Apple News

Paramount CEO David Ellison announced on a Monday investor conference call that Paramount+ and HBO Max would merge into a single streaming service, contingent on regulatory approval of Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Alex Sherman for CNBC:
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A combined service would have about 200 million subscribers given existing totals, Ellison said during his company’s investor call about the WBD transaction. Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery said last week they had struck an agreement to sell WBD for $31 per share after Netflix backed out of the prolonged bidding war.

Paramount executives didn’t offer any details Monday on how the company may price a combined service or what it would be called. Still, Ellison said he wouldn’t disrupt the HBO brand.

“HBO should stay HBO,” he said, citing its long history of quality programming.

HBO is likely to be a sub-brand within the larger service, according to a person familiar with Paramount’s plans.

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MacDailyNews Take: HBO’s streaming services have had more name changes than Taylor Swift’s little black book, so what’s one more?

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Apple stock rose modestly today, trading up approximately 0.70% to around $266.02 as of midday market hours. This gain comes despite heightened geopolitical tensions, with ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran now in their third day, including strikes that have escalated regional risks and contributed to broader market caution.

President Donald Trump has initiated a bold effort to reshape the Middle East through “Operation Epic Fury,” a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched on February 28, 2026, aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, annihilating its navy, and degrading its proxy terror networks, while explicitly calling for regime change following the neutralization of Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Proponents like The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, argue this decisive action enhances global safety by curbing Iran’s 47 years of aggression, terrorism sponsorship, and threats to U.S. and allied interests, potentially fostering a more stable region and world by weakening the “Axis of Resistance” and preventing nuclear proliferation.

The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran that began Saturday morning is a necessary act of deterrence against a regime that is the world’s foremost promoter of terrorism. It carries risks as all wars do, but it also has the potential to reshape the Middle East for the better and lead to a safer world. – The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, March 2, 2026

While early strikes have achieved tactical successes, the long-term geopolitical remodeling remains uncertain amid ongoing hostilities.

The positive performance in Apple’s shares continues to be supported by strong underlying fundamentals from recent quarters. The company’s latest fiscal results showed robust iPhone demand, with significant year-over-year revenue growth driven by the current product lineup. Investors remain optimistic about Apple’s resilient ecosystem, which includes over 2.5 billion active devices worldwide, providing stable recurring services revenue.

Market attention is also turning toward upcoming product announcements, with reports of new iPhone, MacBook, and iPad models expected soon, potentially including refreshes that could drive further consumer interest. Apple’s brand strength continue to position it as a relatively defensive name in the tech sector amid external uncertainties.

While the Middle East conflict — featuring intensified strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory actions — has raised concerns over potential oil supply disruptions and global economic ripple effects, Apple’s stock has held firm, reflecting investor focus on the company’s long-term innovation pipeline rather than immediate geopolitical headlines. Trading volume today has been steady, with the stock moving in a day’s range roughly between $260 and $266.

MacDailyNews Take: AAPL is, as ever, a safe harbor in a storm—and today’s market action proves it once again.

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SpaceX’s Starlink has unveiled its next-generation V2 satellites for mobile service, promising to deliver true 5G speeds directly from orbit.

The upgrade aims to provide peak download speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user, enabling seamless streaming, web browsing, high-speed apps, and voice calls—just like a terrestrial cellular network.

According to the announcement shared on X, the V2 satellites boast 100 times the data density of the current V1 generation, with approximately 20 times higher throughput capacity per satellite.

This leap in technology is powered by custom chips and advanced phased-array antennas, allowing the system to handle significantly more traffic while connecting directly to unmodified smartphones.

Starlink plans to expand its constellation dramatically, potentially adding up to 15,000 direct-to-cell satellites to achieve global coverage and support for millions of users.

The service, already operational in over 32 countries for basic features like texting, is set to disrupt traditional carriers by offering a comprehensive alternative for remote areas, maritime, aviation, and disaster response scenarios.

Starlink via X:
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Starlink Mobile’s next-gen satellites will deliver 5G speeds from space with 100x the data density of the current V1 generation satellites

V2 satellites will seamlessly enable streaming, internet browsing, high-speed apps and voice calls, just like being connected to a terrestrial network.

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MacDailyNews Note: The V2’s potential to provide space-based internet at 5G levels marks a significant step toward universal connectivity. While rollout timelines remain unspecified, the upgrade positions Starlink as a formidable rival to established mobile networks like T-Mobile and Verizon.

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Introducing iPhone 17e, the most affordable member of the iPhone 17 family.

Apple today announced iPhone 17e, a powerful and more affordable addition to the iPhone 17 lineup. At the heart of iPhone 17e is the latest-generation A19, which delivers exceptional performance for everything users do. iPhone 17e also features C1X, the latest-generation cellular modem designed by Apple, which is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e. The 48MP Fusion camera captures stunning photos, including next-generation portraits, and 4K Dolby Vision video. It also enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto — like having two cameras in one. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display features Ceramic Shield 2, offering 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare. With MagSafe, users can enjoy fast wireless charging and access to a vast ecosystem of accessories like chargers and cases. And when iPhone 17e users are outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite — help them stay connected when it matters most.

Available in three elegant colors with a premium matte finish — black, white, and a beautiful new soft pink — iPhone 17e will be available for pre-order beginning Wednesday, March 4, with availability starting Wednesday, March 11. iPhone 17e will start at 256GB of storage for $599 — 2x the entry storage from the previous generation at the same starting price, and 4x more than iPhone 12 — giving users more space for high-resolution photos, 4K videos, apps, games, and more.

iPhone 17e delivers powerful features at an incredible value, including Apple’s latest-generation A19, a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, storage starting at 256GB, and the magic of MagSafe.

“iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, in a statement. “We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that. With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come.”

A Beautiful Design with Enhanced Durability

iPhone holds its value longer than other smartphones, and iPhone 17e is built to last. It features a strong yet lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum design, and is splash, water, and dust resistant with an IP68 rating. The Ceramic Shield 2 front cover — featured across the iPhone 17 family — is tougher than any smartphone glass, and an Apple-designed coating provides 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation as well as improved anti-reflection to reduce glare.

The Ceramic Shield 2 front cover provides 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and improved anti-reflection to reduce glare.

The Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology delivers a fantastic viewing experience whether a user is streaming videos in Dolby Vision or playing games, and with up to 1200 nits peak HDR brightness, it is easy to view content on brighter days. Face ID provides a seamless and secure way to unlock iPhone 17e, authenticate purchases, sign in to apps, and more. With the Action button, users can access their favorite features — like the flashlight, visual intelligence, and more — with just a press.

The Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology delivers a fantastic viewing experience whether a user is streaming videos in Dolby Vision or playing games, and with up to 1200 nits peak HDR brightness, it is easy to view content on brighter days. Face ID provides a seamless and secure way to unlock iPhone 17e, authenticate purchases, sign in to apps, and more. With the Action button, users can access their favorite features — like the flashlight, visual intelligence, and more — with just a press.

Powerful Performance and Exceptional Efficiency

iPhone 17e features the latest-generation A19 built with advanced 3-nanometer technology, delivering powerful performance. The faster, more efficient 6-core CPU — up to 2x faster than iPhone 11 — handles everything from simple tasks like scrolling through photos to advanced Apple Intelligence capabilities like Clean Up. The 4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators unlocks console-level gaming on the go, supporting demanding AAA titles and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting and reflections. The upgraded 16-core Neural Engine is optimized for large generative models and, combined with Neural Accelerators built into each GPU, enables Apple Intelligence and other AI models to run faster than on the previous generation.

iPhone 17e also features C1X, the latest-generation cellular modem designed by Apple. C1X is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e and matches the speed of iPhone Air. C1X uses 30 percent less energy than the modem in iPhone 16 Pro, contributing to the exceptional all-day battery life.

Excellent Battery Life, Fast Charging, and MagSafe

iPhone 17e delivers exceptional all-day battery life, enabled by the efficiencies of Apple silicon, including the C1X cellular modem, and the advanced power management of iOS 26. With fast wired charging using USB-C, iPhone 17e can charge up to 50 percent in around 30 minutes. iPhone 17e also supports MagSafe and Qi2 for fast wireless charging up to 15W compared to 7.5W Qi wireless charging on iPhone 16e. MagSafe chargers, stands, cases, wallets, camera accessories, and more snap easily to the back of iPhone 17e, providing seamless alignment with a wide ecosystem of accessories.

iPhone 17e supports MagSafe for fast wireless charging and connects to a wide ecosystem of chargers, cases, wallets, and other accessories.

An Advanced Camera System to Capture Everyday Moments

iPhone 17e takes gorgeous photos with excellent detail, including in low light with Night mode. The 48MP Fusion camera enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto, giving users two cameras in one so they can get closer to the subject and easily frame their shot. Users can shoot sharp photos at up to 48MP resolution, or capture in the 24MP default for incredible image quality at a file size perfect for storing and sharing. Portrait mode improves thanks to an advanced image pipeline, delivering remarkably natural depth and smooth bokeh that gracefully blurs the background while keeping subjects sharp. The advanced pipeline also enables next-generation portraits, so iPhone 17e recognizes people, dogs, and cats, and automatically saves depth information, allowing users to turn photos into beautiful portraits with background blur after capture and to adjust the focus point in the Photos app. The latest generation of HDR captures subjects with true-to-life renderings of skin tones and ensures bright highlights, rich midtones, and deep shadows across the image — all while preserving fine details.

The Fusion camera delivers 48MP of resolution for capturing fine details.

iPhone 17e takes stunning videos with the ability to record in 4K with Dolby Vision up to 60 fps. iPhone 17e also records video in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods or Apple Vision Pro, and enables more ways to edit video sound with Audio Mix. With wind noise reduction, powerful machine learning algorithms automatically reduce unwanted noise for better audio quality.

iPhone 17e can record stunning 4K video at 60 fps in Dolby Vision.

Groundbreaking Safety and Communication Capabilities

iPhone 17e helps users stay connected and get assistance when it matters most. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, users can text friends and family with Messages via satellite; connect with emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite; and reach roadside assistance providers with Roadside Assistance via satellite. The Find My app lets users share their location via satellite, reassuring friends and family of their whereabouts while traveling off the grid. Crash Detection can detect a severe car accident and automatically dial emergency services if a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

iPhone 17e comes with iOS 26, delivering a beautiful new design, powerful Apple Intelligence capabilities, and meaningful improvements to the apps users rely on every day.7 The new design with Liquid Glass makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful, bringing greater focus to content while keeping iOS instantly familiar and introducing even more ways to personalize iPhone. Apple Intelligence allows users to communicate across languages with Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, Phone, and with AirPods.8 Visual intelligence now extends to a user’s iPhone screen, letting them search, ask questions, and take action on the content they’re viewing.9 To help users eliminate distractions, Call Screening can screen calls from unknown numbers and automatically ask the reason for calling, while Hold Assist can hold on the line until a live agent is available.10 In Messages, users can now choose to screen messages from unknown senders by filtering them to a dedicated folder so they don’t clutter up the conversation list.
iPhone 17e and the Environment

Apple 2030 is the company’s plan to be “carbon neutral” across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. iPhone 17e is made with 30 percent recycled content, including 85 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 55 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. iPhone 17e is designed to be durable, repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled.

Pricing and Availability

• iPhone 17e will be available in black, white, and soft pink in 256GB and 512GB storage capacities, starting at $599 (U.S.) or $24.95 (U.S.) per month for 24 months.

• Apple offers great ways to save and upgrade to the latest iPhone. With a carrier offer, customers can get up to $400 (U.S.) in credit when they trade in iPhone 11, or up to $599 (U.S.) in credit when they trade in iPhone 13 to put toward an iPhone 17e. With Apple Trade In, customers can get up to $100 (U.S.) in credit when they trade in iPhone 11, or up to $195 (U.S.) in credit when they trade in iPhone 13.

• There are also great offers available for customers without a device to trade in. Customers can take advantage of these offers by visiting the Apple Store online or an Apple Store location. For carrier offer eligibility requirements and more details, see apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/carrier-offers. To see what their device is worth and for Apple Trade In terms and conditions, customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in.

• Customers in more than 70 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Türkiye, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S., will be able to pre-order iPhone 17e beginning at 6:15 a.m. PST this Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.

• Apple Intelligence is available in beta with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115.

• iPhone 17e Silicone Case with MagSafe will be available in six colors — black, anchor blue, light moss, vanilla, bright guava, and soft pink — for $49 (U.S.) and is compatible with the Crossbody Strap. iPhone 17e Clear Case with MagSafe will also be available for $49 (U.S.).

• AppleCare delivers exceptional service and support, with flexible options for Apple users. Customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new iPhone, or in the U.S., AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include coverage for accidents like drops and spills, theft and loss protection on eligible products, battery replacement service, and 24/7 support from Apple Experts. For more information, visit apple.com/applecare.

• iCloud+ plans start at just $0.99 (U.S.) per month, providing additional storage to keep photos, videos, files, and more safe in the cloud and accessible across devices. iCloud+ also gives access to premium features such as event creation in the Apple Invites app, as well as Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domains, and HomeKit Secure Video. With Family Sharing, users can share their subscription with five other family members at no extra cost. For more information, visit apple.com/icloud.

• Customers who purchase iPhone 17e may receive three free months of Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV with a new subscription. Offer and services availability varies by region. See apple.com/promo for details.

MacDailyNews Take: The addition of MagSafe (which the previous iPhone 16e should’ve offered) will be among the iPhone 17e’s biggest selling points.

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The new iPad Air with M4 is more powerful and versatile than ever, with blazing performance, more memory, enhanced connectivity, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features.

Apple on Monday announced the new iPad Air featuring M4 and more memory, giving users a big jump in performance at the same starting price. With a faster CPU and GPU, iPad Air boosts tasks like editing and gaming, and is a powerful device for AI with a faster Neural Engine, higher memory bandwidth, and 50 percent more unified system memory than the previous generation. With M4, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3, and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. The new iPad Air also features the latest in Apple silicon connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, delivering fast wireless and cellular connections — and support for Wi-Fi 7 — that empower users to work and be creative anywhere. Available in two sizes and four gorgeous finishes that users love, the 11-inch iPad Air is super portable, and the 13-inch model provides an even larger display for those who want more space to multitask. With game-changing iPadOS 26 capabilities, advanced cameras, all-day battery life, a powerful app ecosystem, and support for accessories like Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, iPad Air delivers a remarkable and versatile experience for anyone who wants to do more on iPad, from students and creators, to business users and gamers.

With the same starting price of just $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, the new iPad Air is an incredible value. And for education, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549, and the 13-inch model starts at $749. Customers can pre-order iPad Air starting Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.

“iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a statement. “With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there’s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.”

Even More Performance with M4

M4 brings a significant boost in performance to the new iPad Air, empowering users to be productive and creative wherever they are — from aspiring creatives working with large files to travelers editing content on the go. Featuring an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3 and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. Users will notice the blazing speed of M4 in everything they do — with Apple Creator Studio, compositing photos in Pixelmator Pro or editing video in Final Cut Pro is quicker than ever. With the 9-core GPU of M4, iPad Air supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing for incredible graphics performance. M4 delivers over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance compared to iPad Air with M1, offering more accurate lighting, reflections, and shadows for extremely realistic gaming experiences.

Users will notice the blazing speed of M4 in everything they do, from compositing photos in Pixelmator Pro to editing video in apps like Final Cut Pro.

Next-Level Power for AI

M4 is also powerful for AI, with faster memory bandwidth and an incredibly fast Neural Engine — benefiting everyone from college students transcribing lecture notes, to creators storyboarding a new project, to business users polishing emails. With the new iPad Air, unified memory jumps 50 percent, to 12GB, and memory bandwidth increases to 120GB/s, helping users run AI models faster. The 16-core Neural Engine is 3x faster than that of M1 and is perfect for everyday tasks that use on-device AI, like searching for subjects and texts in photos, or leveraging powerful AI features in apps like Goodnotes and Onform: Video Analysis App. The Neural Engine also powers capabilities in Apple Creator Studio apps, like removing the background of video footage with Scene Removal Mask in Final Cut Pro.

The faster Neural Engine is perfect for everyday tasks that use on-device AI, like leveraging powerful features in apps like Goodnotes.

N1 and C1X Come to iPad Air for Faster Connectivity

iPad Air features N1, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.3 N1 brings better performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. Cellular models of iPad Air also feature C1X, a cellular modem designed by Apple that offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance — and for active cellular users, C1X offers up to 30 percent less modem energy usage than iPad Air with M3.1 Cellular models of iPad Air allow users to enjoy GPS capabilities, so they can navigate with even more confidence. Users can also enjoy 5G cellular support, helping them stay connected for work or leisure all around the world.6 And with eSIM, users can quickly and securely add a new plan, connect and transfer existing cellular plans digitally, and stay in touch with family and friends regardless of Wi-Fi availability — ideal for business travelers, students on campus, and anyone working on the go.

The N1 wireless networking chip and C1X modem come to iPad Air for the first time, enabling faster connectivity.

iPadOS 26 Supercharges the iPad Experience

iPadOS 26 offers powerful features that help users handle creative and professional tasks with ease, pushing the capabilities of iPad even further.

• The beautiful new design is crafted with Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings while reacting to users’ input, and dynamically transforming to bring greater focus to the content they care about most.

• An entirely new, powerful, and intuitive windowing system helps users control, organize, and switch between apps, all while maintaining the simplicity of iPad. And with a new menu bar, users can access the commands available in an app with a simple swipe down from the top of the display, or by moving their cursor to the top.

• Users can manage, access, and organize files with a supercharged Files app that features an updated List view and new folder customization options. With folders in the Dock, users can conveniently access downloads, documents, and more from anywhere. Additionally, they can set a default app for opening specific files or file types.

• The Preview app on iPad gives users a dedicated app for creating a quick sketch, as well as viewing, editing, and marking up PDFs and images with Apple Pencil or by touch.

• Taking advantage of Apple silicon, iPadOS 26 unlocks new capabilities for users with control over their audio input, the ability to capture high-quality recordings with local capture, and Background Tasks.

Advanced Accessories for iPad Air

From sketching ideas to getting work done, Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard unlock new levels of creativity and productivity on iPad Air.4 Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro offer users two incredible options. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a great value for essential tasks like note taking and sketching, and Apple Pencil Pro delivers the ultimate experience, enabling users to take advantage of capabilities such as squeeze and barrel roll to bring their ideas to life in entirely new ways. Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My, helping users locate it if misplaced.

Magic Keyboard for iPad Air provides an amazing typing experience and expands what users can do, with a built-in trackpad ideal for precision tasks like selecting text, and a 14-key function row that allows easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls. It attaches magnetically, and the Smart Connector immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth; a machined aluminum hinge also includes a USB-C connector for charging. Magic Keyboard for iPad Air has a magical floating design customers love, and comes in black and white.

Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard unlock new levels of creativity and productivity on iPad Air.

Ideal for iPad and iPad Air Upgraders

With game-changing improvements over iPad and earlier iPad Air models, there’s never been a better time to upgrade.

• Big performance gains: Upgraders will enjoy enhanced speed and responsiveness with 12GB of unified memory and 120GB/s of memory bandwidth, and will experience even more seamless windowing in iPadOS 26. Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will see up to 2.3x faster performance, with over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance.

• Advanced Center Stage camera, mics, and speakers: Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will also enjoy a front 12MP Center Stage camera located along the landscape edge, as well as landscape stereo speakers. For upgraders coming from M1, the 13-inch model delivers even better sound quality, which is great for enjoying music and videos.

• Powerful Apple Intelligence capabilities: Built seamlessly into iPadOS with groundbreaking privacy, Apple Intelligence provides upgraders and new iPad users with intuitive features that make their experience even more helpful and powerful.

• Even more value: Users coming from previous-generation iPad Air models will get faster connectivity with N1 and C1X, and M1 upgraders will also get 128GB of starting storage. iPad Air with M4 has the same starting price at just $599 for the 11-inch model, and $799 for the 13-inch model.

iPad Air and the Environment

Apple 2030 is the company’s plan to be “carbon neutral” across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. iPad Air is made with 30 percent recycled content, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 40 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. iPad Air is designed to be durable and repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled.

Pricing and Availability

• Customers can pre-order the new iPad Air with M4 starting Wednesday, March 4, at apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 35 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will begin arriving to customers, and will be in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting Wednesday, March 11.

• The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air with M4 will be available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations.

• The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $749 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $949 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.

• With education savings, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549 (U.S.), and the 13-inch iPad Air starts at $749 (U.S.).

• Magic Keyboard, available in black and white, is compatible with the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air. The 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $269 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $319 (U.S.). With education savings, the 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $249 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $299 (U.S.).

• Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) are compatible with the new iPad Air. Apple Pencil Pro is available for $129 (U.S.), and $119 (U.S.) with education savings. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is available for $79 (U.S.), and $69 (U.S.) with education savings.

• AppleCare delivers exceptional service and support, with flexible options for Apple users. Customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new iPad, or in the U.S., AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include coverage for accidents like drops and spills, theft and loss protection on eligible products, battery replacement service, and 24/7 support from Apple Experts. For more information, visit apple.com/applecare.

• Apple offers great ways to save on the latest iPad. Customers can trade in their current iPad and get credit toward a new one by visiting the Apple Store online, the Apple Store app, or an Apple Store location. To see what their device is worth, and for terms and conditions, customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in.

• Customers in the U.S. who shop at Apple using Apple Card can pay monthly at 0 percent APR when they choose to check out with Apple Card Monthly Installments, and they’ll get 3 percent Daily Cash back — all up front. More information — including details on eligibility, exclusions, and Apple Card terms — is available at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments.

MacDailyNews Take: Expect crazy performance with eh new M4 iPad Air!

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Apple won in the Comedy, Documentary and Commercial categories at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards.

On Sunday night, Apple scored three wins at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards, presented by SAG-AFTRA: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for “The Studio,” Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Seth Rogen, and a posthumous Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series win for Catherine O’Hara.

“The Studio” also recently landed wins for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy at the Producers Guild Awards; Best Contemporary Hair Styling and Best Contemporary Make-Up at the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards; Excellence in Contemporary Television at the Costume Designers Guild Awards; outstanding casting for a Television Pilot and First Season: Comedy at the Casting Society’s Artios Awards; Best Edited Single Camera Comedy Series at the American Cinema Editor (ACE) Eddie Awards; Best Half Hour Single-Camera Series at the Art Directors Guild (ADG) Awards; Best Music Supervision in a Television Comedy at the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards; and the award for Best Comedy Series at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) International Awards.

In addition to four Academy Award nominations — including Best Picture — Apple’s celebrated feature “F1” scored a win for Sound at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, alongside a Visual Effects Society win for Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature; an African American Film Critics Association Film Award win for Best Supporting Actor for Damson Idris; an Irish Film & Television Award win for Best Supporting Actress – Film for Kerry Condon; and Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film from the Association of Motion Picture Sound Awards.
“Severance” won Outstanding Original Score for a Television Production at the Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards; outstanding casting for a Television Series: Drama at the Casting Society’s Artios Awards; Best One Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series at the ADG Awards; and Cinematography in a Television Drama for “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig” at the British Society of Cinematographers Awards.

“Palm Royale” earned Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling and Best Period and/or Character Make-Up at the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards; Excellence in Period Television at the Costume Designers Guild Awards; and Best One Hour Period Single-Camera Series at the ADG Awards. “Slow Horses” won Best Returning Drama at the Broadcast Awards and Best Actor in a Series for lead Gary Oldman at the AACTA International Awards. “Smoke” landed Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television at the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards. “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” landed wins at the Visual Effects Society Awards for Outstanding Visual Effects and Outstanding Effects Simulations, alongside a win at the Annie Awards for Best FX – TV/Media, while “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” also landed a win at the Annie Awards for Best Special Production.

“Mr. Scorsese” was honored with a win for Outstanding Directorial Achievement at the Directors Guild of America Awards, and “Number One on the Call Sheet” won NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Documentary (Television) and Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture).

To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 735 wins and 3,258 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,” Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award nominee “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.

Apple has landed wins at recent award ceremonies, including:

Actor Awards, presented by SAG-AFTRA:

“The Studio”

• Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
• Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series — Seth Rogen
• Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series — Catherine O’Hara

BAFTA Film Awards:

“F1”
• Sound

Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards:

“The Studio”
• Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television — Comedy

Art Directors Guild (ADG) Awards:

“The Studio”
• Half Hour Single-Camera Series — “The Note”

“Severance”
• One Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series — “Chikhai Bardo”

“Palm Royale”
• One Hour Period Single-Camera Series — “Maxine Drinks Martinis Now,” “Maxine Serves a Swerve”

Apple – Someday by Spike Jonze: “AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation”
• Short Format & Music Videos

Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards:

• “F1” — Modern Race and POV Footage
Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature

“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” — “The Big Freeze”
• Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
• Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic, or Real-Time Project

Costume Designers Guild (CDG) Awards:

“The Studio”
• Excellence in Contemporary Television

“Palm Royale”
• Excellence in Period Television

Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists (MUAHS) Guild Awards:

“The Studio”
• Best Contemporary Hair Styling
• Best Contemporary Make-Up

“Palm Royale”
• Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling
• Best Period and/or Character Make-Up

Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Awards:

“Severance”
• Outstanding Original Score for a Television Production

Casting Society of America (CSA) Artios Awards:

“The Studio”
• Television Pilot and First Season: Comedy

“Severance”
• Television Series: Drama

American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Awards:

“The Studio”
• Best Edited Single Camera Comedy Series — “The Promotion”

Guild of Music Supervisors Awards:

“The Studio”
• Best Music Supervision in a Television Comedy

“Smoke”
• Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television — “Dialing In”

Apple — “iPhone 17 Pro / The Ultimate Pro”
• Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Synch)

NAACP Image Awards:

“Number One on the Call Sheet”
• Outstanding Documentary, Television
• Outstanding Directing in a Documentary, Television or Motion Picture — Reginald Hudlin, Shola Lynch

African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards:

“F1”
• Best Supporting Actor, Film — Damson Idris

Annie Awards:

“Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical”
• Best Special Production

“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age”
• Best FX – TV/Media

Irish Film & Television Academy Awards:

“F1”
• Actress in a Supporting Role, Film — Kerry Condon

British Society of Cinematographers Awards:

“Severance”
• Best Cinematography in a Television Drama (International/Streaming) — “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig”

Association of Motion Picture Sound Awards:

“F1”
• Excellence in Sound for a Feature Film

Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) International Awards:

“The Studio”
• Best Comedy Series

“Slow Horses”
• Best Actor in a Series — Gary Oldman

All titles are currently streaming on Apple TV.

“The Studio”
In “The Studio,” Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, it’s the job Matt’s been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.

“F1”
Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition — and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.

“Severance”
In “Severance,” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself. In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.

“Palm Royale”
“Palm Royale” is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) as she endeavors to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, “Palm Royale” asks the same question that still baffles us today: “How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?” Set during the powder keg year of 1969, “Palm Royale” is a testament to every outsider fighting for their chance to truly belong.

“Slow Horses”
This darkly funny espionage drama follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. Led by their brilliant but irascible leader, the notorious Jackson Lamb (Academy Award winner Sir Gary Oldman), they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

“Mr. Scorsese”
“Mr. Scorsese” is a film portrait of a man through the lens of his work, exploring the many facets of a visionary who redefined filmmaking, including his extraordinary career and unique personal history. With exclusive, unrestricted access to Martin Scorsese’s private archives, the documentary series is anchored by extensive conversations with the filmmaker himself and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends. From acclaimed director Rebecca Miller, “Mr. Scorsese” examines how his own colorful life experiences informed his artistic vision as each film he made stunned the world with originality. Starting with his New York University student films and continuing to the present day, this documentary explores the themes that have fascinated Scorsese and informed his work, including the place of good and evil in the fundamental nature of humankind.

“Number One on the Call Sheet”
With unprecedented access and candid interviews, “Number One on the Call Sheet” takes us on an intimate journey with some of Hollywood’s most extraordinary leading black men and women as they shine a light on the joys and challenges of being a Black actor, share breakthrough moments, discuss blueprints for success and honor legends, while recognizing the next generation’s enormous potential.

“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age”
Reconstructed with the latest scientific knowledge, “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” combines current science with cinematic visuals to showcase the intelligence and complex social behaviors of the Pleistocene’s iconic species. This season will explore vast tundras, deserts, expanding grasslands and melting permafrost as these creatures struggle for survival amid extreme climates, the beginning of “The Big Freeze” and eventually, “The Big Melt.”

“Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” continues the storytelling journey of Apple TV’s acclaimed, Emmy Award-nominated natural history series “Prehistoric Planet,” which transported audiences 66 million years into the past to witness the age of dinosaurs across two celebrated seasons. Blending cinematic storytelling with photorealistic visual effects, the series brings ancient worlds to life, offering a firsthand look at some of the most extraordinary creatures ever to walk the Earth.

“Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical”
“Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” is a musical special about the joy and magic of summer camp and the importance of preserving what you love. Charlie Brown loves camp and is determined to make his final year special, but Sally, a first-time camper, is nervous and skeptical of the new and unfamiliar place. While everyone settles into camp, Snoopy and Woodstock discover a treasure map that takes them on a wild adventure nearby.

“Smoke”
Inspired by true events, “Smoke” follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions.
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.

MacDailyNews Take: Congratulations to all of the casts and crews of the winning productions!

Kudos to Apple TV, Seth Rogen et al. for gaming the system so proficiently. If “make us an awards magnet” was the assignment, Seth Rogen understood it and aced the test.

“The Studio” is custom-made to win awards. There’s nothing more that Hollywood loves than itself. “The Studio” should rack up awards for as many seasons as it lasts. – MacDailyNews, September 15, 2025

There are myriad examples of movies and TV shows about the business of making movies/TV shows that reaped industry praise and awards — i.e., Hollywood celebrating and congratulating itself (and, yes, some of the following deserved to be recognized):

Movies:
• Sunset Boulevard (1950)
• Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
• The Player (1992)
• The Artist (2011)
• Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
• Argo (2012)
• La La Land (2016)
• Babylon (2022)

TV:
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998)
• Entourage (2004–2011)
• 30 Rock (2006–2013)
• Episodes (2011–2017)
• The Studio (2025–)

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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Apple will purchase well over 100 million chips from TSMC’s Arizona facility this year, a significant increase from 2025 volumes as the company expands its U.S. manufacturing presence.

Apple announced the increased purchases from TSMC Arizona on February 24, coinciding with its reveal that it will double the size of its Houston manufacturing campus — enabling U.S. production of the Mac mini desktop computer for the first time.

Corina Vanek for Arizona Republic:
‎

100 million chips is a drop in the bucket for Apple’s needs. The iPhone maker announced in August 2025 that U.S. manufacturers, including TSMC, were on track to produce 19 billion chips for Apple products in 2025. Apple bought “tens of millions” of chips from TSMC Arizona last year, the company said.

Apple will also be Amkor’s first and largest customer when it opens in Peoria. Apple is an investor in Amkor’s $7 billion plant, which was part of Apple’s overall $600 billion commitment to investing in the United States over the next four years, according to an Apple announcement in 2025.

Amkor will package and test Apple components created at the TSMC Arizona factory. The first manufacturing plant is scheduled for completion in mid-2027, with production starting in early 2028.

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MacDailyNews Take: Everything that takes dependence on Taiwan off the table is a Very Good Thing!

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Apple TV has renewed the golf comedy series “Stick” for a second season.

Fans of Apple TV’s golf comedy series “Stick” can look forward to seeing much more of Timothy Olyphant and Judy Greer in Season 2. Both actors have been elevated to series regular status on the show, which was created by Jason Keller.

Timothy Olyphant will reprise his role as Clark Ross (Pryce’s rival and former partner), while Judy Greer returns as Pryce’s ex-wife, Amber-Linn. This upgrade from their recurring roles in Season 1 promises bigger storylines for these fan-favorite characters.

In “Stick,” Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After the collapse of his marriage and while working at an Indiana sporting goods store, Pryce hedges his bets, and future, entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager). “Stick” is a comedy about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before.

Rosy Cordero for Deadline:
‎

The Season 1 finale, “Déjà Vu All Over Again,” hints at that next chapter as Santi flirted with the idea of teaming up with Clark, replacing Pryce. As for Greer’s Amber-Linn and Pryce, there was a scene where the couple addressed their romantic history. Amber-Linn invited Pryce into her hotel room, but he declined.

“In that scene, what Amber-Linn sees is the Pryce that she always wished she had seen years ago when they lost their son,” Keller told Deadline in a post-mortem interview in June. “This was the Pryce that, had he shown up in this way a long time ago, they maybe would have survived their marriage, and they would have stayed together. For many different reasons, Pryce just couldn’t get there.”

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MacDailyNews Take: Although we tried hard to like it, unfortunately with pretty much “Zero” success, “Stick,” aside from Wilson, is simply not very good, yet here comes season two (likely sometime this year)!

See also: “What a horrible character destroying the whole show”: Owen Wilson’s ‘Stick’ Falls Short of One Key Aspect That Made ‘Ted Lasso’ Great – FandomWire, June 17, 2025

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, 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 $9.99 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, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.

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Apple’s 27-inch 5K Retina Studio Display

According to Macworld, Apple is working on two upcoming Studio Display variants, internally codenamed J427 and J527, each with distinct features and targeted launch windows.

The premium J527 version is rumored to boast enhanced audio with drivers approaching HomePod-level performance, upgraded connectivity options, and a bigger 32-inch panel.

Both models are anticipated to deliver 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates and HDR capabilities.

Filipe Esposito for Macworld:
‎

The existence of both J427 and J527 in Apple’s internal files strongly suggests that the next Studio Display may come in two configurations. While both appear to share the same core display capabilities, there are some interesting differences referenced in the firmware.

Specifically, each monitor has different audio drivers, implying that the speakers are different. The exact differences are unclear, but Apple may have decided to include better speakers in a higher-end version of its monitor. The current Studio Display includes a high-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers and support for spatial audio, the same found in the MacBook Pro, but a high-end system could support audio closer to HomePod.

Another difference we noticed is that the J527 version supports more I/O controllers than the J427. The current Studio Display has three USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports and one Thunderbolt 3 port. Presumably, the higher-end Studio Display will have more advanced ports, while the base model will keep the current ones…

The higher-end features would likely be part of a model with a larger screen as well. It would be odd to sell two 27-inch displays with slightly different speakers and ports, but a 32-inch model that also has upgraded audio and expansion makes more sense.

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MacDailyNews Take: We’d love to see both of these debut during next week’s Apple unveilingpalooza!

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Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce a new, more affordable MacBook model in the coming days, marking a significant shift in its laptop lineup by using an iPhone-derived A18 Pro processor instead of the traditional M-series Apple silicon. This entry-level device aims to target budget-conscious consumers, students, and first-time Mac buyers with a lower price point, but recent leaks reveal several means Apple has chosen to achieve that affordability.

According to multiple reports citing a code leak from an internal macOS Tahoe beta (Kernel Debug Kit) that surfaced last year, the upcoming MacBook will be powered by the A18 Pro chip — the same high-performance processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro models — rather than a dedicated M-series chip. This move is expected to help drive down production costs while still delivering solid performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, streaming, and light productivity.

CPU Performance

The A18 Pro features a 6-core CPU configuration: 2 high-performance “Everest” cores clocked up to around 4.05 GHz and 4 efficiency “Sawtooth” cores at about 2.42 GHz. In Geekbench 6 benchmarks (from iPhone 16 Pro testing), it typically scores:

• Single-core: ~3,400–3,500 (averages around 3,450–3,460 across many samples)

• Multi-core: ~8,500–8,900 (commonly 8,500–8,600)

This makes it significantly faster in single-threaded tasks than the original M1 chip (which scored ~2,300–2,400 single-core in comparable Geekbench versions) — often by 40–50% or more. Everyday responsiveness, such as app launching, web browsing, scrolling through documents, or light multitasking, would feel noticeably snappier and more fluid than on a 2020 M1 MacBook Air.

In multi-core workloads (e.g., exporting videos, compiling code, or running multiple apps), it competes with or slightly trails the M1 (~8,300–8,500 multi-core), depending on thermal constraints. The A18 Pro’s 3nm process node gives it excellent power efficiency, potentially allowing better sustained performance in a fanless MacBook chassis with lower heat output than older designs. It falls short of M2 or M3 chips in heavy parallel tasks due to fewer cores (6 vs. 8+ in M-series), but it matches or approaches M1-level multi-core in short bursts.

GPU and Graphics

The A18 Pro includes a 6-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. While Apple’s M-series GPUs generally have higher core counts and better memory bandwidth for laptop use, the A18 Pro’s GPU performs comparably to the original M1’s 7/8-core GPU in many tests — sometimes edging it out in efficiency-focused scenarios or even beating it in specific graphics benchmarks. For casual gaming, photo/video editing in apps like Photos or iMovie, streaming, and everyday UI rendering, it should handle 1080p/4K content smoothly without major issues. Demanding 3D rendering, pro-level video editing (e.g., Final Cut Pro with complex timelines), or high-end gaming would show limitations compared to M2/M3/M4 MacBooks.

Neural Engine and AI/ML TasksWith a 35 TOPS Neural Engine (NPU), the A18 Pro excels in on-device AI features — think Apple Intelligence tasks, image processing, voice recognition, or machine learning workloads in apps. This would make it feel very modern in 2026, potentially outperforming older M1 MacBooks in AI-accelerated features while running macOS Tahoe 26.x efficiently.

Real-World Expectations in a MacBook

In a rumored low-cost MacBook (likely with 8GB RAM, limited thermal headroom, and no active cooling), expect:

• Excellent for everyday use: Web browsing (multiple tabs), email, productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, Microsoft Office), video streaming (Netflix, YouTube at 4K), light photo editing, and casual FaceTime/Zoom calls. Single-core snappiness would make macOS feel quick and responsive.

• Solid for moderate creative work: Basic video editing, podcasting, or light coding — better than many budget Windows laptops in efficiency and ecosystem integration.

• Adequate but limited for pro tasks: Heavy multitasking, 4K video exports, or 3D modeling would be slower than on M-series MacBooks, with potential throttling under prolonged loads due to the phone-optimized design and possibly constrained RAM/thermal setup.

Overall, the A18 Pro in a MacBook would punch above its “phone chip” origins, offering performance roughly on par with (or better than) the well-respected 2020 M1 MacBook Air in most real-world scenarios — especially single-threaded speed and efficiency — while costing far less.

Of course, it wouldn’t replace higher-end MacBook Air or Pro models for power users, but for students, casual users, or as a secondary device, it would provide a premium macOS experience at an accessible price point without feeling underpowered in 2026.

Display

The device is rumored to feature a smaller display, around 12.9 to 13 inches, potentially with reduced maximum brightness (below the MacBook Air’s 500 nits) and no True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts screen color temperature to match ambient lighting. Instead, it may rely on older ambient light sensors for basic brightness adjustments.

Connectivity is also scaled back: expect standard USB-C ports without faster Thunderbolt support, a MediaTek wireless chip (likely Wi-Fi 6, not Wi-Fi 6E or the newer Wi-Fi 7/Bluetooth 6 via Apple’s N1 chip), and no support for high-impedance headphones due to reuse of older audio drivers from the M1-era MacBook Air.

Additional trade-offs include no fast charging capability (missing drivers for high-voltage chargers), potentially slower SSD speeds in base configurations (possibly using a single NAND chip), a minimum of 8GB RAM, and limited storage options (e.g., starting at 256GB, with no 1TB or higher in some configs). The keyboard may lack backlighting, though the chassis is expected to retain premium aluminum construction.

On a brighter note, the laptop could launch in vibrant “fun” color options like yellow, green, blue, or pink to appeal to younger users.

Despite these tradeoffs, many of the skipped features won’t be major drawbacks for the MacBook’s target audience. Everyday users focused on basic computing likely won’t miss advanced audio support, ultra-fast external connectivity, or premium display calibration. The compromises appear carefully chosen to compete more effectively against budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks without cannibalizing sales of the higher-end MacBook Air.

Pricing rumors point to a starting range of $599 to $799 in the U.S., though some sources now lean toward $699–$749 due to rising component costs like RAM and storage. The announcement is expected imminently — potentially via press release rather than a full keynote — with hands-on opportunities at Apple Experience events in cities like New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4th.

MacDailyNews Take: The new MacBook so far sounds like the perfect road machine with solid performance coupled with insane battery life!

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Austin Butler

In a fiercely contested auction among top studios, Apple Original Films has clinched the rights to the untitled Lance Armstrong project, with Austin Butler set to star as Armstrong, per Deadline.

Justin Kroll for Deadline:
‎

Edward Berger is directing the feature, with King Richard scribe Zach Baylin penning the spec. Apple Studios will serve as the studio, with Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt producing along with Berger. Josh Glick and Zac Frognowski will serve as executive producers alongside Baylin.

Deadline first reported that the package hit the market earlier this month and added that Stuber has been working for some time to get Armstrong’s life rights… After receiving nearly half a dozen offers for the package, Apple ultimately delivered the winning bid.

Prior to relaunching United Artists and setting a deal with Amazon, there were a handful of films Stuber was planning to produce separately — and this project was one of them.

The new film, which combines elements of F1: The Movie and Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull and The Wolf of Wall Street, will cover the life and career of Armstrong, capturing all the highs and lows.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple is smart to have bid whatever it took to land this one. Armstrong’s story*, in the right hands, has the potential to produce a film classic. (Which reminds us, when will somebody finally do a proper Steve Jobs film?)

*Blood doping (including EPO injections and/or blood transfusions) artificially boosts red blood cell count to deliver more oxygen to muscles, enhancing endurance and recovery in grueling events like the Tour de France.

In the late 1990s–2000s, professional cycling was rife with doping (the “peloton” was heavily using EPO and similar methods, as seen in scandals like the 1998 Festina affair). Armstrong believed he had no choice but to participate to remain competitive at the elite level and win — doping was viewed as “leveling the playing field” rather than gaining an unfair edge, since virtually everyone at the top was doing it.

As his legend grew (7 straight Tour wins, cancer-survivor hero status, massive fame, thriving foundation, etc.), when doping was alleged, he felt forced to lie aggressively to protect that image, sponsorships, legacy, and the Livestrong foundation — admitting it would destroy everything built.

Without his ego-driven comeback (racing the 2009–2010 Tours), earlier suspicions might have faded without fresh blood data scrutiny, leaving his reputation largely intact; the high-profile return invited renewed testing and his eventual downfall via USADA evidence.

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On Thursday, Apple announced iPhone and iPad are the first and only consumer devices in compliance with the information assurance requirements of NATO nations. This enables iPhone and iPad to be used with classified information up to the NATO restricted level without requiring special software or settings — a level of government certification no other consumer mobile device has met.

Apple designs security into all of its products from the start, ensuring the most sophisticated protections are built in across hardware, software, and Apple silicon. This unique approach allows Apple users to benefit from industry-leading security protections such as best-in-class encryption, biometric authentication with Face ID, and groundbreaking features like Memory Integrity Enforcement. These same protections are now recognized as meeting stringent government and international security requirements, even for restricted data.

iPhone and iPad previously received approval to handle classified German government data on devices using native iOS and iPadOS security measures, following an extensive evaluation by the Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, or BSI). Now, iPhone and iPad running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are certified for such use in all NATO nations.

As part of this effort, BSI conducted exhaustive technical assessments, comprehensive testing, and deep security analysis, ensuring Apple’s built-in platform security capabilities met NATO nations’ exacting operational and assurance requirements.

“Secure digital transformation is only successful if information security is considered from the beginning in the development of mobile products,” said Claudia Plattner, BSI’s president, in a statement. “Expanding on BSI’s rigorous audit of iOS and iPadOS platform and device security for use in classified German information environments, we are pleased to confirm the compliance under NATO nations’ assurance requirements.”

The approval marks a defining moment for Apple’s mobile platforms, as iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are now listed on the NATO Information Assurance Product Catalogue in recognition of their built-in security capabilities.

“This achievement recognizes that Apple has transformed how security is traditionally delivered. Prior to iPhone, secure devices were only available to sophisticated government and enterprise organizations after a massive investment in bespoke security solutions,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s vice president of Security Engineering and Architecture, in a statement. “Instead, Apple has built the most secure devices in the world for all its users, and those same protections are now uniquely certified under assurance requirements for NATO nations — unlike any other device in the industry.”

Apple keeps its consumers, enterprises, and governments safe by maintaining the highest level of security across all of its devices.

MacDailyNews Take: More details about Apple’s security protections are available in the Apple Platform Security guide.

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In a rare collaboration between two streaming giants, Apple and Netflix have struck a deal to cross-share select Formula 1 content, broadening access to the high-speed world of motorsport for U.S. fans just as the 2026 F1 season revs up.

The partnership, announced Thursday, allows Apple TV+ subscribers in the United States to stream the brand-new eighth season of Netflix’s hit docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive starting at midnight PT (3 a.m. ET) on February 27, 2026—the same day it premieres globally on Netflix. This marks the first time the popular behind-the-scenes series, which has been credited with dramatically boosting F1’s popularity in the U.S. since its 2019 debut, will be available on a platform outside Netflix.

In exchange, Netflix will simulcast Apple TV’s live coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix on May 22-24, 2026, making the race accessible to Netflix subscribers in the U.S. alongside its availability on Apple TV.Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, highlighted the mutual benefits in a statement: “Netflix, I think, has played a pivotal role in growing F1 since the launch of Drive to Survive, and we’re thrilled to make F1 content more broadly available to new and existing U.S. fans on both Netflix and Apple TV.”

The arrangement comes as Apple solidifies its position as the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for Formula 1, following a multi-year deal (reportedly valued at $120-150 million annually) that began with the 2026 season. All practice sessions, qualifying, Sprint races, and Grands Prix are now streaming exclusively on Apple TV in the U.S., replacing the previous long-standing partnership with ESPN.

Drive to Survive Season 8 continues the series’ signature style, diving into the rivalries, drama, and personal stories of drivers and teams throughout the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. The show has consistently ranked among Netflix’s top docuseries, with massive viewership helping propel F1 into mainstream American culture.

This cross-platform move expands F1’s footprint on two of the largest streaming services in the U.S., potentially drawing in new viewers who may already subscribe to one platform but not the other. It also aligns with Apple’s broader integration of F1 content across its ecosystem, including features in Apple News, Apple Maps, and Apple Music.

The collaboration underscores the evolving landscape of sports media rights, where streaming services increasingly partner — even with direct competitors — to maximize reach and engagement ahead of the F1 season opener in Melbourne, Australia, next month.

Fans eager to catch up on the latest chapter of Drive to Survive can now do so without switching subscriptions, while the Canadian Grand Prix promises to deliver high-stakes on-track action to an even wider audience come May.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV and Netflix aren’t locked in some zero-sum deathmatch for streaming supremacy; they’re far more additive than adversarial. Apple TV+ focuses on premium, high-quality originals with a curated, ad-free experience tightly integrated into the Apple ecosystem while Netflix promotes its massive library and volume-driven originals. This new F1 cross-sharing deal perfectly illustrates this complementary dynamic: Netflix’s Drive to Survive gains exposure to Apple’s loyal, well-heeled audience, and Apple’s live Canadian Grand Prix coverage taps Netflix’s enormous subscriber base – no one has to choose sides. In fact, more and more households happily stack both services — Netflix for endless binge options, Apple TV for high quality, premium content. It’s not about cannibalizing rivals, but expanding the overall pie for everyone.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook took to X on Thursday, to drop a tantalizing hint about what’s coming down the pipeline. “A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch,” Cook posted, accompanied by a short video clip playfully featuring the iconic Apple logo getting its signature bite taken out — an unmistakable nod to the company’s branding heritage and a clear signal that new products are imminent.

A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/PQ9gM2Gl2r

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 26, 2026

The teaser comes just days after Apple extended invitations to select media members for an exclusive “Apple Experience” gathering scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 2026, in New York. Unlike Apple’s traditional keynote-style events, this appears to be a hands-on preview opportunity for journalists and influencers to get up close with freshly announced gear, rather than a live-streamed unveiling.

Apple’s three-day product blitz: New launches expected March 2-4

Industry watchers, including Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, have indicated that Apple is gearing up for a staggered rollout of announcements spread across Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4. Reports suggest at least five new products could make their debut during this three-day window — a departure from the company’s usual single-event blitz which can sometimes be an overload, causing products to be unnecessarily overshadowed by others.

The rumor mill points to an affordable, entry-level MacBook powered by an iPhone-class chipset. This device is rumored to feature a display in the 12-13 inch range and could arrive in vibrant color options, echoing the playful aesthetics of past MacBook, iMac, and iPod eras with shades like yellow, blue, and pink. Such a move would aim to broaden Apple’s laptop lineup with a more budget-friendly option appealing to students, families, casual users, and upgraders from Windows PC dreck.

Other anticipated reveals include updates to the iPad family, possibly refreshed models with newer chips or design tweaks, and the long-rumored iPhone 17e — a more accessible variant in the iPhone 17 series expected to incorporate features like MagSafe charging, Dynamic Island, and an A19 processor. There’s also chatter about potential refreshes to other lines, including Apple displays or even smart home-related devices, though details remain sparse.

MacDailyNews Take: This early-year product push marks a strategic start to 2026 for Apple, following a pattern of spreading announcements rather than concentrating everything into large single events. The #AppleLaunch hashtag in Cook’s post suggests an official campaign is underway, and with announcements kicking off as early as Monday morning, we won’t have long to wait for concrete details.

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Rhys Ifans stars in “Star City,” a new Apple Original from the creators of “For All Mankind,” premiering May 29, 2026 on Apple TV.

Apple TV on Thursday unveiled a first look at “Star City,” the new, highly anticipated drama from award-winning creators Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, and Ronald D. Moore, which expands the world of “For All Mankind.” The thrilling, eight-episode series will debut globally on Apple TV with two episodes on Friday, May 29, followed by one new episode every Friday through July 10.

A bold new chapter inspired by the critically acclaimed space-race drama, “Star City” is a propulsive paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humankind forward.

The series stars Rhys Ifans (“House of the Dragon”), Anna Maxwell Martin (“Motherland”), Agnes O’Casey (“Black Doves”), Alice Englert (“Bad Behaviour”), Solly McLeod (“House of the Dragon”), Adam Nagaitis (“Chernobyl”), Ruby Ashbourne Serkis (“I, Jack Wright”), Josef Davies, (“Andor”) and Priya Kansara (“Bridgerton”).

“Star City” is created by Nedivi, Wolpert, and Moore. Wolpert and Nedivi serve as showrunners and executive produce alongside Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions, and Andrew Chambliss and Steve Oster. “Star City” is produced for Apple TV by Sony Pictures Television.

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 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 704 wins and 3,259 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

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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Apple Pay

Apple is currently in talks with major Indian banks and international card networks to introduce Apple Pay in India, with a potential launch targeted for mid-2026.

The discussions involve ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank, along with payment giants Mastercard and Visa.

When rolled out, Apple Pay in India is anticipated to support both traditional card-based payments and the country’s widely used state-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Sankalp Phartiyal and Anup Roy for Bloomberg News:
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Apple is also discussing the plan with payment networks Mastercard Inc. and Visa Inc., said the people, who asked not to be named because the deliberations are private.

The planned launch marks another step in Apple’s push to expand in the country of 1.4 billion people with a rapidly expanding middle class.

Apple Pay in India is expected to support India’s state-backed Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, alongside card based payments. UPI, which allows Indian customers to instantly transfer money and pay bills, dominates India’s digital payments space…

India’s central bank late last year set new rules that allow biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, for digital payments. Indian authentication mechanisms have previously largely relied on one-time passwords sent via text message.

Apple Pay relies on Face ID or Touch ID to approve payments in-person via tap-to-pay, on websites and through apps.

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MacDailyNews Take: More juice for Apple’s ever-growing Services business!

The sky’s the limit for Apple in India! – MacDailyNews, August 10, 2022

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