Apple may be planning to release an updated Developer Strap for the Vision Pro next week, according to a hint on its website.
On its visionOS resources page for developers, Apple says the Developer Strap will be available to order again starting Wednesday, October 22, which is the same day that the Vision Pro with the M5 chip will be released. Accordingly, it seems likely that Apple plans to release an updated version of the accessory next week.
Apple first released the Developer Strap in February 2024, when the original Vision Pro with the M2 chip launched in the United States. The optional accessory provides a USB-C connection between the Vision Pro and a Mac, for app development and diagnostic purposes. It can only be purchased by Apple Developer Program members.
It is unclear what new features or changes the updated Developer Strap would have, or if it will remain priced at $299 in the United States. It also remains to be seen if the new version of the accessory is compatible with the original Vision Pro.
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps.
More features and changes will follow in future versions, ranging from later iOS 26.1 beta versions through to iOS 26.4. These are only the features that are known so far, and there will surely be many others added over the next year or so.
Digital Passport
iOS 26 will eventually let you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app.
After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.
Apple says the feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.
It will also be possible to use the Digital ID feature for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.
RCS Upgrades
Earlier this year, Apple said it planned to add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to the Messages app in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS software updates, and we are still waiting for that to happen. However, the upgrade has yet to be implemented on iPhones on iOS 26, or in the iOS 26.1 beta versions released so far.
End-to-end encryption for RCS was announced in March, as part of version 3.0 of the RCS Universal Profile, a global standard for RCS features and specifications. This means that Apple has indirectly confirmed that it will support RCS Universal Profile 3.0, which includes not only end-to-end encryption for RCS, but several other iMessage-like enhancements for RCS that were originally introduced in RCS Universal Profile 2.7.
Apple has to wait on carriers to implement RCS Universal Profile 3.0 too, so it is understandable why the process is taking time.
Here are five new capabilities to expect for RCS conversations on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, once Apple rolls out support for RCS Universal Profile 3.0:
End-to-end encryption, which will prevent Apple and any other third party from being able to read messages and attachments while they are being sent between devices, as has always been the case with iMessage
In-line replies
Edit messages
Unsend messages
Full-fledged Tapback support for RCS messages, with no special workarounds
RCS support as a whole was added to the iPhone with iOS 18, which supports RCS Universal Profile 2.4. It is effectively a modernized version of the SMS standard, which remains available as a fallback option for text messages over a cellular network.
RCS will be playing catch up with iMessage in many ways. iMessage conversations with blue bubbles have already supported end-to-end encryption by default since iOS 5. In addition, iMessage has supported in-line replies since iOS 14, while the options to edit and unsend iMessages were introduced with iOS 16.
It seems likely that Apple will roll out these RCS upgrades at some point during the iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 software cycle.
Personalized Siri
In late July, Apple CEO Tim Cook said his company was making "good progress" on a more personalized version of Siri, and he reiterated the features were on track to launch next year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the new Siri to launch in the U.S. in spring 2026, so Apple is likely aiming for an iOS 26.4 launch.
Apple first announced the personalized Siri features during its WWDC 2024 keynote, but in March it announced that they were delayed. The new capabilities will include better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.
Weather via Satellite
Earlier this year, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered references to an unreleased "Weather via satellite" feature in the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta. However, the feature has yet to be released or even announced by Apple, so it is unclear if it is still coming or if it was scrapped. It might still launch eventually.
The feature would let you view the forecast and other weather information in the Weather app, in supported areas without Wi-Fi and cellular range. Apple's other satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability varying by country.
Apple has yet to charge a fee for any of its satellite features. Last month, the company announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to the entire suite of satellite features on those devices.
In celebration of World Emoji Day on July 17, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are part of Unicode 17.0.
Here are some of the new emoji:
Trombone
Treasure Chest
Distorted Face
Hairy Creature (Bigfoot/Sasquatch)
Fight Cloud
Apple Core
Orca
Ballet Dancers
Landslide
Notably, Distorted Face is a popular emoji in Discord servers. It is essentially a distorted version of the embarassed face emoji, also known as Flushed Face.
It typically takes Apple several months to design new emoji in its own style, so the emoji listed above will likely be added to the iPhone in iOS 26.4.
Apple most recently added new emoji to the iPhone with iOS 18.4, an update that came out in late March. iOS 17.4, iOS 16.4, and iOS 15.4 also introduced new emoji over the years, so the timing has become predictable by this point if it holds up.
While the new iPad Pro's headline feature is the M5 chip, the device has some other changes, including N1 and C1X chips, faster storage speeds, and more.
With the M5 chip, the new iPad Pro has up to a 20% faster CPU and up to a 40% faster GPU compared to the previous model with the M4 chip, according to Geekbench 6 results. Keep in mind that 256GB and 512GB configurations have a 9-core CPU, while 1TB and 2TB configurations have a full 10-core CPU.
Here are six other upgrades:
An increased 12GB of RAM for models with 256GB or 512GB of storage. 1TB and 2TB configurations still have 16GB of RAM.
Apple's custom N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. However, the chip only supports up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, short of the standard's 320 MHz maximum. Apple says the chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
Apple's custom C1X chip for cellular configurations. With this modem, Apple says the new iPad Pro achieves up to 50% faster cellular data performance than its predecessor, and power efficiency is also improved.
Apple says the new iPad Pro offers up to 2× faster SSD read and write speeds compared to the previous generation.
The new iPad Pro can drive external displays at up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and Adaptive Sync is now supported, resulting in smoother scrolling and gameplay with lower latency on the external display.
The new iPad Pro supports fast charging. Apple says up to a 50% charge can be reached in around 30 minutes for the 11-inch model, and in around 35 minutes for the 13-inch model. Apple has not shared similar figures for previous iPad Pro models, so it is unclear how much of an improvement this is.
Apple's tech specs also indicate the new iPad Pro can drop down to an ultra-low 1 nit of display brightness, which can be useful in dark environments, like a bedroom at night. Apple's tech specs did not list this ability for previous iPad Pro models.
The new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models are available to pre-order now, and the devices will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Wednesday.
Apple's M5 chip is here, making a splash in three new products this week to deliver notable performance improvements.
This week also saw Apple announce a minor rebrand for its Apple TV+ streaming service, while the company continues work on upcoming software updates to introduce new features and address bugs, so read on below for all the details!
All of the new products are available for pre-order now ahead of a launch next Wednesday, October 22, and be sure to check out the latest episode of The MacRumors Show where Dan and Hartley talk through all of the announcements.
Apple Announces New 14-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip
In addition to the faster M5 chip, the new base MacBook Pro can now be configured with up to 4TB of storage that is up to twice as fast as in the M4 model.
The M5 chip has up to a 10-core CPU, with a next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerator in each core for significant improvements in AI performance, while Apple's custom N1 networking chip delivers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. Apple's custom C1X modem in cellular models supports up to 50% faster data performance.
Apple Updates Vision Pro With M5 Chip, Dual Knit Band, and 120Hz Support
With the M5 chip, the Vision Pro offers faster performance and longer battery life compared to the previous model with the M2 chip. It also renders more pixels, allowing for sharper images and crisper text, and the Vision Pro can now ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate to reduce motion blur and provide a smoother experience when using Mac Virtual Display.
A single line near the end of the press release states "Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity," which has started to appear in the latest betas of iOS 26.1 and related updates in the form of a more colorful icon.
iOS 26.0.2 Update for iPhones Coming Soon
Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.
iOS 26.0.2 will likely be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Meta is adding a new AI-based collage and photo editing tool to Facebook, and it's rolling out starting today. The opt-in feature scans your camera roll for your best photos and videos, uploads those images to the cloud, then uses AI to create "fun collages and edits."
Facebook will suggest photo collages, recaps, AI restyling, or themes like birthdays, graduations, and trips. Once you opt in, the AI works behind the scenes on an ongoing basis and will randomly suggest photo and video edits for you to post. Suggested edits are private, unless you decide to share them.
If you do decide to share something the AI created, your friends will see it, and Facebook will use it for AI training. Meta says that media from your camera roll isn't used to improve AI, unless you share suggested content or edit it with Meta's AI tools.
Facebook users in the U.S. and Canada can use the new functionality, and sharing recommendations will appear in Stories and Feed. Opting in or opting out can be done by navigating to Facebook's camera roll settings. Select your profile picture, then go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Preferences > Camera Roll Sharing Suggestions.
Users who don't want their images used for AI training should avoid enabling the feature. For extra security, it is a good idea to restrict Facebook's access to the camera roll entirely, which can be done in the Facebook section of the iPhone settings app.
Meta has been loosening its privacy policies in order to improve Meta AI and to take advantage of AI interactions. In December, Meta plans to begin using generative AI conversations to personalize content and tailor ad recommendations. Text exchanges and voice conversations with AI will be used in the U.S. to personalize posts, reels, ads, and more, with no way to opt out.
Popular Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp may soon introduce new message limits that could cut down on spam. According to TechCrunch, WhatsApp is testing a feature that restricts the number of messages that individual users and businesses are able to send to unknown people without getting a response.
All messages that are sent will count against the per-month limit, which has not yet been established. WhatsApp is testing different limits to determine what works best, and the testing will be conducted in multiple countries in the coming weeks.
When a person or business is close to hitting the limit, WhatsApp will display a pop-up warning with the remaining number of messages that can be sent, so users can avoid being blocked from sending messages entirely.
According to WhatsApp, the average user will not hit the limit, with the controls designed to cut down on spam messages. A message that is sent and receives a reply will not count toward the message limit.
Spam on WhatsApp is a major problem due to the worldwide popularity of the app, and the company has been working to curb spam over the last few years. WhatsApp has added tools for easily blocking someone from the Lock Screen, unsubscribing from marketing messages, and leaving unwanted groups, plus it has introduced limits for bulk messaging from new users.
Apple and Epic Games are facing off in Australia among other countries, and this week, Apple accused Epic Games of seeking a "free ride" on its platform. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it will continue to fight for a ruling that respects its intellectual property.
"Epic is now asking to free ride on Apple's platform and dismantle every safeguard we've put in place to protect users and developers -- a request that goes well beyond the Court's ruling. We will continue to seek an outcome that respects our intellectual property and protects the safe, secure experience consumers and developers expect from our platform."
For context, Epic Games sued Apple in Australia way back in 2020, accusing the company of violating competition laws. In August 2025, Australia's federal court partially sided with Epic, deciding that Apple's rules prohibiting sideloading and alternative payment methods did indeed violate the Competition and Consumer Act.
The court hasn't decided on how it will address Apple's anti-competitive behavior, but Epic Games wants the court to permit sideloading on iPhones in Australia, with no fees paid to Apple.
Apple believes that Epic's request goes beyond what the court declared in its August ruling. While the judge said Apple's anti-sideloading rules violated competition law, the ruling also acknowledged that Apple has the right to be paid for its technology, and that Apple's security and privacy concerns are a valid reason to prohibit third-party app stores.
Apple and Epic Games had a case management hearing on October 17 ahead of additional hearings that will determine the measures that are put in place to address Apple's alleged violation. Epic Games has submitted its proposed remedies, and the court will now consider the arguments made by Epic Games and Apple.
An initial remedies hearing is set to take place in December, but the full relief hearing has been postponed until March 2026 to give Apple more time to consider and respond to what Epic Games has proposed.
While no decision has been reached, the initial ruling suggests that Apple could be forced to allow sideloading and alternate payment options in Australia, similar to what's happened in the European Union with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is concerned that the court will reach a decision that could create privacy and security concerns for consumers and expose them to increased risk.
Popular accessory maker Anker recently came out with a new "Nano" line of products, and I've been testing them out for the last few weeks. All of the products are great, and Anker's ultra slim power bank in particular is appealing for those who are planning to pick up the iPhone Air.
Nano Power Bank
Anker's MagGo Nano Power Bank is a 5,000mAh Qi2 power bank that attaches to the back of your iPhone, providing up to 15W charging while on the go. That's pretty typical for magnetic Qi-based chargers, but Anker's stands out because of how thin it is.
It's 8.6mm thick, or 0.34 inches, and it's the slimmest power bank I've seen. I've been using it constantly since Anker sent it to me for testing, and I'm a fan. It's the best power bank I've used because it doesn't add too much bulk to my iPhone.
I have an iPhone 17 Pro Max that's 8.75mm thick, so it does double the thickness, but it's still thinner than any other power bank that I've tried. Apple's dedicated charger for the iPhone Air is thinner, but that is limited to the iPhone Air and lacks the versatility of Anker's version.
Other magnetic power banks either add a lot of weight or make the iPhone super bulky to hold and use while it's charging, but the MagGo isn't big enough to bother me. I can use my phone as normal and I barely mind it, plus it's slim enough that my iPhone is still easily pocketable. The magnets in the MagGo are strong, so I don't have to worry about it coming off.
Since this is a 5,000mAh power bank, it's not enough for a full charge for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it's enough to get me through the day. All wireless chargers suffer from energy loss, so 5,000mAh is closer to 3,000mAh in terms of actual power transfer. This is not the most efficient or fast power bank option for wireless charging, and at 15W maximum, it's slower than MagSafe 2 chargers from Apple. It does, however, have a USB-C port, and it can be used with a USB-C cable when you need faster charging.
If you attach it to your iPhone magnetically, plug in a USB-C cable, and then hold the button for a few seconds, you can turn off the wireless charging and charge over USB-C while the MagGo is still attached to your iPhone. It also charges over USB-C, and supports passthrough charging.
There are times when the MagGo gets warm while charging my iPhone wirelessly, but I tend to get the same thing from any magnetic charger. The heat can impact charging efficiency and slow the wireless charging speeds, but in day to day use, I haven't felt like I'm not getting enough power out of it or that it's not charging quick enough. If I need a lot of power fast, there is no scenario where I am choosing any kind of wireless charging option.
If you're looking for a charger that works well while you're using your iPhone, the MagGo is a good option. I think this is a product that sets a new standard for on-device battery packs, because everything else feels bulky and outdated in comparison.
Nano Power Bank With Retractable Cable
For an option that offers more power and faster power delivery, Anker has the 10,000mAh 45W Nano Power Bank with an included retractable USB-C cable.
The Nano Power Bank is priced at $60, and it's basically a little palm-sized brick. It's about three inches long, two inches wide, and 1.5 inches thick, so it's not exactly pocketable, but it's slim enough to pop into a purse or backpack. It has an attached lanyard so you can loop it around a hand while your iPhone chargers if you want to use your iPhone.
It comes in black or white, and it has an attractive design. The top is a smooth, metallic-looking plastic, and there's ribbing on the sides to improve grip. A button at the side activates an LED that shows how much battery life is remaining, and it's a neat design because the LED is under the top plastic.
If you press the side button, you can cycle through other information too, including battery temperature, health of the power bank, how many devices are connected, and the power being delivered to each product.
The main feature of the Nano Power Bank is its retractable cable, which seems to be a hot new thing accessory makers are adding to products. The cable pulls out 2.3 feet, which is long enough to be able to use the iPhone while the power bank sits on a table.
I have doubts about the durability of the retractable cable. I did try to pull it out further than it retracts, which did not break it. It feels well attached and has continued to retract despite my efforts to thwart it, but it is the kind of thing that would fail over time rather than immediately. Anker says that it was tested for over 20,000 retractions and is designed to last more than 10 years.
What's nice about the retractable cable is that you can pull out just a little or the entire thing. To get it to retract, you just give it a tug and let it go.
Along with the included cable, there's also a USB-C port and a USB-A port, so you can charge multiple devices at one time if you want. Anker says the power bank offers up to 45W, but if you're charging more than one device at a time, that drops significantly. With the USB-C cable and the USB-C port in use, the cable is limited to 15W, and the port is limited to 7.5W. With all three ports, each one only gets 7.5W.
Passthrough charging is supported, so you can charge the power bank while also charging up an iPhone.
Nano Charging Station
Anker's $90 Nano Charging Station is a desktop charger that combines plugs, USB-C and USB-A ports, and retractable charging cables into one small rectangular charger.
You can get the Nano Charging Station in black or white, and with the integrated LED at the front, it looks a lot like an alarm clock. The LED display shows charging information like current charge, amount of power going to devices that are plugged in, and temperature, but I kept wanting it to display the time when it wasn't in use. There's a button at the top that looks like a snooze button, but it is used to change the display's readout. From some angles (like viewing from the side), the display is hard to read, which is curious because it's such a major part of the design. Since it's a focal point, it should have been a little higher quality.
I like this as a desktop charger, but it's also useful for multi-device charging if you have an outlet where you frequently need more plugged in. It's not meant to be tucked away because of the built-in cables, so it's best for an area where you can get to all the ports, plugs, and cables easily.
There are three AC outlets at the back of the charger, along with a USB-C port and a USB-A port on the right side of the device. On both sides, there's one built-in retractable cable, for a total of 7 charging spots. The retractable cable is the same as the cable in the Nano Power Bank, so you can pull out the length of cord you need and then give it a second tug to pop it back in place.
I wasn't sold on the retractable cables for a power bank, but I somehow find them much more useful for a desktop charger like this. I'd love a version of this with more retractable cables, just because it's an easy, simple solution for anyone in the house that needs a quick charge without having cables lying around. It's definitely nice to not have to hunt down a cable when someone is visiting and asks to charge up their phone.
The best use case for the Nano Charging Station is locating it at the edge of a desk. You can plug three things into the back, tuck those cables under or behind the desk, and then have just the two retractable cables and the side ports available for on-desk use. Rearranging my desk cables and cords is no small feat, but I liked this little charging station so much that I went through the hassle to make it a permanent desk fixture.
Each of the retractable cables are 2.33ft long, which is enough for use on my desk, but if you have the Charging Station further away, you'll need to use the USB-C port with a longer cable if you need more length. It's not a length that's going to work for placing it on a nightstand and using your phone in bed. If you're aiming to use your iPhone while it's plugged in, I think the Charging Station's cable length can be limiting depending on how your desk is arranged. There is one small design irritation that I've come across, and that's retracting the cable. It takes a small tug to engage the retraction mechanism, and that can sometimes cause the entire Charging Station to move just bit if I'm not gentle enough.
The four ports split 100W of power between them, and the AC outlets work as standard outlets. The Charging Station does offer surge protection for the three outlets, and Anker includes an active cooling feature that is meant to keep temperatures down. The Charging Station gets warm, but it doesn't get uncomfortably hot.
With one of the USB-C cables in use, you'll get the full 100W. If you're using both, there's a 67W/33W power split between the two cables or a 50W/50W split, depending on what's being charged. If you use the cables and the USB-C port together, it's split 34W/33W/33W, or 46W/27W/27W. There are different splits when using the USB-A port as one of the three, and it maxes out at 12W. With all four ports in use, the split is 30W for each of the two cables, 28W for the USB-C port, and 12W for the USB-A port. Basically, any configuration you use will give you enough power to fast charge an iPhone, with the exception of the USB-A port.
Bottom Line
Anker's Nano line is well-designed, and the three products that I tested are all useful and competitively priced. The Qi Nano Power Bank is my favorite of the bunch, and the only improvement I'd like to see in a next-generation version is Qi2.2.
I do want to point out that it comes in a 10,000mAh size, but that version is bulkier. The reason the 5,000mAh version is so good is because it adds so little weight and bulk to the iPhone. I think the rectangular Nano Power Bank with the cable that retracts is a little more niche because it's not quite pocketable, but it's a useful little accessory to have in your bag.
The Anker Nano Charging Station is one of the most useful desk charging accessories that I've used lately. I've been doing less wireless charging over the last few months, and I like that the retractable cables keep a lot of the mess tucked away. I do wish the screen had options for even more info, but it's nice to see the charging speed and power distribution. I am not convinced that the retractable cables are going to last long term, but Anker says they have been tested extensively so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. As I keep using these, I'll update if anything breaks or goes wrong.
I have no issue recommending all three of these products, and if you catch them on sale, all the better. Anker has frequent sales that often cut prices even further, making its accessories an even better deal.
How to Buy
The Nano accessories can be purchased from the Anker website. The MagGo charger is $55, the Power Bank with built-in cable is $60, and the Charging Station is $90. MacRumors readers can get a 20 percent discount on all of Anker's Nano devices with the promo code Ankermacrumors2025.
Note: Anker provided MacRumors with Nano MagGo, Nano Charging Station, and Nano 45W Power Bank for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Apple introduced a new version of the Vision Pro with M5 chip this week, and it came with a Dual Knit Band that Apple says is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. M5 Vision Pro buyers will get the new band automatically, but those who have an M2 Vision Pro also have the option to buy it separately.
It appears M2 Vision Pro owners are eager for an accessory that makes the headset easier to wear, because the $99 Dual Knit Band is now backordered for at least a month. As of yesterday, new Dual Knit Band orders were delivering between November 7 and November 14, and wait times could get even longer.
There are some retail stores that may have the Dual Knit Band in stock starting next week, as the M5 Vision Pro will launch on Wednesday, October 22.
The Dual Knit Band is made from the same 3D knitted material as the Solo Knit Band, but it has a two-strap design. One strap fits at the back of the head as before, but a second strap goes over the top of the head for better weight distribution.
Apple also added tungsten inserts to the ribbed back loop for counterbalance and a fit that is supposed to improve balance and stability. Apple says that the Dual Knit Band is soft and breathable, with a Fit Dial to adjust each strap independently.
The Dual Knit Band is available in small, medium, and large sizes, and making a purchase requires using an iPhone's Face ID camera to find the right fit for your face size.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Best Buy advertises a starting price for the M5 iPad Pro of $499 with trade-in of an M4 Wi-Fi model with 512GB of storage, but between member trade-in bonuses and cash discounts, you can likely bring the out-of-pocket cost down even more, so be sure to check trade-in offers and your final cart price.
A My Best Buy Plus membership is priced at $49.99 per year, so the $50 discount on the iPad Pro pays for a year's membership by itself, and any discounts on other products and additional membership benefits like free 2-day shipping and extended return windows become essentially free bonuses.
My Best Buy Total is a higher-tier plan priced at $179.99 per year, but it includes benefits like up to two years of protection such as AppleCare+ on purchases, discounted repairs, and premium Geek Squad support.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
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A month before Apple introduced the iPhone 17 lineup, Google debuted its new Pixel 10 smartphone line. Since both companies have brand new flagship devices, we thought we'd do a comparison to see which one has the better camera technology.
With Apple adopting a camera "plateau" instead of a camera bump, the camera setup for the two smartphones looks more similar than ever before. Google has used a pill-shaped multi-lens horizontal camera bar for several years now, and now Apple uses a design that's not too far off. The iPhone 17 Pro's camera bump is wider, more square shaped, and it still has all three lenses on the left side, while Google's bar has rounded corners and lenses positioned in a row.
The iPhone 17 Pro has a trio of 48-megapixel lenses, including Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto. The Pixel 10 Pro also has three lenses, offering a 50-megapixel Wide lens, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens. The camera systems are so similar and are high quality enough that choosing which one is better mostly comes down to personal taste.
Google seems to be doing more post processing, a tactic that makes some images sharper and more detailed, but that can also look unnatural. Colors on the Pixel 10 Pro are more saturated and vibrant in some cases, while the iPhone can look more natural. In other images, the iPhone offers more detail, including with the Telephoto lens.
Apple has been ahead on video for years now, and the iPhone 17 Pro still beats the Pixel 10 Pro. Apple has ProRes RAW, Cinematic mode, and other pro-level features that Google doesn't match. Google has improved video taking capabilities, though, and the Pixel 10 Pro does a good job with day-to-day captures.
The iPhone's new 18-megapixel front-facing camera has a useful feature that rotates into landscape so you can fit more in a selfie shot, which is a useful addition that sets it apart.
When it comes to AI-based camera features, Google is far ahead of Apple. The Pixel 10 Pro has a Gemini-based Camera Coach for getting the best shots, plus Google Photos supports voice-based edits. You can add yourself or other people into shots, boost your video quality, take 100x shots enhanced by AI, and access a better Magic Eraser tool for erasing unwanted objects in images. The iPhone 17 Pro may get some of these capabilities when Apple's improved version of Siri comes out, but right now, Apple can't match Google's AI capabilities.
The Pixel 10 Pro is priced starting at $999, while the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, but the Pixel 10 Pro's $999 price point is for 128GB of storage. The equivalent 256GB model is $1,099, so the devices are essentially the same price.
Do you prefer the Pixel 10 Pro or the iPhone 17 Pro photos and videos? Let us know in the comments below.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Collectible Phones to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone Air or an iPhone 17 Pro. Collectible Phones is an iPhone art company created by industry insider Sonny Dickson.
With Collectible Phones, Dickson purchases out-of-commission iPhones from recycling facilities, saving them from being sent to a landfill and creating waste. Collectible Phones chooses the best of the recycled iPhones to disassemble and preserve for iPhone collectors. The nicest components are selected, carefully adhered to a backboard, and protected with a high-quality frame.
Each component is labeled with details, specifications, and historical information, so you'll see data about the iPhone's display, logic board, battery, and more. Launch date, pricing, and other interesting tidbits are included as well.
Collectible Phones' key offering is the $298 Collectible 2G, which features Apple's original iPhone from 2007. Each component of the iPhone 2G includes a description and the parts are logically laid out so you can see each little detail from Apple's first-ever iPhone. Dickson even sourced an original screenshot of the first version of iOS, and the piece includes a high-quality look at the initial version of iOS.
Each Collectible 2G piece can be purchased with either a black frame or a silver frame, and they're ready to hang on the wall. Frames measure in at 30cm x 42.3cm, and the site offers free worldwide shipping. If you're interested in purchasing a Collectible 2G, you can use your iPhone to see how it will look in your space before buying.
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Apple plans to cut production of the iPhone Air amid underwhelming sales performance, Japan's Mizuho Securities believes (via The Elec).
The Japanese investment banking and securities firm claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are seeing higher sales than their predecessors during the same period last year, while the standard iPhone 17 is a major success, performing significantly better than the iPhone 16.
The iPhone Air is apparently the outlier; Apple plans to reduce production by one million units this year. Meanwhile, Apple plans to increase production of all other models by two million units. The overall production forecast of the iPhone 17 series this year has also been increased from 88 million units to 94 million units for the start of 2026.
A separate report earlier today claimed that Samsung has canceled plans to release a successor to its own iPhone Air rival, the Galaxy S25 Edge, due to low sales. Nevertheless, the iPhone Air reportedly sold out within hours in China, despite lower than expected sales in western countries last month.
The same report from Mizuho Securities today revealed details about Apple's first foldable iPhone and other future devices.
Apple this week announced the M5 chip, featuring improved performance and efficiency with up to a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Apple says the M5 chip offers up to 15% faster CPU performance and up to 45% faster graphics, compared to the M4.
It also contains a next-generation GPU architecture optimized for AI tasks, Neural Accelerators for each core, a third-generation ray-tracing engine, enhanced shader cores, and second-generation dynamic caching. There is also a faster 16-core Neural Engine. It has memory bandwidth of 153GB/s and supports up to 32GB of unified memory.
The M5 chip comes to the entry-level MacBook Pro, delivering improved performance. It can also now be configured with up to 4TB of storage.
The iPad Proalso gains the M5 chip, along with Apple's N1 chip, a new custom-designed wireless networking chip that provides Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Cellular versions of the new iPad Pro feature Apple's C1X modem, which allows up to 50% faster cellular data performance than its predecessor, with much greater efficiency.
The new iPad Pro adds the ability to drive external displays at up to 120Hz and now supports Adaptive Sync. The 256GB and 512GB models now start with 12GB of unified memory.
The M5 chip is also a key part of a notable update to the Vision Pro. The headset now renders 10% more pixels, can ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and offers three hours of battery life.
A new Dual Knit Band features two straps knitted into a single piece, providing a more comfortable fit. The lower strap has tungsten inserts that provide a counterweight. Apple is also now selling the Logitech Muse spatial stylus for the Vision Pro, and it will begin selling the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller starting next month.
Apple's new devices are now available to pre-order, with launch on Wednesday, October 22. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's plan to unveil three new entry-level devices early next year.
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Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.
iOS 26.0.2 will be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet.
The update will likely be released by the end of next week.
Last month, Apple released iOS 26.0.1, which includes the following bug fixes:
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may occasionally disconnect on iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro models - A small number of iPhone users may be unable to connect to a cellular network after updating to iOS 26 - Photos taken under certain lighting conditions with iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro models may include unexpected artifacts - App icons may appear blank after adding a custom tint - VoiceOver may become disabled for some users after updating to iOS 26
The first alleged benchmark result for the M5 chip in the new 14-inch MacBook Pro has surfaced, allowing for some performance comparisons.
Based on a single unconfirmed result uploaded to the Geekbench 6 database today, the M5 chip has pulled off an impressive feat. Specifically, the chip achieved a score of 4,263 for single-core CPU performance, which is the highest single-core score that has ever been recorded in the Geekbench 6 database for any Mac or PC processor.
In the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the M5 chip has a 10-core CPU, with four performance cores and six efficiency cores. The single-core score on Geekbench 6 refers to the performance achieved by just one of the performance cores, whereas the multi-core score refers to the maximum performance achieved by all 10 of the CPU cores combined.
A chip's multi-core score reflects the maximum CPU performance for multi-threaded tasks, but single-core performance remains important for certain games and apps, and it plays a key role in overall system responsiveness and snappiness.
The top five single-core scores for Mac and PC processors in the Geekbench 6 database:
M5 (14-inch MacBook Pro): 4,263
M4 Max (16-inch MacBook Pro): 3,914
M4 Pro (16-inch MacBook Pro): 3,871
M4 (Mac mini): 3,784
AMD Ryzen 9950X3D: 3,399
Unsurprisingly, the M5 chip in the new iPad Pro achieved a similar single-core score of 4,175, based on Geekbench 6 results available so far.
As for multi-core performance, the M5 chip in the 14-inch MacBook Pro achieved a score of 17,862 in the single result, which makes it up to 20% faster than the M4 chip in the previous-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro. The standard M5 chip is faster than the M3 Pro chip, and nearly on par with the M1 Ultra chip.
A selection of multi-core scores for Mac chips:
M4 Max (16-inch MacBook Pro): 25,645
M1 Ultra (Mac Studio): 18,405
M5 (14-inch MacBook Pro): 17,862
M3 Pro (14-inch MacBook Pro): 15,257
M4 (14-inch MacBook Pro): 14,726
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro is available to pre-order now, and it launches on Wednesday.
Higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are rumored to launch in early 2026, but the regular M5 chip is clearly no slouch.
Samsung has abruptly canceled development of its planned Galaxy S26 Edge smartphone after disappointing sales of the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, which rivals the iPhone Air, Korea's NewsPim claims.
Samsung apparently halted work on the Galaxy S26 Edge this week, informing employees internally that the product line would be discontinued. Internal discussions in September shifted priorities toward the more conventional "Plus" form factor after confirming that consumer demand for ultra-slim flagships was weaker than expected.
The Galaxy S25 Edge features a thin 5.5mm profile and a 3,900mAh battery, but its high price and reduced battery capacity drew criticism. Samsung's leadership reportedly decided to focus on models with broader consumer appeal rather than pursue niche thin designs that compromise durability, battery life, and other features.
The decision comes less than five months after the Galaxy S25 Edge debuted in May, following an ambitious effort to establish a new class of ultra-slim flagship devices positioned between the standard Galaxy S and the Ultra model. The original plan to revive the "Edge" brand, once associated with Samsung's curved-display models, was intended to replace the Plus series as a sleeker, trend-driven option.
Samsung will apparently instead add a Galaxy S26 Plus model to its 2026 lineup, reverting to the company's traditional three-tier structure of base, Plus, and Ultra variants. Despite the cancellation, development of the Galaxy S26 Edge was already complete. Development of the S26 Plus is expected to begin before the end of the third quarter of 2025.
The atmosphere inside the company is said to be "chaotic" and "embarrassed" following the sudden lineup revision. Samsung reportedly plans to sell through existing inventory of the Galaxy S25 Edge and cease further production once stock is depleted.
If true, the news may not bode well for Apple's iPhone Air, which could be facing similar challenges in the market. Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that the iPhone Air was the only model of the four new iPhones that was readily available at launch, suggesting lower than expected demand.
Apple and Formula 1 today announced a five-year partnership that brings all F1 races exclusively to Apple TV in the United States beginning next year.
The partnership allows Apple TV to provide comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, including all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix. Select races and all practice sessions will also be available for free in the Apple TV app throughout the course of the season. Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services, said:
We're thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet. 2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1, from new teams to new regulations and cars with the best drivers in the world, and we look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.
Apple also said it plans to "amplify" the sport across Apple News, Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+. The Apple Sports app will feature live updates for every qualifying, Sprint, and race for each Grand Prix across the season, along with real-time leaderboards, season driver and constructor standings, Live Activities, and widgets.
The partnership builds on Apple's relationship with Formula 1 following the success of Apple Original Films' blockbuster "F1 The Movie," which it says is the highest-grossing sports movie of all time.
Apple says that further information on production details, product enhancements, and new ways to enjoy F1 content across Apple products and services will be announced over the coming months.
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