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Tech News
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces a new AI-powered Siri, but it only runs on iPhone 15 Pro models and later, leaving older devices with the standard assistant. The feature currently supports English only and is unavailable in the EU and China due to regulatory restrictions. Users can enable it manually through Settings, though some may be placed on a waitlist lasting from minutes to days before gaining access.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple may break from its usual pattern of releasing all new iPhones together, instead launching standard iPhone 18 models next spring while saving the Pro, Pro Max and a rumored foldable iPhone Ultra for a September debut. The new phones are also said to feature smaller dynamic islands and variable-aperture cameras.
A wave of Labor Day weekend discounts is hitting Apple products, including a record-low price on the official MagSafe Battery Pack, $50 off AirPods Pro 3, and AirTag 2 down to $20 each. Amazon is also offering its best-ever prices on iPhone 17 Pro renewed units (up to $290 off) and the first-ever discounts on Apple's new M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini models.
Reports indicate Apple will delay its next major iPhone release until March 2027, when the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E are expected to arrive together, rather than launching in the usual fall window. That leaves the iPhone 17, which debuted with improved displays, cameras and durability, as Apple's current entry-level flagship for an extended stretch, especially as rivals like Samsung and Google have raised prices on their budget phones due to rising RAM costs.
9to5Mac's daily podcast episode rounds up the day's top Apple stories, including continued speculation about a foldable iPhone. The episode is distributed through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, and RSS, with sponsorship from Backblaze offering a discount code.
A new open-source project called vphone-cli lets developers create and run a virtual iPhone on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS Sequoia, using Apple's Virtualization.framework alongside infrastructure derived from Apple's Private Cloud Compute research VM setup. The tool automates the full pipeline of downloading IPSW firmware, patching the boot chain, restoring via DFU mode, installing a custom firmware variant, and launching the resulting virtual device, with commands also available to manage, clone, export, and import VM instances.
In the latest 9to5Mac Overtime episode, hosts Jeff Benjamin and Fernando Silva compare the discounted $899 M4 Mac mini against the newer M6 model, and cover the M5 Pro Mac mini alongside Apple's new Mac Studio desktops running M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. They close by previewing Apple's rumored 'Surprise and Shine' iPhone event.
Ahead of Apple's September 9 unveiling, leaks point to significant changes for the iPhone 18 Pro, including a redesigned Main camera with variable aperture and a wider-aperture Telephoto lens for better low-light shots. The device is also expected to house the new A20 Pro chip, built on the same 2-nanometer process as Apple's recently announced M6 chip.
A hands-on video test using an iPhone 16 Pro Max shows that Apple's Cinematic mode still struggles with basic depth-of-field challenges, producing visible focus halos and background objects drifting in and out of focus during a simple interview setup. The tester filmed a subject seated with railings and a distant landmark behind him, revealing recurring artifacts despite the phone's far more powerful hardware than the iPhone 13 that introduced the feature.
Apple has increased the monthly cost of Apple TV in the US by $2 to $15, with the annual plan rising $20 to $119. The Apple One Individual bundle, which includes Apple TV, iCloud Plus, Apple Music and Apple Arcade, also goes up to $22 a month from $20, though Family and Premier tiers stay unchanged. New and existing subscribers are affected immediately, though current customers get about a month's notice before their bill changes.
Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro on September 9, but a report from Macwelt suggests pre-orders will start on Saturday, September 12 rather than the usual Friday. The shift, attributed to a source, would also reportedly move the order window to midnight Pacific time instead of the typical 5 a.m. slot.
Amazon has kicked off its 2026 Labor Day Sale with widespread discounts across Apple products, including $50 off AirPods Pro 3, AirTag 2 units as low as $20, and Apple Watch SE 3 hitting a record $200 price point. Renewed Premium iPhone 17 Pro units are discounted up to $290, and even the newly released M6 Mac mini is seeing early price cuts on its two entry configurations.