It’s been a busy month back at Apple, as they’re gearing up for the eventual release of the M5 Pro & M5 Max MacBook Pros, sending out iOS updates for older devices, and just announcing the AirTag 2. The Low End Mac Newsletter is a consolidation of some recent events, announcements, OS updates, etc; into a single article for the convenience of our readers, and to keep our website up to date.
iOS 12.5.8 for iPhone 5s
In what appears like a surprise move out of left field, Apple releases the iOS 12.5.8 update for devices as far back as the iPhone 5s. It’s a relatively minor update to allow FaceTime, device activation, and iMessage to continue working, with security patches.
- Side note: iPadOS wasn’t called “iPadOS” until after iOS 12. Despite this, today’s update for iPads on iOS 12 is called “iPadOS 12.5.8”. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPadOS_13)
Apple announced on their release notes: “This update extends the certificate required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100“
(Pictured: An iPhone 5s is pictured in our Low End iPhone/iPad/iPod banner)
iOS 12.5.8 wasn’t the only update announced, as iOS/iPadOS 18.7.4, 16.7.13, and 15.8.6 rolled out for other iOS devices as well. How cool is that? A device slated to turn 13 this September is still receiving software updates.
iPhone market share increases in India
According to a recent report done by TechCrunch with Counterpoint Research data, they found that iPhone shipment share rose to 9% in 2025.
- See article: Apple iPhone just had its best year in India as the smartphone market stays broadly flat
From their website: “Apple’s iPhone is gaining ground fast in India, shipping about 14 million units in 2025, based on market data shared exclusively with TechCrunch.
Yet the country’s overall smartphone market stayed largely flat at around 152 million to 153 million devices. That means that across the full-year of 2025, Apple’s market share of shipments rose to a record 9%. This is up from 7% in 2024, Counterpoint Research data shows, making it the iPhone’s strongest year yet in the world’s second-largest smartphone market by volume.”
Clawdbot dents the cuda moat – M4 minis fly off the shelves
Clawdbot dents the Cuda moat? Clawdbot dents the Cuda moat. Try saying that 5 times fast.
- See original reddit post: Apple Mac Mini Fly Off The Shelves As Clawdbot Dents The CUDA Moat
From WccfTech’s post: “Ask any objective vibe coder and they will invariably tell you that Apple has a great ecosystem, albeit hampered by the lack of seamless interplay with must-have resources like NVIDIA’s CUDA, a bespoke parallel computing platform and programming model that allows developers to use NVIDIA GPUs for general-purpose processing.
Now, however, as a Redditor was able to port an entire CUDA backend to AMD’s ROCm via Claude Code’s Clawdbot in just around 30 minutes, significantly denting NVIDIA’s heretofore impregnable CUDA moat in the process, Apple’s Mac mini devices are reportedly flying off the shelves as coders just can’t resist assimilating Apple’s reliable hardware and a veritable suite of very capable services into their personal workflows.”
macOS Face ID + iPhone Air 2 rumors
Recently, a rumor has surfaced online that Apple is developing thinner Face ID components for the second generation iPhone Air.
From Instant Digital: “The iPhone Air(2) adds an ultra-wide-angle lens and is placed horizontally. In order to solve the internal space problem, Apple is customizing an ultra-thin Face ID component to suppliers. Edit: I guess MacBook will probably use this ultra-thin Face ID as well.”
- See original Weibo post: macOS Face ID + iPhone Air 2 rumors
- Macrumors article: Apple Developing Thinner Face ID for iPhone Air 2, Report Suggests
- Mark Gurman talks about Face ID for Mac in 2022: Technology to Embed Face ID into MacBook Displays ‘Doesn’t Exist,’ Says Gurman
Photoshop AI tools update
If you’re a user of the latest iteration of Adobe Photoshop – there’s an update for you today. This update includes improvements to the AI tools, new adjustment layers, improvements to reference objects – generative fill, and more.
- See 9to5Mac article: Photoshop’s AI tools now offer higher resolution output, fewer artifacts, more control
AirTag 2 is announced
Announced in Apple’s website on January 26th 2026 is the second generation AirTag, touted as “The next generation of AirTag — the bestselling item finder..“, it promises some improvements over the outgoing model.
- Retains same price: $29 for a single, $99 for a four-pack
- New, 2nd-gen Ultra Wideband Chip, promising being able to find it 50% further away
- Upgraded bluetooth chip – expands range at which items can be located
- Precision finding now available on Apple Watch S9 or Ultra 2 and later
. - See Apple’s press release: Apple introduces new AirTag with expanded connectivity range and improved findability
iOS & iPadOS 26.3 Public Beta 3 released today
New with update:
- AirTag 2 Support
- Precision Finding on Apple Watch (Requires Series 9, Ultra 2 or newer)
- New Android to iOS transition app
- Changes to 3rd party wearables in the European Union
. - See more: Apple Seeds Third Betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to Public Beta Testers
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Save on Mac with Micro Center
If you’ve been in the market for a brand new Apple Silicon Mac and you aren’t sure where to get it from, I always personally recommend Micro Center. They are not at all affiliated with Low End Mac, and I/we do not receive any profits or incentives by promoting them. I just like to bring them up because it’s a nice computer store to visit with mostly everything all in one place, their prices are fair, and these kinds of computer stores are getting harder to find as time passes by.
Right now if you’re looking for either a desktop or a ‘Book, you can get 10% to 15% off your next Mac or more – if you stop by and purchase in-store. Now with the holiday season being over, many retailers aren’t keeping the holiday prices around anymore.. but with Micro Center there still are deals going on.
- 10% Discounts on all desktop Macs
- 15% Discounts on all MacBook Pros
- Refurbished Mac deals upon availability
. - See: Apple at Micro Center
