The effect of drying air temperature and power ultrasound (US) application on the drying curves of apples (var. Granny Smith) and on the quality (total polyphenol (TPC) and flavonoid (FC) contents, the antioxidant activity (AA) and microstructure after drying) have been evaluated. Drying curves were studied at air temperatures of 30 degrees C, 50 degrees C, and 70 degrees C; without ultrasound (AIR) and using two levels of ultrasonic power: 18.5 kW/m(3) (AIR + US1) and 30.8 kW/m(3) (AIR + US2), being the drying time significantly (p < 0.05) reduced as these two operational variables increased. A diffusional model, taking into account the influence of drying temperature and US power on both the diffusion and the external mass transfer coefficients allowed the accurate simulation of the drying curves (MRE = 5.8 +/- 2.1%). TPC and FC were affected by drying temperature and US application. In AIR samples, the increase of drying temperature led to lower losses of TPC, FC, and AA. The US application (AIR + US1 and AIR + US2) involved lower TPC and FC losses in comparison to AIR samples only at 30 degrees C. The use of US promoted notorious changes in the microstructure (SEM observation) of apple samples, in comparison to the samples dried without US at all the temperatures considered, due to the stress developed by ultrasonic waves. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.