Apple rumors of Wednesday 21 October 2026

Archive From the archive of The Apple Rumor Mill

This is an archive page with the Apple rumors of Wednesday 21 October 2026, as they stood that day. The summaries have not been updated since; rumors may have been confirmed or overtaken by now. Today's news is on The Apple Rumor Mill.

Last updated: 21 October 2026, 08:03

The iPhone Duo goes on sale Friday, iPad mini rumours firm up and iOS 27.2 is due next week.

Update: iPhone Duo goes on sale Friday, reviews due Thursday; new online orders only arrive in late January

High iPhone

A first unboxing video has surfaced and the first reviews are expected on 22 October. New online orders now deliver around 25 January, and Apple's site tells walk-in buyers to check back on the 24th for store stock. The US caps orders at two units per customer to deter scalpers, while Japan, South Korea and the UAE only allow pickup reservations.

Update: OLED iPad mini reportedly gets 12GB RAM, Wi-Fi 7 and its first water-resistance rating

High iPad Events

MacRumors lists ten expected changes, including the A20 Pro, 12GB of memory instead of 8GB, Wi-Fi 7 through Apple's own N1 chip, a C1X or C2 modem and, for the first time, an IP water-resistance rating. Attendees of the 28 October event should also get hands-on time with it. The current model costs $599 and the OLED screen will probably push that up; whether it runs at 60 or 120Hz is still unknown.

Update: iOS 27.2 expected next week with changes in six apps; tvOS 27.2 adds three features

High Software iPhone Home

9to5Mac expects the public iOS 27.2 release during the week of 26 October. It brings profiles to the Apple TV app, Dual Capture on FaceTime group calls, two new smart-lock automations in Home and a split Up Next queue in Podcasts. tvOS 27.2 adds a shuffle mode for screen savers, American and British Sign Language in the player and hand-picked photos for screen savers.

Apple explains why HomeView only arrives now: it waited for Siri AI

Certain Home Software

Apple executives say HomeView only made sense once Siri AI was ready, because personal context and spoken interaction make the device usable for the whole family. Apple also frames that personal context as the core of its privacy story for the home.

9to5Mac: Apple legt uit waarom HomeView pas nu komt

Telstra may have leaked RCS for iPhones in Australia with iOS 27.3 in December

Medium Software iPhone

Australian carrier Telstra mentioned an iOS update in December for bringing RCS messaging to iPhones, in a support page that has since been taken down. If that timing holds, Telstra customers would get RCS with iOS 27.3. It rests on this single, withdrawn source.

MacRumors: iOS 27.3 en RCS bij Telstra

Samsung reportedly plans six foldable phones next year in response to the iPhone Duo

Low iPhone Other

A leak says Samsung has six foldables lined up for 2027, from the Z Flip9 to the Z TriFold2 and a Z Slide. 9to5Mac reads it as a response to the strong demand for the iPhone Duo.

9to5Mac: Samsung zes vouwbare telefoons volgend jaar

Apple now sells repair parts for iPhone 18 Pro, Mac Studio and Mac mini

Certain iPhone Mac Other

Apple's self-service repair store has added parts for the iPhone 18 Pro and the newest Mac Studio and Mac mini models.

Next up: 22 October: first iPhone Duo reviews; 23 October: iPhone Duo on sale; 28 October, 18:00 CET: "Pro and tell" event in Los Angeles

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Every day has its own page. They stay up for three months.

November 2026

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October 2026

September 2026

Apple reports fiscal fourth-quarter results tonight after US markets close; analysts are watching iPhone revenue and memory-chip costs most closely.
According to its headline, Gurman's 1 November newsletter covers impressions of the touchscreen MacBook Pro and a shake-up in Apple's software division around games; details are not yet confirmed.
Early Black Friday deals in the US cover AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Ultra 4, AirTag 2 and the M5 MacBook Air.

Apple reports fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results on Monday evening (about 10:30 pm Dutch time).
The first iOS 27.3 beta arrives next week with the first Apple Intelligence features for China; the full release follows in December.
According to Gurman, three iPads are due in the first half of 2027: an OLED iPad Air, an iPad Pro with vapor-chamber cooling and a new entry-level iPad.
Apple explains how to fix the hour offset on the Apple Watch Always On display; HomeView will ship on 13 November with older software.

Apple confirms the first iOS 27.3 beta arrives next week (likely 3 November in the US), with a December release.
Per MacRumors, Apple has alerted stores and service partners to cracking iPhone Duo inner displays; there is no recall.
The OLED MacBook Pro gets edge swipes for Dock and Spotlight and touch can be switched off; TrendForce sees up to 1.5 million units in 2027.
The new iPad mini gets a slightly smaller battery (18.9 Wh) with unchanged battery life; HomeView's software shows six users and face recognition.

Per Gurman, about 80% of the first iPhone Duos went to Apple Stores, which helps explain the long online delivery times.
HomePod mini 2 goes on sale today, with two-tone fabrics and Siri AI only arriving later.
The OLED iPad mini has 12GB of RAM but no 120Hz; HomeView follows on 13 November, with Amazon delivery only in late November.
Apple acquires AI startup Ascend.io, cuts its Taiwan App Store commission to 26%, and per Bloomberg must store messages in Russia.

The HomePod mini 2 reaches stores tomorrow at $149; Siri AI is missing at launch and follows later in an update.
Touch on the new OLED MacBook Pro can be switched off via an accessibility option; Apple is helping developers with videos and labs on November 18 and 19.
The 512GB Mac Studio adds $15,500; according to Bloomberg, Apple is replacing iPhone Duos with display faults.
9to5Mac expects the first iOS 27.3 beta possibly on November 2, with a release around mid-December.

Apple introduced its first MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen and Dynamic Island: the 14-inch starts at $2,899 (€3,349 in the Netherlands), the 16-inch at $3,399.
Pre-orders are open and sales begin November 6; the new Pros use M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, and the lid logo glows again.
For the Netherlands, Bright says Siri AI and Apple Intelligence will probably not be included.
On the iPhone Duo, a hinge supplier denies blame for the broken screens; AppleInsider sees no widespread problem.

Apple announced an M6 iMac (from $1,499) and a 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 (from $1,999) today; pre-orders open tomorrow, with deliveries on November 6.
Per Gurman, the MacBook Pros with OLED touchscreens and M5 Pro or Max follow tomorrow; nothing is officially confirmed yet.
iPad mini pre-orders open Wednesday at 10:10 a.m. Pacific, and Apple raised trade-in values for iPads and Macs.
Per Gurman, a MacBook Neo 2 is due in the first half of 2027; iOS 27.2 adds an invisible watermark to AI-made images.

Apple announced the iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED, A20 Pro and IP67; from $699 (€759 per Bright), pre-orders Wednesday, deliveries November 6.
Per Gurman, M6 versions of the iMac and MacBook Pro follow Tuesday, then Wednesday's event with the OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro; none of that is official yet.
iOS 27.2 and the other 27.2 updates are out, bringing Siri AI to five more languages.
Apple acknowledges a screen problem on a small group of iPhone Duo units without naming a cause, and iFixit scored its repairability 5 out of 10.

According to Gurman, Apple will reveal touchscreen OLED MacBook Pros on Wednesday October 28, plus an M6 iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro; none of it is officially confirmed.
iPhone Duo owners report inner screens cracking on their own along the hinge; Apple hasn't responded and the scale is unclear.
Teardowns show two battery cells, an A20 Pro and a C2 modem; the phone also failed a dust test, and Apple is looking at a better Safari layout on the outer display.
Verizon is compensating delayed iPhone Duo pre-orders with $100; new online orders at Apple ship in late January.

Apple is teasing 'Pro and tell' for October 28; leaks point to a MacBook Pro with an OLED touch screen but the same M5 chips, not yet confirmed.
A JerryRigEverything durability test and earlier reports point to the iPhone Duo display being fragile around the hinge.
iPhone Duo store pickup is returning in small numbers; online orders now mean waiting until late January.
Apple is looking for a fix for cramped Safari layouts and published repair guides; iOS 27.2 is expected next week.

The iPhone Duo goes on sale today, with limited store stock and online orders only arriving in late January.
Per 9to5Mac, Apple retook first place in market value from Nvidia on Friday, with a record share price above $351.
iOS 27.1 is Duo-only; other iPhones get iOS 27.2 next week, reportedly with Pencil support for the Duo.
Per Gurman, Apple is testing a larger inner display for a later Duo; the 28 October event remains the expected OLED MacBook Pro reveal.

Reviewers call the iPhone Duo the best foldable so far, criticising its weight, Touch ID instead of Face ID and a small outer screen.
The Duo hits stores in limited numbers on Friday (two per customer); DigiTimes says Apple is raising production by over 40%, and a 'Made for iPhone Duo' label is coming.
A Mac event follows on 28 October, with a lighter OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro and an OLED iPad mini expected; not yet confirmed by Apple.
According to Gurman, Apple is testing a Duo 2 with Face ID under the display; in Australia Apple must allow alternative app stores from March 2027.

The iPhone Duo is out on Friday and reviews follow on Thursday; online orders will not be delivered until around the end of January.
According to new leaks, the OLED iPad mini gets 12 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 7 and, for the first time, water resistance.
iOS 27.2 is expected in the week of 26 October, with changes in six apps; tvOS 27.2 adds three features.
Less certain: Telstra may have leaked an RCS launch with iOS 27.3 in December, and Samsung is said to plan six foldables for 2027.

Apple confirms the “Pro and tell” event on Wednesday 28 October in Los Angeles (6 p.m. Dutch time).
Expected: a MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen, an M6 14-inch MacBook Pro and an M6 iMac; Apple itself has not said what is coming.
An OLED iPad mini with the A20 Pro is also expected, possibly around 200 dollars more expensive (that figure comes from MacRumors alone).
The iOS 27.2 release candidate is out; the final version will probably follow within a week.

According to Gurman, the Macs are revealed on 27 or 28 October and reach stores, together with the iPad mini, around 6 November (not yet confirmed).
The iPhone Duo is probably not on sale without a pre-order at launch; pre-orders will not be delivered until the end of January.
The iPhone Duo battery is 4,883 mAh, according to an EU document.
macOS 27 removes Rosetta, so older Intel apps may stop working.

According to Gurman, the first MacBook with a touchscreen could reach stores on 6 November, with OLED and the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Gurman calls the iPhone Duo pre-orders a big mistake: supply was tight and delivery dates slipped to January within half an hour.
The iPhone Duo battery is 4,883 mAh, according to an EU document.
Rumor (medium confidence): a pricier HomeView Pro with a rotating robotic arm, in 2027 or 2028.

The iPhone Duo may not be on sale in stores without a pre-order on launch day.
EE is the first UK carrier to publish prices for iPhone Handoff.
Buyers report that Apple’s silicone case for the Duo needs glue to stay on (user reports, not an Apple statement).
macOS 27 removes Rosetta; IT admins are preparing their Mac fleets.

The iPhone Duo can be ordered from 1,999 dollars (256 GB), with delivery from 23 October.
Apple calls demand “extraordinary”; delivery estimates slipped to January within a short time.
HomeView can be ordered and ships on 13 November, with 19 apps at launch.
iPhone Handoff costs 5 to 10 dollars a month at carriers.

According to Gurman, the OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro could be revealed on 27 or 28 October and reach stores on 6 November.
Apple is inviting media to an all-day launch experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday 28 October.
iPhone Duo pre-orders open tomorrow at 2 pm Dutch time; the Get Ready deadline runs out tonight.
CEO Ternus calls early foldable phones 'kind of cheap and crappy' in an interview with TIME.

Apple closes above a 5 trillion dollar market value for the first time.
iPhone Duo repair costs range from 49 to 1,499 dollars without AppleCare+.
Siri AI arrives on HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K at launch; the first-generation HomePod mini does not get it.
According to Bloomberg, Apple Intelligence reaches China in December with iOS 27.3.

Apple announces HomeView: a 299 dollar smart home hub arriving on 13 November.
The HomePod mini 2 costs 149 dollars and arrives on 30 October, but Siri AI follows later.
The new Apple TV 4K costs 299 dollars and arrives on 13 November.
HomeView will not come to the EU because Siri AI is still missing on iOS there.

You can already prepare your iPhone Duo order with Get Ready; pre-orders open on 16 October.
According to Gurman, Apple shows new Macs and an iPad mini in Los Angeles on 27 and 28 October.
According to Gurman, the OLED iPad mini will cost considerably more than today's 599 dollars.
The redesigned Health app is in a beta but will not ship with iOS 27.2.

Gurman leaks details of HomeView, HomePod mini 2 and a new Apple TV 4K ahead of Tuesday's launch.
HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K are said to ship on 30 October, HomeView in mid-November.
Apple is setting up big in-store displays for the iPhone Duo, but supply stays limited.
According to Gurman, the new entry-level iPad slips to early 2027.

Apple is expected to show a home hub with a screen on Tuesday; the name is not yet confirmed.
A HomePod mini 2 and a new Apple TV 4K are also expected.
A rumour links Apple to security company ADT for in-home installation.
None of the products has been officially confirmed.

Apple invites media to a Welcome home launch on 13 October in New York; home products are expected.
Gurman reports that Apple releases four more products around 27 October, including MacBook Pros with OLED touchscreens.
According to Nikkei Asia, Apple cuts iPhone 18 Pro orders by at least 15 percent; the share falls more than 2.5 percent.
Mac shipments fell 11 percent in the third quarter, but market share rose.

Apple announces a “Welcome Home” launch for 13 October; a smart home hub, a new Apple TV 4K and a refreshed HomePod mini are expected.
According to Gurman, OLED MacBook Pros, an OLED iPad mini, an M6 14-inch MacBook Pro and an M6 iMac follow on or around 27 October.
iPhone Duo pre-orders open on 16 October; you can set up your order in advance from Monday.
Ternus reshuffles management with a new head of acquisitions, while Cook explains why he stepped down.

iOS 27.2 is expected in the week of 26 October, with Siri AI in five more languages.
The OLED iPad mini is said to get an A20 Pro, 12GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 7 and, for the first time, water resistance.
Apple’s own home camera arrives next year according to Gurman and is separate from the LG accessories.
Users report skin irritation from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4; Apple points to band fit and keeping the watch clean.

LG is building seven smart home devices, including a doorbell, lock and cameras, that Apple helped develop.
Apple reports earnings on 2 November; the iPhone Duo is not yet part of that quarter.
iOS 27.2 beta 3 brings a new Apple Music logo; macOS 27.2 points further toward touch input.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 score 4 out of 10 for repairability, and Apple must pay extra interest in the Masimo case.

Developers can submit apps for the iPhone Duo; only apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK fill the inner display.
Two launch waves are expected in October: home products on 13 October and Macs in the last week.
The third beta of iOS 27.2 is out and macOS 27.2 contains code for touch gestures.
Apple Cash requires an ID check for reloads from 9 November and Apple One gets pricier in several European countries.

Gurman: Apple holds an event on 13 October for a smart home hub, a new HomePod mini and a new Apple TV 4K.
The MacBook Pros with OLED and touchscreen will be significantly lighter, with the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
CEO John Ternus makes product design a major priority and visits the design studio several times a week.

Apple confirms that some iPhone 18 Pro Max units on AT&T lose their cellular connection; affected devices must be replaced.
Apple wants to tighten macOS for apps that ask for Full Disk Access, partly because of the rise of AI agents.
According to Gurman, Apple unveils a home hub, a HomePod mini and an Apple TV 4K on 13 October; whether there will be an event is still open.
A Texas school district switches from Chromebooks to iPads and MacBook Neos.

Apple vice president Kate Bergeron says the iPhone Duo has a replaceable top layer on the folding screen to limit the crease.
Gurman expects the MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen “as early as October”, with a chance of slipping to November.
Apple stores received boxes marked “Do Not Open Until October 8”, in line with the home products expected on 13 October.
The home hub reportedly comes in four colours, and the iPhone 18 Pro is selling well in China.

According to Gurman, Apple will unveil a smart home hub, a HomePod mini 2 and a new Apple TV 4K on 13 October; Apple has not confirmed this.
The full-size HomePod is missing from that list and will only follow later, Gurman says.
Whether it will be an online event or just press releases is unclear; John Gruber expects a keynote video.
A fake pre-order page for the iPhone Duo can infect iPhones that lack a recent security update.

From 12 October you can already put together your iPhone Duo order; pre-orders open on 16 October.
According to Gurman, Ternus wants to release products more often and spread across the year, with fewer managers and small rounds of layoffs.
Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Pixelmator Pro and Freeform receive new features.

iOS 27.0.1 fixes iPhone 18 Pro restarts after a failed Face ID check and two other problems.
macOS 27.0.1 arrives together with security updates for macOS 26 and 15 that close a CoreGraphics vulnerability.
Five new StandBy views tied to the iPhone Duo and iOS 27.1 leak from code.
A roundup lists 12 things Apple may bring in October, from confirmed software to rumors about Macs and home products.

Apple's own images and code reveal an iPad mini with the A20 Pro, a HomePod mini in new colors and a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.
October looks busy: the iPhone Duo on 23 October, iOS 27.1 and 27.2, and rumors about Macs and a home hub.
Apple publishes the tvOS 27 release notes almost two weeks late.
TestFlight now works in landscape on iPhone, ahead of the iPhone Duo.

Apple confirms a Face ID fix for the iPhone 18 Pro is part of an upcoming update; iOS 27.0.1 is being tested.
Qualcomm and Apple extend their patent license from 1 April 2027; the term stays undisclosed.
Apple announced 12 new products in one month.
An OLED iPad mini and a touchscreen MacBook Pro are expected in October, but neither is confirmed.

Apple is testing iOS 27.0.1, probably with Face ID improvements for the iPhone 18 Pro.
The iOS 27.2 beta brings Apple TV profiles, Dual Capture on FaceTime and five new Siri AI languages, among other things.
The Beats 360 headphones with swappable cushions can be ordered for $349.99.

Everything here is speculation or based on rumors, not an official Apple announcement. The label (Certain, High, Medium, Low) is my estimate of how reliable the source is. The summaries are in my own words; read the article itself for the details (the star marks the leading source). Sources: leading Apple sites.