Apple rolls out payments, health and media upgrades in one week

Apple dropped a batch of updates this week that tighten its grip on payments, health data, and content while nudging the App Store dispute toward the Supreme Court.[^1¹]^2345671

The announcements include four new Apple Pay capabilities, a public beta of iOS 27.2 that ships a fresh Health app, second release‑candidate builds for macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.8.1, Tap to Pay availability in eight more Latin American countries², RAW support for 11 additional camera models⁸⁶, and a wave of legal briefs urging the Court to overturn part of the contempt ruling in Apple vs Epic.

Apple Pay gets four new features and a major expansion

Apple Pay remains the default checkout method for iPhone users in stores, online and within apps. The latest rollout adds four features that streamline the payment flow. Apple did not disclose the exact mechanics, but the company framed the changes as speed improvements and broader merchant compatibility. A separate expansion pushes the service into eight new Latin American markets, backed by six regional payment platforms.² The move gives small businesses a way to accept card‑less payments without additional hardware.² For consumers, the update means fewer taps and more places to pay with a phone.²

The expansion follows Apple’s strategy of turning the iPhone into a point‑of‑sale terminal.² By leveraging existing NFC hardware, Apple sidesteps the need for external readers.² Critics have warned that the model could lock merchants into Apple’s ecosystem, but the company argues that the convenience outweighs the cost.² The eight new markets include Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and four others in the region, though the source does not list each country.² The rollout is live today, according to the 9to5Mac report.

iOS 27.2 public beta launches new Health app and lab scheduling

Six days after debuting the iOS 27.2 developer beta, Apple released the first public beta. The build ships a brand‑new Health app that consolidates metrics that were previously scattered across the system.⁴ Users can now view activity, sleep and nutrition data in a single pane. Apple also enabled scheduling and purchasing lab tests through Quest Diagnostics directly from the app.⁴ The integration removes the need to switch to a web portal or third‑party app.

The public beta is available to anyone on the iOS 27.2 update track. Early adopters report that the new interface feels tighter, with fewer clicks to reach core health information.⁴ The Quest Diagnostics link supports lab orders for routine blood work and COVID‑19 testing. Apple positioned the feature as a convenience for users who already track wellness on their devices. No pricing details were disclosed, and the feature is limited to the United States for now.

macOS release candidates arrive ahead of final launch

Apple pushed the second release‑candidate builds for macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.8.1 to the public on September 22. The RCs carry the same builds that developers received a week earlier.¹ The timing gives power users a chance to test the final polish before the official launch later this month.¹

Both operating systems focus on stability and incremental feature tweaks.¹ macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 refines the new System Settings layout introduced earlier this year. macOS Sequoia 15.8.1 tightens security defaults around notarization and Gatekeeper.¹ The public rollout signals that Apple is confident the code is ready for a broader audience.¹ Users who opt‑in can report bugs through the Feedback Assistant, helping Apple iron out any lingering issues before the final release.

Tap to Pay spreads across Latin America

Apple announced that Tap to Pay on iPhone now works in eight additional Latin American countries.² The service relies on six local payment platforms to process transactions.² By using the iPhone’s built‑in NFC chip, merchants can accept contactless cards without a separate terminal.²

The expansion targets small‑to‑medium retailers that lack the capital for traditional point‑of‑sale hardware.² Apple’s rollout includes Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay and Costa Rica, according to the source.² The company expects the feature to drive adoption of its broader financial services suite in the region.² Some analysts note that the move pits Apple against entrenched local payment networks, but the convenience of a phone‑only solution may tip the balance.²

RAW support broadened across Apple ecosystem

Apple updated its official list of supported digital‑camera RAW formats, adding 11 new models from several manufacturers.⁸⁶ The support spans iPhone, iPad, Mac and the Vision Pro headset.⁸⁶ Photographers can now import uncompressed files from the newly supported cameras without third‑party conversion tools.⁸

The added models include recent releases from Canon, Nikon and Sony, though the source does not enumerate each name.⁸⁶ By extending RAW compatibility, Apple removes a friction point for professionals who rely on high‑fidelity image pipelines.⁸ The change is delivered through a software update that refreshes the Photos app’s import capabilities across all supported devices.⁸

Legal pressure mounts on Apple over App Store contempt ruling

Several legal and business groups, joined by the U.S. government, filed briefs with the Supreme Court this week urging the justices to reverse at least part of the contempt ruling against Apple in the Epic Games case.³⁵⁷ The contempt order stemmed from Apple’s alleged failure to comply with a prior injunction that required changes to its App Store practices.³⁵⁷

The briefs argue that the lower‑court sanction overreached and harms competition.³⁵⁷ They also claim that the ruling creates uncertainty for developers who need clear guidance on compliance.⁷ Apple has not publicly responded to the filings yet.³⁵⁷ The Supreme Court’s next term begins in October, and the briefs set the stage for a potential hearing on the matter.³⁵

What to watch next

Keep an eye on the Supreme Court’s response to the App Store briefs; a reversal could reshape Apple’s marketplace rules. Monitor the adoption rates of Tap to Pay in the newly added Latin American markets, as merchant uptake will indicate whether the phone‑only model can displace legacy terminals. Finally, watch for the final releases of macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 and macOS Sequoity 15.8.1 later this month, which will confirm whether the release‑candidate stability holds up under broader user loads.