Top Stories: Apple's 'Welcome Home' Launch on October 13 and More
Following the usual September rush of Apple news, it looks like October is also about ready to explode, with not just one but two rounds of Apple product debuts this month sandwiched around the iPhone Duo launch. A first launch on October 13 has been confirmed by Apple and will clearly be focused on the home as has been rumored, while it appears a second round a couple of weeks later will focus…
Apple's "Welcome Home" product launch is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13th. The event will feature announcements of new smart home devices, including a rumored smart home hub, a new Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are set to begin shortly after the unveiling. Rumors suggest there could be additional product launches late in the month, potentially including new Mac models and an iPad mini.
Since 2023, iPhones have been equipped with an 80 percent charge limit to extend battery lifespan. MacRumors' managing editor, Juli Clover, has been using this feature on her iPhones, including the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max. After a year, her iPhone is at 97 percent maximum capacity with a cycle count of 277. She is interested in comparing this to other users' experiences with different charging strategies.
Some iPhone 18 Pro Max users on AT&T have reported issues with cellular service loss, leading to device replacement requests. AT&T instructed affected users to update immediately to iOS 27.0.1, which may help prevent further issues. However, the root cause of the problem remains unclear.
Apple is expected to unveil a high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display during the October 13 event, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This new MacBook will reportedly be lighter than current models but not significantly thinner. Code and beta features suggest the inclusion of touch capabilities, with new animations and gestures appearing in the latest macOS 27.2.
Additionally, Apple is partnering with LG to introduce LG-branded smart home accessories under the "Welcome Home" umbrella. These will include doorbells, smart locks, and cameras, designed for seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem. Apple announced actions to enhance security around Full Disk Access on macOS, citing risks associated with AI agents. These changes aim to better protect user data and privacy in an era of increasingly autonomous AI technologies.
Written by urgent.news from MacRumors's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
