Merry Christmas and Comfortable Holidays from MacRumors! Information within the Apple world has unsurprisingly been comparatively gradual over the previous week, however Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone managed to make its approach again into the information, whereas we additionally shared updates on present and future Apple TV information.
iOS 26.3 will likely be bringing some new options, significantly for customers within the EU, so we’ll search for further betas and ultimately a public launch as soon as the brand new 12 months rolls round, and browse on under for all the small print on these tales and extra!
High Tales
Why Apple’s Foldable iPhone Might Be Smaller Than Anticipated
Apple’s first foldable iPhone, rumored for launch subsequent 12 months, might grow to be smaller than most individuals think about, if a current report and new mockups are something to go by.
Based mostly on The Info‘s current report that the foldable iPhone will characteristic a 5.3-inch exterior show and a 7.7-inch inside show when unfolded, designer Ben Geskin mocked up a bodily illustration of what such a tool may seem like within the hand, and it is truly remarkably compact with a kind issue similar to a passport guide.
Apple is reportedly nonetheless testing next-generation ultra-thin versatile glass for the gadget’s inside show, looking for to seek out one of the best answer to make the crease down the center basically invisible.
The place’s the New Apple TV?
Apple hasn’t up to date the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was imagined to be the 12 months that we received a refresh. There have been rumors suggesting Apple would launch the brand new Apple TV earlier than the top of 2025, nevertheless it’s clear that is not going to occur now.
It isn’t clear what occurred, nevertheless it’s doable Apple determined to carry all home-related product bulletins till spring 2026, when the smarter, extra succesful model of Siri will likely be prepared in iOS 26.4.
Within the meantime, try our video recapping what we’d see within the next-generation Apple TV.
Flip Off the Consumer Profiles Display screen on Apple TV 4K
Some present Apple TV customers have been irritated by the brand new profile choice display screen that seems each time you wake the gadget. Whereas it is a helpful characteristic for multi-user households, there are many households that need to use their Apple TVs below solely a single profile, so the choice display screen is just a nuisance.
Thankfully, there is a comparatively straightforward method to flip off the profile choice display screen if you understand to search for it.
iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Social gathering Units in EU Below DMA
Apple is continuous to extend interoperability help in its merchandise for customers within the European Union as a result of Digital Markets Act, and the EU is as soon as once more crediting the DMA for brand spanking new expansions coming in iOS 26.3.
Third-party units like earbuds will have the ability to seamlessly pair with iOS units much like how AirPods and Beats merchandise already work, by merely bringing the accent near the gadget to deliver up a easy one-step pairing course of.
Customers within the EU can even see expanded notifications help for third-party equipment like smartwatches, permitting customers to view and work together with incoming iOS notifications on a third-party gadget as they will already do on an Apple Watch.
Apple Hit With Supersized Effective in Italy Over an iPhone Privateness Function
Italy’s Competitors Authority (AGCM) has imposed a €98.6 million ($116 million) fantastic on Apple over its App Monitoring Transparency characteristic.
For the reason that launch of iOS 14.5 in April 2021, Apple has required apps to ask for permission earlier than monitoring a person’s exercise throughout different apps and web sites for personalised promoting, as a part of a characteristic named App Monitoring Transparency. If a person selects the “Ask App To not Observe” choice, the app is unable to entry the gadget’s promoting identifier.
In a press launch and govt abstract this week, the AGCM stated the App Monitoring Transparency guidelines are “disproportionate,” and “dangerous” to app builders and advertisers. Finally, it discovered that Apple abused its dominant place within the EU market.
iPhone 18 Trial Manufacturing to Begin in February Forward of Spring 2027 Launch
Apple is reportedly already getting ready to start trial manufacturing of the iPhone 18 collection after Chinese language New 12 months, in response to Weibo-based leaker Fastened Focus Digital.
The declare suggests small-scale manufacturing runs will begin as soon as factories return to regular operations following the Lunar New 12 months shutdown, which generally ends in late February.
The Chinese language leaker claims that manufacturing strains for the iPhone 18 Professional fashions have already been arrange, indicating that the Professional {hardware} design has already been locked in. A number of sources have reported that Apple will transfer to a split-release technique, with the Professional and Fold fashions debuting within the common fall timeframe whereas the usual iPhone 18 will not be launched till spring 2027 alongside an iPhone 18e and probably an iPhone Air 2.
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