MacRumors

Best Buy is discounting a huge collection of M4 iPad Pro tablets this week, with multiple all-time low prices across both 11-inch and 13-inch models. The majority of these deals will require a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, but there are some that are available to all shoppers.

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.

In total, you'll find as much as $200 off these tablets on Best Buy this week, and deals include both Wi-Fi only and cellular M4 iPad Pros. Additionally, we're tracking deals on a few Nano-Texture Glass models. Many of the tablets can still be delivered in time for Christmas, and Best Buy has same-day pick-up available as well.

My Best Buy Plus is priced at $49.99 per year and it includes exclusive member prices on thousands of items, like these M4 iPad Pros. You'll also get an extended 60-day return window on most products when you sign up for the service.

11-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,049.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,849.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,949.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]

11-Inch iPad Pro - Cellular

• 256GB Cellular - $1,049.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 1TB Cellular - $1,649.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 1TB Cellular with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,749.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]
• 2TB Cellular - $2,049.00 ($150 off) [Best Buy members only]

13-Inch iPad Pro - Wi-Fi

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00 ($200 off)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,299.00 ($200 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.00 ($200 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,799.00 ($200 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off)

13-Inch iPad Pro - Cellular

• 256GB Cellular - $1,299.00 ($200 off)
• 512GB Cellular - $1,499.00 ($200 off)
• 1TB Cellular with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,999.00 ($200 off)
• 2TB Cellular - $2,299.00 ($200 off)

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.

As part of his ongoing visit to the United Kingdom, Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday hosted His Majesty King Charles III at its headquarters in Battersea Power Station.

During the visit, Cook welcomed King Charles to Apple's campus in the iconic Battersea Power Station, a recently restored historic building that became home to Apple's UK operations in 2023. Battersea Power Station's conversion into Apple's UK headquarters represents a significant step up in the company's presence in London. The historic building, once a coal-fired power station designed to supply west London with electricity, has been transformed from a derelict building into a modern office campus that houses over 1,400 employees.

The King toured the facility, meeting Apple employees, students from local schools, and members of the British creative community. The visit included a showcase of Apple's educational initiatives in collaboration with The King's Trust, a UK-based nonprofit, with a focus on providing young people with educational opportunities and skills development.

Young people affiliated with the charity demonstrated coding projects they developed using Apple's tools and resources. Children from nearby St. George's Primary School also participated, creating holiday-themed artwork on iPads, which were later projected onto Battersea Power Station's iconic chimneys.

We were honored to welcome His Majesty King Charles to Apple Battersea — our home in the UK — and we're proud to support The King's Trust in its vital work educating and empowering young people. We look forward to our continued growth here, building on more than 40 years of history in the United Kingdom.

The event concluded with a community-focused holiday concert by award-winning British musician RAYE, held in the atrium of Battersea Power Station. Cook also presented King Charles with an etched plaque to commemorate his visit.

Apple's engagement with the UK creative sector was also highlighted by a recent collaboration with Aardman, the acclaimed animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit. The two entities partnered to create a stop-motion animation using the iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera system. The short film started being projected onto Battersea Power Station's chimneys earlier this month.

Apple will begin making AirPods in India for the first time early next year, reports Bloomberg. Foxconn will make the wireless earphones at a factory near Hyderabad in Telangana state, beginning around Q1 2025.

The factory has reportedly been making AirPods on a trial basis, with manufacturing set to ramp up quickly after production begins. It will make AirPods only the second major Apple product to be assembled in India after the iPhone.

The decision to set up production in India was requested by Apple back in 2023, according to a previous report. Foxconn officials apparently debated internally for months about whether to assemble AirPods due to the relatively low profit margins, but ultimately decided to go ahead with it to "reinforce engagement" with Apple.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government offers financial incentives to companies that produce wireless earphones and smartwatches locally, which influenced Apple's decision to move manufacturing there. The move is also part of Apple's plan to reduce its production reliance on China amid rising geopolitical tensions between the country and the United States.

Last year, Apple supplier Jabil began making AirPods enclosures in India for shipping to China and Vietnam, where the earphones are currently assembled. According to Bloomberg's sources, exports of Apple iPhones from India jumped by a third in the six months through September, reaching nearly $6 billion. Most of the AirPods to be assembled in India next year will likely also be shipped to other markets.

Apple's rumored new iPhone 17 Air model has entered the new product introduction phase (NPI) at Foxconn, according to supply chain sources (via DigiTimes).

The NPI phase transitions a product from concept to mass production, beginning with design validation and prototype testing, followed by supplier qualification and manufacturing process development. Pilot production runs test the assembly and refine quality control, while aligning logistics with the supply chain, with the ultimate aim of ramping up to full-scale manufacturing.

The iPhone 17 Air is expected to replace the Plus model in Apple's lineup and will reportedly offer a significantly slimmer design that current iPhone models. The handset will be about two millimeters thinner than the current iPhone 16 Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

As for size, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to fall somewhere between the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Separate rumors have claimed 6.55 inches, 6.6 inches, and 6.65 inches as the display size that Apple has settled on, which would make it smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but larger than the 17 Pro.

Apple is expected to equip the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air with its own custom-designed 5G modem chip, which is smaller than 5G modem chips from Qualcomm. Apple has focused on making the chip more integrated with other Apple-designed components to save space within the ‌iPhone‌ without sacrificing battery life or display quality, according to Gurman.

Meanwhile, the rear camera will be relocated from the upper left side of the iPhone to the center of the device, as part of a "large, centred camera bump," according to The Information. Analyst Jeff Pu believes it will feature a single 48-megapixel lens.

The iPhone 17 Air will debut next year alongside a standard iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max – the Pro models of which are said to have significant design changes of their own.

WhatsApp has announced some improvements to its calling features across desktop and mobile platforms ahead of the holiday season, such as the ability to choose participants from group chats, use new effects on calls, and take advantage of higher resolution video.

The ability to select specific participants when initiating a call from a group chat aims to let users avoid disturbing the entire group, and could be helpful for coordinating surprise events or private discussions within larger group contexts.

The update also brings ten new video effects to make calls more fun and engaging, ranging from playful puppy ear filters to underwater themes and karaoke microphone effects.

In addition, WhatsApp says desktop users will benefit from a reorganized calls interface that should streamline the process of starting calls, creating call links, or dialing numbers directly from the desktop app. Lastly, the Meta-owned company has also enhanced video call quality across both one-on-one and group calls, regardless of whether users are connecting from desktop or mobile devices.

With iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, Apple added a new feature to the Find My app that's designed to let you share a lost item's location with a trusted person. The feature is meant to help you locate an item through a third-party, such as an airline's customer service staff.

The ‌Find My‌ app has an option to "Share Item Location" and "Show Contact Info." If you choose the Share Item Location option, a link is created that lets someone see the location of a lost item when they open it up. Links can be opened on a non-Apple device using a web browser, so people without an iPhone, iPad, or Mac can help you locate something that's lost.

‌Find My‌ links that you share expire after a one-week period, and you can see how many people have viewed a link. Shared links stop working when an item is returned to you, when the link sharing date expires, or when you opt to stop sharing the location of an item. Share Item Location is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous, so Apple and accessory manufacturers are not able to view an item's location or information.

Tapping on the Show Contact Info option lets any phone, computer, or tablet connect to a lost item to open a website with more information about it, including the phone number and email address of the person who owns it. You can use this feature to provide details about an item that you've lost, or to view details about an item you've found that you want to return to its owner.

While ‌Find My‌ already allowed you to share an item with a person in your Contacts list, the Share Item Location feature in iOS 18.2 gives you a way to temporarily show an item's location to someone else who might be able to help you find it. It works with AirTags and other devices that connect to Apple's ‌Find My‌ network.

As of right now, United Airlines and Air Canada have implemented support for the ‌Find My‌ Share Item Location feature for lost bags, and Apple says that additional airlines plan to implement support "soon." With direct airline support, airline employees will know what steps to follow to get a lost item such as luggage back to its owner with the help of ‌Find My‌.

United Airlines, for example, has created an entire workflow for reporting a bag that has an AirTag. If a bag does not arrive, customers can file a delayed baggage report, and those that have an ‌AirTag‌ can add a Share Item Location link to the report.

United customer service airlines are able to see the Share Item Location link and view the location of the item on an interactive map. United says that its employees will use the location to more quickly find delayed bags.

Airlines that plan to implement support for Shared Item Location for lost or mishandled bags include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling.

Google today announced the launch of Android XR, an operating system created for extended reality (XR) headsets and smart glasses. Android XR is Google's equivalent of visionOS, the operating system that runs on the Apple Vision Pro headset.

Android XR is designed for the "next generation of computing," and Google has teamed up with Samsung for the operating system. Google is providing a preview of Android XR to developers as of today, allowing them to start building apps and games for future Android XR devices that will compete with the Vision Pro and VR headsets from Meta.

The first headset that runs Android XR will be designed by Samsung, and it is set to launch in 2025. Android XR and Samsung's headset will support being fully immersed in a virtual environment or staying present in the real world, similar to how Apple allows ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ users to adjust the Vision Pro immersion level by activating or shutting out the real world view provided by cameras.

Android XR will include Gemini, Google's AI assistant, and it will offer device controls and insight into what the wearer is seeing. Google says that Gemini will be able to help users plan, research topics, and get task guidance. YouTube will be available to watch on a "virtual big screen," and Google Photos will support 3D images. An immersive view will be available for Google Maps, and Chrome will support multiple virtual screens for multitasking.

Google says that mobile and tablet apps from Google Play will work with Android XR "right out of the box," with more immersive content made for XR coming in 2025.

As for smart glasses, Android XR will provide one-tap access to Google Gemini. Google is planning to test prototype glasses running Android XR with a small group of users in the near future.

YouTube today sent out emails to YouTube TV subscribers, letting them know about an upcoming price increase for the service. Starting on January 13, 2025, YouTube TV will cost $82.99 per month for the base plan, up from $72.99 per month.

Prices are increasing so that YouTube can "keep up with the rising cost of content" and investments in the quality of its service. YouTube says that it is committed to bringing features like unlimited DVR storage and multiview to customers.

YouTube TV subscribers can expect their YouTube TV Base Plan subscription prices to go up in their first billing cycle on or after January 13, 2025. Customers that are on a trial or a promotional price for the Base Plan will have the promotion honored with no changes.

YouTube TV is YouTube's live television subscription offering that shows live TV programming. While the base plan is now $82.99, subscribers can also add on 4K viewing for an additional $9.99, premium channels starting at $1.99 per month, NFL RedZone for $10.99 per month, Spanish TV for $14.99 per month, and Max, Paramount+, Showtime, and Starz for $29.99 per month.

At launch in 2018, YouTube TV was priced at just $35 per month, but pricing went up to $50 per month in 2019. In 2020, YouTube TV's price was raised to $64.99, and it went up to $72.99 in 2023.

Customers who want to share feedback about YouTube TV's price increase can do so on the YouTube TV support site.

Apple's website continues to state that the first vehicle models with support for next-generation CarPlay will "arrive in 2024," but with less than three weeks remaining in the year, time is running short for the company to meet that objective.

One reason to remain optimistic is that a similar situation played out last year. Apple said the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay would be previewed in late 2023, and while that seemed more and more unlikely as the year-end approached, Aston Martin and Porsche finally shared some dashboard concepts on December 20. Just in time!

That's all we have, so far, though. Concepts, leaks, and promises.

Aston Martin last year said next-generation CarPlay would be available in its DB12 sports car, but it has not shared any specific plans. Meanwhile, Porsche told us it had no imminent plans to launch next-generation CarPlay as of late November.

It has now been more than two and a half years since Apple first announced next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has yet to launch.

Apple has not publicly commented on next-generation CarPlay in a long time, but it has continued to make preparations behind the scenes. Last month, for example, a few redesigned next-generation CarPlay icons appeared in iOS 18.2 code. However, iOS 18.2 was released earlier this week, and there is still no sign of the new CarPlay.

Apple also filed to protect its next-generation CarPlay designs in the European Union last month.

When it first announced next-generation CarPlay a few years ago, Apple promised deeper integration with the instrument cluster and climate controls, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, a dedicated FM radio app, widgets, and more. The interface would be tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's brand identity.

Next-generation CarPlay is expected to be available in new vehicles only. It will not be an update for standard CarPlay.

Here is how Apple describes it:

This next generation of CarPlay is the ultimate iPhone experience for the car. It provides content for all the driver's screens including the instrument cluster. This ensures a cohesive design experience that is the very best of your car and your iPhone — with designs for each automaker that express your vehicle’s character and brand. Vehicle functions like radio and temperature controls are handled right from CarPlay. And personalization options ranging from widgets to selecting curated gauge cluster designs make it unique to the driver.

During its initial announcement, Apple said committed automakers included Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, and Volvo. Aston Martin was announced later. It is unclear if that list remains accurate, however, as some automakers have since expressed hesitation about ceding the in-vehicle software experience to Apple. That doesn't guarantee that next-generation CarPlay is dead in the water, but the list of partners could end up being smaller.

Apple has not responded to our several requests for comment about next-generation CarPlay this year, but as of now its website still promises a 2024 launch. Apple and car makers have 19 days remaining to pull off the feat within that timeframe.

Do you think Apple will ever launch next-generation CarPlay, or are you convinced it is vaporware? Let us know in the comments section.

Apple today updated Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for Mac and iOS with support for Apple Intelligence features like ChatGPT Siri integration, Writing Tools, and Image Playground that were largely introduced in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2.

All three apps support Writing Tools for proofreading, summarizing, rewriting, and composing text, with the latter feature relying on ChatGPT. ‌Siri‌ is able to use ChatGPT to answer questions about what's in presentations, documents, and spreadsheets.

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote also offer ‌Image Playground‌ support, so there is now an option to create original images that can be used in iWork documents.

All of the new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features require a device that's capable of ‌Apple Intelligence‌. That includes the iPhone 15 Pro models, all iPhone 16 models, Macs with an Apple silicon chip, iPads with an Apple silicon chip, and the iPad mini 7.

Apple's iWork apps for iOS devices and Macs are free to download and use.

Anker recently kicked off a big holiday sale, which is set to run through Christmas day. This sale includes notable discounts on portable chargers, USB-C hubs, cables, and more.

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

There are a few bonus offers during this event as well, including festive gift bundles aimed at family members, friends, and co-workers. If you enter your email on the sale's landing page, you can unwrap a mystery gift that includes either a portable battery or up to a 20 percent off coupon.

This sale also includes some Amazon discounts, with a new all-time low price on the popular 60,000 mAh Power Station with Smart Digital Display and Retractable Lighting. You can get this accessory for just $79.99 with an on-page coupon this week, down from $139.99.

Finally, it's worth noting that MacRumors readers can still get 20 percent off Anker accessories through the end of the year. Anker's current holiday event beats this discount most of the time, but if you find a product not on sale it will be worth entering our code at checkout.

In order to get this deal, head to Anker's website and add an accessory to your cart, then enter the code akmacrumors20ch at checkout to see the discount. Our exclusive 20 percent off code works on most accessories sitewide, including Anker's new line of MagSafe-compatible products. Our code does not stack with any existing offers, including the holiday deals.

Prime Chargers

• Prime Charger (100W, 3 Ports) - $45.99, down from $84.99
• Prime Power Bank - $74.99, down from $89.99
• Prime Charging Station (8-in-1) - $98.99, down from $164.99
• Prime Charger (250W, 6 Ports, GaNPrime) - $109.99, down from $169.99
• Prime Power Bank 27,650 mAh - $129.99, down from $179.99

Wireless Chargers

• MagGo 3-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Station - $81.00, down from $89.99
• MagGo Wireless Charger Stand - $28.79, down from $35.99
• MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand - $35.99, down from $49.99
• MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Dock Stand - $37.49, down from $49.99
• 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe - $103.99, down from $129.99

Power Banks

• 24,000 mAh PowerCore 537 - $55.90, down from $65.33
• 24,000 mAh PowerCore 737 - $74.99, down from $89.99
• 60,000 mAh Power Station With Display and Lantern - $79.99 with on-page coupon, down from $138.99

Accessories

• MagGo USB-C Adapter - $22.99, down from $34.99

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.

Apple plans to refresh both the Apple TV and the HomePod mini in 2025 as part of a major push into refreshing its smart home product offerings, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In a report on an upcoming Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, Gurman says that the chip will be introduced in a new ‌Apple TV‌ and ‌HomePod mini‌ that are "scheduled" for 2025. While there is no exact timeline included, Gurman separately mentions that the chip will be included in iPhones "later next year," which suggests it will come to the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌Apple TV‌ before the September timeframe.

The component will support Wi-Fi 6E, though Apple may not be able to match all of Broadcom's chip capabilities with the first-generation in-house Wi-Fi chip.

Adopting a custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip will allow Apple's upcoming smart home devices to work better together and perhaps "synchronize data more quickly."

Apple is also working on a home hub "Command Center" that's set to come out in 2025, but it's not clear if that device will use the custom chip. The Command Center will have a 6-inch display with a built-in speaker and camera, and it will be able to control smart home devices, make video calls, and more.

Apple is switching over to a new Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip that it designed in-house starting in 2025, reports Bloomberg. The combined Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip will replace components from Broadcom, allowing Apple to reduce its reliance on the company.

The chip, referred to as "Proxima" internally, will be introduced in Apple products starting in 2025. It will come to the iPhone 17 models, the Apple TV, and HomePod mini to begin with, and to the iPad and the Mac in 2026.

Apple's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip is distinct from the 5G modem chip that Apple is also designing, but eventually, Apple wants to combine these into a single component. The overarching goal is to create a wireless setup where the components are tightly integrated and more energy efficient, allowing Apple to cut down on the battery use of cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies.

Apple will also be able to create thinner devices and new wearable technology with the custom chips that it is creating.

Like Qualcomm, Broadcom is a company that has long supplied components to Apple for its devices. Apple does not want to continue to rely so heavily on parts from either Qualcomm or Broadcom, and it will also start phasing out Qualcomm modems in 2025. The iPhone SE, low-end ‌iPad‌, and iPhone 17 Air are set to adopt Apple's custom 5G modem.

Apple won't be able to stop using components from Broadcom entirely, and it will still use a Broadcom-designed radio frequency filter for modems. Apple is also working with Broadcom on future cloud server chips.

ResMed, a company known for medical devices like CPAP machines, today announced the launch of the Kontor Head Strap, a new accessory designed for the Vision Pro.

The Kontor Head Strap was created to balance softness and support for extended wear time when using the Vision Pro. ResMed says that it uses "ultra-premium" materials that are gentle on the skin, with the device offering six modular counterweights to better balance the Vision Pro's weight on the head.

"Over the last 35 years, our team has constantly pushed the innovation boundaries to create life-changing health technologies that people love," said Justin Leong, Chief Product Officer for ResMed. "With our deep knowledge in engineering head-worn products, we are excited to bring our expertise to designing lightweight and comfortable facial interfaces to the Apple Vision Pro community through the Kontor Head Strap."

The Kontor Head Strap was created from thousands of 3D head and facial scans to provide comfort and stability to Vision Pro wearers. It is available in two sizes, including standard for users that wear a medium or large Dual Loop Band, and small for users who wear a small Dual Loop Band.

Apple is selling the Kontor Head Strap for $120, and it will arrive to customers starting in January. More information is available on ResMed's website.

Apple last updated the Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip in June 2023. Below, we outline when to expect the high-end desktop tower to be updated next.

In short, the latest rumors about the Mac Pro indicate the computer will be updated with an as-yet-unannounced M4 Ultra chip in the second half of 2025.

Mac Pro: Timing

• When was the current model released? June 2023
• When is a new model expected? The second half of 2025, likely October to December

Mac Pro: What to Know

Apple last updated the Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip at WWDC in June 2023, but the desktop tower's overall design remains unchanged since 2019.

A new Mac Pro will launch in the second half of 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. If so, it seems likely that Apple will announce the next Mac Pro at some point from October through December next year. October is a common month for Mac announcements, and the Mac Pro has been updated in December twice since 2013.

Gurman said the new Mac Pro will be equipped with an M4 Ultra chip, which should offer significant CPU performance improvements over the M2 Ultra chip. The Mac Pro would also gain hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved graphics rendering in games, a technology that was introduced with the M3 series of chips. Plus, Gurman said the next Mac Pro could support up to 512GB of RAM, up from the current limit of 192GB.

No other major upgrades or design changes have been rumored for the next Mac Pro yet.

For several years, it has been rumored that Apple has explored a high-end, so-called "Extreme" chip for the Mac Pro. This chip would effectively be a "quadrupled" version of the Max chip for Macs. For example, a 16-core CPU would become a 64-core CPU. However, Gurman said Apple canceled plans for an "M2 Extreme" chip a few years ago, and The Information recently reported that Apple abandoned plans for another "quadrupled" chip this "past summer." While we reported that this could make an "M4 Extreme" chip unlikely, Daring Fireball's John Gruber made a good point about how there is a long, multi-year gap between Apple designing and shipping new chips, so it is possible the latest chip canceled actually would have been an "M5 Extreme" chip or later if development was only recently ended.

If there ends up being no "Extreme" chip for the next several years, then the Mac Pro might continue to lack major differences compared to the Mac Studio, which is also expected to be updated with the M4 Ultra chip next year. As of now, the Mac Pro is essentially a larger, more expensive version of the Mac Studio with PCIe expansion slots.

If you are currently in the market for a Mac Pro, we certainly recommend waiting for the new model, as the M4 Max chip in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models is up to 25% faster than the M2 Ultra in the current Mac Pro.

MacRumors Buyer's Guide

Check out our MacRumors Buyer's Guide to keep track of when Macs and other Apple products were released, and when they are likely to be updated next.

In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. As noted by one of our readers Jack, the feature also launched in Puerto Rico this week.

Below, we outline which U.S. states and territories offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in the feature in the future.

Supported Locations

• Arizona (since March 2022)
• Maryland (since May 2022)
• Colorado (since November 2022)
• Georgia (since May 2023)
• Ohio (since July 2024)
• Hawaii (since August 2024)
• California (since September 2024)
• Iowa (since October 2024)
• New Mexico (since December 2024)
• Puerto Rico (since December 2024)

Committed Locations

In September, Apple announced that the following two states had "signed on" to adopt the feature in the future, but it did not provide a timeframe:

• Montana
• West Virginia

West Virginia launched a mobile ID app on the iPhone this week, and said its mobile ID will expand to digital wallets in the "near future."

In March 2022, Apple listed other states that were committed to offering the feature, and some have followed through since then. The remaining ones:

• Connecticut
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• Utah

The feature will also work with Japan's My Number Card in the future, according to Apple.

Participating Airports

Apple Wallet app IDs can be used at select TSA checkpoints within select U.S. airports:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
• Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
• Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
• Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
• Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)
• Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

Apple says travelers should refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability of the feature, and the TSA's website offers more details.

In addition to participating TSA checkpoints, Apple in September announced that users would soon be able to present an Apple Wallet ID for CLEAR member enrollment at airports. Apple Wallet IDs can also be used to show proof of age or identity at select businesses and venues in the U.S., although Apple does not maintain a list of specific locations for this.

Amazon is taking $80 off a huge collection of Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatches this week, including the new Black models. You can get these devices for $719.00, down from $799.00, and many have guaranteed Christmas delivery on Amazon.

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

The sale includes models with the Ocean Band, Trail Loop, and Alpine Loop, and you'll also find a few of the Natural case color as well, all priced at $719.00. If you're interested in the model with the Milanese Loop, it's on sale for $819.99, down from $899.00.

Black

• Black Case with Black Ocean Band
• Black Case with Black Trail Loop (M/L)
• Black Case with Black Trail Loop (S/M)
• Black Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (L)
• Black Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (M)
• Black Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (S)

Natural

• Natural with Blue Trail Loop (M/L)
• Natural with Blue Trail Loop (S/M)
• Natural with Navy Ocean Band
• Natural with Tan Alpine Loop (L)
• Natural with Tan Alpine Loop (M)
• Natural with Tan Alpine Loop (S)

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Health Canada on Wednesday issued Apple licenses for the hearing aid and hearing test features available on the AirPods Pro 2. Apple is now permitted to launch these features in Canada, and that will likely happen in the coming months.

With the clinical-grade hearing aid feature, AirPods Pro 2 can amplify the sound around you. The feature is intended for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, according to Apple. There is no additional cost to use the feature in countries where it is available, as it is rolling out through free software updates.

Meanwhile, the five-minute hearing test allows adults to identify if they have hearing loss by measuring their ability to hear different frequencies of sound. Afterwards, the results will show a hearing loss classification and recommended next steps.

The hearing health features first launched in the U.S. and select other countries in late October. The just-released iOS 18.2 update for the iPhone expanded the hearing test feature to France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Czechia, and the UK, and both the hearing aid and hearing test features to the United Arab Emirates.

There is also a hearing protection feature on the AirPods Pro 2 that is already available in Canada.

All of the hearing health features on the AirPods Pro 2 require firmware version 7B19 or newer. Firmware updates are installed automatically on AirPods while they are charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi-Fi.

The hearing aid and hearing test features could launch in Canada with the release of iOS 18.3 in January, or with iOS 18.4 in April.