Top Stories: Apple Vision Pro Launch Recap, iOS 17.4 Beta Features, and More

Apple Vision Pro has been out for a week, so regular users are starting to get settled in with the new device and sharing their thoughts on it while teardown experts have been digging into the hardware.

top stories 10feb2024
Beyond all the news surrounding Apple's long-anticipated headset, this week also saw more progress on iOS 17.4 and related operating system updates expected to launch next month, fresh iPhone 16 rumors, and more, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Vision Pro Apps to Check Out

Following the launch of Apple's new Vision Pro headset on Friday, we shared an in-depth list of apps optimized for the visionOS operating system, from both larger and smaller developers.

Vision Pro Apps Feature
Apple announced that over 600 apps have been optimized for visionOS so far, and our list highlights many notable ones, while we've also shared a video looking at ten of our favorites.

Vision Pro is also compatible with more than one million iPad and iPhone apps.

iFixit Shares Apple Vision Pro Teardown

Repair website iFixit recently shared written and video teardowns of the Apple Vision Pro, providing a closer look inside the headset. The headset is an engineering feat, with an array of cameras, sensors, fans, and many other precisely-arranged components.

iFixit Vision Pro Teardown
iFixit also shared some technical details about the Vision Pro's internal and external displays, battery pack, repairability, and more in a separate video.

iOS 17.4 Beta: All the New Features

Apple last month confirmed that iOS 17.4 will be released at some point in March. The upcoming software update includes several new features and changes for the iPhone, as outlined in our list.

iOS 17
Key new features include major App Store changes in the EU, Apple Podcasts transcripts, SharePlay for the HomePod, and new emoji. The update also prepares for the launch of next-generation CarPlay later this year.

Apple also released iOS 17.3.1 with a text-related bug fix.

Apple Testing Slim Camera Bump Design for Base iPhone 16

The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models launching later this year could be equipped with a slim, vertical, pill-shaped rear camera bump, according to leaked schematics.

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Colors Gray
The return to vertically-aligned rear camera lenses would allow for spatial video recording on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The feature is currently exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 15 lineup.

Apple Now Selling Refurbished 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro

Apple this week added the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M3 chip to its online refurbished store for the first time since the laptop was released in November. Prices are discounted by around 15%.

macbook pro bb cyber
Apple's certified refurbished products are nearly indistinguishable from brand new models, in our view, so they can be an attractive choice for customers who are looking for a discount directly from the company.

The MacRumors Show: One Week With Apple Vision Pro ft. Quinn Nelson

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show podcast, special guest Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs joined Dan and Hartley to discuss what it's been like using the Apple Vision Pro over the past week since its launch.

The MacRumors Show Quinn Nelson Talks Vision Pro Thumb 1
The MacRumors Show now has its own YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for the latest episodes. The show is also available through your preferred podcast app.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...

Top Rated Comments

sza Avatar
25 months ago
For those who bought the Vision Pro, is it picking up dusts in your drawer already?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
notabadname Avatar
25 months ago
This deserves the attention it is getting, as revolutionary as the original iPhone or iPad. The price is totally in line with the amazing tech stuffed into this. It is an actual laptop, for your face - not just a couple of half-baked, pixilated eye screens to let you virtually ride a roller coaster, as its predecessors have been. M2 Chip, R1 chip, 5,000 patents. 12 cameras, two infrared beams and receivers, six microphones, Lidar scanner. And a Micro OLED display with Approximately 11.5 million pixels driving the display at a ppi of 4,800. No display tech has ever come anywhere close. (And the list of tech is longer, those are just some impressive highlights. People complain that Apple doesn’t innovate anymore, and only worries about emojis for the iPhone. I’d say this kind of drops the mic.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)