MacRumors

Amazon continues to provide steep discounts on multiple AirPods models this week, with the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C at an all-time low price and the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 at solid second-best prices.

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.

The newest AirPods model, the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, is available for the record low price of $189.00 on Amazon, down from $249.00. Amazon provides an estimated delivery date of January 13 through January 16 if ordered today.

Secondly, the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case have hit $149.99 on Amazon, down from $169.00. We've seen this one down about $10 cheaper in past sales, but this remains the best deal that we've tracked since the holidays.

Lastly, Amazon has the AirPods 2 for $99.00, down from $129.00. Of course, these were cheaper during the holiday shopping season, but at $99.00 they're still the cheapest model of AirPods you can get in new condition right now.

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

Microsoft today overtook Apple as the world's most valuable public company by market value. Apple's share price dropped by just one percent, enabling Microsoft to narrowly pull ahead of Apple at a value of $2.87 trillion.

Microsoft has briefly overtaken Apple as the most valuable company since 2018, most recently in 2020 and 2021 when concerns about supply chain shortages dented Apple's stock price and a boom in remote working bolstered Microsoft. Over the past year, Microsoft's support for artificial intelligence tools by backing OpenAI has helped boost its value, while equivalent offerings from Apple have been noticeably absent.

In its November earnings report, Apple's sales results missed expectations as demand for iPads and wearables was lower than expected. Mac revenue also saw a major drop compared to the previous year. It is yet to be seen how responses to the Vision Pro headset will influence the market, but expectations are relatively low due to low sales forecasts and the device's high price point.

Update 1:40 pm: By the close of the regular trading day, Apple had retaken the top spot in market capitalization at $2.89 trillion compared to Microsoft's $2.86 trillion, and the companies may swap places multiple times in the coming days and weeks as they remain close in value.

Apple on Tuesday released Magic Keyboard firmware version 2.0.6 with a fix for a Bluetooth-related security vulnerability.

"An attacker with physical access to the accessory may be able to extract its Bluetooth pairing key and monitor Bluetooth traffic," an Apple support document says.

The firmware update is available for various Magic Keyboard models for the Mac, including the standard Magic Keyboard, Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad.

Magic Keyboard firmware updates are automatically installed while the keyboard is paired to a device running macOS, iOS, iPadOS, or tvOS, with no way to manually apply an update. To check a Magic Keyboard's firmware version on a Mac, open the System Settings app, click Bluetooth, and click on the info button next to your keyboard.

Apple's full security disclosure:

Bluetooth

Available for: Magic Keyboard; Magic Keyboard (2021); Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad; Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; and Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad

Impact: An attacker with physical access to the accessory may be able to extract its Bluetooth pairing key and monitor Bluetooth traffic

Description: A session management issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2024-0230: Marc Newlin of SkySafe

This is the first firmware update for some Magic Keyboard models in several years, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

Apple today received approval to sell the HomePod mini in Malaysia, according to a local regulatory filing uncovered by Xavier Naxa.

It's unclear when the HomePod mini will be available in Malaysia, but sales will presumably begin on Apple's online store there within the next few months. Apple has yet to receive approval to sell the full-size second-generation HomePod in the country.

Apple first released the HomePod mini in October 2020 in the U.S., and it is now sold in around 25 countries. New color options were added in November 2021, and the speaker's previously-unused temperature and humidity sensor was activated last year.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last year said mass shipments of a second-generation ‌HomePod mini‌ would begin in the second half of 2024.

Update: On January 17, Apple revealed that iOS 17.3 will be released "next week", with Monday, January 22, and Tuesday, January 23, being the most likely dates.

Apple is working on an iOS 17.3 update, and has seeded three betas to developers and public beta testers so far. The update isn't quite as large as the prior iOS 17.2 update in terms of new features so the testing period won't be as long, and we are expecting it to launch before the end of January.

In terms of timing, a launch the week of January 22nd might make the most sense. We've had three betas, two of which have not added anything particularly notable, suggesting there isn't much testing left. If Apple plans to launch the update on the 22nd or the 23rd, we can expect to see the release candidate version of the iOS 17.3 update on the 15th, followed by the launch.

Apple could also release iOS 17.3 on the week of the 29th, but that is the week that visionOS and the Vision Pro headset will be coming out. Apple does sometimes tie software release updates together, but as an entirely new operating system, visionOS isn't likely to be accompanied by any other updates.

The last new operating system update that Apple came out with was watchOS back in 2015. watchOS saw its official release on Friday, April 24, 2015, the same day that the first Apple Watch models launched.

Apple last year released iOS 16.3 on January 23, and in 2022, Apple released iOS 15.3 on January 26, so a January 22 launch date for iOS 17.3 would be in line with Apple's past release timelines.

iOS 17.3's main new feature is Stolen Device Protection, a feature that prevents a thief that somehow gains access to both your iPhone and your passcode from accessing sensitive information. It locks several features behind a Face ID scan, preventing a thief from viewing iCloud Keychain passwords, turning off Lost Mode, using Safari payment methods, and more.

It also adds a time-based delay before allowing ‌Face ID‌, Find My, or Stolen Device Protection to be turned off, and before letting an Apple ID or ‌iPhone‌ passcode be changed.

Along with Stolen Device Protection, iOS 17.3 adds Collaborative Apple Music Playlists, a feature originally intended for iOS 17.2. With Collaborative Playlists, multiple people can contribute to one shared ‌Apple Music‌ playlist.

Hyper has a range of new products coming out this year, with many of the additions previewed this week at CES. The $150 HyperJuice 4-in-1 Qi2 Stand has a 15W magnetic wireless charging surface that is able to charge a MagSafe iPhone at up to 15W.

It's also equipped with a 5W Apple Watch charger, a dedicated charging spot for the AirPods, and a fourth wireless charging spot for other accessories. The stand, which folds down when not in use, will come out in the second quarter of 2024.

Hyper is also working on a foldable Qi2 Puck Stand and Apple Watch charger. Priced at $120, it too can charge an ‌iPhone‌ at up to 15W, with a 2.5W charger available for the Apple Watch. It is set to come out in Q2 2024 as well.

Hyper has a $130 Qi2 10,000mAh Power Bank coming in the second quarter of the year, with the power bank able to magnetically connect to an ‌iPhone‌ for charging on the go. It includes a 20W charging port as well, with the port providing both input and output power.

Other new products coming from Hyper include a tiny 5,000mAh Capsule Power Bank with integrated cables, a compact 20,000mAh USB-C Power Bank, a 100W multi-port HyperJuice wall charger that can charge up to four devices at once, and a Thunderbolt 5 dock with triple 4K144Hz extended display support, 140W pass-through power delivery, and more.

More information on Hyper's CES announcements can be found on the Hyper website.

Mila, a company that makes air purifiers and humidifiers, today announced the launch of the Mila Air 3, an air purifier that offers HomeKit integration.

The Mila Air 3 is an upgrade over the first-generation Mila Air Purifier. Along with ‌HomeKit‌ support, the updated model includes a quieter, more energy efficient fan and more powerful performance thanks to an updated motor. An LCD display provides feedback on air quality, and capacitive buttons allow for on-device control.

With ‌HomeKit‌ integration, the Mila Air 3 will work with the Home app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and it will allow the air purifier to be turned on or adjusted with Siri voice commands.

Mila Air Purifiers work with a new Mila Insights app, providing details on air quality alerts, air quality over time both indoors and outdoors, and the filtering performance of the Mila.

The Mila Air 3 is set to launch in the summer of 2024. Depending on the filter selection, pricing will be $408 to $448, though it will drop to $349 for users who subscribe to an auto-refill service for filters.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today formally opposed Apple's motion for the Apple Watch sales ban to remain paused for the duration of Apple's appeal.

In a document filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, ITC lawyers said "Apple presents a weak and unconvincing case to invoke the extraordinary remedy of a stay pending appeal," adding that Apple's arguments "amount to little more than an indisputably adjudicated infringer requesting permission to continue infringing the asserted patents."

The court is accepting responses from other parties in support of the ITC's ruling until January 15, so the Apple Watch should remain available until early next week at a minimum.

In October, the ITC ruled that Apple Watch models with blood oxygen sensing infringed on patents owned by medical technology company Masimo, and ordered that the import and sale of these devices be banned in the U.S. as a result. The feature is available on the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, excluding Apple Watch SE models.

Masimo has accused Apple of stealing trade secrets and poaching employees to develop its blood oxygen sensing functionality. Last month, Masimo said it was open to settlement talks, but Apple had reportedly not expressed any interest at the time.

In December, Apple briefly paused sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 across its U.S. retail stores and online store. After appealing the ITC's ruling with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Apple was granted a temporary stay, leading to the ban being paused and sales resuming for now.

Apple is reportedly working on software changes to address the alleged patent infringement, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is expected to rule on these changes later this week. However, Masimo believes that the Apple Watch's hardware design will have to change to become compliant, and the ITC also expressed skepticism.

"To the extent Apple relies on the soon-expected ruling from Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") as to whether certain redesigned Apple Watches infringe the Asserted Patents, those arguments are, at best, misplaced," ITC lawyers said in today's filing. "A favorable ruling to Apple has no bearing on Apple's alleged likelihood of success on the merits as to any raised issue, and instead would undermine Apple's 'irreparable harm' argument."

We have shared the ITC's full response as a PDF.

Sennheiser this week announced the launch of several new wire-free earbud and headphone options that are designed to compete with the AirPods and AirPods Pro from Apple.

The Momentum Sport earbuds are fitness optimized, featuring both a heart rate sensor and a body temperature sensor that can provide real-time biometric feedback. The heart rate data can be added to the Health app on an Apple device, and the earbuds also integrate with other platforms like Strava, Garmin, Peloton, and Polar.

There is a built-in acoustic relief channel that is meant to minimize footstep noise, breathing, and other sounds from the body, and there is a semi-open design that promotes natural environmental awareness that's important for running, biking, and similar activities.

Several listening modes are available, including a Transparency mode, an anti-wind mode, and an Adaptive Noise Canceling mode, so users can adapt the earbuds to multiple activities. The earbuds include a new acoustic system for what Sennheiser says is the best sound yet in a sport earbud, and there is IP55 sweat and water resistance along with a shock-proof chassis. Priced at $330, the Momentum Sport will be available starting on April 9.

The mid-range Accentum Plus headphones are an affordable option that supports aptX and offers 50 hours of listening time on a single charge. The headphones include Adaptive ANC to cut down on ambient sound, and an audio cable allows them to be used in situations where wire-free functionality is not available, such as on an airplane. The Accentum Plus will launch on February 20 and will be priced at $230 in the U.S.

Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds are built on Qualcomm's S5 Sound Gen 2 platform with aptX lossless sound quality and low latency. Bluetooth 5.4 is included, as is Auracast, which Sennheiser says offers "exceptional signal continuity while on the go."

Adaptive ANC has been improved, plus there is a more advanced tuning system and an upgraded battery system allowing the earbuds to last for up to 7.5 hours before needing to be recharged. The Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds will be available for pre-order on February 15, and they will be priced at $300 in the United States.

Apple accessory company Native Union this week unveiled a number of upcoming accessories that are set to launch throughout the year.

The Voyage 2-in-1 is a Qi2 wireless charger that supports the latest wireless charging standard. It is able to charge an iPhone at up to 15W, the same as MagSafe. The foldable charger has a main charging base for the ‌iPhone‌ and a second charging base with an Apple Watch charging puck that can fast charge the Apple Watch or charge up the AirPods Pro.

Native Union's (Re)Classic Power Bank features a 5,000mAh battery to add additional power to an ‌iPhone‌. The ultra slim power bank is able to connect magnetically to an ‌iPhone‌ that supports ‌MagSafe‌ for charging on the go.

The Desk Mat and Desk Laptop Stand are new desktop accessories designed to be used with a Mac. The Mat has a textured surface and is made from an animal-free material, while the Desk Laptop Stand has a premium metal construction that elevates a laptop or tablet up to 60cm.

The Slim Charger is a thin, 67W USB-C power adapter with two ports, and it is covered with a soft-touch canvas material. The slim design allows it to fit behind a desk, a couch, or in other tight spots. The Pocket Cable, inspired by the Swiss Army Knife, features a fold-up USB-C cable that charges devices up to 60W.

Native Union's Desk Mat, Desk Laptop Stand, and (Re)Classic Power Bank will be coming out in the first quarter of the year, with launch dates coming in the future for the Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger, Slim Charger, and Pocket Cable.

Apple currently offers two external displays, including the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. It also sells the 24-inch iMac for customers who prefer an all-in-one desktop computer, but the larger 27-inch iMac was discontinued in March 2022.

Below, we recap rumors about next-generation Studio Display and Pro Display XDR models, as well as a potential 32-inch iMac.

Studio Display

Apple released the Studio Display in March 2022 alongside the first Mac Studio. The monitor features a 27-inch LCD screen with 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the Studio Display starts at $1,599.

There haven't been any specific rumors about a new Studio Display. However, in December 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors. He said at least one of these monitors could function as a smart home hub in a low-power state, but it's unclear which model he was referring to. In July 2023, Gurman said Apple's next-generation monitors would launch in 2024 at the very earliest.

There have been on-again, off-again rumors about Apple planning a new 27-inch external display with mini-LED backlighting and ProMotion support, which could allow for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, but the status of this project is not entirely clear. In April 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the display was slated for mass production in 2024 or early 2025. It's unclear if this monitor would be the next Studio Display.

Pro Display XDR

Released in December 2019 alongside an updated Mac Pro, the high-end Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch screen with LED backlighting, a 6K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 1,600 nits of brightness, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the monitor starts at $4,999, but the optional Pro Stand costs $999 extra.

Gurman said one of the new external monitors that Apple was working on was an updated version of the Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip, something the current model lacks. In the Studio Display, an A13 Bionic chip powers features such as Center Stage camera framing, spatial audio, and Siri voice commands.

While no other features have been rumored yet, some additions that customers are hoping for include a webcam, speakers, and a higher refresh rate.

32-Inch iMac

In October 2023, both Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple was developing a 32-inch iMac for release in late 2024 or in 2025. Kuo said the larger iMac's screen would feature mini-LED backlighting.

In November 2023, Apple announced that it has no plans to release a 27-inch iMac with an Apple silicon chip. For customers who want a large-screened desktop setup, Apple recommended pairing the Studio Display with a Mac Studio or Mac mini. Apple did not explicitly rule out the possibility of a 32-inch iMac being released in the future.

Apple updated the 24-inch iMac with its latest M3 chip last year.

Scosche at CES is showing off a new version of its BaseLynx 2.0 Modular Charging System, with the updated model offering support for the new Qi2 wireless charging standard.

A MagSafe version of the BaseLynx 2.0 launched in Apple retail stores earlier this year, but the new model will be available directly from Scosche as of this spring.

The BaseLynx is a multi-component charging system with modules that include a 2-in-1 Qi2 charger that works with the iPhone and AirPods, an Apple Watch Stand with fast charging support, a multi-device vertical charging station that provides 60W for up to three devices, and an end cap with an AC outlet and 67W USB-C port. The Qi2 wireless charging base is able to charge an ‌iPhone‌ at up to 15W, the same as ‌MagSafe‌.

With all of the BaseLynx components, the setup can charge an ‌iPhone‌, AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook, and more all at one time in one organized spot on a desktop.

Alongside the BaseLynx 2.0, Scosche also introduced the PowerVolt 150W USB-C Desk Charger With 4 USB-C ports, the PowerVolt 30W USB-C Home Charger, and the PowerVolt 40W USB-C Car Adapter able to provide 20W per USB-C port.

Scosche's products are set to launch later this year.

Apple today seeded the third public beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.3 update, allowing non-developers to test out the software ahead of its release. The third public beta comes a week after the second public beta.

Beta testers can opt-in through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Under Beta updates, simply toggle on the Sonoma Public Beta. Note that you must sign up to participate on Apple's beta testing website.

macOS Sonoma 14.3 includes support for collaborative playlists in Apple Music, allowing ‌Apple Music‌ subscribers to build playlists with others. When creating a new playlist or selecting an existing playlist, there's a person-shaped icon that can be clicked to turn on collaboration.

Enabling collaboration provides a link that can be shared with others, and anyone with the link is able to contribute to the playlist and listen to the songs. The person who started the playlist can choose to approve those who want to join or open it up to everyone. Anyone with the link to a playlist can add music, though the owner can turn off collaboration at any time or remove people.

macOS Sonoma 14.3 is expected to see a launch later in January.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its release. The second public iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 betas come almost a month after Apple released the first betas. Note that while Apple is calling these the third betas of iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, there was technically never a second public beta. Apple had to pull the second developer betas of iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, and opted to go straight to the third beta rather than releasing an updated public beta version.

Public beta testers can get the beta by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Public Beta. Signing up on Apple's beta testing website is required.

iOS 17.3 includes Stolen Device Protection, a feature that offers an extra layer of security in case your iPhone is stolen and the thief also obtains your passcode. With this turned on, Face ID or Touch ID authentication is required for viewing iCloud Keychain passwords, turning off Lost Mode, erasing an ‌iPhone‌'s contents, using saved payment methods in Safari, and more. There is no passcode entry option should ‌Face ID‌ or ‌Touch ID‌ fail.

Certain actions, such as changing an Apple ID password, updating a device passcode, turning off Find My, and removing ‌Face ID‌ require authentication and also a one-hour security delay.

The update also adds collaborative Apple Music playlists, a feature that lets Apple Music subscribers build playlists with friends, family members, and others who share their musical tastes. Any playlist can be turned into a collaborative playlist by tapping on the person-shaped icon and sharing the link.

Those who want to try it out in iOS 17.3 can click on the MacRumors playlist link to try adding a song.

We are expecting iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 to be released sometime in January.

Today we're tracking a few iPad discounts on Amazon, including the 9th and 10th generation iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Air. These deals include multiple all-time low prices on Apple's tablets, matching the prices we tracked over the holiday season.

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.

2021 iPad

Starting with the 9th generation iPad, Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi device for $249.00 in both Silver and Space Gray, down from $329.00. This is a good second-best price on the tablet, and the Space Gray color can be delivered as soon as January 14.

2022 iPad

Moving to the newer 10th generation iPad, Amazon has three colors of the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad available for $349.99, down from $449.00. This is an all-time low price on the 2022 iPad, and you can get the Pink model delivered as soon as January 14, while Blue and Silver have slightly delayed estimates.

iPad Air

Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $499.99, down from $599.00. This one is available in three colors and is an overall second-best price on the tablet.

iPad mini

Finally, Amazon has nearly every model of the iPad mini 6 on sale this week, offering solid second-best prices across the board. The 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini is available for $399.99, down from $499.00, and every color but Starlight is available at this price.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Images purporting to reveal the original version of Apple's MagSafe charger today surfaced online, providing a look at how the company conceived of the accessory over two and a half years before its release.

The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show the original version of the ‌MagSafe‌ charger that Apple considered launching. The prototype has a production date of March 2017, a key period in the development of Apple's AirPower wireless charging mat. This version of ‌MagSafe‌ was apparently developed directly alongside ‌AirPower‌.

The earlier version of ‌MagSafe‌ for iPhone features a rubberized outer shell that feels similar to the base of the HomePod, rounded edges, a different array of magnets with opposite magnetism, and a large Apple logo. It is apparently the same approximate size as the final version, but noticeably thinner. The design language distinctively harks back to an earlier period in Apple's history that more generously used white rubberized plastics and featured its logo more prominently.

Following the cancelation of AirPower in March 2019, Apple apparently revisited this earlier ‌MagSafe‌ concept and rebooted the project. It ultimately launched with the design we know today alongside the ‌iPhone‌ 12 in October 2020, seeming to taking direct inspiration from the Apple Watch's charger with a thicker silver aluminum outer shell, flat sides, and no Apple logo.

The ultimately released version of ‌MagSafe‌ for ‌iPhone‌ (2020).

Kosutami previously shared images of various Apple charger prototypes, including a functional AirPower charging mat, different color options tested for the ‌MagSafe‌ charger, and an unreleased "Magic Charger" accessory.

Google Maps continues to work on integrating Live Activities support for iPhones, according to new assets unearthed by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris in the latest version of the app.

Evidence that the feature was in development first appeared in August, but further work on it had appeared to have come to a standstill until now, suggesting it could become functional soon.

The Google Maps team announced in February 2023 that it would roll out Live Activities support "in the coming months," so support is now long overdue based on the company's own internal roadmap.

When support rolls out, Google Maps users will be able to view turn-by-turn directions and their ETA in a single live-updating iPhone Lock Screen notification, as well as in the Dynamic Island on ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and iPhone 15 series models.

Apple opened up its Live Activities API to third-party ‌iPhone‌ apps with the release of iOS 16.1, and many developers have since made good use of the feature.