MacRumors

Apple last Friday introduced the iPhone 14 Plus, a new 6.7-inch device that replaces the prior-generation iPhone 13 mini. The ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus marks the first time that Apple has sold a more affordable larger-screened ‌iPhone‌ that is not classified as a "Pro" model since the company started debuting four smartphones at a time.

MacRumors editor Dan Barbera spent a full week using the ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus to see how it fits in Apple's ‌iPhone 14‌ lineup and whether it's worth considering over other ‌iPhone 14‌ options.

The ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus is an ‌iPhone 14‌ but with a bigger battery and a bigger screen. It has no features that are not available in the ‌iPhone 14‌, so it's worth picking up only if you want that larger screen.

At $899, it's $200 cheaper than the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max, but it lacks ProMotion display technology, an always-on display, a faster processor, and more advanced camera technology including a 48-megapixel Main lens and a Telephoto lens. If you don't care about these features, you can save $200 by picking the Plus over the Pro Max, but if you want all the bells and whistles, it's not worth the savings.

Make sure to watch the full video to see Dan's thoughts, and let us know what you think of the ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus in the comments below.

Apple is rumored to be a frontrunner for streaming rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket package, but CNBC today reported that "existing restrictions around Sunday Ticket have slowed negotiations between Apple and the NFL in recent months."

The report claims that Apple is not interested in "simply acting as a conduit for broadcasting games" and instead is seeking more comprehensive partnerships with sports leagues. In June, for example, Apple announced that its TV app will exclusively stream every live MLS match beginning in 2023, without any local blackouts or restrictions. MLS highlights, analysis, and other content will also be available across the TV app and Apple News.

"For the first time in the history of sports, fans will be able to access everything from a major professional sports league in one place," said Apple's services chief Eddy Cue. "It's a dream come true for MLS fans, soccer fans, and anyone who loves sports. No fragmentation, no frustration — just the flexibility to sign up for one convenient service that gives you everything MLS, anywhere and anytime you want to watch."

At a media conference in New York this week, Cue said the lack of contractual restrictions will allow its partnership with the MLS to thrive. CNBC claims that Apple wants this sort of flexibility with the NFL too, such as the freedom to offer games globally.

Sunday Ticket currently offers all regional NFL games on Sunday afternoons to out-of-market viewers. The U.S.-only package has been exclusively distributed by DirecTV since 1994, but the deal is set to expire ahead of the 2023 NFL season and DirecTV is reportedly not interested in renewing its rights to the package.

Previous reports said the NFL was looking for more than $2 billion annually for Sunday Ticket streaming rights, along with a minority stake in NFL Media, which oversees the NFL Network channel, NFL.com, and more. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said a new Sunday Ticket partner would be announced before the end of this year.

Sunday Ticket would add to Apple's growing portfolio of live sports content available through the TV app. Apple already partnered with the MLB to air a weekly "Friday Night Baseball" doubleheader on Apple TV+ during the 2022 regular season, while its 10-year partnership with the MLS begins next year. It was also reported that Apple considered bidding on a package of UEFA Champions League games that ultimately went to CBS.

One of the Wallet features introduced in iOS 15 last year was support for home keys, which lets users add digital keys for compatible HomeKit door locks to the Wallet app on their iPhone and Apple Watch.

Few third-party smart home locks support home key yet, but today, Apple retail stores are stocking popular smart home accessory maker Level's first home key compatible smart lock, the Level Lock+.

Available to begin with in a satin nickel color, with a matte black model arriving soon, the Lock+ system is an updated version of its existing HomeKit-compatible Level Lock - Touch Edition which includes support for key cards.

With the addition of home key support, Lock+ users can take advantage of their Apple device's NFC connectivity to quickly unlock their home by simply bringing their device close to the lock.

After being added as an accessory in the Home app, the Lock+ can function in Express Mode, which allows you to unlock the door just by holding your ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch near the lock, or alternatively it can be set up to require Face ID or your passcode after holding your device near the lock.

The new Lock+ with home key support comes with a strike plate, CR2 battery, six screws, two keys, two key cards, and a long bolt cap. Priced at $329.95, Level Lock+ is only available in Apple retail stores for now, but a listing on Apple's online store is expected to arrive on October 21, when the matte black edition will also be available to order.

This week saw the first big shopping event of the fall, thanks to Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale. The best Apple deals of the week were all found within this sale, and some can still be purchased today.

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.

Apple TV 4K

• What's the deal? Take $69 off Apple TV 4K
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The highlight of Prime Early Access was the 32GB Apple TV 4K down to $109.99, from $179.00. You can still get this model and the 64GB model for $69 off on Amazon. We did see a slightly lower price at the height of the event, but these prices are still solid deals and very steep discounts on the streaming device.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take $39 off AirPods 2
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon introduced a solid price on the AirPods 2, available for $89.99 ($39 off), during its Prime Early Access Sale, and you can still get this deal right now. Compared to past sales, this is a second-best price.

Apple Watch Series 8

• What's the deal? Take $50 off Apple Watch Series 8
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

New $50 discounts on the Apple Watch Series 8 also emerged this week, and they're still available to purchase. The 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 is on sale for for $349.00, down from $399.00, and the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 is discounted to $379.00, down from $429.00. Both prices are record low discounts.

iPad mini 6

• What's the deal? Take $99 off iPad mini 6
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The iPad mini 6 has one of the biggest sales still available on Amazon, with nearly every model getting discounted. You can get $99 off every version of the iPad mini 6, although some don't have every color on sale. Prices start at $399.99 for 64GB Wi-Fi, an all-time low price.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Apple is reportedly working on a new version of the Messages app that could be released alongside its mixed-reality headset next year.

Twitter leaker known as "Majin Bu" today claimed that Apple is working on a completely new version of iMessage, featuring a new home view, chat rooms, video clips, and more. The app purportedly offers "new chat features in AR" and, as such, it "should" be released next year alongside Apple's headset.

iOS 16 introduced a range of new features for the Messages app, including the ability to edit or delete a recently sent message, mark conversations as unread, and collaboration invitations and activity updates, so further iteration next year seems believable – especially if it is linked to the launch of Apple's headset.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who often reveals accurate insights into Apple's plans, has said that Apple's mixed-reality headset will focus on gaming, media consumption, and communication. He believes that Memojis and SharePlay could be central to the experience. iOS 16 brought SharePlay to Messages, making it possible for multiple users to enjoy synced content like movies or songs with shared playback controls while chatting. This would necessitate a convenient experience for initiating SharePlay sessions in the Messages app on Apple's headset.

The headset itself is rumored to run an entirely new operating system called "rOS" or "realityOS," internally codenamed "Oak." Apple's work on realityOS has been rumored since 2017, but the existence of the operating system was finally confirmed earlier this year when references to it were found in App Store upload logs and Apple open source code. realityOS will presumably feature versions of many of Apple's existing apps, so a wider revitalization of the Messages app seems plausible, particularly if the app will be important to collaborative experiences on the device.

Majin Bu has revealed some accurate information about Apple's plans, particularly with regards to cases and color options, and shared the rumor of a 14.1-inch iPad before display analyst and heavyweight Apple leaker Ross Young did. That being said, their reputation with regards to software is much more variable. In March, Majin Bu shared information about a new smart multitasking system for iPadOS that would be exclusive to M1 iPads. It is unclear whether this information was legitimate since it could have referred to an early version of what is now known to be Stage Manager.

iOS 16 adds native support for the Dvorak keyboard layout on the iPhone, providing users with an alternative to the standard QWERTY layout.

Dvorak was designed to make two-handed typing faster and more ergonomic compared to QWERTY. Patented by August Dvorak in 1936, the layout reduces finger motion by placing all vowels in the middle row on the left side of the keyboard and commonly-used consonants like R, S, T, N, and L on the right side. However, given that typing on a smartphone involves your thumbs only, Dvorak is not as beneficial on the iPhone.

On an iPhone running iOS 16, the Dvorak layout can be enabled in the Settings app under General → Keyboard → Keyboards → English → Dvorak, alongside existing QWERTY, AZERTY, and QWERTZ options. Dvorak is only available for English right now.

Prior to iOS 16, using Dvorak on the iPhone required installing a third-party keyboard from the App Store or connecting a capable external hardware keyboard. Dvorak has also long been supported on the Mac and can be enabled in the System Settings app under Keyboard → Input Sources by clicking the plus sign and selecting Dvorak.

Apple's mixed-reality headset will feature iris scanning to authenticate payments and log into accounts, setting itself apart from Meta's new Quest Pro headset, according to a paywalled report from The Information.

Two individuals, who apparently helped develop Apple's headset, told The Information that users will be able to scan their irises to quickly log into their accounts and make payments, similar to Face ID and Touch ID – a feature first rumored by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Iris scanning is also said to make it easier for multiple people to use the same headset and sets the device apart from the Quest Pro, which lacks any such feature.

To enable iris scanning, internal cameras track where users are looking. Eye tracking also allows Apple to reduce graphical fidelity in a user's peripheral vision, thereby reducing the amount of processing power required for the headset's graphics. Apple's purchase of German startup SensoMotoric Instruments in 2017 is said to have allowed it to build the technology.

The report reiterated the rumor that Apple's headset will feature 14 cameras, compared to just 10 on Meta's Quest Pro headset, designed to capture motion to accurately represent real-world movements on digital avatars. Two downward-facing cameras apparently capture the wearer's legs, offering another feature that the Quest Pro does not have.

The headset purportedly resembles "a pair of ski goggles" and look different from the Quest Pro. Apple's design is said to rely heavily on "mesh fabrics, aluminum and glass," and conceals its outward-facing cameras better than the Quest Pro. The device is also apparently thinner and lighter than the Quest Pro, which weighs 722 grams.

In addition, the report claims that Apple's headset allows those who wear glasses to magnetically clip on custom prescription lenses inside the device.

On the exterior of the headset, an outward-facing display is said to allow other people to see the facial expressions of the wearer. Despite concerns over how the display may use additional battery life, it is reportedly able to operate at a low refresh rate to conserve power, similar to the always-on displays of the Apple Watch and iPhone.

The Information warned that some previously planned features may not make it into the final version of the headset when it is unveiled next year.

Google has now rolled out all of the promised Lock Screen widgets for its iPhone apps, including the Google app, Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome, Google News, and Google Drive.

The rollout was completed today with two Lock Screen widgets for Maps, following five widgets for the Google app that were released on Wednesday. In version 233.0 of the Google app, the widgets include the following descriptions, with two widget sizes for Search:

• Search: Access Google Search from your Lock Screen
• Voice Search: Ask a question, hum a song or search for content with your voice
• Lens: Search with your camera or any image
• Lens shortcuts: Easily access your favorite Lens feature. Translate, shop, or solve homework with your camera.

Version 6.40 of Google Maps adds widgets for Search and Frequent Trips, with the latter displaying the location, estimated time of arrival, and traffic conditions:

• Frequent Trips: Get directions and an estimated time of arrival for your frequent trips.
• Search: Search in Google Maps for restaurants, petrol stations, and more.

Equivalent widgets can be found in Google News, Gmail, Drive, and Chrome. Once the apps are updated on your device, launch the new versions first before trying to add the widgets, otherwise they won't appear in the Lock Screen editor.

Back in August, a video of an AirPower prototype gave us a closer look at Apple's abandoned wireless charging device, but the unit was not functional in any practical way. Now, thanks to a collaboration between YouTube channels Apple Demo and Unbox Therapy, we can see an ‌AirPower‌ prototype that actually charges devices – albeit with some major caveats.

‌Announced in 2017 alongside the iPhone X, ‌AirPower‌‌ was designed so that an ‌‌iPhone‌‌, ‌AirPods‌, and Apple Watch could be placed on any portion of the mat and the devices would charge, which meant that multiple overlapping charging coils (22 in all) had to be included.

To demonstrate the charging, Apple Demo provided Unbox Therapy with a rare ‌AirPower‌ prototype with one functioning coil in the bottom right corner of the mat, along with an explicit set of instructions on how to use the ill-fated device without damaging the unit or injuring oneself in the process, given its propensity to overheat.

To power on the ‌AirPower‌, Unbox Therapy uses a MacBook Pro's USB-C port with a genuine Apple Lightning to USB-C cable, as advised. Like other ‌‌AirPower‌‌ prototypes, the unit does not feature the white exterior shell that Apple marketed the device with, exposing its internal circuitry on the back. Apple Demo cautions not to touch this side of the ‌AirPower‌, as they had done so by accident and received a bad electric shock.

Apple Demo warns that only Apple devices should be charged on the ‌AirPower‌, and preferably only ‌iPhone‌ X models or AirPods. The ‌AirPower‌ prototype is unable to charge any Apple Watch models or any newer devices with MagSafe magnets. Additionally, "Max" devices (like ‌iPhone‌ XS Max) should be avoided as well because they could cause damage if they draw more power.

Apple Demo also advises not to leave the ‌AirPower‌ connected to power for an extended period of time – up to a maximum of one minute – and to leave the unit for five minutes to cool down and prevent damage before placing anything else on it.

Respecting these instructions, Unbox Therapy places an ‌iPhone‌ X on the corner of the mat, whereupon it begins to charge wirelessly – and stays charging for the short time the phone is left on the mat. After a cooldown period, an AirPods case is placed on the mat that also responds to the working coil.

‌AirPower‌‌ missed its original 2018 launch date goal and Apple shelved the project in March 2019 due to problems with overheating, buggy inter-device communication, and mechanical and interference issues. But the video also highlights the fact that in some ways ‌AirPower‌ was a product of its time and technology has moved on since Apple came up with the idea.

For example, Unbox Therapy makes the salient point that ‌AirPower‌ is poorly designed for many of today's Apple Watch bands that don't lie flat when taken off the wrist and placed down (the Solo Loop, for example). Whether this factored into Apple's reasoning to abandon the ‌AirPower‌ is unknown, but it's the main reason why most third-party multi-device wireless chargers come with a raised stand that enables the band to loop behind the charging pad without having to take it off.

Rumors in subsequent years about Apple's work on a smaller wireless charger may have been related to ‌MagSafe‌ or the ‌‌MagSafe‌‌ Duo charger, rather than another ‌AirPower-like device‌. That said, a report from reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman last year said that Apple is still looking into AirPower-like charging solutions for the future.

A Brazilian court today levied a $19 million "social damages" fine (100 million reais) against Apple for selling iPhones without a charger, reports Reuters. The Sao Paulo state court said that Apple must offer battery chargers with iPhones that are sold in the country, providing a decision in a lawsuit brought about by the Brazilian association of borrowers, consumers, and taxpayers (AMBCC).

Apple has said that it stopped offering chargers with iPhone purchases in order to cut down on carbon emissions. The company has argued that many customers already have chargers available, and it continues to sell chargers on a standalone basis.

The court presiding over the case did not look favorably on Apple's environmental explanation. "It is evident that, under the justification of a 'green initiative,' the defendant imposes on the consumer a required purchase of charger adapters that were previously supplied along with the product," read the ruling.

In addition to the fine, Apple is expected to sell iPhones with chargers and also provide chargers to all Brazilians who purchased their products after October 13, 2020, according to Brazilian news site Estadão. Apple ceased providing chargers with iPhones when it launched the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models in 2020. In most countries, Apple no longer ships iPhones with EarPods or a power adapter, offering just a USB-C to Lightning cable.

Back in September, the Brazilian Justice Ministry ordered Apple to stop selling iPhones without a charger and also levied a fine of $2.34 million, claiming that Apple was giving customers an incomplete product.

Apple has not complied with that order as it is appealing the ruling, with the company also planning to appeal today's Sao Paulo decision.

Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak and software engineering head Craig Federighi will be two of the speakers at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event that is set to be held on Tuesday, October 25.

The topic of the session has yet to be announced, but it will be hosted by The ‌Wall Street Journal‌ technology columnist Joanna Stern. Joswiak and Federighi will be speaking from 7:35 p.m. Pacific Time to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Based on the timing of the event, the duo will likely discuss iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, both of which are likely to launch during the week of October 24. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said last week that iPadOS 16 will be released in the final week of October, and macOS Ventura will probably come out alongside it as it is in an advanced stage of beta testing. Apple is also gearing up to debut new Macs and iPads, so it's possible that the Tech Live conference will be timed with new product announcements.

Other speakers at WSJ Tech Live will include Disney CEO Bob Chapek, Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger, Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and more.

Netflix today announced the upcoming launch of the ad-supported tier that has been in the works for the last several months. The new "Basic With Ads" plan is priced at $6.99 per month in the United States, $3 cheaper than the standard Basic plan.

Basic With Ads will be available alongside the Basic, Standard, and Premium plans, offering 720p streaming video. Netflix is also updating the standard Basic plan with 720p support when the Basic With Ads plan launches.

Netflix's new plan will offer most of the same TV shows, movies, and "personalized viewing experience," but subscribers will see between four and five minutes of ads per hour. Ads will vary from 15 to 30 seconds in length, and will play before and during shows and films.

There will be a selection of movies and TV shows that will not be available due to licensing restrictions, but Netflix has not provided a list of content that will be inaccessible.

Unlike with the plans without ads, the ad-based tier will not support downloading movies and TV shows for offline viewing.

Netflix Basic with Ads is set to launch on Thursday, November 3 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. It will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the UK and the US.

The Apple Maps app appears to be experiencing issues at the current time, with Apple's System Status page listing an outage. According to Apple, users are seeing problems with Maps Display, Maps Routing and Navigation, Maps Search, and Maps Traffic.

‌Apple Maps‌ is not able to display traffic conditions at the current time, and search and routing are unreliable for some users. Apple says that the outage began at 1:00 Eastern Time, so if you are having trouble with ‌Apple Maps‌, you are not alone.

There is no word on when the Maps outage will be fixed, but we'll update this article when Apple addresses the issue.

Update 2:00 p.m. ET: Apple says the outage has been resolved.

Amazon has marked the price of the 32GB Apple TV HD down to $79.00, down from $149.00. This model is the Apple TV that launched in 2015, but it now comes with the new 2021 Siri Remote.

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.

As of writing, shipping is delayed on the Apple TV HD, with delivery dates estimated for early November. You can still lock in this all-time low price today ahead of those dates, and Amazon may ship sooner if more stock is made available.

This is a particularly steep discount on the Apple TV HD, and the best price we've ever tracked to date. The Apple TV HD lacks support for 4K resolution and other features, which you can read more on in our comparison guide, but it's still a solid streaming device for those okay with 1080p resolution, especially at this price point.

For the newer models with 4K, the 32GB Apple TV 4K is $109.99 on Amazon, down from $179.00, and the 64GB Apple TV 4K is $129.99, down from $199.00. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Update: This deal has expired.

Eve today announced the official launch of its updated HomeKit-enabled Eve Light Switch in the United States, with the new accessory now available for purchase.

Eve's Light Switch is the 15th Eve product to support the upcoming Matter smart home standard that is expected to launch later this year. Matter is designed to allow products from different smart home manufacturers like Apple and Google to interact with one another, something that is not possible at the current time.

Thread support is also available, and with other Thread-enabled products, the Eve Light Switch serves as a router node to enhance the Thread mesh network for improved connectivity with other Thread devices.

The third-generation Eve Light Switch supports rooms with three-way switches, and it adds support for connecting lights to a smart home network without having to change bulbs. Eve says that it is simple to install the Light Switch, and there is an instructional video available.

With HomeKit integration, the Eve Light Switch can be controlled through the Home app, the Eve app, or with Siri voice commands, plus it can be used to access lights when away from home with a Home hub that includes the HomePod or the Apple TV.

The Eve Light Switch can be purchased from the Eve website or from Amazon for $50.

iOS 16 continues to leak data outside an active VPN tunnel, even when Lockdown mode is enabled, security researchers have discovered.

Speaking to MacRumors, security researchers Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry explained that iOS 16's approach to VPN traffic is the same whether Lockdown mode is enabled or not. The news is significant since iOS has a persistent, unresolved issue with leaking data outside an active VPN tunnel.

In August, it again emerged that third-party VPNs for iOS and iPadOS routinely fail to route all network traffic through a secure tunnel after they have been turned on – an issue that Apple has purportedly known about for years.

Typically, when a user activates a VPN, the operating system closes all existing internet connections and then re-establishes them through the VPN tunnel. In iOS, security researchers have found that sessions and connections established before the VPN is turned on are not terminated as one would expect, and can still send data outside the VPN tunnel while it is active, leaving it potentially unencrypted and exposed to ISPs and other parties.

According to a report from privacy company Proton, an iOS VPN bypass vulnerability had been identified in iOS 13.3.1, which persisted through three subsequent updates. Apple indicated it would add Kill Switch functionality in a future software update that would allow developers to block all existing connections if a VPN tunnel is lost, but this functionality does not appear to prevent data leaks as of iOS 15 and iOS 16.

Mysk and Bakry have now discovered that iOS 16 communicates with select Apple services outside an active VPN tunnel and leaks DNS requests without the user's knowledge:

Mysk and Bakry also investigated whether iOS 16's Lockdown mode takes the necessary steps to fix this issue and funnel all traffic through a VPN when one is enabled, and it appears that the exact same issue persists whether Lockdown mode is enabled or not, particularly with push notifications. This means that the minority of users who are vulnerable to a cyberattack and need to enable Lockdown mode are equally at risk of data leaks outside their active VPN tunnel.

iOS 16 introduced Lockdown mode as an optional security feature designed to protect the "very small number" of users who may be at risk of "highly targeted cyberattacks" from private companies developing state-sponsored spyware, such as journalists, activists, and government employees. Lockdown mode does not enable a VPN itself, and relies on the same third-party VPN apps as the rest of the system.

Due to the fact that iOS 16 leaks data outside the VPN tunnel even where Lockdown mode is enabled, internet service providers, governments, and other organizations may be able to identify users who have a large amount of traffic, potentially highlighting influential individuals. It is possible that Apple does not want a potentially malicious VPN app to collect some kinds of traffic, but seeing as ISPs and governments are then able to do this, even if that is what the user is specifically trying to avoid, it seems likely that this is part of the same VPN problem that affects iOS 16 as a whole.

It is worth noting that Apple only lists high-level features that activate when Lockdown mode is enabled, and Apple has not explicitly mentioned any changes that take place to affect VPN traffic. Nevertheless, as Lockdown mode claims to be an extreme protection measure, it seems like a considerable oversight that VPN traffic is a vulnerable point.

Apple today announced that Apple Card users will be able to open a new "high-yield" savings account from Goldman Sachs and have their Daily Cash automatically deposited into it, with no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements.

Apple says the savings account option will be available "in the coming months," but it did not reveal what the interest rate will be for Daily Cash balances. Goldman Sachs' existing online high-yield savings account Marcus currently has a 2.15% APR.

As with all Apple Card features, users will be able to manage the savings account through the Wallet app. Once the account is set up, all Daily Cash received from that point on will be automatically deposited into it, unless a user opts to continue having it added to their Apple Cash card. Users can change where their Daily Cash is sent at any time.

Apple Card offers 2% Daily Cash on any purchase made with Apple Pay, and 3% Daily Cash on purchases made with Apple Pay at select retailers, including Apple, Uber, Uber Eats, Walgreens, Nike, Panera Bread, T-Mobile, ExxonMobil, and Ace Hardware. Apple Card users who take advantage of the savings account option would be able to earn interest on their Daily Cash automatically, allowing the amount to grow over time.

Users will be able to deposit additional funds into the savings account through a linked bank account, or from their Apple Cash balance. Likewise, users will be able to withdraw funds from the savings account at any time, with no fees.

"Savings enables Apple Card users to grow their Daily Cash rewards over time, while also saving for the future," said Apple Pay chief Jennifer Bailey. "Savings delivers even more value to users' favorite Apple Card benefit — Daily Cash — while offering another easy-to-use tool designed to help users lead healthier financial lives."

Launched in 2019, the Apple Card remains exclusive to the United States. Apple's credit card can be managed completely through the Wallet app on the iPhone, with a physical version available for use at stores that do not accept contactless payments. Daily Cash is limited to 1% for purchases made with the physical Apple Card.

Now that Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale has ended, many of the week's best sales have expired. However, we're tracking two Apple products that remain at their best-ever prices even after the end of the event, including the Apple Watch Series 8 and iPad mini 6.

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.

Apple Watch Series 8

The 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 remains at $349.00 in two colors of aluminum: (PRODUCT)RED and Midnight. Both colors are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon, with delivery estimates between October 15 and 18.

You can also get the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 for $379.00 on Amazon, down from $429.00. This one is only available in (PRODUCT)RED at this price, and it has a delivery estimate of October 16 to 18 from Amazon.

iPad Mini

Additionally, Amazon has all four colors of the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 for $399.99, down from $499.00. This is the best price we've ever seen on this iPad mini, and most colors can be delivered as soon as this Saturday.

The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 is still on sale for $549.99, down from $649.00. This one is available in all four colors as well: Starlight, Space Gray, Purple, and Pink, and again most can be delivered as soon as this Saturday.

If you're shopping for cellular models, the 64GB cellular iPad mini 6 is priced at $549.99 and the 256GB cellular iPad mini 6 is priced at $699.99. Both of these sales again represent $99 discounts on regular prices, and are record low sales for each tablet.

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