Chipolo POP item tracker available ahead of AirTag 2 launch

Popular item tracker brand Chipolo just released a new accessory called the Chipolo POP. This device is compatible with Android and iOS and is the The post Chipolo POP item tracker available ahead of AirTag 2 launch appeared first on BGR .

How will Apple improve its AI while protecting your privacy?

Macworld With all the problems weve heard about Apple Intelligence latelydelayed Siri improvements, bad news notification summaries, unimpressive image generation, and moreyou might wonder what Apple is planning to do to right the ship. Obviously new and improved models are important, and so in increased training, but Apple has a particularly hard time of this because its privacy policies are a lot more strict than other companies creating AI products. In a new post on Apples Machine Learning Research site, the company explains a technique it will employ to help its AI be more relevant, more often, without training it on your personal data. Ensuring privacy while polling for usage data Differential Privacy is a way to, as Apple puts it, gain insight into what many Apple users are doing, while helping to preserve the privacy of individual users. Basically, whenever Apple collects data in a system like this, it first strips out any identifying information (device ID, IP address, and so on) and then slightly alters the data. When millions of users submit results, that noise cancels out. Thats the Differential Privacy part: take enough samples with random noise and identifiers removed, and you cant possibly connect any particular bit of data with a user. Its a good way to, for example, get a good statistical sample of which emoji are picked most often, or which autocorrect word is used the most after a particular misspellingcollecting data on user preferences without actually being able to trace any particular data point back to any user, even if they wanted to. Apple can generate synthetic text that is representative of common prompts, then use those differential privacy techniques to find out which synthetic samples are selected by users most often. Or to determine which words and phrases are common in Genmoji prompts and which results the users are most likely to pick. The AI system could generate common sentences used in emails, for example, and then send multiple variants out to different users. Then, using differential privacy techniques, Apple can find out which ones are selected most frequently (while having no ability to know what any one individual chose). Apple has been using this technique for years to gather data meant to improve QuickType suggestions, emoji suggestions, lookup hints, and more. As anonymous as it is, it is still opt-in. Apple doesnt collect this type of data unless you affirmatively enable device analytics. Techniques like this are already being used to improve Genmoji, and in an upcoming update, theyll be used for Image Generation, Image Wand, Memories Creation, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence. A Bloomberg report says the new system will come in a beta update to iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, and macOS 18.5 (the second beta was released today ). Of course, this is just data gathering, and it will take weeks or months of data collection and retraining to measurably improve Apple Intelligence features.

iOS 18.5 beta 2 arrives, but we dont see any major new features

Macworld Two days after the release of iOS 18.4 , Apple has begun the iOS 18.5 beta testing cycle. The first developer release landed on April 2, and we expect a wide release in May (or possibly late April). The last few iOS versions had their x.5 releases in May, with only minor features and changes, and we expect the same this year, especially now that the anticipated new Siri has been delayed . Updated April 14: Apple has released the second beta of iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, but we still dont see any major new features. iOS 18.5: New features With the big Siri enhancements pushed back out of the iOS 18 update cycle and the iOS 19 beta starting at WWDC in June, we dont expect much in the way of major new featuresjust a few touch-ups, bug fixes, and security enhancements. Contact Photos in Mail In the three-dot menu () you can quickly enable or disable contact photos in Mail. AppleCare Info In Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty youll see a new AppleCare banner you can tap to learn about your coverage. iOS 18.5: How to install the public beta If you want to be among the first to test iOS 18.5, 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. iOS 18.5: How to install the developer beta Youll need to be registered as an Apple developer. Beginning with iOS 18.5, 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. Find out everything you need to know about iOS 18 in our iOS 18 superguide .

Apple Watch Activity badges: 10th anniversary Global Close Your Rings award on April 24

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 April 14, 2025: Apple has announced a special Global Close Your Rings award on April 24 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Apple Watch. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $399 Best Prices Today: $329 at Walmart | $389 at Amazon | $399 at Adorama 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 | Not Available at Adorama 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). Global Close Your Rings Day (April 24, 2025) Apple To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Apple Watch. Users who close all three Activity rings will earn a limited-edition award, plus 10 animated stickers and an animated badge for Messages. Heart Month challenge (February 14, 2025) Apple Show your heart some love! Close your Exercise ring this Valentines Day, February 14, to earn this award. New Years 2025 challenge (January 2025) Apple Lets 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.

Get Apples newest iPad for $20 off at Amazon

Macworld The new iPad A16 has barely been out a month and were already seeing a pretty good price cut. Over at Amazon, you can now get the newest iPad for $328 , which means youre saving $21, one of the best discounts weve seen so far. This offer is only good on the yellow color, so if you want pink, blue, or silver, itll cost you a little more. Even though its not all that different than the previous model, we gave this new tablet a four-star rating in our review , loving how affordable it is, as well as the excellent display and the overall strong performance. Youre also definitely not going to complain about battery life because this tablet will keep you going for hours and hours of work and play even with the brightness up. Since this tablet has the A16 chip, its Apples only tablet that cant run Apple Intelligence, which requires a minimum of an A17 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM. However, given how limited the Apple Intelligence experience is these days, youre not missing much. So, if you want a new iPad, this ones a great deal at $328 , so make sure to add it to your cart sooner rather than later over before the price goes back up. Snag the newest iPad for $30 off Buy now at B&H Photo

The iPad update of our dreams is finally coming (we hope)

Macworld The iPad is an excellent platform, so good that many of us prefer using it over a MacBook. But it has user interface issues that hinder productivity, issues that, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, are going to be addressed in iPadOS 19. In his later Power On newsletter , Gurman states that with iPadOS 19, the goal is to make the iPad more like a Mac with updates that address productivity, multitasking and app window management. How Apple will implement those changes is not detailed by Gurman, who notes that while Apple wont be putting macOS on the iPad, the update will bring the software up to the level of the hardware. Windows management is the biggest problem with iPadOS. When used for production, users need to switch between apps constantly, which is difficult on the iPad. With iPadOS 16, Apple introduced Stage Manager as a window management tool several years ago, but it restricts window sizes and layouts uncomfortably. Split View, which was in place before Stage Manager, limits the user to two open app windows. So, when Gurman states that iPadOS 19 will be more like a Mac, it doesnt seem likely that Apple will implement a macOS-like Desktop, but rather window management like that of macOS, where the user can freely resize windows and move them around the screen. That would make it easier to work with multiple apps at the same time. That will be especially beneficial for iPad Pro users who have devices with larger displays and are using professional-level production apps. Gurman specifically mentions the M4 iPad Pro and the upcoming M5 iPad Pro , which could mean that Apple will taylor some features specifically for the higher-end hardware. Apple will unveil iPadOS 19 at the WWDC keynote on Monday, June 9, at 10 am PT, alongside iOS 19 and macOS 16, among other updates.

M5 iPad Pro: Everything you need to know

Macworld While the iPad update schedule is somewhat unpredictable, Apple has established an 18-month cycle with the iPad Pro, and the current M4 iPad Pro was released in May 2024. Several reports state that Apple is scheduled to release an M5 iPad Pro in the fall, which would be right on schedule. That means were going to start seeing more reports about the new iPad Pro as the release date approaches. This article keeps track of all the rumors so you can keep up with whats going on and make a proper decision if youre in the market for a new iPad Pro. Update April 14, 2025: A report states that the M5 iPad Pro will ship at the same time as iPadOS 19. M5 iPad Pro: When will the new iPad Pro be released? The M5 iPad Pro is expected to arrive in September 2025 or later in the year On March 31, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported that the M5 iPad Pro is on schedule to ship in the second half of the year. In January 2025, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported that the M5 iPad Pro wont ship until late 2025 or early 2026. In December 2024, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the M5 iPad Pro will enter mass production in the second half of 2025. In April 2025, Gurman reported that iOS 19 will be ready around the time newiPad Pros with M5 chipsare likely to be ready. iOS 19 is expected to be revealed at WWDC25 in June and be released in the fall. Heres when the past five iPad Pro models have launched: M4 iPad Pro : May 2024 iPad Pro (6th gen) : October 2022 iPad Pro (5th gen) : April 2021 iPad Pro (4th gen) : March 2020 iPad Pro (3rd gen) : October 2018 M5 iPad Pro: How much will the new iPad Pro cost? Prices are likely to stay the same, starting at $999/999 (11-inch) and $1,299/1,299 (13-inch), but With the M5 iPad Pro, Apple increased the price by $100/100 across the different storage configurations. (Apple redefined the M5 iPad Pro base model with 256GB of storage, instead of 128GB that was in the M4 iPad Pro. When comparing prices, we start with the 256GB models.) Apple rarely increases prices two years in a row, but there are ongoing talks by the Trump administration in the U.S. of implementing tariffs on chips not made in the U.S. Apples M5 chip is made in Taiwan by TSMC, and could be subjected to a tariff. Should it go into effect, it could raise the price of the M5 iPad Pro in the U.S. The M4 iPad Pros 12MP camera with a LiDAR scanner will carry over to the M5 iPad Pro. Brady Snyder / Foundry M5 iPad Pro tech specs: What upgrades will the new iPad Pro have? An M5 chip Thats about it On March 31, Mark Gurman reported that the M5 iPad Pro will be a chip and ship product. That means it will get the new M5 chip and no other new features. The M4 iPad Pro from 2024 had several major upgrades to components and features that dont typically change from generation to generation, including: New OLED displays An option for nano-texture glass ($100/100) Moving the front-facing camera to the longer side Upgrade to the main camera to 12MP with True Tone flash and a LiDAR scanner Eliminating the 128GB storage option and setting the base level to 256GB Those features arent expected to change with the M5 iPad Pro, so the only major component to change will be the chip from the M4 to the M5. Apples new C1 modem is unlikely to make an appearance until a model with mmWave arrives, likely in 2026. Well keep updating this article as more information becomes available. Until then, you should check out our best iPad Pro deals to see if you can bag yourself a bargain on the current range.

CalDigit Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub review

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Nine ports yet compact Four Thunderbolt 5 ports Five USB ports 180W total power Cons May require HDMI or DisplayPort adapters Our Verdict More of a mini dock than a hub, the CalDigit Element 5 packs nine fast ports including four of the latest 80/120Gbps Thunderbolt 5. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $299.95 Best Prices Today: CalDigit Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub Retailer Price CalDigit $299.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The CalDigit Element 5 Hub is the successor to the companys award-winning Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub, replacing the Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) ports with the double-speed Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) and even squeezing in an extra USB port for good measure. Just as the CalDigit Element 4 Hub was our recommended Thunderbolt 4 hub, the Element 5 takes over its position at the top of the Mac hub hierarchy. Specs and features One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps/120Gbps, 90W) Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W) Three USB-A port s (10Gbps, 7.5W) 180W power supply The Element 5 Hub boasts five Thunderbolt 5 ports, each offering blisteringly fast 80Gbps data-transfer and when utilizing Bandwidth Boost can provide up to 120Gbps bandwidth for display purposes. CalDigit The upstream TB5 port that connects to your computer can also deliver up to 90W of power to a laptop. Thats enough to fast-charge the majority of Apples MacBooks, although it wont fast-charge the top-end 14- or 16-inch Pro/Max MacBook Pro. For that youll need a dock that can supply 140W. But 90W is still generous and enough for most laptop setups. The downstream TB5 ports can each supply 15W of power, and the USB-C and USB-A ports have potential for 7.5W each. The external power supply provides a decent 180Wup from 150W with the Element 4which is the same offered by even a full-scale docking station such as the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock. All the USB portstwo USB-C and three USB-A are rated at a fast 10Gbps. Thunderbolt 5 is much more of an upgrade than Thunderbolt 4 was from Thunderbolt 3. It can provide up to 6,200MBps performance for external storage devices, for example, which is double that of Thunderbolt 4. With nine ports in total, the Element 5 Hub offers more than any other Thunderbolt hub weve seen or tested, including even the eight-port Element 4 Hub. The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub offers four TB5 ports and one 10Gbps USB-A port. While three USB-A ports should be plenty for legacy devices, most accessories are now firmly in the USB-C camp so you might have one or two left empty, and OWCs one USB-A port is probably all thats required. It does, of course, lack the Element 5 Hubs extra two Type C ports. The Thunderbolt 5 ports can be used to connect USB-C devices, of course, so up to five can be accommodated using this hub. CalDigit A full docking station will have many more ports of different type, such as fast Ethernet for wired network access, card readers, display connections and audio ports, but with a few inexpensive adapters the Element 5s nine ports may be all you need. Because it features so many ports, the Element 5 Hub is a serious consideration for desktop users as well as laptop owners and will be a match for docking stations depending on your needs. You could add an Ethernet adapter, such as the Ugreen USB-C to 2.5G Ethernet Adapter , or card reader functionality via a USB-C adapter, for example. CalDigit Display options While it doesnt host a DisplayPort or HDMI port, the Element 5 Hub can connect to dual 6K or 8K 60Hz extended displays on Macs. These require no display adapter when the monitors support a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection but will if your display demands a DisplayPort or HDMI connection. (When connected to Windows Thunderbolt 5 PCs, the Element 5 Hub supports up to three external extended displays with Bandwidth Boost in use. Note that when Bandwidth Boost is in operation, the rest of the hub drops to 40Gbps. Unless attached to a DisplayLink dock, macOS doesnt support triple monitors via a Thunderbolt Dock or Hub.) For the Mac, the Element 5 Hub can support two 6K displays at 60Hz or 4K displays at 144Hz. Note that Apples plain (non-Pro or Max) M1- and M2-based computers support just one external monitor. Although it is possible to connect two or more displays to M1 and M2 Macs through use of DisplayLink adapters, the Element 5 Hub does not support DisplayLink. However, we expect most people interested in a powerful Thunderbolt hub will own a MacBook with a Pro or Max processor. The Element 5 Hub is compatible not just with Macs but with USB-C or Thunderbolt iPads and iPhones, as well as Windows tablets. CalDigit Design and build If used as a dock, the Element 5 Hub is one of the smallest youll find with its own power supply, measuring 4.5 x 2.75 x 1 inch (11.4 x 7 x 2.5cm) and weighing just 200g (0.44lbs). Thats about the same size as a fat pack of cards and shorter than an iPhone, and only marginally larger than the older Element 4 Hub. You might even lose track of it sat neatly on your desk, unless, of course, it has nine cables sticking out it alongside the power cable. The power brick is about the same size, and so is much reduced from that of the Element 4 Hub, which was pretty chunky. Its not impossible that you could use the Element 5 as a portable hub. Its built with aluminum and feels sturdier than cheaper USB-C hubs. The hub is reversible so you can place either the three downstream TB5 ports and one USB-A port at the front or the other side with two USB-C and two USB-A. This is made possible by CalDigit being smart enough to position the upstream TB5 port on one side of the hub, which is a much better placement than on the front as some hub and dock manufacturers do. It ships with a 0.8m Thunderbolt 5 cable. CalDigit Price The Element 5 Hub costs US$299.99, 249.99, or 249.99. Thats a little more than the Element 4 Hub , and about $100 more than the less-ported OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub . Its more expensive than standard TB4 or USB-C hubs but its packed with the latest and most sophisticated technology and far more future-proof. For a nine-port Thunderbolt 5 hub, that extra spend is justified, and if used instead of a full-stocked dock will save you money. There are many types of hubs available to Mac users plus multifunction adapters and docks. Check out our roundups of the best USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac and best Thunderbolt docks for MacBook . Verdict You wont find any more modern USB and Thunderbolt ports on a hub than you get with CalDigits compact and well-priced Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub, and they are all rated at top speeds. The 90W power delivery is enough for most laptops, and other devices should be fully powered too. Although not quite as convenient as a larger docking station, it can even be used as a fully functional laptop Thunderbolt 5 dock with the right adapters. Cleverly designed, compact enough to be relatively portable and stocked with top-end ports, the Element 5 Hub is easily our top-rated Thunderbolt 5 hub/mini dock.

Apple is working on a new Vision headset made for the Mac

Macworld Theres been organizational turmoil lately at Apples Vision Products Group, which created the Vision Pro headset. Following the completion of that project, the group was essentially disbanded as a coherent body, with constituent parts reshuffled under other reporting lines within the company. Vision boss Mike Rockwell took over the Siri brief from John Giannandrea, while the groups hardware and software engineers are now spread out across multiple teams. All this change might seem disruptive, and has reportedly led to fears of layoffs, but Apple is keeping its Vision-focused employees busy. And in the latest installment of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reveals that the team is still working on not one but two new headsets to follow up on Vision Pros critical success but commercial failure. The first is an obvious attempt to address the two obstacles preventing Vision Pro from achieving widespread adoption: its high price tag and substantial physical bulk. The new plan is to release a model that makes the headset both lighter and cheaper, Gurman writes, noting that the first-gen Vision Pro version weighs almost 1.5 pounds and has received almost universal criticism about neck strain. He doesnt explain how Apple will make the device lighter, though it will presumably turn to a different material than the original models aluminum frame or cut down on the size. He also fails to share details on how the price will come down, particularly in light of the current tariff turmoil. These, then, are obvious upgrades Apple was always going to attempt if it went ahead with plans for a sequel to Vision Pro. A more interesting prediction is Gurmans claim that a second headset will be designed specifically for use with a Mac. In January, I reported that Apple had scrapped work on augmented reality glasses that would tether to a Mac. Instead, its now working on a Vision Pro that plugs into a Mac, he explains. The idea is to create an ultra-low-latency system for streaming a users Mac display or for connecting to high-end enterprise applications. Some customers have been using the Vision Pro for things like viewing imaging during surgery or for flight simulators. Those are two areas where a user would want the least amount of lag possiblesomething that cant be guaranteed by a fully wireless system. Apple already offers a feature that lets Vision Pro users wirelessly access their Macs display wirelessly , though the problems above have limited its success . However, a headset designed to plug into a Mac would likely be significantly cheaper and lighter and could be marketed as a pro accessory rather than a high-priced standalone item. Ultimately, Gurman insists, Apple wants to create its long-awaited augmented-reality glasses, with an extremely low weight and discreet profile. He notes that Tim Cook is hell-bent on creating an industry-leading product before Meta can, but its still many years from launch. However, the two headsets currently in development could serve as a useful stopgap before the company gets there.

Dear Apple: Please learn from Nintendos Switch 2 debacle

Macworld There was huge excitement in the Price household at the start of this month when Nintendo announced the upcoming launch of the Switch 2 . And then that excitement turned to bitter recrimination when the company revealed that games for the new system could cost as much as $80, even if you choose a digital rather than physical copy. Oh and then they announced that the April 9 preorders were delayed to assess the potential impact of tariffs. This financial bombshell was especially ill-timed because its become clear that the Switch 2 is considerably less innovative than its more affordable predecessor. Many of Nintendos hits have achieved success thanks to a fun gimmick or point of difference: the DSs twin screens, the Wiis motion controls, and the Switchs twin function as a handheld and big-screen console. Even the Wii U, which flopped, at least attempted something new with its asymmetric controllers. But aside from a cursory (sorry) mouse mode for the Joy-Cons, the Switch 2 appears to just do what the Switch did with better specs. Then again, doing the same thing with better specs is a phrase that could have been written for Apple, especially its all-conquering iPhone product line. Regular readers will be well aware of the exasperating pattern : early rumors hint at a dramatic revamp and startling new features before reality bites and the new iPhone ends up being much the same as the previous model. That certainly appears to be the case this year, with the big redesign predicted earlier in the cycle now looking considerably less radical and the long-awaited shake-up now expected in 2027 . A wide camera module probably isnt going to be enough for the iPhone 17 to blow your socks off. These increasingly consistent reports about the iPhone 17 arrive, like the Switch 2 price reveal, at an inconvenient time. Because, thanks to on-again, off-again tariffs on goods imported from China, where Apple makes most of its iPhones, the company may have to bite the bullet this year and increase prices or at the very least hike the low end by bumping the starting storage . A 40 percent price bump is a lot easier to swallow if the product is 40 percent better, but if its largely the same Well, lets just say that being expensive and boring at the same time is not a good combination. Apple couldnt realistically have seen this situation coming, but I still feel like this is a crisis of its own making. Year after year, the company has changed the iPhone as little as it possibly can, in order to save money, focus engineering on other projects such as Vision Pro, and leave room for further upgrades in the future. Its been like an expert racing driver, pushing as close to the barriers as possible for maximum efficiency. But when you do that, you make yourself vulnerable to even the smallest of outside factors, and a political gust of wind just made a crash more likely. Betting against Apple (or Nintendo, for that matter) is a fools errand, and my assumption is that Tim Cook will find a way to make this work. Hes already lobbied his way to a temporary exemption , and may yet perform logistical miracles ramping up production in India and Brazil. But above all, I hope Apple will learn its lesson and stop taking iPhone customers for granted. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Have your say We received an interesting and thoughtful response to last weeks Apple Breakfast on the rumored iOS redesign , and Id like to quote from it here. Your apprehension toward the anticipated iOS redesign appears to stem from a preference for the familiar, writes Gregg from Denver, CO. However, embracing change is essential for technological advancement. Consider the evolution of language: languages that fail to adapt risk obsolescence. Latin, once dominant, has faded from common discourse due to its stagnation. Similarly, operating systems must evolve to remain relevant and meet users changing needs. Historically, iOS redesigns have led to significant improvements. For instance, iOS 7s overhaul introduced a cleaner, more intuitive interface that many users appreciated. While initial reactions were mixed, the changes ultimately set the stage for future innovations. Furthermore, redesigns can enhance user engagement. Studies have shown that improvements in UX/UI design, such as streamlined navigation and faster load times, can drastically reduce frustration and abandonment, encouraging users to engage more deeply with the operating system. In the realm of technology, stagnation is synonymous with decline. As technophiles, we should welcome change that propels us toward more efficient and user-friendly experiences. Trending: Top stories Next-gen CarPlay is the broken Apple promise that foreshadowed the Siri fiasco . Jason Cross will never use his AirPods Pro again without this $20 upgrade . Microsoft made me want a Fiftieth Anniversary MacBook more than ever. Can Apple make its best Mac matter again ? Hey Apple , scrap the foldable iPhone and iPad before its too late. A 256GB SSD is too small for a Mac in 2025 and its all macOSs fault. Ugh: Tariff special Tariff panic? Buying an iPhone right now is a terrible idea . With tariffs causing turmoil, the Macalope wonders what exactly Tim Cook spent a million bucks on. Talking of which Heres how President Trumps tariffs will impact the price of Apple products . And heres how Apple can handle Trumps tariffs without raising prices (too much). Podcast of the week Believe it or not, the next iPhone is only six months away! So in episode 929 of the Macworld Podcast, were covering the latest iPhone rumors and whether or not youll even be able to afford the new phone. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify , Soundcloud , the Podcasts app , or our own site . Reviews corner Best Mac data recovery apps : Bring back your lost and deleted files . Best MacBook bags, cases and sleeves : Perfect for every situation . The rumor mill Here we go again: The iPhone shake-up is now coming in 2027 . And that big redesign predicted for this year might not be so big after all . Still iPhone 16e comparison pics show off an impressively thin iPhone 17 Air . Report : Apple is prepping a giant folding iPad for release next year. iOS 19 leak shows new icons, shimmery buttons, and lots of glass . Instagram finally, finally makes an iPad app ! Maybe. Siri woes reportedly push Apples smart home hub into 2026. Software updates, bugs, and problems You can use a VPN for TikTok if it gets banned , but its a headache. And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters , including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow uson Facebook , Threads , Bluesky , or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

Apple Maps on the web expands access to more devices and browsers

Macworld Apple made a surpriseand long overduemove last summer when it brought Apple Maps to the web . Available at beta.maps.apple.com, the simple web interface brought Apple new and excellent maps to new devices, but in a limited fashion. This web interface has been available only on Chrome and Safari on Macs and iPads, and Chrome or Edge on Windows PCs. You couldnt access it from phone browsers at all. Now, though the site is still very clearly labeled beta, there are far fewer restrictions. You can head to maps.apple.com (no beta) on almost any modern device, including Android phones, and we had no trouble accessing it from other desktop browsers like Firefox. The features are still limited compared to the native iOS, iPad, and Mac apps, but the basics are there: walking and driving directions, business info like photos, ratings, and hours, even the Guides are there. Apple added support for Look Around (its analog to Google Maps Street View) a few months ago. Options like transit and biking directions seem to be missing, for now. With this expansion, Apple Maps is better poised to provide meaningful competition to Google Maps for online services that license map tools, from search engines to delivery services.

Apple TV+ this week: Your Friends and Neighbors is now streaming

Macworld Apple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+ , its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies. This guide will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, divided into episodic shows or series and movies. Theres also a ton of new content in the works for Apples $9.99-a-month service. If you want to know whats on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple TV+ shows and movies . Updated April 11, 2025: Your Friends and Neighbors , starring Jon Hamm and Olivia Munn, is now streaming. Mentioned IN THIS story Apple TV 4K (2022, 3. Gen.) 128GB WiFi + Ethernet Read our review Price When Reviewed: 64GB $129 | 128GB $149 Best Prices Today: $129 at Apple Whats new on Apple TV+ Your Friends and Neighbors Released: April 11, 2025 Number One on the Call Sheet Released: March 28, 2025 Side Quest Released: March 26, 2025 The Studio Released: March 26, 2025 BE@RBRICK Released: March 21, 2025 Dope Thief Released: March 14, 2025 How to get Apple TV+ If you want to start watching Apple TV Plus heres how. You can subscribe to Apple TV+ on Apples website here , or via the Apple TV app on your device. It costs $9.99/8.99 a month, which you can cancel at any time (Read: How to cancel and Apple subscription ). You can also opt for a one-year subscription for $99/89, which essentially gives you two months free each year. Apple also offers various trials so that you can try out Apple TV+ before you subscribe. Take a look at our article explaining all the ways you can watch Apple TV for free , and the best Apple TV+ deals you can get. Students can get Apple TV+ for free with an already subsidized Apple Music subscription. Best shows on Apple TV+ Theres far too much content on Apple TV+ to sift through it all yourself. If youre looking for something to watch and dont know where to start, here are a few of the Macworld staffs favorite shows, series, and movies. Bad Sisters Synopsis: A dark comedy about a group of Irish sisters who find themselves at the center of a life insurance investigation after John Paulthe abusive husband to one of the sistersdies unexpectedly. Number of seasons: 2 Release date: August 19, 2022 Black Bird Synopsis: A gripping miniseries about a convicted con artist who works for the FBI to try to get a serial killers confession before he is released from prison. Based on the true story of James Keene and Larry Hall. Number of seasons: 1 Release date: July 8, 2022 For All Mankind Synopsis: What if the U.S.S.R. put a man on the moon before the U.S.? How would the ensuing space race change history throughout the decades? Thats the high concept behind this gripping big-budget sci-fi series. Number of seasons: 4 Release date: November 1, 2019 Mythic Quest Synopsis: A lighthearted workplace comedy about a game development studio and the big egos and personal conflicts that happen within. Its goofy good fun but sometimes quite touching. Number of seasons: 4 Release date: February 7, 2020 Severance Synopsis: A combination of dystopian sci-fi drama and workplace comedy about a company where employees are severedwhen at work, they cant remember their outside lives, and vice-versa. Number of seasons: 2 Release date: February 18, 2022 Shrinking Synopsis: A surprisingly quick-witted comedy about a therapist who has trouble dealing with the death of his wife and his eccentric patients. Number of seasons: 2 Release date: January 27, 2023 Slow Horses Synopsis: Gary Oldman turns in a great performance as the cranky leader of a band of misfit spies. Number of seasons: 4 Release date: April 1, 2022 Ted Lasso Synopsis: Apples fish-out-of-water comedy/drama about a midwestern college football coach who heads to England to coach Premiere League soccer is a breakout hit for good reason. Number of seasons: 3 Release date: August 14, 2020 The Morning Show Synopsis: Big star power and a fantastic performance by Jenniffer Aniston highlight this fast-paced drama that goes behind the scenes of a fictional morning news program. Number of seasons: 3 Release date: November 1, 2019 Apple TV+ shows and series These are all the episodic series you can currently watch on Apple TV+, including both recurring and limited series. This list is in alphabetical order. Title Premiere Seasons / Episodes 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything May 21, 2021 8 episodes Acapulco October 8, 2021 3 seasons, 30 episodes Amazing Stories March 6, 2020 1 season, 5 episodes Amber Brown July 29, 2022 1 season, 10 episodes Bad Monkey August 14, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes Bad Sisters August 19, 2022 2 seasons, 20 episodes BE@RBRICK March 21, 2025 1 season, 13 episodes Becoming You November 13, 2020 1 season, 6 episodes Before October 25, 2024 10 episodes Best Foot Forward July 22, 2022 1 season, 10 episodes Big Beasts April 21, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes Black Bird July 8, 2022 6 episodes Boom! Boom! The World vs Boris Becker April 7, 2023 2 episodes The Buccaneers November 8, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Calls March 19, 2021 1 season, 9 episodes Camp Snoopy June 14, 2024 10 episodes Carpool Karaoke August 8, 2017 5 seasons, 75 episodes Central Park May 29, 2020 3 seasons, 39 episodes Circuit Breakers November 11, 2022 1 season, 7 episodes City on Fire May 12, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Constellation February 21, 2024 1 season, 8 episodes Cowboy Cartel August 2, 2024 4 episodes Criminal Record January 10, 2024 1 season, 8 episodes Curses! October 27, 2023 2 seasons, 20 episodes Dark Matter May 8, 2024 1 season, 9 episodes Dear Edward February 3, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes Dear June 5, 2020 2 seasons, 20 episodes Defending Jacob April 24, 2020 8 episodes Dickinson November 1, 2019 3 seasons, 30 episodes Disclaimer October 11, 2024 7 episodes Dope Thief March 14, 2025 8 episodes Doug Unplugs November 13, 2020 2 seasons, 26 episodes Dr. Brain November 3, 2021 1 season, 6 episodes Drops of God April 21, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Duck & Goose July 8, 2022 2 seasons, 17 episodes Earth at Night in Color December 4, 2020 2 seasons, 12 episodes Earthsounds February 23, 2024 1 season, 12 episodes Echo 3 November 23, 2022 1 season, 10 episodes El Deafo January 7, 2022 3 episodes Eva the Owlet March 31, 2023 2 seasons, 17 episodes Extrapolations March 17, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Five Days at Memorial August 12, 2022 8 episodes For All Mankind November 1, 2019 4 seasons, 40 episodes Foundation September 24, 2021 2 seasons, 20 episodes Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock January 21, 2022 2 seasons, 27 episodes Fraggle Rock: Rock On! April 21, 2020 1 season, 6 episodes Frog and Toad April 28, 2023 2 seasons, 18 episodes Get Rolling with Otis October 8, 2021 2 seasons, 18 episodes Ghostwriter November 1, 2019 3 seasons, 39 episodes Greatness Code July 10, 2020 2 seasons, 13 episodes Gutsy September 9, 2022 1 season, 8 episodes Harriet the Spy November 19, 2021 2 seasons, 20 episodes Hello Tomorrow! February 17, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show November 5, 2021 2 seasons, 16 episodes Helpsters November 1, 2019 3 seasons, 40 episodes Helpsters Help You April 24, 2020 6 episodes High Desert May 17, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Hijack June 28, 2023 7 episodes Hollywood Con Queen May 8, 2024 3 episodes Home April 17, 2020 2 season, 19 episodes Home Before Dark April 3, 2020 2 seasons, 20 episodes Interrupting Chicken November 18, 2022 2 seasons, 17 episodes Invasion October 22, 2021 2 seasons, 20 episodes Jane April 14, 2023 2 seasons, 15 episodes John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial December 6, 2023 3 episodes K-Pop Idols August 30, 2024 6 episodes La Maison September 20, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes Lady in the Lake July 19, 2024 7 episodes Land of Women June 26, 2024 1 season, 6 episodes Lessons in Chemistry October 13, 2023 8 episodes Liaison February 24, 2023 1 season, 6 episodes Life by Ella September 2, 2022 1 season, 10 episodes Lincolns Dilemma February 18, 2022 4 episodes Liseys Story June 4, 2021 8 episodes Little America January 17, 2020 2 seasons, 16 episodes Little Voice July 10, 2020 1 season, 9 episodes Long Way Up September 18, 2020 11 episodes Loot June 24, 2022 2 seasons, 20 episodes Losing Alice January 22, 2021 1 season, 8 episodes Love You to Death February 7, 2025 1 season, 7 episodes Lovely Little Farm June 10, 2022 2 seasons, 14 episodes Make or Break April 29, 2022 2 seasons, 15 episodes Manhunt March 15, 2024 7 episodes Masters of the Air January 26, 2024 9 episodes Me July 12, 2024 1 seasons, 10 episodes Messi Meets America October 11, 2023 6 episodes Messis World Cup: Rise of a Legend February 21, 2024 4 episodes Midnight Family September 25, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes Monarch: Legacy of Monsters November 17, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes Monster Factory March 17, 2023 6 episodes Mr. Corman August 6, 2021 1 season, 10 episodes My Kind of Country March 24, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Mythic Quest February 7, 2020 4 seasons, 40 episodes Now and Then May 20, 2022 1 season, 8 episodes Omnivore July 19, 2024 1 season, 8 episodes One-of-a-Kind Marcie August 18, 2023 39 min. Onside: Major League Soccer February 21, 2025 8 episodes Oprah Talks COVID-19 March 21, 2020 1 season, 13 episodes Oprahs Book Club November 1, 2019 1 season, 14 episodes Pachinko March 25, 2022 2 seasons, 16 episodes Palm Royale March 20, 2024 10 episodes Physical June 18, 2021 3 seasons, 30 episodes Pinecone & Pony April 8, 2022 2 seasons, 16 episodes Platonic May 24, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes Prehistoric Planet May 23, 2022 2 season, 10 episodes Presumed Innocent June 12, 2024 8 episodes Pretzel and the Puppies February 11, 2022 2 seasons, 18 episodes Prime Target January 22, 2025 8 episodes Puppy Place October 15, 2021 2 seasons, 16 episodes Real Madrid: Until the End March 10, 2023 3 episodes Roar April 15, 2022 1 season, 8 episodes Sago Mini Friends September 16, 2022 3 seasons, 24 episodes Schmigadoon! July 16, 2021 2 seasons, 12 episodes See November 1, 2019 3 seasons, 24 episodes Servant November 28, 2019 4 seasons, 40 episodes Severance February 18, 2022 2 seasons, 19 episodes Shantaram October 14, 2022 1 season, 12 episodes Shape Island January 20, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Shining Girls April 29, 2022 1 season, 8 episodes Shrinking January 27, 2023 2 seasons, 20 episodes Side Quest March 26, 2025 4 epsiodes Silo May 5, 2023 2 seasons, 20 episodes Slow Horses April 1, 2022 4 seasons, 24 episodes Slumberkins November 4, 2022 1 season, 8 episodes Snoopy in Space November 1, 2019 2 seasons, 24 episodes Still Up September 22, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes Stillwater December 4, 2020 3 seasons, 30 episodes Strange Planet August 9, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes STEVE! (martin): A documentary in two pieces March 29, 2024 2 episodes Sugar April 5, 2024 8 episodes Sunny July 10, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes Super League: The War for Football January 13, 2023 4 episodes Surface July 29, 2022 2 seasons, 16 episodes Surfside Girls August 19, 2022 1 season, 10 episodes Suspicion February 4, 2022 1 season, 8 episodes Swagger October 29, 2021 2 season2, 18 episodes Ted Lasso August 14, 2020 3 seasons, 34 episodes Tehran September 25, 2020 2 seasons, 16 episodes The Afterparty January 28, 2022 2 seasons, 16 episodes The Big Cigar May 17, 2024 6 episodes The Big Conn May 6, 2022 4 episodes The Big Door Prize March 29, 2023 2 seasons, 20 episodes The Changeling September 8, 2023 1 season, 8 episodes The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin March 1, 2024 1 season, 6 episodes The Crowded Room June 9, 2023 1 season, 10 episodes The Dynasty February 16 2024 10 episodes The Enfield Poltergeist October 27, 2023 4 episodes The Essex Serpent May 13, 2022 6 episodes The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey March 11, 2022 6 episodes The Last Thing He Told Me April 14, 2023 7 episodes The Line November 19, 2021 4 episodes [a] The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball April 22, 2022 1 season, 5 episodes The Me You Cant See May 21, 2021 1 season, 6 episodes The Morning Show November 1, 2019 3 seasons, 30 episodes The Mosquito Coast April 30, 2021 2 seasons, 17 episodes The New Look February 14, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes The Oprah Conversation July 30, 2020 1 season, 15 episodes The Problem with Jon Stewart September 30, 2021 2 seasons, 20 episodes The Reluctant Traveler February 24, 2023 2 seasons, 13 episodes The Shrink Next Door November 12, 2021 8 episodes The Snoopy Show February 5, 2021 2 seasons, 26 episodes The Studio March 26, 2025 1 season, 10 episodes The Super Models September 20, 2023 4 episodes They Call Me Magic April 22, 2022 1 season, 4 episodes Time Bandits July 24, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes Tiny World October 2, 2020 2 seasons, 12 episodes Truth Be Told December 6, 2019 3 seasons, 28 episodes Trying May 1, 2020 4 seasons, 32 episodes Visible: Out on Television February 14, 2020 5 episodes Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn August 25, 2023 4 episodes Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson July 30, 2021 1 season, 6 episodes WeCrashed March 18, 2022 8 episodes Wheres Wanda? October 2, 2024 1 season, 8 episodes Wolfboy and the Everything Factory September 24, 2021 2 seasons, 20 episodes Women in Blue July 31, 2024 1 season, 10 episodes WondLa June 28, 2024 1 season, 7 episodes Wonder Pets: In the City December 13, 2024 1 season, 13 episodes Yo Gabba Gabbaland August 9, 2024 1 season, 20 episodes You Would Do It Too October 30, 2024 1 season, 8 episodes Your Friends and Neighbors April 11, 2025 1 season, 9 episodes Apple TV movies and short films Apple TV+ is home to a fair number of original movies, too. Some of the movies saw a limited theatrical release, all are listed here in alphabetical order. Title Release Date 9/11: Inside the Presidents War Room September 1, 2021 Argylle April 12, 2024 Beastie Boys Story April 24, 2020 Billie Eilish: The Worlds a Little Blurry February 26, 2021 Blitz November 22, 2024 Blush October 1, 2021 Boys State August 14, 2020 Bread and Roses November 22, 2024 Bruce Springsteens Letter to You October 23, 2020 Causeway November 4, 2022 Cha Cha Real Smooth June 17, 2022 Cherry March 12, 2021 CODA August 13, 2021 Come from Away September 10, 2021 Dads June 19, 2020 Emancipation December 9, 2022 Fancy Dance June 28, 2024 Fathom June 25, 2021 Finch November 5, 2021 Fingernails November 3, 2023 Flora and Son September 29, 2023 Fly Me to the Moon December 6, 2024 Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds November 13, 2020 Ghosted April 21, 2023 Girls State April 5, 2024 Greyhound July 10, 2020 Hala December 6, 2019 Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas November 22, 2023 Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth April 17, 2020 Killers of the Flower Moon January 12, 2024 Louis Armstrongs Black & Blues October 28, 2022 Luck August 5, 2022 Mariah Careys Magical Christmas Special December 4, 2020 Mariahs Christmas: The Magic Continues December 3, 2021 Napoleon March 1, 2024 Napoleon: Directors Cut August 29, 2024 Number One on the Call Sheet March 28, 2025 On the Rocks October 23, 2020 Palmer January 29, 2021 Raymond & Ray October 21, 2022 Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me November 4, 2022 Sharper February 17, 2023 Sidney September 23, 2022 Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne December 10, 2021 Snoopy Presents: Its The Small Things, Charlie Brown April 15, 2022 Snoopy Presents: Lucys School August 12, 2022 Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love May 6, 2022 Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin February 16, 2024 Spirited November 18, 2022 Stephen Curry: Underrated July 21, 2023 Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie May 12, 2023 Swan Song December 17, 2021 Tetris March 31, 2023 The Banker March 20, 2020 The Beanie Bubble July 28, 2023 The Bloody Hundredth March 15, 2024 The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse December 25, 2022 The Elephant Queen November 1, 2019 The Family Plan December 15, 2023 The Gorge February 14, 2025 The Greatest Beer Run Ever September 30, 2022 The Instigators August 9, 2024 The Last of the Sea Women October 11, 2024 The Pigeon Tunnel October 20, 2023 The Sky Is Everywhere February 11, 2022 The Tragedy of Macbeth January 14, 2022 The Velvet Underground October 15, 2021 The Velveteen Rabbit November 22, 2023 The Year Earth Changed April 16, 2021 Twas the Fight Before Christmas November 26, 2021 Who Are You, Charlie Brown? June 25, 2021 Wolfs September 27, 2024 Wolfwalkers December 11, 2020

The delayed Siri Apple Intelligence features are now coming in the fall

Macworld The Apple news has been gloomy lately, mostly because of all the tariff turmoil , but before that, there was all the drama about Siri and the companys inability to deliver on promised Apple Intelligence features. Well, in case you forgot, the New York Times is here to remind you that the Siri drama hasnt gone away. Tripp Mickle reports on Apples inability to make good on new ideas, providing insight from unnamed sources about the companys mishandling of AI development. Bloombergs Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple will delay the new AI-based Siri features until 2026, but near the end of MIckles article is a glimmer of hopeor some hopeful thinking by some Apple insiders: Apple hasnt canceled its revamped Siri. The company plans to release a virtual assistant in the fall capable of doing things like editing and sending a photo to a friend on request, three people with knowledge of its plans said. Tripp Mickle, New York Times That sounds like it will arrive in the first version of iOS 19, rather than iOS 19.3 or later in 2026, as some had speculated. Mickle goes on to report that Apple leaders think there is time to get [AI] right because Google, Meta, and others havent figured it out yet. That might be true, but it sure seems like Apples competition has its AI plans in much better shape than Apple. If Apple truly believes it can deliver this fall, then that will make WWDC25 in June much more interesting and give us something to care about . Apple will almost certainly address the Siri situation thenit has to, its the elephant in the roomand the company will either proclaim a Siri delivery in the fall or a much later date. Well have to wait and see.

Microsoft made we want a Fiftieth Anniversary MacBook more than ever

Macworld Microsofts 50th anniversary was last week, and to commemorate the event, Microsoft revealed a 50th Anniversary Exclusive Microsoft Surface Laptop. While Im not interested in such a device, it sure does look pretty dang cool. The laptop has a black case with a Surface logo in shiny gold (because, you know, the 50th anniversary is the golden anniversary). Thats neat, but when you open the laptop, youll find the Microsoft logo from 1975 at the bottom right of the keyboard. When the laptop starts up, it has a special gold Windows 11 wallpaper. Microsoft is running a sweepstakes to give away of 50 of these laptops. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Microsoft Surface (@surface) Overall, the 50th Anniversary Surface looks sweet but I cant help but think it wouldnt look much better as a MacBook. Imagine next year, when Apple marks its 50th anniversary, the company issues a new black colornot Midnight, not Space Black, but Blackwith the Apple logo designed by Rob Janoff, the one on the Apple II with the six-color Apple and the Apple text logo aligned with the apple bite. Then, when you start this special edition MacBook, you are greeted with a special wallpaper of the original Apple logo with Sir Isaac Newton sitting under an Apple tree, created by Ronald Wayne. That would be awesome. Apple has been known to let anniversaries pass by, but its not without precedence. In 2017, the iPhone X marked the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, and back in 1997, Apple unveiled special commemorative Mac hardware for the companys 20th anniversary , known as the Twentieth Anniversary Mac or TAM. Will Apple surprise us and make a special-edition MacBook for its 50th? I know Id buy one, even if I had to go into serious debt to do so .

How to control folder opening behavior in the Finder

Macworld The Finder is one of the most customizable elements of macOS. However, Apples two interrelated settings for how folders open a Finder window dont seem to have any effect and havent for years. Despite this, you can take control to get the desired outcome. You may want one or more of the following behaviors to happen when you double-click a folder within a Finder window, which may vary depending on what youre trying to accomplish: Its contents replace what you see in the Finder window. A new tab opens in the window with the double-clicked folders contents. A new window in the Finder opens, showing the contents of the double-clicked folder. How its supposed to open folders If you search Apples support documents, you find that the company says you control this in two ways : Via > System Settings > Desktop & Dock by choosing a value from the Prefer tabs when opening documents menu: Always, Never, or In Full Screen. Via the Finder setting in Finder > Settings in the General tab labeled Open folders in tabs instead of new windows. The Desktop & Dock setting for Windows should let you control window behavior, but appears to have no actual effect. Finder settings let you control how tabs open from folders. The outcomes should be like this: With the General setting Prefer tabs set to Never , double-clicking should open folders in a new window; Always , in a new tab; In Full Screen , in a tab when you have a window set to full-screen mode. With the Finder setting Open folders in tabs checked, double-clicking should open folders in tabs, as it says; otherwise, in new windows. Forum posters and readers alike find this is not the case and has never been. In testing, I cannot get the promised behavior to work at all. But there are workarounds. Apple even hints at one on its support page, but its description of how it works is incorrect. How you open folders the way you want Regardless of how you have Desktop & Dock and Finder settings configured, heres how you can achieve what you want in a Finder window. It hinges on whether the Finder toolbar and sidebar are visible. You can change whether they appear by using View > Hide Sidebar (Command-Option-S) or View > Hide Toolbar (Command-Option-T). The sidebar cannot be shown if the toolbar is hidden. With the toolbar and sidebar visible, heres how folders behave: Replace the windows contents: Double-click a folder within the window. Open the folder in a new window: Hold Command and double-click a folder (Finder settings Open folders unchecked). Open the folder in a new tab: Hold Command and double-click a folder (Finder settings Open folders unchecked). Open a folder in a new window and close the previous one: Hold Option and double-click a folder. The current window disappears, and a new one opens with the contents of the double-clicked folder. (The new folder has no active Back button in the toolbar.) This changes when you hide both the toolbar and the sidebar. Heres what your actions result in: Open the folder in a new window: Double-click a folder within the window (Finder settings Open folders unchecked). Open the folder in a new tab: Double-click a folder within the window (Finder settings Open folders unchecked). Open a folder in a new window and close the previous one: Hold Option and double-click a folder. The current window disappears, and a new one opens with the contents of the double-clicked folder. (The new folder has no active Back button in the toolbar.) The Prefer tabs setting doesnt seem to have any effect in the Finder This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Jeff. Ask Mac 911 Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com , including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

Report: Apple is prepping a giant folding iPad for release next year

Macworld While everyone is waiting to see just how different the iPhone 17 lineup will be, an analyst with a decent track record has a prediction for next yearnot one, but two folding devices from Apple. While weve already heard rumors that a folding phone is nearing release, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu reports that Apple is planning to launch a 19-inch folding iPad later next year. As spotted by 9to5Mac , Pu says the so-called iPad Fold will launch alongside the folding iPhone next year. This is somewhat contradictory to a report earlier this week by Bloombergs Mark Gurman, in which he reported that 2027 would be the year Apple launched its first folding iPhone to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, similar to how Apple launched the iPhone X to mark the 10th anniversary. According to Pu, the folding phone will open to a 7.8-inch display, while the folding iPad will have a massive 18.8-inch display. Thats significantly larger than the largest tablet Apple currently offers, which tops out at 13 inches. A near-19-inch iPad would fold down to a device about the size of the iPad Pro. That sounds similar to a rumor floated by Gurman last year, who wrote that Apple was working on something akin to a giant iPad that unfolds into the size of two iPad Pros side-by-side. However, he said at the time that the device wouldnt be ready for launch until 2028. Whichever report you choose to believefor the record, Gurman has a better track record than Pu but both have had more accurate predictions than notit seems as though Apples first folding screens are on the way. Get your wallets ready.

Can Apple make its best Mac matter again?

Macworld With the release of the Mac Studio in March, Apple also released its fastest processor ever. However, that chip, the M3 Ultra , is only available in the Mac Studioits not available in the higher-end Mac Pro. Apples flagship Mac, once dubbed the worlds fastest personal computer, still runs the M2 Ultra chip that was released in 2022. That leaves the Mac Pro as a glaring oddball in its Mac lineup. Its an expensive tower computer starting at $6,999 with an out-of-date chip. Does this mean the tower Mac has come to an end? Perhaps, but there is a glimmer of hope, if you want to believe. Mac Pros history in limbo Apple has a history of leaving the Mac Pro in limbo. When the Mac Studio was first released in 2022 , the Mac Pro didnt get an update and eventually became the last Mac with Intel CPUs. At that time, it was still possible to get an Intel Mac Pro that was technically faster than the M1 Ultra Mac Studio, but you had to pay a premium for Xeon CPUs and graphics card upgrades that were clearly on the way out. The Mac Pros Apple silicon update finally came in 2023 when it got an M2 Ultra chip alongside the Mac Studio. Apple didnt change much about the Mac Pro other than its chip, though it took away the ability to add aftermarket RAM and graphics. The 2023 Mac Pro is essentially a machine for users who need PCIe expansion cardsa specialized market, but one that positions the Mac as a top-tier creative workstation. Apple introduced the first M-series Mac Pro in 2023 at WWDC. Foundry But since the M2 Ultra offered the same performance in the tiny Mac Studio and the tower of the Mac Pro, the questions about the Mac Pros viability persisted. Its very existence doesnt make sense, especially for a company that prides itself on maintaining profit margins and managing production costs. Apple doesnt release data on individual units sold, but it seems hard to believe that the Mac Pro, which starts at a price tag thats $3,000 more than the Mac Studio, sells in high enough quantity to justify its place in the lineup. But the Mac Pro has come back from the dead before. The current design with Intel chips was released in 2019 , six years after the ill-received cylindrical Mac Pro . That long gap was disrupted in 2017, when Apple announced that the Mac Pro would get the modular design it still uses today. So, a languishing Mac Pro isnt new, and its history feeds into speculation about its viability. Mac Studio in the spotlight Whats different this time is the introduction of the Mac Studio in 2021. Its launch suggested that the Mac Pro was on the way out, and with updates in 2023 and 2025, Apple has established the Mac Studio as a smaller Mac Pro with the fastest M-series chip. In fact, if speed is your top priority, the fastest Mac you can buy isnt even the Mac Pro right nowits M3 Ultra Mac Studio. Granted, the Mac Pro is the only option for a Mac user who needs expansion slots, but at least with its prior iterations, you were guaranteed to get the fastest chip, too. With the launch of the M3 Ultra, expansion is the only justification to get the Mac Pro, making its specialized status even more specialized. This isnt the first time Apple targeted the higher-end workstation market with a small, compact computer with limited upgradability. The Mac Studio is something of a rebirth of the 2013 cylindrical Mac Pro. Both have compact, space-saving designs and the fastest chips. Both have a lot of ports for connecting devices. Both are workstations for demanding users but not the most demanding users. Apple was quite proud of the 2013 Mac Pro; at its unveiling, Apples Phil Schiller famously quipped, Cant innovate anymore, my ass. The Mac Studio is similarly innovative and its easy to assume it will take the place of the Mac Pro at some point. It doesnt help that there arent any Mac Pro rumors that point to any specific specifications, new tech, design tweaks, or anything else. The only rumor to speak of is a mention that it might arrive later this year, but a tentative spot on the release schedule isnt reassuring. What the future holds So if the Mac Studio is the workstation value model, Apple has an opportunity to reposition the Mac Pro instead of letting it fade away. Ive always thought that this Mac in particular should be a showcase for that latest (if not cutting edge) tech. It should always have the fastest CPU, the beefiest GPU, the latest Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth iterations, and whatever else Apple can do (what the heck, put a C1 in it!). And it should be updated frequently regularly with whatever the latest thing is. Its not a machine that just anyone can afford, but so what? Apple can afford to have a low-volume selling Mac that has the main purpose of flexing muscle. The fact that you can buy it is a bonus. Its also the only Mac made in the U.S. As announced back in 2019, the Mac Pro is manufactured in Austin, Texas, and includes components designed, developed and manufactured by more than a dozen American companies for distribution to US customers. With tariffs threatening to upend Apples pipeline, a U.S.-made computer could be a boon to Apples bargaining position. As Macworld columnist Jason Snell recently hypothesized, Apple could also have bigger plans for its chips that would require the available cooling space within the Mac Pro. Reports have said that Apple is working on a server chip for online AI processing , and perhaps after Apple will unveil this chip alongside a reimagined Mac Pro. It might seem like a long shot, but the Mac Pro has been reborn so many times, a glimmer is all Mac Pro fans need to keep hope alive.

How to get Instagram on iPad

Macworld Instagram launched in the summer of 2010, which Apple fans remember as the year of the first iPad. But if the two things seemed destined to work beautifully togetheran intuitive tablet with a big sharp screen, and a massively popular social network focused on photos and short videosthen that destiny was thwarted. Even now, like WhatsApp , Instagram doesnt offer an official version for the iPad. Instagrams iPad-phobia appears to be lessening, with a report in April 2025 indicating that the company is finally building an iPad app in response to TikToks political difficulties in the U.S. But we have no idea how long thats going to take, if it happens at all. What should iPad owners do in the meantime? Fear not! There are workarounds, and its possible to access and post to Instagram from your iPad, even without a dedicated app, if you know what youre doing. In this article we show how to get Instagram on your iPad, either by using the iPhone app or by accessing it via a web browser. For related advice, see How to use Instagram on Mac . Why isnt there an Instagram app for iPad? It just doesnt seem to have been a priority. In 2020, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the company had lots to do and not enough staff to accomplish them. In 2022, he said there werent enough users demanding an iPad app for it to be a priority. Its an odd omission, for sure. How to download Instagrams iPhone app on your iPad Our problem is that Instagram doesnt have an iPad app. But heres a secret: you can run iPhone apps on your iPad. Instagrams iPhone app wont be optimized for the iPad, of course, but its better than nothing. If youre reading this on your iPad you can jump straight to the app listing here . Tap Get or the cloud icon and download it. If you prefer or need to find it via search, open the App Store on your iPad and tap the magnifying glass icon at the right of the top bar. Tap the search bar and type in Instagram , then hit the Enter key. The correct app should appear with no problems (it works fine in iPadOS 18.3.2), but if youre running an older version of the operating system you may need to tap Filters > Supports , and change iPad Only to iPhone only . Using the iPhone app on iPad Apps that are designed to be iPhone-only tend to be a pain to use on iPad, as we discuss in How to get iPhone apps on iPad . In terms of how the app displays on the iPads larger screen, you have two options. It can display in a mini iPhone-sized window in the middle of the screen, or it can blow that window up to iPad size, which may be slightly grainy or pixellated. Use the arrows button at the bottom right to toggle between the two and find the one you like best. David Price / Foundry Browse Instagram via a web browser The iPhone app provides a suboptimal experience on iPad, as weve seen. So a better option is probably to treatInstagramas a normal website and browse it via Safari or another web browser. In Safari, go to Instagram.com and enter your login details. Youll now be able to use Instagram as normal. David Price / Foundry To be honest we find the site perfectly usable on iPad and we can live without a dedicated app for that reason. We hope you can too.

This Magic Mouse Lightning deal strikes 25% off Apples must-have Mac accessory

Macworld Apples Magic Mouse doesnt usually go on saleand weve never seen it this low. Apples Magic Mouse with a Lightning port is available for an all-time low of $60 at Woot right now , a savings of $20 and 25 percent off its MSRP. Thats not just a great a discountits the lowest weve ever seen. This isnt the newest version of the Magic Mouse, but other than a Lightning port instead of USB-C, its identical to the one Apple sells. You probably already know that you need to flip it upside down to charge it, but thats the same with the newer model. If you dont have Lightning cables anymore, dont worry because theres a USB-C to Lightning cable included in the box. You wont even have to charge it that often because the internal battery will last for about a month before it needs your attention again. Apples Magic Mouse with a super low profile that features a single clickable surface with two customizable buttons and a multi-touch area that you can use to scroll and swipe with ease. The sleek design also allows you to glide across the desk however you need. So go and order your Apple Magic Mouse for $60 at Woot while you can still get one. Apple gear always sells out fast and this one is a clearance item so its likely to go quickly, so hurry up before they disappear like magic. Snag a 25% discount for the Apple Magic Mouse Buy now at Woot

Best Mac data recovery apps to bring back your lost and deleted files

Macworld Its a nightmare scenario: your Mac has been playing up for weeks and youve been ignoring it, or just havent been able to figure out how to fix it. Then it refuses to start up. Why didnt you make that backup? Is there any way you can get back the lost data from your Mac? Luckily there are apps that can recover your lost photos and damaged files from your failed Macs hard drive. Data recovery apps, like the ones we have reviewed below, can recover files with relative ease, as long as the directory indicating where files were originally stored is salvageable. If that isnt the case, the software can scan the data for familiar patterns that would denote a file type. Once it finds a file type, theres a good chance that there will be data in that file. Whether youre a casual user scrambling to recover your lost files on your Mac, or a full-time tech shop doing everything it can to retrieve a clients most critical documents from a dying hard drive, these are the data recovery apps that get our recommendation. PROMOTION Data recovery software for Mac EaseUS Recover lost data in 3 simple steps: automated scan, preview, and one-click recovery. Cover any file format and deal with data loss issues. Undelete files from the Mac-based hard drive, fusion drive, SSD, USB drive, memory card, digital camera, and more. Macworld recommended, and a great choice for both Mac and Windows users. Now 25% OFF Exclusive Code: MACWORLD25 Get It Now l Windows Get It Now | Mac Looking to recover data from a iPhone? Read: Best data recovery apps for iPhone . Best data recovery software for Mac 2025 Heres our pick of the best recovery software for Mac we have reviewed. Recoverit, Wondershare: Best Mac data recovery software Pros Clean, inviting user interface Good set of tools Good performance Cons Problem with USB boot drive creation module Price When Reviewed: 1 month/2 Macs: $79.99 (usually $109.99); 1 year/2 Macs: $89.99 (usually $139.99); perpetual license/2 Macs: $139.99 (usually $169.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Wondershare (annual) $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Recoverit by Wondershare is centered around the usual modules that you might see in this kind of suite: Hard Drives and Locations and SD Card for file recovery, Enhanced Recovery and Corrupted Video Repair for video and photo restoration and System Crashed Computer and NAS and Linux for additional recovery features. Theres a friendly home screen and user interface and the modules work as expected. Data recovery for hard drives, locations, and SD cards is simple and reliable, with Recoverit executing both a quick scan and diving into a deep scan. The video and photo repair modules work well with damaged files. The SD Card module was able to sift through a damaged 8GB SD card, pull some video data thought lost, and deliver the data back cleanly to a recovery folder without issue. Remote-based utilities allow for network-based drives to be located or accessed manually to have data recovered from them. The program can also save recovered data to a NAS drive or Google Drive, which is a nice feature. We had some problems with the USB boot drive creation module, but this might be due to Apples complications. Wondershare Recoverit presents an excellent data recovery package at a not-unreasonable, price. The company also offers discounts for students and educators, and small and medium businesses. While no trial version exists, the free version allows for all of Recoverits features to be used, with data recovery capped at 100 megabytes. Read our full Wondershare Recoverit review Stellar Data Recovery for Mac: Best for complicated recoveries Pros Quick, clean interface Good data recovery tools and modules Impressive net-based recovery module Cons Repeated crashes for Clean Up Junk Files module Activation bugs Price When Reviewed: Standard edition: $79.99 (currently $69.99) a year, or $129.99 (currently $99.99) for a lifetime license. Professional version: $129.99 (currently $99.99) a year, or $199 (currently $149) for a lifetime license. Premium edition: $209.99 (currently $99.99) a year, or $319 (currently $199) for a lifetime license. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Stellar Info (annual) $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Stellar Data Recovery for Mac focuses on recovering data via standard scans, deep scans, drive image creation, and other recovery tools. It is available as a free trial, with standard, professional, and premium editions available on yearly or lifetime contracts. The software supports both HFS+ and APFS volume formats and can be installed easily. Stellar Data Recoverys main strength is its extensive data recovery engine, which supports hundreds of file formats and allows users to search and recover by file type, headers, and attributes. It also features a good scan management engine that allows users to save and work from previous scans, and an image creation feature that allows users to create a byte-for-byte image of a volume that can be restored later. One interesting feature is the Recover Non Booting Mac module, which allows users to log into their Macs recovery partition, load Terminal, and enter a command to open a remote version of Stellar Data Recovery (more details in our full review). Other modules such as Search Large Files and Search Duplicate Files perform well and provide a comprehensive look at your drive. The complete array of modules worked well with test drives, recovering data as needed, and snagging as much as possible. Unfortunately, we did experience some problems. Stellars Clean Up Junk Files crashed the application repeatedly and had to be force quit. Other issues included activating the serial number, which took several days and multiple calls and emails to sort out. Additionally, Stellar Data Recovery refused to appear in the macOS Recent Items menu, preventing it from being quickly launched. Even after activating a Professional tier account, the software still presents an Upgrade button on its main menu, which seems to be asking for more money to be thrown in the companys general direction. Despite these failings, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is a good program able to dig deep to help reconstruct and recover deleted data. Theres also Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . Read our full Stellar Data Recovery for Mac review Data Rescue, Prosoft Engineering: Compelling toolset for experts Pros Excellent toolset and recovery system Helpful Scan Management Cons High subscription price Last update (v6) in 2023 Inadequate tech support Unable to create Sonoma recovery drive Price When Reviewed: Standard license: $79 for a 30-day; Professional license: $399 for one year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Prosoft Engineering (30-day license) $79 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Data Rescue offers some excellent drive management and data recovery features, albeit at a steep price for occasional users. The software supports older versions of macOS and requires macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later. Users can download the software and assign full drive access, with a trial offering up to 1GB of data recovery for free. The company offers a 30-day standard license as well as a pricy professional license. The software has a compelling toolset, including Quick Scan or Deep Scan, view hex tables, secure erase, set drive parameters, manage virtual RAID setup, and work with numbered sectors on drives and allocation blocks. It allows users to work with up to 15 scans, pausing and resuming as needed handy if youre several hours into a Deep Scan. The software runs well in the background. Data Rescue 6 can create clone and recovery drives, handling different data strategies such as Straight, Reverse, Bisect, and Segment. However, it does not offer an option to create a macOS Sonoma recovery drive as of July 2024. There are other limitations. If the drive is mechanically failing, itll be harder for data to be pulled and reconstructed. Technical tools in Data Rescue 6 offer plenty to work with, but can get you in trouble if you arent familiar with them. For example, setting the wrong drive parameters or boot point can require troubleshooting. Overall, Data Rescue 6 offers excellent tools, but Prosoft should address issues like lack of customer responsiveness, the lengthy time between updates, the high, subscription-based price tag, and a lack of a tutorial system. Read our full Data Rescue review Disk Drill Pro, CleverFiles: Reliable and friendly data recovery Pros Friendly interface Helpful YouTube videos Good data recovery performance Data Shredder utility Cons Occasional crashes Failed to create viable boot drive Price When Reviewed: Basic: Free; Pro: $89; Enterprise: $499 (pay extra for lifetime upgrades) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CleverFiles $89 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Disk Drill Pro from Cleverfiles is designed to recover data and rebuild deleted files on Macs and various other platforms and devices. It works with standard macOS file formats like HFS+, Mac OS Extended, and APFS. The basic version is available for free and can recover up to 500 megabytes of data. Theres a Pro version that supports one user and up to three simultaneous activations, paid for once with an additional expense for lifetime upgrades. The Enterprise edition has a similar extra expense for lifetime upgrades and supports 10 users and infinite activations with priority technical support and DFXML forensic data support. Disk Drill Pro requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or later and offers several new features, including a RAID utility, NAS & Linux via SSH utility, tools for recovering data from iPhones, iPads, and Time Machine volumes, a scan session manager, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, a macOS boot drive creator, a backup utility, a Clean Up utility to map drive storage, a duplicate file remover, a data shredder, and a free space erasure tool. YouTube-based tutorial videos are available. Devices can be scanned over a Wi-Fi network, and the S.M.A.R.T. function provides data about drive temperatures, drive condition, and life percentage left. Disk Drill Pro runs the scan in the background and can bypass file permission errors on the data being erased. During our data recovery scans, more than 90% of deleted files were readily recovered. Disk Drill Pro has some issues, such as the macOS Installer utility failing to produce a bootable volume after multiple tests, the Recent Sessions scan manager only sporadically working, and Disk Drill Pro crashing into the spinning rainbow wheel if a process is interrupted. However, it offers reliable data recovery from a wide variety of devices. Read our full Disk Drill Pro review EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac: Decent free version Pros Free version (up to 2GB) Great data recovery tools, file organization, categorization Video Repair tool Cons High price Unbootable Mac module failed to locate drives Unable to log into cloud-based services Price When Reviewed: $89.95 a month for one Mac, $119.95 a year for one Mac, $169.95 for a lifetime upgrade plan for one Mac Best Prices Today: Retailer Price EaseUS (monthly) $89.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a Mac port of the Windows recovery software. There is a free version with a decent 2GB recovered data cap as well as a paid version, which offers additional features such as 1-on-1 remote assistance, is available as a free trial, and requires Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later to run. The paid version offers one license for one Mac paid monthly, yearly or as a lifetime upgrade plan that covers one Mac. The monthly and annual license payments auto-renew. The software supports over 1,000 file types and offers specific modules for SD cards, cloud-based recovery, and storage. It supports APFS, HFS+, HFS, XFAT, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS, making it useful for working with drives from Windows and Linux machines. The core functionalities of data recovery, reconstruction, and organization are its strongest points. A friendly interface guides users in choosing the volume to recover from and designating the target restoration drive or folder. The program organizes recovered and restored data logically into categories such as All Types, Pictures, Documents, Audio, Videos, Emails, Archives, and Others. The SD Card function is useful, and the iCloud module makes it easy to log into iCloud (requiring Two Factor Authentication). The Video Repair module is enjoyable for exporting cleaner copies of old videos. However, some issues need attention, including the Unbootable Mac module, which has the user shut down their Mac, boot into Recovery Mode, then boot off an external server run by EaseUS. While this is a good idea in theory, the tool went into a continuous loop of being unable to mount my M2 Mac internal and external drives. I allowed this process to run overnight, and when I woke up in the morning, the drives had still not mounted and the tool could not be worked with. The cloud tool was unable to successfully log into Dropbox for recovery, and the application required an administrator password every time the user launched it. Additionally, the software presented a customer feedback survey every time the user exited the program, which was infuriating. Data Recovery Wizard for Mac excels at its core functions and presents an attractive means of recovering data from Mac, Windows, and Linux volumes with a nice array of platform and file format support. However, the high price point, Unbootable Mac module failures, constant need for an administrator password, and repeating customer feedback survey window let it down. Read our full EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac review Data Recovery for Mac, iBeesoft: Data recovery and backup combined Pros Friendly user interface Good data recovery Backup and video repair modules Nice price Cons Crashed Mac module didnt work Vague 60-day money-back guarantee terms Price When Reviewed: Personal License: $59.95; Lifetime License for $129.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price iBeesoft (per year, 2-5 Macs) $59.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iBeesofts Data Recovery for Mac functions as a data recovery and backup application and also includes a video repair utility for the AV nerds out there. The app is based around several modules: Storage Devices, Crashed Mac Recovery, Video Repair, File Backup, and Search Records. Theres a user-friendly interface and helpful file categorizations, such as All Types, Pictures, Documents, Audio, Video, Emails, Archives, Others, and Unsaved Documents. The software can scan through your list of mounted drives, looking for deleted files, reconstructing and recovering everything it can. Its easy to select specific files or all files for a given recovery to an external volume once a scan is complete. The Video Repair module allows you to drag and drop old video clips and upgrade their quality before exporting them. The Backup module allows you to specify files, folders, or an entire volume and back up a copy as a .dmg file, which can be easily restored later. This is so far so good, but there are some elements to sort out. The Crashed Mac module is designed to offer an easily downloadable .dmg file to create a boot drive to use as an emergency disk to help recover data to an external hard drive, but the web server that hosted the file not working so the feature couldnt be tested. Theres a Personal License and a Lifetime License, as well as a free version (with a 500MB limit). Data Recovery for Mac hones in on its core features well and is worth a look. Read our full iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac review Alsoft DiskWarrior Pros Good user interface and performance Locates and sorts out file and directory errors Customization and configuration options Cons Lack of APFS support High price Time Machine volume repair requires booting from included flash drive Price When Reviewed: $119.95 (plus $8.95 for shipping flash drive) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alsoft $119.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Alsoft has been producing high-quality utility software for over 20 years. DiskWarrior, a popular application for recovering damaged hard drives, has been in use since 1998. However, the latest version of DiskWarrior 5.3.1, released in 2024, seems to be falling behind in software and file system support. The software still supports the HFS+ format, FireVault 1 and 2, Core Storage for Fusion dries, RAID configurations, and disk images and sparse bundles, but it has not been upgraded to support the APFS format, which is increasingly prevalent on new Macs and Apples push towards this file system standard. DiskWarrior is available as a bootable USB flash drive that can boot Macs running HFS+ format volumes. Its ease of use remains unchanged, making it easy to mount and unmount drives and volumes, perform quick tests, access technical specifications, set up automated diagnostics, and receive notifications through alerts, emails, AppleScript programs, or text messages. However, theres bad news: DiskWarrior 5.3.1 still lacks support for the APFS standard. As more drives are moving towards this file system, the companys silence on this matter is concerning. A representative within the company confirmed that Alsoft is working on version 6.0, which will offer full APFS support. However, changes from Apples side, such as not allowing third-party kernel extensions and other technical changes, have made the development process more difficult and created more roadblocks than previous versions of DiskWarrior. The lack of a free trial version of DiskWarrior 5.3.1 raises concerns about the steep new user price and upgrade price, especially when the software lacks APFS support and can only work with certain volumes. Sometimes a great utility gets stuck in development. Theres still a great application to be had here, but Alsoft needs to put itself in a position where it can readily announce that an updated version will be out at a given date and that it will offer APFS support. Read our full DiskWarrior review What is the best Mac data recovery app? Our top choice right now is Recoverit from Wondershare because it does a good job recovering data, and at a reasonable price. How we choose the best Data Recovery app for Mac Here at Macworld we review a lot of software and sometimes one sticks out as an obvious winner, but sometimes there may be more than one contender. We often find that the best option depends on a specific set of needs. For example, one option might be the best if you have a tight budget, while another option will be better for someone who will only use this software once, while the best option for someone who expects to need to use the software again and again will probably be quite different. For that reason we specify who we recommend the app for. We also tend to only include the apps that we recommend in our group tests. If the app isnt included here it may be because we dont rate it as well as the ones in this round up. How we test Data Recovery software for Mac When we test data recovery software we simulate the experience of those who lose data in real world scenarios. This includes everything from recovering accidentally deleted files, to attempting to recover data from a formatted disk. Why you can trust our recommendations Macworlds Data Recovery app reviewer, Chris Barylick is an Apple-Certified Macintosh Technician with experience working with clients who have lost data and almost 30 years experience of tinkering with Macs. FAQ 1. Why does Data Recovery take so long? Expect the data recovery process to be time-consuming as the app pieces the bits of files back together. With patience, most files that havent been overwritten should, in theory, be saveable. Some drives can take days to fully scan, and the higher capacity they are, the longer the process. But if its irreplaceable photos or important documents that are lost, you can afford to wait. 2. Is there a free wayto recover my lost Mac data? Unfortunately, this sort of software is pretty much always going to have a high price associated with it before you can recover what you needbut if youve lost hundreds of treasured photos or the first 1,000 pages of your novel, then no price is too high, probably. Sometimes you can pay for the software for a month, do what you need to do and then cancel. Sometimes you must subscribe for a year. Other options allow you to buy it outright, but pay extra for future updates. Your own circumstances will influence which option is best for you. Additionally, many of these tools offer a trial so you can at least see what you should be able to recover before you spend your money. There are a few techniques you can try before you spend money on an app though, as youll see in our How to recover data from a damaged Mac article. 3. How to avoid data loss Prevention is better than a cure and we recommend adopting a regular backup routine going forward, so youll avoid this kind of situation again. For more tips on this, take a look at the best backup software for Mac and How to use Time Machine to back up a Mac . For more advice about software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks and our latest macOS and iOS software reviews .

Heres proof that a 256GB SSD is too small for a Mac in 2025

Macworld You know the clich, bigger is better? That almost always applies to a devices storage capacity. It applies to Apples Macs, which are mostly all set at 256GB at the lower-priced standard configurations. Thats too small, even if youre not a professional who deals with large files. We recommend getting at least a 512GB SSD, and here at Macworld, we were recently reminded of how small 256GB is. A Macworld editor (who shall remain nameless, but there are only five of us) has the unfortunate burden of a 256GB SSD in their Mac. (Okay, yeah, Practice what you preach, Macworld. Ill be sure to tell upper management.) And they had problems because an extremely large amount of space (108GB) unexpectedly became dedicated to System Datathat took up half of the 256GB SSD. Foundry Now, youre probably looking at the screenshot above and thinking, Dang, you need to do something about Messages and Photos and sure, youre right (they assure us that they have Messages in iCloud and iCloud Photos set up). But when macOS and System Data take up 129GB of space on a 256GB SSD, thats a lot. Something odd happened with System Data. Eventually, enough space was freed to install the recently released macOS 15.4 update. Installing the update resulted in a smaller System Data allocation of just 45.75GB and over 70GB of newfound free space. If youve never heard of System Data, thats because youre not really supposed to be preoccupied with what it is. macOS is supposed to manage it for you, and even if you do want to manually manage it , its no trivial task and is probably best done with the help of a disk cleanup utility . Regardless of whether you manage System Data or not, something happened with the OS that caused a 256GB SSD to run out of space temporarily. That could be catastrophic if, say, youre working on your kids birthday video in iMovie and you suddenly find out that you cant save anything. This particular situation might not be common, but it exemplifies why 256GB is too small for a Macs primary storage device. Stuff happens with the OS that takes up space, and you can suddenly find yourself with a full drive . You can put in the work to manage the space so you dont trap yourself, but honestly, do you really want to do that? There are just too many other factors that come into play, too. To expand on the iMovie example I mentioned earlier, theres an old rule of thumb that says a device should have 25GB free for iMovie (or other movie projects). And 25GB is 10 percent of a 256GB SSDs space. Thats a lot. When we polled three other Macworld editors, they had System Data at 55GB, 68GB, and 87GB. Thankfully, those editors have 1TB SSDs, so there is no issue with free space. Nothing to worry about, even if System Data has to balloon up temporarily. The point is, until Apple increases the base level to 512GB, do yourself a favor when you buy a Mac and get an SSD bigger than 256GB. It will save you from future headaches. And if you already have a 256GB drive, consider one of these ways to expand your Macs storage .

Next-gen CarPlay is the broken Apple promise that foreshadowed the Siri fiasco

Macworld By now, were all familiar with an embarrassing slip-up from the leadership in Cupertino. At WWDC in 2024, the company promised advanced new Siri features that would come in an update to iOS 18. Then, it created mainstream TV ads showcasing the feature (which wasnt out yet), and finally, this spring, admitted they couldnt deliver these features as promised . They would only come in the next yearmeaning likely as an update to iOS 19and some are questioning whether even that date is possible . Naturally, it brought to mind AirPower , another product Apple demonstrated on stage but axed when they couldnt deliver it. Some likened it to Apples long struggle to develop its own 5G cellular modem, which eventually ended in the C1 modem shipping in the iPhone 16e, but the company never got on stage (as it were) and promised one. I think theres a better parallel: Next-gen CarPlay. Its been how long? Apple first publicly unveiled the next generation of CarPlay back at WWDC in June of 2022 . Thats right, nearly three years ago. To be fair, Apple called it a sneak peek, and said we cant wait to show you more further down the road. Apple certainly never ran mainstream ads selling a product with next-gen CarPlay as a feature, unlike the missing iOS 18 Siri features. But it also showed a screen full of major auto brands, and said that automakers from around the world are excited to bring this new vision of CarPlay to customers. At that time, Apple said vehicles will start to be announced late next year. That means late 2023. It felt, in the summer of 2022, like a very long runway and an extraordinarily early announcement from Apple. With just days left before the end of 2023, Apple announced the first next-gen CarPlay brands, and there were only two: Porsche and Aston-Martin. Both were supposed to deliver vehicles with next-gen CarPlay in 2024. Next-gen CarPlay was supposed to transform vehicle dashboards in 2023. Apple Only 2024 came and went, and the cars never materialized. And no other vehicles were announced. Worse, brands like GM went in the other direction, dumping CarPlay entirely in 2024. Just last month, Porsche announced its new Communication Management system, the hardware and software experience for its upcoming cars. And it only features the same CarPlay compatibility weve all had for years. Having missed its own distant deadline, and with no release in sight, next-gen CarPlay looks like it might never see the light of day, especially on the sorts of cars most of us can afford. A problem of Apples own making Apple didnt have to show off the new CarPlay back in 2022, and its hard to understand why it bothered to. Even then, supporting cars werent supposed to be announced until late 2023. So why not just announce it at WWDC a year later? Better yet, why not wait to announce it until the first automakers are actually ready to announce their supporting cars, and co-market with them? Why not just keep everything under wraps until its ready to ship, as it did with the development of the C1 modem? Just as with the new Siri capabilities, Apples marketing needs surpassed its capabilities . There was no technical reason to announce something so unready, no case to be made to customers. It was a marketing need, put ahead of the development realities. The next-gen Siri announcement at WWDC raised expectationsand the iPhone 16 launch only heightened them. Apple This was further enabled by the shift to pre-recorded events. It was harder to show a slick, finished-looking demo of a feature that is definitely not ready yet and may never be when they had to show it off live on stage. In hindsight, we shouldnt have been so surprised when Apple said it couldnt deliver on its Siri promised. When 2024 came and went without even a hint of next-gen CarPlay coming to market, we could have realized that Apple has started to engage in that most un-Apple practice of promoting stuff while it is still early in development. Apple has big expectations ahead of it for WWDC in June. It has to convince users that it can create new experiences were excited about after the disappointing release of Apple Intelligence, convince the market that it isnt disastrously behind on advanced AI technology, and convince the press that its promises are trustworthy.

How Apple can handle Trumps tariffs without raising prices (too much)

Macworld Apple is one of the worlds most valuable and powerful companies, offering some of the worlds most popular products. And yet, with the stroke of a sharpie, a raft of U.S. tariffs threatens its entire business . Life comes at you quick. Speculation says that the prices of Apple products are headed up. Apple Stores are crowded with buyers who are trying to beat the anticipated price increases. But while prices are probably going up, thats only one of the many levers Apple can pull in order to deal with the tariff situation. Heres a look at what the company might do to mitigate the tariff issue as much as possible. Eat into profit margins Heres something Apple could do to deal with tariffs: hold prices steady and let all the added costs eat into its profit margins. It will never, ever do that because no company prizes its profit margins more than Apple, but its certainly an option. At the very least, theres a short-term option for Apple to mitigate some of the tariff expenses by reducing product profit margins, at least temporarily. Lets put this in perspective: Apples reported products gross margin last quarter was 39.3 percent, the highest its been in recent memory. Obviously, margin varies by product, but Apple is one of the worlds most profitable companies because it has enormous profit margins . ( Thats why they call it money! ) One way Apple could (but wont) respond to the tariff situation is to take in lower profits from iPhone and other sales. Connor Jewiss / Foundry Every time I read about a billionaire sports team owner refusing to pay players, I am reminded that rich folks didnt get rich by spending all their money. Similarly, Apple didnt get where it is by cultivating a culture of acceptable hits to its profit margin. Any proposal to allow those margins to drop is going to be fought off like a body rejecting a virus. And yet its a tool in Apples arsenal. As I wrote above, its a short-term option , and taking less profit to smooth out pricing is definitely an option, but in the long term, Apple is going to want its profits. Play a shell game Apple doesnt just make products in China. It makes iPhones in India and Brazil and has been moving more production of various products to Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Different countries have different tariff levels, so Apple can redirect its production to minimize tariffs in the U.S. As the Wall Street Journal reported , Apple is planning to send the U.S. more iPhones from India (26 percent tariff) rather than China (54 percent). Apple also makes a small number of phones in Brazil (10 percent tariff), but might be tempted to ramp up production there. For all products that are manufactured in more than one location, Apple will be able to change the flow of those products to optimize its profits. If its cheaper overall to send the entire factory output from Brazil to the United States and then import phones into Brazil, it could choose to do so. The problem, of course, is that getting these plants up and running takes time, and its really only been since the pandemic that Apple has stepped up efforts to diversify its manufacturing and assembly operations beyond China. Apple can play a shell game with product shipments, sending those over there while these others come over here, but it cant make new assembly plants spring up overnight. Raise prices For a company that makes huge profits, Apple actually hates changing the prices of its products. The iMac has almost always cost $1,299 . The last time there was a major iPhone price hike, it was cloaked behind the splitting of the line between the more expensive iPhone X and the iPhone 8. (That split is basically the split between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro today.) Or take the MacBook Air, which Apple really wants to start at $999. When the M2 Air arrived, it carried so much new tech inside that the company had to price it at $1,199and so it kept older models around for years until, with the M4 Air, it could finally get the new models base price down to $999. Yes, Apple reaps huge profits from its products, especially from all the add-on options that elevate products above their base configurations, but it sees enormous value in price floor stability. Thats what the impact of tariffs is threatening to dislodge. Apple hasnt raised the price of products like the iMac in some time. Foundry Thanks to inflation, though, the net result of Apples solid pricing floors is that its products have actually cost less over time. As pointed out by Ben Thompson , the real-price cost of a new iPhone has gone from $799 in 2020 dollars to $657 as of last fall. If Apple were to simply re-price its products to reclaim all the value lost to inflation since 2020, the iPhone 16 would start at $980, and the MacBook Air would start at $1,226. Thats probably asking too much of consumers, but it would be very easy for Apple to raise everything by 10 to 20 percent and reclaim some of the tariff cost. However, Id be surprised if Apple re-prices its existing products while theyre on store shelves. In other markets, Apple has tried hard to keep its prices from floating based on the vagaries of foreign exchange rates. Yes, repricing has happened from time to time , but it always feels more like the exception that proves the rule. Its more likely that as Apple introduces new versions of existing products, itll do so at higher starting prices. So this fall, the rumored M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro would start a bit higher than they do today. Another option Apple has used to cloak price increases is to eliminate old base configurations so that the new base has a higher price with a larger margin built in. This is what happened with the iPhone 15 Pro Max , which eliminated the prior years $1,099 Pro Max option with 128GB of storage, making the $1,199 model with 256GB of storage the base. An extra 128GB of storage doesnt cost anywhere near $100, so that change instantly boosted the minimum profit Apple made from any iPhone Pro Max sold. Over the next year, as Apple adjusts to tariffs and inflation, expect some combination of regular price increases and the removal of low-spec options. Work the refs Apples top strategy goal during this process isnt about pricing or manufacturing; its about politics. During the first Trump administration, Tim Cook worked hard to ensure that the White House knew about Apples issues with international trade policy, and it worked pretty well for Apple. This administration sure seems different, but Cook is going to earn his money trying to argue for conditions that are more favorable to Apple. And while everything happening right now seems really chaotic and unpredictable, I will say that its generally quite hard for a President of the United States to be perceived as harming great American businesses that dominate across the globe, especially if it favors foreign companies (like Samsung) that manufacture their products in more favorable tariff environments. TIm Cook might have to work extra hard with President Trump to come up with a way to handle the tariffs. Apple Part of that negotiation will involve Apple doing what its already been doing since 2016, demonstrating its commitment to American industry and building campuses and manufacturing facilities and the like, and probably offering photo ops where Trump can claim victory and show that his policies are making a difference. Is that cynical? Well, yeah, but thats politics. None of us can predict where this is all going, but Id expect at least some relaxation of these policies in areas where the administration can declare victory. Apples political goal will be to provide those opportunities so that it can get out from under the most onerous of the tariffs. Play the longest game Tim Cook has built Apple into a tech giant by optimizing the supply chain and manufacturing, relying primarily on China. Its all gone well so far, but if the international economy changes so much that its largest market is no longer accessible from that supply chain, changes are going to have to be made. Hovering over all of this is also the fact that Apples chip supplier is in Taiwan, and any war over Taiwan would be ruinous for both Taiwan and U.S.-China relations. Theres no way to predict the future, and sure, this might all blow overbut would you bet on that if you were Tim Cook? While Cook will likely be prompted to make some showy gestures to get what he wants out of the U.S. administration, hes also got to make some tough and expensive decisions that have real long-term consequences. If Apple has the will, its one of the few companies that could make a real impact in terms of American production capacity, as well as building up capacity in other countries in order to reduce its reliance on a single market. It cant mitigate all its risk, but it could spend a lot of money to reduce it at least somewhat. This is the long game, though. Itll likely be measured in decades. But Apple is not a company known for thinking bigger and more long-term than a lot of its competitors. Tim Cooks final legacy as Apple CEO may be how he starts to unravel the efficient, China-focused manufacturing machine he spent two decades building.

Instagram finally, finally makes an iPad app! Maybe

Macworld Instagram fans hoping for an iPad app may finally get their wish, if a new report is accurate. The Information , citing an internal source, claims the company is developing an app for iPadOS. What isnt clear is why it took Instagram so long to start work on something that seems like an obvious win. Its had long enough to make an iPad app: the first Instagram post was made way back in July 2010 and the iPhone app launched less than three months later. But the company showed little interest in building an app for the iPad, which had debuted earlier that year. As MacRumors explains, the excuses for this omission have varied over the years. In 2020, Instagram boss Adam Mosseri said the company had lots to do and not enough staff to accomplish them. In 2022, he said instead that there were not enough users demanding an iPad app for it to be a priority. We dont have access to Instagrams internal numbers, but it feels like an obvious fit for the iPads larger screen. Instagrams angle when it launched was all about sharing photos, and even though the site has since pivoted, as almost all social networks have, to a more generalised videos and influencers and trends approach it remains highly visual. TikTok has an iPad app; Facebook has an iPad app; Snapchat and Pinterest and X have iPad apps. Its just weird that Instagram doesnt. Maybe that will change soon. But we dont know how soon: The Informations sources dont predict a launch timeframe.

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 (or keyring) 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. We have also included a growing list of trackers and accessories that might not be AirTags themselves but work seemlessly with Apples Find My app and ecosystem 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 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 $19.95 View Deal $19.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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 $10.99 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 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 $10.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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 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 $12.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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: $14.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $14.69 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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 $16.15 View Deal $29 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Although it now looks to be discontinued you can still find Apples fine AirTag Loop on sale. It 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 $8.48 View Deal $12.95 View Deal $12.95 View Deal $12.99 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 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 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 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 $85 View Deal Bosca $85 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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 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 Pros Find your pet via AirTag Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $13.99 View Deal Elevation Lab $19.95 View Deal $30.81 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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 Price When Reviewed: $9.99 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 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 Ugreen Bluetooth Wallet Finder Tracker Tag for Apple Pros Super thin tracker Works with Apple Find My IP68 protection Rechargeable Price When Reviewed: $26.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $26.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Even thinner than a wallet card holder or AirTag-holding wallet is this 1.7mm thin tracker from Ugreen. It works with Apples Find My app so is like an AirTag that is completely flat and barely noticeable tucked up alongside the cards in your wallet. It will shriek out at 80dB if you want to find your lost wallet nearby. Best AirTag mounts Olixar AirTags Adhesive Silicone Pocket Pros Stick on your AirTag 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 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 KeyBudz Covert Mount for AirTag Pros Tamperproof lid Extreme environment protection Price When Reviewed: $14.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $14.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The KeyBudz Covert Mount for AirTag is made of rugged fiberglass reinforced copolymer and built to withstand submersion in water and extreme temperatures with IP68 waterproof and dustproof protection. Clamp it onto just about anythingfrom your bike, vehicles, camera gear, suitcases, construction equipment and trailers. Tamper-proof, it can form continuous bond with surfaces while submerged underwater for over 60 days and is nearly impossible to remove once placed. 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 Pelican Outdoor $19.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 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 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 Journey REEVUS Insulated bottle iPhone stand and tracker Pros Works with Apple Find My Water bottle included Magnetic carry loop works as iPhone stand Price When Reviewed: $89.99 With this multi-purpose Apple Find My friendly gadget you should never lose your bottle again as it includes a rechargeable tracker in its clever lid that means can you can track its live location on your iPhone. Youll get out-of-range alerts, and can easily locate the bottle when nearby as it has a built-in 100dB speaker. That lid is smarter than just a tracker as the hinged carry loop includes a MagSafe magnet that will hold your iPhone (12 and later) even when the bottle isnt fullwhich is great as a secure camera tripod, gimbal or phone stand. Its one of the best water bottle carry loops we have tested, and all its extra features really are bonuses. The chic soft-touch matte-finish stainless Steel bottle itself holds up to 23.67 fluid ounces (700ml), and will keep your drink cold (24 hours) or hot (12 hours) with its double-walled vacuum insulated interior. The tracker works with Find My on an iPhone but isnt an AirTag. Its battery should last 120 days before needing a wireless recharge that takes just an hour. 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 If you already own n insulated bottle and its a HydroFlask, theres another solution. 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. Pitaka PitaTag Get your lighter back 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 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. 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 $29 View Deal $36.99 View Deal $109 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 $69.99 View Deal $69.99 View Deal $79.98 View Deal $84.99 View Deal $89 View Deal $99 View Deal $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket

Troubadour Matrix Backpack review: Super-smart looks and tech organization

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Smart inside and out Plenty of organizer pockets Recycled materials Cons High price Our Verdict The slimline and undeniably chic Troubadour Matrix Backpack acts like a super-organized mobile office, built for the everyday tech-heavy commuter and professional traveller. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $279 Best Prices Today: Troubadour Matrix Backpack Retailer Price Troubadour $279 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Weve road-tested a lot of great backpacks, duffle bags, shoulder bags and totes in our bid to find the best MacBook bags , but we fell in love with the Troubadour Matrix Backpack on first sight. Its gorgeous, slim and lightweight, and is specifically designed for the tech-carrying commuter or travellerbut youll pay a premium price for this luxury organizer. Troubadour Exterior designer looks On the inside, the Matrix Backpack is all about organization. But the exterior (which is only available in black) is business smart, in a FortiWeave waterproof fabric thats built with recycled polyester, and featuring elegant elements of vegan leather trim. The back features a comfortable padded mesh panel for breathability to stop a sweat building up as you wear it. Staying with the outside of the backpack, at the front there are two zipped pockets. The top pocket is for easy access to the things you need to reach in a hurry, such as your AirPods and sunglasses, passport and papers, and includes a key clip and AirTag slot. Below that is a larger fold-down compartment that can handle a lot of bulkier items in its five pocketsone with magnetic closureand zipped section. Here you might store your drives, charger, power banks, notebook, mouse, cables and other items. On one side is a flexible water bottle holder, and on the other a zipped pocket that would hold a compact umbrella, phone or another smaller device. The jersey-lined shoulder straps feature a hidden Quiver origami pocket for keeping your phone or travel card within easy but secure reach. At the top is a strong but comfortable non-slip vegan leather carry handle. The backpack weighs 2.6lbs (1.2kg) and measures 19.3 x 14 x 6.5 inches (49 x 36 x 16.5cm). Troubadour Inside tech organizer The most valuable piece of tech that youll want protected is your MacBook, and the laptop sleeve is padded and lined with a soft microfibre. Here youll also find compartments for paper or notebooks, or maybe your iPad too. Theres a storm cover built in to further protect your valuables. Overall storage is 20L, but the Matrix Backpack is probably not the carrying bag you need for a shop at the supermarket. If you need to travel with more packed in, try the 35L or 45L Pakt Travel Backpack 2.0 or 42L Stubble & Co The Adventure Bag . Instead, inside there are organizational pockets and pen slots and one deeper zipped pocket. We like the light-colored lining, which makes finding your stuff so much easier than in a dark interior. Troubadour Price This is a premium laptop backpack with quite the premium price of $279/279/279 . In this case we can see every penny you spend has been lavished on an exceptional backpack, outside and indesigned for the well-heeled professional tech traveller. If the price is too steep, check out our other recommended MacBook backpacks for more affordable options. Verdict The Troubadour Matrix Backpack acts like a mobile office, built for the everyday commuter traveller who carries a lot of tech around with them, as well as other everyday essentials. Its not bulky like some backpacks, and looks like a smart and stylish business-ready briefcase thats more comfortable to carry.

Best cheap antivirus deals for Mac

Macworld With Apple already including built-in antivirus protection for Macs you might be wondering Do Macs need antivirus software? especially when confronted by pricy monthly subscriptions for services. In this article well explain why you need an extra layer of protection and how to get the best cheap Mac antivirus software with the best deals. Mac security software adds another layer of protection to what Apple already provides, with features that can help to protect your identity, passwords, and financial details. These are the things that criminals are after, and theyll often use cunning ways to extract them rather than spending time trying to break past Apples defenses in macOS. Although some of the packages here are solely focused on macOS, others will also protect Android and Windows devices you might also own, and that makes the price of protection much cheaper per computer. Our best deal this month is Intego Mac Internet Security X9 you can get it for $24.99/20.99 a year for one Mac, normally $49.99/49.99 a year get the deal here . Weve evaluated many antivirus for Mac solutions from several companies, including free and low-cost options as well as some more feature-packed alternatives. See our round-up of the Best antivirus for Mac and our guide to How to remove a Mac virus for free , where we also run through the best free options. Here we will share the best free antivirus options as well as the best deals we have seen on the paid-for antivirus solutions. Best free antivirus for Mac Several companies offer free antivirus software for Mac, one of our top recommendations is Intego VirusBarrier Scanner (read our review) , we also liked Avast Security for Mac (read our review) . However, you should always be cautious using a free antivirus and dont expect all the features of the paid-for options. Intego VirusBarrier Scanner (read our review) free virus scanner. Get it here . Avira Free Antivirus for Mac (read our review) is free and also includes a VPN. Get it here . AVG Antivirus For Mac (read our review) free version offers basic features. Get it here . Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac (read our review) is free to use. Get it here . Malwarebytes Antivirus for Mac (read our review) has a free version as well as a paid version. Get it here . Avast Security for Mac (read our review) offers a free option alongside the Premium plan. Get it here . Cheapest antivirus deals for Mac Youll find the following Mac antivirus recommendations in our round-up of the Best antivirus for Mac. Were just presenting the lower-priced options here, but if you look at the roundup you may find alternative deals that suit you better. 1. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Pros Built for Mac Easy to set up Cons No protection from phishing links in email Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, usually $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link First year, 1 Mac, Internet Security X9 $24.99 First year, 1 Mac, Mac Premium Bundle $29.99 First year, 1 Mac, VirusBarrier X9 only $19.99 See all plans & pricing at Intego Intego Mac Internet Security X9 offers a useful set of security utilities that help keep your Mac safe and running smoothly and its user-friendly interface is right at home with Apples macOS aesthetic. We have a special deal for Intego Mac Internet Security X9 , which bundles Intego VirusBarrier and NetBarrier, so you can get it for $24.99/20.99 a year ($2.08/1.75 a month) for one Mac: get the deal here . Intego also regularly discounts the Mac Premium Bundle that includes Mac Internet Security X9 as well as NetBarrier, Washing Machine , Content Barrier and Personal Backup apps. The deal is currently: $29.99/23.99 a year ($2.50/2 a month). Get the deal here . Theres also a deal to get Intego VirusBarrier X9 for $19.99/$17.99. Get the deal here. Read our full Intego Mac Internet Security X9 review 2. Norton 360 Pros Fast, good performance and stability Minimal performance impact Cons Unable to scan .zip archives Price When Reviewed: Standard (3 devices): $39.99 for first year, usually $94.99 a year; Deluxe (5 devices): $49.99 for first year, usually $119.99 a year 1 year, 3 devices $39.99 1 year, 5 devices $49.99 1 year, 3 devices (Amazon) $17.99 The user interface is clean and friendly and the program ran both its foreground and background tasks briskly, with no crashes or slowdowns. There are some differences between the UK and US versions of Norton 360. In the U.S. you pay $39.99 for Norton 360 Standard which gives you protection for three devices, or $29.99 to protect one device with Norton AntiVirus Plus . In the U.K. its 24.99 for Norton 360 Standard for just one device. Norton also has a deal on Norton 360 Deluxe , which is $49.99/29.99 for the first year. That version covers 5 devices (including Macs, PCs and iOS devices). But the best deals are on Amazon. For example, at Amazon U.S. Norton 360 Deluxe (covering three devices) is $29.99 for a year get the deal here . In the U.K. theres a deal on Amazon U.K: get cover for three devices for just 12.99. Get the deal here Read our full Norton 360 review 3. McAfee Total Protection Pros Good, customizable set of security tools Background scanning feature Cons Can be laggy Price When Reviewed: Single: $29.99 (1 device) for first year, usually $89.99; Essential: $39.99 (5 devices) for first year, usually $119.99 a year 1 year, 1 device $29.99 1 year, 5 devices $39.99 PCWorld Software Store $19.99 McAfee Total Protection offers some good tools with good background protection and customization as well as an easy means of keeping your devices secure. You can get the Basic McAfee Total Protection for one device for $29.99 a year, or cover five devices for $39.99 for one year in the U.S. get the U.S. deal here . McAfee Total Protection Basic is 34.99 a year for one device for the first year in the U.K. or 39.99 for five devices get the U.K. deal here . Read our full McAfee Total Protection review 4. Avast Premium Security Pros Impressive malware detection and network tools Easy to specify antiviral scan types and target volumes Cons Descriptions of suspect files lack detail Price When Reviewed: From $34.68 for first year, usually $77.99 a year (1 Mac). First year, 1 Mac $34.68 (usually $77.99) First year, 10 devices $44.28 (usually $99.99) This suite offers a good suite of tools at a good price. The best functions such as VPN, disk cleanup, and anti-tracking tools are only available on the Ultimate subscription tier. Avast will cover for one Mac for $34.68 / 29.99 for the first year as part of its spring sale. Read our full Avast Premium Security review 5. Surfshark One Pros Good speed and performance Impressive anti-virus/anti-malware shielding Identity alert and protection Cons Multi-year contracts Occasional trouble accessing Google services Price When Reviewed: Surfshark One, 24 months at $2.49 a month with 3 free months (Total for 27 months: $67.23); 12 months at $3.39 a month with 3 free months (Total for 15 months: $50.85); or $17.95/month. 15 months, 1 Mac $50.85 27 months, 1 Mac $67.23 1 month, 1 Mac 17.95 Surfshark One offers a genuinely excellent suite of tools that combine its VPN with anti-virus/anti-malware and privacy-focused identity protection. Its price is high compared to other options here, but its saving you the price of a VPN too. The VPN module includes tools such as IP configuration, an Internet kill switch, rotating IP addresses, and Invisible on LAN features. While Surfshark Ones real-time protection tool was able to catch dozens of our sample malware installers. Sign up for two years and get three free months: you pay $2.69/1.89 a month for two years or $72.63/51.03 and get 27 months coverage. Get the deal here Read our full Surfshark One review 6. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac Pros Easy to scan external volumes such as flash drives Nice user interface Cons Occasional freezes Limited VPN Price When Reviewed: $24.99 per year for 1 device (usually $39.99), $29.99 per year for 3 devices (usually $59.99) 1 year, 3 devices $29.99 (usually $59.99) 1 year, 1 device $24.99 (usually $39.99) Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers a handy, customizable user interface and good features. Bitdefender Total Security is currently $29.99 (usually $59.99) in the U.S. for a one-year subscription for one device. In the U.K. its 17.99 (usually 29.99) for a year and one device: get the U.S. deal here / get the U.K. deal here . Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac review 7. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac Pros Good malware detection Low system load Cons Fewer extra features than less-expensive options Price When Reviewed: $29.95 for first year, usually $39.95 a year (1 Mac) 1 year, 1 Mac $29.95 Trend Micro Antivirus is a good program with well-rated antivirus protection and a simple, straightforward interface that users will appreciate. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac is currently $29.95 for first year for one Mac, usually $39.95: Get the U.S. deal here / Currently 19.95 for first year for one Mac, usually 49.95: Get the U.K. deal here . Read our full Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac review 8. Eset Home Security Pros Good level of antiviral and real-time protection Excellent customization options Cons Slow drive scan Didnt include the promised password manager or encryption features Price When Reviewed: Essential: $49.99 a year for one device; Premium: $59.99 a year for one device 1 year, 1 Mac (Premium) $59.99 2 year, 1 device (Premium) $101.98 (usually $199.99) 1 year, 1 Mac (Essential) $49.99 ESET Home Security Premium completes its primary task of antiviral and malware prevention and theres an excellent level of customization. We did encounter a few bugs when we tested it though. The ESET Home Security Premium is $47.99/35.99 (usually $59.99/44.99) for first year for one device. Theres also the cheaper ESET Home Security Essential: $39.99/27.99 (usually $49.99/34.99) for first year for one devices. Read our full Eset Home Security review How to find a good antivirus deal It can be hard to know where to start with antivirus. Protecting your tech from malware, ransomware and other cyber attacks is such an important thing to do, but most of the services available appear to be very similar to one another, so its hard to understand which are the most secure, and which are the best value. Many of the offers are for more than one device do you have multiple devices to protect? Do you need to protect an iPhone as well as your Mac? Do you really need to protect your iPhone at all? Many of the best deals spread payments over a number of years. This can save you money because the price of a deal that covers you for one year can increase significantly in the preceding years. But do you want to be stuck paying every year for the cover? You can rest assured that we will only share deals here if we think theyre good enough to be worth buying. Everything we share here will be a great saving on a service we trust. We recommend taking a look at our article all about the best Mac antivirus to help you get a better understanding of which services we like most. Youll find that antivirus discounts can be huge, often at more than half price for your Mac or mobile devices. Do note that these are typically first-year deals, and at renewal youll pay the regular price.

What exactly did Tim Cook spend a million bucks on?

Macworld Its time to check in on the investments made by Apple CEO Tim Cook in a segment the Macalope likes to call Tims Investments. (Yeah, he just made this up, but would it kill you to play along?) As long-time readers of this segment will remember (shh), the Macalope community provides this as a free service to Apple CEO Tim Cook to help him better analyze the performance of his many investments. Sometimes its as large as a chip fabricating plant in Southeast Asia, sometimes as small as an electric toothbrush he bought at Walgreens. (That toothbrush was terrible , by the way.) This time we are going to take a little look at an investment that Tim made earlier this year to a certain incoming presidents inaugural fund. For a million dollars . Not to spoil the ending, but we will find that a million dollars doesnt go as far as it used to. A million dollars isnt a lot of money for nations or for Apple or even for Tim Cook, who donated the amount from his personal coffers (not a lot of people know this but Tim keeps all his funds in actual strong boxes). But its a good-sized amount for an individual inaugural donation. The Macalope, for example, gave far less. He gave zero dollars (only because negative amounts were apparently not allowable, so much for money representing legal free speech). Irrespective of the optics (morality is such a charged word) of trying to curry favor (bribe is such a dirty word) with the highest politician in the land, it doesnt seem like Tim got much of a return on his investment. Let us review the events of this week through the magic of headlines. Tariff News, April 2, 2025: Trump Unveils Sweeping Levies in Stark Shift in Trade Policy You might think Apple would have gotten some special carve-out for Tim Cooks $1 millionbut that was January! Thats forever ago in palm-greasing time! What have you donated lately? What do these tariffs mean for Apple, you know, the company that Cook is CEO of? A $2,300 Apple iPhone? Trump tariffs could make that happen And thats not foldable phones. Thats regular ol flat phones. Although at prices like that, you might snap one in half out of anger. How is the company responding? How Apple flew 5 flights full of iPhones from India and China in 3 days to beat Trump Tariffs Thats how the market is supposed to work, right? The invisible hand puts the iPhones on the plane then it flies the plane? Sorry, the Macalope must have been out sick that week of business school. IDG But, wait! Thats not all the bad news for Apple! What else did Tim get for a million bucks? Apple Plunges 9%, Leading a Tech Sell-Off And that headline was from last Thursday. As of this writing, Apple stock is down more than 18 percent since the tariffs were announced, much like the rest of the market. Just dont look at your 401(k). Keep looking at those Pokmon cards you never opened and are still in mint condition. Thats your real nest egg now. And whatever internal organs you have to sell. Members of your family who are not necessarily your favorites. Your soul . That kind of thing. Youll be fine. Itll be fine. Well be fine. You know who else will be fine? Surprise twist. See, the Macalope left out one headline that goes before those other ones. Apple CEO Tim Cook Sells Stock Worth $24 Million Must be nice. The problem in these situations is that once you turn the spigot full of favors on, all you can do is keep the flow running. Good luck keeping up, Tim.

Travel light with this Apple iPad and Beats Flex bundle for just $149.99 (reg. $299)

Macworld This is a complete travel iPad setup , featuring 32GB of storage, Beats wireless headphones, and all the essential accessories to keep you productive, entertained, and connected without hauling around a full laptop or draining your phone battery. And at 50% off, its an easy upgrade that wont wreck your travel budget. Whats included in this iPad travel bundle? An Apple iPad 7 with a 10.2 Retina display, 32GB of storage, and up to 10 hours of battery life. Whether reading, streaming, or getting work done on the go, its built to keep up. A pair of renewed Beats Flex Wireless Headphones offering up to 12 hours of listening time , a tangle-free neckband , and magnetic earbuds that auto-pause when you take them off. A full accessory kit, including a protective case , charging cable , stylus , and screen protector , so youre ready to go right out of the box no extra purchases or prep needed. The iPad is Grade A refurbished and arrives in near-mint condition, while the Beats Flex are renewed open-box returns, tested, cleaned, and repackaged. Whether youre firing off emails at 30,000 feet, watching movies in a hotel room, or catching up on podcasts during your commute, this bundle has your back Grab the Apple iPad 7 + Beats Flex Travel Bundle for just $149.99 50% off. Apple iPad 7th Gen (2019) 32GB WiFi Space Gray (Refurbished) with Beats Flex Headphones Bundle See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Here we go again: The iPhone shake-up is now coming in 2027

Macworld While iPhone watchers have been eagerly awaiting this years update to see just how different the new models will be, a new report throws some cold water on those sky-high expectations. As it turns out, the real big change isnt coming until the iPhones 20th anniversary in 2027. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman , writing in his weekly Power On newsletter, Applea big iPhone overhaul is still two years away, now targeted to mark 20 years of the iPhone. Gurman reports that two brand-new iPhones will make an appearance in 2027Apples first folding phone and a bold new Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass. Of course, 2027 will actually be when the iPhone 19 is due, but weve been here before. Remember, the Phones 10th anniversary, which saw the launch of the iPhone X , was also the year of the iPhone 8, but Apple launched the iPhone X as a special edition and the iPhone 9 was forever lost to history. Apple has been rumored to release a folding phone for many years, but in recent months rumors have suggested that its far along in the development process. Just last month, it was reported that Apple had developed a Liquidmetal hinge to help reduce the appearance of a crease in the center of the screen. As far as the iPhone 17 , Gurman says it will represent more of a revamp than the iPhone 16, will appear quite similar to the current iPhones. So if you really want something different, it looks like

Best Mac Studio deals available now

Macworld In March 2025 Apple updated the Mac Studio for the first time since June 2023. The Mac Studio now comes with either a M4 Max or M3 Ultra chip yes, those are different chip generations but the M3 Ultra is still the more powerful (and expensive option). In our review of the M4 Max Mac Studio we were impressed, describing it as a mean machine ideal for the most hectic of production environments. The Mac Studio is hands down the fastest Mac there is right now (at least until Apple updates the Mac Pro with a M4 Ultra, if it ever does). It will be a while before we start to see big deals on the Mac Studio. However, we have seen some discounts, and you may also see some deals on the M2-generation Mac Studio and used modes may be sold in Apples Refurbished Store. If you want to buy a Mac Studio, and get the best deal possible, youve come to the right place. Were looking at where you can buy the Mac Studio at the best price. Best Mac Studio deals You cant yet save money on the new Mac Studio models in the U.S. But B&H has money off the older models and is selling the new models at full price. B&H, Mac Studio M4 Max , $1,999 B&H, Mac Studio M3 Ultra , $3,999 B&H, Mac Studio M2 Max , $1,599 ($400 off, was $1,999) B&H, Mac Studio M2 Ultra , $3,699 ($300 off, was $3,999) But there are discounts on the new models in the U.K.: KRCS, Mac Studio M4 Max , 1,889.10 (209 off, MSRP 2,099) KRCS, Mac Studio M3 Ultra , 3,779.10 (419 off, MSRP 4,199) Another way to save money on a Mac Studio is to buy one from the Apple Refurbished Store. Save up to $240 on a refurbished Mac Studio at Apple Refurbished Store in the U.S. Save up to 240 on a refurbished Mac Studio at Apple Refurbished Store in the U.K . What you need to know In March 2025 Apple updated the Mac Studio (first introduced three years prior) with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips making it more powerful than ever and more powerful than any Mac right now, including the Mac Pro. The Mac Studio can be configured with a M4 Max chip, as seen in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, or you can choose an M3 Ultra, which is essentially two M3 Max chips and while a generation older, still faster then the M4 Max. The Mac Studio starts at $1,999/2,099 for the M4 Max model. The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra starts at $3,999/4,199. There are also various build-to-order options. The most obvious thing missing from the Mac Studio is a display, but if you want to buy Apples Studio Display we have a separate article explaining where you can get the best deal on an Apple Studio Display . Also read our Apples Studio Display review. and check out our Best displays for Mac round-up. Read about how the Mac mini compares to the Mac Studio. Best Mac Studio deals right now You dont have to pay Apples price for the Mac Studio. We often see third parties discount Macs. Youll see the best prices right now below. Mac Studio with M4 Max, MSRP: $1,999/2,099 Retailer Price $1999 View Deal B&H $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Mac Studio with M3 Ultra, MSRP:$3,999/4,199 Retailer Price $3999 View Deal B&H $3999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Discontinued models You may find the 2023 models still on sale. Mac Studio with M2 Max, was: $1,999/2,099 Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1699 View Deal $1999 View Deal $1999 View Deal $2399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Mac Studio with M2 Ultra, was $3,999/4,199 New Refurbished Retailer Price $3399 View Deal $3849.99 View Deal $3999 View Deal $3999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Mac Studio M2 Ultra 3.68 GHz SSD 1 TB RAM 64GB $3699 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Mac Studio with M1 Ultra, WAS: $3,999/3,999 New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Mac Studio M1 Ultra 3.2 GHz SSD 2 TB RAM 64GB RAM $2649 View Deal Mac Studio M1 Ultra 3.2 GHz SSD 1 TB RAM 64GB RAM $2699 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy a Mac Studio The most obvious place to buy a Mac Studio is from Apple US or Apple UK , but there are lots of other options. One benefit of buying from Apple is you could trade in your old Mac and get money off. We have an article explaining How to get money off with Apples trade-in program. We recommend the following resellers in the U.S. and U.K.: U.S. retailers Apple Adorama Best Buy B&H Photo Video DataVision OWC Looking for other ways to save money. Find out if you can save money buying Apple products from another country . U.K. retailers Apple Argos AO Currys Scan John Lewis Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers in the UK who stock Macs and offer other services: KRCS iStore Insight Select Western Computer Jigsaw Sync Best Mac deals We also have round ups of the following deals: Best iMac deals Best Mac mini deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best MacBook Air deals

That big iPhone redesign predicted for this year? It might not be so big after all

Macworld After six generations in a row with very little change in the design of its Pro iPhone models (and three in a row with essentially zero change other than buttons), Apple is expected to finally shake things up this fall with the launch of the iPhone 17 handsets. But the bad news, according to a new report, is that the anticipated redesign is going to be a whole lot less radical than previously expected. In the latest instalment of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg leaker Mark Gurman says that while the late-2025 handsets will be a departure from the same old look, representing the lines biggest redesign since 2020, the iPhone 17 Pro will look a lot more like the 16 Pro than anticipated. When viewed from the front, Gurman claims, the iPhone 17 Pro will look much the same as its predecessor, with any noticeable changes limited to the rear of the device, specifically the camera module. The 17 Pro is still expected to feature three rear-facing camera lenses in a two left, one right triangular configuration, but these will be housed in a wider module that spans almost the entire width of the chassis. To be clear, this isnt a new rumor. In fact, this precise rumor was covered on this site in mid-February and then later that month . The wide-module concept isnt a certainty (sources could be wrong, and with five months to go until the launch its just about possible that Apple could yet change its mind) but its the current consensus among pundits and should be regarded as the most plausible outcome at this point. Whats more interesting about Gurmans article is what it tells us about the other parts of the 17-series iPhones. Namely, that earlier reports were wrong, and theyre staying the same. Renders showing a two-tone design are not an accurate representation of whats to come, he insists; the module will be the same color as the rest of the phone. And if the 17 Pro looks the same as the 16 Pro from the front, that implies that Apple doesnt intend to make any changes to the size or position of the Dynamic Island, and certainly doesnt plan to remove the cutout entirely in favor of an under-screen sensor array. This might seem disappointing, but Apple-watching veterans wont be surprised. A long way out, the companys products often get talked up by leakers and rumormongers as grand and radical reimaginings, but as the launch approaches and reality bites, pundits become more cautious and hint that major changes have been bumped to the following year when the process will repeat . It looks like this year wont be any different. For all the latest news and rumors as we head towards the biggest launch of the year, check out our regularly updated iPhone 17 superguide. And if you cant wait until September, make sure you pay the lowest price on the current range by checking our guide to the best iPhone deals .

A 256GB SSD is too small for a Mac in 2025 and its all macOSs fault

Macworld You know the clich, bigger is better? That almost always applies to a devices storage capacity. It definitely applies to Apples Macs, which, at the lower-priced standard configurations, are mostly all set at 256GB. Thats too small, even if youre not a professional who deals with large files. We recommend getting at least a 512GB SSD, and here at Macworld, we were recently reminded of how small 256GB is. A Macworld editor (who shall remain nameless, but here are only five of us) has the unfortunate burden of a 256GB SSD in their Mac. (Okay, yeah, Practice what you preach, Macworld. Ill be sure to tell upper management.) And they had problems because an extremely large amount of space (108GB) unexpectedly became dedicated to System Datathat took up half of the 256GB SSD. Foundry Now, youre probably looking at the screenshot above and thinking, Dang, you need to do something about Messages and Photos and sure, youre right (they assure us that they have Messages in iCloud and iCloud Photos set up). But when macOS and System Data take up 129GB of space on a 256GB SSD, thats a lot. Something odd happened with System Data. Eventually, enough space was freed to install the recently released macOS 15.4 update. Installing the update resulted in a smaller System Data allocation of just 45.75GB and over 70GB of newfound free space. If youve never heard of System Data, thats because youre not really supposed to be preoccupied with what it is. macOS is supposed to manage it for you, and even if you do want to manually manage it , its no trivial task and is probably best done with the help of a disk cleanup utility . Regardless of whether you manage System Data or not, something happened with the OS that caused a 256GB SSD to run out of space temporarily. That could be catastrophic if, say, youre working on your kids birthday video in iMovie and you suddenly find out that you cant save anything. This particular situation might not be common, but it exemplifies why 256GB is too small for a Macs primary storage device. Stuff happens with the OS that takes up space and you can suddenly find yourself with a full drive . You can put in the work to manage the space so you dont trap yourself, but honestly, do you really want to do that? There are just too many other factors that come into play, too. To expand on the iMovie example I mentioned earlier, theres an old rule of thumb that says a device should have 25GB free for iMovie (or other movie projects). And 25GB is 10 percent of a 256GB SSDs space. Thats a lot. When we polled three other Macworld editors, they had System Data at 55GB, 68GB, and 87GB. Thankfully, those editors have 1TB SSDs, so there is no issue with free space. Nothing to worry about, even if System Data has to balloon up temporarily. The point is, until Apple increases the base level to 512GB, do yourself a favor when you buy a Mac and get an SSD bigger than 256GB. It will save you from future headaches. And if you already have a 256GB drive, consider one of these ways to expand your Macs storage .

Im dreading the big iOS redesign and you should too

Macworld As whinged last week , Im not expecting much at WWDC 2025 this June. Im sick of Apple Intelligence and depressed by the likelihood it will dominate the conversation for a second year in a row. But theres another potential topic that scares me even more: the rumored iOS 19 redesign. In fact, the degree to which Apple will revamp iOSs look (and potentially navigational elements) this year is the subject of some dispute. Last month leaker king Mark Gurman described iOS 19 as the biggest redesign since iOS 7, and predicted that controls, icons, buttons, even user interface dynamics and mechanisms would all be altered to achieve greater consistency between iOS and macOS. Thats before we even get to system-wide glassy effects and rejiggering some applications for a new generation of users to better understand. That sounds pretty major. But Jon Prosser, who is more of a leaker jester, promptly showed off alleged screenshots of iOS 19 and insisted that the changes wouldnt amount to very much at all. And Gurman responded to that response by saying the screenshots werent representative and that the operating system wasnt finished yet. It all became rather tit for tat. Is iOS 19 changing radically, or is it staying essentially the same? Right now we dont know. Personally, I hope its the latter. When it comes to operating system interfaces, the means by which we navigate tech devices on a daily basis, sudden radical change is generally a bad idea. It should only happen when it absolutely has to. Take that iOS 7 update mentioned by Gurman, a less-than-positive experience for the vast majority of iPhone users. WWDC might seem like a big deal to members of the Apple media complex, but most iPhone owners didnt watch the keynote that summer and didnt know what was coming. Hence, the total aesthetic overhaul, complete with new app icons and garish color palette, came as a terrible shock, and search traffic for terms like how to go back to iOS 6 spiked on Macworld for weeks afterwards. It didnt help that focusing so much on the broad design language meant factors like productivity and motion sickness went unconsidered, but the looks alone would have ensured a mixed reception regardless. We can debate about whether it was a better or worse design than iOS 6 (and do bear in mind that the initial launch was especially garish, and was toned down in later versions), but above all, it was different: radically, suddenly, and disconcertingly different. When an interface is different its hard to get things done because all the signposts you use to orient yourself have changed. You become slow, cautious, fearful. Its like being a tech newbie all over again. Its disempowering, at least in the short term. In the long term, of course, it could be argued that iOS 7s changes were necessary and positive. For one thing, it makes sense that a device might need a thorough interface revamp six years after launch, given the impossibility of getting everything right first time and the difference in context between a groundbreaking new device for early adopters and a mature blockbuster. Furthermore, the iPhones original interface created for a less digitally literate era that liked note-taking apps to look like physical notepadshad outgrown its purpose. Apple could have handled the transition more sensitively, but I would agree that skeuomorphisms time had run out and change was necessary. But if Apple feels it necessary to rebuild the very foundations of iOS at this stage, a full 18 years into the products lifecycle, my first three questions would all be variants of, Oh God, why? And then my fourth question would be Why didnt you do this years ago? Like, maybe in 2013, when you were changing things anyway. Because as bad as major interface change can be, its a whole lot better than repeated major interface change. Still, it might not be as bad as Im making out. If Jon Prosser is right and Mark Gurman is wrong, we should be looking instead at gentle iterative change, which is the only form of change an operating system of this age should go through. Which will free up Craig Federighi to spend most of WWDC25 talking about Apple Intelligence, and allow me to sleep in peace. The only problem is that this relies on the accuracy of a man who once claimed Apple was going to rebrand iOS as iPhoneOS , and got another prediction so badly wrong that he had to shave off his eyebrows . So you can probably see why Im not looking forward to WWDC. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories The thought of Apples AI doctor is making the Macalope a little queasy . Whereas Dan Moren cant wait to make an appointment . Hey iPhone users , dont fall for Verizons 3-year price lock . I tried the future of multitasking on the Mac and it was amazing and uncomfortable . Cant decide between AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro 2 ? Dont buy either yet. Heres the 50-year-old Microsoft source code that inspired the first Apple computer . Has your Apple Account been hacked ? Heres how to knowand fix it . No, the iOS 19 code name isnt a clue about its design . Podcast of the week You have thoughts about WWDC25, iPhones without ports, iPads without Apple Intelligence, and more, and we talk about them on the latest episode of the show. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify , Soundcloud , the Podcasts app , or our own site . Reviews corner Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac review : Genuinely good at getting under the hood of your Mac. Satechi Mac mini M4 Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure review: More ports and internal storage. Harber London TotePack backpack review: Space miracle for everyday life with small flaws. The rumor mill New chip-and-ship M5 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro updates set for holiday debut . The iPhone 17 Pros improved telephoto camera is detailed in a new report . Three iPhone models are reportedly about to lose iOS support . Can we expect any new products from Apple in April ? Software updates, bugs, and problems iOS 18.4 has arrived! Here are more than a dozen reasons to upgrade now. Although a weird iOS 18.4 bug is reportedly installing apps you dont want . And yet another iOS 18.4 bug breaks CarPlay this time. How Lucid exploits iMessage to send encrypted phishing attacks to your iPhone. Heres why your AirPods Max dont have lossless audio over USB-C yet. And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters , including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow uson Facebook , Threads , Bluesky , or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

The Microsoft Office apps Mac users actually use now 68% off

Macworld Not everyone needs the full cloud-connected Microsoft 365 experience. Sometimes, you just want the core Office apps that let you open, edit, and share documents without compatibility issues. This Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac license gives you lifetime access to the essentials for just $69.97 (reg. $219.99). Why this is the MSO for Mac users This one-time purchase includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, plus basic access to Teams and OneNote no monthly fees, no renewals, and no subscription required. Its ideal for students, families, freelancers, and small business owners who want reliable productivity tools without locking into another software payment plan. These are the full desktop versions of each app, offering everything you need to draft documents, build spreadsheets, create presentations, manage email, and stay compatible with the most commonly used formats in school and work all with offline access, so you can work without needing to be connected to the internet. Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for $69.97 before the deal expires. Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

ChatGPT 5 is almost here what you need to know first

Macworld The latest upgrade from OpenAI is finally on the horizon, but there are a few things you can practice now that will help you make the most of it when its here. You dont have to wait before you start practicing the skills youll use for GPT-5.0. You can already use ChatGPT to automate huge parts of your job, and the ChatGPT and Automation E-Degree can show you how. And its only $29.99 (reg. $790). Heres what this bundle can show you how to do: Streamline your workload Amplify your creativity Customize your own ChatGPT bot Transform raw data into appealing visuals Use ChatGPT to write emails, respond to messages, and other communication skills There are 12 lectures and 25 hours of content included in this bundle, but theres no rush to finish. Youll have lifetime access, so you can prepare for GPT-5.0 at your leisure. After studying for a while, you might already be able to get ChatGPT to automate the most boring parts of your job. Enroll in the ChatGPT and Automation E-Degree while its on sale for $29.99. ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Backbone One Xbox Edition review: Steady as she goes

I own a PC, a PS5, and an Xbox Series X, but its can be hard to find 30 minutes or an hour to set The post Backbone One Xbox Edition review: Steady as she goes appeared first on BGR .

How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2, M3 or M4 MacBook

Macworld While the higher-end MacBooks with M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro and Max chips support multiple external displays, the majority of Apples lower-end range of MacBooks that use a standard M1 and M2 processor cannot natively connect more than one external monitor, and to do so the M3 has to have its lid closed. This is a massive limitation compared to the previous Intel-based generation of Mac laptops that could run two displays when connected to a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 docking station or hub. Apples M3 MacBook Air models support two external monitors but only if the MacBook has its lid closed in what is known as Clamshell Mode. The M3 MacBook Pro supports a similar feature, but the macOS Sonoma 14.6 update needs to be installed. We explain how to run dual external displays on an M3 MacBook in a separate article. The solutions below, however, allow for more than two external displays on plain M1, M2 and M3 Macs with their lids open if you want it. The plain M4 MacBook Air and Pro models do natively support two displays with the lid open but if you want three displays for these MacBooks, then keep reading. There have also been reports that the M3 MacBook Air with lid closed suffers significant performance decline due to heat build up, so following our advice below still has relevance even for M3 MacBook Air and Pro users who want to hook up to multiple displays and keep their Mac purring at full speed. Later, we list our tested and recommended software and hardware solutions for adding more than one display to the plain M1, M2 and M3 Macs. You can jump straight to our list of the best DisplayLink docks if you know all about DisplayLink. If not, read on a while. The solutions we explain here will also help plain M4 users and M2/M3/M4 Pro MacBook users extend to three external displays. Here are the external display specs for Apples current laptops: M1 MacBook Air : Maximum one external displayread our workarounds below. M2 MacBook Air : Maximum one external displayread our workarounds below. M3 MacBook Air : Maximum two external displays if MacBook lid is closed. Three using our workarounds. M2 MacBook Pro : Maximum one external displayread our workarounds below. M2 Pro MacBook Pro : Maximum two external displays. Four using our workarounds. M2 Max MacBook Pro : Maximum four external displays. M3 MacBook Air : Maximum two external displays if MacBook lid is closed. Two or three with lid closed using our workarounds. M3 MacBook Pro : Maximum two external displays if MacBook lid is closed. Two or three with lid closed using our workarounds. M3 Pro MacBook Pro : Maximum two external displays. Four using our workarounds. M3 Max MacBook Pro : Maximum four external displays. Workarounds allow four using just one laptop port, plus dock. M4 MacBook Air : Maximum two external displays. Three using our workarounds. M4 MacBook Pro : Maximum two external displays. Three using our workarounds. M4 Pro MacBook Pro : Maximum two external displays. Four using our workarounds. M4 Max MacBook Pro : Maximum four external displays. Workarounds allow four using just one laptop port, plus dock. However, there are ways around these plain M1/M2/M3 limitations, allowing you to run two or more external displays off your MacBook, which we will outline here. In each case, theres a software download and a docking station, hub or adapter required. The simplest solution is to get a USB graphics-enabled docking station or hub, sometimes called a DisplayLink Dock and weve reviewed the best ones later in this article. USB graphics is a software-based technology (DisplayLink or InstantView) that compresses the video signals from the computer to the monitor, enabling you to connect multiple external displays to your M1, M2 or M3 MacBook. Installing third-party software drivers leads to a slight risk that these might later be unsupported by future updates of the macOS, but the two drivers we recommend are recognized industry standards that we believe will continue to be supported. External displays: Big problem for M1, M2 and some M3 Macs Apples Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro were the first Macs to feature the Apple-designed M1 processor (CPU). They received rave reviews for their speed improvements over Intel-based laptops, including here on Macworld. Since then Apple has released M2, M3 and M4 chips, plus Pro and Max versions of the M1, M2, M3 and M4. But if your MacBook setup includes running more than one external display, you have a major problem. Apples basic (non-Pro or Max) M1 and M2 chips simply wont allow itat least natively. Apple states in the M1 or M2 MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Pro tech specs that they support only one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. Foundry While the M1 and M2 MacBooks natively support just one monitor, the M1 and M2 Mac Mini does natively support up to two external monitorsone via the HDMI port and a second via USB-C. But the M1 and M2 models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (plus the M3 MacBook Pro) support only a single external display over Thunderbolt. The M3 MacBook Air models (13- and 15-inch) were the first to support more than one external displayas long as you close the laptops lid (Clamshell Mode) to allow for the second external display. The first display (allowing an open MacBook lid) has a maximum 6K resolution at 60Hz. The second display (requiring the closed lid) can be up to 5K at 60Hz. The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro also supports two external display in Clamshell Mode, but the macOS Sonoma 14.6 update must be installed to do this. The M4 MacBook Air and 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro escape the single-display limit even with its lid open, but if you want more than two displays for that model, keep reading. We cover the basics of how to connect your Mac to an external monitor . Workaround #1: Install DisplayLink software drivers You can use a combination of display technologies to get around the M1/M2/M3 MacBooks single-monitor limitation. DisplayLink is the most common software solution that you pair with a compatible dock: weve tested the best DisplayLink docks further down. Note that the docks need to state DisplayLink compatibilityyou cant just install DisplayLink drivers and hope they work with regular docks and hubs. A whole new category of docksmany reviewed belowhas appeared to solve the M1/M2/M3 Mac one-screen problem. DisplayLink USB-C docks or just USB-C docks require software drivers to enable data compression that make them almost as powerful as a Thunderbolt dock. Youll need to download the appropriate DisplayLink software from the dock manufacturerfull instructions later on. Many multi-display docks use a combination of native USB-C Alternate Mode (native Alt Mode video output) and DisplayLink technology. This combination serves as a workaround to the M1/M2/M3 platform supporting only a single external display via USB-C. Note that DisplayLink requires a third-party driver to be installed on the Mac. There are different versions of the DisplayLink driver, and some bring their own compromises to the party. But, in general, setup is straightforward. Some of the docks we review below offer the DisplayLink software when you first connect the dock to your Mac. The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app are ways of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS. The app is available as a standalone installer rather than through the mac App Store. Plugable docking station and three external displays via DisplayLink. 1. First, download the latest Mac DisplayLink driver . As stated above, some docks, do this for you but its always best to use the latest version. DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity App v. 1.12 is compatible with macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 and Sequoia 15. For macOS Big Sur 11, look for version 1.9, and v1.5 for Catalina 10.15. It can be managed via the DisplayLink icon in the Apple Menu bar. The macOS requires the user to permit Screen Recording in order for DisplayLink devices to work properly. This can be found in System Preferences under Privacy in Security & Privacy ; navigate to Screen Recording in the list on the left, then tick the Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager after unlocking the padlock using your admin password. You may need to quit and restart DisplayLink Manager afterward. Dont worry, DisplayLink isnt recording your screenthis just lets it do its magic enabling multiple screens. Installation is straightforward. Older versions did not support laptops closed-display/Clamshell Mode, but 1.8.1 and later do support Clamshell Mode if the MacBook is Intel-based running macOS 12 or if the MacBook is M1-based running macOS 11 or later. The scariest bit is when you need to enable Screen Recording to allow the DisplayLink Manager app to capture pixels and send them to your USB peripheral. This entails making some adjustments in the Macs Privacy tab, but you are walked through it step by step. Take a look at the instructions here . Theres an option in DisplayLink manager to launch at startup, or you can drag the DisplayLink Manager to your Login Items in Users & Groups. 2. Then connect the MacBook to a docking station. 3. For the first screen you can connect via the docks DisplayPort or HDMI Port, and this will be handled natively by the M1/M2 MacBook. You could also connect the first external display via the docks other display ports or via a Thunderbolt or USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter. The HDMI or DisplayPort output uses Alternate Mode (Alt Mode), and as it is basically a pipeline directly to the systems native GPU, it will behave just like if you hooked up a USB-C to HDMI dongle to your laptop. This requires no user driver installation. The second and third displays will rely on the DisplayLink software. DisplayLink uses an installed driver and the system CPU and GPU to convert graphics data on the system into data packets. That data is then sent over the cable as data packets and converted back to video information and output to the monitors via the DisplayLink chip in the docking station. Workaround #2: Install InstantView software Another third-party software solution is SiliconMotions InstantView, which operates in a similar way to DisplayLink and works with three of the hardware hubs and adapters we review below. The initial setup is easier than DisplayLink with the hubs from Hyper but similar to the Satechi hubbut it suffers the same challenge that Apples software updates could disable it, which will entail installing a newer version and allowing the necessary security & privacy settings for screen recording, just as with DisplayLink. You can download the latest version of InstantView software here . The latest version supports macOS 15 Sequoia, 14 Sonoma, 13 Ventura and 12 Monterey. Neither software solution is complicated and both worked well in our tests as you can read below. Which docks support DisplayLink and InstantView? Originally, dock manufacturers did not officially support such a DisplayLink setup for Macs. The solution works, but they rightly warned that this could become unstuck in future versions of the macOS. Whenever there is a new OS update the drivers may need to be updated each time. However, after some recent testing and improvements Plugable, for example, has updated its compatibility to officially support that configuration. For Mac compatibility, it has validated both Apple and Intel platforms running at least macOS 11. Which dock is best? A docking station connects to your MacBook via Thunderbolt or USB-C. It then offers multiple ports that your laptop now has access to. These can include new display ports, such as HDMI, as well as Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet access, USB-C/Thunderbolt/USB-A ports at varying speeds, audio plugs, and card readers. Learn more about the best Thunderbolt docking stations for more details, or you can connect via a simpler USB-C hub . Look for a dock with two or more display ports, preferably ones that can connect to your preferred displays without the need for an adapter. Thunderbolt 4 docks or hubs often have no dedicated display port but three available TB4 ports that can be used to connect directly to a USB-C display or via adapters to HDMI or DisplayPort monitors. While you may have to buy an adapter cable, 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4s port flexibility and backward compatibility are recommended for users of modern Macs such as the M1 and M2 MacBooks. USB-C docks and hubs are usually cheaper, but not always so check our reviews below. Docking station and hub manufacturers are now actively marketing their products as solutions to the M1/M2/M3 external display limitationdocks have to support DisplayLink to work with the software. All the docks and hubs reviewed below support DisplayLink. Each requires either the DisplayLink download or another similar software solution, such as InstantView, but no further hardware adapter except for the dock or hub itself. And of course, these hubs offer the usual multi-port benefits as well as the external monitor solution. The best multiscreen hubs and adapters for M1, M2, M3 and M4 MacBooks Below we have gathered the best dedicated hubs and docks for multiscreen M1/M2/M3/M4. Note that most of these listed (and tested) below use USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so dont benefit from the MacBooks potential 40Gbps data bandwidth. If you require all 40Gbps, go for a Thunderbolt dock and install DisplayLink as instructed above. We have tested docks that can support four external displays and some that max out at two, which we expect will be plenty for most people. Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink three 4K displays at 60Hz for M1/M2, four for M3/M4 Pros Supports up to four external displays at 4K 60Hz One display at 6K 60Hz 11 ports, inc. three 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 2x HDMI 2.0 video ports Speedy SD card reader 96W charging and 180W power supply Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $296.99 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Satechi $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $296.99 at Amazon $299.99 at Adorama $299.99 at Satechi While plain M1 and M2 MacBooks are limited to three external displays using this dock when DisplayLink software is installed, M3/M4 and M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max MacBooks can connect to four 4K at 60Hz. Other docks reviewed here also allow M1 and M2 Macs to connect to three displays, but what we really like about the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink is right there in its name: its a full Thunderbolt 4 dock rather than USB-C. It therefore offers 40Gbps data-transfer rates compared to the 10Gbps that youll find on most of the other docks reviewed here. The Plugable TBT-6950PD, reviewed below, is very similar to this Satechi dock. That Thunderbolt port connection also allows one of the three screens to be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz. There are two HDMI 2.0 ports plus a generous three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (as well as one upstream TB4 to the laptop). It doesnt host any extra USB-C ports but the three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps data transfer, 15W power output) are backwards compatible with USB-C. There are two fast 10Gbps USB-A ports, too, plus a UHS-II SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and an audio jack. Non-Pro/Max M3 and M4 Macs can connect to four displays using this dock, as long as the laptops lid is closed (clamshell mode). Its also a great option for M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro users usually restricted to two external displays. U.K. customers can buy direct from Satechi (with a small shipping fee) but will need to purchase a local power cable. Satechi also sells a 12-port USB-C-based Triple 4K Display Docking Station that supports three 4K displays at 60Hz using DisplayLink. It is priced the same as the Satechi Thunderbolt DisplayLink Dock. Normally wed always pick a Thunderbolt dock over USB-C but this one hosts a mix of DisplayPort and HDMI ports that offers a more flexible monitor choice than the Thunderbolt docks two HDMI and three TB4 ports. If you prefer DisplayPort for your monitor connection you should consider this USB-C dock although a simple USB-C to DisplayPort adapter will work the same magic on the TB dock. Read our full Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink review Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station (TBT-6950PD) three 4K displays at 60Hz for M1/M2, four for M3/M4 Pros Supports up to four external displays at 4K 60Hz One display at 6K 60Hz 11 ports, inc. three 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 2x HDMI 2.0 video ports Speedy SD card reader 96W charging and 180W power supply Cons North America only Price When Reviewed: $299.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal $419.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $299.95 at Adorama $299.95 at Amazon $299.95 at Walmart Electronics This dock is almost identical to the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 DisplayLink dock reviewed above. M1/M2 Mac owners can connect up to three external displays, and M3 and M1/M2/M3 Pro and Max users can attach up to four monitors. The Thunderbolt port means one of the three screens can be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz. The USB ports are at least 10Gbps and the SC card reader is also fast at 312MBps. The Plugable version has a few advantages over the Satechi: a slightly longer (1m vs 0.8m) Thunderbolt cable, Kensington lock slot and two-year warranty (vs 1 year from Satechi). Read our full Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station for 4K Quad Monitors review Alogic DX3 Triple 4K Display Universal Docking Station three 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz 12 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C 3x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports Speedy SD and MicroSD card readers 100W charging and 135W power supply Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $246.28 View Deal Alogic $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $246.28 at Amazon $299.99 at Alogic This Alogic DisplayLink docking station supports up to three external 4K displays at an impressive 60Hz refresh rate and has an array of useful non-display ports. It can power the connected laptop at 100W and has a decent 135W external power supply so doesnt require an extra USB-C charger. The DisplayLink download link is clearly shown in the user manual, and instructions make sensealthough you need a magnifying glass to read them! The DX3 has three DisplayPort 1.4 ports but no HDMI, so youll need to add an adapter between dock and display if you prefer HDMI. As youll need to buy video cables anyway, this doesnt matter as prices for straight cable and adapter cable are close enough. This dock has two card readers: SD and MicroSD, both at top 312MBps UHS-IIallowing you to add inexpensive portable storage to your laptop setup. It also has Gigabit Ethernet, four USB-A (one with 7.5W charging) and two 10Gbps USB-C (one 100W PD upstream to the laptop, and one 7.5W smaller device charging). Reviewed below is Alogics DX2, which supports two 4K displays at 60Hz and lacks some of the other ports found on the DX3. if you just need two external monitors for your M1/M2/M3 MacBook this may be a cheaper option. Wavlink Dual 4K DisplayPort & HDMI Adapter two 5K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 5K 60Hz 2x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports 2x HDMI 2.0 video ports Cons No USB ports, Ethernet etc Price When Reviewed: $79 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $74.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $74.99 at Amazon This simple, portable and affordable adapter doesnt give you loads of extra USB ports, Ethernet or card readers like a hub or docking station would, but it offers four powerful video ports: two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0. Once youve installed the DisplayLink drivers, this means an M1/M2/M3 MacBook can run two extended displays at up to 5K (5120-x-1440) at 60Hz using a combination of these video ports. Youd need to use both DisplayPort 1.4 ports for the maximum 5K resolutionthe HDMI 2.0 ports max out at 4096-x-2160 at 60Hz. Theres no passthrough charging so youll need to use another of the MacBooks Thunderbolt ports to keep the laptop powered up in use. Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Dual 4K monitor support for M1/M2/M3 Macs 13 ports 100W PD to laptop Fast SD card reader Cons Not for fast data transfer North America only Price When Reviewed: $199.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $189.95 View Deal $189.99 View Deal $199.95 View Deal $199.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $189.95 at Amazon $189.99 at B&H $199.95 at Adorama If you dont require full 40Gbps Thunderbolt, Plugables redesigned USB-C -based UD-6950PDH docking station plus free-to-download DisplayLink software can connect two extra 4K/60Hz displays to M1, M2 and M3 Macs. While plain M3 MacBooks can already connect to two external displays, this DisplayLink dock allows plain M3 MacBooks to remain open with the two additional displays attached (otherwise the M3 laptops lid has to be closed). M4 and M4 Pro MacBooks can already run two screens natively but using a dock saves the laptops built-in ports. It features an impressive 13 ports including Gigabit Ethernet, SD and MicroSD card readers and five spare USB ports. You wont get data transfer any faster than 5Gbps so if you crave the full 40Gbps Thunderbolt bandwidth you should instead consider the more powerful Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink, reviewed above. You can use both of the docks HDMI ports or both DisplayPort or a mix of each, depending on your monitor requirements. Two video ports will always be left empty, but the flexibility is welcome. No availability outside of North America has yet been announced. Read our full Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) review Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI Adapter two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Dual 4K monitor support for M1/M2/M3 Macs Cons No USB ports, Ethernet etc Price When Reviewed: $89.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $89.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $89.95 at Amazon Plugable also sells a simple one-function adapter that uses DisplayLink to enable dual 4K 60Hz displays for M1 and M2 MacBooks with two HDMI ports. Its no dock but it does the job you require without fuss. Alogic DX2 Dual 4K Display Universal Docking Station two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz 10 ports 2x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports 65W charging and 100W power supply Cons No card reader Price When Reviewed: $259.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal $222.32 View Deal Alogic $259.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $199.99 at Amazon $222.32 at Walmart $259.99 at Alogic We prefer Alogics DX3 that supports up to three 4K displays and offers more ports and faster charging for not much more cost, but the DX2 is fine if all you require is two top-end monitors connected to your mid-sized M1/M2 MacBook. It features two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one 10Gbps USB-C with 7.5W charging, three 5Gbps USB-A ports (one with 7.5W), a 3.5mm audio jack and Gigabit Ethernet. Ugreen USB-C Revodok Pro 312 Triple Display Docking Station three 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz 12 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A Ships with 100W wall charger Price When Reviewed: $329.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $49.99 View Deal $219.99 View Deal Ugreen $329.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at Walmart $219.99 at Amazon $329.99 at Ugreen The Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station is a quality compact vertical dock that supports up to three external displays on a plain (non-Pro or -Max) M1/M2/M3/M4 MacBook if you install DisplayLink software. Priced at $329/399, it features two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort and can support three 4K displays at 60Hz on a Mac. There are 12 ports in total, including Gigabit Ethernet, card readers, and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. It connects to the MacBook via 10Gbps USB-C. You need to install DisplayLink on your Macinstructions above. Ugreen could make this easier with a link on its site. Read our full Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station review . Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 10 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and USB-A 100W passthrough charging InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Requires USB-C charger Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $195.75 View Deal Hyper $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $195.75 at Amazon $199.99 at Hyper The Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub doesnt use DisplayLink and instead uses SiliconMotions InstantView. Hyper says that it works without having to download cumbersome drivers but there is some software installation involved, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences. You connect the hub or adapter to your M1/M2 MacBook and find the HyperDisplay app that appears in a Finder folder sidebar. Double-click the macOS InstantView icon and follow the System Preferences instructions. Once this has been completed your MacBook will automatically recognize the adapter from then on. Its an easier solution than DisplayLink but with the same ability to allow M1, M2 and M3 Macs to connect to multiple external displays. This compact hub still includes 10 ports, including the all-important 2x HDMI. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView. Also included are Gigabit Ethernet, MicroSD card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio jack, 2x 5Gbps USB-A, and one 5Gbps USB-C. A further USB-C PD port allows you to charge the connected laptop at up to 100Whandy as the hub itself uses up one of your laptops Thunderbolt ports. Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI Adapter one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 100W passthrough charging InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Requires USB-C charger Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Hyper $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $129.99 at Amazon $129.99 at B&H $129.99 at Hyper This double-function hub is designed to provide two HDMI display ports for a MacBook M1/M2/M3, plus passthrough charging for the laptop. It doesnt offer a bunch of other ports like its big brother, the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub reviewed above. As a result, it is cheaper and is one of the most cost-effective solutions for adding multiple monitors to the limited plain M1/M2/M3 Macs. Like the 10-in-1, it uses SiliconMotions InstantView rather than DisplayLink software to get past the limitation. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView. If you require more ports, such as Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and USB ports, consider the Hyperdrive 10-in-1 or one of the other hubs or docks reviewed here.. Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter (USBC-768H4) four HD displays at 60Hz Pros Supports four external displays InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons HD, not 4K Doesnt charge your MacBook No card reader Price When Reviewed: $119 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119 View Deal $119 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $119 at Amazon $119 at Newegg Do you really need four screens? If you do, and you can do without 4K resolution, the Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter supports four HD displays even on an M1, M2, M3 or M4 MacBook using the Silicon Motion InstantView software (requires download and installation ). The adapter features just the four HDMI ports so doesnt offer any Gigabit Ethernet or extra USB-C ports, but does what it says on the box. All four displays can support HD (1920-x-1080) at 60Hz images. The USB-C cable tucks neatly into the adapters case when not in use, making this a nimbly portable solution as long as you dont also carry the four screens around with you. Read our full Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter review Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C Docking Station two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz 9 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A 100W charging DisplayLink file on dock connection Cons Requires USB-C charger No card reader Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $114.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $114.99 at Amazon If you dont need three external screens, we like this USB-C dock for its two HDMI and two DisplayPorts, which you can choose between when adding two displays to your M1, M2 or M3 MacBook. This should suit most monitors, unless you prefer direct USB-C displays. Its spare USB ports (2x USB-A and 1x USB-C) are fast (10Gbps) for data transfer, and another USB-C port can be plugged into a USB-C charger (not included, which is common with the docks reviewed here) and supply up to 100W of charging power to the connected laptop. Theres also a Gigabit Ethernet port for fast, stable wired Internet access. You need to install DisplayLink on your Macinstructions aboveand Ugreen has made this easy by adding the download files to your Mac when you first connect the dock. Read a full Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C dock review . Alogic DV4 Universal Quad Display Docking Station one 4K display at 60Hz, two HD displays Pros Supports three external displays, one at 4K 60Hz 14 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and USB-A 3x HDMI 2.0 and 1x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports 12W USB-C charging 85W PD charging Cons 2 displays at HD, not 4K Requires USB-C charger Price When Reviewed: $239.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $239.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $239.99 at Alogic With third-party DisplayLink drivers, this dock will support up to three displays on a Mac. You can connect one 4K at 60Hz display (38402160 pixels) via either the DisplayPort or one of the HDMI ports. The other two displays via HDMI, however, are at a lesser HD (19201080) resolution, both at 60Hz. There is a link to the DisplayLink download printed in the user manual, although the type in the manual is the smallest weve ever seen! The specs arent quite as impressive as the Satechi Triple 4K Display Docking Station, with 5Gbps a maximum data-transfer rate, although charging wattage for USB-A (3.0) is up to 7.5W each and USB-C is up to 12W, which beats the Satechi.. However, it does boast both SD and MicroSD card readers for affordable portable storage options, although UHS-I rather than super-fast UHS-II. And, crucially, its cheaper, although you will need to add your own USB-C 100W PD charger , unlike the Satechi Triple 4K Dock. Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 6 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and 2x 5Gbps USB-A Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Requires USB-C charger No card reader Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $104.99 View Deal $149.99 View Deal Satechi $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $104.99 at Walmart Electronics $149.99 at B&H $149.99 at Satechi The Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter uses InstantView rather than DisplayLink but the installation process is practically the same when you follow the manual. It includes 2x HDMI ports: one of which can support a 4K display at 60Hz and the other at 30Hz. Its more than a mere display adapter, though, as it also boasts USB-C PD passthrough charging at up to 85W, one 5Gbps USB-C port, and two 5Gbps USB-A ports. Although named after the M1 processor it is fixing on the multiple display front, it will also work with similarly limited M2 and M3 MacBooks. Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI Adapter one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz No other ports except passthrough charging Requires USB-C charger No card reader Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Hyper $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $129.99 at Amazon $129.99 at B&H $129.99 at Hyper Like the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub, Hypers cheaper Dual 4K HDMI Adapter uses the simpler InstantView software rather than DisplayLink. Lacking any other ports, its not a hub and so just facilitates the dual-display function on M1 and M2 Macs. While its cheaper than its 10-port sibling, wed recommend the more able hubunless you need three displays, in which case youd need to look at the other hubs and docks reviewed here. One HDMI port supports 4K displays at 60Hz, but the other at the slower 30Hz. A passthrough USB-C port requires a USB-C charger but can supply 100W to the connected laptop. If youre based outside the US, beware as Hyper charges $80 international shipping, making this adapter more expensive than its 10-port sibling. Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz 7 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A HDMI and DisplayPort versions Cons Requires USB-C charger Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $199.99 at Alogic The Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station comes in two modelsthe CH2, which features two HDMI 2.0 ports; and the CD2, with two DisplayPort portsso you can choose which best suits the external displays you already own. Two external screens are probably enough for most people. If you require three, see the other hubs and docks reviewed here. Both screens can be up to 4K at 60Hz. Basic instructions are given on installing the DisplayLink software for M1, M2 and M3 Macs. This neat, compact dock doesnt feature as many ports as others mentioned here but what it has are top-rated: both the USB-A and USB-C ports support 10Gbps data transfer. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and a UHS-II SD card reader. A passthrough USB-C portyou need to add a suitably powerful chargercan handle 100W, although 22W is required by the dock so leaving 78W for laptop and device charging. The dock must be connected to the laptop to allow device charging. EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K at 30Hz, one HD Pros Supports three external displays (2x 4K; 1x HD) VGA if you need it 12 ports, inc 4x 5Gbps USB-A Cons Requires USB-C charger Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Third display is HD not 4K Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal EZQuest $169.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $79.99 at Amazon $169.99 at EZQuest The EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub has two HDMI ports and a VGA port, and supports one 4K at 60Hz and one 4K at 30Hz via HDMI and 1080p HD via VGA. If you want three 4K displays, look instead at the Ugreen Triple Display Dock. It also features 5Gbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet and card readers. Like the Ugreen dock, it requires a USB-C charger for power and can pass through up to 85W to the connected MacBook, but connects via slower 5Gbps USB-C. Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station three 4K displays at 30Hz Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 30Hz 15 (actual) ports 85W PD Cons Requires USB-C charger for laptop 30Hz 4K not 60Hz Only mirrors laptop display Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal $137.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $99.99 at Amazon $137.49 at Aliexpress The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station has three HDMI ports, each of which can connect to an external 4K display at 30Hz. If you require three 4K external displays at 60Hz, the Ugreen Triple Display Dock will fulfill your needs better. If 30Hz is fine, the Baseus will save you money. 60Hz is better for gamers as it offers smoother video. One big limitation for Macs, though, is that the external displays can only mirror and not extend the Macs screen. Its claim to have 17 ports is exaggerated slightly as one is for the external power supply that powers just the dock at 12W. and another to add power the dock via a USB-C charger and then onto the laptop. But it has 15 other ports including the upstream 5Gbps USB-C connection to the MacBook, plus Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and 5Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. StarTech.com USB-C Hybrid Triple Monitor Docking Station DisplayLink dock with video options Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz 15 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A 85W passthrough charging Cons No card reader DisplayPort didnt work on our test Mac Price When Reviewed: $293.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $214.12 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $214.12 at Amazon This triple-monitor DisplayLink-based docking station is positively bristling with ports: 15 in total. Most interesting to us here are the six video ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 and 3x HDMI 2.0. This doesnt mean you can connect six displays but it does should give you flexible options for the type of connection that fit your displays. However, in testing we had no success linking via DisplayPort, which makes the extra options rather worthless. As such, we prefer the other docks and hubs reviewed above. You need to download the DisplayLink drivers for your M1/M2/M3 Mac. StarTech.com has a link and a video , or just follow our guide above. As well as the half-dozen video ports are six USB ports: 2x USB-C (one at 10Gbps and one 5Gbps), plus 4x USB-A (one 10Gbps and three 5Gbps). The 5Gbps USB-C port can charge a connected device at 18W, enough to fast-charge an iPhone. One of the 5Gbps USB-A ports can charge at 7.5W. Rounding off the many ports are Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm Audio In-Out. Theres no card reader to add portable storage but you could connect an adapter to one of the USB ports. Workaround caveats Whenever there is a new OS update DisplayLink and InstantView drivers may need to be updated each time. Plugable doesnt recommend the workaround for gaming, video editing, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and protected content (HDCP) playback. For these workloads, users will want the full throughput of a bare-metal native GPU connectionsuch as provided by the DisplayPort or HDMI port on the dock using Alt Mode. Caldigit actively recommends against using DisplayLink, as it finds it unreliable and there would be no synergy between the driver and the dock. Because it requires a third-party driver, users are at the mercy of Apple and the third-party developer to support later versions, the company told Macworld. However, this combination of display technologies does allow M1 and M2 MacBooks to run more than one external monitor, and the M1 and M2 Mac mini to run more than two. And more manufacturers are coming out with docks and hubs that support it. The only risk is that it could stop working at any time, although it wouldnt harm your system if it did, and you could simply uninstall DisplayLink. DisplayLink and InstantView are workarounds with a potentially limited timespan but the likelihood is that compatibility would be restored at some stage if the worst happened and you would get back your multi-monitor setup. Read our M1 MacBook Air review , M2 MacBook Air review , and M3 MacBook Air review . If you are wanting to use a second display with your Mac and not have your Macs screen on, read our feature How to turn a Macs screen off. Want to use an 8K monitor? Read How to connect an 8K display to your Mac . What you need to know about DisplayLink and InstantView FAQ 1. Does DisplayLink and InstantView block Netflix or other streaming content? DisplayLink and InstantView are great at adding multiple monitors to M1, M2 and M3 Macs, but there is a catch. Some protected content in Netflix, AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Disney+ or YouTube TV and other streaming applications may not play. The video remains black while audio keeps playing. This is all down to how the macOS interfaces the DisplayLink driver used to access graphics content. As soon as one DisplayLink-enabled screen is connected, protected content becomes unavailable on all screens. This is down to the streaming platforms using High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), which is Intel-developed digital copy protection that prevents copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. Because macOS requires DisplayLink and InstantView to enable Screen Recording, HDCP moves in because it thinks you are actually trying to record the content rather than just display it on screen. 2. How to enable streaming content when using DisplayLink or InstantView To get round HDCP stopping your DisplayLink or InstantView setup showing Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services, you may need to disconnect all the DisplayLink or InstantView screens, or switch to a browser other than Safari or Chrome (for example Opera or Firefox). You can disable hardware acceleration in your browser to access the protected content. On Google Chrome, go to Google Chrome settings, and click on Advanced and then select System. Here you can disable Use hardware acceleration when available. Select Relaunch to activate the new setting. If that doesnt solve the black issue, disconnect the docking station, and try using the laptops build-in display or the direct video ports of the laptop. Uninstalling the software is the ultimate solution.

Mac processor comparison: Apple Silicon vs Intel

Macworld If youre choosing between two different types of Macs or two generations of the same Mac, you may wonder just how much of a difference the processor will make. Since November 2020, all new Macs have featured one of Apples own system-on-chips based on the Arm architecture, sometimes referred to as Apple Silicon. Several Apple chips have joined the line-up, including the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra; M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, and M2 Ultra; M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max, and M3 Ultra; and M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. The final Mac to move from Intel to Apple Silicon was the Mac Pro in June 2023. Now that the transition from Intel to Apples silicon is long complete, and it has been a while since Apple sold any new Macs powered by an Intel chip, you might think that there is no point in comparing Intel and Apple. However, some stores are still selling Intel-powered Macs and may users still have them. Those wishing to upgrade from an Intel-powered Mac to an M-series Mac may also be curious about how much of a difference to expect. With such variety on offer, there is also a question of which Apple processor is best, or at least sufficient for your needs. The current M4 series represents the fourth generation of Apple Silicon, but the M4 is still less powerful than the M1 Ultra, for example. Its also worth noting that the difference between a Pro and Max version of Apples ships is all in the GPUs and memory support: the CPU is essentially the same. Here we will compare all the Mac and MacBook CPUs, GPUs, and other specs, such as RAM (a.k.a. unified memory), to demonstrate how the M1-, M2-, M3-, and M4-series chips compare to each other and their Intel predecessors. For more help choosing which Mac to buy read our buying guides where we assess the Best Mac and Best MacBook . You might also like to take a look at the article where we compare all of Apples chips , including those in the iPhone and iPad. M1 to M4 timeline November 2020 : Apple introduced its first Mac system-on-chip, the M1, with three models: the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. You can still buy the M1 MacBook Air at Walmart for $649. April 2021 : Apple launched an iMac with an M1 chip. October 2021 : The M1 formed the basis for powerful variants, the M1 Pro and M1 Max, that arrived in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro in October 2021. March 2022 : The final M1-series chip, the M1 Ultra, arrived with the Mac Studio in March 2022. June 2022 : The M2 chip introduced the next generation of Apple Silicon in June 2022. January 2023 : The M2 Pro and M2 Max arrived in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Mac mini also gained an M2 and M2 Pro chip. June 2023 : The M2 Ultra arrived in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. The Mac Studio also ships with the M2 Max. October 2023 : The M3 series arrives with the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max landing simultaneously. The MacBook Pro ships with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, while the iMac offers the M3. October 2024 : The M4 series arrives on the Mac with the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. The iMac has an M4. The Mac mini has an M4 or M4 Pro. The MacBook Pro has an M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max. March 2025 : Apple introduces the M3 Ultra, which is in the $3,999 Mac Studio. Apple also released the M4 Max Mac Studio for $1,999, and the M4 MacBook AIr. Which processor should you choose for your Mac, and does it really matter? Read on to find out. Mac and MacBook processors compared The M1 arrived with the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini at the end of 2020. The processor inside a Mac makes a big difference to how powerful the Mac is. However, it can be quite confusing if you arent familiar with the terminology. The processor is sometimes referred to as the CPU (central processing unit), which is different from the GPU (graphics processing unit). Sometimes people will refer to the processor when they actually mean the SoC (system on a chip) that contains both the CPU and GPU. You may even hear it referred to as a SiP (system in package). We often refer to Apple Silicon as chips because they are system-on-chips that combine the CPU and GPU (and, for that matter, RAM, which Apple refers to as unified memory). The various M-series chips offer a variety of CPU and GPU cores. Similarly, many different Intel chips combine several CPU cores with integrated or discrete graphics options, all of which we will discuss below. We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM and cores in How much MacBook GPU, CPU, RAM and SSD do you really need? Mac processors from Apple M1 In June 2020, Apple announced that it would transition Mac from Intel to its world-class custom silicon. This process began with Apples M1 processor, which was introduced in November 2020. It is no longer available to buy, but you may find a refurbished model. The M1 was in these Macs: 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020) MacBook Air (2020) Mac mini (2020) iMac (2021) The M1 specs were as follows: 8-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 7- or 8-core graphics processor (GPU) 16-core Neural Engine 8GB or 16GB of unified memory 68.25GBps memory bandwidth 16 billion transistors MacBook Air (M1, 2020) Price When Reviewed: $999 (256GB) | $1,249 (512GB) Best Prices Today: $649 at Amazon | $649 at Walmart | $699 at B&H The M1 was Apples first chip designed by Apple specifically for the Mac and it made shockwaves in the industry with giant leaps in performance. However, some people criticized the RAM limitations, with the M1 Macs only able to support up to 16GB of unified memory. M1 Pro Apple introduced the M1 Pro in October 2021. It is no longer available in any new Macs, but you may get one in Apples refurbished store or elsewhere. The M1 Pro was in these Macs: 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) The M1 Pro specs were as follows: 8- or 10-core CPU (6 or 8 performance cores, 2 efficiency cores) 14- or 16-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 16GB or 32GB of unified memory 200GBps memory bandwidth 33.7 billion transistors The M1 Pro offers a 14-core GPU or a 16-core GPU. At launch, Apple claimed the GPU in the M1 Pro to be 2x faster than the M1. Apple also claimed that the GPU was up to 7x faster than the integrated graphics on the latest 8-core PC laptop chip. The M1 Pro also added a ProRes accelerator in the media engine to speed up video processing. Apple claimed that the M1 Pro could deliver up to 200GBps of memory bandwidth, which is nearly 3x the bandwidth of the M1. The M1 Pro supports up to 32GB RAM, compared to a maximum of 16GB for the M1. M1 Max The M1 Max was also introduced in October 2021 as a standard option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro and a build-to-order option for the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Then, in March 2022, the M1 Max became one of the options for the Mac Studio. The M1 Max is no longer available in any new Macs, but you may get one in Apples refurbished store or elsewhere. The M1 Max was in these Macs: 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) Mac Studio (2022) The M1 Max specs are as follows: 10-core CPU (8 performance cores, 2 efficiency cores) 24- or 32-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 32GB or 64GB of unified memory 400GBps memory bandwidth 57 billion The M1 Max has the same 10-core CPU as the M1 Pro, but everything else is significantly enhanced. The GPU is the most important difference between the M1 Pro and M1 Max. The M1 Max GPU goes all the way up to 32 cores. At launch, Apple claimed the graphics performance of the 32-core GPU to be up to 4x faster than the M1. The M1 Max also has two ProRes accelerators that help it deliver up to 2x faster video encoding than M1 Pro. Apple claimed the M1 Max-powered MacBook Pros can edit up to 30 streams of 4K ProRes video or up to seven streams of 8K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro. Thats more streams than on a 28-core Mac Pro with Afterburner. At launch, Apple stated that the performance of the M1 Max is similar to that of the highest-end GPU in the largest PC laptops while using up to 100 watts less power. M1 Max also offers up to 400GBps of memory bandwidth. That is 2x that of M1 Pro and nearly 6x that of M1. As a result, a maximum of 64GB of RAM is possible with the Max. M1 Ultra The M1 Ultra was also introduced in March 2022 as an option for the Mac Studio. You may still find a 2022 Mac Studio available, potentially at a good discount. The M1 Ultra was in the: Mac Studio (2022) The M1 Ultra specs were as follows: 20-core CPU (16performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 48- or 64-core GPU 32-core Neural Engine 64GB or 128GB of unified memory 800GBps memory bandwidth 114 billion transistors The M1 Ultra is essentially two M1 Mac chips, so it can offer a 20-core CPU and up to a 64-core GPU. Apple achieves this using UltraFusion architecture to connect the two M1 Max chips to avoid trade-offs such as increased latency, reduced bandwidth, and increased power consumption. Apple also explained that the M1 Ultra behaves like, and is recognized by software, as one chip. At launch, Apple claimed to offer 4x the bandwidth of the leading multi-chip interconnect technology and that the M1 Ultra delivers 90 percent higher multi-threaded performance than the fastest available 16-core PC desktop chip in the same power envelope. Apple also claimed that the 64-core GPU delivers faster performance than the highest-end PC GPU available, all while using 200 fewer watts of power. The M1 Ultra can be configured with up to 128GB unified memory; according to Apple, the most powerful PC graphics cards max out at 48GB. The M1 Ultra also offers twice the media engine capabilities of the M1 Max, for accelerated video encoding and decoding. M2 The M2 was introduced in June 2022 with the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Apple later added the M2 as an option for the Mac mini in January 2023, and a new 15-inch MacBook Air in June 2023. The M2 was in these Macs: Mac mini (2023) 15-inch MacBook Air (2023) 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022) 13-inch MacBook Air (2022) The M2 specs were as follows: 8-core CPU (4performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 8- or 10-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB of unified memory 100GBps memory bandwidth 20 billion transistors At launch, Apple claimed: Compared with the latest 10-core PC laptop chip, the CPU in M2 provides nearly twice the performance at the same power level. Apple also stated that the M2 provides nearly 90 percent of the peak performance of the 12-core chip while using just one-fourth the power. Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2023) Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $1,299 Best Prices Today: $1,299 at Amazon Apple also claimed the 10-core GPU delivers up to 25 percent higher graphics performance than M1 at the same power level, thanks to the larger cache and higher memory bandwidth. At maximum power this is 35 percent better, claimed Apple. Thanks to the additional GPU cores, 10 cores rather than the 8-core limit of the M1, the M2 performs better than the M1, but its still below the M1 Pro with 14 cores. M2 Pro The M2 Pro was introduced in January 2023 with the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro and the M2 Pro Mac mini. It is no longer available from Apple. The M2 Pro was in these Macs: 14-inch MacBook Pro (early 2023) 16-inch MacBook Pro (early 2023) Mac mini (2023) The M2 Pro specs were as follows: 10-core or 12-core CPU (6 or 8performance cores, 2 efficiency cores) 14- or 16-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 16GB or 32GB of unified memory 200GBps memory bandwidth 40 billion transistors Like the M1 Pro, the M2 Pro has a built-in media engine that accelerates H.264, HEVC, and ProRes video encoding and decoding. Better power efficiency during playback of multiple streams of 4K and 8K ProRes video can also be expected. At launch Apple claimed that the M2 Pro is 40 percent faster in Adobe Photoshop image processing and 25 percent faster in Xcode compiling when compared to the M1 Pro. Apple claimed that, when compared to the Core i9 16-inch MacBook Pro, the M2 Pro is 2.5 times faster in Photoshop and 80 percent faster in Xcode. M2 Max The M2 Max was also introduced in January 2023 with the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. The M2 Max was in these Macs: 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023) 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) Mac Studio (2023) The M2 Max specs are as follows: 12-core CPU (8performance cores/4 efficiency cores) 30- or 38-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 32GB, 64GB, or 96GB of unified memory 400GBps memory bandwidth 67 billion transistors Like the M1 Max, the M2 Max offers two video-encode engines and ProRes engines. At launch, Apple claimed the M2 Max would see a 30 percent improvement over the M1 Max when using color grading in DaVinci Resolve, while it would be 2 times faster than the Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro in the same test. For effects rendering in Cinema 4D, Apple claimed that the M2 Max is 30 percent faster than the M1 Max, and 6 times faster than the Core i9 MacBook Pro. M2 Ultra Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023) Price When Reviewed: From $6,999 Best Prices Today: $6999 at Apple The M2 Ultra arrived in June 2023. It is still an option for both the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro. The M2 Ultra still features in these Macs: Mac Pro (2023) ( buy from Apple here ) The M2 Ultra was also in these Macs: Mac Studio (2023) The M2 Ultras specs are as follows: 24-core CPU (16performance cores, 8 efficiency cores) 60- or 76-core GPU 32-core Neural Engine 64GB, 128GB, or 192GB of unified memory 800GBps memory bandwidth 134 billion transistors M3 The M3 arrived at the end of October 2023. Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 Best Prices Today: $999 at B&H | $1,091 at Amazon | $1091 at Walmart Electronics The M3 was in these Macs: iMac (2023) 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023) 13-inch MacBook Air (2023) 15-inch MacBook Air The M3 specs are as follows: 8-core CPU (4performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 8- or 10-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB of unified memory 100GBps memory bandwidth 25 billion transistors M3 Pro The M3 Pro also arrived at the end of October 2023. It was an option for both the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The M3 Pro was in these Macs and you may find some still available to buy from resellers at a discount: 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023) 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) The M3 Pro specs are as follows: 11- or 12-core CPU (5 or 6performance cores, 6 efficiency cores) 14- or 18-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 18GB or 36GB of unified memory 150GBps memory bandwidth 37 billion transistors M3 Max Like the other M3 chips, the M3 Max arrived at the end of October 2023. It was an option for both the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Max, 2023) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $3,499 discontinued Best Prices Today: $8.5 at Walmart | $3199 at B&H | $3239 at Adorama The M3 Max was in these Macs. You may find them still available to buy from resellers at a discount: 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023) 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) The M3 Max specs are as follows: 14- or 16-core CPU (10 or 12performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 14- or 18-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 36GB, 48GB, 128GB of unified memory 300GBps or 400GBps memory bandwidth 92 billion transistors M3 Ultra The M3 Ultra was introduced in March 2025. The M3 Ultra is available in the following: Mac Studio (2025) The M3 Ultra specs are as follows: 28- or 32-core CPU (20 or 24 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores) 60- or 80-core graphics processor (GPU) 32-core Neural Engine 96GB, 256GB, or 512GB of unified memory 819GBps memory bandwidth 184 billion transistors M4 The M4 was introduced in October 2024. It is available in the iMac, Mac mini, and 14-inch MacBook Pro. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,429 at Amazon | $1429 at B&H | $1439 at Adorama Apple Mac mini (M4) Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: $549 at Adorama | $549 at Amazon | $549 at B&H Apple iMac (M4) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: $1,179 at Amazon | $1179 at B&H | $1193 at Walmart The M4 is featured in these Macs: iMac (2024) ( buy from Apple here ) Mac mini (2024) ( buy from Apple here ) 14-inch MacBook Pro ( buy from Apple here ) The M4 specs are as follows: 8- or 10-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 or 6 efficiency cores) 8- core 10-core GPU 16-core NeuralEngine 16GB, 24GB, 32GB of unified memory 120GBps memory bandwidth 28 billion transistors M4 Pro The M4 Pro was introduced in October 2024. It is available in the Mac mini, and 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: $1786 at Walmart | $1,789 at Amazon | $1789 at B&H Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $1,399 Best Prices Today: $1294 at Walmart | $1299 at B&H | $1399 at Apple The M4 Pro is featured in these Macs: Mac mini (2024) ( buy from Apple ) 14-inch MacBook Pro ( buy from Apple ) 16-inch MacBook Pro ( buy from Apple ) The M4 Pro specs are as follows: 12- or 14-core CPU (8 or 10 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 16- or 20-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 24GB, 48GB of unified 273GBps memory bandwidth M4 Max The M4 Max was introduced in October 2024. It is available in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the Mac Studio. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,499 | $3,999 Best Prices Today: $2591 at Walmart | $3,149 at Amazon | $3163.39 at Walmart Electronics Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,199 Best Prices Today: $2849 at Walmart | $2999 at B&H | $3049 at Best Buy The M4 Max is featured in these Macs: 14-inch MacBook Pro ( buy from Apple ) 16-inch MacBook Pro ( buy from Apple ) Mac Studio ( buy from Apple ) The M4 Max specs are as follows: 14- or 16-core CPU (10 or 12 performance cores/4 efficiency cores) 32- or 40-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 128GB of unified memory 410GBps or 546GBps memory bandwidth Mac Processor Benchmarks The benchmarks below include the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max, which were released in the latter part of 2024. The fastest chip is the M3 Ultra, released in 2025 in the Mac Studio M1 vs Intel: Benchmarks As for how Apples silicon compares to the Intel processors that used to power Macs, when we tested we found that even Apples M1 chips delivered a performance that was equal to, or even better, than the most powerful Intel laptop chips found in Macs at the time and the M1 Macs werent even targeted at the kind of people who need the most powerful laptops. The M1 really was better than a comparable Intel chipjust as Apple claimed when it launched. As you can see from the benchmarks above and below, there is no reason to avoid buying an M1-, M2-, M3-, or M4-series Mac over any Intel-powered Mac. Even the iMac with M3 beats the fastest iMac Pro (with a 2.3GHz Intel Xeon W-2191B) by some margin. Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster. M1 vs Intel: Whats the difference between Apple Silicon and Intel? The Intel processors that Apple used in its Macs since 2006 were x86 chips. Apple Silicon is based on Arm but includes a number of Apple technologies (so they arent Arm chips, strictly speaking). Arm and x86 are completely different architecture, which means that they need different code, and hence the operating systems and software need to be tailored to them. Therefore, one of the main concerns with the move to Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, or M4) could be whether the required software is compatible with Arm. Apple addressed this with Rosetta 2, which translates the code from x86 to Arm. With a few exceptions, there was no issue with software written for x86 running on the M1 Macs. Many software developers were quick to update their software to run on M-series Macs, though. The M1-series Macs were a huge step up from the equivalent Intel models. One advantage of Arm over Intels X86 is power consumption, this is evident in the long battery life of the M-series Macs. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has the longest-ever battery life for a Mac at 24 hours. The 2019 Intel-powered 16-inch MacBook Pro could only manage 11 hours. There are other ways in which the M-series chips are more efficient than Intel processors. Macs with Apple chips have two kinds of processor cores: high-performance and efficiency. Having two types of cores ensures that background processes dont slow down the computer because there is always enough power available for programs to run. For example, even the fastest Intel-powered Mac might have experienced slowdowns and performance drops if a system process like iCloud, or the indexing of Photos or Spotlight, was running in the background. This is all great in theory, but in practice, the benchmarks prove that there is a leap in performance from Intel to M1 and beyond. Mac processors made by Intel If you bought your Mac before the end of 2020 it will have Intel inside. Apple has used various generations of Intel processors over the years. Here are details of some of the Intel chips you may find inside any Macs that predate Apples move to the M1 and beyond. Apple no longer sells Macs with Intel processors, not even old models in the Apple Certified Refurbished Store. If you are considering buying a used Intel-powered Mac we would recommend that you dont! Read Should I buy a secondhand Mac? Back when Macs were powered by Intel, Apple specified an Intel processor generation for each Mac in its marketing materials. So you would have seen a description such as 2.0GHz quad-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor associated with a particular Mac. However, without those marketing materials, it isnt so easy to find out which processor is inside an Intel-powered Mac because the About This Mac information shows the year that Mac went on sale and the processor specifics such as GHz and the number of cores, but not the processor generation. Identifying the processor generation can be useful in comparing different Macs and PCs. If you want to find out the specs of your Intel Mac we suggest you read our guide to how to check the specs of your Mac. Heres how the Intel processor lineup has looked since around 2011: 1st Generation Nehalem (2011) 2nd Generation Sandy Bridge (2011) 3rd Generation Ivy Bridge (2012) 4th Generation Haswell (2013) 5th Generation Broadwell (2015) 6th Generation Skylake (2015) 7th Generation Kaby Lake (2017) 8th Generation Coffee Lake (2018) 9th Generation Coffee Lake Refresh (2018) 10th Generation Ice Lake (2019) How to choose a Mac processor Whether you are comparing two Macs with Apple chips, or one Apple chip and one Intel chip, or even two Intel chips, this is what to consider: How many CPU cores? You will notice that Apples M1 has eight CPU cores, the M1 Pro and M1 Max have ten CPU cores, and the M1 Ultra has 20 CPU cores. The M2 series extends that, with the M2 CPU having 10 or 12 CPU cores, the M2 Pro and M2 Max having a 12-core CPU, and the M2 Ultra having 24 cores. That extension continues with the M3 and M4 and will keep going with future chips. Among the Intel Macs, you would generally find dual-core, quad-core, 6-core, 8-core, and 10-core CPUs, while the Mac Pro offers a Xeon processor with 8, 12, 16, 24, or 28 cores. Having more cores available means that your Mac will be able to run multiple processes at once. Apples M-series Macs have two kinds of cores: high-performance and high-efficiency cores. The difference between high-performance and efficiency cores is that the efficiency cores are power-saving while the performance cores can be used for more demanding tasks. So while the performance cores focus on demanding tasks there wont be a hit on power-efficient processing, both can happen in tandem. How many GPU cores? This is more apparent on the M-series Macs because Apple highlights the number of GPU cores and this extends as you move up the range. Apples M1 has 7 or 8 GPU cores, the M1 Pro had a 14-core or 16-core GPU, the M1 Max had a 24-core or 32-core GPU, and the M1 Ultra had a 48-core or 64-core GPU. The M2 series extends that, with the M2 GPU having 8 or 10 GPU cores, the M2 Pro having 14 or 16 GPU cores, the M2 Max having a 30-core or 38-core GPU, and the M2 Ultra having a 60-core or 76-core GPU. The same pattern follows (but with more cores) with the M3 and M4 chips. Intel Macs either had integrated graphics or a discrete graphics card. The discrete option was more for professionals who were using graphics-intensive programs on their Macs. A discrete graphics card has its own memory, while integrated graphics share memory with the processor. Because the M-series Macs integrate the GPU, the CPU the RAM into the same system on chip (SoC), the GPU and CPU can exchange information quickly, and the RAM can be shared efficientlyApple refers to its Unified Memory Architecture which makes this possible. As you can see from the chart above, even the Pro, Max, and Ultra variants of the M1 topped the best graphics options in the Intel-powered Macs. How many GHz? GHz (gigahertz) reflects the number of clock cycles per second. So a 2.3GHz processors internal clock beats 2.3 billion times per second. Hence, people refer to the number of GHz as the clock speed. Its not easy to compare the M1 with an Intel processor because while Intel lists GHz, Apple doesnt. Each range of Intel-equipped Macs usually has more than one option in terms of GHz. Sometimes it will look like a more powerful Mac has a slower clock speed. This is invariably due to the Mac in question having more cores available. For example, the 3.1GHz 6-Core iMac costs considerably more than the 3.6GHz Quad-Core model. At first glance, that might look like a bad deal, but thats six 3.1GHz cores, rather than four 3.6GHz cores. And the more cores, the better. With Intel Macs, its not only GHz you need to consider, but also how many cores and the generation of the processor. What is Turbo Boost? There is no Turbo Boost figure to consider with Apples M-series Macs, but it was a significant part of Intels marketing, so we will discuss it here. The simplest way to think of Turbo Boost is as a way of safely overclocking the cores on a processor. This figure can sometimes give a clue as to how one generations processor compares to the next. The Turbo Boost controller samples the power consumption and temperature of the cores hundreds of times a second while monitoring the demands made by software. If any of the cores are being driven to their theoretical maximum, Turbo Boost can, if enough power is available and the temperature is at a safe level over-clock the core and enable it to work faster. So the eight cores in a MacBook Pros 2.3GHz 8-Core i9 processor can, if needed, be pushed to 4.8GHz subject to power consumption and heat dissipation. Not all processors can Turbo Boost. The i3 processors, found in the 3.6GHz Quad-Core iMac, do not include Turbo Boost, so the 3.6GHz speed is never going to be overclocked. Why would you need Turbo Boost? Turbo Boost kicks in when you arent using all the cores, so the clock speed can beincreased on the cores that are in use. So, Turbo Boost is a feature that will benefit you most if you arent using applications that use multiple cores. Why might you not want Turbo Boost? When Turbo Boost is in use, your computer will be using more power, so if you have a laptop it might not be in your interest to have Turbo Boost. Apple would quote Turbo Boost figure for older Macs, like the iMac above. Intel processor types Its not only the processor generation you need to consider with Intel. There was a lot of variety in terms of processor speed, number of cores, Turbo Boost figures, and whether it was an i3 or an i9. Wondering if i5 is better than i7, or if i3 is going to be inadequate? We look through the different processors right up to i9 below. Core M The M is a mobile version of Intels chips it appeared in the first Retina MacBook when it launched in 2014. There were three M processors with increasing performance: m3, m5, and m7. Core i3 i3 processors featured in some Macs. They dont feature Turbo Boost. Core i5 The majority of Macs used to use Intels i5 processors. The i5 tended to be quad-core or 6-core. If you find a dual-core, its an older generation. Core i7 The i7 is worth looking out for if you are thinking of purchasing an older Mac because, in older generations of Macs, when it came to quad-core, the i5 and i7 versions were not equal. The quad-core i7, which was once used in the 15-inch MacBook Pro offered some features that the quad-core i5 didnt, one of which was Hyper-threading. Another difference was the size of the cache. Thanks to these features, i7 processors were better for multitasking, multimedia, high-end gaming, and scientific work. Core i9 Intels i9 processors arrived with the 9th generation Coffee Lake refresh, and have up to 8 cores. Xeon Intels Xeon processors are workstation or server processors. Xeon processors support more memory than the i5/i7/i9 processors. Hyper-threading Hyper-threading allows the processor to handle twice as many streams as it has cores, by fooling software into thinking it has twice as many cores. So, a quad-core processor with hyperthreading should be able to execute four times as many sets of instructions in a given time period as a dual-core processor with the same clock speed but without hyperthreading. This means that a quad-core i7, for example, can act like it has eight cores, but a quad-core i5 will only be able to use the four cores available to it. Which Mac processor should you choose? Now that Apple has completed its transition from Intel to Apple Silicon, the question of which processor is no longer a choice between Intel and Apple. We have in the past recommended waiting for a second-generation product, but we are so many years into the transition that there really is no reason to wait. If you need a powerful Mac, go ahead and buy one. The only reason to delay would be if you want to wait for the Mac you want to get updated with a new M-series chip. For the best deals right now, check out our: Best iMac deals Best Mac mini deals Best Mac Studio deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best MacBook Air deals

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

Grab the AirPods 4 with ANC at their lowest price right now

Macworld Apples newest AirPods 4 are already an affordable way to get active noise cancellation without springing for AirPods Pro but this deal makes them a downright steal: The AirPods 4 with ANC are down to $149 at Amazon , a savings of $30 off its $179 MSRP and the lowest price weve ever seen. These are some earbuds we absolutely love, as the 4.5-star rating we gave them during our review stands testament. We found they deliver killer audio quality, are actually efficient at canceling noise, and come with a wirelessly charging case with a built-in speaker that can make a sound if you lose track of it. 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. In short, the AirPods 4 are a great, all-around set of earphones, we wrote. If you dont need ANC, the AirPods 4 also come in a regular model thats a bit cheaper. You can get a pair for $117 right now , a small savings off its $129 MSRP. But whichever one you decide to buy, grab your very own AirPods 4 on sale today while theyre still on sale at Amazon. Get the ANC AirPods 4 for $30 off Buy now at Amazon

Apple Arcade in April: Katamari Damacy, RollerCoaster Tycoon, and four more

Macworld Gaming subscription services are all the rage now, but Apple Arcade isnt a little different from the likes of PlayStation Plus, EA Play, or Xbox Game Pass. If youve got questions about it, weve got plenty of answers. Updated April 4, 2025: There are six new games released this month: Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE , puffies. , RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic+ , Sesame Street Mecha Builders+ , SpaceInvaders InfinityGene EVO , and The Game of Life 2+ . What is Apple Arcade? Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV that features several hundred games. The games are a mix of genres and styles, and include original games youll only find on the service and others that can be found on the regular App Store or even other platforms. Apple Arcade isnt a streaming service like Xbox Live Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW. Games must be downloaded onto your device in order to be played. What do I need to run it? Apple Arcade was made available as part of iOS 13, iPad OS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later. Some of the more visually-intensive games may only run well on newer hardware, though, and some Mac games require macOS 11 (Big Sur). How much does Apple Arcade cost? Apple Arcade costs $6.99/6.99 per month, and youll also get a one-month free trial or you can get three months free if you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac. To claim your free trial click here . You can get Apple Arcade for less than $6.99 a month if you subscribe for a year upfront. A year of Apple Arcade is $49.99/49.99 (so $4.16 a month). If youre currently on the $6.99 month-to-month plan and want to switch to the annual plan and save some money, you can do so on youriPhone or iPad. Open the App Store app, then tap your account icon in the upper right. Tap Subscriptions , then tap the entry for Apple Arcade . Here, you can switch to the annual plan. Apple Arcade is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles , which range from $20 a month to $38 a month and include access to Apple Music and Apple TV and iCloud storage. There is also a month free trial of Apple One. To claim the trial, or sign up for Apple One, click here . How do I sign up for Apple Arcade? There isnt an Apple Arcade appits built into the App Store. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac open the App Store and look for the Apple Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen (or in the left column on macOS). A sign-up screen with a Try It Free button will appear. After the trial youll be charged either the monthly or annual fee, depending on your selection. When subscribing, youll need to enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID or Face ID to sign in, and youll have to confirm your subscription purchase a few times. Once youre done with the sign up, the Arcade section of the App Store shows what games are available to you. To access a game, tap on it in the App Store, then tap the Get button. When the game is done installing on your device, the Get button turns into a Play button, and you can tap it to launch the game. The game app icon will also appear on your devices Home page. On the Apple TV, there actually is an Arcade app. Open that to see the sign-up offer. Youll also find an Arcade tab within the App Store. Does my subscription include family sharing? Yes. One $6.99 per month subscription can be shared between up to six people (including you). How do I cancel Apple Arcade? First off, keep in mind that if you cancel Apple Arcade (either before your free trial is up or after subscribing), you wont be able to keep playing the games unless you re-subscribe. If youre okay with that, you can use the same process you use to cancel any other subscription service. Heres the easiest way to do it on the iPhone and iPad: Open the App Store app and tap on your profile photo in the upper right. In the screen that pops up, press Subscriptions near the top of the page. Youll then see a list of active subscriptions, and Apple Arcade should be listed there. Tap it. Youll either see Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription toward the middle of the page that appears. Tap whatever option is available , then Confirm Cancellation . And heres how to cancel Apple Arcade on the Mac: Open the App Store app and then press the icon with your profile photo in the lower left. The Account window will appear, and you should then click View Information at the top of the window. Enter your password when/if prompted. When your Account Information appears, scroll down to the Manage section and click the Manage link to the right of Subscriptions . When the list of your active subscriptions appears, click Edit to the right of Apple Arcade . Toward the middle of the page that appears, youll see a button that says either Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription . Click it, then click Confirm Cancellation and Confirm . Do Apple Arcade games have in-app purchases? No. In Apples words, since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content, and future updates, no additional purchases will be required. Even games that have in-app purchases on the App Store wont have any in Apple Arcade. Do Apple Arcade games have ads? Also no. On a related note, Apple says Apple Arcade has no ad tracking. Is Apple Arcade a game streaming service like GeForce NOW or Xbox Game Streaming? No. All Apple Arcade are downloaded. Are there demos for Apple Arcade games? No, and theyre not really necessary. Like App Store apps, games download quickly and can easily be removed if you dont want to keep it anymore. Apple partly envisions Apple Arcade as a way of letting players try out games with more freedom than the App Store currently allows (which is basically none). In Apples words, rather than pay upfront for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk. The service has a free trial, though, as weve seen with other Apple subscription services. Am I able to keep playing Apple Arcade games if I cancel my subscription? No. As with most subscription services, you only have access while youre a subscriber. Can I use controllers with Apple Arcade games? Yes. In additional to traditional MFi (Made for iOS) controllers, you can pair some specific Bluetooth controllers for either PlayStation or Xbox with either your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Since many Apple Arcade games are playable on Mac and Apple TV (where controller support is more common), many games will support them. Some games, especially those that are also available in the broader App Store and only for iPhone or iPad, have no controller support. Recently Apple relaxed the requirements for MFi controller certification, which may have grown out of the Apple Arcade negotiations. How often are new games released? Games are typically released on the first Friday of each month. There are some rare exceptions. What games have been released so far? There are over 200 games available for Apple Arcade, and the list grows all the time. Title Publisher Release Date A Fold Apart Lightning Rod Games 04/17/20 A Monsters Expedition Draknek Limited 09/10/20 A Slight Change of Sawblades+ Yong Kian Chin 05/02/24 Agent Intercept Prodigy Design 09/19/19 Air Twister YS Net Inc. 06/24/22 Alba: A Wildlife Adventure ustwo 12/11/20 All of You Alike Studio 11/06/20 Altos Odyssey: The Lost City Team Alto / Snowman 07/16/21 Altos AdventureRemastered Team Alto / Snowman 03/25/22 Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ TAITO Corporation 11/07/24 Amazing Bomberman Konami 08/05/22 Angry Birds Reloaded Rovio 07/16/21 Asphalt 8: Airborne+ Gameloft 08/27/21 Assemble With Care ustwo 09/19/19 ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree Wildboy Studios 09/19/19 Badland Party HypeHype Oy 05/06/22 Balatro+ Playstack 09/26/24 Baldo: The Guardian Owls Naps Team 08/27/21 Ballistic Baseball Gameloft 10/18/19 Barbie Color Creations+ StoryToys Limited 12/05/24 Battleheart Legacy+ Mika Mobile 11/04/22 BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner BattleBrew Productions 09/19/19 BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team Oh BiBi 02/01/24 Beyond a Steel Sky Revolution Software 06/26/20 Beyond Blue E-Line Media 04/17/20 Big Time Sports Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 Blackjack by MobilityWare+ MobilityWare 01/05/24 Bleak Sword Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Bloons TD Battles 2+ Ninja Kiwi 03/07/24 Boggle: Arcade Edition Zynga 12/05/24 Bold Moves+ Red Games Co. 06/09/23 Bridge Constructor+ Headup GmbH 02/04/22 Butter Royale Mighty Bear Games 01/24/20 Card of Darkness Pendleton Ward 09/19/19 Cardpocalypse Versus Evil 09/19/19 Castle Crumble Orbital Knight 02/03/23 Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls Konami 09/17/21 Cat Quest II The Gentlebros. 09/19/19 Charrua Soccer Batovi Games 02/07/20 Chess Universe+ Tilting Point 05/04/23 ChuChu Rocket! Universe Sega 09/19/19 Cityscapes: Sim Builder Playstack 05/04/23 Clap Hanz Golf Claphanz 04/02/21 Clue: The Classic Mystery Game+ Marmalade Game Studio 03/24/23 Construction Simulator 2+ Astragon Entertainment 04/15/22 Cooking Mama: Cuisine! Office Create Corp. 06/17/22 Cornsweeper Robert Morrison 01/05/24 Cozy Grove Spry Fox 03/18/21 Crashlands+ Butterscotch Shenanigans, Inc. 01/14/21 Crayola Adventures Red Games Co. 03/07/24 Crayola Create and Play+ Red Games Co. 10/29/21 Crazy Eights: Card Games+ MobilityWare 03/06/25 Creaks Amanita Design 07/10/20 Cricket Through the Ages Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Crossword Jam+ PlaySimple Games 10/20/23 Crossy Road+ Hipster Whale 10/08/21 Crossy Road Castle Hipster Whale 02/28/20 Cut the Rope 3 SeptoLab UK 10/13/23 Cut the Rope Remastered Paladin Studios 04/02/21 Cypher 007 Tilting Point 09/29/23 Dandara: Trials of Fear+ Raw Fury 12/03/21 Dead End Job Headup GmbH, Ant Workshop 09/19/19 Dead Cells+ Playdigious 12/02/22 Dear Reader Local No. 12 09/19/19 Decoherence Efecto Estudios 10/11/19 Delicious Miracle of Life+ GameHouse 11/24/23 Detonation Racing Electric Square 07/30/21 Dicey Dungeons+ Distractionware 05/02/24 Discolored Shifty Eye Games & Jason Godbey 11/08/19 Disney Coloring World+ StoryToys Entertainment 05/04/23 Disney Dreamlight Valley Gameloft 12/05/23 Disney Getaway Blast+ Gameloft 05/04/23 Disney Melee Mania Mighty Bear Games 12/17/21 Disney SpellStruck Artist Arcade 05/04/23 Doctor Who: An Unlikely Heist Tilting Point 04/07/23 Dodo Peak Moving Pieces Interactive 09/19/19 Dont Bug Me! Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 Doodle God Universe JoyBits 07/16/21 Doodle Jump 2+ Lima Sky 02/06/25 Doomsday Vault Flightless 01/03/20 Down in Bermuda Yak & Co 09/19/19 Downwell+ Devolver 11/17/23 Dread Nautical Zen Studios 09/19/19 Drive Ahead! Carcade Dodreams Fairytale Company 11/07/24 EarthNight Cleaversoft 09/19/19 Episode XOXO Episode Interactive 01/06/23 Exit the Gungeon Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Explottens WRP Pvt. 09/19/19 Fabulous Wedding Disaster+ GameHouse 06/06/24 Fallen Knight FairPlay Studios 10/25/19 Fantasian Mistwalker 04/01/21 Farm It! Tummy Games 03/26/21 Farming Simulator 20+ Giants Software 05/04/23 Farmside The Label 02/17/23 FFIV: The After Years Square Enix 12/09/24 Final Fantasy+ Square Enix 01/10/25 Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake) Square Enix 12/09/24 Finity Seabaa 08/25/23 Food Truck Pup+ Game Start 10/03/24 Fledgling Heroes Subtle Boom 09/19/19 Football Manager 2023 Touch SEGA 11/08/22 Frenzic: Overtime The Iconfactory 06/18/21 Frogger and the Rumbling Ruins Konami 06/03/22 Frogger in Toy Town Konami 09/19/19 Furistas Cat Cafe+ Runaway 10/03/24 Galaga Wars+ Bandai Namco 11/12/21 Game Dev Story+ Kairosoft Co., Ltd 06/18/21 Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows Devolver Digital 08/07/20 Game Room Resolution Games 01/20/24 Garden Tails: Match and Grow Playdots, Inc. 09/16/22 The Gardens Between+ The Voxel Agents 10/14/22 Gear.Club Stradale Eden Games 04/08/22 Getting Over It+ Bennett Foddy 05/04/23 Gibbon: Beyond the Trees Broken Rules 02/25/22 Gin Rummy Classic+ MobilityWare 10/07/22 Goat Simulator+ Coffee Stain Publishing 05/13/22 Grand Mountain Adventure+ Toppluva 04/28/23 Grindstone Capybara Games 09/19/19 GRIS+ Devolver 09/30/22 Guildlings Sirvo Studios, Inc. 11/08/19 Hanx101 Trivia BlueLine Studios Inc. 09/02/22 Hearts: Card Game+ MobilityWare 01/07/22 Hello Kitty Island Adventure Sunblink 07/28/23 HEROish Sunblink 07/22/22 Hexaflip: The Action Puzzler Rogue Games, Inc. 09/19/19 Hidden Folks+ Adriaan de Jongh 01/28/22 Hill Climb Racing+ Fingersoft 05/04/23 HitchHiker Versus Evil 03/26/21 Hogwash Bossa Studios 10/25/19 Horizon Chase 2 Aquiris Game Studio 09/09/22 Hot Lava Klei Entertainment 09/19/19 Hot Wheels: Race Off+ Hutch Games 12/05/24 Human: Fall Flat+ 505 Games 03/31/23 HyperBrawl Tournament Milkey Tea Limited 09/19/19 Illustrated BorderLeap 01/13/23 INKS.+ State of Play Games 06/25/21 INMOST Chucklefish Limited 10/11/19 Iron Marines+ Ironhide Irl 05/04/23 Its Literally Just Mowing Protostar 01/10/25 Japanese Rural Life Adventure Game Start 09/15/23 JellyCar Worlds Walaber Entertainment 12/09/22 Jenny LeClue Mografi 09/19/19 Jeopardy! World Tour+ Uken 10/06/23 Jet Dragon Grezzo Co. 06/16/23 Jetpack Joyride+ Halfbrick Studios 07/23/21 Jetpack Joyride 2 Halfbrick Studios 08/19/22 Jigsaw Puzzle by MobilityWare+ MobilityWare 06/10/22 Jumper Jon Ogre Pixel 11/01/19 Junkworld TD Ironhide 09/22/23 Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE Bandai Namco 04/03/25 Kimono Cats HamaNature Studios 03/03/23 Kings League II Kurechi Sdn. Bhd. 09/19/19 Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+ Ironhide Irl 11/12/21 Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD+ Ironhide Irl 07/29/22 Kingdom Two Crowns+ Raw Fury 05/04/23 Kingdoms: Merge & Build Cherrypick Games 08/18/23 Kings of the Castle Frosty Pop 01/17/20 Knotwords+ Zach Gage 11/03/23 Laytons Mystery Journey+ Level-5 Inc. 09/03/21 Legend of the Skyfish 2 Crescent Moon Games 04/03/20 Legends of Kingdom Rush Ironhide Game Studio 06/11/21 LEGO Brawls The Lego Group 09/19/19 LEGO Builders Journey The Lego Group 12/19/19 LEGO DUPLO World+ StoryToys Entertainment 07/07/23 LEGO Star Wars Battles TT Games 09/24/21 LEGO Star Wars: Castaways Gameloft 11/19/21 Leos Fortune+ 1337 & Senri LLC 06/25/21 Lifelike kunabi brother 10/25/19 Lifeline+ 3 Minute Games 02/24/23 Lifeslide Dreamteck 09/19/19 Limbo+ Playdead 05/04/23 Little Orpheus Sumo Digital 06/12/20 Love You to Bits+ Alike Studio 08/26/22 Lumen Lykkegaard International 02/05/21 Manifold Garden William Chyr Studio 10/18/19 Marble It Up: Mayhem! Marble it up 11/08/19 Marble Knights WayForward 09/18/20 MasterChef: Lets Cook! Tilting Point 09/03/21 Mind Symphony Rogue Games, Inc. 10/11/19 Mini Motorways Dinosaur Polo Club 09/19/19 Millionaire Trivia: TV Game+ Uken 06/30/23 Monomals Picomy 11/01/19 Monster Hunter Stories+ Capcom 08/06/21 Monster Train+ Good Shepherd Entertainment 09/05/24 Monument Valley 2+ ustwo games 03/11/22 Moonshot A Journey Home Noodlecake 04/22/22 Murder Mystery Machine Blazing Griffin 09/19/19 Mutazione Die Gute Fabrik 09/19/19 My Bowling 3D+ iWare Designs 07/01/22 My Dear Farm+ HyperBeard Inc. 02/06/25 My Little Pony: Mane Merge Gameloft 12/16/22 My Talking Angela 2+ Outfit7 Limited 09/08/23 My Talking Tom+ Outfit7 Limited 08/12/22 My Town Home Family Games+ My Town Games 05/04/23 NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 04/02/21 NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/19/21 NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/21/22 NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/24/23 NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition 2K Sports 10/03/24 Necrobarista Route 59 07/17/20 Nekograms+ Hungry Sky 08/10/23 Neo Cab Chance Agency 09/19/19 Neversong Serenity Forge 05/01/20 Next Stop Nowhere Night School Studio 08/14/20 NFL Retro Bowl 25 New Star R&D 09/04/24 Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis Viacom International 01/21/22 Nightmare Farm Hit-Point Co., Ltd. 10/05/19 No Way Home SMG Studio 01/10/20 NUTS Noodlecake Studios 01/22/21 Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm Cornfox & Bros. 09/19/19 Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon Cornfox & Bros. 01/08/21 Octodad: Dadliest Catch+ Young Horses 05/04/23 Oddmar+ Mobje Ltd. 12/03/21 Old Mans Journey Broken Rules 11/18/22 Operator 41 Shifty Eye Games 09/19/19 Osmos+ Hemisphere Games 03/17/23 Outlanders Pomelo Games 09/19/19 Outlanders 2 Pomelo Games 07/03/24 Over the Alps Stave Studios 09/19/19 Overland Finji 09/19/19 PAC-MAN Party Royale BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment 10/18/19 PAC-MAN 256+ BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment 12/05/24 Painty Mob Devolver Digital 09/19/19 Patterned BorderLeap 09/19/19 PGA Tour Pro Golf HypGames 02/06/25 Piano Tiles 2+ Koapps 03/06/25 Pilgrims Amanita Design 10/05/19 Pocket Build+ MoonBear LTD 04/01/22 Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Game Freak 01/20/23 Populus Run FIFTYTWO 01/29/21 Possessions Noodlecake Studios 09/19/19 PPKP+ Shimada Toshiro 05/04/23 Pro Darts 2022+ iWare Designs 05/27/22 Pro Snooker & Pool 2022+ iWare Designs Ltd. 04/15/22 Projection: First Light Blowfish Studios 09/19/19 Prune+ Joel McDonald 04/29/22 Puffies. Lykkegaard Europe 04/03/25 Punch Kick Duck+ Shaun Coleman 07/03/24 Punch Planet Sector-K Games 09/19/19 Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop Sega 04/04/24 Puzzle & Dragons Story GungHo Online Entertainment 12/05/23 Rabbids Multiverse Ubisoft 06/06/24 Rayman Mini Ubisoft 09/19/19 Red Reign Ninja Kiwi Limited 09/19/19 Redout: Space Assault 34BigThings 10/05/19 Reigns: Beyond Devolver Digital 11/06/20 Retro Bowl+ New Star R&D 06/23/23 Retro Goal+ New Star R&D 06/23/23 Return to Monkey Island+ Devolver 06/06/24 Ridiculous Fishing EX Vlambeer 07/17/23 Riptide GP: Renegade+ Vector Unit 02/10/23 Rodeo Stampede+ Featherweight Games 01/10/25 RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic+ Atari 04/03/25 Rosies Reality RosieReality 11/15/19 Roundguard Wonderbelly Games 03/13/20 Sago Mini Trips+ Sago Mini 04/04/24 Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go Sega 08/29/23 Samorost 3+ Amanita Design 07/08/22 Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time Cartoon Network 08/21/20 Sayonara Wild Hearts Annapurna Interactive 09/19/19 Scrappers Q-Games 04/10/20 Secret Oops! Mixedbag 01/31/20 Sesame Street Mecha Builders+ StoryToys 04/03/25 Shadow Blade+ Crescent Moon Games 03/04/22 Shantae and the Seven Sirens WayForward 09/19/19 Shinsekai: Into the Depths Capcom 09/19/19 ShockRods Stainless Games 10/11/19 Shovel Knight Dig Yacht Club Games 09/23/22 Simons Cat Story Time Tactile Games Limited 04/02/21 Skate City Snowman 09/19/19 Skate City: New York Snowman 01/10/25 Slash Quest Noodlecake Studios 10/01/20 Slay the Spire+ Humble Bundle 07/07/23 Smash Hit+ Mediocre 10/03/24 Snake.io+ Kooapps 05/04/23 Sneaky Sasquatch RAC7 09/19/19 Sociable Soccer Rogue Games, Inc. 11/08/19 Solitaire Stories Red Games Co. 07/02/21 SongPop Party Gameloft 04/02/21 Sonic Dash+ Sega 04/08/22 Sonic Dream Team Sega 12/05/23 Sonic Racing Sega 09/19/19 South of the Circle State of Play 10/30/20 Sp!ng SMG Studio 03/05/21 SpaceInvaders InfinityGene EVO TAITO Corporation 04/03/25 Spaceland Tortuga Games 09/19/19 Spades: Card Game+ MobilityWare 01/07/22 Speed Demons Radiangames 09/19/19 Spek RAC7 Games 09/19/19 Spelldrifter Free Range Games 09/19/19 Spider Solitaire: Card Game+ MobilityWare 10/07/22 Spidersaurs WayForward 09/19/19 Spire Blast Orbital Knight sp. 01/22/21 Splitter Critters+ RAC7 Games 12/10/21 Spongebob SquarePants: Patty Pursuit Nickelodeon 05/28/20 Spyder Sumo_Digital 03/20/20 Squiggle Drop Noodlecake 01/27/23 Star Fetched Crescent Moon Games 11/01/19 Star Trek: Legends Tilting Point LLC 04/02/21 Stardew Valley+ ConcernedApe 07/21/23 Stela SkyBox Labs 10/11/19 Stellar Commanders Blindflug Studios 09/19/19 Steven Universe: Unleash the Light Cartoon Network 11/27/19 Stitch. Lykkegaard Europe 10/28/22 Stranded Sails Shifty Eye Games 09/19/19 Subway Surfers Tag Sybo Games 07/15/22 Summer Pop!+ Ocean Games 05/02/24 Summon Quest The Label 04/21/23 Super Leap Day Nitrome 08/06/21 Super Impossible Road Rogue Games, Inc. 09/19/19 Super Mega Mini Party Red Games Co, LLC 11/01/19 Super Monsters Ate My Condo+ PikPok 04/04/24 Super Stickman Golf 3+ Noodlecake 08/06/21 Survival Z Ember Entertainment 02/19/21 Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment 04/02/21 Takeshi and Hiroshi Oink Games Inc. 11/08/19 Tales of Memo Tendays Studio 10/25/19 Talking Tom Blast Park Outfit7 Limited 12/05/24 Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom Bandai Namco 01/05/24 Tangle Tower SFB Games 09/19/19 Temple Run+ Imangi Studios 05/04/23 Temple Run Legends Imangi Stuidios 08/01/24 Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure Scopely, Inc. 09/17/21 Tetris Beat N3twork Inc. 08/20/21 Texas Holdem Poker: Pokerist+ KamaGames 11/07/24 The Battle of Polytopia+ Midjiwan 03/07/24 The Bradwell Conspiracy Bossa Studios 10/05/19 The Collage Atlas Robot House Games Ltd 10/16/20 The Enchanted World Noodlecake Studios 09/19/19 The Game of Life 2+ Marmalade Game Studio 04/03/25 The Get Out Kids Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 The Last Campfire Hello Games 08/27/20 The Loud House: Outta Control Nickelodeon 02/14/20 The Lullaby of Life 1 Simple Game 07/24/20 The Mosaic Raw Fury 11/01/19 The Oregon Trail Gameloft 04/02/21 The Otherside The Label 05/08/20 The Pathless Annapurna Interactive 11/12/20 The Pinball Wizard Frosty Pop Games 09/19/19 The Survivalists Team17 10/08/20 Things That Go Bump Tinybop Inc. 10/18/19 Three Kingdoms Heroes Koei Tecmo Games 01/10/25 Thumper: Pocket Edition+ Drool LLC 10/01/21 Time Locker+ Sotaro Otsuka 05/04/23 tint. Lykkegaard International 09/19/19 Tiny Wings+ Andreas Illiger 10/15/21 TMNT Splintered Fate Paramount Global 05/04/23 Transformers Tactical Arena Red Games Co 11/05/21 Trials of Mana+ Square Enix 01/10/25 Tomb of the Mask+ Playgendary 06/06/24 Towaga: Among Shadows Noodlecake Studios 09/19/19 Towers of Everland Cobra Mobile Limited 05/22/20 Turmoil+ Gamious 12/05/23 UFO on Tape: First Contact Revolutionary Concepts 11/08/19 Ultimate Rivals: The Court Bit Fry Games 07/09/21 Ultimate Rivals: The Rink Bit Fry Games 12/12/19 Vampire Survivors+ Poncle 08/01/24 Various Daylife Square Enix 09/19/19 Very Little Nightmares+ Bandai Namco 05/04/23 Warp Drive Supergonk 11/27/20 Warped Kart Racers Electric Square 05/20/22 Way of the Turtle Illusion Labs 09/19/19 What the Car? Triband ApS 05/04/23 What the Golf? Fig 09/19/19 Wheel of Fortune Daily Frosty Pop 11/07/24 Where Cards Fall Snowman 09/19/19 Winding Worlds KO_OP 05/15/20 Wonderbox: The Adventure Maker Aquiris 04/01/21 Word Laces minimega 09/19/19 Words in Progress Gamious 02/01/24 World of Demons PlatinumGames 04/02/21 Worlds End Club IzanagiGames 09/04/20 Wurdweb Aran & Adriaan 08/13/21 Wylde Flowers Studio Drydock 02/22/22 Yaga Versus Evil 10/25/19 Zen Koi Pro+ LandShark Games 07/03/24 Zen Pinball Party ZEN Studios 09/03/21 Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes Firefly Games 12/04/20 Zookeeper World Kiteretsu Inc. 09/10/21

How to avoid CCing the Atlantic editor-in-chief in your messages

Macworld You are likely not planning a military action in another country, but the accidental inclusion of unintended invitees to a group text, email, or other discussion could still prove a problemfrom embarrassment to losing friends, causing a family rift, or even being fired from a job. The problem arises from two intersecting factors: how Apple and third-party software retain recipients information to make it easy to use in future messaging, and how quickly apps have trained us to type a few letters and move on without examining whats being autocompleted and filled in. This means that you might intend to add Jeffrey Pixenwald to a group chat and instead invite Jenny Hickenlooper by typing Je. It happens. A great general place to start when inadvertently selecting the wrong person is your Contacts list. This list may contain people youve only connected with once years ago. Delete unwanted entries. You can also clear out the macOS Mail apps list of suggestions, which I explain below in the Mail section. More generally, consider the following: Slow down when selecting contacts from autocomplete suggestions to ensure you read whats suggested. Always double-check recipients before sending a message or email. Type the full name for important or sensitive messages rather than relying on autocomplete. This avoids any accidental overlap, even though its tedious. Here is more app-specific advice on how to avoid autocomplete filling in the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of people you didnt intend to include in your communications. Messages When you start typing letters into the To: field in Messages on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, Apple tries to help by ordering the suggestions by how recently youve messaged someone. Matches are made by name or email address. This means that the first choice is often the best for the letters you entered, and the top suggestions are almost always sensible. Following the people with whom you recently interacted, Messages lists all other entries in your contact list (for first name, last name, or email) in alphabetical order by first name. Messages in iOS and iPadOS shows another list of suggestions following a break with the label Siri Found in Apps. You can disable Siri Suggestions in Settings > (Apple Intelligence &) Siri > Apps > Messages . Messages has a setting for Siri Suggestions, which is found in the (Apple Intelligence &) Siri options of Settings. (Click to enlarge the image.) Foundry In macOS, Messages selects the top choice, effectively autocompleting it, and you can press Return to accept it without review. For the safest way to add people, I suggest training yourself to not press Return and instead click the address you want. In iOS and iPadOS, you have to tap to select a recipient, which requires more deliberation. Mail Mail similarly provides suggestions ordered by recent interactions and then alphabetically as you start to type. macOS autocompletes the first item as the best match by selecting it. In iOS and iPadOS, as in Messages, you have to tap to select a match. Mail for iPhone and iPad includes Siri suggestions at the bottom, which you can disable via Settings > (Apple Intelligence &) Siri > Apps > Mail. You cant control this any further on an iPhone or iPad, but Mail on a Mac has an additional source of suggestions and a way to restrict that list. Choose Window > Previous Recipients . This often lengthy list contains every person who you have emailed in the past with the date of the last time a message was sent from the Mail app to them. You can trim this list to avoid suggestions from it: select or search for individual entries or choose Edit > Select All and click Remove From List. (In the past, some readers have found suggestions continue to appear from this list even after deleting entries.) Mail for macOS also draws suggested recipients from its record of all previous recipients. (Recipients blurred for privacy.) Foundry Signal When you begin typing in a name in Signal to add a recipient, the app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac (and other platforms) shows your most recent chat participants first, then an alphabetical listing by first name of all other matches. The system never selects an addressee for you. Instead, you have to click or tap to select a displayed entry. The one place Signal can bite youas it did certain members of the current American administrationis that peoples names and addresses are imported from your contacts unless added manually. A profile image is only shown if thats found in Contacts. Otherwise, two initials appear, like GF or RL. That can lead you to select someone in haste by noticing their initials and not their full name. Signal matches by name but never autoselects. (Recipients blurred for privacy.) To ensure you have the right name set for a contact, you can add a nickname within Signal that overrides the imported name. Signal doesnt offer an address book for editing. Instead, you follow this process: Click or tap the New Chat icon to start a new chat. Enter the persons name and make sure youre seeing the right person. Select that entry. Click or tap the initials or image and name at the top of the chat area. Click or tap Nickname and add their full name or a descriptive name. Click Save or tap Done .

Avast Premium Security for Mac review: Excellent, but should you buy?

Macworld At a Glance Expert's Rating Pros Clean, friendly user interface with a good level of customization Good performance on large-volume scans Caught and quarantined almost all the test files thrown at it Cons Email Guardian allows you to visit questionable websites without warning about phishing, scams, or malware More advanced network tools needed for complete control over connected devices Our Verdict Avast has delivered a good product that can head a ton of malware and viral activity off at the pass, but still needs work in terms of what its Email Guardian feature lets through and allows you to visit with no warning whatsoever. Still, theres a trial period to be taken advantage of and once again, Avast Premium Security is worth looking into. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price Avast Software $34.68 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Price When Reviewed From $34.68 for first year, usually $77.99 a year (1 Mac). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Avast Software $34.68 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Avast Premium Security for Mac is an antiviral/anti-malware/security tool (and one of the better Mac Antivirus apps we have looked at). It protects against viral infections, offers safeguards for email accounts and network traffic monitoring. The current version provides some impressive high points as well as a few things for its developers and marketing team to look into. At the time of writing (spring 2025) Avast Premium Security has a spring offer of $34.68/29.19 for the first year for one Mac, Avast says the usual yearly price is $77.99/64.99, but its always discounted when we check for our best Antivirus deals round up . Users can also begin a 60-day free trial by entering a credit or debit card with Avast citing a 30-day money-back guarantee if not satisfied. Avast Premium Security is centered around several modules (Smart Scan, Virus Scans, Core Shields, Traffic Monitor, Network Inspector, Email Guardian, Ransomware Shield, and Quarantine) with quick access to its storefront, where you can purchase other Avast products should you desire. Foundry The user interface is as simple as you could ask for and its handy to be able to quickly focus a scan on an external drive without having to dig through options and menus. The Smart Scan quickly looks over your virus definitions, viruses, and malware, and Advanced Issues, which checks your Ransomware Shield and the folders its protecting, Network Inspector settings, and Real Site settings, which scans for imposter/phishing-based websites. The Virus Scans module may be the most impressive element of Avast Premium Security, as the module dovetails beautifully with macOS GateKeeper function, caught almost all of the test viruses and malware I could throw at it, and quickly put suspect software into quarantine. Once suspect files are found, they can be readily quarantined and/or deleted. The software can also run tests on external volumes and perform a deep scan to check every file on your hard drive, which may take several hours but is worth it. Avast has taken an interesting approach to its Traffic Monitor and Network Monitor modules, with the Traffic Monitor showing how much data youre using and where your bandwidth is going and the Network Inspector quickly scanning the network youre on, gauging its safety, offering a list of which devices are on the same network, and alerting you as to when an unfamiliar device joins the network. Its interesting to see where your web traffic is going, which geographic locations its pinging to, and how much bandwidth its consuming. The Network Inspector offers a handy means of examining your larger network and can point out which devices are on it and if suspect devices might be lurking on your network. Foundry The Core Shields feature impressed me when I ran it through a fake/smishing website that spawned from a random text message I received claiming a package I hadnt ordered had been lost, but that clicking on a fake USPS website link would resolve the issue. Avasts Real Site feature prevented the site from loading and questionable software from being accessed, as the questionable website was written to do. While the text and its links were suspicious, to begin with, this can help avoid future mistakes. The Email Guardian module is interesting and reveals which emails contain viruses, malware, or are part of larger phishing scams, and its easy to add an email account for Avast to look over, the suite allowing for whitelists and exemptions to be created and customized in its preferences. Still, there are some issues to sort out. As I mentioned the last time I reviewed Avast Premium Premium (in 2023), the Email Guardian feature was able to point out suspect emails but didnt do much to prevent you from visiting questionable websites. This really hasnt changed. Once again, the Email Guardian feature highlights questionable websites but still lets you readily visit every dubious link to be found in your spam folder without so much as a warning, which is still troubling. Yes, youre a mature, responsible adult, and the choice is yours, but this still waves you on through to every message that offers free power tools for completing a survey, reverse mortgages paid in cryptocurrency, online casinos that claim you cant possibly lose, and everything else under the sun without a hint of warning to be found. While Avast Premium Security is reasonably priced, theres a question of semi-dubious marketing to be addressed here, as the website mentions a low monthly rate in bold text with the overall annual payment in subtle, non-bold text. Enter your payment information, and Avast gladly snags the annual rate from your bank account, which is valid but still feels as if the marketing department is going after a customer base that might not have time to read the fine print. This, combined with the fact that Avast still has yet to reply to media emails to questions sent along, points to a corporate element not firing on all cylinders, and you may have to reach out more than once if you have technical support questions. Should you buy Avast Premium Security for Mac? Theres a good product here, and I was impressed with how much questionable software Avast Premium Security was able to head off at the pass, even though it allowed CrossRat to install fake Java libraries and a fake Adobe Flash Player to be installed, even though it later caught up to them and removed them via a deep scan. Would I run the company the exact way its being run now? No. Would I sit the developers down, ask them to look over the Email Guardian feature, and strongly suggest that the software at least offer some warning before you link over to a spam link rife with grammatical errors that says youre about to lose your drivers license unless you pay off an unknown creditor in a foreign country? Yes. But even with these shortcomings, Avast remains a best-of-breed utility and may just be worth your consideration.

How to get Apple TV+ for free: Best deals, trials and discounts

Macworld Apple TV+, the streaming service from Apple, arrived at the end of 2019 so its been here a while now, but its only recently come into its own as more and more people have discovered the great shows on offer. If you want to watch shows including Severence , Ted Lasso and For All Mankind , as well as movies like Tetris and Greyhound , and a couple of MLB games every Friday night , you might be wondering if you can really justify yet another subscription. The good news is that you dont have to commit to a subscription: you can subscribe for a month (for $9.99/8.99) and cancel Apple TV+ at any time . But there are ways that you can get Apple TV for free and we are here to show you how to do that. If you want to learn more about what you can watch on Apple TV+ read everything you can watch on Apple TV+ , and our list of the new shows coming to Apple TV+ . How to watch Apple TV+ for free There are a number of ways in which you can watch shows on Apple TV+ for free. Apple offers limited-time trials (discussed below), and the service also allows you to watch the first episode of many shows for free. In fact there are several dozen episodes available to watch for free including the first episodes of Ted Lasso , The Morning Show , See , Trying , and more. Read about What is free on Apple TV+? in our separate article. Beyond the free episodes, Apple offers a free seven-day trial which might be long enough for you to binge a whole series (if you dont sleep for a week). But there are also longer trials available both from Apple and from other companies who bundle a free Apple TV+ subscription with their services, read on for the details of the best Apple TV deals and free trial codes. For example, there is the option to get a free year subscription to Apple TV+ with T-Mobile (if you live in the US), you can also get three months free Apple TV+ with a PlayStation 5 . Find out more about these deals below. Apple TV+ trials Apple offers various trials so that you can try out Apple TV+ before you subscribe. Unfortunately, none of these offers are available if you or your Family have previously accepted an Apple TV+ 1 year free offer from when the service first launched. Once the trial period is up the $9.99/8.99 a month subscription will start immediately but you can easily cancel this. To avoid paying you need to cancel the subscription the day before it is due to renew. Get 7 days of Apple TV+ free If you want to watch a show, and have plenty of time in the immediate future, you could activate your free seven-day trial and binge-watch it! The 7-day trial might sound attractive if you think you can watch a whole series in a week. But make sure the whole series is available, as Apple typically adds new episodes on a weekly basis. You can subscribe to Apple TV+ on Apples website here , or via the Apple TV app on your device. The 7-day trial will automatically auto-renew into a monthly subscription though, so you will need to be prepared to cancel within the week if you dont want to be out of pocket. The easiest way to cancel a subscription go to Settings and click on the Apple ID section on your iPhone. Tap on Subscriptions . Locate Apple TV+ in the Active list and then Cancel Subscription . More details on how to cancel your subscription below. Note that you wont find Apple TV+ in the Active list until the trial ends. Get 7 days Apple TV+ for free Get 1 month of Apple TV+ free As long as youve never used Apple TV+ before, you can actually get a free month if you sign up for the one-month trial of Apple One. That trial will also include free one-month trials for Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and iCloud+. At the end of the months trial, the subscription starts at $19.95/18.95 a month as an individual, but there are different plans available. You can cancel at any time. Read: Apple One: What you need to know . Get 1 month Apple TV+ for free with Apple One (U.S.) Get 1 month Apple TV+ for free with apple one (U.K.) Apple TV+ subscription deals Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free with an Apple hardware purchase Apple offers three months of Apple TV+ for free to anyone with a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac. You can get three months of Apple TV+ when you purchase a iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac from Apple. Apple Watch, HomePod, AirPods, and various other Apple devices do not qualify. In short, your device qualifies if its a new Apple device that can actually run the TV app and watch Apple TV+ content. Once the three months is up the $9.99/8.99 a month subscription will start immediately unless you cancel it. It is necessary to claim the deal within 90 days of setting up your new device. Get Apple TV+ free with an Apple Music student subscription Another way to get Apple TV+ for free is to sign up for a student subscription to Apple Music. If you qualify as a student in Higher Education you will be able to get Apple Music for half price, and as an added benefit Apple is bundling free Apple TV+ subscriptions with student subscriptions to Apple Music. You qualify for free Apple TV+ for as long as you subscribe as a student. A student subscription to Apple Music costs $5.99/5.99 a month. Head to this Apple page for more details. Get Apple TV+ free with a Student Apple Music subscription (U.S.) Get Apple TV+ free with a Student Apple Music subscription (U.K.) Get 12 months Apple TV+ for the price of 10 One way to save money is to pay Apple for the year up-front. When you sign up for the service rather than choosing to pay monthly (which has the benefit of being able to cancel at any time) opt to pay yearly. That will cost you $99.99/89 up-front, which works out at $8.33/7.41 a month, rather than the standard $9.99/8.99 a month. Or $9.99/8.99 a month for 10 months instead of 12. On your iPhone, go to Settings and click on your Apple ID info at the top. Tap on Subscriptions. Beside Apple Music tap on See All Plans. Switch to Individual Plan to save money (you wont be able to cancel this subscription until the end of the 12 months though). Get two months free with a year's subscription Other Apple TV+ Deals Its not only Apple that offers free Apple TV+ trials. Some third parties offer even longer deals than Apple does. Youll find U.S. and U.K deals below. Just remember that at the end of the trial you may need to cancel with Apple if you dont want the subscription to start. Get Apple TV+ for free with PlayStation 5 There is a 3 month Apple TV free deal with PlayStation 5 (there was a six-month deal, but that deal ended on July 31, 2023.) PlayStation 4 users can also apply for the deal. Get Apple TV+ for 3 months with Sony Playstation 5 U.S. Apple TV+ deals Get Apple TV+ for free with T-Mobile T-Mobile offers Apple TV+ for free on a couple of its smartphone plans. The GoG5 Next and GoG5 Plus plans both offer Apple TV+ as well as Netflix for customers, while the Next option adds Hulu as well. Prices start at $90 a month for one line. Details here . Get Apple TV+ for free with T-Mobile Go5G Next or Go5G plus Get Apple TV+ for 6 months with T-Mobile Go5G plan Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free through Best Buy You can get three months of Apple TV+ for free through Best Buy, without even making any special qualifying purchase. Just go to the Best Buy Apple TV+ promo page , hit Add to Cart, and check out. Follow the prompts to access your digital download, which is a code you can enter for three free months when you first sign up for Apple TV+. The code will work for new or qualifying returning subscribers. This code has to be used during signup, so its probably the one you should use first, before redeeming other offers like the free 3 months for a qualifying Apple product. Get Apple TV+ for 3 months with Best Buy Get Apple TV+ for free with Roku Rokus deal means you can get three months Apple TV+ for free. This deal ends on February 3, 2025. They are also offering three months Apple Music for free. You need to redeem the deal on your Roku device. U.K. Apple TV+ deals Get 6 months of Apple TV+ for free with EE New subscribers and existing customers can get up to 6 months free Apple TV+. If you are an existing Apple TV+ member you will still be able to take advantage of the deal, but you will need to cancel your existing subscription with Apple. Customers only need to text TV PLUS to 150 and EE will send an activation code. Alternatively, log into the EE website or app and go to Plan & Add-ons > Add-ons >Apple TV+. Along with having an Apple ID with payment information on file, you will need to prove you are a Barclaycard customer. To do so you need to fill in a form with your name, date of birth and postcode and Barclays will confirm if you are a customer and will send you a link to get the Apple TV trial. After the six months is up customers will be billed 8.99 a month as per Apples usual Apple TV+ cost. EE does note that you may get the error message that: This subscription is being used with another Apple ID and they suggest that you change the Apple ID associated =with the subscription to solve this. Get 6 months free Apple TV+ with EE Get 6 months of Apple TV+ for free with EE TV EE is also bundling Apple TV+ with EE TV. An Apple TV set top box is included in the deal. EE TV includes over 70 Freeview channels including BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Also included are Sky channels from NOW, Netflix, TNT Sport, discovery+ and more. Apple TV+ is available to new EE TV customers with a six-month free trial. Get 6 months free Apple TV+ with EE TV Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free with Vodafone You can get a 3-month Apple TV+ subscription if you sign up to a Vodafone Xtra Broadband plan . After your broadband has been connected, Vodafone will send you an email within 14 days with a link to redeem your subscription. Youll also get an Apple TV box. Sadly a deal that ran until September 4, 2024 gave customers 24-months free Apple TV! Get 3 months free Apple TV+ with Vodafone Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free with Sky TV in the U.K. Apple Theres a great deal in the UK right now for Sky TV subscribers, although its not as good as it has been in the past. You caa grab three months of Apple TV+ for free (sadly, not that long ago this was six months). The offer is open to both new and existing Apple TV+ subscribers. Youll need an iCloud account to sign up for Apple TV+. Existing subscribers can redeem the offer and their subscription automatically states that the next renewal is six months later. To get VIP, log into the My Sky app on your iOS or Android device. Then click on the Sky VIP star on the bottom right-hand corner, tap giveaways and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Sky VIPs can redeem this offer through the VIP section of the MySky app under the Gifts & Discounts category. All UK-based Sky subscribers can become Sky VIPs if they have one or more active Sky TV, Broadband, Talk and/or Sky Mobile products. Get 3 months Apple TV+ with Sky TV Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free with Currys During Black Friday 2024 Currys offered four months free. Foundry Throughout the year, Currys has a deal where you can get three months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and Apple Fitness if you buy an eligible product from the store, which includes all audio products over 49, all laptops, desktops, games consoles, tablets, TVs, smart home, smart watches, mobile or any Apple product over 99. After five days you should receive an email from Currys including the link to get three months of Apple services for free. Sign up for the Currys Perks Loyalty Scheme to qualify. Get 3 months free Apple TV+ with Currys Get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free with O2 O2 is offering three months of Apple TV on eligible tariffs and with purchases of Apple products. Details here . Since you would get three months free Apple TV with a new iPhone its not clear what O2 is offing in addition to that. Get 3 months free Apple TV+ with O2 How to claim your free trial of Apple TV+ from Apple Having made a qualifying purchase, or decided to try out the free 7-day trial, all you need to do is: Make sure the device is running the latest software. Open the TV app on your new Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Sign in to your Apple ID. Click on the show you want to watchyou should see the option to Enjoy Three Months Free . Note: This will only appear if you have purchased a new device, otherwise you will only see the 7-day trial offer. Click Continue . Confirm that you want to activate the free trial. You will see a message that the free trial will commence immediately and will run until the end of the trial at which point it will renew for a monthly subscription. If you want to cancel the subscription you can do so. You have 90 days from buying a new device to start the free years subscription, so as long as you purchased your new Apple product recently then you should be ok to activate your trial. Also, if you stop the free trial before it ends you cant restart it. What if you are thinking of buying a new Apple device later? Will you be able to switch from a subscription to the free trial? We think that the way to do this would be to cancel your subscription before signing up again via the three-month trial. How to share an Apple TV+ subscription with your family You can also share a subscription to TV+ with six family membersyourself and five others. To do this you all need to be part of the same Family Sharing group. By linking your Apple accounts together under the Family Sharing group you will all be able to: Share music purchased from the iTunes Store Share access to Apple Music (as long as you have a family Apple Music subscription) Share apps bought from the App Store (in app purchases cant be shared though) Share Apple Books Access games on Apples Arcade gaming platform (with a subscription) Share a News+ subscription Share an iCloud storage plan One of your family members will need to be the family organizer, who basically chooses who joins the group, and has to put up their bank details to pay for any purchases. Its supposed to be family members in the same household. While you could set this up with other family members we think the frustration of having all the payments for everything going through the organisers bank account could make this a hard sell. However, if does at least mean that you and your partner dont both have to subscribe to the service in order to watch shows on both of your iPhones. How to cancel an Apple TV+ subscription So thats a few ways to get Apple TV+ for free, at least for a short time, or by sharing a subscription with a family member. However, we think the best way to get access to Apple TV+ is to subscribe as usual but just cancel at any time. You could watch everything you want this month and then stop subscribing next month and it would only cost you 6.99/$6.99. Sign up for Apple TV+ here. To cancel your Apple TV+ subscription follow these steps: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap on the Apple ID section at the top with your name. Tap on Subscriptions . Now tap on any subscription you wish to cancel (in this case Apple TV+). On the next page tap on Cancel Subscription . Expired deals Get 1 month of Apple TV+ free Usually Apple only offers 7 days free, and thats just to new users, but back in January Apple offered a month of Apple TV+ for free to new and returning customers (as long as you qualify). Get 1 month Apple TV+ for free U.S. Get 1 month Apple TV+ for free U.K. If you are in the U.S. click here or if you are in the U.K. its here. Click on Redeem Offer. This will open the Apple TV app. Click on Try 1 Month Free. Sign in to your Apple ID with your password. If you are eligible for the offer it will allow you to take advantage of the deal. Unfortunately, this offer is not available if you or your family have previously accepted an Apple TV+ three months free or one year free offer. If you are a current subscriber you will need to unsubscribe to Apple TV before you can qualify for the offer (assuming you have not taken up one of the previous offers). This deal ran until January 30, 2025.

Take a trip to the lost Melbourne Apple Store with these mind-blowing images

Macworld When Apple decides to open a new flagship Apple Store, it selects prominent locations and has visions of unique architectural concepts. Such was the case in 2017, when Apple announced its intentions for a new store in Federation Square , or Fed Square as the locals of Melbourne, Australia, put it. Fed Square is located in Melbournes Art Precinct , known locally as the artistic heart of the city. Sounds like an ideal place to put a flagship Apple Store, doesnt it? Well, not long after Apple announced its most significant store in the Southern Hemisphere, the community voiced its objections , fearing that Apples building would harm the locations cultural relevance. Eventually, Heritage Victoria , a government regulator that monitors historic sites, rejected an application for the demolition of the Yarra Building to make way for the Apple Store. That rejection killed the Federation Square Apple Store project . However, that Apple Store does livevirtually, at least, thanks to Filip Chudzinski, a Germany-based designer. Chudzinki created an Apple Federation Store gallery that displays renderings of his ideas of what that store would be like. Chudzinkis images are based on a limited selection of reports, images, and plans from the public preview of the projects second proposal. Chudzinskis images feature a two-story mostly glass building that simultaneously stands out and blends in with its environment. A metal mesh screen on one of the sides of the building can retract to allow more sunlight in. The lower floor would be the traditional retail space, while the upper level would be for Today at Apple sessions and customer support. The building would overlook the Yarra River. Below is a selection of our favorite images but there are many more. Be sure to check out Chudzinskis full gallery , which includes an animation of the retracting mesh screens, spatial photos for Apple Vision Pro users, and downloadable wallpapers for your Mac. Filip Chudzinski Filip Chudzinski Filip Chudzinski Filip Chudzinski Filip Chudzinski

Cant decide between AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro 2? Dont buy either yet

Macworld Earlier this year, Apple officially introduced the Powerbeats Pro 2 after a near-six-year wait. Compared to their predecessor, these earbuds have shrunk in size, become lighter, and adopted smarter features. More importantly, though, theyve incorporated a heart rate sensor for the first time on an Apple audio product. Given that the AirPods Pro 2 share the same $249 price tag, are overdue for an update, and lack heart-rate monitoring, many users shopping for a pair of earbuds might gravitate toward the Powerbeats Pro 2. Or they may still be tempted by the recent AirPods Pro 2 addition of Hearing Protection and its overall smaller design. Well, anyone struggling to decide which pair of new earbuds to buy , we have some advice: Save your money for now. Underpowered Powerbeats In typical Apple fashion, the latest Beats earbuds miss out on some key features offered by the AirPods Pro 2. Despite packing the same H2 chipset, the Powerbeats Pro 2 lack Adaptive Audio support, which combines the ANC and Transparency modes to suppress loud noises without completely isolating users from their surroundings. They similarly dont support the handy Conversation Awareness perk, which lowers media volume whenever you talk to someone. And the Hearing Protection features that turn your AirPods Pro into an over-the-counter hearing aid are also predictably absent, as are MagSafe charging, head gestures, and the U1 chip for precise Find My tracking. Thats a lot for an Apple user to give up. And Apple has shown an impressive willingness to keep adding features to the AirPods Pro 2, which probably wont be the case with the PowerBeats Pro. So when youre talking about features, the AirPods Pro 2 clearly have the advantage. AirPods Pro 2 have a minimal aesthetic compared to the Powerbeats Pros ear loops. Foundry Design decisions Beyond the performance, the AirPods Pro 2 look sleeker than the Powerbeats Pro 2. Not only are they smaller and lighter, but they also shed the Powerbeats iconic ear hooks designed to help keep the earbuds secure during intense workouts. If you have trouble keeping AirPods in your ear, the Powerbeats are a good option. Otherwise, while the AirPods Pro 2 feature pressure-sensitive surfaces for media control, the Powerbeats Pro 2 still resort to traditional buttons. While they work well , they almost objectively give the gadget a cheaper feel. Additionally, despite both sets being resistant to sweat and water splashes, only the AirPods can withstand dusty environments. The PowerBeats do have extra color options that the classic white AirPods Pro 2 dont have, but unless they really want a pair of electric orange earbuds, most people will be happier with the clean, minimal AirPods aesthetic. The beat goes on Some may think that the Powerbeats Pro 2s heart rate sensor is more valuable than any of the above-mentioned perks. And while it is a neat feature for a pair of earbuds, a wearable heart-rate sensor is hardly a novel feature for anyone whos worn an Apple Watch at some point over the past decade. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have a built-in rate-rate sensor. Foundry Its also worth noting that the heart rate sensors implementation on the Powerbeats Pro 2 is far from perfect. For starters, the monitor only works with a handful of supported apps, which oddly doesnt include Apples own Fitness+ service. And if youre wearing an Apple Watch, your iPhone will simply prioritize its readings and ignore the Powerbeats Pro 2, with no way to pick a default heart rate monitoring device on your iPhone. Furthermore, the AirPods Pro 3 reportedly launching in September, are rumored to adopt heart-rate monitoring tech as well. So, assuming Apple doesnt hike the AirPods Pro 3 price, youll get the best of both worlds for the same $249. And its a near-certainty that they will support Apple Fitness+ and play nicer with the Apple Watch, along with any other goodies Apple has planned. Wait it outunless you use Android All of this isnt to say that the Powerbeats Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 2 are badweve reviewed both and theyre excellent. However, if you wait for just a few more months, you may be able to grab an even better set of buds once the AirPods Pro 3 debut. Not only will they potentially adopt the Powerbeats heart rate sensor, but theyre also rumored to have an even more compact design. Apple is likely to launch the third-generation of AirPods Pro this fall. Foundry Nevertheless, there are still a couple of reasons why Powerbeats Pro 2 are a good pick now. For one, the AirPods Pro 3 definitely wont have ear hooks. If you have trouble getting AirPods Pro to stay in your ears, the Powerbeats Pro are a great option. Another Powerbeats benefit is the longer battery life. The latest Powerbeats Pro can offer up to 45 hours of listening on a single charge, while AirPods Pro 2 only last for about 30 hours. Its unlikely that AirPods Pro 3 will add more than an hour or two to the listening duration, so if you need the best possible battery life, Powerbeats are the way to go. And theres one more thingPowerbeats fully supports Android devices, thanks to Beats companion app. On a Galaxy or Pixel phone, theres no official way to customize, update, or meaningfully control AirPods (though they will pair and play music). Those fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, however, will want to wait a few months to see if something better comes along.

Best laptop power banks for Apple MacBook

Macworld Many of us are quite used to carrying around a handy power bank to top up our iPhone batteries during a long day away from a power socket, but these pocketable battery packs are usually not powerful enough to keep an unplugged and energy-hungry MacBook going all day. Weve rounded up the best portable laptop power banks with battery capacities high enough to recharge a fading Apple MacBook if you wont be able to plug it into an electrical outlet for some time. Despite new laptops boasting improved battery life duration, its easy for your trusty MacBook to lose power after a day of intense meetings and PowerPoint presentations. No one wants to see the Macs Your battery is running low warning, especially when halfway through watching a downloaded Netflix series on a long-haul flight. We looked at seven main factors for recommending laptop power banks: battery capacity, charging speed, total power output, power input, USB ports, portability and safety. Power bank battery capacity The larger the laptop power banks capacity the more charges it will be able to give your MacBook. While nearly all laptop power banks give their battery capacity in milliamp hours (mAh) its more instructional to know the battery capacity in watt hours (Wh) as Wh provides a more accurate estimation of a batterys energy capacity for devices with varying power requirements. A 13-inch MacBook Air has a battery capacity of around 50Wh. The 16-inch MacBook Pros battery is rated at nearly twice thatjust under 100Wh. To find out the Wh rating of your MacBook, check our our list of all the MacBook battery capacities . In theory, a 100Wh power bank could recharge the smaller laptop twice and the larger one once. While its not quite that simple, you will certainly get more charge from a power bank with a higher Wh rating. Watt hours is also the measure used by airlines to determine whether you can carry the power bank onto a plane with you: see below our list of the best MacBook power banks for national and international in-flight battery regulations . Manufacturers are required to mark lithium-ion batteries with the watt-hour rating, but its often not clearly indicated on the packaging or on the power bank itselflook for some tiny writing on one side of the battery pack and youll eventually find the Wh rating. Dont worry, weve done that for you in our recommendations below. You can calculate the number of watt-hours your battery provides if you know the batterys nominal voltage (V) and capacity in ampere-hours (Ah), by using this calculation: Ah x V = Wh. If you know only the batterys milliampere hours (mAh), divide that number by 1,000 to get the ampere-hours (Ah). For example, 1200mAh divided by 1,000 = 1.2Ah. Then multiply that number by the power banks voltage. Battery to laptop charging speed The speed at which a power bank can charge your laptop is important, especially if you are charging the MacBook while using it. Like any USB-C charger, look for the wattage at which the power bank can output power. A small laptop requires perhaps as little as 40W to keep it powered up. A larger MacBook might require 65W or 100W. A 16-inch MacBook Pro can be fast-charged at 140W. In technical terms, chargers and power banks have a USB PD (Power Delivery) rating. PD 3.0 has a maximum power output of 100W. PD 3.1 (useful for the 16-inch MacBook Pro) can output at 140W. The PD rating is assigned to each USB port (see below). That top-end MacBook can be charged at 100W, but it will take longer to charge. If you use a much lower wattage charger, or power bank, your MacBook battery might not fill up as fast because the laptop battery is being used by your applications. As such we havent looked at any laptop power bank rated at under 65W and make recommendations for each power bank we have tested as to which MacBook model it is best suited for. It is fine to use a 140W PD 3.1 charger or power bank on a smaller laptopnothing untoward will happen as the power output is regulated by the laptop being powered. Indeed, you can safely charge your AirPods case with a 140W charger even though it wont take more than 5W. Total power output A power bank with multiple ports will also have a maximum total output, which is how much power all the ports can give out together at one time when each is connected to a different device. A power bank might have two ports each rated at 100W, but if the total power output is 100W then that power will be shared between the ports. Look for a total power output that means the power bank can handle charging multiple devices at the same time at full speed. Power input Power Input is the wattage at which the power bank itself can be charged via a USB-C charger . Again, the more watts, the faster the charge up to the power banks full capacity. USB ports A power bank needs at least one USB port to carry the power from itself to the device being charged. USB ports today come in two basic varieties: old-school rectangular USB-A and modern reversible USB-C. You will get the fastest charge using USB-C at the power bank end. At the MacBook end, the USB-C end of the cable will connect with the MacBooks Thunderbolt port, which is identical to USB-C in looks and basic operation. Thunderbolt is backward compatible with USB-C. Look for power banks with multiple USB ports so you can charge more than one device at a time: more than one laptop, or a laptop plus a phone or two, or your AirPods case and Apple Watch. A USB-A port might be useful if you need to power-up a device whose charger uses the older standard; for example, a Fitbit. Power vs portability There are some giant power banks, usually called portable power stations, that can keep a family going all weekend, but they are way too large to carry with you on your travels. Our sister site PCWorld.com has tested the best of these much larger portable power stations . As a rule, the higher the battery capacity, the larger and heavier the power bank. We have included size and weight so you can determine if each power bank suits your traveling needs. Some laptop power banks are built to last in the great outdoors so will feature more rugged IP-rated shells; read on for our reviews below. There are much smaller, lighter and more portable power banks for phonescheck out our recommendations of the best power banks for iPhone . You could use some of these to recharge a laptop but we recommend the power banks tested and reviewed here for the best results when powering up a laptop. Power bank safety Batteries can present a fire risk in certain circumstances, such as rapid overheating (a process called thermal runaway), overcharging and exposure to high temperatures. As such we recommend only power banks from trusted, premium manufacturers with a long record of producing safe, high-quality products. You will find cheaper power banks, but we believe that the safety of the device you are charging, your home or office, plus your bag if carrying it around with you, are paramount. If you want to take your power bank on a plane, there are also regulations to abide byor youll be leaving it at the Security Desk. See below the chart of our favorite laptop power banks for international airline rules on permitted power banks and batteries. Which power bank is best for your MacBook in 2025? We have indicated which models of MacBook we think each power bank is best suited to, but that doesnt mean you cant pair any with different MacBooks. The 16-inch MacBook Pro can be fast-charged at 140W (using Apples USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable) so owners of that model should look for a PD 3.1 power bank. But even a 13-inch MacBook Air will work well with the higher-capacity power banks. They might not charge any faster, but they will be recharged more times if you pick a high-capacity battery pack. Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) Best overall MacBook power bank Pros Large battery capacity 140W (PD 3.1) charging power 170W input 250W total output 3 powerful ports Dedicated app Price When Reviewed: $179.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Anker $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $149.99 at Walmart $179.99 at Amazon $179.99 at Anker View more prices from B&H Best Buy Close Best Prices Today: Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) Best overall MacBook power bank Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Anker $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Battery capacity: 99.56Wh Fastest Power Output: 140W Total Power Output: 250W Power Input: 170W USB ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-A (65W PD 3.0). Dimensions: 6.4 x 2.2 x 2 inches (16.2 x 5.7 x 5cm) Weight: 23.3oz (659g) Airline compatible: Yes The Anker Prime 27650mAh Power Bank is one of the most powerful laptop power banks that you can match with your MacBook. It is a great fit with the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has a battery rated at around the same watt hours (99.6WH) as this power bank (99.56Wh). Attach Apples USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable to the power back and you can utilize one of the 140W PD 3.1 ports to fast-charge the 16-inch Pro. Although the power bank ships with a 140W-capable cable, Apple allows fast-charging only using its proprietary charging cable. Anker claims that you can fast-charge that top-end MacBook Pro up to 50% in 28 minutes. An iPhone 14 could be charged four and a half times over if using all of the power banks battery capacity. In our tests, we charged a 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro to full power with a little battery power remaining in the pack. There are three USB ports. Each of the two USB-C ports can be used to power at 140W. While it has a maximum total output of 250W you cant fast-charge two 16-inch MacBook Pros at the same timewhen using the two USB-C ports at the same time one runs at 140W and the other at 100W, which is still powerful enough to fast-charge one laptop and still charge another simultaneously. When using all three ports, one USB-C will have 140W potential, the other USB-C can charge at up to 92W and the USB-A port at 18W, which is enough to fast-charge an iPhone. You can recharge the power bank itself in under 40 minutes using the two USB-C ports at the same time at an impressive 170Wfaster than any other laptop power bank we have tested. This is a sophisticated power bank with some tricks of its own. It can be controlled by an app, which gives real-time charging stats (Remaining Charging Time and Input and Output power indicators) and can be optimized to help extend the battery life of the devices being charged as well as its own. You can even use the apps Find Device feature to activate a sound alert from the power bank when you need to locate it. The Anker Prime 27650mAh Power Bank is available in either black or gold colors. In reality, the black color is more of a metallic gray. Great for: 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our full Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) review Ugreen 48000mAh Portable Power Bank (300W) Best high-capacity MacBook power bank Pros Massive battery capacity 140W (PD 3.1) charging power 300W total output Carry handle 5 powerful ports Cons Larger and heavier than most Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Ugreen $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $199.99 at Ugreen Not Available at Amazon Battery capacity: 153Wh Fastest Power Output: 140W Total Power Output: 300W Power Input: 140W USB ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 2x USB-A (22.5W). Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.7 x 3 inches inches (16 x 14.5 x 7.6cm) Weight: 3.6lb (1.65kg) Airline compatible: Yes (with carrier approval) The Ugreen 48000mAh 300W Portable Power Bank is the missing link between a laptop power bank and a full-blown power station. It has a huge battery capacity but is still portable, although you wouldnt want to carry it around in your backpack all day, and its too powerful to take on a commercial flight. It has a handle so is carriable, but the bulk and weight mean it is one to move around inside or carry in a car. It would be the perfect power companion on a camping trip. Its not super-heavy, but it is noticeably larger than the other laptop power banks tested here. Keep it powered up in case of power outages and it should keep your laptop and phone going for days. In our tests we recharged a 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro 1.8 times, so you can expect to get maybe as many as two charges for a MacBook Air. The Pro charged from 5% to 90% in an hour, which impressed us. There are five ports (three USB-C and two USB-A) with a maximum simultaneous power output of 300W. As it has a 140W PD 3.1 USB-C port, it can be used to fast charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro. At the same time, you could charge another top-end MacBook Pro at 100W, and use one of the USB-A ports at 22.5W. The smart display shows the remaining battery, total input and output power. Great for: 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our full Ugreen 48000mAh 300W Portable Power Bank review Anker Power Bank (25K, 165W) with Cables Pros Large battery capacity Two integrated charging cables 100W input 165W total output Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $87.99 View Deal Anker $99.99 View Deal $109.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $87.99 at Walmart Electronics $99.99 at Anker $109.99 at Amazon Battery capacity: 90Wh Fastest Power Output: 100W Total Power Output: 165W Power Input: 100W USB ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) built-in cables; 1x USB-A (33W). Dimensions: 6.2 x 2.1 x 1.9 inches (15.7 5.4 4.9cm) Weight: 21oz (595g) Airline compatible: Yes (with carrier approval) The performance is impressivewe recharged a 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro to a respectable 92%, not far off the 100% from its slightly higher-capacity sibling Anker 27650mAh power bankbut what we love about this laptop battery pack is its handy 2.3-foot (70cm) retractable USB-C cable that means you dont have to carry one with you when you take the power bank walkies. Theres even a second built-in USB-C cable that doubles up as a carrying loop. Each USB-C port can output and provide input at 100W. The cable wraps neatly into a groove at the top of the power bank. Theres spare USB-C and USB-A ports on one side, so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. Note that if you want to charge more than one device, they must share the maximum output of 165W between them. However, 165W can only be supplied by two devices; with three and four devices, the maximum output is limited to 133W, although that is likely enough for most needs. Its available in either Space Black or Silver. With its integrated cables this is one of the the most travel friendly laptop power bank weve tested. A cheaper alternative is the 65W Baseus Free2Pull Power Bank that features one retractable USB-C cable, which is available in the U.S. at Amazon or in the U.K. via AliExpress . Great for: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Anker Power Bank (25K, 165W) with Cables review Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank (200W) Best mid-range laptop power bank Pros Compact size Decent battery capacity 3 powerful ports 200W total output Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $120.99 View Deal $129.98 View Deal Anker $129.99 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 $120.99 at Walmart $129.98 at Amazon $129.99 at Anker View more prices from B&H Best Buy Close Best Prices Today: Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank (200W) Best mid-range laptop power bank Retailer Price $120.99 View Deal $129.98 View Deal Anker $129.99 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 Battery capacity: 72Wh Fastest Power Output: 100W Total Power Output: 200W Power Input: 100W USB ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (65W PD 3.0). Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.1 x 2 inches (12.7 x 5.5 x 5cm) Weight: 18.7oz (529g) Airline compatible: Yes The Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank is a recommended laptop power bank that is lighter and smaller than the top-end Anker Prime 27650mAh Power Bank, but boasts the same number of USB ports. It doesnt feature that power banks 140W PD 3.1 USB-C ports, instead packing two 100W USB-C ports and the same 65W USB-A port. That doesnt rule it out as a battery pack for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but it cant fast-charge Apples largest laptop. Its a great option for the smaller MacBooks unless you need as much power in the bank as you can carry. As the maximum power output is 200W, you could simultaneously charge two MacBooks at 100W. Using all three ports, you can power a MacBook at 100W, another at 60W and still have 40W over for a third MacBook or any other device. Like its big sibling, the Anker 200W 20000mAh Power Bank features a clear display but doesnt work with the Anker app. While the 27650mAh Anker Prime can be charged itself at 200W, the Anker 200W 20000mAh Power Bank can be charged at a lower, but still reasonable, 100W using just one of its USB-C ports. Available in either gray (Anker calls it black) or gold. Great for: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh (130W) Lightest 20K laptop power bank Pros Compact and lightweight Decent battery capacity 3 ports Informative display Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $79.99 at Amazon Battery capacity: 72Wh Fastest Power Output: 100W Total Power Output: 130W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (30W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (22.5W PD 3.0). Dimensions: 5.2 x 2.1 x 2 inches (13.1 x 5.4 x 5.1cm) Weight: 16.9oz (480g) Airline compatible: Yes Ugreens equivalent to the Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank is the Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh . The battery capacities of both are identical, but the Ugreen is noticeably lighter even though its dimensions are closely aligned. Each has a smart display that tells you more than enough about whats going on between the power bank and the devices being charged. The Ugreen Nexode is a more portable solution, but we still prefer the Anker Prime model for its impressive USB ports. The Anker has two 100W USB-C ports, while the Ugreens USB-C ports are rated at 100W and 30W. As the Ugreen power bank has a maximum power output of 130W, this doesnt matter, but the Anker can pump out 200W simultaneously, making its powerful ports more useful. Power input is also better on the ANker (100W) vs the Ugreen (65W). However, weve seen the Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh priced more competitively than the Anker Prime 20000mAh, and that weight difference may be important to you. Great for: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W review Anker Prime 12000mAh Power Bank (130W) Best budget compact laptop power bank Pros Compact size, lightweight Affordable 130W total output Cons Lower battery capacity than most 65W fastest output 65W input Price When Reviewed: $89.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Anker $89.99 View Deal $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $89.99 at Anker $99.99 at Amazon Battery capacity: 43.2Wh Fastest Power Output: 65W Total Power Output: 130W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0) Dimensions: 5.3 x 2.2 x 1.4 inches (13.3 x 5.5 x 3.3cm) Weight: 14.8oz (360g) Airline compatible: Yes Smaller still than the Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank, the little(ish) Anker Prime 12000mAh Power Bank is more portablesmaller and lighterthan its fellow Prime battery packs. The compromise is its 65W USB-C ports, but these are fine for the MacBook Air and the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro. Its also fine for larger MacBooks unless you need the fastest charging. It should charge a MacBook Air to about 70% battery capacity. Its also a great option for iPhone users, as it can power up an iPhone 14 or 15 Pro twice over. If your MacBook Air just needs a small power boost, and you want to keep your iPhone going, this is a great compact option. Maximum simultaneous output is 130W, using both USB-C ports, so you can power two MacBooks at 65W each at the same time. Theres no USB-A port if you still need the old USB standard. The smart display shows you how much battery capacity is remaining in the power bank. Unlike the other Anker Prime laptop power banks, the 12000mAh model is available in the gray color onlyno gold for the budget-conscious. Great for: 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Cuktech 15SE 85W 20000mAh Power Bank Best budget 20K laptop power bank Pros Compact size Decent battery capacity 3 ports 200W total output Cons Lower recharge than rivals in tests Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $45.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $45.99 at Amazon Battery capacity: 73.44Wh Fastest Power Output: 65W Total Power Output: 85W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (33W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (33W). Dimensions: 6 x 1.7 x 2 inches (15.2 x 5.2 x 4.4cm) Weight: 17.4oz (492g) Airline compatible: Yes The Cuktech 15 laptop power bank we tested might not perform to the same degree as more expensive rivals but offers great value for money. Despite its somewhat confusing name, the Cuktech 15 has a 20K (20000mAh) battery that managed to charge our test 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro to 60% power. Thats not as impressive as the Baseus 20K Power bank reviewed above but at under $50/50 its one of the cheapest MacBook battery pack that we trust. You can use it as a multiple-charge iPhone power bank, too: it should charge an iPhone 15 around 3.5 times. You double-click the power button to enter low-power mode for devices such as a smartwatch or headphones. With the three USB ports all in action, you can charge the MacBook at 65W and share the remaining 20W between the other USB-C and USB-A ports. Great for: 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Sandberg Survivor Powerbank 27000 PD65W Most robust power bank for MacBook Pros Large battery capacity Super rugged IP66 shell Flashlight Cons Chunky More USB-A than USB-C 60W power input Price When Reviewed: $120.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Sandberg $120.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $120.99 at Sandberg Battery capacity: 99.9Wh Fastest Power Output: 65W Total Power Output: 65W Power Input: 60W USB ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 2x USB-A (18W) Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.3 x 1.7 inches (16.8 x 8.5 x 4.2cm) Weight: 28.4oz (804g) Airline compatible: Yes Outdoor adventurers and in-the-field professionals need devices that are stronger than softy office desk jockeys and occasional airport travelers, and the Sandberg Survivor boasts a tough !P66 shell that is impervious to water and dust. As such it is bigger than most power banks but it would survive outdoors much longer and has a big enough battery to keep a bunch of devices charged up before being introduced to a wall charger again. Behind a protective rubber flap there are three USB ports: two old-school USB-A and one USB-C. We would have preferred more USB-C, which is used on most modern devices, and that singular USB-C port is also where you will charge the power bank itself. The USB-C port outputs at up to 65W and receives power at 60W. Each of the USB-A ports can output at 18W. Total simultaneous power output is 65W. Uniquely, there is also a 24W DC 5525 port if your devices can be powered using this connection. As it charges at a maximum 65W, its better suited to the lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pro and 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air, rather than the more powerful versions of the 14- and 16-inch Pro MacBooks that prefer a 100W or higher charger. That said, if your 16-inch Pro is on an outdoors adventure, the Survivor will still charge it, just a little slower than a 100W or 140W power bank. Great for: 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air or any adventurers laptop Read our full Sandberg Survivor Powerbank 27000 PD65W review InfinaCore P3 Pro 10K Power Bank and Wall Charger combo Pros Compact size Wireless charging pad for iPhone Plugs into wall as 3-port charger Cons Smaller battery capacity Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Infinacore $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $129.99 at Infinacore Battery capacity: 37Wh Fastest Power Output: 65W (in wall) Total Power Output: 65W Power Input: 30W USB ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (18W) Dimensions: 3.8 x 3.3 x 1.5 inches (9.7 x 8.4 x 3.8cm) Weight: 12oz (339g) Airline compatible: Yes Built for travel, this combo 4-in-1 wall charger and 10K battery pack can charge a laptop at 45W as a power bank and at 65W when plugged directly into a wall power socket. It comes with international plug adapters for U.K., E.U. and AU/NZ that slip onto the built-in U.S. foldable prongsgreat for travel or just use in your own region. It even has a fold-out rubber handle that you can use to attach it to your backpack while hiking. Its 10000mAh battery capacity is certainly not the highest of the laptop power banks we have reviewed here, but it did recharge a completely faded 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro back up to 45%, which should get you an extra few hours charge when on the move, depending on your laptops battery health. Its two USB-C and one USB-A ports make it a capable AC wall charger, and a magnetic side pad works as a 15W Qi2 wireless charger for the MagSafe-ready iPhone 12 to 16 families. If charging by wall, the USB-C port output is 65W. When operating as a power bank, the USB-C port outputs 45W, unless also wireless charging when the maximum out put is 30W (15W wireless plus 15W USB-C). A smart displays shows the power banks remaining battery charge, remaining time to full charge, real time output/input, and temperature. Great for: 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank 20000mAh 145W Pros Compact size Decent battery capacity Tilting wireless charging pad for iPhone Price When Reviewed: $179.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $149.99 at Amazon Battery capacity: 72Wh Fastest Power Output: 100W Total Power Output: 145W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (22.5W Max) Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.7 x 2.4 inches (11.2 x 6.8 x 6cm) Weight: 19.6oz (555g) Airline compatible: Yes Both a 20K power bank and mini desktop charger (when connected to a USB-C wall charger). this stubbily compact battery pack features a 100W USB-C port at its rear and a 45W USB-C and 22.5W USB-A port at the front underneath a large color smart display. While certainly portable it isnt one to slip in your pocket or clamp to your phone on the movethe Nexode Qi2 is aimed at the iPhone using laptop owner. Its a handy travel companion that should handle most of your power bank needs while out and about, and then sit on a desk as a smart-looking and informative charger that can charge four devices simultaneously. Great for: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank 20000mAh 145W review Cuktech CP253L 20000mAh Power Bank Pros Decent battery capacity Integrated retractable USB-C cable USB-C and USB-A ports Affordable Cons USB-C cable quite short 40W power input Price When Reviewed: $34.99 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 Battery capacity: 74Wh Fastest Power Output: 45W Total Power Output: 55W Power Input: 40W USB ports: 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0) built-in cable; 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (QC 18W Max) Dimensions: 6.4 x 2.8 x 1.2 inches (16.2 x 7.2 x 3cm) Weight: 17.6oz (499g) Airline compatible: Yes The Cuktech CP253L is a budget rival to the Anker 165W Power Bank and Baseus Free2Pull Power Bank, and indeed any of the 20K laptop power banks reviewed here. It wins points for its built-in USB-C cable, although at 6 inches (15cm) its not as long or handy as the 2.3-foot (70cm) retractable cable on the Baseus. It is also a less powerful: 45W vs 60W via USB-C, and charges itself slower, too. It recharged our test MacBook Pro to 75%, again a little off the Baseus performance but probably enough for most users in need of a power boost. At 45W its fine for the MacBook Air but a little underpowered for the Pro MacBooks, which will charge a little slower. (Were only interested in Apples MacBook here but if you also own a Xiaomi laptop, its USB-C connectors can charge at 55W and the USB-A supports 33W UFCS charging for some Chinese phones.) The lower power input and output plus shorter cable, along with a slightly heavier weight, are compromises you may well overlook when you see the price. This is a great-lookingin either black or a cool whiteand solidly performing portable battery pack for your laptop. Its also available in the U.K. unlike the Baseus. Great for: 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Cuktech 20 Power Bank 25000mAh (210W) Budget 140W laptop power bank Pros Large battery capacity 140W (PD 3.1) charging power 110W input 210W total output Price When Reviewed: $114.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $262.38 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $262.38 at Amazon Battery capacity: 90Wh Fastest Power Output: 140W Total Power Output: 210W Power Input: 110W USB ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (30W). Dimensions: 6.3 x 2.2 x 2.2 inches (16 x 5.5 x 5.5cm) Weight: 22.4oz (636g) Airline compatible: Yes The Cuktech 20 Power Bank 25000mAh 140W PD 3.1 power bank looks a lot like the Anker Prime 27650mAh, reviewed above, in a tall format with an informative smart display. As with the Anker, there are three USB ports, with one at the required 140W for fast-charging a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The other two ports arent as powerful as the Ankers though: 45W vs 140W, and 30W vs 65W. An M2 MacBook Air should be fully charged with a little power left over for your iPhone, AirPods or Apple Watch. Power input is also not as great, but at 110W its impressive enough compared to most. Maximum simultaneous power output is 210Wagain not as high as the Anker but still respectable. The Cuktechs display gives more data than the Anker, which is informative for wattage junkies but probably overkill for most of us, who just need to know how much battery life remains in the power bank. Ankers dedicated app is perhaps more useful. Again, this is a nice to have and the Cuktech power bank does the important stuff of recharging the laptop at a price point that is noticeably lower than Ankers. Great for: 16-inch MacBook Pro. Alogic Ark 27000mAh Power Bank Budget 140W laptop power bank Pros Large battery capacity 140W (PD 3.1) charging power 140W input Price When Reviewed: $119.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $119.99 at Alogic Battery capacity: 97.2Wh Fastest Power Output: 140W Total Power Output: 140W Power Input: 140W USB ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-A (22.5W). Dimensions: 6.1 x 2.1 x 2 inches (15.5 x 5.3 x 5cm) Weight: 22.4oz (635g) Airline compatible: Yes This is another column-shaped laptop power bank with a high-capacity. The three top-mounted USB ports support PD 3.1 so it is particularly useful for owners of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which can be fast-charged using one of this power banks 140W ports. As total power output is also 140W, you cant charge another device at the same time as fast-charging that top-end MacBook. If you want to simultaneously charge more devices, look for a power bank with a higher maximum power output. The similarly designed Anker Prime 27650mAh, reviewed above, can use all three of its ports up to 250W. The Ugreen 48000mAh Portable Power Bank, also reviewed previously, is a larger unit but can reach 300W total power output. The Alogic Ark has a smart display screen that shows you how fast devices are charging, remaining battery capacity, and how long it will keep charging at the current speed. Its a well-priced laptop power bank so you might be happy to choose the Ark over an alternative that can pump out more power at one time. Great for: 16-inch MacBook Pro. Baseus Laptop Powerbank PD 100W 20000mAh Slimmest power bank for MacBook Pro Pros Slim body Decent battery capacity Cons No display in watts 65W power input Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal $99.99 View Deal Baseus $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $69.99 at Amazon Prime $99.99 at Amazon $129.99 at Baseus Battery capacity: 74Wh Fastest Power Output: 100W Total Power Output: 100W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 2x USB-A (30W). Dimensions: 5.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches (13.4 x 13.4 x 1.8cm) Weight: 445g Airline compatible: Yes The Baseus Blade HD Laptop 20000mAh Power Bank is a different design to most other laptop power banks. It is slim (1.8cm) and almost square rather than a rectangular obelisk. This makes it easier to slip into the laptop compartment of a backpack or case. There are four ports: two 100W USB-C, and two 30W USB-A. The 20000mAh capacity is enough to charge a 13-inch MacBook Air from zero to 100% once, with about 5% remaining. The Blade HD also recharges via either of the two USB-C portsalthough at 65W its slower than others reviewed here. In our tests it reached 90% after just 90 minutes and is fully charged after just under two hoursbatteries always take longer to fill the last part of the charge. Like other laptop power banks, it features a smart display, but this one is harder to read than the others tested here. It provides information about the capacity percentage, voltage, and current, as well as the approximate time for the charging process, but the practical benefit of the display would be even greater if the power was displayed in watts and not in a combination of volts and amps. Baseus makes good products but can be let down by a confused product lineup. As well as the Blade HD , there is also a Blade with very similar specs and price but slightly longer (6.4 vs 5.3 inches). As far as we can tell, only the Blade is available in the U.K. while the smaller Blade HD is available in the U.S. and E.U. Great for: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Baseus Laptop Powerbank PD 100W 20000mAh review Baseus 12000mAh Blade 2 Power Bank Slimmest power bank for MacBook Air Pros Super-slim body Lightweight Cons Lower battery capacity than most 60W power input Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Baseus $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $99.99 at Baseus Not Available at Amazon Battery capacity: 46.44Wh Fastest Power Output: 65W Total Power Output: 65W Power Input: 60W USB ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0) Dimensions: 6.4 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches (16.3 x 13.2 x 0.8cm) Weight: 328g Airline compatible: Yes The Baseus Blade 2 is not, as you might expect, an upgrade on the original Blade. In fact, it has a lower battery capacity, lower power output and lower power input., plus two fewer USB ports. It is, however, remarkably slimeven slimmer than the Blade HDand lightweight, and its a great fit for the MacBook Air. Like the Anker Prime 27650mAh Power Bank, reviewed above, it can connect to a basic app to show you much the same data as youll see on its smart display. The display is small but easier to read than on the Blade HD. Its available in blue, silver or orange colors, and you can pick one of these colors for the display via the app. Great for: 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Ugreen 25000mAh Power Bank (145W) Power in a portable package Pros Large battery capacity 140W (PD 3.1) charging power Portable shape Cons 65W power input Price When Reviewed: $119.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $74.99 View Deal $99.99 View Deal Ugreen $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $74.99 at Amazon $99.99 at Walmart $119.99 at Ugreen Battery capacity: 90Wh Fastest Power Output: 140W Total Power Output: 145W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (22.5W). Dimensions: 6.3 x 3.2 x 1.1 inches (16 x 8.1 x 2.8cm) Weight: 17.7oz (503g) As well as its oblong Nexode laptop power banks, Ugreen offers an alternative slab shape in the form of the Ugreen 25000mAh Power Bank . We think the slab shape works better for portability, while the more vertical Anker shape looks good when sitting on your desk. Offering 140W PD 3.1 via one of its USB-C ports, it is ideal for fast-charging the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Maximum power output, however, is only a little over 140W so theres not much power left if you want to charge another device at the same time. Theres not enough battery to fully recharge Apples top-end MacBook Pro, but it gets very close when recharging our test 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro. It is closest to the 27650mAh Anker prime power bank, and while having a little lower battery capacity it is nearly a quarter of the weight so is easier to carry around with you. The Ugreen battery pack can charge the same number of devices (three) as the Anker, but the Anker can pump out 250W of power simultaneously while the Ugreen is limited to 145W. The Anker is also much faster to re-charge itself, with 170W power input compared to Ugreens 65W. The display is not as smart as those on other laptop power banks reviewed here, showing just the remaining percentage. That said, this is the key statistic youll be interested in rather than more detail on power input and output wattages. Great for: 16-inch MacBook Pro. Ugreen 100W 20000mAh Power Bank Pros Decent battery capacity Lightweight Portable shape Cons 65W power input Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $52.99 View Deal $53.99 View Deal Ugreen $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $52.99 at Walmart $53.99 at Amazon $79.99 at Ugreen Battery capacity: 72Wh Fastest Power Output: 100W Total Power Output: 100W Power Input: 65W USB ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (30W); 1x USB-A (22.5W). Dimensions: 5.5 x 3.2 x 1.1 inches (14 x 8.2 x 2.8cm) Weight: 14.8oz (419g) As well as its 25000mAh laptop power bank, Ugreen the a smaller and lighter Ugreen 100W 20000mAh Power Bank that is well-suited to the MacBook Air. This power bank should have enough juice in it to fully recharge a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. This model has a 100W power output so is less able for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, although it would still offer enough recharge to give even that laptop a few more hours of usage on the road, although with a total 100W, its limited to also charging other devices at the same time as a larger laptop. This one is a useful option when portability is the main aim, as at 419g its the lightest laptop power bank with a decent battery capacity. Great for: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Ugreen Which spare batteries and power banks can you take on a plane? When damaged, short-circuited or overheated, batteries can catch fire and explode, so there are regulations in place to ensure safety onboard commercial aircraft. If you are lucky youll find a charging point at the airport, but we know these are usually already taken. Many plane seats also have a USB port, but its often old-school USB-A where most chargers these days use the more modern, powerful and reversible USB-C connector. Youd be wise to carry your own USB-C wall charger, which you can use if your plane seat includes a regular AC power socket. Remember that you might need a travel adapter depending on the nationality of the airline. Most national and international batteries in flight regulations allow for lithium-ion batteries up to 160Wh, if permitted by the individual airlines. U.S. TSA and FAA battery and power bank regulations The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that any spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. Both TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) state that with airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium-ion batteries (101160Wh). TSA requirements apply to both air carriers and airports, and the FAA requirements only apply to commercial airlines. U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) battery and power bank regulations Up to two spare batteries for portable electronic devices containing lithium-ion batteries exceeding a Watt-hour rating of 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh when carried for personal use are allowed for carry-on baggage and on ones person. They are not permitted in checked (hold) baggage. European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) battery and power bank regulations The European Union regulations are stricter: If the Wh is higher than 100 but not higher than 160, you will need an approval from the operator to carry the item. EASA also states that power banks should not be connected or providing power to a device while on board the aircraft. So you can carry the power bank with you but not actually recharge your phone or laptop while on the plane.

Mail moving unexpectedly among mailboxes? Check your rules

Macworld iCloud.coms Mail app hides a feature that can also trip you up. You can set rules at iCloud.com that affect incoming and filed messages on Apples servers before they reach the Mail app on your devices. These rules are separate from the Mac version of Mail and take precedence over any local filtering or sorting set on any mail software you use on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The effect of this can be that messages wind up in places you didnt expect without any action on your part. You can check for rules at iCloud.com by following these steps: Log in to the Mail web app at iCloud.com . Click the gear icon at the top of the left-hand navigation bar. Click Rules . If you see anything in this space, check to see if any apply to recipients, subjects, or other patterns youre having problems with. iCloud.com rules take precedence in filtering and processing email before it reaches your inbox. You can also check for local filtering in the Mac Mail app at Mail > Settings > Rules . There, you need to select a rule and click Edit to view its effect. For other mailhosts, you can log in to their web interface to see if rules set there are causing issues. I use Fastmail for my main email account, and the service offers both filtering controls and mail rules in Settings. Other mail host (like Fastmail, shown) may offer on-server filtering and processing rules that can override your email clients behavior. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Michael. Ask Mac 911 Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com , including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

Customize Mac settings Apple doesnt want you to touch with this app

Macworld You bought a Mac for its sleek design and smooth performance, not to feel locked out of your own system. If youve ever wished you could tweak your Mac without messing with code or digging through obscure menus, MacPilot is the answer, and its 70% off. With over 1,200 advanced macOS tweaks, MacPilot gives you access to system controls Apple keeps tucked away all in a user-friendly interface. No Terminal commands. No guesswork. Just a smarter, more personalized Mac. What you can do with just a few clicks Reveal hidden system settings Show invisible files, disable Mac the startup chime , tweak animations Customize your Dock Add spacers, smart stacks, and hidden menu options Optimize performance Clear cache, run maintenance tools and repair system files Control login & app behavior Manage startup items, crash logs, and privacy settings Get deep system insights View hardware specs, RAM speeds, network info, and more Its like flipping the switch from stock Mac to power user without the stress of breaking something or having to google How to use Terminal?. Whether youre a developer, a creative, or tired of Apples one-size-fits-all setup, MacPilot gives you real control. Unlock your Macs true potential with MacPilot $29.97 with coupon MAC10 at checkout till April 27. MacPilot Lifetime License See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

The iPhone 17 Pros improved telephoto camera detailed in new report

Macworld Leaker Majin Bu, who has accurately shared some details of upcoming iPhones in the past, has posted a new article with a little more information about the telephoto camera on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro. As with the current iPhone lineup, only the Pro models are expected to feature the telephoto camera. According to his latest intel, the telephoto camera will feature a new 48MP sensorthat part has been reported before by several analysts. What is new is the detail about the focal length. Instead of a 5x zoom (120mm) as on the iPhone 16 Pro models, or the 3x zoom (77mm) of some previous models, the 48MP telephoto on the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a 3.5x zoom (85mm). This is a little more natural zoom for taking portrait shots, one of the benefits of the less-zoomy 3x telephoto lens on older iPhone Pro models. But, just as Apple does with the main 48MP sensor today, it will allow for a 2x crop zoom using just the center 12 megapixels of the sensor. So the iPhone 17 Pro will also be able to take 7x (160mm) 12MP shots with perfect optical clarity. Of course, digital zoom will extend the range beyond that. So thats the new detail here: The telephoto camera on the next iPhone Pro model will jump from a 12MP 5x camera to a 48MP 3.5x camera with a 2x optical crop zoom capability as the current iPhones can do with their 48MP wide camera today. The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to arrive at an event in September alongside a new member of the iPhone lineup, the iPhone 17 Air. Stay tuned to all the latest rumors with our iPhone 17 superguide .

Heres the 50-year-old Microsoft source code that inspired the first Apple computer

Macworld Maybe you didnt realize this, but Microsoft is actually older than Apple. While Apple marked its 49th anniversary earlier this week on April 1, Microsoft will celebrate its 50th anniversary on April 4. To commemorate the event, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has posted the source code for Microsofts first-ever product, Altair BASIC . The story of the product begins with the computer credited with starting the personal computer revolution, the MITS Altair 8800 . (Yeah yeah yeah, I know what youre thinking, What about the Apple II ? I thought this was Macworld! Even PCWorld said its the greatest PC of all time !) But the Altair 8800 has a unique place in history. When it was featured on the cover of the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics , enthusiasts everywhere were excited about its potential, including Bill Gates and Paul Allen, then students at Harvard. The magazine cover that launched the PC revolution. Popular Electronics Gates and Allen thought that the Altair 8800 was a sign that the PC revolution was imminent, as Gates puts it. They decided to create a version of BASIC that can run on the AltairBASIC, for you young whippersnappers who pay too much attention to those darn TokToks or whatever you call em, is a computer language designed for people with, in Gatess words, no computer experience. BASIC on an Altair 8800 would widen the devices market and bring personal computing one step closer to the masses. Gates details some of the things they had to do to make Altair BASIC a real product, including not having actual access to the Intel 8080 chip that was in the Altair 8800, how to handle memory limitations (you thought 8GB was diddly squat , try 256 bytes !), and rushing to make a tight deadline. Eventually, they entered a licensing agreement with MITS, and Micro-Soft (the name originally had a hyphen) was born. As the story goes, Steve Wozniak saw the Altair 8800 running Gates BASIC at a meeting of the Homebrew Electronics Club. However, the Intel chip was too expensive, so he wrote a new version of Gates Altair BASIC for the cheaper Motorola 6800 chip, which became the Apple I with the help of a guy named Steve Jobs. A few years later, they released the greatest PC of all time, the Apple II , and well, you probably know the rest. If you dont, heres a recap . But back to Microsoft. The Altair BASIC source code is available as a PDF download , covering 157 pages. Gates is super proud of how it turned out, and considering what Altair BASIC led to, he should be. If you are a developer or a computer geek, its worth a look. If youre interested in learning more about Bill Gates before Microsoft, read his autobiography, Source Code: My Beginnings . Microsoft/Bill Gates

Recharge your MacBook anywhere with half-off this sleek Baseus power bank

Macworld Yes, yes, we know that MacBooks usually have great battery life, but does it ever hurt to have a backup power bank in your backpack? This 20,000mAh Baseus Blade model is powerful, fast, and nearly half-off at Amazon today . That means that instead of paying $100 for this handy battery, you can get it for $53, its lowest price yet. I personally use the slightly thinner but less powerful Blade 2 model, which I absolutely adore, so you can be assured that the larger model performs just as well. Plus it has even better specs, with a much bigger capacity (20,000mAh as opposed to 12,000mAh) and more power (100W vs. Blade 2s 65W). Since this power bank has enough oomph to charge your MacBook (or any other laptop), it can also juice up smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, and even handheld consoles. There are two USB-C and two USB-A ports on this power bank, so you can charge multiple devices at once (though the power to each port will drop). The power banks display delivers information about the remaining battery, charging power for each port, and the estimated charging time left so youll know what youre getting. And since it supports passthrough charging you can keep the Blade powered up while it juices up other devices. The Baseus Blade is a fantastic way to recharge your devices on the go, especially at its sale price of just $53 . But it wont stick around forever, so its best to hurry up and add it to your cart. Get the Baseus Blade power bank for hearly half off Buy now at Amazon

Havent upgraded to iOS 18.4? Here are 15 reasons to do it now

Macworld If theres a marquee feature for iOS 18.4 , its the expansion of Apple Intelligence into the EU, along with Vision Pro compatibility and new language support for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Thats tens of millions of iPhone 16 owners who can finally use the feature Apple says the newest iPhones were built for. (However, we should point out that this release does not enable Phone Mirroring on Macs in the EU due to issues over Digital Markets Act compliance.) For everyone else, there isnt one standout feature. Rather, iOS 18.4 brings lots of little tweaks, improvements, and changes. Maybe one will stand out for you as the thing youve been waiting for, or maybe the sum of them taken together just makes your iPhone a little more pleasant to use. Heres a by-no-means-complete list of the little things you may come to appreciate about this update. iOS 18.4: 15 minor improvements that make a major impact Visual Intelligence can be triggered in the Control Center or the Action Button . This makes it available on the iPhone 15 Pro, and it means you can add the control to your lock screen. If youve got AirPods Max , youre getting an upgrade (via a firmware update ) to allow audio over USB-C , which will include 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio. If youre a CarPlay user, youll appreciate the new third row of app icons on the home screen (if your display size is large enough) and a new API for sporting events will allow for custom experiences during live sporting broadcasts. Speaking of driving, Apple Maps will now include the location of NACS chargers (thats the so-called Tesla connector appearing on many new EVs). Got a Vision Pro? Along with support for Apple Intelligence on the headset, theres a new Vision Pro iPhone app that lets you discover spatial experiences, download apps and games, and get tips. If youre a fan of making Shortcuts , youll love that there are now lots of Shortcut options to change app settings. So you can make apps behave differently based on location or time of day or whatever, if youre good at making Shortcuts. Youll notice that Safari now shows recent searches when you select the search/address bar, making it easy to repeat that search you just did earlier today. You can clear this at will, or prevent it from showing at all by going to Settings > Safari > Show recent searches . Foundry There are several tweaks to Control Center . Buttons that have more options when you select them show chevrons, the cellular data toggle shows real signal strength, and so on. There are new controls , too, including four options for Ambient Music: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each one has multiple playlist options or you can select one of your playlists. Because theyre Control Center controls, you can add them to the lock screen or trigger them with the Action Button, too. Foundry Theres an all-new Apple Intelligence feature: Prioritize Notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications to enable or disable it, and you can select which apps it works with. When enabled, AI will try to determine if a notification is especially important and show it to you in a separate group on top of all your other notifications. Foundry Tweaks to the Photos app include a new Key Photo view mode for your Albums, two new filters for viewing your Photos library ( Shared With You and Not in an Album ), and the ability to edit the order of the Media Types list. Finally, I can select Screenshots without swiping three pages over! Foundry Image Playground is still a pretty bad experience, but at least it now has the Sketch style that was demonstrated back at WWDC. For certain kinds of drawings, its the best choice. We all love emojis , and there are seven new ones in iOS 18.4 : Face with bags under eyes, Fingerprint, Harp, Leafless tree, Root vegetable, Shovel, and Splatter. If youre an Apple News+ subscriber youll want to check out the new Food section , which does an excellent job presenting recipes from popular food publications. Look under the Following tab to find the Food section. Note that this is not yet available in the Apple News app on Macs. You know how you can set up a new iPhone or iPad by bringing another iPhone or iPad near it? Well, now that works for setting up a new Mac, too! Youll need to update the Mac to macOS 15.4 or later, of course. iOS 18.4: How to update To update your iPhone to iOS 18.4, head over to the Settings app, then tap General , Sofware Update , and follow the prompts.

Has your Apple Account been hacked? Heres how to knowand fix it

Macworld Your Apple Account (previously known as your Apple ID) is a vital part of the Apple ecosystem. It does so many things, but because you have to log into it on so many devices, theres always a risk of your account being compromised, even if you are careful. How can you tell if your Apple Account has been hacked? And if so, what can you do to get back control? Here are a few things you should know in case your Apple Account has been compromised. Warnings that your Apple Account has been compromised Apple may alert you to any suspicious activity with your Apple Account, but depending on how it has been compromised, here are some warning signs that someone is making an unauthorized attempt to access your Apple Account: Notifications . Apple sends a notification or an email when an attempt to log on from an unrecognized device, or when an attempt to change your password is made. Unsolicited two-factor authentication code . You get a code that you did not request, or you did not perform an action that triggers a code. Password failure . Your password stops working and messages appear that you need to input your password. Unusual activity . You notice things are happening that you didnt do, such as deleted files or sent emails or texts, or you may see an unfamiliar device in the Devices section of your Apple Account in Settings. How to check if someone is using your Apple Account Aside from the above warnings, one surefire way to see if someone has accessed your Apple Account is to check the devices associated with your account . When signing into your Apple Account on the web , youll see a Devices tab in the left column. Check it and youll see all devices that are connected to your Apple ID so you can check it for any unrecognizable ones. If you see any, you can click a device and click the Remove from account button to delete it. Its a good practice to remove older devices as well in case you want to sell them or give them to a friend. Your Apple Account information on the web at account.apple.com. Foundry How to regain control of your Apple Account If you cant log into your Apple Account and think someone else has control of it, here is what you can do to take back the keys. Reset your Apple Account password. If someone else is trying to access your account, youll want to immediately change your password. You can do that on your device in Settings or by visiting https://iforgot.apple.com . If you suspect a hacker has already changed your password and you cant change it back, you can take steps to recover your account at the same address. Check your Apple Account information . On the web, go to account.apple.com , login, and examine the information. Change anything that may have been changed. You can check the devices associated with your account on the iCloud website. Foundry Check your Mail and Messages apps : Make sure you still have control of the services that are associated with your Apple Account. How to secure your Apple Account If suspect any suspicious activity, you can take a few steps to make sure you are back in control of your Apple Account. These are good to implement even of your account hasnt been compromised. Setting up two-factor authentication can be done in Settings > Apple Account > Sign-in & Security > Two-Factor Authentication. Foundry Check your user info . In Settings, your Apple Account info is at the very top. It should display your name, and when you tap it, you should see your name and the email address associated with the account. In your Apple Account settings, check the Sign-In & Security info and make sure the email and phone numbers match your info. Set up two-factor authentication . In your Apple Account Settings > Sign-in & Security , you can activate two-factor authentication. When you log into your account, a notification on your trusted devices appears to alert you of the login. Youll need to enter a six-digit code to authorize the action. Use a security key . For extra protection, you can use a security key that either plugs into the USB-C port on your iPhone or Mac or connects wirelessly via NFC. A security key is a keychain-sized hardware device that stores the credentials of your online accounts and connects to your device when you need to log into your Apple Account or other online account. Here are more guides to help you with your Apple Account (Apple ID). How to reset an Apple ID password How to change your Apple Account primary email address How to unlock an Apple ID thats locked or disabled

iPhone buying guide: Best iPhone to buy in 2025

Macworld Deciding which iPhone to buy has always been tricky and no doubt you have many questions. Which screen size is best for you, and how much storage do you need? Should you save money by selecting an older model, or should you splash out on the latest iPhone? Which iPhone is the best compromise between specs and value for money? In this article we talk you through each of the phones currently available from Apple, to help you decide which is best for you. We discuss iPhone prices, specs and features, paying particular attention to the cameras, screens and durability, and how the design of each handset differs, so you should leave feeling much more confident about which iPhone you should get. For more help with your choice see our full reviews of the latest iPhones (linked below) and our Best iPhone comparison chart where we compare all the new iPhone with the ones still on sale. Best iPhone 2025 The best iPhone isnt necessarily the best iPhone for you due to its high price tag. Luckily there is a perfect iPhone for everyone, with each model offering the perfect compromise of features to price. Here is a quick-at-a-glance comparison of all the iPhones Apple currently sells, from the ultimate iPhone to the cheapest iPhone you can buy right now. 1. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max The ultimate iPhone Price When Reviewed: $1,199 Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $1199 View Deal $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Desert Titanium Unlocked eSIM $1119 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Natural Titanium Unlocked eSIM $1145 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Black Titanium Unlocked eSIM $1155.61 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $1199 at Apple $1199.99 at Best Buy Just as the iPhone 16 Plus is simply a larger version of the iPhone 16, so too is the iPhone 16 Pro Max just a larger iPhone 16 Pro. In past years, the Pro Max version would have some distinguishing feature (like better telephoto camera) but that isnt the case this year. The iPhone 16 Pro Max does get a big boost in battery life from its larger battery, and an even bigger screen than the previous generation, up from 6.7-inches to 6.9-inches. Read our full iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max review 2. Apple iPhone 16 Pro The iPhone for photography fans Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $999 View Deal Apple $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Natural Titanium Unlocked eSIM $879 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Desert Titanium Unlocked eSIM $909 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Black Titanium Unlocked eSIM $939.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $999 at Apple $999 at Apple $999.99 at Best Buy The Pro version of the iPhone 16 comes in a titanium shell (like its predecessor) and offers slightly better performance and battery life than the standard iPhone 16. The photo and video capabilities are where the Pro models stand out. They include a 5x telephoto camera, a sharper 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, and support for high-end formats like ProRAW, HLG video, and video recording at up to 4K and 120fps. And yes, it includes the new Camera Control button. Read our full Apple iPhone 16 Pro review 3. Apple iPhone 16 Plus Big screen, better battery Price When Reviewed: $899 Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $929 View Deal $929.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 Plus 128GB White Unlocked eSIM $799 View Deal iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Black Unlocked eSIM $840.43 View Deal iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Teal Unlocked eSIM $888 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $929 at Apple $929.99 at Best Buy A larger version of the iPhone 16, with the same specs and features, outside of the obviously larger display. The only place the iPhone 16 Plus differs in performance from the iPhone 16 is in its significantly longer battery life. After all, if the phone is bigger, it can fit a larger battery inside. Read our full iPhone 16 and 16 Plus review 4. Apple iPhone 16 The iPhone for everyone Price When Reviewed: 128GB $799, 256GB $899, 512GB $1,099 Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 128GB Black Unlocked eSIM $717 View Deal iPhone 16 128GB Ultramarine Unlocked eSIM $749 View Deal iPhone 16 128GB Pink Unlocked eSIM $750 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $829 at Apple $829.99 at Best Buy The iPhone 16 is similar to the iPhone 15, but the A18 processor supports Apple Intelligence , while the iPhone 15 doesnt. It also delivers much longer battery life than the iPhone 15, and includes a new Camera Control button to make it faster and easier to launch your favorite photo app and take pictures. To find out how the iPhone 16 compares to other iPhones in the line up read: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 . Read our full Apple iPhone 16 review 5. Apple iPhone 16e The cheapest iPhone Price When Reviewed: From $599 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $599 at Apple The iPhone 16e arrived in February 2025 and pushed the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 out of the line up. The iPhone 16e brings the Apple Intelligence AI-powered features at a slightly more budget friendly price. Unlike the iPhone 14, the 16e has only one camera on the rear, but its a lot better than the single camera on the iPhone SE was. It also offers better battery life than the iPhone 16. You may want to read our comparisons of the iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e vs the iPhone 15 to see if its worth saving money or spending more. We also discuss whether to upgrade from iPhone 14 to the iPhone 16e . Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review 6. Apple iPhone 15 Plus The cheapest large iPhone Price When Reviewed: $799 (was $899) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $829 at Apple $829.99 at Best Buy Introduced in 2023, this iPhone is identical to the iPhone 15 except for one big difference: its bigger. If you prefer a larger iPhone, but dont want to spend a lot of money, this is the iPhone for you. Like the iPhone 15, this phone doesnt support Apple Intelligence. If you need a big phone you are probably better off with the iPhone 16 Plus. Read our full Apple iPhone 15 Plus review 7. Apple iPhone 15 Too much of a compromise Price When Reviewed: From $699 (Was $799) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $729 View Deal $729.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $729 at Apple $729.99 at Best Buy The standard iPhone 15 model, introduced in 2023, offered some great new features in comparison to 2022s iPhone 14, including the Dynamic Island. The iPhone 15 camera was significantly better than the iPhone 14 camera at 48MP and with Smart HDR 5. You also get USB-C instead of Lightning. But, now that the iPhone 16e has taken the place of the iPhone 14 in the line up the question is what the iPhone 15 offers that the iPhone 16e doesnt. Should you pay $100 more for the iPhone 15 and get the two rear cameras, or save $100 and get a more advanced chip capable of supporting Apple Intelligence. We anticipate that over the next few years you might end up regretting it if you dont jump on the AI bandwagon now. How much do iPhones cost? Each year when Apple introduces a new set of iPhones it reduces the price of the older models it continues to sell. Below you will find pricing for U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia (scroll across to see pricing in your region). In the U.S., prices are subsidised by which ever carrier you sign up with and you pay more for an unlocked iPhone. In the U.K. and other countries an iPhone can be bought from Apple off contract and unlocked, so you can use it with an existing contract or switch networks to get a better deal. Model Release date Storage options U.S. Price U.K. Price Canada Price Australia Price iPhone 16 Pro Max September 2024 256GB 512GB 1TB $1,199 $1,399 $1,599 1,199 1,399 1,599 $1,749 $2,049 $2,349 $2,199 $2,549 $2,899 iPhone 16 Pro September 2024 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB $999 $1,099 $1,299 $1,499 999 1,099 1,299 1,499 $1,449 $1,599 $1,899 $2,199 $1,849 $2,049 $2,399 $2,749 iPhone 16 Plus September 2024 128GB 256GB 512GB $899 $999 $1,199 899 999 1,199 $1,279 $1,429 $1,729 $1,649 $1,849 $2,199 iPhone 16 September 2024 128GB 256GB 512GB $799 $899 $1,099 799 899 1,099 $1,129 $1,279 $1,579 $1,399 $1,599 $1,949 iPhone 15 Plus September 2023 128GB 256GB 512GB $799 $899 $1,099 799 899 1,099 $1,149 $1,299 $1,599 $1,599 $1,799 $2,149 iPhone 15 September 2023 128GB 256GB 512GB $699 $799 $999 699 799 999 $999 $1,149 $1,449 $1,249 $1,449 $1,799 iPhone 16e February 2025 128GB 256GB 512GB $599 $699 $899 599 699 899 $899 $1,049 $1,349 $999 $1,199 $1,549 iPhone prices February 2025. You dont have to pay full price for a new iPhone though. Read our iPhone deals roundup for more advice on getting the lowest possible price from various different resellers and the best contract deals. We have also collected the best deals for the iPhone 16-series in the U.K. and the best deals for the iPhone 16-series in the U.S. in separate articles. You can also find the best iPhone 15 deals in the U.S. and best iPhone 15 deals in the U.K. Design: How do the iPhones compare? All the iPhones as of spring 2025. Foundry One easy way to distinguish the iPhone 16 line up from the previous generation is the Camera Control button on the side of the iPhone. The Camera Control button is a physical button that can be used to open the camera app, take photos and control things like the zoom. The iPhone 16e, which joined the line up in February 2025, doesnt feature the Camera Control button and nor do the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Theres a second button on the side of the iPhone 16 line up (which also features on the iPhone 16e this time). The Action Button (which was previously only found on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max) is a customisable button that can perform certain actions, such as turning on the flashlight or silent mode. The Action Button is above the volume controls in the same position as the mute button on older iPhones. From the front the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are visually similar to the iPhone 16, but turn them over and the camera lenses are positioned differently (diagonally on the 15, and in parallel on the 16). The 16e only has a single camera lens on the back. From the front the iPhone 16e is the only iPhone to feature a notch, all the other current iPhones have the Dynamic Island, a little pill-shaped cutout for the front camera and sensors. Apple and app developers use the Dynamic Island to display all sorts of live information. The iPhone 16e is the lightest iPhone on sale currently and is fractionally shorter than the iPhones 15 and 16. In fact, the screen size is slightly larger on the iPhone 15 and 16. The iPhone 16e has the least inspiring color palette on offer with only black or white to choose from. No Ultramarine or Teal options here, those are reserved for the fun iPhone 16, while the iPhone 16 Pro gets more business like metallic finishes. Heres how the dimensions and colors compare: iPhone Dimensions Weight Colors iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.42 inches (163 mm) x 3.06 inches (77.6 mm) x 0.32 inch (8.25 mm) 7.99 ounces (227 grams) Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium iPhone 16 Pro 5.89 inches (149.6 mm) x 2.81 inches (71.5 mm) x 0.32 inches (8.25 mm) 7.03 ounces (199 grams) Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium iPhone 16 Plus 6.33 inches (160.9 mm) x 3.06 inches (77.8 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm) 7.03 ounces (199 grams) Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, Black iPhone 16 5.81 inches (147.6 mm) x 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm) 6.00 ounces (170 grams) Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, Black iPhone 15 Plus 6.33 inches (160.9 mm) x 3.06 inches (77.8 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm) 7.09 ounces (201 grams) Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Black iPhone 15 5.81 inches (147.6mm) x 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) x 0.31 inches (7.80 mm) 6.02 ounces (171 grams) Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Black iPhone 16e 5.78 inches (146.7 mm) x 2.82 inches (71.5 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm) 5.88 ounces (167 grams) Black, White How Apples spring 2025 iPhone lineup compares. Software: Which iPhones get Apple Intelligence Apple Intelligence , the a suite of AI features that include writing tools, image generation, image recognition, Genmoji emoji generation, and new capabilities for Siri is only available on the iPhones that have a 16 in their name. Thats the iPhone 16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus miss out (even though the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max were Apple Intelligence ready). While there is nothing drastically important that you might miss out on if you dont have Apple Intelligence right now, its likely that in time not having Apple Intelligence will be more of a hinderance than it is currently. With the arrival of iOS 19 we anticipate that there will be even more attractive Apple Intelligence features, so if you dont want to be suffering from FOMO then get on the AI bandwagon now with an Apple Intelligence capable phone. Apple has been releasing new Apple Intelligence updates in stages, with more due in iOS 18.4. Find out about what Apple Intelligence is by reading our guide: Apple Intelligence FAQ, what it is, what it does. Screen: How are the iPhone displays different? The Pro and Pro Max iPhones have the best screens available on an iPhone. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max offer ProMotion, which allows for an adaptive refresh rate. The refresh rate goes as high as 120Hz for really smooth scrolling and as low as 1Hz. ProMotion has been a staple of the Pro iPhones for years, but new to all the 2024 iPhone 16 models is the ability for the screen to get very very dim (down to 1 nit) while still remaining usable. Its great for dark rooms. (The iPhone 16e has a less bright screen and lacks this dimming feature.) Thanks to the Always-On screen on the iPhone 16 Pro models you will always be able to see elements such as the time and date, notifications and Lock Screen widgets without waking the iPhone. The screen dims to minimize onscreen power usage to preserve battery life and it will turn off should you place it face down or walk away while wearing an Apple Watch. Like ProMotion, always-on displays are a feature of Pro iPhones. Both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus also offer a few more pixels than their predecessors, matching the pixels of the Pro and Pro Max handsets this time round. The screen size may be the most important factor in your decision. If you prefer a larger screen, youll want the Plus or Pro Max version. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.9 inches diagonally, up from 6.7 inches in prior years and with the other Plus-size iPhones. Its a small difference, but one you can notice. The iPhone 16 Pro is larger than the iPhone 16, too: 6.3 inches compared to 6.1 inches. As we mentioned above, the iPhone 16e is fractionally shorter than the iPhones 15 and 16. While Apple the iPhone 16e, 16 and 15 as having a 6.1-inch display, actually the screen on the iPhone 16 and 15 is 6.12-inches, while the 16e screen is 6.06-inches. This allows for a few more pixels than the iPhone 16e: 2,556-by-1,179-pixel vs 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi. Camera: How do the iPhone cameras compare? Jason Snell / Foundry For many its the capabilities of the cameras that sell the iPhones, so its no wonder that every year Apple improves the camera on its iPhones, sometimes improving the tech, sometimes the software. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus still feature a dual-camera array with wide and ultra-wide lenses, while only the Pro and Pro Max offer the additional 5x telephoto lens. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have a 48 megapixel Ultra Wide camera, while the 15 and 15 Plus have a 12 megapixel Ultra Wide. However, the 16 and 16 Plus can now shoot macro photos, a feature that used to be reserved for the Pro models. There are also new video recording features for the pro models, including ProRes video recording up to 4K at 120 fps, LOG video recording and Academy Color Encoding. In 2022 the TrueDepth (FaceTime and Face ID) camera was upgraded on the front of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, gaining autofocus and improved low-light performance thanks to the wider aperture. It hasnt changed since then. All models on sale currently offer Portrait Mode and the Portrait Lighting effects on the rear cameras for images with depth of field. The only camera that doesnt offer Night Mode is the iPhone SE 3. The iPhone SE 3 also only has one camera on the rear. Also read: Which iPhone has the best camera? iPhone Cameras Video Photo & video features iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max Three rear cameras : 48MP Main (/1.78 aperture), 48MP Ultra Wide (/2.2 aperture) and 12MP Telephoto (/2.8 aperture), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 5x, 1x, 2x, 0.5x optical zoom, Adaptive TrueTone flash Front camera : TrueDepth frontcamera, 12 MP (/1.9 aperture) Video : ProRes video recording up to 4K at up to 120 fps (with external recording), 4K video recording at up to 120 fps, 1080p HD video recording at up to 120 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 120 fps, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video, Spatial video up to 1080p at 30 fps LOG video recording, Academy Color Encoding System, Photonic Engine, Night mode portraits, Night mode, new Photographic Styles, Macro photos, ProRaw, Smart HDR 5 Cinematic mode, Macro video recording, Action Mode, Audio zoom, wind noise reduction iPhone 16 and 16 Plus Two rear cameras : 48MP Main (/1.6 aperture), 12MP Ultra Wide (/2.2 aperture), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 2x, 1x, 0.5x zoom, True Tone flash Front camera : TrueDepth frontcamera, 12MP (/1.9 aperture) Video : 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video, Spatial video up to 1080p at 30 fps Photonic Engine, Action Mode, Night mode, new Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 5 Cinematic mode, Audio zoom, wind noise reduction iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Two rear cameras : 48MP Main (/1.6 aperture), 12MP Ultra Wide (/2.4 aperture), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 2x, 1x and 0.5x optical zoom, True Tone flash Front camera : TrueDepth frontcamera, 12MP (/1.9 aperture) Video : 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video Photonic Engine, Action Mode, Night mode, Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 5 Cinematic mode, Audio zoom iPhone 16e One rear cameras : 48MP Main (/1.6 aperture), optical image stabilization, 1x, 2x, zoom, True Tone flash Front camera : TrueDepth frontcamera, 12MP (/1.9 aperture) Video : 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, optical image stabilization for video Photonic Engine, Night mode, Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 5, wind noise reduction The camera features of the spring 2025 iPhone lineup. Safety features: Emergency protection Apple introduced some safety features with the iPhone 14 series and these are available on all the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models. These features include a Crash Detection feature and Satellite Connectivity for emergency phone calls. Crash detection uses the gyroscope and accelerometer in the iPhones to recognize if the vehicle you are in has crashed. If the iPhone thinks youve been involved in a crash, it will call emergency services and notify your preferred contacts (unless you tell it not to). All phones offer the ability to send an Emergency SOS , but the iPhone 14, 15, and 16 can do so via satellite, which would be useful if you were in an area with no signal. You just need to be able to establish a clear view of the sky, and be in a country that supports the feature (many do now). Thanks to the feature your iPhone can alert the emergency services to your location in an emergency, the iPhone will also contact your emergency contact. Durability: Which iPhone is the toughest? Another factor in the choice of which iPhone to choose is how durable the model is. How likely are you to damage the iPhone? All iPhones on sale right now offer a Ceramic Shield front, which should mean that the glass on the front is less likely to smash if you drop it. Only the Pro and Pro Max are constructed from titanium (previous generations were stainless steel), which is more durable than aluminum, which all other iPhones are encased in. All iPhones have a glass back (which is necessary for MagSafe wireless charging). This does mean that if you drop your iPhone with no case on then you are pretty much guaranteed to break the glass on the back. So be sure to pop your new iPhone in a case. For our recommendations see our round-up of the Best iPhone 16 cases . The other way people damage their iPhones is by dropping them in water. All current iPhones are rated as water resistant to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes (IP68). We still wouldnt recommend getting your iPhone wet though because Apple will know if its gotten wet and it could void your warranty should anything go wrong. Which iPhone would be worse off if you dropped it? Apple Specs: Storage and processor options The A18 in the iPhone 16, 16 Plus and iPhone 16e is considerably faster than the A16 found in the iPhone 15, especially when it comes to graphics or AI tasks. There is one fewer GPU core in the iPhone 16e (4-core GPU, compared to 5-core GPU in the 16 and 16 Plus). The A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max is distinguished primarily by an extra GPU core (6-core GPU), though it also has super video hardware to support the Pro video features. As mentioned above the A18 is able to support Apple Intelligence. The A16 in the iPhone 15 cannot. Each iPhone is available in between three and four capacity options. Its important to consider how much you need before buying because iPhones dont have a microSD card slot that will allow you to add additional storage at a later date. For the typical iPhone user, 128GB is probably sufficient. One reason you may not need more storage is if you choose to sync your data to the cloud. If you pay a monthly fee for iCloud storage all your data will be available on any of your devices, and crucially your photos will be stored in the cloud rather than on your device, freeing up many gigabytes of space. iCloud starts at $0.99/0.99 for 50GB. See How much does iCloud cost for more information, including Australian and Canadian prices. Before you decide how much storage you need have a look at your current phones usage (go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage) and think about how much space you really need. Read How much storage do you need on an iPhone? for more advice. iPhone Processor Storage Battery life iPhone 16 Pro Max A18 Pro chip, 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB Up to 33 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with 20W adapter or higher iPhone 16 Pro A18 Pro chip, 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB Up to 27 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher iPhone 16 Plus A18 chip, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB Up to 27 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with 20W adapter or higher iPhone 16 A18 chip, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB Up to 24 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher iPhone 15 Plus A16 Bionic chip, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB Up to 26 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with 20W adapter or higher iPhone 15 A16 Bionic chip, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB Up to 20 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher iPhone 16e A18 chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU 128GB 256GB 512GB Up to 26 hours video playback, up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher Battery: Battery life and charging The iPhone 16 models offer a big boost in battery life over the iPhone 15 and even further over the iPhone 14. In our testing, the difference in battery life was even more pronounced than Apples spec sheets indicatewe saw battery life improvements of around 20 percent for the regular models and 30 percent for the Pro models. As for how you charge the iPhone, fast charging requires a 20W adapter or higher that plugs into either the USB-C on 2023 iPhones, or the Lightning port on older iPhones. All but the iPhone SE 3 can also be charged wirelessly via MagSafe. The iPhone 16 models support faster MagSafe charging when used with a 30W power adapter. Apples official battery life and charging times can be seen in the table above. In our testing, the iPhone 16 line offered a big boost in battery life over prior models, too. Apple claims the iPhone 16e has even better battery life than the iPhone 16. However, in our tests the 16e managed 13 hours and 38 minutes, which is lower than any other 16-series iPhone. We compare battery life, capacity, mah and watt hours for every iPhone separately. Which iPhone should I buy? The best iPhone you can buy right now is the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max, depending on whether you want a larger display or not. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are probably a better value, though. They support Apple Intelligence and have the Camera Control button and have fantastic battery life and performance, so all youre really giving up is the 5x telephoto camera (you still get a 2x optical crop-zoom mode) and some high-end video features. You could save money and opt instead for an iPhone 15, which might appeal if you are upgrading from a particularly old iPhone, but we think a much better option is the iPhone 16e, which will be future-proofed for upcoming Apple Intelligence features. Unless you really want the additional ultra-wide camera, which is missing from this phone. Once you have chosen your new iPhone be sure to read our iPhone setup guide . Buying an iPhone on contract The two most common ways to buy an iPhone are SIM-free from Apple itself or a third-party reseller (which is where the pricing information throughout this information fits in, because youll be paying upfront for the phone, you will own it, and you will then need to pay for a SIM-only contract for minutes, texts and data), or buying an iPhone on contract. A contract usually starts with an upfront payment that will vary depending on the iPhone model you go for and also how much youll be paying each month. That upfront payment is followed by monthly payments, normally for a total of 24 months, after which you own the phone (in most cases). Those monthly payments also cover data, minutes and texts. The following networks are worth checking for their contract offers: AT&T Sprint T-Mobile Verizon Optimum Mobile Boost Infinite U.K. readers can find iPhone contracts from the following networks: O2 EE Vodafone Three Tesco Mobile Sky Mobile Virgin Mobile And from the following third-party resellers: Carphone Warehouse Mobiles.co.uk E2save Mobile Phones Direct Using the iPhone Upgrade Program Apple offers a scheme called the iPhone Upgrade Program , which works with your carrier and starts at $39.50/42.95 per month. You can then upgrade to the new iPhone each time one is announced, staying on the same or a very similar plan. You should be cautious about the value this offers, but in some circumstances, it may be the right approach for you. The scheme works slightly differently in the U.K., where this is for a SIM-free iPhone. You will also need to get a SIM-only contract for your data, minutes and texts. You do get AppleCare+ included in the Upgrade Program, though, which is a two-year insurance for your iPhone that will cover you for two incidents of accidental damage. Youll still have to pay an excess fee should you need to use it, but itll be much cheaper than having to cough up the full price of a repair. Buying a second-hand and refurbished iPhone Youll have noticed that buying an iPhone doesnt come cheap. However, if youre strapped for cash you dont have to dismiss the idea of buying an iPhone completely. You may be able to get a good deal on one of the older handsets if someone is looking to sell their current handset. Here are or recommendations of the best place to buy a used iPhone .

I cant wait to make an appointment with Apples AI doctor

Macworld With Apple having delayed its most ambitious Apple Intelligence features, you might find yourself thinking: its probably best if the company just focuses on other endeavors for the time being, like a rumored iOS redesign or even pushing forward its Vision Pro platform. Nope, not so much. According to a report from Bloombergs Mark Gurman , Apple is embarking on future AI-based features, including most prominently an AI-based doctor dubbed Project Mulberry. Yep: Just when you think youre done talking about AI, they pull you back in. It aint called hardware because its easy On the face of it, this venture is no surprise. Apples been heavily invested in health technology for yearsIve argued in the past that its a signature endeavor of Tim Cooks tenure as Apple CEO . From the Apple Watch to the Health app, Apple has made it clear that it considers health features part of the core functionality of its platform. Apple seems to have hit a wall when it comes to developing more health features in its hardware. So software and AI seem like a natural transition. Foundry But the company has found itself stymied on the hardware front in recent years. Reported attempts to develop both non-invasive glucose tracking and blood pressure monitoring have proved to be difficult nuts to crack, and will probably take a few more years before they are practical. Fundamentally, those are just very difficult problems to solve when youre limited to products like a watch on the wrist or headphones in peoples ears. Given those limitations, it makes sense that Apple would turn to software solutions to fill in the gaps in the health arena. And on the face of it, some of what AI technology offers provides a reasonable option: the ability to synthesize and summarize disparate data and turn that into helpful advice. But, surprise, surprise, its not without its potential pitfalls. Doctor, doctor, Mr. MD According to Gurmans report, Apple is working on training this AI doctor on information from in-house physicians. Which, while positive, doesnt necessarily eliminate the risks of relying on AI technologyspecifically, its tendency to make up information. Even in cases where large language models are trained on specific data, it still demonstrates those kinds of problems . Obviously, health is an extremely sensitive area: one would have to be extremely careful not to give incorrect advice that might inadvertently lead to harm. Image Playgrounds results arent very impressive. Can an Apple Intelligence health advisor do better? Foundry One option would be to carefully control and monitor inputs and outputs as Apple does with some of its other AI-based products, such as Image Playground. But as Image Playgrounds mediocre output demonstrates, thats not without its own problemsa health agent that is carefully controlled could result in offering anodyne, common-sensical advice: sleep more, eat better, exercise more. One hardly needs any technology feature, much less an AI-based one, to provide those kinds of insights. But the risk is that no matter how well Apple trains its model, it cant avoid the possibility of bad advice. The non-deterministic nature of an AI language model means you cant predict exactly what output it will give. And if its untrustworthy, just like in the case of a feature that tells you when to leave to pick your mom up at the airport , people simply wont use it. Health is a place where people dont want to mess around, and even a one-percent chance of bad advice will likely be too much for a lot of people. Health and human services All of that said, it is worth noting Apples excellent track record with health and fitness. Features like AirPods Pros Hearing Aid and the Apple Watchs A-Fib detection have had meaningful impacts on peoples lives, and many of those features themselves rely on machine learning in one form or another. The devil is always in the details, and reports like these only give us part of the picture. Peoplemyself includedare, I think, rightly skeptical whenever a new feature purports to be based on AI, given the contentious nature of the technology. Its entirely possible that what we envision this feature to be is not exactly what Apple will eventually roll outif it even ends up bringing it all the way to fruition, hardly a guarantee given its recent track record. Still, a move like this is classic Apple, not necessarily just about selling more productseven services, for which the company is notably hungry for revenuebut about enhancing its platform and making it more attractive to consumers. And I even believe, if I may be permitted a non-cynical moment, because the company is truly passionate about helping its customers live happy and healthy lives.

Weird iOS 18.4 bug reportedly installs apps you dont want

Macworld Apples latest mid-size iPhone software update, iOS 18.4, brings dozens of improvements . But as is often the case when an operating system changes in a significant way, it brings problems too. Including a newly reported and annoying-sounding bug that reinstalls users deleted apps. In a thread posted Tuesday on the Apple Community discussion site (via 9to5Mac ), a user complains about an unwanted app reappearing inexplicably on their phone. There seems to be no possible cause for this other than the iOS 18.4 update. After upgrading to iOS 18.4, my iPhone randomly installed Last War: Survival, the user writes. (This looks to be one of those dubious free games heavily advertised online.) This app was previously installed on my iPhone a few months ago but uninstalled after a few hours. Now it appeared back on my Home Screen. Given that the author of the thread uses the alias Someandroiduser one might suspect the veracity of this account, despite their reassurances that the iPhone in question was never jailbroken, had never run any alternative app stores, and did not have automated app installs or syncs enabled. But for corroboration they post links to four separate Reddit threads in which other users complain of the same issue. I havent noticed the problem myself, but it would be folly to dismiss this as a false alarm. In fact, many of the Reddit posters hint at a worse problem than the already annoying issue of reinstalling deleted apps. Several, including a respondent to Someandroidusers Apple Community post (I had NBA 2k25 randomly download, and yet Im certain that Ive never installed the app previously), complain that apps they had never installed have been added to their devices. That has the potential to cause far more trouble, because you wouldnt have had the chance to vet such apps before they appeared. One would hope there wouldnt be many out-and-out scam apps on Apples store, but they do crop up from time to time. And simply having your childs iPhone install something with aggressive advertising or in-app purchases could lead to other problems down the line. To give an impression of the scale of the problem, Ive cherry-picked a few comments from across the threads: Same here. Different game though. I didnt recognize the game. Samenot one but three! When I updated, the game Infinite Lagrange was reinstalled even though I had uninstalled it. I left the phone updating then when I came back I had 5 apps randomly installed, and the phone was oddly hot. I know for a fact Ive never downloaded it before because I always hated the fake ads from that game. Never even heard of the game before, just appeared after updating to 18.4. Its not even in my list of downloaded apps. My phone automatically started installing Squid Game. My [iPhone] started installing PUBG Mbile when I remember that is the last app I searched before 18.4 installation I believe. Okay so after updating to iOS 18.4 successfully, I went to the App Store to update apps. And to my surprise this Chinese game installed itself automatically. How is it possible? I got Warzone lol. Installed itself automatically. This isnt the first bug to hit iOS 18.4 , which had previously been implicated in users AirPods Max headphones not gaining lossless audio over USB-C. But this is a potentially far more serious lapse, mainly because it has the potential to affect far more people. (9to5Mac insists that were not seeing enough reports to indicate that its affecting more than a small minority of users, and I suppose that is technically truebut the 53 complaints I counted across those four Reddit threads and one Apple Community post suggest a major problem to me.) It could also do major damage to Apples image: those who see apps reappearing after being deleting will be annoyed; those who see entirely new apps popping up randomly are liable to lose their faith in Apples security. A fix needs to be rolled out, and soon. For this reason wed advise keeping an eye out for future updates and installing them in a timely fashion.

Satechi Mac mini M4 Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure review: more ports and internal storage

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Three USB-A ports and SD card slot at the front Housing for NVMe SSD Fits perfectly with the Mac mini M4 Eases access to the minis power button Fair price Cons No Thunderbolt speed SSD not included or available in a bundle Our Verdict Its hard to imagine a more elegant solution for getting more interfaces on the Mac mini M4. The price is reasonable at the price of a compromise in terms of connectivity speed, using 10Gbps USB-C rather than Thunderbolt 4. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $99.99 Best Prices Today: Satechi Stand & Hub Mac Mini M4 Retailer Price Satechi $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It is probably the most inconspicuous feature of the Satechi Stand & Hub for the Mac mini M4, but perhaps the most useful: the square stand, which exactly matches the new Mac mini M4 , has a small recess at the back left, which provides much-needed easy access to the Mac mini M4s on/off switch. Apples redesign of its small desktop seems to be based on the assumption that it will run permanently and will hardly be switched on manually after the initial setup. Since I started using it at the turn of the year, Ive occasionally had to switch it offand each time Ive been annoyed by having to lift the computer up to switch it on. But now the M4 Mac minis power button is much easier to access. If that were the only improvement, 100 bucks would hardly be justifiedbut the Satechi Stand & Hub can do much more and, with an additional investment, unfolds even greater potential. Like its predecessor, which Satechi offered for the Mac mini M1, M2 and M2 Pro , the Stand & Hub brings additional connections to the desktop without a lot of cable clutter. The hub is simply placed under the M4 Mac mini and connected to one of the rear Thunderbolt sockets using the short USB-C cable (USB 3.2 Gen2 with 10Gbps). One less socketbut four more The Thunderbolt socket used in this way cannot be returned in the hub, not even as a downgrade to USB 3.2 Gen2, but there are two more ports for USB-C plugs on the front of the Mac miniwhich is usually sufficient. These also offer data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps, while the Thunderbolt 4 on the minis rear is four times as fast and Thunderbolt 5 on the Pro model even offers up to 120Gbps. With the Stand & Hub, Satechi primarily wants to enable Mac mini buyers to connect old peripherals with USB-A. Three sockets are available for thisas well as an SD card slot. Two of the USB-A sockets are also designed for 10Gbps speeds, while the third gets by with USB 2s slow 480Mbps data connection. Satechi thus solves a problem that Mac mini users in particular have when switching from earlier series, as these still had USB-A ports. Many Mac users have not upgraded every peripheral to USB-C since Apple jumped on the USB-C bandwagon with the MacBook 12-inch in spring 2015. The speeds offered by USB-C and Thunderbolt are not necessary for every type of peripheral. Typical use case for USB peripherals. But here you can see that ports on the front have their place. Macwelt I, for example, have an audio interface from M-Audio, for which a USB-A connection is completely sufficient to bring instruments and voices to the Mac. If you want to charge your keyboard, trackpad and mouse on the computer (or even use cable variants), you dont need a fast cable either. And if you dont just take photos with your iPhone, youll welcome the SD card slot, which is missing on the Mac mini M4, especially as it is located at the front like the one on the Mac Studio. What Im not missing: Another audio socket on the back or one or two with USB-A. Thats because I took my active speakers over from the Mac mini (late 2018), which I still plug into the back of the computernow with the USB-C to audio adapter from Apple. First world problems, I should think about a different setting. However, I prefer to connect the M-Audio interface to one of the rear sockets again; there are adapter plugs for USB-C to USB-A that are not bulky. The Satechi Stand & Hub offers another clever extra that will save you money from buying higher-capacity internal storage when buying the Mac mini: a slot for an NVMe SSD. This is discreetly concealed under a flap in the base. Inside, in addition to the PCIe connection, there is also a suitable thermal pad and a small screwdriver with two screwseverything you need for installation. With tool and spare screwdriver installation is fine. Macwelt I got myself a 1TB SSD from Kingston , which according to the manufacturer reads up to 6,000 megabytes per second and writes 4,000MBps. In the Satechi case, the speeds are lower: I measure 966MBps read and 847MBps write with Black Magic Speed Test, the results from Aja System Test Lite are consistent at 933MBps and 845MBps. The reason: The host cable can only handle USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, i.e. 10Gbps, which is 1,250MBps. The data transfer from and to the SSD customized in the housing is therefore close to the theoretical limit, but below it. Macwelt According to our tests, the internal SSD of the Mac mini is more than three times as fast. So if you chose an expensive storage upgrade when you bought it, you dont have to worry. But for those who want or need to save money, the Satechi Stand & Hub offers an elegant alternative. For the price that Apple charges for the upgrade from 512GB to 1TB alone, you not only get the hub, but also a separate 2TB SSDwhich, however, has to be purchased separately. Satechi only supplies the housing, not the storage medium. The slot fitted with an SSD is therefore suitable for storing rarely used data, such as projects for the archive. This solution is also ideal for the music library or films. Using the solution for the Time Machine backup would certainly have the advantage of having even fewer cables on the desk. However, as backups should be redundant and it is never wrong to use two external drives in constant rotation, this only helps to a certain extent. There is possibly one more thing to criticize about the Stand & Hub: If one of the rear sockets is already occupied and you want to operate three external displays on the Mac mini M4, the interfaces will be tight. However, Thunderbolt displays themselves have additional ports, so there is no real disadvantage here. The Satechi Stand & Hub is primarily intended for USB-A peripherals and is ideally suited for this purpose. Price The price of $100 is more than reasonable, if only for the internal SSD enclosure. Should you buy the Satechi Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure? The Mac mini M4 is a wonderful device. However, if you still use older peripherals or rely on memory cards for photography, you wont get by without adapters. These tend to clutter up the desk, whereas the Satechi Hub & Stand blends in as harmoniously as Apple users prefer. It cleverly solves the problem of Apples crazily positioned power button and even offers the option of storage expansion. Although this is not as fast as the internal SSD, it is fine for most purposes.

Best Apple Watch deals this month

Macworld The Apple Watch is arguably the best smartwatch on the market, 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. Resellers are currently 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 model for your needs, take a look at our Best Apple Watch buying guide . Best Apple Watch deals The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived in September 2024. The arrival of the Series 10 marked 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. The Amazon Spring Sale is taking place until March 28 and we are seeing some discounts on some Apple Watches models. These represent only small savings on the newer models, so we would recommend buying the newer model if you can afford to. U.S. Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : $299 ($100 off, MSRP $399) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : $329 ($100 off, MSRP $429) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm) : $169 ($80 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm) : $199 ($80 off, MSRP $279) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 : $749 ($50 off, MSRP $799) U.K. AO, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : 384 (15 off, RRP 399) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : 409 (20 off, RRP 429) Amazon, Apple Watch SE (2022, 40mm) : 209 (10 off, RRP 219) KRCS, Apple Watch SE (2022, 44mm) : 244.02 (4.98 off, RRP 249) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra (1st gen) : 650 (199 off, RRP was 849 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 View Deal $329 View Deal $329 View Deal $399 View Deal $399 View Deal $399 View Deal $399 View Deal $399.99 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 New Refurbished Retailer Price $329 View Deal $359 View Deal $359 View Deal $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $429.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch Series 10 (2024) GPS + Cellular 42 mm Aluminium Rose Gold Sport band Starlight $309.95 View Deal Apple Watch Series 10 (2024) GPS + Cellular 46 mm Aluminium Rose Gold Sport band Starlight $389 View Deal 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 $10.86 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 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 $498.92 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Ocean band White $529.99 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Alpine loop Blue $534.92 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. New Refurbished Retailer Price $169 View Deal $199 View Deal $249 View Deal $249 View Deal $249 View Deal $249.99 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $139 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $149.33 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band White $155.14 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 40 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band White $160.49 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 40 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $165 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 40 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band White $173 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 40 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport loop Starlight $179 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices The 44mm version of the Apple Watch SE 2 starts at $279/249 (was 299). New Refurbished Retailer Price $229 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $279 View Deal $279.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 44 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $153.09 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS + Cellular 44 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $153.44 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 44 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band White $171.19 View Deal Apple Watch Series SE 2 (2022) GPS 44 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Discontinued Apple Watches Best Apple Watch Ultra 1 deals The original Apple Watch Ultra was discontinued when the second model launched, but you may still see a deal or two. You can also expect to see refurbished and used models for sale. Apple Watch Ultra 1, 49mm, was $799/849 New Refurbished Retailer Price $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Ocean band White $424.01 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Ocean band Black $429.99 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Trail loop Black $450 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Alpine loop Green $470.79 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Ocean band Yellow $474.99 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Ocean band Blue $498.92 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Alpine loop White $525 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Trail loop Blue $556 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2023) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Alpine loop Starlight $599 View Deal Apple Watch Ultra (2022) GPS + Cellular 49 mm Titanium Natural Titanium Trail loop Yellow $798 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Best Apple Watch Series 9 deals The Apple Watch 9 (2023 model) has been discontinued, but you may still see a deal or two. You can also expect to see refurbished and used models for sale. Apple Watch Series 9, 41mm, was $399/399 New Refurbished Retailer Price $158.99 View Deal $399 View Deal $399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $239 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $240.04 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $241.23 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 41 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band Blue $249.67 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Aluminium Pink Sport band Pink $255 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Red $284.66 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band Blue $295 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 9, 45mm, was $429/429 New Refurbished Retailer Price $429.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $244.18 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $246.34 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band Blue $246.34 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band Blue $276.49 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $276.74 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Red $284.66 View Deal Apple Watch Series 9 (2023) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Red $299.95 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Best Apple Watch Series 8 deals Its been a couple of years since Apple sold the Series 8, but you can can expect to see refurbished and used models for sale. Apple Watch Series 8, 41mm, was from $399/419 New Refurbished Retailer Price $379.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $197.30 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Red $197.89 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 41 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Red $197.89 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 41 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band White $201.12 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 41 mm Stainless steel Silver Sport band White $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Apple Watch Series 8, 45mm, was from $399/419 New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Midnight Sport band Black $192 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band White $192 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS 45 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $194.19 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Starlight Sport band Starlight $197.89 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Silver Sport band White $198.28 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Red $206.11 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Aluminium Red Sport band Black $285 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Stainless steel Gold Sport band Starlight $299.59 View Deal Apple Watch Series 8 (2022) GPS + Cellular 45 mm Stainless steel Graphite Sport band Black $366.68 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices 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 .

The first iOS 18.5 beta arrives, heres what to expect

Macworld Two days after the release of iOS 18.4 , Apple has begun the iOS 18.5 beta testing cycle. The first developer release landed on April 2, and we expect a wide release in May (or possibly late April). The last few iOS versions had their x.5 releases in May, with only minor features and changes, and we expect the same this year, especially now that the anticipated new Siri has been delayed . iOS 18.5: New features We havent yet discovered any new features in the iOS 18.5 beta, but well update this section as we and the testing community uncover them. However, with the big Siri enhancements pushed back out of the iOS 18 update cycle and the iOS 19 beta starting at WWDC in June, we dont expect much in the way of significant new featuresjust a few touch-ups, bug fixes, and security enhancements. iOS 18.5: How to install the public beta If you want to be among the first to test iOS 18.5, 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. iOS 18.5: How to install the developer beta Youll need to be registered as an Apple developer. Beginning with iOS 18.5, 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. Find out everything you need to know about iOS 18 in our iOS 18 superguide .

macOS Beta: The Sequoia 15.5 beta is now available. Heres how to get it

Macworld macOS Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024, but the beta development continues and if you are a registered developer or registered as a public beta tester, you can continue to get the latest updates and try out new features still not available to the general public. In this article, well explain whats in the latest version of the Sequoia beta, what you need to do to get your hands on a copy, how to install it, and what you should bear in mind if you dont want to end up in a pickle. If you would prefer to use the latest official release of macOS Sequoia 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 Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.5 beta 1 to developers on April 2, 2025. It not yet known what is in the Sequoia 15.5 beta 1 for consumers. When we find out, we will update this article. Below are the release note for developers: Overview The macOS 15.5 SDK provides support to develop apps for Mac computers running Sequoia 15.5 beta. The SDK comes bundled with Xcode 16.4, available from the Mac App Store. For information on the compatibility requirements for Xcode 16.4, see Xcode 16.4 Release Notes . Pro Display Calibrator Resolved Issues Fixed: Customizing display calibration using the Pro Display Calibrator causes a system reboot on 14-inch and 16-inch M4 MacBook Pros. (148038484) StoreKit Resolved Issues Fixed: Calling isEligibleForIntroOffer(for:) will return false if there is no user account signed in. (146119524) macOS public beta: Latest version The public beta usually follows a few days after the developer beta is released. The Sequoia 15.5 beta 1 was released on April 2, 2025, so the public beta should be coming soon. Foundry macOS Sequoia beta timeline 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. The first public beta of Sequoia arrived on July 15, 2024. Developer beta 4 was released on July 23. The second public beta also arrived on July 23, 2024. Developer beta 5 arrived on August 5 followed by the third public beta. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 developer beta 6 on August 12. The fourth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 13, 2024. Developer beta 7 and the fifth public beta of Sequoia were released on August 20. On August 28, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 beta 8 and the sixth public beta of Sequoia. The release candidate of Sequoia arrived on September 9. The full version of Sequoia arrived on compatible Macs on September 16. macOS Sequoia 15.1 There were actually two versions of the developer beta. A second beta was running consecutively with the macOS 15.0 beta development. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta included Apple Intelligence features that are only available on M-series Macs (a iOS 18.1 beta was also in development separately with Apple Intelligence features for compatible iPhones). Apple started work on the macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta on July 29. Beta 2 arrived on August 12, beta 3 was released to developers on August 28. Initially this beta was only for developers, but Apple released a macOS Sequoia 15.1 pubic beta on September 19, 2024, following the release of Sequoia to the general public. Eventually, the macOS Sequoia 15.1 release candidate was released on October 21 and a second release candidate 2 was released on October 24. The final version of macOS Sequoia 15.1 arrived on compatible Macs on October 28. macOS Sequoia 15.2 On October 23, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta 1 to developers. Version 15.2 introduced 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. On January 7, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta 2 to developers. Beta 3 of 15.3 came on January 16. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.3 release candidate (RC) to developers on January 21. macOS Sequoia 15.4 On February 19, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta to developers. It included Mail updates and Proximity Pairing with the iPhone. On March 10, Apple released beta 3 to developers. On March 17, Apple released beta 4 to developers. On March 24, Apple released the Release Candidate 1 to developers. On March 27, Apple released a new RC that replaced the one released on March 24. On March 28, Apple released RC 2 to developers and RC 1 to the public. macOS Sequoia 15.5 On April 2, Apple released the Sequoia 15.5 beta 1 to developers. 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 .

Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac Review

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Reasonable price points and speedy performance The 60-day trial offers a sufficient amount of time to know the program before being billed for it Good level of customization before each module is run Cons Program opts into special offers unless the Privacy tab is configured to prevent this Cleanup functions can be somewhat destructive if you dont stop and customize your functions Our Verdict Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac offers a handy array of utilities that are genuinely good at getting under the hood of your Mac and removing unwanted files, with some of the modules going beyond whats expected. Still, the software requires that some care and customization be used lest you find yourself having wiped out a cookie file or copy that you may have needed. The software, especially with a 60-day free trial, is worth your Consideration. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $29.88 a year for 1 Mac (usually $65.99) Best Prices Today: Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac Retailer Price Avast (first year, 1 device) $29.88 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Sometimes a company may not bring something wildly original to the table, but can still be a contender in its market. This is the case with Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac, the latest catch-all system maintenance utility from Avast. The utility, which requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later to install and run, is available at price points between $2.49/month or $24.98 for the first year for one Mac and $2.89/month or $34.68 for the first year for up to 10 devices. Simply download it, install it, assign full access to your hard drive, and youre good to go. A free version that only offers a scan function is also available, and Avast allows for a 60-day free trial provided you submit your credit or debit card information. Similar to other entries in our round up of the Best Mac Cleaners , Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac is divided into modules (Quick Clean, Clean Clutter, Clean Browser, Find Duplicates, Analyze Photos, Uninstall Apps, Startup Manager, System Monitor, and Statistics). As expected, the Quick Clean module offers the most generic cleaning experience to help wrangle back hard drive space and goes after app cache, log files, trash, cookies, and web cache files. The other modules perform as their names would indicate but offer some interesting features along the way. The Find Duplicates folder hunts down all duplicates on your system and organizes them as All Files, Documents, Pictures, Songs, Videos, Folders, and Others, offering a good level of control in the process. The Analyze Photos module allows for both local and external photo libraries and volumes to be scanned and works well, the module pointing out the rougher copies of old photos and offering to delete them. Foundry The unexpected jewels of the utility come in the form of the Uninstall Apps, Startup Manager, System Monitor, and Statistics modules. The Uninstall Apps module digs deep into macOS to retrieve both main-level applications as well as their support systems and offers to remove them. The module also categorizes things as All apps, Unused apps that havent been used in 6 months or more, and Large apps that are 1GB or more in size, which turns out to be a handy approach. The Startup Manager module impressed me in its ability to easily dig under the hood of macOS, locating no less than 51 startup items that could be toggled on or off as needed. The System Monitor offered a good user interface and layout, and also dug into system sensors such as fan speed, power usage, and battery condition, which was excellent to see. Foundry If theres anything with Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac that needs fixing, its honestly coming from the corporate end. I received no reply from Avast as to questions I had, setting up the free 60-day trial took an extra day given a server-side error in activating the software online, and the software automatically opts into third-party product offers unless this option is clicked off in the Privacy tab, which gets annoying. Yes, the software doesnt bombard you with ads as to Avasts other products, but these still feel like things that could be quickly remedied from the top down. Finally, the modules themselves, though useful, are also powerful and widely focused, and I felt that using the generic cleanup function without specifying what you wanted to clean up or get rid of was asking for trouble, especially when the browser cleaner offers to wipe out generic cookies and autofill items, which can be useful later. Be cautious when using these tools and youll be fine, but randomly using generic, sweeping tools can remove files and copies that you might need later. Should you buy Avast Cleanup Premium for Mac? Whats present here is a capable set of utilities that, while similar to several other packages on the market, does a great job getting under the hood of your Mac and helping to organize things as well as clear out the clutter. It isnt perfect, and I thought the overly wide utilities could inadvertently clear out some files and copies that you might need later, but if you take your time and customize each function, this can work well for you. Despite the fact that Avast is competing in an increasingly crowded field, the company has put together a viable set of utilities that do their job well, while the suite itself stands on its own and doesnt constantly bombard you with ads as to Avasts other products, which is appreciated. Theres something worth trying here, and while I wish their corporate approach to advertising and reply to media requests was better, theyve offered a compelling product that installs easily, runs well, and does its job. And thats saying something.

Heres why your AirPods Max dont have lossless audio over USB-C yet

Macworld When iOS 18.4 arrived earlier this week, AirPods Max users were likely the quickest to update after Apple announced last week that a new AirPods Max firmware update released at the same time would bring lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio to AirPods Max for the first time via the bundled USB-C cable. However, if you look at your AirPods Max firmware in Settings, youll probably still see the old firmware that doesnt let you listen with a USB-C cable. Thats because Apple pulled the update after just 24 hours. The support document listing the firmware version (7E99) now says coming soon. According to @aaron613 on X , the update is broken. He adds that the firmware itself is still available but iOS/macOS cant see it due to a bug. Theres no actual way to force a firmware update on AirPods so it can be hard to tell when new firmware is installed or even available. To update your AirPods Max, you need to connect the charger and keep them in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and wait at least 30 minutes. The update, announced on March 24, will allow 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and let AirPods Max users enjoy the highest-quality audio across music, movies, and games, while music creators can experience significant enhancements to songwriting, beat making, production, and mixing. Apple says AirPods Max will be the only headphones to support creating and mixing in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. Its worth noting that this firmware update only applies to the newer USB-C version. The Lighting version is still on version 6F25.

I tried the future of multitasking on the Mac and it was amazing and uncomfortable

Macworld The Apple Vision Pro is a perplexing piece of hardware. Its a technological marvel that stuns the senses but it lacks the killer app and content needed to overcome the initial cost of investment and awkward ergonomics. Im fascinated by its potential and was brave enough to hold on to the Vision Pro beyond the return window. When I use it, I am reminded of its unique abilities, such as its Mac Virtual Display feature. Bringing a boring real world experience to a hybrid virtual one sounds good on the surface, but the original Mac Virtual Display was limited and didnt offer much of a benefit. But in visionOS 2.2 , Apple added the ability to support a wide or ultrawide monitor, making the feature much more useful. It was one feature Ive been anxiously waiting for. Im a big fan of using a three-display setup for my Mac, but does the updated Mac Virtual Display provide a superior experience? Could it be the killer Vision Pro feature that weve been clamoring for? The answer is not so simple. Lets dissect the experience of the Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro to see if it makes the $3,500 investment worthwhile. What the wide and ultrawide upgrade means The Vision Pro operating system uses its Mac Virtual Display feature to mirror a Macs display within a virtual environment. Its a way to stay grounded to the Mac but it opens new possibilities. You can have the Mac screen front and center and pin various app windows all around you, including the various Vision Pro apps. The experience feels like something youve seen in a sci-fi movie. During its first iteration, Mac Virtual Display was a neat feature but lacked any wow factor. What it needed was a larger display option and thankfully, Apple included it in visionOS 2.2. You can now work away from your desk in private with a large wide or ultrawide display that travels with you virtually anywhere. My main Mac workstation is a triple monitor setup. This includes two Apple Studio Displays on the left and right, and an Apple Pro Display XDR front and center. It takes up a substantial footprint to the point that it needs two connecting desks to fit all the monitors comfortably. By comparison, with a Vision Pro, you simply need a small Mac and the device itselfthats an attractive alternative. A Mac Pro with an Apple Pro Display XDR surrounded by two Apple Studio Displays. Thiago Trevisan How the Mac Virtual Display feature makes it possible Theres more nuance to the Mac Virtual Display update in visionOS 2.2 that makes it more functional than simple wide and ultrawide display support. (visionOS 2.4 is the current version, which finally brought Apple Intelligence support.) Mac Virtual Display wide modes are simple to activate. With the Vision Pro connected to your Apple silicon Mac, youll find a drop-down menu on top of the Mac Virtual Display screen with the new wide and ultrawide options. A drop-down menu allows Vision Pro users to change the screen ratio settings. Thiago Tresvian The first setting, Standard , has a 16:9 aspect ratio and can display up to 5K (5120 by 2880) resolution. The next option is Wide , which is 21:9 and can do a resolution up to 6720 by 2880 pixels. The last option is Ultrawide and can do 10240 by 2880 pixels in a 32:9 aspect ratio. Your Mac inputkeyboard, trackpad, and/or mousealso works smoothly to control Vision Pros interface. Thats important in this situation where your Mac environment blends with the Vision Pro. The gestures embedded within visionOS are great for many things, but for true productivity, I prefer a physical input device. Vision Pro offers some flexibility with Mac Virtual Display, which can be adjusted by a pinch and drag gesture on the lower left. This allows you to change the size of the Virtual Display and move it farther away or closer. The resolution can also be adjusted to improve your experience overall. Its also simple to blend your environment at different levels to see how you feel during usage, depending on the amount of external light you want to enter your workspace. Another good feature is that now you can route the audio straight from your Mac to the Vision Pro speakers. This helps to keep the sound closer to you and simplifies your connection. In theory, the Mac Virtual Display capabilities of the Vision Pro sound a lot more appealing than a large, clunky three-monitor desk setup. In practice, the results are not so clean-cut. The big problem that software cant fix Heres the catch with the Vision Pro (and other headsets): it becomes uncomfortable after a while. Sure, a lighter Vision Pro would help, but fatigue always sets in eventually. Then theres the disorientation felt after using the Vision Pro; Apple has baked in different levels of background immersion and isolation for this very reason. Complete immersion may be great for a short period or certain use cases. The passthrough feature helps, but it still creates only the illusion of awareness. With its crisp resolution and wide/ultrawide support, you can be very productive with the virtual environment of the Vision Pro and its seemingly endless customizability that works beautifully. But it doesnt matter if the user cant get comfortable. The Vision Pro is unreasonable for me to work for anything longer than short bursts. In my physical multi-monitor setup, I can work for hours with minimal fatigue, and theres the ability to freely move in the workspace and interact with the surroundings. Spatial computing is simply not as natural as the standard setups that human senses are accustomed to. The major issue with the Apple Vision Pro is that it becomes uncomfortable over time. Thiago Tresvian This experience is significant in that it shows that spatial computing has future potential and visionOS can continue to improve, but it comes down to the hardware that can provide a more seamless, natural fashion. That may be difficult to successfully do, at least in the short term. Many hurdles and friction exist for Vision Pro to reach the pantheon of importance which is the iPhone. Its simply not ready for prime time Viewed in a bubble, the Vision Pro is an excellent device thats capable of wowing its users and even helping with many productivity tasks. This bubble quickly fails to maintain its buoyancy in real-world use, however. Its uncomfortable, its expensive, and instead of any real killer feature it offers solutions for niche cases. This creates a problem for Apple. Vision Pro doesnt have anywhere near the sales and enthusiasm that was forecasted for the device. That causes Apple to not be incentivized to provide content and attention to the existing Vision Pro user base. What can Apple do to make the Vision Pro and spatial computing more appealing? A reduction in weight and pricing is a good start, but these changes alone do not make the device useful. Vision Pro needs to feel natural and seamless for the user, who then can transfer the activities that are typically done on the iPhone to this device. Thats easier said than done and is likely a tremendous engineering feat that will take years to fully develop. For now, we can enjoy the Vision Pro for what it is. While it is a beautifully done piece of technology, the wide and ultrawide options only slightly change its usability. Its a niche enthusiast product, which even Tim Cook admits . Theres nothing wrong with that, and it will either face better versions in the future or the eventual cancellation by Apple if its deemed unworkable. Lets hope they figure it out since the underlying idea is worthy of the effort.

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 16e , as well as the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, and 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 16e is the latest iPhone to arrive, launching in February 2025 and joining the iPhone 16 series, which debuted in September 2024. Later this year we expect Apple to launch the iPhone 17 series. For help deciding which iPhone to buy might like to read our detailed iPhone buying guide , and our comparison of every iPhone . We also look at the iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e vs the iPhone 15 to see if its worth saving money or spending more; plus you might be interested to read about the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 16e to see if its worth upgrading, and our thoughts on the same question regarding iPhone SE vs iPhone 16e . Alternatively, read: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 . Best value 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 instalment plan and get your discount in the form of monthly bill credits. Optimum Mobile New and existing Optimum Mobile customers on any plan can get the iPhone 16e 128 GB for free with a select trade-in; or they can get $400 off any iPhone 16e with any trade-in. Additionally, Optimum Mobile customers can enjoy two Unlimited lines for only $45 per month or one Unlimited line for only $25 per month Verizon You can get up to $1,000 off on if you have the Unlimited Ultimate plan, up to $830 off with the Unlimited Plus plan, and up to $415 off with the Unlimited Welcome plan. Must trade in a phone. AT&T Offering up to $830 off iPhone 16 or $1,000 off iPhone 16 Pro, as bill credits over 36 months, you have to trade in an eligible phone, and you have to have a qualifying postpaid unlimited voice and data plan. T-Mobile Offers up to $830 off iPhone 16 or $1,000 off iPhone 16 Pro, as bill credits over 24 months, with Go5G Next or Go5G Business Next plan. Must trade in phone for iPhone 16 Pro offer. Boost Mobile Get $1,000 off the iPhone 16 lineup with Boost Mobiles $65/month Infinite Access plan. No trade-in required. A full year of FREE Boost Mobile wireless service when purchasing the iPhone 16 at full price with the $25/mo Unlimited plan, or apply the offer to the $50/mo Unlimited+ or $60/mo Unlimited Premium plans. Best Buy Best Buy will sell you an iPhone with AT&T or Verizon. U.K. In the U.K., Apple-certified resellers discount unlocked iPhones frequently. Look for money off at Amazon , John Lewis , Currys , and Very . Its currently possible to find discounts on the 16-series iPhones, including the new 16e model. Since the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE have now been discontinued you can expect to see good deals on them as resellers clear out stock. You may also find discounts on older models such as the discontinued iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro. The Amazon Spring Sale is taking place until March 28 and we are seeing some discounts on older iPhone models. These represent only small savings on the newer models, so we would recommend buying the newer model if you can afford to. KRCS, iPhone 16e (128GB) : 593.01 (5.99 off, RRP 599) Amazon, iPhone 16 (128GB) : 698 (101 off, RRP 799) Amazon, iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) : 798 (101 off, RRP 899) AO, iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) : 899 (100 off, RRP 999) Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) : 1,099 (100 off, RRP 1,199) Amazon, iPhone 15 (128GB) : 598 (101 off, RRP 699) Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus (128GB) : 698 (101 off, RRP 799) Argos, iPhone 14 (128GB) : 495 (104 off, RRP was 599 Clearance ) 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 16e, 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 16e, 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (UK) 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. doesnt always sell iPhones, and when it does it is usually in conjunction with one of the carriers. Some times we see Amazon savings on SIM-free iPhones. Amazon tends to sell refurbished iPhones in the U.S. Its 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. Argos AO Currys 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: Optimum Mobile Verizon AT&T T-Mobile Boost Mobile 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) Trade-in discounts Dont forget you can save when you trade in your old qualifying phone with Apple or other retailers participating in a trade-in program. Apple offers up to hundreds of dollars off your new iPhone when you trade in your old iPhone (but if your phone is older, youll likely get much less). Youll have to select the trade-in option during purchase and answer a few questions about your existing phone model, storage capacity and condition. Youll need to provide your IMEI number as well. Read about Apples Trade In scheme in the U.S. and U.K. In the U.K. you could get even more money off if you trade-in via Currys PC World. Head to Currys to see how much your device is worth. Amazon also offers some good trade-in values, so you should see if you can get more there. Check out Amazons Trade In program in the U.S . U.K. readers can see how Amazon trade-in process works here. Apple reseller KRCS also offers a trade-in scheme . 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 iPhone deals right now iPhone 16e: From $599/599 Retailer Price $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 16: From $799/799 New Refurbished Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 128GB Black Unlocked eSIM $717 View Deal iPhone 16 128GB Ultramarine Unlocked eSIM $749 View Deal iPhone 16 128GB Pink Unlocked eSIM $750 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 16 Plus: From $899/899 New Refurbished Retailer Price $879.97 View Deal $929 View Deal $929.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 Plus 128GB White Unlocked eSIM $799 View Deal iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Black Unlocked eSIM $840.43 View Deal iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Teal Unlocked eSIM $888 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 16 Pro: From $999/999 New Refurbished Retailer Price $999 View Deal Apple $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Natural Titanium Unlocked eSIM $879 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Desert Titanium Unlocked eSIM $909 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Black Titanium Unlocked eSIM $939.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 16 Pro Max: From $1,199/1,199 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1199 View Deal $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Desert Titanium Unlocked eSIM $1119 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Natural Titanium Unlocked eSIM $1145 View Deal iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Black Titanium Unlocked eSIM $1155.61 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15: Now from $699 / 699 Retailer Price $729 View Deal $729.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15 Plus: Now from $799 / 799 Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Deals on older/discontinued iPhones When Apple introduced the iPhone 16e it stopped selling the iPhone 14, 14 Plus and iPhone SE. When it introduced the iPhone 16 range it discontinued the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. When Apple introduced the iPhone 15 range it discontinued the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and so on 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. Take a look at our round up of deals for the following discontinued iPhones: Best iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro & Pro Max deals iBest Phone 13-series deals Best iPhone SE deals iPhone Refurbished deals If you want to save even more money you may want to consider buying a refurbished iPhone. 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 tobuying refurbished or second-hand iPhones for more. The first place to shop for a refurbished iPhone is at the Apple Refurbished Store . It will be a while before Apple offers refurbished iPhone 16 models for salethey usually start showing up when the next model is released. Rest assured, the Apple Refurbished Store is where you can get the highest quality of refurbished iPhones. Apples not the only reseller to sell refurbished iPhones. You could also check the following stockists. Amazon BackMarket Best Buy Refurb.me Gazelle Reboxed

Beat the AirTag bulge with this $24 card-sized tracker

Macworld Sitting on an Airtag isnt comfortable, and it ruins your wallet. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card offers the same smart tracking power without the bulge. Now just $23.97 (Reg. $42.99), this 1.5mm tracking device is just about the size and thickness of a credit card, so it fits flush into your wallet, work lanyard, passport pouch, and luggage tag. MagTag works with the Apple Find My app, accessing the global real-time tracking power of Apples FindMy device network. Whether heading out on vacation or running errands, youll get left-behind alerts, a loud beep to help you locate it, and peace of mind knowing your valuables are protected. The sleek tracker is also rechargeable and holds up to 5 months of battery life per charge. Its Qi wireless charging compatible and IP68 waterproof and dustproof so that it can handle some necessary roughness. The built-in keyring hole even lets you attach it to keys or bags for added flexibility. Slip the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker into your cart now for just $23.97 (reg. $42.99) and streamline your setup before this 44% off deal disappears. MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card Works with Apple Find My App See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple Account and iCloud

Macworld If you arent using two-factor authentication to protect your Apple Account and iCloud account, you really should do it. In the past, hackers claimed to have millions of stolen iCloud credentials are demanded that Apple pay a ransom. So even as Apple does what it can to protect your data, events like thisthough unlikelycan happen. And with all the valuable info on your iPhone these days, you want to make sure nobody can get reset it. But guess what? Using two-factor authentication should protect you completely. Its easy to set up, so take a minute and do it now. Whats more, some Apple services and features require you to have 2FA enabled on your account, as an extra security precaution. Heres how to set it up on a Mac or iOS device. (Apple Account users who dont have a compatible device can still use an older two-step verification system. See below for more.) One note: Apple changed the name of Apple ID to Apple Account in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. iPhone and iPad Follow these steps on an iPad or iPhone. These steps are done with iOS 18 or later and should be similar in iPadOS. The device must be protected with a passcode ( Settings > Touch ID/Face ID & Passcode ). Foundry Launch the Settings app. Tap your Apple Account profile at the top. Obviously, you need to be signed in with the account you want to protect with two-factor authentication. Tap Sign-In & Security . Find the Two-Factor Authentication setting and turn it on . Next, enter a phone number where you can receive a text message or a phone call with a two-factor code. You can also specify if you want a text or a call. Youll get that text message or call and enter the six-digit verification code on the next screen. Thats it! Two-factor is on, and this is your official Trusted Device. The next time you sign on to iCloud.com, or set up your iCloud account on a new device, youll have to first enter your username and password, and then be prompted to enter a code. That code will come in a pop-up on your trusted devices, texted/phoned to the number you provided, or, you can come back to this screen and tap Get Verification Code. Mac Setting this up on a Mac requires nearly the same steps as on an iPhone or iPad. These instructions are done with macOS Sequoia 15.3.2 Open System Settings. In your profile at the top, click Apple Account . The Apple Account pane should open. In the mian section, click on Sing-In & Security . Find the Two-Factor Authentication setting and turn it on . You might need to verify your identity by answering your security questions. Enter a phone number you can use to receive verification codes, and choose if you want to get text messages or calls. Enter the code thats sent you to right away to finish up. Foundry If your Mac is running macOS Mojave or an earlier operating system, here are the instructions. Open System Preferences Select iCloud . Click the Account Details button, and sign in if prompted. In the Security tab, click the button labeled Turn on two-factor authentication . Read the message and click Continue . Verify your identity by answering your security questions. Enter a phone number you can use to receive verification codes, and choose if you want to get text messages or calls. Enter the code thats sent you to right away to finish up. What if my device is too old? If your Mac is using an operating system older than El Capitan, or your iOS device isnt running iOS 9 or later, you can still use two-step verification , which is slightly different than two-factor authentication , mostly because it relies on a text message being sent to a phone number, while the newer authentication is baked more seamlessly into the operating systems. Plus, the older verification method requires you to hold onto a Recovery Key in case you ever lose your password. Two-step verification always sends you a text message. With the newer two-factor authentication, youll get this cool pop-up on nearby trusted devices signed in to the same iCloud account. You can read more about the differences from Apple as well as from our own Glenn Fleishman . Apple still provides a way to enable two-step verification, by following this link , signing in, and following the instructions.

Hate the new Mail app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Heres how to change it back

Macworld Among the less-publicized features introduced late last year in iOS 18.2 is a massive change to the Mail app. The same experience was added to the iPad in iPadOS 18.4 and the Mac in macOS 15.4. For longtime users of the Mail app, it was a shock to the system and definitely takes some getting used to. But if that hasnt happened, theres good newsyou can change it back to the old way. The new Mail app breaks the Inbox into several categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. The categories are fairly self-explanatory: Primary: Personal and other time-sensitive messages. Transactions: Purchases, receipts, and shipping messages. Updates: Newsletters, mailing lists, and social updates. Promotions: Coupons, sales announcements, and spam that doesnt land in junk. Once you start using iOS 18.2 (or iPadOS 18.4 / macOS 15.4), the new Mail will be on by default and messages will automatically begin routing to their respective categories. Any folders will remain, of course, but your Mail experience is definitely different. For one, your Mail badge will only show the count for messages in the Primary category, which means dozens of messages could go unread for hours or even days. And since everything is done automatically, some important messages might get routed to the wrong category. However, all time-sensitive messages will appear in the Primary view even if theyve been routed to other categories. When you first enable the app, you might see a box asking if you want to use the categories feature or not. It looks like this (Mac on the left, iPhone/iPad right): Foundry If you dont trust this new category view or just plain dont like it, you can change it back to the old way with very little trouble. On an iPhone or iPad, heres what you do: In your inbox, tap the three-dot menu at the top-right. Youll see an option for List View. Select it. Now youll return to the old way of doing things with a chronological inbox. Foundry On your Mac with macOS 15.4 or later, getting rid of the new mail categories is a little different: Look in the View menu up in the Menu bar. Uncheck Show Mail Categories. Foundry Whether on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, these same menus also contain an option to toggle the AI-powered Priority Messages feature. So if you dont like the little box at the top of your email showing what Apple Intelligence thinks are your most important emails, with a summary of them, you can easily turn that feature off in the same place.

How Lucid exploits iMessage to send encrypted phishing attacks to your iPhone

Macworld Heres something you may not know: Hackers can sign up for phishing-as-a-service platforms. In other words, there are businesses that put together a PhAAS software package that hackers can buy and run phishing schemes. A new PhAAS called Lucid is now available and is used to target iPhones, according to a report by security researcher Catalyst. Whats alarming about Lucid is that it involved phishing messages sent via Apples iMessage, which uses end-to-end encryption that allows the messages to bypass spam filters. Lucid also sends messages via encrypted RCS, which allows for attacks on Android devices. Apple has announced support for encrypted RCS that will arrive in a future iOS update. To be able to send out phishing messages via iMessage, iPhone farms are in place. XinXin, the business behind Lucid, claims it can send over 100,000 messages daily using temporary Apple IDs with impersonated display names, according to the report. The PhAAS package offers templates so attackers can create legitimate-looking websites and messages. The phishing messages urge the reader to pay for unpaid toll fees, shipping costs, or taxes, and the links route users to websites that look like legitimate sites, such as a site that masquerades as the U.S. Postal Service. iPhone phishing farm used to send phishing messages. Catalyst Some iPhone users may feel a sense of security when receiving an iMessage because of Apples measures, but Catalyst notes that it is this sense of security that hackers are taking advantage of. Lucid has a success rate that makes the operation cost-effective. How to protect yourself from hacker attacks Text messaging is convenient, but it also leaves you vulnerable to attack. Dont use links in text messages whenever possible; always check the URL if you absolutely need to use the link. Attackers will disguise fake domains to look like legitimate ones. If a message is poorly written, has typos, misspellings, and poor grammar, dont trust it. Macworld has a guide to avoid smishing attacks . Apple releases security patches through OS updates, so installing them as soon as possible is important. If you use a third-party browser, 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 .

Best iPad Air deals this month

Macworld Theres a new iPad Air! Apple launched the M3 iPad Air in March 2025. While it will be a while before you can get much money off that model, which went on sale on March 12, you can save money on an older iPad Air, which isnt all that different to the new one. If you want to get an iPad Air at discounted sale price, youve come to the right place. Were looking at all the best deals and prices for the iPad Air right nowincluding contract plans. The Air remains incredibly popular and is an excellent halfway house between the entry-level iPad and high-end iPad Proideal for those who need some extra power but dont want to spend hundreds on a device that may not replace their laptop. In March 2025 Apple introduced a new iPad Air, equipped with the M3 processor and available in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. We will be reviewing the new model soon, but our first impressions are that this new model isnt all that different to the M2 iPad Air introduced in March 2024. Read our review of Apples iPad Air M2 and find out how it compares to the 2024 iPad Pro in our iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4) comparison. Have a look at our iPad buying guide if you arent sure which model you want. You may also like to read: best iPad for kids , best iPad for students and best iPad for seniors . Best iPad Air deals right now Amazon U.S. already has discounts on the iPad Air! U.S: Amazon, 11-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB): $557 ($42 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 11-inch M3 iPad Air (256GB): $657 ($42 off, MSRP $699) Amazon, 11-inch M3 iPad Air (512GB): $847 ($52 off, MSRP $899) Amazon, 13-inch M3 iPad Air (1TB): $1,279 ($20 off, MSRP $1,299) U.K: Youll struggle to find a big discount on 2025s M3 iPad Air in the U.K. But, if you dont mind not having the very latest iPad Air, you can pick up a bargain with decent money off the previous years M2 iPad Air. KRCS, 11-inch iPad Air (2025, M3, 128GB) : 587.02 (11.98 off, RRP 599) KRCS, 13-inch iPad Air (2025, M3, 128GB) : 783.02 (15.98 off, RRP 799) Argos, 11-inch iPad Air (2024, M2, 128GB) : 549 (50 off, RRP was 599 Clearance ) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (2024, M2, 128GB) : 719 (80 off, RRP was 799 Clearance ) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (2024, M2, 256GB) : 819 (80 off, RRP was 899 Clearance ) Best M3 iPad Air deals Itll be a while until we see any big deals on the 2025 iPad Air, but if you want to buy one you can use one of the links below which will show the best prices at a variety of retailers where you are based. KRCS is a reliable source of small savings on very new products that most retailers havent yet started to discount. 11-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $599/599 Retailer Price $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $579 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M3 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $699/699 Retailer Price $649 View Deal $657 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M3 iPad Air (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $899/899 Retailer Price $847 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M3 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/1,099 Retailer Price $1099 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M3 iPad Air (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $799/799 Retailer Price $738.08 View Deal $738.08 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M3 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $899/899 Retailer Price $849 View Deal $849 View Deal $884 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M3 iPad Air (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/1,099 Retailer Price $1,049 View Deal $1049 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M3 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,299/1,299 Retailer Price $1,249 View Deal $1279 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Discontinued iPad Air models Apples no longer selling these iPad Air models, but you will still be able to buy them for a while. You will see the best prices right now, and refurbished models, if available, in the second tab. Best M2 iPad Air deals The M2 iPad Air models launched in May 2024. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up-to-date with the latest prices for each iPad Air. For even bigger savings, the previous generation of iPad Air models can be found in the section below this one. 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB, Wi-Fi): WAS $599/599 Retailer Price $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): WAS $699/699 New Refurbished Retailer Price $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $669 View Deal $680.99 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air M2 13 (2024) 256GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi) $733.95 View Deal iPad Air M2 13 (2024) 256GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $789 View Deal iPad Air M2 13 (2024) 256GB Starlight (Wi-Fi) $789 View Deal iPad Air M2 13 (2024) 256GB Blue (Wi-Fi) $832.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Air (512GB, Wi-Fi): WAS $899/899 New Refurbished Retailer Price $796 View Deal $796 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $804 View Deal $899 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air M2 13 (2024) 512GB Blue (Wi-Fi) $999 View Deal iPad Air M2 13 (2024) 512GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi) $999 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi): WAS $1,099/1,099 Retailer Price $899 View Deal $979 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1,204.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB, Wi-Fi): WAS $799/799 Retailer Price $698 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 View Deal $699 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 13-inch M2 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): WAS $899/899 New Refurbished Retailer Price $796 View Deal $798 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $899 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 256GB Blue (Wi-Fi) $589 View Deal iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 256GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $649 View Deal iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 256GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi) $649 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (512GB, Wi-Fi): WAS $1,099/1,099 New Refurbished Retailer Price $989 View Deal $989 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal $999.97 View Deal $1099 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 512GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi) $775.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M2 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi): WAS $1,299/1,299 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1,199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1224 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Air M2 11 (2024) 1000GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $877.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy the new iPad Air If you want to buy the iPad Air directly from Apple, you can order on the Apple US or Apple UK site. There wont be any discounts available, though Apple does offer occasional carrier deals and trade-ins. Of course, Apple isnt the only place you can buy an iPad Air, the usual resellers around the world will also be stocking the new model including the following. You can see the best prices at these resellers in live price comparison boxes below. US retailers Amazon Best Buy Target Walmart Adorama BH Photo Video Looking for other ways to save money. Find out if you can save money buying Apple products from another country . UK retailers Amazon AO Apple Argos check stock by post code EE/BT Shop Box Currys eBuyer John Lewis Laptops Direct Very Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the UK, and also offer other services, try the following: KRCS often is the first to discount new products iStore Select Western Computer iPad Air education discounts Apple offers students and staff in higher education discounts on the iPad Air in its Education Store . Apple isnt the only retailer that offers student discounts, however. In the U.K., KRCS offers up to 10 percent off for qualifying students. University students and teachers can also save on the iPad Air with Apples Education pricing. See our full guide on to how to get an education discount. Or head directly to Apple UK or Apple US to get the educational discount. iPad Air carrier deals If youre after the cellular model and want to buy it on contract, heres where to look: U.S. carrier deals Verizon: Save $100 with an Unlimited plan and up to $200 when you buy with an iPhone. U.K. carrier deals O2 : Get up to 6 months of Disney Plus (or another streaming service); plans start at 28.56 per month, 20 upfront for 1GB data Vodafone : Starting from 27 per month, 30 upfront for 1GB data (but check the details carefully; thats a 48-month tablet contract and prices will go up) EE : Get 5GB data for 45 per month, with nothing to pay upfront Sky : Get 3GB of data for 28 per month and 12 upfront iPad Air refurbished deals The deals you will see above are generally from Apple resellers rather than Apple itself; the company rarely reduces prices. Apple does, however, sell reconditioned iPads in its refurbished store. So you can grab a bargain that way. The iPads in Apples refurbished store may be ex-display stock, or they may have been returned to Apple due to a fault, but they are fully reconditioned now and come with a full years warranty. Its not like buying secondhand. The U.S. refurbished store has a selection that includes: Standard iPad (8th and 9th generation) iPad Air (4th generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd and 3rd generation) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th and 5th generation) iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) Compared to the original price, you can save as much as $320 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Get a refurbished iPad at Apple's refurbished store (U.S.) In the U.K. youll find a similar selection of iPads available from Apples refurbished store . Youll find the following: Standard iPad (9th generation) iPad Air (4th generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd and 3rd generation) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation) iPad mini (5th and 6th generation) There are savings of 480 on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, compared to the original price. There is a large refurbished market for the iPad Air. Wed recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers for iPad Air offers: Amazon AWD Big Phone Store eBay Envirofone Affordable Mac Tech Trade 4Gadgets Handtec Laptops Direct Music Magpie Preloved Smartfone Store See our full guide to buying a refurbished iPad . If youre interested in one of the other iPads, or just want the best deal, were also tracking the best iPad deals if you want to see other top offers. Also, check out our best Apple deals .

Keep your Mac clean and your kids protected online with this $16 tool

Macworld Todays internet is loaded with clutter. From nonstop video ads and clickbait banners to sneaky trackers and malware-laced pop-ups, browsing can feel more frustrating than fun. But with AdGuard Family Plan , you can take back controlcleanly, securely, and nowaffordably. For alimited time, you can grab alifetime subscriptionto AdGuard Family Plan for just$15.97(regularly $169.99) using codeFAMPLANthroughApril 27. Thats a one-time paymentno subscriptions, no renewals, just permanent peace of mind. AdGuard goes far beyond your average ad blocker. It offers athree-pronged approachto smarter internet use: advanced ad blocking, robust privacy protection, and built-inparental controls. That means no more pop-ups, no more trackers watching your activity, and no more worrying about what your kids might stumble upon online. This software isnt just powerfulits versatile. AdGuard works seamlessly acrossAndroid, iOS, and desktops, so your whole household can enjoy a faster, cleaner, and safer online experiencewhether theyre streaming, scrolling, or studying. So whether youre looking to finally silence annoying ads, protect your personal data, or create a kid-friendly online environment,AdGuard Family Planmakes it easy (and now, incredibly affordable). Use code FAMPLANat checkout and get lifetime AdGuard protection for just$15.97 through April 27. AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

iOS 18 superguide: Features, latest update, release dates, and more

Macworld Even if youre not planning to buy one of the new iPhones , your existing iPhone (XR and later) can now get a bunch of new features following the release of iOS 18. Among the new features in iOS 18 are a redesigned Photos app, new ways to customize your Home screen and wallpaper, new Messages reactions, privacy-related features and dozens of other smaller changes. Not all iPhones get the AI features that arrived with iOS 18. Dubbed Apple Intelligence these features are only available on some iPhones (find out if theyll be on your iPhone below). This free software update brings interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. It is like getting a new iPhone without paying a penny. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about iOS 18, including which iPhones will be able to run iOS 18, the new features and the new features still to come because they werent ready in time for the launch of iOS 18. Well also discuss any problems and fixes, whats new in the latest update, and whats coming in the next update to iOS 18. As for whats coming in iOS 19 when it arrives later in 2025, read our iOS 19 guide with the rumors and the expected release date . We also have information about the beta program including the latest version of the public and developer betas. Update March 31: iOS 18.4 has been released. Latest version and whats new iOS 18: Latest version iOS 18.4: March 31, 2025 The latest version is iOS 18.4 . This major update expands Apple Intelligence to the EU and adds languages and regions, introduces a new Food section to Apple News+, and features numerous quality-of-life improvements. iOS 18.3.1 arrived on February 10 and was an urgent security fix for an attack that Apple revealed may have been used against targeted individuals. Apple stated that iOS 18.3.1 addressed an issue where A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. An update to macOS Sequoia addressed the same security flaw. iOS 18.3 was released on January 27, 2025. It adds improvements related to Apple Intelligence, including better formatting for Notification Summaries and improved capabilities for Visual Intelligence, along with a lot of security updates. iOS 18.2 arrived on December 11, 2024 and includes a number of Apple Intelligence features but thats not all. Read about Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if your phone doesnt support Apple Intelligence , and How to get Apple Intelligence on your iPhone . Prior to iOS 18.2, iOS 18.1.1 included fixes for two security vulnerabilities that have actually been used in attacks on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the update, Apple writes: Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. The fixed issues include a flaw in JavaScriptCore framework and a flaw in WebKit. iOS 18.1 arrived on October 28, and brings the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 16 models and iPhone 15 Pro and Max. There will be more Apple Intelligence features released in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you want to know more about the staggered release of Apple Intelligence features, read: Apple Intelligence is a gradual rolloutheres what youll get, and when . When did iOS 18 come out? iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia , watchOS and iPadOS 18 launched at the same time. Next update: When will iOS 18.5 be released? iOS 18.5 is likely to be a relatively minor update, as Apple is wrapping up the major features of iOS 18 and starting the iOS 19 testing cycle with WWDC in June. The release of iOS 18.5 will probably come in May. Whats new in iOS 18.4? This was a pretty big release, with lots of little improvements. Apple Intelligence languages Including Simplified Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanishalong with localized English for Singapore and India. Apple Intelligence regions With iOS 18.4, iPhone and iPad users in the EU will gain access to Apple Intelligence features for the first time. Siri in Control Center There are new Control Center options for Type to Siri and Talk to Siri. Visual Intelligence You can now invoke Visual Intelligence on the Action button or from Control Center, and Visual Intelligence is available on iPhone 15 Pro. Prioritize Notifications Apple Intelligence will attempt to show notifications that may be important in a separate section on the lock screen. Go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications to enable. New Emoji There are seven new emoji in this releaseFace with bags under eyes, Fingerprint, Harp, Leafless tree, Root vegetable, Shovel, Splatter. Image Playground sketch style The third image style for Image Playground, sketch, is finally here. It was demonstrated back at WWDC last summer but never made it into a prior iOS 18 release. Food in News+ A new section in Apple News+ for curated recipes, restaurant reviews, and curated stories about food and dining. Ambient Music You can add four different ambient music categories to Control Center: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Whats new in iOS 18.3? iOS 18.3 is relatively minor release, with bug fixes, security updates, and a few tweaks to Apple Intelligence features. Apple Intelligence Apples Apple Intelligence features, which until now have required the user to turn them on, will be on by default in iOS 18.3. Visual intelligence Add an event to Calendar from a poster or flyer, identify plants and animals Notification summaries You can enable or disable summaries for an app from the lock screen (swipe left, choose Options), and notification summaries have italicized text. Notification summaries have been disabled for News & Entertainment apps for now. Calculator app The repeat operation capability when you keep pressing the equals (=) key has been restored. Whats new in iOS 18.2? The main thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence features, especially those centered around images. There are updates to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, Genmoji, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 phones. You can expect the following: Writing Tools updates more options. Genmoji new emoji you can create. See: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji. 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. See: How to use ChatGPT on the iPhone. Default Apps new section in Settings. Visual Intelligence get information using the Camera Control button. AE/AF Lock new toggle to lock exposure and focus via the Camera Control button. Find My share the location of something with a trusted person. Mail New auto-categories (primary, transactions, updates and promotions) to help manage your Inbox. Volume limits set volume limits for iPhone speaker. Camera Control Improvements. News+ Sudoku puzzles. AirTag Item location sharing For more information about the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.2 read: How Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2. Whats new in iOS 18.1? iOS 18.1 brings a selection of Apple Intelligence features to iPhones that are compatible with Apple Intelligence (thats the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Max, and the entire iPhone 16 range). New features include: Writing Tools Rewrite, proofread, and summarize text. Siri New look. Type to Siri so you dont have to speak to your iPhone. Conversational context so Siri remembers what you had already asked and maintains the context. Photos Improvements to search. Clean Up to remove things from photos. Memory movies. Notifications Notification summaries. Reduce interruptions Focus. Mail Smart reply. Priority messages. Read How to change the iOS Mail app back to how it was if you dont like it! Phone Record phone calls. Notes Transcriptions of audio recordings or phone calls. Read: How to record and transcribe voice calls on your iPhone Camera Camera Control button can be used to switch to TrueDepth camera. Spatial photo capture for 16 Pro and Max. AirPods Hearing Test and Hearing Air features for AirPods Pro 2. There were also bug fixes and security updates in iOS 18.1. Whats coming iOS 18: Latest beta and whats in iOS 18.5 The iOS 18.5 beta has not yet begun. We dont yet know what features to expect in iOS 18.5, but Apple is wrapping up major iOS 18 features and accelerating development of iOS 19 , which will enter beta in June at WWDC. 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. We explain How to join Apples beta program separately. Beware though: whether a public beta or a developer beta, any beta software is not as stable as the final version and the iOS and your apps may not work properly. Read Should you install the iOS 18 beta? for advice. Once registered, when you go to 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: choose either iOS 18 Developer Beta or iOS 18 Public Beta. If you need help installing the developer or public betas read our How to get the iOS beta article . If you then want to uninstall it, we have a guide for that: How to remove the iOS beta . iOS 18: Should I install iOS 18 on my iPhone? As long as your iPhone can run it, we recommend updating to iOS 18. The new featuresall of which we discuss belowlook enticing enough, and, so far, the only problem (see above) will not affect many people. We address how How iOS 17 and iOS 18 compare separately. Also take a look at: All the little details and hidden features in iOS 18 you wont want to miss. However, we do recommend you wait a week or more so that any issues with the early release can be addressed: despite the beta program, there are often issues once the software update gets installed on mass-market iPhones. Its also wise not to be one of the first downloaders because the download will likely take a lot longer if you try soon after it becomes available. iOS 18: Problems and bugs Messages bug : A Messages bug that could cause crashes and may even result in the loss of valuable data was reported. It seemed to be connected to an Apple Watch feature that lets users share their watch face over Messages (or Mail). Obviously, those are quite a niche set of circumstances and the best way to avoid it appears to be to not reply to watch faces in a thread. We have more information here: Link-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages can cause iPhone crashes, data loss . Apple fixed this bug in iOS 18.0.1 . Unresponsive touch screen : iPhone 16 Pro owners have complained of display dead spots , with taps and swipes are being ignored. It is thought that this is related to the Camera Control button. Apple addressed this bug in iOS 18.0.1. Camera freezes in macro mode : This was addressed in iOS 18.0.1. Photos redesign : Probably the most hated feature of iOS 18 is the redesigned Photos app. So weve written this: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying . Inaccurate news notifications : There have been some fake news notifications generated by Apples AI. Read: Apple vows to clarify AI summaries after spate of fake news alerts. There are concerns that macOS Sequoias iPhone mirroring feature could expose personal data at work . Servco Security has highlighted the problem to Apple who claims to be working on a fix. If you have any problems with iOS 18 you may be able to downgrade. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 18 to iOS 17 . iOS 18: How to install Installing iOS 18 and any subsequent updates is a breeze. Just open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update; iOS 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 iOS updating guide . And its easier still if youve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen. A little work preparing your iPhone before installing the update can help avoid problems. We advise you follow these steps: Back up your iPhone : Back up before installing the new version and you will always be able to recover your iPhone with the older version of iOS running on it should things go wrong. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone . Make space on your iPhone : If your iPhone doesnt have a lot of available space internally we recommend having a bit of a tidy-up so you can reclaim some iPhone storage . Simple ways to do this could include deleting apps you dont use, deleting old Notes, Messages, and duplicated photos . Update your iPhone to the latest version : Dont skip an update and go straight to iOS 18. If you havent installed iOS 17.6.1 yet do so now. iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18? The following iPhones get support for iOS 18, the same lineup of supported devices as iOS 17. iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone SE (2nd gen or later) Read: iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones support iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker Some of the new features will not be supported on the older phones, because they lack the hardware necessary (a powerful enough Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or enough RAM). This is typical of new iOS releases. In 2022, for example, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff due to their older processor. It is no surprise, therefore, that the hardware requirements are steep for the AI-related features aka Apple IntelligenceiPhone 15 Pro or later. Like iOS 17, iOS 18 does not support iPhone 8 or the iPhone X which came out in 2017, but since those phones are able to run iOS 16, they will continue to get support through security updates for at least another year. With the release of iOS 18 though, Apple will stop supporting iOS 15, which will mean that iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and iPhone SE (1st generation) will no longer get support. Generally, Apple has provided software updates for the past two versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones . iOS 18 guide iOS 18 features: Whats new in iOS 18 There were many new features in iOS 17 including a new app called Journal, Live Voicemail, and a new way to use Stickers, among dozens of other smaller changes. Rumors suggested that iOS 18 would be one of the biggest iOS updates if not the biggest in the companys history. As expected, in iOS 28 Apple will include some major new AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence, although these features will only be available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and newer iPhones. Not all the new features were available at launch. The first Apple Intelligence AI features were introduced in iOS 18.1 and others are arriving with subsequent updates. Features, such as the new categories in Mail, will come later this year. Read: Features missing when iOS 18 launched . Customization There will be a more customizable Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center in iOS 18. Several reports had claimed that Apple would allow greater personalization of the Home screen , including allowing users to place icons anywhere on the grid, allowing spaces between them. Prior to iOS 18 icons can be reordered or put into folders, but always fill the screen from left to right and top to bottom. In iOS 18 users are able to arrange apps and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, including right above the dock or framing a wallpaper. It will even be possible to change the lock screen icons or remove them. In addition, App icons and widgets can have a dark or tinted effect to blend in. Read: iOS 18: How to change the color of the app icons on your home screen and How to put app icons, widgets, and folders anywhere you want as well as iOS 18: How to make your app icons large and label-free . This put icons wherever you want feature is something weve wanted from Apple for many years, and has been a staple of many Android phones seemingly forever. The Control Centre is getting a redesign to give easier access to a users most-utilized controls. Users will also be able to add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center. Is it enough? Read: Apple is finally letting you have it your waykinda and You can finally customize your iPhone like Androidheres everything you can do . Apple Photos New features in Photos will help users find their photos and keep big libraries organized. Its the biggest redesign of Photos ever and is intended to help users find photos fast. It will be simplified but still familiar, according to Apple and will include a new Unified View, new Collections, and customization features. Users will be able to filter out clutter to narrow down to specific types of content. It will be possible to browse by topics, time, people, memories, trips, Recent Days and People and Pets. A new carousel view will present highlights that update each day featuring favorite people, pets, and places. Not everyone likes these changes. If you dont look at: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying . Apple Messages Messages will gain new ways to express yourself. Expect improvements to text formatting and fun new text effects. Tapbacks are getting redesigned and will let you tap back with any emoji or sticker. Youll also be able to amplify and animate letters, word, phrases, and emoji, and add formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough. You will also be able to schedule a message to send later. Messages will also support RCS for more reliable group messaging with those who do not have an Apple device. Read about how your conversations with Android users will look in iOS 18 and RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Every question answered . Apple is also making it possible to send Messages via Satellite so you can text when off the grid from Messages app. iMessages sent over satellite are encrypted. Apple Mail Mail will help you manage incoming email better with new on-device categorization. As email arrives it will be sorted into Primary (personal and time-sensitive), Transactions (confirmations and receipts), Updates (news and social notifications), and Promotions (marketing and coupons). A new Digest will pull together all relevant emails from a business, so for example, it could bring all flight information together. The Mail Categorization features will be available later this year. Safari A new Highlights feature is designed to make it easier to discover information on the web. A redesigned Reader experience will use machine learning to surface key information on a webpage so that users can review a summary to get the gist of an article. A table of contents will be included for longer articles Apple says users will also be able to quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artists track right from an article about the song or album. You will also be able to snap away annoying ads . Apple Wallet and Apple Pay There will be new ways to pay with Apple Pay. Users can send and receive Apple Cash by holding two iPhones together: Tap to Cash will let you share cash without exchanging email or number. Tickets in Apple Wallet including key event information like an event guide with info about the venue, and recommended Apple Music playlists Apple iPhone mirroring on the Mac iPhone Mirroring will grant users access to their iPhone via their Mac. It will be possible to see notifications from the iPhone on the Mac, and drag and drop files between the devices. Read: How iPhone Mirroring lets you access your iPhone on your Mac in macOS Sequoia . Other app updates: Journal New features to help you keep track of goals, Insights view, calendar, writing streak, and actually search Maps New topographic maps with trails (US national parks only) Game Mode Will minimize background activity for the best frame rates Notes app formulas and equations entered while typing will be solved Calendar incorporates tasks from Reminders and a new monthly view Health app Medical ID redesigned Emergency SOS Live Video Home app guest access Accessibility Eye Tracking 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 . Apple didnt discuss everything at WWDC. There were a number of features that didnt make the WWDC keynote . Also see: Unannounced iOS 18 tweak lets you see the time even when your iPhone is dead . Privacy features iOS 18 will improve privacy. You will be able to control who can see your apps, which contacts you share with that app, and which accessories apps can connect to. You can also control whether others can view your apps on your iPhone by locking an app so it wont open without Face ID or a passcode. A new locked hidden apps folder is also coming with iOS 18. Developers will have a way to seamlessly connect third-party accessories with iPhones without letting an app see all the other devices on a users network. Apple Apple Intelligence Apples new artificial intelligence system is coming in a series of updates to iPhone, Mac, and iPad with iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will only be supported by iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 range though. ( Heres why youll need to upgrade your iPhone to get Apple Intelligence , also read: Heres why newer iPhones and Vision Pro cant run Apple Intelligence ). The hardware requirements are steepiPhone 15 Pro or later. iPads will need at least an M1 chip or later as will Macs. Apple Intelligence features will mostly be processed on the device, which is different from other platforms where AI processing is done in the cloud. But Apple Intelligence will be able to determine if cloud processing is needed and will use it when appropriate. Apple Intelligence features include the following: 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. 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. Read: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when youll get it and Apple Intelligence is a gradual rolloutheres what youll get, and when . Siri Siri is also getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is to be integrated into Siri (as of iOS 18.2). 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. The new Siri is said to be more conversational and natural, with features that help users in their day-to-day lives. A new smart responses framework will help Siri take into account your own personal details in its replies: like people, companies, calendar events, locations, dates, and more. Later this year, Siri is said to get cross-device media control. So you can talk to Siri on one of your devices to control media playback on another. In an update scheduled for early 2025, Siri is said to gain the ability to control nearly any app, with hundreds of possible commands. This feature will start off with single commands for Apples own apps and grow to include third-party apps and commands with multiple steps. In addition, Siri will be able to react to and take actions based on what is on your screen. This is said to go into beta for developers in January , with a rollout to users in iOS 18.4 in the spring. New accessibility features Apple is planning several new accessibility features for iOS 18 , including Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, which will let users turn on or off specific accessibility features using a custom phrase, and Live Speech, which lets users type what they want to say and have it read out loud on phone calls or video meetings, will get the ability to add saved phrases to categories. Features that arrived or are arriving later Some iOS 18 features wont be a part of the initial release. Rather, they will be released later in 2024 or in 2025 as part of an iOS 18 point release (iOS 18.2 or iOS 18.4, for example). Here are some of the more significant features coming in later iOS 18 updates : Mail app features Auto-categorizing of mail, mail digests, and summaries in your inbox. (Arrived in iOS 18.2) Home support for robot vacuums The Home app wont be able to start or stop your Roomba until 2025. (Coming in iOS 18.3). Drag and Drop between iPhone and Mac Youll be able to see and control your iPhone on your Mac when iOS 18 and macOS 15 are released, but drag-and-drop support between your Mac and iPhone will come in an update. ChatGPT integration The ability to call upon ChatGPT when using Apples AI tools arrived in iOS 18.2. Advanced Siri features Siri features like its ability to see and react to what is on your display, semantic indexing (where Siri knows and uses information from across Messages, Mail, Contacts, and more), and advanced control over apps is all coming in 2025. (Coming in 2025). Vehicle Motion Cues in iOS 18 will help reduce motion sickness. Third-party NFC transactions Apple will allow third-party NFC transactions beginning with iOS 18.1by request. In addition, all of the Apple Intelligence features will initially support only American English, and may be limited to only some regions. Additional languages and regions are coming later, the U.K., Australia and Canada gained supposed at the end of 2024, other regions will gain support through 2025 and beyond. Next version of iOS We know that the next version of iOS after Apple finishes development of iOS 18 will be iOS 19. But what next in terms of software? Expect even more Apple Intelligence features to come in the late 2025 update to iOS and expect that iOS, iPadOS and macOS will be closer than ever. Over the past several years, the release of the new version of iOS has been fairly consistent, usually falling on the Monday following Apples iPhone launch event: iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024 iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023 iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022 iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021 iOS 14: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 iOS 13: Thursday, September 19, 2019 iOS 12: Monday, September 17, 2018

macOS 15 Sequoia superguide: Version 15.4 now available

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 latest major update being macOS 15.4, which arrived on Monday, March 31. 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, which is continuing as Apple develops more new features for Sequoia. In this article, we also discuss whats new in the developer and public beta as Apple continues work on the development of the operating system. Update March 31: macOS 15.4 is now available. macOS Sequoia: Latest version macOS 15.4: March 31, 2025 Apple released macOS 15.4 on March 31, 2025. The new features include Mail sorting features, Proximity Pairing, support for new languages with Apple Intelligence, and more. On March 11 Apple issued an update to Sequoia. macOS 15.3.2 brought bug fixes and one major security patch for a 2023 flaw that affects iOS 17.2. Apple released the macOS 15.3.1 update on February 10. The update does not include any detailed release notes and the Apple security release webpage states that this update has no published CVE entries, which means that it does not address any security issues filed with the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database. However, the updates description states that it provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users. iOS 18.3.1 was issued on the same day and addressed an extremely sophisticated security flaw relating to A physical attack [that] may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device, according to Apple. Apple revealed that this attack may have been used against targeted individuals. On January 27, Apple released macOS 15.3. It offers Gemoji support, updates to the Calculator and Image Playground apps, and tweaks to the Notification summaries. It also includes bus fixes and security patches. This update also enables Apple Intelligence by default. 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 security updates. Version 15.2 also brought Apple Intelligence features to the U.K. and some other locations, although those features still arent available in the E.U. The update also included a fix for a System Integrity Protection vulnerability . 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. Initially Apple Intelligence features were only available in the U.S. but they arrived in some other locations with macOS 15.2. 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. When was macOS Sequoia released? Monday, September 16, 2024 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. For information about what is coming in the next version look at the latest version of the Sequoia beta section below. Next update: When will the next macOS Sequoia update be released? Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.4 on March 31, 2025. A new beta cycle for an update will come soon. Apple Whats new in macOS Sequoia 15.4? Apple released macOS 154 on March 31, 2025. It includes the following: Mail sorting features : These were introduced in iOS 18.2 and are now coming to the Mac. Your Mail Inbox will feature four icons: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions (swipe from the right end of the icons to the left to activate an option for All Mail to be listed). If you have Apple Intelligence enabled, youll also see a new Priority Notifications section at the top of your Inbox to display important messages you may have missed. Proximity Pairing : As long as your iPhone is running iOS 18.4, when you set up a new Mac youll be able to pair it with an iPhone to transfer over Apple Account data. New Apple Intelligence languages : Expect Simplified Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanishas well as localized English for Singapore and India. Whats new in macOS Sequoia 15.3? Release date: January 27, 2025 On January 27, Apple released macOS 15.3. It offers Gemoji support, updates to the Calculator and Image Playground apps, and tweaks to the Notification summaries. It also includes bus fixes and security patches. Apple Intelligence Apples Apple Intelligence features, which until now have required the user to turn them on in System Settings, will be on by default in iOS 18.3. Gemoji Ability to create Gemoji using Apple Intelligence. Calculator app The return of repeat operation capability when you keep pressing the equals (=) key (a feature that was lost in the iOS 18 update). Notification summaries Enable or disable summaries for an app, notification summaries get italicized text. Notification summaries disabled for News & Entertainment apps for now. Bug fixes and security updates. Additional Apple Intelligence regions : Users in the EU will gain access to Apple Intelligence features for the first time. Mail categories: The Mail app will get the categories including Primary, Transactions, Updates and Promotions. Whats new in macOS Sequoia 15.2 Release date: December 11, 2024 On December 11, 2024 Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2. This update brought the second round of 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. macOS Sequoia 15.2 brought Apple Intelligence features to the U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Apple Intelligence still isnt available in the E.U. due to regulatory problems. 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, although only to those in U.S., or with their system set to U.S. Outside the U.S. it was necessary to wait for Sequoia 15.2 for Apple Intelligence features to arrive (and even then only in certain locations). 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 had 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. Resizing windows is a new feature in macOS Sequoia but it can get a little annoying. Read: How to stop macOS Sequoia from resizing windows to fill your screen. Having problems with Sequoia? Read: How to downgrade macOS Sequoia to Sonoma macOS Sequoia Beta: Latest developer and public betas Apple released Sequoia 15.3 on January 27, 2025. Beta development of Sequoia 15.4 is underway Apples beta testing program for developers and public testers has been running since June/July 2024 and will continue into 2025 as Apple adds more new features to macOS Sequoia. 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 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 . macOS Sequoia compatibility: Which Macs can 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. So if your MacBook Air was purchased before 2020 you are out of luck. 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: All the features in macOS Sequoia 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 and How to stop macOS Sequoia from resizing windows to fill your screen for when you get frustrated because macOS keeps changing the window size and you dont know why! 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

iOS 18.4 has arrived: Here are more than a dozen reasons to upgrade now

Macworld If theres a marquee feature for iOS 18.4, its the expansion of Apple Intelligence into the EU, along with Vision Pro compatibility and new language support for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Thats tens of millions of iPhone 16 owners who can finally use the feature Apple says the new iPhones were built for. (However, we should point out that this release does not enable Phone Mirroring on Macs in the EU due to issues over Digital Markets Act compliance.) For everyone else, there isnt one standout feature. Rather, iOS 18.4 brings lots of little tweaks, improvements, and changes. Maybe one will stand out for you as the thing youve been waiting for, or maybe the sum of them taken together just makes your iPhone a little more pleasant to use. Heres a by-no-means-complete list of the little things you may come to appreciate about this update. iOS 18.4: 15 minor improvements that make a major impact Visual Intelligence can be triggered in the Control Center or the Action Button . This makes it available on the iPhone 15 Pro, and it means you can add the control to your lock screen. If youve got AirPods Max , youre getting an upgrade (with a firmware update as well, probably) to allow audio over USB-C , which will include 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio. If youre a CarPlay user, youll appreciate the new third row of app icons on the home screen (if your display size is large enough) and a new API for sporting events will allow for custom experiences during live sporting broadcasts. Speaking of driving, Apple Maps will now include the location of NACS chargers (thats the so-called Tesla connector appearing on many new EVs). Got a Vision Pro? Along with support for Apple Intelligence on the headset, theres a new Vision Pro iPhone app that lets you discover spatial experiences, download apps and games, and get tips. If youre a fan of making Shortcuts , youll love that there are now lots of Shortcut options to change app settings. So you can make apps behave differently based on location or time of day or whatever, if youre good at making Shortcuts. Youll notice that Safari now shows recent searches when you select the search/address bar, making it easy to repeat that search you just did earlier today. You can clear this at will, or prevent it from showing at all by going to Settings > Safari > Show recent searches . Foundry There are several tweaks to Control Center . Buttons that have more options when you select them show chevrons, the cellular data toggle shows real signal strength, and so on. There are new controls , too, including four options for Ambient Music: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each one has multiple playlist options or you can select one of your playlists. Because theyre Control Center controls, you can add them to the lock screen or trigger them with the Action Button, too. Foundry Theres an all-new Apple Intelligence feature: Prioritize Notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications to enable or disable it, and you can select which apps it works with. When enabled, AI will try to determine if a notification is especially important and show it to you in a separate group on top of all your other notifications. Foundry Tweaks to the Photos app include a new Key Photo view mode for your Albums, two new filters for viewing your Photos library ( Shared With You and Not in an Album ), and the ability to edit the order of the Media Types list. Finally, I can select Screenshots without swiping three pages over! Foundry Image Playground is still a pretty bad experience, but at least it now has the Sketch style that was demonstrated back at WWDC. For certain kinds of drawings, its the best choice. We all love emojis , and there are seven new ones in iOS 18.4 : Face with bags under eyes, Fingerprint, Harp, Leafless tree, Root vegetable, Shovel, and Splatter. If youre an Apple News+ subscriber youll want to check out the new Food section , which does an excellent job presenting recipes from popular food publications. Look under the Following tab to find the Food section. Note that this is not yet available in the Apple News app on Macs. You know how you can set up a new iPhone or iPad by bringing another iPhone or iPad near it? Well, now that works for setting up a new Mac, too! Youll need to update the Mac to macOS 15.4 or later, of course. iOS 18.4: How to update To update your iPhone to iOS 18.4, head over to the Settings app, then tap General , Sofware Update , and follow the prompts.

Best iPad for students 2025

Macworld Preparing for student life can be exciting and stressful. To make things easier, its good to know that youve got the right tech to help you with note taking, writing essays, and so you can kick back with Netflix and games when the work is done. The iPad has evolved in recent years to something that can now act as a laptop replacement for many students, with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil making it one of the most versatile devices you can buy. Choosing the best iPad can be tricky though. Apple currently offers a wide range of models with different prices and features, including the M4 iPad Pro updated in May 2024, the iPad mini A17 Pro that arrived in October 2024 and the and M3 iPad Air and iPad A16 that arrived in March 2025. Three of these iPads are capable of supporting Apple Intelligence , which is Apples AI tool that powers several features, but the iPad A16 doesnt support Apple Intelligence and its features centered around reading, writing and image generation. These AI features may be useful for you as a student, although they may also get you into trouble if you are seen to be using AI to write your essays! Can students get discounts on iPads? The good news is that, yes, students can get money off an iPad when buying from Apples education store in their country. Apple offers money off new iPad purchases to students in higher education all year round. Plus, if youre a student and you buy an iPad (or a Mac) from Apple, you might be able to get a free gift such as a pair of AirPods or vouchers while the companys Back To School/Uni event is running. This usually runs from June to September in the U.S. and Canada, from July to October in the U.K. and Europe, and from January to March in Australia, New Zealand and other southern hemisphere locations. Another bonus if youre a student: you can get Apple Music for half price with free Apple TV+ included. How to get an iPad student discount If you are a student you can buy a discounted iPad by clicking on the link for Apples Education Store where you live: Apples U.S. Education Store Apples U.K. Education Store (in the U.K. you will need to verify your student status via UNiDAYS). Apples Canada Education Store Apples Australian Education Store Depending on your location you may only need to sign up with details of your student status and course and prove your identity. Some countries have less stringent checks than others. In the U.K., for example, you need to be registered with UNiDAYS in order to even see the student prices. We explain how to do this in our article How to get an Apple student discount . To qualify for a discount you need to meet Apples conditions. You either need to be a student in higher education, or a teacher at a teaching institution. The only way to get a discount for a child still at school is to be home educating them or to be a teacher yourself. If you cant get a student discount that doesnt mean you wont be able to get money off a new iPad though. Below we recommend the best iPads for students, and you will find links to the best prices at resellers where you are, some of which may be bigger discounts than those offered by Apple. Also read our round-up of the best iPad deals. How much can students save on an iPad? Students can save as much as $100 in the U.S., 100 in the U.K., $170 in Australia, and $150 in Canada if they buy from the Apple education store. You may find more money off at a third party reseller, see the best prices in the sections below. Product U.S. U.K. Australia Canada iPad (A16) MSRP $349 329 $599 $499 iPad (A16) Student Price $329 309 $559 $469 iPad mini (A17 Pro) MSRP $499 499 $799 $679 iPad mini (A17 Pro) Student Price $449 449 $719 $609 iPad Air (11-inch, M3) MSRP $599 599 $999 $799 iPad Air (11-inch, M3) Student Price $549 549 $919 $729 iPad Air (13-inch, M2) MSRP $799 799 $1,299 $1,099 iPad Air (13-inch, M2) Student Price $749 749 $1,219 $1,029 iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) MSRP $999 999 $1,699 $1,399 iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) Student Price $899 899 $1,529 $1,249 iPad Pro (13-inch, M4) MSRP $1,299 1,299 $2,199 $1,799 iPad Pro (13-inch, M4) Student Price $1,199 1,199 $2,029 $1,649 Apples discounted price for students compared to the usual price. Best iPad for students 11-inch iPad Air (M3, 2025): Best iPad for students Pros M3 processor Nice selection of color options Cons Its not cheap Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $579 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $549 at Amazon $549 at B&H $549 at Walmart Electronics View more prices from Adorama Apple Apple United States Best Buy Close Best Prices Today: 11-inch iPad Air (M3, 2025): Best iPad for students Retailer Price $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $579 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The 11-inch iPad Air (M3), with its 11-inch display, modern design, low weight (462g), great cameras, hugely powerful processor, and plenty of colors to choose from, is a great choice for students. Unfortunately, its a bit on the pricey side for a tablet, with the current prices starting at $599/599 ($549/549 for students). Still, its cheaper than a laptop and its the perfect combination of power, storage and features, for a price that isnt unreasonable. This is why we can heartily recommend for those starting out on their studies. The biggest feature of the model introduced in 2025 is the inclusion of the M3 processor. This is the same chip that has powered several Macs. In an iPad Air, it makes the device fly. The camera is a 12MP Wide lens (also like on the iPad Pro), which can record video up to 4K/60fps, and as with other iPads on this list, the front-facing camera is a 12MP Ultra-Wide that allows for Center Stage and is sensibly positioned on the longer side of the chassis to allow landscape views for FaceTime calls. While the 2025 iPad Air is missing some of the flagship features of the iPad Pro, such as the 120Hz ProMotion screen, TrueDepth camera, four speakers, and the powerful M4 chip, it offers more than enough for the average user. If you want to turn your iPad into a laptop you can team it with a Magic Keyboard ($299/299), or one of the other iPad keyboards weve looked at. If you prefer a larger display, there is also the 13-inch iPad Air (M2) that comes with all the same specs and features. It starts at $799/799 (or $749/749 for students). We highly recommend the 11-inch iPad Air (M2) for students who need premium performance and the best iPad you can buy without the Pro name. Read iPad Air vs iPad Pro to find out how the iPad Air compares to the iPad Pro. How much can students save on the iPad Air? MSRP: $599 / 599 / AU$999 / CA$799 Student: $549 / 549 / AU$919 / CA$729 Students save: $50 / 50 / AU$80 / CA$70 Get the best deal on a new iPad Air . iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024): Best for note-taking and reading Pros Small and light More storage Centre Stage for FaceTime calls Cons May feel cramped depending on your needs Price When Reviewed: $499 (128GB); $599 (256GB); $799 (512GB) Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $399 View Deal $399.99 View Deal $479 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad mini (2024) 128GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $439 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket $399 at Best Buy $399.99 at Target $479 at Walmart View more prices from Adorama Apple Apple United States B&H Close Best Prices Today: iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024): Best for note-taking and reading New Refurbished Retailer Price $399 View Deal $399.99 View Deal $479 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad mini (2024) 128GB Purple (Wi-Fi) $439 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket If the most important factor to you is portability theres one iPad in particular that you might want to consider. The iPad mini, updated in October 2024 with the Apple Intelligence-capable A17 Pro, is the smallest and lightest iPad you can buy, weighing in at 293g. Of course, the low weight is a result of the iPad itself being smaller, thanks to the 8.3-inch display (which is bigger than it used to be since Apple got rid of the Home button and relocated Touch ID to the power button on the top edge a few generations ago). The result is a compact but powerful device that doesnt feel too small. We think this screen size is perfect for reading books or taking notes (especially with an Apple Pencil), so it may well be ideal if thats how you intend to use your iPad. And dont let the diminutive form fool you: the A17 Pro chip is the same as that found in the iPhone 15 Pro, so theres no shortage of power on tap. Connectivity is top-notch too, with support for Wi-Fi 6E and 5G networks available, depending on the model you choose. The front-facing camera is an Ultra-Wide lens, so it can track you and keep you in the center of the frame on video calls thanks to Center Stage, while the 12MP Wide camera on the back can capture great photos and videos that could be used in presentations or for media-based assignments. There are three storage options available (128GB, 256GB and 512GB). We are glad Apple has stopped selling the 64GB model as we didnt think that was enough storage. 128GB should be enough for you to store your apps, music, movies, photos, and videos, and if you need more space we recommend iClouds various storage options . One disadvantage is that the mini only works with Bluetooth keyboards, rather than Apples range of iPad-specific keyboard, but whether thats a significant disadvantage is debatableat this size, a built in keyboard would be too small to type on comfortably. Prices start at $499/499 ($449 for students) for the 128GB model (which is what the 64GB model used to cost). The 256GB option raising the cost to $599/599 (down from $649/649 previously), and the 512GB model costing $799/799. In Australia the price of the iPad mini dropped with the arrival of the new model from $829 to $799. How much can students save on the iPad mini? MSRP: $499 / 499 / AU$799 / CA$679 Students: $449 / 449 / AU$719 / CA $609 Students save: $50 / 50 / AU$80 / CA$70 Get the best deal on a new iPad mini . iPad (A16, 2025): Best for students on a budget Pros Air-style design 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display Cons 64GB storage on base model No compatibility for Apple Intelligence New model coming soon (we hope) Price When Reviewed: $349 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $328.86 View Deal $328.86 View Deal $329 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $328.86 at Amazon $328.86 at Walmart $329 at B&H View more prices from Adorama Apple Apple United States Best Buy Close Best Prices Today: iPad (A16, 2025): Best for students on a budget Retailer Price $328.86 View Deal $328.86 View Deal $329 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $349.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The iPad (A16) model that arrived in March 2025 is the cheapest iPad available from Apple. It features the same design approach as the iPad mini and iPad Air, with Touch ID sensor integrated in the power button on the top edge. This makes room for a larger display thats almost identical in size to the 11-inch iPad Air. However, in terms of the screen technology the two iPads arent equal. The iPad Air sports a fully laminated display, while the iPads display has a slight air gap between the glass and the digitizer beneath. You probably wont notice it at all, but if you intend to use the Apple Pencil for notes (1st-gen 1 and USB-C Apple Pencils are supported) then you may experience slight delays in the tracking. Like the iPad Pro and iPad Air there is a front-facing camera located on the longer end of the panel, meaning it offers a true landscape view thats centrally located. This is much better suited to FaceTime and other video calling apps. The landscape 12MP Ultra Wide camera has a f/2.4 aperture that delivers a 122-degree view; its also compatible with the Center Stage feature that keeps you in the center of the frame even if you move about while on video calls. Apple bestows this iPad with a 12MP f/1.8 rear camera so you can get some great shots and shoot video 4K video at 60fps. If your course requires any kind of video content, then either the front or back optics of the iPad A16 should prove more than sufficient. Plus you can call home and look good doing so. An A16 Bionic processor is at the heart of this iPad, which is the same chip that powered the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15. So theres more than enough power for word processing, note-taking, coding, and most other education apps, not to mention gaming and entertainment duties. Theres a USB-C at the base, so you can use various peripherals and even power an external display if you want the iPad to become more like a fully-fledged computer. However, the A16 is not powerful enough for Apple Intelligence, Apples AI features that are available on the other iPads on sale right now. Whether that matters depends on your needs, but the editing assistance that is one of the Apple Intelligence features may be useful for a student. (This may well be exactly why Apple hasnt included it on the iPad that is the choice of many schools and education institutions). Read about what is in Apple Intelligence . The best news about the 2025 update is that Apple has stopped shipping a 64GB version. Even better, the 128GB iPad is the same price that Apple used to sell the 64GB iPad for. If 128GB isnt enough space for all your movie downloads, music, games, photos and videos, you can get 256GB or 512GB, or theres the option of expanding your iCloud storage so that you can keep stuff safe in the cloud instead. There are four colors to choose from (Blue, Yellow, Silver, and Pink) so you should be able to find one that suits your personality, and for extra functionality, you could invest in the new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio, although the $249/249 price tag does seem very high. Of course, a standard Bluetooth keyboard will get you the same results for a lot less money. The new iPad supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, but as the charging port is now USB-C youll need an adaptor from Apple if youve already bought the Pencil. Otherwise, the dongle is now included in the box when you buy a new Apple Pencil (1st gen). Of course, theres also the compatible Apple Pencil (USB-C) which gets around the dongle madness but lacks the presure sensitivity that artists will crave. See: Apple Pencils compared: Which Apple Pencil works with your iPad? As you can see, there are a few caveats, but with its modern design, solid processor, and larger display, the iPad (A16) is a great all-rounder that would prove a wise investment for those heading off to pursue their studies. How much can students save on the iPad (A16)? MSRP: $349 / 329 / AU$599 / CA$499 Students; $329 / 309 / AU$559 / CA$469 Students save: $20 / 20 / AU$40 / CA$30 Read our full Apple iPad (A16) review 11-inch iPad Pro (2024): Best for Power and Performance Pros M4 Processor OLED display Stupidly light and thin Cons Expensive Probably overkill for students Price When Reviewed: $999 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $909 View Deal $919 View Deal $949 View Deal $999 View Deal $1104 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $899 at Best Buy $899 at Target $909 at Walmart $919 at Amazon View more prices from Amazon B&H Apple Walmart Electronics Close Best Prices Today: 11-inch iPad Pro (2024): Best for Power and Performance Retailer Price $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $909 View Deal $919 View Deal $949 View Deal $999 View Deal $1104 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Pro iPads are the pinnacle of Apples tablet range, and as such they feel like the power and price are probably overkill for your average student. That being said, if you want the best, then this is where youll find it. The 11-inch iPad Pro (M4), was introduced in May 2024, boasting incredibly light and thin construction, but with a stupid amount of power inside. In an unprecedented step, Apple introduced the new M4 processor in the iPad before the Mac, making the 11-inch iPad Pro and 13-inch iPad Pro the most up-to-date devices in the Apple catalog. The question really, is do you need all that grunt? If youre after an iPad for taking notes, writing essays, watching Netflix, playing some games and using it for video calls home, then the iPad Air is a better balance of power and price. But, for those with money burning a hole in their pockets, and those planning to do a lot of gaming when they should be studying, the 11-inch iPad Pro comes with a new Ultra Retina XDR OLED display that has two layers (Apple calls this Tandem OLED) to produce the brightest panel theyre ever made, kicking out up to 1600 nits. Its also ProMotion, with an ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Cameras are 12Mp sensors, with the rear unit a Wide lens that can record video up to 4K/60fps, plus ProRes capabilities which would be of interest to video content creators. The front-facing lens also has the TrueDepth array, allowing Face ID, which remains a Pro-only features on iPads. You get Centre Stage for video calls, and the placement of the camera on the longer edge means you get landscape view. The two size variants offer the same capabilities, with 256GB of storage the baseline, and prices starting at $999/999 ($899 for students) for the 11-inch model and $1,299/1,299 for the 13-inch variant. As weve said, the iPad Pros are probably too much for your typical student, but that doesnt mean they arent excellent products for those who can afford them and take advantage of all the power on offer. How much can students save on the 11-inch iPad Pro? MSRP: $999 / 999 / AU$1,699 / CA$1,399 Students: $899 / 899 / AU$1,529 / CA$1,249 Students save: $100 / 100 / AU$170 / CA$150 Get the best deal on a new iPad Pro . Read our full Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024) review Should students buy an iPad or a laptop? Before you go ahead and buy your iPad you may want to consider its suitability for your purpose. As a student you probably have a few requirements: Low price Great apps for things like note-taking, recording lectures and revision Light enough to carry around all-day Keyboard and stylus support Suitable for making video calls home You might be wondering whether a tablet or a laptop would be better for those needs, and if you lean towards the latter, take a look at our guide to the best Macs for students . We think, however, that an iPad is a great choice. It runs many of the apps youll find on a laptop, including Office apps like Word and PowerPoint and the Apple equivalents, and in some cases, an iPad is actually more powerful than a laptop thanks to the super-fast processors Apple uses. Another benefit is that you can have all the books you need for your course on your iPad and carry them with you to lectures and tutorials. You could even photograph pages from books in the library and use optical character recognition to save the text to your iPad. Not only do you not need to lug all your books around with you, but an iPad is also far lighter than even the lightest laptop, so you wont get backache from carrying it to lectures and the library. With battery life of 10 hoursplenty for a day on campusyou arent going to need to find a space beside a plug socket in order to get through a day at uni. Think that having an iPad will mean you have to type on an on-screen keyboard. No! You could sync any Bluetooth keyboard or plug in one of Apples own iPad keyboards and effectively turn your iPad into a laptop. Theres also the Apple Pencil, which could come in useful if you wanted to jot down some notes on your iPad screen in a lecture. See Best stylus for iPad. And when youve finished studying there are loads of games, and apps for video calling your parents. Still not sure? We have more information comparing a MacBook laptop and an iPad . Are iPads good for students? The next question you might want some reassurance on is whether the iPad is the best option for a student. There are a lot of other tablets available, many of which are cheaper than an iPad. So you might be thinking of saving some money. We think if you do so you will regret it. There are many reasons why Apples iPads are so popular: The App Store is heaving with great apps designed specifically for the iPad. Many of those apps will be ideal for students: note-taking apps, apps for converting handwriting to text, apps for recording lectures, timetable management, and of course video calling (so you can stay in touch with mum and dad). There is an ecosystem of great accessories designed to work with the iPad. Apples iPadOS is stable and easy to use, especially if you already have an iPhone. If youve got a Mac you can use an iPad as a second screen, provided youre running Big Sur or later. Apple Intelligence, powered by AI, may simplify your studies by carrying out summarisations of text, creating images for illustrations, and other useful features. Thats all of our student-related buying advice, but if youre buying for someone younger, check out our guide to the best iPad for Kids .

Look out! Apple Intelligence reportedly wants to manage your health

Macworld Having revolutionized the computing, music, phone, and gaming industries across a quarter-century of dazzling innovation, Apple is turning its attention to the far more important healthcare sector. And AI is a big part of the companys plan. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter , Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman does a deep dive into a major project at Cupertino which is known internally by the codename Mulberry. Intended to culminate in another subscription service, likely branded as Health+, this project will see the Health app completely revamped and given a new AI-powered health coach feature. The AI element would, Gurman writes, replicateat least to some extenta real doctor, which is likely to set off alarm bells with those who have struggled with Apple Intelligence. The companys AI system has been dogged by problems since it launched last year, and while such teething pains might not be disastrous when a feature is trying to summarize app notifications, the prospect of a misfiring AI giving unreliable health advice is deeply troubling. If youre thinking that you will soon be able to speak to an AI doctor on your iPhone, however, that might not be quite how the service plays out. The idea is that the Health app collects data from your iPhone, Apple Watch, and any other Apple or compatible products capable of monitoring health information, much as it does at present. The difference is that an AI coach will interpret that information to offer health advice tailored to your body, circumstances, and needs. That AI coach is currently being trained using data from physicians that [Apple] has on staff, Gurman reports. Lets hope the training is more thorough than the regimen that Genmoji went through. You may see the faces of doctors on screen, but these will be real, flesh-and-blood medics rather than AI-generated ones. Apple is recruiting healthcare professionals, including experts in sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, mental health and cardiology, to make a series of videos that will serve as explainers. If Health decides, based on your data, that you need to make changes to your diet, for example, you might then be shown a video about food tracking or getting more fresh vegetables. One of the medical recruits, someone Gurman describes as a major doctor personality will be chosen to be the face of the service and its de facto host. Which makes sense from a marketing and interactivity point of view. But one would hope that Apples real priorities are on the medical side of things rather than the presentation. The project is expected to come to fruition as part of the iOS 19.4 software in the spring or summer of 2026. Apple is expected to unveil iOS 19 at its WWDC keynote on June 9, so we may learn more about the feature soon.

Clear up your desk with this 3-in-1 Baseus charging stand for just $60

Macworld One of the most annoying things is having about a million wires on your desk charging up all your devices, from your iPhone to your AirPods to your Apple Watch. Thankfully, this Baseus MagSafe 3-in-1 charger stand will take over the job and clear out all those wires for $60, a $30 discount over at Amazons Big Spring Sale. Not only does this charger stand from Baseus come with an amazing price, but its also going to make quite a bit of room on your desk. Instead of spreading your stuff all over the place, youll have a designated space for your phone, watch, and earbuds. The base features a charging pad for the AirPods and one foldable magnetic charger for your Apple Watch. The stand will safely hold your phone, allowing you to adjust its angle just right so you can check out notifications with ease. And if youre worried about your devices heating up during charging, you should know this product comes with a feature called CryoCore Cooling that lets you push a little button on the pad to turn on a cooling fan. The product comes with everything you need, including a wall charger and a type-C-to-C cable, so you wont need anything else. Get your own Baseus charging base for $60 while this Amazon deal still stands. Charge three devices at once Buy now at Amazon

M5 MacBook Pro: Everything you need to know

Macworld Apples M4 series MacBook Pro was released in the fall of 2024, a year after the M3 series was released. That could mean Apple is on a yearly cycle with the MacBook Pro and the next generation could be released in the fall of 2025. This article will keep track of the rumors and offer a perspective based on Apples Mac lineup throughout 2025. Heres everything we know so far. Update March 31, 2025 : The M5 MacBook Pro is on schedule for a release in the October/November timeframe. New M5 MacBook Pro: Release date The release of the M5 MacBook Pro depends on the availability of the M5 series of chips. A report in December 2024 stated that the M5 iPad Pro could be available in the second half of 2025. That suggests Apple could release the M5 iPad Pro at the same time as the iPhone 17 in September or early October, and then the M5 MacBook Pro could be revealed in late October or early November. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported on March 30 that Apple is on schedule to ship the M5 MacBook Pro around the same time of year as when the M4 and M3 MacBook Pro shipped. That means an October/November timeframe. New M5 MacBook Pro: Design and Features Apple updated the design of the MacBook Pro in 2021 and it seems like Apple will stick with it for a while. Its always possible that a new color makes an appearancelike Space Black in 2023but for the most part, the MacBook Pro design is set for a while. However, with the launch of the M4 MacBook Pro, Apple made a series of upgrades that replaced outdated components, including upping the base RAM to 16GB, adding a 12MP FaceTime camera, bringing Thunderbolt 5 to the M4 Pro and Max models, and offering a Nano-texture glass option. Apple could be saving any drastic changes to the MacBook Pro for 2026. Foundry Apple appears to be saving the next major design upgrade for the MacBook Pro for 2026. These upgrades include OLED screens , a camera hole that replaces the notch , and a thinner design to go along with the M6 chip. On February 11, 2025, The Elec reported that OLED displays for the MacBook Pro are going into production, but they wont be featured in the laptop until 2026. New M5 MacBook Pro: Processor and specs With its third straight annual update, its possible that the M5 MacBook Pro is little more than a chip refresh. Reports say to expect the typical performance boost from one chip generation to anotherbetween 15 and 25 percent over the M4. Elsewhere, its possible that the M5 MacBook Pros get WiFi 7 and the entry-level model gets Thunderbolt 5. There are reports that Apple is working on a 5G modem for the Mac , but its unlikely to arrive before 2026. New M5 MacBook Pro: Price Here are the prices for the current standard configurations of the M4 MacBook Pro, for reference. 14-inch MacBook Pro $1,599/1,599: M4 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 $1,799/1,799: M4 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 $1,999/1,999: M4 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 1GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 $1,999/1,999: M4 Pro with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $2,399/2,399: M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $3,199/3,199: M4 Max with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 16-inch MacBook Pro $2,499/2,499: M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $2,899/2,899: M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB unified memory, 512TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $3,499/3,499: M4 Max with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $3,999/3,999: M4 Max with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 Apple will likely offer similar configurations, and based on recent history, prices will remain the same with one caveat: In the U.S., the government could pass new import tariffs, which could increase prices.

How to speed up a slow Mac

Macworld If youve had your Mac for a few years you may be looking longingly at the Apple website wishing you could justify the expense of buying a new one. But luckily you dont have to fork out for a replacement computer to enjoy speed increases: in this article, we gather some simple tips to enhance the performance of your current device. How to make a Mac run faster Below we will run through the various checks you should make to find out why your Mac is running slow and speed it up, well cover why you need to have at least 10% of your Macs total storage free to keep it running well and how you can free up that space if need be. Well also look at how to find out if a particular app is gobbling up all the processing power and how to close it. And well look at other changes you can make to your Mac to make it run faster, including adding more RAM or, since thats probably not an option, clearing your RAM to speed things up. Before you begin, try the following quick tips to see if they speed up your Mac: Restart your Mac. If you havent restarted it for a while your RAM/Unified Memory could be maxed out. Delete unnecessary files, apps and other items that are taking up space especially if you have less than 10% of your Macs storage free. Update your software in case there is a software issue that is causing the problem. Has your Mac recently downloaded a software update you have yet to install? We find that now Apple has added Apple Intelligence to the mix downloaded software updates take up a lot more space on our Mac before we update it. Watch out for humongous software updates playing havoc with your Macs storage. Foundry How to speed up a Mac or MacBook Follow these steps to speed up your Mac and make it run faster. 1. Restart your Mac Screenshot Foundry One of the most obvious things you can do if your Mac has slowed down is restart it. However, we understand that there will be lots of reasons why you dont want to do that. Perhaps you dont want to stop what you are doing and wait while your Mac restarts and the app you were using is reloaded. But restarting is usually the first fix for any Mac thats slowed right down. In fact that is why we recommend that you do restart regularly. Few aspects of Macs cause more arguments than the one about what to do at the end of the day: shut down or sleep? It used to be recommended that a computer should be left switched on because of the wear and tear of restarting the hard drive. With the advent of SSDs this is no longer a problem. The amount of time it would take to start up a Mac also used to be prohibitive. This is no longer the case, Macs start up almost instantly. Nowadays, the main advantage of leaving a Mac sleeping rather than switched off is that it lets you continue where you left off. The only other reason to leave the Mac running is if you run maintenance or backup scripts at night. We address that here: Should I shut down my Mac every night? Shutting down your Mac has a number of advantages many of which are related to how RAM (or Unified Memory, as Apple calls it) is being used. macOS uses swap files: spaces on your hard disk that allow your Mac to pretend it has more RAM than it actually has as virtual memory. Once the number of swap files exceeds five or so, your Mac starts to slow down. Then its time to reboot. Restarting your Mac also means caches will get flushed and applications that are hogging your RAM will let it go.Restarting your Mac clears the caches and shuts down applications. The result is a Mac thats refreshed and should perform better. If right now shutting down and restarting isnt for you or that doesnt work there are plenty of other tips below to work through as you attempt to speed up your Mac. 2. Close unnecessary apps Foundry It might sound obvious, but the best place to start, if you dont want to shut down your Mac, is to close any apps that are running in the background. If you havent shut your Mac down recently your Mac may be devoting memory and CPU space to a program you havent used since last week, instead of to the apps you want. A quick way to see which apps are running is to glance at the Dock at the bottom of the screen. Programs that are running will have a dotunderneath them. If you cant see this dot, open System Settings/System Preferences and click Desktop & Dockand ensure that Show indicators for open applications is selected. Alternatively, press Command + Tab to bring up the App Switcher and tab through to see which apps are open. There are a few ways you can shut down these apps. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on their icon in the Dock and choose Quit, or if you are using the App Switcher, select a program and press Command-Q to quit it. If when you Right-click on the icon in the Dock you see the Force Quit option against it you likely have identified the culprit because a problem with that app is probably slowing down your whole system. Should you not get any options at all or just a spinning beach ball, you can use the Apple menu to shut the unresponsive app down. To do this, click on the Apple logo in the top left corner then select the Force Quit option. Youll see a list of all open applications, simply highlight the one you think is playing up and click the Force Quite button. Read How to Force Quit on a Mac for more information. 3. Find out whats slowing you down Find out whats hogging the CPU. Foundry Some apps are more power-hungry than others, and sometimes apps have issues that cause them to grab more than their fair share of your system resources. If you want to see which apps are using up your system resources, open the Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder. (Or press Command + space bar and start to type activity and press enter to open it from there). Activity Monitor shows all the processes on your Mac (some of which you cant, or shouldnt, close) so go to the menu bar at the top of the screen and click View >Windowed Processes before you do anything. Now, back in Activity Monitor, click on the CPU button and the %CPU column to list all programs by the amount of CPU they are using. You can also use this to see what Memory, Disk and Network different processes are using. If you see that one app in particular is gobbling up a lot of CPU power then you can close it from here by selecting the app with the mouse and clicking on the x in the menu bar at the top of the Activity Monitor. Take note of the apps that are using the most power they might require a software update to make them work more efficiently. For more advice see: How to use Activity Monitor to handle troublesome apps on your Mac . 4. Make sure enough space is free Foundry Part of your Macs performance depends on empty drive space. The Mac needs to be able to write and read its swap files and free space helps. But for these safeguards to work, you need at least ten percent of your disk drive empty. Therefore, if you want your Mac to run at its best and you dont have 10 percent of yourstorage space available you need to offload some of your larger files. Your hard drive hosts a number of big files and folders. These could include email files and backups, and old versions of apps that you no longer need. If you frequently upload photos to your Mac and download music you may find that you quickly use up thespace. There are a few ways to find out how much space you have available. The method depends on the version of macOS you are running. In macOS Ventura and later: Open System Settings > General > Storage. Wait while it calculates how much of your storage is being used, and also shows you what is using it. Click on the i beside any category of content, e.g. Applications. Click on anything and delete it if you dont need it. If you sort by date last used thats a quick way to find things you dont need. Alternatively sort by size to find larger items to delete. You wont be able to delete anything from the macOS and System Data categories, but you can find out ways to remove this kind of content here: How to delete System Data. If you are running short of space we run through various ways to free up the space on your Mac in How to free disk space on a Mac . Want a quick way to clear some space on your Mac? We have a round up of the Best Mac Cleaners where we include MacPaw CleanMyMac , Parallels Toolbox , and more. We have some more space-saving tips below. 5. Update your software Do you need to run an update? Foundry Make sure you regularly perform a software update for macOS and all the apps installed on your Mac. If you are running any recent macOS version go to System Settings > General > Software Update. In slightly older versions of macOS its System Preferences > Software Update. Now wait while your Mac checks for updates. If there is one to install, do so. Next check if your apps need updating. To check if there is an update for anything you have downloaded from the App Store open the App Store and click on Updates. If you have apps purchased outside of the App Store they need to be updated separately. You can make sure that macOS keeps itself up-to-date: Click on System Settings > General > Software Updates. Click on the i beside Automatic Updates. Ensure that Check For Updates, Download new updates, and Install macOS updates are selected. Make sure that Install Application updates from the App Store is selected. Also ensure that Install Security Responses and system files is selected. 6. Free up RAM What is hogging your Macs RAM? Foundry A long time ago the solution to improving your Macs performance was adding more RAM. Unfortunately this isnt really an option for users of modern Macs and not at all if you have any of the M-series of Macs as the memory is built onto the chip. If you own an older Mac a 27-inch iMac for example it is relatively easy to upgrade the RAM and we will discuss how to do that here: How to upgrade RAM in a Mac . But since that wont apply to many Mac users, well begin by explaining how to free up RAM. We also cover separately here: How to free up memory (RAM) on a Mac . The simplest way to free up RAM is to restart your Mac, but sometimes we dont want to do that. In that case there are apps you can use to free up RAM or you can use Activity Monitor. Well start with the Activity Monitor method. Open Activity Monitor. Click on the Memory tab. If you look at the bottom of the window you will see how much RAM is being used. In our case 7GB of the 8GB available. Click on the column headed Memory to sort by the biggest users of your RAM. Lots of what you will see here will undoubtedly mean nothing to you, but there will be a few apps that stand out. Free up RAM by closing any RAM-hungry apps you arent using. You can do this via the Dock (right-click on the app and choose Quit), or just click on the app on Activity Monitor and then click on the X in the menu. There are also apps that will help you clear your RAM. Among our favorites are Parallels Toolbox , which has an easy to use tool you can use to free memory and comes bundled with lots of other useful tools for $24.99/20.99 a year (Theres a free 7-day trial available ). Read our review of Parallels Toolbox . Another option is CleanMyMac X from MacPaw. This collection of tools will warn you if you have Heavy Memory Usage and will offer to Free Up your RAM. CleanMyMac X costs $39.95/29.95, it also has a free 7 day trial. f youre on a budget DaisyDisk is another option for $9.99/9.99. See our round-up of the best Mac cleaners for more options. 7. Check the health of your Mac Apple If these fixes arent working you should make sure that your Mac is completely healthy. You can do this by running Disk Utility, which a program included on your Mac. Open Disk Utility (in Applications/Utilities). Select your startup drive from the list on the left. Click the First Aid tab to the right. Click Run (in older versions this was Verify). If Disk Utility finds problems with your drive, youll need to boot from a different volume to perform the actual repairs. This is what Recovery mode is for. To boot into Recovery mode you need to hold down Command+R at startup on an Intel Mac, or press and hold the Power Button at start up on an M-series Mac. Once in Recovery Mode youll be able to access Disk Utility and carry out the recommended repairs. Read more about using Disk Utility to fix a Mac . You can also run the Apple Hardware Test (for Macs older than June 2013) or Apple Diagnostics (for Macs from June 2013 or later). Both tests check your Mac for other hardware issues, such as bad RAM. There are other steps you can take if you have an old Mac that you are trying to speed up, one is to repair permissions. Repairing permissions isnt something you can do on recent Macs, but in old versions of macOS it was necessary to repair permissions occasionally. This was achieved by following these steps: Open Disk Utility and choose your main hard drive from the sidebar. Click on First Aid and Repair Permissions. If you have an older Mac this will ensure that all the files on your Mac have the correct permissions, which will help keep things ticking along. However, since the arrival of Mac OS X El Capitan in 2015, you can no longer repair permissions in Disk Utility. Its gone because the new System Integrity Protection (SIP) that arrived in El Capitan prevents permissions on files being modified which, according to Apple at least, means there should be no need to repair permissions. 8. Sort out your iCloud syncs Foundry If you use iCloud to sync files across multiple desktops and sync your photos to iCloud Photos, you may be suffering slowdowns while your system syncs in the background. If you think this is happening to you there are a few things you can try. If you use iCloud Desktop, avoid storing large documents on your desktop dont drag and drop a humongous video file onto your desktop unless you need access at another location. You could also change where your screenshots are saved to. In fact if you only store the documents you need access to on your iCloud desktop you may speed things up and spend less time waiting for the files you actually need to sync. Just remember that if you dont save things on your Desktop or somewhere else where they sync, they wont be available to you in iCloud. If you use iCloud Photos on your Mac and you dont want to be busy syncing images, avoid opening the app in the first place. If it proves problematic, turn off iCloud Photos on that device. 9. Keep a tidy Desktop Foundry Another tip is to keep your Mac Desktop free of clutter. If youre using iCloud to sync various devices your Desktop will be synced and a cluttered Desktop will take time to sync. To find out just how much data is on your Desktop open the Finder and right-click on Desktop in Favourites, choose Get Info and then contemplate why there is 10GB of junk on your Desktop. But that isnt the only problem. Every file on your desktop is a window with an image in it either an icon or a preview of the file. Each of those windows and their contents is stored in RAM so that when you switch to the Desktop or use QuickLook, your Mac can show you whats in the window. The more files you have on your desktop, the more data is stored in RAM. That could result in your Mac running more slowly, especially if your Macs memory is already under pressure. This is why it is worth organizing files properly in the appropriate user folder Documents, Pictures, Movies etc and you may see an improvement in the speed of your Mac. Luckily, since macOS Sierra, it has been possible to automatically sort files on your Desktop into Stacks, so that everything it automatically filed away into folders (by Kind or Date). Just open a Stack and delete excess files from time to time. To set Desktop Stacks up if you havent already click on your Desktop and choose View > Use Stacks from the menu. 10. Manage Spotlight Foundry Spotlight, particularly in recent versions of macOS, is a terrific tool. But if you use multiple drives, particularly on older Macs, it can take Spotlight time to index and re-index the filesystem. That in turn will slow down your Mac. The answer is to limit the files Spotlight indexes. This is done in the Siri and Spotlight pane in System Settings (or the Spotlight pane in System Preferences on older Macs). As you can see in the image above Spotlight is indexing everything, but if we wanted to omit certain results we could. You can also omit certain folders you dont want Spotlight to search: Click on the Spotlight Privacy tab and drag in any folders or volumes that you dont want to search onto the window. That will stop Spotlight indexing the folder or volume and thus reduce the number of files it needs to index, meaning it spends less time indexing and should improve performance on your Mac. 11. Stop programs from opening at startup Foundry It is possible to set up your Mac so that when you start it up the programs you regularly need to use open up automatically. This could be a useful feature, but sometimes other applications you dont want to use get into those items that open automatically when you log in. If you really want to speed up your Mac stopping these programs from opening when you turn it on can really help. Heres what to do: Open System Settings. Click on General Click on Login Items. If any items are in the Open at Login (that you dont want to be there) remove them. You can also stop items from being able to run in the background. In older versions of macOS: Open System Preferences Click Users & Groups. Now click on the Login Items tab to see if there are any programs and services that are set to launch when you first power up (or log in to) your Mac. Highlight an item in the list that you dont want and click on the Delete from Login Items button at the bottom of the list. 12. Turn off visual effects Foundry Most Macs can run macOS without any trouble. However, you can turn off some features that might slow your Mac down. For example, some people prefer to keep the Dock static to prevent slowdown. Open System Settings > Desktop and Dock and untick the following boxes. (in older versions its System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar) Besides Minimize windows using change Genie Effect to Scale Effect. Turn off Magnification if you have that option selected. 13. Turn off File Vault encryption Foundry File Vault allows you to encrypt every file you store on your Mac to keep it safe from prying eyes. It also uses lots of processor cycles, however, to encrypt and de-crypt those files. If you use it, switch it off and see if you notice a difference in performance. Click on System Settings. Go to Privacy & Security. Click on File Vault. Click Turn Off. (In System Preferences its the Security & Privacy tab that you need). 14. Delete, delete, delete Foundry Were you suffering from limited space when you checked earlier? There are a number of quick ways to free up space on your Mac. Empty the Trash : Right-click on Trash in the dock and choose Empty Trash. Automatically delete : You can also set the Trash to automatically delete items every 30 days. Open the Finder and click on Finder > Settings > Advanced. Now choose Remove items from the Trash after 30 days. DeleteDownloads : Are there any items youre unlikely to need still in the Downloads folder. Click on Downloads to the right of the Dock and the arrow at the top to open it in the Finder andsee everything thats in there. Delete old and large files : Open the Finder and choose Recents (in older versions of Mac OS X choose All My Files), then either choose to sort by date or size.Choose size to selectively delete the biggest files. Choose date to find the files you havent needed in a while. (If your finder window isnt showing size, go to View > Show View Options, and choose Size.) Remove unwanted apps and programs : remove apps that you dont use. You can just drag and drop apps into the Trash, but that can still leave associated files and settings on your Mac. For that reason, our advice is to invest in a program like CleanMyMac X ($34.95/29.95 for a one year subscription) that can show you how much hard drive space apps are taking up and when you last used them, and can delete apps and all associated files. Remove Widgets : You could also remobe widgets used in the Notification Centre. To do this, click on the clock and date at the top right of your screen (or the bullet icon on older macOS versions). Scroll down and click on Edit Widgets (or Widgets, or Today in older versions of macOS). Remove any you dont need. 15. Move photos to an external drive Foundry You might be surprised by how much of your Macs storage is taken up by photos and home videos. You may consider paying for iCloud Photo storage, thinking that this would mean you could delete photos from your Mac as they would be stored in the cloud, but unfortunately, that isnt how iCloud Photos works. If you delete the photos from the Mac that they are stored on you will also delete them from iCloud and all your devices you can view them on. Thats not to say that there is no benefit to using iCloud Photos. The service can greatly reduce the amount of space taken up by the images on your Mac thanks to a setting that means that no more photos are stored on your Mac than you have room for. To make sure iCloud Photos isnt taking a lot of space on your Mac follow these steps: Open Photos and click on Settings (Preferences in older versions). Click on iCloud. Make sure that Optimise Mac Storage is selected. This will mean that if your Mac is low on space only small versions of the photos and videos will be stored on your Mac the full res versions in the cloud. You can, of course, download full-res versions at any time. You may like to use another service to back up your photos in the cloud. You could try DropBox or Google Drive for example. Read about how to back up your Photo library in the cloud here: How to back up your Apple photo library . If you would prefer not to use a cloud service you could set up an external storage device and move the photos currently stored on your Mac to that. To do so, follow these steps: How to move photos to an external hard drive Quit Photos. Copy the Photos Library by dragging it from the startup volume to your external volume. Once complete, hold down the Option key and launch Photos. In Photos, select Photos > Settings (or Preferences), and in the General tab, click Use as System Photo Library. We explain those steps in more detail here: How to move your Photos library to an external drive and you might like to check out our recommendations for best hard drive and best SSD . 16. Move your music Foundry Another big folder could be your music library, especially if you have previously ripped music from CDs or have a lot of downloads. As with Photos, you could free up disk space by offloading your music files to an external drive. For more information read how to move your Macs Music Library to another location. (Note that your music library then needs to be relinked via the Settings > Advanced tab.) Alternatively, you could subscribe to iTunes Match , which, for $25/21.99 a year, will move all your music into the cloud so you can delete it from your Mac, and access it on any of your devices. Once your music is in iTunes Match you can just download the tracks you want to listen to when you want to listen to them. Apple Music subscription can work in a similar way, in that it allows you access to all your music via the cloud but iTunes Match is a clone of your music library in the cloud, where Apple Music just offers you access to any tracks you already own via the cloud. See How iTunes Match and Apple Music work together . 17. Empty your Macs Caches Foundry You shouldnt just delete files from cache because they can actually increase the performance of your Mac. For instance, a web browser will cache web pages so that when a website is revisited, the whole pages doesnt have to be re-downloaded. Deleting cache will also mean that you will have to re-enter login details and passwords. Deleting cache can be more trouble than its worth. However, if you need to free up space deleting some files from cache could be a solution. Have a look at your user caches by hitting Command+Shift+G from your Desktop to bring up Go To Folder and then typing ~/Library/Caches/. To see how much space your Cache is taking up you could right-click on the Caches folder in the Finder and select Get Info. Dont be surprised if a number of gigabytes are residing here. As user caches are rebuilt when needed, you can safely delete these, especially for apps that are no longer used. Safari, Firefox and iTunes all allow you to clear caches directly within the apps (we address removing Safari cache below). While you could go through all these cache files, deleting them, there are a number of useful utilities you can use to do this for you. For example, CleanMyMac X from MacPaw ($34.95/29.95 a year) can clear your cache quickly for you. Open the app, choose System Junk and then click Scan followed by Clean. Alternatives are CCleaner for Mac (free) and Parallels Toolbox ($19.99/15.99 a year). All three solutions feature in our round-up of Best Mac Cleaners . We have a separate guide to clearing the Cache on your Mac . 18. Empty Safari cache Foundry Speaking of Cache, Safari sometimes gets clogged up with data. Cleaning this out will help speed up Safari in macOS. In older versions you can just open Safari and choose Safari > Reset Safari and check Remove all Website Data. (Leave the other options unticked.) Now click on Reset. This can help speed up sluggish web browsing. In later versions, youll need to open the Settings (or Preferences) dialog box, then select the Privacy icon and click the Manage Website Data button. You can then delete all cookies and cache by clicking the Remove All button. If you just want to remove the cache and not the cookies or browser history, things are more complicated. But the hidden Safari Developer menu can be used to achieve this. The Developer menu can be activated by selecting Safari > Settings (or Preferences), clicking Advanced, then putting a tick by Show Develop Menu in Menu Bar. (This option is right at the bottom.) A new Develop menu option appears to the left of the Window and Help menu options. Close any open Safari windows and select Empty Caches on the Develop menu. Then click File > New Window to start Safari with a clean cache. Read: How to clear Safari Cache and Cookies on a Mac for more advice about clearing Safari cache. 19. Add more RAM Foundry As we explained above, adding more RAM isnt the solution it used to be because upgrading the RAM in modern Macs especially ones with an M-series chip is impossible. However, if you own an older Mac especially if you have a 27-inch iMac it is relatively easy to upgrade the RAM. In the past adding more RAM was the go-to solution for improving a Macs performance. Before you go ahead and spend money, however, its worth trying to figure out how much of a difference it will really make, if any. The easiest way to do this is to fire up Activity Monitor (its in Applications/Utilities), click on the Memory tab and keep an eye on the memory pressure gauge at the bottom of the window. Ifits permanently green, youre probably not going to see a huge difference by upgrading. If it turns red regularly, its worth the expenditure. How much RAM you add and how you add it is dependent on your Mac. But as a rule of thumb, the effort of performing the installation compared with the marginal cost of bigger RAM modules means that its worth maxing out your Macs RAM in one go. That will often mean removing the existing modules and replacing them. Its a good idea, though not essential, to buy all the RAM you fit at the same time from the same manufacturer. If you decide just to fill empty slots, the same applies. And you should pair RAM modules of the same capacity, if possible. The biggest hurdle will be whether it is possible to upgrade the RAM in your Mac, its easy to add more RAM to a 27-inch iMac, but as we said above, many modern Macs cannot be user-upgraded at all, which is why our usual advice is to buy as much RAM as you can afford as a build-to-order option when you first buy your Mac. We have a separate tutorial with more information about installing RAM in a Mac. 20. Do a clean install of macOS Apple If all else fails, and youve tried everything weve suggested to speed up your Mac without success, there is one more option: a clean reinstallation of the OS . Its not a job to be undertaken lightly youll need to delete your entire boot drive. But, it will clear all the files that have been collected in the system Library and the user Libraries over the years and which may be causing the Mac to run slowly. Remember to make at least one, preferably two, complete back-ups of your bit drive before you start so you can copy documents, images, music and anything else you need back once youve installed the new OS. And dont fall into the trap of thinking you have everything in the cloud, because there will be something that isnt in the cloud! 21. Buy a new Mac Apple If you are still struggling with a slow Mac read our guide to choosing a new Mac so that you can find the best replacement for you. Read: Which Mac is best or Which MacBook to buy. We also have round-ups of the best Mac deals right now so you can get a Mac at a lower price than Apple sells it for: iMac deals Mac mini deals MacBook Pro deals MacBook Air deals Mac Studio deals

No, the iOS 19 code name isnt a clue about its design

Macworld Last week, Apple announced that its big WWDC keynote will take place on June 9, which means we have about two months of rumors and speculation. The latest report from Mark Gurman might seem like a big clue, but Im here to assure you, its not. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter , Gurman takes a moment to address the numerous images supposedly showing the look of iOS 19 that circulated the web last week. He reiterates his claim that the fake screenshots arent representative of what Apple will show when it announces the new software at WWDC, but doesnt offer any details on the new operating system save one: the code name is Solarium, defined by Oxford as a room fitted with extensive areas of glass to admit sunlight. Its natural to assume this is a clue that iOS 19 will be light and airy, with transparent layers designed to let light in. Its a logical conclusion , especially since Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech released a video last week that showcased renders of iOS 19 with extra transparency. Gurman himself has teased that iOS 19 will take its cues from visionOS with greater transparency and new types of windows and buttons. If any of that is true, itll be easy to look back on this Solarium rumor and see how obvious it was. But historically, Apples codenames dont have anything to do with the shipping product. For example, last years iOS 18 codename was Crystal, and iOS 17s was Dawn. iOS 12? Peace. Now, if you really want to find meaning in those names, I suppose you can. Crystal could refer to the ability to customize icons with ease or as a reference to Apple Intelligence. Peace could refer to the new Do Not Disturb options introduced with iOS 12. Dawn could be related to using an iPhone in StandBy mode as an alarm clock. But they likely mean nothing. The last major change to iOSs interface came with iOS 7. That codename? Innsbruck, a mountainous city in Austria popular for skiing. Back then Apple was fond of naming iOS versions after winter resort cities, and being that iOS 7 introduced Apples first flat design, naming it after a city with nearly 70 named mountains could be a tongue-in-cheek nod to its new look. But like Solarium, it almost certainly wasnt.