Apple News
Apple’s iPhone 17 is best-selling smartphone worldwide in Q126
Apple’s iPhone 17 was the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026, capturing 6% of global unit sales, according to Counterpoint Research’s latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. The iPhone 17 Series captured the top three spots, while Samsung Galaxy A Series was most represented with five models in the top 10. Xiaomi Redmi A5 secured the tenth spot.
The top 10 smartphones contributed 25% of global unit sales, the highest Q1 concentration ever. This was driven by sustained demand for the iPhone 17 series, alongside pressure on Android OEMs in mass-market segments as the ongoing memory shortage pushes up component costs.
Source: Counterpoint Research Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, Mar 2026 (Prelim)
Commenting on Apple, Senior Analyst Harshit Rastogi said in a statement, “iPhone 17 continues to outperform its predecessor owing to key upgrades like higher base storage, camera resolution, display refresh rate bringing the smartphone closer to the Pro variants and providing overall value for larger market. The smartphone registered double digit YoY growth in key markets like China, the US and 3x in South Korea for the quarter. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pro captured the following two spots, offering even more advanced capabilities across camera, battery and new colour, material and finish.”
Samsung’s 2026 flagship, Galaxy S26 Ultra missed the top 10 list. Xiaomi Redmi A5, captured the 10th spot and was the most affordable smartphone in the list.
Commenting on outlook, Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said in a statement, “Looking ahead to 2026, the top 10 smartphone models are expected to expand their share of global unit sales. The anticipated market decline is likely to impact mass-market segments more significantly, while high-end smartphones continue to gain share. In response, OEMs are shifting focus toward premium portfolios, prioritizing value over volume.”
MacDailyNews Take: The only Android phones to make the list are cheap, entry-level models aimed at third-world markets, where they generate the vast majority of their sales volume. The only premium smartphones on the list are made by Apple – and they dominate the top of the list.
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Apple eyes using Intel, Samsung to build Apple Silicon chips in America
In a notable development that could reshape Apple’s long-standing semiconductor supply chain, the company is holding early-stage discussions with Intel and Samsung about producing its main device processors in the United States, according to Bloomberg News. This marks a potential diversification away from its exclusive reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which has fabricated Apple’s custom-designed systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) for more than a decade.
The exploratory talks come as Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly acknowledged supply constraints for the company’s device processors. While no orders have been placed and the efforts remain preliminary, the moves are being viewed as fresh signs of change at the company Steve Jobs built.
What We Know So Far
According to people familiar with the matter, Apple has engaged in early-stage conversations with Intel about enlisting the U.S. chipmaker’s manufacturing services, Bloomberg reports. Separately, Apple executives have visited a Samsung Electronics plant currently under development in Texas that is slated to produce advanced chips.
Neither initiative has advanced beyond the discussion and site-visit phase, and sources indicate Apple harbors concerns about transitioning to non-TSMC manufacturing technology. It remains entirely possible that the company will ultimately decide not to proceed with either partner.
For context, Apple designs its own powerful processors — the A-series chips for iPhones and iPads, and the M-series chips for Macs — but has long outsourced production to TSMC in Taiwan. TSMC’s cutting-edge process nodes have been critical to Apple’s performance leadership in mobile and personal computing silicon.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about two new names entering the conversation; it’s about geography and resilience. Shifting even a portion of leading-edge chip production to American soil (Intel in the United States and Samsung’s new Texas facility) would represent a meaningful step toward reducing reliance on a single overseas foundry — and on a region subject to geopolitical tensions.
Bloomberg‘s framing the story as “more signs of change at Apple” suggests this could be part of a broader strategic evolution. Apple has steadily worked to strengthen and diversify its supply chain in recent years, and outgoing CEO Cook’s comments about processor supply constraints provide a clear business rationale for exploring alternatives.
That said, the preliminary nature of the discussions is important to emphasize. Apple is famously deliberate — and notoriously demanding — when it comes to manufacturing partners. Any actual production ramp would require extensive validation, process alignment, and likely significant capital investment from all parties involved.
What Happens Next?
We’ll be watching closely for any follow-up developments. Bloomberg notes that Apple’s executives have already taken the step of physically touring Samsung’s Texas facility, which suggests at least a baseline level of serious interest. Whether those visits translate into deeper engineering collaboration or trial runs remains to be seen.
MacDailyNews Take: For now, this is an early-stage exploration rather than a done deal. But in the world of Apple supply-chain rumors, even early-stage talks with major U.S. players like Intel and Samsung are noteworthy — especially when they align with executives’ publicly stated concerns about advanced processor availability. Keep in mind that neither Samsung nor beleaguered Intel is currently at TSMC’s level, so this could also be a strategic move to increase Apple’s leverage with TSMC and ensure that Apple Silicon remains at the highest priority.
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Apple Manufacturing Academy accelerates AI use in American supply chains
The Apple Manufacturing Academy hosted hundreds of manufacturers at its inaugural Spring Forum in East Lansing, Michigan. The academy’s largest event to date brought together American manufacturers, industry leaders, and academics at Michigan State University (MSU) and put a spotlight on one of the program’s most tangible results: how American businesses are using what they’ve learned at the Apple Manufacturing Academy to transform their operations.
At Block Imaging — a Michigan-based company that services and refurbishes medical imaging equipment, including CT scanners and MRI machines that keep healthcare providers running across the country — that transformation is already underway. An Apple Manufacturing Academy participant, Block Imaging hosted forum attendees at its facility for an interactive tour where they could see firsthand how the company has applied learnings from the program to modernize its operations and improve efficiency on the factory floor.
“We created the Apple Manufacturing Academy with Michigan State because we wanted to bring advanced manufacturing techniques to American manufacturers,” Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple’s vice president of Product Operations, told attendees during the forum. “Our goal was to create real-world applications that help companies enhance their productivity and efficiency. We’re very excited about Block Imaging and other participating companies that are now making use of what they’re learning in the academy to deliver great results.”
“We were proud to host attendees from the Spring Forum at our facility and share what we’ve been building here,” said Katie Runyon, Block Imaging’s director of Technical Training, in a statement. “The Apple Manufacturing Academy has had a direct impact on how we operate. The training we’ve received from Apple engineers and Michigan State experts has given our team practical tools and techniques we’ve been able to apply immediately on the floor, improving the way we work and the quality of what we deliver to healthcare providers. We keep coming back because the program continues to push us forward.”
Block Imaging was one of four stops on offsite tours that also included the MSU Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Peckham, and the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center. Those visits reflected themes that ran throughout the forum’s first day on MSU’s campus, where speakers from McKinsey, Magna, LightGuide, Medtronic, and other industry leaders addressed topics ranging from the role of physical Al on the factory floor to overcoming the challenges of implementing Al solutions at scale. The day closed with a poster session featuring MSU students and small- and medium-sized business participants, offering a look at the next generation of manufacturing innovators.
The forum also featured a fireside chat between Balasubramaniam and Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Michigan State University’s president. The conversation touched on how Al is transforming day-to-day manufacturing operations, the skills workers and students will need to thrive in an Al-enabled economy, and why the partnership between Apple and Michigan State is central to preparing the next generation of American manufacturers.
Launched last year as part of Apple’s $600 billion commitment to the United States, the Apple Manufacturing Academy is a free program that pairs Apple engineers and MSU experts with small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses to help them implement Al and smart manufacturing techniques. It is the only manufacturing academy in North America and is open to businesses nationwide. To date, the academy has supported more than 150 American businesses through dozens of free in-person training sessions, and recently launched virtual programming to extend that support even further.
MacDailyNews Note: To learn more about the Apple Manufacturing Academy, or to enroll in virtual programming, businesses can visit manufacturingacademy.msu.edu.
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Apple’s iOS 26.5 brings end-to-end encryption to RCS messages in major step for cross-platform privacy
Apple continues to refine iPhone messaging experience with the upcoming iOS 26.5 update, introducing a long-awaited security feature for users communicating with Android devices. According to reports, the new version adds support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, finally delivering stronger privacy protections to cross-platform texting.
What This Means for iPhone Users
RCS (Rich Communication Services) has been available on iOS since iOS 18, offering a significant upgrade over traditional SMS/MMS with features like high-resolution media sharing, typing indicators, and read receipts. However, one critical element was missing: robust end-to-end encryption between iPhone and Android users.
With iOS 26.5, that gap is closing. Apple’s changelog notes: “End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging (beta) in Messages is available with supported carriers and will roll out over time.” The feature is enabled by default, but users can verify or toggle it in Settings > Messages > RCS Messaging.
When active, encrypted conversations will display a lock icon in the Messages app, giving users clear visual confirmation of the added security layer.
Background and Timeline
The GSM Association added E2EE support to the RCS protocol last year, paving the way for secure messaging across iOS and Android. Apple initially tested the feature in iOS 26.4 betas earlier this year, but held it back from the final release. Its return in iOS 26.5 betas suggests the company has refined the implementation and is preparing for broader rollout.
This update aligns with Apple’s long-standing emphasis on user privacy. While iMessage has offered E2EE between Apple devices for years, RCS encryption now extends similar protections to the billions of Android users worldwide.
Important Caveats
• Beta Status: The feature is still labeled as beta and may not be available on all devices or with every carrier initially.
• Carrier Dependence: RCS functionality, including encryption, relies on carrier support, so availability will vary.
• Visual Indicators: Expect a lock icon for encrypted chats, similar to how Google Messages handles E2EE RCS conversations.
Why This Matters
For years, iPhone-to-Android messaging has been a point of friction — often resulting in green bubbles and limited features. RCS adoption helped bridge the gap functionally, and E2EE now addresses the security concerns many users and privacy advocates have raised.
This change represents another win for users who want seamless, secure communication regardless of phone platform. It reduces reliance on less-secure SMS fallbacks and makes everyday texting safer from potential interception.
Looking Ahead
iOS 26.5 appears to be a relatively focused update, with RCS encryption as one of its standout additions alongside other refinements. Expect the final release in the coming weeks, likely mid-May based on Apple’s typical beta-to-release cadence.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple users should keep an eye on their Settings app after updating to confirm the new RCS encryption option. For those in mixed iOS/Android groups, this is a welcome improvement that enhances both convenience and confidentiality. Always remember, friends don’t let friends suffer through life with an Android phone.
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U.S. weekly jobless claims plunge to lowest level in more than 50 years
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits has fallen to its lowest level in more than 50 years. This week’s new jobless claims dropped to the fewest since September 1969.
Matt Ott for The Associated Press:
U.S. jobless aid applications for the week ending April 25 fell by 26,000 to 189,000, down from the previous week’s 215,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s well below the 214,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.
Filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.
According to High Frequency Economics, this week’s number for new jobless aid applications was the fewest since September of 1969.
The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, came in at 207,500, about 3,500 lower than the previous week.
MacDailyNews Take: Bodes very well for Apple!
With more Americans employed (and often seeing wage gains in a tight labor market), people have more disposable income and confidence to buy items like iPhones, Macs, AirPods, Apple Watches, and services (App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, etc.). Apple’s revenue is heavily driven by American consumer demand.
Very low jobless claims signal a healthy American economy, which boosts Apple’s largest market. Historically, Apple’s sales and stock tend to perform well during periods of low American unemployment and economic expansion.
Businesses are also more willing to invest in Apple devices, Macs, iPhones, and iPads for employees, and enterprise services (Apple Business) when the economy is strong.
In short, low unemployment means more people with jobs and money which improves the likelihood they’ll buy Apple products. This is especially positive for Apple as a premium brand that benefits from a prosperous consumer base.
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Apple’s iOS 27 Wallet upgrade: Users will finally be able to create their own custom passes
Apple is set to give the Wallet app a major boost in iOS 27 with a new “Create a Pass” feature that lets users build and customize their own digital tickets, gift cards, and other passes directly in the app.
According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, this long-overdue capability will let iPhone owners create personalized Wallet passes without relying on third-party apps or services that may not yet support Apple’s platform. Today, Wallet excels at storing Apple Pay cards, digital keys, retailer gift cards, and passes issued by compatible apps, but many everyday items like event tickets, loyalty cards, gym memberships, or custom coupons still live outside the ecosystem.
Why This Matters
• Greater Flexibility: Users could design simple digital versions of paper tickets, membership cards, or even homemade gift certificates.
• Easier Digitization: Combined with reports of scanning features for physical passes, you’ll be able to turn a barcode on a gym card or concert stub into a functional Wallet pass with notifications, expiration dates, and scannable codes.
• Developer-Friendly Expansion: While the new tool targets end users, it should also encourage broader adoption of Wallet passes by lowering the barrier for small businesses and individuals.
This change builds on recent Wallet improvements, such as enhanced boarding passes in earlier iOS versions, and aligns with Apple’s push to make the app a true digital hub for everyday items.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News
MacDailyNews Take: Expect more details at WWDC 2026, where Apple traditionally unveils its upcoming iOS features. If implemented well, “Create a Pass” could finally make Wallet indispensable for everyone, not just users of big-name services.
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