Apple will introduce four new iPhones next week, and the standard iPhone 17 will arguably be the least interesting of the bunch. It's not going to get the super slim design like the iPhone 17 Air, nor will it have the upgraded camera setup like the 17 Pro. There are still a handful of features to look forward to, though, which we've outlined below.

iPhone 17 Base Model Rumored to Come in New Green and Purple Colors Feature
This guide is limited to the standard ‌iPhone 17‌, which will be Apple's most affordable ‌iPhone 17‌ model. We've done similar rumor roundups for the iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 Pro if you want to check those out.

Size and Design

There are usually two standard ‌iPhone 17‌ models, but this year, we're limited to one. Apple is eliminating the "Plus" model and replacing it with the ultra thin iPhone.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ will look a lot like the iPhone 16, but Apple is expected to increase the display size. Instead of 6.1 inches, it'll be 6.3 inches, similar to the iPhone 16 Pro. There will be a single 6.3-inch standard ‌iPhone 17‌ this year.

While the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ and the iPhone 17 Pro models will have a pill-shaped camera bar that spans most of the back of each device, rumors suggest the ‌iPhone 17‌'s camera bump isn't going to change. It will continue to have a dual-lens camera setup with a small vertical pill-shaped bump.

Colors

The standard ‌iPhone 17‌ models could come in black, white, steel gray, green, purple, and light blue if rumors are correct.

Display

The ‌iPhone 17‌'s bezels could be slimmer to bring it in line with the other ‌iPhone‌ models, and it is expected to use the same LTPO display as the current ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌. The display allows for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, so smoother scrolling is a feature we could see come to the standard ‌iPhone‌ for the first time.

A-Series Chip

We're expecting the ‌iPhone 17‌ to be equipped with the standard A19 chip, built on an updated 3-nanometer process. The A19 will bring speed and efficiency improvements compared to the A18, but there won't be radical differences.

Compared to the A19 Pro that's expected for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, the A19 will likely have fewer GPU cores.

All ‌iPhone 17‌ models are rumored to feature vapor chamber cooling technology that will disperse heat across a larger surface area to prevent thermal throttling and keep performance stable.

Connectivity

The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will feature Apple's C1 modem, but the ‌iPhone 17‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models are expected to use Qualcomm modem technology for 5G connectivity.

All four ‌iPhone 17‌ models are expected to get Apple's first custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. Apple's chip could bring efficiency and connectivity improvements that result in better battery life.

Charging

The ‌iPhone 17‌ will be able to charge at up to 25W with third-party wireless chargers that support the new Qi 2.2 standard.

Cameras

All four ‌iPhone 17‌ models will get an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, which will improve image quality and allow for more cropping in for selfies. The current selfie camera is limited to 12 megapixels.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ will have the same 48-megapixel Wide and Ultra Wide lenses that are in the ‌iPhone 16‌, and we haven't heard rumors about upgrades for these lenses.

Pricing

Rumors about pricing have been mixed, and some analysts have suggested Apple might raise prices. If there is an increase, the base ‌iPhone 17‌ could start at $850 instead of $799, but it continues to be unclear if there will indeed be a price hike.

Apple could opt to increase prices for the Air and Pro models while keeping the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ at $799.

Launch Date

Apple will introduce the ‌iPhone 17‌ at the "Awe Dropping" event that kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 9. If Apple follows the same pre-order and launch timing that it has used in the past, pre-orders could take place on Friday, September 12 with a launch to follow on Friday, September 19.

Read More

We have more information on the features rumored for the ‌iPhone 17‌ in our iPhone 17 roundup.

Google will not be barred from entering into search agreements with companies like Apple, the judge presiding over the antitrust case between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice said today (via Bloomberg).

Google Logo Feature Slack
Google is not allowed to enter into exclusive contracts for search engine distribution, but it is still allowed to pay to Apple to be a search engine option on iPhone. Apple earns around $20 billion annually from Google, and there was a risk that the two companies could be banned from entering into search engine agreements.

"Cutting off payments from Google almost certainly will impose substantial -- in some cases, crippling -- downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers, which counsels against a broad payment ban," said the judge.

Google is specifically allowed to make payments and offer "other consideration" to distribution partners for the preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, and Gemini.

Google will not have to sell its Chrome browser, or the Android operating system. The judge said that the government "overreached in seeking the forced divestiture" of the assets.

Besides being barred from entering into exclusive search engine distribution contracts, Google will also need to share data with rival search engines. The DOJ had asked that Google be forced to provide data on how it decides what to surface based on a given search.

Google was found to have a search monopoly back in August of 2024, and the court has been deciding what action to take to break up Google's monopoly since then. The DOJ was pushing for the divestiture of Chrome and the possible divestiture of Android.

Google is appealing the ruling, likely due to the data sharing component.

Tag: Google

Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices.

iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2
Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac:

Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change
iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 $799
iPhone 16 Plus $899 iPhone 17 Air $899-$949 $0 to +$50
iPhone 16 Pro $999 iPhone 17 Pro $1,099 +$100
iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max $1,199

If these estimates prove to be accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro's starting price would increase by $100 compared to the iPhone 16 Pro. However, previous rumors have indicated that the iPhone 17 Pro will start with 256GB of storage, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro starts at 128GB. So, the starting price would only be increasing because of Apple eliminating a SKU. Still, it would break an 8-year streak of the Pro model or equivalent starting at $999.

The good news is that the standard iPhone 17 and the highest-end iPhone 17 Pro Max will avoid price increases, if these estimates prove to be accurate.

The all-new iPhone 17 Air's starting price might be $50 higher compared to the iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple has largely managed to avoid raising iPhone prices in the U.S. for a long time now, despite rumors of price increases year after year. So, on one hand, the company deserves the benefit of the doubt currently. On the other hand, nothing lasts forever. We will find out the real prices during Apple's event on Tuesday, September 9.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple today released the sixth public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and tvOS 26, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of their September launch. The sixth public betas come a week after the fifth public betas, and the updates correspond with the ninth developer betas that were released earlier today.

iOS 26 Glass Feature
Public beta testers that have registered on Apple's website can download the latest ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS 26 public betas by opening the Settings or System Settings app, going to the General section, tapping on Software Update, and choosing the ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 26 Public Beta options.

‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ feature Apple's Liquid Glass design, with a visual aesthetic that focuses on transparency. Icons, menu buttons, navigation bars, and more reflect and refract light with subtle animations. There are pop-out menus in some areas, tab bars shrink down, and everything has a more rounded look.

iOS 26 on Three iPhones
There are new Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence for screenshots, updated order tracking in the Wallet app, new features in Reminders, and Live Translation for the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps. Image Playground has ChatGPT style options, and Genmoji supports mixing two or more emoji characters to make something new.

ten messages features
2D photos have a more 3D look with a Spatial Scene feature, and Safari has updated navigation. In the Phone app, there are new Call Screening and Hold Assist features that will save you time, while the Messages app supports customizable backgrounds and polls. Apple Music has a DJ-like AutoMix feature, CarPlay has an overhauled interface, there's a new Apple Games app, and Preview has come to the iPhone for the first time.

ios 26 call holding
macOS Tahoe has the same Liquid Glass design as ‌iOS 26‌, and it extends to app icons, folders, the Dock, in-app navigation, menus, the Control Center, and the Menu Bar. The Control Center and the Menu Bar are customizable, and you're also able to customize folders, app icons, and widgets.

macos tahoe design
Safari has an updated tab design and a redesigned sidebar, and Apple has brought the Phone app to the Mac for making phone calls through Wi-Fi Calling. The Phone app supports the new Call Screening and Hold Assist features.

Spotlight has been overhauled with improved search and the ability to execute hundreds of actions without opening up an app. There's a new Games app with a Game Overlay feature, and developers have access to Metal 4.

More on what's new can be found in our iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe roundups.

Apple's Beats brand will soon come out with new color options for several of its products, according to information discovered by MacRumors. The Beats Studio Pro headphones are set to be released in colors that Apple is referring to as dark slate and pink internally. It is worth noting that we've previously seen mentions of unreleased Sand Gray and Soft Pink colors for the Studio Pro, and it’s possible these are same colors currently labeled by Apple as Dark Slate and Pink.

beatsstudiopro
Apple plans to debut the Beats Solo 4 with rose gold and champagne gold color options.

beats solo 4
The Beats Solo Buds will come in a new cream color that Apple calls "icing" internally.

beats solo buds
The Beats Studio Pro, priced at $350, can be purchased in Navy, Black, Sandstone, and Brown. The $200 Beats Solo 4 come in Matte Black, Slate Blue, Cloud Pink, and a special edition JENNIE Ruby Red. Apple's $80 Solo Buds are currently available in Black, Storm Gray, Arctic Purple, and Transparent Red.


There is no word when the new Beats colors might come out, but Apple could introduce them at the upcoming September 9 event.

Apple's lead artificial intelligence researcher for robotics is leaving the company for Meta, reports Bloomberg. Jian Zhang joined the Meta Robotics Studio on Tuesday.

Apple Robot Emoji Feature
Three additional AI researchers are also leaving Apple's Foundation Models AI team for OpenAI and Anthropic, continuing an exodus that began in July. At least a dozen AI experts have left Apple for Meta, OpenAI, and other companies since January.

Meta has been offering AI engineers massive pay packages that other AI companies are not able to compete with. Meta was able to lure Apple's Foundational Models team lead Ruoming Pang with a $200 million pay package. Zhang was developing automation technology and exploring the role of AI in tech products, but his team was separate from the group that is working on creating a robot virtual companion.

According to a recent report from Financial Times, industry recruiters see the mass departures from Apple as a "crisis of confidence" around the company's AI future. Apple is continuing to work on a smarter LLM version of Siri that's expected to debut next year, but it had a serious misstep with the delayed Apple Intelligence version of Siri that failed to make it into iOS 18.

In an employee meeting in August, software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that Apple has successfully developed a second-generation ‌Siri‌ architecture that will bring major improvements to ‌Siri‌ in 2026.

Apple is considering a third-party solution to power ‌Siri‌'s AI capabilities, and has reportedly held discussions with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. A final decision hasn't been made as of yet, but Apple's wavering has caused tension within its LLM team. Additional AI team members are said to be actively interviewing for jobs at other companies.

Tag: Meta

Dolby today unveiled Dolby Vision 2, a next-generation version of the popular Dolby Vision HDR format.

dolby vision 2
Dolby Vision 2 features a more powerful image engine that Dolby says "unlocks even more out of your TV," plus it supports new Content Intelligence tools to optimize TV sets for a "captivating picture" based on the content that's being watched. Specifically, Dolby says that Content Intelligence will gain the following benefits:

  • Precision Black reduces consumer frustration that the image is "too dark" by making it crystal clear and improving clarity in any viewing environment without compromising artistic intent.
  • Light Sense fine-tunes picture quality through advanced ambient light detection and new reference lighting data from the content source to optimize your TV for the ideal viewing experience.
  • Sports and Gaming Optimization introduce new enhancements such as white point adjustments and motion control designed specifically to address the unique needs of live sports and gaming.
  • New tone-mapping that takes advantage of modern TV improvements like brightness and color improvements.

TVs will be able to provide higher brightness, sharper contrast, and more deeply saturated colors "while preserving the artist's creative vision," according to Dolby.

In addition to these HDR features, Dolby Vision 2 includes Authentic Motion, described as a creative driven motion control tool that can make "scenes feel more authentically cinematic without unwanted judder."

There's a core Dolby Vision 2 product that will provide improved picture quality to mainstream TVs, and a Dolby Vision 2 Max designed for the highest performing TVs. The Max product will utilize the full capabilities of higher-end displays.

Dolby Vision 2 will come first to TV sets from Hisense, but other manufacturers are likely to add support in the future. The current Apple TV models support Dolby Vision, so it makes sense that a future version of the ‌Apple TV‌ would include Dolby Vision 2.

Amazon this week is taking $50 off Wi-Fi models of Apple's 11th generation iPad. Prices start at $299.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $349.00, a second-best price on this model.

11th gen ipad new greenNote: 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.

Additionally, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00 ($50 off) and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad for $595.92 ($53 off). Free delivery estimates are placed around September 7 for these iPad models, but Prime members should be able to get same-day delivery in many locations.



The 11th generation iPad is mainly a spec bump for the tablet line, now featuring the A16 chip and more storage, with the same design as the 10th generation iPad. The new ‌iPad‌ starts with 128GB of storage, and is also available in 256GB and a new 512GB configuration. The previous model was only available in 64GB and 256GB configurations.

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 2025? 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

Apple plans to release a lighter weight and more affordable version of the Vision Pro in 2027, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Midnight Vision Pro Mock Feature
The upcoming device, which he refers to as the "Vision Air," will supposedly be over 40 percent lighter than the current model. The Vision Pro weighs in at round 1.375 pounds, so a version that's 40 percent lighter should come in at under a pound.

Kuo also says the Vision Air will be over 50 percent cheaper, which could make it much more attractive to prospective buyers. The Vision Pro costs $3,499, which means a half-priced version would be $1,750. That's still more expensive than an iPhone, but it is closer in price to a higher-end Mac and could be priced similarly to the upcoming foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Prior rumors about the "Vision Air" suggest that it will have an internal structure made from titanium to reduce weight, along with a thinner design and a new battery enclosure.

Kuo thinks Apple could sell one million Vision Air units in 2027, up from 400,000 of the Vision Pro.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Apple plans to release a foldable iPhone in 2026, and will then follow it up with a foldable iPad in 2028, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.

Apple Foldable Thumb
Multiple sources have now confirmed that Apple is planning to release its first foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2026, with the device coming as part of the iPhone 18 lineup. Launch timing on a larger-screened foldable device has been more uncertain.

Originally, rumors indicated that the foldable ‌iPad‌ or MacBook would come before the ‌iPhone‌, and there have been launch rumors with dates ranging from 2026 to 2028. Rumors have also varied between calling the foldable device an ‌iPad‌ and a MacBook, but it seems like all of the information about a larger foldable refers to the same product. The foldable ‌iPad‌ could have a screen between 18 and 20 inches when unfolded, with a smaller form factor when closed.

According to Kuo, Apple is using ultra-thin cover glass for both the foldable ‌iPhone‌ and foldable ‌iPad‌, which is a rumor that we've heard before. Corning will supply the ultra-thin cover glass, but General Interface Solutions (GIS) will work with Corning on cutting, corner treatments, inspection, packaging, and shipping.

Kuo expects Apple to sell somewhere between 8 to 10 million foldable iPhones in 2026, and up to 25 million in 2027. The larger-screened foldable is not expected to sell as well because Kuo says it will be priced "considerably higher" than the foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Apple today provided developers with the ninth betas of watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 for testing purposes, with the betas coming one week after the eighth betas were released.

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux
The software updates can be downloaded through the Settings app on each device. A developer account is required.

‌watchOS 26‌ and tvOS 26 adopt new Liquid Glass design changes inspired by visionOS, much like iOS 26 and macOS 26. watchOS has a new AI-powered Workout Buddy for motivation and the Smart Stack incorporates more personal context for better suggestions. There's also a new Notes app and support for Live Translation.

tvOS 26 supports karaoke using an iPhone as a microphone, improvements for using AirPlay speakers with a TV, new Aerial screen savers, and support for quicker logins to apps at setup thanks to Apple Account syncing.

visionOS 26 adds support for spatial widgets that can be placed anywhere in the space around you, along with refinements to make personas more lifelike and support for shared spatial experiences between two Vision Pro users.

The visionOS 26 beta is limited to developers, but developers and public beta testers can download ‌watchOS 26‌ and tvOS 26. The updates will launch this fall.

Apple today provided developers with the ninth betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 for testing purposes, with the updates coming a week after Apple seeded the eighth betas.

iOS 26 Feature
Registered developers can download the new beta software using the Software Update section of the Settings app.

‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ feature Apple's new Liquid Glass design aesthetic, with a focus on translucency and glass-like interface elements. The design extends to the Lock Screen, Home Screen, and Control Center, along with menus and buttons in apps.

Apple's software includes features for apps like Messages, Phone, Shortcuts, and Apple Music, along with new Apple Intelligence features, a revamp for CarPlay, and more. In ‌iPadOS 26‌, there's a whole new multitasking system that supports multiple app windows for a more Mac-like experience.

For more on the features in ‌iOS 26‌, we have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup and a separate iPadOS 26 roundup. New features have been found in each of the betas, and you can get a recap here: beta 2, for beta 3, beta 4, beta 5, beta 6, and beta 7.

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

Apple today provided developers with the ninth beta of macOS Tahoe 26 for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after the eighth beta.

macos tahoe
Registered developers can download the new beta software through the System Settings app.

macOS Tahoe features Apple's Liquid Glass redesign, which extends across all of the new updates this year. Apple also brought the Phone and Journal apps to the Mac for the first time, and introduced a new cross-platform Games app.

With the update, Apple overhauled how Spotlight works, enabling new functionality that allows it to be used to complete all kinds of actions like sending emails without having to open up an app. There are also changes to a number of apps, including Messages, Safari, and Notes.

All of the new features that are included in macOS Tahoe are outlined in our dedicated roundup. macOS Tahoe is set to launch this fall.

Samsung is hosting a new end of Summer sale, and it includes savings on monitors, TVs, Galaxy products, and more.

samsung smart monitor m9 blueNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

One of the best overall deals during this sale is on The Frame TVs, which are available for up to $500 off, depending on the size of the model you purchase. The popular 65-inch The Frame TV available for $1,499.99, down from $1,999.99.

The best monitor deals include the entire lineup of Samsung's 2025 Smart Monitor on sale at notable low prices, including up to $300 off these monitors. All three monitors have received advanced AI features, while the flagship M9 model features a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED panel to deliver deep contrast and vibrant color.

You'll also find the popular 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $999.99, down from $1,599.99. At $600 off this is a solid second-best price on the display, which has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4.

Of course, there's a lot more on sale than just monitors. This sale also covers the Galaxy S25 smartphones and Samsung's line of home appliances, including refrigerators and washer/dryers. We've accumulated some of these deals in the lists below, but be sure to check out Samsung's website for the full sale.

TVs

Monitors and Storage

Refrigerators

Galaxy Products

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.


Deals Newsletter

Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? 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

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. To support this important cause, well-known podcast network Relay has launched its annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee. Since 2019, the Relay community has raised more than $4 million for the hospital.

apple japan new year promotion 2022
St. Jude promises that no child is denied treatment, with families never receiving a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food:

The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

St. Jude says the majority of funds that it needs to operate must be raised from generous supporters, so consider making a donation today if you are able to.

St. Jude says it has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate in the U.S. from 20% in 1962 to more than 80% today — it is truly inspiring, life-saving work.

Relay has multiple Apple-related podcasts, such as Connected, hosted by Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley, and Federico Viticci. Hackett's son received treatment at St. Jude as an infant, so this initiative is near and dear to him and his family.

Donations can be made on the Relay for St. Jude website, with rewards such as Relay stickers, wallpapers, and a macOS screensaver available depending on how much you donate. You can also start your own fundraiser team and earn additional rewards.

If you cannot donate, consider spreading the word about the fundraiser.

Thank you.

Apple today announced it has teamed up with South Korean singer Jennie Kim on new limited-edition Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones.

Beats Solo 4 JENNIE
The special "JENNIE" edition Solo 4 headphones feature a Ruby Red finish, two attachable red bows, and a color-matched carrying case. In addition, one of the ear cushions has symbols inspired by JENNIE printed on it.

The headphones will be available on Apple.com starting this Friday, September 5, in the U.S., U.K., China, Japan, and South Korea.

The headphones will also be available at the following Apple Store locations:

  • Apple The Grove — Los Angeles
  • Apple Fifth Avenue — New York City
  • Apple Jing'an — Shanghai
  • Apple Omotesando — Tokyo
  • Apple Myeongdong — Seoul

You can sign up to be notified when availability begins.

In the U.S., pricing is set at $199.99, which is the same price as regular Beats Solo 4. Only the extra design elements are new, with tech specs and features unchanged.


Beats frequently releases limited-edition products in collaboration with musicians, artists, athletes, and other high-profile individuals.

Beats Solo 4 were introduced in April 2024.

Tag: Beats

The lines between iPad and Mac have never been blurrier – and with iPadOS 26, currently in beta and expected later this month, Apple is leaning further into that overlap than ever before. The update brings a suite of powerful new features that elevate the iPad's utility, bridging the gap between touch-first tablet and full-fledged desktop machine.

ipados 26 home screen
From enhanced multitasking to advanced file management, iPadOS 26 pushes Apple's tablet deeper into Mac territory, without sacrificing the unique strengths that make the iPad so versatile. Here are just some of the ways iPadOS 26 makes the iPad feel more like a Mac than ever – coming soon to a device near you.

Menu Bar

ipados 26 menu bar
Within any active app, swipe down from the top of the screen and you will see a new, fully functioning macOS-style menu bar. With the foremost dropdown menu being the app's name (where app settings are typically accessed), other standard menus can include File, Edit, Format, View, Window, and Help. As you'd expect, the menu bar is dynamic, and will display menus specific to the app. In Safari you get Bookmarks and History, for instance.

Windowed Apps

iPadOS 26 App Windowing
In Settings ➝ Multitasking & Gestures, there's a new Windowed Apps mode that essentially lets you arrange and resize multiple windows in a single space, just like on a Mac. The new mode can also be invoked from Control Center, thanks to a new button that with a long press lets you switch between Windowed Apps and Stage Manager.

You can move multiple app windows and stack them on top of each other by dragging each window from the top, and you can individually resize them by dragging the bottom-right corner. And if you quickly drag an app window to a corner of the screen, it will automatically expand to fill that half of the screen. Tapping a space on the Home Screen will also scatter all open windows to the sides of the screen, giving you space to open other apps.

Traffic Lights

ipados 26 traffic lights
In the top-left corner of every window you'll now see three familiar traffic lights, straight out of macOS. Tapping the symbol expands it into red, amber, and green buttons for closing, minimizing, and expanding the window to fullscreen.

traffic light options ipados
Long-pressing the buttons also reveals the Mac-style Move & Resize and Fill & Arrange options, as well as an option to park the app off-screen to Add a New Window (if the app supports it).

App Exposé

expose ipados
In the new Windowed Apps mode, iPadOS 26 also includes an App Exposé-style view that's similar to the App Switcher. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to invoke the view, which shows all the open apps in the current space. You can also scroll the new interface to see your other open apps, whether they're sharing spaces or open in full-screen mode.

Preview

iPadOS 26 Preview App
The iPad finally includes the Mac's long-standing Preview app, only now with Apple Pencil support, enabling you to easily open, edit, and mark up a range of images, documents, and file types. The Preview app's browsing menu is a lot like the Files interface, where you can browse your files and check out recent and shared items. You can also scan documents from right within the app.

Trackpad Pointer

ipados 26 pointer
If you have a Magic Keyboard trackpad or a Bluetooth mouse connected to your iPad, the cursor is now a Mac-like pointer rather than a circle. And if you shake it, the pointer will get bigger so that you can easily locate it on the screen.

Advanced File Management

ipados 26 files app
In iPadOS 26, the iPad's Files app is enhanced with a new List view that features resizable columns and collapsible folders, and new filters, allowing users to see more document details at a glance and organize their files. To help you identify folders more easily, the app now supports folder customization with custom colors, icons, and emoji, all of which sync across devices.

In Files, iPadOS 26‌ also allows you to set a default app for opening specific files or file types, thanks to a new Open With... option in the contextual dropdown menu. You can also change the default app in the new Get Info panel.

Folders in Dock

folder dock ipados
In the Files app, long press on a folder and you'll see a new Add to Dock option in the contextual dropdown menu. So you can now park any folder in your Dock, and if you long press on its icon, you'll see Mac-style display options to view the content as a Grid or a Fan, as well as the typical sorting preferences.

In iPadOS 26, you can now fit up to 23 icons in the Dock, so there's nothing stopping you from adding multiple folders. In Settings ➝ Multitasking & Gestures, there's also a new option to Automatically Show and Hide the Dock, just like in macOS.

After more than a four-year wait, the long-awaited AirTag 2 could finally debut at Apple's annual iPhone next week, if a previous rumor is still accurate.

airtag orange
From a 9to5Mac report in June:

According to reliable 9to5Mac sources, Apple is now aiming at a Fall release, likely putting its announcement around the time of the iPhone event, which usually takes place in September.

Apple introduced the current AirTag during its April 2021 event.

For those unfamiliar with the AirTag, it is a Bluetooth accessory that you can attach to items like a backpack and keys, and you can then track the location of those items in the Find My app across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com. Similar item trackers are sold by brands like Tile, Samsung, Chipolo, and Pebblebee.

Below, we have recapped some of the key rumored AirTag 2 features. Apple's event begins on Tuesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

AirTag 2: Rumored Features

The following changes have been rumored:

In a November 2024 edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the AirTag 2 would "look similar to the current model." In that newsletter, he also said the AirTag 2 will "certainly not" feature a rechargeable battery, suggesting that the accessory will stick with a CR2032 aka "coin" battery that needs to be replaced every year or so.