MacRumors

Apple today released a new firmware update for the original AirPods Pro, the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, and the Lightning version of the AirPods Max headphones. The new firmware is version 6F21, up from the prior 6A326 firmware that these devices were previously running.

There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but given that these are all older models, it is likely that the new firmware includes bug fixes and other minor improvements.

Apple doesn't have a way to manually upgrade AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or Mac.

AT&T today announced a new promotion that allows potential new customers to try out the AT&T network for 30 days for free.

Customers with an iPhone that has an eSIM can download the myAT&T app or visit the AT&T free trial website to sign up for temporary access to the AT&T network. No credit card is required for the AT&T trial, which includes 5G access.

Compatible iPhones with eSIM capabilities include the ‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ XS, iPhone SE 2020 and all later models, but note that devices must be unlocked. Testing AT&T's network through the Try AT&T feature does not require transferring a phone number or canceling current service. It instead operates as a second line on a compatible ‌iPhone‌, with options to switch between the AT&T test and another carrier plan.

AT&T is providing unlimited talk and text, 100GB of data, 25GB of personal hotspot data, AT&T 5G access, and unlimited texting from the United States to more than 230 countries. After the 30-day trial ends, service will be canceled automatically, but customers will have the option to sign up for AT&T service.

Both Verizon and T-Mobile have previously rolled out programs that allow customers to test their networks for free, but AT&T is offering 25GB of hotspot data, which neither Verizon or T-Mobile support.

Apple today released a new version of iPadOS 18.0.1 that's designed specifically for the iPad mini 7 that will be available as of tomorrow.

The iPadOS 18.0.1 update features the same content as the iPadOS 18.0.1 update that was released in early October, but it has a 22A8380 build number. The ‌iPad mini 7‌ isn't out just yet, but customers in Australia and New Zealand who pre-ordered will be getting their shipments in just a few hours, and they'll be able to update during the setup process.

iPadOS 18.0.1 includes a fix for an issue that could cause the iPad to unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face, plus it has a security fix to address a vulnerability with the Passwords app.

Launch versions of the ‌iPad mini 7‌ have a version of iOS 18.0 installed rather than iPadOS 18.0.1, which is why there's an out-of-the-box update. Next week, ‌iPad mini 7‌ owners can also upgrade to iPadOS 18.1, an update that includes the first Apple Intelligence features.

Just a few hours after claiming that the first Macs with M4 chips are launching "very soon," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has followed up with a slightly more specific timeframe. In his latest social media post today, he said an "M4 Mac launch" is on Apple's schedule for next week, but he did not mention a specific day.

"Busy week for Apple next week: Apple Intelligence on Monday, then M4 Mac launch, then earnings results on Thursday," he posted.

In another social media post today, Gurman said that Apple is inviting journalists and content creators to a hands-on experience in Los Angeles next Wednesday, and he believes this means the new Macs would need to be announced before then.

In another twist, leaker Sonny Dickson today claimed that he heard the new Mac mini with five USB-C ports might launch this week instead. Dickson has revealed some accurate details about upcoming Apple products through leaked cases and dummy models, but some of his hardware-related claims have proven to be inaccurate.

In any case, it looks like Apple will announce the first Macs with M4 chips in around a week from now at the latest, based on these latest claims. It's still not entirely clear if the announcements will be part of an online event, like the "Scary Fast" event on October 30 last year, or if the products will be announced in press releases on the Apple Newsroom website only. There is still time left in October for Apple to invite the media to watch an online event, but the window for that is gradually coming to a close. We'll see!

Here is everything that Apple is likely to announce in the coming days:

• An entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, and an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model
• 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chip options
• An updated iMac with the M4 chip
• A new Mac mini with a smaller Apple TV-like design, two front-facing USB-C ports, and M4 and M4 Pro chip options
• USB-C versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard accessories

The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip allegedly leaked in a few unboxing videos earlier this month, and it was shown to be a November 2024 model in those videos. If the videos are legitimate, that means the first Macs with M4 chips might not arrive to customers until next month, even if they are announced within the next week or so.

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 11.1 update to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes. The new software comes approximately week after Apple released the fifth beta.

watchOS 11.1 can be installed by going to the Apple Watch app and selecting the Software Update section under "General" in Settings.

So far, no major new features have been discovered in the watchOS 11.1 update, though Apple's release notes indicate that there is a fix for an issue that could cause problems writing breathing disturbance data to the Health app.

watchOS 11.1 is expected to see a release alongside iOS 18.1 next Monday.

Earlier this month, Apple announced a new iPad mini for the first time in three years. Ahead of the device launching this Wednesday, we have outlined 12 new features and changes with the seventh-generation iPad mini compared to the previous model.

Here's everything new with the iPad mini 7:

• A17 Pro chip: Introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, the A17 Pro chip is now available in the iPad mini 7, although it has a 5-core GPU instead of a 6-core GPU. Apple says the iPad mini 7 offers up to 30% faster CPU performance compared to the previous iPad mini with the A15 Bionic chip.
• 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support: The new iPad mini is compatible with Apple Intelligence, which will be available starting with iPadOS 18.1 next week. Geekbench results confirmed that the device is equipped with 8GB of RAM, the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence. That's up from 4GB of RAM in the iPad mini 6.
• Apple Pencil Pro support: The new iPad mini is compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro.
• Apple Pencil hover: This feature lets you preview the Apple Pencil's stroke on the canvas before the accessory touches the screen.
• "Jelly scrolling" fixed? Most reviews said "jelly scrolling" is much less noticeable or fully absent on the new iPad mini, but one prominent technology website disagreed, so we await teardowns for further confirmation.
• Faster USB-C port: The USB-C port on the iPad mini 7 supports data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, compared to 5 Gbps for the iPad mini 6.
• eSIM only: All cellular models of the iPad mini 7 lack a nano-SIM card slot worldwide and instead rely solely on digital eSIM technology.
• Wi-Fi 6E support: The new iPad mini supports the faster Wi-Fi 6E standard, which extends the capabilities of regular Wi-Fi 6 to the 6 GHz band. You will also need a router with Wi-Fi 6E support.
• Double the base storage: iPad mini now starts with 128GB of storage, compared to 64GB for the previous model.
• Final Cut Pro support: Final Cut Pro is compatible with the new iPad mini.
• Improved HDR photos: The new iPad mini supports "Smart HDR 4," whereas the previous model supports "Smart HDR 3." Apple says Smart HDR 4 makes photos look "even more detailed and vivid."
• "iPad mini" inscription: The new iPad mini has an "iPad mini" inscription on the back of device. Previous models of the device are inscribed with "iPad."

Apple recently introduced the seventh-generation iPad mini, offering the A17 Pro chip, Apple Intelligence support, 8GB of memory, Apple Pencil Pro and ‌Apple Pencil‌ hover support, and more. Earlier this year, Apple debuted the sixth-generation iPad Air, featuring the M2 chip, ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro support, and a larger display size option.

The ‌iPad mini‌ effectively shares the design of the ‌iPad Air‌, with both devices possessing many of the same features such as an all-screen design with no Home button, Touch ID in the top button, and stereo speakers. Despite theoretically being different product lines, the ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ are almost identical in terms of specifications and are even available in the same color options. There are still some minor differences between the devices, such as their display sizes and chips, that set the devices apart.

Should you buy the more expensive, larger ‌iPad Air‌, or opt for the smaller and more affordable ‌iPad mini‌? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPads is best for you. All of the differences between the two devices are listed below:

‌iPad mini‌ (seventh generation, 2024)	‌iPad Air‌ (sixth generation, 2024)
8.3-inch display with 326 ppi	11-inch or 13-inch display with 264 ppi
500 nits max SDR brightness	11-inch: 500 nits max SDR brightness 13-inch: 600 nits max SDR brightness
Smaller, compact design for maximum portability	Larger design, better for productivity
Weighs 0.66 pounds (297 grams)	11-inch: Weighs 1.02 pounds (462 grams) 13-inch: Weighs 1.36 pounds (617 grams)
A17 Pro chip (introduced with iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, made with TSMC's 3nm N3 process)	‌M2‌ chip (introduced with redesigned MacBook Air in 2022, made with TSMC's enhanced 5nm N5P process)
6-core CPU	8-core CPU
5-core GPU	9-core GPU
	Dedicated media Engine Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC Video decode engine Video encode engine
	Stage Manager support
Volume buttons on top	Volume buttons on right side
12MP Ultra Wide front camera	Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front camera
True Tone flash
Compatible with Bluetooth keyboards only	Smart Connector to support Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio
128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage
Starts at $499	11-inch: Starts at $599 13-inch: Start at $799

Overall, the ‌iPad Air‌ is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The additional $100 needed to buy the 11-inch ‌iPad Air‌ over the ‌iPad mini‌ is more than justified for the benefits that come with its larger display and ‌M2‌ chip, not least the ability to practically use it as a laptop replacement with the Magic Keyboard and ‌Stage Manager‌.

Yet, most customers who choose the ‌iPad mini‌ will do so because of its screen size rather than in spite of it. The ‌iPad mini‌ is ideal for comfortably reading ebooks, playing handheld games, and easy transport and storage. Those who buy the ‌iPad mini‌ will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go with the ‌Apple Pencil‌, throwing into a small bag to use on public transport, or giving it to a kid as their first tablet.

If you do not see the ‌iPad mini‌'s smaller display, easy one-handed grip, lightweight design, and portable form factor as an advantage for your use case and are focused on a more versatile display size, you will likely prefer the ‌iPad Air‌, especially as it is now available with a 13-inch size option. The ‌iPad Air‌ is more of an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement with support for ‌Stage Manager‌, with the added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams are in China this week to promote Apple's products and initiatives in the region. Throughout their trip, Cook has been active on Weibo.

Cook and Williams met students from China Agricultural University and Zhejiang University, exploring how they use iPhones and iPads to improve sustainable agricultural practices. Cook thanked the China Rural Development Fund (CFRD) and everyone involved in the Science and Technology Backyards initiative for their work in promoting efficiency and sustainability in farming.

They also met renowned Chinese fashion photographer Chen Man, who captured images of Cook using the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Cook spent time with musician Lexie Liu, who shared insights into her creative process and how she uses Apple products, including the iPhone and Mac. Cook and Williams also visited developers at Gala Sports, where they witnessed a demonstration of the game NBA Rivals on the iPhone 16.

A significant aspect of Cook's trip was the announcement of Apple's support for a national parks initiative in China through a partnership with the China Green Carbon Foundation (CGCF). The visit marks Cook's second trip to China in 2024, following a visit in March, which included the opening of Apple's 57th store in the Greater China region and meetings with key suppliers.

Simultaneously, Apple's Senior Vice President Worldwide Marketing Greg Jozwiak is visiting Europe.

Apple last year released Final Cut Pro for iPad Pro and iPad Air models with the M1 chip and newer, and now we have confirmed that the professional video editing app is also compatible with the new seventh-generation iPad mini.

Apple recently updated the App Store listing for Final Cut Pro to indicate the app is now compatible with both M-series chips and the A17 Pro chip in the new iPad mini. Apple's audio editing app Logic Pro is also compatible with the new iPad mini, as that app merely requires any iPad model with an A12 Bionic chip or newer.

However, some Final Cut Pro features are not compatible with the new iPad mini due to hardware or software limitations, as outlined in the app's description.

We have also confirmed that the new iPad mini is not compatible with the Stage Manager feature, which is not very surprising given the device's smaller 8.3-inch display size compared to the larger 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air models.

On supported iPads, Stage Manager allows users to resize apps into overlapping windows for an improved multitasking experience. Stage Manager also fully supports an external display with up to 6K resolution, allowing users to work with up to four apps on the iPad and up to four apps on the external display simultaneously.

The new iPad mini launches this Wednesday.

Samsung has begun a new week-long savings event, and it includes discounts on TVs, smartphones, monitors and memory, wearables, appliances, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

One of the most notable offers during this sale is a bundle deal with Samsung's TVs and monitors. When you purchase select gaming monitors at the same time as one of Samsung's OLED S95D TVs, you can save up to $1,075 on your entire order.

Samsung is also offering the 27-inch Odyssey G3 Gaming Monitor for free ($229.99 value) when you purchase select gaming monitors. You can find a collection of the monitors on sale during Samsung Week below, as well as a few TVs and Galaxy devices.

Monitors and Storage

• 990 EVO 5.0 NVMe SSD 2TB - $139.99, down from $239.99
• 2TB Portable SSD - $149.99, down from $284.99
• 34-inch OLED Curved Smart Gaming Monitor - $699.99, down from $1,199.99
• 27-inch Odyssey G6 Pro Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $899.99
• 34-inch Odyssey OLED G8 Curved Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,199.99
• 32-inch Odyssey Quantum Gaming Monitor - $799.99, down from $1,099.99
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,079.99, down from $1,799.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,999.99, down from $2,999.99

TVs

• 55-inch Neo QLED 4K Smart TV - $1,199.99, down from $1,499.99
• 65-inch OLED S90C TV - $1,299.99, down from $2,599.99
• 85-inch QLED 4K TV - $1,579.99, down from $2,799.99
• 85-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $2,299.99, down from $3,699.99

Galaxy Products

• Galaxy Z Fold6 - Save up to $1,600 with trade-in credit
• Galaxy Z Flip6 - Save up to $945 with trade-in credit
• Galaxy Watch Ultra - Save up to $350
• Galaxy Buds3 Pro - Save up to $100

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

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Apple is planning to launch its first Macs with the M4 series of chips "very soon," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In a social media post today, Gurman said these Macs will include new MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini models specifically. He continues to expect the next Mac mini to feature a "revamped" design, in line with his previous reporting that said the new model will be nearly as small as an Apple TV and gain two front-facing USB-C ports.

No major design changes are rumored for the next MacBook Pro and iMac models, but the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model, based on alleged leaks earlier this month.

It's not entirely clear if Apple plans to hold an online event this month, like its "Scary Fast" event on October 30 last year, or if the new Macs will be announced with Apple Newsroom press releases only like the iPad mini 7. If there is an event this month, Apple would likely invite the media to watch it online very soon. Apple sent out invites for the October 30 event last year on October 24, six days in advance.

Gurman said the new Macs will be accompanied by unspecified "USB-C accessories." MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris recently discovered code references to new versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard, and these accessories will likely switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging alongside the new iMac. In the EU, a regulation requiring USB-C as a common charging port goes into effect later this year.

Here is everything that Apple is likely to announce:

• 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M4 chip
• 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chip options
• iMac with the standard M4 chip
• A redesigned, smaller Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chip options
• Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard accessories with USB-C ports

Update: In a follow-up post, Gurman said that Apple is inviting the media and content creators to a hands-on experience in Los Angeles next Wednesday, and he believes this means the new Macs would need to be announced before then.

The first iPad mini 7 reviews were published today, and many of them said that "jelly scrolling" display behavior is either less noticeable or fully unnoticeable on the device. However, one prominent technology website disagrees.

The major exception is The Verge.

"The 'jelly scrolling' effect from the last model is still very much present," opined The Verge's David Pierce.

In a follow-up comment shared on Threads, Pierce said "I'm sitting here scrolling on both the 2021 and 2024 Mini, and if you forced me to pick which one is better I'd say the 2024 wiggles LESS. But it still wiggles."

Many other reviews said that "jelly scrolling" seems to be fixed, as a result of Apple making display-related hardware changes to minimize the effect.

Jason Snell, writing for Six Colors:

It's my understanding that the new model's display circuitry is different from the old model, and I couldn't detect any "jelly scrolling" in my use. It doesn't mean it's for sure gone, and I'm looking forward to eagle-eyed "jelly scrolling" experts reporting back with their results, but I sure couldn't see it, even when I recorded myself scrolling at a high frame rate and played it back frame by frame.

Craig Grannell, writing for Stuff:

Apple reckons it's optimised the display, but won't provide any details on how. To my eyes, the jelly scrolling doesn't look as bad as I recall it being last time, but bear in mind two things. First, I don't have the old iPad mini to compare. Secondly, I wasn't too fussed about this last time anyway.

Nathan Ingraham, writing for Engadget:

One bit of good news about the screen is that it seems Apple has fixed the "jelly-scrolling" problem that plagued the prior iPad mini. Jelly-scrolling occurs when one side of a screen doesn't refresh at exactly the same rate as the other, and this effect was noticeable in portrait mode with the old iPad mini. It's not something that I ever noticed while using the new iPad mini. I am curious to see if the issue has been totally resolved or if my eyes just didn't catch it, but I'll continue using the iPad mini in the coming weeks to see if I spot any display issues.

Brenda Stolyar, writing for WIRED:

But I can't talk about the iPad Mini display without going over the infamous “jelly scrolling” fiasco on the 2021 model. iPad Mini owners bemoaned that one side of the screen refreshed slower than the other when scrolling up and down on the display. I didn't experience this with my Mini, but Apple did make it a point to optimize the LCD in the latest model to alleviate this issue. Apple was tight-lipped on exactly what it changed, but for what it's worth, I once again have yet to see any problems on my test unit.

Tony Polanco, writing for Tom's Guide:

Lastly, I didn't notice the infamous "jelly scrolling" screen-tearing effect that plagued the iPad mini 6 during my testing. I can't say whether or not Apple fixed this issue or I simply didn't see it. But if that should change, I'll update this review.

Federico Viticci, writing at MacStories:

And while the display technology is unchanged – it's an IPS display that refreshes at 60 Hz – the so-called jelly scrolling issue has been fixed thanks to an optimized display controller.

"Jelly scrolling" refers to screen tearing, which can cause text or images on one side of the screen to appear to be tilted downwards because of a mismatch in refresh rates. It can cause one side of the display to look as if it is responding faster than the other side, resulting in a visual disturbance that is hard to ignore once noticed.

The effect is noticeable on the iPad mini 6 when the device was used in portrait orientation, leading to complaints from customers over the past three years.

Shortly after the iPad mini 6 launched, an Apple spokesperson told Ars Technica on background that "jelly scrolling" was "normal" behavior for iPads with LCD displays. Given that LCDs refresh line by line, there is a tiny delay between when the lines at the top and lines at the bottom are refreshed. The effect is particularly noticeable on the iPad mini 6 because it can be seen in portrait orientation rather than landscape orientation.

The new iPad mini launches this Wednesday, October 23.

Apple's new Hearing Protection feature for AirPods Pro 2 launching with iOS 18.1 next week will initially be available only in the United States and Canada, according to Apple's website.

The Hearing Protection feature continuously monitors the user's environment and reduces the impact of loud sounds, such as traffic or concerts, in real time. This function will be integrated across various listening modes, including noise cancellation and transparency mode – but only in the US and Canada at launch.

Meanwhile, the Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are expected to be available fall 2024, according to Apple. Apple has obtained FDA authorization in the United States to market AirPods Pro 2 as "clinical grade" hearing aids. However, the company said in September that the Hearing Aid feature is pending marketing authorization from global health authorities, so there is a question mark over worldwide availability.

The new hearing health functions allow AirPods Pro 2 owners to take hearing tests directly through their iPhone, with results stored in the Health app. For users who show signs of hearing loss, the AirPods can function as genuine hearing aids, boosting specific frequencies in real-time. The update also introduces advanced hearing protection features that automatically reduce exposure to loud environmental sounds.

• 18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.1

The company is expected to release iOS 18.1 to the public on Monday, October 28, bringing the new AirPods Pro 2 capabilities to eligible users.

Article corrected to Hearing Protection regional limitations, not hearing features per se. Apologies for the error.

With iOS 18.1, Apple is adding a new set of hearing health features to the AirPods Pro 2. The iOS 18.1 release candidate for developers and public beta testers includes the full hearing aid functionality, so we thought we'd give it a try to see just how it works.

To use the new hearing health features, you need to connect your ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 to an iPhone running iOS 18.1, or an iPad with iPadOS 18.1. From there, if you tap into the ‌AirPods Pro‌ section, you'll see an option to take a hearing test, which should be your first stop.

Apple's hearing test mimics the hearing tests you might have had conducted at a doctor's office or by an audiologist, and it's meant to determine whether you have any hearing loss. If you do have hearing loss, the test determines which frequencies you're struggling with.

With the AirPods in your ears, you can tap "Get Started" to take the hearing test. The test takes approximately five minutes, starting first with the left ear and then moving on to the right ear. You'll hear a series of tones at different frequencies and sound levels, and the idea is to tap the ‌iPhone‌'s screen whenever you hear a sound. The tones that you hear test for four frequencies, including 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, and 4kHz.

Apple puts your ‌iPhone‌ in Do Not Disturb mode for the test, and also uses your AirPods to make sure it's quiet enough for the test to be conducted. The test is designed for adults that are 18 years or older, and it shouldn't be done when you have allergies, a cold, an ear infection, or a sinus issue, which can affect the results. Apple also recommends waiting to take the test at least 24 hours after you've been exposed to loud noise like a concert or construction, as this can also impact the hearing test.

After going through the hearing test steps, you'll get your Hearing Test results, with separate decibel levels detected for each ear. If you get a 5 dBHL reading for each ear, for example, you have little to no hearing loss and will not need adjustments to your AirPods.

Apple says that results up to 25 dBHL indicate little to no hearing loss. 26 to 40 dBHL is a sign of mild hearing loss, while results of 41 to 60 dBHL suggest moderate hearing loss. 61 to 80 dBHL is severe hearing loss, and a result above 80 dBHL is considered profound hearing loss.

For context, a whisper is around 20 decibels, while a person breathing is somewhere around 10 decibels. Rainfall is 50 decibels, and a standard conversation is 60 decibels. With no hearing loss, you can hear a whisper, and with mild loss, you can still hear and repeat words spoken in a normal voice from three feet away. With moderate loss, you can hear and repeat words spoken in a raised voice from three feet away.

If your test shows mild to moderate hearing loss, you'll have the option to turn on the Hearing Aid feature of the ‌AirPods Pro‌. With this enabled, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ can use the data from your test to boost the frequencies that you have trouble hearing, making it easier to hear voices and other sounds around you.

There's also a Media Assist feature that goes along with the Hearing Aid function, and it adjusts music, videos, and calls so you can hear them better. You can also turn on the Hearing Aid feature using an audiogram from an audiologist if you don't want to take the test on the ‌iPhone‌.

Note that if your test showed no hearing loss, Apple will not recommend changes to your AirPods tuning, and there will not be an option to turn on the Hearing Aid feature.

To see even more information from your Hearing Test, you can go to the Hearing section of the Health app and tap into the test to see a graph of which frequencies you had the most trouble with.

Along with Hearing Assistance, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 also offer Hearing Protection as part of Apple's Hearing Health feature set. This includes a Loud Sound Reduction option that is enabled automatically. Loud Sound Reduction listens for loud noises around you in Transparency and Adaptive Modes, and reduces the level of the noise to prevent hearing loss.

If you're at a concert, for example, Loud Sound Reduction will drop the noise to a healthier level so that it won't impact your hearing. The same goes for other loud sounds like nearby construction work.

Apple says that in Transparency Mode, you'll see 11-15 decibels of sound reduction in an environment where the noise level is at 100 decibels, while in Adaptive Mode, noise reduction will range from 25 to 29 decibels. With Active Noise Cancellation, noise reduction is 25 to 30 decibels.

The amount of noise reduction can vary based on the fit of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and the environment that you're in. The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 don't provide enough sound reduction for "extremely loud impulse sounds" like gunfire, jackhammers, or fireworks, nor do they work well enough for sustained noise levels louder than 110 decibels.

In the Health app under the Environmental Sound Reduction section, you can see the amount of sound reduction you've gotten from your ‌AirPods Pro‌ from hour to hour.

If you have the iOS 18.1 developer or public beta and ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, you can try out the new hearing test and hearing aid feature right now. Otherwise, this functionality is set to become available to the public when iOS 18.1 launches next week.

What do you think of the new Hearing Health features for the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2? Let us know in the comments below.

Qualcomm today unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, which features a next-generation custom Qualcomm-designed Oryon CPU instead of the semi-custom Kryo Arm-based chips from prior SoCs. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8 Elite features the "world's fastest mobile CPU," outperforming even the A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro series.

The Oryon CPU is built on a 3-nanometer process, much like Apple's most recent chips. It has eight cores in total, including two prime cores and six performance cores, and it is able to reach peak CPU speeds of 4.32 GHz. Qualcomm also claims that it has the "industry's largest shared cache" to enable "insanely fast data retrieval." There's also a new "Adreno" GPU, and Qualcomm says it uses a "revolutionary sliced architecture" for faster performance and battery life optimizations.

Qualcomm built the chip with generative AI in mind, and it has an included Qualcomm AI Engine with Multimodal Gen AI that Qualcomm says can better understand voice, text, and images, viewing the world through the camera on a smartphone to help with tasks.

Compared to prior-generation Qualcomm chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite features 45 percent faster CPU performance and 44 percent better power efficiency.

The chip integrates the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 5G modem with Wi-Fi 7 and 5G support. It will be used in Android-based devices from companies like Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and more.

Apple is set to release the iPad mini 7 on Wednesday, and new iPad mini owners will have an update waiting right out of the box. Apple is shipping the ‌iPad mini 7‌ with a version of iPadOS 18.0, which is no longer the latest version of iPadOS.

‌iPad mini‌ owners will need to install iPadOS 18.0.1, and Apple has a special version of the update ready to go, with a version number of 22A8380. iPadOS 18.0.1 included some important bug fixes and security updates, so it'll be worth updating to right away if you're getting a new ‌iPad mini‌.

After that day one update, ‌iPad mini‌ owners will need to install a second update next Monday, which is when Apple will release iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1. iPadOS 18.1 is the first version of iPadOS that includes Apple Intelligence features, which the ‌iPad mini 7‌ will support with its A17 Pro chip.

Apple first announced the ‌iPad mini‌ last Tuesday, and along with an A17 Pro chip, it includes Wi-Fi 6E support, Bluetooth 5.3, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. The ‌iPad mini 7‌ is priced starting at $499.

Popular messaging app WhatsApp was today updated to add a new Home Screen widget that's specific to chats. The widget is available on the iPhone after updating to version 24.21.81, which came out this afternoon.

After updating the widget can be added to the ‌Home Screen‌ using the Edit interface. Users can choose from Recents, Favorites, Pinned, or Frequently Contacted to get quick access to their preferred chats.

WhatsApp has also added support for using 0.5x to 3x zoom with the built-in camera, and there is an option to mention others in Status by tapping the @ button in the composer.

Not all users will receive these updates right away, and WhatsApp says they will "roll out over the coming weeks."

Disney is no longer allowing its customers to sign up for and purchase subscriptions to Hulu or Disney+ through Apple's App Store, cutting out any subscription fees that Disney would have needed to pay to Apple for using in-app purchase.

The change was noted on Reddit over the weekend, and there are details on the Disney+ and Hulu websites. Both the Disney+ and Hulu websites say that new and returning subscribers cannot sign up for and pay through Apple, but existing Apple-billed subscribers are not affected.

Hulu and Disney+ customers can still watch content on Apple devices by signing into their Hulu and Disney+ accounts in the iOS apps. Disney is now directing customers to its websites in order to see all plans and sign up for a subscription directly.

For digital purchases like subscription services, Apple collects a 15 to 30 percent fee from each transaction. By removing the option to sign up for streaming services using the in-app purchase system, Disney will not have to pay a fee to Apple and it will be classified as a "reader" app.

Disney's decision to stop supporting in-app purchases correlates with price increases that went into effect on October 17. Disney+ plan pricing went up by $2, while Hulu with ads is $2 more expensive and Hulu without ads is $1 more. Eliminating the in-app purchase fees paid to Apple seems to be part of an effort to boost streaming revenue, paired with price hikes and also a recent crackdown on password sharing.

Disney+ and Hulu will no longer be eligible for Apple's Video Partner Program going forward, and subscribers may notice a change in tvOS and the Apple TV app. The Video Partner Program provides integration with Apple technologies like Siri, AirPlay, Universal Search, zero sign-on, and more for streaming video apps that support in-app purchase.