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AirPods Weekend Deals Include AirPods Pro 3 for $199.99 and AirPods 4 for $99

2026-04-18 22:54:11

Amazon today has the AirPods Pro 3 available for $199.99, down from $249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 3, and it's accompanied by a solid deal on the AirPods 4.

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.

This model of the AirPods Pro launched in September 2025 and has 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.



You can also get the AirPods 4 for $99.00, down from $129.00. This is a second-best price on the AirPods 4, which is the base model without Active Noise Cancellation. Amazon provides an April 23 estimated delivery date for free shipping, with faster delivery options for Prime members.



Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over 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, "AirPods Weekend Deals Include AirPods Pro 3 for $199.99 and AirPods 4 for $99" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Has Released These 12 New Products This Year

2026-04-18 21:24:16

Apple has released more than 12 new products and accessories this year. The company kicked things off with a second-generation AirTag in January, and it unveiled a wide range of devices in March, including the MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, two new Studio Display models, updated iPad Air models with the M4 chip, and much more.


Here is everything that Apple has released in 2026 so far:

The new AirTag is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling the Precision Finding feature to work up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous-generation model, according to Apple. The new AirTag also has an upgraded Bluetooth chip for improved overall range outside of Precision Finding mode.

With an updated internal design, the new AirTag features a 50% louder speaker compared to the previous-generation model, according to Apple.

Apple said the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch features the colors of the Pan-African flag in honor of Black History Month.

iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the iPhone 16e did.

The new iPad Air's key upgrades include Apple's M4 chip, an increased 12GB of RAM, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and the C1X modem in cellular models.

The MacBook Air received a faster M5 chip, and a doubled 512GB of base storage, but the starting price increased from $999 to $1,099 as a result of a 256GB configuration being dropped. With the N1 chip, the MacBook Air now has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and it now comes with Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max.

The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models finally received M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, plus up to twice as fast SSD speeds and a doubled 1TB of base storage. Battery life has increased slightly across all of the models, and the N1 chip extends to the MacBook Pro line now for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.

The regular Studio Display gained Thunderbolt 5 support and improved speakers, and the camera now supports Desk View. There is also an all-new, higher-end Studio Display XDR that gained all of those benefits, plus bigger improvements such as a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, increased brightness, and more.

The colorful MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the United States, and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone, and it is equipped with a 13-inch display, up to 512GB of storage, and a non-configurable 8GB of RAM.

AirPods Max 2 have a handful of upgrades over the previous AirPods Max, including Apple's H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. Plus, the Digital Crown has a new Camera Remote function.

The special-edition Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 are the same as the regular Powerbeats Pro 2, except they have a two-tone design consisting of black and Nike's signature Volt neon green-yellow color. The earbuds have both Nike and Beats logos.

What's Next?


Beyond the usual annual updates to iPhones and Apple Watches, Apple's all-new smart home hub is finally expected to launch later this year, once the more personalized version of Siri arrives. We are also expecting a foldable iPhone, a MacBook Pro with an OLED display, and long-awaited updates to the Apple TV, HomePod, and HomePod mini this year.

Related Reading: Apple to Launch These 15+ New Products Later This Year
This article, "Apple Has Released These 12 New Products This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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5+ Things to Know About the Next Mac Studio

2026-04-18 07:14:12

Apple is working on an updated version of the Mac Studio that's expected at some point in 2026, and with supplies of existing machines running low, we thought we'd highlight what's next for Apple's most powerful desktop machine.



Design


We're not expecting Apple to redesign the ‌Mac Studio‌, and there haven't been rumors of a design update. The ‌Mac Studio‌ will continue to have an Apple TV or Mac mini-like squircle design with rounded corners.

The ‌Mac Studio‌ is a much more compact desktop than the now-discontinued Mac Pro, measuring in at 3.7 inches tall and 7.7 inches wide. The current ‌Mac Studio‌ supports Thunderbolt 5, and the next version will too. There haven't been rumors of any changes to the port configuration.

M5 Max and M5 Ultra Chips


We're expecting the ‌Mac Studio‌ to adopt M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. Apple already debuted the M5 Max with the MacBook Pro models that came out in March, but the M5 Ultra is still a mystery.

The M5 Max has up to an 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU, with up to 614GB/s memory bandwidth. Apple says the M5 Max offers up to 30 percent faster CPU performance for pro workloads than the M4 Max. The M5 Ultra will bring even better performance, and historically, Apple's Ultra chips have been two Max chips linked together.

The M5 Ultra could have up to a 36-core CPU and up to an 80-core GPU.

The current ‌Mac Studio‌ has a mix of M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips because Apple didn't design an M4 Ultra chip, but the M5 cycle is expected to unify the ‌Mac Studio‌ chip options to a single generation.

Faster SSD


The M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models were updated with a faster SSD, so the ‌Mac Studio‌ could get the same SSD improvements. Apple says the updated SSD in the M5 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models is up to 2x faster than the SSD in the M4 MacBook Pro models.

RAM


Because of global RAM shortages, Apple discontinued the 512GB Mac Studio earlier this year. The current machine maxes out at 256GB RAM, and that's a limitation we could see with the next ‌Mac Studio‌ too.

The M5 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ supports up to 128GB RAM, so that will be the ceiling for the M5 Max ‌Mac Studio‌. The M5 Ultra model could support up to 256GB.

RAM shortages are expected to continue throughout the year, because companies that manufacture memory are prioritizing orders from companies building AI servers that require huge amounts of RAM. There is little supply left for consumer products, which has caused prices to increase. Many PC and smartphone makers have raised their prices on existing machines, but Apple hasn't changed ‌Mac Studio‌ pricing.

Mac Studio Shortages


Apple stopped accepting orders for some ‌Mac Studio‌ configurations in early April, and they are out of stock. ‌Mac Studio‌ configurations with 128GB or 256GB of RAM can no longer be ordered, but that's not necessarily a sign that a new machine is launching imminently.

Apple has been dealing with soaring DRAM and NAND flash prices, and the fact that only models with higher RAM are unavailable suggests it's a supply issue and not an indication of a refresh.

Pricing


There haven't been rumors of pricing increases for the ‌Mac Studio‌, so it could continue to start at $1,999, but Apple has raised the prices of other Macs this year.

Starting prices for the M5 MacBook Air and the M5 Pro and M5 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models increased, though Apple did soften the blow with higher starting storage. It's possible the ‌Mac Studio‌ price will go up, and the entry-level machine will start with a 1TB SSD instead of a 512GB SSD.

No More Mac Pro


Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in late March, so the ‌Mac Studio‌ is now Apple's only pro desktop option. There was a lot of overlap between the Mac Pro and the ‌Mac Studio‌, with the Mac Pro only offering PCIe expansion slots as a differentiating feature.

The ‌Mac Studio‌, Mac mini, and iMac are Apple's desktop Mac options.

Release Timing


It's not clear when we might see a refreshed ‌Mac Studio‌ because of the shortages that Apple is facing. It's possible Apple is holding RAM supply for new models and that's why some current versions are out of stock, but it's also possible things are so dire that Apple will need to hold the ‌Mac Studio‌ launch.

The next logical time for a new ‌Mac Studio‌ to be introduced is WWDC. Apple has introduced new Macs at WWDC in the past, but there isn't always new hardware. The WWDC keynote is being held on June 8, and if a new ‌Mac Studio‌ is coming around the first half of 2026, that's likely when it will be announced.

If an updated ‌Mac Studio‌ doesn't come at WWDC, we're looking at a refresh later in the year. Macs aren't often updated in September, so October or November are stronger possibilities.
Related Roundup: Mac Studio
Buyer's Guide: Mac Studio (Caution)
Related Forum: Mac Studio

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India Won't Require Apple to Preinstall Government ID App on iPhones

2026-04-18 06:07:06

India will not require smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung to preload devices with a state-owned biometric identification app, reports Reuters.


The Unique Identification Authority of India asked the IT ministry to start talks with Apple and other tech companies about the possibility of mandatory preinstallation of the Aadhaar identity app, but the IT ministry told Reuters today that it reviewed the proposal and is "not in favor" of mandating the app's preinstallation.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit identity number that residents of India can apply for, and it has been issued to more than 1.34 billion residents. The number is linked to an individual's image, fingerprints, and iris scans, and it serves as proof of residence. It is used for government benefits, banking, taxes, mobile connections, and more.

The Identification Authority said that the IT ministry consulted with "stakeholders from the electronics industry" before deciding not to proceed with the proposal to preload Aadhaar. India's government has asked smartphone makers to preinstall state-owned apps on devices six times over the last two years, according to Reuters. Smartphone makers like Apple have thwarted all requests.

Late last year, India's Department of Communications gave smartphone companies 90 days to start preinstalling the Sanchar Saathi government app on all new devices sold in the country. Sanchar Saathi is a government app that lets users block stolen devices, report fraudulent calls, and verify second-hand phones. Apple told government officials that it would not comply with the requirement because of privacy and security concerns, and the government dropped the issue.

Apple told India the same thing about the Aadhaar app, informing the IT ministry that it had safety and security concerns about preloading apps.

Tag: India

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Anthropic Debuts Claude Design for Creating Prototypes, Pitch Decks, and Mockups

2026-04-18 04:01:35

Anthropic today launched Claude Design, a new AI product for creating designs, prototypes, slides, and more. Claude Design uses Opus 4.7, a new AI model that was introduced earlier this week.


Opus 4.7 is Anthropic's most capable vision model, and it can see images in greater resolution. Anthropic says that it is "more tasteful and creative" when doing professional tasks. It is able to create higher-quality interfaces, slides, and docs, making it ideal for Claude Design. Claude Design was developed to allow founders, product managers, and marketers without a design background to create visuals for sharing an idea.

Claude Design is able to mock up an initial design after being provided with a prompt, and from there, designers can make revisions through conversation, comments, direct edits, and custom sliders made by Claude. Anthropic says that teams have been using Claude Design for realistic prototypes, wireframes and mockups, design explorations, pitch decks, presentations, social media assets, and more.

Working with Claude Design starts with brand assets, which Claude can get from the user's design files and codebase. Projects will use brand colors, typography, and other components, plus users can use a web capture tool to pull elements directly from their brand's website. Claude Design is not an image generator like Gemini's Nano Banana or ChatGPT, but it is similar to AI assistants that Adobe and Canva have rolled out.

There are included collaboration tools so multiple members of an organization can access and edit a design, and content created by Claude can be exported anywhere with support for Canva, PDF, PPTX, and standalone HTML files. Designs that are ready to build can be handed off to Claude Code, and Anthropic plans to make it easier to build integrations with Claude Design in the coming weeks.

Claude Design is available as a research preview for Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers. It is rolling out to users gradually throughout the day.
Tag: Anthropic

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iPhones to Get These New Satellite Features

2026-04-18 02:48:22

Amazon this week announced plans to acquire Globalstar, the satellite company that powers Apple's satellite features on the iPhone 14 and newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. In turn, Amazon announced that it has signed an agreement with Apple to provide satellite connectivity for current and future iPhone and Apple Watch features.


The transaction, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in 2027. At that point, Apple's features will be powered by Amazon Leo satellites.

Apple's current satellite features:

  • Emergency SOS via satellite

  • Find My via satellite

  • Roadside Assistance via satellite

  • Messages via satellite
All of the features are currently free to use in supported areas without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. Availability varies by country.

There were already five more iPhone satellite features or enhancements rumored to be in the works, even before Amazon announced this deal with Apple. At least some of the improvements may be part of iOS 27, which is expected to be available in beta starting in June and widely released in September this year.

Those enhancements are as follows:
  • 5G via satellite (may be exclusive to iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max)

  • Apple Maps via satellite

  • Photos support for Messages via satellite

  • Third-party apps in the App Store will be able to integrate Apple's satellite features

  • The ability to connect an iPhone to a satellite without pointing the device toward the sky
Amazon's announcement mentioned future features, too, so Apple's suite of satellite functions should expand even more over the coming years.
Related Roundup: iOS 27

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