The watchOS 27 update removes a useful feature from the Apple Watch, the iOS 27.2 update might save your marriage with a new feature, why did Apple release iOS 27.2 instead of iOS 27.1?, the first benchmark result reveals the power of the M5 Ultra and M6 chips, Apple lowers iPhone trade-in values while raising them for Mac and iPad, iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders start at a relatively quiet pace, Elon Musk drops a lawsuit against Apple over the ChatGPT deal with Siri, Apple may allow replacing Siri with ChatGPT or Claude, iPhone Duo has a hidden setting to solve the protective case issue, the American iPhone 18 Pro Max differs from the rest of the world, and other exciting news on the sidelines…
Why did Apple release iOS 27.2 instead of iOS 27.1?
Just two days after the release of iOS 27, Apple began testing iOS 27.2 for developers, skipping version 27.1 in the public beta program. It seems the reason is that iOS 27.1 is reserved for the foldable iPhone Duo, as it will include new features designed for the device’s two screens, so Apple does not need to release it for testing on current devices. Or perhaps it contains some minor details about the iPhone Duo that were not announced during its conference. Therefore, it seems Apple started directly with iOS 27.2 to minimize the chances of leaks.
As for iOS 27.2, it is aimed at the rest of the iPhone devices. The new beta version reveals a major update to the "Health" app, including health insights based on Apple Intelligence, a new longevity section, and a readiness assessment feature, alongside Siri support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Apple also added the ability to use both the front and rear cameras simultaneously during group FaceTime calls. Concurrently, the company began testing macOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2, but these versions are currently available to developers only.
watchOS 27 removes a useful feature from the Apple Watch
Apple released watchOS 27 on September 14, and with it a new feature called Live Rewind, but it will only be available on the Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4. It allows recording the text of speech captured by the watch during the last 15 seconds by double-pressing the Digital Crown. The problem is that this shortcut was used in watchOS 26 to quickly switch between the current app and the previous app without touching the screen. With watchOS 27, it has been canceled even on older Apple Watches, so double-pressing the crown now opens the app list just like a single press. Even stranger, the Live Rewind feature itself relies on components found only in the new models, so owners of older watches will lose the useful shortcut without getting the new feature. Also, owners of the Apple Watch 12 and Ultra 4 will not have the option to reuse the double-press to switch between apps if they do not want to use Live Rewind, despite the privacy concerns the feature might raise. Apple currently does not provide a setting to solve this problem, so users are left to send their feedback to the company, hoping that Apple will restore this shortcut in a later update like watchOS 27.1.
The iOS 27.2 update might save your marriage!
Apple added a new feature in the iOS 27.2 beta that reminds you of a wedding anniversary or an important occasion when calling the person, provided the date is saved in the Contacts app. When calling on the day of the occasion, a reminder message will appear so you don’t forget to congratulate the other party! The feature relies on the Call Context capability, which gathers information related to the call, such as showing a flight booking number when calling an airline. To add a wedding anniversary, open the contact, choose "Edit", then "Add Date", and you will find "Wedding Anniversary" among the options. Siri can also be used to add the date if your device supports Apple Intelligence. iOS 27.2 is expected to be released officially in October.
Apple may return to the server market using Nvidia technologies
Apple is considering developing a dedicated AI server based on M8 chips, with the possibility of using Nvidia networking technologies to connect processors and accelerate data transfer between them. These servers are expected to target companies that want to run AI models on their own devices, especially for generating responses and results. If the project is completed, Apple might release the server by 2029, but the plan is still under study and could be canceled. This move comes with the increasing interest of AI companies in Apple devices like the Mac mini and Mac Studio, and Apple already possesses servers it uses in the Private Cloud Compute service to run some Apple Intelligence tasks. Collaborating with Nvidia could represent a new development in the relationship between the two companies, especially with previous plans to use Nvidia technologies in Apple’s cloud infrastructure.
Apple explains how to verify that a photo is real
In the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, Apple introduced a new feature called Apple Reference Image, which helps prove that a photo was actually taken with an iPhone camera and was not edited or created by AI. The feature works by securely signing the image data directly from the camera sensor, then saving a protected digital copy containing the image information and the time it was taken. When verification is needed, this copy is processed within Private Cloud Compute in a secure environment, with the ability to detect any tampering and revoke the validity of the image or even the sensor used. Apple says the system is designed to resist tampering and hacking attempts while maintaining the photographer’s privacy. It is also optional and currently works with the main camera only.
First benchmark result reveals the power of the new M5 Ultra chip
The first unconfirmed benchmark result for Apple’s M5 Ultra chip appeared on the Geekbench 7 platform, revealing extremely powerful performance. The chip scored 3,774 points in the single-core test and 52,516 points in the multi-core test, compared to 2,920 and 39,059 points for the M3 Ultra chip, which means an improvement of about 30% in single-core performance and 35% in multi-core performance. With these numbers, the M5 Ultra becomes the fastest chip from Apple to date, and its performance could reach 2.25 times that of the original M1 Ultra, and about 6 times that of the regular M1 chip. The chip will first be available in the new Mac Studio, which starts at $6,799 for the version equipped with the highest M5 Ultra specifications, with the new devices starting to roll out on September 22.
First test of the M6 chip reveals a noticeable leap in performance
The first unconfirmed result for Apple’s M6 chip appeared on Geekbench 7, ahead of the new Mac mini launch, scoring 4,071 points in the single-core test and 22,783 points in the multi-core test. Compared to the M5 chip, this means an improvement of about 12% in single-core performance and 27% in multi-core performance. The M6 also achieved the highest single-core result among Macs and PCs in the Geekbench 7 database, outperforming even the M5 Max and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. The M6 uses 2nm manufacturing technology, and the Mac mini will be the first device equipped with it, starting on September 22. The result indicates that the M6 offers more than double the performance of the original M1 chip, with graphics performance results still pending.
Apple lowers iPhone trade-in values and raises them for Mac and iPad
Apple updated its device trade-in program prices in the United States, lowering the value of almost all eligible iPhones, while raising the value of iPads and Macs. After the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is now valued at up to $885, while the iPhone 17 Pro reaches $785 and the iPhone 17 $585. The iPhone 16 Pro Max saw the largest drop in value, from $720 to $610, while the value of iPads and Macs rose significantly; the iPad Pro reached $905, and the MacBook Pro $1,315. The values of most Apple Watches also dropped, while the prices of most Android phones remained stable with minor changes. These prices remain estimates, and the final value may vary depending on the device’s condition and specifications.
iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders start at a relatively quiet pace
According to GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max seem weaker than initially expected, with most models available immediately upon release on Friday, while the wait time for some Pro Max versions reaches 3 or 4 weeks. The analyst believes that high prices and limited specification changes may be among the reasons for this quiet demand, especially with the price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max reaching $2,499 for the 2TB version. He also expects the foldable iPhone Duo to attract some buyers when pre-orders for it begin on October 16. Meanwhile, Pu lowered his production forecasts for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to 72 million devices due to new camera challenges, and also lowered production estimates for the iPhone Duo to 6 million devices due to hinge manufacturing difficulties.
Elon Musk drops a lawsuit against Apple over the ChatGPT deal with Siri
Elon Musk’s companies, X Corp and SpaceXAI, asked the court to end the lawsuit they filed against Apple in 2025, without clarifying the reason for the decision or mentioning a financial settlement, while the lawsuit against OpenAI continues. The case accused Apple and OpenAI of collaborating to maintain their influence in the AI market, and also claimed that Apple gave ChatGPT better integration with Siri compared to Grok, and deprioritized competing AI apps and the X app in the App Store. Under the final dismissal request, Musk’s companies will not be able to refile claims against Apple in the future, while the case related to OpenAI will continue.
Apple asks the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling related to App Store rules
Apple filed a brief with the US Supreme Court asking it to overturn the ruling that forced it to change some App Store rules, which could return the rules to their pre-2025 status. The case stems from the ongoing dispute with Epic Games, after the court ordered Apple to allow developers to direct users to payment options outside the App Store. Apple allowed these links but imposed fees on them, which led Epic to return to court, which considered that Apple violated its decision and stopped its right to collect fees on purchases made through these links within the United States. Apple says the ruling was based on what it described as the "spirit" of the decision and not on a clear violation of its text. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case in 2027, while proceedings to determine the fees that might be imposed if the court does not overturn the ruling continue in the meantime.
Apple may allow replacing Siri with ChatGPT or Claude
iOS 27 and macOS 27 codes reveal that Apple designed the new Siri so it can work with AI models from other companies. Tests show that Claude can perform tasks via Siri, such as creating a reminder, while other models like ChatGPT can handle more complex tasks, such as searching through emails, summarizing them, and then sending a message via the "Messages" app. It seems the system allows an external AI model to use Apple’s tools and features, while Siri remains the interface that displays the result to the user. European Union laws may have played a role in pushing Apple toward this openness. However, these capabilities are still being tested, and Apple has not yet opened the possibility of completely replacing the Siri model for users or developers.
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iPhone Duo has a hidden setting to solve the protective case issue
The iPhone Duo contains a hidden setting within the display settings called "Shift Left Edge", which adds a black bar on the left side of the screen and almost doubles its width. The goal is to deal with thick protective cases that might cover part of the screen edge, which could make the swipe-to-go-back gesture difficult. It seems Apple added this option primarily for compatibility with third-party protective cases, while it is not yet known if official Apple cases require this setting. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are scheduled to open on October 16, with availability starting on October 23.
The American iPhone 18 Pro Max differs from the rest of the world
Apple confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro uses the new C2 modem worldwide, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max comes with the same modem in all countries except the United States, where iOS 27 codes indicate the use of a Qualcomm modem, likely the Snapdragon X85. Apple did not explain the reason for this difference, but it might be related to its previous agreement with Qualcomm to supply modems until 2026. The C2 features support for mmWave 5G networks with higher upload speeds and 15% lower power consumption compared to the C1X. As for the iPhone Duo, it uses the C2 modem in all markets without exception.
Miscellaneous News
◉ Tim Cook is scheduled to attend a state dinner hosted by the White House in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping next week. The invitation was also extended to a number of top tech leaders such as Sam Altman of OpenAI and Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Cook’s attendance comes as part of his new role focusing on communicating with decision-makers around the world, and he has previously attended several similar meetings with Xi over the past years.
◉ Apple released a beta version of iOS 27.2 where its AI assistant, Siri AI, is available in additional languages such as French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish, after being limited to English only in the first version. The company had previously announced that these languages would arrive in October, indicating that the new update will be released in that month.
◉ The European Union announced a new law called the Kids Act that prevents children under 13 from using social media platforms, some online games, or chatbots unless under parental supervision, while those between 13 and 15 need parental consent to create accounts with controls such as setting usage time. Companies will be forced to add protection measures that prevent addiction or exploitation, and they will also be required to verify user ages via an official app. Violations could lead to fines of up to 6% of global revenue, in a move aimed at protecting children from digital risks.
◉ Apple added the 21.5-inch 4K iMac from 2019 to its list of vintage products, meaning that repair is only possible if spare parts are available at the company or authorized service centers, but this is not guaranteed. Devices are usually listed on this list five years after they stop being sold, and become "obsolete" after seven years, where no repair services are provided for them. This model was the last small iMac with an Intel processor before Apple unveiled the colorful M1 version in 2021, and it was equipped with a Retina 4K display, a Core i3 processor, 8GB of memory, and 1TB of storage.
◉ It turns out that the iPhone Duo does not allow adding more than four apps in the vertical Dock located on the right side of the screen, as Marques Brownlee failed to add a fifth app during his experience with the device. Apple did not mention this limitation in its technical documentation, which might frustrate those who want to place more apps. The new design might need some time to get used to, especially for iPhone users accustomed to the horizontal Dock, and it is not yet known if Apple will provide a special mode for left-handed users.
◉ IMAX showed a mixed reaction to Apple’s adoption of a 1:1.4 aspect ratio in the internal and external iPhone Duo screens, which is very close to the classic 1.43:1 ratio that the company used in its original film systems. The official IMAX account commented on a post on the X platform saying: "We love this for them," but added: "We are still not going to watch movies on the phone."
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