Apple's upcoming iOS 19 update could make it easier for iPhone users to transfer an eSIM to an Android smartphone, according to a report from Android Authority.
The site found strings in the Android 16 beta version of Google's SIM Manager that reference a new "Transfer to Android" feature. The setting would include an option for wirelessly transferring an eSIM from an iPhone to an Android phone.
While it is simple to transfer an eSIM from iPhone to iPhone, that is not true when trying to transfer an eSIM from an iPhone to an Android device as of right now. Moving from an iPhone to an Android phone typically requires contacting a carrier, but that might not be the case in the future.
Transfer to Android could be added to the "Transfer or Reset iPhone" interface that's located under the General section of the Settings app. Apple may expand the eSIM Quick Transfer feature for swapping an eSIM between iPhones to Android devices, plus it looks like there may be a QR code backup in case a wireless connection fails.
Code in the Google SIM Manager suggests that iOS 19 will be required to initiate a transfer, hence why it may be an iOS 19 feature.
On your other device, go to Settings app > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Transfer to Android >
"Still can't connect wirelessly?"" Make sure your other device is running iOS 19 or later versions."
We could perhaps hear more about the eSIM transferring feature at WWDC, though it may also be something that's quietly introduced. Google could also be working on a reciprocal feature that would make it easier for an Android user to transfer to an iPhone.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott today signed into law the App Store Accountability Act, which will require Apple and Google to verify the age of App Store and Play Store users, respectively. The law will require users who are under the age of 18 to receive parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases, according to Reuters.
Apple CEO Tim Cook had reportedly asked Abbott to veto the legislation on a phone call, but evidently his attempt was unsuccessful.
The bill had already passed both the Senate and House of Representatives in Texas, and now that it has been signed by Abbott, it will take effect on January 1, 2026. Texas is the second U.S. state to pass a child safety law of this kind, following Utah in March. Utah's law took effect earlier this month, but it will not be fully enforced until next year.
Apple already announced several new child safety measures in February, after these bills were proposed. While setting up an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 or later, the person who will be using the device must select their age range, with the available options including 12 or younger, 13 to 18, and 19 or older. If the account is for a child under the age of 13, there is a Connect to Family option. A parent needs to provide consent for a child to use the App Store and other features, with Face ID or Touch ID authentication required.
It remains to be seen if Apple's expanded age-verification measures will be enough to fully satisfy the laws in Texas and Utah, and others that may follow.
Apple and Google both opposed these age verification laws, citing privacy concerns related to having to collect age information for all users.
"If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it's an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores," said Apple.
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Apple is working on a standalone multi-platform app for games, reports Bloomberg. The app will let Apple users launch games, plus it will have sections for in-game achievements, leaderboards, editorial content, and communication.
Apple plans to preinstall the app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV later this year, which corresponds with the launch timing of iOS 19, macOS 16, and tvOS 19. The gaming app will debut at the Worldwide Developers Conference that's set to take place on June 9.
The upcoming app is set to replace Game Center, which Apple has long used for inviting friends to play mobile games and tracking achievements. While Apple plans to use the new gaming app to promote Apple Arcade, it will include all of the third-party games that are currently located in the Games section of the App Store.
It sounds like Apple is aiming to split out the App Store's gaming, making it easier for customers to find and download games on their devices. On the Mac, the app will also "tap into" games that are downloaded outside of the Mac App Store.
While the gaming app will be previewed at WWDC, it will roll out to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs in September when the operating systems launch to the public.
Apple has purchased game studio RAC7, according to a report from Digital Trends. RAC7 is a small, two-person company that developed Apple Arcade game Sneaky Sasquatch, and the acquisition was confirmed by an Apple spokesperson.
From Digital Trends:
We love Sneaky Sasquatch and are excited that the 2-person RAC7 team has joined Apple to continue their work on it with us. We will continue to deliver a great experience for Apple Arcade players with hundreds of games from many of the best game developers in the world.
RAC7 will become an internal game studio within Apple, and Apple purchased the company to help Sneaky Sasquatch continue to grow on Apple Arcade. Sneaky Sasquatch was one of the first games to launch on Apple Arcade when the service went live, and it has continued to be popular with subscribers.
Apple already works with developers and game companies to create titles for Apple Arcade, but this is the company's first game studio acquisition. Digital Trends notes that Apple does not appear to be implementing a new gaming strategy, describing the RAC7 acquisition as a unique situation.
Apple Arcade is Apple's subscription gaming service, priced at $6.99 per month. Apple Arcade has hundreds of games, with no additional subscription fees or in-app purchases.
Apple's next Apple Watch activity challenge is set to take place on June 4 to celebrate Global Running Day. Apple started hosting an activity challenge for running day last year.
To complete the challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to record a running workout of at least five kilometers (aka a 5K run) on June 4.
Let's run this one together. On June 4, record a running workout and go at least 5K (3.1 mi) to earn this special badge. Record it with any app that adds workouts to Health.
Completing the challenge will provide Apple Watch users with a dedicated award in the Fitness app along with animate stickers that can be used in the Messages app.
Last month, Apple provided a limited-edition pin to celebrate Global Close Your Rings day, which Apple introduced to highlight the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch.
Apple today updated the Invites app to introduce a new option to add a link to an invitation. Event creators can use the feature to send important details to invitees.
Apple says that links can be used for things like planning a trip, adding a gift registry, or working out who is bringing what to a potluck. Links are open ended, so any website can be added to an invite that you create.
Links are located in a new "Tiles" section in the Invites app. Tapping on "Add Tile" at the bottom of the app allows for link insertion, with users able to include the link, a link title, and a link description.
Introduced earlier this year, Invites is an event planning app designed by Apple. It supports creating custom invitations with unique background images, fonts, and relevant information like directions and weather. Today's 1.2 app update is the first feature update that Invites has received.
Invites is an iCloud+ service, and an iCloud+ subscription is needed to create an event. iCloud+ is Apple's paid iCloud storage upgrade option, with plans that start at $0.99 per month.
While an iCloud+ subscription is needed for creating an event, anyone can respond to an invitation through an RSVP feature. Invitations can be sent to iPhone users and Android users alike, with the app facilitating planning and RSVPs.
A new Cellular Insights report commissioned by Qualcomm has found that two unnamed Android smartphone models equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 and Snapdragon X80 modems achieved faster 5G speeds compared to the iPhone 16e, which is equipped with Apple's first-ever, custom-designed C1 modem.
Testing was conducted with T-Mobile's sub-6GHz 5G network in New York City, across a variety of real-world environments, according to Cellular Insights.
The report found that the Android devices "consistently outperformed" the iPhone 16e in terms of 5G connectivity, especially indoors. Specifically, the Android devices achieved up to 35% faster download speeds compared to the iPhone 16e, and up to 91% faster upload speeds. The report also found that the iPhone 16e frequently became hot to the touch during testing, but it could not confirm if this directly impacted performance.
The two Android smartphones were priced at $619 and $799 in the U.S., the report said, while the iPhone 16e starts at $599.
Based on its findings, Cellular Insights concluded that the Qualcomm-powered devices "hold a clear edge" over the iPhone 16e for individuals seeking "consistent, high-throughput 5G performance." Qualcomm's PR department is now touting the favorable results, which they relayed to us in an email sent earlier today.
Apple's C1 modem achieved equal to faster performance than some Qualcomm modems in some earlier tests, but a Qualcomm spokesperson said this study is the "only comprehensive, scientific" comparison completed on a U.S. network so far.
Performance is not the only metric that matters for a smartphone modem, with power efficiency also being an important factor. Apple has advertised the C1 modem as being the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever, which contributes to the iPhone 16e offering the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone model ever. With its next-generation C2 and C3 modems, Apple hopes to continue to close the gap on the performance front.
Apple is testing a 200-megapixel camera sensor, according to Digital Chat Station, a user with a large following on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has previously shared accurate information about Apple's future products.
While the account's post today does not provide any further details, this 200-megapixel camera sensor would likely be for the main rear camera on a future high-end iPhone model. Samsung introduced a 200-megapixel rear camera on its Galaxy S23 Ultra in 2023, and the follow-up S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra models also have one.
With a 200-megapixel camera, an iPhone would be able to shoot photos with greater detail. The increased megapixel count would also result in higher-resolution photos, which can be cropped further and printed at larger sizes without a loss of image quality.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to feature entirely 48-megapixel cameras, so the 200-megapixel camera is unlikely to be available this year. In addition, a 200-megapixel camera has yet to be rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. Ultimately, the upgraded camera specification could be at least a few years away.
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices.
Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of May 2025:
Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a stainless steel frame. The back of the devices will supposedly have a new "part-aluminum, part-glass" design.
Larger battery: The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to have a slightly thicker design that allows for a larger battery.
A19 Pro chip: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to use Apple's next-generation A19 Pro chip, which will reportedly be manufactured with TSMC's newer third-generation 3nm process. Like usual, expect modest year-over-year performance gains and power efficiency improvements compared to the current iPhones.
Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip: All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to get a Wi-Fi 7 chip designed by Apple rather than Broadcom.
24-megapixel front camera: All four iPhone 17 models are said to feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, whereas all iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
8K video recording: Apple allegedly tested 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but such functionality is still not available. With the iPhone 17 Pro models expected to have entirely 48-megapixel rear cameras, perhaps 8K video recording will debut on those devices.
12GB of RAM: iPhone 17 Pro models, and even the iPhone 17 Air, are rumored to have 12GB of RAM. This upgrade should help to improve the performance of Apple Intelligence and multitasking. All four iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been embroiled in a battle with Apple over its satellite connectivity features, according to The Information.
The report claims when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk heard that Apple was planning to announce a satellite connectivity feature for the iPhone 14 in partnership with Globalstar, he approached the company with an offer. He proposed that SpaceX would exclusively provide satellite connectivity to iPhones for 18 months, for an upfront cost of $5 billion. After that, Apple would pay SpaceX $1 billion per year for Starlink service.
Musk threatened that if Apple did not agree to a deal with SpaceX within 72 hours, he would announce a similar satellite feature on his own that could work with iPhones. Apple rejected the proposal, and two weeks before the iPhone 14 was announced SpaceX revealed a partnership with T-Mobile that allowed smartphone users to send and receive text messages in areas with no reception using Starlink.
SpaceX has also filed legal challenges to Globalstar's use of the radio spectrum it has licensed, which could cripple the iPhone's satellite service if they succeed. As part of this litigation, SpaceX challenged Globalstar's application to launch new satellites in 2023, accusing the satellite company of underutilizing the spectrum it already possessed. SpaceX accused the company of trying to block competition by hogging spectrum for itself.
SpaceX also named Apple in the regulatory filings, which apparently irked Apple executives who wanted to keep their distance from the conflict. Moreover, Apple employees are said to believe that Musk's close relationship with the Trump administration could give him an advantage over Apple and others with the FCC.
More recently, Apple and SpaceX have clashed over how far Apple would support SpaceX's partnership with T-Mobile. Over the past year, Musk asked Apple to support the T-Mobile satellite feature across a broad range of its iPhone models, which would help maximize the potential market for the service, but Apple was reluctant to support the service on models older than the iPhone 14, which frustrated Musk.
The series of satellite connectivity spats added to animosity between Musk and Apple, who have also grappled with disagreements over App Store fees. In recent years, Musk has plotted the idea of building his own phone to get around Apple's "gatekeeper" position in the market. Musk has reportedly discussed Tesla building the phone and satellite connectivity being provided by Starlink.
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Amazon is discounting numerous models of Apple's M4 iPad Pro this week, mainly focusing on 11-inch models this time around. Simultaneously, Amazon has the Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00 right now, and it's compatible with these iPad Pro models.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In this sale, the 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro has hit a new all-time low price of $855.04, down from $999.00. There are multiple record low prices on 11-inch iPad Pros right now on Amazon, with up to $300 off these tablets and no coupon codes required.
These iPad Pro models feature Apple's M4 chip, OLED displays, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard. Don't forget that you can get the Apple Pencil Pro for a match of its all-time low price of $99.00 today on Amazon, down from $129.00.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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iPad support comes more than 15 years after the messaging service launched. In September, Meta started beta testing WhatsApp for iPad via TestFlight.
WhatsApp allows users of the encrypted messaging platform to link up to four devices to their account even when their main smartphone is not connected to the internet. Each linked device connects to WhatsApp independently, ensuring that personal messages, media, and calls are end-to-end encrypted.
In addition to WhatsApp, Meta owns Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. There is an iPad app for Facebook, but the Threads app remains iPhone only. An Instagram app for the iPad is reportedly in the works.
Unlike other PopSockets, the Kick-Out model offers the long-awaited ability to prop up an iPhone in a vertical Portrait Mode position. This added functionality is useful for watching vertical videos in apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
You can twist the built-in MagSafe ring, and then pop open the hinged stand to prop up the iPhone horizontally or vertically on a table.
For those who are unfamiliar with PopSockets, they are a popular accessory that serves as both a hand grip and stand for iPhones. This latest Kick-Out model attaches magnetically to iPhone 12 models and newer with MagSafe.
In the U.S., the PopSockets Kick-Out is priced at $40.
Apple had plans to offer a Starlink-like satellite home internet service in collaboration with Boeing, The Information reports.
Starting in 2015, Apple held discussions with Boeing about "Project Eagle," a plan to launch a service to provide wireless internet services to iPhones and homes. The companies would have launched thousands of satellites into orbit around the Earth to beam internet services down to the surface. Apple intended to sell antennas that users could attach to their windows to disperse internet connectivity throughout their homes.
Apple believed the plan would help provide a more seamless experience, with mobile carriers seen as "necessary but inconvenient partners" that held back the iPhone. Similar to the transition to Apple silicon, Apple saw Project Eagle as another way to reduce its reliance other companies. Apple spent $36 million testing out a Project Eagle concept at a facility in El Segundo, California.
The service was originally scheduled to launch in 2019, but it never saw the light of day. CEO Tim Cook was concerned that Project Eagle would endanger Apple's relationship with the telecoms industry. He also expressed concerns over its significant cost with an unclear near-term business case. In 2016, Apple canceled the project and senior staff involved in it left the company.
Former hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio then formed a group looking at new wireless opportunities that would help differentiate Apple's devices. In 2018, Apple conducted talks with satellite internet providers such as OneWeb about investing in them to deploy a home internet service via satellites. OneWeb purportedly told Apple that the service would cost $30 billion and $40 billion to deliver, and similar concerns to those that killed Project Eagle put an end to the ambition.
The group then refocused around the idea of offering satellite communications to iPhones in remote areas that were not already served by conventional cellular networks. Apple launched its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in 2022.
In 2023, Apple's satellite team proposed to use a new generation of satellites to deliver full, unrestricted internet service to iPhones in remote locations. The feature would have cost Apple significantly more than Globalstar's existing service for Apple, increasing from several dozen satellites to hundreds. Apple ultimately again declined to offer it due to concerns that it would anger mobile carriers.
Today, some Apple employees and senior executives question the long-term viability of the iPhone's satellite connectivity features. Former Apple employees who worked on the project say the Globalstar network is already outdated, slow, and limited compared to SpaceX, and will continue to be through the next decade.
Apple has not yet started charging iPhone users for satellite connectivity features, and has extended the free access period through at least September 2025. The company's reluctance to charge customers is apparently related to fear that it could trigger the U.S. government to regulate Apple like a telecommunications carrier, which could force the company to build surveillance back doors into iMessage.
The existing satellite connectivity features cost Apple hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Some top executives, including software chief Craig Federighi and head of corporate development Adrian Perica, have advocated discontinuing the features. They argue that customers are more likely to sign up for satellite features through their mobile carriers.
Apple today shared a variety of statistics that are intended to show how the App Store is a safe and trusted place for users to download apps.
This announcement comes less than a month after a U.S. judge ordered Apple to allow iPhone apps to show links or buttons that direct customers to make purchases outside of the App Store. The timing is coincidental, though, as Apple has shared an App Store fraud analysis press release in May or early June for fiveconsecutiveyearsnow.
Here are some of the key statistics shared by Apple:
Over the last five years, the App Store has prevented more than $9 billion in fraudulent transactions, including over $2 billion in 2024 alone.
In 2024, Apple terminated more than 146,000 developer accounts over fraud concerns.
In 2024, Apple rejected more than 711 million customer account creations, and it deactivated nearly 129 million customer accounts.
Over the past month, Apple stopped nearly 4.6 million attempts to install or launch apps distributed illicitly outside the App Store or approved third-party marketplaces.
Of the more than 7.7 million App Store submissions reviewed in 2024, Apple says it rejected more than 1.9 million of them for failing to meet the company's standards for security, reliability, and user experience, including for privacy violations or fraud concerns.
In 2024, Apple removed more than 37,000 apps for fraudulent activity.
In 2024, Apple removed more than 143 million fraudulent ratings and reviews from the App Store.
In 2024, Apple identified nearly 4.7 million stolen credit cards and banned over 1.6 million accounts from transacting again.
Apple is reportedly preparing to implement significant iPhone hardware redesigns each year for the next three generations.
According leaks from the Chinese supply chain disclosed by Weibo user "Digital Chat Station," Apple plans to carry out a series of phased industrial design changes affecting different parts of the iPhone across three consecutive years: 2025, 2026, and 2027. The changes are said to target the rear camera system, the front-facing components, and eventually the complete removal of visible sensors, leading to an uninterrupted full-screen experience.
The iPhone 17 is expected to launch in the fall as the first in this sequence of design shifts. Apple is widely expected to redesign the back of the device, with the most notable change being a new horizontal camera layout. The leak describes the move to a "horizontal large matrix lens decorative component." This change is set to be the first major update to the iPhone's rear camera module since the introduction of the iPhone 11 Pro.
In 2026, attention will reportedly turn to the front of the device. Apple is expected to remove the Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped cutout that houses the front camera and Face ID components introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro, and replace it with a single circular punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The hardware for Face ID will be hidden beneath the display.
By 2027, Apple is reportedly seeking a fully uninterrupted screen with no visible cutouts, holes, or notches of any kind. This will involve integrating both the Face ID system and the selfie camera beneath the display, resulting in a true so-called "full-screen" iPhone.
The post does not mention whether these design changes will be limited to the Pro models or extend to the entire iPhone lineup. Historically, Apple has introduced new display and camera technologies on its high-end models before bringing them to the standard iPhones in subsequent years. The Dynamic Island, for example, debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022 before being added to the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus in 2023.
Apple is bringing Tap to Pay on iPhone to new eight countries, providing a way for sellers to use an iPhone as a contactless payment terminal, with plans to introduce tap to provision in 10 more.
Tap to Pay on iPhone first arrived in February 2022 in the U.S., and allows iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets. All transactions are encrypted, and Apple has no information about what is purchased or the person who made the purchase.
No additional hardware or credit card machine is required to use Tap to Pay on iPhone. The feature uses NFC technology to securely authenticate the contactless payments, plus the feature also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.
Apple today announced that Tap to Pay on iPhone is now available in the following countries and payment platforms:
Cyprus: Adyen, Revolut, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline.
Denmark: Adyen, Mollie, Nexi, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Surfboard Payments, and Viva; with PayPal coming soon.
Greece: myPOS, Viva, and Worldline; with NBG Pay coming soon.
Iceland: Adyen, Rapyd, and Revolut; with Teya coming soon.
Luxembourg: Adyen, Mollie, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline.
Malta: Adyen, Global Payments, Revolut, SumUp, and Viva.
Tap to Pay on iPhone requires iPhone XS or newer models, and works for customers as any normal Apple Pay transaction would. Sellers just need to open up the app, register the sale, and present their iPhone to the buyer, who can then use an appropriate contactless payment method.
According to updates to Apple's backend, tap to provision is also coming to these 10 new countries in the near future:
Austria
Croatia
Czechia
Hungary
Italy
Netherlands
San Marino
Slovenia
Switzerland
Vatican City
Distinct from Tap to Pay on iPhone, tap to provision allows users to add a payment card to their digital wallet by simply tapping the card against their phone. This process eliminates the need for manual data entry, making it easier to add cards to digital wallets like Apple Wallet.
The price increases in Brazil were first reported by 9to5Mac, and we subsequently confirmed that Chile and Peru were also affected.
Throughout 2024, Apple raised prices for some or all iCloud+ storage plans in at least 10 other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, and the Philippines.
So far, other countries like the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. have avoided iCloud+ price increases.
