Heres how you can ditch iCloud Drive for goodwith FolderFort

Macworld You might think iCloud is the easiest cloud storage solution to rid your iPhone or MacBook of low-storage notifications for good. But think about how much youve spent on iCloud to date. Is it a couple hundred? Yikes. Instead of paying a recurring fee for the rest of your life, hop on this deal that gives you 1TB of lifetime cloud storage for only $59.97 (reg. $251) for one more day. This is the lowest the price has ever been, so grab it while you can! Youll be able to swiftly transfer your photos, videos, and files from iCloud Drive into FolderFort to save the money youd normally spend on your monthly cloud subscription.This 1TB lifetime cloud plan stores around 200,000 photos, 300 hours of HD video, or a million documentsall for a one-time payment. Plus, FolderFort is compatible with every device, thanks to the fact that its browser-based. With FolderFort, you canshare your cloud storage with as many users as youd likeits like the iCloud family plan. Each person whos added gets their own 1GB of storage, and you have the option of creating private or shared folders to maximize your subscription. Get this iCloud alternative at an all-time low price with this best-of-web offer: just $59.97 (reg. $251) thats 76% savings you cant find anywhere else! FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription Only $59.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

M4 MacBook Pro drops to best price for the last time this year

Macworld Its the last chance to get your hands on a new M4 MacBook Pro this year, and its the best time to do it because its down $200, for a total price of $1,399 over at Amazon , matching its best price so far. This is the powerful M4 model were talking about with 16GB of RAM, so its truly a geat deal. The 14-inch MacBook Pro went from meh to marvelous , we wrote in our 4.5-star review. The laptop got a near-perfect score from us, with our main praise being the bump to 16GB of unified memory (over 8GB) and the introduction of the Space Black option, which was unavailable on this model last year. The laptop runs on the blazing-fast M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU for incredible speed in tackling demanding tasks. Youll also get fantastic battery life, with our tests clocking the battery at about 20 hours of use, good for a whole days work and then some. And of course, youre getting a fantastic 14.2-inch display with ProMotion and 1,600 nits peak brightness. Like the rest of the Apple silicon machines, this laptop is also ready to run Apple Intelligence, allowing you to perform work more efficiently with features such as Writing Tools and the upcoming next-gen Siri. So youre getting it all int he MacBook Pro: a gorgeous display, superb battery life, and rocket-level speeds, all for all for an incredible $200 off . Get the M4 MacBook Pro for its best price ever Buy now at Amazon

iPhone SE 4: Everything you need to know about Apples next budget phone

Macworld Apple updated its entry-level iPhone in March 2022, adding a few nips and tucks here and there along with a quiet price increase. It kept the iPhone 8 design with its Home button and small form factor that appeals to some, but the aging design and minimal upgrades meant the new iPhone SE was coolly received by the masses. The iPhone SE is in desperate need of a big upgrade, and it looks like it will get one in the spring of 2025 . iPhone SE 4 release date: When will the iPhone SE 4 be released? Spring 2025 (estimated) Apples iPhone SE doesnt follow the same predictable annual release schedule as the standard iPhone line, and the intervals between updates can be harder to predict, but they seem to always be released in the spring, in March or April. Heres when the three models released so far made their debut: iPhone SE (3rd gen) : March 2022 iPhone SE (2nd gen) : April 2020 iPhone SE (1st gen) : March 2016 Apples current budget phone, the iPhone SE (2022) Dominik Tomaszewski iPhone 4 SE price: How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost? Pricing has steadily increased across the three existing generations, no doubt influenced by the global cost of components and distribution. While the iPhone SE (3rd generation) was released around the same price as the model it replaced, Apple added a chunk onto the cost, making the current model somewhat less desirable than previous iterations, especially when you factor in the measly amount of storage that comes with the baseline model. At launch the prices were even higher in the U.K. but, in September 2023, after adjusting for inflation, Apple dropped the price back to match the U.S. price. Apple did the same thing for prices in Euros in September 2024. Heres how they line up: iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022): 64GB: $429/429 (was 449 at launch) 128GB: $479/479 (was 499 at launch) 256GB: $579/579 (was 609 at launch) iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020): 64GB: $399/419 128GB: $449/469 256GB: $549/569 iPhone SE (1st gen, 2016): 32GB: $399/379 128GB: $499/449 However, the iPhone SE needs to be inexpensive relative to other iPhones, and wed be surprised to see the price increase too much with the next generation, even with several rumored upgrades. The latest rumors claim the 4th-gen iPhone SE could start at $499, still far less expensive than any other new iPhone Apple sells. Bloombergs Mark Gurman claims the next model is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China , so a low price would be necessary to achieve this plan. iPhone 4 SE design: What will the next iPhone SE look like? Will the iPhone SE get a long-overdue design revamp? Rumors suggest that we could see a move away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like modern iPhones, with Face ID and a full-screen display. That could be good or bad news, depending on your viewpoint. Some people prefer the Home button as a means to interact with their iPhone, for some older people and those who are less dexterous it is helpful to have a physical button. No Home button is likely to mean a notchand thats a notch, rather than the Dynamic Island. In terms of overall appearance, the iPhone SE would likely resemble the iPhone 14. A rumor in July 2024 suggested Apple will change course with the iPhone SE 4 and instead use the same body as the iPhone 16 , making it a true budget version of the latest iPhone lineup. If Apple chooses to use the chassis of the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14 that could allow the best alignment of two camera lenses for talking videos for the Vision Pro. But that would mean that the iPhone SE would have two cameras on the back, rather than just one, as it does currently. It would also make it hard to differentiate between models, pushing some users who might otherwise consider the iPhone 16 to buy the iPhone SE 4 at a lower price. iPhone SE 4 specs: Will Apple Intelligence be supported? The iPhones this year are all about Apple Intelligence AI features, which first arrived with iOS 18.1 in the fall and will continue to get new features in iOS 18 updates . One of the biggest new features, a massive expansion of Siri capabilities, is due for release in iOS 18.4 around the same time the iPhone SE 4 would be released. Processor & RAM: To run Apple Intelligence an iPhone requires an A17 Pro or A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. There is some expectation that the iPhone SE 4 could meet these requirements. It is common for the iPhone SE to have the same processor as the latest non-Pro iPhone but skimp on other features to differentiate itself, so we expect the iPhone SE 4 to have the A18 processor. Other than the processor and RAM requirements, we may see some other internal changes including the following: Modem: The iPhone SE 4 might be the first iPhone to feature Apples own 5G modems (codenamed Sinope). It will offers sub-6 support but no mmWave, and lower performance than Qualcomms best 5G modems but better power efficiency. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Apple is also about to switch over to its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip , codenamed Proxima. The rumors say this chip will actually appear first in a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV, but theres a chance it could be used in the iPhone SE 4. Storage: With the iPhone 13 range moving to a baseline of 128GB (and the 14-series handsets following suit), its hoped that the new iPhone SE might do likewise, as 64GB isnt enough for most users anymore, especially since system files take up more than 10GB (and you can add a multi-gigabyte Apple Intelligence model to that). There are no good rumors one way or the other about the minimum storage for the iPhone SE 4, but we wouldnt be surprised if it was 64GB. USB-C: We expect the iPhone SE 4 to feature a USB-C port for charging, as all new iPhones do, and IP68 water resistance. The current SE is one of the last remaining Apple devices to still have a Lightning port . Camera(s): One of the defining features of the iPhone SE is a single camera on the back. This is probably not going to change, although if the new iPhone SE does adopt the chassis of an iPhone 14 or 16 it is possible. The latest rumors suggest a single 48 megapixel camera, which would at least give the iPhone SE 4 a good 2x optical zoom mode using the center 12MP of the sensor, as the iPhone 16 does. Action Button: An alleged leak of an iPhone SE 4 case shows a cutout for the mute switch rather than an Action Button, and of course there will be no Camera Control buttonif the iPhone SE 4 had these features there would be little reason for anyone to buy an iPhone 16! iPhone SE 4: Will the new iPhone SE use Touch ID or Face ID? The most recent rumors say the new iPhone SE will have Face ID with a notch (not dynamic island), similar to an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14. That means Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, will go away. iPhone history The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model were also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event . You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone , our iPhone buying guide , and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today . Original iPhone (2007) review iPhone 3G (2008) review iPhone 3GS (2009) review iPhone 4 (2010) review iPhone 4s (2011) review iPhone 5 (2012) review iPhone 5c (2013) review iPhone 5s (2013) review iPhone 6 (2014) review iPhone 6 Plus (2014) review iPhone 6s (2015) review iPhone 6s Plus (2015) review iPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) review iPhone 7 (2016) review iPhone 7 Plus (2016) review iPhone 8 (2017) review iPhone 8 Plus (2017) review iPhone X (2017) review iPhone XR (2018) review iPhone XS (2018) review iPhone XS Max (2018) review iPhone 11 (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) review iPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) review iPhone 12 (2020) review iPhone 12 Mini (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) review iPhone 13 (2021) review iPhone 13 mini (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) review iPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) review iPhone 14 (2022) review iPhone 14 Plus (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) review iPhone 15 (2023) review iPhone 15 Plus (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro (2023) review iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) review iPhone 16 & 16 Plus review iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max review

Get an unlocked iPhone 15 for over $300 off in this blowout sale

Macworld Finding an unlocked iPhone for less than Apples listed price is a rare thing unless its refurbished or otherwise used. But we found one today: Amazons Woot is selling an unlocked iPhone 15 in black for $580 (128GB), $610 (256GB), and $695 (512GB), a savings of $149, $189, and $304, respectively. This iPhone 15 isnt sold by Apple but is promised to be in Pristine condition having never been in customer hands. Woot says the phone will arrive with a test sticker showing100% battery life and insidea sleek custom black box,not the original retail packaging. Itcomes with a 1-year vendor warranty but isnt AppleCare-eligible. While its a year old, Apple still sells the iPhone 15 for $699 and up. And its still a great phone, with an A16 processor, 6.1-inch OLED display, and Apples innovative Dynamic Island. We loved it in our 4-star review and Its even better with iOS 18. It will receive updates for years to come, but just note it isnt compatible with Apple Intelligence. So if you want a great iPhone at a great price without needing to jump through carrier hoops, go grab this deal before its gone forever. Save up to $300 on the iPhone 15 Buy Now at WOOT!

Best Mac 2024-2025: Every Apple Mac and MacBook compared

Macworld If youre wondering which Mac to buy, youve come to the right place. In our Mac buying guide, youll find everything you need to know about the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio, with expert buying advice to help you choose the machine (and configuration) thats right for you. Apple makes six different types of Mac: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, but within each of those categories there are variations in the size, specs, and features, so things can get pretty complicated. Thats where this guide comes in, helping you make the right decision. If youre simply looking for a great offer, visit our MacBook Pro deals , MacBook Air deals , iMac deals , Mac Studio deals , and Mac mini deals pages which are regularly updated. For help choosing the best Mac laptop, we also have a MacBook buying guide . We have included the newest Macs: the M4 iMac, M4 Mac mini and M4 MacBook Pro. Read our M4 iMac review and M4 Pro Mac mini review . Those Macs were updated in October 2024. At the same time, Apple doubled the RAM in the MacBook Air M3 and M2, so we have updated our advice accordingly. Should I upgrade from my Intel Mac? We are now more than four years into Apples transition from Intel processors to its own silicon that includes CPU, GPU, and unified memory. The transition began with the introduction of the M1 in November 2020. Since June 2023 every Mac Apple sells uses Apples own chips rather than Intel processors. If youve yet to upgrade your Intel Mac to one powered by Apples silicon what are you waiting for? If you are concerned that a must-have app doesnt run on an M-series Mac, consider finding a new app because the performance gains are tremendous. Another good reason to update your Intel Mac is that it is unlikely to be supported by Apple for much longer in terms of security updates. With the arrival of macOS Sequoia, the number of supported Intel Macs is fewer than ever, and although Apple will be supporting Sonoma with security updates for a couple more years, and Ventura for another year, only a few of the most recent Intel Macs still be supported in a year or so. Read: The Intel Macs that can run macOS Sequoia. For more information see our Mac processor comparison where we compare Apple silicon and Intel . We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM, and cores in How much MacBook RAM, SSD, GPU, and CPU do you really need. Every Mac Apple sells Below well take you through each Mac currently available from Apple, to give you an overview of whats on offer and what youve got to choose from. 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (2022) Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $899 View Deal $924 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $799 at Amazon $799 at Best Buy $899 at B&H View more prices from Walmart Electronics Apple United States Close Best Prices Today: 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (2022) Retailer Price $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $899 View Deal $924 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The MacBook Air is Apples most affordable laptop, designed with portability in mind. There are currently three versions of the MacBook Air available from Apple: a 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip, a 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip, and a 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip. The M2 MacBook Air had a price cut when the M3 model was introduced in March 2024: it now starts at $999/999. The M2 MacBook Air was introduced in July 2022 with a brand-new look and a 13.6-inch screen (up from 13.3 inches). Its a great machine, but the newer MacBook Air is only $100/$100 more than the M2 model and is well worth the upgrade. Another update came in October 2024 when Apple doubled the RAM (unified memory) from 8GB to 16GB without changing the price. This is an excellent update meaning that the M2 MacBook Air is better value than ever. Whos it for? The MacBook Air is ideal for the budget-conscious. Its also for anyone who is always on the go, doesnt want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and needs a computer thats more versatile than an iPad. How much does the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2) cost? Prices start at $999/999 M2 MacBook Air with 256GB SSD and 16GB RAM and $1,199/1,199 for the MacBook Air M2 with 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM. Make sure to check how much RAM is in the model you are buying and that it is priced accordingly. To update the RAM to 16GB would previously have cost $200/200. What are the specifications? The entry-level M2 MacBook Air has 8 GPU cores, just like the entry-level M3 model, but the M3 is a step up from the M2 thanks to the newer 3nm manufacturing process. The M3 also offers faster Wi-Fi than the M2. Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory , 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $999/999. Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory , 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,199/1,199. Additional options: 24GB memory. Up to 2TB storage. What are display specifications? The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina on the M2 MacBook Air display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness. How do I connect stuff? The MacBook Air with M2 chip has a MagSafe port for charging as well as a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apples $19 / 19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters . If you want to plug in more than one external display officially you cant but we know a workaround, read: How to connect two or more external displays to an M-series MacBook . The M2 MacBook Air has built-in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for connecting to a network (the M3 offers faster Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax). It also provides built-in Bluetooth 5.3 for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter. How fast is it? The M2 provides performance that is leaps and bounds faster than the Intel processors that were previously found in the MacBook Air, and Apple claims an 18 percent total CPU improvement over the M1 and a 35 percent improvement in graphics speed. Its plenty fast enough for general-purpose use. But because it doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code, for which the MacBook Pro with its fan is a better choice. Macworlds buying advice: The MacBook Air with M2 is a great affordable laptop for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person. But it only costs another $100/100 to upgrade to the M3 model, so unless you want to use that $100/100 to upgrade the storage, we recommend the M3 over the M2. You may also want to avoid the entry-level models due to slower SSDs , but that may not be an issue if the kind of work you do doesnt require a lot of writing to the hard drive. 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,099 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $899 View Deal $999 View Deal $1014 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $899 at Best Buy $999 at B&H $1014 at Walmart Electronics Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Close Best Prices Today: 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (2024) Retailer Price $899 View Deal $999 View Deal $1014 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The M3 MacBook Air looks identical to the M2 version (above), but there are some changes to the specs that make this a much better machineand it only costs $100/100 more. There is also a 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip, which we discuss below. Apple introduced the M3 version of the MacBook Air in March 2024, it then updated the Unified Memory (RAM) from 8GB to 16GB in October 2024 and didnt change the price. Whos it for? The MacBook Air with M3 is great value and ideal for the budget-conscious. If you are always on the go, dont want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and need a versatile computer, its a great choice. How much does the 13-inch MacBook Air (M3) cost? Prices start at $1,099/1,099 and Apple has doubled the RAM to 16GB from 8GB without increasing the price. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with even more memory or storage. What are the specifications? The specs for the M3 MacBook Air look similar to the M2 model, but while it looks like identical cores and memory support, there is a leap from the M2 to the M3 which should improve performance. We used to recommend 16GB RAM as a build-to-order option because we didnt think 8GB was enough, but now Apple has listened and offers that as standard. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory , 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,099/1,099. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory , 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,299/1,299. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory , 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,499/1,499. Additional options: Up to 2TB storage. What are display specifications? The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina on the M3 MacBook Air display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness. How do I connect stuff? All MacBook Air models (since the M2) have a MagSafe port for charging as well as a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apples $19 / 19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters . Unlike the M2 MacBook Air, the M3 MacBook Air is able to support more than one external display (although there is a workaround for older Mac laptops, read: How to connect two or more external displays to an M1-M4 MacBook .) The MacBook Air has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network (faster than the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) in the M2 model. It provides built-in Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter. How fast is it? In our tests the M3 shoots ahead of the M2 in fact the M3 was better than the M1 Pro was in some of our tests. Apple says the M3 is 60 percent faster than the M1 MacBook Air and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. So the MacBook Air should be more than fast enough for general-purpose use. The only issue is that, because it doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, it may slow down during long processing sessions to keep cool. So if you are likely to be video editing or compiling code the MacBook Pro with its fan is a better choice. Macworlds buying advice: The MacBook Air is a great choice for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person. Note that its impossible to upgrade the storage or memory after purchase, so you should buy the model with the largest amount of storage and memory you can afford. The good news about the M3 MacBook Air is that it doesnt appear to be saddled with slow storage in the same way that the M2 model is. We have previously recommended that buyers should avoid the entry-level models due to slower SSDs , but it appears that the storage in the 256GB M3 MacBook Air model is made up of two 128GB NAND chips, rather than one 256GB chip, so the two drives can process data simultaneously, so the storage in the 256GB M3 MacBook Air should work faster . We compare the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro separately. Also read Best MacBook: Which MacBook should you buy? Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1099 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1099 at Best Buy $1199 at B&H $1199 at Walmart Electronics Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Close Best Prices Today: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) Retailer Price $1099 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The 15-inch MacBook Air arrived in June 2023, and a few months later, in March 2024, Apple updated it with an M3 chip. Compared to the 13-inch MacBook Air the 15-inch model offers a bigger screen (obviously) and a six-speaker system rather than four speakers. Surprisingly, battery life isnt better on the 15-inch, despite the bigger battery. As with the other MacBook Air models, the MacBook Air now comes with 16GB RAM as standard. Whos it for? The 15-inch MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who wants a big-screen laptop without having to spend a fortune. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models cost considerably more than the 15-inch MacBook Air does. Its a great choice for anyone who is always on the go due to its lightweight design. How much does the 15-inch MacBook Air (M3) cost? There are three configurations starting at $1,299/1,399. The price hasnt changed despite Apple increasing the RAM from 8GB to 16GB, which used to cost $200/200 at the point of sale. What are the specifications? The specifications of the M3 MacBook Air are generally the same, although the entry-level 13-inch has an 8-core GPU option the 15-inch doesnt have. You are essentially paying $200/200 more for the bigger screen. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory , 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,299/1,299. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory , 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,499/1,499. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory , 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,699/1,699. Additional options: Up to 2TB storage. There are some differences between the 13- and 15-inch models in terms of audio, with the larger model featuring more speakers as well as a larger screen. What are display specifications? The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display has a native resolution of 2,8801,864 and 500 nits brightness. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness. How do I connect stuff? All MacBook Airs with M2 or M3 chips have a MagSafe port for charging as well as a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors. The M3 MacBook Air offers Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network (faster than the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) in the M2 models. It also provides built-in Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter. Unlike the M2 MacBook Air, the M3 MacBook Air is able to support more than one external display (although there is a workaround for older Mac laptops, read: How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2 or M3 MacBook .) How fast is it? This is the same M3 as found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so you can expect similar performance, however, the Air doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, so it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code, for which a MacBook Pro would be a better option. In our tests, the M3 was better than the M1 Pro, and Apple says the M3 is 60 percent faster than the M1 MacBook Air and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. Macworlds buying advice: Starting at $1,299/1,299, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a more affordable Mac laptop than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, so if you want your screen to be bigger than 13 inches, and you dont need the power of a MacBook Pro for the kind of work you do, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a great option. One thing to note is that the 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD costs $1,499/1,499, which is only $100/100 less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same 16GB memory and 512GB SSD, but that model has an M4 chip. So in that case the 14-inch MacBook Pro could well be a better choice. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1499 at B&H $1499 at Best Buy $1599 at Apple Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Walmart Electronics Close Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? In October 2024 Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip. The M4 14-inch MacBook Pro arrived a year after the M3 version replaced the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is no longer sold. The 14-inch MacBook Pro was already much better than the old 13-inch MacBook Pro thanks to the HDR ProMotion display, more storage, HDMI and SDXC slots, better battery life, and a newer design. The 2024 update makes it better than ever with double the RAM (16GB rather than a paltry 8GB). Whos it for? The 14-inch MacBook Pro is for a more demanding user than the MacBook Air. Its main benefit is the design allows for better cooling, which means that if you push the machine it wont slow down to avoid overheating. However, there are other MacBook Pros available from Apple (including a 16-inch model) that offer faster processors, so if you really need a powerful machine one of those might be more suitablewell discuss the M4 Pro and M4 Max models below. How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro cost? The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599. Theres another model available with twice the storage (1TB) for $200/200 more. Great news if you are in the U.K. the new models cost less than the predecessors did. What are the specifications? Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,599/1,599. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,799/1,799. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,999/1,999. Additional options: 32GB memory; up to 2TB storage What are display specifications? The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,0241,964 and 1,000 nits brightness, 1600 nits peak, 600 nits SDR brightness, and ProMotion for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP FaceTime camera which now features Centre Stage. How do I connect stuff? Apple now includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up from just two). These are compatible with USB-C (if you have wired devices that arent USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, youll need an adapter, we have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones youll need). The 14-inch MacBook Pro also comes with an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port also supports multichannel audio output. The 14-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. The 2024 models offer Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3, as was the case with the predecessor. How fast is it? The M4 version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is now a generation ahead of the MacBook Air. Even without the chip boost, you can expect more out of the MacBook Pro just because it features a fan for cooling (the MacBook Air doesnt have the space for this). If you need a really powerful Mac then you should look to the M4 Pro or even the M4 Max. Macworlds buying advice: The 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $1,599/1,599, which is quite a bit higher than the $1,299/1,349 price the 13-inch MacBook Pro sold for.And much more than the 13-inch MacBook Air (with the M3 model starting at $1,099/1,099). Thats $500/500 more than the entry-level 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, and $600/600 more than the M2 MacBook Air. Thats enough to buy a Mac mini and have money left over! The MacBook Pro is a chip generation ahead of the MacBook Air, but that is unlikely to be the case for long. So if budget is what is important to you, buy a MacBook Air. Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1749 View Deal $1839 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1749 at B&H $1839 at Walmart Electronics $1899 at Best Buy Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Apple Close Best Prices Today: 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) Retailer Price $1749 View Deal $1839 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024 (a year after the M3 Pro and M3 Max models). This is one of Apples top-of-the-line laptops, the other being the 16-inch MacBook Pro (discussed next). Theres not a huge difference between the specs on offerboth offer the M4 Max as a processor optionbut the 14-inch MacBook Pro is cheaper than the 16-inch. If you want a laptop that can handle any task you throw at itand you dont have a constraining budgetyou want one of these laptops. The new M4 Pro/Max models offer better battery life (22 hours) than the previous generation did (18 hours). Whos it for? When Apple called these Pro laptops, they werent kidding around. If your work is very demanding processing power, these laptops are happy to handle it. Work in pro-level software all the time? Get a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro. With either the M4 Pro or M4 Max processor, theyre the fastest laptops Apple has ever created. How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro cost? There are three configurations starting at $1,999/1,999 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD, and $2,399/2,399 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory and 1TB SSD. The third option is the M4 Max version with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, and 1TB SSD, which costs $3,199/3,199. All those prices are 100 lower in the U.K. than they were. What are the specifications? Here are the standard configurations for the 14-inch MacBook Pro Apple M4 Pro, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 70W Power Adapter, $1,999/1,999. Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 96W Power Adapter, $2,399/2,399. Apple M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 96W Power Adapter, $3,199/3,199. Additional options: M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU; 36GB (now possible with Pro chip) 48GB, 96GB or 128GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD (with Max). What are display specifications? The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display hasnt changed from its native resolution of 3,0241,964, 254 pixels per inch, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. Youll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a refresh rate up to 120Hz. The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording. The notch does not affect the available screen areathe work area is a 16-by-10 space, while the screen surrounding the notch is considered extra space and is used to display the menu bar. How do I connect stuff? The 14-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. As for its ports, Apple includes three Thunderbolt 5/USB C ports. If you have a Thunderbolt device, you can plug it directly into the laptop. The same goes for any USB-C device. These laptops also come with an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port in the 2023 model supports multichannel audio output. How do I charge the laptop? Battery life improved for this generation. Up from 18 hours to 22 hours for the M4 Pro (still 18 hours on the M4 Max). A fast charging feature allows the laptop to go from no charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes, but you need to have the proper power adapter to do this. It wont work with the 70W adapter that comes with the $1,999 MacBook Pro. The 14-inch models need to use the 96W adapter (which is a $20/10 upgrade) and can do fast charging through MagSafe or a Thunderbolt port. How fast is it? Apple built the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with pro users in mind and it shows in the performance. Now that Apple has introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max you can enjoy the fastest Mac laptops Apple has ever made, although when it comes to graphics prowess the Max will always beat the Pro. So if you need the fastest then youll want to upgrade to the M4 Max. Macworlds buying advice: The only reason not to buy the 14-inch M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro would be if you saw a good deal on the M3 Pro/M3 Max versionweve been seeing some excellent deals and price cuts on the older models, just remember that there was less RAM in those model (18GB rather than 24GB at the entry-level). Our other advice would be that if you are considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro because you need a powerful Mac then, ignore the $1,999/1,999 model in favor of the $2,399/2,399 model which has more CPU and GPU cores. If you dont need 1TB storage, save money by adding the M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, and 20-core GPU as a build-to-order option to the $1,999/1,999 model for an additional $200/200, bringing the price to $2,199/2,199. 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2,249 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2399 View Deal $2499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2,249 at Amazon $2299 at B&H $2299 at Walmart Electronics View more prices from Best Buy Apple Close Best Prices Today: 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) Retailer Price $2,249 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2399 View Deal $2499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro, like the 14-inch model above, was updated in October 2024. It offers a similar set of specs and configuration options as the 14-inch MacBook Pro (above), but it has a higher price, a bigger screen, and better battery life (24 hours, up from 22 hours on the predecessor). Whos it for? This is Apples largest Pro laptop and its designed for people who need a portable Mac to do work that demands extreme processing power. You could save some money by opting for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but if you need a big screen on your laptop this is the Mac for you. Youll also benefit from longer battery life. Configured with the M4 Max this is the fastest and most powerful laptop Apple has ever created. How much does the 16-inch MacBook Pro cost? There are four standard configurations starting at $2,499/2,499 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU and 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD; $2,899/2,899 for the MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB RAM, and 512GB SSD; $3,499/3,499 for the MacBook Pro M4 Max with 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB RAM, and 1TB SSD; and the M4 Max with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB RAM and 1TB SSD for $3,999/3,999. What are the specifications? Here are the standard configurations for the 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2024. Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $2,499/1,299. Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $2,899/2,899. Apple M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $3,499/3,499. Apple M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $3,999/3,999. Additional options: 48GB, 64GB, or 128GB unified memory. Up to 8TB SSD. What are display specifications? The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,4562,234, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness, and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. Youll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording. The notch does not affect the available screen areathe work area is a 16-by-10 space, while the screen surrounding the notch is considered extra space and is used to display the menu bar. How do I connect stuff? The 16-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. As for its ports, Apple includes three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports that are compatible with USB-C. If you have a Thunderbolt device, you can plug it directly into the laptop. The same goes for any USB-C device. However, if you have wired devices that arent USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, youll need an adapter. We have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones youll need. Unfortunately, be prepared to shell out a good amount of extra cash. These laptops also come with an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port supports multichannel audio output. How do I charge the laptop? Apple has equipped the 14-inch and 16-inch laptops with MagSafe, a magnetic connector that breaks away with a good tug. Its a nice safety feature, but you can also charge using the Thunderbolt port, too. Battery life is improved for this generation: up from 22 hours to 24 hours. The fast charging feature allows the laptop to go from no charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes, but you need to have the proper power adapter to do this. Fast charging does not work through Thunderbolt or with an adapter with lower wattage, so youll need the 140W power adapter that is included in the box for this. How fast is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro models were built with pro users in mind so you can expect excellent performance. Your software will be able to take full advantage of the CPUs multiple cores. If you are a professional, youll benefit from the M4 Pro or M4 Max. Macworlds buying advice: The M4 Pro and Max launched in October 2024, so dont expect an update until late in 2025 or beyond. As above, look out for deals on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models, but note that there is more RAM in the newer models (24GB up from 18GB for the entry-level M4 Pro). We often see excellent deals and price cuts on these models which while not as powerful are still excellent machines. Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Mac mini (M4/M4 Pro, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $599 at Apple $599 at B&H $599 at Best Buy Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Close Best Prices Today: Mac mini (M4/M4 Pro, 2024) Retailer Price $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The Mac mini with M4 and a Mac mini with M4 Pro were introduced in October 2024. This was already Apples smallest desktop Mac, but now it is even smaller following a redesign that means it now measures 5 inches by 5 inches, down from 7.75 inches by 7.75 inches. It offers a nice combination of speed and, at just $599/599, affordability (in fact the 2024 is even cheaper in the U.K. where it costs 50 less than it did). Its not only fast enough for general-purpose use, but its multi-core speed is quite goodif you use a professional app like a video editor, 3D software, or developer tools, the Mac mini can handle it, no problem. Whos it for? Because of its price and performance, the Mac mini is a great Mac for just about anybody. It makes for an ideal primary Mac for a home or small office. Professionals on a budget will be satisfied with the Mac mini. If youre switching from a PC, you can use your PCs keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini. The Mac mini is also ideal as a secondary Mac in your home, and it can integrate into your home entertainment center. How much does the Mac mini cost? There are three standard configurations starting at $599/599 for the Mac mini M4 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, and 256GB SSD. Theres also a $799/799 Mac mini M4 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory and 512GB SSD, and a $999/999 Mac mini M4 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory and 512GB SSD. At the top of the range is an M4 Pro Mac mini with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD which costs $1,399/1,399. The price is about $1,000/1,000 less for a similarly specced MacBook Pro, although, in each case, the MacBook has a bigger SSD. What are the specifications? Apple sells three Mac mini models . Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $599/599. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $799/799. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $999/999. Apple M4 Pro, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $1,399/1,399. Additional options: M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 16-core GPU; 48GB or 64GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD. The Mac mini does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. How do I connect stuff? Like Apples other Macs, the Mac mini has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The $599 and $799 M4-based Mac minis have three Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, while the M4 Pro-based Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 5 ports. All Mac minis also offer an additional two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a gigabit ethernet port. They no longer offer USB-A ports (the M2 models did). To connect a display , you can use the HDMI port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. How fast is it? The $599 and $799 M4-based Mac minis are very fast, and offer the best performance-to-price ratio of any Mac that Apple offers. The Mac mini with M4 Pro offers the same 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, and 512GB storage that is found in the M4 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,399 rather than $1,999 which represented a huge saving and a great way to get a powerful Mac without spending a fortune. Macworlds buying advice: The Mac mini is an excellent machine for most Mac usersnew or experienced, professional or general consumer. Plus the price is excellent: if youre on a budget, its a great choice, especially if you already have a spare keyboard, mouse, and display. Apple 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1204 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1,199 at Amazon $1199 at B&H $1199 at Best Buy View more prices from Walmart Electronics Apple Close Best Prices Today: Apple 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024) Retailer Price $1,199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1204 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? In October 2024 Apple introduced the M4 version of the 24-inch iMac. Little has changed since the redesign of 2021, which represented the first major update in more than a decade, with a cleaner design and a choice of seven bright colors (slightly lighter shades for 2024). Whos it for? The iMac is great for both novices and demanding users. It can handle general-purpose and heavy-duty tasks equally well, although those after a replacement for a 27-inch IMac or iMac Pro might want to wait to see if the rumored iMac Pro ever materializes, or settle for a Mac mini Pro (above) or Mac Studio (below). Its ideal for someone who needs to buy a complete computer setup (keyboard, mouse or trackpad, and display) and wants to maximize workspace efficiency. The 24-inch iMac is a design icon that will look great in any office. How much does the iMac cost? When the M4 iMac Apple dropped prices outside the U.S. The three standard configurations start at $1,299/1,299 for the entry-level model, $1,499/1,499 for the mid-range, and $1,699/1,699 for the top of the range. What are the specifications? The 24-inch iMac uses Apples M4 chip, the same M4 that features in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but in each case, there is half the storage and the price is $100 less. There are several configurations available as well as build-to-order options: Apple M4, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,299/1,299. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,499/1,499. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,699/1,699. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,899/1,899. Additional options: 32GB memory; up to 2TB storage What are the display specifications? The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports the P3 wide color gamut, over a billion colors, 500 nits of brightness, and True Tone. Apple treats the display with an anti-reflective coating to help with readability. The display hasnt changed since the M1 model launched. How do I connect stuff? The $1,299 24-inch iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that also work with USB-C devices. The $1,499 and $1,699 iMacs have four Thunderbolt 4 ports (the previous generation had two Thunderbolt/USB 4 and two USB 3 ports). If you have a USB-A device, you need to buy an adapter, such as Apples ( $19 / 19 ). If you have multiple USB-A devices and other items, consider a Thunderbolt hub . The 24-inch iMac also has a headphone jack on the side. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are built-in. Apple doesnt put a gigabit ethernet port on the 24-inch iMacinstead, its on the power adapter. But that ethernet-equipped power adapter comes standard with the $1,499 and $1,699 models. Its not included with the $1,299 model, but you can select it as an option at the point of purchaseand yes, that means youll have to pay extra for it. How fast is it?: Since the 24-inch iMac has the same M4 as the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, its speed is very similar. That means its fast. Its got all the speed general consumers need, and it can handle pro applications with no problem. However, the $1,299 model has only one fan inside its body, while the $1,499 and $1,699 models have two fans. That means the high-priced models do a better job of keeping the internals cool. The $1,299 model may need to slow down its performance on heavy-duty tasks in order to maintain a proper temperature. Macworlds buying advice: The iMac was greatly improved when Apple introduced the 24-inch model back in 2021, from the design to the display to its performance. But, we hope rumors that Apple may launch an iMac Pro model are true. If you are buying one the sweet spot is the $1,499/1,499 model, which gets you more ports, Touch ID, and ethernet. Read our full Apple iMac (M4) review Mac Studio (M2 Max/M2 Ultra, 2023) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 Note: This model hasnt been updated since 2023. An update is expected in 2025 . See: M4 Mac Studio rumors . What is it? The Mac Studio joined Apples Mac lineup in March 2022 and was updated in June 2023 when it gained the M2 Max and M2 Ultra. Its a desktop modular Mac thats more powerful (and more expensive) than the Mac mini and similarly specced to the Mac Pro, but lacking the Mac Pros expansion options. Whos it for? The Mac Studio is for the user who wants the maximum processing power. Its not the only powerful Mac availablethe Mac Pro also runs on the M2 Ultrabut it is the cheapest way to get either the M2 Max or M2 Ultra chips. If you want the expansion options of the Mac Pro then youll want to look elsewhere, but the Mac Studio brings all the power usually reserved for the ultimate Mac in a small package. How much does the Mac Studio cost? There are two standard configurations starting at $1,999/2,099 (was 1,999) for the Mac Studio M2 Max with 30-core GPU and 512GB SSD, and $3,999/4,199 (was 3,999) for the Mac Studio M2 Ultra with 60-core GPU and 1TB SSD. There are also build-to-order options that include a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB Unified Memory, and 8TB SSD. Fully maxed out a Mac Studio would cost $8,799/8,999. What are the specifications? The Mac Studio uses either theM2 MaxorM2 Ultraprocessors. Apple offers two standard configurations: Apple M2 Max SoC with a 12-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 32GB of memory, and a 16-core Neural Engine; 512GB SSD, $1,999/2,099 Apple M2 Ultra SoC with a 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 64GB of memory, and a 32-core Neural Engine; 1TB SSD, $3,999/4,199 Additional options: M2 Ultra SoC with a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB unified memory, and up to 8TB SSD. The Mac Studio does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. Apple released the Studio Display at the same time as the original Mac Studio, but it can be used with third-party displays, too. How do I connect stuff? The Mac Studio has the following ports: M2 Max: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two USB-C ports on the front. M2 Ultra: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the front. SDXC Card slot on the front. Two USB-A ports. 10Gb ethernet. HDMI 2.0. 3.5 mm headphone jack (with advanced support for high-impedance headphones, a feature lacked by the M1-series models) 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E (was 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 in predecessor) Bluetooth 5.3 (was Bluetooth5.0 in predecessor) To connect to a network, you can use the built-in ethernet port, or you can use Wi-Fi, which comes standard. To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays to the M2 Ultra. The M2 Max supports fewer displays. How fast is it? The M2 Max Mac Studio is a very fast Mac at a very competitive price point, however, the M4 Pro is now faster than the M2 Ultra, so the Mac Studio isnt the powerful machine it once was at the moment. Once Apple adds the M4 Max as an option the Mac Studio will be a beast of a machine, but until then instead of an M2 Max or M2 Ultra Mac Studio you might be better off with an M4 Max MacBook Pro. The only good thing is that it costs a fraction of the price of the MacBook Pro with M4 Max, making it an excellent choice for anyone on a budget. Macworlds buying advice: The Mac Studio is ideal for users who use processor- and graphics-intensive apps, such as media production, software development, graphics software, and more. If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching progress bars while you work, youll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio. However we would recommend that you wait until Apple upgrades the processors to M4 Max and M4 Ultra, which we anticipate happening around WWDC in June 2025. Other than that, the main disadvantage is that the Mac Studio relies on external connections for expandability. If you want a pro-level Mac with the ability to swap expansion cards you should look at Apple silicon-based Mac Pro below. Also read: Why Mac professionals should switch to a Mac Studio . Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023) Price When Reviewed: From $6,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $6999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $6999 at Apple Note: This model hasnt been updated since 2023. An update is expected in 2025. See: M4 Ultra Mac Pro rumors . What is it? The Mac Pro is Apples workstation. Its designed for professionals who need a powerful and flexible machine. Apple took its time to update the Mac Pro with its own silicon, but in June 2023, three and a half years after the previous update, the company finally came up with the goods. Whos it for? The Mac Pro is designed for professionals who work with applications that use as many processing cores as possiblevideo-editing applications, image-editing software, 3D programs, audio editing, software developers, and the like. How much does the Mac Pro cost? The Mac Pro starts at $6,999/7,199 (which is up from the previous generations starting price of $5,999/5,499). Thats for the Tower version, there is also a Rack mount version that starts at $7,499/7,699. Those are the starting prices, you can choose various configuration options, such as the 76-core GPU and the 192GB unified memory and 8TB storage just as with the Mac Studio. A fully specced out Mac Pro Tower costs $11,799/11,999. What are the specifications? The specifications on offer are identical to the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra: Apple M2 Ultra SoC with a 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 64GB of memory, and a 32-core Neural Engine; 1TB SSD Additional options: M2 Ultra SoC with a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB unified memory, and up to 8TB SSD. How do I connect stuff? Mac Pro has the following ports: Six Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two USB-C ports on the top. Two USB-A ports. 10Gb ethernet. HDMI 2.0. 3.5 mm headphone jack (with advanced support for high-impedance headphones, a feature lacked by the M1-series models) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or the Thunderbolt ports. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays. To connect external devices, the Mac Pro has six Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, and dual 10Gb Ethernet. But the real draw for creative pros will be the seven full-length PCI Express gen 4 slots, one of which comes with an Apple I/O card installed. How fast is it? When it announced the model, Apple said the 2023 Mac Pro was up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model. It was impressive at the time, but now the M2 Ultra has been superceeded by the M4 Max in our tests, and until Apple updates the Mac Pro with the M4 Ultra you might be better off with an M4 Max MacBook Pro. However, with support for 192GB of unified memory, the Mac Pro supports more memory than the MacBook Pro (the Mac Studio can also support 192GB memory). Apple says that, like the M2 Ultra Mac Studio, the M2 Ultra Mac Pro can plan an unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video. Just imagine what the new Mac Pro M4 Ultra could be capable of. Macworlds buying advice: The Mac Pro provides the processing power that the most demanding users need. Were talking about production environments, like TV and audio recording studios, animation houses, and software developers. If you feel like you can never have enough power, youre probably the professional the Mac Pro is aimed at. But if you dont need the expandability then the Mac Studio will probably be adequate. If youre more of a prosumer than a professionalsomeone who is an expert Mac user, but doesnt use high-end appsthe Mac Pro is overkill. Youre probably not going to be able to take advantage of what the Mac Pro has to offer. You just need to figure out whether you want to wait until June 2025 for the long overdue M4 Ultra.

Wrap up your shopping with these low-price gift cards for Apple fans

Macworld If you havent checked the calendar lately, the holidays are nearly upon us, and if you havent gotten around to getting something for the Apple fans in your life, we have the perfect solution: an eGift card. You dont have to spend a lot, youll get it immediately, and your recipient will love it. Of course, youll want to get them a card they can use to buy one of their favorite Apple devices, and there are several great options. The most obvious is an Apple Store gift card, which they can use to buy at the Apple Store or the App Store, but other official Apple retailers are an excellent choice too. Best eGift cards for Apple lovers Apple Starts at $15 Amazon Starts at $25 Best Buy Starts at $15 Walmart Starts at $5 Target Starts at $5 All these stores feature an abundance of Apple products, quite often on sale, so theyre great picks for anyone who wants something now or is saving up for the flurry of new devices coming in 2025. More eGift ideas If you want to branch out and get them something different, then check out these other gift cards you can get on slle right now: Meta Quest eGift Card Save $5 on $50 (via Amazon) Google Play eGift Card Save $5 on $50 with code GOPLAY (via Amazon) Taco Bell eGift Card Starts $7.50 on $50 with code TACO (via Amazon) VUDU eGift Card Save $10 on $50 (via Amazon) Uber/UberEats eGift Card Save $10 on $100 (via Amazon) Lyft Gift Card Save $15 on $100 with code LYFT (via Amazon)

Apple has big plans for the smart home in 2025

Macworld Apple has big plans for the smart home in 2025. Having long struggled with limited device support and complex standards, the company wants to move forward with simplified platforms, deeper device integration and improved software. This change in strategy is intended to strengthen the Apple ecosystem and make it competitive at a time when the larger industry is resting its hopes on Matter and Thread to restart a faltering market. In this article we outline Apples smart home strategy for 2025, and explain what this means for the HomePod range. The seamless smart home Apple is planning to significantly expand compatibility with cross-industry standards in 2025. Apple already supports the universal standard Matter, which makes it easier for you to use a wide variety of smart home products from different manufacturers. The Eve and Nanoleaf brands, which are well established in the Apple ecosystem, were among the first to jump on the bandwagon, and others are gradually being added. By doing this, Apple is breaking away from previous restrictions and opening up its platform to a wider range of devices. But it will also make it much easier for users to pick and choose which manufacturers they want to buy from and find the best-value choice. This can be a double-edged sword, as Apple is rarely the cheapest option. Apple Intelligence is also a central element of the new strategy. This AI-based technology is designed to understand commands, react flexibly and perform complex tasks. It is intended to enhance Siri so that the voice assistant can better implement contextualized commands. The goal is a true smart home experience in which your devices respond efficiently to your needs and work together seamlessly. Apple Intelligence isnt just about providing smart summaries of emails. It has an important role to play in the smart home. YouTube / Apple Theres no place like homeOS A key element of the new strategy is the introduction of homeOS . This operating system is intended to bring together several hardware lines and provide the basis for a standardized smart home. Currently, the Apple TV has tvOS running in the background, while the HomePod runs customized software. In future, homeOS could serve as a common platform that provides updates and functions more quickly. The new homeOS software wont be limited to the HomePod and Apple TV: it will play a role in new device categories too. These could include stationary smart displays that allow you to control your home devices more directly and intuitively, instead of using the fiddly controls on an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. This would benefit both the HomePod and the HomePod mini: the more devices are controlled via homeOS, the more seamlessly your HomePod integrates into the overall experience. But one question remains unanswered: What will the smart display be able to offer that cant already be accomplished with an (inexpensive) iPad? The Apple TV 4K is not yet capable of running Apple Intelligence, although it already has some useful smart home functions. Apple Where does this leave the HomePod? The HomePod range has barely evolved since the launch of the original model. Although there have been software updates, there have been no real hardware innovations. We dont even want to talk about the 2nd-gen HomePod ; rarely has there been such a loveless relaunch of an Apple product. As part of the new strategy, however, Apple could give the HomePod and HomePod mini more significance. In future, the HomePod should be able to handle Apple Intelligence. This is not yet the case, as the hardware requirements are high and the HomePods are controlled by lower-power chips from the Apple Watch range. But Apple is likely to equip future generations of HomePods with more powerful chips to process complex local commands. This would allow Siri to react more intelligently on the HomePod without delays caused by cloud processing, and would enable Apple to remedy the HomePods biggest weakness: its limited voice assistance. The next generation of the HomePod mini should also benefit from the new strategies. Improved processors and optimized wireless standards such as Wi-Fi 6E should reduce response times and make operation smoother and more intuitive. Apple can also upgrade its sensor technology to better capture environmental data, which would make it easier to use an updated HomePod mini as a smart hub. Another factor is new displays. Apple is understood to be working on HomePod variants with an integrated screen, and although these will not appear for some time, they could significantly enhance the HomePod family. With a display, the speakers could be used much more flexibly, for example for video calls or displaying camera images. The idea is not entirely new; Amazon has been offering the Echo Show for a long time. The smart home of the future Support for Matter, the introduction of homeOS, and the deeper integration of Apple Intelligence in Siri will all drive Apples smart home ecosystem forward. For the HomePod and HomePod mini, this means a long-awaited upgrade. While Siri was previously seen as a weak point, better hardware, AI features and a simplified software platform could turn the HomePod into a valuable home hub in the future. While new HomePods with displays and significantly upgraded hardware may not be launched until after 2025, Apple is laying the foundations for a more powerful smart home offering.

5 exciting products that will shape Apples 2025and beyond

Macworld Apple has had a jam-packed 2024. From kickstarting its spatial computing era with the Vision Pro to finally embracing AI on its platformsthe firm has laid some solid groundwork that could reshape the tech industry in the coming years. Nevertheless, the iPhone maker still has some tricks up its sleeve. If the rumors turn out to be accurate, Apple will launch several exciting products next year, and weve got our eyes set on a few of them. HomePad Perhaps the most thrilling 2025 announcement for smart home enthusiasts will be Apples long-rumored HomePod with a displaybetter known as HomePad . The HomePad is rumored to launch late next year as a smart home hub that rivals Nest and similar products. The tablet-like device will likely feature a 6- to 7-inch screen and pack the iPhone 16s A18, a chip more powerful than anything HomePod runs. While the HomePad is expected to offer a specialized interface that revolves around smart home controls, its purpose could extend beyond that. After all, the hub will reportedly support Apple Intelligence and next-gen Siri, FaceTime calls, and other features not necessarily related to smart home functions, including Music, Safari, and Notes. More importantly, it could mark the beginning of a new smart home chapter at Apple, as the company is also rumored to be working on a security camera for 2026. The iPhone 17 could introduce a model thats dramatically thinner than the iPhone 16. Connor Jewiss / Foundry iPhone 17 Air Another exciting device that could launch late next year is the iPhone 17 Air . Apple is reportedly developing an ultra-slim smartphone that could dethrone the 6.9mm iPhone 6 as its thinnest ever, along with a new design. Opting for a 5mm to 6mm thickness will likely push Apple to make several compromises. For example, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to have a single rear camera centered on the top rear of the phone. It may also miss out on the Pro variant of the A19 chip and retire the physical SIM card slot globally. In short, the iPhone Plus replacement will likely appeal to those seeking the sleekest aesthetics rather than the best possible performance and specs. However, even if the iPhone 17 Air isnt the most technologically advanced compared to the rest of the line, it could act as the foundation for Apples future products, particularly foldables. The new design appears to be a way to test the real-world performance and durability of an ultra-thin handset as Apple continues to work on its rumored foldable iPhone, which isnt due until 2026. iPhone SE 4 Despite being a midrange phone, the iPhone SE 4 will be getting a lot of loveand attentionin 2025. Rumored to launch in its usual spring slot, the budget-friendly model looks to finally retire the prehistoric chassis in favor of a more modern one. On the front side, it will reportedly resemble an iPhone 14, boasting a notched edge-to-edge display that drops the physical home button at long last. Other notable improvements could include Face ID support, a sharper rear camera, a USB-C port, and an A18 processor. For years, those opting for SE iPhones had to sacrifice the design and some nice-to-have perks. With the iPhone SE 4 supporting Apple Intelligence and finally adopting a modern enclosure, it wont feel like a device from the 2010s anymore. And if Apple can keep the price under $499, itll be a real winner. A new Studio Display could make an appearance in 2025. Willis Lai / Foundry Studio Display 2 Apple released its first and only Studio Display back in 2022. The 27-inch LCD monitor starts at $1,599 and features a humble refresh rate of 60Hz, a stunning 5K pixel resolution, up to 600 nits of brightness, a 12MP ultra-wide webcam, multiple USB-C ports, six speakers, and three microphones. While the current Studio Display looks great and works well with Apples Mac lineup, its specifications could use a bump. For starters, Apple could give it a mini-LED display similar to the MacBook Pro, with a higher refresh rate, 1,600 nits of max XDR brightness, and a Nano-texture option. The design could also use an update, perhaps with Liquid Retina rounded corners and a thinner enclosure like the iMac. Its not as certain as the other products on this list, but the latest rumors suggest Apple will launch an update to the 27-inch monitor in the spring alongside the M4 Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Itll look equally slick next to the new micro Mac mini and the next item on our list. M4 Ultra Mac Pro The Mac Pro is no longer powered by an Intel chip, but its the only Apple computer that still has its Intel-era design. While all other Macs have been seriously slimmed down since the transition to Apples M-series processors, the Mac Pros bodydespite not needing memory slots for RAM sticks anymorecontinues to be relatively bulky. In 2025, Apple will reportedly launch an M4 Ultra-powered Mac Pro, boasting up to 32 CPU cores, 80 GPU cores, and 512GB of RAM when maxed out. While the rumors seemingly dont reference a fresh exterior look, itll be around six years since its last facelift. On the other hand, the Mac Pro is generally a niche computer, so Apple could easily get away with just boosting its performance. Not just an iterative year The HomePad and iPhone 17 Air will potentially ignite Apples push into two new categories: the smart home and foldables. Meanwhile, the iPhone SE 4 will be the first of its kind to offer both impressive specs and a modern exterior for a reasonable price tag. And while the Studio Display and Mac Pro may not be as popular as other Apple products, their potential 2025 successors will feature welcome enhancements that their fans will appreciate. Tech reviewers and enthusiasts often complain that todays devices, particularly those coming out of Cupertino, have become too iterative. Vision Pro aside, that was largely the case with 2024s slate of releases. But 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Apple.

Best AirTag key rings, luggage tags, wallets & accessories

Macworld Here at Macworld were extremely fond of Apples AirTag , which we consider by far the best Bluetooth tracker for an iPhone or Mac user. However, one complaint raised in our AirTag review was that it doesnt have an attachment hole, which means youre forced in most situations to buy an accessory to put it in. Want to attach it to your keys? You need to buy a special key ring. Want to attach it to your luggage? Special luggage label. An ecosystem has quickly sprung up offering straps, loops, pet tags, cases and holders for AirTag owners. But which ones are worth buying? Weve been testing out all the AirTags accessories we can get our hands on, so we can help you find the best AirTag holder for your needs from key rings, luggage tags, wallets and more. Best AirTag Key Rings Apple AirTag FineWoven Key Ring Pros Made by Apple Cons Fabric can scuff Price When Reviewed: $35 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $35 View Deal $35 View Deal $41 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $35 at Apple $35 at Best Buy $41 at Amazon There are cheaper alternatives, but this is the classic AirTag key ringreplacing the previous Apple Leather Key Ring, now that Apple has gone fully vegan in honor of its legendary co-founder Steve Jobs. Its light, attractive and reassuringly well-made. Its easy to put the AirTag inside, but the metal popper wont let it escape. And we love the large, chunky (but quite flat) ring, although wed recommend testing it out in a shop if youre planning on attaching car keys with a small aperture. This reviewers Nissan and Skoda keys were both a tight fit. The fabric covering protects the AirTags edge from drop damage but leaves most of its chassis, both front and back, open to the elements and liable to scuff a littlea complaint publicly made about Apples FineWoven iPhone cases. We think this is worth it for the pleasing look, and scuffing is both inevitable and minor, but if you want total protection youll need to look elsewhere. Its available in five colors: Black, Deep Blue, Blackberry, Dark Green and Chartreuse David Price Belkin Secure Holder with Wire Cable for AirTag Pros Feels more secure than Apple ring Cons Plastic feel Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $14.99 View Deal $19.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $14.99 at Amazon $19.95 at Apple Belkins Secure Holder is made of hard plastic, which gives it more of a budget feel, but its reassuringly robust, and looks tough with its wire cable that includes a hex key to lock the AirTag in place. As with Apples key ring, both faces of the AirTag are left exposed, but the plastic surround sticks out more and thus provides more drop protection. Its available in white or black. David Price OtterBox Rugged Case for AirTag Pros Super protective Cons Larger than most Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $12.99 View Deal $19.95 View Deal $19.95 View Deal OtterBox $19.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $12.99 at Amazon $19.95 at Apple $19.95 at Apple United States View more prices from OtterBox Close Best Prices Today: OtterBox Rugged Case for AirTag Retailer Price $12.99 View Deal $19.95 View Deal $19.95 View Deal OtterBox $19.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket OtterBox is a company known for its ultra-protective phone cases, and its Rugged Case for AirTag continues this tradition, as its name suggests. The protective perimeter is increased to allow for larger bumps and mishaps than most AirTag key rings. OtterBox also has a Rugged Passport Series of the Rugged Case that is styled with the coordinates of iconic cities, such as New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, as well as a large range of other AirTag cases and key rings . Simon Jary Nomad AirTag Keyrings Pros Range of AirTag keychain options Price When Reviewed: From $15 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Nomad $15 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $15 at Nomad Available in black and white, the Nomad Rugged Keychain is built with a polycarbonate frame and TPU overmold, and ships with two enclosure options: a closed back option and an open speaker option. It is rated IP66 for water and dust resistance. With a Rustic Brown option, the Nomad Leather Keychain carries your AirTag in a good-looking, thermoformed, American Horween Leather holder. Over time, the raw, vegetable-tanned leather will patina to create a unique lived-in look. Adding a third available Natural (tan) color, the Nomad Leather Loop for AirTag is a Horween leather loop that attaches to your AirTag with a powerful 3M adhesive. The AirTag battery, however, remains easily accessible for replacement. Simon Jary OtterBox Core Series Case for AirTag Pros Sustainable materials Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $17.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $17.99 at Amazon The OtterBox Core Series Case is the most sustainable AirTag key ringmade from a FSC-certified recycled and recyclable material. Its speckled looks shows off an authentic recycled appearance. Simon Jary Orbitkey Leather Holder for AirTag Pros Leather Cons Covers one side Slight wobble Price When Reviewed: $39.90 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Orbitkey $39.90 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $39.90 at Orbitkey Orbitkey s leather offering is well worth your consideration. It costs roughly the same as Apples non-leather key ring but it has a nice-looking design and a couple of advantages up its sleeve. One is the slenderness of the ring itself. Whereas Apples broad, flat ring can be awkward for attaching car keys with a narrow aperture, this will fit into holes of the smallest dimensions. The second advantage lies in the innovative way keys are attached: an initially baffling locking system that, once mastered, is far quicker and easier (and far less painful) than prising apart the traditional two-layer ring with your fingernails. The only real quibble is that the leather fob is quite a lot bigger than the AirTag itself. It has more space than it needs and wobbles around slightly inside the pocket. The key ring thus takes up more room in your pocket than it needs to. This does also give the AirTag far more protection than Apples version. Its less likely to get scuffed than with the other key rings we tried out. If the price tag puts you off, Orbitkey also makes a much cheaper Slim Case with a similar locking system. David Price ElevationLab TagVault: Keychain Pros Waterproof Cons Reduces volume of AirTag sounds Price When Reviewed: $12.95 (single); $39.95 (4 pack) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ElevationLab $12.95 View Deal $37.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $12.95 at ElevationLab $37.99 at Amazon Elevation Labs TagVault: Keychain claims that it is fully waterproof. This rugged case has a gasket that prevents water intrusion while passing through ultra-wideband and Bluetooth signals and allowing about two-thirds of the AirTags sound volume. It has an integral loop for a keychain ring and comes with a simple but robust one. Glenn Fleishman Read our full TagVault: Keychain review Caseology Vault Pros Rugged Karabiner attachment Cons Larger than most Price When Reviewed: $13.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $14.69 View Deal $14.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $14.69 at Amazon $14.99 at Walmart How about a properly rugged key ring accessory for your AirTag? The Caseology Vault is made from military-grade thermoplastic polyurethane, with a nicely grippy sandstone finish that makes it less prone to drops. Like the Olixar Silicone it features a karabiner attachment. This is removable, which makes the Vault a versatile accessory. Its just as happy tracking rucksacks as keys. David Price Best AirTag luggage tags and locks Apple AirTag Loop Pros Made by Apple Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $12.01 View Deal $29 View Deal $29 View Deal $29.83 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $12.01 at Amazon $29 at Apple $29 at Best Buy View more prices from Walmart Close Best Prices Today: Apple AirTag Loop Retailer Price $12.01 View Deal $29 View Deal $29 View Deal $29.83 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Apples AirTag Loop is made of polyurethane and feels and looks smart, with two of the color options (Electric Orange and Sunflower) particularly bright and cheerful. This will also help you to spot your suitcase on the conveyor belt. The AirTag clips in using a metal clasp thats easy to use and secure; you then put the strap around your luggages handle and loop the head part back through the slit in the tail. It looks slightly delicate at first glancethe strap gets quite thin at a certain pointbut proved resistant to moderate tugging and should be fine under non-military usage conditions. Like Apples key ring, it protects the edges of the AirTag but not the center of its two faces, so expect some scuffing. David Price Belkin Secure Holder with Strap for AirTag Pros Robust Price When Reviewed: $12.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $9.08 View Deal $9.71 View Deal $9.71 View Deal $12.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.08 at Amazon $9.71 at B&H $9.71 at Best Buy View more prices from Apple Close Best Prices Today: Belkin Secure Holder with Strap for AirTag Retailer Price $9.08 View Deal $9.71 View Deal $9.71 View Deal $12.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Belkins Secure Holder is also available with a robust string for attaching it to the handle of a suitcase or bag. Like the strap-style loops provided by other manufacturers this threads back through itself to easily attach to your luggage. Its available in white, black, blue, and pink with a matching string. Since the front and back sections, string and key ring are all detachable, you could create a multicolor accessory by mixing and matching more than one holder. David Price Casetify Customisable AirTag Holder Pros Colorful design options Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Casetify $29 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $29 at Casetify The principal appeal of Casetifys AirTag holder is the sheer range of designs and colors you can choose from. The ones pictured are, from left, Colorful Floral in Turquoise and Pink (with Peach background); Flowers for you by Matthew Langille (with Licorice); and Egg Tart with Mice (with Avocado). That last one is our favorite, but there are hundreds of options . David Price OneAdaptr AirLock Best Find My travel lock Pros Physical padlock Works with Apple Find My Price When Reviewed: $49 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price OneAdaptr $49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49 at OneAdaptr Add extra security to your luggage as well as an Apple-certified location tracker with OneAdaptrs AirLock . This TSA-approved travel lock Its not an AirTag accessory as it is its own Bluetooth locator but it works just like one and is fully compatible with Apples Find My app and ecosystem. It even uses the same reusable battery as the AirTag. As with an AirTag you can play a sound to easily locate your AirLock, check the most recent location of your luggage and receive notifications if your AirLock is left behindwhich might save you a cab ride back from the airport when you realize that you left your suitcase at the hotel. If your lugge gets lost by the airline or other travel operator you can activate Lost Mode in the Apple Find My app, Aside from the locator, the AirLock is an old-school physical zinc alloy padlock with P64 water resistanc, available in either black or silver. Best AirTag wallet and card holders Its not just keys and luggage thate easy to lose. Misplacing your wallet or card holder is a common occurance, and as long as you also havent lost your iPhone, finding one with an AirTag pocket is an easy solution. Artpaxy Wallet with AirTag Holder Pros Full bifold wallet with AirTag pocket Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $29.99 at Amazon This traditional-looking bifold wallet includes a front-mounted pocket for an Apple AirTag, and then does the usual wallet business with 13 card slots, two cash pockets and two ID windows. It also claims to include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking to stop device scanning. Bosca Old Leather AirTag Seven Pocket ID Card Case Pros Slim and stylish AirTag wallet ID window Cons High International shipping fees Price When Reviewed: $85 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Bosca $85 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $85 at Bosca This slim, stylish and minimalist hand-stained, vegetable-tanned leather card case comprises of a surprising seven small pockets to store your cards and cash, with a snap-close AirTag pocket on the front so you be able to loate it when its left in another jacket or trouser pocketor left behind on the bar. Two or three of the pockets can be sued for bank notes or business cards, three are definitely for creadit or other types of card, and theres a clear ID card window on the side opposite the AirTag. Its available in three colours: Saddle (tan), Dark Brown and Black. Customers outside the U.S. will encounter quite stiff customs and shipping charges. Bazza AirTag Card Wallet Pros Colorful, fun AirTag card wallet Cons Feels a little plasticky Price When Reviewed: $22.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Bazza $22.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $22.99 at Bazza This super-lightweight card wallet from Italy nicely nestles an AirTag in a selection of attractive and fun colors. It feels a little plasticky but is in fact made from sustainable, recyclable plant-based materialstheres not even any glue introduced into the manufacturing process. You can buy with the AirTag preinstalled, or fit in your own. The Bazza AirTag Card Wallet is available in pink, yellow, red, dark blue, light blue, white, black and green. Best AirTag pet collars ElevationLab TagVault: Pet Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $16.95 View Deal Elevation Lab $19.95 View Deal $28.66 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $16.95 at Amazon $19.95 at Elevation Lab $28.66 at Walmart Electronics The TagVault: Pet uses screws with the small Torx T6 star-shaped drive for the portion that contains the AirTag and maintains the waterproof seal. These screws are piercing, self-tapping screws with a T10 slot. Theyre used to hold a hard plastic anchor to provide further stability when attached to a pet collar that you providethough the case may be too big for smaller collars. The kit includes a steel Torx T6 L-shaped wrench with screw tips on both ends. Glenn Fleishman Read our full Elevation Lab TagVault: Pet review Best AirTag wallet holders ElevationLab TagVault: Wallet card holds AirTag Pros Securely holds AirTag Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ElevationLab $9.95 View Deal $9.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.95 at ElevationLab $9.99 at Amazon Designed to hold an AirTag firmly in place in a wallet, it comes in two form factors: standard, 3.25 by 1.5 inches (83 by 38 mm), and compact, 2 by 1.5 inches (51 by 38 mm). Both are 0.05 inches (1.3 mm) thick. The more rectangular style works well in billfold slots; the squarer design in other parts of a wallet. With the AirTag exposed front and back, theres no additional blocking beyond your wallet to block wireless signals for tracking and Precision Finding. Glenn Fleishman Read our full TagVault: Wallet review Best AirTag mounts Olixar AirTags Adhesive Silicone Pocket Price When Reviewed: $11.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Mobile Fun $11.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $11.99 at Mobile Fun If the thing you want to track hasnt got a handle you can loop the AirTags to, or a pocket you can slip one inside, then the next option is stickiness. These neat silicone pockets (which come in a pack of four) both protect the tracker from external damage, and give it a strong and reliable adhesive surface to cling to a jewel box, schoolbag or games console. Despite the unobtrusive look of the pocket the AirTag is still fairly obvious and easily slipped out, so this solution isnt ideal for tracking down stolen property (unless theres a more discreet internal surface you can stick it to). But for locating TV remotesand for sheer versatility of applicationtheyre indispensable. David Price Pelican Protector Sticker Mount Case for AirTag Devices Pros Strong adhesive connection Cons No built-in water resistance Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $9.99 View Deal $9.99 View Deal Pelican Outdoor $19.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.99 at Amazon $9.99 at Walmart Electronics $19.99 at Pelican Outdoor If youre looking for an AirTag mount that can stick to almost any surface and allows for easy AirTag removal, the Pelican Protector fits the bill. Its not discreet, its not rugged, and it doesnt offer additional water protection, but as a mount, it works well. Pelican relies on 3M VHB adhesive for attachment, which creates a near-permanent mount that becomes stronger over time. Glenn Fleishman Read our full Pelican Protector Sticker Mount Case for AirTag Devices review Other types of AirTag cases and holders ElevationLab TagVault: Bike AirTag bike tracker Pros Built for bikes Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Elevation Lab $19.95 View Deal $19.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $19.95 at Elevation Lab $19.99 at Amazon The TagVault: Bike is a lozenged-shaped plastic shell that houses the AirTag AirTag nestles inside its waterproof seal. It attaches to a bike via the bikes water bottle mount, using longer screws to attach the bottle cage, or shorter screws if you dont attach the cage. The case is a matte black, rendering it unobtrusive. Screwed in between a cage and the frame, a thief would first have to recognize it and then work hard to remove it quickly. Glenn Fleishman Read our full Elevation Lab TagVault: Bike review Pitaka PitaTag for Lighter Pros Never lose your lighter Price When Reviewed: $69.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Pitaka $69.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $69.99 at Pitaka Lighters are easy to leave behind or lend to someone and forget to ask for it back. One solution is to hide an AirTag inside the lighter so you can track it down and get it back when this happens. This refillable lighter, crafted like the companys iPhone cases, from military-grade aramid fiber and premium zinc alloy, looks like a card case rather than a cheap off-the-shelf lighter. Pitaka claims that the lighters blue pyramid-shaped flame is unaffected by wind, and that it features a built-in gravity lock pin to ensures that it cant create a flame when upside down. Nomad Hydro Flask AirTag Tracker Pros Easily track your Hydro Flask Cons For specific models only Requires Medium Flex Boot Price When Reviewed: $15 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Nomad $15 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $15 at Nomad Hydro Flask water bottles are popular but also surprisingly easy to leave behind after a run, bike ride, or visit to the park. The Nomad Hydro Flask Tracker is a hidden inner AirTag compartment in a slim TPU body that fits between your Hydro Flask and the Medium Flex Boot (accessory sold separately) and features It works with 32oz or 40oz Wide Mouth Hydro Flasks. If the Apple AirTag is just not right for you, check out these Bluetooth tracker recommended AirTag alternatives . What you can expect in an AirTag case Because the AirTag comes in a single variety, you dont need to choose which kind to acquire. Apple sells them singly ($29) and in a four-pack ($99). Engraving is free. An AirTag regularly broadcasts 2.4GHz Bluetooth signals with an encrypted device ID for other Apple devices to pick up and relay along with those devices locations. The 2.4GHz band penetrates solid objects well, but case designers need to be mindful of materials that have the potential to block the signal. In our survey of AirTag cases, we didnt find a case so far that had that design problem. AirTags also use ultrawideband (USB) technology for Precision Finding, exclusive to Apples own Find My items. Precision Finding lets an iPhone with UWB identify the direction and distance within inches when its within about 15 to 30 feet (4.5 to 9 m). Consider to what use you may put an AirTag to determine the features you want: Purpose: Cases exist in enough variety that you can find one designed as a luggage tag, another as a stylish keyring, and another to resist enormous amounts of damage. Figure out where you want to put the AirTag and match the case to it. Water resistance: Many cases feature some degree of water resistance, some using the IP rating that defines precisely how much. If youre using an AirTag outside or on a pets collar, you may want one with a high degree of resistance. When attaching to a bag or keyring, it may seem less important or not important at all. Ring, clip, loop, or carabiner: Case makers offer many variants on attachments. Some include a simple hole to attach a keychain, while others incorporate a keychain as part of the product and may include a keyring. You can purchase multiple cases built into a carabiner, including one with a three-digit combination lock. You can also get a string or similar loop design, in which the case passes through a loop and pulls tight on a handle without a knot. Removable or adhesive: You might want an AirTag case thats easy to move about or attach and reattach. Other cases include adhesive for semi-permanent fixed attachment. Hidden for theft recovery: Some cases are designed to hide an AirTag, making its presence less apparent and thus less likely to be discovered if stolen; others are obvious, such as in a keychain or luggage tag. Temper hideability with the knowledge that Apples anti-stalking features built into AirTag tech makes them discoverable to criminals with a smartphone.Shows the front:Conversely, some cases show off an AirTag, revealing its front where you might have had added custom engraving from Apple with an emoji or text. You might want to see that engraving to differentiate among AirTags you own. Cost: Cases generally cost from about $20 to $35around the price of a single AirTag. However, there are outliers below $10 and above $40. Its all about the function, ruggedness, and complexity of purpose. Some charge extra for style. How we test AirTag case features For each kind of case, we rated them based on specific features around which they were designed. These include: Easy to insert the AirTag for secure retention: Every case has a slightly different approach to getting an AirTag inside. Some cases have an elaborate locking procedure or require removing and restoring four tiny screws to preserve a waterproof seal. Others are simple as sliding the tag into a holding or popping it into a rubber ring. Attaches securely for attachable cases: We tested cases that market themselves as attachable at how well they succeed at that task. Cases may come with or be part of a keyring, carabiner, wrist strip, or pet collar, or may have an adhesive to stick on to objects, like the inside of luggage. Access for battery replacement: Apple expects an AirTag battery to last for about a year in everyday usage, which it defines as one case of Precision Finding and four tones played per day. A case should allow access that isnt maddening for replacing the battery every several months to a year. Robust against bumps and bangs: Only a few kinds of cases can avoid the wear and tear of bumping against other objects. Most need to be constructed with that in mind. For cases exposed to other surfaces, we look at whether the materials and build quality give confidence in them provide lasting value. Blocks access to remove: A handful of cases provide a security element intended to prevent access to an AirTag without excessive forcethe AirTag would have to be destroyed to remove it. We rate these cases on whether they seem able to prevent or deter everything but destruction. Apple AirTag Price When Reviewed: 1 pack $29 | 4 pack $99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $25.99 View Deal $27 View Deal $29 View Deal $31.73 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $25.99 at B&H $27 at Walmart $29 at Apple $31.73 at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Close Best Prices Today: Apple AirTag Retailer Price $25.99 View Deal $27 View Deal $29 View Deal $31.73 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Read our full Apple AirTag review Apple AirTag 4 pack Price When Reviewed: $99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $72.99 View Deal $72.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $84.99 View Deal $89 View Deal $99 View Deal $109 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $72.99 at Amazon $72.99 at Walmart Electronics $79.99 at Best Buy View more prices from Target B&H Adorama Apple United States Close Best Prices Today: Apple AirTag 4 pack Retailer Price $72.99 View Deal $72.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $84.99 View Deal $89 View Deal $99 View Deal $109 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket

Wish you had Apple Intelligence? Just download this

Macworld Jealous of those fancy new Macs with their Apple Intelligence that magically enhances photos and videos? Well, you dont need to upgrade your perfectly good Mac just to get in on the AI action. This photo and video enhancer adds the same capabilities to your machineno Apple Store visit required. Just pay $35.99 for a lifetime download (reg. $119). VideoProcs AI-powered video enhancer is like having a whole team of editors at your fingertips. It lets you edit, convert, and resize even those massive 4K UHD videos without your MacBook sounding like its about to launch into orbit. But its not just about speed; VideoProc also uses AI to boost video quality. Think smoother footage, sharper images, and even noise reduction. And if youre into photography, VideoProc has you covered there as well. It can help you touch up photos, create slideshows with music, and even convert images between different formats. Basically, its like having a mini version of Apples Photos app with Apple Intelligence . Get a VideoProc lifetime license here for $35.99 (reg. $119). You wont find a better price anywhere else. VideoProc Converter: Lifetime Family License $35.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Thats not an AirTag! Thats cooler? Check out this Cyber Week deal

Macworld Picture your beloved AirTag, but so flat it actually fits in your wallet. Yup, no awkward bulge in your pocket to keep track of your cards and cashjust this wallet tracker in the shape of a credit card. Bold claim: These KeySmart SmartCards might be better than the AirTag. They work with Apples Find My app, are Qi-wireless rechargeable, and are almost the same price during Cyber Week! Get this AirTag alternative for only $29.97 with free shipping through December 8 (reg. $39.99) AirTags are $29. Unfamiliar with how Find My trackers work? Once paired with your iPhone or other Apple devices, you can track your wallet, luggage, or passport on a live map. You also get notifications when its left behind and play sounds to help locate it. Another perk of these wallet tracker cards is that you dont have to purchase a keychain holder like you do with the AirTag. They have a lanyard slot if you want to add them to your keys or ID reel. Get a KeySmart SmartCard for $29.97 with free shipping (reg. $39.99) during Cyber Week. Deal ends December 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT and no coupon is needed. KeySmart SmartCard Thinnest Card Tracker & Works with Apple Find My $29.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Best MacBook 2024-2025: Which MacBook should you buy?

Macworld Wondering which type of MacBook to buy? This buying guide will help you decide which Apple laptop is best for you. Apple makes two types of laptops, the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. Within those two categories of Mac is a wide range of capabilities, the gap between the entry-level MacBook Air and the high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro is vast, but even within the MacBook Pro category you will find huge differences. We have more information on the differences between the MacBook Air and Pro in another article. While there are seven MacBook Air models and ten MacBook Pro models sold as standard configurations, in reality, there are multiple combinations if you factor in all the build-to-order options that you can add such as extra RAM, more storage, or a faster processor, with which you can build an even more powerful Mac, should you need to. Choosing which MacBook to buy can be a tough decision, fortunately, we are here to help. If youre not sure yet if you want a laptop or desktop Mac, you should also read our Mac buying guide , which covers both MacBooks and Apples desktop Macs. We also compare all the MacBook Pro models here: Which MacBook Pro ? We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM and cores in How much MacBook storage, RAM and graphics do you really need? There are various sections in this article. If you arent sure which Mac laptop you want then read on, if you have a vague idea but are choosing between two similar models, or if your needs are more professional than personal, then you might find the models further down this article more relevant. In that case, we suggest that you jump to the section about the MacBook that is most relevant to your needs. See the Table of Contents above. MacBook release dates One consideration to make when shopping for a MacBook is how recently Apple updated the laptop and whether it is likely to be updating it again. Here is a quick look at when the laptops Apple sells were released. 13-inch MacBook Air (M2): July 2022 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, M4 Pro & M4 Max): November 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro & M4 Max): November 2024 13-inch MacBook Air (M3): March 2024 15-inch MacBook Air (M3): March 2024 MacBook Air RAM upgrade One thing we should call out about the MacBook Air is that in October 2024, Apple upgraded the MacBook Air to 16GB of RAM as standard, like the new M4 MacBook Pros. This includes the $999/999 M2 MacBook Air. The additional RAM will help the Air run more efficiently and probably improve performance for Apple Intelligence features. Apple didnt raise the prices, previously to add the extra RAM would have cost an additional $200/200. MacBook buyers guide Ready to find the MacBook that suits you? Well start by running through the different MacBooks Apple sells, giving an overview of the pros and cons of each model, and reasons why each might be ideally suited to your needs. Youll also be able to see the best prices right now, so that you dont spend more than you need to. We will also look at different components and features for each model, so you can make an informed decision about how much RAM, which chip, how big the SSD should be and the best price, so you dont spend more than necessary. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,099 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $899 View Deal $999 View Deal $1014 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $899 at Best Buy $999 at B&H $1014 at Walmart Electronics Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Close Best Prices Today: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) Retailer Price $899 View Deal $999 View Deal $1014 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The MacBook Air is the cheapest way to get a Mac laptop. Starting at $999/999 for the M2 model, there are seven standard MacBook Air models to consider: one 13-inch model with an M2 chip, three 13-inch models with an M3 chip, and three 15-inch MacBook Airs with an M3 chip. As of October 28, 2024, all MacBook Air models have 16GB of unified memory, just like the M4 MacBook Pro. If you see an 8GB RAM MacBook Air make sure that the discount reflects that. Its easy to think that the cheapest Mac laptop will be the one that has the best value, but thats not necessarily the case. The M2 MacBook Air (see our M2 MacBook Air review) is the cheapest Mac laptop you can buy right now, but for another $100/100 you can get the newest machine with an M3 chip. With both models, you get Apples newest Air design and the 13.6-inch screen, 500 nits, and Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver color choices. One difference is in the storage: in the newer M3 MacBook Air, the 256GB SSD is made up of two 128GB NAND chips, rather than a single 256GB chip as in the M2 and older models. This means the storage in the M3 can be faster because the two drives can process data simultaneously. There are several performance differences between the M3 Air and the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro. Besides the Pro having a faster CPU, the Pros chip has a 10-core GPU standard compared to 8-core GPU in the Air. Also, the lack of a fan in the MacBook Air may mean it slows down to avoid overheating when performing more strenuous tasks. The 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has active cooling, so it doesnt need to slow down to stop overheating in processor-intensive applications. Its probably the key difference between these Mac laptops and the reason why the Pro is better suited to more demanding applications. Another benefit of the 14-inch MacBook Pro over the Air is longer battery life. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 offers up to 22 hours compared to 18 hours for the 13-inch MacBook Air. However, the MacBook Air is a good choice, especially with the entry-level MacBook Pro starting at $1,599/1,599. For $999/999, the M2 Air is a fantastic budget option with many of the same features as the M3 model. But for just $100/100 more, the M3 models bring even better performance. Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1099 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1099 at Best Buy $1199 at B&H $1199 at Walmart Electronics Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Close Best Prices Today: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) Retailer Price $1099 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket When Apple first introduced the 15-inch MacBook Air in July 2023 it answered a need for anyone who wanted a larger screen without having to pay hundreds more for a 14-inch MacBook Pro. The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air starts at $1,299/1,299. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599, which is still much more expensive than the Air. But even compared to a cheaper Pro, the 15-inch Air is still a fantastic option for buyers looking for a large-screen laptop for less. As of October 28, 2024, all MacBook Air models have 16GB of unified memory, just like the MacBook Pro. If the choice is between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, other than the bigger screen there are a few differences to consider. Most notably, the larger model has better audio with a six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers. Also, the entry-level 13-inch M3 MacBook Air for $1,099/1,099 offers an eight-core GPU, while the entry-level 15-inch Air, which is $200/200 more at $1,299/1,299, offers a 10-core GPU. To get the same GPU option in the 13-inch Air youd need to pay an extra $100/100. The price gap is so small that we think its worth getting the 15-inch model unless you really want a smaller screen. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1499 at B&H $1499 at Best Buy $1599 at Apple Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Walmart Electronics Close Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Back in 2023, Apple discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro and replaced it in the lineup with a base M-series version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro (you cant get the base M-series chip in the 16-inch MacBook Pro). This move brings many benefits: the 14-inch MacBooks HDR ProMotion display is significantly better than the 13-inch models was. It also offers twice the storage, HDMI, SDXC slot, better battery life, and a newer design. Mind you, the price of the 14-inch model, $1,599/1,599 (down from 1,699 in 2023), is quite a bit higher than the $1,299/1,349 price that the 13-inch model sold for. The higher starting price for the M4 MacBook Pro also means the difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro is wider than it was. Apple used to sell two almost identically specd machines for a very similar price, but now the 14-inch MacBook Pro ($1,599/1,599) costs an astonishing $600/600 more than the entry-level 13-inch M2 MacBook Air ($999/999) and $500/500 more than the M3 MacBook Air ($1,099/1,099). So if budget is what is important to you, save your money and buy a MacBook Air. If your choice is between a 15-inch M3 MacBook Air with 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU ($1,499/1,499) and the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro with the same 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU ($1,599/1,599), you should definitely pay the extra $100/100 to get the MacBook Pro with its newer M4 chip and better performance. Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1749 View Deal $1839 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1749 at B&H $1839 at Walmart Electronics $1899 at Best Buy Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Apple Close Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024) Retailer Price $1749 View Deal $1839 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket At the same time that it introduced the M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, Apple also introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro can be bought with various configurations of those two chips. For those deciding between the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch model the best place to start is to compare like-for-like. The 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU M4 Pro with 24GB unified memory and 1TB SSD 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $2,399/2,399 compared to the almost identically specd 16-inch model with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU M4 Pro with 24GB unified memory and 512GB SSD for $2,499/2,499. So you are paying $100/100 more to get a larger screen, but also forfeiting half the SSD. If you want an equivalent 1TB SSD in the 16-inch thats an extra $200/200. On the other hand, if you are considering spending more to get the M4 Pro rather than the M4 in a MacBook Pro, the price difference is much greater. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD costs $1,599/1,599, while the 14-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro with 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD costs $400/400 more at $1,999/1,999. The jump from M4 to M4 Pro is an expensive one, but you are getting a lot for your money: more memory, more cores, and essentially a more powerful machine in every way. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2299 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2399 View Deal $2499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2299 at B&H $2299 at Walmart Electronics $2399 at Best Buy Not Available at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Apple Close Best Prices Today: Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Retailer Price $2299 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2399 View Deal $2499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro essentially offers the same specs (14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory) as the top-of-the-range 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro for just 100/$100 more, $2,399/2,399 vs $2,499/2,499 which to be fair doesnt seem like a bad deal given the larger screen and increased battery life. The other big difference though is that the 14-inch MacBook in question comes with a 1TB SSD, while the 16-inch model only offers 512GB. If you really want that 1TB SSD in the 16-inch MacBook Pro it will cost you an extra 200/$200. So thats really a difference of 300/$300 if you want the bigger screen and battery. Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $3,199 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2,899 View Deal $2899 View Deal $2929 View Deal $3049 View Deal $3199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2,899 at Amazon $2899 at B&H $2929 at Walmart Electronics View more prices from Best Buy Apple Close Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024) Retailer Price $2,899 View Deal $2899 View Deal $2929 View Deal $3049 View Deal $3199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Back to the 14-inch modelwhat if you want an even more powerful machine? The M4 Max chip will offer that and more to you, but there is a high price to pay with the difference between the standard M4 Pro and M4 Max models being $800/800. If you want more memory then the M4 Max is the way to go though. This is not just because the M4 Max can support 36GB, 48GB, 64GB and 128GB unified memory, while the M4 Pro only offers 24GB or 48GB. However, the M4 Max with a 14-core CPU and 32-core GPU is available only with 36GB of unified memory and has no memory upgrade options. You have to get the M4 Max with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and standard 48GB unified memory (an additional $300/300) in order to upgrade to 64GB or 128GB of memory. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $3,499 | $3,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2649 View Deal $2664 View Deal $2699 View Deal $3,359.99 View Deal $3499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2649 at B&H $2664 at Walmart Electronics $2699 at Best Buy $3,359.99 at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Apple Close Best Prices Today: Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024) Retailer Price $2649 View Deal $2664 View Deal $2699 View Deal $3,359.99 View Deal $3499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The story is much the same if you are considering the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The leap from M4 Pro to M4 Max if you look at the standard options is $600/600, If you need the M4 Max Apple is making the upgrade worthwhile, but its still a high price to pay. The high-end 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro comes with 48GB of RAM and has no RAM upgrades available. You have to upgrade to an M4 Max to get more RAM. Best MacBook 2025: Verdict The choice is pretty clear in terms of what you get for your money: Buying an entry-level M2 MacBook Air for $999/999 will get you an excellent Mac laptop for less than a grand, but it only costs $100/100 more to get an M3 MacBook Air with a newer chip. The 15-inch MacBook Air shook up the range when that screen size arrived in July 2023 (the M3 version was introduced in March 2024). With it, Apple lowered the price of getting a larger screen on a Mac laptop. Even with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Air is still an attractive proposition, but remember that the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a newer M4 chip. The price of the M4 Pro and Max MacBook Pro models is high, but these models offer the kind of specs professional users, especially creatives, need, including support for more RAM, and more CPU and GPU cores. If you can afford to stretch to the M4 Max you will get the ultimate Mac without a doubt, but you need to be willing to make a significant investment. The choice between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro is all down to the screen size. The 16-inch models are more expensive, but once you spec them out in such a way to be comparable the price difference is minor. The bigger difference is between the Pro and Max processors. Other than speed, MacBooks with Max processors can connect up to four external displays (three over Thunderbolt and one over HDMI), while the Pro models allow two displays. The M3 MacBook Air models allow two external displays when the lid is closed and a single display when its open, as does the MacBook Pro M4. ( There are workarounds if you need to connect more screens) . For the latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air discounts, including discontinued models, check out our round-up of the Best MacBook Pro deals and Best MacBook Air deals . What happened to the 13-inch MacBook Pro? Lets address one model you might be wondering about. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is no longer sold by Apple, but it will no doubt be available from resellers and Apples refurbished store for a while. There were two standard 13-inch MacBook Pro to consider. The only real difference is storage: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $799 at Amazon | $799 at Best Buy | $899 at B&H M2, 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage: Was $1,299 / 1,349 M2, 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage: Was $1,499 / 1,549 The 13-inch MacBook Pro was replaced by the base M-series 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is the cheapest MacBook Pro but costs more than the 13-inch model. It does have a far superior screen, better battery life and many other benefits. The other difference was that the 13-inch MacBook Pro featured the Touch Bar, which is something that some people enjoyed, while others didnt .

11th-gen iPad: Everything you need to know about the 2025 refresh

Macworld After skipping all of 2023, Apple updated its entire lineup of iPads in 2024 save one: the 10th-gen model. While it did get an aggressive price cut to $349, Apple opted to leave its cheapest tablet with the same specs its had since its 2022 launch. But it shouldnt be much longer until it gets an update: Heres what we know so far. When will the 11th-gen iPad be released? Apple once had a steady release schedule for its cheapest iPad alongside the latest iPhones in the September event. In 2022, the 10th-gen revamp saw a slight adjustment to this with an October debut alongside the M2 iPad Pro and Apple TV 4K (3rd-gen) . Heres when the previous iPad models launched: iPad (10th-generation) October 2022 iPad (9th-generation) September 2021 iPad (8th-generation) September 2020 iPad (7th-generation) September 2019 iPad (6th-generation) March 2018 So when can we expect an update to the standard iPad? It looks like Apple may switch things up with a spring release in 2025 alongside the 4th-gen iPhone SE at an event in March or April. How much will the 11th-gen iPad cost? Pricing was consistent up until the arrival of the iPad (10th-generation) in 2022, but following the redesign, Apple upped the price quite significantly, from $329 to $449. However, in May 2024, Apple dropped the price of the 10th-gen model around the world by $100 to $349/349/439. Therefore, we dont know what pricing is for the 11th-generation iPad. Apple may keep the same $349 price tag or raise it back to $449 and keep the 10th-gen model in the lineup as a budget option. What features will we see in the 11th-gen iPad? The 10th-gen iPad delivered a major redesign, so we dont expect too much to change with the 11th-generation model. However, there will be some notable upgrades: Processor and RAM Like the 2024 iPad mini, the most obvious update to the 11th-gen iPad will be the chipset. The current iPad 10 runs on an A14 chipset, which debuted in 2020 with the 4th-gen iPad Air and iPhone 12 . We expect the new iPad mini will get either the A17 Pro or A18 processor with 8GB of RAM so it can run Apple Intelligence. Following the iPad minis 2024 A17 Pro update, the 10th-gen iPad is Apples only tablet that doesnt support Apple Intelligence, which requires at least 8GB of RAM. Display As the display was increased from 10.2 inches to 10.9 inches with the 10th-gen revamp, we dont expect any changes to the screen size. The only possible change is the use of a laminated display, which would make the device slightly thinner and offer better clarity. Apple Cameras Since the 10th-gen iPad was Apples first tablet to change the placement of the front camera from portrait to landscape mode and already has Center Stage, we dont expect Apple to change the front camera. Its possible Apple upgrades the rear camera slightly, but since the M2 iPad Air released in 2024 has the same 12MP wide camera, its likely any improvements come from software. Storage If theres a standout upgrade that could make life easier for people, its storage. The base model still has just 64GB of storage, while the rest of the lineup starts with at least 128GB. Like the iPhone SE, we expect Apple to bump the base storage of its entry-level tablet up to 128GB when the 11th-gen iPad arrives, as well as increase the top offering to 512GB. Well keep updating this article as more information becomes available. Until then, you should check out our best iPad 9th and 10th-generation deals and best iPad mini deals roundups to see if you can bag yourself a bargain on one of Apples other offerings.

Best iPad 2024-2025: Complete and updated guide to which iPad to buy

Macworld Which iPad should you buy? There are a lot of choices and it can be confusing. There are four different varieties of iPad, listed below, and each is available with or without cellular (including 5G on certain models), which costs extra. Thats before we get into storage capacity, colors, and second-hand alternatives. Our in-depth buying guide assesses the whole range of iPads sold by Apple and explores all the factors that should influence your iPad buying decision such as value for money, how much storage you need, and whether or not to buy a cellular version. We also reveal whether an updated version of each device is likely to be launched soonanswering the question of whether now is a good time to buy an iPad. If youre thinking of buying an iPad for college or university you might also like to read our guide to the best iPad for students . You may also like to read our best iPad for kids guide. We also have a Best iPad for Seniors guide. Apple iPad comparison chart The table below summarizes the main features of the iPads in Apples current lineup and highlights the price for each. We have more information about the individual iPads and buying advice below. Click the links in the table of contents to go to the section most relevant to you. Model (launch date) Key features + specs Storage + cellular options Price + buy link iPad 10.9-inch 10th generation (October 2022) Medium 10.9-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button A14 Bionic processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil 1 248.6mm x 179.5mm x 7mm 481g 64GB 256GB 64GB (5G) 256GB (5G) $349 / 329 $499 / 479 $499 / 479 $649 / 629 iPad mini A17 Pro (October 2024) Small 8.3-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button A17 Pro processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm 293g 64GB 256GB 64GB (5G) 256GB (5G) $499 / 499 $649 / 649 $649 / 649 $799 / 799 iPad Air 11-inch M2 (May 2024) Medium 11-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button M2 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 6.1mm 462g 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB 128GB (5G) 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) $599 / 599 $699 / 699 $899 / 899 $1,099 / 1,099 $749 / 749 $849 / 849 $1,049 / 1,049 $1,249 / 1,249 iPad Air 13-inch M2 (May 2024) Largest 13-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button M2 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm 618g 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB 128GB (5G) 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) $799 / 799 $899 / 899 $1,099 / 1,099 $1,299 / 1,299 $949 / 949 $1,049 / 1,049 $1,249 / 1,249 $1,449 / 1,449 iPad Pro 11-inch M4 (May 2024) Medium 11-inch screen Face ID M4 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 249.7mm x 177.5mm x 5.3mm 446g 256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) 2TG (5G) $999 / 999 $1,199 / 1,199 $1,599 / 1,599 $1,999 / 1,999 $1,199 / 1,199 $1,399 / 1,399 $1,799 / 1,799 $2,199 / 2,199 iPad Pro 13-inch M4 (May 2024) Largest 13-inch screen Face ID M4 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 281.6mm x 215.5mm x 65.1mm 582g 256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) 2TB (5G) $1,299 / 1,299 $1,499 / 1,499 $1,899 / 1,849 $2,299 / 2,299 $1,499 / 1,499 $1,699 / 1,699 $2,099 / 2,099 $2,499 / 2,499 Every iPad Apple sells As you can see from the table above, Apples iPad lineup is perhaps one of the most expansive product lineups presented by the company. Below we offer information about each model, but we also answer questions further down the article such as which iPad is the best value for money, which size is best, how much storage you need, and whether to get cellular (you can jump to these sections from the table of contents above). The iPad that is best for you will depend on what you need from an iPad. If you just want an iPad for reading books, watching movies and TV shows, email, and web browsing, then you dont need all the bells and whistles. An iPad or iPad mini might be best here. If you are looking for an iPad that will do everything that a laptop can, then you might want to consider a model that is more powerful and supports additional components, including one of Apples newer keyboards or the Apple Pencil, the iPad Air might suit you. And if you will be using your iPad for gaming, video editing, photo editing, or anything high-powered and graphic intensive, then you will probably be looking at an iPad Pro. Below we will run through every iPad you can buy so you can find the one thats best for your needs. Apple iPad (10th gen, 2022): Best value Price When Reviewed: From $349 (64GB) | $499 (256GB) (was $449 and $599) Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $259.99 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $319 View Deal $339 View Deal $449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad 10.9 (2022) 64GB Silver (WiFi) $315 View Deal $Not Available View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $259.99 at Target $279 at Amazon $279 at Best Buy View more prices from Walmart Electronics B&H Adorama Walmart Close Best Prices Today: Apple iPad (10th gen, 2022): Best value New Refurbished Retailer Price $259.99 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $319 View Deal $339 View Deal $449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad 10.9 (2022) 64GB Silver (WiFi) $315 View Deal $Not Available View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 64GB: $349 / 329 256GB: $499 / 479 64GB (cellular): $499 / 479 256GB (cellular): $649 / 629 The 2022 iPad (10th generation) is the cheapest iPadit was reduced by $100 in May 2024 from $449 to $349 (and in the U.K. it had a further price drop from 349 to 329 in October 2024). It offers a lot of features for the price and its available in an assortment of fun colors. It has a 10.9-inch screen, a USB-C connector, and supports the Apple Pencil 1 or the Apple Pencil (USB). Its also capable of 5G (if you were looking at the cellular model you wouldnt want the 4G-capable 9th gen). Pros: A14 chip will be powerful enough for a good few years. No Home Button but there is Touch ID (on the Power button). Cons: Still feels cheap due to the unlaminated screen (will Apple ever update this?). Not as thin and light as the iPad Air, or the iPad Pro for that matter. Doesnt support Apple Intelligence. Best for: Anyone who needs a big screen (not a huge screen; theyll want the 12.9-inch iPad Pro) but is on a budget, and can cope without the latest in processing. Its a good option for anyone who likes the look of the iPad Air, but not the price. Is now a good time to buy? While the iPad is about two years old, Apple reduced its price in May 2024 and its a fantastic bargain. But if you want Apple Intelligence features we recommend you buy one of the other iPads or wait for Apple to update this model, because the 10th generation iPad Doesnt support Apple Intelligence features . See : Best iPad (10th gen) deals Read our full Apple iPad (10th gen, A14, 2022) review Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024): Best for kids and travelers Price When Reviewed: $499 (128GB; Wi-Fi only) | $599 (256GB; Wi-Fi only) | $799 (512GB; Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $449 View Deal $469 View Deal $484 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $449 at Best Buy $469 at B&H $484 at Walmart Electronics $499 at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Apple Apple United States Target Close Best Prices Today: Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024): Best for kids and travelers Retailer Price $449 View Deal $469 View Deal $484 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 128GB: $499 / 499 256GB: $649 / 649 512GB: $799 / 799 64GB (cellular): $649 / 649 256GB (cellular): $799 / 799 512GB (cellular): $949 / 949 This generation of iPad mini launched in October 2024 and is available in four colors: Blue, Purple, Space Gray, and Starlight. The biggest draw of the iPad mini is probably its diminutive stature; with its 8.3-inch display its Apples smallest iPad. Its perfect for carrying around in a bag or handing to children when they need entertainment. It might be small, but it is actually more powerful than the standard iPad thanks to its A17 Pro processor, which is a few generations newer than the A14 in the 10th gen iPad and supports Apple Intelligence . You also get a Liquid Retina screen, and 12MP/12MP rear/front cameras. Pros: Very portable and respectably powerful. The cheapest version now has a decent amount of storage (128GB, previously only 64GB). Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) or Apple Pencil Pro. Cons: Small screen, which may not be great for those who get eyestrain or who like immersive films and games. Best for: The portability-conscious. Gamers on the go. Tablet photographers. Ebook readers. Kids. Is now a good time to buy ? The iPad mini (A17 Pro) was released in October 2024, so you wont find deep discounts yet, but youll likely find it for a little bit lower than Apples MSRP at third-party retailers. See : Best iPad mini deals Read our full Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) review Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024): Best for power in an affordable package Price When Reviewed: $599 (128GB, Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $549 View Deal $554 View Deal $589 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $499 at Best Buy $499 at Target $549 at B&H $589 at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Walmart Electronics Apple Apple United States Close Best Prices Today: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024): Best for power in an affordable package Retailer Price $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $549 View Deal $554 View Deal $589 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 128GB: $599 / 599 256GB: $699 / 699 128GB (cellular): $749 / 749 256GB (cellular): $849 / 849 The 11-inch iPad Air has an M2 processor that is powerful and energy-efficient (you may remember it from its widely praised performance in the Mac). The M2 pushes the iPad Air far ahead of the iPad mini and standard iPads with their A-series chips. The M2 also makes the Air an appealing alternative to the more expensive iPad Pro models, with their faster M4 processors. Like all recent iPads, the Air features an all-screen design with no Home button. As with the 10th-gen iPad and the iPad mini, biometric security is handled by a fingerprint sensor in the power button rather than Face ID, which is reserved for the Pros. It has superb cameras (the front-facing 12MP camera and Center Stage), supports a wide range of Pro accessories, and now features 5G. Pros: Beautiful design. Superb processing and graphics power. Cheaper than the iPad Pro. Cons: Screen doesnt feature ProMotion. Ideal for: Tablet gamers and anyone who wants to be able to run the most demanding apps now and in the future. Pro users (business, creative, design) who cant afford an iPad Pro. Is now a good time to buy? Absolutely. It was updated in May of 2024 and will be around for a while. But would the iPad Pro be better? Read: iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4) , or look below. See : Best iPad Air deals Read our full Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024) review Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M2, 2024): Get a big iPad for less Price When Reviewed: $799 (128GB, Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $729 View Deal $739 View Deal $775.82 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $699 at Best Buy $699 at Target $729 at B&H $775.82 at Amazon View more prices from Amazon Walmart Electronics Apple Apple United States Close Best Prices Today: Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M2, 2024): Get a big iPad for less Retailer Price $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $729 View Deal $739 View Deal $775.82 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 128GB: $599 / 599 256GB: $699 / 699 128GB (cellular): $749 / 749 256GB (cellular): $849 / 849 If you want a larger screen, theres also a 13-inch iPad Air with an M2 processor, making it a viable alternative to the more expensive 13-inch iPad Pro with its M4 chip. Aside from the bigger screen this iPad Air is identical to the 11-inch iPad Air, with the same all-screen design, fingerprint sensor in the power button and front-facing 12MP camera with Center Stage. Pros: Large screen. Cheaper than the iPad Pro. Cons: Screen doesnt feature ProMotion. Ideal for: Anyone who want a bigger screen at a lower price than the iPad Pro. Its a great size for watching films and TV shows (and offers quad-speaker audio to match). Pro users who cant afford an iPad Pro. Is now a good time to buy? Absolutely. It was introduced in May of 2024 and will be around for a while. If you want a big screen and dont need, or cant afford an iPad Pro its a great choice. See : Best iPad Air deals 11-inch iPad Pro (M4, 2024): Best for power in a small package Price When Reviewed: $999 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $835.95 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $924 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $835.95 at B&H $899 at Amazon $899 at Best Buy View more prices from Target Walmart Electronics Apple Apple United States Close Best Prices Today: 11-inch iPad Pro (M4, 2024): Best for power in a small package Retailer Price $835.95 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $924 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 256GB: $999 / 999 / 128GB (cellular): $1,199 / 1,199 512GB: $1,199 / 1,199 / 256GB (cellular): $1,399 / 1,399 1TB: $1,599 / 1,599 / 1TB (cellular): $1,799 / 1,799 2TB: $1,999 / 1,999 / 2TB (cellular): $2,199 / 2,199 The current generation of iPad Pro models went on sale in May 2024. The iPad Pro comes in two sizes and a variety of capacities all the way up to a massive 2TB. The 2024 Pros feature M4 chips and are incredibly powerfulsome might say more powerful than it has any right to be. The 11-inch iPad Pro features a display it calls Ultra Retina XDR, which is an implementation of OLED technology that offers deeper blacks, better details in shadows and low light, and better response to motion. Apple uses two OLED panels in an implementation it calls Tandem OLED to address the brightness concerns of a single OLED panel. The Tandem OLED generates 1000 nits of SDR/HDR brightness and 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness. The front-facing camera is now on the longer side of the iPad Pro for use in landscape mode and the rear 10MP ultra-wide camera is gone. The 12MP main camera now has an adaptive True Tone flash that works while scanning documents, which uses AI to sense shadows when scanning and uses the flash to fill in the spot, and multiple photos are taken and stitched together to create the best scan. Pros: Slim and light (even slimmer than the iPad Air!); dual cameras; Face ID; devastatingly quick and power-efficient processor. Cons: Very expensive. Its power could be overkill for many. Ideal for: Creative types who dont need the absolutely largest screen. Its great for watching films and TV shows (and offers quad-speaker audio to match), but there are other screens in the range that are a similar size and a lot more affordable. Is now a good time to buy? The 11-inch M4 iPad Pro was released in May 2024, so its a good time to buy. Apple likely wont update it for a good amount of time. See: Best iPad Pro deals Read our full Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024) review 13-inch iPad Pro (M4, 2024): The ultimate iPad power package for creative pros Price When Reviewed: $1,299 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1104 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1,099 at Amazon $1099 at Best Buy $1099 at Target View more prices from Walmart Electronics Apple United States B&H Apple Close Best Prices Today: 13-inch iPad Pro (M4, 2024): The ultimate iPad power package for creative pros Retailer Price $1,099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1104 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 256GB: $1,299 / 1,299 / 256GB (cellular): $1,499 / 1,499 512GB: $1,499 / 1,499 / 512GB (cellular): $1,499 / 1,699 1TB: $1,899 / 1,899 / 1TB (cellular): $2,099 / 2,099 2TB: $2,299 / 2,299 / 2TB (cellular): $2,499 / 2,499 The iPad Pro 13-inch, updated in May 2024, offers the biggest screen ever on an Apple tablet, squeezed into a relatively small and very thin chassis. In other respects its largely the same as the 11-inch Pro (above): super-fast processor (the M4) with lots of RAM, excellent cameras, and a user experience that looks more than capable of replacing a laptop. The 13-inch iPad Pro, like the 11-inch version, has an Ultra Retina XDR. This is based on OLED technology, but Apple uses two OLED panelsit calls Tandem OLED and it generates 1000 nits of SDR/HDR brightness and 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness. This is all thoroughly impressive. But on the downside, the 13-inch Pro is far less portable than the mid-size iPads (it remains admirably slim, but the sheer screen area makes it a handful) and ruinously expensive, particularly at those upper storage tiers. Pros: Largest screen (13-inch); extremely fast processor with lots of RAM; landscape camera with Face ID; four speakers; Ultra Retina display. Cons: Very slim but not as portable as the smaller models; very expensive; processor speed will be overkill for many prospective buyers. Ideal for: Creative types most of all, but anyone who needs a big screen will be interested. Gamers and those who enjoy consuming media on the go will like the combination of a sumptuous screen and a quad-speaker audio system. Is now a good time to buy? The current Pros came out in May 2024. Apple probably wont update it again for at least a year, maybe longer. See : Best iPad Pro deals iPad Buying Guide: What to look for when buying an iPad As you can see from the above there are a lot of iPads sold by Applethat doesnt even include the many previous-generation iPads that are still on sale at various resellers and at Apples Refurbished Store (U.S) or U.K. When confronted with so much choice what should you consider when deciding which iPad to buy? For many the choice will be based on price and value for money. Some may be influenced by the screen size, others by the weight. The ability to get more than 256GB storage may be important, as may the inclusion of Face ID or Touch ID. Finally, the decision of whether to get a cellular version, which invites the assessment of the minefield of network contracts, will no doubt be a factor for some. We will look at each of those factors below. Which iPad is the best value for money? One persons value for money is another persons extravagance. You might be looking for the cheapest iPad. That would be the 10th generation iPad , launched in 2022. In May 2024, Apple reduced the price from its original $449 price to $349 (price drops were matched around the world and later prices dropped again in some locations, for example the U.K. saw an additional drop to 329 in October 2024). It has a 10.9-inch screen, a 12MP rear-facing camera, an A14 Bionic processor, and 5G as an option. If you are happy to buy an older iPad model then there are plenty of discounts available while they are still in stock. There are also some great savings to be had on refurbished models. We recommend you check the following deals roundups, where you can see the best prices right now on various iPads : Best iPad Pro deals Best iPad (10th gen) deals Best iPad Air deals Best iPad mini deals If you have more to spend, what can you get for your money? The iPad mini more than justifies its slightly higher price tag of $499/499 with its faster (Apple Intelligence-capable) A17 Pro processor, True Tone flash, and a fully laminated, better quality, display, among other things.But its biggest draw will probably be its size for those who want a small iPad. The iPad mini is not much bigger than a hard-backed book making it the perfect size to carry around in a bag and a great size for kids. The 2022 iPad Apple Next up is the iPad Air , which starts at $599/599 for the 11-inch model. It might be worth every extra penny if you want a faster M2 processor. The iPad Air display is still superior to that of the iPad, fully laminated and with an antireflective coating (like the iPad mini). The introduction of the 13-inch iPad Air means that you no longer need to fork out extra for the iPad Pro if you want a larger display on your iPad. The iPad Pro , updated in May 2024 is the ultimate in this category. Starting at $999/999, the Pro has a lot to offer, with an incredible display and an M4 chip for starters. But we think these features are probably more than the average person needs. Then again, if you need those features you cant beat it, unless you want a bigger screen, in which case get the 13-inch iPad Pro. Those are the prices that Apple sells its iPads for, but you dont have to pay that much. Take a look at our regularly updated iPad deals page for the lowest prices and best discounts on iPads new and old. iPad screen size: Which size iPad to choose Size is a question of taste rather than simply going for the biggest iPad you can get your hands on. Bigger isnt necessarily better if what you need is small and light. The most obvious aspect of this decision comes down to screen size. All screens are measured diagonally from corner to corner, or from the place where the corners would be. Youve got four options: 8.3-inch iPad mini 10.9-inch iPad (10th gen) 11-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro 13-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro But how big a screen do you really need? You can think of the tablets in terms of print publications: the mini is roughly the height and width of a paperback book; the mid-size iPads are closer to a hardback (albeit much slimmer); and the 13-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air are like a magazine (remember them?) The larger screen is obviously better for immersive entertainment. Whether watching films or playing games, its a more enjoyable, richer experience. But really this is a question of priorities. Are you more set on getting maximum screen space, or are you willing to compromise on that front in order to get a lower price tag and improved portability? iPad Pro 13-inch (2024): 281.6mm x 215.5mm x 65.1mm; 579g/582g (Wi-Fi/cellular) iPad Pro 11-inch (2024): 249.7mm x 177.5mm x 5.3mm; 444g/446g iPad Air 13-inch (2024): 280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm 617g/618g iPad Air 11-inch (2024): 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 6.1mm; 462g/462g iPad 10.9-inch (2022): 248.6mm x 179.5mm x 7mm; 477g/481g iPad mini 8.3-inch (2024): 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm; 300.5g/308.2g Also read: Every iPad display compared . Want the lightest iPad? As youd expect, the iPad mini is a lot lighter than the other iPads. Theres a big gap between that device and even the mid-size iPads. As well as its markedly lower weight the mini also has a smaller body, which slips easily into a rucksack or jacket pocket. If you plan to mainly use your iPad out and about, on vacation, or commuting, or perhaps youre buying an iPad for a child , the mini is your best bet. The iPad, 11-inch iPad Air, and 11-inch Pro are pleasingly portable, but they still cant match the mini for portability. The iPad has a similar length and width to the Air, but is thicker and heavier; the Pros are slimmer still. The 13-inch Pro and Air are considerably less portable than their smaller cousins, but we think Apple has done well to keep the weight down, especially with the Pro, which is now thinner than the iPad Air (go figure): it remains a slender, relatively lightweight, and portable alternative to a laptop. How much storage do you need? The five iPads offer anywhere from 64GB to 2TB of storage, but if you are looking at an old, refurbished, or preowned iPad you could be confronted with as little as 32GB storage, which isnt enough. But what storage capacity do you really need for an iPad? Well, first of all, remember that you cant upgrade the storage of an iPad at a later date: this is your limit from now until you buy another iPad, so aim high and buy as much storage as you can afford. Its better to spend an extra few pounds now than to buy an entire new iPad in six months. Storage capacity is mainly used up by three things: music, photos, and videos, in increasing order of storage drain. If you want to keep lots of films or TV showsor even a few, to be honestthen you need high storage: probably 256GB or higher for video fans. (If youre buying an iPad with the kids in mind, remember that youll want storage space for multiple episodes of their favorite show on a long car journey.) The same applies to large photo or music libraries, to a lesser extent, although iCloud Photos and iTunes Match make it possible to keep your stuff in the cloud and access it remotely (if you pay the fees for iCloud storage and either have a cellular/WiFi connection, or Hotspot from your iPhone ). The other thing that will fill up your storage is apps, especially games which will use up a lot of space. For that reason gamers should aim high on storage: The iPad Air and iPad mini starts with 128GB and the Pro has 256GB, while the 10th-gen iPad starts at 64GB (which we dont think is enough). We recommend getting what you can afford. See: How much storage do you need on an iPhone or iPad? for more advice. Should you get the most powerful iPad? The iPad Pro models are, as you would expect, faster than their smaller and cheaper equivalents, next up is the Air, then the iPad mini and finally the iPad. You can get an idea of relative speed by looking at a few relevant specs: iPad Pro 13-inch (2024): M4; 8GB/16GB RAM iPad Pro 11-inch (2024): M4; 8GB/16GB RAM 13-inch iPad Air (2024): M2; 8GB RAM 11-inch iPad Air (2024): M2; 8GB RAM iPad mini (2024): A17 Pro; 8GB RAM iPad 10.9-inch (2022): A14 Bionic; 4GB RAM The M-series chips have won widespread acclaim in the Mac range and produce outstanding performance in the iPads. But that doesnt mean the A chips are sub-standard or incapable of running modern apps; keep in mind that much of the software on the App Store was designed with A chips in mind, and even now most developers will want to make their software accessible for as many iPad owners as possible. There is a good reason to choose the M-series chips over the A-series though. Some of the best iPadOS 16 features will only work with the M-series iPads . These include features like Stage Manager , which is a new feature for organizing your windows. There are also rumors that one day Apple may make a cutback version of macOS available on the iPad but this will be probably be restricted to the M-series chip, if indeed it ever happens.. But speculation aside, how powerful you need your iPad to be will be based on your requirements (and how long you intend to use your iPad for). The most demanding graphic-design, video-editing, and audio apps will see better performance on the M4 and even M2 processor, so if youre looking at high-level workloads multiple years down the line the M4 and M2 would be a better option. But for most users, the A17 Pro will be comfortably fast enough for the mid- and long-term. Another important factor to consider is memory. The iPad 10.9-inch has 4GB. The mini and Air gets a jump up to 8GB, while the Pros have either 8GB or a whopping 16GB of RAM, depending on your storage tier: the 1TB and 2TB versions get the higher RAM allocation. If you want to run Apple Intelligence, you must have an iPad with at least 8GB of RAM. With the current iPad lineup, Apple Intelligence can run on all iPads expect the 10th gen iPad. Learn more about Apple Intelligence . Overall, we would advise those who want to use highly demanding apps, such as video and image editors and graphically advanced games, to choose an iPad Pro or Air. If youre going to be using your tablet for the odd bit of email and web surfing, youll find an iPad or iPad mini perfectly decent. With these general observations out of the way, its time to look at each device in more depth. For each iPad we record the essential information, its pros and cons, which buyer should pick it, and whether now is a good time to buy. Should you get a Cellular iPad? For most people cellular connectivity is a luxury, even if its a nice one to have. For an extra $100 or $150, youll be able to access the web and email, and use connected apps, away from a Wi-Fi network. You need to factor in the cost of a data plan and find a network provider. Consider carefully how often youre going to do that: with an iPad mini theres likely to be more on-the-go use than with a full-size iPad, but its still a lot to pay for something you may only use from time to time. Have you got a regular (overground) commute where youd enjoy catching up on news headlines or e-mail? Then it could be worth the extra. We think the best option, if you want to be able to get data on your iPad when you are out and about, is to create a hotspot and share it from your iPhone. Then you can use your iPad as if it is on the cellular network. Read about how to create an iPhone hotspot to share your mobile web connection to your iPad. Just bear in mind that the cellular option also brings with it a GPS radio, meaning youll be able to input accurate location data when using your device on the go. The other concern when buying a cellular iPad is whether to buy your iPad on a contract. Network providers will allow you to pay for your iPad and the data contract over a number of months but after that term is up, and certainly not before, you may not be able to switch to a different data provider. Buying on contract may also mean that the iPad is locked to the original contract provider which can also be a problem if you want to sell it in the future. Heres how to unlock an iPad from its network , once youve fulfilled your contractual obligations. Should you buy a refurbished iPad? You can buy a refurbished iPad from Apple Apple Well mention this only briefly because its covered in detail here: Why a refurbished iPad could be the best tablet for you , but one option you should absolutely consider is Apples Refurbished Store U.S or U.K . Its a sort of halfway house between new and second-hand: the devices are generally ones that have been returned within the 28-day period in which you are legally allowed to change your mind about a purchase, or they have been returned due to a fault that has been rectified, or they were ex-display or ex-demo units from Apples stores or marketing. You can rest assured that Apple has checked all the refurbished iPads that it sells thoroughly, replaced any problematic components, and rated them as good as new (and you get a full one-year warranty to prove it). Apples not the only place to buy a refurbished iPad, so beware that all refurbished iPads are not the same, so do check the small print before you buy. Look for refurbished models that have been fully checked out by Apple-certified engineers, especially those that come with a guarantee. Our best advice is to only consider the current or previous generation iPads when looking at refurbished models, then you are less likely to be caught out by a sub-par tablet. Buying a refurbished iPad from a reputable company is definitely preferable to buying a used iPad from someone on eBay. Its too often the case that secondhand iPads sold that way end up as useless bricks because the person selling it didnt properly log out of their account. Another way to save money is to buy from a reseller who is selling discontinued stock at a discount. We often see resellers significantly dropping the price on older iPad models that are usually just one generation out of datejust beware, they sell out quick! Should you buy the newest iPad generation? Speaking of older iPads, even if functioning perfectly right now, older models will reach the end of their useful life sooner than the newest models and that is a good reason to avoid buying an iPad that is more than one or two generations old. But keep in mind that iPads tend to start slowing down at around two to three years of age; at the four- or five-year mark you should expect noticeable loss of performance and you wont be able to get all the latest software updates. The current iPad range was mostly updated in 2024 and included the iPad mini, iPad Pro and the iPad Air. The 10th-gen iPad was released in October 2022, but had its price reduced in May 2024. Another reason to buy a recent iPad is the operating system it runs. Apple only supports the most recent three versions of iPadOS with security updates, so that means that only iPadOS 16, 17, and 18 are currently supported. See How long does Apple support iPads? for more information. So, while you dont have to buy the newest generation, we would recommend that you buy one that was launched relatively recently to be sure that Apple will support it for as long as you intend to own it. On that basis, any of the iPads listed above should be a safe bet because they support the iPadOS that Apple will support for the next three years, and for many the support will stretch on for more years. Buying advice: Which iPad should you buy? The iPad 10.9-inch is a good option for newcomers and those who will mostly use their iPad as a media consumption device with some light work. The one key thing it lacks is support for Apple Intelligence. For most people, our recommendation is the iPad Air (2024) . The update in May 2024 brought it an M2 processor, which is more than enough for an iPad right now. Mind you, its still expensive compared to the standard iPad and the iPad mini, and to most rival tablets out there. The addition of the 13-inch model means that if you want a big screen you dont have to fork out for the iPad Pro. The iPad mini is mainly recommended for those who see portability as their main priority. Its an excellent little device, although the smaller screen makes it less immersive for games and entertainment options. The remaining iPads will be too expensive for the average buyer. The 11-inch and 13-inch Pro models are amazingly powerful and well-made, and the arrival of the M4 is excellent news but probably more power than anyone really needs right now. But if youre a creative professional, the Pro is the iPad to get. Finally, before taking the plunge, have you considered if a laptop might suit your needs better? See iPad vs MacBook for more advice on that front.

Best VPN for Mac 2024-2025: Reviews and buying advice for Mac users

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 country. This latter reason is the main reason many people use a VPN: they want to access services that are locked to a particular region, such as accessing U.S. Netflix from the U.K or BBC iPlayer from the U.S. If you are looking for a VPN to protect your privacy and security online, and to grant you a way to access content as if you are in a different country, we are here to help. There are a lot of VPN providers vying for your business, which can make finding the best one to suit your needs difficult. To help you sort out the right provider for you, weve committed to extensive research and testing of VPN services that cater to Mac owners in our guide to the top VPN services for Mac. Best VPNs for Mac: Reviewed & Ranked Our top choice right now is NordVPN , which we feel stands out in many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Get NordVPN here Below you will find the VPN services for Mac that we recommend based on our tests. Most of these will cost less than $3/3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once the deal period ends the price often jumps, so its worth setting a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal, alternatively, you could cancel and sign up with another email address. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals . ProtonVPN has a free tier . All of these VPNs will also work on your iPhone and iPad as well, and many with Apple TV, but you might want to check out our separate guides to the best VPNs for iPhone and best VPNs for iPad . 1. NordVPN Pros Easy to use Impressive WireGuard speeds Lots of servers Cons Two separate apps can be confusing Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $2.99 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $12.99. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price NordVPN (Monthly) $2.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2.99 at NordVPN (Monthly) 5,300 servers 10 simultaneous connections NordVPN is one of the biggest and best-known VPN services. Its a fully featured VPN option thats secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. There are cheaper options, with unlimited connections and more in-depth VPN features, but NordVPN is our top choice right now because it stands out in so many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Nord has an up-to-date independent audit. It also has specialty servers for specific purposes. There are more than 5,300 servers (none of which are virtual) available across 60 countries, which sounds great. You probably only care about the servers where you want to unblock content, but the more servers the better as it means you have a better chance of finding one thats not overloaded. You wont have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy Quick connect feature that picks the server best suited to your needs. Connections are fast and reliable, and NordVPN unblocks popular streaming services around the world including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously including your Apple TV. Nord has added support for the faster WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of the fastest VPN services out there. However, its only available on the IKE version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, youll need to download the OpenVPN version, albeit with slightly slower speeds. Nord frequently has deals on offer that save money on the usual monthly price if you take advantage of the two-year plan . NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus and Ultimate. You can get Plus features (data breach scanner and password manager) or the Ultimate tier adds cloud storage and insurance options. Prices change all the time, so take a look at the prices and plans at NordVPN.com . Read our full NordVPN review 2. ExpressVPN Pros Easy-to-use Broad device support Excellent speeds Cons Illusive ExpressVPN team Expensive Price When Reviewed: From $4.99 a month for 2 years + 6 free months Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ExpressVPN (Monthly) $4.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $4.99 at ExpressVPN (Monthly) 2,000 servers 8 simultaneous connections If you want to circumnavigate geoblocking to get access to content not available where you live, protect your data while browsing the web from a public network, and keep your web browsing habits private, ExpressVPN, with its server locations across 105 countries, can do just about all of this with two or three clicks. ExpressVPN is remarkably easy to use, but if you have any difficulties the 24-hour live chat means you can be connected to a real human to discuss issues within minutes. There are native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android and Windows. Plus you can use it on eight devices at once (the limit was five previously). Like all VPNs there is some speed loss because you are routing via a server in another country, but ExpressVPN does well to mitigate this, dropping less than 13% of download speed in our testing. NordVPN remains faster with a 12% loss in our tests, but ExpressVPNs 13% is still better than most. ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different choices for protocol. Lightway, the companys own option, is rapid. For improved compatibility you can switch to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN things slowed down with 24% of speed loss with the latter. Theres no Malware protection with ExpressVPN, but you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so its free from the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies jurisdiction. While it also operates a no-log policy, it doesnt have PureVPNs always-on audit process, but it undergoes audits each year. ExpressVPNs more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesnt allow access from unlimited devices (just eight). But you get a solid, speedy connection with minimal fuss, and you dont have to tie-in for a two-year deal to get the best value. That latter point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly. See ExpressVPN subscription plans here . Read our full ExpressVPN review 3. ProtonVPN Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Setup on macOS was a little fiddly Price When Reviewed: From $4.49 a month for two years. Usually $9.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Proton Technologies (Monthly) $4.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $4.49 at Proton Technologies (Monthly) 6,500+ servers in 100+ countries (access servers in 5 countries on free plan, on one device) 10 simultaneous connections ProtonVPN s free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. Its naturally limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop but its still pretty usable If you pay for the service it offers a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and just about enough features to improve your day-to-day web experience without throwing too many complex concepts at new users. Proton VPN Plus offers a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. Theres Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. Some VPN services offer features like dark web data notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the basics and does so very well. The companys no-logs policy confirms it doesnt track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, and only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesnt log data theres very little it can offer to law enforcement. For the privacy-minded, Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the companys Secure servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. These secure servers are owned by Proton and are located in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In fact, its only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading, making it one of the slicker VPNs weve tested. In terms of included VPN protocols, Smart will be ideal for most users, automatically setting the right protocol for your current usage, but WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are also offered. Proton VPN is an easy recommendation both for new and experienced users. Read our full ProtonVPN review 4. Private Internet Access Pros Lots of servers Fast WireGuard speeds Split tunneling works well Unblocks BBC iPlayer Cons Clunky Mac app Based within 14-eyes Price When Reviewed: From $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $11.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Private Internet Access (Monthly) $2.19 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2.19 at Private Internet Access (Monthly) 35,000+ servers, 91 countries Unlimited connections Private Internet Access (PIA) is a powerful VPN designed for savvy users, offering power user tools and features such as custom DNS, connection rules, split tunnelling, and more at a lower cost than many competitors. The PIA Mac app offers pretty much everything its Microsoft counterpart does. The app can be used on any device and offers servers in 91 countries. In my testing, the auto setting did a good job of picking servers that balanced speed and privacy. The main window provides information on performance graphs, download and upload speeds, and quick settings for tools like Light Mode, Port Forwarding, and LAN connections. While you can use PIA for getting around geoblocked content on your streaming services, PIA is more privacy-focused than other VPNs, with features like the Advanced Kill Switch, Split Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA also offers customizable features like automation setup and DNS options. Private Internet Access cant beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN offers more impressive speeds, but at the cost of some power features. In our testing, we saw a reasonable drop of around 8% on Mac while using the PIA VPN. Upload speeds dropped considerably by around 25%, which may be an issue if you do a lot of uploading. Its zero-log policy has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania. Despite inconsistent speeds, Private Internet Access is a great VPN for all budgets with a wealth of features for privacy-inclined users. Read our full Private Internet Access review 5. Surfshark Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Unlimited devices and connections Easy to use Cons Kill switch cant be customised Expensive to renew Price When Reviewed: Starter plan from $1.99 a month for two years + 4 free months. Usually $15.45 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Surfshark (Monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1.99 at Surfshark (Monthly) 3,200 servers in 100 countries Unlimited simultaneous connections Surfshark is a great-value VPN that offers quite a lot features beyond the core VPN service for a low monthly price. SurfShark has more than 3,000 servers spread across 100 countries, making its network one of the widest and most varied of any VPN, Its apps are easy to use and it reliably unblocks streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Its missing the specialty servers offered by rivals such as NordVPN , who shares the same parent company, though. Connection speeds are very impressive, and thats thanks to the use of the WireGuard protocol. You really wont notice any slowdown in your internet speed when Surfshark is running, so long as you have WireGuard selected and arent using servers the other side of the globe. The company has upgraded all its servers so they run entirely in RAM, just like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Running servers on RAM is better for privacy as data isnt written to a hard drive. Its also a member of the VPN Trust Initiative , while two-factor authentication (2FA) is a feature few VPN services offer. Being run from the Netherlands also means this is a privacy-friendly option. The other reason to consider Surfshark is because it undercuts almost all of its rivals on price, yet doesnt place any limit on the number of devices you can use simultaneously. Unfortunately, it can be pricy to renew once your initial contract runs out. You can install and use it across many devices including your Mac, PC, Android and iOS devices, as well as browsers. It also supports multiple protocols (although OpenVPN is a little slower than wed like) and excellent encryption, as well as a privacy-minded no-logs policy thats regularly audited Theres a kill switch and a Multi-Hop feature that routes your connection via two VPN servers for an extra layer of protection. However, theres no GPS spoofing or split tunneling on the Mac (the latter being very uncommon on Macs anyway). SurfShark offers three tiers of features at varying price points. The most basic option, aptly named SurfShark Starter, offers VPN functionality as well as an ad blocker and the option to generate a proxy email address and personal details for sites you dont feel comfortable about giving your information to. SurfShark One adds email and payment detail breach alerts, as well as personal data security reports, antivirus and other malware protection, while the One+ plan adds data removal from company databases and people search sites. In addition to the VPN there are Alert, Search or Antivirus packages, that are available for an extra cost. Just like most VPNs SurfShark offers discounted pricing if you sign up for two years, with the prices changing all the time. Just beware that at the end of the period the price will increase unless you cancel. Sign up to Surfshark here. Read our full Surfshark review 6. ClearVPN Pros Nice design. Great for getting around geo-blocks. Cons Lacks some features like split tunneling. Not the fastest. Price When Reviewed: Three day trial. Currently $49.99 a year, usually $119.88 a year ($9.99 a month). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MacPaw (Monthly) $44.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $44.99 at MacPaw (Monthly) More than 50 servers Six device limit MacPaws ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many more advanced features offered by its rivals, but on the other hand, its one of the easiest to use. With a nice UI and easy-to-use features its thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers. It really is as simple as hitting a button to connect. In the settings are options to block ads, keep ClearVPN in the dock, and a Kill Switch so that you can cut traffic from your device if the connection to the VPN is broken. Its all pretty basic stuff, but its offered in such an easy-to-use way that its hard not to appreciate the simplicity. There are also handy keyboard shortcuts to move around the app. There are more than 50 servers, which sounds like a lot, but its dwarfed by many rivals to the tune of thousands of servers. That means your choices are limited, but at least ClearVPN lets you filter between Optimal Location or jumping straight to something like Disney Plus US or UK. One of the more common power user features for VPNs is split tunneling, which lets some traffic go through the VPN while some goes around it. Thats not supported here. Sadly, MacPaws VPN speeds also need some work. We saw considerable speed drops across multiple servers even closer ones. We saw drops of around 20 to 30 percent in download speed, and around 50 percent for upload speed. Its still fast enough to use Netflix, but its slower than the majority of alternatives out there. Most VPN companies use external auditors to verify that theyre not recording user or session data, but ClearVPN hasnt undergone one at the time of writing. This shouldnt mean anything untoward as the company is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outside of various surveillance alliances, so it cant be asked to share your data. ClearVPN is priced affordably, but prices and the deals on offer change all the time with VPNs. Look out for low monthly prices that dont lock you in for too long. Theres a six-device limit. If youre new to using a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first choice, and stress-free access to Netflix around the globe, its a great starter option. Still, the speed drop and lack of common features like split tunneling likely mean power users should look elsewhere. You can save money by paying for the first year up front, but you can also pay monthly. See full ClearVPN pricing here . Read our full ClearVPN review 7. PureVPN Pros Easy to use Works on multiple devices Additional power user features Cons Obtuse pricing model. Caused many websites to question whether we were human Price When Reviewed: From $3.99 a month for one year + 4 free months. Usually $12.45 a month. A 5 year deal is available from $2.16 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price PureVPN (Monthly) $3.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $3.99 at PureVPN (Monthly) 6,500 servers, 78 countries 10 simultaneous connections If youre looking for a flexible VPN service that will get around geoblocking and is easy to use, PureVPN is well worth a look. The basic plan includes the VPN service and nothing more, but you can add a Password Manager and File Encryption tools in the Plus plan. The Max plan adds a Digital Privacy Manager that requests your records be scrubbed by data brokers, blocks web trackers, and recommends ways to maximize your privacy. Whichever plan you opt for youll be able to connect 10 devices at once. PureVPN will run on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is easy to use on each to let you connect to over six thousand servers. As far as getting around geo-blocks, we found PureVPN to be as easy as any other service to use. Select a location, load your streaming service or app of choice, and youre off. PureVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is more privacy-friendly than Hong Kong where it operated previously. PureVPN offers one of the more impressive no-logging policies, with an ongoing always-on audit process whereby an auditor can request confirmation of that policy at any time. PureVPN has been winding down its virtual servers, of which it has less control. There are still 23 such servers, but PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical you can see a small v next to each virtual server on the PureVPN website . At the time of writing PureVPN is offering more than a whopping 80% off its plans if you sign up for 24 months. Two years is a long time in the world of VPNs, but at least means the full monthly pricing wont kick in twelve months time. See PureVPN offers here . Read our full PureVPN review 8. CyberGhost Pros Simple to use Decent speeds Plenty of servers Cons Two-year plans are much cheaper Lacking some power user features Price When Reviewed: $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $12.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CyberGhost (Monthly) $2.19 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2.19 at CyberGhost (Monthly) 11,000+ servers in 100 countries 7 simultaneous connections CyberGhost is a user-friendly app that connects to numerous servers worldwide, making it ideal for streaming Netflix from different countries and routing traffic away from untrustworthy open Wi-Fi networks. It offers core features like kill switch support, split tunnelling, and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhosts no-logging audit history is thorough, and there is a 45-day free trial available. CyberGhost apps can be downloaded for various platforms, including Chrome extension and game consoles (we tested on Mac and iPhone). The app offers a simple click and go connection process, with a list of server nations and multiple locations. Encryption is standard across servers, and split tunnelling prioritizes traffic where needed. An automated kill switch can cut connections if the VPN drops out, while Block content blocks DNS domains for ads, trackers, and malware. The app does not offer anything like Proton VPNs Secure Core or additional features like a Password Manager, but subscription tiers are based on adding a dedicated IP address. The VPN has over 9,000 servers located in over 100 countries, with plans to expand in South America and Asia in late 2023. CyberGhost VPN has an impressive no-logs policy, meaning no one can access records of your activity while connected to the VPN. The app does not offer the Dark Web monitor offered by NordVPN, but it does have an automated kill switch to cut connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking feature is easy to use but doesnt allow you to choose what to block. CyberGhost offers a compelling package with just one main plan and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Its an excellent VPN for newcomers, with impressive audits, an array of servers, decent speeds, and easy-to-use apps. Read our full CyberGhost review 9. Norton Ultra VPN Pros Antivirus protections Cloud Backup and Password Manager Email tracking quarantine Cons Slower than rival VPNs Inflexible payment options Price When Reviewed: First year is from $39.99 Norton Secure VPN; $49.99 Norton Ultra VPN; $59.99 Norton Ultra VPN Plus. Renews at a higher price of $79.99/$109.99/$129.99. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Norton (first year) $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at Norton (first year) Servers in 32 countries Norton has decades of experience protecting devices from cyber threats (read our review of Norton 360), but what or its VPN? Nortons VPN plans are, outside of the basic tier, tied into its security software to help offer real-time protection from bad actors. It comes with a password manager, dark web monitor, and cloud storage, but the VPN side of things is a little lacking. Perhaps its from testing so many of the best VPN services that weve grown used to a certain set of non-negotiables. Chief among them is browser extension options to allow for quick switching, but at the time of writing, theres no such offering from Norton. Still, if youre looking for real-time protection it remains a good security-focused option, but with geoblocking being inconsistent in our testing, you might want to look elsewhere for your international Netflix fix. Nortons VPN does include plenty of accoutrements that other VPNs either dont have or charge extra for. You can install the app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and all three platforms have apps that work well and run nicely in the background. Norton offers Browser Protection, which scans sites as you browse. Norton also scans files before they land on your device. This worked well in testing, with barely added any additional time to the length of downloads. Theres a password manager, but its tied to the middle subscription tier and above. One thing that was interesting was how it monitors trackers on emails. As a journalist, I receive a lot of press releases and pitches, and while Ive always assumed many of them use some kind of tracking to see when theyre opened, Norton offered to quarantine so many that I was quite taken aback. VPNs naturally decrease your internet speeds as your signal is fired across the globe, and Norton has servers in 32 countries a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPNs portfolio but it does offer four protocols to choose from. IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard are pretty commonly found across the board of rivals, but Norton has its own Mimic protocol which is intended to be ideal for unblocking international streaming services. Sadly, testing on a 70 Mbps connection saw a consistent speed drop-off. As for Mimic, Nortons own VPN protocol, I was disappointed to find some international streaming services simply werent able to be unblocked with it. Norton clarified that Mimic is specifically designed for customers with special use cases who are unable to use WireGuard. We did have more luck with the more standardized protocols. VPNs worth their salt should always focus on privacy as their primary concern, and Norton does a good job, having undergone an audit from VerSprite, a security firm. Its not a bad VPN, and if youre looking for an option that packs a whole host of cyber-security tools into one easy-to-use package, its a great option. Its disappointing that there is only a pay yearly option, where other VPNs have the option to pay monthly. Added to that is a steep jump in price for the second year. See full Norton Ultra VPN pricing here Read our full Norton Ultra VPN review 10. FastestVPN Pros Affordable pricing Good speeds 10 simultaneous connections Cons Limited compared to the Windows app Limited VPN protocol options Price When Reviewed: Lifetime special deal: $40, usually $600 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price FastestVPN (Lifetime payment) $40 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $40 at FastestVPN (Lifetime payment) 800+ servers in 49+ countries 10 simultaneous connections This easy-to-use, attractive, and uncomplicated app is a great option for VPN newbs. In addition to its straightforward and uncluttered design, FastestVPN also offers good speeds and a sufficiently expansive network. Its icing on the cake that its privacy policy is easy to understand and makes all the right promises. In our tests, FastestVPN maintained about 30 percent of the base speed across five locations on multiple test days, although there were some weak spots in Asia and Australia. Despite its name its not the fastest VPN, but FastestVPN does make the right privacy promises in a way thats easy to understand. Read our full FastestVPN review 11. Hide.me Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Dedicated streaming servers Impressive free tier Only VPN that offers Split Tunnelling in Big Sur and beyond Cons Slightly clunky UI No recent independent audit Premium plans are expensive Price When Reviewed: From $3.84 a month for 2 years + 2 free months. Usually $9.95 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Hide.Me (Monthly) $3.84 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $3.84 at Hide.Me (Monthly) 2,600+ servers in 90 countries 10 simultaneous connections Hide.me is another VPN service that has improved considerably in recent years. As well as offering a completely free version (which none of its rivals here do), it has also added WireGuard, which is considerably faster than other encryption protocols. Other key features include a customizable kill switch and split tunneling. Hide.me is the only VPN to offer Split Tunnelling in macOS. They state on their website: hide.me VPN for macOS supports split tunneling. You can configure it in the clients settings. Hide.me also offers Stealth Guard, which stops selected apps from running without the security of a VPN connection. It can unblock Netflix and allows you to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK. Theres also solid device support, with up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted. Malaysia-based, in recent years it has expanded the number of servers and doubled the number of countries it covers. Unfortunately, the third-party audit hasnt been updated since 2015 However, the user interface on Mac is a bit clunky, and were still waiting for an update to the 2015 no-logs policy certification. Read our full hide.me VPN review 12. VyprVPN Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Very easy to use Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer Low starting price Cons Comparatively few servers Not clear which servers are virtual Patchy support experience Price When Reviewed: From $3 a month for two years. Usually $10 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price VyprVPN (Monthly) $3 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $3 at VyprVPN (Monthly) 70 servers 5 simultaneous connection VyprVPN offers everything most people are looking for in a VPN, without needing to spend much money. You get fast WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols focused on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. Its also excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content, whether thats local versions of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outside the UK. Premium features such as split tunneling and a kill switch are here too, even if the latter cant be customised. VyprVPNs no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privacy Policy from parent company Golden Frog. More than 700 servers in over 70 countries should be plenty for most people, although theres often only one per country. Its also not clear which of these are physical and virtual. Nonetheless, its still speedy, reliable and affordable. See full VyprVPN pricing here Read our full VyprVPN review 13. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN (Mac) Pros Easy to use and understand Supports WireGuard protocol Clear privacy policy Cons Not a lot of features Other VPNs have more anonymity features Price When Reviewed: $3.33 a month for 1 device ($39.99 a year) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Malwarebytes (Monthly) $3.33 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $3.33 at Malwarebytes (Monthly) More than 245 servers 32 countries Malwarebytes, probably best known for antivirus software and advice, also offers a standalone VPN service called Malwarebytes Privacy . Its an easy to use app with the right kind of privacy promises as youd expect from a respected name in security based in the U.S. In our tests Malwarebytes was a mid-tier performer in terms of speeds, but it should be good enough for most casual users. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does a good job. See full Maywarebytes pricing here Read our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN (Mac) review Best Free VPNs for Mac There are also a number of free VPNs available, but beware that some severely restrict which servers (and therefore countries) you can connect to and the amount of data you can download through those servers. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals . Its also important to read the terms and conditions before using a free VPN, as in rare cases they sell your data to third parties to offset the cost of you using it without paying. Its a bigger problem on iPhones and Android where unscrupulous companies try to cash in on the VPN gold rush and offer up poorly put together apps. Stick with our recommendations and youll be safe from these, though. Do Macs need a VPN? There is a big question. Do Mac users even need a VPN? Since Apple introduced iOS 15 and macOS Monterey in 2021 the company has offered a handy private relay service. iCloud Private Relay acts a bit like a VPN because it encrypts your web-browsing traffic and sends it through a relay to hide your location, IP, and any information about what you were browsing. iCloud Private Relay solves part of the problem that Mac users have used VPNs for in the pastit means that companies cannot build a clear picture of you on the web, thereby protecting your privacy. iCloud Private Relay has some disadvantages: it only works when you are using Safari, you have to be a subscriber to iCloud, and you cant use it to pretend to be surfing from another country in order to access content that is locked to a particular region. Read more here: iCloud+ Private Relay explained . If you are a subscriber to iCloud, and only use Safari, then iCloud Private Relay will provide you with some anonymity when you are surfing the web. You may therefore be thinking that this means you dont need a VPN to hide your location and identity. However, iCloud Private Relay does not allow you to choose an IP address or a region, and you wont be able to make it look like youre coming from another location. So you cant watch geographically locked Netflix content, for example. How we test VPNs For each VPN service we review, we conduct tests at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening, using Ookla Speedtest . We start by measuring the speed of our unprotected internet connection before testing the upload/download speeds of the VPN service. These tests are conducted to servers located in North America, the UK, Europe, Oceana, and Asia over an ethernet connection with a service provision of 100Mbps. To test upload and download speeds, we close down all background internet processes on the Mac, using TripMode. The only traffic on the system able to upload or download any data is Ookla. We use this setup to ensure that the numbers that Ookla produced were not stymied by anything else that the computer may have been doing at the time. The speeds Ookla captured were then averaged, providing us with a final numeric score. We then use those scores to calculate a percentage of difference in speeds, which is what youll see in our reviews. Since internet speeds change constantly based on server load, how fast your connection is, and a gazillion other factors, we feel this provides a better picture of what you can expect from a service, on the whole, than merely quoting the exact upload/download speeds we encountered during testing. Speed isnt the only quantifiable metric that we look at. The number of countries that a VPN offers servers in, total number of servers worldwide, and how much itll cost you to connect to those servers on a monthly or annual basis are also taken into consideration when recommending a VPN service to you. Additionally, we conduct hours of research into the VPN providers to find out who owns them, where theyre based, what they do with subscriber information, and whether the provider has a track record of questionable business practices. Whats a VPN? VPN stands for virtual private network . If youre not using a VPN, when your computer connects to the internet, it does so through the local gateway provided by your internet service provider (ISP). Doing this allows you to connect to all of the online services you use everyday. However, connecting this way also allows an ISP to know your physical location based on where you access the internetbe it at home, at work, in a cafe, or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot.This information is often sold to marketers and other parties interested in getting to know more about you and your browsing habits. Worse still, if you connect to the internet through an access point with weak security, such as at an airport, mall, or local library, hackers connected to the same network could intercept personal information like your social media passwords or banking credentials through whats called a man-in-the-middle attack . A VPN service can help prevent all of that. A VPN creates an encrypted digital tunnel between your computer and the server of the VPN service you choose to use. Once this tunnel has been established, your web searches, the sites you access, and the information you submit online will be hidden from prying eyes. This means that your ISP cant log or sell your information and hackers using the same network as you will find it difficult to initiate an attack on you. Almost no one will have any idea of what information youre accessing. For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared . VPN apps are very easy to install and use but for a step-by-step guide, read how to set up a VPN on a Mac . What a VPN cant do A VPN cant protect you from viruses, malware, or ransomware attacks if you choose to download an infected file, or a visit site designed to inject your computer with malignant code. It wont keep spoofed sites from stealing your personal information, if you happen to visit one. So, youll want to bone up on online security best practices . You should know that while using a VPN will allow you to anonymously engage in peer-to-peer file-sharing/torrenting, some service providers may cancel your VPN subscription or turn over your information to the authorities if they catch you trading copyrighted material with others. Is it legal to use a VPN? While accessing locked content is a bit of a gray area, due to licensing agreements, we dont blame anyone who is desperate to watch the latest season of their favorite program when it airs in the U.S. rather than waiting for it to come to their country. Paying to watch a streaming service thats not available in your country has to be less morally wrong than actual piracy! For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for Mac? What to look for in a VPN A clear privacy policy. A good VPN should offer an easy-to-understand privacy policy that outlines what, if any, information the company collects from its users. Its important that this policy details what they do with this information. Some VPN providers, especially those that offer their services for free, sell their user information to advertisers and other interested parties, just like an ISP does. Choose a provider that offers a level of privacy that suits you. Know where the provider is based. Many countries have no laws demanding that VPN providers maintain logs of their users activity. This makes maintaining your privacy more assurable than it would be if you use a VPN located in a country that requires that user-activity records be maintained. Some companies, in an effort to make their network of servers look bigger or more varied than it actually is, spoof the locations of their servers . The more servers, the merrier. Choosing a VPN provider with a ton of servers around the world is important for a couple of reasons. First, having a multitude of servers to choose from means that you wont be forced to connect to an overpopulated server where the data flows like mud. Second, having a wealth of servers to choose from both at home and internationally means more opportunities for spoofing your location, allowing you to hide where you are or access region-locked content with ease. Multiple payment options. Its a vicious circle. Paying for a VPN with a credit card online before you have access to a VPN could allow your financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Look for providers that offer alternative payment options such as PayPal, Bitcoin, AliPay, or via the Mac App Store. An easy-to-use interface. It takes a lot of digital wizardry to connect to a VPN. Some people want to see how their VPN operates, behind the scenes. Using an open source VPN client like Tunnelblick is great for this. Most folks, however, just want their VPN to work with minimal frustration. Look for a VPN service that offers a Mac client with an easy-to-use interface. Protection for all of your devices. A good VPN service will offer licenses for multiple devices to protect your loved ones computers as well as your personal smartphone and tablet. To this end, before investing in a VPN subscription, make sure that it provides software clients for all of the devices you own.

Best PDF Editor for Mac 2024-2025

Macworld Many workplaces and educational institutions have completely switched from paper documents to digital ones. Consequently, Mac users are increasingly dealing with PDFs and other e-document file formats. Were here to help you find the best PDF editor for your Mac from the multitude of options. There are various PDF editing apps that cater to various budgets and workflows and among them are a few that stand out in terms of features, performance, and design. When selecting a PDF editor, consider one that can create, convert, and export PDFs from various file types, while preserving the original formatting and making the text searchable and editable through OCR technology. The editor should also allow for content editing, including modifying text, inserting, resizing, and moving images, and reorganizing pages. Additionally, it should enable users to add comments and annotations to PDF files during review, with tools for marking up both text documents and graphic-heavy files. Security features, such as password protection, permissions setting, and content redaction, are also important for access control. Lastly, consider a PDF editor with mobile support, either through a dedicated mobile app or cloud access. If youre looking for basic annotation and page organization, the free Preview app that is available as part of macOS may be sufficient. If you need more in the way of editing tools, then one of these apps could better support your needs. We have reviewed all the PDF editors below, so read on to find out exactly what we thought. Updated December 2024 to add Cisdem PDFMaster for Mac (aka EaseUS PDF Editor). 1. Preview Pros Pre-installed and free Clear user interface Lots of handy tools Cons No iOS or iPadOS apps Doesnt allow you to edit existing text Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at Apple Apple Preview is the default document and image viewer on macOS, offering a range of useful features beyond just viewing photos and PDFs. Click on any PDF (or any image format) to open it and it will launch in Preview. Alternatively, open Preview and it will open the Finder, allowing users to browse through folders to locate the file they want to view. The app features a toolbar at the top of the screen, which allows users to view file details, zoom in or out, share the file, fill in a form, or mark up the file. The Markup button reveals tools for selection, doodling, inserting shapes or sticky notes, signing, and typing text. These tools are easily customizable, allowing users to control the color and size of a shape or text box, as well as pick between multiple fonts when typing. There is also an autofill helper. Apple Preview is not designed to replace image or PDF editors, but it still offers some power-user features. The menu bars Tools button allows users to reveal more advanced image controls, such as granular resizing, color adjustments, and automatic background removal. The File menu includes a Export button that allows users to choose the outputs quality and file format, allowing them to convert images to various formats. When viewing a PDF file in Apple Preview, users can easily re-order or delete its pages using the sidebar, allowing them to limit the file to the important bits they need. If exporting the PDF using Preview, users can optionally add a password, quartz filter, or file restrictions. If youd prefer not to pay for Adobe Acrobat or another solution, Apple Preview may be more suitable for you. Apple Preview offers free tools that Adobe has paywalled, including PDF page organization/deletion, password protection for PDF files, and document scanning. Just need to turn something into a PDF? Read: How to make a PDF on Mac Read our full Preview review 2. Readdle PDF Expert Pros Wide range of handy tools Intuitive user interface Flexible pricing Cons Lifetime license only for Mac Not for Android and Windows Price When Reviewed: Free 7-day trial; $6.67/month; $79.99 a year; $139.99 perpetual plan Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Seven day trial Free View Deal Readdle (monthly) $6.67 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at Seven day trial $6.67 at Readdle (monthly) PDF Expert has a wide range of reliable tools and an intuitive user interface. Its a great option if you are looking for more than Preview offers for free. Upon launching PDF Expert, users are greeted by a Tools tab with shortcuts to various features, such as organizing, optimizing, protecting, reviewing, or converting documents. The app runs smoothly and gives you everything you need to fully control a PDF file, including edit text and images, sign, fill checkboxes, add links, redact content in multiple ways, insert shapes, highlight text, doodle, and even measure the distance between two points or calculate specific areas. The PDF Expert toolbar features layout settings, an advanced search bar, and an AI Chat button. The AI Chat button allows users to interact with the integrated chatbot, summarize PDFs, list key points, generate hashtags, and more. The toolbars center includes commonly used PDF editing functionalities, such as annotation, editing, file conversion and exporting, signing, and optical character recognition (OCR). For most users, PDF Experts features are sufficient, as it allows users to manipulate a documents content, add or remove elements, protect the file with a password, and shrink its size. While Adobe Acrobat offers more advanced tools, PDF Experts core functionalities are sufficient for most users. There are two payment options on macOS: a lifetime license, or an annual license that includes future updates and mobile support. Students can get 50% off and there is a free 7-day trial. It is available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, but is not available on Android or Windows devices. Read our full Readdle PDF Expert review 3. Wondershare PDFelement Pros Cross-platform solution Flexible pricing Simple user interface Cons Some unlabeled sidebar buttons are hard to identify Not always intuitive Price When Reviewed: Free 7 day trial, from $79.99 one year plan, $109.99 two year plan, or $103.99 lifetime license Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Seven day trial Free View Deal Wondershare (annually) $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at Seven day trial $79.99 at Wondershare (annually) Wondershares PDFelement is a document manipulation tool that offers essential features on all platforms at a reasonable price. The app features a minimalistic user interface and offers single- and cross-platform licenses, with the main difference being app updates. If you plan to use the PDF editor on your Mac exclusively, you can opt for a one-year, two-year, or lifetime license. PDFelement also supports iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and the web, offering an all-encompassing bundle that supports all of these platforms. The single-platform licenses include 20GB of cloud storage, while the highlighted bundles offer 100GB. Once you run out of the 20,000 AI tokens included with your purchase, you can buy more. PDFelement features a clean home page showcasing standard PDF editing tools, such as PDF conversion, optical character recognition (OCR), template selection, file compression, and more. It also has a sidebar that grants access to handy destinations like recent files, cloud documents, tagged PDFs, and agreements youve sent others to sign. PDFelement supports most commonly needed PDF editing functionalities, including text manipulation, image and URL insertion, adding, deleting, and editing the documents pages. Its not the most advanced selection out there, but it gets the job done in casual workflows. PDFelement is better suited for annotation and artificial intelligence needs, allowing users to insert text, shapes, comments, stamps, forms, checkboxes, text callouts, and more. It can also automatically bookmarks reflecting the documents chapters. Beyond text manipulation, PDFelement can redact text, add a password to the file, convert the PDF to a Microsoft Office format, change the pages background, compress the size, and insert a watermark. While not the most feature-rich PDF editor, it caters to casual users seeking a lightweight solution. Despite its minimalism, getting used to PDFelement may take some time. The unlabeled buttons in the editors sidebar can be confusing and challenging to identify, and some features, like text editing, can sometimes be unpredictable. PDFelement is an excellent PDF editor for those with casual needs, but its tools arent as advanced as those offered by many rival apps. Read our full Wondershare PDFelement review 4. Foxit PDF Editor Pros Extensive set of PDF editing tools Native macOS, iOS, and iPadOS apps Cons Only annual subscription plans Mobile app access excluded from base plan Overwhelming user interface Price When Reviewed: PDF Reader: Free; PDF Editor: $10.99 a month; $129.99 a year; PDF Editor+: $159.99 a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Foxit PDF Reader Free View Deal Foxit (monthly) $10.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at Foxit PDF Reader $10.99 at Foxit (monthly) Foxit offers a range of PDF-centric solutions for Mac users, including PDF Reader and PDF Editor. PDF Reader is available on macOS for free, allowing users to view, annotate, sign, and have AI analyze their documents. The paid-for PDF Editor unlocks the complete editing toolbox for an annual fee, with a base plan and a plus (+) plan that includes more features. There are options to pay monthly, but it is still an annual contract: theres no option to cancel after a month. The free PDF Reader allows users to control the size, color, and style of inserted text or shapes, as well as customize features like changing the documents background shade, reversing and rotating pages, signing forms, and more. It can read text aloud, measure distances, calculate areas, magnify selected spots, and have AI analyze your document. The paid-for PDF Editor supports all of PDF Readers features but adds editing functionalities, such as file conversion, optical character recognition (OCR), and full manipulation of a documents text and images through addition, deletion, or tweaking. It caters to power users with advanced features like document sanitization, redaction styles, security layers, JavaScript, and accessibility checks. Foxits PDF Editor stands out for its ChatGPT integration, which can analyze and summarize documents and perform actions on your behalf. The base plan should suffice for most users, while the Plus plan offers exclusives like mobile app access, tracking other parties signatures, smart redaction, 130GB of cloud storage, and template support. While the app is generally swift, the user interface may seem too packed to some users, especially those who dont need all the offered tools. Foxit PDF Editor is designed for serious users rather than casual users, and if the UI overwhelms you, it may be an overkill for you. Read our full Foxit PDF Editor review 5. ABBYY FineReader Pro Pros Reasonably accurate and reliable OCR functionality Supports scanning and importing from iPhone Can convert PDF to wide range of formats Cons Similarly priced apps include superior PDF editing tools Price When Reviewed: $11.99 a month, $69 a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price 30-day trial Free View Deal Mac App Store (monthly) $11.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at 30-day trial $11.99 at Mac App Store (monthly) Other PDF editing apps offer optical character recognition (OCR) as an added perk, Abbyy FineReader PDF leads on its optical character recognition software and file converter, and, while it offers reliable OCR and file conversion functionalities, it falls short when it comes to PDF editing. FineReader PDF is a simple user interface with three main tabs: viewing PDF documents, quick and advanced file conversion tools, and importing documents. It has been optimized for macOS and offers a modern design. FineReader PDF supports viewing and highlighting PDF files, with preset highlight colors and comments. The quick conversion feature processes inputted files to detect content and then selects the outputs format. Supported file formats include PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, EPUB, FB2, TXT, HTML, RTF, ODT, and CSV. It doesnt support Apples HEIC image format, so users may need to convert HEIC iPhone shots to JPG first. Each format offers its own customizations, such as ebook title, author, layout, and page size. FineReader PDF exports the document, making it more editable. However, it doesnt support proper PDF editing, so it may not be the ideal PDF solution for manipulating files. It doesnt offer a one-time purchase option and has relatively high recurring fees. Theres a yearly subscription plan on the Abbyy website , and a monthly subscription on the Mac App Store (which is a good option because you can cancel at any time). Theres a full-featured 7-day free trial. Read our full ABBYY FineReader Pro review 6. Adobe Acrobat Pros Cross platform Advanced PDF manipulation tools Supports signature collection Cons Mac app is bloated Free version is limited compared to Preview Expensive subscriptions Price When Reviewed: Acrobat Reader: free; Acrobat Standard: from $12.99 a month; Acrobat Pro: from $19.99 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Adobe Reader Free View Deal Adobe (Monthly) $12.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at Adobe Reader $12.99 at Adobe (Monthly) Adobe Acrobat is a popular PDF viewer and editor on Mac, offering basic annotation tools. However, the free Acrobat Reader tier offers the same basic annotation tools that are present in Apples built-in Preview app, which is far superior in most cases. One point in its favor is that Acrobat is available across macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and even the web, making it accessible from most modern computing devices, while Preview is limited to macOS. Subscribing to Adobe Acrobat Standard provides access to all PDF editing functionality, including more control over the PDFs content, reorganization of the entire documents layout, and more advanced tools like object measurements, accessibility preparation, JavaScript support, and search index insertion. For the advanced Adobe Acrobat Pro features you pay more each month to get permanent redaction, web form creation, PDF comparisons, accessibility checks, audio/video insertion, and much more. Acrobat Pro is necessary for tasks like converting scanned documents into searchable and editable PDFs. Adobe Acrobats paid subscriptions are expensive and do not offer one-time purchase options. The slightly higher monthly cancel anytime price is a good option if you only need the features temporarily. Read our full Adobe Acrobat review 7. Cisdem PDFMaster (aka EaseUS PDF editor) Pros Simple user interface Fluid performance One-time payment options Cons Confusing branding Not always reliable No version for iOS and iPadOS Price When Reviewed: $59.95 a year or $89.95 with lifetime uppgrades from EaseUS, or $49.99 a year of $99.99 lifetime plan from Cisdem Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Cisdem $49.99 View Deal EaseUS $59.95 View Deal App Store $69.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at Cisdem $59.95 at EaseUS $69.99 at App Store One of the options you may come across during your hunt for a PDF editor is that from EaseUS. While the companys own PDF editor is exclusive to Windows, its website offers PDFMaster for macOSwhich is actually developed by its partner Cisdem. EaseUS packages Cisdem PDFMaster as EaseUS PDF Editor for Mac , but its essentially the same app. Confused? We were. Just to baffle you further, you can buy the app from EaseUS or Cisdem, and at the Mac App Store, all at different prices and there are a few differences. We reviewed EaseUSs version. The app features a minimalistic user interface with modern-looking buttons and labels. While PDFMasters feature set is somewhat limited compared to more professional apps, it generally gets the job done for those with casual PDF editing needs. You can edit the text in the document, including add or remove words, change the font, insert links and so on. You can also add shapes, highlighting, underlining, strikethroughs, and leave comments. Images, stamps, and digital signatures can also be added. Watermarking, document cropping, conversion to multiple file formats, size shrinking, optical character recognition (OCR), redaction, page reorganization, PDF comparisons, area calculations are also available. We did have a few issues during testing. For example, exporting a PDF after password-protecting it didnt actually secure it. Once its 14-day trial expires, you will have to pay $89.95 once or $59.95 per year to continue using the software. The macOS version doesnt provide a monthly subscription plan. There is no mobile version for iOS and iPadOS users. Read our full Cisdem PDFMaster for Mac (aka EaseUS PDF Editor) review FAQ 1. Do Macs have built in PDF? Macs have a built-in PDF editor called Apple Preview, which offers a comprehensive set of PDF markup tools, including form filling and password protection. This editor is superior to Adobe Acrobats free tier in terms of PDF editing capabilities. The PDF editing tools in macOS can be accessed through Quick Look or the Preview app, and they allow users to add text, highlight, underline, and strikethrough text, rotate pages, add and remove pages, add arrows and other shapes, and add comments to PDFs. Additionally, Apple Preview allows users to add their signature to a PDF. However, its worth noting that Apple Preview has limited native sharing options and is only available to Mac users. 2. How to make a PDF on a Mac To create a PDF on a Mac, you can use the built-in Preview app. Simply create a document on your Mac, then choose Print > PDF and edit in Preview. The Preview app also allows you to export PDFs with options for quality and file format, and add password, quartz filter, or file restrictions. Alternatively, you can use tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro or Standard, one one of the other options in the list above, but these require a subscription. 3. How to fill in a PDF on a Mac Filling in a PDF with Apple Preview is easy. The Mac app, included on every Mac, includes a form-filling feature that automatically detects fields and allows easy filling. In addition, AutoFill, a feature introduced in macOS 14.2, uses Contacts to select the necessary information and makes filling out PDFs faster and more secure. If you need more advance features then one of the options above will give you additional viewing, editing, converting, and PDF signing abilities. Read: How to edit a PDF on a Mac 4. Can I edit a PDF for free on a Mac? Yes, you can edit a PDF for free on a Mac using Apples built-in Preview app, which offers a full set of PDF markup tools, including encryption, password protection, and permissions for files . Adobe also offers a free Acrobat Reader for reading and filling in PDFs, but it lacks some features that Apples built-in Preview app offers. Read: Best free PDF editors for Mac 5. Whats the difference between Preview and Acrobat? Adobe Acrobat and Apple Preview both offer basic annotation tools. While both have a form-filling feature, Preview automatically detects fields for easy filling, unlike Acrobat which requires manual alignment. Preview also offers free tools that Acrobat charges for, including PDF page organization/deletion, password protection, and document scanning . Furthermore, Preview is preloaded on Macs, providing faster performance and a sleeker design. However, Previews editing functionality is limited and it is not designed for advanced editing, unlike Acrobat which offers more functionality it you pay for it. Read: Apple Preview vs Adobe Acrobat Some other articles that might be helpful: How to make a PDF on an iPhone How to scan documents on iPhone How to edit a PDF on iPhone How to redact text in a PDF How to save a page from a PDF as a separate file

In 2025, even Pro users will want Apples cheapest devices

Macworld The musician Stephin Merritt once joked that he would be happy to sell only a single copy of each album he makes, provided that single copy costs $100,000. Which coincidentally is pretty close to Apples marketing strategy for Vision Pro. I jest, of course: you cant run a multi-trillion-dollar corporation that way. Apple loves its margins, but it needs volume too if it wants to keep paying out those juicy shareholder dividends. And as much as Tim Cook would like every product sold to be marked with the surnames Pro, Max, or Pro Maxand as hard as the company works to upsell at every possible opportunitythe cheaper devices further down the range are just as important to Apples overall success. The Apple Watch SE hasnt gotten much of an update since 2020. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Its odd, then, that this year has been such a disappointment for so many of Apples budget products. The current versions of the iPhone SE, Apple Watch SE, and baseline iPad all came out in 2022, but they received no more love in 2024 than they did in 2023. The 10th-gen iPad remains oddly appealing, thanks to a timely price cut and the generally lower importance of state-of-the-art specs in the tablet space. But the two SE devices are looking their age. They need an update, and soon. On which front, theres good news and bad news. Here in Europe, the 3rd-gen iPhone SE is set to vanish from sale at the start of 2025 not because it isnt good enough, but because Apple neglected to launch a version with USB-C despite having two years to prepare for incoming regulations. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are getting the chop too, which will leave Apple without any kind of remotely budget-focused smartphone in a major market. Presumably this will help motivate the company to launch the 4th-gen iPhone SE in a timely fashion, probably in March or April 2025. An overdue upgrade for Apples SE products Weve had to wait a long time for it to arrive, but the next iPhone SE does sound like an intriguing proposition. Its all change on the design front, for example. At long last the SE is going to ditch the Home button (angry emails to the usual address) and catch up with the design trends of well, 2017. But thats still an improvement. In terms of componentry we can look forward to a powerful 48MP camera and Apples in-house 5G modem, which should mean improved battery life. And there will reportedly be an A18 processor inside that modern chassis, same as in the iPhone 16, plus 8GB of RAM. These upgrades are necessary to make the SE compatible with Apple Intelligence, with vastly improved all-round performance a happy side effect. And it all adds up to an iPhone SE thats actually special . The iPhone SE is reportedly getting an iPhone 15 glow-up next spring. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry The Apple Watch SE is less likely to get a major revamp in 2025, but it will surely get an upgrade of some sort. This may well involve a new material; Apple is understood to be working on a switch from aluminum to brightly colored plastic in order to lower costs and appeal to younger customers. It will also get a processor upgrade; not something that one would normally view as a priority for a budget smartwatch, but worthwhile when the silicon in question is functionally identical to the S6 chip from 2020. A performance bump is overdue. And as for the standard iPad, 2025 should see the long-awaited launch of the 11th-gen model . As explained above this is less urgent than the sorely needed refreshes to the two SE devices, but could we dream of finally getting a laminated screen on the entry-level iPad? Obviously Cupertino will be keen to add support for Apple Intelligence, too, which means substantial spec upgrades. And a bump back up to $449? Lets hope not, but you know, swings and roundabouts. What about the cheaper Macs? On the other side of Apples portfolio, 2024 was a more productive year for the baseline models. The MacBook Air (which can be taken seriously as a budget product only if you keep an eye firmly trained on the MacBook Pros eyewatering price list) saw a handy upgrade to the M3 chipset that we felt improved on greatness ; while the Mac mini received a fabulous redesign that meant it finally lived up to its name . Both are worthy of a hearty recommendation. But theres more to come next year. The Air will be updated again in the first half of next year (probably some time between January and March) to get the M4 chip and a new Center Stage camera . The latter should solve one of the machines few weaknesses: that 1080p FaceTime camera. The Mac mini will join the M4 gang too, although later in the year. An October announcement sounds about right. The trend towards cheap We spent a couple of years complaining about Apples upsell strategy, whereby it would deliberately leave features out of entry-level products, sometimes going so far as to equip them with the previous years processors, in order to push customers towards the Pro models. This was annoying, we felt, not to mention ill-suited strategically to a time of stagnant wages and a high cost of living. But now were starting to notice a change: the companys cheaper products have started to look like excellent choices once again. If this trend started in 2024, it will spread its wings in 2025. The two SE updates are long overdue and should bring good-quality phones and watches within the reach of customers on a budget. And Im looking forward to seeing what Apple does with the 11th-gen iPad; if the price is too high then we can still buy the 10th-gen model, which might even get another price cut to celebrate. As for the M4 Mac mini who needs a Mac Studio when the budget model is that powerful? As I explained when discussing the new iPad mini perhaps not quite a budget product, but good value for what it offersthe tech industry and tech buyers in turn, are sometimes guilty of neglecting products that compromise. But compromise is important. That doesnt mean accepting devices that dont do what you need. But it means refusing to pay for anything more. Its taken Apple a while to remember that there are people out there who dont have a small fortune to throw at consumer tech, but Im glad weve got there in the end. And Im pleased to report that 2025 already looks like a bumper year for Apples budget lines.

The last-minute gift that lets someone on your shopping list own their Microsoft apps for life

Macworld Unfortunately, we rent many facets of our daily lives. That includes homes or apartments, Netflix, DoorDash, and the same goes for your productivity apps. Something you can do to ease the subscription loador someone elsesis to own your daily tools outright, which is usually more affordable in the long run. Tis the season to own the entire suite of Microsoft Office apps for less than $40. And no, were not pulling your leg. Lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac is price-dropped to $39.99 (reg. $229), which is over $30 less than a yearly subscription to Microsoft 365. It could be the perfect last-minute gift for a student or coworker. While this isnt the latest version of Microsoft Office, the 2019 version might be more compatible with an older or refurbished Mac. Users will gain lifelong access to the following apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic . Create stunning slide decks with PowerPoint to impress an incoming client for your marketing firm, or jump into Excel to crunch numbers for your project manager. If youre working remotely, use Teams to organize workloads with your colleagues more seamlessly. No one likes running into obstacles, so make sure you or your giftees Mac has had its OS updated to at least Monterey Version 12 or newer. All updates are also included with this license. December 2022 at 11:59 PM Pacific is the deadline to grab this practical last-minute present. Act now to get this lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac for just $39.99. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac Only $39.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Macworld Podcast: Whats in store for Apple in 2025

Macworld With 2024 closing, its time to look forward to 2025. What could we see from Apple in the new year? Thats coming up in this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 914 with Jason Cross , Michael Simon , and Roman Loyola . Watch episode 914 on YouTube Listen to episode 914 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 914 on Spotify Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review! right here in the Podcasts app . The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel . Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone . Apple

The one simple accessory every iPhone user should have

Apples next-generation MagSafe charging technology was first introduced on the iPhone 12 back in 2020. Since then, it has spawned a whole new category of The post The one simple accessory every iPhone user should have appeared first on BGR .

You can still get this crazy AirPods Max deal in time for the holidays

Macworld Theres a new USB-C AirPods Max model out, but the older Lightning model is just as good, if not betterespecially when you can get a killer deal on them. And today weve got one: We found the AirPods Max for $399 at Walmart or Best Buy for delivery in time to wrap and put under the Christmas tree. Thats $150 off and only a couple of dollars off its all-time Black Friday low, a fantastic deal for a killer pair of headphones. The AirPods Max are some of the most comfortable headphones you can get and they deliver fantastic audio. We gave them a four-star rating when we reviewed them and stressed how pleasing the sound quality was, how great the active noise canceling is, and how awesome the build is. We werent thrilled about the price, but when you get to save $150 on them, thats not really an issue anymore. The level of noise cancelation achieved by Apple with these headphones is pretty awesome, allowing you to block out the world around you, whether thats a busy office or your upstairs neighbors remodeling their home. For all those moments when extra vigilance is required, the Transparency Mode will help you keep an ear on your surroundings without taking off your headphones. This model has a Lightning port but otherwise is identical to the newer USB-C model other than some different colors. Theres actually one advantage to the Lightning model: you can connect a Lightning-to-3.5mm audio jack for wired listening, which isnt available with USB-C. So, if you or someone you love has been wanting a pair of AirPods Max, you can grab a pair for a great price at Walmart or Best Buy and still get them in time to rock out on Christmas morning. Save $150 on the AirPods Max Buy now at Walmart

Best Mac backup software

Macworld To many of us, backing up a Mac means setting up Time Machine to make incremental backups and signing up to various iCloud services so that we can keep copies of photos, music, files and more in the cloud. But, while Time Machine and iCloud are great resources, they arent perfect, and relying on them alone to keep your data safe is a mistake that could have disastrous consequences. An ideal strategy consists of at least two separate backup schedules, one backing up your Mac to a hard drive onsite, and one backing up to a drive thats stored offsite or in the cloud. At the very least, if you use Time Machine to back up to an external hard drive or network device, you should also have another tool running regular backups to a different drive just in case one fails. PROMOTION Mac backup software | EaseUS Todo Backup As an ideal alternative to Time Machine and iCloud, EaseUS Todo Backup does backup tasks on Mac more simply and faster, by backup archive, disk cloning features, and file or folder sync. It can set up an automated backup schedule in stealth mode to create safe copies and protect your data proactively. Also, all backups will be compressed to save disk space and encrypted to protect privacy. Now 25% OFF by using code: MACWORLD25. Free Trial Buy and Save 25% In this article, we look at the best on-site backup solutions to use with your Mac. We look separately at cloud backup solutions that work with Macs including Backblaze , Carbonite , IDrive and others including options that offer the ability to combine local backups with backup to the cloud, such as Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office. Best backup software for Mac Of the apps and services we look at here, Time Machine from Apple is by far the simplest option. Its also completely free and available to everyone with a Mac, so you might be wondering why you would want to consider another backup option for your Mac. Time Machine is good, but it is limited compared to some of the options out there. Read on to find out how options such as Get Backup Pro , ChronoSync , Carbon Copy Cloner , and SuperDuper might meet your needs. Apple Time Machine Pros Reliable, easy to set up, and good at working behind the scenes to create backup archives Easy to migrate Time Machine data over to new Macs as needed Good level of encryption-based security for backup data Cons Almost exclusively local backups rather than cloud-based backups Limited backup scheduling options Restore interface can be confusing Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at Apple We are starting with Apples Time Machine software because it is included with every Mac. But that doesnt necessarily mean it will be the best option for you. Time Machine is a reliable tool for local backups of Macs, providing a full-sized initial backup of every file on the Mac and incremental backups throughout the day as long as the Mac is attached to a designated Time Machine external drive. That drive can be disconnected and used as an external drive for other computers or paired with multiple Macs for backups. The first backup takes the longest while every file on the Mac is rolled into the Time Machine backup, but it gets quicker from there. Time Machines Restore function allows users to open and scroll through past backups to locate and restore files, which is useful if something was accidentally deleted or you made changes to a file and need to go back to an earlier version. When paired with Apples Migration Assistant, porting data and user profiles from an old Mac to a new one is simple. When importing a Time Machine backup to a new Mac, Time Machine inherits previous backups as well. For security, users can designate a password to encrypt their Time Machine backups and there are reminders about the number of days since the last backup that encourage you to keep it plugged in. However, Time Machine is more geared towards external hard drives, which can be lost, damaged, or stolen. It is best to have both a local and secure off-site copy of your data, and the online backup market has grown over the past few years with services like iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box. Despite its limitations, Time Machine is an excellent solution for local backups of Macs. While it requires an external hard drive connected to the Mac for consistent functionality, it offers excellent protection built into the operating system. Carbon Copy Cloner Pros Excellent performance Great level of configuration, including scheduling, and task scripting Frequent updates Cons Creating a bootable drive is hit or miss on M-series Macs High $49.99 price point for the initial Personal and Household license Currently unable to clone to Windows file formats or over to Web and cloud-based platforms Price When Reviewed: Free 30-day trial, Personal and Household license: $49.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Bombich Software $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at Bombich Software Bombich Softwares Carbon Copy Cloner has been a popular utility for cloning data on Macs since it launched in 2002. It supports HFS+ and APFS drive formats, local volumes, and NAS-enabled networks. However, it cannot back up Windows file formats, optical media, web-based platforms, or Apples Time Machine platforms. Carbon Copy Cloner has a comprehensive user interface, and customizable filters and grants access to configuration options like disk encryption, task notes, and bandwidth configuration for NAS backups. Other tools, such as scheduling, can be performed without issue. The task manager allows users to save and configure multiple backup tasks. A scripting feature allows custom scripts to be loaded and activated as needed. The SafetyNet feature allows for drive formatting or stopping processes before overwriting data on a volume. However, there are some weak points, including Apples lack of openness and the need for bootable external volumes. Creating a bootable external volume in Carbon Copy Cloner is currently a hit-or-miss proposition, with attempts at creating a bootable external volume failing due to Apples protocols. Other utilities face the same issues. Carbon Copy Cloner pairs well with utilities like Time Machine, Apples Migration Assistant, and SuperDuper!. The companys customer support is friendly and speedy, and the software offers quick access to help guides. A supportive community and frequent developer updates are another bonus. If Carbon Copy Cloner is not in your arsenal of handy utilities, you should download it and give it a try. A Personal and Household license is $49.99/40.10. Theres a full-featured 30-day trial. Read our full Carbon Copy Cloner review IDrive Pros Good control over scheduling and backup elements Cons Cramped interface Price When Reviewed: Basic: Free; IDrive Mini: $2.95 (100GB) | $9.95 (500GB) a year; IDrive Personal: $69.65 (5TB) a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price iDrive (Annually) $2.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2.95 at iDrive (Annually) lDrive is a backup utility that handles both local and web/cloud-based backups (similar to Backblaze and Carbonite). It allows you to continually backup your entire drive to the cloud, while also letting you drag and drop files to the cloud to access remotely. lDrive also allows you to back up external hard drives. lDrives user interface is very straightforward. Your Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures folders are automatically selected for backup, along with the contents of ~/Library/Mail. Features like Rewind and Snapshots allow you to restore from earlier versions of files or snapshots of the complete data set. To add other folders, click Change at the bottom of the window thats not exactly intuitive. You can add videos to the backup, but locating them in lDrives interface can be complicated. Both scheduling and restoring are straightforward, however. As is choosing a local drive as the destination for a backup in place of lDrives servers. All data is encrypted, with the option to set your own private encryption key. You have the choice of restoring by having data physically shipped to you. This is free for the first restore each year, but if you are based outside the US youll have to pay for shipping. The subscription-based tier system offers a free Basic account with 10GB of online disk space for free with no credit or debit card required. That 10GB free tier allows for local backups and is pretty generous, but the real steal is the $2.95 (2.32) per year IDrive Mini plan. Thats not a typo, either; for less than 3 bucks a year you can get access to 100GB of storage. That can be expanded to 500GB for $9.95 (7.84) per year. lDrives free tier and the ability to spread your data allocation in the paid tiers across multiple computers makes it attractive. Overall, though, its expensive for a single machine. Read our full IDrive review SuperDuper! Pros Easy installation, great user interface Scripting and customization capabilities Reliable updates Cons No network volume support No FAT, exFAT, or NTFS support Price When Reviewed: $27.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Shirt Pocket $27.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $27.95 at Shirt Pocket SuperDuper! (version 3.8 at the time of this review) is a popular Mac cloning and restoration app that is easy to install. It supports APFS and HFS+ file formats and can be customized to fit individual needs. In addition to cloning, the app supports scheduling and allows users to specify files to be copied over, including Unix-specific elements like user folders, shared users, shared users and applications, and backup files. SuperDuper! easily restores data from one volume to another, which is simpler than using Apples restoration options in macOSs Disk Utility. The user interface displays the number of files copied, copy speed, data evaluated, time elapsed, and amount of data moved from the source volume to the target volume. Users can edit provided scripts or write their own, choose between methods such as Total Backup and Smart Backup, and set up events like permission repairs before a copy begins, scripts to execute after a copy has completed, and for the Mac to eject the target volume, shut down, go to sleep, or quit SuperDuper! once the copy is done. However, SuperDuper! has room for improvement. For example, it cant back up to network volumes and it doesnt support FAT, exFAT, or NTFS for Windows and Linux volumes. We hope that the network backup comes with a further update. SuperDuper! retails for a one-time payment of $27.95/26.95 (you can use it for free, but you need to pay to unlock scheduling, smart updates, and some other features). Over the years, Shirt Pocket has consistently provided solid updates, pinned down bugs, supported new protocols introduced by Apple, and communicated well through its tech support and marketing. Overall, SuperDuper! is a reliable local cloning and restoration app for the Mac that can be readily customized and scripted, and is excellent value. Read our full SuperDuper! review Get Backup Pro Pros Flexibility Can back up to network volumes Price When Reviewed: From $29.99 for a single license; Family pack of up to 5 Macs is $49.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price BeLight Software $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $29.99 at BeLight Software Get Backup Proby BeLight Software is easy to download, install into the Applications folder, and run (although we did encounter a few problems assigning full disk access). The user interface keeps things simple, scheduling full backups, cloning, and incremental backups worked like a charm, and a slate of customization options allows for specific files and folders to be chosen and app data to be added to the backup/clone process. The impressive level of customization makes it easy to set tasks up, while an excellent restoration system installed data where it needed to be without fail. Get Backup Pro to be very capable, running flawlessly under macOS Sequoia. The software is priced well at $29.99 (23.59) for a single license, $49.99 (39.38) for a family license that covers up to five Macs. Get Backup Pro 3 is also available at a 30% academic discount for education. The software is also available through MacPaws SetApp subscription service, which retails between $9.99 and $14.99 a month depending on the subscription tier chosen. The option of a 30-day demo gives you time to play around with it, and the licensing is flexible. Get Backup Pro presents a nice array of options beyond what Apples free Time Machine utility offer and is excellent for the casual user and the home market. Read our full Get Backup Pro review Backblaze Pros Flexibility Can back up to network volumes Price When Reviewed: $99 a year, $9 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Backblaze (yearly) $99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $99 at Backblaze (yearly) Backblaze is an online, offsite backup service that allows you to back up your Mac to its servers automatically or according to a schedule you set. Backblaze backs up the contents of your Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music folders, but excludes your Applications folder. Backblaze also excludes some file types from being backed up, such as .dmg disk images that restriction can be switched off, however. Backups are kept for 30 days, so you can restore from any that ran during that time. As you would expect, backups are incremental so only files that have changed since it last ran are copied. Data is encrypted and you can optionally add a six-digit passcode to provide an additional layer of security. When it comes to restoring your data, you have three options: you can restore via Backblazes web interface or you can have files sent to you on a USB stick or hard drive for an additional fee. And theres a 100% refund if you return the USB stick or hard drive within 30 days, though youll have to pay shipping and taxes. You can view individual files and choose which ones to download. And you can view and share backed up files on an iPhone or iPad with the Backblaze mobile app. The Locate your Computer service tracks your Macs location to help you find it if its stolen similar to Find My. If a lost Mac is still running backups your Mac can tell you its current IP address and show you recently backed-up data. Backblazes user interface comprises a menu bar item and a System Preferences pane. However, that pane is more like a fully fledged application, with options to exclude files, add folders and disks to the backup, and throttle bandwidth. Its simple and very Mac-like. If you only need to back up one Mac, and particularly if you want to back up external disks, Backblazes simplicity and price give it the edge over Carbonite and IDrive. With Backblaze you can back up your Mac for $9 (approx 7) a month or $99/year (approx 78), data is stored in secure data centres and two-factor authentication adds an extra level of security. Read our full Backblaze review ChronoSync Pros Supports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon S3 storage as well as local hard drive Cons Complex Price When Reviewed: Chronosync: $49.99; ChronoSync Express: $29.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Econ Technologies $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at Econ Technologies Dont be fooled by its name. While ChronoSync has its roots in file synchronization and still focuses on that, its a robust, feature-filled, and highly configurable backup tool too. As youd expect, you can manually run backups or schedule them and you can back up to a local hard drive or NAS box. ChronoSync also supports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon S3 storage. You can use it to back up one remote location to another using SFTP and even set the location to be an iPhone or iPad using the optional InterConneX app. If you want to back up files and folders to another Mac, you can do that too. Backups are incremental, but ChronoSync doesnt just check the contents of a file for changes. If metadata has altered since the last backup, that will be reflected too. And backed-up files are copied to a temporary file and checked for integrity before the file on the destination volume is replaced with the new version. ChronoSync can create two types of bootable clones: standard and mirrored. The former creates a bootable system on the destination volume, leaving other files on the volume intact. Mirror replaces the entire contents of the destination volume with files from the source. ChronoSyncs interface is chock-full of options and that in itself may be enough to put you off if all you want it is a simple backup tool: Get Backup Pro or Acronis True Image are more straightforward options. However, if you need both synchronization across multiple Macs and backup, its worth persevering. ChronoSync costs $49.99 (approx 38). There is a 15-day fully functional trial or you could buy ChronoSync Express for $29.99 (approx 23), a cut-price version of the complete ChronoSync software, which allows you to sync and backup files locally but doesnt support cloud backup or cloning your Macs boot drive. You can download ChronoSync Express from the Mac App Store here . Read our full ChronoSync review MacBackup Guru Pros Good control over scheduling and backup elements Cons Cramped interface Price When Reviewed: $29 (on offer for $9) Mac Backup Gurus prime function is to create bootable clones of your Macs startup disk. However, it can also synchronize backed-up versions of your disk, or even of just a folder, with the current version. And it can create snapshots, just like Time Machine does. So, for example, if you set it to take a snapshot on a regular schedule, you can then revert to whichever snapshot you choose. You can also choose which folders to back up and to where rather than having to backup a whole disk to your Time Machines disk and then designate folders to exclude. Theres more control over scheduling that Time Machine offers, and, of course, Apples utility doesnt offer the ability to synchronize folders or create bootable clones. While the snapshots feature is similar to Time Machine, Mac Backup Guru offers more control. You can, for example, browse snapshots in the Finder, rather than having to use the Time Machine utility to restore files. Mac Backup Gurus interface is simple and will be familiar if youve used some of the other tools listed here. However, some of the menu buttons, notably those for choosing source and destination, seemed small and cramped to us. Wed have liked those menus and the options contained within them to have been a little bigger to make them easier to select from. Once youve chosen a source, which can be a whole volume or a specific folder, and a destination, you can elect to exclude folders within that from being backed up. You can also schedule automatic backups. The scheduling is fairly basic, but that means its also easy to configure. Just click the days on which you want the backup to run and the time you want it to run. Its worth noting that while you can run the backup on whichever day you choose, you have to run it at the same time each day. You can also run ad-hoc backups by pressing the Backup button on the main window. The final option is to choose how many snapshots to keep. Once you reach the specified number, Mac Backup Guru will start deleting the oldest snapshot every time a new one is created. Mac Backup Guru is an easy-to-use backup tool that keeps options and settings to a minimum while offering several useful features. Its also good value at the time of writing it was on offer for less than $9/7.16, a significant discount on its usual $29/23.05 price.

Your iPhone is now integrated with ChatGPTheres how to use it

Macworld The iOS 18.2 update brings several new Apple Intelligence features to your iPhone 16 (or iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max), centered mostly around image generation and Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16. But it also integrated ChatGPT into Apples AI tools, including Siri, and it can be incredibly useful. Here are all the places that ChatGPT has been added to iOS and how you can use them to turbocharge AI on your iPhone. Enable ChatGPT You dont need a ChatGPT account to start using it on your iPhone, but you do need to turn it on. Open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and look for the ChatGPT menu under the Extensions heading. If and when Apple integrates other AI services, theyll also appear here. In the ChatGPT menu tap Set Up.. . and youll get a pop-up card telling you what you can do with ChatGPT. Tap Next, then on the next card tap Enable ChatGPT or Use ChatGPT with an Account. Foundry Youll also see a Confirm ChatGPT Requests toggle that is enabled by default. Any time Siri or any other AI tool wants to use ChatGPT, youll be prompted first. Turning it off will let you chat uninterrupted but youll always be asked before sending any sort of image to ChatGPT, regardless of how you set this toggle. Apple shares very limited information with OpenAI, only what is strictly necessary to fulfill the request, but leaving this enabled means you have to opt into every request. That can be a good thing, but if youre not so concerned or bothered by the constant requests, you can turn this off so your interaction flow will be a lot smoother. Sign in to your ChatGPT account If you want to sign into your ChatGPT account later, youll find a Sign In option in the ChatGPT menu. Being signed in will keep a record of all your ChatGPT requests in your ChatGPT accountwhen you use the ChatGPT app (mobile or desktop) youll find the history of all your ChatGPT requests from Siri and elsewhere within iOS. Theres a daily limit to how many advanced requests you can make if youre not a ChatGPT subscriber, and youll see a note on this page if youre over the limit. Youll get less-advanced basic results until the next day. If you have a ChatGPT Plus subscription, logging in lets you make all the advanced requests you want. Foundry ChatGPT in Siri Now that Chat GPT is turned on, lets start using it. The most prominent place to use ChatGPT is when interacting with Siri. As long as ChatGPT is enabled, Siri will automatically turn to ChatGPT for anything it doesnt know the answer to. This means answers involving personal information on your phone will always be handled by Siri, as well as certain general knowledge questions, but ChatGPT can answer far more than Siri ever could. You can also force Siri to use ChatGPT even on a question it would normally answer itself, by adding Ask ChatGPT before it. Hey Siri, ask ChatGPT if dogs can eat broccoli gives you an answer from OpenAIs chatbot instead of Apples. The real fun starts when you ask ChatGPT to do things Siri never does. Try Ask ChatGPT to compose a short thank-you letter to my mom or Ask ChatGPT to create a two-day itinerary for visiting San Francisco. You can even use OpenAIs image-generation tools. For example, in the example below, I asked ChatGPT to create an image of a Siamese cat in a ninja outfit. The image generation capabilities of ChatGPT are far more advanced and less restrictive than Image Playground. Foundry ChatGPT can also analyze images and whats on your screen. If you tell Siri to ask ChatGPT something about a web page youre looking at, youll be prompted to send either a screenshot or full web page content to ChatGPT for an answer. For example, you can find a recipe online and ask chatGPT to summarize it, or take a photo of some ingredients and ask ChatGPT what dishes you can make with them. Foundry When looking at a photo in the Photos app, ask Siri to ask ChatGPT something about it and youll be prompted to send the image to ChatGPT for analysis. Use ChatGPT with Writing Tools With Apple Intelligence, any text box has the option to enable the Writing Tools menu (by tapping the Apple Intelligence button in Notes and some other rapps, or tapping-and-holding in a text entry area). But in iOS 18.2, youll also see a Compose option at the bottom of the Writing Tools popup. Tap it and youll be given a prompt where you can describe whatever you want ChatGPT to write. It can be a poem, a short invitation to a birthday party, a piece of fiction, or a technical document. When its done youll be able to able to type in the prompt window about ways to refine the output or have the option to just rewrite it from your original prompt. Youll even have a few one-tap suggestions from ChatGPT. Foundry ChatGPTs image generation works here, too! Just use a prompt that makes it clear youre looking for an image rather than text, such as the image below of a sad puppy on a rainy day Foundry ChatGPT in Visual Intelligence New to the iPhone 16 in iOS 18.2 is Visual Intelligence. Long-press the Camera Control button to launch a new camera search interfacesnap a picture of a business to see ratings and hours, of a common product to see a link to its website, of text to summarize or translate it, and more. Alongside the Search button., youll see a persistent Ask button that will ask ChatGPT about what youre looking at. ChatGPT is able to identify lots of plants and animals, for example, and a text input box at the bottom of the screen lets you ask follow-up questions like Is this poisonous, How many calories does this have, or Does this have good reviews? Foundry

Apples 2024 full of surprises set up an unpredictable future

Macworld Hi, its me, Father Time. This is my 421st More Color column, only about 20 of which have been part of my annual attempt to predict the future while blaming myself for failing to properly predict the year gone by. (Look, if I got them all right, 421 of the columns would be prediction-based!) To the task of predicting, I bring years of experience. The Macs 40 years old and Ive been associated with Macworld for 27 of those years, which is, uh two-thirds of the Macs existence? Geez. You know, I was the summer intern once! ( Kurt Cobain was alive then.) Anyway, who better to listen to than Father Time, just before he turns into a New Years Baby? Next time Ill once again fearlessly attempt to predict the future, but for this column were all going to point at laugh at my failures or will we? Maybe I had a good year in 2024 . Lets see. Year of the iPad The iPad exited 2023 in a shambles. It hadnt been updated in more than a year. But I used my prediction sense to assume that the product line would be refreshed and start to make more sense in 2024, and it did. Did not see that coming: the M4 chip made its debut in an iPad, not a Mac. Foundry I predicted that the iPad Air and iPad Pro would differentiate themselves by using different keyboards, with the Air using the old Magic Keyboard while the new Pro model would get a fancy new keyboard (with aluminum and a function row!) along with a gorgeous OLED display. Nailed it. Lets move on oh, wait, whats this? Unfortunately, Im being told that I explicitly talked about how the M3 chip would be great for the iPad Pro. And of course, in that Apple pulled one of the greatest surprises of the year: the iPad Pro debuted with a never-before-seen chip, the M4! I also missed on the low-end iPad front. While I correctly predicted the demise of the 9th generation iPad with home button, I thought there would be a 11th generation bump to the line. There wasnt. The 10th generation model is still with us. At least the original Apple Pencil and its janky Lightning to USB adapter is finally history. All quiet on the Mac front With the M3 processor already out in the world, I suspect that the Macs 2024 will be largely devoted to updating existing models to add in the M3, wrote some dummy in December 2023 . A new Mac mini in 2024? Yes, but a smaller redesign wasnt expected. Foundry Yes, the M3 MacBook Air debuted. But after that, things got weird. That iPad Pro got all the M4 glory! and Apple just pressed fast-forward on all of its product releases, skipping over the M3 and going to the M4 with a redesigned Mac mini (not predicted by me, alas) and new versions of the MacBook Pro . Unfortunately, that means I missed in predicting that all existing Mac models will see M3 updates. not just the Mac mini but the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Instead, Mac Studio and Mac Pro fans wait for an M4 release sometime in 2025. But at least the Mac mini we got was bettersmaller and fasterthan I expected back in December. At least I got a few other minor Mac predictions right: Apple will update its input devices from Lightning to USB-C at least a year later than we all hoped they would do it. No new Apple display standalone this year, though. Ive been burned too many times. Someone could really run up the score by constantly predicting no new Apple standalone display. Some other hardware and services The problem with predicting the iPhone is that we hear about the shape and size of iPhone models so far in advance that it takes all the fun out of it. So I predicted some improvements in base iPhone camera hardware, but we already knew about one more year for the iPhone Plus, though nobody predicted those eye-poppingly bright colors on the iPhone 16 models. For its 10th iteration, the new Apple Watch didnt have much to talk about. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Sometimes its the picks you dont make: I said I wasnt seeing the rumors of a revamped 10th anniversary Apple Watch, and the updates there were much more modest. I did inaccurately predict that Apple would make another deal for sports rights. The companys MLS experiment continues to play out, but I expected Eddy Cue would have talked Tim Cook into a few more trial balloons by now. At least I accurately predicted that Apple woulddespite always being mentionednot make any big deals to purchase studios or streaming services. And then theres the Vision Pro, which if youll think back to last year had been announced but hadnt yet shipped. I am going to give myself a pat on the back for my non-prediction prediction that there wouldnt be a clear verdict on the AVP by years end, because its a 1.0 product with a high price. Thats pretty much where we are, unless you consider this year validation that whatever the Vision Pro is, its impossible for it to be a hit product because its just too limited and expensive. Apples playing the long game with visionOS, and I dont expect that well be able to judge this saga for many years yet. And now, Apple Intelligence But who are we kidding? The big story of the year is Apples wholehearted embrace of large language models with the introduction of Apple Intelligence. We all sort of knew this was going to happen, but the level of commitment Apple has made to the bit is admirable. Siri is still a work in progress, but its new glowing outline presentation is neat. Connor Jewiss / Foundry This feels like the year where Apple will aggressively show off its attempts to integrate more machine-learning-based technology into its devices, I wrote last December. Yep, I got that right, but I was wrong in suspecting that Apple would only enable some features on the iPhone 16 Pro. Instead, its the iPhone 15 Pro that can lord it over its lower-end cousins, while all iPhone 16 models are eligible. I dont really know what to make of my prediction that Siri 2.0 is going to happen. Thats obviously wrong, but I do enjoy all the caveats I laid out, saying it would have a lot of guardrails and limitations that make it less useful than other chatbots and will probably be labeled as a beta. If theres a better Siri coming, its still not here at years end unless you use ChatGPT with iOS 18.2. Apple Intelligence is in fact not just the story of the year, but the story of next year. And probably the next few. Its notable that Apples probably going to be rolling out new Apple Intelligence features all the way through WWDC next year. At which point itll begin selling us on new features for the next cycle, which will once again only be partially complete when 2025 comes to an end. All those who play the prediction game, be warned.

Get $45 to spend when you get this $65 Costco Gold Star Membership

Macworld Where are you going to do all that holiday shopping? Instead of hopping from one place to the next, burning through gas and still maybe not finding everything you need, check Costco. Not a member? Thats great! That means you can get your 1-Year Costco Gold Star Membership for the same price as everyone else, but you also get a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card, and its still only $65. If youve been a member before, wait until the end. Well tell you how you may still qualify. Heres how its going to go. First, get your Gold Star Membership here through StackSocial. Important: make sure to provide a valid email address. Within two weeks of redeeming your membership, youll get your $45 Digital Costco Shop Card in your inbox. Once you have it, you can use it however you want. Make purchases in person at a Costco warehouse or online. Costco has a pretty extensive online selection, so make sure to check that out. Now, if you used to have a Costco Gold Star Membership but let it expire, you may still be able to get this deal. If its been expired for over 18 months, then youre in the clear. Either way, just make sure to redeem your Gold Star Membership by January 31, 2025. So, who wants to find out how many hotdogs and sodas $45 can buy! This is your last chance to get a 1-Year Costco Gold Star Membership and a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card for $65. Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + $45 Digital Costco Shop Card $65 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple Watch Activity badges: New Years 2025 challenge starts on January 1

Macworld Achievement badges are a funny thing. You know theyre just a simple little bit of visual flair, they dont even do anything, and yet for some reason you just have to collect them. Gamification can be a great motivator, and the achievement badges for the activity tracking on the Apple Watch have inspired many users to get more exercise. If you want to maximize your badge count, youre going to want to chase down as many activity achievements as you can. Most are available year-round, but there are also some time-limited special events to grab, too. Heres a list of all the activity achievements for the Apple Watch and how to unlock them. Updated December 17, 2024: The next limited activity badge you can get is the New Years challenge in January. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $399 Best Prices Today: $329.99 at Target | $349 at Amazon | $349 at Best Buy Standard achievements Most of the achievements can be earned year-round. If you open the Activity app on your iPhone, then head over to the Achievements tab, youll see some of them listed even before you earn them (in which case they will be represented by a grey outline). However, there are some achievements that are not shown until you earn them. Past and future monthly challenges, for example, wont show up, nor do all the various individual exercise workouts. Here is a list of all the standard badges you can get. First [exercise] Workout The first time you perform a new exercise for at least 5 minutes, youll get a achievement badge. Every workout type that does not fall under the Other category is eligible for this badge: from walking to yoga to HIIT to hiking and more. Activities with both indoor and outdoor variants, like Cycling and Walking, are bundled together; you can do either activity to get the badge, and can only get it once. [exercise] Workout Record Every time you beat your previous best record for calories burned in any of the exercises listed above, you get this badge. There is one caveat: You must complete five workouts of that type first. If you want to game the system, make sure your first four workouts of each type are short and easy, so it wont take much effort to beat them. You get a badge the first time you do each major exercise type, and when you break a record. 7-Workout Week Simply complete any workout of at least 15 minutes every day of the week. Note that the week is Monday-Sunday, and you have to do a workout on each of those days (you cant simply do any seven days in a row). If you start a walking workout whenever you walk outside, you can achieve this easily. New Move Record Any day that your Move ring goes further than ever before (meaning you burned more calories in a day), youll earn this award. Theres one catch: you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days before you can complete this. New Exercise Record This is just like the Move Record achievement, only for the green ring. This one is based on minutes of exercise, not calories burned, so its really easy to get. Just like the Move Record achievement, you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days first. Move Goal 200%, 300%, 400% You earn this when you exceed your calorie target (the red Move ring) by 2x, 3x, or 4x, respectively. In other words, its given for making the red activity ring go around two, three, or four times in a day. Its easy to get if you just set your Move goal very low. Double, triple, and quadruple your Move ring goal. Reduce your goal if youre having trouble. New Move Goal Every time you change your daily Move goal, and then exceed that new goal, you get this achievement. You can change your Move goal by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch and force-pressing the screen. Longest Move Streak When you hit your Move goal (close the red ring) several days in a row, thats a streak. You get this award when your streak finally ends, if its longer than your previous best streak. Perfect Week This is given out for four categories: Move, Exercise, Stand, and All Activity. For the first three, simply close the rings (red, green, or blue) every day of the week. To get the Perfect Week (All Activity) badge, close all three rings every day for an entire week. You can earn this multiple times, though it only shows one badge. Remember, one week in the Activity app is from Monday-Sunday! Close those rings every day from Monday to Sunday to earn a handful of badges. Perfect Month Unlike Perfect Week, there are not multiple different Perfect Month badges for the different color rings. The lone Perfect Month achievement is for closing the red Move ring every day of the month. Theres a separate Perfect Month badge for every month and every year, though. So you can earn this in February and again in March, and again in February in the next year. Monthly Challenge Each month has its own unique fitness challenge. If you have notifications set for the Activity app on our Apple Watch, youll see the goal presented at the beginning of the month, but youll also see the current months challenge in the Achievements tab of the Activity app on your iPhone. It will be a grey outline before its completed, but you can tap on it to see what the challenge entails. The monthly challenge may task you with burning a specific number of calories, working out a number of times, or traveling a certain distance. Theres no telling what each new month will bring, you just have to look! Theres a different challenge every month, so check your Activity app. 100, 365, 500, 1,000 Move Goals When you hit your daily Move goal (close the red ring) 100 times, you get an achievement badge. You get another for hitting it 365 times, 500 times, and 1,000 times. These do not need to be in a row; its just the total number of times youve ever hit the goal. Close the Move ring often to unlock a series of badges. Set the Move goal low if you want to make it easier. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Read our review Price When Reviewed: $799 (base) Best Prices Today: $799 at Apple | $799.99 at Target | $849.55 at Amazon Limited Achievements Apple offers multiple one-off challenges per year that are only available for a limited time. Often, theyre only around for one day or one weekend. Some are limited to the U.S. because theyre based on U.S. holidays. Youll get a notification on your Apple Watch when one of them is coming up (make sure you have notifications enabled for the Activity app, using the Watch app on your iPhone). New Years 2025 challenge (January 2025) Apple L ets start 2025 off right. Earn this award by closing all three rings for seven days in a row in January. Mental Health Day challenge (October 10) Apple Lets bring awareness to all the ways we can take care of our mental health. On October 10, record 10 mindful minutes with any app that adds to Health to get this award. National Parks challenge (August 25) Apple In the U.S., the National Parks Service was founded on August 25, 1916. Apple has a National Parks challenge around that time each year to celebrate National Parks all over the world. To get this badge, just record a workout of 20 minutes or more on August 25 with any app that adds workouts to the Health app. Global Running Day (June 5) Apple Hit the road, trail, track, or tread for Global Running Day! Record a running workout and go at least 5 km on June 5 to earn this special badge. World Meditation Day (May 21) Apple To complete this new challenge, youll need to record five or more mindful minutes using the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health app on May 21, 2024. Earth Day (April 22) Foundry Lets get moving for the planet. On April 22, do any workout for 30 minutes or more to earn this award. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds to Health. Heart Month (February 14) Apple This Valentines day, its all about heart. Close your Exercise ring on February 14 to get this award. Veterans Day (November 11) Foundry Earn this special award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or more. Record your time with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health.

iPhone in 2025: The upgrades weve been waiting for are finally coming

Macworld Apple is diversifying its products and services more than ever, but theres no question that iPhone is still king. No other Apple product, and perhaps not other product from any company, has a greater single cultural and economic impact. The iPhone updates in 2024 were mostly more of the samea new processor, improved cameras, and better battery life. The Camera Control button is maybe the biggest hardware innovation and its really just a new way to access the camera that isnt always an improvement. We still think theyre great phones , but it has been years since Apple changed up the design of its flagship iPhones, and the lower-cost iPhone SE is getting really old. In 2025, we expect both issues to be addressed. An all-new, super-slim iPhone (which many are calling iPhone Air in absence of an announced name) will be the biggest change to the iPhones look and feel in ages. And the new 4th-generation iPhone SE should address many of the missed opportunities in the 2022 model, bringing modern standards to Apples most affordable phone. Heres a look at what the latest rumors tell us to expect from Apples new iPhones in 2025. iPhone SE 4 The first new iPhone of 2025 is likely to be the 4th-generation iPhone SE. (Most people call it the iPhone SE 4 , and Apple may adopt that nomenclature as well it moved away from historical generation identifiers for most products in 2024, including the iPad and AirPods.) Apple has traditionally released the iPhone SE in the spring and we expect a similar launch next year. The iPhone SE 3 was a bit of a disappointment when it was released in March of 2022. It had a speedy processor but stuck with the same tired iPhone 8 body, with an aging display and cameras. Three years later, its downright ancient and in need of a major overhaul. In 2025 it will get one. The iPhone SE 4 will finally bring Apples mid-tier phone to modern standards. It should look roughly like an iPhone 14, with and edge-to-edge display and a notch. The home button will be gone in favor of Face ID (sorry Touch ID diehards, but that button takes up a LOT of space that Apple would rather use for a larger display). The iPhone SE 4 will finally dump the home button. IDG It will probably have an A18 processor with 8GB of RAM so it supports Apple Intelligence. There is no firm word on storage, but we hope the base model offers 128GB, not 64GB like the iPhone SE 3. The iPhone SE 4 is also said to be the first product to use an Apple-designed 5G modem, which will support only sub-6 frequencies and perform about as well as a Qualcomm modem from two years prior. There will be one rear camera, upgraded to a 48MP sensor, so it will probably enjoy a 12MP optical 2x zoom. The front camera is expected to be the same 12MP camera you find in the iPhone 16. So expect the iPhone SE 4 to be very similar to the iPhone 16, but without the ultra-wide camera, no Camera Control button, and a mute switch instead of an Action button. Will it get a price hike as well? We think its very possible that Apple will raise the starting price to $449 or even $499, a slight increase from its current $429. But itll still be cheaper than the iPhone 14, which starts at $599. iPhone 17 and 17 Pro/Pro Max Next fall (in September as usual), we expect Apple to once again release four new iPhones. However, the matric will be different. There will be an iPhone 17 , an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the current rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Plus will be replaced in the lineup by something totally new: an ultra-slim phone many are calling iPhone 17 Air. More on that phone in a moment. Most notably, the iPhone 17 line may include the first major change to Apples rear camera layout ever . Rumors point to at least some models, or maybe all of them, moving to a centered, wide camera bump that runs along the entire top back of the phone, similar in style to Googles Pixel line. Its also been rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro models may shift away from titanium and switch to aluminum, but that would be a surprising move just two years after Apple introduced titanium and used the new material as a main selling point. The iPhone 17 models will reportedly have a horizontal camera array for the first time. Chris Martin / Foundry For the standard iPhones, we expect an A19 for the regular model and A19 Pro for the Pro and Pro Max, offering better performance and perhaps a boost to 12GB of RAM. There are conflicting reports about whether or not the regular iPhone 17 will get ProMotion and an always-on display for the first time in 2025, a feature that has been exclusive to the Pro phones since 2021. Apple has always made these Pro-only features, but most competing phones that cost $800 have had equivalent features for years. The front camera on all models is supposed to get an upgrade to 24 megapixels. The iPhone 17 Pro Max should have 48MP cameras for the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. At least one iPhone 17 model is rumored to feature a mechanical aperture on the main camera, though were not sure which model yet. iPhone 17 Air The biggest iPhone surprise next year will probably be a new ultra-slim model we have taken to calling iPhone 17 Air (or perhaps just iPhone Air). At around 6 mm thick, it will be the slimmest iPhone of all time, even thinner than the old iPhone 6 (6.9mm). It should be a larger phone, with a display just a little bit smaller than what youd find on a Plus modelfigure around 6.5 inches. It will likely support ProMotion and always-on, but that may be coming to the entire iPhone 17 line anyway. There will have to be a few compromises to achieve this devices thin designthe battery may not be as big as expected, there is said to be only a single speaker (where the earpiece is), and there may not be room for a SIM tray. Thats been gone from U.S. models for some time but is still required in places like China. This model will likely have the same processor as the regular iPhone 17 (the A19 rather than the A19 Pro), and may include Apples own 5G modem as well, while the other iPhone 17 models to retain Qualcomm modems. Like the other iPhone 17 models, were told to expect a top-center-aligned camera on the back of the phone rather than over in the upper left corner. Its rumored that it will only have a single 48MP camera like the iPhone SE, a somewhat significant downgrade from the other models.

The iPhone is doomed because Apple Intelligence isnt smart enough

Macworld The year is quickly running out but there is time enough for the Macalope to look at another survey from online used smartphone outlet SellCell. What should we expect from this survey? Well, in 2022 SellCell said 40 percent of iPhone users were going to buy the iPhone SE, which is a tad high. Then, in 2023 , it said Apple adding USB-C would tempt 44 percent of Android users to switch to the iPhone 15. Again, that seemed to wildly overestimate how many people might buy that phone. Or even how many people do the recommended full two minutes of brushing their teeth twice a day. To be clear, the Macalope doesnt doubt that people said the things that SellCell said they said. People say all kinds of wacky stuff. I think I could win a fight with a bear. Pop Rocks killed that kid from the cereal commercial. Im going to learn how to make Shakshouka . Rod, you failed Instant Ramen 101. Which was a class you took at the community college. It is doubtful you will ever be able to make Shakshouka. Anyway, just take it as a writ that surveys of buying intent are not worth the pixels on your screen that they appear on. No matter how crappy your monitor is. IDG That said, SellCell is back with another block-rocking beat that may just be the exception that proves the rule. iPhone vs. Samsung AI Survey: AI Features Fall Short: 73% of iPhone Users and 87% of Samsung Users Say They Add Little or No Value Speaking of rock-blocking beats, a number of times while the Macalope was writing this column he was calling the company Soft Cell in his head instead of SellCell. His writing is almost certainly tainted by his lack of love for AI, but the horny one is inclined to believe these numbers, which represent the broad consumer antipathy toward AI which is why were not seeing the much-ballyhooed supercycle in smartphone purchases this year. If anything stands out as fatuous here its SoftCells over-generous comments about AI. (See, the Macalope called it SoftCell not SellCell there and you didnt even notice.) the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era ushered in by OpenAIs ChatGPT has fundamentally changed the way we interact with technology. It really hasnt. Thats exactly why no one cares about it. Read your own survey. As for sample size, its not exactly huge. The survey included more than 2000 smartphone users including 1000+ iPhone users with an AI-supported model Who are these 1,000 iPhone users? I didnt elect them. Among the most popular AI features are Writing Tools (72%) The Macalope has a strong suspicion this is most recognized rather than, strictly speaking, most popular, but thats probably what people said, sure. These survey results often have a real Billy on the Street vibe if you read them in a certain way. Oh, yeah, all the AI and stuff. Yeah. Yeaaah, I know whatcha talkin bout. iPhone users showed relatively higher interest in mobile AI than Samsung users as almost half (47.6 percent) of iPhone users reported AI features as a very or somewhat important deciding factor when buying a new phone, versus 23.7 percent of Samsung users who said the same. The Macalope will just point out that AI could be an important deciding factor if youre thinking I would like to avoid phones with AI with all the vigor I use to avoid getting cornered by cousin Gus who makes his own IPAs and wants to talk about nothing but making his own IPAs at the family holiday party. The Macalope wonders if Soft nope SellCell used an AI to write up these survey results because in a section titled 1-in-6 iPhone users would switch brands for better AI we see that the actual question appears to be Would Galaxy AI features ever encourage you to switch from an iPhone? The Macalopes doctor frequently encourages him to get more exercise and drink less. Guess how much thats worked. Despite the fervent desires of venture capitalists, AI has so far not taken the world by storm. If Apple concentrated its AI efforts more on improving Siri, these survey results might turn around a bit.

Shh Were spilling ChatGPTs best-kept secrets

Macworld Consider this your VIP pass to the inner circle of ChatGPT mastery. Sure, you know how to get the chatbot to write an email for you, but how about making it your personal assistant for virtually everything else? Theres not much it cant doits all about knowing how to sweet talk the bot. Its an art form. Need some help? Many people are getting this e-degree that shows you how to use ChatGPT , and its on sale for $29.99 (reg. $790) for a limited time. You can put the certificate on your resume afterward, too, to prove youre an AI pro. With over 25 hours of content spread across twelve lectures, youll learn how to master conversations with ChatGPT. Right now, youre probably entering random words and hoping for good results, but these strategies will help you get exquisite outputs every timeand avoid those annoying bot-like tendencies the tool has. You might also discover new ways of using ChatGPT for work, including research, brainstorming, content creation, data analysis, coding, meeting prep, customer service support, and more. Unlock new ChatGPT tips with this ChatGPT e-degree, now $29.99 (reg. $790) for a little while longer No coupon is needed for this price drop. ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree Only $29.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple releases first iOS 18.3 beta

Macworld Less than a week after the release of iOS 18.2 , Apple has begun beta-testing the next iOS update. Its not yet clear when we can expect this release to into wide release or what features to expect in it, but it will surely be the first major iOS update of 2025. Apple Intelligence has been the focus of most iOS 18 updates so far, and were still waiting on the big Siri overhaul that adds personal context using the data on your phone and scores of new app intents that allow Siri to perform actions in apps. Those features are generally expected to come in iOS 18.4, which most believe will be released in March or April. If true, then iOS 18.3 would focus mainly on tweaks and improvements to existing features and will pause the gradual rollout of Apple Intelligence features. As of December 16, Apple has only released the first Developer BetaPublic Beta testing will likely begin later this week. iOS 18.3: New features We dont yet know what significant new features are included in the iOS 18.3 beta, but we will update this section as we explore the update and learn more. iOS 18.3: How to install the developer beta Youll need to be registered as an Apple developer. You dont need to be in the $99 per year developer program to access the developer beta. A free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Heres how to do it via the Apple Developer app: Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store. Open the app. Tap on Account. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. Registered developers can choose to get the Public Beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the Software Update screen. It may take a little time after registering as a developer for the option to appear in Software Updates. iOS 18.3: How to install the public beta The public beta isnt out yet, but we expect it will arrive in a few short days. If you want to be among the first to test iOS 18.3, you can sign up for the public beta test. The process for installing a beta has changed in iOS 16.4. Heres how the new process works now: Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID. Log in to the Beta Software Program. Click Enroll your iOS device . Open the Settings app, tap General , then Software Update . In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta. It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.

macOS 15 Sequoia superguide: What you need to know about the Mac update

Macworld macOS Sequoia has been available for compatible Macs since September 2024, but further updates to Sequoia are expected over the next few months, with the next major update being macOS 15.2, which arrived on Wednesday December 11. If you want to know what the new features are, whether you will be able to enjoy all of them, and if your Mac is even compatible with Sequoia, read on. We are also tracking any problems, the latest updates, and whats new in the beta. The new version of macOS is called Sequoia, named after the Californian National Park and, more specifically, the worlds largest trees. Among the new features coming to Macs in Sequoia are iPhone mirroring, which puts your iPhone screen on your Macs display and lets you interact with it via your mouse and keyboard, a new Video conferencing presenter preview, and changes to Safari. In addition, developers will be easily able to port games between iPhone, Mac, and iPad. The free software update brings a raft of interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about macOS 15 Sequoia including how to download it. We also link to various tutorials about how to use the new features. Some features will only work on Macs with an M-series chip, including several Apple Intelligence features that will offer help with writing, creating images, editing photos, and more. Some people have been running Sequoia for some time thanks to Apples beta testing program. In this article, we also discuss the latest versions of both the developer and public beta as Apple continues work on the development of the operating system. Update December 16 : macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 1 is now available to developers. macOS Sequoia: Latest version macOS 15.2 December 11 Apple released macOS 15.2 on December 11. It has a slew of Apple Intelligence updates, including Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, advanced Writing Tools, and more. Additionally, there are a few tweaks and bug fixes, and various performance improvements and securty updates. macOS 15.1.1 arrived in early December as an emergency update necessary to patch flaws in JavaScript and WebKit that Apple says may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. There is no release for Macs running macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or Ventura 13.7.1 , yet, but that update is likely to come soon. macOS 15.1 arrived on October 28. This major update brings the first raft of Apple Intelligence features to Macs with the M-series chip. macOS 15.0.1 was released on October 3, 2024. It did not contain new features, but it did include two important bug fixes. One bug fix corrected the error that led Messages to quit when replying to a message that shared an Apple Watch face. The other fix was for compatibility with third-party security software. Apple released macOS Sequoia to the public earlier than usual, alongside iOS 18 on Monday, September 16. iOS 18 , watchOS and iPadOS 18 were released at the same time. The next major update to Sequoia will be macOS 15.1 which is expected by the end of the month. For information about what is coming in the next version look at the latest version of the Sequoia beta section below. Whats new in macOS Sequoia 15.2 Release date: December 11, 2024 On October 23, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta 1 to developers. Beta 2 arrived on November 4. December 5 saw the arrival of the first RC (release candidate), and on December 9, Apple released the RC2. This update will bring even more Apple Intelligence features including improvements to Writing Tools, generative AI Image Playground, ChatGPT integration for Siri and Writing Tools, including: Writing Tools updates more options. Genmojji new emoji you can create. Image Playground ability to generate images based on text prompts. Image Wand uses Apples image generation tools to create an image and add as context to a note. ChatGPT integration use ChatGPT with Siri. Mail AI-powered auto-categories to help manage your Inbox. What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.1 Screenshot Foundry macOS Sequoia 15.1 includes a number of new AI features that work on M-series Macs: Writing Tools offering spelling and grammar support and helping you edit or summarize text. These features can be used around the operating system. Siri new design and Type To Siri. (Type to Siri isnt a new feature, but Apples making it more obvious for those of us who hate talking to Siri). Siri will be better at maintaining context while you ask related questions. Reduce Interruptions a new AI Focus Mode that will filter out unimportant notifications. Smart Reply youll be able to use these in Messages and Mail. Photos Memory Movie will create slideshows based on a text description. You can also use a Clean Up tool to remove unwanted elements of a photo. Improvements to photo search. Summaries Safari will be able to summarize articles. iPhone Mirroring Drag files from iPhone to Mac and back. Audio transcriptions You can get audio transcriptions of your audio recordings in Notes. macOS Sequoia: Problems & bugs Several third-party security tools have reported issues with the new version of the Mac operating system. Read more here: Hold off on updating to macOS Sequoia if youre using cybersecurity tools . CrowdStrike referenced changes in the network stack in an alert sent to its customers and has held off on support for the new OS. ESET indicated that there is a problem is with ESET Cyber Security version 6, an older version that will be End of Life soon. Firefox apparently has firewall-related issues with Sequoia. Messages could quit if a message including an Apple Watch face was replied to (fixed in macOS 15.0.1) Compatibility with third-party security software was addressed in macOS 15.0.1. Having problems with Sequoia? Read: How to downgrade macOS Sequoia to Sonoma macOS Sequoia compatibility: Which Macs will be able to run macOS 15? Screenshot Foundry The following Macs get support for macOS 15. iMacfrom 2019 and later MacProfrom 2019 and later iMacProfrom 2017 MacStudiofrom 2022 and later MacBookAirfrom 2020 and later Macminifrom 2018 and later MacBookProfrom 2018 and later There are two 13-inch MacBook Air models from 2018 and 2019 running Sonoma that wont be able to install Sequoia. The compatibility list is becoming a pressing concern for users of Intel Macs. After Apple introduced its M-series Macs, the company said it would continue to support Intel Macs for several years, but it did not offer specifics. The clock is ticking on Intel Macs, but the last generation of Intel Macs remains on the macOS 15 compatibility list with a few Intel Macs that can run macOS Sequoia . However, only Macs with an M1, M2, or M3-series chip will support the new AI features referred to as Apple Intelligence. That includes the following: iMac from 2021 and later Mac Pro from 2023 Mac Studio from 2022 and later MacBook Air from late 2020 and later Mac mini from late 2020 and later MacBook Pro from late 2020 and later If your Mac cant be updated to Sequoia that doesnt mean you are completely abandoned by Apple. Apple will provide security updates for some Macs that dont run macOS 15. Generally, Apple provides software updates for the past two versions of macOS. See: How long does Apple support Macs ? On average, Macs get 6.6 years of macOS updates . To find out which version of macOS and older Mac can run take a look at our macOS compatibility list . macOS Sequoia: Should I install Sequoia? As long as your Mac can run it, we recommend updating to Sequoia. The new featuresall of which we discuss belowlook enticing enough. We address how macOS Sequoia compares to Sonoma ? in a separate article. We also run through 6 reasons why you need to upgrade to macOS Sequoia . However, its wise to wait a week or so for the inevitable issues with the early release to be addressed: despite the beta program, there are often issues once the software update gets out into the wide Mac world. Its also wise to wait because the download will likely take a lot longer if you try soon after it becomes available. Refer to the problems and bugs section above to see if any of the identified issues might affect you. macOS Sequoia: How to install Installing macOS Sequoia is a breeze. Open System Settings and go to General > Software Update ; macOS will check for any available updates and guide you through the process of installing them. You simply have to follow the instructions, which we explain in our macOS updating guide . And its easier still if youve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen. However, if you do encounter problems the following may be useful: How to install macOS Sequoia on your Mac How to get your Mac ready for macOS Sequoia How to fix macOS installation problems macOS Sequoia Beta: Latest version Apples beta testing program for developers and public testers has been running since June/July and will continue even after the launch of macOS Sequoia to the general public. There is a separate macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta that includes Apple Intelligence features. Below you can find information about the latest beta versions and how to install them. If you want to run the developer beta, you need to be a registered Apple software developer, which has both free and paid ($99/79) versions. Since June 2023 Apple has opened the beta to all registered developersso now everyone can get the earliest possible access to the macOS beta without paying a penny. Anyone can sign up for the Public Beta, which should be more stable than the developer beta, but it may still be unstable. By nature, beta software is not as stable as the final versionfeatures may be implemented and then withdrawn, or they may not work properly, UI can change, and third-party app compatibility isnt guaranteed. Once registered, when you go to System Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac, youll see a new tab for Beta Updates , which will list the version of the beta youre running. For example, if you want to install the developer beta select macOS 15 Public Beta, alternatively, if its the public beta you want, select macOS 15 Public Beta. We explain How to join Apples beta program separately, including details of how to get a free developer account. If you want to install the beta, follow our macOS beta installation guide . If you then want to uninstall it, we have a guide for that: How to remove macOS beta . The beta testing will continue even after Apple releases macOS Sequoia to the general public as Apple develops new features unavailable at launch. Read How to join Apples beta program for more advice . Latest developer and public betas macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 1 (developers) Apple released macOS 15.3 beta 1 on December 16. We expect the public beta for macOS 15.3 to arrive shortly. If you want to install the beta on your Mac, check out our guide to how to install the Mac beta . Sequoia beta 15.2. Foundry macOS Sequoia: New features Many new features arrived in macOS 14 Sonoma in 2023 including changes to Widgets, a new Game Mode, the ability to easily turn web pages into web apps, and fun additions to video conferencing apps. Rumors suggested that there wouldnt be many new features in macOS 15, with AI-related improvements in iOS 18 taking most of the development focus. However, some AI improvements are coming alongside iPhone mirroring on your Mac display, a new Presenter Preview for video conferencing apps, and Game Porting Toolkit 2 for porting games between Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Apple has announced numerous new features for the update which we will describe below. Not all the new features will be available at launch though. Some new features will come later this year in a subsequent software update. iPhone mirroring iPhone mirroring is a new development of Continuity. Continuity is a feature that has existed on Macs for a number of years that means you can use your Mac together with other devices in a seamless way, making cut and paste, screen sharing and mouse and keyboard sharing possible across devices. With the new ability to mirror an iPhone on a Macs display, it will be possible for a Mac to connect to an iPhone and display the iPhone screen on the Macs display. This way a user will be able to control their iPhone from their Mac, using the keyboard and mouse to interact. Drag and drop between the Mac and iPhone will also be possible. Users can also mirror the iPhone in a window on the Mac. It will also be possible to launch their iPhone apps via their Mac. Any audio from the iPhone will play through the Macs speakers. During any manipulation of the iPhone via the Mac, the iPhone will remain locked so nobody can see what is being done. It will also be possible to use the phone normally while it is connected to the Mac. Users will also be able to receive iPhone notifications on a Mac. They will appear alongside Mac notifications. These can be interacted with even when the iPhone isnt nearby. Click on a notification and be taken into the app on your iPhone via the Macs display. Read: How iPhone Mirroring lets you access your iPhone on your Mac in macOS Sequoia Apple Window Tiling macOS Sequoia will bring a new, neater, way to arrange windows. When a user drags a window to the edge of the screen it will show a place on the desktop that you can slot that window into. This will make it easy to quickly arrange tiles side-by-side so that more apps are in view. There will be new keyboard and menu shortcuts to help users organize tiles even faster. Read: Why you dont want to ditch your tiling window manager just yet Apple Video conferencing A new presenter preview will show users what theyre about to share before they share it. This feature will work with Zoom and other apps, as well as FaceTime. It will also be possible to apply built-in backgrounds with color gradients and wallpapers. Users will also be able to upload their photos. These Background replacements can be applied in various video calling apps, even mid-call. Apple Safari 18 Safari 18 will include several new features including a new Highlights feature which will help users discover information. The Reader feature is also getting a redesign to minimize distractions when you are reading an article. Joining the more streamlined version of the article that can already be accessed, users will see a summary and a table of contents for longer articles. If there is a video on the page it will be placed front and center and the user will have access to playback controls and picture-in-picture playback will also be possible. Other rumored features included a Web Eraser, and a new page controls menu. An update in 2025 is also said to be bringing an AI enhancement to Visual Lookup not just in Safari, but throughout the OS, although we are awaiting confirmation. Read: How to use Distraction Control to remove ads and This new Safari feature lets you snap away annoying ads . Apple New Passwords app Apple is bringing the iCloud Keychain into the 21st century. Apple says the new Passwords app will make it even easier to access passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and other credentials all in one place. It will seamlessly syncs between both Apple devices and Windows with the iCloud for Windows app. Apple Calculator It had been rumored that Apple is working on a new Calculator app. It may be redesigned to resemble the iOS version, with new features including a history tape, revamped conversions, and a resizable window. Apple did reveal that it will be possible to see previous calculations with a history feature. Calendar and Reminders The Calendar app will allow users to manage Reminders. Users will be able to view events and tasks from Reminders in the Calendar. An updated Month View will also be available and both apps will see UI changes. Other new features iCloud Apple is adding a Keep Downloaded option that prevents the file from being moved to iCloud and keeps the file on the device. Read about the new Keep Downloaded option . Installing apps Apple is removing the double free space requirement to download and install an app. Read: macOS Sequoia makes it easier to install large apps . Security & Privacy The beta indicates that macOS Sequoia will require regular permission checks when using certain apps . Gaming improvements In 2023 Apple introduced the Game Porting Toolkit to help developers bring their games to Apple devices faster than ever. Now Game Porting Toolkit 2 adds the most-requested capabilities from game developers. In addition, improvements to Game Mode on the Mac will unlock smoother frame rates, and advanced power management features boost performance across the Mac lineup. Apple proudly shared details of several gaming titles that will be coming to the Mac, including: Assassins Creed Shadows Control Ultimate Edition Frostpunk 2 Palworld RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard RESIDENT EVIL 2 RoboCop: Rogue City Sniper Elite 4, Ubisoft Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown World of Warcraft: The War Within (coming later this year). Wuthering Waves Apple noted that they are leveraging powerful software technologies like MetalFX Upscaling to accelerate performance and deliver high-quality visuals across the Mac lineup and that they are taking advantage of the latest M3 family of chips to deliver breathtaking visuals with ray tracing. Personalized Spatial Audio will result in significantly reduced audio latency with AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Apple Intelligencefeatures Several reports over the past few months have indicated that Apple is doing a lot of work towards AI, and that generative AI (using AI to create content) will have a big role in macOS. Those reports werent wrong. Apples new personal intelligence system is coming to Mac, iPhone, and iPad with macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will only be supported by Macs with an M-serieschip though, so Intel Macs will not offer these new features. Read: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when youll get it Writing Apple Intelligence will help users enhance their writing and communications. Writing Tools are built in systemwide that will offer to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in writing-focused apps such as Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps. Apple Images New image capabilities will also come to M-series Macs. In Image Playground, users will be able to create images in three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Photos A new Memories in Photos feature will create a video from photos and videos based on a description provided by the user. Apple Intelligence will pick out the photos and videos, develop a storyline based on the photos, and arrange them into a movie. In addition, a new Clean Up tool will identify and remove unwanted objects from the background of a photo. Siri Siri is also getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is integrated into Siri. Because some queries will be handled off-device Apple is introducing Private Cloud Compute so that when data is sent to server-based models for processing it is not stored or made accessible to Apple One of the simplest changes to Siri is that it will be easier to type to Siri rather than having to speak to the on-device assistant. Apple may have finally twigged that people dont always want to talk to their phones. Next version of macOS Since Apple stopped using the names of jungle cats with macOS 10.9 Mavericks, its used California places to identify its annual OS updates. The last several years have been Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina. Apple has trademarked several other place names, including Condor, Mammoth, Redwood, and Sequoia. But its anyone guess which Californian location macOS 16 will be named after. But what next in terms of software? Expect even more Apple Intelligence features to come in the late 2025 update to macOS and expect that iOS, iPadOS and macOS will be closer than ever. In the recent past, the release has come several weeks after the new version of iOS ships . Here are the release dates for the previous five versions of macOS: macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 12, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018

macOS Beta: How to download and install the Sequoia 15.3 beta

Macworld The latest version of 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 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. If you would prefer to use the latest official release of macOS Sequois heres how to update macOS on your Mac . In the past, the developer beta was only available to developers who had paid to join Apples Developer Program (which costs $99/79). However, for a couple of years now, Apple has opened up the developer beta to registered developers with free developer accounts. We explain how to get a free developer account below. Not that we recommend that you should get the beta if you arent a developer. Beta software tends to be buggy and a more stable public beta version is also available. If you no longer want to run the beta version of macOS read this: How to remove the macOS beta . macOS developer beta: Latest version macOS Sequoia 15.3 Foundry The first version of the Sequoia developer beta of macOS 15 arrived after the WWDC keynote on June 10, 2024. Beta 2 arrived on June 24. Notable additions to beta 2 were iPhone Mirroring, the ability to directly access an iPhone through the Mac. The Mac and iPhone connect wirelessly and users see the iPhone Home screen on the Mac. Users can click and use iPhone apps, iPhone app notifications can be activated, and the appropriate iPhone app launches. Users can also drag and drop photos and videos from the iPhone to the Mac. The iPhone audio will come through the Macs sound output, and iPhone notifications will integrate with the macOS notifications list. iPhone Mirroring works on all M-series Macs and Intel Macs that have a T2 Security chip. The iPhone and Mac need to be signed into the same Apple Account, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need to be enabled. iPhone Mirroring works on all M-series Macs and Intel Macs that have a T2 Security chip. The iPhone and Mac need to be signed into the same Apple Account, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need to be enabled. Developer beta 4 was released on July 23. Developer beta 5 was released on August 5. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 developer beta 6 on August 12. Developer beta 7 was released on August 20. On August 28, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 beta 8. macOS Sequoia 15.1 There is a second beta running consecutively with the macOS 15.0 beta development. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta includes Apple Intelligence features that are only available on M-series Macs. On July 29, Apple started work on the macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta, which includes some Apple Intelligence features. Beta 2 arrived on August 12. On August 28, beta 3 was released to developers. On September 17, Apple beta 4 to developers. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta 5 was released to developers on September 23. Beta 6 was released on October 6. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta 7 was released on October 15. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 release candidate was released on October 21. Release candidate 2 was released on October 24. A July 31 report by 9to5Mac states that Apple Intelligence will not run if the 15.1 beta is running on an external drive . Its not known if this condition will remain when Apple officially releases 15.1. macOS Sequoia 15.2 On October 23, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta 1 to developers. Version 15.2 is expected to have the second set of Apple Intelligence features. On November 20, Apple released the macOS Sequoia beta 4 to developers. On December 5, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 Release Candidate. On December 9, Apple released the Released Candidate 2. The official release of 15.2 was on December 11. macOS Sequoia 15.3 On December 16, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 1 to developers. This beta includes the ability to create Gemoji. macOS public beta latest version macOS Sequoia 15.2 RC Foundry The first public beta of Sequoia arrived on July 15, 2024. The second public beta of Sequoia arrived on July 23, 2024. The fourth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 13, 2024. The fifth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 20, 2024. The sixth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 28, 2024. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.1 pubic beta on September 19, 2024. This beta includes the first round of Apple Intelligence features. The 15.2 public beta 2 was released on November 6. macOS public beta vs developer beta Since 2023 the Developer Beta has been available to anyone who registers as a developer, even if they arent a paid-up member of Apples Developer Program. As a result, people with a basic free developer account are able to download the new macOS developer beta (we show you how to register below). Whether you should download the developer beta if you arent a developer is another question. We dont recommend you install the developer beta if you arent a developer. Instead, our recommendation is to use the public beta (the first verison of which usually arrives in July). There are a few differences between the public and developer betas. The public beta is not the same as the beta that is released through the developer program. Developers get updates to their beta first, and possibly more frequently. But you should keep in mind that betas are by nature not stable, and because the public beta comes after the developer beta it could be a little safer to install. The most significant difference is probably the motive of the testers: Developers usually have the aim of ensuring their apps work when the updated macOS is released to the general public, while public beta testers are essentially helping Apple detect bugs and offering feedback on the features. Because of this developers may get to test new features not available in the public beta. If you want to get the public beta the first thing you need to do, if you havent already, is join Apples beta programs read this for more information: How to become an Apple beta tester. Apple How to get a free developer account If you just want a free Apple Developer account so you can access the beta you can get this via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Heres how to do it via the Apple Developer app on an iPhone: Get the Apple Developer App from the App Store . Open the app on your iPhone. Tap on Account. Tap on Sign In. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. If you wish to actually publish applications to the App Store or receive support, youll need to pay $99/79 per year for a paid account. You can compare the free and paid accounts here . How to get the macOS beta The Sequoia developer beta should show up on your Mac if you are running macOS Sonoma or macOS Sequoia, have paid $99/79 to enroll in Apples Developer program ( here ) or if you have a free developer account (follow the instructions above). When the Public Beta becomes available it will also show up on your Mac, as long as you have signed up for the Public Beta program on Apples beta webpage , signed the NDA , and enrolled your Mac. Before you download a few warnings: We strongly advise that if you arent a developer you dont download the developer beta. We also strongly recommend that you back up your Mac before you upgrade to the Sequoia beta. We recommend that you do not run Sequoia beta on your primary Mac; ideally, you run it in a separate volume . This should minimize any risks to you. How to download macOS beta Open Software Updates on your Mac. (System Settings > General > Software Updates.) You should see two options: Automatic Updates and Beta Updates. Click on the (i) beside Beta Updates. You can now turn on Beta Updates (if they werent already on). Choose the beta you want to download. If your developer account is tied to a different Apple ID to your usual one you can change that here. Click Done. Now your Mac will Check for updates and eventually show the Sequoia Developer Beta as an upgrade. Click on Upgrade Now. Foundry If you are running macOS Ventura 13.3 or earlier: Apple changed the way it delivers betas in Ventura 13.4. If you arent yet running that version of macOS you will need to download the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility or macOS Public Beta Access Utility. If you were already running an earlier macOS Public Beta youll find the new macOS beta as an upgrade via Software Update. Just click on Upgrade Now. You may have to update to the latest version of your current beta before you can do so, if not follow the steps below to get the beta access utility. If you are enrolled in the Developer Program, go to Apples beta download page . Click on Install Profile to download the new macOS Developer Beta Access Utility to your Mac. If you are enrolled as a public beta tester, download the macOS Public Beta Access Utility . Go to Downloads on your Mac and click on the macOS Beta Access Utility to open it. Double-click on the dmg file and the installer will run. Once the new macOS beta is installed Software Update will check to see if there are any updates. Click Update and the latest version will download. Youll see a prompt to install the latest macOS beta, click on Continue. Agree to the Ts&Cs (more on them below). Click Install. How to update macOS beta versions Once you are running the beta the updates will come through to your Mac automatically, you just need to click to install. You will receive a notification when the next update to the beta is available. Updates will be available via Software Update (in System Settings/System Preferences) Everything else you need to know about beta testing That covers how to get the betas, but once you have them what can you do, and what should you do? Well cover that below. Is the macOS beta stable? By its nature, a beta has the potential to be unstable. Therefore its not advised that you install it on a Mac that you rely on. If you have a second Mac that isnt mission-critical then install it there. We strongly recommend that you dont risk all by putting the macOS beta on your primary macOS, especially not in the early days of the beta development. If you dont have a second Mac there are a couple of ways you could run macOS beta on your Mac without running the risk of losing data or finding your Mac stops working: We recommend installing it on a partition which these days is really a volume (and is much easier to create than a partition was). Read about how to do that here: How to dual-boot Mac: Run two versions of macOS on a Mac . Alternatively, you could install the macOS beta on an external drive and run it on that. We discuss the safety of the macOS beta and the risks you might be taking in more detail in a separate article. If the stability of the beta worries you then you are probably better off waiting until the final version is out, or at least waiting until testing has been happening for a few months before getting the beta. How to prepare your Mac for the beta Update your software : We recommend you have the latest full version of macOS installed, although Apple says that the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility requires macOS 10.8 or later. Make space: Wed recommend at least 15GB of available space because the macOS betas tend to be very large. If you end up requiring more space read: How to free up space on Mac . Note that we always recommend that you have at least 10% space free on your Mac at any time, so if you dont have that expect problems! Back up : Before you install a beta on your Mac you should make a backup of your data and files. You can find out how to use Time Machine to back up your Mac . We also have a round-up of suitable backup solutions . How to send feedback to Apple Should you come across an error or a bug you should use the Feedback Assistant app to provide feedback to Apple. Launch the app and follow the appropriate steps, selecting the area about which youre providing feedback and then any specific sub-area. Then describe your issue in a single sentence, before providing a more detailed description, including any specific steps that reproduce the issue. Youll also be able to attach other files. Youll also have to give permission for the Feedback Assistant app to collect diagnostic information from your Mac. It wont always be obvious whether something is a bug or just not as easy to use as you might have hoped. Either way, if your feedback is that something appears to work in an illogical way, Apple will want to know that. If you are having trouble with a third-party app you can let Apple know by reporting it through the 3rd-party Application Compatibility category in the Feedback Assistant. However, wed suggest that you also provide feedback to the apps developer who will no doubt be grateful. Will I be able to update from macOS beta to the final version? Beta users will be able to install the final build of the OS on release day without needing to reformat or reinstall. Can I talk about the beta publicly? According to Apple and the license agreement all beta testers must agree to, the beta is Apple confidential information. By accepting those terms, you agree not to discuss your use of the software with anyone who isnt also in the Beta Software Program. That means you cant blog, post screenshots, tweet, or publicly post information about the public beta software. However, you can discuss any information that Apple has publicly disclosed; the company says that information is no longer considered confidential. How to downgrade from the macOS beta You can always revert to an earlier version of macOS, though depending on how you back up, its not necessarily a painless process. Start by making sure the data on your drive is backed up, then erase the drive and install the latest public version of macOS. When you first startup your Mac you can use the Migration Assistant to import your data from the backup. Heres a more detailed tutorial on downgrading from the macOS beta we also have a tutorial on downgrading to an older version of the Mac OS .

Apples plans for a gigantic foldable iPad make no sense

Macworld After years of sitting on the sidelines of the foldable device market, Apple is reportedly planning to finally launch a folding device of its own, according to multiple new reports. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, knowledgeable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claims the companys new vision for the future of computing is a giant foldable iPad (or iPad-like device). He says that when unfolded, this product will offer a seamless single display the size of two iPad Pros side by side, but it will still fit into a rucksack when folded up. Needless to say this represents a major departure from Apples current product portfolio, which contains no iPad with a display larger than 13 inches, and no folding-screen devices whatsoever. Gurman suggests the foldables maximum screen size will be closer to 20 inches, which would make it comfortably larger than even the biggest MacBook, which currently tops out at 16 inches. Before readers rush out to recycle their frustratingly petite iPad Pros, we should stress that this remains a long-term goal rather than an imminent launch. Gurman says it has already been in development (or honing, as he puts it) for a couple of years and that Apple is aiming to bring something to market around 2028. And thats assuming there arent further delays and headaches along the way. Its still a long way off, with no guarantee itll arrive at all. Part of the reason for Apples belated entry into the foldables market is the issue of the crease. Folding devices on the market right now are all to a greater or lesser extent afflicted with an identifiable crease at the point where the screen folds, yet Cupertino is clearly not willing to launch until it can fix it. Gurman understands that prototypes at Apple Park have been made with nearly invisible creases, but there remain doubts over the practicality of removing these altogetheras well as the appearance of a crease over time. Petter Ahrnstedt Aside from developmental hurdles, however, there are also doubts over whether or not a giant-sized foldable iPad would sell, particularly given the extremely high price tag its sure to carry. The 13-inch iPad Pro is already a niche, low-volume product within a relatively low-revenue section of Apples overall line-up, so one wonders how many consumers would be willing to pay multiple thousands of dollars for something twice the size, no matter how seamless its folding mechanism. Quite aside from the price and folding element, which adds new points of failure and a much higher cost of entry, Im not even convinced the idea of a giant iPad is a good or commercial idea. For one, theres the issue of iPadOS, the products likely software platform. By 2028, iPadOS will likely have been further integrated into and evolved towards macOS, but the softwares designers will need to ensure it still makes sense on the simplest of budget iPads too. Unless Apple is ready to do another OS split and develop separate versions of iPadOS for different iPads, its hard to be optimistic about the iPads future as a work device . Foldables are simply one of those markets that get a lot of media attention, so pundits constantly speculate about when (rather than whether) Apple should and will join in. But it might make more sense to begin with a foldable iPhone, a high-demand product where gaining extra screen space while maintaining a compact body feels more of a worthwhile aim. The Wall Street Journal [subscription required], indeed, believes such a product is under development alongside the folding iPad: it will unfold to a display size that would be larger than an iPhone 16 Pro Max, the paper reports. Contrary to Gurmans take on the situation, the WSJ thinks the foldable iPhone will arrive ahead of its larger sibling. Apple executives, it says, are pushing for a 2026 release, but the company may need another year to address technical challenges. Id take this prediction too with a pinch of salt, but it seems more likelyand more sensiblethan the giant folding iPad.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Excellent sound quality Supports wi-fi and AirPlay 2 Two-channel stereo sound Cons Expensive Wi-Fi is 2.4GHz only No wired inputs Our Verdict Its expensive, but the updated Zeppelin Pro Edition is still one of the very best AirPlay speakers available for Apple devices. The sound quality is great, and it provides versatile connectivity features with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options. The only minor weakness is its lack of wired inputs for older audio equipment. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $799 Best Prices Today: Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition Retailer Price $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Hi-Fi manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins makes some of the very best Bluetooth headphones and earbuds , but its also well-known among Apple users for its Zeppelin range of speakers, which first appeared way back in 2007. The first Zeppelin actually had a 30-pin connector for use with an iPod, although later models went completely wireless, adopting Bluetooth, along with both Wi-Fi and AirPlay to provide the best compatibility for Apple devices. See how the Zeppelin Pro compares to other speakers that weve reviewed: Best AirPlay speakers for iPhone. The current Zeppelin model which was last updated in 2021 remains on sale for the time being, but when existing stocks sell out it will be replaced by the new Zeppelin Pro Edition that was launched at the end of 2024. The two models look almost identical, though, and theyre both priced at $799/699, so take care to choose the correct model when youre ordering. The basic design of the speaker remains unchanged, with the Zeppelin Pro Edition measuring 210 x 650 x 194mm and weighing 6.6kg, just like its predecessors. Its available in different colors though, with a dark Space Grey similar to the current MacBook Air models, and Solar Gold with a burnished bronze finish. The size and price of the Zeppelin Pro Edition means that its very much designed to be the main speaker in your home audio system, but while its one of the more expensive AirPlay speakers currently available it really does deliver the goods in terms of sound quality. Unlike many one-piece speaker systems such as Apples HomePod the Zeppelin Pro Edition provides a full stereo system, with separate left and right audio channels, as well as a dedicated sub-woofer for handling lower frequencies. The 150mm sub-woofer sits right in the middle of the speaker, with 90mm mid-range woofers located on either side, and a pair of 25mm tweeters for the higher frequencies. Thats a similar set-up to previous Zeppelin models, but Bowers & Wilkins states that the woofers and tweeters have been redesigned for the Zeppelin Pro Edition in order to provide even better sound quality. Like previous models, the Zeppelin Pro Edition supports Bluetooth with AAC for Apple devices, and aptX Adaptive for Android (Amazons Alexa voice assistant was included in previous models but has now been dropped, as B&W says that no-one wanted it). But, for Apple owners, theres also Wi-Fi with support for AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream wireless audio over your home network from any app on any Apple device. The Zeppelin Pro also supports Spotify Connect, and B&Ws Music app allows you to connect the speaker to other streaming services, such as Tidal and Amazon Music. The Music app also includes bass and treble controls although theres no option to create and save your own custom EQ presets and you can also change the colour of the LED light thats built into the base of the speaker as well (so you could say that its a kind of LED Zeppelin speaker.) Using AirPlay with Apple devices provides more bandwidth for high-quality audio files, and the Zeppelin Pro Edition sounds great with the 2022 high-res remix of The Beatles Eleanor Rigby on Apple Music. It captures the sharp stab of the strings with dramatic precision (producer George Martin has said the string arrangement was inspired by the soundtrack of the film Psycho) but also contrasts that with the slower, deeper melody of the cellos. The cellos have a particularly rich, mournful tone that adds to the sadness of the song, but the Zeppelin Pro also picks out the harmonies with great clarity, as Lennon and McCartney sing look at all the lonely people. Sturgill Simpons Sing Along is a complete contrast a noisy mashup of rock and dance music but the Zeppelin Pro handles the change of pace with ease. The deep, fuzzy guitar riffs have a real weight to them, and the Zeppelin Pros powerful 240-watt amp has power to spare, filling the room around me with sound at around 70% volume. And, again, it provides an effective contrast with the lighter sound of the electronic keyboards that fizz through the air and get you dancing. Our only complaint is that the Zeppelin Pro doesnt provide any wired inputs at all, so you dont have the ability to connect it to older types of audio equipment, such as a CD player or Hi-Fi system. Should You Buy Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition? The Zeppelin Pro Edition is one of the larger and more expensive AirPlay speakers, and it will be overkill if you just want a compact speaker that can sit on a shelf at home. However, the Zeppelin Pro will earn its keep if you want a powerful, high-quality stereo speaker that can act as the centrepiece of your home music system. And, of course, support for AirPlay 2 makes it the ideal companion for Apple devices and other AirPlay speakers, such as Apples HomePod.

AirTag 2 might get the massive range boost Ive been begging Apple to add

Apple will soon release its long-anticipated AirTag 2 item tracker. This accessory was first unveiled in 2021 during the pandemic, but it has become even The post AirTag 2 might get the massive range boost Ive been begging Apple to add appeared first on BGR .

Best AirPods 2025: AirPods, AirPods Pro or Max?

Macworld If youre thinking of buying AirPods any time soon (or hoping to get some for a gift), youve got a few options to choose from. Apple currently has four models in the range, but how do they compare in terms of features? In this article, we take a look at which AirPods are the best for your needs, not to mention your bank balance. What types of AirPods are there? Apple sells various types of AirPods. These range from the standard AirPods right up to the over-the-ear AirPods Max and as the models vary quite a bit in terms of construction and features, the range also encompasses a wide span of pricing. In September 2024 Apple announced a hearing aid update for the AirPods Pro 2, two different versions of the new AirPods 4 and an update to the AirPods Max that refreshed the color options and switched the Lightning connector for USB-C. More about those updates below. Read: AirPods 3 vs AirPods 4 to find out whats changed. Apples AirPods lineup as of September 2024: AirPods 4: $129 at Apple U.S. / 129 at Apple U.K. AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelation: $179 at Apple U.S. / 179 at Apple U.K. AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, with USB-C): $249 at Apple U.S. / 229 at Apple U.K. AirPods Max: $549 at Apple U.S. / 499 at Apple U.K. Apple Those arent the only earphones that Apple sells. Apple also sells the $19 Apple EarPods / 19 Apple EarPods (either with Lightning connector, USB-C connector, or 3.5mm plug). Plus, Beats is a subsidiary of Apple, so Beats headphones often include Apple-specific features. If you are happy to consider alternatives to AirPods, take a look at our roundups of the best earbuds for iPhone , best USB-C headphones and best over-ear headphones we have tested. For more advice read AirPods vs AirPods Pro . Also read: New AirPods: What to expect from the next-gen AirPods. AirPods 101: A timeline Apple sells four distinct AirPod models right now, but, in the past, the range has included the following AirPods, many of which are no longer sold by Apple. We mention them here because you might still find one of these older models on sale elsewhere, so you should be aware of them: AirPods (1st generation): Launched in December 2016, discontinued in March 2019. AirPods (2nd generation): Launched in March 2019, discontinued in September 2024. AirPods (3rd Generation) with Lightning or MagSafe charging case: launched in October 2021, discontinued in September 2024. AirPods Pro (1st generation): Launched in October 2019, discontinued in September 2022. AirPods Pro (2nd generation): Launched in September 2022 with Lightning connectivity. Updated in September 2023 to add USB-C connectivity. AirPods Max with Lightning: Launched in December 2020. Updated in September 2023 to add USB-C connectivity and refresh the color choices. You may be able to get any of the above AirPods at a discounted price from an independent reseller, including the generations no longer sold by Apple. However, we rarely see these older AirPods at a good enough price now that the AirPods 4 without ANC start at just $129/129. To get the best prices take a look at the best pricing for Apples AirPods right now in the sections below, but we also have a separate roundup of the best AirPods deals that we update monthly. Apple What can AirPods do? You may be thinking of Apples AirPods as earbuds, earphones, headphones, or whatever you call them. Perhaps all you want to do with your AirPods is listen to music, but there is so much more that they can do. Here are a few of the benefits of having AirPods: Simple setup : the AirPods are easy to set up to use with all your Apple products. You can instantly pair them with every device linked to your iCloud account just by tapping the AirPods once on your iPhone or iPad. Bluetooth headphones : thats not to say AirPods can only be used with Apple products. You can connect to PCs, Android phones, game consoles, and TVs via Bluetooth. See: AirPods compatibility: What Do AirPods work with . Automatic switching : You can seamlessly move from listening to audio on your Mac to answering a call on your iPhone. They are intelligent : They sense when theyre in your ears, pause when you take them out and resume when you put them back in. They recognize when youre speaking and filter out external noise so that your voice is clear. AudioSharing : You can share an audio stream between two sets of AirPods. Want to listen to your favorite album or Podcast with a friend? Bring their AirPods near the iPhone, iPad, or AppleTV youre listening to and they will connect. You can listen together and each of you will have independent volume control. Conversation Boost : helps you hear people talking to you. Read: How to use Conversation Boost. Live Listen : helps you to hear people across the room by working with your iPhone to pick up sound from a distance. Read: How to use Live Listen . Access to Siri : Siri, your AI assistant, can read your messages or alerts as they arrive. You can even get Siri to reply to messages using voice commands. Free Apple Music : if you havent previously had a trial you can get 3 months of Apple Music free See How to get Apple Music for free. Hearing aid : A software update for the AirPods Pro 2 means they are able to function like over-the-counter hearing aids. Read: How to use AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid . AirPods compared: Which AirPods are best? If you are wondering what the main differences between the various AirPods read on. We also cover elements like design, controls, waterproofing, noise cancelling, sound quality, charging times and battery life , below. First well run though the key differences between the various AirPods sold by Apple, starting with the most expensive model. You can also see the best prices right now. We recommend the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC and the standard AirPods 4. We feel that the AirPods Max are too lacking right now to be worth their high price. AirPods Pro 2 USB-C Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $194.5 View Deal $249 View Deal $274.63 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $194.5 at B&H $249 at Apple $274.63 at Amazon The AirPods Pro had a significant update in 2022, bringing Find My to the charging case, better battery life, improved noise cancellation and enhanced audio quality, new extra small ear tips and so much more. Then in 2023 Apple added a few new features including a case that charges with USB-C instead of Lightning, the ability to use an iPhone 15 or later to reverse your AirPods case, better protection against dust, and Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency for Apple Vision Pro. In September 2024, Apple announced that the AirPods Pro 2 would get a firmware update that will add hearing aid features to the earphones. The update is now available so AirPods Pro 2 can function as hearing aids. The AirPods Pro are better than ever, but the price is still high. Read our full AirPods Pro 2 USB-C review Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) Price When Reviewed: $179 with Active Noice Cancelation Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $168.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 4th gen (2024) Wireless (USB-C) Charging case $139.95 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $168.99 at Amazon $169.99 at B&H $169.99 at Target View more prices from Adorama Apple Apple United States Walmart Electronics Close Best Prices Today: Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) New Refurbished Retailer Price $168.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 4th gen (2024) Wireless (USB-C) Charging case $139.95 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket The AirPods have been redesigned with each generation, each one promising a better fit. The AirPods 4, according to Apple, has a design with a natural and secure fit for more people than ever. The effectiveness of the AirPods 4s active noise cancelation is affected by the open design. The AirPods 4 dont absolutely cancel the noise around you, which might be preferable, depending on your situation. If youre in conditions where you need to muffle as much as possible, youll be better off with the AirPods 2s snug ear tips. Like the AirPods Pro 2 case, the $179/179 AirPods 4 with ANC case has a speaker to play alerts through Find My. It also supports USB-C or wireless chargingit works with the Apple Watch charger as well as Qi chargers. If you use active noise cancelation, it shortens the AirPods 4s battery life: when fully charged Apple states a 4-hour listening time with the earbuds and 20 hours of charge with the case. Turn off ANC, and fully charged earbuds can last 5 hours, and the case adds 30 total hours. The AirPods 4 with ANC for $179/179 are a much better value than the 3rd-gen AirPods with numerous pro-level features. They sound great, the active noise cancelation is extremely useful and works surprisingly well, they fit better than previous AirPods, and the wireless charging and Find My speaker on the case are much-welcomed conveniences. Read our full Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) review Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) Price When Reviewed: $129 without Active Noise Cancelation Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $119 at Amazon $119.99 at B&H $129 at Apple United States View more prices from Walmart Electronics Best Buy Target Close Best Prices Today: Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) Retailer Price $119 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Apple offers the AirPods 4 without Active Noice Cancelation for $129/129, a $50/50 lower price than the model with ANC. Apple identifies this product as the AirPods 4. The earbud and case designs are the same as the $179/179 AirPods 4 with ANC. However, the $129 AirPods 4 does not have the following features: Active Noise Cancelation (as well as Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode) Conversation Awareness Wireless charging case Speaker on the case for Find My alerts Otherwise, theyre the same. The AirPods 4 have an H2 chip like the ANC model as well as the same audio quality, fit, and features. So youll have to consider if those features listed above are worth the extra $50. The real bonus of the AirPods 4 is the fact that they are being sold for the same price as the 2019 second generation AirPods were prior to September 2024, making them exceptional value for money. Apple AirPods Max (USB-C, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $449.99 View Deal $469 View Deal $529 View Deal $547 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549.99 View Deal $549.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $449.99 at Walmart $469 at B&H $529 at Amazon View more prices from Walmart Electronics Apple Apple United States Best Buy Close Best Prices Today: Apple AirPods Max (USB-C, 2024) Retailer Price $449.99 View Deal $469 View Deal $529 View Deal $547 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549.99 View Deal $549.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket At more than twice the cost of the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max are the definition of a considered purchase. Thanks to the size of the ear-cups, Apple is able to put a H1 chip in each one, as opposed to the single chip that appears in all of the other AirPods. There are features such as Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode and Spacial Audio, but the Max doesnt have the custom high-dynamic range amplifier found in the AirPods (3 and 4) and AirPods Pro, or (more surprisingly) any form of waterproofing. The smart case is also different in that you cant use it to charge the AirPods Max, but this isnt as bad as it sounds, as the onboard batteries provide around 20 hours of listening time. Again, thanks to the size of the AirPods Max, controls are handled not by taps but a Digital Crown similar to that found on the Apple Watch, and a dedicated Noise Control button. There are also multiple microphones to aid with noise cancellation, plus updated sensors for better performance. Since the September 2024 update, the AirPods Max charge with USB-C, but prior to that used the Lightning connector. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack. It is possible to use the Lightening connector to plug in the headphones to an analog audio source, such as an in-flight entertainment system, or if you want to eliminate the latency of Bluetooth by using a wired connection, but the USB-C connectivity doesnt work as seamlessly for this purpose. The September 2024 update also added new color options of blue, purple, Midnight, Starlight or orange. The price didnt change. For a comprehensive look at the AirPods Max, read our full review . AirPods features: How to choose the best AirPods Well now run through all the differences between the various AirPods, looking at the design, controls, waterproofing, noise canceling, sound quality, compatibility, charging times and battery life to help you decide which AirPods will meet your needs. Design All earbud style AirPods are available in white, just like the iPod earbuds that were so iconic. However, if you are willing to spend more on a pair of over-ear Apple headphones then the AirPods Max come in a variety of two-tone colors including (from September 2024) Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight. The AirPods Max are designed to create an acoustic seal around your ear to aid noise cancellation. Theres a Digital Crown on one side for volume control. Foundry There was an expectation that the AirPods Pro would have shorter stems when Apple updated them in 2022, but this wasnt the case. This means that to distinguish between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) you need to look to the earbud. Only the AirPods Pro come with silicone ear tips to create a seal in your ear. There are four sizes: XS, S, M, L included in the box. The extra small size is new with the AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro are the only other AirPods to offer external noise cancellation. Michael Simon You might not be keen on pushing something inside your ear, in which case its worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 offer a vent system for pressure equalization so that it feels comfortable to wear them. This vent system combined with the silicon ear tips means you may find the AirPods Pro 2 more comfortable to wear than the standard AirPods with their hard plastic tips that sit in your ear. The most obvious difference between the new AirPods 4 and the older AirPods 2 and 3 is the size of the stem. Theres a lot else that is visibly different though, as you can see from the image above. Foundry Size is another difference, that may or may not matter to you since it doesnt really impact comfort or fit. The AirPods 4 are lighter than the AirPods Pro 2, which are 5.3g (0.19oz). The AirPods Max weigh a lot more at 384.8g (13.6oz). Controls One of the benefits of using any kind of AirPods is that you can also tell Siri (the artificial intelligent assistant) to do things for you. However, you dont have to use Siri to control your music playback (luckily). You can use a combination of taps and swipe depending on which AirPods you have. On AirPods 2nd generation you use a double tap to play, skip or answer the phone. AirPods 3 and 4 use a force sensor. Its one press for play, pause or answer call, two presses to skip forward, and three presses to skip back. Press and hold to activate Siri. AirPods Pro 2 use touch control with different presses for different features. Its one press for play, pause or answer call, two presses to skip forward, three presses to skip back. You press and hold to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency, swipe up and down to adjust volume, and you Say Hey Siri to trigger the voice assistant. AirPods Max feature a DigitalCrown that you turn to control volume, press to play, pause or answer a call, press twice to skip, three times to go back, and press and hold to activate Siri (or say Hey Siri). Theres also a Noise control button to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. Theres a Noise control button to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode on the AIrPods Max. Apple Waterproofing: Are AirPods waterproof? Given that a lot of people like to wear headphones when exercising or walking around outside, so the question can AirPods get wet is a fair one. The answer to the question is that the AirPods 4 generation and AirPods Pro 2 are sweat and water resistant (IPX4 rated), according to Apple. Which means you can wear then when exercising, in the shower and in the rain, but not in the swimming pool. The AirPods arent considered water resistant. Noise canceling: Are AirPods noise canceling? The AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 offer Active Noise Cancelation. Noise cancellation works by using a microphone to detect external sounds and then countering them by playing anti-noise. The AirPods Pro 2 offer better noise cancellation thanks to a new driver and improved acoustic algorithms as well as better microphones and a new speaker grille on top of each earbud to help filter out outside sounds. Apple also offers the AirPods 4 without Active Noise Cancelation. Active Noise Cancellation isnt the only sound related feature in the AirPods. There is a Transparency mode available on the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max that lets the outside noise in when you need to hear whats going on around you. You can switch between these two modes by tapping on a location on your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max (indicated by the blue arrows in the image above). Theres a difference between the Transparency Mode on the AirPods Max and the Pro: the AirPods Pro 2 offer Adaptive Transparency, which will minimise the intensity of loud noises like sirens, so you wont be deafened if an ambulance passes while you are using Transparency Mode. Conversation Boost is a feature that came to the AirPods Pro in an October 2021 software update. The feature can be used to enhance the voice of the person talking beside you, which could be helpful for the hard of hearing. The feature can be turned on in iOS Accessibility settings, heres How to use Conversation Boost to turn your AirPods Pro into a hearing aid . Another related feature is Live Listen, which can be used in conjunction with an iPhone or iPad to help you listen to someone speaking from across the room or in a noisy place. You can use Live Listen with AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and also Powerbeats Pro or Beats Fit Pro. Read How to use Live Listen . Sound quality: Which AirPods have the best sound quality? Weve never had any reason to criticise any AirPods sound quality, although they arent necessarily the best sounding headphones you can buy. However, we were glad to find that the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 use the same H2 chip that processes sound, so the audio quality is similar in both, which the differences due mostly to the eartips in the AirPods Pro 2. Another way that AirPods can create personalized sound is via Personalized Spatial Audio, which requires iOS 16 on iPhones with the TrueDepth camera and is compatible with 1st and 2nd generation AirPods Pro, AirPods, and AirPods Max. It can also be used with Beats Fit Pro. A personal profile based on your unique ear shape is set up for you, based on a photo of your head and each of your ears to create a three-dimensional audio experience when you move your head. Dynamic head tracking can also be beneficial in group FaceTime calls. All AirPods support Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio in Apple Music, but only the 3rd and 4th-generation AirPods, or either generation of the AirPods Pro support Spatial Audio for video with head tracking. Charging and battery life AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 in their charging cases Apple Before we get onto battery life, a few words on charging. The $129/129 AirPods 4 case charges only through USB-C. The $179/179 AirPods 4 with ANC has USB-C charging but also can charge wirelessly. The charging case for the AirPods Pro 2 includes USB-C and wireless charging. But perhaps even better, you dont need to find a power adapter to plug the cable into: you can reverse charge the 2023 version by plugging the case into any iPhone 15. You can also charge the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro and the MagSafe-equipped 3rd-gen AirPods wirelessly. Heres how the battery life of the different AirPods Apple sells compares: AirPods 4: 5 hours listening or 4.5 hours talking, plus 30hours listening or 20 hours talking from charging case. AirPods 4 with ANC: 4 hours (with ANC on) or 5 hours (with ANC off) listening or 4.5 hours talking, plus 20hours (with ANC on) 0r 30 hours (with ANC off) listening or 20 hours talking from charging case. AirPods Pro 2: 6 hours listening or 4.5 hours talking, plus the AirPods Pro 2 charging case can add a total of 30 hours of listening or 24 hours talking. AirPods Max: 20hrs on one charge, but no charging case boost here. These battery life measures are claimed by Apple. Its worth noting that the AirPods Pro 2 battery life if superior to the 1st generation of that model (previously 4.5 hours and 24 hours listening time). To check the remaining battery life users can hold AirPods next to their iPhone or ask Siri Hows the battery on my AirPods?. Should AirPods need charging a notification will appear on the paired iPhone. Prospective buyers will also want to know how quickly the AirPods will charge or how quickly you can charge them before leaving the house. AirPods 4: 5minutes in the case provides around 1hour of battery life. AirPods Pro 2: 5minutes in the case provides around 1hour of battery life. AirPods Max: 5minutes of charge time provides around 1.5hours of battery life. Again, those are the times quoted by Apple. You wont always be in a hurry to charge your AirPods of course. Under more usual circumstances the AirPods have a variety of ways in which they can be charged. All but the AirPods 4 without ANC can come with a wireless charging case. There did used to be a version of the AirPods 2 that came with a wireless charging case, but Apple no longer sells that model. Compatibility We mentioned already that AirPods dont only work with Apple products. They are Bluetooth headphones and as such can connect to any device that supports Bluetooth. In that respect, there might be some difference based on the fact that both generations of AIrPods and the AirPods Max support Bluetooth 5.0 while the AirPods Pro 2 support Bluetooth 5.3, which brings improvements such as less interference and improved sound quality. So, if you were wondering if AirPods can connect to your PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Android or even Samsung phone, the answer is yes. You just need to connect via Bluetooth. One last thing to note: if you have a really old iPhone and want to use AirPods, only the AirPods 2nd gen work with iPhone6, iPhone6 Plus and iPhone5s and the iPadmini3, iPadmini2 and iPadAir (1st generation) and iPodtouch (6th generation). Other AIrPods wont work with those ageing devices. But we cant imagine many AIrPod users will have such old Apple devices. We cover various scenarios separately: How to use AirPods with PlayStation or Xbox How to pair AirPods with a Nintendo Switch (without an adapter) How to connect AirPods to Apple TV Which AirPods to buy The AirPods that are right for you will no doubt depend on a variety of factors. Perhaps you want the cheapest option, in which case the AirPods 4 without ANC at $129/129 might look the most attractive. You will need to really want active noise cancellation to spend $50/50 more to get it. But if you are a real music lover the AirPods might not be enough for you. The AirPods Pro offer superior sound and many more benefits. They cost a lot more though, at $249/229. We think they are worth the extra expense, but you might not. If you have money to spend the AirPods Max, which have a very high price in comparison with the rest of the range, at $549/499, do have a lot of appeal. But those who would appreciate what they offer can look beyond Apples offering and probably find something just as good, or better. See: Best over-ear headphones . One other factor influencing your decision though is if you find a good deal on a new or old pair of AirPods. Check out the deals below to see if the AirPods you want are discounted then perhaps you can afford to splash out on the AirPods Pro instead of the AirPods.

Abracadabra! Apple is working on a new Magic Mouse with proper charging

Macworld When Apple updated its lineup of Magic Mac accessories in November, we didnt get the redesign we were hoping for. All that changed was the Lightning ports, which were swapped out with USB-C ones. Everything else remained the same, including the Magic Mouses wonky upside-down charging. With no significant updates since 2015, we assumed the Magic Mouse was forever doomed to charge through its belly. However, a new rumor from Bloombergs Mark Gurman claims that Apple is actually working on a new Magic Mouse to finally address its criticslongstanding complaints. Its not just the charging, though thats easily the most criticized feature. The Magic Mouse has a very low profile that forces your hand to lie flatter while using it and contort somewhat uncomfortably to use the multi-touch gestures. As mice have gotten more ergonomic with taller designs and side buttons, the Magic Mouse has stubbornly stuck to its near-10-year-old vision. In plain language, Gurman says Apple is looking to create something thats more relevant, while also fixing longstanding complaintsyes, including the charging port issue. Other than a new black color option in 2021 and the aforementioned USB-C port, Apple hasnt changed anything about Magic Mouse since its 2015 debut. In an interview with Marques Brownlee at WWDC earlier this year, Tim Cook defended the launch of the Magic Mouse as an incredible moment made possible by getting the ergonomics right. So even with a new model, Apple could opt to keep a similar design and focus its changes on a rear charging port and some modern features such as higher DPI and more customization options. However, if youre hoping to see the new Magic Mouse alongside the M4 Mac Pro or Mac Studio, Gurman says the accessory will likely arrive within the next 12 to 18 months, which likely puts its release some time in 2026. But for the first time in nearly a decade, we have hope.

How to install macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac

Macworld Apple updates its macOS desktop and laptop operating system once a year, like clockwork, bringing new features and improvements. Thats all very well, but Apples most recent version of macOS, Sequoia, wont run on a MacBook Air from before 2020, a Mac mini or MacBook Pro that launched before 2018, iMacs from before 2019, or the Mac Pro from before 2019. If your Mac is too old to be supported you are out of luck Or are you? What if your Mac or MacBook is older than those mentioned above? Officially this means that your Mac cant officially be updated to macOS Sequoia. Unofficially, though, it can be done. If Apple deems your Mac too old to run Sequoia, or any other versions of macOS, updating is not simple, but it is possible with an OpenCore Legacy Patcher. The OpenCore Legacy Patcher for macOS Sequoia enables this. OpenCore Legacy Patcher 2.0.0, brings macOS Sequoia to Macs that would otherwise be unsupported. There will be some unsupported featuers, however, due to the lack of supporting hardware. For example, there is a problem with the T2 security chip in certain MacBook Air models when booted through OpenCorePkg as outlined here . Patchers are also available for other macOS versions including Sonoma, Ventura and Monterey. Why run a new macOS version on an old Mac? Its not only Sequoia that is limited to newer Macs. macOS Sonoma provided support for only two additional MacBook Air models, and macOS Ventura wouldnt run on a MacBook, MacBook Pro or iMac that launched before 2017, or a pre-2018 MacBook Air or Mac mini. macOS Monterey wont run on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or iMac models that launched before late 2015, and if you have a pre-2014 Mac mini or a pre-2013 Mac Pro you are out of luck. There is a good reason why you might want to run one of these three macOS versions on your Mac. Apple supports only the past three versions with security updates which means that is your Mac isnt able to update it may be vulnerable to security threats. See: How long does Apple support Macs . Is my Mac too old to update? We have a macOS compatibility checker here , so you can see which versions of macOS your Mac should be able to run. The following Macs can run Sequoia . MacBook Air from 2020 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later iMac from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Pro from 2019 and later Mac Studio from 2022 and later The following Macs can run Sonoma . MacBook Air from 2018 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later iMac from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Pro from 2019 and later Mac Studio from 2022 and later Heres an overview of the Macs that will run Ventura : 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) Heres an overview of the Macs that will run 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 (all models) Mac Pro models from late 2013 and later If your Mac is supported read: How to update macOS for a simple way to update your Mac to the latest compatible operating system. Should I install the latest macOS on an old Mac? Before you go ahead and follow our tutorial, a word of warning: there is a reason why Apple chooses not to support the new Mac operating system on older Macs. Older Macs just dont have the necessary components or power required to cope with the demands of the more modern systems. So if you do install Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, or older, on an unsupported Mac dont expect it to run smoothly. You should expect to encounter problems. There are known issues with the patcher and Macs with a T1 security chip, for example. Be prepared for the fact that your Mac will not function optimally and you could lose data. (For that reason we recommend making a full backup of your Mac first ). For example, many older Macs had problems with the Wi-Fi connection after installing macOS Big Sur. Running macOS on an unsupported Mac may also be considered against Apples terms and conditions. Wondering if its even worth updating your Mac? Read: macOS Sequoia vs macOS Sonoma . If you really want to run Sequoia maybe its time to upgrade your Mac and sell your old one. Read How to sell an old Mac and our frequently updated best Mac deals: Best MacBook Air deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best Mac mini deals Best iMac deals How to install Sequoia on an unsupported Mac If your Mac is more than a few years old and you try to install macOS Sequoia (or Sonoma, Ventura or Monterey) on it you will hit a few hurdles the first being the fact that Software Update wont let you install the new version of macOS . However, this doesnt mean that installing Sequoia on an older Mac isnt possible. It is you just need a patch. Luckily theres a patcher for installing macOS Sequoia on older Macs available the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. The download and instructions can be found here . Note that macOS patchers cannot perform magic and not all Macs will be compatible. Before installing Sequoia on an older Mac, make sure that your Mac is compatible with the patcher. You can find a list of all the Macs supported here . The procedure for updating to a new version of macOS on incompatible Macs is as follows. We recommend following the instructions on the GitHub page . Before you do anything back up your Mac, just in case. First you will need to obtain the installation files for the version of macOS you are after in this case Sequoia. Youll have to obtain these using a compatible Mac. If they dont show up in Software Update you can get the installation files from the Mac App Store . They are over 12GB so expect the download to take a while. Once they are downloaded you need to load these installation files onto a USB stick and prepare the USB stick for installing macOS Sequoia. We explain how to create a bootable installer of macOS in a separate article. Youll be able to find the installation files in Finder > Applications. (Open Finder and press Shift + Command + A). The patcher also guides you through creating the macOS Installer. Next you need to obtain the patcher software that will essentially trick the installation files of the version of macOS you want to install into believing that the Mac is compatible. You can download the latest version of the patcher we mentioned above here . Click on OpenCore-Patcher-GUI.app.zip and it should Download. After extracting the archive from your download you will find the application OpenCore-Patcher. Run the OpenCore-Patcher app. Choose Build & Install OpenCore. If you are planning to install on a different Mac you need to select the correct Mac click on Settings. Once in Build OpenCore the process should quickly build and then you will return to the main menu. The next step is to choose Install OpenCore to USB/internal drive from the options. (The recommendation is to install on a FAT32 drive. Once that has been created you need to reboot your Mac while holding down the Option (Alt) key. When the Mac starts up there will be a black screen with a few drive options. Select EFI Boot. This will load up OpenCore. Next you need to select Install macOS, you should see the option Install macOS Sequoia in the OpenCore Picker. Now install macOS Sequoia. Foundry We recommend that you follow the steps outlined here if you have any problems. Expect the update to take several hours. How to install macOS updates on an unsupported Mac Once you have installed macOS Sequoia (or whatever version of macOS you choose), updates will appear in Software Updates as soon as they are available. However, you should not install these. Instead you need to create a USB stick with the new installation files and install the update in that way. How to install an Sonoma or older macOS on an unsupported Mac The process is the same if you want to install Sonoma or another version of macOS on your Mac. As above, the download and instructions can be found here . You can check to see if your Mac is compatible with the patcher here . The same patcher is used which ever version of macOS you want to install. The procedure for updating to a new version of macOS on incompatible Macs is the same as above, although youll need to use the Sonona (or other) installation files (which you can get from the Mac App Store ). Once OpenCore is up and running you will be able to select Install macOS, you should see the option Install macOS Sonoma in the OpenCore Picker. The update can take several hours. In our case it sometimes looked like the installer had crashed during the update. In this case you should wait, as the installation is usually still in progress. Over time, better ways to update a machine may be found. Currently, the safest approach is to update using a bootable USB stick.

Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $18 this week only

Macworld Okay, Mac users, we can admit there are some advantages to having a PC, right? Like those Windows-only apps and games. Instead of being eternally jealous, were getting Windows 11 Pro at its lowest price ever: $18 (reg. $199)this week only! Its the perfect time to dip our toes into the world of PC gaming or try out other Windows-exclusive software. How does it all work? With a little help from Boot Camp (if you have an Intel-based Mac) or a virtual machine like Parallels Desktop, you can run Windows alongside macOS . Then, you can finally download Red Dead Redemption 2 and other games. Windows 11 Pros DirectX 12 Ultimate gaming graphics pick up any slack your Mac might have. This is also your chance to try Windows OS without buying a PC. You might be pleasantly surprised by the sleek interface, multitasking features, and the AI assistant, Windows Copilot . You only have this week to download Windows 11 Pro to your Mac for $18 (reg. $199). No coupon is needed to get this price. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $17.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

The last cloud storage youll ever need has arrived

Macworld Files build up over time, whether its pictures of your pets, work documents, or just random files you cant delete for one reason or another. Instead of dealing with constant low-storage warnings across all your devices, try consolidating. Internxt is a secure, open-source cloud storage that gives you more control over your data and plenty of room to play with. For a limited time, a 10TB lifetime subscription is marked down to $279.99 (reg. $2,999). Internxt encrypts your files end-to-end, breaking them into smaller pieces to make sure they remain unreadable to unintended recipients. This zero-knowledge approach means youre the only one who can access your files, perfect for anyone tired of big-name providers dipping into your data. Available across platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, it works seamlessly on any device, so file sharing and syncing is easy whether youre at home or on the go. With a web app and a sleek, user-friendly interface, Internxt feels intuitive and familiar, even to those new to cloud storage. Pay once and never again for 10TB of encrypted cloud storage. Use code HOLIDAY20 by January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Internxt Cloud Storage 10TB Lifetime Subscription for $279.99. Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan $279.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

How one WordPress plugin is changing professional websites forever

Macworld Across industries, its hard to avoid needing to build your own website once in a while. Most of the time, you have two options: you can learn to code (hard), or you can use something like WordPress and create a website that looks like a million others. Why not try a third option? MaxiBlocks is a WordPress plugin that keeps the familiar parts of building a WordPress site and adds a robust customization toolkit, and you never need to write a line of code. Pick up a MaxiBlocks lifetime subscription for just $59 (reg. $447). This powerful WordPress plugin offers over 2,300 block patterns and 280 page templates, making it easier than ever to build stunning websites without coding. The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive and seamless, letting you focus on creativity rather than technical hurdles. Advanced design options and full Gutenberg integration mean your websites work across devices and look good doing it. MaxiBlocks doesnt just give you templates. It provides a full toolkit, including 14,300 SVG icons and style cards for consistent, professional designs. Whether youre a beginner or an experienced web developer, youll appreciate how effortlessly you can create unique layouts that stand out. Updates and additional assets are included so your designs stay fresh and modern. Its like having a comprehensive design studio built into WordPress. Get a MaxiBlocks No-Code Webpage Builder lifetime pro plan for $59. MaxiBlocks No-Code Webpage Builder: Pro Plan Lifetime Subscription (3 Licenses) $59 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Ill always love my desktop Mac, but Ive decided to switchheres why

Macworld Back in the day, I had one computer. It was a laptop bought for me by my employer, and at work, Id attach it to an external display and use it at my desk. At the end of the day, Id close it up, put it in my backpack, and take it home. For the last 10 years, Ive worked at a desk at home, with a desktop Mac as my primary computer. But over the last year or so, Ive been using my MacBook Air a lot more, whether Im traveling or spending the winter in a heated room rather than my unheated garage. So whats better, the single-Mac life or being a Mac vagabond? As someone whos been there, and back, and there again, I can tell you that its never been easier to live the two-Mac lifestylebut its also never been a better time to just give the desktop up and learn to love a Mac laptop. The bad old days In the days of PowerPC and Intel laptops, living this life was rough. Just running a Mac laptop in lid-closed mode, attached to an external display, was fraught with bugs. Today, most Macs are laptops, but for a good many years, the laptop was an oddball and the desktop was the real Mac. As a result, laptop bugs abounded, especially if you wanted to do something as outlandish as plug your laptop into an external display and close the lid. All Macs now let you use an iPad as a second display. But there was a time when simply running any external display on a MacBook was an adventure in troubleshooting. Willis Lai/IDG What Im saying is, there was a lot of unplugging and replugging, opening the lid and closing the lid, and the like, in order to cajole the computer into properly displaying on that external screen. Things got better over time, but it was never perfect. Worse, though, were the sleep issues. When the Mac went to sleep while attached to an external display, sometimes it wouldnt come back without helpor with a forced reboot. On many, many days, Id unplug my laptop, pop it into my backpack, take an hourlong ride on a bus back home, and remove the laptoponly to find the inside of my backpack blazing hot because my MacBook hadnt gone to sleep after all. Keeping in sync Still, the plan when I started working for myself, in my garage, was to use my beloved MacBook Air and plug it into a big display. That plan didnt survive the release of the 5K iMac, and so began my years-long sojourn as a person who used a desktop at my desk, but a laptop everywhere else. I hadnt lived like this for years, and things really had gotten much better for multiple Mac users in the intervening time. The existence of cloud services such as iCloud and Dropbox has really made things so much easier. These days I keep most of my working files in Dropbox, but I also sync my Desktop and Documents folders via iCloud. The iCloud part is sometimes a bit wonky, but its so nice to be able to put a folder on my Desktop in my office and then open my laptop and see that the same file is on the Desktop there, too. (And, of course, all those files are also accessible on my iPhone and iPad. Nice!) When I recently had to wipe my Mac Studios hard drive , I did so with no fear of losing data. Not only do I back up daily via Time Machine and make a clone using Carbon Copy Cloner , but all my vital files are in Dropbox or iCloud. It just wasnt a worry. While the cloud makes life as a user of many Macs easier, it unfortunately also highlights all the ways in which its still hard. While some Mac apps have embraced the cloud as a way to sync settingsBBEdit has let you do it via Dropbox or iCloud for quite a while nowothers only do it in a limited fashion. For example, I can sync my Keyboard Maestro macros and my Hazel automations via the cloud, but only after delving into their settings and enabling some specific cloud-sync features. And thats the apps that acknowledge the existence of the cloud. Other apps just dont. Once I set Keyboard Maestro to sync using iCloud, I discovered that all my podcast-related automations crashed hard against Audio Hijacks inability to sync either its sessions or its scripts across devices. (Its even worse: while you can import and export Audio Hijack sessions, I could only move scripts by diving into my local Application Support folder and copying a property list file to the other computer.) My Stream Deck settings also dont sync, though at least they can be imported and exported. At least Shortcuts sync via iCloudmore or less. (There are occasional reliability issues, but Ive found that it mostly works.) Plenty of system-level stuff is also just not consistent. I use the app SwiftBar to put ambient data in my menu bar, mostly from a bunch of Python scripts. SwiftBar is happy to use a bunch of plug-ins from Dropbox or iCloud, which is great! But keeping the version of Python on both systems in sync, at compatible paths, with compatible modules installed, is an ongoing challenge. I recently got a Hazel sync working again via its settings-sync features, only to discover that my scripts were failing because the connected Python script was in an unsynced directory, and therefore my fixes on one computer never moved to the other one. An M4 Max MacBook Pro offers workstation-like performance in a portable and light package. Foundry The big picture is that my files are in the cloud, and thats awesome. The details, though, are frustrating. Every time I go several days without using either computer, I find Im spending time getting things back up to current while also waiting for Apples push notification server to alert me about everything thats already been dealt with on other devices. So I decided maybe it was time to stop the madness. Things got better The release of the M4 Macs this fall really made me consider my options . While I decided that an M4 Pro Mac mini wouldnt be enough of an upgrade over my M1 Max Mac studio, I started to wonder: What about an M4 Max MacBook Pro? After all, Apples newest laptops would be a quantum leap in performance over my formerly amazing desktop Mac. (Gone are the days when using a laptop requires a serious drop in performance.) And if I commit to the laptop lifestyle, I dont need to worry about syncing all those miscellaneous directories and app settings because everywhere I go, Ill be using the same Mac! Still: The fear of the bad old days. But being a laptop user in the era of Apple silicon is so much better than it was in the Intel years. Desktop Macs are awesome , but theyre also outliers. The vast majority of Macs in use are laptops. And in this era, Mac hardware and macOS itself are almost entirely focused on the laptop experience. My personal experience backs this up. Id guess that in the last year, Ive spent more time using my MacBook Air running in lid-closed mode attached to a Studio Display than Ive used it as an actual laptop. And the experience has been great. Ive noticed almost none of the weirdnesses that used to plague me. I am still blown away by the fact that when you plug in an external display, it just turns on. Theres no weird blinking and flashing as everything resets and composes itself like there used to be. It really does just work. Peripherals have come a long way, too. Thunderbolt and USB-C docks make it much easier to create docking stations for laptops. In the bedroom I use as an office in the winter, Ive got a Studio display with a USB-C dock attached to one of its ports, allowing me to chain off a microphone, keyboard, trackpad, and Stream Deck. Connecting to this setup requires a single Thunderbolt cable, which provides power and streams out data. Its fantastic. Off I go After much fretting, I decided that I needed to admit to myself that the right decision was for me to become a one-Mac person again. And that means that a laptop is the right decision for me. Later this month, my M4 Max MacBook Pro will arrive, and Ill begin the migration. Sure, Ill probably need to invest in some more docks and cables in order to convert my Mac Studio desk into a MacBook Pro-friendly model. But Ill also be down to a single computer that I can use anywhere, including when I travel. (I dont love the extra weight the MacBook Pro has over the MacBook Air, but Im willing to shoulder the burdenliterally. And my daughter will finally be able to replace her Intel Air with something better.) Ten years as a desktop Mac user was a lot of fun. I had an iMac, iMac Pro, and Mac Studio, and I enjoyed them all. But like almost everyone else, Ive found the pull of the laptop too strong to avoid. Even when sitting at a desk staring at a big monitor, the MacBook Pro seems like the right choice.

This $73 four-pack of AirTags makes the perfect stocking stuffers

Macworld Always knowing where your keys are or where your checked-in bag is when youre at the airport is pretty fantastic, and the tiny Apple AirTag is super useful. Well, if you need a handful of AirTags right now, you can get a four-pack for $73 at Amazon , a savings of $43 off Apples $29 price for a single AirTag or just $18.25 per tracker. These tiny devices look great, and theyre super easy to set up with your iPhone or iPad. Once theyre connected to your devices, you can easily use the Find My app to pinpoint their exact location. During those hectic mornings when you cant find your keys, you can just launch the app on your phone and make the AirTag play a sound so theyre easier to locate, cutting down minutes of panic searching the house. Even when the AirTag is out of range, the device will simply ping off of nearby Apple devices, helping you locate it as precisely as possible. If you lose something with an AirTag, you can just set it to Lost Mode from the app, and anyone who finds it can contact you. In our review of the AirTag , we appreciated the small design, the fact that it has a removable battery, and its tremendous versatility with the Find My network. No matter who youre getting them for, there are tons of good uses for AirTags, and getting four of them for $73 is a total steal . Get 4 AirTags for just $18.25 each Buy now at Amazon

How to find and block an AirTag thats detected near you

Macworld Apples AirTag is a compact tracking device that can be attached to personal items to make it easy to find them. Unlike a GPS tracker, which requires cell service and may drain a battery quickly, an AirTag relies on the distributed Find My network of iPhones, iPads, and Macs that hundreds of millions of people around the world carry with them, and uses Bluetooth LE to send a signal to other devices. The concern is that there have been reports of people using AirTags to track others. In response to the early reports of this behavior, Apple added a feature that means if an unknown AirTag is detected near by, you will see an alert on your iPhone. For that reason people are obviously concerned if they see an AirTag has been detected near you alert. Of course its not always malicious. You might have found a device that someone had lost, or a pet with an AirTag in its collar might have taken a shine to you. You might even be the one who has lost their device and wants to know how to use the AirTag to track it down. Whatever your reasons to find an AirTag detected near you we will explain the process below. Apple AirTag Read our review Price When Reviewed: 1 pack $29 | 4 pack $99 Best Prices Today: $25.99 at B&H | $27 at Walmart | $29 at Apple Are AirTags safe? While there are a thousand positive and legitimate ways to use an AirTag , unfortunately, AirTags have been used to track people without their knowledge. For example, back in December 2021, the York regional police department in Canada announced that AirTags were being placed in hidden areas of target cars parked in public, and then tracked to the drivers residence, where the cars are stolen while parked in the driveway. In another incident, a woman claimed that she found an AirTag hidden in her wheel well after her iPhone alerted her to an AirTag moving with her. State governments in New York and Pennsylvania have issued warnings about the misuse of AirTags and similar tracking devices. Incidents like this are rare (at the time, York police said there had been five AirTag-involved thefts out of 2,000 in the region). Apple has put some safeguards in place so that an iPhone, iPad, and AirTag provide varying alerts and information if the owner who paired the AirTag with their iPhone or iPad isnt nearby. There are tools built into the iPhone to find and disable AirTags as well as an Android app that will scan for AirTags nearby. This is why you may have seen a warning that an AirTag has been detected near you. These warnings arent restricted to Apple devices: in May 2023, Apple and Google announced a joint initiative to allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. Read: How to identify unwanted tracking by a compact Bluetooth device . Find the best AirTag accessories, key rings, holders, and bag tags weve tested. Also, read our Guide to the AirTag and find out when the new model is coming out. How an AirTag can track you Because AirTags dont register proximity except to the owner, the only way it can be used to gather information about you is if it travels with you. An AirTag in your home, office, or classroom wont reveal anything to someone trying to keep tabs. That reduces the surface area of unwanted surveillance because the AirTag has to be in your clothes, wallet, or purse, something else youre carrying, or in a vehicle youre in and using exclusively or at least regularly. If youre traveling regularly through urban and suburban areas or on public transportation, other peoples devices will still pick up and relay location information about any AirTag thats with you. That can include something as innocuous as pulling over to a rest area on a highway, and someone 50 feet away has an iPhone, or even driving on a highway near other people who have iPhones or iPads connected to a cellular network. Bluetooth LEs range is surprisingly long. I found that an AirTag I temporarily placed in my car, parked two flights of stairs down from our ground floor and about 50 feet from the house still provided regular updates about its location via devices I ownednot to mention those of neighbors walking or driving by. Everyones devices participate in relaying secured, privacy-protecting location information about their devices and AirTags unless they opt out of the Find My network. That makes everyone around you a potential participant in tracking you via an AirTag you dont know about. Once the AirTag is in your possession it will relay its location to the owner via the Find My network and other Bluetooth devices. How do you know if you are being tracked by an AirTag? Apple issues alerts to let someone know that theres an AirTag near them that isnt associated with their iCloud account. These alerts happen after some period of time or while youre moving and the AirTag is moving with you. Should an unknown AirTag be tracking you you will see an alert that will state: AirTag Found Moving With You . Apple will invite you to open the Find My app on your iPhone to go through various options to disable the tracking and locate the AirTag, discussed below. (Incidentally, you may also see an alert for other devices moving with you, such as AirPods and other Bluetooth trackers). Apple recognizes that it could be an innocent case of having borrowed an item from someone with an AirTag attached or inside it, so one of the options is to Pause Tracking Notifications. To make sure you will receive an alert like this follow these steps: You will need to have an iPhone or iPad running iOS/iPadOS 14.5 or later. Open the Find My app. Tap the Me tab. Tap Customise Tracking Notifications. Make sure the Allow Notifications slider is green (it should be by default). Via the alert, you can see how long this AirTag has been with you. You can also see a map of the locations where the AirTag has been tracked in your possession, which may give you an indication of where you picked it up. How to find an AirTag Luckily Apple makes it easy to locate an AirTag and find one that is tracking you. Heres what to do if you have seen a warning from Apple that an AirTag is detected near you. One option is to use Apples Find My app to manually scan for AirTags near you using the Items That Can Track Me option in the Items tab. If you have an Android phone, you can also check for unknown AirTags moving with you using the Tracker Detect app. Its far less robust than Apples Find My app and needs to be run manually. 1. Play a sound to locate the AirTag You may find that the tracking AirTag will play a sound once it has been separated from its owner for a time and then moves. This happens after what Apple calls an extended period of time away from its paired iPhone or iPad (the company has disclosed elsewhere that this is three days). After this period, an AirTag makes a beep whenever its moved. If you hear an unexpected beep from something youre carrying or within your vehicle, then its time to engage in the hunt for an AirTag. The audio alert winds up being less useful than one might hope. If a stalker or other person engaged in surveillance can come within range of the AirTag at least every three days, and they know you dont have an iPhone or iPad thats running 14.5 or later, they can reset that counter. The beep thats made isnt ongoing or particularly loud, and it can be muffled without blocking the Bluetooth signal substantially. If you havent heard a beep, or want to hear it again, you can force the AirTag to play a sound. If you have received an alert about an AirTag that is traveling with you and want it to make a sound follow these steps: Tap Apples Alert. Tap Continue. Tap Play Sound. You will have the option to play the sound again. You may find that there is no option to play a sound, in that case, the item may no longer be near you or it may be back in range of its owner. Another reason why you may not be able to find the AirTag is that it may have changed its identifier (which happens regularly). The Bluetooth ID produced by an AirTag, and by all Apple devices that participate in Find My crowdsourcing, changes on a regular basis to avoid becoming a reverse tracking item: if it were persistent, then someone could track your devices based on the anonymous Bluetooth ID. That means that your iPhone or iPad has to notice an AirTag moving with it over a relatively short period of time. Another possibility is that the AirTag speaker has been disabled. After reports of people disabling AirTag speakers, Apple announced that it would add a notification along with the sound on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch it is moving with. Apple also says it will adjust the tone sequence that plays when a user has an unknown AirTag traveling with them to make anunknown AirTag easier to find. In a 2022 firmware update version 1.0.301 , Apple tweaked the unwanted tracking sound to more easily locate an unknown AirTag. If you own the AirTag it is easy to locate it using the Find My app on an iPhone or iPad to play an audible sound on the AirTag. As part of macOS 13.1 , this feature also came to the Find My app on Macs. 2. Use Precision Finding to find the AirTag As well as the option to play a sound the alert will also give you the option to use Precision Finding if that is available on your device. Your iPhone would need to support Ultra Wideband via the U1 chip to precisely locate an AirTag, which includes iPhone 11 and later. If Apples Alert gives you the option for directions tap Go and you should see directional arrows pointing you in the right direction and a guide to the distance between you and the device. This should help you locate it. So, for example, if you were trying to find an AirTag in your car you could use Find Nearby and follow onscreen directions to locate the AirTag. It should display distance and direction so you can find the AirTag in your car (although, in this case, it would probably be easier to play the alert sound.) 3. Search for the AirTag If you didnt manage to get it to make a sound and Precision Finding wasnt the answer for you you will need to look for the AirTag. An AirTag (underside) Apple The first step is to get familiar with what it looks like. If you havent seen an AirTag before, consult Apples site . They have a rounded white top and a silver base, are somewhat larger than an American quarter or a dollar/pound/single unit coin in many countries, and about three to four times thicker. As we mentioned earlier, the AirTag has to be moving with you for Apple to have sent the alert, so look inside things that you have with you when you move around: Check pockets: In clothing, not just pockets but also check inside the lining or anywhere it could have been sewn in. Check bags : Look inside purses, luggage, messenger bags, and other items, unzip and also feel for an AirTag thats been placed or sewn in. Check belongings : Someone could have posted you an item with an AirTag in it. Examine your car: A car may have a number of locations that are unreachable or hard to check. Because an AirTag has as long as a years worth of power, someone might wrap it in cotton (to stifle the beep it may make; see below), slit a fabric seam, slip it in, and sew it back up. Parking your car away from homes and businesses and using a Bluetooth scanner can help you pinpoint if one is in your car. Even if someone doesnt have access to your home, work, school, or vehicle, and you dont receive mail at the address at which you liveyou might use a P.O. box or another persons addresssomeone could ship you an item with an AirTag in it, and when you take that home, they could have your location. If youre in that specific situation, you may need to examine all packages received elsewhere before bringing them home. 4. Find the AirTag using a Bluetooth scanner Because AirTag regularly emits Bluetooth signals that Apple devices can pick up, you can use a simple Bluetooth tracker for iOS or iPadOS to scan the area around you and see if an AirTag is nearby. While these tracking apps cant identify AirTag as suchAirTag changes its Bluetooth ID regularly to avoid being trackable themselvesthe apps give you the lay of the landscape. That includes the names of Bluetooth devices that do label themselves in their broadcasts. BLE Scanner is a limited but free app that provides a list of Bluetooth devices your iPhone or iPad can detect, and offers a mapping feature that roughly sorts them by signal strength into distance away. This is particularly useful if youre checking out whether a car has a hidden AirTag; less so inside when there may be dozens of your own and neighbors devices close enough to register. Regular Bluetooth devices typically identify themselves generically (like my HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 series printer) or specifically, as with the sharing name of your Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, FitBit trackers, and so on. Bluetooth BLE Device Finder (free to download, but $4.99 to unlock needed features) has the advantage of letting you drill down into Bluetooth technical details, which may give additional clues about which devices are legitimate and not. Bluetooth scanning apps can provide cues about unknown devices near you, which may include AirTags. If you can eliminate all known Bluetooth devices, including by powering down equipment that youre unsure of, and whats left has no associated name, it can be worth looking further by hand. How to stop an AirTag tracking you There are a number of ways you can stop the AirTag from tracking you. Well run through them all below including how to find an AirTag in your car and what to do if there is an AirTag detected near you but you cant find it. 1. Opt out of the Find My network While you cant stop other iPhone, iPad, and Mac users from relaying the location of the AirTag, you can at least opt yourself out of the Find My network, though this removes your ability to track your own lost or stolen iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, or an AirTag through this extended network. Earlier versions of iOS and macOS dont include support for the Find My network. In iOS 13 or iPadOS 14 or later go toSettings > Account name > Find My > Find My iPhone/iPad , and disable Find My network. In macOS 10.15 Catalina or later, go to the Apple ID preference pane, select the iCloud link at left, click the Options button to the right of the Find My Mac item, and uncheck Offline Finding or Find My network (the text varies by macOS version). Disabling the Find My network prevents your devices from tracking AirTags or other Find My items and devices near you. 2. Get the AirTags serial number and associated phone number If you find an AirTag, you can safely determine more information about it without disclosing to the person who planted it that youve done so. The AirTag includes NFC, useful both for pairing the device initially and for letting any smartphone or tablet with an NFC reader pull up a URL from the device. That includes Android phones and other hardware, as it uses an industry standard for NFC encoding. On following the URL, youre taken to a page that contains the AirTags serial number. That page can also show a phone number set by the owner if they marked it lost. The owner isnt notified in any fashion about the page being loaded, and Apple preserves the owners privacy by providing no direct linkage at all. An NFC transmitter lets you pick up information about an AirTag you discover. However, in the case of unwanted tracking, the serial number may help if you pursue civil action, want to obtain a restraining order, or contact law enforcement. Because AirTag tracking requires device pairing, an iCloud account, and an iPhone or iPad thats logged into the account, anyone actively tracking you is also producing a trail of information stored on their phone, across the cellular network, and in other places. A found AirTag displays its serial number via the NFC link and Apple provides instructions on how to disable it. Apple uses end-to-end encryption to protect the location information sent from an arbitrary device to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which has to use the Find My app to view it. But the information isnt secured in the same way on the device. Police and national investigators would be able to create a close association of logins and access, as well as prove that an AirTag was paired with a specific iPhone or iPad. This may deter abusers and others somewhat if theyre aware of how easily they can be tracked back. 3. Disable the AirTag Once youve found the AirTag and obtained the information you want from it, you dont need a hammer or rock to disable it. Unlike most of Apples hardware, the AirTag has a removable battery. Use pressure to rotate the AirTags metal underside counter-clockwise (from upper right to upper left). Remove that plate. Then remove the battery. What to do if you are being tracked by an AirTag You probably know already if youre a candidate for involuntary tracking: someone in your life (or formerly so) or a family member may show up at unexpected times in unexpected places when they have no reason to know youre there. They may comment in person, via email, or otherwise about your activities or whereabouts. Or youre in the middle of or long past a nasty break-up of a relationship or marriage or have broken off contact with a parent or family members. Whatever the case, if youre in need of help, consult one of these U.S.-based services the National Domestic Violence Hotline or more specialized resources for victims of domestic abuse, stalking, and other violence listed by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence . Local law enforcement, the FBI, or national police in other countries also offer resources. For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared .

iOS versions: Every version of iOS from the oldest to the latest

Macworld iOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. Its the operating system on which everything else sits, while also delivering plenty of features and dedicated apps built by Apple itself. Every year Apple adds new features to compatible iPhones, and through the months that follow more features arrive. If you want to know what the latest version of iOS is, or if youve ever wondered about when versions came out and what features they brought, we will answer your questions. We also show you how to check which iOS youre currently using and how to update to the latest iteration. December 2024: Apple has updated iOS 18. iOS 18.2 arrived on December 11, 2024. iOS version history iOS made its debut in 2007 alongside the first iPhone. However, when Steve Jobs held the little device aloft revealing it to the world for the first time, it wasnt running iOS 1. Instead, it was reported by Apple to be powered by OS X , the software for the Mac. Over time it was called iPhone OS, until finally gaining its now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when it was shortened to iOS in 2010. Significant milestones are scattered across the iOS timeline, with the first being the introduction of the App Store in iPhone OS 2 in 2008. iOS 4 saw the iPad joining the scene and using the operating system alongside the iPhone. iOS 5 was introduced along with the iPhone 4S in 2011, which saw the debut of Siri as a built-in part of the operating system. Sadly, this was the last version of the software to be released when Apple CEO and Founder Steve Jobs was still alive. Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007. Apple Things changed significantly in iOS 11 in 2017 as it brought the first touch and gesture interface, allowing the first iPhone without a Home buttonthe iPhone X. Another major shift was with iOS 13 in 2019, as it marked the bifurcation of Apples mobile operating systems, with iPhones staying on iOS but the newly announced iPadOS powering the new iPads. This would continue through to the present day, although the version numbers have stayed in sync, with the latest ones being iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are the latest versions of the software and launched in September 2023. You can install iOS 17 and get iPadOS 17 now. Coming in September 2024 are iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 . List of iOS versions and latest versions Heres a breakdown of all the versions of iOS that have been released, when they were released, when they were last updated, and the latest iOS version. iPhone OS 1 Released June 29, 2007 (Latest 1.1.5 July 15, 2008) iPhone OS 2 Released July 11, 2008 (Latest 2.2.1 January 27, 2009) iPhone OS 3 Released June 17, 2009 (Latest 3.2.2 August 11, 2010) iOS 4 Released June 22, 2010 (Latest 4.3.5 July 25, 2011) iOS 5 Released October 12, 2011 (Latest 5.1.1 May 7, 2012) iOS 6 Released September 19, 2012 (Latest 6.1.6 February 21, 2014) iOS 7 Released September 18, 2013 (Latest 7.1.2 June 30, 2014) iOS 8 Released September 17, 2014 (Latest 8.4.1 August 13, 2015) iOS 9 Released September 16, 2015 (Latest 9.3.6 July 22, 2019) iOS 10 Released September 13, 2016 (Latest 10.3.4 July 22, 2019) iOS 11 Released September 19, 2017 (Latest 11.4.1 July 9, 2018) iOS 12 Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iOS 13 Released September 19, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iOS 14 Released September 17, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021) iOS 15 Released September 24, 2021 (Latest iOS 15.8.3 July 29, 2024) iOS 16 Released September 12, 2022 (Latest iOS 16.7.10 August 7, 2024) iOS 17 Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iOS 17.7.2 November 19, 2024) iOS 18 Released September 16, 2024 (Latest iOS 18.2 December 11, 2024) List of iPadOS versions While iOS was the initial operating system for iPad, this changed with the release of iPadOS 13 in 2019. Since then, iPads have had their own platform, enabling Apple to better harness the power of its larger devices. Heres the short release history of iPadOS: iOS 12 Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iPadOS 13 Released September 24, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iPadOS 14 Released September 16, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021 ) iPadOS 15 Released September 20, 2021 (Latest 15.8.3 July 29, 2024) iPadOS 16 Released October 24, 2022 (Latest 16.7.10 August 7, 2024) iPadOS 17 Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iPadOS 17.7.3 December 11, 2024) iPadOS 18 Released September 16, 2024 (Latest iPadOS 18.2 December 11, 2024) Also see: How long does Apple support iPads? Which iOS versions are currently supported? In terms of new features, only iOS 18 is currently supported by Apple. For those with iPhones that only run older versions of iOS, Apple supports iOS 17 and, potentially iOS 16 with security updates (although as of December 2024, it is yet to update iOS 16 since the arrival of iOS 18). When iOS 18 arrived Apple stopped support for iOS 15 leaving the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhones 7 and 7 Plus vulnerable. Support for iOS 16 and the iPhones 8 and 8 Plus is likely to continue until September 2025. Luckily, many iPhones are able to run supported versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones? We run through which iPhone supports which version of iOS in a separate article: iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run. How to tell which version of iOS your iPhone is running If youre not sure which version of iOS youre currently using, its very easy to find out. Just go to Settings > General > About and look for the iOS Version number. Its the same steps for iPadOS. Foundry How to install the latest version of iOS Updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS is simple, so long as your device is compatible. This doesnt require much detective work though, as your iPhone will know whether it is eligible for the upgrade or not. To find out, go to Settings > General > Software Update , and your iPhone will check to see if there are any available. You may also see a notification on the Settings page that says Software Update Available, which you can click to go straight to the update page. iPadOS works the same way. Foundry If there are no updates, youll see a message along the lines of iOS is up to date. Should there be one available, it should tell you on the screen and give you the option to Download and Install. Do this and your iPhone will automatically apply the update and bring your software to the latest version. You can also read our tutorial on how to update iOS on iPhone for more details. So, there it is. A potted history of iOS. Want to know about all the versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and macOS: Every version released so far . You can also find out what the latest version of macOS is .

Latest macOS versions: A complete list of every macOS and Mac OS X release

Macworld Wondering what the name of the latest macOS version is? Want to know what the next version of macOS will be called? Curious about the versions of Mac OS X that came before? Here well fill you in on the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system in order: from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. Well also show you how you can check which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macOS is. The latest version of macOS is called macOS Sequoia after Sequoia National Park located in Californias Sierra Nevada mountain range. That version of macOS launched to the general public in September 2024, following a macOS beta program that is still underway as Apple develops more new features. If you are looking for help installing Sequoia read: How to update macOS and Fixes for Macs that wont update. Update December 2024: The latest version of macOS Sequoia is macOS Sequoia 15.2, which brings new Apple Intelligence features to compatible Macs. What operating system does the Mac use? All Macs run macOS, previously known as Mac OS X, and have done so since the introduction of the first version of Mac OS X in 2001. Before that, Macs ran Mac OS 9 which came out in October 1999 and received updates until December 2001. Mac OS X was based on technology from NeXT Computer, which was another company founded by Steve Jobs. Jobs brought the technology back to Apple with him when he was reinstated as Apple CEO. The operating system is Unix-based. macOS Version History Mac OS X was launched more than two decades ago on March 24, 2001. Theres been a lot of change over those two decades: good and bad. From the problems with the first edition (it was slow and didnt run important apps like Microsoft Word) Mac OS X has evolved through various iterations and various designs to what we know today. Weve seen tight integration with iOS devices, the incorporation of the cloud, and the arrival of excellent and helpful features including integrated Time Machine backups, Quick Look which lets you see a preview of a document without opening the application, and innovations like Expose and Spaces and Desktop Stacks to help you work more efficiently. For an overview of the features of the various versions of the Mac operating system, showing how it has developed over time, take a look at our video above. If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the years, and the codenames that were used internally, read on. List of macOS version names and latest versions Heres an overview of every version of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has released. Youll find a complete list of the latest release of each version of OS X and macOS, along version code names, along with internal code names (if available): OS X 10 beta: Kodiak September 13, 2000 OS X 10.0: Cheetah March 14, 2001 (Latest: 10.0.4) OS X 10.1: Puma September 15, 2001 (Latest: 10.1.5) OS X 10.2: Jaguar August 14, 2002 (Latest: 10.2.8) OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) October 24, 2003 (Latest: 10.3.9) OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) April 29, 2005 (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay) January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs) (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) October 26, 2007 (Latest: 10.5.8) OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard August 28, 2009 (Latest: 10.6.8) OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) July 20, 2011 (Latest: 10.7.5) OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) July 25, 2012 (Latest: 10.8.5) OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) October 22, 2013 (Latest: 10.9.5) OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) October 16, 2014 (Latest: 10.10.5) OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) September 30, 2015 (Latest: 10.11.6) macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) September 20, 2016 (Latest: 10.12.6) macOS 10.13: High Sierra (Lobo) September 25, 2017 (Latest: 10.13.6) macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) September 24, 2018 (Latest: 10.14.6, July 2021) macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) October 7, 2019 (Latest: 10.15.7, Security Update 2022-005, July 2022) macOS 11: Big Sur (GoldenGate) November 12, 2020 (Latest: 11.7.10, September 11, 2023) macOS 12: Monterey (Star) October 25, 2021 (Latest: 12.7.6, July 29, 2024 ) macOS 13: Ventura (Rome) October 24, 2022 (Latest: 13.7.2, December 11, 2024 ) macOS 14: Sonoma (Sunburst) September 26, 2023 (Latest: 14.7.2, December 11, 2024) macOS 15: Sequoia (Glow) September 18, 2024 (Latest: 15.2, December 11, 2024) We have a full list of which Macs run which versions of macOS here . You can install a beta version of Sequoia and test new features that havent yet launched. If you want to install the latest beta of macOS read about joining Apples beta program . macOS Sequoia isnt even released yet and Apple is already working on macOS 16, which is codenamed Cheer, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his June 30, 2024 newsletter. Foundry Mac OS X and macOS names As you can see from the list above, with the exception of the first OS X beta, all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were named after big cats, from Cheetah to Panther to the final release, Mountain Lion. But while the public-facing builds were named after big cats, internally, they were named after wines (aside from OS X 10.6 which had no codename). Even after Apple switched public-facing code names to places in California back in 2013, it carried on naming them after wines internally until 2014. In 2015, Apple decided to change the theme of internal code names from wines to types of apples. Original. In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its operating systems by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS, which sits nicely alongside iOS, tvOS, and watchOS and paved the way for macOS 11, the successor to Mac OS X, which arrived twenty years after the first beta of Mac OS X. Which versions of macOS are still updated? Apple still supplies regular features and security updates to the most recent version of macOS. Right now this is Sequoia, also known as macOS 15. The previous two versions of macOS also receive security updates and bug fixes. If you are running macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 13 Ventura you will still get security updates. Since the arrival of Sequoia, Apple no longer supports macOS 12 Monterey which arrived in 2021 (and with the arrival of Sonoma in 2023 it stopped support for macOS Big Sur, which arrived in 2020). See: How long do Macs and MacBooks last? Apple also issues updates to its Safari web browser. The latest version of Safari for Mac is Safari 18 (as of September 2024) and it requires Ventura, Sonoma or Sequoia. Foundry How to tell which macOS version you are running You can tell which version of macOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left and choosing About This Mac. It will clearly show which version of macOS you are running along with the most recent version that your Mac has installed Its easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac. Foundry How to install the latest version of macOS If you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS the method will be determined by the version of macOS you are running. Very old versions of Mac OS X came on a disk and any security updates came via Software Update. Since the arrival of the Mac App Store in 2011 (as an update to Snow Leopard) versions of Mac OS X and macOS have been available to download via the Mac App Store. However, that changed with Mojave, which arrived in 2018. Now operating system updates come in via Software Updates which is either located in System Settings > General > Software Update or in System Preferences > Software Update (pre-Ventura). One of the benefits of this is that your Mac can be set to automatically download the latest updates and install them, keeping your Mac up-to-date with minimum effort on your part. Incidentally, you can still find the macOS software on the Mac App Store. Some Macs will be set to update macOS automatically. If you want your Mac to update automatically follow these steps: In Ventura or later: Open System Settings. Click on General . Click on Software Update . Click on the i beside Automatic Updates and make sure that Check for updates , Download new updates when available , and Install macOS updates are selected. This way your Mac will automatically update to the latest version. If you would prefer not to have your Mac do this automatically you can deselect these options. In Monterey, Big Sur, Mojave, or Catalina: Open System Preferences. Click on Software Update . Check the box beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date (or Download new updates when available ). Now select the box Install macOS updates . In High Sierra or earlier: Open System Preferences. Click on App Store . Check the box beside Automatically check for updates it should have a tick in it as should the four options below that Now deselect the box beside Download newly available updates in the background . Read all about how to update your Mac here . We also have a list of every version of iOS where you can see the latest versions and how long Apple supports iPhones for .

Apple just gave us a few dozen reasons to update our devices right now

Macworld If you havent yet downloaded iOS 18.2 for your iPhone, iPadOS 18.2 for your iPad, or macOS 15.2 for your Mac, youre missing out on a slew of improvements, most notably some excellent Apple Intelligence upgrades as well as other welcome features. But even If you dont have a newer iPhone or just dont care about AI, there are numerous security updates youll want to make sure are installed. As with all updates, Apple has outlined the security updates in each version, and there are more than a dozen for each, including some older OSes that got critical patches: iPhone/iPad iOS 18.2/iPadOS 18.2: 20 security updates iPadOS 17.7.3: 14 security updates Mac macOS Sequoia 15.2: 42 security updates macOS Sonoma 14.7.2: 25 security updates macOS Ventura 13.7.2: 23 security updates Apple Watch watchOS 11.2: 15 security updates Apple TV tvOS 18.2: 15 security updates Apple Vision Pro visionOS 2.2: 12 security updates None of the vulnerabilities are known to have been exploited in the wild, but several contain serious flaws affecting various parts of the system, including WebKit issues that could lead to memory corruption and unexpected crashes, and a kernel flaw that could let an app leak sensitive kernel state. Theres also a fix for the Screen Sharing Server in macOS Sonoma and Ventura that could allow a user with screen-sharing access to view another users screen. The most serious vulnerability appears to be a flaw in the new Passwords app. The patch, which is available for iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2, involves using an unsecured HTTP protocol when sending information over a network and could allow an attacker in a privileged network position to alter network traffic. So if youve been on the fence about updating, let this be the reason to jump over quickly. You can find more informations about the various vulnerabilities and fixes on Apples security releases support page . To update your device head over to the Settings app, then General , and Software Update .

Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when youll get it

Macworld At WWDC on June 10 2024, Apple took the wraps off its ambitious project to inject generative AI features throughout its operating systems. Apple calls this Apple Intelligence, and its going to transform the way you use your iPhone, iPad, and Macbut its also got significant limitations and caveats. Heres everything you need to know about Apple Intelligence before it lands on your devices: What it is, what it does, how it works, when its coming, and what youll need to be able to use it. Updated December 12: iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are out now, bringing more Apple Intelligence features to compatible iPhones, Macs and iPads. What is Apple Intelligence? Apple Intelligence is Apples branded term for its suite of generative AI features that debuted in iOS 18 , iPadOS 18 , and macOS 15 Sequoia . Since Apple has been using machine learning and artificial intelligence in its products for years (though not generative AI), and because Apple is a company that can never pass up a good branding opportunity, it took AI and gave it a snazzy new name. Apple Intelligence involves several features including some centered around reading and writing, some for image generation, and a few other things. Its a way of getting things done quicker through voice and text prompts that draw on personal context and understanding to deliver results quickly and privately. When does Apple Intelligence come out? The first set of Apple Intelligence features became available on October 28 with the release of iOS 18.1 , iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 . Additional features arrived in December with the x.2 releases, as outlined in How Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2. Yet more Apple Intelligence features will arrive in the spring with the x.3 or x.4 releases. We have an article that gives you a detailed roadmap of Apple Intelligence features and their likely release dates. When will Apple Intelligence work in my language? The first release only supported US English and will only be available in some regions. Localized English for UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand arrived in December 2024. Support for German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and some other languages will be added throughout 2025. Regardless of language, Apple Intelligence will be released in the European Union in April 2025. Apple Intelligence features: What does Apple Intelligence do? Apple Intelligence, in this first release, is a broad set of features that can be loosely categorized into four groups: Siri, writing, images, and summaries/organization. Siri Siri will be vastly improved with Apple Intelligence. It will be more natural and easier to talk to using normal speech, even if you mess up your words. It will use context about you from throughout your iPhonephotos, messages, contacts, locations, and moreto give results that are specific to you, personally. Its such a big upgrade that Apple calls it, The start of a new era for Siri. Siri will remember context from one command to the next so you wont need to summon Siri a second or third time to do more than one task. It can also perform lots of new actions within apps. Apple is adding a lot to its App Intents which is how appsincluding third-party appsintegrate with Siri. Siri will also be able to look at the screen and understand whats on it, so you can give it commands related to what youre looking at. If your friend messages you his address, you can say Siri, save this address to his contact info and it will see the address on the screen to know what you mean, and know who his is from the context of the message. The biggest improvements to Siri are not coming until an update in the spring of 2025. Siris ability to perform multiple actions across apps will be a big step up. Apple Writing Almost anywhere in the system in which you write (Messages, Mail, Notes, web forums, you name it) youll be able to quickly call up new AI-powered writing tools to make it easier to say what you want how you want to. The tools can take selected text and change its style (friendly, professional, concise), create summaries or lists, or just proofread it for spelling and grammar. If you want to generate new text, smart replies can take a few contextual bits of information provided by you and craft an appropriate response. Say someone sends you an email inviting you to their holiday cookout. You can provide simple info like whether youre going or not, when youll be there, or offering to bring something, and the system will create a whole reply email for you. New in iOS 18.2 is a text input line where can describe any sort of change you want. For example you could ask for a poem or to write something scary. Writing tools to change style, produce text, or proofread are central to Apple Intelligence. Apple Images Apple is including image generation tools in Apple Intelligence. It can create new images in two styles: illustration and animation. The lack of realistic photographic depictions seems like a safety choice. You can type a description to get an image or start with a rough sketch of what you want. You can even take an image from your photos library as a starting point or create a Genmoji out of people in your photos or contacts. Genmoji will make a new custom image in the style of Apples emoji, just describe the emoji you wish to see and Apples AI will create various options. Read: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji . Theres a new dedicated app called Image Playground where you can experiment with all these image-generation tools, but theyre also available throughout the system. For example, you can circle a sketch or even a space in Notes using the new Magic Wand tool and use Apple Intelligence to generate a properly contextual image there. Just circle the blank area or rough sketch to create an AI-generated sketch. Make an image of someone you know in an iMessage thread that is relevant to your conversation. Apple is creating APIs for third-party developers to use these tools in their apps, too. Apple Intelligences enhanced image understanding shows up in other ways, too. You can get very specific when searching your photos, with prompts like Show photos of Charlotte from last summer when she was wearing sunglasses. Finally, a new Clean Up tool in the Photos app lets you instantly remove unwanted objects from the background of your photos. Some image generation tools arrived as part of the second wave of Apple Intelligence features in December. You can now use AI to create an image by typing a description or using various modifiers, with the image created in your choice of animation or illustration style. You can select people from your Photos library to use a subject. The Image Playground app lets you experiment with AI art, but the tools are integrated throughout iOS. Apple Summaries and organization Apple Intelligence has a much greater understanding of language, so it can do a better job of understanding and presenting all the text you deal with. Your Mail inbox, for example, can show summaries of emails instead of just the first few lines, so its easier to find the one youre looking for. Apple Intelligence understands the content of your emails and will automatically place them into categories (Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions), and build digests of emails from the same sender. Important emails can be discovered and bumped up to a list at the top. Safaris reader mode can summarize web pages. It can find priority notifications and show them in a brief list, with summaries, at the top of your notification stack. You can even engage a Focus mode setting that checks notifications as they come in and will silence most, but let through the ones that seem like they could be important. A great example of how AI will permeate the system can be found in the Phone app, where youll be able to record any call (both parties will be notified) and save a transcript and summary of it, which can also help the AI find it later or know what you talked about to deliver more personal results. Apple How does Apple Intelligence differ from other AI? Apple Intelligence has many qualities similar to other generative AI, but Apple stresses several qualities that make it stand out. First is Apples focus on privacy. All the features described here run mostly on-device, using Apples advanced hardware and silicon, so your data never actually goes anywhere. Apple is not scooping up your information to sell or train their AI models. When something needs to be done that requires a bigger and more complex model than can be run on-device, Apple employs a new private cloud architecture called Private Cloud Compute that uses its own hardware. Only the very specific data necessary to complete your request is sent in a secure fashion, and after your request is completed the data is discarded. Apple has promised to make the server code accessible to outside security researchers who can audit it to make sure Apple is keeping its privacy promise. Second, Apple Intelligence is personal rather than general. Because it runs mostly on the device and the cloud implementation is very private and fleeting, it can build a knowledge graph about you using all sorts of information on your iPhonelocations, photos, messages, mail, contacts, and much more. This enables it to give answers and produce results that are specific to your life and not just generalized. And finally, its deeply integrated throughout the system, available in most of Apples apps but with tools and APIs to allow developers to use the tools within their own apps. What about ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or Meta AI? Apple acknowledges that those popular AI chatbots have a massive base of general knowledge and more information about things like current events. So its not locking them outon the contrary, its inviting them in. As of iOS 18.2 is a Compose button in the Writing Tools box that invites you to compose something with ChatGPT. Siri will work seamlessly with the ChatGPT-4o model to answer complex questions or those that require broad general knowledge rather than personal info about you. Just ask Siri anything and, if it needs to hand the query off to ChatGPT, it will first ask you if thats OK (and if youre providing an image, if its okay to send it), and if you allow it, youll get an immediate ChatGPT response with no need to install an app, log in to anything, or register a ChatGPT account. However, if you do have a ChatGPT subscription, youll have access to the more advanced features you pay for. ChatGPT integration in Siri, writing, and image tools is coming later this year. Apple While ChatGPT is the first AI integration, Apple promises to allow others in the future such as Google Gemini, which was rumored to be in talks with Apple ahead of WWDC. It wouldnt be surprising to see other AI applications join Apple Intelligence quickly. Once again, we should note that Apple will always ask before sharing any data with ChatGPT and that the companys arrangement with OpenAI stipulates that IP addresses will be obscured and no data will be saved. Visual Intelligence iOS 18.2 bring a new feature to the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series. Just point your camera at something, press and hold the Camera Control button, and Visual Intelligence will use Siri and ChatGPT to tell you about it. What devices do I need to use Apple Intelligence? Unfortunately, all this powerful local generative AI has a steep hardware cost when it comes to which devices are compatible with Apple Intelligence . If you have an iPhone, youll need an A17 Pro (or newer) processor, which means only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models will be compatible with Apple Intelligence. For Macs and iPads, youll need an M1 or newer processor. That means no Intel Macs no matter how powerful, and no iPads that run A-series processors. Nearly all new Macs from the last few years will qualify but only iPad Pro models from 2021 and the two most recent iPad Air models that have M1 and M2 processors. Apple Intelligence is not coming to other operating systems just yet, either. You wont find its features in tvOS 18 or visionOS 2 , and while HomePods screenless state makes most of these features moot anyway, its not yet clear if or when the superior Siri experience will come to HomePod.

You might outrank Santa Claus when someone finds this iPad Air under the tree

Macworld Instead of letting down the Apple lover on your gifting list this year with something like AirTags, why not surprise them with an iPad Air? No, you dont have to splurge to get them some Apple gear, at least if you shop refurbished. Check off your holiday shopping list with this 4th Gen iPad Air . Grab it now for$324.97 (reg. $599). Youll have to place your order by December 15 if you want it to arrive on time for the holiday! Shopping refurbished allows you to save over 30% on this iPad Air, but that doesnt mean its used. This refurbished modelarrives in Grade A condition, so they probably wont even noticeor carethat it had a previous life. Whether theyre using this iPad for catching up on book club reads, FaceTiming family during the holidays, or streaming Home Alone , your giftee will love its sleek, portable profile and 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display. They can even work on this iPad Air, thanks to the A14 Bionic Chip that allows for smooth multitasking and Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) compatibility (both not included). Storing photos, apps, and files locally is also simple, thanks to its 64GB capacity. You might just outdo Santa Claus this year when you treat someone to this near-mint 4th Gen iPad Air , now$324.97 while supplies last. Order on or before December 15 at 11:59 PM Pacific so it arrives by Christmas! Apple iPad Air 4th Gen (2020) 64GB WiFi Sky Blue (Refurbished) Only $324.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple is about to switch to its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip

Macworld Apple is getting ready to replace the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in its products, currently supplied by Broadcom, with a chip of its own design. According to a new report from Bloomberg , the company has been hard at work on this project for several years and should start rolling out the chips in products beginning in 2025. The chip is separate from the in-house cellular 5G modem, which will eventually replace parts from Qualcomm, though the two projects are intended to work together in an end-to-end wireless system that Apple hopes will be more power efficient. The new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, code-named Proxima, will first appear in refreshed HomePod Mini and Apple TV devices, but should also show up in the iPhone 17 later in the year. Macs will get the new chip starting in 2026, according to the report. Apple may not be able to meet every technical capability that Broadcom can provide, according to Bloombergs sources, but the chip will still support Wi-Fi 6E. If the chip does not support Wi-Fi 7, however, it would be a step backward from this years iPhones, which do support that standard. Apples primary goal with the chips, at least at first, seems to be tighter integration with its other chips and products and better size and power efficiency, to improve battery life and provide for new product form factors.

Save $200 on any MacBook Air model you want right now

Macworld The Apple MacBook Air M3, which we called simply the best, is on sale for $200 off at Amazon right now, a sweet price point that has us wanting to add it to the cart. Our favorite is the 15-inch model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $1,299 , but all sizes and configurations of both the 15-inch Air and the 13-inch model have the same discount. That means you can get a brand-new M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of storage for as low as $899 and the M2 model for a staggering $799 . This is the best price weve seen for this laptop outside of Black Friday when some models were $250 off. That, however, is not a price were expecting to see anytime soon for this MacBook Air. This M3 MacBook Air laptop is Apples latest model, featuring a powerful chip alongside a hefty 16GB of memory. While the MacBook Pro has a legacy of being the go-to model for professionals, this particular combination should be enough to get any task done, including video editing. We recommend springing for one of the models with a 512GB SSD on board, which is plenty of storage space for whatever it is you need to hold on your computer, from pictures to apps to some light games. One thing this laptop is famous for, however, is that its thin and light, meaning you can carry it anywhere you go without minding it one bit. That day-long battery will also keep you going on your adventures. So go ahead and get your very own MacBook Air M3 for as low as $899 at Amazon while you still can. Save $200 on the M3 MacBook Air Buy now at Amazon

Leaked iPhone 17 frame shows wide, Pixel-style camera bump

Macworld Weve heard for some time that the iPhone 17either the entire line or just the new Air variantwill change up the iconic design of Apples phone with a new centered camera bump. Now, thanks to an alleged leaked image (shown above) of the phones frame out of the supply chain from a Weibo user , we have our first idea of what it might look like. The text of the accompanying post (machine-translated from Chinese) is, The frame of the new iPhone in the supply chain is indeed like this. The ultra-wide angle is placed in the middle to make room for the front structured light. This, together with the thickness of the frame in the image, makes it seem as though the new design will apply to more than just the slim iPhone 17 Air. The frame looks thicker than what youd find on a super-slim iPhone rumored to be just 6mm thick, and the new slim model is said to not have an ultra-wide camera at all, so this appears to be a leak of some other model. The camera island has the same rounded corners as current iPhones do, but a large rectangular shape that carries across the phone. The iPhone has kept its cameras in the upper-left corner (when looking at the iPhones back) since the original iPhone, so this would be a huge departure. With todays large and protruding camera bumps, it also makes a lot of sense. iPhones do not lie flat on a desk, wobbling around as you use them, unless you use a case with enough bulk to fix that problem. A camera bump centered on the back and extending most of the way across it would make it much more stable. It would also help alleviate the current issue with some wireless charging stands, where you sometimes get it lined up and charged and sometimes dont, because its hard to tell if the bump is interfering. For more about the 2025 iPhones, which are expected to launch in September, see our r oundup of all the iPhone 17 rumors so far.

How to add your drivers license or state ID to Apple Wallet

Macworld Apple added the capability to add digital state IDs or drivers licenses to Apple Wallet years ago, with the very first supporting states announced back in 2021 . Its a standards-based approach ( ISO 18013-5 ) that is meant to be more secure and private than physical identification, as well as finally closing one of the last loopholes that make people unable to leave the house without their wallet. There are currently ten states/territories in the U.S. that support this capability, with another 8 having announced support in the future. Heres how you add your ID to the Wallet app on your iPhone , and why you might want to. How to add your state ID or drivers license to Wallet Adding your ID to Apple Wallet is simple. Open Wallet Tap the Add (+) button in the upper-right corner. Tap Drivers License or State ID and select your state. Follow the on-screen instructions. Youll be asked if you want to add your ID to just your iPhone or your Apple Watch as well if you have a paired Apple Watch. You will be asked to take photos of your current ID, likely the front and back, and also take some matching images of yourself. The phone will direct you to be in a well-lit area with a plain dark background and put your head in the frame. Then youll turn your head or make facial expressions (closing your eyes, opening your mouth) as directed by your phone. This information will be used to help match your appearance with your photo on record with the state. Think of it like a human making sure you look like the photo on your ID. Foundry List of supporting states/territories The seven states that currently support digital IDs in Apple Wallet are: Arizona California Colorado Georgia Hawaii Iowa Maryland New Mexico Ohio Puerto Rico The states and territories that have promised future support are: Connecticut Kentucky Mississippi Montana Oklahoma Utah Virginia West Virginia Where you can use it and why you might want to Your ID in Apple Wallet is more secure than carrying around a physical card that could be lost or could reveal personal information to someone you may not wish to have it. Digital IDs in Apple Wallet do not display any personal information other than your name. If you tap the (i) button to get more info, and then tap Drivers License Info , your iPhone requires a Face ID or Touch ID login to see things like your address, date of birth, height, eye color, ID number, and so on. Information is ONLY ever transferred via NFC (which begins a secure Bluetooth LE data connection), not via barcode or anything else that can be easily copied. So, you never have to hand your phone over to a police officer, TSA agent, or anyone else, and even if you do, they cant get your personal info without your authentication. Using your digital ID works a lot like Apple Pay. You hold your iPhone near the reader (which may be another iPhone), and a screen will pop up saying exactly which information youre going to share. Double-tap the side button to approve it, just like approving a payment. Currently, police agencies do not accept digital IDs as drivers licenses, so youll have to carry your physical card with you when you drive. But the TSA has implemented readers at checkpoints in some airports ( see a map here ), and some age-restricted venues have implemented readers, too. Whats more, apps that require age identification (like renting a car or ordering alcohol) can use the info stored in Wallet to provide proof of age. Whats nice about digital IDs is that they can transfer only the information needed, and nothing more. A bouncer who wants to check ID at the entrance to a venue would have a reader that shows your ID photo and simply confirms if youre over 21, for examplethey wouldnt get your actual date of birth, ID number, address, or any other info they dont need. The same goes for apps that need age verification. With the Apple Wallet implementation, nothing is transferred without your authentication, so not only do you not have to hand your phone over to anyone else, it wouldnt even help to do so.

Apple is reportedly making an AI server chip with Broadcoms help

Macworld The future of technology involves AI and Apple is doing what it can to be part of that future. To that end, a new report states that the company has a partnership in place to develop its AI hardware. According to The Information (subscription required), Apple is working with Broadcom on a server chip that can handle the demands of AI processing. The chip, code-named Baltra, is expected to be ready by 2026. While Apple is working with Broadcom on the development of Baltra, The Information reports that the actual manufacturing will involve TSMCs N3P process, an enhancement of 3nm production technology. Last May, Bloomberg reported on project ACDC (Apple Chips in Data Centers), Apples effort to build a cloud infrastructure using its own chips. Project ACDC began in 2021, but with the AI boom, Apple prioritized the project in order to support its Apple Intelligence features. ACDC involved the use of M2 Ultra chips with plans for the M4; its not clear if Baltra will be part of the ACDC project, but it does seem like a fit. AI technology is processor-intensive, so much so that many tasks are processed in the cloudAI technologies from other companies mostly rely on cloud processing. Apple has been able to develop many Apple Intelligence features so that the processing occurs on the device, but as the features evolve they become more complex and require the processing power that the cloud provides. If Apple does successfully execute Baltra by 2026, that could be followed by a wave of more robust and complex Apple Intelligence features. AI chips are all the rage, with Google announcing its own Willow quantum AI chip just this week. Google says the chip, which represents the culmination of a decade of development, performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of todays fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years. On Wednesday, Apple introduced a second wave of Apple Intelligence features that include the Image Playground app where you can create AI-generated images; Genmoji , custom emoji that you create; ChatGPT-based writing tools, and more. The new features are available in the iOS 18.2, iPadOS, 18.2 , and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates. The Apple/Broadcom AI deal is the latest in the two companys shared history. Apple is working with Broadcom on RF filters for Apples own 5G modem that could debut in the iPhone SE in 2025. Furthermore, a report last October stated that Apple is developing its own Wi-Fi chip that would replace a chip made by Broadcom.

Apple hasnt forgotten about HomePod after all

Macworld Other than a new HomePod mini color thats suspiciously similar to the color it replaced, Apple has all but ignored its smart speaker lineup this year. However, even though HomePod missed out on Apple Intelligence this year, Apple gave Siri an upgrade in the latest software update. Shipping with iOS 18.2 yesterday, HomePod Software version 18.2 includes a new feature that will be noticeable when asking Siri to play a song from Apple Music. According to Apples release notes, Siri on HomePod is now integrated with Apple Music natural language search so you can describe what you want to hear using any combination of categories like genre, mood, decade or activity. The feature, which was also added to the Apple Music apps search bar, lets you describe what youre looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more. While not quite Apple Intelligence, the feature is definitely Apple Intelligence adjacent and will make it easier to play and discover new music. HomePod should now be able to play music with vague prompts when you dont know the specific song you want to hear. Additionally, 2nd-gen HomePod users will get a new Enhance Dialogue option when paired with an Apple TV 4K to hear speech more clearly over background sounds using real-time audio processing and machine learning. HomePod software version 18.2 also includes the usual bug fixes and stability improvements. You can update your HomePod by going to the Home app and tapping the menu button in the top right corner, then Home Settings , Software Update , and Update All .

The Apple Car is dead. Where does that leave Apples auto ambitions?

Macworld The ambitious Apple Car project, known internally as Project Titan, was cancelled earlier this year after almost a decade of development. But that much work doesnt just vanish overnight. Whats left behind? What has become of the employees brought in to work on the project, and the technology theyve developed? Will Apple divert the resources into new avenues, or is the whole thing a total loss? In this article we look at how Apple is dealing with the aftermath of its car project, what it learned from the failure, and the impact all of this is having on the company and the tech industry at large. Apples mysterious fleet By January 2024, Apple had a fleet of 68 autonomous test vehicles and 162 registered drivers. Despite the cancellation of the project, Apple decided not to decommission these vehicles. According to media reports, the test vehicles remain fully registered. However, the number of drivers has been drastically reduced from 172 to 15. The permits are valid until April 30, 2025. Why is Apple holding on to its fleet? One possible explanation is that the company wants to sell intellectual property from the project, and that the vehicles could serve as demonstration units to present the developed technologies to potential buyers. Another possibility is that Apple is archiving the research data obtained in order to use it for future developments. The remaining employees could play a central role in the orderly management of project resources. Shutterstock.com / Joaquin Corbalan P Why did the Apple Car fail? Project Titan was launched in 2014 in a bid to catapult Apple into the automotive industry. The aim was to develop a self-driving electric vehicle that met Apples high standards, but despite around $10bn of financial investment and the collaboration of more than 2,000 specialists, the project failed. One of the main reasons was the lack of clear direction. The project repeatedly changed strategy, from an electric vehicle to an autonomous vehicle and back again. These constant realignments led to confusion and frustration within the team. In addition, the technological hurdles were greater than expected. Developing a safe and reliable autonomous vehicle proved to be more complex than Apple originally anticipated. Internal differences of opinion and staff changes exacerbated the problems. The leadership of the project changed several times , and each new leader brought their own vision to the table. External factors, such as challenges in the automotive sector, worries about safety, and the slower-than-expected progress of self-driving technologies, also contributed to the failure. (Read next: Crash of the Titan: The long and winding saga of the Apple Car ) A lesson for the entire industry The cancellation of the Apple Car project is not only a setback for Apple, but a worrying signal for the entire industry. It shows that even large tech companies face significant challenges when entering new industries. The automotive industry is complex and requires specialized expertise that cannot easily be transferred from other sectors. Apple is now focusing on other pioneering technologies. The remaining Project Titan employees have been integrated into the Special Projects Group (SPG), which is led by John Giannandrea, the head of Apples AI division. Their focus is now on generative artificial intelligence, an area in which Apple wants to become more active. The accumulated knowledge and technologies developed in Project Titan could yet be incorporated into future products. Possible applications include AI-controlled devices or innovative user interfaces. The legacy of the Apple Car could thus live on indirectly in other projects and strengthen Apples position in the tech industry. Foundry Apples car dream lives on Although the Apple Car project has been discontinued, the company hasnt given up on its dream of breaking into the automotive industry. With CarPlay 2 , Apple plans to significantly expand its presence in vehicles. While CarPlay has long offered a way to integrate several of your iPhones apps into your vehicles dashboard, the softwares second major iteration takes things to the next level. It enables complete control over all displays in the car, including climate control. CarPlay 2, which was first unveiled at the WWDC 2022 developer conference, offers seamless integration between the iPhone and vehicle systems. By working with several car manufacturers, Apple wants to revolutionize the vehicle user interface. The aim is to create a standardized and user-friendly interface that increases convenience and functionality. For car manufacturers, this represents both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, they benefit from Apples expertise in user experience and software integration. On the other hand, they have to relinquish some control. Some manufacturers, such as Porsche and Aston Martin, have already announced that they will fully support CarPlay 2. Others are more cautious and have concerns about data and brand identity. Porsche CarPlay 2 could be Apples indirect way of entering the automotive industry without producing its own vehicle. The Apple Car is dead, long live the Apple car ! By expanding its software platform, Apple is strengthening its position and creating new opportunities for in-vehicle services and applications. And in this endeavour the experience and technologies from Project Titan could prove to be of great benefit.

iOS 18.2: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji

Macworld With iOS 18.2 , iPadOS 18.2, Apple finally adds image generation capabilities to its Apple Intelligence tools. One of the slickest ways to use the new AI image gen capabilities is to make custom emojis with the new Genmoji feature. All you need is a compatible iPhone or iPad up to date with version 18.2 or later. Heres everything you need to know about the new feature. What is Genmoji? Genmoji is Apples name for its built-in AI-powered emoji generator. Some have taken to calling images of themselves made with the Image Playground app Genmoji, but thats not quite right. Those are not styled like Apples emojis, are created in a different way, and are not accessible in the standard emoji picker. To create Genmoji, youll need an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or a new iPhone 16 with iOS 18.2; or an iPad with an A17 Pro or M-series processor with iPadOS 18.2. Macs running at least macOS 15.1 can use a Genmoji that you created on an iPhone or iPad, but cant yet create new ones. Thats another difference between Genmoji and images created with Image Playground. How to find the Genmoji creator To start making Genmoji, open any app with text input that accepts emojis, such as Messages or Notes. Then launch the emoji picker as you normally would by tapping the smiling emoji in the lower left of the keyboard. Foundry Next, tap the Genmoji icon to the right of the search field. Foundry Describe the emoji you want to create Now for the fun part. To make a new Genmoji, simply type what you want your emoji to look like. Its best to keep it simple and avoid all but the broadest action verbs. If there arent any existing emoji to match your query, youll see an option to Create New Emoji to make one that matches your prompt. Youll see a dreamy soap-bubble blob appear and, after a few seconds, fill in with an image result. And you dont need to be connected to the internet eitherGenmoji even works offline. Foundry Swipe through the results and pick a winner Youll see a spotlighted emoji in the center of the screen, but that isnt your only option. Swipe left to view other interpretations of your prompt. The AI feature will generate additional images as you keep swiping. Some will be pretty good, others will be far off the mark, but hey you might like them better! Foundry Tap the one you like, and it will insert into your text just as any other emoji would. It will also go into the recent emoji section of your emoji picker, so you can use it again next time. You can also access your saved Genmoji from a Mac there, even though you cant create a new one yet. Read our complete guide to iOS 18 for everything you need to know.

Six ways Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2

Macworld Apple Intelligence isnt a thing , its several things that are being released piecemeal over the course of several iOS/iPadOS/macOS updates. It started with iOS 18.1, but aside from some neat writing tools, the really good stuff didnt arrive until now. With iOS 18.2 , your iPhone has quite a few new useful features and improvements powered by Apple Intelligence, and gives you a much better idea of where Apple is going with its AI vision. The features introduced in iOS 18.1 were just the start; these are all the big ways Apple Intelligence levels up in iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2. Image playground is Apples DALLE With the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 updates, youll find a new app installed on your devices: Image Playground. Like DALLE and other AI image generators, it allows you to make AI-made images by typing a description or using a variety of selected settings, objects, and modifiers. You can opt to draw in either animation or illustration styles, but its very limited in both scope and quality, probably to avoid any potential for trying to trick anyone. But you can select people from your Photos library to use a subject, which is kind of fun. Foundry You can use the Image Playground engine in the Notes app with a new Image Wand too. It can make a new image from a description or surrounding text, or take a rough sketch and flesh it out. Anywhere you can draw an image in Notes, just select the new Magic Wand tool at the right and circle the blank area or rough sketch you wish to replace with an AI-generated one. Its based on the same image generation tools as Image Playground, so it has the same strict limitations and middling quality. But unless youre an artist, its probably going to look nicer than the rough sketch you made with your finger or Apple Pencil. Genmoji is built into the keyboard The next image generation tool built into the latest version of iOS and macOS is called Genmoji, and it will make a new custom image in the style of Apples emoji. Just open any app that accepts emoji input, select the emoji picker in the keyboard (or your Macs menu), and tap/click the smiling face icon to the right of the emoji search box. Then you can describe the emoji you wish to see and Apples image-generation AI will give you several options. Foundry Writing Tools will do what you say The Writing Tools prompt in iOS 18.1 will let you change your selected text to automatically make it more professional, friendly, or concise. Those options are still there, but the Writing Tools interface now includes a text input line where can describe any sort of change you want. Tell Writing Tools to make it into a poem, make it scary, or whatever else you like (within reason of course). Foundry ChatGPT can write anything Also new in the Writing Tools box is a Compose button, which lets you type a prompt to compose whatever text you want with ChatGPT. You can include any sort of prompt you would on the ChatGPT site to generate new text. When its done, you can use ChatGPT to refine it, with another prompt or by selecting one of ChatGPTs suggestions. Foundry Visual Intelligence sees the world (if you have an iPhone 16) One of the core functions of the Camera Control button finally comes to iPhone 16 in iOS 18.2. Visual Intelligence can use Siri and ChatGPT to tell you all sorts of things about what you point your camera at. Press and hold the camera button for a second or two to launch Visual Intelligence. Frame what you want information about and press the shutter button (the Camera Control button or the on-screen shutter button). The information you get depends on your subject and takes into account details like your location. If you point it at a restaurant, for example, you might get its Yelp rating, hours of operation, some photos of it, and even the option to make a reservation or order from the menu. For random objects, youll usually see two buttons at the bottom of the screen: Ask and Search. Search performs a Google Image Search for similar images. Ask will ask ChatGPT about your image (after prompting you for permission first). A ChatGPT prompt at the bottom of the screen will let you ask specific follow-up questions like how much does this cost or how many calories are in this? Foundry ChatGPT makes Siri much smarter ChatGPT integration into Siri really makes it a lot more useful. Siri is good at knowing whats on your calendar or in your text messages and can give you some general information from the internet, but its quite limited. ChatGPT knows nothing about whats on your iPhone, but it knows a basically everything about the world at large (except for recent events). You can ask Siri a question, and if it doesnt know the answer, it will prompt you to use ChatGPT instead. You can even browse your Photos library and ask all sorts of things about one of your photos or ask about whats on your screen (websites and such). Youll always be prompted to send your photo or a screenshot to ChatGPT to get the answer. If you dont want the prompts before every time Siri asks ChatGPT, open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > ChatGPT and disable the Confirm ChatGPT Requests option. Youll still be prompted before sending images or screenshots, though. If youre a ChatGPT subscriber you can log in here to get the full benefits of your account. If not, you can still use ChatGPT, even without an account, youll just be limited as to how many advanced requests you can make in a 24-hour period. You can even tell Siri to have ChatGPT generate images, which will use OpenAIs advanced DALLE 3 engine. Foundry

Best cloud or online storage service for Mac and iPhone

Macworld These days cloud storage is all the rage, offering the convenience of access to your digital files without having to clog up your mobile devices storage. Its also particularly useful now that so may of us work from home and need to be able to access our data outside the office. Provided youve got internet access, everything is hunky-dory. A good cloud storage solution backs up your important documents, photos, and videos, but it also helps keep all your devices in sync. Its a great way to make sure your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet all have instant access to all your digital content. It should also allow you to access and edit documents from a web browser and easily share files and folders with others. Another reason to use a cloud service or any service that offers offsite back up for your Mac is that it protects your data if something happens at the location where your Mac and backup are located. PROMOTION Secure Cloud Storage for Growing Businesses Get ample space for all your files with Google Workspace. Enjoy up to 5 TB of secure cloud storage, plus business versions of Gmail, Calendar, Meet, and more. Now with Gemini for Workspace to boost productivity with AI. Try free for 14 days Owners of Macs, iPads and iPhones will naturally tend to favour iCloud, Apples own cloud service, because its so well integrated with those devices operating systems. Heres our full guide to using iCloud and here is iClouds current pricing structure . However, iCloud only really syncs your data and it isnt a way to back up your Mac. If you want to back up your Mac to the cloud you need to look at options like Backblaze, Carbonite and Acronis included below and in our guide to the Best Mac backup software . You may only be looking for a way to store a few items so you can access them anywhere, or so you can share them with others, in which case iCloud and other options like Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive could meet your needs. In this article, we round up all the best iCloud alternatives: the cloud storage services for Mac, iPhone and iPad that offer the most appealing combination of price, features, security and reliability. If you use Apple products, we think these are the best cloud storage solutions to which you should subscribe. We are starting with iCloud because Apples service is simple to use and mostly intuitive. Its available on all Apple products and syncs all your data as long as you have enough iCloud storage. It doesnt act as a backup for your Mac, but you can access a backup of your iPhone or iPad via iCloud. Read: Time Machine vs iCloud: Do you need to use both and can one back up to the other? Read on to find out what the alternatives offer. Apple iCloud Drive Best for Apple fans Price When Reviewed: Free (5GB), 99c (50GB), $2.99 (200GB), $9.99 (2TB), $29.99 (6TB), $59.99 (12TB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Apple (Monthly) $0.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $0.99 at Apple (Monthly) View Apple iCloud here As an Apple user, youll have heard of iCloud, but we dont blame you if you find it confusing. Its Apples own cloud-based storage system, and if you own an iPhone or iPad and have an Apple ID , youll already have 5GB free storage. Its the easiest way for those bought into the Apple ecosystem (users of iPhone, iPad and Mac) to sync contacts, notes, files, photos and more across devices and access them on all their devices. For example, you can use the Files folder on an iPhone or iPad to view all your files stored in the cloud. Because it integrates so seamlessly with all of Apples products and services, iCloud really is the best cloud storage solution for someone who is all-in with Apple. And I do mean all-in : All your computers are Macs, your mobile devices are iPhone or iPads, you work in Apples productivity software (Pages, Numbers, Notes), and so on. Frustratingly, Apple only provides a paltry 5GB of free iCloud storage, which isnt so bad if all you want to do is store some Pages and Numbers documents, but is grossly inadequate for photos and videos. Apple is years overdue for increasing this limit (Google offers 15GB free), but at the very least, it should stop counting iOS backups against it. Since the fall of 2021, Apple has offered to loan you as much iCloud storage space as you need to backup and restore your data onto a new device, for up to two weeks. Its a good feature for those buying a new Apple device, but it wont help you protect your data if your iPhone gets lost/stolen/damaged. From there, its $0.99/0.99 per month for 50GB, $2.99/2.99 for 200GB, $9.99/8.99 for 2TB, $29.99/26.99 for 6TB and $59.99/54.99 for 20GB. See: iCloud storage plans . You can enable family sharing on the 200GB and above plansif you do, it doesnt mean your family members can see all your cloud stuff. It just means your whole familys iCloud usage will count against the same storage limit. These paid tiers are branded iCloud+ and include several benefits. Theres iCloud Private Relay , free storage for HomeKit enabled security cameras, a Hide My Email feature, custom domain names for iCloud email accounts, and additional contact options for recovering your account. These are all excellent features that help solidify our view that iCloud is by far the best choice for those who are all-in on Apple devices. The main benefit of paying for more iCloud storage is that nearly all of Apples apps can seamlessly sync through it. Photos, productivity apps, Mail, Calendar, and anything you drop into your iCloud Drive folder in Finder on a Mac are immediately available across all your Apple devices. A significant number of iOS apps optionally back up and sync through iCloud, too. If you use non-Mac computers or non-iOS mobile devices from time to time, Apple provides a full suite of web apps at iCloud.com , but theyre sort of mediocre. Apple also provides an iCloud Windows app that syncs data and integrates your iCloud mail with common Windows apps like Outlook, but there are no native productivity apps for Windows or Android: If you want to edit a Pages document, you have to use the web interface. We like using iCloud, but we also pay for it. Most decent cloud services require you to pay a small fee. If youre a heavy Apple user, you might consider the Apple One service bundle . Its much more than a cloud storage solution, and thus beyond the scope of this article, but the value offered may tip the scales in iClouds favor for you. Read our full Apple iCloud review Google Drive King of Cloud Price When Reviewed: Free (15GB), $1.99 (100GB), $2.99 (200GB), $9.99 (2TB) a month. If you don't see the 200GB deal select 100GB and upgrade from that. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Google (monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1.99 at Google (monthly) View Google Drive here While the idea of using Googles tools on Apple hardware may make some squirm, its deep integration with Google Docs, Sheets, and other popular Google tools means its never been easier to share a document with a colleague, collect feedback, and make amendments. Googles system, alongside Dropbox and OneDrive, is arguably one of the most common file-sharing options. Its much more prevalent than, say, iCloud Drive, making it much more useful across multiple platforms. If your workflows and job require any degree of rapid sharing of files back and forth, its a perfect fit. Outside of work, Google Photos may also appeal as a nice backup option to have, but itll start to eat into your storage pretty quickly. That said, Google Drive does comes with a whopping 15GB of free storage thats triple what Apple offers for free oniCloud Drive. 15GB is plenty generous, but you can enjoy 100GB for just $1.99/1.59 a month, 200GB for $2.99/2.49, and 2TB for $9.99/7.99 per month. Theres even a massive 30TB for $150 a month. You can use Google Drive on Mac through a dedicated app, or via the web interface. Whether youre on Mac, iPhone, iPad, or just about any other platform, Google Drive remains the best option around. Read our full Google Drive review Microsoft OneDrive Cloud storage home workers Price When Reviewed: Free (5GB), $1.99 (100GB), $6.99 (1TB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Microsoft (monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1.99 at Microsoft (monthly) View Microsoft OneDrive here If you need a cloud plan for a family or small team, and youre already leaning on Microsofts Office apps, then OneDrive is a great option. One of the best parts of OneDrive is that it opens up the Office ecosystem, both for Mac and iPhone or iPad. With access to Microsoft mainstays like Word, Excel, and with those apps using OneDrive to sync across platforms, its got potential for the workplace or for families with kids working on school projects. If youre not keen on Google Docs or Sheets, or Apples Pages and Numbers, having Word and Excel documents spread across your devices could be a huge boon. The 5GB base storage is painfully low for free users (although still better thanDropboxs2GB). Microsoft clearly wants to nudge you to one of its paid plans. You can spend$99.99/79.99per year to get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more, with 1TB storage per person for up to six people (6TB total). Alternatively, the Microsoft 365 Personal version with 1TB storage costs $69.99/59.99 a year, and Microsoft 365 Basic is $19.99/19.99 a year for 100GB cloud storage. Whichever option you go for, OneDrive is a model citizen when it comes to macOS. The app is lightweight and sits in Finder for you to drag and drop as you see fit. While its not as intuitive as Google Drive, if youre using Microsoft Office to any degree youll find a lot to like. Read our full OneDrive review IDrive Online backup Price When Reviewed: Basic: Free; IDrive Mini: $2.95 (100GB) | $9.95 (500GB) a year; IDrive Personal: $69.65 (5TB) a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price iDrive (Annually) $2.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2.95 at iDrive (Annually) View IDrive here. lDrive is another online backup service. However, it differs from both Backblaze and Carbonite in a number of ways. Firstly, it has a free tier you can back up 5GB without paying anything. After that, though, its more expensive than either of its competitors featured here. Currently, the annual charge for the Personal tier is $59.62 (approx 46) for the first year and $79.50/year (approx 61) after that, but that only allows you to backup 5TB of data, while Backblaze and Carbonite allow unlimited data. However, that 5TB can be spread across multiple computers, whereas Backblaze and Carbonite limit you to one computer. Also, if you prefer to restore by having data physically shipped to you, lDrive provides that for free for the first restore each year though if youre outside the US youll have to pay for the shipping. Like Backblaze, lDrive also allows you to back up external hard drives. Even with external drives backing up, its unlikely most people will breach the 5TB limit bearing in mind that youre not backing up applications or system files. Features like Rewind and Snapshots allow you to restore from earlier versions of files or snapshots of the complete data set. And all data is encrypted, with the option to set your own private encryption key. lDrives user interface makes using it very straightforward. Your Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures folders are automatically selected for backup, along with the contents of ~/Library/Mail. To add other folders, click Change at the bottom of the window thats not exactly intuitive. You can add videos to the backup, but locating them in lDrives interface takes a great deal of doing. Both scheduling and restoring are straightforward, however. As is choosing a local drive as the destination for a backup in place of lDrives servers. lDrives free tier and the ability to spread your data allocation in the paid tiers across multiple computers makes it attractive. Overall, though, its expensive for a single machine. Read our full IDrive review Box Best for businesses Price When Reviewed: Free (10GB, limited to 250MB files), $14 (100GB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Box (monthly) $14 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $14 at Box (monthly) View Box here One of the best cloud storage options for businesses, Box, has a whole host of excellent tools and is probably the most slick and well-supported cloud-based storage service weve tested, but it might go beyond a general consumers needs. Boxs incorporates a host of security options, API calls, and over 1,500 integrations across office mainstays like Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office apps and Zoom, so its an easy pick for anyone looking for a plug-and-play solution for file-sharing across larger teams. Its essentially a menu bar app that can pop out into a handy search bar to trawl through anything inside your Box folder, which will also appear in your Finder sidebar. A keyboard shortcut brings up the search bar, so Box is always just a keypress away. Theres a note section that syncs across devices and a document signing tool thats very handy if youre exchanging a lot of contracts. Its secure, too, with encryption standard across all plans and end-to-end encryption offered via Box KeySafe so users can issue their own encryption keys. The web app is fast and stable (unlike some rivals) making shifting files between folders when away from the Mac much simpler. Box offers a very generous free plan offering 10GB of storage and a 250MB file upload limit, but the next tier up is $14/11 monthly for individuals ($10/8 per month if you pay annually), which is a steep increase compared to the likes of Google Drive. Box nails just about anything you could want from a cloud storage service in 2025. Its fast, secure, and gets out of the way when you need it to, making it an easy pick for businesses. Read our full Box (Cloud Storage) review Backblaze A good solution for offsite backup Price When Reviewed: $99 a year, $9 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Backblaze (yearly) $99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $99 at Backblaze (yearly) View Backblaze here . Offerings like OneDrive, Google Drive, and even Apples own iCloud Drive offer a cloud-based storage area that can also be used to share files between users, usually with a link to a specific spot. Others, like Backblaze a storage service in the strictest term it takes your data, ferries it off-site, and backs up your Mac to its servers. Its not for quickly sharing a document or collaborating on a piece of work, its for recovering data you may lose if something happens to your local machine. While you could share a file with Backblaze, doing so requires using Backblazes separate B2 Cloud Storage service which, admittedly, comes with flexible, pay-as-you-go options. Backblaze backs up the contents of your Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music folders, but excludes your Applications folder. You can view and share backed up files on an iPhone or iPad with the Backblaze mobile app. Backups are incremental so only files that have changed since it last ran are copied. Backups are encrypted and kept for 30 days. When it comes to restoring your data you can restore via Backblazes web interface or you can have files sent to you on a USB stick or hard drive for an additional (refundable) fee. A Find My-like Locate your Computer service tracks your Macs location to help you find it if its stolen. The Mac can tell you its current IP address and show you recently backed-up data. If you need an offsite back up of your Mac, Backblazes simplicity and price give it the edge over Carbonite and IDrive. Read our full Backblaze review pCloud Budget-friendly cloud storage Price When Reviewed: Free (10GB), $4.99 (500GB), $9.99 (2TB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price pCloud Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Free at pCloud View pCloud here pCloud might not be as familiar a name as some of the others on this list, but trust us, its one you should definitely learn. The service handles all kinds of files with ease and uses 256-bit AES encryption to ensure that they remain safe while online. The basic tier comes with 10GB of free storage, albeit with the need to unlock 3GB of this via a few tasks, such as informing friend about the joys of pCloud. To be honest, this is not much of a drag, as your friends will probably thank you in the long run. There are no pesky file size restrictions, and 30-day versioning is standard, so if you accidentally delete a file youll be able to recover it even after a few weeks. If 10GB isnt enough then you can move to 500GB for $4.99/4.99 p/m ($49.99/49.99 a year right now) or theres 2TB available for $9.99/9.99 ($99.99/99.99 a year right now). Like pretty much all the services in this roundup, theres a free trial available that lets you see if the service fits your needs. We recommend you give each one a spin, and if you dont mind a bit of file juggling then you might find that using the combined free tiers of all of them gives you enough storage for all your data needs. Dropbox the original cloud syncing service Price When Reviewed: Free (2GB), $9.99 a month for a year (2TB, $119.88 paid up front), $11.99 a month (2TB, paid monthly) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Dropbox (monthly) $9.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.99 at Dropbox (monthly) View Dropbox here No discussion of cloud storage solutions would be complete without discussing the company that popularized consumer cloud syncing: Dropbox . Dropbox is the app that kickstarted the cloud storage arms race , but in recent years it has been usurped somewhat. A stalwart for many modern workflows, Dropbox remains a reliable way to sync data and files to the cloud, but it gets harder to recommend if you are looking to share files with others, as a backup solution, or as a means to access your content from wherever you are. It just doesnt offer any must-have features and rivals have much more generous free tiers. The paltry 2GB starting offering is way behind Googles 15GB. The next their up is 2TB for $11.99/9.99 per month (billed monthly), or $9.99/7.99 a month if you pay for a year upfront. Its a big leap with no options in between. There is some good. Dropbox offer a sizeable drop-down window so you can see more information about recently uploaded and updated files, compared to the basic menu bar apps of the competition. Features like PDF signing are useful additions. Unfortunately, Dropbox just doesnt feel as straightforward to use as many other cloud storage services. Read our full Dropbox review Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office Price When Reviewed: From $49.99 a year 1 Mac, no cloud storage; Advanced: $57.99 a year, 1 Mac 50GB cloud storage; Premium: $124.99 a year, 1 Mac, 1TB cloud storage Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $8 View Deal Acronis $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $8 at Amazon $39.99 at Acronis View Acronis here . Note December 2024: This review is of Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, which was previously known as True Image. The latest version of the service reverts to the old name: True Image. We are in the process of reviewing the new version of the software. Cyber Protect Home Office is a personal backup solution that supports backing up your data to a local disk, to Acronis cloud-based service, or to a network-attached storage device. The latter makes it a good option for anyone with a NAS that doesnt support Apples Time Machine . Youll need to set up an account with Acronis to use it, but you can give it a spin without signing up for its paid-for service or even providing payment details, by using the free trial to back up to a local drive or network disk. If backing up files is one part of the data protection equation, then the other is protecting those files, wherever they reside, from cyber-attack, and thats what Cyber Protect Home Office was designed to do. It will scan existing data for malware, monitor files you interact with online, detect ransomware and cryptojacking attacks, and perform assessments of the vulnerability of your data to being compromised. In addition to the security features, Cyber Protect Home Office allows you to backup Office 365 files to Acronis Cloud, clone your startup disk (either a bootable clone or a compressed image), and synchronise files locally or with cloud storage. It also allows you to create what it calls a Survival Kit a bootable disk with all your system, or a partition, and file backup. Cyber Protect Home Office is very straightforward to use. Its interface is about as straightforward and friendly as they come. The first time you open it, your Mac is selected as the source. Click the Destination button to choose whether to back up to Acronis Cloud, a local drive or a NAS box. If you dont want to create an image of your entire Mac, click on the source box to choose files and folders to back up. From here, you can also back up external disks, a mobile device to your Mac, or your social media accounts to Acronis Cloud. Click on the settings icon and you can schedule regular backups, exclude files, encrypt backups or delete old backups. Pricing starts at $49.99/42.99 per year per computer, but that doesnt include cloud storage. If you want to use Acronis Cloud, youll pay a yearly subscription ranging from for Advanced cover at $57.99/62.99 for one computer and just 50 GB of cloud storage to $124.99/106.99 for Premium cover for one computer with 1TB storage. Additional storage costs around 30/$30/year/TB. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office combines the best of local and online backup tools and offers lots of other features, such as protection from malware and other online threats. Its not cheap, and the removal of the one-off payment option makes it more expensive to get started. However, its comprehensive, easy to use and well-worth considering. Carbonite Safe Price When Reviewed: $71.99 per year (Basic) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Carbonite $71.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $71.99 at Carbonite View Carbonite here . Carbonite is very similar to Backblaze in that it allows you to back up your Mac to remote servers and recover files when you need to. Like Backblaze, you sign up for an account and download a Mac application, and it automatically selects files to download. Also like Backblaze, Carbonite doesnt back up applications or system files. One key difference is that Carbonites basic plan doesnt automatically back up the contents of your Movies folder either although you can select videos manually to be backed up. Neither does Carbonite back up the contents of external drives. Files are protected with 128-bit encryption, but theres no option to add your own password. Restoring data is done online, using the Carbonite application the option to ship media containing your data is only available within the US. And you can restore from any backup run within the last 30 days, allowing you to roll back to earlier versions of files. The Carbonite mobile app allows you to view and download files to an iPhone or iPad. Carbonite is very simple to use. In fact, it almost feels too simple. Download the app, install it and launch it, and Carbonite starts backing up your Documents and Pictures folders straight away. In the left-hand sidebar, theres a list of volumes and the main user folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music). By clicking on those you can select files to be backed up or excluded. Restoring files is just as easy. If you want to restore a complete backup, click the Restore option in the sidebar and choose whether to download files to a folder or put them back where they were originally. To restore individual files and folders, navigate to them using the folders in the sidebar and choose the download option. Carbonite, at the time of writing starts at $71.99 (approx 55) per year for a single computer. If you want to back up external drives and back up videos automatically, that jumps to $111.99 (approx 86). That makes it expensive compared to its nearest competitors. Cloud storage for Mac: Prices compared The cloud storage option you should choose depends largely on how much youre willing to pay. If you want free space, Google crushes the competition with 15GBMicrosoft and Apple both need to up their game. The 100GB for $1.99 level is a good deal for most people and equals the capacity Microsoft gives you with OneDrive. Apples iCloud gives you 200GB for $2.99, which is the minimum youre going to have to spend if you plan to back up iOS devices to the cloud along with photos and videos. Google matches Apples price and storage at this level. Theres a $0.99 tier below that, but even 50GB will fill up fast when youre backing up your iPhone and all its photos and videos. If you want to spend ten bucks a month, youll get 2TB from either Google or Apple, but Microsoft will give you six accounts with 1TB each, plus Office apps. Thats a sweet deal. Dropboxs 2GB is the worst free tier, and its cheapest paid tier is $11.99 a month and doesnt even include all of Dropboxs features. Tier iCloud Google One Drive Microsoft One Drive Box pCloud DropBox Free 5GB 15GB 5GB 10GB 10GB 2GB 50GB 99c / 99p 100GB $1.99 / 1.59 $1.99 / 1,99 $4.50 / 5.50 200GB $2.99 / 2.99 $2.99 / 2.49 500GB $4.99 / 4.99 1TB $6.99 / 5.99 2TB $9.99 / 8.99 $9.99 / 7.99 $9.99 / 9.99 $9.99 / 7.99 For more advice about the best storage for your Mac take a look at the following: Best SSD for Mac Best hard drive for Mac Best NAS drive for Mac

Ultimate Apple Charging Holiday Deals You Cant Miss!

Macworld As more devices enhance our working and personal lives, so more cables and individual chargers clutter our desks and homes. Put all those away in your drawer because a new flexible series of multi-device chargers promises to not only declutter your working space but speed up charging and boost your productivity. The Baseus Nomos family of chargers brings innovation and efficiency to the muddle of modern-day life for all Apple users, and each one is currently available with huge holiday savings . View Baseus Holiday Deals Baseus Nomo 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W 33% off Baseus The new lynchpin of your desk should be the super-versatile Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W one of the most compact and flexible charging stations weve seen. It has five charging points, including an adjustable 15W wireless iPhone charger that utilizes the latest MagSafe-friendly Qi2 magnetic technology embraced by Apple and other top manufacturers. This can lay flat when not in use or double-up as a charger for your AirPods or other wireless devices. The unique Nomos 5-in-1 beats all other desktop chargers by boasting a 2.6-foot (0.8m) retractable USB-C cable that is hidden from sight when not in use but can power a laptop or other devices at up to 100W. It pulls out and magnetically snaps back in a smooth and quiet operation. Baseus One of the two other USB-C ports is rated at 140W PD 3.1 so can be used to fast-charge a large laptop such as a 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro at full speed. The other USB-C port is rated at 100W. And theres a powerful 15W USB-A charging port for legacy devices. As if this charger wasnt smart enough already theres a detailed display that shows the real-time charging speeds of each output. Unlike most desktop chargers, the Nomos 5-in-1 is highly portable as its power cord is detachable. The unit measures 4.7 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches and weighs just over 1lb. Right now the Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W is available at a 33% discount for just $99.99 , down from $149.99. It is also available from Amazon . View Deal Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Charging Station Qi2 67W 40% off! Baseus Another travel-friendly Nomos power solution is the super-slim Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Charging Station Qi2 67W that can power and charge up to eight devices simultaneously. Imagine being able to pull out of your bag an AC power strip with three spare power sockets, as well as three USB-C ports and one 12W USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports are rated high enough to charge a laptop at up 67W. On top of that is an adjustable 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless iPhone charger that can be laid flat for easy portability. Get a great discount on the Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Charging Station Qi2 67W, which is available at a 40% discount for just $59.99 , down from $99.99. It is also available from Amazon . View Deal Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh 30% off! Baseus While both the 5-in-1 and 8-in-1 Nomos desktop chargers can be slipped into a bag, the flexible Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh can be carried in your pocket. Its 10K battery capacity can recharge a phone nearly twice over. This sleek top-end power bankavailable in either Black or Silverfeatures ultimate phone charging speeds, offering the best of both worlds: 15W Qi2 wireless charging plus up to 45W wired charging via its built-in retractable USB-C cable. Theres also a side-mounted USB-C port so that you can charge three devices at the same time: via wireless, USB-C cable and USB-C port. This port is powerful enough to add extra life into even a connected MacBook. As if that isnt useful enough, the alim airline-approved power bankmeasuring just 4.8 inches long and 2.67 inches widefeatures a pull-out stand so you can set your charging phone in either landscape or portrait orientations. Right now there is a great deal on the Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh, which is available at a 30% discount for just $69.59 , down from $99.99. It is also available from Amazon . View Deal Baseus Nomos Retractable USB-C Cable 31% off! Baseus Alongside the two versatile desktop chargers and flexible 10K power bank, the Baseus Nomos Retractable USB-C Cable is another compact charging solution that we would recommend to any digital workplace or home and travel environment. Rated high enough to support 100W laptop charging this durable, tangle-free and easy-to-store 4.9-foot (1.5m) cable is kept desktop- and pocket-friendly by retracting into a compact body. Get yourself a great discount on the Baseus Nomos Retractable USB-C Cable, which is available at a 31% discount for just $19.99 , down from $28.99. It is also available from Amazon . View Deal Versatility, efficiency, power and portability Each of the Baseus Nomos power solutions will make your work and home lives cleaner, more flexible and highly efficient, while opening up practical opportunities in portability and travel. Black Friday is the perfect time to reward yourself with one of these charging solutions or spread the efficiency by making a gift that will keep on giving all year round. Check out the Baseus holiday sale View Offers

VisionOS 2.2 brings long-awaited Mac Virtual Display upgrade

Macworld The latest visionOS 2.2 update doesnt add much. Compared to iOS/iPadOS 18.2 with its numerous Apple Intelligence features, the updates in visionOS 2.2 seem positively threadbare. But if you have one, you should upgrade right away, as there is one new feature weve been waiting for since it was first announced: Support for wide and ultrawide resolutions when using Mac Virtual Display. Since Mac Virtual Display replaces your Macs output with the floating display in VR space, the feature in its original form didnt offer much benefit other than being larger than your Macs original display. With support for wide and ultrawide formats, however, the feature can now actually add significant new screen real estate compared to the built-in display on your Macbook or standard monitor hooked up to a desktop Mac. As Apple says, its like working on two 5K monitors side by side. VisionOS 2.2: Release notes Here are Apples release notes for visionOS 2.2: Mac Virtual Display Use Mac apps and games with a new aspect ratio: wide (21:9) and ultrawide (32:9) the equivalent of two 5K monitors side by side Route audio from your Mac to Apple Vision Pro Apple TV Watch up to five MLS and MLB games at once with Multiview Watch live sporting events together with SharePlay Safari Tap to view spatial photos and videos embedded on web pages visionOS 2.2: How to update your Apple Vision Pro Go to Settings > General > Software Update . If an update is available, tap Download and Install or Install Now . When the update is ready to install, an alert asks you to take off your Apple Vision Pro. You can see the progress of the update on the front of your device.

iOS 18.2 is out now with lots of new AI features and a few other improvements

Macworld We got our first taste of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, but there were many missing features. With iOS 18.2, we get a lot of them, including Visual Intelligence, image generation, ChatGPT integration, and more. And if you have an older iPhone or just arent interested in Apple Intelligence, there are quite a few welcome improvements in the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 release that are not related to AI, too. However, while Siris interface changed in iOS 18.1, the new smarter Siri, one of the premier Apple Intelligence features, still isnt a part of this release. That will likely be coming in iOS 18.3 in January or 18.4, due for release around March 2025. You can learn more about it in our article about upcoming Apple Intelligence features . Apple announced Wednesday morning that iOS 18.2 will be arriving today. Apple usually pushes its software updates at 10am PT, but it could arrive at any moment. Update December 11: Apple has released iOS 18.2 (and its fellow iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS updates). iOS 18.2: New Apple Intelligence features The Apple Intelligence features part of iOS 18.2 are still limited to just six phones: the entire iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. If your phone supports it, there is a secondary waiting list to access certain features. If you were on the original waiting list for Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 you will get access to ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence, and the new Writing Tools features. But youll have to hop onto a second waiting list for the image generation featuresGenmoji, Image Playground, and the Image Wand tool. Heres are all of the new Apple Intelligence features available in iOS 18.2: Writing Tools: Instead of just choosing to make a selection of text more professional, causal, or concise, you will have a freeform field to describe how you want to transform text. Examples: make this a poem, include a lot of dad jokes, or use a lot of sarcasm. Genmoji: Create a new emoji right on the system keyboard. Image Playground: Generate new images based on text prompts. Apple will suggest new costumes, items, or locations, and will make suggestions based on the context of a Messages thread or note in the Notes app. Images can be based on people you know by using identified images in Photos. Images are limited to cartoon or illustrative styles rather than realistic. Visual Intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners with the Camera Control button. Press and hold Camera Control to get additional information about a location, translate a sign or poster, detect phone numbers and addresses to quickly add to Contacts, and more. You can also tap a button to ask ChatGPT about whats on screen, or another to perform a Google image search. Image Wand: An offshoot of Image Playground, this uses Apples image generation tools to create an image in an open area on a note in the Notes app, using the context from the surrounding area and the rest of the note. Start with a blank area or a rough sketch you make yourself. ChatGPT integration: If Siri cant answer a question, it now has the option to ask ChatGPT. You need to give permission for each request and only limited data is shared. You dont need to log into ChatGPT, but you are able to if you want to, or have a premium ChatGPT account you wish to use. You can ask Siri to have ChatGPT generate images., and use ChatGPT in the Writing Tools to generate text, too. Foundry iOS 18.2: Other new features In addition to the new user-facing features below, there are new developer tools for integrating image generation and writing tools into third-party apps. Apple Intelligence is localized into English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in this release. Default Apps: Users worldwide have a new Default Apps section at the top Settings > Apps , where you can choose your default email, messaging, calling, call filtering, browser, password app, and keyboard. The messaging and calling options are new, and the other options have all been brought under a single menu. EU-specific features: In the EU, third-party browser that use their own custom web engines can now add web apps. EU users will also be able to delete the App Store. AE/AF Lock: In Settings > Camera , youll find a new toggle for a light press on the Camera Control button to lock exposure and focus. Find My share item location: Find My will let you share the location of an AirTag (or other Find My compatible item) with a trusted person. The link can be opened on a non-Apple device and expires after a week. Mail app categories: The Mail app gets its AI-powered auto-category feature, splitting your inbox into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Volume limits and lock screen slider: Youll be able to set volume limits for media playing from the iPhones speaker, and can restore the volume bar to the media card on the lock screen. The iPhone 16 is one of six phones able to run Apple Intelligence. Chris Martin / Foundry iOS 18.2: Release notes These are Apples official release notes for iOS 18.2: Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max) Image Playground A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud Genmoji Genmoji allows you to create a custom emoji right from the keyboard Genmoji are synced in your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud ChatGPT support ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and wont be used to train OpenAIs models Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAIs data policies Image Wand turns sketches and handwritten or typed notes into images in Notes Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how youd like something rewritten, for example as a poem Camera Control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Visual Intelligence with Camera Control helps you instantly learn about places or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the option to tap into Google Search or ChatGPT Camera Control two-stage shutter lets you lock focus and exposure in Camera when light pressing the Camera Control Mail Mail Categorization sorts your messages to help you prioritize the most important messages Digest view groups all of the messages from one sender into a single bundle for easy browsing Photos Video viewing improvements, including the ability to scrub frame-by-frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections Safari New background images to customize your Safari Start Page Import and Export enables you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible File Download Live Activity shows the progress of a file download in the Dynamic Island and on your home screen This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes: Voice Memos supports layered recording, letting you add vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what youre looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in United Arab Emirates Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open Fixes an issue where recently captured photos do not appear immediately in the All Photos grid Fixes an issue where Night mode photos in Camera could appear degraded when capturing long exposures (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) iOS 18.2: Security updates As with all updates, iOS 18.2 will include numerous security patches and fixes that are crucial to compatible iPhones. More information can be found on Apples security releases support page . iOS 18.2: How to install To get the latest version of iOS 18 on your phone, head over to the Settings app, then General and Software Update . Then follow the prompts to restart and install the update. If you dont want to wait until the official update arrives, you can install the most recent release candidate, which will be identical to the public release, by turning on Beta Updates in the Software Update tab.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro: Where to get the best deals

Macworld The iPhone 16 launched in September 2024, but you can still buy 2022s iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus from Apple. And if youre prepared to shop around you may still be able to get theiPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max (both of which were discontinued in 2023). This article is designed to help you spend as little money as possible. We provide a summary of the best deals and promotions offered by popular retailers, plus automatically updated price-comparison tables covering the wider market, all of which will help you find the very best deal on your new iPhone. If youre looking for other models, check out our overall Best iPhone deals roundup. And if you cant decide which iPhone to buy , read our reviews and take a look at our Best iPhone chart . Where to get the best iPhone deals Buying direct fromApple is one option if youre looking for an unlocked, SIM-freeiPhone 14 oriPhone 14 Plus, and its the go-to place to join the iPhone Upgrade Program . Apple will also let you trade in your old iPhone and get up to $650 in credit toward a new purchase. Find an unlocked or SIM-free iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus at Apple. With the arrival of the 15-series iPhones in late 2023, Apple stopped selling the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but they are still available from other retailers, as you will see in the price comparison tables below. Best unlocked iPhone 14 series deals in the U.K. Amazon, iPhone 14, 128GB : 549 (50 off, RRP 599) Best iPhone 14 series carrier deals If you want to buy a recent iPhone for less than the full retail price, youre probably going to need to get it from a carrier or mobile provider, and there will often be significant strings attached. These deals can be complicated, so be sure to read the fine print. In the U.S., Apple partners with carriers to offer discounts on the2022 iPhones. You get a $30 discount if you buy a phone activated on AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile/Sprint, however, if you shop around there are some good deals to be found. See our table below for the best deals right now. U.S. AT&T : Get up to $800 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 14 and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile : Get up to $800 in bill credits when you buy an iPhone 14 and trade in your old phone when you add a new line. Verizon : Get up to $1,000 in bill credits toward an iPhone 14 Pro with trade-in and select Unlimited plans. U.K. Contract offers vary widely in price, but youll need to check the fine print and the perks and extras that are thrown in. You can browse the best current deals in the U.K. using the tool below; click Choose Smartphone to filter by model. Readers who would like to do their own research should try the following U.K. carriers: EE O2 Sky Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone Best iPhone 14 deals The iPhone 14 has now had two price cuts: once when the iPhone 15 came out, and again when the iPhone 16 was unveiled. At launch, the iPhone 14 started at $829 / 849, but youll pay less now: You can keep up with the best prices across a range of retailers for the iPhone 14 by using our automated table below: iPhone 14, 128GB: MSRP $599 / 599 New Refurbished Retailer Price $629 View Deal $829 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 128GB Starlight Unlocked Dual eSIM $397.99 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Blue Unlocked Dual eSIM $400 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $404 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Midnight Unlocked Dual eSIM $449.16 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 14 Plus deals The iPhone 14 Plus has also seen two price drops. It started at $929 / 949 at launch, but now costs less. iPhone 14, 128GB: MSRP $699 / 699 Best iPhone 14 Pro deals The iPhone 14 Pro has been discontinued by Apple, so it no longer has an official MSRP/RRP. The best we can do is look at the prices when it launched in fall 2022, and knock off a little to account for the price cuts it would have received in fall 2023 and 2024. iPhone 14 Pro, 128GB: MSRP was $999 / 1,099 New Refurbished Retailer Price $599 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Deep Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $536.82 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Space Black Unlocked Dual eSIM $550.47 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Silver Unlocked Dual eSIM $577.91 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Gold Unlocked Dual eSIM $581.55 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Deep Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $589.35 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Space Black Unlocked Dual eSIM $593.85 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Gold Unlocked Dual eSIM $601.02 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Silver Unlocked Dual eSIM $621.74 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Best iPhone 14 Pro Max deals The 14 Pro Max has also been discontinued. If Apple had kept it around, we can assume it would probably have received price cuts in fall 2023 and 2024. iPhone 14 Pro Max, 128GB: MSRP was $1,099 / 1,199 New Refurbished Retailer Price $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Deep Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $589.35 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to get refurbished iPhone 14 deals If you havent already, you may want to consider buying a refurbished iPhone 14 to save money (and the environment). Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested and repaired to work and look just like new. In the case of official Apple refurbished iPhones, you get a brand-new body and screen, box, accessories, battery, and warranty. Its almost indistinguishable from buying a new iPhone. See our full guide to buying refurbished or second-hand iPhones for more. The first place to shop for a refurbished iPhone is on the Apple Refurbished Store . At time of writing, Apple does not yet offer refurbished iPhone 14 models for sale, but that could change at any time. Rest assured, the Apple Refurbished Store is where you can get the highest quality of refurbished iPhones . You may want to shop at the following refurbished resellers instead: U.S. BackMarket Best Buy Refurb.me Gazelle Reboxed U.K. Music Magpie Envirofone Reboxed 4Gadgets Smartfone Store

The best AirPods deals this month

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-ear headphones which Apple has updated to use USC-C rather than Lightning. Below you will find links to the best deals available right now. Youll find more detailed advice and price comparisons for each model further down. U.S. Amazon, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case) : $170 ($79 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, AirPods 4: $119 ($10 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, AirPods 4 with ANC : $169 ($10 off, MSRP $179) Amazon, AirPods Max (USB-C) : $529 ($20 off, MSRP $549) Amazon, AirPods Max (Lightning) : $469 ($80 off; MSRP $549 Clearance ) U.K. Argos, AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, MagSafe) : 139 (40 off, RRP was 179 Clearance ) Amazon, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case) : 179 (50 off, RRP 229) Argos, AirPod Max, Lightning, 2020 : 429 (70 off, RRP was 499 Clearance ) Recent and imminent changes to the AirPods range Before you buy, note the following: AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC were introduced in September 2024. The AirPods 4 start at $129/129 with the ANC model costing $179/179. With this in mind do not buy the AirPods 3 or AirPods 2 if they arent considerably cheaper than $129/129. The AirPods Max with Lightning were discontinued in favor of the AirPods Max with USB-C. In this case if you do see the older models on sale they are worth buying at a good discount. The AirPods Pro are often on sale as they are likely to be updated in 2025. They are still a good purchase and recently gained the ability to work as hearing aids thanks to a software update. You can check the automated price comparison tables below to see if any retailers have dropped their prices since we last updated this article. How much do AirPods cost? Some changes were announced at Apples September 2024 event, so make sure youre up to date with the latest prices: AirPods Max (2024): $549 / 499 ( price dropped from 549 to 499 in September 2023 ) AirPods Pro with USB-C (2nd gen, 2023): $249 / 229 AirPods 4: $129 / 129 AirPods 4 (with ANC): $179 / 179 Discontinued: 3rd-gen AirPods with Lightning (2021): was $169 / 169 3rd-gen AirPods with MagSafe (2021): was $179 / 179 2nd-gen AirPods (2019): was $129 / 129 You should never pay more than the prices above: weve seen unscrupulous retailers claim the MSRP/RRP is higher and work out savings based on that. Remember to take delivery and postage fees into account when evaluating deals; we include it in our list of prices but most retailers wont add it until youre at the checkout. And watch out for deals that seem too good to be true, but turn out to have no stock. We see this a lot. Good AirPods deals are rare and tend not to last long. If you see one (and youre sure the supplier is legit: look it up on TrustPilot if youve not bought from there before), grab it. Best new AirPods deals Apple sells two sets of basic (non-Pro) AirPods, both introduced at the 2024 Glowtime event: the 4th-gen model with active noise cancellation, and the 4th-gen model without. Best Buy is worth a look for some worthwhile savings in the U.S., while U.K. customers can save a little money across the range. You can buy the 4th-gen AirPods directly from Apple , but youll find the best prices elsewhere in the automated tables below. AirPods (4th gen, 2024, with ANC) deals These replace the AirPods (3rd generation) and have a redesigned, smaller USB-C case that works with wireless charging and now has Find My functionality, with a built-in speaker for locating the device. They feature active noise cancellation, previously found only on the AirPods Pro and Max, and sport Apples H2 chip, which was introduced in the 2022 AirPods Pro and improves audio quality. MSRP: $179/179 New Refurbished Retailer Price $168.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 4th gen (2024) Wireless (USB-C) Charging case $179 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods (4th gen, 2024, without ANC) deals Whereas the ANC AirPods 4 replace the 3rd-gen AirPods, these replace the 2nd-gen AirPods. They feature most of the features of the higher-priced model with the main exception of Active Noise Cancelation, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive Audio. MSRP: $129/129 Retailer Price $119 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best AirPods Pro deals The 2nd-gen version of the AirPods Pro was released in September 2022. Rather than introduce the third generation in 2023, Apple instead tweaked them to support USB-C for charging (including charging via the iPhone 15) The Lightning models have now been discontinued, but will be available from other retailers for a while; make sure youre getting the exact model you want. AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2023, USB-C) deals This is the 2023 version with USB-C charging. You can also use an iPhone 15 to charge the case. MSRP: $ 249 / 229 Retailer Price $194.5 View Deal $249 View Deal $279 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best AirPods Max deals The AirPods Max, Apples wireless over-ear headphones, are available to buy directly from Apple for $549 / 499 (they were 549 in the U.K. before September 2023 when Apple dropped the price to 499). Best AirPods Max (2024, USB-C) deals The AirPods Max havent exactly been updated for 2024, beyond a new set of colors and USB-C instead of Lightning. These are still effectively the same as the 2020 models. It may still be possible to buy old models in the original colors for some time so we have included the best prices for the older model in the discontinued section of this article. Find the latest prices in our automated table embedded below. MSRP: $549/499 Retailer Price $449.99 View Deal $469 View Deal $499.99 View Deal $529 View Deal $547 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Discontinued AirPods deals One way to pick up a really good deal can be to buy discontinued AirPods which are often the first to be discounted. AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, MagSafe) deals Apple updated the ultra-popular AirPods in October 2021, after a wait of more than two and a half years. They were eventually discontinued in September 2024. Get all the info you need in our AirPods 3 review . MSRP was: $179 / 179 (DISCONTINUED) New Refurbished Retailer Price $152.95 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $169.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 3rd gen (2021) MagSafe Charging case $102 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, Lightning) deals There was also a cheaper version of the AirPods 3rd generation with a case that has to be charged via Lightning, rather than wirelessly. MSRP was: $169 / 169 (DISCONTINUED) New Refurbished Retailer Price $149 View Deal $149.99 View Deal $154.95 View Deal $159.99 View Deal $169.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 3rd gen (2021) Lightning Charging case $108.84 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods (2nd gen, 2019) deals This older version of the AirPods was sold by Apple until September 2024, and may still be found at other retailers. Note that this version of the AirPods comes with an Lightning charging case that needs to be plugged in, as opposed to the wireless MagSafe charging case. Check the automated table below for the latest deals. MSRP was: $129 / 129 (DISCONTINUED) New Refurbished Retailer Price $13.49 View Deal $129 View Deal $131.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple AirPods 2nd gen (2019) Lightning Charging case $108.84 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2022, Lightning) deals This is the older version with a Lightning port for charging the case. You may still find them on sale. MSRP was $249 / 249 (DISCONTINUED) New Refurbished Retailer Price $199 View Deal $219 View Deal $245.49 View Deal $279.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen (2022) MagSafe (Lightning) Charging case $160.62 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods Max (2020, Lightning) deals This is the older version of the original AirPods Max came in different colors and featured Lightning (rather then USB-C in the newer models). You may still find them on sale. MSRP was: $549/499 New Refurbished Retailer Price $403.95 View Deal $469 View Deal $475.89 View Deal $477 View Deal $499.99 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods Max (2020) Space Gray $392 View Deal Apple AirPods Max (2020) Silver $399.12 View Deal Apple AirPods Max (2020) Sky blue $454.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket For an in-depth look at your options here, read Where to buy AirPods Max . Other ways to save: AirPods Bundle deals The best way to get a good price on AirPods may be to bundle them with a phone, although this is mainly an option in the U.K. Phone network Three offers a variety of bundles that include the AirPods. Visit the companys accessories page to browse the best options for you. Vodafone and O2 arent currently bundling the AirPods with their iPhone plans, although O2 sells the 2021 AirPods , the early-2019 AirPods and the 2022 AirPods Pro on their own. Whichever bundle you go for, remember to check if youre getting the AirPods Pro, the early-2019 AirPods (sometimes called the second gen or AirPods 2) or the new 2021 AirPods (third-gen or AirPods 3). If youre getting the AirPods Pro, find out if they include the new MagSafe charging case. AirPods buying advice Wondering if a pair of AirPods is right for you? We have a guide to the Best AirPods , and you could read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models compare, but lets quickly discuss the pros and cons. Apple has launched various AirPods versions, several of which are still on sale: 2016: 1st-gen AirPods , discontinued 2019: 2nd-gen AirPods , discontinued 2019: 1st-gen AirPods Pro , discontinued 2021: 3rd-gen AirPods , Lightning and Magsafe variants, discontinued 2022 & 2023: 2nd-gen AirPods Pro , Lightning and USB-C variants 2020 & 2024: AirPods Max All four non-Max models are wireless, sitting in your ears and in theory staying there through snugness of fit alone. The advantages of this are clearthey allow you to go running or work out without worrying about snagging the cablesbut they may fall out once you pick up the pace. Our experience, however, is that the AirPods are among the best earbuds around in this regard. The AirPods Pro offer a snugger fit than the others because they have a choice of flexible ear tips, and are actually able to tell you whether youve selected the right tip or not. Sound quality is decent but not exceptional on the original and early-2019 models; the 2021 3rd gen AirPods were better, while the AirPods Pro are a step above thanks in part to their better fit and implementation of active noise cancellation. What AirPods consistently do better than non-Apple headphones is coordinate with other Apple products, thanks to the W1 chip (in the 2016 model) and H1 chip (2019 and 2021) which makes pairing with an iPhone a breeze. Battery-wise, most non-Max AirPods will last around five hours, but thats not the end of the story: they come with a little charging case with its own larger battery, so you can pop them back in for a quick charge. The case should offer another 24 hours (give or take) before itll require charging. The 2021 AirPods, however, offer more in this department, with claimed figures of six hours out of the case and 30 hours in total. Weve got some advice on getting better AirPods battery life . Apples 2nd gen AirPods can respond to Hey Siri commands, charge wirelessly if you opt for the Wireless Charging Case, and offer more talk time than the originals. Those features are kept in the 2021 3rd-generation models, with Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ added to the mix. The 4th generation AirPods arrived in 2024 and add ANC to the mix. The AirPods Max are over-ear headphones and essentially a completely different product to the rest of the AirPods range. They are a lot more expensive and a totally different proposition to the other AirPods. Audio quality is almost universally considered to be exceptional, but its debatable whether its exceptional enough to justify that premium price tag. And many reviewers have pointed out that the case is oddly designed, given that the one part of the headphones that it doesnt protectthe mesh headbandis the one thats most vulnerable to damage.The AirPods Max are an appealing prospect, but may not be practical for most budgets. For more detailed advice and thoughts on the best alternatives to Apples three cheaper AirPods models, read our guides to the Best wireless earbuds and the best wired headphones .

Why students are so excited about this budget MacBook

Macworld What kind of computer do you get a college student? That brand new top-of-the-line PC could be fun, but its also wildly expensive and begging to become another distraction. If you want a low-cost, efficient option, check out this MacBook Pro on sale for $394.97 (reg. $899). There arent many left, so if it sounds right for you, hop on it before theyre gone. What can it do? This MacBook Pro is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, so its more than ready to handle assignments, research, and even a few late-night Netflix sessions. With 512GB of SSD storage, theres plenty of space for class projects, photos, and favorite apps. It has a few years on it, so gaming might not be an option, but for students who need to limit distractions, that might not be a bad thing. The 15.4-inch Retina display ensures that everything looks sharp and vibrant, whether youre typing up papers or streaming educational videos. Plus, the battery life lasts up to 9 hours, so students can tackle a full day of classes without trying to find a spare outlet in a packed classroom. The Grade B refurbished rating means this MacBook shows a little wear, but its nothing a case cant cover. Bonus: a few scuffs might mean whoever gets this computer will feel fine bringing it with them everywhere they need it instead of leaving it home to keep it safe. Amazon cant beat this price. You have until January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Apple MacBook Pro for $394.97. Apple MacBook Pro 15.4 (2015) 2.2GHz i7 16GB RAM 512GB SSD (Refurbished) $394.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

This is your last chance to get a refund for Spotifys Car Thing

In May, Spotify announced it would be killing off Car Thing, its first-ever hardware product. As of December 9th, the Car Things have been officially The post This is your last chance to get a refund for Spotifys Car Thing appeared first on BGR .

M4 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know

Macworld Apples M3 MacBook Air finally got settled into the Mac lineup, but Apple is already looking ahead with the M4 MacBook Air. Reports on the future laptop are starting to appear, though its not expected to ship until 2025. Well see more rumors between now and the M4 MacBook Air release. This article will keep track of whats being reported, as well as offer a perspective based on Apples current lineup. Update December 9, 2024 : Updated with information based on the M4 MacBook Pro release. M4 MacBook Air: Release date January March 2025 (Predicted) In an April 2024 report, Bloombergs Mark Gurman said that the Macs version of the M4 chip will be introduced in the MacBook Pro and iMacs later in 2024. However, the M4 MacBook Air release wont come until spring 2025, which would be about a year after the M3 MacBook Air was released. Gurman states that the companys plans could change, leaving some wiggle room for the release date. Gurman doesnt clarify if a change in plans would mean an earlier or later release. In June 2024, Gurman reported that the Mac released schedule had not changed. The M4 MacBook Air is not expected until the spring of 2025. In August, Gurman reiterated that the M4 MacBook Air will not be available until 2025. In October 2024, Gurman reported that Apple is getting ready to start production on the M4 MacBook Air, with a possibility of a release between January and March of 2025. M4 MacBook Air: Processor Apple surprised us with the release of the M4 chip in the iPad Pro in early May, barely six months after the M3 debuted in the MacBook Pro. In October 2024, Apple released the M4 MacBook Pro. Here are the specs: iPad Pro models with 256GB or 512GB of storage 9-core CPU (3 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) 10-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 120GB/s memory bandwidth 8GB RAM iPad Pro models with 1TB or 2TB storage; 14-inch MacBook Pro 10-core CPU (4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) 10-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 120GB/s memory bandwidth 16GB RAM How will Apple allocate the M4 in the next MacBook Air? We could see the company use the 10-core CPU version of the chip. It doesnt seem likely that the 9-core version will be in the Air. Compared to the 8-core M3, the M4 has two extra efficiency cores and higher memory bandwidth (120 GB/s vs 100GB/s). Apple will likely use the same design for the Mac, making the M4 the first non-Pro or Max chip that has Before the M4 arrived in the iPad, Gurman reported that the chip would focus on AI enhancements . Apple talked briefly during its Let Loose event about the improved Neural Engine and its ability to deliver over 38 trillion operations per second but didnt get into much detail about real-world use. M4 MacBook Air: Design and specs The M4 upgrade would be the fourth generation of the M-series chip in the MacBook Air, but its not the fourth time around for the current Air design. Apple shipped the M1 MacBook Air in 2020 with an older design that was used with Intel chips and the current design wasnt introduced until the M2 chip upgrade in July 2022. Apple isnt expected to change it at all for the M4. Apple made a slight change to the Airs design with the M3 update in March 2024, but only for one specific color. The Midnight version now has an anodization seal to help cut down on fingerprintsits a similar process introduced with the Space Black MacBook Pro . Apple is not expected to offer the process for the Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight colors. When Apple released the M4 MacBook Pro in October 2024, the company increased the base amount of RAM to 16GB. It also did the same with the M2 and M3 MacBook Air that is currently for sale. Apple will; no longer release a laptop that starts with 8GB of RAM. Another feature that could get an upgrade is battery life. If the MacBook M4 follows the iPad Pros chip design, it could be more energy-friendly with two extra efficiency cores. That could mean more battery life. The Midnight MacBook Air now has an anodization seal to cut down on fingerprints. Macwelt Everything else about the MacBook Air will likely stay the same with an M4 upgrade. The display, size, weight, camera, mics, speakers, ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are expected to remain unchanged. M4 MacBook Pro: Price Here are the prices for the current standard configurations of the M3 MacBook Air for reference. 13-inch MacBook Air $1,099/1,099: M3 with 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 256GB SSD $1,299/1,299: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 512GB SSD $1,499/1,499: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 16GB unified memory; 512GB SSD 15-inch MacBook Pro $1,299/1,299: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 256GB SSD $1,499/1,499: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 512GB SSD $1,699/1,699: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 16GB unified memory; 512GB SSD Apple will likely offer similar configurations and we dont expect the M4 MacBook Air prices to change.

Get your holiday shopping done with this all-time-low Apple Watch sale

Macworld Our favorite smartwatch ever, the Apple Watch 10, is on sale for $70 off today at Amazon , its best price since Black Friday. Both the 42mm and 46mm models are on sale for $50 off, but the 46mm model here has a coupon box that lowers the price by an additional $19. The Apple Watch Series 10 may not be the overhaul some people were hoping to see from the tech giant, but its still an improvement over previous versions. From the massive easier-to-read display to how quickly the watch charges nowadays, there are loads of things to love about this smartwatch, as we noted in our 4.5-star review review . Talking of which, we gave this one a 4.5-star rating and our Editors Choice award because its simply the best. You can use the Apple Watch for regular smart purposes like getting notifications from your phone, and you can even use hand gestures to interact with it, without even having to touch the screen. Of coruse, you can also use it for health and fitness tracking (including swimming thanks to a depth sensor), monitoring low heart rates or irregular rhythms with a built-in EKG, and keeping tabs on your sleep patterns. So, if you want the best stocking stuffer around, get the Apple Watch Series 10 for $360 at Amazon right now . That's 16% under its MSRP Buy now at Amazon

Jamf details scary iCloud flaw that was exploitable until this fall

Macworld Jamf on Tuesday revealed the details of an iCloud vulnerability that was fixed with the release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 Sequoia. The vulnerability involved theTransparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) subsystem, and when successfully exploited, would allow an app to access contact information, GPS locations, photos, are other sensitive data. The TCC in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS alerts the user when an app wants to access sensitive data; the user can then grant or deny access. In this instance, the vulnerability allows a malicious app to intercept and redirect the files when a user moves or copies files from the Files app, without alerting the user that the app is accessing the data. The files are then saved to an area defined by the malicious app and can be moved to a remote server. This vulnerability was recorded as CVE-2024-44131 in the National Vulnerability Database. Apple provided a fix when it released iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 Sequoia. Apple also released security updates in macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 , iOS 17.7.1, and iPadOS 17.7.1 on October 28 (the same day iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and Sequoia were released), but the release notes for those updates do not include any notation for CVE-2024-44131, nor do the iOS and iPadOS 17.7.2 updates, which released on November 19. It appears that in order to patch this hole, users must upgrade to the current versions of the operating systems. How to protect yourself from hacker attacks Apple has protections in place within its operating systems and the company releases security patches through OS updates, so its important to install them when they are available. Macworld has several guides to help, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software , a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans , and a comparison of Mac security software .

The real Apple Intelligence is the AI we met along the way way

Macworld Despite what you might have heard from AI companies, Apple doesnt think the Singularity is coming any time soon. Writing for Wired, Steven Levy gives us The Inside Story of Apple Intelligence (subscription required) via an interview with Apple executives, including senior vice president of machine learning and AI strategy John Giannandrea. All of the executives, including Cook, emphasized that despite the massively disruptive potential of AI, Apple was going to handle this game-changing tech with the same clarity and meticulousness the company is known for. No running around screaming and flipping over tables and seat cushions looking for spare bits of AI to cobble together into something for this company! Leave that to the competitors. Apple loves to tell us that iPhones are already chock full o AI. Face ID is a feature you use every day, many, many times a day to unlock your phone, and you have no idea how it really works, [Giannandrea] said. Buddy, the Macalope doesnt have any idea how most things work, let alone Face ID. Center Stage. Message Effects. Kittens. Soup. Is it a solid or a liquid? I dont know. No one does. Giannandreas point is one that Apple makes every chance it gets: Were already doin so much AI, yall! Which, of course, is true, its just not that new AI that you can ask questions to and sometimes even get a correct answer. But at least youll always get an answer! And confidently. Until you tell the AI its wrong and it folds like a cheap suit. IDG [obsequiously] Ohhh, Im so sorrry. How could I have made such a mistake? Maybe because Im just a ridiculously large number of regular expressions stuffed into some code and run against the entire internet using a coal furnace to power me. Maybe that had something to do with it. Again, a thousand pardons. Apple decided early on that Apple Intelligence wouldnt be a separate product, but instead something implemented on a systems level. Much like that famous meeting between Apple and Dropbox , Apple has correctly assessed that AI is not the thing you sell, its a thing that goes into the thing that you sell. We can certainly argue whether or not iCloud has ever achieved Dropboxs level of reliability, but the fact that the latter has since switched focus to enterprise customers tells you it doesnt consider itself a consumer product. AI is the same, which is why AI companies are currently having a collective identity crisis. Also because they asked an AI who they were and the AI said they were a type of congealed meat product akin to pimento loaf. Not entirely wrong but also not correct. The great thing about writing jokes about AI online is that after the next round of scraping the internet for material, an AI is very likely to regurgitate said jokes as valid answers. Another reason AI is currently floundering? While AI is definitely A, it is not, in fact, I. The most credible researchers in the field believe there are many unsolved problems and breakthroughs required, says Giannandrea. The idea that youre scaling up these technologies to go to AGI [Artificial General Intelligence] is very naive. Large language models can do some neat tricks, but theyre about as far from AGI as an abacus is from a M4 MacBook Pro and theres only so much you can do with an abacus . He says that Apple may very well be involved in important breakthroughsnot to kickstart the Singularity, but to improve its products. Okay, well thats good. And thats what it should be doing. Sometimes its hard to separate truth from grandiosely making excuses for yourself, but it might just be both when Apple executives tell Levy that one of the reasons it doesnt have an in-your-face AI model of its own is because taking AI to the next step requires access to personal data at the data center level and Apple wanted to do it right to protect peoples privacy. One thing is certain, the AI companies that are touted as being in the lead are very comfortable cutting corners. OpenAI accidentally erased ChatGPT training findings as lawyers seek copyright violations Uh-huh. Sure. Of course, the Macalope has been saying this for months but it is better that Apple is not doing what these other companies are in running pell-mell into making these word and image and logic sausage machines and, according to many, breaking copyright laws left and right in order to do so just to be first. These technologies are going to get better but they are just thattechnologies, not products. Its good that Apple knows the difference.

How Apple Intelligence can turn anyone into a star student (without cheating)

Macworld Apple Intelligence is generally perceived as a mundane AI suite, especially when compared to the likes of Googles Geminiwhich lets its users reimagine their photos and perform other advanced tasks. Nevertheless, the iPhone maker has managed to build solid tools that often come in handy when getting productive tasks done. While I dont necessarily find them exceptionally exciting, they certainly complement my everyday workflows. Here are some of the ways Apple Intelligence can be useful and increase your productivity in iOS/iPadOS 18.1 and coming soon in iOS/iPadOS 18.2 . Articulate like a pro One thing I wish I had as a student majoring in English Language and Literature is the Writing Tools feature. Having written countless essays during my academic journey, I cant imagine how simpler it wouldve been with access to Apples AI. While I advise you not to rely on the feature to compose assignments from scratch, the proofreading perk spares you the need to scan through thousands of words at a time. Its essentially a free Grammarly clone that works offline, and I actively use it to uncover typos and errors in my articles. Beyond composing text and proofreading, Writing Tools can also change the tone of your existing text. So, for example, if youre emailing your professor or employer, it can ensure that your tone is professional. It similarly lets you make the text more concise, turn it into a list, make it friendlier, and more. Foundry All you need to achieve inbox zero Speaking of emails, the built-in Mail app has got a serious Apple Intelligence boost with iOS 18. While the application has long been criticized for being too plain, its evolving into a solid client that handles my work and personal emails. Perhaps my favorite feature in Apple Mail is the AI summaries. The app can now read my emails and generate a short paragraph encompassing their gist. It also splits my inbox into four sectionsPrimary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotionswhich filters out the noise (coming in iOS 18.2). Unfortunately, though, categorization in Mail is currently exclusive to the iPhone, which makes it useless when working on macOS. Also, the Mail app can now compose smart replies based on the initial message. This makes it easier for those with cluttered inboxes to quickly respond and get emails out of the way. Bring out the magic in your art As a terrible illustrator, Image Wand is yet another iOS 18.2 Apple Intelligence perk I wish I had as a student. Back then, coming up with half-decent drawings for science class was a nightmare. The tool can scan a basic doodle and, with the help of your keyword(s), generate a decent version of it. So, for example, it could transform a rough sketch of a house I created in under 10 seconds into a vibrant masterpiece that would take me days to replicate manually. Its excellent for visualizing your thoughts when taking notes or presenting an idea to someone. Foundry OpenAI has entered the chat While Apple Intelligence primarily relies on first-party models, the company has also integrated OpenAIs ChatGPT into Siri and Visual Intelligence in iOS 18.2. This lets me swiftly get proper answers to everyday questions or inquire about objects in front of me. Coming from an era where school research was conducted by reading physical books and resources, I especially appreciate how accessible knowledge has become. Sure, Google Search has been around for a while, but requesting information from ChatGPT using Siri is infinitely faster and more intuitive. Foundry Effortlessly summarized lectures Other AI features that could assist students during lectures are automatic audio transcriptions and summaries. When recording audio using Apple Notes or Voice Memos, the app shows the transcript in real time. Once the recording session concludes, you can view a summary of the transcript. These perks simplify skimming through long lectures, as one can immediately spot the keywords theyre interested in or get an idea of what a class is all about. Foundry Its an accessible, invaluable asset Third-party companies have long offered software with capabilities similar to these. Whats so special about Apple Intelligence is how well it is integrated into the firms operating systems. Those with eligible devices can rely on these perks without needing to pay for multiple subscription services or install a ton of apps. Apples AI is natively woven into these platforms, making its use frictionless and hassle-free. The Writing Tools menu, for example, pops up automatically when selecting text. Similarly, the Image Wand works in multiple apps and appears where users expect it to be, and ChatGPT can analyze your text/voice queries and on-screen content anywhere across the OS. It all operates on a system level. Convenience plays a key role when it comes to user adoption of a new feature. Apple Intelligence may not be as thrilling as its rivals, but its front-and-center position will push many users to rely on its smarts when executing everyday productivity tasks.

Our 6 favorite 2024 releases all took Apple in new directions

Macworld 2024 has been jam-packed for Apple. During this year, the company released new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches, nearly updated its entire iPad line, refreshed most of its Macs, and launched a brand new device in an entirely new category. While some of these releases were naturally underwhelming, many of its newest devices offer incredible value at reasonable prices. Thats not to mention the technological advancements made across the line. With the year drawing to a close and Apple done with new hardware, were going to look back and highlight the six most notable releases over the past 12 months. Apple Vision Pro Apples vision for the future began to materialize almost immediately. Despite revealing its Vision Pro headset during 2023s WWDC, the company started selling its first spatial computer in early February with a ton of hype and a lot of hope. The cutting-edge headset marked the beginning of a new chapter at Apple thats only just getting started. While the masses havent adopted this $2,499 device yet, one simply cant ignore the mind-blowing technology it packs. These include over a dozen sensors and cameras that map the physical world in real-timewith the help of the R1 and M2 chipsets. Thats in addition to its high-resolution displays that maximize user immersion when viewing supported content. Expectedly, the Vision Pro also offers tight Apple ecosystem ties, allowing you to seamlessly mirror your Macs display, enjoy lossless audio playback with the AirPods Pro 2, and more. So, while this headset isnt a best seller yet, Apple could address its shortcomings by dropping its price and weight with future iterations. Regardless of how this products timeline unfolds, it arguably remains Cupertinos most exciting 2024 release and a solid foundation for a potential spatial era ahead. iPad Pro M4 The next notable release followed in May, when Apple launched its thinnest consumer device yet (disregarding the Polishing Cloth). The M4 iPad Pro manages to offer one of the sleekest tablet designs on the market while continuing to provide users with a desktop processor and potentially the fastest experience in this category. Along with the all-new tandem OLED panel, support for Apple Pencil Pro, and Nano texture display option, the iPad Pro has never been as light, slim, or powerful. The M4 iPad Pro hides a ton of power in its ultra-thin frame. Foundry AirPods 4 with ANC Fast forward to September: Apple brings active noise cancelation (ANC) to its entry-level AirPods for the first time as an optional add-on that costs extra. Despite costing just $179, the AirPods 4 with ANC offer multiple perks that had been exclusive to the $249 AirPods Pro 2 variant. These include a Find My-enabled charging case, support for wireless charging through Qi and the Apple Watch puck, the Adaptive Audio feature, and more. So, customers who dislike the silicone ear tips or dont want to spend a premium on a pair of true wireless earbuds can finally enjoy ANC and other Pro-level benefits through the entry-level AirPods 4. iPhone 16 and 16 Plus Also in September, Apple then revealed the iPhone 16 series. While the Pro and Pro Max editions are undoubtedly the highest-end models, the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus variants are arguably more prominent this time around. For starters, they offer 2024s most interesting highlightthe Camera Control buttonwhich couldve easily been a Pro exclusive. Theyve similarly dropped the mute switch in favor of the Action button. So, beyond the thinner bezels, 120Hz refresh rate, always-on display, and telephoto rear lens (and despite their more affordable pricing), the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are pretty Pro for most users. Thats not to mention that they offer vibrant color optionsas Pro iPhone users remain limited to dull, muted ones. The iPhone 16 Plus feels more like a Pro Max than ever. Connor Jewiss / Foundry iOS 18 While Apple released a ton of innovative hardware this year, we cant ignore the developments made in the software department, too. In late September, the firm launched the stable version of iOS 18 , which packs a wide array of highly requested and long-overdue features. Some of our favorites include a truly customizable Home Screen and Control Center, RCS support, T9 dialing, phone call recording, Math Notes, device and notification mirroring with macOS Sequoia, a standalone Passwords app, and more. But the centerpiece is Apple Intelligence, Apples first entry into the world of AI and a marriage of hardware and software like weve never seen before. Its rolling out slowly over several months, but iPhone 16 and 15 Pro users already have access to an incredible suite of AI features, including Genmoji, native ChatGPT integration, Writing Tools, and notification summaries. Apple Intelligence turns iOS 18 from a great release into a groundbreaking one Mac mini M4 Last but certainly not least, Apple closest out 2024 with its biggest littlest Mac ever: the M4 Mac mini . Released on October 29 with an upgraded chip and all-new design, Apple was able to significantly shrink the size of its smallest Mac for the first time in 14. So, not only does the Mac mini M4 pack some of Apples fastest consumer chipsets to date, but it now has an area of just 25 square inches. With the same starting price of $599 (or $499 for education), customers can now own an affordable Mac without sacrificing aesthetics or performance. The new Mac mini is almost as small as an Apple TV. Foundry A year of shifts Apples most prominent theme for 2024 was making the same premium devices but at a lower price of admission. The AirPods 4 with ANC, iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, and Mac mini M4 all deliver Pro-esque performance without leaving a hole in customers wallets. Theyre all products we can confidently recommend to undecided buyers, as they no longer miss out on core or enticing featuresfor the most part, at least. Nevertheless, the company also continues to deliver high-end devices for those interested, such as the Pro iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Vision headset. Apple also shifted its software philosophy this year by opening up the iPhone. iOS is now the closest it has ever been to Android OS in terms of personalization, making it more alluring to those considering a platform switch. While the first batches of Apple Intelligence perks have been generally underwhelming, iOS 18 packs plenty of other features that elevate the releaseregardless of AI. With 2024 out of the way, we can now anticipate next years releases, which are rumored to include more M4 Macs, the iPhone 17 series with an all-new Air, AirPods Pro 3, AirTag 2, fresh Apple Intelligence features, and more.

Throw out your scanner

Macworld Why lose desk space to a physical scanner when you can get an app that does the same job, only better? iScanner is an iOS app that can digitize practically anything, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $27.99, but not for much longer (reg. $199). What can iScanner do? This app can scan everything from contracts and receipts to handwritten notes and ID cards, saving them as PDFs, JPGs, and more. Its packed with smart features like automatic border detection and page straightening, so your scans always look clean and professional. The app goes beyond scanning, offering a full PDF editor to sign, annotate, and even secure your documents with a PIN. There are even some clever extra tools. You can use iScanner to solve math problems, count objects, or even measure a space. Its your own point-and-shoot multitool. iScanner is only available for iOS devices. With lifetime access and regular updates, iScanner is built to keep up with you. Its a simple, ad-free way to stay organized, no matter where you are. Use code FESTIVE30 to get a lifetime subscription to iScanner for $27.99. Sale ends January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $27.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple pushes rare second iOS 18.2 RC as public release nears

Macworld We got our first taste of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, but there were many missing features. With iOS 18.2, we get a lot of them, including Visual Intelligence, image generation, ChatGPT integration, and more. There are quite a few welcome improvements in the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 release that are not related to AI, too. However, while Siris interface changed in iOS 18.1, the new smarter Siri still isnt a part of this release. That will likely be coming in iOS 18.3 or 18.4, due for release around March 2025. We have a list of the Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18 along with their expected release timeframes. Updated December 9: A second release candidate for iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 is out now for beta testers. iOS 18.2: All the new features The iOS 18.2 beta release is only available for iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, or any iPhone 16. There is also a secondary waiting list to access certain features. If you were on the original waiting list for Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 you will get access to ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence, and the new Writing Tools features. But youll have to hop onto a second waiting list for the image generation featuresGenmoji, Image Playground, and the Image Wand tool. Heres whats available in the iOS 18.2 beta as of the latest version: Writing Tools updates: Instead of just choosing to make a selection of text more professional, causal, or concise, you will have a freeform field to describe how you want to transform text. Examples: make this a poem, include a lot of dad jokes, or use a lot of sarcasm. Genmoji: Create a new emoji right on the system keyboard. Image Playground: Generate new images based on text prompts. Apple will suggest new costumes, items, or locations, and will make suggestions based on the context of a Messages thread or note in the Notes app. Images can be based on people you know by using identified images in Photos. Images are limited to cartoon or illustrative styles rather than realistic. Visual Intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners with the Camera Control button. Press and hold Camera Control to get additional information about a location, translate a sign or poster, detect phone numbers and addresses to quickly add to Contacts, and more. You can also tap a button to ask ChatGPT about whats on screen, or another to perform a Google image search. Image Wand: An offshoot of Image Playground, this uses Apples image generation tools to create an image in an open area on a note in the Notes app, using the context from the surrounding area and the rest of the note. Start with a blank area or a rough sketch you make yourself. ChatGPT integration: If Siri cant answer a question, it now has the option to ask ChatGPT. You need to give permission for each request and only limited data is shared. You dont need to log into ChatGPT, but you are able to if you want to, or have a premium ChatGPT account you wish to use. You can ask Siri to have ChatGPT generate images., and use ChatGPT in the Writing Tools to generate text, too. In addition to the new user-facing features, there are new developer tools for integrating image generation and writing tools into third-party apps. Apple Intelligence is localized into English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in this release. Default Apps: Users worldwide have a new Default Apps section at the top Settings > Apps , where you can choose your default email, messaging, calling, call filtering, browser, password app, and keyboard. The messaging and calling options are new, and the other options have all been brought under a single menu. EU-specific features: In the EU, third-party browser that use their own custom web engines can now add web apps. EU users will also be able to delete the App Store. AE/AF Lock: In Settings > Camera , youll find a new toggle for a light press on the Camera Control button to lock exposure and focus. Find My share item location: Find My will let you share the location of an AirTag (or other Find My compatible item) with a trusted person. The link can be opened on a non-Apple device and expires after a week. Mail app categories: The Mail app gets its AI-powered auto-category feature, splitting your inbox into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Volume limits and lock screen slider: Youll be able to set volume limits for media playing from the iPhones speaker, and can restore the volume bar to the media card on the lock screen. iOS 18.2: Release notes These are Apples official release notes for iOS 18.2: Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max) Image Playground A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud Genmoji Genmoji allows you to create a custom emoji right from the keyboard Genmoji are synced in your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud ChatGPT support ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and wont be used to train OpenAIs models Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAIs data policies Image Wand turns sketches and handwritten or typed notes into images in Notes Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how youd like something rewritten, for example as a poem Camera Control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Visual Intelligence with Camera Control helps you instantly learn about places or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the option to tap into Google Search or ChatGPT Camera Control two-stage shutter lets you lock focus and exposure in Camera when light pressing the Camera Control Mail Mail Categorization sorts your messages to help you prioritize the most important messages Digest view groups all of the messages from one sender into a single bundle for easy browsing Photos Video viewing improvements, including the ability to scrub frame-by-frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections Safari New background images to customize your Safari Start Page Import and Export enables you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible File Download Live Activity shows the progress of a file download in the Dynamic Island and on your home screen This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes: Voice Memos supports layered recording, letting you add vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what youre looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in United Arab Emirates Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open Fixes an issue where recently captured photos do not appear immediately in the All Photos grid Fixes an issue where Night mode photos in Camera could appear degraded when capturing long exposures (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) iOS 18.2 Security updates As with all updates, iOS 18.2 will include numerous security patches and fixes that are crucial to compatible iPhones. More information can be found on Apples security releases support page once the update arrives. iOS 18.2: How to install To get the latest version of iOS 18 on your phone, head over to the Settings app, then General and Software Update . Then follow the prompts to restart and install the update.

The MacBook with a modem dream may finally come true

Macworld Its no secret that Apple has been working on its own cellular modem. However, Apple hasnt said anything about its modem development since announcing that it bought Intels model division over five years ago . But after rumors that the project might not ever happen , a recent report by Bloombergs Mark Gurman says the modem will finally debut in the iPhone SE in the spring of next year. The roadmap for the modem suggests it will eventually make its way into the iPad, Apple Watch, and the other iPhone models that already have modems. But it may expand beyond those obvious devicesGurman reports that Apple is investigating the possibility of putting the modem inside the MacBook for the first time. It sounds like its likely still years away, but its exciting nonetheless. When on the road, MacBook users have forever been saddled with less-than-ideal options. You can tether from your iPhone if you have a supported carrier and plan or connect to a public hotspot that may or may not be secure. A 5G modem opens up a world of possibilities. In many areas, 5G speeds are just as fast or faster than public Wi-Fi, and a built-in cellular connection is inherently more secure than public Wi-Fi. According to Gurman, a cellular MacBook wont happen before 2026, because Apple will use a later-generation modem that supports faster speeds. Apples first modem, the one that will be in the new iPhone SE, will have some performance limitations, such as no support for mmWave and a maximum speed of 4Gbps. Gurman doesnt report on which MacBook models will have the modem, but we can assume it will be available in at least the MacBook Pro models if not the entire line. Apple will probably take an approach thats similar to the iPad and Apple Watch, where cellular connectivity is optional and costs extra. But for a lot of users, that extra cost will be well worth it.

This super-fast 100W triple Anker charger is nearly half-off today

Macworld Charging your iPhone, MacBook, or iPad (or any other gadget you have) is easier and faster when you have the right gear. This 100W three-port Anker will handle everything without breaking a sweat, and the best part is that its only $46 at Amazon . Thats an impressive 46 percent off its $85 MSRP. As mentioned, this is a 100W GaN charger from Anker that can quickly charge your devices. Anker estimates that it can take your 14-inch MacBook Pro from 0 to half-full in half an hour, enough to get through most of a work day. One thing that makes this charger a great idea for those who often travel is that it comes with thick foldable prongs, which means it will take up less space and wont snag on fabrics or scratch up your devices. As mentioned, this particular Anker model has three portstwo USB-C and one USB-A. Of course, its only when you use single-port charging you actually get the 100W max output via the type-C ports. But its no slouch when using all three ports at the same time, with the top USB-C port delivering 65W and the other two maxing out at 24W. So go ahead and fix your charging woes by getting this Anker 100W Prime Charger for just $46 while its still on sale. And if this is a stocking stuffer for your techie friend, then know it will arrive ahead of Christmas with time to spare if you order soon. Buy now at Amazon

Got a problem with your Mac, iPhone, or iPad? Macworlds Mac 911 can help

Macworld With Macworlds Mac 911 column, we take your questions and do our best to help. We love being the place you come to find answers to nagging problems. The Mac 911 name predates iOS, iPadOS, and iCloud, but were happy to answer questions about all those topics as well as macOS and any Apple hardware, software, or service. Ask Mac 911 Were always looking for new problems to solve! If you have a problem with your Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or any other Apple device, let us know about it and well try to help by responding with a Mac 911 column. You can also ask us general tech questions if you have them. Heres how to send us your questions: Send an email to mac911@macworld.com Including screenshots when appropriate Let us know if you want your full name used or not If you have a question that doesnt include screenshots, you can submit it through the form below. Submit your question to Mac 911 Submit a form. Keep in mind that not every question will be answered, we dont reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice. Check the Mac 911 FAQ Some questions we get more frequently than others. Weve covered those questions in the Mac 911 FAQ . The FAQ covers topics involving: The Photos app and iCloud Photos macOS: erase, revive, restore, and reinstall Apple ID problems Siri misspellings and mispronunciations

The best iPhone deals this month

Macworld You dont have to pay full price to buy an iPhone; if you shop around you can find a bargain. Every month the Macworld team hunts down the best prices on iPhones at all major retailers and cellphone operators, saving you the hassle of finding the best iPhone deals. In this article, we reveal the best iPhone deals, contracts, and bundles available right now. Well help you find a discounted iPhone suitable for any budget, and cover all the currently available models, including the brand-new iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, as well as 2023s iPhone 15 and 15 Plus . We also have the best prices for older iPhones, including models that Apple has removed from sale, but which you can still buy elsewhere. The iPhone 16 is the latest iPhone to arrive, debuting in September 2024. It will be followed in 2025 by the iPhone 17 and (probably) iPhone SE 4 . You might also like to read our detailed iPhone buying guide , and our comparison of every iPhone available to buy today. Best iPhone deals right now U.S. In the U.S., the only big iPhone deals you can find come from carriers, and have a lot of strings attached. Typically, you have to buy a phone on a multi-year installment plan and get your discount in the form of monthly bill credits. AT&T : Get up to $1,000 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. Up to $700 towards an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. T-Mobile : Get up to $830 in bill credits toward the purchase of any iPhone 15 model when you trade in your old phone and join the Go5G plan. Verizon : Get up to $839 in bill credits toward any iPhone 15 model with trade-in and the activation of a new line. U.K. In the U.K., Apple-certified resellers discount unlocked iPhones frequently. Look for money off at Amazon , John Lewis , Currys , and Very . There arent yet any discounts on the new 16-series iPhones, but in the U.K. its possible to find discounts on older iPhones, including the now-discontinued iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro. Amazon, iPhone 16, 128GB , 779 (20 off, RRP 799) Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro, 128GB , 969 (30 off, RRP 999) Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro Max, 256GB , 1,179 (20 off, RRP 1,199) Amazon, iPhone 15, 128GB, 639 (60 off, RRP now 699) Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, 749 (50 off, RRP now 799) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 256GB , 969 (130 off, RRP was 1,099 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , 1,049 (150 off, RRP was 1,199 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 14, 128GB : 549 (50 off, RRP 599) KRCS, iPhone SE (64GB) : 375 (54 off, RRP 429) Amazon, iPhone SE (128GB) : 429 (50 off, RRP 479) Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB) : 441 (58 off, most recent RRP was 599) For models that Apple no longer sells, bear in mind that we can only compare current prices against RRPs from before their discontinuation. Its reasonable to assume that the price of the iPhone 15 Pro, for example, would have dropped in September 2024 if Apple hadnt stopped selling it. Theres more information in the individual sections below. Also see our dedicated round-ups of the best iPhone deals: iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Pro deals iPhone 13 deals Best iPhone SE deals Where to buy an iPhone Apple is the obvious place to look for a new iPhone. You can purchase directly from Apples online store (theres a separate U.K. store ), which wont give you savings, but does at least allow you to take advantage of trading in your old iPhone (see: How to sell or trade-in your old iPhone ). We also have a complete guide to every iPhone Apple sells . Alternatively, Amazon U.K. regularly discounts iPhone models, so its well worth keeping an eye out there. If you think youll be doing lots of Amazon shopping, wed recommend signing up to the 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime for free next-day delivery and access to deals 30 minutes early. You can sign up here. Amazon U.S. offers fewer savings on SIM-free iPhones, but we do see them from time to time. Its always worth checking the price of the iPhones in the following U.S. stores, which occasionally provide solid savings: Amazon Walmart Best Buy And U.K. readers should try these shops: Amazon U.K. John Lewis Carphone Warehouse KRCS In addition, we recommend you check out our automatically updated price tables, embedded below, which gather the best prices from a wide range of retailers in your region. Where to buy an iPhone on contract Most of the major networks will offer the iPhone at a discount if you meet certain conditions (usually opening new lines, or buying on multi-year installment plans). Here are links to browse the latest deals: AT&T T-Mobile Verizon U.K. readers can browse contract deals using the tool embedded below. Click Choose Smartphone to register which model youre interested in. If youd like to research deals for yourself, try the following U.K. providers: O2 Vodafone Three Virgin Mobile EE Sky Mobile Carphone Warehouse (use the comparison tool by clicking View Deals, and remember to tick the box labeled Show total cost of ownership) Note that you can save money if youve got another iPhone to trade in, see: How to sell or trade in your old iPhone . Best prices for Apples iPhones Apple currently sells eight iPhone models: the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max; the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus; the iPhone 13; and the iPhone SE. We look at the best prices for each model, plus a handful of discontinued models that are still available from other retailers, in the sections below. Best iPhone 16 deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 at the following prices: iPhone 16 (128GB): $799 / 799 / AU$1,399 iPhone 16 (256GB): $899 / 899 / AU$1,599 iPhone 16 (512GB): $1,099 / 1,099 / AU$1,949 Other retailers will undercut those prices, but it may take some time. Check the automated table below to see which retailers have the best deals in your region right now. iPhone 16: From $799/799 New Refurbished Retailer Price $799 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 128GB Black Unlocked Dual eSIM $829 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 16 Plus deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 Plus at the following prices: iPhone 16 Plus (128GB): $899 / 899 / AU$1,599 iPhone 16 Plus (256GB): $999 / 999 / AU$1,799 iPhone 16 Plus (512GB): $1,199 / 1,199 / AU$2,149 For the lowest prices across a range of retailers, check the automated comparison table below. iPhone 16 Plus: From $899/899 Retailer Price $899 View Deal $929.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 16 Pro deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 Pro at the following prices: iPhone 16 Pro (128GB): $999 / 999 / AU$1,799 iPhone 16 Pro (256GB): $1,099 / 1,099 / AU$1,999 iPhone 16 Pro (512GB): $1,299 / 1,299 / AU$2,349 iPhone 16 Pro (1TB): $1,499 / 1,499 / AU$2,699 Check the table below for the lowest prices across all retailers in your region. iPhone 16 Pro: From $999/999 Retailer Price Apple $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 16 Pro Max deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the following prices: iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB): $1,199 / 1,199 / AU$2,149 iPhone 16 Pro Max (512GB): $1,399 / 1,399 / AU$2,499 iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB): $1,599 / 1,599 / AU$2,849 Best current deals across all retailers can be found in the table below. iPhone 16 Pro Max: From $1,199/1,199 Retailer Price $1199 View Deal $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 15 deals Apple has reduced the price of the iPhone 15 since launching the iPhone 16. Each phone is now $100/100 less than it was. iPhone 15 (128GB): $699 / 699 / AU$1,249 iPhone 15 (256GB): $799 / 799 / AU$1,449 iPhone 15 (512GB): $999 / 999 / A$1,799 Check the table below for the best prices among other retailers. iPhone 15: Now from $699 / 699 Retailer Price $729 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 15 Plus deals The official iPhone 15 Plus prices dropped by $100/100 following the launch of the iPhone 16. iPhone 15 Plus (128GB): $799 / 799 / AU$1,399 iPhone 15 Plus (256GB): $899 / 899 / AU$1,599 iPhone 15 Plus (512GB): $1,099 / 1,099 / AU$1,949 But check the table below for lower prices from other retailers. iPhone 15 Plus: Now from $799 / 799 Retailer Price $829 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 14 deals The iPhone 14 is still on sale from Apple. The iPhone 14 added Action Mode filming. The iPhone 14 now starts at $599/599, following a series of price cuts. (At launch it cost $829/849.) iPhone 14: From $599 / 599 New Refurbished Retailer Price $629 View Deal $829 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 128GB Starlight Unlocked Dual eSIM $397.99 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Blue Unlocked Dual eSIM $400 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $404 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Midnight Unlocked Dual eSIM $449.16 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 14 Plus deals The iPhone 14 Plus was an entirely new iPhone format in 2022 and its still on sale from Apple. but at a lower price. The iPhone 14 Plus now starts at $699/699. Before that it was $799/799 and originally it started at $929/949. iPhone 14 Plus: From $699 / 699 Best iPhone SE (2022) deals The iPhone SE 3rd generation burst on to the scene in March 2022 and is still on sale two years on. It unites a fast chipset (the same A15 Bionic you get in all of the 13-series iPhones and the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus) with an affordable price tag. Its good value at Apples MSRP, but other retailers may be able to do even better. Read our roundup of the best iPhone SE deals for more in-depth buying advice. You can still buy the iPhone SE direct from Apple . The iPhone SE (3rd gen) currently starts at $429/429. Check our automatically updated chart for the very latest SIM-free offers from other retailers: iPhone SE (2022) from $429/429 New Refurbished Retailer Price $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $449 View Deal $449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPhone SE (2022) 64GB Midnight Unlocked $164.83 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Deals on older/discontinued iPhones When Apple introduced the iPhone 15 range it discontinued the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It also stopped selling the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini. When Apple stops selling older iPhones in its store, however, that doesnt mean they have disappeared entirely; you may find them in Apples refurbished store, for example. You may also find older handsets on sale at third-party stores and Apple resellers. We have the best deals for discontinued iPhones below. Best iPhone 15 Pro deals Apple has now discontinued the iPhone 15 Pro , but you may still find a good deal. Pricing at launch was: 128GB: $999 / 999 / AU$1,849 256GB: $1,099 / 1,099 / AU$2,049 512GB: $1,299 / 1,299 / AU$2,399 1TB: $1,499 / 1,499 / AU$2,749 But you should be able to find a lower price if you shop around other retailers. Browse the table below for the best prices in your area. iPhone 15 Pro: Was from $999 / 999 Best iPhone 15 Pro Max deals Apple sold the iPhone 15 Pro Max at the following prices: 256GB: $1,199 / 1,199 / AU$2,199 512GB: $1,399 / 1,399 / AU$2,549 1TB: $1,599 / 1,599 / AU$2,899 Check the comparison table below for the best prices from other retailers. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Was from $1,199 / 1,199 Retailer Price $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 13 deals Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13, 2021s handset. Prior to being discontinued, it was $599/599 (it was previously $699/749, and at launch it was $799/779). Check the automated price table below for the lowest prices currently available from other retailers: New Refurbished Retailer Price Tracfone $489 View Deal $764.28 View Deal $779 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 13 128GB Starlight Unlocked $319.99 View Deal iPhone 13 128GB Midnight Unlocked $320.63 View Deal iPhone 13 128GB Pink Unlocked $339.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 13 mini deals Apples last mini was the iPhone 13 mini. The smallest iPhone you could buy, although the SE is also on the small side. In most respects, it was identical to the iPhone 13, simply squeezed into a smaller chassis and equipped with a smaller screen and smaller battery. That means youre getting a great (but non-ProMotion) screen, 5G, a super-fast A15 processor and great cameras with Cinematic Mode. Read our iPhone 13 mini review for more information and expert analysis. Apple no longer sells the iPhone 13 mini, so if its what you want you will need to look around. Before it was discontinued in fall 2023, Apple used to sell it for $599/649 (and before that it cost $699/679). Check our automated table for the latest offers: New Refurbished Retailer Price $643.07 View Deal $660.76 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 13 mini 128GB Midnight Unlocked $282 View Deal iPhone 13 mini 128GB Starlight Unlocked $298.99 View Deal iPhone 13 mini 128GB Blue Unlocked $298.99 View Deal iPhone 13 mini 128GB Pink Unlocked $322.60 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 12 deals Having launched in 2020, the iPhone 12 remained on Apples store until fall 2023, when it was finally discontinued. In our iPhone 12 review we praised its all-round qualities and suitability for the average buyer who doesnt need the power of a Pro but wont settle for a true budget pick like the iPhone SE. Apple no longer sells the the iPhone 12, but when it did, prices started at $599/649 (down from the $699/679 charged between September 2021 and 2022). If stock of this older model is still available in your area, the latest SIM-free prices will appear in an automated comparison table below this paragraph. If youre seeing nothing, that means stock has sadly run out. New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 12 64GB Blue Unlocked $220 View Deal iPhone 12 64GB White Unlocked $226.99 View Deal iPhone 12 64GB Red Unlocked $233.26 View Deal iPhone 12 64GB Green Unlocked $238 View Deal iPhone 12 64GB Black Unlocked $242.34 View Deal iPhone 12 128GB Black Unlocked $271.15 View Deal iPhone 12 128GB Green Unlocked $282.91 View Deal iPhone 12 128GB Blue Unlocked $293.75 View Deal iPhone 12 128GB Purple Unlocked $294.90 View Deal iPhone 13 128GB Blue Unlocked $319.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices

Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charger review: Versatile all-in-one 140W desktop and wireless charger

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Four USB-C inc 140W PD 3.1 15W Qi2 wireless iPhone charger Built-in 100W USB-C cable Portable Cons Our Verdict The Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charger is a unique and versatile all-round device charger that can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro at 140W and has spare USB ports and a built-in 100W USB-C cable that enable you to charge five devices at the same time. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $149.99 Best Prices Today: Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal Baseus $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charger is a unique and versatile all-round device charger that can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro at 140W and has spare USB ports and a built-in 100W USB-C cable that enable you to charge five devices at the same time. A desktop USB-C charger is a great on-desk solution for charging multiple power-hungry devices at the same time. They are usually fairly slab-like blocks of USB ports attached to a fairly hefty power brick and then to a wall socket. With its Nomos 5-in-1 Charger Baseus has created a desktop charger like no other, boasting handy features and wired and wireless charging flexibility alongside top-end ports, with even the chance to call its solution portable. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Specs and features Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches (11.9 x 8.9 x 4.1cm) Weight: 1.05lb (476g) Ports: 3x USB-C (1x 100W PD 3.0; 1x 140W PD 3.1), 1x USB-A (15W) USB-C Cable: 1x 100W PD 3.0 Wireless iPhone charger: 15W (Qi2) Total power output: 140W Colors: Black The most obvious features of the Baseus 5-in-1 desktop charger are the built-in USB-C cable and the adjustable wireless charging pad that set it out among the many USB array desktop chargers. The inclusion of an integrated USB-C cable is very handy as it means you can connect your laptop or any USB-C device without hunting around for a spare charging cableand checking that the spare cable is rated at the correct wattage: all decent USB-C cables should charge at 60W, but larger laptops will likely require higher 100W or even 140W power delivery for optimal charging. The cable built into this desktop charger is rated at 100W so is powerful enough to charge all Apples MacBooks. However, fast-charging the 16-inch MacBook Pro requires a 140W port and cable. The Baseus desktop charger has this covered with one of the two spare USB-C ports rated at 140W PD 3.1. The other port matches the built-in cable at 100W PD 3.0. Alongside these USB-C connections is a USB-A port that is rated at a respectable 15W for charging older devices that still use the non-reversible rectangular connection. 15W is more than enough to charge your AirPods case, for example. At 2.6 feet (0.8m) the cable is long enough to reach across most desks, and retracts back into the charger body with a slight pull. The connector end then magnetically tidies itself to the front panel of the charger. Most unique of the features is the magnetic wireless charging pad that unfolds from the top of the desktop charger. This is built for iPhones (12 and later) and can charge wirelessly at 15W as it uses the MagSafe-friendly Qi2 technology. The maximum power output is 140W so if fast-charging a 16-inch MacBook, you wont be able to use any of the other ports without reducing power. Other desktop chargers such as the Anker Prime Charger and the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger both have a higher 200W total output, but lack the handy built-in cable and wireless charger. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Design The good-looking and compact Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charger is a little below the average size for a desktop charger, measuring 4.7 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches (11.9 x 8.9 x 4.1cm). It weighs just over a pound and under half a kilo. While desktop chargers, as their name suggests, are usually static, the Nomos could be picked up and carried in a bag as its power cord goes straight to a power socket (with no unwieldy power brick) and is detachable. The wireless phone charging pad can be pulled up about 0.6 inches and angled at up to 60 degrees if used as a phone stand. Next to the Qi2 pad is a smart display that shows a detailed charging status for each output. Baseus Price The Baseus 5-in-1 Nomos Charger is priced at $149.99 / 149,99, either direct or at Amazon . U.K. shoppers can buy one from AliExpress for 121.24 (usually 166.51), just note it will either have a U.S. plug or EU plus, not a U.K. plug. For a product with both wired and wireless charging points, this is a reasonable price for a charger that can handle all your devices at the same time. For more options see our roundup of the best USB-C chargers for Mac . Verdict The Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charger is a unique and versatile all-round device charger that can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro at 140W and has spare USB ports and a built-in 100W USB-C cable that enable you to charge five devices at the same time.

Now theres a robot that keeps your plants alive

Macworld What do you do when your basil plants leaves are turning yellow ? And why does the rosemary look like that? When it comes to herb gardening, who has the thyme to sit down and become an expert? Instead, let Plantum identify whats wrong with your plants, tell you when to water them, and all the other little care instructions your plant desperately needs. And its only $14.97 for a lifetime subscription. Your plants deserve this Heres how Plantum turns you into a pro gardener. This apps AI can identify over 33,000 plant species , but it doesnt just name them. It can also diagnose ailments and provide tailored care advice to help your plants thrive. Turns out, your tomatos shriveled leaves are just because you havent watered it in two weeks. Plantums light meter feature is particularly useful for assessing whether your plants are in the optimal spot for sunlight exposure. While your plants grow, you can also use Plantum to track their progress and read more gardening tips. Youll have a green thumb in no time. And if you dont, then its a good thing Plantum never expires. Get a Plantum lifetime subscription for $14.97 (reg. $59). Sale ends January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Plantum AI Plant Identifier Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (For iOS Only) $14.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Its $40 for a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Macs

Macworld Have you seen how expensive it is just to have a basic Microsoft 365 subscription? If youre not using every single part of it, then theres no reason not to jump on a cheaper alternative like this Microsoft Office lifetime license . There arent any recurring fees, and its only $39.99 (reg. $229). Whats included? This suite comes with the works. That includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic, all optimized for Macs. You can install each of these apps on one computer one time, so choose wisely. After that, theyre yours for life, whether you need a better app for writing up a resume or run your entire professional life out of Excel like the rest of the world. So why is it so cheap? This is the 2019 version of Office, and it doesnt have all the bells and whistles of the most recent updates. That may actually be a good thing for people running older computers. Its an easy trade if youre sick of paying monthly for Microsoft 365. You have until December 22 to get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac for $39.99. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Best Apple Watch deals this month

Macworld The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch on the market for many, offering a high-quality smartwatch experience, but its not cheapstarting at $399/399 for the Apple Watch Series 10 . However, you dont have to pay full price for an Apple Watch. Right now resellers are offering some fantastic deals on the Apple Watch. In this article, we share the best Apple Watch deals you can get right now so you dont have to pay full price. But if youre trying to choose the right Apple Watch model for you, take a look at our Best Apple Watch buying guide . Best Apple Watch deals The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived in September 2024. Its going to be a while until we start to see really big discounts, but when we do, youll find them here. The arrival of the Series 10 marks the end of the Apple Watch Series 9, which Apple discontinued. Despite that, it is likely to remain on sale from resellers for some timeand you could take advantage of some decent discounts. The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2 havent been updated. U.S. Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : $330 ($69 off with coupon, MSRP $399) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : $360 ($69 off with coupon, MSRP $429) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm) : $189 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm) : $229 ($50 off, MSRP $279) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 : $700 ($99 off, MSRP $799) U.K. Amazon has already discounted the Apple Watch Series 10. Were also seeing moderate savings across the rest of the range: nothing spectacular, but well worth having. Note that we tend to prefer John Lewis where prices are equal because of its two-year warranties, but the companys deals below are matched by Amazon and other retailerssee the price comparison tools below. Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) : 769 (30 off, RRP 799) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : 409 (20 off, RRP 429) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : 379 (20 off, RRP 399) Argos, Apple Watch SE (40mm) (2022) : 199 (20 off, RRP 219) Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm) : 329 (100 off, RRP was 429 Clearance ) Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm) : 299 (100 off, RRP was 399 Clearance ) Use our automated price trackers below to compare prices for the most popular models across various retailers. Best Apple Watch Series 10 deals The Apple Watch 10 (2024 model) starts at $399/399 for the aluminum 41mm version and $429/429 for the 44mm model.Its an extra $100/100 for cellular. It costs the same as the Series 9 did. Apple Watch Series 10, 42mm, from $399/399 Retailer Price $329.99 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal 399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 10, 46mm, from $429/429 Retailer Price $359.99 View Deal $379 View Deal $379 View Deal $379 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Apple Watch Ultra2 deals The Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023 model) starts at $799/799. It comes with cellular. The original Ultra previously sold for $799/849, so the U.K. price is better this time. Apple Watch Ultra 2, from $799/799 New Refurbished Retailer Price $799 View Deal $799.99 View Deal $849.55 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Ocean band Blue $520.47 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Alpine loop Blue $570.62 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Alpine loop Starlight $599 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best Apple Watch SE (2022)deals The Apple Watch SE (2022 model) starts at $249/219 (was 259) for the 40mm version. Its an extra $50/50 for cellular. Retailer Price $189 View Deal $199 View Deal $199.99 View Deal $249 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The 44mm version of the Apple Watch SE 2 starts at $279/249 (was 299). Retailer Price $219 View Deal $229 View Deal $229.99 View Deal $279 View Deal $310 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Apple Watch Series 9 deals The Apple Watch 9 (2023 model) has been discontinued, but you may still see a deal or two. Apple Watch Series 9, 41mm, was $399/399. New Refurbished Retailer Price $299.99 View Deal $379.99 View Deal $399 View Deal $399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Smart Watch MR953LL/A HR Pink $249.99 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band Blue $277.29 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band Blue $300 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 9, 45mm, was $429/429. Retailer Price $429.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy an Apple Watch If youre simply looking to pick up an Apple Watch regardless of price, there are plenty of stores that sell not only the latest Apple Watch Series, but older variants of the Apple Watch that arent available from Apple any moresome at significant savings, too. Apple Watch buyers in the U.S. can check out the following stores: Apple Amazon Best Buy Costco Target Walmart If youre based in the U.K., you can pick up an Apple Watch from the following retailers: Apple Amazon Argos Carphone Warehouse Currys John Lewis KRCS Very Where to buy an Apple Watch with Cellular Youve also got the option of picking up an Apple Watch with a cellular contract, allowing it to function as a standalone device that doesnt need to be tethered to your phone to make calls and send texts.Amazon and other retailers sell the Apple Watch with cellular and you can usually find discounts on most models, though not as deep as the GPS versions. Here are the sales were tracking this month: All of the major U.S. carriers sell the Apple Watch and offer trade-in deals: T-Mobile Verizon AT&T Carriers in the UK that stock the Apple Watch include: EE O2 Vodafone Best refurbished Apple Watch deals One of the best places to look for Apple Watch deals all year round is the Apple Refurbished Store. There, youll find huge Apple Watch discounts, sometimes even on the latest models. These Apple Watches have been returned to Apple for various reasons, and then completely revamped for resale. One of the major benefits of buying a refurbished Watch from Apple is that it will come with a one-year warranty so Apple may fix or replace it for free should anything happen to it in that first year. In the U.S. you can get an Apple Watch Series 9, either generation of Ultra, or the SE for less than full price. You can, for example, save $120 on a refurbished 2nd-gen Apple Watch Ultra. Get a refurbished Apple Watch at Apple's refurbished store (U.S.) In the U.K. you can save money on an Apple Watch Series 7, 8, or 9, either generation of Ultra, or the Apple Watch SE. For instance, you can save up to 100 on a refurbished Apple Watch 9. Get a refurbished Apple Watch at Apple's refurbished store (U.K.) For more information on this topic, read Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch? See our roundup of the best Apple Watch bands , as well as our roundup of the best stands and charging docks . Also, note that Apple has left the power adapter out of the box for the Apple Watch Series 6 and later. Read: Which plug do I need for my Apple Watch? If this is your first time buying and using an Apple Watch, weve also got helpful tips on how to use the Apple Watch .

Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if you dont run Apple Intelligence

Macworld When iOS 18.2 rolls out to all iPhones on Monday, its going to bring a ton of great new features. Most of the focus is on the new Apple Intelligence capabilities, and for good reason: AI is Apples big marketing hook but the features are rolling out gradually over several months . The iOS 18.2 (and macOS 15.2) adds long-awaited image tools and ChatGPT integration that make Apple Intelligence a lot more useful. But if you dont have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro (or just dont care about AI), none of that matters to you. Fortunately, iOS 18.2 isnt just an Apple Intelligence drop, it adds a host of other quality-of-life features and changes, too. Here are all the new things in iOS 18.2 coming to your iPhone that have nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. Camera Control improvements After months of criticism , Apple is making several tweaks to the Camera Control button in iOS 18.2, for those with an iPhone 16. First, pressing and holding the button will launch the new Visual Intelligence feature. But there are some other quality-of-life improvements, too. In Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control youll be able to adjust the double-click speed. You can also enable an autofocus/exposure lock in Settings > Camera > Camera Control , so a light press on the button locks exposure and focus much as it usually does on the shutter button of a DLSR. Finally, theres a new toggle that requires the screen to be on for the Camera Control button to launch a camera app. Youll find that in Settings > Display & Brightness , which is sort of a confusing place for it. Foundry New Mail app with smart categories The Mail app will analyze the content of your emails and automatically categorize them into four categories: Primary: Your personal mail or mail that needs to be acted on right away. Transactions: Receipts, order confirmations, shipping notices, etc. Updates: News and newsletters, social media notifications, and the like. Promotions: Coupons, marketing offers, and so on. The four categories will exist as buttons at the top of the Mail app, and you can swipe left on them to show All Mail. And no, Apple isnt reading your emails. All of this happens on the device. Volume limit and lock screen slider In the Settings > Sound & Haptics menu, theres a new Volume Limit feature for your iPhones built-in speaker (volume limits for headphones have been around for a long time). It only affects media playback, not calls/FaceTime, alerts, or system sounds. Theres also a new option in Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual called Always Show Volume Control. This will put the volume control slider back on the bottom of the media playback controls on your Lock screen. That volume slider was removed back in iOS 16 (unless you were using AirPlay), and if you miss it, you can have it back now. Default messaging and calling apps In iOS 18.2s Settings > Apps youll find a new selection at the top, before your list of installed apps, called Default Apps. In this menu, youll choose default applications for things like email, browser, passwords & codes, and more. Most are options you had before (albeit scattered throughout Settings), but Messaging and Calling are new. There are no applications that qualify to populate those areas right now, but thats probably just a matter of existing apps needing new versions that use new frameworks. Foundry Sudoku puzzles in News+ If youre a News+ subscriber, you have access to several puzzles in the News app. Apple publishes daily crosswords, crosswords mini, and a word game called Quartiles. Now, daily Sudoku puzzles join the list. There is an easy, moderate, and challenging puzzle available each day. Foundry AirTag item location sharing Youve been able to share an AirTag with another iPhone user, but thats only really helpful for family members or trusted friends. With iOS 18.2, Apple is going to let you create a secure link you can share with someone else to let them see the location of an AirTag. Theyll be able to open it on any device, even just a web browser on any computer, and see the location of that AirTag. The link automatically expires after 7 days or when the AirTag is reunited with its owner, and of course the owner can turn off the sharing at any time. Whats more, Apple is working with a bunch of major airlines to make this sharing process a part of their customer service flow for lost luggage. Apple Charge time estimates? This isnt yet available in the IOS 18.2 beta, but 9to5Mac discovered code that suggests Apple will soon show you how much longer your iPhone has until it reaches a full charge. Its a feature thats been present on Android phones for a while and would be a welcome overdue addition to the iPhone. However, while the feature first popped up in one of the early iOS 18.2 beta codes, its not live yet. Theres a chance it will be switched on when iOS 18.2 is available for all on Monday. If not expect it in iOS 18.3 sometime in February.

How to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free on Apple TV+

Macworld Christmas season is here, and there are lots of ways to get into the spirit of the season. One way is to watch a Christmas special on TV, and one of the best is A Charlie Brown Christmas . For decades, it aired on broadcast TV, but thats no longer the caseits now an Apple TV+ exclusive. Now, the fact that this institution is on a streaming service may cause you to exclaim, Bah! Humbug! and send Apple a stocking full of coal, but stop, sip some egg nog, and relax yes, Im talking about you, Uncle Fred . Apple is making A Charlie Brown Christmas available to anyone to watch for free, for a limited time. If you are an Apple TV+ subscriber, however, you can watch it anytime. How to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free on Apple TV+ On December 14 and 15, anyone with an Apple ID can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas . Anyone who owns an Apple device has an Apple ID, but if you dont, Apple IDs are free and you dont need a credit card to sign up. Once you have signed up, you can watch in several ways: Through the TV app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On smart TVs with the Apple TV app. On the web at tv.apple.com . On an Apple TV device. Apple has all the classic Peanuts specials for the holiday season that used to air over broadcast TV. There is one more holiday special left for the season, Happy New Year, Charlie Brown , but it doesnt seem likely that it will be made available for free. In case you missed them and your holiday season isnt complete without watching them, you can watch Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Apple TV+but they arent free anymore. You need to have an Apple TV+ subscription. Years ago, Apple acquired the rights to the Peanuts cartoon series that stars Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and other memorable characters. Since then, Apple has aired new Peanuts shows such as The Snoopy Show and Snoopy in Space , and new movies, including Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 , Lucys School , and Its the Small Things, Charlie Brown . The Apple TV+ subscription television streaming service is $9.99/9.99 per month. Apple TV+ is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles , which include other Apple services, such as Apple Music, Apple News+, and up to 2TB of iCloudstorage. Apple One bundles are priced between $19.95/19.95 and $37.95/37.95 per month. There are ways to get Apple TV+ for free thoughsee: All the ways you can get Apple TV+ for free . For more information about Apple TV+, read our Apple TV+ FAQ . We also have a detailed list of current Apple TV+ shows and upcoming shows .

Hey Siri, find me the best VPN. Okay, right here

Macworld Apple users, you know the struggle: You want the best VPN that isnt, how do we say this nicely, ugly? And hard to use? We want something that feels like it came on our Macs and iPhones, not like it was designed in the 1800s, and we found Windscribe. The interface is up to our standards, and a 3-year subscription wont run your bank account dry with our holiday sale. Pay just $69.97 for three years of VPN protection instead of $207 through December 15. Use the mobile and desktop apps and browser extensions on unlimited devices. You can try Windscribe free to see how it works on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, but you wont get all the features without paying. Beyond the obvious privacy and security protections that come with AES encryption, Windscribes 69 worldwide server locations also allow you to unblock content on streaming services. A bonus? You can block ads if youre on a web browser. Is Windscribe the best VPN for Mac and iPhone ? Try it yourself with a 3-year subscription at $69.97 (reg. $207) until December 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed to get this price. Windscribe VPN Pro Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $69.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best Apple deals: Huge savings on Macs, iPads, AirPods, and more!

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. And with Black Friday Apple rarely discounts its own productseven during its annual Black Friday shopping event , which will run from Friday, November 28, to Monday, December 1, 2025, it traditionally elects to give out gift cards rather than actual price reductions. It also offers year-round discounts to students , including a Back To School event where students can get up to $150 in gift cards when purchasing certain Apple products. Theres also the Apple Refurbished Store where you can sometimes grab a bargain. But if you want a new Apple device right now, other stores often offer up Apple discounts worth grabbing. In this article, youll find real-time pricing at all major retailers for Apples current lineup, and weve also highlighted some of the top discounts each week. Plus, for even more deals, weve linked to our dedicated deals round-ups for each product category. Use the table of contents to jump to the best deals right now for the Apple product you wantincluding the new iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, iPad mini, and all the M4 Macs, which were announced this fall. Best AirPods deals Foundry New AirPods were announced by Apple in September 2024. We arent seeing any deals on the new AirPods 4 yet, but they will be listed here as soon as we see any discounts. There are new colors for the AirPods Max to look out for too. Following the launch of new AirPods, the AirPods 2nd-gen and AirPods 3rd-gen were discontinued, however, we expect to continue to see deals on those products until stock runs out. U.S. Amazon, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case) : $170 ($79 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, AirPods 4: $119 ($10 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, AirPods 4 with ANC : $139 ($14 off, MSRP $179) Amazon, AirPods Max (USB-C) : $529 ($20 off, MSRP $549) Amazon, AirPods Max (Lightning) : $469 ($80 off; MSRP $549 Clearance ) U.K. Argos, AirPods (3rd gen, Magsafe) : 139 (40 off, RRP was 179 Clearance ) Amazon, AirPods (3rd gen, Lightning) : 129 (40 off, RRP was 169 Clearance ) Argos, AirPods 2nd gen : 109 (10 off, RRP was 129 Clearance ) Argos, AirPod Max, Lightning, 2020 : 429 (70 off, RRP was 499 Clearance ) See our dedicated round-up of the best AirPods deals Best iPhone and accessory deals Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry In the U.S. specific iPhone deals are hard to come by apart from carrier offers for new signups and trade-ins. We recommend checking Verizon , AT&T , and T-Mobiles sites if youre looking to change carriers or add a new line. Apple also offers trade-ins and carrier deals through its website. We also recommend that you look at our round-up of iPhone 14 deals as well as iPhone 15 deals for U.S. readers , and with the arrival of the iPhone 16 we will be tracking Where to get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max deals in the U.S. In the U.K., we frequently see Apple-certified resellers discount unlocked iPhones. Look for money off at Amazon , Currys , and Very . We are recording all the best prices of iPhone 15 in the U.K. separately and we are tracking the best deals for the iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max separately. It is possible to find discounts on most iPhones in the UK, including older/discontinued handsets, including the following deals, but remember Apple has reduced pricing in the U.K. for the new range of handsets, so the discounts may not be as good as they look. Amazon, iPhone 15, 128GB, 681 (18 off, RRP now 699) Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, 793.61 (5 off, RRP now 799) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB , 899 (RRP was 999 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 256GB , 999 (RRP was 1,099 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , 1,099 (RRP was 1,199 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 14: 549 (50 off, RRP now 599) Amazon, iPhone SE (64GB) : 379 (50 off, RRP 429) Amazon, iPhone SE (128GB) : 429 (50 off, RRP 479) Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB) : 449 (RRP was 499 Clearance ) Argos, iPhone 13 mini (128GB) : 499 (150 off, RRP was 649 Clearance ) Also see our dedicated round-up of the best iPhone deals and: iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Pro deals iPhone 13 deals Best iPhone SE deals Best iPad deals Dominik Tomaszewski/IDG You can save a decent amount on most iPads, from time to time we do see really good discounts, especially on the larger capacity models. U.S. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (256GB) : $430 ($60 off, MSRP $499) B&H Photo, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB) : $459 ($40 off, MSRP $499) Amazon, 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $549 ($50 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB) : $739 ($60 off, MSRP $799) Best Buy, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, 8GB RAM) : $899 ($100 off, MSRP $999) Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, 8GB RAM) : $1,194 ($105 off, MSRP $1,299) U.K. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (64GB) : 308.97 (20 off, RRP 329) Amazon, 10th gen iPad (256GB) : 449 (30 off, RRP 479) John Lewis, 9th gen iPad (64GB) : 279 (RRP was 369) Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB) : 559.97 (39 off, RRP 599) Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 512GB) : 843.97 (55 off, RRP 899) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB) : 749 (50 off, RRP 799) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2 512GB) : 1,031.97 (67 off, RRP 799) KRCS: iPad mini A17 Pro, 128GB : 489 (10 off, RRP is 499) KRCS: iPad mini A17 Pro, 256GB: 587 (12 off, RRP is 599) KRCS: iPad mini A17 Pro, 512GB : 783 (16off, RRP is 799) Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,149 (50 off, RRP 1,199) John Lewis: 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,249 (50 off, RRP 1,299) See our dedicated round-ups of the best iPad deals below Best iPad 10.9-inch deals Best iPad Air deals Best deals iPad Pro deals Best iPad mini deals Best Apple Watch deals Jason Cross/IDG The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived in September 2024. Its going to be a while until we start to see discounts, but when we do youll find them here. The arrival of the Series 10 marks the end of the Apple Watch Series 9, which Apple discontinued. The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2 havent been updated and remain on sale. U.S. Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : $330 ($69 off with coupon, MSRP $399) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : $379 ($69 off with coupon, MSRP $429) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm) : $189 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm) : $219 ($60 off, MSRP $279) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 : $700 ($99 off, MSRP $799) U.K. Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm) : 299 (RRP was 399 Clearance ) Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm) : 329 (RRP was 429 Clearance ) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) : 769 (30 off, RRP 799) Argos, Apple Watch SE (2022) : 209, 10 off, RRP 219) See our dedicated round-up of the best Apple Watch deals Best MacBook deals IDG Apple released new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max processors in October 2024. Prices stayed the same, but the new base model now starts with 16GB of RAM. The MacBook Air, while still running on the M3 chip had a Unified Memory update in October 2024 and now ships with 16GB RAM as standard. Beware that some deals on the older models may be as good now that you can get double the memory for the same price and if you are outside the U.S. note that the prices of the new models are now lower than the old models were at launch. U.S. Best Buy, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM, $1,399 ($300 off, MSRP $1,699) Amazon, M4 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM , $2,250 ($249 off with coupon, MSRP $2,499) Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB) $949 ($50 off, MSRP $999) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB) $1,099 ($200 off, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air M3 (8-core GPU, 24GB RAM 1TB) : $1,500 ($199 off with coupon, MSRP $1699) Best Buy, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/8GB RAM : $1,299 ($300 off, Was $1,599 Clearance ) B&H, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $1,699 ($300 off, Was $1,999 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/18GB RAM : $2,099 ($300 off, Was $2,399 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB, 36GB RAM : $2,899 ($400 off, Was $3,399 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $1,999 ($500 off, Was $2,499 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/36GB RAM : $2,399 ($500 off, Was $2,899 Clearance ) U.K. KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/16GB RAM, 1,519.05 (78 off, RRP 1,599) KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM, 1,709.05 (90 off, RRP 1,799) KRCS, M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/48GB RAM, 2,754.05 (144 off, RRP 2,899) AO, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB) 1,199 (100 off, RRP 1,299, was 1,499) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB) 1,366 (100 off, RRP 1,499, was 1,699) Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB) 949 (150 off, Was 1,099) John Lewis, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/8GB RAM : 1,695 (204 off, Was 1,899 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : 1,749 (350 off, Was 2,099 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $2,199 (400 off, Was 2,599 Clearance ) See our dedicated round-ups of the best MacBook Pro deals and the best MacBook Air deals . Best Mac desktop deals iMac IDG Apple released the M4 iMac and M4/M4 Pro Mac mini in October 2024. All models now start at 16GB RAM and the Mac mini has a completely new design with a smaller case and front-facing ports. Also note that if you are outside the U.S. prices on the new M4 Mac mini and M4 iMac are lower than they were, so the discounts may not be as good as they look when compared to the new models. U.S. Amazon, Mac mini, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB : $579 ($20 off, MSRP $799) Amazon, Mac mini, M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB : $744 ($55 off, MSRP $799) Amazon, iMac, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB : $1,199 ($100 off, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, M2 Mac mini, 8GB RAM, 256GB : $499 ($100 off, MSRP $799 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 iMac, 10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB : $1,304 ($195 off, MSRP was $1,499 Clearance ) U.K. KRCS has already discounted the new iMac and Mac mini: KRCS: M4 Mac mini, 256GB/16GB RAM , 569.05, 29 off RRP 599 KRCS: M4 iMac, 256GB/16GB RAM , 1,234.05 (64 off RRP 1,299) Amazon: M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB/16GB RAM : 1,199 (200 off, RRP was 1,399 Clearance ) Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 256GB/8GB RAM : 469 (180 off, RRP was 649 Clearance ) Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 512GB/8GB RAM : 637 (212 off, RRP was 849 Clearance ) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 256GB/8GB RAM : 1,009 (309 off, RRP was 1,399 Clearance ) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 256GB/8GB RAM : 1,299 (300 off, RRP was 1,599 Clearance ) John Lewis, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB RAM : 1,493 (306 off, RRP was 1,799 Clearance ) AO, Mac Studio M2 Max : 1,903 (196 off, MSRP 2,099) For more Mac deals check out our round-up of the best Mac Studio deals and the best Mac mini deals , plus our dedicated round-up of the best iMac deals .