MacRumors

Two headlining features of Apple's new AirPods 2 Pro earbuds won't be available to use on iPad and Mac when they first land in customers' hands on Friday, September 23, the company has revealed.

According to a footnote in Apple's AirPods Pro 2 press release, "Personalized Spatial Audio profiles and Find My will be available with iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura in October."

Support for the new features appears to be included in iOS 16, but with iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura not launching to the public until October, users on iPad and Mac will have to wait until those updates are released for full AirPods Pro support.

With Personalized Spatial Audio, users perceive sound individually, based on the size and shape of their head and ears. And with the TrueDepth camera on iPhone, users will be able to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio that delivers a listening experience precisely tuned just for them.

As for Find My, the new ‌AirPods Pro 2‌ feature an updated charging case with a new speaker for Find My, which allows them to be located with the Find My app.

Update: This article has been updated to indicate that the features should work with iOS 16 on iPhones at launch, but they won't work on iPad or Mac until the new software updates for those platforms launch in October.

In addition to unveiling the second-generation AirPods Pro today, Apple made the third-generation AirPods available with a Lightning charging case that lacks MagSafe wireless charging. This version of the case can be charged with a Lightning cable only.

Pricing for the third-generation AirPods with a Lightning case is set at $169 in the United States, compared to $179 for the third-generation AirPods with a MagSafe case, so it seems like there is very limited value in choosing this new option.

Apple did not announce any other updates to the third-generation AirPods today, and the second-generation AirPods remain available for $129.

The new AirPods Pro feature an H2 chip for improved audio quality and up to 2x the amount of active noise cancellation, improvements to Transparency mode, a revamped charging case with Find My support and a built-in lanyard loop, Bluetooth 5.3, and more.

New images shared by media personnel in attendance at Apple's "Far out" event offer the first hands-on look at the all-new Apple Watch Ultra, which is designed for athletes and includes a new design with advanced features.

The Apple Watch Ultra features an all-new 49mm titanium case that is larger than previous Apple Watch models. The watch features a protruding housing on the right side for the Digital Crown and the Side Button and includes a new button on the left that Apple calls the "Action button." The button can be customized to control different functions of the Apple Watch, including starting and ending workouts.

The new Apple Watch Ultra is considerably bigger than even the largest Apple Watch Series 8 with a 45mm case, so it may not appeal to all customers. For others, Apple today introduced the new Series 8, which includes a new body temperature sensor focused on women's health and the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7 from last year.

Apple Watch Ultra starts at $799 and is available to pre-order today ahead of a Friday, September 23 launch in more than 40 countries.

With the launch of the iPhone 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, Apple has discontinued some older iPhones that were available as low-cost options. Apple is no longer selling the ‌iPhone‌ 11, and the iPhone 12 mini has also been discontinued. The ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini remains in the lineup for those who want a smaller ‌iPhone‌.

Apple's new ‌iPhone‌ lineup is as follows, with starting storage capacities:

‌iPhone‌ SE - $429 (64GB)
‌iPhone‌ 12 - $599 (64GB)
‌iPhone‌ 13 mini - $599 (128GB)
‌iPhone‌ 13 - $699 (128GB)
‌iPhone‌ 14 - $799 (128GB)
‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus - $899 (128GB)
‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro - $999
‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max - $1099

The ‌iPhone‌ SE continues to be the cheapest ‌iPhone‌ that's available at $429, and the ‌iPhone‌ 12 is now $100 cheaper at $599. The ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini have also dropped in price by $100.

Apple has discontinued the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌, but it is available from Apple's refurbished store for just $439 for the time being. Refurbished stock is gone right now, but the discounted 12 minis should come back in stock in the future.

With the new second-generation AirPods Pro, users will be able to use their Apple Watch charger to charge the newly redesigned charging case.

There are now three ways to charge the new AirPods Pro case, including with a Lightning cable, MagSafe wireless charging, and now with an Apple Watch magnetic charging puck. The original AirPods Pro case cannot be charged with an Apple Watch charger.

Apple says the new AirPods Pro provide longer battery life, with up to six hours of listening time per charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. The charging case now provides up to 30 hours of total listening time, versus up to 24 hours for the original.

The new AirPods Pro will be available to order this Friday, September 9, with pricing remaining set at $249 in the United States.

While the new iPhone 14 lineup does not include an iPhone 14 mini, Apple continues to sell the iPhone 13 mini, with pricing starting at a lower $599 in the United States. The device remains available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage in several colors.

Apple has discontinued the iPhone 12 mini following its event today, but refurbished models remain available on Apple's online store for the time being. Apple's pricing for refurbished iPhone 12 mini models now starts at $439 in the United States for the 64GB model, which quickly ran out of stock but could return soon, compared to $529 yesterday.

It's likely that Apple will completely phase out the iPhone mini models by time the iPhone 15 launches, so consider purchasing one now if interested.

The new iPhone 14 lineup consists of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, leaving fans of smaller smartphones like the 5.4-inch mini model without a suitable option. Reports over the years indicated that the iPhone mini simply did not sell enough to receive another update.

Apple's new iPhone 14 Pro models are marginally thicker than the previous-generation ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro models due to camera advancements.

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max have a thickness of 7.85mm, whereas the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max measure in at 7.65mm. The increased thickness is largely the result of rear camera improvements on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models, which feature an upgraded 48-megapixel Wide lens and enhancements to the Ultra Wide and Telephoto lenses.

Apple says the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max weigh 7.27 ounces and 8.47 ounces, respectively, which is only slightly heavier than ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro models. The complete dimensions and measurements for ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models are listed on Apple's website.

‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models feature a new always-on display with a pill-shaped notch replacement called the Dynamic Island. The devices will be available to order starting this Friday, September 9 and launch in stores on September 16 across over 40 countries. Pricing for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models continues to start at $999 in the United States.

Alongside providing the first release candidate version of iOS 16 to developers, Apple today has also seeded new beta versions of iOS 15.7 for the iOS 15 operating system and macOS Monterey 12.6 for the Monterey operating system.

Both updates are release candidate versions, which means they could see a launch in the near future. The iOS 15.7 update has a version number of 19H12, while macOS Monterey 12.6 has a version number of 21G115.

Registered developers can download necessary profiles to install the updates from the Apple Developer Center, and can download the updates from there.

According to the iOS 15.7 release notes, the update provides security updates rather than new features.

Alongside the iPhone 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro announcement, Apple today updated AppleCare+, introducing support for "unlimited repairs," up from two repairs per year.

Apple says that ‌AppleCare‌+ for ‌iPhone‌ "includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage protection," with each one subject to service fees. Screen or back glass damage carries a $29 fee, while other accidental damage carries a $99 fee.

Accidental damage includes physical damage from handling due to unexpected and unintentional events, and it does not cover theft. Apple has a separate Theft and Loss ‌AppleCare‌+ plan that covers two incidents per calendar year. ‌AppleCare‌+ for the ‌iPhone‌ is priced at $79 for two years or $3.99 monthly.

Unlimited repairs are also available for the Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac, with the feature applicable to every ‌AppleCare‌+ plan.

Apple appears to have delayed its new iCloud Shared Photo Library feature for iOS 16, which is scheduled to be officially released on Monday, September 12.

In iOS 16, currently still in beta, Apple has introduced an ‌iCloud‌ Shared Photo Library that aims to make it easer to share photos with your friends and family.

With the new ‌‌iCloud‌‌ Shared Photo Library in ‌iOS 16‌, a new option in the Photos app lets you create a shared library and then invite anyone with an Apple device to view the photos, contribute photos to the library, and edit the photos contained within it, including favoriting images and adding captions. There are no limitations, and all participants have the same permissions.

However, in a footnote at the bottom of its iPhone 14 press release, Apple says "‌iCloud‌ Shared Photo Library will be available in a future software update." It therefore looks like the new ‌Photos‌ ‌iCloud‌ feature will not make it to the first official version of iOS 16. We'll update this article if we learn more.

None of the new iPhone 14 models support the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard and instead remain limited to Wi-Fi 6, according to Apple's tech specs.

Rumors previously suggested that the new iPhones would support Wi-Fi 6E, but Apple's website confirms that the ‌iPhone‌ 14, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max are limited to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO.

Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates, extended into the 6 GHz band. The additional spectrum provides a lot more airspace beyond existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, resulting in increased bandwidth and less interference for devices that support Wi-Fi 6E.

Wi-Fi 6 has been supported since the ‌iPhone‌ 11.

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week after Apple released the seventh beta to developers.

To install ‌watchOS 9, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌watchOS 8‌ can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌iPhone‌‌.

watchOS 9 introduces four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, plus it includes updates to some existing watch faces and complications. The ECG app now supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.

The sleep tracking feature now includes sleep stages, letting the Apple Watch track when users are in REM, Core, or Deep sleep, and Apple has added a Medications app. The Medications app lets users manage and track their medications, vitamins, and supplements, with reminders when it's time to take them.

Updates to the Workout app add custom workouts and improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Fitness+ workouts now support streaming to certain third-party TVs for those who don't have an Apple TV, and notifications have been redesigned to be less obtrusive when the watch's screen is active.

Other new features include a CallKit API that allows VOIP calls to be answered on Apple Watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the Apple Watch with an ‌iPhone‌, Quick Actions for doing more with a double pinch gesture, and updates to the Reminders and Calendar apps.

With the iPhone 14 series, Apple mentioned larger batteries that last for a longer period of time, but the company did not go into detail about the increases that we can expect. As it turns out, all of the ‌iPhone‌ 14 models do offer longer battery life, coming in at right around an hour of improvement with direct comparisons to prior-generation ‌iPhone‌ 13 models.

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 lasts for up to 20 hours for video playback, up to 16 hours for streaming video playback, and up to 80 hours for audio playback. The ‌iPhone‌ 13 lasted for 19 hours for video playback, 15 hours for streaming video playback, and 75 hours for audio playback.

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro lasts for up to 23 hours when watching videos (up from 22), up to 20 hours for streaming video (no improvement) and up to 75 hours for audio playback (no improvement).

The ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max lasts for up to 29 hours when watching videos (up from 28 hours), up to 25 hours for streaming video (no improvement), and up to 95 hours for audio playback (no improvement).

There is no direct comparison for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus because it is a new size, but it lasts for up to 26 hours for video playback, up to 20 hours for streaming video playback, and up to 100 hours for audio playback. It falls right in between the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max, and has the longest audio playback length.

All four iPhones are fast charge capable and can charge to 50 percent in 30 to 35 minutes with a 20W or higher power adapter.

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming iOS 16 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the eighth developer beta. The RC marks the final version of iOS that will be provided to the public next week.

Registered developers can download the iOS 16 profile from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air.

iOS 16 introduces a revamped Lock Screen that offers a new level of personalization and customization through widgets, a notification redesign, and adjustable fonts and colors for the time. Multiple Lock Screens are supported, similar to watch faces, and can be associated with Focus modes.

Focus is easier to set up than before and more customizable, with Focus filters available to cut out distracting content within apps. The Messages app now features tools for editing an iMessage, unsending an iMessage, and marking messages as unread, plus it supports SharePlay, much like FaceTime.

The Mail app has improved search and tools that include undo send, schedule send, and follow up so you can get a reminder to check up on an email if you haven't gotten a response. Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working to replace passwords with Passkeys, a more biometrically secure way to log in to accounts.

iCloud Photo Library allows users to more easily share photos with family members, and Live Text is supported in video. There's a neat new feature for lifting the subject from a background with a tap, which is part of Visual Lookup.

Dictation has improved, Maps now supports multi-stop routing, Apple Pay Later lets you split up purchase payments, and the Home app has been entirely overhauled with a new look. The fifth beta of iOS 16 added the battery percentage back to the status bar on iPhones that have a notch, plus it introduced new sounds for locating an iPhone via Find My or the Apple Watch.

There are tons of other new features in iOS 16, with a full rundown on everything available in our dedicated roundup.

Apple today discontinued the premium Apple Watch Edition line, eight years after its introduction.

The change took place upon the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra at Apple's "Far out" event. Apple Watch Series 7 Edition models are no longer available and there is no Apple Watch Series 8 Edition. Apple continues to offer the Apple Watch Hermès line as a luxury option.

The Apple Watch Edition line had been available since the launch of the original Apple Watch in 2015. Over the years, Apple Watch Edition models set themselves apart with unique casings made of materials like gold and ceramic.

In recent years, the Apple Watch edition had offered titanium casings with an additional, exclusive watch band. The Apple Watch Ultra is now the only Apple Watch to offer a titanium casing.

Apple today confirmed on its website that iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura will launch in October.

iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura pages on Apple's website confirm that both software updates will be released in October. On a related note, Apple says new AirPods Pro features such as Personalized Spatial Audio profiles and Find My support for the charging case will be available when iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura are released in October.

iPadOS 16 was confirmed to have been delayed by Apple earlier last month and will not launch alongside iOS 16, which will be released Monday, September 12. macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16 will likely launch after an October event focused on the iPad and Mac.

With the launch of the new Apple Watch Series 8 models and the updated Apple Watch SE, Apple has officially discontinued the outdated Apple Watch Series 3 that was being sold as a low cost $199 option.

Available since 2017, the Apple Watch Series 3 had the same design as the original Apple Watch models and did not sport the larger casings that Apple started introducing with the Series 4 models. It was the first Apple Watch to offer cellular connectivity when it launched.

The Apple Watch Series 3 featured an Apple S3 chip, which is an older, slower Apple Watch chip variant. The Apple Watch Series 3 never offered much in the way of performance, and compared to modern Apple Watch models, it was notably underpowered. We have not recommended the Apple Watch Series 3 as a purchase option for the last few years, and its age became something of a joke.

Apple sold the Apple Watch Series 3 for $199, and it could be found even lower from third-party retailers hosting sales. Apple's low-cost Apple Watch option is now the $249 Apple Watch SE, which features a newer chip than the Apple Watch Series 3 and a more modern design.

We were expecting the discontinuation of the Apple Watch Series 3 as the device is not able to run watchOS 9, which is compatible only with the Series 4 and later. The Series 3 is limited to watchOS 8 and will receive no further major operating system updates. Prior to the launch of the Series 8 models, the Series 3 was already selling out and many variants were out of stock.