MacRumors

At its September special event in 2021, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 7. The Series 7 replaces the Apple Watch Series 6, which was announced in September of 2020, as the company's flagship wearable.

The Apple Watch Series 7 offers a number of upgrades and improvements on 2020's Series 6, offering a larger display with bigger casing sizes, faster charging, and the S7 chip, for a price starting at $399.

Although the Apple Watch Series 6 has now been discontinued by Apple, it continues to be available at many third-party resellers. If you already have an Apple Watch Series 6, you may be wondering if it is worth upgrading to the Series 7. You may also be using an older Apple Watch and are looking to upgrade, but cannot decide if you should buy the Series 6 or the Series 7. Alternatively, you may be wondering if it is better to buy the lower-cost Series 6 when looking for your first Apple Watch.

As these two models share many key features, including ECG functionality, blood oxygen monitoring, and an always-on display, it may not be immediately obvious which model is better for you. Is it worth purchasing or sticking with the slightly older model with fewer features to save money? Our guide helps you to answer the question of which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.

Comparing Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7

With just one year between them as flagship smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 share most of their important features. Apple lists these identical aspects of the two models:

Similarities

• Aluminum, Stainless Steel, and Titanium models with Ion-X glass or sapphire crystal
• Digital Crown with haptic feedback
• Always-On Retina LTPO OLED display with up to 1,000 nits max brightness
• "Swimproof" water resistance up to 50 meters
• 64-bit dual-core processor, W3 wireless chip, and U1 Ultra Wideband chip
• 50 percent louder speaker than Apple Watch Series 3
• Built-in microphone
• Blood oxygen sensor
• Electrical heart sensor for ECG
• Third-generation optical heart sensor, high and low heart rate notifications, and irregular heart rhythm notifications
• Ambient light sensor
• Accelerometer and gyroscope with fall detection
• Compass and always-on altimeter
• GPS/GNSS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou
• GPS and GPS + Cellular models
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.0
• Family Setup support
• 18-hour "all-day" battery life
• 32GB of storage
• Graphite, Silver, and Gold stainless steel finishes, Silver and Space Black titanium finishes, and Blue and PRODUCT(RED) aluminum options

Apple's breakdown shows that the two models share an overwhelming majority of features. Even so, there are a number of important differences between the Series 6 and the Series 7 that are worth highlighting, such as casing sizes, fast charging, and color options.

Differences

Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both of the most recent Apple Watch models have to offer.

Design

Although the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 share a similar design, the Apple Watch Series 7's case actually features a new design with softer, more rounded corners. There is only one speaker grille on the left of the device and the overall look has been slightly refined.

The display of the Apple Watch Series 7 has a refractive edge that curves around the top of the device, allowing full-screen watch faces and apps to almost reach the casing.

The casings of the Apple Watch Series 7 are also physically larger, offering 41mm and 45mm models. This is a 1mm increase over the Series 6's 40mm and 44mm casing sizes. All of the Apple Watch Series 7 models are also heavier than their Series 6 predecessors, which could make the weight difference when switching from an aluminum to a stainless steel model even more pronounced.

The two Apple Watch generations feature a range of different finishes and color options. While the stainless steel and titanium finishes are the same across both generations, the aluminum casings have an almost completely different set of color options.

The Apple Watch Series 6 offered Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Blue, and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum color options, while the Apple Watch Series 7 is available in Midnight, Starlight, Green, Blue, and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum color options.

If you were particularly attached to a Space Gray, Silver, or Gold aluminum Apple Watch Series 6, you will have to consider what different color you would want with the Apple Watch Series 7. While it may not influence which of the two models you would buy as a first Apple Watch or upgrading from an older model, the different color options are still a noteworthy consideration.

Durability

The Apple Watch Series 7 is more durable than the Series 6, espousing more crack-resistant front crystal. The new crystal component has a more robust geometry and is over 50 percent thicker than that of the Apple Watch Series 6.

The Apple Watch Series 7 is also certified as IP6X dust-resistant, making it more durable for environments such as the beach or the desert. The Series 7, like the Series 6, continues to be "swimproof" with water resistance up to 50 meters deep.

While the improved durability is unlikely to singularly motivate purchases of the Series 7, it could be an important factor for users who often frequent dusty or sandy environments, or have been prone to cracking their watch in the past.

Displays

Display size is one of the most significant differences between the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7. The Series 6 features borders around its display that are 3.0mm thick, but the Series 7 slims these down to just 1.7mm. With larger casing sizes, the Series 7 features larger displays that have almost 20 percent more screen area than on the Series 6.

The larger display of the Apple Watch Series 7 models allows it to show more content and Apple has optimized watchOS 8 to take advantage of the additional space with larger menu titles and buttons in apps. There are two additional larger font sizes and a new QWERTY keyboard that can be tapped or swiped with QuickPath.

The Apple Watch Series 7 also features two exclusive watch faces, designed to showcase the larger displays and reduced borders. The new Contour face brings the animated dial right to the edge of the display and emphasizes the current hour. The new Modular Duo face leverages the additional screen space with two large center complications.

Both the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7 come with a Retina LTPO OLED display. While the maximum brightness of both displays is the same at 1,000 nits, the Series 7's display is up to 70 percent brighter indoors when the wrist is lowered than that of Apple Watch Series 6, making it easier to see the watch face without having to raise the wrist or wake the display.

The Series 6's display will be more than adequate for a good Apple Watch experience, but the Series 7 simply elevates watchOS with more space for UI elements and the likes of a full-sized keyboard. If you have longed for a bigger Apple Watch display, the Series 7 could be a much better option than the Series 6, but for most users, the increase is likely too inconsequential to justify upgrading.

S6 vs. S7 Chip

The Apple Watch Series 7 is powered by the S7 chip, which is based around the same CPU found in the S6 chip from the Apple Watch Series 6. Such is the similarity between the chips that both CPUs have the same identifier.

Apple says that both the S6 and S7 chip provide a 20 percent performance improvement over the S5 chip in the Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE, indicating that they have equivalent performance.

The changes in the S7 chip generally relate to smaller tweaks to maintain the same "all-day" battery life with a larger display. Apple has done this before with the S5 chip, which had the same CPU as the S4 chip, simply adding a gyroscope.

The S7 chip is not a good reason to upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 7, representing a small iterative improvement rather than any noticeable performance or efficiency boost.

Charging

The Apple Watch Series 7 features 33 percent faster charging than the Series 6 due to a new charging architecture. The Apple Watch Series 6 is able to charge up to 100 percent in an hour and a half, but the Series 7 can reach 80 percent in just 45 minutes.

According to Apple, just eight minutes of charging time can provide eight hours of sleep tracking with the Series 7. This is partly thanks to a new USB-C magnetic fast charging cable that is included with the Apple Watch Series 7 in the box.

If you find that you have little time to charge your Apple Watch during the day, the Series 7's faster charging could be an important reason to upgrade for you. Even so, both devices still have the same "all-day" 18-hour battery life and will need to be recharged every day.

Other Apple Watch Options

Apple also offers the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ for $279. This model has fewer features than the Apple Watch Series 6, but is a lower-cost option with many of the aspects that have made the Apple Watch so popular over the years. The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ does not have an always-on display, ECG, or blood oxygen monitoring, but it does contain the same S5 chip as the Series 5 and the same always-on altimeter as the Series 6.

If you were already siding with the Apple Watch Series 6, it may be worth exploring the lower-cost ‌Apple Watch SE‌. If you are looking for the most out of your Apple Watch and are particularly interested in health-monitoring features, the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ may not be suitable.

For a more specific breakdown of the Apple Watch Series 6 versus the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, take a look at our handy Apple Watch Series 6 vs. Apple Watch SE buyer's guide.

There is also the Apple Watch Series 3, which Apple sells for $199. This older model offers substantially fewer features and has a smaller screen. The Apple Watch Series 3 is still a capable device, with 8GB of storage, water-resistance up to 50 meters, an altimeter, Emergency SOS, and an optical heart sensor. Functionally, it is more pared back than the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, being thicker with larger bezels.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is really only intended for those who want an Apple Watch at the lowest possible price, but it will certainly be the least future-proof model. Given that the Apple Watch Series 3 is a much older model, if you can afford an Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch Series 7, you should definitely prefer those newer options.

• Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 7 Buyer's Guide
• Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 3 Buyer's Guide
• Apple Watch Series 5 vs. Series 6 Buyer’s Guide
• Apple Watch Series 6 vs. Apple Watch SE Buyer's Guide

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Apple Watch Series 7 is a minor upgrade over the Apple Watch Series 6, offering larger displays and casing sizes, new color options, improved durability, the S7 chip, and faster charging. These features are mostly iterative improvements rather than major reasons to upgrade, and the Series 7 does not add any new functionality.

For Users of Older Devices or Those New to Apple Watch...

Getting the latest device may be a more important consideration for those who upgrade their Apple Watch infrequently and the Series 7 clearly offers bigger upgrades to those coming from older devices. For those who have an Apple Watch Series 5 or older, or those who are new to Apple Watch entirely, the Apple Watch Series 7 is a good option with plenty of new features to justify upgrading.

If you are on a budget and are not particularly attracted to the additional features of the Series 7, the Apple Watch Series 6 remains an option worth considering if you can get it for a good enough price. It shares many features with the newer model, such as the ability to take ECGs and monitor blood oxygen, but it should still be remembered that the Series 6 is already over a year old, and may not support software updates for as long as the Series 7.

For Apple Watch Series 6 Users...

For users who already have an Apple Watch Series 6, the Series 7 probably does not offer enough to warrant upgrading unless you particularly want a larger display, faster charging, or improved durability. The design changes and new features are iterative rather than transformative, and there are no new major capabilities, so many Series 6 users may prefer to wait a little longer to upgrade.

With its larger display and more refined design, the Apple Watch Series 7 will be the model of choice for those that want the most out of their wearable. As Apple's newest flagship Apple Watch, customers who buy the Series 7 will not be excluded from anything the Apple Watch has to offer.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller and former iOS chief Scott Forstall introducing the iPhone 4S with an all-new voice assistant, Siri.

"For decades, technologists have teased us with this dream that you're going to be able to talk to technology and it'll do things for us," said Schiller, at a small press conference at Apple's former Infinite Loop headquarters.

Schiller then invited Forstall on stage to provide a live demo of Siri. The crowd applauded as he demonstrated what are now basic Siri tasks such as checking the weather, setting an alarm, and searching the web, as Siri was the first system-level voice assistant on a smartphone. A decade later, however, it is a commonly held opinion that Siri has fallen behind competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa.

The Verge's James Vincent wrote about Siri's shortcomings today:

Everyone who uses Siri has their own tales of frustration — times when they've been surprised not by the intelligence but the stupidity of Apple's assistant, when it fails to carry out a simple command or mishears a clear instruction. And while voice interfaces have indeed become widespread, Apple, despite being first to market, no longer leads. Its "humble personal assistant" remains humble indeed: inferior to Google Assistant on mobile and outmaneuvered by Amazon's Alexa in the home.

In 2018, some former Apple employees reflected on Siri's "squandered lead" over Google Assistant and Alexa. In response, Apple said it had made significant advances to Siri's performance, scalability, and reliability, and said it continued to invest deeply in machine learning and artificial intelligence to continually improve Siri's quality of answers.

In hindsight, the iPhone 4S event as a whole had a bit of a somber feeling to it, as Apple's co-founder Steve Jobs passed away the following day. We've embedded a video of the event below, with Schiller introducing Siri around the 19:25 mark.

P.S.: If you say "happy birthday" to Siri today, the voice assistant offers up some fun replies.

Apple today announced that pre-orders for the new Apple Watch Series 7 will start on Friday, October 8, with availability on Friday, October 15.

While Apple announced the Series 7 alongside the iPhone 13 last month, the company didn't provide any information on availability besides saying it will be available "later this fall." The new Apple Watch will officially be available for pre-orders at 5 a.m. PDT on Friday, October 8, and will start shipping a week later on Friday, October 15.

The Series 7, compared to the Series 6, features a larger display with slightly more rounded corners, which allows the display to appear to curve on the sides. The new Series 7 also sports improved IP6X certification for dust resistance in addition to WR50 water resistance. The new watch, however, keeps the same CPU as the Series 6.

The Series 7 comes in five aluminum case finishes, including a refined blue case, (PRODUCT)RED, midnight, starlight, and green. Stainless steel options in silver, graphite, and gold stainless steel alongside "Apple Watch Edition" in titanium and black titanium will also be available. The Series 7 starts at $399 and joins the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 3 in the lineup.

To learn more about the Apple Watch Series 7, including on whether you should upgrade or not, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup.

After being removed several years ago, Apple has restored the "Report a Problem" option on the App Store in an effort to flag issues and combat scams.

Spotted by Richard Mazkewich and Kosta Eleftheriou and highlighted by The Verge, the option allows users to report individual ‌App Store‌ listings in iOS 15. When selected, the option directs users to a website with a drop-down menu to report ‌App Store‌ violations, including a specific option to "Report a scam or fraud."

The previous option, which was difficult to access, allowed users to "Report suspicious activity" redirected to Apple Support. Users were only able to report "a quality issue" with apps if they had actually paid for a scam app or in-app purchase, meaning that there was no ability to easily report obvious scams.

The "Report a Problem" option appears to be rolling out slowly, starting with free apps with in-app purchases on the ‌App Store‌ in the United States. The addition comes just days after Apple added the ability for users to rate their own apps on the ‌App Store‌.

Apple has managed to ramp up chip orders for its new iPhone 13 lineup by reducing equivalent orders for the older-generation ‌iPhone‌ models that the company still sells, according to a new DigiTimes report.

Apple has scaled down its chip orders for older-generation iPhones, while ramping up wafer starts at TSMC for its iPhone 13, the sources said. Apple has also not made any changes to its chip orders placed with TSMC for 2021, the sources noted.

Apple continues to sell the ‌iPhone‌ 12, iPhone 12 mini, and ‌iPhone‌ 11 on its online store, and also offers the ‌iPhone‌ SE 2 for users who prefer an affordable ‌iPhone‌ with a Home button. Apple discontinued the ‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max when it launched the ‌iPhone‌ 13 series in September.

Apple is currently struggling with shipment delays on all configurations of ‌iPhone‌ 13 models, with three- to four- week delays in shipments in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Older-generation models aren't doing that much better, either. As of writing, online ‌iPhone‌ 12 and 12 mini orders face a one- to two-week shipping delay, while ‌iPhone‌ 11 orders face an up to five-week delay.

During Apple's last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook warned that industry-wide shortages could be impacting ‌iPhone‌ production in the coming months, while increased demand for the latest iPhones could well be exacerbating supply issues. Analyst reports suggest ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ orders have seen strong early demand, with minimal near-term component headwinds for the devices suggesting lengthy delivery estimates are a result of high demand rather than low supply.

According to today's report, TSMC is still on track to move its 3nm process technology to volume production in the second half of 2022, with monthly output for the process set to reach 55,000 wafers. TSMC's ‌3nm‌ process will reportedly be first adopted for the manufacture of ‌iPhone‌ chips. A previous report from Nikkei Asia claimed Apple will debut the next-generation 3nm chip technology in a 2022 iPad Pro.

The A15 Bionic chip in the ‌iPhone‌ 13 uses a 5nm+ process, which TSMC refers to as N5P, a "performance-enhanced version" of its 5nm process that delivers additional power efficiency and performance improvements. The A16 chip in 2022 iPhones is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's future 4nm process.

The iPhone 13 Pro costs Apple around $20 more to build compared to last year's ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, but despite the lower margin of revenue for the company, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro still starts at the same $999 price point as last year's entry-level Pro ‌iPhone‌.

TechInsights did a costs analysis breakdown of the new ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, finding that due to higher component costs related to the improved camera, A15 Bionic chip, ProMotion displays, and presumably the large battery, the newest ‌iPhone‌ costs $570 to build, while the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro cost merely $548. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S21+, both iPhones are however significantly more expensive to build.

The increase in build costs from the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro is notable but not as pronounced as last year's increase from the ‌iPhone‌ 11. The ‌iPhone‌ 12 introduced 5G support, a new 5nm chip, and the return of flat edges. Those changes resulted in the iPhone 12 being 21% more expensive for Apple to build than the ‌iPhone‌ 11.

In the run-up to the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro last month, a report suggested that due to increased costs for chip production, Apple would increase the price of the iPhone 13 as a means of compensating. That did not occur, and Apple instead kept the same price points for the ‌iPhone‌ 13, on top of introducing more aggressive carrier subsidies. Another report suggested that Apple was looking at new ways to assemble the cameras in an ‌iPhone‌ to save costs.

Apple has toggled end-to-end encryption for Safari bookmarks in iCloud, further expanding the type of user data that the company fully encrypts, offering the highest level of privacy and data protection.

Spotted on Reddit, an update to Apple's "iCloud security overview" page has indicated that alongside Safari tabs and history, Safari bookmarks are now end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one, not even Apple, can access users' saved Safari bookmarks. Based on the timing of the update, Apple likely did this change around the release of iOS and iPadOS 15. Apple didn't respond to a request for comment.

With Safari bookmarks now an added data point that's end-to-end encrypted, what remains not end-to-end encrypted is worth noting. ‌iCloud‌ backups, for example, are only protected using 128-bit AES encryption, alongside Photos, Reminders, Notes, and more. In recent months, Apple has come under pressure to make iCloud Photos and ‌iCloud‌ backups fully end-to-end encrypted, but the company has yet to make those changes.

Update Following our report from yesterday, Apple has updated its support page to indicate that Safari bookmarks are not actually end-to-end encrypted, and instead just protected using a standard "minimum of 128-bit AES encryption." While bookmarks remain not end-to-end encrypted, Safari Tab Groups now are.

Tuesday marks 10 years since Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away, and those who met him have begun to share stories about his life.

CNET's Roger Cheng today recounted his memory of Jobs visiting The Wall Street Journal's headquarters in New York to offer him and a small group of other reporters an early look at a prototype iPhone, shortly after the device was unveiled in 2007.

Cheng revealed that when one reporter asked about the iPhone's durability, Jobs reacted by tossing the prototype he was holding into the air toward the center of the room, resulting in a small gasp followed by immediate silence as the device hit the carpeted floor. Cheng said the iPhone survived unscathed, adding that the move was the kind of calculated risk that Jobs was known to take as a showman.

"The memory underscores the kind of lengths Jobs went to in order to make an impression," wrote Cheng. "Imagine how disastrous it would've been if that iPhone had broken or shut down in front of so many journalists."

Jobs famously introduced the original iPhone as if it were three separate products: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device. The crowd at Macworld San Francisco erupted with cheerful applause upon realizing that Jobs was referring to a single device.

Jobs passed away October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. Apple maintains a Remembering Steve page on its website with messages from people all over the world.

After its first event of the fall, Apple is on track to hold a Mac focused event within the next month, where it will debut brand new MacBook Pros with a faster "M1X" Apple silicon chip, an updated design, and improved display technology, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple last year held its Mac event in November, but in the past, it has held Mac events in October. Till now, there's been some unknown about whether Apple will stick with its November or October timeframe for this year.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says the company is poised to announce M1X powered MacBook Pros within the next month, noting that "Apple typically does its major new Mac introductions in October. So stay tuned." In the paywalled section of the newsletter, Gurman also reiterated what we can expect performance-wise from the new machines.

The Apple M1X chip, the likely name for a more graphics-intense and professional-focused M1 chip, is indeed still on tap for 2021. We'll likely see it show up first in a new range of MacBook Pros in the next month and a higher-end Mac mini at some point. The M1X has been developed in two variations: both with 10 CPU cores (eight high-performance and two high-efficiency) and either 16 or 32 graphics cores.

Previous report suggests that alongside the new MacBook Pros, Apple may also announce a redesigned Mac mini. Apple last month announced the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, a new generation iPad, and the sixth-generation iPad mini, and besides new Macs, the company is also rumored to be releasing third-generation AirPods before the end of this year.

Amid rumors that the Apple Watch Series 7 could go on sale in just a matter of weeks, new images shared with MacRumors allegedly show the new Apple Watch in the wild, giving us our first real-world look at Apple's latest watch.

The images were initially posted on a Facebook group for Apple Watch enthusiasts, but it has been taken down since its posting. The poster of the photos claimed that they are working for a carrier who was testing the Series 7 before it officially goes on sale "later this fall."

We've so far only seen the Series 7 in Apple's marketing and promotional materials, and the company has yet to announce a date for when it will be available for purchase. The images shared today offer us our first hands-on look at the Series 7 with its larger and more expansive display. Despite rumors, the Series 7 does not feature flat-edges but instead "more rounded and softer corners," which allows the display to curve slightly over the sides.

The larger display is one of just a few design changes for the Series 7 compared to the previous generation. The Series 7 features an improved IP6X rating for dust and water resistance but internally maintains the same CPU as the Apple Watch Series 6.

While there certainly could be more internal changes for the Series 7, we'll have to wait until we get our hands on the watch itself to learn about them. For a full rundown of everything we know, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup.

Apple has canceled its plans to release an updated iPad Air with an OLED display next year due to concerns around quality and costs, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in an investor note obtained by MacRumors.

In March, Kuo reported that Apple had an ‌iPad Air‌ with an OLED display in the pipeline for next year. Today, Kuo has revised his prediction, saying that will not be the case since Apple has canceled those plans due to costs and performance not meeting the company's expectations.

Kuo had previously stated that the 11-inch iPad Pro would be receiving a mini-LED display next year, and Kuo today doubled down on that claim by saying it will be the "focus of [the] iPad line in 2022." Currently, only the 12.9-inch iPad Pro includes the newer mini-LED technology. One reason Kuo states that Apple had canceled its OLED ‌iPad Air‌ is that it may have been detrimental to the sales of the forthcoming 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with a mini-LED display.

While Apple plans to stick with an LCD display for the ‌iPad Air‌, Kuo says the company continues to research and develop newer display technologies for the ‌iPad‌ line. A report last week suggested that Apple and Samsung had abandoned their joint plans to develop an OLED display for a forthcoming updated 10.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌.

The flurry of activity following Apple's event and the launches of iOS 15 and the iPhone 13 has started to calm down, but that doesn't mean there hasn't continued to be a ton of news out there.

With almost two weeks out in the public, iOS 15 has proven to include a number of bugs, so some users may want to hold off on updating if they haven't already. Apple has already pushed out one bug fix update, and a more significant update is currently in beta testing.

Other news this week included teardowns of the iPhone 13 and new iPad mini, as well some rumors about the next MacBook Air, so read on for details on all of these stories and more!

iOS 15 Suffering From Several Early Bugs

iOS 15 was released on September 20, and in the time since, early adopters have experienced a handful of bugs. For example, there was an issue preventing some iPhone 13 users from using the Unlock with Apple Watch feature, which Apple has now fixed with Friday's release of iOS 15.0.1.

There's another iOS 15 bug related to iCloud Backups that can result in photos saved from an iMessage conversation that is later deleted to disappear from the Photos app, intermittent touchscreen issues on iPhone 13 models, and even some reported zero-day security vulnerabilities.

iPhone 13 Teardown Confirms Face ID Doesn't Work After Third-Party Display Repair

The folks at repair website iFixit recently completed a teardown of the iPhone 13 Pro, confirming that Face ID stops functioning on the device if the display is replaced by a third-party repair shop that isn't part of the Apple Authorized Service Provider program — even if the display itself is a genuine Apple part.

Teardowns have also revealed battery capacities for all four iPhone 13 models, a redesigned Taptic Engine, and more.

iPhone 13 Pro Max Capable of Charging at Faster Speeds

It's been a week since all four iPhone 13 models launched in stores, and we continue to learn some new details about the devices.

Despite not being advertised as a feature by Apple, it has been discovered that the iPhone 13 Pro Max is capable of charging at faster speeds than the iPhone 12 Pro Max and even the smaller iPhone 13 Pro when the device is connected to a 30W or higher USB-C power adapter.

Redesigned MacBook Air With Apple Silicon Said to Enter Mass Production in 2022

Apple already released a MacBook Air with its custom-designed M1 chip in November 2020, but rumors suggest a new model is in the works.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a redesigned MacBook Air with a next-generation Apple silicon chip and a mini-LED backlit display will enter mass production in the third quarter of 2022, suggesting that the notebook could be released in the fall of next year.

Apple Says 'Jelly Scrolling' Effect on iPad Mini 6 is Normal

Some early adopters of the new iPad mini have noticed a subtle "jelly scrolling" effect on the display when using the device in portrait orientation.

Apple told Ars Technica that "jelly scrolling" is normal behavior for LCD screens, but some users have complained that the effect is more noticeable on the new iPad mini compared to other iPads. iFixit provided more details about the matter in its iPad mini teardown.

Google Basically Wants Your iPhone 13 Home Screen to Look Like Android

Following the launch of the iPhone 13, Google has shared a blog post with tips to help users "bring the best of Google" to their new device.

The blog post is quite humorous in that it recommends iPhone 13 users have multiple home screen pages full of almost exclusively Google apps and widgets, such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Photos, and Google Calendar, which essentially mirrors the Android experience.

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 today ended a program that offered customers with possibly defective iPhone 8 models with a free repair for their logic board, which in some cases caused the device to restart and become unresponsive.

The program officially launched in August of 2018 and targeted a "very small percentage" of ‌iPhone‌ 8 devices that may have had a defective logic board. According to Apple, at the time, affected models were sold between September 2017 and March 2018 in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, and the U.S. The ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus was not part of the program, and Apple had previously prompted customers to its support website to check if they were eligible for a free repair.

Now, the program has officially ended, and Apple has removed it from its repair program list on its website. The program ran for more than three years, and while it has finished, customers still experiencing issues with their ‌iPhone‌ 8 should still contact Apple support as they may still be willing to help.

If you have been experiencing issues with paying off or managing your Apple Card today, you are not alone, as Apple has confirmed ongoing issues.

"Some users may not be able to apply for Apple Card, pay their bill, lock/unlock their physical card, request a new or replacement physical card, or request a new card number," reads a notice posted on Apple's system status page.

The issues began within the past few hours and affect only some cardholders. We'll update this story when Apple indicates the issues have been resolved.

Update: The issues have been resolved, according to Apple's system status page.

Comparing the iPhone 13 models to the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models makes the ‌iPhone‌ 13 update seem uninspired and unnecessary, but for those who have an older ‌iPhone‌, it's a different story, especially when it comes to camera quality.

We compared the ‌iPhone‌ 13 to the ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, ‌iPhone‌ 8, and ‌iPhone‌ 6, and have come to the conclusion that if you have an older model and take a lot of pictures, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 is worth the upgrade. Check out our video up above and our comparison photos to see if you agree.

It will come as no surprise that the ‌iPhone‌ 13 outperforms the ‌iPhone‌ 6, and this is where we see some of the starkest differences. The ‌iPhone‌ 8 is closer in quality and has a color profile that's actually quite similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 13, but it's still a clear difference in lower lighting conditions.

With the ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, it's harder to see the improvements in photos with bright, even lighting, but the ‌iPhone‌ 13 does a much better job with lights at night (there's less lens flare) and also with texture. The Deep Fusion feature that kicks in primarily with indoor lighting makes a big difference in texture quality.

The ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro has some haze issues that tend to affect most photos, and it's more noticeable at night and in the afternoon when the sun is low. Earlier iPhones had a lot of trouble with accurately exposing different areas with uneven lighting, and Apple has made a lot of improvements in this area over the last few years.

The ‌iPhone‌ 13 excels with color accuracy, including skin tones, outperforming all of the older iPhones. It's also fantastic at HDR, and everything is super sharp, even when lighting is less than ideal.

Want to see higher resolution versions of our comparison photos to get a closer look at the differences? We've uploaded them here, and make sure to watch the video for the full comparison. Let us know in the comments what you think and whether the ‌iPhone‌ 13 is worth upgrading to.

Update: There have been multiple comments about the camera lens of the ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro used in the video. MacRumors videographer Dan cleaned the lenses of each camera prior to taking photos to ensure they were smudge free, and there were no scratches, smudges, or other visible camera defects.

We've also gone back and looked at photos captured by other ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro devices and have found the same softness and lens flare issues consistently in certain lighting conditions, such as when there's a side lighting element or harsh sun filtering into the lens. While it is possible there is an internal defect with the lens, we do not believe this to be the case. It is worth noting, though, that this "haze" effect is not seen in all lighting conditions.

We've teamed up with Saddleback Leather Co. to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a prize pack that includes a Flight Bag Leather Briefcase, a Leather AirPods Pro Case, a Double Loop AirTag Holder, and a Square Sleeve AirTag Holder, all made from a rich, dark coffee brown leather.

The Flight Bag Leather Briefcase is Saddleback's most popular product, and it's no surprise -- this is an attractive, heavy duty bag that's laden with pockets and able to hold all of your Apple gear. Saddleback Leather Co. calls the Flight Bag the strongest and most durable leather briefcase in the world, and to back that up, it comes with a 100-year warranty.

Priced at $589, the Flight Bag is made from a thick full-grain leather that's super tough and able to hold up to wear and tear. Inside, there's a pigskin lining that's even stronger than leather, and it's all stitched up with marine grade UV resistant thread.

There are no breakable parts like magnets or zippers, with Saddleback Leather using durable 316 stainless steel buckles and rivets instead. Stress points are reinforced, and each bag is built with the largest leather pieces possible for fewer seams. Saddleback offers the Flight Bag in Tobacco, Dark Coffee Brown, Chestnut, and Black.

The Flight Bag is designed to open at the top and stay open so you can access what's inside with ease, and there's a dedicated laptop compartment that's sized to fit all of Apple's tablets and notebook options. A main pouch holds documents, books, and other necessary gear, and there are two front pockets to hold smaller accessories. A slot at the back adds extra storage, and the bag can be carried with the build-in handles or an included strap.

Along with leather bags, Saddleback Leather Co. makes a whole range of other accessories. The $34 Leather AirPods Pro Case, for example, is a little mini pouch that houses the AirPods Pro and offers a carabiner to attach them to a bag or a backpack. There's a simple peg closing mechanism, and the case itself is made from a full grain leather that matches Saddleback's bags.

Saddleback also makes several AirTag holder options. The $19 Double Loop, as the name suggests, has a two-loop design that's perfect for attaching to dog collars, backpack shoulder straps, belts, and more.

The $19 square-shaped Sleeve ‌AirTag‌ holder is designed to attach to keys, backpacks, bags, and more, and both ‌AirTag‌ holder options come in the same matching leather as Saddleback's bags for a cohesive look for all of your accessories.

We have a prize pack that includes a Flight Bag Leather Briefcase, a Leather ‌AirPods Pro‌ Case, a Double Loop ‌AirTag‌ Holder, and a Square Sleeve ‌AirTag‌ Holder for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (October 1) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 8. The winner will be chosen randomly on October 8 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.