Apple Daily Digest — 2026-05-16#

Highlights#

Today’s news reflects a steady build-up toward WWDC with fresh leaks about macOS 27 and a major upcoming design overhaul for the professional Mac lineup. Hardware rumors are also swirling around the Apple Watch Series 12, while software releases like iOS 26.5 are keeping the ecosystem active with immediate feature additions like RCS end-to-end encryption.

Top Stories#

• Major Redesign Expected for the Next MacBook Pro: After supply chain delays shifted Apple’s original 2025 target, a significant overhaul of the MacBook Pro is expected later this year featuring a thinner design. The updated professional laptops are also rumored to include crisp OLED touch displays, M6 Pro and M6 Max chips, and a Dynamic Island cutout. (Source)
• macOS 27 Leaks and iOS 26.5 Release: Apple released iOS 26.5 to the public today, notably bringing a beta for end-to-end encryption to RCS messages alongside a Pride Luminance wallpaper. Meanwhile, leaks suggest next month’s macOS 27 announcement will feature a redesign to improve the readability of the Liquid Glass interface, as well as an auto-organizing Safari tabs feature. (Source)
• Apple Watch Series 12 Rumors Suggest Upgraded Chipset: The upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to feature new CPU cores, possibly utilizing a 3nm design, though it will likely retain the aesthetics of the Series 11. Recent rumors suggesting Touch ID would come to the device appear unlikely to materialize due to battery capacity and health feature constraints. (Source)
• Apple Requires UNiDAYS for North American Education Discounts: Apple is no longer relying on the honor system for education pricing in the U.S. and Canada, now officially requiring eligibility verification via the UNiDAYS system. In a positive shift, the updated education program has also expanded to include a roughly 10 percent discount on the Apple Watch in several countries. (Source)
• Apple Cash Experiences Temporary U.S. Outage: A service outage affected Apple Cash today, preventing some users in the United States from making purchases. A second related issue that broadly prevented the use of Apple Cash was swiftly resolved within 15 minutes, bringing the platform back online for most users. (Source)

Articles Worth Reading#

What Apple Still Gets Wrong About Watch Faces (Source) In this critique, a longtime user highlights the ongoing frustration with Apple Watch face limitations, such as the sudden, unannounced removal of the Explorer face in watchOS 11. The author points out that certain faces fail at basic legibility—using transparent hands that blend into backgrounds—while the platform’s most attractive designs remain locked behind expensive Hermès bands. As WWDC approaches, the piece renews the plea for Apple to finally open a third-party watch face marketplace.

Apple @ Work: How AI is going to change cybersecurity training for Mac admins (Source) This article explores a promising shift from static, calendar-based IT training to real-time, automated corrections. By leveraging an integration between Dashlane and KnowBe4, security systems can now detect when an employee uses compromised credentials or interacts with a phishing site. Instead of merely blocking the action, it immediately delivers a contextual micro-training module to the user, saving IT teams from manual alert analysis and correcting the behavior in the moment.

EZQuest USB 4 Dual Display 8-in-1 Hub (Pro Series) Review (Source) For Mac power users seeking expansive display setups, this new $150 USB-C hub provides a rare, software-free solution for dual displays. Rather than relying on third-party DisplayLink drivers, the compact hub utilizes three 10Gbps USB4 ports to support either a single 8K display or dual 4K/60Hz monitors. While its 77W passthrough charging is slightly lower than some bulkier competitors, it offers tremendous peripheral expansion capabilities—particularly for port-constrained machines like the two-port MacBook Neo.

Indie App Spotlight: ‘Cats Lock’ (Source) A clever $2.99 Mac utility offers a unique solution for remote workers and cat owners dealing with unwanted keyboard inputs. Activated instantly via a “Cmd + L” shortcut, Cats Lock disables the keyboard, blurs the screen, and plays custom sound effects for each blocked keystroke your cat makes. A stealth mode is also available for video meetings, keeping the screen clear while ensuring your feline friend doesn’t accidentally disrupt your workflow.