iPhone, Mac, software and everything from Cupertino.
Meta's Muse AI agent app has taken the top spot on the US App Store, displacing ChatGPT. The app was launched this month and has seen a surge in new installs. The app is available on iPhone and has recently been made available on Mac.
Why it matters: This shift in popularity highlights the growing interest in AI-powered chatbots and their potential applications.
Ron Johnson, former Apple retail pioneer, has written a book about his experience leading the development of Apple's retail stores, which opened in 2001. Johnson worked with Steve Jobs to create the first two stores and shares details about the challenges and successes of the early years. The book, 'Shop Different', covers Johnson's time at Apple and his later tenure as CEO of JCPenney.
Why it matters: The book provides insight into the early days of Apple retail and the vision behind the company's iconic stores.
Apple released a 35-second music video for K-Pop artist Rose, shot entirely on the iPhone 18 Pro. The video showcases the phone's new camera capabilities, particularly its variable aperture lens. The video is part of Apple's 'Shot on iPhone' ad campaign.
Why it matters: The video demonstrates the iPhone 18 Pro's camera capabilities and may appeal to potential buyers considering the device.
Apple CEO John Ternus attended the Emmys and showed off the unreleased foldable iPhone Duo on the red carpet, sparking interest from Hollywood stars. He also attended a private party the night before, where he was approached by talent for the phone. Apple's streaming service, Apple TV, won a record-breaking 28 awards at the Emmys.
Why it matters: The success of Apple TV at the Emmys suggests that the company's streaming service is gaining traction in the industry.
A four-year-old iPhone Xs Max review's footnote mentioned that MKBHD's top 20 videos had seven iPhone-specific videos with 84 million views. The top 20 has changed, with a one-week-old iPhone Duo video entering the top three. The iPhone Duo has seven videos in the top 20, with five of them from the last four years, totaling 118 million views, a 40% increase from four years ago.
Why it matters: The data suggests that the iPhone Duo is generating significant interest and attention on YouTube, which could translate to strong sales and market performance.
Apple's iPhone Duo was inspired by paper notebooks, with a focus on compactness and usability. The phone's design was influenced by the A-series paper system, with proportions similar to A5. The iPhone Duo's hinge is designed for smooth opening and holding open.
Why it matters: The iPhone Duo's design and functionality may set a new standard for foldable phones.
The iPhone 18 Pro features an under-display Face ID sensor, which reduces the size of the Dynamic Island's permanent cutout. This allows for more content to be displayed in the Dynamic Island, with up to three Live Activities visible at once. The change also results in slightly fuzzy text in the status bar.
Why it matters: This design change has practical implications for users who frequently use multiple Live Activities simultaneously.
Apple released a new Shot on iPhone ad featuring ROSÉ's music video for 'new trick', showcasing the iPhone 18 Pro's camera capabilities. The ad highlights the phone's 48MP Main camera and its ability to improve low-light footage and depth of field. The iPhone 18 Pro models launched today with an upgraded Main camera and new features.
Why it matters: The ad demonstrates the iPhone 18 Pro's camera capabilities and highlights its new features.
The 9to5Mac Daily podcast for September 18, 2026, covers the top stories of the day, including iOS 27 and iPhone Duo. The podcast is available on various platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Google Play. The episode features a recap of the day's news and a discussion of the latest Apple stories.
Why it matters: This podcast provides a concise summary of the day's Apple news for readers who want to stay up-to-date.
Apple has released new iPhone 18 Pro cases, including Silicone and TechWoven models, and various third-party solutions from brands like Nomad, Dbrand, and UAG. The new cases offer features such as built-in stands, customizable designs, and rugged protection. The cases are available in various colors and price points, starting from $14.
Why it matters: This update provides readers with a comprehensive list of new iPhone 18 Pro case options, allowing them to choose the best case for their needs and budget.
Apple has hidden tiny 'hello' signs in its retail stores for customers to find using the new iPhone 18 Pro's cameras. The signs are designed to be small and placed in spots that make them difficult to reach, encouraging customers to use the camera's telephoto zoom feature. The signs feature Apple's iconic cursive 'hello' script and are meant to be a fun way to demonstrate the camera's capabilities.
Why it matters: This feature allows customers to experience the iPhone 18 Pro's camera capabilities firsthand and provides a unique way for them to interact with the device.
Apple's new products, including AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and iPhone 18 Pro, are on sale with discounts available at various retailers. The AirPods 5 can be purchased for $124.99 at Amazon, a $5 discount. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, with up to $20 off select GPS + Cellular models.
Why it matters: These deals can help readers save money on Apple's latest hardware, making it more accessible to those who want to upgrade or purchase new devices.
The latest episode of The MacRumors Show discusses the iPhone Duo, AirPods 5, and Apple Watch Series 12, covering their features, benefits, and potential drawbacks. The show also touches on the iPhone 18 Pro's camera and Dynamic Island. The discussion explores whether the iPhone Duo's larger screen justifies its compromises, and whether the AirPods 5's improved noise cancellation and fit make them a worthwhile upgrade. The episode also considers the value of the Apple Watch Series 12's new health features and whether they justify replacing an older watch.
Why it matters: The episode provides insights into the latest Apple products and their potential benefits and drawbacks, helping readers make informed decisions about their next purchases.
Apple has added a bill splitting feature to the Wallet app in iOS 27, allowing users to split bills with friends and family using Apple Cash. The feature uses Apple Intelligence to identify items on receipts and calculate the total payment, including tax and tip. Users can split bills using the Camera app, Messages, or Apple Wallet.
Why it matters: This feature may make Apple Cash a more popular choice for sending money, potentially increasing its adoption and usage.
YouTube has changed its view counting system to count a view from the moment a video starts playing, rather than when it reaches 30 seconds. This change applies to all video formats globally. The update aims to provide a consistent view counting standard across the platform.
Why it matters: This change may impact how creators understand their video's exposure and engagement, potentially affecting their content strategies.
Apple's design team discussed the inspiration behind the iPhone Duo, citing notebooks and the international A-series paper system as influences. The device's design aims to balance space and compactness, with a custom hinge and transition animation. The team also emphasized the importance of maintaining a cohesive user experience.
Why it matters: The interview provides insight into Apple's design process and goals for the iPhone Duo, which may influence future foldable devices.
A writer has changed their opinion on Apple Glasses after the backlash against Meta Glasses, citing concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse. The writer previously thought Apple Glasses would have a camera, but now believes they should not. The writer has been testing camera-free smart glasses and has positive first impressions.
Why it matters: This development may influence Apple's design decisions for their upcoming Glasses product.
Apple states that iPhone 17 Pro cases are not compatible with iPhone 18 Pro due to a 0.1mm difference in camera plateaus. However, cases from both generations may still fit due to minor tolerance. Testing suggests that most cases, including Apple's and many third-party ones, are interchangeable.
Why it matters: This information is relevant for iPhone users who want to know if they can reuse their existing cases with their new iPhone 18 Pro or vice versa.
AirPods Pro 3 are discounted by $50, iPhone 18 Pro cases and chargers are on sale, and the M5 MacBook Pro is $320 off at B&H. Amazon has early deals on Apple Watch Series 12 and M6 Mac mini. Satechi cables are 50% off. Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 have been released. The new M5 Pro and M6 Mac mini are set to launch next week.
Why it matters: These deals provide opportunities for readers to save money on Apple products and accessories.
A teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro reveals a larger battery, a larger vapor chamber cooling system, and a reduced Dynamic Island. The A20 Pro processor is now in direct contact with the vapor cooling system. The teardown also shows that the battery is 1.7% larger than in the iPhone 17 Pro. The repairability of the phone may be harder due to design changes.
Why it matters: The teardown provides insight into the design and engineering decisions behind the iPhone 18 Pro's features and may be useful for those considering upgrading or repairing their device.
Apple's new products, including the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, and Apple Watch Series 12, are available for purchase on launch day with various discounts at retailers such as Amazon and carrier stores. The discounts include up to $1,200 off the iPhone 18 Pro with trade-in and $4 off the AirPods 5. Anker has also released matching accessories for the new iPhone 18 Pro, including a magnetic power bank.
Why it matters: These launch day deals can help customers save money on Apple's newest products.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 are now available in Apple Stores and from other retailers worldwide. The products were first unveiled last week during Apple's 'Surprise and shine' event. The iPhone Duo will be available for pre-order on October 16 and ships on October 23.
Why it matters: This marks the beginning of the availability of new Apple products for consumers to purchase and upgrade their devices.
Solidigm, a subsidiary of Apple supplier SK Hynix, is considering building a NAND flash memory factory in the U.S., with upstate New York as a potential location. The move would reduce the company's reliance on its existing factory in China. Solidigm is in talks with Intel to start memory production in the U.S.
Why it matters: This development could lead to increased domestic production of memory chips, potentially reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
iOS 27 requires up to 14GB of free storage on certain iPhone models for its AI features, while most users need only 8GB. The increased storage requirement is due to two advanced AI capabilities not available on other models. These features require a more powerful on-device model, taking up additional storage.
Why it matters: This change may impact users who have lower storage capacity on their iPhone models and need to free up space to access iOS 27's AI features.
Apple has released a range of official accessories for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5. The accessories include various cases and bands for the new devices. The prices for the accessories range from $49 to $99.
Why it matters: These accessories are designed to be compatible with the new devices and offer a range of styles and materials to choose from.
A teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro reveals that Apple shrunk the Dynamic Island by moving the Face ID infrared camera under the display. The teardown also shows a larger 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture and a 4,056 mAh battery capacity. The device has a physical SIM card tray, which is not present in some international models.
Why it matters: This teardown provides insight into the design and technical choices made by Apple in the iPhone 18 Pro.
ESR has released new cases for the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring Atelier Vegan Leather material and a rotating Flex Stand for protection and versatility.
Why it matters: These cases provide users with a premium and functional way to protect their high-end iPhones and adapt to various usage scenarios.
iOS 27 adds new features to Apple Music, including support for landscape layouts, lyrics display, improved AutoMix, refreshed artist pages, and new widgets. The new features are available on iPhone and tvOS, and HomePod. Apple Music also gets a new Friends playlist. The new features aim to enhance the user experience and provide more convenience and personalization options. Apple Music is available for $11.99/month or as part of the Apple One bundle.
Why it matters: These updates aim to improve the overall user experience and provide more ways to discover and enjoy music on Apple Music.
A recent survey of 4,000 US consumers found that 67% plan to upgrade their iPhone due to the age of their current device, with 53% of respondents interested in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The survey suggests that buyers are willing to spend more on premium models and larger storage configurations. The iPhone Duo and other Apple products, such as Apple Watch and AirPods, also showed increased interest.
Why it matters: The strong demand for premium iPhone models could lead to higher average selling prices and a stronger revenue outlook for Apple in fiscal 2027.
Hands-on videos of the iPhone Duo have surfaced, showcasing its software keyboard, app multitasking, camera features, and more. The videos demonstrate one-handed typing on the exterior display, a split keyboard UI, and multitasking capabilities. The iPhone Duo's camera features are also shown off in the videos.
Why it matters: The videos provide a glimpse into the iPhone Duo's user experience, helping readers understand what to expect from the device's unique features.
