MacRumors

When the Apple Watch import ban goes into effect after December 25, 2023, Apple will not be able to repair out-of-warranty Apple Watch models in the United States. Apple Watch repairs typically involve replacing a broken unit with a new model rather than fixing an individual component, and replacement devices will not be available.

Apple shared the news with retail employees in a memo that was sent out this week. Portions of the memo were seen by MacRumors, and it was also shared by Bloomberg. Apple is set to stop all U.S. online sales of the Apple Watch in just a few hours, with in-store sales to cease after December 24.

"Product replacement (CRU) programs aren't available in the United States for the watches below: Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch Ultra or later," reads the memo.

Apple cannot provide replacements for any out-of-warranty Apple Watch with a blood oxygen sensor, which includes the Apple Watch Series 6 and later and the original Apple Watch Ultra. Customers who damage their Apple Watch will need to wait on repairs until hardware replacements are available again. Software-based repairs will remain available.

Apple Watch models that are under warranty are allowed to be replaced. This includes both the standard one-year warranty for new devices and devices protected through an extended AppleCare warranty.

Customers will not be able to exchange an Apple Watch after the ban comes into effect, but accessories like bands can be replaced and returns will be accepted.

The United States International Trade Commission is putting a stop to imports of Apple Watches with blood oxygen sensing technology, which means Apple cannot bring them to the United States from overseas where they are manufactured. The ITC in October said that Apple infringed on blood oxygen patents owned by medical device company Masimo, and set the ban for December 25.

Apple could avoid a pause in sales if the White House steps in and vetoes the ban, but that has not happened as of yet. The White House has until December 25 to make a decision.

Other options include settling the dispute with Masimo, which would involve Apple having to pay Masimo to license the patent technology, or removing the infringing technology. Apple is working on a software fix for the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensing algorithm that it believes will be sufficient to get the Apple Watch back on store shelves.

While Apple has to stop selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Apple Watch SE will remain available. Third-party retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart will also be able to continue sales of all Apple Watch models while supplies last.

Apple today began sending out emails to customers letting them know about a free two-hour delivery option on a selection of products available from its online store. Apple says that customers can get free delivery when ordering online before 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 24.

Courier delivery will be used for these orders, and the option usually costs $9 in the United States. Courier deliveries are provided by companies like Uber and Postmates, and the shipping option is available on Apple products in metro areas in the United States and Canada. In Australia, free three-hour delivery is available.

Devices eligible for free two-hour shipping include the iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, iPad, iMac, and Apple TV, with other non-Apple products and accessories not included in the offer. Note that the Apple Watch may only be available for a limited time as online sales in the U.S. are set to stop today.

Many other products are still available for free express shipping from Apple at this time, but free two-hour delivery will be an option up until Christmas Eve.

Today we're highlighting a few record low prices on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, all of which are available at Best Buy. The highlight of the sale is the 256GB 15-inch MacBook Air for $999.00, a $300 discount and all-time low price on the notebook.

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.

The deal on the MacBook Air does not require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, but the MacBook Pro sales do require a membership. These start at $49.99 per year and grant exclusive access to certain deals, extended return windows, and more.

Best Buy still has a few options that ensure delivery before Christmas, including same and next-day shipping, as well as in-store pickup if your local Best Buy has stock. We are quickly approaching deadlines even for these options, so if you're still shopping be sure to place orders today or tomorrow to ensure delivery before the 25th.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air

Previously, this $300 markdown on the 15-inch MacBook Air was exclusive to My Best Buy Plus/Total members, but this massive deal is now available to everyone.

There's also the 512GB 15.3-inch M2 MacBook Air at $1,199.00, down from $1,499.00, which is another steep $300 markdown on the 2023 MacBook Air. You'll find every color on sale for both of these computers.

14-inch MacBook Pro

Apple's 512GB 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is available for a record low $1,349.00 for My Best Buy Plus/Total members, down from $1,599.00. Non-members can still purchase the notebook at a solid second-best price of $1,399.00.

Best Buy has the 1TB 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro for $1,549.00, down from $1,799.00. This one is a also a new all-time low price at $250 off, and it's again only available for My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members. The non-member price of $1,599.00 is still an excellent discount, however.

There are a few higher-end M3 Pro and M3 Max models on sale as well, and solid low prices across the board. These also require My Best Buy Plus or Total memberships.

16-inch MacBook Pro

You'll find similar discounts on the 16-inch models of the new MacBook Pro, with up to $300 off select models for My Best Buy Plus/Total members and second-best prices for everyone else.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

As we shared this morning, the team behind the Beeper Mini iMessage for Android app has announced a plan that will let Android customers use a jailbroken iPhone to register a phone number with iMessage in order to get the Beeper Mini service working.

Just days after Beeper Mini launched on December 5, Apple objected to the way it was using iMessage servers with "fake credentials," and blocked the mechanism the app was using. Since then, Beeper Mini has tried to get the app back online using several increasingly complicated methods, but Apple has continually shut it down.

Beeper Mini's latest effort requires either a Mac or an old ‌iPhone‌ that is able to be jailbroken, and Android users who do not have access to one of these will not be able to use Beeper Mini or the Beeper Cloud service reliably. Using a Mac is straightforward, as Beeper Mini users simply need to sign in to get an iMessage registration code that allows the service to work.

The Beeper Mini team says that 10 to 20 people can "safely" use the same registration data, but the Mac method limits Beeper Mini users to email-based iMessage communications, and it requires an Apple ID.

The second more complicated Beeper Mini workaround uses an ‌iPhone‌. Beeper Mini's developers suggest that customers get an old ‌iPhone‌ 6, 6s, original SE, 7, 8, or X and jailbreak it with a Mac or Linux computer to install a Beeper tool that generates an iMessage registration code. The registration code can be added to the Beeper Mini app, and it allows an Android phone number to be registered with iMessage.

This method restores full Beeper Mini functionality so that Android users will show up as "blue bubbles" when communicating with ‌iPhone‌ users. The jailbroken ‌iPhone‌ must stay plugged in, at home, and connected to Wi-Fi in order for Beeper Mini to continue to function.

Those who do not have an old ‌iPhone‌ can "rent" an ‌iPhone‌ from the Beeper Mini team for a few dollars per month, or buy an old ‌iPhone‌ that's preloaded with the Beeper Mini app. The jailbroken ‌iPhone‌ rental and purchase service will "be available in the new year" if potential customers express enough interest.

Beeper Mini requires registration data from an Apple device, and to get the app to work, the Beeper Mini team was initially using registration data from its own Mac servers. Apple was able to target Beeper Mini because thousand of users had the same registration data, but it will in theory be more difficult for Apple to determine who is a genuine iMessage user and who is a Beeper Mini user with the unique registration codes provided via a Mac or a jailbroken ‌iPhone‌.

In a second blog post, the Beeper Mini team says that this is its last attempt to get Beeper Mini up and running. If Apple finds a way to disable Beeper Mini again, that will be the end of the app. The team says, however, that it has "created something that Apple can tolerate existing" with the jailbroken ‌iPhone‌ endeavor. It seems unlikely that Apple will allow Beeper Mini to sell or rent jailbroken iPhones, so it will be interesting to see if and how Apple responds.

Beeper Mini is also open sourcing the iMessage connection software that powers Beeper Mini so others can continue development if desired.

Samsung's Winter sale is still going on as we get closer and closer to Christmas, offering discounts across monitors, TVs, smartphones, tablets, computers, and home appliances. Many of the deals in this sale are the same prices we tracked during Samsung's Black Friday sale, and some are even beating their all-time low Black Friday prices.

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.

The highlight of the sale is Samsung's ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor at $999.99, down from $1,599.99. This is a record low price on the monitor, and it beats the previous all-time low price seen at Amazon earlier in the month by a few dollars.

Additionally, the Smart Monitor M8 is at its all-time low price on Amazon, available for $399.99 ($300 off). This has been one of the all-around best monitor deals we've tracked during this holiday season, and it's hard to say if it'll return after this sale ends, so if you've been holding off be sure to order soon. Unfortunately it may arrive after Christmas at this point, depending on your proximity to a distribution center that has stock.

Shoppers should note that the deadline for Christmas delivery has passed on Samsung, so none of the items in the sale will be able to arrive before December 25th at this point. There is an option to an in-store pickup at your local Best Buy, but not every product supports this option.

Other than monitors and TVs, we're also now tracking quite a few deals on refrigerators, tablets, and computers below. These sale prices will be live for this week only, so be sure to check out Samsung's event before the best prices of the year disappear.

Monitors

• Smart Monitor M8 - $399.99 at Amazon, down from $699.99
• ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor - $999.99, down from $1,599.99
• 27-inch Odyssey G32A Gaming Monitor - $199.99, down from $279.99
• 34-inch ViewFinity S50GC Monitor - $249.99, down from $379.99
• 49-inch Odyssey G9 QLED Curved Gaming Monitor - $899.99, down from $1,499.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,999.99, down from $2,999.99

TVs

• 85-inch Crystal UHD TV - $1,019.99, down from $1,599.99
• 65-inch The Frame Disney100 Edition - $1,999.99, down from $2,199.99
• 85-inch QLED 4K TV - $1,500.00, down from $2,799.99
• 85-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $2,599.99, down from $4,799.99
• 55-inch OLED TV - $1,899.99, down from $2,499.99
• 85-inch Neo QLED 8K TV - $5,999.99, down from $7,999.99
• S-Series Wireless Dolby ATMOS Soundbar - $749.99, down from $899.99
• Q-Series Wireless Dolby ATMOS Soundbar - $1,399.99, down from $1,899.99

Refrigerators

• Bespoke Side-by-Side Fridge with Beverage Center - $1,399.00, down from $2,314.00
• Large Capacity 3-Door Fridge with AutoFill Water Pitcher - $1,599.00, down from $2,423.99
• Bespoke 3-Door French Door Fridge with Beverage Center - $1,799.00, down from $3,114.00
• Bespoke 4-Door French Door Fridge - $2,199.99, down from $3,114.00
• Bespoke 4-Door Flex Fridge with Family Hub - $3,599.00, down from $5,114.00

Smartphones

If you're shopping for a Samsung smartphone this week, there are extra cash discounts to be found on these devices when shopping via the Shop Samsung mobile app, beyond the trade-in bonus offers listed below.

• Galaxy S23 Ultra - Get up to $800 instant trade-in credit with an eligible phone trade-in
• Galaxy S23 - Get up to $500 instant trade-in credit with an eligible phone trade-in
• Galaxy S23+ - Get up to $500 instant trade-in credit with an eligible phone trade-in
• Galaxy Z Fold5 - Get a free storage upgrade and up to $1,000 instant trade-in credit
• Galaxy Z Flip5 - Get up to $600 instant trade-in credit with an eligible phone trade-in

Smartwatches

• Galaxy Watch6 - $239.99, down from $299.99
• Galaxy Watch6 Classic - $329.99, down from $399.99

Earbuds

• Galaxy Buds FE - $79.99, down from $99.99
• Galaxy Buds2 Pro - $169.99, down from $229.99

Tablets

• Galaxy Tab A7 Lite - $104.99, down from $159.99
• Galaxy Tab S9 FE - Get up to $50 off

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

The developers of Beeper Mini, the iMessage for Android app, are back with another attempt to keep Apple's blue bubbles onside, and this time they will ask users to generate their iMessage registration data with the help of jailbroken iPhones, MacRumors has learned.

Beeper Mini operates by identifying text message conversations from iMessage users and converting them to the recognizable blue bubbles associated with Apple's exclusive messaging service. This enables Android users to interact with iMessage features such as reactions, threads, high-quality media sharing, and group chats, without the iPhone users noticing any difference.

When Beeper Mini first launched, Android users were able to register their phone numbers with Beeper Mini, but Apple quickly shut down this avenue, and Beeper Mini now only works with an Apple ID email address. Android users have since required access to a Mac with Beeper Cloud installed to generate their iMessage registration data and get Beeper on Android working, but the service has seen poor reliability of late, with multiple interruptions reported.

In its latest effort to keep the service afloat, Beeper will suggest that users get hold of an old iPhone to get iMessage working on their Android phone. Users will then be asked to install a free Beeper tool to generate an iMessage registration code that will reinstate the ability to register phone numbers on the service. The catch is that the iPhone must first be jailbroken, and it must be kept plugged into power, at home, and connected to Wi-Fi for periodic registration re-requests.

If users don't have access to an old iPhone for jailbreaking in order to complete the registration process, that's okay – Beeper will rent them one for a small monthly fee. The developers say this service will be available in the new year, if there is enough interest. The plan was leaked ahead of time when a Beeper blog post was published late Wednesday then swiftly removed, but not before a snapshot was generated by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, as spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

With the increasing amount of hoops Android users are being asked to jump through, Beeper is facing an ever-worsening existential crisis. When the requirement to have a Mac was added in the mix, it was not surprising that Android users began finding the app to be more of a hassle than a help. With this latest twist – literally requiring an iPhone (or Mac) to get the service working as it should – it's hard to see the approach gaining traction. And with Apple planning to adopt RCS next year to bring many iMessage features to conversations with Android users, community enthusiasm for the project has likely already peaked.

Beeper Mini launched using a reverse engineered version of iMessage, and the app was registering the phone numbers of Android users with fake iMessage credentials using Apple's own servers. Apple made it clear that it views Beeper Mini as a security risk, and that it has no intention of allowing the app to use iMessage in any capacity.

If you are looking to do some last-minute Apple gift-buying before the holidays, be sure to check Apple's online shopping order deadlines, where you can find the date you need to order specific products if you want to receive them before December 25.

Today, December 21, is the deadline in the U.S. for the majority of products, including all models in the latest iPhone 15 lineup, as well as the iPhone 14, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus, ‌iPhone‌ 13, and ‌iPhone‌ SE. The same deadline applies to all Apple Watch models, all Macs, all iPads, HomePods, AirTags, and Apple TV 4K.

December 21 is also the "Order By" date for all AirPods models excluding AirPods Max, whose deadline has already passed. The deadline for all engraving options across all products has also already passed, as has the deadline for gift cards by mail. If you are in the U.K., things are a little rosier, with Apple's "Order By" date extending to December 22 for all of the above.

If it looks like you've missed out, all is not necessarily lost. You can still shop online for in-stock items with Apple Pickup or 2-hour delivery from your local Apple Store. Apple is also running extended holiday returns. Eligible products at the ‌Apple Store‌ Online that are received between November 3, 2023 and December 25, 2023, may be returned through January 8, 2024.

Apple GPT in your pocket? It could be a reality sooner than you think. Apple AI researchers say they have made a key breakthrough in deploying large language models (LLMs) on iPhones and other Apple devices with limited memory by inventing an innovative flash memory utilization technique.

LLMs and Memory Constraints

LLM-based chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude are incredibly data and memory-intensive, typically requiring vast amounts of memory to function, which is a challenge for devices like iPhones that have limited memory capacity. To tackle this issue, Apple researchers have developed a novel technique that uses flash memory – the same memory where your apps and photos live – to store the AI model's data.

Storing AI on Flash Memory

In a new research paper titled "LLM in a flash: Efficient Large Language Model Inference with Limited Memory," the authors note that flash storage is more abundant in mobile devices than the RAM traditionally used for running LLMs. Their method cleverly bypasses the limitation using two key techniques that minimize data transfer and maximize flash memory throughput:

1. Windowing: Think of this as a recycling method. Instead of loading new data every time, the AI model reuses some of the data it already processed. This reduces the need for constant memory fetching, making the process faster and smoother.
2. Row-Column Bundling: This technique is like reading a book in larger chunks instead of one word at a time. By grouping data more efficiently, it can be read faster from the flash memory, speeding up the AI's ability to understand and generate language.

The combination of these methods allows AI models to run up to twice the size of the iPhone's available memory, according to the paper. This translates to a 4-5 times increase in speed on standard processors (CPUs) and an impressive 20-25 times faster on graphics processors (GPUs). "This breakthrough is particularly crucial for deploying advanced LLMs in resource-limited environments, thereby expanding their applicability and accessibility," write the authors.

Faster AI on iPhone

The breakthrough in AI efficiency opens new possibilities for future iPhones, such as more advanced Siri capabilities, real-time language translation, and sophisticated AI-driven features in photography and augmented reality. The technology also sets the stage for iPhones to run complex AI assistants and chatbots on-device, something Apple is already said to be working on.

Apple's work on generative AI could eventually be incorporated into its ‌Siri‌ voice assistant. Apple in February 2023 held an AI summit and briefed employees on its large language model work. According to Bloomberg, Apple is aiming for a smarter version of Siri that's deeply integrated with AI. Apple is planning to update the way that ‌Siri‌ interacts with the Messages app, allowing users to field complex questions and auto-complete sentences more effectively. Beyond that, Apple is rumored to be planning to add AI to as many Apple apps as possible.

Apple GPT

Apple is reportedly developing its own generative AI model called "Ajax". Designed to rival the likes of OpenAI's GPT-3 and GPT-4, Ajax operates on 200 billion parameters, suggesting a high level of complexity and capability in language understanding and generation. Internally known as "Apple GPT," Ajax aims to unify machine learning development across Apple, suggesting a broader strategy to integrate AI more deeply into Apple's ecosystem.

As of the latest reports, Ajax is considered more capable than the earlier generation ChatGPT 3.5. However, it's also suggested that OpenAI's newer models may have advanced beyond Ajax's capabilities as of September 2023​.

Both The Information and analyst Jeff Pu claim that Apple will have some kind of generative AI feature available on the ‌iPhone‌ and iPad around late 2024, which is when iOS 18 will be coming out. Pu said in October that Apple is building a few hundred AI servers in 2023, with more to come in 2024. Apple will reportedly offer a combination of cloud-based AI and AI with on-device processing.

Apple Savings account holders are currently receiving push notifications informing them that Goldman Sachs has raised the interest rate on the account to an annual percentage yield (APY) of 4.25% from 4.15%. This is the first increase in the interest rate since the feature launched back in April.

While the increase is a welcome one for Apple Savings customers and is a fairly competitive rate, there are some other high-yield savings accounts on the market that currently offer even higher rates.

The interest rate hike comes as Apple and Goldman Sachs are working out how to terminate their partnership for Apple Card and Apple Savings as Goldman Sachs seeks to exit the consumer business.

Recent reports have indicated that Apple has submitted a proposal to Goldman Sachs that would wind down the partnership over the next 12 to 15 months, but for the time being, there have been no changes to the availability of ‌Apple Card‌ and Apple Savings.

Apple and Goldman Sachs are reportedly looking for a new partner or partners to take over management of ‌Apple Card‌ and Apple Savings, and it's unclear how the offerings may be affected by such a shift.

(Thanks, KPOM!)

Recently, MacRumors has received information indicating that Apple intends to implement the tetraprism telephoto lens on both iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max in 2024.

Our findings align with claims made by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo back in September, which were recently reiterated. The Elec also published a report earlier this month which makes the same claim about tetraprism availability, albeit with more details.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a tetraprism telephoto camera. The folded glass structure within it uses a tetraprism design which repeatedly reflects light, allowing for up to 5x optical zoom, up from 3x on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

This year, the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro was released without the new-and-improved tetraprism telephoto camera, likely due to spatial constraints. The components necessary for the tetraprism camera occupy significantly more space than the telephoto camera currently found on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and consequently would not fit in the smaller 6.1” device.

With the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, Apple intends to increase the overall size of the devices, with the displays of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max measuring roughly 6.3" and 6.9", respectively. The increased device sizes would provide ample room for the new tetraprism telephoto camera, and internal documentation seen by MacRumors corroborates this change.

Internal documentation detailing the camera module design for the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ reveals that the module bears significant resemblance to the module used in the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max. At a glance, the area containing the tetraprism components can be easily identified.

It is important to consider that the information provided here constitutes pre-production information and may not reflect the hardware found on final mass production units. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is still many months away and changes are always possible.

For more details on what to expect, check out our rumor roundup page for the iPhone 16 Pro.

While iOS 17 updates continue to roll out periodically, work is well underway on the next major version, iOS 18, due to be released in beta in June and to the public in September, based on past patterns. Through our sources, MacRumors has received information on early development versions of ‌iOS 18‌ and the hardware referenced in the code.

The operating system, codenamed "Crystal," contains references to four unreleased iPhone models, which aligns with existing information on the iPhone 16 line up. The models referenced are:

• D47 – ‌iPhone 16‌
• D48 – ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus
• D93 – iPhone 16 Pro
• D94 – ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max

In contrast to previous rumors, we have so far found no evidence of an alleged "iPhone Ultra" as part of the ‌iPhone 16‌ range. While it is theoretically possible that an additional model could fall under the "D94" device identifier, such a device would more than likely use a separate identifier (D95 or D94a) to clearly differentiate it from the hardware of other configurations.

For the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple developed an alternate version with the device identifier "D84S" for use in proprietary 5G modem testing. The "S" in "D84S" likely stood for "Sinope," the project codename for Apple's in-house 5G modem. Although this device was never released to the general public, it provides insight into Apple's nomenclature in terms of device identifiers.

Code from the operating system also indicates that the entire ‌iPhone 16‌ range will use a new system-on-chip – t8140 – Tahiti, which is what Apple calls the A18 chip internally. The A18 chip is referenced in relation to the base model ‌iPhone 16‌ and 16 Plus (known collectively as D4y within Apple) as well as the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and 16 Pro Max (referred to as D9x internally).

This aligns with a previous rumor concerning the ‌iPhone 16‌ range, and represents a notable change from Apple's previous releases. In the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup, the base model ‌iPhone 15‌ uses the older A16 chip from the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, while the top-of-the-range ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro features an all-new A17 Pro chip with an additional GPU core and increased clock speed, and it is built on a more efficient 3nm platform compared to the A16.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ range will, however, apparently feature the same general chip on both base model and Pro iPhones. While the operating system indicates the use of the same t8140 chip for the entire ‌iPhone 16‌ range, Apple may opt to differentiate the chips used on different tiers of iPhones, such as by using A18 and A18 Pro branding.

In addition to the A18 chip, the operating system contains references to a Broadcom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module seemingly planned for the ‌iPhone 16‌ range, but beyond this it does not contain any further details. While the operating system contains codenames related to different hardware components, there is no additional information of note, as the operating system is seemingly too early in development to contain any noteworthy changes compared to iOS 17.

For additional details on what to expect, check out our dedicated rumor roundup pages for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.

The U.S. International Trade Commission today denied Apple's motion to stay a looming Apple Watch ban while Apple files for appeal [PDF via The Verge], which means one avenue avoiding a pause in sales has been exhausted.

Apple filed the appeal on October 30, aiming to prevent an import ban from going into effect while an appeal was underway, but the ITC said no to the request. The ITC has ordered Apple to stop importing Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor equipment that infringes on patents owned by medical device company Masimo.

U.S. sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are set to stop online after 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 21. In-store sales will stop after December 24. The sales ban is limited to the United States and only impacts Apple. Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and other retailers can continue to sell the ‌Apple Watch Ultra 2‌ and Series 9 until supplies are exhausted.

The ITC implemented the import ban after deciding that Apple had indeed violated Masimo patents with the blood oxygen monitoring technology in the Apple Watch, which Masimo has been claiming for years.

Apple could avoid an import ban if the White House vetoes the ITC's decision, but it is so far looking like that might not happen. The White House has until December 25 to decide whether it will step in. Back when the iPhone was facing an import ban because of a patent dispute with Samsung, then-President Barack Obama did veto the ITC's ruling, but this time Apple is in a dispute with an American company and it is over a product that is not as pivotal as the ‌iPhone‌.

Apple is working to update the algorithms used in the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor in an attempt to skirt the ban, and the company said that it plans to submit a workaround. While Apple thinks it can avoid patent infringement through a software update, Masimo has said that a software update will not work.

Apple wants to launch the Vision Pro by February and is ramping up production to meet that release date goal, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Production has been "running at full speed" for the last several weeks to ensure the Vision Pro is ready by the end of January, with a retail launch planned for February. Apple introduced the Vision Pro back in June, and at the time, the company said it would be released in early 2024.

Since then, release timeline rumors have varied, with initial rumors suggesting March and later rumors pointing to January.

Sales of the Vision Pro will be limited to the United States to begin with, and it sounds like customers will need to purchase in a retail store or pick up an online order in store. Apple wants to ensure that customers have the right headband size and Light Seal for an appropriate fit. Without a tight fit that blocks out all ambient light, content won't look right, and without the right headband size, the device could feel too heavy. Some customers will also need custom Zeiss prescription lenses, so Apple plans to do headset assembly in its retail locations.

Apple is preparing to display and demonstrate the Vision Pro in some of its retail stores. Locations will need to have headsets on hand and all of the accessories, including the different-sized headbands and Light Seals. Apple is sending employees from each of its retail stores to Cupertino to learn how to prepare the device for customers.

According to Gurman, employees will learn how the Vision Pro functions, what features to point out in conversations with potential buyers, and how to attach the headband, Light Seal, and prescription lenses. It is a delicate process because employees will need to learn how to put a device on a person's head and fit the right Light Seal on the face. There will be an app able to scan a customer's face to determine the proper headband and Light Seal, but the app's recommendation will have to be confirmed by an employee.

Apple is not expected to hold another Vision Pro event when the device launches, due to the limited U.S. release, the $3,500 price tag of the device, and the limited supply that Apple has available. If demand for the Vision Pro is high, it could be months before Apple is able to manufacture enough units.

While Apple is planning for a February launch, Gurman warns that production issues or other problems could lead to a delay.

Aston Martin and Porsche today previewed the first vehicle dashboards with support for Apple's next-generation CarPlay experience, which launches in 2024, according to a Car and Driver report spotted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Aston Martin confirmed that it will release its first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay in 2024, including an updated DB12 sports car, but it's unclear exactly when in the year this will happen. Porsche did not provide a timeframe or reveal any specific details.

Apple first previewed the next-generation CarPlay experience in June 2022, promising deeper integration with the instrument cluster and climate controls, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, a dedicated FM radio app, widgets, and more.

The next-generation CarPlay interface can be tailored to each specific vehicle model and automaker's brand identity, as pictured below.

Aston Martin previewed CarPlay integration with the instrument cluster and climate controls:

Porsche showed off a custom elongated CarPlay interface on the central screen, along with widgets for apps like Calendar, Music, and Weather on a second display:

With next-generation CarPlay, a connected iPhone will provide app-related data, while the vehicle will provide driving-specific data and info like tire pressure. Apple said the connected iPhone will not store or track this vehicle information.

When first unveiling next-generation CarPlay last year, Apple said committed automakers included Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo. Beyond the addition of Aston Martin, it's unclear if this list has changed since that initial announcement.

Below, we have recapped five key features to expect from next-generation CarPlay, as previewed by Apple last year.

Instrument Cluster Integration

The new CarPlay experience will provide integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster, including the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and more. Apple says drivers will be able to choose from several gauge cluster designs and layouts, including brand‑specific options.

Climate Controls

You'll be able to access your vehicle's climate controls directly within the new version of CarPlay, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heat, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and other options.

Multi-Display Support

The new version of CarPlay will be able to appear across all of the displays in a vehicle, providing a consistent experience across the infotainment system, instrument cluster, and any additional screens on the dashboard. Apple says CarPlay will be tailored to each new vehicle model to accommodate unique screen shapes and layouts.

Widgets

Widgets will be a key part of the new CarPlay experience, offering at-a-glance information such as trip duration, fuel economy, distance traveled, calendar events, weather, phone calls, the status of a HomeKit-enabled garage door, and more. It will also be possible to view and scroll through the widgets within the instrument cluster.

FM Radio App

The new version of CarPlay will include an all-new Radio app that allows you to easily control the FM radio in your vehicle, such as to change the station.

Apple on Tuesday released iOS 17.2.1 for the iPhone, and the update supposedly improves battery life in at least some countries.

In the U.S. and most other countries, the iOS 17.2.1 release notes only mention "important bug fixes," and do not provide any specific details. In China and Japan, however, the notes also indicate that the update "addresses an issue that can cause the battery to drain faster under certain conditions," based on a computer translation of the text.

The release notes discrepancy was highlighted in a social media post on X by Brandon Butch, who runs an iOS-focused YouTube channel. We have reached out to Apple for clarification, and we'll update this story if we receive a response.

Following the release of iOS 17.2.1, Apple continues to beta test a larger iOS 17.3 update, which will likely be released in January or February. iOS 17.3 adds a new "Stolen Device Protection" security option, and reintroduces collaborative Apple Music playlists, a feature that was originally intended to launch with iOS 17.2 last week.

It's getting harder and harder to order products online with a guaranteed Christmas delivery, but Best Buy still has a big last-minute holiday sale event going on, and it has same-day delivery options as well as in-store pickup. Deals include all-time low prices on Apple Watch Series 9, AirPods, MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad, and much more.

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.

Some of the deals shared below require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. These start at $49.99 per year and grant members exclusive access to select deals, sale events, and extended return windows. Of course, there's also much more beyond Apple products on sale right now with potential for Christmas day delivery, including video games, sound bars, small kitchen appliances, TVs, and more.

Accessories

Accessory sales currently include the AirTag 4 Pack for just $78.99, which is a solid second-best price on the tracking accessory. You'll also find great deals on the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger on Best Buy.

AirPods

Best Buy has the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case for $139.99, down from $169.99. This is an all-time low price for this model of the AirPods. You can also get the new AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $199.99, which is a great second-best price.

Beats

An all-time low price on the Beats Studio Pro has returned this month. The headphones are now available for $179.99 in multiple colors, down from $349.99.

MacBook Pro

14-inch MacBook Pro

Apple's 512GB 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is available for a record low $1,349.00 for My Best Buy Plus/Total members, down from $1,599.00. Non-members can still purchase the notebook at a solid second-best price of $1,399.00.

Secondly, Best Buy has the 1TB 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro for $1,549.00, down from $1,799.00. This one is a also a new all-time low price at $250 off, and it's again only available for My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members. The non-member price of $1,599.00 is still an excellent discount, however.

16-inch MacBook Pro

You'll find similar discounts on the 16-inch models of the new MacBook Pro, with up to $300 off select models for My Best Buy Plus/Total members and second-best prices for everyone else.

13-Inch M1 MacBook Air

Apple's 13-inch M1 MacBook Air is available for $749.99, down from $999.00. This one is available to all shoppers and does not require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership.

13-inch M2 MacBook Air

Best Buy has all four colors of the 13-inch MacBook Air at $949.00. This is a second-best price on the 13.6-inch 256GB M2 MacBook Air, and likely the last discount we'll be tracking on the computer before the holidays end.

Best Buy also has the 512GB model of the 13.6-inch M2 MacBook Air on sale, available for $1,199.00, down from $1,399.00. Compared to past sales, this is a second-best price and still a solid discount on the 2022 notebook.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air

Perhaps the most notable MacBook deal during this event is the 15.3-inch M2 MacBook Air for $999.00, down from $1,299.00, which is a rare record low price at $300 off, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus/Total member to see this deal.

There's also the 512GB 15.3-inch M2 MacBook Air at $1,199.00, down from $1,499.00, which is another steep $300 markdown on the 2023 MacBook Air. You'll find every color on sale for both of these computers.

9th Gen iPad

Moving to iPads, Best Buy has the 64GB Wi-Fi 10.2-inch iPad for $249.99, down from $329.99. Additionally, the 256GB Wi-Fi model has hit $399.99 for all shoppers and $379.99 for My Best Buy Plus and Total members, down from $479.99.

10th Gen iPad

Moving up a generation, Best Buy has an all-time low price on the 10th generation iPad. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi 10.9-inch iPad for $349.00, down from $449.00. Likewise, the 256GB Wi-Fi model is at $100 off, as are both cellular models in every color, making every model of the 10th generation iPad at a record low price right now on Best Buy.

iPad mini 6

iPad mini prices start at $399.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $499.99. Similar to the 10th generation iPad, every model of the iPad mini 6 is on sale at Best Buy right now, so you can get $100 off the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini as well as both cellular devices.

iPad Pro

iPad Pro deals include low prices on both 11-inch and 12.9-inch tablets, and you'll need a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership to see all the deal prices listed below. 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $699.00 for 128GB Wi-Fi ($100 off) and 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $949.00 for 128GB Wi-Fi ($150 off).

Apple Watch Series 9

Starting with the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 9, this model is on sale for $329.00, down from $399.00. This is a match of the previous all-time low price, and it's available in all five colors on Best Buy.

Additionally, Best Buy has all-time low prices on the 45mm GPS model and both cellular models of the Apple Watch Series 9, all at $70 off. These sales are available to all shoppers and do not require the My Best Buy Plus or Total membership.

Apple Watch SE

Best Buy is taking $50 off nearly every model of the Apple Watch SE, starting at $199.00 for the 40mm GPS device. You'll also find both cellular models on sale in multiple colors, and all of these discounts represent record low prices for the Apple Watch SE.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

There is an Apple Card, Apple Cash, Apple Pay and Wallet outage that is causing some users to experience issues with Apple Cash transaction notifications, ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ web payments, and in-app payments using ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌.

According to Apple's System Status page, the outage began at 06:15 a.m. Eastern Time, and it is ongoing. Apple says that only "some users" are affected, but no other information on numbers is given.

The problem does not seem to be impacting payments that are made using ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ in retail stores, with those ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ purchases working fine. There is no word yet on when the ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ outage might be resolved, but we'll update this article when Apple says that the ‌‌Apple Pay‌‌ issues have been addressed.

Update 7:53 a.m.: Apple says the issues have been resolved.