MacRumors

Google today announced the launch of its next-generation Pixel 10 smartphones, including the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Pixel 10 Pro, and the Pixel 10.

All of the new smartphones are equipped with the latest Tensor G5 Chip. Google's Tensor chips are the equivalent of Apple's A-series chips, and are designed in-house by Google. The G5 is built using 3-nanometer technology, and Google claims that it "unlocks the most advanced on-device AI on any phone." Gemini Nano runs 2.6x faster and it is 2x more efficient than the prior chip, plus CPU performance is up 34 percent.

Google's most expensive flagship device is the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, priced starting at $1,799. It's made from aluminum, has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, and it uses a "gearless hinge" that's more durable than the hinge used in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Google says the display is more durable, built from two thin layers of glass and two layers of anti-impact film for drop protection.

The display is larger this year, measuring in at 8 inches when unfolded, and 6.4 inches when closed, with slimmed down bezels. The displays offer up to 3000 nits brightness for use in sunny conditions. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold's battery lasts for up to 30 hours, and it has a triple-lens rear camera system with a new 48-megapixel main lens, Super Res Zoom up to 20x, and macro focus.

Apple has no foldable iPhone to compare the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to right now, but Google's latest device will compete with Samsung's ultra thin Galaxy Z Fold7. Apple's first foldable smartphone is coming in 2026, and rumors suggest it will offer similar capabilities like a super durable hinge and a nearly crease-free display.

The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL are Google's standard devices that will compete with Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series. The smartphones feature a newly refined camera bar at the back, a glass and metal build, and support for Google's new Material 3 Expressive design. Material 3 Expressive is almost a polar opposite of Apple's Liquid Glass, featuring a flat look with a modern aesthetic.

The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro feature 6.3-inch displays, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a larger 6.8-inch display. The Pixel 10 has a three camera setup for the first time with a 5x telephoto lens that supports up to 10x optical zoom, while the Pro devices feature support for Pro Res Zoom at up to 100x with generative AI to recover and refine intricate details. Both the Pro models have 16GB RAM and faster wireless charging, with the Pixel 10 Pro supporting up to 25W wireless charging with Qi2.2 support. That matches the iPhone 16 line's 25W MagSafe charging functionality.

Google is unsurprisingly emphasizing AI, and Gemini Nano will power on-device generative AI features. Magic Cue is a new option that will "proactively offer the right information at the right time," and it sounds similar to the AI-powered Siri suggestions that Apple wanted to roll out in iOS 18. Camera Coach is a new feature that uses Gemini models to suggest ways to improve photos, like selecting different framing or composition, and Apple has no equivalent.

Google has a new line of Qi2 Pixelsnap accessories, that are similar to ‌MagSafe‌ accessories. There are chargers, stands, ring stands, cases, and more.

All of Google's new smartphones can be pre-ordered today. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is priced starting at $1,799, while the Pixel 10 is priced starting at $799. The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL starts at $1,199. The new devices will launch on August 28.

Support for Apple Pay's Express Mode has this week been added to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester, enabling passengers to pay for bus and tram travel without unlocking their iPhone or Apple Watch.

The new functionality marks the first time a UK integrated public transport system outside London has implemented Express Mode. According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the launch builds on the network's rollout of contactless "tap and go" earlier this year, which has already led to more than one million contactless journeys per week.

‌Apple Pay‌'s Express Mode was first introduced in London in 2019, allowing ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch owners to pass through Transport for London turnstiles with a single tap. The feature is designed primarily for public transit systems, enabling rapid contactless transactions that bypass the biometric or passcode requirement that normally accompanies ‌Apple Pay‌. The feature also supports ‌iPhone‌'s Power Reserve mode, meaning transactions can still be made for several hours even if the device battery is critically low.

Users can select a debit or credit card in the Apple Wallet app as their default transit card under "Express Travel Settings." Once enabled, payment requires only holding the device near a card reader. For most users, the default payment card already selected in Apple Wallet will automatically be assigned to Express Mode, though this can be changed at any time in Settings.

Express Mode is already supported in cities around the world, including London, New York, Beijing, Tokyo, and Sydney.

Apple is planning to launch a new "TechWoven" line of cases for the iPhone 17 series, according to a leaker known as "Majin Bu."

Two years ago, Apple stopped selling leather iPhone cases, as part of the company's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. As an alternative, Apple introduced a new "FineWoven" line of fabric iPhone cases made from 68% post-consumer recycled content, but they were prone to scratches and stains and ultimately discontinued. Now, it looks like Apple has gone back to the drawing board and come up with a new-and-improved solution.

TechWoven cases would be the spiritual successor to those much-maligned FineWoven cases, and it would be safe to assume that Apple took a lot of feedback into consideration. While still using fabric, the cases are said to offer "enhanced durability."

If the TechWoven branding is legitimate, perhaps the name is based on "technical textile."

In addition to a more durable design, the leaker reiterated that it will be possible to attach a lanyard to the cases, which appear to have tiny holes in the bottom-left and bottom-right corners for this purpose. While the boxes for the cases shown in the photos are said to be replicas, they are apparently representative of what Apple is actually planning.

If the replica box does prove to be representative, then it reveals that the cases will be compatible with a new "Crossbody Strap" option, which is presumably a large lanyard that can be worn around the neck. Wearing your iPhone has become a fashion trend in recent years, and a strap would also make it harder for a pickpocket to steal your iPhone.

The box also reveals that the cases are compatible with MagSafe and the Camera Control — no surprises there, but confirmation that those features continue to exist.

Color options will apparently include Black, Brown, Blue, Green, and Purple, although one box reveals that the colors will have more specific names like Sienna as usual.

While we cannot confirm if these cases are the real deal, the replica boxes would certainly pass as impressive fakes, even in the world of generative AI images. Nevertheless, some skepticism is always warranted with this type of rumor. Fortunately, Apple is expected to hold its iPhone 17 event in less than a month from now.

Apple today shared a touching video that highlights how the iPhone's Action mode allows for people with Parkinson's disease to record stable videos.

Parkinson's disease can cause hand tremors, which could ordinarily result in a hand-held video recording appearing shaky, but the Camera app's Action mode automatically stabilizes video recordings so that footage appears smooth.

"The simple act of filming can be challenging for people with Parkinson's," says Apple.

"For Brett, Bette, and Ellen, every moment matters," adds Apple. "With Action mode on iPhone, they can capture smooth hand-held videos and reclaim the joy of filming their favorite moments — supported by accessibility features like Voice Control, which help them operate the camera and navigate their iPhone with ease."

"For someone like me, who's been using cameras for 30 years, it being an option again is kind of life-changing," said Brett.

Action mode is available on all iPhone 14 through iPhone 16 models, except for the iPhone 16e.

Satechi and MacRumors have partnered up this week to offer our readers an exclusive 25 percent sitewide discount for a limited time. This sale is available only on Satechi's website and has no exclusions, and it will run through this Monday, August 25.

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.

To get the discount, add anything on Satechi's website to your cart and head to checkout. Once at checkout, you can enter the code MR25 to get 25 percent off your order for this week only. This discount code takes 25 percent off whatever is in your cart, so you can purchase multiple accessories at once.

Below we've rounded up some of Satechi's best wireless chargers and other accessories, including a few that are compatible with MagSafe. Some highlights of the sale are the Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand and OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger. Of course, the MR25 code works sitewide at Satechi through next week, so be sure to browse throughout the company's products to take advantage of the sale.

• Qi2 Wireless Car Charger - $45.00, down from $59.99
• 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger - $42.00, down from $79.99
• Slim X2 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard - $60.00, down from $79.99
• OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger - $75.00, down from $99.99
• 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand - $97.50, down from $129.99
• Qi2 Trio Wireless Charging Pad - $97.50, down from $129.99

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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Apple is apparently set to exit its partnership with Major League Baseball and discontinue its "Friday Night Baseball" package on Apple TV+.

Apple first entered Major League Baseball in March 2022 with a seven-year agreement valued at roughly $85 million per year, which granted it exclusive global streaming rights to two Friday night games each week on ‌Apple TV‌+. The deal was originally scheduled to run through 2029, but Yahoo Sports' Kendall Baker now says that Apple has exercised an early opt-out provision, allowing the company to end its involvement before the contract's planned expiration.

Apple's exit from baseball arrives less than three full seasons into its seven-year arrangement, marking a rare early termination of a major streaming sports contract. Baker described the new arrangement as "close to being done."

The shift would see Apple leave Major League Baseball coverage entirely. Baker reported that NBCUniversal, through its Peacock streaming service, is expected to assume the Friday night slot as well as gain rights to Sunday exclusive games and the Wild Card round. Disney's ESPN is said to be in advanced negotiations to acquire the MLB.TV direct-to-consumer service, while Netflix is reportedly set to secure the rights to stream the annual Home Run Derby.

The early termination would represent a significant retreat from one of Apple's highest-profile sports investments to date. When the partnership was announced in 2022, it was framed as an important part of Apple's video streaming strategy, intended to expand the ‌Apple TV‌+ offering beyond scripted entertainment into live sports. At the time, Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services, described the deal as an opportunity to provide fans with "the best seat in the house."

Apple's most prominent remaining sports deal is the 10-year global agreement with Major League Soccer, signed in 2023 and valued at an estimated $2.5 billion. The MLS Season Pass package is available exclusively through ‌Apple TV‌+.

In addition to MLS, Apple has held discussions with other leagues and rights holders. The company was previously linked to negotiations for NFL Sunday Ticket, which ultimately went to YouTube, and explored packages with the English Premier League and the Pac-12 conference. Multiple reports suggest that Apple is currently in talks to acquire Formula 1 streaming rights in the United States.

OWC has unveiled its new Express 1M2 80G portable SSD, bringing another fast Thunderbolt 5 external storage option to Mac users with the latest hardware.

Providing over 6,000 MB/s real-world speeds, the 1M2 approaches the performance level of an internal MacBook Pro drive, making it a compelling partner for Apple's latest M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models, not to mention the M4 Pro Mac mini and the latest Mac Studio.

The aluminum enclosure features a finned heatsink design that means no fans are required to maintain performance. Bus-powered through its included USB4 cable, the drive also works across multiple platforms including PCs, iPad Pro, Chromebooks, and Surface devices.

OWC offers both DIY and ready-to-run configurations. Users can purchase the empty enclosure and install their own NVMe M.2 SSD, or select pre-built models. The design supports both 2280 and 2242 form factor drives, so future upgrades should be straightforward.

The Express 1M2 80G maintains backward compatibility with Thunderbolt 3 and 4 systems, and starts at $219 for the empty enclosure, with pre-configured models ranging from $349 for 1TB to $1,299 for 8TB. The drive is available to purchase now through the OWC website and Amazon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple Music is getting a new Automix feature when iOS 26 is released next month, and in a strategic counter-punch, Spotify has now launched its own mixing feature, allowing Premium subscribers to create seamless transitions between playlist tracks.

Users can access the new functionality, which is still in beta, by opening any playlist and selecting "Mix" from the toolbar. An "Auto" option provides instant blending, or you can try manually customizing the mix to fit your style.

When customizing, you can select presets like "Fade" or "Rise," then adjust specific settings to fine-tune volume, EQ, and effect curves (the app displays waveform and beat data to help you identify the optimal transition points).

The key and beats per minute are also shown for each track whenever Mix is tapped. As you'd expect, the feature works best with music that shares similar tempos and keys, so expect lots of mixed house and techno playlists on the streaming platform.

Apple's upcoming Automix feature for the Music app differs slightly from Spotify's implementation – it creates DJ-style transitions automatically across the entire music library, whereas Spotify is focusing here on playlist-specific customization.

If you prefer more control over transitions, Spotify's approach is likely to be the more appealing option. Playlists you mix can also be shared with other Premium users and toggled on or off at any time. If you're a Premium subscriber and you're not seeing the option, make sure to update your Spotify app.

Tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of the Apple Card becoming widely available in the U.S., following a more limited preview period.

Apple's credit card can be managed in the iPhone's Wallet app, with key benefits including color-coded spending summaries, no fees, and Daily Cash cash back paid out daily. Apple Card holders can also open a high-yield savings account.

The anniversary comes ahead of a big change planned for the Apple Card.

Specifically, The Wall Street Journal last month reported that Chase Bank parent company JPMorgan was in "advanced talks" with Apple about replacing Goldman Sachs as the Apple Card's financial partner. Goldman Sachs is in the process of winding down its consumer lending business, which has lost billions of dollars in recent years, and Apple is reportedly willing to let them out of their contract that is supposed to run until 2030.

If the Apple Card does eventually get a new financial partner, there could be updates to the card's features, policies, interest rates, and customer service processes, although exact changes if any remain to be seen. It is also worth noting that Chase Bank does not currently offer a high-yield savings account akin to Apple Card Savings.

Unfortunately, the Apple Card remains available in the U.S. only, and there is no indication that will change in the near future.

What do you think of the Apple Card after six years? Let us know in the comments section.

Apple will host its annual National Parks Apple Watch activity challenge on Sunday, August 24. The event is designed to celebrate national parks across the United States.

Apple Watch owners can earn an Apple Watch activity award by doing a workout that lasts for 20 minutes or more on August 24, 2025.

Like all of the Apple Watch activity challenges, earning the award will provide users with animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.

Along with a new Apple Watch challenge, Apple typically offers other national parks-themed content in August, including an Apple Pay donation program, Apple TV+ content, Apple Music songs, books, podcasts, and more.

Apple today provided developers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers at the current time, and a device running ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. The firmware has a build number of 8A5343a, up from 8A5324b.

The firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe.

The AirPods Pro 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.

With ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates the beta testing.

iPhone users located in Montana can now add their driver's licenses and IDs to the Apple Wallet app on the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch, allowing an on-device digital ID to be used instead of a physical ID.

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division launched Montana Mobile IDs today. The mobile IDs are able to be used for identity verification online, in-app, and in-person. Participating businesses can use Montana mobile IDs to verify the age of a user for an age-restricted purchase without the need for additional information like name, address, and birth date.

"We have spent the last three years modernizing MVD and improving operating efficiencies and customer service," MVD Administrator Laurie Bakri said. "Now that we have overhauled the basics, we are excited to embark on an era of innovation, starting with Montana Mobile IDs and the Montana Mobile ID Verifier for Android and iOS mobile devices."

Montana residents can add a license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app by opening it, tapping on the "+" button, and following the onscreen instructions.

According to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division, mobile IDs can be used at businesses and organizations that have opted to participate. The IDs are accepted at MVD exam stations with a check-in kiosk, and the TSA has confirmed that mobile IDs can be used at more than 250 TSA airports across the United States. By the end of this year, the Montana Highway Patrol should have the ability to verify mobile IDs.

Montana has launched a Montana Mobile ID Verifier app for businesses, making it simple for businesses to accept mobile IDs in the state.

Digital IDs on the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch are not accepted everywhere, and Montana officials say that users should always carry a physical license as well.

Apple announced a new Wallet app that supported digital IDs back in 2022, but states have been slow to adopt the feature. Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, New Mexico, Iowa, California, Hawaii, and Ohio have implemented support, as has Puerto Rico. Apple has said that Mississippi, Illinois, Connecticut, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia are working on support.

Apple today released the fourth public beta of watchOS 26, a day after the beta was made available to developers. This particular beta adds support for the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models in the United States.

‌watchOS 26‌ public beta 4 can downloaded through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone after you sign up on Apple's beta website.

Blood oxygen sensing has been disabled on Apple's latest U.S. Apple Watch models since January 2024 due to a legal issue, but Apple was able to bring the feature back by tweaking how it works. Apple Watches that previously did not support blood oxygen sensing can once again take readings, but all calculations and results are viewable on the ‌iPhone‌.

Apple previously reintroduced blood oxygen sensing for iOS 18 and watchOS 11 users, and it was made available for developers with ‌watchOS 26‌ yesterday.

Apple Watch models sold before January 2024 and outside of the U.S. have always had a functional blood oxygen sensing feature and the original blood oxygen app. Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users will now need to open the Health app and go to the Respiratory section to view their blood oxygen results.

The ‌watchOS 26‌ update brings additional features, such Workout Buddy, an Apple Intelligence feature meant to motivate you during your workouts. The Workout app interface has been redesigned, the Smart Stack has more actionable suggestions, the Messages app offer Live Translation and better Smart Replies, and the Phone app features like Call Screening and Hold Assist are available on the watch. Apple also brought the Notes app to the Apple Watch, so you can create notes and view existing notes right from your wrist.

‌watchOS 26‌ will launch to the public in the fall.

Apple's software engineers are testing iOS 18.6.2, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.

Yesterday, an anonymous source with a proven track record said iOS 18.6.2 was incoming, but the update was not present in our logs at that time.

Last year, the same anonymous source claimed that iOS 17.5.2 was in the pipeline, but Apple ended up releasing a revised iOS 17.5.1 build for the iPad 10. Accordingly, the source said it was possible that iOS 18.6.2 might end up being a revised build of iOS 18.6.1, but our logs suggest that Apple is indeed planning to release iOS 18.6.2.

iOS 18.6.2 will likely include bug fixes and/or security patches, and perhaps some additional enhancements to the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature introduced on select Apple Watch models in the U.S. with iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 last week. The update will have a build number of 22G100, according to the anonymous source.

iOS 18.6.1's build number is 22G90.

iOS 18.6.2 should be released soon — likely this week or next week — given that evidence of the update is now showing up in multiple places.

A major hardware upgrade for the Apple Watch lineup is planned for next year, findings in internal Apple code suggest.

According to lines of internal code spotted by Macworld and subsequently confirmed by MacRumors, Apple has been experimenting with biometric authentication for 2026's Apple Watch lineup. The code mentions support for "AppleMesa," which is Apple's codename for Touch ID, suggesting that prototype models currently offer the feature in some way.

It is worth noting that no other Apple Watch models, including the upcoming 2025 lineup, include code for ‌Touch ID‌. How exactly ‌Touch ID‌ would be implemented on the Apple Watch is unclear, but the company could opt to place it under the display like some Android smartphones, or integrate it into the side button.

‌Touch ID‌ on the Apple Watch could make the device more secure, reducing reliance on short numerical passwords. In fact, the security of processes such as Apple Pay could be considerably enhanced with on-device biometric authentication.

Apple could still abandon the ‌Touch ID‌ sensor on the prototype models and strip references to it out of its internal code, but the possibility of the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 touting the feature should now be taken seriously.

The code also reveals that the models "N237" (Apple Watch Series 12), "N238" (Apple Watch Series 12 with cellular connectivity), and "N240" (Apple Watch Ultra 4) will contain an all-new CPU with the identifier "T8320." The S9 and S10 chips, as well as the upcoming S11, are all essentially the same chip with the identifier "T8310," indicating that a meaningful S-series chip upgrade is highly likely next year.

Beyond ‌Touch ID‌ and a faster chip, the code suggests that 2026's Apple Watch lineup will be a considerable upgrade more broadly. The new series is identified as "Watch8;" the Series 9, 10, and 11 are all identified as "Watch7," pointing to a significant departure from previous models in 2026. Seemingly corroborating this, DigiTimes last week reported that significant design changes are coming to the Apple Watch next year.

The popular messaging app Discord has been updated with Handoff support, for an improved cross-platform experience across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

The release notes for the update explain what this means: "If you're in a Discord channel on one device and switch to a different device, you'll now see Discord pop up as a recommended app in the Dock on Mac and iPad, or the App Switcher on iPhone. Open Discord there to jump straight to the channel you had open on your other device."

Handoff support requires version 293.0 of the Discord app, which was released on Monday. The update is available in the App Store.

Amazon is hosting best-ever prices across the entire M4 MacBook Air lineup, with discounts that beat last month's Prime Day prices by about $50. In total, you'll find $200 off every M4 MacBook Air notebook right now on Amazon, with both 13-inch and 15-inch models on sale.

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 13-inch models, Amazon has $200 off all three configurations of this notebook. Prices start at $799.00 for the 256GB model, then rise to $999.00 for the 16GB/512GB model and $1,199.00 for the 24GB/512GB model. Every deal represents a new all-time low price on the M4 MacBook Air.

Moving to the larger display models, Amazon has both 512GB versions of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week, as well as the 256GB model. The 16GB/512GB model is available for $1,199.00 and the 24GB/512GB model is on sale for $1,399.00. Across the board, these are all record low prices on the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air.

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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