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Where to Pre-Order Apple's New HomeView, HomePod Mini 2, and Apple TV 4K

Apple just announced the HomeView, HomePod mini 2, and fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, and pre-orders are now available on all of these devices at popular retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.

HomeView


Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Amazon has the HomeView up for pre-order today in all four colors at $299, with an expected delivery date on November 13. Amazon isn't offering the HomeView (Wall Mounted) for pre-order right now, so you'll have to look at Apple.com for that option.



You'll also find pre-orders up at Best Buy and B&H Photo for the HomeView, with options for in-store pick-up in addition to regular shipping.



Apple TV 4K



Additionally, Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy have the new Apple TV 4K up for pre-order at $299, ahead of its launch date on November 13. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K features an A19 chip, Siri AI, an updated Siri Remote with Find My support, and more.



HomePod mini 2



Best Buy and B&H Photo have the HomePod mini 2 up for pre-order at $149, including the new Green and Pink color options. These launch earlier than the other products on October 30, and Best Buy is offering free in-store pick-up for launch day.



Be sure to check out our articles on the launch of the HomeView, HomePod mini 2, and Apple TV 4K for all of the details on each new device.
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Apple Releases Fourth iOS 27.2 Beta

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 27.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple released the third iOS 27.2 beta. Apple also seeded a new iPadOS 27.2 beta.


Registered developers can download the beta updates by opting in under Settings > General > Software Update and selecting the iOS 27 developer beta.

iOS 27.2 includes Apple's redesigned Health app with new Insight and Longevity tabs. It also brings Siri AI in new languages. There are several other new features, with details available 4re5 our features guide.

Apple releasing an iOS 27.2 beta ahead of a iOS 27.1 beta was surprise because the company plans to ship the iPhone Duo with iOS 27.1, but it likely wants to keep some of the iPhone Duo features hidden for longer.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ will launch on October 23. Apple previously said the new ‌Siri‌ AI languages in iOS 27.2 would be available in October, so it's likely iOS 27.2 will come shortly after the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s release date. iOS 27.2 is also required for the new HomeView.
Related Roundups: iOS 27, iPadOS 27
Related Forum: iOS 27

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New Apple TV 4K Supports Surround Sound via Four HomePods

As was rumored prior to today's announcements, the new Apple TV 4K can connect to up to four HomePods in front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right positions, enabling an all-Apple surround sound system for home theater setups.


You can connect four of the new HomePod mini 2 speakers to the new Apple TV 4K, or you can mix and match pairs of HomePod mini 2 and full-sized HomePod 2 speakers, so long as the front and rear pairs of speakers match. For example, you can have two full-sized HomePod 2 speakers up front and two HomePod mini 2 speakers in the rear.

Apple is relying on computational audio. The company says the four HomePods and the new Apple TV 4K can "intelligently recognize each speaker's position in the room, so audio timing and levels are automatically calibrated to the space."

All previous Apple TV 4K models remain limited to two HomePods for stereo sound.

The new Apple TV 4K is available to pre-order starting today and launches Friday, November 13. In the U.S., pricing is set at $299, with only a single configuration with 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7 support, and an Ethernet port available.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini

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HomeView's Wall Model: Pay More, Get Less Speaker

Apple offers two versions of the HomeView, one that can be mounted on the wall and one that's a standalone model with a speaker base. The wall-mounted version and the speaker version are both priced at $299, with no discount for the base-free model.


Wall mounting is the more expensive option because most buyers will need hardware that's sold separately and is currently priced starting at $60. There are three options for mounting the HomeView on the wall.

  • Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector ($59.95) - The USB-C mount is from Schneider Home, and Apple says it is a self-install mount. It uses a standard USB-C cable that goes to a power adapter, which the user also needs to supply. It requires a 20W or higher power adapter.

  • Power Mount AC Wired ($79.95) - The AC Wired mount uses in-wall power so there's no visible cable. Apple recommends having it installed by a licensed electrician and is partnering with ADT to offer installation services.

  • Power Mount PoE Wired ($129.95) - The Power over Ethernet hardwired mount is not available right now. Apple says to check back later for availability. It will require a home with PoE wiring.

  • No mount - There is an option to buy the wall-mounted version with no additional hardware. Presumably, accessory companies will eventually offer mounting solutions, but Apple has the only mount option right now.


In addition to being more expensive, the wall-mounted HomeView comes in more limited color options. It can only be purchased in silver or space gray, while the speaker version also comes in starlight and rose pink.

Both HomeView models have speakers with "two custom full-range drivers" in the display, and the wall-mounted version uses computational audio tuned for on-wall placement. The model with a speaker base also has a down-firing woofer and two force-canceling passive radiators that are not available in the wall-mounted version.

We'll need to wait for reviews to see sound comparisons on the speaker version and the wall-mounted version, but customers who opt for the wall-mounted version are going to be paying more for less hardware.

The HomeView is available for pre-order now and will launch on November 13.
Related Roundup: Apple HomeView
Buyer's Guide: HomeView (Buy Now)

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Apple Shares Videos for HomeView, Apple TV 4K, and HomePod Mini 2

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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ADT to Offer In-Home Installation of Apple's New HomeView and More

Apple today announced that ADT will offer professional in-home installation of its all-new wall-mounted HomeView smart home hub, confirming our scoop.


ADT technicians will be able to install the wall-mounted version of the HomeView, the new collection of related Apple Home Collection smart home accessories from LG and Schneider Home, and other eligible smart home accessories in "most areas" of the U.S., according to Apple's website. More details are available on ADT's website.

The wall-mounted HomeView is available in space gray and silver. It has the same 7-inch display as the tabletop version, and there are speaker holes on the bottom edge. It can be attached to a wall using three purpose-built mounts from Schneider Home, with options for self-installation or professional installation for an additional charge.

Apple said ADT installation services will be available in the U.S. "starting this fall."

In the U.S., both the tabletop and wall-mounted HomeView models are priced at $299.
Related Roundup: Apple HomeView
Buyer's Guide: HomeView (Buy Now)

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New Siri Remote is $59 and Compatible With These Apple TV Models

The new Siri Remote unveiled today is compatible with all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models released since 2015, according to Apple.


The fourth-generation Siri Remote released today is available to order on Apple's online store for November 13 delivery, with U.S. pricing set at $59.

The full list of compatible models:

  • Apple TV 4K (4th generation)

  • Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)

  • Apple TV 4K (2nd generation)

  • Apple TV 4K (1st generation)

  • Apple TV HD

The key change with the new Siri Remote is full support for the Find My app and the Precision Finding feature, allowing you to find the exact location of the remote if it goes missing by following the on-screen directional arrows on a compatible iPhone. The remote now has a speaker that can play a sound to help you locate it.

Apple says Precision Finding support for the new Siri Remote requires an iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, or an iPhone 17 or later (excluding the iPhone 17e).

The remote has the same overall design, buttons, and USB-C charging port.
Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)

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Apple Announces $149 HomePod Mini 2 With Siri AI, 'Sound Glow', and Four-Speaker Surround Sound

Apple today announced a new HomePod mini equipped with Siri AI, new colors, and improved audio experiences. The new ‌HomePod mini‌ has an S10 chip that supports advanced computational audio, and Apple says it optimizes dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance in real-time.


A Sound Glow feature turns the ‌HomePod mini‌'s top into a "visual canvas" that glows and animates in sync with music, reacting to bass and treble. It uses colors generated from the song's album artwork for a unique experience for each song.

Four HomePod minis can be paired together to create a four-speaker surround sound with the latest Apple TV 4K, which Apple also announced today. The speakers and the ‌Apple TV‌ are able to recognize their position in the room and levels are calibrated to the space. The ‌HomePod mini‌ also works as a speaker for the Mac.



‌Siri‌ AI will be available in a future software update, and will work when the ‌HomePod mini‌ is paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. It will be able to recognize up to six users by voice and connect to their device for personalized information like Messages.

As with the prior version of the ‌HomePod mini‌, the new model is able to serve as a home hub and control smart home devices. It supports Sound Recognition and can listen for smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, sending an alert if one is detected.

The ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 comes in pink, green, blue, white, and midnight and will launch on October 30. It's priced at $149 and pre-orders open now.
Related Roundup: HomePod mini
Buyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Buy Now)

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Apple Launches 'Apple Home Collection' With Cameras, Lock, Thermostats and More

Apple today debuted the "Apple Home Collection," an accessory lineup it developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The collection includes cameras, thermostats, temperature sensors, and a door lock.


All of the home devices are designed to work with the HomeView, Apple's new home hub. Apple says each one is made from premium materials with a minimal aesthetic. The accessories are able to be set up with a single tap from the iPhone, and can be controlled with the Home app and through Siri.

  • LG Video Doorbell ($249.95) - The Video Doorbell has dual cameras that capture views of visitors and packages. The front camera has a 2.5K resolution and the bottom camera is HD resolution. It has a built-in spotlight and a chime that plays through HomeView, HomePod, or ‌HomePod‌ mini.

  • LG Outdoor Cam ($299.95) - The Outdoor Cam has low-color night vision and can be angled in multiple positions.

  • LG Indoor Cam ($199.95) - The Indoor Cam has a privacy-preserving feature that allows it to tilt up when people are in the home so it's not recording, and down when people leave for keeping an eye on the home. The tilt function works based on geofencing, but can also be controlled in the Home app or manually.

  • LG Floodlight Cam ($399.95) - The Floodlight Cam has dual floodlights that activate when motion is detected and low-color night vision.

  • LG Smart Deadbolt Lock ($349.95) - The lock has UWB and can unlock automatically when the homeowner approaches, with no tap required. It also supports unlocking via PIN or a hidden backup key slot, and there is detection for whether the door is opened, closed, or has been tampered with. The doorbell and lock can work together as one, letting users see who is at the door and unlocking it if needed.

  • LG Thermostat ($199.95) - The thermostat supports Adaptive Temperature and in the U.S., heating and cooling can be activated during lower-cost periods for users with a compatible utility plan. The thermostat can read temperature and humidity across multiple rooms using separate temperature and humidity sensors. Sensors are priced at $39.95.

  • Schneider Electric Thermostat ($199.95) - Also supports Adaptive Temperature and can be used with temperature and humidity sensors. Sensors are priced at $39.95.


Cameras work with iCloud+ plans and users can view live footage and camera activity from the Home app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K, and HomeView.

The Apple Home Collection will be available starting in December, though select accessories will not launch until early 2027.
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Apple TV 4K is Now Even More Expensive, 128GB Model Priced at $299

The new Apple TV 4K announced today is even more expensive than the previous model, with U.S. pricing set at $299.

The new Apple TV 4K only has a single configuration available with 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7, and an Ethernet port. The previous model had two separate configurations that were most recently priced at $199 and $249 in the U.S. following an earlier price increase. All in all, the Apple TV 4K's starting price has now gone from $129 to $299 this year.
Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)

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New Apple TV 4K Announced With A19 Chip, Updated Siri Remote, More

Apple today announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with key features including an A19 chip, Siri AI support, an updated Siri Remote that has Find My support with Precision Finding, built in far-field microphones, support for surround sound with four HomePods in front and rear pairs, and more.


The A19 chip in the new Apple TV 4K delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice as fast graphics performance compared to the previous-generation model with the A15 Bionic chip, according to Apple. With the A19 chip, the Apple TV likely has an increased 8GB of RAM as well, up from 4GB in the previous model.

The more personalized and intelligent Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence is now on Apple TV. The new Apple TV 4K has three far-field microphones that allow users to talk to Siri AI in a hands-free manner, but the updated Siri Remote still has a microphone and a Siri button on its side if you prefer to use the assistant that way.

For example, Apple said users can simply ask Siri which Apple TV shows won at the Emmy Awards this year and see poster art pulled directly from the Apple TV app, along with relevant suggestions like "more award-winning comedies."

Siri AI support does not require the new model. According to Apple, it is available in beta on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and later running an upcoming tvOS 27.2 beta. At launch, Siri AI on the Apple TV will be limited to English in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the U.K.

Siri AI on the Apple TV requires a paired iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence.

As for the far-field microphones, Apple explained that "advanced echo cancellation intelligently isolates a user's voice from background sound to deliver crystal-clear 'Hey Siri' or 'Siri' recognition, even while audio is playing."

Far-field Siri is supported when tvOS is set to English, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, or Swedish.

Beyond the microphones and the status light now being centered on the front of the Apple TV 4K, there are no other obvious external design changes compared to the previous model. A future teardown will reveal internal changes.


The updated Siri Remote now supports the Precision Finding feature in the Find My app, making it easier to find. The remote now has a speaker built into it, allowing you to play a sound through the Find My app to help with locating it. The remote's overall design has not changed, and it still has a USB-C charging port.

For the first time, users can create a four-speaker surround sound experience with the new Apple TV 4K and the new HomePod mini 2 and the existing second-generation full-sized HomePod. You can have HomePod mini 2 speakers in front-left, front-right, rear-left, and right-right positions, or you can mix and match HomePod mini and HomePod speakers, so long as the front and rear pairs match. For example, you could have two full-sized HomePods up front and two HomePod mini 2 speakers in the rear.

The new Apple TV 4K can be pre-ordered starting today and launches on Friday, November 13. In the U.S., pricing is set at $299, with only a single configuration available now with 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7 support, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The device is also equipped with a rear HDMI 2.1 port and supports Bluetooth 6.
Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: Siri
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)

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Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub

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.
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Amazon Discounting 2026 MacBook Pro by as Much as $600 This Week

Today we're tracking a pair of massive discounts on Apple's newest MacBook Pro models, including $500 off a 16-inch model and $600 off a 14-inch model on Amazon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The 15-Core M5 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM and 2TB SSD has hit $2,399.00 on Amazon, down from $2,999.00. This one is only available in Space Black, and it's a new record low price on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, now priced just $100 more than the 1TB model on Amazon.



Apple's entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro has also received a massive discount today on Amazon, coming in at $500 off its new price. This is the 18-Core M5 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD, available for $2,499.00, down from $2,999.00.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrives four years after the original model. Across three subsequent generations, Apple added a brighter and larger display, satellite connectivity, new health sensors, more capable chips, and longer battery life. For owners of the original Ultra, are those cumulative improvements enough to justify upgrading now, or can their existing watch last another year?



Both watches retain a 49mm titanium case, an Action button, a siren, dual-frequency GPS, and support for recreational diving to 40 meters. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 in the U.S. Apple discontinued the original Ultra in 2023, and it no longer supports the latest major watchOS release. Here are the key differences between the two models:










































































































































































Apple Watch Ultra (first-generation) ‌Apple Watch Ultra 4‌
Natural titanium finish Natural and black titanium finishes
LTPO2 OLED display with always-on updates once per minute Wide-angle LTPO3 ‌OLED‌ display with 1Hz always-on updates, allowing supported faces to show ticking seconds
Up to 2,000 nits of brightness Up to 3,000 nits of brightness; 1-nit minimum brightness
410 by 502 pixels; 1,185 sq mm display area 422 by 514 pixels; 1,245 sq mm display area (5% larger), with thinner display borders
Flashlight Flashlight boost via Digital Crown
S8 chip S11 chip
1GB RAM 4GB RAM
Neural Engine 4-core Neural Engine
Secure Exclave for isolated audio processing
32GB storage 64GB storage
Single tap, Double Tap, and wrist flick gestures
Siri processed in the cloud via an internet connection On-device ‌Siri‌ for supported requests, including access to and logging of health and fitness data
Dictation Improved on-device dictation
‌Siri‌ AI support
First-generation Ultra Wideband chip Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
Play a sound to locate an iPhone; locate accessories using Find Devices and Find Items Precision Finding for compatible iPhone models, AirTag 2, and the AirPods Pro 3 charging case, with distance and direction guidance
Automatic Now Playing controls and Smart Stack media suggestions when near a HomePod
Electrical heart sensor and third-generation optical heart sensor Health Sensing System with new electrical and always-on optical heart sensors
Background heart-rate measurements Background heart-rate measurements every five seconds
Heart-rate variability (HRV) measurements More frequent measurements of overall HRV and Recovery HRV
Overnight Vitals view Overnight and daytime Vitals views
Readiness app
Sleep apnea notifications
Hypertension notifications
Blood Oxygen readings viewable on the watch On affected U.S. models, Blood Oxygen readings are analyzed on the paired iPhone and viewed in its Health app
Step tracking and estimated indoor workout distance More accurate all-day step tracking and indoor workout distance measurements, plus a Steps watch-face complication
Workout Buddy requires a nearby Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone Enhanced Workout Buddy with additional insights and Spanish support
Live Translation in Messages when paired with a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone
LTE and UMTS cellular connectivity LTE and 5G cellular connectivity, with improved weak-signal reception through simultaneous use of both antennas
Emergency SOS, Messages, and Find My via satellite
Audio Intelligence: Sound Recognition, automatic music identification, Live Rewind, and ‌Siri‌ Recap
Built-in speakers for calls, alerts, and ‌Siri‌ Built-in speakers for calls, alerts, ‌Siri‌, and media playback
Up to 36 hours of normal use Up to 50 hours of normal use
Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, according to Apple's current comparison page Up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode
Up to 12 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking Up to 18 hours of standard outdoor workout tracking
Low Power Mode during workouts, with an optional setting for fewer GPS and heart-rate readings Extended Workout mode: up to 25 hours with full GPS and heart-rate readings; Max Extended Workout mode: up to 45 hours with GPS readings every second
Charges from 0 to 80% in about one hour Charges from 0 to 80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes of charging for up to 18 hours of normal use; five minutes for up to 10 hours of sleep tracking
61.3 grams Natural titanium: 63.0 grams; black titanium: 63.1 grams
Dual-frequency GPS supporting GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou Dual-frequency GPS supporting GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou
Supports watchOS 26 Supports watchOS 27, including the ‌Siri‌ app, dynamic app grid, new Smart Stack suggestions, Call Context, and consolidated ‌Find My‌ app
Now discontinued Starts at $799



Existing first-generation Apple Watch Ultra owners can reasonably keep their watch for another year if its battery still covers their usual days and workouts. Losing support for ‌watchOS 27‌ is significant, but it does not prevent the original Ultra from continuing to handle notifications, activity tracking, navigation, and its other existing features. Owners satisfied with those capabilities may prefer to eke out another year of use and wait to see whether next year's model offers a more substantial upgrade.

However, the Ultra 4 is a worthwhile upgrade for anyone already running into the original model's limitations. The new Health Sensing System provides more detailed heart-rate and recovery insights, while sleep apnea and hypertension notifications expand its health capabilities. These changes are most compelling if you will use the additional information to follow changes in your daily condition or adjust your training.

Longer battery life and satellite connectivity strengthen the case for owners who record extended workouts or regularly travel beyond cellular coverage. If your original Apple Watch Ultra now struggles to finish an outing without charging, the improved battery life is a practical reason to replace it. The larger, brighter display, newer gestures, Audio Intelligence, and expanded Precision Finding support also make the cumulative upgrade more noticeable in everyday use.

Software support is a major reason to move on. The original Apple Watch Ultra cannot run watchOS 27, so it misses ‌Siri‌ AI and the latest operating system's other additions. If those features would materially improve how you use your watch, waiting another year means accepting those limitations in the meantime.
Related Roundup: Apple Watch Ultra 4
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Apple Watch SE 3 Available From Just $199.99 on Amazon

Amazon is discounting a few models of the Apple Watch SE 3 today, with prices on two models that match the Prime Day lows we saw last week. Prices start at $199.99 for the 40mm GPS model and increase to $229.99 for the 44mm GPS model.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Both of these are $49 discounts and matches for the record low prices on each device. Only the Starlight Aluminum Case with Sand Sport Band is on sale at these all-time low prices, and Amazon provides a delivery date by October 18 for free shipping options.




If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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New Apple TV 4K, HomeView, and HomePod Mini: 16 Details Just Leaked

Just two days before Apple's "Welcome home" experience in New York, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has leaked several details about the new products set to be unveiled, including an all-new smart home hub, a HomePod mini 2, and a new Apple TV 4K.


Here is an all-in-one summary of the details shared by Gurman:
  • Apple's home hub with a touch-enabled display will be named HomeView, seemingly confirming a trademark filing discovered by MacRumors.

  • HomeView is equipped with an A18 chip, which has 8GB of RAM in iPhones.

  • HomeView will support Siri AI for voice control.

  • HomeView will be available in a tabletop version with a speaker base made of metal, as well as a wall-mounted version with a flat, square wall plate.

  • The tabletop HomeView will offer "better sound quality" than the HomePod mini.

  • The tabletop HomeView will be available in four finishes: Gray, Silver, Starlight, and Rose. The wall-mounted version will be limited to Gray and Silver.

  • HomeView will be unveiled this Tuesday, October 13, but the device is apparently not launching until "around mid-November."

  • HomeView will have a selection of Apple apps, but no App Store for third-party apps.

  • HomeView will be accompanied by an "Apple Home Collection" of accessories that brands such as LG and Schneider Electric developed in partnership with Apple. This will include a smart doorbell, deadbolt lock, thermostat, temperature sensor, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and a floodlight camera.

  • LG's accessories for the HomeView will not ship "until later this year at the earliest."

  • The new HomePod mini will be equipped with the Apple Watch Series 10's S10 chip, up from the S5 chip in the current model.

  • The new HomePod mini will be available in green, pink, blue, white, and midnight.

  • The new Apple TV 4K will be equipped with an A19 chip, which has 8GB of RAM.

  • The new Apple TV 4K may have built-in microphones for Siri AI.

  • The new Apple TV 4K may have an updated Siri Remote with a built-in speaker that makes it easier to find.

  • The new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K models will be unveiled on October 13 and launch on Friday, October 30.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod mini

This article, "New Apple TV 4K, HomeView, and HomePod Mini: 16 Details Just Leaked" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple HomeView Smart Hub to Ship in Mid-November in Four Colors

Apple's all-new smart home hub, the HomeView, will ship around mid-November, roughly a month after its unveiling at Apple's "Welcome home" October 13 event, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

HomeView concept image

Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the HomeView, "at least as of now," will follow the launch of the new Apple TV 4K and new HomePod mini models, which will arrive to customers and in stores on October 30.

The HomeView will be positioned as the Siri command center of an Apple-powered home, pairing a display with an A18 chip. It will come in two versions, including a countertop model with a metal speaker base, offered in space gray, silver, starlight and pink, and a wall-mounted version with a flat, square base, limited to space gray and silver. The HomeView will offer better sound quality than the new HomePod mini, according to Gurman.

The device is controlled primarily by voice, though its screen supports touch input. It supports a limited selection of Apple applications, and there will be no dedicated App Store for it.

The HomeView name first appeared in a trademark filing by a shell company, a discovery reported on Friday by MacRumors and credited by Gurman. The "view" part of the name is said to reflect how the device is meant to be used, in the sense that it's a display that people look at and control mainly with their voice.
This article, "Apple HomeView Smart Hub to Ship in Mid-November in Four Colors" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini to Ship on October 30

The new upcoming Apple TV 4K with A19 chip and new HomePod mini with S10 chip will launch on Friday, October 30, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the devices will ship to customers and arrive in stores on that day.

Apple is expected to announce the new devices at its October 13 "Welcome home" event, which will also debut "HomeView" – the company's new smart home hub, whose name was first spotted by MacRumors in a trademark filing. The HomeView will ship – "at least as of now" – around mid-November, according to Gurman's sources.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod mini

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AirPods Max 2 Available for $429 in All Colors on Amazon

Amazon has Apple's AirPods Max 2 on sale for $429.00 this weekend, down from $549.00. This is a Prime Day sale that has stuck around all these days later, and it's available in all five colors of the AirPods Max 2: Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Stock has begun to dwindle on select colors, so it might be time to make your purchase on this deal if you've been holding off since Prime Day. Apple launched the AirPods Max 2 in March 2026 with the H2 chip, bringing improved ANC, better audio, Live Translation, and more.



If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




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Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find as we head into the holidays? You can sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case Buyer's Guide

Apple offers two versions of the AirPods 5: a $129 model with a USB-C Charging Case and a $149 model with a Wireless Charging Case. The extra $20 also buys longer battery life, swipe volume controls, and additional Find My features, so there are differences between the earbuds themselves as well as their cases.


Both models include Active Noise Cancellation as standard, the H2 chip, the same open-ear design, and the same redesigned acoustic architecture with updated Adaptive EQ. They also share Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Spatial Audio, Voice Isolation, studio-quality audio recording, and IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance. Both support Live Translation when paired with a compatible iPhone with Apple Intelligence enabled, in supported languages and regions.

The earbuds have identical dimensions and weight. The cases are also the same size, although the Wireless Charging Case is slightly heavier. There are still some notable differences to justify the price difference. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you.






































AirPods 5 AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case
Force sensor Force sensor with swipe volume controls
Up to four hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to six hours with noise control off) Up to five hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled (up to seven hours with noise control off)
Up to 20 hours of listening time with the charging case with Active Noise Cancellation enabled Up to 22 hours of listening time with the charging case with Active Noise Cancellation enabled
Charging Case (USB-C) Wireless Charging Case (USB-C) with support for the Apple Watch charger and Qi-certified chargers
Case speaker for Find My and charging and battery status sounds
Find My with last-connected location and sound playback on the earbuds Find My network tracking, sound playback on the earbuds, separate locations for each earbud and the case, and individual Lost Mode support
Charging case weighs 32.3 grams (1.14 ounces) Charging case weighs 34.7 grams (1.22 ounces)
$129 $149



For most people, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are clearly the better buy. The extra $20 is a very small premium for conveniences you are likely to appreciate if you use your AirPods regularly. Longer listening time is useful for travel and extended sessions, while swipe volume controls let you make adjustments without reaching for your iPhone or asking Siri.

The higher-end model is worth considering even if you plan to charge exclusively over USB-C. Wireless charging becomes more useful if you already have a Qi charger or Apple Watch charger. Its additional Find My features are valuable if you tend to misplace your AirPods, allowing you to locate the earbuds and case separately and use the Find My network when they are beyond your device's range. The case speaker also helps when it slips between cushions or gets buried in a bag.

The standard AirPods 5 make more sense if you are on a very strict budget, want a secondary pair, or mostly listen for short periods. You still get the same audio technology and noise cancellation, so saving $20 does not mean compromising on those core features. You simply need to be comfortable with USB-C charging, shorter battery life, fewer controls, and more limited Find My functionality.

The charging cases are not interchangeable between the two models. If you buy the standard AirPods 5, you cannot add wireless charging later by purchasing the other model's case, making it worth deciding which features you want before buying.

Before buying, compare prices using our Deals roundup, since discounts can change the price gap between the two models.

If you're considering an upgrade from AirPods 4 or want to see what changed between generations, our AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 5 Buyer's Guide compares the improvements and explains whether upgrading is worthwhile.
Related Roundup: AirPods 5
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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