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iOS 27 introduces a new recovery mode for iPhone and iPad that lets the device boot into an alternative, lightweight interface without loading the full operating system, similar to recovery mode on Apple silicon Macs. To use the feature, users must turn the device off, then hold the side button to power it on. The Apple logo appears as it would during a normal boot, but holding the button for an extended duration brings up a progress bar, and the device then launches into the new recovery environment rather than continuing into iOS or iPadOS as normal. The process mirrors how recovery mode is triggered on Apple silicon Macs by holding the power button. The new recovery screen offers five options: Recovery Assistant, Software Update, Diagnostics Mode, Erase All Content and Settings, and Recovery Mode. The interface also displays the current battery percentage in the corner of the screen and automatically connects to a known Wi-Fi network, while a power button in the toolbar lets users attempt a normal restart instead. New in iOS 27: On-Device Recovery Mode Options When turning on your iPhone, if you continue to hold the power button, you will see new recovery options such as: Recovery Assistant Software Update Diagnostics Mode Erase All Content and Settings Recovery Mode via Mac pic.twitter.com/eS404VH8Ca — Aaron (@aaronp613) June 10, 2026 The addition means some last-resort repairs that previously required connecting an iPhone or ‌iPad‌ to a computer can now be carried out independently on the device itself. Apple's Recovery Assistant tool is designed to handle some of these automated fixes without further input. The need to use the new recovery mode should remain rare. One scenario where it could come in handy is if a software update fails to install, such as when a device runs out of battery mid-update. Some iOS beta versions have in the past caused devices to soft-lock or enter boot loops, and in those cases, the Software Update option in the new recovery mode could allow a user to reinstall the last stable version of the OS without needing to put the device into DFU mode and restore it from a Mac or PC. ‌iOS 27‌ and iPadOS 27 are in developer beta testing now, with a public beta expected next month, and an official release in the fall. Related Roundups: iOS 27 , iPadOS 27 This article, " iOS 27 Adds Mac-Like Recovery Mode for iPhone and iPad " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple will unveil the Apple Watch Ultra 4 alongside an Apple Watch Series 12 later this year, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter , Gurman plotted out Apple's product roadmap for the rest of the year, including the Phone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the company's first foldable iPhone. "That flurry of devices should also include an Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4," said Gurman. Apple hasn't released a new Apple Watch Ultra model every year. The Ultra launched in 2022, followed by an Ultra 2 in 2023. In 2024, the only update was a black color option, but the underlying hardware remained unchanged. The Ultra 3 arrived in 2025, so it sounds like Apple isn't skipping a year this time around. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 could include a "full redesign," according to a May 2026 DigiTimes report , but it's not clear what that would include. The device is also rumored to be getting a "significant upgrade to sensing functions." But again, we don't know what that might refer to. In terms of new watch features, Apple is developing noninvasive blood glucose monitoring technology, but it is still believed to be a few years away while Apple works on further miniaturization. Leaked Apple code has suggested the company is experimenting with biometric authentication in the form of Touch ID for 2026's Apple Watch lineup , but it's not clear how this could be implemented. Touch ID could go under the display, or it could be integrated into the side button. The feature would reduce reliance on numerical passcodes for unlocking, but the Apple Watch already has a wrist authentication feature for making purchases. Looking further ahead, Apple is considering using LG Display's high-mobility oxide (HMO) thin-film transistor technology for the next Apple Watch OLED display in 2027. Compared to the current LTPO display technology, HMO increases electron mobility for lower power consumption. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 are expected to arrive in September alongside the new iPhone models. watchOS 27 will add new watch faces to the new devices, including a variant of the Modular Ultra face. Related Roundup: Apple Watch Ultra 3 Tag: Mark Gurman Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch Ultra (Neutral) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Apple Watch Ultra 4 Expected Later This Year " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Last year, Apple debuted Digital ID on iPhone , allowing users to use their US passport as identification in Apple Wallet. Apple’s been rolling out drivers licenses in Wallet slowly over the past few years, but that’s on a state-by-state basis. Digital ID is universal, allowing anyone with a passport to use it. Of course, you can use it at TSA checkpoints in airports – but Apple had a bigger scope in mind: digital age and identity verification. While not yet confirmed, it’s possible that we could see a first major implementation of this quite soon, in Claude.
Apple wants you to step into a virtual world, while Snap wants you to stay in the real one. Here's how their very different approaches to spatial computing compare. Apple Vision Pro [left] vs Snap Specs [right] The launch of Snap Specs at Augmented World Expo on June 16 is a big shift forward for the social company. After the previous effort of Snap Spectacles, Snap Specs are a step closer to the augmented reality future by being smart glasses with a built-in display. This is something that brings Snap's efforts in line with the Ray-Ban eyewear that Meta has produced, including its yet-to-ship Meta Ray-Ban Display. It's also a massively different product from Apple's own head-mounted computing device, the Apple Vision Pro . Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
