Your iPhone's Notes App Is a Secret Weapon for Private Conversations. How It Works - CNET

Have private conversations and delete them like they never happened, right from your Notes app.

Prism Drives secure 20TB cloud storage plan is under $90 until May 22

Macworld While cloud storage is a given these days, theyre not necessarily sufficient for all our photos, videos, and other media, and they often come with recurring or subscription fees. With Prism Drive, you can say goodbye to pesky subscription fees, as aone-time payment gets you 20TB of cloud storage for life .Now, you can grab it for less than$90, the lowest price you can find online. Prism Drives cloud solution offers an intuitive interface, and its 20TB plan meanstheresplenty of room for all your content. Helpful features like quick file previews, large file transfers, active monitoring for uploads, and trash recovery for up to 30 days makes this cloud storage option exceptionally handy. If youre concerned about privacy and security, Prism Driveis protectedby AES 256-bit and HTTPS encryption . That means your media is safe at rest and in transfertheres no tracking here. Files, photos, and videos stored on Prism Drive are also easy to share. Create shareable links to send to friends, family, or coworkers. Never run out of space again when you get a lifetime subscription to 20TB of Prism Drive cloud storage, now just $89.97 until May 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Thats the best price online, too! 20TB of Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription Only $89.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

How to download the Android 15 beta right now

Android 15 is available as a public beta for those with a Google Pixel and other select Android devices to try for themselves. Here's how to download it.

WhatsApp: how to use bold, italics, and strikethrough in your messages

Want your WhatsApp messages to stand out? Here are the simple tricks to add bold, italics, strikethrough, or bullet points or quotes to your texts.

iFixit Shares 13-Inch iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro Teardown Video

The popular repair website iFixit today shared a video with teardowns of the new 13-inch iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil Pro . The website praised the inclusion of adhesive pull tabs for the battery cells in the new iPad Pro, as they make repairs easier. We already shared another iPad Pro teardown video , so the look inside the Apple Pencil Pro is the novel aspect here. Key hardware changes introduced with the Apple Pencil Pro include a gyroscope that allows you to rotate the accessory for precise control of shaped pen and brush tools, and a haptic engine that vibrates for certain actions. You can also track the location of the Apple Pencil Pro in the Find My app. Apple Pencil Pro is priced at $129 in the U.S. and launched on Wednesday. Related Roundup: iPad Pro Tags: iFixit , Teardown , Apple Pencil Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad Accessories This article, iFixit Shares 13-Inch iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro Teardown Video first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Heres everything new in the iOS 17.5 update for your iPhone and iPad

Macworld Its been over a month since the release of iOS 17.4 , which brought new emojis and a few other features here in the U.S., but delivered a massive change for users in the European Union. In compliance with the Digital Markets Act, iPhones running iOS 17.4 and later now allow third-party app stores and browser engines, have new policies and terms for App Store apps, and a whole lot more. iOS 17.5 isnt nearly as monumental, but it still brings a few new features that users here and in the EU will appreciate. And it might be the last one we get for a whilewith iOS 18 coming at WWDC in just a few weeks Apples iOS 17 development is likely to slow down a bit. Heres everything you need to know about iOS 17.5: iOS 17.5 New features The most notable new feature is once again for the EU, Apple now allows users to download apps from a developers website instead of just an App Store. However, there are also some new features for U.S. users. In partnership with Google, Apple has finally introduced cross-platform tracking detection that will deliver notifications to users if a compatible Bluetooth tracker (AirTag and third-party devices) they do not own is moving with them, regardless of what operating system the device is paired with. If you need to send a broken iPhone to the Apple Store, a new Repair State mode will let you keep Find My and Activation Lock enabled but still allow technicians access your phone. The update also includes new Pride month wallpapers in five different color schemes. Additionally, there are some new features for Apple News+ subscribers: Offline mode in Apple News+ gives you access to the Today feed and News+ tab, even when you dont have an internet connection Quartiles is a new and original daily word game that is now available in Apple News+ Scoreboard in News+ Puzzles gives you access to new player data for Crossword, Mini Crossword and Quartiles, including stats and streaks iOS 17.5 security updates There are more than a dozen security updates in iOS 17.5 that include important fixes to AppleAVD (the audio and video decoder), FindMy, Maps, and Notes, along with two critical patches that could lead to arbitrary code execution: Kernel Impact: An attacker may be able to cause unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. WebKit Impact: An attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to bypass Pointer Authentication Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks. To learn more about each of these, check out Apples page about the security content of iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 . Suffice it to say there are quite a lot of fixes to multiple apps and frameworksa lot of surface area as they sayso updating your iPhone and iPad as soon as possible is recommended. iOS 17.5: How to install You will probably be prompted to install iOS 17.5 eventually, but that can take days or even weeks. If you want to update right away, follow these steps: OpenSetting. Tap General Tap Software Update Youll see the update appear, tap Download and Install (or Install Now if your iPhone has already downloaded it) Youll need to enter your passcode and your iPhone will restart after the update downloads and installs Find out everything you need to know about iOS 17 in our iOS 17 superguide . iOS

Top Stories: New iPads Launch, Apple Previews iOS 18 Accessibility Features, and More

The new iPads are here! Following their unveiling at last week's Let Loose Apple event, the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models launched this week alongside the Apple Pencil Pro and revamped Magic Keyboard, bringing the first updates to Apple's iPad lineup in over 18 months. This week also saw the release of iOS 17.5 and related operating system updates, while Apple previewed some clever new accessibility features coming later this year and we got an intriguing rumor about the 2025 iPhone lineup, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! Hands-On With New iPad Pro: M4 Chip, OLED Display, and More The new iPad Pro and iPad Air models launched on Wednesday after being unveiled by Apple last week. We shared a hands-on video for the new iPad Pro , which has several new features compared to the previous model, including a faster M4 chip , a brighter OLED display, a thinner design, the front camera and Face ID sensors moved to the landscape edge of the device, and compatibility with the redesigned Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro . Hands-On With the New M2 iPad Air In addition to the new M4 iPad Pro, we also picked up an M2 iPad Air in order to see what's new with the mid-tier iPad family and shared our early thoughts in a hands-on video . The new 13-inch size option is of course the most obvious change, but the new M2 chip is a welcome spec bump and the relocated front camera is great for those who want to use their iPad in a landscape orientation. The M2 iPad Air is at least $400 cheaper than the M4 iPad Pro, so you can save quite a bit of money while still getting a very capable device that will last you for years. iPhone 17 Lineup Rumored to Feature All-New Slim Model Above Pro Max With 'Major Redesign' We've been hearing a few rumors about an iPhone 17 Slim to replace the current Plus model for the 2025 iPhone lineup, and this week we got additional detail on what this device might be . According to The Information , Apple is aiming to discontinue the Plus model with the iPhone 17 lineup, and this new Slim model will sit at the top of the lineup above the Pro Max model. The new high-end model will feature a significant redesign that could be much thinner than current iPhone models and see changes like relocating the rear camera array to the top middle of the device from the corner where it has been since the original iPhone in 2007. Here's How the New iPad Pro Holds Up in Bend Tests Given that the new iPad Pro is advertised as being the thinnest Apple product ever , it was only a matter of time before the first bend test videos for the devices surfaced on YouTube. The new 13-inch iPad Pro has a thickness of just 5.1mm, making it slimmer than even the seventh-generation iPod nano released in 2012. Apple made internal design changes to the new iPad Pro to ensure it remains strong. Apple Previews iOS 18 Accessibility Features, Including Eye Tracking Ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day this week, Apple previewed many new accessibility features coming later this year with updates like iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. Two notable features coming to the iPhone and iPad include eye tracking, and visual cues that can help to reduce motion sickness in a moving vehicle. There are also new accessibility features for CarPlay . Apple Releases iOS 17.5 With These New Features Apple released iOS 17.5 this week following around six weeks of beta testing, and there are a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone, such as expanded support for item tracking alerts, and a new Quartiles game for Apple News+ subscribers. iOS 17.5 also includes 15 security patches , so make sure to update your iPhone as soon as possible to keep yourself protected from software vulnerabilities. iPhone Emulators on the App Store: Game Boy, N64, PS1, PSP, and More In April, Apple updated its guidelines to allow retro game emulators on the App Store, and several popular emulators have already been released for consoles like the Game Boy, Nintendo 64, original PlayStation, PlayStation Portable, SEGA Genesis, and others. Check out our list of popular emulators available on the App Store so far for the iPhone, iPad, and/or Apple TV, including Delta, RetroArch, and more. MacRumors Newsletter Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view. So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter ! Tag: Top Stories This article, Top Stories: New iPads Launch, Apple Previews iOS 18 Accessibility Features, and More first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The Secret iPhone Feature That Lets You Take Stunning Long-Exposure Photos - CNET

Use Live Photos to take gorgeous long-exposure shots, with no extra apps or equipment needed.

Best T-Mobile Phones for 2024 - CNET

Handpicked by CNET editors, these are the best phones available from T-Mobile in 2024.

iOS 17.5 Is Here, but Don't Forget These iOS 17.2 Features - CNET

The update was released months ago, and it was packed with features including the Journal app and Contact Key Verification.

Best Senior Phone Plans of 2024 - CNET

Carriers large and small offer discounts for older adults, but not all plans are the same.

This waterproof Bluetooth speaker offers 360 surround sound at a price better than Amazons, now $100

Macworld Whether youre planning a beach day or camping trip this summer, theres one thing youll need to keep the mood upbeat: music. Fortunately, you can bring happy beats and tunes wherever you go with the TREBLAB HD-360 Bluetooth speaker. This highly portable and user-friendly speaker is sure to be a welcome accessory, especially since has an impressive 20 hours of battery life, IPX4 waterproofing, surround sound, and more. Now, its on sale for $99.99 (reg. $159)itsa price that even beats Amazons. The standout feature of the TREBLAB HD-360 is its IPX4 waterproofing.Itll keep playing your music even when its touched by wayward splashes, rain, and other liquid .Its the ideal speaker for beach or pool days, as well asother outdoor excursions. The TREBLAB HD-360 easily connects to your iPhone and other devices withBluetooth 5.0 and provides 90W and 360 surround for rich, smooth basses and clear highs.With a full charge,you can play tunes for up to 20 hours. Thanks to its TWS mode, you can amplify your music by pairing two speakers together. This speaker even has NFC technology, which makes it easy to pair NFC-enabled devices to the TREBLAB. Bring immersive, crisp sound anywhere when you get the TREBLAB HD-360 Bluetooth Speaker for just $99.99 . TREBLAB HD-360 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Only $99.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Speakers

Best Cheap Phone of 2024: Most Value for the Money - CNET

We round up the best inexpensive phones we've reviewed from Apple, Samsung and Google Pixel. Our list of affordable phones should help you save money, with the cheapest starting at $160.

Turn a Video into a GIF on iPhone and iPad

Animated GIFs have become a staple of the internet. Invented in 1987, the looping, soundless video clips can be found everywhere online, from social media networks to messaging platforms. They're often used to express emotions, communicate ideas, or just make people laugh. Because they are so short, GIF files are quick to load and they play automatically, so they communicate what you want instantaneously and without effort on the viewer's part. What's more, thanks to Apple's Shortcuts app, you can turn video clips into GIFs quickly and easily on your iPhone and iPad without even having to download anything. The following steps show you how it's done. Open the Shortcuts app. Using the Gallery tab, search for Video to GIF, tap the shortcut in the results, then tap Add Shortcut . Run the shortcut by tapping its card in the My Shortcuts tab. You'll be presented with a list of videos from your photo library that you can turn into GIFs. Choose the clip that you want to convert. If the video is too long, you'll be prompted to trim it down by dragging the chevrons on either end of the clip. After that, tap Save . Tap the Share button below the preview to Save Image or choose a sharing method. Once you're finished, tap Done . If you want more control when making your own GIFs, consider using a dedicated GIF creation tool such as GIPHY . The app is free to download and includes additional options including stickers and effects to apply to your creations. This article, Turn a Video into a GIF on iPhone and iPad first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Use Beelinguapp to learn a new language by reading and listening, only $29.97

Macworld Learning a new language can help you communicate abroad andcan evenimprove your career prospects. While language learning isnt easy, you can learn more intuitively withBeelinguapp. Beelinguapphelps students master a second language by focusing on the listening approach to learning .Now,lifetime access to this innovative language-learning solution is only$29.97(reg. $100). Compatible with Android 4.3 and up and iOS 9 and higher, Beelinguapp offers 14differentlanguages to learn, including Korean, Spanish, French, and more. How itworksis that it showsyou two texts side by side, one in your first or native language, and the other youre learning.It also provides an audiobook option with karaoke reading, allowing students to follow the audios text for greater language immersion. To keep you motivated to learn your new language,you can pick which type of text to learn from.Options include fairy tales, news, science papers, classic novels, and more. New texts are also added weekly. Beelinguappsinnovative approach to learning a second language has earned it rave reviews, and the platform boasts over 57K reviews on the Google Play Store, as well as a 4.8-star rating out of five on the App Store. Learn a new language by listening and reading along. Grab a lifetime subscription to Beelinguapp, now just $29.97 until May 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Beelinguapp Language Learning App: Lifetime Subscription Only $29.97 at Macworld acc StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Apple to Increase Old iPhone Trade-In Values for iPhone 15 Customers

Apple for a limited time will increase the trade-in value for older iPhones when customers buy any iPhone 15 model in the U.S. and Canada. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will soon boost the credit paid for older iPhones when customers buy an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. The offer does not apply to other devices in Apple's smartphone lineup, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and iPhone SE (4th generation). Gurman did not mention the new values of old iPhones in its trade-in program, only that they will increase as of Monday, May 20, with the offer continuing through to Monday, June 3. Apple currently offers the following credit values for older iPhones as part of its trade-in program: iPhone SE (3rd generation): Up to $160 iPhone 13 mini: Up to $270 iPhone 13: Up to $300 iPhone 13 Pro: Up to $370 iPhone 13 Pro Max: Up to $450 iPhone 14: Up to $370 iPhone 14 Plus: Up to $420 iPhone 14 Pro: Up to $520 iPhone 14 Pro Max: Up to $630 Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website or at an Apple Store, and the credit can be applied towards the purchase of a new Apple product, or placed on an Apple gift card for later use. Apple's trade-in page offers a complete list of values for devices. Related Roundups: iPhone 15 , iPhone 15 Pro Tags: Apple Trade-In , Mark Gurman Buyer's Guide: iPhone 15 (Caution) , iPhone 15 Pro (Caution) Related Forum: iPhone This article, Apple to Increase Old iPhone Trade-In Values for iPhone 15 Customers first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

'iPhone 17 Slim' Could Move Rear Cameras to Top Center in Biggest Redesign Since iPhone X

The Information today reported that Apple plans to release an all-new, high-end iPhone 17 model next year, and there was one detail that is worth singling out: the rear cameras could be relocated to the op center of the device. Google's Pixel 8 Pro The rear camera system on the iPhone has been positioned in the top-left corner of the device since the original 2007 model, so the cameras being moved to the top center of the device would be a notable change. Some popular Android smartphones have rear cameras positioned towards the top center, such as Google's Pixel 8 Pro. The report said the new iPhone 17 model will feature a major redesign akin to the iPhone X, so it sounds like Apple has big plans for this device. With the report claiming the device could have a higher price tag than the Pro Max model, which starts at $1,199, perhaps it will end up being the iPhone Ultra that has been rumored for a few years. Here is everything that the report mentioned about the slimmer iPhone 17: Between a 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display ( likely 6.5-inch ) A significantly thinner design with an aluminum frame Rear cameras moved to op center of device A higher price tag than the Pro Max model in the iPhone lineup Improved front camera A narrower Dynamic Island A19 chip Read our initial coverage of the report for more details about the device. Tag: The Information This article, 'iPhone 17 Slim' Could Move Rear Cameras to Top Center in Biggest Redesign Since iPhone X first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Shares 2023 App Store Transparency Report

Apple today published its second annual App Store Transparency Report [ PDF ], highlighting details like the number of apps that were rejected during the year, the number of customer and developer accounts deactivated, the number of apps removed from the App Store, and more. In 2023, there were 1,870,119 total apps available, and Apple reviewed 6,892,500 app submissions. 1,763,812 apps were rejected, with performance, design, and legal listed as the top reasons why an app wasn't approved. 277,923 apps were approved after rejection following changes made to the app. 116,117 apps were removed from the App Store, and top categories for removal included Utilities, Games, and Business. 76,887 apps were removed for violating Guideline 4.0 on design, and 35,245 apps were removed for violating App Store rules preventing fraud. Apple removed 1,285 apps at the request of the Chinese government, and 103 at the request of the South Korean government. Apps were also pulled in India, Russia, Indonesia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and several other countries at the request of their respective governments. 398,499,012 customer accounts search the App Store on average on a weekly basis, and 166,360 apps appear in the top 10 results of at least 1000 searches each week. As Apple said earlier this week , it terminated 373,739,771 customer accounts and prevented an estimated $1,838,127,451 in fraudulent transactions. More information on Apple's App Store numbers can be found in the full report. [ PDF ] Tag: App Store This article, Apple Shares 2023 App Store Transparency Report first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Best Phone to Buy for 2024 - CNET

Whether you want a cutting-edge phone or a more affordable option, we tested the best from Apple, Samsung, Google and more.

When to Expect the Next iPhone SE to Launch

It has been over two years since Apple released the third-generation iPhone SE, and rumors continue to surface about a new model. The latest word comes from The Information , which today reported that Apple plans to release a new iPhone SE with a design similar to the standard iPhone 14 in the spring of 2025. If this rumor is accurate, the iPhone SE would finally gain Face ID and a notch instead of Touch ID and a Home button, along with a larger 6.1-inch display. Other rumored features for the next iPhone SE include a USB-C port and an Action button . The report said the new iPhone SE will remain a cheaper option in the iPhone lineup, as expected. The current iPhone SE starts at $429 in the U.S. with 64GB of storage, with other key features including a 4.7-inch display, A15 Bionic chip, 5G support, a single 12-megapixel rear camera, and a Lightning port. Keep track of our iPhone SE roundup for the latest rumors. Related Roundup: iPhone SE Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy) Related Forum: iPhone This article, When to Expect the Next iPhone SE to Launch first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Best Verizon Fios new customer deals: Get 2GB/s internet in your home

Looking to save by bundling your internet, landline, and TV plans? We've got the best Verizon Fios deals here.

Game Boy Emulator 'Delta' for iPhone Updates App Icon After Adobe 'Threatened Legal Action'

The developers behind the popular Game Boy emulator Delta for the iPhone said they updated the app's icon today to avoid potential legal action from Adobe. Delta's new app icon (left) and Adobe's logo (right) Adobe threatened legal action unless we changed our app icon so we did, say the release notes for the latest version of Delta on the App Store . Delta's former icon does look like a mirrored version of Adobe's logo, which is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, companies have an obligation to enforce their trademarks, and failure to do so could eventually result in losing rights to the trademark. Delta's previous app icon Without proper policing over time, the original owner of a mark could lose any trademark rights it has in the mark, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office says . Apple has enforced its trademarked logo in similar ways over the years, including in 2020, when it filed a complaint against a small company with a pear logo . Thanks, Parker Ortolani ! Tags: App Store , Adobe , Emulator This article, Game Boy Emulator 'Delta' for iPhone Updates App Icon After Adobe 'Threatened Legal Action' first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Boost Your Signal: Tips and Tricks to Enhance Reception on Your iPhone or Android - CNET

These strategies can help you avoid dropped calls and missed text messages.

The best iPad Air screen protectors in 2024

Your iPad Air is an incredible device that sits midway between the budget iPad and iPad Pro. To protect your investment, consider using a screen protector.

Best Samsung tablet deals: Discounted tablets as low as $184

We've picked out all the best Samsung tablet deals currently available, and they range from budget friendly to high-end options.

Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more

Are your monthly cell phone bills bleeding you dry? Save some cash with these Verizon new customer deals.

Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals: Grab the foldable phone for $700

Interested in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4? Here are the best deals for the foldable smartphone, but you need to hurry if you want to enjoy the huge savings.

Best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals: Get the foldable for free

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a great foldable phone that looks super stylish and is speedy too. We've got all the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals here.

Best Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deals: How to get the phone for free

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones of 2023, here is how to get it on the cheap or free.

Best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals: Save big on unlocked models

If you're thinking about the Samsung Galaxy S22 as your next smartphone, check out these offers for amazing discounts on carrier-locked and unlocked models.

Motorolas next folding phone could be a game-changer

Weve got some exciting news about Motorolas new lineup of Razr smartphones. If the news is correct, we could see a dramatic and exciting upgrade.

Next years iPhone could feature a thin, redesigned ultra high-end model

Macworld It might seem like every year the next big iPhone update is just a year away, but a new rumor claims that this time it might actually be true. A new report from The Information (subscription required) says that Apple is working on a new version of the iPhone for 2025 that will be sold as a higher-end version above Pro Max model. However, this new iPhone wont simply be a larger version of the Pro Max. In fact, it might not be a Pro model at all. The Information reports that the new iPhones most defining characteristic will be its redesigned body with a new ultra-thin case, smaller Dynamic Island, and centered rear camera, giving this iPhone an obvious visual difference from the other models in the lineup. The size of the display may fall between the Pro and Pro Max models, the first time Apple didnt place a premium on the largest model. The new thin iPhone will also likely have an A19 Pro chip and appears to replace the iPhone Plus, even though it will be more expensive than the iPhone Pro Max. Apple has been rumored to be releasing a new higher-end iPhone for years, but it was reported that it would be an ultra-high-end model with a larger screen. This model appears to be a departure from that plan. It appears as though thin is back in style in Cupertino. Apple just unveiled the M4 iPad Pro with a thickness of 5.3mm, the thinnest device Apple has ever made. The iPhone 16 Plus has a thickness of 7.8mm compared to the M2 iPad Pro, which had was 6.4mm depth. The Informations report comes after analyst Jeff Pu wrote in an investor note earlier this month about a similar new iPhone model. Pu said the iPhone 17 and 17 Slim will have 8GB of RAM with either the A18 or A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will have an A19 Pro with 12GB of RAM. However, the Informations report paints a picture of a higher-end model than Pus rumor. Also chiming in on the rumor is Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants, who says the new model will have a 6.5-inch display . iPhone

Hands-On With the New M2 iPad Air

Apple this week came out with new iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro has a next-generation M4 chip and an OLED display so it got much of the attention, but Apple added a whole new size to the Air lineup to offer a more affordable way to get a bigger screen. We spent some time with the new iPad Air to see what's new and whether it's worth buying. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The smaller version of the iPad Air measures in at 11 inches, and the larger version is 13 inches, the same as the iPad Pro. Prior to now, the only way to get a 13-inch tablet was to buy the Pro, but the new Air is a much more affordable option. Pricing starts at $599 for the 11-inch version and $799 for the 13-inch version, while the 11-inch iPad Pro is priced starting at $999 and the 13-inch iPad Pro is $1,299. So the 13-inch Air is a full $500 cheaper. You're losing out on the OLED display, ProMotion, compatibility with the new Magic Keyboard, and the M4 chip, but not too much else . The M2 chip in the iPad Air is still super fast and able to handle anything you might want to do on an iPad , and while the display doesn't have the brightness or the contrast of the OLED display, it's good enough for almost everyone. Confusingly, the iPad Air name no longer really fits because the iPad Pro models are now thinner and lighter than the Air models, so you can also expect a little bit of extra bulk going with the Air line. The iPad Air can only be used with the prior-generation Magic Keyboard, but it does work with the new Apple Pencil Pro that has haptic feedback and a gyroscope for barrel roll. At $799, the 13-inch iPad Air paired with a keyboard is probably the best iPad for those who want a computer replacement, given its size, speed, and price point. The 11-inch model is ideal if you want something smaller and more affordable that's still powerful, but for those who just want a simple tablet for watching movies or browsing the web, even the Air might be too much tablet. What do you think of the revamped iPad Air and Apple's new iPad lineup ? Let us know in the comments below. Related Roundup: iPad Air Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad This article, Hands-On With the New M2 iPad Air first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Best Apple Deals of the Week: Discounts Hit Every AirPods Model, Plus First Sales on M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air

This week's best deals included some of the first discounts on the new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, as well as big savings across the entire AirPods lineup. If you're okay with investing in a previous generation, you'll also find big savings on the M1 iPad Air. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. AirPods What's the deal? Get up to $99 off AirPods Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $49 OFF AirPods 2 for $79.99 $29 OFF AirPods 3 for $139.99 $59 OFF AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) for $189.99 $99 OFF AirPods Max for $449.99 AirPods deals were in abundance this week, and you can still find a solid discount on every current model right now on Amazon. The biggest markdown is $99 off the AirPods Max, which is also a fairly rare deal that we haven't seen in a few months, but there's also savings on AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro 2. M4 iPad Pro What's the deal? Get $50 off the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $49 OFF M4 11-inch iPad Pro (256GB Wi-Fi) for $949.99 Following a few markdowns at Best Buy that were exclusive to members, Amazon this week introduced a $49 discount on the M4 11-inch iPad Pro that's available to all shoppers. This is now the best deal we've tracked on the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Pro, and it's available in Silver. M2 iPad Air What's the deal? Get up to $65 off the new iPad Air Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $29 OFF M2 11-inch iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $569.99 $30 OFF M2 11-inch iPad Air (256GB Wi-Fi) for $669.00 $40 OFF M2 11-inch iPad Air (512GB Wi-Fi) for $859.00 $50 OFF M2 11-inch iPad Air (1TB Wi-Fi) for $1,049.00 $35 OFF M2 13-inch iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $764.00 $40 OFF M2 13-inch iPad Air (256GB Wi-Fi) for $859.00 $50 OFF M2 13-inch iPad Air (512GB Wi-Fi) for $1,049.00 $65 OFF M2 13-inch iPad Air (1TB Wi-Fi) for $1,234.00 Amazon introduced some of the first straight cash discounts on the new 11-inch and 13-inch M2 iPad Air, with up to $50 in savings on these tablets. A few of these are dwindling in stock as we head into the weekend, so be sure to shop soon if you want to save on Apple's latest iPad Air. M1 iPad Air What's the deal? Get $150 off M1 iPad Air Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $200 OFF M1 iPad Air (64GB Wi-Fi) for $399.00 $150 OFF M1 iPad Air (256GB Wi-Fi) for $599.00 Amazon further discounted the 64GB Wi-Fi M1 iPad Air this week, now available for $399.00, down from $599.00. This tablet keeps falling in price following the launch of the new M2 iPad Air, so it's a great deal for anyone who would prefer to save money over having the latest iPad Air model. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup . Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, Best Apple Deals of the Week: Discounts Hit Every AirPods Model, Plus First Sales on M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

macOS compatibility: Heres the latest version your Mac can run

Macworld Wondering which versions of macOS your Mac can run? Weve put together a macOS compatibility checker that will show you what Macs the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X support, so you can tell what version you should be running on your Mac. What Mac operating systems can my Mac run? Apple releases a new version of the Mac operating system almost every yearbut the new version of the Mac operating system will not support every Mac. Each year more and more Macs fall off the compatibility list and are unable to be updated to take advantage of the latest features. The latest version, macOS 14 Sonoma, arrived on September 26. Read on to find out which Macs are supported by each version of the Mac operating system. For advice about installing Sonoma read: How to install macOS Sonoma on your Mac. To learn how to install the Sonoma beta read: How to install the macOS beta . Can I install an older OS on my Mac? Officially, the operating system that was available on your Mac at the time that you bought it is the oldest version of macOS that can run on that Mac. Its likely that an older OS wont include the necessary drivers for the hardware on your newer Mac. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will be able to install an older version of macOS on a new Macbut you can take a look at how to install old versions of macOS or OS X for other Macs. Owners of Macs with M1 or M2 chips wont be able to run older versions of macOS that werent designed for M1 Macs . But it may not just be a case of wanting to know if your Mac can run the newest operating system. You might also want to know if it is possible to downgrade your Mac to an older version of macOS and need to know the oldest version of macOS. Youll also find that below. You can also see a complete list of all the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X . Not sure which Mac you own? Check our article about how to identify your Mac. Note: In each case, the year referenced below is the year that Mac was introducedyou could for example have bought a 2016 MacBook in early 2017, but its still the 2016 MacBook. This is important to keep in mind if you are looking to run an older version of macOS on a Mac. Macs are generally incompatible with versions of macOS that are older than the one it shipped with. Will macOS 15 arrive in 2024? Apple will preview macOS 15 during its annual WWDC keynote presentation on June 10. We dont know which Macs will be compatible, but we assume some Intel Macs will be dropped, if not all of the remaining ones since its already been four years since the first Apple silicon Macs arrived. We expect all M-series Macs will be supported for at least another year. macOS 14 Sonoma compatibility macOS Sonoma is the newest version of macOS. macOS Sonoma is the newest version of macOS. IDG macOS Sonoma is the newest version of macOS. IDG IDG macOS 14 Sonoma became available on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. The latest version, macOS 14.5 , released on Monday, May 13. If you want to install the operating system update you will only be able to do so on one of these Macs: iMacfrom 2019 and later MacProfrom 2019 and later iMacProfrom 2017 MacStudiofrom 2022 and later MacBookAirfrom 2018 and later Macminifrom 2018 and later MacBookProfrom 2018 and later For more information read: Can my Mac run Sonoma? macOS 13 Ventura compatibility Apple Apple Apple Apple released macOS 13 Ventura to the public on October 24, 2022. The latest version is 13.6.7 which arrived on May 13. Read our guide to every version of macOS released to find out about the latest version. To run Ventura you will need one of these Macs: MacBook models from 2017 or later MacBook Air models from 2018 or later MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later Mac mini models from 2018 or later iMac models from 2017 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2019 or later Mac Studio (all models) For more information read: Can my Mac run Ventura? macOS 12 Monterey compatibility Apple Apple Apple macOS 12 Monterey was made available to download on October 15, 2021. The latest version is 12.7.5 which arrived on May 13. The following Macs are compatible with macOS Monterey: MacBook models from early 2016 or later MacBook Air models from early 2015 or later MacBook Pro models from early 2015 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac from 2015 or later iMac Pro (2017 and later) Mac Pro models from late 2013 and later Mac Studio macOS 11 Big Sur compatibility Apple Apple Apple macOS 11 Big Sur was the version of macOS that arrived on November 12, 2020. The latest version is 11.7.10 which arrived in September 2023. Heres a list of the Macs that can run macOS Big Sur: MacBook models from early 2015 or later MacBook Air models from 2013 or later MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac from 2014 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 and 2019 macOS 10.15 Catalina compatibility Catalina arrived in October 2019, and the latest version is macOS 10.15.7 with Security Update 2022-05 (which arrived in July 2022) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (2015 to 2017) MacBook Air (Mid-2012 to 2019) MacBook Pro (Mid-2012 to 2019) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to 2019) iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 Note that the M-series Macs will not be able to run Catalina or earlier. An M-series (Apple Silicon) Mac cannot be downgraded beyond Big Sur. An M-series (Apple Silicon) Mac cannot be downgraded beyond Big Sur. An M-series (Apple Silicon) Mac cannot be downgraded beyond Big Sur. macOS 10.14 Mojave compatibility Mojave arrived in September 2018 (latest version 10.14.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017) MacBook Air (Mid 2012 to 2017, because its the same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 to 2018) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to mid-2017) iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU) macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibility High Sierra arrived in September 2017 (latest version 10.13.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017) MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2017) Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014) iMac (Late 2009 to mid-2017) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013) macOS 10.12 Sierra compatibility Sierra, the first update to drop the X from the name, arrived in September 2016 (latest version 10.12.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017) MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2015) Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014) iMac (Late 2009 to 2015) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013) Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan compatibility El Capitan arrived in September 2015 (latest version 10.11.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017) MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to early 2015) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to early 2015) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2014) iMac (Mid 2007 to mid-2015) Mac Pro (2008, 2010, 2013) OS X 10.10 Yosemite compatibility Yosemite arrived in October 2014 (latest version 10.10.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013) MacBook Pro (13 Mid-2009 to mid 2014) MacBook Pro (15 Mid/Late 2007 to mid 2014) MacBook Pro (17 Late 2007 to 2011) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012) iMac (Mid-2007 to mid-2014) Mac Pro (2008 and 2010) Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks compatibility Mavericks arrived in October 2013 (latest version 10.9.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013) MacBook Pro (Mid 2007 to early 2013) Xserve (Early 2009) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012) iMac (Mid 2007 to early 2013) Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010) Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility Mountain Lion, the last of the big cat versions of the Mac operating system launched in July 2012 (latest version 10.8.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2012) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to mid-2012) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2011) iMac (Mid-2007 to 2011) Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010) Wondering how long Apple will support your Mac for? Read: How long do Macs last? Mac, MacOS, Personal Software

The iPhone 16 Pro Max may get a very important battery upgrade

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is set to get a pretty significant battery upgrade that may roll out to future iPhone models. Here's what's new.

MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Vision Pro From iMazing

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with iMazing to offer MacRumors a chance to win an Apple Vision Pro headset. The giveaway celebrates the recent release of iMazing 3 , and the winner will also receive an iMazing 3 license that covers five devices (including the Vision Pro). iMazing 3 has been redesigned and re-engineered for from the ground up for both Macs and Windows PCs, for ease of use no matter which platform you're using. The software offers a refreshed interface and an updated user experience that builds on the core iMazing features that customers have come to love. For those who are unfamiliar with iMazing, it is iPhone and iPad management software that serves as an alternative to iTunes on PCs or the Finder-based device management option that now exists on Macs. The iMazing team overhauled the interface and underlying tools in order to provide the quality and future capabilities that customers expect from the software. iMazing offers quick, local backups with support for snapshots so you can browse through all of your backups to find exactly what you're looking for. With the backup option, you'll never lose a file or access to an app again. File and media transfers to or from devices are available, so you can move music, photos, and more from your iPhone to your Mac and vice versa. iMessage, SMS messages, and WhatsApp messages can also all be exported . For business users, iMazing offers tools for managing and provisioning devices . The iMazing 3 software has a new Discover section that is meant to help casual users better navigate their devices and perform simple actions quickly. There are quick access options for transferring files, making backups, browsing images, copying voicemails, and more. There's also a new Tools section that has power features aimed at business users, such as managing apps, exporting select data, scanning for spyware, and transferring content to another device. iMazing on Mac works with iPhone, iPad, and the Vision Pro. iMazing bills itself as the best possible iPhone management software, and the third-generation version has been redesigned for the future. iMazing plans to provide regular updates that will add new capabilities and improve existing options, and the updates will be offered at no cost to iMazing 3 license holders. iMazing 3 is available from the iMazing website , and a one-device license is priced at $40, while a three-device license is $60 and a 5-device license is $75. We have a copy of iMazing and an Apple Vision Pro for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter , subscribing to our YouTube channel , following us on Twitter , following us on Instagram , following us on Threads , or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page . Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways and the availability of the Vision Pro, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older are eligible to enter . All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section , as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected. iMazing Giveaway The contest will run from today (May 17) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 24. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after May 24 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen. Tag: Giveaway This article, MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Vision Pro From iMazing first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone 17 Lineup Rumored to Feature All-New Slim Model Above Pro Max With 'Major Redesign'

Apple is planning to launch an all-new iPhone 17 model next year with a slimmer design, according to The Information . The report says the device could have a higher price tag than the Pro Max model. The report adds that the device will feature a major redesign akin to the iPhone X, and this could potentially involve the rear camera system being relocated to the op center of the device. This story will be updated with more details. Tag: The Information This article, iPhone 17 Lineup Rumored to Feature All-New Slim Model Above Pro Max With 'Major Redesign' first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The MacRumors Show: 101st Episode Q&A Special

To celebrate one hundred episodes of The MacRumors Show podcast, we answer your questions. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos After one hundred episodes of The MacRumors Show , we delve into a wide range of queries submitted by our audience over the past few weeks, such as whether we wear our Apple Watches overnight, our favorite third-party apps, our biggest disappointments and surpassed expectations with Apple devices, and our desk setups, as well as a mix of more personal questions. Thank you for listening! The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel , so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips: Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel! You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show , catch up for our discussion about Apple's newly announced iPad Pro , iPad Air , Apple Pencil Pro, and revamped Magic Keyboard accessory. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors , often joined by interesting guests such as Matthew Cassinelli , Brian Tong , Quinn Nelson , Kevin Nether , Jared Nelson , Eli Hodapp , Luke Miani , Mike Bell , Sara Dietschy , iJustine , Jon Rettinger , Andru Edwards , Arnold Kim , Ben Sullins , Marcus Kane , Christopher Lawley , Frank McShan , David Lewis , Tyler Stalman , Jon Prosser , Sam Kohl , John Gruber , Federico Viticci , Thomas Frank , Jonathan Morrison , Ross Young , Ian Zelbo , and Rene Ritchie . The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow , so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future. Tag: The MacRumors Show This article, The MacRumors Show: 101st Episode Q&A Special first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is reportedly getting a cool battery upgrade

Macworld One of the reasons why customers opt for Apples iPhone Pro Max is because of the larger battery. The current iPhone 15 Pro Max offers up to 29 hours of video playback and that might improve with the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apples top-end iPhone is getting a boost in battery life but not by making the battery biggeritll stay the same size as the 15 Pro Max. Kuo reports that Apple has increased the energy densityessentially, how much charge it can holdwhich results in the battery lasting longer. Kuo doesnt offer any information as to how much the life will increase. As a result of the increased energy density, the battery temperature will be higher when its running. Kuo states that Apple is going to use a stainless steel battery case for the first time as a thermal solution. The internal case will also provide better protection for the battery and the iPhone system. The new case also makes it a little easier to remove the battery, which in turn helps Apple comply with the requirements of the European Union for replaceable batteries. Kuo states that if this new battery implementation works out well, Apple will use it in all its new iPhones in 2025. Kuos report follows reports that involve mock-ups of the iPhone 16 Pro Max that show that the phone will be bigger than the current iPhone 15 Pro Max. If Kuos report is accurate (he often is, but has missed a few times), then implementing the new internal steel case for the battery could explain the size increase. Check out our iPhone 16 guide for the latest on Apple next iPhone. iPhone

Turn a Live Photo into a Boomerang

Most iPhone users are familiar with Apple's Live Photos , which capture 1.5 seconds of video before and after you take a picture, with the aim of adding a little bit of life and movement to still images. What some users might not know is that you can also make a Live Photo bounce back and forth like a boomerang. If you're familiar with Instagram, you probably know what a boomerang is. Since introducing Live Photos in 2015, Apple has added some effects to its Photos app that let you turn them into fun animated clips, and the Bounce effect is basically the same thing as a boomerang. It rewinds the action backward and forward. Here's how to make one of your own on iPhone. Open the Photos app and select a Live Photo. (If you look under Media Types in the Albums section, you'll find all of your Live Photos collated in a folder of the same name.) With the Live Photo open, tap the LIVE icon in the top-left corner of the interface. From the dropdown menu that appears, choose Bounce . The effect you choose will be applied immediately, ready for you to share it using the Share icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Note that there are two other effects that you can try in Photos: Loop repeats the action in a continuous looping video, and Long Exposure simulates a DSLR-like long exposure effect by blurring motion. Did you know that it you get a blurry Live Photo image, you can open it up and see if other frames you captured are clearer, and then select a replacement key photo for it . Click the link to learn how it's done. This article, Turn a Live Photo into a Boomerang first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Turn Your Old Smartphone Into a Home Security Camera for Free: Here's How - CNET

It doesn't take long to give your old iPhone or Android phone a new lease on life as a security camera.

This hidden iPad Pro Easter egg is unbelievably cool

The iPad Pro (2024) has only been available for a few days and already an Easter egg has been discovered. And it's one of the coolest things we've seen.

I saw Googles futuristic Project Astra, and it was jaw-dropping

So much of Google I/O 2024 could be described as dull and boring. But Project Astra stood out as something magical, and I got to see it in action.

The AirPods Max are $100 off for the first time in months

Macworld The Apple AirPods Max are back on sale, marking only the third time this year that theyve been available at such a steep discount. This limited-time offer allows you to save $100, bringing the price down to $450 from the original $549. Dont miss out on this rare opportunity to own these high-quality audio products at a significantly reduced price. While not the lowest historical price, which was $429 way back in 2021, its the bestyoureyoull get for now. The best chance you have to save that extra $20 is to wait until Prime Day on the off-chance theyll go that low then. Still, thats two months away, and it may very well not happen. The AirPods Max stand out with their Apple-designed dynamic driver, which delivers high-fidelity audio. This, combined with Apples magic and the H1 chip, creates a truly exceptional listening experience. As we highlighted in our review , the AirPods Max are not just about audio quality,but also about their superior design and build, making them atop choice among consumer headphones. One of the standout features of the AirPods Max is the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This technology efficiently blocks external noise, allowing users to immerse themselves in their music without distractions fully. Whether in a busy cafe or on a noisy street, the ANC feature ensures a pure and uninterrupted audio experience. Audio reproduction stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, and the active noise canceling is perhaps the best Ive ever heard, our expert said about the headphones and his experience with them. Of course, there are times when ANC isnt ideal and you have to be aware of your surroundings. For those instances, the AirPods Max have a convenient Transparency mode. This enables you to hear and interact with the world around you without needing to remove the headphones. Its a safety feature you can rely on, especially when crossing the street. With up to 20 hours of battery life, even with Active Noise Cancellation and Personalized Spatial Audio enabled, the AirPods Max are perfect for long listening sessions. So,supposeyou listen to music on your Apple device, and youre looking for headphones that deliverthe premiumaudio quality, advanced noise cancellation, and superior build quality.In that case, the AirPods Max are the perfect solution, especially now that theyre $100 off. Grab the Apple AirPods Max for $100 off at Amazon Headphones

Best MagSafe wireless chargers for iPhone 2024

Macworld Weve rounded up the best MagSafe, Qi2 and MagSafe-compatible magnetic chargers, from the plain pad to multi-functional stands (up to six devices charged), and even the most colorfulfrom snap-on chargers and modular stands to foldable power banks and full desk mats. Apples MagSafe technology, supported by all models of iPhone 12/13/14/15, presents a more efficient way of wirelessly charging compatible iPhones. MagSafe is the ring of magnets around the iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15s internal charging coil that senses compatible accessories and magnetically snaps securely into the most efficient charging position with the right accessories. With MagSafe, youre less likely to wake up to find your phone wasnt correctly placed on the wireless charger so didnt charge at all! We have tested a lot of magnetic chargersMagSafe, Qi2 and Compatibleand here inform you which one will work best for you. There are simple magnetic wireless chargers, multi-device chargers for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, travel chargers, car chargers and more. Click here to get to the type of charger you need or keep scrolling for the full list of the favorites we have tested. Best simple MagSafe chargers Best 2-in-1 MagSafe chargers Best 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers Best travel MagSafe chargers Best MagSafe charging stands with power banks Best MagSafe car charger Best wireless charging desk mat Best wireless charging sleeve Offering up to 15W power output, MagSafe charging is twice as fast merely compatible 7.5W magnetic wireless charging. PROMOTION ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Charging Set for Apple Qi2-certified 15W MagSafe iPhone charging gives you safer, more reliable charging at faster speeds. Power all 3 of your essential Apple devices together, declutter your desk or nightstand, and de-stress your daily charge at home, office and during travel. Compatible for MagSafe charging station support iPhone 15/14/13/12 series, AirPods Pro/3/2, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1, and Apple Watch SE 2/1. Use code MacworldQi2 at checkout to receive an exclusive 10% off. SHOP Now A new Qi2 standard , supported by the iPhone 13/14/15 family (and unofficially the iPhone 12), now means that some non-MagSafe chargers are able to charge supporting phones at the full 15Wif they are certified for Qi2, of course. Qi2 is based on the same technology as Apples MagSafe so offers similar 15W speed charging. Weve started testing the new Qi2 chargersread our Anker Qi2 MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station review and the Qi2 charging speeds are close enough to MagSafes to be regarded as identical. Foundry Foundry Foundry MagSafe or Qi2 certification Apple certifies MagSafe accessories to ensures that the output charging is 15W, compared to non-certified magnetic but MagSafe-compatible chargers that are usually just 7.5W. Certified MagSafe chargers also have a single-wire NFC antenna that allows the iPhone to identify the device, a built-in magnetometer, and a compass to prevent interference while you are using your iPhone while its charging. In our tests, 15W MagSafe and new Qi2 chargers are evenly matched for charging speeds. 7.5W MagSafe compatible chargers, as you might expect, take around twice as longcertainly in the early stages of charging. But dont rule out 7.5W chargers as they are often high quality, nearly always noticeably cheaper and just take a while longer to fully charge an iPhone. We have avoided the many cheap models found online and focused on the premium brands, while also including those that offer something different. Simple vs multi-device magnetic chargers The most basic form of MagSafe or magnetic charger is the simple pad that latches on to the compatible iPhone. Some pads feature a pop-out arm so the iPhone can be propped up while charging. There are also products that can simultaneously charge an iPhone plus other Apple devices, such as an Apple Watch or wireless AirPods charging case. Note that the AirPods case must be of the wireless variety, and the original AirPods case lacked this functionality. The base of a multi-charger could also be used to charge a second iPhone but mostly not magnetically and at 5W rather than 7.5W or 15W. Also see our round up of the Best Apple Watch chargers and stands . Best simple MagSafe chargers A simple MagSafe charging pad is the cheapest route to wireless iPhone charging. Its still half as fast as using a standard Lightning or USB-C cable, however, and if you are going to the bother of connecting this product to a wall charger, why not just use a Lightning (iPhone 12/13/14) or USB-C (iPhone 15) cable? You can fast-charge an iPhone to 50% battery in under 30 minutes using a cable, while it takes around 50 minutes to wirelessly charge iPhone from 0 to 50% using even 15W MagSafe. That said, there are interesting options to choose from. After these well look at more multi-functional MagSafe chargers. 1. Apple MagSafe Charger Best simple MagSafe charger if you must buy Apple Pros Fast 15W for iPhone Cons Short cable Price When Reviewed: $39 Best Prices Today: $31 at Walmart $33.15 at Amazon $33.99 at Best Buy Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Cable : 1m (3.3ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : White The most obvious MagSafe Charger to buy for your Apple iPhone is, of course, the Apple MagSafe Charger. Its the charger that Apple would have shipped with the iPhone if it did such things anymore. Its as minimalist a design as youd expect from Appleit looks a lot like a giant Apple Watch Charger. You can also use it to charge your AirPods. Its main advantage over the non-certified competition is its 15W charging power. Its still half as fast as using a Lightning or USB-C cable, however, and if you are going to the bother of connecting this product to a wall charger, why not just use a Lightning (iPhone 12/13/14) or USB-C (iPhone 15) cable? You can fast-charge an iPhone to 50% battery in under 30 minutes using a cable, while it takes around 50 minutes to wirelessly charge iPhone from 0 to 50% using even 15W MagSafe. And the Apple MagSafe Charger is not perfect. It is too small and light to stay on the desk when you pick up your iPhone, making it a poor wireless charging pad. The 1m cable is far too short to comfortably charge and use your iPhone at the same time, or maybe stretch from a power socket to a nearby table. Dont forget that it still requires a USB-C wall chargerat least 20W recommended if you want the full 15W potential. We think there are better MagSafe and MagSafe-compatible alternatives, so keep reading for our non-Apple recommendations. 2. Anker Qi2 MagGo Wireless Charger (Pad) Best budget simple MagSafe charger Pros Fast 15W for iPhone 1.5m cable Inexpensive Price When Reviewed: $21.99 Best Prices Today: $21.99 at Amazon $21.99 at Anker Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : Black, White Another basic magnetic charger, Ankers MagGo Wireless Charger Pad works just like the Apple pad, and also at a fast 15Walthough its technology is Qi2 rather than Apple MagSafe. It works just as well, though, and is one of the cheaper premium magnetic chargers. The cable is a decent length at 1.5mhalf again as long as that on the Apple MagSafe Charger pad, but not as long as on the 2m Belkin MagSafe charger reviewed below. 3. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad 15W Best simple MagSafe charger with stand Pros Fast 15W for iPhone 2m cable Built-in stand Cons High list price Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at Amazon $29.99 at Belkin Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Cable : 2m (6.6ft) Wall charger : Optional Colors : Black, White Available in two predictable colors, the Belkin BoostCharge Pro Charger Pad is as fast as Apples Charger and comes with a longer cable and handy pop-up stand. The cable is twice as long as Apples, which makes using the phone much easier when charging. Its also thicker nylon-braided cable with a handy integrated silicone cable tie. Its list price is higher than Apples, which is a surprise, so youre paying a premium for the longer premium cable and the kickstand but we think its worth the extra if you must have a certified 15W MagSafe charger. Check our price comparison here for cheaper online prices. An alternative is the 15W Anker Qi2 MagGo pad, reviewed above, which has a 1.5m cable but no stand. Again, a straight cable connection will be faster but we like the kickstand, which you dont get with a standard cable connection. You can buy with a 27W power adapter included or just on its own if you already have a wall charger to use. There are a few very similar Belkin Charger Pads so make sure you get what youre after. For example, there is a slower but more affordable 7.5W MagSafe-compatible BoostCharge Charger Pad ($29 and sometimes cheaper from Amazon U.S. and Amazon U.K. ) that lacks the stand. If you just want a cheap MagSafe-compatible charging pad, this is a decent option. Be warned: Belkin also sells a Qi Wireless Charging Pad that lacks the magnetic connection so is not recommended as it will be picky where the phone is placed and slower to charge as a result. 4. ESR HaloLock Kickstand Wireless Charger Best budget magnetic charger with stand Pros Inexpensive Kickstand Color options Cons 7.5W Price When Reviewed: $35.99 Best Prices Today: $17.59 at Amazon Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : White, Black, Blue, Pink This is a small, simple magnetic charging pad that has a kickstand that lets you prop your attached iPhone 12/13/14/15 up either in landscape or portrait mode for video viewing or hands-free FaceTime calls. Its a more affordable but slightly slower alternative to the Belkin pad reviewed above. The detachable cable length is reasonable at 1.5m and matches the four colors, so is wildly more flamboyant than the other magnetic wireless chargers tested here, except for 5. Casetify Magnetic Wireless Charger Widest choice of fun designs Pros Hundreds of options Cons 7.5W Price When Reviewed: $40 Best Prices Today: $40 at Casetify Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Cable : 1m (3.3ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : Many cool and/or odd patterns We picked the English Breakfast pattern for its sheer wanton oddness but there are plenty of other patterns (Acid, Checks, Cherry Blossom) and pictures (Yeti, Harry Potter, Snoopy) to choose from. Indeed, there are a sometimes baffling 556 different wireless charger designs to choose from. Most are quite random but there are themes such as Street Art and Anime, plus characters such as Doreamon and SongeBob, and individual artists, with the option to customize a plain charger with text. This 100% recyclable slim charger has eco sustainability points, too, as its made with recycled aluminum and printed with eco-friendly ink. Best 2-in-1 MagSafe chargers Why restrict your charger to just one device? You can buy MagSafe chargers that tackle up to six different devices at the same time. Here, we start with basic 2-in-1 MagSafe chargers that can wirelessly charge your iPhone and AirPods case (the case must be wireless-charging enabled). Most multi-device chargers are stands but there are also folding travel chargers that work equally well full-time on your desk or nightstand or on the road with you at your hotel or office space. 1. Satechi 2-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand Best 2-in-1 magnetic charger Pros Charges iPhone and AirPods Fast 15W for iPhone Adjustable charging pad Folds for travel Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at Satechi Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Cable : 1.2 m (4ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : Aluminum gray With a remarkably small 3.5-inch square (9cm) footprint, this 2-in-1 charger uses the new Qi2 wireless charging technology to match MagSafe on 15W speed. The AirPod charging pad charges at 5W and could be used to charge a second phone, although much slower than using the raised magnetic pad. It even folds up flat to make it travel friendly, although youll need to supply your own USB-C wall charger. Its pretty light at just 9.6oz (272g). 2. Anker PowerWave Magnetic 2-in-1 Stand Best budget 2-in-1 magnetic charger Pros Charges iPhone and AirPods Adjustable charging pad Cons 7.5W Price When Reviewed: $39.99 Best Prices Today: $39.99 at Amazon Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : White Built to charge both an iPhone 12/13/14/15 and wireless AirPod case charger, the Anker PowerWave is compatible rather than Apple certified and therefore doesnt reach the 15W phone charging heights. However, it is well made, very affordable and works a treat (if a little slower). Its 7.5W charging is fine if you have the time; if youre in a real hurry youd be better off using a cable than using a 15W certified MagSafe charger anyway. The AirPods are charged at 5W, which is standard for all such multi-device magnetic chargers. You get angled landscape (up to 40 degrees) and portrait modes with this good-looking stand from one of our favorite premium accessory makers. The magnetic link is super strong so you dont need to worry about the iPhone falling off even during re-angling. 3. Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe 15W Best designer magnetic charger Pros Charges iPhone or AirPods and Watch Designer looks Fast 15W for iPhone Fast Apple Watch charging Includes 30W charger Cons Pricey Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Belkin Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : 30W AC power adapter Colors : Charcoal, Sand Weve chosen this fast magnetic charger not because of its heroically long-winded name but for its designer good looks. Its a minimalist 2-in-1 charging stand that can wirelessly charge an iPhone at 15W and fast-charge an Apple Watch. The top pad can angle at up to 70 degrees. Steve Jobs and Jony Ive knew that tech should aspire to timeless design, and its no surprise that Apple has chosen to stock the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Dock MagSafe charger in its stores . The docks organic looks are complemented by the two available neutral yet naturalistic colors: Charcoal and Sand. There are other magnetic wireless chargers reviewed here that can do more and at lower prices, but this is one wed proudly place on our designer desk to show off rather than hide away. Read our full Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe 15W review 4. Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Charging Pad (Qi2) Best 2-in-1 magnetic charging pad Pros 2-in-1 Fast 15W for iPhone Cons Phone lies flat Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: $79.95 at Amazon $79.95 at B&H $79.99 at Belkin Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 30W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Belkins expanding range of fast Qi2 wireless chargers includes a simple pad that can fit an iPhone plus an AirPods case. Although it doesnt include an Apple Watch charging module, there is a 5W USB-C port that you can connect your Watch-charging cable into and charge all three devices simultaneously. It might not be as pretty a 3-in-1 solution as its own MagSafe-certified Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad, reviewed above, but as a 2-in-1 solution it is cheaper and better suited for those who havent succumbed to every Apple device available. Being certified as Qi2 means that it can wirelessly charge at the same 15W as official MagSafe chargers. It is reassuringly heavy so you wont pull it off your bedside table when you remove your iPhone from the magnetic pad. This makes it less obviously portable, but its small and flat enough to slip into a backpack. As its a pad you cant angle the phone into StandBy mode. If you want to more easily see the time on your nightstand, consider one of the charging stands reviewed above. It ships with a 30W USB-C wall charger and cable. 5. Casetify 2-in-1 Charging Stand Widest choice of fun designs Pros Charges iPhone and AirPods Adjustable charging pad Wide range of fun designs Cons 7.5W Price When Reviewed: $102 Best Prices Today: $102 at Amazon $102 at Casetify Output charging : 7.55W (Compatible) Cable : 1.8m (6ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : Many With the Casetify range, there are 52 (at the time of writing) different designs to choose from if you want your wireless charging stand to stand out from the crowd. Choose from the base representing a basketball or tennis court, football pitch, piano keys, Acid Flowers, Strawberry Checkers or a bunch of other prints. Its a 7.5W iPhone wireless charger and 5W AirPods charger, so not the fastest but it does the job fast enough unless you are in a desperate rushin which case we recommend using a charging cable. The stand is at a decent height and the charging pad can tilt. Best 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers If you have brought full-in on the Apple product ecosystem, and have iPhone, AirPods and an Apple Watch, there are some great 3-in-1 magnetic chargers that will wirelessly charge all three devices simultaneously. 3-in-1 charging stands save you precious desk space or keep your nightstand or bedside table clear of clutter, while ensuring that you dont run out of power during the day. 1. Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe Best overall 3-in-1 MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging Fast 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Adjustable pad Includes charger Cons Only in black Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Apple $149.99 at Twelve South Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 40W AC power adapter Colors : Black A 3-in-1 charger that can re-power iPhone, AirPods and Watch is a boon for Apple fans, but most of the products weve tested take up quite a lot of desk space. The stylish HiRise 3 Deluxe, as its name suggests, goes more vertical and so has a smaller footprinthandy for bedside tables and other places where a giant charging stand is less welcome. It is fully Apple certified, so can fast-charge any MagSafe iPhone (iPhone 12, 13, 14 or 15 models but not SE) at 15W as well as fast-charge an Apple Watch (Series 7, 8, 9, SE and Ultra) at 5W and Apple AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation AirPods, and all AirPods Pro) at 7.5W. Its 6 inches (15.4cm) high, 3.4in (8.5cm) wide and 6.3in (15.9cm) deep. In comparison, the Belkin 3-in-1 is 13.5cm wide. For an even smaller footprint, consider the OtterBox 3-in-1 Charging Station, reviewed below. The MagSafe iPhone charger can angle and tilt by 35-degrees, and hold the device in either landscape or portraitso works well in iOS 17s StandBy mode . The Watch charger is also tiltable and we like the way everything but the AirPods case is front-facing. The base charges at 7.5W and can be used to power up AirPods or a second iPhone, and the Watch part fast charges at 5W. Read our full Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe review 2. ESR Qi2 HaloLock 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set Best 15W budget 3-in-1 magnetic stand Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Includes charger Cons Non-adjustable pads Price When Reviewed: $89.99 Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Amazon $89.99 at ESR Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 27W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Qi2 chargers should be cheaper than fully Apple MagSafe certified chargers as manufacturers dont have to pay a license fee for the privilege, and this 3-in-1 Qi2 wireless charger comes in at a lower price than equally speedy 15W MagSafe variants we have reviewed here. It offers fast 15W iPhone wireless charging and 5W Apple Watch fast charging in a small-footprint design (3.7-inch square base) that tucks the Apple Watch charger at the back. The Watch charger is detachable, meaning you can remove it and take it with you to plug directly into any USB-C charging port. This is a useful option missing from most other 3-in-1 chargers. in our tests the Qi2-based ESR 3-in-1 charger was marginally faster than the MagSafe-based Twelve South 3-in-1, reviewed above,. This proves that you dont need to buy and pay for MagSafe-certified chargers if the charger uses Qi2, which is based on MagSafe anyway. The ESRs Qi2 pad is not adjustable, although you can position the iPhone in either landscape (StandBy) or portrait orientations. In this way it lacks the front-facing flexibility of the HiRise 3 Deluxe, but it is available at a significantly lower price. It comes with a decent-length cable and a 27W USB-C wall charger. Its closest rival in looks is the Journey Trio 3-in-1 , reviewed below, which also features a detachable Watch charger. In terms of budget, its a close run race with the Anker Qi2 MagGo 3-in-1 Stand , which has a different design and a more powerful USB-C charger. Check the prices to see which is the most affordable at the time of reading. 3. Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand Most flexible 15W 3-in-1 magnetic stand Pros 3-in-1 charging Fast 15W for iPhone Adjustable charging pad Folds for travel Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Satechi Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Cable : 1.2 m (4ft) Wall charger : 45W AC power adapte Colors : Aluminum gray As with the 2-in-1 model, we are big fans of the Satechi Qi2 Foldable 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand. It has the same small 3.5-inch square (9cm) footprint, and Qi2 wireless charging technology to match MagSafe on 15W speed. The AirPod charging pad charges at 5W and could instead charge a second phone, although much slower than with the MagSafe pad. Apple Watch charging is fast, with the back-mounted pad providing 5W of power. It too folds up flat to make it travel friendly, and this time comes with a 45W USB-C chargers that is further boosted with U.K. and E.U. travel adapters. For a 3-in-1, its light at just 10.7oz (302g). The cuter and more compact Anker 3-in-1 Cube, reviewed below, weighs 14.3oz (405g). Its not as affordable as the ESR so misses our budget recommendation, and we prefer the Watch charger to be front-mounted, which gives the Twelve South the overall crown. However, with its foldability and travel plugs, this makes a great charging station choice for at base and on your travelssee lower down for more best MagSafe travel chargers . if you dont mind the Watch at the back, this chargers flexibility and fast speeds makes it an easy recommendation. 4. Journey Trio Ultra 3-in-1 Fast Wireless Charging Station Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Adjustable pad Includes charger Cons Only in white Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: $169.99 at Journey Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 30W AC power adapter Colors : White This 3-in-1 charger for iPhone, Watch and AirPods has a small footprint, about the same size as the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe reviewed above. It also matches that charging station in terms of charging speed and tilting charging pad. Its fully certified for iPhone (so fast 15W) and Watch (fast 5W). The lower charging pad is rated at 5W and can be used to charge your AirPods or a second phone, although not magnetically and much slower than the main MagSafe pad. While this is an impressive 3-in-1 charger, we prefer the cheaper HiRise 3 Deluxe for its more flexible, front-mounted Watch charging module. However, if you dont mid hanging the Watch at the back and prefer white over black, you should consider the Trio Ultra instead. The Trio Ultra also has a smaller footprint than the HiRise, and is a little taller, which some may prefer. It measures 6.7 inches high, 3.4in wide and 5.3in deep (16.9-x-8.6-x-13.4cm). Journey also offers a cheaper 7.5W version, the $139 Journey Trio 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station , below, which has the same measurements and tilting skills as the Trio Ultra but offers a slower iPhone charging pad (7.5W vs 15W). This model is available in either white or black. Journey Journey Journey The 7.5W version has some tricks up its sleeve, as its detachable USB-C Apple Watch charger means you can take it with you on your travels and simply plug it into a USB-C portsay on your MacBookto charge your Apple Watch away from the charging stand. While its cheaper than the faster Trio Ultra, the more basic Trio doesnt ship with a wall charger, so youll need to add your own. The 1 5W ESR Qi2 3-in-1 , reviewed above, is similar in looks (with detachable charger) and is both cheaper and more powerful (15W vs 7.5W) than the basic Journey Trio 3-in-1. 5. Anker MagGo Qi2 Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Stand) 15W budget 3-in-1 magnetic stand Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Includes charger Cons Non-adjustable pads Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon $99.99 at Anker Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 40W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Like the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock), reviewed above, the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 charger is cheaper than fully Apple MagSafe certified chargers. You could pay half again for a full MagSafe 3-in-1 charger that offers the same 15W iPhone power. It too offers fast 15W iPhone wireless charging and 5W Apple Watch fast charging but in a coat-stand design that is sturdy and with iPhone and Watch facing the front. This differs from the ESR charger, which places a detachable Watch charger at the back. We prefer the Watch at the front so we can still interact with it, but it does make the stands base larger (5.5 inch diameter vs ESRs 3.7-inch square base). Neither the iPhone or Watch charging pad is tiltable. You can, however, position the iPhone in either landscape (StandBy) or portrait orientations. It comes with a 5-foot cable and a powerful 40W USB-C wall charger. 6. Alogic MagSpeed 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station 7.5W budget 3-in-1 magnetic stand Pros 3-in-1 charging Cons 7.5W Not Watch fast charge Non-adjustable pad Short cable Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Alogic $99.99 at Amazon Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Apple Watch fast charge: No Cable : 1m (3.3ft) Wall charger : Not included, except in Australia: 20W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White For a budget 3-in-1 magnetic stand that will charge your iPhone 12/13/14/15, AirPods wireless-charging case and Apple Watch, the Alogic MagSpeed 3-in-1 Wireless Charger is similar in charging speeds to the Journey Trio 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, reviewed above, but not the Trio Ultra, HiRise 3 Deluxe or Anker MagGo. The iPhone can be rotated in either portrait or landscape mode, but it cant be angled up or down. This is where the Anker charger wins out in the battle of the affordable 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers. If you are buying in Australia (Alogic is an Australian company), you get a 20W charger, but elsewhere youll need to use your own wall charger. While this was once a great price point, the arrival of Qi2-based 15W 3-in-1 chargers has brought faster charging down to the same ball park of under $100. As such, the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 and Anker MagGo 3-in-1 represent better value than the Alogic MagSpeed 3-in-1 Wireless Chargeralthough you may prefer this design. 7. Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe Best compact 3-in-1 magnetic charger Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Compact Includes 30W charger Cons Heavy Price When Reviewed: $149.95 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Amazon $149.95 at Anker $149.95 at Apple Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : 30W AC power adapter Colors : Gray This 3-in-1 MagSafe charger is certified by Apple, so offers full 15W wireless charging for iPhone 12/13/14/15 plus 5W for AirPods and 5W for Apple Watch. Although on the heavy side, its super-compact and great for travel. The Watch charging part is hidden in the cube until you need it. It comes with a 30W USB-C wall charger with switchable UK and EU plug fittings that slide onto the US plug prongs. Its tiny footprint means it takes up little space on your desk or bedside cable, too. The stand works in landscape and portrait orientations but isnt high. It does have adjustable viewing angles up to 60. A similar 3-in-1 charger from the same company is the A-frame Anker 737 MagGo , which can also simultaneously charge an iPhone (at 15W), AirPods and Watch. Aside from the shape, the only real difference from the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe is that the slightly cheaper 737 doesnt support fast-charging for the Apple Watch. 8. Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Pad) Best 3-in-1 MagSafe charging pad Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Includes charger Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon $99.99 at Anker Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 40W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Like its Qi2 charger 3-in-1 Stand sibling, Ankers 15W Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Pad) is cheaper than 15W MagSafe rivals but just as powerful. The 5W Apple Watch charger also allows for fast charging. In fact, it beats its nearest competition, the Belkin Boost Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charing Pad, reviewed below, not just on price but on flexibility. Where the Belkin features an adjustable Watch charging module (for Nightstand mode) like the Anker, its iPhone charging pad only allows for a flat placement, while the Anker has a pad that can be raised and tilted 90-180 degreesit could even be described as a stand/pad combo. It measures 9-x-3.4-x-0.5 inches (22.9-x-8.6-x-1.3cm) and weighs 12oz (340g). Read our full Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Pad) review 9. Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charges Watch Cons Phone lies flat Price When Reviewed: $149.95 Best Prices Today: $126.99 at B&H $133.99 at Best Buy $149.95 at Apple Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 40W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Belkin has two models of 3-in-1 wireless charger, both MFi-certified, that can simultaneously charge your portable Apple goodies: iPhone, AirPods and Watch. If youve bought into the whole Apple device ecosystem, this one will charge all you pocketable or wearable devices. of particular note is that it can fast-charge the Apple Watch. This model is a flat pad that also includes the possibility to leave the Watch in Nightstand mode as a bedside or desk clock. We would have preferred if the phone charger could also be angled to prop up the phone for video viewing, like you can with the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Pad reviewed above. While minimalist in design, it does take up a fair section of deskmeasuring about 23cm across and 8cm wide, and the iPhone sticks out at either side. Its around the same size as the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Pad. The pad format is better for travel portability than a charging stand, and it comes with its own wall power supply unit, so you dont need to add your own USB-C charger. 10. Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe Pros 3-in-1 15W for iPhone Stylish Includes wall charger Cons Expensive Not Watch fast charge Large footprint Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: $119.95 at Amazon $149.95 at Apple $149.99 at Belkin Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 40W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Belkin has a 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger that is a stand where the phone and Watch are held high and the AirPods case sits underneath in a Qi-compatible hollow on the base. This is more stylish that other wireless charging stands, having a Sixties space-age design with chrome arms, and a silicone-covered plastic base. A stand is useful as it lifts the charging phone to a height that makes it easier to FaceTime or watch videos without having to hold the phone aloft. It can hold the phone in either portrait or landscape mode. In order to support the weight of the phone, the circular base has to be quite wide, at 13.5cm. For a smaller footprint 3-in-1 charger consider the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe or OtterBox 3-in-1 Charging Stationboth reviewed above. An LED indicates if the AirPods are charging, and it ships with its own power supply unit. 11. Mophie 3-in-1 Extendable Stand Best height-adjustable MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Height adjustment Tiltable MagSafe mount Cons Mostly plastic construction Pricey Price When Reviewed: $149.95 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Mophie/Zagg $149.99 at Best Buy Not Available at Amazon Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : None Wall charger : Not included Colors : Black If you want to properly raise your iPhone in a stand, this Mophie 3-in-1 charging stand is height adjustable between 7.5 to 16 inches (19-40cm). The MagSafe mount is tilt adjustable, too, making this stand great for using FaceTime on the iPhone. Fully Apple certified, it wirelessly charges an iPhone at 15W and can also fast-charge an Apple Watch. While it feels stable, wed have preferred a less plasticky stand column. Read our full Mophie 3-in-1 Extendable Stand review 12. OtterBox 3-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Includes charger Cons North America only Price When Reviewed: $149.95 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at OtterBox Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 2m (6.6ft) Wall charger : 36W AC power adapter Colors : Black or White This fast-charging 3-in-1 charger is a little smaller than even the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe and Journey Trio Ultra, both reviewed above. It measures 5.6 inches high, and 4.6 inches both wide and deep (13.9-x-11.7-x-11.7cm). Its a great multi-device charger but is beaten by the other two fast 3-in-1 products, which both feature more flexible, tiltable iPhone charging pads. Read our full OtterBox 3-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe review 13. Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger Best 4-in-1 MagSafe charging stand Pros 4-in-1 (up to 6-in1) 15W for iPhone Modular Includes wall charger Cons Expensive Not Watch fast charge Price When Reviewed: $179.95 Best Prices Today: $179.95 at Apple $179.99 at Zens Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger : 65W AC power adapter Colors : Black The Zens 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station for iPhone with MagSafe, AirPods, Apple Watch and iPad is a MagSafe-certified charging stand that can handle not just four Apple devices but more if you buy extra charging modules to connect. Any MagSafe iPhone (12/13/14/15) can be wirelessly charged at up to 15W, faster than non-certified MagSafe-compatible chargers. AirPods and Apple Watch will each charge wirelessly at 5W. The iPhone can be placed in either portrait or landscape mode. At the back is a stand where you can place an iPad, which can be wired charged via a side-mounted USB-C port at up to 30W. All devices can be charged simultaneously as the power supply has a 65W total output. The Watch module that ships with the 4-in-1 charger can handily be situated on either the right- or left-hand side depending on your preference. Modules attach magnetically. The Apple Watch extension can be disconnected from the main station and charged via a USB-C port to become a standalone wireless charger when travelling. Up to three modules can be added, and different modules are available separately. Aside from extra Watch modules, the Single Wireless Charger Extension is a 10W wireless charging pad, and the Modular USB-hub Extension lets you recharge a USB-A powered device. As an environmental bonus, the Charging Station and all modules are made from recycled plastic. Another Zens product that can charge four devices at the same time, the aluminum Zens 4-in-1 MagSafe + Watch Charging Station ($169.99) is also certified Made for MagSafe so can fast-charge an iPhone 12/13/14/15 at 15W. The base features a 5W Qi charging pad allows for charging wirelessly rechargeable AirPods or other Qi compatible device, but the Watch charger isnt rated as fast-charge like some youll find on other products reviewed here. The fourth device is charged using a side-mounted USB-C port, so is wired rather than wireless like the parts for iPhone, Watch and AirPods. Rated at 18W charging, this USB-C connection can fast-charge another iPhone or charge an iPad. The supplied 45W wall charger comes with US, UK and EU adapter plugs so you can take the Zens 4-in-1 Charging Station on your travels. Best travel MagSafe chargers Many multi-device magnetic chargers take the form of elegant and frankly quite bulky stands that are designed to sit on a desk or bedside table/nightstand and stay there. Having a 3-in-1 MagSafe charger that can slip in a pocket, handbag or backpack would be even more useful when traveling between offices, homes or hotels. Thankfully, there are some truly great 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 travel-friendly MagSafe chargers, and we have tested the best of them here. 1. Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1) Best overall travel MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W for iPhone Fast charge Watch Compact Includes 40W charger Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: $109.99 at Amazon $109.99 at Anker Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : 40W AC power adapter Colors : Black, White Power specialist Anker is one of the first companies to release Qi2-compatible chargers, and the foldable Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station is a great example of what we can expect from the latest technology. It charges the iPhone (iPhone 13 and later) at 15W, and is also certified by Apple to fast-charge the Apple Watch, as well as Qi charge AirPods in a wireless charging case. It is super compact, measuring about the length and width of a credit card (3.52.36 inches; 8.96cm) and an inch (2.5cm) deep, weighing 6.9oz (195g). The 5W Watch-charging module is tucked away on the underside (see above) and can lie flat or sit up at an angle for Nightstand mode. The Qi2 pad raises to create a stand for your iPhone, in either portrait or landscape mode for StandBy mode. You can also charge an iPhone with the charger folded and the Qi2 pad on top. You need to unfold it only if you want to charge some AirPods or use the Qi2 pad as a stand. There are certainly many cheaper 3-in-1 foldable chargersfor example, the $50 Kuxiu X55 3-In-1, reviewed belowbut none at either 15W MagSafe or Qi2. Youll also need to add a USB-C power supply to these cheaper 3-in-1 devices, while the Anker MagGo Charging Station ships with its own powerful 40W wall charger. Read our full Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1) review 2. Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger Best 2-in-1 travel MagSafe charger Pros Charges Watch and iPhone and 15W for iPhone Can swap Watch for AirPods Fast charge Watch Portable Small footprint Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $129.95 at Apple $129.99 at Twelve South Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1,5m (5ft) Wall charger : 30W AC power adapter Colors : Aluminum Not content with making our favorite 3-in-1 iPhone/Watch/AirPods charger, the HiRise 3 Deluxe reviewed above, Twelve South has wowed us with this easily pocketable 2-in-1 charger that can handle iPhone and Apple Watch or iPhone and AirPods, charging two devices simultaneously. It is fully Apple certified, so fast wirelessly charges the iPhone at 15W and the Watch at 5W. You cant get faster wireless chargingnote that wired charging is much faster for iPhones. Its a really clever, compact foldable size and offers MacBook-like styling. Unfurl the charger and the two wireless charging pads are revealed. You can fold 180 degrees and place the Watch in Nighstand mode. Flip it round, and you can set the iPhone in landscape StandBy mode. Yes, its expensive but it does come with a super-compact 30W USB-C wall charger that comes with interchangeable international plug heads: US, UK, EU and AU/NZ. Read our full Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger review 3. KUXIU X55 3-In-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger & Stand Best budget 3-in-1 travel MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging Foldable for travel Pad and stand function Super compact, lightweight design Cons 7.5W Not as sturdy as some Price When Reviewed: $45.99 Best Prices Today: $45.99 at Kuxio $49.99 at Amazon Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1 m (3.3ft) Wall charger : 30W AC power adapter Colors : White, Black, Gray The Kuxiu X55 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger is a neat, portable way to charge all your Apple mobile devicesWatch, iPhone, AirPodsat the same time. Its special because it folds up into such a compact packagemeasuring 2.7-x-2.7-x-1.2 inches (6.8-x-6.8-x-3cm). Its closest alternative is the Evolved 3-in-1 Foldable Charger , reviewed below. From a design and charging point of view, both are similarand each has its advantages over the other. In terms of design, the X55 is shorter but deeper. It is also 50g lighter than its rival travel 3-in-1: 147g compared to 197g. From a portability point of view, the X55 therefore wins but because of its weight and size the Evolved 3-in-1 is sturdier and less likely to tip back if at extreme angles. It can be set higher and is more adjustable. In terms of charging, both are MagSafe compatible so can wirelessly charge the iPhone at 7.5W. However, the X55 can fast-charge an Apple Watch as its Watch-charging module is rated at 5W compared to Evolveds 3W, which will therefore charge a Watch slower. We appreciate the X55s lighter weight and faster Watch charger. If you are going to use the stand part of the charger as a mainstay, then we vote for the Evolved. If you prefer the lightness and the fact that the X55 can be laid flat as well as function as a stand, then our vote switches to the X55 accordingly. The X55 is our favorite 3-in-1 travel stand and pad combo. The X55 also ships with a hard-shell carry case and a 20W USB-C wall charger, which youll need to supply for the Evolved 3-in-1. We also like the ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set , reviewed below, which is an inch longer and a little wider, but nearly half the depth. The X55 3-in-1 beats the ESR because its Apple Watch charger is integrated and not an attachable module. Again, its horses for coursesif you like the idea of having a detachable Watch charger that you can carry separately, then the ESR takes the crown. The Journey SWIV 3-in-1 , reviewed above, is a little larger but noticeably lighter, and also can fast-charge the Apple Watch. It lies flat so doesnt have the stand function. 4. Journey SWIV 3-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Station Pros 3-in-1 charging Fast charge Watch Foldable for travel Super compact design Cons 7.5W Price When Reviewed: $119.99 Best Prices Today: $119.99 at Journey Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Apple Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : White This 3-in-1 iPhone/Watch/AirPods charger folds up extremely neatly into a compact and lightweight package that you wouldnt really notice in a coat pocket. Of course, despite being wireless when charging your devices it still requires a wall charger (not included); it does comes with a USB-C cable. The MagSafe charger is compatible so only 7.5W but the Watch does offer 5W fast-charging for your wearable. The Watch module can lie flat or flip up for Nightstand modeperfect for a bedside table. If you want a MagSafe travel charger with a stand, consider the Kuxiu X55 , reviewed above. Read our full Journey SWIV 3-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Station review 5. ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set Pros 3-in-1 charging Foldable for travel Cons 7.5W Price When Reviewed: $89.99 Best Prices Today: $54.99 at Amazon $86.99 at ESR Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Apple Watch fast charge: No Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : 20W AC power adapter Colors : Black The ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Set is certified by Apple for Apple Watch but is just compatible with MagSafe for iPhone 12/13/14/15 charging, so offers 7.5W rather than 15W. The Watch charging part is separate but plugs in once the stand is unfolded. When folded it can be used as a wireless charging pad. The iPhone can be set in either landscape or portrait orientation when the charger is doubling up as a stand. Its lightweight and foldable, which makes it a great travel solution if you own iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. Both the Kuxiu X55 and the Evolved 3-in-1 Foldable Charger are a more compact package for Apple Watch and iPhone owners because their Watch-charging modules are built-in. The Journey SWIV is about the same weight as the ESR but without the detachable nature of the Watch charger. It also can fast-charge a Watch unlike the ESR or Evolved foldable chargers. It measures 4.5-x-2.6-x-0.63 inches (11.3-x-6.6-x-1.6cm). Theres a smart travel case included that fits in the 20W charger, cable, Watch attachment and folding charging stand. 6. Zens 2-in-1 MagSafe + Watch travel charger Pros 15W for iPhone Charges iPhone and Apple Watch Cons Not Watch fast charge Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Zens Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Apple Watch fast charge: No Cable : 1m (3.3ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : White Coming in its own hard-shell travel case, the Zens 2-in-1 MagSafe and Watch travel charger is a portable delight for owners of iPhone (12/13/14/15 series) and Apple Watch. It is officially certified as Made for MagSafe, so charges at the full wireless 15W. Sadly the Watch doesnt fast charge, too, but its arm folds out to create a kickstand for the iPhone in either portrait or landscape orientation. Best MagSafe charging stands with power banks Elsewhere we have reviewed the best magnetic battery packs that work with the iPhone 12/13/14/15 , but if you want something more substantial weve tested the best MagSafe charging stands that include a portable power bank but can work as a standard charging station when youre not out and about. 1. OneAdaptr OneGo Best MagSafe charger with power bank Pros 3-in-1 charging 10000mAh power bank Cons 7.5W iPhone, 2W Watch Not Watch fast charge Price When Reviewed: $89 Best Prices Today: $89 at OneAdaptr Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 0.5 m (1.6ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : White or Black OneGo is a compact portable wireless charging station with a handy detachable, high-capacity (10000mAh) power bank that you can take with you on your travels. Folded it measure 6.1-x-3.1-x-1.5 inches (15.5-x-7.8-x-3.7cm). The Watch-charging module flips up from the back of the power bank. AirPods can be powered up at the back of the stand when the charger is unfolded. While its not the fastest wireless charger (7.5W iPhone and 2W Watch) you can connect a cable to the power banks 18W USB-C port for speedy charging. The OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with MagSafe, reviewed below, offers faster wireless charging (15W and 5W) but is a much chunkier slab to carry around as the power bank is integrated rather than detachable. Read our full OneAdaptr OneGo review 2. Alogic Matrix Ultimate Fold 3-in-1 Stand with Power Bank Pros 3-in-1 fast charging stand 15W iPhone, 3W Watch Detachable 15W MagSafe power bank Foldable for travel Cons Low battery capacity Bulkier than slower rivals Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: $169.99 at Alogic Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Watch fast charge: Yes Cable : 1.5 m (5ft) Wall charger : 36W AC power adapter Colors : White The Alogic Matrix Ultimate is multi-talented. It can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods wireless charging case at the same time, plus you can detach the iPhone charging pad and take it with you as a power bank. You can also detach the Apple Watch charger and slot that into any charging USB-C port, including that on the power bank. On top of all that, you can fold the whole thing up and pack it in its own carry case. Fully certified, it boasts 15W wireless iPhone charging, and can fast-charge a Watch at the same time. The power banks battery capacity is 5000mAh, which in our tests gave us nearly a three-quarter recharge. There are alternatives, such as the OneAdaptr OneGo, reviewed below, that feature a 10000mAh power bank with much higher recharge potentialbut none are rated as fast at charging as the Matrix Ultimate. Read our full Alogic Matrix Ultimate Fold 3-in-1 Stand with Power Bank review Best MagSafe car charger In the old days cars had cigarette-lighter sockets, but today a power/charging port for your phone or other device is more common. A magnetic wireless charger in your car is the latest must-have gadget and weve tested a bunch to find the best on offer. 1. Belkin Boost Charge Pro Wireless Car Charger with MagSafe Best MagSafe car charger Pros 15W for iPhone Dedicated car accessory Cons Not compatible with all car vents Expensive Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.95 at Apple $99.99 at Belkin Output charging : 15W (MagSafe) Cable : Built-in Wall charger : 12V car charger included Colors : White Use your iPhone for satnav directions or to have easy access to your playlists in the car with this MagSafe-certified wireless charger and car vent mount, which works in both landscape and portrait modes. It has an integrated USB-C cable, and a 12V car charger adapter for cars that come with USB-A ports. The magnetic link is strong, which should mean that it can cope with any big bumps in the road. It works best with straight, horizontal vent slats up to 3mm in thickness and 20mm in depth. It does work with vertical slats, but there might be slight movements if the mount is overloaded with weight, says Belkin. As the only dedicated MagSafe-certified 15W car mount available, it is expensive. If you can handle a lower charger rate, the Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger 10W does pretty much the same job for a lot less. Or you can buy Spigens Mag Fit Phone Holder Car Mount and add Apples MagSafe Charger (reviewed above) for pretty much the same 15W result. That product is also available in black, like most car vents. 2. ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) Pros 15W for iPhone Dedicated car accessory Inexpensive Cons Not compatible with all car vents Car charger not included Price When Reviewed: $35.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at Amazon $35.99 at ESR Output charging : 15W (Qi2) Cable : 1m (3.3ft) Wall charger : Not included Colors : Black While still able to charge at a fast 15W Qi2 chargers are mostly cheaper than the Apple-certified MagSafebut as Qi2 is based on MagSafe you have nothing to fear choosing this cheaper option. It comes with a 1m USB-C cable, with USB-A adapter if your car still has that older standard. You can clip it into the slats on your cars air vent (ESR says it is compatible with 99% of all cars, which we cant verify) or you can use the included 3M adhesive mount for a semipermanent attachment to your cars dashboarddont use this on a nice leather or fabric (or curved) dash. Best wireless charging desk mat 1. Journey ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat Pros Stylish charging desk mat Reversible Cons 7.5W Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Journey Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger: Not included Colors : Black, Light Gray This smart desk mat includes a detachable side strip that includes a magnetic wireless charging pad for phone and a non-magnetic section to charge your AirPods. Not only is the mat reversible, with smooth, wipeable vegan leather on one side and warmer-feel felt on the other, but you can pull back the mat to stow paper and notes to help reduce clutter. Its quite a large mat, measuring 780 x 70 x 4mm. The Light gray color is actually more of a warm stone tone. The charging panel connects to the mat with a light magnetic snap, and can be positioned on either side simply by flipping the mat round 180 degrees, depending on whether you are left or right handed. As its MagSafe compatible rather than certified, it charges the iPhone at 7.5W rather than 15W, but will charge other compatible phones at the higher power. Earbuds can be charged at up to 5W. The magnetic fit is strong so you cant knock it off its charging position with a stray flick of an arm. It comes with a USB-C cable but requires a charger; recommended 20W or higher. Best wireless charging laptop sleeve 1. Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging Pros Luxury MacBook sleeve MagSafe-compatible charging Cons 7.%W Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $119.99 at Journey Output charging : 7.5W (Compatible) Cable : 1.5m (5ft) Wall charger: Not included Colors : Black, Light Gray The premium-quality, vegan leather Journey NEXA laptop sleeve bills itself as a 4-in-1, and it certainly is multi-functional. As well as protecting your laptop during travel, it includes two wireless chargers (one MagSafe compatible at 7.5W; one 5W for AirPods or a second phone) and can work as both a desk mat and mousepad to free your workspace of clutter. While it comes with a USB-C cable, youll need to add your own charger (check our roundup of the best iPhone chargers ) to connect with the USB-C port in the sleeve. Alternatively you can charge the MacBook itself while it sits protected in the sleevefor this youll need a more powerful MacBook charger . Read our full Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging review Why wireless? Wireless charging is convenient and fine for situations when you dont need a super-fast recharge. If youre leaving your home in 20 minutes and need as much juice as possible, plug in the Lightning cable (or USB-C for iPhone 15) as even a 12W USB charger can power up an iPhone a third faster than wireless, and 50% faster if you use a 20W USB-C PD charger. It is less wearing than constantly inserting a cable into your phone, and more reliable as that vulnerable cable port can fill with fluff and dust after all the time spent in your trouser pocket or bag and its one of the most common reasons that an iPhone refuses to charge even when connected with a cable. Its easy to clean with a toothpick (but please do it softly!) but will affect most of us at some time. Wireless charging isnt affected by the build-up of dust and fluff in the phone port and is also less vulnerable to oxidation and corrosion. With wireless, you dont have to remember to run around trying to find whos taken your charging cable, and its certainly a lot neater. Of course, wireless charging is not really wireless, unless you are using a portable MagSafe battery pack. The MagSafe charger is still connected by a cable to your wall charger; its just the connection to the phone that is properly wireless. What else you need Some MagSafe chargers come with their own wall charger, but most require you to add your own. Apple recommends at least a 20W USB-C power adapter (wall-socket charger) and we agree. You wont get over 15W charging power from the MagSafe charger to the iPhone, but 20W all but guarantees youll get as much power as you can. We have tested the best iPhone wall chargers to help you choose a recommended solution. Mobile Phone Accessories, Mobile Phone Chargers, Power

Best Buy Takes $50 Off New Beats Solo 4 Wireless Headphones

Best Buy today has a large collection of discounted Beats headphones , headlined by the new Beats Solo 4 Wireless Headphones on sale for $149.99 , down from $199.99. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. The Beats Solo 4 launched in late April and feature upgraded performance and fit, longer battery life, USB-C, 50 hours of playback, and more. All of the Beats deals at Best Buy this weekend do not require a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, and are available to all shoppers. $50 OFF Beats Solo 4 for $149.99 Additionally, you can find discounts on the Beats Studio Pro ($170 off), Powerbeats Pro ($40 off), Beats Fit Pro ($40 off), Beats Studio Buds ($70 off), and the Beats Solo 3 ($85 off). These sales include a few all-time low prices, with the Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones getting a particularly steep discount. At $179.99, down from $349.99, this price is a match for the record low price we last tracked over the 2023 holiday season. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains. Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, Best Buy Takes $50 Off New Beats Solo 4 Wireless Headphones first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Testing of iOS Browsers With Third-Party Engines Geofenced to EU

Developers who want to develop browsers for iOS with third-party engines can only test their apps on devices physically located in the EU, according to The Register . This rule introduces a considerable barrier for developers outside the EU, who are now limited to using simulators instead of actual devices for testing their browsers. This restriction complicates the process of developing and supporting browsers with alternative engines, as on-device testing is essential to accurate performance assessment and troubleshooting. Apple's previous policy, which remains in place in other regions around the world, demands the use of WebKit for all iOS and iPadOS browsers, effectively making every browser on these platforms a variant of Safari. Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple was designated as a gatekeeper in the European Union, compelling the company to make changes to its policies. With the release of iOS 17.4 , Apple began allowing the use of alternative browser engines within the EU . However, it has now emerged that testing of browsers with third-party engines is strictly geofenced to the EU, potentially hindering the ability of developers around the world to address security issues or implement updates efficiently. The requirements raise some practical concerns about the feasibility of supporting a separate EU browser. Some developers have pointed out that Apple's extensive list of conditions makes it challenging to comply while also ensuring that the browser remains competitive and secure. The European Commission has launched an investigation into Apple's compliance with the DMA, focusing on the restrictive nature of its latest changes. The investigation seeks to determine whether Apple's requirements are designed to circumvent the spirit of the DMA by making it difficult for competitors to operate on a level playing field. Tag: European Union This article, Testing of iOS Browsers With Third-Party Engines Geofenced to EU first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Best over-ear headphones: AirPods Max vs the competition

Macworld Large over-ear headphones have taken a bit of a backseat in recent years, overshadowed by the success of Apples AirPods and other pocket-size earbuds (sometimes referred to as true wireless stereo headphones, or TWS). Larger over-ear headphones do still have some important advantages, though, and theyre starting to make a bit of a comeback. There are a lot of low-cost over-ear headphones that only use Bluetooth to provide wireless audio, but the best over-ear models also tend to provide one or more wired connections via a USB-C interface or a 3.5mm audio connector (or both). Apple has always focused purely on Bluetooth for wireless audio, ignoring the fact that you really need a wired connection to play the high-quality lossless and high-res audio formats that are now available on Apple Music and other streaming services. That is a weakness with the expensive AirPods Max, which rely on Bluetooth alone, and cant even play the best audio formats provided by Apples own streaming service. Apple has plenty of competition in this space, including traditional hi-fi manufacturers, such as Bowers & Wilkins, who have decades of expertise producing over-ear headphones that can meet the demanding standards of audiophiles and hi-fi buffs. Apple also has competition from within its walls in the shape of Beats, an Apple subsidiary, which has been known to produce superior and less expensive headphones than Apple. On that note, compared to the Beats Studio Pro (at just $349.99/349.99) the AirPods Max is left looking very overpriced at $499/499. These larger headphones have other advantages too, most obviously starting with the fact that they can use larger driversthe mechanism inside the earpiece that produces the sound you listen toproviding a more powerful and detailed sound. Larger earpieces can also provide longer battery life, with many of Apples rivals providing far more than the 20-24 hours of the Beats and AirPods range. So heres our guide to some of the best over-ear headphones currently available for use with your Mac, iPhone or iPad. Here we are concerned with over-ear headphones, also known as on-ear, cans or full-sized headphones. We cover the different styles of headphones separately, see: Best earbuds and Best wired and USB-C headphones . Updated May 2024 to add Beats Solo 4 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Best Over-Ear Headphones for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV 1. Beats Studio Pro Pros Lightweight Good compatibility with Apple and other devices 3.5mm and USB-C audio input Excellent battery life Clean and balanced audio Cons Headband is a little stiff No ear detection Price When Reviewed: $349.99 Best Prices Today: $179.95 at Amazon $179.99 at Best Buy $219.95 at B&H While Apples AirPods Max are now more than two and a half years old and in need of an update, Apples subsidiary, Beats, has launched a set of over-ear headphones that cost less, deliver better sound and offer most of the AirPods features, including one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing (although not instant switching!), Handoff to Apple Watch, hands-free Hey Siri support, and Find My support. They even support personalized Spatial Audio and head tracking. Youll find all the necessary controls built natively into iOS, as you would expect from of a product from an Apple-owned company. There are a few missing Apple features, such as ear detection (which would stop them playing when you took them off) and they dont feature Apples H-series headphone chips (even though some Beats products do). Instead, they offer a proprietary Beats processor which allows them to more easily support Android features. The Beats Studio Pro sound really good. The low end has the clarity and punch of AirPods Max, but the high frequencies are noticeably crisper. The built-in DAC supports hi-res and lossless audio up to 24-bit/48KHz. Adaptive noise canceling quality is excellent, though perhaps not as good as the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro. Noise canceling is not supported in USB-C wired mode. The headphones mic can be used as mic input on your Mac or PC (though the quality is not up to the standard of a good dedicated headset). They are less comfortable to wear than the AirPods Max. The ear cushions dont have the soft velvety feel of AirPods Max, and the headband is much stiffer, but they are lighter (260 grams compared to 384 grams). They fold up to easily fit in a bag and come with a real carrying case. On the left cup, youll find integrated controls concealed by the b. These are standard play/pause/advance/back control buttons. Youll also find a standard headphone jack with audio input fully supported without any dongles or adapters. On the right cup youll find the power button which is also used to enter pairing mode, or you can double-click it to change noise canceling modes between Signature, Entertainment and Conversation. There is also a USB-C port for charging that can also be plugged any supported audio source for audio input. We got around 4 hours of playback time from a 10-minute charge. A full charge takes around 2 hours. Beats claims 40 hours of battery life with ANC off and 24 hours with ANC on. Thats about 20 percent better than AirPods Max. Even if they werent $200 cheaper, wed recommend these over the AirPods Max. The lack of ear detection is a bummer, but Beats Studio Pro delivers betters sound, battery life, controls, and compatibility, and they weigh a lot less too.- Jason Cross Read our full Beats Studio Pro review 2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Pros High-grade audio reproduction Boses best-ever active noise cancellation All day wearability Immersive Audio Cons While improved, battery life isnt state of the art Immersive Audio can be gimmicky Price When Reviewed: $429.00 Best Prices Today: $379 at Lenovo USA $429 at Amazon $429 at B&H The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are pricy, at $429/449.95 which is more than the $399/319 Sony WH-1000XM5, but they are still cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max at $499/499. They do offer excellent sound quality and active noise cancellation, though, which goes a long way to justify the price. They also support aptX streaming, and feature Boses CustomTune technology for personalizing the headphones audio to your unique ears. Theres also a spatial audio option. Operational controls are minimalist. On the right-hand cup, there are two buttons and a thin thermal volume strip. Sliding a finger up or down the strip adjusts the volume. Tapping and holding the strip activates one of several shortcuts. A second button performs several functions such as play and pause the music, answer or decline a call. A long press lets you cycle through audio listening modes including Quiet, Aware and Immersion. Theres also a Wind Noise Suppression feature. Immersive Audio feature is particularly impressive, but doesnt suit every music type. On-Head Detection circuitry senses when you put them on and take them off, so there is no need for the power button. The manufacturer says they will auto-shut off after 24 hours of idle time. Run time is quoted as up to 24 hours and they achieve a full charge in less than three hours The headband is soft-touch pleather and the memory foam in the ear cups feels premium grade. It seals and cushions reasonably without being bulky and resided comfortably on my head almost all day long. Jonathan Takiff 3. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Pros Hi-fi sound quality Luxurious design Bluetooth with AAC, aptX USB-C and 3.5mm wired connections Cons Expensive A little heavy (320g) Price When Reviewed: $699.00 Best Prices Today: $699 at Amazon $699 at B&H $699 at Best Buy Apple surprised a lot of us when it (finally) added USB-C and 3.5mm wired inputs to the Beats Studio Pro. However, hi-fi specialists Bowers & Wilkins have been using USB-C to provide lossless and high-res audio with their PX range of headphones since 2017. Its a little pricey at $699/599 its even more expensive than the AirPods Max but the design and sound quality are impeccable. Available in black or tan, the padded headband and earpieces feel absolutely luxurious (although the leather covering might not suit everyone). The adjustable cast-aluminum armatures look very smart and are sturdy enough to cope with life on the road when youre traveling, and theres a hard-shell carrying case included as well. The 40mm drivers support Bluetooth with support for both Apples AAC and aptX Adaptive for Android users. As mentioned, theres a USB-C interface for wired connections and lossless audio, and a 3.5mm adaptor is included for good old-fashioned analog audio as well. The sound quality is as good as youd expect from a company with B&Ws hi-fi heritage. Theres an icy clarity to the steel guitar on You Cant Trust Violence by Low, and the bands harmonies are smooth as silk, even as they repeat the chilling chorus of no, you cant trust violence. Theres a nice bass sound too, bouncing along with a firm, infectious rhythm on Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, and contrasting well with the sharp, precise finger snaps that set the pace and drive the track forward. The noise-cancellation features work very well too, and with 30 hours of battery life when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation the Px8 is a great option for frequent fliers or commuting on a train. The luxurious design and sound quality of the Px8 are worth every penny, but if youre on a tight budget then you can still find the previous Px7 S2 model available online with a recent price cut to 299, which makes it a real bargain. Cliff Joseph Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 review 4. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Pros Competitive price Impressive battery life Supports AAC, aptX Adaptive Good carrying case and accessories Cons 2.5mm line-in connector Some users may require a USB-C adaptor Price When Reviewed: $379.95 Best Prices Today: $293.83 at Amazon $299.95 at Adorama $379.95 at B&H The first set of headphones that I ever bought in my student days was made by Sennheiser, but the company isnt trading on nostalgia with its Momentum 4 Wireless , which provides excellent sound quality and features at a competitive price. This fourth-generation Momentum is a bit more compact and streamlined than its predecessors, with the weight now reduced to just 293g in order to ensure that its light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Even so, Sennheiser has still managed to squeeze an impressive range of features into the headphones, starting with 42mm drivers that are larger than those used by most of its rivals. These also provide an impressive frequency response of 6Hz 22KHz, which again beats most rival headphones in this price range. Unsurprisingly, the Momentum 4 provides excellent sound quality. It digs deep and delivers a taut, menacing bass pulse on You Should See Me In A Crown by Billie Eilish. The higher frequencies work well too, capturing Billies whispered vocals with great clarity, and picking out the edgy ticking of percussion that gives the song its manic energy. The digital features are right up to date as well, with Bluetooth 5.2, and support for both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android. The USB-C port on the right earpiece can be used for charging, but also supports USB audio for wired connections, and theres a 2.5mm analog line-in connector too (with cable provided). However, the USB cable provided by Sennheiser is USB-A-to-USB-C, so youll need to provide your own USB-C adaptor for Macs and iPads that only have USB-C. The noise-cancellation features work very well, and Sennheisers Smart Control app lets you adjust the level of noise-cancellation manually, by using a slider control, or you can just select the adaptive option which allows the Momentum to monitor background noise and adjust the noise-cancellation automatically. But, even with all those features, the really outstanding feature of the Momentum 4 Wireless is its battery life lasting for around 60 hours even when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation together. Theres a good set of accessories too, with a hard-shell carrying case and airline adaptor provided for when youre traveling. And, with a competitive $379.95/309.99 price, the Momentum 4 Wireless even manages to undercut the price of the new Beats Studio Pro as well.- Cliff Joseph 5. Beats Solo 4 Pros Excellent Apple & Android support Great battery life USB-C and 3.5mm audio support Cons No ANC Design is dated No on-ear detection Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Amazon $199.95 at Adorama $199.99 at Apple Its been a while since Apple-subsidiary Beats updated its more affordable on-ear Solo headphones. More than seven years, to be exact. As you would expect, a lot has changed. The Apple W1 chip has been replaced with a proprietary technology platform that supports features in both Apple and Android devices. Apple users get personalized spatial audio with head tracking and hands-free Hey Siri support in addition to all the older stuff (one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, and Find My support). For non-Apple users theres support for Google Fast Pair, cloud pairing with your Google account, Find My Device and multi-point pairing for seamless audio switching. Sound quality is improved compared to the previous generation, as it should be. There is support for USB-C audio output and input, and it is possible to charge and play USB-C audio at the same time. Over USB-C or 3.5mm you can listen to lossless audio (unfortunately the sound reproduction of these headphones is not good enough to notice). Sound is going to be limited by the fact that these are on-ear headphones, lacking the larger diaphragms of over-the-ear models or the tight in-ear fit of earbuds. Theres a power button on the bottom of the right earpiece. You need to use this because there is no on-ear detection to automate things. The left earpiece has a big button for play/pause/forward/reverse and to trigger the voice assistant. Pressing above or below that button changes the volume. Beats claims 50 hours of battery life, likely a result of the lack of active noise cancellation, which is probably the biggest strain on battery life. The lack of ANC, which is expected on all but the cheapest earbuds and headphones, could be seen as a disadvantage. The earpads are soft, but the spring tension makes the pressure a little uncomfortable after long listening periods when I wear my glasses. This is a common problem with on-ear headphones and a reason why over-the-ear cans may be more comfortable. The new models replace the old micro-USB plug with USB-C. Jason Cross Read our full Beats Solo 4 review 6. Master & Dynamic MW75 Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $599 at Master & Dynamic Master & Dynamic is a relatively young company, having been founded in New York barely a decade ago, but it quickly developed a reputation for the impressive craftsmanship and sound quality of headphones such as the MW75. Priced at $599/549, and available in a variety of colors, the MW75 oozes quality, constructed out of lightweight aluminum and tempered glass, and with a padded headband and earpieces wrapped in soft leather (although, of course, the choice of leather may not be to everyones taste). The earpieces are relatively small for an over-ear headphone, though, and some people might find the fit a bit snug. The little control buttons on the earpieces are also rather small as well. Its got a classy design on the inside too, with 40mm drivers that are constructed out of Beryllium a very rigid material used in many high-end hi-fi systems in order to reduce vibration and distortion that might affect the sound quality. The MW75 supports Bluetooth with both AAC for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive for Android, and theres a USB-C port for wired connections with support for lossless and high-res audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz. Theres also a USB-A adaptor included for older computers, a 3.5mm adaptor for analog input, and a 6.3mm adaptor for use with high-end hi-fi equipment. Travelers will also appreciate the smart, fabric-covered hard-shell carrying case and airline adaptor, as well as healthy battery life that lasts for 28 hours when using Bluetooth and noise-cancellation together (or 32 hours without noise-cancellation). The noise-cancellation features are very effective and, like most headphones these days, the MW75 includes an ambient mode that lets in some of the background noise when required. However, theres also an additional voice mode that helps to pick out peoples voices if youre in an office or perhaps waiting for a flight announcement in an airport. But, as always, the sound quality is key, and the MW75 provides excellent clarity and detail right across the spectrum. It provides a deep, ominous rumble for the electronic bass on Max Richters Shadow Journal , but it doesnt allow the bass to overwhelm the piercing clarity of the violin, or the gentle ambient sound-cloud of electronic loops that swirl lightly through the air.- Cliff Joseph 7. Yamaha YH-E700B Pros Strong sound quality Bluetooth with AAC and aptX Adaptive 3.5mm audio connector Good app for customizing sound Cons No USB audio A little heavy (335g) Price When Reviewed: $350 Best Prices Today: $219.87 at Amazon $349.95 at B&H $350 at Yamaha Yamaha has decades of experience producing musical instruments and audio equipment for professional musicians, and it brings that audio expertise to its YH-E700B headphone. Yamaha gets all the basics right, with large 40mm drivers that are designed to reduce distortion and provide an impressive 8Hz 20KHz frequency response. The YH-E700B uses Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless audio, with support for both AAC for Apple devices and the latest aptX Adaptive for our Android-toting friends. Theres also a 3.5mm connector to provide a wired connection, although its disappointing that the USB-C connector on the headphone is only used for charging, and doesnt provide USB audio input too. And, since the YH-E700B is an update for Yamahas older YH-E700A headphone, it also provides improved noise-cancellation features which are very effective and an ambient mode that lets you listen out for background sounds when you need to (but watch out, as the original YH-E700A is still on sale online, so make sure you buy the correct model). The internal mics used for noise-cancellation also work with Yamahas Listening Optimiser technology to scan the inside of your ear canal to create a personalized sound profile. And, if you want to fine-tune the sound even further, then Yamahas Headphone app includes a five-band equalizer with a variety of presets and the ability to create two custom presets as well. That set of features ensures that the YH-E700B provides excellent sound quality. The headphones 8Hz low-end digs really deep for the slinky bass guitar riff on Leonard Cohens You Want It Darker , and Cohens own voice has a terrifically deep and world-weary tone. But the YH-E700B handles higher frequencies well too, with a crisp, sharp stab on the percussion that sets the pace, and a smooth velvet tone on the choir that joins in on the chorus. And, with an impressive battery life of 30 hours when using noise-cancellation or 32 hours if you switch it off you can enjoy that high-quality music even on the longest journeys.- Cliff Joseph 8. Logitech Zone Vibe Pros Affordable Bluetooth headset Adjustable boom mic with mute Supports AAC for Apple devices Cons No noise-cancellation for music No spatial audio No wired inputs Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: $91.03 at Amazon $96.99 at Best Buy $99.99 at B&H Most headphones just focus on the music side of things, with features such as spatial audio or noise-cancellation to enhance the listening experience, but Logitech takes a different approach with its Zone Vibe range of headphones. Its more affordable than many of its rivals and focuses mainly on office use, for people who may work in call centers or customer support, or perhaps need a headset for video calls when working from home. There are currently two versions of the Zone Vibe available from Logitech, with the Vibe 100 being a basic Bluetooth headset that costs $99.99/109.99. Theres also the Vibe 125 , priced at $129.99/129.99, which uses the same headset but also includes a USB wireless adaptor for use in busy offices that may have a lot of Bluetooth devices that could potentially cause interference and affect call quality (theres a third model as well, although this is designed for large corporate users and is only available from specialist business suppliers). The headset weighs just 185g, which is very light for a large over-ear headset such as this, as its designed for people who may have to wear it all day long while theyre at work. It also has a boom mic for voice calls, which can be folded up out of the way in order to quickly mute the mic as well. There are no fancy audio features theres a noise-canceling filter on the microphone to keep your voice clear for calls, but the earpieces dont provide active noise-cancellation (ANC) for listening to music. However, the headset supports Apples AAC codec for Bluetooth audio and provides good sound quality for both calls and music. It delivers a clear, detailed sound for the dense production on Kate Bushs The Big Sky , and manages to balance the songs huge avalanche of drums and percussion very well, without overlooking more delicate details such as the gentle tambourine that shimmers away in the background. Battery life is good too, with 20 hours of listening time, or 18 hours of talk time for voice calls. And, paying good attention to detail, Logitechs Tune app is available for Macs and Windows, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices, so you can easily get the Zone Vibe set up when youre preparing to take voice or video calls at work.- Cliff Joseph 9. Austrian Audio Hi-X25BT Price When Reviewed: $179 Best Prices Today: $179 at Amazon Not Available at Adorama Austrian Audio makes high-end headphones and microphones for musicians and audiophiles, and they also make more affordable headphones, such as the Hi-X25BT, which provides impressive sound quality for a very affordable $179/135. As the name suggests, the Hi-X25BT does include Bluetooth to provide a wireless option when required, with an impressive 30 hours of battery life in Bluetooth mode. Its not at its best with Bluetooth, though, as it doesnt support either Apples AAC or AptX for Android, relying on the more basic SBC codec for wireless audio. The emphasis, therefore, is more on using the Hi-X25BT as a set of wired headphones via its USB-C connector. Austrian includes two cables with the headphones, with a USB-C-to-3.5mm connector that provides standard analog audio, or a straightforward USB-C cable that provides digital audio from an iPad, Mac or other devices that have USB-C. Theres also a USB-A adaptor included too, and I had no trouble using the Hi-X25BT with both USB-A and 3.5mm connections on my aging office iMac. I also found a Lightning audio adaptor from Belkin in my desk draw, which allowed me to use the Hi-X25BT with a Lightning connection on my iPhone as well although, of course, this isnt included with the headphones, so youd need to provide your own adaptor for an iPhone. And, as youd expect from a company with Austrians Hi-Fi background, the sound quality is great, thanks to 40mm drivers with impressive 12Hz 24KHz frequency response. The cymbal crash that starts Blondies Rapture rings out crisp and clear, with a loose relaxed feel on the jangling rhythm guitar. The songs bouncing bass line works a treat too, and never gets lost in the mix as can sometimes happen with less precise headphones. Cliff Joseph 10. Apple AirPods Max Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: $449.99 at Amazon $477 at Walmart $489 at B&H The AirPods Max are quite comfortable, despite their heavy weight of 384 grams. They also look better than any other headphones youve used thanks to their smooth matte finish on the aluminum closed-back earpieces, the stainless steel rods in the band, the fine mesh of the ear pads and canopy headband. The headband and soft, deep, breathable ear pads are comfortable enough to wear that the weight isnt too much of a bother (although if you run with them on youll feel the bulk). The controls are simple, intuitive, and unobtrusive. Theres a digital crown like that on the Apple Watch along and a single button on top of the right earpiece. The crown controls volume and playback (skip forwards and backward, press and hold for Siri, etc). The button toggles between noise-canceling and transparency mode and turns noise-canceling on. Audio reproduction matches other high-end premium wireless Bluetooth headphones. Apple has tuned the AirPods Max to boost bass and mid-high frequencies a bit, which most listeners will probably find quite pleasing. The bass has kick when its called for, and its clean with no distortion. The active noise canceling is perhaps the best weve heard, excelling at clearing away irregular sounds like traffic, general office disturbances, or background talking. Apples transparency mode, which allows you to have a conversation while still listening to the music, sounds more clear, natural, and normal than any other noise-canceling headphones. The AirPods Max charge only with a Lightning connector and have no 3.5mm headphone jack input. To listen to lossless audio, or if youre editing video and want to eliminate the latency of Bluetooth, youll need an adapter to plug them into anything other than an iPhone (which itself soon be getting a USB-C port) which seems like a bit of an oversight (especially as the EU has forced Apple to adopt USB-C for the iPhone). Another thing we arent keen on is the not-so-smart Smart Case that the AirPods Max ship with. Its a case that hardly covers the headphones and doesnt do anything to protect them. The case does evoke a low-power mode to save battery, but thats about it. As we said in our review, its Really awful. Ill-conceived and poorly executed. Apple promises a battery life of 20 hours of listening time with noise canceling enabled, which isnt quite as good as the competition. Charging is fast: just 15 minutes on a basic 5-watt power adapter took us from 20 to 44 percent But, the biggest problem is the price. At $549/599 its difficult to recommend AirPods Max when the competition costs $200/200 less. You do get what you pay for though: build quality is unmatched and there are some clever design flourishes. But there are all the compromises weve mentioned above. The main reason to get AirPods over other headphones is their seamless integration with your Apple ecosystem. They pair just by holding them near your iPhone, switch easily to your Mac or iPad, and you can change settings and get firmware updates within Settings instead of requiring a separate app. One of the coolest features of the AirPods Max (and AirPods Pro) is Spatial Audio, whereby Dolby surround is massaged into a sort of faux-3D sound stage. Initially only available on the iPhone and iPad, Spacial Audio now works on Apple TV and (Apple silicon) Macs too. Apples high-end headphones look, sound, and feel great, but two and a half years on from the launch they lack too many key features. They also cost way more than is justified, although we often find them at a discount. See Best AirPods deals . Jason Cross Read our full Apple AirPods Max review Buying advice Full-size headphones fall into two categories: closed and open. Closed models block out some degree of external noise (and also keep your music from disturbing others), while open models, which some people prefer sonically, let more noise in and out. Note that to reach their potential, many full-size models (open or closed) require more juice than others. For the most part, the main differences between models relate to comfort and sound quality, but not all full-sized headphones are equal and there are some other features that may interest you. To help you find the perfect set of over-ear headphones, heres what to look (and listen) for. Noise-Canceling: If youre not a fan of in-ear-canal phones, but you want something that can filter out external noise such as airplane engines, train rumblings, or the hum of a crowd or noisy office, consider investing in a good set of noise-canceling headphones. These headphones sample outside sound and then pipe in an inverse audio signal to cancel out a good deal of monotonous noise. (For more on the technology and its limitations, see my review of noise-canceling models from a while back.) Although they dont usually sound as good as comparably priced in-ear-canal headphones, noise-canceling models are easier to put on and take off, and they let you hear whats going on around you. Noise-canceling headphones are available in canalbud, lightweight, and full-size models, but full-size models tend to provide the best noise isolation and audio quality. Wireless/Bluetooth: If you think being tethered to your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod is a dragor, for the gym rats, an equipment-snagging hazardconsider going wireless. You can stream audio to stereo Bluetooth headphones from Macs; iPad; and iPhones. Most Bluetooth headphones also double as headsets, letting you seamlessly switch between music and voice features. Specs and sound quality : As I noted in our speakers buying guide, you should generally ignore manufacturers specificationsespecially frequency-response numbers. Theres no standard testing methodology for headphone frequency response, and many vendors exaggerate their specs for marketing reasons. Even if specs were accurate, they wouldnt tell you much about how a particular set of headphones actually sounds . Instead of reading specs, use your ears. (If you cant audition a product in person, read reviews from a source you trust.) As with speakers, a quality set of headphones reproduces audio with good balance between the treble (upper), midrange, and bass (lower) frequencies, producing full, rich sound while preserving detail. However, because of their especially small drivers (speakers), headphones present a unique challenge when it comes to bass response: Unlike huge speaker woofers that you can not only hear, but feel , the drivers in most headphones cant reproduce the visceral impact of low bassyou may be able to hear the lowest frequencies, but you probably wont be able to feel them. We point out this bass issue because some vendors address it by emphasizing certain bass and upper-bass frequencies to give their headphones more kick. This helps the headphones stand out from other headphones in the store, and some peopleespecially those who use their headphones when exercising or for beat matchingreally want that visceral impact. But such headphones often become fatiguing to listen to over time. If youre interested in accurate audio reproduction, be careful not to be wowed by emphasized bass. (The same goes for exaggerated treble detail.) The best approach is to audition a set of headphones for several hoursor, even better, several dayswith a variety of music. If the headphones still sound great at the end, theres a good chance theyll satisfy you over the long run. Headset functionality and inline control modules : Many current headphone models include, right on the cable, an inline module with a microphone and one or more remote-control buttons. At the minimum, the remote features a single multi-function button for controlling media playback; making, taking, and ending phone calls; and taking advantage of iOSs Siri and Voice Control features. You may also find dedicated volume-up and -down buttons, as well. The modules microphone can be used to talk on the phone, make voice recordings, and give Siri and Voice Control commands. Fit/comfort : Unlike most consumer-electronics devices, you actually wear headphones. So how well a set of over-ear headphones fits your head plays a significant role in your long-term satisfaction (or lack thereof). We include a few comfort-related tips below when describing the different headphones, but reading about a particular style is no substitute for actually giving a product a test drive (or a test run, as the case may be). Accessories, Audio, Headphones

OLED iPad Pro Users Report 'Grainy' Displays, But It May Not Be a Defect

Some new M4 iPad Pro models are exhibiting a visible static grain pattern across the OLED display, according to several user reports on Reddit ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and the MacRumors Forums . Image credit: MacRumors user bk215 Users who see the grain generally report that it is most noticeable in dark environments with the display set at a low to medium brightness while viewing content with gray or muted colors. Some have compared the effect to a photo taken on a high ISO setting that has visual noise. Whether this is a genuine display defect is hard to say at this point. OLED displays in general can exhibit a visual grain or a screen-door effect due to several factors related to the design and manufacturing process. The individual sub-pixels in OLED displays can vary in size and shape, contributing to an inconsistent, uneven texture or graininess. This is usually more noticeable on larger displays. Variations in the deposition of organic materials can also affect the uniformity of light emission. OLED displays also control brightness at the pixel level, and power management techniques can lead to minor variations in brightness across the screen. This is sometimes noticeable as a grainy effect, particularly in low-light conditions or when displaying uniform colors. Notably, there were similar reports of grainy screens on Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphones . Samsung supplies the displays for Apple's 11-inch M4 iPad Pro model, while LG Display supplies the panels for the 13-inch model. According to a March report out of Korea, Samsung faced poor yields of the 11-inch panels, and was unable to meet Apple's order quantity. The shortfall led Apple to transfer some orders for the smaller panel to LG Display. Image credit: Reddit user Vingdoloras So far most reports relate to the 11-inch iPad Pro, but there are one or two that reference the 13-inch model, so it is unclear if the potential defect if it is indeed one is specific to one OLED panel supplier. The reports appear to be limited to new iPad Pro models with the Standard glass option. Apple's latest iPad Pro models are also available with a matte nano-texture display option for 1TB and 2TB storage configurations at an additional cost of $100. Note that these reports are unrelated to a known issue we covered earlier in the week that involved blown-out colors when viewing certain HDR content on M4 iPad Pro models. Related Roundup: iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now) This article, OLED iPad Pro Users Report 'Grainy' Displays, But It May Not Be a Defect first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Dear Apple, I dont care how thin the iPad Pro is

The new iPad Pro is Apple's most impressive tablet to date. One of its biggest changes is an ultrathin design. And you know what? I just don't care about it.

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag review: Stylish update to an urban icon

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Great design and style Top-notch quality Quick and easy access to whats inside Customizable Cons Single strap carrying may not be comfortable Large size doesnt hold a 16-inch laptop snugly Our Verdict The Classic Messenger Bag is a top-quality, stylish bag, designed with plenty of pockets and compartments for different types of stuff. While the bag is a great general carry-all, its ideal for someone who needs quick access to whats inside. Price When Reviewed $99 (XS), $119 (S), $129 (M) $139 (L); custom bags start at $109 Best Prices Today: Classic Messenger Bag Retailer Price $99 View Deal Timbuk2 $99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There was a time when a trip downtown was filled with the hustle and bustle of people. And a lot of those people sported Timbuk2sClassic Messenger Bagnot just bicycle messengers, but also commuters going to work, tourists sightseeing, and anyone else trying to get where they need to go. The Classic Messenger Bag became more than just a bag. It became an urban icon. Times change, though. Downtown isnt what it used to bethere are fewer people going to the office, delivery from Uber and DoorDash has replaced bike messengers, and tourists arent packing the street like they once were. Timbuktus Classic Messenger Bag has changed, too, and while it was always a great bag, its become even more versatile for the times when you go outdowntown, the suburbs, the park, the beach, on campus, wherever. Classic Messenger Bag design What makes theClassic Messenger Bagso appealing is that its designed for quick and easy access. Just flip open the front flap and your stuff is within easy reach. Close the front flap and its secured with Velcro and a couple of adjustable latches. I tested the largeClassic Messenger Bag, which has plenty of room inside for a 16-inch MacBook Pro and other gear, so much room that it can slide back and forth in the bag. You might find that unsettling, though, so for a snug laptop fit, consider the medium or small sizes. The large size of the Classic Messenger Bag doesnt hold a 14-inch MacBook Pro (pictured) or 16-inch laptop snugly. If a snug fit is what you prefer, look at the small or medium sizes. The large size of the Classic Messenger Bag doesnt hold a 14-inch MacBook Pro (pictured) or 16-inch laptop snugly. If a snug fit is what you prefer, look at the small or medium sizes. Foundry The large size of the Classic Messenger Bag doesnt hold a 14-inch MacBook Pro (pictured) or 16-inch laptop snugly. If a snug fit is what you prefer, look at the small or medium sizes. Foundry Foundry The inside has three large compartments, with the middle section ideal for a laptop, tablet, or documentation. The front compartment is a better fit for bulky items, like shoes, a water bottle, or boxes. The back compartment is where everything in-between can go. Theres also a four-pocket section for items like pens, USB drives, etc. and a zippered pocket. Its not full of holders like some backpacks or other bags, which may or may not be to your liking. Underneath the front flap is what Timbuk2 calls a Napoleon pocket. On the large and medium bags, it has zippers on each side, and you can reach this pocket through the side openings when the front flap is latched. Its a great place to put keys, a phone, or an earphone charging case, anything you need on hand but dont want to have to go inside the main part of the bag. Again, its all about quick access. The Napoleon Pocket can be accessed while the front flap is closed. The Napoleon Pocket can be accessed while the front flap is closed. Foundry The Napoleon Pocket can be accessed while the front flap is closed. Foundry Foundry The Classic Messenger Bag is made of Eco Cordura, a synthetic material made using recycled materials. Its durable and weatherproof, and the interior has been upgraded with a Thermoplastic Polyurethane waterproof liner. The bag is available in a wide variety of colors, and customers can personalize their bag by picking different color panels. Carrying the Classic Messenger Bag TheClassic Messenger Baghas always had a single strap, but Tikbuk2 redesigned it with sateen webbing thats soft and durable, and it can be removed and switched for left- or right-handed wearing. The adjustment buckle has also been redesigned; in the prior version, it was plastic, but now its aluminum, which makes it feel sturdier as you adjust it. The adjustment buckle works effortlessly for tightening or loosening the carrying strap. The adjustment buckle works effortlessly for tightening or loosening the carrying strap. Foundry The adjustment buckle works effortlessly for tightening or loosening the carrying strap. Foundry Foundry The main issue some people have with messenger bags in general is that a single strap means theres a single pressure point on one shoulder. Timbuk2 includes an Ortholite shoulder strap to alleviate the pressure a bit, but theres no way of getting around the fact that it fits differently from a backpack. Depending on what you carry, it may not be comfortable, so if youve never used a messenger bag before, its a good idea to see how it fits before buying. The straps for the flap latches have reflective tabs to make you more visible in the dark. When customizing a bag, Timbuk2 offers three reflective fabrics for the body panels of the bag to make yourself even more visible if youd like. Should you buy the Classic Messenger Bag? Even though the urban landscape has changed, the Classic Messenger Bag endures. Its a top-quality, stylish bag, designed with plenty of pockets and compartments for different types of stuff. While the bag is a great general carry-all, its ideal for someone who needs quick access to whats inside. But if your primary item is a laptop, look at the medium or small sizes. Accessories, Laptop Accessories

These YouTubers bend-tested the M4 iPad Proheres what happened

Macworld The new 11- and 13-inch iPad Pros are among Apples thinnest products ever. Which, of course, means that everyones wondering if theyre fragile. Fortunately, there are plenty of YouTubers around who are more than happy to put the new 13-inch iPad Pro (at 5.1mm thick) to the bend test. Lets start with Zack Nelson at JerryRigEverything , who got a lot of attention when he did a bend test of the 2018 iPad Pro . Nelson spends most of the video performing other durability tests, including holding a flame to the glass and using a razor to scratch the glass and aluminum enclosure. (If the sound of a blade scraping against metal makes you cringe, be prepared. I wasnt. Ack!) You need to get to the 8:30 mark of the 11-minute video for the bend test, where Nelson finds suspicious black magic-levels of integrity going on when bending it horizontally with his hands. He was able to crack the glass after putting more pressure than anormal situation ever would, but says, That central spine is definitely providing enough structure for horizontal bends. However, the iPad Pro didnt hold up as well when Nelson switched to bending the iPad Pro vertically. It suffered a catastrophic failure at the USB-C port. With the glass removed, you can see the cowling that is used to dissipate heat and reinforce the iPad Pro. It runs through the center with the ends at the short sides of the iPad Prothis layout is why the iPad Pro was able to withstand the horizontal bend better than the vertical. The next bend test video comes from Sam Kohl at AppleTrack . He spends most of his 13-minute video bending the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro with his hands and found similar results as JerryRigEverything: The iPads hold up relatively fine during horizontal bends, but vertical bends lead to dramatic damage. After a horizontal bend, Kohl compares the 13-inch iPad Pro to the previous 12.9-inch iPad Pro and notices that the damage is very similar. Kohl was also impressed that the displays of the tested iPads still worked. Finally, we have a six-minute bend test video from MobileReviewsEh and Aaron Ho, who took a different approach to the bend tests. Instead of bending with his hands, he placed the iPad Pro on a platform and applied pressure to a central point, with the pressure increasing by adding weights. After 70 pounds, the iPad Pro showed some severe warpedness, but it still worked. it took 95 pounds of weight for the iPad to completely fail. In all, what does the 30 minutes worth of videos tell us about the iPad Pro? Well, it takes an extraordinary amount of pressure and effort to bend it. Chances are, if youre stashing it in a bag or backpack, the iPad Pro is probably going to be alright. Its still a good idea to get Apple Care+ for it, but unless it gets caught in an unusual situation, the iPad Pro is going to hold up. Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $999 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $949.99 at Amazon $999 at Apple $999 at B&H Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $1199 at Best Buy $1,290.45 at Amazon $1299 at Apple iPad

Best iPad Air deals this month

Macworld If you want a new iPad Air at a discounted sale price, youve come to the right place. Were looking at all the best deals and prices for the iPad Air right nowincluding contract plans. The Air remains incredibly popular and is an excellent halfway house between the entry-level iPad and high-end iPad Proideal for those who need some extra power but dont want to spend hundreds of pounds on a device that may not replace their laptop. Apple introduced a new iPad Air with M2 in May 2024 in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch. Read about Apples iPad Air M2 . Have a look at our iPad Buying Guide if you arent sure which model you want. You may also like to read: best iPad for kids , best iPad for students and best iPad for seniors . Best iPad Air deals right now In the U.S: Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air, 128GB, WiFi: $559.99 ($12 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air, 128GB, WiFi: $764.99 ($35 off, RRP 799) In the U.K: KRCS, 11-inch iPad Air, 128GB, WiFi: 587.02 (12 off, RRP 599) KRCS, 13-inch iPad Air, 128GB, WiFi: 783.02 (16 off, RRP 799) Best 2024 M2 iPad Air deals The M2 iPad Air models launched in May 2024 and you can already get a deal on one of the new models. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up-to-date with the latest prices for each iPad Air. For even bigger savings, the previous generation of iPad Air models can be found in the section below this one. iPad Air 11in (2024, M4, 128GB, WiFi): MSRP $599/599 Retailer Price $569.99 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPad Air 13in (2024, M4, 128GB, WiFi): MSRP $799/799 Retailer Price $764 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best 2022 M1 iPad Air deals Below are the best iPad Air prices we have seen for the previous generation iPad Air, which will probably remain on sale for some time at resellers, despite being discontinued by Apple. Browse to find the model you want at the best price. Just beware that some prices may be for used iPads, so pay attention to the details. 64GB iPad Air (2022, Wi-Fi) MSRP: $599/669 (WAS 569) New Refurbished Retailer Price $399 View Deal $539 View Deal $549 View Deal $559 View Deal $599.99 View Deal $599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price $Not Available View Deal iPad Air (2014) 64GB Silver (Wi-Fi) $499 View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi) $599 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Pink (Wi-Fi) $599 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Starlight (Wi-Fi) $599 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Blue (Wi-Fi) $599 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $599 View Deal $Not Available View Deal iPad Air (2020) 256GB Green (Wi-Fi) $749 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices 256GB iPad Air (2022, Wi-Fi) MSRP: $749/849 (WAS 719) New Refurbished Retailer Price $599 View Deal $679 View Deal $699 View Deal $749.99 View Deal $749.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Starlight (Wi-Fi) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Blue (Wi-Fi) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Pink (Wi-Fi) $749 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices 64GB iPad Air (2022, Cellular) MSRP: $749/849 (WAS 719) New Refurbished Retailer Price $599 View Deal $678.99 View Deal $699 View Deal $749 View Deal $749.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Purple (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Blue (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Starlight (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Pink (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $749 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 64GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $749 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices 256GB iPad Air (2022, Cellular) MSRP: $899/1,029 (WAS 869) New Refurbished Retailer Price $749 View Deal $799 View Deal $839 View Deal $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal $Not Available View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Purple (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $899 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Pink (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $899 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Starlight (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $899 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Blue (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $899 View Deal iPad Air (2022) 256GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi + GSM/CDMA + 5G) $899 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Where to buy the new iPad Air If you want to buy the iPad Air direct from Apple, you can order on the Apple US or Apple UK site. There wont be any discounts available, though Apple does offer occasional carrier deals and trade-ins. Of course, Apple isnt the only place you can buy an iPad Air, the usual resellers around the world will also be stocking the new model including the following. You can see the best prices at these resellers in live price comparison boxes below. US retailers Amazon (see deal above) Best Buy Target Walmart Adorama BH Photo Video Looking for other ways to save money. Find out if you can save money buying Apple products from another country . UK retailers Amazon AO Apple Argos check stock by post code BT Shop Box Currys eBuyer John Lewis Laptops Direct Very Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the UK, and also offer other services, try the following: KRCS often is the first to discount new products iStore Select Western Computer iPad Air education discounts Apple offers students and staff in higher education discounts on the iPad Air in its Education Store . Apple isnt the only retailer that offers student discounts, however. In the U.K., KRCS offers up to 10 percent off for qualifying students. University students and teachers can also save on the iPad Air with Apples Education pricing. See our full guide on to how to get an education discount. Or head directly to Apple UK or Apple US to get the educational discount. iPad Air carrier deals If youre after the cellular model and want to buy it on contract, heres where to look: U.S. carrier deals Verizon: Save $100 with an Unlimited plan and up to $200 when you buy with an iPhone. U.K. carrier deals O2 Get up to 6 months of Disney Plus (or 12 months of another streaming service); plans start at 28 per month, 20 upfront for 1GB data Vodafone starting from 38 per month, 100 upfront for 2GB data EE Get 4GB data for 42.50 per month, 100 upfront existing customers get 10% off Sky Currently out of stock, but usually has the best price on the market: 2GB of data for 22 per month and no upfront cost (36 months) iPad Air refurbished deals The deals you will see above are generally from Apple resellers rather than Apple itself Apple rarely reduces prices. Apple does, however, sell reconditioned iPads in its refurbished store. So you can grab a bargain. The iPads in Apples refurbished store may be ex-display stock, or they may have been returned to Apple due to a fault, but they are fully reconditioned now and come with a full years warranty. Its not like buying secondhand. The U.S. refurbished store has a selection that includes: Standard iPad (8th and 9th generation) iPad Air (4th generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd and 3rd generation) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th and 5th generation) iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) Compared to the original price, you can save as much as $320 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Get a refurbished iPad at Apple's refurbished store (U.S.) In the U.K. youll find a similar selection of iPads available from Apples refurbished store. Youll find the following: Standard iPad (9th generation) iPad Air (4th generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd and 3rd generation) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation) iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) There are savings of 480 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, compared to the original price. There is a large refurbished market for the iPad Air. Wed recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers for iPad Air offers: Amazon AWD Big Phone Store eBay Envirofone Affordable Mac Tech Trade 4Gadgets Handtec Laptops Direct Music Magpie Preloved Smartfone Store See our full guide to buying a refurbished iPad . If you are interested in one of the other iPads, or just want the best deal, were also tracking the best iPad deals if you want to see other top offers. Also, check out our best Apple deals . iPad

How to Use AirDrop to Quickly Send Photos and Files - CNET

This might be one of Apple's best features.

The iPad Air only exists to sell other iPads

Macworld Heres a fun thought experiment: what would Apples tablet range look like if you removed the iPad Air? Just the basic iPad at one end (accompanied by the outdated and unappealing iPad mini, which well largely ignore for now) and the iPad Pro at the other. How would you approach that as a retail offering, and how would it affect your buying decision? The answer, for me at least, is that it wouldnt be a range at all. It would just be two separate and isolated products with little to connect them. It would be like comparing the Mac mini and the Mac Pro. Or the Apple Watch SE and the Vision Pro, for that matter. There would be no point comparing their specs or weighing up their pros and cons, you would simply look at the one which is obviously aimed at you and buy it if the price is right. If you want a sofa computer you buy the standard iPad; if youre a hardcore creative you buy the iPad Pro. It would make the decision a no-brainer. That feels like a good, thing, right? Surely Apple wants the buying decision to be a no-brainer, so theres as little friction as possible to slow the process from want iPad to own iPad. Surely it wants to make things easy for the customer. Or maybe it doesnt . Because heres the thing: That isnt just a thought experiment, its reality. For 99 percent of iPad buyers, there may as well just be those two options. For most of the people who ask for my advice, the correct choice is the basic iPad, because its more than capable enough for their requirements and (following a timely price cut) is great value. Very few iPad owners need a super-fast processor, a high-end screen, or a terabyte of storage. And for the small market of creative professionals who do need those things, the Pro makes a lot more sense than the Air, because its more future-proofed, delivers better color reproduction, has Thunderbolt, and so on. If the iPad is your work computer, you dont skimp on the premium features. In most of Apples product categories, the inbetweeners are a canny choice, blending features and value for money. But when it comes to iPads, because of the binary way people use them, you should decide whether features or value are the priority for you and then lean fully into that. Give these people Air If thats the caseif the iPad Air is irrelevant to most customersthen it raises the question of why Apple bothers to have an Air at all. And here at Macworld we have a theory. I said earlier that an Air-less iPad range just seems like two unrelated productsokay three, but honestly, the iPad mini is not worth your consideration until it gets an updatethat have so little in common that no customer would bother to compare them. But what the Air does is bridge the gap between the standard iPad and iPad Pro and bring a sense of coherency to the range. Indeed it makes the range exist as a range , rather than standalone products. The iPad Air has the same sized screen as the 10th-gen iPad and 11-inch iPad Pro. The iPad Air has the same sized screen as the 10th-gen iPad and 11-inch iPad Pro. Petter Ahrnstedt The iPad Air has the same sized screen as the 10th-gen iPad and 11-inch iPad Pro. Petter Ahrnstedt Petter Ahrnstedt With the Air nestled in the middle, it becomes much more tempting to load Apples iPad comparison page and start doing head-to-heads on tech specs. And then the intrusive thoughts begin. An anti-reflective coating sounds nice. I like the look of that new Magic Keyboard, maybe I should get an iPad that supports it. Whats Wi-Fi 6E? Do I need 16GB of RAM? How many CPU cores are worth getting? In other words, the existence of the iPad Air introduces a whole lot of indecision that can actually help Apple, because it encourages customers to spend more on things they want but might not need. And for customers who are sensible and stay in their lane, it helps to reinforce the value for money of the standard iPad at the lower end and the capabilities of the iPad Pro at the top. For those who are considering a vanilla iPad, the iPad Air acts as a price anchor, quietly establishing in the customers mind the idea that $599 is the sort of price somebody might reasonably pay for a new tablet. In comparison to that , $349 seems like an absolute steal, especially for the same size screen and very similar design. And in comparison to the Airs M2 processor, 6.1mm chassis, and laminated LED screen (all of which we know are excellent, because this isnt the budget iPad were talking about), the Pros M4, 5.3mm chassis, and tandem OLED screen look truly world-beating. Which, lets be clear, they are but its nice to make sure customers appreciate what theyre getting for their money. I have no doubt that Apple sells plenty of iPad Airs, but the products value to Apple isnt limited to the number of units it shifts. Its all about the way it makes customers feel about the other iPads. And that sense of confusion you feel when you look at the iPad range might not be an accident after all. iPad

Kuo: iPhone 16 Pro Max Could Feature Longer Battery Life

Apple in the iPhone 16 Pro Max will use battery cells with increased energy density, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, which will offer either longer battery life using the same battery size as that found in existing models, or equivalent battery life using a smaller battery. In his latest supply chain survey , Kuo says the energy density (Wh/kg) of the battery cells in the iPhone 16 Pro Max will increase, which has the benefit of longer battery life with the same battery size or lower battery size with the same battery life. To avoid overheating the battery, Apple is using a stainless steel battery case for the first time as a thermal solution, according to Kuo. Stainless steel is not as effective as aluminum in dissipating heat, but it is more robust and less susceptible to corrosion. The use of a stainless steel battery case also reduces the difficulty of removing the battery, which will help Apple comply with the European Union's requirements for mobile phone batteries' replaceability in the future. Sunway will reportedly be a major supplier of the stainless steel battery cases. If the mass production of this new battery design goes well, Kuo believes the design will be adopted across all iPhone 17 models next year. A rumor last June suggested that the iPhone 16 Pro models will use stacked batteries, which can result in higher capacity and a longer lifespan, but Kuo makes no mention of the technology in his survey. Apple is expected to release the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup in four months, likely around mid-September. Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo This article, Kuo: iPhone 16 Pro Max Could Feature Longer Battery Life first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Finished Today's Wordle? Try These 10 Puzzle Games Next - CNET

Give one of these other games a try once you've solved your Wordle for the day.

Display complex data, numbers, and more with Microsoft Visios diagramming tools, just $19.97

Macworld While you may understand complex numbers or ideas forcertainprojects, the rest of your team may needa littlehelp visualizing your findings to make informed decisions. If thats the case, look no further than Microsofts top-rated diagramming software , Microsoft Visio Pro 2021. Designed for streamlined diagram creation and enhanced visualization, Visio is helpful for professionals ina variety offields. Now, lifetime access is less than $20 until May 22. If you need help developing a visual presentation, Visio offers over250,000 shapes to help users get started. There are countless shapes, stencils, and templates in Visios library, which can help you translate data into easier-to-understand concepts. With Visio, you can develop flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, and more . Architects and designers can even benefit from this software, as it allows for floor plan creation. If youre a project manager or entrepreneur, Visiois helpful for brainstorming through problems and discoveringsolutions. Use fishbone diagrams or SWOT analysis to troubleshoot and plan ahead. For even greater accessibility, Visio can automatically generate org charts from Microsoft sources like Excel and Exchange. Enjoy easier diagram creation with lifetime access to Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows, now just $19.97 until May 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows Only $19.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Apple Launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in Japan

Apple has announced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Japan, allowing independent sellers, small merchants, and large retailers in the country to use iPhones as a payment terminal. Tap to Pay first arrived in February 2022 in the US, and allows iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay , contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets. All transactions are encrypted, and Apple has no information about what is purchased or the person who made the purchase. No additional hardware or credit card machine is required to use Tap to Pay on iPhone. The feature uses NFC technology to securely authenticate the contactless payments, plus the feature also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options. In Japan, a country where innovation and tradition merge, new payment methods have been introduced all over the country, and at the same time, the transition from cash payment to electronic payment is progressing rapidly on the consumer side, said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. We are very pleased that through our new partnership with the payment platform, we can provide iPhone touch payment that can seamlessly support contactless payments for millions of businesses. This allows almost all iPhones in the country to be used as payment terminals without additional hardware, reducing the cost of responding to electronic payments by Japanese businesses, making it easy and secure for customers, and protecting their privacy. It will be possible to provide a contactless payment experience. GMO Financial Gate's stera tap app, Recruit's Air Pay Touch app, and Square's Square POS register app will be the first payment platforms in Japan to offer touch payment with iPhone to businesses, according to Apple. Additionally, Adyen will support it in the coming months, and it will also be available at Apple Stores in Japan. iPhone's touch payment supports contactless credit and debit cards from the four major payment networks: American Express, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa. Tap to Pay on iPhone requires iPhone XS or newer models, and works for customers as any normal Apple Pay transaction would. Sellers just need to open up the app, register the sale, and present their iPhone to the buyer, who can then use an appropriate contactless payment method. Japan becomes the ninth region to support Tap to Pay, following similar rollouts in the U.K., Australia, Taiwan, Brazil, Ukraine, France, and the Netherlands last year. Tags: Japan , Tap to Pay on iPhone This article, Apple Launches Tap to Pay on iPhone in Japan first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Is your Mac sluggish or running hot? Heres what to do

Macworld Its happened to you, probably many times over the years: youre using Safari, and it starts to feel like molasses. Youre working among several apps, and you start to have to wait for seconds or longer as you switch between them, adding frustration. Or you touch your laptop, and say, Yowch!its much hotter than expected. Whats going on? The complex interplay of Mac hardware, macOS software, third-party background utilities and add-ons, and foreground apps can result in unexpected outcomes, like CPUs running hot, memory crunches, and sluggish performance. You cant always pull one thread and untangle the problem. But you can pursue a few straightforward strategies to make things better without wasting lots of time. Try these actions the next time your Mac acts up. We also have these articles that might be helpful: Why is my Mac fan so loud? How to fix an overheating Mac and How to check your Macs internal temperature and keep it cool . Quit and relaunch your browser Think back to the days in which browsers had windows only, no tabs, and didnt automatically reopen tabs and windows after a restart. You could lose so much research progress. Thats far in the past, and now theres essentially no penalty to quitting and relaunching. Browsers can experience memory leaks, in which they allocate some of your Macs volatile or active memory (RAM) and dont release it when theyre finished. This can happen in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and othersChrome was once a notable memory leaker and has gotten better, but Safari often swells, too. Ive found sometimes that a single non-foreground tab might be burning 1GB, according to Activity Monitor, your best friend when it comes to examining system resource usage. Make sure you will have your tabs and windows reloaded: In Safari, make sure that Safari > Preferences > General has Safari opens with set to All windows from last session. In Chrome, go to Chrome > Settings > On Startup and choose Continue where you left off. In Firefox, go to Firefox > Preferences > General and check Open previous windows and tabs. Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser). Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser). Foundry Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser). Foundry Foundry If your browser is sluggish or youre having a system-wide problem, quit and relaunch the browser and see if things get better. Ive found that solves my problems a good three-quarters of the time. Find the culprit The Activity Monitor app takes underlying system technical data and presents it in a much more friendly fashion. (Find it in Applications > Utilities .) In Activity Monitor, I look primarily to the CPU, Memory, and Energy tabs to figure out when macOS or a single app is slow, or Im having peculiar problems with responsiveness. Click a column head in each tab to sort by the worst offender. In CPU, click % CPU until the arrow next to it is pointing down. In Memory, click the Memory column. In Energy, click the Energy Impact column. If your Mac is responding poorly, CPU and Memory can help. You might see the app youre using or another app using a tremendous percentage of current CPU activity or a lot of memory. The chart at the bottom of the window shows overall load compared to available computational power for CPU, and overall memory in use for Memory. If macOS needs more memory than it has in the form of RAM, it can swap not-in-use parts of apps and data to the SSD, resulting in higher memory pressure, which is color-coded in that tabs chart. The Energy tab can also be a useful tool in identifying an app consuming lots of resources and if youre wondering why your laptops battery is draining so quickly. One evening my M1 MacBook Air was nearly scalding to the touch, even though it had been sleeping. Checking Activity Monitor led me to a tiny app that had, for no reason, gone out of control. I quit it, and it hasnt tried to use that much CPU power since. Double-click the Safari item in Memory and you can see all the bytes required for each open tab, even if its not active. Double-click the Safari item in Memory and you can see all the bytes required for each open tab, even if its not active. Foundry Double-click the Safari item in Memory and you can see all the bytes required for each open tab, even if its not active. Foundry Foundry Try switching to a troublesome app and using File > Quit to exit. If its a utility, bring up its menu item and choose Quit or Exit ; you may have to hold down the Option key while choosing the menu, or bring up another dialog to exit the app. If that fails, you can force quit the app or menu bar utility: Press Command-Option-Esc, select the app, and click Force Quit . Hold down the Option key and Control-click/right-click the apps icon on the Dock and choose Force Quit . In Activity Monitor, select the item in the list and click the X in an octagon icon at the left end of the toolbar. When prompted, click Quit to try a normal app exit or Force Quit if that doesnt work. Use the Force Quit Applications dialog to kill apps quickly. Use the Force Quit Applications dialog to kill apps quickly. Foundry Use the Force Quit Applications dialog to kill apps quickly. Foundry Foundry This may alleviate the problem instantly, and you can get back to work (or fun). If youd like to monitor system usage and receive automated alerts while seeing CPU and other statuses at a glance, I recommend buying either TG Pro ( Tunabelly Software, $10 ) or iStat Menus ( Bjango, $11.99 ), both of which are Macworld Gems . Restart your Mac It sometimes seems like Mac users feel that restarting their computer is a moral failing, a blight on Apple, or a huge time waster. While I cant absolve Apple of falling short of perfection, I would like to absolve you of shame and disabuse you of concerns about time. As with Safari, macOS has come a long way in dealing with both intentional and forced restarts. Typically, most apps store data as youre making changes or youve internalized the Command-S shortcut to save frequently. When you choose > Restart , you can opt to check Reopen windows when logging back in, which automatically reopens all apps when the system comes back up, almost always restoring you to their previous working state, either because of built-in defaults or because they consult the system-wide preference at > System Preferences > Desktop & Dock (disable Close windows when quitting an application). Some apps may require that you manually reopen project files. Ensure your Mac will reopen your apps after restart by checking that box. Ensure your Mac will reopen your apps after restart by checking that box. Foundry Ensure your Mac will reopen your apps after restart by checking that box. Foundry Foundry The time it takes to restart and be back to a functioning macOS, all ready to go, has dropped substantially over the last decade. I can remember a time that it might take as long as 15 minutes for the restart, plus all the apps and background utilities loading and settling down. If it worked, which it didnt always. With a late-model Intel Mac with an SSD startup volume or any M-series Mac, you will likely lose about 1 to 2 minutes before youre ready to go. Thats a worthwhile investment if youre cursing at your screen or waiting seconds for actions to complete that should happen instantly. I have recently hit the point a few times with Sonoma (though not with the very latest update, fortunately) where something went deeply off-track in macOS. Not only did apps not fully quit when exited (normally or via Force Quit), but the menu-based restart failed. Remember that, in those circumstances, youve got two fallback plans if you cant restart normally. Warning : Both options instantly restart your Mac, so you may lose unsaved data if all your apps have saved their files or ones with unsaved data are unresponsive. If you can launch Terminal, do so and type sudo reboot plus Return, then enter your password when prompted. Failing that, hold down the power button on your Mac for about 10 seconds or until you see it shut off, such as its power indicator becoming unlit. Wait just a couple of seconds, then press the button to start up. Ask Mac 911 Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com , including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we dont reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice. Besides email, you can submit your question to Mac 911 via the form below. Submit your question to Mac 911 Submit a form. Mac, MacOS

Store up to 1TBs worth of files, photos, and more on FolderFort, now $80 for life

Macworld Cloud storage is amust-have for your small business, personal projects, and day-to-day needs. However, it can be difficult to find a trustedcloud storageprovider that offers sufficient space without requiring recurring fees. FolderFort is the solution to your cloud storage needs, providingusers with reliable storage, secure file encryption from BackBlaze, and more .Now,a lifetime 1TB plan is only$79.99(reg. $251). With 1TB from FolderFort, youll have plenty of space for everything fromimportantpersonal files to family vacation photos. It has an incredibly user-friendly interface for easy organization and storage and is compatible with PCs, Macs, and other mobile devices. FolderFort lets users create unlimited workspaces and add however many people youd like to access your workspaces, files, etc. You can also easily create shareable links for your files and folders, as well ascustomize them . Make public links so anyone who hasitcan view your media.Or, you can restrict viewing access forcertainusers. If you ever have issues with FolderFort, you can reach out to customer support on the phone or through email during all hours of the day, seven days a week. Invest in a reliable cloud storage solution when you grab lifetime access to the FolderFort 1TB Storage Pro Plan, now just$79.99 , the best price on the web. FolderFort 1TB Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription Only $79.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Best refurbished iPhone deals: Get an iPhone 14 for $513

A new iPhone costs a pretty penny -- actually, a lot of pretty pennies. We gathered the best cheap refurbished iPhones below.

iMessage Down for Some Users

The iMessage service that Apple users to send messages to one another appears to be down for some users, and messages are failing to go out or are taking an extra long time to send. There are numerous reports about the issue on social networks and a spike of outage reports on Down Detector , but Apple's System Status page is not yet reporting an outage. This article, iMessage Down for Some Users first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Best Kindle deals: Get Kindle Unlimited for free

Book lovers should definitely try owning an e-reader, and to help, we've rounded up some of the best Kindle deals from Amazon that you wouldn't want to miss.

iPhone SE deals: Refurbished 2nd and 3rd Gen iPhones

The Apple iPhone SE is Apple's most affordable iPhone and with these iPhone SE deals we've found some ways to make it even more affordable.

This is what Google Maps big redesign looks like

A redesigned Google Maps interface has several quality-of-life changes that have us excited. Here's what's new.

Best iPhone deals: Save on iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Max and more

Apple gear gets expensive, but if you can't live without iOS, we've got all the best iPhone deals right here, with discounts on new and last-gen devices.

Best iPhone 14 deals: Unlocked and refurbished

The iPhone 14 makes for some of the best iPhone deals around, and we've tracked down all of the best iPhone 14 deals to shop right now.

Google Pixel Fold deals: Save $1,000 on Googles foldable phone

We've rounded up the best Google Pixel Fold deals in the market right now if you're interested in the foldable smartphone, but you want it with a discount.

iPhone Emulators on the App Store: Game Boy, N64, PS1, PSP, and More

In April, Apple updated its guidelines to allow retro game emulators on the App Store, and several popular emulators have already been released. The emulators released so far allow iPhone users to play games released for older consoles from Nintendo, Sony, SEGA, Atari, and others. A list of some popular emulators available on the App Store so far follows. Released Delta Delta is a well-polished emulator for several Nintendo consoles, with beautiful on-screen controller skins, support for a wide range of physical controllers, and more. Developed by Riley Testut, Delta is the successor to the GBA4iOS emulator. Supported Devices: iPhone iPad support is coming soon . Supported Consoles: Game Boy (all models) Nintendo DS Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Nintendo 64 (N64) RetroArch RetroArch is a frontend that provides all-in-one access to many different emulators for consoles from Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, SEGA, Sony, and others. The app offers RetroAchievements , which are essentially custom challenges added on top of classic games, such as find and collect a Fire Flower in Super Mario Bros. for NES. Supported Devices: iPhone iPad Apple TV Supported Consoles: Atari 2600 Commodore 64 PlayStation (PS1) PlayStation Portable (PSP) SEGA Genesis SEGA Saturn Game Boy (all models) Nintendo DS Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Nintendo 64 (N64) RetroArch's full list of supported consoles is in the app's description on the App Store . PPSSPP PlayStation Portable emulator PPSSPP is built into RetroArch, but it is also available as a standalone app for those who want a more distilled experience. Supported Devices: iPhone iPad Supported Consoles: PlayStation Portable (PSP) Gamma Gamma is an emulator for the original PlayStation. It is developed by ZodTTD, who has been creating emulators for jailbroken iPhones for around 15 years. Supported Devices: iPhone iPad Supported Consoles: PlayStation (PS1) Coming Soon Provenance Provenance is another frontend with all-in-one access to emulators for consoles from Atari, Nintendo, SEGA, Sony, and others. The app is currently available in beta via TestFlight, and it will be launching on the App Store soon . Provenance has been in development since 2016, and it could already be sideloaded on the iPhone. Supported Devices: iPhone iPad Apple TV Supported Consoles: Atari 2600 ColecoVision PlayStation (PS1) PlayStation Portable (PSP) SEGA Genesis SEGA Saturn SEGA Dreamcast Game Boy (all models) Nintendo DS Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Nintendo 64 (N64) A full list of supported consoles is available on Provenance's website . Not Coming Dolphin The popular GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin will not be available in the App Store, as its developers said Apple will not allow the emulator to use just-in-time (JIT) compilation, and PowerPC-based games are asically unplayable without it: The GameCube and Wii have a PowerPC-based CPU inside them. All modern Apple devices use an ARM-based CPU. It isn't possible to directly run PowerPC code on an ARM CPU, and vice versa. Therefore, if we want to run a GameCube or Wii game on an iPhone, it is necessary to translate the game's PowerPC code to ARM so that the CPU can understand it. Dolphin uses something called a Just-in-Time (JIT) recompiler to achieve this. Whenever the emulated console wants to run game code, Dolphin will use its JIT to translate the PowerPC code to ARM, and then execute the results. Unfortunately, Apple generally does not allow apps to use JIT recompilers on iOS. Tags: App Store , Emulator This article, iPhone Emulators on the App Store: Game Boy, N64, PS1, PSP, and More first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

iPhone 16 Display Production Set to Start in June

Production on displays destined for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models will start in June, according to display analyst Ross Young . In a tweet limited to subscribers, Young said that panel production will begin next month, with the smaller-sized iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro to have the highest volume production projected for June. Apple suppliers will manufacture the displays and send them off to the factories that will start assembling the finished iPhone 16 models. The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to come out in September, which is Apple's typical iPhone release month. The devices will look similar to the iPhone 15 models, but Apple is increasing the size of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 16 Pro will have a 6.3-inch display (up from 6.1 inches) while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 6.9-inch display (up from 6.7 inches). Display sizes for the standard iPhone 16 models will not change, and the iPhone 16 will measure in at 6.1 inches while the iPhone 16 Plus will have a 6.7-inch display. Other new features rumored for the iPhone 16 lineup include a new Capture button for taking images and videos in landscape mode, faster A-series chips, camera updates, and Wi-Fi 7 and faster 5G modems for some models. More on what to expect from the iPhone 16 can be found in our dedicated roundup . Related Roundups: iPhone 16 , iPhone 16 Pro This article, iPhone 16 Display Production Set to Start in June first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The new iPad Pro just surprised everyone

The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro (2024) models are the thinnest to date. Does that mean they don't pass bend tests? It's time to take a look.

How to watch TikTok without the app

Yes, you can view TikTok content without actually being in the TikTok app. Here's how to do it whether through a mobile web browser or in another app.

Buy the new Google Pixel 8a and get a free $100 Amazon Gift Card

The Google Pixel 8a was just released, but there's already an offer for it -- a free Amazon Gift Card worth $100 if you buy it for its sticker price of $499.

Get this magnetic 10,000mAh Anker power bank for an all-time-low price

Macworld For those of us who are always on the go andalwayson our phones, having a portable power bank is essential. The Anker Magnetic Power Bank is not only a fantastic solution, but its also on sale for its best price yet,down to$31.49 from its MSRP of $40. Picture thisyoureout and about, youve been scrolling through social media all day, taking calls, playing some games, and your battery is already low enough that you know it wont last those few hours until you reach home. Plugging in your phone isnt always an option, so the Anker Magnetic Power Bank will definitely come in handy. Sure, Apples MagSafe Battery Pack is a great choice if you can still find itApple discontinued it in 2023but it costs three times more than Ankers and holds a lot less power. With a significant 10,000mAh capacity, the Anker Magnetic Power Bank extends your phones playtime by two full charges, meaning you wont have to worry about As with everything MagSafe, you just have to pop this battery on the back of the phone and go about your day. Designed with portability in mind, the sleek dimensions of 4.2 2.7 0.72 inches allow the power bank to fit seamlessly into your pocket or bag. At its new price point of $31.49, the Anker Magnetic Power Bank is a noteworthy investment for everyone who hates seeing battery levels drop. Since it only costs as much as a few coffees, it would be a shame to miss out on this cool portable battery for your iPhone. Don't miss out on this Anker Magnetic Power Bank for just $31.49 Mobile Phone Chargers

Google has a magical new way for you to control your Android phone

Google's Project GameFace brings incredible new accessibility features to Android phones. Here's what it can do.

Best iPhone chargers: How to pick the right USB-C power adapter

Macworld If youve ordered a new iPhone recently, youll notice that the box is a whole lot slimmer than in previous years. Thats because the bulkiest accessory is gone: the power adapter. Apple has removed the charger from all iPhones it sells, so whether youre spending $429/429 on an iPhone SE or $1,599/1,599 on a maxed-out iPhone 15 Pro Max , you need to bring your own charger. Any old charger you have lying around will work, of course. But if youve been using Apples feeble old 5W adapter, its a perfect time to upgrade. Apple now supplies a cable in all iPhone boxes to allow for fast charging, so all you need is the right charger. Here we list our favorite trusted iPhone chargersmany of which do more than the plain Apple-branded chargers. Lightning or USB-C When we talk here about USB-C chargers, we mean the port on the charger, not on the iPhone. Starting with the iPhone 15 family, Apple has switched the port on its iPhone from Lightning to USB-C. But iPhones older than the 15 with the Lightning port should still hunt out a charger with a USB-C port as only these offer fast iPhone charging. Older phones will use a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, while the iPhone 15 series will have USB-C at both ends. Watch the wattage The most important thing to consider when buying a new charger is the amount of wattage it will provide to your device. For years, Apple supplied good-enough 5-watt chargers in the iPhone box, which take about 2.5 hours to fill up your iPhone. That was fine for the iPhone 5 and earlier, which didnt support fast charging, but the newest iPhone models require a charger that can handle 20 watts or greater for fast charging. You can fill up about 50 percent of an iPhone 15s battery in about 30 minutes with the right adapter. You should get a USB-C charger thats capable of delivering at least a 20W charge30W will charge even faster. Quite frankly, its harder to find one that doesnt than one that does, but youll want to make sure youre at least getting the bare minimum to allow for maximum iPhone fast charging. Youll also want to make sure the charger supports USB Power Delivery, which any third-party charger almost certainly will do. Wired and wireless Whether you charge your iPhone wirelessly or not, you still need a wall charger to supply the power, and even wireless requires a cable from that power adapter to the charging pad. While Apple ships a cable with each iPhone for wired charging, most of the chargers tested here dont come with a cable. From the iPhone 15 on, Lightning is out and you get a USB-C to USB-C cable included. Of course, youll need a spare so read our roundup of the best USB-C cables for iPhone and best Lightning cables . From the iPhone 8 on, iPhones have the ability to be charged wirelessly. The iPhone 12 and later also feature Apples superior MagSafe wireless charging technology that uses magnets to make the connection with the wireless charging pad more efficient; check out our roundup of the best MagSafe chargers , most of which require one of the USB-C wall chargers tested here. Charging with a cable plugged into the iPhone will always be faster than wireless. Check the size and the specs Apples chargers have always been light, small, and portable, but some third-party adapters make Apples seem downright bulky. Thats due to the newest charging tech, gallium nitride (GaN), which allows for adapters that are significantly smaller and more power-efficient. Count the ports Many adapters offer multiple ports on a single wall charger. If youre going to be regularly charging more than one device at a time, buy an adapter with at least two portssome have as many as four ports. You can even get a mix of USB-C and USB-A, depending on your needs. Plugs: To fold or not to fold After you decide how much power and how many ports you need, just one question remains: Do you want the plug to fold or not? Some chargers have folding pins to protect the adapter as well as other items if you toss it in a bag, but Apples 20W charger and a few others have protruding prongs. Its a small thing, but it could make a big difference in your travel bag. As any traveler knows, plugs come in all shapes and sizes around the globe. Weve tried to cover the most used types here. Some USB-C power adapters even come with different prong sets so you can leave the multi-holed travel adapter at home when you travel. Best iPhone chargers reviewed In summary, our favorite single-port iPhone chargers is the Anker Nano 30W USB-C Charger ( U.S. and U.K. ) but both the Ugreen Nexode 30W GaN Charger ( U.S. and U.K. ) and Plugable 30W USB-C GaN Charger ( U.S. only ) are worthy of your attention, too. In AU/NZ, the only real premium option is Apples 20W adapter but we also like the AU-pinned Ugreen 20W mini charger . But read on for more in-depth reviews of our favorite USB-C iPhone chargers. Official Apple iPhone charger: Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter Pros Official Apple charger Foldable prongs on U.K. model Cons No foldable prongs on U.S./AU models One port Price When Reviewed: $19 Best Prices Today: $14.98 at Amazon $14.99 at Target $16.17 at Walmart Why we love it: Apples 20W USB-C power adapter is as basic as it gets. Its one of the bulkiest chargers on this list as well as one of the heaviest, it wont charge a laptop, and you cant charge more than one device at a time. However, if you want to keep your chargers in the family, its a solid option for $19/19. In our testing, it wont charge your phone noticeably faster than the old Apple 18W plug, but it is noticeably cheaper than the model it replaces. Wed like it better if Apple offered a half-price option for iPhone buyers, but even at full price, its not a terrible value at all. The U.S. and Australian models dont feature a folding plug, but the more cube-like U.K. model does, despite the larger plug type, and is a much cleaner design as a result. The hideaway pins on the U.K. model make it our favorite single-port iPhone charger in that country. While 20W is the minimum for fast charging, we recommend a 30W charger for newer iPhones. Best single-port iPhone charger: Anker 30W Nano Charger 511 Pros Smallest, lightest 30W charger 30W Foldable plug Multiple color options Cons One port Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $13.99 at Amazon $19.99 at Anker Why we love it: Measuring just 1.12 1.12 1.39 inches (U.S. model), the 30W AnkerUSB-C Nano 3 Charger511 is the smallest 30W USB-C charger weve had in our labs for testing. It weighs just 1.3oz (36g). We recommend you buy a 30W charger over 20W as it will charge newer iPhones even faster. The iPhone 15 Pro models will probably fare better with 35W for the fastest iPhone charging, so owners of the very latest iPhones should look at the two-port 40W Anker Nano Pro charger reviewed lower down. Earlier iPhones should be fine with 30W chargers such as this one. Its available in a range of pastel colors, including Misty Blue, Lilac Purple, Phantom Black, Aurora White and Natural Green. The U.K. Anker Nano 3 (511) model is larger and doesnt feature foldable prongsso for U.K. buyers, we recommend the equally incredibly light and powerful Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W) , pictured above, that does have foldable prongs. Ugreen Nexode 30W USB-C GaN Charger Pros Small size 30W Foldable plug Cons One port Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $11.99 at Walmart $19.99 at Amazon $19.99 at Ugreen Why we love it: At 1.26 x 1.26 x 1.57 inches and 48g (U.S. model), the tiny Ugreen Nexode 30W GaN Charger is slightly larger than the similar Anker Nano (reviewed above). To make it even more portable both U.S. and U.K models feature foldable prongs. That extra power wont make much difference with many iPhones as 20W is enough for fast charging. But if you have an iPhone Pro or Max, a 30W charger will allow it to charge a little faster (27W), and it certainly wont hurt to have the added power on other models. At 30W, It could even recharge a 13-inch MacBook Air! Plugable 30W USB-C GaN Charger Pros Small 30W Foldable plug Available in white or black Cons One port Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $15.95 at Walmart $19.95 at Amazon $19.95 at B&H Why we love it: This is another new-generation USB-C charger that measures just 1.22 1.26 1.37 inchesonly marginally larger than the 30W Anker Nano and about the same as the Ugreen Nexode. It weighs just 45galthough youll likely not notice the difference with the 36g Anker Nano or 50g Ugreen Nexode. Available in either white or black, its not available outside of North America. Budget iPhone charger: Anker PowerPort III 20W Cube Fast Charger Pros Small size Foldable plug on U.S. model Available in white or black Cons No foldable plug on U.K. model One port Price When Reviewed: $14.99 Best Prices Today: $12.99 at Amazon $14.99 at Anker Why we love it: At 1.23 x 1.25 x 1.3 inches, the compact GaN-tech Anker PowerPort III is also pretty tiny and may be found cheaper than the 30W USB-C chargers as it is rated at the lower 20W. The U.K. model is less flexible due to the size of the U.K. plug that here doesnt allow for foldable prongs, so we prefer the Anker Nano or the even finer Apple 20W Charger in that country only. However, if you can afford it we recommend you go for a 30W charger if your iPhone is a version 13 or later. Best two-port iPhone charger: Ugreen 2-Port Nexode 45W Charger Pros Two ports 45W Price When Reviewed: $39.99 Best Prices Today: $39.99 at Ugreen Why we love it: The Ugreen Nexode 45W GaN Wall Charger 2-Ports Charger has more ports and power than the Anker 511 Nano Pro, but at 1.57 x 1.57 x 1.93 inches isnt much larger. Each USB-C port is rated at 45W, although note that 45W is the maximum total outputyou can just choose either port to supply it. Using both ports, one will give 25W and the other 20W. Its a great choice for homes with a couple of iPhones in need of a power boost. Best four-port charger: Minix NEO P3 100W Turbo Pros Four ports Up to 100W U.S./U.K./EU pins Foldable plug Cons May be overkill for just a phone Price When Reviewed: $65.99 Best Prices Today: $59.90 at Amazon Why we love it: The Minix NEO P3 100W Turbo packs a lot of power and has four ports: three USB-C and one old-school USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports can charge at 100W, although obviously not at the same time. That means you can use this power adapter to charge a laptop as large as the 16-inch MacBook Pro as well as tablets and phones. The third USB-C is perfect for fast iPhone charging at 20W, as is the 18W USB-A port if you have an older charging cable. Using two ports at the same time it supports one 65W and one 30W feed. Using three supports 45W, 30W, and 20W charges. With all four, it supports, 45W, 30W, and two 7.5W feeds. Like Apples dual-port charger, this adapter features intelligent power allocation, automatically adjusting the power output of each port depending on the devices connected to it. The U.S. plug folds, making it a tidy package for carrying around, and the U.K. and EU pin converters simply slide onto the U.S. pins to make this a great home charger in those territories and a useful international travel companion. Best travel adapter charger: OneAdaptr OneWorld 65 Pros Five ports Travel plug adapter 65W PD Cons Total output limited to 5 ports Price When Reviewed: $74.99 Best Prices Today: $74.99 at OneAdaptr Why we love it: The OneWorld 65 is an international adapter that also boasts a built-in 65W PD Charger that can charge up to six devices simultaneously. It features one 65W USB-C PD port, one 20W USB-C PD port, another USB-C charging port, and two USB-A charging portsthe non-PD USB-C port and two USB-A ports share 15W of power. Note that the maximum power output is 65W so if you are charging a mid-sized laptop in full use, there wont be much spare juice for fas-charging your iPhone. But the real benefit of the OneWorld 65 is that as well as all the USB ports you can also use this as a travel adapter. Sliding connectors will fit into U.S., European, Australian/Chinese, and British wall sockets so covering over 200 countries, and you can plug a similar range of plugs into the OneWorld 65 from the other side. OneAdaptr has a few versions of this handy travel adapterall with the sliding international prongs and an AC socket. The $39 entry-level OneWorld30 features one 20W USB-C PD port, 2x 15W USB-C and 2x 15W USB-A ports; the $69 OneWorld65 reviewed here; the $89 OneWorld100 features two 60W USB-C PD ports and 2x 15W USB-A ports; and the $109 OneWorld135 features two 100W USB-C PD ports, 1x 20W USB-C and 1x 18W USB-A port. Colorful two-port iPhone charger: Casetify 33W Fast Charger Pros Small size Two ports Foldable plug on U.S. model International plug heads Cute Pink/Blue model Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $42 Best Prices Today: $42 at Casetify Why we love it: The biggest selling point of the Casetify Fast Charger is its cute Pink/Blue flavor, although it is also available in plain white. Its 33W beats standard 30W chargersenough for an iPhone fast charge and AirPods or Apple Watch at the same time. This two-port charger (USB-C and USB-A) is not as tiny as some other chargers but at 1.3 x 1.9 x 1.5 inches it isnt much larger. It comes with U.K. and E.U. plug heads that slip over the foldable U.S. prongs, so makes a great travel charger, too. Apple 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter Pros Two ports U.S. models have a foldable plug Cons Non-U.S. models don't have a foldable plug Expensive Price When Reviewed: $59 Best Prices Today: $59 at Adorama $59 at B&H $59 at Best Buy Why we love it: Apple offers its own dual-port USB-C charger in two models. As far as we can tell they are identical in everything except shape and size. As an Apple product, its reassuringly expensive but also a little smarter than most power adapters. The neat 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is aimed at iPhone users, and the larger non-compact model is called the 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter , which is the one built for the newer MacBook Air models. Both U.S. chargers feature foldable plugs. The larger version is maybe only preferable if you prefer the ports pointing straight on rather than below the plug itself. As it was designed to work with an iPhone and also something as energy-hungry as an M2/M3 MacBook Air, it needs to be able to distinguish which device needs what. When you connect two devices, power is automatically distributed between them based on their power requirements. In most cases, it will give each device 17.5W, but if you connect a MacBook or iPhone and an Apple Watch or AirPods, it will receive up to 27.5W and the Watch/AirPods gets up to 7.5W. Apple doesnt say so, but we expect that it uses GaN technology to keep its size to a minimum. Plugable Wall Outlet Extender Pros Adds two ports, keeps AC socket 30W Cons North America only Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $24.95 at Amazon $24.95 at B&H Why we love it: If you are short on power sockets, adding a wall charger leaves you with one less place to connect a plug for another device. You could add an extension stripsuch as the Ugreen GaN Power Strip reviewed belowbut the Plugable Wall Outlet Extender is smaller and neater, giving you two USB ports and a passthrough power socket. The USB-C socket can power an iPhone at up to 30W, and theres another USB-A port that can handle 12W. Note, though, that the combined USB power output is 32W, so if you use both, that USB-C port might get pegged back to just 20W. UGreen 100W USB-C GaN Power Strip Pros 4 USB ports and 3 AC power sockets 100W Cons Bulky Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon $99.99 at Ugreen Why we love it: This power strip is both a desktop charger and AC extender with three power sockets, and includes four USB ports (3x USB-C, 1x USB-A), two of which are PD compatible at 100W so powerful enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro or super-fast-charge the latest iPhones. This is great for adding all sorts of device-charging on or underneath your desk. The other USB-C port and the USB-A port can each fast-charge an iPhone at 22.5W. Maximum output on the USB ports is 100W, and for the three power plugs (one on the top, and two behind) 1,870W. Amazon Amazon Amazon FAQ 1. Whats the best iPhone charging cable? Apple still includes a cable in the box with a new iPhone. But you can never have enough charging cables, right? From the iPhone 15 onwards, you need a USB-C to USB-C cable . Older iPhones require a USB-C to Lightning cable. If you need a spare, make sure you buy a USB-C to Lightning cable thats certified Made for iPhone (MFI). Anker makes several of our recommended iPhone chargers, and its MFI-certified USB-C to Lightning cable is a little cheaper than Apples own cable and is twice as long. Anker has a bunch of USB-C to Lightning cables in various lengths and colors on its U.S. Amazon Store and at Amazon UK . We also rate UGreens USB-C to Lightning iPhone charge cables. For more detail, read our roundup of the best Lightning cables . 2. What about USB-C to USB-C cables? From the iPhone 15 onwardsor until Apple offers only wireless chargingApple has replaced the iPhones Lightning port with a standard USB-C port. The new iPhones ship with the correct cable so you dont need to go looking for a new one unless you require a spareand, lets face it, most of us need several. Check out PCWorlds list of the best USB-C cables . For more advice on charging your iPhone read: iPhone Clean Energy Charging: How it works and why you want to keep it on , How to charge an iPhone properly and Whats the fastest way to charge an iPhone . Mobile Phone Accessories, Mobile Phone Chargers, Power

iPhone 16: Everything you need to know about the next big iPhone release

Macworld Now that the iPhone 15 lineup is on shelves, and now we can officially start thinking about the iPhone 16. Naturally, any rumors or leaks you see this early are going to be fluid at besteven if they are accurate now, plans can and do change and theres still plenty of time to do so before the iPhone 16 enters production. With all that said, heres what the most prolific leakers and tipsters say we can expect about the iPhones coming in the fall of 2024. Update May 16: A mock-up of the iPhone 16 Pro Max shows that it could be bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. When is the newest iPhone coming out? The iPhone lineup is always announced at an event in September and usually ships a week or two later. There have been times when a particular model or variant will ship in October because of supply chain shortages, however. The typical day for the iPhone and Apple Watch event is the second Tuesday in September, which this year is September 12. So we can expect the iPhone 16 line to be announced on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 , with preorders starting likely on Friday, September 13, and at least some models shipping on September 20. iPhone 16 price For reference, the most recent iPhone lineup (iPhone 15) is priced as follows: iPhone 15: $799/749 iPhone 15 Plus: $899/899 iPhone 15 Pro: $999/999 iPhone 15 Pro Max: $1,199/1,199 Theres no new information about the pricing of the iPhone 16 line, so it makes the most sense to assume it will cost the same as the iPhone 15 line, at least until we hear otherwise. That means the standard size iPhone 16 for $799 and the larger Plus model for $899, while the iPhone 16 Pro may cost $1,099 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max might go for $1,199. There are also some reports that say Apple will introduce a higher-end Ultra model with a larger screen than the Pro Max, which would obviously have a higher price tag. The iPhone 16 may have a smaller Dynamic Island. The iPhone 16 may have a smaller Dynamic Island. Artur Tomala / Foundry The iPhone 16 may have a smaller Dynamic Island. Artur Tomala / Foundry Artur Tomala / Foundry iPhone 16 colors When Apple launched the iPhone 15, it introduced an entirely new color palette. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus come in familiar Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink options, but with much more muted hues than their predecessors. The only rumor weve heard about iPhone 16 colors concerns the iPhone 16 Plus, though we expect its smaller sibling to have the same colors. It says it will be available in the same five colors as the iPhone 15, with the addition of White and Purple. For the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, Apple uses four titanium-inspired colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. For 2024, Apple is rumored to introduce two new colors Desert Yellow and Cement Graythat will more closely resemble the space gray and gold colors of old. iPhone 16 features Design and display There are few details about the iPhone 16 lineup so far, except that it should look, well, like an iPhone. The entire iPhone 15 line now has the Dynamic Island , so expect that pill-shaped cutout on the iPhone 16 models as well. Some rumors say Apple has found a way to put some of the Face ID sensors under the display , so the iPhone 16 Pro models could have an even smaller camera cutout than the standard models. Ming-Chi Kuo and Ross Young both report that the display size on the Pro models will be getting biggerabout 0.2 inches measured diagonallywith a slightly taller aspect ratio. That means the iPhone 16 Pro will have a 6.27-inch display and the Pro Max a 6.86-inch display (up from 6.12 and 6.69 inches). The larger size is reportedly necessary to accommodate more sophisticated camera hardware but will also add a bit of screen real estate. A later report about the iPhone 16 display supply chain corroborated the notion of an iPhone 16 (at least some models) with slimmer bezels. A mock-up by ZoneOfTech shows that the iPhone 16 Pro Max could be bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max . ZonOfTech doesnt state how it got the dimensions and specifications used to create the mock-up. If you were hoping to get an always-on display without buying an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max, youre probably out of luck. According to a report inThe Elec , Apple will stick with standard OLED screens for the iPhone 16 rather than the LPTO screens in the Pro models so they wont support ProMotion or always-on. However, the iPhone 17 will reportedly get the higher-end sceens. On the back of the iPhones, you should also expect to see a larger camera array on the iPhone 16 Pro models due to the inclusion of a periscope super-zoom telephoto lens on both models and other new camera tech. However, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are rumored to be getting a smaller camera array with a pair of vertically aligned cameras like the iPhone X. New to the iPhone 16 lineup will be a Capture Button , according to several reports. It will be on the same side as the power button, located lower, so it can be activated with the index finger of your right hand when holding the phone in landscape orientation. It will be touch and pressure-sensitive, allowing users to zoom in by swiping and to adjust focus with a soft press while triggering the shutter with a full press. The iPhone 15 Pro models were originally expected to introduce new solid-state buttons , but more recent rumors suggest they simply wont be ready in time and will appear on the iPhone 16 Pro instead . Regardless, all iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to feature an Action button in place of the mute switch, which should expand to the entire iPhone 16 lineup in 2024. The iPhone 16 could have an even bigger camera array. The iPhone 16 could have an even bigger camera array. Thai Nguyen/Unsplash The iPhone 16 could have an even bigger camera array. Thai Nguyen/Unsplash Thai Nguyen/Unsplash Specs and features With each new iPhone comes a new A-series processor, and you can bet the trend will continue next year. The iPhone 16 Pro will therefore likely feature the A18 Pro processor , while the non-Pro iPhone 16 models could adopt a cut-down version of the A17 Pro that debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro, although recent rumors have suggested Apple will rebrand that chip as an A18 . It is far too early to speculate about next years chips features and performance, but its unlikely that next years non-Pro iPhones will have the same Pro chip as this year. A rumor in March 2024 claimed the A18 Pro chip would be physically larger , with more area dedicated to an improved Neural Engine with the performance to support more edge AI features (AI features that run on device rather than in the cloud). The battery capacities of the iPhone 16 lineup are reportedly very similar to that of the iPhone 15 line, with some models as much as 5% higher and the iPhone 16 Plus an outlier with 9% less capacity. Battery life is a factor of many components, though, so its unclear if youll get better battery life out of the iPhone 16 or not. A report on 9to5Mac infers from part of an unrelated supplier report by Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple will be using Sonys new stacked CMOS image sensor technology in the iPhone 16 Pro models next year, which should mean sensors with greatly increased low-light sensitivity. Additionally, Kuo reported in September 2023 that the smaller iPhone 16 Pro will gain the iPhone 15 Pro Maxs periscope camera. A report from MacRumors cites a Weibo account with a proven track record for disclosing accurate information about Apples plans in saying that the iPhone 16 Ultra (or whatever the high-end model is called) could take spatial photos and videos meant for viewing on the Apple Vision Pro . Apple already introduced the ability to record spatial videos on the iPhone 15 Pro so it makes sense that Apple will expand this feature to photos on the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple has been hard at work on its own wireless chips for years, and even Qualcomms CEO expects Apple to use its own 5G modems starting in 2024 . Obviously, this is contingent on continued successful development and testing, which has been a challenge for Apple and every other company trying to make top-tier 5G technology. A report by Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities in October 2023 claimed that the iPhone 16 will use Qualcomms Snapdragon X75 5G modem , which delivers better speeds, coverage, mobility, link robustness and location accuracy. In addition, Pu reports that we can expect Wi-Fi 7 in the iPhone 16 Pro models. Wi-Fi 6E only arrived in the Pro models this year, so its possible Apple uses it for another year, but there are already a dozen Android phones with Wi-Fi 7 and it would be unusual for Apple to be two years behind if it had to wait until the iPhone 17 in 2025. As far as other specs, Pu reports that the non-Pro iPhone 16 will bring a bump in RAM (8GB vs 6GB) and WiFi speeds (6E vs 6) to match the iPhone 15 Pro models. Naturally, the iPhone 16 line will feature USB-C instead of Lightning for charging and wired connectivity. That change already came with the iPhone 15 and Apple isnt about to backtrack. Prior rumors about Apple attempting to make a completely port-free iPhone seem to have fizzled out. A rumor in November 2023 claimed that the iPhone 16 Pro will have a new battery design with a metal casing instead of black foil, a new connector, and a slightly larger capacity (3,355mAh vs 3,274mAh). The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max are also rumored to get larger batteries 3,561mAh and 4,676mAh, respectivelywhile the iPhone 16 Plus could see a dip to 4,006mAh. iPhone

Best refurbished iPad deals: Get an iPad with warranty for $109

One way to save big on an iPad is by scouring refurbished iPad deals, and we've rounded them all up into one place for you.

CleanMyMac X review

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Excellent cleaning tools Large toolset Easy to use Cons Updater feature still missed some app updates Malware Removal still produces mixed results Our Verdict CleanMyMac X performs most of its functions admirably and provides an excellent means of clearing gigabytes of unused system detritus/gunk off your Mac. Unfortunately, the antivirus elements still arent up to scratch. Price When Reviewed $89.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase); or from $34.95/a year 1 Mac Best Prices Today: CleanMyMac X Retailer Price MacPaw (annually) $34.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket For years, MacPaws CleanMyMac X has been a good multi-purpose utility for the macOS operating system, and its bright, friendly user interface lends easy access to several handy utilities to clear up disk space, protect user privacy, optimize performance, update applications, uninstall software, and help prevent malware and adware. And while handy and worth keeping around, version 4.15.3, continues to suffer from the same overreach we mentioned previously when reviewing this software. Compare CleanMyMac to other Mac cleaner solutions visit our round up of the Best Mac Cleaner software. Whats good Similar to past versions, CleanMyMac X 4.15.3 is as easy to download and install as ever, and its simple to either purchase the software for $34.95 for one Mac (usually $34.95), $54.95 for 2 Macs (usually $79.90), or $79.95 for 5 Macs (usually $199.75), or set up a seven-day trial in which MacPaw keeps your credit or debit card number on file. Once installed, simply assign permissions, allow the software and its modules to access various sections of your hard drive, and youre off. The catch-all utility offers an assortment of modules with its core focus centered around identifying and cleaning out gigabytes upon gigabytes of unused system garbage. The modules are Smart Scan, System Junk, Mail Attachments, Trash Bins, Malware Removal, Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance, Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, Space Lens, Large & Old Files, and Shredder. Each module performs various tasks. The Smart Scan is the overarching umbrella feature, hunting down extraneous files that can be deleted to clear drive space, performing a quick malware scan, and executing a speed test to look into optimization functions, such as freeing up RAM or quickly clearing system caches. The results from a CleanMyMac X Smart Scan. The results from a CleanMyMac X Smart Scan. Foundry The results from a CleanMyMac X Smart Scan. Foundry Foundry The other modules perform the functions theyre named after and offer a good level of customization. Still, CleanMyMac Xs standout features remain file cleanup, malware removal, privacy cleanup, easy access to system extensions, the app uninstaller, and the Large & Old Files locator, which helps hunt down multi-gigabyte files you forgot to delete and offers a quick means of deleting them to recover drive space. CleanMyMac Xs handy Large & Old Files module offers easy access to large files munching up space on your hard drive. CleanMyMac Xs handy Large & Old Files module offers easy access to large files munching up space on your hard drive. Foundry CleanMyMac Xs handy Large & Old Files module offers easy access to large files munching up space on your hard drive. Foundry Foundry The modules themselves generally live up to their purpose, and its handy to be able to do a general search for data thats consuming large parts of your hard drive as well as drill down and enable or disable specific system-level extensions as needed. CleanMyMac X runs a handy set of maintenance scripts, such as clearing the DNS cache and repairing file permissions, which help to keep things in order. CleanMyMac X is routinely updated (in the 4.15 update in February 2024 the security components got a major update) and is well cared for by its developer. CleanMyMac X gained a handy Menu Bar item in version 4.11 that brought useful information, such as drive capacities, CPU speeds, system temperature, system load, and network activity readouts. This received a substantial update in 2023, bringing additional information such as your laptops battery, temperature, and health, your hard drives capacity and overall health, your free RAM capacity, and your CPU load and hardware temperature are on hand and readily accessible. The Space Lens feature that arrived with the 2023 update, and the Large & Old Files module, offer a quick and handy view as to whats consuming the majority of your hard drive space, and it was easy to pick off large, forgotten multi-gigabyte video files as well as gigabytes upon gigabytes of unused language and cache files with the System Junk module. Click on the CleanMyMac X icon in the Menu Bar to access useful information such as remaining battery life, bandwidth, CPU load, and connected device information. Its exceptionally easy to see whats gobbling up the most space on your Macs hard drive. The features are well-integrated. To its credit, CleanMyMac X offers some nice surprises, and I was able to recover more than 30GB of drive space as the program found unused files and disk images galore via my iCloud storage. Other features such as the Disk Lens and Uninstaller offered a clear view as to which folders were consuming the most drive space and a quick means of removing applications. Removing an app with CleanMyMac Xs Uninstall module. Removing an app with CleanMyMac Xs Uninstall module. Foundry Removing an app with CleanMyMac Xs Uninstall module. Foundry Foundry Whats not so good Unfortunately, its the same sticking points that Ive mentioned in the past that seem to haunt CleanMyMacX 4.15. With Mac utilities, a multifaceted approach that offers several base functions can be excellent. But the danger is that the developer overextends themselves trying to be everything to everyone, and the result is that some features arent as good as others, making you wonder about the value of the total app.This is unfortunately the case with CleanMyMac X. CleanMyMac X has a couple of modules that are the apps greatest hurdles: the Malware removal module and the Updater function. Both are well-intentioned and focused, but unfortunately, they dont work as well as we hoped. Malware protection remains a mixed bag, and while the app works well with macOS Gatekeeper function in working to prevent malware installation on your Mac, its still possible to install a good amount of questionable software. Yes, the Malware Removal module was able to detect and quarantine several threats (such as OSX.EvilEgg, DazzleSpy, and parts of the AdWind malware), but it left segments of AdWind installed in tests, as well as missed the questionable WaveBrowser, a mock version of Adobe Flash Player Install Manager, Adobe album and the infamous MacSecurity app, which had to be removed with another application. This was disappointing considering MacPaws well-marketed and hyped use of the Moonlock Engine for this purpose. Other foibles within the Malware Removal module include the fact that while its easy to select for external volumes to be scanned upon mounting, theres no clear display as to this happening, or an easy option to select a target volume and begin a scan, which would be a handy user interface option. For some better antivirus options, if that is what you are after read our round-up of the Best Antivirus for Mac . Malware protection settings in CleanMyMac X 4.15.3. Malware protection settings in CleanMyMac X 4.15.3. Foundry Malware protection settings in CleanMyMac X 4.15.3. Foundry Foundry If the Malware Removal module needs improvements, the Updater module is in even rougher shape. This section of the software feels as if almost nothing has been done with it, and the only update it was able to detect and install was a small screenshot AI update through Apples App Store. These scans missed significant app updates to critical programs such as GitHub, Slack, Google Chrome, Adobe Reader, VirtualBox, and others, and one wonders how it can be so hard to add support for these developers for the module to find and locate free updates that the developers would want the users to have in the first place? Verdict CleanMyMac X (version 4.15.3 at the time we updated this review) offers a good suite of utilities, but unless a major new version or upgrade is en route, MacPaw seems to be making the same mistakes again. Despite the companys use of the Moonlock Engine for its Malware Removal module, it still left significant chunks of malware behind and this is concerning. The rough state of the Updater module once again leads one to consider the MacUpdater , which is $9.76 for an individual user, is tightly focused on its task, and has become my standby for locating just about every software update I could dream of for my Macs. I dont think MacPaw is ill-intentioned in its efforts by any stretch of the imagination and its customer service has always been responsive, but I do think its wandering into the same issues that any company has when it tries to make a Swiss Army knife of an application suite and keeps adding to its feature base. Some features invariably become better than others, and unless theres a major new version or update that comes out, it seems as if these issues may not be fixed in short order. CleanMyMac X runs well, does its chief job of recovering space on a Mac superbly, and is available at a good price, but without a significant overhaul for its Malware Removal and Updater modules, it wont be able to deliver on the vast amount it promises. Cleaning and Data Recovery Software, MacOS

Google Pixel 8a vs. OnePlus 12R: Which $500 phone should you buy?

The Google Pixel 8a and the OnePlus 12R are two of the best phones you can buy for $500. But which one is the better purchase for you? Let's find out.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max could set a new record for the iPhone

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is likely to feature the largest display ever on an Apple handset. How big could it be? A new leak tells the story. Yes, it's bigger!

Warning: iOS 17.5 may resurface previously deleted photos

Macworld After installing the iOS 17.5 or iPadOS 17.5 update , you may find a surprise or two (or three or four) in your Photos. According to several user reports online, the 17.5 update may restore photos that you have deleted long after the 30-day restore period has expired. Which could make for an embarrassing situation. A post on Reddit said that some of the resurrected photos had nsfw material, and another post said, my photos appeared on my OLD iPad I gave to a friend. One user in the Reddit thread claims to be an Apple QA employee and says that whats happening is that photos that have been sent through Messages are being saved to the Photo library, and the solution is to delete the old Messages. However, a separate user replied that their restored photos were not messaged to anyone. Also, some users with this problem are using iCloud Photos, while others arent. As others have pointed out (in the Reddit thread and in other reports), when you delete a fileincluding a photothe file isnt really wiped out. What happens is that the reference to it is gone, but the file is still there until another file is written over it. Though youd think that if a photo was deleted years ago and youre regularly shooting new ones, there would be many opportunities for that old photo to be overwritten. Apple has not commented on the issue, but you can probably expect a point-one update to address it soon. Several users have reported that this issue existed in the 17.5 betas, but its not known if this is a widespread issue. I installed the iOS 17.5 update after its release on Monday and have not had any old deleted photos come back to haunt me, thank goodness. iOS, iPad, iPhone

The Oura Ring is becoming an even better smart ring for women

The Oura Ring is picking up some additional women's health features. Here's an overview of everything that's new.

Android 15 has a clever way to make notifications less annoying

Notification vibrations on your phone can be annoying sometimes being too strong or too weak. A new feature in Android 15 may fix this for good.

Charge all your Apple gadgets with $40 off this 3-in-1 Belkin stand

Macworld Some research says that a cluttered desk can be bad for your productivity, so were here to help by eliminating most of those cables strewn over your desk and replacing them with a simple, elegant solution. The 3-in-1 MagSafe Belkin wireless charger stand is available for $110 at Amazon , down from its usual $150 MSRP. With the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand, you can bid farewell to the tangle of charging cables on your desk. This single device effortlessly charges your phone, Apple Watch, and earbuds, leaving you with an elegant stand and just one discreet wire. Equipped with fast-charging technology, the charger offers up to 15 watts of charging power for iPhones, ensuring your phone is ready when you are. Whats more, it delivers a 33 percent faster charging experience for those with an Apple Watch Series 7 or newer models, giving you peace of mind that your devices will be ready to go when you are.Since this Belkin uses MagSafe technology , your iPhone or Apple Watch aligns perfectly on the stand, making it easy to use. You can snap your phone into place without looking at it and leave it to charge. For Apple enthusiasts looking to declutter their desks and make the charging process less of a chore, the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand is a perfect solution. Its current price of $110 is the best weve ever seen, so if you want one go grab this limited deal before its gone. Get a 3-in-1 Belkin MagSafe wireless charger for $110 at Amazon Mobile Phone Chargers

Apple Discontinues 'iOS Developer University Program' for Students

Apple has discontinued the iOS Developer University Program as of May 15, according to a notice on its website and an email sent to program members . The program allowed university professors and other eligible instructors to create a development team with up to 200 students, who could create and test apps without needing to pay the usual $99 annual fee for Apple Developer Program membership. Apple says accredited educational institutions can still enroll in the Apple Developer Program at no cost by submitting a fee waiver request . Thanks, Nicols lvarez ! This article, Apple Discontinues 'iOS Developer University Program' for Students first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

M4 iPad Pro Bend Tests: Durability Equal to M2 Model Despite Thinness

The first M4 iPad Pro bend tests are in, and the initial consensus appears to be that Apple has managed to make its thinnest device ever just as durable as the previous generation M2 iPad Pro that it replaces. Two approaches were taken in bend tests by prominent tech YouTubers. JerryRigEverything for example forcibly applied pressure by bending the new device with his hands, while MobileReviewsEh took a different tack by placing the iPad under a force meter and applying gym weights on top to exert pressure within a limited contact area. When bending the iPad Pro from the back in the horizontal position, JerryRigEverything found that the device held up surprisingly well, as if suspicious levels of black magic structural integrity were going on. When forcibly bent from the back, the glass screen eventually rippled away from the frame, yet the display and operating system continued to function normally. When it came to putting pressure on the device vertically, however, it was a different story, and the iPad Pro quickly suffered a catastrophic split up the middle, originating from the USB-C port. JerryRigEverything then removed the display to reveal and remove the internals, including the new metal cowling that runs down the middle of the device. If Apple could add another more perpendicular spine running width-wise near the charging port, this thing probably would have survived, he added. JerryRigEverything concluded that the central spine of the new iPad Pro is definitely providing enough structure for horizontal bends, and should stand up to everyday use in a backpack or luggage. In his own AppleTrack test, Sam Kohl agreed: Is [its thinness] a durability risk? The answer is no. The spine that Apple put along the logic board is very good unless you are bending the corners in. After placing in excess of 70 pounds of weight on the center of the iPad Pro display until complete structural failure, MobileReviewsEh concluded that the new iPad Pro is just as tough if not a little bit tougher than the one it replaces, despite being 18-20% thinner than the M2 iPad Pro. All in all, another endgate looks unlikely. For those unfamiliar with the controversy, Apple in 2019 admitted to shipping its then-new models with a very slight bend in the aluminum chassis, which it blamed on a side effect of the manufacturing process. Despite videos indicating that the 2018 iPad Pro models bent more easily than other models, Apple said the bend did not worsen over time or negatively affect the iPad's performance, and that concerns over the device's durability were unfounded. Nevertheless, some iPad owners were understandably upset to find defects in devices that cost hundreds of dollars. Related Roundup: iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now) This article, M4 iPad Pro Bend Tests: Durability Equal to M2 Model Despite Thinness first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Announces New AI and ML Powered Eye Tracking and Music Haptics Accessibility Features

Apple announced several new accessibility-focused features for its iPhone and iPad devices on Wednesday. The company introduces regularly introduces new accessibility features to make the devices easier to use for those who suffer from physical disabilities. This year, the tech giant is bringing a new Eye Tracking feature that will allow users to control their device ...