Amazon is discounting a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini this weekend, starting at $499.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $129 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.

mac mini blueNote: 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.

In terms of the 16GB/256GB SSD model, this is a solid second-best price. You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $689.00, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $889.99, down from $999.00.




Apple last updated the Mac mini in late 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. 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 in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

We have our first Apple product announcement of 2026, and it's a software subscription known as Apple Creator Studio featuring Apple's video, audio, and image editing apps, as well as some AI-powered features and premium content for iWork apps and Freeform.

top stories 2026 01 17
In other news this week, Apple made it official that next-generation Siri will leverage Google Gemini, while we got the second round of betas for iOS 26.3 and other updates, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Top Stories

Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year

Apple this week introduced a new Apple Creator Studio bundle that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year.

Apple Creator Studio
Apps in the bundle include Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro for both Mac and iPad, plus Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on Mac. It also includes some premium content and features for Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Freeform.

As noted, Pixelmator Pro for iPad is included in Apple Creator Studio, and that's a new app making its way from the Mac to a tablet-optimized experience. The existing basic Pixelmator app for iPhone and iPad will, however, no longer be updated.

Apple will continue to offer standalone versions of its pro apps alongside the Creator Studio subscription option, but some content and perhaps some new features may not come to the standalone versions, though they will continue to be updated and receive at least some new features.

Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year

Apple and Google this week confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year. "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," the statement said.

siri gemini iphone
It appears the partnership, which is reportedly worth billions of dollars, will extend beyond next-generation Siri, with the companies noting the models will "help power future Apple Intelligence features" including Siri.

Apple Is Expected to Launch These Four MacBooks in 2026

2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop.

2026 macbooks thumb
Check out our overview of everything we might see in the MacBook lineup this year, with some speculating we could see the first of the releases before the end of this month.

Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far

Following a holiday break, Apple this week seeded a second round of betas for iOS 26.3 and related operating system updates. Among the most notable changes in the latest iOS 26.3 is new references to end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages.

iOS 26
Support for E2EE on RCS would seemingly be part of a larger upgrade to RCS messaging on Apple platforms that would bring the texting experience closer to that of iMessage with several new features.

Beyond potential RCS changes, be sure to check out our full list of everything new in iOS 26.3 so far. We're expecting a public release around the end of this month.

Verizon Goes Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage

Verizon experienced a major outage across the U.S. on Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There were also numerous complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms.

Verizon New
The outage lasted for many hours, with Verizon issuing an apology as service started to come back online. Affected customers can redeem a $20 credit as part of the apology.

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices.

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple
In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous rumors, the leaker claimed that both of the models will have a breakthrough new feature: under-screen Face ID.

As for the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2, the leaker expects those devices to have a Dynamic Island, and the same 6.3-inch and 6.5-inch display sizes as the equivalent previous-generation models, respectively.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Apple recently announced that its environmental chief Lisa Jackson would be retiring this month, and today she was removed from the company's leadership page.

Apple Lisa Jackson
Since 2013, Jackson served as Apple's Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In this role, she oversaw Apple's renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. Apple aims to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030.

Jackson also led Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, and she was responsible for the company's worldwide Government Affairs team.

"I am deeply appreciative of Lisa's contributions," said Cook. "She has been instrumental in helping us reduce our global greenhouse emissions by more than 60 percent compared to 2015 levels. She has also been a critical strategic partner in engaging governments around the world, advocating for the best interests of our users on a myriad of topics, as well as advancing our values, from education and accessibility to privacy and security."

Prior to Apple, Jackson served as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, during President Barack Obama's first term.

Following Jackson's retirement, Apple said that its Environment and Social Initiatives teams would report to the company's operations chief Sabih Khan, while oversight of the Government Affairs team is transitioning to Apple's general counsel.

Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes.

Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest.

A new iPad Air is expected to be released this year, but Gurman said it will have an LCD display. He expects a subsequent iPad Air model to have an OLED display, suggesting that the device will not adopt the technology until at least 2027.

Last month, the South Korean publication The Elec reported that Apple is planning to release a 24-inch iMac with an OLED display in 2027 or 2028.

All in all, here is when each device is expected to get an OLED display:

  • iPad mini: 2026
  • MacBook Pro: Late 2026 or 2027
  • iPad Air: 2027
  • iMac: 2027 or 2028
  • MacBook Air: 2028

OLED displays have better overall image quality compared to LCD displays, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks.

All of the new iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro models that Apple sells today already have OLED displays, while the Apple Vision Pro has micro-OLED displays.

Related Forums: iMac, iPad, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

Apple's Sainte-Catherine store in Montréal, Canada has a new home at the northeast corner of Rue Saint-Catherine and Rue de la Montagne. The location officially opened to the public today, and the first people who visited received a complimentary tote bag and toque (the Canadian term for what Americans call a beanie), the latter of which will come in handy given Montréal's temperature is currently hovering around -15ºC (5ºF).

New Apple Store Sainte Catherine 2026
The store spans the first floor of a historic building that was extensively renovated for Apple. The second and third floors are not accessible to customers.

The new space is more than double the size of Apple's original location on Rue Saint-Catherine, which is now permanently closed. There are side-by-side counters for the Genius Bar and Apple Pickup, where customers can receive technical support and collect items they ordered through Apple's online store, respectively.

Apple Sainte Catherine Tote BagPhoto Credit: Tomy

The interior design of the store is familiar, but there are a few unique elements, including the entrance and a curved wood ceiling. Apple says the store's façade blends historic Saint-Marc stone from Québec with local granite, while local copper artisans extensively restored the cornice that tops the building.

To celebrate the store, Apple shared a custom Mac and iPhone wallpaper on its website.

At the store, customers who make a purchase can receive a complimentary Apple Store shopping bag with an illustration by Montréal-based artist Catherine Potvin this Saturday, January 17, between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time.

Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien attended the grand opening.

In September, Apple and the NFL announced that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday, February 8. The performance will take place at Levi's Stadium, in Santa Clara, California.

Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Bad Bunny
Super Bowl LX will air on NBC and stream on Peacock and NFL+, with live coverage set to start at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Bad Bunny's performance will likely begin around 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, depending on how the game progresses.

Apple Music today shared the official trailer for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show:


Bad Bunny is one of the biggest Latin music artists of all time, with many chart-topping hits. He was named Apple Music's Artist of the Year for 2022.

Apple Music has sponsored the Super Bowl Halftime Show since 2022, with previous performers including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and others.

OpenAI today announced that its lower-priced ChatGPT Go subscription tier is now available worldwide, with U.S. pricing set at $8 per month.

ChatGPT Go
ChatGPT Go provides expanded access to ChatGPT's latest model, GPT‑5.2 Instant, with 10× more messages, file uploads, and image creation allowed compared to the free tier. ChatGPT Go also offers longer memory than the free tier, so that ChatGPT can remember more information about you for a longer period.

ChatGPT now offers three subscription tiers worldwide:

  • ChatGPT Go: $8/month
  • ChatGPT Plus: $20/month
  • ChatGPT Pro: $200/month

ChatGPT's more advanced GPT‑5.2 Thinking model still requires ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro, for tasks that require deeper reasoning.

ChatGPT Go was already available in India and select other countries.

OpenAI also announced that it plans to begin testing ads in both the free and ChatGPT Go tiers with logged-in adult users in the U.S. in the coming weeks. ChatGPT Plus and Pro will remain ad-free, as will ChatGPT Business and ChatGPT Enterprise.

To start, OpenAI plans to test ads at the bottom of answers in ChatGPT when there is a relevant sponsored product or service based on the current conversation. Ads will be clearly labeled and separated from the answer. Users will be able to learn more about why they are seeing a particular ad, and any ad can be dismissed.

ChatGPT Ad
OpenAI said ads will not influence the organic answers that ChatGPT gives users, and it ensured that conversations with ChatGPT will be kept private from advertisers, and that it will never sell user data to advertisers. OpenAI also promised there will always be at least one paid ChatGPT subscription tier available that is ad-free.

Ads are not eligible to appear in ChatGPT conversations involving sensitive or regulated topics like health, mental health, or politics, according to OpenAI.

"Ads support our commitment to making AI accessible to everyone by helping us keep ChatGPT available at free and affordable price points," said OpenAI.

"We'll learn from feedback and refine how ads show up over time, but our commitment to putting users first and maintaining trust won't change," it added.

On this year's first episode of The MacRumors Show, we take a look at CES 2026, Apple Creator Studio, and the confirmation that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri.


Following ‌CES 2026‌, we talk through this year's tech showcase, which saw major announcements related to robotics, AI, and display technology, as well as plenty of new Apple accessories. We discuss some of our favorite products highlighted at the event, such as Strada and the Clicks Power Keyboard.

Apple this week announced a new bundle called "Apple Creator Studio" that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Six apps are included with the subscription:

  • Final Cut Pro on the Mac and iPad
  • Logic Pro on the Mac and ‌iPad‌
  • Pixelmator Pro on the Mac and ‌iPad‌
  • Motion on the Mac
  • Compressor on the Mac
  • MainStage on the Mac

For college students, Apple Creator Studio costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. If you set up Family Sharing, you can share an Apple Creator Studio subscription with up to five other family members with a linked Apple Account for free.

Pixelmator Pro was previously only available on the Mac, but it is now coming to the iPad. Apple Creator Studio subscribers will receive access to exclusive AI features and premium content across not only the Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro apps, but also the iWork apps Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, and the Freeform app later this year.

Apple Creator Studio will be available through the App Store starting on Wednesday, January 28. Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage will each remain available for one-time purchase, and free versions of the Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and Freeform apps will continue to exist, but only Apple Creator Studio subscribers will receive access to some of the premium new AI features and content.

In other news, Apple this week released a statement confirming that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of ‌Siri‌ that is slated to launch later this year, as was widely rumored. After a considerable delay, the new capabilities will deliver better understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls.

Apple's decision to lean on Google's artificial intelligence technology should result in the revamped ‌Siri‌ being more capable and advanced than it otherwise would have been, as Gemini's large language model is significantly larger than Apple's own model. Apple and Google added that Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features.

The next-generation version of ‌Siri‌ is expected to be introduced with iOS 26.4, which will likely be officially released to the public in March or April.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about all of Apple's major announcements and new products from 2025.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Apple increasingly has to compete with other companies for chips made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), as surging demand for artificial intelligence reshapes capacity and customer priority.

apple silicon feature joeblue
According to a detailed report published by semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan on his blog Culpium, Apple is no longer guaranteed preferential access to leading-edge manufacturing capacity at TSMC, marking a notable change after more than a decade in which Apple's chips were central to the foundry's expansion strategy. Apple is now competing directly with AI-focused customers such as Nvidia and AMD for supply, particularly at the most advanced process nodes.

AI accelerators consume substantially more wafer area per unit than smartphone system-on-chips, meaning that even a smaller number of AI customers can absorb a disproportionate share of advanced manufacturing output. As a result, Apple's chip designs are no longer automatically prioritized across TSMC's two dozen fabrication plants.

Nvidia likely surpassed Apple as TSMC's largest customer by revenue in at least one or two quarters in 2025, but exact customer rankings are unknown. Apple ceased to be the primary driver of TSMC's revenue growth about five years ago.

The report suggests that Apple may face higher silicon costs for future chip generations as it competes with AI customers willing to pay premiums for priority access. While Apple is unlikely to be unable to ship products due to insufficient wafers, sustained pricing pressure with advanced nodes could influence product margins or pricing strategies over the next several years.

Tag: TSMC

Last year, the Unicode Consortium previewed some of the new emoji that are expected to be added to the iPhone with iOS 26.4 in March or April.

iOS 26 Emoji Feature
Here are nine of the new emoji:

  • Trombone
  • Treasure Chest
  • Distorted Face
  • Hairy Creature (aka Bigfoot or Sasquatch)
  • Fight Cloud
  • Apple Core
  • Orca
  • Ballet Dancers
  • Landslide

Notably, Distorted Face is a popular emoji in Discord servers. It is essentially a distorted version of the embarassed face emoji.

iPhone Floshed Feature alt
Apple most recently added new emoji to the iPhone with iOS 18.4, an update that came out in March last year. iOS 17.4, iOS 16.4, and iOS 15.4 also introduced new emoji over the years, so the timing has become predictable by this point.

On the iPhone 15 Pro and newer, there is an Apple Intelligence feature called Genmoji that allows you to create your own emoji, or combine existing ones.

The new emoji listed above would be added directly to the iPhone's emoji keyboard.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Tag: Emoji
Related Forum: iOS 26

This week's best Apple deals include big discounts on AirTag, AirPods Max, and Mac mini. We're also tracking great sitewide sales at Satechi, Samsung, and Best Buy, with discounts on everything from Mac-compatible monitors to TVs, headphones, and more.

Hero0013Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

AirTag

airtag blue

  • What's the deal? Take $34 off AirTag 4-Pack
  • Where can I get it? Amazon
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's AirTag 4-Pack is within $2 of its all-time low price this week on Amazon, matching the best price we've seen so far in 2026. You can get the accessory for $64.98, down from $99.00, and right now we're not seeing any notable discounts on the 1-Pack.

AirPods Max

airpods max blue

  • What's the deal? Take $99 off AirPods Max
  • Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy

You can get $99 off every USB-C AirPods Max color at Amazon and Best Buy right now. Although this is a second-best price, it's the best one we've tracked so far in 2026, and this is one of the few times we've seen every color on sale.

Mac Mini

mac mini blue

  • What's the deal? Take up to $130 off M4 Mac mini
  • Where can I get it? Amazon
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here




Amazon this week has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini on sale at low prices, starting at $499.99 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $130 off in these sales, and this time around there is also a discount on the M4 Pro model.

Satechi

satechi blue

  • What's the deal? Take 20% off Satechi's new products
  • Where can I get it? Satechi
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Note: Use code CES2026 to see this discount.

Satechi announced a few products at CES last week, and to mark the launch it's providing a 20 percent discount on these devices for early adopters. You can use the code CES2026 at checkout to get 20 percent off all five of Satechi's newest products.

Additionally, Satechi is hosting a "last chance" sale this week, with up to 30 percent off accessories with a limited supply remaining. In this sale you'll find discounts on MagSafe-compatible wireless charging pads, Thunderbolt docks, and more.

Samsung

samsung smart monitor m9 blue

  • What's the deal? Save on Samsung monitors and TVs
  • Where can I get it? Samsung
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here


Samsung this week introduced a new batch of discounts across its most popular monitors and TVs, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame and the Smart Monitor series.

Best Buy

macbook air blue

  • What's the deal? Save sitewide during Best Buy's winter sale
  • Where can I get it? Best Buy
  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Best Buy kicked off a new Winter Sale this week, with notable markdowns on Apple devices, TVs, headphones and speakers, monitors, appliances, and much more. This sale is set to last through January 19, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to see the deals.

In terms of Apple devices, you can find solid deals on MacBook Air, AirPods Max, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Beats accessories, and more. In most cases Best Buy is offering same day pick-up on these products, and there are several free shipping options as well.

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 in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Development of Apple's rumored OLED MacBook Pro took another forward step this month when the next-generation production line responsible for manufacturing its displays commenced operation.

M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1
Samsung Display is expected to make the panels for Apple's MacBook Pro, and has invested heavily in an 8.6-generation OLED production line located at its Asan campus in South Korea.

An 8.6G fab uses much larger glass substrates than the OLED lines used for smartphones, which allows multiple laptop-sized panels to be cut from a single sheet. This improves yields and lowers costs, which is just what Apple needs if OLED is to replace mini-LED in the MacBook Pro.

The line is designed around rigid OLED panels with oxide TFT backplanes and advanced tandem OLED structures. These are better suited to laptops, and offer higher brightness, improved power efficiency, and longer lifespan compared with conventional single-stack OLED panels.

According to the account yeux1122 on the Naver blog, Samsung has now begun producing panels from the line, suggesting Apple and other customers have completed qualification and reliability testing.

Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro will also feature a touchscreen display, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The claim has been corroborated by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who also said the laptops will have "thinner and lighter frames." Apple is apparently focusing on delivering the thinnest possible device without compromising on battery life or major new features.

The redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are also expected to have a hole-punch camera at the top of the display, and it could potentially be housed in a pill-shaped cutout similar to the iPhone's Dynamic Island, rather than the notch MacBook Pro owners are accustomed to.

Gurman says the machines will be powered by M6 chips and are being readied for a late 2026 or early 2027 launch, following the expected introduction of 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips in the next month or so.

It would be unusual for Apple to introduce two ‌MacBook Pro‌ refreshes in the same year, but there is precedent for it: Apple updated the MacBook Pro lineup twice in 2023, first with M2 Pro/M2 Max chips in January and then with M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max chips in late October.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Apple's foldable iPhone will share the same next-generation A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models when it debuts this September, according to industry analyst Jeff Pu.

Apple Foldable Thumb
In his latest investor note, Pu outlined the projected specifications for all three premium devices that will take center stage this fall, with the regular iPhone 18 and more affordable iPhone 18e models not expected to debut until spring 2027 as part of Apple's new split-launch strategy.

Powered by the A20 Pro chip, the iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 Pro models will showcase TSMC's new 2nm process, N2, boasting performance improvements that could be up to 15 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient than A19 chips.

Moreover, the A20 Pro chips will be packaged with TSMC's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology. With WMCM, the chips will have RAM integrated directly onto the same wafter as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, rather than the RAM being adjacent to the chip and connected via silicon interposer.

The update to WMCM is expected to bring faster performance for Apple Intelligence and longer battery life, while also cutting down on the size of the A20 chip to allow more space inside the iPhone for other components. This packaging change for the A20 chip has been rumored previously.

N2 also introduces new super-high-performance metal-insulator-metal (SHPMIM) capacitors into the chip's power delivery system. These capacitors more than double the capacitance density of the previous generation and reduce both sheet resistance and via resistance by 50 percent. Together, the changes are said to improve power stability, boost performance, and enhance energy efficiency.

Pu's note outlined other specs that the Pro and Fold models are expected to share, including 12GB of LPD5 RAM, 48-megapixel rear cameras, and Apple's C2 modem.

Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ is rumored to feature a wide, book-style folding design with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display, a crease-free screen, Touch ID, and a front-facing camera in both folded and unfolded states. The device could measure just 4.5mm thick when opened, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed. For more details, see our dedicated foldable iPhone roundup.

Apple's Beats brand is no stranger to collaborations with big-name celebrities on marketing campaigns, and the brand's latest effort involves Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

beats shohei ohtani
The new campaign created in collaboration with photographer Daniel Sannwald features a massively oversized Ohtani sporting Beats products in various Los Angeles settings.

Against iconic LA backdrops, each image amplifies Ohtani's scale—not just physically, but metaphorically. He becomes an elevated figure of pride, strength, and aspiration. Through dramatic scale and surreal energy, the campaign transforms LA into Ohtani's playground—a cityscape where sport and culture intersect.

Beats' choice to pair its most iconic products with Ohtani in this visual story was deliberate. As an LA-born brand rooted in sports, music, and entertainment, Beats shares both its home and its spirit with Ohtani—a journey defined by ambition, performance, and unmistakable boldness.


In the images, Ohtani wears several of the latest Beats products, including Beats Studio Pro, Powerbeats Pro 2, and Powerbeats Fit.

"Los Angeles is a city of energy, culture, and ambition," says Shohei Ohtani. "Wearing Beats and seeing myself rise above the skyline feels symbolic of the connection I have with this city and our fans. We rise high together."

Ohtani has won four Major League Baseball MVP awards in Los Angeles, including two American League awards with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2023 and two National League awards with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 and again in 2025 as the Dodgers won back-to-back World Series titles.

Tag: Beats

Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store.

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature
The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased.

iPhone

iPhone Model New Values Old Values
iPhone 16 Pro Max Up to $650 Up to $670
iPhone 16 Pro Up to $530 Up to $550
iPhone 16 Plus Up to $440 Up to $450
iPhone 16 Up to $410 Up to $420
iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $450 Up to $470
iPhone 15 Pro Up to $380 Up to $400
iPhone 15 Plus Up to $320 Up to $330
iPhone 15 Up to $300 Up to $310
iPhone 14 Pro Max Up to $350 Up to $370
iPhone 14 Pro Up to $280 Up to $300
iPhone 14 Plus Up to $230 Up to $240
iPhone 14 Up to $210 Up to $220
iPhone SE (3rd generation) Up to $80 Up to $80
iPhone 13 Pro Max Up to $280 Up to $300
iPhone 13 Pro Up to $230 Up to $230
iPhone 13 Up to $180 Up to $180
iPhone 13 mini Up to $140 Up to $150
iPhone 12 Pro Max Up to $210 Up to $220
iPhone 12 Pro Up to $160 Up to $160
iPhone 12 Up to $120 Up to $130
iPhone 12 mini Up to $80 Up to $90
iPhone SE (2nd generation) Up to $50 Up to $50
iPhone 11 Pro Max Up to $140 Up to $150
iPhone 11 Pro Up to $120 Up to $130
iPhone 11 Up to $100 Up to $100
iPhone XS Max Up to $90 Up to $100
iPhone XS Up to $70 Up to $70
iPhone XR Up to $80 Up to $80
iPhone X Up to $60 Up to $60
iPhone 8 Plus Up to $50 Up to $50
iPhone 8 Up to $40 Up to $40

iPad

iPad Model New Values Old Values
iPad Pro Up to $685 Up to $695
iPad Air Up to $400 Up to $415
iPad Up to $170 Up to $175
iPad mini Up to $255 Up to $255

Mac

Mac Model New Values Old Values
MacBook Pro Up to $2,515 Up to $760
MacBook Air Up to $900 Up to $540
iMac Up to $875 Up to $375
iMac Pro Up to $325 Up to $240
Mac mini Up to $340 Up to $380
Mac Studio Up to $1,030 Up to $1,030
Mac Pro Up to $3,215 Up to $2,520

It is unclear why many of the previous Mac trade-in values were so low. The current values seem more realistic.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch Model New Values Old Values
Apple Watch Series 10 Up to $150 Up to $160
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Up to $335 Up to $335
Apple Watch Series 9 Up to $115 Up to $125
Apple Watch Ultra Up to $225 Up to $245
Apple Watch Series 8 Up to $85 Up to $95
Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) Up to $55 Up to $60
Apple Watch Series 7 Up to $60 Up to $65
Apple Watch Series 6 Up to $45 Up to $50
Apple Watch SE (1st generation) Up to $30 Up to $30
Apple Watch Series 5 Up to $25 Up to $25

Apple also adjusted its trade-in values for select Android smartphones.

Update 2:45 pm: Apple has adjusted published Mac trade-in values for the second time today, and the values are once again seeing wild swings. Apple is now quoting up to $710 for MacBook Pro, $470 for MacBook Air, $375 for iMac, $325 for iMac Pro, $340 for Mac mini, $1,030 for Mac Studio, and $2,520 for Mac Pro.

While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple
Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026:

  1. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras
  2. Under-screen Face ID (rumored by multiple sources)
  3. Front camera in top-left corner of the screen
  4. Variable aperture for at least one rear camera
  5. A20 Pro chip manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process and new packaging technology
  6. A simplified Camera Control button with no swipe gestures
  7. Design changes to the rear Ceramic Shield for MagSafe charging, potentially including a more frosted glass appearance
  8. Apple-designed C1X or C2 modem for 5G/LTE cellular connectivity
  9. Apple-designed N1 chip or newer for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread
  10. Web browsing via satellite
  11. New color options under consideration: burgundy, brown, or purple
  12. iPhone 18 Pro Max may be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, perhaps to accommodate a larger battery

Apple will likely release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September. Bookmark our iPhone 18 roundup to stay on top of future rumors.

Air France today announced that passengers can now watch select Apple TV shows for free during its long-haul flights, with more than 45 hours of content available. This is referring to the streaming service known as Apple TV+ until last year.

Air France Apple TV
The complimentary in-flight selection includes the first three episodes of Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Severance, Prehistoric Planet, The Snoopy Show, and more. The shows are accessible on each passenger's individual screen, in French and English.

Air France has also started offering one week of free access to Apple TV content via its new high-speed Wi-Fi portal, for streaming on your own devices. The airline will roll out this new Wi-Fi portal across its entire fleet by the end of the year.

American Airlines, United, and Air Canada are among the other airlines that offer free Apple TV streaming.

Air France's announcement was earlier reported by the French blog Consomac.

An unreleased Apple monitor with the model number A3350 surfaced in a Chinese regulatory database today, according to a filing viewed by MacRumors.

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The filing is likely for Apple's next-generation Studio Display or Pro Display XDR, but there is not enough information to determine which one it will be.

The listing does reveal that the new model will be equipped with a high-performance LCD display. The existing Studio Display and Pro Display XDR both have an LCD panel, so unfortunately this information does not help to pinpoint things. However, it does seemingly rule out an OLED display for this new model in particular.

There have been reports about a new Studio Display being in the works, with rumored features including ProMotion support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and either an A19 or A19 Pro chip. A new Studio Display with mini-LED backlighting would still have an LCD panel, so the filing does not rule out that possibility.

The current Studio Display was filed in the same database around three months before it launched in March 2022, so perhaps the next Studio Display will be released around March or April this year, if that is what the filing is for. It would make sense for Apple to unveil a new Studio Display alongside the next Mac Studio with M5 chips.

There have been fewer rumors about a new Pro Display XDR, but that model was released in December 2019, so it is certainly due for an update.

If the next Studio Display receives mini-LED backlighting and HDR support, its maximum brightness and contrast ratio would be higher than the current model. And a newer A19 or A19 Pro chip — up from the A13 Bionic currently — should contribute to performance improvements, camera-related enhancements, and more.

The current Studio Display features a 27-inch LCD screen with 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and a trio of USB-C ports. In the U.S., it starts at $1,599.

Thanks, Aaron!

Related Forum: Mac Accessories