A motherboard leak demonstrates that a new production technique has been used to make the A20 Pro in the iPhone 18 Pro. Expect impressive performance, and a cooler running iPhone.

Apple is just months away from introducing its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the rumors about it continue to flow. The latest leak is about its internals, and how it could help improve performance.

A supposed image of the motherboard used in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max was shared by WhyLab and Ice Universe on Weibo over the weekend. The shot includes lots of components, but the main focus is on the chip controlling everything.

Both Weibo leakers say it is an A20 Pro chip that is packaged using a technique known as Wafer-level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM). Previously rumored about, WMCM differs considerably from the current method of Integrated Fan-Out (InFO).

In the A19 and earlier chips, Apple packed the DRAM on top of the application processor. The benefits included minimal latency between the two components, as well as a reduction in power usage.

However, stacking components in this way also concentrates heat generation in one area. This makes the chip more prone to throttling.

Using WMCM, the chiplets are put close together to allow for fast communications, but they aren’t stacked as before. Instead, the DRAM is shown as positioned to the side of the other chip components.

The change retains all of the speed benefits of the InFO method, but in a less compacted form.

The result is a spreading out of heat generation. This reduces the risk of thermal throttling, as well as making it easier to manage heat buildup due to having a wider area to work with.

Considering the iPhone 17 Pro used vapor chamber cooling to great effect, this should make the A20 a very powerful and thoroughly thermally-managed chip.

WMCM’s use of smaller chiplets also opens the possibility of Apple producing more variants of the A20 chip in the first place. Apple doesn’t have to make multiple chips with all of the component parts on one die, but instead can make more chiplet types and mix-and-match to its production plans.

The technique will help Apple save some production costs, with a lower amount of chip wastage.

Despite the component shift, the overall size of the chip is said to be roughly the same as the A19 Pro’s footprint.

Memory and NPU changes

While the position of the memory on the chip is important, Ice Universe also adds that Apple is using LPDDR6 memory with a 96-bit bus. This would be a 50% increase from the 64-bit width of LPDDR5 and LPDDR5X used in earlier models.

Ice Universe points out that this could help improve overall bandwidth if the frequency and efficiency of the memory is high, too.

There are also improvements made to the NPU area, referring to the Neural Engine. The segment is massively expanded compared to previous generations, meaning it will be more useful for on-device AI processing than ever before.

Possible leak sourcing

Usually, the source of diagram or image leaks isn’t known or spread by participants in the Apple rumor mill. However, this time, it’s probably known where it’s from.

On June 23, a Tata iPhone factory was hacked, and a significant amount of data was stolen. AppleInsider was able to confirm that logic board designs for the iPhone 18 Pro were in the files, as well as A20 Pro data sheets.

It isn’t clear if the circulated image is from that breach, but it is likely.

In this week’s “Sunday Reboot,” Malcolm ponders why Apple TV doesn’t do game shows, and if it ever will properly work competition-based shows into its streaming service.

Anyone paying a subscription expects to get their money’s worth from their monthly outlay, especially when it comes to streaming services. I occasionally look at the collection that I pay for each month, and if I haven’t watched it enough in the last few months, it gets cancelled for a while.

This does help save a bit of money, but the one that I simply cannot do this to is Apple TV. That’s primarily because it’s in my Apple One subscription and I use everything else in the package a lot.

Since getting rid of Apple TV isn’t an option, I have to come up with reasons to actually watch stuff on it. That is surprisingly hard, because I’m not really a narrative-driven guy.

With the exception of Ted Lasso and rare viewings of light sci-fi, I can’t really get into the content Apple TV provides in a major way.

I believe the problem, at least for my particular viewing habits, is that Apple doesn’t do game shows.

It does do sports, certainly, and that would be considered competition in nature. But I’m discounting them as gameshows and reality competition shows are a different thing entirely.

I am very much a trivia nut, and I can get behind people doing tasks and competing in challenges. While I prefer “shiny floor” studio game shows, I’m not against reality competition shows either, and I even seek out the weird and wild ones, too.

My favorite is still Release the Hounds, which had people take on horror-themed tasks before trying to outrun dogs for money. As in real dogs chasing after and taking down the contestants.

A close second is the much lighter and family-friendly “Chef and My Fridge” on Netflix.

This is all stuff that Apple TV shies away from almost entirely. You certainly won’t be able to find an Apple Original trivia show on the service at all.

Three Whammies

Apple has, so far, produced three competition shows in its long-form programming history. Just three, and that’s if you stretch the definition a tiny bit.

None of them was what you could refer to as a smash hit at all.

The earliest, which predates Apple TV, was 2017’s Planet of the Apps. While Apple TV didn’t exist, it premiered on CNBC and was also available on Apple Music and iTunes.

It was a painfully obvious idea. A Shark Tank-esque show promoting app development by making people pitch apps that they thought could make them tons of money.

It was also a pretty bad show to watch, with developers trying to make Gary Vaynerchuk, Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Will.I.Am care about their “great” idea. Really, the less remembered about it, the better.

Apple’s second real attempt, first for Apple TV itself, was My Kind of Country in 2023, which attempted to take on The Voice. Country singers around the world were gradually eliminated until one person won $100,000 and promotion on Apple Music.

This, again, makes sense for Apple to create, since it does the whole Apple Music thing.

But it evidently wasn’t enough of a hit to warrant a second series. It hasn’t officially been cancelled, but it’s also not been renewed either.

Door number three is Kpopped, which again is music, but barely counts as a competition show. Capitalizing on the K-pop wave, it combined established groups with Western artists, gave them 48 hours, and made them perform to an audience.

There is a vote to determine who did the best, so there is technically a competition aspect at play. But really, it’s an excuse to show established Western artists like Megan Thee Stallion, the Spice Girls, Kesha, and Kylie singing alongside K-pop groups like Billie and Itzy.

It’s basically fluff and an attempt to cash in on a global trend. Again, can’t really fault Apple for trying.

What we can fault Apple for is not trying enough.

Rivals

Pretty much every major streaming service has some form of game show or competition reality show on its current roster. I also don’t just mean shows from their imported back catalogs, but originals commissioned by the streaming services themselves.

Amazon’s got the Mr Beast-fronted Beast Games along with Last One Laughing, the James Bond-themed 007: Road to a Million, and a season of Pop Culture Jeopardy.

Netflix is far more prolific and is also very successful with its own content. You have skill-based shows like Blown Away and Is It Cake?, and physical competition shows such as Physical 100 and Floor Is Lava.

Its more cerebral content includes The Devil’s Plan, Million Dollar Secret, and the service-switching Pop Culture Jeopardy. Offbeat reality competition is also there with the decent Zombieverse, the middling Squid Game: The Challenge, and the throw-away Snowflake Mountain.

Disney+ is a bit of a different story, in part due to it pulling content from TV channels and studios it owns, which typically go on normal broadcast television first. The original programming side of things is a bit thin, but there was Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, which was an attempt at a kids’ gameshow based on the film franchise.

It didn’t really work that well, but at least Disney tried.

Game show economics

Game shows and reality shows have a lot of aspects that studios like. That includes the relatively low per-episode cost to produce a season of a show.

For a studio quiz, you only need one small set, which is really cheap if it’s a long-running show. Reality competition shows need a lot more, but far from the scale of what is needed for a high-budget drama.

Staffing is also relatively cheap compared to scripted programming, as the prize contestants fight over can be less than the total cost of a bunch of actors and extras.

Studio quizzes are also cheaper in terms of crew costs, as you can get multiple episodes in the can in a day. Short production times save money.

The economics of a game show, even one with a big six or seven-figure cash prize, make it that the cost of production is lower overall. If you’re careful, you can create multiple game shows for the same cost as one mid-size dramatic production.

That reality makes it easy for someone like Netflix to churn out multiple competition shows, in the hope that a few become hits. It’s worked for decades on broadcast television, and also for Netflix.

Quality, not quantity

While I can wish for Apple to do some decent game show-like content on its streaming platform, it’s something that probably won’t ever happen.

Since the beginning of Apple TV+, years before losing the plus, it had a remit to offer high-quality programming to viewers. In one early interview, then VP of Software and Services Eddy Cue was adamant that Apple was working on “creating the best” content instead of “creating the most.”

This is a strategy that has served Apple TV very well. Over the years, it has become known as a dramatic powerhouse, winning many awards and accolades in the process.

It even recently led to Cue, now SVP of Services and Health, to be named the 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year at Cannes Lions.

Evidently, he knows what he’s doing.

Apple is not in the business of being cheap with production. It does not believe in the shotgun approach to content, as it strives to make everything that comes through its doors a hit.

Unless there’s a sudden turnaround in strategy from Cue or someone else in Apple’s leadership team, it’s a policy that it will maintain for the foreseeable future.

Game shows, sadly, have no place on Apple TV. No question about it.

Last week’s Sunday Reboot discussed Beats beating FIFA at the advertising game and GymKit on iPhone.

Prime Day 2026 may be over, but you can save up to $650 across Apple’s Mac, iPad, AirPods, and AirTag lines.

Prime Day 2026 may be over, but aggressive deals still remain in effect across Apple hardware, especially considering Apple raised prices on Macs and iPads on Thursday. Save up to $650 on Apple devices during the weekend sale.

Shop Apple deals on Amazon

Top Apple deals

• AirPods Pro 3: $179 ($70 off)
• Apple AirTag 2 (4-Pack): $89 (10% off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $279 ($120 off)
• 49mm Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Titanium Case, Ocean Band): $649 ($150 off)
• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,149.99 ($450 off)
• 15″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1,149.99 ($350 off)
• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 (10C CPU, 10C GPU, 16GB, 1TB, Standard Display): $1,649.99 ($350 off)
• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Max (18C CPU, 40C GPU, 48GB, 2TB, Standard Display): $4,349.99 ($650 off)

AirPods 4 $99, AirPods Pro $179

Amazon’s Prime Day AirPods sale prices have remained in effect this weekend, with AirPods Pro 3 a top choice at $179.

Weekend AirPods deals

AirTag 2 on sale from $24

The first material discounts on Apple’s second-generation AirTag have been extended.

AirTag 2 Prime Day deals extended

iPads up to $350 off

You can score deals of up to $350 off in our iPad Price Guide.

Save up to $350 on iPads

Today’s top iPad deals

• M4 iPad Air 11-inch (1TB, Wi-Fi): $1,019 ($330 off)
• M4 iPad Air 13-inch (1TB, Wi-Fi): $1,199.99 ($350 off)
• M5 iPad Pro 11-inch (1TB, Wi-Fi, Nano-texture Glass): $1,599 ($300 off)
• M5 iPad Pro 13-inch (256GB, Wi-Fi): $1,199.99 ($300 off)
• M5 iPad Pro 13-inch (1TB, Wi-Fi): $1,749.99 ($350 off)

Apple Pencil markdowns

Apple Watch Series 11 $279

Multiple Prime Day Apple Watch deals have been extended, including the Series 11 for $279 ($120 off) and the Ultra 3 for $649 ($150 off).

Buy Apple Watch S11 for $279

42mm Apple Watch Series 11

• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $279 ($120 off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $379 ($120 off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Milanese Loop Band): $609 ($140 off)

46mm Apple Watch Series 11

• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $309 ($120 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $399 ($130 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Sport Band): $569.97 ($180 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Milanese Loop Band): $639 ($160 off)

Apple Watch Ultra 3 $150 off

MacBooks up to $650 off

While the discounts aren’t quite as steep as Day 1 of Prime Day, Amazon still has the lowest prices on numerous MacBook configurations, which are worth exploring as Apple’s price hikes trickle over to third-party retailers.

Weekend MacBook Air deals

Blowout MacBook Air sales from $789

• 13″ MacBook Air M4 (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Restored): $789 ($210 off) at Walmart

Top 14-inch MacBook Pro discounts

• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 (10C CPU, 10C GPU, 16GB, 1TB, Standard Display): $1,649.99 ($350 off)
• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 Pro (15C CPU, 16C GPU, 24GB, 1TB, Standard Display): $2,149.99 ($350 off)
• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 Pro (15C CPU, 16C GPU, 24GB, 2TB, Standard Display): $2,549.99 ($450 off)

Best 16-inch MacBook Pro sales

• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Pro (18C CPU, 20C GPU, 24GB, 1TB, Standard Display, Space Black): $2,649.99 ($350 off)
• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Max (18C CPU, 32C GPU, 36GB, 2TB, Standard Display): $3,849.99 ($550 off)
• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Max (18C CPU, 40C GPU, 48GB, 2TB, Standard Display, Space Black): $4,349.99 ($650 off)

OLED TVs up to $702 off

Prime Day deals on OLED TVs have been extended as well, with discounts of up to $702 off on models from LG, Samsung, and Sony.

LG OLED TV Prime Day deals

• LG 65-inch C5 OLED65C5PUA, 2025: $1,099.99 ($1,600 off)
• LG 48-inch C6 OLED48C6PUA, 2026: $1,399 ($200 off)
• LG 55-inch C6 OLED55C6PUA, 2026: $1,599 ($200 off)
• LG 65-inch C6 OLED65C6PUA, 2026: $1,999.99 ($700 off)
• LG 77-inch C6 OLED77C6HUP, 2026: $2,999.99 ($700 off)

Samsung OLED TV Prime Day discounts

Sony OLED TV Prime Day sale

If you have ever wanted to buy Plex’s lifetime pass to keep streaming your movie collection to your iPhone, get it now before the price rockets up to a ludicrous $749.99 on July 1.

Price rises are a regular occurrence for most online services, and that even includes self-hosted streaming platforms. However, for a particular segment of Plex users, one extremely expensive jump in price is on the horizon.

Back in May, Plex warned that it will be raising the price of its Lifetime Plex Pass, which gives users all of the benefits of the normal annual or monthly Plex Pass, but without a subscription. That price rise is set to take place on July 1 at 12:01 a.m. UTC.

As for the amount the price will go up by, it’s not a small amount. Instead of the current $249.99 pricing, it will be going up to an eye-watering $749.99.

Get Plex Pass now

In justifying the price, Plex admitted that it had previously considered removing the Lifetime Plex Pass altogether. While recurring subscriptions sustain long-term development, the lifetime pass does not, and becomes less useful to Plex as time goes on.

The new price, according to Plex, “reflects the real, ongoing value of the software we’re committed to building and maintaining for years to come.”

Does this affect me?

The price change is something that really only matters to a small section of Plex’s user base. Those who don’t feel like paying the monthly or annual fee and believe they can get years of use out of Plex.

There are no changes to the monthly $6.99 or annual $69.99 subscriptions. It’s only affecting the lifetime version.

The current $250 price may seem hefty for a user to pay, but that’s the equivalent of three and a half years of the annual subscription in terms of cost. Or just under three years of paying the monthly plan.

By contrast, the $750 price change works out to be the same cost as just over ten years of the annual subscription.

Existing Lifetime Plex Plan users won’t have to pay anything extra, as they already have the plan. There won’t be any change of service either, as planned future changes affect all paid plans equally.

Consider your options

Current monthly and annual subscribers who are happy to continue paying the fee can carry on without worry. For those who were tempted but didn’t pull the trigger on the Lifetime Plex Plan previously, they have an incentive to get it now.

A 200% price increase is certainly a good incentive for fence-sitters to pay up.

That said, the market has changed, and maybe those users wanting to save a bit of money could consider a completely different option. One that was free, if you’re not afraid of a little work.

Rival app Jellyfin is free to set up and use in mostly the same way as Plex. Where Plex succeeds is in having a massive community and product support, whereas you’ve got more research to do with Jellyfin.

There’s also the alternative content sources Plex offers, but that’s a minor thing compared to the main functionality.

That said, it’s not that difficult to get up and running with Jellyfin. It has many of the same features as Plex, including fetching relevant metadata for your collection, as well as apps for many devices you would want to stream to in the first place.

Ultimately, this is a good opportunity for everyone to take stock in their setups, and to really work out what they want from their home streaming server.

You could “save” money by paying for the lifetime Plex upgrade now instead of suffering later. But you could also save by switching to Jellyfin and avoiding subscriptions altogether.

Amazon’s Prime Day Apple Watch deals have been extended into the weekend, with the Series 11 discounted by $120 and the Ultra 3 slashed by $150.

Amazon’s Prime Day Apple Watch sale delivered the year’s lowest prices on several Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. And while Prime Day wrapped up on Friday, multiple offers have been extended into the weekend, including the Series 11 for $279 ($120 off) and the Ultra 3 for $649 ($150 off).

Buy Apple Watch S11 from $279

You can find a detailed breakdown of the lowest prices across dozens of styles in our Apple Watch Price Guide, with highlights from the weekend sale below.

42mm Apple Watch Series 11

• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $279 ($120 off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $379 ($120 off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Milanese Loop Band): $609 ($140 off)

46mm Apple Watch Series 11

• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $309 ($120 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $399 ($130 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Sport Band): $569.97 ($180 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Milanese Loop Band): $639 ($160 off)

Apple Watch Ultra 3 $150 off

Apple’s MacBook Pro is set to receive an overhaul, with a redesign, an an OLED touchscreen expected to be the key changes. Here’s what the rumor mill has to say about the device.

While AppleInsider readers have wanted a Mac with an OLED screen for years, actual claims of an OLED-equipped MacBook Pro date back to at least 2019. As for when such an upgrade might arrive, it depends on who you ask.

Leakers and analysts alike have had a lot to say about the future of the MacBook Pro, with claims of hardware changes, performance upgrades, and more. Some have even claimed Apple’s touchscreen laptop will be called the MacBook Ultra.

Here’s everything rumored for the next major MacBook Pro upgrade.

OLED MacBook Pro: Release date rumors

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had called touchscreen laptops “ergonomically terrible” in 2010, and software chief Craig Federighi echoed the sentiment in 2018, when he called touchscreen laptops “experiments.”

“We really feel that the ergonomics of using a Mac are that your hands are rested on a surface, and that lifting your arm to poke a screen is a pretty fatiguing thing to do,” said Federighi in 2018. However, rumors of a touchscreen MacBook Pro surfaced the very next year.

Reports from May 2019 and August 2021 said Samsung was reportedly set to produce OLED MacBook Pro screens. In January 2020, an Apple patent revealed the company hadn’t ruled out the idea of a touchscreen MacBook Pro.

Since then, multiple sources have chimed in on the matter, all saying that an OLED MacBook Pro with a touchscreen was in development. Opinions on when it would be released, however, differed.

A November 2021 report from The Elec said the MacBook Pro would only gain an OLED panel in 2026. The same publication, however, said in July 2023 that the touchscreen MacBook Pro would actually be released in 2027 with an eighth-generation OLED panel.

Just days later, the same source went on to say that the MacBook Pro would actually be updated with a sixth-generation OLED panel in 2025. Then, in February 2024, they said the MacBook Pro with an OLED screen would actually arrive in 2027.

In January 2025 and February 2025, however, the same publication said the MacBook Pro would receive a hybrid OLED panel in 2026.

In February 2026, the same source claimed that mass production of MacBook Pro OLED panels would start in May 2026. In June 2026, however, The Elec then said that mass production would begin in July 2026, which contradicted a separate leaker, who said trial production had already started in January 2026.

The publication behind these claims has a mixed track record, and it has continued flip-flopping over the years, saying that the OLED MacBook would arrive in 2025, 2026, or 2027 at different points in time.

In general, however, rumored release dates for the OLED MacBook have been all over the place. In January 2023, analyst Ming Chi Kuo said Apple would ship an “OLED MacBook by the end of 2024 at the earliest.”

2024 has obviously come and gone, but Kuo has continued to make claims about the OLED MacBook Pro. In September 2025, he said the device would arrive in late 2026.

Separately, in May 2024, Omdia analysts said the MacBook Pro with an OLED screen would actually arrive in 2026. This claim resurfaced in December 2024 and July 2025. In June 2026, the analyst firm said Apple’s touchscreen-equipped MacBook Pro could debut in July 2026, which seems unlikely.

Display analyst Ross Young said in April 2023 and October 2023 that the MacBook Pro would receive an OLED panel and touch screen in 2026.

Korean publication ET News claimed in January 2023 that Apple had ordered OLED panels for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro, for devices expected to debut in 2026. This claim was reiterated a month later, and another Korean publication said the same thing in August 2025.

Meanwhile, in January 2023, a generally reliable leaker claimed the touchscreen-equipped MacBook Pro would arrive in 2025. However, by August 2025, their claim had changed to “late 2026 or early 2027.”

This alleged late 2026 through early 2027 release date was reiterated in November 2025 and January 2026 by the same source.

In February 2026, the leaker was more specific, saying that the OLED MacBook Pro would debut in late 2026. In April 2026, however, they claimed that the revamped MacBook Pro was more likely to arrive in 2027, due to an ongoing industry-wide memory shortage.

More recently, in June 2026, they suggested that Apple has abandoned its plans for M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, opting to focus on the AI-focused M7 line of Apple Silicon system-on-chips instead.

On June 26, 2026, they claimed Apple would use the current M5 Pro and M5 Max chips for its touchscreen MacBook Pro. The laptop is still expected to debut “between late 2026 and early 2027.”

Over the years, the same source listed 2025, 2026, and 2027 as release dates for the OLED-equipped MacBook Pro, so it’s still not entirely clear when the laptop will arrive.

As for verifiable information, AppleInsider learned in July 2025 that MacBook Pros bearing the device identifiers K114 and K116 were in development. The two laptops were tested with internal distributions of macOS Tahoe and were seemingly never intended to debut before macOS 26.5, as we learned in October 2025.

In short, the revamped OLED MacBook Pro will most likely debut in early 2027 or late 2026, depending on who you ask. In any case, though, there’s no doubt Apple has been researching the concept.

Apple’s touchscreen MacBook patents

Ideas for touchscreen Macs can be seen in Apple patents as far back as August 2010, and the company hasn’t abandoned associated research efforts.

An Apple patent, filed in 2023 and granted in September 2024, titled “Touch Sensing Utilizing Integrated Micro Circuitry,” featured an illustration of a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen.

The text, meanwhile, repeatedly refers to “an example personal computer that includes a trackpad and an integrated touch screen.” Another Apple patent from March 2024 detailed an all-glass MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, further suggesting the company has plans for a radical MacBook Pro redesign.

An Apple patent from August 2024 details a different approach, with multiple touchscreens across different areas of a MacBook Pro. An October 2020 patent, meanwhile, outlined how a traditional MacBook keyboard might be replaced with a deformable touchscreen.

Apple executives Greg Joswiak and Craig Federighi said, in April 2021 and June 2025, respectively, that the company has no plans to merge the iPad and Mac. However, Apple’s own research suggests the Mac will become more iPad-like, thanks to the addition of a touchscreen.

OLED MacBook Pro: Display & hardware rumors

The cornerstone of the K114 and K116 MacBook Pro models is expected to be the addition of an OLED panel and touchscreen.

With macOS Golden Gate offering support for touch-based input via Sidecar on iPad, a touchscreen Mac would make sense. In June 2026, a leaker with a mixed track record said that the touchscreen MacBook Pro is “100% confirmed,” which isn’t much of a surprise, given that all previous reporting mentioned a touchscreen.

According to an October 2025 rumor, Apple has developed a reinforced hinge meant to offset any display bounce when the MacBook Pro touchscreen is used. The same report also says that the updated MacBook Pro will feature a hole-punch design for the built-in camera, meaning it may not have a notch like the M5 models.

A hole-punch camera design would be a good hardware fit for the new-and-improved Siri AI. On iOS 27, Apple’s virtual assistant shows up as part of the Dynamic Island, so Apple might opt for a similar approach with the MacBook Pro.

While a touchscreen is sure to change the way users interact with their MacBook Pros, an OLED panel would significantly improve the visual experience. Relative to the LCD screen of the M5 MacBook Pro, an OLED panel offers an improved contrast ratio and better response time.

The difference between an OLED panel and an LCD screen is especially noticeable when viewing images and videos with the color black. Movie scenes with lots of darkness or shadows typically look better on an OLED screen, appearing black rather than the sort of blue-ish gray you’ll often find on LCD screens.

To be more specific, though, according to a July 2023 rumor, Apple will use an eighth-generation OLED panel with LTPO TFT technology.

LTPO TFT is short for Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistor. This display technology combines the benefits of both LTPS (Low-Temperature Polysilicon) TFT and IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) TFT technologies.

LTPO TFT would allow for improved power consumption and longer battery life on the MacBook Pro, compared to traditional TFT technologies. Samsung Display is expected to be the supplier for MacBook Pro OLED panels, per multiple sources.

As for what will power the OLED MacBook Pro, the device is expected to feature the current M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, per a rumor published on June 26, 2026. This means performance will be comparable to the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max variants of the MacBook Pro, which debuted in March 2026.

According to an earler to a June 2026 rumor from the same source, Apple has abandoned the development of M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. The second-generation touchscreen MacBook is, instead, expected to use Apple’s M7 Pro and M7 Max chips.

Apple still has plans for a base M6 chip, which is expected to feature a memory bandwidth of 200GB/s, up from 153GB/s on the base M5 chip. However, according to a November 2025 rumor, it will only be used in the base-model 14-inch MacBook Pro, which will use the existing M5 design without a touchscreen or OLED screen.

Our own findings suggest this will be the case as well. As AppleInsider pointed out in October 2025, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro bears the identifier J806, while the OLED MacBook Pros are broadly known as K114 and K116.

While chip and performance upgrades are to be expected, Apple is also said to have been exploring another upgrade for the MacBook Pro. According to a February 2024 rumor, Apple at one point considered adding a proprietary cellular modem to the MacBook Pro.

Devices like the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, and M5 iPad Pro already feature Apple-designed modems. A December 2024 report claimed Apple was exploring adding a second-generation cellular modem to the MacBook Pro, and that the upgrade would not occur before 2026.

As for what the OLED-equipped MacBook Pro might be called, an April 2025 rumor says Apple will choose “MacBook Ultra” as the marketing name. This would expand the “Ultra” branding used for the Apple Watch and top-tier Apple Silicon chips.

However, this might not happen anytime soon. Apple was similarly expected to unveil an iPhone Ultra back in 2023, though that never amounted to anything.

As of late June 2026, there are no significant rumors about the battery capacity, speaker count, ports, or color options of the touchscreen MacBook Pro.

Hardware elements aside, the revamped MacBook Pro will likely be quite expensive. In June 2026, Apple increased the starting price of the M5 Pro MacBook Pro to $2,499, and that of the M5 Max MacBook Pro to $4,099.

The touchscreen-equipped models will likely hit an even higher price. The current memory chip shortage isn’t expected to end in 2027, and at this point it’s not reasonable to expect it to end in 2028 either.

What to expect with the 2027 MacBook Pro

Overall, it looks as though the next-generation MacBook Pro will deliver the following improvements over the current M5 lineup:

• OLED screen with better contrast, faster response times
• Touchscreen and touch-compatible apps, features
• Dynamic Island
• Redesigned thinner chassis with a reinforced hinge

The touchscreen-enhanced MacBook Pro is expected to debut either in early 2027 or late 2026.

Tim Cook warned us it was coming, but still the price rises on most, although not all, Apple products are a blow. Here’s what’s changed, and when it might change back. All this and more, on this week’s episode of the AppleInsider Podcast.

Join Wesley Hilliard in his studio and William Gallagher at a secret location off a motorway somewhere near London and Apple’s UK headquarters, as we break down the news of what has and has not had a price increase. The main device to escape the rise is the iPhone, but now there’s the question of whether that will increase later.

These rises also come as Apple is still expected to launch what was already believed to be the most costly iPhone ever. If the iPhone Fold really does come out in September, it’s going to be fascinating to see how it fits into the lineup, and whether it even sells.

One thing that is unquestionably a success is Apple TV, and another is Apple Music. Together those two are the reason why Eddy Cue has just been given a prestigious entertainer of the year award. It’s a long way from the days when all you’d hear about Cue was that he used to fall asleep in meetings.

Then it’s too early to say for certain that the new Siri AI is a success since it’s really split between the great and the poor. But this week saw the release of the second developer beta and we’ve been examining it.

BONUS: Subscribe via Patreon or Apple Podcasts to hear AppleInsider+, the extended edition. This time, the iPhone Fold will be a very expensive but also necessarily compromised device. Are there accessories Apple could produce to make up for what must be its shortcomings?

Links from the show:

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Apple’s price increases have resulted in increased demand for Amazon’s Prime Day deals, which remain unchanged. A top seller is this M5 15-inch MacBook Air for $1,149.

Amazon’s discounted prices have remained in effect this third day of Prime Day, despite Apple raising prices this morning. Save $350 on the standard 15-inch MacBook Air M5 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage or $450 on the M5/16GB/1TB model before supply runs out.

Buy M5 15″ MacBook Air for $1,149

Prime Day 15-inch MacBook Air deals

• 15″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1,149 – New MSRP: $1,499
• 15″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,349 – New MSRP: $1,799

Prime Day 13-inch MacBook Air deals

• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $949 – New MSRP: $1,299
• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,149 – New MSRP: $1,599
• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (24GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,387.25 – New MSRP: $1,799

You can compare prices across retailers in our M5 15-inch MacBook Air Price Guide, but the deals above are easily the most aggressive available as Amazon hasn’t implemented Apple’s price hikes that took effect earlier today.

Day 3 of Prime Day 2026 is underway, and now is the time to snap up some of the lowest prices of the year before Apple’s Mac and iPad price increases hit Amazon.

The third day of Prime Day sees a return of popular Apple deals, with AirPods Max 2 still available at $399, but only the Midnight color remains.

Get Prime Day deals

Considering Apple increased prices today on Macs and iPads, now is the time to snap up the Prime Day savings before the price increases trickle over to Amazon.

Top Apple Prime Day deals

AirPods on sale from $99

AirPods prices have dipped to as low as $99 as Prime Day nears an end, with AirPods Pro 3 coming in as a top-seller this Prime Day. The 2026 AirPods Max 2 have also hit a record-low $399, making it a top buy for Prime Day.

Prime Day AirPods deals

AirTag 2 on sale from $24

Apple’s second-generation AirTag has been priced at MSRP since its release, but Amazon issued a material discount on both the single pack and 4-pack for Prime Day.

Prime Day AirTag 2 sale

iPads as low as $299

You can score deals from just $299 in our iPad Price Guide, with a blowout iPad Pro discount of $250 off still available.

Buy iPads from $299

Today’s top iPad deals

Blowout iPad Pro

Apple Pencil markdowns

Apple Watch from $199

Day 3 of the Prime Day shopping event is seeing even more Apple Watch deals sell out, but the popular $120 discount on the Series 11 is still available.

Buy Apple Watches from $199

42mm Apple Watch Series 11 sale

• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $279 ($120 off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $379 ($120 off)
• 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Titanium Case, Milanese Loop Band): $639 ($160 off)

46mm Apple Watch Series 11 deals

• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $309 ($120 off)
• 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + Cellular (Aluminum Case, Sport Band): $379 ($150 off)

Apple Watch SE 3 discounts

Apple Watch Ultra lowest prices

MacBooks as low as $589

Apple raised MacBook prices today, but these Prime Day deals are still available. Compare prices across dozens of configurations in our Mac Price Guide.

Latest MacBook Neo savings

Prime Day MacBook Air deals

• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $949 ($150 off)
• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,149 ($150 off)
• 13″ MacBook Air M5 (24GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,387.25 ($113 off)
• 15″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1,149 ($150 off)
• 15″ MacBook Air M5 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,349 ($150 off)
• 15″ MacBook Air M5 (24GB RAM, 1TB SSD): $1,549.99 ($150 off)

Blowout MacBook Air sales from $799

• 13″ MacBook Air M4 (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Restored): $789 ($210 off) at Walmart
• 13″ MacBook Air M4 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Sky Blue): $899 ($300 off) at B&H

Top 14-inch MacBook Pro discounts

• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 (10C CPU, 10C GPU, 16GB, 1TB, Standard Display): $1,549 ($150 off)
• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 (10C CPU, 10C GPU, 24GB, 1TB, Standard Display): $1,749 ($150 off)
• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 Pro (15C CPU, 16C GPU, 24GB, 1TB, Standard Display): $2,034 ($165 off)
• 14″ MacBook Pro M5 Max (18C CPU, 32C GPU, 36GB, 2TB, Standard Display): $3,299.99 ($300 off)

Best 16-inch MacBook Pro sales

• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Pro (18C CPU, 20C GPU, 24GB, 1TB, Standard Display, Space Black): $2,494 ($205 off)
• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Max (18C CPU, 32C GPU, 36GB, 2TB, Standard Display): $3,649 ($250 off)
• 16″ MacBook Pro M5 Max (18C CPU, 40C GPU, 48GB, 2TB, Standard Display, Space Black): $4,149 ($250 off)

OLED TVs up to $700 off

OLED TVs from LG, Samsung, and Sony are heavily discounted during the sale event.

LG OLED TV Prime Day deals

• LG 65-inch C5 OLED65C5PUA, 2025: $1,199 ($1,500 off)
• LG 48-inch C6 OLED48C6PUA, 2026: $1,399.99 ($200 off)
• LG 55-inch C6 OLED55C6PUA, 2026: $1,599.99 ($200 off)
• LG 65-inch C6 OLED65C6PUA, 2026: $1,999.99 ($700 off)
• LG 77-inch C6 OLED77C6HUP, 2026: $2,999.99 ($700 off)

Samsung OLED TV Prime Day discounts

Sony OLED TV Prime Day sale

Charger, case, cable & dock deals

From iPhone cases to docking stations for your Mac, accessories are up to 71% off for Prime Day.

Thunderbolt 5 docks

Chargers

iPhone cases

Cables

The Heavys H1H is a $274 over-ear headphone built specifically for rock and metal listeners, with an eight-driver design intended to recreate the feel of a live show. It is an unusual product in a crowded market, and it makes its case on a very specific promise.

Most headphones are designed to be broadly neutral, or to flatter whatever genre the buyer happens to favor. The Heavys H1H takes a different approach entirely.

It is built around the idea that rock and metal have specific sonic characteristics that standard headphone tuning does not serve well. The multi-driver configuration is designed to address that directly, spreading frequency reproduction across eight drivers per side rather than relying on a single unit.

The headphones were engineered by Axel Grell, formerly of Sennheiser, where he led development of the HD 800 and HD 600 series. So, it’s got good bona fides.

I’ve replaced my AirPods Max with them for six weeks.

Heavys H1H review: Specifications

Specifications	Heavys H1H
Driver type	Dynamic
Drivers per side	4 (2 low/mid range, 2 high frequency tweeters)
Frequency range	5 Hz to 46 kHz (wired); 5 Hz to 24 kHz (Bluetooth)
Max SPL	Per IEC 62368-1
Bluetooth version	5.1
Codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
Wired connection	2.5mm to 3.5mm AUX cable (included); USB-C digital
Active noise cancellation	HellBlocker ANC (passive + active combined)
Microphones	5 (2-mic end-fire array for calls)
Modes	Wired passive, Bluetooth passive, Bluetooth ANC, Bluetooth transparent
Transparency mode	Yes
App	Yes (EQ and firmware updates)
Battery life	Up to 50 hours
Charging	USB-C
Weight	14.5 oz (410g)
Ear cup design	Full-size, around-the-ear
Customization	Interchangeable outer shells
Price	$274 (bundle with travel case)

Heavys H1H review: Design and build

The H1H is a full-size over-ear headphone. At 14.5 oz, it is on the heavier side versus most headphones, but not the AirPods Max.

The headband and ear cups have a fairly conventional layout from the outside. The interchangeable outer shells are the most visually distinctive element, letting buyers swap in licensed artist designs from bands including Motorhead, Lamb of God, and Slayer, among others.

The ear cup shells are replaceable without tools and a wide range of official artist designs are available from Heavys separately. It is a smart system for a brand built around fan identity.

The headphones fold for travel and come bundled with a protective hard case in this configuration. USB-C handles both charging and digital audio input, and a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable is included for wired passive use.

The balance is good on the headset. They are heavier than most as I’ve already said, but not so much that it’s a problem. The headset exaands to fit most heads, and I am fully aware that I have a big dome, so that was nice.

Build quality is excellent. This is not a headset shipped by a brand with too many adjacent consonants next to their name.

Heavys H1H review: The eight-driver system

The core technical claim of the H1H is its eight-driver configuration. Each side contains four drivers: two handling low and mid frequencies, and two high-frequency tweeters.

Most consumer headphones use a single dynamic driver per side. The multi-driver approach is more common in in-ear monitors used by musicians on stage, where separating frequencies across dedicated drivers can improve clarity and reduce distortion at high volumes.

Heavys claims the placement of the drivers is patented and specifically optimized for the way rock and metal are mixed, with an emphasis on guitar presence, drum impact, and the wide dynamic range those genres use.

The frequency range extends from 5 Hz to 46 kHz in wired mode, which is wider than most headphones at either end. Bluetooth operation narrows the upper limit to 24 kHz, which is still beyond the range of human hearing.

Let’s be clear, here. I am in the middle of the target market. I grew up on a steady diet of what is now called yacht rock, spent some time DJing at a rock station before my Navy stint when hair metal was popular, and just continued to listen.

These are the anti-Beats. They know what market they want, and shoot right at it.

And that Heavys claim about guitar and drums? Absolutely true.

Heavys H1H review: Noise cancellation and modes

The H1H uses what Heavys calls HellBlocker ANC, which it describes as a combination of passive noise cancellation and a mild active noise cancellation layer.

Passive noise cancellation (PNC) refers to the physical blocking of sound by the ear cup seal, while active noise cancellation (ANC) uses microphones and processing to cancel out remaining ambient noise electronically.

The result is four operating modes: wired passive, Bluetooth passive, Bluetooth with ANC active, and Bluetooth with transparency mode on. Transparency mode uses the microphones to let outside sound in, which is useful for conversations or navigating in public.

The five-microphone setup handles calls via a two-mic end-fire array. End-fire configuration means the mics face outward in the direction of the mouth for better voice pickup and background noise rejection.

AirPods used to be better across the board at noise reduction. It’s not terrible, but it’s not as good as it was.

The Heavys H1H is just about as good as the AirPods Max is at sound reduction. I tested the feature in a moving car, in a noisy crowd before a concert, in a plane, and on a train.

The AirPods Max and Heavys H1H were about the same. The Heavys H1H seemed to be a bit better in the car, and the AirPods Max on the train and plane, but the differences are minute.

Heavys H1H review: Connectivity and app

Bluetooth 5.1 handles wireless connection, with support for SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs. AAC is the relevant codec for iPhone users, as it is Apple’s preferred Bluetooth audio format and is used by AirPods and most Apple devices.

AptX Adaptive is a higher-quality codec for Android and compatible devices, offering lower latency and better dynamic bitrate management. iPhone users will be limited to AAC, which is still a good-quality option.

The companion app provides EQ customization and firmware updates. EQ access is a meaningful addition here, since the multi-driver tuning may benefit from adjustment depending on personal preference or the genre being played.

Having a built-in EQ in an app is nice. It’s so nice, in fact, that Apple is getting to it in iOS 27.

This is an incredibly personal experience. The app works pretty well, and it’s obvious to tell that there’s tuning going on in real-time as you move the sliders.

Heavys H1H review: Battery

Heavys claims up to 50 hours of battery life. That is a strong figure, comfortably above the 30-hour range that most competitors in this price bracket offer.

In my experience, I saw between 41 and 52 hours of battery life. There does not appear to be any noticeable idle drain.

This may be helped by an obvious on and off switch, that the AirPods Max do not have. You know when it’s off, and you have to guess with AirPods Max, for the most part.

I still don’t like that carrying case for the AirPods Max.

Heavys H1H review: A headphone with a very clear point of view

The H1H does not try to be for everyone. It is designed for a specific listener with a specific taste, and it is confident in that positioning.

The eight-driver system, Axel Grell’s involvement, and the genre-specific tuning are all genuine differentiators. There is no comparable product from the major headphone brands aimed this specifically at rock and metal fans.

At $274, it sits in a competitive price range. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 and Apple’s AirPods Max are both options a buyer in this bracket might also consider. Neither of those is tuned for this audience, and neither offers the customization ecosystem that the shell system provides.

For Apple users, the AAC codec support and USB-C connection mean it will work well with iPhone and Mac. It is not an Apple product, but it fits into the Apple ecosystem without friction.

The multi-driver system delivers on the company’s promises, and the ANC is strong enough to hold up against the competition at this price.

What’s not to like?

Heavys H1H Pros

• Eight-driver system designed for rock and metal
• 50-hour claimed battery life
• Interchangeable artist shells

Heavys H1H Cons

• Heavier than most wireless competitors
• iPhone users limited to AAC codec
• Genre focus may not suit all listeners, but that’s the case with Beats too

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Where to buy the Heavys H1H

The Heavys H1H are available from Heavys directly, with a 10% discount at press time bringing the price down to $269.