Featured: Apple Card AirPods Pro promotion, WWDC 2026 schedule and more

The biggest Apple stories of the week revolved around a new Apple Card promotion essentially offering free AirPods Pro 3 to new cardholders, as well as Apple’s official announcement of major WWDC 2026 events as well as media invitations to the keynote.

Other popular topics this week included rumors about the next foldable iPhone, Apple Watch and iPhone tips and tricks, and more, so read on below for all the details!

Featured

New Apple Card holders can get free AirPods Pro 3, but there’s a catch

At the end of last week, BloombergMark Gurman of revealed that Apple would launch a new promotion to encourage users in the United States to sign up for the Apple Card: a cash back promotion that would essentially give away free AirPods Pro 3 to new Apple Card customers.

The promotion officially launched this week, and while it offers free AirPods Pro 3, there’s a small catch. The cash back comes in the form of $25 per month over 10 months, with the requirement that the Apple Card be used at least 10 times in a given month to qualify for that month’s cash back.

Apple announces WWDC 2026 schedule and sends media invitations

Apple this week provided a schedule for its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins June 8 and runs through June 12. Apple also sent out invitations to members of the media who were invited to attend an in-person presentation at Apple Park.

The invitations and schedule confirm that the WWDC 2026 keynote will begin at the usual time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Woozad will be on hand for opening day and will provide full coverage of WWDC announcements throughout the week.

Foldable iPhone production stalls due to hinge issues

Test production of Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone, likely called “iPhone Ultra,” has hit a significant technical hurdle centered on hinge reliability, according to a known leaker.

The leaker known as “Instant Digital” posted on Weibo that the foldable device’s hinge still does not meet Apple’s quality control standards under prolonged and high-frequency opening and closing conditions. The leaker described the problem of mechanical wear and tear as one that “must be addressed with absolute perfection, otherwise progress will simply have to be stalled for the time being.”

These issues are unlikely to delay the phone’s launch, as Apple still has time to resolve the issues and ship the device later this year. Rumors already suggest that availability could come a little later than the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max which are expected to be introduced at the same time in September.

Apple Watch: 15 Tips Every Owner Needs to Know

The Apple Watch is now eleven generations old and full of useful features that are easy to miss at first glance. To help you get the most out of your device, we’ve rounded up 15 handy tips you may not have discovered yet, including a few that longtime users often overlook.

We’ve also looked at 10 useful iPhone tips and tricks that can make your life easier but may be a little hidden.

iPhone 17 Pro named fastest charging smartphone

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro was named the fastest charging phone in a recent study. CNET lab test of 33 smartphones, with Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra taking first place for wired charging speed.

To determine the ranking, CNETThe lab team performed a 30-minute wired charging test on each phone starting with 10% battery or less, using the phone’s included cable and a wall charger rated at or above the maximum speed supported by the device. Phones supporting wireless charging have undergone a corresponding 30-minute wireless test using a Qi (7.5W), Qi2 (15W) or Qi2.2 (25W) charger matched to the maximum speed supported by the phone. CNET then averages the wired and wireless results to get an overall load score.

Apple re-releases sold-out iPhone MagSafe Grip in three new colors

Apple re-released the Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone this week in three new colors, after the original version quickly sold out last year. The accessory is exclusively available on Apple’s online store worldwide, with the US price set at $54.95. Latest color options include Orange Swirl, Glow Blue, and Speckled Stone.

Designed by Bailey Hikawa and produced by PopSockets, Apple says the accessory was created with accessibility in mind, working closely with people with a wide range of disabilities affecting grip, strength and mobility. The ergonomic grip magnetically attaches to any iPhone with MagSafe and doubles as an iPhone stand.

This release comes alongside Apple’s annual unveiling of upcoming accessibility features that will debut in iOS 27 and related updates, with most of the new features powered by Apple Intelligence.

Woozad Newsletter

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