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M6 Pro Chip Result on Geekbench is Likely Fake

A supposed Geekbench result for an unreleased M6 Pro chip surfaced this week, but it is likely fake. Geekbench creator John Poole informed MacRumors that he uncovered "internal inconsistencies" that lead him to believe that the M6 Pro result might not be legitimate. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple plans to skip M6 Pro and M6 Max chips entirely. This article, " M6 Pro Chip Result on Geekbench is Likely Fake " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol19 Sept

Apple Watch Ultra 4 Sees First Discount After Launch, Now $779.99 on Amazon

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 just launched yesterday, and Amazon is offering the first cash discounts on select models for the first time since their launch. You can get the Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $779.99 , down from $799.00. 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. There are two Ultra 4 models that are on sale at this price for launch week, including the Natural model with Sand Trail Loop (M/L) and the Natural model with Desert Alpine Loop (Large) . These are the lowest prices we've tracked on the brand new Apple Watch Ultra 4. $19 OFF Apple Watch Ultra 4 for $779.99 If you're shopping for the new Apple Watch Series 12, Amazon also has a few markdowns on these devices. You can get the 42mm GPS Series 12 for $389.99 and the 46mm GPS Series 12 for $439.99 , both of which are $9 discounts and the best prices we've seen yet. 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 2026? 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 This article, " Apple Watch Ultra 4 Sees First Discount After Launch, Now $779.99 on Amazon " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Mitchel Broussard19 Sept
  • neutral toward Amazon · 98%

Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Out Now, Siri AI Waitlist, and More

All of Apple's products introduced at last week's event with the exception of the iPhone Duo are now available, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 all launching on Friday. While new hardware is always a welcome arrival, users of existing hardware also got big upgrades this week with the releases of iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate and more. Apple is also already looking ahead to iOS 27.1 that will ship with the iPhone Duo next month and iOS 27.2 that will see the first significant round of improvements to iOS 27 for all users, so read on below for all of details on these stories and more! Top Stories Apple Releases iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 With Siri AI and Liquid Glass Update Following last week's big iPhone event, this week saw the traditional public release of Apple's new major operating system updates, headlined by iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 . iOS 27 brings new Siri AI capabilities to users in many countries around the world, as well as a variety of other new features and improvements. For a quick introduction to iOS 27, check out our list of 10 features to try first , and when you're ready for more, move on to our look at 50 new things your iPhone can do in iOS 27 . And for the most thorough look at what's new, our iOS 27 Ultimate Mega Guide links to all of the feature coverage we've been putting together for the release. macOS Golden Gate Now Available With Siri AI, Visual Intelligence and More On the Mac side, this week saw the release of macOS Golden Gate 27 . The update introduces Siri AI, a smarter chatbot version of ‌Siri‌ with a dedicated ‌Siri‌ app. It also brings Visual Intelligence to the Mac for the first time, and tweaks the look of the Liquid Glass design update Apple introduced last year. For a quick overview of what's new in macOS Golden Gate, be sure to check out our list of 10 features to try first , including Siri AI, easier creation of Shortcuts and Safari Extensions, performance improvements, and more, and then move on to our guide to 50 new features and changes for a more in-depth look. Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Sold in U.S. Differs in One Way Following last week's introduction of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, there was some confusion over the cellular modems included in the devices, with it appearing that Apple's own C2 modem was only included in the iPhone 18 Pro . Apple later updated its spec pages for the new models around the world, making it clear that the C2 is included in both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in every country around the world EXCEPT for the iPhone 18 Pro Max in the United States. That device continues to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem from the iPhone 17 Pro models, but Apple has yet to explain the reason for this difference. Reminder: iOS 27's All-New Siri AI Has a Waitlist, Here's How to Sign Up If you recently installed iOS 27 on your iPhone, you might be wondering where the new-and-improved Siri AI and dedicated Siri app are. In case you missed it, you must join Apple's waitlist in order to gain access to these new features . Keep in mind that while iOS 27 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer, Siri AI is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and newer. It is also not currently available at all in EU countries due to Apple's regulatory battle with the European Commission over Digital Markets Act requirements. For those who are eligible for Siri AI, joining the waitlist is a simple process in the Settings app. Once on the list, wait times seem to vary, with some users receiving access to Siri AI within a few minutes of signing up and others having to wait a few hours or even days. Apple Releases First iOS 27.2 Beta With iOS 27.0 out the door, Apple this week seeded the first beta of iOS 27.2 and related updates to developers for testing purposes. Yes, that's right...iOS 27.2, not 27.1. The biggest change in the first iOS 27.2 beta is the revamped Health app that Apple showed off at last week's iPhone event , although Apple says it won't be included in the public release of the update, so the general public will need to wait a bit longer for it to be available. For more, check out our full list of everything new in the first beta of iOS 27.2 . iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries Apple this week announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries . In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people. The initiative does not include the U.S., Canada, Australia, nor is it offered in the UK and other European markets, but it is clearly more than a promotional offer, since Apple TV and Apple Arcade will stop being sold as individual subscriptions through Apple in countries where it has launched. 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 ! Tag: Top Stories This article, " Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Out Now, Siri AI Waitlist, and More " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•MacRumors Staff19 Sept

Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo Crease

Apple hardware engineering VP Tom Marieb spoke with TechRadar and shared some candid thoughts about Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo . The ‌iPhone Duo‌ uses a matte nano-texture display, which is meant to cut down on glare and minimize the visibility of the crease. When asked if the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s crease would be more visible over time, as that's what tends to happen on other foldables, Marieb said the nano-texture display would help. He asked people to hold the company "accountable" on crease visibility. Hold us accountable to that, please. The choice of a matte finish — apart from it being beautiful — is part of that equation. When you look at glossy displays, their specularity makes it very easy to pick up topology differences. That's part of the reason we picked the matte finish — it's not only beautiful in terms of preventing glare, but it's also more forgiving of [hinge] changes over time. Marieb said the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s hinge was something he was "especially proud of" because it took a long time to get the right design. Apple wanted a durable hinge that felt solid to open and close. We really worked on the torque profile very heavily, and that means changing a lot of the mechanical properties of the hinge to have it feel solid, like a high-end automobile's car door, when you shut it. That was design intent, so people would have a feeling like, 'Oh, it's okay. This is well crafted, and it's safe for me to use and not worry about it.' Apple didn't want the hinge to be "floppy," so torque had to be perfected for different use cases. The hinge Apple came up with lets the ‌iPhone Duo‌ be used in partially folded seated and standing modes, as well as open and closed. Marieb said "a lot of blood, sweat, and tears" went into the hinge design. Marieb also spoke about Ceramic Shield 2, his dislike of screen protectors, and more, with the full interview available on TechRadar . The ‌iPhone Duo‌ will be available for pre-order on October 16 and will launch on October 23. Pricing starts at $1,999. Related Roundup: iPhone Duo Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo Crease " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover19 Sept

iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before Shipping

The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a battery capacity over 20 watt-hours, which means there are additional shipping requirements. If an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max needs to be shipped somewhere, its maximum battery capacity has to be limited through firmware. According to Apple , the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max uses an "innovative battery-firmware solution" that limits battery capacity to below 20Wh between when the iPhone is manufactured and its delivery to a customer. Activating the iPhone removes the limit to make the battery's full charging capacity available. iPhones that are not yet activated or still in the box will not need Prepare to Ship because they are already limited to under 20Wh. Customers who need to ship the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max for repair, trade-in, or other purposes have to use a new Prepare to Ship feature. Prepare to Ship discharges the battery to below 20Wh and sets a charge limit so the iPhone stays below the threshold during the shipping process. The Prepare to Ship option can be accessed by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Prepare to Ship. Apple warns that the iPhone can become "warmer than usual" during Prepare to Ship if the battery needs to be discharged. When finished, the iPhone shows a "Ready to Ship" status in Settings. If Prepare to Ship needs to be undone, there is an option in the same section of the Settings app to undo the shipping preparation. Depending on the reason the user selected for the Prepare to Ship feature, there could be a 14-day waiting period before it can be disabled. Apple emphasizes that the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max is safe for shipping and air travel, and the limit has been added to meet shipping requirements. Since no other iPhones have a single-cell battery over 20Wh, this procedure isn't needed for other models. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: iPhone 18 Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before Shipping " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover18 Sept

iPhone 18 Pro launches in UAE to strong demand, with a second wave expected when iPhone Duo arrives

Dubai: Official Apple stores in the UAE, along with a number of electronics stores and outlets of the two telecom operators, e& and du, began delivering the new versions of the iPhone 18 yesterday, amid remarkable consumer demand. Queues of consumers with pre-orders were observed waiting to receive their devices from the Apple store in Dubai Mall, as a number of them began flocking to the store during the early morning hours, hours before the scheduled time for the delivery of the new phones. Consumers confirmed that they made sure to complete pre-orders and come to the store early, in order to ensure they received the new phones as soon as they were released. Electronic stores and telecommunications company outlets also witnessed a surge in customers eager to acquire new phones. Experts in the telecommunications and electronics supply sectors stated that the market demand for the new releases is due to the introduction of modern and advanced technologies within the iPhone 18 Pro phones, in addition to providing new options and colours. The prices of the new iPhone models ranges between Dh5,099 for the iPhone 18 Pro and Dh5,499 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, depending on the different versions and specifications. Advanced features in the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with their attractive new colours, were cited as the biggest reasons why consumers were drawn to the phones. Picture credit: Ashok Verma Consumer Mohammed Shaker said that he recorded the first delivery of the new iPhones from the Apple store in Dubai Mall yesterday, noting that he had to arrive before 6am and queue up to get the phones. He added that he bought iPhone 18 Pro Max phones with different storage capacities for his family members. For his part, consumer Mohammed Ismail said that he bought three iPhone 18 Pro Max phones, with storage capacities of up to 512GB, for members of his family and friends, explaining that he was keen to choose the devices in the new colours that the company introduced with the latest releases. Consumer Youssef Emad stated that he bought the new iPhones as part of his desire to upgrade to higher specifications compared to the phones he currently owns, noting that he bought two new devices for himself and his wife. He confirmed that he made sure to queue up from the early morning hours to get the new phones as soon as they started being delivered. In the same context, Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer of du, said that the company has observed a large demand from customers to obtain the new versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in various storage capacities and colours. He added that the company began to provide devices to customers who had pre-orders yesterday, through its various outlets, noting that the volume of demand reflects the customers’ interest in the new releases, and their eagerness to acquire the phones as soon as they are released in the markets. Benkirane pointed out that this year is witnessing a difference in the nature of demand for new phone releases, with two peak periods of demand from customers for the latest iPhone technologies. He explained that the first peak is currently appearing with the launch and delivery of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the markets are expected to witness another peak of demand with the start of the anticipated reservations for the new foldable iPhone Duo phones during October. He explained that the remarkable demand for new phones in the markets is due to two main factors. The first is the advanced technologies included in the devices, whether in terms of cameras, processors, or artificial intelligence technologies. The second factor, according to Benkiran, relates to the new colours that the company introduced with the phones, which have attracted the attention of many customers. For his part, Mustafa Anan, sales manager at an electronics supply outlet, said that stores are witnessing a high demand from customers to buy new phones after pre-orders were completed, noting that demand began to rise as devices began to be made available to consumers. He added that the new colours, which are being introduced for the first time, along with the modern technologies included in the phones, are among the most prominent factors attracting customers, noting that developments related to cooling processes and variable cameras also represent elements that attract consumer attention when making the decision to purchase the new releases. Fouad Abdel-Zaher, a phone sales manager at an electronics store, confirmed that demand for the new iPhones began immediately upon their availability in stores, noting that many customers were keen to acquire the modern technologies included in the devices at an early stage. He added that this demand is particularly linked to changes in a number of technologies and specifications in the new phones, including charging capabilities, cooling systems and imaging technologies, which prompts some consumers to replace their current devices and acquire the latest versions as soon as they are released to the markets.

MBMobile Business•Ahmed Al-Sherbini18 Sept

Hands-On With the Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 came out today, and we picked one up to get a look at the new feature set. There are no major external changes, but Apple updated the device's internals and health sensors. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The Apple Watch Series 12 has the same design as the Series 11, but it does come in different colors. The aluminum models are available in a light gold shade that's distinct from the rose gold Apple used last year, as well as dark bronze, black, and space gray. There are also ceramic models in pearl white and night blue, and polished titanium models in radiant gold and natural. On the aluminum models, Apple is now using Ceramic Shield 2 instead of Ion-X glass, and the new material is 60 percent tougher. You might not be able to tell a Series 11 apart from a Series 12 when looking at the front, but the back has been updated. Apple says the upgraded sensors make the Apple Watch Series 12 the most accurate wearable for heart rate sensing. The Series 12 has a Health Sensing System that pairs the new sensors with an S11 chip that's faster than the S10 in the prior-generation model. It takes heart rate readings every five seconds now and measures heart rate variability as often as every five minutes. It's early, but so far we haven't seen the higher sampling rates cause excessive battery drain. The Apple Watch Series 12 is still rated for all-day battery life, and charging is faster this year. You can get up to 12 hours of normal usage from a 15-minute charge, but you need to use the Apple Watch charger that comes with the Series 12. Older chargers won't give you the faster charging rate. The Health Sensing System powers a readiness score that lets you know whether to go all-out on activity or take a rest day. It's based on metrics such as recent activity, vitals, and sleep, and will adjust as the day continues. It takes about a week of data collection from the Series 12 before you start getting a readiness score. The S11 chip will power Live Rewind and Siri Recap features, but those won't be available until later this year. Even though the Apple Watch hasn't seen a design refresh, the health features make this a decent update. You may not want to upgrade if you have the Series 10 or Series 11, but anything older is worth upgrading from. The Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm size options with pricing starting at $399. Related Roundup: Apple Watch 12 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Hands-On With the Apple Watch Series 12 " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover18 Sept

M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance

The first GPU benchmark results for Apple's new M5 Ultra and M6 chips have surfaced, ahead of the new Mac Studio and Mac mini models launching on Tuesday. If you are interested in CPU results, we shared those earlier this week . So far, the M5 Ultra has achieved up to a 59% higher Metal score (366,744) on Geekbench 7 compared to the M3 Ultra's average score of 230,420, and the chip's OpenCL score is roughly in line with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080. As for the M6 chip, it has so far achieved up to a 34% higher Metal score (93,217) compared to the M5 chip's average score of 69,563. Chip Metal Score M5 Ultra 366,744 M3 Ultra 230,420 M5 Max 225,606 M2 Ultra 201,144 M4 Max 189,301 M1 Ultra 150,098 M3 Max 146,550 M5 Pro 130,896 M2 Max 130,091 M1 Max 107,711 M4 Pro 107,354 M6 93,217 M2 Pro 77,176 M3 Pro 72,637 M5 69,563 M1 Pro 63,531 M4 51,818 M3 46,033 M2 40,529 M1 27,277 As always, real-world performance will vary. Tags: Benchmark , Geekbench This article, " M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol18 Sept

iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Equipped With Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem

TechInsights has published an iPhone 18 Pro Max teardown that confirms the U.S. version of the device is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem. The device's modem firmware had already pointed towards the Snapdragon X80 modem. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Duo use Apple's custom-designed C2 modem worldwide, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the C2 modem in every other country, so the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max having a Qualcomm modem is unique . iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models have the same Snapdragon X80 modem worldwide, although TechInsights noted that the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a newly-identified mmWave 5G antenna module from Apple. We will have to wait for C2 vs. Snapdragon X80 performance tests. Apple has yet to explain why only the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max still has a Qualcomm modem, so we can only speculate for now. In 2023, Qualcomm announced that it would supply Apple with smartphone modems through 2026, so perhaps Apple is ensuring that it complies with its contractual obligations in a minimal way. Apple's C2 modem supports ultra-fast mmWave 5G in the U.S., unlike its previous-generation C1 and C1X modems. Qualcomm modems in the iPhone 12 and newer already supported mmWave 5G in the U.S., so Apple played catch up here. Apple said the C2 delivers "meaningfully faster uploads" compared to the C1X while consuming 15% less energy. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Tags: Qualcomm , Teardown , TechInsights Buyer's Guide: iPhone 18 Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Equipped With Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol18 Sept
  • neutral toward Qualcomm · 99%

Apple Releases Xcode 27.1 Beta With iPhone Duo Support

Apple today released the first Xcode 27.1 beta . The latest version of the tool adds support for iPhone Duo app development. Available on Apple silicon Macs running macOS 26.6 or later, Xcode 27.1 includes updated SDKs for the iPhone Duo, and a simulator that supports the device's new poses and orientations. Related Roundup: iPhone Duo Tag: Xcode Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " Apple Releases Xcode 27.1 Beta With iPhone Duo Support " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Joe Rossignol18 Sept
  • neutral toward Apple · 99%

Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 bring new health sensors, a new chip, and more detailed recovery insights to Apple's smartwatch lineup, so how do they compare? Both models feature the S11 chip, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and the new Health Sensing System, which measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. They also share Readiness, Recovery HRV, daytime vitals, improved step tracking, hypertension notifications, sleep apnea notifications, Sleep Score, and more. This means that the Ultra 4's higher price does not buy you more advanced everyday health tracking. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799. The gap narrows if you want a premium case material, with the titanium Series 12 starting at $699. This year, the Series 12 also gains a ceramic option starting at $899, making it more expensive than the Ultra despite its smaller size and shorter battery life. The Apple Watch Ultra continues to focus on durability, extended battery life, and additional capabilities for activities like diving and exploration. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two Apple Watches is best for you. The differences between the Apple Watch Series 12 and ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌ are as follows: Apple Watch Series 12 ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌ Rounded design with a thinner case and front glass that curves at the edges Rugged design with a thicker case and slightly raised edges to protect the flat front crystal Aluminum, polished titanium, or polished ceramic case Blasted titanium case Aluminum and titanium : 42mm and 46mm case sizes Ceramic : Marketed as 42mm and 46mm, with actual heights of 43mm and 47mm 49mm case size 42mm aluminum and titanium : 37mm case width 43mm ceramic : 37mm case width 46mm aluminum and titanium : 40mm case width 47mm ceramic : 41mm case width 49mm titanium : 44mm case width Aluminum and titanium : 9.7mm case depth Ceramic : 9.85mm case depth 12mm case depth Weighs 31.5 to 52.9 grams depending on case size, material, finish, and connectivity Natural titanium : 63.0 grams Black titanium : 63.1 grams Aluminum : Ceramic Shield 2 front glass Titanium and ceramic : Sapphire front crystal Sapphire front crystal 42mm : 374 by 446 pixels 46mm : 416 by 496 pixels 422 by 514 pixels 42mm : 970 sq mm display area 46mm : 1,196 sq mm display area 1,245 sq mm display area Up to 2,000 nits peak brightness Up to 3,000 nits peak brightness Exclusive Wayfinder, Modular Ultra, and Orienteering faces Night Mode on Apple Watch Ultra faces Customizable Action button, including Precision Start for workouts 86-decibel Siren to attract attention Single speaker Dual speakers Single microphone with Voice Isolation Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation Aluminum : GPS or GPS + Cellular options Titanium and ceramic : GPS + Cellular GPS + Cellular on all models U.S. TDD cellular bands : 5G n38, n40, and n41; LTE 38, 39, 40, and 41 U.S. TDD cellular bands : 5G n38, n40, n41, and n53; LTE 38, 39, 40, 41, and 53 Satellite communications for Emergency SOS, Messages, and Find My Precision L1 GPS Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5) GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou support GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou support Water resistant to 50m Water resistant to 100m Suitable for swimming and snorkeling Suitable for swimming, snorkeling, high-speed water sports, and recreational scuba diving to 40m Depth gauge and Depth app to 6m Depth gauge and Depth app to 40m Tested to MIL-STD 810H EN13319 certification for recreational scuba diving Recommended ambient operating temperature of 0°C to 35°C On-wrist operating temperature of -20°C to 55°C Always-on altimeter Always-on altimeter with expanded operating range from -500m to 9,000m Operating altitude from 0m to 3,000m Operating altitude from -500m to 9,000m Up to 24 hours of normal use Up to 50 hours of normal use Up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode Up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode Up to 10 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking Up to 18 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking Up to 25 hours in Extended Workout mode with full GPS and heart rate readings Up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode, retaining GPS readings every second Charge from 0 to 80% in about 30 minutes Charge from 0 to 80% in about 45 minutes 15 minutes of charging for up to 12 hours of normal use 15 minutes of charging for up to 18 hours of normal use Aluminum : Dark Bronze, Light Gold, Black, and Space Gray Titanium : Radiant Gold and Natural Ceramic : Pearl White and Night Blue Natural Titanium or Black Titanium Hermès : Silver or Radiant Gold titanium Hermès : Natural titanium 40% recycled content in aluminum and titanium models 45% recycled content Aluminum : Starts at $399 Titanium : Starts at $699 Ceramic : Starts at $899 Hermès : Starts at $1,399 Standard : Starts at $799 Hermès : Starts at $1,499 For most users, the Apple Watch Series 12 is the better choice. It offers the same performance, health sensors, Readiness insights, and Audio Intelligence features as the Ultra 4 in a thinner, lighter device. The aluminum model delivers these benefits for $400 less, making it the stronger option for everyday use and regular workouts. The Ultra 4's most broadly useful advantage is battery life. Its longer endurance makes overnight wear and extended workouts easier to fit around charging. You do not need to be an endurance athlete to appreciate less frequent charging, but the premium is easier to justify if the Series 12 cannot comfortably cover your usual activities and charging habits. For hiking away from cellular coverage, recreational scuba diving, or very long events, the Ultra has a clearer purpose. Satellite communications, dual-frequency GPS, greater water resistance, and extended workout modes address needs that the Series 12 cannot fully meet. The Action button and brighter display may also appeal to enthusiasts who simply want more capable hardware. Size and appearance remain substantial trade-offs. The Ultra is considerably bulkier and heavier despite offering a display only slightly larger than the 46mm Series 12's. The Series 12 is more discreet and offers polished titanium and ceramic finishes, making it better suited to buyers who prioritize comfort or appearance. Try on the Ultra before buying if you are unsure about its size. The decision becomes closer if you already want the titanium Series 12, since its starting price is just $100 below the Ultra's. At that point, paying more for longer battery life and additional hardware is reasonable if you are comfortable with the larger case. The $899 ceramic Series 12 is primarily a choice of material and finish; choose it because you prefer its appearance, rather than expecting more capabilities than the $799 Ultra. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 12 , Apple Watch Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now) , Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Hartley Charlton18 Sept

MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone Duo From iMazing

For this week's giveaway we've teamed up with iMazing to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone Duo and a copy of the iMazing software to go along with it. If you're unfamiliar with iMazing, it's Mac and PC software that offers a speedy, simple way to manage all of the data on your iPhone. You can make backups, add and delete photos, videos, and music, save content like messages, and much more. While Apple has the built-in Finder on Mac for managing an iPhone, iMazing has a ton of features Apple doesn't offer. You can set up automatic backups with snapshots that make it easy to find what you're looking for and selective restore for bringing back just what you need. A useful search tool lets you find files on your devices and in your backups. There's a Device Overview with detailed information about your iPhone in one spot, and dedicated tools for browsing, exporting, and archiving content. You can transfer photos, music, books, movies, and other media files from your computer to your iPhone and vice versa. You can even create an entire archive of your messages from the Messages app or WhatsApp. iMazing can be used for screen recording on macOS, and there are diagnostic and device-info export tools. A Spyware Analyzer lets you know if any of your devices have been compromised. The software isn't limited to the iPhone. It works with the iPad and Vision Pro, along with older devices like the iPod. If you have an old iPod with music on it, you can use iMazing to get it off. It also supports song transfers from non-iOS music players. iMazing was entirely overhauled in 2024, and since then, the software has continued to get regular updates to add new features. The user interface has been updated with a collapsible sidebar and customizable device and backup list views, and data export has been improved. You can export all of your data with advanced filters, and use the same filters on the Unified Logs browser. Business features have improved too, with streamlined MDM enrollment, a Command Line Interface for advanced interaction with iOS devices and backups, and the iMazing Profile Editor 2 for configuring macOS app, notification, and login permissions. You'll never have to worry about a device being unsupported with iMazing. It's updated with ongoing support for new models as they come out. In the near future, iMazing plans to add Android support, which will make it even more useful. iMazing can be downloaded from the iMazing website at prices starting at $30. iMazing has personal subscriptions, family subscriptions, and enterprise subscriptions, with free trials available. Some functions are free without a purchase. We have a 256GB ‌iPhone Duo‌ and a copy of iMazing to give away to one MacRumors reader. 10 other readers will win a copy of iMazing. Since the ‌iPhone Duo‌ has not been released yet, this is a prize that will be delivered after the device launches on October 23. 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 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. iMazing Giveaway The contest will run from today (September 18) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 25. The winners will be chosen randomly on or shortly after September 25 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen. Related Roundup: iPhone Duo Tag: Giveaway Buyer's Guide: iPhone Duo (Coming Soon) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone Duo From iMazing " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Juli Clover18 Sept

'Shop Different': Apple Retail Pioneer Ron Johnson Shares the Inside Story

Back in 1999, unhappy at how Macs were being positioned in traditional computer retail stores, Steve Jobs decided that Apple needed to make its own push into retail. The man he brought on to lead the initiative was Ron Johnson, previously the vice president of merchandising at Target. Johnson and writer Zander Nethercutt have teamed up for a new book entitled Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius , releasing next Tuesday, September 22, and I recently had a chance to read through the book and chat with Johnson about it. Shop Different covers Johnson's background including his time at department store Mervyn's and at Target, but the bulk of the book unsurprisingly focuses on his work at Apple as his biggest success story and a topic of significant interest for legions of Apple fans and others in the business world and beyond. Johnson started at Apple on February 1, 2000, and he worked hand-in-hand with Jobs and other Apple executives to develop a vision and buildout plan for Apple retail stores, leading to the opening of the company's first two stores in May 2001. While Apple retail stores have become iconic landmarks and sought-after mall anchors in over 20 countries around the world, their success was not always a given, and Shop Different goes into detail on the trials and tribulations of developing the first stores and their weak early performance, struggles that ultimately gave way to the massive success that the stores have achieved. Some of the high-level background of the Apple retail development process, including how Apple built out a full-scale store mockup in a Cupertino warehouse, has long been known, but Johnson dives into much more detail on how everything played out. Johnson describes early meetings with Jobs as they discussed the philosophy behind delving directly into retail, the challenges of securing prime real estate, Jobs' initial reaction to Johnson's proposed "Genius Bar" name for the stores' support services, and much more. In the latter portions of Shop Different , Johnson shares some touching moments from his interactions with Jobs as pancreatic cancer took its toll on the Apple founder, as well as Johnson's transition to CEO of department store JCPenney, a difficult period amid Jobs' decline and death, misgivings about leaving Apple to take on the new role, and ultimately his inability to achieve success turning JCPenney's fortunes around. In talking with Johnson, I asked whether he felt the evolution of Apple retail since his departure fifteen years ago has remained true to the vision he and Jobs had from the beginning, across several different retail chiefs with varying backgrounds. You know, really, honestly, I do. I'm very impressed. And part of it goes back to, when we launched the stores, Tim and Deirdre were involved on the operations side. I tell a story in the book where Steve said, you know, "What are the ten things you need to do well?" And one of those was inventory...inventory management. Well, Deirdre kind of led the team that managed the inventory. And so she was involved with the stores before we opened our first one. And so when the stores got back to her leadership, I think there was a little a difficult period after I left, it took a little while, but now I think the stores are really fulfilling, fabulously well, the initial mission and vision we had for the stores. You know, so I'm really impressed. Among the highlights for Johnson are Apple's ongoing focus on improving the quality, size, and locations of stores to reflect the caliber of the brand, rather than focusing on overall store count, and how Apple has maintained a high standard for its "exceptional" retail employees, some of whom have been with the company for many years. As a follow-up, I asked Johnson about his thoughts on the succession of Apple retail chiefs that followed him, given the range of backgrounds they had with John Browett coming out of British consumer electronics retailer Dixons, Angela Ahrendts coming from the luxury fashion world at Burberry, and in recent years longtime Apple executive Deirdre O'Brien. You know, I was the first retailer at Apple. And I built the initial team and, we relied a lot on other Apple departments, but fundamentally, I think Tim felt that he's got to find a retail leader to run the stores, right? And so he started out with an operations leader, but obviously that led to a pretty quick change, because the stores were never about, sure, it's important how you operate, but it's really about a culture of love and connection, and you've got to have someone who will embrace that, right? And then you went to Angela, who was a highly respected retail leader. But I think after Angela left, which was nearing the 20th anniversary of the stores, he kind of concluded, I think, that maybe an internal person who really understands Apple could be a great leader of the stores. She's been there from the beginning, so I think Tim made the decision to really make sure the stores were highly integrated, connected with Apple as a company. Because it's pretty easy for them to be on their own doing their own thing. But once you bring in someone like Deirdre, who has managed the People teams, has managed at Apple, has managed a lot of the operations teams at Apple, you'll get a different level of connectivity to Apple itself. And I think that was probably one of the big strengths Deirdre brought to the retail stores, was her knowledge of Apple headquarters. And she was able to, as an example, bring in a lot of talented people to retail who came out of other parts of Apple. Whereas before that, you'd hire, like, Angela probably hires someone from the outside that she worked with in retail. Johnson also had particularly kind words for Vanessa Trigub, who was named to a vice president role last year to head up retail operations under O'Brien, with Johnson calling her a "fabulous leader" who "has a great vision for how to serve customers." My conversation with Johnson took place a few days prior to last week's unveiling of the iPhone Duo , but he acknowledged the rumors about the device and mentioned the role Apple retail will play in allowing customers to experience the new product category. What a great opportunity when this new, supposedly foldable phone comes out. Now, I think the stores will be more crowded during September and October. They'll be more crowded than in years. Because, remember, one to two billion people that are on iPhones, that use them every day. And even if you're not going to buy the new one, you want to go see it, right? Because it is a major new form factor that would change your experience of using it. So I think that's what the stores were built for, is to help launch new products and I expect the stores to be incredibly busy. Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius is available for pre-order now through Amazon and other book retailers, and it launches on Tuesday, September 22. Tag: Ron Johnson This article, " 'Shop Different': Apple Retail Pioneer Ron Johnson Shares the Inside Story " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumorsMacRumors•Eric Slivka18 Sept