MacRumors

Following a rumor that iOS 16.4.1 is in the works, we can now independently confirm that Apple is testing the software update internally. It's unclear when the update will be released, but it will likely be available within the next week or two.

Like other minor updates, iOS 16.4.1 will likely be focused on bug fixes and/or security patches. Since iOS 16.4 was released last week, some iPhone users have complained about being forced to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords occasionally, and various user interface glitches. Some users continue to complain about Weather app data failing to display too, despite Apple's system status page indicating that issue is now resolved.

iOS 16.4.1 will be a stopgap until iOS 16.5 is released around May. Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 16.5 last week with a few minor changes, including a Sports tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording with Siri.

Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, so the iOS 16 software cycle is nearing its completion.

iOS 17 will feature "major" changes to Control Center on the iPhone, according to a MacRumors forum member who leaked accurate details about the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro before the device was announced last year.

In an email, the anonymous source added that iOS 17 will be focused on performance and stability improvements, suggesting that a revamped Control Center could be one of the more prominent changes coming with the software update. Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, and as usual, the first beta version should be made available to developers for testing later that day.

The source did not provide any specific details about changes planned for Control Center, which has looked largely the same since iOS 11 was released in 2017. The menu provides iPhone users with convenient access to controls for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display brightness, volume, and many other system functions. On the iPhone X and newer, Control Center can be opened by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.

Introduced with iOS 7, Control Center turns 10 this year. On a speculative basis, Apple could make Control Center more customizable and revamp the menu's design after six years of minimal changes, but exact changes if any remain to be seen.

While the forum member has a proven track record, this rumor has yet to be corroborated by other sources, and Apple's plans are subject to change.

Rumors suggest that Apple will use the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference to unveil its long-rumored AR/VR headset, and according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the device's introduction will mark an important milestone in Apple's efforts to persuade investors that it will sell.

"Apple's announcement event is likely the last hope for convincing investors that the AR/MR headset device could have a chance to be the next star product in consumer electronics," Kuo wrote in a Medium article estimating upcoming virtual reality headset sales from Sony and Meta.

With Sony cutting production plans for the PS VR2 and an estimated 300,000 product lifecycle shipments for the Meta Quest Pro, Kuo believes there is "insufficient evidence" to indicate that AR/VR headsets can become the next major thing in consumer electronics.

As the unveiling of the AR/VR approaches, there has been growing skepticism that Apple will introduce a product that people actually want to buy. In late March, The New York Times cited Apple employees who were concerned about the usefulness and the price point of the headset. Some questioned whether the device is a "solution in search of a problem," unlike the iPhone and the iPad. There are also worries that it is not "driven by the same clarity" as other Apple devices.

Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this week said that there have been "loads of skeptics" with everything that the company has done, but that Apple has succeeded anyway. "If you do something that's on edge, it will always have skeptics," he said. Cook said that Apple is "not interested in putting together pieces of somebody else's stuff," and that in markets it enters, the company wants to "control the primary technology."

While Kuo suggested in late March that Apple's AR/VR headset might not make an appearance at WWDC because Apple had pushed back its mass production timeline, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Sunday said that Apple still plans to announce the device during the WWDC 2023 keynote. Kuo has not walked back his delay suggestion, and his note today does not include a timeline for Apple's event.

Rumors indicate that the AR/VR headset will use 4K micro-OLED displays, dozens of cameras for capturing everything from a user's surroundings to their gestures and facial expressions, a lightweight, comfortable fit facilitated by an external battery, and a focus communication software.

A full rundown on what we know about Apple's plans for the AR/VR headset, which could be called the "Reality Pro," can be found in our roundup.

Anker and Eufy today have a few solid deals across each brand's charging and tracking accessories. At Anker you can get up to 25 percent off your order when you buy four or more products, and on Amazon you can save up to $18 on Eufy Security Smart Trackers.

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.

Starting with the Eufy trackers, Amazon has both the Smart Track Link in various bundles and the Smart Track Card on sale with various on-page coupons. In order to see the deal prices, all you need to do is clip the coupons on each accessory's product page (located next to the "Save More" banner) and then head to checkout.

These accessories work similar to Apple's AirTag, letting you track items like your bag or wallet through compatibility with Apple's Find My app. Shoppers should note that due to the steep discount on the Smart Track Link (2-Pack), this accessory has the best deal price and is only $1 more than the 1-Pack option. Because of this sale, it is also cheaper to place two separate orders for the 2-Pack if you want four of the trackers.

Smart Track Link

• Smart Track Link (1-Pack) - $16.99, down from $19.99
• Smart Track Link (2-Pack) - $17.99, down from $35.99
• Smart Track Link (4-Pack) - $59.99, down from $69.99

Smart Track Card

• Smart Track Card (1-Pack) - $19.99, down from $29.99

Over at Anker, you can save up to 25 percent with the purchase of four or more of the company's best power banks, chargers, power strips, cables, and hubs. In total, you can buy two products to get 10 percent off, three products to get 15 percent off, and four or more to get 25 percent off your order.

This offer only applies to the products found on this page, so it is not a sitewide deal. We've collected some of the best products in the list below, but be sure to head to Anker to browse the full sale, and remember that the more you add to your cart, the bigger the discount (up to 25 percent off) will be.

It's also worth noting that some of these accessories have their own individual coupon on Anker's website that can help save you a bit of money if you only want to buy one item. If an accessory has a coupon, you'll find it in an orange box below the product description.

• PowerCore 10,000 mAh - $21.99
• Nano Charger with USB-C to Lightning Cable - $29.99 (20% individual coupon)
• Nano II 30W Charger - $33.99
• MagGo 5,000 mAh - $39.99
• Power Strip (2x USB-A, 1x USB-C) - $65.99
• MagGo Charging Station - $99.99 ($30 individual coupon)

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Now through April 11, iPhone users can get six Chicken McNuggets for free when they make a minimum $1 purchase in the McDonald's app with Apple Pay. The limited-time offer is available at participating McDonald's restaurants in the United States.

The offer can be redeemed via the "Deals" section of the McDonald's app, and opting into MyMcDonald's Rewards is required.

The full terms of the offer:

Offer valid through April 11, 2023, or while supplies last at participating U.S. McDonald's. Must select offer from 'Deals' section of mobile app. Limit one per customer. Excludes tax. Must opt into MyMcDonald's Rewards.

Apple Pay promos like this one are periodically emailed to some iPhone users in the U.S., offering various perks and discounts from popular brands.

Apple's 2023 M2 Mac mini has hit new all-time low prices in both storage configurations today on Amazon. As of writing, only Amazon has these deals and you can get the Mac mini delivered as soon as April 9.

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.

Starting with the 256GB M2 Mac mini, you can get this model for $499.99, down from $599.00. This is now the best price we've ever tracked for this version of the computer, and stock is beginning to dwindle so be sure to lock in the sale price soon if you're interested.

Additionally, the 512GB M2 Mac mini has dropped to $689.99, down from $799.00 on Amazon. This is another best-ever price for the new Mac mini, and delivery dates are available for mid-April as of writing.

We aren't currently tracking any discounts on the M2 Pro Mac mini, besides a small $50 discount on Amazon. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Updated: The 256GB model is now out of stock on Amazon, but the 512GB option is still available.

Apple today announced that over 250 suppliers are committed to using renewable energy for all Apple production by 2030. Apple said its manufacturing partners now support over 13 gigawatts of renewable electricity, a nearly 30% increase in the last year.

Apple remains committed to its goal of being carbon neutral for every product that it makes by 2030, and is allocating $4.7 billion in Green Bonds to help finance the expansion of clean energy solutions and emissions reductions around the world.

"At Apple, we're carbon neutral for our own operations and innovating every day to go even further in the urgent work to address climate change," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "With partners around the world, we're adding even more renewable energy to power our global supply chain and investing in next-generation green technologies. The scale of this challenge is immense — but so is our determination to meet it."

Apple's press release provides more details about the company's clean energy advancements.

Apple plans to ship iPhone 15 models from India upon the device's launch – a first for the launch of a new iPhone lineup, signalling the company's gradual progress in diversifying its supply chain away from China, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

Casings for the ‌iPhone 15‌ have reportedly started to be made in India by local suppliers such as Jabil, which already assembles AirPods enclosures and has plans to expand to the Apple Pencil in the future. The ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max will continue to be made exclusively in China.

Apple has experienced quality control issues with some Indian suppliers, limiting manufacturers to certain models and color options. Earlier this year, the Financial Times reported that only one in two ‌iPhone‌ casings coming off Tata's production line in India "is in good enough shape" to be sent forward to assembly at Foxconn.

In previous years, initial batches of new iPhones have exclusively been made in China, before India comes on stream gradually in the following months. With the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup, Apple apparently expects to ship new devices from both countries simultaneously for the first time. See the full report for more information on Apple's efforts to shift production away from China.

Some Mac and iPad users who updated their devices to Apple's latest software updates are reporting problems with Continuity features like Universal Control and Handoff.

Since last week's release of macOS 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4, many users have taken to the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, Twitter, and Apple's Support Communities to voice their frustration at the lack of functionality after updating.

Users also variously report problems with Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and Auto Unlock and Approve with Apple Watch. Based on online reports, the main Continuity feature to be negatively impacted by the updates appears to be Universal Control.

To recap the feature‌‌, if you have a Mac and an ‌‌iPad‌‌ next to each other and signed into the same Apple ID, you can use the keyboard and cursor on one device across both of them. So a Mac's trackpad can be used over on the ‌‌‌iPad‌‌‌ just by swiping across, and the Mac's keyboard will become the ‌‌iPad‌‌'s input device. The reverse is also true of an ‌‌‌iPad‌‌‌ if you have a keyboard and mouse attached to it.

Barring a restore of the previous OS, suggested solutions that have worked for some users include: Signing out of one's iCloud account on both devices; disabling, restarting, then re-enabling Handoff/Auto Unlock with Apple Watch; turning Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth on and off again; and toggling checkboxes related to Universal Control features.

Apple has not commented on the Continuity bugs, but it is likely aware of them and working on solutions. The company is rumored to be preparing to release iOS 16.4.1 for the iPhone, so it could release iPadOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1 in tandem. Such minor updates are typically focused on bug fixes and security improvements.

Apple has released a teaser image of the barricade of its first official retail store in India, Apple BKC, which is set to open soon.

The store is in the country's financial capital of Mumbai, located in a high-end shopping mall at Bandra Kurla Complex – hence 'BKC' in the title – in the city's main business district.

The barricade's design is said to be inspired by Mumbai's iconic Kaali Peeli (black and yellow) taxis, and the store is set to welcome its customers with the Apple greeting, "Hello Mumbai."

Apple has also created a special Apple Music playlist to celebrate the new store, as well as special decorative wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Apple has not yet provided a date for when its flagship Mumbai store will open, and only states on its website that it is "coming soon." However, local reports suggest it will happen in April. The original plan was for it to open in 2021, but the global health crisis and economic uncertainty reportedly forced Apple to delay it.

Apple is also building a second, smaller store in the capital, New Delhi, with the possibility of further stores popping up in malls and shopping districts across India as Apple makes retail a large part of its presence in the country.

In the past, CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives have remarked on the importance of India, which is home to the world's second biggest smartphone market. In 2020 Apple opened its online store in India, offering Indian customers a way to purchase products directly from Apple without having to go through an authorized premium reseller.

Apple has also been working to build out a manufacturing supply chain in the country, and in an indication of the country's perceived importance as a production hub, Apple shifted iPhone 14 assembly from China to India in the weeks following its release.

Apple's iOS 17 operating system will be compatible with all iPhones that are capable of running iOS 16, claims a previously reliable source with alleged contacts within Apple, contradicting yesterday's rumor.

On Tuesday, a separate source with a good track record for predicting the general release window of upcoming Apple software updates suggested that iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, while iPadOS 17 will drop support for the first-generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and fifth-generation iPad.

However, in direct response to the claim about iOS 17 dropping support for the above iPhone models, a reputable leaker has asserted otherwise, saying that it is "simply incorrect." According to a post on the MacRumors forum by the anonymous tipster, all iPhones that support iOS 16 will indeed support iOS 17, including all devices powered by A11 chipsets (i.e. the iPhone X and iPhone 8/8 Plus).

This counterclaim comes from the same leaker that last year accurately revealed the presence of the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models ahead of their official launch. More recently they also claimed that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models will use a new ultra-low energy chip allowing the new volume, power, and "Action" solid-state buttons to remain functional when the handset is powered off or out of battery, and that iOS 17 will include a new sensitivity setting for said buttons.

This source is said to have a "man inside" Apple's development team who occasionally reveals hardware details about upcoming iPhone models if the physical features require software development to complement them.

If their latest claim is accurate, it would not be the first time that Apple has maintained the same list of compatible devices between major iOS releases. For example, iOS 15 is compatible with all devices that can run iOS 14, although some iOS 15 features are not available on older iPhones. In contrast, iOS 16 dropped support for some older devices, including the iPhone SE, the iPhone 6s, the ‌iPhone‌ 6s Plus, the iPod touch, and the ‌iPhone‌ 7 and ‌iPhone‌ 7 Plus.

It is also worth noting that yesterday's rumor was not the first time it has been suggested that iOS 17 could drop support for the iPhone X and iPhone 8/8 Plus. The argument does make logical sense because these models are now five years old – an elapsed timeframe previously used by Apple to drop software support for some earlier devices. They are also the only iPhones powered by the A11 chip, which is vulnerable to a bootrom jailbreaking exploit that Apple is unable to patch. However, whether Tuesday's rumor was the result of pure extrapolation along these lines remains unknown.

Unless the latest rumor by our anonymous forum tipster is corroborated by another source within the next two months, we will simply have to wait until June 5 to learn if it is true, as this is the date that Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 at WWDC.

Apple services except for iCloud will stop working on some older iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS versions starting in early May, according to information shared by Twitter account @StellaFudge, a source with a proven track record.

Users will not be able to access any Apple services except for iCloud on these software versions:

• iOS 11 through iOS 11.2.6
• macOS 10.13 through macOS 10.13.3
• watchOS 4 through watchOS 4.2.3
• tvOS 11 through tvOS 11.2.6

In an internal document, Apple said affected users might receive a push notification prompting them to update their device to a newer software version.

"Some older software versions will no longer support Apple Services like the App Store, Siri, and Maps," said Apple, in a support document published last month. "Update your software to the latest available version to continue using these services."

Apple did not explain why most of its services will stop working with these older software versions, released between late 2017 and early 2018, but the move will affect only a small percentage of users. As of mid-February, for example, Apple said only 8% of actively used iPhones were running iOS 14 or older.

Apple offers a wide range of services, including Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and others.

We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if we hear back.

Apple's iPhone continues to be the most popular smartphone with U.S. teens by far, and 87 percent of teens surveyed in the first 2023 Piper Sandler teen survey said they own an ‌iPhone‌.

88 percent of teens said that their next smartphone will be an ‌iPhone‌, but ‌iPhone‌ ownership has held steady at that 87 percent figure since last year. Over the last decade, the number of teens that own an ‌iPhone‌ has more than doubled. In 2012, for example, just 40 percent of U.S. teens reported owning an ‌iPhone‌.

As for the Apple Watch, 35 percent of teens own one of the wrist-worn devices, up four percent since last fall. 15 percent of teens said they plan to buy an Apple Watch in the next six months.

Apple Pay was the number one payment app used for purchases with 39 percent of teens reporting using ‌Apple Pay‌ within the last month, followed by Cash App at 25 percent. For peer-to-peer money transfers, though, Apple's Apple Cash option hasn't caught on. Teens prefer Square's Cash App and PayPal's Venmo for sending one another money.

Spotify was the most popular music platform among teens with 68.1 percent claiming to have used Spotify over the last six months. Just 36.4 percent of teens said they had used Apple Music in the last six months. 44.3 percent claimed to be subscribed to Spotify, while 31.5 percent said they were subscribed to ‌Apple Music‌.

A total of 29 percent of teens reported owning a VR headset, with just 14 percent using the device on a weekly basis and four percent using it daily. That metric comes as Apple gears up to launch its own AR/VR headset this year, which will be more expensive than existing options.

Among teens that do not own a VR headset, a total of 61 percent said they had no plans to purchase one. 16 percent said they were moderately interested and might purchase, while just seven percent expressed a deeper level of interest and said they intend to make a purchase.

A lack of interest in the AR/VR space from teens does not bode well for Apple's upcoming headset, but the rumored $3,000 price tag for the first iteration does not suggest that it is aimed at a teen audience at this time. Still, the survey makes it clear that other VR headset options from companies like Meta have not been able to make inroads with the key teen demographic.

Just seven percent of teens that were polled said they were planning to purchase a headset, while another 52 percent were "unsure or uninterested."

Piper Sandler has been conducting teen surveys on a biannual basis for more than a decade. Thousands of teens across the United States are surveyed for each one, and this year's spring study includes responses from 5,690 teens with an average age of 16.2 years.

Apple today announced plans to report its earnings results for the second fiscal quarter (first calendar quarter) of 2023 on Thursday, May 4.

The earnings report and investor call afterward will provide insight into the period between late December and March, which is often a slow quarter for Apple following the holiday quarter. Apple in January introduced new M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max MacBook Pro models, new Mac mini machines, and the updated HomePod, plus this quarter saw the introduction of the yellow iPhone 14.

Apple once again declined to provide guidance for the quarter during its Q1 2023 earnings results, but in Q2 2022, the company reported revenue of $97.3 billion. Apple CFO Luca Maestri said in January that year over year, revenue is expected to be similar to the December quarter. Services and iPhone revenue will be up, while Mac and iPad revenue are expected to decline by double digits year over year because of product release timelines.

Apple's quarterly earnings statement will be released at 1:30 p.m. Pacific/4:30 p.m. Eastern, with a conference call to discuss the report taking place at 2:00 p.m. Pacific/5:00 p.m. Eastern. MacRumors will provide coverage of both the earnings release and conference call on May 4.

Sonos in March introduced new Era 100 and Era 300 speakers, and as Sonos devices compete with the HomePod and HomePod mini, we thought we'd pick up the Era speakers to see how they compare to both Apple's product offerings and past Sonos speakers.

The Sonos Era 100 features a cylindrical design that's not too far off from the ‌HomePod‌, and the pricing is about the same too at $249. Designed to be a compact speaker, the Era 100 works with more than 100 streaming services for music, radio, and audiobooks, including Apple Music.

TruePlay measures the acoustics of the room to tailor the sound, and there are advanced tuning options for more personalization. The Era 100 sounds similar to the Sonos One, and while it's slightly better in quality, it won't be worth picking up the Era 100 over the Sonos One if you already have that speaker. Between the Era 100 and the ‌HomePod‌, the ‌HomePod‌ has the better sound.

The Sonos Era 300 is a higher-end speaker and pricier than any of Apple's HomePods at $449. It is designed to provide 360 degree sound with six drivers, and like Apple's devices, it supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. It offers all of the same optimization and customization options as the Era 100. While the Era 100 has a standard speaker design, the Era 300 is a little more experimental, similar to the Play:5.

As for sound, the Era 300 beats prior Sonos speakers and Apple's HomePods. It's bigger than the ‌HomePod‌, and all the audio equipment inside provides impressive sound. Spatial audio combined with this audio quality sounds incredible, and in comparison to the ‌HomePod‌, it provides a deeper, fuller sound with more bass.

In addition to using the Sonos support for music apps, the Era 100 and Era 300 support playback over AirPlay 2 from Apple devices or from any Bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet. Prior Sonos speakers were WiFi only, so the option to use Bluetooth makes the speaker easier for guests to use.

Amazon Alexa and Sonos voice assistants are available if you want to control the Sonos speakers with voice commands, and a physical switch at the back turns the microphone off if you want to be sure the speaker isn't listening to what's going on in the room. There is an included USB-C port that can be used with adapters to connect legacy audio devices or a router using an adapter, and on the top of the speakers, there are buttons for physical control, including play/pause and skipping songs.

The full-size ‌HomePod‌ is better than the Era 100 in our opinion, but the Era 300 blows them both away. It is the most expensive speaker at $449, but if you're looking for the best surround sound experience that offers features like spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, and ‌AirPlay‌ 2, it's worth checking out.

Apple made the first beta of iOS 16.5 available to developers and public testers last month. So far, only two new features and changes have been discovered for the iPhone, including a Sports tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording with Siri. More details about these changes are outlined below.

iOS 16.5 should be publicly released in May, and it is possible that more features will be added in later beta versions. To try out the beta, sign up for an Apple Developer Program membership for $99 per year or the free Apple Beta Software Program.

Sports Tab in Apple News

Apple has added a Sports tab to the News app on iOS 16.5, giving you easy access to news, scores, and schedules for your favorite teams and leagues. This information was previously available in the Today tab, but it is now featured more prominently as Apple continues to push deeper into sports content across its services.

Screen Recordings via Siri

A small but convenient feature added with iOS 16.5 is the ability to ask Siri to start a screen recording. You can say "Hey Siri, start a screen recording" to record a video of your iPhone's screen, and ask Siri to stop the recording when desired. You can still start a screen recording via Control Center after enabling the feature in Settings → Control Center.

Wrap Up

iOS 16.5 is looking to be a minor update so far, which isn't too surprising given that Apple will unveil iOS 17 at WWDC in June. Prior to iOS 16.5, Apple is preparing to release iOS 16.4.1, likely with bug fixes and security improvements.

iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, first-generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and fifth-generation iPad, according to a source with a proven track record for upcoming software updates. The devices in this list were released between November 2015 and November 2017.

If this rumor is accurate, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 would be incompatible with most devices powered by the A11 Bionic chip or older. The only exceptions would be the sixth-generation and seventh-generation iPad models with the A10 Fusion chip and the second-generation 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the A10X Fusion chip.

iPhones and iPads equipped with the A5 through A11 chip are affected by a bootrom security vulnerability that Apple cannot patch on these devices, as the bootrom operates in a read-only state. The exploit has allowed for these devices to be perpetually jailbroken on a wide range of iOS versions, allowing users to modify the iOS file system.

Last year, iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 dropped support for quite a few devices, including the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, original iPhone SE, final iPod touch, second-generation iPad Air, and fourth-generation iPad mini.

Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during its WWDC keynote on June 5.