Apple releases beta 3 for iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, and more
Apple has just released a new lineup of beta software, with developer beta 3 arriving for iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and more more…

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Apple releases iOS 26.4 beta 3 for iPhone with upcoming features
Apple has released the third iOS 26.4 beta version for iPhone. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including AI-powered Apple Music updates. more…

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Apple’s March announcements aren’t even close to done
Macworld Last week Apple boss Tim Cook promised this would be a “big week” of product announcements, and the company has wasted no time in getting the ball rolling. So far today we’ve covered the iPhone 17e (pros: MagSafe and an A19 chip; cons: the MagSafe doesn’t get top charging speeds and the A19 is binned) and the 8th-gen iPad Air (different on the inside, identical on the outside), and we’re only a few hours into the week. In fact, based on leaks and sources at Apple and in its supply chain, we’ve barely scratched the surface. Last week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman insisted that we would get at least five new products by the middle of this week, split across press releases on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. That leaves us with a minimum of three more unveilings across two more days, and potentially more. The big and surprising omission today was the next baseline iPad, which was expected to appear alongside the Air. Rumors indicate that the 12th-gen iPad will be just as workmanlike a refresh as its costlier sibling, featuring an A19 chip, Apple Intelligence, and a few minor iterative spec updates, so it isn’t clear why the company would hold it back for a later day. Has Apple got something big up its sleeve? Are we going to get a laminated screen at least? Probably not, but it’s something to watch out for. The biggest story of the week will almost certainly be Apple’s new (and arguably its first) budget MacBook. Gurman says this is the one product this week that will actually look new, which might sound harsh on the iPhone 17e and its new Soft Pink color, but should be justified by a whole range of fun finishes. The artwork on the invitation for this week’s “experience” features the Apple logo in yellow, green, and blue, so it’s a reasonable guess that several of those colors will soon be adorning an aluminum machine. More important than the color, of course, is the price, which we discuss in depth here. (Spoiler alert: it might not be quite as cheap as you hope.) And that’s only the start of the potential Mac launches coming this week. There are new MacBook Airs to release (with the M5 chip) and new MacBook Pros (with the M5 Pro and M5 Max). There could also be a new Mac Studio, and if we’re really lucky this will be accompanied by a new Studio Display. The week is still young, and Apple has lots more to tell us about. At least three more products will be announced by Wednesday, and it could be as many as six. To keep up with the hype and excitement, bookmark our March announcements live blog, which will be running all week.

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New iPhone 17e Adds MagSafe to Apple’s Budget iPhone
The iPhone 17e brings MagSafe to Apple’s entry-level iPhone, doubles base-level storage to 256 GB, and adds the A19 chip, but the iPhone 17 may still be the better value.

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Apple shares climb amid intensifying American and Israeli military strikes against Iran
Apple stock rose modestly today, trading up approximately 0.70% to around $266.02 as of midday market hours. This gain comes despite… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iPhone 17e is here and it solves the iPhone 16e’s biggest problem
Apple announced the iPhone 17e today with a handful of key updates, including increased base storage, the A19 chip, and the C1X modem. For me, however, one update stands out from the rest: MagSafe. more…

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Hello, the iPhone 17e is actually a good buy
Macworld Apple kicked off its product launch week this morning by unveiling the iPhone 17e and iPad Air M4. While we initially expected the company’s latest entry-level smartphone to pack relatively minor upgrades, it actually brings more than half a dozen improvements. These include a stronger, more vibrant design, an enhanced camera, MagSafe support, faster chips, and more. At the same $599 price point as its predecessor, the iPhone 17e finally feels like a well-rounded mid-ranger we can confidently recommend to budget-conscious buyers. Meaningful upgrades Arguably, the iPhone 16e’s biggest flaw was offering too little for a relatively high entry-level price. The iPhone 17e remedies the situation by maintaining the same starting price and offering several aesthetic and functional enhancements. For starters, the base model now comes with 256GB of storage rather than 128GB—essentially slashing the price by $100. More notably, the iPhone 17e finally adopts MagSafe and Qi2 support, letting you attach compatible chargers and accessories magnetically. Some of the handy add-on options include wallets, kickstands, power banks, and tripods. It’s a little slower than the iPhone 17 (15W vs 25W), but that won’t matter for the way most people will use it—either overnight or at a desk. The phone now also comes in a soft pink finish, a refreshing variant for those who want more than just black or white. The iPhone 17 still offers more options, but the new color gives the 17e a unique personality with a color that isn’t available anywhere else. MagSafe is a nice upgrade that makes the iphone 17e feel modern.Apple Other nice-to-have upgrades include support for next-generation portrait shots, enabling you to control the focus. It also gains the iPhone 17’s Ceramic Shield 2 front, which is 3x more scratch-resistant than its predecessor. That’s not to mention Apple’s C1X modem, which can double cellular speeds under certain conditions. For reference, the $699 iPhone 16 comes with only 128GB of storage, inferior Ceramic Shield, shorter battery life, slower performance, and other compromises. As such, if you don’t want to spend $799 on an iPhone 17, you’re better off sacrificing the iPhone 16’s ultra-wide camera and Dynamic Island and opting for a $599 iPhone 17e. The latest chip and OS features Many customers, especially switchers, assume that entry-level iPhones perform poorly and are prone to lag like so many Android phones. That’s far from the truth; the iPhone 17e packs Apple’s latest A19 chip, similar to that included in the flagship iPhone 17. While the “e” edition’s chipset contains one less GPU core (4 instead of 5), it will still perform everyday tasks reliably. Power users may notice a performance hit when playing intensive mobile games or editing large photos and videos, but nowhere near as laggy as similarly priced Android phones. Given that the iPhone 17e packs 2025’s A19 processor, you can expect the phone to similarly receive software updates for years to come. While Apple doesn’t publicly commit to a specific number of annual updates, it offers at least five years of OS versions and often more. This also means that it supports the full suite of iOS 26 perks, including the latest Apple Intelligence tools, iMessage additions, advanced call screening, dedicated Games app, and the fan-favorite Liquid Glass UI, and will be ready to run the new Siri when it arrives later this year. By opting for an iPhone 17e, you’re neither getting a slow phone nor missing out on any primary OS features. The iPhone 17e will get the same updates as the iPhone 17—likely through 2032.Foundry The iPhone 17 isn’t the obvious choice anymore Perhaps the most noticeable difference between the iPhone 17 and 17e is the notch instead of the Dynamic Island. That also means the 17e has a slightly less capable selfie camera without Center Stage. You still get Face ID authentication, however, along with portrait selfies and so on. In terms of screen technology, you won’t get the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate or always-on display support. The iPhone 17 is a fantastic phone, but the iPhone 17e isn’t so far behind.Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry As with the 16e, you also miss out on an ultra-wide lens for 0.5x shots and macro photography on the iPhone 17e. The cheaper phone also skips the Camera Control button, which, honestly, I haven’t used since the last time I wrote about it. The main rear camera on both phones is similar, supporting 48MP image output and 4K video. While you won’t get to shoot Action and Cinematic mode footage, regular video recording will be crisp enough for immortalizing everyday moments and posting to social media platforms. It goes without saying that by paying $200 less for the iPhone 17e, you’re losing some iPhone 17 exclusives—but are they really worth it? For someone on a budget, they’re unlikely to be dealbreakers, as the perks mostly complement the basic iPhone 17e experience. Frankly, while I appreciate having many of these on my iPhone, I don’t believe they’re worth the $200 upcharge if you’re on a tight budget. With more storage, a faster chip, and MagSafe for the same $599, the iPhone 17e is an attractive option for budget buyers, and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending one to anyone—especially if they like pink.

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Apple's spring hardware refresh brings new colors for cases and accessories
Apple's accessory lineup has just received a tropical twist with the introduction of brand new spring colors for Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases.Apple's Spring 2026 color is Bright GuavaIt's spring, which means Apple has rolled out its annual spring collection for Apple Watch and iPhone accessories. This year sees the addition of a few new signature colors, including a punchy Bright Guava and a soft, off-white Vanilla.Here are all the new accessories you can purchase for your favorite Apple products. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's spring hardware refresh brings new colors for cases and accessories
Apple's accessory lineup has just received a tropical twist with the introduction of brand new spring colors for Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases.Apple's Spring 2026 color is Bright GuavaIt's spring, which means Apple has rolled out its annual spring collection for Apple Watch and iPhone accessories. This year sees the addition of a few new signature colors, including a punchy Bright Guava and a soft, off-white Vanilla.Here are all the new accessories you can purchase for your favorite Apple products. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's spring hardware refresh brings new colors for cases and accessories
Apple's accessory lineup has just received a tropical twist with the introduction of brand new spring colors for Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases.Apple's Spring 2026 color is Bright GuavaIt's spring, which means Apple has rolled out its annual spring collection for Apple Watch and iPhone accessories. This year sees the addition of a few new signature colors, including a punchy Bright Guava and a soft, off-white Vanilla.Here are all the new accessories you can purchase for your favorite Apple products. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Introduces iPhone 17e With MagSafe and A19
Apple today announced the iPhone 17e with support for MagSafe and an upgraded A19 chip. The base model also gets a bump to 256GB of storage at $599, and Apple is equipping the device with its new scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2 glass that's supposedly 3x more durable than the 16e. Macworld reports: MagSafe would normally mean significantly faster wireless charging speeds too: the 16e is capped at 7.5W, whereas recent iPhones can wirelessly charge using MagSafe at up to 22W or even 25W. Unfortunately the iPhone 17e has not been given access to the full extent of MagSafe's powers in this regard, and has a limit of 15W. That's the same as MagSafe on the iPhones 12 through 15, and remains an improvement on the 16e, but is still disappointing. [...] It was also expected that the 17e would get a new processor, as this is a standard upgrade for almost every refresh of almost every Apple product. The iPhone 16e came with an A18 chip; the 17 has an A19, which, according to Apple, "delivers exceptional performance for everything users do." Of course that depends on the user and their needs, and it's important to point out that, just like last year, Apple has chosen to use "binned" units of the chip in order to save money. Binned chips have failed manufacturing tests in some minor way and don't have the full complement of cores. [...] And although the cameras are still disappointingly few in number -- one on the front and one on the back -- the wording for the portrait mode has been updated from "Portrait mode with Depth Control" (the same as on the iPhone 12) to "Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control" (same as on the iPhone 17). This appears to highlight the fact that you can change the focus point. The 17e is available in white, black, and soft pink starting at $599. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Apple's low-end, compared
The iPhone 17e is here, and it brings a performance boost and MagSafe to Apple's value-focused smartphone. Here's how it compares to its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.iPhone 17e [left], iPhone 16e [right]The iPhone 16e was introduced in February 2025 as a replacement for the iPhone SE line, becoming the budget option of the iPhone roster. There was a suspicion that Apple could turn the once-periodic iPhone SE updates into a yearly affair under the e-line, and Apple has done just that.One year later, the iPhone 17e now becomes the choice for consumers with a more limited budget. The model that provides iPhone 17-like performance but with enough money to buy accessories and other essentials of life. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Apple's low-end, compared
The iPhone 17e is here, and it brings a performance boost and MagSafe to Apple's value-focused smartphone. Here's how it compares to its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.iPhone 17e [left], iPhone 16e [right]The iPhone 16e was introduced in February 2025 as a replacement for the iPhone SE line, becoming the budget option of the iPhone roster. There was a suspicion that Apple could turn the once-periodic iPhone SE updates into a yearly affair under the e-line, and Apple has done just that.One year later, the iPhone 17e now becomes the choice for consumers with a more limited budget. The model that provides iPhone 17-like performance but with enough money to buy accessories and other essentials of life. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e: Apple's low-end, compared
The iPhone 17e is here, and it brings a performance boost and MagSafe to Apple's value-focused smartphone. Here's how it compares to its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.iPhone 17e [left], iPhone 16e [right]The iPhone 16e was introduced in February 2025 as a replacement for the iPhone SE line, becoming the budget option of the iPhone roster. There was a suspicion that Apple could turn the once-periodic iPhone SE updates into a yearly affair under the e-line, and Apple has done just that.One year later, the iPhone 17e now becomes the choice for consumers with a more limited budget. The model that provides iPhone 17-like performance but with enough money to buy accessories and other essentials of life. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The M3 iPad Air with 5G is $150 off
Macworld There may be a new iPad Air on Apple’s website, but you’ll need to be a detective to find what’s new. So why not get an M3 model on sale instead, like this $150 discount on the 11-inch M3 iPad Air with 5G, dropping the price from $749 to $599 and the best we’ve ever seen. This is a tablet that we really love around here, as our review stands proof. We gave it a 4-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award for its outstanding performance, the gorgeous display, and the great battery life. At the core of this model is the M3 chip, one that we found delivers a massive performance improvement over previous models, especially when handling demanding tasks. Whether you’re running more graphics-intensive games or diving into creative projects, this tablet has you covered. We also can’t forget about that gorgeous 11-inch Liquid Retina display that will make everything look beautiful with accurate colors. The iPad Air can easily turn into a workstation if you add the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, allowing you to write and sketch at will. And with 5G connectivity, you’ll be able to use it wherever you go without missing a beat. So don’t miss out on the chance to get this amazing tablet for a great price. We probably won’t see a discount on the M4 model for a while, so so don’t hesitate to get the iPad Air with 5G for $150 off. Buy now at Amazon

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Deals: AirPods 4 ANC 35% off, all Apple Watch Series 11 models $100 off, iPad mini, iPad Air, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation back down at one of the lowest prices: $119 shipped (35% off). But we also have all of the standard GPS Apple Watch Series 11 case options back to all-time lows from $299 ($100 off) as well as the latest iPad mini on sale from $399 (also $100 off). Those deals join Twelve South’s upgraded 4-port PlugBug charger with Find My at the $56 Amazon all-time low and some solid deals across the M3 iPad Air lineup just after the reveal of the new M4 model. Head below for a closer look. more…

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HBO Max and Paramount+ to be merged into one streaming service
Paramount is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery after beating Netflix’s purchase offer, and CEO David Ellison just shared what that means for the companies’ two streaming platforms: HBO Max and Paramount+. more…

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Today in Apple history: Here comes the Macintosh II
On March 2, 1987, three years after releasing the original Macintosh 128K, Apple launches its direct sequel, the almighty Macintosh II. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple iPad Air M4 (2026) Complete Guide: Release date, price, specs & what’s new
Macworld Apple introduced the M4 powered iPad Air via a press release on March 2, 2026. The M4 iPad Air refresh mainly updates performance, memory, and wireless connectivity, while many elements – including design, screen tech, accessory support, storage entry point, and price – closely match the previous M3 iPad Air. Read on for all the details you need about availability, price, specs and how the new M4 iPad Air compares to the M3 model. M4 iPad Air Release date and availability Pre-orders will begin on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with availability from Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Pre-Order an iPad Air M4 at Apple Once the iPad Air is on sale it will be available to purchase from Apple as well as third-party stockists including Amazon and Best Buy. Retailer Price $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket M4 iPad Air Price Despite the upgrades, the iPad Air’s starting price remains unchanged from the M3 model. This is excellent news for consumers who get faster and more capable hardware without paying more. Unlike the new iPhone 17e, which doubles the storage at the entry-level to 256GB for the same price, the iPad Air still starts with 128GB of storage. A cellular model costs an additional $150/£150 over the standard Wi-Fi version – before factoring in the price of a monthly data plan. The premium reflects the extra hardware required for mobile connectivity, including a cellular modem and GPS support, allowing for accurate location tracking and internet access on the go. Unless you specifically need always-on connectivity, it may be more cost-effective to use your iPhone as a personal hotspot and share its data connection instead of paying extra for a cellular iPad. WiFiCellularEducation11-inch iPad Air M4, 128GB$599 / £599$749 / £749$549 / £54911-inch iPad Air M4, 256GB$699 / £699$849 / £849$649 / £64911-inch iPad Air M4, 512GB$899 / £899$1,049 / £1,049$849 / £84911-inch iPad Air M4, 1TB$1,099 / £1,099 $1,249 / £1,249$1,049 / £1,04913-inch iPad Air M4, 128GB$799 / £799$949 / £949$749 / £74913-inch iPad Air M4, 256GB$899 / £899$1,049 / £1,049$849 / £84913-inch iPad Air M4, 512GB$1,099 / £1,099$1,249 / £1,249$1,049 / £1,04913-inch iPad Air M4, 1TB$1,299 / £1,299$1,449 / £1,449$1,249 / £1,249 M4 iPad Air Processor: Will the 2026 iPad Air be faster? Apple-designed M4 chip with 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU. Up to 30% faster overall performance vs the M3 version. 16-core Neural Engine and 50% more unified memory (12GB). Apple We are already familiar with the M4 chip, which featured in the 2024 iPad Pro. Unlike the iPad Pro, which came with a 9-core or 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. The M4 iPad Air features an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. The M4 is notably faster than prior Apple chips. For users that will mean snappier multitasking, quicker app launches, and smoother operation even under heavy load, compared to the previous generation. The M4 GPU is much improved on its predecessors, meaning even better graphics and rendering for games and creative apps. In addition, the 16-core Neural Engine in the M4 will benefit machine leaning tasks such as photo editing and enhancements and AI-driven features. The M4 is also designed to be more power-efficient than earlier chips, which should translate to better battery life. The 2025 iPad Air had 8GB of RAM, the minimum required to run Apple Intelligence. The new iPad Air has 12GB of RAM as standard, with memory bandwidth increases to 120GB/s, which will benefit AI processes. M4 iPad Air Performance: How much faster is the M4 iPad Air compared to the M3 iPad Air? The M4 delivers up to ~30% faster performance than the M3. Unified memory increased (12 GB vs typically 8 GB on the M3 model). Faster Neural Engine and GPU, enhancing graphics and AI tasks. Apple Apple’s claims “blazing performance” for the M4 iPad Air, but the M3 iPad Air was by no means slow. In our tests of the M4 chip we found it to be around 25-30 percent faster than the M3 and the GPU to be around 20% faster. In practice this should mean multitasking is smoother and graphics intensive apps should be more responsive, which will be good for gaming. M4 iPad Air Connectivity: How the N1 and C1X will benefit the iPad Air N1 wireless chip (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6). C1X cellular modem in cellular models with faster data. 5G support and enhanced wireless performance. With the iPhone 17, Apple included a new Apple-made wireless networking chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread networking technology (used to control smart-home devices). This N1 chip is included in the iPad Air bringing support for Wi-Fi 7 and its higher peak speeds, lower latency, and quicker downloads and uploads. The N1 also adds support for Bluetooth 6, with benefits including more reliable connections in crowded locations, lower latency, and more efficient power use. Another benefit of the N1 is that AirDrop and Personal Hotspot reliability should also be improved. The iPhone Air’s C1X 5G modem is also being used in the cellular models of the iPad Air. The benefits there revolve around cellular connectivity, including: faster 5G performance, better power efficiency (Apple says it uses 30% less energy), and improved battery life. What is the same compared to the M3 iPad Air Same advanced cameras (12MP rear camera, 12MP Center Stage front camera). Same all-day battery life. Same support for Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. Available in 11- and 13-inch sizes, multiple finishes, and storage options (128GB – 1TB). Same slim aluminium body, same color options: Space Gray, Blue, Purple and Starlight. Same 11-inch of 13-inch LCD Liquid Retina display. Base-level storage is the same at 128GB. The new iPad Air has the same design and screen options as previously. The same four colors are used as has been the case for the past two generations: Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray. The iPad Air has used the same LED backlit Liquid Retina display for several generations, and this continues with the M4 update. Apple’s more expensive iPad Pro uses tandem OLED panels and there are rumors that OLED may be coming to other iPads, possibly the iPad mini first. The storage options are the same, starting at 128GB. The iPad Air has had the same two cameras since the M1: a 12MP front camera with Center Stage and a 12MP rear wide-angle camera. The hardware hasn’t changed unfortunately. Below you can read the rumors from before the launch. We are currently updating this and the other hubs relating to new product launches. 2026 iPad Air: What else is coming… Apple has scheduled “Special Experiences” for March 4 – inviting journalists to venues in New York, London and Shanghai for some sort of hands-on briefing, rather than a live-streamed event. There are a number of new products expected to launch during the week leading up to the event. So far the iPad Air and the iPhone 17e have launched. We also expect to see other iPads and we may see the M5 MacBook Air upgraded with the M5 chip and the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There are also claims that Apple may be soon to launch a low-cost MacBook. See our March Event Live Blog for the latest news.

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Starlink announces V2 satellites: 5G speeds from space with 100x data density
SpaceX's Starlink has unveiled its next-generation V2 satellites for mobile service, promising to deliver true 5G speeds directly from orbit… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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