Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo asks buyers to pay more for a folding screen while accepting almost 40 compromises compared with the iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ Max, spanning camera capabilities, everyday usability, and ownership costs.


At equivalent storage capacities, the ‌iPhone Duo‌ costs $800 more than the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and $700 more than the Pro Max. Its main attraction is a radically different design: a 5.4-inch outer display opens into a 7.6-inch inner display, providing more space for reading and viewing content, with the ability to use apps side by side.

All three devices share a number of key features, including the A20 Pro chip, ProMotion displays with refresh rates up to 120Hz, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, MagSafe, and USB-C with USB 3 speeds. However, choosing the foldable means giving up some familiar features and accepting differences in how the phone feels, works, and fits into a daily routine.

General Compromises

The general compromises concern the phone's controls, displays, dimensions, battery life, and cost. Some change interactions that iPhone owners perform throughout the day, while others affect particular preferences or longer-term ownership expenses. When choosing the ‌iPhone Duo‌ over an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ or Pro Max, users must be prepared to give up:

• Face ID: Facial authentication is replaced by Touch ID in the side button, changing how users unlock their phone and authenticate purchases and apps.


• The Action button: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ drops the customizable button used for functions such as Silent mode, the flashlight, Focus modes, and Shortcuts. Camera Control remains available, but there is no dedicated physical mute control.


• MagSafe wallet compatibility: Apple lists ‌MagSafe‌ cases and wireless chargers as compatible with the ‌iPhone Duo‌, but omits the wallet compatibility it lists for the Pro models due to the device's shape.


• Physical SIM support in some markets: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ is eSIM-only worldwide. Pro models sold in markets such as the UK and Australia retain a nano-SIM slot, giving buyers the option of using physical SIM cards.


• A larger screen without unfolding: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s outer display measures 5.4 inches, compared with 6.3 inches on the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and 6.9 inches on the Pro Max. Accessing its larger 7.6-inch screen requires opening the device.


• The Pro displays' pixel density on the larger screen: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s inner display has a density of 430 pixels per inch, compared with 460 ppi on both Pro models. Its outer display retains 460 ppi.


• A crease-free display: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s folding screen has a crease that remains visible in certain lighting, despite Apple's efforts to minimize it. The Pro models have a conventional display without a fold through the center.


• Simpler display maintenance: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s outer screen has Ceramic Shield 2, while the inner screen uses a different construction with a polymer cover layer. That layer is replaceable if it wears or becomes damaged, introducing an additional service item absent from the Pro models. In the U.S., a cover-layer replacement costs $49 without AppleCare+ coverage or $19 with coverage.


• A thinner, narrower, and lighter phone: Although shorter when closed, the ‌iPhone Duo‌ is 84.1mm wide and 11.3mm thick, compared with widths of 71.9mm and 78mm and a thickness of 8.75mm on the Pro models. At 254 grams, it is also 43 grams heavier than the Pro and five grams heavier than the Pro Max.


• The Pro Max's longer typical-use battery life: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ is rated for up to 24 hours of typical use, matching the smaller Pro but falling short of the Pro Max's 30 hours.


• Longer video playback when using the larger display: With its inner screen, the ‌iPhone Duo‌ is rated for up to 31 hours of video playback and 26 hours of streaming, compared with 36 and 33 hours on the Pro and 45 and 40 hours on the Pro Max. Using the outer display improves those figures to 44 and 37 hours, exceeding the smaller Pro's ratings.


• Faster wired charging: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ reaches up to 50% charge in around 20 minutes, compared with around 15 minutes on both Pro models.


• Higher sustained-performance: Apple quotes up to 35% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro for the ‌iPhone Duo‌, compared with up to 40% for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models.


• More color choices: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ comes in Night Sky and Star White. The Pro models offer Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy.


• A higher proportion of recycled content: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ contains 35% recycled content, compared with 40% on the Pro models.


• A lower purchase price: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ costs $800 more than the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ and $700 more than the Pro Max at equivalent storage capacities. Its $1,999 starting price buys 256GB, while a 1TB Pro Max costs $1,899.


• Lower single-device AppleCare premiums: In the U.S., ‌AppleCare‌+ with Theft and Loss costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually for the ‌iPhone Duo‌, compared with $14.99 per month or $149.99 annually for either Pro model.


• Lower covered screen-repair fees: Under U.S. ‌AppleCare‌ coverage, accidental damage to the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s inner display carries a $99 service fee, compared with $29 for screen-only damage on the Pro models. The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s outer-display damage fee remains $29.


• Lower repair fees without AppleCare+ coverage: Apple's U.S. estimates include $999 for inner-display damage, compared with screen-repair fees of $329 for the Pro and $379 for the Pro Max. "Other damage" is estimated at $1,499, compared with $849 and $899 respectively. Back-glass repair is also more expensive, at $199 rather than $159 for either Pro model.


• Lower battery replacement costs: Apple's U.S. out-of-warranty battery service fee is $229 for the ‌iPhone Duo‌, compared with $129 for either Pro model.

These differences vary considerably in importance. Losing Face ID or the Action button may be more disruptive to an established routine than having fewer color choices, while the wider, thicker body is something buyers will encounter every time they pick up the closed phone. Buyers moving from a Pro Max also need to consider whether the larger inner display is worth giving up its longer typical-use battery life.

The financial differences extend beyond the initial purchase. Higher ‌AppleCare‌ premiums, repair fees, and battery replacement costs can increase the expense of owning the ‌iPhone Duo‌ over several years, so buyers should consider how they intend to maintain and protect the device alongside its purchase price.

Camera and Capture Compromises

The camera compromises range from fewer zoom options and simpler front cameras to the loss of professional capture formats. Some affect everyday photography, while others matter primarily to users with specific editing and production workflows. When buying the ‌iPhone Duo‌ over an ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ or Pro Max, customers must be prepared to forgo:

• A dedicated Telephoto camera: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ lacks the Pro models' 48-megapixel 4x Telephoto camera, including its tetraprism design and 3D sensor-shift stabilization, and the 12-megapixel optical-quality 8x crop it enables. Its longest optical-quality zoom setting is a 2x crop from the Main camera. Digital photo zoom tops out at 10x rather than 40x, while video zoom reaches 6x rather than 24x.


• A variable aperture: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s Main camera has a fixed f/1.6 aperture. The Pro models offer f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0 settings, giving users more control over light capture and depth of field.


• The Pro Main camera's stabilization and focusing hardware: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ uses sensor-shift optical image stabilization and Hybrid Focus Pixels, compared with second-generation sensor-shift stabilization and 100% Focus Pixels on the Pro models.


• Wider Main-camera framing: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s Main camera has a 26mm equivalent focal length rather than 24mm, producing a slightly tighter view. Its 2x crop is also tighter, at 52mm rather than 48mm.


• A LiDAR Scanner: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ omits the depth-sensing hardware available on both Pro models for photography, augmented reality, and scanning experiences.


• Adaptive True Tone flash: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ has a standard True Tone flash instead of the Pro models' adaptive version.


• Pro Controls: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ does not have the Pro models' full suite of aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and histogram controls.


• ProRAW photography: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ does not offer Apple's ProRAW capture, including on its front camera.


• Apple Reference Image capture: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ cannot capture the signed reference images used to help establish whether a photo has been altered.


• Spatial photos and videos: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ cannot capture spatial photos or spatial video. Both Pro models support spatial video recording at 1080p at 30 fps.


• ProRes and ProRes RAW recording: These professional video formats are unavailable in the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s native camera feature set, including for front-facing capture. The Pro models support ProRes recording up to 4K at 120 fps from the rear camera and 4K at 60 fps from the front camera with external recording.


• Apple Log 2 and ACES: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ omits Apple Log 2 and Academy Color Encoding System support for rear and front-camera recording, limiting the professional color workflows otherwise available on the Pro models.


• Genlock: The ‌iPhone Duo‌ lacks the Pro models' support for synchronizing video capture with other cameras using supported accessories.


• Studio-quality four-mic array: Apple specifies four studio-quality microphones for the Pro models, but does not list the same specification for the ‌iPhone Duo‌. The foldable still supports Spatial Audio recording, wind noise reduction, and Audio Mix.


• A higher-resolution outer front camera: The ‌iPhone Duo‌'s outer Center Stage camera is 12 megapixels with a smaller f/2.2 aperture, compared with 18 megapixels and f/1.9 on the Pro models.


• A fully featured front camera when unfolded: The inner under-display camera is limited to 1080p video at 30 or 60 fps and lacks Night mode, portrait photography, and Photographic Styles. The Pro models' front camera supports 4K Dolby Vision recording and these photography features.

The missing Telephoto camera is a practical limitation even for buyers who never use professional formats, since it reduces the options for photographing subjects they cannot get close to. The variable aperture adds another form of control over how a scene is captured. For users who already rely on ProRAW, ProRes, or Log recording, the ‌iPhone Duo‌ also changes what they can capture and how they can edit it afterward.

Are the Compromises Worth It?

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ can justify these compromises if its inner display meaningfully improves things you already do on your phone. Reading long articles, reviewing documents, comparing information in two apps, editing photos, or watching video could all become much more comfortable with a larger screen. If those are activities you would regularly unfold the device for, its defining feature could be more valuable to you than several of the capabilities it lacks.

It is therefore important for prospective customers to assess what they plan to use the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s internal display for and how often they would do so. A handful of activities you repeat throughout the day makes a stronger case for the foldable than an occasional task you would usually handle on an iPad or Mac.

Hands-on demo time should also be helpful, and include time using the phone closed. Check whether you are comfortable with its width, thickness, weight, outer display, and ‌Touch ID‌ button, then unfold it and try the activities you expect to benefit from the larger screen. The device needs to suit both the quick interactions that make up much of phone use and the longer sessions that take advantage of its inner display.

The large number of compromises alone should not determine your decision. If you never record ProRes video, losing it may have no consequence, while giving up a telephoto camera you use every day could be decisive.

There is also value in being enthusiastic about Apple's radically new take on the iPhone. Wanting to explore a folding design and new ways of using familiar apps is a reasonable part of the buying decision, even without a specific productivity benefit.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ makes the most sense for buyers who expect to use its inner display frequently, enjoy adapting to the new form factor, and are comfortable with the features and money they give up to get it. For buyers who expect to spend most of their time on the outer display, or who place greater importance on camera versatility, the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models may be a stronger fit at a lower price.

‌iPhone Duo‌ pre-orders open on Friday, October 16, with availability starting on October 23.
This article, "iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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AppleCare+ became available for the first time 15 years ago today, on October 14, 2011, alongside the iPhone 4S, following its announcement ten days earlier. The previous $69 AppleCare Protection Plan in the United States extended hardware repair coverage and technical support to two years, but excluded accidental damage.

‌AppleCare‌+ cost $99, retaining that two-year term while adding coverage for two accidental damage incidents, each with a $49 service fee. It covered damage from drops and liquid contact, but excluded theft and loss.
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Apple is reportedly preparing a substantial production run for the standard iPhone 18, following the iPhone 17's success as the world's best-selling smartphone.


In a new Weibo post, the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital" claimed that production of the standard ‌iPhone 18‌ is scheduled to start in late November, describing the volume of inventory being prepared as "quite large."

Its predecessor has likely given Apple considerable reason for confidence. Following the ‌iPhone 17‌'s initial pre-order weekend, Apple reportedly instructed two suppliers to increase daily output by at least 30%, according to The Information. Counterpoint Research later reported that the standard ‌iPhone 17‌ led global smartphone sales in both the first and second quarters of 2026. It accounted for 6% of worldwide smartphone unit sales in each quarter, outselling even the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro.

The ‌iPhone 18‌ is expected to retain a broadly similar design, with potential upgrades including a smaller Dynamic Island, the A20 chip, and Apple's C2 modem. It is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 in spring 2027. A late-November production start would give Apple several months to build inventory ahead of launch.
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Today marks the 15th anniversary of the iPhone 4S launch, introducing Siri as a built-in feature of the iPhone for the first time.


The iPhone 4S went on sale on October 14, 2011, ten days after its announcement. It initially launched in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, retaining the iPhone 4's glass and stainless steel design while introducing substantial internal improvements.

The device's defining addition was Siri, which allowed users to make calls, send messages, create reminders, schedule appointments, and ask questions using natural language. Apple highlighted the assistant's ability to interpret requests in context, such as understanding that a question about needing an umbrella was a request for the weather forecast.

‌Siri‌ initially launched in beta, supporting English localized for the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, alongside French and German. The assistant was exclusive to the iPhone 4S, so owners of older iPhones could not access it simply by installing iOS 5.

‌Siri‌ had already existed as a standalone iPhone app, which launched in February 2010. Apple acquired the company in April that year before integrating its technology into iOS directly. Following the iPhone 4S announcement, Apple removed the original app from the App Store and notified existing users that its service would stop working on October 15.

Beyond ‌Siri‌, the iPhone 4S introduced Apple's dual-core A5 chip, which it said delivered up to twice the CPU performance and seven times the graphics performance of the iPhone 4. Its rear camera increased from five to eight megapixels, with an f/2.4 aperture and support for 1080p video recording. A revised antenna system could switch between antennas for transmitting and receiving, while maximum supported HSDPA download speeds doubled to 14.4 Mbps.

The iPhone 4S shipped with iOS 5, which had become available two days earlier alongside iCloud. The software update introduced iMessage, Notification Center, and Reminders, as well as wireless software updates and on-device setup.

Available in black and white, the iPhone 4S came in 16GB, 32GB, and a new 64GB configuration. U.S. prices started at $199, $299, and $399, respectively, with a qualifying two-year carrier contract. Apple subsequently announced that it had sold more than four million units during its first three days of availability, more than double the iPhone 4's opening sales over the same period.
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Apple's new HomeView includes temperature and humidity sensing, allowing the smart home hub to monitor indoor conditions and supply readings to the new thermostats developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.


Apple's technical specifications confirm that both the tabletop and wall-mounted HomeView have a temperature and humidity sensor. The hardware is listed alongside the ambient light sensor and accelerometer.

There are several limitations for the HomeView's readings. Temperature and humidity sensing is optimized for indoor domestic environments with ambient temperatures around 59°F to 86°F, and relative humidity around 30% to 70%.

Accuracy may decrease when HomeView plays audio at high volume for an extended period. The sensors also require time to calibrate immediately after startup before results appear.

According to Apple, the LG and Schneider Electric thermostats in the "Apple Home Collection" can obtain temperature and humidity readings from multiple rooms using sensors built into HomeView, HomePod, and ‌HomePod‌ mini, as well as dedicated sensors from either manufacturer. The thermostats also support Adaptive Temperature in the Home app, which uses on-device intelligence from iPhone to adjust settings based on whether someone is home, winding down for the night, or away.

LG's Temperature Sensor and the Schneider Home Room Sensor will each start at $39.95 in the United States, while the companies' thermostats will each start at $199.95. Both HomeView models cost $299 in the United States and launch on November 13.
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Apple yesterday announced the HomePod mini 2, introducing the compact smart speaker's first major hardware update in six years.


The new model retains the original's spherical design, but adds an S10 chip, faster wireless connectivity, Sound Glow lighting, new Mac and home theater capabilities, and support for Siri AI in a future software update.

The HomePod mini 2 costs $149 in the United States, $20 more than its predecessor's last Apple price of $129. While the original launched for $99 in 2020, Apple raised its price in June 2026. With many core features carried over, is the new model worth upgrading to, and should you consider a discounted original instead?

Both generations feature a full-range driver, two passive radiators, and an acoustic waveguide for 360-degree sound. They also share temperature and humidity sensors, Thread networking, Ultra Wideband proximity features, AirPlay multiroom audio, stereo pairing, Intercom, smart home control, and Sound Recognition. Their dimensions remain identical at 3.3 inches tall and 3.9 inches wide, and both include a 20W power adapter.

Here are the differences between the original HomePod mini and ‌HomePod mini 2‌:

‌HomePod‌ mini (2020)	‌HomePod mini 2‌ (2026)
Backlit touch surface with status and ‌Siri‌ lighting	Backlit touch surface with Sound Glow animations that respond to music, album artwork, and soundscapes
S5 chip (from 2019's Apple Watch Series 5, made with TSMC's N7 7nm process, based on Apple's A12 Bionic chip from iPhone XS)	S10 chip (from 2024's Apple Watch Series 10, made with TSMC's N4 4nm process, based on Apple's A16 Bionic chip from iPhone 14 Pro)
Computational audio	Enhanced computational audio
Four-microphone design	Three-microphone design
‌Siri‌	‌Siri‌ AI support
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 6
Mac audio playback via ‌AirPlay‌	Can serve as the default speaker for Macs with Wi-Fi 6E or later, individually or in a stereo pair
	Four-speaker surround sound with Apple TV 4K (4th generation), including automatic calibration of audio timing and levels
Weighs 0.76 pound (345 grams)	Weighs 0.74 pound (335 grams)
White, midnight, blue, yellow, and orange; previously available in space gray	White, midnight, blue, pink, and green
89% fiber-based packaging	100% fiber-based packaging
Introduced in October 2020	Introduced in October 2026
Discontinued (initially priced at $99, later raised to $129)	$149

Is It Worth Upgrading From HomePod Mini to HomePod Mini 2?

For most existing ‌HomePod‌ mini owners, there is no general-purpose reason to replace a working original ‌HomePod‌ mini immediately. The original retains the main features needed for voice commands, music playback, timers, Intercom, and smart home automations. Sound Glow and the new finishes may appeal to enthusiasts, but they are very small reasons to replace speakers throughout a home.

For buyers primarily interested in sound quality, Apple's specifications provide limited grounds for judging the size of the improvement. The basic driver arrangement remains the same, and the original already used computational audio to tune playback in real time. Apple has not quantified the acoustic gains from the S10 chip.

The clearest upgrade case is using the ‌HomePod mini 2‌ as a default Mac speaker. If your Mac supports Wi-Fi 6E or later and you want ‌HomePod‌ speakers for games, calls, and everyday computer audio, the new model offers a capability the original's ‌AirPlay‌ connection does not provide.

The four-speaker surround sound system is another notable reason to choose the newer generation. It requires the fourth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K and matching front and rear speaker pairs running the latest software. You can use four ‌HomePod mini 2‌ speakers, or combine a pair with a pair of full-sized second-generation HomePods. Original ‌HomePod‌ minis are excluded, and the required ‌Apple TV‌ 4K launches on November 13.

‌Siri‌ AI is perhaps the most consequential improvement, offering more natural conversations, broader general knowledge, improved music discovery, and the ability to act on personal context across supported apps. However, it will not be available at launch, and Apple has not yet announced a release date for the feature.

Apple's requirements specify that the owner of the home in the Home app must have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad with ‌Siri‌ AI enabled. Personal context requests require the individual user's compatible paired device, although other household members can use conversational and general knowledge features once ‌Siri‌ AI is enabled. Initial availability is planned in English in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Should You Buy HomePod Mini or HomePod Mini 2?

The ‌HomePod mini 2‌ should be the default choice for most new buyers when the price difference is small. If remaining original stock costs $129, paying another $20 provides the new Mac and surround sound capabilities, faster connectivity, Sound Glow, and eligibility for the forthcoming ‌Siri‌ AI update.

A substantially discounted original ‌HomePod‌ mini remains worth considering for straightforward music playback or adding smart home control to another room. Its value is strongest when you will use the shared features and have little interest in the new features.

Buying another original also makes sense if you already own one and want to create a stereo pair. Apple requires matching models for stereo pairing, so an original ‌HomePod‌ mini and a ‌HomePod mini 2‌ cannot form a stereo pair.

‌HomePod mini 2‌ pre-orders are now open, with availability beginning October 30.
This article, "HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Mini 2 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today launched sleep apnea notifications in mainland China, following approval from the country's National Medical Products Administration. The feature is supported on the Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2, SE 3, and newer.

The Apple Watch uses its accelerometer to monitor breathing disturbances during sleep, analyzing the data every 30 days for signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. Users who receive a notification can export a PDF report to discuss potential diagnosis and treatment with their doctor.
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Apple's HomeView includes customizable faces for photos, animations, and smart home controls.


Faces Apple has named so far include:

• Photos


• Flow


• Snoopy


• Calendar


• Weather


• Home Modular


• Home Camera

Other clock and widget layouts appear in Apple's promotional images, but have not yet been named. Apple says that selected faces change throughout the day, with different appearances for mornings and evenings.

The ‌Photos‌ face turns the HomeView into a digital picture frame, displaying a single image or rotating through a collection. It uses Portrait-style depth effects to keep the subject sharp while blurring the foreground and background. Shared albums also allow friends and family to contribute pictures remotely.

For an animated display, the Flow face responds to physical presence and movement, changing its colors and light as people move nearby. The Snoopy face features animations that reflect the time of day, weather, sporting events, and holidays.

Other faces provide direct access to smart home information. Home Modular offers quick access to favorite accessories, while Home Camera can livestream up to nine camera feeds simultaneously.

The HomeView's interface adjusts to the user's distance, presenting simpler information that can be read from across the room and more detail as they move closer. Its 7-inch Liquid Retina display also automatically adjusts brightness, ranging from 500 nits down to 0.3 nits for use at night.

Both the tabletop and wall-mounted HomeView models launch on November 13 and cost $299 in the U.S.
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The HomeView can dim its display to just 0.3 nits for use on a nightstand or in dark environments, making it Apple's lowest-ever display brightness.


The 7-inch Liquid Retina display automatically adjusts its brightness as lighting conditions change, reaching up to 500 nits in bright rooms. Its 0.3-nit minimum allows it to dim substantially at night. True Tone also helps the screen adapt to changing ambient light.

Previously, Apple's dimmest display technology went down to just 1 nit. This feature debuted on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, and subsequently came to the iPhone.

The tabletop HomeView model features a stainless steel hinge that lets users tilt the display as required. Its interface responds to distance, showing simpler information from across the room and more detail as users move closer.

The HomeView also offers customizable faces, including weather information, photos, and animated designs. Apple says selected faces change throughout the day, adapting their appearance for mornings and evenings.

Apple's HomeView models launch on November 13 and cost $299 in the United States.
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Apple's new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K includes three built-in far-field microphones, allowing users to find something to watch and control playback without picking up the Siri Remote.


Users can activate the voice assistant by saying "Hey ‌Siri‌" or "‌Siri‌," including while a movie or TV show is playing. Apple says advanced echo cancellation separates the user's voice from background sound, helping the device recognize requests over the TV's audio.

The microphones also enable hands-free control of compatible smart home accessories and scenes. With ‌Siri‌ AI, users can search for entertainment conversationally and ask follow-up questions about what they are watching, with answers appearing in a compact overlay over the video.

Apple says the new Apple TV 4K and its A19 chip include Secure Exclaves, which are protected processing environments that handle microphone data separately from the rest of the system. According to Apple, data processed and analyzed inside these environments cannot be accessed by tvOS, apps, users, or Apple itself.

Far-field ‌Siri‌ support varies by region and language. The feature is supported when the primary tvOS language is set to English, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, or Swedish.

The new ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is available to preorder today for $299 in the United States, with availability beginning November 13.
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Apple's new HomeView supports Spatial Audio, with different speaker systems for its tabletop and wall-mounted models.


The tabletop model features two custom full-range drivers in its display, with a down-firing woofer and two force-canceling passive radiators housed in the domed base. Apple says this arrangement delivers clear sound with extended bass, distributing the audio hardware between the screen and its stand.

The HomeView's A18 chip and built-in sensors power computational audio that continuously adjust loudness and bass response. According to Apple, this processing helps maintain consistent, balanced sound at different volume levels.

The wall-mounted HomeView uses two custom drivers and computational audio tuned specifically for placement on a wall, but lacks the added speaker hardware in the tabletop models' base. It still supports Spatial Audio.


For music playback, HomeView supports multiroom audio alongside other HomeView devices, HomePod, HomePod mini, and AirPlay-compatible speakers. Handoff lets users transfer music from an iPhone by placing it in front of the HomeView's display. Apple Music displays animated album artwork and lyrics, while Apple Podcasts and compatible third-party audio apps can provide additional content.

The HomeView also features four beamforming microphones for Siri requests and FaceTime calls. Apple says the microphone array can pick up voices from across the room while reducing background noise.

Both HomeView models launch on November 13 and cost $299 in the U.S.
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Apple today shared four new videos on its YouTube channel highlighting the newly announced HomeView smart home hub, fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, and HomePod mini 2.


The longest video, "Welcome Apple HomeView: Designed for life at home," follows a family through a busy morning. It shows Siri helping retrieve a French toast recipe sent in Messages, locate misplaced keys, and check evening plans, alongside a FaceTime call with grandparents.



A second, shorter HomeView video provides an overview of the device's features, including personalized experiences for up to six users, ‌FaceTime‌ calls, Spatial Audio, and smart home controls. It also highlights the 7-inch Liquid Retina display and its customizable collection of display faces.



The HomePod mini 2 video focuses on the speaker's sound and compact design, showing its green, pink, blue, midnight, and white finishes. It also promotes multiroom audio and ‌Siri‌ AI, which Apple says will arrive on ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 in a future software update.



The Apple TV 4K video highlights Dolby Vision and HDR10+ playback, hands-free ‌Siri‌ control using built-in microphones, and the ability to play a sound to locate the updated ‌Siri‌ Remote. Apple also promotes the new four-speaker surround sound setup, which supports ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 and second-generation HomePod speakers in matching front and rear pairs.

Today's announcements also included the Apple Home Collection, a lineup of cameras, a door lock, thermostats, and sensors developed with LG and Schneider.

The HomeView, new ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, and ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 are available to pre-order today. The ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 launches on October 30, while the HomeView and new ‌Apple TV‌ 4K launch on November 13.

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Apple's new HomeView smart home hub comes in four colors, but the wall-mounted model offers only two finishes.


The tabletop HomeView is available in silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray. Each finish comes with a matching USB-C cable.

The device features an anodized aluminum design, with a 7-inch Liquid Retina display attached to a domed speaker base. A stainless steel hinge allows the screen to tilt for viewing on a countertop, nightstand, or side table.

The wall-mounted HomeView is limited to silver and space gray, leaving starlight and rose pink exclusive to the tabletop version. It features the same 7-inch display and attaches to a wall using mounts from Schneider Home.

Both HomeView models launch on November 13 and cost $299 in the U.S.
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Apple today said that second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will gain Siri AI in beta with tvOS 27.2.

‌Siri‌ AI on the ‌Apple TV‌ adds conversational entertainment searches, follow-up questions, and personal context through a paired compatible device. Setup requires the Home app's home owner to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with ‌Siri‌ AI enabled and set to a supported language. At launch, ‌Siri‌ AI will support English in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
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Apple's HomeView can turn web recipes into step-by-step cooking instructions with hands-free timers.


When viewing a recipe in Safari, users can tap the "Start Cooking" button to switch to a streamlined recipe layout. Apple also says HomeView offers help with ingredient tracking alongside the guided instructions.

Timers can be controlled hands-free, allowing users to manage cooking times without touching the display. HomeView supports multiple timers, with Live Activities keeping them visible while other apps are in use.

Handoff also supports recipes, so users can start browsing a recipe on their iPhone and continue on the HomeView when they reach the kitchen. The same feature supports transferring songs, podcasts, calls, and videos between the devices.


The tabletop model features a 7-inch Liquid Retina display attached to a domed speaker base, with a hinge that lets users adjust the screen's angle on a countertop.

Users can also listen to music or podcasts while cooking, or use Intercom to call family members for dinner through other HomeView and HomePod speakers.

The HomeView launches on November 13, with both the tabletop and wall-mounted models priced at $299 in the U.S.


This article, "HomeView Brings Guided Recipes and Hands-Free Timers to the Kitchen" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple uses a number of methods to keep HomeView users' personal information private, even when a whole household shares the device.


The device recognizes up to six people, giving each their own Home Screen with personalized apps and widgets. Apple says personal content stays private to each user, while shared photo albums and music can remain available to everyone in the household, including guests.

For content from apps such as Messages and Calendar to appear, HomeView must recognize the enrolled user's face, and their paired iPhone or iPad normally needs to be present and recently unlocked.

There is an exception when the paired iPhone or iPad disconnects from Wi-Fi. Personal information may remain accessible if the HomeView still recognizes the user and the paired device was recently connected to the same Wi-Fi network, has an active cellular connection, remains in the same location, and has been recently unlocked.

The HomeView's A18 chip includes Secure Exclaves, which is a protected processing environment that handles camera and microphone data separately from the rest of the system. Apple says isolation features across the chip prevent other components from accessing these environments. According to the company, data processed and analyzed within the Secure Exclaves cannot be accessed by HomeView's software, apps, users, or Apple itself.

Siri requests have their own privacy protections. The HomeView can handle requests on the device or use Private Cloud Compute, Apple's system for processing requests in the cloud. Apple says data processed through Private Cloud Compute is neither stored nor made accessible to Apple or anyone else.

The HomeView also works with compatible smart home cameras to provide end-to-end encrypted recognition of people, familiar faces, pets, packages, and vehicles with a supported iCloud+ subscription.
This article, "Apple's HomeView Touts These 5 Privacy Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced Apple Intelligence features for the Apple TV, bringing a more conversational Siri, personalized entertainment search, and summaries of smart home camera activity to the living room.


‌Siri‌ AI introduces a full-screen interface for finding movies and TV shows, with results featuring poster artwork from the ‌Apple TV‌ app and suggestions for related content. Users can ask which ‌Apple TV‌ shows won Emmy Awards this year, for example, and then explore recommendations for other award-winning shows.

While watching, viewers can ask follow-up questions about filming locations or whether a show is appropriate for a particular age. Answers appear in a small overlay over the video. Apple says the assistant also offers broader general knowledge and can perform more actions across apps.

Personal context support lets ‌Siri‌ AI find something to watch based on information from a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled device. Apple gives the example of asking ‌Siri‌ to "Play the show Alinda recommended," allowing the assistant to identify a recommendation without the user having to remember the title.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ also expands the ‌Apple TV‌'s capabilities as a home hub, adding descriptions of activity in HomeKit Secure Video recordings and summarized notifications in the Home app. ‌Siri‌ AI can also control compatible smart home accessories and turn scenes on or off.

‌Siri‌ AI will be available in beta with tvOS 27.2 on the second-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K and later, meaning owners of existing compatible models can also access the assistant. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is available to preorder today for $299 in the United States, with availability beginning November 13.
This article, "Apple TV Finally Gaining Apple Intelligence and Siri AI" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Despite featuring an A18 chip and built-in Apple Intelligence support, Apple's new HomeView still depends on a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad for several features.


According to Apple's announcement, Siri requests involving personal context require a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or ‌iPad‌ running the latest software, with ‌Siri‌ AI enabled and set to a supported language. These capabilities include retrieving relevant information from Messages and Calendar, as well as taking action across apps using the user's personal context.

HomeView will still offer several ‌Siri‌ AI capabilities to users whose iPhone or ‌iPad‌ does not support ‌Apple Intelligence‌. Apple says these users can ask general-knowledge questions, hold natural conversations with ‌Siri‌, and benefit from improved music discovery. ‌Siri‌ requests on the HomeView can be processed on the device or through Private Cloud Compute.

Customizable ‌Siri‌ voices have more restrictive hardware requirements. Users can only adjust ‌Siri‌'s expressiveness and speaking pace on their paired device, with those preferences then carrying over to HomeView. This requires an iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or an ‌iPad‌ with an M4 chip or later and at least 12GB of unified memory. The feature is available in English only.

Some of the HomeView's intelligent camera features also depend on another Apple device. Video summaries and natural language searches of HomeKit Secure Video recordings require setup using an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or ‌iPad‌, along with an eligible iCloud+ subscription.

The HomeView launches on November 13, with both the tabletop and wall-mounted models priced at $299 in the U.S.
This article, "HomeView Needs an iPhone or iPad for Some AI Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's new HomeView smart home hub will not be available in the European Union because Siri AI is currently unavailable on iOS in the region, the company said today. Apple said it is "working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward," but provided no timeline for EU availability. It costs $299 in the U.S. and launches on November 13 in eight countries around the world.
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Apple today announced the "HomeView," an all-new kind of smart home hub featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and Siri AI.



Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said:

Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user. It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience, fills the room with incredible sound, keeps you connected to the people who matter most with FaceTime, and makes it easy to control your smart home. And it's powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI at its core, drawing on personal context from your iPhone to help you find what you need and get more done, all while keeping everyone's information private and secure.

The HomeView features an aluminum design, with the display connected to a domed speaker base by a stainless steel tilting hinge. Apple says it is ideal for a kitchen counter, nightstand, or side table. The 7-inch Liquid Retina display features True Tone and automatic brightness between 0.3 nits and 500 nits, making it ideal for low-light environments.



A custom-engineered acoustic system with two full-range drivers delivers "room-filling" Spatial Audio. A down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators are built directly into the base. With Handoff, users can continue listening to audio from their iPhone by placing it in front of the HomeView. It also supports multiroom audio.



The HomeView features faces that display information at a glance, including a Photos face, a "Flow" face that dynamically responds to movement, a Snoopy face that reflects context like the time of day and weather, a Home Modular face that offers instant access to smart home accessories, a Home Camera face that can livestream up to nine video feeds simultaneously, and more.



The HomeView's interface adjusts based on a user's distance, showing larger, simpler information from across a room and richer detail as a user steps closer. The device recognizes up to six people and delivers a personalized experience. Each user has their own Home Screen with apps and widgets. Apple says that personal content remains private, while shared photo albums and music can be enjoyed by all users, including guests.



The device features ‌Siri‌ AI, and used with an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad, ‌Siri‌ AI can take action across apps and surface relevant information from Messages and Calendar, Apple Music playlists, and more. Users can also customize the expressiveness and pace of ‌Siri‌'s voice on their paired and compatible device. ‌Siri‌ AI conversations sync across devices.



Apple also said that "HomeView is the perfect sous chef," with the ability to convert recipes from the web into step-by-step instructions with hands-free timer controls and ingredient tracking. Moreover, the HomeView offers FaceTime and Center Stage, as well as Intercom for sending a quick message in the household.



The tabletop version is available in silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray, including matching cables. A wall-mounted version is available in silver and space gray only. It can be attached using three mount options from Schneider Home. The wall-mounted version delivers "rich sound" with two custom drivers and computational audio tuned specifically for on-wall placement.



The HomeView costs $299. Pre-orders start today, with launch on November 13. It is not available in the EU.
This article, "Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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