iOS 18.2 beta 4 is available with Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT, and more

Macworld Beta testing for iOS 18.2 is in progress. While iOS 18.1 was the first release with Apple Intelligence features for supported phones, many of the most exciting features are coming in iOS 18.2. This release includes Visual Intelligence, Genmoji, the Image Playground app, the new Mail app with AI-sorted categories, and integration with ChatGPT. While the AI features of iOS 18.1 might make the average iPhone 16 user say, Is that it? the Apple Intelligence features in 18.2 will be a little more sensational. However, while Siris interface changed in iOS 18.1, the new smarter Siri still isnt a part of this release. That will likely be coming in iOS 18.3 or 18.4, due for release around March 2025. We have a list of the Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18 along with their expected release timeframes. Updated November 20: The fourth developer beta of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 are out now. The public beta is expected within a day or so. iOS 18.2: All the new features The iOS 18.2 beta release is only available for iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, or any iPhone 16. There is also a secondary waiting list to access certain features. If you were on the original waiting list for Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 you will get access to ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence, and the new Writing Tools features. But youll have to hop onto a second waiting list for the image generation featuresGenmoji, Image Playground, and the Image Wand tool. Heres whats available in the iOS 18.2 beta so far: Writing Tools updates: Instead of just choosing to make a selection of text more professional, causal, or concise, you will have a freeform field to describe how you want to transform text. Examples: make this a poem, include a lot of dad jokes, or use a lot of sarcasm. Genmoji: Create a new emoji right on the system keyboard. Image Playground: Generate new images based on text prompts. Apple will suggest new costumes, items, or locations, and will make suggestions based on the context of a Messages thread or note in the Notes app. Images can be based on people you know by using identified images in Photos. Images are limited to cartoon or illustrative styles rather than realistic. Visual Intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners with the Camera Control button. Press and hold Camera Control to get additional information about a location, translate a sign or poster, detect phone numbers and addresses to quickly add to Contacts, and more. You can also tap a button to ask ChatGPT about whats on screen, or another to perform a Google image search. Image Wand: An offshoot of Image Playground, this uses Apples image generation tools to create an image in an open area on a note in the Notes app, using the context from the surrounding area and the rest of the note. Start with a blank area or a rough sketch you make yourself. ChatGPT integration: If Siri cant answer a question, it now has the option to ask ChatGPT. You need to give permission for each request and only limited data is shared. You dont need to log into ChatGPT, but you are able to if you want to, or have a premium ChatGPT account you wish to use. You can ask Siri to have ChatGPT generate images., and use ChatGPT in the Writing Tools to generate text, too. In addition to the new user-facing features, there are new developer tools for integrating image generation and writing tools into third-party apps. Apple Intelligence is localized into English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in this release. Default Apps: Users worldwide have a new Default Apps section at the top Settings > Apps , where you can choose your default email, messaging, calling, call filtering, browser, password app, and keyboard. The messaging and calling options are new, and the other options have all been brought under a single menu. EU-specific features: In the EU, third-party browser that use their own custom web engines can now add web apps. EU users will also be able to delete the App Store. AE/AF Lock: In Settings > Camera , youll find a new toggle for a light press on the Camera Control button to lock exposure and focus. Find My share item location: Find My will let you share the location of an AirTag (or other Find My compatible item) with a trusted person. The link can be opened on a non-Apple device and expires after a week. Mail app categories: The Mail app gets its AI-powered auto-category feature, splitting your inbox into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Volume limits and lock screen slider: Youll be able to set volume limits for media playing from the iPhones speaker, and can restore the volume bar to the media card on the lock screen. iOS 18.2: How to install the iOS beta The iOS 18.2 beta is currently only available for developers, but anyone can get it. Since the introduction of iOS 17, its not necessary 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 iOS 18.2 beta instead by going to the Settings app, then General > Software Update, and selecting iOS Developer Beta in the Beta Updates tab. When you return to the main Software Update screen, youll Upgrade to iOS 18 at the bottom of the screen under the Also Available heading. Tap that and itll take you to the iOS 18.2 beta. As always, remember to back up your iPhone before you install the beta. If you want to run the public beta, follow these steps: Head to beta.apple.com and register your Apple ID for the beta. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select the beta you wish to install. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the beta.

macOS Beta: How to download and install Sequoia 15.2 beta 4

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

New report reveals killer feature coming in next Pro Display XDR

Macworld Apples next big product launch might still be a long way off, but a new report has shed light on powerful new technology coming in the next version of Apples flagship Pro Display XDR. The 2nd-gen model will use state-of-the-art quantum dot technology, according to the respected displays analyst Ross Young (via 9to5Mac ). Young had previously reported that the M4 MacBook Pro, which was announced at the end of October, is the first Apple product to use quantum dot tech, but the next-gen tech is far more important for Apples high-end display. For one, its 32 inches; for another is uses state-of-the-art calibration and a sophisticated algorithm to deliver the highest-quality color possible. Quantum dot is a recent display technology designed to deliver better color and motion performance than is possible with conventional LED, mini-LED and OLED screens. (Its also where we get the Q in QLED TVs.) As Young explains (login required), the MacBook Pro previously used KSF phosphor, which makes it plausible that other KSF-based Apple products will follow its lead and switch to quantum dot. Now that Apple has adopted [quantum dot] in the MacBook Pro, he writes, it will be interesting to see if they replace KSF films and KSF phosphors in other Apple products. KSF films are found in previous mini-LED MacBook Pros and the Mac Pro Display XDR. We expect the next version of the Mac Pro Display to adopt it. All very pleasing, but the catch is that well likely be waiting a long time for the next version of the Pro Display XDR. The original device came out in 2019 and weve been expecting an update ever since the Studio Display was launched in 2022; but Young says its unlikely to appear until late 2025 or early 2026. You can keep up with the latest news and rumors with our new Pro Display XDR superguide. Retailer Price $4999 View Deal $4,999 View Deal $4999 View Deal $4999 View Deal $5999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket

Score an official Apple MagSafe Charger for 60% off in this wild blowout sale

Macworld If you have a new iPhone, the easiest and safest way to charge it is with Apples official MagSafe charger, especially when you can get one for crazy cheap: Amazons Woot is selling the 1st-gen MagSafe charger for $15 , a savings of more than 60 percent and the lowest weve ever seen. Woot says the product is brand new direct from Apple but wont ship in its original packaging. Instead, it will however arrive in a polybag or plain brown box. it comes with a 90-day Woot Limited Warranty. The deal is available through Saturday or until supplies run out. Apple MagSafe Charger uses magnets to firmly attach to the back of the iPhone or AirPods Pro case for more reliable wireless charging. Since this is the 1st-gen cable, it maxes out at 15W, but thats plenty fast for quickly filling up your iPhone when it hits the red. Like Apples other products, it doesnt come with a power adapter, so youll need to bring your own. Apple recommends 20W or higher for maximum speeds. Whats more, you can also save even more by buying two ($28) or three ($40), so if you need a great charger for a great price, go grab one now. Get an official Apple MagSafe charger for 60% off Buy now on Woot!

Apples most controversial dongle might be gone for good

Macworld Back in 2016, the most hated accessory in the Apple ecosystem was a small dongle that came free with the iPhone 7 and cost $9 to replace. And now it looks like it might be gone forever. Of course, were talking about the much-maligned Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter. When Apple launched the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, it removed the headphone jack, leaving the Lightning port as the only way to plug in wired headphones. And since most people didnt have a pair of Lightning headphones, Apple supplied a free dongle in the boxes. Based on Apples store listing, the accessory may be gone forever. Its currently sold out online and isnt available at any nearby stores. Apple still sells a USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter for newer iPhones, however. Apple still sells the iPhone SE and iPhone 14, both of which have Lightning ports, but this legacy port is on the way out. If you still want a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, you can grab one on sale at Walmart for $7 .

The everything gift guide for iPhone users

Macworld When they already have the best phone on the planet, what do you buy an iPhone user? Were here to help you select the best iPhone gifts availableperfect gifts for Christmas, birthdays, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, anniversaries, and when you are just feeling generous. If not a brand new iPhone (check out our iPhone Buying Guide if your budget stretches that far), then how about one of the many available iPhone accessories? Throughout the year we have tested and reviewed the best iPhone accessories from Apple and trusted companies, and we can recommend the best ones for the people on your list. Wed be delighted to receive any of these iPhone accessories as a gift. If you want to splash out on another Apple product, take a look at our guides for best Apple Watch , best iPad and best Mac . Here we recommend some of our favorite iPhone cases, power banks, chargers, cables and tech organizers, plus a roundup of some super stocking stuffers for the iPhone user in your thoughts. iPhone Gift Guide: Cases If your loved one doesnt own a case for their iPhone then this may be the best gift you can get them as it will share a bit of personality while protecting their precious phone from knocks, drops, and everyday scrapes. If they already have a case, then buy them a new or better one. Just slipping on a new case can transform an old iPhone into something that feels brand new again. Its even more satisfying than an iOS update! We have tested the best cases for iPhone 15 and best cases for iPhone 16 and most of these are available for older models from the iPhone 11 up. Run through those lists to see the widest range of cases you can select as a gift, and get one for yourself while youre at it. If youre shopping for someone who has an iPhone 12 or later, look for a MagSafe-compatible case as it wont interfere with wireless charging. 1. Casely iPhone Classic and Bold Cases Colorful and arty cases for all iPhones Pros Optional protection levels Design options Price When Reviewed: From $25 Best Prices Today: $25 at Amazon Casely has an enormous range of designer and colorful iPhone cases available for the iPhone XR, 11, and laterright up to the iPhone 16 family. Most are available in either a flexible glossy Classic version or a more rigid and protective Bold version. Art lovers will appreciate the range of impressionist paintings that can now adorn their iPhone. There is even a range of festive winter and Christmas cases available. Shipping for direct domestic orders under $30 is a flat rate of $5 and international orders below $100 will be charged a flat rate of $10 USD (Canada) and $15 USD (everywhere else). Or follow our Amazon links for possible free shipping. 2. Casetify iPhone Cases Wide design choice range of iPhone cases Pros Optional protection levels Design options Price When Reviewed: From $56 Best Prices Today: $60 at Amazon Casetify is another maker of colorful iPhone cases and these can be customized with personalized text, colors, designs, and protection levels. There are hundreds of case designs to choose from, and you can choose the level of protection that suits you best. The camera case is very retro, and you can buy non-slip cases with physical ripples that make your phone grip firmer. 3. OtterBox iPhone cases Wide choice of colors and protection Pros Unique edge-to-edge designs Price When Reviewed: From $45 Best Prices Today: $45 at Amazon $45 at OtterBox The super-slim Figura Case (above) for iPhone 16 from OtterBox features psychedelic patterns that are hydro-dipped by hand. The graphics envelop the case from edge to edge. The material is flexible with a soft touch. OtterBox has a wide range of cases for many older iPhone versions, tooincluding its robust Defender range. 4. ESR iPhone Cases Pros High protection level Built-in kickstand Price When Reviewed: From $38 Best Prices Today: $38 at Amazon $38 at ESR Unlike most macho protective cases, the ESR Cyber Tough cases are available in a range of colors depending on the model of iPhone, including one in a fetching pink. ESR has a huge range of iPhone cases, many with hidden ring stands and other features. Leather iPhone cases: If you fancy a premium leather iPhone case look at the selection at Dutch design firm Mujjo and Woolnut for iPhone 11 and later. Wallet iPhone cases: Check out the Vena and Decoded ranges of iPhone cases with built-in and detachable wallets. Wood/pearl/fabric-effect iPhone cases : Seek out the range at Mous for iPhone 14 and later. iPhone Gift Guide: iPhone power banks Hands up if your iPhone has never run out of juice during the day when you are far from a convenient power socket. Yeah, right. Apple used to make a special Smart Battery Case for the iPhone but stopped selling these when it added MagSafe magnetic wireless charging to the iPhone 12 and later. It then sold its own MagSafe Battery Case but stopped making these when it launched the iPhone 15. But fear not, as there are some great MagSafe power banks out there that clamp onto the back of your iPhone (12/13/14/15) and can recharge the phone for long enough that you can reach a power source. Of course, Macworld has tested many of them and picked the best MagSafe power banks , but here are a few of our favorites. 1. Anker Zolo and MagGo Power Banks Pros Huge 10000mAh battery capacity Built-in USB-C cable 7.5W wireless or 30W wired charging Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon The Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank is available in four colors black , blue , pink or white and uses MagSafe to magnetically stick to the back of your iPhone when you need a power boost. In our tests, it recharged an iPhone twice over with its 10000mAh battery capacity. Better still, it features its own built-in USB-C cable for charging up the battery pack or wired-charging the iPhone 15 and 16 families that have a USB-C port rather than Lightning. Using the cable rather than MagSafe will charge an iPhone 15/16 at an impressive 30W. MagSafe wireless charging is slower at 7.5W but it will still rescue a fading iPhone 12 or lateror you can supply your own Lightning cable (or USB-C for iPhone 15 users) and connect with a wire. It also features a handy kickstand. Anker If you have an older (pre-15) iPhone, then you need a Lightning cable but the non-magnetic Anker Zolo Power Bank has both, meaning it will still be relevant when you upgrade to a USB-C iPhone. And of course you can use the USB-C cable to charge the power bank itself. If you have a family with both USB-C (15 and 16) and Lightning (14 and earlier) iPhones this will suit all models. Theres a handy digital battery-level display, too. This version of the Zolo doesnt feature wireless charging. Anker With no built-in cable but a fast 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless charging pad, a third option is the Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank (above), which is the slimmest 10K high-capacity wireless power bank we have testedperfect for carrying with you in a bag for emergencies when your iPhone starts to fade and you are miles from a power socket or have forgotten your charger and cable. Read our full Anker Zolo 10K Magnetic Power Bank review 2. Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 5K + Stand Pros Slim Built-in stand Price When Reviewed: $59.99 Best Prices Today: $39.99 at Amazon $49.99 at Walmart Electronics $59.99 at Belkin If you are willing to sacrifice some recharging power for pocketable portability consider a 5K magnetic power bank like the Belkin BoostCharge . Its dinky and boasts a kickstand, and will get you to your next charging point if its just a few hours of constant phone use away as in our tests it charged our nearly drained iPhone to close on a full extra power refill. 3. OneAdaptr OneGo 3-in-1 travel charger and power bank Pros Compact iPhone, Watch, AirPods charging stand 10K power bank Foldable for travel Price When Reviewed: $89 Best Prices Today: $89 at OneAdaptr This compact OneGo power bank has it all: it can charge four devices at the same timeincluding iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, plus another via its side USB-C portand then folding up into a lightweight form that can slip into your pocket or overnight bag. iPhone Gift Guide: USB-C iPhone chargers A simple charger sounds like a boring present but we think any iPhone users would be delighted to receive one of these beauties now that Apple no longer includes one in the box with new iPhones. And which iPhone users couldnt do with at least one more spare charger at home or in the officeor a special one for travel? An iPhone charger should be rated at least 20W, and wed recommend 30W or better as newer iPhones can accept higher wattages than even Apple admits. A 30W charger can handle an iPad Pro and has just enough to power up even a 13-inch MacBook Air. For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best iPhone chargers . Further down we recommend some multi-device chargers that might make more of an impact come unwrapping day. 1. Ugreen Nexode RG 30W USB C GaN Charger cute robot-shaped charger Pros Cute robot-shaped charger Two color options Price When Reviewed: $25.99 Best Prices Today: $25.99 at Amazon $25.99 at Ugreen The latest GaN (Gallium Nitride) chargers are tiny so were used them them being labeled cute but this small phone charger really is cute, shaped like a friendly robot. Take off its boots and youll find the plug prongs that connect straight into a wall power socket. The boots are even magnetic. Why? We dont know but you can store the plug protector on most metal surfaces when the charger is in use. When plugged in, the LED screen shows different expressions that refer to the charging states. Its 30W power is enough to fast charge even the biggest iPhone. Youll need a USB-C to USB-C cable to charge an iPhone 15 and USB-C to Lightning cable for older iPhones. Its even powerful enough to keep a small MacBook charged. 2. Anker 30W Nano Charger tiny and powerful charger Pros Smallest, lightest 30W charger Foldable plug Multiple color options Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $14.99 at Walmart Electronics $18.99 at Amazon $19.99 at Anker Measuring just 1.12 1.12 1.39 inches (U.S. model), the 30W Anker USB-C Nano Charger is the smallest 30W USB-C charger weve had in our labs for testing, and it weighs just 1.3oz (36g). The U.K. model is larger but also features foldable prongs and is equally incredibly light. Its available in a range of pastel colors, including Misty Blue, Lilac Purple, Phantom Black, Aurora White, and Natural Green. 3. Ugreen Nexode 45W USB-C Wall Charger Charge two devices at the same time Pros Small, light 45W charger 2 ports Foldable plug Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: $29.99 at Amazon $39.99 at Ugreen This two-port wall charger from Ugreen is great if your household or office has two phonesone doesnt even need to be an iPhone! Indeed you could charge your iPhone plus Apple Watch or AirPods, too. Each USB-C port is rated at 45W so one could charge a mid-sized laptop. Using both ports, one will give 25W and the other 20Wenough for a reasonably fast charge. Its a great compact choice for homes with a couple of devices in need of a power boost. 4. Casetify 33W Fast Charger Pros Small Two ports International plug heads Price When Reviewed: $42 Best Prices Today: $42 at Casetify A cuter option as an iPhone gift is the Casetify 33W Fast Charger , available in a fetching pink and blue combination. It features a USB-C port for fast charging and an old-school USB-A port for older charging cables. Take it on your travels as it has interchangeable prongs for U.S., U.K., and E.U power sockets. iPhone Gift Guide: MagSafe chargers While charging using a USB-C cable (USB-C to Lightning for older iPhones, and USB-C to USB-C for the iPhone 15 family) from your charger is the fastest way to charge an iPhone, more convenient is wireless charging. Since the iPhone 12, wireless charging has become more efficient and therefore faster with Apples MagSafe technology that magnetically clamps the iPhone more securely to the wireless charger. You can buy a simple USB-C to MagSafe charging pad, like Apples $39/39 MagSafe Charger or a third-party alternative, or a multi-device charger that includes a MagSafe charger for iPhone plus a charger for AirPods or Apple Watch. For more details and options, read our Best Picks roundup of the best MagSafe wireless chargers . 1. Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand Superb travel or desk-bound wireless MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging Fast 15W for iPhone Folds for travel Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Satechi We love that once static MagSafe chargers are now folding up into highly portable devices, and thats certainly true of the Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Charging Stand . It uses Qi2 magnetic wireless charging tech so can power an attached iPhone at 15W. The 5W Apple Watch Charger is all set for Watch fast charging, and you can place your AirPods case at he front for three-at-a-time charging. 2. Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe 3-in-1 wireless MagSafe charger Pros 3-in-1 charging 15W (MagSafe) Fast charge Watch Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Apple $149.99 at Twelve South If the person you are buying for owns an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, then a 3-in-1 charging station will tidy a desk or bedside table of cable clutter and keep everything nicely in place. The Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe is the best of the static desk chargers, with a small footprint, certified fast iPhone and Watch charging plus a Qi charger for AirPods. The MagSafe charging pad is adjustable unlike most of its rivals. Read our full Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe review 3. Anker PowerWave Magnetic 2-in-1 Stand Simple and affordable 2-in-1 wireless charger Pros Charges iPhone and AirPods Adjustable charging pad Price When Reviewed: $39.99 Best Prices Today: $43.99 at Amazon This is a great budget option for a stand that will charge both your iPhone and AirPods. At 7.5W, Ankers stand is not quite as fast at charging as the 15W models reviewed above, but it will be fast enough for most of us. If speed is your only priority, charge using a cable! Like those pricier charger options, this charger features an adjustable charging pad, so can be angled to your own requirements. 4. Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger Super-compact iPhone & Watch charger Pros Charges Watch and iPhone (swap Watch for AirPods) 15W Qi2 for iPhone Compact and portable Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Amazon $99.99 at Twelve South The ButterFly charger from Twelve South is a beautiful piece of design and works exactly as it should. You can charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time, or switch the iPhone for your AirPods case if that is your greater need. Its a great travel charging companion that easily slips into a pocket. Theres the original metal MagSafe ButterFly model or the more affordable ButterFly SE that uses Qi2 but matches MagSafe for 15W iPhone charging speed. The ButterFly comes in five different color options, two exclusive to Twelve South . Read our full Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger review 5. Native Union Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger Super-compact iPhone & Watch charger Pros Charges Watch and iPhone (swap Watch for AirPods) 15W Qi2 for iPhone Compact and portable Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Native Union A similar option to the ButterFly is Native Unions cool and compact Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch. It comes with a color-matching USB-C cable and pouch to protect the charger when you travel with it. iPhone Gift Guide: Lightning and USB-C cables If you thought that chargers might be a boring gift, I hope weve persuaded you otherwise. But how would you feel unwrapping a charging cable? Me? Id be delighted as you cant own enough charging cables, can you? They are always handy. Sure, its not a pony or a new TV but its easier to wrap. Older iPhones will need a USB-C to Lightning cable; check out our roundup of the best Lightning cables . Pair one of these with a USB-C charger, see above, for the fastest charging. An older USB-A to Lightning cable doesnt support iPhone fast charging. The iPhone 15 and 16 families now has a USB-C rather than Lightning port so you can use the same cable as you have for your MacBook. We have tested the best USB-C cables for iPhones and can recommend these as great little gifts. 1. Casetify PowerThru USB-C to USB-C Cable Fun USB-C cable Pros Color options Robust braided design with rounded head Price When Reviewed: From $28 Best Prices Today: $24 at Amazon $28 at Casetify No wrapping paper is going to look as good as this gift when unwrapped. Its cute, its tough, and it is available in a range of super colors. The PowerThru by Casetify can charge up to 60W, which is more than enough for iPhone charging so could also be used for your USB-C iPad or MacBook. 2. Baseus Free2Draw Mini Retractable USB-C Cable 100W neat USB-C cable Pros Tidily retractable Takes up little space No knots Price When Reviewed: $21.99 Best Prices Today: $13.99 at Amazon $21.99 at Baseus Cables are by definition awkward things to carry around. They get tied up in knots all by themselves, are a unsightly nuisance, and are tricky to store. This thin 3.3-foot (1m) or 5.5ft (2m) USB-C cable is retractable so will slip into a drawer or pocket without dangling around getting in the way. You can buy it in black, white, purple or blue and is rated to support 100W so it can be used to charge your MacBook, too. An affordable alternative is the Cable Matters Short Retractable USB C Cable available in a two-pack. Its 60W rating is more than enough for an iPhone or iPad (but not a newer MacBook Pro). 3. Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable Colorful USB-C cables Pros Color options Tough but flexible silicone Price When Reviewed: $19.99 Best Prices Today: $14.22 at Walmart $15.99 at Amazon $15.99 at Walmart Electronics Another range of colorful USB-C cables is available from Anker . These are also tough and ready to charge anything from an iPhone 15 to a MacBook Pro. iPhone Gift Guide: Stocking stuffers Aside from the gift ideas listed above, there are some great stocking stuffers available for smaller budgetsand products we couldnt squeeze into any of the groups above. 1. MOFT Snap Phone Tripod Wallet MOVAS Brilliant foldable iPhone stand Pros Flexible iPhone stand Folds away to tiny form Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon $49.99 at MOFT How often do you carry a tripod around with you in case you need to take a group shot or selfie from a distance further than your arm? Or you simply want to flip your phone into a more comfortable viewing position? Inspired by origami, the Moft Snap Wallet Tripod could be several solutions you are looking for. It folds up into a credit-card-sized device thats just 0.36 inches thick and weighs 4.7oz, so you hardly notice in your pocket even though unfolded it can raise your iPhone by up to 8 inches. Its clever and youll be surprised just how useful it can be. It uses Apples MagSafe tech to firmly grasp the iPhone, and then its up to you to decide which of the three shapesfloating, stand or vloggingyou want to fold it into. Plus you can store two credit or travel cards in it even when its connected to you phone. 2. inChargeXS 4-in-1 Keyring Charger Never be without the right cable again Pros USB-C, USB-A and Lightning cables Device to device charging Price When Reviewed: $29.90 Best Prices Today: $29.90 at Rolling Square Despite the increasing ubiquity of USB-C as the cable connector for all devices, you are sure to have a Lightning device among your Apple goodiessay your AirPods case or Magic Mouseor something that requires the older rectangular USB-A. The keyring-sized inCharge XS includes swappable connectors that will solve all your charging challenges. It can handle USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, plus USB-C to Lightning and USB-A to Lightning options. It supports charging up to 240W so can be used for your laptop, and will also handle data transfers. It also includes a clever proprietary chip that allows for charging laptops, tablets, and Bluetooth speakers using a USB-C device as a power source when you are away from a power socket, so you could take power from one device to another. A tied protective cap keeps the cables protected when not is use. 3. Elevation Lab GoStand Adjustable Stand for iPhone Pros Multiple angles Foldable Price When Reviewed: $19.95 Best Prices Today: $19.95 at Apple You could you this nifty stand for anythingvideo watching, gaming, travel and video calls to name a few activities enhanced by a phone standbut Apple would like you to take it with your yoga mat to ensure you are hands-free when exercising to its Fitness+ service. The GoStand is built with a composite and silicone construction and steel hinge and features precision indexable back support adjusts with a low-profile button. 4. Pureport Multi-Tool Phone Cleaning Kit Pros Cleans fluff from iPhone charging port Cleans cable connectors Price When Reviewed: $24.99 Best Prices Today: $24.99 at Amazon If your iPhone stops charging via its cable, its understandable to think its old and broken and youll have to rely on wireless charging or just buy a new one. What is more likely the reason that your wired charging isnt working is a dirty charging port or duff cable (see above). Stick your iPhone in your pocket and it inevitably attracts dust, fluff, and lint. Clear out the port (very gently!) and cable-based wired charging should return. This iPhone cleaning kit has more than you need to keep your iPhone and cables clean, and is available for iPhones with Lightning ports (any iPhone before the 15) and for iPhones (from 15) and iPads with a USB-C port . Quick tip : if you need to clear out the accumulated fluff from your iPhones port you can use a small wooden cocktail stick with utmost gentleness. But a cocktail stick does not make much of a gift, does it? And this cleaning kit offers a whole lot more. 5. Belkin AirPods Cleaning Kit Pros Removes dirt and earwax Price When Reviewed: $14.99 Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Amazon $10.49 at B&H $14.99 at Belkin Belkins AirPods Cleaning Kit is a safer way to clean your AirPods than soap and a cotton bud. Theres no nice way of saying it but AirPods can get messythat is yellow and waxy after spending time in your ears for a few hours. Follow the gentle cleaning process to safely remove dirt and earwax from your AirPods. 6. Apple AirTag Bluetooth tracker Pros Easy to set up and track with Find My. Replaceable battery Price When Reviewed: $29 Best Prices Today: $25.99 at B&H $27 at Walmart $29 at Apple Apples AirTag is a great Bluetooth tracker that is easy to use and syncs wonderfully with the iPhones Find My app. You can buy just one or a pack of four . You can add it to a keyring or other accessory: check our Best AirTag Accessories roundup, so there are lots more gift ideas there too. If you want a tracker for your wallet or something that requires a flatter tracker, we like the Chipolo Card Spot . Read our full Apple AirTag review 7. Joby GorillaPod 1K GripTight Mount PRO Kit Pros Keeps iPhone stable for photos and videos Hold it or wrap it Price When Reviewed: $59.95 Best Prices Today: $59.95 at Amazon As good as image stabilization gets, you cant beat resting your camera in a stable place for taking the best photos and videos. The GorillaPod phone tripods articulated legs wrap around to bars, rails, branches and many static objects. It rotates to portrait or landscape for photos or vertical video and with 90 of rotation and 150 of tilt. Alternatives include the more traditional $50 IK Multimedia iKlip Grip Pro Smartphone Stand tripod, which includes an integrated/detachable Bluetooth shutter controller. 8. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Bluetooth speaker with great sound and cool looks Pros Powerful, well-rounded sound Outdoor and Podcast modes IP67 dust and waterproof Long battery life Color options Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at Amazon $79.99 at Lenovo USA $99.99 at B&H The Wonderboom 4 is an excellent budget-friendly speaker thats extremely portable, easy to use, fully waterproof (it even floats!), sounds great and lasts a long time. That might be enough for most people but it is also built with eco-friendly materials, which is always welcome in our book. iPhone Gift Guide: Tech organizer bags Where do you keep all these accessories when not in use? Over at sister site Tech Advisor, we have tested the best tech organizer bags and there should be one thats a perfect gift, whether as a desk tidy or for travels. 1. Tripped Tech Traveler Pros Multiple compartments Color choices Price When Reviewed: $44.95 Best Prices Today: $39.95 at Amazon $55.99 at Walmart Electronics Available in a range of colors, the Tripped Tech Traveller is a premium, medium-sized tech bag thats as happy next to your desk or in your tent as it is in your suitcase or backpack. It boasts multiple compartments and is tough enough for travelmade from tough 900D Polyester with weatherproof YKK zippers, soft protective padding, and a leather handle and zipper pulls. There are two internal pockets (one mesh so you can see whats inside) for extra security for your most valuable kit, such as SD cards or a mini SSD. One external side pocket is big enough for your phone or whatever else you need fast access to. In the center, there are nine different-sized, divided, tight pockets for cables and small devices. 2. Bellroy Tech Kit Pros Color choices Tough shell Price When Reviewed: $59 Best Prices Today: $59 at Amazon $89.58 at Walmart $150 at Bloomingdales We also love this Bellroy tech case that is very well organized and will open flat so you can easily see all your cables and gadgets at a glance. If you know a friend who carries a lot of gear with their iPhone, theres no better gift.

PSA: Update your Mac right now to patch this actively exploited zero-day flaw

Macworld Ahead of the eagerly anticipated macOS 15.2 update , Apple on Tuesday released the macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 emergency update to patch a pair of scary vulnerabilities that have already been used in remote attacks. The two patches fix flaws in JavaScript and WebKit, and were both discovered by Googles Threat Analysis Group. Apple says both vulnerabilities may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. Apple doesnt specifically say whether Apple silicon Macs are affected, but the same flaws were patched in iOS 18.1.1. JavaScriptCore Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks. WebKit Bugzilla: 283063 CVE-2024-44308: Clment Lecigne and Benot Sevens of Googles Threat Analysis Group WebKit Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to a cross site scripting attack. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. Description: A cookie management issue was addressed with improved state management. WebKit Bugzilla: 283095 CVE-2024-44309: Clment Lecigne and Benot Sevens of Googles Threat Analysis Group While the update is available for all Macs running macOS 15.1, there is no release for Macs running macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or Ventura 13.7.1. Apple will likely patch the same vulnerabilities in those systems when macOS 15.2 arrives in December. To update your Mac, head over to System Settings, then General , Software Update , and select Update Now . Then follow the prompts to restart.

Download iOS 18.1.1 right now to fix these two critical security flaws

Macworld There are some iOS updates you can wait on, and there are some you should absolutely grab right away. This is one of the latter. Theres not much in the iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 update other than a pair of critical security vulnerabilities . But these are important updates to the JavaScript Core framework and WebKit that have been actively exploited already (on Intel-based Macs), according to Apple. The JavaScript vulnerability allows malicious web content to potentially execute arbitrary code, which is very bad. The WebKit flaw opens it up to cross-site scripting attacks. The Apple security page says that it is aware of both of them being used on Intel-based Macs, though that doesnt mean they only affect Intel-based Macs. If you want to trust in the security of your devices, update your iPhones and iPads right now. How to update to iOS 18.1.1 or iPadOS 18.1.1 To update your device, follow these steps when connected to Wi-Fi: Open Settings Tap General Tap Software Update Tap Update Now and follow the on-screen instructions.

CASETiFY brings iPhone case tech to carry on luggage

CASETiFY recently announced that its bringing its protective case technology to carry-on luggage. Soon, travelers will have yet another suitcase option, as the accessory maker The post CASETiFY brings iPhone case tech to carry on luggage appeared first on BGR .

The cheapest M4 MacBook Pro just dropped another $200 ahead of Black Friday

Macworld Are you ready for one of the best Black Friday deals youre going to see on this years MacBook Pro laptops? Because you can get the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro for $1,400 right now , a solid $200 discount from its MSRP and the best price weve ever seen. Just note, youll need to check the coupon box in the listing to get the full savings. The MacBook Pro is one we deemed to be marvelous, giving the laptop a near-perfect score in our review . Our editor praised the laptops display, the high-quality camera thats perfect for all the video meetings you have to attend, and the fact that the laptop comes with 16GB of memory instead of 8GB, a $200 value based on Apples upgrade pricing. The M4 chip ensures your laptop is ready to tackle any job you want to perform. Youll be fast, too. Our tests pointed to a 23 percent speed boost over the M3 and a whopping 80 percent faster than the M1. Plus it was built to withstand a whole day of work without needing a charger. It was also created to cater to Apple Intelligence and its varying tasks, like helping you write assignments, organize files, or simply search online for things youre interested in. Dont miss out on this amazing early Black Friday deal for the M4 MacBook Pro for $200 off. Get the super speedy M4 MacBook Pro for $1,400. Buy it now at Amazon

The M4 Macs have one flaw that may make you reconsider buying one

Macworld I recently wrote about the M4 Macs compelling lineup and its a great time to buy a Mac. However, one type of user will want to hold off on a purchase. According to Howard Oakley of The Eclectic Light Company , the new M4 Macs will not allow virtual machine software to run properly. Users who want to run macOS versions older than Ventura 13.4 through virtualization will find that the virtual machine will not boot and users end up with a blank screen. Since the virtual machine (VM) wont boot at all, theres no way to access the log to see what could be the problem. Oakley reports that Activity Monitor shows that with the VM, only one CPU core is active even though multiple cores are allocated. This could mean that the issue happens before the VM kernel boots the other cores, an event that occurs early during the kernel boot phase. Until that point, pre-boot phases and the kernel run on just a single CPU core. This limitation means that VMs on M4 Macs can only run macOS Ventura 13.4 and later. The issue doesnt affect M1, M2, and M3 Macs, which can run VMs with macOS Monterey 12 or later. M-series Macs cannot run VMs of macOS Big Sur 11 or earlier. Oakley has tried running the VM on a single CPU core, but it still did not work on the M4. The issue has been reported to Apple but its unclear if a fix can or will be made available. Oakley suggests that Apple could fix the issue by modifying the kernels of the older versions of macOS, but that seems like a task Apple isnt going to do. So for now, if running older versions of macOS is vital to your workflow, you might want to hold off on a new M4 purchaseor at least keep an older Mac around.

Add storage to your Mac this Black Friday with these Mac SSD & HDD deals

Macworld Whether you have an old Mac or a new one, adding extra storage in the form of an external SSD or hard drive is a great way to speed up your Mac by freeing up space in the internal drive. Its also a good idea to regularly back up your Mac and to do so you need a decent hard drive or SSD to back up to. With Black Friday approaching, now is a great time to look for a great deal on storage for your Mac. Black Friday is November 29 this year, but you dont have to wait until then for the deals. We are already seeing money some of the SSDs and Hard drives we have reviewed and recommend as the best SSDs , best hard drives and best NAS & PCS drives for your Mac. We find that the majority of storage deals are to be found on Amazon , but if you have a specific model in mind, its worth checking other retailers as well, including Best Buy , Newegg , and Walmart in the U.S., as well as Currys , Argos , and John Lewis in the U.K. Below you can see our top picks of the best storage deals for Black Friday 2024. Well be updating this page imminently, as the discounts start to come in and as Apple announces it own Black Friday 2024 sale . Want to save money on Apple products? Check out of our round-up of the best Apple deals for Black Friday . Black Friday 2023: Best SSD and hard drive deals in the U.S. Amazon, Kingston XS1000 2TB SSD , $120 ($20 off, MSRP $140) REVIEW Amazon, SanDisk Professional 1TB PRO-G40 SSD , $170 ($130 off, MSRP $300) REVIEW Amazon, SanDisk Professional PRO-BLADE Transport & 1TB SSD , $159.99 ($81 off, MSRP $240) REVIEW Amazon, SanDisk 1TB Portable SSD , $82 ($17 off, MSRP $100) REVIEW Amazon, SanDisk Portable SSD, 2TB : $110 ($40 off, MSRP $150) REVIEW B&H, SanDisk Desk Drive: $260 ($160 off, MSRP $419.99) REVIEW B&H, Seagate 500GB One Touch : $65 ($30 off, MSRP $94.99) REVIEW Amazon, LaCie Rugged SSD Pro, 4TB , $299.99 ($20 off, MSRP $319) REVIEW Amazon, LaCie Rugged Mini external Hard Drive, 1TB , $79 ($6 off, MSRP $85) REVIEW Amazon, Western Digital 2TB My Passport SSD , $150 ($50 off, MSRP $200) REVIEW Amazon, Western Digital Black P40 SSD, 1TB : $100 ($40 off, MSRP $140) Amazon, Samsung T7 Shield, 2TB SSD , $169 ($116 off, MSRP $285) REVIEW Amazon, Samsung T7 Shield, 4TB SSD , $291 ($208 off, MSRP $499.99) REVIEW Amazon, Samsung T9 Portable SSD, 2TB : $170 ($130 off, MSRP $300) For the best memory and storage deals on Amazon right now go to Amazons Memory & Storage section where you will find deals on external hard drives , SSDs , and Network Attached Storage . Black Friday 2023: Best SSD and hard drive deals in the U.K. Amazon, Kingston XS1000 2TB SSD , 60.99 (15 off, MSRP 75.99) REVIEW Amazon, SanDisk Professional 1TB PRO-G40 SSD , 243 (16 off, RRP 259.99) REVIEW SanDisk, SanDisk Portable 2TB SSD , 105.99 (31 off, RRP 136.99) REVIEW Amazon, LaCie Portable SSD, 1TB, External SSD , 117.36 (60 off, RRP 177.60) REVIEW Amazon, LaCie Rugged SSD Pro, 4TB , 507.59 (429 off, RRP 999) REVIEW Amazon, LaCie Rugged Mini SSD, 2TB , 224 (215 off, RRP 439.99) REVIEW Amazon, LaCie Rugged Mini USB-C, 2TB, Hard Drive: 76.99 (14 off, RRP 91.87) Amazon, LaCie Portable SSD, 500GB : 74 (35 off, RRP 109.36) Amazon, Samsung T7 Shield, 4TB SSD , 239.99 (55 off, RRP 294.99) REVIEW Amazon, Seagate Ultra Touch HDD, 4TB, External HDD , 110.99 (44 off, RRP 154.99) Amazon, WD 4TB My Passport SSD , 289 (5 off, RRP 294.99) REVIEW Amazon, WD 5TB My Passport for Mac Portable Hard Drive : 111.99 (33 off, RRP 144.99) Amazon, WD 18TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive : 347 (106 off, 453.99) For the best memory and storage deals on Amazon right now go to Amazons Memory & Storage section where you will find deals on external storage , SSDs , and Network Attached Storage . Which resellers have Black Friday deals? Look out for the best deals over the Black Friday week, but many resellers are already offering Black Friday discounts. U.S. Adorama is advertising Holiday Deals. Amazon has Holiday Deals. Best Buys Black Friday sale has started. B&H Photo has a Holiday Head Start sale. Walmarts Black Friday deals have already started. U.K. KRCS has already reduced Mac prices by 10%. AO.com has various Black Friday savings. Laptops Directs Black Friday sale has started. eBuyer has a Black Friday Early Access Sale with up to 45% off. Very s Black Friday sales is underway. John Lewis is running Black Friday deals. Currys has up to 40% off for Black Friday. Argos has a price promise that the prices wont go any lower for Black Friday. Amazons Black Friday week starts on 17 November. Amazon Lightning Deals Check out these time-limited tech deals before they go. (Prices subject to change.) Targus USB C Universal Docking Station w $303.23 ( 37% off, was $482.99 ) Kensington Single Monitor Desk Mount $38.06 ( 33% off, was $56.99 ) Monster Boomerang Neckband Bluetooth Spe $59.99 ( 33% off, was $89.99 ) Norton 360 Platinum 2024 $39.99 ( 69% off, was $129.99 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.95 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT Wireless Gam $91.00 ( 43% off, was $159.99 ) BOSCH GPB18V-5CN 18V Jobsite Radio with $150.54 ( 34% off, was $229.00 ) Introducing Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam | S $49.99 ( 37% off, was $79.99 ) SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $897.99 ( 40% off, was $1497.99 ) SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $1797.99 ( 45% off, was $3297.99 ) Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4 $299.99 ( 40% off, was $499.99 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U7 Series ULED 4K $1798.00 ( 40% off, was $2997.95 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LE $2997.99 ( 40% off, was $4997.99 ) SAMSUNG 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $2297.99 ( 52% off, was $4797.99 ) SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $997.99 ( 37% off, was $1597.99 ) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S85D Serie $1297.99 ( 38% off, was $2097.99 ) SAMSUNG 98-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80C Serie $3997.99 ( 50% off, was $7997.99 ) Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) + Battery Exte $49.99 ( 58% off, was $119.99 ) All New, Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 46% off, was $27.99 ) Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 40% off, was $24.99 ) Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals Apple Black Friday 2024 sale Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 MacBook deals Best Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals

Need a new MacBook? You can already save hundreds on an M4 before Black Friday

Macworld The big day is nearly here: Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year and if you are looking for a deal on a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro you have come to the right place. We check all the best resellers in the U.S. and the U.K. all year long, so we always have our fingers on the pulse of the best deals which means we know exactly what are the best MacBook deals . In this article, you will also find shopping tips to help you get the best deals available on Black Friday (November 29, 2024) and Cyber Monday (December 2, 2024). Below well are sharing what we think are the very best MacBook deals right now. Well be updating this page frequently, as we spot more discounts and as Apple announces its own Black Friday 2024 sale . Want to buy an iMac, Mac mini or Mac Studio? Check out our round-up of the Best Black Friday Mac deals . If you are looking for discounts on other Apple gadgets we have gathered all the best Apple deals for Black Friday . MacBook deals for Black Friday 2024: Our advice There are a few things to consider before you make a purchase. Apple released the new MacBook Pros in late October 2024. The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models bring new M4 chips, but they also offer more RAM than the previous generation. This means that when considering deals on older M3 Macs it is important to account for the fact that there is less RAM in those models. This doesnt only apply to the MacBook Pro. When the M4 MacBook Pro was introduced, Apple also doubled the RAM in the M3 MacBook Air from 8GB to 16GB as standard, effectively a $200 price cut. So it is important to pay attention to how much RAM is included in an M3 MacBook Air, or you might not be getting the bargain you think you are. Best MacBook Air deals for Black Friday 2024 U.S. Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM) : $799 ($200 off with coupon, MSRP $999) Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM) : $899 ($200 off with coupon, MSRP $1,099) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM) : $1,099 ($200 off with coupon, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB RAM) : $1,299 ($200 off with coupon, MSRP $1,499) U.K. AO, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB) 1,199 (100 off, RRP 1,299, was 1,499) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB) 1,366 (100 off, RRP 1,499, was 1,699) Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB) 949 (150 off, Was 1,099) Best MacBook Pro deals for Black Friday 2024 U.S. Amazon, M4, 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/16GB RAM : $1,399 ($200 off with coupon, MSRP $1,599) Amazon, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM: $1,599 ($200 off with coupon, MSRP $1,799) Amazon, M4 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM : $2,299 ($200 off, MSRP $2,499) Best Buy, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/8GB RAM : $1,199 ($400 off, Was $1,599 Clearance ) B&H, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $1,699 ($300 off, Was $1,999 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/18GB RAM : $2,099 ($300 off, Was $2,399 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $1,999 ($500 off, Was $2,499 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/36GB RAM : $2,399 ($500 off, Was $2,899 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/48GB RAM : $3,399 ($600 off, Was $3,999 Clearance ) U.K. KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/16GB RAM, 1,519.05 (78 off, RRP 1,599) KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM, 1,709.05 (90 off, RRP 1,799) KRCS, M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/48GB RAM, 2,754.05 (144 off, RRP 2,899) Amazon, M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM, 2,279.97 (220 off, RRP 2,499) John Lewis, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/8GB RAM : 1,695 (204 off, Was 1,899 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : 1,749 (350 off, Was 2,099 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $2,199 (400 off, Was 2,599 Clearance ) Foundry What is Apples Black Friday sale in 2024? We dont yet know the specifics of Apples Black Friday deal , but based on previous years we expect that Apple will give away gift cards with purchases of certain products. In 2023 you could get gift cards for the following amounts with the following Mac purchases made on Apples U.S. site or Apples U.K. site : Product 2023 2024 15-inch MacBookAir with M2chip $200 160 13-inch MacBookAir with M2chip $175 140 13-inch MacBookAir with M1chip $150 120 Mac mini $100 80 Black Friday shopping tips We tend to find that the biggest savings are on older models, but be aware that these arent always the best value for money. Check the generation of the model that is discounted to make sure you know exactly what you are buying and what its really worth. Weve seen resellers switch to selling refurbished or used when the stock of brand-new models run out, so check that the model discounted isnt actually a used Mac and therefore not as good a deal as it might look. Thats not to say you should avoid refurb models you just need to make sure that you arent buying refurb without knowing. Mac deals arent limited to Black Friday. We see good deals all year round, so dont feel pressured into buying during Black Friday. Where to get Black Friday Mac deals Many resellers offer Black Friday discounts. U.S. Adorama has 14 days of deals. Amazon runs a Black Friday Week starting 21 November, it also has Early Deals. Best Buys Black Friday sale has started. B&H Photo has a Holiday Head Start sale. Walmarts Black Friday deals have already started. U.K. KRCS has already reduced Mac prices by 10%. AO.com has various Black Friday savings. Laptops Directs Black Friday sale has started. eBuyer has a Black Friday Early Access Sale with up to 45% off. Very s Black Friday sales is underway. John Lewis is running Black Friday deals. Currys has up to 40% off for Black Friday. Argos has a price promise that the prices wont go any lower for Black Friday. Amazons Black Friday week starts on 21 November. Amazon Lightning Deals Check out these time-limited tech deals before they go. (Prices subject to change.) Targus USB C Universal Docking Station w $303.23 ( 37% off, was $482.99 ) Kensington Single Monitor Desk Mount $38.06 ( 33% off, was $56.99 ) Monster Boomerang Neckband Bluetooth Spe $59.99 ( 33% off, was $89.99 ) Norton 360 Platinum 2024 $39.99 ( 69% off, was $129.99 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.95 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT Wireless Gam $91.00 ( 43% off, was $159.99 ) BOSCH GPB18V-5CN 18V Jobsite Radio with $150.54 ( 34% off, was $229.00 ) Introducing Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam | S $49.99 ( 37% off, was $79.99 ) SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $897.99 ( 40% off, was $1497.99 ) SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $1797.99 ( 45% off, was $3297.99 ) Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4 $299.99 ( 40% off, was $499.99 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U7 Series ULED 4K $1798.00 ( 40% off, was $2997.95 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LE $2997.99 ( 40% off, was $4997.99 ) SAMSUNG 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $2297.99 ( 52% off, was $4797.99 ) SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $997.99 ( 37% off, was $1597.99 ) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S85D Serie $1297.99 ( 38% off, was $2097.99 ) SAMSUNG 98-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80C Serie $3997.99 ( 50% off, was $7997.99 ) Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) + Battery Exte $49.99 ( 58% off, was $119.99 ) All New, Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 46% off, was $27.99 ) Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 40% off, was $24.99 ) Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Apple Black Friday 2024 sale Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals

A new AirTag is coming next year with enhanced privacy, security features

Macworld It looks like the long wait for a new AirTag is almost over. After sparse and tentative rumors earlier this year that Apple was working on a 2nd-gen model, a new report indicates that the project has made firm progress and is on track for a launch in mid-2025. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman writes that Apple has been running manufacturing tests on the device (codenamed B589) and that thanks to progress in these tests, Apple is getting ready to bring it to market. The likely release timeframe remains midway through 2025, which will be roughly four years after the launch of the original AirTag. In May we were told only that the AirTag 2 would feature a better chip with improved location tracking, but Gurman is now prepared to disclose a little more about what Apple has in store. Aside from better range and a bolstered onboard wireless chip the new device will, he claims, offer improved privacy, as Apple wrestles with one of the most controversial issues with the first product. Gurman doesnt mention a design changeor the addition of a much-needed keyring holeso expect the new AirTag to be virtually indistinguishable from the old one. To a minority of unethical customers, the AirTags attraction is that it can be used for stalking, and there have been numerous high-profile incidents where people have discovered strange AirTags in their cars or personal effects. The company addressed the issue with software updates to warn people who find themselves accompanied by an unknown AirTag, but this can to an extent be neutered by removing the devices speaker. So the speaker on the AirTag 2 will be harder to remove. The AirTag is a fascinating product with bags of potential and a troubling flaw, so we look forward to hearing more about the 2nd-gen version. I remain unconvinced that its possible to thwart stalking without also thwarting the devices function as an anti-theft measure, since the two situations are functionally identical, even if they are ethically different. But perhaps Apple will change my mind next yearespecially if theyve been reading my list of ways to improve the AirTag .

Save a bundle on great iPhone accessories this Black Friday!

Macworld Buying for the Apple fan who has everything Were entering 2024s holiday shopping season, which runs from Black Friday until Christmas. This means two things: great prices on superb tech products, and lots of difficult buying decisions. Its hard enough knowing what to buy for yourself, but how do you choose gifts for your friends and loved ones? In this article, we offer our advice on great gifts to buy for the Apple fans in your life. What you shouldnt buy First things first. Should you buy them an Apple device? If youre very rich, and absolutely confident that you know exactly the right configuration and model to get, then maybe. But in general, Apple fans plan their major purchases a long time in advance, and will know best which product to buy and when. How about an accessory for a device your loved one already owns? A case, stand, charging dock, or battery pack will cost far less than an entirely new device, and is therefore less of a commitment, and less of a risk. High-quality accessories are a great way to super-power iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and AirPods, enabling your loved one to get more out of the products theyve spent a big chunk of money on. And best of all, you dont need to worry about picking the correct storage capacity or configuration. What you should buy Okay, so a premium accessory for your loved ones favorite Apple product is the right general choice. But what specifically should we buy? The first step is to make sure you buy from a reputable manufacturer with a track record in the industry. The second is to check that youre getting high-quality products at a sensible price, so online reviews will be an important resource. The choice of vendor is up to you, but one option worth considering is ESR , a leading mobile accessories brand. The company has been in the industry for 15 years, amassing more than 100 million users and a huge number of positive reviewsand no wonder, bearing in mind the wide range of quality products it sells at reasonable prices. Take the 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with Qi2 and CryoBoost, for example. This attractive and versatile accessory can wirelessly charge your loved ones iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods case at the same time, and does so at market-leading speeds thanks to the companys proprietary cooling technology. This is currently 22% off, only $69.99 from Amazon . And you can get an extra 10% off with the code ESRFDL99 ! ESR Or the Qi2 MagSafe Battery Pack with Kickstand , a sleek and slim iPhone power bank featuring an integrated kickstand for portrait and landscape viewing: the perfect way to upgrade iPhone battery life while boosting its capabilities for TV or movie watching, and for FaceTiming friends and family (including you, the gift giver!). With ultraportability, fast charging speed and a stunning slimline profile, this is only $35.99 from Amazon . Or pay slightly more for the 10,000mAh option thats now 25% off, costing just $37.49 from Amazon . If your loved one drives, perhaps the MagSafe Car Charger with Qi2 and CryoBoost (41% off and only $31.49 from Amazon ; you can get extra 10% off with the code ESRCZQI2 ) is the right choice. The devices 18 powerful N52 magnets maintain a secure contact even on rough roads, and it can fully charge an iPhone 16 Pro in an astonishing 1 hour and 8 minutes, even when using GPS, thanks to the CryoBoost cooling technology. Thats a solid 10% better than rival Qi2 chargers. What about ESRs Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand ? Engineered to survive drops from up to 11 feet, this smart case is nevertheless amazingly slim and light, adding just 1.6mm to the thickness of your loved ones iPhone. The clever design means you can keep on using MagSafe accessories while using the stand, and charging speeds are exceptional. A bargain at $23.99 from Amazon . Or to look after your phones display, consider the Armorite Screen Protector ( $15.29 from Amazon ). You can save an extra 10% on all iPhone 16 cases and screen protectors until December 25 by using the code ESRiPhone16 . This is just the tip of the iceberg of ESRs amazing range of Apple accessories, boasting premium design, market-leading charging speeds, useful cooling features, and low prices. For protection, consider the FlickLock Case ( $18.99 from Amazon ) for the latest AirPods. For all-round utility, the Aura Wallet Stand (HaloLock) ( $39.99 from Amazon ) is a terrific choice, combining a securely held magnetic five-card wallet with a strong and useful hinge stand that lets you position the iPhone in portrait or landscape at any angle between 15 and 160. And for the iPad owner in your life, what about the Shift Magnetic Case ( $49.99 from Amazon )? With six unique use modes and highly adjustable viewing angles, its the ultimate versatile upgrade for an Apple tablet. The choice, in the end, is yours. But no matter how demanding the Apple fan in your life may be, ESR has something that theyll love. Good luck!

Dear Oura: Challenge Apple at your own risk

Macworld A big tech company, assuming its managers are sensible, is always looking for new places to make money. Smartphones and laptops might be paying the bills right now, but that wont remain the case forever. Like sharks, tech giants must keep moving, or perish. And these movements can be alarming for the smaller fish. If youre a plucky young startup with a lightly profitable niche in some technological backwater, rumors of a big launch must be as terrifying in their way as the sight of a Viking longship for a 9th-century French peasant. Why, you wail to yourself, cant they just leave us alone? The most famous proponent of the Viking maneuveralthough the company would probably prefer the term Pirateis Apple. In a recent interview , Tim Cook reminded us of Cupertinos mantra: Not first, but best. Let someone else start the ball rolling, then rock up later with a better product and grab all the revenue. Considering it propelled Apple all the way to the first-ever three-trillion-dollar valuation, it must be a reasonably good strategy. Nobody is entirely safe from Apples depredations. The auto giants, as improbable as it now seems, spent years fearing for their livelihoods and trying to decide if it was better to oppose Project Titan or join it. But if you want to know whos most urgently scanning the horizon for black sails right now, its the makers of smart rings. With good reason: As Ive written elsewhere, a smart ring would fit neatly into Apples product ecosystem. Small but with bags of potential, its a market ripe for Apple to take an interest. But not everyone agrees. Tom Hale, CEO of the wearables specialist Oura, has come out with the bold prediction that Apple wont make a smart ring. Cupertino, he reckons, probably isnt convinced that there is value in having both a ring and a watch. Besides, he notes in a parting burn, Its hard to do this product category right. Ouch. This probably strikes Mr Hale as excellent banter, and its arguably good PR too: The remarks, after all, have earned the smaller company plenty of headlines. But he might come to regret it all the same. He wouldnt be the first incumbent to mock Apples chances of entering their market and end up with egg on his face. Nobody took the iPod seriously. And before the iPhone came out, bosses at Microsoft and Palm laughed at its prospects, citing the lack of a keyboard and Apples lack of experience in the space respectively. Such a poorly made longship! Those Vikings probably wont manage to burn down any houses at all. Ah! Well. Nevertheless The lesson from this isnt that Apple always succeeds (it doesnt). Its that Apple is more adaptable than you might think. At the start of the century, it was a Mac company with no obvious expertise with smaller electronics. But it learned and hired and researched and made itself into a music player and later smartphone company by sheer force of will. Nobody spends more than Apple on R&D for projects that may never come to fruition. No company is more committed to evolving into new areas. And if Tom Hale or anyone else thinks Apple hasnt had a team working on smart rings for years, theyre out of their minds. 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 Thank you for your mini MacBook article, writes John W in response to last weeks Apple Breakfast . While I love the size of the 11-inch iPad, I really want macOS, not iOS, so an 11-inch MacBook does have some appeal to me. The issue (and you are 100% right on this call) is the shrunken keyboard! If they ever make a folding-screen 11-inch MacBook, I just might pop for that. For now, Im keeping my 27-inch iMac and iPhone Max, but an 11-inch portable device is very appealing! Trending: Top stories For the first time ever, you dont need to be afraid to buy a new Mac . Apple Vision Pro needs something bigger than a software update . Halyna Kubiv explains why the iPhone 17 will succeed where the iPhone 16 failed . Apple is doomed because no one wants to wait for anything , says the Macalope. If youre upset about the M4 Mac mini , youre just using it wrong . M4 Mac mini teardown shows future upgradability in a seriously packed package. The incredible M4 Macs create Apples biggest challenge yet . How much MacBook do you really need? We help you find the right configuration . Apples controversial list of the top 100 albums of all time is now a $450 book . Podcast of the week Apples new M4 Macs started shipping last Friday, and we have the new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro in-house. Why are these some of the more exciting Macs to hit the market? Find out on the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast! You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify , Soundcloud , the Podcasts app , or our own site . The rumor mill Apples next big thing may be a smart iPad you can hang on your wall . Apple ramps up smart glasses project as it looks past Vision Pro . Apple may be gearing up to launch its first smart home camera . Software updates, bugs, and problems Apple accused of misleading consumers over AirPods Pro audio defect. Apple faces 3 billion legal claim over alleged competition law breaches . Carrier gaffe appears to reveal crucial iOS 18.2 launch date . (It should be a fun one. Theres a feature that helps you remember songs based on where you heard them.) Apple quietly added Inactivity Reboot in iOS 18.1 to safeguard a lost or stolen iPhone. Chrome for iOS adds Shopping Insights , enhanced Google Lens, and more. And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters . You can also follow uson Facebook , Threads , or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

Baseus Nomos Qi2 Magnetic Power Bank review: fastest possible iPhone battery charging

Macworld At a glance Pros Built-in USB-C cable 15W wireless or 45W wired charging Cons Less useful for older iPhone users Our Verdict The Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank boasts a high battery capacity, 15W Qi2 wireless charging, and the fastest wired charging weve tested so far on any iPhone power bank. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $81.99 Best Prices Today: Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh Retailer Price $81.99 View Deal Baseus $81.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Capacity: 36Wh (10000mAh) Input charger: USB-C (30W) Output charger: Wireless (15W Qi2) & USB-C (45W) On test charged iPhone to: 170% Weight: 8.2oz (232g) Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.7 x0.8 inches (10.8 x 6.8 x 2cm) Colors: Gray, Black Compatibility: All iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 models Unless you are a work-from-home obsessive or recluse, a power bank for your iPhone is an essential accessory to your mobile life. Since Apple introduced magnetic wireless charging to the iPhone, these power banks have become increasingly convenient while decreasing in size. Apples MagSafe has been available on all iPhones since the iPhone 12, allowing us to magnetically clamp a compatible accessory to the back of the iPhone. Wirelessly charging the iPhone is as simple and efficient as it can get. But its not the fastest way to get power into your phone. If the charger is certified by Apple as MagSafe it should wirelessly charge at 15W. If it is merely MagSafe compatible, charging speed is at a lower 7.5W. The newer Apple-approved Qi2 wireless charging standard is rated at the same 15W as MagSafe. For more information read our MagSafe vs Qi2 comparison . While wireless charging is convenient, charging with a cable is nearly always faster as it is a more efficient method of transferring power. The problem with wired charging is it requires a cable, and these are both messy to carry with you and easy to forget. Check out our roundup of the For a full comparison read our roundup of the best MagSafe and magnetic power banks for iPhone . for more choices. Like a few of the most recent magnetic power banks, the Baseus Nomus Magnetic Power Bank boasts its own built-in USB-C cable so is especially useful for iPhone 15/16 owners whose phones feature a USB-C charging portbut wirelessly it works as well for Lightning-port iPhone 12/13/14 users too. The cable can be used to output power to an iPhone 15 or 16 and connect to any USB-C charger to charge the power bank itself. Simon Jary / Foundry Battery test results The Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank has a high battery capacity of 36Wh or 10000mAh. Slimmer iPhone power banks offer less than half of that capacity but 10K is a sweet spot for lots of top-up power and portability. Our testing process involved running an iPhone down to 5% and then using the power bank to take the phone back to 100 percent. Then we run the phone down again until the power bank runs out of juice to keep the phone charged. The Baseus Nomos power bank took the 5 percent-charged iPhone to 100 percent, and then reached a further 71%meaning the total recharge adds up to a 166% score (95 + 71). Thats not as high as some of the 10K wireless power banks we have tested. The highest any other similar wireless battery pack, the Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank , has reached in our tests is 191 percent. Charging speed While the Baseus Magnetic Power Bank came up a little short in our charging tests, its fast-charging performance blows the opposition away. As it uses Qi2 technology, its wireless charging is rated at 15W, which puts it at the top of the pile in this respect. The Anker Zolo is still pegged back at 7.5W. Anker does have a Qi2 power bankthe svelte Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank but this doesnt feature a built-in cable. For ultimate charging speed you should charge using the power banks built-in USB-C cable that can reach an impressive 45W. That 45W is more useful for some Samsung phones that can suck up that amount of power. Its likely that even the most recent iPhones wont accept much more than 30W during charging. Whatever, its still much faster than even 15W wireless charging. The integrated 5.5-inch cable is a real benefit when it comes to refilling the power bank as it means you dont need to find a spare cable when you need to. Thats useful to all iPhone users, but only the 15/16 iPhones can draw power from the power bank using the built-in cable. To charge older iPhones at the fastest speed, the Nomos features a spare USB-C port that you can use with a USB-C to Lightning charging cable instead of using the built-in cable. That port can or the integrated USB-C cable can input recharge the power bank at 30W. Simon Jary / Foundry Size and design Measuring 4.25 x 2.7 x 0.8 inches (10.8 x 6.8 x 2cm) the Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank is around the same size as the Anker Qi2 MagGo Power Bank that matches it on battery capacity and fast wireless charging. That Anker power bank lacks an integrated USB-C cable, however. Ankers Zolo Magnetic Power Bank is the closest rival in terms of capacity and built-in cable but is pegged back at MagSafe-compatible 7.5W wireless speeds. Like the Zolo the Nomos features a built-in kickstand. It also has a small but useful charging display that shows battery level and input and output power. It weighs a reasonable 8.2oz (232g), which is acceptable. It is available in two smart but hardly exciting colors: black and gray. The integrated USB-C cable neatly folds away into the power bank body. Simon Jary / Foundry Price The Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank (Qi2 45W 10000mAh) is priced at $81.99 and is currently available only in the U.S., either direct or via Amazon. In comparison, the Anker Zolo Magnetic Power Bank is cheaper at just $49.99 but charges wirelessly at 7.5W rather than 15W, and its built-in cable maxes output at 30W. As the iPhone cant be charged at much more than 30W, this isnt a significant difference, and that price point might appeal to you. Verdict With its built-in USB-C cable, fast 15W wireless and faster 45W wired charging speeds, the 10K Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank has just about everything a magnetic power bank can offer at the highest levels.

Best time to buy a Mac: Should you buy a Mac or MacBook now?

Macworld Whether you are updating your old MacBook laptop or planning to buy your first Mac part of the decision of which model to buy should be based on timing. Before you part with your money you should check that the model you are buying isnt about to be upgraded by Apple. There is nothing worse than buying a new MacBook Air only to see Apple update the models a month later. Luckily you are here reading this article so the chance of you making a mistake like that is slim (although you should check the date this article was last updated!) In this article, well tell you the best time to buy a MacBook, when to buy a Mac, at what time of year Apple usually updates its Macs, and whether an update is expected soon. Well also mention if there are any particular configurations to avoid. We will run through each Mac and MacBook Apple currently sells and assess whether now is a good time to buy one based on educated guesses as to when the next one will launch. Sometimes if you wait a month or two you can get more for your money provided Apple keeps its prices the same. Before you make the decision of which Mac to buy you should also check out our Mac buying guide and our MacBook buying guide .We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM and cores in How much MacBook RAM, SSD, GPU and CPU do you really need? If you are reading this around Black Friday, read our advice in our guide to the best Black Friday MacBook deals and the best Mac mini and iMac deals . And if you want to know what other Apple products are discounted read Best Black Friday Apple deals . When will Apple launch new Macs? There are a couple of things that can help when predicting when a new model might land. One is to be aware of when Apple last updated the range. The other is to note when Apple has previously announced updates to that range. Apple updated the MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac at an event in October 2024. We dont anticipate any more Mac updates until spring 2025. take a look at our article about Apple Events and the new products expected from Apple to check that the outlook hasnt changed. Most recent/current launches: 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max October 2024 24-inch iMac, M4 October 2024 Mac mini, M4 and M4 Pro October 2024 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 March 2024 (RAM update in October 2024) Mac Studio, M2 Max and M2 Ultra June 2023 Mac Pro, M2 Ultra June 2023 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 July 2022 (RAM update in October 2024) As for the times when a Mac launch is most likely. In the past, the most likely times to see Mac updates were: WWDC in June for professional Mac models (e.g. Mac Studio and Mac Pro) and October for consumer-focused Macs (e.g. MacBook Air and Mac mini). However, as you will see when you read on, this is not a rule that Apple abides by particularly, nor does Apple always launch new Macs at special events: it often just takes the Apple Store offline for a few hours and then when it returns new Mac models are available as it did in October 2024. It used to be easier to predict when Apple would launch new Macs because updates were often tied to the launch of the next generation of Intel processors. Now that Apple has transitioned from Intel to its own series of processors, it is no longer tied to Intels upgrade cycle. This doesnt necessarily mean that the updates happen more frequently though. We do, however, think that updates for the following Macs are likely to arrive in the next few months. 13- & 15-inch MacBook Air, M4 : Now that the MacBook Pro has an M4 chip we expect that the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air will get an update soon. See: MacBook Air rumors . Expected launch: Spring 2025. Mac Studio, M4 : The Mac Studio go the M2 Max and M2 Ultra in June 2023. We expect that the whole of 2024 will pass without an update so expect an M4-Max/Ultra in 2025, perhaps at WWDC. See: M4 Mac Studio. Mac Pro, M4 : Like the Mac Studio, we expect a update in June 2024. iMac Pro : Apple discontinued the larger-screened 27-inch iMac when the Mac Studio was introduced, but there are rumors that it could make a comeback. Read about the new iMac Pro. Expected launch: 2025. Should I wait for Black Friday deals? If you are thinking of buying a new Mac and the last few months of the year are approaching, you should hold on to take advantage of deals season. From October onwards is when we tend to see the most deals, with everyone saving their best discounts for the weeks around Black Friday at the end of November. If you are wondering whether to wait until Black Friday itself or take advantage of an early deal thats marked as being early Black Friday or similar, our advice is to just go for it! In the past lots of retailers have started their Black Fridays sales a long time before the day itself and promised that prices wont go any lower on Black Friday itself. Its unlikely that Apple will offer any discounts for Black Friday though. The company tends to offer vouchers with qualifying sales around Black Friday, and we dont expect that to change: heres what Apple is likely to be doing for Black Friday . So dont expect Apple to offer discounts on Black Friday, but you might be able to get money off Apple products from another reseller. We see many resellers offering Black Friday deals on Apple products, so come back around Black Friday and check out our best But we dont only see prices cut for Black Friday, we see deals on Apple products all year round so dont assume you cant get money off a new Apple product when you need to buy one. Check out our round-ups of the best Apple deals : Best MacBook Air deals Best Mac Studio deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best Mac mini deals Best iMac deals There are other ways to save money too: How to get an Apple student discount at Apples Education Store Apple Back to School deal Why you should buy a refurbished Mac Best place to buy a refurbished Mac How much can you save at Apples refurbished store? Is it a good time to buy a Mac or MacBook? Lets take a look at each Mac and MacBook on the market and assess if you should consider buying it now. Check the date at the top of the article to see when we last updated this information. Should I buy a 13-inch MacBook Air now or wait? Price When Reviewed: $1,099 Best Prices Today: $899 at Amazon $899 at Best Buy $1024 at Walmart Electronics Last update : March 2024 Next update : Spring 2025 There are three versions of the MacBook Air available to buy right now. There are two 13-inch models: one with an M2 chip that launched in July 2022 and one with an M3 chip that went on sale in March 2024. There is also a 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 that was updated in March 2024, which we discuss below. The M2 MacBook Air, with its brand-new design, arrived in the summer of 2022. It gained a MagSafe charging port, meaning that two USB-C ports are available. In our 13-inch M2 MacBook Air review we described it as just right for nearly every user thanks to its improved display with thinner bezels, full-size function row, killer battery life and outstanding performance in its class. There are still some areas that let it down though, for example, the fact that you cant plug in more than one other monitor, unless you close the MacBook lid or follow this workaround: How to connect two or more external displays to Apple Silicon Macs . When the M3 version of the MacBook Air arrived in spring 2024 we were impressed, finding that the M3 chip gave a nice performance boost. In October 2024, with the arrival of the M4 in the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air does look a little less impressive, but Apple increased the unified memory (RAM) in the M3 and M2 MacBook Air, from 8GB to 16GB, paving the way for Apple Intelligence . Is now a good time to buy a 13-inch MacBook Air? No The M2 MacBook Air is an excellent machine and it is the cheapest Mac laptop right now. However, the 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip only costs $100/100 more, so our advice would be to pay a little extra for better specs. In October 2024 the M3 MacBook Air had a RAM boost, which is certainly a point in favor of buying one right now, but, with the MacBook Pro gaining an M4 chip at the same time, its likely that the MacBook Air will get a similar update soon. Our recommendation is that if you find a good discount on the price of the M3 MacBook Air check that the model being sold includes the now standard 16GB RAM, rather than 8GB RAM. If you find a 16GB equipped M3 MacBook Air at a good price then it will be a good buy, as long as you are prepared for disappointment in early 2025 when the MacBook Air is upgraded. If you want to buy a MacBook Air now check out our round-up of the Best MacBook Air deals . Should I buy a 15-inch MacBook Air now or wait? Price When Reviewed: $1,299 Best Prices Today: $1,099 at Amazon $1099 at Best Buy $1199 at B&H Last update : June 2023 Next update : Spring 2025 There is another MacBook Air to consider. In our review of the 15-inch MacBook Air we said that the 15-inch MacBook Air is exactly like the 13-inch MacBook Air only with a bigger display (and thus chassis) and better speakers. But if you prefer larger laptops then the 15-inch MacBook Air will save you thousands compared to the 16-inch MacBook Pro. It offers better battery life than the smaller model and offers a larger screen, and while it costs a bit more than the 13-inch model, it is much less than the other Mac laptops with larger screens. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599, while the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,299/1,399. Is now a good time to buy a 15-inch MacBook Air? No Apple launched the 15-inch MacBook Air in March 2024, but while its still less than a year old, we do expect that Apple will update it in early 2025 with the M4 chip that arrived in the MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini in October 2024. One point in favor of the 15-inch MacBook Air is that Apple doubled the unified memory (RAM) in October 2024, so there is at least 16GB RAM as standard in the 15-inch MacBook Air, which should mean that if you find a good deal on a 16GB RAM-equipped model you wont regret spending your money. Should I buy a 14-inch MacBook Pro now or wait? Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,474 at Amazon $1484 at Walmart Electronics $1549 at B&H Last update : October 2024 Next update : October 2025 Apple upgraded the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max in October 2024. We dont expect to see another update until at least the fall of 2025. When we reviewed the MacBook Pro M4 model we found it offered a good performance boost over the MacBook Pro M3. The boost from 8GB to 16GB unified memory is one benefit, another gain comes in the form of an extra Thunderbolt/USB 4 port. In our review we described the M4 MacBook Pro as: a package bursting with value. It no longer feels like a compromised laptop, and you get a lot of performance and features for the price. If you are a pro user who needs a little more oomph then the M4 Pro or M4 Max models offer more ports (including Thunderbolt 5) and superior power. In our review of the M4 Pro models we said they have what it takes to conquer your processing demands. Read our review here: 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 review . Is now a good time to buy a 14-inch MacBook Pro? Yes At $1,599/1,599 the price of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 is a high compared to the 15-inch MacBook Air, which you can get for $1,299/1,299, but the latter still only offers the M3 chip and the M4 in the MacBook Pro is leaps ahead. So or recommendation right now is to buy the MacBook Pro if you see a good deal. If you find a deal on the older M3 MacBook Pro we would advise against it because that model has less RAM. If its the M4 Pro or M4 Max edition you are after, our recommendation is buy one, you wont be disappointed. If you want to get the best price for a new MacBook Pro check out our round-up of the Best MacBook Pro deals . Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Should I buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro now or wait? Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: $2,299 at Amazon $2314 at Walmart Electronics $2499 at Apple Last update : October 2024 Next update : October 2025 Alongside the 14-inch MacBook Pro, in October 2024, Apple introduced a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max. When we reviewed the M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro model we described it as a powerful workstation and Apple makes the package even better with Thunderbolt 5, the 12MP Center Stage camera, and the Nano-texture glass display option. If you need the ultimate in processing muscle, you really want an M4 Max chip, but if a $3,499/3,499 laptop is out of your budget, the M4 Pro models have what it takes to conquer your processing demands. The larger 16-inch model costs more than its smaller sibling, but if you need more battery life and a bigger screen then this is the model for you. If youre still using an Intel-based MacBook Pro, its time to upgrade. For more advice read our comparison of all the MacBook Pro models . Is now a good time to buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro? Yes The 16-inch MacBook Pro was updated in October 2024, so we dont expect another update for some time. If you can find a good deal then definitely buy one. If its power you need and portability isnt a factor, you may also want to consider the M4 Pro in the Mac mini and a display as a much cheaper option than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Should I buy a 24-inch iMac now or wait? Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: $1,199 at Amazon $1214 at Walmart Electronics $1299 at Apple Last update : October 2024 Next update : Late 2025/2026 The 24-inch iMac is eye-catching, both in terms of the quality of the 4.5K display and the colorful case. The M4 model arrived in October 2024 with each model available in blue, green, orange, pink, purple, yellow, and silver, with all but silver offering a bold tone on the back that is complemented by a paler version on the front. On the inside the differences are impressive. As we said in our review, the new 16GB RAM standard, the implementation of Thunderbolt across the board, the improved FaceTime camera, and the Nano-texture glass option are all winning moves by Apple. The M4 chip inside is the same as you can find in the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini. The iMac is less expensive than the MacBook Pro, starting at $1,299/1,299 compared to $1,599/1,599 for the MacBook Pro, but the MacBook Pro is better equipped, with a 10-core GPU, rather than the 8-core GPU found in that entry-level iMac. Theres also double the storage in the MacBook (512GB compared to 256GB). If you are looking for the best value though, the Mac mini is much cheaper than the iMac, starting at $599/599 for the same spec. Is now a good time to buy a 24-inch iMac? Yes While we feel that it is overpriced, we accept that there are places for which the iMac is idealreception desks, living rooms, and so on. If If youre looking for a new, complete Mac setup a computer, display, and input devicesthe M4 iMac is a great choice. If you do want to buy one then do not pay full price, check our round-up of the best iMac deals . If you need an iMac that is designed with creative pros in mind you should look at the Mac mini with M4 Pro. Read our full Apple iMac (M4) review Should I buy a Mac mini now or wait? Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: $564 at Walmart Electronics $574 at Amazon $599 at Apple Last update : October 2024 Next update : Late 2025/2026 Apple introduced the M4 Mac mini and M4 Pro Mac mini in October 2024. The Mac mini with M4 or M4 Pro is the long awaited successor to the M2 Mac mini and M2 Pro version. The Mac mini is now even smaller, but its just as powerful as any other M4 equipped Mac. The performance and value on offer for just $599/599 is excellent, if you are trying to spec up a machine to meet higher demands we found that can be expensive, but that is the case with all of Apples build-to-order options. The pro version of the Mac mini does much to fill the gap left by the removal of the 27-inch iMac, as long as you have a decent monitor you can use. Is now a good time to buy a Mac mini? Yes We recommend the M4 Mac mini. It offers the same specs as the other M4 Macs for much less money, the only difference being the absence of a screen. But since you can buy a decent 4K display for less than 300/$300 we dont think that is a big problem. See our round-up of the best monitors for Mac . The M4 Pro Mac mini is a great option for anyone who needs affordable power. The only reason to hold off buying is if you want to wait for Apple to update the Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra. However, the Mac Studio starts at $1,999/2,099, while the M2 Pro Mac mini offers much better value at $1,299/1,299. If you want to buy a Mac mini now check out our round-up of the Best Mac mini deals . Should I buy a Mac Studio now or wait? Price When Reviewed: 1,999 Best Prices Today: $1799 at B&H $1889 at Adorama $1949 at Walmart Electronics Last update : June 2023 Next update : 2025 The Mac Studio arrived in March 2022 and we were impressed by its processing power, port flexibility and price. In our review we said The Mac Studio offers exciting processing prowess, and added: It may even be a suitable replacement for an Intel Mac Pro in certain situations. That model was replaced by a Mac Studio with M2 Max or M2 Ultra back in June 2023, but there hasnt been an update in 2024. In our review of the model that arrived in June 2023, we said that: The Mac Studio is the ideal Macits powerful, priced appropriately, has lots of ports for connecting devices, and it wont take up a lot of desk space, and described it as a complete package of processing power, features, and design. An HDMI upgrade fixes one of our biggest problems with the original Mac Studio, bringing 8K display support and support for more displays overall. Is now a good time to buy a Mac Studio? No Nearly a year and a half after the Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra arrived in June 2023, the M4 Max has arrived in the MacBook Pro. That chip which will eventually be destined for the Mac Studio, along with the M4 Ultra (unless Apple jumps straight to the M5). With an update log overdue it certainly looks likely that the Mac Studio will see an update in 2025. We expect Apple to update the model either at, or before, WWDC in June. If you need a powerful machine in the meantime then you are better off considering the M4 Pro Mac mini or M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro. Alternatively, take advantage of the Best Mac Studio deals , because we do see some big discounts on these models. Read our full Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023) review Should I buy a Mac Pro now or wait? Price When Reviewed: From $6,999 Best Prices Today: $6999 at Apple Last update : June 2023 Next update : 2025 Apple launched the current Mac Pro in June 2023, three and a half years after the range was last updated in December 2019. That was the first update since December 2013 (which was a wait of six years!) The main benefit of the 2019 Mac Pro design is shared by the design of the 2023 Mac Pro: it offers PCIe expansion slots (seven in total) and its modular design should mean that there is the potential for SSD upgrades down the line (although RAM wont be upgradable and nor will the GPU or CPU). The Mac Pro has a lot of competition in the form of the Mac Studio, which offers the exact same spec as the Mac Studio and is cheaper. The Mac Pro brings an extra fan, more ports and there is a rack-mounted option. Is now a good time to buy a Mac Pro? No The disadvantage is that Apple hasnt updated the Mac Pro (or Mac Studio) since mid 2023. While Apple often waits a long time between Mac Pro updates, the M4 Pro has more than caught up with the M2 Max and the M4 Max has edged ahead of the M2 Ultra, so if you need the power then the Mac Pro isnt looking as attractive next to its siblings When the Mac Pro is finally updated we expect it to leap ahead, so our recommendation it to wait. We expect an update at, or before, WWDC.

Pair your Mac with a great monitor with these early Black Friday deals

Macworld While Black Friday doesnt officially arrive until Friday, November 29 (with Cyber Monday following on Monday, December 2), the shopping season has already begun and its a great time to pick up a deal on a new monitor for your Mac. If youre unsure of which to buy, check out our best monitors for Macs roundup to read more about our favorite picks. Well be updating this page all throughout the Black Friday weekend, but in the meantime, you should also check out our round-up of the best Apple deals that we keep updated all year round. Apple display deals for Black Friday 2024 Apple only sells two monitorsthe Studio Display and Pro Display XDRand theyre not cheap. Deals on the Studio Display are relatively common, but its unlikely to find much savings on the very high-end Pro Display XDR. Neither monitor has been updated in years, with the Studio Display arriving most recently in 2022. Its possible that Apple includes the Studio Display in its annual Black Friday Shopping Event , which offers gift cards when buying certain products. However, the Studio Display was not included in last years sale. U.S. Amazon, Apple Studio Display (Tilt-Adjustable Stand) : $1,499 ($100 off, MSRP $1,599) Amazon, Apple Studio Display (Tilt/Height-Adjustable Stand) : $1,799 ($100 off, MSRP $1,899) Amazon, Apple Studio Display (Nano-Texture Glass, Tilt/Height-Adjustable Stand) : $2,155 ($144 off, MSRP $2,299) U.K. KRCS, Apple Studio Display (Tilt-Adjustable Stand) : 1,349 ($150 off, RRP $1,499) New Refurbished Retailer Price $1,499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple 27-inch Monitor 5120 x 1440 LED (MK0U3LL/A) $1449 View Deal $1949 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best Mac monitor deals for Black Friday 2024 Since Apples monitors are so expensive, you can get far better value by getting a third-party display. U.S. Alogic, Clarity Pro Touchscreen 27 UHD 4K Monitor : $899 ($300 off, MSRP $1,200) Alogic, Clarity 27 UHD 4K Monitor : $640 ($140 off, RRP $800) Walmart, Samsung 34-inch ultrawide 165Hz gaming monitor :$230 ($320 off, MSRP $550) Amazon, Samsung 32-inch UHD HDR Smart Monitor M8 : $400 ($300 off, MSRP $700) Amazon, ViewSonic 24-inch 1080p VX2452MH : $110 ($50 off, MSRP $160) Amazon, Dell 32-inch 4K monitor :$250 ($110 off, MSRP $360) Amazon, Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G8 4K UHD Monitor : $950 ($350 off, MSRP $1,300) Amazon, BenQ PD2725U Thunderbolt 3 Monitor : $700 ($100 off, MSRP $800) U.K. Alogic, Alogic Clarity Pro Touchscreen 27 UHD 4K Monitor : 749 (250 off, RRP 999) Alogic, Alogic Clarity 27 UHD 4K Monitor : 595 (105 off, RRP 700) Amazon, ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV : 369 (130 off, RRP 499) Amazon, Dell 24-inch UltraSharp : 240 (114 off, RRP 354) Amazon, HP 24 Inch FHD Monitor : 80 (30 off, RRP: 110) Amazon, Philips 241V8LA- 24 Inch FHD Monitor : 90 (10 off, RRP 100) Amazon Lightning Deals Check out these time-limited tech deals before they go. (Prices subject to change.) Certified Refurbished Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 ( 53% off, was $159.99 ) Ends at 17:00 Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x SDXC Memo $98.98 ( 41% off, was $169.99 ) JBL Bar 300: 5.0-Channel Compact All-in- $249.99 ( 37% off, was $399.95 ) ASUS ZenScreen 15.6 1080P Wireless Po $299.00 ( 33% off, was $449.00 ) eufy by Anker $24.99 ( 44% off, was $44.99 ) Kensington Single Monitor Desk Mount $38.06 ( 33% off, was $56.99 ) Targus USB C Universal Docking Station w $303.23 ( 37% off, was $482.99 ) Monster Boomerang Neckband Bluetooth Spe $59.99 ( 33% off, was $89.99 ) Norton 360 Platinum 2024 $39.99 ( 69% off, was $129.99 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.95 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT Wireless Gam $91.00 ( 43% off, was $159.99 ) BOSCH GPB18V-5CN 18V Jobsite Radio with $150.54 ( 34% off, was $229.00 ) SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $1797.99 ( 45% off, was $3297.99 ) Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4 $299.99 ( 40% off, was $499.99 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U7 Series ULED 4K $1798.00 ( 40% off, was $2997.95 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LE $2997.99 ( 40% off, was $4997.99 ) SAMSUNG 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $2297.99 ( 52% off, was $4797.99 ) SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $997.99 ( 37% off, was $1597.99 ) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S85D Serie $1297.99 ( 38% off, was $2097.99 ) SAMSUNG 98-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80C Serie $3997.99 ( 50% off, was $7997.99 ) Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) + Battery Exte $49.99 ( 58% off, was $119.99 ) Introducing Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam | S $49.99 ( 37% off, was $79.99 ) SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $897.99 ( 40% off, was $1497.99 ) All New, Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 46% off, was $27.99 ) Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 40% off, was $24.99 ) Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Apple Black Friday 2024 sale Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 MacBook deals Best Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals

Satechi Trio Wireless Charging Pad review: Fast charge Apple devices in style

Last month, Satechi unveiled an upgrade for its Trio Wireless Charging Pad. The accessory now charges your iPhone twice as fast while still replenishing the The post Satechi Trio Wireless Charging Pad review: Fast charge Apple devices in style appeared first on BGR .

The M4 MacBook Pro has a secret display upgrade Apple didnt tell us about

Macworld I recently mused about how the Mac lineup has been the most compelling for a while , and one of the reasons is that Apple introduced worthwhile features besides the chip upgrade to the M4. For the M4 MacBook Pro, theres one more feature that Apple hasnt mentioned at all. According to display expert Ross Young , Apple now uses a quantum dot film in the MacBook Pros LiquidRetina XDR display. This QD film replaces a KSF phosphor film (also known as a narrow-band red phosphor) placed between the backlight and the display. The result is that the MacBook Pros display creates a more consistent color gamut and better motion performance. There are also environmental benefits as Young points out: Big Apple display news, they have adopted quantum dots for the first time. The latest MacBook Pros (M4) use a quantum dot (QD) film rather than a red KSF phosphor film. In the past, Apple went with the KSF solution due to better efficiency and lack of cadmium (Cd), but the latest Cd-free QD films are very efficient, feature as good or better color gamut and better motion performance. Ross Young Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) via X, November 14, 2024 QD films are often used on high-end TVs and displays. So why the switch now? Apple hasnt talked about this so its mere speculation, but based on Youngs post, it appears that Apple wasnt satisfied with QD films previous performance. Why didnt Apple mention this change? Most likely because its the kind of under-the-hood change that wont factor much into a buying decision. But its a notable change that shows how Apple continues to improve its high-end devices without raising costs. Itll be interesting to see if Apple adopts QD film for the M4 MacBook Air, which uses an LED display, instead of the mini-LED display in the MacBook Pro. Reports say that the new Air will be revealed in the spring of 2025 and its expected to be nothing more than a chip upgrade.

Every iPad is on sale for big savings this Black Friday

Macworld Black Friday is nearly here and its a fantastic time to pick up a deal on an iPad. While technically a single day (its the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. or November 29) Black Friday has gradually expanded to encompass Cyber Monday (December 2), as well as the weeks leading up to the big weekend. This means you need to keep your eyes peeled all month long for killer iPad savings. Or, better still, let us keep our eyes peeled for you. This article is where we round up the best-value deals on the various iPad models available in both the U.S. and the U.K., as well as provide automated price comparison tables that will pull in the lowest prices across all the major retailers. Bookmark this page and check back for the best Black Friday bargains. Below you can get an idea of what to expect heading into Black Friday, and well be updating this page as more discounts start to come in and as Apple announces its Black Friday shopping event . In the meantime, you should also check out our roundup of the best Apple deals that we keep updated all year round, plus our always advice on the best iPad deals . Black Friday: Apples shopping event Every year Apple holds a shopping event from Black Friday (November 29) to Cyber Monday (December 2). However, since Apple rarely discounts its products, the event consists of gift card offers rather than actual savings. In 2023 you could get gift cards for the following voucher amounts with iPads purchased from Apples site . iPad Pro $50 80 iPad Air $75 60 iPad mini $50 40 iPad (10th gen.) $50 40 This year, we expect the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and 10th-gen iPad to be included in the sale. Since the iPad mini was only just refreshed in October, we dont think Apple will include it. Best iPad deals for Black Friday 2024 As we head into Black Friday, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers are already discounting iPads and we expect even greater savings during the Black Friday weekend. Here are the best prices weve found so far: 10th-gen iPad deals The 10th-gen iPad is the only iPad that wasnt updated in 2024. However, Apple cut the price by $100 to $349, making it a far more attractive purchase. Its the only iPad that cant run Apple Intelligence, but it still gets our full recommendation for anyone on a budget. U.S. Amazon, 10th gen iPad (64GB) : $309 ($40 off, MRSP $349) Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (256GB) : $449 ($50 off, MSRP $499) Amazon, 10th gen iPad (256GB) : $449 ($50 off, MSRP $499) Amazon, 9th-gen iPad (64GB) : $199 (Discounted price, was $329) U.K. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (64GB) : 308.97 (20 off, RRP 329) Amazon, 10th gen iPad (256GB) : 449 (30 off, RRP 479) iPad mini deals The iPad mini was updated in October with an A17 Pro processor and 8GB of RAM so its able to run Apple Intelligence, as well as double the storage, from 64GB to 128GB. Otherwise, the display and design are the same. If you dont care about Apple Intelligence, you can find a great price on an older A15 model. U.S. Amazon, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB) : $479 ($20 off, MSRP $499) Amazon, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 512GB) : $700 ($99 off with coupon, MSRP $799) Amazon, iPad mini (A15, 64GB) : $350 ($149 off, MSRP $499 Clearance ) U.K. KRCS, iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 128GB) : 489.02 (9.98 off, RRP 499) KRCS, iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 256GB) 587.02 (11.98 off, RRP 599) KRCS, iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 512GB) : 783.02 (15.98 off, RRP 799) John Lewis, 9th gen iPad (64GB) : 279 (RRP was 369 Clearance ) iPad Air deals The newest iPad Air now comes in two sizes, 11 inches and 13 inches like the iPad Pro. It has an M2 processor and a repositioned front camera. Otherwise, its the same as the M1 model, which we loved. U.S. Amazon, 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $549 ($50 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 11-inch M2 iPad Air (512GB) : $824 ($75 off, MSRP $899) Amazon, 13-inch M2 iPad Air (512GB) : $899 ($200 off, MSRP $1,099) Amazon, 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB) : $739 ($60 off with coupon, MSRP $799) U.K. Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB) : 559.97 (39 off, RRP 599) Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 512GB) : 843.97 (55 off, RRP 899) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB) : 749 (50 off, RRP 799) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2, 512GB) : 1,029.97 (70 off, RRP 1,099) iPad Pro deals The iPad Pro was updated this spring with a new thinner design built around an M4 processor and OLED display. Its the absolute best tablet Apple (or anyone else) makes, but its also very expensive and probably more than most people need. U.S. B&H Photo, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, 8GB RAM) : $1,099 ($100 off, MSRP $1,199) Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, 16GB RAM) : $1,799 ($200 off, MSRP $1,999) Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, 16GB RAM) : $2,099 ($200 off, MSRP $2,299) U.K. KRCS, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB) : 979.02 (19.98 off, RRP 999) Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB) : 1,149 (50 off, RRP 1,199) John Lewis, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB) : 1,249 (50 off, RRP 1,299) Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB) : 1,419.99 (79 off, RRP 1,499) iPad Accessory Black Friday deals U.S. Amazon, Magic Keyboard (11-inch) : $199 ($100 off, MSRP $299) Amazon, Magic Keyboard (12.9-inch) : $299 ($50 off, MSRP $349) Amazon, Apple Pencil (1st gen) : $79 ($20 off, MSRP $99) Amazon, Apple Pencil (2nd gen) : $89 ($40 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, Apple Pencil (USB-C) : $71 ($8 off, MSRP $79) U.K. Amazon, Magic Keyboard (11-inch) : 256 (63 off, RRP 319) Amazon, Apple Pencil (2nd gen) : 89 (50 off, RRP 139) For a more comprehensive guide to the available dealsas well as any deals that have popped up since we last updated this articlesee our automated tables below for the lowest prices currently available on each iPad model. If youre not sure which model is right for you, read our in-depth iPad buying guide . Latest 10th-gen iPad deals ( $449/499 ) New Refurbished Retailer Price $299 View Deal $299.99 View Deal $309 View Deal $331 View Deal $339 View Deal $339 View Deal $449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad 10.9 (2022) 64GB Blue (WiFi) $306.20 View Deal iPad 10.9 (2022) 64GB Silver (WiFi) $315 View Deal iPad 10.9 (2022) 64GB Pink (WiFi) $349 View Deal $409.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Latest 9th-gen iPad deals ( $329/369 ) New Refurbished Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal $199.99 View Deal $258 View Deal $277.99 View Deal $279 View Deal $309 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad 10.2 (2021) 64GB Silver (WiFi) $188.08 View Deal iPad 10.2 (2021) 64GB Space Gray (WiFi) $190.29 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Latest iPad mini deals ( 499/569 ) Retailer Price $479 View Deal $479 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Latest 11-inch M2 iPad Air deals ( $599/ 599) Retailer Price $549 View Deal $554 View Deal $569 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Latest 13-inch M2 iPad Air deals ( $799/799 ) Retailer Price $735 View Deal $739 View Deal $769.99 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 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 Latest 11-inch M4 iPad Pro deals ($999/999) Retailer Price $999 View Deal $1104 View Deal $1,154.29 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 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 Latest 13-inch M4 iPad Pro deals ( MSRP $1,299/1,299 ) New Refurbished Retailer Price $999 View Deal $1024 View Deal $1099.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 128GB Space Gray (WiFi) $659 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 128GB Silver (WiFi) $679 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Amazon Lightning Deals Check out these time-limited tech deals before they go. (Prices subject to change.) Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro w/ Thunder $134.99 ( 32% off, was $199.99 ) Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet $59.99 ( 50% off, was $119.99 ) Amazon Fire 10 HD Kids tablet- 2023 $109.99 ( 42% off, was $189.99 ) New Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet $69.99 ( 50% off, was $139.99 ) Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet- 2023 $109.99 ( 42% off, was $189.99 ) Certified Refurbished Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 ( 53% off, was $159.99 ) JBL Bar 300: 5.0-Channel Compact All-in- $249.99 ( 37% off, was $399.95 ) Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x SDXC Memo $98.98 ( 41% off, was $169.99 ) eufy by Anker $24.99 ( 44% off, was $44.99 ) ASUS ZenScreen 15.6 1080P Wireless Po $299.00 ( 33% off, was $449.00 ) Targus USB C Universal Docking Station w $303.23 ( 37% off, was $482.99 ) Kensington Single Monitor Desk Mount $38.06 ( 33% off, was $56.99 ) Monster Boomerang Neckband Bluetooth Spe $59.99 ( 33% off, was $89.99 ) Norton 360 Platinum 2024 $39.99 ( 69% off, was $129.99 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.95 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT Wireless Gam $91.00 ( 43% off, was $159.99 ) BOSCH GPB18V-5CN 18V Jobsite Radio with $150.54 ( 34% off, was $229.00 ) SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $1797.99 ( 45% off, was $3297.99 ) Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4 $299.99 ( 40% off, was $499.99 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U7 Series ULED 4K $1798.00 ( 40% off, was $2997.95 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LE $2997.99 ( 40% off, was $4997.99 ) SAMSUNG 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $2297.99 ( 52% off, was $4797.99 ) SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $997.99 ( 37% off, was $1597.99 ) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S85D Serie $1297.99 ( 38% off, was $2097.99 ) SAMSUNG 98-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80C Serie $3997.99 ( 50% off, was $7997.99 ) Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) + Battery Exte $49.99 ( 58% off, was $119.99 ) Introducing Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam | S $49.99 ( 37% off, was $79.99 ) SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $897.99 ( 40% off, was $1497.99 ) All New, Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 46% off, was $27.99 ) Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 40% off, was $24.99 ) Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals Apple Black Friday 2024 sale Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 MacBook deals Best Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals

This bonkers Black Friday sale slashes $200 off the 13-inch M2 iPad Air

Macworld The M2 iPad Air hasnt been around for a very long time, but its price has already dropped by an incredible $200 at Amazon in this early Black Friday deal. With an MSRP of $1,099, you can get the M2 iPad Air with 512GB of storage for just $899 . This is Apples first 13-inch iPad Air, featuring a gorgeous display, a great processor, and a fantastic design. It also has 8GB of RAM so its ready for Apple Intelligence, which arrived with iOS 18.1. More features will be rolled out over the coming months as well, so youll want a device thats capable of handling it all. We reviewed the 11-inch version of the M2 iPad Air and gave it a 4-star rating. One of the things we wanted was better brightness, which this model has. The display on the 13-inch Air can be pushed up to 600nits, which is great for use indoors or out. And given its size, you can turn this tablet into a productivity tool by getting a USB-C Apple Pencil or a Magic Keyboard , both of which are on sale. So go ahead and place your order for the 13-inch M2 iPad Air for $899 and skip Black Friday, because we dont think youll get a better price this year. Get the new M2 iPad Air for its best price Buy it now at Amazon

When is the best time to buy an iPhone?

Macworld In this article, we answer all of your questions about when you should and shouldnt buy a new iPhone including advice on when Apple is likely to discount the price of older iPhone handsets. There are certain times of the year when buying a new iPhone is a bad idea, and there are certain times of the year when you can get a bargain on a new handset. The trick is knowing when you should buy a new iPhone. Luckily we are here to help. Looking for a Black Friday deal: See Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals and Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals . Should I buy a new iPhone right now? Any time from the September launch of a new iPhone to the following June is a good time to buy a new iPhone. There are certain times of the year when you can get the best deals on a new iPhone. Those in the market for a new handset are probably wondering whether now is a good time to buy a new iPhone. Is there any danger that a new model will be released in the near future? Will prices drop or increase? To answer the first question, new iPhone models tend to arrive every September. The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Pro and Pro Max were launched at an Apple Event in September 2024. The iPhone 16 series went on sale on Friday September 20, 2024. So you can always get the best price we track the Best iPhone 16 deals in the U.S. and the best iPhone 16 deals in the U.K . these include both carrier deals and discounts on unlocked iPhones. Apple If you dont want one of the newest iPhones you may think that there isnt a bad time to buy one of the older iPhones. However, when a new iPhone launches Apple reduces prices of the predecessors and discontinues some models. So it can be best to wait until after a new iPhone launches to get the best price for the previous generation. Check out our round up of the Best iPhone deals that includes all iPhones. Should I buy an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus ? The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are Apples new standard iPhones for 2024. They went on sale on September 20, 2024. We have reviewed both handsets and recommend them. Apple iPhone 16 Read our review Price When Reviewed: $799 Best Prices Today: $799 at Apple | $829.99 at Best Buy Should I buy an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max ? The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are Apples new pro iPhones for 2024. They also went on sale on September 20, 2024. They are good, but so are the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, so this year you dont have to opt for Pro to get a great iPhone. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple | $999.99 at Best Buy Should I buy a iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus ? When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 it dropped the price of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which were introduced in September 2023. If you want to save some money and dont mind not having the latest iPhone it is a good time to get the 2023 model. Apple iPhone 15 Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $699 (Was $799) Best Prices Today: $729 at Apple | $729.99 at Best Buy Should I buy a iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max ? When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max it discontinued these models. You may still be able to find the 2023 Pro models on sale though, and if you find them at a good price then they will still be a good purchase. Expect some good deals as resellers sell off old stock during Black Friday. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Read our review Price When Reviewed: Was $999 (Discontinued) Best Prices Today: $899.99 at Best Buy Should I buy an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus ? You might be considering buying the cheaper iPhone 14 or 14 Plus which also saw a price drop in September 2024. These are two year old iPhones, so whether you consider it a good purchase will depend on how much money you are prepared to spend on a new iPhone. You could get a newer model for just $100/100 more. Apple iPhone 14 Read our review Price When Reviewed: 599 (was 699) Best Prices Today: $629 at Apple | $829 at Visible Should I buy an iPhone SE ? We almost forgot to add this one. The iPhone SE is Apples smallest phone and the only iPhone with a Home button. If you want small and a home button you need to buy one now because we dont think Apple will be selling them for much longer. Read about Apples plans for the iPhone SE 4. Apple iPhone SE (2022) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $429 (64GB) | $479 (128GB) | $579 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $313.17 at Amazon | $429 at Apple | $429 at Apple United States It is worth noting that it is always worth holding on for the big sales if you can, we often find some good deals on older iPhone handsets, though not usually the newest models. There are two Amazon Prime Day sales one in July and one in October every year at which we may see some savings on iPhones, and at the end of November even more stores cutting the prices of iPhones for Black Friday . Apple doesnt drop the price of iPhones, but over Black Friday it offers vouchers alongside qualifying purchases in an Black Friday offer . We do see good deals all year round though, so take a look at our round-up of the best iPhone deals this month. We have also collected the Best iPhone 16 deals in the U.S. and the best iPhone 16 deals in the U.K. ,as well as the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.K. and the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.S. in separate articles. Also read: iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro deals and Best iPhone SE deals . When is the best time to buy an iPhone? Before you buy a new iPhone find out if Apples due to hold an event. Foundry Its easier to say when the worst time to buy a new iPhone is. That is without a doubt in the months leading up to September. So dont buy a new iPhone in August, unless you want to be kicking yourself a month later when the price of that model drops and a new model arrives. The only reason to buy an iPhone in the run-up to an Apple Event is if it is likely to be discontinued. Apple tends to discontinue the Pro and Pro Max models of the previous generation when it introduces the next generation, so if you want to buy one of those models you may want to buy one while you still can. However, wed suggest that it would be wise to wait for the next-gen version which is likely to present you with more for your money. Or take advantage of discounts as vendors sell off old stock after the new models arrive. The best time to buy an iPhone isnt necessarily when a new model launches either unless youre desperate to have the very latest hardware. You might be happy to wait a month or two after the launch and wait for supply to catch up with demand, and for any problems with the new phones to be identified and (hopefully) fixed. The other advantage of buying around the October/November time frame is that is when shopping events, like Black Friday , take place, but as we said above, we dont tend to see the newest iPhone models discounted much, or at all, at these events. Wed say that its fine to buy a new iPhone at any time within nine months of it launching, but if you are hoping to save some money on your purchase wed recommend waiting a few more months. When does Apple update the iPhone? Chris Martin / Foundry Knowing when the latest iPhones came out should help when making a judgment on whether there will be an update soon. Apple usually updates the iPhone range at an Apple Event in September . However, the iPhone SE is on a different schedule, with Apple introducing the iPhone SE models during the spring months (most recently March 2022), so a spring launch is possible. With rumors that a new larger iPhone SE could one day launch perhaps its worth waiting until the spring if that handset might suit you. iPhone 16 is the newest iPhone (it arrived in September 2024). The iPhone 16 will be followed in 2025 by the iPhone 17 and (possibly) an iPhone SE 4 . See when is the next Apple event to find out if an Apple event is imminent. Read our iPhone buying guide and comparison of every iPhone available to buy today . When do iPhone prices drop? We know based on past experience that Apple is very unlikely to drop the price of an iPhone in the first year of sales. However, Apple does tend to reduce the price of the previous years iPhone when it introduces the new model so expect Apple to discount its handsets in September (and potentially in the spring if it introduces a new iPhone SE handset at that time). How much do prices drop when a new iPhone comes out? Foundry When Apple introduces new iPhones it usually keeps the prices the same, at least in the U.S. Prices for the iPhone 16 range are the same in the U.S. and U.K as the previous generation, but the price in Euros is less. In 2023 Apple dropped prices for the iPhone 15 range compared to the previous year in the U.K. At the same time as Apple introduces a new iPhone, it also reduces the price of existing models. Apple reduced the price of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus by $100/100 in September 2024 when the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were introduced. The price of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus dropped in September 2023 and again in September 2024. Apples not the only place you can buy an iPhone and it certainly isnt the only one to discount the handsets. From time to time you will see deals from other resellers. We track these in our Best iPhone Deals round-up , so check that page regularly. Will there be Black Friday iPhone discounts? The earliest you could expect to get a discount on the newest iPhones is around Black Friday at the end of November, so you might be planning to hold out until then. However, the deals we tend to see, if any, are usually for older handsets so if you are hoping for a discounted iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro following their launch you will probably be disappointed. Nor should you expect to get a discount in an Apple Black Friday 2024 sale . Apples Black Friday sale usually only takes the form of vouchers with select product purchases, rather than a discount, and it is unlikely that the newest iPhone would qualify as in previous years new iPhones havent been included. See our round-up of Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals to see what could be in store. Note that while shopping events like Black Friday gets all the attention, thats not the only time you can get discounts on Apple products: we see discounts all the time. Another event where we see good iPhone deals is Prime Day, which happens in July and October every year. So take a look at the iPhone deals for Amazon Prime Day sale to see what you might be able to save. In our experience, we dont tend to see discounts on the newest handset until the springand these are always from third-party resellers, never from Apple. In fact, we dont tend to see the iPhone discounted in the U.S. very often, most of the discounts we see are in the U.K. where unlocked iPhones are often sold off-contract at a good discount. Conclusion: Is now a good time to buy a new iPhone? The worst time to buy would be July or August, mainly because with new iPhones on the horizon the price of the older handsets are likely to drop very soon. If you want the newest iPhones then the best deals dont tend to come before the spring and summer months. If you are happy to buy an older iPhone then you will probably see decent deals around Prime Day and Black Friday but deals happen all year round. We hope this article has proved helpful in reaching an informed buying decision. Remember that good prices can be found all year round, if a retailer is feeling generous and you know where to look: read our guide to the best iPhone deals for more on that. Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones for? Read How long do iPhones last.

Apple Vision Pro needs something bigger than a software update

Macworld I have been using Apple Vision Pro on and off for the last nine months. When it was released in February, I described it as a device with a ton of potential but with huge challenges to overcome . Now, with its first major operating system update available and plenty of time for developers to get on board, Im left with a more pessimistic view. For spatial computing to be a hit, its going to need more than the Vision Pro can deliver. The first major update fixed some issues and added welcome features, but too many problems remainand some simply cant be fixed in a software update. If Apple is going to make spatial computing (i.e. mixed reality) its next major software platform, it will need to drastically accelerate its rate of progress. What visionOS 2 brings to the table The Vision Pro launched with a host of annoyances and visionOS 2 goes a long way to addressing them. You can more easily get to the Home View with a new gesturelook at your palm and when a circle appears, tap your thumb and finger together. Flip your hand around to look at the back of it to see a little widget that displays time, volume, and battery life. Tap your fingers while this is showing to bring up Control Center. Speaking of the Home View, you can finally freely rearrange your icons and take iPad and iPhone apps out of the dedicated folder. It also remembers the visual setup of the last Guest user, so your partner doesnt have to run through setup every time you want them to check out something cool. Its all a lot easier and more natural than fiddling around with the buttons or looking up at a little dot at the top of your view. If youre in a spatial environment, your Magic Keyboard or MacBook keyboard will punch through and remain visible (all the time, or only when you bring your hands near it, your choice) which makes it easier to type. And there are a bunch of really good updates to developer tools that will make it easier for them to make good spatial experiences, too. visionOS 2 brings some good features, but it still has a lonf way to go. Apple The software is still awkward and limiting Despite the improvements, there are still so many places where visionOS feels unfinished. How is the Clock app not an actual selection of real 3D clocks you can virtually hang on your wall? How does the Calendar not look at behave like a traditional paper calendar, with live data and the ability to zoom in on dates? This stuff is so obvious, it should have been some of the first apps Apple built. Instead, apps like Clock, Calendar, and Home are just iPad apps, hanging in the air in a virtual window. Speaking of hanging in the air, the spatial tracking has improved (and so has object and hand occlusion) but most Vision Pro apps are still just big windows with simplistic controls that stay anchored in place in your environment. This makes window management a real chore. You have the entire virtual world, and you still have to literally move everything around in physical space to manage your windows. It should be possible to set an app to remain anchored to the device, so it follows the user as you move around. You should be able to stack app windows and swap between them, so you dont have to find a new area of physical space just to open another app. The biggest issues with Vision Pro cant be fixed through software updates. David Price / Foundry Vision Pro should be a way to expand our space, to have as much room as we want without going anywhere. Instead, its the oppositeon my laptop or desktop I can swipe between desktops and layer windows on top of each other, with a dozen things taking up the space of my monitor. With Vision Pro, I have to turn my head and move all over the place to make use of more than three apps. Imagine if every app on your Mac was a whiteboard on a stand. You can easily reposition them, but youre limited to one app per whiteboard and they take up a LOT of space. Thats what it feels like to multi-task on Vision Pro. The new ultrawide virtual monitor for Mac will greatly improve the ability of users to get work done on Vision Pro (its coming in visionOS 2.2), but thats really just your Mac being productive. Theres no doubt that visionOS 2 made the software experience better, but its still far too limited, and limiting, for mainstream adoption. At the current pace of improvement, it feels like it wont come into its own until somewhere around visionOS 5 or 6. This hardware will never be mainstream Some parts of the Vision Pro experience just arent going to get any better without different hardware. The headset is too heavy. The field of view is too narrow. The battery and tether are cumbersome. You cant see the eyes of the person wearing it and the EyeSight feature doesnt get the job done well. Its fatiguing to use for more than half an hour at a time. The battery life stinks. Oh, and its priced 3-4x higher than a mainstream tech product. Vision Pro is an isolating experience and the high-priced hardware means itll stay that way for a while. Foundry As I said back in February , Vision Pros success will be measured by Apples ability to maintain interestamong both the public and developersto drive momentum to a more mainstream future product that will cost less and do more. Unfortunately, I dont think visionOS 2 will do nearly enough to succeed at that. Apples new 17-minute immersive film Submerged is very impressive, but its driving at the wrong thing. Linear video content is not the future of the medium, and it shouldnt be the present of a $3,500 headset that only lets you watch it by yourself. The Vision Pro is a spectacular isolationist video viewing device in short sessions, but should Apple really be highlighting that? Should the message be: Buy this $3,500 thing to have the best solitary video experience for up to 30 minutes? Apple needs to show people why spatial computing is the future. How it can be faster, easier, more natural, and more efficient than the phones, tablets, and laptops we use today. While visionOS 2 takes a step in that direction, its only a step, and the journey from here to there is long.

For the first time ever, you dont need to be afraid to buy a new Mac

Macworld As someone who has reviewed Macs for a long time, Im often asked for shopping advice and whether now is a good time to buy a Mac. Its an excellent question since Apple has been fairly sporadic with its Mac releases. Macs are expensive and people want reassurance that theyre making a timely investment. No one wants to buy something, start using it, and realize they just couldve stuck with what they already had. Nor does anyone want to make a purchase only to have something better come along in a short time. When it comes to Macs, the decision to buy a new one is rarely a quick and easy one, but with the release of the M4 Mac lineup, theres less hedging than ever before. As I reviewed the new iMac and MacBook Pro and got the lowdown about the Mac mini, I was struck by just how compelling these new Macs are. This recent release makes for the most compelling set of Macs that Apple has had in quite some time. And if youre wondering whether its time to buy a Mac in a general sense, the answer is yes. The maturation of Apple silicon The M4 is the fourth generation of Apple silicon in the Mac, and after an explosive (figuratively) start with the M1 and some hiccups with the M2 and M3 releases, the M4 feels like the chip is finally hitting its stride. The M4 impresses with its speed and efficiency. It almost doubles the speed of the M1 in multi-core performance, but more impressively, its 32 percent faster than the Intel 2.7GHz Xeon W-3265M 24-core CPU, which was used in the 2019 Mac Pro. Also, the Intel chips Thermal Design Power is 205 watts while the M4s TDP is 22 watts. Thats a lot of bang without using a lot of power. Geekbench 6 benchmarks Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster. The M4 Max, according to Geekbench 6 results, sets a record for Mac performance. The M4 Pro (the 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU version) is faster than an M2 Ultra. It keeps getting better with Apple silicon and there are no signs of performance plateaus. RAM increase without a price increase Other than the speed boost, the biggest reason this Mac lineup is more compelling is that Apple did the right thing and doubled the base amount of unified memory to 16GB. That had a domino effect across the Mac lineupApple didnt just boost its most affordable models from 8GB to 16GB, but the more expensive standard configurations went up, too. For example, the M2 Pro Mac mini standard configuration started at 16GB, but the M4 Pro Mac mini now starts at 24GB. The additional RAM will help your Mac run a lot smoother and thats great, but perhaps the best part is that Apple implemented the increase without increasing the prices. For a lot of consumers, that means they no longer must dish out the extra $200/200. Apple even updated all the MacBook Airs, including the $999 M2 model, to 16GB without raising the prices. Nice. The Nano-texture glass option (left) is $150/150 but is worth the extra money. Foundry More than performance One of the reasons why I sometimes advise people to wait for the next release cycle is because while the latest Macs have the fastest chips, they also have old features. For most general consumers, even an M1 provides more than enough speed to get things done, so more speed alone isnt really worth the upgrade. But the M4 Macs brought some overdue new features. First and foremost, youll now get the same 12MP Center Stage camera found in the iPhone and iPad, a huge upgrade from the 1080p FaceTime HD camera in previous generations. Theres also a Nano-texture glass option in both the iMac and MacBook Pro, which is great for cutting down glare, and the M4 Pro and M4 Max Macs get Thunderbolt 5 as well. These are fantastic features that will future-proof your purchase. Then theres the redesign of the Mac mini. The Mac mini was small before, but its tiny now and looks incredible on your desk. The small form factor is also a better fit for more imaginative projects and the front-facing ports are a nice upgrade. The lack of USB-A ports might be an issue for some, but the MacBook and iMac havent had them for years. Have no fear of buying The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac are all great buys right now. Its not a stretch to say Apples 2024 Mac lineup represents the best value ever and you dont need to ask whether its a good time to buy. It isno matter which model you want. And with Black Friday right around the corner, you can save some money too . The only exception is the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. If you need one of Apples highest-end Macs, youll have to wait a little longer. Theyre still languishing with older M2 Max and Ultra chips, and as you can see in the benchmark chart above, theyve been surpassed by the far-cheaper M4 Pro and M4 Max machines. Based on our experience with the M4 chips as well as the latest rumors , it looks like the upcoming M4 Ultra is going to be a serious beast to round out an already incredible lineup. For more help deciding which Mac to buy or to find the Best MacBook read our guides. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,474 at Amazon $1484 at Walmart Electronics $1549 at B&H Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: $1,839 at Amazon $1849 at Walmart Electronics $1999 at Apple Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,199 Best Prices Today: $3,101.89 at Amazon $3199 at Apple $3199 at B&H Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: $2,299 at Amazon $2314 at Walmart Electronics $2499 at Apple Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,499 | $3,999 Best Prices Today: $3,349 at Amazon $3499 at Apple $3499 at B&H Apple Mac mini (M4) Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: $564 at Walmart Electronics $599 at Apple $599 at B&H Not Available at Amazon Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,399 Best Prices Today: $1,369 at Amazon $1399 at Apple $1399 at B&H Read our full Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) review Apple iMac (M4) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: $1,204 at Amazon $1214 at Walmart Electronics $1299 at Apple Read our full Apple iMac (M4) review

Black Friday is a great time to buy AirPods, so check out these early deals

Macworld Its nearly that time of year again Black Friday , the yearly shopping event where everyone hunts for the biggest deals. Apples AirPods are famously popular gifts and travel companions, and various models are often on sale throughout the year. So keep your eyes peeled for great deals on AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max as the Black Friday sales take off. With the AirPods 4 released this year, older models are being phased out, and were not seeing as many deals there. Even if you find what looks like a good price on 2nd-gen AirPods or AirPods 3, its probably worth getting the AirPods 4 insteadthey sound and fit much better. Similarly, Apple recently updated the AirPods Max with USB-C replacing the Lightning port. But they have no new features, so if you find a better deal on the Lightning version, you should probably go for that. This page will be updated frequently with the latest deals, so return here throughout the Black Friday period as we highlight the best deals leading up to and through Black Friday (November 29, 2024) and Cyber Monday (December 2, 2024). Soon Apple will announce it own Black Friday 2024 sale , but in the meantime you should also check out of our round-up of the best Black Friday deals for this year and our always up-to-date advice on the best AirPods deals . The best AirPods deals right now Deals in the U.S.: AirPods Pro (2nd-gen, USB-C case) : $189 at Amazon or Best Buy ($59 off) AirPods 4 : $119 at Amazon ($10 off) AirPods 4 with ANC : $149 at Amazon ($10 off) AirPods Max (Lightning) : $469 at B&H Photo($100 off) Deals in the U.K.: Amazon, AirPods (4th gen, 2024, with ANC) : 169 (10 off, RRP 179) Argos, AirPods (3rd gen, Magsafe) : 139 (40 off, RRP was 179 Clearance ) Amazon, AirPods (3rd gen, Lightning) : 129 (40 off, RRP was 169 Clearance ) Argos, AirPods 2nd gen : 109 (10 off, RRP was 129 Clearance ) Argos, AirPod Max, Lightning, 2020 : 429 (70 off, RRP was 499 Clearance ) Black Friday: Apples shopping event Every year Apple holds shopping event from Black Friday (November 29, 2024) to Cyber Monday (December 2, 2024). Apple rarely discounts its products, so the event typically consists of gift card offers rather than actual savings. In 2023 you could get gift cards for the following voucher amounts with AirPods purchased on Apples U.S. site or Apples U.K. site . This year, with AirPods 4 out and Apple no longer selling AirPods 2 or 3, its not clear what deals will be available. AirPods (2ndgeneration) $25 20 AirPods (3rdgeneration) $25 20 AirPods Pro (2ndgeneration) $50 40 AirPods Max $75 60 Best AirPods deals in the US and U>K Heading into Black Friday, these were the best AirPods deals we found in November 2024. Latest AirPods Pro 2 deals The 2nd-generation AirPods Pro look just like the first-gen model, but they sound better, have longer battery life, and offer a few other welcome improvements. You should look for the then just-updated version with a USB-C charging case, which retailed at $249 / 229 but was often on sale for at least $50 off. Retailer Price $219 View Deal $249 View Deal $297.50 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Latest AirPods 4 deals When Apple released the AirPods 4, it priced them to replace both the 2nd-gen AirPods and AirPods 3. It comes in two models, a basic AirPods 4 that retails for $129 and an upgraded version with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) that is normally priced at $169. They look at feel the same and have the same great sound quality and features, other than ANC. Apple has stopped selling AirPods 2 or 3, and even if you find a deal on them, we think youll be a lot happier with AirPods 4. Here are the best deals for the basic version: Retailer Price $119 View Deal $125 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket And these are the deals on the AirPods 4 with ANC: Retailer Price $168.99 View Deal $174.95 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179 View Deal $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Latest AirPods Max deals Frankly, AirPods Max are overpriced (even on sale). Compared to other consumer-oriented over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones, you might pay hundreds more. Apples price is $549 / 499, and theyre easy enough to find for up to $100 less, but a good price would have been under $400. Apple recently updated the AirPods Max to include a USB-C charging port, but they are otherwise unchanged. You can probably find better deals on the older model with the Lightning charging port, and if so you should probably go for that. Retailer Price $429 View Deal $459 View Deal $477 View Deal $499.99 View Deal 549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Amazon Lightning Deals Check out these time-limited tech deals before they go. (Prices subject to change.) Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro w/ Thunder $134.99 ( 32% off, was $199.99 ) Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet $59.99 ( 50% off, was $119.99 ) Amazon Fire 10 HD Kids tablet- 2023 $109.99 ( 42% off, was $189.99 ) New Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet $69.99 ( 50% off, was $139.99 ) Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet- 2023 $109.99 ( 42% off, was $189.99 ) Certified Refurbished Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 ( 53% off, was $159.99 ) JBL Bar 300: 5.0-Channel Compact All-in- $249.99 ( 37% off, was $399.95 ) Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x SDXC Memo $98.98 ( 41% off, was $169.99 ) eufy by Anker $24.99 ( 44% off, was $44.99 ) ASUS ZenScreen 15.6 1080P Wireless Po $299.00 ( 33% off, was $449.00 ) Targus USB C Universal Docking Station w $303.23 ( 37% off, was $482.99 ) Kensington Single Monitor Desk Mount $38.06 ( 33% off, was $56.99 ) Monster Boomerang Neckband Bluetooth Spe $59.99 ( 33% off, was $89.99 ) Norton 360 Platinum 2024 $39.99 ( 69% off, was $129.99 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.95 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT Wireless Gam $91.00 ( 43% off, was $159.99 ) BOSCH GPB18V-5CN 18V Jobsite Radio with $150.54 ( 34% off, was $229.00 ) SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $1797.99 ( 45% off, was $3297.99 ) Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4 $299.99 ( 40% off, was $499.99 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U7 Series ULED 4K $1798.00 ( 40% off, was $2997.95 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LE $2997.99 ( 40% off, was $4997.99 ) SAMSUNG 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $2297.99 ( 52% off, was $4797.99 ) SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $997.99 ( 37% off, was $1597.99 ) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S85D Serie $1297.99 ( 38% off, was $2097.99 ) SAMSUNG 98-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80C Serie $3997.99 ( 50% off, was $7997.99 ) Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) + Battery Exte $49.99 ( 58% off, was $119.99 ) Introducing Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam | S $49.99 ( 37% off, was $79.99 ) SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $897.99 ( 40% off, was $1497.99 ) All New, Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 46% off, was $27.99 ) Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 40% off, was $24.99 ) Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Apple Black Friday 2024 sale Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 MacBook deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals

Macworld Podcast: M4 iMac, M4 MacBook Pro, M4 Mac mini reviews

Macworld Apples new M4 Macs started shipping last Friday, and we have the new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro in-house. Why are these some of the more exciting Macs to hit the market? Find out on this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 909 with Jason Cross , Michael Simon , and Roman Loyola . Watch episode 909 on YouTube Listen to episode 909 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 909 on Spotify Get info For more information about the topics discussed on the show, click on the links below. M4 Pro Mac mini review If youre upset about the M4 Mac mini, youre just using it wrong How small is the M4 Mac mini really? This small The new Mac mini has a removable SSD but DIY upgrades wont be easy M4 iMac review: This might be the best iMac ever 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review! right here in the Podcasts app . The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel . Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone . Apple Apple Mac mini (M4) Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: $564 at Walmart Electronics $599 at Apple $599 at B&H Not Available at Amazon Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,399 Best Prices Today: $1,369 at Amazon $1399 at Apple $1399 at B&H Read our full Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,474 at Amazon $1484 at Walmart Electronics $1549 at B&H Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: $1,839 at Amazon $1849 at Walmart Electronics $1999 at Apple Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,199 Best Prices Today: $3,102 at Amazon $3199 at Apple $3199 at B&H Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: $2,299 at Amazon $2314 at Walmart Electronics $2499 at Apple Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,499 | $3,999 Best Prices Today: $3,376.99 at Amazon $3499 at Apple $3499 at B&H Apple iMac (M4) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: $1,204 at Amazon $1214 at Walmart Electronics $1299 at Apple Read our full Apple iMac (M4) review

Google releases standalone Gemini app for iPhone

Macworld The AI wars are nothing if not persistent. Apple, Meta, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are all charging ahead, doing their best to make their new AI tools an indispensable part of our daily lives. Googles latest multi-modal AI is called Gemini and it has been available for some time now, easily selectable with a single tap at the top of the Google app on iPhone. Now, in an effort to better promote it, the company has released a stand-alone Gemini iPhone app . The accompanying blog post details all the many things you can do with Gemini, including image generation (Googles Imagen3 is pretty good) and a live conversational assistant mode called Gemini Live that supports 12 languages with more on the way. Of course, Gemini can hook into your Google account and use all the data from Google apps and services, like your Google calendars, contacts, e-mails, and so on. There doesnt appear to be anything in the Gemini app that you couldnt just do in the Google app by tapping the toggle at the top of the screen to switch between Search and Gemini. Perhaps Google is setting itself up for future customization of its dedicated Gemini app, or integration with iOS in some future Apple Intelligence release. Or maybe taking the same exact feature and dropping it into its own app is just a way to draw some attention to it.

Get four AirTags for $70 with this stunning early Black Friday deal

Macworld If youve been waiting to get some AirTags, nows the time to do so because they just dropped to a brand-new low price. You can snatch a four-pack of AirTags for $70 right now , a 29 percent discount on its $99 MSRP and bringing the price down to just $17.50 per AirTag. If youd rather just get one, it will only cost you $19 , but you get an even better value from the larger pack. These AirTags are extremely useful because theyre affordable and can help you keep track of your keys, wallet, or luggage when youre traveling. Theyre super easy to set up with your iPhone or iPad, offering precise tracking complete with pointing their location on the map. Even when the AirTag isnt within your phones range, its location will ping off any nearby iPhone via the Find My network. In our review of the AirTags , we gave these tiny trackers a four-star rating and appreciated their accuracy, great design, as well as the fact that you can easily change out the battery. While the deal may not be marked as such, this is clearly an early Black Friday discount because its unlikely well see a further price drop in the coming weeks. Snatch the four-pack of AirTags for $70 at Amazon while you still can. Save $30 on a 4-pack of AirTags Buy it now at Amazon

Apple accused of misleading consumers over AirPods Pro audio defect

Macworld A class-action lawsuit filed this month accuses Apple of misleading AirPods Pro customers and failing adequately to address an audio defect reported shortly after the products launch in 2019. The suit (via ClassAction.org ) focuses on two seemingly widespread problems with the 1st-gen AirPods Pro: unwanted crackling sounds, and the failure of Active Noise Cancellation to work correctly. These issues were publicized within months of release, but it took Apple almost a year to address them with a service program offering to replace units made before October 2020, free of charge. Apples own support document acknowledges that affected units could exhibit crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phone and Active Noise Cancellation not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise. A happy ending, then? Not quite. The theory was that AirPods Pro made after October 2020 would not be affected by the audio defect because Apples engineers had solved the problem, which is why such units were not eligible for a free replacement. But according to the lawsuit, they had not solved it at all. The replacement set of AirPods Pro Gen 1 contained the same Audio Defect, claims the lawsuit . In other words, those users simply received another defective set of AirPods Pro Gen 1, with many users later experiencing the Audio Defect with the defective replacement set as well. It adds that microscopic examination of AirPods Pro units sold before and after October 2020 reveals that there are no significant component differences. Although Apple reportedly experimented with different microphones in 2020, this did not impact the defect and was subsequently reverted. Apples own actions at the time are ambiguous, but may to some extent corroborate the plaintiffs claims. First, while it never extended the service program to cover AirPods Pro made after October 2020, it did give consumers an extra year to make claims, suggesting it was aware that complaints were continuing. (The lawsuit flatly insists that Apple extended the program because it knew it could not fix the problem. However, the extension only gave consumers more time to claim on the pre-October 2020 units that would not in any case have been affected by Apples attempted fixes, successful or not.) Furthermore, Apple changed the audio design for the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro launched in September 2022, a decision the plaintiffs interpret as a giveaway that the company knew the 1st-gen model was fatally flawed and needed to be overhauled. In particular, the suit claims, Apple appears to have attempted to solve the AirPods Pro Gen 1s Audio Defect in the redesign of AirPods Pro Gen 2 by (i) increasing the processing speed of the DSP processor (responsible for noise canceling or decreasing background ambient noise), and by (ii) redesigning the speakers to add angular striations along its periphery to improve low frequency (base tone) response. Its a long and complicated saga, but the lawsuits argument boils down to four central allegations: Apple knew that the 1st-gen AirPods Pro were faulty and that it couldnt fix the problem without a redesign. The service program was inadequate because it failed to cover post-October 2020 units, which were also subject to the defect and replaced defective units with other defective units. Apple failed to contact owners of defective AirPods Pro to notify them they were entitled to a replacement. Apple continued to knowingly sell faulty AirPods Pro units at a premium price right up to 2022 and made false claims about their audio capabilities in its marketing material. At this point, the class-action lawsuit is at the filing stage. But at some point in the future, if the suit is successful, readers who owned a set of 1st-gen AirPods Pro may be entitled to compensation.

Need a new iPhone? These are the best Black Friday deals youre going to find

Macworld Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, and its often the best time to get a good deal on a new iPhone, accessories, or other Apple gear. While Black Friday is really just the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, it has grown into an entire season unto itself, with sales extending several days after and well into December. Officially, Black Friday is Friday, November 29, and extends through Cyber Monday on Monday, December 2. But youll find deals that start earlier and end later. We check prices on iPhone models all year round, so at any point you can check out our best iPhone deals article for up-to-date info on the top deals. If you want one of the latest iPhone 16 models, we have separate advice for readers in the U.S. and the U.K. , and dont forget our round-up of the best Apple deals that we also update all year round. That said, Black Friday is generally expected to bring the best deals of the year. You can find early deals below as well as some advice on what will be on sale based on what we saw last year. Well be updating this page imminently, as the discounts start to come in and as Apple announces its own Black Friday 2024 sale . Apples shopping event for Black Friday 2024 Every year Apple holds a shopping event from Black Friday (November 29) to Cyber Monday (December 2). However, since Apple rarely discounts its products, the event consists of gift card offers rather than actual savings. In 2023 you could get gift cards for the following amounts with the following iPhones purchased from Apple.com . This year, the deals will likely apply to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, but not the iPhone 16. iPhone 14 $75 60 iPhone 13 $50 40 iPhone deals for Black Friday 2024: Our advice Apples newest iPhones are the iPhone 16 ($799), 16 Plus ($899), 16 Pro ($999), and 16 Pro Max ($1,199). The iPhone 14 ($599) and 14 Plus ($699), and 15 ($699) and 15 Plus ($799) are also still offered for sale, as well as the iPhone SE ($429). You can save some money by buying an older iPhone, but youll be giving up some newer features , most notably Apple Intelligence. We dont recommend buying an iPhone SE even if its free through a carrier as its several years old and is due to get an update in early 2025. iPhone deals from U.S. carriers for Black Friday 2024 These are the deals that are available from the three major U.S. carriers. Conditions always apply hereyou may need to have a specific plan, open a new line, or trade in a device. Most U.S. carrier deals require you to buy the phone on an installment plan, and then you get the discount as bill credits toward your monthly payment. In the U.S., the only big iPhone deals you can find come from carriers, and have a lot of strings attached. Typically, you have to buy a phone on a multi-year installment plan and get your discount in the form of monthly bill credits. These might change over Black Friday, but the offers are likely to still have strings attached. AT&T : Get up to $1,000 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile : Get up to $830 in bill credits toward the purchase of any iPhone 16 model when you trade in your old phone and join the Go5G plan. Verizon : Get up to $100 in bill credits toward any iPhone 16 Pro model with a trade-in and the activation of a new line on the Ultimate Unlimited plan. Amazon : Amazon has partnered with Boost Infinite, a new carrier owned by Dish that primarily uses T-Mobile and AT&T towers for now. $65/mo gets you a free iPhone 16 Pro and unlimited talk, text, and data. Restrictions apply. iPhone deals in the U.K. for Black Friday 2024 This is our pick of the best U.K. iPhone deals ahead of Black Friday. For the latest deals on specific models, check the automated price comparison tables below. John Lewis, iPhone 15 (128GB) : 681 (18 off, RRP 699) plus two-year guarantee John Lewis, iPhone 15 Plus (128GB) : 793.61 (5.39 off, RRP 799) Argos, iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) : 899 (RRP was 999, DISCONTINUED) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) : 1,099 (RRP was 1,199, DISCONTINUED) Amazon, iPhone 14 : 499 (100 off, RRP 599) KRCS, iPhone SE (64GB) : 375.21 (53.79 off, RRP 429) KRCS, iPhone SE (128GB) : 424.71 (54.29 off, RRP 479) Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB) : 449 (RRP was 499, DISCONTINUED) Argos, iPhone 13 mini (128GB) : 499 (150 off, RRP was 649, DISCONTINUED) iPhone accessories on sale this Black Friday Many of the best deals are going to be on iPhone accessoriescases, chargers, cables, and the like. There are way too many such products to keep track of, and many small discounts come and go throughout the Black Friday sale. We highlight only the most interesting bargains; products that are rarely discounted or exceptionally good prices on accessories we recommend. U.S. Amazon, MagSafe charger (2M) : $34 ($15 off, MSRP $49) Amazon, AirTag : $19 ($10 off, MSRP $29) Amazon, AirTag (4-pack) : $69 ($30 off, MSRP $99) Amazon, Belkin BoostCharge Wireless Power Bank : $49 ($10 off) Amazon, UGreen 2-in-1 magnetic charging station : $29 ($10 off) Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro Max Silicone Case with MagSafe and Camera Control : $36 ($13 off) Amazon, iPhone 16 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe and Camera Control : $39 ($10 off) Amazon, iPhone 16 Silicone Case with MagSafe and Camera Control : $39 ($10 off) U.K. Amazon U.K., Apple MagSafe Charger : 39 (6 off) Amazon U.K., AirTag 4-pack : 95 (24 off) Currys, single AirTag for 28.99 (6.01 off) You can also find more Apple accessory Black Friday deals . iPhone 15 deals MSRP: $799/799 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 deals MSRP: $899/899 Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15 Pro deals MSRP: $999/999 Retailer Price $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 15 Pro Max deals MSRP: $1,199/1,199 Retailer Price $1099.99 View Deal $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 14 Pro Max deals MSRP was: $1,099/1,149 New Refurbished Retailer Price $607.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Deep Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $573.14 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 14 Pro deals MSRP was: $999/1049 New Refurbished Retailer Price $607.99 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Space Black Unlocked Dual eSIM $492.48 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Deep Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $498.20 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Silver Unlocked Dual eSIM $500.92 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Gold Unlocked Dual eSIM $536.91 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Deep Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $573.14 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Space Black Unlocked Dual eSIM $594.90 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Gold Unlocked Dual eSIM $602.67 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB Silver Unlocked Dual eSIM $604.04 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices iPhone 14 deals MSRP: $699/699 New Refurbished Retailer Price $629 View Deal $829 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 128GB Blue Unlocked Dual eSIM $402.15 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Purple Unlocked Dual eSIM $408.27 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Starlight Unlocked Dual eSIM $409.99 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB Midnight Unlocked Dual eSIM $409.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone SE (third-generation) deals MSRP: $429/429 New Refurbished Retailer Price $313.17 View Deal $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone SE (2022) 64GB Midnight Unlocked $148.59 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Amazon Lightning Deals Check out these time-limited tech deals before they go. (Prices subject to change.) Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro w/ Thunder $134.99 ( 32% off, was $199.99 ) Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet $59.99 ( 50% off, was $119.99 ) Amazon Fire 10 HD Kids tablet- 2023 $109.99 ( 42% off, was $189.99 ) New Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet $69.99 ( 50% off, was $139.99 ) Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet- 2023 $109.99 ( 42% off, was $189.99 ) Certified Refurbished Amazon Fire HD 10 $74.99 ( 53% off, was $159.99 ) JBL Bar 300: 5.0-Channel Compact All-in- $249.99 ( 37% off, was $399.95 ) Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x SDXC Memo $98.98 ( 41% off, was $169.99 ) eufy by Anker $24.99 ( 44% off, was $44.99 ) ASUS ZenScreen 15.6 1080P Wireless Po $299.00 ( 33% off, was $449.00 ) Targus USB C Universal Docking Station w $303.23 ( 37% off, was $482.99 ) Kensington Single Monitor Desk Mount $38.06 ( 33% off, was $56.99 ) Monster Boomerang Neckband Bluetooth Spe $59.99 ( 33% off, was $89.99 ) Norton 360 Platinum 2024 $39.99 ( 69% off, was $129.99 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.95 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise $99.99 ( 33% off, was $149.95 ) Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT Wireless Gam $91.00 ( 43% off, was $159.99 ) BOSCH GPB18V-5CN 18V Jobsite Radio with $150.54 ( 34% off, was $229.00 ) SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $1797.99 ( 45% off, was $3297.99 ) Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4 $299.99 ( 40% off, was $499.99 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U7 Series ULED 4K $1798.00 ( 40% off, was $2997.95 ) Hisense 100-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LE $2997.99 ( 40% off, was $4997.99 ) SAMSUNG 85-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $2297.99 ( 52% off, was $4797.99 ) SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $997.99 ( 37% off, was $1597.99 ) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S85D Serie $1297.99 ( 38% off, was $2097.99 ) SAMSUNG 98-Inch Class QLED 4K Q80C Serie $3997.99 ( 50% off, was $7997.99 ) Blink Outdoor 4 (4th Gen) + Battery Exte $49.99 ( 58% off, was $119.99 ) Introducing Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam | S $49.99 ( 37% off, was $79.99 ) SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class QLED 4K QN90D Seri $897.99 ( 40% off, was $1497.99 ) All New, Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 46% off, was $27.99 ) Made for Amazon $14.99 ( 40% off, was $24.99 ) Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Apple Black Friday 2024 sale Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 MacBook deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals

M4 Mac mini teardown shows future upgradability in a seriously packed package

Macworld iFixit has posted its video teardown of the new M4 Mac mini, and as usual, its a fascinating study of how design, engineering, and technology come togetheror in this case, taken apart While a lot of people are interested in the inner workings of Apples products, the Mac mini might draw more interest than any other product. Theres a widespread belief that users should be able to perform a certain amount of customization and upgrades with desktop computers, even with Macs. And the Mac mini has been used in unique situations and projects. Teardowns like iFixits dont just satisfy curiosity, they provide useful information. Watch iFixits video, and after that, here are a few takeaways from the teardown. Its packed to the gills The M1 and M2 Mac minis used an old design and left a lot of space inside . With the new design, the Mac mini is immensely packed. Its an incredible feat of design and engineering, but it also provides a serious hurdle to do-it-yourselfers. Which leads us to Its user upgradeablebut is it, really? Apple clearly has an idea of what components should be accessible, and its obvious in the Mac mini. For example, the CMOS battery is designed for access without diving deeper into the machine. In fact, its the only component thats readily accessible. We heard early reports about the Mac minis SSD being upgradeable and the iFixit video provides more info. The M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis use modules of different sizes and iFixit couldnt get its Mac mini to work when they tried swapping the SSDs. iFixit often refers to the Mac mini as being upgradeable, but being upgradeable involves the ability to remove a part and replace it with an available part . At this point, theres no available part for the Mac mini. Apple uses a proprietary SSD module that is nothing like the NVMe SSDs used in Windows PCs and is made by third parties such as Crucial . You cant buy a NVMe and pop it into the Mac mini. Could a company make a Mac mini-compatible SSD module? Maybe, but would it be worth the investment for them? Its hard to say. The Mac minis SSD is similar to that of the Mac Studio, and a Kickstarter project to make a third-party Mac Studio SSD upgrade has exceeded its funding goal, but it has only 142 backers. Granted, the Mac Studio is more of a niche than the Mac mini, but it still seems like a low-volume endeavor. In case youre wondering, the RAM is incorporated in the M4 chip, as it has since the M1. There is no way to upgrade RAM after purchase. The fan is big The ring of vents at the bottom of the Mac mini leads to a fan that takes up a considerable amount of space (and even more space in the M4 Pro model). I cant help but wonder if smaller cooling units can be used, which could make the Mac mini even more tiny. For example, Frore System makes solid-state active cooling chips that are super thin and effective. Last year, I covered how they modified a MacBook Air with its cooling chips , which allowed it to stop throttling to maintain a proper operating temperature. I dont know what a system like Frores would cost to implement, but I imagine its not as cheap as a fan, so it may be too pricey for consideration.

Stop what youre doing! The M4 MacBook Pro is already over $100 off

Macworld Apples brand-new MacBook Pro only just went on sale last week and it already has its first discount: Amazon has dropped the price to $1,474 , a savings of $125 off its $1,599 MSRP and a surprising price cut for such a new model. Running on a powerful M4 chip, the MacBook Pro will easily tackle any task you throw its way with extreme ease. And dont forget, it now comes with 16GB of RAM standard, double the previous model, and essentially a $200 price cut. The MacBook Pro already had a good battery, but theyve improved on that too. In our test, the laptop ran for about 20 hours before finally shutting down. Thats more than enough for you to leave home without a charger. In our review of the MacBook Pro M4 , we gave it a near-perfect score, praising its performance, the powerful Center Stage camera, and the nano-texture glass display. The 14.2 Liquid Retina XDR display offers stunning colors, high brightness, and sharp details: The changes that Apple made to the $1,599/1,599 M4 MacBook Pro not only made it a clear pro laptop (finally), but it also created a package bursting with value. So there you have itskip Black Friday and get yourself the MacBook Pro M4 because we dont know how long this sale will last. Snatch the MacBook Pro M4 at its cheapest price ever Buy it now at Amazon

Best VPN for Mac: Reviews and buying advice for Mac users

Macworld If you are concerned about your privacy and security online using a VPN could give you some reassurance. Apple provides various measures in macOS that make Macs more secure , but if you want to ensure that the connection between your Mac and the internet is protected, rather than the computer itself, you need a VPN. Using a VPN essentially makes you invisible on the webyour data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another country. This latter reason is the main reason many people use a VPN: they want to access services that are locked to a particular region, such as accessing U.S. Netflix from the U.K or BBC iPlayer from the U.S. If you are looking for a VPN to protect your privacy and security online, and to grant you a way to access content as if you are in a different country, we are here to help. There are a lot of VPN providers vying for your business, which can make finding the best one to suit your needs difficult. To help you sort out the right provider for you, weve committed to extensive research and testing of VPN services that cater to Mac owners in our guide to the top VPN services for Mac. Updated: November 2024 with a review of Nortons Ultra VPN . PROMOTION Black Friday Deal: Up to 74% off NordVPN + 3 extra months! Upgrade your online security and privacy with NordVPN. Shield your online traffic. Choose from 5,800+ global servers for blazing speeds. Block web trackers, annoying ads, and unsafe websites. Try NordVPN risk free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get the Deal Best VPNs for Mac: Reviewed & Ranked Our top choice right now is NordVPN , which we feel stands out in many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Get NordVPN here Below you will find the VPN services for Mac that we recommend based on our tests. Most of these will cost less than $3/3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once the deal period ends the price often jumps, so its worth setting a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal, alternatively, you could cancel and sign up with another email address. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals . ProtonVPN has a free tier . All of these VPNs will also work on your iPhone and iPad as well, and many with Apple TV, but you might want to check out our separate guides to the best VPNs for iPhone and best VPNs for iPad . 1. NordVPN Pros Easy to use Impressive WireGuard speeds Lots of servers Cons Two separate apps can be confusing Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $3.59 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $12.99. Best Prices Today: $2.99 at NordVPN (Monthly) 5,300 servers 10 simultaneous connections NordVPN is one of the biggest and best-known VPN services. Its a fully featured VPN option thats secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. There are cheaper options, with unlimited connections and more in-depth VPN features, but NordVPN is our top choice right now because it stands out in so many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Nord has an up-to-date independent audit. It also has specialty servers for specific purposes. There are more than 5,300 servers (none of which are virtual) available across 60 countries, which sounds great. You probably only care about the servers where you want to unblock content, but the more servers the better as it means you have a better chance of finding one thats not overloaded. You wont have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy Quick connect feature that picks the server best suited to your needs. Connections are fast and reliable, and NordVPN unblocks popular streaming services around the world including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously including your Apple TV. Nord has added support for the faster WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of the fastest VPN services out there. However, its only available on the IKE version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, youll need to download the OpenVPN version, albeit with slightly slower speeds. Nord frequently has deals on offer that save money on the usual monthly price if you take advantage of the two-year plan . NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus and Ultimate. You can get Plus features (data breach scanner and password manager) or the Ultimate tier adds cloud storage and insurance options. Prices change all the time, so take a look at the prices and plans at NordVPN.com . Read our full NordVPN review 2. ExpressVPN Pros Easy-to-use desktop program Broad device support Excellent speeds Cons ExpressVPNs team is largely anonymous Expensive Price When Reviewed: From $6.67 a month for one year + 3 free months. Usually $12.95 a month.. Best Prices Today: $6.67 at ExpressVPN (Monthly) 2,000 servers 8 simultaneous connections If you want to circumnavigate geoblocking to get access to content not available where you live, protect your data while browsing the web from a public network, and keep your web browsing habits private, ExpressVPN, with its server locations across 105 countries, can do just about all of this with two or three clicks. ExpressVPN is remarkably easy to use, but if you have any difficulties the 24-hour live chat means you can be connected to a real human to discuss issues within minutes. There are native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android and Windows. Plus you can use it on eight devices at once (the limit was five previously). Like all VPNs there is some speed loss because you are routing via a server in another country, but ExpressVPN does well to mitigate this, dropping less than 13% of download speed in our testing. NordVPN remains faster with a 12% loss in our tests, but ExpressVPNs 13% is still better than most. ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different choices for protocol. Lightway, the companys own option, is rapid. For improved compatibility you can switch to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN things slowed down with 24% of speed loss with the latter. Theres no Malware protection with ExpressVPN, but you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so its free from the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies jurisdiction. While it also operates a no-log policy, it doesnt have PureVPNs always-on audit process, but it undergoes audits each year. ExpressVPNs more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesnt allow access from unlimited devices (just eight). But you get a solid, speedy connection with minimal fuss, and you dont have to tie-in for a two-year deal to get the best value. That latter point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly. See ExpressVPN subscription plans here . Read our full ExpressVPN review 3. ProtonVPN Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Setup on macOS was a little fiddly Price When Reviewed: From $4.49 a month for two years. Usually $9.99 a month. Best Prices Today: $4.49 at Proton Technologies (Monthly) 6,500+ servers in 100+ countries (access servers in 5 countries on free plan, on one device) 10 simultaneous connections ProtonVPN s free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. Its naturally limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop but its still pretty usable If you pay for the service it offers a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and just about enough features to improve your day-to-day web experience without throwing too many complex concepts at new users. Proton VPN Plus offers a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. Theres Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. Some VPN services offer features like dark web data notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the basics and does so very well. The companys no-logs policy confirms it doesnt track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, and only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesnt log data theres very little it can offer to law enforcement. For the privacy-minded, Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the companys Secure servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. These secure servers are owned by Proton and are located in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In fact, its only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading, making it one of the slicker VPNs weve tested. In terms of included VPN protocols, Smart will be ideal for most users, automatically setting the right protocol for your current usage, but WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are also offered. Proton VPN is an easy recommendation both for new and experienced users. Read our full ProtonVPN review 4. Private Internet Access Pros Lots of servers Fast WireGuard speeds Split tunneling works well Unblocks BBC iPlayer Cons Clunky Mac app Based within 14-eyes Price When Reviewed: From $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $11.99 a month. Best Prices Today: $2.19 at Private Internet Access (Monthly) 35,000+ servers, 91 countries Unlimited connections Private Internet Access (PIA) is a powerful VPN designed for savvy users, offering power user tools and features such as custom DNS, connection rules, split tunnelling, and more at a lower cost than many competitors. The PIA Mac app offers pretty much everything its Microsoft counterpart does. The app can be used on any device and offers servers in 91 countries. In my testing, the auto setting did a good job of picking servers that balanced speed and privacy. The main window provides information on performance graphs, download and upload speeds, and quick settings for tools like Light Mode, Port Forwarding, and LAN connections. While you can use PIA for getting around geoblocked content on your streaming services, PIA is more privacy-focused than other VPNs, with features like the Advanced Kill Switch, Split Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA also offers customizable features like automation setup and DNS options. Private Internet Access cant beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN offers more impressive speeds, but at the cost of some power features. In our testing, we saw a reasonable drop of around 8% on Mac while using the PIA VPN. Upload speeds dropped considerably by around 25%, which may be an issue if you do a lot of uploading. Its zero-log policy has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania. Despite inconsistent speeds, Private Internet Access is a great VPN for all budgets with a wealth of features for privacy-inclined users. Read our full Private Internet Access review 5. Surfshark Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Unlimited devices and connections Easy to use Cons Kill switch cant be customised Expensive to renew Price When Reviewed: Starter plan from $1.99 a month for two years + 4 free months. Usually $15.45 a month. Best Prices Today: $1.99 at Surfshark (Monthly) 3,200 servers in 100 countries Unlimited simultaneous connections Surfshark is a great-value VPN that offers quite a lot features beyond the core VPN service for a low monthly price. SurfShark has more than 3,000 servers spread across 100 countries, making its network one of the widest and most varied of any VPN, Its apps are easy to use and it reliably unblocks streaming services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Its missing the specialty servers offered by rivals such as NordVPN , who shares the same parent company, though. Connection speeds are very impressive, and thats thanks to the use of the WireGuard protocol. You really wont notice any slowdown in your internet speed when Surfshark is running, so long as you have WireGuard selected and arent using servers the other side of the globe. The company has upgraded all its servers so they run entirely in RAM, just like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Running servers on RAM is better for privacy as data isnt written to a hard drive. Its also a member of the VPN Trust Initiative , while two-factor authentication (2FA) is a feature few VPN services offer. Being run from the Netherlands also means this is a privacy-friendly option. The other reason to consider Surfshark is because it undercuts almost all of its rivals on price, yet doesnt place any limit on the number of devices you can use simultaneously. Unfortunately, it can be pricy to renew once your initial contract runs out. You can install and use it across many devices including your Mac, PC, Android and iOS devices, as well as browsers. It also supports multiple protocols (although OpenVPN is a little slower than wed like) and excellent encryption, as well as a privacy-minded no-logs policy thats regularly audited Theres a kill switch and a Multi-Hop feature that routes your connection via two VPN servers for an extra layer of protection. However, theres no GPS spoofing or split tunneling on the Mac (the latter being very uncommon on Macs anyway). SurfShark offers three tiers of features at varying price points. The most basic option, aptly named SurfShark Starter, offers VPN functionality as well as an ad blocker and the option to generate a proxy email address and personal details for sites you dont feel comfortable about giving your information to. SurfShark One adds email and payment detail breach alerts, as well as personal data security reports, antivirus and other malware protection, while the One+ plan adds data removal from company databases and people search sites. In addition to the VPN there are Alert, Search or Antivirus packages, that are available for an extra cost. Just like most VPNs SurfShark offers discounted pricing if you sign up for two years, with the prices changing all the time. Just beware that at the end of the period the price will increase unless you cancel. Sign up to Surfshark here. Read our full Surfshark review 6. ClearVPN Pros Nice design. Great for getting around geo-blocks. Cons Lacks some features like split tunneling. Not the fastest. Price When Reviewed: Three day trial. Currently $49.99 a year, usually $119.88 a year ($9.99 a month). Best Prices Today: $44.99 at MacPaw (Monthly) More than 50 servers Six device limit MacPaws ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many more advanced features offered by its rivals, but on the other hand, its one of the easiest to use. With a nice UI and easy-to-use features its thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers. It really is as simple as hitting a button to connect. In the settings are options to block ads, keep ClearVPN in the dock, and a Kill Switch so that you can cut traffic from your device if the connection to the VPN is broken. Its all pretty basic stuff, but its offered in such an easy-to-use way that its hard not to appreciate the simplicity. There are also handy keyboard shortcuts to move around the app. There are more than 50 servers, which sounds like a lot, but its dwarfed by many rivals to the tune of thousands of servers. That means your choices are limited, but at least ClearVPN lets you filter between Optimal Location or jumping straight to something like Disney Plus US or UK. One of the more common power user features for VPNs is split tunneling, which lets some traffic go through the VPN while some goes around it. Thats not supported here. Sadly, MacPaws VPN speeds also need some work. We saw considerable speed drops across multiple servers even closer ones. We saw drops of around 20 to 30 percent in download speed, and around 50 percent for upload speed. Its still fast enough to use Netflix, but its slower than the majority of alternatives out there. Most VPN companies use external auditors to verify that theyre not recording user or session data, but ClearVPN hasnt undergone one at the time of writing. This shouldnt mean anything untoward as the company is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outside of various surveillance alliances, so it cant be asked to share your data. ClearVPN is priced affordably, but prices and the deals on offer change all the time with VPNs. Look out for low monthly prices that dont lock you in for too long. Theres a six-device limit. If youre new to using a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first choice, and stress-free access to Netflix around the globe, its a great starter option. Still, the speed drop and lack of common features like split tunneling likely mean power users should look elsewhere. You can save money by paying for the first year up front, but you can also pay monthly. See full ClearVPN pricing here . Read our full ClearVPN review 7. PureVPN Pros Easy to use Works on multiple devices, including iPhone Additional power user features Cons Obtuse pricing model. Virtual server locations feel like a worry.ureVPN caused many websites to question whether we were human Price When Reviewed: From $3.99 a month for one year + 4 free months. Usually $12.45 a month. A 5 year deal is available from $2.16 a month. Best Prices Today: $3.99 at PureVPN (Monthly) 6,500 servers, 78 countries 10 simultaneous connections If youre looking for a flexible VPN service that will get around geoblocking and is easy to use, PureVPN is well worth a look. The basic plan includes the VPN service and nothing more, but you can add a Password Manager and File Encryption tools in the Plus plan. The Max plan adds a Digital Privacy Manager that requests your records be scrubbed by data brokers, blocks web trackers, and recommends ways to maximize your privacy. Whichever plan you opt for youll be able to connect 10 devices at once. PureVPN will run on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is easy to use on each to let you connect to over six thousand servers. As far as getting around geo-blocks, we found PureVPN to be as easy as any other service to use. Select a location, load your streaming service or app of choice, and youre off. PureVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is more privacy-friendly than Hong Kong where it operated previously. PureVPN offers one of the more impressive no-logging policies, with an ongoing always-on audit process whereby an auditor can request confirmation of that policy at any time. PureVPN has been winding down its virtual servers, of which it has less control. There are still 23 such servers, but PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical you can see a small v next to each virtual server on the PureVPN website . At the time of writing PureVPN is offering more than a whopping 80% off its plans if you sign up for 24 months. Two years is a long time in the world of VPNs, but at least means the full monthly pricing wont kick in twelve months time. See PureVPN offers here . Read our full PureVPN review 8. CyberGhost Pros Simple to use Decent speeds Plenty of servers Cons Two-year plans are much cheaper Lacking some power user features Price When Reviewed: $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $12.99 a month. Best Prices Today: $2.19 at CyberGhost (Monthly) 11,000+ servers in 100 countries 7 simultaneous connections CyberGhost is a user-friendly app that connects to numerous servers worldwide, making it ideal for streaming Netflix from different countries and routing traffic away from untrustworthy open Wi-Fi networks. It offers core features like kill switch support, split tunnelling, and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhosts no-logging audit history is thorough, and there is a 45-day free trial available. CyberGhost apps can be downloaded for various platforms, including Chrome extension and game consoles (we tested on Mac and iPhone). The app offers a simple click and go connection process, with a list of server nations and multiple locations. Encryption is standard across servers, and split tunnelling prioritizes traffic where needed. An automated kill switch can cut connections if the VPN drops out, while Block content blocks DNS domains for ads, trackers, and malware. The app does not offer anything like Proton VPNs Secure Core or additional features like a Password Manager, but subscription tiers are based on adding a dedicated IP address. The VPN has over 9,000 servers located in over 100 countries, with plans to expand in South America and Asia in late 2023. CyberGhost VPN has an impressive no-logs policy, meaning no one can access records of your activity while connected to the VPN. The app does not offer the Dark Web monitor offered by NordVPN, but it does have an automated kill switch to cut connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking feature is easy to use but doesnt allow you to choose what to block. CyberGhost offers a compelling package with just one main plan and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Its an excellent VPN for newcomers, with impressive audits, an array of servers, decent speeds, and easy-to-use apps. Read our full CyberGhost review 9. Norton Ultra VPN Pros Antivirus protections Cloud Backup and Password Manager Email tracking quarantine Cons Slower than rival VPNs Inflexible payment options Price When Reviewed: First year is from $39.99 Norton Secure VPN; $49.99 Norton Ultra VPN; $59.99 Norton Ultra VPN Plus. Renews at a higher price of $79.99/$109.99/$129.99. Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Norton (first year) Servers in 32 countries Norton has decades of experience protecting devices from cyber threats (read our review of Norton 360), but what or its VPN? Nortons VPN plans are, outside of the basic tier, tied into its security software to help offer real-time protection from bad actors. It comes with a password manager, dark web monitor, and cloud storage, but the VPN side of things is a little lacking. Perhaps its from testing so many of the best VPN services that weve grown used to a certain set of non-negotiables. Chief among them is browser extension options to allow for quick switching, but at the time of writing, theres no such offering from Norton. Still, if youre looking for real-time protection it remains a good security-focused option, but with geoblocking being inconsistent in our testing, you might want to look elsewhere for your international Netflix fix. Nortons VPN does include plenty of accoutrements that other VPNs either dont have or charge extra for. You can install the app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and all three platforms have apps that work well and run nicely in the background. Norton offers Browser Protection, which scans sites as you browse. Norton also scans files before they land on your device. This worked well in testing, with barely added any additional time to the length of downloads. Theres a password manager, but its tied to the middle subscription tier and above. One thing that was interesting was how it monitors trackers on emails. As a journalist, I receive a lot of press releases and pitches, and while Ive always assumed many of them use some kind of tracking to see when theyre opened, Norton offered to quarantine so many that I was quite taken aback. VPNs naturally decrease your internet speeds as your signal is fired across the globe, and Norton has servers in 32 countries a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPNs portfolio but it does offer four protocols to choose from. IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard are pretty commonly found across the board of rivals, but Norton has its own Mimic protocol which is intended to be ideal for unblocking international streaming services. Sadly, testing on a 70 Mbps connection saw a consistent speed drop-off. As for Mimic, Nortons own VPN protocol, I was disappointed to find some international streaming services simply werent able to be unblocked with it. Norton clarified that Mimic is specifically designed for customers with special use cases who are unable to use WireGuard. We did have more luck with the more standardized protocols. VPNs worth their salt should always focus on privacy as their primary concern, and Norton does a good job, having undergone an audit from VerSprite, a security firm. Its not a bad VPN, and if youre looking for an option that packs a whole host of cyber-security tools into one easy-to-use package, its a great option. Its disappointing that there is only a pay yearly option, where other VPNs have the option to pay monthly. Added to that is a steep jump in price for the second year. See full Norton Ultra VPN pricing here Read our full Norton Ultra VPN review 10. FastestVPN Pros Affordable pricing Good speeds 10 simultaneous connections Cons Limited compared to the Windows app Limited VPN protocol options Price When Reviewed: Lifetime special deal: $40, usually $600 Best Prices Today: $40 at FastestVPN (Lifetime payment) 800+ servers in 49+ countries 10 simultaneous connections This easy-to-use, attractive, and uncomplicated app is a great option for VPN newbs. In addition to its straightforward and uncluttered design, FastestVPN also offers good speeds and a sufficiently expansive network. Its icing on the cake that its privacy policy is easy to understand and makes all the right promises. In our tests, FastestVPN maintained about 30 percent of the base speed across five locations on multiple test days, although there were some weak spots in Asia and Australia. Despite its name its not the fastest VPN, but FastestVPN does make the right privacy promises in a way thats easy to understand. Read our full FastestVPN review 11. Hide.me Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Dedicated streaming servers Impressive free tier Only VPN that offers Split Tunnelling in Big Sur and beyond Cons Slightly clunky UI No recent independent audit Premium plans are expensive Price When Reviewed: From $2.59 a month for 1 years + 3 free months. Usually $9.95 a month. Best Prices Today: $2.59 at Hide.Me (Monthly) 2,600+ servers in 90 countries 10 simultaneous connections Hide.me is another VPN service that has improved considerably in recent years. As well as offering a completely free version (which none of its rivals here do), it has also added WireGuard, which is considerably faster than other encryption protocols. Other key features include a customizable kill switch and split tunneling. Hide.me is the only VPN to offer Split Tunnelling in macOS. They state on their website: hide.me VPN for macOS supports split tunneling. You can configure it in the clients settings. Hide.me also offers Stealth Guard, which stops selected apps from running without the security of a VPN connection. It can unblock Netflix and allows you to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK. Theres also solid device support, with up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted. Malaysia-based, in recent years it has expanded the number of servers and doubled the number of countries it covers. Unfortunately, the third-party audit hasnt been updated since 2015 However, the user interface on Mac is a bit clunky, and were still waiting for an update to the 2015 no-logs policy certification. Read our full hide.me VPN review 12. VyprVPN Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Very easy to use Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer Low starting price Cons Comparatively few servers Not clear which servers are virtual Patchy support experience Price When Reviewed: From $3 a month for two years. Usually $10 a month. Best Prices Today: $3 at VyprVPN (Monthly) 70 servers 5 simultaneous connection VyprVPN offers everything most people are looking for in a VPN, without needing to spend much money. You get fast WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols focused on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. Its also excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content, whether thats local versions of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outside the UK. Premium features such as split tunneling and a kill switch are here too, even if the latter cant be customised. VyprVPNs no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privacy Policy from parent company Golden Frog. More than 700 servers in over 70 countries should be plenty for most people, although theres often only one per country. Its also not clear which of these are physical and virtual. Nonetheless, its still speedy, reliable and affordable. See full VyprVPN pricing here Read our full VyprVPN review 13. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN (Mac) Pros Easy to use and understand Supports WireGuard protocol Clear privacy policy Cons Not a lot of features Other VPNs have more anonymity features Price When Reviewed: $3.33 a month for 1 device ($39.99 a year) Best Prices Today: $3.33 at Malwarebytes (Monthly) More than 245 servers 32 countries Malwarebytes, probably best known for antivirus software and advice, also offers a standalone VPN service called Malwarebytes Privacy . Its an easy to use app with the right kind of privacy promises as youd expect from a respected name in security based in the U.S. In our tests Malwarebytes was a mid-tier performer in terms of speeds, but it should be good enough for most casual users. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does a good job. See full Maywarebytes pricing here Read our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN (Mac) review Best Free VPNs for Mac There are also a number of free VPNs available, but beware that some severely restrict which servers (and therefore countries) you can connect to and the amount of data you can download through those servers. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals . Its also important to read the terms and conditions before using a free VPN, as in rare cases they sell your data to third parties to offset the cost of you using it without paying. Its a bigger problem on iPhones and Android where unscrupulous companies try to cash in on the VPN gold rush and offer up poorly put together apps. Stick with our recommendations and youll be safe from these, though. Do Macs need a VPN? There is a big question. Do Mac users even need a VPN? Since Apple introduced iOS 15 and macOS Monterey in 2021 the company has offered a handy private relay service. iCloud Private Relay acts a bit like a VPN because it encrypts your web-browsing traffic and sends it through a relay to hide your location, IP, and any information about what you were browsing. iCloud Private Relay solves part of the problem that Mac users have used VPNs for in the pastit means that companies cannot build a clear picture of you on the web, thereby protecting your privacy. iCloud Private Relay has some disadvantages: it only works when you are using Safari, you have to be a subscriber to iCloud, and you cant use it to pretend to be surfing from another country in order to access content that is locked to a particular region. Read more here: iCloud+ Private Relay explained . If you are a subscriber to iCloud, and only use Safari, then iCloud Private Relay will provide you with some anonymity when you are surfing the web. You may therefore be thinking that this means you dont need a VPN to hide your location and identity. However, iCloud Private Relay does not allow you to choose an IP address or a region, and you wont be able to make it look like youre coming from another location. So you cant watch geographically locked Netflix content, for example. How we test VPNs For each VPN service we review, we conduct tests at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening, using Ookla Speedtest . We start by measuring the speed of our unprotected internet connection before testing the upload/download speeds of the VPN service. These tests are conducted to servers located in North America, the UK, Europe, Oceana, and Asia over an ethernet connection with a service provision of 100Mbps. To test upload and download speeds, we close down all background internet processes on the Mac, using TripMode. The only traffic on the system able to upload or download any data is Ookla. We use this setup to ensure that the numbers that Ookla produced were not stymied by anything else that the computer may have been doing at the time. The speeds Ookla captured were then averaged, providing us with a final numeric score. We then use those scores to calculate a percentage of difference in speeds, which is what youll see in our reviews. Since internet speeds change constantly based on server load, how fast your connection is, and a gazillion other factors, we feel this provides a better picture of what you can expect from a service, on the whole, than merely quoting the exact upload/download speeds we encountered during testing. Speed isnt the only quantifiable metric that we look at. The number of countries that a VPN offers servers in, total number of servers worldwide, and how much itll cost you to connect to those servers on a monthly or annual basis are also taken into consideration when recommending a VPN service to you. Additionally, we conduct hours of research into the VPN providers to find out who owns them, where theyre based, what they do with subscriber information, and whether the provider has a track record of questionable business practices. Whats a VPN? VPN stands for virtual private network . If youre not using a VPN, when your computer connects to the internet, it does so through the local gateway provided by your internet service provider (ISP). Doing this allows you to connect to all of the online services you use everyday. However, connecting this way also allows an ISP to know your physical location based on where you access the internetbe it at home, at work, in a cafe, or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot.This information is often sold to marketers and other parties interested in getting to know more about you and your browsing habits. Worse still, if you connect to the internet through an access point with weak security, such as at an airport, mall, or local library, hackers connected to the same network could intercept personal information like your social media passwords or banking credentials through whats called a man-in-the-middle attack . A VPN service can help prevent all of that. A VPN creates an encrypted digital tunnel between your computer and the server of the VPN service you choose to use. Once this tunnel has been established, your web searches, the sites you access, and the information you submit online will be hidden from prying eyes. This means that your ISP cant log or sell your information and hackers using the same network as you will find it difficult to initiate an attack on you. Almost no one will have any idea of what information youre accessing. For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared . VPN apps are very easy to install and use but for a step-by-step guide, read how to set up a VPN on a Mac . What a VPN cant do A VPN cant protect you from viruses, malware, or ransomware attacks if you choose to download an infected file, or a visit site designed to inject your computer with malignant code. It wont keep spoofed sites from stealing your personal information, if you happen to visit one. So, youll want to bone up on online security best practices . You should know that while using a VPN will allow you to anonymously engage in peer-to-peer file-sharing/torrenting, some service providers may cancel your VPN subscription or turn over your information to the authorities if they catch you trading copyrighted material with others. Is it legal to use a VPN? While accessing locked content is a bit of a gray area, due to licensing agreements, we dont blame anyone who is desperate to watch the latest season of their favorite program when it airs in the U.S. rather than waiting for it to come to their country. Paying to watch a streaming service thats not available in your country has to be less morally wrong than actual piracy! For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for Mac? What to look for in a VPN A clear privacy policy. A good VPN should offer an easy-to-understand privacy policy that outlines what, if any, information the company collects from its users. Its important that this policy details what they do with this information. Some VPN providers, especially those that offer their services for free, sell their user information to advertisers and other interested parties, just like an ISP does. Choose a provider that offers a level of privacy that suits you. Know where the provider is based. Many countries have no laws demanding that VPN providers maintain logs of their users activity. This makes maintaining your privacy more assurable than it would be if you use a VPN located in a country that requires that user-activity records be maintained. Some companies, in an effort to make their network of servers look bigger or more varied than it actually is, spoof the locations of their servers . The more servers, the merrier. Choosing a VPN provider with a ton of servers around the world is important for a couple of reasons. First, having a multitude of servers to choose from means that you wont be forced to connect to an overpopulated server where the data flows like mud. Second, having a wealth of servers to choose from both at home and internationally means more opportunities for spoofing your location, allowing you to hide where you are or access region-locked content with ease. Multiple payment options. Its a vicious circle. Paying for a VPN with a credit card online before you have access to a VPN could allow your financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Look for providers that offer alternative payment options such as PayPal, Bitcoin, AliPay, or via the Mac App Store. An easy-to-use interface. It takes a lot of digital wizardry to connect to a VPN. Some people want to see how their VPN operates, behind the scenes. Using an open source VPN client like Tunnelblick is great for this. Most folks, however, just want their VPN to work with minimal frustration. Look for a VPN service that offers a Mac client with an easy-to-use interface. Protection for all of your devices. A good VPN service will offer licenses for multiple devices to protect your loved ones computers as well as your personal smartphone and tablet. To this end, before investing in a VPN subscription, make sure that it provides software clients for all of the devices you own.

Carrier gaffe appears to reveal crucial iOS 18.2 launch date

Macworld The all-important iOS 18.2 software update for iPhone is set to launch on December 9, based on an apparent gaffe by a U.K. carrier. Officially, Apple has announced only that iOS 18.2 will roll out in the month of December. But an additional clue was provided earlier this month when EE sent a notice to customers that its shared number service would no longer be available on MacBooks and iPads from December 9. As MacRumors notes, thats a change expected to take effect with the launch of iOS 18.2, because the second developer beta of the update contains a new EE carrier settings version which removes the toggle related to that feature. This in itself might not seem entirely conclusive, but the date makes sense in other respects too. Its a Monday, which is when iOS updates are often released, and it gets the update out ahead of the holiday season. And the previous Monday is Cyber Monday, which is unlikely to feature such a major release. So, unless Apple reacts to the leak by altering its plans, the chances are that this is the correct date. And the launch of iOS 18.2 is a reasonably big deal. One of the criticisms of Apples fall 2024 launch cycle has been that important features werent available when the new iPhones went on sale. Apple Intelligence didnt appear at all until iOS 18.1, while many of its features have been held back until iOS 18.2. The update is expected to add Visual Intelligence, Genmoji and other AI-based image generation, ChatGPT integration, support for localized English in the U.K., Canada, and Australia, and much more. Read our guide to the Apple Intelligence rollout for more details of the imminent new features.

Apples next big thing may be a smart iPad you can hang on your wall

Macworld Apple just wrapped up its slate of 2024 devices, but its never too early to look ahead. And according to a new report, big things are on the way. As reported by Bloombergs Mark Gurman , Apple is looking to launch a new wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle videoconferencing and use AI to navigate apps. The device, which Gurman says could arrive as early as March, is a priority for Tim Cook, who is pushing to get it to market after more than three years of development. Gurman describes the device as a square iPad with a 6-inch screen, about the size of two iPhones side by side, with a thick edge around the display. He says it has a camera at the top front, a rechargeable built-in battery, and internal speakers. It will reportedly be available in silver and black. Gurman doesnt venture to guess what the device will be called. Of note, the new device wont run iPadOS or tvOS. Instead, it has a touch interface that looks like a blend of the Apple Watch operating system and the iPhones recently launched StandBy mode. It will also be powered by Siri, which is expected to be the preferred method of interaction, like the Echo Show or Nest Hub. The OS is reportedly built around Apples App Intents, the upcoming Apple Intelligence framework that provides functionality to deeply integrate your apps actions and content with system experiences across platforms, including Siri, Spotlight, widgets, controls and more. Furthermore, the device will interact with Apples existing apps and services, including FaceTime, Safari, Apple Music, News+, Notes, Calendar, and Photos. Apple is also reportedly working on a higher-end version with a robotic arm that can spin 360 degrees and tilt up and down. Also this week, it was reported by Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple is working on a smart home camera that could be released in 2026. Its likely that the iPad described by Gurman will function as a home hub for cameras and other smart home gadgets and will likely be the start of a push into that category. As it stands, HomePods and Apple TV can work as a home hub, but this new device would be part of a renewed effort to define the Apple smart home.

Apple quietly added Inactivity Reboot in iOS 18.1 to safeguard a lost or stolen iPhone

Macworld According to security researchers, Apple has quietly added a new feature in iOS 18.1 that makes your iPhone harder to crack. 404 Media reported that iPhones stored by police in evidence were rebooting themselves, and it turns out its all due to a new Inactivity Reboot feature shipping in iOS 18.1. First reported by security researcher Jiska Classen , this new feature reboots your iPhone if it has gone unused for at least four days. This puts your iPhone into its Before First Unlock state. This is the state your iPhone is in after being restarted, which requires you to enter your PIN or password before you can use Face ID or Touch ID. The devices used by law enforcement and bad actors alike to crack their way into locked iPhones have a much harder time penetrating the device when in this state. The After First Unlock state, in which Face ID or Touch ID is active, is easier to crack. This means that if your iPhone is either stolen or confiscated, it cant simply be kept plugged in for weeks or months until it can be broken into. Or at least, that doing so will be much harder. While this may be frustrating for law enforcement storing iPhones in evidence, it also seriously raises the bar for thieves and criminals, which is the whole point. If you havent used your iPhone in four days, typing in your passcode is hardly a big inconvenience, but entering the state in which you have to do so is a big annoyance for anyone looking to break into your device.

Apple Intelligence is a gradual rolloutheres what youll get, and when

Macworld Easily the hottest feature of iOS 18 , iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 is Apple Intelligence , the brand Apple has chosen for its own particular suite of mostly-on-device, privacy-protected, personal AI features. But when you update your devices this September, youll probably be left scratching your head as to where all the AI features are. First, because Apple Intelligence is only going to run on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (or iPhone 16) and M-series Macs and iPads, but also because many of the cool features youve heard about just arent there. The best parts of Apple Intelligence arent coming at launch. Some will come later in 2024 through some software updates, and others will come in 2025. Its sort of a slow rollout of AI features through the lifespan of iOS 18, and well probably be downloading updates with new AI features until its nearly time for next years WWDC. Heres a breakdown of which features are coming, and when. Updated November 12: Apple seems to have quietly removed the sketch style option from its image generation tools. Its not in the iOS 18.2 beta and has been scrubbed from the website. Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 Released October 28 None of the Apple Intelligence features arrived with iOS 18 on September 16. The first features rolled out with iOS 18.1 on October 28. Siris new interface : A glowing edge around the whole screen, and the ability to type requests to Siri. Siri natural conversation : Siris ability to understand you better, even when you mess up what youre saying, and remember context from previous requests. Clean-up tool : Remove unwanted background items in Photos. Writing support : Re-write passages and create summaries or lists. Call recording and transcription : Record a call, see a transcript of it, and generate a summary. Some Mail features: Summaries of emails in notifications and the inbox, priority emails on top, and the ability to create a summary of emails and email threads. Safari summaries: From within reading mode, summarize a web page. Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18.2 Coming in December These features are expected in iOS 18.2, which will probably be released in December: Visual Intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners, press and hold the Camera Control button to get AI help with whatever youre pointing the camera at. Get business details, recognize phone numbers and addresses, translate text, or ask ChatGPT for more info or perform a Google image search. Additional English languages: AI features will support localized English for UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Image generation : Genmoji and other image generation, including the Image Playground app and Image Wand. Advanced Mail app features : Automatic categorization of emails and the creation of digests for groups of similar emails. Swift Assist programming companion : An AI coding tool in Xcode that helps you write code or answer coding questions (Mac only). ChatGPT integration : Get more advanced general knowledge questions answered by ChatGPT, or use the tool to general more elaborate text. There are some other general iOS 18 features, not related to AI, that are coming after the initial launch. You can read all about the features that didnt arrive with iOS 18 here . Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18.3 or 18.4 Coming around March 2025 The first half 2025 is when Apple Intelligence is really going to shine, with the addition of some core Siri features that will take it to the next level. This big update will likely be released around March, with a beta more than a month earlier. Apple has announced that this is when Apple Intelligence features will first become available in the European Union. Siri on-device context awareness : The ability for Siri to give sensible answers based on data found in Messages, Mail, Contacts, and other on-device information. Siri on-screen awareness : Siri will be able to see what is on your screen when you ask it to perform a task and take that information into account. Siri application control : A big expansion of App Intents, which lets Siri perform actions in your apps. Currently limited to things like playing music or getting directions, there will be hundreds of actions Siri can take in apps. This will start with Apples own apps and expand to third-party apps over time. Other Apple Intelligence features coming later in 2025 Additional languages: Apples AI features will expand to support German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and others throughout 2025, according to Apple. Apple has still not committed to a date for when Apple Intelligence will be available in the EU, or which features will be supported. Of course, all of this is subject to change depending on how smoothly Apples AI development goes, and how beta testing progresses. These features and dates are subject to change, and we will update this article as we learn more.

Charge your iPhone and your MacBook in one go with this $48 Baseus deal

Macworld Some deals just keep getting sweeter, it seems, as the Baseus PicoGo W2 wireless charger for your iPhone and laptop is available to buy for $48 at Amazon , a 31 percent discount from its $70 MSRP. This one was already available with a 14 percent discount, but an extra 20 percent off is available via an on-page coupon, so dont forget to check that box. The PicoGo charger is tiny and portable, and it opens up, allowing you to attach your phone to it and charge it while also keeping it at an angle so its easy to check. The magnetic charger delivers a maximum of 15W power. The built-in retractable cable can be plugged into a laptop, providing 67W charging, eliminating the need for an extra cable, and helping you actually keep a tidy desk. Of course, instead of a laptop, you can plug in another phone, earbuds, or even your keyboard when it needs some juice. The Baseus charging stand is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry anywhere you need to go. So snatch the Baseus PicoGO W2 charger for $48 at Amazon while you still can. Charge your iPhone and your laptop in one go Buy it now at Amazon

Here are all the devices Apple sells that still have Lightning ports

With Apples recent iPhone 16 event and M4 Macs release, the company followed an important path by eliminating the Lightning port from more devices. By The post Here are all the devices Apple sells that still have Lightning ports appeared first on BGR .

Apple is doomed because no one wants to wait for anything

Macworld Slow and steady wins the race. At least thats what the Vision Pro team seems to be banking on. And, hey, its worked out for Apple on any number of occasions. Its hard to think back that far now when history seems to be on some sort of speed runlook, history, the Macalope watched the guy who finished the Breath of the Wild in 34 minutes and while it was impressive its really not the best way to enjoy the game, okay?but the rollout of the iPod was not exactly blazingly fast. iTunes for Windows didnt come out until two years after the original iPod. The Apple Watch was also not an instant hit. In fact, the Macalope is old enough to remember when it was a flop, by which he is old enough to have had object permanence for at least 10 years. Well, most of those 10 years anyway. The Apple Watch Series 0 was announced in 2014, released in 2015, and updated the following year, but it was several years before it was a verifiable hit. So, when you read the following headlines about Apples Vision lineup, dont panic. (God knows there are enough other things to panic about.) Now, let us review the carnage! Kuo: Cheaper Apple Vision headset delayed beyond 2027 A cheaper Vision product would do a lot to increase the install base which, in turn, would do a lot to increase the content for the device. Sadly, it seems this virtuous cycle has some flat tires. It seems even that Apple isnt quite sure either what it wants the next device to be or what it can be. Apple is seriously considering Vision device that offloads compute to your iPhone Were thinking about it! Were also thinking about a steampunk version that runs on a coal-fired backpack! Weve all kinds of wacky ideas! DONT TOUCH ME! The company also apparently saw that same Meta demo we and the entire tech press saw and was wowed by because its mumbling to itself Should we do that? Apples Internal Survey About Smart Glasses Hints at Future Product Plans As for the updated Vision Pro, that also may be delayed. Apple Vision Pro 2 With M5 Chip May Not Launch Until 2026 Hey, by 2026 the idea of strapping a device on our heads and disappearing into a fabricated reality might be something everyone would be willing to throw $3,500 at. Apple Store employee: But, sir, thats the last of your savings! Youll starve! Customer: GIVE ME THE HEADSET! IDG Apart from rumors, other signs indicate the company is retrenching on the Vision Pro a bit. Apple Consolidating Vision Pro Demo Areas in Stores Amid Rumors of Slowing Sales and Reduced Production Go to the back of the Store. Theres a guy in a trench coat. Tell him Randy sent you. The Macalope is ribbing the company a little bit for its current seeming uncertainty of what to make and when to deliver it but, then, who doesnt have some uncertainty in these uncertain times? I know I do. I think. I dunno. Anyway, the good news is that Apple has all the pieces to be a major contender here. Say what you will about the Vision Pro Its too expensive. The eyeballs are goofy. Its yet another isolating device in an increasingly isolating world. It smells like- Okay, okay, okay. That was rhetorical. How did you even get in here? Anyway, the Vision Pro may not be perfect, but it is without a doubt a genuine display of Apples technical capabilities. The only thing the company is trying to figure out is what the market actually wants. Everyone ooh-ed and ahhh-ed over Metas smart glasses, but recall that people also thought they wanted netbooks. Amongst other things that they got that they might come to regret. Still, the company certainly hasnt given up on the Vision Pro. Here it is plugging away at making more content available for the device. Apple releasing Vision Pro immersive music experience from The Weeknd this Thursday Content, after all, is the grease that makes the ecosystem work. (Ecosystems need grease, right?) Apples track record tells us the company has time to figure out the right mix here. And the device its released already tells us it can make whatever that is.

If youre upset about the M4 Mac mini, youre just using it wrong

Macworld Whenever Apple drops a new product, certain netizens rush to online corners like Reddit, Threads, and X to complain about the latest design choices. The case with the new Mac mini is no different. Despite the device featuring a competitively miniature, sleek build, many loud critics have fixated on the repositioned power button that now lives on its bottom side. Its classic Appledesign something gorgeous and impressive but all everyone wants to talk about is one head-scratching decision. Im here to tell you that these complaints are completely baseless. Let me explain. Hidden by design Believe it or not, the power button is mostly useless on modern Macs. Yes, you do need it to power it on when you first unbox it. However, if youre operating your computer correctly, youll rarely have to rely on it beyond that point. Unlike older PCs or machines from other brands, youre supposed to keep your Mac powered on at all times. Newer versions of macOS running on Apples M-series chipsets are extremely efficient, and they arent designed to be shut down daily or even regularly. No matter what you do with your Mac mini, you dont need to turn it off very often. Apple I keep my MacBook Air M2 powered on overnight, and its battery percentage pretty much never drops in hibernation. macOS automatically puts all unnecessary tasks to sleep, ensuring that no intensive background activities drain its energy when not in use, and Apple silicon is extremely efficient. So, leaving your Mac on all night wont meaningfully increase your electricity bill or make your Mac wear down any faster. If your Mac mini M4 acts up or lags for whatever reason, then thats what the (software) restart option in the top-left Apple menu is for. Unless your computer completely freezesand this shouldnt occur routinely on M4 Macsyou wont need to push the bottom button. Beyond the loud critics, a group of creative minds has risen to solve this mind-boggling issue. Because reaching underneath your Mac mini once in a while is obviously a horribly inconvenient task, theyve engineered an ingenious accessory that clicks it on your behalf. The 3D-printed add-on acts as an extension to the power button, allowing you to push it by applying pressure on your Macs top surface. It wouldve been great if one needed to push that button on a daily basis, but thats not the case. So, the end result is a cheap-looking piece of junk resting on a premium, aesthetically pleasing box of smartsin an almost insulting manner. While I understand that a majority of those users are doing it as a joke, Im confident there are a few folks out there who will be tarnishing their beautiful Mac minis with a 3D-printed accessory unironically. The power button on the Mac mini M4 serves a similar purpose to the hidden reset buttons found on countless gadgetstypically concealed behind a tiny pinhole. Fortunately, on your Mac, you wont need a paper clip to press it, just a mild inconvenient lift. Leave the Magic Mouse alone too Ever since Apple introduced the Magic Mouse 2 in 2015, people have similarly been attacking its bottom-positioned charging port. And since the iPhone maker didnt overhaul its design with the latest USB-C upgrade, the tired memes have resurfaced. Well, Im here to courageously declare that theres absolutely nothing wrong with how the Magic Mouse charges. Its time to stop the Magic Mouse charging port hate. Apple While, yes, you obviously cant use the Magic Mouse while its charging, most people dont seem to be aware of how rapidly it tops up its battery. Plugging it in for just a few minutes can get you 8-9 hours of use. So, even if you somehow miss the low battery alerts, it can get you through a workday while you prepare your coffee. Meanwhile, a full chargewhich only takes around two hourscan get you around a month of use. No matter how hardworking you are, Im pretty sure you can spare a couple of hours every couple of weeks. The Apple Watch is similarly useless when its charging, yet we dont hear anyone complain about that. Not all gadgets are designed for continuous use. The Magic Mouse follows Apples modern, elegant design language and isnt marketed or meant to be the most practical or ergonomic option. Fortunately, macOS supports thousands of third-party mice with distinct designs and functionalities that cater to all expectations and needs. So, you wont ever have to witness a Magic Mouse charging with an exposed belly if it bothers you so much. These quibbles are wearing thin In an interview posted this week to Chinese video-sharing site Bilibili , Apple VPs Greg Joswiak and John Ternus blamed the power button fiasco on the Mac minis size and defended the placement as being in the most convenient position. Its not just corporate speakthe Magic Mouse and M4 Mac mini criticisms are mostly coming from either ignorant users or those who have never laid their hands on them. Had they known how these devices operate, their entire arguments would crumble before their eyes. The Mac mini should be celebrated, not picked apart. Apple Yes, the Mac minis power button is placed in an unintuitive spot. But once you realize that you dont actually need to press it every day, its placement starts to make sense. Similarly, the Magic Mouse may look meme-able while it charges on its back. However, taking its long battery life and swift charging into consideration justifies this design choice. And of course, both products look cleaner because they hide these imperfections on their concealed sides. Apple is far from perfect. But instead of obsessing over trivial details, lets focus our collective feedback on more impactful flaws that we think the company should addresslike why doesnt the Mac mini come in Space Black? Apple Mac mini (M4) Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: $579.99 at Amazon | $599 at Apple | $599 at B&H

Chrome for iOS adds Shopping Insights, enhanced Google Lens, and more

Macworld Google on Tuesday revealed four new features for the Chrome browser on iOS and iPadOS. These features are currently available on Chrome for Android, but theyre making their iPhone debut. Here are the new features Google Lens: image and text search at the same time Chrome on iOS can do a Google search using an image from your photo library. Google has enhanced this feature so users can add words to the visual query in order to perform specific searches. In an example provided by Google, the user can pick a picture of a snowboard to search, but then can refine the search by adding text, such as a color like purple and get results of purple snowboards. Google Lens can be accessed by tapping on the camera icon in the Google Search bar. Save files to Google Drive and Google Photos Chrome for iOS now has the option to save files to Google Drive. Google Web content can now be saved to a Google Drive or Google Photos accountyou must be signed into a Google account for this to work. When saving a file from Chrome, users can tap a Google Drive option and a new Saved from Chrome folder is created, housing your saved files. To save images, press and hold on the image, and a pop-up menu appears with the option to Save in Google Photos. Tap to see a mini-map of an address Starting soon, users will be able to tap an address and view a mini-map of the location, directly in Chrome. Goggle states that this feature is in an experimental phase and will be rolled out gradually to other regions. Shopping Insight deals Shopping Insights in Chrome for iOS. Google When shopping using Chrome, if a Shopping Insight deal is available, a Good Deal Now notification appears and users can tap it to get details. This feature requires users to be signed into Chrome and the Make Searches and Browsing Better setting enabled. Shopping Inisghts is available in the U.S., with more regions added in the coming months.

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 Mac antivirus software 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. 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. However, you should always be cautious using a free antivirus and dont expect all the features of the paid-for options. Avast Security for Mac (read our review) offers a free option alongside the Premium plan. 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 . Intego VirusBarrier Scanner (read our review) free virus scanner. Get it here . Malwarebytes Antivirus for Mac has a free version as well as a paid version. Get it here . Sophos Home theres a free plan, plus you can get the full version for a 30-day trial. 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, then $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link First-year, 1 Mac $24.99 2-year, 1 Mac $42.24 First-year, 3 Macs $33.99 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 so you can get it for $24.99/20.99 a year for one Mac: get the deal here . Theres also a two-year intro rate of $42.24/35.99 that can be chosen at checkout. 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, then $94.99 a year; Deluxe (5 devices): $49.99 for first year, then $119.99 a year 1 year, 3 devices $39.99 1 year, 5 devices $49.99 1 year, 3 devices (Amazon) $14.99 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 3 devices, but in the U.K. its 24.99 for Norton 360 Standard for just one device. Weve seen deals on Amazon. For example, at Amazon U.S. Norton 360 Deluxe (covering three devices) is $14.99 get the deal here . In the U.K. theres also 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, then $89.99 Essential: $39.99 (5 devices) for first year, then $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 McAfee Total Protection for five devices for $39.99 for one year in the U.S. get the U.S. deal here . Its 34.99 a year for five devices for the first year in the U.K 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 $50.28 for first year, then $77.99 a year. First-year, 1 Mac $50.28 First-year, 10 devices $69.48 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 $50.28 / 39.99 for the first year. Read our full Avast Premium Security review 5. 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: $34.99 per year, 3 devices (usually $59.99) 1 year, 3 devices $34.99 Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers a handy, customizable user interface and good features. Bitdefender Total Security is currently 29.99 for a year in the U.K. for three devices, and $39.99 in the U.S. for a one-year subscription for three devices, get the U.S. deal here / get the U.K. deal here . Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac review 6. 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, then $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 $29.99 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 49.99: Get the U.K. deal here . Read our full Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac review How to find a good antivirus deal It can be tricky 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. 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.

Apple ramps up smart glasses project as it looks past Vision Pro

Macworld With Vision Pro failing to set the market alight-and being officially labeled as not a mass-market product the big question is how Apple plans to build a commercially viable product in the VR/AR space, if thats even possible. Ultimately, the most appealing option for a mainstream audience would probably be a slimline pair of glasses with smart tech built in, but the state of technology and Apples own developments mean this isnt likely to appear for some years yet. There are signs of progress, however. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, knowledgeable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claims that Apple recently commenced focus-group research to explore its options in the smart glasses market, in a sign of real intent. (This follows what was described as a technology investigation earlier this year.) Such groups previously preceded the launch of the AirPods and HomePod, and Vision Pro itself. Rather than seek opinion from the public, Apple restricts focus group discussions to its own employees. This might seem less illuminating, but enables the company to keep a lid on future developments and prevent them from reaching the media in theory. It isnt clear how Gurman obtained his information on the proceedings in this case. The groups have been discussing their feelings about currently available smart glasses, which include products from Snap and Meta. Apple is behind in this market, as it is so oftenone of Cooks mantras is Not first, but bestbut those companies havent cracked the formula yet. Indeed, as Gurman observes, their products are far more limited in terms of AR functionality than what Apple is planning. So the question becomes this: should Apple pursue its own more ambitious plan, and attempt to reproduce Vision Pros capabilities in a far smaller chassis? Or should it simply create a version of its AirPods in glasses form, as Gurman puts it? Thats the dilemma which the focus groups are intended to solve. Whatever conclusion is reached, we wont officially know about it for some time. Gurman says five years is the minimum before Apple is able to create a true AR set of smart glasses that meets its expectations. But Apple isnt alone in this, with Meta and Snap experiencing similar issues with their own prototypes. Wherever the market is going, it isnt going there yet.

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

Macworld Thanksgiving is a time to reflect upon the prior year, be thankful for what we have, gorge ourselves until were near bursting, and then settle into our favorite chairs and watch the first half of a TV show before the tryptophan kicks in. If you usually spend your post-meal time falling asleep to A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving , you wont find it on the usual broadcast or cable channelsits exclusively on Apple TV+. Before you wave that turkey drumstick in the air and curse the state of television and all the darn streaming services you need subscriptions for yes, Im talking about you, Uncle Fred you dont need a subscription to Apple TV+ to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving . Apple is making the show available to anyone for a limited time. If you are an Apple TV+ subscriber, however, you can watch it anytime. How to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving for free on Apple TV+ On November 23 and 24, anyone with an Apple ID can watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving . If you own an Apple device, you have one, but if not, Apple IDs are free and you dont need a credit card to sign up. Once you have signed up, you can watch in several ways: Through the TV app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On smart TVs with the Apple TV app. On the web at tv.apple.com . On an Apple TV device. As we noted when Apple did this same deal with Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown , Apple has all the classic Peanuts specials for the holiday season that used to air over broadcast TV. Apple TV+ also has A Charlie Brown Christmas that will have its free airing on Dec. 14 and 15. Apple TV+ also has Happy New Year, Charlie Brown but it is not listed as free-to-view. A few years ago, Apple acquired the rights to the Peanuts cartoon series that stars Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and other memorable characters. Since then, Apple has aired new Peanuts shows such as The Snoopy Show and Snoopy in Space , and new movies, including Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 , Lucys School , and Its the Small Things, Charlie Brown . The Apple TV+ subscription television streaming service is $9.99/9.99 per month and can be renewed annually for $99/99. Apple TV+ is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles , which include other Apple services, such as Apple Music, Apple News+, and iCloud storage. Apple One bundles are priced between $19.95/19.95 and $37.95/37.95 per month. For more information about Apple TV+, read our Apple TV+ FAQ . We also have a detailed list of current Apple TV+ shows and upcoming shows .

Twelve South PlugBug Find My Charger review: slim USB-C charger you should never lose

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros 2 or 4 USB-C ports Built-in Find My locator Slim charger International Travel Set available Cons Our Verdict Twelve South PlugBug With Find Me is a great travel charger with a built-in locator to give you peace of mind that you should never lose your trusty charger again. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed From $69.99 Best Prices Today: Twelve South PlugBug with Find My Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal Twelve South $69.99 View Deal $79.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We have reviewed a lot of USB-C chargers, from tiny ones you could lose in a pocket to giant desktop chargers with enough ports for every device you own. While wed never forget where the big desktop charger is situated, the smaller and more portable chargers have a frustrating habit of disappearing Can I borrow your charger for a minute? is the plaintive plea that most charger owners will hear every now and again or far too frequently in a large office or family. That minute can stretch far enough to the point where when you next need to charge your phone or laptop you suddenly find its not where it should bemaybe your colleague or family member didnt even ask you and just took it for a minute. Short of taping an AirTag onto your charger you have little option but to go hunt the office or house power sockets for it. Or maybe you left it in a suitcase that has gone missing. Accessory maker Twelve South has a cunning product that could make that hunt all the easier. Its PlugBug With Find My charger has a locator built into it. The locator is hidden away in a back compartment, so looks better than a sleek charger with an AirTag strapped on. It works just like an AirTag, and you set it up the same way and check for it in the Find My apps Items section. You can make it sound an alert and all the other features available to Find My app items. Like the AirTag it requires a replaceable batteryone is includedthat is easy to swap out when it runs out in a couple of years. Not just a big AirTag The principal purpose of the PlugBug is as a USB-C wall charger, and it comes in two models. Twelve South The PlugBug 50 has two USB-C ports, each rated at 50W. Use both at the same time and one will charge at 30W and the other at 20W. 50W is powerful enough to charge a MacBook Air. MacBook Pro owners would be better served with the more powerful 120 model. The PlugBug 120 has four USB-C ports, each rated at 120W. Use all four at the same time and they will charge at 1x 50W, two at 25W and the last one at 20W, or one 50W, two 20W and one 25W. Three might configure as 65/35/20W, and two at 70/30W. The charger detects dynamically delivers the right amount of fast charging power to each device being charged so you dont have to worry about which port to connect each device to. Twelve South Design The PlugBug With Find My is long but thin so is especially suitable in those hotel rooms with power sockets tucked into hard-to-reach places behind desks or nightstands. It features a fetching red section that makes it visually easy to spot, toowhich could come in handy when you try to distinguish it in a busy caf or airport environment. While the PlugBug is a more than capable home charger, it is especially useful on your travels. The U.S. model has folding prongs for extra travel slimness. The PlugBug 50 measures 3.3 x 1.9 x 0.9 inches (8,3 x 4.9 x 2.2cm), and weighs 3.9oz (110g). The PlugBug 120 measures 4.1 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches (10.4 x 6 x 3.1cm), and weighs 8.8oz (250g). Twelve South The U.K. and E.U. versions ship with plugs attachments for both regions. The U.S. model features just the foldable North American prongs. Apple sells an exclusive Twelve South PlugBug Travel Set , which includes interchangeable international adapters for U.S., U.K., E.U., AU, KR and CN and a travel case, for both the 2-port and 4-port models ( $79.95 and $129.95 ). Price In the U.S. the PlugBug 50 costs $69.99 and the PlugBug 120 is priced at $119.99, direct from Twelve South or via Amazon . See also the value-for-money Travel Set sold exclusively through the Apple Store. In Canada the two models are priced C$99.99 and C$169.99. In the U.K. its 69.99 and 119.99 . And in the E.U. its 79,99 and 139,99 Euros . For more USB-C charging options check out our recommendations for the best iPhone chargers and best MacBook chargers . Verdict We thought wed seen it all from the wide range of USB-C chargers but the powerful Twelve South PlugBug With Find Me is a great travel charger with a built-in locator to give you peace of mind that you should never lose your trusty charger again. It wont stop you forgetting it and leaving it at home only to slam into your thoughts as your reach the airport or hotel, but at least youll know exactly where it is.

How much MacBook do you really need?

Macworld With the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro , Apple offers standard configurations to make it easy to pick a laptop. They seem straightforward, but if you start to think about all the things you do on a Macwhether youre a student or a professionalyou can start to wonder about which model to choose and maybe even find it difficult to decide. Its a decision you dont want to take lightly. Youre investing a considerable amount of money, and you dont want to end up with a Mac that isnt up to the task or a Mac that has more than you need. This guide was created to help shoppers figure out what to look for when buying a MacBook . Well cover the main components you need to consider: the CPU, the GPU, the amount of unified memory (RAM), the SSD, the display, the battery, and the ports. Well go over what your use case may be, and which component configurations would work best to help you get the most bang for your buck. The M System on a Chip overview: CPU, GPU, unified memory, SSD Lets first start with a brief overview of the heart of every Mac: the M System on a Chip. Its called a System on a Chip (SoC, or just chip) because, unlike past chips, it has more than just a CPU that does the main job of processing work. It also houses the graphics processors (GPUs), the unified memory (a combination of CPU and GPU RAM), and the SSD for file storage. In the past, these were all separate components. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,099 Best Prices Today: $1,024 at Amazon $1099 at B&H $1099 at Best Buy Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 Best Prices Today: $1,229.55 at Amazon $1299 at Best Buy A benefit of having all these components under one unified part is that it helps with performance and power efficiency. A drawback is that the user cannot upgrade the components after purchase. So, its even more important than before to carefully consider the specifications you need for what you do. CPU: Processing cores and how many you should get The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main data processing component and is divided into processing cores. There are two types of cores, which Apple divides into performance and efficiency cores. Generally, the more cores in a CPU, the faster the processing speed. Apple currently offers five CPU models in its MacBooks: the M2, M3, M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. The M2 and M3 has the lowest CPU core count, while the M4 Max has the highest.Which one is right for you? Lets break it down based on tasks. M2 (8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores): a good chip for everyday usage and can handle tasks in media editing apps. M3 (8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores):you do the usual everyday tasks and work, which includes web browsing, light productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Microsoft Office), media streaming, light gaming, easy media production (iMovie, GarageBand). M4 (10-core CPU with 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores): a lot like the M3, but a bit faster. M4 Pro (12- or 14-core CPU with 8 or 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores): you are regularly performing work thats a bit more in-depth, such as complex Excel spreadsheets, multi-layer image editing, and creation in Photoshop or other graphics apps, production of video and audio shorts, databases, serious gaming. M4 Max (14- or 16-core CPU with 10 or 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores): you make a living as a media producer (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Autodesk Maya, etc.), software developer, or any other work that requires multitasking and long hours with heavy work. Keep in mind that the base M4 is robust enough to handle the tasks that the M4 Max is designed forit just takes longer to finish. If you only occasionally need to do those high-end jobs or youre learning how to do them, you can live with the M4. The M3 and M3 chips offer different CPU, GPU, memory, and SSD configurations. Macworld.se GPU: Graphics processing power The GPU (graphics processing unit) is primarily used for rendering graphics and video on the screen. However, because GPUs offer parallel processing , a GPU can be used for other jobs, including AI, though the NPU (which is the same across all MacBooks) handles much of that workload. As with the CPU, the GPU has processing cores, and the more cores, the better the performance. Apple partners the increase of CPU cores along with the increase of GPU cores, so you dont have to worry about, say, getting a M3 Pro chip with not enough CPU cores. Which one is right for you? Lets break it down based on tasks. M2 (8-core CPU): capable of everyday tasks and casual games. M3 (8- or 10-core GPU): general tasks and everyday work, media streaming, easy media production, light gaming. M4 (10-core GPU): like the M3, general tasks and everyday work, media streaming, easy media production, light gaming. M4 Pro (16- or 20-core GPU): moderate to serious media production and gaming. M4 Max (32- or 40-core GPU): professional-level media production and hard-core gaming. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,549 at Amazon $1599 at Apple $1599 at B&H Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: $1,949 at Amazon $1999 at Apple $1999 at B&H 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,199 Best Prices Today: $3,132.51 at Amazon $3199 at Apple $3199 at B&H Unified memory: More RAM is always better Apples M chips use unified memory, which is where the chip reads and writes the data it is working on. Its called unified memory because its used by both the CPU and GPU. Its often referred to as RAM (random access memory). (Traditionally, RAM referred to the memory used by the CPU only, and the GPU used video RAM or VRAM). Each M-series chip comes with a standard configuration of unified memory. Here are the standard memory configurations Apple offers and where you may want to upgrade. 16GB : Good enough if youre doinggeneral productivity work, internet access media streaming, and easy media production. 24GB or 32GB : Nice amount for moderate media production, graphic work, podcasting, and gaming. Even for people who dont do processor-intensive work, this is a better fit. Above 32GB : Professional-level graphics and media production, software development, hardcore gaming. Remember, you cant add RAM later, so make sure you consider spending a little more to customize your Mac at purchase. For example, the M3s standard configuration is 16GB, but an option for 24GB is available for $200. Its not cheap, but we recommend getting as much memory as you can afford. You cant go wrong with opting for more memory than the standard configurationit helps with performance. When Apple originally introduced the MacBook Air in March 2024, the standard configurations came with 8GB of RAM. When Apple introduced the M4 series of MacBook Pro in October 2024, it increased the base standard configuration to 16GB. The MacBook Air also got the boost without a price increase. So, now all MacBooks have a minimum of 16GB of RAM with some standard configurations that have more. SSD: file storage The Mac uses a solid-state drive (SSD) to store your files, apps, and other data. But in addition to data storage, the SSD can play a role in a Macs performance. The larger the capacity, the better the performance, mostly in instances that involve very large files. The higher the SSD capacity, the more NAND chips Apple uses. The more chips in use, the faster the performance, because the data can be accessed in parallel. For example, a 10GB file saved over four SSD chips is faster than the same file saved over two SSD chips. For smaller files used by most people, the difference is still there but isnt noticeable. So there are two considerations for the SSD size: How much room you need, and how big are the files you create. With that in mind, here are some recommendations. 256GB : General productivity work, internet access media streaming, and easy media production. 512GB : Frequent work in iMovie, GarageBand, and other consumer-level media production apps. 1TB or more : Professional media production in apps such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Compressor, etc., software development, graphics. These considerations dont involve photos that can accumulate quickly and take up a lot of space or the Photos app. If you like having local access to your photos, consider an external storage device. This also doesnt consider cloud storage, such as iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and other services. You dont want to work directly on files in cloud storage because its not an efficient way to work. But cloud storage is a viable way to manage the space on an SSDyou can move files you wont need immediately to the cloud. The MacBook Air (left) has an LED display,. while the MacBook Pro (right) has a Mini LED screen. Foundry Display: Looks are everything Apple uses different display technology for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The Air uses a tech thats more affordable to implement, and it looks good, but it doesnt look as good as the tech used for the MacBook Pro. Of course, youll pay more for the better Pro quality. Here are the two display technologies and who they are suited for. LED (MacBook Air): General-purpose use, but it can also handle consumer-level video and photo editing that you would do in apps such as Photos, Adobe Photoshop Elements, iMovie, etc. Also good for steaming videos from YouTube, Apple TV+, Netflix, etc., and moderate gaming. Mini LED (MacBook Pro): Serious video and photo editing and graphics work in pro-level apps (Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, etc.) where color and detail are important. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: $2,449.99 at Amazon $2499 at Apple $2499 at B&H Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,499 | $3,999 Best Prices Today: $3,422.51 at Amazon $3499 at Apple $3499 at B&H Battery life: All-day work The MacBooks offer excellent battery life that will last all day long. However, the different chips affect the duration because a chip that offers more processing prowess requires more battery power. There are also lots of considerations to think about regarding your specific use case. Heres a look at how the different MacBooks compare and our recommendations. M3 MacBook Air : Apple cites the same battery life numbers for both the 13- and 15-inch models since both laptops have a 52.6-watt-hour battery (up to 18 hours), though youll probably get a little more battery with the 13-inch model due to the smaller screen. Either way, thats the battery is long enough to last a whole day doing general-purpose work, access the internet, and work in Pages, Keynote, or Microsoft Office. You can even do light media work in iMovie or GarageBand, but heavier jobs will tax the battery. M4, M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro : The 14-inch MacBook Pro has a 72.4-watt-hour battery; the M4 can last up to 24 hours, while the M4 Pro/Max lasts up to 22/18 hours. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is rated at 100-watt-hours, and the M4 Pro can last up to 24 hours, while the M4 Max lasts 21 hours. Since the Pro laptops are bigger than the Air, the battery is bigger. If youre doing production-type work while on location and you cant plug in, the Pro is the one to get, even if its bigger/heavier than the Air. Ports: Making connections All of Apples MacBooks have Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a MagSafe port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. But thats where the commonality ends. Heres what you need to know. MacBook Air : Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. Thats because the Air is meant to serve primarily as a travel buddy in situations when you arent connecting too many devicesmaybe an external Thunderbolt/USB-C display for presentations, or a drive to save/transfer files. The Thunderbolt ports conform to the Thunderbolt 3 specification, and while its fast, it is the slowest of the MacBooks. MacBook Pro : As a mobile desktop device, the MacBook Pros have an HDMI port for connecting an external display and an SDXC Card slot for file transfers from a camera or other device. All MacBook Pro models have three Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. However, laptops with the M4 chip have the Thunderbolt 4 implementation, while the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips support Thunderbolt 5, which is the fastest specification. The MacBook Pro has an SDXC Card slot (far left) and HDMI port (far right), which are not on the MacBook Air. Foundry For more information, check out the following guides: Best MacBook 2024: Which MacBook should you buy? MacBook Air vs Pro: Differences between MacBook Air and Pro MacBook Pro comparison: 14- vs 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know M3 MacBook Pro: Everything you need to know Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256GB/16GB RAM) Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $799 at Amazon $799 at Best Buy $999 at Apple United States

First day out, first discount for the M4 Mac mini at Amazon

Macworld Todays the first day you can freely buy the new Mac mini without a pre-order, and its also the first time were seeing a real discount on Apples tiny PC. Amazon is selling the base model with 256GB of storage for $550 or the model with 512GB for $749 , a savings of $50 off either model. Both now come with 16GB of RAM too. We already reviewed the new Mac mini and found its super tiny and quite, delivers a decent selection of ports, and offers an excellent performance with the speedy M4 chip. We enjoyed the smaller Mac so much that we gave it a 4-star rating. Our only criticism, other then the lack of a single USB-A port, is the price of Apples upgrades, which cost an extra $200 for double the storage (256GB to 512GB). At least, with this instant discount at Amazon, you get to save $50 off that price. The main thing about the M4 Mac mini is how incredibly small it is. As we wrote, Apple told us the new Mac mini was smaller. It shows us photos and videos. And still, when I took it out of the box, I was somewhat unprepared for just how small it actually is, we wrote. So how small is it? Well, its just 55 inches square and 2 inches tall, only a little larger than the Apple TV and ready to fit into your palm . So snatch the 256GB Mac mini for $550 or the 512GB Mac Mini M4 for $749 and save $50 on the smallest Mac Apple has ever made. Save $50 on the Mac Mini M4 Buy it now at Amazon

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

Macworld Wondering what the name of the latest macOS version is? Want to know what the next version of macOS will be called? Curious about the versions of Mac OS X that came before? Here well fill you in on the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system in order: from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. Well also show you how you can check which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macOS is. The latest version of macOS is called macOS Sequoia after Sequoia National Park located in Californias Sierra Nevada mountain range. That version of macOS launched to the general public in September 2024, following a macOS beta program that is still underway as Apple develops more new features. The previous version of macOS was Sonoma, also known as macOS 14. Sonoma arrived in September 2023. If you are looking for help installing Sequoia read: How to update macOS and Fixes for Macs that wont update. What operating system does the Mac use? All Macs run macOS, previously known as Mac OS X, and have done so since the introduction of the first version of Mac OS X in 2001. Before that, Macs ran Mac OS 9 which came out in October 1999 and received updates until December 2001. Mac OS X was based on technology from NeXT Computer, which was another company founded by Steve Jobs. Jobs brought the technology back to Apple with him when he was reinstated as Apple CEO. The operating system is Unix-based. macOS Version History Mac OS X was launched more than two decades ago on March 24, 2001. Theres been a lot of change over those two decades: good and bad. From the problems with the first edition (it was slow and didnt run important apps like Microsoft Word) Mac OS X has evolved through various iterations and various designs to what we know today. Weve seen tight integration with iOS devices, the incorporation of the cloud, and the arrival of excellent and helpful features including integrated Time Machine backups, Quick Look which lets you see a preview of a document without opening the application, and innovations like Expose and Spaces and Desktop Stacks to help you work more efficiently. For an overview of the features of the various versions of the Mac operating system, showing how it has developed over time, take a look at our video above. If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the years, and the codenames that were used internally, read on. List of macOS version names and latest versions Heres an overview of every version of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has released. Youll find a complete list of the latest release of each version of OS X and macOS, along version code names, along with internal code names (if available): OS X 10 beta: Kodiak September 13, 2000 OS X 10.0: Cheetah March 14, 2001 (Latest: 10.0.4) OS X 10.1: Puma September 15, 2001 (Latest: 10.1.5) OS X 10.2: Jaguar August 14, 2002 (Latest: 10.2.8) OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) October 24, 2003 (Latest: 10.3.9) OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) April 29, 2005 (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay) January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs) (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) October 26, 2007 (Latest: 10.5.8) OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard August 28, 2009 (Latest: 10.6.8) OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) July 20, 2011 (Latest: 10.7.5) OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) July 25, 2012 (Latest: 10.8.5) OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) October 22, 2013 (Latest: 10.9.5) OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) October 16, 2014 (Latest: 10.10.5) OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) September 30, 2015 (Latest: 10.11.6) macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) September 20, 2016 (Latest: 10.12.6) macOS 10.13: High Sierra (Lobo) September 25, 2017 (Latest: 10.13.6) macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) September 24, 2018 (Latest: 10.14.6, July 2021) macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) October 7, 2019 (Latest: 10.15.7, Security Update 2022-005, July 2022) macOS 11: Big Sur (GoldenGate) November 12, 2020 (Latest: 11.7.10, September 11, 2023) macOS 12: Monterey (Star) October 25, 2021 (Latest: 12.7.6, July 29, 2024 ) macOS 13: Ventura (Rome) October 24, 2022 (Latest: 13.7.1, October 28, 2024 ) macOS 14: Sonoma (Sunburst) September 26, 2023 (Latest: 14.7.1, October 28, 2024) macOS 15: Sequoia (Glow) September 18, 2024 (Latest: 15.1, October 28, 2024) We have a full list of which Macs run which versions of macOS here . You can install a beta version of Sequoia and test new features that havent yet launched. If you want to install the latest beta of macOS read about joining Apples beta program . macOS Sequoia isnt even released yet and Apple is already working on macOS 16, which is codenamed Cheer, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his June 30, 2024 newsletter. Foundry Mac OS X and macOS names As you can see from the list above, with the exception of the first OS X beta, all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were named after big cats, from Cheetah to Panther to the final release, Mountain Lion. But while the public-facing builds were named after big cats, internally, they were named after wines (aside from OS X 10.6 which had no codename). Even after Apple switched public-facing code names to places in California back in 2013, it carried on naming them after wines internally until 2014. In 2015, Apple decided to change the theme of internal code names from wines to types of apples. Original. In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its operating systems by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS, which sits nicely alongside iOS, tvOS, and watchOS and paved the way for macOS 11, the successor to Mac OS X, which arrived twenty years after the first beta of Mac OS X. Which versions of macOS are still updated? Apple still supplies regular features and security updates to the most recent version of macOS. Right now this is Sequoia, also known as macOS 15. The previous two versions of macOS also receive security updates and bug fixes. If you are running macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 13 Ventura you will still get security updates. Since the arrival of Sequoia, Apple no longer supports macOS 12 Monterey which arrived in 2021 (and with the arrival of Sonoma in 2023 it stopped support for macOS Big Sur, which arrived in 2020). See: How long do Macs and MacBooks last? Apple also issues updates to its Safari web browser. The latest version of Safari for Mac is Safari 18 (as of September 2024) and it requires Ventura, Sonoma or Sequoia. Foundry How to tell which macOS version you are running You can tell which version of macOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left and choosing About This Mac. It will clearly show which version of macOS you are running along with the most recent version that your Mac has installed Its easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac. Foundry How to install the latest version of macOS If you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS the method will be determined by the version of macOS you are running. Very old versions of Mac OS X came on a disk and any security updates came via Software Update. Since the arrival of the Mac App Store in 2011 (as an update to Snow Leopard) versions of Mac OS X and macOS have been available to download via the Mac App Store. However, that changed with Mojave, which arrived in 2018. Now operating system updates come in via Software Updates which is either located in System Settings > General > Software Update or in System Preferences > Software Update (pre-Ventura). One of the benefits of this is that your Mac can be set to automatically download the latest updates and install them, keeping your Mac up-to-date with minimum effort on your part. Incidentally, you can still find the macOS software on the Mac App Store. Some Macs will be set to update macOS automatically. If you want your Mac to update automatically follow these steps: In Ventura or later: Open System Settings. Click on General . Click on Software Update . Click on the i beside Automatic Updates and make sure that Check for updates , Download new updates when available , and Install macOS updates are selected. This way your Mac will automatically update to the latest version. If you would prefer not to have your Mac do this automatically you can deselect these options. In Monterey, Big Sur, Mojave, or Catalina: Open System Preferences. Click on Software Update . Check the box beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date (or Download new updates when available ). Now select the box Install macOS updates . In High Sierra or earlier: Open System Preferences. Click on App Store . Check the box beside Automatically check for updates it should have a tick in it as should the four options below that Now deselect the box beside Download newly available updates in the background . Read all about how to update your Mac here . We also have a list of every version of iOS where you can see the latest versions and how long Apple supports iPhones for .

Apple Black Friday 2024: What you need to know about Apples sale

Macworld The biggest shopping day of the year is Black Friday , which falls on Friday, November 29, 2024. Well be updating this article with details of Apples 2024 Black Friday sale as soon as they are officially announced. We find the best deals are from resellers rather than Apple itself, and we track them all so we can help you find the best deals on Apple products including the Apple Watch , MacBooks , iPhones , AirPods , and iPads . You can peruse our individual round-ups of the best deals for Black Friday to find a bargain. We also monitor deals all year round, showcasing the best Apple deals every month. But what of Apple? Will Apple hold a Black Friday sale? We wish it would but, unfortunately, Apples Black Friday deal is usually a giveaway of gift cards with certain purchases made during the Black Friday period. To give you an idea of what to expect, more details on previous Apple Black Friday events can be found below. Black Friday 2023: The best Apple deals in the U.S. Since you would be paying full price at the Apple Store, albeit with a voucher incentive in some cases, here are the best Apple deals we found at other retailers back in November 2023: Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M1 (256GB): $749 ($250 off, MSRP $999) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M2 (10-core GPU, 256GB) : $1,049 ($250 off, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, 14-inch, M3 Pro, 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 512GB SSD : $1,799 ($200 off, MSRP: $1,999) Amazon, Mac mini (M2, 256GB) : $499 ($100 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd-gen, USB-C case) : $190 ($59 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, AirPods (2nd gen) : $80 ($49 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) : $329 ($70 off, MSRP $399) Amazon, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen, 40mm) : $179 ($70 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, iPad (9th-gen, 64GB) : $230 ($99 off, MSRP $329) Amazon, iPad (10th-gen, 64GB) : $349 ($100 off, MSRP $449) Black Friday 2023: The best Apple deals in the U.K. KRCS, 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD : 1,529.10 (169.90 off, MSRP 1,699) KRCS, 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD : 2,339.10 (259.90 off, MSRP 2,599) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M2 (512GB) 1,399 (200 off, MSRP 1,599) KRCS: M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB : 1,259 (140 off MRSP 1,399) Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd gen), USB-C : 199 (30 off, MSRP 229). You can also find the same deal at Currys , John Lewis and Very Amazon, iPad Air, 64GB, WiFi: 579 (90 off, RRP 669) Amazon: 12.9in iPad Pro, M2, 512GB, Wi-Fi for 1,479.99 (119 off, RRP 1,599) Argos, Apple Watch Ultra 1 : 599 (200 less than Ultra 2) Does Apple do Black Friday? Historically, Apple has given customers Apple Gift Cards with the purchase of eligible Apple products. While the qualifying products and voucher amounts change every year, this is Apples only deal. Apple doesnt discount its own products for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Details of Apples Black Friday Shopping Event will be found on Apples website when available. What was Apples Black Friday deal in 2023? $25/20 Apple Gift Card: iPhone SE, AirPods (2nd-gen), AirPods (3rd-gen), Beats Flex, Apple Pencil (2nd-gen), Smart Keyboard Folio, Apple TV $50/40 Apple Gift Card : Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 9, HomePod, Beats Studio Pro, Beats Solo3 Wireless, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds +, Beats Studio Buds, Magic Keyboard, Magic Keyboard Folio, iPhone 13, AirPods Pro (2nd-gen) $75/60 Apple Gift Card : iPhone 14, AirPods Max $100/80 Apple Gift Card : iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad 10th gen, iPad Pro, Mac mini $150/120 Apple Gift Card : 13-inch MacBook Air (M1) $175/140 Apple Gift Card : 13-inch MacBook Air (M2) $200/160 Apple Gift Card : 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac mini Because the iPhone 15, M3 iMac, and M3-series MacBook Pro were all recent introductions Apple wasnt offering any vouchers with those purchases. But the company was offering gift cards with Apple Watch 9 purchases for the first time. Foundry How good was Apples 2023 Black Friday deal? The 2023 deal didnt look as good as that of 2022 when Apple offered up to $250/250 in Apple Gift Cards with the MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch. In 2023 the biggest voucher was $200/200 for the 15-inch MacBook Air not with the MacBook Pro or iMac. But we were pleased to see the new Apple Watch Series 9 included in 2023, along with the iPad Pro, 10th gen iPad, HomePod, Apple TV, and the 15-inch MacBook Air. 2023 2022 iPhone 14 $75 n/a iPhone 13 $50 $50 iPhone SE $25 $50 iPad Pro $50 n/a iPad Air $75 $50 iPad mini $50 $50 iPad (10th gen.) $50 n/a iPad (9th gen.) n/a $30 15-inch MacBookAir with M2chip $200 n/a 13-inch MacBookAir with M2chip $175 $150 13-inch MacBookAir with M1chip $150 $150 Mac mini $100 $100 MacBook Pro 14-inch & 16-inch n/a $250 MacBook Pro 13-inch n/a $200 iMac 24-inch n/a $150 Apple Watch Series 9 $50 n/a Apple Watch SE $50 $50 AirPods (2ndgeneration) $25 $25 AirPods (3rdgeneration) $25 $25 AirPods Pro (2ndgeneration) $50 $50 AirPods Max $75 $75 ApplePencil (2ndgeneration) $25 $25 HomePod $50 n/a Apple TV 4K $25 n/a 2022s deal actually went a little further than Apples 2021s Black Friday offer. Although that depends on your perspective you could also think that the Apples Black Friday shopping event was worse in 2022 . In 2021 the biggest Apple Gift Card on offer was for $200/160, which was the saving offered with the sale of the 27-inch iMac (which was discontinued in 2022). While the discounts on offer were generally a bit better than 2021, Apple didnt match the offers from other resellers such as Amazon. Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple products Check out these roundups for the best Apple deals: Best Black Friday 2024 Apple deals Best Black Friday 2024 MacBook deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac Deals Best Black Friday 2024 AirPods deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPad deals Best Black Friday 2024 iPhone deals Best Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor deals Best Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive deals Best Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory deals Black Friday 2024: When do the sales begin? Black Friday officially begins at 12.01am on the day after Thanksgiving, which in 2024 will be Friday, November 29. However, many sales begin well before that, in 2023 we saw deals starting at the beginning of November. The main event runs through the weekend and concludes on Cyber Monday which is December 2 in 2024. Black Friday 2024: Where to get the best deals Spotting a good Black Friday deal takes a bit of work but well be doing most of it for you. Throughout Black Friday weekend, well be posting deal roundups and calling out specific sales that are worth checking out. Stay tuned to Macworld as we call out the bestand worstdeals all throughout the weekend. These are the retailers that are most likely to have the best prices: Stay tuned to Macworld throughout November to find the best deals as they arrive. But if youre looking for a specific color or capacity, you can check out the following retailers. In the U.S., here are the best stores to shop for Black Friday deals: Apple Amazon Best Buy Costco Target Walmart If youre based in the U.K., youll find deals at the following shops: Apple AO.com Amazon Argos Carphone Warehouse Currys eBuyer John Lewis KRCS Laptops Direct Very Black Friday: Should I wait for Cyber Monday to purchase? While its always possible that a better deal is waiting around the corner, if you see a good deal, dont wait. While Cyber Monday promises impressive deals, prices are usually lowest on Black Friday. Plus theres always the risk that the Apple device you want sells out and you miss out on the great deal everyone else got.

Best iMac deals this month

Macworld A year after Apple updated the iMac with an M3 chip Apple has switched in an M4 chip and doubled the memory. The 2024 iMac was announced in October 2024 and went on sale on November 8. Read about the 2024 iMac and read our review: M4 iMac review . With the arrival of the M4 iMac the M3 iMac will no longer be sold by Apple, but you may find those older models available at a discount from resellers while they try to sell off old stock. Note that outside the U.S. the prices have dropped on the iMac range, so the savings may not be as good as they appear to be. Not that you need to pay full price. The team here at Macworld is constantly looking out for the best iMac deals from around the web. We track the biggest and best deals from U.S. and U.K. retailers and list them all right here in this article. So you can always find the best price for an iMac. If the 24-inch display on the iMac isnt big enough for you you may be interested to learn that although Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac in March 2022, it is rumored that a new iMac Pro could be in the pipeline. If that is the Mac you are interested in you may be in for a long wait though, with the larger iMac not expected until late 2024 or 2025. Alternatively, you may be interested in Apples high-power desktop, the Mac Studio, see our Best Mac Studio deals . The Mac mini with M4 Pro is another good option, see Best Mac mini deals . You might also want to look through our round-up of the best MacBook Pro deals and MacBook Air deals . Make sure you check out our complete round-up of the best Apple deals weve seen too. If you need help deciding which Mac is best for you read our Mac buying guide . Best iMac deals right now We may see some deals on the new iMacs soon, but the biggest discounts are likely to be on the older models. U.S. Amazon, M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB: $1,099 ($200 off, MSRP was $1,299 Discontinued) Amazon, M3 iMac, 10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB : $1,264 ($235 off, MSRP was $1,499 Discontinued) U.K. KRCS has already discounted the new iMac, you can save on each of the models. KRCS: M4 iMac, 256GB/16GB RAM , 1,234.05 (64 off RRP 1,299) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 256GB/8GB RAM : 1,009 (309 off, RRP was 1,399 discontinued) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 256GB/8GB RAM : 1,299 (300 off, RRP was 1,599 discontinued) John Lewis, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB RAM : 1,493 (306 off, RRP was 1,799 discontinued) For even more deals check out our best prices comparison tables in the section below. For the new iMacs launching on November 8, the tables below should populate with prices once on sale. Best iMac M4 deals iMac, M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 256GB/16GB unified memory, MSRP $1,299/1,299 Retailer Price $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iMac, M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU, 256GB/16GB unified memory, MSRP $1,499/1,499 Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iMac, M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU, 512GB/16GB unified memory, MSRP $1,699/1,699 Retailer Price $1699 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best deals on old iMacs While resellers sell off old stock you may be able to pick up some good deals. Just keep in mind that the new iMacs include more RAM and in some places have a lower price than previously. iMac, M3, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB/8GB unified memory, Was $1,299/1,399 Discontinued Retailer Price $1,099 View Deal $1149 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iMac, M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 256GB/8GB unified memory, Was $1,499/1,599 Discontinued New Refurbished Retailer Price $1,264.92 View Deal $1399 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iMac 24-inch Retina (Late 2023) M3 3.2GHz SSD 256 GB 8GB $1149 View Deal iMac 24-inch Retina (Late 2023) M3 2.8GHz SSD 256 GB 8GB $1149 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iMac, M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB unified memory, Was $1,699/1,799 Discontinued New Refurbished Retailer Price $1,494 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1699 View Deal $1699 View Deal $1699 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iMac 24-inch Retina (Late 2023) M3 4.05GHz SSD 256 GB 8GB $1209 View Deal iMac 24-inch Retina (Late 2023) M3 4.05GHz SSD 512 GB 8GB $1209 View Deal iMac 24-inch Retina (Late 2023) M3 3.2GHz SSD 512 GB 8GB $1319 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy an iMac You can buy an iMac directly from Apple in the US or at Apple UK , but there are plenty of stores and Apple Premium Resellers around the world that offer discounts on new and old Macs. Some Mac retailers offer great discounts on Apple products and Apple accessories, so you should be able to save a few hundred pounds off some iMac configurations. Beware, though. The Mac listed by the reseller may be an older model than the one Apple currently sells. Weve seen resellers advertising Macs with money off based on the price they were previously sold at by Apple, even after Apple has started selling a newer Mac at the same price so the deal often looks better than it actually is. So be careful to check the age and spec of the machine being sold, and dont automatically assume that its current. To get an idea of what the old model should be worth, take a look at Apples refurbished store to see what Apple is selling the older version for (and remember that buying from Apple, even if its refurbished, will mean you get a full years warranty). And for another way to save money on a new Apple product read about how you can trade in old products at Apple and other resellers and get money off. Read: How Apple trade-in works and saves you money . We regularly see Mac-related deals from the following U.K. and U.S. retailers: U.S. Want to buy a iMac from Apple? View the iMac in the Apple Store . Get your education discount: View the iMac in the Apple Education Store View the iMac at Amazon where we often see discounts. View the iMac at B&H Photo. View the iMac at Best Buy. View the iMac at Walmart. You can find the iMac at Adorama here . Looking for other ways to save money. Find out if you can save money buying Apple products from another country . U.K. You can be sure that you are buying a Mac at the correct price at Apple. View the iMac in the Apple Store. Save money if you are a teacher or student. View the iMac in the Apple Education Store. Get a iMac from Amazon where we often see discounts. View the iMac at Amazon View the iMac at AO.com. You may find an iMac at Argos , although we only tend to see deals in conjunction with events like Black Friday. We often see great deals on iMac at EE . View the iMac at Currys , who also frequently offer discounts. View the iMac at Ebuyer. View the iMac at John Lewis , where we often see discounts. You can get an iMac from Laptops Direct here And you may also find discounts on the iMac at Very Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers in the UK who stock Macs and also offer other services: KRCS Insight iStore Select Western Computer Jigsaw From time to time, Amazon runs lightning deals, which could get you a discount if you act quickly. If youve found that youre missing out on Amazons Lightning deals , which run for just a few hours and offer limited stock, wed recommend signing up for Amazons 30-day free trial of Prime, which will get you access to deals 30 minutes before everyone else. Plus, youll get free next-day delivery with the Prime trial, as well as access to Prime Instant Video and more. Sign up for Prime here . Best refurbished iMac deals One of the best places to look for iMac deals all year round is the Apple Refurbished Store . There, youll find huge iMac discounts, sometimes even on the latest models. These iMacs have been returned to Apple for various reasons, and then completely revamped for resale. One of the major benefits of buying a refurbished Mac 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. You wont be able to tell the difference between a refurbished iMac and a brand-new iMac, aside from the box it comes in, which is white to prevent people from buying them and attempting to sell them as new. Find out more about buying a refurbished iMac here. Get a refurbished Mac at Apple's refurbished store (U.S.) Get a refurbished Mac at Apple's refurbished store (U.K.) You can get refurbished Macs from other suppliers too, including the following refurbished MacBook and reconditioned Mac from the resellers listed below: In the U.S.: Apple Amazon Back Market Best Buy Decluttr Gainsaver OWC Mac Of All Trades Refurb.me In the U.K.: Affordable Mac Apple Amazon BackMarket Hoxton Macs Laptops Direct MacFinder Mac 4 Sale Music Magpie Amazon also has a certified refurbished store for Apple products but we would advise against buying any products that are older than five years most of the products we see on the Amazon refurbished store are unfortunately very old. Another place to look is BackMarket US and BackMarket UK , which sells refurbished Macs and other Apple products. We also recommend Hoxton Macs in the U.K. Best iMac Student Deals If you are a student you can save money with Apple all year round. Read: How to get an Apple student discount. to find out more. Also take a look at when Apple will be running its Back to School deal this year, when you can get a free pair of AirPods with your purchase.

M4 iMac updated: Everything you need to know

Macworld Apple announced the M4 iMac on October 28 and ships to customers on November 8. The updated iMac will have 16GB RAM as standard and features a selection of new colors including new shades of purple, pink, green, orange, and a brand new yellow, joining the silver seen on the previous generation. While this was the first Mac Apple announced would get an M4 chip, it wasnt the first Apple product to ship with the M4. That chip made its debut in the iPad Pro earlier in 2024. The update comes a year after the M3 iMac was released. Learn more about M4 iMac in our in-depth review . M4 iMac: Release date Apple announced the availability of the M4 iMac on October 28 and started pre-orders that day. The new iMac will ship on November 8. You can pre-order the new iMac now. Order the M4 iMac (U.S.) Order the M4 iMac (U.K.) M4 iMac: Price The price of the iMac is no different in the U.S., but, as expected, the price has dropped in the U.K. Heres how the lineup now looks: $1,299/1,299 : M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. $1,499/ 1,499 : M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, 4 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports $1,699/ 1,699 : M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, 4 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports $1,899/ 1,899 : M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, 4 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports Apples added a new $1,899/1,899 model with 24GB memory to the lineup. Its also possible to configure the iMac with 32GB unified memory and up to 2TB SSD. Other build-to-order options include Nano texture glass, discussed below. M4 iMac: Design The current design is now four years old. For the 2024 models Apple has updated the color shades on offer. The new M4 iMac offers a choice of seven new shades including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue, alongside silver. As before, the shade is much more bold on the back, with a subtle shade on the front that is designed to be less distracting. There is also a color-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse or optional Magic Trackpad. The iMac M4 color options. Apple The previous generation offered a similar selection of colors, but the shades were a bit bolder. The iMac M3 color options. Apple M4 iMac: Specs and features Processor M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU M4, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU The main change here is that there are now models with 10-core CPUs. The M3 only offered 8-core CPU with 10-core GPU. There should be AI enhancements thanks to improvements to the Neural Engine. Apple makes various comparisons with the M1 iMac and the previous Intel iMacs. Making claims that thanks to the M4 Neural Engine the M4 is 3x faster than on iMac with M1, 2.1x faster than iMac with M1 at gaming, and 6x faster than the most popular Intel-based iMac model. Of course this tells us little about the generational improvements from the M3 to the M4. The M4 is made using the same 3-nanometer process introduced with the M3. The 3nm process allows more transistors to fit on a chip, which should provide a performance boost. RAM/unified memory 16GB as standard Apple has always sold consumer-focused Macs with 8GB RAM as standard, but this is changing with the arrival of the M4 iMac, and probably as a result of the trend to automate tasks using AI. The new iMac for 2024 will ship with 16GB RAM as standard. The extra unified memory should help with the AI features. Apple has always insisted that 8GB is an adequate baseline amount of RAM, but it looks like this is no longer the case. There is now a standard iMac model with 24GB unified memory, and it is possible to configure the iMac with 32GB unified memory. Screenshot Apple Ports and connectivity The M3 model gained Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. It was thought that Apple might include Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 in the new model, but it hasnt. There was also a rumor that the iMac could lose its USB-A/USB-3 ports. This rumor was true there are only Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports on the new iMac. So if you still have old peripherals using the old style USB port its time to update. Display Those buying the new M4 iMac get the option of a new nano-texture glass option for the first time. The nano-texture glass option costs an extra $200/200, but reduces reflections and glare, so its better suited to , in Apples words: a sun-drenched living room or bright storefront. Apple says the nano glass also Camera & Speakers Another change is that the M4 iMac gets a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View. Desk View makes use of the wide-angle lens to show the user and a top-down view of their desk at the same time ideal for educators and anyone demoing a product. Center Stage keeps everyone centered on a video call, so you can move around the room and the camera follows you. The M4 iMac also offers the same studio-quality three-microphone array with beamforming and an immersive six-speaker sound system as previously. Apple iMac (M4) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: $1299 at Apple | $1299 at B&H | $1299 at Best Buy

Grab a new Solo Loop band for your Apple Watch and save a bundle

Macworld Changing your Apple Watch band can make an old watch feel brand new again, but it can also get pretty pricey, especially if you buy one of Apples official bands. Well, not anymore, because Amazons Woot is selling a variety of normally-$99 Solo Loop models in all sorts of colors and sizes for up to 70 percent off. Numerous colors are available, from black and white to blues, reds, yellows, green, and purple, and the gorgeous Pride edition in both regular ($30) and braided versions ($20). Just note, that youll need to measure your wrist to select the size you need. Since these bands are not adjustable, there are 12 sizes to pick from, and the wrong one wont fit right. Depending on the shade you choose, not all may be available: Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop Black & White Hues $30, was $99 Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop Blue Hues $30, was $99 Apple Watch Solo Loop Black & White Hues $20, was $49 Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop Red, Orange, Yellow $30, was $99 Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop Pride Edition $30, was $99 Apple Watch Solo Loop Blue Hues $20, was $49 Apple Watch Solo Loop Red, Orange, Yellow Hues $20, was $60 Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop Green Hues $30, was $99 Apple Watch Braided Solo Loop Purple Hues $30, was $99 Apple Watch Solo Loop Green Hues $20, was $49 Apple Watch Solo Loop Purple Hues $20, was $49 You also need to choose the Apple Watch size you need the band for. The smaller model will fit 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm watches, while the larger one will work with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm. With the price already going down from $100 to $30, you probably have a bit of wiggle room to buy several. Well, if you do, Woot provides a code APPLEBANDS for an extra 15 percent off for purchases above $39. The code is only available through November 8, so hurry up and place your order.

iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max: Where to get the best deals in the U.S.

Macworld If youre anxious to get your hands on a new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus,iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can buy from Apple directly , either in-store or online, but there are some great deals and promotions offered by popular retailers and carriers. Heres a summary of some of the best deals and promotions offered by retailers and carriers in the U.S. to help you get the best deal on your new iPhone.If youre looking for other models, check out our Best iPhone deals . If you arent sure which new iPhone to buy , we compare every iPhone in a separate article. Is the iPhone 16 out now? The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max handsets were announced at Apples iPhone event on September 9. Pre-orders on Apples website started on Friday, September 13 and the phones went on sale on Friday, September 20 . iPhone 16 U.S. prices The price of the iPhone 16-series is the same as the iPhone 15 series. iPhone 16 prices : 128GB: $799 / 256GB: $899 / 512GB: $1,099 iPhone 16 Plus price : 128GB: $899 / 256GB: $999 / 512GB: $1,199 iPhone 16 Pro prices : 128GB: $999 / 256GB: $1,099 / 512GB: $1,299 / 1TB: $1,499 iPhone 16 Pro Max prices : 256GB: $1,199 / 512GB: $1,399 / 1TB: $1,599 In the U.S., Apple is partnering with carriers to offer discounts on theiPhone 16 range. Above are the prices you pay if you buy a phone activated on AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. Apple lists the price of the iPhone 16 with the carrier-activated discount applied, if you want to buy an unlocked iPhone you pay $30 more. Best Phone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Max carriers and contract deals If you want to buy the latest iPhone for less than the full retail price, youre probably going to need to get it from a carrier or mobile provider, and there will often be significant strings attached. These deals can be complicated, so be sure to read the fine print. You can purchase directly from Apple with activation on a carrier to get special carrier deals, though you may have more options if you buy from one of the carriers below. 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 Infinite 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. Best contract deals for iPhone 16 Best contract deals for iPhone 16 Plus Best contract deals for iPhone 16 Pro Best contract deals for iPhone 16 Pro Max Best Unlocked iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Max deals If you want to buy an unlocked iPhone 16 in the U.S. you have to buy it from the Apple Store. Buying direct fromApple is one of the few ways to buy an unlocked, SIM-freeiPhone 16oriPhone 16 Plus , and its the go-to place to join the iPhone Upgrade Program , which from $39.50 a month will get you a new iPhone every year including AppleCare+ coverage. Order an iPhone 16 Pro from Apple U.S. here Order an iPhone 16 from Apple U.S. here Apple will let you trade in your old iPhone and get up to $650 in credit toward a new purchase. You can also trade an old iPhone with Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. We cover how to sell or trade in your old iPhone separately. If the iPhone 16 is available from any other retailers you will see their best deals below. 128GB iPhone 16, MSRP: $799 Retailer Price $799 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 128GB iPhone 16 Plus, MSRP : $899 Retailer Price $899 View Deal $929.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 128GB iPhone 16 Pro, MSRP : $999 Retailer Price Apple $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 256GB iPhone 16 Pro Max, MSRP : $1,199 Retailer Price $1199 View Deal $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Where to get refurbished iPhone 16 deals If you havent already, you may want to consider buying a refurbished iPhone 16 to save money (and the environment). Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested and repaired to work and look just like new. In the case of official Apple refurbished iPhones, you get a brand-new body and screen, box, accessories, battery, and warranty. Its almost indistinguishable from buying a new iPhone. See our full guide 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. Since it will take so long for Apple to offer refurbished iPhone 16 models, or if you just want to look for a better deal, you can check these resellers instead: Where to get refurbished iPhone 16 deals If you havent already, you may want to consider buying a refurbished iPhone to save money (and the environment). Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested and repaired to work and look just like new. In the case of official Apple refurbished iPhones, you get a brand-new body and screen, box, accessories, battery, and warranty. Its almost indistinguishable from buying a new iPhone. See our full guide tobuying refurbished or second-hand iPhones for more. The first place to shop for a refurbished iPhone is on the Apple Refurbished Store . However, Apple is unlikely to offer refurbished iPhone 16 models for sale until the iPhone 17 is released. Since it will take so long for Apple to offer refurbished iPhone 16 models, or if you just want to look for a better deal, you can check these resellers instead: BackMarket Best Buy Refurb.me Gazelle Reboxed

Best iPhone SE deals

Macworld If youre looking for an iPhone but dont want to spend a fortune, the third-gen iPhone SE , Apples cheapest current handset, is the phone for you. It features a powerful processor (the A15, which also appeared in the flagship iPhone 13 Pro from 2021) at an affordable price, starting at $429 in the U.S. or 429 in the U.K. For a phone thats even cheaper, however, you may want to consider the second-gen iPhone SE from 2020. Apple no longer sells this device itself, but other vendors may still sell you one for a bargain price. In this article, we round up the best deals and discounts currently available on each iPhone SE model, as well as cheap bundle offers worth considering. We cover both SIM-free and contract deals, identifying which retailers which have the handsets in stock, and which offer the best price. If you want to get yourself an iPhone SE, read on for the best deals. Just be aware that Apple could soon upgrade the iPhone SE. The new model expected in spring 2025 may lose the Home button and be more like the iPhone 14. Read iPhone SE 4: Everything you need to know . Best iPhone SE deals U.K. KRCS, iPhone SE (64GB) : 375.21 (53.79 off, RRP 429) Amazon, iPhone SE (64GB) : 379 (50 off, RRP 429) KRCS, iPhone SE (128GB) : 424.71 (54.29 off, RRP 479) Amazon, iPhone SE (128GB) : 429 (50 off, RRP 479) How much does the iPhone SE cost? Apples most affordable iPhone starts at $429/429. (And you can get it for less if you trade in an older qualifying phone.) The 2022 model is currently available in three configurations: iPhone SE (2022, 64GB): $429 / 429 / AUD$719 iPhone SE (2022, 128GB): $479 / 479 / AUD$799 iPhone SE (2022, 256GB): $579 / 579/ AUD$969 (If youre buying the iPhone SE we recommend that you avoid the lowest-capacity model. We explain in a separate article: Why you shouldnt buy the 64GB iPhone SE. ) Best iPhone SE (2022) deals on contract Try the following stores and carriers for the best iPhone SE contract deals. As mentioned above, make sure youre getting the 2022 model with the A15 processor and 5G. Its also bearing in mind that youll want the contract to include 5G support too: you need both hardware and contract to support the tech, and this may cost extra. If in doubt, ask a member of the sales support staff. U.S. readers can browse the best contract deals using the table below: AT&T T-Mobile Verizon U.K. readers can browse the best contract deals using the table below: If youd like to research further, try the following U.K. carriers: Affordable Mobiles BT Mobile Carphone Warehouse EE E2Save iD Mobile Fonehouse Giff Gaff O2 Sky Mobile Tesco Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone Mobiles.co.uk Mobile Phones Direct Best iPhone SE (2022) deals SIM-free Apple sells the iPhone SE starting at $429/429. You can buy from Apple right now. (Thats the U.S. store; depending on where you are, the U.K. store or the Australia store may be more suitable.) Its also available from other retailers, who may offer discounts on Apples price. But this phone is relatively cheap (at least by Apples standards), so youre unlikely to see any startling savings just yet. In the U.S., in fact, all the major retailers are sticking at Apples price. You can check the best and latest offers in our automatic pricing tables, below. iPhone SE (64GB), MSRP $429/429 New Refurbished Retailer Price $287.43 View Deal $429 View Deal $429 View Deal $449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone SE (2022) 64GB Midnight Unlocked $158.40 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone SE (128GB), MSRP $479/479 Retailer Price $253.87 View Deal $479 View Deal $479 View Deal $499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone SE (256GB), MSRP $579/579 Numerous retailers are stocking the iPhone SE. Just make sure you get the third-gen or 2022 version of the iPhone SE: many will continue to stock the second-gen model from 2020, which features the older A13 processor and doesnt support 5G. U.S. readers should check the following stores: Amazon Best Buy Target Walmart U.K. readers, meanwhile, should check the retailers below. Affordable Mobiles Amazon Argos Carphone Warehouse Currys E2Save Giff Gaff John Lewis KRCS Mobiles.co.uk Mobile Phones Direct Very 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 the iPhone SE 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, which has offered up to 240 off previous iPhone SE models when you trade in an older iPhone. Head to Currys to see how much your device is worth. Amazon 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 . Refurbished deals You can save on the iPhone SE by opting for a refurbished model. This is an excellent option for the second-gen model from 2020. Although youre buying a device that has been pre-owned, buying refurbished isnt the same as simply buying second-hand, the main difference being that the product has been repaired and rigorously tested to ensure it works just like new. Refurbished devices often come with additional warranty arrangements for peace of mind if you are to run into any issues after purchase. Decluttr (better known as MusicMagpie in the U.K.) is a great source to shop for refurbished deals, although right now its prices are higher than Amazons. You reduce the rate if you choose to trade-in your old device or old tech for cashback. When shopping refurbished, look out for Apple Certified Refurbished products. These have been repaired, with parts replaced as needed, and thoroughly tested (and cleaned) to meet the Apple standard. You can find Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones from the Apple Refurbished Store . We have a dedicated guide on buying refurbished iPhones with everything you need to know, as well as the best refurbished iPhone deals. Wondering if theres a more affordable option than the SE? We answer the question What is the cheapest iPhone? in a separate article. Our iPhone buying guide , meanwhile, offers in-depth advice for those looking to buy or upgrade.

Macworld Podcast: The living legacy of the MacinTech Mac User Group

Macworld This weeks episode of the Macworld Podcast features a discussion with the MacinTech MUGMUG stands for Mac Users Group, and this one is located in the Denver area of Colorado in the United States. Theyve been together for decades and we take this opportunity to talk about MUGs, how they got started, what MUGs meant to the early days of the Mac, and what has happened to MUGs. MacinTech meets monthly and I joined them during their September meeting, which occurred the day after the Apple Glowtime event. Brad Tombaugh, a founder of MacinTech, speaks about the history of MUGs. Several other members, including David Bourne, Chris Domino, and Robert Zimmerman, share their MUG stories. I failed to identify who was who during our chat, so I apologize for that. Id like to thank Andy Suhaka of MacinTech for setting this all up. I encourage you to listen if you have never heard of a Mac User Group. Theyve got great stories and plenty of interesting history. This is episode 908 with the MacinTech Mac Users Group and Roman Loyola . Watch episode 908 on YouTube Listen to episode 908 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 908 on Spotify Get info For more information about the topics discussed on the show, click on the links below. MacinTech: Macintosh Users Group for the South Denver Area Apple User Group Resources (Apple) Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review! right here in the Podcasts app . The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel . Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone . Apple

How to easily redact text in a PDF on your Mac

Macworld Widely used PDF files capture text and images nearly exactly as they display in the application that created them. The format is designed to store text and both bitmapped and vector images, with the text available for searching, copying, and even editing in the proper app. That copying part can lead to oceans of trouble when people try to remove details from a PDF before distributionredacting details from a court case, government documents, or even inter-company communicationsby drawing black boxes over the words and paragraphs they want to protect. In most cases, however, drawing boxes over text in a PDF just adds the boxesit doesnt delete the text underneath them. Someone who would like to extract the text beneath the obfuscation can just drag over the area with a selection tool or select Select All on the page. The copied text can then be pasted into a word processor or text editor. Proper redaction can prevent embarrassing, proprietary, or secret information from leaking out, as in a court case involving an associate of Rudolph Giuliani. While the text appears removed in places, a reader can select the range, copy it, and paste it into another document to read it in full. These black-box overlays have led to embarrassing and legally disastrous situations stretching back a couple of decades. Three notable incidents: the accidental release of information in a filing in 2011 in long-running litigation between Apple and Samsung, the disclosure of key allegations in the Paul Manafort prosecution in 2019 alleging his connection to a purported Russian-connected associateand on May 25, 2021, when information was revealed when CNN performed a copy and paste in filings by attorneys for a defendant in a case that involves former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani. If you need to remove text from a document from a PDF before sending itand you cant simply eliminate information in the source document used to create the PDF and make a fresh oneyou can turn to several apps to snip secret, legally prohibited, embarrassing, or proprietary text out of a PDF before sending it on its way. How to redact in macOS Preview Preview warns if you try to draw over text, since that doesnt actually remove it from a PDF (top). Instead, use the Redact tool, which also explains itself. Apple added a redaction tool and redaction-related warnings in Preview for macOS Big Sur in 2020. Youll notice this whenever you select certain tools in Previews Markup toolbar. Display that editing toolbar by choosing View > Show Markup Toolbar or clicking the Markup icon at the right-hand side of the standard toolbar, just to the left of the Search field. Click any item in the Shapes menu, including a line of the thickness in the sixth or seventh heaviest options, and Preview prompts you with a warning: The content behind this annotation will not be deleted. It advises you to use the new Redact selection tool. Most of the tools in Shapes (outlined in a red rectangle) will provoke a redaction warning, as they dont remove text; select the Redact tool (marked with a red arrow) instead. Select that tool and you receive a different alert: Redacted content is permanently removed. Apple further explains: Any content marked for redaction will be permanently deleted when the document is closed. (With both those warnings, you can check a box so you never see them again, too.) Drag with the Redact selection tool across the text, and a black bar with an Xd pattern appears. Save, and that text cant be recovered from that version of the file, although you can use File > Revert To to select a previous version before redaction or pull a copy out of a Time Machine backup. Apple added more powerful PDF tools with macOS Sonoma, including intelligent form detection and enhanced AutoFill, so Preview may be all you need for PDF editing. Redaction in Preview uses a distinctive pattern. Its permanent when you save the file. How to redact in Adobe Acrobat Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (part of a Creative Cloud subscription) also offers a redaction tool, available via Edit > Redact Text & Images . Adobe warns you about how the feature works when you first select it. Acrobat lets you know that text will be permanently removed, and offers a sanitization option, too. With the tool selected, you can drag over both text and images, which Acrobat marks up with a red outline to indicate it will be completely removed when the file is saved. Acrobat provides a new file name with the word Redacted inserted when you next manually save the file to prevent overwriting your original. Acrobat also includes a sanitize feature, which removes a variety of hidden metadata, such as the documents author, which is often pre-filled with the name of the person using the computer or app; invisible but searchable text layers that are created when a document is imported as a set of images, and the text is algorithmically identified; and any text that runs off a page or is entirely off in the margins and cant be selected. Top: Acrobat shows the text selection for redaction before the file is saved. Bottom: The saved file now shows blacks bars (with no hidden text). Sanitization is automatically selected when you apply redaction, though you can flip a switch to disable it. You separately sanitize without redacting any visible text by clicking Sanitize Document. Redact with PDFPen and PDFPen Pro Smiles PDFPen and PDFPen Pro feature redaction, too. You can either select text via Tools > Select Text or a region via Tools > Select Rectangle Tool and then apply Format > Redact Text Block . The resulting image has been scrubbed. PDFPen has you select the text or a region using a standard tool first, and then apply redaction through a menu option. Both versions also offer Format > Redact Text Erase , which removes the text leaving areas of white behind instead of black. This may be preferable in documents with a white background. Also see Best free PDF editors for Mac , Best PDF Editor for Mac and How to scan to a PDF on iPhone 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 FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com including screen captures as appropriate, and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we dont reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.

Best iPad for seniors 2024

Macworld If youre an older user looking to pick up an iPad or someone wanting to gift an Apple tablet to Grandad or Grandma, which is the best iPad to choose? Theres a fair selection in the current Apple catalog , from the diminutive iPad mini all the way up to the incredibly powerful (not to mention very expensive) iPad Pro. It can be intimidating, especially as different users have different needs. To help you make sense of it all, heres our guide to finding the best iPad for seniors. What makes an iPad good for older users? iPad owners dont magically transform into timid technophobes on their 70th birthdays, and there isnt one right answer to this question. Any iPad model might turn out to be the right choice for a specific older user, depending on that users precise requirements. But there are a few criteria that tend to become more of a factor when our bodies begin to age. Screen size is one element, with eyes not being as strong as they once were. Weight/portability can also become more important; some older users have arthritis, while others find they tire more easily than they used to when using a tablet for extended periods of time. We will also want to think carefully about price versus power and features, since you dont want to spend lots of money on a device with capabilities youll never really use. But, as we say, these can be true for any user, so its always best to talk to the person in question about their particular needs if you want to pick the perfect tablet. If you were to put us on the spot, however, we do have some thoughts about the iPads that are most likely to suit an older user. Heres our selection. Best affordable option: iPad (2022, 10th generation) Pros Affordable A14 Bionic processor Support for Apple Pencil (USB and 1st Gen) Solid performance Cons No Home button Base 64GB storage is quite low Price When Reviewed: From $349 (64GB) | $499 (256GB) (was $449 and $599) Best Prices Today: $299 at Amazon $299 at Best Buy $299.99 at Target At $349, the 10th-gen iPad may well be the cheapest iPad model in Apples current lineup, but that doesnt mean its a truly budget device in the pejorative sense. For many (perhaps most) people, this iPad will deliver everything you want from a tablet and not cost you a small fortune in the process. Apples A14 Bionic chip powers the iPad and its ideal for surfing the web, watching streaming services, and shopping online. Its an older processorApple is using more-recent M-series chips in the more-expensive iPad Air and iPad Pro, but its a chip that should be supported by Apple for a few more years. For FaceTime calls theres a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera that offers advanced features such as Center Stage (which allows you to move around on video calls while the iPad tracks you so you dont disappear out of view) and 1080p video. This iPad was the first to place the camera on the longer side of the iPad, so when you use it, the iPad should be in landscape mode. Why are these features particularly good for seniors? Well, having an excellent video-call experience will allow them to keep in touch with the grandkids, friends or family around the world, without looking grainy or like theyre calling from the early 2000s. The 10.9-inch display is also large enough for eyes that might be starting to diminish, while the touch targets on the screen will be easy to hit with unsteady hands. Of course, many seniors are full of more life and vigor than their grandchildren, and the ability to connect an Apple Smart keyboard and first-gen Apple Pencil makes this a perfect companion for traveling while writing memoirs or creating art. Its also the only remaining iPad to feature a headphone jack, which could be very useful if the intended recipient hasnt yet embraced the wireless charms of the AirPods or AirPod Pros . Another major change Apple made with the 10th-gen iPad (in addition to moving the front-facing camera) is that it no longer has a Home button. iPadOS features many great swipe gestures for navigating through apps and menus, and to get to the Home screen, you swipe up from the bottom center of the display. Touch ID is now located on the power button. The 10th-gen iPad comes in these storage options, priced as follows: 64GB:$349/349 256GB:$499/499 If you want to add cellular capabilities then those are also available: 64GB (cellular): $499/499 256GB (cellular): $649/649 It isnt just the best choice for older users, but probably for most users. If you prefer an iPad with a Home button, you can probably find a 9th-generation iPad, which is the last one with a Home button, You may be able to find stock at a third-party retailer. Apple sells refurbished iPads in its Certified Refurbished Store ( U.S. or U.K. ) but the inventory availability fluctuates a lot, so it may not be in stock when you check. Be sure to check back at a later time. Read our full 10th-gen 10.9-inch iPad (2022) review Best lightweight option: iPad mini (A17 Pro) Pros Lightweight Modern design A17 Pro processor Cons Smaller screen size 128GB storage on base model Price When Reviewed: $499 (128GB; Wi-Fi only) | $599 (256GB; Wi-Fi only) | $799 (512GB; Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $478 at Amazon $499 at Apple $499 at Apple United States Its a sad fact that as we age our bodies can lose some of their strength or gain some conditions that we avoided when younger. If youre looking for a lightweight iPad, and therefore easier to hold for longer periods, then the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the one to choose. At around 0.65lbs/293g its roughly half the weight of the 10th gen iPad discussed above. This is made possible, as the name suggests, by the smaller display. But the 8.3-inch panel is still an excellent size for the web, not to mention better as an e-reader thanks to being easier to hold. Under the hood, the iPad mini is a powerhouse, with an A17 Pro chip (as seen in the iPhone 15 Pro), 5G capabilities on the LTE models, and powerful cameras with the same Ultra Wide front-facing module as on the 10th-gen iPad. Its compatible with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Pro and various Bluetooth keyboards , so you can use it like a small laptop if you want to get stuff done. Its a lovely package that offers the most portable solution for those who want to take their iPad with them. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is available in these configurations: iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi) 128GB: $499/499 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi) 256GB:$599/599 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi) 512GB:$799/799 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi + cellular) 128GB:$649/649 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi + cellular) 256GB: $749/749 iPad mini (A17 Pro, Wi-Fi + cellular) 512GB: $949/949 Check our guide to the best iPad mini deals to see if you can get one for a lower price. Read our full Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) review Best all-rounder: iPad (2022, 10th generation) Pros 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display Modern design Landscape camera Various colors USB-C port Cons Higher price than previous generations 64GB of storage on base modell Price When Reviewed: From $449 Best Prices Today: $449 at Apple The newest device on this list is the 10th generation iPad, which arrived in October 2022 without the Home button design of its forebears and follows the aesthetic established by iPad mini and iPad Air. Although the Home button is gone, this iPad still features Touch ID, its just that the sensor is now part of the power button that resides on the top edge of the device. This allows Apple to fit a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display into a chassis thats almost the same size as the 9th generation iPad, which has a 10.2-inch screen. This increased screen real estate will be attractive to those who prefer larger fonts and should make tapping on-screen buttons a little easier for unsteady hands. One of the main new features, aside from the overall design, is that Apple has finally moved the front-facing camera from the traditional top bezel to the longer side one. This essentially turns it from portrait to landscape, hence the name Landscape Ultra Wide camera. The upside of this is that you can sit the iPad on its longer side when making FaceTime calls, which will have you looking into the middle of the camera rather than it being off to the side. Theres also support for Centre-Stage, so if you move around, the software will keep you in the center of the shot. This makes it the best iPad for FaceTime calls with family. The included A14 Bionic chip, which previously powered the iPhone 12 range (including the Pro models), means theres plenty of performance available for most. You can use the 1st generation Apple Pencil on this device, and the new USB-C port opens up a world of peripherals you can plug into the iPad. These include keyboards, external storage, and even monitors if you want a pseudo-desktop PC. One drawback of this switch is that owners of a 1st generation Apple Pencil will need to buy an adaptor to be able to charge it from the iPad. If you buy a new Pencil from Apple, the adapter is now included in the box. The iPad comes in four attractive colors (Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver). These are the available configurations: 64GB:$349/349 256GB:$499/499 64GB (cellular): $499/499 256GB (cellular): $649/649 As with the other iPads on this list, you might want to consider opting for the 256GB storage variant, as 64GB can fill up pretty quickly if you like to store photos and videos on the device itself. Apple also offers a new keyboard case called the Magic Keyboard Folio, which is nice but costs an eye-watering $249/279, so wed advise looking for cheaper (and often just as good) third-party products instead. See our iPad keyboard roundup . Like the iPad mini the iPad may also get an update in 2024. For more information, take a look at our Everything you need to know about the iPad 10.9-inch (10th Generation) guide. Best performance option: 11-inch iPad Air (2024) Pros M2 processor USB-C port Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) support Smart connector Cons Getting expensive Price When Reviewed: $599 (128GB, Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $551 at Amazon $599 at Apple $599 at Apple United States While its true that the iPad Pro models are the most powerful iPads available, for most people they are simply overkill. Also, they come with Pro-level prices, which isnt great if youre only going to use them to watch videos and FaceTime the grandkids. For the more discerning user who requires plenty of power but at a reasonable price, the iPad Air is an excellent solution. Theres not much to differentiate the 10th-gen iPad and the 11-inch iPad Air. but, when you look closely, you can see from where the extra expense comes. The two devices are around the same size, and both sport a Liquid Retina display, but the one on the Air is fully-laminated, so theres no air-gap between the glass and digitizer, which makes it feel like youre touching the actual pixels and makes using the compatible Apple Pencil (2nd gen) that much smoother. They feature the same 12MP cameras on the back and front on the longer side of the device. But, under the hood the Air has the incredibly powerful M2 processor, which was previously found in the last generation of iPad Pros, not to mention several recent Macs. This takes things to another level. If someone wants to play games, use graphically intensive apps or just wants a really fast user experience, then the M2 delivers that in spades. The iPad Air has often been called the iPad Pro for normal people, and thats exactly what it is. The USB-C port allows you to connect various external devices, such as storage or monitors, so it can easily transform into a laptop with a processor thats desktop-class. Apple offers the sleek Magic Keyboard folio case, but at $299/319 its way overpriced, so wed suggest a third-party Bluetooth keyboard and case as a more frugal option. The iPad Air base configuration has 128GB of storage, twice that of the base 10th-gen iPad. That should be plenty for most people; you can rely on iCloud storage if youre worried that youll run out of space. You can also go with the more expensive 256GB configuration. You can pick up the 11-inch iPad Air in the following configurations: iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 128GB: $599/599 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 256GB: $699/699 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 512GB: $899/899 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi) 1TB: $1,099/1,099 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 128GB: $749/749 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 256GB: $849/849 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 512GB: $1,049/1,049 iPad Air (2024, Wi-Fi + Cellular) 1TB: $1,249/1,249 Also read our roundup of the best iPad Air deals too, so you dont miss out on any great offers. Read our full Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024) review Best luxury option: iPad Pro (2024) Pros Insanely powerful Best iPads money can buy ProMotion displays Cons Very expensive Too much power for most people Price When Reviewed: $999 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple $1099 at Best Buy $1,154.49 at Amazon For those to whom money is no object or require the highest-end performance an iPad can deliver, the iPad Pro is the only choice. Recently upgraded to the latest M4 processor, these are devices that absolutely fly. Every appointment is top-notch, from the Ultra Retina XDR display with super-smooth ProMotion technology to the USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt 4. These are Pro devices. With that is the caveat that most people wont necessarily see these benefits unless they are using pro-level apps that push the device hard. The Pro comes in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch, with the latter being an absolute whopper. If you need a large screen then this is as big as it gets. Apple offers a 13-inch iPAd Air thats cheaper, but its screen isnt as nice as the Pro, and the Air is actually heavier than the Pro. (Go figure.) To anyone other than a professional designer, animator, or digital specialist who can harness the power of the iPad Pros, these are simply too much and your money would be better spent on the iPad Air. But, if thats you or you just want a luxury iPad to enjoy, then this is the premium end of the street. The iPad Pro 11-inch (2024) is available in the following configurations: 256GB: $999/999 512GB: $1,199/1,199 1TB: $1,599/1,599 2TB: $1,999/1,999 If you want 5G cellular capabilities, then these are the options: 256GB (Cellular): $1,199/1,199 512GB (Cellular): $1,399/1,399 1TB (Cellular): $1,799/1,799 2TB (Cellular): $2,199/2,199 The iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) is available in these configurations: 256GB: $1,299/1,299 512GB: $1,499/1,499 1TB: $1,899/1,899 2TB: $2,299/2,299 Here are the prices for the cellular-equipped models: 256GB (Cellular): $1,499/1,499 512GB (Cellular): $1,699/1,699 1TB (Cellular): $2,099/2,099 2TB (Cellular): $2,499/2,499 Check out our roundup of the best iPad Pro deals to see if you can get a good bargain on these flagship devices. For more about how the iPad Pro and iPad Air compare read iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4) . Read our full Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024) review

How to stop dust, dirt, and lint from getting into your iPhone charging port

Macworld Keep your phone in your pocket or backpack and dust and dirt will certainly enter your phones most vulnerable point of entrythe charging port. Once enough fluff is in there you will find it difficult to properly insert the charging cable and you will have to rely on wireless charging. Dirt transferred from your pocket or bag into the charging port is simply inevitableor is it? After too many trips to the Apple Store, Ive taken to plugging that port with a little stopper. There are several on Amazon, but I use the Limvory dust plug covers, shown below, which come in a pack of four with a handy little cleaning brush. Amazon You can buy USB-C dust plug covers for iPhone 15 and 16 or dust plug covers for Lightning ports (iPhone 14 and earlier). You will surely lose a few so buying in bulk isnt a crazy idea. Amazon I mostly charge wirelessly using either a MagSafe charger or a magnetic power bank , so I dont need access to the charging port most of the time. If I want to use a wire, then I can pop out the stopper and plug in the cable. (Most wireless charging is pegged back at 7.5W or 15W, while wired charging can get up to 30W, so there are times when youll want to plug in a cable.) A low-tech port plug is a simple solution that will keep dirt from getting into the port but wont stop you from quickly charging your iPhone with a cable. Using a port plug is the best way to stop that happening. And if you need a cable, check out our roundups of the best USB-C iPhone charging cables and best Lightning cables .

Best iPad mini deals this month

Macworld Apple has finally updated the iPad mini! The new (7th-gen) iPad mini launched on October 15, 2024 and went on sale on October 18, three years after the previous generation arrived. The new model is ready for Apple Intelligence (coming with iPadOS 18 ), comes in a new selection of colors, and works with the Apple Pencil Pro. Best of all, Apple has upped the storage, so you now get twice as much for your money. With the arrival of a new iPad mini, Apple has stopped selling the older model, although you may find it in Apples Refurbished Store (US) or Apples Refurbished Store (UK) . Beyond Apple, we expect resellers to continue to sell the older (2021, 6th-gen) iPad mini for a while, and you can expect to see some discounts as they clear out their old stock. Read on to find details of the best places to pick up the 2024 iPad mini (A17 Pro) or the 6th-gen iPad mini at the best price in the U.S. or U.K. If youre after a larger display we also have the best deals on the 10th-gen iPad , the best iPad Air deals , and the best iPad Pro deals . Theres also a complete roundup of the best iPad deals . If youre not sure which model to go for, read our iPad buying guide , and you may also like to read: best iPad for kids , best iPad for students , and best iPad for seniors . Best iPad mini deals right now Youll find the lowest current prices on the various iPad mini models in our automated tables below, but here are the very best deals were seeing right now. U.S. deals: Amazon, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB) : $400 ($99 off with coupon, MSRP $499) Amazon, iPad mini (64GB) : $349 ($150 off, MSRP was $499, now discontinued) U.K. deals: In the U.K. you can already pick up a small discount on a brand-new iPad mini. KRCS: iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 128GB) : 489.02 (9.98 off, RRP 499) KRCS: iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 256GB) 587.02 (11.98 off, RRP 599) KRCS: iPad mini (2024, A17 Pro, 512GB) : 783.02 (15.98 off, RRP 799) Amazon, iPad mini (2021, 6th gen, 64GB) : 437.97 (RRP was 499, now discontinued) Best iPad mini (2024) deals If its a deal on the 2024 iPad mini youre after, you may have to wait a while for anything major. But we are seeing a few smaller discounts on new Apple products, so its likely youll be able to save money if you look in the right places. iPad mini (2024, 7th gen, 128GB, Wi-Fi); MSRP $499/499 Retailer Price $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499 View Deal $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPad mini (2024, 7th gen, 256GB, Wi-Fi); MSRP $599/599 Retailer Price $449 View Deal $469 View Deal $499.99 View Deal $499.99 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPad mini (2024, 7th gen, 512GB, Wi-Fi); MSRP $799/799 Retailer Price $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599.99 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 Best iPad mini (2021) deals If you want to get your hands on the older iPad mini at the best price, youve come to the right place. Were tracking the best deals, as well as the retailers that have models in stock right now. Our advice though is that the price of an older iPad mini will need to be really good to compete with the new models that offer twice the storage for the same price. iPad mini (2021, 6th gen, 64GB): MSRP was $499/499, now discontinued Note that this comes with half the storage of the baseline 2024 model, so the current deals will need to be really good or you should just buy the newer model with 128GB storage rather than 64GB. New Refurbished Retailer Price $349.99 View Deal $449 View Deal $469 View Deal $489 View Deal $499.99 View Deal $499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad mini (2021) 64GB Space Gray (WiFi) $313 View Deal iPad mini (2021) 64GB Starlight (WiFi) $317.46 View Deal iPad mini (2021) 64GB Pink (WiFi) $321.38 View Deal iPad mini (2021) 64GB Purple (WiFi) $324.31 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPad mini (2021, 6th gen, 256GB): MSRP was $649/649, now discontinued Bear in mind that the 256GB version of the 7th-gen iPad mini now costs $599/599, so make sure youre not spending anywhere near that. New Refurbished Retailer Price $499.99 View Deal $549 View Deal $617 View Deal $649 View Deal $649.99 View Deal $649.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad mini (2021) 256GB Starlight (WiFi) $392 View Deal iPad mini (2021) 256GB Purple (WiFi) $447.89 View Deal iPad mini (2021) 256GB Space Gray (WiFi) $478 View Deal iPad mini (2021) 256GB Pink (WiFi) $499 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy the iPad mini You can buy one from Apple and a number of other retailers (either outright or with a network provider), details of which you will find below. For a while part of the problem with buying an iPad mini right now wasnt just finding a good deal; it was actually finding the model you want in stock, although stock does seem to be at more reliable levels now! If you dont want to buy the iPad mini from Apple, you may be able to pick it up from the following retailers or on contract from various network providers: US retailers: Apple Amazon B&H Photo Video Best Buy Costco Target Walmart US contract deals: AT&T T-Mobile/Sprint Verizon Weve heard that US customers who bought the 5G iPad mini 6 from Apple could get a $200 pre-paid Mastercard when activating with T-Mobile/Sprint or a $200 e-gift card when activating with Verizon. Currently, we can only see 3% Daily Cash if you use an Apple Card to purchase an iPad mini (A17 Pro). Looking for other ways to save money? Find out if you can save money buying Apple products from another country . UK retailers: Apple Amazon Argos Currys John Lewis KRCS Very Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the UK, and also offer other services. Try the following: KRCS iStore Select Western Computer UK contract deals: EE O2 Sky Vodafone Virgin Media Three iPad mini 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. 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. In the U.K. watch this page and the U.S. Refurb Store page is here . 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. Get a refurbished iPad at Apple's refurbished store (U.K.) Another place to look is BackMarket U.S. and BackMarket U.K. , which sell refurbished Macs and other Apple products. Amazon also has a certified refurbished store for Apple products, but we would advise against buying any products that are older than five years. Most of the products we see on the Amazon refurbished store are unfortunately very old. Theres a large refurbished market for the iPad mini. Wed recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers for iPad mini 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 .

Best iPad Pro deals this month

Macworld If you want to buy an iPad Pro youve come to the right place. In this article, were looking at where you can buy the iPad Pro for the lowest price. We track the various resellers who sell the iPad Pro in the U.S. and U.K., so we always have details of the best prices and best discounts. Read on to find the best place to get a great deal on a new iPad Pro right now! There are two kinds of iPad Pro: the 11-inch Pro with M4 and the 13-inch Pro with M4, both of which were launched in May 2024. Among these are Wi-Fi and cellular models in various configurations. Read about the iPad Pro 2024 update and find out how it compares to the 2024 iPad Air 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 Pro deals right now U.S. Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB) : $948 ($51 off, MSRP $1,199) Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB) : $1,246.33 ($50 off, MSRP $1,299) U.K. Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,149 (50 off, RRP 1,199) John Lewis: 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,249 (50 off, RRP 1,299) Best M4 iPad Pro deals The M4 iPad Pro models launched in May 2024 and you can already get a deal on one of the new models. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up-to-date with the latest prices for each iPad Pro. For even bigger savings, the 2022 iPad Pro models can be found in the section below this one. 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $999/999 Retailer Price $999 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1,154.49 View Deal $1199 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 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,199/1,199 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1099 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1149 View Deal $1,151.50 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Pro 11 M4 (2024) 256GB Space Black (Wi-Fi + 5G) $939 View Deal iPad Pro 11 M4 (2024) 512GB Space Black (WiFi) $1049 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,599/1,599 Retailer Price $1499 View Deal $1519 View Deal $1,529.83 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,999/1,999 Retailer Price $1,840 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1999 View Deal $1999 View Deal $1999 View Deal $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,299/1,299 Retailer Price $1099 View Deal $1,154.49 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,499/1,499 Retailer Price $1249 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,899/1,899 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1749 View Deal $1765.95 View Deal $1799 View Deal $1,819.93 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1899 View Deal $1899 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Pro 13 M4 (2024) 1000GB Space Black (WiFi) $1679 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $2,299/2,299 New Refurbished Retailer Price $2,099 View Deal $2099 View Deal $2199 View Deal $2199 View Deal $2299 View Deal $2299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Pro 13 M4 (2024) 2000GB Space Black (WiFi) $1949 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best 11-inch M2 iPad Pro deals The M2 iPad Pro models launched in October 2022, and have now been replaced by the M4 model. But you may still be able to get a deal on one of these older models. Look through the tables below to find the best discounts. These tables will always be up-to-date with the latest prices for each iPad Pro. 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $799/899 New Refurbished Retailer Price $798.96 View Deal $799 View Deal $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 11 (2020) 128GB Silver (WiFi) $512.10 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2021) 128GB Silver (WiFi) $515.59 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2021) 128GB Space Gray (WiFi) $515.59 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2022) 128GB Silver (WiFi) $633.12 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2020) 1000GB Space Gray (Wi-Fi + LTE) $639.95 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2022) 128GB Space Gray (WiFi) $649 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2020) 1000GB Space Gray (WiFi) $695.32 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $899/1,019 New Refurbished Retailer Price $844 View Deal $899 View Deal $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 11 (2021) 256GB Space Gray (WiFi) $627.16 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2021) 256GB Silver (WiFi) $676.65 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2022) 256GB Space Gray (WiFi) $739 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/1,249 New Refurbished Retailer Price $823.95 View Deal $1024 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099.99 View Deal $1,214.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price iPad Pro 11 (2021) 512GB Space Gray (WiFi) $699.99 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2022) 512GB Silver (WiFi) $740.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,499/1,699 Retailer Price $999 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,899/2,149 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1399 View Deal $1759 View Deal $1,849.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 11 (2022) 2000GB Silver (WiFi) $1149.99 View Deal iPad Pro 11 (2022) 2000GB Space Gray (WiFi) $1824.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro deals 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (128GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,099/1,249 New Refurbished Retailer Price $799 View Deal $1024 View Deal $1099.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 128GB Silver (WiFi) $649.31 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 128GB Space Gray (WiFi) $659 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,199/1,369 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1119 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 256GB Space Gray (WiFi) $795.19 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 256GB Silver (WiFi) $809.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,399/1,599 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1299 View Deal $1299.99 View Deal 1399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 11 (2020) 512GB Silver (WiFi) $585.89 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) 512GB Silver (WiFi) $604.63 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) 512GB Silver (WiFi) $608.75 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) 512GB Space Gray (WiFi) $703.09 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 512GB Space Gray (WiFi) $862.43 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 512GB Silver (WiFi) $999 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $1,799/2,049 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1674 View Deal $1799 View Deal $1799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) 1000GB Silver (WiFi) $701.80 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 1000GB Space Gray (WiFi) $975.54 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro (2TB, Wi-Fi): MSRP $2,199/2,499 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1599 View Deal $2039 View Deal $2199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 2000GB Space Gray (WiFi) $1083.32 View Deal iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) 2000GB Silver (WiFi) $1679.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy the iPad Pro You can also find the iPad Pros from all the retailers listed below. Alternatively, check out the great deals in the section below our best price tables will always be up to date with the latest prices for each iPad Pro model. US retailers Apple Amazon Best Buy Costco Target Walmart UK retailers Apple Amazon Argos Currys John Lewis KRCS Very Apple has a number of Apple Premium Resellers who stock iPads in the UK, and also offer other services, try the following: KRCS is often the first to discount new products iStore Select Western Computer iPad Pro refurbished deals The deals you will see above are generally from Apple resellers rather than Apple itself, which rarely reduces prices. Apple does, however, sell reconditioned iPads in its refurbished store. So you can grab a bargain. The iPads in Apples refurbished store may be ex-display stock, or they may have been returned to Apple due to a fault, but they are fully reconditioned now and come with a full years warranty. Its not like buying secondhand. In the U.K., watch this page and the U.S. Refurb Store page is here . 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. Get a refurbished iPad at Apple's refurbished store (U.K.) Another place to look is BackMarket US and BackMarket UK , which sells refurbished iPads and other Apple products. There is also a large refurbished market for the iPad. Wed recommend taking a look at these refurbished resellers: Amazon AWD Big Phone Store eBay Envirofone Affordable Mac Tech Trade 4Gadgets Handtec Laptops Direct Music Magpie Preloved Smartfone Store Apple Education Discount University students and teachers can also save on the iPad Pro 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.

The best Apple deals: Incredible savings on Mac, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, and more

Macworld Whether youre looking to gift an Apple product or just pick one up for yourself, weve scoured the web for the best prices on everything from Macs to MacBooks, iPads to iPhones, Apple Watches to Apple TVs, and more. And with Black Friday Apple rarely discounts its own productseven during its annual Black Friday shopping event , running Thursday, November 29, to Monday, December 1, it traditionally elects to give out gift cards rather than actual price reductions. It also offers year-round discounts to students , including a Back To School event where students can get up to $150 in gift cards when purchasing certain Apple products. Theres also the Apple Refurbished Store where you can sometimes grab a bargain. But if you want a new Apple device right now, other stores often offer up Apple discounts worth grabbing. In this article, youll find real-time pricing at all major retailers for Apples current lineup, and weve also highlighted some of the top discounts each week. Plus, for even more deals, weve linked to our dedicated deals round-ups for each product category. Use the table of contents to jump to the best deals right now for the Apple product you wantincluding the new iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, iPad mini, and all the M4 Macs, which were announced this fall. Best AirPods deals Foundry New AirPods were announced by Apple in September 2024. We arent seeing any deals on the new AirPods 4 yet, but they will be listed here as soon as we see any discounts. There are new colors for the AirPods Max to look out for too. Following the launch of new AirPods, the AirPods 2nd-gen and AirPods 3rd-gen were discontinued, however, we expect to continue to see deals on those products until stock runs out. U.S. Amazon, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case) : $190 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, AirPods 4: $119 ($10 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, AirPods 4 with ANC : $168 ($11 off, MSRP $179) Amazon, AirPods Max (USB-C) : $536 ($13 off, MSRP $549) Amazon, AirPods Max (Lightning) : $459 ($190 off; MSRP was $549 DISCONTINUED) U.K. Amazon, AirPods (2nd gen) : 109 (20 off, RRP was 129 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, AirPods (3rd gen, MagSafe) : 159 (20 off, RRP was 179 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd gen, USB-C) : 199 (30 off, RRP 229) See our dedicated round-up of the best AirPods deals Best iPhone and accessory deals Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry In the U.S. specific iPhone deals are hard to come by apart from carrier offers for new signups and trade-ins. We recommend checking Verizon , AT&T , and T-Mobiles sites if youre looking to change carriers or add a new line. Apple also offers trade-ins and carrier deals through its website. We also recommend that you look at our round-up of iPhone 14 deals as well as iPhone 15 deals for U.S. readers , and with the arrival of the iPhone 16 we will be tracking Where to get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max deals in the U.S. In the U.K., we frequently see Apple-certified resellers discount unlocked iPhones. Look for money off at Amazon , Currys , and Very . We are recording all the best prices of iPhone 15 in the U.K. separately and we are tracking the best deals for the iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max separately. It is possible to find discounts on most iPhones in the UK, including older/discontinued handsets, including the following deals, but remember Apple has reduced pricing in the U.K. for the new range of handsets, so the discounts may not be as good as they look. Amazon, iPhone 15, 128GB, 681 (RRP was 799, now 699) Amazon, iPhone 15, 512GB, 999 (RRP was 1,099, now 999) Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, 799 (RRP was 899, now 799) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB , 899 (RRP was 999, now 899) AO, iPhone 15 Pro, 512GB , 1,199 (RRP was 1,299, now 1,199) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , 1,099 (RRP was 1,199 now 1,099) Amazon, iPhone 14 Plus: 599 (RRP was 699, now 599) Amazon, iPhone 14 Pro (256GB): 999 (210 off 2022s price of 1,209, Apple discontinued this phone in September 2023) Amazon, iPhone SE (64GB) : 379 (50 off, RRP 429) Amazon, iPhone SE (128GB) : 429 (50 off, RRP 429) Also see our dedicated round-up of the best iPhone deals and: iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (US) iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Pro deals iPhone 13 deals Best iPhone SE deals U.K. readers can browse contract deals using the tool embedded below. Click Choose Smartphone to register which model youre interested in. Best iPad deals Dominik Tomaszewski/IDG You can save a decent amount on most iPads, from time to time we do see really good discounts, especially on the larger capacity models. U.S. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (64 GB) : $299 ($50 off, MSRP $349) Amazon, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB) : $400 ($99 off with coupon, MSRP $499) Amazon, iPad mini (64GB) : $349 ($150 off, MSRP $499 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $549 ($50 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB) : $700 ($99 off with coupon, MSRP $799) Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB) : $948 ($51 off, MSRP $1,199) U.K. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (64GB) : 319.99 (29.01 off, RRP 349) Amazon, 10th gen iPad (256GB) : 459 (40 off, RRP 499) Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2) : 559.97 (39.03 off, RRP 599) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2) : 749.97 (49.03 off, RRP 799) Amazon, 6th-gen iPad mini : 469.97 (29.03 off, RRP 499) KRCS, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi) : 979.02 (19.98 off, RRP 999) KRCS: 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,273.02 (25.98 off, RRP 1,299) See our dedicated round-ups of the best iPad deals below Best iPad 10.9-inch deals Best iPad Air deals Best deals iPad Pro deals Best iPad mini deals Best Apple Watch deals Jason Cross/IDG The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived in September 2024. Its going to be a while until we start to see discounts, but when we do youll find them here. The arrival of the Series 10 marks the end of the Apple Watch Series 9, which Apple discontinued. The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2 havent been updated and remain on sale. U.S. Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : $367 ($31 off, MSRP $399) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : $410 ($19 off, MSRP $429) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm) : $189 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm) : $219 ($60 off, MSRP $279) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 : $735 ($64 off, MSRP $799) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm) : $329 ($70 off, MSRP was $399 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm) : $330 ($99 off, MSRP was $429 DISCONTINUED) U.K. John Lewis, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm) : 349 (50 off, RRP 399) John Lewis, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm) : 379 (50 off, RRP 429) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 : 769 (30 off, RRP 799) Amazon, Apple Watch SE (40mm) : 209 (10 off, RRP 219) See our dedicated round-up of the best Apple Watch deals Best MacBook deals IDG Apple released new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max processors. Prices stayed the same, but the new base model now starts with 16GB of RAM as does the MacBook Air. Well include deals on the M3 models until stock is depleted and add deals on M4 models as they arrive. U.S. Walmart, 13-inch Macbook Air (M1, 256GB) : $649 ($350 off, MSRP was $999) Amazon, M2 13-inch MacBook Air, 256GB, 8GB RAM : $749 ($250 off, MSRP $999) Amazon, M3 13-inch MacBook Air, 256GB, 8GB RAM : $899 ($200 off, MSRP $1,099) Amazon, M3 15-inch MacBook Air, 256GB, 8GB RAM : $1,099 ($200 off, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, M3 15-inch MacBook Air, 512GB, 8GB RAM : $1,299 ($200 off, MSRP $1,499) Amazon, M3 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB, 36GB RAM : $2,799 ($400 off, MSRP $3,199 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, M3 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB, 48GB RAM : $3,399 ($600 off, MSRP $3,999 DISCONTINUED) U.K. Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB) 947 (152 off, RRP 1,099) Argos, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB) 1,129 (170 off, RRP 1,299) John Lewis, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 256GB) 1,099.97 (199.03 off, RRP 1,299) Currys, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 512GB) 1,129 (370 off, RRP 1,499) Amazon, 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD : 1,500 (199 off, MSRP 1,699) Amazon, 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 (8-core CPU, 10- core GPU), 8GB RAM, 1TB SSD : 1,649.98 (250 off, MSRP 1,899) Amazon, 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (11-core CPU, 14-core GPU), 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD : 1,899 (200 off, MSRP 2,099) Amazon, 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 18GB RAM, 1TB SSD : 2,230 (269 off, MSRP 2,499) Amazon, 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD : 2,339.97 (259 off, MSRP 2,599) Amazon, 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 36GB RAM, 512GB SSD : 2,729 (270 off, MSRP 2,999) See our dedicated round-ups of the best MacBook Pro deals and the best MacBook Air deals . Best Mac desktop deals iMac IDG Apple released the M4 iMac and M4/M4 Pro Mac mini in October 2024. All models now start at 16GB RAM and the Mac mini has a completely new design with a smaller case and front-facing ports. U.S. Amazon, M2 Mac mini, 256GB : $499 ($100 off, MSRP $799 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB : $1,149 ($150 off, MSRP $1,299 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 256GB: $1,099 ($200 off, MSRP $1,299 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, M3 iMac, 10-core GPU, 256GB : $1,300 ($200 off after coupon, MSRP $1,499 DISCONTINUED) Amazon, Apple Studio Display , $1,599 (No discount, MSRP $1,599) U.K. Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 256GB : 1,259 (140 off, RRP 1,399) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 512GB : 1,679 (123 off, RRP 1,799) Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 512GB : 774.99 (74 off MRSP 849) Amazon: M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB : 1,254.97 (144 off MRSP 1,399) AO, Mac Studio M2 Max : 1,906 (193 off, MSRP 2,099) Currys, Apple Studio Display 27-inch 5K Standard Glass : 1,469 (30 off) For more Mac deals check out our round-up of the best Mac Studio deals and the best Mac mini deals , plus our dedicated round-up of the best iMac deals .