MacRumors

iOS 18 and macOS 15 will offer an array of new AI features such as auto-generated emojis, suggested replies to emails and messages, and more, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

A significant portion of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is expected to focus on AI features. Writing his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple's AI strategy emphasizes providing practical tools for ordinary users, with new features for core apps like Safari, Photos, and Notes. Apple will apparently use AI to deliver the following new features:

• Photo retouching.
• Voice memo transcription.
• Suggested replies to emails and messages.
• Auto-generated emojis based on the content of a user's messages, providing all-new emoji for any occasion beyond the existing catalog.
• Improved Safari web search.
• Faster and more reliable searches in Spotlight.
• More natural interactions with Siri.
• More advanced version of Siri designed for the Apple Watch, optimized for "on-the-go tasks."
• Smart recaps of missed notifications and individual messages, web-pages, news articles, documents, notes, and more.
• Developer tools for Xcode.

AI features that require less processing power will run entirely on-device, but more demanding tools will operate via the cloud. Apple will apparently tout the privacy advantages of this plan.

Apple is purportedly considering marketing many of its new AI tools as a "preview," at least in beta versions of iOS 18 before its official launch in September, to make it clear that the technology is unfinished.

Apple's iOS 18 update will introduce new features for further customizing the iPhone's home screen, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman claimed that Apple will allow users to change the color of app icons in ‌iOS 18‌. For example, "you can make all your social icons blue or finance-related ones green." This kind of home screen customization is currently only possible by creating single-action shortcuts with a custom icon that serve to launch an app.

Gurman also corroborated previous reports that ‌iOS 18‌ will allow users to place apps anywhere on the home screen's grid. This will enable users to arrange icons more freely, similar to how widgets can currently be placed.

‌iOS 18‌ is expected to be previewed alongside Apple's other major software updates at WWDC in June, before officially releasing to the public in the fall.

It's Memorial Day weekend, and retailers across the Internet are hosting a wide variety of discount events to honor the holiday and celebrate the unofficial start of summer. In this article, we're tracking discounts on Apple products and related accessories from Amazon, Anker, Eufy, Samsung, Target, and more.

Note: 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.

If you're looking for discounts on iPads and MacBooks, be sure to check out our post from yesterday that focused on Memorial Day deals from Best Buy. There you'll find record low prices on the 5th generation iPad Air, iPad mini 6, M2 MacBook Air, and M3 MacBook Pro.

Amazon

Like most other retailers, Amazon's Memorial Day discounts are sitewide discounts across a number of different product categories. In terms of Apple devices, we're tracking steep discounts on Apple Pencil 2, AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook Air, all of which we've collected in the list below.

• Apple Pencil 2 - $79.00, down from $129.00
• AirTag 4-Pack - $79.00, down from $99.00
• AirPods 2 - $89.00, down from $129.00
• AirPods Max - $449.99, down from $549.00
• Apple Watch SE - $189.00, down from $249.00
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 - $714.00, down from $799.00
• 10th gen iPad - $329.00, down from $349.00
• 11-inch M4 iPad Pro - $949.00, down from $999.00
• 15-inch M3 MacBook Air - $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00

Anker

Anker has quite a few discounts this Memorial Day weekend, highlighted by the best price we've ever seen on the popular Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light, available for $94.99 with an on-page coupon, down from $149.99. You'll also find sales on MagSafe-compatible accessories, Bluetooth speakers, Eufy's Bluetooth trackers, and Jackery's best portable power stations.

Audio

• Soundcore Motion 300 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - $64.99 with on-page coupon, down from $79.99
• Soundcore Motion X600 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - $149.99, down from $199.99

Portable Batteries

• Nano Power Bank with Built-In USB-C Cable - $34.99 for Prime members, down from $49.99
• MagGo Power Bank - $69.99, down from $89.99
• Prime Power Bank 20,000 mAh with Smart Digital Display - $89.99 for Prime members, down from $129.99
• Prime Power Bank 20,000 mAh with 100W Charging Base - $149.99 for Prime members, down from $184.99

Power Stations

• Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light - $94.99 with on-page coupon, down from $149.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Cube - $129.99, down from $149.99
• SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station - $1,299.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,999.00

Wall Chargers

• 20W USB-C Charger - $13.99, down from $16.99
• 100W 3-Port USB-C Charger - $54.99, down from $74.99
• 6-in-1 Nano Charging Station - $49.49, down from $65.99
• Prime 67W 3-Port Charger - $49.99 for Prime members, down from $65.99

Hubs

• 4-Port USB-C Hub - $15.99, down from $19.99
• 10-in-1 USB-C Hub - $48.00 with on-page coupon, down from $149.99

Eufy

• SmartTrack Link 1-Pack - $15.99 for Prime members, down from $19.99
• SmartTrack Link 2-Pack - $29.88, down from $35.99
• SmartTrack Link 4-Pack - $48.99 for Prime members, down from $69.99

Jackery

• Solar Generator 300 Plus - $499.00, down from $579.00
• Expansion Battery Pack 1000 Plus - $509.00, down from $799.00
• Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station - $619.00, down from $999.00
• Explorer 2000 PRO - $1,199.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00
• Solar Generator 4000 Kit - $3,999.00 with on-page coupon, down from $4,999.00

Target

Target is joining in on the Memorial Day deals with its "Hello Summer" sale, set to last through Monday, May 27. This event has sitewide savings on everything from food and drinks to TVs and soundbars, which we've highlighted in a list below.

• TCL 40-inch LED Smart TV - $149.99, down from $199.99
• Westinghouse 43-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku TV - $199.99, down from $259.99
• Westinghouse 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku TV - $229.99, down from $279.99
• Roku 50-inch 4K LED Smart TV - $249.99, down from $279.99
• Westinghouse 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Roku TV - $259.99, down from $309.99
• Samsung 65-inch UHD 4K Smart TV - $399.99, down from $529.99
• LG 50-inch 4K UHD TV - $399.99, down from $599.99
• Vizio 50-inch 4K HDR Smart TV - $499.99, down from $549.99
• LG 75-inch 4K UHD Smart TV - $899.99, down from $949.99
• LG 77-inch 4K OLED UHD TV - $2,199.99, down from $2,999.99

Samsung

Samsung is hosting a new "Discover Samsung" sale this week, which includes discounts on multiple product lines sitewide. The popular ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor and Smart Monitor M8 are both discounted during this sale, but you'll also find sales on storage, audio, TVs, smartphones, and home appliances.

As with previous sales, the highlight of the new event is the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $899.99, down from $1,599.99. At $700 off this is an all-time low price on the 2023 display, which has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4.

Samsung's 27-inch Smart Monitor M8 is also being discounted during this sale, available for $349.99 in Warm White, down from $699.99. This is a 4K smart monitor with a design that looks similar to the iMac line, and this is another record low price.

The Discover Samsung Summer Sale is set to run through this Sunday, May 26, so be sure to browse all of the deals this week before anything expires. Remember that this sale is sitewide and you can save on many more devices, including TVs, Galaxy devices, household appliances, and more.

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

It's been quite a week of Apple news and rumors, ranging from a concerning bug with deleted photos reappearing on users' devices to hot rumors about a new high-end iPhone model for 2025 and a MacBook with a foldable screen coming as soon as 2026.

Other news and rumors this week included fresh expectations for iOS 18 features and new headphones from Sonos to compete head-to-head with AirPods Max, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Releases iOS 17.5.1 With Fix for Concerning Photos Bug

Apple released iOS 17.5.1 for the iPhone this week, and the software update includes a fix for a concerning bug that caused deleted photos to reappear in the Photos app for some users. iPadOS 17.5.1 and tvOS 17.5.1 were also released with the same fix for those devices.

"This update provides important bug fixes and addresses a rare issue where photos that experienced database corruption could reappear in the Photos library even if they were deleted," explained Apple, in the release notes for the iOS 17.5.1 update. Apple has since explained that the issue was a result of corrupted local database entries. The issue did not involve iCloud syncing and Apple never had access to the deleted photos.

iPhone 17 Lineup Rumored to Feature All-New Slim Model Above Pro Max With 'Major Redesign'

The Information last week reported that Apple plans to release an all-new, high-end iPhone 17 model next year that sits above the Pro Max model.

The device will allegedly feature a "major redesign" akin to the iPhone X, and this is said to include a "significantly thinner" chassis and a narrower Dynamic Island. In addition, the rear cameras might be relocated from the top-left corner of the device to the "top center," the report said. Dan and Hartley discussed the developments and other topics on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show.

18.8-Inch MacBook With Nearly 'Crease-Free' Foldable Screen Rumored

Apple is developing a MacBook with a foldable screen that is "as crease-free as possible," according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The device is rumored to be released as early as 2026.

This new MacBook model would be equipped with around an 18.8-inch screen, according to display industry expert Ross Young. Kuo expects the device to be powered by an M5 chip, which Apple has yet to announce.

iOS 18 to Use AI to Summarize Notifications, Add to Calendar, and More

iPhones running iOS 18 will be able to auto-summarize notifications and auto-populate calendar entries, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. These features will be two of the many widely-rumored AI capabilities coming with iOS 18, which will be unveiled during Apple's WWDC keynote on June 10.

We recently shared a list of more than 15 Apple apps that are rumored to gain new AI features on iOS 18.

Hands-On With the New Sonos 'Ace' Headphones

Move aside AirPods Max, you've got competition.

The popular speaker brand Sonos this week unveiled its first-ever headphones. The over-ear Sonos Ace feature active noise cancellation, support for lossless audio and spatial audio, up to 30 hours of battery life per charge, a USB-C charging port, and more. Watch our hands-on video to learn more about the headphones, which launch in the U.S. on June 5 for $449.

iPad 10 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Is the $250 Difference Worth It?

One of our latest buyer's guides compares the new sixth-generation iPad Air to the tenth-generation entry-level iPad, which now starts at $349.

Is it worth spending an extra $250 to buy the new iPad Air instead of the iPad 10? Find out.

Also, check out our guide comparing the new iPad Pro models with the M4 chip to the new iPad Air models.

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 is planning to refresh the 24-inch iMac as soon as 2024, so we could see a new model with an M4 chip before the end of the year. Apple is working to overhaul the entire Mac line with AI-focused M4 chips, ‌iMac‌ included.

This guide includes everything we know about Apple's plans for an M4 ‌iMac‌.

M4 Chip

The next-generation 24-inch ‌iMac‌ is expected to get the M4 chip, which is the same chip that Apple used for the latest iPad Pro models. iMacs right now have the M3 chip, so the M4 will be a direct update.

The M4 is built on the same 3-nanometer technology as the M3, but it is a second-generation chip with some speed and efficiency improvements. In a Geekbench benchmark test, the M4 proved to be up to 25 percent faster than the M3 chip, which is a notable jump in performance.

The M3 had a single-core score of 3,087 and a multi-core score of 11,702, while the M4 had a single-core score of 3,695 and a multi-core score of 14,550.

Apple's M4 chip has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, featuring six efficiency cores and four performance cores. There is a variant of the M4 with a 9-core CPU that Apple has used in the ‌iPad Pro‌, but it is unlikely that this chip would be offered in the ‌iMac‌.

Other Macs will get upgraded M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M4 Ultra chips, but the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ is an entry-level product on par with devices like the MacBook Air, so it will only be offered with the M4 chip.

Design

Apple last redesigned the ‌iMac‌ in 2021, and there are no signs that a new look is on the horizon. It's likely that the 2024 refresh of the ‌iMac‌ will focus on the internals rather than any outward-facing design changes.

The ‌iMac‌ is an all-in-one machine that combines a computer and a display. It measures in at just 11.5mm thick, and has a slim profile that fits easily on a desktop. It comes in a range of bright colors, with a matching chin in a pastel color.

So far, we don't know of any updates coming to the ‌iMac‌ except for the M4 chip.

Larger iMac?

There have been persistent rumors of a larger-screened iMac that has a display that's around 30 inches in size, but that device was still in the early stages of development in mid-2023, and there is no word on when a larger ‌iMac‌ might come out.

There is a possibility that we could see it sometime in 2025, but it won't be coming in 2024. Apple this year will stick to the 24-inch ‌iMac‌, as it has done since discontinuing the 27-inch model in 2022.

Release Date

Back in April, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ would likely see an M4 chip update "around the end of the year." Apple sometimes holds events in October or November when new Macs are expected, so we could see the ‌iMac‌ around that timeframe.

Apple is also expected to update the MacBook Pro models and the Mac mini before the end of the year. The ‌iMac‌ was last updated in October 2023, so an October 2024 launch would come right at the year mark.

Apple today added refurbished iPhone 14, ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max devices to its online store for refurbished products, offering the prior-generation iPhones at a discount for the first time since their 2022 launch.

The ‌iPhone 14‌ is available starting at $619, the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro is available starting at $759, and the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max is available starting at $849. Apple does not have any available ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus devices at the current time.

Apple first released the ‌iPhone 14‌ models in September 2022, and has since discontinued the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max. These devices have been replaced with the iPhone 15 Pro models. Apple still sells the ‌iPhone 14‌ and ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus starting at $699 and $799, respectively.

There are several configurations and colors of the ‌iPhone 14‌, ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max available for purchase. ‌iPhone 14‌ models are available with up to 256GB of storage, while the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro models are available with up to 1TB of storage, with more of a discount available for the higher-capacity models.

Stock will fluctuate over time as Apple refreshes the devices that are available, so you may need to check back if you're looking for a refurbished ‌iPhone 14‌ in a specific color or capacity.

All refurbished iPhones from Apple are unlocked and can be used with any carrier. Apple outfits refurbished iPhone models with new batteries, outer shells, and a fresh USB-C to Lightning cable, so they are basically identical to new in the box iPhones.

Apple also offers the same one-year warranty on refurbished ‌iPhone‌ models that it provides for new devices, and there is option to purchase extended AppleCare+ coverage.

This week began with a sitewide sale on Samsung that will end this Sunday, and continued with great discounts on the M4 iPad Pro, 10th generation iPad, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Note: 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.

Samsung

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

Samsung marked down a collection of monitors and TVs earlier in the week, with notable deals on the popular ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor ($700 off) and Smart Monitor M8 ($350 off). The best TV deal can be found on The Frame TV, which has up to $1,300 off select models this weekend.

M4 iPad Pro

• What's the deal? Get $50 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon returned this week with a match of the record low price on the brand new 11-inch iPad Pro. You can get the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $949.99, down from $999.00 with this discount.

10th Gen iPad

• What's the deal? Get up to $40 off the 10th generation iPad
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

In another iPad sale, Amazon has a few 10th generation iPads at record low prices this week. Apple cut the prices of this lineup earlier in May, and each model is now $100 cheaper.

Apple Watch SE

• What's the deal? Get $60 off the Apple Watch SE
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon discounted the Apple Watch SE by $60 this week in multiple configurations, starting at $189.00 for the 40mm GPS model and increasing to $219.00 for the 44mm GPS model.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

• What's the deal? Get $85 off the Apple Watch Ultra 2
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Finally, you can also get the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at an all-time low price this week on Amazon. The model with the Green/Grey Trail Loop in S/M is on sale for $714.00, down from $799.00.

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

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Astropad to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Apple's new M2 iPad Air models, an Apple Pencil Pro, and an Astropad Rock Paper Pencil kit to go with it.

We've highlighted the Rock Paper Pencil before, because it's the best way to mimic the feel of writing on paper with an iPad and an ‌Apple Pencil‌. The Rock Paper Pencil is a screen protector and ‌Apple Pencil‌ tip combo with a distinctly paper-like feel that you can't get from the ‌iPad‌'s display alone.

When Apple's new iPad Pro and ‌iPad Air‌ models came out, Astropad confirmed that the Rock Paper Pencil works perfectly with the new tablets and the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro. The kit includes a removable screen protector in a variety of sizes to fit the ‌iPad‌ you have, plus an ‌Apple Pencil‌ tip that can be swapped out with the tip that comes with the ‌Apple Pencil‌ 2 or ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro.

The NanoCling Screen Protector is designed to attach to the ‌iPad‌'s display using static cling, so you can put it on and take it right off when it's not needed, with no adhesive residue to worry about. The Pencil tip has a wear-resistant copper alloy core and a palladium coating that is able to hold up to heavy daily use. It's designed to be equivalent to a standard 0.7mm ballpoint pen, which makes it ideal for note taking and sketching.

Writing or drawing on an ‌iPad‌ feels distinctly different from writing or drawing with a paper and a pen, and Rock Paper Pencil does a great job at making you forget you're using a tablet. It feels like writing on paper, and as a recent customer video montage demonstrates, it also sounds like writing on paper.

Astropad ships the Rock Paper Pencil with two pencil tips and a protective storage sleeve so you can store the screen protector whenever it's not being used.

Rock Paper Pencil is $40 and you can get it from the Astropad website. The 13-inch version is compatible with the 13-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ and ‌‌iPad Air‌‌, while there are separate versions for the 11-inch ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ and the 11-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌.

We have one Rock Paper Pencil set to give away to a lucky MacRumors reader, and it will come with a new ‌M2‌ ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (May 24) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 31. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after May 31 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

The popular repair website iFixit today shared a video teardown of the first-ever 13-inch iPad Air, providing a look inside the device.

The new iPad Air does not have too many internal changes compared to the previous-generation model. Like the fifth-generation iPad Air, the battery cells continue to have adhesive pull tabs, making them easier to remove.

iFixit gave the 13-inch iPad Air a low repairability score of 3/10 due to the display and some other components being difficult to remove.

Apple released new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models earlier this month, with key new features including the M2 chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, a landscape front camera, Apple Pencil Pro compatibility, and a few new color options.

Apple once designed a Tetris clone called "Stacker," with the game featured on a prototype version of the third-generation iPod. AppleDemoYT, known for sourcing rare prototype devices, shared images and a video of the unreleased iPod.

The iPod in question is a "DVT" device, which means it was a mid-stage prototype that was still in "Design Validation Testing." It has a model number of A1023, which is not a known model number of any version of an iPod Classic, and had custom serial interfacing designed by an Apple engineer.

The third-generation iPod was manufactured in week 14 of 2003 (over a month before the release of the third-generation iPod), and it was purchased from an electronics recycler in China that sold it as is for parts. The device was non-functional when it was purchased, but was able to boot when the hard drive flex cable was replaced.

The iPod runs a prototype version of iPodOS 2.0, and one of the games is "Stacker." Stacker works a lot like Tetris, where the Tetris pieces are moved from left to right using the scroll wheel. Pieces fall when the middle button is pressed, and the idea is to clear more lines at once to rack up points.

There are other games on the iPod, and all of them have placeholder non-release names, including Block0, Chopper, and Klondike. There's also a battery testing playlist on the device that has classical songs that play in a loop, suggesting Apple used this iPod to test the battery life of the third-generation iPod before it was released.

AppleDemoYT says that he asked "iPod godfather" Tony Fadell why the Stacker game was not released, and Fadell said that it was because games were added "with a later software release."

Apple did add several games to the iPod 3G over time, including Brick, Solitaire, Parachute, and Music Quiz. In 2006, Apple released games through the iTunes Store that people could purchase for later versions of the iPod, including an official version of Tetris.

Other games available through the iTunes Store included Bejeweled, Mini Golf, Mahjong, Zuma, Cubis 2, and Pac-Man, all of which pre-dated the App Store.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, the latest rumors about an all new iPhone 17 "Slim" model, and the newly announced Sonos Ace over-ear headphones.

We talk through first impressions of the new ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ models, including their pricing and the state of the iPad lineup as a whole, giving attention to the reduced price of the tenth-generation ‌iPad‌, which now costs just $349, which is $250 less than the starting price of the ‌iPad Air‌.

• iPad 10 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Is the $250 Difference Worth It?

We also examine the recent wave of rumors about the ‌iPhone‌ 17 "Slim," an all-new ‌iPhone‌ model expected to sit above the ‌iPhone‌ 17 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 17 Pro Max in Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup with a higher price tag. The device will reportedly feature a 6.55-inch display, a significantly thinner design with an aluminum chassis, an "A19" chip, 8GB of RAM, a rear camera array relocated to the center, a 24-megapixel front camera, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera. Simultaneously, Apple is expected to discontinue its "Plus" model to make way for the "Slim," although it may not actually be called this when it debuts in the fall of next year.

Meanwhile, Sonos just announced its "Ace" over-ear headphones with active noise cancelation, soundbar integration, a more lightweight design, and longer battery life, so we look at how they compare to the AirPods Max. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our 101st episode special where we answer your questions.

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 Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Another regulatory agency has approved Apple's new version of the Beats Pill speaker ahead of its official announcement (via 91mobiles).

Following its recent appearance in the United States FCC database, the upcoming Beats Pill speaker has now been spotted on Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC) website. The device, carrying the model number A3211, matches the specifications seen in the FCC listing. Certification listings such as these are necessary steps before a product can be brought to market, and their appearance typically signals a launch within weeks.

Images included in the NCC listing provide additional views of the new Beats Pill's design, which retains the familiar pill-shaped aesthetic of its predecessors. The front of the device is entirely covered by the speaker grille with prominent "Beats" branding. There are four physical buttons on the top and a USB-C port is located on the rear. The new model also includes a lanyard hole on the side. The device is expected to be available in three colors: Black, Gold, and Red.

Basketball star LeBron James and Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo were among the first to be spotted with the new Beats Pill over the past month. These sightings were followed by the speaker's appearance in the iOS 17.5 Release Candidate. While Apple has not officially announced the new Beats Pill, the multiple certifications and celebrity sightings indicate that its launch is almost certainly very soon.

Best Buy today kicked off its Memorial Day weekend sale, and it has some of the best prices we've tracked in weeks on iPads and MacBooks. Specifically, you'll find record low prices on the 5th generation iPad Air, iPad mini 6, M2 MacBook Air, and M3 MacBook Pro.

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.

Of course, Best Buy's Memorial Day sale is a sitewide event that reaches far beyond just Apple products. You can find great discounts for the next three days on home appliances, TVs, video games, headphones, sound bars, e-readers, smart home products, and more.

9th Gen iPad

Starting with the cheapest iPad in this sale, you can get the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad at $249.99, down from $329.00. My Best Buy Plus/Total members can also get a low price on the 256GB Wi-Fi model this holiday weekend at $389.99.

5th Gen iPad Air

Best Buy also has a host of deals on the previous generation iPad Air, offering record low prices on the entire lineup in all colors. You can get $200 off every one of these tablets this weekend, starting at $399.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air.

iPad mini 6

Another iPad on sale is Apple's iPad mini 6, available for $399.99 in every color of the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $499.00. You'll also find the 256GB Wi-Fi model discounted, and both cellular models.

13-inch M2 MacBook Air

Every model of the 2022 13-inch MacBook Air is available for $150 off this weekend at Best Buy. The 256GB model is on sale for $849.00 and the 512GB model is available for $1,049.00. These deals beat the previous prices by about $50, and you don't need to be a My Best Buy Plus or Total member to get them.

15-inch M2 MacBook Air

You can get the 512GB M2 15-inch M2 MacBook Air on sale for $1,199.00, down from $1,499.00. Now that this computer has been discontinued, we aren't seeing as much stock at third-party retailers, so this could be one of your last chances to get a steep discount on this model.

13-inch M3 MacBook Air

Moving to the newer M3 MacBook Air, Best Buy has the 13-inch model at a discount right now, offering $100 off nearly every model. Prices start at $999.00 for 256GB and also include both 512GB notebooks.

M3 MacBook Pro

These deals are focused on the 14-inch models of the MacBook Pro, and only a select few are being discounted for My Best Buy Plus/Total members. If you don't have a membership, you can still get these computers for solid second-best prices this weekend.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple has requested OLED display panels designed for future iPad mini models from its suppliers, ZDNET Korea reports.

Samsung Display reportedly started developing sample 8-inch OLED panels for a future ‌iPad mini‌ last month, with plans to initiate mass production at its facility in Cheonan in the second half of 2025. The move is also apparently visible in Samsung's own supply chain in Korea. Samsung already supplies Apple with OLED panels for the new iPad Pro, which features a tandem design for improved brightness and power efficiency. The report adds that Apple will bring an OLED panel to the iPad Air alongside the ‌iPad mini‌ in 2026.

Apple's plans to move the ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ to OLED displays is now widely rumored. Research firm Omdia believes that the ‌iPad Air‌ will gain an OLED display in 2026, with the ‌iPad mini‌ following in 2027, but Korea's ET News agrees with ZDNET that both models will be refreshed with OLED simultaneously in 2026, and there is a chance that Apple will delay bringing OLED to the 13-inch ‌iPad Air‌ until 2027. While the OLED ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ will retain an 11-inch display, the ‌‌iPad mini‌‌'s screen may grow from 8.3- to 8.7-inches in size.

Unlike Apple's latest ‌iPad Pro‌ models, which feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels‌, the ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ may have single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, meaning that they may be dimmer and continue to lack ProMotion.

Last week, some iPhone users reported that Apple's iOS 17.5 update had introduced a bug that caused old photos that were deleted to reappear in the Photos app. Apple quickly released an iOS 17.5.1 update to fix the issue, but for many users, its explanation of "database corruption" in the release notes was all too brief, and did little to allay concerns about the privacy of their data.

Apple has now offered more details on the problem and what caused it. Speaking to 9to5Mac, Apple reportedly said the issue had nothing to do with iCloud Photos, and the company never had access to the deleted photos. Rather, a corrupted database entry on affected devices was the cause of deleted photos reappearing. In other words, the deleted images that were restored resided locally and never left those devices.

Apple said that in some rare cases iOS 17.5 had inadvertently restored files from the corrupted data and repopulated the Photos app with the deleted images. Apple claimed the issue affected a small number of users and a small number of photos.

To explain reports that some restored photos were very old, Apple said that in some cases the corrupted data may have been copied from one device to another when restoring a local backup, performing a device-to-device transfer, or restoring an iCloud device backup (i.e. not involving iCloud Photos).

One claim that was posted on Reddit, which has since been deleted, alleged that the user's photos reappeared on an iPad that had been erased and sold to a friend. Apple said that this could not have been the case if the user had wiped the device prior to sale using the Erase All Content and Settings option found in Settings ➝ General ➝ Transfer or Reset. Either the user had not performed this necessary step, or the claim was false.

Notably, Apple's iOS 17.5.1 update to rectify the issue does not remove any previously deleted photos that reappeared after updating to iOS 17.5. Affected users will therefore need to manually delete these images again, and they will be moved to the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app, where they will remain for 30 days. Recently deleted photos in this folder can also be immediately deleted by choosing Delete from All Devices.

Device repair company iFixit is ending its repair relationship with Samsung, iFixit announced in a blog post today. The partnership is being dissolved after a two-year period because iFixit and Samsung have been unable to negotiate a new deal.

iFixit said that it wanted to build a repair-friendly ecosystem for independent businesses and consumers with its Samsung Repair Hub, something that it has not been able to do. The company says it ultimately doubts "Samsung's commitment to making repair more accessible."

Samsung used iFixit to facilitate a self-repair program for its customers, with iFixit offering step-by-step repair guides for replacing display assemblies, back glass, charging ports, and other components. iFixit says that there were continual obstacles working with Samsung, including the high price of components.

Repair parts "were so costly" that customers ended up replacing their devices rather than repairing them. Batteries and screens, for example, were in pre-glued bundles and customers could not replace a battery without also swapping out the screen, which is a much more expensive repair. iFixit was also unable to provide parts to repair shops at prices and quantities "that made business sense," and iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens told The Verge that Samsung limited iFixit to selling no more than seven parts per customer within a three-month period.

Samsung never even shipped iFixit components for the Galaxy S23 series, the Z Flip 5, and the Z Fold 5, and has not sent anything since the S22 lineup launched. Samsung is instead selling components for its latest smartphones through Encompass. A separate report from 404 Media gives further insight into Samsung's repair requirements, with a leaked contract suggesting that independent repair shops must give Samsung the contact information and other details of every customer that has a repair done. Samsung's contract also has a clause that requires repair shops to "immediately disassemble" any smartphone that has been previously repaired with aftermarket parts.

Starting in June, iFixit will no longer be Samsung's designated third-party parts and tools distributor. Existing repair information won't be removed from iFixit, but iFixit also will no longer collaborate with Samsung to develop new repair manuals. iFixit plans to continue to sell parts and repair kits for Samsung devices using OEM parts when available as well as aftermarket components, which is similar to what it does for iPhone replacement parts.

Samsung previously worked with iFixit to announce a Galaxy Upcycling program that ultimately never materialized, so this is iFixit's second failed Samsung venture. "We clearly didn't learn our lesson the first time, and two years ago we let them convince us they were serious about embracing repair," reads the iFixit blog.

iFixit said that it "tried to make this work," but Samsung was profiting from unpaid work on repair guides. Ultimately, iFixit is "bummed" and won't let "one bad apple spoil the bunch." iFixit is still working with Google, Valve, Lenovo, Motorola, Microsoft, and others on repair ventures.

Samsung will likely bring more of its self-repair options in house, mirroring what Apple does. Apple has a Self Service Repair program that was introduced in 2021, with Apple offering repair manuals and components so customers can do their own repairs.

Popular photo editing app Pixelmator Pro was today updated with an overhauled set of AI-powered masking tools that make it easier than ever to make selective edits. Masking was "reengineered from the ground up" in the new 3.6 version of Pixelmator Pro, so it's quicker to create and refine masks.

There is a new Hide Background option that uses AI to nondestructively remove the entire background from an image with a click. The tool detects the subject of the image and adds a background mask to hide the rest of what's in the photo.

Masking a layer or creating a mask from a layer can now be done with a double click on the canvas with the Arrange tool, and then there are controls available for resizing and repositioning the mask. Pixelmator says this makes it easier to do things like round image corners or crop individual layers in multi-layer compositions.

Tools for refining masks are now located at the bottom of the screen whenever a mask is selected or created, so it's faster to adjust transparency, change edge softness, invert the mark, add a new mask, and more.

Pixelmator has also gained support for vector masks, so layers can be masked into specific shapes. Adding a vector mask causes the area inside the vector shape to remain visible, while other areas are hidden. Masking a layer can be done by selecting a shape from the Mask menu at the top of the layers sidebar or creating a mask with the Pen tool. Vector masks are editable, so each point can be adjusted just like a regular shape.

The new features are available for free to current Pixelmator Pro users. Pixelmator Pro is priced at $50 and it can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Arc Search from The Browser Company was today updated with a new "Call Arc" feature that's designed to let you conduct a search in a gesture that mimics a phone call. To use the feature, open up Arc Search, raise the iPhone to your ear, and ask a question.

The gesture of raising the ‌iPhone‌ to your ear activates the search option, and answers are provided verbally, so the entire voice-based search experience makes it look as if you're simply talking on the phone.

Arc Search now has voice-activated search, triggered by holding your phone to your ear and saying your query -- just like you're making a phone call. Upon using Call Arc, you'll instantly hear your search results, accompanied by an animated smiley face! You can also click "Read More" to access full Browse for Me results for each query.

After asking a question, Arc Search will play hold music briefly before providing a verbal answer and standing by for another question. The interface of the voice search resembles a phone call interface with a smiley face, an end call option, and a "speaker" option to have results spoken aloud.

Arc Search first launched in January as search app that incorporates AI to present search results in a curated, easy-to-read format. It has a minimalist browser interface where users can conduct a standard search or use the "browse for me" option to get an AI-summarized list of results to a query, similar to what you might get from a Chatbot.

Browse for Me is powered by large language models (LLMs) from OpenAI and others, and there's also a "pinch to summarize" feature that works with any webpage and an option to enable a reader mode to get rid of cruft on websites.

Arc Search is available for free on the App Store and requires iOS 16 or later. [Direct Link]