Welcome to the first installment of This Week at Apple, a short, weekly look at the stories that shaped Apple’s week. Not just what happened, but what’s worth keeping in mind once the headlines move on.
This will run every Saturday, pulling together the updates, rumors, and undercurrents that feel most relevant in the moment. Some weeks will be driven by software and products, others by people and platform decisions.
If there’s a story you think deserves attention, or a topic you want explored more deeply, send me a message on X. The goal is to keep this useful, grounded, and worth coming back to.
LIQUID GLASS CHANGES CONTINUE
iOS 26.2 leaves beta, goes public
Apple unexpectedly released iOS 26.2 to the public on Friday, just days after shipping a second release candidate that many assumed meant the update would land next week. A second RC isn’t unusual, but it usually signals at least a week's wait time. This time, Apple moved faster.
iOS 26.2 continues the quiet refinement of Liquid Glass introduced in iOS 26.1, most notably giving users control over how “liquid” the Lock Screen time appears. There are also a few other changes, on top of the “bug fixes and improvements.”
You can now set alarms for reminders in the Reminder app
You can now have your entire screen flash white when you get a notification.
Apple Podcasts now automatically generates chapters for episodes.
For EU users, Live Translation via AirPods finally arrives after a delayed rollout tied to regulatory compliance, while Japan gains support for alternative app distribution platforms.
PROMOTION + AN A19?
The next Studio Display comes into clearer focus
I love my Studio Display, and working without it genuinely feels less productive, which is why its long silence has been noticeable. Apple hasn’t updated the Studio Display since its launch in March 2022. Reporting this week from Filipe Esposito suggests the next version could gain ProMotion support and be powered by an A19 chip.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Apple working on new displays, but Filipe’s reporting narrows in on what those upgrades might actually look like. Earlier this year, Mark Gurman reported that Apple had multiple new displays in development alongside a refreshed Mac lineup.
The current Studio Display runs on an A13 Bionic chip, a choice that sparked plenty of debate at launch. Apple has said the chip powers features like Center Stage and Spatial Audio, and while the display does run its own firmware, the decision still felt forward-leaning for what is, on the surface, a monitor.
If this week’s reporting holds, ProMotion with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz would be the headline upgrade. Beyond a refreshed panel and improved image processing for the camera, it’s harder to pin down what an A19 would unlock, though it may be as simple as Apple standardizing on newer silicon as supply allows.
CREATOR ECONOMY
Apple names apps of the year, unsurprising focus on AI
Apple announced the winners of the 2025 App Store Awards this week, and a few selections are worth calling out individually for what they say about Apple’s platform and priorities.
Apple TV App of the Year: HBO Max
HBO Max winning in the Apple TV category is notable precisely because it’s a direct competitor to Apple TV+. At a time when Apple continues to face scrutiny over App Store control and monopoly concerns from the EU and others, this choice signals a willingness to separate platform stewardship from services competition. It reinforces Apple’s long-standing argument that the App Store is meant to highlight the best user experiences, even when those experiences belong to rivals.iPhone App of the Year: an AI-powered to-do list app
Apple’s iPhone pick is notable not just for what it does, but how it does it. The app takes advantage of the new iOS 26 framework that allows developers to tap directly into Apple Intelligence’s large language model, using on-device and private cloud intelligence rather than third-party AI stacks.
Mac App of the Year: Essayist
Essayist is an excellent choice and one I personally use. It’s a focused, thoughtfully designed writing app that feels distinctly Mac-native. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone who writes regularly, especially students who get caught up in referencing and citations.
A MOMENT WORTH WATCHING
Amber alert at Apple
Over the past few weeks, Apple has seen an unusual concentration of senior leadership movement. Jeff Williams, Kate Adams, Lisa Jackson, and Luca Maestri are all in various stages of transition or retirement, thinning a leadership group that has quietly anchored the company for years. None of these exits is shocking in isolation. Together, they mark a real shift in Apple’s internal center of gravity at a time when stability matters more than usual.
That context is why even rumors around Johnny Srouji briefly considering a departure landed so heavily. Srouji has been central to Apple Silicon, one of Apple’s clearest long-term advantages, and his internal reassurance that he isn’t planning to leave helped steady nerves.
Still, the speed with which the rumor spread said more than the rumor itself. It reflected how sensitive this moment already is, especially as Apple navigates Apple Intelligence and Siri delays, ongoing talent losses, and pressure to articulate what comes next. Apple has weathered leadership transitions before, but this cluster of changes makes this one worth watching more closely than most.
For more on my thoughts on the recent leadership changes and the moment Apple finds itself in, read my post titled Amber Alert at Apple from earlier this week.
I’ve wanted a space like this for a while. A place to slow the week down, pull the important threads together, and write about Apple without chasing the moment. This felt like the right week to start.
I’ll be back next Saturday. In the meantime, catch up with me on X and check out the other latest posts on Cupertino Lens.