Lovable, one of the most widely used AI-assisted programming tools, launched an iOS app that creates web apps based on natural language prompts and even voice-based interactions. Here are the details.

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Just days after picking up several nominations for the 2026 Peabody Awards and the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, Apple celebrated today another six nominations across three of its original series for the 2026 Gotham Television Awards. Here are the details.

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Aivolut Books lets you turn an idea into a cohesive, Amazon-ready book in minutes. Get a lifetime subscription to the AI book generator.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple investors have reason to feel encouraged today. As the tech giant prepares to report its Q3 2026 earnings on April 30, UBS has raised its price target on the stock from $280 to $287, while maintaining a Neutral rating.

With Apple shares recently trading around $267–$271, this adjustment implies roughly 6–8% upside potential from current levels, according to the latest market data.

Why UBS Is Getting More Bullish on Apple

UBS analyst David Vogt cited strong iPhone demand and Apple’s supply chain advantages amid ongoing memory shortages as key drivers. The firm now expects:

• iPhone revenue to rise ~20% year-over-year in the June quarter.
• Overall Apple revenue to hit approximately $102 billion for the period (up ~4% from prior estimates), representing 8.5% YoY growth.

Solid performance in key markets like the US and China is expected to support services and iPhone sales, helping Apple navigate a challenging environment.

This move aligns with a broader wave of analyst optimism. Other firms, including BNP Paribas (raising to $300) and JPMorgan (up to $325), have also hiked targets recently, pointing to Apple’s resilience in securing components and gaining market share.

The Caveats: Why Neutral Remains

Despite the upward revision, UBS isn’t going all-in. The bank highlighted longer-term risks, including:

• Potential product delays or less innovative offerings.
• A possible decline in iPhone unit shipments.
• Macroeconomic weakness, particularly in China.

The Neutral rating reflects a balanced view: near-term tailwinds from iPhone 17 series demand, but caution on sustained growth without major breakthroughs.

Broader Context for Apple Investors

Apple’s stock has shown volatility in 2026, trading in a range amid global economic pressures and competition in AI and consumer electronics. However, the company’s massive services business, ecosystem lock-in, and enterprise adoption trends continue to provide a strong foundation.

Wall Street’s consensus price target sits higher, around $300, with some forecasts reaching $350. UBS’s tweak adds to the positive momentum heading into earnings.

MacDailyNews Take: Yet another vote of confidence in Apple’s fundamentals. For potential buyers, the modest raise suggests the stock remains attractively valued relative to growth prospects — especially if earnings beat expectations on iPhone momentum and services.

MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

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A California bill aimed at stopping trillion-dollar tech companies from favoring their own products has failed after an intense opposition campaign. Here are the details.

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iOS 26.4 recently gave CarPlay two new features, while also laying the groundwork for another big upgrade coming soon.

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“Widow’s Bay” is a quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no Wi-Fi, spotty cellular reception and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true, start happening again. “Widow’s Bay” blends genuine horror with character-driven comedy.

Emily Bernard for Collider:
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If there’s one streamer right now that is truly in a league of its own, it’s Apple TV. In the last few years, it’s become the destination for original, inventive sci-fi, with series like Severance, For All Mankind, Pluribus, and Silo exploding in popularity, a sharp right turn from the Ted Lasso fanfare that helped cement it as a legit streamer worth your money. Seth Rogen’s meta comedy The Studio dominated the Emmys, Jon Hamm’s big return to TV has turned into a hit, and even Godzilla has called Apple TV home. If there’s one thing Apple TV is, it’s consistently unpredictable.

What’s refreshing about many titles on the platform is that they don’t try to appeal to everyone, which gives the shows far more breathing room to find their own unique voice, take storytelling risks, and establish a loyal viewership rather organically, no matter how niche. With all of this in mind, Widow’s Bay — which stars Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a would-be travel destination hotspot that’s weighed down by some (a lot) of skeletons in the closet — is perhaps the most daring, weirdest show on Apple TV for several reasons. The series, which is part-workplace comedy, part-mystery, and part-trippy horror, might struggle out of the gate, but once it wades deep into its narrative, you won’t want to return to the mainland…

At first, you might not be so sure that you’ve chosen the right travel destination, but Widow’s Bay becomes a haunting, deeply rewarding, and oddly charming series if you stick with it.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV. Hit after hit after hit!

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A new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman gives us an idea of what to expect from iOS 27’s photo-editing features. Apple is said to be planning a major overhaul of the photo-editing experience, leaning heavily on AI for three big new features: Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. These three tools will be collected together with the existing Clean Up tool in a new “Apple Intelligence Tools” section of the Photos app.

According to the report, here’s what to expect from the new features:

Extend: Users will be able to “zoom out” on an existing photo, adding in details beyond the original frame. This sort of generative fill/expand feature is fairly commonplace.

Enhance: You’ll be able to improve color, lighting, and overall image quality using AI.

Reframe: When taking spatial photos, this new feature will allow you to shift perspective to produce a still image from a different angle.

Gurman notes that internal testing of the features hasn’t gone smoothly. In particular, the Extend and Reframe tools produce inconsistent results, so they could be delayed. Getting reliably good results is already the biggest problem with Apple’s only current AI-powered tool, Clean Up, so introducing more AI tools that don’t work well much of the time is not going to improve Apple’s reputation.

In his report, Gurman reminds us that the OS 27 updates are focused on two main areas: Apple Intelligence features, including the long-overdue new Siri, and a concerted effort to clean up the codebase to improve performance and battery life while reducing bugs. Apple is expected to preview the new OS at the WWDC keynote on June 8.

With just two days to go until Apple’s Q3 2026 report, UBS just raised its price target on the company’s stock, based once again on strong iPhone demand. Here are the details.

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iOS 27 could use AI to make your photographs look better after you take them. It might be a highlight of the iPhone operating system upgrade.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

iOS 27’s unveiling is a little over one month away, and Siri’s major overhaul is set to make not only the iPhone feel far more powerful, but AirPods too.

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Apple is gearing up for a significant upgrade to its built-in Photos app, bringing advanced artificial intelligence tools to photo editing across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, the company is developing a new suite of AI features powered by its Apple Intelligence platform, set to debut in the upcoming iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 operating system updates this fall.

Key New AI Capabilities

The overhaul focuses on three core areas designed to make Apple’s native editing tools even better with:

• Extend: AI-powered “outpainting” or image expansion that intelligently generates new content beyond the original photo borders, allowing users to widen frames or fill in missing areas seamlessly.

• Enhance: Automatic one-tap or intelligent improvements to photo quality, including better lighting, color correction, noise reduction, and detail sharpening using on-device Apple Intelligence models.

• Reframe: Smart recomposition tools that can automatically adjust or suggest new crops, perspectives, and layouts while preserving or generating context to create more visually appealing results.

These features build on Apple’s existing Apple Intelligence efforts, emphasizing on-device processing for privacy and speed. The goal appears to be closing the gap with competitors like Google’s Pixel devices, which have long offered generative AI tools for photo manipulation.

Context and Timing

This photo editing push fits into Apple’s broader iOS 27 strategy, which emphasizes quality improvements and targeted AI enhancements rather than a flood of flashy new features (often compared to the refined approach of Mac OS X Snow Leopard).

The updates are expected to be previewed at WWDC 2026 in June, with public releases in the fall.

By integrating these capabilities directly into the Photos app, Apple aims to reduce reliance on third-party editors while delivering powerful, user-friendly AI tools that feel native and secure.

MacDailyNews Take: For users of Apple’s superior hardware – Mac, iPhone, and iPad – this could mean dramatically easier ways to rescue imperfect shots, expand creative compositions, or quickly polish images without leaving Apple’s ecosystem. It also signals Apple’s continued investment in making Apple Intelligence practical and visible in everyday apps like Photos.

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MacDailyNews Take:

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The post Apple prepares major AI-powered photo editing overhaul for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Make your life easier with Bitwarden, featuring a secure, open source password manager with end-to-end encryption and seamless autofill across all your devices.

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iOS 27 will include multiple new AI-powered photo editing features, according to a new report. These features will let you quickly improve, expand, and reframe your images.

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You can easily remove any object from a photo using Apple Intelligence’s Clean Up tool. Make your almost-perfect shots perfect.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple’s all-new MacBook Neo, its most affordable laptop ever, starts at just $599 (and $499 for education customers), bringing the full Mac experience to millions more users worldwide with a breakthrough price point designed to undercut cheap entry-level Windows PCs and Chromebooks.

The 13-inch model features a durable aluminum enclosure available in vibrant new colors—blush, indigo, silver, and a fresh citrus—paired with a stunning Liquid Retina display offering high resolution, 500 nits brightness, and support for 1 billion colors for vivid websites, photos, videos, and apps.

At its core is the A18 Pro chip, delivering up to 50% faster everyday performance like web browsing and up to 3x quicker on-device AI tasks (such as advanced photo effects) compared to the top-selling PC with the latest Intel Core Ultra 5, while providing up to 16 hours of battery life for true all-day use without recharging.

Additional highlights include a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with dual mics for sharp video calls, dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio for immersive sound, Apple’s comfortable and precise Magic Keyboard, a large Multi-Touch trackpad with gesture support, and macOS Tahoe featuring seamless iPhone integration, Apple Intelligence, and broad app compatibility.

Matt Elliott for CNET:
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By far the most affordable MacBook, it still offers the same premium design and durability as Apple’s pricier MacBooks. It’s also lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry, and comes in three fun colors (plus standard silver).

A combination of the MacBook Neo and the cheapest iPhone comes out to only $100 more than the cheapest MacBook Air alone. And you still get Apple’s $100 education discount with the Neo, which is nearly double the percentage discount (17% versus 9%) that students can save on the Air.

As cute and colorful as it is, the MacBook Neo is more than just a starter laptop. It could also serve as a great device for anyone who wants to browse the web, watch a show or movie, perform some light edits on photos and text using all 10 fingers on a keyboard — rather than just two thumbs on your iPhone…

I can’t believe how similar the MacBook Neo is to its big siblings. Like MacBook Air and Pro models, the Neo has a sturdy, all-aluminum body. It feels just as rigid as a MacBook Air or Pro with the same luxurious look. The Neo doesn’t cheapen the MacBook brand.

The MacBook Neo is easily the best laptop for school use, especially if you or the student you’re buying for already has an iPhone. The two work seamlessly together. Given the convenience and security that Touch ID provides, however, I’d view Apple’s $100 educational discount as a way to add Touch ID (along with more storage) for free instead of lowering the price of the base model.

For those out of school and who want a cheap, portable laptop for casual use around the house or for a job that doesn’t require demanding creative, scientific or AI tasks, the MacBook Neo makes a lot of sense for the money. You won’t find a better-designed laptop at this price.

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MacDailyNews Take: There’s tons more, including benchmarks where the New blows away Chromebooks, in the full article here.

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Explore the exciting features of the 20th anniversary iPhone, including a possible all-screen design without bezels.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

In January, we learned about an upcoming Philips Hue mode called SpatialAware. As of today, the “more natural and immersive” smart lighting feature has arrived. Philips Hue video doorbell owners also have two new features ready for action.

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Apple is poised to make a significant leap in memory configuration for its entire 2027 iPhone 18 lineup. According to recurring supply-chain reports, every model — from the base iPhone 18 to the Pro variants — is expected to ship with 12GB of memory.

This marks a notable first for the standard iPhone 18, which would finally match the memory capacity that debuted in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Analyst Dan Nystedt highlighted the rumor in a recent post on X, citing consistent chatter from the supply chain.

Why 12GB across the board?

The primary driver appears to be Apple Intelligence and the expanding suite of on-device AI features expected in iOS 27. On-device AI workloads are notoriously memory-hungry. Giving the base model enough memory ensures it can fully support advanced features like the next-generation Siri without compromising performance or forcing users toward Pro models.

Apple has long relied on exceptional software optimization to deliver smooth experiences with relatively modest memory compared to Android flagships. However, the demands of modern generative AI are pushing even Apple to standardize higher memory across its range. The iPhone 17 Pro models already proved that 12GB works well for these tasks, and it now looks like the entire family will benefit.

Performance upgrades on the horizon

The memory boost is expected to pair with Apple’s next-generation A20 chip (built on TSMC’s advanced 2nm process). Early indications suggest meaningful gains in both speed and efficiency over the 3nm chips in the iPhone 17 series.

This combination of more memory and a more advanced processor should deliver:

• Smoother multitasking
• Faster AI processing
• Better longevity for future software updates

Launch timing twist

Unlike previous years, Apple reportedly plans a staggered rollout. The iPhone 18 Pro models (and possibly the first folding iPhone) are still expected in fall 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 could arrive in early 2027 alongside other more affordable models.

Potential trade-offs

Higher memory comes at a cost, especially amid a global RAM shortage driven by AI server demand. To offset this, Apple may trim certain features on the base model, such as display specifications or other manufacturing processes. Even with those adjustments, the internal upgrades should make the iPhone 18 feel like a substantial step forward for everyday users.

MacDailyNews Take: If these rumors hold, the iPhone 18 series will represent one of the most unified memory upgrades in Apple’s recent history. No more “good enough” memory on the base model — everyone gets the full 12GB treatment. For users who prioritize longevity, AI capabilities, and future-proofing without jumping to Pro pricing, this could be welcome news indeed.

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Apple Weather is experiencing intermittent outages and issues loading for many users, per social media reports and Downdetector.com. Here’s the latest.

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Perplexity has been early to the AI-browsing space with its Comet web browser. Today’s Comet update includes some welcome features for iPad users.

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iOS 26.4 is packed with a bunch of new features for Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and more, plus new ways to customize your iPhone. Apple also added a new alarm feature in iOS 26.4 that’s built specifically for Apple Watch owners.

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Pedometer++ has logged a lot of miles since first unlocking step tracking on the iPhone 5s in 2013. Nearly 13 years of updates later, version 8.0 arrives with a redesigned Apple Watch experience that includes an all-new Expedition Mode. Pedometer++ also touts a “highly-usable workout picker” for Apple Watch users frustrated by watchOS 26’s Workout app.

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Following last month’s release of iOS 26.4, Apple is now beta testing iOS 26.5. Here are all the details on new features and changes on the way for iPhone users with iOS 26.5, which will be released next month.

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We love Macs, but they aren’t cheap. Even with the arrival of lower-cost options like the MacBook Neo, buying a new Mac that meets your requirements can be expensive. Luckily there are cost-effective options, if you don’t mind buying a used Mac.

Not all used Macs are equal though. If budget is tight you might be tempted by a bargain on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or similar platforms. The price might look attractive, but buying a used Mac can introduce risks around security, longevity, and hardware reliability.

Luckily there is a safe way to get a used Mac for less. You can buy a Mac that has been refurbished.

In this article we’ll discuss what a refurbished Mac is, how to know whether it’s safe to buy a refurbished Mac, what protections you have if you buy a refurbished Mac, how much money you can save, and how old is too old when choosing a refurbished Mac.

Buy refurbished if you…Don’t buy refurbished if you…Have a limited budget Are a power user needing cutting-edge performanceAre a student or casual userWant the latest specsAre upgrading from a very old MacNeed maximum reliabilityAre a first-time Mac buyer looking to try macOS at the lowest costNeeds a custom configurationWant to be eco-consciousPlan to keep the Mac for many years

What is a refurbished Mac (and how is it different from used)?

Unlike used or second-hand items, which are often sold as-is without testing, refurbished products are pre-owned items that have been professionally inspected, tested, and, if necessary, repaired and restored to full working condition.

In the case of Macs, the refurbisher ensures the Mac or MacBook functions as intended – sometimes replacing parts or carrying out repairs – before it is resold.

Because of this process, you can expect refurbished Macs to work properly, and they should come with a returns policy in case any issues arise.

What do you actually gain by buying a refurbished Mac?

Buying a refurbished Mac is a practical way to acquire a high-quality computer at a significantly lower price point than a brand-new model.

The key advantages to buying a refurbished Mac, over a secondhand, used Mac, are:

Rigorous Testing: Official refurbished units undergo a stringent process that includes full functional testing, thorough cleaning, and inspection to meet the same standards as new products.

Warranty and Support: Many refurbishers, including Apple, will sell refurbished Macs with a one-year limited warranty, up to 90 days of technical support, and (in the case of Apple) eligibility for AppleCare.

Like-New Condition: Devices are visually indistinguishable from new models and come repackaged in a brand-new box with all original accessories and cables.

Reliability: Unlike buying a standard secondhand or used Mac from a private seller, a certified refurbished machine is guaranteed to be in full working order, with any previous faults rectified by professional engineers.

Every refurbished Mac sold by Apple has been tested and repaired if necessary.

Apple

Why buy a refurbished Mac from Apple

Apple

Apple’s Refurbished Store is a section of its website where you can buy refurbished Macs and MacBooks, along with other products like iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, HomePods, and Apple TV.

Get a refurbished Apple Watch at Apple’s refurbished store (U.K.)

Get a refurbished Apple Watch at Apple’s refurbished store (U.S.)

Buying a refurbished Mac from Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store is a smart way to save money while still getting a device that’s virtually indistinguishable from a brand-new model. Here are some of the reasons why you should shop at Apple’s Certified Refurbished store:

Stringent checks: Unlike buying second-hand from a private seller, Apple puts every device through a rigorous refurbishment process. This includes full functional testing, thorough cleaning, and detailed inspection to ensure it meets the same performance standards as new products. Apple states that every Certified Refurbished product undergoes comprehensive testing to meet the same functional standards as new devices, meaning it should feel “like new.”

Recent and current models: The Macs available may be from a previous year or part of the current lineup.

Fault free returns: They could be ex-demonstration units, or devices returned by customers within Apple’s standard 14-day return window. In some cases, a Mac may have been returned due to a fault—but any issues are fixed by Apple engineers before resale.

According to Apple, each Mac:

Will be thoroughly cleaned and inspected

Includes Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty

Includes up to 90 days of complimentary technical support

Comes with all accessories, cables, and operating systems

Is packaged in a brand-new white box

Is dispatched with free shipping and returns

Can be purchased via financing options

And can be delivered next day

The key point is that Macs from Apple’s Refurbished Store are not noticeably different from new ones – they’re tested, certified, and restored to a like-new condition.

Other places to buy refurbished Macs

Apple isn’t the only place that sells refurbished Macs – we recommend some alternative Mac refurbishers in this article: Best place to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac.

We’d advise that you are a little more cautious if it isn’t Apple selling the refurbished Mac, and we recommend that you don’t buy a very old Mac, even if it has been refurbished.

These Apple Resellers and Refurbishment specialists who will also sell you a secondhand Mac that has been thoroughly checked over:

In the U.S.:

Apple

Amazon

Back Market MacBooks

Back Market Macs

Best Buy

Gainsaver

OWC

Mac Of All Trades

Refurb.me

In the U.K.:

Apple

Amazon

BackMarket

Hoxton Macs

Laptops Direct

MacFinder

Mac 4 Sale

Music Magpie

8 reasons to buy a refurbished Mac

Here are eight reasons why choosing a refurbished model could be a good option:

Refurbished Macs are as good as new – Buying from Apple’s Refurbished Store isn’t the same as typical secondhand. Any faults are identified and fixed by Apple, so these Macs should be just as reliable as new ones bought from an Apple Authorized Reseller or Apple’s online store.

They’re nearly new – Most have only been briefly used, often returned within 14 days or used as display models. They’re unlikely to have seen heavy or intensive use.

They pass rigorous checks – Every refurbished Mac undergoes full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacement if needed, and a thorough clean—often with more checks than brand-new models.

Save on current models – You can buy current-generation Macs for less than their brand-new price by shopping in Apple’s Refurbished Store.

You can get more for your money – Refurbished options let you choose higher-spec or more powerful models (like Pro chips) for the same budget as entry-level new devices.

Greater choice of models – Unlike standard retail stores, the Refurbished Store offers Macs from recent months or years, giving you more variety at lower prices.

Warranty and support included – You get a one-year warranty, 90 days of tech support, and the option to extend coverage with AppleCare for extra peace of mind.

Extra buying benefits – Free delivery and returns, financing options, trade in credit, fast shipping or store pickup, and the reassurance of buying directly from Apple without dealing with previous owners.

8 reasons not to buy a refurbished Mac

As you can see there are plenty of good reasons to buy a refurbished Mac. Are there any disadvantages?

While refurbished Macs offer significant savings, there are several drawbacks to consider, ranging from limited availability to potential hardware obsolescence. Here are some of the disadvantages to look out for:

Older models – Buying refurbished often means you won’t get the very latest technology. While current-generation Macs do appear on Apple’s Refurbished Store, they usually show up a few months after launch.

Limited availability – You may not find the exact model, specs, or color you want. Stock depends on returns and trade-ins, so availability is unpredictable and can change quickly.

Inconsistent stock – What’s available one day might be gone the next. You may need to check back regularly, and even then, there’s no guarantee your preferred configuration will appear.

Varying refurbishment standards – Apple has strict testing processes, but third-party sellers may not. Buying outside Apple can mean fewer checks or older machines that aren’t great value.

Discounts aren’t always best – Refurbished prices from Apple aren’t always the lowest available. However, cheaper deals elsewhere can come with added risk.

The Intel trap – Many refurbished Macs, especially from marketplaces like Amazon, use older Intel processors. These lack Apple Silicon performance and will lose software support sooner.

New models may offer better value – When Apple updates a Mac, it often improves specs like storage or RAM. A refurbished older model might offer significantly less for a similar price.

New Macs can also be discounted – Retailers sometimes offer deals on new or recently discontinued Macs, so it’s worth comparing refurbished prices with new offers before buying. Have a look at our frequently updated best Mac deals picks for MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini.

Where do refurbished Macs come from?

IDG

Refurbished Macs are sourced from several different channels, ranging from customer returns to manufacturing surpluses. The origin of a specific unit often depends on whether you are purchasing directly from Apple or through a third-party reseller.

Units sold through the Apple Certified Refurbished Store typically originate from the following sources:

Customer Returns: Apple allows customers to return products within 14 days for a refund. These units are often in near-perfect condition but cannot be resold as “new” once the box has been opened.

Defective Units: Some Macs are returned due to a specific technical fault. These units are sent to Apple engineers who rectify the issue before the device is cleared for resale.

Ex-Demonstration Models: Units used in Apple teaching programs or as floor models in retail stores are also reconditioned for the refurbished market.

Manufacturing Surplus: In some cases, what appears to be a refurbished deal is actually a surplus of new product. For instance, as noted in Save a whopping $1,300 on this M3 Max MacBook Pro blowout deal, some deeply discounted units sold by retailers like Woot “aren’t refurbished but rather are likely the result of a manufacturing surplus of product from Apple.”

How much cheaper are refurbished Macs?

The primary benefit of choosing a refurbished Mac is the cost savings, which typically range around 15% off the original retail price for recent models, though discounts can be much higher for older generations.

Because Macs command high retail prices, this percentage often translates into significant discounts ranging from a few hundred to several hundred dollars or pounds.

Typical Savings by Model

The exact amount you save depends on the specific model, its configuration (such as RAM and storage), and its age. Deals on the Apple Refurbished Store have included:

MacBook Pro: Savings of up to $590 in the U.S. and up to £750 in the U.K.

MacBook Air: Savings of up to $170 in the U.S.

iMac: Savings of up to $290 in the U.S. and up to £260 in the U.K.

Mac Studio: Significant discounts are available, with some models seeing price cuts of up to $600.

Specific high-end configurations can offer even deeper discounts.

Factors Influencing Price

Generation: While it is possible to find current-generation models on the refurbished store, they typically do not appear until at least six months after their initial launch.

Retailer: Other third-party resellers such as Amazon, Back Market, or Best Buy may offer even lower prices for refurbished Macs than Apple. However, Apple’s own refurbished units include a full one-year warranty and genuine Apple part replacements.

Processor Type: Older Intel-based Macs are often sold at very low prices (e.g., a 2018 MacBook Pro for $300/£300), but these are not recommended as they are nearing the end of their software support lifecycle.

What are the risks of buying used vs refurbished

Buying a used Mac from an individual seller on a site like eBay can seem like a bargain, but it often comes with technical and security risks.

There’s an important distinction between used and refurbished. A refurbished Mac has been professionally inspected, tested, and repaired if needed – and is usually sold with a warranty and returns policy. By contrast, used or second-hand devices sold by individuals are typically offered “as-is,” with little to no protection if something goes wrong.

Here’s why buying used can be risky:

Uncertain History: A used Mac may have hidden faults, wear and tear, or performance issues that aren’t immediately obvious – and could be the reason it’s being sold.

No guarantee or returns: Private sellers often don’t offer returns or warranties, so you may be stuck with a faulty device.

Activation Lock issues: If the previous owner hasn’t removed the device from their Apple ID, you could be locked out and unable to use the Mac.

In contrast, refurbished Macs offer far more peace of mind, thanks to professional checks, verified functionality, and buyer protections.

8 reasons not to buy a used, secondhand Mac

If your Mac looks like this it has Intel inside.

Foundry

Here are eight reasons why it’s a bad idea to buy a secondhand Mac, and why you should consider refurbished or new instead:

Older Macs can be insecure – Apple only supports the latest and two previous macOS versions. If a Mac can’t run a recent system like macOS Sonoma or later, it won’t receive security updates, leaving your data at risk. See How long does Apple support Macs to find out if the Mac is protected with security updates.

Support is ending for older hardware – Even relatively recent Intel Macs are being phased out, with Apple expected to drop full support for them soon, limiting their lifespan.

Repairs can be difficult and expensive – Apple classifies Macs as “Vintage” after seven years and “Obsolete” after ten. At that point, parts are hard to find or unavailable, making repairs costly or impossible.

Limited software compatibility – Older Macs may not support the latest macOS features, and third-party apps may stop updating, increasing the risk of bugs and security vulnerabilities.

Performance will lag behind – Even once-powerful Macs can struggle with modern tasks. Upgrading components is often limited or not worth the cost compared to buying a newer model.

Reliability issues are more likely – Ageing hardware can lead to crashes, slowdowns, and unexpected shutdowns, making daily use frustrating.

Intel models are outdated – Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) are significantly faster and more efficient. Intel Macs are becoming obsolete and will be harder to resell.

Better alternatives exist – Instead of buying used, you can get affordable new or refurbished Macs with warranties, support, and better long-term value.

Further reading

If you want to know more about buying a refurbished Mac, read this: Where to buy a Refurbished Mac.

We also have
Best Place to buy a Mac and
When is the best time to buy a Mac.

For advice about which Mac to buy read out Best Mac Buying Guide

And if you want a deal on a new Mac, read:

Best MacBook Air deals

Best MacBook Pro deals

Best iMac deals

Best Mac mini deals

Thinking of a refurbished iPhone? Read Best places to buy a refurbished iPhone and where to get the best deals.

In another medical first for the Vision Pro headset, it recently played a crucial role in cataract surgery.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Anthropic is targeting creative professionals with its latest Claude AI update. The company has released nine new Claude connectors that work with creative tools like Blender and more.

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Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by Amazon delivering MacBook Neo as early as tomorrow from $590 and the ongoing AirPods Pro 3 deal, but we also have some serious clearance deals live on M3 iPad Air – 1TB M3 iPad Air $300 off and the 11-inch 512GB at $250 off. We also have Apple’s 24GB/1TB M5 MacBook Pro at best price of the year ($250 off) and the most affordable new M5 MacBook Air model back to one of the best prices ever (nearly $150 off). Head below for a closer look.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook is making the rounds in Washington D.C. this week, just days after Apple announced its CEO transition plan. This fall, John Ternus will become Apple CEO with Cook remaining active as Executive Chairman of the Board.

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Apple TV on Tuesday revealed the premiere date for the highly anticipated fourth season of global hit series “Ted Lasso,” starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jason Sudeikis. “Ted Lasso” season four will make its global debut on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with one episode, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through October 7.

Season four marks the return of fan favorites, including Emmy Award winner Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift, alongside new additions Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern, and Grant Feely.

In season four, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team. Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.

“Ted Lasso” season four adds Emmy Award winner Jack Burditt as executive producer under a new overall deal with Apple TV. Sudeikis stars and executive produces alongside Hunt, Joe Kelly, Jane Becker, Jamie Lee and Bill Wrubel. Goldstein serves as writer and executive producer alongside Leann Bowen. Sarah Walker and Phoebe Walsh will serve as writers and producers for season four, and Sasha Garron co-produces. Julia Lindon will write for season four, and Dylan Marron will serve as story editor. Bill Lawrence executive produces via his Doozer Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal content. Doozer’s Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer also serve as executive producers. The series was developed by Sudeikis, Lawrence, Kelly and Hunt, and is based on the preexisting format and characters from NBC Sports.

Following its global debut on Apple TV, “Ted Lasso” broke records and quickly earned praise from fans and critics all over the world. The first season became the most Emmy Award-nominated comedy series, and the series went on to land rare back-to-back Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys for its first two seasons on air.

Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 800 wins and 3,431 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
‎
MacDailyNews Take: Ted lost the plot, and us, in season three. Hopefully, season four can ditch its ham-handed attempts to inject “The Message” everywhere and anywhere and instead rediscover the consistent magic of early “Ted Lasso.”

MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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The post Apple TV releases first trailer for ‘Ted Lasso’ season four, premiering August 5th appeared first on MacDailyNews.

On April 28, 2003, Apple opened the iTunes Music Store, revolutionizing the music industry and digital distribution of content.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple has new AirPods launching later this year that we’ve been referring to as a high-end AirPods Pro model, but recent reporting now makes it seem more likely that they’ll be the first ‘AirPods Ultra.’

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A new report says Apple paid more than $1.2 million in one year to privately hire police to protect three of its San Francisco retail stores. The payment was said to have been made through a private security company.

San Francisco allows private companies to pay police officers to protect their shops and offices, and the report says that many tech companies take advantage of this …

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M5 MacBook Air

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‘Tis the time to get the best affordable laptop out there! Stop wasting time and take advantage of the M5 MacBook Air for just $950 at Amazon, a savings of $150 off its MSRP, and the best price we’ve seen. And remember, the MacBook Air now starts at 512GB of storage, which would have previously cost $1,199, so it’s like you’re really saving $250.

We love the M5 MacBook Air around here, and the 4.5-star rating we gave it when we reviewed the laptop is evidence enough. We even gave it our Editors’ Choice award, appreciating the fantastic performance, incredible SSD speeds, and the all-day battery life. The laptop features Apple’s advanced M5 chip that ensures swift multitasking across all sorts of apps, no matter how complicated. From productivity apps to creative tools and loads of AI features, the M5 can handle it all. Plus, the MacBook Air features a gorgeous 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that will deliver gorgeous graphics and crisp text at all times.

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We believed, and now it’s finally happening: Ted Lasso returns for season 4 this summer, and Apple TV just announced the release date and debuted its first trailer.

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Apple will permanently close its Towson Town Center store in June, marking the shutdown of the first Apple retail location in the United States to successfully unionize.

The company cited “declining conditions” at Towson Town Center — including the departure of multiple major retailers, reduced foot traffic, and persistent public safety issues in the mall and surrounding areas. Reports of shoplifting, organized retail theft, assaults, robberies, and other crimes have plagued the location for years, contributing to an environment that has driven away shoppers and businesses.

In a statement, Apple said the safety of customers and employees remains its top priority. While employees at the other two closing stores (Apple Trumbull in Connecticut and Apple North County in California) are being offered transfers to nearby locations, Towson workers — represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) — must apply for open positions elsewhere under the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

The union immediately condemned the move as retaliation. In a strongly worded statement, IAM called the closure “a cynical attempt to bust the union” and filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. The union claims Apple is discriminating against its members by denying them the same transfer rights offered to non-unionized stores.
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MacDailyNews Take: Exactly as we predicted back in 2022 when the Towson store became the first in the country to unionize: businesses have options when faced with poor conditions, including simply closing up shop. An employer is free to close operations at any time — and that’s precisely what Apple is doing here.

The union immediately screams “union-busting,” of course. Spare us. This decision has everything to do with the crime-ridden disaster that local Maryland leadership has allowed Towson Town Center (and the surrounding area) to become. Shoplifting swarms, assaults, robberies, and general chaos aren’t fixed by union negotiations over pay or working conditions. They’re fixed by actual law enforcement and sane public policy — neither of which the union delivers.

Apple already offers its retail employees some of the best wages, benefits, and working conditions in the industry. The vast majority of Apple Store workers have wisely rejected unionization efforts because they know those advantages come from Apple, not from union dues. The Towson crew chose differently. Now the store is closing, employees are being given opportunities at safer, non-unionized locations, and the union is left complaining from the sidelines.

Businesses don’t abandon thriving malls because workers organized — they leave when soft-on-crime policies turn shopping centers into unsafe zones. Apple is doing exactly what any responsible company should: protecting its customers, its team members, and its brand.

The union can cry “retaliation” all it wants. The real issue is the failure of local leadership to maintain basic public safety.

As we wrote back in May 2022:

In a free market, jobs are valued by supply and demand.

The skillset for a retail employee is different than that for, say, a software engineer. Potential retail employees are an order of magnitude more plentiful than software engineers and the wages paid and benefits granted for each job reflect that discrepancy.

You’re not going to get rich working in retail. There are simply too many other people capable of doing your job.

Nobody likes to hear that their job is a dime a dozen. Regardless, retail jobs are a dime a dozen.

If retail workers unionize, they can, and do, force abnormal wages and benefits that do not reflect the reality of supply and demand for such positions.

What happens next (besides backroom graft and corruption between union bosses and politicians)?

The corporation is forced to overpay unionized staff to do tasks that, in a free and unfettered market, should cost the company far less. Therefore, to maintain margins and profitability (in order to satisfy the company’s shareholders and the market), the company is forced to either cut back in other areas or raise prices for goods and services. The company cannot “absorb the cost” longer term.

Talk about inflation.

That said, yes, executive compensation is out of whack. Tim Cook is vastly overpaid for what he does. This is because he holds a rare skillset and it benefits the shareholders to have continuity in the CEO position. Basically, Apple overpays Tim Cook in order to have a long-term CEO which provides confidence to the market. A succession of different CEOs jumping from company to company every other year seeking higher salaries would be a negative and justifies Cook’s overpayment. Cook is paid to stay more than for what he actually does. This is why he has vesting targets set years into the future. If he stays, providing continuity, he benefits and so does the company’s stock price (over time).

Not so for retail employees. If one leaves, there’s an endless line of others to replace them. Sure, there are excellent retail employees and, if Apple’s retail arm is functioning properly, they are being identified and rewarded in order to keep them, as their continued employment benefits the company, the company’s customers, and the company’s shareholders. But the cost of their employment must make financial sense, regardless of how good an employee is – if it costs more to keep them than they are worth to the company, they should seek employment elsewhere, not force overpayment / continued employment.

If Apple is not functioning properly, unionization is the last resort of employees. Just know that those costs will eventually be passed to the customer. Someone has to pay. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If those unionization costs are too high (which they tend to become over time), it will hurt the company (consumers will look for similar goods and services offered at significantly lower prices) and the retail workers will eventually feel negative effects from that (see: unions and Detroit’s automotive industry, what’s left of it).

Back in the day, unions corrected many wrongs: unsafe working conditions, forced overtime without pay, child labor, etc. None of these situations are faced by Apple Retail employees today. Some retail staffers simply want higher pay than the actual value of their work in a free market, so they want to band together to force it.

In many union settings, workers face limited advancement based on their merits. Union workers’ avenues for advancement are limited as stipulated by union contracts. So, if you are an exemplary Apple employee today, your prospects are likely brighter than if you were part of a union, subject to certain union rules governing advancement, etc. Retail employees should carefully consider the pitfalls of unionization and the consequences of unintended consequences.

Apple should do all it can, within reason, to satisfy and compensate retail employees. In fact, Apple appears to be doing so. [In February 2022], Bloomberg News reported that Apple will significantly increase wages and benefits for American retail workers amid a tightening labor market.

Apple adopted the following changes for U.S. retail workers beginning on April 4, 2022:

• Raises ranging from 2% to 10% depending on store location and role, for salespeople, Genius Bar technical support staff, and some senior hourly workers.

• Doubling paid sick days for both full-time and part-time workers. The days can be used for mental health leave and taking family members to the doctor. This change will give full-time workers 12 paid sick days, instead of six.

• Workers receive more annual vacation days, beginning at three years of employment instead of five.

• Part-time employees will now get as many as six paid vacation days for the first time. Another first: They’ll get paid parental leave. That benefit will cover up to six weeks and will include the ability to gradually ramp up work time for the first four weeks back.

• Part-time workers also will get access to discounted emergency backup care for children or elderly family members.

In a [2022] statement to Bloomberg News, an Apple spokesperson reiterated, “We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full time and part time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits.” – MacDailyNews, February 18, 2022

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The post Apple to close first unionized U.S. Retail Store in Towson, citing crime and mall decline; union cries ‘union-busting’ appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Thunderbolt 5 debuted in September 2023. It was introduced as the new Thunderbolt standard that would slowly begin to replace Thunderbolt 4. It entered the scene, and we saw a big jump forward in bandwidth, display support, and overall capability. But what I noticed is that it was relatively slow to roll out, and the products we saw that did implement Thunderbolt 5 only did that. They just switched from Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 5 and shipped the same product otherwise. So when I saw Satechi announce some actual changes and improvements to their Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock, I had to check it out. I have used it for over two weeks, and this is what you should know.

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The past few days have seen conflicting views from AI companies about the future of smartphones. Perplexity thinks AI will only benefit iPhones, while OpenAI reportedly thinks its own smartphone can render them obsolete.

I would bet very heavily that the OpenAI smartphone will either never materialize or will be a commercial failure, but I still think the attempt is good news for iPhone users …

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The past few days have seen conflicting views from AI companies about the future of smartphones. Perplexity thinks AI will only benefit iPhones, while OpenAI reportedly thinks its own smartphone can render them obsolete.

I would bet very heavily that the OpenAI smartphone will either never materialize or will be a commercial failure, but I still think the attempt is good news for iPhone users …

more…

The past few days have seen conflicting views from AI companies about the future of smartphones. Perplexity thinks AI will only benefit iPhones, while OpenAI reportedly thinks its own smartphone can render them obsolete.

I would bet very heavily that the OpenAI smartphone will either never materialize or will be a commercial failure, but I still think the attempt is good news for iPhone users …

more…

The NutriAI nutrition and workout app generates daily meal plans tailored to your goals, with grocery lists so you know exactly what to buy.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Apple has avoided an inconvenient constraint on the way it runs the App Store, thanks to what a political opponent has described as “a tidal wave lobbying effort.” The Cupertino company, along with other owners of very large software storefronts, can now carry on promoting its own apps and giving them preferential treatment, leaving smaller developers to struggle for exposure.

Last month, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) proposed the BASED Act, the name standing for Blocking Anticompetitive Self-preferencing by Entrenched Dominant platforms. The idea of this legislation was to prohibit owners of platforms with a market cap above $1 trillion and at least 100 million monthly users in the U.S. from pushing those users towards their own offerings, which is clearly aimed at Apple.

“Anticompetitive behavior is everywhere on the internet,” argued Wiener. “From rigged search results, to manipulative nudges boosting the ‘house’ product, to anti-discount policies that raise prices, to the dreaded green bubble that ‘breaks’ the group chat. When the world’s largest digital platforms rig the game to favor their own products and services, we all lose. By prohibiting these anticompetitive practices, the BASED Act will protect competition online, empower consumers and startups, and promote innovations to improve all our lives.”

This sounded promising for smaller app makers, many of whom formed an alliance to support the bill. But they were unable to defeat the far greater resources brought to bear by Apple and Google, which would also have been affected because of the size of its Play store, and the measure was “buried in little more than a month,” Bloomberg reported this week.

The trade group Chamber of Progress, of which both Apple and Google are partners, reportedly identified defeating the BASED Act as its top priority for this year. Lobbyists against the bill also included the California Chamber of Commerce.

“They absolutely flooded the Capitol with lobbyists to trash the bill and to spread misinformation,” complained Wiener. “It was a tidal wave lobbying effort, and we were at a real disadvantage.”

Apple has never been shy about dabbling in politics and is fairly open about its lobbying activities. On the company’s site, it describes this process as working to “help policy makers at every level of government understand our products, our innovations, and our business.” You can scrutinise these activities using the dropdown state-selection tool.

As well as the Chamber of Progress, Apple belongs to the App Association, which works “to promote a policy environment that rewards and inspires innovation”; the Digital Media Association, which “advocates for music streaming services by championing policies and public conversations that encourage innovation”; NetChoice, which is very keen on “light-touch regulation”; and more than 40 other groups and trade associations.

At the start of this decade, a report found that Apple spent $1.56m on political lobbying in three months, and that number is likely to have risen significantly in recent years. Tim Cook, meanwhile, has given time and money to develop a fruitful relationship with President Trump, an occupation that will likely dominate his duties as chairman of the board from this fall. Any further attempts to curb the company’s power through political means will face an uphill struggle.

Our hands-on Edifier M90 speaker review finds the compact boxes can power great sound in a variety of settings.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Urban Armor Gear (UAG) is known for its stylish yet ultra-protective tech accessories, such as iPhone, iPad, and MacBook cases and sleeves, Apple Watch bands, backpacks, power banks and chargers, stands, and tracker cards. But if you’re really fast, today you can get anything they sell for a whopping 60 percent off—but you need to act fast.

UAG is hosting a “Mega Sale” with a twist: To get the discount, you need to shop this week during a specific 6-minute window each day. Today’s sale runs between 5:30 pm and 5:36 pm PST with the code SAVE60. You can get future codes on the UAG website or sign up to receive the codes by email and text.

UAG makes a ton of accessories we love, such as the Monarch, Pathfinder, Civilian, and Pylo iPhone cases, heat-molded soft neoprene sleeves for the MacBook Air or Pro, the clear impact-resistant armor shell for MacBook Neo, Active and Scout Apple Watch bands, and SRGE Rugged magnetic power banks. And there’s much more on the UAG website, so go pick out what you want now because the sale doesn’t leave much time for browsing.

Also check these accessories out in our Best Cases for iPhone 17, Best MacBook Bags, Best FindMy Tracker Cards and Best Magnetic Power Banks features.

Get your daily Mega Sale codes here

60% off everything but be quick, it’s time-limited each day

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The white iPhone 4 release day is always a fun Apple anniversary for me to think about.

It comes one week before I bought my first iPhone (the iPhone 4 in white, of course) and 308 days after the black iPhone 4 arrived in stores.

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We give outgoing CEO Tim Cook credit where credit is due for the best Apple products released while he ran the show in Cupertino.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Adobe is rolling out updates to Photoshop and Lightroom today, with new AI-powered tools, workflow improvements, and performance upgrades across both apps. Here are the details.

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Former Apple design chief Jony Ive famously prioritized sleek aesthetics over almost everything else, and there was widespread agreement that he sometimes took this a little too far.

However, his long-term vision of the future of the iPhone as a single slab of glass has persisted beyond his tenure, and a new post does seem to present a persuasive view of what we might expect from a 20th Anniversary iPhone next year …

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This week, at the Cannes International Series Festival (CANNESERIES), Apple TV celebrated the global premiere of “Star City” with creators and executive producers Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi, and stars Rhys Ifans, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Agnes O’Casey. The highly anticipated new space race drama that expands the world of “For All Mankind” will make its global debut on Apple TV on May 29, 2026, followed by one new episode every Friday through July 10th.

“Star City” is a propulsive, paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers.

Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 797 wins and 3,429 award nominations and counting including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award nominee “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.
‎
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

The post Apple’s gripping new space-race drama ‘Star City’ premieres at CANNESERIES appeared first on MacDailyNews.

A report yesterday suggested that we may be seeing a succession of Apple Ultra products, including the upcoming folding iPhone and an M6-powered MacBook. So far, of course, we’ve only seen the branding used for an Apple Watch.

It may potentially be pointing to a new tier of Apple products across almost the company’s entire range of devices, and to me that would make sense for both the company and its customers …

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Apple’s MacBooks are great, but—as with all laptops—using one isn’t that great for your back or neck.

Continual bowing of the head to see a screen can lead to a stiff neck and what doctors scarily call spinal stenosis, which can compress blood vessels and displace nerves—cutting off blood supply to the brain. That’s not a good thing.

Your screen should be at a comfortable height that doesn’t make you bend your neck down to see it. Try to make sure your eyes are in line with the screen while sitting with a straight back. This also helps when making video calls, so the other people aren’t staring up your nostrils.

Using a laptop stand also makes using a separate keyboard and mouse much easier. See our roundups of the best Mac keyboards and best Mac mouse. And, after use, you can hide away your keyboard under the raised stand on certain models.

Some stands raise the laptop to eye level, and others—known as “vertical” or “closed” stands—just keep the MacBook closed for minimal desk disruption if you have connected external displays to increase your screen size—learn how to set up a second screen for a Mac.

The eye-level, open laptop stands are more ergonomic, raising the MacBook screen so that you are not straining your neck muscles, shoulders and back. It should also reduce screen glare, which means less eye strain and fewer headaches. On such a stand, the MacBook’s webcam will also be at a more natural level with your head, meaning less video calls with people looking up your nose or down on your head.

Buy a vertical/closed laptop stand to keep your desk tidy and free up space for other stuff—be that a charger for your iPhone, backup hard disk, or a cup of coffee.

Both types of stand should also raise the laptop, raising it off the desk and keeping it cooler. If a laptop gets too hot, its performance is likely to suffer.

A laptop stand also works nicely with a MacBook docking station, which can multiply the number of ports and slots available to you and allow for multiple larger displays. Some stands even have their own integrated USB-C hub, which is a very clever addition.

We’ve rounded up the best laptop stands for MacBook that we can find, each with its own special features. Most mimic the clean metal lines of the MacBook range, while others think differently.

Twelve South Curve Flex – Most stylish flexible MacBook stand

Pros

Stylish

Multiple height and tilt settings

Portable

Cons

Expensive

Price When Reviewed:

$79.99

Best Prices Today:

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Many laptop stands are rigid and offers little flexibility. The Cuve Flex, from premium accessory maker Twelve South, remedies this limitation with both height and tilt adjustability.

It can elevate your MacBook screen and camera up to 22 inches (56cm) so it can be close to eye level and aligned with an external screen if you have one. This flexibility is better for your neck, back and eyes. You can angle the MacBook’s keyboard from 0 to 45 degrees.

The Curve Flex is not just flexible; it’s portable, too. It weighs 28oz (795g), folds flat and comes with a padded neoprene travel sleeve.

While it costs more than the original fixed-position Curve and even cheaper Curve SE (reviewed below), and indeed many of the MacBook stands tested here, the flexibility and portability justify the extra expense.

The Curve Flex is available in matte black or white.

Twelve South also has a companion stand for the external display you might connect to your MacBook. The Curve Riser will put your second screen at a similar height to the laptop, and includes a handy shelf for a docking station or other device.

Plugable Portable Foldable Laptop Stand – Best portable MacBook stand

Pros

Portable (fits in laptop bag)

Foldable

Four angle settings

Cons

Doesn’t raise MacBook

Expensive outside of the U.S.

Price When Reviewed:

$29.95

Best Prices Today:

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Price

$39.95

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Plugable’s Foldable Laptop Stand is more portable than most, being collapsible and lightweight (12.6oz, 356g). You can simply fold it up, and pack it in your bag or suitcase for travel like a slim notebook. It folds into a neat 9 x 4.35 x 0.6-inch (23 x 11 x 1.5cm) package.

It doesn’t raise the MacBook like other laptop stands do, but it does bring the screen closer to eye level than sitting flat on the desk. There are four viewing angle: 25°, 30°, 45° and a steep 60 degrees.

It will work with any laptop 12in-17in, and with some hidden tabs will also support an iPad.

The base feels secure on your desk and will fit an average airplane seat tray or in a tight gap by the window (and power point) of your favorite café.

Lululook 360 Rotating Foldable Laptop Stand – Best rotating MacBook stand

Pros

Rotates 360 degrees

Multiple height settings

Foldable and portable

Cons

Will topple if tilted too much

Price When Reviewed:

$89.99

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$69.99

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$89.99

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Ideal for shared laptops in meeting or other group environments, a rotating laptop stand offers a 360° rotatable axis on the base, so you can flexibly swing the laptop round to show the screen or share the camera.

This laptop stand also boasts a handy mechanical arm that can raise the screen by 10 inches.

The spin is smooth and has a reassuring clicking noise as you spin it. It’s great for meetings where you can quickly turn the screen to your colleagues or even hand over control in presentations.

It will take up to a 17-inch laptop, but don’t tilt it too much or it will topple backwards. The UGreen Swivel Laptop Stand feels more sturdy but we prefer the looks of the Lululook rotating stand.

Made of lightweight aluminum alloy, the well-built stand is foldable so can be carried around in a laptop bag when you are between offices.

It features a cut-out base to help dissipate heat to cool the MacBook.

Rain Design mBar pro+ – Best minimalist MacBook stand

Pros

Minimalist design

Lightweight

Foldable

Price When Reviewed:

$64.90

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Price

$57.90

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$58.41

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$58.99

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$64.39

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$64.90

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The mBar Pro+ is the top-end thin aluminum minimalist laptop stand from Rain Design. It raises the MacBook nearly 5 inches from the desk and provides a comfortable, sturdy typing angle. It folds up to 9.6 x 6.3 inches (24 x 16cm) and only 0.5 inches (1.2cm) thick. At 0.45lb (205g) it’s portable, and perfect for taking to the local café or WeWork.

Also in the range is the basic mBar stand ($25), which raises a MacBook about 3 inches. Although it doesn’t fold up, it weighs just 3.5oz (100g). The mBar Pro ($55) is similar but folds.

All are available in MacBook-matching Silve, Space Gray or black.

Aulumu G07 POP-UP Laptop Kickstand – Best simple portable MacBook stand

Pros

Minimalist design

Super lightweight

Foldable

Price When Reviewed:

$25.98

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$25.98

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Aulumo

$25.98

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This portable pop-up leg stand for laptops includes a built-in spring that means it can be activated with a click and folded back just as easily. Its beauty isn’t just the convenience and ergonomic benefits but the fact that once attached the mini zinc alloy legs (1.4oz or 40g each in weight) stay in place as you travel around.

With a smooth round edge and non-abrasive polyurethane surface, the legs stick parallel to the underside of the MacBook and shouldn’t scratch or dent the surface. Anti-slip rubber pads are also included.

Scapade AirStand Pro Foldable Laptop Stand – Most adjustable portable MacBook stand

Pros

10 adjustable height levels

Lightweight

Foldable

Price When Reviewed:

$39.99

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Price

$33.99

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$37.99

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We like the travel-ready aluminum AirStand Pro for its foldable portability but most of all for its ten adjustable height levels—one of which is surely a comfortable and ergonomic typing and viewing angle for you to reduce neck and shoulder strain. Non-slip silicone pads should keep your MacBook stable on any surface.

With an open-frame design the laptop stand promotes airflow around the MacBook to keep it cool and efficient. Folded, it measures 12 x 9 x 0.8 inches (300 x 230 x 20mm) and weighs 16oz (450g).

MOFT Z Sit-Stand Laptop Desk

Pros

Height adjustable

Foldable and flexible

Stylish

Price When Reviewed:

$69.99

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$59.99

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Moft

$69.99

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Measuring 11-x-9.4 inches (28-x-24cm), this multi-angle laptop stand lies flat at around the same size as a small MacBook, so can be easily stored out of sight or even carried between meetings. It weighs 34oz (960g) so isn’t lightweight but is certainly transportable.

Made of polyurethane leather and stiff fiberglass, it can be folded up into four different sitting viewing angles—25, 35, 45 and 60 degrees—and creates a small 10-inch laptop table in Standing Mode where it creates a sturdy Z-shaped structure..

It can hold up to 22lbs (10kg).

Depending on the country you are buying in, it is available in up to four colors: Black, Gray, Blue and Orange.

Twelve South Curve SE – Best fixed MacBook stand

Pros

Stylish

Decent height

Great price

Cons

Only one height setting

Price When Reviewed:

$19.99

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$9.99

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$19.99

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Elevating your screen to an ergonomic height is important for relieving neck strain on your muscles and vertebrae. A quality laptop stand will do just that for you.

One of our favorites is the Curve from premium Mac accessory maker Twelve South. A recent addition to the Curve family—see also the Curve Flex reviewed above—is the slightly cheaper Curve SE, which is exactly the same as the original fixed Curve but you need to assemble the three pieces yourself.

Don’t worry, it’s super easy to snap the pieces together, and actually makes the stand easier to transport. For ultimate portability, though, the more adjustable Curve Flex folds down to a handy package.

The Curve SE and original Curve stands are not as flexible as their adjustable sibling, the Curve Flex, although they do raise your MacBook 6.5 inches off your desk so you can sit up straight and look directly at your screen—and so feel less tension in your neck and shoulders.

They also keep your laptop cool with air flowing underneath it.

The metal design features non-slip silicone grips on the bottom and arms. Both Curve and Curve SE look fantastic, just like your MacBook.

While the pre-assembled Curve is available in Apple-friendly matte black and white, the Curve SE is in Silver only.

An alternative fixed laptop stand, the $49 Rain Design mStand is another sturdy option, below, and is available in a wide range of colors: Black, Gold, Midnight, Silver, Space Gray and Starlight. There’s even a rotating version, the $59 Rain Design mStand 360.

Rain Design

Twelve South HiRise Pro for MacBook – Best MacBook stand for wireless iPhone charging

Pros

Height adjustable

Housing for Apple MagSafe Charger

Stylish

Cons

No tilt

Price When Reviewed:

$79.99

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$79.95

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$79.99

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$79.99

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$99.99

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Twelve South makes a range of quality laptop stands for MacBooks. It’s one of the few third-party manufacturers that feature on Apple’s own Accessories store, and there are several of its MacBook stands in this roundup.

The HiRise Pro is height-adjustable—raising the screen 2.5 to 6 inches—and also features a hidden cut-out chamber that can invisibly host Apple’s MagSafe Charger (not included, and an extra $39/£39) at the stand’s base so you can wirelessly charge (at up to 15W) an iPhone (12, 13, 14 or 15), 25W on the iPhone 16, or your AirPods (at 5W) if in a wireless charging case. This will keep your desk space at a maximum while always having your iPhone within reach.

The stand is height adjustable, although it doesn’t reach the heights of some of the MacBook stand tested here. There’s a screw at the back that you adjust to the best height for your setup.

It is compatible with all sizes of Apple’s MacBooks, up to 16 inches.

An alternative is the Alogic Elite Power Laptop Stand with Wireless Charger, which we have reviewed. This can raise the laptop 8 inches and has a Qi wireless charging pad at its base. While you don’t need to supply your own MagSafe Charger, the stand’s pad isn’t magnetic so you have to be very precise in positioning your phone. It also maxes out at 7.5W rather than MagSafe’s 15W charging power.

Urmust Laptop Notebook Stand Holder – Best laptop stand for small desks

Pros

Multiple height settings

Foldable

Color options

Cons

Plain

Price When Reviewed:

$34.99

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$27.99

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Working from home and remote learning is forcing a lot of to work in small, tight spaces. And, in safer times, that coffee shop is convenient, but not designed for healthy laptop use.

The adjustable, aluminum-alloy Urmust Laptop Notebook Stand Holder raises the laptop to a more ergonomic height–up to 10 inches for the screen—leaves the little desk space you have for you to spread out papers and books, and maybe room for that cup of coffee. It also tilts between 0-90°.

There’s anti-slip rubber on the feet, so shouldn’t scratch your surface, while remaining stable while in use. It can hold 4kg and up to 15.6in laptops.

Super narrow, it works well in small spaces. Plus, it’s lightweight and foldable, so can be stored away out of sight when not required–or carried around with you.

It’s even available in seven colors, from Silver, Black, Rose Gold and Grey, to Red, Blue and Blueish Grey.

Hyperdrive 7-in-1 USB-C Hub Laptop Stand – Best portable MacBook stand with built-in USB-C hub

Pros

Built-in USB-C hub

integrated cable

Portable

Foldable

Cons

USB-C not Thunderbolt

Price When Reviewed:

$99.99

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Hyper

$99.99

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This clever USB-C hub is a laptop stand that also includes a range of ports to expand those on the connected MacBook.

It features a 5Gbps USB-C port, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, both SD and microSD card slots and an HDMI port for attaching an external display, which will also help you achieve a better ergonomic position.

You can add memory sticks or other external storage devices, or a wired mouse or keyboard if you fancy. The connection is USB-C rather than Thunderbolt so doesn’t offer the full bandwidth but it is still compatible with modern MacBooks.

Some rival hub/stand combos don’t include the built-in cable so you need to use another of your laptop’s Thunderbolt ports to keep it charged, but the Hyperdrive stand connects to your MacBook (13-16in) using its own integrated USB-C cable, leaving the separate USB-C port on the hub free for other devices or more likely a USB-C PD wall charger. It can support up to 100W MacBook charging power.

It’s lightweight (308g or 11oz) and collapsible and can be used in five ergonomic positions.

The base features a silicon layer of cushioning to keep your MacBook securely in position.

Two USB-A 3.0 ports (5Gbps)

HDMI – 4K at 30Hz

UHS-I SD and microSD card slots for adding affordable, portable storage

Rain Design iLevel – Simple-to-adjust laptop stand

Pros

Height adjustable

Stylish design

Cons

Chunky

Price When Reviewed:

$64.90

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$58.40

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$58.41

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$59.88

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$64.65

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$64.90

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$64.9

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The iLevel laptop stand from Rain Design looks a bit chunky but features a neat sliding knob that you can use to very accurately and simply adjust the screen height and angle to your preferred position.

Made from anodized aluminum, the iLevel2 raises the back of a MacBook between 6.5 and 8.5 inches above the desk.

While we never found raising an adjustable stand very difficult, it couldn’t be simpler than with this sturdy stand, which is available in Silver, Space Gray and Black..

Twelve South BookArc Flex – Stylish closed MacBook stand

Pros

Minimal & stylish

Closed design

White, black or chrome options

Cons

Laptop must be closed

Price When Reviewed:

$39.99

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$35.40

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$39.99

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$49.95

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A closed laptop stand will save you space on your desktop and let you focus on your external display or displays..

Twelve South, maker of some of our favorite MacBook stands, offers the minimalist metal BookArc Flex, a stylish closed MacBook stand. BookArc Flex holds your MacBook vertically for a MacBook mini desktop setup.

Cleverly, the MacBook’s own weight draws the stand’s supporting arcs together to gently cradle the Mac. It will automatically adjust to any size MacBook—even the 16-in Pro—up to 1-inch thick without the additional inserts that some closed stands require.

There are three finishes: matte black and matte white, and a premium chrome edition with a mirrored finish.

PWR+ Ergonomic Laptop Stand – Most adjustable laptop stand

Pros

Multiple height settings

Stable

USB fans

Cons

Bulky

Price When Reviewed:

$44.90

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The PWR+ Ergonomic Laptop Stand is like a small Transformer, which can morph into just about any shape you need from a laptop stand.

It has varying heights (much higher than most of the laptop stands reviewed here), and can be angled as you please as a traditional stand or have its surface flat to be used as a table.

It even has two USB-powered fans in its tabletop, which will keep your laptop cooler and more efficient.

It’s versatile enough to be used as a standing tray in bed if you fancy—handy when you fancy stretching out in your “home office”.

It’s not heavy, but it is bulkier than some other collapsable stands. It can easily be folded up to store, however.

Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 Docking Station and Monitor Stand

Pros

Stylish Stand/Hub combo

Raises monitor height

Fast USB ports

Wireless phone charging

Cons

Stand not height adjustable

Price When Reviewed:

$249.99

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$169.99

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$249.99

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$249.99

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This stand can take a laptop of any size or a large external display. It comes with a row of fast ports and even a wireless charging pad on top.

It would probably best suit a desktop setup of a MacBook in a closed stand connected to this stand’s able hub via USB-C to one of the laptop’s Thunderbolt port.

Then you can place the external display on the stand—so it’s more a monitor stand that works with a MacBook, than a laptop stand on its own.

Read our full

Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 Docking Station and Monitor Stand review

Satechi Dual Laptop Stand – Best closed dual laptop/tablet stand

Pros

Holds both laptop and tablet

Cons

Laptop must be closed

Price When Reviewed:

$39.99

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$31.99

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$39.99

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This 2-in-1 stand is great to keep your desk tidy when you sport both MacBook and iPad.

The Satechi Dual Vertical Stand can cradle up two laptops, two tablets, or two smartphones vertically at the same time. It’s a closed design so works well with a dock allowing for an external display for the laptop.

While sleek, the stand is sturdy with a weight-balancing base and frame built from stress-resistant aluminum. 

An internal silicon mat has protective grip beds to protect electronics from unwanted scratches, and non-slip pads keep your devices upright and protected.

Bestand Aluminum Cooling Stand – Best stand for cooling laptop

Pros

Decent height setting

Cooling holes

Cons

Only one height setting

Price When Reviewed:

$39.98

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$39.99

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If you need a stand that keeps the MacBook open with screen showing, the Bestand Aluminum Cooling Stand looks the part in either Silver or Gray to match your Apple laptop.

It lifts your MacBook to eye level, which should be better for your posture, back and neck.

There are three strip-shaped holes to the pad that the MacBook sits on, which should offer some degree of cooling compared to stands without such basic ventilation.

Another hole at the back allows for cable management and can be used as a handle, too.

There are optional extras that allow you to add your iPhone to the stand.

Rain Design mTower – Minimal closed stand

Pros

Minimal

Closed design

Cons

Laptop must be closed

Price When Reviewed:

$44.90

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Price

$43.90

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$44.91

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$49.90

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The mTower from Rain Design is a simple, minimal vertical (closed) stand that saves you desk space and elevates the MacBook’s vent to keep your laptop cool.

Its anodised aluminum body–that allows the MacBook to “float” above it–neatly matches the design and color of the Space Gray and Silver MacBooks.

It raises the laptop 88mm (3.5in) off the desk, and fits the 12in MacBook, 13in/14in/15in/16in MacBook Pro and 11in and 13in MacBook Air. It includes a number of inserts to make sure your MacBook fits snuggly.

It’s for use in setups where you have a second or third screen as the screen remains closed.

Twelve South BookArc – Most elegant closed laptop stand

Pros

Stylish

Great price

Cons

Laptop must be closed

Price When Reviewed:

$19.99

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Twelve South

$19.99

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$29.99

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$59.99

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$59.99

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The BookArc, from Twelve South, is a simple, elegant stand that lifts your closed Apple laptop off your desk, and supports the MacBook in closed-display mode for a less cluttered desk when paired with one or two external displays.

It has been designed to match the design aesthetic of Apple’s laptops, and works with the MacBook, MacBook Air (2018-2022) and MacBook Pro (2016-2022) including 13in, 14in, 15in and 16in models.

An insert is included with the BookArc so that each laptop fits perfectly. 

OMoton Vertical Laptop Stand – Simple closed stand

Pros

Adjustable widths

Cons

Laptop must be closed

Plain

Price When Reviewed:

$26.99

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$26.99

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The OMoton Vertical Laptop Stand is a simple, small-footprint design, but with a clever underside.

Flip the aluminum stand over and you’ll find four adjustable screws (it comes with a tool to turn them) so you can determine its width to fit your laptop–from 14mm to 40mm.

Really skinny laptops will still feel some wobble, but you wouldn’t want it gripped too tight anyway. It’s reassuringly heavy at 600g.

The inner (and bottom) features anti-slip silicone, which should also stop any scratching of the laptop shell.

The OMoton stand is available in Black, Gray, and silver.

It measures 150mm x 97mm x 47mm.

There’s also a double version, if you want to keep your tablet nearby.

You might also consider one of our best monitor stands for PC or Mac, which can also raise your laptop. Satechi even has a special iMac stand that really looks the part.

You can soon pay annual app subscriptions monthly with a 12-month commitment, making expensive apps more affordable.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Here’s something that my editor pointed out to me the other day: The last time Apple held a Mac-specific event was in October 2023. At first, I was like, nah, that’s not right. But when I checked, it turns out that Apple hasn’t made any Mac announcements at a keynote since that Scary Fast event. At most, a recap of recent Mac releases was briefly mentioned, and that’s it.

As a Mac guy, I accepted that the Mac became a lower priority for Apple, for a good reason: The iPhone is so prominent, it just has to be that way. And the Mac is into its fourth decade as a platform. It’s mature, it’s stable, it will always be here. It kind of takes care of itself.

But, again, I’m a Mac guy, so I’d like to see Mac marketing events for the general public again. It doesn’t have to be every year, but we should not go nearly three years without one. And no, the Apple Experience event for the MacBook Neo doesn’t count. That was an invite-only event. There was no presentation to the general public, except for a press release and YouTube videos. And if there’s any Mac release in the last two years that called for a keynote, it’s the Neo.

If you’re rolling your eyes, exasperated at what you think is a trivial request, I can see that. But you probably never watched Steve Jobs introduce the first Mac, or you never watched the introduction of the first iMac. These are iconic keynotes not just for the products they unveiled, but because they did more than introduce new computers to buy. Mac events, even the Scary Fast event from 2023, are a love letter to die-hard users. (Side note: Who was the last presenter at that event? New CEO John Ternus.)

The Scary Fast October 2023 event was a Mac showcase–the last one Apple has done.

Apple

For a lot of us, the Mac has nostalgic value. The Mac says something about how we prefer to work, how we get things done. The Mac has a greater sense of community than any other Apple product, including the iPhone. A Mac event that celebrates that community and its users reminds everyone that the Mac is where it all started, and it’s the basis of everything that has come since.

Just take a look at the reaction to the MacBook Neo. The amazement about the combination of price and quality has led to an infusion of excitement in the Mac community. But more importantly, it has led to those curious about the Mac to reach out, and what they are finding is a community that is happy to engage, willing to teach, and enthusiastic about sharing.

Apple’s new CEO, who just so happens to be a Mac guy. I, like many others, am very optimistic about John Ternus’ ability to lead Apple. His decisions over the next few years, more so than any other time in recent history, are critical to Apple. We’re in a time in technology where companies need to move in certain directions to thrive, much less stay relevant.

While Ternus has a lot of hard work ahead of him, reviving Mac presentation events is low-hanging fruit that would accomplish a lot. It would convey that the Mac is a top priority with Apple, and it would reinforce the bonds that make the Mac community. If the MacBook Neo tells us anything, that community is growing. Nurture that growth with Mac showcases.

It is more than a week since Apple announced that Tim Cook would be transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman and John Ternus would be taking over as CEO, so if you think the Macalope has a “Ternus”-based pun to start this week’s column that hasn’t already been used, well, sorry, that well has been tapped bone dry.

As a mythical beast who has had to endure years of Apple doomerism, it is interesting how decidedly calm everyone is about this impending transition. Sure, a few have said Ternus will have to hit the ground running on AI to overcome a perceived failure on Tim Cook’s part to dump billions into it, but for the most part, everyone has been remarkably chill, which has never been a word the Macalope would use to describe our esteemed corps of technology pundits. We are, therefore, left with only one logical conclusion: they have all been replaced by unfeeling, silicon-based lifeforms from the 8th dimension.

Which… eh, okay.

Even the concern over AI seems pretty unwarranted to the Macalope, though. Why? Here’s why: “OpenAI could be making a phone with AI agents replacing apps.”

First of all, good luck with that. It should go about as well as other new phones that have been announced in recent years. Second, the reason OpenAI is taking this move is that it has to: AI is a service that needs to be delivered on a platform, and if you don’t own the platform, someone else is your gatekeeper. They will try pins, they will try glasses, they will try phones, they will try whatever hardware they can think of, but at the end of the day, they have to beat the iPhone.

Which is why the Macalope says good luck.

But there are a few reasons there has been no rending of garments over this changing of the guard. Probably the biggest one is that Tim Cook isn’t leaving the company. If Ternus needs to ask him a question like “How do I get Eddy Cue to dial it back a bit?”, he can just walk into his office.

Apple also did an excellent job greasing the skids on this transition. Of course, Tim Cook has reached an age where it’s natural to wonder if he’d consider stepping down, but it’s not just because of that that we’ve been talking about this eventuality and John Ternus as his likely replacement for more than a year now. We can argue over who got it wrong and who got it right in terms of reporting this impending change, but the one who really got it right was Apple, which leaked just enough, got Ternus in front of the press just enough, and delivered the news at just the right time.

If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.

Foundry

Finally, it cannot be stressed enough how important it is that Ternus is coming from inside Apple and from a product development discipline, no less. While the Macalope has been extremely critical of some of Cook’s decisions in the last, oh, 16 months or so (totally random timespan not at all linked to any national events), he is by and large a really tough act to follow. The fantastic growth Apple has experienced over the last 15 years, thanks to the ability to follow up on the single biggest consumer product in the history of capitalism–the iPhone–is no mean feat.

(You have to caveat it with “in the history of capitalism” because fire was just slightly more popular on a percentage basis.)

The one knock people have had on Cook over the years? “He’s not a product guy.” Ternus is. That knock was nonsense, of course, and it reached its fever peak when it was made into weapons-grade nonsense with one suggestion in particular. Please swallow any liquids in your mouth before you read the following suggestion, made back in 2017:

“Why Apple Should Buy Tesla and Make Elon Musk CEO”

Can? You? Even? Effing? Imagine?

The Macalope has revisited this piece several times in the intervening years as Musk’s… [audible gulp]… unique personality… was put more and more on display and found to be severely lacking, and each time he reads the title, it makes certain parts of him clench ever tighter. Of course, no one was taking this seriously then, even the author. It was just another way to lob cheap shots at Tim Cook.

Ternus is starting with a company still largely at the top of its game (government relations and macOS Tahoe notwithstanding) and a tremendous amount of goodwill. One could worry that there’s nowhere to go but down, but the Macalope is excited to see what results from this remarkable… Ternus events.

Somebody probably already used that.

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In this episode of Apple @ Work, Alan Snyder from NowSecure joins the show to talk about MARI and the risks of LLM-generated code in mobile apps.

more…

TL;DR: Upgrade your PC with Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for $9.97 (MSRP $199) and bring it up to speed without overspending.

Your Mac probably handles most of your day-to-day work, but that doesn’t mean your PC gets a free pass to fall behind. Maybe it’s a backup machine, a work device, or just the computer you keep around for specific tasks — either way, running outdated software slows everything down. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is now just $9.97 (reg. $199), making it a low-effort way to bring that machine up to speed.

Windows 11 Pro introduces a cleaner interface that’s easier to navigate, along with tools like Snap layouts that help keep multiple windows organized without the usual juggling. Performance feels more responsive, and built-in security features like BitLocker and improved protections help keep your data secure without extra setup.

It also includes Copilot, which is an AI assistant that can help with quick actions like summarizing content or adjusting system settings without digging through menus. It’s a small upgrade that makes a noticeable difference, especially if your PC has been running on older software for a while.

Upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for $9.97 before May 3 is an easy way to keep everything running smoothly.

Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal

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Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to test SpeakON, a magnetic, AI-powered dictation accessory that snaps onto the back of the iPhone and refines transcriptions based on preset preferences. Here’s how it did.

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Following Apple’s decision to close its first-ever unionized store, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. Here are the details.

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Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Make your life easier with Bitwarden, featuring a secure, open source password manager with end-to-end encryption and seamless autofill across all your devices.

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The fourteenth International Conference on Learning Representation (ICLR) is wrapping up today in Rio de Janeiro, closing out nearly a week of presentations, debates, and research showcases from leading AI scientists across academia and the tech industry, including Apple. Here’s what the company presented.

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When you are looking for a MagSafe car mount, you usually have to make a hard choice right at the start of your shopping decisions. Do you want a vent mount or a dashboard mount? Vent mounts are great because they are easy to move between cars and avoid the need for adhesives on your car’s dash, but they can sometimes block your airflow. Dashboard mounts offer a more permanent feel but can be harder to get right.

Scosche decided to skip that debate entirely with the Scosche MagicMount Charge Pro, which includes both options in the box. I prefer the vent mount because I love helping keep my iPhone cool on summer trips, where it can overheat by letting my AC keep it cool while it’s keeping my car cold.

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Last month, we reported that iOS 26.5 beta 1 hinted at new App Store subscription options. Today, Apple has made that official, with developers now able to set up and test monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment ahead of the public rollout. Here are the details.

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Apple TV recently debuted one of its best-reviewed series of the year in Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and now another new comedy is about to premiere that’s also highly acclaimed—with more coming.

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Last night, Apple TV was recognized with two wins at the 2026 BAFTA Television Craft Awards, as Will Smith landed Writer: Drama for “Slow Horses” and Rob Coldstream earned Director: Factual for “Vietnam: The War That Changed America.” The BAFTA Television Awards recognize the best British programs, performances and productions each year. Additional winners of the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards will be presented on Sunday, May 10, in London.

This year, Apple landed 15 nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, including International category nods for “Pluribus,” “Severance” and “The Studio”; a Specialist Factual nomination for “Vietnam: The War That Changed America”; and a Factual Entertainment nod for “Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars”; as well as outstanding performance nominations for Leading Actor Taron Egerton in “Smoke” and Supporting Actor Fehinti Balogun in “Down Cemetery Road.”

These wins mark the latest recognition from the BAFTA Television Awards for Apple, following four wins in 2025 including Editing: Fiction and Sound: Fiction for “Slow Horses,” Original Music: Fiction for “Bad Sisters” and Children’s Craft Team for “The Velveteen Rabbit”; four wins in 2024 including Editing: Fiction and Sound: Fiction for “Slow Horses,” as well as Production Design and Original Music: Fiction for world-building hit “Silo.” “Bad Sisters” earned a Titles & Graphic Identity win in 2023, as well as a Drama Series win and a Supporting Actress win for series star Anne-Marie Duff at the BAFTA Television Awards. The celebrated limited series “The Essex Serpent” landed a Costume Design win for first-time BAFTA winner Jane Petrie in 2023, and in 2022, “9/11: Inside the President’s War Room” won Editing: Factual, and “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything” won Sound: Factual.

To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 800 wins and 3,431 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” global cultural phenomenon “Severance,” Apple’s most-viewed drama “Pluribus,” Academy Award Best Picture winner “CODA” and Academy Award winner “F1,” the highest-grossing sports feature of all time.

Apple landed two wins for the 2026 BAFTA Television Craft Awards, including:

“Slow Horses”
Writer: Drama — Will Smith

“Vietnam: The War That Changed America”
Director: Factual — Rob Coldstream

Apple’s additional nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, to be presented on Sunday, May 10 in London, include:

“Pluribus”
International

“Severance”
International

“The Studio”
International

“Vietnam: The War That Changed America”
Specialist Factual

“Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars”
Factual Entertainment

“Smoke”
Leading Actor — Taron Egerton

“Down Cemetery Road”
Supporting Actor — Fehinti Balogun

All titles are now streaming globally on Apple TV.

“Pluribus”

“Pluribus” is a genre-bending original in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.

“Severance”

In “Severance,” Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself. In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.

“The Studio”

In “The Studio,” Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, it’s the job Matt’s been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.

“Vietnam: The War That Changed America”

Ethan Hawke narrates this deeply profound look at what it was like to live through one of history’s longest wars, as told through first-person accounts and rarely seen footage.

“Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars”

Experience thrilling highs and crushing lows as the world’s best chefs pursue the ultimate accolade: a Michelin Star. These anonymous inspectors have never let anyone in on their mysterious ways, until now.

“Smoke”

Inspired by true events, “Smoke” follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions.

“Down Cemetery Road”

When a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Trafford (Ruth Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson). Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals that people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead.

“Slow Horses”

This darkly funny espionage drama follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. Led by their brilliant but irascible leader, the notorious Jackson Lamb (Academy Award winner Sir Gary Oldman), they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut.
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MacDailyNews Take: Congrats to all of the casts and crews of BAFTA nominated and winning productions!

MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.

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The post Apple TV’s ‘Slow Horses’ and ‘Vietnam: The War That Changed America’ win 2026 BAFTA Television Craft Awards appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple is surveying a subset of Apple TV subscribers about how they feel the service is performing, covering content quality and variety, as well as the importance of awards and sports to their overall experience. Here are the details.

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Earlier today, a new report said Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Pro overhaul will actually be called the MacBook Ultra. Here’s why the new Mac sounds like the exact kind of model I’ve been wanting.

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Earlier today, a new report said Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Pro overhaul will actually be called the MacBook Ultra. Here’s why the new Mac sounds like the exact kind of model I’ve been wanting.

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Earlier today, a new report said Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Pro overhaul will actually be called the MacBook Ultra. Here’s why the new Mac sounds like the exact kind of model I’ve been wanting.

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Earlier today, a new report said Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Pro overhaul will actually be called the MacBook Ultra. Here’s why the new Mac sounds like the exact kind of model I’ve been wanting.

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WWDC 2026 is six weeks away, and we’re looking forward to Apple’s big iOS 27 reveal with a healthy side of AI-infused Siri. You don’t need a WWDC ticket to enjoy many of the developer events happening around Apple’s conference in June either.

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Apple is set to report its fiscal second-quarter 2026 results right after the market close (around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT) on April 30, 2026, with the conference call scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT. Wall Street is projecting another strong quarter, building on the company’s record-breaking Q1 performance and the ongoing iPhone 17 upgrade cycle.

Most Recent FactSet-Aggregated Analyst Expectations

The latest consensus estimates (as of April 25, 2026, per Yahoo Finance data, which aggregates analyst forecasts commonly aligned with FactSet sourcing) call for:

• Revenue: $109.69 billion (31 analysts; range: $107.08B–$115.37B), implying ~15% year-over-year growth from $95.36 billion in Q2 FY2025.
• EPS: $1.95 (32 analysts; range: $1.56–$2.16), up ~18% from $1.65 a year ago.

These figures align closely with other recent aggregators:

• TipRanks (as of April 19): $109.45 billion revenue and $1.95 EPS.
• Visible Alpha / S&P Global Market Intelligence (April 23): ~$109.3 billion revenue, with iPhone expected at ~$56.5 billion and Services at ~$30 billion.
• LSEG data via IG Markets: $109.5 billion revenue (+14.9% YoY), including iPhone at $56.9 billion (+21.4%) and Services at $30.4 billion (+14.2%).

Slight variations reflect ongoing analyst updates, but the overall picture is one of solid double-digit growth.

Key Drivers Analysts Are Watching

• iPhone and Products: Expectations point to continued strength from the iPhone 17 lineup and strong upgrade demand, particularly in the U.S. and improving conditions in Greater China. Some bullish calls (e.g., JP Morgan at $112.7 billion total revenue and Goldman Sachs highlighting 23% iPhone growth) see product revenue potentially beating the ~$78.8 billion consensus. Supply-chain constraints on advanced chips remain a minor headwind, but pricing adjustments are expected to help offset memory and component cost increases.

• Services: The high-margin segment is forecast to hit ~$30–30.4 billion (+13–14% YoY), continuing its reliable growth trajectory and supporting overall gross margin expansion to the 48–49% range.

• Apple Intelligence and Broader Outlook: While AI features are still ramping (with more details expected at WWDC in June), analysts will listen closely for updates on on-device processing, the Google Gemini integration, and the M5 chip roadmap. Gross margin commentary, China recovery, and any tariff-related risks will also be in focus.

• CEO Transition: Tim Cook’s planned move to executive chairman (with John Ternus stepping in as CEO on September 1st) adds an extra layer of intense interest. The call could provide reassurance on continuity and long-term strategy.

Consensus points to Apple delivering another beat-and-raise style quarter, with revenue growth in the mid-teens and healthy EPS expansion. The combination of iPhone supercycle momentum, Services resilience, and steady progress on AI positions the company well heading into the back half of FY2026.

Investors will be parsing every word from CFO Kevan Parekh on guidance, margins, and the path forward under new leadership. Earnings season kicks off in earnest on April 30 — expect the usual post-earnings volatility, but the Street’s bar appears comfortably achievable based on the latest FactSet-aligned forecasts.

Apple has a long-standing tradition of announcing updates to its capital return program — including dividend increases and new or expanded share repurchase authorizations — during its fiscal Q2 earnings release

Analysts and investors have come to expect these shareholder-friendly announcements in the spring quarter because Apple’s March-ending quarter typically generates strong cash flow, giving the board an ideal window to signal confidence in the company’s outlook while refreshing its capital allocation strategy for the year ahead. With Apple’s Q2 FY2026 results due April 30, 2026, many expect another mid-single-digit dividend raise and a sizable new buyback authorization to continue this consistent pattern.

MacDailyNews Note: As usual, we’ll bring you Apple’s results as soon as they are released, right around 1:30 p.m. PDT / 4:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2026 and then follow with live notes from Apple’s conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT.

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The post Apple’s Q226 earnings preview: Analysts project another strong quarter appeared first on MacDailyNews.

John Giannandrea, Apple’s former AI head, wrapped his final days at Apple earlier this month after his pending departure was first reported in December. And now, it seems Giannandrea already has his next role lined up.

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“Widow’s Bay” is a quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no Wi-Fi, spotty cellular reception and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true, start happening again. “Widow’s Bay” blends genuine horror with character-driven comedy.

Paul Tassi for Forbes:
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I have repeatedly said that Apple TV is one of the best streaming services right now, both because of its (at least somewhat lower) price (no ad tier) and its excellent batting average. Now, it’s hit another home run…

We’re talking about Widows Bay, the new series which launches this Wednesday on April 29. It’s got a 100% score with over a dozen reviews in so far.

“Two episodes will launch on April 29, and then it will just run for six in total, ending on May 27. The show was created by Kate Dippold, a writer on Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and directed by Hiro Murai of Atlanta. Great pedigree from both of them, plus Rhys as the lead.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV certainly is one of the best streaming services available, if not the best.

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The post Apple TV scores another perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with hit ‘Widow’s Bay’ appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Severance season 3 is about to start filming, and in a new interview, Adam Scott teases big surprises coming while also revealing that he already knows the show’s ending.

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One of the more divisive elements of last year’s raft of Apple OS updates was the new Liquid Glass interface design. This shimmery aesthetic was supposed to bring cohesion across the iPhone, Mac, Vision Pro, and other Apple products, but ended up causing legibility issues and a certain amount of irritation. Happily, however, it appears the company does not think Liquid Glass as a brand is beyond redemption.

According to a Twitter/X post by the prolific leaker Ice Universe, Apple is working on a next-gen iPhone display that will use the same Liquid Glass branding as the software it runs. In a first for the company’s smartphone line, this display will be curved, but Ice stresses that the curvature will be “extremely subtle,” unlike the curved screens we’ve seen on Android phones over the years.

“What truly creates the visual impact may be a sophisticated combination of optical refraction, light guiding structures, and carefully engineered visual illusion,” the leaker explains. “The end result could be a display where the bezel nearly disappears from sight, while edge viewing remains natural and undisturbed.”

From the wording of the post (“may,” “could,” and so on) it’s apparent that this is a theory rather than a definite plan. Ice Universe also doesn’t cite any sources or otherwise specify where the information comes from. So at this point it’s best to regard this as speculation: a product concept which Apple is plausibly exploring, but isn’t close to launching, nor guaranteed to get there at all.

The timeframe isn’t clear from the post either. Ice refers to it as Apple’s “next-generation display,” but it’s almost certainly destined for Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone due to arrive in 2027. We already know the big design change for late 2026, and that’s the folding body of the iPhone Ultra, while the iPhone 18 Pro is likely to be far more iterative upgrades on their respective predecessors. However, it’s been heavily rumored that Apple is planning to launch an iPhone with “curved glass edges all around” to mark it’s 20th anniversary.

As Ice Universe acknowledges, curved phone displays have been around for a while; the first commercially available Android device to offer this was the Samsung Galaxy Round way back in 2013. (The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, pictured above, came out in 2023.) Apple has even done curved displays itself: Apple Watches have screens that curve down subtly at the edges in order to disguise the bezel.

It will therefore be interesting to see how Apple presents it as a new breakthrough, if it does so at all. Perhaps the company will focus, as it does so often, on the experience rather than the details. Its upcoming iPhone Ultra, for example, is not even close to being the first folding smartphone, but will surely be presented as the first to do it right. Expect a similar approach with the Liquid Glass display.

Apple moved its lineup of 26.5 software updates closer to launch today, with beta 4 available now for iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and more.

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Just a week after releasing macOS 26.5 beta 3, Apple is now rolling out the fourth beta, ahead of its official release in a few weeks. Here’s what to expect.

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Apple has released the fourth iOS 26.5 beta for developers. A previous beta introduced a splash screen that signaled the upcoming arrival of ads in Apple Maps.

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You can record a phone call on your iPhone. With Apple Intelligence, you’ll get transcriptions of the calls, too, in Notes. 

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that OpenAI is partnering with MediaTek and Qualcomm on custom smartphone processors, with Luxshare as the exclusive system co-design and manufacturing partner.

Mass production is targeted for 2028.

The concept: an AI Agent-first phone that ditches traditional app grids in favor of a task-oriented interface — where users simply tell the device what they need done, powered by deeply integrated on-device + cloud AI. Kuo shared a concept design (above)comparing it to today’s iPhone home screen.

Ming-Chi Kuo via X:
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• Latest industry checks: OpenAI is working with MediaTek and Qualcomm to develop smartphone processors, with Luxshare as the exclusive system co-design and manufacturing partner. Mass production is expected in 2028.

• AI Agent redefines the smartphone: Users are not trying to use a pile of apps. They are trying to get tasks done and fulfill needs through the phone. This fundamentally changes how people think about smartphones. I made a smartphone interface concept design, shown [above], for comparison with today’s model, using the iPhone as an example.

• Why would OpenAI make a phone?

1. Only by fully controlling both the operating system and hardware can OpenAI deliver a comprehensive AI agent service.

2. The smartphone is the only device that captures the user’s full real-time state, which is the most important input for real-time AI agent inference.

3. Smartphones will remain the largest-scale device category for the foreseeable future.

• Tightly integrated cloud and on-device AI:

1. The phone needs to continuously understand the user’s context. Power consumption, memory hierarchy management, and basic small-model execution will be key processor design considerations.

2. More complex or compute-intensive tasks will be handled by cloud AI.

• OpenAI’s advantages lie in its consumer brand, years of accumulated user data, and leading AI models. Smartphone hardware is already highly mature, so OpenAI can work with the supply chain to develop the device. On the business model side, OpenAI may bundle subscriptions with hardware and build a new AI agent ecosystem with developers.

• MediaTek and Qualcomm are processor co-development partners and could benefit from long-term replacement demand:

1. Specifications and suppliers are expected to be finalized by late 2026 or 1Q27.

2. Taking MediaTek × Google TPU Zebrafish as an example, the revenue contribution of a single chip is roughly equivalent to 30–40 AI agent smartphone processors. If the initial target is the global high-end smartphone segment, which ships about 300–400 million units per year, the replacement cycle could become another major growth driver.

• No matter how hard Luxshare tries, it will be difficult for the company to surpass Hon Hai’s assembly position in Apple’s supply chain. That makes this project especially meaningful for Luxshare. With an early position in the supply chain, Luxshare could become a leading beneficiary in the next smartphone generation.

MacDailyNews Take: This highlights why Tim Cook had to go. He blindly missed AI and stumbled around for far too long trying to get Apple’s catch up effort moving. After 15 years of iterating on Steve Jobs’ innovations, Apple now, more than ever, needs to be nimble and future-focused in order to stay ahead of hungry rivals.

That said, there’s till plenty of time.

Apple has been integrating Apple Intelligence across iOS, with on-device and Private Cloud Compute smarts, Siri enhancements (with a real LLM Siri revolution coming very soon), and seamless task completion for years now — and they control the entire stack from silicon to software. OpenAI, meanwhile, is still mostly a software/cloud company scrambling to bolt hardware ambitions onto someone else’s silicon and manufacturing.

By the time this thing supposedly ships in 2028, Apple will have LLM Siri in users’ hands and be multiple generations into its own AI-optimized chips, with a mature, privacy-focused ecosystem that hundreds of millions of people already trust and use every day. “Just talk to the AI” sounds revolutionary until you realize that’s exactly where Apple and the Android knockoff peddlers have been heading — except with vastly more mature platforms, developer support, and, in Apple’s case especially, real privacy guardrails.

We’ve seen this movie before: plucky challenger promises to kill the iPhone with a radical new interface. he reality is usually far messier, with fragmented experiences, battery life disasters, app ecosystem problems, and users who ultimately just want something that works reliably.

OpenAI building a phone isn’t impossible — but betting against Apple’s ability to execute on its own AI vision while leveraging its unparalleled hardware/software/integration advantage is a sucker’s bet.

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