Best Buy has a collection of big discounts on the M3 MacBook Pro this week, including the match of an all-time low price on the entry-level M3 512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,199.00 for My Best Buy Plus and Total members, down from $1,599.00.
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.
Across the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro lineup you'll find $300-$400 off every model on Best Buy, with Amazon matching some of the deals. In regards to the Best Buy discounts, some of these deals requires a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, while all of the others are available to every customer.
Note: This deal is available only to My Best Buy Plus/Total members.
If you're shopping for the 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro, you'll find $500 off every model across Best Buy and Amazon. Across the board these are all second-best prices on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but at $500 off they're still great deals for anyone in the market for the notebook this week.
14-inch MacBook Pro
M3 512GB - $1,199.00 ($400 off) [My Best Buy members only]
Some users are "experiencing a problem" with iMessage and FaceTime, the page says. Apple says it is "investigating" and will provide a status update when possible.
The issues began shortly after 5 a.m. Pacific Time, according to Apple.
At this time, there does not appear to be a widespread iMessage or FaceTime outage. Instead, the services are experiencing "performance" issues, according to Apple. We'll update this story when Apple's system status page says the issues are resolved.
Update — 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple says the issues have been resolved.
In iOS 17, Apple doesn't offer a system-level method for individually locking sensitive apps like Photos behind Face ID. There is a Shortcut action that provides rudimentary protection, but it's not infallible. Thankfully, iOS 18 includes a dedicated option to lock and even hide individual apps even when the iPhone itself is already unlocked.
This is useful because it means you can unlock your iPhone and hand it to someone for them to look at something, knowing they won't be able to open the apps you have locked. If someone using your iPhone tries to open an app that you have manually locked using the method described below, they will see a popup informing them that it can't be accessed without secondary authentication via Face ID (or Touch ID on the iPhone SE).
Notably, if Stolen Device Protection is active, entering a passcode to unlock an app is not an option, so even if your iPhone is stolen and the thief knows your passcode, they still won't be able to open the app. However, if Stolen Device Protection is not enabled, a passcode prompt appears that can be used to unlock the app after three failed Face ID attempts.
It's worth noting that not all apps can be locked. Apple does not provide the lock option for apps like Maps, Clock, Calculator, and Settings. Otherwise, almost every other app can be locked, including third-party apps. Here's how it's done.
On your Home Screen, press and hold on the icon for the app that you want to lock.
Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID).
Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID) to confirm.
Note that you can't use Siri with a locked app, and Spotlight search and any notification previews will not show content from the app.
How to Lock and Hide Apps
When you lock a third-party app using the above method, you have the option to hide it as well – but you cannot hide system apps like Safari or Photos. When enabled, the app icon and name is removed from the Home Screen, and it will not show up in searches, although it may still appear in the Settings app.
An obscured folder for hidden apps is also created in your App Library, which is accessed by swiping left to the end of your Home Screen pages. However, you will not get app notifications or incoming calls from a hidden third-party app.
How to Unlock and Unhide Apps
To unlock an app that you previously locked, simply long press on the app's icon and choose the "Don't Require Face ID" option. As long as you have Stolen Device Protection enabled, turning the lock on and off requires a Face ID scan, so it can't be turned off without your knowledge.
To unhide a locked third-party app, swipe through to the App Library and tap the obscured Hidden folder at the bottom. You will be required to perform a Face ID scan to reveal its contents. After that, you can access any hidden apps contained within it.
Apple-owned Shazam has released an updated version of the app that supports the new Music Haptics feature in iOS 18.
With the feature turned on, the iPhone's Taptic Engine will tap and vibrate to match the audio of a song playing in Apple Music, Apple Music Classical, and now Shazam, as long as the device is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
Music Haptics is supported on the iPhone 12 series and later, excluding the third-generation iPhone SE, on iOS 18 and later. The feature can be turned on in the Settings app under Accessibility ➝ Music Haptics.
Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, and has been gradually bringing the app into closer alignment with Apple Music ever since, offering trials to the streaming service through the app and the ability to sync Shazams directly to Apple Music. Note that Music Haptics don't work in Shazam for songs linked via Spotify.
Shazam can be downloaded from the App Store for free. Even if you don't have Shazam installed on your iPhone, iOS 18 supports Music Recognition, which is an optional button that can be added to Control Center.
Some users of iPhones running iOS 18 are reporting intermittent touchscreen responsiveness issues, with some devices seemingly ignoring taps and swipes. The problem appears to be affecting various models, including the new iPhone 16 series, as well as older devices dating back to the iPhone 14.
Users on Reddit have reported unresponsive areas on the screen, resulting in missed taps, ignored swipes, and difficulty scrolling or pressing buttons. This behavior is said to be particularly noticeable when interacting with the virtual keyboard, potentially leading to typing errors.
9to5Mac was first to highlight the issue. However, while initially it was thought to be exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro models, additional user reports indicate that the problem is more widespread and likely software-related. The root cause appears to be an overly sensitive touch rejection algorithm in iOS 18, designed to ignore accidental touches.
Given that inadvertent contact with the screen edges can trigger the system to temporarily ignore all new touches, the thinner bezels on the new iPhone 16 models may have exacerbated the problem, making it easier for users to unintentionally trigger the rejection mechanism when gripping their devices.
The issue seems to occur only when devices are unlocked and in use. Some users have reported particular problems around the new Camera Control button, although it's unclear if this is directly related or a separate issue.
A demonstration posted on Mastodon by user Khaos Tian shows how the problem can be intentionally triggered, providing further evidence that it is software-based. Assuming that is the case, it's likely that Apple can address the problem through a future update, but it has yet to comment on the matter.
Former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive has officially confirmed his involvement in an artificial intelligence hardware project with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The confirmation appeared in a profile of the designer by The New York Times, putting to rest speculation that began nearly a year ago about a potential collaboration between the two figures.
The AI hardware venture is reportedly being funded by Ive and the Emerson Collective, a company founded by Laurene Powell Jobs. According to the report, the project could secure up to $1 billion in funding by the end of the year, signaling significant investor interest in the endeavor.
Despite its high-profile leadership, the project is still in its early stages, with only 10 employees currently on board. However, the team includes notable former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, both of whom worked closely with Ive on the iPhone. Ive's design firm, LoveFrom, is spearheading the device's design process.
The collaboration between Ive and Altman reportedly stemmed from discussions about the potential for generative AI to enable new types of computing devices. The technology's ability to handle complex requests is seen as a key factor in creating novel user experiences that go beyond traditional software capabilities.
While specific details about the AI product and its release timeline remain under wraps, the team has already established a significant presence in San Francisco, working out of a 32,000-square-foot office building, part of a $90 million real estate acquisition by Ive on a single city block.
The new venture marks Ive's most significant technology project since departing Apple in 2019. After leaving his role as chief design officer, Ive continued to work with Apple as a consultant through LoveFrom until 2022, when the partnership officially concluded.
Amazon today is taking $49 off a collection of new Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in Black, including models with the Black Titanium Milanese Loop. These are the first discounts on the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 that we've tracked on Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can get the Black Titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 with Dark Green Alpine Loop in two different sizes for $749.99, down from $799.00. Amazon also has the model with the Black Ocean Band at the same price, as well as two sizes of the model with the Black Titanium Milanese Loop for $849.99, down from $899.00.
We've collected every model of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Black on sale below. These discounts do not require any coupons this time around, and most of the watches have an estimated delivery date between September 24 and September 27, although the Milanese Loop models are beginning to slip into October.
iOS 18 was released to the public earlier this month, but the first Apple Intelligence features will not be available until iOS 18.1 is released in October.
Apple Intelligence features will continue to roll out in iOS 18.2 and beyond, with the expected roadmap outlined below per Apple's website and rumors.
Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro model or any iPhone 16 model, and it will initially require device and Siri language being set to U.S. English.
iOS 18.1
Here are some of the key Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 18.1 beta so far:
A few Siri enhancements, including improved understanding for both follow-up requests and when you stumble over your words
Writing tools for rewriting, summarizing, and proofreading text
Notification summaries for Messages, Mail, and many other apps
Suggested replies in the Messages and Mail apps
A new "Clean Up" tool in the Photos app that can remove unwanted people or objects from photos and use generative AI to fill in the background
The ability to create a Memories movie in the Photos app by typing a description
Phone call recording and transcription
A new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions that surfaces important notifications only
Apple has been internally testing iOS 18.2 for at least a few months now, based on evidence of the software version in our website's analytics logs.
iOS 18.2 will likely be released in December, as that is when Apple said that it will be making Apple Intelligence available in localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Similar updates like iOS 17.2 and iOS 16.2 were released in December.
Apple Intelligence in More Countries
As mentioned, iOS 18.2 will likely expand Apple Intelligence to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. for the first time.
Image Playground and Genmoji
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said two more Apple Intelligence features that were previewed earlier this year will be added in iOS 18.2, including Image Playground for generating images and Genmoji for generating custom emoji.
Here is how Apple describes Image Playground:
Produce fun, original images in seconds with the Image Playground experience right in your apps. Create an entirely new image based on a description, suggested concepts, and even a person from your Photos library. You can easily adjust the style and make changes to match a Messages thread, your Freeform board, or a slide in Keynote.
Here is how Apple describes Genmoji:
Make a brand-new Genmoji right in the keyboard to match any conversation. Provide a description to see a preview, and adjust your description until it's perfect. You can even pick someone from your Photos library and create a Genmoji that looks like them.
ChatGPT Integration With Siri
Apple said that ChatGPT will be available through Siri before the end of the year, so this integration will likely go live with iOS 18.2.
With user permission, Siri will be able to show ChatGPT answers directly in response to questions and other prompts. ChatGPT will also be an option for Apple's system-wide Writing Tools feature, allowing users to generate text and images. Apple said ChatGPT will be powered by OpenAI's latest GPT-4o model on its platforms.
iPhone, iPad, and Mac users will be able to use ChatGPT for free, without creating an account, and ChatGPT Plus subscribers will be able to connect their accounts to access paid features on these devices. Apple said OpenAI will not store ChatGPT requests made from its devices, and it said users' IP addresses will be obscured.
iOS 18.3
iOS 18.3 is likely to be a minor update released shortly after the U.S. holiday season. It is unclear if this version will add any new Apple Intelligence features.
Update: In his Power On newsletter on September 22, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple Intelligence's new Siri features are "in consideration" for iOS 18.3:
The biggest iOS 18 update after iOS 18.1 will be iOS 18.4, which will include many of the new Siri features (some are in consideration for iOS 18.3, I'm told).
iOS 18.4
Siri: Personal Context, On-Screen Awareness, and Deeper Per-App Controls
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said reiterated that Siri's ability to provide more personalized and contextual responses will not be available until March. He previously said that Siri's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls will be available as part of iOS 18.4, which is expected to be released to the public in March.
Apple Intelligence in Even More Countries
Apple said Apple Intelligence will gain support for additional languages — such as Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Vietnamese, and others — next year. This timeframe suggests these languages will be added in iOS 18.4. Another possibility is iOS 18.3, but that update is likely to be a minor one that is released shortly after the U.S. holiday season.
Apple updated the AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case in September 2023. Other changes at the time included improved IP54-rated dust resistance for both the earbuds and the case, and lossless audio with Apple's Vision Pro headset.
Apple says all of its refurbished products undergo "full functionality testing" and are "put through a thorough cleaning process and inspection."
Keep in mind that Amazon is currently selling brand new second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case for $189.99 in the U.S., which is a much better deal than Apple's refurbished store is offering for the earbuds.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon.
Alongside the iPhone 16 models, Apple launched its next-generation flagship AirPods, the AirPods 4. There's a new design and for the first time, Active Noise Cancellation, so we thought we'd check them out to see how they compare to the prior-generation AirPods 3 and the AirPods Pro 2.
There are two versions of the AirPods this time around, an entry-level $129 model, and a $179 model that also includes Active Noise Cancellation. ANC has previously been exclusive to the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max, and this is the first time that Apple's used it in an open-ear headphone design and in a device at the sub-$200 price point.
Apple tweaked the design of the AirPods, introducing a shape that's supposed to fit more ears. The revamp took into account millions of scans of different ears to get a more comfortable, snug fit for people. In practice, the design isn't that much different, but if you have had trouble keeping AirPods secured in your ears, you might have luck with the new shape.
ANC typically comes in headphones or earbuds that have some kind of seal with the ear canal, but that's not the case here. Apple did not add silicone tips like it has for the AirPods Pro 2, so the ANC isn't going to cut out sound quite as well as earbuds where you get a seal. That said, the ANC is pretty decent at cutting down on annoying ambient noise like ACs, the drone of an airplane engine, and similar sounds.
Apple upgraded both models with the same H2 chip that's used in the AirPods Pro 2, and it's an upgrade over the H1 that was in the AirPods 3. Sound quality is about on par with the AirPods Pro 2 as a result, and the feature set is the same in terms of support for spatial audio, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Transparency in the ANC version, and other functions. If you're coming from AirPods 3 and upgrading to AirPods 4, you'll definitely notice the boost in sound quality.
Apple slimmed down the AirPods case, and it's tiny. Cutting case size sacrificed MagSafe charging though, so while the $179 model supports Qi-based wireless charging, it does not have a magnet inside. The more affordable model doesn't have wireless charging at all. The button at the back for pairing and setup is gone, but there's actually a hidden button at the front for these features.
Battery life has actually gone down compared to the AirPods 3. You'll get up to five hours of listening time with a single charge instead of six hours, and a little less with ANC turned on. There's still 30 hours of total listening time with the case, even though it's smaller than before.
The case for the more expensive model also has a built-in speaker for Find My, so if you misplace your AirPods, you can get the case to play a sound so you can find them. This isn't a feature of the cheaper version, but it still has general Find My connectivity so you can locate it on a map.
For the $179 price, the AirPods 4 with ANC offer a pretty robust feature set, and at $129, the version sans ANC is competitive with many other cheaper Bluetooth headphones on the market. The main benefit of AirPods with Apple devices is the automatic pairing and device switching, which you can't get with competing products.
It was another busy week in the Apple universe, bookended by the release of iOS 18 and other major operating system updates on Monday and the launch of all of the brand-new hardware on Friday.
In addition to taking thorough looks at iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, the iPhone 16, and more, we're also keeping an eye out for more updates coming from Apple, which could arrive as soon as next month with another event of some kind, so read on below for all the details!
Apple Releases iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 With Home Screen Customization, App Locking, Passwords App, and More
One significant piece of iOS 18 has yet to debut, however, and that's the suite of Apple Intelligence features Apple has been promoting since WWDC in June. The first of these AI-driven features will be appearing in iOS 18.1 and related updates next month, with more to follow in subsequent updates.
And one final note: M4 iPad Pro owners should be aware that Apple has pulled the iPadOS 18 update for those models after a number of users reported failed installations that bricked their devices. We're still awaiting a revised version of the update that avoids the issue.
Apple Launches macOS Sequoia With iPhone Mirroring, Passwords App, Window Tiling Updates and More
Highlights of macOS Sequoia include an iPhone Mirroring feature that lets you interact with your iPhone from your Mac while your phone stays locked and across the room or in a bag, a new Passwords app, and improved window tiling for multitasking, but also make sure to browse through our full guide covering 50 macOS Sequoia features that are worth checking out.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Orders Start Arriving to Customers
All of Apple's new products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and tweaked versions of other Apple Watch models and AirPods Max, are now officially available as of Friday, September 20. We've started to go hands-on with Apple's latest hardware, beginning with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Early media reviews of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models have been relatively positive, although many of the updates are fairly iterative and more powerful Apple Intelligence features these devices have been optimized for aren't coming until later.
Apple Watch Series 10 Reviews: Solid Upgrade With an Unexpectedly 'Mind-Blowing' Feature
Other feature highlights include new casing materials and finishes, sleep apnea detection (also available for the Series 9 and Ultra 2), the ability to play audio through the watch's speaker, and surprisingly good voice isolation that ensures you can be heard when taking phone or FaceTime calls on your watch in noisy environments.
AirPods 4 Reviews: 'An Almost-Perfect AirPods Pro Alternative'
Two new AirPods 4 models are also incoming, including one entry-level model and one with active noise cancellation and an upgraded case offering wireless charging and a speaker for Find My support.
Early reviews of the AirPods 4 have praised the sound quality and comfort improvements, the active noise cancellation despite a lack of silicone tips to seal in the ear canal, and the slimmer case. Overall, many feel they are an excellent alternative to the AirPods Pro for those looking to spend a bit less or who prefer the open-ear design.
M4 Macs and iPad Updates Expected at Upcoming Apple Event
The Mac mini may be the star of the show with a rumored redesign that will shrink it to around the size of an Apple TV but still offer as many as five USB-C ports and other connectivity options. A new iPad mini is also expected at the event, and while an 11th-generation iPad has also seemed likely, a new report suggests the timing may not be quite right for it just yet.
MacRumors Newsletter
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.
With a budget of $75 million, Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later" will become the first major blockbuster movie to be shot on iPhone, WIRED reports.
Jodie Comer on the set of "28 Years Later" with an iPhone 15 Pro Max camera rig (right).
The upcoming post-apocalyptic British horror movie was shot over the summer using the iPhone 15 Pro Max as the principal camera, along with additional equipment such as aluminum cages and lens attachments. The filmmakers behind 28 Years Later apparently received technical assistance directly from Apple. 28 Years Later is the sequel to "28 Days Later" (2002) and "28 Weeks Later" (2007), which depict the aftermath of a zombie-style pandemic in the United Kingdom.
The original 28 Days Later movie was largely shot in 480p standard definition with a Canon XL-1 – a consumer-grade camcorder that wrote data to MiniDV tapes. This was partly due to the need to film complex scenes depicting an abandoned central London under very limited time constraints, where bulky traditional film cameras would have taken too long to set up. The unique shot-on-digital aesthetic subsequently became an iconic part of the movie, so the use of iPhones to shoot the latest addition to the series seems to pay homage to the original film's use of camcorders. The Oscar-winning cinematographer of the original movie, Anthony Dod Mantle, is also returning alongside Boyle.
Several smaller-scale movies have already been shot with iPhones, such as Sean Baker's "Tangerine" (2015) and Steven Soderbergh's "Unsane" (2018), but these films were limited-release, low-budget titles compared to the upcoming Boyle movie. 28 Years Later is expected to be the first of a new trilogy of films scripted by Alex Garland. The breakout star of the original movie, Cillian Murphy, is also expected to return. 28 Years Later is set for release on June 20, 2025.
This week's best deals includes our exclusive discount at Anker, offering 20% off nearly everything on the retailer's website. Other than the Anker deals, you can also find big discounts on M2 iPad Air, AirPods, and early Prime Day deals at Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This week we partnered with Anker to offer our readers an exclusive 20 percent discount on Anker's best chargers, portable batteries, and more. You'll need to enter the code akmacrumors20ch at checkout to see the discount, and can find more information about what accessories work with the code in our original post.
New record low prices hit Apple's M2 iPad Air this week, with the highlight being the 128GB Wi-Fi 13-inch iPad Air for $719.99, down from $799.99. All of the tablets in this sale require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final deal price on Amazon.
Apple just released the new AirPods 4, but if you want to save money and purchase an older model there are still some great discounts available on Amazon. The AirPods 2 is on sale for $89.00 and the AirPods Pro 2 is on sale for $189.99, both of which represent solid second-best prices on each accessory.
iPad
What's the deal? Take up to $130 off 9th gen iPads
Best Buy still has steep discounts on the 9th generation iPad as we head into the weekend, including the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet for just $199.99, down from $329.99. You can also find a $130 discount on the 256GB Wi-Fi model.
Amazon announced that Prime Day is returning October 8-9, and you can already find a few very early discounts this week. These sales are mainly focused on Amazon branded products like Fire TVs and Fire tablets, but it'll keep expanding to include more items as October 8 grows closer.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Happy iPhone 16 launch day! iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models are now in the hands of customers around the world. We took a look at the iPhone 16 already, and now we're back with an unboxing and quick review of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, Apple's higher-end flagship devices.
Unboxing a new iPhone got a little more boring this year, because for the first time, Apple's removed the stickers from the box. No more stickers and no more charger - there's just an iPhone and a cable in there.
Early leaks of the new "Desert" titanium shade made it look rather unappealing, but in person, the color is a soft, subtle gold with a darker shade on the casing and a lighter shade at the back. It's not ugly at all, and there's even a bit of pink in there so in some light, it's close to a rose gold. We've also got a white titanium iPhone 16 Pro, and it's fine. It's like the white titanium from last year, and there's not much more to say about it. The Pro colors are undeniably boring, especially compared to the lovely teal, pink, and ultramarine shades Apple used for the iPhone 16 models.
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are larger in size and the bezels have been slimmed down. The thinner bezels are noticeable in person, even compared to the iPhone 15 Pro models. If you've got an even earlier iPhone, it's a big difference. The 16 Pro Max definitely feels a little larger in the hand, and the 16 Pro is closer to a Goldilocks size.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have the same feature set this year with the exception of display size and battery life. You'll get the most battery out of the 16 Pro Max because a bigger casing allows for a bigger battery, but there are improvements to both models.
There's a new Camera Control button on the right side of all the iPhones, and it's used for opening the Camera app to take photos and videos. A quick double press takes a photo, and a press and then a press and hold captures video, which is convenient. It's easier to use in landscape mode than portrait mode, and all those gestures for adjusting settings do take some time to get used to.
We've got some demo images in our video, and also, we've shot this entire review using the 16 Pro and Pro Max so you can check out the video quality. These models support 4K 120fps recording, and you can adjust frame rate in post. Apple added an Audio Mix feature for customizing sound in video too, and we've used that here as well. You can block out sound around the person you're recording or direct all noise forward like in a movie, and Audio Mix is also customizable with a slider control.
For your photos, there are new Photographic Styles that you can customize to get the perfect look for all of your images. You can use a new dial pad to go dramatic or subtle, and your personalized style can be applied in real time, in editing, to all photos, or just to one.
Apple added a new 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera so you'll get better lighting in those wide shots or when taking macro photos, and the 5X zoom is now on both models. We're going to be doing a deep dive into the camera next week, so stay tuned for that.
If you're coming from a newer iPhone, you're probably not going to notice much in terms of speed improvements with the new A18 Pro chip, because most of what you do on an iPhone isn't stressing the processor. It'll make a difference for Apple Intelligence, but of course unless you install the iOS 18.1 beta, no Apple Intelligence features are available to use yet.
Did you get a new iPhone 16 or 16 Pro? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Following today's launch of the new iPhone 16 models, Apple has shared repair manuals for the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The repair manuals provide technical instructions on replacing genuine Apple parts in the iPhone 16 models, and Apple says the information is intended for "individual technicians" that have the "knowledge, experience, and tools" that are necessary to repair electronic devices.
Compared to prior iPhone models, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are easier to repair. Apple is using an electric battery removal process, and the steps for accessing a battery to replace it are outlined in a separate support document. Per Apple's instructions, a 9-volt battery and 9-volt battery clips can be applied to the iPhone 16 battery to remove the adhesive that holds it in place.
Note that the simpler electricity-based battery removal process is limited to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. For the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, Apple is using standard adhesive tabs that need to be carefully pulled to release the battery.
Apple's instructions for all of the battery repairs include expensive equipment like an iPhone battery press to put a replacement battery back in place. The cost of the tools required for device repair and the cost of genuine components make self repair almost as expensive as getting a repair from an Apple retail location or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, so these manuals are really aimed at independent repair shops rather than individual consumers.
Apple made other changes to the iPhone 16 models this year to improve repairability, enabling on-device configuration for the Face ID camera, allowing LiDAR Scanner repair, and offering support for swapping the TrueDepth camera modules between iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models.
In addition to offering repair instructions, Apple's manuals provide some insight into the internal structure of the new iPhones that we often don't see until there are device teardowns. The iPhone 16 Pro, for example, has a metal casing for the battery, a change made for thermal reasons, and both Pro models have new casing structure that improves heat dissipation.
In an internal memo shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, Apple has acknowledged an issue with installing iPadOS 18 on iPad Pro models with the M4 chip. We first reported on this issue earlier this week.
The memo, obtained by MacRumors, states that a "small number" of these iPad Pro models are unable to power on after a customer attempted to install iPadOS 18 on the device. Apple is working to resolve the issue, and it has made iPadOS 18 unavailable on affected iPad Pro models in the meantime, according to the memo.
Apple has advised technicians to attempt a force restart of a customer's iPad Pro model, if the device has experienced this issue.
It is unclear how long it will take for Apple to identify and implement a fix.
We don't mean to take away from the excitement of the iPhone 16 launch today, but there are more rumors to share about next year's iPhone 17 lineup.
Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants today informed MacRumors that the standard iPhone 17 and a slimmer model that we are calling the "iPhone 17 Air" will both feature ProMotion, meaning that each device's display would be able to ramp up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when necessary.
ProMotion would also allow the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air displays to ramp down to a more power-efficient refresh rate. iPhone 13 Pro models can ramp down to 10Hz, while iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 16 Pro models can go as low as 1Hz, allowing for an always-on display that shows various Lock Screen elements even when the device is locked. It is unclear if the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air would ramp down to 10Hz or 1Hz.
The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still have 60Hz displays.
Young has a good track record with display-related information about future Apple products, including being the first source to reveal that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max would feature larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 series in September 2025.
Halfbrick Studios is a game company best known for super popular iOS titles like Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, which have historically been freemium titles. Starting last year, Halfbrick decided to go with a different monetization model, offering all of its games for a low monthly fee.
Halfbrick+, a $2.99 per month service (or $30/year), offers a bunch of updated takes on classic iOS games, with more titles added regularly. You can play without ads, in-app purchases, or irritating freemium game mechanics that limit gameplay unless you shell out more money.
The service soft launched late last year, but it's ramping up as Halfbrick has worked to add multiple games in 2024. Titles include Fruit Ninja Classic, Dan the Man Classic, Jetpack Joyride Test Labs, Bears vs. Art, Lazy Dog, Monster Dash, and tons more, with a full list available on the Halfbrick+ website. New games are coming on a regular basis, as Halfbrick is developing its own titles exclusively for Halfbrick+, and working with other game developers to bring classic titles to the service.
Just today, Halfbrick+ gained Mega Jump, an arcade platformer where the goal is to jump as high as possible while avoiding monsters and collecting coins. It's one of those classic iPhone titles that you likely played years and years ago, but it's back and better than ever with no IAP through Halfbrick+.
In a couple of weeks, Nimble Quest will join Halfbrick+. If you're unfamiliar with Nimble Quest, it's a fun little game that uses the classic snake mechanic. Players control a conga line of heroes, destroying enemies, collecting new heroes, and gathering treasure.
There are some obvious similarities between Halfbrick+ and Apple's own Apple Arcade subscription service, but Halfbrick is focusing on a more curated experience with well-loved game mechanics and the addictive gameplay that Halfbrick is known for. The $2.99 price point is purposely aggressive to keep it affordable for players, and there is a one-month free trial for anyone who wants to give the service a go.
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Jodie Comer on the set of "28 Years Later" with an 
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