iOS | The Verge

Apple clarifies that Texture and Grain controls are exclusive to the latest iPhones’ cameras

2026-09-22T15:48:08-04:00

Apple's new texture and grain controls for stylizing photos will be more limited on older phones than initially expected.

A confusingly worded press release from Apple indicated that the new features, announced alongside the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro earlier this month, would be "available" on older devices like the iPhone 16 and iPhone Air that "support the latest generation of Photographic Styles."

But it turns out that "available" didn't mean that older iPhone models would have full access to those new features.

Making texture adjustments to enhance or smooth a subject's skin and adding film grain will only be an option when those phones …

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Apple releases iOS 27 with Siri AI overhaul

2026-09-14T13:33:22-04:00

The iOS 27 update arrives just in time for the iPhone 18 Pro release. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Apple is now rolling out its iOS 27 update to compatible devices today, alongside the watchOS 27, iPadOS 27, and visionOS 27 updates. Siri AI is the headline feature across all four updates, the delayed AI-powered overhaul of the Siri assistant. Siri AI is available as a beta today for English-only devices, and Apple says support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish is coming in October.

Siri AI isn't the only big feature in iOS 27, though. Apple is adding a new Liquid Glass opacity slider that lets you pick between a clearer UI or a more frosty one. A lot of built-in apps are also getting new icon designs, with subtle twea …

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Apple completely revamped iOS 27’s controls and apps for the iPhone Duo

2026-09-09T16:11:27-04:00

Obviously, part of the appeal of a foldable phone is all that additional screen real estate. That gives you plenty of room for some serious multitasking that just isn't possible, or at the very least is clunky, on a smaller screen. Apple rarely does things without seriously considering all the implications, so it was never just going to shove iOS as-is into its new foldable.

The company didn't have to start from scratch or reinvent the wheel, however. It already had a mobile OS capable of multitasking in iPadOS, which was built on iOS to begin with. The company even said that the iPhone Duo was designed to be "as natural and intuitive as iP …

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iPhone 18 live blog: On the ground at Apple’s biggest event

2026-09-09T14:20:19-04:00

John Ternus, now Apple’s CEO, at WWDC in 2019 as the company’s VP of hardware engineering. | Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP via Getty Images

It's not just time for any old Apple event, but one that's expected to usher in a new era for the company. This is the first iPhone keynote to be led by Apple's newly anointed CEO John Ternus, and all signs and rumors have been pointing to it being the one that also debuts a foldable iPhone. Ternus has already billed this as "a huge launch . . . that's going to be phenomenal." What bigger and flashier way to step into the limelight than with a new halo product of an iPhone?

We're also likely to hear about OS updates, Apple Watches, and possibly some AirPods. But this might be an unconventional event in more ways than one. It's also possible …

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Sonos finally added Live Activities controls for your iPhone lockscreen

2026-08-17T12:55:33-04:00

Sonos released an update to its mobile app that finally introduces support for iOS' Live Activities, giving iPhone users quick access to playback controls on their lockscreen. The added functionality is a "much requested, anticipated, and needed feature," according to a post Sonos shared to Reddit today that was spotted by 9to5Mac.

While some features like displaying album art are not available, the Sonos Live Activity provides basic details and controls when listening to music or podcasts through a Sonos system without having to fully unlock your iPhone and open the app.

Support for Live Activities and lockscreen controls similar to wha …

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Apple won’t turn on any ‘restricted mode’ for missed lease payments

2026-07-28T14:53:45-04:00

Apple says it won't limit the capabilities of devices leased through its new Upgrade program if you miss a payment. In an emailed statement to The Verge, Apple spokesperson Brian Bumbery says, "There will be no restricted mode and/or there will be no limitations put on device functionality due to missed payments or default with the Apple Upgrade program."

This confirmation comes after 9to5Mac uncovered code in an iOS 27 beta for a new "App Managed Features" system. This would reportedly allow financial partners to "perform ongoing status checks" on a device, as well as have Apple's system services put a device in "Restricted Mode" if its ow …

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iOS code could reportedly let Apple cut off apps when users miss iPhone payments

2026-07-22T15:13:21-04:00

Code found in an iOS 27 beta would allow Apple to put a financed iPhone in "Restricted Mode" if it detects any missed payments, 9to5Mac reports. The finding follows a story from Bloomberg earlier this week claiming Apple is preparing to launch a new "Apple Upgrade" financing program for leasing new devices.

iPhones in "Restricted Mode" would reportedly lose access to nearly all apps, except for basics like the Phone app, Settings, and the App Store. It uses a new "App Managed Features" system that allows financing or partner apps to continually check if a financed device is in good standing.

According to 9to5Mac, the code also includes a …

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Apple’s public betas for iOS 27 and more are out now

2026-07-13T16:47:36-04:00

Apple has just released public betas for iOS 27 and other major OS updates that are set to publicly launch this fall. The big new feature this year is Siri AI, the delayed AI-powered revamp to Siri. It actually works - which is big praise! - though it keeps things brief.

Other betas available now include iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate. If you want to test out Apple's upcoming updates, fair warning that you may run into issues like unexpected glitches or a battery that drains faster than you're used to. Use your best judgment on whether you should actually install the beta or wait to install an update until it's officially r …

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Leaked iPhone 18 Pro photos reportedly wound up on the dark web

2026-06-30T08:29:54-04:00

The iPhone 17 Pro. | Image: The Verge

Leaked iPhone 18 Pro photos and parts lists appeared on the dark web following a data breach affecting one of Apple's key suppliers, according to a report from Reuters. The leaked images show a drop test of what a source tells Reuters is the iPhone 18 Pro, equipped with a three-camera layout and Apple logo.

This comes just a week after Tata Electronics, an India-based company that manufactures iPhone components and assembles the devices, confirmed that it suffered a data breach. Security researchers told Reuters at the time that the ransomware group, World Leaks, posted more than 200,000 files related to the breach on the dark web. The leak …

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Apple’s smart home camera service is starting to impress me

2026-06-16T08:07:54-04:00

New features are coming to cameras connected to Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video. | Image: The Verge, Getty Images

Apple's HomeKit Secure Video service is getting in on the Apple Intelligence party to bring more descriptive alerts from your connected cameras and let you search footage using natural language. The Apple Home app is also getting better notifications powered by AI and is finally adding support for energy reporting.

These improvements were announced at WWDC last week and will be publicly available this fall. I've been playing with some of the features in the developer betas for iOS 27 and tvOS 27 for a few days, and based on my first impressions, Apple's HomeKit Secure Video is much improved - enough to put it back in contention for me as a …

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