📰 Daily Apple News Roundup — May 2, 2026

💰 Apple Reports Record Q2 2026: $111.2 Billion Revenue, Up 17%

Apple just released its earnings report for the second fiscal quarter of 2026, and the numbers are staggering. The company reported $111.2 billion in revenue, up 17% year-over-year, with $29.58 billion in net profit and $2.01 earnings per share. Growth was driven by strong performance across virtually every product category.

Incoming CEO John Ternus made a notable appearance on the earnings call alongside Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh, touting an "incredible roadmap ahead" for Apple's product pipeline. Apple also shared guidance for the June quarter, projecting 14% to 17% revenue growth.

Tim Cook noted that memory costs are rising significantly due to industry-wide AI demand, and supply constraints for Mac mini and Mac Studio will persist for several months due to unprecedented demand from agentic AI use cases.

Sources: 9to5Mac, 9to5Mac

📱 iPhone 17 Is Apple's Most Popular Model Family Ever

Apple dropped a bombshell during its earnings call: the iPhone 17 lineup is now officially the most popular model family in the company's history. Tim Cook said iPhone 17 demand is "off the charts," though supply constraints for advanced processor nodes limited sales slightly below what Apple could have achieved with better inventory.

Cook told Reuters that Apple would have sold even more iPhones if supply had been available, noting there's "just a little less flexibility in the supply chain at the moment." The iPhone 17 Pro achieved a remarkable 99% customer satisfaction rate, which Cook attributed to the camera upgrades, Apple Intelligence features, and the new titanium design.

Sources: 9to5Mac, 9to5Mac

🖥️ Apple Discontinues Base Mac Mini, Now Starts at $799

After weeks of dwindling inventory, Apple has officially discontinued the $599 Mac mini with 256GB storage. The base model went completely out of stock last week, and Apple has now removed it from the website entirely. The Mac mini now starts at $799 with 512GB of storage.

The move comes as demand for Mac mini has skyrocketed due to agentic AI workloads. On the earnings call, Tim Cook said customer interest in tools like OpenClaw is driving Mac mini and Mac Studio demand far beyond Apple's forecasts. Apple expects supply constraints for these machines to continue for the next several months.

Sources: 9to5Mac, MacRumors, AppleInsider

🧠 Apple's R&D Spending Hits All-Time High as AI Investment Ramps Up

Apple's spending on research and development reached an all-time record in the latest quarter, reflecting the industry-wide push into AI development. The increased investment covers everything from on-device machine learning to advanced foundation models powering Apple Intelligence.

The spending surge aligns with Apple's aggressive AI roadmap, which includes bringing AI capabilities inside the Camera app in iOS 27 (as reported by Bloomberg) and expanding agentic AI features across the product line. Apple is also expected to showcase significant AI advancements at WWDC 2026 on June 8.

Sources: 9to5Mac

📱 iOS 26.5 Release Date: New iPhone Features Coming Soon

Apple's next software update is nearly here. iOS 26.5 is expected to launch imminently with a batch of new iPhone features. The update has been in beta testing and includes improvements across several system apps and new capabilities for Apple Intelligence.

This will likely be one of the last significant updates before Apple unveils iOS 27 at WWDC 2026 next month. If you're running the public beta, keep an eye out for the release candidate in the coming days.

Source: 9to5Mac

🇺🇸 Apple to Seek Tariff Refunds, Reinvest in U.S. Manufacturing

Tim Cook revealed that Apple is seeking refunds for duties paid under tariffs that the Supreme Court recently ruled unconstitutional. Apple plans to reinvest the recovered funds into U.S. manufacturing operations, signaling continued expansion of its domestic production capabilities.

This is a significant development for Apple's supply chain strategy, as the company continues to navigate the complex trade landscape while expanding manufacturing in India and the United States.

Source: 9to5Mac

🤖 Perplexity Elaborates on Mac-First 'Personal Computer' AI Platform

After getting a shoutout from Apple during the Q2 earnings call, Perplexity has revealed more details about its Mac-native "Personal Computer" platform. The company says the Mac mini is the best platform for locally deploying its agentic AI system, which is why it launched on Mac first.

The platform leverages Apple Silicon's unified memory architecture to run AI models locally, reducing latency and improving privacy compared to cloud-based solutions. This represents a growing trend of AI companies targeting the Mac as a primary development platform.

Sources: 9to5Mac, AppleInsider

💻 MacBook Neo Demand Continues, May Delivery Dates Stretch to Month's End

Apple's most affordable laptop continues to face overwhelming demand. After selling through its April inventory in just 15 days, MacBook Neo shipping estimates for May range from May 18 to May 26. The laptop has been a surprise hit, with Apple reportedly "caught off guard" by the demand.

The MacBook Neo represents Apple's push into the sub-$1000 laptop market, and early sales figures suggest it's resonating with consumers who previously opted for Chromebooks or budget Windows machines.

Source: 9to5Mac

⌨️ iOS 26's New Phone App: Two Features That Won Reviewers Over

iOS 26 overhauled one of the iPhone's most iconic apps — the Phone app — and two new features in particular are winning critics over. The redesigned app introduces a cleaner interface with Liquid Glass design elements and new calling features that make phone calls significantly better.

If you haven't explored the new Phone app yet, it's worth taking a few minutes to check out the new features — they might change how you feel about taking calls on your iPhone.

Source: 9to5Mac

🎮 Fortnite Returns to iPhone in Japan, Mac Version Still Uncertain

Epic Games has launched Fortnite on iPhone in Japan via the Epic Games Store, expanding beyond the U.S. where it returned to iOS a year ago. Epic is targeting availability in additional regions next. However, Fortnite's return to the Mac remains uncertain, with no clear timeline for desktop players.

The incremental regional rollout highlights the complex regulatory landscape surrounding alternative app stores on iOS, as Epic navigates different requirements market by market.

Source: 9to5Mac

🎧 AirPods Max 2 One-Month Review: Not Much Reason to Upgrade

AppleInsider has published a one-month review of the AirPods Max 2, and the verdict is mixed. While there's a lot to like about Apple's premium over-ear headphones, the review found that "little of it is new" and there's "not much reason to upgrade from the original model."

The AirPods Max 2 feature USB-C charging and improved sound processing, but the core design and sound quality remain very similar to the 2020 originals — making this a hard sell for existing AirPods Max owners.

Source: AppleInsider

💡 Quick Tips

Tip #1: Check Your iPhone's Storage Breakdown

Running low on space? Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage to see a visual breakdown of what's consuming your storage. You can offload unused apps, review large attachments, and delete old message threads — all from this one screen.

Tip #2: Use Stage Manager on Mac for Multitasking

If you're using macOS Ventura or later, try Stage Manager for a new way to multitask. Enable it from Control Center → Stage Manager. Your recent apps appear on the left side as thumbnails, letting you quickly switch between groups of windows. It's especially useful on smaller MacBook screens.

Tip #3: Set a Sleep Focus on iPhone and Apple Watch

Improve your sleep habits by setting up a Sleep Focus: Go to Settings → Focus → Sleep and customize which notifications can come through at bedtime. Your Apple Watch will also dim its screen and limit distractions — helping you wind down naturally.