MacRumors

Expercom today has a collection of previous-generation 11-inch iPad Pro tablets for up to $220 off for a limited time. Expercom is one of the only retailers to offer the M1 iPad Pros at a discount in 2023, and anyone who prioritizes savings over upgraded internals should find great deals below.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Expercom. 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 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro, this tablet is on sale for $599.00, down from $799.00. Expercom has both Silver and Space Gray models, and provides a two to four day delivery estimate.

Expercom also has the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro for $679.00, down from $899.00. It's also available in Silver and Space Gray, and comes with a two to four day delivery estimate.

The 2021 and 2022 iPad Pro models share an overwhelming majority of their features, so those investing in a 2021/M1 model to save money shouldn't find much that they would be missing out on in the 2022/M2 models. The central advantages on the 2022 tablets come down to the upgraded M2 chip with a 15 percent faster CPU and 35 percent faster GPU, ProRes video recording, and Apple Pencil hover.

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's long-awaited dedicated classical music app today appeared on the App Store and is available for pre-order ahead of its launch at the end of March.

In 2021, Apple announced that it had purchased the classical music streaming service Primephonic and would be folding it into Apple Music via a new app dedicated to the genre. "‌Apple Music‌ Classical" is now on the App Store and expected to be released on March 28, 2023. Users can pre-order the app now so that it downloads as soon as it is available. It is included for free as part of an ‌Apple Music‌ or Apple One subscription.

Speaking to TechCrunch, Apple said that the new ‌Apple Music‌ Classical app offers ‌Apple Music‌ subscribers access to over five million classical music tracks, including new high-quality releases, in addition to hundreds of curated playlists, thousands of exclusive albums, and other features like composer bios and deep dives on key works.

The app offers a simpler interface for interacting with classical music specifically. Unlike the existing ‌Apple Music‌ app, ‌Apple Music‌ Classical allows users to search by composer, work, conductor, catalog number, and more. Users can get more detailed information from editorial notes and descriptions.

Apple commissioned high-resolution digital portraits of famous composers like Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, and Johann Sebastian Bach for the app, using color palettes and artistic references from the relevant classical period, with more unique artwork to be added over time. Apple says that it has been working with classical music artists and institutions to offer exclusive content and recordings.

‌Apple Music‌ Classical will only support iOS devices running iOS 15.4 or newer at launch. A version of the app for Android is also set to arrive "soon." Users can track news and updates about the ‌Apple Music‌ Classical on the new @appleclassical Twitter account.

Apple's M2 13-inch MacBook Pro is seeing a pair of discounts today on Amazon for both the 256GB and 512GB models. Both of these deals are in stock and have estimated delivery dates between March 16 and March 20.

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.

Starting with the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro, this model has hit $1,149.00 on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. Compared to past sales, this is a second-best price on the computer. It's been months since we've seen all-time lows on this computer, so this is still a great markdown on the 2022 MacBook Pro.

Secondly, the 512GB 13-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,399.00, down from $1,499.00. This is another second-best price on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and it's only available in Space Gray on Amazon.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple is continuing to research under-screen fingerprint sensor technology for an iPhone with a view to re-introducing Touch ID in its first full-screen model, according to a new rumor.

Ever since Face ID debuted in 2017's iPhone X, Apple's roadmap for Touch ID on iPhones has been murky at best, with some industry observers suggesting that Apple considers Face ID an exclusive all-in-one biometric solution going forward.

It's no secret that Apple has been working on a Touch ID system designed to be set under the display since at least 2013, with several patents awarded to the company over the years. However, despite claims that under-screen Touch ID on a future iPhone is unlikely, Apple has, if anything, intensified its research in under-screen fingerprint sensing technology.

Just this week, Apple was granted a patent relating to under-screen Touch ID that combines shortwave infrared technology with an optical imaging system that could have multiple functions. Not only does the latest embodiment aim to read the user's fingerprint when it touches the display, it could also determine vein pattern, blood oxygenation, pulse, and the presence of gloves and wetness.

Despite this, recent predictions as to when under-screen Touch ID might be introduced, if at all, have been pushed back. In a September 2021 research note, Kuo had predicted that Apple would launch at least one new iPhone model with an under-screen fingerprint scanner in the second half of 2023. But seven months later, Kuo said Apple was unlikely to release any iPhone models with under-screen Touch ID in 2023 or 2024.

Apple did test an under-screen fingerprint scanner for at least some iPhone 13 models, according to trusted reports, but Apple apparently decided not to move forward with the idea.

In the latest development, according to news aggregator account "yeux1122" on the Korean Naver blog, industry sources now believe that Apple will debut under-screen Touch ID in the two to three years following the debut of under-panel Face ID.

Judging by the pace of development of under-panel technology as outlined in industry consultant Ross Young's roadmap, this suggests we could see a new under-screen version of Touch ID in a 2026 iPhone at the earliest, possibly in the same year that Apple is expected to move both Face ID and the front-facing camera under the display.

Of course, we cannot be certain that Apple will ever put Touch ID under iPhone screens. There also remains a possibility that Apple instead introduces an iPhone with Touch ID built into the power button, in line with the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models, but there haven't been any rumors to suggest that Apple plans to go down that avenue.

Apple supplier TSMC is making strides to improve its production capacity for chips based on its cutting-edge 3-nanometer process technology, according to industry sources, which is expected to debut in this year's iPhone 15 Pro and upcoming MacBook models.

DigiTimes reports that TSMC's 5nm fabrication capacity began to loosen in November 2022 as a result of reduced orders from Apple, amongst other partners, with orders for iPhone chips alone having been slashed by 30%. However, the Taiwanese manufacturer has apparently been able to keep its utilization rate at 70% or higher thanks to Apple's thirst for 3nm:

TSMC continues to improve its capacity utilization for 3nm process technology, which is expected to approach 50% at the end of March, the sources said. The foundry will also grow the process output to 50,000-55,000 wafers monthly in March, with Apple being the main customer.

Apple's upcoming ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models are expected to feature the A17 Bionic processor, Apple's first ‌iPhone‌ chip based on TSMC's first-generation ‌3nm‌ process, also known as N3E.

The first-gen ‌3nm‌ process is said to deliver a 35% power efficiency improvement over TSMC's 5nm-based N4 fabrication process, which was used to make the A16 Bionic chip for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and Pro Max. The N3 technology will also offer significantly improved performance compared to current chips manufactured on 5nm.

Apple's next-generation 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models are both expected to be equipped with an M3 chip, which is also likely to be manufactured on the ‌3nm‌ process for further performance and power efficiency improvements. Apple is also reportedly planning to release an updated version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip. The M2 chip and its higher-end Pro and Max variants are built on TSMC's second-generation 5nm process.

Orders for new AI processors from Nvidia and AMD, as well as Apple's new ‌iPhone‌ chip, are expected to help TSMC avoid further fab utilization declines in the second quarter, DigiTimes' sources said.

Apple's 2024 OLED iPad Pro models could be vastly more expensive than its existing iPad Pros and even more costly than some MacBook Pros currently on sale, claims a new Korean report.

According to industry sources cited by The Elec, Apple is already considering its pricing strategy for next year's two OLED iPad Pro models, with current estimates starting at $1,500 and $1,800 for the 11-inch and 13-inch models, respectively.

That would make the 11-inch device over 80 percent more expensive than the existing 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with LED Liquid Retina display, which starts at $799, and the 13-inch model over 60% more expensive than the current 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display, which starts at $1,099.

The OLED price estimates even eclipse the price of some MacBook Pro models currently on sale. For example, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip starts at $1,199, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip starts at $1,299.

According to the Korean-language report, the industry response to the price hikes is divided: Some consider them a reasonable increase given the switch to superior OLED technology that will attract Apple's loyal customer base, while others believe the prices will make it difficult to maintain sales because iPads lack the replacement demand of iPhones.

The main reason for the increases is said to be the large proportion of material costs taken up by OLED panel procurement. Apple is currently believed to be in discussion with Samsung and LG Display about the price of supplying the panels, the specifications for which will require the use of production processes that have not been combined before for OLED panels of the required size.

According to The Elec, the supply price of OLED panels for existing 10-inch devices is around $100 to $150, whereas the outlay for the processes involved in making Apple's required 11-inch and 13-inch panels may be closer to $270 and $350, respectively.

The report notes that current OLED iPad Pro price estimates from the industry could change in the future. The OLED panels scheduled to be delivered by LG and Samsung are still in the development stage, so the panel prices have not been finalized.

Still, there are reportedly concerns among panel suppliers Samsung, LG, and BOE about how Apple's OLED iPad Pro prices and shipment forecasts could negatively affect profits and production line investment. Samsung is set to invest in eighth-generation OLED production lines, which should "theoretically" result in lower-costing panels, but they have already been earmarked for Apple's future OLED MacBooks, which are also expected to debut in 2024.

Apple is changing the way that its international businesses are managed in order to focus more attention on India, reports Bloomberg.

India is set to be its own sales region within Apple, which will give the country "increased prominence" within the company. India has become more important at Apple over the last few years due to the growing demand for Apple products. Though most people in India use Android devices, it is the second largest smartphone market in the world and Apple has the potential to make inroads with more affordable product options.

Apple is planning to move India to its own sales region following the retirement of Hughes Asseman, the vice president in charge of India, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, East Europe, and Africa. Ashish Chowdhary will become head of India, and will report directly to Apple's head of product sales. Though India will become more of a focus within Apple, regional sales reports will continue to group India with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Apple has started producing some iPhone models in India, including the ‌iPhone‌ 14, as it looks to diversify beyond China. Apple supplier Foxconn has invested $500 million in the country to boost production capabilities.

There are no physical Apple retail locations in India right now, but Apple has been working to open stores in Mumbai and New Delhi for years now. Apple stared hiring for the stores in January, which suggests they could open in the near future.

Customers in India can purchase Apple devices online, as Apple has been operating an online store in India since 2020.

Apple released a second-generation version of the AirPods Pro back in September 2022, and the updated earbuds have now been available for six months. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 regularly in order to update readers and viewers with a longterm review.

As a refresher, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 offer improved Active Noise Cancellation compared to the original version, along with Adaptive Transparency to cut down on sudden, loud sounds like sirens and construction work without blocking out all noise.

Sound quality has been improved with a new audio driver, there's an H2 chip, and Apple swapped over to Bluetooth 5.3. Touch controls are available for adjusting volume, battery life is up, the Apple Watch Charger can be used to charge the earbuds, and a speaker makes it easier to find AirPods lost nearby. Ultimately, there are a lot of improvements, but are the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 worth the upgrade over the original ‌AirPods Pro‌?

Dan answers that question and more in his video review that covers durability, Adaptive Transparency, battery life over time, ANC, and other quality of life improvements. Make sure to watch the video, and let us know what you think of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 in the comments below.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. Today's betas come one week after the release of the second public betas.

Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's free beta testing program can download the ‌iOS 16.4‌ beta over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

This is the last beta that will use certificates in this way as future beta updates will be linked to an Apple ID for both developers and public beta testers.

The iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates add a number of new emoji characters, including shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, black bird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, pea pod, ginger, fan, comb, flute, maracas, and left and right facing hand options.

Safari Web Push notifications are available, but web developers will need to add support. With this feature, you can add a website to your Home Screen and the website can send you push notifications, just like on the Mac. These notifications behave like any other iOS notification and can be filtered out with Focus mode, delivered on Apple Watch, and more.

There's a new add to ‌Home Screen‌ option for third-party browsers so you can add a favorite Chrome site directly to your ‌Home Screen‌, plus the HomeKit architecture upgrade that was pulled from iOS 16.2 is now available again. The second beta reintroduces the page turning animation in Apple Books, and it has hints of Apple Music Classical.

Apple has made minor tweaks to the Podcasts app, ‌Apple Music‌ app, and the AppleCare coverage interface, plus there are new Shortcuts, 5G connectivity in Turkey, an option to add an always-on display filter to Focus more, and more. Full details on everything new can be found in our dedicated iOS 16.4 guide.

Apple today seeded the third beta of macOS Ventura 13.3 to its public beta testing group, letting the general public test out the features ahead of the software's release. The public beta comes one week after Apple provided the second public beta.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13.3 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.

As with iOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3 adds new emoji characters that include shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, gray heart, donkey, moose, black bird, goose, wing, jellyfish, hyacinth, pea pod, ginger, fan, comb, flute, maracas, left hand, and right hand.

The update supports updating to the new HomeKit architecture that Apple has reintroduced after the update was pulled from iOS 16.2. The Messages app also offers content previews for shared Mastodon links, and there are new options in Shortcuts for creating workflows that include Siri notification announcements.

Apple says that macOS Ventura 13.3 will be released in the spring, a timeline that ranges from March 20 to June 20.

Google today announced that its Google VPN feature is expanding to all Google One subscribers, instead of being limited to those who subscribe to the Premium 2TB Google One plan.

VPN by Google One is designed to mask a user's IP address, preventing sites and apps from collecting that information for location tracking and monitoring activity across the web. It also offers protection from hackers and network operators, similar to any other VPN.

With this change, storage space is the primary differentiating factor between Google One plans. The basic plan offers 100GB of storage, while the Premium plan offers 2TB. There's also a free tier with 15GB of storage, but it does not include VPN access.

In addition to expanding VPN access to all Google One members, Google is introducing a new feature that will allow users to monitor for their personal information on the dark web. Google will alert users if data like name, address, email, phone number, or Social Security Number is found.

VPN access is expanding to all Google One members starting today, with the basic Google One plan priced at $1.99 per month. It will be available in 22 countries across Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices, and VPN access can be shared with up to five others on the same Google One plan.

Apple's 2020 M1 MacBook Air has hit its best-ever price on Amazon today, with the 256GB model on sale for $799.99, down from $999.00. Silver and Gold colors are available at this price, and the former color has a quicker shipping estimate of March 14-15.

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.

This version of the MacBook Air sports a tapered design and does not have the updated chassis of the newer M2 MacBook Air models. It has the M1 chip and a 13-inch Retina display, and today's sale matches the previous all-time low price seen on Amazon for the computer.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple's next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are once again rumored to feature an improved LiDAR Scanner supplied by Sony.

In a research note shared with investors this week, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O'Malley said Sony could supply the majority, if not all, of LiDAR Scanner components for the iPhone 15 Pro models launching later this year.

Sony could take a majority, if not all, of the share on the world facing sensor in this years' models with the company providing a module, VCSEL, receiver and driver. This is a negative headwind to both LITE and COHR which we view as likely.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last month said Sony would replace Lumentum and WIN Semiconductors as the exclusive supplier of LiDAR Scanner components for the iPhone 15 Pro models. Kuo said Sony's solution is more power efficient and could result in the LiDAR Scanner offering improved performance at the same level of power consumption as now, or equal performance with less of an impact on battery life.

Introduced on iPhone 12 Pro models in 2020, the LiDAR Scanner can measure light distance and capture depth information, and the hardware is expected to remain exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models. An improved LiDAR Scanner could be beneficial to augmented reality apps, Night mode photos, and camera autofocus.

Other rumored iPhone 15 Pro features include an A17 Bionic chip, a USB-C port, a titanium frame with solid-state buttons, thinner bezels around the display, and more.

Amazon today has Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 at $399.99 in select colors, down from $499.00. You can get the tablet in Space Gray, Starlight, and Purple at this price, and each color has varying delivery dates between March 11 and March 18.

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.

At $99 off, this sale is a match of the previous all-time low seen on this model earlier in the year. Discounts on the 2021 iPad mini have been fairly rare so far in 2023, so if you've been holding off now is a good time to get the smaller tablet at its lowest price.

There are a few other deals on iPad mini models on Amazon, and these all require you to add the tablets to your cart then head to the checkout screen to see the discounts. The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 is down to $539.99 in Space Gray, from $649.00. This is another all-time low price on the iPad mini 6 and it's only available on Amazon.

Lastly, one cellular model is on sale: the 64GB cellular iPad mini 6 is available for $549.99, down from $649.00. This one is available in Pink, Space Gray, and Starlight, and it's another all-time low price.

For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple is planning to "re-examine" its development of artificial intelligence, according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes.

The paywalled report suggests that the growing interest in generative AI catalyzed by ChatGPT has motivated a re-evaluation of how the technology is developed at major companies like Apple, Meta, and Amazon. These companies are purportedly making efforts to ensure Microsoft does not maintain its lead in AI. Apple and Tesla, in particular, are said to be reconsidering their approach to AI.

The trend is set to stoke the development of next-generation CPUs optimized for AI operations, supply chain sources claim. Apple already has a significant upper hand in this area in terms of local processing thanks to Apple silicon's Neural Engine, but the company has yet to develop the AI software to fully take advantage of it for content generation and the deeper insights that new-wave AI tools are able to offer.

Until now, Apple appears to have mostly stayed out of the race to develop generative AI tools. While the company recently held its annual AI summit for employees, the following sessions reportedly focused on aspects like healthcare, privacy, and computer vision, rather than its own generative AI technologies.

The iPhone 14 models are available in a range of color options, with entirely new hues available on both sets of devices, as well as some popular classics. The ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro lineups have different colors to choose from, so if you have your heart set on a particular shade, you may not be able to get your preferred model in that color. Check out our guide on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro color options for more information about those devices.

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus are now available in a total of six colors, four of which are new shades. Although previous standard ‌iPhone‌ lineup color options have tended to be bolder and brighter, in 2022, Apple chose to offer a slightly more muted color palette, with the exception of a brighter PRODUCT(RED) and Yellow. The ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus's six available color options are:

• Midnight
• Starlight
• PRODUCT(RED)
• Blue
• Purple
• Yellow

Midnight and Starlight were carried over from the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup, but the new PRODUCT(RED) has been tweaked to be brighter and more saturated. A portion of the proceeds for the (PRODUCT)RED ‌iPhone‌ 14 go the Global Fund COVID-19 Response, which provides support to healthcare systems and preserves HIV and AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

While the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup was available in a warm Blue with a hint of turquoise, this year's shade is much lighter and more of a sky blue. Purple replaces the ‌iPhone‌ 13's candyfloss-like Pink color and is similarly a fairly subtle, light shade. Green has not been carried over this year.

As part of a spring color refresh that also brought new MagSafe Silicone Cases, Apple Watch bands, and AirTag accessories, Apple introduced a new Yellow color option for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus. Apple last offered a Yellow color option for the ‌iPhone‌ in 2019 with the ‌iPhone‌ 11, which came just one year after the Yellow ‌iPhone‌ XR.

Apple usually introduces new ‌iPhone‌ color options in the spring to boost sales midway through the device's product cycle. Last March, Apple introduced a new Green color for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, and a new Alpine Green color for the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro models. In April 2021, Apple made the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini available in Purple. Having been released six months after the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus launched, there will likely be far fewer Yellow ‌iPhone‌ 14 models around compared to the other color options, so it could be a good choice for a more unique and up-to-date look.

It is also worth noting that there are no black and white color options in the ‌iPhone‌ 14 lineup. Upon the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 13, Apple replaced White, which featured silver aluminum edges, with Starlight. Starlight is similar to the White option from the ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, but is now a distinctively warmer shade that is almost pearl or cream-colored. The silver edges now contain a hint of gold to match the new, warmer look. Starlight is effectively analogous to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro's cool Silver color, but with less prominent matte aluminum edges and a warmer, almost champagne tone.

Likewise, the Midnight ‌iPhone‌ 14 should not be confused with previous Black, Space Gray, or Graphite devices and was a new color introduced with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup. Midnight replaces Black as the standard model's darkest color option, but differs from Black since it has a slight hint of navy blue.

How to Decide on a Color

If you use your ‌iPhone‌ with a case, you may wish to consider which device color will best complement your case. You may prefer more neutral tones such as Midnight or Starlight, and then use a more colorful case. Alternatively, you could choose a more striking device color like Purple, and then use a more neutral case.

Starlight and Midnight may age better over time as new devices are released since they are more neutral, almost monochrome shades, and have been offered across multiple ‌iPhone‌ generations. If you do not use a case at all, you may wish to take advantage of a more eye-catching color option such as Blue.

Yellow could be a good choice, especially when combined with the Canary Yellow Silicone Case, for a bold look, especially if you have enjoyed similar versions of the ‌iPhone‌ XR and ‌iPhone‌ 11 in previous years.

If you want an ‌iPhone‌ in a brand new shade, Blue, Purple, and Yellow are the only options. The Purple and Yellow, in particular, are the colors that are most noticeably new and indicate that you have the latest-generation device.

Your color choice may also be dependent on how often you upgrade your ‌iPhone‌. If you upgrade every year, you may be more confident in buying a more noticeable new color, but if you keep your ‌iPhone‌ for many years, it may be wiser to consider a color that you have enjoyed before if it is still available.

Customers with multiple Apple devices may also want to get an ‌iPhone‌ color that complements their other devices. For example, if you have a Purple iPad Air or iPad mini, it will be best complemented by the Purple ‌iPhone‌ 14. If you already have a Space Gray MacBook Pro, it will likely be best accompanied by a Midnight ‌iPhone‌ 14. Likewise, if you have a Starlight Apple Watch, it will obviously match the Starlight ‌iPhone‌ 14, and the Pink 24-inch iMac will best match the PRODUCT(RED) ‌iPhone‌ 14.

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow group chat memberships on the encrypted platform to expire after a set period of time.

A large part of what makes the Meta-owned messaging service so popular is its continual development of new group chat features, and the latest one aims to be a solution to the common problem of so-called "zombie groups."

The term refers to groups that have been set up temporarily to organize a one-off event like a birthday, and end up outlasting their usefulness after the event in question. Such groups can cause redundant clutter in the app and become a distraction to members if others in the group are still in conversation.

WhatsApp is clearly aware of the problem, as indicated by another beta discovery courtesy of WABetaInfo. A new "Expiring Groups" setting will let users set a specific expiration date for their WhatsApp groups. "When enabled, you will be prompted to clean up groups on their expiration date," reads the explanatory text for the UI option.

"When this feature is released, users will be able to choose from various expiration options such as one day, one week, or a custom date, and they will also have the ability to remove an expiration that was previously set in case they change their mind," explains WABetaInfo, who adds that the option is for individuals, "as it will not apply to other group participants."

The feature appears in a version 23.5.0.71 submitted by WhatsApp developers through the TestFlight Beta Program. It's not clear when it will be ready to go live, but the fact that it is in active development is likely to come as welcome news to users with lots of group memberships.

Meanwhile, another feature WhatsApp is reportedly working on may help users avoid spam calls on the platform. According to WABetaInfo, the feature will offer the ability to silence calls from unknown numbers, although silenced calls will still be visible in the Notification Center and the calls list.

The latter feature is being developed in response to a problem introduced by WhatsApp's Communities feature, which has reportedly opened up numbers to random calls and group chat invites from unknown users.