MacRumors

With the launch of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple is going all in on promoting Apple Intelligence. Today's iMac announcement was heavily focused on the Mac's ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, and Apple has also shared two new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ads.

Apple's first ad shows off Writing Tools, featuring an office worker who sends an email and uses the "Professional" rewriting feature to make it sound less casual. The well-crafted email impresses his boss.

The second ad features a woman who forgot it was her husband's birthday, so she whips up a quick Memory Movie slideshow on her iPhone as a gift.

Both Writing Tools and Memory Movies in the Photos app are new features that are available on devices running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1. The updates launched to the public today.

Apple plans to roll out Apple Intelligence features to iPhone and iPad users in the European Union starting in April 2025, according to information included in today's ‌Apple Intelligence‌ announcement in European countries.

Apple's newsroom post confirms that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features will roll out beginning in April, with users gaining access to Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned version of Siri, and more.

Mac users in the EU can access Apple Intelligence in U.S. English with macOS Sequoia 15.1. In April, Apple Intelligence features will start to roll out to iPhone and iPad users in the EU. This will include many of the core features of Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned Siri with richer language understanding, ChatGPT integration, and more.

As of right now, EU Mac users can access ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features with macOS Sequoia 15.1, as long as the language on the device is set to U.S. English. Apple has restricted the launch of ‌Apple Intelligence‌ capabilities for the ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ in order to work out "regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act."

Apple in June said that it would delay ‌Apple Intelligence‌, ‌iPhone‌ Mirroring, and SharePlay Screen Sharing until it was able to determine how to make the features compatible with the European Union's competition rules.

‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ users in the European Union who have a U.S. App Store ID are able to use Apple Intelligence with the Language and Region on the device set to U.S. English. In a December iOS 18.2 update, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ will offer localized English in Ireland, as well as in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K.

It is worth noting that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support in European countries will likely come in an update to iOS 18, and the timing is right for iOS 18.4. Rumors suggest that iOS 18.4 will be a major update that brings improvements to ‌Siri‌, including personal context and the ability for the personal assistant to do more in and across apps.

To introduce the new M4 iMac models today, Apple didn't hold a standard event, but the company did record a short keynote video to go through all of the machine's new features.

The announcement is themed just like one of Apple's full pre-recorded event videos, starting with a view of Apple Park that zooms in to Apple executives highlighting the M4 ‌iMac‌'s capabilities and once again walking through Apple Intelligence. The first four minutes of the video cover ‌Apple Intelligence‌, so skip to 4:40 if you just want to watch the bit about the ‌iMac‌.

Apple has three videos to share this week, so we can expect additional M4 Mac product announcements on Tuesday and Wednesday. We are also expecting Apple to release new M4 MacBook Pro models and M4 Mac mini models with a new design.

Pricing on the new ‌iMac‌ starts at $1,299, and pre-orders began today. A launch will follow on November 8.

Apple's third Apple silicon iMac gains the M4 chip alongside a range of other small but notable improvements, so how does the new machine compare to its two predecessors?

The 2021 ‌iMac‌ was the first of its kind to feature an Apple silicon chip, replacing previous Intel-based models with 21.5- and 27-inch displays. It offered an all-new ultra-thin design, a 24-inch Retina display, a six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, and an array of seven two-tone color options. The 2023 model was a minor update that added the M3 chip and specification updates like Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. One year later, the latest, M4 version of the device looks like a much more substantial upgrade, offering a dramatically more powerful Neural Engine, 16GB of memory as standard, a 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage, USB-C accessories, and a nano-texture display option.

The 2021 and 2023 iMacs have now been discontinued by Apple and prices at third-party resellers are falling. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to pick up a 2021 or 2023 ‌iMac‌ instead of the latest model, while some existing ‌iMac‌ users may be wondering if it's now time to upgrade to the M4 model.

The three Apple silicon ‌iMac‌ models share the overwhelming majority of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the first- or second-generation models to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the 2024 ‌iMac‌ brings to the table.

‌iMac‌ (2021)	‌iMac‌ (2023)	‌iMac‌ (2024)
M1 chip (made with TSMC's 5nm (N5) process)	M3 chip (made with TSMC's 3nm (N3) process)	M4 chip (made with TSMC's enhanced ‌3nm‌ (N3E) process)
3.20 GHz maximum CPU clock speed	4.05 GHz maximum CPU clock speed	4.30 GHz maximum CPU clock speed
16 billion transistors	25 billion transistors	28 billion transistors
8-core CPU	8- or 10-core CPU	8- or 10-core CPU
7- or 8-core GPU	8- or 10-core GPU	8- or 10-core GPU
	Updated GPU architecture	Updated GPU architecture with improved efficiency
	Dynamic Caching	Dynamic Caching
	Hardware-accelerated ray tracing	Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
	Hardware-accelerated mesh shading	Hardware-accelerated mesh shading
Video decode engine	Higher-bandwidth video decode engine	Higher-bandwidth video decode engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC	Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW	Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
	ProRes encode and decode engine	ProRes encode and decode engine
	Support for AV1 decode	Support for AV1 decode
LPDDR4X memory	LPDDR5 memory	LPDDR5X memory
68.25GB/s memory bandwidth	100GB/s memory bandwidth	120GB/s memory bandwidth
8GB or 16GB unified memory	8GB, 16GB, or 24GB unified memory	16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory
16-core Neural Engine, 11 trillion operations per second	16-core Neural Engine, 18 trillion operations per second	16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second
1080p FaceTime HD camera	1080p ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera	12-megapixel camera
		Center Stage with support for Desk View
Image signal processor (ISP)	"New" image signal processor (ISP)	"New" image signal processor (ISP)
		Nano-texture display option
		Dedicated display engine
Support for up to one external display	Support for up to one external display	Support for up to two external displays
3.5mm headphone jack	3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones	3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones
Up to two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports	Up to two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports	Up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports
Wi-Fi 6	Wi-Fi 6E	Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Available in Silver, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Blue	Available in Silver, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Blue	Available in Silver, as well as new shades of Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Blue
Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse/Magic Trackpad with Lightning port	Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse/Magic Trackpad with Lightning port	Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse/Magic Trackpad with USB-C port

The 2024 ‌iMac‌ with the M4 chip marks a much more substantial upgrade compared to the 2021 and 2023 models. Key improvements such as the significantly more powerful Neural Engine for AI and machine learning tasks, increased standard memory of 16GB, 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage, and support for USB-C accessories make it an appealing choice for future-proofing. Performance-wise, it delivers a meaningful boost, especially for those upgrading from the ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌ or older Intel-based iMacs, where Apple claims up to 6x faster performance than the most popular Intel ‌iMac‌.

For ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌ users, the M4 model could be worth considering if they require enhanced performance or a richer set of features, such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing, nano-texture display option, or simply a better webcam. However, M3 ‌iMac‌ users may find fewer incentives to upgrade, as the performance gap between M3 and M4 is good but not as significant in daily use unless the system is pushed to the limit. The M3 ‌iMac‌ is built to handle demanding tasks and will remain relevant for several more years, but ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌ users may want to begin considering an upgrade.

Starting at $1,299, the new ‌iMac‌ remains a solid investment for those looking for a device with longevity, a robust array of features, and meaningful upgrades over the original ‌M1‌ model or older Intel machines. However, if you have basic needs and find a discounted 2023 ‌iMac‌, this could still offer good value, though the M4 will better meet the needs of those seeking higher performance, better features, and a more forward-looking setup.

Apple today updated its Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad accessories for the Mac with USB-C charging ports, but the accessories have no other external design changes. Yes, that means the Magic Mouse's charging port is still located on the bottom of the mouse, despite the switch from Lightning to USB-C.

The position of the charging port on the Magic Mouse has been the subject of a meme on social media since 2015, as it means the mouse cannot be used while it is charging in an upside-down position, but Apple is clearly unfazed.

The augmented reality view of the new iMac on Apple's website confirms the bottom position of the USB-C port on the updated Magic Mouse, as shown above.

Apple includes the updated Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box with the iMac, and the Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade. The USB-C versions of the accessories are also sold separately in white and black color options.

Apple today released new iMac models, and while there are few external changes with the exception of some color tweaks, Apple made several internal updates to the machine. The inclusion of the next-generation M4 chip is the biggest update, but the ports have also seen improvement.

For the M4 ‌iMac‌ models with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, all four of the USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s. The prior-generation M3 ‌iMac‌ with four ports had two Thunderbolt 3 ports and two USB-3 ports.

The 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU models only have two ports, but both of those are Thunderbolt 4. All of the USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports also support USB 4 and USB 3.1 Gen 2.

Pricing on the ‌iMac‌ starts at $1,299 for the 8-core CPU/GPU version, while the 10-core CPU/GPU models with four ports are priced starting at $1,499. Apple is accepting pre-orders for the new M4 ‌iMac‌ models as of today.

Apple's new iMac models are available with a nano-texture display option for the first time since the product line switched to Apple silicon.

First introduced with the Pro Display XDR in 2019, nano-texture glass is etched at a nanometer scale, which is meant to preserve image quality while scattering ambient light to cut down on glare. It is the most matte display type that Apple makes, and Apple claims that it is useful for high-end, color-managed workflows or demanding ambient lighting environments.

The expansive 24-inch 4.5K Retina display on iMac is its highest-rated feature, and for the first time, it's available with a nano-texture glass option that drastically reduces reflections and glare, while maintaining outstanding image quality. With nano-texture glass, users can place iMac in even more spaces, such as a sun-drenched living room or bright storefront.

The 2020 27-inch Intel-based iMac was available with a nano-texture display option prior to its discontinuation, so the new ‌iMac‌ marks the first time that the feature has been available with the Apple silicon version of the device. The new ‌iMac‌'s nano-texture glass is a build-to-order option that costs $200, configurable at the point of purchase. It is now available across the Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, and iPad Pro.

Apple has equipped its just-announced M4-powered iMac with 16GB of Unified Memory as standard, up from 8GB of RAM in the previous model. The new iMac starts at $1,299.

As rumored, Apple has upped the base memory configuration of at least one of its latest Macs. It is the first time that the company has offered the ultra-thin all-in-one desktop computer with a minimum of 16GB of memory.

All of Apple's upcoming new Macs this year are likely to have at least 16GB of RAM pre-installed as standard, breaking a years-long tradition of Apple offering just 8GB of RAM in most of its base Macs and forcing customers to pay out an extra $200+ for additional memory.

The new iMac is available in a range of new colors, and the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display offers a new nano-texture glass option. The iMac also features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, up to 32GB of Unified Memory, and color-matched accessories that include USB-C.

The new iMac is available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Friday, November 8. Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Pro models and a new redesigned Mac mini later this week.

Apple today released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, the first major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates that came out in September. iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 come six weeks after the release of ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌.

The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

Apple Intelligence is the main draw in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, and some of the first ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are available on the iPhone 15 Pro, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPad with an M-series or A17 Pro chip. Note that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is launching in a beta capacity, and there will be a short waitlist initially. To opt in to ‌Apple Intelligence‌, you'll need to open up the Settings app, go to ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and Siri, and toggle it on.

There are multiple ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features available:

• Writing Tools - You can use Writing Tools for proofreading text, rewriting what you've written, and getting summaries.
• Siri - ‌Siri‌ has a new look, a Type to ‌Siri‌ feature, and Apple product knowledge for answering support-related questions. ‌Siri‌ can also maintain better context between requests and keep up if you stumble over your words.
• Summaries and Smart Replies - In Mail and Messages, there are summarize and Smart Reply features, and for all apps, you'll get notification summaries. In Safari, you can get summaries of webpages, and you can also get summaries of transcripts in the Notes app, including from phone calls.
• Photos - Photos has "Clean Up" for removing unwanted objects, and Memory Movie for creating slideshows from your images with just a phrase.
• Focus - There's a Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode that only shows you important notifications that need your attention.

For more on all of the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features available today, we have a dedicated guide.

There are also other new additions in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, which will be of particular interest to those who do not have an ‌Apple Intelligence‌ device.

Apple has refined Control Center so you can now split out more connectivity controls, access the Measure app, and more, plus you can record phone calls. To record a call, just tap the button in the left hand corner while the call is in progress. Everyone will be notified, and it'll be added to the Notes app, where you'll get a transcript of what was said.

NFC access is being opened up to third-party apps, allowing for all kinds of new capabilities, including contactless payments that aren't Apple Pay. Apple's full release notes for iOS 18.1 are available below.

Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Writing Tools
- Writing Tools are available nearly everywhere you type, allowing you to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text right in the app you’re working in
- Rewrite suggests different versions of your text so you can choose which combination of flow and wording you like best
- Proofread lets you view suggested improvements to what you’re writing, like grammar fixes and language refinements
- Summarize allows you to select text wherever you’re writing and generate a high-quality summary

Siri
- A new look and feel includes a glowing light that wraps around the edge of your screen, animates responsively to the sound of your voice, and lets you keep scrolling or typing while you talk to Siri
- Type to Siri when you don’t want to speak a request out loud by double tapping at the bottom of the screen
- Richer language understanding enables Siri to follow along if you stumble over your words or change your mind mid-sentence
- Conversational context is maintained over the course of a session, so you can refer more naturally to something you said in a recent request or something Siri mentioned in a recent response
- Product knowledge helps you get answers to thousands of questions about the features and settings on your Apple products
- Voice enhancements make Siri sound more natural, expressive, and clear

Photos
- Photos search lets you find photos and videos simply by describing what you’re looking for
- Clean Up removes distractions in your photos
- Memory movies can be created by describing the story you want to see

Notifications
- Notification summaries make it easy to catch up on your notifications with a glanceable summary of the most important information
- Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that ensures the most urgent notifications get through to you while silencing potential distractions

- Smart Reply in Mail and Messages help you quickly respond to messages with suggested responses
- Priority messages in Mail understands the content of your messages and prioritizes those that require your attention, displaying them at the top of your inbox
- Transcription summaries in Notes give you an intelligently created summary of the transcript from your audio recording or call recording

Phone
- Call recordings and transcriptions let you record live calls and transcribe them in the Notes app, with an automatic announcement that the call is being recorded

Camera
- Camera Control can quickly switch to the front TrueDepth Camera (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
- Spatial photo capture, along with spatial video capture, is available in a new Spatial camera mode (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)

AirPods
- Hearing Test feature provides scientifically-validated hearing test results from the comfort of home (intended for users 18 years or older)
- Hearing Aid feature provides personalized, clinical-grade assistance that is automatically applied to sounds in your environment as well as music, videos, and calls (intended for users 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss)
- Hearing Protection feature helps users minimize exposure to loud environmental noise across listening modes (available in the United States and Canada)
- Features require AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or later. All features may not be available for all countries or regions, for more information visit: https://apple.com/airpods-pro/feature-availability/

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Control Center has new options to add connectivity controls individually and reset your configuration
- RCS Business Messaging lets you connect with businesses over RCS (requires carrier support)
- App Store search lets you use natural language to find what you’re looking for more easily
- Game Center friend invites can be sent directly from the Contacts app and Friend Suggestions, and receivers can see the invites in the inbox in Settings
- Fixes an issue in Podcasts where unplayed episodes are marked as played
- Fixes an issue where videos recorded at 4K 60 while the device is warm could experience stutter while scrubbing the video playback in Photos
- Fixes an issue where digital car keys may not unlock or start a vehicle with passive entry after restoring from a backup or transferring directly from another iPhone
- Fixes an issue where iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro models may unexpectedly restart

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100

Note that some ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like Genmoji, Image Playground, and the much smarter ‌Siri‌ won't be coming until later.

Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.1, the first update to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ operating system that was released in September. ‌macOS Sequoia‌ comes six weeks after the launch of ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.

Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 introduces the first Apple Intelligence features for Macs that are equipped with an M-series chip. Not all ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are available, but the update includes support for Writing Tools, a new Siri design, AI-powered Focus modes, smart replies, and summaries.

Writing Tools can be used across the operating system wherever text can be selected and edited, and the feature supports spell checking, correcting grammar, rewriting your work with a new tone, and summarizing text.

‌‌Siri‌‌ has been updated with a new design that includes a subtle glow around the display, and Type to ‌‌Siri‌‌ means you don't have to speak to ‌‌Siri‌‌ to get answers. ‌‌Siri‌‌‌ can follow along if you stumble over your words, and can maintain context between requests. Safari can summarize articles, and there's a new Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode that intelligently highlights only important notifications.

Smart replies are available in Messages and Mail, plus the Mail app surfaces priority time sensitive messages and puts them at the top of your inbox. Photos has a Memory Movie feature for creating slideshows based on text descriptions, and there is a Clean Up tool for unwanted objects in your photos. Apple's full release notes for the update are below.

This update introduces the first set of features powered by Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that unlocks powerful new ways to communicate, work, and express yourself, all while protecting your data with an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI. This release also includes drag and drop support for iPhone Mirroring and other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.

Apple Intelligence (Mac with M1 and later)

Writing Tools
- Writing Tools are available nearly everywhere you type, allowing you to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text right in the app you're working in
- Rewrite suggests different versions of your text so you can choose which combination of flow and wording you like best
- Proofread lets you view suggested improvements to what you're writing, like grammar fixes and language refinements
- Summarize allows you to select text wherever you're writing and generate a high-quality summary

Siri
- A new look and feel includes a glowing light that wraps around the edge of your screen, animates responsively to the sound of your voice, and lets you keep scrolling or typing while you talk to Siri
- Type to Siri when you don't want to speak a request out loud
- Richer language understanding enables Siri to follow along if you stumble over your words or change your mind mid-sentence
- Conversational context is maintained over the course of a session, so you can refer more naturally to something you said in a recent request or something Siri mentioned in a recent response
- Product knowledge helps you get answers to thousands of questions about the features and settings on your Apple products
- Voice enhancements make Siri sound more natural, expressive, and clear

Photos
- Memory movies can be created by describing the story you want to see
- Photos search lets you find photos and videos simply by describing what you're looking for
- Clean Up removes distractions in your photos

Notifications
- Notification summaries make it easy to catch up on your notifications with a glanceable summary of the most important information
- Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that ensures the most urgent notifications get through to you while silencing potential distractions

Additional Features
- Smart Reply in Mail and Messages help you quickly respond to messages with suggested responses
- Transcription summaries in Notes give you an intelligently created summary of the transcript from your audio recording

iPhone Mirroring
- Drag and drop support lets you seamlessly move files, photos, videos, and more between your Mac and iPhone

AirPods
- Hearing Protection feature helps users minimize exposure to loud environmental noise across listening modes (available in the United States and Canada)
- Features require AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or later. All features may not be available for all countries or regions, for more information visit: https://apple.com/airpods-pro/feature-availability/

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Option to automatically download and install games and apps to an external disk drive
- Game Center friend invites can be sent directly from the Contacts app and Friend Suggestions and receivers can see the invites in the inbox in Settings

More information on all of the new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 can be found in our Apple Intelligence guide.

Apple today released watchOS 11.1, the first major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.1 comes one month after Apple released watchOS 11. watchOS 11.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2.

watchOS 11.1 can be downloaded on an iPhone running iOS 18.1 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 11.1 adds improvements and bug fixes, including a fix for an issue with writing breathing disturbances data to HealthKit for some users.

More of the features available in watchOS 11 can be found in our watchOS 11 roundup.

Apple today released tvOS 18.1, the newest version of the tvOS 18 operating system that came out in September. tvOS 18.1 comes over a month after Apple released tvOS 18, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and the ‌Apple TV‌ HD models.

tvOS 18.1 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 18.1 automatically.

tvOS updates are often minor in scale, and tvOS 18.1 doesn't seem to be an exception.

Apple still hasn't added the 21:9 aspect ratio for projectors or the new Snoopy screensavers that it promised at WWDC, but those features were not in tvOS 18.1 during the beta testing process, and we don't know what's new.

Apple shares release notes for tvOS in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each new version of tvOS comes out, so that should give us some insight into what's included in tvOS 18.1.

Apple today released visionOS 2.1, the first update to the visionOS 2 operating system that came out in September. visionOS 2.1 comes a month after the launch of ‌visionOS 2‌, and eight months after the release of the Vision Pro headset.

visionOS 2.1 can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option.

To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the front EyeSight display.

According to Apple's release notes, visionOS 2.1 includes bug fixes and security updates, and the software is recommended for all users.

More information on the Vision Pro and ‌visionOS 2‌ can be found in our roundup.

Alongside the new iMac, Apple announced updated versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad. The accessories are now equipped with USB-C charging ports, whereas the previous models used Lightning. Apple includes the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box with the iMac, and the Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade.

"Every iMac comes with a color-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse or optional Magic Trackpad, all of which now feature a USB-C port, so users can charge their favorite devices with a single cable," said Apple, in a press release.

There does not appear to be any other changes to the Magic accessories beyond the switch to USB-C. Yes, that means the Magic Mouse's charging port remains located on the bottom of the mouse, as confirmed in Apple's video for the new iMac.

Some of the Magic accessories with USB-C ports are also sold separately:

• Magic Mouse in White or Black
• Magic Keyboard
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad in White or Black
• Magic Trackpad in White or Black

Apple also continues to sell the older Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad with a Lightning charging port, but it lacks a Touch ID button. All other Lightning-based Magic accessories appear to have been discontinued today.

The updated accessories can be ordered today.

Apple today announced that it has updated the 24-inch iMac with the M4 chip, which debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year. This upgrade comes around one year after the previous iMac with the M3 chip was released.

As expected, the M4 chip in the iMac is available with up to a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. Apple says the iMac with the M4 chip is up to 1.7x faster for daily productivity tasks, and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, compared to the iMac with the M1 chip. In the iPad Pro, the M4 chip is up to 25% faster than the M3 chip, and this year-over-year improvement should be similar for the iMac.

All variants of the M4 chip have a faster 16-core Neural Engine that boosts the performance of Apple Intelligence, but keep in mind that Apple Intelligence is also available on previous-generation iMac models with the M1 and M3 chips.

The new iMac comes with a minimum of 16GB of RAM, compared to 8GB for the previous base model, which likely confirms a rumor that 16GB of RAM will be the new minimum for many or all new Macs going forward. The computer can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM, and it continues to be available with up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Apple has upgraded the iMac with a 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support that keeps you centered in the frame. There is also a Desk View feature that shows your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time.

While the iMac has not received any major design changes, Apple has introduced new color options for the all-in-one desktop computer, including "fresh shades" of green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue, alongside the classic silver. In addition, the iMac can now be configured with a nano-texture display, which has a special coating that better scatters light to further minimize glare on the screen. Apple had previously offered the 2020 model of the Intel-based 27-inch iMac with a nano-texture display option, but this is the first time it has been offered for an Apple silicon version of the computer.

All four rear USB-C ports on higher-end iMac configurations with the 10-core M4 chip now support Thunderbolt 4, compared to two Thunderbolt 3 ports and two USB-C ports on the previous model. The base model iMac with the 8-core M4 chip has two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

When configured with the M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the new iMac supports up to an 8K external display at 120Hz, or two 6K displays at 60Hz.

Alongside the new iMac, Apple announced updated versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad. The accessories are now equipped with USB-C charging ports, whereas the previous models used Lightning. Apple includes the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box with the iMac, and the Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade.

The new iMac is available to pre-order starting today, and it will be available beginning Friday, November 8. In the U.S. pricing starts at $1,299.

Apple today adjusted some of its Mac trade-in values, with some increasing and others decreasing depending on the model. These changes come just ahead of Apple's promised exciting week of Mac-related announcements, with the company expected to unveil new MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini models with the M4 family of chips.

Apple's latest trade-in values are listed below.

• MacBook Pro: Up to $875 (vs. up to $865)
• MacBook Air: Up to $445 (vs. up to $465)
• MacBook: Up to $90 (vs. up to $90)
• iMac: Up to $305 (vs. up to $315)
• iMac Pro: Up to $420 (vs. up to $420)
• Mac mini: Up to $365 (vs. up to $385)
• Mac Studio: Up to $1,170 (vs. up to $1,190)
• Mac Pro: Up to $700 (vs. up to $730)

More details are available on Apple's trade-in page.

Apple recently confirmed that iOS 18.1 will be widely released to the public this week. The software update includes the first Apple Intelligence features for iPhone 15 Pro models and all iPhone 16 models, a set of hearing health features for the AirPods Pro 2, phone call recording on the iPhone XS and newer, and more.

Ahead of iOS 18.1 being released, Apple is already advertising Apple Intelligence as being "here" in a Reddit ad, hinting at the update's imminent availability.

Here are some of the key Apple Intelligence features coming with iOS 18.1:

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

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

Apple Intelligence will gain more features and support for additional languages on a gradual basis between iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.4. iOS 18.2 is already in beta, and it adds Apple Intelligence features such as Genmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand, and ChatGPT integration for Siri, as well as Visual Intelligence exclusively on all iPhone 16 models. iOS 18.2 is expected to be widely released to the public in December.

iOS 18.1 supports the same iPhone models as iOS 17 does, but Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model. On iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence is available in U.S. English only, with more localized English languages for the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa coming with iOS 18.2. Additional languages like German, Italian, and Korean will follow next year.

Nintendo on December 2 will release Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete, a paid offline version of the iOS game that existing users will be able to play after the original is shut down.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a freemium app that Nintendo has regularly been adding new content to over the last seven years, so there are players with money invested in the game. There are no more events or updates, with the Pocket Camp service set to be discontinued on November 29, but the paid offline version will allow saves to be transferred over.

The new paid version includes all the content added since the free online version of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was released in 2017. The gameplay is virtually identical to the previous version, but without in-app purchases or the ability to interact with other human players. Existing users can transfer their saved data from the previous version to the offline variant until June 2, 2025. Transferring a Pocket Camp save to the new app requires linking to a Nintendo Account.

The offline version will include new content, including the ability to create a Camper Card for players to introduce themselves to other players. The cards can be scanned for collecting and exchanging. There is also a new location to visit, called Whistle Pass, where players whose cards have been scanned come to visit. Nintendo says this is an alternative to the existing online mode, where players visit each other's camping spot.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete can now be pre-ordered in the App Store and is a one-time $9.99 purchase until January 31, 2025, when the price will go up to $19.99. The game will be playable from December 2, 2024, while the online servers of the existing free game will close on November 29.

Update: December 3 was the launch date originally given in Nintendo's marketing materials, but a press release published this morning on behalf of the company states that the game will be released on December 2. This article has subsequently been updated.