquatch’s birthday.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple Arcade is available for US$6.99 per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free. Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95), Family ($27.95), and Premier ($39.95) plans, with a one-month free trial. Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.
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Apple launches new Education Hub for supplier employees in Vietnam
Apple is expanding training and skills-development programs for supplier employees in Vietnam by opening a new education hub in Hanoi and expanding its development curriculum at supplier sites. The Apple Education Hub — the first of its kind in Vietnam — is operated in partnership with Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) and will begin offering courses this fall.
The Education Hub will be a dynamic space that brings together instructors and learners so they can learn directly from professional education experts. The new curriculum will help supplier employees develop a wide range of skills through online and hands-on learning opportunities. Technical programs will equip learners with in-demand skills such as foundational knowledge of smart manufacturing, robotics, and automation technology.
“At Apple, we bring a spirit of innovation to everything we do to support people across our global supply chain,” said Sarah Chandler, Apple’s Vice President of Supply Chain Innovation and Environment, in a statement. “We’re excited to expand educational training in Vietnam, giving thousands of workers the opportunity to build critical skills and explore new career opportunities.”
Founded in 1956, HUST is Vietnam’s first and largest technical university. It is globally recognized as a leading university in engineering, scientific research, and technology development. For decades, the university has driven innovation and technological progress in the region.In addition to technical training, the hub will offer comprehensive professional-development courses. Learners will have access to programs in leadership soft skills and line-leader training, helping them advance in their current roles or begin an entirely new career path.
Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said in a statement, “Partnering with Apple to establish the first Apple Education Hub in Vietnam is of strategic importance. As the country’s leading technical university, Hanoi University of Science and Technology has always pioneered university–industry collaboration to enhance scientific research and train talent for key technology sectors. With the Apple Education Hub, we will work with Apple to advance training programs with the goal of building and strengthening a high-quality technology workforce for Vietnam.”
These new training programs represent the latest initiative from Apple’s $50 million Supplier Employee Development Fund globally. The fund is an important part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to investing in people across its supply chain and expanding long-term education programs. Since its launch in 2022, the fund has supported more than 9 million education and training sessions. In addition, more than 108,000 supplier employees have participated in Apple’s Swift coding program since 2017.
The fund also delivers essential programs that support learners’ overall development. An internationally recognized workplace-rights training program helps people understand their rights and know how to speak up if those rights are not protected. Health education programs provide tailored learning on important topics such as mental health, disease prevention, and early screening. Since 2017, these health and wellness programs have reached more than 8 million people.
Apple and its partners currently offer nearly 20 education programs for supplier employees in Vietnam. The newly launched robotics program provides comprehensive training in robot operation, programming, and maintenance to empower supplier employees and develop a future instructor workforce. This initiative has already been rolled out at five factories and is planned for further expansion.
Apple works closely with suppliers worldwide to deliver programs that support supply-chain employees and open new opportunities for them. These programs range from rights-awareness training to technical, professional, and health education, as well as community-resilience development.
This year, Apple is also expanding its Vocational Education for People with Disabilities program in Vietnam. Since its launch in 2022, the program has reached more than 49,000 supplier employees across more than 70 supplier sites, equipping people with disabilities with skills to succeed in manufacturing environments. It also helps suppliers understand how to build more inclusive and supportive workplaces for everyone.
Highlighting the impact of the vocational education program for people with disabilities in the supply chain, Tran Quynh Trang, Inclusion Specialist at the Institute for Development and Inclusion Action (IDEA), said in a statement, “Apple’s education initiative in Vietnam clearly demonstrates the company’s commitment to fairness and expanding opportunity for everyone. Investing in local talent not only reflects Apple’s core values but also helps suppliers move toward more responsible operations that put people at the center. IDEA is proud to support this initiative.”
The expanded development curriculum from the Apple Education Hub will be delivered at more than 30 supplier sites across Vietnam, helping supplier employees build skills in Swift coding, automation technology, smart manufacturing, and other areas.
In addition to technical and management training, Apple partners with leading international organizations to strengthen rights-awareness training and help ensure that all workers are treated with respect and equality.
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, but those hats!
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IDC expects Apple to ship more than 10 million foldable iPhones in first year
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is projected to ship more than 10 million units in its debut year, according to research firm IDC, a forecast that would help reverse a decline in the foldable smartphone category.
The premium device, widely expected to be unveiled in September, would mark Apple’s entry into a segment pioneered by Samsung seven years ago. IDC sees the book-style, or “passport-style,” handset launching at a high price of about $2,500 and still attracting strong demand from affluent buyers.
“I expect the passport-style Apple foldable to be widely successful despite the high $2,500 price tag,” said Nabila Popal, IDC senior research director, in a statement. “A very elite set of consumers are being targeted here, who will be lining up to buy the device.”
Foldable phones remain a small slice of the overall smartphone market, but they carry higher average selling prices. Without Apple, IDC had expected the category to face a double-digit drop this year. The firm now forecasts foldable shipments will rise 12.6% in 2026 and 18% in 2027, with Apple eventually capturing about 40% of the segment by 2027.
The broader smartphone market is under pressure. IDC revised its 2026 outlook to a 16.7% decline, citing rising costs for memory chips and other components that are also used in AI hardware. Those costs are being passed on to consumers, ending the era of inexpensive smartphones, analysts said.
Apple has not officially confirmed the product, its name, or pricing. Earlier supply-chain reports indicated the company raised production plans toward 10 million units after resolving some manufacturing challenges around the hinge and other components. The device is expected to feature a large inner display that unfolds like a book, paired with a cover screen for everyday use.If the forecast holds, Apple’s first foldable would become one of the most closely watched hardware launches of the year, testing whether brand loyalty and software integration can expand a category that has stayed niche despite years of incremental improvements from Android makers.
MacDailyNews Take: If they can make enough! Apple will sell every foldable iPhone it can make next year and still have people lining up to buy.
Apple wasn’t first with fingerprint recognition, they were the first to do it right with Touch ID. Apple wasn’t first with facial recognition, they were the first to do it right with Face ID. Apple wasn’t first with contactless payments, they were the first to do it right with Apple Pay. — MacDailyNews, February 27, 2019
If and when Apple debuts a foldable iPhone, they’ll be showing the world how it should be done and what to copy going forward. As usual. — MacDailyNews, February 27, 2019
As with fingerprint and facial recognition, when Apple debuts a foldable iPhone, then foldable smartphones will have been done right. — MacDailyNews, January 17, 2019
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iPhone 17 crowns Apple as undisputed smartphone king in Q2 2026
Apple has once again proven why it leads the global smartphone industry. According to Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, the iPhone 17 emerged as the world’s best-selling smartphone in the second quarter of 2026, capturing an impressive 6% of overall global unit sales. Not only did the base iPhone 17 claim the top spot, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro locked in the second and third positions, delivering a clean sweep of the podium for Apple.
This dominant performance comes against a challenging backdrop. The overall smartphone market declined 11% year-over-year, yet Apple’s unit sales grew a solid 5%. The company’s focus on delivering meaningful upgrades that narrowed the gap between the standard and Pro models clearly resonated with consumers. Strong demand for the premium iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max was further amplified by effective trade-in programs, promotions, and accessible financing options that made the latest iPhones more attainable than ever.
Share of World’s Top 10 Best-selling Smartphones
Source: Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, Jun 2026
Regional strength underscored Apple’s momentum. iPhone sales rose across India, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa, while nearly doubling in South Korea during the quarter—all powered by the iPhone 17 series. The iPhone 17e also reinforced Apple’s broad appeal, especially in key markets like the United States and Japan, thanks to the addition of MagSafe and higher storage at the same price point as the previous generation, supported by carrier promotions.
Apple and Samsung each claimed five of the top 10 best-selling models, together accounting for 26% of global smartphone sales—the highest contribution for a June quarter on record. Brands are increasingly concentrating on their most important models amid industry-wide RAM constraints, and Apple’s strategy of refining its core lineup continues to pay off handsomely. Rising average selling prices have also steered more buyers toward the premium segment, where Apple’s seamless ecosystem, software support, and brand loyalty give it a decisive edge.
Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan of Counterpoint Research noted that Apple’s upgrades and promotional efforts strengthened its competitive position precisely when the broader market faced headwinds. The result is clear: in a period of industry contraction, the iPhone 17 series not only led the charts but expanded Apple’s reach and reinforced its status as the gold standard in smartphones.
MacDailyNews Take: With the iPhone 17 family delivering both volume leadership and premium appeal, Apple enters the second half of 2026 with undeniable momentum, and the world’s most-desired smartphones on the market.
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Venture capitalist says Tesla’s Optimus robot will eclipse Apple’s iPhone, predicts 1 billion robots by 2036
Venture capitalist Jason Calacanis predicts Tesla will turn its Optimus humanoid robot into a product bigger than Apple’s iPhone, forecasting 1 billion Optimus robots worldwide by 2036.
Speaking on the This Week in Startups podcast after watching the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Calacanis said he had recently seen an Optimus demonstration that has not been publicly shown.
“Optimus is going to be the greatest product ever made by humanity,” Calacanis said. “It will sell and provide more value than the iPhone.”
Calacanis argued Tesla’s hardware is roughly “one and a half generations” ahead of robots he watched compete in Beijing, while its “brain” is substantially more advanced. He predicted Optimus would win 35 of the competition’s 51 events.
Reuters reported that more than 2,000 robots from 666 teams competed at this year’s Games, testing everything from running and tennis to factory assembly and restaurant service. The event highlighted China’s rapid progress, although robots still struggled with practical tasks such as plugging in cables and recovering from mistakes.
Calacanis went considerably further. “I will guarantee you we will be sitting here in 10 years and there will be 1 billion Optimuses in the world,” he said. “I didn’t say 1 million, I didn’t say 10 million, I didn’t say 100 million. I said 1 billion.”
Tesla is already replacing its former Model S and Model X production area with an Optimus line — a shift CEO Elon Musk confirmed earlier this year. Tesla ended production of both vehicles to make room for robots as it committed more than $20 billion to capital spending in 2026.
Tesla’s own website now lists Fremont as producing Model 3, Model Y, and Optimus. Musk cautioned during the second-quarter earnings call that Optimus will be Tesla’s “hardest product to scale manufacturing” because the company effectively must create an entirely new supply chain.
Musk has said the Fremont line ultimately targets 1 million robots annually, with an even larger Texas operation planned later. He has warned, however, that initial production will be “agonizingly slow.
“Not everyone shares Calacanis’ certainty. Investor Ross Gerber has questioned Optimus’ near-term commercial prospects, while Unitree founder Wang Xingxing recently suggested humanoids could still be years from their “ChatGPT moment.”
MacDailyNews Take: We’ll reserve comment until we see what Optimus can do and at what price. You can listen to the full This Week in Startups podcast here.
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25% of Americans already interested in a foldable Apple device — before it’s even unveiled, survey finds
A new CNET survey reveals a striking level of early enthusiasm for Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone: one in four U.S. adults say they are interested in buying a foldable Apple device, even though the company has yet to formally unveil one. In a poll of 2,605 U.S. adults conducted by YouGov between August 13 and 17, 2026, 25% expressed interest in an Apple foldable, most likely the long-rumored “iPhone Ultra” (sometimes called the “iPhone Fold”). That figure stands out in a category that has remained niche for years. As Patrick Holland, CNET’s director of content, put it: “Foldable phones are niche products, and it’s impressive that 25% might be interested in an Apple folding phone. That would be a killer product debut if Apple could get that many people to buy one.”
Interest is highest among younger generations. Roughly 31–32% of Gen Z and millennials are open to the idea, compared with 23% of Gen X and just 13% of Boomers. This suggests Apple’s potential entry could particularly energize the demographics that drive much of the smartphone market’s momentum. The survey arrives as rumors intensify that Apple could introduce its first foldable as soon as its September event. Analysts describe a book-style design that opens into a larger display resembling a compact iPad and folds into a conventional iPhone form factor, complete with the usual Apple cameras, software, and ecosystem advantages.
While the average amount respondents said they would spend ($781) falls well below the $2,000–$2,500 price range some analysts project, the simple fact that a quarter of U.S. adults are already interested before any official announcement or hands-on experience underscores Apple’s unique pull. Previous foldable offerings from Samsung, Google, and Motorola have built a dedicated, but limited following. Apple’s arrival has long been viewed as a potential catalyst that could legitimize and expand the entire category.
Holland noted that a foldable iPhone is not expected to replace Apple’s core lineup but rather to expand it, offering customers more choice across a wider price spectrum, much as the company has done with larger and smaller iPhone models or more affordable options. In that context, capturing even a meaningful share of the 25% who are already intrigued would represent a strong debut for a first-generation product in an emerging form factor.
The broader market backdrop includes price sensitivity driven by the ongoing RAM shortage, which is prompting many consumers to rethink upgrade timelines. Yet the early interest in an Apple foldable stands apart: it demonstrates that, for a significant slice of the public, the promise of Apple’s design, software integration, and brand trust is enough to generate curiosity well before the device exists.
MacDailyNews Take: Massive hit product looms. Hopefully, Apple assemblers are making as many of them as they possible can!
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Apple Wallet driver’s license support debuts in Virginia, marking 15th U.S. state
Virginia residents can now add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch, following the official launch of the feature on August 26, 2026.
The rollout makes Virginia the 15th state to support digital IDs in Apple Wallet, joining Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, and West Virginia. The feature is also available in Puerto Rico.
Apple first announced the capability at WWDC in 2021, with gradual expansion as individual states implement the necessary infrastructure and security standards. Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles had previously indicated plans to support Apple Wallet integration, and the feature went live after earlier signs of preparation earlier in the year.
How to Add Your Virginia ID
Eligible residents with a valid Virginia driver’s license or state ID can set it up quickly:
- Open the Wallet app on iPhone.
2.Tap the plus (+) icon in the upper-right corner. - Select “Driver’s License and ID Cards.”
- Choose Virginia and follow the on-screen prompts to scan the front and back of the physical card and complete identity verification (typically involving a face scan or similar biometric check).
Once added, the digital ID can also be available on a paired Apple Watch. The credential is designed as a secure companion to the physical card rather than a full replacement in all situations.
Where It Can Be Used
Users can present the digital ID contactlessly by holding their iPhone or Apple Watch near a compatible reader. The device shows what information is being requested, and the holder authorizes release with Face ID or Touch ID. Only the necessary details are shared.
Accepted locations currently include TSA checkpoints at more than 250 U.S. airports for domestic travel, along with select businesses, venues, and apps. Acceptance remains limited overall, and users are generally advised to continue carrying their physical license or ID, particularly for law enforcement interactions or when driving.
Virginia already offered its own Mobile ID app through the DMV, which provides a digital version of state-issued credentials. Integration with Apple Wallet expands convenient options for iPhone users while the state continues working toward broader digital wallet support.
Additional states, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, Connecticut, and Mississippi, are in various stages of preparing or committing to the feature. For residents in unsupported states, Apple also offers a Digital ID option based on a U.S. passport in some cases.
The expansion reflects ongoing efforts to make everyday identification more convenient and secure through mobile devices, though full nationwide availability and universal acceptance will take further time and coordination between Apple, state agencies, and accepting organizations.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, Virginia (and, yes, there is a Santa Claus)!
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