Friday, July 25th

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This week, early access to the OS 26 operating systems begins for the public, Apple has launched a new all-in-one AppleCare subscription, rumours around the iPhone Fold are picking up again, and the iPhone 17 Pro could end up being the most colourful iPhone we’ve seen in years.

Want early access to iOS 26?

If you’re interested in trying out the latest versions of Apple’s operating systems, a good month or more ahead of everyone else, now’s your chance. Apple has officially launched the public betas for iOS 26, macOS 26, and the rest of their software lineup.

I’ve already released videos covering iOS 26 and macOS 26, so if you’re curious, I’d recommend checking those out first. I’m not going to cover the other operating systems just yet, I’ll save that content for when they launch publicly in September.

But if you are considering upgrading your device now, just a reminder to exercise a bit of caution. Public betas usually arrive about a month after the developer builds, and there’s a good reason for that. Apple uses developer feedback to identify and fix the major bugs, but this is still unfinished software. They’ll continue squashing bugs between now and the official launch, so you need to go into this with your eyes open.

If you decide to go ahead, make sure to back up your device first, and don’t install it on your daily driver — especially if that device is critical for your work. For example, I won’t be upgrading my Mac Studio or MacBook Pro(my main and backup machines) until the public release in September. I simply can’t afford for anything to go wrong. But if you’ve got a spare device, this is a fun way to get an early look at what’s coming.

To get started, you’ll need to sign up for a free beta account at beta.apple.com, then enrol your device in the beta program via the Software Update section in Settings.

Apple launches AppleCare One

Apple has launched a brand new AppleCare product in the US this week, and it’s one I’ve wanted for a long time. Sadly, it’s not available here in the UK just yet, but fingers crossed it makes its way across the pond soon.

If you’re unfamiliar, AppleCare is Apple’s own insurance product that lets you cover individual Apple devices against things like accidental damage, loss, and theft. The most common use case is the iPhone - if you’ve just spent $1,000 or more on a new phone, it makes sense to spend an extra $200 or $10/month to get some peace of mind.

The problem comes when you have multiple devices you regularly take out and about. If you’re travelling with a MacBook, an iPhone, and a pair of AirPods, you’re suddenly looking at $30 or more per month just to keep them all covered, and most people understandably skip coverage on anything but their phone.

That’s where AppleCare One comes in. It’s Apple’s attempt to streamline this whole process and make it more cost-effective to cover multiple devices. For $19.99/month, you can now protect up to three devices. Need to cover more? You can add additional devices for $5.99/month each.

Importantly, it doesn’t matter which products you include, so an iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch would all be fair game. The only real rules are that devices must be less than four years old (or less than one year for headphones), in good condition, and may require a diagnostic check before they’re accepted.

You can add, remove or swap devices from within the Settings app, so long as they meet the requirements and are linked to your Apple ID. And if you trade in a device, Apple will automatically unenroll it and transfer coverage to the new one.

This is undoubtedly another revenue driver for Apple, but it’s also a plan that actually makes a lot of sense for consumers. It’s simpler, more flexible, and more affordable than taking out individual policies.

For now, AppleCare One is US-only, and there’s no official word yet on expansion. But if the rollout goes well, and I suspect it will, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this come to other regions before long. It’s definitely a product I’ll be signing up for the minute it becomes available here in the UK.

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I'm loving the (rumoured) iPhone Pro colours!

Rumours around the iPhone 17 colour options have been swirling for a while now, but it looks like we’re finally getting a clearer picture of what to expect this September. A couple of known iPhone leakers seem to agree on the current colour lineup, which suggests we may be getting close to the final list.

For the base iPhone 17, we’re expecting the usual trio of black, white, and steel grey, no surprises there. But Apple will reportedly round that out with green, purple, and light blue, offering a more playful mix for those who like a bit of colour with their devices. Bold colours have always been one of the things that sets the regular iPhone apart from the Pro models, and this year’s palette looks like a nice evolution of that approach.

The iPhone 17 Air, Apple’s new ultra-thin mid-range model, is expected to come in black, white, light blue, and light gold. Based on the latest renders, the gold looks more like yellow, and the light blue may fall into that frustrating category of “looks silver in most lighting.” I’ve had some personal experience with this lately. I picked up the new M4 MacBook Air in Sky Blue and was surprised (and honestly a bit disappointed) at how silver it looked in person. I already had the darker blue M2 model, and I was hoping for something clearly distinct. So fingers crossed that Apple leans into the blue a bit more with the 17 Air.

But the biggest shakeup, if the rumours are to be believed, is with the Pro lineup. In addition to the usual black and white, there’s said to be a deep navy blue, probably the richest blue Apple has ever used on a Pro model, and an orange option that looks pretty full-on in the current renders. Apple might market it as copper, but let’s be honest, it looks very orange. It’s bold. It’s different. And it’s almost certainly going to divide opinion. One of those colours that people either absolutely love or avoid entirely, but either way, it’s going to turn heads.

If Apple is indeed using colour to help differentiate the tiers this year, from playful pastels on the base model, to more elegant tones on the 17 Air, and statement finishes on the Pro, it could actually be quite a clever move. I’m curious to see these in person once they hit stores, because as we all know, renders don’t always tell the full story.

More iPhone Fold rumours

More rumours this week about Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone, with analysts still predicting a release sometime in 2026. According to the latest reports, the device is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display, with a laser-drilled metal plate used to help reduce the appearance of creases, one of the most common complaints with foldable phones.

The device will likely use Touch ID built into the power button, rather than Face ID. That’s due to the complexity of implementing Face ID across both the internal and external displays. We’re also expecting two rear cameras and a front-facing camera, keeping it in line with other premium iPhone models.

This foldable iPhone would enter the market directly against devices like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold, which has generally been well received. But it’s not going to come cheap. Pricing is rumoured to start at around $2,000, which puts it firmly in premium territory. And honestly, that doesn’t surprise me. This is a brand new product line with a clear differentiator from the rest of the iPhone range, and there will be plenty of Apple fans who are willing to pay for the novelty of a foldable without leaving the Apple ecosystem.

That said, the real challenge for Apple is convincing more than just the early adopters. While foldables have a vocal following online, they still represent a tiny portion of the market; only 1.6% of smartphone sales in 2025 so far. And one of the main criticisms of foldables, aside from price, is the awkward aspect ratios.

Most foldables feature a narrow external display that can feel cramped, and then unfold into a square-ish internal screen. And there’s a reason Apple has never made a square iPhone. People generally don’t want square displays. Rectangles work better for everything from reading and FaceTime to typing and video playback. Even the iPad is built around that principle.

Once the novelty of having a foldable wears off, that square screen could become more of a liability than a selling point. It’ll be up to Apple to make sure that iOS 27, which is rumoured to be designed with this form factor in mind, does enough to make the experience feel natural and rewarding from day one.

I suspect we’ll hear a lot more about this device once the iPhone 17 has launched later this year. And I’ll be honest, I’m definitely excited to try one out. A foldable iPhone would be the first truly new iPhone product line we’ve had in a long time. But I’m also going into it with a fair bit of healthy scepticism.

Tip of the week

If you want to test out the public beta of iOS 26 on your iPhone, once you’ve registered for a beta account at beta.apple.com, just head into Settings, tap General, then go to Software Update and choose Beta Updates. From there, select iOS 26 Public Beta from the list. Give your phone a moment to refresh, and the update should appear. Tap Update Now to begin the installation. Just remember — only do this on a device you can afford to be without. Back up your device first, and don’t use your main iPhone for testing.