In 2027 the iPhone will celebrate its 20th birthday, and this has raised expectations of a momentous launch. In 2017, for comparison, we got the iPhone X, an almost all-screen handset and Apple’s first phone without a Home button. What’s in store next year? That depends on who you ask.

For some time pundits have predicted that the 20th-anniversary iPhone will be a major redesign. Rumors have pointed to a very large “quad-curved screen”, with glass making up the majority of the chassis, both front and back. But this vision was put in doubt earlier this week when Jefferies analyst Edison Lee claimed the project had been canceled as a result of “low yield” or a lack of projected return on investment.

This news was such a disappointment to investors that shares in the company promptly dropped by almost 3 percent.

But Mark Gurman, one of the foremost leakers pushing the quad-curved theory, has now published a new report insisting that Lee is mistaken. In the Bloomberg article, Gurman claims Apple “is still planning to offer a glass-centric overhaul of the iPhone for the device’s 20th anniversary,” citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter and specifically calling out the Jefferies report as incorrect.

Gurman does concede that changes have been made to the project as a result of scaling difficulties. Originally the design was going to be almost entirely glass, but Apple “encountered problems connecting the glass panels together… when [the company] had to figure out how to produce it at large volumes.” The current plan involves a metal band connecting the front and back glass panels.

But it’s still an ambitious and groundbreaking design, according to Gurman’s sources, with curves on all four sides. And we’re getting to the point where plans are starting to firm up. In the leaker’s words, the 2027 plans “are already in advanced testing and mostly locked in,” barring unexpected problems.

That sounds good. But if I have one tip for those following iPhone leaks, it’s that you should expect unexpected problems. The glass-centric iPhone isn’t completely locked in until we see it on stage in September 2027.

And of course, before then we’ve got the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra to look forward to next month, so there’s no need to get ahead of ourselves.

On Monday, Apple released iOS 27 beta 5 to developers on Monday after a weeklong delay, bringing another round of changes and refinements ahead of the update’s public release next month. But hidden inside the software are also some interesting clues about what Apple has planned for the iPhone over the coming months.

Macworld has found references to six unreleased iPhone models in the latest iOS 27 beta, including the entire iPhone 18 family, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone Ultra. While none of these products have been officially announced by Apple, the references provide perhaps the clearest evidence yet of what the company has planned for the next generation of iPhone.

Six new iPhones hidden in iOS 27

The references were found in system files related to the iPhone’s battery drivers and Battery Intelligence features. Alongside existing iPhone models, iOS 27 beta 5 explicitly lists six unreleased devices using Apple’s internal codenames:

• V62: iPhone Air 2
• V63: iPhone 18 Pro
• V64: iPhone 18 Pro Max
• V67: iPhone 18
• V68: iPhone Ultra
• V69: iPhone 18e

Although this isn’t the first time a beta version of iOS has revealed details about upcoming hardware, this appears to be the first time the entire iPhone 18 lineup has been explicitly mentioned in the internal code of the iOS 27 beta. The codenames also align with previous leaks and reports from other sources about the next generation of the iPhone.

The references don’t reveal specifications or other details about the new devices. However, their presence inside battery-related system components makes sense, as Apple needs to prepare iOS for the various new configurations and power-management characteristics of new hardware before those products reach customers.

For instance, earlier beta versions of iOS 27 revealed support for foldable displays and even multiple batteries, both features not found in any current iPhone hardware.

Apple is changing the iPhone release schedule

Unlike previous years, Apple isn’t expected to introduce its entire next-generation iPhone lineup at once.

Rumors suggest the company will focus on its premium models this fall, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max arriving alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Macworld previously reported that Apple will likely call this new foldable device the “iPhone Ultra,” and the latest iOS 27 beta once again uses that name internally.

Neither the regular iPhone 18 nor the entry-level iPhone 18e is expected to be released until early 2027. A second-generation iPhone Air is also in the works, but is unlikely to be announced this fall. Still, today’s leak confirms that Apple has been actively working on these devices.

Apple is expected to announce its fall event in just a couple of weeks, so this could be one of the last betas before iOS 27 arrives in mid-September. Of course, Apple’s plans can always change, but seeing a product’s codename listed in beta software is usually a strong indication that it’s almost ready for release.

One of the first things they teach you in business school is just don’t go into the restaurant business. It’s terrible. Seriously.

One of the next things they teach you is how to conduct a cost/benefit analysis. Or maybe that’s in the second semester. The Macalope doesn’t remember; he slept through a lot of business school. But he’s been thinking about cost/benefit analysis a lot lately with regard to AI.

For most use cases, AI is really a substitute for search. The web has consistently been a struggle between free and open and a bunch of would-be gatekeepers from AOL to Meta who want to keep you on their pages instead of having you go to some pesky website created by some yahoo who probably doesn’t even know any venture capitalists. Gross. Even Google, whose whole raison d’être was finding web pages for you, would now rather you stay on its site and read an answer its AI scraped off the page of the person who actually did the work to come up with the answer in the first place and, oh, here, look at some ads, since we have you.

In playing with Siri AI in the iOS 27 public beta, the Macalope has experienced some real benefits. One example: after fruitlessly searching in his Mail inbox for a gift card he received a year and a half ago, he was able to just ask Siri AI to “find the gift card so-and-so sent me” (he used a real name rather than “so-and-so” — it’s not that amazing) and it found it almost immediately.

That does, however, seems a bit more like an indictment of search in Mail (and, sure, the “living out of your inbox” lifestyle) than anything else. Couldn’t Apple just fixed search in Mail?

To be sure, there are a number of other neat features of Siri AI that are not simply better search capabilities, but while it’s all neat, the Horny One found himself thinking: is it all worth the cost?

You may be saying, but Mr. Macalope, sir, iOS 27 is a free upgrade! There is no cost! THE MACALOPE KNOWS THAT, TODD!

Sheesh.

Freakin’ Todd.

There may be no cost to get iOS 27, but there sure is a cost to AI in general. Apple has yet to raise prices on iPhones as it has done to other products because of the difficulty in getting RAM and storage thanks to AI, but it will be soon (possibly even this week). Moreover, Tim Cook, a guy who’s apparently happy to deliver bad news since he’s on the way out the door of the CEO’s office, has suggested that heavy use of Siri AI could mean additional charges for users.

As ridiculous as it might seem after Apple just substantially raised prices on a slew of products thanks to AI, we’re actually not paying the full cost of AI yet. AI companies have artificially kept prices low in order to get people hooked on it. It is unfair to describe it as the drug dealer model, as many other lines of business have long used the same tactic in order to gain adherents.

But also drug dealers do it.

As AI companies start inching prices up and businesses that made big, stupid bets on AI start realizing they’re only going to go up further, this is leading to a bit of a squeeze. Don’t worry, they’ve got it all figured out.

“Software Giant SAP Stops Most Travel and Hiring Because of AI’s Soaring Cost”

Cool, cool, oh, so very cool. Maybe, much like counties with data centers have asked schools to turn off lights and residents not to use air conditioning in the middle of summer and in the middle of global warming, perhaps companies can ask employees to bring their own toilet paper to work or forgo other benefits they previously enjoyed, like 401Ks and healthcare.

These are the costs we’re paying for AI as a whole. Many are paying for AI whether they use it or not. The question the Macalope is asking himself, as a user of Apple products, is the utility we’re getting from AI features worth the increase in price on those products?

[long mockumentary-style zoom in on the Macalope’s face from across the room as he shakes his head and mouths, “Nope!”]

And, hey, the Macalope isn’t even talking about the environmental or societal costs of AI in general (like the very scary consequences of weirdos like Sam Altman getting even richer than they already are because look how that worked out before). Those are hard and, frankly, depressing to quantify.

Rest assured that the Macalope could quantify them if he wanted to; he simply does not want to.

There are just so many good shows these days.

Personally, the Macalope simply does not want to spend more on tech products in order to pay for a feature that’s, yeah, kinda good but just not worth the cost. Since he can’t change the prices of things, he’s going to be buying fewer tech products and buying cheaper models.

He’s just morally opposed to being asked to pay for a meal some guy across the room ordered. It’s as simple as that.

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new iPhone coming at Apple’s September event and that means two things: You want a new iPhone and you need to sell your old one. If you buy your iPhone outright every year or so, you can usually recoup a good amount of the new cost by selling your old model every time you upgrade to a new one. With prices for components so high these days, the trade-in prices have actually risen!

Even if you’re in the Apple’s Upgrade Program, you might have an older iPhone languishing in a drawer somewhere unused. Here’s what you need to know about selling or trading in your old iPhone for top dollar.

How to get an old iPhone ready for sale

Apple has a list of what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your old iPhone which is worth a look, and we also cover How to wipe and reset an iPhone. We recommend that you should check those guides out, but here’s our own advice for making sure you get the most value for a used iPhone:

1) Take good care of it

This probably goes without saying, but your iPhone’s condition plays a huge part in its value. So keep it in a case, use a screen protector, and generally try to keep it in great shape. If your phone shows some wear and tear, you’ll still be able to sell it, you’ll just get a little less money back. Also, holding onto the original box and including the charger (if it came with one) and cable also helps squeeze a little more value out of your sale.

2) Save your data

Before you get rid of your old iPhone, make sure all the data is backed up and ready to transfer to your new one. A backup to iCloud or the Finder (or the Music app if you are on a PC) is the most convenient way to sync all the data to your new iPhone, and another option is to sync directly from the old to the new iPhone. But because an iPhone backup is pretty self-contained, you may also want to separately make sure your photos are synced to Google Photos, iCloud Photos, or another cloud storage solution.

3) Unpair your Apple Watch

If you have an Apple Watch, you should make sure it’s backed up, unpair it from your old iPhone, and sync it with your new one. You can do this in the Watch app on the phone.

1. Tap the My Watch tab.
2. Tap All Watches at the top of the screen.
3. You’ll see all your Apple Watches paired to this iPhone.
4. Tap the (i) button next to your watch.
5. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
6. If you have more than one Apple Watch paired to this iPhone, repeat this process for all of them.

4) Sign out of your Apple account

Sign out of your iCloud and Music accounts, too. This is a crucial step: If you erase your phone without signing out first, it will still have Activation Lock enabled and the buyer won’t be able to set it up!

You should be prompted when you erase it (see below) but in case you’re not, here’s how to sign out:

1. Head to the top of the Settings app.
2. Tap your Apple ID and then scroll to the bottom of the next screen and tap Sign Out.
3. You’ll probably be asked to confirm your Apple ID and password.

5) Reset your iPhone

Once you’re sure your iPhone is all backed up and ready to be fully erased, head to the Settings app and tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone (in earlier iOS versions the option says Reset). The nuclear option here is Erase All Content and Settings; if you’re selling or giving away your phone, this is what you want to do.

You may be prompted to turn off Find My iPhone and sign out of iCloud if you haven’t already—otherwise iOS’s Activation Lock will prevent the phone’s next owner from activating it. Confirm that you want to erase all the data, and your phone will be securely wiped and restored to factory settings. It’ll go through an update and you’ll be met with a “Hello” screen just like you were when you first set it up. Turn it off and say goodbye.

We cover this in more detail here: How to reset an iPhone. If you have any trouble you may find How to put an iPhone into recovery mode and return to factory settings useful. Note that you need to be connected to Wi-Fi or Cellular before you can wipe the iPhone.

How to sell your iPhone online

The next step is deciding where you are going to sell your iPhone. You should start your research at third-party buyback sites. You’ll get an idea of what your phone in its current condition is worth, and then can either take that offer or try to directly sell your phone to another person yourself on Craigslist or eBay. You might want to mention you’re selling your phone on social media like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram first, to see if a friend or associate wants it—you’ll feel better dealing with someone you know.

Buyback sites almost never give you as much money as a direct sale to another person would, but they’re much safer and easier. Sometimes the hassle of a direct sale to another person isn’t worth a little extra money, and you just want to quickly, easily, and safely get a reasonable price for your old phone. That’s where these sites come in. There are lots of buyback sites, but these are some of the biggest and most highly recommended:

BackMarket

BackMarket buys and sells used iPhones and other products. You can get up to $600 for an iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB unlocked in Good (not even Flawless) condition, for example. A prepaid shipping label is provided so you can ship your iPhone off to them within 21 days of your quote. The quote is dependent on the iPhone matching the description you have given.

If you are in the U.K. BackMarket will also offer you money for your used iPhone. In this case, an iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB unlocked in good condition but a few scratches could get you £340.

Compare and Recycle

This trade-in service that assesses the different recyclers to offer you the best price on offer if you trade-in your iPhone. A search on Compare and Recycle suggested an iPhone 15 Pro Max could be worth $690 with TheWhizCells.

The same search on Compare and Recycle in the U.K. suggested an iPhone 15 Pro Max could be worth £676 with Sell your fone.

Music Magpie

In the U.K. Music Magpie will buy used equipment from you (they were acquired by AO.com in 2024). Here our Good-condition iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB unlocked could make us £594. You can lock in that price for up to 28 days. If you want to sell you just print out your free label. Once they get the phone and inspect it to make sure it’s in the condition you stated, they pay you the following day. If the condition is not as described, they will make a new offer. If that offer isn’t acceptable, they will return the phone free of charge.

Music Magpie used to trade as Decluttr in the U.S. but that site closed when the U.K. arm was bought.

Gazelle

Gazelle buys and sells preowned smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets. They’ll give you an online quote for your item, and then send you a box to ship it to them for free. You can receive payment as a check, via PayPal, or in the form of an Amazon gift card.

The offer is good for 30 days, and Gazelle will make you a new offer if the item is in worse condition than you described. If you decide not to take the new offer, they’ll send your gadget back, but you pay for the return shipping.

Swappa

Swappa works a little differently than most other buyback sites. It’s actually a marketplace where you sell directly to other customers—Swappa just verifies the listings, handles the payments (using PayPal), and organizes the shipping to reduce fraud. Swappa collects its fees from the buyer’s end, but the price the buyer actually sees has that fee as well as shipping included. The seller pays for shipping, and you’re on your own to package the item securely, too.

Swappa lists a price range for what has sold recently on its site. You’ll sometimes be able to get more from a sale on Swappa, but selling directly to other people, even with Swappa’s protections in place, always assumes a little more risk. iPhone 15 Pro Max models have gone for around $605 here.

Also read: Where to buy a second-hand or refurbished iPhone for more options where you might be able to sell it.

In the U.K. you can also sell your iPhone at places like CeX, Envirofone, and We Buy Any Phone.

Trade in your iPhone for store credit

Another convenient approach is to turn in your old iPhone to the Apple Store, Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart, where they’ll give you a gift card. You might not get quite as much, but these stores also take phones in worse condition than your typical buyer would expect. The big-box stores, for example, will give you a small gift card for an iPhone with a broken screen, while an Apple store will generally just recycle it for you. Sometimes these stores have preorder or launch-day deals as well, so keep your eyes open for that.

Apple

The Apple store’s online quote service is simple, fast, and generally offers pretty good prices for your used Apple gear. The downside is that you can only get an Apple gift card or credit toward the purchase of a new Apple product.

We explain How Apple trade in works and saves you money separately.

Amazon

Amazon Trade-In lets you sell certain products directly to Amazon in exchange for an Amazon gift card. It’s a very simple process, though it can take a couple of weeks before your item gets to Amazon and is inspected, so don’t expect a credit in your Amazon account immediately. The prices are often a little lower than other buyback sites, and you only get Amazon credit, but it’s very easy and safe.

Best Buy

Best Buy offers pretty good prices on trade-ins, and you can take your iPhone to a Best Buy location to drop it off, which might be more convenient than shipping it.

Walmart

Walmart contracts with CExchange to let you trade in smartphones, tablets, video games, and wearables for a Walmart gift card. You get a prepaid FedEx Ground shipping label, but you have to pack the item yourself. Then you get an eGift Card to spend at Walmart.

In the U.K. stores like Argos, Currys and John Lewis will allow you to trade in an old iPhone.

Sell your iPhone back to your carrier

Not to be outdone, your carrier will accept trade-ins too. If you cringe at your phone bill each month, unloading old devices to your carrier might be tempting, since you can use the credit for new devices or to pay your bill. During the first couple months of an iPhone’s release, there may be special trade-in offers, so keep an eye out for that.

AT&T

For AT&T’s trade-in program, you can bring your device to an AT&T Store to get instant credit, or get a quote online and receive a kit to mail your device in for free. Then you’ll get a promotional card in the mail you can use to credit your bill or buy new stuff.

Verizon

Verizon lets you trade in devices with a prepaid shipping box. Credits can be applied to your bill, or you can opt for a gift card to use for new devices. 

T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s trade-in program is geared at people who want a new phone. Once you get a quoted price (for a phone in good condition), you’re taken to the store page to shop for a new device. You can also ship your phone or bring it to a T-Mobile store.

In the U.K. Carphone Warehouse will allow you to trade in an old iPhone, as will EE and Vodafone. However, U.K. based service Compare and Recycle warns that iPhone owners can lose out on £100s if they trade in with their phone network.

Sell your phone directly to someone else

You can usually get the most money for your iPhone by selling it directly to someone else. Prepare your iPhone for sale, clean it, and take some good well-lit photos, then post it on eBay, Craigslist, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace (or all of the above). While this can be the most profitable route, it also could be the biggest headache and assumes the most risk. Scammers are everywhere! Follow these tips to help you sell your iPhone to someone else directly:

1. Only sell locally, never ship your iPhone to the buyer.
2. Only accept cash. Do not take a check, money order, Western Union, or any other form of payment. PayPal is not safe for individual sellers—buyers can dispute the transaction and PayPal almost always sides with them.
3. Check out the buyer. Is this a one-off account with no other purchases or ratings? Do they have a social media presence? Are they trying to take the conversation off FaceBook or OfferUp to text messaging right away? These are all red flags!
4. Meet somewhere public and safe. Many police stations have “Safe Trade Zones” or “Internet Exchange Locations” specifically set up for buyers and sellers to meet. Banks are also a good option. Go inside, don’t handle your business out in the parking lot.
5. See and inspect the buyer’s money before you hand over your phone. Check for counterfeit bills or the old “stack of paper in a bank envelope” trick.

If your iPhone or iPad is misbehaving and initial solutions are not working, a full reset may be necessary. Taking your device back to how it was out of the box can often help resolve issues like constant crashing, freezing or other serious problems.

It’s something of a nuclear option, though, so before you take this route we’d recommend restarting or force-restarting your iPhone or iPad, as that will leave your data and settings intact. Another option is to ensure that the version of iOS or iPadOS on your device is up to date, as the problem might be caused by an issue that has since been patched by Apple. We explain how to do this in our how to update iOS guide.

Of course, if you’re selling your iPhone (or passing it down to a family member or friend) it’s absolutely vital that you delete all the sensitive data stored on it. If not, an unscrupulous buyer could gain access to your social media profiles, financial information and even your personal photos and videos.

As with any activity that deletes data, we’d recommend that you back up your iPhone or iPad before you attempt resetting the device. After your device has been wiped you will be able to download your data from your backup.

How to wipe an iPhone or iPad

We’ll concentrate on iPhone for this tutorial, but the steps will be more or less the same for iPad. There are two ways to erase your iPhone or iPad, one is useful if you just want to erase everything and then recover the data from a backup, the other is useful if you are moving to a new device and selling or passing on the one you are erasing. There’s also a basic Reset option that might be all you need to do in order to fix a troublesome issue.

To factory-reset an iPhone follow these steps (after backing up your device).

You may need to remove your device from Find My before you begin. You will also need to be connected to Wi-Fi or cellular for this process to work.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap on General.
3. Choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. You now have the options Prepare for New iPhone, Reset, and Erase All Content and Settings:
   • Choose Reset if you just want to reset your settings. There are also options to reset network settings, reset the keyboard dictionary, reset the home screen layout, and reset location and privacy. These options may be enough to fix a problem with your iPhone without wiping it.
   • Choose Prepare for New iPhone to backup and wipe your iPhone for sale, or so you can pass it on to someone else.
   • Choose Erase All Content and Settings to completely wipe your iPhone and reinstall the operating system and everything else.
5. The iPhone will alert you to what will be deleted, including Apps and Data and your Apple ID. Find My will no longer be connected to the device, and all your Apple Wallet details will be removed. This is your cue to back up any of this data (if you don’t have a backup we run through how to do that here: How to back up an iPhone or iPad.) You will also find options for backing up this information if you follow the Prepare for New iPhone steps below.
6. If you are happy that you have a backup, or don’t need the data being referred to, either select Erase All Content and Settings or the Prepare for New iPhone option.
7. Tap Continue.
8. Enter the Passcode for the iPhone and the process will begin.

If you want help backing your data up to iCloud and want to make sure you cover all the important steps that you should make when selling your old device, you can make use of the Prepare for New iPhone instructions, which will walk you through the process.

How to reset an iPhone if you’ve forgotten the password or passcode

During the process for resetting you iPhone your passcode will be requested, you may also need to use the password associated with your Apple ID. This is a problem if you have forgotten it.

There is a workaround if you have forgotten your passcode but remember your Apple ID password:

1. On the Lock Screen, enter a passcode several times until you get a Security Lockout with a warning to try again later.
2. You’ll see Erase iPhone (or iPad) at the bottom of the screen. Tap on that.
3. Tap Erase iPhone/iPad and then tap it again to confirm.
4. You’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID on this device. This will allow you to reset the device and turn off Activation Lock.
5. Tap Erase iPhone/iPad when prompted again to permanently delete all your apps and data and reset the device.

After a few minutes, your iPhone or iPad will restart and you’ll be at the setup screen, as if it was a new device you just took out of the box. For obvious security reasons, there’s no way to reset your iPhone after a lost passcode without erasing all your apps and data. It would provide an exploitable loop for bad actors to get around the passcode timeouts and such. But as long as you back up your iPhone regularly (either via iCloud or with a connection to your computer) it shouldn’t be too onerous to start over.

Resetting without a password used to require plugging into a computer via USB, entering iPhone recovery mode…it was a whole process. The good news is, Apple made this a lot easier as of iOS 15.2 (and iPadOS 15.2). So, if your device is running that version or later you can follow the steps below (otherwise click on the link above to reset via a computer). If you have forgotten your Apple ID password read this for help: How to reset Apple ID if you forgot the password.

How to restore an iPhone

If, having erased the content of the phone, you intend to keep using it, you can restore the content to your phone from your backup – assuming you have one, if not check out the section below. Here’s to recover your iPhone or iPad data:

From an iCloud backup

With the factory reset completed you’ll need to go through the setup of your iPhone again from the beginning:

1. Follow the onscreen instructions until you reach the page with the headings ‘Apps & Data’.
2. Here you’ll see four different options from which you should select Restore from iCloud Backup.Sign into your iCloud account then select the backup you want to restore.
3. You may be prompted to sign into various apps that you’ve already purchased, but other than that the process should now be pretty much automatic.
4. Obviously, this could take a while if you have large backups or a slow internet connection, so don’t attempt this if you’re in a hurry. When the backup is completed your iPhone will reboot, and then it will start the larger job of downloading all of your apps.

From a Finder or iTunes backup

Depending on the version of macOS you’re running, you’ll either be able to use Finder (macOS Mojave and later) or iTunes (macOS Catalina or earlier) to restore a backup.

1. Connect your iPhone to the Mac or PC.
2. In the Finder window (or iTunes) you should see your device listed in the left column. Select it, then click on Restore Backup.
3. Choose the backup you want to use, then click Restore.
4. The process should now automatically install the backup on your device.

What to do if you didn’t back up your iPhone before you wiped it

If you didn’t backup your iPhone or iPad first, it’s likely that you won’t be able to retrieve data once you have deleted it.

The data on an iOS device is automatically encrypted, and wiping the device destroys the encryption key, making it more or less impossible to get anything back when it’s been fully erased and reset without access to a backup.

In an emergency you could try speaking to someone at an Apple Genius Bar, but it’s a long shot to say the least. (This applies to a full erase/reset, mind you – in other circumstances, such as data corruption, a malfunctioning device and so on, the experts may be able to help.) This also reinforces our frequent advice to back up regularly.

If you’re worried that your iPhone or iPad wasn’t backed up, don’t give up hope: there’s a chance there may be a backup of which you’re unaware.

To find out if you’re backing up to iCloud follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
3. Choose iCloud.
4. Now tap on Manage Storage or just Storage, depending on the version of iOS. Here you should see an entry called Backups with the amount of data it’s taking up displayed to the right of the name.
5. Tap this and you’ll see all of the various backups for your iOS/iPadOS devices.
6. Find the most recent backup you have and tap on it.

One of the backups should say that it is This iPhone or This iPad. Tap on that and you can see what is, and isn’t being backed up. You can basically turn things on and off so that they don’t take up your full free 5GB iCloud allocation, or you can pay a few dollars/pounds a month for more storage.

If you don’t see a backup from the device you were hoping to recover, but you do have backups of other devices (perhaps you have an iPad backup, but not an iPhone backup) you should be able to recover some of your data simply because once you link your iPhone to your iCloud account the shared data should be available on your iPhone.

If you weren’t backing you iPhone up to iCloud we suggest you do! Read How to back up an iPhone or iPad or follow the steps below.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on iCloud.
3. Find iCloud Backup and tap on it.
4. Now switch the slider beside iCloud Backup to on (green).
5. Tap Back Up Now. It may take a while, so bear in mind that your iPhone needs to be plugged in for the whole time.

If the backup is going to take ages you can reduce the amount of data being backed up. For example, you may think that some of the apps don’t need to be backed up; after all, you will be able to download them again from the App Store as you already own them. But note that the data may include saved data for games, and other settings and preferences you would prefer not to lose.

There you have it. A quick guide on resetting your iPhone and then restoring it once more. Of course, if you’re moving on from that older device and fancy something newer, be sure to read our best iPhone deals roundup to see if you can save some money in the process.

TL;DR: Never lose track of your essentials with the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card. It works with Apple’s Find My app, fits in your wallet like a credit card, and is on sale for just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99).

Losing your wallet is one of those experiences that somehow makes five minutes feel like five years. Before you start retracing every step you’ve taken today, there’s an easier backup plan. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card slips into your wallet, passport holder, backpack, or luggage and works with Apple’s Find My app to help you locate your essentials. Right now, it’s just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99).

At only 1.5mm thick, it’s about the size of a credit card, so you won’t even notice it’s there — until you need it. You’ll get left-behind alerts if you wander off without your belongings, real-time tracking through Apple’s Find My network, and a loud beep to help you zero in when something’s hiding in plain sight.

The rechargeable battery lasts up to five months, supports Qi wireless charging, and the IP68 waterproof rating means it’s ready for everyday mishaps and travel alike.

Slip one into your wallet before your next “where did I put that?” moment.

Get the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card for just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99).

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Recovery mode can be used to return your iPhone to factory settings. During the process your iPhone will be wiped and the newest version of iOS will be installed on it.

You might want to do this because you are experiencing problems with your iPhone and want to wipe it and start again, you might need to wipe an iPhone that you don’t have the password for, or you could use Recovery Mode to remove an iOS beta. Note that this is not quite the same as wiping your iPhone so that you can prepare it for sale, in that case, you need to follow a different process that will remove all your data and unlink the iPhone from your Apple ID.

Once you have restored your iPhone using Recovery mode your iPhone will be running the newest full version of iOS (i.e. not a beta). You will then be able to restore your iPhone settings and apps from an iCloud backup from before the time the troubles started, or before the time you installed the beta.

Note that if you are turning to this option because you have been unable to erase an iPhone using the Erase all content and settings option in Settings > General on an iPhone check that your iPhone is connected to a WiFi network before giving up on that method.

You will need to be connected to a network, either Wi-Fi or via a Sim.

How to put your iPhone into Recovery mode

You will need the Finder on the Mac or iTunes on a PC to enter Recovery mode.

Follow these steps to put your iPhone into recovery mode:

1. Plug your iPhone into your computer using a cable that supports data.
2. Open the Finder (if you are on a PC it’s iTunes you need).
3. Locate the iPhone in the column on the left-hand side of the Finder or in iTunes and click on it.
4. You may see a message that indicates you need to download an update to access the iPhone. Sometimes the said software is unavailable from the software update server, so don’t worry about this. But if you can, install the update.
5. Shut down your iPhone by pressing volume up, volume down, and then press and hold the side button. Unlike a usual restart keep pressing and holding the side button while the phone shuts down and starts up again—this means you must keep holding the side button even when it gives you the option to turn the phone off and even when the Apple logo appears. Wait till the Recovery Mode screen is in place before releasing the side button. The image of a Mac and a connector on your iPhone that indicates it is in recovery mode.
6. On your Mac you should now see a message indicating that there is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored. You need to click on Restore.
7. You will see a warning: “Are you sure you want to restore the iPhone…” Click on Restore and Update.
8. Click Agree on the next screen that details the license agreement.
9. Just note that there’s only about 15 minutes before your iPhone will exit recovery mode, at which point you will have to enter recovery mode again.
10. Your iPhone should restart with the Welcome screen if this process has worked.
11. Now you can either set up your iPhone as new, or restore it from an iCloud backup from before you started to experience problems.

Another option is DFU mode, which is more drastic and used for tinkering with firmware and the like.

Typically, Apple issues operating system updates to beta testers only for major point releases, such as iOS 26.5 or macOS 26.6. The minor-level point releases with two decimal points (e.g., macOS 26.6.1) generally bring little more than bug fixes and security updates that are pushed to users without any beta testing from developers or the public.

It’s unusual, then, that Apple just pushed out iOS and iPadOS 26.6.1 along with macOS 26.6.2 to beta testers. The number discrepancy is because macOS just got a 26.6.1 release to fix a security vulnerability that only affects macOS. The release notes state these new 26.6.1/26.6.2 betas only include security fixes, but they don’t say what they are. Apple does not update its Security Release page for beta releases.

It’s unclear whether these were published to the beta site by mistake or if Apple has some reason to test this small update in the wild. At any rate, it should release to the public within a week or two. Without knowing the content of the release, we can’t say how important it is yet.

If you’re in the beta test group, you can update to this latest version by opening Settings > General > Software Update.

On the first day of the WWDC developer conference, Apple released the first developer beta of its new operating system. This year, that means that the first release of iOS 27 outside Cupertino came on June 8, 2026.

The pattern goes like this: Apple releases developer-only betas for the first month or so, and then starts releasing the same build for both developers and public beta testers. Based on historical precedent, we expect the third or fourth beta to be the first one to go out to public beta testers rather than just developers.

If you want to try out the new OS 27 updates and provide feedback, check out our article on how to become a beta tester. It’s easy.

Updated August 10, 2026: The fifth beta of iOS 27 is now available to developers, and should be released to public beta testers in the next day or two.

What’s new in iOS 27

The big iOS 27 release this year is focused on three main areas:

• Trust and Safety – New parental controls to keep kids safe and control screen time.
• Performance and refinement – Speeding everything up, improving efficiency, tweaking interfaces, and addressing dozens of small user requests.
• Apple Intelligence and Siri – Entirely new Apple Intelligence models improve AI throughout the system, and a brand-new Siri is vastly more capable than ever before.

For a more complete breakdown of all the new features and changes, check out our iOS 27 guide.

Beta 5 brings the following changes, in addition to bug fixes and performance improvements:

• Updated icons for several apps including Safari, Siri, Remote, and Freeform.
• Siri’s enhanced voice now supports British English.
• An adjustment in Search Settings for how many app suggests and such should be on Home Screen search suggestions.

iOS 27: How to install the developer beta

You’ll need to be registered as an Apple Developer, but a free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app:

1. Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store.
2. Open the app.
3. Tap on Account.
4. Sign in using your usual Apple ID.

Once you have a free developer account, just follow the same instructions as with the public beta:

• Open Settings.
• Tap General, then Software Update.
• Make sure the Beta Updates selection is set to iOS 27 Developer Beta.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

iOS 27: How to install the public beta

The first iOS 27 public beta is not available yet but is expected to arrive in July. When it lands, you can follow these steps to test it out even if you’re not a developer:

1. Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
2. Log in to the Beta Software Program.
3. Click Enroll your iOS device.
4. Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
5. In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS 27 Public Beta.

It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.

If you want to uninstall the iOS 27 beta read: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone.

In just a few weeks, Apple will unveil its latest iPhones, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and the iPhone Ultra, its first folding phone. However, reports had claimed for months that Apple is planning something even bigger for next year to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. Now, a new report throws a bucket of cold water on those plans.

According to Jefferies analyst Edison Lee, Apple’s has scrapped its plans for the 20th anniversary phone, which has been rumored to have a “quad-curved” display. Reports have described a phone as having “a display where the bezel nearly disappears from sight, while edge viewing remains natural and undisturbed” that adopts Apple’s Liquid Glass branding in hardware form.

However, now Lee says the phone might never arrive. Citing “supply chain checks” and “soaring memory costs,” the analyst says Apple’s plans for “all-glass features” on future iPhones have been canceled “due to low yield” or not enough return on investment. Presumably, the phone would have cost too much to produce.

In response, he downgraded Apple’s rating to Underperform (Sell) on the basis that the move is “a major setback to efforts to bring in higher-priced iPhones.” AAPL dropped more than 2 percent on the advice.

We’ve been getting regular reports about the so-called 20th anniversary iPhone for more than a year, as Apple gears up to mark the milestone with a special-edition model, much as it did with the iPhone X in 2017.

Before you even start the setup on your iPhone 17—be it an iPhone 17, 17e or Air, 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max— you should consider what type of case you need to protect it in. However good Apple’s new Ceramic Shield 2 shell is, it won’t be up to protecting your phone if dropped or scraped. A case just makes sense—and can look fantastic, too. Some are even ultra glamorous.

Cases come in more shapes and sizes and with more functionality than you’d believe. Hit these links to jump straight to our recommendations, reviews and tests to find the perfect case for your iPhone 17, 17e, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and Air. Or read on for more case advice before reaching the product charts. Cases for the most recent iPhone 17e have started to appear (keep reading) and we’ll add more here when they arrive.

• Best clear iPhone 17 cases
• Best stylish iPhone 17 cases
• Best protective cases for iPhone 17
• Best leather and leather-alternative iPhone 17 cases
• Best iPhone 17 cases with wallet
• Best iPhone 17 battery cases
• Best iPhone bags
• Best iPhone 17 camera grip cases

Do I need an iPhone case for iPhone 17?

You may have heard that Apple’s new-generation Ceramic Shield 2 front cover promises 3x better scratch resistance, and for the Pro and Pro Max models Ceramic Shield also protects the back of iPhone, delivering 4x better resistance to cracks than the back glass on previous models. Does that mean that you no longer need a case? A case will keep your iPhone looking at it’s best, which will be a benefit when and if you come to sell it. Also, note that neither the plain iPhone 17 nor Air feature the same level of back protection.

Do I need an iPhone case for iPhone Air?

The iPhone Air is so thin it seems a shame to bulk it up in a protective case. It’s also tough at resisting bending but it is still just as vulnerable to drops and everyday dings. Most cases reviewed here have a variant for the iPhone Air but there are especially thin cases such as the super-slim Thinborne iPhone 17 Case and Pitaka Ultra-Slim Case, or consider the Nomad Magnetic Leather Back that misses the sides altogether and protects just the back.

Why you need an iPhone case

The primary function of a phone case is to protect your high-cost but fragile device from physical damage—caused by accidental impacts such as shocks from drops and scrapes that can leave your phone with a cracked screen, scratches, dents, a shattered back or internal harm. In fact, research shows that within 10 weeks of purchase, half of all new phone users will drop their handset. D’oh!

Just being pulled from your pocket many times a day causes gradual wear that adds to the unseen damage from UV exposure and other environmental factors. Environmental protection safeguards against water and dust damage that can degrade or destroy your precious phone. Putting your iPhone into a case doesn’t make it indestructible, but it will reduce the risk of everyday or unexpected damage that might otherwise save a costly repair or full replacement.

Which type of iPhone case to choose

As nice as Apple makes its phones look there are only a handful of colors, so a case also offers aesthetic personalization through design (there are thousands to choose from) and customized style. Love the Cosmic Orange iPhone Pro but want to save money with the basic iPhone 17 model? Why not just buy a bold orange case for the 17, such as the Beats iPhone 17 Rugged Case in Sierra Orange?

Choosing the right case material (be that silicone, leather, Graphene or Kevlar) is also key—depending on whether you are after better grip, more robust protection or luxurious leather.

Cases can also add functionality, with handy features such as stands for hands-free viewing or wallet holders for carrying cards and cash. If you ever wirelessly charge your phone, make sure the case is MagSafe compatible—most are these days.

Best clear iPhone cases for iPhone 17, 17e, Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

If covering up Apple’s iPhone offends your inner Jony Ive, look for a clear, transparent case that keeps the iPhone’s looks as wonderful as they were straight out of the box. Why pick out a Sky Blue iPhone Air or Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, only to cover it up in a black plastic case or something with badly drawn flowers on it? With a Clear case, you get decent protection without ruining the look of the phone—although Apple has rather mucked this up with its own version; see review below.

If you want a plain black case or flowery pattern instead of Apple’s small palette of colors, we have plenty for you to choose from further down this feature.

More quality clear cases for iPhone 17 family:

• OtterBox Symmetry Clear Case ($59.99): 31g
• Mouse Clarity Clear Case ($69.99): 41g

Best stylish iPhone cases for iPhone 17, Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

While some will prefer a clear case to keep their iPhone’s natural color, others are more gregarious and want a splash of difference, from plain new colors, through pretty, cool or sometimes hideous patterns, to fully customizable designs. We’ve counted hundreds of designs on offer, so there must be something here for you and your iPhone 17.

Best protective iPhone cases for iPhone 17, Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

A case isn’t there just to make your iPhone look pretty. The best cases offer reasonable protection while adding as little bulk as possible by using the latest, strongest materials.

Kevlar is the material used to make bulletproof vests—it’s also known as Aramid Fiber. Graphene is even stronger. Zagg claims the graphene used in its Denali Snap case is “harder than a diamond, yet more elastic than rubber, and up to 200x stronger than steel”. That suggests a fall onto the pavement—or indeed off a cliff—might not be fatal for your phone.

Some protective iPhone cases go full out and don’t care about their bulk as long as they protect your iPhone from the biggest disasters that can befall it. We’ve tested protective iPhone 17 cases from the thin to the very thick.

Best leather and alternatives iPhone cases for iPhone 17, Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

Apple made a deliberate move away from leather with its accessories at the launch of the iPhone 15 and has stuck to its vegan ways ever since. Apple’s alternative was a micro twill called FineWoven that unfortunately customers were quick to complain about as it easily picked up stains from just about anything it come into contact with. While it was not available for the iPhone 16 it is back for the 17, and we presume the old weaknesses have been fixed.

If you want a leather alternative we recommend the vegan leather MOFT MOVAS case, reviewed below.

But if you are happier with the real animal skin thing, there are some great leather cases to choose from, as you’ll find by reading on.

Best iPhone 17 cases with wallet

There are several great choices for iPhone 17 cases that feature built-in wallets. Scan the reviews above for some examples, such as:

• Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case – beautiful design and stylish wallet
• Smartish Wallet Slayer – Practical three-card wallets

Some include wallets that attach to the case magnetically and other have the wallet built in. Note that built-in wallets usually affect wireless charging, especially with cards inside. You’d need to remove the Smartish Wallet Slayer case to use wireless charging, for example, but not the Decoded Detachable cases reviewed below.

Best iPhone 17 battery cases

An iPhone case with a wallet or stand is all very useful but sometimes not as urgent a need as a battery recharge. While battery cases for iPhones were once commonplace—even Apple made one—they are rarer today with the advent of magnetic power banks. Power banks are great but offer little-to-no drop protection like you’ll get from a case. The best mixture of the two is a battery case, and we’ve tested the latest from the iPhone battery case pioneer, Mophie. Also read: Best iPhone Battery Cases.

Best iPhone bags

A case will protect your iPhone from harm not only from drops but the constant to and fro from your pocket, rubbing it up this way and that. Sometimes a pocket isn’t the best place for tech, and you need something more substantial to hold it in—especially if your pockets are full or your outfit doesn’t have any! A secure pocket within a bag should make it harder for thieves to snatch your phone, especially in crowded areas, and keeps it further from rain should you be caught outside at the wrong time.

Some experts also warn against keeping a phone too close to your body due to the radio-frequency radiation that can cause heat build up that’s bad not just for your phone but those rather vital organs near your pockets—think about it for a second. Keeping it in a bag, rather than directly in a pocket, increases the distance between the phone and your body. We have reviewed and tested the best bags for Mac but there are smaller carriers for phones that should be considered.

Best iPhone 17 camera grips and cases

There are specialized camera grips for the iPhone that sometimes require a custom case. These can make using the iPhone more versatile as a camera and therefore faster to grab that perfect picture.

How to choose a case for your iPhone 17

Protection

The most common results of drops and knocks cause cracked and scratched screens, followed by chipped corners and sides. Even a basic phone case offers some protection against such everyday drops and knocks, and some are built to withstand more catastrophic accidents. Modern materials mean that protective cases are relatively slim and light. Clever design and tough-but-thin materials such as Kevlar and Graphene are key to the levels of robustness—but it remains the case that the bulkier the case, the more protection it will likely offer as long as it is also clever and made of the right stuff.

Let’s face it the iPhone is basically made front and back of glass—even if it is a new version of Ceramic Shield that Apple claims is three to four times tougher than any smartphone glass—and glass dropped on the floor usually ends in tears.

Look for raised edges (known as a bezel) around the screen that will protect it from drop cracks and scratches—it lands on these edges and not the fragile screen. Another point of obvious weakness is the camera lens area, and you should go for a case with a raised edge around that part, too, in case the phone lands that side down. Where we have the exact dimensions, we have included this information in our case reviews below.

Look for button covers—in metal or plastic. Some cases prefer cutouts but may offer less protection as a result. The Camera Control on the right side of all the iPhone 17 models is capacitive so it can’t be covered using standard materials in the same way as the other iPhone buttons can. Instead the best utilize a piece of sapphire crystal coupled with a conductive layer to communicate finger movements—including taps, slides and swipes—to the button below.

Style

If you want to keep the original Apple colors while still protecting the phone, choose a clear case. If you want to add more personality—if only to distinguish your iPhone from those of your family and friends—there are thousands of designs to choose from. Some are quite beautiful, some fine art, and some I wouldn’t want to be seen with in a dark room.

And iPhone 17 cases come in many forms: wallet cases, cases that support bike and car mounts, phone pouches, sleeves, slings and cases with belt-clips. Here we keep adding the best we can find as they come in for testing.

Fit

Ensure you choose the right case for your exact model so that it fits correctly over the buttons and camera lenses for uninterrupted use. Where possible we have linked to the buying pages for each model: iPhone 17e (6.1 inch), iPhone 17 (6.3 inch), Air (6.5 inch), iPhone 17 Pro (6.3 inch) and iPhone 17 Pro Max (6.9 inch).

Don’t think you can squeeze your new 17 model iPhone into a case for an older model. Sometimes a new iPhone is the same size as the previous model, but not the 17 unfortunately, which also has a whole new camera section at the top. Upgraders need a new case. That said, I have used an iPhone 17 Pro case on my iPhone 16 Pro. The buttons work but the flashlight is covered on some cases.

Magnetic wireless charging

Also make sure that the case is MagSafe compatible so that you can charge wirelessly with a MagSafe charger while your iPhone 17 stays in its case. So-called “clear” cases sadly require a huge white ring on their back to be compatible with MagSafe charging. Colored, patterned or leather cases hide their magnets better.

On the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max Apple has placed its logo further down the back so the circle of magnets would cut through it. On its own clear case Apple tries to not spoil its logo or reduce the number of magnets and ends up with an ugly solution for the 17 Pro and Pro Max clear cases. Third-party clear case manufacturers have decided to remove a few magnets to allow the logo to show, and claim this doesn’t affect the magnetic fit.

You can, of course, still charge via a USB-C cable—which will always be the fastest way to charge an iPhone—and an iPhone charger.

Will the iPhone 16 Pro fit an iPhone 17 Pro case and vice versa?

If you still own an iPhone 16 Pro and fancy one of the iPhone 17 Pro cases reviewed here, you might be in luck. Our test iPhone 16 Pro fit most of the iPhone 17 Pro cases here, although some may cover the 16 Pro’s flashlight. It’s not the case the other way round as an iPhone 16 Pro case will cover the 17 Pro’s Flash and the LiDAR Scanner that uses lasers to measure distances and create a 3D map of the environment.

You can’t swap iPhone 16 and 17 cases on models other than the Pro due to size and cutout differences.

Will the iPhone 17 Pro fit an iPhone 18 Pro case and vice versa?

Current information suggests Apple will keep a very similar chassis for the iPhone 18 Pro: near-identical dimensions, similar button placement, comparable thickness, the same overall form factor, and MagSafe carried over. On that basis, most iPhone 17 Pro cases should physically fit the iPhone 18 Pro. The one caveat is the camera. Recent reports point to a slight redesign of the camera module. The change is not expected to be dramatic, but even small shifts matter around the lens area, so you could see imperfect camera alignment, visible gaps around the module, reduced protection at the lenses, and issues with precision-fit cases in particular.

In short: for basic protection many 17 Pro cases will likely still do the job. For proper fit and finish, a dedicated iPhone 18 Pro case will remain the better option.

It’s widely expected that Apple will announce its first folding phone at next month’s iPhone event, and the leaks keep coming. The latest comes courtesy of Sonny Dickson on Bluesky, who posts two photos that give us a look at the colors Apple has chosen.

Dickson shares a pair of photos that reportedly show the iPhone Ultra camera protector. The shape matches the leaks: a horizontal rounded bar with holes for two cameras, a microphone, and the flash. The packaging says the part is anti-fingerprint, anti-collision, anti-scratch, and anti-water, as well as supporting anti-reflection and auto-focus lenses. The package doesn’t name the iPhone Ultra, but merely says it is for “IP 2026.”

More interesting are the presumed colors for the parts. One is silver, which suggests a white model, but the other appears to be a deep shade of blue, either Dark Blue like the iPhone 17 Pro or Midnight like the MacBook Air.  Back in April, Macworld reported that Apple was working on an Indigo option for its folding phone similar to the MacBook Neo. It’s hard to tell from the photo which shade of blue the iPhone Ultra will match, but this is the closest we’ve gotten to confirmation of blue instead of black.

Apple’s first dark blue phone was the Midnight iPhone 13 in 2021 and was inspired by the volcanic rock Basalt, according to Evans Hankey, Apple’s then-vice president of industrial design, who has since left the company. The color has since been used on Macs, HomePods, and AirPods.

Apple is expected to unveil the folding iPhone Ultra at its iPhone event in September. Stay tuned to Macworld for all the latest news and rumors leading up to the event.

There have been eleven generations of Apple Watch, each available in multiple screen sizes, connectivity options, case materials, and straps, ranging from a couple of hundred dollars to literally thousands. Anyone else remember the original $10k Apple Watch Edition?

While not all are available to buy directly from Apple–right now the company sells only the Ultra 3, the Series 11, and the 3rd-gen SE–it’s easy to buy older models from third-party retailers or, if you’d like to save a decent chunk of cash, consider a refurbished model. And refurbished is an option you really shouldn’t ignore.

While you might scoff at the prospect of buying what is technically a second-hand watch, Apple’s refurbishing process is admirably rigorous. In fact, apart from the packaging, we don’t think you’d be able to tell the difference between an Apple Watch that the company is selling refurbished and one that’s brand new. Other retailers have their own refurbishment processes, which vary in rigor and reliability, but when you take the potential savings into consideration, buying a refurbished Apple Watch becomes a highly tempting option.

In this article we break down everything you need to know about buying a refurbished Apple Watch from the Apple Refurbished Store or elsewhere to save some serious money. We have a bunch of deals at the bottom of the article, so if you want to jump straight to the deals they are here.

If you want to save some money on an Apple Watch, it’s also worth keeping an eye on our roundup of the best Apple Watch deals.

What’s coming to Apple Watch in 2026.

Where to buy a refurbished Apple Watch

Here are some of the leading resellers of refurbished Apple products, including the Apple Watch, in the U.S.

• Apple Refurb Store: Apple itself offers a range of refurbished Apple Watches, and in typical Apple fashion, the refurb is of the highest quality.
• Back Market: Back Market offers pre-owned Apple Watches with verified health tracking accuracy and performance. Each watch is tested by refurbishers, with ECG, temperature sensing, blood oxygen, GPS, and all features verified working. They are also backed by a minimum 1-year commercial warranty, and returnable for 30 days.
• Walmart: US shoppers can also find refurbished Apple Watches from Walmart. Keep in mind, it’s not directly from the retailer but from other sellers. The beauty is that if you run into trouble you can return the device at any Walmart location, and we’ve seen some very competitive prices from this retailer.
• eBay: An obvious choice, but be cautious. Check the vendor’s rating and feedback as well as the device’s condition.
• Amazon Renewed Store: We’ve seen some excellent deals on here. Check carefully for the condition: these details can sometimes be difficult to spot on the product page.

U.K. readers should try the following refurbished sellers:

• Apple Refurb Store: Buyers in the past have remarked on the near-new quality of Apple Refurb products, albeit in plain white packaging. These may not be as cheap as the refurb units on offer elsewhere but the quality is exemplary and you can buy with peace of mind.
• musicMagpie: musicMagpie is one of the most reputable refurbished sellers. It often has sales that reduce prices further. Plus, it also accepts old tech, gadgets, and media (including books and CDs) which you can trade in for more money off.
• Back Market: Back Market offers pre-owned Apple Watches with verified health tracking accuracy and performance. Each watch is tested by refurbishers, with ECG, temperature sensing, blood oxygen, GPS, and all features verified working. They are also backed by a minimum 1-year commercial warranty, and returnable for 30 days.
• eBay: Check the vendor’s rating and feedback, and use the Condition dropdown tool to distinguish between new and various grades of refurbished.
• The iOutlet: The iOutlet is another reseller with great prices on refurbished devices, including several generations of the Apple Watch. You can also trade in other gadgets such as iPhones, iPads, and gaming consoles to earn cashback.
• Amazon Renewed Store: Another solid option for refurbished Apple Watch deals. Purchases are not only backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy, but the “Renewed Guarantee” as well, which lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product.
• Envirofone: Known for its smartphone offers, this site has in the past offered a solid selection of older Apple Watches too. Stock seems to be running low lately, however, and it’s never been good for more recent units.
• Refurb-Phone: Has deals available on some surprisingly recent Apple Watch models.
• Laptops Direct: Despite the name, Laptops Direct also sells smartwatches. Select Condition > Refurbished in the lefthand filters column to see refurb offers only.

What’s the difference between a new Apple Watch and a refurbished one?

Technically speaking, Refurbished Apple products (by which we mean specifically products refurbished by Apple itself) are pre-owned, but with such a meticulous refurbishing process undertaken by the company, it’s unlikely you’ll even notice.

It’s not necessarily the case that the product has been used for years on end: it could have been used by a journalist relatively briefly for review purposes, or it could have been returned by a customer who quickly decided on a different make or model. Even if it was returned for being faulty after a period of use, Apple rectifies any issues before selling the unit on, providing a product that’s essentially ‘as new.’

When you buy a refurbished Apple Watch directly from Apple, you’ll also get the same one-year warranty that you’d get when buying a brand-new Apple Watch, along with all the manuals and accessories that come with the smartwatch.

The only noticeable difference is the packaging; refurbished Apple products come in a plain white box with no branding or imagery. We imagine this is something to do with stopping untrustworthy customers from buying a refurbished product and trying to resell it as new, but only Apple knows the real reasons why. Perhaps it’s just cheaper.

The company promises that all refurbished Apple Watches are in full working order, and each unit is thoroughly tested to guarantee this. The Watch will have been thoroughly cleaned and inspected to make sure it holds up to Apple’s high standards.

As with new Apple products, you’ve got the option of extending the warranty from one to two years by taking out AppleCare+ for your refurbished Watch. This provides two years’ worth of technical support, 24/7 access to Apple experts and hardware coverage for two accidents, although there’s an additional $69/£49 fee for repairs (or $79/£55 for Ultra models).

Note once again, however, that the comments above refer to Apple’s refurbished store. Other sellers will deliver varying standards of quality and reliability, although most of the big names provide a similar standard to Apple.

Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch?

We think it’s certainly worth considering, as top-quality refurbished products can look as good as new and, packaging aside, your experience will be identical to that of a first-time buyer.

Which refurbished Apple Watch should I buy?

Right now you can buy the latest Apple Watch Series 11 at the Apple Refurbished Store, as well as refurbished Series 9 and 10, plus Ultra 2 and Ultra 3.

You may be able to find a tempting-looking deal on the Series 6 or 7, but these models are quite a long way behind the current range in terms of features, screen size and so on. More importantly, even the Apple Watch series 8 is no longer supported by Apple itself (it does work with watchOS 26 but not watchOS 27) so you won’t be able to install new versions of watchOS.

If you’re struggling to decide on which Apple Watch is best for your needs, we recommend taking a look at our Apple Watch buying guide, although that deals primarily with the current range. For comparisons with the older models, check out our extensive library of Apple Watch reviews, or go to Apple’s website and use the watch comparison tool. (Hover over Watch in the top bar, then click Compare Watch.)

Which Apple Watch models are available from Apple’s Refurbished Store?

With an ever-evolving stock, it should come as no surprise that products available in Apple’s Refurbished Store change quite frequently. You’ll want to check back regularly if a particular model of Apple Watch isn’t available when you first look.

At time of writing, the U.S. store has refurbished Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and 11, 2nd- and 3rd-gen SE, and Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 models.

Those browsing the U.K. store can choose from the Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and 11, 2nd- and 3rd-gen SE, and Ultra 3 models. There’s every chance that Ultra 2 may reappear but it wasn’t there at the time of writing.

As we say, don’t lose heart if the configuration you want isn’t there right now. You might get lucky in the future.

How to choose a refurbished Apple Watch

If the Apple Refurbished Store doesn’t have the model you’re after, you can try a third-party reseller. There are a few things to note before you hand over your cash, however.

Unlike the situation with Apple’s refurbished devices, which will be virtually indistinguishable from new, third-party refurbished sellers tend to offer Apple Watches in a range of conditions. Some will use descriptive terms such as “pristine” and “good.” Others will go for Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C, like grades on a report card.

A Grade A refurbished Apple Watch will be as close to new as possible. Any sign of wear will be so minimal, you probably won’t be able to tell. Unsurprisingly, Grade A refurbished devices will be more expensive. Grade B may show some signs of wear but these will be mostly minor. Finally, a Grade C refurbished Apple Watch will show obvious signs of wear like scratches or scuffs.

Keep in mind, however, that these grades are only a rough indication of what to expect. There isn’t a standards body that oversees these grades–which means a Grade A (or pristine) from one reseller may be closer to a Grade B or good elsewhere. This is why it’s also important to look at all the individual return/warranty policies of the reseller before you part with your money.

Most trusted refurbished sellers offer a one-year warranty on purchases, which means you can get a refund or free repair should you run into any trouble. Many retailers such as musicMagpie and Back Market also offer a 14- or 30-day money-back guarantees so you can return the device if you’re not totally happy.

Best Apple Watch deals right now

In this final section you can browse our automated price-comparison widgets for each model of Apple Watch. These check prices across thousands of retailers to bring you the best possible deal right now, and they include both new and, where available, refurbished options.

Apple Watch Series 11, 42mm, from $399/£369

Apple Watch Series 11, 46mm, from $429/£399

Apple Watch Ultra 3, from $799/£749

Apple Watch SE 3 (2025), 40mm, from $249/£219

Apple Watch SE 3 (2025), 44mm, from $279/£249

Apple Watch Ultra 2, from $799/£799

Apple Watch Series 10, 42mm, from $399/£399 (now discontinued)

Apple Watch Series 10, 46mm, from $429/£429 (now discontinued)

Apple Watch Series 9, 41mm, was $399/£399 (now discontinued)

Apple Watch Series 9, 45mm, was $429/£429 (now discontinued)

In just a few weeks, Apple will unveil its latest family of smartwatches, including the Series 12 and Ultra 4. According to the rumors, the new watches will be relatively minor updates with a new faster chip and a few internal upgrades. But once again, the 2026 Apple Watches will largely be the same as the models they replace.

But according to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple’s design team “has been exploring a broader rethink of its smartwatches over the past year or so and is evaluating several different directions.” Among the new models currently being tested are:

• A “fan favorite” ceramic case option, which hasn’t been offered since 2016.
• A screenless Apple Watch band.
• New screen sizes and shapes, including round screens.
• Premium models beyond the Ultra and Hermès options.
• More affordable options besides the current SE model.

None of these models are expected this year, though Gurman leaves the door open to a possible appearance of a ceramic Series 12. He notes that Apple “hasn’t settled on a single direction yet” and some of these models are “unlikely to hit the market.” However, he reports that the “revamp could be as significant as the iPhone’s transformation from a slab design into a foldable device.”

In particular, he points out that Eddy Cue, who is in charge of the Health app overhaul, is “an avid fan of Whoop and Oura Rings,” and wants to adapt to “shifting consumer tastes and the growth of AI-powered health and wellness.”

Apple has been rumored to be creating several AI-centered wearable devices, including a pin and a pendant, and AirPods with cameras for Visual Intelligence. But this report makes it sound like that same strategy could apple to future wrist-worn wearables as well.

You can expect to see a new Apple Watch in mid-September, but based on this report, it might be worth skipping it and waiting to see what arrives next year.

Apple, despite its reputation, has never been a luxury company. Macs and iPhones may cost more on average than their competitor’s counterparts, but when you compare apples to Apple’s, a MacBook Pro or iPhone 17 Pro is worth spending a few dollars more for than a comparable model from HP or Samsung.

Since its very first computer, Apple’s mission has been clear: build the best computer it can at a reasonable price. That’s not necessarily the cheapest product (and quite honestly, often isn’t), but the one with the best mix of features, performance, and build quality for the price. Buying a new iPhone or MacBook shouldn’t be a difficult decision—if you’re willing to pay Apple’s prices, you’re getting a device that looks nicer, performs great, works with all your other Apple devices, and lasts longer. It’s a balancing act that relies on all aspects of Apple’s development process to be in sync.

But over the past couple of months, that has begun to shift. In late June, the company was forced to raise prices on all Macs and iPads due to the worsening RAM crisis, including the MacBook Neo, a laptop that epitomized Apple’s pursuit of value so perfectly, it even exceeded Apple’s own lofty expectations. What was seen as the sign of a new era for Apple’s affordability now costs 20 percent more than it did when it launched in March and suddenly isn’t an impulse buy.

Now it looks like that balancing act will get a little more precarious when Apple launches its new iPhones next month. Not only is Apple expected to raise prices on iPhones, but the highly anticipated folding iPhone Ultra will likely start at $2,000 or more. And suddenly, Apple’s carefully crafted balancing act could come crashing down.

Tipping the scales

In a way, this all started with the iPod. When it launched in 2001, it cost $399 for 5GB of storage, the same price industry-leading Creative charged for its Nomad Jukebox that had four times the storage. Naturally, the iPod was seen as overpriced, outmatched, and downright laughable–until people got to use one and discovered that Apple got everything right. The form factor, transfer speeds, sound quality, and navigation were all superior to the Nomad Jukebox, and it didn’t take long for the iPod to become the most popular mp3 player.

And then Apple did something somewhat uncharacteristic–it expanded the line with cheaper models. Within four years, there was the $249 mini, $149 nano, and $99 Shuffle, basically an iPod for every budget. It was a strategy that paid off, turning the iPod into a cultural sensation with some 500 million sold.

When Apple followed up the iPod with the iPhone in 2007, there was a similar sticker shock. It started at $499 with 4GB of storage or $599 for 8GB of storage with a 2-year Cingular contract (rebranded AT&T Mobility just before the iPhone went on sale), about double what other so-called smartphones cost. But the iPhone was a repeat of the iPod: It quickly proved its worth, cheaper models followed, and the industry shifted. Apple repeated the formula with the iPhone X, pushing the starting price to $999 for the first time, then keeping the price steady and offering cheaper options alongside it.

But nine years later, Apple is at a crossroads. While the RAM crisis has spared the iPhone thus far, there are numerous signs that Apple is set to launch its most expensive iPhone Pro line ever, with prices set to rise $100-$200 across the board, and even more for higher-end storage options. To make matters worse, Apple is reportedly delaying the base iPhone 18 until the spring. That means there won’t be a new iPhone this holiday season that costs less than $1,200–and we don’t know yet if Apple will increase prices for the 17 and 17e.

It could be all too much for Apple’s balancing act. The iPhone 18 Pro is essentially an S-year model with a higher price tag, while the iPhone Ultra will be a first-gen product that merely looks like an overpriced Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 clone.

Even with higher trade-in values, the Apple Upgrade program, and whatever exclusive Siri AI features are tied to the new phones, Apple is in real danger of selling fewer new iPhones than ever before. Apple fans have grown accustomed to a certain level of stability with iPhone prices, and after Apple already raised prices on the MacBook Neo, nothing is off the table.

Just a couple of months ago, 2026 was shaping up to be the year when Apple’s slow march up the mountain of affordability finally reached its zenith. Now it looks like it all might come crashing down.

Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.

Trending: Top stories

A new MacBook Air might be really hard to find in a few weeks

10 Accessibility features every iPhone user should turn on

Apple Store lottery gives employees a chance to work the iPhone event

I trained Siri AI to answer my messages. It actually worked

Your old Mac and iPhone are suddenly worth a lot more

Podcast of the week

You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.

Reviews corner

HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock review: A gigantic SSD is hampered by limited expansion

Iniu P63 Cougar 25K (100W) Power Bank review: Smallest 25K power bank

Nimble SharePower review: A power bank that splits in two to share

TerraMaster F4-425 Pro NAS review: Very fast with backup, surveillance, and media streaming features galore

The rumor mill

AirPods with built-in cameras may be coming this fall

iPhone price hikes are almost a certainty

If you want an iPhone 18 Pro, you’ll probably need to act fast

The M6 MacBook Pro is expected to be a minor refresh—here’s everything we know

Video of the week

Do you always hit the audio button when sending a text? This iOS 27 feature will save you. Enjoy all our short-form videos on TikTok or Instagram.

@macworld.com

iOS 27 finally lets you hide the Audio button in Messages—here’s how #ios27beta #techtips #apple

♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld

Software updates, bugs, and problems

iCloud Private Relay might leak your IP address, even when you use Safari

Apple fixes Screen Sharing vulnerability with macOS 26.6.1 update

Watch as Apple’s new AI photo tools are pushed to the limit

And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

Every September brings the same headache: a school or university supply list that suddenly includes a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and a household budget that hasn’t grown to match. Between rising hardware costs, global memory shortages, and kids lobbying hard for the newest device to fit in with friends, “Back to School tech” has quietly become one of the biggest line items of the season.

The good news is there’s a smarter and more affordable way to buy—refurbished—and it doesn’t mean settling for less.

Why Back to School tech costs so much

Three pressures are colliding at once. Schools increasingly require students to bring their own laptop or tablet for coursework, turning what used to be optional into a mandatory expense. At the same time, a global shortage in memory chips has pushed up the base price of new devices across the board. Layer on peer pressure—plenty of kids push for the latest brand-name gadget even when a perfectly good device is already sitting in a drawer—and parents are left stretched thin, weighing tech costs against groceries and heating bills.

Refurbished doesn’t mean second-hand

This is where the mindset shift matters. A refurbished device isn’t the same as a used one picked up second-hand with no guarantees. On Back Market, every product goes through professional inspection, testing, repair, and restoration before it’s resold—closer to buying a certified pre-owned car than rolling the dice on a stranger’s old phone. Devices are typically up to 50% cheaper than buying new, while still delivering full functionality for schoolwork, streaming, gaming, and everyday use.

It’s also a category with real breadth. Back Market isn’t just phones—you’ll find laptops, tablets, 2-in-1 computers, desktops, headphones, speakers, and more, all refurbished and inspected to the same standard. Whatever’s on the school supply list, there’s likely a refurbished option worth checking first.

The numbers back it up

Demand is climbing fast: searches for iPhones are up over 60% month over month, with mid-generation models like the iPhone 13 and SE converting best—proof that shoppers want reliable performance without paying flagship prices. Every purchase—be it MacBook, iPhone, or iPad— also comes with the Back Market Promise: after its up to 100-point quality inspection, a 1-year warranty, 30-day returns, and free shipping, so the savings don’t come at the cost of peace of mind.

Stack the savings: student and teacher discounts

Parents, students, and educators can save even further with Back Market’s student and teacher discount.

Signing up takes just a couple of minutes:

• Sign up on Back Market
• Enter your details
• Receive a £20-off code to use on eligible electronics

That discount applies across the board—smartphones, laptops, tablets, and more—stacking on top of the already-reduced refurbished pricing.

Back to School with the best

Back to School shopping doesn’t have to mean choosing between a stretched budget and a disappointed kid. Buying refurbished gets premium brands like Apple into students’ hands at a fraction of the price, backed by real quality checks and warranties—and it keeps devices out of landfill in the process. For families feeling the pinch this September, it’s one of the easiest wins on the list.

TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more when you get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office, on sale for $43 through August 16.

Microsoft 365 is no longer the best way to get apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Instead of paying a $99.99/year subscription, you can buy the whole set outright with a Microsoft Office Lifetime License, and it’s on sale for $42.97 (reg. $219).

Your license unlocks Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote, all installed natively on your Mac with no virtual machine or workaround needed.

To download your apps, just check your inbox after making your purcahse. Delivery is instant, so you won’t have to wait long.

Microsoft Office works on the three most recent macOS versions, meaning Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe all run it without a hitch, and updates are included the whole time. One thing to keep in mind: this is the standalone 2021 suite, not Microsoft 365, and it won’t run inside Parallels or another virtual machine. This version also doesn’t include the new AI integrations, but for those who want a clean, reliable set of apps to work on, that may be a welcome change.

Get a Microsoft Office Lifetime License on sale for $42.97.

Sale ends August 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime LicenseSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Simplify bookkeeping with QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 for Mac—available for $299.99 (reg. $536) for one year.

Running a business is rewarding. Keeping the books? Usually less so. If your financial records are spread across spreadsheets, email threads, and handwritten notes, it may be time for an upgrade.

Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 for Mac is available for $299.99 (reg. $536) and brings your business finances together in one place. Built specifically for Mac users, it helps manage invoicing, expenses, customer information, inventory, payroll tracking, and financial reporting without the juggling act.

Need to see how profitable a project was? Job costing tools help break it down. Looking for a clearer picture of your business? Detailed reports make it easier to track income, expenses, and overall performance throughout the year.

QuickBooks also simplifies everyday tasks with bank feed support, time tracking, and easy data imports from Excel or older QuickBooks versions, making it easier to move away from manual bookkeeping.

Whether you’re a freelancer, consultant, or small business owner, having organized financial records can save time and reduce stress when tax season arrives. Instead of wondering where your numbers came from, you’ll know exactly where your business stands.

For $299.99, QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 for Mac is a practical investment in staying organized, making informed decisions, and spending less time on bookkeeping—and more time running your business. Don’t miss out.

Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 for Mac (1 User): 1-Year SubscriptionSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Today only: get Windows 11 Pro on sale for $11.23 with code AUG25.

If Mac users want to run Windows apps, it’s easier to just set up a Windows operating system with something like Parallels Pro, but that does mean you still have to pay for the OS you’re licensing. Instead of dropping the full $199 on Windows 11 Pro, you can get it right here for only $11.23, but this sale ends today.

Pro adds a range of useful upgrades over older versions of Windows. BitLocker encrypts the drive on your virtual machine, so anything sensitive stays locked down. Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox let you spin up more virtual machines and test risky apps in isolation, away from your main setup. Azure AD connects you to a company network when work calls for it.

You also get the full Windows 11 experience running next to macOS. Snap layouts arrange your windows, DirectX 12 Ultimate handles the games that skip the Mac, biometric login is backed by TPM 2.0, and Copilot sits in the taskbar for quick answers and page summaries. One license installs on a single machine and stays yours for good.

You don’t have to pay full price for Windows anymore.

Use code AUG25 to get Windows 11 Pro for $11.23.

Sale ends August 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.