Today we're tracking a pair of discounts on AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 offered by Verizon and Amazon, respectively. Verizon's deals do not require you to be a Verizon Wireless customer in order to take advantage of the discounts, and the retailer offers free two-day shipping as well as in-store pick-up for most locations.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon and 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 AirPods Pro 2 for $199.00 on Amazon, down from $249.00. We very briefly saw a discount on this model to $194.99 back in March, but this rare deal never emerged again and today's deal remains a great second-best price.
Verizon has deals on both of the AirPods 3 models. You can get the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case for $149.99, down from $169.00, and the AirPods 3 with MagSafe Charging Case for $159.00, down from $179.00. This is about $10 off from the all-time low price on this model of the AirPods 3, but we haven't tracked that price in months and Verizon's deal is a solid second-best option.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of macOS Ventura 13.5 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta introduced two weeks after the release of the third beta.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, with the betas available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.
No notable features have been found in macOS 13.5, so it's not yet clear what's included in the update.
With macOS Sonoma now in development and slated for launch this fall, Apple's work on macOS 13 will soon be wrapping up. macOS 13.5 is likely to be one of the final updates to macOS Ventura.
Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming over two weeks after the release of the third betas.
Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the “Beta Updates” option and toggling on the iOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.
iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 lay the groundwork for iMessage Contact Key Verification. It is meant to let Apple device owners verify that they are messaging with the people they intend to message rather than a malicious entity that has intercepted a message or is eavesdropping on a conversation.
The feature is designed for Apple users who are facing “extraordinary digital threats.” Apple intends for iMessage Contact Key Verification to be used by journalists, human rights activists, government officials, and others who are in danger of malicious digital attacks from state-sponsored attackers or other malicious actors.
Apple said that iMessage Contact Key Verification would be available on the iPhone and other Apple devices at some point in 2023, and it is one of the last features we are expecting to see in iOS 16. In the first beta, hints of iMessage Contact Key were available, but the option was not fully enabled.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming two weeks after the release of the third beta.
To install the watchOS 9.6 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.6 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the iPhone it is paired with.
It is not yet known if there are new features in the watchOS 9.6 update, but we did not find anything in the first beta. This is expected to be one of the final updates to the watchOS 9 operating system as Apple has shifted its work to watchOS 10, the next-generation version of watchOS.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.6 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after the release of the third beta.
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 16.6 update by downloading a profile on the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS updates are usually minor, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the tvOS 16.6 update, but we'll update this article if we find anything new.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
Nanoleaf today announced the launch of preorders for several new products, including new light panels and the 4D Screen Mirroring and Lightstrip Kit that it announced at CES.
The Nanoleaf 4D is a lightstrip and camera setup that is designed to provide backlighting for your TV or display that matches the content on the screen. There is a Nanoleaf Lightstrip that attaches to the back of a TV set, paired with a camera that is pointed at the screen to detect the colors.
The camera is able to capture the different shades on the display, syncing them in real-time to the gradient lightstrip behind it. Nanoleaf says that this setup is meant to provide a "true 4D effect" that extends content beyond the TV. The camera does not record footage and is used solely for color syncing, plus there is a privacy cover for those who are concerned.
There are four mirror modes from a subtle ambient glow to a direct match to the TV screen, and the Screen Mirror Modes can be combined with Rhythm Music Sync to mirror the colors on the screen while also reacting to soundtracks or in-game effects.
Nanoleaf's Sync+ feature allows the screen mirroring to work with the included lightstrip as well as other Nanoleaf lighting products for an "all-encompassing visual experience." Up to 50 Nanoleaf RGB devices can be connected, including Nanoleaf's light panels.
There's a Nanoleaf x Overwolf partnership for gamers that allows real-time lighting reactions synced to in-game events, with a customizable color palette available. The Overwolf functionality is available for titles that include Apex Legends, Call of Duty, and Dota, and it works across any Nanoleaf RGB setup. Overwolf can be set up with the Nanoleaf Desktop app starting today.
Nanoleaf today also announced the upcoming launch of the Ultra Black Shapes Hexagons, which are light panels that feature a 360-degree black finish to match darker decor. The Ultra Black Hexagons are identical to the standard Hexagons, but are black when powered off rather than white.
Both the Nanoleaf 4D and the Ultra Black Hexagons work with the Nanoleaf app or with HomeKit. Later this year, an over-the-air Matter update will launch to improve compatibility across smart home platforms.
The Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror and Lightstrip Kit can be preordered today from Nanoleaf. Two lengths are available, with the 65-inch lightstrip priced at $100, and the 85-inch lightstrip priced at $120. The camera is also available on a standalone basis for $80. The kits are expected to ship in mid-July, and customers who preorder by June 28 will receive a bonus $20 Nanoleaf gift card.
The Nanoleaf Ultra Black Hexagons are also available for preorder from Nanoleaf today, with a nine-piece kit priced at $220. Orders will ship out in late July.
While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always significant, new features begin to stack up over multiple generations. For this reason, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a two-year-old iPhone 13 Pro.
If you are still using an iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max and will consider upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max when the devices launch later this year, we have put together a list of features to expect below. The list includes major changes introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro last year, as well as new features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models.
A17 chip vs. A15 chip: The 5nm-based A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro is already up to 17% faster than the A15 chip in the iPhone 13 Pro, according to the Geekbench 6 benchmark. The iPhone 15 Pro will be equipped with the A17 chip, which is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's latest 3nm process for even faster performance and improved power efficiency over the previous generation.
USB-C port: With the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple is finally expected to switch from Lightning to a USB-C port. This change will provide a more universal charging standard and allow for faster wired data transfer speeds.
Titanium frame: Like the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have a titanium frame instead of stainless steel. The back glass and display bezels are also expected to have slightly curved edges.
Action button: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with a customizable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra. The button would replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included on every iPhone model since 2007. Users would likely be able to assign the button to various system functions, such as Ring/Silent, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Low Power Mode, and more.
Dynamic Island: With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped area surrounding the Face ID sensors and front camera. The Dynamic Island displays system alerts and integrates with iOS 16's Live Activities feature to show live NBA scores, the status of an Uber ride, and more.
Always-on display option: With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple introduced an always-on display option that dims the entire Lock Screen, but still shows the time and date, widgets, wallpaper, and notifications. Once you raise the iPhone, tap the screen, or press the side button, the display returns to normal brightness.
Thinner bezels: Similar to the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have even thinner bezels around the display.
Longer battery life: Already, the iPhone 14 Pro lasts up to 23 hours for offline video playback, compared to 22 hours for the iPhone 13 Pro. With components like the A17 chip and the LiDAR Scanner expected to be more power efficient this year, the iPhone 15 Pro could have even longer battery life.
Numerous camera improvements: iPhone 13 Pro users upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro will get access to a wide range of camera upgrades, including a 48-megapixel Wide lens, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, Action mode, and more. Increased optical zoom is also expected for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
eSIM only in U.S.: Apple removed the physical SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models sold in the U.S., meaning the devices work with eSIMs only. The devices are still compatible with physical SIM cards in other countries.
Increased RAM: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with an increased 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB for the iPhone 13 Pro. Increased RAM can benefit multitasking on the iPhone by allowing more apps to be open in the background simultaneously without reloading.
Wi-Fi 6E: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, which supports the 6GHz band for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference compared to standard Wi-Fi 6.
Emergency SOS via Satellite: iPhone 14 models can connect to Globalstar satellites, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. The service is free for two years after activation, and is currently available in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K., Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and select other countries.
Crash Detection: New for the iPhone 14 series, Crash Detection is designed to detect severe car crashes and contact emergency services via Emergency SOS if the user does not respond. The feature is enabled by default.
5G improvements: iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 modem for improved 5G performance.
Apple will likely unveil the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max in September, and the devices could have additional features that have yet to be rumored.
Apple has increased the price of iCloud storage in several regions around the world, including the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America.
Every Apple ID receives 5GB of free cloud storage, but users can upgrade to a paid iCloud+ storage subscription plan to get 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB of storage. The price hike, first spotted by 9to5Mac, represents an increase of around 25 percent.
iCloud+ Subscription
Previous UK Price
New UK Price
50GB
£0.79/month
£0.99/month
200GB
£2.49/month
£2.99/month
2TB
£6.99/month
£8.99/month
Similar increases have occurred in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa, Colombia, Peru, Brazil. Pricing in the United States, Canada, and European Union remains the same.
All paid iCloud+ storage plans include features like iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, and Custom Email Domains.
The iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates include a number of privacy and security improvements that make your devices safer than ever, with Apple restricting access to photos and calendar events and cutting down further on how websites track you across the web.
Private Browsing Upgrades in Safari
In Safari, Private browsing windows are now locked and require secondary authentication to unlock and access. If you hand your phone over to someone and they attempt to open your Safari private browsing tab, access will be denied without a Face ID/Touch ID scan or a passcode.
The Private tab is locked automatically.
Tracking URL Removal
Opening up a URL in a private browsing window automatically strips all tracking information added to the URL, plus unknown trackers are completely blocked so companies aren't able to track your browsing across multiple sites.
URLs can also be stripped when browsing in non-private browsing mode if the functionality is enabled. Here's how to remove URL-based tracking for all browser windows:
Open up the Settings app.
Scroll down to Safari.
Tap on Advanced.
Tap on Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection.
Toggle on "All Browsing."
Turning this on will ensure that all URLs opened in Safari will strip additional tracking information that's pasted on to the end of a URL.
Shared Passwords
With iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma, you can securely share passwords and passkeys with friends and family members using a new shared password function. Using this feature, passwords for shared media accounts, utilities, bills, and more can be provided to multiple people.
Each person can access, add to, and change passwords that are shared, with setup available by going to the Passwords section of the Settings app and choosing "Get Started" under the "Family Passwords" heading.
Passcode Resets
If you change the passcode on your iPhone and then accidentally forget the new passcode that you chose, you now have a 72-hour grace period to fix it without getting locked out of your device.
Apple lets you use your old passcode within 72 hours of setting a new one, which is handy if you're someone who is likely to forget a newly created passcode.
When you enter an incorrect passcode after making a change, you can tap on the "Forgot Passcode?" option at the bottom of the display to use the "Try Passcode Reset" option. Tapping it allows you to use your old passcode to create yet another new passcode.
For protection in case someone has learned your passcode, there is an "Expire Previous Passcode Now" setting that you can turn on.
Photo Library Access
The Photos picker in iOS 17 is designed to allow users to share specific photos with apps while the rest of the Photo Library stays private. Apps must ask to access the user's entire photo library, and users will be shown additional information on the photo information they are sharing, such as number of photos and videos and the metadata included like location and captions.
You can give apps the following access:
Limited Access - Apps can see only the images that you can select, and you can review the selected images anytime either in the app or by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos.
Full Access - Apps can see all of the images and videos in your Photo Library, and your device will tell you exactly how many photos and videos you're giving access to.
None - No access to the Photo Library at all.
Add Photos Only - The app can add images to your library, but not view them. This setting depends on the app, and is not available for all apps.
If you open up the Settings app and then go to the Privacy and Security section and choose Photos, you can see the Photos access that all apps have access to. You can change the settings from here, and it's a good idea to go through the list to see exactly which apps can see your images. You can also opt to remove information like location and caption, and change photo format.
Downloading a new app that wants Photo Library access will bring up options to give limited or full access. In the past, apps had the option to just ask for blanket Photo Library access, which gave them the entire library, rather than just chosen images. There's much more control over what apps can see in terms of photos in iOS 17.
Your iPhone will also periodically remind you about apps that have access to your full Photo Library, offering up the option to change access to limited.
Calendar Access
Apps can add an event to the Calendar app without being able to view your Calendar through the "Add Events Only" option.
Calendar access can be managed by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Calendars. You can give apps Full Access, choose Add Events Only, or use the None option to revoke access. This section of the Settings app also details how many calendars you have and how many accounts you're signed in to.
Apps that have full Calendar access can see location, invitees, attachments, and notes, according to Apple.
Passkeys
iOS 17 automatically assigns a passkey to an Apple ID, which is a more secure password alternative. With a passkey, users can sign into an Apple ID with Face ID or Touch ID instead of their password, with the feature available on icloud.com, appleid.apple.com, and other Apple websites.
Passkeys use a key pair, one that is public and registered to the website or app and one that is private, held only on device. There is no way for a third party to intercept and access a passkey, so a passkey can't be stolen.
With iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and iPadOS 17, when you sign into an Apple website, you'll use biometric authentication rather than your password. Passkeys will eventually be adopted by many sites, replacing passwords.
Home Activity History
The Home app now includes an activity history for up to 30 days, so you can see who accessed door locks, garage doors, contact sensors, and alarm sensors, and when. It can be accessed by tapping on the "Security" button at the top of the Home app and then choosing "Activity History."
New Hampshire resident Guangwei "William" Wu recently pled guilty to transporting stolen Apple property valued at $2 million, according to the United States Attorney's Office in the District of New Hampshire.
Wu owned the Hai Xing Qiao shipping company in Manchester, New Hampshire. In the fall of 2022, a Hong Kong-based company purchased a range of Apple products that Wu was meant to forward to them in Hong Kong. The order included iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, and MacBooks.
Rather than shipping the goods, Wu accepted a bribe of more than $700,000 from a different Hong Kong company to redirect the $2 million worth of products to that company instead of the company that originally made the purchase.
Wu told the original company expecting its shipment that U.S. law enforcement officials had seized the Apple devices, and he forged a "Disclaimer of Ownership" that was supposedly issued by the United States Postal Office, complete with a fake federal agent signature.
Wu's scheme was discovered after a joint investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Wu could receive up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus he will be repaying $2 million in restitution to the company he stole from.
Samsung today announced that its ViewFinity S9 external monitor is now available to pre-order in South Korea, and will launch in the country on July 3. The monitor is priced at 1.7 million won, which is equivalent to approximately $1,300 USD. Samsung has yet to reveal pricing or availability details for the U.S. market.
Unveiled at CES 2023 in January, the ViewFinity S9 has similar specs as Apple's Studio Display, including the same 27-inch size, 5K resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 600 nits peak brightness, support for one billion colors, and support for 99% of the DCI-P3 color space. The monitor's metal stand and slim bezels also resemble the Studio Display.
The back of the ViewFinity S9 is equipped with a Thunderbolt 4 port that can provide up to 90W of pass-through charging to a computer, which is enough power to charge any MacBook. The monitor also has three USB-C ports and a Mini DisplayPort.
If the ViewFinity S9 ends up being priced around $1,300 in the U.S., that would be around $300 cheaper than the Studio Display, which starts at $1,599. However, the ViewFinity S9 offers a matte finish and a height-adjustable stand as standard features, whereas the Studio Display costs $2,299 when configured with these options, so the savings could potentially be up to $1,000. Samsung's monitor also comes with an attached 4K webcam that offers higher-resolution video than the Studio Display's built-in webcam.
The monitor has a "Smart Calibration" feature that allows it to be calibrated with the SmartThings app. Users can point a compatible iPhone or Galaxy smartphone's camera at the center of the ViewFinity S9 screen to calibrate the monitor.
Samsung uploaded a ViewFinity S9 introduction video in English on its YouTube channel on Sunday, so U.S. availability may be around the corner. The monitor will provide much-needed competition to the Studio Display, as there are very few 27-inch 5K displays on the market that offer an ideal Retina-quality experience for macOS. The monitor also offers far better value for customers willing to look past the Apple logo.
YouTube appears to be developing a new gaming service called "Playables," according to The Wall Street Journal. The service allows users to play games on mobile devices or desktop computers, and it is being tested with Google employees internally.
Playables appears to offer instant-play games through the YouTube website or YouTube mobile apps, offering an alternative to video content. In a statement, a YouTube spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that "gaming has long been a focus at YouTube" and that the company is "always experimenting with new features," but the spokesperson declined to comment specifically on Playables.
Google previously had the Stadia cloud gaming service, but announced plans to shut it down last September. Google said that the service was not able to gain the traction that Google had been expecting, and Stadia was officially shuttered in January 2023.
Playables does not offer the same cloud based gaming as Stadia, focusing on simple games rather than console titles. One of the available games is Stack Bounce, an arcade game where players smash bricks with a ball.
There is no word on when Playables could see a public launch.
Emergency SOS via Satellite, a feature introduced with the iPhone 14 models, over the weekend saved a hiker who was injured on a trail. As reported by ABC7, Juana Reyes was hiking a remote part of the Trail Canyon Falls in the Angeles National Forest when she suffered an accident.
A part of the trail collapsed underneath her, breaking her leg. She had no cellular service, nor did the people who were with her, but she did have an iPhone 14. "Thankfully, my phone has that SOS satellite feature I was able to connect to... I'm assuming satellites," she said.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section was able to get to Reyes after receiving a satellite call. She was successfully air lifted to safety using a helicopter.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, three iPhone rescues have been conducted over the course of the year, one of which was in the same general area. Last December, a vehicle went over the side of a mountain on the Angeles Forest Highway in the Angeles National Forest, with Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite used to contact rescuers.
Emergency Satellite via SOS is available to all iPhone 14 users, and it can be activated when an emergency situation occurs and there is no WiFi or cellular connection available. Emergency SOS via Satellite works in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK.
Apple is in the early stages of developing a new iMac with over a 30-inch display, which would be the largest-ever size for the all-in-one computer, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his weekly Power On newsletter, Gurman said this iMac remains "further out," suggesting that it might be at least a year or two away from launching.
"The company is also conducting early work on an iMac with a screen over 30 inches," wrote Gurman. He did not share any additional details at this time.
Excluding refurbished models, the iMac is currently only available in a 24-inch size, as Apple discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro over the last few years. Despite occasional rumors about the iMac Pro making a comeback, there is still no larger iMac with Apple silicon available. One solution is to purchase a 27-inch Studio Display and connect it to a Mac with Apple silicon, but this is not an all-in-one setup.
Released in April 2021, the 24-inch iMac features a colorful, ultra-thin design and is equipped with the M1 chip. Gurman expects the 24-inch iMac to be updated with the as-yet-unannounced M3 chip by early next year. All current Apple silicon chips are manufactured based on TSMC's 5nm process, while the M3 chip is expected to move to a 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements.
A larger iMac is one of many products on Apple's product roadmap, according to Gurman. He also expects a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra to launch later this year, suggesting that the high-end watch might be updated on an annual basis like other models.
The iPhone 15 Pro models will feature slightly repositioned power and volume buttons, among other small design changes, according to newly shared images of pre-release accessories.
The images, some of which were posted on Weibo, show that the iPhone 15 Pro's power and volume buttons will be positioned slightly lower than on the iPhone 14 Pro models. The iPhone 15 Pro's USB-C port, replacing the Lightning port on current models, also appears to necessitate a slightly larger bottom cutout.
Most noticeably, the cases accommodate the new mute button that is set to replace the long-standing mute switch above the volume buttons. Since the button does not need to be gripped from the side and slid across like a switch, it appears to require less space and can utilize a smaller cutout.
One of the cases features some kind of insert that is placed over the mute button when the device is in the case, similar to the other buttons on most iPhone cases. The button is also expected to serve as a multi-purpose Apple Watch Ultra-style Action Button, likely allowing users to perform functions like running Shortcuts in addition to activating or de-activating mute.
Another case shared by Twitter user "Majin Bu" may indicate that the iPhone 15 Pro will feature larger camera lenses and a bigger microphone. This accessory also seems to retain allowances for a unified volume rocker, but this design change is no longer expected to arrive this year.
Other design updates rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models include a titanium chassis, slightly curved front and rear edges, slimmer bezels, and a thicker camera array. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are expected to launch alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus as usual in the fall.
Amazon Prime Day doesn't start for another two weeks, but you can already get a few solid discounts on select Amazon products right now. We aren't expecting sales on Apple devices to appear until the week of Prime Day.
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.
The majority of the deals in this sale are Amazon branded products, including Fire Tablets, Echo speakers, Fire TVs, Ring Doorbells, and more. We've collected some of the best devices on sale this week in the list below, but you can find the full list on Amazon.
As with all Prime Day sales, only Amazon Prime members can take advantage of today's deals. If you aren't a member, you can join Prime via a free 30-day trial to participate in this year's Prime Day. Once your trial is over, Prime membership will run for $14.99/month or $139/year. For students, that's $7.49/month or $69/year.
We'll have plenty more Prime Day coverage once the event gets nearer, so be sure to keep an eye on the MacRumors front page and social media. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
Apple's annual Back to School promotion is now available in Canada and Mexico after launching in the U.S. earlier this month. Now through October 2, college and university students in these countries can receive a free Apple gift card or accessory with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad, in addition to Apple's standard educational discount on these products. Students can also receive 20% off AppleCare+ plans for eligible devices.
In Canada, Apple is offering a $200 gift card with any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac, and a $150 gift card with any new iPad Pro, iPad Air, or Mac mini. The gift card can be used towards purchases of Apple products and accessories, App Store apps, subscriptions to services like Apple Music, iCloud+ storage, and more.
In Mexico, Apple is offering third-generation AirPods with any new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac, second-generation AirPods with any new Mac mini, and a second-generation Apple Pencil with any new iPad Pro or iPad Air. There are various AirPods upgrade options available for an additional cost, such as second-generation AirPods Pro.
The offer is available through Apple's online education store and at physical Apple Store locations for students attending or accepted to a higher-education institution, faculty and staff of higher-education institutions, parents purchasing on behalf of an eligible student, employees of a K-12 institution, and select others. The full terms and conditions for the promotion are available on Apple's regional websites for Canada and Mexico.
Apple likely will launch a similar Back to University promotion in the U.K. and other European countries within the next few weeks.
Apple is working on at least a dozen new devices set to launch between late 2023 and early 2024, according to an updated product roadmap shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple is planning to launch two Apple Watch Series 9 models and a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra alongside the iPhone 15 lineup this fall.
Substantial updates to the Mac lineup will launch starting later this year or in early 2024, encompassing new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip, two new MacBook Air models, and new 24-inch iMac models. In addition, Apple is said to be "conducting early work" on an all-new iMac model with a display larger than 30 inches in size.
Gurman reiterated that an updated iPad Air to replace the current M1-based device and two new iPad Pro models with OLED displays are on the way for 2024. Third-generation AirPods Pro, a refreshed Apple TV with improved specifications, and other "home equipment" such as smart displays are also in early development. A new generation of Apple's Vision Pro headset is unlikely to arrive until 2025, he added.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon and Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
