MacRumors

I recently had the opportunity to test out the latest Zugu case for the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, and I came away impressed with its blend of style and functionality.

While designed for the newest ‌iPad Pro‌ model, this case retains the key features that have made Zugu a popular choice among iPad users over the 14 years that the company has been operating.

Design and Protection

When I took the Zugu case out of the box, its minimalist appearance immediately caught my eye. I opted for the black color, which has an understated, professional look. The case is also available in slate (a subtle blue), berry (a rich red), and pine (a deep green). The soft pleather exterior feels good in the hand and provides a secure grip, unlike some slippery plastic alternatives.

Underneath the exterior is a robust combination of TPU and polycarbonate, offering what feels like very decent drop protection. (I haven't had a mishap yet, but it certainly instills confidence.) Thick bumpers along the edges provide an extra layer of defense, particularly for the screen corners, which is something I always look for in a case. The volume and power button covers are also nicely tactile and rubbery.

I was pleased to discover it has a soft microfiber interior to help prevent scratches on the ‌iPad‌ itself. Despite these protective features, the case on its own weighs a relatively light 515 grams, and it's only around half an inch thick with the ‌iPad‌ inside and the lid closed. All of the speaker and port holes are well-aligned, while the top cover is a particularly notable protective feature, and completely covers the screen when closed. It also plays nice with the ‌iPad‌'s sleep/wake feature. It's a welcome additional layer of protection against scratches and minor impacts when stowed in a bag on your commute.

Versatility and Convenience

The Zugu case's adaptability is definitely its standout feature. Its adjustable magnetic stand offers 10 different angles, which makes it suitable for various activities, whether you're browsing, typing, drawing with Apple Pencil, or watching media. An extra thoughtful detail is the presence of air flow vents to prevent overheating during extended use or intensive bouts of gaming.

During testing, I found the magnetic functionality particularly clever. By flipping up and exposing the magnetic feet in the kickstand, I could easily attach my ‌iPad‌ to metal surfaces like a refrigerator door. If you follow recipe instructions in the kitchen, this frees up valuable counter space. Just be mindful not to slam the fridge door while the ‌iPad‌ is attached.

Zugu also includes a couple of neat storage options for the ‌Apple Pencil‌. A recess along the side allows for easy snap-on wireless charging, while an elastic pocket on the back provides added security during transport.

Summing Up

Given that the 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ starts at $1299, there's really no point cutting corners when it comes to ensuring it's protected at all times. I wouldn't skimp when choosing a laptop case, and the same applies here. For me, the Zugu case for M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ offers a compelling balance of protection, functionality, and style, at a competitive $79.99 starting price.

Its versatile stand options, secure magnetic mounting, and thoughtful design features like air vents and ‌Apple Pencil‌ integration set it apart from many competitors. While the magnets are generally strong, I'd still advise exercising caution when mounting the case on a vertical surface. Overall though, it's a solid choice for those seeking a premium, feature-rich case for their ‌iPad Pro‌.

Where to Buy

The Zugu case for ‌iPad Pro‌ is available directly from Zugu's website, starting at $79.99. Zugu also offers variants for other ‌iPad‌ models, including the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌, the standard ‌iPad‌, iPad Air, and iPad mini. Each Zugu case purchase also contributes funds to Children International, a humanitarian organization focused on helping kids around the world learn the skills needed to break free from poverty. Zugu has so far donated over $1 million to the cause, according to its website.

Note: Zugu provided MacRumors with a 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ M4 case for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Following the release of iOS 18 last month, some BMW owners have experienced issues with shared car keys in the Apple Wallet app, according to messages on the Apple Support Community and the largest BMW discussion forum.

Affected users said that the "passive entry" feature that allows you to lock, unlock, and start compatible BMW vehicle models by simply having your iPhone on you no longer works for secondary Wallet keys shared with others, such as a spouse or other family member. The primary key still works for passive entry, the people said.

The issue does not appear to be fixed in the iOS 18.0.1 update released last week, or in the latest iOS 18.1 beta. The underlying cause is unclear.

We will share any new information about this issue as it becomes available.

Apple today shared a new ad that highlights how artists used the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro to design personalized artwork for seven NHL goalie masks being worn during the 2024-25 season. The artwork was then hand painted onto the masks.

The goalie masks were created for Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, Jacob Markström of the New Jersey Devils, Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers, Sam Montembeault of the Montréal Canadiens, Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators, Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks.

NHL goalies have worn personalized masks for decades, but this is the first time that Apple has advertised becoming involved with the creative process.

At least some of the masks were designed in Adobe Photoshop, based on the images below.

More details about this "Made on iPad" campaign are available on the NHL's website.

The latest NHL season kicked off earlier this month.

Apple has opened a new applied research laboratory in Shenzhen, China, marking a significant expansion of its research and development capabilities in the world's largest smartphone market. The facility, which began operations on Thursday, is located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong tech cooperation zone.

Apple announced plans for the Shenzhen lab in March, stating it would enhance testing and research for major products including the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro spatial computing headset. The lab is also intended to strengthen Apple's collaboration with local suppliers.

Spanning 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) in its initial phase, the facility is set to become Apple's research and development hub in the Greater Bay Area. This economic region encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong province.

According to state media reports, the lab will eventually employ over 1,000 domestic and international talents. Apple has described it as its "most extensive" lab outside the United States, underscoring the company's commitment to the Chinese market.

The move comes as Apple faces increasing competition in China, particularly from Shenzhen-based Huawei. Recent data from research firm CINNO showed that in August, Huawei outsold Apple in mainland China for the first time in nearly four years.

Despite efforts to diversify its manufacturing supply chain outside China, Apple continues to invest in research within the country. The company has previously established research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen, with its research and development team in China reportedly doubling in size over the past five years.

(Via South China Morning Post.)

Apple is once again planning to cut the interest rate of its Apple Card high-yield savings account, with the new rate set to go live on Friday, October 11.

The ‌Apple Card‌ savings account's annual percentage yield (APR) will drop to 4.10 percent, down from 4.25 percent. This is the third cut that Apple has made this year, and the second in the last few weeks.

Back in late September, Apple lowered the APY from 4.4 percent to 4.25 percent, and rates dropped from 4.5 percent to 4.4 percent in April.

At 4.10 percent, the Apple savings account APY will be below 4.15 APY that it launched with back in April 2023. Savings account interest rates fluctuate with changes made by the Federal Reserve, and when rates are lowered, banks cut their APYs. There was a notable rate cut of 50 basis points in September, and today, Federal Reserve policymakers suggested that more cuts are on the horizon.

Several other high-yield savings accounts from companies like Discover, American Express, and Capital One also now have a 4.10 APY.

Apple partners with Goldman Sachs for the Apple savings account. It is available for ‌Apple Card‌ holders, and can be managed through the iPhone Wallet app much like the ‌Apple Card‌. The Apple savings account is designed to allow ‌Apple Card‌ users to earn interest on their Daily Cash balance, and on funds transferred from bank accounts or Apple Cash balances.

Earlier this month, Apple decreased the ‌Apple Card‌ APR range, and it is now at 18.74 percent to 28.99 percent, down from 19.24 percent to 29.49 percent.

Though smart rings with health capabilities have been growing in popularity, Apple has no plans to join the smart ring market, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. While Apple explored the idea, there is no active development of a ring going on at this time, and Apple has no plans to launch a ring.

Smart rings on the market from companies like Oura measure heart rate, track body temperature, and have sleep tracking capabilities, all of which are functions of the Apple Watch. If Apple released a smart ring, it would have the same feature set of the Apple Watch, and it would likely cannibalize Apple Watch sales.

Back in February, Gurman said that Apple's industrial team had suggested that Apple work on a smart ring, with the device possibly serving as a lower-cost alternative to the Apple Watch. Apple executives apparently weren't interested, and active development didn't happen.

Gurman's report followed a February rumor from Korean site Electronic Times, which said that Apple was "speeding up development" of a smart ring that could be used for health tracking. The site claimed that Apple was weighing the idea of a smart ring as an expansion of its wearables lineup, but those rumors may have been spurred by Samsung's Galaxy Ring.

Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring in July alongside new foldable smart phones. Designed to work only with Galaxy devices, the Galaxy Ring tracks movement, sleep, heart rate, and respiratory rate, providing users with a daily sleep score and an energy score.

New devices from Samsung can spur rumors about Apple products because the two companies typically compete in the same markets, but there are some instances where Apple has not followed in Samsung's footsteps. Samsung has had foldable smartphones for years now, and Apple still seems to have no concrete plans for a foldable iPhone.

There have been Apple patents for ring-like devices, and those patents have also led to "iRing" rumors, but Apple patents all kinds of strange things that never make it to launch.

Gurman is a reliable source for information on Apple's future plans, but there are some who still seem to think an Apple ring is coming. CCS Insight told CNBC just this week that Apple might launch a "connected ring" to rival Samsung by 2026.

Rather than launching a ring, Apple may instead lower the price of the Apple Watch. The next-generation Apple Watch SE that's slated for 2025 is expected to include a plastic casing that could bring lower costs and more appeal to customers looking for something cheap and durable, either for themselves or for their children.

Starting with iOS 18, Apple said event tickets in the Wallet app on the iPhone are able to offer an all-new design that displays key information, and Ticketmaster today announced that it will be the first ticketing company to roll out this enhanced experience.

The redesigned tickets will include more relevant information about an event, such as a map of the venue, parking details, recommended Apple Music playlists, local forecasts from the Weather app, and quick access to location sharing. In addition, venues and sports teams can add links to their app or website to the ticket.

Ticketmaster said the first event that will offer its redesigned tickets in the Wallet app will be Los Angeles FC's upcoming match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium on Saturday, October 19. iPhone users who have updated their device to iOS 18 or later can add their tickets to the Wallet app through the Ticketmaster or LAFC apps.

Ticketmaster said the Miami Heat will be the next team to debut the new ticket experience, but it did not say when, and the new tickets will roll out more widely in 2025.

In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple will be making a donation of an undisclosed amount to Hurricane Milton relief efforts.

"Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Milton," said Cook. "To everyone still in harm's way, please stay safe. Apple will be making a donation to help with relief efforts on the ground."

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida late Wednesday. The storm, and many tornadoes that resulted from it, caused catastrophic damage, flooding, and loss of life across many areas of Florida.

Apple has donated to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts in the past.

Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.0, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.0.1 from downgrading to iOS 18. Apple released iOS 18.0.1 a week ago on October 3.

It is not unusual for Apple to stop signing older versions of iOS within a week or two after a new version of iOS is released. When Apple stops signing an update, it can no longer be installed on an ‌iPhone‌ due to a server-side software verification check that happens before new software is installed, so those who have upgraded to the latest version of ‌iOS 18‌ cannot downgrade to iOS 18.0.

Apple prevents downgrading to older versions of iOS to encourage ‌iPhone‌ users to keep their operating systems up to date with the latest security fixes. iPhone 16 users who have upgraded to iOS 18.0.1 can no longer install any older software, but iPhone 15 and earlier users have the option of downgrading to iOS 17.7, which is also still signed.

The iOS 18.0.1 update addressed bugs with the touch screen, Camera, and Messages app, plus it fixed two vulnerabilities.

Apple in 2023 hosted a "Global Police Summit" to help police agencies around the world better take advantage of Apple products for police work like surveillance, reports Forbes. The meeting was held in October 2023 at Apple Park, and it preceded the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. As many as 50 police department employees from seven countries attended the events.

At the event, police agencies shared their "successes, innovations, and lessons learned," according to an email about it, while Apple engineers did presentations on products and features that benefit law enforcement such as "CarPlay, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via Satellite, Vision Pro and more."

LAPD chief information officer John McMahon told Forbes that it was one of the most useful conferences he'd attended. "I've never been part of an engagement that was so collaborative," he said. A New Zealand police department shared an experience creating an app for storing and accessing police data connected to the National Intelligence Database, as one example of what was demonstrated at the conference.

While Apple has refused to unlock iPhones at law enforcement request and has fought public battles to avoid adding backdoors to its products, Apple does respond to some legal requests from governments and law enforcement, and law enforcement agencies are a business like any other that can purchase Apple products for police work.

Electronic Frontier Foundation analyst Matthew Guariglia told Forbes that Apple has kept the product meetings and conferences quiet because the company is aware that they do not align with pro-privacy marketing. "They want to get the reputation that they protect users' data and they will do so at the expense of their relationship with law enforcement, and at the same time recognizing that creating tech for law enforcement is a multi-billion-dollar industry," he said.

Gary Oldham, who oversaw Apple's worldwide strategy for public safety and emergency services until August of this year, spoke with Forbes and said that he had worked to grow Apple's public safety market share in multiple target markets around the world. Oldham specifically worked with police agencies in California to "deepen Apple tech use." Several police departments in California are testing using the Vision Pro for surveillance work. In Western Australia, the police force uses Siri through ‌CarPlay‌ to access police data and send updates about incidents.

Oldham did not provide a reason why he left Apple in August, and Apple did not hold a Global Police Summit in 2024.

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 introduced Submerged, the first scripted short film designed for Apple Immersive Video on the Vision Pro headset. The 17-minute movie is set in World War II, and it follows a group of sailors that are struggling to survive a deadly torpedo attack.

Submerged was directed by Austrian filmmaker Edward Berger, who also directed 2022 movie All Quiet on the Western Front. Apple shared a behind the scenes video on the making of Submerged, showing off the full-scale 23-ton submarine set that was used for filming.

Submerged, like other Apple Immersive Video content, features high-resolution 3D video that's meant to be viewed on the Vision Pro, and it is meant to make the wearer feel like they are part of the action. Spatial Audio is included for a more immersive experience.

"Apple Immersive Video allows Apple Vision Pro users around the world to experience the next generation of sports, documentaries, and music performances. With Submerged, an immersive film from visionary director Edward Berger, we're excited to premiere the next generation of narrative filmmaking," said Tor Myhren, Apple's vice president of Marketing Communications. "Vision Pro places you in the middle of the story -- inside a densely packed submarine, shoulder to shoulder with its crew. That deep sense of immersion just wasn't possible before, and we can't wait to see how it inspires filmmakers to push the boundaries of visual storytelling."

In addition to introducing Submerged, Apple also highlighted additional Apple Immersive Video content coming in the next few months.

Next Friday, Apple plans to release an immersive short film featuring the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and in November, Apple will team up with The Weeknd for an immersive music experience celebrating his new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

In December, Apple will release the next episode of its Adventure series. "Ice Dive" will follow freediver Ant Williams as he attempts his best record for the longest distance dive under ice with a single breath. Adventure will continue in early 2025 in Majorca, Spain, with sport climber Kai Lightner.

A new series called Concert for One will also come before the end of 2024, and it will feature intimate performances from some of the world's biggest artists. The first episode will feature British singer-songwriter RAYE.

The next episode of the Elevated series will come in early 2025, and it will feature a crisp autumn in New England, with an aerial journey along winding coastlines and rivers.

Apple Vision Pro is available in Australia, Canada, China mainland, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. All Apple Immersive Video is available at no additional cost and it can be viewed in the Apple TV app in most countries. In China, the video content can be watched in the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.

Apple last week released iOS 18.0.1, and we recommend installing the update soon, as it includes some important bug fixes and security patches.

Below, we outline what is new in iOS 18.0.1.

Bug Fixes

iOS 18.0.1 fixes display and camera bugs on iPhone 16 models, and a few other issues, according to Apple's release notes for the update:

- Touch screen may be temporarily unresponsive in certain circumstances on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models
- Camera may freeze when recording macro mode video on the Ultra Wide camera in 4K with HDR turned off on iPhone 16 Pro models
- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face
- Performance may be impacted due to an issue with memory allocation on some iPhone models

Security Patches

iOS 18.0.1 patches a few security vulnerabilities involving the Messages and Passwords apps, according to Apple's security notes for the update:

Media Session
Available for: iPhone 16 (all models)

Impact: Audio messages in Messages may be able to capture a few seconds of audio before the microphone indicator is activated

Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2024-44207: Michael Jimenez and an anonymous researcher

Passwords
Available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A user's saved passwords may be read aloud by VoiceOver

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved validation.

CVE-2024-44204: Bistrit Dahal

Compatible iPhones

To install iOS 18.0.1, open the Settings app and select General → Software Update.

The update is compatible with the following iPhone models:

iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max

iOS 18.1 will be released to the public in the coming weeks, and the software update introduces the first Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone.

Below, we outline when to expect iOS 18.1 to be released.

iOS 18.1: Apple Intelligence Features

Here are some of the key Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 18.1 beta so far:

• A few Siri enhancements, including improved understanding for both follow-up requests and when you stumble over your words
• Writing tools for rewriting, summarizing, and proofreading text
• Notification summaries
• Suggested replies in the Messages and Mail apps
• A new "Clean Up" tool in the Photos app that can remove unwanted people or objects from photos and use generative AI to fill in the background
• The ability to create a Memories movie in the Photos app by typing a description
• Transcription summaries for phone call recordings
• A new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions that surfaces important notifications only

See our full list of Apple Intelligence features included in the iOS 18.1 beta for even more.

Apple Intelligence will gain more features and support for additional languages on a gradual basis between iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.4.

iOS 18.1: Release Date

During its iPhone 16 event last month, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.1 will be released in October, but it did not provide a specific day.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release iOS 18.1 on Monday, October 28.

iOS 18.1: Compatible iPhones

iOS 18.1 supports the same iPhone models as iOS 17 does, but Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model.

The Apple Watch SE starts at $249, providing an accessible, low-cost option for those interested in owning an Apple smartwatch. The company also now offers the Apple Watch Series 10, which starts at $399, so what exactly do you get by spending an additional $150 and is it worth it? Our comparison helps to answer the question of which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.

Apple announced the second-generation ‌Apple Watch SE‌ in 2022 alongside the now-discontinued Apple Watch Series 8. The Apple Watch Series 10 launched two years later in 2024. The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is designed to be a low-cost option that still offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years, while the Apple Watch Series 10 offers a more feature-rich experience with additional health monitoring capabilities.

Both the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ and the Apple Watch Series 10 feature Crash Detection, water resistance, an optical heart sensor, up to 18 hours of battery life, and more, but there are significant differences between the two devices. Our comparison helps to answer the question of which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.

‌Apple Watch SE‌ (second generation, 2022)	Apple Watch Series 10 (2024)
Same design as Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6	Refined design with a thinner casing, display with more rounded edges and a wider aspect ratio, and front glass that extends further over the sides for a higher screen-to-body ratio
Aluminum casing	Aluminum or titanium casing
Ion-X glass front	Ion-X glass (aluminum) or sapphire crystal (titanium) front
Color-matched nylon composite back case	Metal back with larger charging coil and integrated antenna
40mm or 44mm case size	42mm or 46mm case size with edge-to-edge display
40mm: 1.57-inch display 44mm: 1.78-inch display	42mm: 1.89-inch display 46mm: 2.04-inch display
Retina display	LTPO3 OLED Always-On Retina display (faster refresh rate in always-on mode, enabling a live ticking seconds hand on select watch faces)
	Wide-angle OLED (up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle)
40mm: 324 by 394 pixels with 759 sq mm display area 44mm: 368 by 448 pixels with 977 sq mm display area	41mm: 374x446 pixels 989 sq mm display area 46mm: 416x496 pixels 1,220 sq mm display area
Up to 1,000 nits of brightness	Up to 2,000 nits of brightness
	Display can get dimmer in dark rooms and at night (down to 1 nit of brightness)
S8 chip (based on A13 Bionic chip)	S10 chip (based on A15 Bionic chip: 60% more transistors, 30% faster)
Neural Engine	4-core Neural Engine (up to twice as fast)
Siri processed in the cloud via internet connection	‌Siri‌ processed on-device for requests that do not need information from the internet, resulting in quicker and more reliable responses
Dictation	25% more accurate dictation
	‌Siri‌ can access health and fitness data
Second-generation optical heart sensor	Third-generation optical heart sensor
	Blood oxygen sensor and Blood Oxygen app (outside the U.S. only)
	Sleep apnea notifications
	Electrical heart sensor and ECG app
	Body and water temperature sensor
	Depth gauge to 6m
	Depth app
	Oceanic+ app for snorkelling (available on the App Store)
Microphone	Microphone with voice isolation
Single, elongated speaker hole	Redesigned speaker with individual holes
Speaker	Speaker with media playback
Cycle tracking	Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
	Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
	Precision Finding for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, providing distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone
	HomePod integration (when a user gets within four meters of a playing ‌HomePod‌, the Apple Watch launches Now Playing to control playback. If nothing is playing, media suggestions appear at the top of the Smart Stack.)
	Fast charging (0–80% in about 30 minutes)
	Double Tap gesture to stop a timer, play and pause music, snooze an alarm, answer and end a phone call, take a photo with the Camera Remote, open the Smart Stack, and scroll through widgets in the stack, all without touching the display
32GB storage	64GB storage
Available in anodized Silver, Starlight, Midnight finishes	Aluminum: Available in anodized Silver and Rose Gold, and polished Jet Black finishes Titanium: Available in polished Silver (matches previous stainless steel casing, Apple Watch Hermès only), Gold, Slate, and Natural finishes
Starts at $249	Starts at $399 (aluminum) or $699 (titanium)

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a relatively minor improvement over the previous Series 9 model, offering a thinner design and an improved display. Yet compared to the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a considerably more feature-rich device with advanced capabilities.

With its larger display, additional health monitoring features, and range of colors and finishes, the Apple Watch Series 10 will be the model of choice for those who want more out of their smartwatch. If you feel that the always-on display, added health monitoring features (such as ECG and sleep apnea notifications), or fast charging would be particularly useful to you, or simply like a specific casing and color combination not available with the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, the Apple Watch Series 10 will be the best model for you. It's also worth noting that the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is now over two years old, while the Series 10 has only just come out, so the latter is likely to be more future proof.

If you are on a budget and are not particularly attracted to the additional features of the Series 10, the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is still a compelling option. As it shares many key features with the Apple Watch Series 10, many customers will be happy choosing the more inexpensive model, unless you particularly value features such as the larger, always-on display or advanced health monitoring and can justify the added cost.

The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is an ideal device for kids and senior citizens who do not have an ‌iPhone‌ thanks to Family Setup, but it is also the go-to model for most customers who are new to the Apple Watch and those who are upgrading from a Series 4 or older due to its competitive pricing and generous feature set, allowing users to get a balanced Apple Watch experience at a low price.

The batteries inside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus use an innovative type of adhesive that can be loosened with low-voltage electrical current from a 9V battery, USB-C charger, or another power source. While this change does not apply to iPhone 16 Pro models, it has now been rumored for iPhone 17 Pro models next year.

According to a blog post today from the leaker known as Majin Bu, who has a hit-or-miss track record with Apple rumors, the electrical battery removal process will be extended to all four iPhone 17 models launching next year, including the iPhone 17, tentatively-named iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The leaker shared a photo of the new adhesive in four different sizes, which may correspond with the four iPhone 17 models.

In the meantime, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max batteries still have stretch-release adhesive pull tabs, like many previous iPhone models.

While no other sources have corroborated this rumor yet, the electrical battery removal process expanding to all four iPhone 17 models at least sounds like a reasonable possibility. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series in September.

Majin Bu accurately revealed the "Desert Titanium" color name for iPhone 16 Pro models seven months before the devices launched, but some of his information has been wrong, including a rumor about an iPad 11 being imminent last year.

Amazon today has introduced a new all-time low price on the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, available for $349.99, down from $499.00. This price is available in all four colors on Amazon, and we're also tracking low prices on the 256GB model and the cellular models.

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.

In regards to the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, this beats the previous record low price by about $30. The 256GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $499.99, down from $649.00, which is another best-ever price on the miniature tablet.

Apple launched this version of the iPad mini back in 2021, and we're expecting the next generation of iPad mini to debut next month. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Amazon has announced that Apple TV+ will be available as an add-on subscription through Prime Video in the United States later this month. Prime members will be able to subscribe to Apple TV+ for $9.99 per month directly within the Prime Video app.

The partnership potentially allows Apple's streaming service to reach a wider audience through Amazon's popular Prime Video platform, thereby avoiding the need to download additional apps or navigate separate billing systems. Subscribers will have access to Apple TV+'s full catalog of original content, including hit shows like "Severance," "Ted Lasso," and "The Morning Show," as well as films and live sports events.

Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, described the move as part of Amazon's strategy to expand Prime Video's offerings and allow customers to "personalize their streaming experience within a single app." Apple's senior VP of services Eddy Cue was also quoted in Amazon's press release:

"We want to make Apple TV+ and its award-winning library of series and films from the world's greatest storytellers available to as many viewers as possible. We're thrilled that Prime Video will now offer Apple TV+, giving viewers an incredible breadth of viewing options."

The arrangement mirrors Apple's own strategy of offering third-party video subscriptions through its Apple TV Channels feature, though Prime Video is not currently available as an Apple TV Channel.

While Apple TV+ is already accessible on various platforms, including smart TVs and streaming devices, this partnership may simplify the subscription process for Prime Video users who were previously unfamiliar with how to access Apple TV+.

The companies have not disclosed specific details about their business arrangement, but it's clearly mutually beneficial. Apple gains increased visibility and potential subscriber growth, while Amazon enhances its content offerings within the Prime Video ecosystem.

With iOS 18.1, Apple plans to introduce the first Apple Intelligence features, but we're only getting a small sample of the functionality that's going to be rolling out over the next year. Writing Tools, summaries, and smart replies are coming, but more exciting AI options like Image Playground won't be available until later.

This guide includes what's not coming in iOS 18.1, along with current rumors on when we can expect those features. For a feature list of what you can expect to see in iOS 18.1, check out our iOS 18.1 Apple Intelligence guide.

Image Playground

‌Image Playground‌ will let you generate cartoon-style images using any phrase. It'll be a standalone app, but it will also be integrated into Messages and Notes. In the Notes app, ‌Image Playground‌ can be used to generate an image based on what you've written.

In Messages and in the ‌Image Playground‌ app itself, you can make up whatever you want, even using pictures of your friends and contacts to inspire images. Apple is sticking to non-realistic styles for these, so you won't get anything photorealistic that can be mistaken for real.

Genmoji

Genmoji is similar to ‌Image Playground‌, but it's a feature that lets you generate any emoji that you want. Right now, you're limited to the emoji characters defined by the Unicode Consortium, but that'll change with ‌Genmoji‌.

You can design all kinds of things, just like you can with ‌Image Playground‌. Want a dog eating pancakes? No problem. An alligator skateboarding? The ‌Genmoji‌ feature will be able to create it. As with ‌Image Playground‌, you can base ‌Genmoji‌ on photos of your friends. ‌Genmoji‌ that you create can be used just like emoji, but people you send them to will need to have iOS 18 for the ‌Genmoji‌ to display properly.

Image Wand

Image Wand is an Image Playground-based feature coming to the Notes app. You can use it to insert images into your Notes based on context. On the iPad, you can draw a crude graphic and have ‌Image Wand‌ whip up something nice to accompany your notes.

Priority Notifications

Priority notifications will show up at the top of your notification stack, so you can get to what's most important first.

Mail

In the Mail app, Apple is adding a feature that will sort your incoming messages into categories automatically for better management of things like newsletters and purchase emails.

Siri

Some initial Siri updates are coming in iOS 18.1, such as ‌Siri‌'s new glow that encompasses the edges of the display, but a lot of the more advanced functionality isn't going to be available until later.

Apple is working on onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to take more actions in and across apps.

Onscreen awareness will let ‌Siri‌ take actions when you ask something about what's on your display. If you're looking at a photo and want to message it to your friend Eric, you'll be able to tell ‌Siri‌ to "Send this picture to Eric," and ‌Siri‌ will understand and do it.

Personal context will let ‌Siri‌ do more with your personal data like emails and messages. This is an on-device feature, and it will let ‌Siri‌ learn more about you, who you're communicating with, and how you use your device. Personal context will let you do things like ask ‌Siri‌ to find a specific message, or remind you when you took a photo that you're looking for.

The ‌Siri‌ option to take more actions in and across apps will drastically improve what ‌Siri‌ is capable of. You'll be able to move files from one app to another and control app functions with ‌Siri‌ that you never could before. It'll work in third-party apps as well as Apple's own apps.

ChatGPT Integration

Apple is adding a feature that will let ‌Siri‌ hand complex queries off to OpenAI's ChatGPT, but this won't be available in iOS 18.1.

Additional Languages

Apple Intelligence is available in U.S. English only as of now, but support for additional languages will be coming in the future.

When to Expect More Apple Intelligence Features

More ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features will come in iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3, and iOS 18.4.

We'll get iOS 18.2 before the end of 2024, and it is expected to include ‌Image Playground‌, ‌Genmoji‌, and ChatGPT ‌Siri‌ integration.

In January or so, we'll get iOS 18.3, which could potentially have some new ‌Siri‌ features.

iOS 18.4, which isn't expected until around March 2025, will have the bulk of the ‌Siri‌ ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features. We're also expecting to see Apple roll out support for additional languages in 2025.

iOS 18.1 Launch Date

iOS 18.1 is expected to see a release on Monday, October 28. Apple plans to release ‌Apple Intelligence‌ in a beta capacity, and the feature set will continue to be refined over time.