MacRumors

Apple has been ramping up hiring for its robotics research and engineering teams to help spur the development of home robotics devices, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The company is currently in the early stages of developing a tabletop robot and has its sights set on potentially creating a humanoid model in the future.

The robotics work is being spearheaded by two departments within Apple: the Home Labs hardware engineering group and Kevin Lynch's AI special projects team. These teams originated from Apple's now-defunct self-driving car unit, which was disbanded last February.

Over the past several weeks, Apple has posted numerous job listings for robotics specialists, stating that new hires will have "the opportunity to work with a small team of highly skilled engineers and scientists to bring new experiences to Apple products."

Last month, a team of robotics researchers at Apple published a research paper and accompanying video showcasing a lamp-like robot prototype with lifelike movements. The robot, reminiscent of Pixar's mascot Luxo Jr., demonstrates various interactions with a person, such as responding to weather inquiries, providing lighting for iPhone photography, reminding the person to drink water, and even dancing along to music as a social companion.

While the research paper provided a glimpse into Apple's robotics experimentation, Gurman has previously reported that the company is developing a tabletop robot with an "iPad-like display" attached to a robotic limb. This device, which could launch by 2027, is expected to be primarily controlled with Siri and Apple Intelligence, with the ability to respond to commands like "look at me" during FaceTime video calls.

Gurman believes Apple's tabletop robot is likely to be something closer to a HomePod smart speaker with a screen attached to a robotic limb, and it could turn out to be a higher-end version of Apple's rumored smart home hub, which is expected to launch this year.

Oppo has confirmed a February 20 global launch for its Find N5, which the company claims is the world's thinnest device in the foldable phone category. The phone is expected to be re-branded as the OnePlus Open 2 in the US.

The Chinese vendor has been teasing the device in the last few weeks, touting its waterproofing and nearly invisible display crease, and highlighting its thinness by comparing it to Apple devices like the iPad Pro, which is Apple's thinnest device to date.

Oppo has shared a trailer of the Find N5, calling it "Slim, yet powerful." Reports suggest the Find N5 is around 4mm thick. That beats the Honor Magic V3, which up until now was considered the thinnest foldable, which is 4.35mm thick when unfolded.

The video also reveals some additional features, including a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, an alert slider, and a cut-down camera bump. The ad shows the device in Cosmic Black and Misty White colors, but not the Twilight Purple color that is expected to be exclusive to the Chinese market.

The smartphone market is currently fascinated with thinness. Samsung recently teased its super-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, following reports that Apple is planning to launch a so-called iPhone 17 Air in September. The rumored device, which will replace the Plus model in its flagship lineup, is expected to be Apple's thinnest iPhone to date.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPhone 17 Air will be 5.5mm thick at its thinnest point, which likely means that it will have a 5.5mm chassis with a thicker rear camera bump area.

The thinnest iPhone we've seen so far was the iPhone 6, which measured in at 6.9mm. iPhones got thicker with the iPhone X and beyond, as Apple increased thickness to provide more space for the battery, camera lenses, Face ID hardware, and more.

Apple supplier BOE is again facing issues with its OLED panel production for iPhones, prompting Apple to consider redirecting orders to Samsung Display and LG Display, according to sources in Korea (via OLED-info).

The Chinese display manufacturer has reportedly been struggling to meet Apple's quality standards for LTPS AMOLED displays intended for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models. Since the beginning of 2024, BOE has only managed to deliver approximately 7-8 million panels to Apple, falling drastically short of its roughly 40 million unit orders.

The quality issues are expected to take at least six weeks to resolve. Meanwhile, industry insiders suggest that Samsung Display is likely to receive the majority of any redirected orders, since LG Display's production capacity is primarily focused on manufacturing LTPO AMOLED displays for iPhone "Pro" models.

This is just the latest setback in BOE's troubled history with iPhone OLED production. The company faced similar challenges in 2023 when it struggled with light leakage issues around the Dynamic Island cutout for iPhone 15 displays, leading Apple to reduce orders significantly.

If you missed the Apple Music Halftime Show during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans tonight, or simply want to rewatch it, a video of the full performance is now available for playback on the NFL's official YouTube channel.

We would have embedded the video here, but the NFL is not allowing that right now, so use the direct link to watch it on YouTube.

This year's Apple Music Halftime Show featured hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar. Other stars who appeared on stage alongside Lamar included singer SZA, producer Mustard, former professional tennis player Serena Williams, and actor Samuel L. Jackson.

T-Mobile today announced that its Starlink satellite feature is now available in public beta, meaning anyone in the U.S. with a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone can sign up to test the off-the-grid connectivity, even if they use another carrier like AT&T or Verizon. Starlink is a subsidiary of Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Approved beta testers can use the Starlink satellite connectivity for free until July, with limited spots available. Afterwards, T-Mobile customers with a Go5G Next plan or another eligible plan will continue to have access to the feature at no additional cost, while T-Mobile customers with other plans can add the service for $15 per month, per line. Anyone else using a different carrier will be able to access the service for $20 per month, per line.

T-Mobile customers who register for the beta before the end of February will be eligible for a discounted price of $10 per month starting in July.

In most outdoor areas of the U.S. where cellular service is unavailable, a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone enrolled in the T-Mobile Starlink beta will automatically connect to one of hundreds of Starlink satellites in space, allowing for iMessages and SMS messages to be sent and received when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

T-Mobile says Starlink support for voice calls and mobile data is coming later.

In a support document, Apple says the iPhone will display "SAT" in the status bar when the device is using a carrier-provided satellite feature, such as T-Mobile Starlink. To turn off a carrier-provided satellite feature, open the Settings app, tap Cellular, tap on your carrier or phone number, and toggle off Satellite.

Here is what Apple says is required:

• iPhone 14, iPhone 15, or iPhone 16 (all models)
• The latest version of iOS
• A supported carrier
• Some carriers might require a supported cellular plan

If this sounds familiar, that is because Apple already offers satellite connectivity for free on all iPhone 14 models and newer, in partnership with Globalstar. iPhones can use both Apple's satellite features, and those provided by a carrier.

Apple's satellite connectivity was initially limited to communication with emergency services, but iOS 18 added the ability to send and receive iMessages and SMS messages to anyone via satellite. iPhone users can also update their location in the Find My app via satellite, and arrange roadside assistance via satellite. All of these features are available in the U.S., but availability varies in other countries. The features are free to use for now.

Starlink has a larger satellite constellation than Globalstar, and connectivity is established automatically.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple today increased its estimated trade-in values for select Mac models in the United States, with the full changes outlined below.

Apple says the extra trade-in credit for select Macs is available with the purchase of an eligible new Apple device through April 2.

The trade-in values increased by between $10 and $50.

Model	New Value	Old Value
MacBook Pro	Up to $925	Up to $915
MacBook Air	Up to $435	Up to $425
MacBook	Up to $140	Up to $90
iMac	Up to $315	Up to $305
iMac Pro	Up to $455	Up to $405
Mac mini	Up to $375	Up to $365
Mac Studio	Up to $1,150	Up to $1,140
Mac Pro	Up to $720	Up to $670

Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website or at an Apple Store, and the credit can be applied towards the purchase of a new Apple product, or placed on an Apple gift card for later use. Visit the trade-in page on Apple's website for more details.

We're less than one week away from Valentine's Day, which falls on Friday, February 14, this year. Similar to years past, many third-party Apple resellers and accessory companies have opened up notable discounts on Apple products and accessories to coincide with the holiday.

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.

Additionally, there are a few solid discounts on Apple products like AirPods, Apple Watch, iMac, and iPad. In this article you'll find deals from third-party retailers collected first, including special Valentine's Day themed sales from AT&T, ZAGG, Casely, and more.

Valentine's Accessory Sales

• Best Buy - Purchase $100 Apple gift card, get a $10 Best Buy e-gift card
• Anker - BOGO 50% off
• Sonos - Get up to 25% off soundbars, speakers, and subwoofers
• AT&T - iPhone 16 Pro at no cost with eligible trade-in
• Samsung - Save up to $1,250 when purchasing the new Galaxy S25 smartphones
• Twelve South - Get $30 off HiRise 3 Deluxe
• ZAGG - Save 30% off your entire cart when you purchase two or more products
• Casely - Get 15% off sitewide with code LOVE15

AirPods

Amazon this week has major discounts on a few AirPods models, including a new all-time low price on the AirPods 4. You can get the base AirPods 4 for $99.99 on Amazon, down from $129.00.

Amazon also has the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for $148.99, down from $179.00. We did track these at a lower price during the 2024 holiday season, but that deal never returned and today's is the best we've seen so far in 2025.

Additionally, you can get the AirPods Pro 2 for $169.00 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is the lowest price we've tracked so far in 2025 on the AirPods Pro 2, and it's an overall solid second-best price.

Apple Watch

Amazon is discounting the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE to $169.00 today, down from $249.00. This is the best price we've tracked so far in 2025, and it's available in Starlight, Silver, and Midnight Aluminum color options.

Additionally, you can get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE at an all-time low price of $199.00 today on Amazon, down from $279.00. This one is also available in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight Aluminum colors, and multiple band sizes.

For Series 10 models, Amazon also has all-time low prices on these devices. You'll find $70 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 in multiple case and band colors. Prices start at $329.00 for the 42mm GPS model and increase to $359.00 for the 46mm GPS model.

iPad

There are numerous iPads on sale in early February, and we're starting with a $70 discount on the 10th generation model at Amazon. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $279.00, down from $349.00, which is the best price we've tracked in 2025 so far and an overall second-best price.

Amazon this week is providing record low prices on multiple models of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. Best Buy is also matching every one of these deals, and in some cases it has better delivery estimates.

Apple Accessories

We're tracking a few notable discounts on Apple accessories on Amazon below, as well as a great deal on the MagSafe Duo Charger at Woot.

• AirTag 1 Pack - $22.99, down from $29.00
• AirTag 4 Pack - $69.99, down from $99.00
• Apple Pencil Pro - $99.00, down from $129.00
• Apple Pencil USB-C - $69.99, down from $79.00
• Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass) - $1,299.99, down from $1,599.00
• Apple Studio Display (Nano-texture Glass) - $1,599.99, down from $1,899.00
• Magic Keyboard Folio (10th Gen iPad) - $199.00, down from $249.00

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

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Apple plans to announce a new iPhone SE this week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, and a corresponding social media post, Gurman said the new iPhone SE is "coming this week." Until now, he said that Apple planned to announce the device "as early as" this week, but his wording is now more firm.

Apple has not scheduled an event, so the new iPhone SE will likely be announced in a press release published on the Apple Newsroom website.

The so-called iPhone SE 4 is rumored to feature a mix of iPhone 14 and iPhone 16 features, including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, and the first Apple-designed 5G modem. With the A18 chip, and a rumored 8GB of RAM, the device is also expected to support Apple Intelligence.

The current iPhone SE resembles an iPhone 8, with outdated features such as an A15 Bionic chip, Touch ID home button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. Pricing starts at $429, but a price increase towards $499 seems probable for the next model.

Super Bowl LIX kicks off today. In the U.S., the game will be streaming for free in upscaled 4K on FOX's ad-supported streaming service Tubi, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, and many other devices.

This year, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Chiefs are looking to win three consecutive Super Bowl championships, while the Eagles are looking for revenge after losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII two years ago, so the stakes are high for both teams.

To watch Super Bowl LIX for free, simply install the Tubi app from the App Store on your Apple device of choice, create a free Tubi account, sign in, and start the stream. FOX's pre-game coverage will begin streaming on Tubi at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, while the Super Bowl show starts at 6 p.m., ahead of a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

No subscription or trial is necessary.

Tubi's stream of Super Bowl LIX will include the Apple Music Halftime Show, featuring hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar. Rest assured that Tubi will also show the same Super Bowl commercials that will air on FOX's cable TV broadcast.

It appears that Apple will have at least one Super Bowl commercial this year. On YouTube, Apple has shared a "big game trailer" for the upcoming Apple TV+ series The Studio, in which Seth Rogen stars as the newly appointed head of an embattled movie studio, Continental Studios. The trailer itself features Johnny Knoxville and Josh Hutcherson.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook, services chief Eddy Cue, and retail chief Deirdre O'Brien have been spotted in the New Orleans area today, ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris assisted with this story.

Amazon this weekend has Apple's AirPods Pro 2 for $169.00, down from $249.00. This is the lowest price that we've tracked so far in 2025, and Amazon is providing a mid February delivery estimate for most residences in the United States.

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.

Although we saw a better deal over the holiday season, it's very unlikely that all-time low price will return any time soon. Amazon's price today is still a solid deal on the AirPods Pro 2, which feature USB-C charging and Active Noise Cancellation.

AirPods discounts are abundant this week on Amazon, which also has the AirPods 4 for just $99.99 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for $148.99. 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.

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While Apple has made strides in bringing long-missing apps to the iPad in recent years, there are still five iPhone apps that remain noticeably absent.

After years of requests from users, Apple finally introduced the Health, Weather, and Calculator apps to the ‌iPad‌ in iPadOS 16, 17, and 18, providing a tweaked experience for the bigger screen. However, this week's debut of Apple Invites, an event-planning app exclusive to the ‌iPhone‌, highlights that Apple is still not bringing all of its first-party applications to the ‌iPad‌. Here are five apps we're still waiting on to come to Apple's tablet:

Invites

Apple introduced the Invites app earlier this week, offering a streamlined way for users to create, manage, and send event invitations. The app allows users to design invitations with customized backgrounds, photos, and AI-generated imagery via Apple Intelligence's Image Playground.

It integrates with Maps and Weather to provide location and climate details for attendees, and features RSVP tracking along with collaborative Apple Music playlists and shared photo albums.

Despite its clear utility, Apple Invites remains natively unavailable on ‌iPad‌, with the only options being running the ‌iPhone‌ version or using the browser version via icloud.com. Given that iPads are commonly used for light productivity tasks, planning, and creative work, the absence of Invites on the platform is a peculiar omission.

Wallet

First introduced in 2012 as Passbook and later rebranded as Wallet, Apple's digital wallet app is best known for storing credit and debit cards for use with Apple Pay. However, Wallet also houses event tickets, boarding passes, loyalty cards, and transit passes.

While the ‌iPad‌ lacks NFC hardware, making contactless ‌Apple Pay‌ in stores impossible, there are still several Wallet features that could benefit ‌iPad‌ users. The ability to view transaction history, receive ‌Apple Pay‌ notifications, and manage delivery tracking from online purchases could all be useful on a larger display. For example, iPad mini users might find Wallet beneficial for accessing event tickets or passes without needing to switch to their ‌iPhone‌.

Sports

Apple Sports launched with iOS 17.2, providing users with real-time scores, standings, and statistics across a wide range of professional and college sports leagues. The app integrates with Apple News and Apple TV.

Apple Sports similarly has not yet made the jump to ‌iPad‌. While ‌iPad‌ users can obviously access live scores through Safari or third-party apps, the lack of a dedicated Sports app on iPadOS is an unusual limitation for such a simple app.

Given the ‌iPad‌'s famous suitability for media consumption, including watching live sports through services like ‌Apple TV‌+, the absence of a native Sports app makes little sense. Users who might want to monitor games while working or browsing on their ‌iPad‌ are left without the convenience that ‌iPhone‌ users enjoy.

Phone

While iPads cannot function as standalone cell phones, they are capable of receiving calls via an ‌iPhone‌ using Continuity, yet there is no Phone app for the ‌iPad‌.

This means ‌iPad‌ users cannot initiate continuity phone calls without first opening FaceTime or a third-party VoIP app. There is also no call history, no favorites list, and no way to access voicemail directly from the ‌iPad‌.

Journal

Apple introduced the Journal app in iOS 17.2 as a new way for users to document their daily experiences, incorporating text, photos, locations, and audio recordings into structured journal entries. The app uses machine learning to offer prompts and suggestions based on a user's daily activities.

Unlike many other iPhone-exclusive apps, Journal cannot even be downloaded and run on an ‌iPad‌. Because it is a system app rather than an App Store download, there is no workaround for ‌iPad‌ users who might want to use it in Stage Manager or another multitasking mode.

Given that journaling is often associated with extended writing and reflection, an ‌iPad‌ version would seem particularly useful, allowing users to write longer entries with a paired Magic Keyboard or Apple Pencil. The lack of an ‌iPad‌ version is made even more conspicuous by the fact that many popular third-party journaling apps, such as Day One, offer excellent cross-platform compatibility.

While we're still waiting for Apple's first major hardware releases of the year, we may not have much longer to wait, though Apple has also been tiding us over with this week's release of a new "Invites" app.

This week also saw some AppleCare changes, the debut of the first native pornography app for iPhone via an alternative app store in the European Union, and more, so read on below for all of this week's biggest news!

Apple Launches New 'Invites' App

Apple this week announced the launch of a new app called "Invites," which is designed to allow users to plan events like birthday parties, graduations, vacations, baby showers, and more. While event creation is limited to iCloud+ subscribers, anyone can reply to an invitation they receive from the service. Be sure to check out our hands-on video to see how it works, while Dan and Hartley discussed Invites and related topics on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show.

Word of the app surfaced over the past several weeks, with Apple itself leaking a few details just ahead of the official introduction.

iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release.

We had been expecting the MacBook Air to be the first major Apple hardware launch of 2025, but unless Apple has really big plans for next week, it appears the next-generation budget iPhone will be first out of the gate.

EU's AltStore Gets First Native iOS Pornography App

iOS users in the European Union this week gained access to the first dedicated native pornography app for the iPhone, distributed through the AltStore PAL alternative app store.

While Apple expressed displeasure at the app's launch and shared its concerns about user safety risks and undermined consumer trust, the company is required under the EU's Digital Markets Act to allow alternative marketplaces with their own content rules. Apple is only allowed to subject such apps to a notarization process that checks them for malware, fraud, and other egregious issues, with the company unable to limit apps based on content that has traditionally been barred under App Store rules.

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, though we have some hints on what's coming.

Check out our article and video highlighting what we're expecting to see in terms of chips, design, pricing, and more.

Apple Raises Monthly AppleCare+ Subscription Price for All iPhones

Apple this week increased the prices for its monthly AppleCare+ subscription prices for the iPhone, raising the cost by 50 cents for all models in the United States.

The price increase comes as Apple has made some changes to the way it markets AppleCare+, doing away with fixed 2-year plans in retail stores and in the Settings app on iPhones in favor of monthly and annual subscription options, and also emphasizing more expensive plans that include Theft & Loss coverage over the standard plans.

Apple Expected to Announce Powerbeats Pro 2 on February 11

Apple previously teased that Powerbeats Pro 2 would be released in 2025, and now an announcement date has leaked. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week said Apple plans to unveil the wireless earbuds on Tuesday, February 11.

Powerbeats Pro are a sportier, fitness-focused alternative to AirPods Pro with built-in, adjustable ear hooks for a secure fit, and Gurman expects the new models to feature an H2 chip and retain the current $250 price point, while our own code discovery last year indicated they will support heart rate monitoring during workouts.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Apple's next-generation low-cost iPhone is almost here, with rumors suggesting we're going to see it introduced as soon as next Tuesday. With a release happening in the very near future, we thought we'd highlight everything we know about Apple's newest ‌iPhone‌.

Design

The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will look like the ‌iPhone‌ 14, featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display. The device's launch will mark the end of smaller iPhones, as Apple will no longer sell anything smaller than 6.1 inches. The current ‌iPhone‌ SE is 4.7 inches, so the updated size will be noticeable, but getting rid of the bezels means there's not a huge difference in overall device size despite the much larger display.

Apple used to sell a 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ "mini," but it was discontinued after the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini because the device simply wasn't selling well. In the future, Apple may appease those who want a small ‌iPhone‌ with a clamshell device that folds in half, but rumors suggest that such a device is at least a year off.

If you want to know what the ‌iPhone‌ SE will look like, just go take a look at the ‌iPhone‌ 14. It'll have the same general design with an all-display design, aluminum and glass build, mute switch, volume buttons, notch, power button, and 5G antenna/SIM tray. There will be a change to the back of the device, though. The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 is expected to have a single-lens rear camera, rather than the dual-lens setup of the ‌iPhone‌ 14.

You might have seen rumors about an Action Button or Camera Control button for the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 during the rumor cycle, but it's looking more and more like those are not features that are coming to Apple's low-cost device. ‌iPhone‌ SE dummy models have not included an Action button or a Camera Control button, nor have cases designed for the device.

Both early ‌iPhone‌ cases and dummy models are often crafted based on supply chain leaks, and they're usually accurate because there's a lot of money up for grabs having a case ready to go right when a new device launches.

Display

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 introduced Ceramic Shield, which is stronger than typical smartphone glass and better able to hold up to drops and scratches. The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 should be more durable than the current model.

It is worth noting that the current ‌iPhone‌ SE is the last ‌iPhone‌ with an LCD display, so the launch of the new model with an OLED display will see the end of LCD display technology for the ‌iPhone‌.

No More Touch ID

With an ‌iPhone‌ 14-style all-display design, Touch ID is going away. Unless Apple keeps the existing ‌iPhone‌ SE around as a super low-cost device, there will be no ‌iPhone‌ with ‌Touch ID‌ in the lineup after the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 launches.

‌Touch ID‌ is still used for Macs and some iPads, but Apple will transition fully to Face ID for its ‌iPhone‌ models with the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4.

There are people who prefer ‌Touch ID‌ to ‌Face ID‌, but Apple is all-in on facial recognition, and it's more secure than ‌Touch ID‌. There's a less than 1 in 1,000,000 chance that a random person could unlock your ‌iPhone‌ with ‌Face ID‌, but a 1 in 50,000 chance for ‌Touch ID‌.

Getting rid of the ‌Touch ID‌ Home button allows for much more screen space, though it is worth noting there will still be a notch. We did hear some rumors suggesting Apple might use the Dynamic Island for the ‌iPhone‌ SE, but that's another feature that looks like it'll be reserved for the more expensive ‌iPhone‌ options.

No More Lightning

The ‌iPhone‌ SE will have a USB-C port for charging, which also means the Lightning port will be eliminated from almost all Apple devices. Older-generation iPhones like the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus still have a Lightning port, but Apple has been phasing it out.

The ‌iPhone‌ SE is one of the last Apple devices that continues to use Lightning, and when Apple discontinues the ‌iPhone‌ 14, which could happen with the ‌iPhone‌ SE launch, Lightning will be eliminated from the ‌iPhone‌ lineup.

MagSafe

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 added support for MagSafe, and since the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 is using an ‌iPhone‌ 14 design, it's very likely it will work with ‌MagSafe‌ accessories and will support ‌MagSafe‌ wireless charging. ‌MagSafe‌ is not an option for the current ‌iPhone‌ SE.

A18 Chip and 8GB RAM

Apple is going to equip the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 with the same A18 chip that's in the iPhone 16, which means it's going to have flagship performance at a much more affordable price. The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will be a solid deal, and the A18 chip will allow it to last for years to come.

With the A18 chip, the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence features, and it's going to be a huge improvement over the A15 chip in the current ‌iPhone‌ SE. ‌Apple Intelligence‌ requires 8GB RAM, so the new ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will also have double the RAM of the current model.

Storage Space

There's no rumor about this, but the rest of Apple's iPhones start with 128GB of storage, so it's likely we're going to see the end of the 64GB storage option this year. 64GB is simply not enough storage space, even for a low-cost ‌iPhone‌.

Camera

The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will have a single-lens camera with a Wide lens. Rumors suggest it'll get the same 48-megapixel Wide lens that's in the ‌iPhone 16‌, which will bring a major leap in photo quality compared to the 12-megapixel camera in the ‌iPhone‌ SE 3.

The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 won't have a Telephoto lens or an Ultra Wide lens, but if it does indeed use the same Wide lens, it will support next-generation portraits with focus and depth control, the newest photographic styles, and an option to crop in to 2x optical zoom.

Connectivity

Apple is going to debut its new in-house modem in the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4, and it'll give us our first look at how Apple's modem technology compares to Qualcomm.

The new modem chip won't support the fastest mmWave 5G speed, but it will connect to the more widespread 6GHz networks. Apple wants to cut down on its reliance on Qualcomm, and this new modem chip is the first step.

Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection

This is speculation, but with the ‌iPhone‌ 14, Apple added a Crash Detection feature that alerts emergency services if you're in a car accident. It's an important safety feature that's likely to be included in the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4.

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 and later also support Emergency SOS via Satellite, and there's a good chance that'll be added to the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 too.

Battery Life

Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will have the same battery as the ‌iPhone‌ 14, which means it'll offer up to 20 hours of video playback, up to 16 hours of streaming video, and up to 80 hours of audio playback.

There's quite a bit more space in a 6.1-inch device for a battery than there is in a 4.7-inch device, so it should come as no surprise that there will be a major improvement in overall battery life.

The current ‌iPhone‌ SE offers 15 hours of video playback and up to 10 hours of streaming video playback.

Pricing

With higher-end components, the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 could be more expensive than the current model, but Apple is still aiming for a price point under $500. The ‌iPhone‌ SE 3 is priced starting at $429.

No Event

The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 is an important new ‌iPhone‌ in Apple's lineup, but it reuses components from the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone 16‌, so it's not the most exciting device. Apple isn't going to hold an event to unveil the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4, instead introducing it through a press release and coverage on the Apple website.

We're expecting the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 to be announced early next week, perhaps on Tuesday, February 11, which is the same day that Apple plans to unveil its new Powerbeats earbuds. It could also come the day before or the day after if Apple is aiming to space out its announcements.

Launch Date

After being introduced early next week, Apple will likely accept pre-orders for the ‌iPhone‌ SE before launching it later in February.

Dbrand today announced the launch of its new Aperture protective cover for the Apple Vision Pro, which is designed to protect the large glass display of the device.

Made in a Voronoi style with multiple cutouts in a polyurethane material, the cover fits onto the front of the Vision Pro. The cover does not block any of the sensors or buttons on the Vision Pro, so it can be left on the device at all times, which is useful for VR games and activities that might lead you into walls.

Dbrand developed the case after seeing a 3D printed version from Kyle Goodrich, a former AR designer at Snap. Apple bundles the Vision Pro with a protective cover, but Apple's cover is designed to be in place only while the Vision Pro isn't being worn.

The Aperture Faceplate is being sold alongside a separate Aperture Battery Holster that matches the design of the cover while also adding a clip to attach it to an item of clothing while the Vision Pro is in use. Both the Battery Holster and the Faceplate are available in black or orange.

The Aperture Faceplate alone is priced at $49, while the combo is $69. The accessories can be purchased from the Dbrand website.

The first beta of Apple's upcoming iOS 18.4 update could be released as soon as the middle of next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Next week may be busy with the launch of Apple's new Powerbeats that have a heart rate sensor and the iPhone SE 4, but we could still get the new beta on February 12 or February 13. If Apple waits until the week after that, the software could come on February 18, as February 17 is Presidents' Day, a U.S. a holiday.

Apple often follows software releases with new betas, but there has been a delay between iOS 18.3 and the iOS 18.4 beta. Apple released iOS 18.3 11 days ago on Monday, January 27, and we'll be at the two week mark on February 10.

It's not unheard of for Apple to take some time between software updates and betas, especially when an update has a lot of new features. Rumors suggest that iOS 18.4 will bring major Apple Intelligence Siri changes, which Apple outlined earlier this year.

‌Siri‌ is set to gain personal context, onscreen awareness, and the ability to do more in and between apps. With ‌Siri‌'s history of performance issues and questionable responses compared to other personal assistants, Apple likely wants to ensure that it gets this new feature set right.

The new ‌Siri‌ abilities are one of the major ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that Apple has already been highlighting in advertising and information about AI, so there are a lot of expectations.

The update will also likely bring new emoji characters, some changes to default app options in the European Union, and an expansion of ‌Apple Intelligence‌ to new languages and countries.

Apple has already said that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ will expand to additional countries in an April update, so we are expecting iOS 18.4 to be in beta testing through March ahead of an April launch.

Last year, we reported that Apple sued its former software engineer Andrew Aude for providing journalists with confidential information about the company's future plans, including details about the Journal app, Vision Pro headset, and more.

As reported by 9to5Mac, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit after Apple and Aude reached an agreement to resolve this matter. The court document for the case's dismissal does not provide any specific details about the agreement, but Aude issued a public apology on the same day.

In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Aude said leaking information was a "profound and expensive mistake."

Aude's full apology:

I spent nearly eight years as a software engineer at Apple. During that time, I was given access to sensitive internal Apple information, including what were then unreleased products and features. But instead of keeping this information secret, I made the mistake of sharing this information with journalists who covered the company. I did not realize it at the time, but this turned out to be a profound and expensive mistake. Hundreds of professional relationships I had spent years building were ruined. And my otherwise successful career as a software engineer was derailed, and it will likely be very difficult to rebuild it. Leaking was not worth it. I sincerely apologize to my former colleagues who not only worked tirelessly on projects for Apple, but work hard to keep them secret. They deserved better.

Aude joined Apple in 2016, to work on optimizing battery performance, and the company fired him in 2023 after learning of his wrongful disclosures. For more details about the situation, read our previous coverage of the lawsuit.

Given today's bombshell report revealing the UK government's unprecedented demand for backdoor access to encrypted iCloud data, it's clear that Apple now faces a massive challenge. How it responds could have major implications for not only the company's privacy stance, but also its global operations as well as its reputation.

According to The Washington Post, the British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to iCloud. The spying order reportedly came by way of a "technical capability notice," a document sent to Apple ordering it to provide access under the sweeping UK Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) of 2016.

According to sources that spoke to the publication, Apple is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in the UK as a result of the demand. Specifically, Apple could withdraw Advanced Data Protection, an opt-in feature that provides end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for iCloud backups, such as Photos, Notes, Voice Memos, Messages backups, and device backups.

In this scenario, UK users would still have access to basic iCloud services, but their data would lack the additional layer of security that prevents even Apple from accessing it. In other words, UK users' iCloud data would revert to standard encryption, allowing Apple to potentially access the contents of said data if it is compelled to do so by UK authorities when a warrant is issued. Although no specific instance has been publicly confirmed, the IPA grants UK security agencies the legal framework to request data from companies when it is accessible.

Apple could always pursue legal challenges. However, according to the IPA, while the company can appeal the "technical capability notice," it must comply with the order during the appeals process. Apple would be forced to temporarily implement the backdoor while arguing against its legality. Not only that, the IPA makes it a criminal offense to reveal that the government even made the demand.

Needless to say, such a gag order would prevent Apple from being up front with its customers about the security changes. When a backdoor is introduced — even if its purpose is to grant law enforcement access — it creates an alternative route into a secure channel. This not only increases the risk that bad actors might discover and exploit the vulnerability, but it also breaks the promise of complete confidentiality. Apple would essentially be lying to its customers about the watertightness of its E2EE security.

The Nuclear Option

A more dramatic response from Apple would involve completely removing iCloud services from the UK. While this would protect Apple's encryption standards, it would severely disrupt millions of UK users who rely on iCloud for photo storage, device backups, and document syncing. Users would need to find alternative cloud storage solutions and potentially lose access to years of accumulated data.

Theoretically, Apple could attempt a technical workaround by restructuring iCloud to isolate UK user data. However, the IPA allows British authorities to compel tech companies to assist with data access regardless of where that company is based, so this solution might not satisfy the government's demand for worldwide access. It would also require costly engineering resources to implement, not to mention set a concerning precedent for other countries seeking similar arrangements.

"I don't see how this is to be resolved, as Apple has made such a big point of privacy for users," said Alan Woodward, a professor of cybersecurity at Surrey University, speaking to BBC News. "If they accede to this technical notice their reputation will be in tatters. They're bound to challenge it."

Global Implications

The UK's demand could also put the government's data-sharing agreement with the European Union at risk. The two regions currently have an agreement allowing the free flow of personal data between the EU and UK, but the arrangement faces review this year. The creation of an encryption backdoor could be viewed as violating the EU's strict data protection standards.

The spy order has already raised concerns in Washington, placing Apple in a potential diplomatic crossfire. According to The Post, the Biden administration first began tracking this issue since the UK first indicated it might demand backdoor access.

The timing is particularly awkward, given that US security agencies have recently been advocating for increased use of encryption to combat Chinese cyber threats. In December, the FBI, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency jointly recommended that companies "ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible" to protect against state-sponsored hacking. Creating a backdoor for UK authorities would directly contradict this guidance and could weaken US cyber defenses, potentially forcing Apple to choose between complying with UK law or protecting US national security interests.

It's worth noting that Apple has repeatedly and forcefully opposed creating backdoors in its products. In its March 2023 submission to UK Parliament, the company stated plainly: "We would never create a backdoor in our products." This echoes CEO Tim Cook's firm stance during the 2016 San Bernardino case, where he declared, "Apple has never built a backdoor into any of our products and never will."

The company doubled down on this position in its 2024 submission to the UK Parliament regarding changes to the IPA, warning that the provisions "could be used to force a company like Apple, that would never build a back door into its products, to publicly withdraw critical security features from the UK market."

Apple's core principle that "privacy is a fundamental human right" is a position it has consistently maintained through the years in the face of government demands for weakened encryption. Confronted by the UK government's latest encryption demands, the company must now prove whether its commitment to user privacy is truly unbreakable, or just a corporate slogan that crumbles under regulatory pressure.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

This was one of the biggest weeks for Apple deals so far in 2025, headlined by up to $80 in savings across the AirPods lineup. You can still find these great deals online today, along with savings on Anker accessories, Apple Watch SE, Studio Display, and more.

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.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $80 off AirPods
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The best deals this week centered on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, both of which are seeing the year's best prices so far on Amazon. You can get the AirPods 4 from $99.99 and the AirPods Pro 2 for $169.00 on Amazon.

Galaxy S25

• What's the deal? Save up to $1,250 when pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphones
• Where can I get it? Samsung
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Samsung recently announced its new lineup of Galaxy S25 smartphones, and you can find multiple pre-order discounts and offers on Samsung's website. This includes up to $1,250 in trade-in credits and Samsung credits when pre-ordering the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Students can save an extra 5 percent on the new smartphones as well.

The high-end Galaxy S25 Ultra is priced starting at $1,299.99 for 256GB, and you can save up to $1,250 on this model with trade-in credits and Samsung credits. If you trade in a Galaxy S24 Ultra, Z Fold6, or Z Fold5, you can get as much as $900 off the new S25 Ultra.

Additionally, if you select the 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra, you can get the Galaxy Buds3 Pro for free, and if you select the 512GB Galaxy S25 Ultra, you can get the Galaxy Buds3 Pro for only $20. You'll find these offers if you scroll down on the Galaxy S25 Ultra page, under the "Start building healthy habits with Galaxy" section.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker charging accessories
• Where can I get it? Anker and Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker began its Valentine's Day sale this week, and it has some notable discounts on wireless chargers, portable batteries, and more. You can also find a big discount on the popular Anker Power Station with Display and Lantern on Amazon, available for $89.99 ($50 off).

Apple Watch

• What's the deal? Take $80 off Apple Watch SE
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon began the week with the return of all-time low prices on the Apple Watch SE, with $80 off both 40mm and 44mm GPS models.

Sonos

• What's the deal? Take up to 25% off Sonos audio products
• Where can I get it? Sonos
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Sonos began its annual Super Bowl sale this week, offering up to 25 percent off select home theater audio equipment. This sale includes big discounts on popular products like the Sonos Arc and Sonos Ray soundbars, and it will end on February 9.

Studio Display

• What's the deal? Take $299 off Apple Studio Display
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week we saw the Apple Studio Display get discounted for the first time in 2025, and these all-time low prices are still available right now. The best deal is on the Standard Glass model for $1,299.99, down from $1,599.00.

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.

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