Report: Apples WWDC OS design overhaul will bring new branding, too

Macworld WWDC is less than two weeks away, and its shaping up to be a big show. Along with interface updates to all of its operating systems , Apple is also expected to formalize the version numbering across all of its OSes for the first time. According to a report by Mark Gurman, Apple will identify its operating systems by year instead of version number, bringing them all to 26. Even though the releases will begin 2025, Apple will name it after the following year, not unlike how car companies market their vehicles, Gurman says. That means several operating systems will jump to new numbers: iOS 18 > iOS 26 iPadOS 18 > iPadOS 26 macOS 15 > macOS 26 watchOS 10 > watchOS 26 tvOS 18 > tvOS 26 visionOS 2 > visionOS 26 Apples operating systems are currently named based on their version numbers, which is why some arent aligned. However, iPadOS and tvOS are on version 18 despite not having 18 versions, while macOS arbitrarily began at version 11 in 2020. This shift will make it much easier for users to know which version theyre using. As Gurman notes, Apple previously experimented with yearly numbering for its app suites, with iLife 04 and iWork 05. However, that nomenclature eventually sizzled out as Apple started updating apps individually. Its not clear whether Apple will use an apostrophe to indicate that its a year and not a version number. Apple will unveil its full slate of OS updates at its WWDC keynote on June 9. Stay tuned to Macworld for updates before, during, and after the event.

Satechi launches four new Find My accessories just in time for summer

Today, Satechi expands its FindAll collection with four new travel accessories just in time for summer. The latest additions from the San Diego-based brand include The post Satechi launches four new Find My accessories just in time for summer appeared first on BGR .

Get the M4 Mac mini we love for just $500 today

Macworld The M4 Mac mini is already an incredible value, but were still always on the lookout for a great deal. Today, you can get the M4 Mac Mini for an amazing $500 , a savings of $99, and one of the best prices weve ever seen for this model, which comes with 16GB memory and 256GB of storage space, which is the entry-level version for this latest model. The tiny M4 Mac mini will look great on just about any desk thanks to its minimalist design. But dont be fooledthe M4 Mac Mini will handle any task with incredible speed thanks to its powerful M4 chip, making it ideal for everything from browsing to media streaming, from your daily workload to Netflix binging. With 16GB of memory, itll be blazing fast, and the 256GB of storage should be enough for most projects. And of you need more space, you can use one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports to hook up a speedy drive. So get the M4 Mac Mini for $500 at Amazon while this deal still stands, because discounts this low dont stay too long. Get a Mac Mini for a mini price Buy now at Amazon

Apple just launched a new Logic Pro feature that records even if you forget

Macworld On Tuesday, Apple announced several new features for Logic Pro, the companys digital audio workstation app for the Mac and iPad. The features are included in Logic Pro 11.2 for Mac and Logic Pro 2.2 for iPad, both of which are now available and free to existing users of the software. The new features include: Flashback Capture : If the producer forgot to hit record for a performance, Flashback Capture can be used to recover it using a key command or custom control bar button. Stem Splitter updates : Stem Splitter allows for the isolation of individual parts of a song and has been updated to support guitar and piano. Common stem variations (for example, a capella, instrumental, or instrumental with vocals) can be selected using presets. The new submix feature allows for the export of just the parts of audio a producer wants. New Sound Packs : The new Dancefloor Rush sound pack for Mac and iPad features drum-and-bass sounds. On the Mac, Logic Pro has two more new sound packs: Magnetic Imperfections, which captures the raw, unpolished essence of analog tape; and Tosin Abasi, which showcases progressive metal guitar with boutique amps, unique effects, distinctive picking techniques, and the artists signature riffs. Learn MIDI in iPad version : This feature comes to the iPad, which allows users to control MIDI devices. Notepad with Writing Tools in Mac version : The Writing Tools Apple Intelligence features help with producers in the creative process. Search and select in Mac version : This makes it easy to find and choose tracks by name of track number. Logic Pro for Mac is $199.99 (one-time fee) for new users and is available in the Mac App Store . Logic Pro for iPad is $4.99 per month or $49 per year and is available in the App Store .

You can now fix your iPad at home

Macworld In November 2021, Apple announced that it was opening a new Self Service Repair store to allow customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts and tools. What started with the iPhone 12 and 13 has expanded to dozens of products, including most Macs and the latest iPhone, the 16e. Now Apple has announced that you can fix your iPad at home too. Owners of the iPad Air (M2 and M3), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro), or iPad (A16) can diagnose and repair their tablet at home with official Apple parts, including displays, batteries, cameras, and the USB-C port. Users will be able to order parts and tools through Apples Self Service Repair Store . Other than a small number of people who want the satisfaction of the DIY repair, however, most users will still opt for a Genius Bar appointment . Prices arent available in the store yet, but theyre not likely to be cheap. For example, a display for the 14-inch M3 Pro/Max MacBook Pro, which requires a new Lid Angle Sensor to complete repair, costs $659.12, while a logic board is $1,847.12. Apple provides a small credit for returning the replacement part ($439.12 for the logic board, for example) and offers a $49 7-day toolkit rental. Plus, the process is decidedly difficult . In addition to the iPad, Apple has also expanded the Self Service Repair Program to Canada. If you are the type of person who likes to repair your own Apple kit you might like to read You can now diagnose iPhone and Mac problems without going to an Apple Store and if the iPad is beyond repair take a look at The best Apple deals: Huge savings on Macs, AirPods, iPhones, and more!

I took a trip back to iOS 6 to prepare for WWDC. Heres what I learned

Macworld Were just weeks from the next WWDC, where Apple will announce the next version of iOS . According to rumors, iOS 19 will be the biggest change since iOS 7 in terms of design, this time featuring a new interface reportedly inspired by visionOS . I still remember the feeling of using iOS 7 for the first time on my iPhone 5, and it was like I was using a completely different phone. There was a lot to like and dislike, and even after all these years, I still miss aspects of iOS 6. With that in mind, I decided to revisit iOS 6 to see how much had changed from one version to the nextand what we can learn about the next dramatic shift. Back to iOS 6: A different world iOS 6 was announced in 2011, and although it wasnt a huge update compared to the one that would follow, it was still quite controversial at the time. Most notably, Apple replaced Google Maps with its own Maps app with iOS 6, which brought significant interface changes, along with missing features and some major issues with locations. Of course, iOS 6 is no longer supported by Apple, and theres no official way to run it on iPhones and iPads. However, if you still have an old device that was once compatible with iOS 6, you can downgrade your iPhone or iPad (although there are many things that no longer work on this version, including the aforementioned Maps). iOS 6 was a simpler timewith slide to unlock. Foundry With that in mind, my journey revisiting iOS 6 started with seeing the old Apple logo with a reflection effect on boot, followed by the old Setup screen. That alone brought back a lot of good memories. Its hard to forget the linen-inspired background that was present in Setup, Notification Center, and even Siri. While iOS 7 and the versions that came after focused on making everything overly minimalist and modern, the old iOS interface was much more detailed with faux textures that resembled real-life objects (known as skeuomorphism): leather, wood, linen, etc. Of course, the Lock Screen had no widgets or animated wallpapers, and Face ID wasnt a thing. Instead, users had to Slide to Unlock, a fun way to make first-time iPhone users familiar with multi-touch gestures. There was also a sound effect of a padlock being unlocked. But the most remarkable feature of iOS 6 is the first thing you see when you unlock your iPhone: the Home Screen. The 3D design of the icons pops out of the screen when you see them on a device with a Retina display. This, combined with the bolder text, gives the impression that youre looking at a printed page rather than pixels on a screen. Even the wallpapers, especially the water droplets, were visually enticing. The icons had much more personality, too. The Camera app icon resembled the rear sensor of the first iPhone rather than a generic camera, while apps like Passbook (former Wallet) and Contacts had a nice leather texture. This personality was also carried into each apps interface as well. The Notes app looked like a real-life notepad with yellow paper pages, and theres a nice subtle detail at the top to simulate torn pages. Special attention was also paid to the systems animations. If you created a new note, you would see an animation as if you had turned a page on a real-life notebook. iOS 6s skeuomorphism was a nod to the real-world devices it was mimicking. Foundry In Passbook, there was an impressive animation for deleting tickets, which simulated paper being shredded. Voice Memos also looked cool on iOS 6, with the large metal microphone and a VU meter that reacts when you speak or tap the microphone. The volume indicator shines as you move the iPhone in your hand. And then theres Siri. This was my favorite version of the Siri interface, mostly because of its shiny microphone button with the glowing purple light that pulsed as you spoke. It felt so futuristic yet real, like you were actually interacting with a physical object. iOS 6 was the culmination of five years of Apple interface design and everything felt more fun and alive. iOS 7 arrived in 2013, marking the first major iOS redesign. Skeuomorphism gave way to a simpler interface with solid backgrounds and no textures. Stylized buttons were replaced by text, and beautifully designed icons were replaced by flat shapes. iOS 7: Modern but dull It was a dramatic, even shocking change. On the one hand, iOS 7 looked a lot more modern than iOS 6. But on the other hand, fun interface elements also became more boring. In iOS 7, the Notes app was just a white screen where you write text, and the same applied to the vast majority of iPhone and iPad apps. We also lost many of the skeuomorphic animations that, while not necessary, were a nice touch and always brought a smile to my face every time I saw them. With the change, iOS lost its personality and character. iOS 7 removed much of a originality of iOS. Foundry Personally, I believe that iOS 7 marked the beginning of a new era for Apple. It set out a modern aesthetic that would be followed not only by Apple in its forthcoming products, but also by other companies. Can you imagine a product like the Apple Watch running something like iOS 6? But at the same time, the personality that iOS had faded over time as the interface became flatter and, well, duller. iOS 19: Lessons from the past Now that I have returned to iOS 18, its hard not to look at Apples current OS without thinking of the rumored redesign. Although its unclear whether the iOS 19 redesign will be as significant as iOS 7 was, seeing iOS 6 again made me realize that Apple can learn a few things from its past. iOS 6s skeuomorphic interface might not fit in with current standards, but Id love to see some aspects of skeuomorphism make a comeback on iOS. Things like the reflection effect that moves as you tilt your phone, and fun animations would definitely go a long way toward making iOS more fun and unique again. Siri has gone through numerous changes over the yearswill iOS 19 bring another one? Foundry Interestingly, Apple seems to be flirting with depth and realism again just look at macOS Big Sur icons or the translucent glass effects in visionOS. Bringing back more shadows and depth throughout the system wouldnt hurt, especially when it comes to icons. I love Mac app icons because they have a nice balance of modern and skeuomorphic. And please, Apple. Give us some cool wallpapers again. Could Apple surprise us by looking back to move forward? Back when Apple launched iOS 7, it was about pushing the iPhone into a modern era that would last for more than a decade. This years change is reportedly about consistency, and reports say the new design will extend to all devices , not just the iPhone. With that in mind, Apple has an opportunity to set a new path, not just iOS, but for all of its OSes, that fuses form with functionalityand a little fun.

iOS 19: All the latest rumors about the big changes coming at WWDC

Macworld Every year, we are introduced to a new version of iOS (alongside Apples other operating systems) at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. At an event on the first day of the conference, Apple will reveal all the new features coming to iPhones with the release of iOS 19 in the fall, likely mid-September. In this article we will run through what we know about the new features coming in iOS 19 in 2025, what phones will get them, and when we expect Apple to release iOS 19. But you wont have to wait until September to get the new features because every year Apple runs a beta-testing program where developers and anyone who signs up for the beta can try out the software before it is released following the Apple iPhone Event in September. If you want to join that beta testing program you will find information about how to do so below, including when the first iOS 19 beta will be available. iOS 19 release date: When is iOS 19 coming out? Our first glimpse of iOS 19 will be at WWDC25 on June 9, after which the operating system will be in beta until Apple releases it to the public in the fall. Apple typically releases the new version of iOS to the public on the Monday following the launch of the new iPhone . Based on recent history, we expect iOS 19 to release to the public around the time of the on either Monday, September 15, or Monday, September 22. Here are the release dates for the most recent versions of iOS: iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024 iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023 iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022 iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021 iOS 19: Developer and Public Betas The full version of iOS 19 will launch in September, but you wont have to wait until then to try the new software out. Apple will run a developer beta as well as a public beta during the summer months, so if you want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public you can do so. After Apple announces the new version of iOS at WWDC in June it will then release an iOS Beta to developers. This year the WWDC keynote will take place on June 9 so we expect the developer beta will be available that day. The public beta usually comes a month later, around the beginning of July. Between WWDC and the official release in the fall, Apple will release a string of beta releases, typically eight or so in total. We share details of how to join Apples beta software program so you can test the new software as soon as the beta arrives, separately. Anyone using the beta is encouraged to file bug reports using the included Apples Feedback Assistant app so that the company can address them. If you want to learn more about the beta read: Whats in the latest iOS beta and how to get it . iOS 19: New features While Apple hasnt officially announced iOS 19 yet, it has been hard at work on the big iPhone upgrade for quite a while and some rumors have started to leak out. It looks like iOS 19 will be a bigger change than were used to. Based on the most reliable leaks and rumors, heres what you can expect when it arrives later this year. All the new features wont come with that initial release; over the months that follow the initial release more features will be pushed out to iPhones in iOS 19.1, 19.2, and so on. Major design overhaul The headline feature of iOS 19 (and iPadOS 19, macOS 15, tvOS 19, watchOS 19) is said to be a massive change to the user interface. Indeed, Bloombergs Mark Gurman says the star of WWDC will be the new design code-named Solarium. Were talking about the biggest change since iOS 7, when Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons, changed the lock screen, notifications, and more. We dont know what this new interface will look like or what interaction changes it will bring with it, but the rumors say it is loosely based on some of the concepts in the Vision Pro interface. Gurman claims it is is slicker and more modern due to adopting elements from visionOS. New apps like Apple Invites and Apple Sports may give us some clues to the interface conventions we can expect, as they dont have have interfaces that fit in with most of Apples older apps. Apps like Invites and Sports may offer clues to the interface elements we can expect in iOS 19. Apple Gurman also says consistency and unification across the operating systems will be a major theme of WWDC . A key feature of the new interface is supposed to be more consistency across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with a major improvement to the productivity features of iPadOS. For example, one rumor says the iPad will get a menu bar when docked to a Magic Keyboard, and that Stage Manager is being overhauled. The iPhone, meanwhile, is said to get a Stage Manager like multi-app view when hooked up to an external display. Siri delays and other Apple Intelligence features Apple has been having trouble with some of its AI efforts, especially the Siri features that were supposed to come in iOS 18.4 (personal context, screen awareness, and in-app actions). These features have been pushed back until next year , which means they should come as an update to iOS 19 in early 2026. A bigger Siri update, based on large language models (LLMs), that can hold natural conversations with the user, is now expected to come perhaps as part of iOS 20, where it was once thought to be an update to iOS 19. So Siri will get new capabilities that we were supposed to have by now, and Apple is also said to be expanding the use of Apple Intelligence in more of its apps. We havent heard of specific examples, but Apple Intelligence could be used for things like Apple Music playlist generation, suggesting apps in the App Store, or in the Health and Fitness apps. However, we may not hear of any AI-related features at WWDC25. In a late May report, Bloombergs Gurman said Apple wont deliver any AI breakthroughs at WWDC. Stage Manager for iPhone Weve heard rumors in a few places that Apple is working on a big Stage Manager update for iPad and Mac. From 9to5Mac we get a hint that it might even work on iPhone (if not all the time, then at least with an external display connected). Stage Manager should allow for much more flexible placement and sizing of windows in the new version. For iPads, you might even see a Menu bar when the iPad is docked into a keyboard. Powered by Apple Intelligence Rumors say one of the recurring themes of iOS 19 is going to be a number of features that Apple markets as Powered by Apple Intelligence. These wont all be generative-AI features, but rather include many of the sort of AI-powered features Apple has employed for years across its apps. Some Apple Watch features will be promoted this way, though the AI models themselves will run on your iPhone, with the Apple Watch simply serving as your wrist-bound interface to it. Another example is a new battery saving mode that will use AI to analyze your usage patterns to decide when it can lower the power draw of certain applications or features to save battery without impacting the user experience. RCS 3.0 Apples current implantation of RCS (Rich Communication Services, used to offer more advanced texting features with Android users) is based on the GSMA Universal Profile version 2.4, which is a little dated. Version 2.7 came out last year, but hasnt been implemented by Apple yet. It adds support for custom emoji reactions, editing editing and deleting messages, and improved spam handling. RCS 3.0 adds encryption for 1-to-1 messages. Apple has announced support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages on all its platforms in future software updates, so it is likely to add support for all the feature in RCS 2.7 and 3.0 in the iOS 19 cycle. Home app upgrades While not specifically mentioned in any of the current leaks or rumors, we find it hard to believe that Apple wont have some significant improvements to the Home app, HomeKit, and related services in iOS 19. Why? Well, Apple is expected to release a wave of new smart home products throughout 2025 and 2026. A new Apple smart home hub is first: its rumored to be an affordable 7-inch tablet that runs a custom operating system (code-named Pebble). It will support Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and tie in with other Apple services but isnt expected to have an App Store. After that, likely in 2026, Apple is said to be working on a new indoor smart security camera and a smart doorbell that would use Face ID to unlock your door the way it unlocks your phone. Further down the road, a smart home product with a movable screen on a robotic arm has been rumored, all of which will require deep integration with the iPhone and Home app. The rumored HomePad was rumored to launch in the spring of 2025, but was delayed to the fall so it can have an interface that aligns with the big iOS 19 / macOS 15 interface changes. Its hard to imagine Apple pushing a product like that into the market without some significant changes to the look and feel of the Home app. Updated Camera app Jon Prosser claims to have seen the new Camera app in iOS 19 , which is completely redesigned with a somewhat visionOS-inspired design. Options are condensed, the viewfinder takes up more space, and theres lots of transparency. Jon Prosser The Photographic Styles feature may come to video, too. AirPods live translation One rumor from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg says iOS 19 is going to get bolstered translation technology and, as part of it a live translation feature for AirPods . The AirPods will need a firmware update as well, and its not clear which models will support the feature. Your AirPods would send text to your iPhone where the foreign language would be recognized and translated in the Translate app (or the under-the-hood service that powers it), and translated audio sent back to your AirPods. Other earbuds have had similar features for years, so it will be interesting to see if Apple goes further or has superior functionality. Gaming app iOS 19 will reportedly include a dedicated gaming app , according to a report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. The App will also be available for Mac, iPad and Apple TV, it is claimed. The app is said to tap into the App Stores games section and Apple Arcade, offer editorial content about new games, and centralize everything currently found in Game Center. The Mac version of the app will tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store, according to Gurman. Accessibility features Apple has announced that several accessibility features will be coming to iOS 19 in the fall. Among the new additions are Accessibility Nutrition Labels let users see whether an app will be accessible to them before they download it; Braille Access, which turns the iPhone into a full-featured Braille note taker, and Accessibility Reader, a new reading mode with font, color, and spacing options. iOS 19 Compatibility: Which iPhones will work with iOS 19? We expect iOS 19 to be compatible with every iPhone that supports iOS 18 . That includes: iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone SE (2nd generation) Of course, it will also support the new iPhone 17 models that will launch around the same time, and the new iPhone 16e . As always, some features wont be available on older models, as they lack the hardware resources for it. We do think the Apple Intelligence and Siri improvements will be available for all iPhone 16 and later models, though.

The extra-thin AirTag alternative just dropped to $23.99

Macworld Airtags are great, but they dont fit in your wallet and are too obvious to stay hidden. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card offers a sleek solution. Its just 1.5mm thick, looks like a credit card, and still connects to Apples Find My network just like an AirTag . Best part? Its on sale now for $23.99 (MSRP $59.99), no coupon required. Subtle, slim, and hard to lose Whether its your wallet, passport case, laptop sleeve, or even your kids backpack, MagTag is designed to disappear into your everyday essentials. The ultra-thin design makes it nearly invisible, and a built-in keyring hole lets you clip it to a lanyard or keychain if needed. MagTag supports Left Behind alerts through the Apple Find My app, so youll get a notification if you walk away without your wallet or bag. You can also see its last known location on a mapor make it beep from your iPhone when its hiding nearby. As tough as it is tiny, this tracker is also waterproof, dustproof, and built to last. The rechargeable battery only needs topping off once every five months, making it one of the more low-maintenance options out there. Whether youre looking for a better travel tracker or just tired of misplacing your wallet, MagTag makes a strong case for being the smarter alternative to an AirTag. Get the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card for just $23.99, now! MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card Works with Apple Find My App See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

iOS 19 will reportedly include a dedicated gaming app

Macworld Every so often, Apple makes an attempt to push its platforms as a place for serious gaming. If the latest report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg is accurate, the company will try again this year with the launch of iOS 19, macOS 15, and its other yearly OS updates. According to the report, Apple plans a dedicated, pre-installed gaming app on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV. The app will debut at WWDC on June 9, and roll out to those devices with iOS 19 and macOS 15 (or a subsequent update) later this year. The app will feature editorial content about new games (similar to what youd find in the App Store today), access to the App Stores games section and Apple Arcade, and centralize all the stuff currently handled by Game Center, like friends lists, achievements, leaderboards, and communications. The Mac version of the app is said to be able to tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store. Likely, that means that it will serve as a launcher for those games, and that the core identity/achievements/leaderboards functions will be available to developers via APIs even for those games distributed outside the App Store. Apple recently purchased the two-person studio RAC7 Games, whose Sneaky Sasquach was an Apple Arcade launch title. It is unclear if this is the first of many acquisitions as an attempt for Apple to build a big first-party games studio, but it doesnt speak to the kinds of premium games that drive sales of PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch consoles. Rather, it indicates a drive for more mobile gaming, an area in which Apple is already dominant. To earn the respect of so-called AAA game developers, publishers, and players, Apple will need to do much more than pre-install a gaming app on its devices. We will find out more about Apples gaming ambitions at WWDC on June 9, when the app and its features are said to be revealed.

Apple Watch Activity badges: Run a 5K on June 4 for a special running badge

Macworld Achievement badges are a funny thing. You know theyre just a simple little bit of visual flair, they dont even do anything, and yet for some reason you just have to collect them. Gamification can be a great motivator, and the achievement badges for the activity tracking on the Apple Watch have inspired many users to get more exercise. If you want to maximize your badge count, youre going to want to chase down as many activity achievements as you can. Most are available year-round, but there are also some time-limited special events to grab, too. Heres a list of all the activity achievements for the Apple Watch and how to unlock them. Updated May 27, 2025: To celebrate Global Running Day, Apple has a special badge available for anyone who runs a 5K (3.1 miles) on June 4. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $399 Best Prices Today: $299 at Amazon | $299 at Walmart | $299 at Walmart Electronics Standard achievements Most of the achievements can be earned year-round. If you open the Activity app on your iPhone, then head over to the Achievements tab, youll see some of them listed even before you earn them (in which case they will be represented by a grey outline). However, there are some achievements that are not shown until you earn them. Past and future monthly challenges, for example, wont show up, nor do all the various individual exercise workouts. Here is a list of all the standard badges you can get. First [exercise] Workout The first time you perform a new exercise for at least 5 minutes, youll get a achievement badge. Every workout type that does not fall under the Other category is eligible for this badge: from walking to yoga to HIIT to hiking and more. Activities with both indoor and outdoor variants, like Cycling and Walking, are bundled together; you can do either activity to get the badge, and can only get it once. [exercise] Workout Record Every time you beat your previous best record for calories burned in any of the exercises listed above, you get this badge. There is one caveat: You must complete five workouts of that type first. If you want to game the system, make sure your first four workouts of each type are short and easy, so it wont take much effort to beat them. You get a badge the first time you do each major exercise type, and when you break a record. 7-Workout Week Simply complete any workout of at least 15 minutes every day of the week. Note that the week is Monday-Sunday, and you have to do a workout on each of those days (you cant simply do any seven days in a row). If you start a walking workout whenever you walk outside, you can achieve this easily. New Move Record Any day that your Move ring goes further than ever before (meaning you burned more calories in a day), youll earn this award. Theres one catch: you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days before you can complete this. New Exercise Record This is just like the Move Record achievement, only for the green ring. This one is based on minutes of exercise, not calories burned, so its really easy to get. Just like the Move Record achievement, you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days first. Move Goal 200%, 300%, 400% You earn this when you exceed your calorie target (the red Move ring) by 2x, 3x, or 4x, respectively. In other words, its given for making the red activity ring go around two, three, or four times in a day. Its easy to get if you just set your Move goal very low. Double, triple, and quadruple your Move ring goal. Reduce your goal if youre having trouble. New Move Goal Every time you change your daily Move goal, and then exceed that new goal, you get this achievement. You can change your Move goal by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch and force-pressing the screen. Longest Move Streak When you hit your Move goal (close the red ring) several days in a row, thats a streak. You get this award when your streak finally ends, if its longer than your previous best streak. Perfect Week This is given out for four categories: Move, Exercise, Stand, and All Activity. For the first three, simply close the rings (red, green, or blue) every day of the week. To get the Perfect Week (All Activity) badge, close all three rings every day for an entire week. You can earn this multiple times, though it only shows one badge. Remember, one week in the Activity app is from Monday-Sunday! Close those rings every day from Monday to Sunday to earn a handful of badges. Perfect Month Unlike Perfect Week, there are not multiple different Perfect Month badges for the different color rings. The lone Perfect Month achievement is for closing the red Move ring every day of the month. Theres a separate Perfect Month badge for every month and every year, though. So you can earn this in February and again in March, and again in February in the next year. Monthly Challenge Each month has its own unique fitness challenge. If you have notifications set for the Activity app on our Apple Watch, youll see the goal presented at the beginning of the month, but youll also see the current months challenge in the Achievements tab of the Activity app on your iPhone. It will be a grey outline before its completed, but you can tap on it to see what the challenge entails. The monthly challenge may task you with burning a specific number of calories, working out a number of times, or traveling a certain distance. Theres no telling what each new month will bring, you just have to look! Theres a different challenge every month, so check your Activity app. 100, 365, 500, 1,000 Move Goals When you hit your daily Move goal (close the red ring) 100 times, you get an achievement badge. You get another for hitting it 365 times, 500 times, and 1,000 times. These do not need to be in a row; its just the total number of times youve ever hit the goal. Close the Move ring often to unlock a series of badges. Set the Move goal low if you want to make it easier. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Read our review Price When Reviewed: $799 (base) Best Prices Today: $799 at Apple | Not Available at Adorama Limited Achievements Apple offers multiple one-off challenges per year that are only available for a limited time. Often, theyre only around for one day or one weekend. Some are limited to the U.S. because theyre based on U.S. holidays. Youll get a notification on your Apple Watch when one of them is coming up (make sure you have notifications enabled for the Activity app, using the Watch app on your iPhone). Global Running Day (June 4, 2025) Apple Apples description says: Lets run this one together. On June 4, record a running workout and go at least 5K (3.1 mi) to earn this special badge. Record it with any app that adds workouts to Health. Global Close Your Rings Day (April 24, 2025) Apple To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Apple Watch. Users who close all three Activity rings will earn a limited-edition award, plus 10 animated stickers and an animated badge for Messages. Earth Day (April 22, 2025) Apple On April 22, celebrate Earth Day and win this award with any workout of 30 minutes or more. Try to get outside for it! Heart Month challenge (February 14, 2025) Apple Show your heart some love! Close your Exercise ring this Valentines Day, February 14, to earn this award. New Years 2025 challenge (January 2025) Apple Lets start 2025 off right. Earn this award by closing all three rings for seven days in a row in January. Mental Health Day challenge (October 10) Apple Lets bring awareness to all the ways we can take care of our mental health. On October 10, record 10 mindful minutes with any app that adds to Health to get this award. National Parks challenge (August 25) Apple In the U.S., the National Parks Service was founded on August 25, 1916. Apple has a National Parks challenge around that time each year to celebrate National Parks all over the world. To get this badge, just record a workout of 20 minutes or more on August 25 with any app that adds workouts to the Health app. This Valentines day, its all about heart. Close your Exercise ring on February 14 to get this award.

WhatsApp is finally available for iPad (and we mean finally)

Macworld Its weird. With 3 billion users, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging platform in the world. It landed on the App Store back in 2009, about six months before the iPad was introduced. And in all that time, there has never been an iPad app for WhatsApp. Until today. You can now download WhatsApp for iPad . It has always been an odd omission. Meta (then Facebook) bought WhatsApp back in 2014. The resources to make a version of WhatsApp for the iPad have certainly been there. The design has been there, too: WhatsApp is available for iPhone, Android phones, Mac, Windows, and the web. Its not as though this is a phone-only messaging platform. We may never know exactly why it was decided that the iPad wasnt worthy of its own WhatsApp app for the last 15 years. The iPhone app could not run on an iPad due to restrictions on telephony type apps. You could always use the web client on iPad, but that had some limitationsthe native client lets you use the front or rear camera and hold video calls with up to 32 people, as well as share your screen. And its nicely formatted for the iPads large screen. The app supports standard iPad features like Stage Manager, Slide Over, and Split View, as well as supporting Apple Pencil. So go grab it now.

Every product Apple might launch at WWDC 2025

In less than two weeks, Apple will hold its WWDC 2025 keynote. Along with unveiling new features for iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS The post Every product Apple might launch at WWDC 2025 appeared first on BGR .

Apples Luxo Jr.-like tabletop robot has reportedly been fast-tracked for launch

Macworld Its no secret that Apples heavily rumored push into the smart home segment has taken a hit because of the Siri setbacks . The so-called HomePad could still launch by the end of this year (if everything goes right with Apples new plan), but thats not Apples priority anymore. An even more intriguing product is in the works and a new report claims Apple wants to ship it as soon as possible. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman , Apple has prioritized the development of a smart home device with a display attached to a robotic arm . Gurman reported on the device last August, but Gurmans most recent report adds a bit more context. The device, which will reportedly have a unique AI personality, has hit a development snag, which could mean Apple may decide to withhold some features for later versions in order to ship it quicker. A demonstration of the robot that Apple Machine Learning Research has been working on. The technology involved could be at the heart of Apples J595 project. Apple Apple is on the hunt for its next breakthrough new product. It launched the Apple Vision Pro headset last February, but its high price and limited usefulness have hindered its growth. The home tabletop robotcode-named J595could certainly be a bigger hit. Apple is already developing technology that would allow the devices arm to move in a way similar to that of Luxo Jr. , the mascot of Pixar Studios. At the beginning of this year, Apple Machine Learning Research posted a paper with videos demonstrating expressive and functional movement for such a device. The research (seen above) looks impressive. As for the HomeHub set for later this year, it has been rumored to feature a small display panel, possibly 7 inches. Code-named J490, it could essentially be a HomePod with a larger display, with Siri playing a major role in its user interface. Similar to competing devices from Google and Amazon, it would provide Home controls for smart home devices such as lights and thermostats, and could also serve as a FaceTime station.

Get this unlocked iPhone 16 Pro for $400 less than itll cost you at the Apple Store

Macworld The iPhone 16 Pro is an incredible phone, but its pretty expensive, especially if you want one of the decked-out Pro models. And sales dont come along very often, until now. Amazon is selling a Renewed Premium iPhone 16 Pro in black titanuum with 1TB of storage for $1,111 right now, about $400 less than Apples MSRP and the best price weve ever seen. This phone is unlocked so you can use it with any service. We know what youre thinking: How good can this thing be if its renewed? It may not be Apple-certified, but Amazon says it was professionally inspected and tested, and lables it as Renewed Premium, which means its as good as new, with no visible cosmetic imperfections and near-perfect battery life. The one caveat is that it doesnt come in its original box or have all its original accessories (which is really just a USB-C cable). To make things even better, your purchase via Amazon comes with a 90-day warranty, so you can either ask for a replacement or a full refund if youre not satisfied. We dont need to remind you, but the iPhone 16 Pro is a gorgeous titanium-and-glass handset with a 6.1-inch ProMotion display, and the powerful A18 Pro chip, which means its ready for Apple Intelligence and years of updates. It also comes with a triple camera system including a 5X telephoto camera and a 48MP ultrawide lens, so you can snap photos like a pro. So, snag this renewed iPhone 16 Pro with 1TB storage from Amazon for $1,111 while this deal still stands. Save big on the iPhone 16 Pro Buy now at Amazon

AirPods Pro 3: 7 features that will take Apples best buds to the next level

Macworld The AirPods have come a long way. When the first iteration launched in 2016, it featured a chunky build and mediocre specs. Since then, Apple has actively developed its wireless earbuds, introducing multiple tiers, more compact designs, longer battery life, and advanced integration with the wider Apple ecosystem. Today, customers can pick from models that start at $129 and go all the way up to $549catering to different budgets and expectations. The AirPods Pro 2 happen to be my favorite model. Theyre the perfect balance between portability and immersion, offering support for ANC and Dolby Atmos in a miniature shell. And they get regular boosts from software updates, such as the recently introduced hearing health features. Nevertheless, there are some shortcomings that Id like to see Apple address when it launches the AirPods Pro 3, likely in September. Here are the seven upgrades I hope well see from the next version of the AirPods Pro. 1. Actual Intelligence In an era dominated by AI, the worlds most valuable tech firm still struggles to deliver a reliable personal assistant. With this in mind, Apple baked ChatGPT into iOS 18, improving users experience until it figures out how to fix Siri. While I can instruct Siri to ask ChatGPT a question using my AirPods Pro 2, the task fails most of the time. It either asks OpenAIs chatbot an entirely different question or ignores my explicit ChatGPT request and offers generic web results. Curiously, I only encounter this issue when summoning Siri with my AirPodsthe ChatGPT integration works just fine when initiating it from my iPhone. With the AirPods Pro 3, I want Apple to integrate ChatGPTs voice mode, letting users start real-time audio conversations through their earbuds. Googles Pixel Buds already offer a similar Gemini Live experience, which enables users to inquire about more complex matters using natural language. My iPhones Action button is currently set to start a ChatGPT voice mode session, but that requires me to take my phone out and unlock it when on the go. Live translation is a hugely valuable feature that would elevate the AirPods Pro. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry 2. Automatic translation Another handy Google Pixel Buds capability is live translation, and Id love to see it on the AirPods Pro 3. For the past five years, Ive been moving between countries where English isnt widely spoken or a viable lingua franca. While the Translate app offers an Action button shortcut and can handle the task, communicating directly via the earbuds would be more intuitive outdoors. Fortunately, rumors suggest that iOS 19 will adopt such a feature , so we could see it when the next AirPods launch in the fall. 3. Shifting to the dark side The AirPods Pro 3 are rumored to rock a shrunken look that does away with the stem. But while I always find design overhauls exciting, size isnt the only aspect that matters. Since their initial debut, all AirPods and AirPods Pro models have exclusively come in white. With the next-gen release, I hope Apple puts out a black variant for those averse to light-colored gadgets. After all, the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard have already adopted this formula. Black products and accessories are cool, as the iMac Pro demonstrated. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry 4. Amplified noise cancellation Active noise cancellation is one of my most treasured AirPods Pro 2 perks, letting me shut out the world when in public spaces. While the feature efficiently blocks out most external distractions, loud noise still manages to slip through. With the next AirPods Pro iteration, it would be great if we could get a stronger ANC that muffles more sounds. 5. Sensing the beat The Powerbeats Pro 2 were the first Apple audio product to incorporate a heart rate sensor, and the AirPods Pro 3 could and should follow suit. But it should also take the feature further. Notably, the Beats-branded earbuds come with a ton of restrictions that dictate how users can measure their heart rate. For example, only a handful of fitness apps, excluding Apples own, support the monitor. Also, theres no option to pick a default heart rate monitoring accessory when wearing an Apple Watch and Powerbeats Pro 2 simultaneously. With the AirPods Pro 3, I wish Apple would address these limitations so users can rely on the technology when using Fitness+ and pick which wearable records the data. The Apple Watch can monitor your heart; why cant the AirPods Pro? Mahmoud Itani / Foundry 6. One-tap firmware updates If youre a tech enthusiast, youre likely familiar with the AirPods software update process (or lack thereof). Apple specifies that you can update your earbuds firmware by bringing them close to your iDevice and connecting them to a power source. The process, however, occurs randomly in the background, with seemingly no way to force it or monitor its progress. When iOS 19 and the AirPods Pro 3 launch this fall, I wish Apple would add a dedicated button in the Settings app to easily check for, download, and install the latest firmware available. This would make it more convenient for devoted users to try new features the moment they debut. 7. More life per charge One thing I dislike about my AirPods Pro 2 is their battery life. According to Apple, the earbuds can last 5-6 hours on a single charge with ANC enabled. Thats significantly shorter than a full work shift or hiking session, often forcing me to pause my music and recharge. The Powerbeats Pro 2, on the other hand, offer up to 8 hours of listening time with ANC on. A similar battery life on the next AirPods Pro would be ideal. Surely we can do better than 5-6 hours on a single charge, Apple? Mahmoud Itani / Foundry A Pro device that lives up to its name The AirPods Pro 2 are already one of my most-used Apple products. Whether Im running in the city, hiking in the middle of nowhere, working from a caf, or just commuting, the earbuds keep me entertained by minimizing external noise and delivering spatial audio tracks. Despite that, Apple could enhance them further by addressing the imperfections above. The AirPods Pro 3 need to catch up with the times and bring smarter features, AI-powered and otherwise. With competing brands also offering multiple colorways, a new finish would make the AirPods more enticing to a certain category of customers. Thats not to mention the other quality-of-life tweaks that would only make using the product more seamless. Ultimately, we should find out whats in store for us in just four months. Check out our regularly updated new AirPods superguide for the latest news and rumors.

Tim Cooks year is doomed, and its not even June yet

Macworld Has anyone done a check-in with Tim Cook lately? You know, just drive by the Apple campus and see how things are going? Maybe bring him an edible basket of some kind? Hes been having a year. To be fair, hes been having a year where the company is still doing great business and has more money than a deity that, while it preaches spiritual wealth over monetary wealth, is still somehow the go-to benchmark in this saying. Writing for The New York Times, Tripp Mickle details Cooks latest travails: Techs Trump Whisperer, Tim Cook, Goes Quiet as His Influence Fades It should be noted that Mickles work can be considered rather dubious, but he hasnt written anything that has had people reaching for the classic blinking guy gif when linking to it for at least well, four days. Yes, its been less than a week since Mickle wrote Is Trumps Made in America iPhone a Fantasy? , in which he could have saved a lot of time by simply linking to Betteridges Law and then taking off early for the Memorial Day weekend. Instead, he tried to nuance a pretty simple answer to death. And and got involved in some of that olde tyme eugenics. Young Chinese women have small fingers, and that has made them a valuable contributor to iPhone production because they are more nimble at installing screws and other miniature parts in the small device, supply chain experts said. Tripp Mickle, My 23, 2025 That is a pro tip for aspiring sources right there. When you want to spout your ideas on the supposed inherent natural abilities of the races, insist you be referred to anonymously as a supply chain expert. Then the person answering angry emails all weekend is Tripp Mickle, not you. But that was last week. This is this week. Presuming the linear nature of time has not been summarily done away with, like so many of our long-standing societal norms. Cooks bad, awful 2025 is pretty much on the record, and Mickle manages to avoid quoting anyone making forays into race theory this time. If youd like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters , including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast , David Prices weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors. IDG First, there was Apples trouble shipping all of Apple Intelligence, then it was its loss on the App Store anti-steering policy. Now its this guy. President Trump is miffed that Cook declined to tag along on his field trip to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both countries, by the way, where you can get the death penalty for being gay, not that theyre likely to try to execute the guy who makes the iPhones. Its not like hes a journalist, after all. As Mickle notes, Cook managed to steer through Trumps first administration by distracting him with shiny objects like a plant in Texas that makes a couple of Mac Pros every so often. This time, Cook greased the skids with a $1 million donation to Trumps inaugural fund. Nope, we havent forgotten about that, although it seems like the president has, either because of the dementia or just inherently having the attention span of a sugar-addled toddler. I mean, Tim Cook isnt here but you are, Mr. Trump said to [Nvidia CEO Jensen] Huang Good job, Jensen Nvidia. Subsequent to taking exception to Apple shifting manufacturing to India instead of the U.S. where people are clamoring in the streets for the opportunity to spend 14 hours a day screwing iPhones together for pennies, Trump threatened a 25 percent tariff on imported iPhones . The new tariff threat is a reversal of fortune for Mr. Cook. In eight years, hes gone from one of Mr. Trumps most beloved chief executives to one of the White Houses biggest corporate targets. Its almost like trying to cozy up to tin-plated autocrats who have a very limited understanding of how things actually work pays off less than you might think it does. Still, Apples market value has increased by more than $2.5 trillion under his leadership, or about $500 million a day since 2011. Despite following Apple for decades and keeping at least one eye on these numbers, the Macalope had to check that math because it simply seemed preposterous. Preposterous it still may be, but its also right. For Apple, this may be a case of too much success being a bad thing. It is unlikely that Cook could have avoided Trumps attention, given its inherent gravimetric field. The question is, now that a moderate show of obsequiousness has proven insufficiently mollifying, what will Cook do next?

New skills mean new opportunitiesaccess over 1,000 for $20

Macworld Have you ever wanted to chef up a dinner like Gordon Ramsay? Or, are you dreaming of a new job in tech or IT? You can achieve your goalsand impress everyone (including yourself) with new skillswith thise-learning platform . Meet EDU Unlimited by StackSkills, your one-way ticket to lifetime access to over 1,000 courses on almost any topic you might be interested in. Grab it while its price-dropped to only $19.97 (reg. $600) for a limited time. Imagine actually quitting your job and pursuing your dream role in social media marketing. Or, maybe this is when youll actually learn to cook like Bobby Flay or draw. You could even become more financially literate andinvest wisely with StackSkills, thanks to its stock trading courses that are taught by real experts . Since this resource is yours for life, you can learn at your own pace. Youll always have something new to learn, too, since new courses are added all the time. See where your new skills take you when you get EDU Unlimited by StackSkills for just $19.97 (reg. $600) for a limited time only. EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Control Ultimate Edition review: Remedys action-shooter is on the Mac at last

Macworld At a glance Pros Creepy setting and storyline Enjoyable and varied combat system Runs on M1 or later Cons Shooter action might require a game controller No support for Intel Macs Annoying auto-save system Our Verdict The auto-save system can be irksome, but Control is a great action game with an atmospheric inter-dimensional setting and an enjoyable combination of shoot-em-up action and psychic super powers. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $39.99 Best Prices Today: Control: Ultimate Edition Retailer Price Mac App Store $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We all know that most A-List games are never released on the Mac at all, and even if there is a Mac version then it will often take many months to arrive, long after the release of the PC version. However, there arent many games that take quite as long to reach the Mac as Control, which was first released back in 2019. Its definitely better late than never, though, especially as Control really is one of a kind a super-powered shoot-em-up action game with some seriously weird X-Files vibes. And, hopefully, the developers at Remedy Games will now think about bringing some of their other weirdly wonderful games to the Mac as well, such as the acclaimed Alan Wake series. The X-Files comparisons are inevitable, as the game opens with Jesse Faden arriving at the headquarters of the Federal Bureau Of Control, a government agency that investigates paranormal Altered World Events known as AWEs. Jesses younger brother vanished during an AWE, and since then she has been guided by a mysterious voice in her head that leads her to the headquarters of the FBC. Known as the Oldest House, the FBC office is strangely silent when Jesse arrives, with only a mysterious and rather creepy janitor to give her directions to the office of the FBCs Director. This opening section acts as a tutorial that gives you some time to get the hang of the main controls, but also provides background to the story as Jesse conducts a helpful dialogue with her inner voice as she wanders the halls of the FBC. When she finds the Directors office it turns out that he is already dead, having apparently killed himself, with his hand gun lying on the floor beside him. This is no ordinary gun though. Known as the Service Weapon, it proceeds to whisper instructions to Jesse, effectively recruiting her into the FBC and assigning missions that she must complete. Jesses first mission reveals that the Oldest House is somehow linked to another dimension, where she encounters some shambling alien figures and gets her first taste of combat. It turns out that the Service Weapon has some other tricks up its sleeve too, as it can magically reload whenever Jesse gets low on ammo. That comes in handy as Ive never been very good at shoot-em-up games, and most of my shots miss by miles. However, Jesse also discovers that she has some magic powers of her own, beginning with a kind of psychokinetic punch that allows her to knock back enemies that get too close. This helps to make up for my lousy shooting skills, as I find that I can let the creepy creatures get quite close and then knock them down before pumping bullets into them at close range. Foundry Jesse can further enhance her psychokinetic powers as the game progresses, learning how to hurl objects at enemies, and also upgrading the Service Weapon and other weapons that she finds along the way. The game does have some rough edges most notably an irritating auto-save feature that only saves the game at specific points. This means that getting killed by a particularly tough enemy often forces you to go back and replay the previous section a few times, retracing your steps through the Oldest House repeatedly as you try yet again to defeat that enemy. Thats one of the few annoying features, though, and the games combination of shooter action and psychic powers ensures that the combat is fun and varied, even for someone with my limited shooting skills. The way that the action keeps switching locations between the FBC and the astral plane also keeps things interesting as you try to unravel the mysteries of the Oldest House. Foundry The age of the game also means that you dont need a powerful Mac to run it properly. The notes on the App Store say that Control requires an M1 processor or later running Sonoma (although theres no support for Intel Macs, unfortunately). I played the game on a MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro and was able to get a playable 34 frames per second when running at 25601440 resolution with Medium graphics settings, so you should be able to get decent performance even with an M1 if you dont mind lowering the resolution and graphics settings a little. Its a shame, though, that theres no demo version available so that you can check it out first. And, yet again, the Mac version of Control is only available on the Mac App Store, so people who already own the PC version on Epic or Steam will have to buy the Mac version separately. Remedy did tell us that they were hoping to make the Mac version available on Steam at some point, but werent able to provide a definite release date at the time of this review. Control is a little more expensive than we expected for a game that is a few years old, costing $39.99/34.99 on the Mac App Store . But that is similar to the price of the PC version, and this Ultimate Edition includes two expansion packs with additional missions and stories for you to uncover. Should you buy Control? The emphasis on shoot-em-up action may not appeal to everyone, but the additional psychic powers that Jesse can learn during the game does help to keep things varied and interesting. And, of course, the conspiracies and mysteries of the Federal Bureau Of Control will appeal to fans of the X-Files as well, making it a good option for anyone who enjoys challenging and atmospheric action games. Want to play some games on the Mac? Weve tried out loads and our favorites can be found here: Best Games for Mac: A-list Mac games to play .

Razer USB 4 Dock review: plentiful ports and power for your peripherals

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Impressive connectivity 100W power for charging laptop Competitive price Gaming port for wireless keyboard/mouse Cons Just one USB 4 port No Thunderbolt support Modest data transfer speeds Unclear info relating to dual-display support Our Verdict The use of USB rather than Thunderbolt means that the USB 4 Dock isnt aimed at professional users who need high-speed data transfer. However, it does provide dual-display support (60Hz) along with an impressive selection of ports and connectors for general use in an office, and a competitive price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $229 Best Prices Today: Razer USB 4 Dock Retailer Price $229.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Type: USB-C/USB-A dock Ports: 14 (13 available for peripherals) Power: 100W for laptop; 180W max External Displays: 1x 4K at 120Hz, or 2x 4K at 60Hz Razer is best known for its range of high-end gaming gear, which is mostly designed for Windows PCs, but it also makes a number of more down-to-earth accessories that are suitable for general use at home or in an office. It makes several docks and hubs that can be used with Macs and PCs, including a fairly expensive Thunderbolt 4 dock that weighs in at around $300/300. Now it has launched the less expensive USB 4 Dock, which manages to provide dual-monitor support along with an impressive selection of ports and connectors for the considerably lower price of $229.99/229.99 (and Razer prefers USB 4 rather than the official USB4). Available in black or Mercury White which is really just silver, and very similar in tone to the M4 Mac mini the USB 4 Dock is neatly designed and very sturdily built. The body of the dock is made out of anodized aluminium, which feels very solid and also has a smooth, scratch-resistant finish that looks very smart. Its quite compact too, given that Razer has managed to squeeze in no less than 14 separate ports and connectors although its worth noting that the main USB4 port is used to connect the dock to your Mac, leaving 13 ports that are available for connecting a monitor and other accessories. The USB 4 Dock measures just 22mm high, 190mm wide and 80mm deep, and is fairly light too, weighing 1.1kg, and Razers web site does make a point of referring to its portable design. However, it neglects to mention the additional mains power supply that is also included in the box. The power supply is almost as large as the dock itself, and slightly heavier, so the USB 4 Dock really isnt going to stray very far from your desk at home or in the office. It is, however, very versatile, as that chunky power supply provides 100W of power for charging a MacBook or a PC laptop, along with additional power for all the other ports and connectors on the dock. On the back of the dock youll find the main USB4 port with USB-C connector which is used to connect your MacBook or other computer to the dock (with USB4 cable included in the box). Alongside this are both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors for connecting external monitors but, again, Razers web site proves to be a little unclear here. The website refers to the docks support for dual displays and seems to imply that the first display can run at 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, with a second 4K display running at 60Hz. However, our discussions with Razer confirmed that the USB 4 Dock can run a single 4K display at 120Hz, or two 4K displays at 60Hz, so thats something to remember if youre planning to use the USB 4 Dock as part of a multi-monitor set-up. The rest of the docks features are more straightforward. Also located on the back panel is a Gigabit Ethernet port for a wired network connection, and three USB-A (3.2) ports, two of which provide data transfer of 10Gbps while the third runs at 5Gbps. There are even more USB ports on the front as well two USB-C and one USB-A, with all three running at 10Gbps. And, to keep Razers gaming audience happy, theres one last USB-A port located all on its own on the left-hand edge of the dock, which is specifically designed to hold a 2.4GHz wireless dongle that can provide a low-latency connection for a wireless keyboard and mouse. The dock provides good audio support too, as the front panel houses a 3.5mm audio connector, which can work with either a microphone or a set of wired headphones. There are also two slots on the front for SD and MicroSD memory cards, for transferring photos or video from a camera. Its worth noting though, that theres just that one USB4 port on the back, which is used to connect your MacBook to the dock, with all the other USB ports supporting USB 3.2. If you need higher performance perhaps for backing up large video or graphics files onto an SSD then you may need to look at a more expensive Thunderbolt dock instead. However, the strength of the USB 4 Dock is its sheer versatility, with 13 ports and connectors available for attaching peripherals and accessories, and the ability to power and charge multiple devices all at the same time. Should you buy the Razer USB 4 Dock? Professional users who need the full speed of Thunderbolt 4 or even Thunderbolt 5 on the latest Macs with M4 Pro chips might prefer a more expensive Thunderbolt dock for working with large video or graphics files. The USB 4 Dock isnt in that league for sheer performance, but its versatile selection of ports and connectors will be a real boon for people like me who have a selection of SSDs, webcam, keyboard and other accessories in their office that they need to use with their Mac every day. For more USB Docks to consider for your Mac, read our round up of the Best Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations. Connectivity 1x USB4 (USB-C) for host computer 1x HDMI 2.1 1x DisplayPort 1.4 2x USB-C (10Gbps) 3x USB-A (10Gbps) 1x USB-A (5Gbps) 1x USB-A (for wireless adaptor) 1x Gigabit Ethernet 1x 3.5mm audio in/out 1x SD 1x MicroSD

The iPhone should take a backseat at WWDC

Macworld One of Apples great competitive advantages is the way its products work so smoothly together as an integrated ecosystem. Your iPhone pings your AirPods. Your Apple Watch pings your iPhone, and unlocks your Mac. Apple Music is optimized for the HomePod, and Apple Arcade for nearly everything else. Fall in love with just one of the companys devices or services and, like a dinosaur dipping its toe in a peat bog, youll be sucked in and never escape. In a good way. Watch the average WWDC keynote, however, and youd think Apple had, not a deep and mutually beneficial network of interoperable products, but a single flagship plus some accessories. Sure, youll hear about new software features coming to the Mac and the Apple Watch (which got 12 and seven minutes of stage time respectively at WWDC 24 ). You might even catch some interesting news related to the iPad (nine minutes) and Apple TV (two minutes). But it will be clear that the star of the show (clocking in at a full 16 minutes last year) is that most golden of geese: the iPhone. Im hopeful that WWDC 25 , which starts on June 9, might be different. In fact, I think that, within reason, Apple should ignore the iPhone and focus on other more interesting product lines. Perhaps this year the iPhone should have to manage with two minutes. WWDC 25 comes at a difficult time for Apple, which has been hit by delays and controversies over the past 12 months: Apple Intelligence has been a conspicuous failure and the iPhone 16, which was sold off the back of that feature, proved so disappointing that some customers filed lawsuits . Next months event represents an important opportunity for Apple to draw a line under such issues and reset. And you dont do that by repeating the process with boasts about the upcoming iPhone 17 . Instead, Apple could start by giving some proper attention to the Apple Watch, which analysts tell us has been in significant global decline for two years. The time is ripe for Apple Intelligence to arrive on the wrist (albeit likely piggybacking off the processing power of a nearby iPhone) ahead of new hardware in the fall. A younger and less commercial product than the iPhone, the Apple Watch has far more room to grow. It needs the attention far more than the iPhone does. Pundits also predict that macOS 16 is going to see a thorough redesign this summer, with a new redesign inspired by Vision Pro, and the Mac itself could get new hardware in the form of the M4 Ultra Mac Pro. All of which feels a lot more interesting and relevant than generative AI and Siri learning to understand natural language at some point. Lets give the pro Mac users some love. We iPhone owners will survive a bit of neglect. The iPhone has had most of the attention for the best part of two decades, and it feels like Apple is running out of interesting things to say. So lets hear instead about the smaller and less commercial projects going on in the background at Apple Park. I want to know more about Apples vision for the post-smartphone future, which of course means visionOS 3 (and hopefully progress on third-party apps and content) but also encompasses the role of other wearables such as the Apple Watch and AirPods. Tell me about the smart home. Tell me about fitness and entertainment. Just dont tell me anything more about the iPhone. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Your iPhone notifications are ruining your life. Here are 3 easy steps to fix them. Maybe Apple was right about Siri all along, ponders the Macalope . Lets take a depressing look at the best Apple tech thats gone forever . Sic transit gloria mundi and all that. WWDC 2025 is only weeks away. Here are 7 announcements I cant wait to see. After Google IOs big AI reveals , my iPhone has never felt dumber , says Mahmoud Itani. Here are 26 free macOS apps every Mac user should have. How many have you got? Podcast of the week WWDC is coming soon, and on episode 935 of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about the current state of Mac hardware and macOS, and what that tells us about what Apple could be doing at WWDC. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube , Spotify , Soundcloud , the Podcasts app , or our own site . Reviews corner McAfee Total Protection for Mac review : Not as good as it should be. OnlyOffice for Mac review : The free Microsoft 365 alternative youre looking for. Soundcore AeroClip review : Clip-on open-ear earphones . Satechi SM3 review : A smooth, responsive mechanical keyboard . The rumor mill The iPhone 17 Airs battery looks to be exactly as bad as we feared. Apple AI glasses better made than Metas now on tap for 2026 . Apple job posting confirms that a Calendar revamp is in the works. Apple plans to offer AI alternatives as it works to overhaul Siri . Software updates, bugs, and problems Massive data breach exposes swath of unencrypted Apple ID logins . And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters , including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook , Threads , Bluesky , or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

Make a tech career pivot with this $40 learning bundle

Macworld There are two types of people in the world: those who skim the IT job listings, wonder what CompTIA means, and click away, and those who seize the opportunity to actually qualify for the role. This ones for the second group. Through July 20, you can grab lifetime access to The Complete CompTIA & IT Exam Training Bundle for just $39.97 (reg. $2,748.75). Thats not a typo. Youll get 180 hours of training across five deep-dive certification prep courses and lifetime access to CramWise and ExamsDigest exam simulators, performance-based questions, and virtual IT labs. Whether youre starting your IT career, switching gears professionally, or stacking certs like its your full-time job, this bundle covers the essentials : network fundamentals, security configurations, AWS cloud architecture, and database differences all taught by seasoned pros. And when its finally exam time, CramWise has your back with over 25 simulators tailored to real certification objectives. Dont miss out on some serious tech test prep at a huge savings. Get The Complete CompTIA & IT Exam Training Bundle for just $39.97 (reg. $2,748.75). The Complete CompTIA & IT Exam Lifetime Access Training Bundle See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

Macworld Its a nightmare scenario: your Mac has been playing up for weeks and youve been ignoring it, or just havent been able to figure out how to fix it. Then it refuses to start up. Why didnt you make that backup? Is there any way you can get back the lost data from your Mac? Luckily there are apps that can recover your lost photos and damaged files from your failed Macs hard drive. Data recovery apps, like the ones we have reviewed below, can recover files with relative ease, as long as the directory indicating where files were originally stored is salvageable. If that isnt the case, the software can scan the data for familiar patterns that would denote a file type. Once it finds a file type, theres a good chance that there will be data in that file. Whether youre a casual user scrambling to recover your lost files on your Mac, or a full-time tech shop doing everything it can to retrieve a clients most critical documents from a dying hard drive, these are the data recovery apps that get our recommendation. PROMOTION Data recovery software for Mac EaseUS Recover lost data in 3 simple steps: automated scan, preview, and one-click recovery. Cover any file format and deal with data loss issues. Undelete files from the Mac-based hard drive, fusion drive, SSD, USB drive, memory card, digital camera, and more. Macworld recommended, and a great choice for both Mac and Windows users. Now 25% OFF Exclusive Code: MACWORLD25 Get It Now l Windows Get It Now | Mac Looking to recover data from a iPhone? Read: Best data recovery apps for iPhone . Best data recovery software for Mac 2025 Heres our pick of the best recovery software for Mac we have reviewed. Recoverit, Wondershare: Best Mac data recovery software Pros Clean, inviting user interface Good set of tools Good performance Cons Problem with USB boot drive creation module Price When Reviewed: 1 month/2 Macs: $79.99 (usually $109.99); 1 year/2 Macs: $89.99 (usually $139.99); perpetual license/2 Macs: $139.99 (usually $169.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Wondershare (annual) $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Recoverit by Wondershare is centered around the usual modules that you might see in this kind of suite: Hard Drives and Locations and SD Card for file recovery, Enhanced Recovery and Corrupted Video Repair for video and photo restoration and System Crashed Computer and NAS and Linux for additional recovery features. Theres a friendly home screen and user interface and the modules work as expected. Data recovery for hard drives, locations, and SD cards is simple and reliable, with Recoverit executing both a quick scan and diving into a deep scan. The video and photo repair modules work well with damaged files. The SD Card module was able to sift through a damaged 8GB SD card, pull some video data thought lost, and deliver the data back cleanly to a recovery folder without issue. Remote-based utilities allow for network-based drives to be located or accessed manually to have data recovered from them. The program can also save recovered data to a NAS drive or Google Drive, which is a nice feature. We had some problems with the USB boot drive creation module, but this might be due to Apples complications. Wondershare Recoverit presents an excellent data recovery package at a not-unreasonable, price. The company also offers discounts for students and educators, and small and medium businesses. While no trial version exists, the free version allows for all of Recoverits features to be used, with data recovery capped at 100 megabytes. Read our full Wondershare Recoverit review Stellar Data Recovery for Mac: Best for complicated recoveries Pros Quick, clean interface Good data recovery tools and modules Impressive net-based recovery module Cons Repeated crashes for Clean Up Junk Files module Activation bugs Price When Reviewed: Standard edition: $79.99 (currently $69.99) a year, or $129.99 (currently $99.99) for a lifetime license. Professional version: $129.99 (currently $99.99) a year, or $199 (currently $149) for a lifetime license. Premium edition: $209.99 (currently $99.99) a year, or $319 (currently $199) for a lifetime license. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Stellar Info (annual) $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Stellar Data Recovery for Mac focuses on recovering data via standard scans, deep scans, drive image creation, and other recovery tools. It is available as a free trial, with standard, professional, and premium editions available on yearly or lifetime contracts. The software supports both HFS+ and APFS volume formats and can be installed easily. Stellar Data Recoverys main strength is its extensive data recovery engine, which supports hundreds of file formats and allows users to search and recover by file type, headers, and attributes. It also features a good scan management engine that allows users to save and work from previous scans, and an image creation feature that allows users to create a byte-for-byte image of a volume that can be restored later. One interesting feature is the Recover Non Booting Mac module, which allows users to log into their Macs recovery partition, load Terminal, and enter a command to open a remote version of Stellar Data Recovery (more details in our full review). Other modules such as Search Large Files and Search Duplicate Files perform well and provide a comprehensive look at your drive. The complete array of modules worked well with test drives, recovering data as needed, and snagging as much as possible. Unfortunately, we did experience some problems. Stellars Clean Up Junk Files crashed the application repeatedly and had to be force quit. Other issues included activating the serial number, which took several days and multiple calls and emails to sort out. Additionally, Stellar Data Recovery refused to appear in the macOS Recent Items menu, preventing it from being quickly launched. Even after activating a Professional tier account, the software still presents an Upgrade button on its main menu, which seems to be asking for more money to be thrown in the companys general direction. Despite these failings, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is a good program able to dig deep to help reconstruct and recover deleted data. Theres also Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . Read our full Stellar Data Recovery for Mac review Data Rescue, Prosoft Engineering: Compelling toolset for experts Pros Excellent toolset and recovery system Helpful Scan Management Cons High subscription price Last update (v6) in 2023 Inadequate tech support Unable to create Sonoma recovery drive Price When Reviewed: Standard license: $79 for a 30-day; Professional license: $399 for one year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Prosoft Engineering (30-day license) $79 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Data Rescue offers some excellent drive management and data recovery features, albeit at a steep price for occasional users. The software supports older versions of macOS and requires macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later. Users can download the software and assign full drive access, with a trial offering up to 1GB of data recovery for free. The company offers a 30-day standard license as well as a pricy professional license. The software has a compelling toolset, including Quick Scan or Deep Scan, view hex tables, secure erase, set drive parameters, manage virtual RAID setup, and work with numbered sectors on drives and allocation blocks. It allows users to work with up to 15 scans, pausing and resuming as needed handy if youre several hours into a Deep Scan. The software runs well in the background. Data Rescue 6 can create clone and recovery drives, handling different data strategies such as Straight, Reverse, Bisect, and Segment. However, it does not offer an option to create a macOS Sonoma recovery drive as of July 2024. There are other limitations. If the drive is mechanically failing, itll be harder for data to be pulled and reconstructed. Technical tools in Data Rescue 6 offer plenty to work with, but can get you in trouble if you arent familiar with them. For example, setting the wrong drive parameters or boot point can require troubleshooting. Overall, Data Rescue 6 offers excellent tools, but Prosoft should address issues like lack of customer responsiveness, the lengthy time between updates, the high, subscription-based price tag, and a lack of a tutorial system. Read our full Data Rescue review Disk Drill Pro, CleverFiles: Reliable and friendly data recovery Pros Friendly interface Helpful YouTube videos Good data recovery performance Data Shredder utility Cons Occasional crashes Failed to create viable boot drive Price When Reviewed: Basic: Free; Pro: $89; Enterprise: $499 (pay extra for lifetime upgrades) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CleverFiles $89 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Disk Drill Pro from Cleverfiles is designed to recover data and rebuild deleted files on Macs and various other platforms and devices. It works with standard macOS file formats like HFS+, Mac OS Extended, and APFS. The basic version is available for free and can recover up to 500 megabytes of data. Theres a Pro version that supports one user and up to three simultaneous activations, paid for once with an additional expense for lifetime upgrades. The Enterprise edition has a similar extra expense for lifetime upgrades and supports 10 users and infinite activations with priority technical support and DFXML forensic data support. Disk Drill Pro requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or later and offers several new features, including a RAID utility, NAS & Linux via SSH utility, tools for recovering data from iPhones, iPads, and Time Machine volumes, a scan session manager, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, a macOS boot drive creator, a backup utility, a Clean Up utility to map drive storage, a duplicate file remover, a data shredder, and a free space erasure tool. YouTube-based tutorial videos are available. Devices can be scanned over a Wi-Fi network, and the S.M.A.R.T. function provides data about drive temperatures, drive condition, and life percentage left. Disk Drill Pro runs the scan in the background and can bypass file permission errors on the data being erased. During our data recovery scans, more than 90% of deleted files were readily recovered. Disk Drill Pro has some issues, such as the macOS Installer utility failing to produce a bootable volume after multiple tests, the Recent Sessions scan manager only sporadically working, and Disk Drill Pro crashing into the spinning rainbow wheel if a process is interrupted. However, it offers reliable data recovery from a wide variety of devices. Read our full Disk Drill Pro review EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac: Decent free version Pros Free version (up to 2GB) Great data recovery tools, file organization, categorization Video Repair tool Cons High price Unbootable Mac module failed to locate drives Unable to log into cloud-based services Price When Reviewed: $89.95 a month for one Mac, $119.95 a year for one Mac, $169.95 for a lifetime upgrade plan for one Mac Best Prices Today: Retailer Price EaseUS (monthly) $89.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a Mac port of the Windows recovery software. There is a free version with a decent 2GB recovered data cap as well as a paid version, which offers additional features such as 1-on-1 remote assistance, is available as a free trial, and requires Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later to run. The paid version offers one license for one Mac paid monthly, yearly or as a lifetime upgrade plan that covers one Mac. The monthly and annual license payments auto-renew. The software supports over 1,000 file types and offers specific modules for SD cards, cloud-based recovery, and storage. It supports APFS, HFS+, HFS, XFAT, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS, making it useful for working with drives from Windows and Linux machines. The core functionalities of data recovery, reconstruction, and organization are its strongest points. A friendly interface guides users in choosing the volume to recover from and designating the target restoration drive or folder. The program organizes recovered and restored data logically into categories such as All Types, Pictures, Documents, Audio, Videos, Emails, Archives, and Others. The SD Card function is useful, and the iCloud module makes it easy to log into iCloud (requiring Two Factor Authentication). The Video Repair module is enjoyable for exporting cleaner copies of old videos. However, some issues need attention, including the Unbootable Mac module, which has the user shut down their Mac, boot into Recovery Mode, then boot off an external server run by EaseUS. While this is a good idea in theory, the tool went into a continuous loop of being unable to mount my M2 Mac internal and external drives. I allowed this process to run overnight, and when I woke up in the morning, the drives had still not mounted and the tool could not be worked with. The cloud tool was unable to successfully log into Dropbox for recovery, and the application required an administrator password every time the user launched it. Additionally, the software presented a customer feedback survey every time the user exited the program, which was infuriating. Data Recovery Wizard for Mac excels at its core functions and presents an attractive means of recovering data from Mac, Windows, and Linux volumes with a nice array of platform and file format support. However, the high price point, Unbootable Mac module failures, constant need for an administrator password, and repeating customer feedback survey window let it down. Read our full EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac review Data Recovery for Mac, iBeesoft: Data recovery and backup combined Pros Friendly user interface Good data recovery Backup and video repair modules Nice price Cons Crashed Mac module didnt work Vague 60-day money-back guarantee terms Price When Reviewed: Personal License: $59.95; Lifetime License for $129.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price iBeesoft (per year, 2-5 Macs) $59.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iBeesofts Data Recovery for Mac functions as a data recovery and backup application and also includes a video repair utility for the AV nerds out there. The app is based around several modules: Storage Devices, Crashed Mac Recovery, Video Repair, File Backup, and Search Records. Theres a user-friendly interface and helpful file categorizations, such as All Types, Pictures, Documents, Audio, Video, Emails, Archives, Others, and Unsaved Documents. The software can scan through your list of mounted drives, looking for deleted files, reconstructing and recovering everything it can. Its easy to select specific files or all files for a given recovery to an external volume once a scan is complete. The Video Repair module allows you to drag and drop old video clips and upgrade their quality before exporting them. The Backup module allows you to specify files, folders, or an entire volume and back up a copy as a .dmg file, which can be easily restored later. This is so far so good, but there are some elements to sort out. The Crashed Mac module is designed to offer an easily downloadable .dmg file to create a boot drive to use as an emergency disk to help recover data to an external hard drive, but the web server that hosted the file not working so the feature couldnt be tested. Theres a Personal License and a Lifetime License, as well as a free version (with a 500MB limit). Data Recovery for Mac hones in on its core features well and is worth a look. Read our full iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac review Alsoft DiskWarrior Pros Good user interface and performance Locates and sorts out file and directory errors Customization and configuration options Cons Lack of APFS support High price Time Machine volume repair requires booting from included flash drive Price When Reviewed: $119.95 (plus $8.95 for shipping flash drive) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alsoft $119.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Alsoft has been producing high-quality utility software for over 20 years. DiskWarrior, a popular application for recovering damaged hard drives, has been in use since 1998. However, the latest version of DiskWarrior 5.3.1, released in 2024, seems to be falling behind in software and file system support. The software still supports the HFS+ format, FireVault 1 and 2, Core Storage for Fusion dries, RAID configurations, and disk images and sparse bundles, but it has not been upgraded to support the APFS format, which is increasingly prevalent on new Macs and Apples push towards this file system standard. DiskWarrior is available as a bootable USB flash drive that can boot Macs running HFS+ format volumes. Its ease of use remains unchanged, making it easy to mount and unmount drives and volumes, perform quick tests, access technical specifications, set up automated diagnostics, and receive notifications through alerts, emails, AppleScript programs, or text messages. However, theres bad news: DiskWarrior 5.3.1 still lacks support for the APFS standard. As more drives are moving towards this file system, the companys silence on this matter is concerning. A representative within the company confirmed that Alsoft is working on version 6.0, which will offer full APFS support. However, changes from Apples side, such as not allowing third-party kernel extensions and other technical changes, have made the development process more difficult and created more roadblocks than previous versions of DiskWarrior. The lack of a free trial version of DiskWarrior 5.3.1 raises concerns about the steep new user price and upgrade price, especially when the software lacks APFS support and can only work with certain volumes. Sometimes a great utility gets stuck in development. Theres still a great application to be had here, but Alsoft needs to put itself in a position where it can readily announce that an updated version will be out at a given date and that it will offer APFS support. Read our full DiskWarrior review What is the best Mac data recovery app? Our top choice right now is Recoverit from Wondershare because it does a good job recovering data, and at a reasonable price. How we choose the best Data Recovery app for Mac We approach this not only from an ease-of-use perspective for the user, but also in terms of which software can genuinely pull something useful from a disaster. Its not always the best marketed or most expensive recovery application that succeeds, but something that can work with a volume, continue to test it, and not give up on it in terms of hardware condition and slowdowns. The software that you can leave to run overnight to recover data and have the best chance of waking up and finding something useful recovered, that marks the best software where Macworld is concerned. Another factor we consider is that the best option will depend on a specific set of needs. For example, one option might be the best if you have a tight budget, while another option will be better for someone who will only use this software once, while the best option for someone who expects to need to use the software again and again will probably be quite different. For that reason we specify who we recommend the app for. We also tend to only include the apps that we recommend in our group tests. If the app isnt included here it may be because we dont rate it as well as the ones in this round up. What you should consider when choosing the best Data Recovery app Outside of the price point (some applications can be considerably expensive, especially given the services theyre tied into), ease of use and overall approach are important factors to consider. Some applications will offer you all the options in the world, but through a nigh-terrifying user interface that asks you to identify specific hard drive sectors youd like to identify and work with, which is beyond what a panicked user who might have lost their lifes data wants to deal with. What youre looking for is something powerful, capable of dealing with your damaged hard drive/volume, and capable of keeping it mounted on your Mac as its working through damaged sectors on a hard drive mechanism that may itself be failing. Once this is complete, its a matter of whether the application can work steadily for the hours, days, or weeks that may be involved in slowly pulling the data to an external hard drive. From there, its a question of how the recovered data can be reconstructed and how quickly and easily the recovered data can be worked with (i.e., will you have to rename and reorganize thousands of files, will a specific file be able to be opened by the application that created it, etc.?) In short, its a question of Well, Ive recovered hundreds of gigabytes of data, can I actually work with it or do I have to babysit it and rebuild the data and how much time have I saved in the long run? This, combined with the expected price youll pay (either from an outright one-time purchase or annual or multi-year subscription), and best practices such as settings up local Time Machine and online backups help form what you should consider for a best-of-breed data recovery application, or a set of them. Its not a question of if a hard drive will fail but when, and well do everything we can here at Macworld to keep you informed and ready for when it eventually happens. How we test Data Recovery software for Mac When we test data recovery software we simulate the experience of those who lose data in real world scenarios. This includes everything from recovering accidentally deleted files, to attempting to recover data from a formatted disk. We test with both rotational and solid-state media, using both newer and used drives. During the tests, we work to recover both large and small files as well as data thats been deleted from multiple drive format functions. We compare ease of use, the softwares approach, whats recovered, and how this meets the users expectations. We also factor in reconstruction methods, and where this leaves the user (i.e., can a recovered image be easily opened, or will it require several additional steps to rename and open the file?) to determine what to make of the software and how best to rate it. Why you can trust Macworlds recommendations Macworlds Data Recovery app reviewer, Chris Barylick is an Apple-Certified Macintosh Technician with more than twenty years experience fixing Macs, dealing with people, and writing about it. In this time, hes seen just about every scenario that can be conceived of, heard the wailing of people whose Macs were working great just the other day and whose hard drives are making strange clicking sounds and not booting, and everything in between. Throughout this time, his goal was always the same: Get the hard drive out of the computer, get it mounted, and figure out the best way to recover their data and their work, no matter what. FAQ 1. Why does Data Recovery take so long? Expect the data recovery process to be time-consuming as the app pieces the bits of files back together. With patience, most files that havent been overwritten should, in theory, be saveable. Some drives can take days to fully scan, and the higher capacity they are, the longer the process. But if its irreplaceable photos or important documents that are lost, you can afford to wait. 2. Is there a free wayto recover my lost Mac data? Unfortunately, this sort of software is pretty much always going to have a high price associated with it before you can recover what you needbut if youve lost hundreds of treasured photos or the first 1,000 pages of your novel, then no price is too high, probably. Sometimes you can pay for the software for a month, do what you need to do and then cancel. Sometimes you must subscribe for a year. Other options allow you to buy it outright, but pay extra for future updates. Your own circumstances will influence which option is best for you. Additionally, many of these tools offer a trial so you can at least see what you should be able to recover before you spend your money. There are a few techniques you can try before you spend money on an app though, as youll see in our How to recover data from a damaged Mac article. 3. How to avoid data loss Prevention is better than a cure and we recommend adopting a regular backup routine going forward, so youll avoid this kind of situation again. For more tips on this, take a look at the best backup software for Mac and How to use Time Machine to back up a Mac . 4. Are data recovery apps/services safe, can you trust them? Yes, they are safe, but youre going to want to do some research and/or read some reviews to find something that works best for you. It does the software companies no good to have their data recovery software be something that damages your Macs data, and data recovery applications use extremely low-level hardware code to access data from failing devices, so theres that to consider. Still, there are several data recovery applications that offer free or trial periods to test the software, and you can always try these out for yourself. Read and listen to trusted sources, try various applications out for yourself (you can always try recovering data youve deleted from thumb drives with the trial versions of these applications), remember to set up Time Machine and online backups and your data should be safe. Theres a world of options out there and well do what we can to help you find the best one for you. 5. How does data recovery software work? Most data recovery software works to mount the potentially-failing volume that your data is on, then it has to work to keep it mounted and running as it scans the drives sectors, offers you options as to what youd like to do with it, carries out the tests and data recovery options, and works to save the data to a functional drive prior to reconstructing it. Theres a lot for it to carry out, and each data recovery application and the company behind it approaches it differently. Some might provide a very general, user friendly interface towards data recovery while others might offer extremely specific, technical functions to work with precise sectors of your hard drive. Some might provide an option to boot form an external USB thumb drive or Web-based operating system to try to recover your data, and each approach can yield different results 6. Why is data recovery software expensive? Data recovery software has always been infamously expensive, but there are logical reasons for this. First, theres an extremely significant amount of research and development involved in creating and updating this software, as it delves into low-lying system and firmware functions as to how the computer communicates with its hard drives and reads and writes data to and from them. Additionally, data recovery software typically isnt the kind of thing thats initially purchased with a new computer (such as a copy of Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, etc.), and tends to only be purchased in the event of a disaster wherein your data is at risk of loss. As such, the data recovery software market tends to sell fewer copies and sometimes charges a higher price for the copies it does sell. Finally, there are times where the software companies provide higher-end services and tech support, including shipping a damaged drive off for disassembly and data recovery. This can be considered a new service altogether and that much more expensive to reclaim damaged data. For more advice about software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks and our latest macOS and iOS software reviews .

Not a typograb a MacBook Air for just $200

Macworld If youve been dreaming of owning a MacBook Air, this is your chance to bring home the power and sleek design of Apple without breaking the bank. Priced at just $199.97 through June 1, this top-quality refurbished MacBook Air 13.3 (2017) gives you the premium experience Apple is known for. From itsultra-slim aluminum design to the fast 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, this laptop can keep up with your busiest days. The 128GB SSD provides ample storage for your important files and favorite apps while ensuring lightning-fast boot times. Whether working remotely or streaming your favorite shows, the 12-hour battery life and Wi-Fi connectivity will keep you going. Plus,with Intel HD Graphics 6000, youll enjoy smooth visuals,whether tackling spreadsheets or binge-watching on Netflix. This MacBook Air is either grade-A or grade-B refurbished, which means its in excellent condition with minimal or no cosmetic imperfections. Its been tested, cleaned, and certified to meet high-performance standards. Dont miss the chance to get a MacBook Air for less than a weeks worth of groceries. This refurbished MacBook Air 13.3is just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping through June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apple MacBook Air 13.3 (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

This 512GB iPad Air with 5G is a whopping $350 off right now

Macworld There may be a new M3 iPad AIr on shelves, but since not much has changed, were always on the lookout for a sale on the M2 model. And today weve got a whopper: Amazon is selling the M2 iPad Air with 512GB of storage and 5G connectivity for just $699 . Thats a savings of $350 and the best price youre ever likely to see. When we reviewed the M2 Apple iPad Air , we gave the tablet a 4-star rating, appreciating its performance and the speedy processor. We also really liked the landscape front camera with Center Stage because it made participating in video calls or shooting vids for social media that much easier. With 512GB of storage space (four times the base model), you get tons of space for apps and games, so youll never have to worry about running out. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display is gorgeous and delivers vivid colors and great contrast, as well as 500 nits of brightness. This model also comes with 5G built-in, so you can connect to a wireless network on the go. It requires an extra change through your carrier, but its usually just $10 or $15 per month on top of your regular bill. The M3 iPad Air is pretty great, but its going to be a long time before it gets anywhere close to the M2 price levels. So take advantage of this $350 discount and order the M2 iPad Air while this deal is hot. Snag an iPad Air with 512GB of storage and 5G for $350 off Buy now at Amazon

New AirPods 2025: Heres whats next for AirPods Pro and Max

Macworld Apples AirPods 2025 plans: In summary New AirPods Pro could launch featuring heartrate and temperature tracking and better ANC sound Some AirPods to get live translation feature via software update AirPods Max could gain H2 chip, Adaptive Audio, Conversation awareness, Voice Isolation, Bluetooth 5.3 and more In September 2024, Apple introduced the AirPods 4. At the same time the company announced that hearing aid features would be coming to the 2nd generation AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max got a minor update (Lightning switched for USB-C and a color refresh). Those hoping that the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods Max 2 would launch were disappointed. It is now almost three years since the AirPods Pro 2 were introduced in September 2022, and more than four years since the AirPods Max introduction in December 2020. Updates are long overdue. In this article we are tracking all the rumors about the launch date, new features and specs and any other changes coming to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Read on for the latest news about the 2025 AirPods. Well look first at the rumours and leaks relating to the AirPods Pro 3 before moving on to the AirPods Max 2 below (click here to jump to the AirPods Max section). AirPods Pro 3 release date: When will the AirPods Pro 3 be released? In summary September 2025 launch of AirPods Pro 3 likely But launch could be delayed until 2026 Production delays indicated It would be typical to expect a September launch for AirPods Pro, alongside iPhone 17. The original AirPods Pro were introduced in October 2019, the AirPods 2nd-gen launched in September 2022, and those were updated with USB-C in September 2023. In a February 2025, Bloomberg report Mark Gurman suggested that the AirPods Pro 3 were Still many months away. That could still line up with a September (or October) launch though. Also in February an unverified leaker claimed in a tweet that there would be an AirPods Pro launch in May or June. Twitter However, in May 2025 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that we might not see an update to the AirPods until 2026. This could relate to production delays due to a new infra-red camera Apple is said to be equipping the AirPods with (more on that below). Twitter AirPods Pro 3 price: How much will the AirPods Pro 3 cost? In summary Price hike not expected But prices may rise due to economic factors We dont expect the price to change, although it may increase in certain parts of the world and remain the same in others. For example, when Apple launched the AirPods Pro in the U.K. the price was 249, that price was later reduced to 229, so it might go back up to 249. The price in the U.S. hasnt changed since launch. Other factors may affect pricing . Pricing for the AirPods range starts at $129/129 for the AirPods 4, and rises to $499/549 for the AirPods Max: Apple Earbuds: $19/19 AirPods 4: $129/129 AirPoids 4 with ANC: $179/179 AirPods Pro 2nd-gen $249/229 AirPods Max $549/499 Ignoring the $300 premium for the AirPods Max, thats an extra $70 between the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Pro. It would be feasible for Apple to increase the price of the AirPods Pro if the new features made the upgrade worthwhile. We have a round-up of the Best wireless earbuds for iPhones and the best wired headphones if youd like to consider alternatives to AirPods. Also read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models compare. AirPods Pro 3 features: What specs and features will the AirPods Pro 3 have? In summary Heart rate monitoring Temperature monitoring Translation Better active noise cancellation Its fairly easy to make predictions about the new features coming to AirPods Pro 3 just by looking at the AirPods 4 and the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (Beats is an Apple-owned subsidiary). For example, Powerbeats Pro 2, which launched in February 2025, includes heart rate monitoring.Read our review of the Powerbeats Pro 2 and our AirPods 4 review . As for the features rumored to be coming to the AirPods Pro 3, heres what weve heard: Heart Rate monitoring : In December 2024, Gurman said Apple is working on in-ear heart rate monitoring. This will enable users to track heart rate while exercising without having to wear an Apple Watch. The inclusion of heart rate monitoring in the Powerbeats Pro 2 certainly indicates that the same feature will be available on the AirPods Pro 3, but you can expect it to be superior. One issue with the Powerbeats Pro 2 is that they cant steam music and capture heart data simultaneously. Another issue is with the interplay between the heart rate monitoring on the Apple Watch and the Powerbeats. Temperature monitoring : Mark Gurman has also said Apple was researching in-ear temperature sensors, https://www.macworld.com/article/1978329/new-airpods-details-major-leak.html and Apple has a patent on such technology. In-ear temperature sensing could also be faster and more reliable than those via the Apple Watch. https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/01/apple-reveals-an-all-new-temperature-sensor-that-could-be-used-with-apple-watch-airpods-and-more.html#:~:text=Apple Reveals an all-new,Electronic Devices With Temperature Sensors Translation : As part of the iOS 19 update Apple is said to be adding a live translation feature to AirPods. Its unknown which AirPods will be compatible, but the AirPods Pro 3 are sure to be. https://www.macworld.com/article/2636989/airpods-to-get-live-translation-feature-as-part-of-ios-19-update.html We expect to hear more at WWDC. https://www.macworld.com/article/678333/wwdc-ios-macos-watchos-hardware-keynote.html Better active noise cancellation : According to Mark Gurman (in October 2023) the AirPods Pro 3 will feature a new H3 chip, which could lead to better active noise cancellation. Crash detection : An Apple patent describes a way that motion sensors inside AirPods could aid Crash Detection. AirPods Pro 3 design: Will Apple update the AirPods Pro design? In summary Changes to the charging case possible Slimmer designsuggested Touch controls may work with gloves Mahmoud Itani / Foundry As mentioned above, we can look to the AirPods 4 for some clues about changes that may come to the AirPods Pro. One such change related to the charging case. The AirPod 4 charging case lacks a physical setup button, instead featuring a sensor under the status light on the front that lights up when active. There may be more changes coming. According to Mark Gurman (back in October 2023) the AirPods Pro will get a new design. We dont expect new colors, but the buds may slim down further. The changes may be less visible, more tactile: A number of Apple patents indicate that Apple is looking to improve the way that the touch controls work on the earbuds work when the user is wearing gloves. For example in February 2025 a patent was granted to Apple that could enable this. AirPods Max 2 release date: When will the AirPods Max be updated? In summary Update long overdue Could be waiting until 2027 Bloombergs Mark Gurman wrote of the AirPods Max in a December 2023 newsletter, saying that The cans dont sell well enough for the company to invest in entirely new hardware or software features. However, its now more than four years since the AirPods Max were introduced and with such a premium price Apple owes it to customers to bring the AirPods Max into line with their competition and other AirPods Apple sells. In 2024 Mark Gurman predicted that the AirPods Max would get an updated at the iPhone event. Sadly, the update included only a color change and a switch from Lightning for USB-C connectivity. I expect Apple to launch new AirPods Max headphones tomorrow with better noise cancellation, adaptive audio & USB-C. Theyll launch with the low-end AirPods 4. This is line with my reporting for months but runs counter to lack of low inventory in stores. https://t.co/KIJQEwywcp Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 9, 2024 Even worse, the change meant that the AirPods Max could no longer be used as wired headphones (a feature of the Lightning-based model). This was the case until a software update in March 2025 added this ability along with lossless and ultra low latency audio. As a result of that software update, users are now able to play lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio through a wired connection . Lossless audio is a key feature for audio producers, while ultralow latency audio is key for gaming and live streams. Both very important features for the AirPods Mac. Despite these updates the over four year old headphones are lagging behind the competition and an update is long over due. The bad news is that, if analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, we could be waiting until 2027 for the second generation of AirPods Max. Twitter AirPods Max 2 price: How much will the AirPods Max 2 cost? In summary Price unlikely to change Although Apple could unify the U.S. and U.K. prices At $549/499 the AirPods Max are an expensive purchase. The fact that they are now more than four years old makes that price look incredibly inflated. Its no wonder they are frequently discounted at Amazon and elsewhere. When the new models launch we dont expect a price change though. These are designed to fit at the premium headphones end of the market, and their competition has solar prices. That said, the price in the U.S. and U.K. may come in to line, with Apple choosing to match the price as it usually does (many Apple products share an, e.g. $499/499 price point) which Apple calculated based on exchange rates and local taxes. AirPods Max 2 specs: What specs and features will the AirPods Max 2 have In summary Necessary updates to bring into line with rest of the AirPods lineup New chip Removal of audio howl There is so much lacking from he AirPods Max compared to the AirPods Pro that it is easy to assume that the following will be included: H1 chip upgraded to H2 (or H3) Adaptive Audio (which combines transparency mode and ANC) Conversation Awareness Conversation Boost Voice Isolation Personalized Volume Option to activate with Siri voice command (not just Hey Siri) Custom high dynamic range amplifier Bluetooth 5.3 (up from Bluetooth 5.0) Find My Also expect better battery life. One patent identified in 2022 indicates Apple is looking at detecting audio howl, which is described as distracting audio feedback. AirPods Max 2 design: Will Apple update the AirPods Max design? In summary More protective carry case Removable ear cushions Waterproofing Jason Cross/IDG Improvements to gesture controls which are currently via the Digital Crown. Could Apple forgo the Digital Crown in favor of touch controls on the ear cups? We could see changes to the carry case. Ideally it should cover the whole product and be more protective. A patent from 2022 suggested that Apple was developing a better case with magnetic clasps. The Audio Howl patent mentioned above also refers to removable ear cushions which could be reattached using magnets. Wed also like to see a foldable design and better waterproofing. If youre keen to hear the latest rumors about Apples plans, the best place to start is our roundup of New Apple products . Those interested in the current range should take a look at our roundup of the best AirPods deals for the latest bargains.

Mosquito bite relief: 70,000 shoppers swear by this $7 solution from Shark Tank

I couldnt possibly be any happier that warm weather is finally here. Im sure that I am not alone. There are a few different reasons, The post Mosquito bite relief: 70,000 shoppers swear by this $7 solution from Shark Tank appeared first on BGR .

Trump threatens Apple with 25% iPhone tariff

Macworld While it appeared for a while that Apple might escape the long arm of the tariff for at least a while, President Trump on Friday escalated his war against overseas manufacturing by targeting Apple and only Apple. In a post to his Truth Social account , Trump threatened Apple with an alarming 25 percent tariff if it doesnt shift production of the iPhone to the U.S. The tirade comes just weeks before Apple is going to hold its annual WWDC keynote , and as production is nearing for the iPhone 17, due to launch in September. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your [sic] for your attention to this matter! Following a trip to the Middle East where Trump was showered with praise and gifted a luxury jet, Trump said he had told Tim Cook, I dont want you building in India. Apple is shifting production to India to reduce its dependency on China, which received the brunt of Trumps tariff ire. The shift to India is expected to move all U.S.-bound iPhones away from China by the end of 2026. Cook has repeatedly said the U.S. doesnt have enough skilled labor to build the iPhone. As he explained in 2017, iPhones require really advanced tooling, and the precision that you have to have in tooling and working with the materials we do is state of the art And the tooling skill is very deep [in China]. Apple makes very few products in the U.S., but earlier this year announced a $500 billion investment in its home country. However, while that investment will yield a new U.S. factory in Houston, it will produce servers that support Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that helps users write, express themselves, and get things done, rather than consumer products. Apple has not responded to Trumps screed. Its not clear why Trump didnt include Google, which also manufactures its Pixel phones in China and India, in the demands. Apple is expected to launch four new iPhones in September, including a new ultra-thin model, the iPhone 17 Air. Additionally, it reportedly has several new models on course for 2026 and 2027, including its first folding phone and a curved, all-glass 20th anniversary model .

Your iPhone notifications are ruining your life. Here are 3 easy steps to fix them

Macworld Your iPhone is ruining your life. Or at least, its distracting you from itas often as possible. Every app wants to send you notifications, and it wants to ping you with some sort of alert multiple times a day in the hopes that youll open up and use the app. Grabbing your attention is how apps get you to use them, and the success of apps is measured by how much they are used. Its an attention economy where those who manage to get you to pay attention get rewarded. But this isnt good for you. Its distracting you from your life and making you focus on things that arent important. Or worse: your lock screen is full of so many notifications that you miss whats important in all the noise. Apple has tried to fix this with features such as scheduled notification summaries, focus modes, and, more recently, AI-powered notification prioritization and summaries. But thats just putting the flood of iPhone notifications into more boxes. Thats never going to give you your life back. What you need to do is turn them off . Its a three-step process that takes five or 10 minutes and will make an enormous difference in your daily quality of life. Step one: Turn it all off! The first part of this process is to literally turn off all your notifications. Dont worry, well turn some important ones back on in a second, its not going to stay this way. But if youre like most people, when you start using a new app you just tap Next Yes Agree to all the popups and just try to get to actually using the app. Most people have notifications fully enabled on dozens of apps. So open Settings, then tap on Notifications , and scroll down to the list of apps. You have to tap to open each app and then disable the Allow Notifications switch at the very top, but its an imperative step. Just fly through your big list of apps, turning them all off one by one. Its tedious, but it doesnt really take that long. Flip this switch off on EVERY app to start. Foundry Step two: Enable notifications for urgent apps The next step is to re-enable notifications only on those apps that you want to take action on right away . Phone, FaceTime, Messages, maybe WhatsApp or your preferred texting app, your alarm system or security cameras, the app for your car if its the kind of connected model that sends you notifications about alarms or doors left open. Try to resist the urge to enable notifications on apps that you like and use every day just because you like them. This is especially true of social media apps and streaming services like YouTube or Netflix. Nothing that these apps notify you about has to be dealt with the moment the notification comes in, so theyre all going to stay off until the next step. Consider this: If you open an app frequently, what value is a notification adding? Youll see whatever it is when you open up the app. If you dont, do you really need to see an alert? The notification is just another flashing, noisy distraction trying to exploit a compulsive addiction to getting a quick dopamine hit . Most people should have no more than a handful of apps that fit into this immediate action required category. Apple keeps adding ways to show notifications differently, but that doesnt address the core problem. Foundry Step three: Quiet notifications for a few other apps Notifications arent completely useless as a way to get a sort of summary of whats going on in apps, but you dont need to let them beg so hard for your attention. Now that you have just a few urgent-action apps that can notify you and all the rest are turned off, its time to enable quiet, unobtrusive notifications on a few other apps. The goal here is to have notifications that dont grab your attention, but still provide a useful digest of whats going on in your apps when you want it. Many apps, arguably most of them, should still have notifications turned off entirely. But for some that provide actual useful notifications that help you decide if you need to jump into an app or not, consider the following settings: In Settings > Notifications , tap on the app in question. Re-enable notifications, but turn OFF alerts on the Lock Screen and Banners, leaving only alerts in the Notification Center. Turn off Sounds and Badges, too. You dont need pings and red dotsthose are designed to grab your attention, and you want these notifications to be there only when you look for them. On the apps where you allow notifications, most of them should have settings like this so they cant grab your attention. Foundry The idea is to allow notifications to come in the background without using any visuals or sounds to pull your attention. When you want to see your notifications, you can swipe down from the top of the screen to open Notification Center and look through them on your own time. You can also opt to add them to the Scheduled Summaries that appear at 8am and 6pm. If all goes well, youve spent about 10 minutes messing around with your notification settings. Most of them will be disabled, and of those that are enabled only a handful of truly must act now apps will be able to get your attention with sounds or banners. It will seem dramatic at first, but give it a week and youll wonder why you ever let all these apps be in control of your time and attention.

7 announcements I cant wait to see at WWDC 2025

Macworld Lets be honest: WWDC 2025 is unlikely to go down in history as one Apples greatest ever events, as Ive warned in a separate article . The company shouldnt really be forging ahead with new plans until it finishes mopping up the undelivered ones from last year, and the ongoing and unaddressed failures of Siri and Apple Intelligence will hang over the proceedings like a bad smell. But even the dullest Apple event can generally be relied upon to deliver a few gems and after all, its WWDC, the second most important keynote of the year. Here are the seven things I cant wait to see at WWDC 2025: 1. An iPhone AI feature Ill actually use With apologies to Mac and Apple Watch owners, iOS is the main event at WWDC. This years update promises some major changes, including important accessibility features and an interface redesign, which is already inspiring both positive and negative feelings. But a far more important change will happen under the hood. Reports indicate iOS 19 will feature a new AI-powered battery preservation mode , which will analyze usage patterns to lower power draw at times or in applications where it wont impact your experience, and thereby extend battery life at minimal cost. Plus, the Lock Screen will finally show how much time is left until your phone is fully charged. Forget Genmoji: this is how AI can actually make a difference in users lives. 2. Apple Intelligence where it belongs Im a little tired of hearing about Apple Intelligence: its supposed triumphs (from Apple) and its many flaws (from everyone else). Sadly this years WWDC is sure to feature more of the same, and well need to prepare ourselves for that. But theres one aspect of Apple Intelligence I am excited to know more about, and that is its belated debut on the Apple Watch. Pundits predict that the watchOS 12 update will see Apples AI platform land on the Apple Watch, which Ive long said is its natural home . The watchs small screen means next-gen messaging and voice control would be transformative, rather than a nice option, while its position on the wrist makes it perfectly placed to be a virtual assistant. So far, the main barrier to the Apple Watch joining the AI party has been it comparative lack of processing power, and the new models coming in the fall are unlikely to change that. But according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman , watchOS 12 will see the Apple Watch outsource the AI work to a nearby iPhone, which is a smart stopgap solution until the hardware catches up. 3. The Babel fish becomes a reality The tech industry has long been fascinated by the Babel fish , a fictional creature which, in the Douglas Adams Hitchhikers Guide novels, sits in a persons ear and enables them to understand any language. If only the Babel fish were real. Well, it issort ofthanks to wireless earbuds with live translation software. Google has been offering this combination for years: the Pixel Buds (or indeed other earbuds paired with the Google Translate app) were capable of it back in 2017 , albeit with plenty of drawbacks. But were excited to see Apples attempt, which is expected to launch later this year as part of iOS 19 and an AirPods firmware update. Whether this feature will be available in the first versions of iOS 19 is unclear, but wed be very surprised if Apple doesnt spill some of the details at WWDC this June. Foundry 4. The most powerful Mac ever made WWDC is known as a software event. But when Apple does decide to launch some hardware in June, it doesnt mess around. It rolls out the big guns. The Mac Pro, the premium deluxe offering in Apples Mac line-up, was last updated two years ago: that was the M2 Ultra model, announced at WWDC 2023. Its slower than the Mac Studio and not all that faster than the maxxed-out MacBook Pro, so the next model should feature an M4 Ultra chip or something higher we havent seen before, outclassing even the M4 Max MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models that currently sit at the top of the range. The Mac Pro is the model to deliver unrivalled power for the creative professional users whom Apple has occasionally neglected, so saving it for a grand WWDC entrance makes sense. The Mac Pro doesnt get updated as often as other Apple products, and its possible well have to wait until later in 2025. But if the M4 Ultra Mac Pro does turn up at WWDC, itll instantly be the star of the show. 5. The Macs new Vision Speaking of the Mac Apple is certain to announce macOS 16 at WWDC 2025, and like iOS 19, its expected to feature a thoroughly redesigned interface. Sources suggest macOS will take its visual cues from Vision Pro, Apples groundbreaking mixed-reality headset, as the company looks to achieve more of a consistent UI across platforms. It will be fascinating to see how this fusion between Apples oldest and youngest product lines shakes out. Apple 6. News about new Siri Arguably the weakest element in Apples ecosystem, and certainly its highest-profile failure, is the lamentably inaccurate voice assistant Siri. An astonishing 14 years after it launched with the iPhone 4s, Siri shows no sign of getting any better, and sometimes seems to be getting worse. At last years WWDC, Apple promised to fix Siri by deploying the magic of Apple Intelligence. But the arrival of the new AI-powered Siri keeps getting delayed ; it didnt appear in Marchs iOS 18.4 update as expected, or even in Mays iOS 18.5. Hopefully, Apple will have some news for us in June, because Siri really needs to get better at its job. And while were on the sore topic of Siri, wed appreciate some (preferably realistic) announcements about the version of Siri after the new one: the true modernized, conversational version which is also known as LLM Siri . New Siri was supposed to be part of iOS 18, and LLM Siri part of iOS 19, but delays compound on delays and the whole thing keeps getting pushed back. Im excited to see these improvements, Apple, but please let us know whats going on. 7. Honesty And that leads me to the single thing I want most from WWDC25: pure, unfiltered honesty about the state of play at Cupertino. Whats been going wrong since last year? Why have so many projects been delayed? And is Apple Intelligence really as far behind other AI platforms as it seems to be? This might seem like a desperate long shot. The truth at a marketing event, what a fanciful notion! But Apple has some form here. When Apple Maps suffered disastrous teething pains, Apple admitted this and apologized . When creative pros were neglected, as I mentioned earlier, Apple admitted this and apologized . There is a chance, albeit a slim one, that well get some sort of mea culpa at WWDC. Every company makes mistakes. Announcing Apple Intelligence long before it was ready, and then selling iPhone 16 handsets off the back of features that wont have launched by the time the iPhone 17 comes out, was a big one, but it doesnt have to ruin Apples reputation. The cure is honesty. Explain what went wrong and why. Then be completely transparent about the features that will actually be ready in time for the iPhone 17. Confidence will returnbut not if the spin and bluster continue. Thats my wish list for WWDC 2025 . Join us on June 9 to see how much Apple delivers, and to read our coverage of all the announcements.

Apple Back to School 2025: When and what is Apples back to uni deal?

Macworld Apple holds a Back to School promotion every year (now known as the Higher Education Offer to avoid confusion because its only open to students once they enter higher education, and the institutions and teachers, not school-age children). As part of the deal, Apple offers an incentive with purchases of qualifying Apple products. Apples Back to School deal runs in various locations around the world during the summer months. The deal usually ends about a month after the first university semester/term begins in that country. Earlier in 2025 the offer ran in Australia , New Zealand , Brazil and South Korea . Australian and New Zealand students could get AirPods 4 with ANC or Apple Pencils for free when they purchased an iPad Pro or iPad Air (Pencil), or a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac (AirPods). The deal ran until March 13, 2025. Next it is the turn of North American students, with Apples Back to School promo starting in the U.S. and Canada in mid June. The promotion will start in July for U.K. and European students. Based on the southern hemisphere giveaway, does it follow that U.S., Canada and U.K students will also get free AirPods and Apple Pencils in the summer of 2025? AirPods were Apples student giveaway of choice a few years ago, but in recent times Apple has given away gift cards in those locations, while other European countries got AirPods. Could be moving back to the incentive of free AirPods and Apple Pencil (both of which are popular with students). Read on to find out when Apples Higher Education giveaway will start where you live and what the deal is likely to include. We also explain who qualifies and how to take advantage of Apples education deal. What is Apples Back To School offer? January-March 2025: AirPods or Apple Pencil in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and other southern hemisphere locations. June-October 2025: To be confirmed. Previously Apple Gift Cards in U.S., U.K, Canada. AirPods in Europe and India. For many years Apple gave away a pair of AirPods with qualifying sales of certain Macs and iPads as part of its education promotion, but in 2022 Apple stopped giving away AirPods in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia. Instead, Apple offered gift cards with qualifying purchases during the promotional period. Students could get different gift card denominations depending on the products purchased. Apple also offers gift cards during its Black Friday shopping event . With Apple switching back to AirPods in the Australian Back to Uni deal for 2025 it is possible that the company will revert back to AirPods later in 2025 when the same promotion is run in the U.S., U.K. and other northern hemisphere locations. Apple doesnt offer the same deal everywhere though. In parts of Europe and India, for the summer of 2024, the promotion allows shoppers to get discounted AirPods or Apple Pencil with qualifying purchases. There was a similar deal in January 2024 where those based in Brazil could claim free AirPods with a Mac or free Apple Pencil with their iPad purchase in January-March 2024. So Apple has a precedent of offering gift cards to some countries and AirPods and Pencils in others. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry This isnt the only education-related saving Apple offers. Apple doesnt only offer education-related deals during the summer months. All products sold to students via Apples Education Store include a discount all year round, so you can always make a saving on Apple products, as long as you qualify. The summertime education-focused deal is in addition to these year-long discounts Apple offers to students and education institutions. We explain everything you need to know about getting a discount, including how much you can save as a student and how to use Apples Education Store, in our Guide to shopping in the Apple Education Store. We also have advice about the Best Mac for Students and the Best iPad for Students . Apple Back to School Sale Dates 2025 Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Korea : January 8 to March 13 2025. U.S. & Canada : Apples Higher Education Offer started on June 20, 2024 and ran until September 30. Similar dates are likely in 2025. U.K. & Europe: The deal started on July 3 and ran until October 21, 2024. Similar dates are likely in 2025. India : The deal started on June 20 and ran until September 30, 2024. Similar dates are likely in 2025. The Higher Education deal runs at different times depending on which side of the Earth you are based. Apple runs the promotion at different times in different places due to differences in when the school year starts around the globe. Apple runs the promotion in the southern hemisphere in the first few months of the year. Hence, if you live in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Brazil Apples deal ran from January 8 to March 13, 2025. The same deal runs between June and late September/October in North America, and between July and October in Europe and the U.K. Apple Back to School Sale Australia/New Zealand/South America/South Korea 2025 January 8 to March 13, 2025 Complete The dates in Australia , New Zealand , Brazil , and South Korea correspond with the new school year there. In 2023 the deal ran from January 18 to March 13. In 2022 the deal ran from January 6 to March 14, 2022. In 2021 the sale ran from January 7 to March 16. In 2023 the deal started a little later on January 18. Apple Back to School Sale U.S. & Canada dates 2025 June 19 to September 29 Estimated In 2024 the promotion ran from June 20 to September 30. This start date in 2024 was a little later than in 2023 when the deal started on June 5 and ran until October 2 in North America, which was a longer period than traditionally. In 2022 the deal ran from June 24 to September 26, while in 2021 the deal ran from June 17 to September 27. In 2020 Apple launched the U.S. sale on 15 June with an end date set for 29 September, although Apple ended up extending the end date to October 12 instead, moving it to just a day before Amazons Prime Day, which took place over October 13-14, 2020. Apple Back to School Sale UK/Europe dates 2025 July 2 to October 20, 2024 Estimated The start date in 2024 was a little earlier than usual when it ran from July 3 to October 21. In 2023 the deal ran from July 13 to October 23. In 2022 Apples Higher Education Offer started on July 14 and ran until Monday, October 20. Apple U.K.s Back to School Sale in 2020 started on July 9 and lasted until October 29. Apple launched its 2019 sale on July 9, and its 2018 sale began on July 12. Apple Back to School Sale India dates 2025 June 19 to September 29 Estimated The Higher Education offer dates correspond to those in the U.S. and Canada. What is Apples education offer in 2025? Apple tends to either give away vouchers or AirPods with qualifying purchases. Read on to find out what Apples Back To School promotion is where you are. Apple U.S. & Canada In the summer of 2024, U.S. and Canadian students could get gift cards with the following qualifying Apple purchases. We expect similar in 2025, although Apple may revert to AirPods as it did in Australia. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get a $150 Apple gift card. Buy a Mac mini and get a $100 Apple gift card. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get a $100 Apple gift card. The terms and conditions of the deal are here: U.S . Apples education discounts are available all year round. Visit the U.S. Education Store and Canada Education Store for more information. U.K. In summer 2024 Apple offered the same deal as the U.S. and Canada in the U.K. We expect similar in 2025, although Apple may revert to AirPods as it has in Australia. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get a 120 Apple gift card. Buy a Mac mini and get a 80 Apple gift card. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get a 80 Apple gift card. The voucher values were lower than summer 2023 when students could get the following with qualifying Apple purchases. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get a 130 gift card. Buy a Mac mini and get a 100 gift card. Buy a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 11-inch iPad Pro, or iPad Air and get a 100 Apple gift card. The terms and conditions of the deal are here: U.K . Apples education discounts are available all year round. Students and educators need to log in via UNiDAYS website to see the offers. Educational Store discounts are usually up to 280 for U.K. students. See Apples terms and conditions . Europe In (most of) Europe in 2024 Apple gave shoppers a promotional discount on a pair AirPods or Apple Pencil with qualifying product purchases. We expect similar in 2025. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get 199 off AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy a Mac mini and get 149 off AirPods 2nd gen, AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get 149 off an Apple Pencil Pro or 89 off an Apple Pencil USB-C. French details here . German details here . Spanish details here . Italian details here . In the Netherlands Apple gave away gift cards. Details here . India In 2024 in India the Back to University deal was the same as in Europe: AirPods or Apple Pencil discounts. We expect similar in 2025. Buy an iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air and get 19900 off AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy a Mac mini and get 12900 off AirPods 2nd gen, AirPods 3rd gen, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Buy an 11-inch or 13-inch M4 iPad Pro or an 11-inch or 13-inch M2 iPad Air and get 11900 off an Apple Pencil Pro or 7900 off an Apple Pencil USB-C. Details here . Australia and New Zealand The deal started on January 8 and ran to March 13. The offer was as follows: A$299 off AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac A$299 off AirPods Pro 2 with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac A$299 off AirPods Max with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac A$199 off Apple Pencil Pro with iPad Pro or iPad Air A$199 off Apple Pencil (USB-C) with iPad Pro or iPad Air 20% off AppleCare+ is also available The AirPods 4 with ANC cost A$299. AirPods Pro 2 are A$399 and AirPods Max are A$899. So students need to spend A$100 to get AirPods Pro 2 and A$699 to get the AirPods Max. The Apple Pencil Pro costs A$199 and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is A$119. When the deal kicked off in Australia in early 2024 the offer included free Apple Gift Cards. In 2024 Students could get a free gift card with the following purchases: AU$240 with a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac AU$160 with a Mac mini AU$160 with an iPad Air or iPad Pro AU$120 with an iPad 10th Gen 20% off AppleCare+ is also available Visit Apple Australias website for more information. The terms and conditions of the deal in Apple Australia are here . There were similar gift voucher savings in New Zealand . Brazil and South Korea In Brazil and South Korea Apple gave away AirPods with Mac purchases and Apple Pencil with iPad purchases from January to March 13, 2024. The deal was the same in 2025. Which products are part of Apples Education offer? Qualifying purchases for Apples deal in January 2025 include: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iPad Pro and iPad Air. Qualifying products may differ depending on whether Apple has recently updated them. For example, over Black Friday Apple offers gift cards with select purchases, but its newest products are always left out of the deal. Hence, if Apple has just updated the iPad or Mac you want to buy you may not be able to get the vouchers or other gift alongside your purchase. Qualifying purchases for Apples deal in 2024 included: iMac 24inch, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPad Pro 11- and 13inch, iPad Air 11 and 13-inch. (In Australia in early 2024 the iPad 10th generation was included, but this wasnt the case later in 2024). In summer 2023 qualifying purchases included: iMac 24inch, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iPad Pro 12.9inch, iPad Pro 11inch, and iPad Air. Students can also take advantage of a reduced subscription to Apple Music with which they get access to Apple TV+ when they buy an Apple product. Read: How to get the student deal for Apple Music and free Apple TV+. How to get Apples Back To School deal As long as you are based in an area where Apple is running the deal at the time of your purchase, and are a student in higher education, or about to start higher education, you can qualify for Apples Higher Education deal and get gift cards with your purchase. There are more details about who the deal applies to below. Note that if you qualify you are able to get discounts all year round by shopping in the Apple Education Store, so you dont need to shop during the Back to Uni deal period to get a bargain. You can also get discounts on other products not included in the offer (although there is no education discount for the iPhone). In the U.S. you need to visit Apples U.S. Education Store, but logging on from your university network may make the process easier. In the U.K. you can visit the U.K. Education Store , but you will also need to verify your student or staff status with UNiDAYS . Go to the Apple Education Store for other regions using the links below: Canada Australia New Zealand Brazil South Korea India France Germany When you make yourpurchase you will be able to request the Apple Gift Card or discount depending on your location. Who can get Apples Back to School deal? If you are registered at a higher education facility (thats post-K12 education: universities and colleges) you will qualify for the free AirPods deal as well as Apples usual education discount. Employees of these institutions can also qualify. If you are a parent buying for your student offspring then you can also qualify. Here are Apples Ts&Cs for the U.S . Alternatively, if you are an employee of a public or private K-12 institution/school in the U.S. or Canada you are also eligible. Apples Education pricing isnt available to parents with kids at school, but a homeschool teacher can qualify. Even when Apple isnt running the Back to School Deal students and education institutions can still take advantage of its standard educational pricing on its Educational Pricing page ( U.S. here / U.K. here ). How much can you save with Apples education pricing? Students can save up to $200/220 on Macs and up to $100/100 on iPads at any time of the year. More here: How to get an Apple student discount at Apples Education Store. Which iPads are included in Apples Back to School deal? You can get discounted Educational Pricing on all iPads if you qualify, you just wont be able to get the freebie unless it is one of the models mentioned below. Because Apple updated the standard iPad and iPad Air earlier in 2025 it is possible they wont be included in the deal for northern hemisphere locations. J une/July 2024: U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, India, etc. M4 iPad Pro (could be the same for 2025) M2 iPad Air (could be M3 model for 2025) Its notable that Apple didnt include the cheaper iPad 10th gen in the 2024 deal (although it did in Australia earlier that year). The iPad mini was also omitted. Its not clear if Apple will include these popular iPads in the deal. January 2025: Australia/New Zealand/Brazil, etc M4 iPad Pro M4 iPad Air The iPad could be a good partner to have at university. Britta OBoyle If you dont qualify for the education pricing we have a separate guide on where to get the best deals on the iPad . For advice about which iPad to buy read: Which iPad is best for students . For more advice read Best iPad 2025. Which Macs are included in Apples Back to School deal? Not every Apple product you can buy in the Education Store is included in the promotion. Apple doesnt usually offer incentives to buy the newest Apple products. Because Apple updated the MacBook Air to an M4 in March it may not be included. You can take advantage of education pricing for all Macs all year round. June/July 2024: U.S., Canada, U.K., Europe, India, etc. M3 MacBook Air (could be M4 model for 2025) M3 MacBook Pro (could be M4 model for 2025) M3 iMac (could be M4 model for 2025) M2 Mac mini (could be M4 model for 2025) January 2025: Australia/New Zealand/Brazil, etc M3 MacBook Air M4 MacBook Pro M4 iMac A MacBook Air is a good choice for students. Foundry If you dont qualify for an education discount have a look at these round-ups of the best deals on a new Mac: Best MacBook Pro deals MacBook Air deals Mac mini deals Best iMac deals Best Mac Studio deals We also have this advice about which Mac is best for students . And for more help read the low down on the Best Mac 2025 .

Soundcore AeroClip review: Clip-on open-ear earphones

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Decent sound Good fit even during sports Long battery life Cons Microphone sounds a little dark LDAC unavailable with Apple devices Our Verdict The AeroClip impresses with its very balanced and good sound tuning for headphones that rest on the ear. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $169.99 Best Prices Today: Soundcore Aeroclip Retailer Price $129.98 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Soundcore $170 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The AeroClip from Soundcore look like two cherries on a small branch, but the two small housings contain high-quality technology. Among other things, some 12-millimeter drivers support high-resolution audio via LDAC, but only AAC via Bluetooth 5.4 when connected to Apple devices. Thanks to the open-ring design, people who wear glasses have no problems wearing open-ear headphone like the AeroClips. The right/left detection is better recognzable than with some other small headphones thanks to a colored circle. However, there is room for improvement here too, for example red for right and blue for left. The AeroClip is controlled via touch operation with the wide bracket that connects the two ends. As the bracket is easy to reach, the operation is very safe. Soundcore has also thought things through here: there is no command for single tapping, only for double and triple tapping, so operating errors are minimized. Commands such as playback control, volume, and Siri can be assigned via the app. In addition to the control settings, you can also deactivate the dual connection to another audio device or select the sound effects. Two microphones with AI support aim to ensure better sound when making calls. The battery promises a maximum of eight hours of music enjoyment, and the charging box can be used to charge the AeroClip three times before it needs to be returned to the charger. A ten-minute quick charge provides 30 minutes of playing time. A USB-C port is available for charging the charging case, not inductive charging. The IPX4 splash water protection is ideal for sports or use on the beach. Sound check with different music genres and films The sound of voices, such as in films or tutorials, is very convincing, with good sharpness and excellent intelligibility. This also applies to music, which sounds surprisingly lively for Bluetooth headphones. Take our first track, Getting Away With It by Electronic, for example. Even though the bass isnt very deep, its fun to listen to. The positive results continue when we switch to the rocking pop music of Depeche Mode. The song Going Backwards also convinces with its bass at the beginning. However, you cant really relax while listening to it; the AeroClip struggles with the mix and it sounds a little strained. The AeroClip on the studio album Memento Mori manages this much better. Soundcore has found an excellent balance between lively highs and decent bass. Should you buy the Soundcore AeroClips? The AeroClip impresses with its very balanced and good sound tuning for headphones that rest on the ear.

Apple AI glasses better made than Metas now on tap for 2026

Macworld WWDC may be just around the corner, but Apple is already looking ahead to 2026. And its going to be a big yearalong with a folding phone and OLED MacBooks, Apple is also planning to launch a brand new wearable powered by Apple Intelligence. Apple has big plans to release smart glasses in the second half of 2026, according to a new report by Bloombergs Mark Gurman. The glasses will be similar to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses that have a built-in camera for taking pictures, shooting video, and analyzing images, open-ear speakers, and a microphone for voice commands. Gurman states that the glasses will be similar to the Ray-Ban Metas but better made. It will also be able to handle tasks such as phone calls, music playback, live translations, and turn-by-turn directions. He also said that large quantities of prototypes will be ready by the end of this year. Eventually, the glasses would support augmented reality, where digital content is superimposed on what the user sees, but those features are years away. The report comes a day after OpenAI announced a major deal to acquire an AI startup company established by Jony Ive, Apples former design chief, who is currently running design firm LoveFrom. The deal was struck to deliver Open AI-based products , which would compete with Apple. Google also announced plans to deliver Gemini-based smart glasses. However, Gurman reports that while Apples smart glasses will rely on AI-based features, people within Apple expressed concern that the companys mishandling of AI development will hinder the ability to develop the product. Apples Visual Intelligence , introduced with iOS 18.2, can provide information based on a visual examination of what is seen through an iPhone camera, but it relies heavily on ChatGPT. Apple will want to be able to use its own AI technology instead for the smart glasses, so a revamped Siri needs to come first. Gurman also reported that Apple has scrapped plans to equip the Apple Watch with cameras. The plan was to use the camera for AI-based features. Apple is reportedly continuing with the development of camera-equipped AirPods .

Massive data breach exposes swath of unencrypted Apple ID logins

Macworld Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler reported on Thursday about finding a publicly exposed database [that] was not password-protected or encrypted and contained over 184 million unique usernames and passwords for services from Facebook, Instagram, Microsoft, Roblox, Snapchat, and more. A report by Wired on Fowlers findings states that login information for Apple, as well as Amazon, Nintendo, Snapchat, Spotify, Twitter, WordPress, Yahoo, banks, health services, government portals, and more was also found in the database. Folwer was unable to determine the purpose of the database, and he reported it to the hosting provider, which then restricted public access to it. He was also unable to determine how long the database was publicly available or who had used it. Fowler was able to authenticate the information in the database by using some email addresses that he found and identifying himself as a researcher investigating a data breach. As Fowler explains, the breach exhibits multiple signs that the exposed data was harvested by some type of infostealer malware, which usually targets credentials (like usernames and passwords) stored in web browsers, email clients, and messaging apps. As for how the data was collected, Fowler stated that cybercriminals use a range of methods to deploy infostealers. How to protect yourself Never open links in emails or texts you receive from unknown and unexpected sources. If you get a message that looks like it is from an entity that you do business with, check the senders email address and inspect the URL carefully. If you see a link or button, you can Control-click it, select Copy Link, and then paste it into a text editor to see the actual URL and check it. Phishing attacks often involve a user inadvertently visiting a website with a mistyped URL. So verify the URL you have typed into your browser. Bookmark the sites you visit frequently so you dont have to type in the URL every time. In some instances, you can use a search engine, type the name of the place you want to visit, and then click on the link after looking at the URL it goes to. For example, type Macworld into the search engine you use, and then click on the link thats designated at www.macworld.com. This way isnt as efficient, but if you make a typo, youll see it in the search and Google will steer you in the right direction. To protect yourself from malware, avoid downloading software from repositories such as GitHub and other download sites. Apple has vetted software in the Mac App Store and is the safest way to get apps. If you prefer not to patronize the Mac App Store, then buy software directly from the developer and their website. If you insist on using cracked software, you will always risk malware exposure. Apple releases security patches through OS updates, so installing them as soon as possible is important. Its also important to update the apps on your Mac, which you can do through the App Store or through the apps settings. Macworld has several guides to help, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software , a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans , and a comparison of Mac security software .

Apple job posting confirms that a Calendar revamp is in the works

Macworld Among the rumors weve heard about the upcoming iOS 19 reveal at WWDC25 next month is a Calendar app revamp. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported on it but offered no details, and a couple of weeks ago, MacGeneration confirmed that Apple acquired Mayday Labs last year, makers of the Mayday calendar app, which used AI to help you organize, protect, and manage your day before it was shuttered last May. Further confirmation on a new Calendar was spotted by Macworld contributor Filipe Esposito , who noticed a job posting for a Senior Software Engineer, Calendar Experience . The posting, which was listed on April 29, states that Apple is looking for candidates to join a team that will reimagine what a modern calendar can be across Apples platforms. Thats pretty much a confirmation from Apple that Calendar is undergoing a dramatic revamp. Now the speculation switches from whether Calendar will be revamped in the first place to what it will look like and how it will work. Will Maydays interface simply replace the Calendar apps UI, or will Apple incorporate Mayday features and maintain the classic Calendars look? As for those features, Mayday Labs Jeremy Bell is keen on AI, stating that AI assistants will usher in a new era of personal productivity and fulfillment. Some of the features Mayday offered included a Calendar Shield that blocked your calendar when you are overbooked, and AI-Schedule Tasks , where the software would suggest the optimal time to focus on that task, automatically blocking out a slot in your calendar. Another feature of the Mayday calendar was the ability to find schedule conflicts and provide insight on rescheduling. Those all sound like Apple Intelligence features that could be unveiled at WWDC. A new AI-infused calendar app might not be the kind of AI that gets all the headlines , but its the type of features Apple excels at, as Bell puts it, ones that automate the mundane. With rumors that WWDC probably wont feature the major Siri AI overhaul thats long overdue, Apple will likely opt to showcase smaller features that make our devices easier to use. Apple will kick off WWDC with a keynote on June 9 to showcase the new features of iOS, macOS, and the rest of its operating systems.

Its the best time to get the Apple Watch Series 10 in the best color for the best price

Macworld With the weather getting warm, its time to get more active. With an Apple Watch Series 10 on your wrist, you can help keep track of absolutely everything, from your heart rate to the number of steps you take. And it just so happens that its on sale today for its lowest price ever: Amazon is selling the Apple Watch Series 10 in gorgeous Jet Black for $299 , a savings of $100 off its MSRP. The 46mm model is also on sale for $100 off ($329). The Apple Watch Series 10 is absolutely gorgeous and features a stunning display with crisp colors and excellent brightness. When we reviewed it, we gave the Apple Watch a 4.5-star rating and our Editors Choice award, appreciating the IP6X dust resistance and the fact that you can even wear it when diving. The 18-hour battery life is enough to get you through the day, and once you set it down to charge, it will only take a few minutes or so to get through a nights sleep or the rest of a day. There are a ton of extra features to enjoy thanks to a set of powerful sensors that can run ECGs, track heart rate and temperature, deliver overnight health metrics, and much more. The Apple Watch Series 10 also comes with Fall Detection and knows if youve been involved in a car crash, so it can call for help. So go grab the Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 before this Amazon deal vanishes forever. Save 25% on the Apple Watch Series 10 Buy now at Amazon

Free streamings hidden dangersand how to protect your Mac

Macworld Streaming services have become the most popular way to watch movies and TV on a Mac. But rising prices and the number of services now available can make it hard to afford all the subscriptions required to deliver the content you want to watch. That means its tempting when you come across websites like MyFlixer, which offers loads of AAA titles at no cost. Of course, theres no such thing as a free lunch, and you should always be deeply suspicious of sites that contain free versions of premium content. MyFlixer has already been banned or blocked in several countries, but mirror sites reappear quickly, making it hard to stop people accessing the portal. Its not just the fact that the content is provides is very likely pirated, but more importantly you could soon find yourself with intrusive ads or even malware on your system that puts your personal information at risk. If you are going to continue to use MyFlixer or the like, heres how to protect yourself and your Mac from the dangers that lurk on free streaming sites. PROMOTION CleanMyMac: Total Cleanup and Protection CleanMyMacs advanced malware protection safeguards your Mac from viruses, miners, keyloggers, Trojans, and other threats. MacPaw, the developer behind CleanMyMac, regularly updates its custom-built malware database to ensure your Mac machine is always protected against the latest and emerging threats. Get CleanMyMac What is the MyFlixer virus? Just visiting the MyFlixer site shouldnt immediately infect your Mac with malware. But youll very quickly be prompted to accept new content alerts, push notifications or browser extensions. If you do this, youll then be pestered by adware to download things like companion apps, which will most likely turn out to be malware. The approaches differ for each mirror-site, but the method of getting an infection onto your system is usually similar. If youve already fallen for the tricks the sites employ, then youll need to clean up your browser prompts, remove any extensions or apps, and use anti-virus software to restore your machine back to full health. Well cover all these steps below so that you fix the problems that can be caused by using MyFlixer. How to remove the MyFlixer browser extension Its quite easy to remove the MyFlixer extension from your browser. Heres the methods needed for some of the most popular browers on macOS. How to remove the MyFlixer Safari browser extension Removing the MyFlixer Safari extension is easy and is the same way youd remove any extension from the browser. Heres the steps: Open Safari Go to Safari > Settings then select the Extensions tab. In the left column, click on the Extension you want to remove Click Uninstall Screenshot Martyn Casserly How to remove the MyFlixer Chrome browser extension To remove the extension on your Chrome browser, heres what youll need to do: Open Chrome Click on the Extensions icon in the toolbar (looks like a puzzle piece) Find the extension you want to remove, then click the three dots to the right of its name Click Remove from Chrome Youll be asked to confirm your decision, so click Remove to finish. Screenshot Martyn Casserly How to remove the MyFlixer Firefox browser extension If you prefer to use Firefox, heres whats required to remove the extension: Open Firefox Click on the Extensions icon in the tool bar (looks like a puzzle piece) Click the Settings icon (Cog) to the right of the extension you want to remove Select Remove Extension Confirm your choice by clicking Remove Screenshot Martyn Casserly How to stop push notifications from MyFlixer With the extension removed, youll still need to deal with the push notifications that will flood you with adware and potential malware. Heres the steps to take on the most popular browsers. How to remove MyFlixer push notifications on Safari To stop notifications from MyFlixer, heres what youll need to do: Open Safari Select the Websites tab In the left column select Notifications In the main pane, select the MyFlixter option and set the drop-down menu to Deny Next, select the Pop-up Windows option from the left column Again, find the MyFlixer site and this time set the drop-down menu to Block Screenshot Martyn Casserly How to remove MyFlixer push notifications on Chrome The instructions are a little different on Chrome: Open Chrome Click the three dots icon in the top right corner Select Settings > Privacy and security Scroll down and select Site settings Find the MyFlixer site and click on it Adjust all the settings to Block Go back to the Site settings page and select Pop-up and Redirects In the Not allowed to send pop-ups or use redirects section, click Add Enter the web address thats sending you notifications and click Add Screenshot Martyn Casserly How to remove MyFlixer push notifications on Firefox Open Firefox Click on the three lines in the top right corner Select Settings From the left column choose Privacy & Security Scroll down to Permissions and click on the Settings button for Notifications Select the Block option for the MyFlixer website Click Save Changes Screenshot Martyn Casserly How to find and remove MyFlixer malware Clearing a virus or malware off your system isnt something you can really do yourself, so if you think your system may be compromised then youll need to use an antivirus program. Youll see plenty of free ones around, but most of these only scan for infection and wont remove anything until you move to the paid version which makes sense as it is providing a professional service. We recommend taking a look at our Best Mac Antivirus Software chart to see the products that weve tested and found to be the most reliable. A prime example is Intego Mac Security X9 , which tops the chart at the time of writing. You can find out more in our Intego Mac Security X9 review . Using this software should locate and remove any malware from your Mac that MyFlixer (or any other site) has managed to install on your system. You can read a more detailed explanation of the process in our How to remove a virus from your Mac tutorial. Petter Ahrnstedt While the immediate threat is dealt with by antivirus, there can still be files and other junk left behind, so wed also recommend you use a Mac Cleaner app to completely return your Mac to a pristine state. CleanMyMac is an excellent option, with a friendly and easy to understand interface that allows you to know what needs fixing without bombarding you with confusing information. You can find out more in our CleanMyMac review . Once you have these apps on your Mac, its a good idea to run them periodically to ensure your data is safe and that your system is running to its full potential. How to avoid the MyFlixer virus While free streaming sites might seem incredibly tempting, theres often a hidden cost involvedand it can be nasty. Basically, if youre being offered something that you know youd normally have to pay for, then the chances are its some kind of scam or delivery method for malware. So, to stay safe, dont visit those sites and certainly dont download anything from them. Thats just asking for trouble. If you really want to enjoy movies and TV shows on your Mac, then the safest way is through a paid service. It means youre not ripping off the people that work hard to create the content and arent playing into the hands of cybercriminals that want to steal your data. You dont have to sign up to all of them at the same time though. Most services offer free trials, so you could always work your way through those first. When youve exhausted those, simply sign up to one and binge what you want, then cancel your subscription and repeat the process on the next one. This way you minimise what you have to pay, while ensuring you dont get any dangerous malware on your computer. FAQ 1. What is MyFlixer? A site that offers free TV and movie streaming, often of pirated content from other studios. 2. Is MyFlixer safe? No, MyFlixer is not safe. There are usually prompts for notifications, extensions and downloads that can contain adware and malware. If you decide to use MyFlixer then you should take steps to ensure your computer and your data is protected. 3. Is MyFlixer legal? Distrubuting content for which the site doesnt have copyright is illegal. This is why the site has been banned or blocked in various countries. 4. How to block MyFlixer ads? Change the settings in your browser to block pop-up ads and notifications. 5. How to protect your Mac from MyFlixer virus? Install and use a quality antivirus app and run a Mac Cleaner app afterwards to remove any remaining artifacts from your system.

OnlyOffice for Mac review: The free Microsoft 365 alternative youre looking for

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Supports importing a wide range of file formats, including Apple iWork and Microsoft 365 Offers native apps on the most popular platforms, including desktop and mobile Packs numerous, handy templates, some of which are accessible offline Includes a plugin library to extend the apps functionality Cons Cant export new files in Apples Pages, Numbers, and Keynote formats Our Verdict Its a Microsoft 365 clone that supports the most popular document formats, packs in the commonly used editing features and its completely free, whats not to like? Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: OnlyOffice for Mac Retailer Price OnlyOffice Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Microsoft 365 (formerly Office), Google Docs, and Apples free iWork (which includes Pages, Keynote and Numbers) are arguably the three most popular productivity suites for Mac users. Microsofts option is perceived as the industry standard by many, and educational institutions tend to rely on its services. Google Docs, albeit web-based, has similarly been adopted by the masses due to its free offering and ease of real-time collaboration. iWork, although not as practical, also provides free and reliable tools for those in the Apple bubble. But what if none of these suites suit you? Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives, including free and open-source software (FOSS) with solid reputations. OnlyOffice is one of them, replicating the Microsoft 365 experiencesans the subscription fees. Is it any good, though? OnlyOffice first impressions OnlyOffice is available for free on macOS, iPadOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. For this review, I installed version 8.3.2 of the appthe latest at the time of writingon a MacBook Air M2 running macOS 15 Sequoia 15.4. While some App Store reviews suggest the iPhone and iPad clients suffer from irritating bugs, like random crashes, the Mac experience has generally been very stable on my end. In fact, I struggled to find a single issue with this app. Upon launching OnlyOffice, youll be greeted by a clean, ad-free screen showcasing its main sections. You can create a document (.docx), spreadsheet (.xlsx), presentation (.pptx), or PDF file from scratch or pick from the existing templates. Some templates are available for offline use while the rest require an active internet connection to download when creating a new file. These let you quickly compose an invoice, calendar, checklist, proposal, etc. Alternatively, you could launch an existing file stored locally on your computer or one of the supported cloud storage services , such as Nextcloud. Regardless of what you opt for, the app runs fluidly, and Ive yet to encounter my first serious bug. Foundry Documents In terms of layout and functionality, OnlyOffices document editor resembles Microsoft Word . You can adjust the font, colors, formatting, alignment, and more in supported files. You similarly get to insert shapes, tables, equations, symbols, etc. Some of the compatible formats include DOCX, DOC, TXT, HTML, and EPUB. Its worth noting that you seemingly cant export a file in Apples .pages format unless the original file was created in the Pages app. Nevertheless, you can import, edit, and save these proprietary files in OnlyOffice just fine. Foundry Beyond the fundamentals, you can protect document files, encrypt them, add your signature, view their word count, set the author, and so on. And if youve connected a compatible cloud service, you can collaborate remotely with other users to make edits in real time. One of my favorite features is the built-in plugin library that lets you rely on even more functionalities in a document. So, for example, you could add a third-party AI assistant to analyze your file and help you shape its content. Spreadsheets Likewise, OnlyOffices spreadsheet editor offers a Microsoft Excel -like experience. You can perform all of the actions youd expect from such software, including solving formulas, building dynamic charts, analyzing data, and illustrating. You can import XLXS, XLTX, CSV, OTS, and Numbers files, while exporting, as mentioned above, excludes the .numbers format for non-Apple files. Foundry Presentations You guessed it, the presentation editor in OnlyOffice indeed mimics Microsoft PowerPoint . By default, youve got multiple slide layouts that let you easily arrange the desired content, be it text or media, on the screen. The app also offers a plethora of animation and transition styles, letting you bring your work to life. Like the known alternatives, you can also set custom backgrounds, insert links, graphs, and photos, and preview the final result. Some of the formats you can import include PPTX, PPT, PPSX, ODP, and Keynote. Foundry PDFs Last but not least, OnlyOffice includes a basic PDF viewer and editor. Unlike Apples native Preview app, OnlyOffice lets you actually tweak the content in a PDF document, so you can tweak the text and add shapes, drop-down menus, and fields for viewers to fill in. Thats in addition to the regular annotation tools, such as highlighting and doodling. Its certainly not as advanced as a dedicated, premium PDF editor. However, since OnlyOffice primarily acts as a free alternative to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, its certainly a welcome bonus perk that is reliable for basic PDF manipulation. Take a look to see hoe OnlyOffice compares to other PDF Editors in our round up of the Best PDF editors for Mac . We also evaluate some free PDF editors . Should you switch to OnlyOffice? As weve established, OnlyOffice is essentially a free Microsoft 365 clone. If you rely on Microsofts office suite and are tired of its recurring fees, then OnlyOffice could act as an excellent alternative. The app typically maintains the document formatting, so the layout should persist even if others view your files using different software. Given that OnlyOffice is free to use, features no ads, supports the most popular document formats, and packs the commonly used editing features, theres no harm in giving it a shot to check if it can successfully replace your existing productivity suite. Had my personal workflow extended beyond Apple devices, I would have certainly ditched iWork in favor of it.

Forget Philips Hue, this is the $15 Siri light bulb I cant live without

Macworld When you hear the term Siri smart home , you probably think of advanced gadgets and appliances that cost thousands of dollars and require tons of setup. It doesnt have to be that waymy favorite Apple smart home device costs just $15 and is as easy as scanning a QR code. As someone who bounces around from place to place, Nanoleafs plug-and-play smart bulbs have accompanied me for years without any hiccups. Setting up one of the bulbs is pretty Apple-esque. I merely screwed it into a regular lamp socket and scanned the printed QR code using Apples Home app. It pairs in seconds and immediately lets me change the lights color and intensity without even needing to download the Nanoleaf app (though its a good idea to install it for the occassional firmware update and to unlock additional features such as playlists, scenes, and motions that offer custom looks and so on). I can set up all sorts of automations for my Nanoleaf bulb without any additional hardware. Foundry You may be wondering why youd want to invest in this lesser-known brand when Philips Hue exists and is perceived by many Apple users as the best smart light. Philips undoubtedly puts out high-quality products, but I have two main problems with its Hue devices: pricing and automation. A pair of basic Nanoleaf smart color bulbs costs just $30, while Philips charges a whopping $99. Thats not to mention that Nanoleaf bulbs support automations out of the box through your existing HomeKit hub (Apple TV or HomePod), while Hue requires a proprietary Bridge, which costs another $60 as well as its own setup. So, for a fraction of the price and effort, youre getting a smarter, equally colorful bulb. Thanks to HomeKit automations, my bulbs automatically turn on when I arrive home after sunset. They turn off on their own whenever I leave the house. Ive also set a conditional automation that turns the bulbs on after sunset if Im at homeand it adapts to my location and season, sparing me from manually adjusting it throughout the year. And once Im in bed at night, I can just ask Siri to turn off the lights or alternatively use the Home apps Control Center toggle. Hands down, this $15 smart bulb has made my life a bit brighter. All without anything other than screwing it in.

Best Mac 2025: Every Apple Mac and MacBook compared

Macworld If youre wondering which Mac to buy, youve come to the right place. In our Mac buying guide, youll find everything you need to know about the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio, with expert buying advice to help you choose the machine (and configuration) thats right for you. Apple makes six different types of Mac: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, but within each of those categories there are variations in the size, specs, and features, so things can get pretty complicated. Thats where this guide comes in, helping you make the right decision so you can find the Mac that matches your needs, whether its the best value for money, the most powerful, the most portable, or a combination of all those things. Best Mac 2025: Mac & MacBook Buyers Guide Our top choice of Mac in 2025 is the MacBook Air because it offers a great combination of value for money in a compact package that will appeal to the typical Mac user. However, that may not be the best Mac for you if you need the most powerful Mac, in which case we would recommend the MacBook Pro which brings you all the power you could need in a portable form. If you dont need a laptop Mac there are some excellent options in Apples desktop range, with the Mac Studio providing the best value for money and saving thousands compared to a similarly specced Mac laptop. If a low budget option is what you are looking for then look no further than the Mac mini, which is the cheapest Mac at just $599/599. Below well take you through each Mac currently available from Apple, to give you an overview of whats on offer and what youve got to choose from. We also have additional advice for choosing the best Mac laptop in our comparison of the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro . 13-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) Best Mac for most users Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $929 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The 11-inch MacBook Air is Apples most affordable laptop, designed with portability in mind. Whats new? Apple introduced the M4 version of the MacBook Air in March 2025. As well as the M4 chip it features an improved camera, Thunderbolt 4 support, support for 32GB RAM, and a new Sky Blue color. Whos it for? If you are always on the go, dont want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and need a versatile computer that looks good, its a great choice at a great price. If you want a larger screen there is a 15-inch MacBook Air, which we discuss below. How much does the 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) cost? The entry-level 11-inch M4 MacBook Air costs $999/999, which is great news because in previous years to get the latest chip you had to spend $1,099/1,099. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with even more memory or storage. What are the specifications? The specs for the M4 MacBook Air offer an improvement on the previous generation. The MacBook Air now ships with at least 16GB RAM and we recommend avoiding older stock with just 8GB RAM. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $999/999. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,199/1,199. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,399/1,399. Additional options: Up to 32GB memory, 2TB storage. What are display specifications? The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina on the M4 MacBook Air display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness. The MacBook Air M4 can support two external displays. How do I connect stuff? The M4 MacBook Air models are the first MacBook Air models to support Thunderbolt 4, which means that they can now support a dual monitor set up . If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apples $19 / 19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters . The MacBook Air has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network. It provides built-in Bluetooth (5.3) for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter. How fast is it? When we tested the M4 MacBook Air we were impressed by the Geekbench 6.4 results. It was much faster than the M3 MacBook Air and the M4 chip even beats the M3 Pro in some tests as you can see in our Mac processor benchmarks . If you are upgrading from an old Mac especially if it is one with an Intel chip you will see a big difference. Any other considerations? The MacBook Air should be more than fast enough for general-purpose use. The only issue is that, because it doesnt have a fan, it may slow down during long processing sessions to keep cool. So if you are likely to be video editing or compiling code the MacBook Pro with its fan is a better choice. Also note that (as with almost all Macs) its impossible to upgrade the storage or memory after purchase, so you should buy the model with the largest amount of storage and memory you can afford. Why we recommend the 13-inch MacBook Air: The MacBook Air is a great choice for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person. We compare the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro separately. Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025) Best value big screen Price When Reviewed: $1,199 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1075.74 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 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 What is it? The 15-inch MacBook Air is essentially identical to the 13-inch model above aside from the bigger screen and six-speaker system rather than four speakers. Surprisingly, battery life isnt better on the 15-inch, despite the bigger battery. Whats new? The M4 MacBook Air arrived in March 2025. Like the 11-inch version it features an improved camera, Thunderbolt 4 support, support for 32GB RAM, and a new Sky Blue color. Whos it for? The 15-inch MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who wants a big-screen laptop without having to spend a fortune. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models cost considerably more than the 15-inch MacBook Air does. Its a great choice for anyone who is always on the go due to its lightweight design. How much does the 15-inch MacBook Air (M4) cost? With the introduction of the M4, Apple reduced the price of the 15-inch model to $1,199/1,199 from $1,299/1,299. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with up to 32GB memory and 2TB storage. What are the specifications? The specifications of the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air are generally the same as the 13-inch model, expect there is no 8-core GPU option here. You are essentially paying $200/200 more for the bigger screen. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,199/1,199. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,399/1,399. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports: $1,599/1,599. Additional options: Up to 32GB memory, 2TB storage. What are display specifications? The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display has a native resolution of 2,8801,864 and 500 nits brightness. The MacBook Air M4 can support two external displays. How do I connect stuff? The M4 MacBook Air models support Thunderbolt 4 and can now support a dual monitor set up . For USB-A devices you need a USB-C to USB adapter (Apple sells one for $19 / 19 ), or a USB-C hub with USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters . Theres a Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network and Bluetooth 5.3. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter. How fast is it? This is the same M4 as found in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, so you can expect similar performance. Indeed, in our tests we found the M4 to be faster in some benchmarks than the M3 Pro. Any other considerations? The Air doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, so it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code. If thats the kind of work you intend to do, a MacBook Pro would be a better option. Also note that you wont be able to update RAM or storage later, so get as much as you can afford. Why we recommend the 15-inch MacBook Air: Starting at $1,199/1,199, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a much more affordable Mac laptop than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599/1,599, so if you want your screen to be bigger than 13 inches, and you dont need the power of a MacBook Pro for the kind of work you do, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a great option. Read our full Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) Powerful Mac laptop for the masses Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,399 View Deal $1399 View Deal $1436.17 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? There are three distinct types of MacBook Pro, the M4 model discussed here, and M4 Pro and M4 Max models we will look at separately. Like its more powerful siblings, the M4 MacBook Pro has an HDR ProMotion display, which the MacBook Air lacks. The MacBook Pro offers more ports than the MacBook Air: HDMI and SDXC slots. The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers the best battery life of any Mac laptop. Whats new? In October 2024 Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip. Aside from a better chip, RAM was increased from 8GB to 16GB (and now supports up to 32GB). There were also camera improvements, slight battery life improvements, and it gained Thunderbolt 4 support. Whos it for? The 14-inch MacBook Pro is for a more demanding user than the MacBook Air. Its main benefit is the design allows for better cooling, which means that if you push the machine it wont slow down to avoid overheating. However, there are other MacBook Pros available from Apple (including a 16-inch model) that offer faster processors, so if you really need a powerful machine one of those might be more suitablewe discuss the M4 Pro and M4 Max models below. How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) cost? The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599. Theres another model available with twice the storage (1TB) for $200/200 more. What are the specifications? The specifications of the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro are similar to those of the M4 MacBook Air. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,599/1,599. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,799/1,799. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,999/1,999. Additional options: 32GB memory; up to 2TB storage What are display specifications? The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,0241,964 and 1,000 nits brightness, 1600 nits peak, 600 nits SDR brightness, and ProMotion for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP FaceTime camera which now features Centre Stage. How do I connect stuff? There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up from just two on the older model). These are compatible with USB-C (if you have wired devices that arent USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, youll need an adapter, we have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones youll need). The 14-inch MacBook Pro also comes with an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port also supports multichannel audio output. The 14-inch MacBook Pro also has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. How fast is it? The M4 MacBook Pro matches the specs of the M4 MacBook Air, but you can expect more out of the MacBook Pro just because it features a fan for cooling (the MacBook Air doesnt have the space for this). The M4 is an impressive chip, and in our benchmarks it scored better in some tests than the M3 Pro. However, if you need a really powerful Mac you should look to the M4 Pro or even the M4 Max. Any other considerations? As usual our advice is to max out the RAM (aka Unified Memory) and storage when you buy a Mac because you cant update it later on. At least Apple no longer sells an 8GB version. Why we recommend the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4): The 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $1,599/1,599, which is much more than the 13-inch MacBook Air at $1,099/1,099. However the $500/500 difference is misleading: when comparing like for like, the 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD costs $200/200 less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same 16GB memory and 512GB SSD. For that extra $200 you get a machine that is better suited to processor intensive work. Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) review 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) The most compact, portable workstation Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1766.11 View Deal $1,769 View Deal $1769 View Deal $1849 View Deal $1899 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 What is it? The 14-inch MacBook Pro can also be configured with an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, which are much more powerful than the standard chip in the M4 MacBook Pro. The Pro and Max MacBook Pro can support up to 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB memory and 8TB storage, for a seriously fast Mac laptop. Theres a larger 16-inch MacBook Pro with similar specs that we discuss below. Whats new? The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024. As well as more powerful chips, it brought better battery life, 24GB RAM as standard (up from 18GB), improved camera, and Thunderbolt 5. Battery is up from 18 hours to 22 hours for the M4 Pro (still 18 hours on the M4 Max). A fast charging feature allows the laptop to charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes, but you need to have the proper power adapter to do this. Whos it for? When Apple called these Pro laptops, they werent kidding. If your work is very demanding processing power, these laptops are happy to handle it. Work in pro-level software all the time? Get a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro. With either the M4 Pro or M4 Max processor, theyre the fastest laptops Apple has ever created. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is cheaper than the 16-inch model, so its a more budget-friendly choice, and if you pair it with an exteernal monitor the screen size isnt important. How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro cost? There are three configurations starting at $1,999/1,999. The ultimate option is the M4 Max version with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, and 1TB SSD, which costs $3,199/3,199. What are the specifications? Here are the standard configurations for the 14-inch MacBook Pro Apple M4 Pro, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 70W Power Adapter, $1,999/1,999. Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 96W Power Adapter, $2,399/2,399. Apple M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 96W Power Adapter, $3,199/3,199. Additional options: M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU; 36GB (now possible with Pro chip) 48GB, 96GB or 128GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD (with Max). What are display specifications? The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display hasnt changed from its native resolution of 3,0241,964, 254 pixels per inch, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. Youll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a refresh rate up to 120Hz. The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording. The notch does not affect the available screen areathe work area is a 16-by-10 space, while the screen surrounding the notch is considered extra space and is used to display the menu bar. How do I connect stuff? The 14-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. There are three Thunderbolt 5/USB C ports, an SDXC slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices, and an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector (the HDMI port supports multichannel audio output). How fast is it? Apple built the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with pro users in mind and it shows in the performance. Now that Apple has introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max you can enjoy the fastest Mac laptops Apple has ever made, although when it comes to graphics prowess the Max will always beat the Pro. So if you need the fastest then youll want to upgrade to the M4 Max which beats the M2 Ultra, only the M3 Ultra is faster than the M4 Max. Any other considerations? Our advice would be that if you are considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro because you need a powerful Mac then, ignore the $1,999/1,999 model in favor of the $2,399/2,399 model that has more CPU and GPU cores. If you dont need 1TB storage, save money by adding the M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, and 20-core GPU as a build-to-order option to the $1,999/1,999 model for an additional $200/200, bringing the price to $2,199/2,199. Also note that for fast charging you need a 96W adapter. Why we recommend the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or M4 Max): If you want a laptop that can handle any task you throw at itand you dont have a constraining budgetyou want a MacBook Pro. The only reason not to buy the 14-inch M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro would be if you saw a good deal on the M3 Pro/M3 Max versionweve been seeing some excellent deals and price cuts on the older models, just remember that there was less RAM in those model (18GB rather than 24GB at the entry-level). 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024) Ultimate big screen workstation Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2,229 View Deal $2259 View Deal $2269 View Deal $2279 View Deal $2399 View Deal $2499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro offers a similar set of specs and configuration options as the 14-inch MacBook Pro (above), but it has a higher price, a bigger screen, and better battery life (24 hours, up from 22 hours on the predecessor). Whats new? The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024. Along with more powerful chips, it offers better battery life (up to 24 hours), minimum 24GB RAM (up from 18GB), improved camera, and Thunderbolt 5. Whos it for? This is Apples largest pro laptop and its designed for people who need a portable Mac to do work that demands extreme processing power. You could save some money with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but if you need a big screen on your laptop this is the Mac for you. Youll also benefit from longer battery life. Configured with the M4 Max this is the fastest and most powerful laptop Apple has ever created. How much does the 16-inch MacBook Pro cost? There are four standard configurations starting at $2,499/2,499 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU and 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD. The ultimate option is a $3,999/3,999 M4 Max with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB RAM and 1TB SSD. You can also add more RAM and up to 8TB SSD. What are the specifications? Here are the standard configurations for the 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2024. Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $2,499/1,299. Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $2,899/2,899. Apple M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $3,499/3,499. Apple M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $3,999/3,999. Additional options: 48GB, 64GB, or 128GB unified memory. Up to 8TB SSD. What are display specifications? The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,4562,234, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness, and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. Youll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording. The notch does not affect the available screen areathe work area is a 16-by-10 space, while the screen surrounding the notch is considered extra space and is used to display the menu bar. How do I connect stuff? The 16-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. There are three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports that are compatible with USB-C. If you have wired devices that arent USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, youll need an adapter. We have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones youll need. Unfortunately, be prepared to shell out a good amount of extra cash. These laptops also come with an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port supports multichannel audio output. How fast is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro models were built with pro users in mind so you can expect excellent performance. Your software will be able to take full advantage of the CPUs multiple cores. If you are a professional, youll benefit from the M4 Pro. If you want the ultimate Mac, the M4 Max beats the M2 Ultra, only the M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio is faster than the M4 Max. Any other considerations? Look out for deals and price cuts on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models, but note that there is more RAM in the newer models (24GB up from 18GB for the entry-level M4 Pro). Why we recommend the 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or M4 Max): The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a powerful workstation that will meet the needs of the most demanding user. Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024) review Mac mini (M4/M4 Pro, 2024) Small and mighty, the best Mac desktop Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $549 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $729 View Deal $734.9 View Deal $744 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The Mac mini was already Apples smallest desktop Mac, but 2024s M4 and M4 Pro models are even smaller following a redesign that means it now measures 5 inches by 5 inches, down from 7.75 inches by 7.75 inches. It offers a nice combination of speed and, at just $599/599, affordability. Its more than fast enough for general-purpose use, in fact, its multi-core speed is so good that if you use a professional app like a video editor, 3D software, or developer tools, the Mac mini can handle it, no problem. Whats new ? The Mac mini with M4 and a Mac mini with M4 Pro were introduced in October 2024. Along with the faster processors Apple redesigned the Mac mini, so its now even smaller. Whos it for? Because of its price and performance, the Mac mini is a great Mac for just about anybody. It makes for an ideal primary Mac for a home or small office. Professionals on a budget will be satisfied with the Mac mini. If youre switching from a PC, you can use your PCs keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini. The Mac mini is also ideal as a secondary Mac in your home, and it can integrate into your home entertainment center. How much does the Mac mini cost? There are three standard configurations starting at $599/599 for the Mac mini M4. At the top of the range is an M4 Pro Mac mini with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD which costs $1,399/1,399. The price is about $1,000/1,000 less for a similarly specced MacBook Pro, although, in each case, the MacBook has a bigger SSD. What are the specifications? Apple sells three Mac mini models. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $599/599. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $799/799. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $999/999. Apple M4 Pro, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $1,399/1,399. Additional options: M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 16-core GPU; 48GB or 64GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD. The Mac mini does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. How do I connect stuff? Like Apples other Macs, the Mac mini has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The M4-based Mac minis have three Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, while the M4 Pro-based Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 5 ports. All Mac minis also offer an additional two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a gigabit ethernet port. They no longer offer USB-A ports. To connect a display , you can use the HDMI port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. How fast is it? The M4-based Mac minis are very fast, and offer the best performance-to-price ratio of any Mac that Apple offers. The Mac mini with M4 Pro offers the same 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, and 512GB storage that is found in the M4 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,399 rather than $1,999 which represented a huge saving and a great way to get a powerful Mac without spending a fortune. Any other considerations? The Mac mini, since it doesnt include a screen, also doesnt feature a camera, so you will need a separate webcam for conference calls. There is also no microphone integrated. Why we recommend the Mac mini (M4): The Mac mini is an excellent machine for most Mac usersnew or experienced, professional or general consumer. Plus the price is excellent: if youre on a budget, its a great choice, especially if you already have a spare keyboard, mouse, and display. Read our full M4 Pro Mac mini review Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025) A powerful desktop Mac Price When Reviewed: $1,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1999 View Deal B&H $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The Mac Studio is the perfect compromise, offering the ultimate in power for less money. Its a desktop Mac that offers the workstation-quality chips of the MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price. All it lacks are the Mac Pros expansion options. Whats new? In 2025 Mac Studio gained an M4 Max and M3 Ultra option. This was a leap from the M2 Max and M2 Ultra in the predecessor. There isnt a M4 Ultra option (Apple may be reserving this for the Mac Pro). Whos it for? The Mac Studio with M4 Max is for the user who wants a lot of processing power in a desktop Mac for a bargain price. It is the cheapest way to get M4 Max chip the equivalent MacBook Pro costs $3,199/3,199, albeit with 1TB instead of 512GB storage, while the Mac Studio starts at $1,999/1,999. Thats a huge $1,200 leap between machines, and even if you spent the extra $200 on storage youd still have a lot of money left over. How much does the Mac Studio cost? There are two standard configurations, an M4 Max and M3 Ultra (well look at the Ultra below). Prices start at $1,999/2,099 for the Mac Studio M4 Max with 32-core GPU and 512GB SSD. There are also build-to-order options for the M4 Max that include a 40-core GPU, up to 128GB Unified Memory, and 8TB SSD. What are the specifications? The Mac Studio uses either theM4 MaxorM3 Ultraprocessors. The standard configuration for the M4 Max is: Apple M4 Max SoC with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB of memory, 16-core Neural Engine; 512GB SSD, $1,999/2,099 Additional options: M4 Max SoC with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, up to 128GB unified memory, and up to 8TB SSD. The memory bandwidth of the M4 Max is 546GB/s compared to 400GB/s in the M2 Max model. How do I connect stuff? The M4 Max Mac Studio has the following ports: M4 Max: Four Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back; two USB-C ports on the front. SDXC Card slot on the front. Two USB-A ports. 10Gb ethernet. HDMI 2.0. 3.5 mm headphone jack (with advanced support for high-impedance headphones, a feature lacked by the M1-series models) 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 The Mac Studio does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. To connect to a network, you can use the built-in ethernet port, or you can use Wi-Fi, which comes standard. To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, eight 6K displays or four 8K displays thanks to Thunderbolt 5 on the 2025 model. How fast is it? The M4 Max is a fast chip and the Mac Studio with M4 Max is a powerful Mac at a very competitive price point. If you want something even faster you need to look to the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra (below). Any other considerations? The main disadvantage is that the Mac Studio relies on external connections for expandability. If you want a pro-level Mac with the ability to swap expansion cards you should look at Apple silicon-based Mac Pro below. Why we recommend the Mac Studio (M4 Max): The Mac Studio is ideal for users who use processor- and graphics-intensive apps, such as media production, software development, graphics software, and more. If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching progress bars while you work, youll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio. Read: Why Mac professionals should switch to a Mac Studio . The Mac Studio is the perfect compromise, offering the ultimate in power for less money. Its a desktop Mac that offers the workstation-quality chips of the MacBook Pro for a fraction of the price. Its more powerful (and more expensive) than the Mac mini, but lacks the Mac Pros expansion options. Read our full Apple Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025) review Apple 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024) A style icon for receptions and living rooms Price When Reviewed: $1,299 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,899 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1130.39 View Deal $1,149 View Deal $1149 View Deal $1247 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The iMac is what Apple is famous for, although the current design is as far removed from the original as you. can get. Its the Mac to have in a living room or an office reception somewhere you can show it off. Whats new? In October 2024 Apple introduced the M4 version of the 24-inch iMac. Little has changed since the redesign of 2021, which represented the first major update in more than a decade, with a cleaner design and a choice of seven bright colors (slightly lighter shades for 2024). Whos it for? The iMac is great for both novices and demanding users. It can handle general-purpose and heavy-duty tasks equally well, although those after a replacement for a 27-inch IMac or iMac Pro might want to wait to see if the rumored iMac Pro ever materializes, or settle for a Mac mini Pro (above) or Mac Studio (below). Its ideal for someone who needs to buy a complete computer setup (keyboard, mouse or trackpad, and display) and wants to maximize workspace efficiency. The 24-inch iMac is a design icon that will look great in any office. How much does the iMac cost? When the M4 iMac Apple dropped prices outside the U.S. The three standard configurations start at $1,299/1,299 for the entry-level model, $1,499/1,499 for the mid-range, and $1,699/1,699 for the top of the range. What are the specifications? The 24-inch iMac uses Apples M4 chip, the same M4 that features in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but in each case, there is half the storage and the price is $100 less. There are several configurations available as well as build-to-order options: Apple M4, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,299/1,299. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,499/1,499. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,699/1,699. Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,899/1,899. Additional options: 32GB memory; up to 2TB storage What are the display specifications? The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports the P3 wide color gamut, over a billion colors, 500 nits of brightness, and True Tone. Apple treats the display with an anti-reflective coating to help with readability. The display hasnt changed since the M1 model launched. How do I connect stuff? The $1,299 24-inch iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that also work with USB-C devices. The $1,499 and $1,699 iMacs have four Thunderbolt 4 ports (the previous generation had two Thunderbolt/USB 4 and two USB 3 ports). If you have a USB-A device, you need to buy an adapter, such as Apples ( $19 / 19 ). If you have multiple USB-A devices and other items, consider a Thunderbolt hub . The 24-inch iMac also has a headphone jack on the side. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are built-in. Apple doesnt put a gigabit ethernet port on the 24-inch iMacinstead, its on the power adapter. But that ethernet-equipped power adapter comes standard with the $1,499 and $1,699 models. Its not included with the $1,299 model, but you can select it as an option at the point of purchaseand yes, that means youll have to pay extra for it. How fast is it?: Since the 24-inch iMac has the same M4 as the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, its speed is very similar. That means its fast. Its got all the speed general consumers need, and it can handle pro applications with no problem. However, the $1,299 model has only one fan inside its body, while the $1,499 and $1,699 models have two fans. That means the high-priced models do a better job of keeping the internals cool. The $1,299 model may need to slow down its performance on heavy-duty tasks in order to maintain a proper temperature. Any other considerations? We feel that the iMac price is high compared to the specs on offer, but we do admire the design. We are holding out for a bigger screen. Why we recommend the iMac (M4): The iMac was greatly improved when Apple introduced the 24-inch model back in 2021, from the design to the display to its performance. But, we hope rumors that Apple may launch an iMac Pro model are true. If you are buying one the sweet spot is the $1,499/1,499 model, which gets you more ports, Touch ID, and ethernet. Read our full Apple iMac (M4, 2024) review Mac Studio (M3 Ultra, 2025) The ultimate desktop Mac right now Price When Reviewed: $3,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $3999 View Deal B&H $3999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? There is a configuration of Mac Studio that, like the Mac Pro, runs on Apples Ultra chips. The Ultra chip combines four of the standard M-series chips on one die for a super fast and ultra powerful system. Note that the Mac Studio features an M3 Ultra, not an M4 Ultra, and the M3 Ultra is faster and more powerful than the M4 Max. Whats new? In March 2025 Apple updated the Mac Studio to run on an M3 Ultra chip. The surprising thing about this is that Apple didnt jump straight to the M4 Ultra. No doubt Apple has a reason to choose to sell an M3 Ultra Mac Studio rather than an M4 Ultra Mac Studio (probably it doesnt want it to overshadow the Mac Pro when that model gets the M4 Ultra). The M3 Ultra is the fastest Mac processor Apple makes (until the M4 Ultra arrives at least). Whos it for? The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is for the user who wants the maximum processing power. It lacks the expansion options of the Mac Pro, but it brings all the power usually reserved for the ultimate Mac in a smaller and cheaper package. How much does the Mac Studio cost? The Mac Studio M3 Ultra with 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 32-Core Neural Engine and 1TB SSD costs $3,999/4,199. There are also build-to-order options that include a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, up to 512GB Unified Memory, and 16TB SSD. Fully maxed out a Mac Studio would cost $14,099/14,299. What are the specifications? The Mac Studio withMe Ultraprocessors offers these specs: Apple M3 Ultra SoC with a 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 64GB of memory, and a 32-core Neural Engine; 1TB SSD, $3,999/4,199 Additional options: M3 Ultra SoC with a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, up to 512GB unified memory, and up to 16TB SSD. The memory bandwidth of the M3 Ultra is 819GB/s compared to 800GB/s in the M2 Ultra model. The Mac Studio does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. How do I connect stuff? The Mac Studio has the following ports: M2 Ultra: Six Thunderbolt 5 ports. SDXC Card slot on the front. Two USB-A ports. 10Gb ethernet. HDMI 2.0. 3.5 mm headphone jack 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 To connect to a network, you can use the built-in ethernet port, or you can use Wi-Fi, which comes standard. To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, eight 6K displays, or four 8K displays to the M2 Ultra. How fast is it? The M3 Ultra Mac Studio is the fastest Mac Apple sells as of March 2025 and it does so at a very competitive price point. However, when the M4 Ultra arrives in the Mac Pro that will take the lead. Well be testing the M3 Ultra as soon as we can get our hands on the new Mac Studio. Any other considerations? Sharing the same chip as the Mac Pro made the Mac Studio the obvious choice for anyone who wanted a powerful Mac without having to remortgage their house. Now that the Mac Studio runs on an M3 Ultra while the Mac Pro still only offers the M2 Ultra (for now) the Mac Studio is the fastest ever Mac. Those who might have chosen the Mac Pro may opt instead for the Mac Studio, its one disadvantage being that it lacks the Mac Pros expansion options. Why we recommend the Mac Studio M3 Ultra: The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is ideal for users who use processor- and graphics-intensive apps, such as media production, software development, graphics software, and more. If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching progress bars while you work, youll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio. The only reason not to buy is if you want to wait to see what the Mac Pro with M4 Ultra offers, when, if ever, Apple launches it. Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023) The monster Mac Price When Reviewed: From $6,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $6999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Note: This model hasnt been updated since 2023. An update is expected at some time in 2025. See: M4 Ultra Mac Pro rumors . What is it? The Mac Pro is Apples workstation. Its designed for professionals who need a powerful and flexible machine. Apple took its time to update the Mac Pro with its own silicon, but in June 2023, three and a half years after the previous update, the company finally came up with the goods. We are now waiting for Apple up update it from the M2 Ultra to the M4 Ultra. Whos it for? The Mac Pro is designed for professionals who work with applications that use as many processing cores as possiblevideo-editing applications, image-editing software, 3D programs, audio editing, software developers, and the like. How much does the Mac Pro cost? The Mac Pro starts at $6,999/7,199 (which is up from the previous generations starting price of $5,999/5,499). Thats for the Tower version, there is also a Rack mount version that starts at $7,499/7,699. Those are the starting prices, you can choose various configuration options, such as the 76-core GPU and the 192GB unified memory and 8TB storage just as with the Mac Studio. A fully specced out Mac Pro Tower costs $11,799/11,999. What are the specifications? The specifications on offer are identical to the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra: Apple M2 Ultra SoC with a 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 64GB of memory, and a 32-core Neural Engine; 1TB SSD Additional options: M2 Ultra SoC with a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB unified memory, and up to 8TB SSD. How do I connect stuff? Mac Pro has the following ports: Six Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two USB-C ports on the top. Two USB-A ports. 10Gb ethernet. HDMI 2.0. 3.5 mm headphone jack (with advanced support for high-impedance headphones, a feature lacked by the M1-series models) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or the Thunderbolt ports. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays. To connect external devices, the Mac Pro has six Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, and dual 10Gb Ethernet. But the real draw for creative pros will be the seven full-length PCI Express gen 4 slots, one of which comes with an Apple I/O card installed. How fast is it? When it announced the model, Apple said the 2023 Mac Pro was up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model. It was impressive at the time, but the M2 Ultra has been superceeded by the M4 Max in our tests, and now that Apple has updated the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra you can expect even better performance from that model, which has the benefit of costing much less. Apple says the M2 Ultra Mac Pro can plan an unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video. Just imagine what the new Mac Pro M4 Ultra will be capable of. Macworlds buying advice: The Mac Pro provides the processing power that the most demanding users need. Were talking about production environments, like TV and audio recording studios, animation houses, and software developers. If you feel like you can never have enough power, youre probably the professional the Mac Pro is aimed at. But if you dont need the expandability then the Mac Studio will probably be adequate. If youre more of a prosumer than a professionalsomeone who is an expert Mac user, but doesnt use high-end appsthe Mac Pro is overkill. Youre probably not going to be able to take advantage of what the Mac Pro has to offer. Our recommendation is to wait until June 2025 for the long overdue M4 Ultra. For buying advice on the best Windows laptops , see our sister site PCWorld. FAQ 1. Whats best, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? We address this question in detail in our comparison of the MacBook Air vs Pro. Its really a question of price versus power. The Air is sufficient for most peoples needs, the Pro will give you that extra boost in terms of what the Mac is capable of. Buying an entry-level M4 MacBook Air for $999/999 will get you an excellent Mac laptop for less than a grand. If you want to spend less than that you may be able to find a discounted MacBook Air we round up the best MacBook Air deals regularly. If you want a larger screen, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a great option that is a lot cheaper than the smaller 14-inch MacBook Pro. The price of the M4 Pro and Max MacBook Pro models is high, but these models offer the kind of specs professional users, especially creatives, need, including support for more RAM, and more CPU and GPU cores. If you can afford to stretch to the M4 Max you will get the ultimate Mac without a doubt, but you need to be willing to make a significant investment. The choice between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro is all down to the screen size. The 16-inch models are more expensive, but once you spec them out in such a way to be comparable the price difference is minor. The bigger difference is between the Pro and Max processors. Other than speed, MacBooks with Max processors can connect up to four external displays (three over Thunderbolt and one over HDMI), while all M4 models now allow two external displays in addition to the laptop screen. (There are workarounds if you need to connect more screens). 2. Should I upgrade from my Intel Mac? We are now more than four years into Apples transition from Intel processors to its own silicon that includes CPU, GPU, and unified memory. The transition began with the introduction of the M1 in November 2020. Since June 2023 every Mac Apple sells uses Apples own chips rather than Intel processors. If youve yet to upgrade your Intel Mac to one powered by Apples silicon what are you waiting for? If you are concerned that a must-have app doesnt run on an M-series Mac, consider finding a new app because the performance gains are tremendous. Another good reason to update your Intel Mac is that it is unlikely to be supported by Apple for much longer in terms of security updates. With the arrival of macOS Sequoia, the number of supported Intel Macs is fewer than ever, and although Apple will be supporting Sonoma with security updates for a couple more years, and Ventura for another year, only a few of the most recent Intel Macs still be supported in a year or so. Read: The Intel Macs that can run the latest macOS. 3. Where can I get the best price for a new Mac? If youre simply looking for a great offer, visit our MacBook Pro deals , MacBook Air deals , iMac deals , Mac Studio deals , and Mac mini deals pages which are regularly updated. 4. What specs do I really need? For more information to help you decide which Mac to buy see our Mac processor comparison where we compare Apple silicon and Intel . We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM, and cores in How much MacBook RAM, SSD, GPU, and CPU do you really need. 5. When were the Macs last updated? The iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro were all last updated in October 2024. The MacBook Air was last updated in March 2025, as was the Mac Studio. The only Mac that hasnt been updated in the past couple of years is the Mac Pro. Why you can trust Macworlds advice Macworld has been covering everything Apple related since our first issue which arrived alongside the original Mac in 1984. Nobody knows Apple better, except probably Apple, but the difference is that we are completely impartial. We are made up of a team of experts with decades of experiences with Macs and other Apple products, and between us we have reviewed every Apple product meaning we are uniquely positioned to provide buying advice.

Macworld Podcast: The state of the Mac and macOS

Macworld WWDC is coming soon, and on this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about the current state of Mac hardware and macOS, and what that tells us about what Apple could be doing at WWDC. This is episode 935 with Jason Cross , Michael Simon , and Roman Loyola . Watch episode 935 on YouTube Listen to episode 935 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 935 on Spotify Get info Click on the links below for more information on what was discussed on the show. macOS 16: Everything we know so far about the next Mac update WWDC 2025: Everything you need to know before Apples big event 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

Save hundreds on lifetime access to 20TB of cloud storage

Macworld Cloud storage used to be simpleuntil monthly fees, data tracking, and limited space turned it into a headache. Internxt flips the script with a lifetime subscription to 20TB of private cloud storage for just $399.99 (reg. $4,900) when you use the code STORAGE20 through June 1. Built for those who value privacy, Internxt is end-to-end encrypted, open-source, zero-knowledge, and GDPR-compliant. Translation? Even Internxt cant access your data. Youll have total control over your files, which are encrypted, fragmented, and stored securely across servers. Its cloud storage that actually respects your privacy and doesnt charge you every month to do it. This lifetime plan gives you 20TB of storage you can access from any devicedesktop, mobile, Linux, you name it. And yes, its fast. Internxt is optimized to let you get the most out of your connection speed, whether youre uploading family photos or backing up creative work. Whether youre a freelancer, digital nomad, privacy advocate, or someone whos just plain tired of storage subscriptions, its your one-and-done cloud solution. Get this Internxt 20TB lifetime subscription on sale for just $399.99 (reg. $4,900) through June 1 with code STORAGE20. Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Organize your projects (and sanity) with this lifetime AI assistant, now 75% off

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These old Amazon Fire TV devices will lose access to Netflix in June

The first wave of digital media players is now old enough that streaming services are no longer willing to support them. According to PC World The post These old Amazon Fire TV devices will lose access to Netflix in June appeared first on BGR .

After Google IOs big AI reveals, my iPhone has never felt dumber

Macworld I cant believe Im about to state this, but Im considering switching from iOS to Android. Not right now, but what I once considered an absurd notion is rapidly becoming a realistic possibility. While Apple may have an insurmountable lead in hardware, iPhones and Android phones are no longer on par with each other when it comes to AI and assistants, and the gap is only growing wider. At its annual I/O conference on Tuesday, Google didnt just preview some niche AI gimmicks that look good in a demo; it initiated a computing revolution that Apple simply wont be able to replicate anytime soon, if ever. Actions speak louder than words The first thing I noticed during the main I/O keynote was how confident the speakers were. Unlike Apples canned Apple Intelligence demo at last years WWDC, Google opted for live demos and presentations that only reflect its strong belief that everything just works. Many of the announced features were made available on the same day, while some others will follow as soon as this summer. Google didnt (primarily, at least) display nonexistent concepts and mockups or pre-record the event. It likely didnt make promises it cant keep, either. If you have high AI hopes for WWDC25, Id like to remind you that the latest rumors suggest Apple will ignore the elephant in the room , possibly focusing on the revolutionary new UI and other non-AI goods instead. I understand Apples tough positiongiven how last years AI vision crumbled before its eyesbut Id like to think a corporation of that size couldve acquired its way into building a functional product over the past 12 months. For the first time in as long as I can remember, Google is selling confidence and accountability while Apple is hiding behind glitzy smoke and mirrors. Googles demos at IO showed the true power of AI. Foundry Apples tight grip will only suffocate innovation A few months ago, Apple added ChatGPT to Siris toolbox , letting users rely on OpenAIs models for complex queries. While a welcome addition, its unintuitive to use. In many cases, you need to explicitly ask Apples virtual assistant to use ChatGPT, and any accidental taps on the screen will dismiss the entire conversation. Without ChatGPT, Siri is just a bare-bones voice command receiver that can set timers and, at best, fetch basic information from the web. Conversely, Google has built an in-house AI system that integrates fully into newer versions of Android. Gemini is evolving from a basic chatbot into an integral part of Googles ecosystem. It can research and generate proper reports, video chat with you, and pull personal information from your Gmail, Drive, and other Google apps. Gemini is already light-years ahead of Siriand its only getting better. Foundry Google also previewed Project Astra, which will let Gemini fully control your Android phone, thanks to its agentic capabilities. Its similar to the revamped Siri with on-screen context awareness (that Apple is reportedly rebuilding from scratch), but much more powerful. While, yes, its still just a prototype, Google has seemingly delivered on last years promises. Despite it infamously killing and rebranding projects all the time, I actually believe its AI plans will materialize because it has been constantly shipping finished products to users. Unlike Apple, Google is also bringing some of its AI features to other platforms. For example, the Gemini app for iPhone now supports the live video chat feature for free. There are rumors that Apple will open up some of its on-device AI models to third-party app developers, but those will likely be limited to Writing Tools and Image Playground. So even if Google is willing to develop more advanced functionalities for iOS, Apples system restrictions would throttle them. Third-party developers cant control the OS, so Google will never be able to build the same comprehensive tools for iPhones. Beyond the basics Googles AI plan doesnt strictly revolve around its Gemini chatbot delivering information. Its creating a new computing experience powered by artificial intelligence. Googles AI is coming to Search and Chrome to assist with web browsing in real time. For example, Gemini will help users shop for unique products based on their personal preferences and even virtually try clothes on. Similarly, other Google AI tools can code interfaces based on text prompts, generate video clips from scratch, create music, translate live Meet conferences, and so on. Now, I see how dystopian this all can be, but with fair use, it will be an invaluable resource to students and professionals. Meanwhile, what can Apple Intelligence do? Generate cartoons and proofread articles? While I appreciate Apples private, primarily on-device approach, most users care about the results, not the underlying infrastructure. Googles Try It On mode will use AI to show how something will look before you buy it. Foundry The wrong path During I/O, Google shared its long-term vision for AI, which adds robotics and mixed-reality headsets to the equation. Down the road, the company plans to power machines using the knowledge its AI is gaining each day. It also demoed its upcoming smart glasses , which can mirror Android phone alerts, send texts, translate conversations in real time, scan surrounding objects, and much, much more. While Apple prioritized the Vision Pro headset no one asked for, Google has been focusing its efforts on creating the sleek, practical device users actually needa more powerful Ray-Ban Meta rival. Before long, Android users will be rocking stylish eyewear and barely using their smartphones in public. Meanwhile, iPhone users will likely be locked out of this futuristic experience because third-party accessories cant read iOS notifications and interact with the system in the same way. Apple is running out of time iOS and Android launched as two contrasting platforms. At first, Apple boasted its stability, security, and private approach, while Googles vision revolved around customization, ease of modding, and openness. Throughout the years, Apple and Google have been learning from each others strengths and applying the needed changes to appease their respective user bases. Apple Intelligence had priomise but Apple has failed to deliver its most ambitious features. Foundry Recently, it seemed like the two operating systems were finally intersecting: iOS had become more personalizable, while Android deployed stricter guardrails and privacy measures. However, the perceived overlap only lasted for a momentuntil the AI boom changed everything. The smartphone as we know it today seems to be fading away. AI companies are actively building integrations with other services, and its changing how we interact with technology. Mobile apps could become less relevant in the near future, as a universal chatbot would perform the needed tasks based on users text and voice prompts. Google is slowly setting this new standard with Android, and if Apple cant keep up with the times, the iPhones relevancy will face the same fate as so many Nokia and BlackBerry phones. And if Apple doesnt act fast, Siri will be a distant memory.

Really good electric standing desks cost way less than you think right now

A high-quality standing desk is worth its weight in gold. Thats true for pretty much anyone with a desk job. Many people are under the The post Really good electric standing desks cost way less than you think right now appeared first on BGR .

Mac Pro: Everything you need to know

Macworld Apple last updated the Mac Pro in 2023 when it was the last Mac to be outfitted with an M-series chipthree years after Apple started to use its own silicon in Macs. The Mac Pro may be on a longer update cycle than the other Macs because its an expensive machine with features that address the needs of a niche audience. But if youre part of that audience, youll want to know when the next model will arrive, so well be tracking the news and rumors about the Mac Pro. This article includes information about the potential updates to the Mac Pro, as well as offers a perspective on what those rumored updates mean to Apples Mac lineup. Mac Pro M4: Release date With no new Mac Pro appearing in 2024, despite the arrival of the M4 Max, it looks like we will be stuck with the M2 Ultra Mac Pro until 2025. The lengthy wait isnt surprising. In an April 2024 report by Bloombergs Mark Gurman about Apples plans for its AI-enhanced M4 chip , he suggested that Apple would not update the Mac Pro until 2025. In June 2024, Gurman again reported that the Mac release schedule had not changed. The M4 Mac Pro is not expected until the second half of 2025. In August, Gurman reiterated that the M4 Mac Pro will be released in 2025. With WWDC25 in June, it seems like it would be an opportunity for Apple to update the Mac Pro. But no reports have been made of any hardware announcements during the keynote on June 9. Mac Pro M4: Processor With the long wait, you may think we might get an M5 Ultra Mac Pro, but it looks like we will see the M4 Ultra in June 2025. In October 2024, Gurman reported that Apple continues to work on an M4 version of the Mac Pro. In his April 2024 report , Gurman stated that the Mac Pro will be part of Apples AI focus and will be upgraded with an M4 with enhanced AI capabilities. Gurman did not offer any details on how those AI enhancements will be implemented or any other specifications about the M4. Since that report, Apple has unveiled the M4 chip, first in the iPad Pro, then in the iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro. In our Geekbench 6 tests of the M4 Max chip that arrived in October 2024 we found it to be faster than the M2 Ultra. Read: How Apples M4 chips dispelled all my fears about buying a new Mac. Apple also released the M3 Ultra Mac Studio , making it the fastest Mac in Apples lineup. If Apple wanted to use the M3 Ultra in the Mac Pro, it wouldve updated that Mac by now. While this is bad news for the M2 Ultra Mac Pro, it should mean great things for the M4 Ultra, which is what has been reported as the chip for the Mac Pro. We also know that it has an improved Neural Engine for AI features. Apples M1 Ultra and M2 Ultra chips are essentially two Max chips that work together, but there have been reports that Apple will be changing the processors architecture, so we could see higher performance than in previous Ultra chips. The Information reported in December 2024 that in the summer, Apple had canceled a high-performance chip for Macs to focus on the development of an AI server chip. As John Gruber pointed out, the timing of that Mac chip project suggests that the canceled chip was likely one that is dubbed an Extreme chip that would be faster than an Ultra. Based on this report, the Mac Pro will get Ultra chips for the foreseeable future. Mac Pro M4: Design and specs Gurman also reported that Apple wants to dramatically increase the maximum amount of unified memory in the high-end desktop M4 Macs to 512GB. The current limit on the M2 Ultra Mac Pro is 192GB. So, the M4 Ultra Mac Pro could support more than twice the memory as the current M2 Ultra Mac Pro. The Mac Pro will be equipped with Thunderbolt 5. When Apple released the M4 Pro/Mac MacBook Pro, it upgraded to Thunderbolt 5, so the Mac Pro will follow suit. Learn more about Thunderbolt 5 . No other reports have been made about the inner workings of the upcoming Mac Pro. Because Apple wants to focus on AI, the Mac Pro could be marketed as an AI development workstation, so Apple could upgrade other components to accommodate these needs. The Mac mini had a redesign in 2024, resulting in a much smaller device. Mac Pro has had its design for 11 years, but no reports have been made about the design, and if Apple changes anything, it is very unlikely to make the Mac Pro smaller as this didnt work out well last time . The next Mac Pro upgrade is expected to keep the same design, but the internal components will likely change, with the key one being an M4 Ultra upgrade. Foundry Mac Pro M4: Price Here are the prices for the current standard base configurations of the M2 Ultra Mac Pro for reference. Apple expects customers to configure their orders, so prices will vary from these base specifications. $6,999/7,199/CA$8,999/AU$11,999 Mac Pro Tower : M2 Ultra, 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 64GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD $7,499/7,699/CA$9,599/AU$12,999 Mac Pro Rack : M2 Ultra, 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine, 64GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Pricing for the new Mac Pro has not been reported, though we expect pricing to possibly go up because of the U.S. tariffs situationthe components are made overseas. The price may be adapted to more recent exchange rates elsewhere. We predict that in the U.K. the price will be in line with the U.S. for example: 6,999 rather than 7,199.

MacBook Air vs Pro compared: Which Mac laptop is right for you?

Macworld Apples most popular Mac laptop is the MacBook Air, which offers a great combination of features for the typical user, but there is another MacBook to consider the more powerful MacBook Pro. In this feature we aim to help those who want to buy an Apple laptop, but arent sure what the difference between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro is and whether the cheaper Air can be as good as the Pro. Well explain the advantages and disadvantages of buying a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, well discuss what makes the MacBook Air so popular, and well talk about which uses each Mac laptop is best suited to. Well also look in depth at the various specs and features of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro so you can see how the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro compare in terms of price, display, design, processor, graphics, storage, RAM and more. Whats the difference between MacBook Air and Pro? On one side we have the MacBook Air, a slim, stylish Mac laptop that is, according to Apple, the most popular laptop in the world. It offers excellent battery life and more than enough power for daily tasks at an affordable price. On the other side, the MacBook Pro offers three levels of power to meet the needs of even the most demanding user, more RAM, more storage, longer battery life and a significantly superior display. Those features arent cheap though. There is so much mode to differentiate the different Apple laptop models as you will see if you read on. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Compared The Mac laptops that have our attention are the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. The differences between the MacBook Air models and the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro models are less pronounced than those between those more consumer focused models and the MacBook Pro models with the Pro and Mac variants of the processors, as you will see if you read on. We will compare design, specs, displays, price and other features below. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air Apple's cheapest MacBook Pros Low price Cons Slower than MacBook Pro Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $899 View Deal $899 View Deal $929 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The cheapest MacBook Air you can buy is the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air, which was last updatedin March 2025 and starts at $999/999.For that you get an M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, and a 256GB SSD.Spend $200/200 more and you can get a slightly better 10-core CPU plus double the storage, at 512GB. Thats $1,199/1,199.Or, for $1,399/1,399 you can get more unified memory (Apples name for RAM): 24GB instead of 16GB. Those are the standard configurations. There are more build-to-order options available that include 32GB unified memory, and 1TB or 2TB SSD. Who is the 13-inch MacBook Air for? This is the Mac for the majority. If you want a truly portable Mac laptop the MacBook Air is it. If you are looking for the cheapest Mac though that would be the Mac mini . If the price is still too high for you look for deals on the previous generation here: Best MacBook Air deals. Read: M4 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know for more information. Apple 15-Inch MacBook Air Cheapest big screen MacBook Pros Large screen at a good price Cons Slower than MacBook Pro Price When Reviewed: $1,199 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1075.74 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1099 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 If you want a larger screen then the cheapest option is the 15-inch MacBook Air. This Mac shares many of the specs of the 13-inch model, but offers a 15-inch display. The cheapest 15-inch MacBook Air you can buy was last updated in March 2025 and starts at $1,199/1,199.For that you get an M4 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, and a 256GB SSD.Spend $200/200 more and you can get double the SSD at 512GB. Thats $1,399/1,399.For $1,599/1,599 you can get more unified memory (Apples name for RAM): 24GB instead of 16GB. Those are the standard configurations. There are more build-to-order options available that include 32GB unified memory, and 1TB or 2TB SSD. Who is the 15-inch MacBook Air for? If you want a bigger display and budget doesnt run to the MacBook Pro the MacBook Air with 15-inch display will be sufficient. If you need more power, you could look for an discount on an older MacBook Pro model. Read our full Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro More power, higher price Pros All MacBook Pro models have superior display Excellent battery life for M4 model Cons High price, even for M4 model M4 Pro/Max models have worse battery life Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,399 View Deal $1449 View Deal $1456.06 View Deal $1499 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The M4 MacBook Pro arrived in October 2024. The MacBook Air that arrived in March 2025 has the same processor, so you might be forgiven for thinking that the two laptops are identical, but they arent. The most obvious indication that the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are different beasts is the price. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599. Thats $400/400 more than the entry-level MacBook Air. Those two Macs arent really comparable though. The MacBook Pro M4 has an 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, and a 512GB SSD, so its actually more like the 13-inch MacBook Air with 512GB SSD for $1,199/1,199 or the equivalent 15-inch MacBook Air with 512GB SSD for $1,399/1,399. What are you getting for the extra money if you choose a MacBook Pro? Well discuss this in a lot more detail below, but, essentially, you get a Mac with a better display, better heat management, better battery life, better audio and more ports. All of those features may be well worth the extra expense when compared to the MacBook Air. There is also a lot more choice when it comes to the components of the MacBook Pro. The M4 models can support up to 2TB SSD and 32GB RAM, like the MacBook Air, but there are also more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max models, with the M4 Pro supporting up to 48GB RAM and the M4 Max supporting up to 128GB RAM. The M4 Pro can support up to 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, while the M4 Mac can support up to 40-core GPU. Those models come with an exceptionally high price though, starting at $1,999/1,999 for the M4 Pro and $3,199/3,199 for the M4 Max. More on the specs below. To get the best deal on a MacBook Pro read our round up of the Best MacBook Pro deals. Who is the 14-inch MacBook Pro for? For those with average requirements, the M4 MacBook Pro is sufficient and better suited to processor intensive operations than the MacBook Air. This is a Mac to choose if you need a little more oomph than the MacBook Air can give but dont have the money for a MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip. If you need a bit more power and have the budget for the M4 Pro or M4 Max models the 14-inch MacBook Pro offers better value for money than its bigger screened sibling. We also discuss the M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models in our MacBook Pro comparison and our Best MacBook guide . Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024) review Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro Ultimate Mac laptop Pros Excellent battery life Cons Very high price Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2,229 View Deal $2259 View Deal $2272.35 View Deal $2279 View Deal $2399 View Deal $2499 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There is one more MacBook Pro to consider. The 16-inch MacBook Pro. The 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, there is no standard M4 option here. The entry price is a hefty $2,499/2,499 for an M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB Unified Memory, and 512GB SSD. The equivalent 14-inch model costs $2,399/2,399, but has twice as much storage at 1TB. The M4 Pro can support up to 48GB unified memory in the MacBook Pro. The specs are similar to the 14-inch MacBook Pro, with the option of upgrading to an M4 Max with up to 40-core GPU, up to 128GB Unified Memory, and up to 8TB SSD. What are you getting for the extra money if you choose a 16-inch MacBook Pro over the 14-inch model? Other than the bigger screen, you get better battery life, but not really anything else. Well discuss this in a lot more detail below. Who is the 16-inch MacBook Pro for? The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the ultimate Mac, but it doesnt offer better specs than the 14-inch MacBook Pro. All it offers is a bigger display and netter battery life both of which may be the most important factor in your decision. If you need a big screened powerful Mac get the 16-inch MacBook Pro, or consider a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an external display. Take a look at the Best Mac monitors and displays we have reviewed . Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024) review MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Price and value for money Since budget is often the main issue, well start with price and how much you get for your money. With no budget MacBook Pro available, the MacBook Air is the only option for those looking for a bargain. If you are looking for the cheapest option the $999/999 MacBook Air would appear to be the clear winner. However, we recommend spending $200/200 more to get the 10-core CPU/10-core GPU 512GB MacBook Air, which is worth every extra penny. The price of the MacBook Pro is higher, and on everyday tasks it performs the same as the MacBook Air, but it does offer better performance on long, CPU-intensive tasks, like image and video rendering and similar tasks. Not to mention the better screen, HDMI port, and SDXC Card slot, and more discussed below. At $200/200 more than the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 and the same 512GB SSD, it actually represents good value for money. For advice about the best MacBook, we also have a buying guide, see: Best MacBook: Which Mac laptop is best? We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM and cores in How much MacBook RAM, SSD, Cores do you need? Off to university? Read our guide to the best MacBook for students . For even more information you may be interested to read Which MacBook Pro . MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Display One of the biggest differences between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro is the quality of the display. There is a lot more to separate the displays than diagonal measurements. 13-inch MacBook Air: 13.6 inches diagonal, 2,560 by 1,664 pixels 14-inch MacBook Pro : 14.2 inches diagonal, 3,024 by 1,964 pixels 15-inch MacBook Air: 15.3 inches diagonal, 2,880 by 1,864 pixels 16-inch MacBook Pro: 16.2-inches diagonal, 3,456 by 2,234 pixels Youll notice from the above that there are significantly more pixels on the MacBook Pro screens even when compared to a larger MacBook Air model. The MacBook Air has what Apple calls a Liquid Retina display. The MacBook Pro has a superior Liquid Retina XDR panel. The image quality is significantly better on the MacBook Pro. However, to the average person the screen quality of the MacBook Air will be more than sufficient. Its not just fewer pixels though. Both Airs have a maximum brightness of 500 nits, which is half of the Pros 1,000 nits in normal use, or a third if youre running HDR content at a max of 1,600 nits of which the MacBook Pro is capable. This is achieved by the Pro display incorporating mini-LEDs rather than the Airs standard LCD screen. Perhaps the biggest difference though is that the Pro features ProMotion, meaning that the refresh rate tops out at 120Hz, again double that of the Airs 60Hz refresh rate. This helps keep scrolling and animations smooth and crisp. Any of these displays will be great for everyday use and long hours of work, but the Pro has the edge when it comes to features. And there is more. With the M4 MacBook Pro, Apple introduced a nano-texture glass option that has a matte-like finish for $150.This option is not available on the MacBook Air, and if you need to cut down the glare from the display, its a feature to consider. All of this is mute if you will plug your Mac into a display, of course, in which case you can buy a display that offers you the screen quality you need. 15-inch MacBook Air (left) and 14-inch MacBook Pro. Foundry MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Performance Difference Theres a reason why there is a Pro in the name. The MacBook Pro is better suited to pro users, by which we mean creative professionals, graphic designers, photographers, film makers, 3D animators, programmers, and so on. A MacBook Air would be more than sufficient for home users, students, and office workers, but as soon as you start to push it with something more demanding, like movie editing software, or a computer game, you might find it heats up and slows down a bit, at least in comparison to how a MacBook Pro would deal with the dame demands. Thats why we tend to recommend the MacBook Air to those who go beyond the typical user. Despite this, if you are upgrading an old computer, the MacBook Air will feel super speedy whatever you are doing with it. We have the data below to show just how much better MacBook Pro performance is compared to the MacBook Air. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Processor All of Apples laptops are powered by Apples silicon and right now the latest Apple chip is the M4, which comes in the following varieties: M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. To learn more about all the Mac processors read our Mac processor comparison . When it comes to the processor specs the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air actually look pretty well matched, as shown by this table. Mac Book Price CPU GPU Memory SSD 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) $999/999 10-core, M4 8-core, M4 16GB (up to 32GB) 256GB SSD 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) $1,199/1,199 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 16GB (up to 32GB) 512GB SSD 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) $1,399/1,399 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 24GB (up to 32GB) 512GB SSD 15-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) $1,199/1,199 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 16GB (up to 32GB) 256GB SSD 15-inch MacBook Air, M4(2025) $1,399/1,399 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 16GB (up to 32GB) 512GB SSD 15-inch MacBook Air, M4 (2025) $1,599/1,599 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 24GB (up to 32GB) 512GB SSD 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 (2024) $1,599/1,599 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 16GB (up to 32GB) 512GB SSD 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 (2024) $1,799/1,799 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 16GB (up to 32GB) 1TB SSD 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 (2024) $1,999/1,999 10-core, M4 10-core, M4 24GB (up to 32GB) 1TB SSD The specs look similar, but there are factors in the design of the MacBook Pro that will enable the machine to withstand higher power requirements. However, there is a difference in terms of how well the processors perform in the different models, as you can see from the Geekbench and Cinebench results below. A similarly specced MacBook Pro performs better than the MacBook Air, albeit only slightly beter. The M4 15-inch MacBook Air scored 14680 in the multiple CPU Geekbench and 3907 in the GPU test for Cinebench 2024. The 13-inch MacBook Air results are similar. The M4 14-inch MacBook Pro scored 14763 in the multiple CPU Geekbench and 3997 in the GPU test for Cinebench 2024. The M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro scored 22406 in the multiple CPU Geekbench and 9297 in the GPU test for Cinebench 2024. The chart below shows the Geekbench results for the various processors. The MacBook Air is slower because in order for it to be so compact it is fanless, which means it is less able to manage heat, and therefore may run slower in order to keep cool if you really push it. If its power you need then, as the benchmarks show, a MacBook Pro will have the edge. However, thats not to say that the M4 MacBook Air is slow. As you can see from the scores above, the M4 shoots ahead of the M3, M2 and M1, in fact it even scores above the M3 Pro. The M4 MacBook Air is plenty powerful enough for most people, and likely way better than any old Mac you are replacing. If you really need a powerful machine you might want to consider the M4 Pro MacBook Pro. If you need to push your Mac with graphic-intensive apps a MacBook Pro would be a better choice. Foundry MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: RAM (unified memory) Prior to October 2024, many Macs shipped with just 8GB RAM as standard. These days a Mac may struggle with just 8GB RAM so Apple has upped this allocation, and since October 2024 all MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ship with at least 16GB RAM as standard. There is an option to increase unified memory to 24GB or 32GB in the M4 MacBook Pro and Air. If you need more memory you will need to look to the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max. With the M4 Pro you can get up to 48GB unified memory, while the M4 Max can support up to 128GB memory. Our advice is to get as much RAM as you can afford when you buy the Mac, as you cant upgrade it later. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Storage Apple offers a 256GB storage option at the entry-level for both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air . The entry-level MacBook Pro starts at 512GB. There is the option to add 1TB or 2TB SSD to both laptops. While a 2556GB SSD might prove to be enough for you, especially if you use iCloud or other cloud based services to supplement your storage. But 512GB might be a better option, as we found, see: Heres proof that a 256GB SSD is too small for a Mac in 2025. Another reason to avoid the 256GB model: in previous generations, there were some concerns about this 256GB SSD, with reports that its SSD is up to 50 percent slower on read speeds and 30 percent on write speeds. We found that these observations were indeed true when we ran our own set of tests using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test on older MacBook models. In more recent times, this has seemed to be less of an issue. This will only matter if you are using apps that access the SSD often, so it may not make a difference in typical use. If you want more than 2TB SSD you need to look at the MacBook Pro models with the M4 Pro and M4 Max which can support up to 8TB SSD. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Design 15-inch MacBook Air (left) and 14-inch MacBook Pro (right). Foundry Following a redesign of the MacBook Air in June 2022, you could have been forgiven for thinking you were looking at a MacBook Pro. Gone is the tapered edge for which the Air was famous, replaced with a more uniform design. The MacBook Air is still thinner albeit fractionally but it is also very slightly larger than the old version of the Air, thanks to the bigger screen. Both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have a notch at the top of the screen as see on some iPhone models. Its not a bad thing, but some people dont like notches. The notch conceals the FaceTime camera, which, with the introduction of the M4 MacBook Air, is now the same 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording on all models. Despite the presence of the iPhone-like notch, MacBooks do not offer Face ID for unlocking. Instead all MacBooks have a Touch ID sensor built into the keyboard, so you can just tap your finger on there to unlock things and enter passwords. Eugen Wegmann One key difference between these MacBooks is the color choices. There are four color choices for the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air: Midnight (dark blue), Starlight (gold), Sky Blue and Silver. Apple introduced the Sky Blue option with the M4 MacBook Air and discontinued the Space Gray option (to the dismay of some). The Starlight shade is paler gold, while Midnight is close to black with a dark blue hue. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro offer only Silver and Space Black options. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Dimensions Foundry Apple refers to them as the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro. The measurements are based on the screen size, but those numbers are actually not accurate. Heres what the real screen measurements are: The screen on the 13-inch MacBook Air measures 13.6-inches diagonally. The screen on the 15-inch MacBook Air measures 15.3-inches diagonally. The screen on the 14-inch MacBook Pro measures 14.2-inches diagonally. The screen on the 16-inch MacBook Pro measures 16.2-inches diagonally. A larger display doesnt necessarily mean the Mac is bigger and heavier though. The 15-inch Air is thinner, so it not only weighs less than the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it is also lighter than the 14-inch MacBook Pro due to the fans needed for heat dissipation in the more powerful machine. 16-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro : 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg), M4 Max : 4.7 pounds (2.15 kg) 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro : 3.5 pounds (1.60 kg), M4 Max : 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg) 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 : 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) 15-inch MacBook Air, M4 : 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg) 13-inch MacBook Air, M4: 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg) From the figures above, youll notice that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models weigh a little bit more than the M4 MacBook Pro. And as you can see from the below, the 13-inch MacBook Air dimensions arent much smaller than those of the 14-inch MacBook Air. Given that there is actually only half an inch (0.6in) difference in screen size, this shouldnt be surprising. 16-inch MacBook Pro, M4: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (35.57 x 24.81 x 1.68cm) 15-inch MacBook Air, M4 : 13.40 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches (34.04 x 23.76 x 1.15cm) 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches (31.26 x 22.12 x 1.55cm) 13-inch MacBook Air, M 4 : 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches (30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm) The MacBook Air (bottom) is thinner than the MacBook Pro (top). Apple MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Battery life and charging The MacBook Air ships with a braided MagSafe cable and compact dual-USB-C Power Adapter. IDG When it comes to battery life, according to Apple, the MacBook Air offers 18 hours battery life when video streaming, while the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro offers an 24 hours video streaming. The main reason for this difference is that the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a larger battery: 72.4 watt-hours compared to 66.5 watt-hours in the 15-inch MacBook Air and 53.8 watt-hours in the 13-inch Air. The battery in the 16-inch MacBook Pro is even bigger at 100 watt-hours. MacBook Air, 13-inch, M4 , 18 hours battery life (Apple) MacBook Air, 15-inch, M4 , 18 hours battery life (Apple), 1,076 minutes, just under 18 hours (our test) MacBook Pro, 14-inch, M4 , 24 hours battery life (Apple), 20 hours (our test) MacBook Pro, 14-inch, M4 Pro/M4 Max , 22 hours battery life (Apple) MacBook Pro, 16-inch, M4 Pro/M4 Max , 24 hours battery life (Apple), 26 hours (our test) Its not just how long the battery lasts that matters, but also the charging speed. The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Air ships with a 30W adapter, the other 13-inch Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air ship with a 35W power adapter. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M4, and the entry-level M4 Pro ships with a 70W adapter, the other 14-inch MAcBook Pro models offer a 96W charger, and the 16-inch model has a 140W adapter for even faster charging. Each 14-inch MacBook Pro can also be fast charged with a 96W adapter (only included with some models) and the MacBook Air can be fast charged with a 70W adapter (not included). See our comparison test of Apples MacBook Air chargers as well as the best USB-C charger for your MacBook . MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Ports and expansion Over the years its felt like Apple has been on a mission to remove ports from Macs in order to make them slimmer and slimmer. This has been a disadvantage for many, although generally if you need more or different ports you can just plug in an adapter or a dock (read: Best USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac ). The MacBook Air offers a MagSafe charging port alongside two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports. The MacBook Pro offers an additional Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port, as well as HDMI and SDXC ports. The arrival of Thunderbolt 4 for this generation means that the M4 MacBooks can support more displays. See: How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2, M3 or M4 MacBook . Connectivity for both models is via Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. All Mac laptops offer a 3.5mm headphone jack. The MacBook Air with MagSafe as well as two USB/Thunderbolt ports compared to the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. IDG MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Audio and camera All of the MacBooks in the current generation offer a 12MP Center Stage camera that automatically keeps the user in the center of the frame. The camera also supports Desk View, which can show the desk space in front of the laptop. This is an upgrade from the M3 MacBooks, which only offered a 1080p FaceTime camera. The 15-inch MacBook Air has a benefit over the 13-inch MacBook Air model: if features a six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers, compared to a four-speaker sound system. Apple describes the speaker system in the 14-inch MacBook Pro as a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, indicating that it is superior to that in the 15-inch Air. Apple also refers to a studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming in the 14-inch Pro, while both Air models offer only a three-mic array with directional beamforming. The MacBook Pro has a better speaker system than the MacBook Air: six-speaker arrays rather than a four-speaker sound system. The sound on the MacBook Pro is described by Apple as High Fidelity, by which we assume Apple is indicating it is superior to the Air. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Buying advice So which MacBook should you choose? If you are on a budget it has to be the MacBook Air and you wont be disappointed. If you need a bit more power than the Air can offer, and a better quality display, the M4 MacBook Pro will see you good. But if you need even more power youll have to fork out for the M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro models. If one factor that is important to you is the screen size, the 15-inch MacBook Air will give you a larger screen for less money than the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Just be aware that screen quality is not as good as that on the more expensive model. Of course, if you are going to plug your Mac into an external display whenever you are at your desk this shouldnt be a decision breaker. See our round-up of the best displays for Mac . If its display quality that matters, the XDR, ProMotion display of the MacBook Pro will meet your needs. There is also the option of a non-glossy Nano-texture display with the MacBook Pro that doesnt exist for the Air. We recommend getting the best machine you can afford at the time of purchase because you wont be able to upgrade down the line. At the time of your purchase make sure you add sufficient RAM and storage for your needs. For more help with this read: How much RAM, SSD, GPU, CPU do you need in a Mac? Luckily, you dont have to pay full price for a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, check out our best MacBook Air deals and best MacBook Pro deals articles for the best discounts available. Finally, a word of warning: if you are tempted by a used Intel MacBook we strongly recommend that you dont buy it as Apple is unlikely to support Intel Macs for much longer. Read: How long does Apple support Macs. We also help you choose the Best Mac in our buying guide. For buying advice on the best Windows laptops , see our sister site PCWorld. Why you can trust Macworlds advice Macworld has been covering everything Apple related since our first issue which arrived alongside the original Mac in 1984. Nobody knows Apple better, except probably Apple, but the difference is that we are completely impartial. We are made up of a team of experts with decades of experiences with Macs and other Apple products, and between us we have reviewed every Apple product meaning we are uniquely positioned to provide buying advice.

Apple TV tweaks: The 8 settings you should change ASAP

Macworld Compared to the iPhone and its complex functions, the Apple TV 4K is a relatively simple device. Youve got a simple Home Screen with large icons, a few menus across apps, and just not much to set up, really. Nevertheless, tvOS enables power users to customize certain UI elements, system behavior, the Siri Remote, and more. Here are some of the essential settings tweaks that can help you personalize your Apple TV experience in as little as 15 minutes. 1. Customize the Siri Remote Before getting started, youll want to ensure that your Apple TVs bundled Siri Remote behaves as expected. Head to the Settings app and visit the Remotes and Devices section. There, you can optionally speed up or turn off the remotes touch surface after testing its default sensitivity. If you dont often watch Apple TV+ content , you may also want to remap the Siri Remotes TV button. By default, clicking it will launch the TV app, which houses TV+ and other compatible streaming services. When remapped via the same Settings section, itll take you to the Home Screen instead. This makes it faster to leave apps or switch between them. On the same page, scroll down to the Home Theater Control section and enable the Turn On Your TV with Your Remote toggle . This will let you control a compatible display using the Siri Remote, sparing you from needing separate remotes for your Apple TV 4K and the screen itself. That TV button can do a whole lot more than summon the TV+ streaming service. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry 2. Connect streaming services (and not just Apples) As mentioned above, the built-in TV app supports a wide range of third-party streaming services, including Disney+, Paramount+, Max (sorry, HBO Max ), Hulu, and more. Some services let you subscribe directly from the TV app using Apples billing, while others can link your existing accounts. Regardless, by adding your streaming services to the TV app, you can enjoy a universal queue that surfaces all of your favorite movies and series. 3. Upgrade your setup with a HomePod (or two) Apple is known for its smoothly integrated ecosystem, and this can help us to get next-level audio with the Apple TV. If youre unsatisfied with your TVs built-in speakers and happen to have a HomePod or two lying around, you can set them up to wirelessly output Apple TV audio. Just go to the Settings app and select Video and Audio > Audio Output . On this page, your HomePod or HomePod stereo pair should automatically appear as an available option. Simply set it as the default audio output device. Not only will this enhance the sound quality of content you consume, but itll also let you control Apple TV media using the HomePods touchscreen. HomePods have their flaws, but their excellent audio quality will transform your TV binge-watching marathons. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry 4. Get more accurate audio and video There are thousands of unique TVs and speakers on the market, offering various specifications and technology. Naturally, the outputted colors and audio wont necessarily be identical across the different models. Thats why we advise you to calibrate the color balance and wireless audio sync on tvOS. To do so, visit the Video and Audio page in the Settings app. Toward the bottom, youll find a Calibration section housing the Color Balance and Wireless Audio Sync options. Bring your iPhone close to your Apple TV 4K and follow the easy on-screen instructions. The first of those options helps display accurate colors when watching movies and shows, while the second one minimizes latency when relying on AirPlay or Bluetooth speakers for audio output. 5. Make the Home Screen work for you Like iOS, tvOS has a Home Screen where you can see icons for both installed and offloaded apps. You can tap and hold on an app icon to make it jiggle, then swipe on your Siri Remotes touch surface to relocate it. You can also place an app icon on top of another to create a new folder housing both. If you find it hard to identify which app is selected when navigating through the dock, theres a quick, permanent fix. Go to Settings and select Accessibility > Display . Under the Contrast section, youll find a Focus Style menu. Pick the High Contrast option. This will add a white border around selected apps on the Home Screen to make spotting them less challenging. Now head back to the main Settings page and go to Users and Accounts > [your name] . Under the iCloud section, toggle One Home Screen on. This will sync your current Home Screen layout to iCloud and apply it to existing and future Apple TVs linked to your account. Now its easy to see which app youve selected. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry 6. Avoid that syncing feeling If you live with family members or flatmates, then you may want to be careful which iCloud photos and videos sync to your Apple TV. Head to Settings and select Users and Accounts > [your name] . Under iCloud , go to Photos . There you can decide whether the Photos app on tvOS syncs your entire iCloud photo and video library, only shared albums, or nothing at all. Its worth noting that the Apple TVs Photos app wont show the Hidden album no matter what setting you opt for. If youre concerned about a few questionable shots, you can easily hide them using your iPhone and display the rest on the big screen. 7. Enjoy Apples beautiful screen savers Like macOS, tvOS offers a rich library of screen savers for when your Apple TV 4K is idle. To customize this feature, launch Settings and go to Screen Saver , then pick one of the four options. Aerials features videos taken in various countries and from outer space. Meanwhile, the Memories & Slideshows and Portraits options let you display photos from your synced library. Lastly, Snoopy showcases custom animations of classic cartoon characters. You can also adjust other screen saver preferences via the same Settings page. 8. Lock out intruders It would be a real shame if someone were to take over your Apple TV 4Ks screen and cast unwanted audio or video. Fortunately, tvOS lets you set mirroring boundaries effortlessly. Open Settings and go to AirPlay and HomeKit > Allow Access . The setting Everyone will let any nearby iOS user detect and cast content to your TV. Picking it enables you to optionally add a password to restrict malicious users nearby. Anyone on the Same Network requires the casters iPhone to be connected to the same router and similarly supports password protection. Only People Sharing This Home is the safest setting, as your Apple TV will only be accessible to those youve added to your Home app.

How to get Photoshop for Mac including for free!

Macworld If you want to add some quick edits to a photo or video, Apples free Mac apps Photos and Preview can do a good job, but for anything more advanced youll need a dedicated image editing app like Adobes Photoshop. For years now it has been the industry standard, due to its wide range of features and capabilities, but it does come with a substantial subscription fee that might be a bit too much for the casual user. Heres how to get a copy of Photoshop on your Mac, or, failing that, the next best thing. Plus, because you cant beat free, well also explain your options for getting Photoshop on Mac at no cost, as well as rounding up the Best Mac free image and photo editors . If youd like to get the same software on your tablet, read How to get Photoshop on iPad . How to get Photoshop free on a Mac: Adobe Express As Photoshop is professional-grade software, you wont be able to get the full version for free aside from the 7-day trial that well cover below. However, Adobe does offer a stripped down version that covers a lot of the same ground if your demands arent too high. Adobe Express is a free, online web app that offers a range of editing tools, such as the ability to crop, reshape, flip, and recolor images. You can also add text (there are plenty of templates and fonts to choose from), make the background of an image transparent, quickly put together collages, and generally improve the style and form of your photos and videos. Adobe Express comes with access to 1 million+ royalty-free stock images you can use for posters or social media content, plus you get 5GB of storage. Adobe If you want more advanced features, including Generative AI for instantly creating images, removing backgrounds in video, one-click resizing, a much larger selection of stock images, not to mention 100GB of storage, then you can sign up to Adobe Express Premium for $9.99/9.98 p/m, with the option to cancel at any time. Theres also a free 30-day trial so you can see if Premium gives you all the Photoshop capabilities you need, without spending any money. If youre happy to work online rather than with a dedicated app, and youre not after the high-end editing features, either Adobe Express or Adobe Express Premium are probably the ones to go for, plus you have those trials to ensure whether the tools you need for your particular workflows are included. How to get full Photoshop for free If you want to use the full version of Photoshop, then there is the aforementioned free trial, or you could sign up to a short-term subscription to at least keep the costs down. Trial: The first option is a Photoshop trial. There is a 7-day free trial that gives you access to the full program, with no restrictions. While Adobe advertises the free 7-day trial, you can actually get 14 days free, because you can cancel within 14 days of your initial order and get fully refunded. In fact, you could, theoretically, get 21 days free if you had the trial and then canceled your subscription after 13 days. Dont forget though, as youre then liable to pay 50% of the entire 1yr contract if you miss the deadline. Monthly subscription : The second option is signing up for a subscription on a monthly rather than an annual basis. This wont give you Photoshop for free, but the option will allow you to access all the features of the software on a shorter-term basis, then cancel when you no longer need it. Well run through the various subscription options in the sections below. Adobe To explain how it works we need to explain the difference between Adobes two monthly subscription packages: one is cheaper ($22.99/21.98 a month) because it is part of an annual plan; the other is a more expensive option ($34.49/32.98 a month), but you can cancel without having to pay Adobe anything. Adobe doesnt list these options on the site, instead you have to click the Buy Now button then you can select from the three options: Annual Billed monthly , Monthly , and Annual Billed upfront . Photoshop with 100GB of cloud storage U.S. U.K. Annual plan paid monthly $22.99 21.98 Annual plan paid upfront $263.88 262.51 Monthly plan (cancel at any time) $34.49 32.98 Buy it here Buy it here Adobe explains the legal terms of the various contracts here . Basically, if you sign up for the cheaper annual contract, paid monthly and then choose to end your subscription you will be able to do so, but if you end the contract after the first 14 days youll be charged a lump sum amount of 50% of your remaining contract obligation and your service will continue until the end of that months billing period. This is a slightly better scenario than if you were paying annually in that case, your contract will continue to the end of the term. You wouldnt get any money back. This is why the best option, in this case, is to sign up for a month-to-month contract. In this case, the contract will automatically renew every month, but should you choose to cancel (we explain how to cancel below) you will be able to use Photoshop until the end of that month, at which point your contract will cease. If you need Photoshop, but you dont want to tie yourself into a contract with Adobe, this could be the best option for you. However, you should note that you will lose access to anything you have saved in Adobes cloud after 90 days. If these options arent quite what youre after, you can always look for alternatives to Photoshop , as there are some excellent apps currently available. We also have a round-up of the Best Mac free image and photo editors , which includes options such as Seashore and Gimp . How to get Photoshop on a Mac without an annual subscription If you were hoping to buy a copy of Photoshop to own, as in not paying on a subscription basis, we have some bad news for you: Adobe no longer sells what is known as a perpetual license for Photoshop and its other apps. There is one option though: you can buy Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements is designed for amateur rather than pro photographers, but it does offer a number of photo editing features that might be sufficient for your needs. One very important thing to note though is that Adobe has changed how Elements works, so that when you make your purchase youre only getting a 3-year licence. That means, once the three years are up, the app will stop working, although youll still be able to access all of the work you created. You can buy a copy of Photoshop Elements directly from Adobes website for $99.99/86.99. (Buy Photoshop Elements from Adobe ). See our review of Photoshop Elements for more information. You can also buy Photoshop Elements on the Mac App Store for $99.99/99.99. The benefit of Photoshop Elements is that you can buy it outright and install it on your Mac. You will have access to features like masks, layers, colorisation, image manipulation and other useful, more consumer-level effects with Elements. If youre a creative professional though, or are used to the full-blown version of Photoshop, then you may find too many tools missing from the box. If you want to take a look theres also a 7-day free trial of Photoshop Elements so you can take the software for a test run. If you dont care about how up-to-date your software is you might be interested in buying a secondhand copy of Photoshop, or an old Mac with Photoshop installed. Just be aware that Adobe doesnt support all older versions in terms of updates, so the ones you find might not be compatible with later iterations of macOS, plus newer Macs wont run old versions of Photoshop. Youll also need to confirm that the software license hasnt already been used, as usually these are non-transferable. And generally, we would advise against buying a used Mac (unless its certified refurbished ). For more information read: What version of macOS can my Mac run? If a subscription to Photoshop isnt for you, and Photoshop Elements isnt enough, we recommend you look at alternatives to Photoshop, many of which have comparable features with the benefit of being available to buy outright. The best options include PixelMator Pro , Affinity Photo and others. See: Best Photoshop alternatives for Mac. Is there an education discount for Photoshop? There is one other way you can save money while getting a copy of Photoshop for your Mac. If you are in education then you may qualify for a discount. However, you cant sign up for a reduced price on the Photoshop-only tier, you have to get the entire Creative Cloud collection, which includes Photoshop and a large collection of other Adobe apps. The student and teacher deal for Creative Cloud does represent quite a hefty reduction. At the time of writing, Students and Teachers pay $19.99/16.24 a month, which is around 70% less than the normal subscription rate. Photoshop for Mac price If you have accepted that you need to pay for a subscription to Photoshop you will want to know how much it costs. Theres not actually a straightforward answer: it depends on how you want to buy it. Whether you love or hate the subscription model, there are a few options to choose from if you want to get a copy of Photoshop: Photoshop: If you just want the single Photoshop app you can have that for $20.99/19.97 a month if you sign up for a year, or $31.49/30.34 a month if you just pay on a monthly basis. Sign up on Adobes website . Photography Plan: However, the Photography Plan is actually the best deal. It includes Photoshop, Lightroom (for web and mobile), and Lightroom Classic (for desktop), plus 1TB of storage. The bundle costs $19.99/19.98 a month, but you will be on a contract for a year as theres no monthly option. Sign up on Adobes website. Plan: Photography Plan with 1TB cloud U.S. U.K. Annual plan paid monthly $19.99 19.97 Annual plan paid upfront $239.88 238.42 Monthly plan (cancel at any time) n/a n/a Buy it here Buy it here Business: If you are a business user you ought to sign up for the Business option where you can get a single Photoshop license for $37.99/27.99 ex VAT a month per license. Its worth noting that all the Adobe CC apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat, cost $89.99/65.49 (ex VAT) per license a month. Sign up on Adobes website . How to cancel a Photoshop subscription The ease with which you can end your Photoshop contract is one of the benefits of Adobes decision to switch from selling copies of Photoshop outright to a subscription model. It also means that you only need to pay for Photoshop for as long as you need it. So if its just for a short-term project you can unsubscribe as soon as the work is done. Heres how to cancel your subscription: Sign in to the Adobe web page where plans are managed. Sign in to your Adobe account. Under the My Plans tab find Manage Plan (or View plan) and click on that. Now click on Cancel plan. Give your reason for cancellation. Click on Continue. Best alternatives to Photoshop on Mac? There is plenty of great photo and image editing software available on macOS , many of which come with lower price tags than Adobe products. One of our favorites is Affinity Photo 2 from Serif, which boasts a wide range of powerful tools, a friendly interface and costs $69.99/67.99 as a one-off payment, and also offers a 30-day free trial. Seriff Another popular choice is GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), which is completely free and comes with an incredible range of tools and features. The interface can take a little getting used to, which is not uncommon with open-source software, but once you get to know your way around, youll be amazed at what you can achieve. Theres also a large collection of tutorials for the software on YouTube, so if youre willing to put in the time then its a powerful suite that will cost you nothing at all. We also recommend you read Best Mac for photo editing . You may also be interested in: How to get Adobe Illustrator on a Mac and How to get InDesign on a Mac .

Satechi SM3 keyboard review: a smooth, responsive mechanical keyboard

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Firm, responsive mechanical keyboard Competitive price Pairs with four separate devices Can switch between macOS and Windows Cons Modest battery life US-only layout Lighting effects drain the battery Our Verdict Battery life could be better, and the U.S.-only layout option limits the keyboards worldwide appeal. However, the SM3 feels smooth and responsive for high-speed typing, and its versatile connectivity features make it a good choice for office use. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $119.99 Best Prices Today: Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Keyboard Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Most keyboards these days tend to fall into two main categories, opting either for a slimline, low-profile design similar to Apples Magic Keyboards, or larger mechanical keyboards that provide a physical switch mechanism inside each individual key. Mechanical keyboards arent as elegant, as they tend to look rather chunky compared to their slimline rivals and the switches inside the keys tend to be noisier too but many people prefer them as they provide firmer, more responsive keystrokes, both for speedy typing when youre at work, and for fast reaction times during hectic gaming sessions. As the name suggests, Satechis SM3 Slim Mechanical keyboard is an attempt to provide the best of both worlds, with a relatively compact design that also provides the more tactile responses of a mechanical keyboard. The SM3 is also a full-size keyboard, with 108 keys, including a row of Function keys, a separate numeric keypad for number-crunching, and a set of cursor and navigation keys. Available in light or dark colour schemes, the SM3 is sturdily built, with the main body made out of aluminium. Its still relatively compact for a full-size keyboard, though, measuring 20mm thick, 430mm wide and 119mm deep. Mechanical keyboards can use several different types of switches, but the SM3 uses brown switches that are quieter than some other types, so its not quite as loud as the clicky keys used on some keyboards, but we still found that the keys do travel well and feel smooth and responsive when youre typing. There are two legs on the base that allow you to adjust the height and angle of the keyboard, along with a series of rubber grips on the base that help to hold it steady on your desk when youre pounding away at the keys. Its pretty versatile too, as the SM3 can pair with up to four separate devices two via Bluetooth, and one using a USB wireless dongle (although the dongle has an ageing USB-A interface, so Mac users may need an adaptor if their Mac only has USB-C). The keyboard does have a USB-C port, with a USB-C cable included in the box, and you can also use it as a straightforward wired keyboard as well. There are also four buttons just above the numeric keypad that allow you to quickly switch between devices using the Bluetooth, dongle and wired connections. Satechi has plenty of experience making accessories for Macs, so the SM3 arrives with Command and Option keys just like a conventional Mac keyboard. However, it also includes a spare set of removable keys for Windows PCs for the Windows Menu and Alt keys which you can easily swap over if you want to. It even includes keyboard shortcuts that let you switch the keyboard settings between macOS and Windows operating systems too. When using the macOS settings, the Function keys control general features such as brightness, volume and Play/Pause for music and video, or you can use the dedicated Fn key to switch modes so that the Function keys support Mac-specific controls such as Mission Control for showing or hiding the desktop and application windows. The battery life isnt going to break any records, though. Satechi informed us that the battery should last for around 20 days with the backlight turned off, and around 15 days with the backlight set at a low level. Thats shorter than rivals such as Logitechs more expensive MX Mechanical keyboard, but at least you do have the option of using the SM3 as a wired keyboard while its recharging via the USB-C cable. The backlight on the SM3 provides three levels of brightness, along with 14 different lighting patterns most of which are hugely annoying and distracting, although some of them are a little more useful, such as the pattern that lights up individual keys as you press them. The only real disappointment is that the SM3 is currently only available with a U.S. layout. Thats not too much of a problem for English-speaking countries, but obviously limits the appeal of the SM3 outside the U.S. It also seems rather short-sighted, since mechanical keyboards such as this do allow you to replace the keys and change the keyboard layout quite easily. Should you buy the Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Keyboard? The firm, responsive mechanical keys of the SM3 will be useful both for gaming and for office work, and the ability to pair the keyboard with four separate devices will be very useful too. See the other Mac keyboards we rate in our round up of the Best Mac Keyboards . You can also use this keyboard with an iPad, see the best iPad Keyboards in our group test.

Your clunky smartphone is donethe NanoPhone fits in your pocket and is less than $90

Macworld Is bigger really better when it comes to smartphones? Sure, the screen might make streaming a little more comfortable, but these days, many of those devices dont even fit in our pockets or bags. Instead of lugging a tablet-sized smartphone around, consider switching to this mini smartphone . The NanoPhone actually fits in your pocketits smaller than a credit cardbut comes with the same features the latest smartphones have. Grab this compact smartphone for only $89.97 (reg. $199) while inventory lasts. To answer your most pressing question, no, the NanoPhone doesnt necessarily require you to get a new mobile plan. You can just insert the SIM card from your current phone, and it should work with your existing 4G carrier. Check out some of this pocket smartphones features: A clear, responsive touchscreen with an intuitive interface for easy scrolling Built-in 5MP rear and 2MP front cameras allow for video chatting and photos on the go Dual SIM card support so you can use two numbers from the NanoPhone Storage for your apps, photos, and files, which is expandable with Micro-SD Why settle for an oversized smartphone when this mini one offers all the same features you know and love, minus the bulky design? Get the NanoPhone now for $89.97 and save 55% on this credit card-sized smartphone before supplies run outthere are less than 50 units in stock! NanoPhone A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

After five years, Fortnite is back in the App Store

Macworld Five years ago, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and set off a years-long legal battle that has led to sideloading in the E.U., threats in the U.S., and legal threats all over the globe. After a tumultuous few weeks, Apple has apparently relented and approved Fortnites return to iPhones and iPads. You can download it through this link . As we wrote on Tuesday , Apples attempt to deny Fortnites re-entry into the App Store was met with consternation after Epic appealed to the judge who issued the ruling that forced Apple to allow links to outside payment stores. As such, Fortnite offers its V-Bucks as an in-app purchase or through the Epic Games Store, where you get 20 percent back in rewards. Foundry Its unclear whether Fortnite will stay in the App Store or if the return is a short-lived turn in the ongoing saga. After Epics appeal, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance to personally appear at the May 27 hearing in a thinly-veiled reference to possible contempt of court. Apple is also appealing the decision that forced it to allow links to external payment stores, so its possible Epic could be forced to remove the link to its own store, which would almost certainly start the war all over again. But for now, enjoy your next Battle Royale.

WWDC 2025: Everything you need to know before Apples big event

Macworld Of the big Apple events of the year, WWDC is the most reliable: In each of the past 18 Junes, like clockwork, Apple has held a big get-together for its developer partners and announced a raft of important software updates. The September iPhone launch, March/April spring event and October event seem almost unpredictable by comparison. In this article, we list the major announcements (and some of the smaller titbits) you can expect to hear about at WWDC 2025. Some of theseupdates to the five big Apple operating systems, most obviouslyare as predictable as the timing of the event. But we reckon Apple will spring a few surprises this year. When is WWDC 2025? Apple has announced that WWDC25 will take place from June 9 to 13 , with the keynote event on Monday June 9. The company has now invited members of the press to view the keynote stream from Apple Park, including Macworlds Roman Loyola. When is the WWDC keynote? The keynote is will begin, as usual, at 10am Pacific Time. It will take place on Monday, June 9. If you are wondering what time will the WWDC keynote start where you are it translates to: US: at 10 a.m. (PDT), 11 a.m. (MDT), noon (CDT), 1 p.m. (EDT) Canada: at 2 p.m. (ADT) UK: at 6 p.m. (BST) Europe: at 7 p.m. (CEST) India:at 10.30 p.m. (IST) Singapore and China: next day at 1 a.m. Japan: following day at 2 a.m. (JST) Australia: following day at 1 a.m. (AWST), 2.30 a.m. (ACST), 3 a.m. (AEST) New Zealand: following day at 5 a.m. (NZST) How to watch WWDC 2025 When WWDC starts Apple will live stream the opening keynote on its website and elsewhere, including on the Apple TV app. This means youll be able to watch the presentation on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and even PC. Current Apple Developer Program members, Apple Developer Enterprise Program members and Swift Student Challenge winners were able to apply for free tickets. More information about how to do that below. What is WWDC? WWDC stands for the Worldwide Developers Conference and is dedicated to the third-party software and hardware developers that create apps and accessories for Apples platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro . At the event Apple previews the software coming to iPhones, Macs, iPads and more later in the year. The beta program starts after the event so that developers can start testing the new software, find out ways to use new features, and and make sure it works with their apps. What will Apple announce at WWDC 2025? While devs are at the heart of the event, Apple uses WWDC to announce its software plans and potentially some new Macs and other products to the world. In the past weve seen quite a lot of new stuff, including new Macs. Read on to find out what we expect to see Apple unveil at the event, from software and hardware to some entirely new products. Apple WWDC 2025: Software releases WWDC is all about the software, so we can be certain that Apple will reveal details of its upcoming operating system updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and Apple Watch. Those updates will then be issued to developers as a beta to test, and then a few weeks later a public beta will start. Learn about participating in Apples beta software program so you can test the new software as soon as the beta arrives. Eventually, the new software will be available for everyone to download in the fall (usually September for iOS/iPadOS/watchOS and either September or October for macOS. Heres what to expect: Apple Intelligence AI will be at the forefront of WWDC, with the company likely to discuss how it is growing its AI feature set known as Apple Intelligence. At WWDC 2024 Apple Intelligence features were a large part of the announcements around iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 Sequoia, but Apple is yet to deliver on some of its promises relating to Apple Intelligence, with some Siri related features being pushed to the iOS 19 release. iOS 19 The headliner of the event simply because of the sheer number of iPhone owners across the planet. If youve got an iPhone made within the past five years, youll likely be able to install the new version of iOS when its released in the fall of 2025though the Apple Intelligence features are only for the iPhone 15 Pro or later. At WWDC Apple will showcase the new features coming to iPhones later in 2025. The rumors weve heard about iOS 19 so far indicate that we could see a major design overhaul, improvements to Siri, more Apple intelligence features, and Home app changes. But before iOS 19 launches, theres a whole beta-testing cycle to get through. iOS 19 will be announced at WWDC 2025, and then released as a developer beta (for registered app developers only) almost immediately after the keynote. Developers will then be able to install the iOS beta and a few weeks later a public beta version will be made available for all users who want to try the new features. Our advice is to be cautious and prepared for serious flaws with the beta softwareit might even brick your device. Over the course of the next few months, the developer and public betas will go through a testing process where features will be tweaked, changed, fixed, and updated until we reach the finished iOS 19.0 public release, most likely in September. Read all the rumors and our hopes for iOS 19 in our iOS 19 guide. iPadOS 19 The accompanying update for iPad owners, iPadOS 19 is likely to incorporate most of the new features of iOS 19 but adapted to a larger-screen interface. When Apples two mobile operating systems split in 2019 they were similar in most respects, but the iPad version is heading steadily into its own realm. In 2022, Apple released iPad OS 16 a month after iOS 16, so its possible that the two versions dont arrive at the same time. Find out more about iPadOS 19 in our guide . macOS 16 Whats Apple got in store for its follow-up to macOS Sequoia ? Well find out at WWDC 2025. This version will be numbered macOS 16, but what is less predictable is the California landmark Apple will name the version after. So far weve had: Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura and Sonoma. Based on the trademarks Apple has applied for , macOS Rincon or Skyline could be likely. Well share all the rumors and our hopes for macOS 16 in our macOS 16 guide . visionOS 3 Now that the Vision Pro has been on sale for a while you can expect to hear about new software features coming to the device at WWDC. Apple is likely to have things to say about new apps being made for the device as well as third-party software that is being created for Vision Pro. watchOS 12 The new operating system for the Apple Watch will be revealed at WWDC 2025. This is more of a niche than the iPhone, iPad, and Mac updates discussed above but could bring more health and fitness features to Apple Watch owners around the world. Expect AI to have an impact here as well. tvOS 19 The lowest-profile of the big Apple operating systems, tvOS is the platform that runs on the Apple TV. tvOS is generally light on new features, but the push into AI could change that, with new discovery and search tools. HomePod software version 19 Apple is also likely to update the software on the HomePod and HomePod mini alongside the other operating systems. We may hear more about Apples plans for the HomePod during the WWDC eventespecially as Apple is rumored to planning big changes to the HomePod . Other software You can also expect Apple to update its developer-focused apps, like Swift, Xcode, and TestFlight. Apple displayed this special Swift logo on its WWDC 2023 website. Apple WWDC 2025: Hardware releases WWDC tends to be a software-focused event, but Apple has often found time during its WWDC keynotes to launch hardware products too. The first few iPhone revisionsiPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4Swere all released at WWDC, and the HomePod had its unveiling at the event in 2017 as well. However, the event has focused on Mac releases in recent years. Apple unveiled the iMac Pro in 2017 alongside updates to the iMac, MacBook, and MacBook Pro, and announced a new Mac Pro and the Pro Display XDR in June 2019. At WWDC 2020, Apple announced the transition from Intel to Apple silicon, and WWDC 2022 saw Apple launch the M2 chip in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. WWDC 2023 saw Apple introduce the Vision Pro, 15-inch MacBook Air, and the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with M2 Ultra chip. Whats in the hardware pipeline for Apple right now? Hardware seems unlikely for this event due to a heavy focus on AI, but there are still some possibilities for surprises: New Macs We already have M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max, but no M4 Ultra yet, and updates to the Mac Pro are long overdue. Mac Pro Over the years, including in 2023, new Mac Pro models have been launched at WWDC. Apple updated the Mac Studio in March 2025, but notably Apple gave the Mac Studio an M3 Ultra chip option rather than an M4 Ultra: is the M4 Ultra being kept back for the Mac Pro? It looks like it. Read what we know about the M4 Mac Pro . Other hardware There are also rumors about a HomePod, or HomeHub that could be used to control digital home hardware and home security tools. There are lots of rumors about different products, WWDC could be the first time we hear Apple discuss this new product. Read about Apples HomeHub plans . How to attend WWDC If you wanted to attend the WWDC Keynote in person you needed to enter a lottery and apply for a ticket to attend the keynote alongside other developers. There was a lot of competition for those tickets, which were randomly selected from those to apply and arent transferable. The good news is that tickets are free, at least. The lottery for ticket allocated for 2025 started at the end of March and those interested had to apply by the beginning of April. The lucky applicants were notified of their success in getting a ticket at the beginning of April. Apple invites developers to participate in a series of classes, workshops, and sessions to learn about the system-wide changes coming to the major software platforms in the coming year so they can update their apps. Some lucky developers even get to watch the event live in person. Current Apple Developer Program members. Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni. Swift Student Challenge winners; challenge applicants will be included in a separate random selection process for winners (it is usually in May that Apple began alerting the lucky few of their status as winners). Current Apple Developer Enterprise Program members. You can find out more about how to get tickets to WWDC in our FAQ. WWDC keynote tickets have been free and randomly distributed for the past few years, but it previously cost $1,599 for developers to attend and those tickets sold out very quickly. Even without a ticket, all registered Apple developers get online access to session videos, slides, and sample code throughout the week. Apple will share additional conference information in advance of WWDC25 through the Apple Developer app . When was WWDC last year? Apple traditionally holds WWDC during the first weeks of June. Here are the dates from the past few years: WWDC 2024: June 10-14 WWDC 2023: June 5-9 WWDC 2022: June 6-10 WWDC 2021: June 7-11 WWDC 2020: June 22-26 WWDC 2019: June 3-7 WWDC 2018: June 4-8 For a broader view of the years plans, check out our guide to the new Apple products coming in 2025 . Well update this article regularly in the run-up to WWDC, so check back to see the latest news.

Apple could be in serious trouble over Fortnite rejection

Macworld It would be inaccurate to claim that either Apple or Epic Games has decisively won their acrimonious and long-running legal dispute over the use of external payment links in iPhone apps: courts have sided with both companies at various times and in various aspects of the case. But Epic seems to be getting the better of things, after a judge angrily ruled at the end of April that Apple must allow such links and called its previous response insubordination. That sounds conclusive, and is a potential financial hammer blow: Apple makes a great deal of money from transactions in iOS apps, and its cut may be about to shrink. But the question remains of what now happens to Fortnite, the game that triggered the dispute back in 2020. Epic thinks it should be allowed back on the App Store, because it was banned for something that must now be allowed, but Apple thinks it was within its rights to ban the game under the rules at the time and wont even consider a reversal until all litigation is over. Whether Apple is wise to behave in this way is debatable. Refusing to allow Fortnite to return hurts iPhone owners as much as it hurts Epic, and it feels like petty retaliation . But whether its legally justifiable is a different matterone which Epic decided to test by asking the judge in the case to force Apples hand and arguing that the company is in contempt of that April ruling. And the judge has now responded rather ominously. The Court is in receipt of Epic Games, Inc.s Motion to Enforce the Injunction, writes Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, in a document shared by Epic CEO Tim Sweeney. The Court thus issues this Order to Show Cause as to why the motion should not be granted. Briefing [] shall include the legal authority upon which Apple contends that it can ignore this Courts order having not received a stay from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal even though its request was filed twelve days ago on May 7, 2025. Not the most promising start for Apple, which is instructed to explain why it hasnt complied with the order despite receiving no encouragement from the appeals court. But it gets worse: Obviously, Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing. However, if the parties do not file a joint notice that this issue is resolved, and this Courts intervention is required, the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear at the hearing hereby set for Tuesday, May 27. Its not clear who the official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance would be. MacRumors speculates that it could be an executive as high-ranking as Phil Schiller, who has responsibility for the App Store, but Apple may try to get away with someone with a lower profile. But it does seem that individual penalties, rather than or as well as more easily disregarded corporate fines, could be in the cards if the company pushes its luck much further. And it may be worth pointing out that, while obviously an extreme option in this case, contempt of court can be punished with jail time. That doesnt mean that Apple would necessarily lose that May 27 hearing. One of the remedies given in 2021s original judgment (see page 179, section G) by the same judge was a declaration that (i) Apples termination of the DPLA [Developer Product Licensing Agreement] and the related agreements between Epic Games and Apple was valid, lawful, and enforceable, and (ii) Apple has the contractual right to terminate its DPLA with any or all of Epic Games wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games control at any time and at Apples sole discretion. None of the rulings since then suggest a change in the judges position on whether Apple is allowed to boot companies from the App Store as and when it pleases. The problem is that Apple is specifically not allowed to prohibit the use of external payment links. It can reject apps, or ban developer accounts, at its own discretion. But if it rejects an app or bans a dev for no reason other than its use of such links, does that amount to a de facto prohibition? Again, thats debatable. If Apple can come up with some other reason for Fortnites exclusion, it might be okayand it could be helpful that the company has, in compliance with the ruling, approved updates to other high-profile apps such as Spotify and Patreon which add the links. But if it cant, the penalties could be severe. The stakes just got a lot higher.

Maybe Apple was right about Siri all along

Macworld According to the latest Apple tea, Siri is a four-letter word that shant pass Apples lips. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reports that Siri will not be discussed much at next months WWDC. That makes sense. The Macalope never wants to talk about things hes not good at, either. Coding. Rollerskating. Integrals. Flossing. Both the dental regimen and the dance. Seven years after [Apple SVP of AI John] Giannandrea arrived, the optimism he brought with him is gone. Apples AI has only fallen further behind. Mark Gurman, May 19, 2025 This is sort of true and sort of not true. Part of the problem for Apple is that AI has been redefined out from under it. For most, AI is now a user-facing chatbot. Thats it. Sure, there are other, more visual implementations of AI, but the most common implementation is a text-based or verbal chatbot that gives you answers you cant really trust, but allows CEOs to lay some people off because who cares if our customers are getting good information? Apple continued to chug away at the good parts of AI, the parts that would make your phone operate better or let you get rid of unattractive people or exes or unattractive exes from your photos. The problem is really not that Apple has fallen behind. Its definitely behind on the chatty parts of AI, but thats not really what most customers want. People do want a Siri that has persistent memory or can just do more things and do them consistently. No one, however, wants a Siri that can write a novel or come up with great recipes culled from Reddit threads where people are jokingly telling each other to eat things humans should not consume. That does seem to be what its trying to rush to market, though. According to employees, the chatbot the company has been testing internally has made significant strides over the past six months, to the point that some executives see it as on par with recent versions of ChatGPT. It can get things wrong, but insist that theyre true with the best of them. Excellent. So why hasnt the company shipped this already? Colleagues say Giannandrea has told them that consumers dont want tools like ChatGPT and that one of the most common requests from customers is to disable it. You dont say. So, if the problem isnt that Apples behind ChatGPT, what is the problem? If youd like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters , including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast , David Prices weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors. IDG Lets go back to the summer of 2009. The Black Eyed Peas were singing I Gotta Feeling, the iPhone 3GS was the latest iPhone, and the hot technology industry trend was netbooks. Remember netbooks? They were small, cheap, underpowered, and poorly made, but boy, were they cheap. Apple, you might be surprised to learn, was behind on netbooks. Netbooks were going to eat the companys lunch because it didnt have one. All it had was the over-priced MacBook Air that was only for fancy-pants executives. But Apple didnt want to make a low-margin piece of junk even if the entire industry was falling over each other to do just that. Despite all the cries, it was out of its mind, it simply made the MacBook Air a demonstrably better product, cheaper and cheaper, and soon enough, the tech industry was chasing something else and had forgotten all about netbooks. The parallels here are not exact but theyre also not that different. AI is the thing you have to have because investorsnot customerssay so, even though so far no one has really figured out how to make a lot of money off of LLMs. Well, except for the individuals running AI companies who are probably making really good money despite their companies not making any profit. Apple stuck to its guns with netbooks. It didnt with AI. If Apple had said, Oh, you kids go ahead and have fun! it might well have been able to let other companies pop this bubble instead of joining the chase for the latest industry unicorn. One of its long-time strengths was not listening to industry groupthink and instead figuring out what customers really want. This time, it fell victim to the pressure of investors, pundits, and venture capitalists. Time will tell, but the Macalope thinks Giannandrea might have been right.

Who needs Terminal when this app lets you customize your Mac to perfection?

Macworld Your Mac is a powerful machine, but youre probably only scratching the surface of what it can do. Beneath its sleek interface lies a powerhouse of hidden features just waiting to be unleashed. Instead of fumbling through Terminal commands or navigating settings menus to find them, MacPilot gives you over 1,200 advanced macOS tweaks you dont have to be a genius to use. And right now, you can getlifetime access at a 70% discount. Take control without touching T erminal MacPilot is like having a hacker mode for your Mac but without needing a coding degree. With a few clicks, you can: Reveal hidden system settings : Show hidden files in Finder, disable the startup chime, and tweak icon animations Supercharge your Dock : Add spacers, smart stacks, and hidden menu options Optimize performance : Run maintenance tools, clear cache, and repair system files Get deep system insights : View detailed specs on hardware, RAM speeds, network ports, and more An essential tool for power users Whether youre a developer, creative pro, or just someone who wants their Mac running at peak efficiency, MacPilot puts advanced customization at your fingertips, all without the headache of Terminal commands. Stop squandering your Macs potential. Getyour MacPilot lifetime subscription for just $29.97(reg. $99) when you enter coupon code MAC10 at checkout. MacPilot Lifetime License See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Rare sale cuts the price of Apples latest Magic Mouse with USB-C

Macworld Theres something magic about Apples mousebesides its nameand its the beautiful mix of design, usability, and perfect integration with every other Apple product you own. What makes this even better is that you can get one for $68 right now, which is only $11 off but one of the few sales weve ever seen. Apples Magic Mouse has a beautiful, sleek design that will fit nicely into your hand, gliding effortlessly over any surface. The mouse features a multi-touch surface that allows gestures, which come in handy if you want to swipe between web pages, for instance. The mouse comes with a rechargeable battery, so youll have to plug this in to charge about once a month, but you can use USB-C now, as Apple swapped out the Lightning port last year. The annoying part about it is that the charging port is on its belly, so you cant use it while it refills its battery, but you only need to charge it for a few minutes to get hours of use. So if youve had your eye on the Magic Mouse, but didnt want to pay full price, getting it for $68 is as good of a deal as youre likely to get. So go grab one before the price jumps back up. Snag a Magic Mouse in this rare sale Buy now at Amazon

Google killed the Chromecast, but Walmart just launched a budget replacement

Last year, Chromecast digital media players became the latest product line to enter the Google Graveyard. Google dumped the brand in favor of its Google The post Google killed the Chromecast, but Walmart just launched a budget replacement appeared first on BGR .

iPadOS 17.7.8 update now available for older iPads

Macworld Apple on Monday released iPadOS 17.7.8, an update for older iPads that cannot run iPadOS 18. The 17.7.8 update is for the first-generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro, the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the sixth-generation iPad. The update addresses an issue where iPads running iPadOS 17.7.7 did not allow users to log into an app. The release note states that the update includes important security fixes, but Apples security releases document states that iPadOS 17.7.8 has no published CVE entriesin other words, the update doesnt address anything recorded in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database. To install the update, open the Settings app and go to Software Update. You will need an internet connection, and the iPad will need to restart. The current version of iPadOS is 18.5 , which was released last week. However, Apple does release updates to older operating systems, such as iPadOS 17, when functionality is impaired, serious bugs have been addressed, or vital security patches are available.

Apple plans to offer AI alternatives as it works to overhaul Siri

Macworld Mark Gurman and Dave Bennett have an interesting feature at Bloomberg about Apples AI struggles. It is primarily a summary of the last several months reporting on how Apple fell behind in AI, why it failed to deliver on its iOS 18 promises, and how its shaking up the organization to get back on track. But there are a few new or updated bits of information in there, even for those who have been paying attention to this drama. The report paints the picture of a company that is dramatically overhauling Siri, which will take time. In the meantime, the company plans to offer users a variety of options in AI tools. We previously reported, Apple is working on a huge Siri overhaul . The current version of Siri is a hybrid model of sorts, with different models to handle simple iPhone commands and more sophisticated AI queries. Apple now has AI-centered offices in Zurich that are working on a new all LLM (large language model) version of Siri that will handle everything with one sophisticated engine. This Siri is said to be conversational and much better at understanding information and taking actions. The company has in the past been reluctant to even pursue Siri as an alternative to todays chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini, but that thinking has changed and it is racing ahead. Work appears to be going well, with Gurman and Bennett reporting that, the chatbot the company has been testing internally has made significant strides over the past six months, to the point that some executives see it as on par with recent versions of ChatGPT. Its still a long way from release, however. It wont be ready to show off at WWDC next month, and wont be a part of iOS 19. In fact, the report says, Siri is going to take a back seat at WWDC, in favor of other AI enhancements like battery management and a health coach. That will be disappointing for Apple fans who have taken to making Siri failures a meme, and are at least looking for Apple to patch up the current version into something less embarrassing. While we wait for LLM Siri, Apple plans to offer alternatives. In most of the world, requests that Siri cant handle can be sent to ChatGPT for an answer, and it is used in the Visual Intelligence feature as well. Bloomberg once again states that Apple will add Googles Gemini as an option in addition to ChatGPT in iOS 19, and whats more, the company is in early talks with Perplexity to add it as another ChatGPT alternative for Siri, and as a search provider in Safari. Apple seems to know how bad Siris reputation has gotten, at least. According to the report, the company is going to work to separate Siri from the overall Apple Intelligence brand in its marketing, because the Siri brand isnt helping. Apple will also close the gap between when it announces new features and when they are available, to avoid the embarrassing slip-up of this past year, where it promised Siri features last June that still havent materialized. Apple will kick off WWDC with a keynote on June 9 to showcase the Apple Intelligence features coming in the next year.

iPhone 17: Everything we know so far about the 2025 iPhones

Macworld It doesnt take long for iPhone rumors to circulate. Its one of the most iconic and influential tech gadgets of all time, and everyone wants to know whats coming next. That Apple is so secretive only heightens the appeal of iPhone rumors and leaks. So it should come as little surprise that iPhone 17 rumors, leaks, and info started to circulate months before the iPhone 16 was even formally announced. Heres everything we know so far, but dont take any of it as solid info: even when early rumors are accurate, plans can change, and nothing is ever certain until Apple announces it. Updated May 19, 2025: The rumored iPhone 17 Air is said to have a battery of just 2,800mAh , more than 20% smaller than any iPhone 16 battery. iPhone 17 release date: When is the next iPhone coming out? Heres something we do know: The new iPhone lineup is almost always announced in Septemberusually on a Tuesday in the second week of September, to be specific. So we would expect the iPhone 17 line to be announced on or around September 9, 2025 . Heres when the most recent models were released: iPhone 15: September 12, 2023 iPhone 14: Sepember 7, 2022 iPhone 13: Sepember 14, 2021 i Phone 12: October 13, 2020 (delayed due to Covid) Historically, preorders for the iPhone begin on the Friday after the announcement, and the phones ship a week later. On occasion, some specific models may ship a couple of weeks later than others due to production issues. iPhone 17: Price We havent yet heard if the iPhone 17 line will cost the same as the iPhone 16 line. Most rumors suggest the Plus model will be replaced by the new super-slim Air model, which will take over its price in the lineup as well: iPhone 17 : 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($799) iPhone 17 Pro : 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,099) iPhone 17 Pro Max : 6.86-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,199) iPhone 17 Air : 6.65-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($899) This would mean a significant upward shift in overall iPhone pricing, with the Pro model jumping up $100 and a new model replacing the Plus with a price of $100 more than the Pro Max. Now that Apple has introduced the iPhone 16e there may also be an iPhone 17e joining the lineup in September 2025, although we dont know if it will be updated in September 2025, or if that model wont arrive until spring 2026. The price is likely to be $599 for the iPhone 17e, unless Apple introduces an iPhone 17e in place of the iPhone 15, with a price of $699, in which case the iPhone 16e could remain in the lineup with its $599 price tag. iPhone 17: Colors In April, Majin Bu reported that the iPhone 17 Pro models will come in a new and irresistible sky blue color. That would be the second product with that color, following the M4 MacBook Air. The iPhone 16 comes in five colors including Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black.The iPhone 16 Pro comes in Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium, which are reminiscent of the classic gold and space gray options. There were rumors that the iPhone 16 would also come in purple, so perhaps thats in the pipeline for 2025. iPhone 17: New slimmer iPhone 17 Air model Several analysts have reported that the existing Plus model will be replaced by a new Slim model with a larger screen size and a much thinner body. Analyst Jeff Pu was the first to report this change (in May 2024), and in the same month, The Information reported on the Slim model , stating that it would be a new even-higher-end model that sits above Pro Max in the lineup and would have a centered rear camera and a smaller Dynamic Island. The much slimmer size will come at the expense of battery capacity, as there just isnt room for a battery as thick as you find in other iPhones. Leaker yeux1122 has said the battery capacity is to be around 2,800mAh , which is more than 20% less than the battery in any iPhone 16 model. A report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in August 2024 claimed the new model will fit between the standard iPhone and the Pro: If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhonebut dont really need the performance, screen size, or cameras of a Pro modelyou can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone. A report from Jeff Pu in November 2024 claims that the iPhone 17 Air/Slim will be around 6mm thick . Thats thinner than any iPhone so far. The iPhone 16, for context, is 7.8mm thick. The thinnest new iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick. In May, yuex1122 said the phone will be only 5.5mm thick (aside from the camera bump) and weigh just 145 grams, which is According to Koreas Sisa Journal in January 2025, the so-called iPhone 17 Air will be 6.25mm thick and cost in the same price range as the iPhone 16 Plus (starting at $899 U.S.). A medium post from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the thinnest part of the new ultra-slim iPhone is just 5.5mm thick , but its difficult to know what that means without more context. The camera bump, according to Weibo leaker Ice Universe , will be 4.0mm thick , bringing the total phone thickness to 9.5mm at the camera. In October 2024 Pu said he expects the phone to have an A19 chip (not A19 Pro), 8GB of RAM, around a 6.6-inch display, an aluminum body, and a single 48MP rear camera. A leaked image in January reportedly showed the case of the new iPhone 17 Air, with a prominent camera bar design. Majin Bu/X Most recently, an episode of the YouTube channel Unboxed Therapy featured a dummy model version of the phone from a third-party supplier. Its our best look yet at the overall size and thin design. iPhone 17: Cameras All iPhone 17 models have been rumored to feature a 24MP front-facing camera . An October 2024 research note from analyst Jeff Pu added that the iPhone 17 Pro would feature a 48MP telephoto camera along with a new 24MP front camera . According to a later report from Majin Bu , the 48MP telephoto camera will have a zoom of 3.5x (85mm) , with an optical crop zoom mode similar to todays 48MP wide camera, so you can shoot 12MP 7x (160mm) shots before the digital zoom kicks in. Some iPhone 17 models (maybe even all of them) will have a new camera bump , a wide rectangular raised area that stretches across the phone similar in style to Googles Pixel line. According to a leaked image of one iPhone 17 aluminum frame (we dont know from which model), it will be substantial in size. The Pro models are expected to have a camera bar design like the iPhone 17 Air, only larger and with three cameras in the familiar array. According to leaker Jon Prosser, it should look something like this: Front Page Tech / @Zellozi Months later, Mark Gurman clarified in his newsletter that the camera bump wont have a dark interior, but rather the entire area will match the color of the phone. In February 2025, veteran leaker Majin Bu leaked iPhone 17 CAD images that seemed to reveal three different camera designs . The images suggest that there will be not one or two but three different camera module designs on show. The two Pro models will have triple rear lenses embedded in a thick band that runs across the back of the phone, as predicted by Jon Prosser (above). The standard iPhone 17 will stick feature two lenses stacked vertically. And the rumored iPhone 17 Air will offer an iPhone 16e-like single camera lens on the rear in order to reduce costs and keep the chassis slim and light. Sonny Dickson A report from The Information in July 2024 claims that at least one model will feature a mechanical aperture , which would be new for iPhones but has been seen in a handful of Android phones so far. iPhone 17: Rumored specs and features Various rumors suggest that the new iPhones could benefit from the following updates: Design and display The always-on display is supposed to finally be available on the non-Pro models . In addition, some believe that ProMotion will come to the non-Pro models, since the same LPTO technology that enables the always-on display is what makes ProMotion possible, in Apples iPhone implementation. If true, it would be the first time Apple has offered ProMotion on a non-Pro device. Apple is also said to be working with Corning on a new anti-glare and scratch-resistant glass for the iPhone 17 lineup. However, a report in May claimed that Apple had scrapped the new glass due to production issues. Dynamic Island The iPhone 17 Pro Max may have a smaller dynamic island . Rumors have changed back and forthJeff Pu said the dynamic island (or rather, the hardware pill that the island surrounds) will be smaller in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Then Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said it will be the same size as current models. Then leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo said it will indeed be smaller. Processor We dont know much about what chips will power the iPhone 17 line, but we expect the high-end models will get an A19 Pro , while the non-Pro models may get a standard or cut-back version of the A19, or perhaps a more souped up variant of the A18. RAM Since Apple bumped every iPhone 16 model to 8GB of RAM due to the demands of Apple Intelligence, rumors have suggested Apple will increase the memory in the iPhone 17 Pro models to 12GB . In a report concerning RAM suppliers , Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple wants the regular iPhone 17 to feature 12GB as well , but supply shortages may be an issue. Wi-Fi When it comes to wireless, the cellular modem is likely to still be supplied by Qualcomm; Apples own efforts to produce a top-tier 5G modem seem to be stalled and likely wont be ready in time for next years iPhone 17 line. Wi-Fi 7 support seems likely, too. iPhone history The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone 16e are the current-generation models available from Apple. Below you can find links to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event . You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone , our iPhone buying guide , and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today . 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Best external SSD for Mac

Macworld Solid-state drives aka SSD used to be really expensive, but prices have really fallen in the past few years, and you can now pick up fast, reliable SSDs that cost only slightly more than their hard drive counterparts. Even the slowest SSDs are generally faster than mechanical hard drives. As well as being faster than conventional hard drives, SSDs are lighter and sturdier too, making them ideal for use with a laptop when youre traveling. Thats reflected in the drives that we review here, most of which are small and light enough to slip into your pocket. However, the latest SSDs can also offer up to 8TB of storage, which makes them a good option for use with a desktop Mac in an office as well. And they can help to reduce cable clutter too, as they generally take their power from a USB port on your Mac, rather than requiring a separate external power supply. Other features to look out for include IP-ratings for weather protection and password protection for your important files. Just remember to check that any apps provided by the manufacturer work with Macs and well as Windows PCs. Another thing to take note of is whether the SSD connects via Thunderbolt 5, 4 or 3, and USB 4 or USB-C, USB 3 or USB 3.22. The latter is one to avoid if you are a Mac user because Apple supports only 10Gbps with USB 3.2, meaning 3.22 20Gbps SSDS are constrained to half their potential. There are some SSD drives that support the new Thunderbolt 5 standard, which brings speeds of up to 80Gbps if you have a Mac with M4 Pro or M4 Max. Weve looked at some Thunderbolt 5 equipped SSDs below. Best SSD for Mac 2025 LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 Pros Supports Thunderbolt 5 Impressive performance Rugged design with IP68 Five-year warranty Cons Expensive Requires M4 Pro or Max Price When Reviewed: 2TB: $399.99; 4TB: $599.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $349.99 View Deal $349.99 View Deal Seagate (Lacie) $399.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Pro5 looks almost identical to the previous-generation Rugged SSD Pro, which uses Thunderbolt 3. The only visible difference between the two drives is the fact that the Pro5 is wrapped in a dark-blue rubber sleeve, rather than the somber black of its predecessor. That rubber sleeve is designed to provide extra protection for the drive, and the Pro5 is even sturdier than before, with an IP68 rating for water and dust-resistance. LaCie claims the Pro5 can survive immersion in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, survive being dropped from a height of 3m (10ft), and survive being run over by vehicles weighing up to two tonnes. Theres a five-year warranty too. It measures 17mm thick, 98mm wide and 65mm deep and weighs 150g, which is a little more than its 100g Rugged Pro predecessor. It comes in 2TB or 4TB capacities. Its not cheap, starting at $399.99/359.99 for 2TB or $599.99/579.99 for 4TB. The Pro5 does use a standard USB-C connector, so its still backward-compatible with older Macs, but if you want to get the full performance of the Thunderbolt 5 interface youll need a MacBook Pro or Mac mini with M4 Pro or M4 Max processor as these are the only chips to support the standard. The older Rugged Pro is still on sale, so make sure you look for the Pro5 model if you want Thunderbolt 5 performance. We found that the standard USB-C cable we use for our Time Machine back-up drive didnt provide enough power for the Pro5, so it might be worth investing in a spare Thunderbolt 5 cable. The Rugged SSD Pro5 is the fastest Thunderbolt drive weve tested so far, and along with its rugged, portable design its an excellent option for creative users who want to exploit the full speed of their new Thunderbolt 5 Macs. Read our full LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 review SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD with USB4 Pros USB4 provides good performance Competitive price Rugged design Cons Lacks full Thunderbolt support Large Price When Reviewed: $280 for 2TB, $430 for 4TB Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Sandisk $279.99 View Deal $429.99 View Deal $429.99 View Deal $429.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Since parting ways with Western Digital SanDisk has launched a collection of new products. Among these were SanDisks Extreme Portable SSD, an affordable entry-level drive included below, and the Extreme Pro With USB4. The Extreme Pro With USB4 is available with 2TB or 4TB of storage. It resembles its predecessors, featuring rounded corners, orange trim, and a cut-out for attaching a lanyard. A USB-C cable is included. Its a little larger than previously: 11.9mm thick, 58.7mm wide, and 140mm long. Making it almost as large as the iPhone 16e and heavier than it. The drives main body is made of forged aluminium, wrapped in a silicon sleeve for added protection. SanDisk claims it can survive a 2m drop and is IP65 water and dust resistant. They also provide a five-year warranty. The Extreme Pro With USB4 is larger than other SanDisk drives, measuring 11.9mm thick, 58.7mm wide, and 140mm long. Its almost as large as the iPhone 16e and heavier than it, but still small enough to fit in a pocket or bag. Its sturdy design makes it suitable for travel and outdoor work. The main attraction is USB4 performance. SanDisk quotes a maximum write performance of up to 3700MB/s and read performance of up to 3800MB/s. We tested the drive with a MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 4, achieving strong performance of 3400MB/s for both read and write. We also tested the drive with a new Mac mini with Thunderbolt 5 and were surprised to see a significant jump in write performance to 4400MB/s, which remained consistent despite repeated tests. Read performance remained unchanged at 3400MB/s. Professional users requiring top performance with large video or graphics files may prefer a solid-state drive with full Thunderbolt support, but the Extreme Pro With USB4 offers impressive performance at an affordable price, making it suitable for most users who need a fast, sturdy portable drive for Time Machine backups. OWC Envoy Ultra Pros Fast 6GBps reading & 5GBps writing via Thunderbolt 5 Rugged and weatherproof Cons Expensive Requires M4 Pro/Max Mac for full 80Gbps performance Limited compatibility Price When Reviewed: 2TB: $399.99; 4TB: $599.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $379.99 View Deal OWC $400 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket You can take full advantage of the Thunderbolt 5 ports on your M4 Pro Mac mini or M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro and possibly circumvent Apples avaricious storage upgrade pricing with OWCs Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 external SSD. Thunderbolt 5 itself is backwards compatible with older Thunderbolt specs, but its not nearly as backwards compatible as wed like. For example, to utilize a Thunderbolt 5 drive your M-series Mac need to be running macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia. Thunderbolt 3 Macs with Intel chips must run Sequoia. But only the M4 Pro amd M4 Max chips will give you the full Thunderbolt 5 experience. You may have seen 120GBps quoted in some articles as Thunderbolt 5s top speed, but thats only unidirectional for displays. Bi-directional, as with storage, is limited to 80Gbps. Benchmarks showed anywhere from 5.2GBps (Blackmagicdesigns Disk Speed Test), to 6.5GBps reading (AmorphousDiskMark), to near 7GBps reading and 5.57GBps writing (ATTO). Its fast. The OWC Envoy Ultra is a larger chunk of black metal, measuring about 0.75 inches thick, 2.8 inches wide, and 5 inches long. The Envoy Ultra weighs in at 10.5 ounces or so. It has a captive cable, which is for weatherproofing (its not IP-rated). This does make it a bit harder to put away. Alas, writing was considerably slower, only around 1.5GBps. The Envoy Ultra costs $400/356 in its 2TB form and $600/598.49 at 4TB. It carries a three-year warranty. If you want, and can afford the absolute fastest storage for your new Thunderbolt 5 Mac, then this is a heck of a lot cheaper than Apples rapaciously priced internal storage and nearly as fast. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD Pros Rugged design Competitive price Good performance USB-C interface, with USB-A adaptor included Cons No Thunderbolt support Not completely water-resistant Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $99.99; 2TB: $149.99; 4TB: $249.99; 8TB: $549.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Western Digital (1TB) $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We last looked at SanDisks rugged Extreme Portable V2 in 2021 so it was due an update. This latest model comes swaggering back with an even sturdier design and increased capacity that offers up to 8TB of storage. The external design hasnt changed much for this update, it still comes in a perforated black case made out of silicon that provides plenty of protection, and theres the same hook for a lanyard. We tested the 8TB version, which is slightly larger than the previous model but its still slim and light. There arent many rival drives that provide that much storage in such a compact and portable design. This model uses the same USB-C connector as its predecessor, with support for USB 3.2 (Gen 2). Theres a USB-C cable included in the box, and even a USB-A adaptor! Speeds are 1000MB/s and 1050MB/s for write and read performance respectively, as previously. And our tests found that the two drives produce very similar results when running the Black Magic Disk speed test, with the Extreme Portable reaching 946MB/s for write performance and 910MB/s for read performance. The main difference is that this update for 2025 is even tougher than before, boasting an IP65 rating for resistance to water and dust. This model provides more storage capacity too, starting at 1GB and going up to 8TB. SanDisk has several portable solid-state drives that look similar and have similar names. The Extreme Pro Portable looks identical and has a faster USB4 interface, but only offers up to 4TB storage. The less expensive Portable SSD, isnt particularly fast. Check the name before you buy. Its a good option for anyone that needs to store large, high-res photo or video files on their MacBook when theyre working outdo. Kingston XS1000 Pros Very competitive price Pocket-size design Weighs only 28.7g Cons No Thunderbolt interface No bundled software Cable is USB-A-to-USB-C Price When Reviewed: 1TB $84.99; 2TB $139.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Kingston $64.90 View Deal $87.99 View Deal $87.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We liked the sturdy little XS2000 drive that Kingston launched back in 2022, but it was pretty expensive and used a version of USB known as USB 3.2 Gen 22, which isnt fully supported on the Mac at the moment. Drives that use Gen 22 will still work with a Mac, but the Mac wont get the full speed that the drive is capable of. However, Kingston has now launched a more affordable model called the XS1000. This is a more conventional USB-C drive, using standard USB 3.2 Gen 2, so its a good, affordable option for Mac users who just want a compact, lightweight backup drive. The XS1000 is one of the smallest and lightest SSDs that weve seen so far in fact, it looks more like a little USB thumb drive, rather than a high-capacity backup drive. It measures just 13.5mm thick, 32.5mm wide and 69.5mm long, and weighs only 28.7g, so you can easily slip it into your shirt or trouser pocket when youre traveling. Its not quite as rugged as the more expensive XS2000 which had an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance but the plastic and metal casing feels sturdy enough to cope with a few knocks when youre traveling, and Kingston provides a five-year warranty as well. Its very competitively priced too, costing $84.99/74.99 with 1TB of storage, or $109.99/99.99 with 2TB. The drives USB interface provides a quoted write speed of 1000MBs, while the read speed is slightly higher at 1050MB/s. It didnt quite match those speeds in our tests, but its write speed of 875MB/s and read speed of 950MB/s will still be fine for routine back-ups with Time Machine. Our only complaint is that Kingston only includes a USB-A-to-USB-C cable with the XS1000, so youll need to buy an adaptor or a new cable if your Mac only has USB-C. Professional users might prefer a faster drive, or a more rugged design, but if you just want an affordable backup drive that can go traveling with you then the XS1000 is great value for money. SE920 External SSD Pros High data transfer rates Good fan Cons No transport bag No rubber feet Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $140 I 2TB: $200 I 4TB: $380 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Adata $159.99 View Deal $159.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Adata SE920 External SSD is a high-performance USB4 SSD for those who need rapid data transfer speeds. It combines passive and active cooling with a compact metal housing for passive cooling, and a micro-fan with openings for active cooling. The user can actually activate the fan by pressing on the housing. If you are working on a project such as a video or image edit, or another task that could require a lot of drive access over a period of time, then switch on the fan. The rest of the time you can probably leave it. The SE920 is primarily designed for Windows users, evident from the formatting in the NTFS file system and the backup software for Windows, but this shouldnt be a problem for experienced Mac users. The SE920 is quickly reformatted in APFS using the macOS Disk Utility. Data transfer rates measured with Aja System Test Lite were impressive. The SE920 achieved 2992MBps for writes and 3161 MBps for reads. Data rates are stable over a longer period and the thermal design works perfectly. All this comes at a good price. We recommend the SE920 to any content creator. Read our full SE920 External SSD review SanDisk Pro Blade System Pros Thunderbolt 3 interface (compatible with USB-C) Ultra-rugged design Professional-level performance Cons Very expensive Doesnt support Thunderbolt 4 Price When Reviewed: $49.99 for dock I $159.99 w/1TB Mag I $219.99 w/2TB I $339.99 w/4TB Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Western Digital $49.99 View Deal $164.99 View Deal $164.99 View Deal $213.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We normally organize reviews of portable drives and desktop drives separately, but the new SanDisk Pro Blade is a modular SSD storage system that is very much designed for professional and creative users, and allows you to switch between portable and desktop modes as required. You can start by buying the Pro Blade SSD Mag , which is a solid-state storage module that is available in 1TB, 2TB or 4TB sizes (the 1TB was discounted from $179.99 to $119.99 at the time of our review). The SSD Mag is pre-formatted in APFS format for Mac users, and is tough enough to withstand being dropped from a height of 3 meters or 9.8 foot, and withstand 4000lb (1814kg) crush pressure, making it ideal for outdoor use. However, the SSD Mag modules cant connect to a computer on their own, so SanDisk provides two options for portable and desktop use. For portable use you can buy the Pro Blade Transport , which is a compact case for the SSD Mag, and is equipped with a USB-C port for connecting to your Mac. The Transport measures just 130.4mm long, 71.5mm wide and 16mm thick, so you can easily slip it into your pocket or a carrying case just like any other portable drive. Its also possible to connect the Transport to a camera that has a USB-C interface so that you can record high-res video rather than having to carry lots of smaller SD memory cards. When you get back to the office you also have the option of inserting the SSD Mag modules into the Pro Blade Station ($499.99/490.99). This desktop storage system doesnt include any built-in storage of its own, but it has four slots that allow you to insert SSD Mag modules (not included) providing up to 16TB of high-speed solid-state storage. The Pro Blade Station has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, with one used to connect your Mac, while the other port can be used to daisy-chain additional storage devices if required. The Pro Blade Station is fairly expensive given that it doesnt include any storage of its own but it gives you the option of creating a high-speed, high-capacity SSD storage system for use in your office, whilst also being able to remove the individual SSD Mag modules and use them as portable drives whenever you need to. Western Digital which owns SanDisk these days claims that the Pro Blade Station can provide read and write speeds of 3000MB/s and 2600MB/s respectively. Our tests actually recorded a read speed of 2600MB/s and write speed of 2300MB/s, but thats still one of the fastest SSD drives weve ever seen, making it a good option for creative users who need a fast storage system that they can use both in the office and on the road. Read our full Sandisk Pro-Blade Transport review LaCie Rugged SSD Pro Pros IP67 ruggedized Fast NVMe/Thunderbolt 3 performance Operates via Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.0 Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $419.99 (1TB), $739.99 (2TB), $1049.99 (4TB) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $184.99 View Deal $235.06 View Deal $274.99 View Deal $274.99 View Deal $316.38 View Deal LaCie $419.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket LaCies Rugged drives have been popular with Mac users for many years, thanks to their combination of high-performance and that now-familiar orange sleeve that helps to keep the drive safe when youre working outdoors. However, the Rugged range has mostly used conventional hard drives in the past, which are slower than the latest solid-state drives, as well as being bigger and heavier. Welcome the Rugged Pro SSD, which is primarily aimed at creative users. (We look at the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 above, which is a newer model that supports Thunderbolt 5). The Rugged SSD range starts at around $180 / 180 for a model with 500GB storage, but we were able to review the SSD Pro, which stands out from the rest of the range with its matte-black sleeve. Its pretty expensive, costing $419/249.99 with 1TB of storage, and a hefty $739.99/379.99 for the 2TB model and $1,049.99/999.99 for 4TB, but it justifies that price with an even tougher design and the latest, super-fast solid-state drives designed for professional video work. (U.K. prices dropped in 2024 but US prices dont seem to have followed suit. Luckily you can get good deals at various resellers). Switching to a solid-state drive means that the SSD Pro is now the smallest model in the Rugged range, measuring just 3.8in/98mm long, 2.5in/65mm wide and 0.6in/17mm thick. It only weighs 100g/3.5oz, so you can easily slip it into your pocket or bag when youre traveling and barely even notice that its there. Despite its compact design, that new black sleeve is seriously tough and rated IP67 for resistance to water and dust, allowing it to survive in 3.2 foot/1m of water for up to 30 minutes. It can cope with being dropped from a height of 9.8 foot/3m, and can even resist the weight of a two-tonne car driving over it. It includes a five-year warranty in case anything does go wrong, which includes one visit to LaCies data-recovery labs if you need to retrieve important data. The Rugged SSD Pro includes just a single Thunderbolt 3/USB-C interface, but most of its high price is down to the use of the latest NVMe solid-state drives, which provide top performance for high-end video applications, such as editing 8K or super-slow-motion video files (which can be enormous, as they shoot at up to 240 frames per second on the latest iPhones). The drive didnt disappoint, recording consistent write speeds of 1780MB/s, and an even faster 2480MB/s for read speeds with both figures leaving just about every other SSD drive weve ever tested trailing in its wake. And, when backing up our iTunes music library, the Rugged SSD Pro blew us away by backing up 5GB of music files in just five seconds look away for a couple of seconds and youll miss it! Of course, not everyone will need that sort of performance especially at this price but if you work with high-res video and need a fast, tough drive for outdoor work then the Rugged SSD Pro is in a class of its own. Read our full LaCie Rugged SSD Pro review LaCie Portable SSD Pros Small and stylish Solid construction Cons Middling performance Price When Reviewed: 500GB $129.99; 1TB $209.99; 2TB $369.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $64.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal LaCie $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The LaCie Portable SSD is an option for people who dont need James Bond levels of security. Available with 500GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage, the Portable SSD has a new design compared to its predecessor. Rather than sharply angular corners and edges of the now discontinued LaCie Mobile SSD, the compact Portable SSD has smoothly round corners perhaps following Apples recent fetish for rounded corners on icons in Big Sur and Monterey. Its smaller and lighter than previous drives from LaCie too, measuring just 0.4in/10.6mm thick, 1.9in/50mm wide, and 3in/80mm long, and it weighs a mere 1.5oz/45g, so its ideal for carrying around with your MacBook or iPad when youre traveling. The drive has a single USB-C interface, and includes a USB-C cable, but the low cost means that there are no added extras, such as an adaptor for older Macs that have USB-A (3.2) connectors. LaCie hasnt cut any other corners, though. The Portable SSD has a solid, sturdy design that should be able to cope with a few bumps in a backpack or briefcase, and it performs very well too. LaCie quotes read and write speeds of 1000MB/s, but repeated tests with the BlackMagic speed test app showed the Portable SSD comfortably cruising along at around 1,300MB/s with no trouble at all. That combination of speed, compact design and competitive pricing makes the Portable SSD a great option for anyone that needs a portable backup drive for their Mac or iPad. Read our full review . Samsung T5 EVO Pros Compact, lightweight design Sturdily built Provides up to 8TB storage Competitive price Cons Modest performer Only supports USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Price When Reviewed: 2TB: $189.99; 4TB: $$229.99; 8TB: $479.00 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Samsung (2TB) $189.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket T5 EVO isnt as fast as some of its SSD rivals, but its great as a general-purpose backup device and provides a faster and more portable alternative to a conventional hard drive. Unlike many solid-state drives, it provides up to 8TB of storage, making it a good option for people who need a lot of storage space for their work files, photos and videos. Its competitively priced, starting at $189.99/146 for 2TB of storage. The drive is compact, just 17mm thick, 40mm wide and 95mm long, and weighing 102g. Theres a chunky metal ring on one end that can be used to attach the drive to a backpack or belt. It doesnt have the armor-plated protection of Samsungs T7 Shield, but the T5 EVO doesnt cut corners on build quality. The drive is metal and then wrapped in a rubber sleeve to provide extra protection. It doesnt quote an IP rating for resistance to water and dust though. Its not the fastest back-up drive you can buy, and while theres a USB-C port for connecting to a Mac or PC, it only supports the relatively old USB 3.2 (Gen 1) standard, and Samsung quotes fairly modest speeds of 460MB/s for both read and write performance. Our tests showed that the drives write performance was right on the nose with a speed of 460MB/s when running the Black Magic disk speed test, although read performance was slower at 370MB/s. T5 EVO will be a great option for laptop users who want to ditch an old hard drive and replace it with a more portable solid-state drive that provides plenty of storage. Lexar Armor 700 Pros Competitive price Up to 4TB storage Rugged, weather-resistant design Cons No Thunderbolt support Full speed requires USB 3.2 Gen 22 Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $150 I 2TB: $230 I 4TB: $400 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $209.99 View Deal B&H $209.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Lexar makes a wide range of memory cards and solid-state drives that are very much aimed at creative users, and its Armor 700 drive provides fast, high-capacity storage in a rugged design that will be ideal for outdoor photo-shoots or filming. As the name suggests, the Armor 700 is sturdily built, boasting an IP66 rating for water and dust protection. This means that the drive can withstand powerful jets of water (but not complete immersion under water), and is tightly sealed to prevent dust or other particles from penetrating the drive. Its also wrapped in a shock-resistant rubber sleeve that can cope with being dropped from a height of three metres. The drive is available with 1TB, 2TB or 4TB of storage, so it provides plenty of storage for your Time Machine backups when youre on the road. Lexar also includes an app called DataShield that allows you to create an encrypted folder on the drive for storing sensitive files and data. The Amor 700 is equipped with a USB-C interface, with a USB-C cable and USB-A adaptor included in the box. Lexar states that the drive provides read and write speeds of up to 2000MB/s, but it does require a device that supports USB 3.2 Gen 22 in order to achieve those speeds (yes, USB standards are a complete mess these days). Apple doesnt support that specific version of USB, which means that Macs, iPhones and iPads with USB-C will only get a maximum speed of 1000MB/s. Our tests actually recorded scores of 910MB/s for write performance and 925MB/s for read performance, but thats more than adequate for routine backups when youre out and about. Lexar also states that this is fast enough to record 4K ProRes video from an iPhone 15 or 16, and the Armor 700 is still competitively priced when compared to rugged drives such as LaCies Rugged SSD. Professional users who really need top performance may prefer a drive that supports Thunderbolt such as LaCies high-end Rugged Pro but Thunderbolt drives are still very expensive, making the Armor 700 a good option for people on a tighter budget. You cant buy direct from Lexar, though, so its worth shopping around online to find the best price. Verbatim TurboMetal SSD Pros Good data transfer rate Quiet fan Cons Data rate drops during long data transfers No operation without fan Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $150.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Verbatim TurboMetal SSD is a classic NVMe drive with a length of around 106mm, a 55mm wide and 18mm thin metal housing, and weighs 150g. Like many USB4 enclosures, it uses an active fan and cooling slots for cooling. The fan is temperature-controlled and starts automatically when the temperature rises. Verbatim specifies a USB4 data transfer rate of 3600MBps for writing and 3700MBps for reading. However, we achieved 2664MBps for writing and 3123MBps for reading on an M3 MacBook Air in a 4K test with Aja System Test Lite. These are not bad values, but the best USB4 drives weve measured achieve slightly higher writing speeds but not higher reading speeds. The M4 Max Mac Studio showed much better values, with 2869MBps for writing and 3499MBps for reading. In a 30-minute endurance test with the Backmagicdesign Disk Speed Test, the fan started after 10 minutes. The TurboMetal got too warm after around 9 minutes in the data transfer rate, which dropped significantly to below 1000MBps. Shortly after starting the fan, the temperature of the SSD levelled off again, and the data transfer rate rose to its original value. The runs only when it has to. During the endurance test, the data transfer rate dropped briefly but stabilised immediately. DriveDX measured the temperature at around 46 degrees Celsius after using the fan, which remained on. The TurboMetal Portable SSD is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities with a 20cm USB4 cable. Its formatted as FAT32, so Mac users should reformat it to APFS. The included software is only for Windows. The TurboMetal SSD is a discreet USB4 drive. The data transfer rates are suitable for everyday use, but some SSDs offer better speed. The regular dips indicate thermal protection, but they shouldnt affect most applications. Read our full Verbatim Turbometal Portable SSD review SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 Pros Thunderbolt 3 interface (compatible with USB-C) Ultra-rugged design Professional-level performance Cons Very expensive Doesnt support Thunderbolt 4 Price When Reviewed: 1TB $299.99; 2TB $449.99; 4TB $699.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $269.99 View Deal $269.99 View Deal $269.99 View Deal $269.99 View Deal Western Digital $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Many portable drives use a standard USB-C port for connecting to a Mac or PC, but SanDisks Pro-G40 opts for a high-speed Thunderbolt 3 port to provide maximum performance for professional users who need to work with large video and graphics files (and, of course, its backward-compatible with USB-C as well). The Pro-G40 was first released in 2022, and was already on our list of the best SSD drives for Mac, but this current model provides both improved performance and higher capacity for your work files. The design hasnt changed though, with a compact, portable drive that measures just 12mm thick, 58mm wide and 111mm long. It weighs just over 120g depending on the capacity you choose so you can slip it into a jacket pocket or into a carrying case alongside your MacBook with no trouble at all. The drive is also extremely tough, with a sturdy metal case that is rated IP68 one of the highest ratings possible for resistance to water, dust and other particles. Western Digital, which now owns the SanDisk brand, also claims that the drive can survive drops from a height of 3m, and can withstand crushing pressure of up to 4000lbs. The drive even includes a five-year warranty as well. The 2022 version of the Pro-G40 provided read and write speeds of 2700MB/s and 1900MB/s respectively when using the Thunderbolt cable included in the box, but the current model is rated at 3000MB/s for read and 2500MB/s for write speeds. Our tests showed it to be absolutely spot-on for write performance, consistently hitting 2500MB/s. The read performance didnt quite hit the quoted 3000MB/s, settling at just over 27000MB/s, but thats still far faster than most USB-C drives, and provides the sort of performance that professional users need for backing up their work files. That combination of high performance and ultra-rugged design does mean that the Pro-G40 is quite a bit more expensive than many USB-C drives, so its probably overkill if you just need an affordable portable drive for backing up personal files. However, professional users will be pleased to find that the price of the Pro-G40 has been reduced recently, with the 1TB model now costing $299.99/294.99, while the 2TB version is $449.99/441.99. And, as mentioned, theres a new 4TB version to provide extra capacity, priced at $699.99/687.99. Read our full SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 review SanDisk Desk Drive Pros Good performance Up to 8TB capacity Compact design Cons Requires mains power No additional ports Price When Reviewed: 4TB: $379.99; 8TB: $699.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $289.99 View Deal $289.99 View Deal $289.99 View Deal $289.99 View Deal Western Digital $379.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The lightweight, compact design of solid-state drives makes them a great option if you need a portable back-up drive to use with your MacBook when youre traveling. However, portable SSDs do tend to have limited storage capacity, often with a maximum of just 1TB or 2TB. In contrast, the SanDisk Desk Drive provides both high-speed SSD performance and high capacity too, starting with a minimum of 4TB for $379.99/359.99. If thats not enough then you can also step up to 8TB, for $699.99/663.99. As the name suggests, the Desk Drive is very much designed for desktop use in an office, and its larger than most conventional SSDs, standing 40.2mm high and 99.2mm on each side, and weighing 268g. The drive itself is still small and light enough to slip into a backpack or traveling bag along with your MacBook, but it does require a mains power supply as well, so this isnt a drive that is going to leave the office very often (we did try to power it through a USB-C port on our MacBook Pro, but that didnt work). Its also a little disappointing that the Desk Drive just has a single USB-C port for data transfer. At this price, a couple of extra ports would have been a useful bonus, especially for MacBook models that only have a couple of USB-C ports of their own. We didnt have any complaints about the Desk Drives performance, though. SanDisk quotes a speed of 1GB/s, although the results we got were closer to 925MB/s and 910MB/s for write and read speeds respectively. Thats not as fast as some high-end SSDs that are designed for professional users such as SanDisks own Pro Blade system but its still a lot faster than a conventional hard drive, and the Desk Drive will be a very good option for people who simply need a fast backup drive that provides plenty of storage for photos, videos and work files. Seagate OneTouch SSD Pros Ships with USB cables that cover both USB-C and USB-A Sturdily built Cons Doesnt offer hardware encryption options Price When Reviewed: 500GB $94.99; 1TB $169.99; 2TB $309.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Seagate $94.99 View Deal $105.56 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Seagates OneTouch hard drives are a popular choice with many users. The OneTouch SSD is the smallest and lightest portable drive weve ever seen and is available in black, silver or blue. When sitting flat on the desk it measures just 2in/50mm wide, 2.7in/70mm deep and a mere 0.4in/10.6mm thick. And it weighs only 2.6oz/74g, so you can easily slip it into your pocket and carry it around with your laptop or iPad when youre traveling. Its sturdily built too, with Seagate claiming that it can withstand being dropped from a height of 6.5 foot/2m. The OneTouch drive has a USB-C interface, but Seagate includes both USB-C and USB-A cables so that you can use it with most Macs and PCs straight out of the box. It works with Apples Time Machine for automatic backups, but Seagate also includes its own ToolKit app, which has a sync option for backing up specific folders. The drive also includes a one-year free subscription to the Mylio photo-organizer app, and four months with Adobes CC Photography plan, normally $9.99/9.98 a month on an annual plan (read our guide to getting the best deal on Adobe Creative Cloud ). The drive is available with 500GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage, so it provides plenty of room for backing up large libraries of photos, videos or music. It doesnt quite match Seagates quoted speed of 1GB/s, but it recorded read and write speeds of 835MB/s and 915MB/s respectively in our tests, which still put it among the fastest solid-state drives that weve tested recently. And, with its ridiculously light and compact design, the OneTouch will be ideal for backing up all your important files when youre on the move. LaCie Rugged Mini SSD Pros Compact, rugged design Up to 4TB storage 3-year warranty Cons Expensive No Thunderbolt interface Requires USB 3.2 Gen 22 for maximum performance Price When Reviewed: 500GB = $89.99; 1TB $129.99; 2TB $234.99; 4TB $439.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal Lacie $84.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Continuing LaCies Rugged range of hard drives and SSDs. These have long been popular with people who need a sturdy back-up drive that can cope with rough weather and conditions when working outdoors, but the Rugged drives have always tended to be rather large and bulky like the Rugged SSD Pro (above) so LaCie has produced a more compact option in the form of the new Rugged Mini SSD. As you might expect, the Rugged Mini looks very much like its rugged relatives, with LaCies distinctive bright orange rubber sleeve helping to keep the drive safe. But, of course, its a lot smaller than previous models, measuring just 17.3mm thick, 66.9mm wide, 105mm long. It only weighs 114g as well, so you can easily slip it into a jacket pocket or backpack when youre traveling. Despite that compact design, the Rugged Mini is still tough enough to cope with some rough treatment. Its rated IP54 for water and dust resistance, so it should be able to cope with life outdoors if youre working on location for a photo- or video shoot. And, thanks to that rubber sleeve, it can handle drops of up to 3m and even survive being driven over by a 1-tonne truck. And if thats not tough enough, the drive comes with a three-year warranty that includes LaCies Rescue Data Recovery Service, to help restore any lost data. The drives USB-C port will work with any Mac or PC that also has USB-C or Thunderbolt. But, like a number of drives that weve seen recently, it uses a version of USB known as USB 3.2 Gen 22, which isnt fully supported by Macs at the moment. This means that Macs wont be able to get the full 2000MB/s speeds supported by that interface, and our tests confirmed this, recording write and read speeds of 900MB/s and 970MB/s respectively. Weve seen stronger performance from some rival drives, but those speeds should be perfectly adequate for routine backups when youre on the road, and the sturdy design of the Rugged Mini makes it a good option for people who need a drive that they can use outdoors on a regular basis. Pricing is a little confusing, though. In the US, the Rugged Mini costs $84.99/74.99 (1TB), $109.99/99.99 (2TB), and $159.99/149.99 (4TB). Weve seen much lower prices from Amazon and other online retailers, so its definitely worth shopping around before buying. WD My Passport SSD Pros Lightweight Offers USB-C and A Hardware encryption Cons Expensive Remarkably short cable Software issues Price When Reviewed: 500GB $59.99; 1TB $74.99; 2TB $179.99; 4TB $319.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Western Digital $59.99 View Deal $84.99 View Deal $94 View Deal $94.99 View Deal $149.99 View Deal $149.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Western Digitals Passport drives have always provided portable, lightweight designs, and the My Passport SSD combines compact design with strong performance and additional security features. Available in a variety of colors, the My Passport SSD provides up to 4TB of solid-state storage, although the 1TB model that we review here costs $74.99/94.99. The drive measures just 0.35in/9mm thick, and weighs 1.6oz/46g, so its small enough to slip into a jacket pocket when youre on the move. However, its also tough enough to survive being dropped from a height of two metres. The drive is equipped with a USB-C interface, but WD includes a USB-C cable and a USB-A adaptor with the drive, so you can still use it with older Macs that dont have USB-C. The solid-state drive provides good performance too, recording a write speed of 935MB/s and read speed of 908MB/s, making it a great option for backing up your important files on the move. Its secure too, as WDs Discovery app allows you to set a password for the drive in order keep your files safe. Theres a second app as well, called WD Unlocker, which is built into the drive itself, and allows you to enter the password so that you can use the drive with another Mac or PC if you need to. When the drive was first introduced there were complaints that the WD apps hadnt been properly updated to 64-bit code for the latest versions of the macOS, but we tested the drive with our office Macs and didnt encounter any problems. Read a full review over on our sister site Tech Advisor. Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield Pros Rugged & shock resistant Password protection USB-C cable and a USB-A adaptor included Cons The standard T7 is cheaper and may be sufficient for your needs. Price When Reviewed: 1TB $129.99; 2TB $219.99; 4TB $389.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal $99.99 View Deal $109.99 View Deal $109.99 View Deal $109.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $160.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There are three versions of Samsungs T7 . The standard T7 is a compact, lightweight SSD that looks very similar to the old T5 although it boasts higher performance, so make sure you check the model numbers before buying. We tested the T7 Shield, which is a more rugged model, wrapped in a sturdy rubber sleeve designed for outdoor use. Both of those models can use Samsungs Portable SSD app to add password protection for your files, but theres also a third model called the T7 Touch that has a built-in fingerprint sensor for extra security and convenience. Available in black, blue or silver, the T7 Shield costs $129/110 with 1TB of storage, but we are seeing great discounts now its been out a while. It has a USB-C interface for connecting to your Mac, but Samsung includes a USB-C cable and a USB-A adaptor so that you can use it with older Macs that have USB-A. The rugged protective sleeve means that its a little larger than the other T7 models, measuring 0.5in/13mm thick, 2.3in/59mm wide and 3.4in/88mm long, and weighing 3.4oz/98g. Even so, its still small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or backpack with no trouble at all, and many people will appreciate the extra protection that it offers. The T7 Shield is rated IP65 for water- and dust-resistance, and Samsung claims that the shock-resistant rubber sleeve can survive drops from a height of three meters. Its a good performer too. Samsung quotes read and write speeds of 1,000MB/s, but our tests with the Blackmagic disk tool actually recorded a read speed of 1,780MB/s, and a write speed of 1,300MB/s, which makes the T7 Shield a great backup option for people who need to work outdoors with their laptop. OWC Express 1M2 USB4 SSD Pros Very high data transfer rates High-quality housing Good cooling without a fan Cons Short connection cable Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $219.99 I 2TB: $299.99 I 4TB: $529.99 I 8TB: $1,299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal $199.99 View Deal $199.99 View Deal OWC $219.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The OWC Express 1M2s cooling fins alone account for around half of the overall height of this external SSD. The aluminum housing is quite large at 5.2 by 2.8 by 0.9 inches (13.2 by 7.1 by 2.3 centimeters) and the very high-quality metal housing also has sufficiently large rubber surfaces on the underside. To test for speed, we used two benchmarks, Aja System Test Lite and Blackmagicdesign Disk Speed Test. The results are impressive: 2736MBps (write) and 2980MBps (read) in Aja System Test Lite. The values with Blackmagicdesign Disk Speed Test were around 100MBps higherit cracked the 3000 MBps mark in the read test. Read our full OWC Express 1M2 USB4 SSD review How we test Mac SSDs We test SSD drives with our Mac running the latest version of macOS. We format the drive before we begin and then we run benchmarks and perform real-world operations to determine its speed relative to other similar drives. We also look at longevity and durability we want to make sure that a drive wont die after a few months of use, so the build and construction matters. Portability is also considered, assuming the drive is designed to be portable. Why you should trust Macworld At Macworld been putting Mac hardware through its paces for decades. We know how to root out the strengths and weaknesses of a SSD drive using a combination of rigorous benchmark testing and real-world hands-on use. How to choose an SSD: Buying advice In this article weve included the best external SSDs for everything from blazing-fast performance, to budget options, to portability, and more.Youve read our recommendations of the best SSDs for Mac owners on the market right now. But how did we reach these decisions, and what general advice should you follow when selecting the best SSD for your needs? SSDs vs hard drives Cost per gigabyte is themain stumbling block. You might pay $200 for a 1TB portable SSD, whereas a 1TB external hard drive costs around $25. This is because hard drives use relatively cheap spinning platters to store data. SSDs employ NAND memory chips. They are pricier, but also faster and allow for much smaller enclosures. If you decide in favor of hard drives, see our roundup of the best Mac hard drives . Which connectors to choose How fast can you expect SSD file transfers to be? The top external SSDs can read and write at up to around 550MB/s. However, to get these speeds you need a port on your Mac or MacBook that can handle this bandwidth. If youve got a Mac model with a Thunderbolt/USB-C port, youre set. While external SSDs use USB 3.1 standards rather than Thunderbolt, the port also supports USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2, which is what were after. Most modern Macs have a Thunderbolt 4 port, but some MacBook Pro models already have Thunderbolt 5 (Pro and Max versions) as does the Mac mini with the Pro chip, and the Mac Studio. Thunderbolt 4 is almost exactly the same as Thunderbolt 3 was, but it has stricter implementation requirements and some changes for PC users which just bring it into line with what Mac users already had. Thunderbolt 5 is the highest-performing interfaces for external storage. We explain everything you need to know about Thunderbolt 5 vs Thunderbolt 4 and 3 vs USB4 separately. Thunderbolt 5 is a big step up from Thunderbolt 4. Bandwidth doubles from 40Gbps to 80Gbps, display connections go as fast as 120Gbps. Thats up to three times more bandwidth than previous existing connectivity solutions. How much storage do I need? Recent external SSDs tend to come in three or four capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB and you might even find 8TB. Youll want to think carefully about the capacity you need, as the cost difference between 500GB and 1TB models is usually stark. There arent the same relatively minor price leaps seen in 1-4TB hard drives. We cant answer this one for you, but its a good idea to do a quick mental calculation. For example, 4K footage from a Panasonic Lumix GH4 camera eats up 4GB every five minutes. Video editors who work in 4K need a lot of storage. However, if you just need to back up or carry around some movies and photos, a smaller-capacity model may well do the trick. Check out your Macs own storage capacity and use that as a guide. We recommend about twice that number because it allows you to make a full back up and store some incremental backups too. Just dont assume that the lowest-cost drives provide the best value. Its usually the case that the higher the capacity the better the price per gigabyte is. The best value is usually the highest capacity, but that also means a higher price, so you probably want something in the middle of that, depending on your needs. 2.5in or ultra-portable? SSD performance varies from around 300-500MB/s read speeds all the way up to 3000MB/s, but there are three basic physical forms of SSD. And two can be considered portable. Naked SSD boards plug directly into PCIe or SATA interfaces. These are the kind you might use to replace the SSD in a laptop, or add to a desktop. They are not really portable. 2.5in SSDs offer a mix of portability and internal use, and are the cheapest way to get a portable drive. They have a plastic casing, avoiding damage to the components, but use SATA connectors rather than USB. You can buy an enclosure to get more protection and that all-important USB or Thunderbolt interface, or even just use a SATA-to-USB cable. We use one of these cables in the office to ferry around test files on a 2.5in SSD. For the ultimate portable experience you need a pocket SSD, though, not one based on 2.5in drive dimensions. These are designed to be used with USB or Thunderbolt connectors, not those found inside a Mac or MacBook. Youll mostly find this kind below. They are incredibly small and convenient. However, they are more expensive than 2.5in-style drives, so you may want to consider the larger type if lower spend is a top concern. Shock-proof and rugged? SSDs are more durable than hard drives. They have no moving parts, and wont be damaged if they are moved or knocked while writing data. While modern hard drives have some level of shock protection, its still a big issue. You can treat an SSD pretty mean before it starts complaining. Some portable SSDs even offer water resistance. You can also get ruggedization in a specialized drive enclosure, if you choose to go down the 2.5in drive route. This is a huge portability benefit. But if they are sat still all day, are SSDs more reliable than HDDs? Hard drives tend to fail mechanically. For example, the motor that spins the platters might burn out. SSDs memory cells age, which can lead to failure. Both kinds require specialist recovery. As ever, back up important data. However, for our purposes, as people who occasionally have to fling drives in rucksacks and plug them in while sat in an airplane seat, SSDs are the clear winner.

McAfee Total Protection for Mac review

Macworld At a Glance Expert's Rating Pros Good price point for up to five devices Antiviral/antimalware and Real-Time Scanning features combine well with macOSs GateKeeper Secure VPN offers a good set of tools and customization Cons ID Protection and WebAdvisor features flimsy compared to competitors No trial period (30-day money-back guarantee ony) Some laggy performance and system freezes requiring reboot Our Verdict McAfee Total Protections antiviral and anti-malware and VPN functions are good, but it falls short in terms of everything else. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price McAfee Total Protection (first year, 1 device) $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Price When Reviewed Single: $29.99 (1 device) for first year, usually $89.99; Essential: $39.99 (5 devices) for first year, usually $119.99 a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price McAfee Total Protection (first year, 1 device) $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket For years, the name McAfee has been synonymous with antiviral and security software. Its Total Protection suite for the macOS continues to be steadily updated and offers a good suite of anti-viral, anti-malware, identity protection, VPN, and scheduling tools. However, there are some issues. Heres our review of McAfee Total Protection 2025. The software, which requires macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later to install and run, is available at several subscription points, the Essential plan retailing for $39.99/39.99 for the first year and protecting up to five devices, renewing at a higher price of $159.99/159.99 a year. McAfee doesnt offer a free trial, and asks for your credit or debit card information, but cites a 30-day money-back guarantee instead. Similar to its previous versions, McAfee Total Protection comes out swinging, complete with an easy download and installation process that prompts you to grant it full access to your Macs hard drive as well as low-level access to its fmpd, VShieldScanner, VShieldScanManager, and GenUtility system components. Once this is complete, the applications tools are available via an icon in the macOS Menu Bar that can be quickly accessed on the fly. Foundry Theres a fair amount worth liking with McAfee Total Protection 2025, and its bread and butter remains antiviral and antimalware protection, which the application handles admirably. There was almost nothing that could be put by the applications Real-Time Protection feature, which also scans mounted external drives on the fly, and while malware can be pushed through and installed provided you disregard enough warnings, this feature dovetails well with macOSs GateKeeper feature and does a good job of warning you as to suspect software. A Custom Scan feature allows for easy targeting and scanning of specific folders and local volumes, and a good level of customization allows you to dictate the standard behavior (such as quarantine, deletion, etc) of suspect files. Foundry The Secure VPN client functions as a good, if somewhat bare-bones VPN that allows you to choose a location, activate it, and either enable or disable the VPN feature given whatever network you may be on. The client itself functions well, even if its overall feature and customization options may be a bit slim for hardcore VPN road warriors. Still, theres work to be done. Perhaps the most worrying bug is the fact that my MacBook Pros performance became laggy after initially installing McAfee Total Protection 2025, and the lag didnt cease until after Id rebooted my Mac. From there, clicking on the Total Protection 2025 Menu Bar icon led to sporadic lag as well as a complete system freeze and crash that had to be rebooted from. The lag remained sporadic, but it seems to highlight a lack of attention to detail, such as antiviral scans stating theyve removed suspect files, but failing to state what the file names were or where they were located without returning to the home screen and then pulling up the History window from there, which seems to add about four extra steps when a quick link off the scan result page would have done perfectly. McAfees billing department seems happy to lead you towards annual payments. The ID Protection feature, which may be well-intended, comes across as an oddity wherein you have to fully commit to it, entering your credit card, bank account, tax ID, passport, national IDs, health IDs, email addresses, usernames, phone numbers, and date of birth to chase down and follow up on. Foundry This is complemented by receiving sporadic emails informing you that your information may have been compromised in a data breach, but the emails dont seem to offer specifics as to the data breach; McAfee only offering the most basic web hygiene-esque advice to be wary around suspect websites and occasionally change your password. This stands in stark contrast to a website like haveibeenpwned.com , wherein you can enter your email address, see exactly where your datas been breached, and have an idea as to where to begin to change your passwords. Finally, McAfees WebAdvisor feature hasnt gotten much better over the years, the plug-in still allowing you to visit amazingly questionable websites linked from your spam folder with no warning or attempt to stop you at heading to a site that offers reverse mortgages on your grandmas abode via cryptocurrency, and the fact that the WebAdvisor extension was last updated a year ago doesnt inspire confidence. Should you buy McAfee Total Protection 2025? McAfee Total Protection 2025 pulls off its bread and butter features such as virus protection and basic VPN features yet again, but falters in terms of its ID protection, WebAdvisor functionality, system performance, and inelegant application design that feels as if you have to head back to the home screen to get to the log or history window you want to view. This feels as if its something thats coasting on its past laurels as opposed to creating something useful, and while there wasnt much that got by it in terms of viruses and malware, competing applications are offering the entire functionality of Total Protection 2025 and doing it better. Perhaps McAfee doesnt need the Mac market to survive, and thats the honest truth, but it can still look over what it does right, what needs improvement, and build on this, even if it involves swallowing a little bit of pride to get there. You can also read about other packages weve reviewed in our roundup of the best Mac antivirus software . For the best prices right now read: Best cheap antivirus deals for Mac and for all the reasons to consider installing antivirus software on your Mac read Why Macs need antivirus software.

The iPhone 17 Airs battery looks to be exactly as bad as we feared

Macworld Tim Cook giveth, and Tim Cook taketh away. Weve long known that while this falls iPhone 17 Air is set to be an astonishingly slender and lightweight device, it will come with a painfully small-capacity battery to compensate. And now we have a better idea of exactly how painfully small it will be. A leaker and blogger going by the name yeux1122 claims to have uncovered the weight, thickness, and battery capacity of the 17 Air based on what they describe (via Google Translate) as a mass production confirmed sample. The first is 5.5mm, which sits at the low end of what weve already heard from other sources: previous reports have said around 6mm, 6.25mm, and 5.5mm, so this is about as slim as we could have hoped. And the weight is a startlingly low 145g, which would significantly undercut even Samsungs 163g Galaxy S25 Edge . Wow, frankly. Wow. But the sting in the tale is the battery, which yeux1122 claims has a capacity of just 2,800mAh. If accurate, that would be substantially lower than any model in the 14-, 15-, or 16-series iPhone generations; the lowest last year was the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 at 3,561mAh, so were looking at 21% less battery to power a considerably larger (6.65 inches, if the rumors are correct) display. The only iPhones with less than 3,000mAh in recent history were the iPhone 13 mini (2,438mAh) and 3rd-gen SE (2,018mAh), but those batteries had to power screens measuring just 5.4 and 4.7 inches, respectively. You can see battery capacities and screen sizes for all the iPhones since 2021 at the bottom of this article if you want to compare. User experience is more than just numbers on a spec sheet, of course, and it remains to be seen how the 17 Air will hold up in real-world performance. However, earlier reports claimed Apple will be selling a battery case to compensate for the phones low battery life, which kind of defeats the purpose of an ultra-thin phone. Rest assured that Macworld will run exhaustive battery tests as soon as we get our hands on onebut it might be worth calibrating your expectations at the lower end. iPhone 17 Air (6.65 inches): 2,800mAh iPhone 16e (6.1 inches): 4,005mAH iPhone 16 (6.1 inches): 3,561mAh iPhone 16 Plus (6.7 inches): 4,674mAh iPhone 16 Pro (6.3 inches): 3,582mAh iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.9 inches): 4,685mAh iPhone 15 (6.1 inches): 3,349mAh iPhone 15 Plus (6.7 inches): 4,383mAh iPhone 15 Pro (6.1 inches): 3,274mAh iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7 inches): 4,441mAh iPhone 14 (6.1 inches): 3,279mAh iPhone 14 Plus (6.7 inches): 4,323mAh iPhone 14 Pro (6.1 inches): 3,200mAh iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7 inches): 4,323mAh iPhone SE (3rd gen) (4.7 inches): 2,018mAh iPhone 13 (6.1 inches): 3,240mAh iPhone 13 mini (5.4 inches): 2,438mAh iPhone 13 Pro (6.1 inches): 3,095mAh iPhone 13 Pro Max (6.7 inches): 4,352mAh iPhone 17 Air specs unconfirmed and sourced from yeux1122 ; other specs sourced from GSMArena .

macOS Beta: Whats in the latest macOS beta and how to get it

Macworld Every year Apple updates the Mac operating system. The current version of macOS is macOS 15.5, but development of macOS 16 will start very soon. Apple runs a beta program that means developers and registered public testers can try out new features before they are released to the general public later in the year. The beta process doesnt stop with the full release of macOS in the fall. After macOS 15 Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024, development continued with new features rolled out every couple of months. The same will be true of the macOS 16 development cycle. In this article, well explain what you need to do to get your hands on a copy of the new beta of macOS 16 when it arrives, how to install it, and what you should bear in mind if you want to avoid problems. (If you would prefer to use the latest official release of macOS, heres how to update macOS on your Mac .) macOS beta: Latest version The most recent version of the macOS beta was macOS 15.5 Release Candidate 1, which was released to developers on May 6, 2025. The full version of macOS 15.5 is now out. Development of macOS Sequoia is now drawing to a close and Apple will soon start development of the next version of macOS: macOS 16. There may be another beta version of macOS 15, but it is unlikely to offer new features. macOS beta: Next beta update The next developer beta of macOS is likely to be the first beta of macOS 16. We will see a preview of macOS 16 at WWDC . We expect to see the first developer beta of macOS 16 after it is previewed at the Apple keynote event at WWDC on June 9, 2025. The public beta usually follows a few days after the developer beta is released. However, the first beta of macOS 16 will likely arrive a month after the developer beta around the beginning of July. The beta testing program will then run until the new software launches in September or October 2025. New betas tend to arrive every one to two weeks, and more frequently as the full release data approaches. Foundry How to get the macOS beta To get the developer version of the macOS 16 beta you need to be running macOS Sequoia, and be registered for Apples developer program, either having paid $99/79 to enrol in Apples Developer program ( here ) or with a free developer account (follow the instructions below for how to register for that). Alternatively, if its the public beta you are after, you just need to sign up for the Public Beta program on Apples beta webpage , signed the NDA , and enrolled your Mac. Details of how to do that are below. As long as you are a registered developer, or enrolled in the public beta program, when the relevant macOS Beta becomes available, it will also show up on your Mac. Before you download the beta, 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 macOS beta. We recommend that you do not run the macOS beta on your primary Mac; ideally, run it in a separate volume . This should minimize any risks to you. How to get a free Apple 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 register for the macOS public beta The macOS public beta is accessible to anyone with a valid Apple ID. To register, go to the Apple Beta Software Program page. Select the Sign Up option. Sign in using your Apple ID. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the registration process. Enrol the Mac you wish to run the beta on via this Apple page . 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: public or developer. If your account is tied to a different Apple ID than your usual one, you can change that here. Click Done. Now your Mac will check for updates and eventually show the latest macOS Beta as an upgrade. Click on Upgrade Now. Foundry Do I need the macOS Beta Access Utility? Only 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 in order to download betas. 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. 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) FAQ 1. Who can run the macOS beta? Anyone can run the macOS beta, but to do so you do need to register for either the developer beta, the pubic beta, or both. Apple offers both developer and public beta programs for macOS, enabling all interested users to test pre-release versions of the operating system. While both betas provide early access to new features, they cater to different user profiles based on technical expertise and risk tolerance. Beta software tends to be buggy so the more stable public beta version may be preferable, but even that will not be bug free. 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. If you decide you no longer want to run the beta version of macOS read this: How to remove the macOS beta . 2. 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 can 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 version 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. The public beta typically launches after the developer beta has undergone initial testing and refinement 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. 3. 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. 4. 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 . 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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 . macOS Sonoma beta timeline To get an idea of what to expect for the macOS 16 beta time line, heres how the macOS Sequoia beta rolled out in 2024. The first version of the macOS 15 Sequoia developer beta arrived after the WWDC keynote on June 10, 2024. Beta 2 arrived on June 24. The first public beta of Sequoia arrived on July 15, 2024. Developer beta 4 was released on July 23. The second public beta also arrived on July 23, 2024. Developer beta 5 arrived on August 5 followed by the third public beta. Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 developer beta 6 on August 12. The fourth public beta of Sequoia arrived on August 13, 2024. Developer beta 7 and the fifth public beta of Sequoia were released on August 20. On August 28, Apple released the macOS Sequoia 15 beta 8 and the sixth public beta of Sequoia. The release candidate of Sequoia arrived on September 9. The full version of Sequoia arrived on compatible Macs on September 16. There were actually two versions of the developer beta running concurrently. The macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta included Apple Intelligence features that are only available on M-series Macs (a iOS 18.1 beta was also in development separately with Apple Intelligence features for compatible iPhones). Apple started work on the macOS Sequoia 15.1 Beta on July 29. macOS Sequoia 15.1 Beta 2 arrived on August 12. macOS Sequoia 15.1 Beta 3 was released to developers on August 28. Initially, this beta was only for developers, but Apple released a macOS Sequoia 15.1 pubic beta on September 19, 2024, following the release of Sequoia to the general public. Eventually, the macOS Sequoia 15.1 release candidate was released on October 21, and a second release candidate 2 was released on October 24. The final version of macOS Sequoia 15.1 arrived on compatible Macs on October 28. After the macOS Sequoia full release, the beta continued: macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta arrived September 19, 2024 macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta- arrived October 23, 2024. Including a second set of Apple Intelligence features). Official release of 15.2 was on December 11. macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta arrived December 16, 2024. Including the ability to create Gemoji. Release Candidate available on January 2. macOS Sequoia 15.4 beta arrived on February 19, 2025. Included Mail updates and Proximity Pairing with the iPhone. Release Candidate available on March 28. macOS Sequoia 15.5 beta arrived April 2, 2025. Apple released the Sequoia 15.5 beta 1 to developers. Out May 12, 2024.

The best Apple tech thats gone forever

Macworld Throughout its history, Apple has introduced many industry-changing technologies, some of which are still present in todays devices, like MagSafe on MacBooks. However, some of the technologies introduced by Apple have been discontinued over time for different reasons. While most of these decisions are understandable, some technologies were ahead of their time, and I really miss them today. Lets look back at some of Apples best ideas that were discontinued but ahead of their time and deserve to come back. 3D Touch Although 3D Touch was first introduced with the original Apple Watch as Force Touch, Apple later added it to the iPhone. I remember seeing the iPhone 6s introduction video in 2015 with Jony Ive explaining how 3D Touch worked, and it sounded impressive. Indeed, it was. Essentially, Apple put pressure sensors under the iPhones screen so that it could distinguish a soft press from a hard press with extreme precision. 3D Touch could be used in many ways, such as pressing harder on an icon to reveal more options or gently pressing a link on a webpage to see a preview of it. Game developers could also adopt 3D Touch for custom controls. You can still perform the 3D Touch action on todays iPhones, but the result is different. Filipe Esposito The technology blew my mind, and I loved how precise it was. Not only that, but 3D Touch worked very well with the iPhones haptic feedback. It was so satisfying. But in practice, only a few apps added support for 3D Touch, and it was a very complex and expensive technology to build. Apple ended up discontinuing 3D Touch, starting with the iPhone XR , and replaced some of the actions with a simple long press on the screen. I still dream of future iPhones having 3D Touch back. Luckily, the trackpads on MacBooks still have Force Touch , so thats something. AirPort AirPort was Apples lineup of wireless routers. First introduced in 1999, AirPort devices always had a futuristic design and made it easy for users to plug in an internet cable and have a Wi-Fi connection at home. While the first version looked like a spaceship, one of the most interesting versions of the AirPort was the model that looked like a giant MacBook charger that had an ethernet port on it. There was also the sleek and modern AirPort Extreme, which was essentially a mini-tower made of polished white plastic. That thing was beautiful. The AirPort line once had a tower form factor (left) and a design that was like a MacBook power adapter (left). Apple Apples AirPorts gained many cool features over time. For example, you could plug a USB stick, printer, or external hard drive into it, and all your Apple devices would have wireless access to it. It could also turn wired sound systems into AirPlay speakers. AirPort also resulted in another product called Time Capsule , which had an internal hard drive to wirelessly back up your Mac. Apple stopped selling AirPorts in 2018, and while rumors suggest that Apple has no plans to introduce another Wi-Fi router anytime soon, the company has reportedly been exploring the idea of making Apple TVs and HomePods work as Wi-Fi signal extenders. I really hope thats true. iPod A lot has changed since Apple introduced the first iPod in 2001. iPod wasnt just a good product, it also made anyone using it look cool. I remember upgrading from a Discman to an iPod, and I felt like I was in the future. A thousand songs in your pocket, as Apples slogan went. The third-generation iPod nano. Filipe Esposito There have been many different versions of the iPod over the years, including the iPod touch , but the most iconic ones will always be the iPods with a Click Wheel. There was a unique and satisfying feeling in turning your finger on that wheel to navigate the interface. It was unlike anything else at the time. And although the product was once a hit, it ended up losing the battle to smartphones. Apple knew this, which is why the company has always promoted the iPhone as the best iPod ever. Suddenly, our phones could also work as great iPods, so having a dedicated music player no longer made sense for most people. Apple stopped selling the iPod shuffle and iPod nano in 2017, while the iPod touch remained in the lineup until 2022 . The company said at the time that the iPod still lives on in its other products, and thats true. Thanks to the iPod, we now have the iPhone, AirPods, and the HomePod. While some people are nostalgic about the iPod and want it back, I really believe that it served its purpose and that there are better alternatives now, like using an Apple Watch with AirPods if you want to listen to music without having your phone nearby. Cover Flow How could I forget Cover Flow? The cool iPod interface that lets users explore their music library by its art covers? Interestingly, Cover Flow was created by a third-party developer, and the idea was so good that Apple acquired it to implement it in iTunes. The feature was eventually added to the iPod, iPhone, and even Finder on the Mac to browse files with large previews. I remember using the original iPod touch for the first time, rotating the screen with the Music app open, and seeing the Cover Flow interface. That was probably the moment I fell in love with that product. Cover Flow on an iPod touch. Filipe Esposito Cover Flow went away with iOS 7 , when Apple completely redesigned the iPhones operating system in favor of a flat-design interface with less skeuomorphism. But Apple should bring Cover Flow back. It would be a good feature to reintroduce with iOS 19, as the company is rumored to be changing the user interface all over again. Front Row Similar to Cover Flow, Front Row was an interface that Apple created to use the Mac as a multimedia center. The app made it easier to navigate between the users music, videos, and photos. The experience of using Front Row was really cool, especially when the Mac was connected to a big monitor or TV. With Front Row, it was easy to imagine what a multimedia device (like a DVD player) from Apple would look like. Apple never launched a DVD player, but it did announce the first Apple TV in 2007it had the same interface as Front Row, but now in a standalone device. Front Row was later removed from the Mac , probably because Apple wants you to buy an Apple TV instead. Still, I miss Front Row, especially now with Apple Music and Apple TV+. Front Row provided an easy-to-use interface for using your Mac as an entertainment center. Apple iSight camera Pretty much every Apple device today has a built-in front-facing camera, but there was a time when that wasnt a thing, and Apple had to create its own webcam for the Mac. Called iSight , Apples webcam had a beautiful design for its time (which still looks modern). It was definitely something youd look at and think, thats an Apple product. The iSight had decent specs for a 2003 webcam, with a three-element lens with autofocus and 480p resolution at 30fps. It also had built-in microphones with noise cancellation and a cool way to cover the lens for better privacy. We now have 1080p and even 4K webcams built into our devices, but theres still a market for external webcams with larger sensors and better microphones for those who videoconference every day. Although this would be very niche, I would like to see Apple reintroduce iSight with a large 4K sensor for vloggers. Unfortunately, this seems quite unlikely to happen since Apple itself has released a feature that lets users turn their iPhone into a webcam for their Mac or Apple TV. The iSight webcam design would look great in todays Apple lineup. Christopher Phin Back to the future Apple is known for not reviving things from the past very often, even when its something its users really love. Still, we can dream of some of these things coming back in the futurejust look at MagSafe, which was removed from MacBooks and then added back years later. And even though some of these technologies may not seem relevant these days, they certainly contributed to improving the Apple ecosystem at the time.

The Fortnite saga shows Apple at its pettiestand most vulnerable

Macworld Just when you think Apples long-running dispute with Epic Games is finally over, someone manages to find a way to spin it out even longer. Theres always time for one more lawsuit, one more appeal, one more acrimonious tweet. And if two multibillion-dollar corporations cant find a way to resolve their differences amicably, what hope have the rest of us? At the end of April, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued what felt at the time like a conclusively unambiguous ruling demanding that Apple comply instantly with previous measures and adding more on top. The company, it was made plain, will not merely have to allow other payment systems within iOS apps, but refrain from sabotaging them with satirically high fees and off-putting verbiage. That should have been that, but Cupertino is still feeling punchy. Epic thought, not unreasonably, that its Fortnite game would now be allowed back on the App Store, having originally been kicked off for the practices which Apple has just been told it must allow. But life is full of surprises. Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission, Epic tweeted on May 16, so we cannot release to the U.S. App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. But heres the kicker: Epic promptly decided to retaliate by taking the game dark on iOS worldwide, including versions delivered through Epics own store. That might sound like cutting off your nose to spite your face, but this will hurt Apple too. And users. In fact barely anyone will have a nose by the time this is over. On the face of it, it makes little sense to prevent Fortnite from returning to iOS. Its an immensely popular game with hundreds of millions of players across a wide range of platforms, and being able to play it on iPhone makes the iPhone a more appealing device. Even if Apple made zero revenue from sales and in-app purchases, it would still be worth having the title on iOS purely for the sake of user happiness. Conversely, refusing to allow it generates masses of bad PR and resentment, which is poison to a company that depends so much on its image. In this particular case, that zero-revenue idea isnt entirely inconceivable, because Epic is a big enough company with a reputable enough storefront that it could (assuming the judges ruling isnt watered down on appeal) cut Apple entirely out of the transactional loop. But most games developers dont have that luxury. They will, at the very least, offer their own and Apples payment systems side by side, and Im convinced that most users would vastly, vastly prefer to buy through the official App Store. Ask yourself this: How easy is it to find jailbreaking instructions online? And yet, how many (or how few) people do you know who actually jailbreak their iPhones? While following this saga, its occurred to me that I dont actually want to buy iOS apps from alternative stores. I just want that to be an option because competition is healthy and would encourage Apple to lower fees and generally treat developers better. Having a bunch of different places to go whenever I want to buy something new or update what Ive got is a dismaying prospect; I dont want to enter my payment details in a dozen different websites and constantly worry about whether they can be trusted. But other people might. The App Store itself is one of Apples all-time great products, delivering such a reassuring, frictionless one-stop-shop experience that software became for the first time an impulse buy. It wont lose its magic just because theres another option. I get why Apple tried to maintain its control of iOS app installs and purchases; it has shareholders to think about and cant just wave away swathes of revenue without pushback. But the vigor and uncompromising fierceness with which the company has defended that revenue stream has been alarming, to say the least, and may prove costly too. At multiple points in the saga Apple could have yielded a little and reached a compromise acceptable to all parties: allowed sideloading under strict limits; allowed third-party payment systems with a moderate instead of laughably high revenue cut. Instead it pushed and fought and, as the judge put it, willfully chose not to comply. And now it appears to be pursuing petty revenge which will hurt itself just as much as the opposition, for no clear rational reason. Saying that someone never knows when theyre beaten sounds like a compliment (People should know when theyre conquered. Would you, Quintus? Would I?) but often it just means suffering more than you need to for a lost cause. Apple lost this war, and choice was the winner. Now it needs to accept the result and get on with making that outcome work for its users who are, after all, supposed to be the priority. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Apple is doomed because Apple isnt doomed . Mahmoud Itani reveals 10 hidden Apple Watch features youve probably never used but should. If the iPhone 17 Air is anything like the Galaxy S25 Edge , I dont want it . The first thing Jason Cross installs on every new Mac is this little free emoji utility . If iPadOS 19 is going to be more like the Mac, it needs these 9 features stat. Podcast of the week When WWDC rolls around in June, itll be two years since Apple announced visionOS and the Apple Vision Pro. In episode 934 of the Macworld Podcast, we examine the state of Apples spatial computing platform and what Apple could have in store at WWDC and beyond. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube , Spotify , Soundcloud , the Podcasts app , or our own site . Reviews corner iPad Air (M3) review : Only slightly better, but still the best . Verbatim TurboMetal SSD review : Stylish portable drive . PowerPhotos 3 review : Time-saving Apple Photos tool for power users on the Mac. EcoFlow Power Hat review : A sun hat with solar panels . The rumor mill Apple is reportedly working on the hybrid Mac we all wantand it could arrive in 2028. Folding and curved iPhones are both predicted in 2027 product blitz. In fact the iPhone 18s edgeless curved display seems like a certainty now. iOS 19 will reportedly use AI to extend the iPhones battery life . Software updates, bugs, and problems A bizarre iPhone bug is causing some audio messages to fail. Heres why. iOS 18.5 may be a minor update, but it has one major iPhone upgrade . Apples months-old C1 modem has a serious security flaw . And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters , including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook , Threads , Bluesky , or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

macOS compatibility: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run

Macworld Wondering which versions of macOS your Mac can run? Weve put together a macOS compatibility checker that will show you what Macs the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X support, so you can tell what version you should be running on your Mac. Which version of macOS can my Mac run? Apple releases a new version of the Mac operating system every yearbut the newest version of the Mac operating system does not support every Mac. Each year more and more Macs fall off the compatibility list and are unable to be updated to take advantage of the latest features. The latest version, macOS 15 Sequoia , arrived on September 16, 2024, it can run on all M-series Macs and the last generations of Intel-powered Macs, but the older Macs dont get all the new features. Read on to find out exactly which Macs are supported by each version of the Mac operating system. A new version of macOS will be previewed at WWDC in June. (Read about the new features expected in macOS 16 in our guide.) But the updates dont only come yearly. Every month or so Apple updates macOS with a few near features and security updates. Apple released macOS 15.5 in May 2025, for example. For advice about installing macOS read: How to install macOS on your Mac and read our guide to every version of macOS released to find out about the latest version. macOS 16 compatibility We dont yet know what the compatibility will be for macOS 16, but there are fears that it will not support any Intel-powered Macs. The lack of support for Intel Macs may be due to interface and UI changes. As you can see from the Sequoia compatibility section below, only recent Intel models were supported by that upgrade. macOS 15 Sequoia compatibility Which Macs run Sequoia? All the M-series Macs! Apple Sequoia (macOS 15) became available on Tuesday, September 16, 2024. macOS 15.5, arrived in May 2025. M-series Macs that run Sequoia All M-series Macs can support Sequoia, including: iMac: M1 and later MacPro: M1 Max and later MacStudio: M1 Max and later Macmini: M1 and later MacBookAir: M1 and later MacBookPro: M1 and later Intel Macs that run Sequoia The following Intel Macs can run Sequoia . This list excludes the 13-inch MacBook Air models from 2018 and 2019 which could run Sequoias predecessor, Sonoma. iMac: 2019 and August 2020 MacPro: 2019 iMacPro: 2017 MacBookAir:March 2020 Macmini: 2018 MacBookPro: 2018, 2019 and May 2020 Macs that support Apple Intelligence The Apple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia are limited to Apple Silicon Macs: iMac: M1 and later MacPro: M1 Max and later MacStudio: M1 Max and later Macmini: M1 and later MacBookAir: M1 and later MacBookPro: M1 and later For more information read: Can my Mac run Sequoia? Can I install an older OS on my Mac? Officially, the operating system that was available on your Mac at the time that you bought it is the oldest version of macOS that can run on that Mac. Its likely that an older OS wont include the necessary drivers for the hardware on newer Macs. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will be able to install an older version of macOS on a new Macbut you can take a look at how to install old versions of macOS or OS X for other Macs. Owners of Macs with M-series chips (sometimes referred to as Apple Silicon) wont be able to run older versions of macOS that werent designed for Apple Silicon Macs which use a different architecture, known as ARM, instead of X-86. But it may not just be a case of wanting to know if your Mac can run the newest operating system. You might also want to know if it is possible to downgrade your Mac to an older version of macOS and need to know the oldest version of macOS. Youll also find that information below. You can also see a complete list of all the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X . Not sure which Mac you own? Check our article about how to identify your Mac. Note: In each case, the year referenced below is the year that Mac was first introducedyou could for example have bought a 2016 MacBook in early 2017, but its still the 2016 MacBook. macOS 14 Sonoma compatibility macOS Sonoma arrived in 2023 IDG macOS 14 Sonoma became available on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Apple is still issuing security updates for Sonoma , the most recent was 14.7.5 in March 2025. The following Macs run Sonoma: iMacfrom 2019 and later MacProfrom 2019 and later iMacProfrom 2017 MacStudiofrom 2022 and later MacBookAirfrom 2018 and later Macminifrom 2018 and later MacBookProfrom 2018 and later For more information read: Can my Mac run Sonoma? macOS 13 Ventura compatibility Apple Apple released macOS 13 Ventura to the public on October 24, 2022. Apple is still issuing security updates for Ventura, the most recent was 13.7.5 in March 2025. To run Ventura you will need one of these Macs: MacBook models from 2017 or later MacBook Air models from 2018 or later MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later Mac mini models from 2018 or later iMac models from 2017 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2019 or later Mac Studio (all models) For more information read: Can my Mac run Ventura? Compatibility of older macOS versions macOS 12 Monterey compatibility Apple macOS 12 Monterey was made available to download on October 15, 2021 (latest version 12.7.6). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Monterey. The following Macs are compatible with macOS Monterey: MacBook models from early 2016 or later MacBook Air models from early 2015 or later MacBook Pro models from early 2015 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac from 2015 or later iMac Pro (2017 and later) Mac Pro models from late 2013 and later Mac Studio macOS 11 Big Sur compatibility Apple macOS 11 Big Sur was the version of macOS that arrived on November 12, 2020 (latest version 11.7.10). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Big Sur. Heres a list of the Macs that can run macOS Big Sur: MacBook models from early 2015 or later MacBook Air models from 2013 or later MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac from 2014 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 and 2019 macOS 10.15 Catalina compatibility Catalina arrived in October 2019 (latest version 10.15.7). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Catalina: The following Macs can run Catalina. MacBook (2015 to 2017) MacBook Air (Mid-2012 to 2019) MacBook Pro (Mid-2012 to 2019) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to 2019) iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 Note that the M-series Macs will not be able to run Catalina or earlier. An M-series (Apple Silicon) Mac cannot be downgraded beyond Big Sur. macOS 10.14 Mojave compatibility Mojave arrived in September 2018 (latest version 10.14.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017) MacBook Air (Mid 2012 to 2017, because its the same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 to 2018) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to mid-2017) iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU) macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibility High Sierra arrived in September 2017 (latest version 10.13.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017) MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2017) Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014) iMac (Late 2009 to mid-2017) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013) macOS 10.12 Sierra compatibility Sierra, the first update to drop the X from the name, arrived in September 2016 (latest version 10.12.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017) MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model) MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2015) Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014) iMac (Late 2009 to 2015) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013) Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan compatibility El Capitan arrived in September 2015 (latest version 10.11.6) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017) MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to early 2015) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to early 2015) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2014) iMac (Mid 2007 to mid-2015) Mac Pro (2008, 2010, 2013) OS X 10.10 Yosemite compatibility Yosemite arrived in October 2014 (latest version 10.10.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013) MacBook Pro (13 Mid-2009 to mid 2014) MacBook Pro (15 Mid/Late 2007 to mid 2014) MacBook Pro (17 Late 2007 to 2011) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012) iMac (Mid-2007 to mid-2014) Mac Pro (2008 and 2010) Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks compatibility Mavericks arrived in October 2013 (latest version 10.9.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013) MacBook Pro (Mid 2007 to early 2013) Xserve (Early 2009) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012) iMac (Mid 2007 to early 2013) Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010) Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility Mountain Lion, the last of the big cat versions of the Mac operating system launched in July 2012 (latest version 10.8.5) and can run on the following Macs: MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010) MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2012) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to mid-2012) Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2011) iMac (Mid-2007 to 2011) Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010) Wondering how long Apple will support your Mac for? Read: How long do Macs last?

Guess whats cheaper than your iPhone? This MacBook Pro that comes with a Touch Bar

Macworld It seems like no matter what, youre forced to seriously budget, from daily groceries to tech goodies. But just because youre limiting your spending, it doesnt mean you have to deal with your broken laptop for another year. Just opt for this refurbished MacBook Pro deal instead of shopping brand-new. This 2017 model has had its price tag slashed by over 70%, coming in at only $329.97 instead of $1,499. The only catch is that supplies are super limited. This MacBook has a Grade A rating, no scratches on its display, and a minimum of 80% battery health. There might be some light wear on the body, but its so minimal you might not even notice. This laptop might not be stocked with features that Apples latest MacBooks have, but this one does hold its own. Check out a few of its specs: Intel Core i5 (with speeds up to 3.1GHz) for smooth multitasking 512GB of storage for simple, local storing of your files, photos, and other media Four USB-C ports for extra connectivity A 13.3-inch Retina display with 25601600 pixel resolution. It even comes with the infamous Touch Bar and Touch ID, which makes it easy to securely log into your MacBook Pro and other accounts, as well as pay with Apple Pay. Grab your own 13.3-inch MacBook Pro for just $329.97 while supplies last. This offer ends June 1 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Apple MacBook Pro 13 Touchbar (2017) 3.1GHz i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Microsoft boasts that Copilot+ PCs are faster than Macs Apple doesnt sell anymore

Macworld Hey, its Friday! If you have plans to, I dunno, maybe hang out at the bar (or pub , for the UKers) or something like that with a bunch of PC-loving friends, well, yall will have something to talk about tonight. Microsoft fired a salvo at Apple in the form of a video short that claims that top Copilot+ PCs are faster than the beloved MacBook Air. You can waste 12 seconds of your life watching it below. (Ill give you a moment to wipe the spit take from your screen. Sorry about that, I shouldve warned you.) Cheesy production aside (Was this comically low budget ad made with Windows Movie Maker 2 and a 5 MP camera from 2003? commented @ItsRichieT ), the major sticking point about this ad is that it makes comparisons to the M3 MacBook Airyou know, the laptop that was released in 2024 and replaced earlier this year by the M4 MacBook Air . So the M3 Air isnt in Apples active product lineup. Granted, you can buy the M3 MacBook Air from third-party retailers and at Apples Certified Refurbished store . But it doesnt look good when a company compares top products to competitors that arent being made anymore and have been replaced by something better. The thing is, Microsoft also claims the top Copilot+ PCs are faster than the M4 MacBook Airits right on their website . But the results are nothing like the up to 58 percent touted in the ad. Microsoft says it recorded a Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core score of 866 for the M4 Air, and that eight Copilot+ PCs all scored higher. So, let me take the opportunity to do what Microsoft didnt want to show you: how much faster those eight Copilot+ PCs are than the M4 MacBook Air (the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core score is in parentheses). ASUS Vivobook S 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 365: 5.3 percent (912) Dell XPS 13 9345 with Snapdragon X Elite: 8.9 percent (943.3) HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375: 11.4 percent (965) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite: 18.9 percent (1029.6) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 19.4 percent (1033.6) Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 365: 17.9 percent (1021.3) Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 with Snapdragon X Elite: 9.7 percent (950) Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8 with Snapdragon X Elite: 2.7 percent (889.6) The Lenovo devices are the fastest of the bunch (I dont know why the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 is tested twice; drop me a line if you can fill me in), but those improvements arent big enough to make an impression. Imagine that video, but instead it says, Top Copilot+ PCs are up to 19.4 percent faster than a MacBook Air with M4. That will just get you stupid looks from the Microsoft marketing department. Heck, we here at Macworld see 15 to 25 percent improvement from one M-series chip to another, and our reaction to that is lukewarm. You can imagine what we think about a Copilot+ PCs offering a less than 20 percent boost over the M4 MacBook Air: Pfft. As for all the other PCs? You wont notice the difference at all. We ran the same Cinebench 2024 test and got a score of 797 for the M4 MacBook Air, so clearly, results may vary. To sum up, for your PC-lovin buddies who want to bring up this ad over a few pints: Your top Copilot+ PCs are up to 58 percent faster than a discontinued MacBook Air? Cool! The top Copilot+ PCs faster than the M4 MacBook Air? That may be true, but no one can notice the difference in real-world usage. But hey, nice of you to catch up! The 12-second ad? Just another example of a corporation trying to relate to the young folks. And if they still wont listen, just remember that they have to use Windows.

iPad Air (M3) review: Only slightly better, but still the best

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Outstanding performance Good display Useful battery life Bright display with anti-reflective coating Excellent build quality Cons High price for 5G No OLED No camera flash Few innovations since 2022 Our Verdict While wed have liked to see the inclusion of an M4 chip instead of the M3, Apples new iPad Air is well worth a recommendation, offering an excellent display and strong performance for years to come. Paired with a good keyboard case, it could even replace your MacBook. Our only caveat is that the previous model with the M2 chip, which you can find at a lower price, might be an even better buy. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $599 Best Prices Today: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3, 2025) Retailer Price $529 View Deal $529 View Deal $553 View Deal $579 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The iPad Air has consistently been the best choice for most users, and this remains true of the new version, which offers the best balance of price and features among Apples tablets. Thanks to its new M3 chip, it has become significantly more powerful than the previous M2 model. However, this is otherwise quite a minor update. Surely you would expect a new iPad to boast the very latest chip (the M4 is currently available on the iPad Pro), a new design and some cool new features? Regardless of expectations, the iPad Air has remained visually unchanged for three years; this one looks exactly the same as the models from last year and 2022. Apple hasnt even given the Air any new colors for 2025. The iPad Pro, by contrast, was given a more innovative, thinner design last year, higher performance and an impressive OLED display. The Pro models bring in the most money , which might suggest deliberate neglect of the Air models. Still, the iPad Air could be back next year with a new design. For now, lets see if the new M3 Air is the right tablet for you. Design and build quality: Superb The iPad Air is an elegant device with first-class workmanship. The tried-and-tested aluminum frame makes the tablet solid and attractive, and iPads can generally be relied upon to remain presentable even after several years of intensive use. Externally, you wont notice any difference from the previous model. Even the dimensions are exactly the same, down to a tenth of a millimeter; only the weight of the 11-inch model has fallen by 2g. The color options are again Space Gray, Starlight, blue, and purple. The colors are significantly less gaudy than those of the 11th-gen iPad and struck us as very subtle: even blue and purple look grown-up and the Starlight finish is barely distinguishable from silver. The 11-inch model in particular feels light and sturdy at the same time. With a weight of 460g, this can be used with one hand, while the 13-inch model is significantly heavier at 616g. However, even the large model is just half the weight of a MacBook Air. The Air has an appealing and successful design. Eugen Wegmann Benefits of the M3 chip The most important new feature of the iPad Air is the M3 chip, but you shouldnt expect too much. On its website , Apple promises a significant increase in performance. The new Air, it says, is nearly 2x faster than the iPad Air with M1 chip. Thats not wrong, but its also a little misleading; the M1 model came out back in spring 2022. The comparison with the M2 model from last year, by contrast, is less flattering: in our tests the performance leap was rarely noticeable in everyday use. So we should think of this as a small refresh for the iPad Air, a kind of speed bump. For a proper speed boost, Apple would have needed to install the M4, and its pretty obvious why the company didnt. The performance gap between the Air and the expensive top model has to be maintained. Still, while it doesnt represent a startling improvement on the M2, dont entirely write off the benefits of the new chip. Not only does it have a higher clock rate, it also offers new features such as support for hardware ray tracingan important consideration for certain high-end games. The new media engine of the M3 supports higher resolutions and can now play HEVC videos up to 8K and H264 videos up to 4K, as well as using the ProRes and ProRES RAW formats. AV1 decoding is also supported, which could be very useful if you want to edit videos on the iPad. Performance: Moderate improvements The iPad doesnt feature the same M3 chip that Apple used in the MacBook Air , and which was available in two versions (8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, and 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU). Instead, the iPad Air gets a third version of the M3 with an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. Graphics performance therefore sits between the two earlier versions. The M3 brings a solid performance leap in single-core performance, since the M3 chip is clocked significantly higher than the M2. In the Geekbench 6 benchmark the M3 iPad scored 3,019 points to the M2 iPads 2,584 points. Thats almost 15 per cent more performance, which is available for tasks such as web surfing or Apple Intelligence. In the multi-core test, the M3 scored 11,749 points to the M2s 10,074, an improvement of around 17 percent. This higher multiprocessor performance is helpful for more complex apps, such as image and video editing. The Geekbench 5 benchmark illustrates the current models improved performance. Foundry But when it comes to GPU performance the new chip offers far less improvement. In the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme test, the M2 scored 6,443 points and the M3 managed just three points more at 6,446. In the Geekbench GPU test, things were a little better, at 46,007 points vs 41,902, but still below a 10 percent increase. However, the performance remains excellent in comparison with other iPads. The iPad (A16), which was launched at the same time, is less than half as quick in terms of graphics performance and scored just 20,123 points in Geekbenchs graphics benchmark. We also test how long a CPU can sustain top performance. (Performance levels often drop rapidly when the device heats up, as iPads have to cope without a fan.) According to our APSI test running 20 minutes of full load, the Airs throttling remains within acceptable limits at 86.57 percent. Note that the new iPad Pro is better at 90.62 percent, and the 11th-gen iPad, with its far less powerful A16 CPU, heats up even less and performs even better with 93.94 percent. The Air supports the fast new Wi-Fi 6E standard, whereas the iPad A16 still has to make do with Wi-Fi 6. If you pay extra for cellular connectivity, which adds $150 to the price, then you can enjoy 5G support via eSIM. Storage performance: Nowhere near the iPad Pro The M3 gets the headlines, but dont underestimate the importance of the iPads internal SSD when it comes to performance. Our 1TB model in the test delivered what wed regard as adequate performance, achieving 1,646 MB/s when reading and 1,380 MB/s when writing. But this doesnt come close to the performance of an iPad Pro M4, where we measured 3,362 MB/s and 2,017 MB/s for reading and writing respectively. Its also possible to connect an external SSD via USB-C. As an experiment, we transferred some large video files between the iPad Air and a Lacie Thunderbolt SSD. We saw speeds of up to 700 MB/s via the Files app, which puts the Air somewhere in the iPad midfield: the 11th-gen iPad managed only 37 MB/s in the same test, but the iPad Pro M4 achieved 2,200 MB/s. Display: Lacking some Pro features As usual, the biggest difference between the iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro product lines is the screen. With the iPad Air, you get a good 11- or 13-inch panel with IPS technology, which is still common among tablets and laptops. The resolution is 2360 x 1640 pixels (11 inches) or 2732 x 2048 (13 inches). At 600 nits, the 13-inch model is brighter than the 11-inch model, which only reaches a maximum of 500 nits. However, both displays are bright enough to work with outdoors. Compared to the cheaper 11th-gen iPad, the display scores points with a useful anti-glare coating, which means it reflects significantly less than the basic iPad. More advanced technologies such as OLED (and previously mini-LED) are unfortunately reserved for the Pro models, which support HDR content better as a result. An OLED display can also be considerably more frugal in terms of battery consumption. In addition to the sRGB color standard, the iPad Air supports the larger P3 color space, which is primarily used in the video sector. A matte display is only available as an option for the iPad Pro, and ProMotion is a Pro exclusive too. Gamers would certainly appreciate a faster display, but will have to make do with 60Hz on the Air. For most users, however, the lack of ProMotion is not a big deal. Size: Should you get the 11-inch or 13-inch model? For a long time, if you wanted a big 13-inch screen, you had to go for the iPad Pro. But since last year, the Air has also been available with a 13-inch screen too, and buyers are spoilt for choice. Ultimately, every buyer has to decide for themselves which form factor is better for them. Bigger doesnt always mean better: the 11-inch model is easier to handle, especially if youre using it on the move. Its also significantly lighter. In my opinion, there are two main arguments in favour of the 13-inch Air. If you often use the device with an external keyboard, youll probably be more productive with the larger model. Managing several apps with Split View or Stage Manager is also more practical at this size. In my opinion, Stage Manager only really makes sense with these larger displays. On a 13-inch model, a single Safari window in full-screen mode is simply too large. With Stage Manager, you can have several apps open and work with Word, Mail, and Safari at the same time, just like on a Mac. In addition, an iPad with a 13-inch display is ideal as an external Mac display. If you use a small iMac as your main device, you can integrate the iPad as an additional display if required. While an 11-inch iPad is a little too small for this role, a 13-incher is really useful. My take is that the 11-inch model is better for consumption, and the 13-inch model is better for work. Battery life: Solid Battery life has hardly changed compared to the previous model. According to Coconut Battery, the battery of our (13-inch) test unit had a capacity of 9782 mAh, and this offers enough power for a day of office work and web surfing. Apple promises up to 10 hours of web browsing over Wi-Fi or video playback, but bear in mind that the company bases that figure on testing with a screen brightness of just 50 percent. In our tests we use maximum brightness, which is a lot more demanding. In our video test, where we let a current movie run in a continuous loop, the 13-inch Air lasted six and a half hours, which is a good result. In our second test, where a website is called up at rapid intervals, the Air lasted almost eight hours. This is all fine, but the unflattering comparison with the iPad Pro illustrates the drawbacks of an IPS screen: thanks to its efficient OLED display, the iPad Pro M4 lasted three hours longer in the surfing test and twice as long in the video test. The M3 chip can consume a lot of battery power when its at maximum load, for example when gaming or using 3D apps. This is a clear difference from iPads with a slow CPU such as the 10th-gen iPad. Having a slow CPU has plenty of drawbacks, but it reduces battery consumption. Keyboards, cases, and other accessories Apple has introduced a new keyboard alongside the new iPad Air, and this has led to a somewhat confusing range of accessories to choose from. Apple still sells a version of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air M2 ( from $299 for the 11-inch version), in either black or white. But now theres a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air M3, which is only available in white. The price for the 11-inch version is $269 / 269 , while the 13-inch version costs $319 / 299 . Apple has improved the keyboard compared to the previous version in a number of ways. For example, theres a set of function keys, while the trackpad is larger. And its important to note that, rather confusingly and contrary to what its branding might suggest, this new accessory is compatible with the iPad Air M2 (and indeed the 4th- and 5th-gen Airs) as well as the iPad Air M3. However, there are a few compromises compared with the iPad Pros Magic Keyboard; only the Pro version offers a glass trackpad and backlit buttons. Its rather annoying that if you ever switch from the iPad Air to the iPad Pro, youll also have to factor in the (not inconsiderable) cost of a new keyboard if you want to get the full benefit of the upgrade. This keyboard is missing a few features from the Pro Magic Keyboard. IDG There are no new Smart Folios, but Apple has dropped their prices. Most third-party cases for the previous iPad Air models will also be suitable for the new model, such as the Logitech Combo Touch . Finally, like its predecessor, the iPad supports both the USB-C Apple Pencil and the more advanced Pencil Pro. Older Pencils can no longer be used. External display: A handy option The M3 Air offers support for an external display with a resolution of up to 6K at 60Hz, compared to a maximum of 4K on the 11th-gen iPad. Dont underestimate the value of this option. If you connect your iPad to an external display via USB-C with a mouse and keyboard connected, the Stage Manager display option is automatically activated. You can then also use the mouse and keyboard and more efficiently edit long texts or videos. Photo and video: Better at video chats than stills photography The iPad isnt an obvious choice as a photographic companion, but the new Air, as usual, is equipped with cameras on the front and back. These dont compare with current iPhone cameras, especially when taking photos indoors: images quickly become noisy. And unfortunately you have to do without a flash, which would have been useful when taking photos of documents. The front-facing camera is positioned on the long edge as has become standard practice for Apple, which is the ideal position for video conferencing. Plus the Center Stage feature allows you to choose between auto-zoom or a wide-angle image. The Air is well equipped for video chats. Video recordings with the main camera are still possible at up to 4K and 60fps, and the Air gets video image stabilisation. Finally, heres one area where the Air outperforms the iPad Pro: its rear camera module barely protrudes, which is more practical in everyday use. Audio setup: Impressive quality I was impressed by the sound quality of the two speakers located on the sides, which remains strong even at higher volumes. This is not only useful for music and videos, but also for presentations and video calls. In most situations theres no need to add external Bluetooth speakers. Two integrated microphones ensure good recording quality during video conferences. The iPad Pro offers even better sound quality thanks to its four speakers and five microphones, but the Air is already at a high level in this area. Summary: The sweet spot Overall, the iPad Air is convincing. The iPad Pro is even better, but far too expensive. The iPad A16, on the other hand, is significantly slower and has a poorer display. This feels like a sweet spot. For most users, in fact, the iPad Air is the ideal choice: fast, ergonomic, and equipped with a good display. Our only caveat is that theres hardly any reason to buy this model rather than the cheaper previous model with an M2 chip, which is barely less powerful; whats more, there are some excellent deals out there. The M2 Air is, therefore my personal recommendation. Whether you choose the 11- or 13-inch model is up to you. Tech specs iPad Air (M3, 2025 ) 11 inches 13 inches Price (base model, Wi-Fi) $599 $799 Price (base model, cellular) $749 $949 Display 11-inch Liquid Retina 13-inch Liquid Retina Resolution 2360 x 1640, 264ppi 2732 x 2048, 264ppi Display technology LED, fully laminated, anti-reflective coating LED, fully laminated, anti-reflective coating Color space Wide color gamut (P3), True Tone Wide color gamut (P3), True Tone Brightness 500 nits 600 nits Chip Apple M3 Apple M3 CPU 8-core CPU: 4 performance and 4 efficiency 8-core CPU: 4 performance and 4 efficiency Graphics 9-core GPU 9-core GPU Neural Engine 16-core 16-core Media Engine Hardware accelerated H.264 and HEVC, AV1 decoding Hardware accelerated H.264 and HEVC, AV1 decoding Memory 8GB 8GB Storage capacity 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB Cameras 12MP wide-angle, f/1.8 12MP wide angle, f/1.8 Front camera 12MP landscape format, Center Stage, f/2.0 12MP landscape format, Center Stage, f/2.0 Speaker, microphone Stereo speakers in landscape format, 2 microphones Stereo speakers in landscape format, 2 microphones Sensors Touch ID in the power button Touch ID in the power button Connections USB 3 (up to 10 Gbit/s), Smart Connector USB 3 (up to 10 Gbit/s), Smart Connector Pencil (optional) Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) Wi-Fi WLAN 6E (802.11ax) with 22 MIMO Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 22 MIMO Bluetooth 5.3 5.3 Mobile data 5G/LTE/UMTS/HSDPA 5G/LTE/UMTS/HSDPA SIM card eSIM eSIM Colors Space Gray, Starlight, purple, blue Space Gray, Starlight, purple, blue Battery Lithium polymer, 28.93 Wh Lithium polymer, 36.59 Wh Surfing Wi-Fi 10 hours 10 hours Mobile surfing 9 hours 9 hours Dimensions (W/H/D) 178.5 x 247.6 x 6.1mm 214.9 x 280.6 x 6.1mm Weight 460g (Wi-Fi); 460g (cellular) 616g (Wi-Fi); 617g (cellular) Table: Thomas Armbrster

The first thing I install on every new Mac is this little free emoji utility

Macworld One of the frustrations of setting up a new computer is downloading, installing, and logging into all the various applications I use every day. But whenever I set up a new Mac, Im happy to download and install Rocket the first app I install on any new Mac. In fact, its one of the utilities I miss most when I have to use a Windows PC. Rocket is a simple, free utility from Matthew Palmer that adds Slack-style emoji typing throughout your system. Thats it, thats all it does. If you spend all day on Slack like I do, you know how fast and easy it is to add emojis. Type a colon (:) followed immediately by a search term, and a little pop-up emoji picker shows relevant emojis. You can pick one from the list (with the mouse or arrow keys) or keep typing to narrow it down and just press Enter. The Slack emoji picker is great. With Rocket you can have it everywhere. Foundry It makes using emoji, which I use a lot , an intuitive part of the typing process instead of a separate activity. Rocket simply makes that same emoji typing experience available system-wide. There are a few welcome options, such as the ability to disable Rocket when using certain apps in which it interferes, or when on certain websites. You can choose a custom skin one for relevant emojis, too. Theres a $10 Rocket Pro upgrade that adds the ability to build a library of custom GIFs or images that you can summon the same way, along with some stats and text expander snippets. Im happy to pay, but I never use any of those features. If I had to make a request, it would be to allow for a simple way to look at emoji variants in the picker. Many emojis these days have multiple variations, and it would be great to find one with a few taps of the keyboard. The preferred default skin tone selection handles some of them, but you dont always want to change up a whole default just to get the right variant of one or two emojis. And not every emoji variation is a skin tone. But hey, its free, its lightweight, its kept up to date, and it makes my Mac more enjoyable to use. Its hard to complain about that.

Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 7-in-1 with M.2 SSD Enclosure review

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Robust Construction Effective fan Good data transfer rates Informative display Cons Not many extra ports Fan not silent No carrying case Our Verdict Anyone who opts for the Smart USB-C Hub 7-in-1 will do so mainly because of the option to integrate an NVMe SSD. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $179 Best Prices Today: Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 7-in-1 with M.2 SSD Enclosure Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal Dockcase $179 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket At first glance, what stands out most about the Smart USB-C Hub 7-in-1 with M.2 SSD Enclosure hub is its relatively large case with an equally large display. The 4.3 by 2.3 centimeter display shows, among other things, the connected devices and the current data transfer rate. It also serves as a touchscreen for settings such as data protection and fan speed. The large display looks playful, but is very informative. An integrated SSD health monitor issues early warnings. Speaking of that integrated SSD, inside the hub is a connector for an M.2 SSD module that you provide. It supports the compact 2230 and 2242 NVMe SSDs with a maximum capacity of 2TB. An optional read-only mode prevents unwanted changes or deletions and thus protects sensitive data, if required. An integrated, temperature-controlled fan and ventilation openings ensure efficient cooling of the NVMe SSD. Installtion an SSD module is effortless and Dockcase provides a small screwdriver. The ports on the Smart USB-C Hub are one USB-C and USB-A (both USB 3.2 Gen 2 at 10GBps), a 100W Power Delivery USB-C power, an HDMI 2.1 port with support for 4K at 120Hz, an SD card slot, and a TF port. If you want a hub that gives you more connectors, other hubs and docks are better suited in our Best USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac 2025 roundup . Not everyone needs a lot of extra ports; primarily, this is an external SSD enclosure with a few useful ports. The data transfer rate of the integrated NVMe SSD impresses across the board in the AJA System Test Lite with 875MBs for writing and 955MBps for reading. The fan occasionally starts up in the read/write endurance test; it is relatively quiet, but not silent. In our endurance test, however, the small NVMe SSD can get very warm after more than 30 minutes of intensive use. The write rate then decreases significantly. However, this is a respectable performance for a USB-C hub. With the fan deactivated for the test (the temperature was read via the internal sensor), the temperature rose during continuous operation of the SSD. After a short time, a warning was displayed at 69 degrees Celsius, and the data transfer rate dropped significantly in some cases. At 72 degrees Celsius, we activated the fan to protect the SSD and within a short time, the temperature dropped to below 60 degrees Celsius. The full metal housing is robust and also ensures good temperature equalization thanks to the many ventilation slots. However, the fan can be noisy and annoying to sensitive ears. Dockcase provides a fan control with four sppeds or the ability to turn it off completelybut doing so puts the SSD at risk. With an OWC Ultra SDXC memory card, we measured 253MBps for writing and 284MBps for readingan excellent performance. with a Lexar Armor 700 USB-C SSD, the 890MBps for writing and 939MBps for reading are only aabout 100MBps below the values directly on the MacBook Air M3. Should you buy the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 7-in-1 with M.2 SSD Enclosure? Anyone who opts for the Smart USB-C Hub 7-in-1 will do so mainly because of the option to integrate an NVMe SSD. If you need an external storage device and could use card reader slots and an extra charging port, the Smart USB-C hub may work. But there are plenty of other options out there if you want to add more ports.

The M4 MacBook Air we recommend to everyone is $150 off right now

Macworld Gorgeous, light, powerful, and even more affordable, the M4 MacBook Air is on sale over at Amazon right now for one of the best prices weve ever seen. You can get the version with all the bells and whistles24GB of RAM and 512GB of storagefor just $1,245 right now , a savings of $154 off its $1,399 MSRP. If you frequently visit MacWorld, you know that we absolutely love this laptop. In fact, when we reviewed the 15-inch version, we gave it a perfect five-star rating and our Editors Choice award, with our main complaint being that we can no longer get it in Space Gray. We appreciated that you could hook up two external 6K displays at 60hz, the fantastic performance boost brought on by the upgrade to the M4 chip, and we even appreciated the new 12MP Center Stage camera. And of course, we loved the gorgeous Liquid Retina Display that will make working on the device great in any lighting conditions, allowing you to view crisp images with vivid colors anywhere, and speedy M4 chip. This specific configuration also features 24GB memory and 512GB, which is the recipe for the most decked-out version you can purchase right now. This is the laptop for everyone, we wrote at the time, and considering everything it has to offer, including the 18-hour battery life, its hard to argueespecially at this price. So snag your very own M4 MacBook Air for $1,245.26 at Amazon sooner rather than later because this deal may not stick around for long. Save 11% on this MacBook Air M4 Buy now at Amazon

Apple just gave us a big hint that the AirTag 2 will launch soon

Rumors suggest an imminent release of AirTag 2. With that in mind, Apple has quietly discontinued one of the few AirTag accessories it has offered The post Apple just gave us a big hint that the AirTag 2 will launch soon appeared first on BGR .

Apples next-gen CarPlay finally arrives with a new name: CarPlay Ultra

Macworld Ever since Apple unveiled its ambitious next-gen CarPlay in-car experience at WWDC 2023 , weve been waiting for the first vehicles to arrive. Nearly two years later, the first models running the new system are finally rolling off the lotand it finally has a proper name. Apple and Aston Martin announced on Thursday that CarPlay Ultra will be available as a standard feature on all new vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada, and will be available for existing models that feature Aston Martins next-generation infotainment system through an upcoming software update. The system, which builds on the capabilities of CarPlay and provides the ultimate in-car experience by deeply integrating with the vehicle to deliver the best of iPhone and the best of the car, appears to be very similar to the one that debuted at WWDC 2023. Aston Martin will be the first car maker to ship CarPlay Ultra support. Aston Martin According to Apple, CarPlay Ultra provides content for all the cars displays, including the instrument cluster, with dynamic and beautiful options for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and more. Drivers can also choose to show information from their iPhone, including maps and media, right in the instrument cluster. Like regular CarPlay, the system requires an iPhone to work and will default to the cars standard infotainment system otherwise. CarPlay Ultra lets automakers tailor the look to their distinct design philosophy with custom themes, personalized color options, and unique wallpapers. Apple says many other automakers around the world are working to adopt CarPlay Ultra, including newly committed brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra isnt replacing CarPlay, which is still available for millions of cars worldwide. However, the Ultra branding suggests a top-of-the-line product, like the Apple Watch Ultra and M2 Ultra processor.

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. What is the latest macOS? 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 latest version of Sequoia is macOS 15.5, which arrived on May 12, 2025. It includes a Screen Time update, some changes in Mail, and security patches. There is a new version of macOS macOS 16 on the way. Well know more after WWDC on June 9, 2025. If you are looking for help installing macOS read: How to update macOS and Fixes for Macs that wont update. We can also help with How to install macOS on an unsupported Mac. What is macOS? macOS is the Mac operating system, like iOS is the iPhone operating system and iPadOS is the iPad operating system. Its the software that runs in the background, providing the user interface and providing the link between the hardware and software. 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. 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. macOS versions in order 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: 13.7.6, May 12, 2025) macOS 14: Sonoma (Sunburst) September 26, 2023 (Latest: 14.7.6, May 12, 2025) macOS 15: Sequoia (Glow) September 18, 2024 (Latest: 15.5, May 12, 2025) macOS 16: name TBC (Cheer) launch date TBC We have a full list of which Macs run which versions of macOS here . You can install a beta version of macOS and test new features that havent yet launched. If you want to install the latest beta of macOS read about joining Apples beta program . Apple is already 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 looks to poach Spotify users with new playlist transfer tool

Macworld Users are often reluctant to switch from one music-streaming service to another, even if they find the price, features, algorithm, curation, or song library more appealing. And thats because of playlists. A huge part of the streaming experience is being able to create cross-device playlists of songs for studying, working out, driving, sleeping, parties, and so on. There are ways to take these playlists with you when you move from Spotify to Apple Music, for example, but for many it represents enough of a hassle to keep them with the original service. Its enough of a problem, in fact, that Apple is releasing a tool to migrate playlists for you. A support document published this week (spotted by MacRumors ) reveals the existence of a new Transfer Music from Other Music Services function in Apple Music. At the time of writing, it appears to be undergoing testing in Australia and New Zealand only, but wed expect it to roll out elsewhere if it proves popular. The way it works is appealingly simple. You go into the settings for Music on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device (or access Apple Music on the web), select the transfer function, choose the service you want to transfer from and what you want to transfer, then tap Add To Library. The software will flag up anything that isnt available in Apple Music and suggest a similar track, but other than that, the process should be complete without further input. In the support document Apple is coy about who does the work, saying only that Transferring music to Apple Music is provided by a third-party [sic]. That third party is SongShift , as we knew as long ago as February last year, when Apples plan leaked in an Android beta. In other words, the essential functionality isnt new. But bringing this within Apples Music app reduces the friction of the process and is likely to make customers significantly happier to trust that their data wont be misused. And anything that makes it easier to switch to Apple Music from Spotify (or Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, and so on) is good news for the companys all-important services revenue.

Apple quietly stops selling one of its original AirTag accessories as new model looms

Macworld When Apple introduced AirTag in 2021, the company also unveiled its own accessories for the tiny, hole-less tracker. However, since then, neither AirTag nor its first-party accessories have received any major updates. But it seems that Apple has now quietly discontinued one of the original AirTag accessories amid rumors of a new generation of the item tracker. The original AirTag Loop is no longer available in stores As spotted by Macworld, Apple is no longer selling an accessory known as the AirTag Loop. The accessory has disappeared from the companys online store and is unavailable in many Apple Stores around the world. Sources familiar with the matter told Macworld that stores havent received new AirTag Loop supplies for months, and the product has also been removed from the catalog, suggesting that it has been discontinued for good. Although Apple sometimes faces supply shortages that impact the availability of some products, the company usually makes it clear in its store when a product is temporarily out of stock, sources said. For those unfamiliar, the AirTag Loop lets users attach the item tracker to objects such as backpacks and suitcases. Apple originally offered both leather and silicone versions of the Loop, but in 2023, it discontinued the leather version after announcing FineWoven as a replacement for its leather accessories. However, while Apple replaced the AirTag Leather Key Ring with a FineWoven model, it never made a FineWoven Loop, instead sticking with the silicone version as the only option. Apples FineWoven Key Ring for AirTag remains available both in retail and online stores. At $35, the companys official AirTag accessories cost more than an AirTag, but Apple also promotes third-party accessories that are much cheaper. According to another source who spoke to Macworld, many customers who buy AirTags tend to opt for third-party accessories rather than Apples own. You can still find the original AirTag Loop in some other stores at prices as low as $13 , likely discounted to clear out remaining stock. The AirTag Loop is no longer sold at Apple Stores. Foundry AirTag 2: What to expect Although the most likely reason Apple stopped selling the AirTag Loop is its low popularity among customers, the company may also be gearing up to launch a new version of AirTag with refreshed accessories in the near future. Based on the latest rumors, a 2nd-gen AirTag is already in the works and may launch later this year. The new version is expected to have a similar design to the current one but with an improved Ultra Wideband chip and extended range. The iPhone 15 and later models include an updated UWB chip with a range of up to 60 meters, compared to 15 meters for the chip inside the 1st-gen AirTag. The technology enables the Precision Finding feature, which shows the distance between you and the item youre trying to track. Other reports suggest that AirTag 2 will also include stronger anti-stalking mechanisms , such as better protections to prevent people from disabling the trackers internal speaker.

If iPadOS 19 is going to be more like the Mac, it needs these 9 features stat

Macworld Will the iPad ever become a true laptop replacement? The answer to that question heavily depends on who you ask. For certain students and professionals, the iPad Pros superior display, Apple Pencil input, and portability have made it the ideal productivity device. In fact, I earned my BA in English Language and Literature and worked as a TV script translator, all while relying solely on an iPad. However, its a different story for those with advanced workflows. Today, flagship iPads pack Apples M-series chipsets, similar to those powering the latest Macs. Nonetheless, the mobile operating systems software limitations prevent the tablet from performing a range of desktop-class tasks. iPadOS 19 is rumored to address some of these shortcomings by improving multitasking, productivity, and window management. Im all for that, but Apple needs to think bigthese nine macOS features need to be at the centerpiece of the update to truly unlock the iPads full potential. App sideloading support macOS is the only Apple operating system that permits users to install apps outside the App Store without jumping through endless hoops. If an application fails the App Stores unforgiving screening process, developers can still distribute it independently to users all over the world, which enables Mac users to install third-party apps that dont necessarily comply with Apples guidelines. I understand why Apple wants to keep sideloading away from the iPhone, but the iPad is a different animal. If your workflow depends on a noncompliant or niche app, theres no straightforward way to obtain it on your iPadand thats a dealbreaker for many. To truly match desktop flexibility, iPadOS 19 should support direct .IPA file installation. Maybe then people can stop looking at it as a giant iPhone. Mac software compatibility The highest-end iPads now use the same processors as Mac computers. Yet, while macOS can run iPad apps, iPadOS still cant run Mac software. Consequently, those relying on desktop-exclusive apps, such as Xcode, cant completely ditch their computers. Similarly, those who already bought lifetime licenses for Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on macOS cant access these tools on their tablets (without paying recurring subscription fees for the mobile editions). Since the iPad has a cursor when connected to a Magic Keyboard, Apple could realistically address this limitation and expand the iPads app library by supporting Mac software on iPadOS 19. An improved cursor Speaking of the cursor, the one iPadOS has is significantly larger than that of macOS and features a magnetic effect that pulls it toward UI elements. I understand why it behaves that way, since iPadOS is a touch-first OS with large targets to accommodate human fingers, but its not conducive to getting serious work done. With iPadOS 19 and macOS 16 rumored to adopt similar looks, now is Apples chance to finally develop a more intuitive pointer for its tablet. Window management needs to be priority No. 1 for iPadOS to be more like macOS. Foundry Enhanced window management Likewise, while iPadOS currently supports resizable app windows via Stage Manager, the feature is extremely limited compared to the Macs window management. The execution feels wonky and pushes me to use the traditional Split View and Slide Over multitasking features. iPadOS 19 is rumored to be getting a multitasking upgrade, and I cant think of anything better than adopting a macOS-like approach thats fully optimized for tablets. Upgraded built-in apps Ever since iOS and iPadOS split in 2019, Apple has been distinguishing its own iPad apps by offering new UIs exclusive to the larger displays. Nevertheless, in terms of functionality, these apps continue to mimic, even mirror, the iPhone and its limitations. So, macOS features such as Smart Playlists in Apple Music and system file browsing in Finder are absent from the iPad. To lure power users, iPadOS 19 should upgrade its stock apps by bringing over some of what we love about the Mac versions. Extended work environments Speaking of power users, the premium M4 iPad Pro still limits you to a single external monitor. Meanwhile, Macs support multiple physical screens and virtual desktops. This lets users jump between different sets of opened apps by creating several environments with distinct layouts based on the tasks theyre focusing on. Similar capabilities in iPadOS would help make it a much better platform for getting serious work done. Virtual desktops are a great thing for productivity and organization on the Mac, and theyd be just as good on the iPad. Foundry iPhone backup tools With a Mac and a USB-C cable, you can back up, restore, or update your iPhone just by plugging it in. While newer iPads can repair your bricked iPhone wirelessly, theyre incapable of creating local, full-device backups. Similarly, they cant update your iPhones OS when it doesnt have sufficient storage to download the package over the air. If Apple wants the iPad to be a true productivity device, it needs to have full control over the iPhone like the Mac. Multiple user profiles This is one that weve wanted forever. Many households have a single iPad shared by several people, but iPadOS is still tied to a single user. Apple has already built and shipped multi-user profiles, but confoundingly, its limited to iPads managed by educational institutions. We dont know why Apple refuses to allow multiple users on the iPad, but that needs to change if Apples tablet wants to be more like the Mac. Continuity features Lastly, the Mac offers special Continuity features that work seamlessly with iOS. With macOS Monterey 12, Apple added support for AirPlay receiving, letting you cast media from your iPhone to the computers larger display. And with macOS Sequoia 15, the company introduced iPhone Mirroring, enabling users to fully control their iPhones, view iOS notifications, and more. Both of these features are missing from iPadOS, further chaining its potential. We dont need to mirror our iPhone on the iPad as often as we do on our Macs, but it would be cool if we could. Foundry Could this be the year? The iPad seems to be stuck in limbo, and I struggle to figure out where its heading. Theres no denying that every annual OS update makes the device more capable, but ultimately, the new features all hit the same obstacles. For example, I had high hopes when Stage Manager was first announced, only to be disappointed by the same main set of limitations soon after trying it. When compared to Windows tablets such as Microsofts Surface, the iPad has a long way to go. But while Im still skeptical, the iPadOS 19 rumors are a glimmer of hope. Im doubtful that many of the features here make it to the iPad this year (or anytime soon for that matter), but iPadOS 19 is a chance for Apple to elevate the tablet above its iPhone roots and carve out a productivity niche for people who want something more versatile than a Mac. Well see if it happens.

How to disable math results in Messages for iPhone and iPad

Macworld Apple automatically performs math and offers suggested results in Messages for iPhone and iPad when you type in patterns it recognizes, such as formulas and units, after you type = (equals sign). These suggestions are grayed out inline in the message field until you tap the suggestion in the field or in the QuickType bar. Get conversions inline with Math Results. What if you dont like these solutions? It would seem that going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Show Math Results and turning it off would disable formula and conversion autosuggestions. In testing, I found that I had to force quit Messages and relaunch it to have the change apply. (Swipe up from the bottom of your screen, then swipe Messages up to quit it.) Re-enabling happened immediately. Math results appear elsewhere, too. If you dont want them provided at all, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions , enable Content & Privacy Restrictions , then tap Intelligence & Siri > Math Result , and set it to Disallow . This is a global switch. Turn off Math Results in all apps via Screen Time settings. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader James. Frequent Mac 911 questions Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered.

Macworld Podcast: State of the visionOS and Apple Vision Pro

Macworld When WWDC rolls around in June, itll be two years since Apple announced visionOS and the Apple Vision Pro. In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we examine the state of Apples spatial computing platform and what Apple could have in store at WWDC and beyond. Watch episode 934 on YouTube Listen to episode 934 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 934 on Spotify Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review! right here in the Podcasts app . The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel . Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone . Apple

The iPhone 18s edgeless curved display seems like a certainty now

Macworld 2027 is the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, and it appears that Apple has some big plans in store. The Information and Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported that Apple is going to dramatically redesign the iPhone with a mostly glass, curved iPhone (that will follow the release of Apples first folding phone ). On Wednesday, a report by Electronic Times sheds a little bit of light on the display that will be used. Apple plans to use four-sided bending display technologies that would allow the display to wrap around the edges of the iPhone so that the phone would not have a bezel. Apple also plans to implement an OLED display driver chip that is based on a 16nm fin field-effect transistor ( FinFET ) process, a change from the 28nm planar process currently used. Implementing FinFET will improve power efficiency, but it is not clear if this results in longer battery life or if the power demands of a four-sided bending display and AI processing offset any gains. One way Apple may address the power demands of the new phone is by using new battery technology, according to the Electronic Times report. Current lithium-ion batteries have a graphite anode, but the 2027 iPhone could use a battery with a silicon anode instead. Silicon anodes store more lithium ions, resulting in higher energy density and longer battery power capacity. Previous reports have stated that Apple is making an effort to design this iPhone without any screen cutouts or minimize its use. The Information and analyst Ross Young have previously reported that Apple plans to most of the Face ID sensors underneath the display. The Information has also reported that the phone would have a small cutout for the front-facing camera, a cutout that would be smaller than the pill-shaped one in the current iPhone. Its not clear whether Apple would still offer the Dynamic Island feature if the camera cutout shrinks.

If the iPhone 17 Air is anything like the Galaxy S25 Edge, I dont want it

Macworld Its often said that Apple doesnt do things first; it does them right. But not everything can be done right. And my fear is that the faults of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge , which launched this week a good four months before the iPhone 17 Air, are innate to this type of device rather than something that can be fixed. There are obviously positive points to this form factor, which is why Samsung and Apple are both going down the sub-6mm road. As well as being just 5.8mm thick, the S25 Edge weighs 163g, which is amazingly light for a phone with a 6.7-inch display and actually lighter than each of Apples current 6.1-inch handsets. I havent held one, but by all accounts , the Edges lack of heft is strikingly noticeable in the hand, and I can see why that appeals it just doesnt appeal to me. If you offered to make my 3.5-pound MacBook Pro lighter, Id jump at the chance. Less weight in the rucksack when I take it to the office would be a welcome upgrade. Same for my iPad Air (460g) and AirPods Max (386g, plus another 135g for the stupid case). But weight simply isnt a pain point for my iPhone 16 Plus (6.7 inches, 199g). And Id go further and say that I would actively dislike it being made any lighter. Ever notice that a tennis ball is more difficult to catch than something harder and heavier, like a baseball or cricket ball? Its because weight makes an object sink into your hand and stay there, while lighter objects need to be actively gripped. A 199g phone, plus case, sits nicely in my hand. A phone thats 163g (which likely isnt cased because you want to show off the groundbreaking slimline design) is far more likely to be dropped, especially if its almost entirely made of smooth glass. And then, enhanced crack protection or no enhanced crack protection, youre risking disaster. What does this dubious gift of lightness cost us? Plenty. The S25 Edge comes with three main compromises: lower battery capacity (1000mAh less than the S25+ with significantly slower charging), a weaker camera system (no telephoto lens, hence worse zoom), and a higher price. Phone cameras have debatably reached a stage of evolution where any one of them is as good as almost anyone needs, but price and battery life are, unlike weight, active pain points. I find it baffling that someone would willingly pay more for a phone that lasts less time purely for the sake of making it thinner. Its not like this is a particularly attractive design, either. Its just the same old glowing rectangle, camera lenses arrayed vertically on the back in the usual Galaxy style, pinhole camera cutout on the front. And because of the design obstacle that is the USB-C port (if only there was some way to get rid of that ), the bottom edge looks wonky, with the port sitting closer to the rear of the chassis than the front. Its just not a design that has anything to recommend it other than being thin. Anyron Copeman / Foundry All of these compromisesand moreare expected to afflict the iPhone 17 Air. Apples ultra-thin handset will reportedly have just one rear camera, a higher price than the iPhone 16 Plus, and battery life so bad that it will sell an accessory just so users can get through the day. Granted, people who have held dummies have come away very impressed with the design, but remember, these arent working models. First impressions are one thing; actually using it after the wow factor wears off is another. A common argument in favor of major change is to say that youll feel differently once youve had a chance to get used to it. And until now Apple watchers have been holding out hope that the iPhone 17 Air would pull off a similar trick, that while it seems impractical in theory , well fall in love with the object once its in our hands, once weve spent some time with it and grown accustomed to its benefits. Thats why rival products are so important for our understanding of the 17 Air. They give reviewers a chance to actually experience the reality of a sub-6mm smartphone. The launch of the S25 Edge, then, has been an interesting exercise for Apple fans. But if this is whats in store for the iPhone 17 Air in the fall, I feel less optimistic than ever. Not for me , thanks.

This sleek OtterBox MFi-approved MagSafe charging stand is less than $15

Macworld Youre at your desk, you want to check your phone, but you also need to charge it, so keeping it plugged in and picking it up all the time can get annoying. This sleek OtterBox MagSafe charging stand will solve both your problems and you can get it for just $14.95 at Woot . Otterboxs MSRP for this stand is $100, but its regularly on sale for more than half offand still weve never seen it for this cheap. This Otterbox charging stand will fit right in with most Apple gear since its white and has a beautiful design. The station features a weighted base with a magnetic pad located at the top, at just the right angle. You can pop your iPhone onto the MagSafe pad to recharge anytime it needs, while still checking on notifications and using StandBy mode . And since its MFi approved, youll get full 15W charging. The charging stand also comes with a 20W wall charger, as well as a 6.6ft USB-C cable. Thats long enough to place the charging station exactly where you need it without worrying about how close it needs to be to the outlet. Honestly, thats probably worth the $15 on their own. Woot deals expire when the timer runs out or when the stock runs out. So you should definitely hurry up and add the Otterbox MagSafe charging stand to your cart for $14.95 at Woot . This is a better way to charge your phone Buy now at Woot

Best places to buy a refurbished iPhone and where to get the best deals

Macworld If youre on the hunt for an iPhone but your budget doesnt quite stretch to Apples newest models, buying a used or refurbished iPhone is a great way to pick up a bargain. While this might sound like a risky option, it doesnt have to be. Specialist retailers offer warranties and check devices before reselling them. Well help you find a reputable source for second-hand iPhones. Now that Apple has launched the iPhone 16 series, you can get excellent deals on older phones including the 15-, 14-, and maybe even the 13- series. (Apple still sells the standard iPhone 15 models, but has discontinued the 15 Pro and Pro Max, which means refurbished is the way to go with those models.) The older iPhone youre prepared to buy, the bigger the savings you can enjoy. In this article, we cover everything there is to know about safely buying a refurbished iPhone, whether youre looking to buy SIM-free or on contract. Best Refurbished iPhone deals You can save money buying the iPhone 15 from Apples refurbished store and from resellers such as BackMarket or Amazon Renewed. We have details of all the best resellers of refurbished iPhones below. Just be aware that the resellers can get a bit creative with the original pricing. Refurbished iPhone 15 deals U.S. Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15, 128GB, $619 (save $110) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, $699 (save $130) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro, 512GB, $1,019 (save $180) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max, 512GB, $1,099 (save $200) BackMarket: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB , $658 BackMarket: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , $772 Amazon Renewed: iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , $749 Refurbished iPhone 15 deals U.K. Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15, 128GB, 589 (save 110) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, 779 (save 140) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro, 256GB, 869 (save 150) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB, 949 (save 170) BackMarket: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB , 586 BackMarket: Refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , 628 Amazon Renewed: iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , 730 Screenshot Older Refurbished iPhone deals U.K. In Apples UK refurbished store you can also get the following iPhones: iPhone 14-series , iPhone 13 series , including: Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 13 mini, 512GB , 639 (save 340) Apple refurbished store: Refurbished iPhone 14 Pro, 256GB , 759 (save 240) You can find more deals on specific iPhone handsets in our iPhone deals round ups: iPhone 16 deals U.S. / iPhone 16 deals U.K. for the best prices on Apples newest series of iPhones. iPhone 15 deals U.S. / iPhone 15 deals U.K. including deals on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max which Apple no longer sells. iPhone 14 deals including refurbished deals. iPhone 13 deals including refurbished deals. Best place to buy a refurbished iPhone Apple itself should be your first port of call, if only to establish a benchmark of what is reasonable to pay for your chosen handset: check to see if the Apple Refurbished Store has the iPhone model youre looking for. (Thats the U.S. store. British readers should try the U.K. Apple Refurbished Store .) At time of writing Apple is selling refurbished models of the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Apples refurbished store tends to be the most expensive place to buy refurbished iPhonesalthough its still significantly cheaper than buying new. (The standard reduction on the Apple Refurbished Store is 15 percent.) But there are advantages that come with this higher price. The refurb phones all come with the same one-year limited warranty that youll find on the brand-new versions, for example. And its worth noting that any parts used in the refurb will be official Apple ones, and all devices come with brand-new batteries. Its worth shopping around, however, to make sure youre getting a good deal. There are plenty of other companies that make a living from refurbishing and selling iPhones. Here are some of the more prominent resellers of refurbished and used iPhones: Refurbished iPhone sellers in the U.S. Back Market : You get 30 days to change your mind and a 12-month warranty or occasionally more. Decluttr : A popular destination for refurbished devices, often with sales that slash even more money off. You can also trade in any of your old tech, gadgets, and media (including books and CDs) to get steeper discounts. The iOutlet on eBay : Offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles. Amazon Renewed Store : This sites greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazons standard returns policy and its Renewed Guarantee lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product. Best Buy : Best Buy doesnt offer a great deal of information on pre-owned iPhones condition, but you can return within 14 days if the item is unopened or defective in any way. Walmart : Walmart doesnt sell refurbished iPhones directly; rather, they are sourced from other sellers. Return policies vary from seller to seller, but there are minimum requirements that apply universally. Refurbished iPhone sellers in the U.K. Back Market : You get 30 days to change your mind and a 12-month warranty or occasionally more. Music Magpie : The UK version of Decluttr and a good place to start looking for refurbished iPhones. You may find that sales reduce the price still further. Hoxton Macs : Dont let the Mac in the name fool you. Hoxton Macs has started selling refurbished iPhones. Reboxed : Pledges that devices are fully tested and in perfect working order. All come with a 12-month no quibble warranty. The iOutlet or The iOutlet on eBay : Offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles. Amazon Renewed Store : While you cant really sell on Amazon Renewed unless youre a business, those looking to buy a refurbished iPhone Amazon Renewed have plenty of options to choose from. Its greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazons standard returns policy and its Renewed Guarantee lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product. Envirofone : Also allows you to trade in your old phone for credit towards purchasing a refurbished phone. 4Gadgets : Offers a 12-month warranty for all online orders. Smartfone Store : Look out for the additional 10 percent discount for students and young people. Refurb-Phone : Like most refurb sellers, this site offers a 12-month warranty. Less commonplace is its policy of allowing returns within 14 days if you simply change your mind. The Big Phone Store : Says it ensures refurb phones are thoroughly tested, repaired, and cleaned before being sent out. Backs this with a 12-month warranty. Laptops Direct : You get a 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Watch out for slightly confusing grading system: A3, for example, means Average condition. Where to buy a refurbished iPhone on contract You can pick up refurbished phones on contract as well from the following carriers and resellers: US carriers Verizon AT&T T-Mobile UK carriers GiffGaff Mobiles.co.uk O2 Like New Vodafone Carphone Warehouse Fonehouse Outside of specialist retailers, theres also eBay and eBay UK (just be sure to check the sellers feedback and read the descriptions carefully), and, in the UK, CeX . Buying older iPhones new on contract Another way to dampen the financial impact of buying a new iPhone is to go down the tried and tested route of contracts offered by mobile providers. Youll find older iPhone models in the online stores of many networks. Prices change all the time, so wed recommend reading our Best iPhone deals guide on a regular basis to see which offers are currently available. Should I buy a refurbished iPhone? What is refurbished? You might be concerned about buying a refurbished handset, thinking that it would be like buying a second-hand iPhone, but theres no reason to be worried. Remember: refurbished and second-hard arent the same thing. Refurbished iPhones are pre-owned but are wiped, tested, and repaired to work like new. The iPhones Apple sells in the Refurbished Store were returned to Apple for a variety of reasons: The previous owner could have exercised their consumer rights and returned the handset unused within 14 days (as per Apples refund and exchange policy). The iPhone may have been used as a demonstration model. The iPhone may have been returned to Apple due to a fault. The third point on that list may concern you, but you can be sure that Apple will have identified and fixed any faults before reselling the device. The company says refurbished products undergo full functional testing and are provided with genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary). They also get a thorough cleaning, incidentally. There are plenty of benefits to buying a refurbished iPhone: You get a one-year warranty. You get 90 days of tech support . Because youre buying from Apple directly, there are no shipping costs and free returns. You can also take advantage of Apples 14-day returns policy if you change your mind. (Note however that Apple isnt the only seller to offer such a policy.) Refurbished vs second-hand: Whats the difference? If its not already clear, a refurbished iPhone is tested and repaired so the handset works like new (or as close to new as possible). A second-hand iPhone, on the other hand, is simply sold as is, which means the device may not last as long, and may have small imperfections or defects. The battery in particular will be a worry in the long term. There are other risks to buying second-hand too. If the previous owner hasnt dissociated their Apple ID from the device you may get permanently locked out of the iPhone. Unfortunately, Apples customer service wouldnt be able to help you unlock the phone either, as the company has strict security policies. Such a situation would be less of a concern if you know and can easily contact the previous owner (and they remember their Apple ID details), but wed prefer avoiding such complications to start with. This is just another reason why buying refurbished is a more reliable route to go if you did want to pick up a previously owned iPhone. What does refurbished Grade A mean? When you shop refurbished you might see grade scores such as A, B, or C; this indicates the condition of the phone. Is it dinged up? Does it have scratches? Or is it completely blemish-free and pristine? The grade gives you a general idea. We say general because these grades arent set by an independent body, which means they can vary from retailer to retailer. This is how the grades usually break down: Grade A: Looks like new or has very few signs of wear Grade B: Might have some minor scratches and some wear Grade C: Looks used and has obvious signs of wear But some sites go with Fair, Good, and Excellent or some other variation. (One site weve visited appears to grade everything as A plus a numberso a comparatively poor handset would be rated as A3. This may strike some readers as a little confusing.) Needless to say, Grade A/A1/Excellent refurbished devices will be more expensive than Grade C, but youll still be paying far less than you would for a brand-new device. Pay attention to refurbished warranties Given that the quality of refurbished iPhone devices can vary from retailer to retailer, its important to pay attention to the warranty. How long is the phone covered? The warranty allows you to get help or free repairs from the seller if you run into any issues after purchase. Retailers typically offer a year, and many allow quibble-free returns if you change your mind within 14 days. Check the fine print. More refurbished Apple guides Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch? Why you should buy a refurbished Mac Should I buy a refurbished iPad & best deals Where to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac

Verbatim TurboMetal SSD review: Stylish portable drive

Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Good data transfer rate Quiet fan Cons Data rate drops during long, sustained data transfers No operation without fan Our Verdict With its quiet fan and attractive metal casing, the TurboMetal Portable SSD looks great. It offers a good transfer rate, but you can find faster drives. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Verbatim Turbometal Portable SSD Retailer Price $145.84 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Verbatim TurboMetal SSD comes in the classic NVMe form factor with a length of around 106 millimeters. The beautifully rounded metal housing is 55 millimeters wide and only 18 millimeters thin. At 150 grams, it is not too heavy despite the metal housing, but it is no lightweight either. As with many USB4 enclosures, Verbatim also relies on cooling with an active fan and cooling slots. The fan is temperature-controlled and starts automatically if the temperature gets too high. Verbatim specifies a USB4 data transfer rate of 3600MBps for writing and 3700MBps for reading. However, we were not able to achieve this on an M3 MacBook Air; in our 4K test with Aja System Test Lite, it was 2664MBps for writing and 3123MBps for reading. Although these are not bad values, the best USB4 drives we have measured so far achieve slightly higher values for writing, but no higher values for reading. A check on the M4 Max Mac Studio showed much better values, with 2869MBps for writing and 3499MBps for reading. In a 30-minute endurance test with the Backmagicdesign Disk Speed Test, the fan started up after ten minutes. The TurboMetal getting too warm was also noticeable after around nine minutes in the data transfer rate, which had dropped significantly to below 1000MBps. Shortly after starting the fan, the temperature of the SSD levelled off again, and the data transfer rate rose to its original value. The runs only when it has to. During the endurance test, the data transfer rate dropped again and again for a short time, only to stabilise immediately. We measured the temperature with DriveDX at around 46 degrees Celsius after using the fan. Once the fan has started, it does not switch off. The TurboMetal Portable SSD is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. A USB4 cable around 20 centimetres long is included. The drive comes formatted as FAT32, so Mac users will want to reformat the drive in APFS. The software supplied is only for Windows. Should you buy the Verbatim TurboMetal SSD? The TurboMetal SSD is a rather inconspicuous USB4 drive. The data transfer rates are fine for regular everyday use, but if you depend on speed, some SSDs perform better. The regular dips in the data transfer rate are evidence of a thermal protection mechanism, but in practice, this is unlikely to cause a problem with most applications

10 hidden Apple Watch features youve probably never usedbut should

Macworld For many people, the Apple Watch is primarily a fitness tracker and an extension to the iPhone. It conveniently mirrors iOS notifications, calls, and messages, letting users stay updated without taking their phones out. What a lot of wearers dont know, though, is how powerful and feature-packed watchOS really is, and how much your smartwatch can accomplish. Below are ten Apple Watch perks youre probably unfamiliar with. Timely gate access If youre a watchOS user, chances are youre already relying on Apple Pay to quickly make payments from your wrist. Similarly, the Apple Watch automatically syncs compatible tickets whenever you add them to the Wallet app on iOS. This lets you enter venues and board planes by double-clicking the side button and scanning the QR code on the smartwatchs display. But what if your favorite gym, cinema, or airline doesnt officially offer Apple Wallet cards for purchased tickets or memberships? Fortunately, you can manually create an Apple Watch card using any QR code. Simply download the Wallet Creator app on your iPhone, create the card, and add it to the Wallet app on iOS. In a few seconds, the newly created card should also appear on your Apple Watch when you double-click its side button. This spares you from digging through your emails or third-party apps whenever you need to cross compatible gates. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Timeless texter Its no secret that cellular-enabled Apple Watches can independently make calls and send texts. But did you know that regular Wi-Fi models can also do that, even when your iPhone is off or in a different location? As youd expect, there are some requirements and limits, but its doable. The first and main condition is having Wi-Fi access. You can connect to any (unknown) network by inputting its password in the Settings app on watchOS. Once connected, you can send and receive iMessages and make FaceTime audio calls right from your wrist. This is especially helpful during emergencies if your iPhone dies or gets stolen . Speaking of iMessage, you can also use the Digital Touch applet in the Messages app on watchOS to send your actual heartbeat to a contact. Just place two fingers on the display, then swipe them down to send. If the recipient is also a watchOS user, their Apple Watchs haptic feedback will mimic your heartbeat to replicate your pulse. Its a cute, lesser-known way for couples to communicate. Web browser in disguise Another hidden Messages feature is the built-in web view that provides a basic Safari experience on watchOS. All you have to do is iMessage yourself a link, then open it on your Apple Watch. The feature also supports the Reader perk, which presents articles neatly and hides distracting items. Reading articles on a smartwatchs tiny display is unlikely to become a regular habit, but it could come in handy in certain situations. Reincarnated iPod shuffle You probably already use your Apple Watchs native Now Playing app to control the music streaming on your iPhone. However, many users miss out on watchOSs native playback perk. Simply pair AirPods or third-party Bluetooth headphones to your smartwatch, and stream directly from Apple Music if you have an internet connection. For offline listening, both Apple Music and Spotify support downloading playlists to the wearables local storage, letting you leave your iPhone behind. This makes it possible to run outdoors with just your Apple Watch and a pair of wireless earbuds . Mahmoud Itani / Foundry The TV remote youll never lose watchOS also offers a native Remote app that lets you fully control your Apple TV. Even on this miniature screen, the interface manages to fit all of the main buttons, letting you switch apps, go back, navigate, control the volume, and more. Its ideal for when youre cooking or cleaning and dont want to dirty the physical Siri Remote or your iPhone. Or those times when neither of those items are conveniently to hand. You can similarly control other smart home appliances that rely on the HomeKit infrastructure using the native Home app on watchOS. I often use it to change the color of my light bulbs when Siri in typical Siri fashion fails to process my voice commands. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Radio checkdo you copy? Apart from FaceTime and iMessage, the Apple Watch offers an exclusive communication tool that seemingly very few people use. Walkie-Talkie is a built-in app that lets you quickly contact other watchOS users using your voice. Once you add a friend there, you can communicate verbally in real time using the FaceTime audio technology. When youre in a meeting or just dont want to be reached, you can toggle off your availability. While most users probably prefer regular audio messages or phone calls, the Walkie-Talkie app makes it easier to get quick answers for minor questionslike what brand of milk to get from the supermarket. It mostly caters to best friends, family members, and partners, as having less intimate acquaintances reach you at any time would be too intrusive. Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Nighttime iPhone locator If you often misplace your iPhone, youve likely made use of the handy Ping toggle in the Apple Watchs Control Center. When you tap it, your iPhone produces a loud screech if its within Bluetooth range. What you probably dont know, though, is that pressing and holding on that toggle will also make your iPhones camera LED flash. This makes it possible to locate your phone in a pitch-black environment. It can tell the time! Did you know that your Apple Watch can tell the time? Literally, I mean. Once you enable the Speak Time toggle in Clock settings, you can have watchOS announce the current time audibly by holding two fingers on the watch face. I sometimes use this feature when I wake up in the morning to identify the time without opening my heavy eyelids. TickTock-friendly If youre living the solo life and often need to record videos or take photos of yourself, this ones for you. watchOS offers a built-in Camera Remote app that transforms your Apple Watch into a viewfinder for your iPhones Camera app. This ensures youre in frame and helps you fine-tune composition before shooting. The app also offers handy shortcuts to some of the Camera apps buttons, like the shutter, zoom, and flash. Your Apple Watch can do a lot more than count steps and track activiity. Foundry One more tip For the last tip, your Apple Watch can actually calculate how much you need to tip at restaurants. Just input the bills total in the native Calculator app and hit the Tip button. You can then choose the percentage and optionally the number of people splitting it, et voil! Always on hand The Apple Watch has come a long way. What once used to be a dependent accessory can now perform most basic smartphone tasks on its own. Thats even more practical for those with an active cellular plan. Its true that performing most of these tasks would be more practical using the wider iPhone screen. But there are still instances when the Apple Watch makes more sense. Sometimes your hands are occupied, other times your iPhone is out of chargeregardless of your reasons, its comforting to know that the wearable strapped to your wrist at all times can connect you to your loved ones, play your favorite tunes, unlock electric doors, control and find other devices, and much more. Over and out.

Theres finally a replacement for Dropbox, and it lasts for life

Macworld Stop renting space from cloud giants that mine your data and hike up prices. Internxt offers an open-source, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage platformhere to replace Dropbox for good, and both their 10TB and 20TB cloud storage lifetime subscriptions are on sale. 10TB or 20TB cloud storage for life Internxt gives you full control over your files with zero-knowledge architecture and post-quantum encryption to help future-proof your privacy. Whether youre backing up Final Cut Pro files or organizing project folders across iCloud and Finder, Internxt syncs seamlessly with macOS, iOS, and morewithout the usual subscription baggage. End-to-End Encryption: Files are encrypted and fragmented before leaving your device Zero-Knowledge Design: Only you hold the keys to your data Post-Quantum Security: Protection built to outlast todays threats Works Everywhere: Access your cloud from macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, or the web Open-Source & Audited: Transparent code and GDPR-compliant design Use code STORAGE20 by June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (10TB) for $279.99 Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) for $399.99 Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change

Apple teams up with Universal Music Group to add Sound Therapy to Apple Music

Macworld May 15 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and Apple always uses the occasion to highlight some of the new accessibility features coming to iPhones and Macs . This year, Apples got another announcement to share: three new Sound Therapy playlists on Apple Music available now. The South Therapy experience consists of three playlists Focus , Relax , and Sleep that play music from UMG artists including Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, and others. The songs are special versions, often extended, instrumental, or rearranged to be more soothing. Those songs are then blended seamlessly with specific sound waves that are said to help you get into a particular mental state. Gamma waves and white noise are supposed to help with focus, theta waves are to help you relax, and delta waves and pink noise are said to help you sleep. Apple has partnered with Universal Music Group and its music therapy science project, the Sollos initiative , on the feature. Apples press release says the feature is Backed by scientific research and powered by UMGs proprietary audio technologies, but the science here is not by any means conclusive. Apple uses words like could and might in its press release whenever making a claim of effect, and includes a footnote that the feature is designed to support a persons overall wellbeing rather than treat any specific medical condition. Similar claims have been made about similar therapies, such as binaural beats, for years, but research into the effects is often criticized for its lack of rigor or for making grandiose claims not supported by the evidence. Critics often point out that such therapies, when properly studied, show results no better than a placebo, or no better than using any other regular sounds to block out bothersome background noise. Still, theres no harm in it, and its a new feature included with your existing Apple Music subscription. Regardless of whether there are special sound waves helping you achieve the focus or sleep you desire, you can give the playlists a listen the next time you cant focus, relax, or sleep, and see if they work for you.