Apple introduced a new version of the Vision Pro with M5 chip this week, and it came with a Dual Knit Band that Apple says is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. M5 Vision Pro buyers will get the new band automatically, but those who have an M2 Vision Pro also have the option to buy it separately.


It appears ‌M2‌ Vision Pro owners are eager for an accessory that makes the headset easier to wear, because the $99 Dual Knit Band is now backordered for at least a month. As of yesterday, new Dual Knit Band orders were delivering between November 7 and November 14, and wait times could get even longer.

There are some retail stores that may have the Dual Knit Band in stock starting next week, as the M5 Vision Pro will launch on Wednesday, October 22.

The Dual Knit Band is made from the same 3D knitted material as the Solo Knit Band, but it has a two-strap design. One strap fits at the back of the head as before, but a second strap goes over the top of the head for better weight distribution.

Apple also added tungsten inserts to the ribbed back loop for counterbalance and a fit that is supposed to improve balance and stability. Apple says that the Dual Knit Band is soft and breathable, with a Fit Dial to adjust each strap independently.

The Dual Knit Band is available in small, medium, and large sizes, and making a purchase requires using an iPhone's Face ID camera to find the right fit for your face size.
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The launch of Apple's first foldable iPhone could be delayed to 2027, according to Japan's Mizuho Securities (via The Elec).


The investment banking and securities firm suggested that a potential postponement could be due to Apple taking longer to decide on key design elements such as the hinge. The device is expected to feature a 7.58-inch inner display and a 5.38-inch outer display.

The report added that expected production of display panels for the foldable ‌iPhone‌ have now decreased from 13 million to nine million units. A launch in 2026 is still said to be possible, but if it goes ahead as planned, device production in the first year of release may lag behind panel production by as much as five to seven million units.

The firm corroborated reports that Apple plans to delay the launch of the iPhone 18 to the spring of 2027, launching alongside the ‌iPhone‌ 18e. The iPhone Air 2, ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max are scheduled to launch in the fall of 2026, likely alongside the first foldable ‌iPhone‌ if it is not delayed.

Further in the future, Apple is apparently developing new technology for the ‌iPhone‌ 19 lineup, treating the model as a special release due to it falling upon the 20th anniversary of the ‌iPhone‌. Moreover, Apple will apparently reduce the price of the second foldable ‌iPhone‌, which will likely launch in the fall of 2027 if the first model isn't delayed.

Mizuho Securities also noted that there is now movement in the supply chain to resume work on a 18.9-inch foldable MacBook for release around 2028 or 2029 at the earliest.
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Apple is preparing day-one software updates for its new iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro models.


iPadOS 26.0.1 (23A8464), macOS 26.0.1 (25A8364), and visionOS 26.0.1 (23M8340) should be available upon the launch of the new ‌iPad Pro‌, ‌MacBook Pro‌, and Vision Pro, which each feature the M5 chip.

All three of the new devices likely have the current versions of their operating systems pre-installed. It is not yet clear what's in the new versions of iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, but day-one updates usually include essential bug fixes.

The updated ‌iPad Pro‌, ‌MacBook Pro‌, and Vision Pro are now available to pre-order, and will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Wednesday, October 22.
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Apple today updated its iMessage troubleshooting support document to add a scenario that can occur in iOS 26. If you don't activate iMessage or an eSIM when setting up a new iPhone with ‌iOS 26‌, it can prevent iMessage from working.


Apple says that iMessage does not activate automatically when setting up an eSIM in the Settings app after the initial ‌iPhone‌ setup period, so it needs to be done manually.

After activating an eSIM, users can open up the Settings app, tap on Apps, choose Messages, and then turn iMessage off and back on to get the feature to work as intended.

When iMessage is not properly activated after setting up an eSIM, users can receive a Not Delivered alert, have their messages sent as SMS/RCS messages in green bubbles, or see their iMessages delivered from an email address instead of a phone number.
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Apple has invited a group of social media influencers to Colorado this week for an unusual event involving group hiking, trail running, and other outdoor activities designed to showcase the company's recently launched iPhone 17 Pro Max, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.


An invitation was shared on X (Twitter) by photographer Johnny Hawk, featuring a simple message: "Hi Johnny. We're so excited to welcome you to Colorado. Please enjoy this bag of essentials to use during your time here. See you soon!" The card is accompanied by a black backpack emblazoned with Apple's logo and a white flask.

When news of the mysterious Colorado gathering first surfaced, there was some speculation online that it might relate to Apple's anticipated October product refresh, which is expected to include new iPad Pro models with M5 chips and an updated Vision Pro, with potentially other updates also coming. Apparently, that's not the case at all.

The Rocky Mountain gathering appears to be just another aspect of Apple's marketing campaign for its been-and-gone iPhone 17 fall event. In follow-up posts on X and Instagram, Hawk revealed that he had been brought to Colorado's rugged terrain by Apple to test how the new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watch perform in demanding outdoor conditions.

• Apple Event This October? Here's the Latest on What to Expect

Apple has occasionally held regional events for influencers to preview products in unique settings, but these have usually occurred in major metropolitan centers like New York City. So far we've not heard rumors of anything in that vein taking place this month.
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Apple today released new beta firmware that's designed for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 8B5014c.


The firmware comes as Apple is testing the iOS 26.1 update. It likely adds support for Live Translation in new languages, including Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese (both Mandarin Traditional and Simplified).

With iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates beta testing.

Developers can use the beta option to turn on beta downloads.
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While it is unclear if Apple will host an October event this year, or stick to press releases, rumors suggest it will announce several new products this month.


Below, we have recapped everything to know about a potential Apple event this October.

When

The table below outlines when Apple teased its October launches over the past four years.

Year	Announcement/Teaser	Event/Tagline	Event/Press Releases
2021	Tuesday, October 12	"Unleashed" Event	Monday, October 18
2022	Tuesday, October 18	"Take Note" Teaser	Tuesday, October 18
2023	Tuesday, October 24	"Scary Fast" Event	Monday, October 30
2024	Thursday, October 24	"Mac Your Calendars" Teaser	Monday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 30

Apple recently announced its next quarterly earnings call will be held on Thursday, October 30, and Apple's Chatswood Chase store in Australia will be reopening on the same day. Earnings calls and store openings are sometimes timed with product launches, so we could see announcements in the last week of October.

What

A handful of Apple products are expected to be updated as early as this October, with the following new features and changes rumored:

• iPad Pro: A seemingly-legitimate unboxing video has revealed that the next iPad Pro will be equipped with an M5 chip, but lack any major external design changes. It was also reported that the next iPad Pro will feature two front cameras, but the unboxing videos do not show this, so such a change is not guaranteed.


• Vision Pro: A faster M4 chip or M5 chip, a more comfortable "Dual Knit Band" head strap, and potentially a Space Black color option. The next Vision Pro was accidentally confirmed by FCC documents that were supposed to remain confidential.
• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.


• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.


• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.

What about Macs? Apple's next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips will reportedly enter mass production soon, but it is unclear if some or all of the models will launch in late 2025 or or early 2026. While new Macs are often unveiled in October, there is precedent for a launch earlier in a year too, as Apple announced MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in a January 2023 press release.

Apple is reportedly also planning a lower-priced MacBook with an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip, but the rumored launch timeframe for that is also late 2025 or early 2026, so it is unclear if it would be announced this October. This model would likely be the spiritual successor to the MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is still sold by Walmart in the U.S. for $599.
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Keyboard manufacturer Akko has just launched an iPhone keyboard case called MetaKey, proving that BlackBerry nostalgia is alive, well, and willing to add inches to your smartphone's length.


Like Clicks' cases, the MetaKey case connects via USB-C and adds a QWERTY keyboard to the bottom of the iPhone. However, priced at $59.99, it's half the cost of the Clicks keyboard case, which launched in January 2024 at $139.

The case features backlit keys and includes shortcuts for common tasks like accessing Siri, triggering voice-to-text, and entering numbers. There's also a unique scrolling mode that converts the top two rows of keys into large scroll buttons for browsing social media.

One of the practical challenges of these sort of keyboard cases is that they can be top-heavy. To address this, the MetaKey includes a removable 9-gram weight that attaches to the back of the keyboard to improve balance while typing.

MagSafe-compatible and with a USB-C passthrough port for charging, the MetaKey is currently available for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in black, white, and pink. An iPhone 17 Pro Max version is also available in black, orange, pink, blue, lavender, sage, and white, though some of these are currently out of stock.

For what it's worth, Clicks recently launched similar cases for iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro starting at $139, with a 17 Pro Max version at $159.

The physical keyboard case category is undoubtedly niche, but the MetaKey's lower price might appeal if you want to try out the concept without committing to Clicks' premium pricing.
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The Browser Company's Dia app is now open to anyone on Mac. It's the first time the AI-powered browser has been widely available since its beta launch in June.


Following on from Opera's Neon, which arrived last month, Dia is another AI-first browsing experience that's centered around tab-based chat functionality. The browser includes Skills, which are a mix of user-created and built-in shortcuts for everyday tasks like planning, learning, writing, and coding. Current Skills include summarization, fact-checking, browsing history analysis, outlining, and productivity planning.

Users can mention tabs in any chat query, add attachments to conversations, and personalize Dia with Memory, which helps the browser understand preferences over time. Meanwhile, students get dedicated tools that turn notes, lectures, and readings into flashcards, quizzes, and custom study guides.

Dia requires macOS 14 or later running on Apple silicon. The Browser Company offers both free and Pro ($20/month) tiers. Free users get access to all core features including chat, custom Skills creation, tab mentions, attachments, and Memory personalization, while Pro subscribers receive unlimited chat usage within the terms of service, plus a 14-day trial period.


Acquired by Atlassian for $610 million last month, the Browser Company says it is resuming weekly updates, and plans to bring Arc browser features to Dia. October's releases include more powerful memory of user tabs, redesigned Dia Skills, and Arc's Focus Mode (CMD-S). Dia is available to download directly from the company's website.
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The iPhone 17 Pro Max excels in these battery life tests, but the base model and the iPhone Air don't do so well.

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will have a frame that's made from a mix of titanium and aluminum, analyst Jeff Pu said today in a note shared with investors.


Pu suggested that Apple will expand its use of titanium, with the material set to be used in both the 2026 ‌iPhone‌ Fold and iPhone Air models. This isn't the first time a mixed metal chassis has been rumored for the foldable ‌iPhone‌, because Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this year that Apple will use multiple materials.

While Pu says Apple is going to use titanium and aluminum, Kuo said that Apple will use titanium and stainless steel. He suggested that the foldable ‌iPhone‌'s hinge will be made from stainless steel and titanium, with the device's frame set to be made from titanium. Kuo also believes some hinge components will be made from Liquidmetal for further durability.

The foldable ‌iPhone‌ is rumored to be as thin as 4.5mm when opened up, which would make it even thinner than the ‌iPhone Air‌. It would need the strength of a titanium frame to prevent bending issues. Apple gave the ‌iPhone Air‌ a titanium frame, and that proved to be a good decision because multiple bend tests show that the titanium Apple used for the ‌iPhone Air‌ is resistant to bending.

Kuo did not mention aluminum as a potential material for the foldable ‌iPhone‌. Pu's wording isn't entirely clear on how Apple will use the two materials, but he's either suggesting that Apple plans to use a titanium and aluminum hybrid compound for the device's frame, or saying Apple will use titanium in some areas and aluminum in other areas.

Additionally, the metal frame will turn favorable on increasing usage of titanium, which will likely be adopted by iPhone 18 Fold (titanium + aluminum) and iPhone 18 Air.

Small amounts of aluminum are often used in titanium alloys, and the two metals can be combined in higher proportions as well. Since titanium is heavier than aluminum, Apple might also be planning to use titanium for the stress bearing parts of the frame and aluminum elsewhere to cut weight.

Apple's foldable ‌iPhone‌ is expected to be part of the iPhone 18 lineup, launching in September 2026. Rumors suggest that the display will be around 5.5 inches in size when closed, unfolding to approximately 7.8 inches when opened up.

More information about the foldable ‌iPhone‌ can be found in our guide.
This article, "Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Rumored to Use Titanium and Aluminum Frame" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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If you wear AirPods during your commute but don't want your podcast or music suddenly blasting through the car speakers when you start the engine, there's a new setting in iOS 26 that can ensure it doesn't happen.


Apple has thoughtfully added a new "Keep Audio with Headphones" setting that prevents your iPhone from automatically switching audio to CarPlay or other Bluetooth speakers when you're already listening through AirPods. Here's how to toggle it on.

How to Keep Audio in Your AirPods

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.


2. Tap General.


3. Select AirPlay & Continuity.


4. Toggle on Keep Audio with Headphones.

With the setting enabled, your music, podcasts, or calls will continue playing in your AirPods even after your iPhone connects to your car's Bluetooth system. Note that you can always manually switch to car speakers through Control Center or CarPlay if needed.

The feature also works with other wireless headphones, plus it's useful beyond in-car scenarios, since it stops audio from jumping to nearby Bluetooth speakers in your home, too.
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Buried within iOS 26 is a hidden history that lets you see every call you've ever exchanged with a specific contact, potentially going back years. You might not know it, but you can access this detailed call history on your iPhone in seconds.


Viewing the new extended history screen can come in handy when you need to recall when you last spoke with someone. It's also pretty useful when you want to verify a call duration for whatever reason. Here's how to get there.

Access Extended Call History

1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.


2. In the Unified view, find the contact in the "Recents" section whose call history you want to view.


3. Tap the contact's name (if you're using the Classic interface, tap the circled "i" icon next to their name.


4. Scroll down and tap Call History.

• iOS 26: How to Switch Back to the Classic Phone App Layout

You'll now see a complete chronological record of every incoming, outgoing, and missed call with that contact, including the date, time, and duration of each conversation. This view can stretch back in time for months or years, depending on how long you've been in touch and how much call history data is stored on your phone.
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Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, prior-generation AirPods Pro 2, and the AirPods 4 models. The firmware has a build number of 8A358, up from 8A356.


There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the prior 8A356 update added iOS 26 features to the AirPods Pro 2, ‌AirPods Pro 3‌, and ‌AirPods 4‌ with ANC. The software introduced better audio quality for phone calls and video calls, studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, videos, Live Translation, and more.

It's possible that the 8A358 firmware addresses a bug or brings improvements to some of the new ‌iOS 26‌ AirPods features.

To install the new firmware, make sure your AirPods are in range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. From there, put your AirPods in the Charging Case and connect the Charging Case to power. Keep the case closed and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware update to install.
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While it is unclear if Apple will host an October event this year, or stick to press releases, rumors suggest it will announce several new products this month.


In any case, Apple will likely provide the public with advanced notice. The table below outlines when Apple teased its October launches over the past four years.

Year	Announcement/Teaser	Event/Tagline	Event/Press Releases
2021	Tuesday, October 12	"Unleashed" Event	Monday, October 18
2022	Tuesday, October 18	"Take Note" Teaser	Tuesday, October 18
2023	Tuesday, October 24	"Scary Fast" Event	Monday, October 30
2024	Thursday, October 24	"Mac Your Calendars" Teaser	Monday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 30

A handful of Apple products are expected to be updated as early as October, with the following new features and changes rumored:

• iPad Pro: M5 chip and potentially two front cameras, allowing for photos and video calls in both portrait and landscape orientations.


• Vision Pro: A faster M4 chip or M5 chip, a new head strap that improves comfort, and potentially a Space Black color option.
• Apple TV: A faster A17 Pro chip that will support next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support. A built-in FaceTime camera has been rumored for a future Apple TV, but it is unclear if that will arrive with the next model specifically.


• HomePod mini: S9 chip or newer with support for next year's revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, likely Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for proximity features, and potentially new color options like Red.


• AirTag: Up to 3× longer item tracking range vs. current AirTag, a more tamper-proof speaker, and "very low" battery life alerts.

What about Macs? Apple's next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips will reportedly enter mass production soon, but they apparently might not be announced until early 2026. While new Macs are often unveiled in October, there is precedent for a launch earlier in a year too, as Apple announced MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in a January 2023 press release.

Apple is reportedly also planning a lower-priced MacBook with an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip, but the rumored launch timeframe for that is late 2025 or early 2026, so it is unclear if it would be announced this October. This model would likely be the spiritual successor to the MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is still sold by Walmart in the U.S. for $599.

Apple recently announced its next quarterly earnings call will be held on Thursday, October 30, so any new products this month will likely be unveiled by Wednesday, October 29 at the latest, so Apple can recap the announcements on the call.
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Morgan Stanley reports higher demand than expected for most iPhone 17 models, but demand for the iPhone Air is weaker.

At the iPhone 17 launch event, Apple showed me how it stress-tested the new, super-slim iPhone Air.

Maybe a new kind of Pro

The iPhone 17 is sleek, reliable, and finally feels complete – here's our full review of Apple's newest base model.

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is bigger, smarter, and more pressable than its predecessor, and carries the promise of big AI things to come.