Apple’s Messages app got a lot of new features last year, but iOS 26 continues the trend of big upgrades, including a handy solution for all those unwanted spam texts you keep getting.

The Information is out with an interesting report about how Apple has considered spinning up its own developer cloud services, in a move that would put it against some of its competitors’ biggest revenue streams. Here are the details.

As promised last month, Apple Arcade has just added four new titles to its growing subscription-based collection of ad-free games. Here’s the full list

Bank of America has released its latest App Store performance data, and observed that while revenue is growing faster than downloads, users are shifting how they spend their money.

Spigen is one of my favorite Apple accessory companies because they know how to evoke nostalgia. Last year I picked up their and Magsafe wallet that themed my iPhone 16 Pro Max like the old school iMac G3 that I grew up using in school. I loved every part of that experience, and it was a great conversation starter! This year, they have added to their C1 lineup with their that isn’t just themed after the iMac G3, but looks like a tiny G3 iMac. Here is what you should know.

Apple still has plenty of new product launches coming through the rest of the year, including at least two Macs. But today, a new report has outlined Mac models coming not only in 2025, but even those expected through 2026.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Check out Bitwarden Password Manager, featuring a new Apple Watch authenticator integration, secure autofill on Safari and iOS apps, and enterprise-grade security tools that help you manage credentials with confidence.

Benjamin and Chance discuss the intriguing rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple is readying a new cheaper MacBook Air powered by an A18 Pro CPU. Also, Apple befuddles everyone with a new byzantine set of App Store rules in the EU, and Apple seems open to powering AI Siri using third-party models.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance walks through some tech updates after another big move. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

• Sponsored by Caldera Lab: High performance men’s skincare. Get 20% off your first order at CalderaLab.com/HAPPYHOUR
• Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour.
• Sponsored by 1Password: Secure every app, device, and identity – even the unmanaged ones – at 1password.com/happyhour.

A new Apple Store is opening later this month in Japan, and alongside the first details, the company has released beautiful new wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac featuring custom artwork.

As I pointed out recently, while Whisper is top of mind and still a pretty good transcription model, OpenAI has moved away from it. That said, the fact that Apple’s new transcription API is faster than Whisper is great news. But how accurate is it? We tested it out.

To kick off today’s best Apple deals, we have all colors/configs of Apple’s latest M4 MacBook Air with at least $150 in savings starting from $849. The same goes for the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro at $200 off with select configs as much as $299 off the list price. But we also spotted the 15W Apple MagSafe charger from just $13 a pop (25W models from $33) alongside these Find My-equipped Key Organizer multi-tools, and loads more 4th of July deals waiting below. 

Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak for a while now, with 2025 so far being its best year ever. And there are plenty more likely hits on the way. Here’s what’s coming.

Apple will announce its iPhone 17 lineup in September, and rumors indicate the iPhone 17 Pro Max will get thicker and heavier to gain a larger battery this year. But just today, we might have found out how much larger that battery will be.

iPhones and Android smartphones started to play more nicely together after Apple finally opted to support the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard. Prior to this, messages between the two platforms had to use the ancient and insecure text messaging service.

Not all RCS features are supported as yet, with the all-important strong encryption waiting for RCS 3.0 support in iOS 26. Another RCS 3.0 feature is the ability to edit outgoing messages after sending them, and that one has started a limited one-way rollout …

A pair of market intelligence reports show that the Apple Watch and AirPods continue to dominate the global market in their respective categories.

However, Apple’s long-held lead in the smartwatch market is now being challenged by Huawei, according to the latest estimates …

A alarming new study has found that som teen drivers in the US spend as much as 21% of their time at the wheel looking at their phones, creating a substantial risk of distracted driving crashes.

While much of this was brief glances, more than 5% of driving time comprised looking at their phone for 2+ seconds a time, long enough to qualify as dangerous …

I’ve been reviewing one of XREAL’s more recent releases of AR glasses: the . These are certainly the most versatile pair of AR glasses I’ve tried out so far, and they actually really come to life somewhere you wouldn’t expect: the M4 iPad Pro running iPadOS 26. come in at just under 3 ounces (84 grams), making them easy to just carry around.

It took a minute, but Apple has at last activated its official Threads account. And thanks to its massive Instagram presence, it instantly picked up nearly 5 million followers.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Check out Bitwarden Password Manager, featuring a new Apple Watch authenticator integration, secure autofill on Safari and iOS apps, and enterprise-grade security tools that help you manage credentials with confidence.

iOS 26 is a packed update for iPhone users thanks to the new Liquid Glass design and major updates for Messages, Wallet, CarPlay, and more. But another new feature was just discovered in the iOS 26 beta: FaceTime will now freeze your call’s video and audio if someone starts undressing.