Apple is now offering the first public beta of watchOS 26, the next major update for Apple Watch, ahead of its official fall release. While the biggest visual update may appear to be the limited Liquid Glass elements, the substance of watchOS 26 exists in how it integrates with Apple Intelligence for smarter workouts and more context-aware communication. After some hands-on time with the update, here’s what stands out so far.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple has released a revised version of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 beta 4 for iPhone and iPad. This is the second revision to an iOS 26 developer beta version, following a small revision to iOS 26 beta 1 for some iPhones.
Expand Expanding Close
Benjamin and Chance talk about all the changes in iOS 26 beta 4, the strangely good deal that is the new AppleCare One package, and a surprising rumored detail about the upcoming M5 iPad Pro.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo discuss the recent exodus from the AI group as motivation to work on Apple AI research wavers. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
F1 The Movie is easily Apple’s biggest theatrical success to date, and now it seems the film will seek to extend its run even longer with an IMAX re-release. Here are the details.
Expand Expanding Close
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are starting off with a seriously rare Amazon deal on Apple’s 32GB M2 Max Mac Studio with the 30-Core GPU at $900 off the original list price. We then move over to the MacBook world with the 24GB 13-inch M4 Air now undercutting the Prime Day price at $160 off alongside the M4 Pro MacBook Pro at $240 off the price at Apple. Those offers join a host of MagSafe and charging accessory discounts alongside Amazon’s Renewed Premium 1TB iPhone 16 Pro at $489 off. Head below for a closer look.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple regularly shares new iPhone, iPad, and Mac wallpaper to celebrate Apple Store openings. But for the first time, the company has now launched an online tool where you can create your own custom Apple logo wallpaper. Here’s how it works.
Expand Expanding Close
Lawsuits against Apple are filed all the time, all over the world. But one proposed class action over the company’s alleged “deceptive” iCloud storage plans was just shot down by a US appeals court. Here are the details.
Expand Expanding Close
Social media has been fragmented since Twitter got X’d and cleared the path for Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and others. Still, Apple personalities like Tim Cook still rely on sharing company news, often exclusively, on X. Others seem more fond of Instagram. It’s a lot to follow, especially if you’re off one or more social media networks.
Expand Expanding Close
Crime thrillers look like a big part of the Apple TV+ fall lineup, as the streamer just unveiled a release date and teaser for The Last Frontier, starring Jason Clarke. Here are all the details.
Expand Expanding Close
iPhone users will get a major new software update this fall with iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass design. But the next iPhone update, iOS 18.6, will release much sooner. Here’s what Apple’s official release notes say is coming.
Expand Expanding Close
We learned earlier this month that a new Apple store was coming to Osaka, Japan, and the company has today shared photos ahead of Saturday’s official opening. Accessibility is cited a key factor in the store design.
Apple says that the Today at Apple workshops offered there will include one on taking advantage of Apple Intelligence features …
Expand Expanding Close
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by Bitwarden: Check out Bitwarden Password Manager, featuring a new Apple Watch authenticator integration, secure autofill on Safari and iOS apps, and enterprise-grade security tools that help you manage credentials with confidence.
Ookla’s latest speed-test report has found that T-Mobile is this year’s fastest mobile network, offering the speediest downloads overall, and the fastest 5G. For home broadband, AT&T Fiber took the crown.
Plans to boost broadband speeds have, however, been thrown into doubt by the Trump administration, which wants to abandon a target for every American to have gigabit speeds …
Expand Expanding Close
After launching notification summaries as one of the flagship features of Apple Intelligence, Apple disabled the feature for apps in the News and Entertainment categories in the iOS 18.3 update, following backlash from publications like the BBC about Apple Intelligence portraying its news headlines inaccurately.
Having been disabled entirely for these apps since mid-January, Apple announced this week the feature will return as part of iOS 26. Users running the developer have noticed that these notifications get a different visual treatment compared to normal notification summaries generated from other categories of apps.
Expand Expanding Close
Last week saw certification of the first next-gen wireless chargers, and the latest standard has now been officially launched, as Qi2 25W. The new name will help ensure we can see for sure that we’re buying the more powerful models.
The iPhone was the first to support the standard, with Android smartphones now following, but anyone planning to buy an iPhone 17 may want to hold off for now …
Expand Expanding Close
Epic Games has published a blog post criticizing “today’s bleak news from the United Kingdom,” and listing all the reasons why the company believes the recently announced rules fell short of its expectations.
Expand Expanding Close
Almost exactly five years ago to the day, Apple announced a set of new features for Apple News and Apple News+, including the US-only audio stories, with about 20 professionally narrated stories a week. Now, the future is expanding to a few new countries.
Expand Expanding Close
If you’re like me and often read a message, tell yourself you’ll reply later, and then instantly forget about it, a new WhatsApp experiment might bring the solution.
Expand Expanding Close
In its ongoing appeal against Epic Games over App Store rules, Apple has decided to cite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on President Trump’s birthright citizenship directive. Here are the details.
Expand Expanding Close
Following a long delay, CarPlay Ultra launched a couple of months ago, delivering the much-anticipated tighter integration between the iPhone and car systems promised during WWDC 2022.
And while Apple had originally lined up several automakers to support the new experience, some have since backed away. Now, one holdout is doubling down on its decision to pass on the feature.
Expand Expanding Close
If you’ve never tried Apple Arcade, now’s your chance. Halfbrick Studios is giving away a limited number of 2-month free trials for Apple’s ad-free gaming platform, but spots are limited. Here’s how to claim yours.
Expand Expanding Close
While even tech-savvy users can fall for elaborate phishing scams, most attacks are designed to target less technically inclined people.
With that in mind, the new Messages app in iOS 26 introduces (or better yet, removes) two things that could make a pretty big difference in keeping users safe, regardless of how familiar they may be with phishing tactics.
Expand Expanding Close
During its nearly six years on the market, Apple TV+ has been referred to by some as “the new HBO.” But this year might be when Apple has truly started to prove that claim. Here’s why.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple TV+ is having its biggest year ever. While Severance is the undisputed highlight, comedies on the streamer have been on a hot streak too. And the latest hit comedy, Stick, just got an official season 2 renewal.
Expand Expanding Close