Macworld Wireless headphones or earbuds (whatever you call them) are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth earbuds being convenient and the sound quality difference to wired not being that noticeable to typical people (we realize audiophiles know). The market is huge, but here are the best wireless earbuds weve tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth, but we also have a round-up of the best wired h

Macworld Stellar sound, noise cancelation, and a hearing aid for $170? Thats right, Amazon has slashed the price of AirPods Pro 2 to its 2025 low , a massive $79 discount (32 percent) off its MSRP. When we reviewed the AirPods Pro 2 , we absolutely loved them, giving the buds a 4.5-star rating and our Editors Choice label. We loved their fantastic audio quality, great noise canceling, and lengthy battery life. On the outside, not much has changed with these second-generation AirPods Pro. But the

Macworld As AI continues to dominate Apples strategic roadmap, a new report indicates the company wants to reimagine the Apple Watch as a camera-equipped AI assistant. The iPhone and Mac ranges have already gained AI features, thanks to the ( gradual and frequently delayed ) rollout of Apple Intelligence. But these are both products that the owner has to actively bring into use: sitting at a desk, opening a lid, and taking a handset out of a pocket. Whereas futurists believe AI will develop and

Macworld Apples AirPods wireless headphones offer an iconic look, exceptional convenience, and strong audio quality. They come with a premium price tag, however, so its important to shop around for a good deal or find a bunch of tech experts wholl do this for you. Thats where we come in. In this article, we round up the best AirPods discounts and deals to help you save money. Weve got the best prices on the 4th-gen AirPods , the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C , and the premium AirPods Max over-e

Macworld The hash symbol also known as the pound/number sign, and which looks like this: # was one of the more rarely used special characters until Twitter and Instagram came along. Now you can barely avoid the symbol widely known as the hashtag and ubiquitous on social media. But how do you type a hash or hashtag symbol on a Mac? Well, that depends on your keyboard layout. For readers using the standard U.S. layout, its pretty simple, if you are in the U.K. it is a little trickier. Where is t

Macworld Unsure which version of iOS your iPhone can run? Heres a quick guide so you can find out if your iPhone is compatible with the most recent iterations of the iPhone operating system, and, if it isnt, which version you can install on your iPhone. Apple gives iOS a major update each year, usually introducing new features and some stability upgrades to the previous version, plus numerous smaller updates in between. iOS 18 arrived on September 16, but since then there have been multiple upda

Macworld Theres more to life than money, and heaven knows Apple isnt short of a dollar or two. So when I hear that the companys TV+ streaming service is losing $1 billion a year, my first reaction isnt shock, but intrigue. Is TV+ worth all that lost cash? On reflection, I think it is. At the time of writing, theres considerable excitement in the Price household ahead of the Severance S2 finale. By the time you read this article, that excitement will have been replaced by other emotions: sadness;

Macworld At the heart of every Apple device is an Apple processor. Apple has been using its own chips in its iPhones and iPads for more than a decade, while Apple silicon in the Mac is already in its fourth generation. Whats remarkable about Apple silicon is its performance and power efficiency. But all chips arent created equally. Understanding the performance differences between each chip will help with your buying decisions, especially when youre deciding between iPhone 16 or MacBook models.

Macworld If you have an iPad already or are thinking of picking up an older one, maybe a refurbished model , youll need to know how long it will still be able to use the newest version of iPadOS. Apple is usually excellent in this area, often keeping older generations of its products on the latest versions of the operating system or at least blessed with security updates to keep them safe. But there comes a time when the software on an iPad can no longer be updated to a secure version of iPadOS,

Macworld Keeping your devices charged and ready to go is essential, but nowadays, most tech products dont come with power adapters anymore, including the iPads and iPhones Apple sells. Even if you dont need one, this 140W Apple USB-C power adapter is on sale right now for $50 , a great price for the most powerful power adapter Apple sells. This slim power adapter from Apple delivers a ton of power. In fact, 140W is more than enough to recharge even the power-hungry MacBook Pro laptops and the on

Macworld Apple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+ , its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies. This guide will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, divided into episodic shows or series and movies. Theres also a ton of new content in the works for Apples $9.99-a-month service. If you want to know whats on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple

Macworld Back in 2010, when the iPhone was still a small player in the smartphone game, Apple made a move that was seemingly aimed at taking the iPhone to the next level. It purchased worldwide exclusive rights to use material developed by LiquidMetal, a zirconium-based alloy with an amorphous structure used for small high-precision, high-performance parts. Until now, it hasnt been clear why Apple purchased the company. The most notable LiquidMetal product has been the iPhones SIM ejector tool,

Macworld Kids love iPads. The simplicity of tapping on the screen when they want things to happen means they can learn to use them in seconds, but theres plenty that Apples tablets can do. Whether its educational games, entertainment apps, using them to create art with an Apple Pencil or just something to stop them getting bored on car journeys, iPads can be a godsend. Choosing the right one can feel a bit daunting. After all, dont they all do the same things? Whats the difference between the no

Macworld Id like it to be known that I hated Siri before it was cool. Ive written numerous articles on the subject. Im an anti-Siri hipster. But when a bandwagon comes along, you better believe Ill be sitting up front. Earlier this week (as spotted by Daring Fireball s Jon Gruber) a Redditor named Guitar Scary started a thread about a one-off but deeply troubling experience with Siri. When asked the seemingly straightforward question What month is it? the hapless voice assistant responded, Sorry

Macworld The accumulated failures and humiliations that have dogged Siri in recent years have finally proved too much for Apples senior management, who have decided to oust John Giannandrea from his role as Siri boss. The news was broken Thursday by the Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, citing the usual anonymous people familiar with the situation. Gurmans sources say Apple CEO Tim Cook has lost faith with Giannandreas ability to execute on product development and is replacing him as Siri lead wit

Macworld Apples Worldwide Developers Conference is coming soon, and thats when we will learn all about macOS 16, the next version of the Mac operating system. This version could include some big changes for the Mac, in addition to more Apple Intelligence features. Apple hasnt made any formal announcements about macOS 16 so far, but rumors are starting to leak. This article keeps track of the reports so you can get an idea of what to look forward to when macOS 16 is revealed in June. macOS 16: Re

Macworld If you are concerned about your privacy and security online using a VPN could give you some reassurance. Apple provides various measures in macOS that make Macs more secure , but if you want to ensure that the connection between your Mac and the internet is protected, rather than the computer itself, you need a VPN. Using a VPN essentially makes you invisible on the webyour data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another coun

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Up to 48TB of capacity 550MBps transfer rates in RAID 0 Beefy Construction Three-year warranty with two years of data recovery Cons Running in redundant RAID 1 doubles the price per TB Our Verdict A worthy, rugged, Thunderbolt 3 dual-HDD box with tons of capacity for backup, video and audio production. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $530 (8TB) | $680 (16TB)

Macworld The joy of push notifications is that they attract your attention when you need to know something has happened or someone needs to reach you. Apple lets you tune how notifications work so youre not bothered too muchor too loudly. Some readers have found that, without intending to or without making any change, they receive audible notifications on all their Apple devices. Thats a lot of noise if have a Mac, an iPad, an iPhone, and an Apple Watch. Heres how to fix this problem. Modify eac

Macworld If you want to unblock regional content on streaming services like Netflix, iPlayer, and Prime, or access websites that arent available in your region, a VPN is an essential tool. VPN services can also give you online privacy as well as letting you securely connect to open Wi-Fi networks in cafes, hotels, airports and other places. But VPNs tend to have complex pricing structures, with long-term contract pricing and offers that seem to offer huge discounts, making identifying a good dea

Macworld Apple has long been rumored to be working on a smart home control tablet, which many have dubbed HomePad. The device will reportedly feature a new interface that lets users control their smart home accessories, view relevant data like the temperature and weather, FaceTime their contacts, and more. It wont have an App Store, it is said but will feature purpose-driven Apple apps and services. While the company doesnt typically acknowledge unreleased projects publicly, the new Food section

Macworld With the Digital Markets Act adopted in 2022, the European Union has identified Apples iOS (as well as other companies products) as Gatekeepers that have such a stranglehold on the market that they should be required to comply with certain rules about interoperability and openness to competing software and services. Users in Europe have already seen some results of this. Compared to iPhones in the rest of the world, iOS in Europe offers unique capabilities : EU users can sideload apps a

Macworld The brand-new iPad Air M3 is already on sale even though its only been out for a week. You can get the 11-inch model for $549 right now at Amazon , a savings of $50 off Apples MSRP. Weve said it before and well say it again this is pretty much the same iPad Air as the previous model, with the only upgrade being the new chip. Admittedly, the M3 is faster than the M2, so if youre looking for a speedier tablet that can quickly load your apps and games, and run Apple Intelligence, the new

Macworld While were still waiting for iOS 18.4 to arrive with new emoji and Visual Intelligence for the Action button, Apple issued a slightly smaller update this week that most people wont notice.: the 25W MagSafe charger. The firmware update, 2A146, brings the version 136 from 133. The update only applies to the newer charger that provides faster wireless charging up to 25W when using a 30W power adapter. This is the second MagSafe charger update issued this year that didnt include the older 1

Macworld It emerged Tuesday that a serious HTTP bug in Apples Passwords app left users vulnerable to phishing attacks for an astonishing three months after its debut last year. A fix for the vulnerability was included in the iOS 18.2 software update, which rolled out on December 11 last year. But sources indicate that the bug had been there, unpatched, since the launch of iOS 18.0 (and the Passwords app itself) on September 16. The occasional security researchers at Mysk spotted the problem when

Macworld Even the most loyal Mac users recognize that Windows still rules the roost in the world of desktop and laptop computers, and there are many important apps that only run on Windows. For example, the Windows version of Microsoft Office includes the Access database that has never been available for the Mac, and there are many professional graphics and video tools that are Windows-only. And, of course, there are all those A-List games that have never even glanced in the direction of us poor

Macworld The popular virtualization software Parallels Desktop is the best virtual machine for running Windows on a Mac weve tested, and this March the maker is offering 25% off Parallels Desktop 20. Thats a tempting offer in anyones book. Get 25% off Parallels Desktop for Mac here In our review of Parallels Desktop we described it as one of the best options for Mac users who need to run Windows, Linux or even macOS as a virtual machine on their system. Parallels Desktop 20, which arrived in Sep

Macworld Since the very first iPhone, Apple has featured an on/off mute switch above the volume buttons. That all changed with the iPhone 15 Pro, and every iPhone sincethe mute switch was replaced by something called the Action button. The idea is simple: Instead of a switch, you have a button you press and hold for a second (to avoid accidental presses in your pocket or bag) to mute or unmute your iPhone. But of course, being a button, its far more flexible than the mute switch. Just hop into y

Macworld If we go by the usual schedule, were probably a little under three months out from this years Worldwide Developers Conferencechances are itll be announced before the end of this very month. It promises to be quite the event. Thats in no small part because Apples found itself in an unusual position this year: the company has already copped to the fact that some of the most impressive features from last years WWDC keynoteSiris ability to use personal context and take action in various app

Macworld I had a revelation recently while testing the wired charging speed of my trusty iPhone 16 Plus. In six months of ownership, it occurred to me as I blew the dust out like an archaeologist examining an ancient pot, I had never plugged a cable into the devices USB-C port. It seemed impossible, but it was true. And it made me think. Do iPhone owners even need ports? When reports suggest that Apple is working on a smartphone with no port at all , everyone loses their minds. But if I can go h

Macworld Apple introduced the first iPhone SE back in 2016, letting customers get the full iOS experience at a lower price. The SE branding was then extended to the Apple Watch line, which followed the SE model with a low-cost smartwatch built on an older design . Now that the iPhone SE has been discontinued in favor of the newly released 16e model, were left wondering: Will the heavily rumored update to the Apple Watch SE 2 arrive as an SE 3 or 11e? Apples SE formula SE iPhones and Apple Watche

Macworld Okay. Lets talk about AI. Yes , again . The Macalope knows , believe him. Much like many things these days, there is a somewhat wide gulf of beliefs about the state of artificial intelligence. The Macalope would not be surprised to learn that, also like other things these days, the two sides cannot even agree on what to call the gulf itself. (Its called topical humor, look it up .) Lets take a look at the Yay, AI! side. Writing for The New York Times, Kevin Roose says: Powerful A.I. Is

Macworld Every year, we are introduced to a new version of iOS (alongside Apples other operating systems) at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. It then marches through an extended beta-testing period before being released in September. But all the new features dont come with that initial release; many are planned to coming in updates 9 (iOS 19.1, 19.2, and so on) in the months following the big initial release. While Apple hasnt officially announced iOS 19, it has been hard at work on

Macworld macOS Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024, but the beta development continues and if you are a registered developer or registered as a public beta tester, you can continue to get the latest updates and try out new features still not available to the general public. In this article, well explain whats in the latest version of the Sequoia beta, what you need to do to get your hands on a copy, how to install it, and what you should bear in mind if you dont want to end up in a pickle.

Macworld As usual, Apple is expected to launch four new iPhone models this fall. Whats unusual is how much these models are likely to differ from one another in design terms, if the steady stream of leaks from credible sources is to be believed. The latest of these comes from Sonny Dickson, a respected albeit inconsistent leaker in the Apple rumorsphere. Dickson posted your first look at the iPhone 17 dummies to his Twitter/X account Sunday, and the images corroborate the theory that Apple will

Macworld Have you noticed how much room photos take up now? Sure, theyre HD, but at what cost? If you want a simple, affordable place to keep all your files, try FileJump. Instead of paying monthly for cloud storage like Dropbox or iCloud, now you can pay just once for 2TB of cloud storage that lasts for life. Its also on sale for only $69.97 (reg. $467). FileJump is a secure, affordable way to store, share, and collaborate on your files. Things like drag-and-drop uploads and media previews make

Macworld It took the iPhone an eternity to strike Lightning in favor of the universal USB-C port. Now that its here on all models, including the low-end 16e, many users still limit its use to charging, overlooking the slew of other advantages it offers over Lightning. If youve got an iPhone 15 or 16 model, you can expand the USB-C ports functionality beyond battery fill-ups, and weve got a few ideas to share. 1. Charge another device Rival companies, like Samsung, have long supported reverse wir

Macworld I sit in front of a Mac all day (like you probably do), so I rely on notifications a lot, especially to communicate with co-workers, friends, and family. The problem Ive been having, however, is that the Messages app often fakes me out with phantom unread messages, leaving me frustrated and confused. Heres what happens: The Messages icon in the Dock shows a red 1 badge, indicating that theres a new message. But when I open Messages, theres nothing new, and worse, the badge wont go away.

Macworld All your files have to go somewhere. Cloud storage is the natural answer, but most platforms have expensive monthly subscriptions. However, if you want an option thats cheaper in the long term, you can actually get a lifetime cloud storage subscription through Internxt. This secure cloud storage platform has a 10TB lifetime subscription that just went on sale for $279.99 (reg. $2.999). Internxt is all about privacy. Its an open-source, encrypted cloud storage that lets you keep control

Macworld Whether youre camping or birdwatching, when nightfall comes, it becomes a bit of a bummer. You dont have any daylight to help you spot your favorite animals or plantsor UFOsbut that doesnt mean you need to be in the dark. Thats where these night vision digital binoculars can help. Grab a pair now while theyre price-dropped to only$89.97 (reg. $169). Unlike the binoculars you had as a kid, these ones come with 4K resolution and 8X digital zoom, letting you see natures best in complete cl

Macworld When your Mac starts acting up, youll probably run through some common troubleshooting procedures, such as restarting it, running Disk Utility, and perhaps performing a Safe Boot. Your repair repertoire should also include a couple of additional procedures that can occasionally eliminate otherwise inscrutable problemszapping the NVRAM and resetting the SMC. The procedures here apply to Intel-based Macs. M-Series Macs dont have a procedure for zapping the NVRAM, and they dont have an SMC

Macworld Apples list of currently available content for Apple TV+ continues to grow, and so does the list of upcoming projects in the works. Films, limited series, specials, and multi-season seriesApples got lots of irons in the fire. Some of these projects have been officially announced and acknowledged by Apple, while others have been reported by the Hollywood press, which always has its ear to the ground about what projects actors, directors, and producers are involved in. Weve divided this l

Macworld Whether youre looking to gift an Apple product or just pick one up for yourself, weve scoured the web for the best prices on everything from Macs to MacBooks, iPads to iPhones, Apple Watches to Apple TVs, and more. Apple rarely discounts its own productseven during its annual Black Friday shopping event , which runs from Black Friday to Cyber Monday it elects to give out gift cards rather than actual price reductions. However third-party retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy run sales a

Macworld While we have no clue what the heck is going on with Siri , we now know one thing: The hit Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso will have a fourth season. However, Apples announcement does not state when the new season will arrive. As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to look before we leap, said Jason Sudeikis, the shows executive producer who also plays the titular character, in a press release. In season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to LEAP BEF

Macworld When Apple released Messages with RCS support in iOS 18 last year, it was missing a key security feature: end-to-end encryption. At the time, Apple said it would wait until encryption was part of the RCS Universal Profilebefore bringing it to Messages. That day has arrived. The GSM Association announced on Friday that the new GSM specifications for RCS will include end-to-end encryption (E2EE) based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol. In a press release , the GSM Association

Macworld Apple announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips at an event in October 2024. The upgraded MacBook Pro models arrived a year after Apple launched the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max variants of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro and bring double the RAM alongside the new chips. The M4 MacBook Pro models went on sale on Friday, November 8. Read our reviews: 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review and 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review . If you want to buy a MacBook

Macworld Apple announced new, smaller Mac mini models with M4 and M4 Pro chips in October 2024 and they went on sale on went on sale on November 8, 2024. This was the first update to the range since January 2023. Read about the new Mac mini here: M4 Mac mini: Everything you need to know. Plus we review the Mac mini M4 Pro here: M4 Pro Mac mini review . Its not just the smallest Mac, the Mac mini is also Apples cheapest Mac, but you dont have to pay full priceweve scoured the web for the best cut

Macworld A year after Apple updated the iMac with an M3 chip, in late 2024 Apple switched in an M4 chip and doubled the memory. Following an October 2024 announcement the M4 iMac went on sale on November 8. Read about the 2024 iMac and read our review: M4 iMac review . With the arrival of the M4 iMac the M3 iMac will no longer be sold by Apple, but you may find those older models available at a discount from resellers while they try to sell off old stock. Note that outside the U.S. the prices ha

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Friendly user interface and good overall data recovery. Handy backup and video repair modules. Good price point. Cons The Crashed Mac module couldnt be tested, as the host website was down. Some vague user interface menus. No trial period and vague 60-day money-back guarantee terms. Our Verdict Data Recovery for Mac is worth a look, and it hones in on its core features well, but the overall execution feels sloppy. This, combined with a core feature being

Macworld Apple Arcade is one of Apples more opaque services. The company doesnt disclose any subscription figures and keeps other key data under wraps. Occasionally, specialist media manage to glean a few insights by interviewing a developer in a forthcoming mood, but most of the time were kept in the dark. Is it a success? Is it a failure? Thats hard to say. What we can say for sure is that Arcade has some really good games. Everything from indie classics such as Slay the Spire and Stardew Vall