In Nasdaq trading today, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose $0.48 to $333.74 to hit a new all-time closing high. Apple’s all-time intraday high was also set today at $334.98.
Apple’s 52-week low stands at $201.50.
Today’s trading volume for AAPL shares was 63,196,563 versus Apple’s average trading volume of 54,686,906 shares.
Apple’s PE Ratio currently stands at 40.40.
Apple currently has a market value of $4.902 trillion, making it the world’s second-most valuable company.
The top five U.S. publicly-traded companies, based on market value:
MacDailyNews Take: To the moon, Alice. To the moon!
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Apple has increased the monthly subscription prices for its Apple Music streaming service in the United States and other markets, marking the first hike in nearly four years. The changes took effect today.
New Apple Music pricing:
• Individual plan: $11.99 per month (up from $10.99)
• Family plan: $19.99 per month (up from $16.99)
• Student plan: $6.99 per month (up from $5.99)
Select Apple One bundles have also seen increases:
• Family plan: $27.95 per month (up from $25.95)
• Premier plan: $39.95 per month (up from $37.95)
The Apple One Individual plan remains unchanged at $19.95 per month.
In a statement to Music Business Worldwide, Apple explained the move: “As a result of rising licensing costs, Apple Music is increasing its subscription price beginning today.”
This increase follows Spotify’s earlier 2026 price adjustment in the U.S., which Apple had publicly highlighted. Despite the hikes, Apple Music’s new Individual rate of $11.99 remains lower than Spotify Premium’s current $12.99.
The last Apple Music price rise occurred in October 2022, when the Individual plan moved from $9.99 to $10.99. Apple has periodically adjusted prices for other services like Apple TV and components within Apple One bundles since then.
MacDailyNews Take: The timing aligns with broader industry trends of streaming services adjusting prices amid rising content and licensing expenses. Existing subscribers will see the changes on their next billing cycle.
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Apple TV has announced season five of the award-winning animated kids and family series “Stillwater,” premiering with five new episodes on August 21, 2026.
Apple TV on Thursday announced an all-new season five of the beloved, award-winning animated kids and family series “Stillwater,” premiering with five episodes on Friday, August 21, 2026. Based on the bestselling Scholastic “Zen” book series by Jon J Muth, “Stillwater” follows a wise panda who teaches three young siblings about the world and each other. The series centers on siblings Karl (Judah Mackey), Addy (Eva Ariel Binder) and Michael (Tucker Chandler), who encounter everyday challenges — big and small — which sometimes feel insurmountable. Fortunately for these three, they have Stillwater (James Sie), a wise panda, as their next-door neighbor. Through his example, stories and gentle humor, Stillwater teaches the children the concept of mindfulness, while offering them a deeper understanding of their feelings as well as tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges. “Stillwater” is produced for Apple TV by Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment.
Take a deep breath and embrace your inner peace by embarking on a fun adventure with the first four seasons of “Stillwater” available on Apple TV. Through breathing exercises, mindful moments and simple everyday practices, this uplifting, Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award-winning series invites you and your family to discover your own zen through each episode. “Stillwater” was produced through Apple TV’s changemakers initiative in collaboration with awareness and intention expert Mallika Chopra, author of “Buddha and the Rose” and the “Just Be” series for kids.
Apple TV has announced season five of the award-winning animated kids and family series “Stillwater,” premiering with five new episodes on August 21, 2026.
Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment produce, with Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Atlan, Terry Kalagian, Iole Lucchese, Caitlin Friedman, Jef Kaminsky, Jun Falkenstein and Rob Hoegee serving as executive producers. In addition, the series features the voice talents of Sie, Binder, Chandler and Mackey.
The exciting slate of recent offerings for kids and families on Apple TV also features “My Brother the Minotaur,” from Academy Award-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon and award-winning children’s media company Dog Ears; “Wonder Pets: In the City,” from Emmy Award winner Jennifer Oxley and produced by Nickelodeon Animation; animated adventure trilogy “WondLa,” based on the New York Times bestselling book series “The Search for WondLa” by Tony DiTerlizzi; highly anticipated kids and family series “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” inspired by the hit, Emmy Award-nominated cultural phenomenon “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; season two of Emmy Award-winning “Shape Island,” based on the internationally bestselling picture books from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen; animated fantasy adventure series “The Sisters Grimm,” based on Michael Buckley’s New York Times bestselling book series; the music-driven animated comedy series “BE@RBRICK” from DreamWorks Animation; “Goldie,” inspired by Emily Brundige’s award-winning 2019 short film of the same name, and many more.
Award-winning all-ages offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV also include the BAFTA Award and Emmy Award-winning live-action animated hybrid special “The Velveteen Rabbit,” BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling With Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” Emmy Award-winning “Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning books, Annie Award-nominated “Not a Box,” GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s and Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show.” Live-action offerings include “Me,” an elevated cinematic coming-of-age story from Barry L. Levy, Bonnie Hunt’s DGA Award and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward,” “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter,” Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award-winning “Jane,” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.” “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers, is also featured.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 850 wins and 3,737 award nominations and counting including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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In a major boost to American domestic manufacturing, the Trump Administration today announced that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is committing an additional $100 billion in investments for advanced semiconductor facilities in the United States. This brings TSMC’s total planned investment to $265 billion — one of the largest foreign direct investments in American history.
The announcement, made jointly by the White House and the Department of Commerce, highlights the success of strategic trade and investment partnerships, particularly the historic U.S.-Taiwan deal signed in January 2026. As a direct result, TSMC will build four additional advanced semiconductor manufacturing and packaging facilities, bringing its U.S. footprint to 12 leading-edge facilities, primarily in Arizona.
Building on Momentum
This latest expansion builds on previous commitments. TSMC’s original plans started at around $65 billion, which were later increased. The new infusion underscores sustained momentum under the current administration’s focus on reshoring critical supply chains.
In a statement, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized the job-creating impact, “President Trump’s leadership is driving companies to invest in American manufacturing. TSMC’s announcement of an additional $100 billion investment following our historic deal on trade and investment with Taiwan will create tens of thousands of American jobs and bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to America.”
TSMC Chairman and CEO Dr. C.C. Wei echoed the sentiment, crediting collaboration with the administration and strong U.S. customer demand, “We appreciate the strong collaboration and support of the Trump Administration, Secretary Lutnick and our leading U.S. customers… This is to support the strong multi-year demand from our leading U.S. customers, and we believe this investment will further foster the development of the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, strengthen the supply chain, and support significant job creation in the United States.”
Economic and Strategic Impact
The investments are expected to generate significant construction and high-tech jobs, along with billions in indirect economic output. Beyond direct facilities, the broader U.S.-Taiwan trade and investment framework is catalyzing an additional $500 billion in Taiwanese investments — $250 billion in direct semiconductor and related enterprises, plus another $250 billion to strengthen the full supply chain in the U.S.
This move addresses long-standing concerns about reliance on overseas production for advanced chips, especially those critical for AI, defense, automotive, and consumer electronics. By expanding domestic capacity with a world-leading foundry like TSMC, the U.S. strengthens its position in the global semiconductor race while creating high-paying opportunities for American workers.
The Trump Administration’s approach, which combines diplomatic deals, incentives for onshoring, and a focus on national security, continues to yield concrete results in rebuilding America’s industrial base.
MacDailyNews Take: With 12 state-of-the-art facilities on track, America is poised to capture a much larger share of advanced chip production. This not only bolsters economic competitiveness, but also enhances supply chain resilience against geopolitical risks.
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Apple is preparing to introduce advertising to its Maps app in the United States and Canada this summer, but the company has drawn some distinctly Apple-style lines in the sand about who gets to advertise there.
In a new Advertising Services policy update, Apple explicitly prohibits several ad categories from appearing in search results and Suggested Places within Maps. The banned list includes home services such as plumbing, electrical work, locksmithing, HVAC repairs, pest control, roofing, and general contracting. Also off-limits: bail bond services and cryptocurrency ATMs.
Medical service ads will be considered on a case-by-case basis, which is Apple’s polite way of saying “we’ll let you know if your ad passes our vibe check.”
The restrictions set Apple Maps apart from Google Maps, where home services represent one of the biggest local advertising categories. While Google happily serves up sponsored results for roofers and plumbers, Apple appears intent on keeping its Maps experience focused on businesses users can actually use Maps to visit without needing a hard hat or a getaway driver.
Apple’s broader advertising rules remain in force as well — no ads for weapons, controlled substances, political campaigns, or anything that competes with (or knocks off) Apple products. (Sorry, Samsung. Not sorry.) The company also continues its long-standing bans on deceptive claims, discriminatory content, and anything it deems offensive or controversial.
Ads in Maps will carry a clear “Ad” label, and Apple emphasizes that user location data and ad interactions will not be tied to Apple IDs or shared with third parties.The move comes months after Apple first announced plans for Maps monetization as part of its Apple Business platform. While many users have already expressed dread at the arrival of ads in what was previously a relatively clean navigation experience, the selective restrictions have sparked a mix of reactions — ranging from relief that emergency “my basement is flooding” searches won’t be interrupted by sponsored plumbing offers, to mild confusion about why perfectly legal (if occasionally sketchy) services are getting the boot.
MacDailyNews Take: In typical Apple fashion, the company is threading the needle between revenue generation and maintaining its reputation for curation. The result? A Maps app that will happily tell you where to get the best latte, but won’t lift a finger to help you when your kitchen sink stages a rebellion.
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In Nasdaq trading today, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose $12.64 to $327.50 to hit a new all-time closing high. Apple’s all-time intraday high was also set today at $328.72.
Apple’s 52-week low stands at $201.50.
Today’s trading volume for AAPL shares was 58,741,821 versus Apple’s average trading volume of 54,375,570 shares.
Apple’s PE Ratio currently stands at 39.70.
Apple currently has a market value of $4.810 trillion, making it the world’s second-most valuable company.
The top five U.S. publicly-traded companies, based on market value:
MacDailyNews Take: Gaudy (yet still woefully undervalued)! To the moon, Alice. To the moon!
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Apple has rolled out its official 2026 sales tax holiday guide, giving shoppers in select U.S. states a timely opportunity to purchase popular products like Macs, iPads, iPhones, and accessories without paying state sales tax. The promotions vary widely by state in terms of dates, eligible items, and spending caps, so timing and research are key to maximizing savings.
When the Tax Holidays Hit
The savings windows open soon and stretch through mid-August:
• Alabama: July 17–19 (with a $1,173 total limit; local taxes may still apply)
• Florida: July 20–August 20 (the longest period, with a $1,500 cap per computer or accessory)
• New Mexico & Tennessee: July 31–August 2
• West Virginia: July 31–August 3
• Arkansas: August 1–2
• Missouri, South Carolina & Virginia: August 7–9
• Massachusetts: August 8–9
Purchases can be made online through Apple or in physical stores, though tax relief may appear on the final receipt rather than at checkout.
What Qualifies Where?
Eligibility rules differ significantly, creating big opportunities in some states and more limited ones in others:
• Arkansas stands out with the most generous terms: nearly all Apple products—including Macs, iPads, iPhones, Apple Vision Pro, printers, and many accessories—qualify with no price limit.
• Massachusetts allows most individual items up to $2,500 each, and you can buy multiple qualifying items in one transaction.
• Florida and Missouri cap computers and accessories at $1,500 per item.
• Tennessee applies a $1,500 limit to the combined total of a computer plus eligible accessories.
• New Mexico sets lower thresholds: $1,000 for computers and $500 for related hardware.
• West Virginia restricts savings to iPads priced at $500 or less.
• Virginia is the most limited, covering only cell phone chargers and batteries up to $60.
• Alabama has its $1,173 overall cap.
Some states also tie accessory eligibility to purchasing a main device or require school-related use, so checking Apple’s state-specific details is essential.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s tax holiday page provides full breakdowns and qualifying product lists to help customers plan ahead. Whether you’re eyeing a new MacBook for work, an iPad for school, or everyday accessories, these limited-time windows could deliver meaningful discounts depending on your state.
Shoppers should act within their state’s dates and review the fine print to ensure their intended purchases qualify. For the complete list and terms, visit Apple’s dedicated 2026 Tax Holiday page here.
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Apple is quietly shopping for AI chip companies. According to a new report from The Information, the company has been approaching chip startups and consulting with bankers about potential acquisitions — a notable shift for a firm long known for its reluctance to make big hardware buys.
The move comes as Apple grapples with limitations in its current AI infrastructure. Its Private Cloud Compute servers, which power parts of Apple Intelligence, currently rely on internally designed M2 Ultra chips. These have proven insufficient for handling larger, more demanding AI models.
The Siri Overhaul Problem
One concrete example stands out: Apple has been working on a major Siri overhaul powered in part by Google’s Gemini models through a partnership. When engineers tried running these advanced models on Apple’s own servers, the M-series hardware fell short. As a result, more complex Siri tasks are now routing through Nvidia GPUs hosted in Google’s cloud infrastructure.
This dependency clashes with Apple’s long-standing preference for controlling its own silicon and protecting user privacy through on-device and Private Cloud Compute processing.
Baltra Delayed
Internally, Apple has been developing its first dedicated AI server chip, codenamed Baltra. The company had originally targeted a 2026 launch, but the timeline has slipped. Baltra is designed as a purpose-built server ASIC (with Broadcom contributing key networking and interconnect technology) to reduce reliance on third-party GPUs for cloud AI workloads.
The reported pursuit of acquisitions suggests Apple wants to accelerate progress on its next-generation server silicon — either by bringing in specialized talent and IP or by acquiring teams that have already solved similar challenges.
A Rare Shift in M&A Approach
Apple has historically avoided large acquisitions, preferring to build technology in-house. Its most recent notable deal was the January 2026 acquisition of Israeli audio AI startup Q.ai (reportedly valued around $2 billion). With roughly $45.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of late March 2026, Apple certainly has the financial firepower if it chooses to move.
This new interest in chip startups marks a pragmatic acknowledgment that the AI hardware race — particularly in data center-scale inference and training — moves extremely fast. While Apple excels at designing efficient mobile and laptop chips, scaling specialized AI accelerators for servers is a different challenge that hyperscalers like Google, Amazon, and Meta have been tackling for years.
Broader Context
This development comes just days after Apple announced a major multi-year expansion of its partnership with Broadcom, worth more than $30 billion. The deal includes custom silicon components and supports U.S. manufacturing expansion in Colorado. It underscores Apple’s broader push to strengthen its custom silicon capabilities while also highlighting how much it still relies on external partners for certain advanced technologies.
What It Means
If Apple follows through on acquisitions, it could help close the gap in its cloud AI infrastructure faster than organic development alone would allow. Success here would support more ambitious on-device and private-cloud AI features without heavy dependence on external clouds and GPUs.
It would also represent a meaningful evolution in Apple’s strategy: from a company that largely designs its own chips from scratch to one willing to acquire specialized expertise to stay competitive in the AI era.
The coming months will reveal whether these discussions lead to actual deals — and whether they can meaningfully accelerate Apple’s ability to run sophisticated AI models on its own terms.
MacDailyNews Take: The mad scramble to catch up continues. Hopefully, new Apple CEO John Ternus can quickly kick things back into high gear after far too many years of coasting along in neutral.
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In a significant victory for Apple, a U.S. federal judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through its iCloud storage service. The ruling relies heavily on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content.
U.S. District Judge Noël Wise in San Jose, California, issued the decision late Monday, agreeing with Apple’s position that it is immune from the claims. The plaintiffs alleged that Apple did not take sufficient action to stop images of their childhood sexual abuse from being stored and shared on iCloud.
Key Details from the Case
The lawsuit, filed in 2024 by two plaintiffs using the pseudonyms Amy and Jessica, represented a class of 2,680 individuals with similar claims. It sought up to $32.8 billion in compensatory damages and a court order requiring changes to iCloud.
Judge Wise ruled that the claims treated Apple as an online publisher responsible for user content, placing them squarely under Section 230 protections. She emphasized, “Nothing in federal law requires Apple to proactively utilize available technology or develop new technology to identify and report child sexual abuse material on its cloud platform.”
In a notable statement, the judge added, “Lawmakers can fix this problem that is contributing to the exploitation of children. This Court cannot.”
The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs cannot refile it.
Background and Apple’s Position
The suit claimed Apple knew about CSAM issues on iCloud, but chose not to deploy available detection tools. It referenced Apple’s 2021 announcement of the NeuralHash program for identifying such material, which was later abandoned in favor of end-to-end encryption—making detection more difficult. Apple has maintained that it has worked diligently to combat CSAM while prioritizing user privacy and security.
James Marsh, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said they are considering an appeal and exploring other legal avenues. He noted, “While the plaintiffs disagree with the judge’s conclusion on the law, we agree with her conclusion that Congress should do more to protect children online and address the skyrocketing harms from online exploitation.”
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Broader Context
This ruling highlights ongoing debates over Section 230 and tech companies’ responsibilities regarding harmful content. Apple faces a similar lawsuit from West Virginia’s attorney general, described as the first of its kind by a government agency targeting iCloud’s role in CSAM distribution.
MacDailyNews Take: For those unfamiliar with the NeuralHash debacle, over which we were vehemently opposed, more here.
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According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman in his most recent Power On newsletter, Apple is making one of the biggest changes yet to its Apple Silicon roadmap for Macs. The company is prioritizing on-device AI performance and graphics capabilities over its traditional generational cadence, leading to a skipped generation of high-end chips and a faster push toward the M7 family.
Apple’s New Chip Roadmap: M6 (Base Only), Then Straight to M7
Apple plans to release a base M6 chip as early as late 2026 for entry-level Macs. This includes testing in a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro (internally codenamed J804). Key improvements expected in the M6 include:
• Memory bandwidth rising to around 200 GB/s (up from 153 GB/s on the M5)
• Enhanced GPU performance with up to 12 cores
• A stronger neural engine for better AI workloads
In a notable departure from past strategy, Apple will skip M6 Pro, M6 Max, and M6 Ultra variants entirely. This marks the first time the company has bypassed higher-end versions of a new chip generation.
Instead, Apple is fast-tracking the M7 series to deliver major advancements in on-device AI processing and graphics performance sooner. According to Gurman’s reporting:
• Base M7 — Expected in the first half of 2027
• M7 Pro and M7 Max — Targeted for late 2027
• M7 Ultra — Slated for 2028 (with support for up to 1.5 TB of memory in high-end configurations)
The M7 lineup (with codenames like Delos for the base and Andros for the higher variants) represents Apple’s effort to meet surging demand for AI features and more graphics-intensive software by accelerating technologies originally planned for later generations.
Gurman also notes that M8 chips are already in active development, with high-end variants expected around 2028 on an advanced manufacturing process.
First-Ever Touch MacBook Pro Coming Soon
Gurman’s newsletter also covers Apple’s long-rumored touchscreen MacBook Pro models (14-inch and 16-inch, codenamed K114 and K116). These represent the biggest hardware overhaul of the high-end MacBook Pro lineup since the transition away from Intel chips.
Key details:
• Expected launch window: Late 2026 or early 2027
• Initial models will use current-generation M5 Pro and M5 Max chips (aligning with the decision to skip high-end M6 variants)
• First MacBooks to feature OLED displays
• Adoption of an iPhone-style Dynamic Island interface (with a hole-punch camera cutout replacing the current notch)
• Touch support designed as a “bonus” feature rather than a primary input method — macOS updates will allow seamless switching between touch and traditional trackpad/keyboard use, with adaptive UI elements
Later follow-up models are expected to transition to the new M7 chips once available. The redesigned laptops are also described as potentially thinner and lighter, with reinforced components to handle touch input without screen bounce.
Why the Change? AI Is Reshaping Apple’s Priorities
Gurman explains that this unusual strategy shift allows Apple to focus engineering resources on the more significant architectural leap in the M7 generation. By skipping incremental high-end M6 chips, the company can deliver stronger on-device AI capabilities and graphics performance to its most powerful Macs faster.
This aligns with broader industry trends and Apple’s ongoing push into AI across its ecosystem (including new Apple Pencil models also mentioned in the newsletter).
MacDailyNews Take: M6, we hardly knew ya!
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3D render claiming to depict Apple’s first foldable iPhone (image: Jon Prosser)
Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone Ultra — the company’s first foldable smartphone — is generating significant buzz as its expected September launch approaches. A fresh leak shared today provides new details on the device’s battery specifications, offering a clearer picture of how Apple plans to power its ambitious foldable design.
According to a Weibo post from well-known leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple’s battery supplier has submitted regulatory filings for two battery cells rated at 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh. Combined, these cells deliver a total capacity of 4,883mAh. This dual-cell configuration aligns with common designs in existing foldable phones, where separate batteries are typically placed in the two halves of the device to optimize weight distribution and space.
For context, this capacity positions the iPhone Ultra competitively against current foldables:
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: 4,400mAh total
• Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 5,015mAh
• Previous-generation Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 4,650mAh
While the iPhone Ultra’s total capacity falls between the Galaxy Z Fold7 and the latest Pixel Fold, real-world battery life will depend on numerous factors beyond raw mAh ratings. These include the efficiency of Apple’s custom silicon, the power demands of the foldable display (both when folded and unfolded), software optimizations in iOS, and overall device thickness and weight.
How It Compares to the Rest of the iPhone 18 Lineup
The same leak ecosystem has also revealed projected battery sizes for the standard iPhone 18 models, giving a broader view of Apple’s 2026 iPhone strategy:
• iPhone 18 Pro: ~4,288mAh (eSIM) or 4,056mAh (physical SIM) — modest gains over the iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: ~5,567mAh (eSIM) or 5,391mAh (physical SIM) — significantly larger than previous Pro Max models
• iPhone Ultra: 4,883mAh
The iPhone Ultra’s battery is notably smaller than the Pro Max’s, which makes sense given the engineering constraints of a foldable chassis. Apple is expected to prioritize thinness, durability of the hinge, and balanced weight over maximizing capacity.
Battery capacity represents just one piece of the puzzle. The iPhone Ultra’s unique form factor — featuring a large unfolded display — could introduce new power-management challenges and opportunities. Apple has a strong track record of delivering excellent battery life through tight hardware-software integration, so the final endurance figures may outperform what the raw numbers suggest.
MacDailyNews Take: The iPhone Ultra is rumored to launch alongside the iPhone 18 series in September 2026. While leaks continue to provide tantalizing details, official confirmation of specs, pricing, and real-world performance will only come from Apple itself at the launch event. Until then, the iPhone Ultra remains one of the most exciting product developments in Apple’s recent history!
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While many Big Tech peers chase high-risk AI growth, Apple stands out for its stability and resilience. The company is projected to grow free cash flow in 2026 — a rarity among its counterparts — positioning its stock as a defensive haven traditionally reserved for consumer staples, utilities, and healthcare names.
“No one admits they like or want to buy more AAPL,” Mizuho Securities analyst Jordan Klein wrote Friday. “But I get why more folks [are] looking at AAPL as a hedge or long idea.”
“Analysts estimate Meta Platforms, Oracle, and Amazon will have negative free cash flow in 2026 because of their AI investments. Meanwhile, Apple is expected to produce $143 billion in free cash flow, up from $109 billion last year, per FactSet. Its capital expenditures will likely decline in 2026.
“[Apple] has definitely been out of favor, but carries a lot less direct near-term execution risk,” Klein wrote.”
But Apple is one of the few high-profile tech names that isn’t a primary consumer or supplier of AI compute, and that differentiation has value… If Apple’s share price is any indication, plenty of investors want to keep at least some money away from the AI trade.
Just wait until Apple begins to release Apple Intelligence features underpinned with — but privacy-protected from — Google Gemini and things like Siri begin to actually work as well as, or even better than, people expect them to work in 2026. The sky’s the limit for Apple stock!
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Apple TV has achieved a notable milestone in the fiercely competitive U.S. streaming market, rising to become the fourth-largest subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform according to the latest JustWatch Q2 2026 Market Shares report.
The data, based on more than 45 million streaming interactions tracked via the JustWatch app and website across more than 320 SVOD services, measures shifts in user interest and engagement (including searches, clicks, and watchlist additions) over the past three months.
Apple TV gained 1 percentage point in the quarter and an impressive 5 percentage points year-over-year — the strongest annual growth among major platforms. This surge allowed it to overtake Hulu and Max and secure sole possession of fourth place.
Netflix continues to lead, but saw some quarterly softening in prior periods before rebounding slightly. Prime Video remains a strong second despite flatter annual performance. Disney+ holds steady in third.
Subscriber Context and Apple’s Strategy
Apple does not publicly disclose exact subscriber numbers for Apple TV. Industry estimates place global paid subscribers around 45 million as of late 2025/early 2026 vs. Netflix (300M+ paid), Amazon Prime Video (200M+ global users), and Disney+ (131.6 million paid).
However, Apple TV punches above its weight in the U.S. thanks to deep integration with Apple’s hardware ecosystem. Promotional offers (such as three free months with new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV purchases) and bundling through Apple One help drive adoption. The service maintains a premium, ad-free positioning while competitors have widely adopted ad-supported tiers.
High-quality originals continue to fuel momentum. Acclaimed titles like Severance, Shrinking, and others have driven record viewership in recent periods. Looking ahead, Apple’s multi-year exclusive U.S. rights to Formula 1 (starting in 2026) represent a significant expansion into live sports, potentially broadening its appeal.
Broader Streaming Landscape
The U.S. SVOD market remains dynamic. While scale leaders Netflix and Prime Video dominate overall, mid-tier services are closing gaps through content quality, user experience, and bundling. Many households now subscribe to multiple services (often 4–6 on average), increasing competition for attention and wallet share.
Apple TV’s strong engagement growth signals that a focused, high-production-value approach can resonate even without the massive libraries of its larger rivals.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV’s momentum is accelerating in a competitive market thanks to its focus on premium content; quality over quantity (even as the quantity continues to grow)!
Note on methodology: JustWatch’s figures reflect engagement and interest on its platform rather than total subscribers, paid viewing hours, or revenue. This can differ from other rankings (e.g., those from Parks Associates or analyst estimates focused on subscriber counts).
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In Limpopo province, in the far north of South Africa, where much of the population lives in rural areas, environmental conservation is often not considered very often. Instead, the residents spend much of their time trying to make a living either from the forestry around them or from fishing in the Mutale and Limpopo rivers. But for Mutale resident Tshilidzi Mulugana, degradation of the local environment is a concern, as it will affect the community and endanger biodiversity. Mulugana is the founder of the Niani Youth Development organization whose mission is to educate local youth. He wants to make a change in the community, to help residents conserve the environment. Mulugana is afraid the next generation may not live to know indigenous tree species — yet these trees serve as traditional medicine. He noted several threats to indigenous species such as baobab (Adansonia genus), leadwood (Combretum imberbe), mopani (Colophospermum mopane) and marula (Sclerocarya birrea): recurring floods, the movement of elephant herds from neighboring Zimbabwe or Mozambique through the area, and traders who cut the trees to sell as firewood. In 2019, Mulugana began a grassroots conservation initiative focused on planting indigenous trees. One day, an official from Kruger National Park (KNP) — a walkable distance from where he lives — came across Mulugana, attracted to his project. The official later invited a representative from the forestry and fisheries department, and in 2024, the two groups funded the project. Mulugana also hoped to recruit community members to help with the work,…This article was originally published on Mongabay
For generations, the Kahoon Valley in Pakistan’s Chakwal district in northwestern Punjab has thrived as a rich ecological haven. Its fertile soil has yielded lush, historical loquat orchards, while the surrounding scrub forests have provided vital refuge to diverse wildlife, including local peacock populations and rare mountain deer species. At the center of this landscape sit the Katas Raj Temples, an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site anchoring the region’s profound spiritual heritage. However, the unchecked expansion of mega cement factories in the early 2000s transformed this natural sanctuary into a toxic industrial zone. Relentless industrial pumping reportedly caused the water table to crash from 36 meters (120 feet) to 122 m (402 ft). This extreme depletion withered the famous loquat trees and displaced native birds, also draining the sacred Katas Raj pond. Determined to save his homeland from erasure, Raja Waseem Ahmed, an environmental activist, brought together residents from neighboring villages to establish the Kahoon Protection Committee to defend the Kahoon Valley against the extreme ecological and social damages caused by heavy industrialization. Waseem utilized environmental legislation and led a forensic legal campaign that exposed the manipulated environmental approval documents eventually driving the Supreme Court of Pakistan to intervene on its own accord, resulting in a historic verdict that banned factories from draining local groundwater and slapped the industry with huge fines. In retaliation for his activism, Waseem was struck by unjustified anti-terrorism lawsuits, temporarily exiled from his native district by local authorities, and subjected to stress so harsh that it…This article was originally published on Mongabay
Myanmar experienced a military coup in February 2021. In the aftermath, widespread repression by the military regime fueled the emergence of armed resistance movements across the country, pushing an ongoing conflict to its most intense level in decades. Starting from 2024, the military’s conscription law has further threatened the lives and futures of young people, forcing thousands to leave the country. Meanwhile, environmental degradation continues to worsen. People are facing multiple crises, including environmental destruction caused by the overexploitation of natural resources, natural disasters, armed conflict, and human rights violations by the military regime. The democratic freedoms that used to exist during the five years of semi-civilian government before the coup have disappeared. Within this context, environmental activism and conservation efforts have widely faded. Yet, against this backdrop, the environmental group Clean Mountains was established in 2024 and is based in the conflict-affected states of Karenni (Kayah) and Karen (Kayin), areas controlled by resistance forces. The organization — funded through grants and donations — is a small, women-led team of four members between the ages of 22 and 28. The group’s founder, Ou Ou, 27, leads Clean Mountains in implementing community-based conservation in conflict-affected mountainous regions, focusing on waste management, water conservation, sustainable agriculture and forest conservation. Ou Ou, founder of Clean Mountains, attends an awareness session on waste management in Bago region, 2025. Image courtesy of Clean Mountains. Through both her previous organization and Clean Mountains, waste management systems have been established in more than 130 villages, including 15…This article was originally published on Mongabay
The bear came out of the forest with enough force to kill him. It mauled the hunter badly and cost him an eye. He spent three months in a hospital recovering. There, he began asking himself questions that had not troubled him much before. Why was he hunting? Why was he killing? Hunting had come to him through his family. His father and grandfather were known around Sreemangal, in northeastern Bangladesh, for killing leopards, wild boars, and other animals that threatened people or crops. As a boy, he accompanied his father into the forest. After his father died, he continued hunting. He became a gunsmith and a guide, familiar with animal tracks, forest paths, and the habits of creatures that most people encountered only by accident. Sitesh Ranjon Deb holds a pair of jungle cats in his house in Sreemangol, Bangladesh. Image via Agence France-Presse (AFP) After the bear attack, Sitesh Ranjan Deb, who died on July 14th, gave up hunting. He began capturing injured animals, removing snakes from houses, treating wildlife recovered from traffickers, and returning animals to the forest. The grounds of his home became a treatment center. It eventually developed into the Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation, one of the country’s best-known privately established wildlife-rescue institutions. The center remained closely tied to his household. Its patients occupied bedrooms, courtyards, cages, and improvised treatment spaces. Jungle-cat cubs, pythons, slow lorises, monkeys, birds, and other animals passed through. Those requiring constant attention stayed close to the family. Deb kept photographs…This article was originally published on Mongabay
South Africa’s free-roaming cheetah population is much smaller than previously thought, according to the first coordinated national census of the species living outside protected areas. Over three and a half years, between 2022 and 2026, researchers from Ashia Cheetah Conservation, the Cheetah Outreach Trust (COT) and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands surveyed almost 100,000 square kilometers (38,610 square miles) of habitat across South Africa’s northern border. Wild cheetahs that inhabit the unprotected areas of South Africa are considered “free roaming.” Using camera traps, GPS collars, landowner surveys, genetic analyses, scat sampling and public sighting records, they compiled the Free-Roaming Cheetah Census (FRCC), which they described as the most comprehensive assessment yet of South Africa’s free-roaming cheetahs. During this time, they recorded only 83 mature adults, and 119 individual animals in total, which is 70% less than previous, smaller-scale studies suggested using model-based estimates. A young cheetah investigates a monitoring site in North West Province. Image courtesy of Ashia Cheetah Conservation. “Finding fewer than 100 mature adults is an extremely strong indication of how dramatically smaller the population has become within South Africa over the years,” Marna Smit, director of Ashia Cheetah Conservation, told Mongabay. Because of a high mortality rate in young cheetahs, which can be up to 90% for wild animals, mature adults — the breeding population —- are important for the survival of the species. Cheetahs in South Africa are currently managed in four separate systems: The free-roaming population, the semi-protected population in Kruger National Park…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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