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Tech News
Apple has released new AirPods firmware, build 9A348, timed with the iOS 27 rollout on iPhone. The update covers AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max 2, and AirPods 4, with AirPods 5 gaining support once they ship later this week.
Both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet let users store payment cards, loyalty cards, tickets and NFC-based passes like hotel or car keys, with setup requiring only a few taps and bank verification. The key difference lies in flexibility: Apple Wallet generally requires official integration from airlines, retailers or other providers, though iOS 27 now allows custom passes for unsupported items. Google Wallet has long supported importing tickets from Gmail and includes an 'Everything Else' feature for digitizing photos of any card, such as gym or library passes.
Apple has begun rolling out watchOS 27, which requires iOS 27 to install via the iPhone Watch app. The update brings a fully capable Siri AI assistant matching the version on iPhone and Mac, a new Siri watch face, a Tap gesture, and additional health features, along with general performance improvements. Notably, the update drops support for several older models including the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, Series 6, 7, 8, and the second-generation SE.
Apple has begun distributing iOS 27, watchOS 27, iPadOS 27, and visionOS 27, with a revamped Siri AI as the centerpiece feature, launching in beta for English users first. Other additions include a Liquid Glass opacity slider, redesigned app icons, larger widgets, and separate volume controls for alerts versus alarms, plus performance and connectivity improvements across iPad and Apple Watch.
Apple has released the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, featuring a passport-style hinge and large displays, priced at over $2,000. Unlike Samsung, which has iterated on foldables for seven years mostly among tech enthusiasts, Apple's mainstream user base means early feedback could shape how folding phones evolve industry-wide.
Apple has launched the Watch Series 12, a modest refresh of last year's Series 11 that keeps the same $399 starting price but adds a new ceramic case option alongside aluminum and titanium. Alongside it, Apple introduced the cheaper Watch SE 3, starting at $249, which trades some display and material upgrades for a lower cost.
Accessory maker ESR has launched a new product line timed to Apple's iPhone 18 launch, including its iPhone Duo foldable, the iPhone 18 Pro models, AirPods, Apple Watch and MagSafe wallets. The centerpiece is the Atelier Vegan Leather Magnetic Case with Flex Stand, built specifically to protect the Duo's hinge and dual screens without adding bulk. The case uses stain-resistant organic silicone leather and a rotating zinc-alloy stand designed to open and close smoothly.
9to5Toys compiled a weekend list of Apple product discounts, including pre-order savings on the new AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12, plus a $50 cut on AirPods Pro 3 and an all-time-low price on AirTag 2. Other highlights include a $500 discount on the 2TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro, an all-time-low deal on the entry Studio Display, and ongoing M6 Mac mini pre-order offers ahead of this month's shipments.
WIRED's gear team evaluated more than 30 multi-device charging stations and picked standout options for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods users. The Zens Nightstand Charger Pro 2 was named a top 2-in-1 pick for its adjustable Qi2/MagSafe pad and fold-out Apple Watch charger, while Belkin's UltraCharge 2-in-1 took over as favorite thanks to Qi2 25W charging and a bundled 45-watt adapter. The iOttie Velox Duo, a former pick, remains a budget-friendly alternative at $60.
Apple has redesigned its Health app, with health VP Sumbul Desai discussing how the company is integrating AI to give users more personalized coaching rather than just raw data. The update aims to help people act on health metrics instead of simply tracking them.
Apple's marketing materials for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 reveal that the small circular Heart Rate complication, previously just an app-launcher icon, will now display an actual live heart rate number. This upgrade is enabled by the new Health Sensing System, which measures heart rate every five seconds—60 times more often than earlier Apple Watch models. The feature does not appear on watchOS 27's release candidate for the older Series 11 and Ultra 3, suggesting it's tied to new hardware.
Apple has unveiled the Watch Series 12, updating the aluminum casing with a Dark Bronze finish and tougher Ceramic Shield 2 glass, while adding a new Ceramic case option in Pearl White and Night Blue. The device also gains a faster S11 chip, double the RAM at 4GB, and a redesigned 'Health Sensing System' with improved heart rate tracking through a second-generation electrical sensor and always-on optical sensor.