Apple today released a firmware update for the Beats Pill, marking the first new software the speaker has received since its June 2024 launch. The firmware has a build number of 2C336, up from the 2C289 firmware the Beats Pill shipped with. Users will see version 2.2 in the Settings app when the device is connected to an iPhone or Mac.
We don't know what's included in the new firmware, and Apple does not typically provide information about Beats firmware updates.
Apple introduced the Beats Pill earlier this year after discontinuing the prior Beats Pill+ back in 2022. The new model is priced at $150 and it features an all-new speaker system, a removable lanyard, USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity, IP67 water resistance, and a 24-hour battery life.
The Beats Pill is designed to work seamlessly with both Android and Apple devices, and it supports both Find My and Find My Device for tracking purposes.
Firmware updates for the Beats Pill are delivered over-the-air. Firmware will be installed while the Beats Pill is charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. On Android devices, users need to download the Beats app for Android and connect the Android device to a power outlet to initiate a firmware update.
The next-generation Apple Watch Ultra is set to gain satellite connectivity, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple first introduced satellite connectivity for off-grid texting with the iPhone 14, and the feature has been included in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, but no Apple Watch to date.
Apple's 2025 Apple Watch Ultra will be able to connect to a satellite network like the iPhone, allowing users to send texts via satellite when cellular networks and Wi-Fi are unavailable. When satellite connectivity first launched, it was limited to emergency text messages, but in iOS 18, Apple expanded it to allow users to send texts to anyone.
Apple is hoping that the satellite feature will encourage Apple Watch owners to update to a new Apple Watch Ultra, with the third-generation model set to come out in September 2025. Satellite connectivity would also allow Apple to better compete with companies like Garmin that manufacture dedicated satellite hardware for use in off-grid emergencies.
The Apple Watch Ultra is aimed at hikers, scuba divers, and adventurers, and satellite connectivity for the device would add another layer of safety for activities that are not near cellular towers.
As of right now, Apple still does not charge for satellite connectivity, and there is no word yet on what the company might charge. All iPhones come with two years of connectivity for free, and that will also likely be the case for the Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple is also planning to stop using Intel cellular modems in future Apple Watch models, instead transitioning to technology from MediaTek. MediaTek's modem chip adds support or 5G RedCap, a 5G service that's designed for connected devices and wearables that don't need standard 5G speeds. The current cellular Apple Watch models still use 4G LTE, even though Apple has been using 5G in iPhones for several years.
Best Buy has Apple's 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $469.00 today, down from $599.00. This is a new record low price on the tablet, and it's only available in Blue.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The other three colors are currently priced at $499.00 on Best Buy, which is still a solid second-best price for the M2 iPad Air. The deal on the Blue model will only last for today, so if you're interested be sure to make your purchase soon.
Best Buy is currently taking $100 off nearly every other model of the M2 iPad Air, including both 11-inch and 13-inch tablets. 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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Over the past several months, Apple has raised its prices for some or all iCloud+ storage plans in 10 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, and the Philippines. The updated prices for each of these countries are listed in a support document on Apple's website.
In Japan, for example, prices have increased by around 15%.
Storage Tier
Old Pricing
New Pricing
50GB
¥130
¥150
200GB
¥400
¥450
2TB
¥1300
¥1500
6TB
¥3900
¥4500
12TB
¥7900
¥9000
Local currencies in many of the affected countries have declined against the U.S. dollar over the past few years, and that is likely the underlying reason for the price increases. iCloud+ prices in the U.S. have not changed this year.
iCloud+ plans provide users with extra storage beyond the 5GB of free storage included with iCloud by default. The plans also include some other perks, such as iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video.
Samsung this week kicked off a new Winter Sale, offering discounts across smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, computers, and home appliances. Many of the deals in this sale are the same prices we tracked during Samsung's Black Friday and Cyber Week sales, making it a great last-minute opportunity to shop steep discounts on products that can still arrive before Christmas.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Right now, Amazon has the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Display at an all-time low price, beating Samsung's deal. You can get this monitor for $767.99 ($832 off). Another notable Samsung monitor deal is on the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8, available for $399.99 on Samsung's own website ($300 off).
During this sale, if you purchase a select Samsung gaming monitor, you'll also get the 27-inch Odyssey G3 Gaming Monitor for free ($229.99 value). One of the best monitors to purchase with this offer is the 57-inch Odssey Neo G9 Curved Gaming Monitor for $1,599.99 ($1,129.99 off).
Similar to events like Prime Day, Samsung's Winter Sale has exclusive "deals of the day" that swap out every day. Today's offer is taking up to $1,000 off The Frame TVs, including every size currently sold on Samsung's website. This drops the popular 65-inch model down to $1,599.99, from $1,999.99.
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 Music today announced the addition of three new global radio stations: Apple Música Uno, Apple Music Club, and Apple Music Chill.
The stations join Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country. Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Music, Sports, and Beats, said:
Apple Music Radio is the beating heart of our service, representing the intersection of exceptional human voices and curation with cutting-edge technology that shapes and influences culture. We put a lot of time and care into making sure these new radio stations are really bespoke, highly curated, and hosted by some of the world's best music commentators with unique programming that we know our listeners will love.
The stations are hosted from state-of-the-art studios in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, Paris, and Berlin. Each has a different theme:
Apple Música Uno: Latin music from around the world, focusing on new and current releases, including Música Mexicana and reggaetón, tropical, Latin pop, and more. The station is hosted by Becky G, followed by Evelyn Sicairos and Lechero. Rauw Alejandro and Grupo Frontera have special shows of their own. On-air talent will speak Spanish and English.
Apple Music Club: Dance and electronic music with a focus on global club culture, hosted by Tim Sweeney and NAINA.
Apple Music Chill: Mood-focused music for respite, wellbeing, and ease, interspersed with "mindful moments" to remind listeners to find center and remain calm, hosted by Sabi with shows from Brian Eno, Stephan Moccio, and Zane Lowe.
Apple Música Uno, Apple Music Club, and Apple Music Chill are available to listen to now in the newly updated Radio tab of the Apple Music app, as well as for free, without a subscription, on the Apple Music Radio website.
Apple's Pro Display XDR is five years old today, marking half a decade since its release alongside the 2019 Mac Pro.
Released on December 10, 2019, the Pro Display XDR was Apple's re-entry into the high-end external monitor market, following a three-year hiatus after discontinuing the Thunderbolt Display in 2016. The announcement came at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2019, where the company presented the display as a rival to traditional reference monitors. The XDR in its name stands for "Extreme Dynamic Range," a feature that Apple emphasized as a key differentiator from other high-resolution monitors available at the time.
It features a 32-inch Retina display with a 6K resolution of 6,016 by 3,384 pixels, powered by Apple's proprietary LED backlighting system. Apple utilized blue-colored LEDs with custom lenses and reflectors to achieve a maximum brightness of up to 1,600 nits in HDR mode, while sustaining 1,000 nits across the entire screen indefinitely. This allows for what Apple describes as "stunningly accurate colors and contrast," supporting the P3 wide color gamut and delivering a claimed 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
The rear of the display features the same lattice pattern used on the 2019 Mac Pro, which functions as a heatsink to aid thermal management. The display is also available with matte nano-texture glass to cut down on glare—the first Apple product it's featured on.
Upon its release, the Pro Display XDR garnered significant attention for its high price. In the United States, the display starts at $4,999, and users who opt for the adjustable Pro Stand must pay an additional $999. The Pro Stand, which is sold separately, was met with mixed reactions upon its unveiling. Apple justified the cost by highlighting the engineering involved, with the Pro Stand offering height, tilt, and rotation adjustments, as well as support for both landscape and portrait modes. A VESA mount adapter is also available for those who prefer third-party mounting solutions.
As of its fifth anniversary, the Pro Display XDR remains one of only two external monitors sold by Apple, alongside the Studio Display, which was released in March 2022. Unlike the Pro Display XDR, the Studio Display comes with an integrated A13 Bionic chip, enabling features such as Center Stage for its built-in webcam, spatial audio, and support for Siri voice commands. The Pro Display XDR, however, has no webcam or any internal Apple silicon chip.
Speculation about a second-generation Pro Display XDR has been circulating for some time. In December 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was working on an updated version of the display, this time with an Apple silicon chip to enhance its capabilities. In July 2023, Gurman reiterated that Apple was still developing multiple new displays. Display supply chain analyst Ross Young recently said that the next-generation Pro Display XDR will feature quantum dot technology, just like the latest MacBook Pro models. However, no further details have emerged regarding what other specific upgrades the Pro Display XDR might receive or a potential release time frame. For now, the Pro Display XDR remains Apple's flagship display offering.
Capcom's Resident Evil 2 remake has debuted on Apple devices, making it the fourth Resident Evil title to arrive on Apple's mobile platforms.
The survival horror shooter is available as a free download with a limited part of the game being playable, after which players must purchase the full game to continue. The good news is that Capcom is running a promotional discount of 75% off the usual price for a limited time.
From now until January 8, the base game can be purchased for $9.99, while all in-game rewards can be unlocked for $1.99. After that date, the game will be sold for $39.99.
Resident Evil 2 requires an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 series model to run, along with iPads and Macs equipped with M1 chips or later. The game supports cross-progression across supported Apple devices, so players can continue their progress whether playing on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It's also a universal purchase, meaning a single purchase grants access across all compatible Apple devices.
Capcom says the app is approximately 31GB in size, and that the installation process requires the target drive to have at least twice the size of the app in storage space available. An internet connection is also required to start the game. Resident Evil 2 can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Apple has announced Tap to Pay on iPhone in the UAE, allowing independent sellers, small merchants, and large retailers in the country to use iPhones as a payment terminal.
Tap to Pay allows iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets. All transactions are encrypted, and Apple has no information about what is purchased or the person who made the purchase.
No additional hardware or credit card machine is required to use Tap to Pay on iPhone. The feature uses NFC technology to securely authenticate the contactless payments, plus the feature also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.
Adyen, Magnati, and Network International are the first payment platforms in the UAE to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone, which works with cards from leading payment networks, including American Express, Mastercard, and Visa.
Tap to Pay on iPhone requires iPhone XS or newer models, and works for customers as any normal Apple Pay transaction would. Sellers just need to open up the app, register the sale, and present their iPhone to the buyer, who can then use an appropriate contactless payment method.
Tap to Pay on iPhone launched in February 2022 in the United States, and since then, Apple has been working to expand it to additional countries. The feature is available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Taiwan, the UAE, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Apple today announced that several of its TV shows have been nominated for the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. Popular series Slow Horses has been nominated for Best Drama, while Disclaimer, a psychological thriller miniseries starring Cate Blanchett, has been nominated for Best Limited Series.
Slow Horses stars Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden have been nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama, while Disclaimer's Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline have been nominated for best actor awards for a limited series.
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, the stars of hit comedy Shrinking, have been nominated for best comedy performance and best supporting role, respectively. Jake Gyllenhaal, star of Presumed Innocent, has also been nominated for best actor in a TV drama.
The Golden Globe winners are set to be announced on January 5, 2025. Apple previously won Golden Globes for Killers of the Flower Moon and Black Bird, and its original TV shows, movies, and documentaries have earned a total of 535 wins and 2,402 award nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, and more.
Apple TV+ is priced at $9.99 per month in the United States, and it is available in more than 100 countries and regions. Customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac can get three months of Apple TV+ for free.
Ugreen caught my attention earlier this year when it launched a new line of "Uno" accessories that are equipped with LED screens that can display fun emoji faces. The Uno range has everything from wireless chargers to power banks, and I've spent several months testing the products to see how they perform.
Everything in the Uno line was designed with a "robot-inspired" aesthetic, according to Ugreen, which equates to a boxy style with an LED screen that can display emoji-like faces. The emoji faces are amusing and bring some fun to accessories that are typically boring, but they're also useful and can change based on power level and other factors.
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank
Priced at $45, the Magnetic Wireless Power Bank looks like a lot of other power banks on the market at first glance, featuring a rectangular design that mirrors the shape of the iPhone. An LED screen and an attached stand that happens to look like a set of headphones set it apart, though.
The power bank is made from a smooth, metallic plastic material, with a soft silicone on the back where it attaches magnetically to a MagSafe iPhone. It feels relatively lightweight, but it is a bit over 3/4ths of an inch thick, so it does add some bulk to the iPhone. It comes in black, which looks similar to Apple's space black, and a light purple shade. Though it's a bit thick, it is pocketable, measuring in at 4.2 inches by 2.8 inches. The plastic material feels a little cheap, but it's light and I don't expect too much more for the price.
The LED display protrudes slightly which does indeed give it a distinctly robot-like look, and it often displays an emoji face that corresponds to power level. I say "often" because a lot of the time, it actually shows a percent reading of the exact power level. I don't know what triggers the emoji face to show up, and I wish there was a button to toggle between the power percent and the face.
You need to turn the power bank on by pressing the side button when it is attached to an iPhone, which initiates charging. More than once, I've attached it to my iPhone and forgotten to activate it, but having a sleep state seems to preserve battery level when it's not in use. The button has other functions as well, and a single press will turn on the LCD, while a double press will turn it off.
When the power is on, it displays a "Hi" message, and when it's powering down, it shows a "bye" message. The emoji face that's displayed changes based on power level. At 100 percent, the face shows heart eyes, and at 99 to 80 percent, it changes to a happy face with smiling eyes. At 79 to 21 percent, it's a happy face with a more neutral eye expression, and 20 percent or below, there's a sad face. Each face animates slightly, with the eyes and mouth changing position.
This is a Qi2 charger, so it can charge MagSafe iPhones at up to 15W. 15W is no longer the maximum charging speed because iPhone 16 models support 25W MagSafe charging, but it is equivalent to the original 15W MagSafe charging. It has a 10,000mAh capacity, which is standard for smaller chargers these days.
In an hour-long test, it charged my iPhone 16 Pro Max from one percent to 39 percent, and there was 67 percent of the battery left. After charging my iPhone to 80 percent (the maximum I have set), the power bank had 20 percent power remaining.
I've tested several times, and I am able to reliably get one full charge of the 16 Pro Max from the power bank, and I've had no issues with it during my testing. My iPhone does sometimes get warm, but it does that with any MagSafe power bank that I use.
Along with Qi2 charging, there is a USB-C port that can be used for charging iPhones and other accessories, plus it's used for charging the power bank. The USB-C port is 20W, so you can get faster iPhone charging using a USB-C to USB-C cable (included) or a USB-C to Lightning cable depending on which iPhone you have. 20W can also charge an iPad at a reasonable speed, but it's not enough for fast charging. Passthrough charging is supported, so you can charge the power bank via USB-C while also charging an attached iPhone.
There is an included stand on the power bank that flips down from the top. It holds an iPhone in an ideal position for FaceTime calls or watching videos, and it's sturdy. The stand has multiple positions so the viewing angle is adjustable, and it can be used in landscape or portrait mode. When not in use, it folds up at the top of the power bank and looks like a set of headphones.
Ugreen Uno 30W Power Bank
The $38 10,000mAh Ugreen Uno USB-C Power Bank is similar to the Magnetic Wireless Power Bank in design, but it doesn't have wireless charging. Instead, it offers 30W charging over USB-C, and it has a built-in USB-C cable.
All the emoji faces are the same and the build quality is identical, but the power bank is slightly slimmer and taller at 4.6 inches by 2.8 inches. This model is a little over a half inch thick, and does not magnetically attach to an iPhone.
While it has the same headphone-like design at the top, there is no stand. Instead, one side of the "headphones" features a power button for turning the power bank on and off.
Along with the built-in USB-C cable, there are additional USB-C and USB-A ports at the top, so more than one device can be charged at once. The flat USB-C cable tucks into a slot at the back of the charger, and it feels well-attached. I couldn't get it to budge by pulling on it, but there's always a danger that attached cables will break.
30W is fast charging for an iPhone, and my iPhone 16 Pro Max charged from one percent to 54 percent in a 30-minute period when testing, which is in line with fast charging tests using standard 30W power adapters. I was able to get one full charge out of the power bank before exhausting the battery.
Because it has a built-in USB-C cable, this model is best for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models that have USB-C ports, but since it has an extra USB-C and USB-A port, it can be used with a Lightning cable, too.
For charging at fast speeds, the USB-C Uno power bank is the better pick over the Qi2 model, and it's nice not to have to carry a USB-C cable around.
100W USB-C Charger
Ugreen's $48 100W USB-C Uno Charger is probably my favorite of the bunch, and it has the most robot-like design. It's a square-shaped charger but there's an LED display that shows emoji faces, a headphone-like band at the top, and a set of feet that cover the plug at the bottom.
The feet detach so that you can plug the Uno Charger into an outlet, and it's best suited as a desktop charger because of the position of the prongs. If you plug it into a standard wall outlet, the face will be either up or down, but it can definitely be used that way. I haven't lost the little feet yet, and they do have a magnet inside that can attach to a laptop when the charger is plugged in if it's being used while on the go.
This charger is surprisingly compact and heavy, and it's made from the same black plastic material as the power banks.
When plugged in, the LCD face is continually active. I have the charger on top of my desk, and it sits and blinks at me all day. If you have this in your line of sight, it might get annoying. When something is charging, there are three faces, including one with shining eyes and an eating face. When a device is fully charged, there's a face with sunglasses.
There are four ports at the top of the charger, including three USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Since this is a 100W charger, it can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro and anything below that. To get the fastest charging with a MacBook Pro (the full 100W), you'll need to plug it in by itself in one of the top two ports.
With multiple devices charging, the power is split up between the ports. When two devices are plugged in, the split is 65W/30W with the USB-C ports, or 65W/22.5W with one USB-C and one USB-A port.
The three port split has 45W/30W/20W, 45W/30W/22.5W, and 80W/7.5W/7.5W options, while four ports in use will split the power to 45W/30W/7.5W/7.5W. The manual that comes with the charger has more specific information on how power is divided to each port.
Ugreen says that the charger has overvoltage, overcurrent, overload, and temperature protections, and I haven't run into any issues using the charger.
There's also a 65W version that comes in white/purple and blue/pink shades, and it's nice to see options that aren't the standard black.
USB-C Cable
Ugreen has an $8 Uno USB-C to USB-C 100W PD cable that has little emoji eyes on it, and it's a good companion to the 100W charger. It's braided nylon and feels like a good quality cable.
The base cable is 1.6 feet, but there are more expensive 3.3 foot, 6.6 foot, and 10 foot models. For data transfers, it supports speeds up to 480Mb/s.
2-in-1 Wireless Charger
Ugreen's $49 Uno 2-in-1 Wireless Charger is also Qi2, with support for up to 15W charging on MagSafe iPhones. It has a fold-out design with a charging puck for the iPhone and a second 5W charging space for the AirPods Pro. The iPhone charger can be adjusted to different angles, and an iPhone can be placed in either landscape or portrait mode, so you can use StandBy.
The square-shaped 2-in-1 Wireless Charger looks like the other Uno products, and it's made from the same black plastic material. It has an LCD face at the front, and the headphone-style design at the top. The face isn't as animated as other models, but it does show two happy eyes when turned on and in standby mode, and a happy face with a mouth when a device is charging.
Ugreen includes a USB-C cable that plugs into the back, but you'll need to supply your own power adapter. You can also buy an optional Apple Watch charger to add to the side so you can charge three devices at once.
The charger is relatively compact, so it doesn't take up much space on a desk at all, but it's weighted so it's not going to tip over.
Uno 6-in-1 Hub
Ugreen's final product in the Uno line is the 6-in-1 USB-C Hub, which is $18. This is a cheap hub, but it's serviceable for passthrough charging and connecting accessories to your Mac. Design wise, it has the black plastic that Ugreen uses for most of the Uno line, and an LCD face that displays different emoji animations.
The build quality of the hub feels cheap, and I wasn't impressed with it. It's the same plastic as Ugreen's other products, but the hub feels so lightweight and almost flimsy. The emoji faces were also less useful on the hub, featuring only separate idle faces and charging faces.
There are three USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI port that supports up to 4K/60Hz. It offers 85W passthrough charging for a Mac, with 15W available for connecting peripherals. 85W is generally fine for all Mac notebooks, but you're not going to get maximum charging speed for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
I've had some issues with data transfers using this hub, with a transfer stopping in the middle. I'm not sure why, but multiple ports were affected. I doubt this is a problem with all models, but I don't like the size or the utility of this hub, and I think there are better options out there.
Bottom Line
If you're looking for an accessory that's brings a little more fun to your desk than the standard power adapter or power bank, I think Ugreen's Uno line is well worth checking out. I especially liked the 100W USB-C charger and the Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Charger, though everything but the hub performed well.
Ugreen's Uno products also make for fun gifts, and I think a power bank with a little emoji face would go over well with anyone that has an iPhone. I do want to note that the Qi2 Charger seems to be iPhone only, as some of the reviews mentioned that it does not work with Android devices.
Sonos is hosting a new holiday sale, where you can find multiple all-time low Black Friday prices return for popular Sonos products. This includes the new Sonos Ace headphones, Arc soundbar, Roam 2 portable speaker, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
All discounts in this sale have been automatically applied, so you don't need to enter a coupon code in order to see the final sale prices. We've collected all of the deals in the list below, but you can also find a few bundle discounts on sale on the Sonos website.
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.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find during the holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple today seeded the second release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS 15.2 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, a week after releasing the first RCs. The first iOS 18.2 RC had a build number of 22C150, while the second RC's build number is 22C151. Release candidates represent the final version of beta software that's expected to see a public release should no notable bugs be found.
Alongside the release candidate versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating system updates, Apple has also seeded new visionOS 2.2, tvOS 18.2, and HomePod Software 18.2 RCs.
With iOS 18.2 and its sister updates, Apple is continuing to test the next phase of Apple Intelligence, with several new features available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Image Playground
Image Playground is Apple's image generation app, and it can create images based on prompts. You can enter a description of what you want or use the built-in suggestions and concepts that Apple provides. Apple will suggest costumes, locations, items, and more to add to an image, and these concepts are intelligent and can draw inspiration from a Messages thread or content in the Notes app.
There are options to create characters that resemble your friends and family, and you can choose a photo for Image Playground to use as inspiration to create a related image. Elements added to Image Playground creations are previewed, and there is a preview history so you can undo a change and go back to a prior version.
While Image Playground is a standalone app, it is also integrated into Messages. Image Playground does not make photorealistic images and is instead limited to animation or illustration styles.
Image Wand
Image Wand is an Image Playground-related feature that's available in the Notes app. You can draw a rough sketch with the Apple Pencil or circle a blank space or a key phrase in a note to have Image Wand generate an appropriate image.
Genmoji
Genmoji are custom emoji characters that you can create based on descriptions and phrases. Like Image Playground creations, you can base them on your friends and family, with the data pulled from the People album in Photos. You can also make characters using basic elements, and you'll get multiple Genmoji suggestions to choose from. You can create Genmoji using the emoji keyboard.
Siri ChatGPT Integration
Siri can integrate with ChatGPT for certain requests, but only with user approval. If Siri is unable to provide an answer to a query, Siri will hand the request over to ChatGPT. ChatGPT's answer will then be provided by Siri.
ChatGPT can be used to create content from scratch, including text and images. No account is required to use ChatGPT integration, and Apple and OpenAI do not store requests.
Visual Intelligence
iPhone 16 users have access to Visual Intelligence, a feature that provides information about what's around you. If you open the camera and point it at a restaurant, for example, you'll see opening hours and reviews.
Some other Visual Intelligence capabilities include reading text out loud, detecting phone numbers and addresses to add them to Contacts, copying text, and summarizing text. There is an option to search Google for where to buy a specific item that you see, and you can also point the camera at something and then get more information about it from ChatGPT.
Apple plans to expand this feature to include more functionality over time.
Writing Tools
Apple is enhancing the Writing Tools feature to add an option to make more open-ended changes. In iOS 18.1 and its sister updates, Writing Tools can only be used to change the tone to friendly, professional, and a more simplified version. In iOS 18.2, you can describe the tone or content change that you want to make, such as adding more action words, or turning an email into a poem.
More Languages
Apple Intelligence has gained support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the U.K., in addition to U.S. English.
Wait List
If you've already been testing Apple Intelligence and are opted in, you will have access to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence automatically.
There is a secondary waiting list for early access to use Genmoji, Image Playground, and Image Wand. You can sign up to get access in Image Playground or in the areas where you access Genmoji or Image Wand.
When you request access, you are added to a wait list for all three capabilities and you'll get a notification when the features are available for you to use. Apple is rolling out access to the new image generation features over the coming weeks.
Availability and Compatibility
The iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are available on all devices, but the Apple Intelligence features require a device capable of Apple Intelligence. Apple is still working on refining the new Apple Intelligence tools, and the company warns that Genmoji, Image Wand, and Image Playground can sometimes give you results you weren't expecting. Apple is collecting feedback on these experiences and will refine them over time.
Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16 model, an iPad with an M-series chip or an A17 Pro chip, or a Mac with an M-series chip.
Release Date
Apple is expected to release the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and visionOS 2.2 updates later this week.
Amazon has Apple's 10th generation iPad (64GB Wi-Fi) for $279.00 in three colors, down from $349.00. Stock has begun dwindling on Amazon for some colors, with delivery estimates starting to creep closer to Christmas day.
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Although this is not an all-time low price on the iPad, it's a solid second-best price and it may be your last opportunity to get any discount on the tablet with a guaranteed Christmas Day delivery from Amazon. You'll also find the 256GB Wi-Fi model on sale for $70 off.
This iPad features Apple's A14 Bionic processor, a 10.9-inch display, 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, 12-megapixel rear camera, and Touch ID. 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 plans to remove the notch from the MacBook Pro in a few years from now, according to a roadmap shared by research firm Omdia.
The roadmap shows that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models released in 2026 will have a hole-punch camera at the top of the display, instead of a notch. It is unclear if there would simply be a pinhole in the display, or if Apple would expand the iPhone's Dynamic Island to the Mac for system alerts, such as for low battery life.
A notch-less MacBook Pro would have more visible pixels on the display, which could slightly increase the macOS menu bar's usable area. The removal of the notch would also make the display look more seamless overall.
Previous rumors have indicated that the first MacBook Pro models with OLED displays will be released in 2026, so Omdia's roadmap corroborates the timeframe shared by other sources. The switch to OLED technology is expected to be part of the MacBook Pro's first redesign since 2021, with a thinner design and other changes likely.
Compared to current MacBook Pro models with mini-LED screens, benefits of OLED technology would include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more. The switch to OLED displays could also contribute to future MacBook Pro models having a thinner design.
In the interim, the MacBook Pro is not expected to receive any major changes. Unsurprisingly, next year's models are expected to get a spec bump to M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips, but no redesign is expected until the switch to OLED displays.
Meanwhile, the MacBook Air will continue to have a notch through 2028, according to Omdia.
Apple's forthcoming iPhone SE 4 will feature a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera on the front, according to details revealed in a new Korean supply chain report.
ET News reports that Korea-based LG Innotek is the main supplier of the front and rear camera modules for the more budget-friendly ~$400 device, which is expected to launch in the first quarter of next year. Foxconn and Cowell Electronics are also said to be contributing camera parts.
The current iPhone 16 uses a rear 48-megapixel Wide Angle lens, which Apple refers to as a "Fusion" lens, so-called because of its ability to be used for both standard photos and cropped-in 2x zoom photos. The iPhone 16 also features a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera on the front, suggesting the fourth-generation iPhone SE could include the same camera setup, just minus the additional Ultra Wide camera.
The iPhone SE 4 is rumored to have an all-display design similar to the iPhone 14, featuring Face ID instead of Touch ID, a 6.06-inch display, OLED display technology instead of LCD, a USB-C port, the iPhone 14 battery, 8GB RAM to support Apple Intelligence, and perhaps a multi-purpose Action button to replace the mute switch. The iPhone SE 4 is also expected to be the first device that is equipped with an Apple-designed 5G chip.
Apple announced the existing third-generation iPhone SE on March 8, 2022, while the successor device could well debut around March 2025, according to reports.
Apple's upcoming third-generation HomePod will feature a 6- to 7-inch OLED display, according to a new report by Korean outlet SE Daily.
MacRumors concept render
Citing industry insiders, the Korean-language report claims that Apple will use Tianma, a Chinese display manufacturer ranked fourth domestically after BOE and CSOT, to supply the OLED panels for the new HomePod, set to be released next year.
There have been rumors about a HomePod with a display since 2021, and Apple actually seems to have several related smart-home products in the works that feature displays. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested Apple is developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and built-in camera, and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm.
Gurman had indicated these devices were unlikely to launch before 2025. However, a report last week from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed a new HomePod with display is expected to launch after WWDC 2025, likely in the third quarter of the year (a shift from Kuo's earlier prediction of a 2024 release). Kuo said he also believes Tianma will be the panel supplier, but he did not mention that it would be an OLED panel. Until now, the going assumption was that a new HomePod would use a lower-quality LCD panel.
The new HomePod will reportedly emphasize smart home functionality more than current models, suggesting a strategic repositioning of the product line. The idea that Apple is aggressively targeting the smart home market follows a recent report by Gurman about Apple developing an all-in-one home management hub with a square-shaped display, thick bezels, and a hemispherical base similar to the iMac G4.
Initial shipment expectations for the new HomePod are relatively modest, with Kuo forecasting approximately 500,000 units in the second half of 2025.
Apple is likely to introduce a new iPad mini with an OLED display as soon as 2026, market research firm Omdia claims.
According to Omdia's latest long-term OLED display adoption forecast, the iPad mini will get the technology in 2026 or 2027, followed by the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air in 2027-2028. These devices will apparently use single-stack 60Hz OLED panels.
As for Macs, Omdia believes Apple will apply 120Hz OLED two-stack panels to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models as early as 2026, followed by 13.8-inch and 15.5-inch MacBook Air models with 120Hz single-stack panels in 2028. Two-stack panels have two emission layers, which doubles brightness and quadruples display lifespan.
Meanwhile, Omdia predicts that Apple will launch an 18.8-inch foldable device with a 120Hz single-stack panel in 2028 or later.
Commenting on the forecast, shared on X (Twitter) by leaker @Jukanlosreve, oft-accurate Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) CEO Ross Young suggested that his own predictions largely align with Omdia's predictions, barring subtle differences, such as his firm expectation that the OLED MacBook Air will use an oxide backplane and not LPTO.
OLED panels can individually control each pixel, resulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to other common display technologies. They also provide superior contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles, and greater design flexibility. All of Apple's flagship iPhones use OLED panels, and in May the company brought the display technology to the iPad Pro for the first time.
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