Apple is gearing up for what could be its most dramatic iPhone redesign in over a decade. Fresh leaks suggest the 2027 models — timed perfectly for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary — will feature a groundbreaking “Liquid Glass” design with quad-curved displays that make bezels nearly vanish.

From Software Fantasy to Hardware Reality

Apple first introduced the “Liquid Glass” concept in iOS 26 (and across its other platforms) in 2025. This new UI material brings translucent, reflective, and refractive effects that mimic real glass, creating depth, dynamism, and a more immersive feel.

Now, the hardware appears ready to catch up. Multiple reports indicate Apple is developing physical displays and chassis that complement this software aesthetic, potentially creating a seamless blend between the device and its interface.

What the Latest Leaks Reveal

According to a recent Weibo post from leaker Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors), the iPhone 19 Pro series is already in evaluation testing with a quad-curved screen design. This means the display would curve gently on all four sides, dramatically reducing or virtually eliminating visible bezels.

Key rumored features include:

• Quad-curved “Liquid Glass” display — Subtle but effective curves using advanced Samsung OLED panels with optical techniques to hide bezels from the user’s view.

• Under-display Face ID — Moving the entire sensor array beneath the screen.

• Smaller hole-punch camera — Replacing the Dynamic Island for a cleaner look.

• All-glass or glass-heavy construction — Building on long-rumored ambitions for a device that feels like “a single slab of glass.”

Earlier reports from Ice Universe and others had already pointed to this direction, describing a design where “the bezel nearly disappears from sight” while maintaining natural viewing angles.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

The 2027 iPhone (potentially badged as iPhone 19 Pro, iPhone 20, or even an “iPhone XX” anniversary edition) has been the subject of speculation for years. Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman has reported on Apple’s “Glasswing” internal codename for the project, describing it as a major overhaul designed from the start to pair with the Liquid Glass software.

This redesign echoes former design chief Jony Ive’s vision of an all-glass device. Apple has been exploring related technologies for years, including stronger glass composites and advanced curving techniques that go beyond current Ceramic Shield.

Challenges and Realistic Expectations

While excitement is building, it’s important to remember this is still very early. Prototypes are being tested, but mass production details, final specs, and even the exact naming remain fluid. Technical hurdles around under-display cameras, durability of heavily curved glass, and production yields at scale are significant.

Analyst Ross Young has previously noted that a truly all-screen iPhone without any cutouts might not arrive until closer to 2030, suggesting 2027 could represent a major step forward but not necessarily the final form.

MacDailyNews Take: If these rumors hold, the 2027 iPhone could represent Apple’s biggest design leap since the iPhone X. By harmonizing hardware curves and materials with the flowing, glassy aesthetics of iOS 26, Apple aims to deliver not just a new phone, but a more cohesive, almost magical user experience.

We’re still more than a year away from the first real prototypes leaking in earnest, and two years from launch. But the foundation is clearly being laid. The iPhone’s 20th anniversary looks to be shaping up to be something truly special.

‎
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 boldest iPhone yet: Quad-curved ‘Liquid Glass’ display set to eliminate bezel era appeared first on MacDailyNews.

watchOS 27’s big reveal is just a few weeks away, and one rumor indicates it could add a new Apple Watch face that’s inspired by my all-time favorite option. Here’s why the rumor is especially intriguing.

more…

AI development is new and exciting, but while AI agents are doing their thing, you can end up waiting for a good amount of time. It’s a nice opportunity to get up and go do something, but if your Mac goes to sleep, AI agents stop working.

Some developers turn to invoking a caffeinate session or using utilities to bypass the Lock Screen settings. Others use dummy display dongles to trick the Mac into thinking a display is attached, thus preventing sleep mode. But OpenAI announced a new capability in its Codex AI assistant that makes it even easier: Codex now has the ability to keep running after your Mac is locked.

Codex anywhere and everywhere, all the time.Now your Mac doesn’t have to be unlocked for Codex to use your computer.From your phone, Codex can securely use apps on your Mac, even when the screen is off and locked.https://t.co/PCGK4i7FSF pic.twitter.com/956aAtM3vl

— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) May 21, 2026

In Codex’s settings, there is an option for Locked use, which does exactly what it says when you turn it on. An Apple authorization plug-in installs, and then Codex will keep running. According to OpenAI’s Codex documentation, “Locked use is intentionally narrow. It’s not a general-purpose remote-unlock path for your Mac, and it doesn’t let other apps or local processes unlock the computer.”

Foundry

OpenAI notes that this feature has some safeguards, including a short-lived authorization window, availability only to Codex, and coverage for every connected display. It also won’t work when you shut your MacBook’s display, which triggers a different sleep mode. But if you don’t want a dongle or an app, this is a handy feature for OpenAI developers.

I am sometimes astonished that a company built on the notion of prioritizing the user experience is still capable of allowing some absurd UI oversights to remain unfixed through countless macOS generations.

One of the most absurd examples to me is the fact that menu bar items can end up being hidden behind the MacBook Pro notch …

more…

After a three-week break, Formula 1 racing is back this weekend with the peak of motorsport landing in Montreal, Canada.

In the United States, Apple has exclusive streaming rights for all of F1 so you normally need an Apple TV subscription to watch. However, this weekend is an outlier, as Apple made a special deal with Netflix which will see the race also broadcast on the rival streamer.

more…

Hands-on review: The Ugreen DXP4800 Pro NAS strikes a great balance between performance, ease of use and value.

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

At a glanceExpert’s Rating

Pros

20 ports, inc 3x Thunderbolt 5

M.2 NVMe SSD Slot (Echo 21)

10Gb Ethernet

Dedicated video output DisplayPort and HDMI ports

140W Power Delivery

RCA line out jacks

Cons

USB power output max 15W

Our Verdict

While we’d have preferred a bit more power output from the USB-C ports, the Sonnet Echo Thunderbolt 5 docks come with the latest and greatest connectivity standards, and will turn any pro MacBook into a powerful and flexible multi-screen workstation.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Price When Reviewed

$499.99

Best Prices Today: Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock

Retailer

Price

Sonnet

$499.99

View Deal

Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide

Product

Price

Price comparison from Backmarket

The Sonnet Echo 21 is a high-end 20-port Thunderbolt 5 docking station that’s ideal for creative professionals and MacBook Pro users needing expandable high-speed storage, multi-display support, and extensive connectivity. Its built-in M.2 SSD slot supports up to 8TB, making it a smarter long-term investment than the cheaper Echo 20. The main compromise is limited 15W downstream USB/TB charging.

Best for: Creative professionals, multi-monitor MacBook Pro setups, users needing expandable high-speed storage.

Skip if: You don’t need extra SSD storage or want faster downstream device charging than 15W.

At the top of the docking station market are docks built on the latest Thunderbolt 5 connectivity standard. We’ve reviewed the best Thunderbolt 5 docks, and were big fans of the Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock, so have been looking forward to testing these docks from Sonnet.

We tested the Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock, a high-end 20-port Thunderbolt 5 docking station designed to turn a MacBook into a fully featured desktop workstation, but there are two models for you to consider: the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock is identical except for the omission of the SSD enclosure that Sonnet believes is worthy of adding the bold title SuperDock to the Echo 21 that does boast the SSD slot.

Echo 21: Same dock + expandable internal SSD storage.

Echo 20: Same dock without the SSD expansion option, making it the cheaper choice for users who don’t need extra storage.

Simon Jary

Specs and features

Echo 21

One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W)

Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W)

Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)

One USB-C port (10Gbps, 15W)

Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)

One DisplayPort 2.0

One HDMI port 2.0

Ethernet (10Gb)

M.2 SSD slot

UHS-II SD card reader (320MBps)

UHS-II microSD card reader (320MBps)

3.5mm combo In/Out audio jack (front)

3.5mm microphone jack (back)

Stereo RCA Jacks (R&L, back)

240W power supply

Echo 20

One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W)

Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W)

Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)

One USB-C port (10Gbps, 15W)

Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)

One DisplayPort 2.0

One HDMI port 2.0

Ethernet (10Gb)

UHS-II SD card reader (320MBps)

UHS-II microSD card reader (320MBps)

3.5mm combo In/Out audio jack (front)

3.5mm microphone jack (back)

Stereo RCA Jacks (R&L, back)

240W power supply

The only difference between the Echo 20 SecureDock and Echo 21 SuperDock is the M.2 SSD slot located at the base of the Echo 21. The Echo 20 shares the same Thunderbolt 5 architecture and overall port set, but without the internal SSD slot. We think it’s worth paying the extra $50 for the Echo 21 over the Echo 20, as it builds in another level of future proofing.

Aside from this each has 20 ports if you include the right and left stereo RCA jacks as one. That’s a lot of ports. It’s not as many as the iVanky FusionDock Ultra that boasts 26 but the same as the CalDigit TS5 Plus dock.

The Echo 20/21 has the same number of Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) ports as the CalDigit: one upstream, capable of 140W power output, and two downstream TB5 ports.

Simon Jary

Thunderbolt 5 is a major jump in performance on Thunderbolt 4—unlike the shift from Thunderbolt 3 to 4. Bandwidth increases from 40Gbps to 80Gbps, with a unidirectional 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost for high-end video needs.

Both have five handy USB-C ports and four legacy USB-A ports, which seems over-generous these days, but the old rectangular USB persists still in many older devices.

Sonnet includes both HDMI or DisplayPort for dedicated video ports (on top of the TB display-connecting option), which adds a level of flexibility missing from the DP or TB TS5+.

Both offer a top-end Ethernet (10Gb) connection for wired network access. This is backwards compatible to 1GbE, 2.5GbE and 5GbE for older, slower networks. Connect to 10GbE infrastructure using Cat 6 or Cat 6A copper cabling (up to 55 or 100 meters, respectively). You might not be lucky enough to have a 10Gb network but with the Echo 20 and 21 you’ll be ready for it when the time comes to upgrade, eliminating a later need for a separate adapter.

The two docks are also matched with fast UHS-II SD and microSD card readers at 320MBps.

Simon Jary

Both docks offer a 3.5mm combo audio jack at the front, but the Sonnet goes a step further by including right and left RCA jacks (shown above) that reduce crosstalk by using separate right and left audio cables, are more durabile with a larger contact area, and offer better connection stability than 3.5mm audio jacks. The Echo docks also have a separate microphone jack at the back. Aside from digital audio—only the Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock has a TOSLINK audio port—the Echo docks are ably sorted on the audio front.

Both docks are fanless, and the silent design marks this dock out as attractive to high-end audio and podcast creators.

Simon Jary

Design

Unlike the compact but solid CalDigit TS5 or iVanky FusionDocks, the Sonnet Echo 20 and Echo 21 are shelled in a slim and long low-profile case.

The ports are well placed, with all the TB5 ports tidied away at the back. The nine 10Gbps USB ports are well-placed, with two USB-C and two USB-A on the front and back, with the 15W USB-C charging port also close to hand at the front. Also at the front are the two card readers and the combo audio jack.

I’d have preferred a power switch to keep my mind at rest that the connected laptop isn’t forever drawing power and causing possible battery wear, but Apple’s smart battery power system should take care of that worry.

Although only the Echo 20 is called a SecureDock, with the Echo 21 top dog as SuperDock, both feature Kensington security slots, and include ThunderLok connector lock to help prevent accidental disconnections.

The physical dimensions are 9.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches (243 x 106 x 330mm) with a weight of 2.9lbs (1.3kg).

Simon Jary

Storage

The Echo 21 becomes a SuperDock through its SSD enclosure. It doesn’t come-prepopulated with an SSD. The card for the integrated M.2 NVMe SSD socket must be user-installed. That’s different from Sonnet’s Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock that has the internal SSD installed at purchase and isn’t user upgradeable.

Turn the Echo 21 dock over and unscrew the panel to locate the SSD slot that supports high-speed NVMe SSD storage cards up to 8TB and able to transfer data at up to 3300MBps.

Apple charges a fortune to add even 2TB (an extra $400) or 4TB (add $1,000) of internal storage to a MacBook when you purchase it, and after that you can’t upgrade it.

Adding your own choice of external fast storage is ideal for large media libraries and Time Machine backups, and will appeal especially to professional content creators.

At the time of writing, you could pick up a 2TB NVMe SSD for around $200—although storage prices are notoriously volatile, which to be charitable to its accountants is maybe why Apple charges so much. 4TB costs around $500 and 8TB $1,300.

Simon Jary

The dock also offers fast UHS-II SD and microSD card readers that at 320MBps are faster than the 250MBps card reader Apple offers on its MacBook Pro models. This ultra-portable storage is also a flexible way to add decent capacities at affordable prices. The older TB4 Echo dock lacked the microSD slot.

Displays: How many displays can it run?

Of course, one of the key functions of a docking station is to run one or more external displays via the single connection from dock to laptop.

Depending on the power of the processor in your Mac, the dock can drive 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to 8K Displays via its downstream Thunderbolt ports, but also packs both DisplayPort and HDMI ports for monitor flexibility. Using one of these frees up the TB5 ports for other data-demanding devices.

While the Echo docks have both DisplayPort and HDMI ports, you have to choose between them as they can’t be used at the same time.

Sonnettech

These video ports aren’t equal in their capabilities, though. You can connect up to an 8K monitor at a 60Hz refresh rate via the HDMI port but only up to a 4K display at 144Hz using DisplayPort. You can’t use both at the same time, so for multiple monitors you will need to use at least one of the TB5 ports.

Owners of a SuperDock are unlikely to be hooking it up to a MacBook Neo or base M1/M2 MacBook—all of which are limited to a single external display, unless you install special software and a DisplayLink dock.

Any MacBook with a Pro or Max M-series chip can run two 6K displays at 60Hz.

M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max and base M4/M5 Macs have the option to swap that for dual 4K/144Hz monitors.

The M4 Max can run a triple 6K/60Hz setup, and the M5 Max supports up to four 6K/60Hz displays.

In testing, the Echo 21 successfully supported three 4K 144Hz displays using two TB5 downstream ports and the DP port.

As the dock has only three working video-ready ports—two TB5 and either HDMI or DisplayPort—the M5 Max’sfourth will have to daisy-chain off the third. Only the iVanky FusionDock Ultra has enough video ports to run all four directly from an M5 Max.

See the full Mac monitor matrix below.

Sonnettech

Power

Each of the CalDigit TS5 Plus’s downstream ports can output 36W of power, which is enough to fast-charge an iPhone or iPad or even keep a MacBook ticking over. One of its USB-C ports is also a 36W charger.

The downstream TB5 ports of the Sonnet Echo docks are rated at the usual 15W output, which will charge an iPhone or iPad but not at the fastest-possible rate.

As with most top-end docks, the upstream TB5 ports of both docks output to 140W (PD 3.1) that’s enough to fast-charge the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Thunderbolt 4 Echo 20 maxed out at 100W passthrough power.

Simon Jary

The front-mounted USB-C port is also capable of 15W output, with all the other USB ports at 7.5W. The TB4 Echo lacked the 15W USB-C port. The USB-C ports support device charging even when the computer is off, asleep, or disconnected.

It would have been preferable for one of the downstream TB5 or USB-C ports to output at least 20W for fast iPhone/iPad charging, but Sonnet is certainly not alone among dock makers to stick to the standard 15W.

The Echo’s maximum power output among all its charging ports is 240W, compared to 330W for the TS5+. To be fair, the most power output the Echo is capable of is 245W: 140W + (15W x 3) + (7.5W x 8). The 240W power supply should cope with bursts of heavy power requirements. The handy three 36W ports of the TS5+ are the reason why it has an unmatched power supply.

Sonnettech

Price: Is the Echo 21 worth paying extra for?

The Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock is priced at $499.99 / £582 / €690.

The Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock is $50 cheaper at $449.99 / £525 / €620.

If you value expandable high-speed storage and long-term flexibility, the Echo 21’s integrated SSD slot easily justifies the extra $50 over the Echo 20.

U.K. and E.U. customers will rankle at those high prices, but you get a lot for your dollar with the Echo 21 and its SSD slot. Unless your files live entirely in the Cloud, we particularly like the option to increase your MacBook’s storage when you want and with how much you need.

Remember, though, that the dock doesn’t come with an SSD pre-installed so you’ll need to factor that into your overall cost. If you want a simpler, pre-installed solution look to the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Dock with the 1TB model costing $479, 2TB at $649, and 4TB at $999.

The Sonnet Ech0 20 and Echo 21 (top of picture) is slimmer and longer than the iVanky FusionDock Ultra (middle) and CalDigit TS5+ (bottom).

Simon Jary

In comparison, the 26-port iVanky FusionDock Ultra costs $749 and 20-port CalDigit TS5 Plus costs $499, and neither has the Echo 21’s SSD slot.

Read all our best Thunderbolt 5 dock reviews for the full range of options.

Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock

Read our review

Price When Reviewed:

$499.99

Best Prices Today:


$499.99 at Sonnet

Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock

Read our review

Price When Reviewed:

$499.99

Best Prices Today:


$499.99 at Sonnet

Should you buy the Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock?

While the Echo 20 and Echo 21 are identical except for the SSD enclosure, we rate the Echo 21 as our choice because of its extra storage flexibility.

While we’d have preferred a bit more power output from the USB-C ports, the Sonnet Echo Thunderbolt 5 docks come with the latest and greatest connectivity standards, and will turn any pro MacBook into a powerful and flexible multi-screen workstation.

The AirPods Pro 3 at one of the best prices yet. Equally as notable, we also have the base 16GB/512GB 15-inch M5 MacBook Air hitting the Amazon all-time low at nearly $200 off, just after the 13-inch models returned to all-time lows at $150 off. The 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 Cell model is back at its best price ever ($130 off) and Amazon’s clearance price on the 13-inch 1TB M3 iPad Air just dropped again to new all-time low at a giant $400 off. Head below for a closer look.

more…

Apple TV has its best summer lineup ever kicking off soon, but now we know of a notable fall premiere too: a new Matthew McConaughey comedy series called Brothers.

more…

Apple MacBook Air M5

View Deal

(function () {
document.querySelector(“#sticky-promo-block a”).addEventListener(“click”, function(e) {
const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1;
const text = this.closest(“#sticky-promo-block”).querySelector(“p.promo-title”).textContent;
const data = {
event: “stickyConversionUnitClick”,
eventCategory: “Sticky Conversion”,
eventAction: “Click”,
eventLabel: text
};

if(debug)console.log(“Sticky Conversion CLick – pushing to dataLayer: “, data);
dataLayer.push(data);
return true;
});
})();

The 15-inch MacBook Air has the perfect balance of screen size, portability, and power, and now it’s got the perfect price too: Amazon is selling the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air M5 for the best discount it’s ever had, bringing the price down to just $1,1100. a savings of $200 and the best price we’ve ever seen. Now that’s a deal!

This MacBook Air setup is the perfect pick for remote workers, creatives, and pretty much anyone who needs a seamless multitasking experience. The gorgeous 15.2-inch display and exceptional all-day battery life make it possible to leave the charger behind while working on the go, and that’s quite important. This particular model runs on the super-fast M5 chip, and it’s equipped with a generous 512GB of storage and 16GB of unified memory right out of the box. If you need more internal storage, the 1TB model is also on sale right now for $150 off, but with Thunderbolt 4 on board, you’ll be able to hook up a speedy external drive.

Don’t miss out on this $200 discount for one of the best laptops out there.

Hype is building ahead of this fall’s iPhone launches, which are expected to include both the straightforward quality of the iPhone 18 Pro and the more radical breakthroughs of the iPhone Ultra. But as ever the rumor mill refuses to limit itself to the immediate future, and we’ve heard a fascinating tidbit about next year’s iPhone 19 Pro.

According to a Weibo post and subsequent comments by the leaker Digital Chat Station this week (via MacRumors), the iPhone 19 Pro series is already undergoing evaluation testing and is rumored in the supply chain to “feature a quad-curved screen design.” The latter phrase also contains an emoji of a person eating melon seeds, and your guess is as good as ours.

(We’ll add in passing that the leaker also says in a reply to a comment that the 19 Pro “is in mass production,” which seems extremely far-fetched 16 months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17e, for example, is believed to have entered mass production in January, before launching in March. The comment may be a mistranslation, but it’s another reminder that we should take Weibo reports with a grain of salt.)

The leaker offers little further detail, but a quad-curved design generally means a screen that curves over on all four edges, effectively removing bezels from the design and giving the impression of a phone that’s all screen. In this case, that impression will be assisted by the replacement of the Dynamic Island by an even smaller hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen for the front-facing camera, with the Face ID sensor array moved under the display–something which users have wanted for years but which has always presented technical and cost difficulties.

There have been multiple rumors before now that Apple will go for a curved design on the 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027. Last month the leaker Ice Universe speculated that this could be branded as a Liquid Glass display, emphasising that the curvature would be “extremely subtle” and describing a handset in which “the bezel nearly disappears from sight, while edge viewing remains natural and undisturbed.” But the idea goes back much further than that, with several reports in spring 2025 also asserting that the design would arrive in 2027 (even if the specific branding was unclear at that point).

It remains to be seen how Apple decides to mark the 20th anniversary of its most successful product, and it’s worth adding that plans change, particularly when they’re made this far in advance. The reception accorded to the iPhone Ultra this fall is also sure to influence the design of subsequent generations. We’ll see you in 2027.

Apple has achieved a commanding lead in the global smartphone market for the first quarter of 2026, with the entire iPhone 17 lineup occupying the top three spots among the world’s best-selling smartphones.

According to Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone 360 Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, the iPhone 17 claimed the No. 1 position with a 6% share of total global sell-through. It was followed by Cupertino’s flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max in second place and the iPhone 17 Pro in third. The strong performance underscores Apple’s continued dominance at the premium end of the market even as overall industry shipments face headwinds.

The top 10 best-selling smartphone models accounted for a record 25% of the global market in the March quarter — the highest concentration ever recorded for a Q1 period. Analysts expect this consolidation trend to persist through 2026 as manufacturers focus on fewer, higher-priority models amid a contracting overall market.

The standard iPhone 17 posted particularly impressive year-over-year growth, achieving double-digit gains in key regions including the United States and China. The model delivered triple the sales volume in South Korea compared to the prior year, highlighting Apple’s strengthening momentum across diverse markets.

On the Android side, Samsung’s budget-minded Galaxy A series demonstrated remarkable breadth, securing five positions within the global top 10.

“Premium models continue to drive market concentration as consumers gravitate toward devices that offer strong long-term value and ecosystem integration,” the Counterpoint report noted.

The rankings are based on sell-through data, which reflects actual consumer purchases rather than shipments to channels. Full quarterly model-level sales data and specifications are available in Counterpoint Research’s Smartphone 360 – Global Handset Model Sales Tracker, which covers 99% of the worldwide handset market.

MacDailyNews Take: Real iPhones totally dominate the Android wannabes.

‎
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 iPhone 17 series sweeps Top 3 Global Smartphone Sales in Q1 2026 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Benjamin and Chance return for another week in Apple news and rumors. As is tradition, the company unveiled a slate of new accessibility-focused features designed for iOS 27, with a strong theme of Apple Intelligence this year. Also, the WWDC keynote is official with invites going out to press, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman brings us even more details about the upcoming Siri revamp.

And in Happy Hour Plus, the two discuss a new rumor that says Apple might switch back to titanium on future iPhones. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

Sponsored by Bartender: Bartender Pro is a new option for users who want to take things up a notch. Visit macbartender.com to check it out.

Sponsored by Shopify: See less carts go abandoned and more sales. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour.

Sponsored by IM8: Go to IM8HEALTH.com/happyhour and use code happyhour to get a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order. 

more…

iOS 26.5 launched earlier this month with a variety of brand new features for users. Here are the new iOS 26.5 features that were added to three popular iPhone apps.

more…

Ahoy, vast screen real estate! We found the best ultrawide monitor Mac setups from years of Cult of Mac coverage.

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

Apple Intelligence debuted almost two years ago, and for some iPhone users it’s been underwhelming. But rumors about what’s coming in iOS 27 sound like a true Apple Intelligence 2.0, with many features I’m already very excited for.

more…

The iPhone 19 Pro could debut Apple’s biggest redesign since the iPhone X.

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

iPhone users hoping to roll back from iOS 26.5 are now out of luck.

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

Apple on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that held the iPhone maker in civil contempt for charging fees on certain outside purchases made by customers through its App Store.

The petition escalates a years-long legal battle with “Fortnite” maker Epic Games, which sued Apple in 2020 in an effort to loosen the company’s control over in-app transactions on its iOS operating system and its restrictions on how apps are distributed to consumers.

Mike Scarcella for Reuters:
‎

A judge mostly dismissed ⁠Epic’s lawsuit but issued an injunction in 2021 requiring Apple to let developers include links in ​their apps directing users to non-Apple payment methods.

Apple allowed the links but adopted new restrictions, ​including a 27% commission on developers for purchases made on payment systems outside the App Store within seven days of clicking a link.

Epic argued that the new 27% commission flouted the earlier injunction. In 2025, ​the judge found Apple in civil contempt for violating the injunction.

Apple urged the justices on Thursday ​to take up two legal issues. It said the injunction should not apply to millions of developers, since ‌Epic ⁠is the only plaintiff and the case is not a class action. Apple also contends it cannot be held in contempt for allegedly violating the “spirit” of an injunction that did not explicitly prohibit the conduct in question.

Apple has denied any wrongdoing and says it is complying ​with court orders.

‎
MacDailyNews Take: It’s Apple’s App Store, not Epic’s. Apple did not flout the injunction. Apple has a right to charge developers for use of its App Store.

Apple’s 30% commission (reduced to 15% for many smaller developers) has always funded the secure infrastructure, rigorous app review process, fraud protection, payment systems, and ongoing platform development that benefit users and honest developers. Epic wanted all the upside of that ecosystem with none of the contribution.

The bottom line is clear: Epic Games wants to enjoy all of the benefits of Apple’s App Store, including access to well over one billion of the world’s most affluent users for free. That is illogical, unfair, and, basically, theft. – MacDailyNews, May 4, 2021

How much did it cost developers to have their apps burned onto CDs, boxed, shipped, displayed on store shelves prior to Apple remaking the world for the better for umpteenth time? Apple incurs costs to store, review, organize, surface, and distribute apps to over one billion users. — MacDailyNews, June 10, 2022

‎
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 asks U.S. Supreme Court to review contempt order in Epic Games lawsuit appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Meta is on an iPhone app launch streak after introducing two new apps in May. The latest is dedicated app for a key Facebook feature: groups.

more…

Learn how to remap your Mac keyboard for a tailored experience with custom shortcuts and enhanced functionality.

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

Jeff and Fernando chat about iOS 27 impressive new accessibility features, alongside a discussion on what Apple should do to regain user trust with regard to Siri. Should Siri be completely rebranded? The duo discusses five key features they hope Siri will have when it’s revealed at WWDC 2026.

9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more.

more…

On May 22, 1997, Apple set up its Newton division as a separate company. The spinoff Newton Inc.’s first job? Selling the MessagePad 2000.

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

Apple, once a company focused on selling hardware, these days sells more subscriptions than ever before. These run the gamut from entertainment services to premium technical support, cloud storage, and creativity tools.

With so many options available, some users may be confused about which ones are worth the price of the subscription. Macworld is here to help. Read on as we break down all of Apple’s services and subscriptions available in 2026, what each one includes, and most importantly, who should (and who shouldn’t) pay for them.

Apple Music

This is one of Apple’s oldest subscription services. Apple Music subscribers have access to a catalog of millions of songs, which can be streamed or even downloaded for offline playback. With an Apple Music subscription, users can also have their music library synced via iCloud. This means you will always have all your music with you on all your devices, without having to manually add your songs to each one.

But Apple Music isn’t just about listening to songs. For instance, the platform offers Apple Music Sing, a karaoke feature which removes vocals from songs and provides real-time lyrics so you can have fun with friends and family. It also has a catalog of high-definition music videos.

Apple Music gives you access to a huge catalog of tracks, from the obscure to the ubiquitous.

Filipe Esposito / Foundry

Apple Music is available on all Apple devices, from iPhone to Mac, and even Apple Watch. It also works on Android, Windows, and some other devices such as smart TVs and game consoles. Even so, the service is best suited for those deeply immersed in the Cupertino ecosystem, as some features are limited to Apple devices (such as having Spatial Audio on AirPods).

Apple Music costs $10.99/£10.99 per month, while there’s a family plan for sharing with up to five people for $16.99/£16.99. But note that there are various ways to get Apple Music for free.

Apple TV

Introduced in 2019, Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is the company’s streaming platform for movies and TV shows. Unlike Amazon and Netflix, Apple TV initially offered original exclusives only, but the company later expanded its catalog by licensing some older content.

Apple TV includes popular and award-winning movies and shows such as Pluribus, Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, For All Mankind, and F1 The Movie. You can watch the content on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, as well as Android and Windows devices, and even smart TVs and gaming consoles. That means even if you don’t have any Apple devices, you can still enjoy all the benefits of Apple TV.

Apple TV costs $12.99/£9.99 per month, and you can share it with up to five other people at no additional cost. Keep in mind that the subscription doesn’t give you access to third-party content available on the Apple TV app, which can be purchased separately. As with Apple Music, there are ways to get Apple TV for free.

Apple TV is unusual among streaming services because it’s based almost entirely on original content.

Apple

To consider: Apple Music and TV for students

If you’re a student, you may be eligible to get both the above services at a discounted price. Students can subscribe to Apple Music for just $5.99/£5.99 per month, and the subscription comes with Apple TV included at no extra cost.

While Apple says this is a special limited-time offer, it has been available for quite some time. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re only interested in these two subscriptions.

Apple Arcade

If you like to play games in your spare time, Apple Arcade is the service for you. The subscription lets you play a wide range of games on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, and even Apple TV. There are hundreds of games available, and they can be played offline. Plus, the games have no ads.

On Apple Arcade, you can find popular and fun titles such as Sneaky Sasquatch, Goat Simulator, Mini Motorways, Subway Surfers, Crossy Road Castle, Snake.io, Balatro, Angry Birds, NBA 2K26, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure. It’s perfect for casual gamers and families with children, as there are so many ad-free titles with zero in-app purchases aimed at kids; last year we argued that it’s the best Apple service you’re not using. However, if you’re a PC or console gamer, keep in mind that you’ll struggle to find any AAA titles.

There are some astonishingly good games on Apple Arcade, such as Grindstone. And there’s also some rubbish, obviously.

David Price / Foundry

The Apple Arcade subscription costs $6.99/£6.99 per month and can be shared with up to five other people at no additional cost. The subscription becomes more compelling when you have an iPad, Mac, or Apple TV to play games on bigger screens.

Apple Fitness+

Built into the Apple Fitness app, Apple Fitness+ is a subscription service that provides access to multiple guided video workouts, including strength training, HIIT, yoga, and meditation. It’s like having a personal trainer with you all the time, whenever you need them. New video classes are added every week, so there’s always something new to help with your fitness routine.

Apple Fitness+ is available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. However, Apple Watch users can get more out of it since the app shows the watch’s health metrics in real time during guided workouts. If you haven’t got an Apple Watch, you can also get real-time health metrics when exercising by using the AirPods Pro 3 or Powerbeats Pro 2.

Subscribing to Apple Fitness+ costs $9.99/£9.99 per month, and you can share your subscription with up to five members of your family at no additional cost. It’s the perfect companion for Apple Watch owners. If you don’t have one, you should probably skip it.

This service can help you get in shape. And it’ll certainly slim down your wallet.

Apple

Apple News+

While the Apple News app functions as a free news aggregator, the Apple News+ subscription service takes the experience even further with access to magazines, paywalled news outlets, and audio stories. All ad-free.

On Apple News+, you’ll find major publications such as National Geographic, TIME, People, Vanity Fair, WIRED, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Plus, subscribers can download news and magazines to read them offline.

Apple News+ costs $12.99/£12.99 per month and can be shared with up to five family members. The app is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

If you have an iPad (which offers the best reading experience) and are an avid reader of newspapers and magazines, Apple News+ may be an interesting option for accessing a large catalog with no ads or interruptions. Readers who rely on a single news source should probably skip it.

If you haven’t got an iPad, News+ may not be the service for you.

Apple

iCloud+

iCloud+ is one of Apple’s most popular services, perhaps because the offering is so practical: cloud storage for backing up and storing data from your Apple devices.

The free version of iCloud gives you just 5GB of storage per user (not even 5GB per device), which felt stingy a decade ago and certainly isn’t enough now. This is where iCloud+ comes in, giving users more space to store their photos, documents, email, messages, notes, and app data. All of this data can be automatically synced across multiple Apple devices.

Having more iCloud storage is also important for keeping your devices automatically backed up every day, meaning you won’t lose anything if anything goes wrong.

In addition, those who pay for iCloud+ have access to some extra features such as iCloud Private Relay for better protection when browsing the web, Hide My Email for better privacy when signing up for apps and websites, and HomeKit Secure Video to access your HomeKit cameras from anywhere.

You’ll struggle to cope with 5GB of cloud storage, so an iCloud+ subscription is worth considering.

Filipe Esposito / Foundry

iCloud+ starts at just $0.99/£0.99 per month for 50GB of storage. There are also plans with 200GB ($2.99/£2.99), 2TB ($9.99/£8.99), 6TB ($29.99/£26.99), and 12TB ($59.99/£54.99): check out the full range of pricing for more information. iCloud+ storage and benefits can be shared with up to five other people.

An iCloud+ subscription is recommended for anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but becomes especially valuable if you own multiple devices. If you’re unsure, read this list of iCloud+ tips and tricks to see how you can get the most out of the service.

Apple One: The best deal

With Apple One, you can gain access to all of Apple’s online services without having to subscribe to each one individually. And, most appealingly, you’ll get a discounted price compared to paying for each one separately.

However, it’s very important to note that the basic version of Apple One doesn’t include Fitness+ and News+. The Apple One Individual plan includes four out of the six services discussed above:

iCloud+ (50GB)

Apple TV

Apple Music

Apple Arcade

Normally, you would spend $31.96/£28.96 per month if you paid for each of these services individually. However, with Apple One, you get them all for just $19.95/£18.95. That’s a monthly saving of $12 in the U.S., or £10 in the U.K.

If you want to share your subscription with others, you can get a Apple One Family plan with the same services, plus 200GB of iCloud+ storage instead of the 50GB you get with the Individual plan. It costs $25.95/£24.95 per month and can be shared with up to five people.

And if you’re fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem and want access to absolutely all of the subscription services provided, Apple One Premier is the right choice for you. It includes:

iCloud+ (2TB)

Apple TV

Apple Music

Apple Arcade

Apple Fitness+

Apple News+

Rather than paying $63.94/£59.94 per month for all these services individually, you can get them for just $37.95/£36.95 per month with Apple One Premier.

Apple One is the perfect subscription for those considering at least two of Apple’s services. For example, if you wanted both Apple Music and Apple TV, that would cost you $23.98 per month. That’s already $4.03 more than the Apple One Individual plan costs, making Apple Arcade and the extra cloud storage a free bonus. Plus, here are 5 awesome Apple One perks you’re probably missing out on.

Apple Arcade, Apple Music, and Apple TV are the jewels in Apple One’s crown.

Apple

Apple Creator Studio: A great suite for Mac users

The newest addition to the family is Apple Creator Studio, a new bundle that brings together all of Apple’s productivity and editing apps under one subscription. There are tools for editing video, audio, and images.

These are the apps included with Apple Creator Studio:

Final Cut Pro

Logic Pro

Pixelmator Pro

Motion

Compressor

MainStage

In addition, those who subscribe to Apple Creator Studio will unlock exclusive features for apps such as Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform. This includes AI tools for creating documents and a hub with photos, graphics, and illustrations that can be used in any project.

While Apple Creator Studio provides tools for both Mac and iPad, most of the apps in this bundle are only available for macOS. In addition, there are no Apple Creator Studio apps for iPhone. It’s a harsh reality for mobile creators.

The Apple Creator Studio subscription costs $12.99/£12.99 per month, or $129/£129 per year. Students and teachers can subscribe for just $2.99/£2.99 per month. For comparison, Final Cut Pro alone costs $299.99/£299.99 on the Mac App Store.

Whether you’re a professional or someone who wants to become a creator, Apple Creator Studio is certainly a tempting bundle, especially if you have a Mac. Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro are some of the best video, audio, and image editing software you can get. But if you’re a mobile-first creator, you should look for alternatives that are available on the iPhone.

Apple Creator Studio

Price When Reviewed:

$12.99 per month or $129 per year

Best Prices Today:


$129 at Apple (Annual)

AppleCare+

Whether you consider yourself clumsy or just don’t want to worry about your Apple devices, AppleCare+ has you covered.

AppleCare+ plans essentially offer extra protection for your Apple products: not only an extended warranty, but also coverage for accidental damage and even loss or theft. If something happens to your device, you only pay a small fee to Apple to have it repaired or replaced.

In the U.S., there are two different AppleCare plans. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss covers what we mentioned earlier: accidental damage, theft, and loss. You also get extended support from Apple. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss only covers one device per subscription, and prices start at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year; it gets more expensive depending on the device you have. (In the U.K., prices start at £7.99 per month or £159 for two years.)

If you’re clumsy with your Apple products, AppleCare may be for you.

Apple

More recently, Apple introduced AppleCare One, which covers not just one, but up to three products at a reduced price. The subscription starts at $19.99 per month and offers all the benefits of AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. And if you have more than three devices, you can add more products to your coverage for an extra $5.99.

AppleCare+ is available for pretty much every Apple device, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and accessories such as AirPods, Apple TV, and HomePod. Theft and loss protection is only available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

AppleCare+ isn’t exactly something you need, and in fact you may never benefit from what it offers. However, once again, if you want to use your device without having to worry about accidental damage or other types of incidents, it’s a small price to pay to ensure you’ll have support in such cases. And if you’ve been considering getting an AppleCare plan, AppleCare One is probably the way to go if you have two or more Apple devices.

AppleCare+

Price When Reviewed:

From $29

Best Prices Today:


$29 at Apple

Which ones should I subscribe to?

As you can see, there are lots of Apple subscription services available, and we’ve tried to give you plenty of detail about them all. But if you’re still unsure about which ones are worth subscribing to, here’s our verdict.

Best for the average user: If you’re a regular user who doesn’t care much about these services or already uses other streaming platforms, you should at least consider subscribing to iCloud+ to keep your devices automatically backed up and all your data synced.

Best for students: There’s no question about it: the Apple Music and Apple TV student plan is an excellent deal. At $5.99/£5.99 per month, it’s definitely worth subscribing to these apps. And if you need iCloud, you can get an iCloud+ plan separately.

Best for families or owners of multiple Apple devices: In this case, Apple One is definitely the best choice. You’ll get everything Apple has to offer at a lower price. Plus, you can even share your plan with up to six people if they also own Apple products.

Best for professionals: If you’re a professional, especially a creator working with a Mac, there’s no question here. Go with the new Apple Creator Studio, which will give you access to many great tools for creating and editing. You should also consider upgrading to a higher-tier iCloud+ plan with more storage, or even consider an Apple One plan. (Apple doesn’t currently bundle Apple One and Creative Studio in a single subscription.)

One you should consider: Having an AppleCare+ plan for your devices can save you a lot of hassle if you ever drop your iPhone, spill liquid on your Mac, or have a device stolen. We never think about these things, but if that day comes, Apple will help you get your device replaced without having to spend a lot of money to buy a new one.

The subscriptions that aren’t worth it

Services such as Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, and Apple News+ aren’t bad, but they’re not worth it considering their respective individual subscriptions. If you really want these services, consider subscribing to an Apple One plan instead, so you can enjoy all the others too and get value for money.

The HomePod mini is one of my favorite Apple products, offering impressive audio output and seamless integration with the rest of my Apple devices for just $99. A stereo pair fuels my everyday mini house parties while also acting as a home hub that controls my smart light bulbs—even remotely. The speakers can estimate the indoor temperature and humidity, alert me about smoke detectors going off, power automations, and much more; they’re truly great.

Despite its utility and ease of use, however, the HomePod isn’t really as smart as you’d expect a smart speaker to be. Because it relies on the infamous, pre-Apple Intelligence version of Siri, it often fails to process complex commands or offer helpful, up-to-date information. But there’s reason to be optimistic. The upcoming HomePod 3 and mini 2 reportedly won’t launch until Apple releases the boosted AI experience with OS 27, which suggests the next-gen HomePods will address several of the current models’ shortcomings and become genuinely smart this fall.

Here are six issues with the current HomePod models that could finally be fixed with the imminent launch of new hardware.

Siri-ous multitasking

One thing I dislike about my HomePods is the way they restrict me to individual commands. If you try asking your Apple smart speaker to turn off the lights and turn on the TV, it won’t execute either order, stating that it can’t process combined tasks. Instead, you’ll have to trigger the voice assistant, ask it to perform action A, wait for it to do so, and then repeat the same steps to get action B done. It’s tedious.

Alternatively, you could create scenes (task combinations) in the Apple Home app, then activate these with a single Siri command. This works well for routine activities, such as a movie night setup, but is close to useless for random, impromptu command combos.

So much for the current state of affairs. The future looks brighter: if the rumors materialize, Siri in iOS 27 will finally be able to process multiple orders in one go. Given that the HomePod 3 and mini 2 are expected to support Siri 2.0, it’s fairly safe to assume that Apple’s smart speakers will learn how to multitask later this year.

Siri frequently has trouble understanding. And even when it understands, it may not be able to comply.

Mahmoud Itani / Foundry

The chatty kind

When iOS 27 launches, Siri is expected to receive an LLM-driven boost, allowing it to become as conversational as rival AI chatbots. If the upcoming HomePods adopt the same technology, you’ll finally be able to have elaborate conversations with the voice assistant using natural language. It should also be able to maintain the context of the chat and provide follow-up responses accordingly.

Right now, the HomePod does not wait for follow-up inquiries once it answers a certain question. You can’t ask the HomePod “What’s the weather like in Beirut?” and then add “What about New York?” after it provides the first answer. It simply stops listening, forcing you to trigger it again and ask full questions that don’t take previous requests into account. Interacting with Siri on the HomePod also requires you to pick your words carefully, as the bot is prone to misinterpretation. The rumored LLM upgrade should hopefully clean up this mess.

A cure for amnesia

iOS 27 will reportedly introduce a dedicated Siri app that stores your conversation history and other useful info. Given that Siri already supports iCloud sync and the HomePod can distinguish between different household members, the next HomePods could realistically sync your records to the dedicated iPhone app. This would let you access past conversations you’ve had with the smart speaker to recall specific details.

Already knows you

One of Siri 2.0’s most anticipated features is the ability to pull user data from apps such as Messages, Mail, and Calendar. With iOS 27, you should be able to ask Siri when your mom’s flight is, for example, and it’ll dig through your conversations across apps to find the relevant answer.

Since HomePods can tell different users apart, Apple could realistically bundle this perk with the 3rd-gen and mini 2 models. In this case, the HomePod would piggyback on your nearby iPhone to fetch the requested information before announcing the results. This approach would bar other household members from secretly accessing your personal data when you’re out and about, as it requires detecting both your voice and nearby iPhone simultaneously.

Expanded integration with third-party AI models could be coming to the HomePod.

Mahmoud Itani / Foundry

A model pupil

Siri on Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhones already offers a handy ChatGPT integration. The feature allows OpenAI’s chatbot to natively process complex questions when Siri fails, or the user explicitly requests it.

iOS 27 is rumored to offer even more extensions, including Google Gemini, giving users additional options to pick from. If the HomePod 3 and mini 2 are powered by the same smarter Siri, they should similarly be able to tap into other providers’ AI models if Apple’s LLMs are deemed unsatisfactory.

A DJ that actually listens

Beyond the Siri upgrade, there’s an existing Apple Intelligence perk on iOS that the next HomePods could realistically port. AutoMix is a reimagined crossfade feature for Apple Music subscribers that offers DJ-style transitions between songs. It uses on-device AI to analyze the tracks and mixes one into the next accordingly. This noticeably elevates the listening experience and makes classic crossfade transitions sound dated.

It’s not impossible to get this effect on your HomePod currently: one workaround would be to cast music from a supported nearby iPhone. But that’s not as practical as the native implementation we hope will arrive with the next generation of HomePods.

Apple’s Always On Display has been fairly consistent since it debuted on iPhone 14 Pro. With iOS 26, Apple quietly changed how it works in a way that may not be obvious.

more…

TL;DR: AdGuard VPN gives users five years of encrypted browsing, private internet access, and support for 10 devices for $34.97.

The internet is genuinely useful, entertaining, and sometimes absolute chaos. Between public Wi-Fi networks, aggressive tracking, sketchy links, and the unsettling amount of data companies collect in the background, using a VPN has started to feel less like advanced-tech-person behavior and more like basic digital common sense.

AdGuard VPN is on sale for just $34.97. You’re getting five years of VPN access that helps protect your browsing activity without turning privacy into a complicated project.

AdGuard VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through secure servers in 70+ locations worldwide, helping keep your activity private whether you’re working from a coffee shop, traveling, streaming, or just doomscrolling at home. It also supports up to 10 devices simultaneously, so your laptop, phone, tablet, and other devices can all stay protected under one account.

One of the more appealing parts of AdGuard’s setup is that it doesn’t feel bloated or overly technical. The app is designed for regular people who simply want more control over their online privacy. The company also maintains a strict no-logging policy.

Protect your tabs, your data, and your peace of mind with AdGuard VPN — now just $34.97 for 5 years through May 31 (reg. $359.40).

AdGuard VPN: 5-Yr SubscriptionSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Shortcuts Playground lowers the barrier to creating iPhone and Mac automations by turning natural prompts into working shortcuts

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

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.

more…

New Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro and Pro Max earbuds bring great sound, “Whisper Clear” calling, touchscreens and more.

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

Apple alerted developers today to upcoming age rating changes that will affect how apps are classified on the App Store in Australia and Vietnam. Here are the details.

more…

Update: The Switchbot Wallet Finder card is currently on sale for just $12.99.

I have an AirTag on my keychain to keep track of my keys, but obviously an AirTag is too big and bulky to fit inside a wallet. That’s what the SwitchBot Wallet Finder is for.

Disguised inside a thin, credit-card form factor, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder connects to the Find My app on your iPhone, so you can follow its location, and it even houses a speaker so you can make it beep to help you find your wallet when it inevitably gets lost somewhere in your home. Read on for my review …

more…

Apple today filed a request with the Supreme Court in an attempt to reverse key lower court rulings over the App Store injunction in its long-running legal battle with Epic Games. Here are the details.

more…

Apple announced that this Saturday’s Major League Soccer match between the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo FC will be captured entirely using the iPhone 17 Pro. The phone will be used to shoot the match live, as well as during the pre-game warmup and player introductions, in-net goal views, and shots throughout the stadium.

“With cameras positioned throughout the venue, the broadcast will deliver the pristine video quality fans expect, alongside dynamic new perspectives that bring viewers closer to the action, made possible by the small form factor of iPhone,” Apple said in a press release.

The match airs from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, on May 23 at 7:30 p.m. Pacific on Apple TV. MLS coverage is now a part of a regular Apple TV subscription; before the current MLS season, Apple offered MLS Season Pass, which was a subscription to MLS TV content but not part of regular Apple TV programming. Apple and MLS renegotiated thieir contact early this year to allow MLS to be part of a regular Apple TV subscription.

While the Galaxy/Dynamo match will be the first to be entirely shot with an iPhone, the device has been used in sports coverage in the past. The first use was during a September 2025 “Friday Night Baseball” game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. The iPhone 17 Pro was then used several times through the 2025 baseball season, the 2025 MLS Cup, and the 2026 MLS season.

A new Omdia report shows iPhone shipments jumped 31% year over year in Latin America during Q1 2026, driven by strong iPhone 17 performance and a whopping 80% jump in Mexico. Here are the details.

more…

In Nasdaq trading today, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose $2.74 to $304.99 to hit a new all-time closing high. Apple today also set a new all-time intraday high of $305.54.

Apple’s 52-week low stands at $193.46.

Today’s trading volume for AAPL shares was 32,994,908 versus Apple’s average trading volume of 43,681,522 shares.

Apple’s PE Ratio currently stands at 36.97.

Apple currently has a market value of $4.479 trillion, making it the world’s third-most valuable company.

The top five U.S. publicly-traded companies, based on market value:

NVIDIA (NVDA) – $5.317T
Alphabet (GOOGL) – $4.697T
Apple (AAPL) – $4.479T
Microsoft (MSFT) – $3.113T
Amazon (AMZN) – $2.888T

Selected companies’ current market values:

• Taiwan Semi (TSM) – $2.111T
• Tesla (TSLA) – $1.569T
• Meta Platforms (META) – $1.542T
• Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) – $1.035T
• Walmart (WMT) – $967.2B
• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) – $733.102B
• Intel (INTC) – $595.531B
• Cisco (CSCO) – $465.878B
• Netflix (NFLX) – $376.151B
• IBM (IBM) – $211.474B
• SoftBank (SFTBF) – $180.55B
• Disney (DIS) – $179.885B
• Dell (DELL) – $164.997B
• Sony (SONY) – $133.227B
• Spotify (SPOT) – $100.754B
• Adobe (ADBE) – $98.665B
• Nokia (NOK) – $78.407B
• Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) – $20.173B
• SiriusXM (SIRI) – $9.802B
• BlackBerry (BB) – $3.927B
• Sonos (SONO) – $1.753B
• Liquidmetal (LQMT) – $128.879M
• RealNetworks (RNWK) was delisted from U.S. exchanges on December 21, 2022 and is no longer publicly traded.

Apple all-time high (AAPL) via NASDAQ here.

MacDailyNews Take: To, the moon, Alice! To the moon!

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 shares hit new all-time intraday and closing highs appeared first on MacDailyNews.

iOS 27 will be unveiled on June 8 at WWDC, and rumors indicate the software update could drop support for four iPhone models. Here are the details.

more…

Courtney A. Kemp has signed a new multiyear overall deal with Apple TV, Deadline reports. Kemp is the storyteller behind the Power universe, as well as the recently premiered crime drama Nemesis. Under the new deal, Kemp and her production company, End of Episode, will develop and create series exclusively for Apple TV, and Apple TV will have a first-look on film projects.

Rosy Cordero for Deadline:
‎

Kemp is an Emmy-nominated creator, showrunner, writer and producer who has built her career telling high-stakes stories that are bold and character-driven. Her Nemesis is currently the No. 1 series in the U.S. and 15 other countries on Netflix, and Power: Origins, a continuation of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, both of which stem from the Power franchise she created, is currently shooting in New York.

“I’m so grateful to Zack [Van Amburg], Jamie [Erlicht] and Matt [Dentler] for welcoming me to the Apple family,” Kemp told Deadline today of her new deal. “With their impeccable taste and strong support for their creators’ visions, Apple is the perfect place to develop my next projects. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring my audience to Apple for more hard-hitting, high-stakes, multilayered stories that uplift the culture, yet reach beyond to universal viewership.”

‎
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.

‎
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 ‘Nemesis’ creator Courtney A. Kemp inks overall deal at Apple TV appeared first on MacDailyNews.

OpenAI just released this week’s Codex desktop app update, and it includes a brand new feature on Mac called Appshots.

more…

OpenAI just released this week’s Codex desktop app update, and it includes a brand new feature on Mac called Appshots.

more…

Silo season 3’s highly anticipated return isn’t far off, and a new clip has revealed a big change that awaits Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Juliette Nichols.

more…

Federico Viticci at MacStories is out today with yet another wild tool that integrates with Apple’s Shortcuts app.

Shortcuts Playground from Federico is a plugin for Claude Code and Codex that can “create any shortcut for Apple’s Shortcuts app using natural language.”

more…

iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to offer big improvements to satellite connectivity, potentially turning a niche feature for emergency situations into a daily asset for users.

more…

This Saturday, May 23rd, Apple TV will present a special live Major League Soccer match captured exclusively on iPhone 17 Pro — marking the first time iPhone will be used to capture the entirety of a major professional live sporting event broadcast. Developed in partnership with MLS, the milestone broadcast will feature the LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo FC, streaming live on Apple TV from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, during the final weekend of MLS play before the regular season pauses for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America.

iPhone 17 Pro will capture live footage throughout the match, including team warmups on the pitch, player introductions, in-net goal angles, and the atmosphere inside the stadium. With cameras positioned throughout the venue, the broadcast will deliver the pristine video quality fans expect, alongside dynamic new perspectives that bring viewers closer to the action, made possible by the small form factor of iPhone.

Apple TV first incorporated iPhone into a live sports broadcast workflow during a September 2025 “Friday Night Baseball” matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers, using iPhone 17 Pro to capture select moments from the game and cinematic in-stadium footage. The milestone production earned recognition from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which added an iPhone used in the broadcast to its permanent collection. iPhone 17 Pro features three 48MP Fusion cameras, offering the equivalent of eight lenses in a compact form factor and pro-level video features like Apple Log 2 used for this weekend’s broadcast.

Following strong fan response to the “Friday Night Baseball” production, Apple expanded the use of iPhone across additional sports broadcasts — including the MLS Cup in 2025 — before further integrating the technology into the regular production rotation for “Friday Night Baseball” and MLS broadcasts throughout the 2026 season.

This Saturday’s LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo FC match marks the next leap forward: the first live professional sporting event captured entirely on iPhone. Tune in to Apple TV at 7:30 p.m. PT to see iPhone 17 Pro in action.

Apple TV subscribers in more than 100 countries and regions enjoy every MLS match with in-depth coverage and analysis, exclusive content, and more, with no blackouts.
‎
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.

‎
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 TV to air first major live pro sports event shot on iPhone 17 Pro appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Bare Bones’ legendary text and code editor, BBEdit, was updated for macOS today with a massive list of new features, including text search inside images, expanded Shortcuts automation, streaming AI worksheets, and new customization options. Here are the details.

more…

Apple rarely discounts its products, but eligible students, parents and teachers can access reduced pricing through the Apple Education Store.

The Apple Education Store is a dedicated online storefront offering year-round discounts of around 5% to 15% on selected products, including MacBooks, Macs, iPads and some Apple Watch models. The discounts are available to university students, parents buying on behalf of students, and staff working at educational institutions.

To access education pricing, shoppers may need to verify their eligibility, and Apple also places limits on the number of discounted products that can be purchased each year.

This guide explains who qualifies for Apple Education pricing, how much you can save, the best time to buy, and how to maximise discounts through seasonal promotions and bundled offers. We also explain how you can save even more by shopping during Apple’s Back To School offer.

Apple’s U.S. Education Store

Apple’s U.K. Education Store

Apple’s Canada Education Store

Apple’s Australian Education Store

Who can use Apple’s Education Store

To access these savings, you must be a higher education student, a parent buying for one, or an educator/staff member at any grade level.

Higher Education Students: Full-time students currently enrolled in a college or university.

Parents: Those purchasing on behalf of a student currently in higher education.

Educators and Staff: All teachers and faculty for K-12 or higher education, as well as administrative and other staff members working at an educational institution.

Homeschool Parents: Parents who are homeschooling their children are also eligible, though they may need to provide additional documentation for verification.

It is important to note that standard education pricing is generally not available for school-age children (K-12 students) or their parents, unless the parent is a teacher or a homeschooler.

What can you save with the Apple Education Store?

Apple’s Education Store.

Foundry

Apple Education pricing offers year-round discounts on selected Macs, iPads and accessories for eligible students, parents, teachers and education staff.

Savings vary by product and region, but Macs usually receive the biggest discounts. MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini models are commonly reduced by between $100 and $200, while selected iPads can be up to $100 cheaper through the Education Store. In May 2026 Apple added Apple Watch education pricing for students with discounts of up to $130. Smaller discounts may also be available on accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.

Typical savings include:

$200/£200 off an MacBook Pro

$100/£100 off an MacBook Air

$100/£100 off an iPad Pro

$50/£50 off an iPad Air

$80/£80 off an Apple Watch Ultra 3

$40/£40 off an Apple Watch Series 11 

£10/$10 off the Apple Pencil Pro

£10/$10 off the standard Apple Pencil

Savings are larger on higher-spec configurations. 

You can compare all the student savings for Mac, iPad and Apple Watch in our tables further down.

Apple also offers discounted services and software for students:

Apple Music & Apple TV: Eligible students can subscribe to Apple Music at $5.99/£5.99 a month, rather than the standard £10.99. Apple TV+ is also included in that subscription for as long as you are a student. Here’s how students can get Apple Music for almost half price. 

Apple’s Pro Apps Bundle for Education: This bundle is available only to students during the checkout process, and costs just $199.99/£199.99. It includes:

Final Cut Pro – professional video editing software

Logic Pro – music production and audio editing

Motion – motion graphics and visual effects

Compressor – video encoding and export tools

MainStage – live performance software for musicians

Creator Studio: Alternatively you can subscribe to the Creator Studio – which is free for the first three months. The Apple Creator Studio education price is $2.99/£2.99 a month or $29/£29 a year. For non students, Creator Studio is available for a recurring subscription at $12.99/£12.99 a month, $129/£129 a year. Creator Studio adds Pixelmator Pro to the apps available in the Pro Apps Bundle, as well as premium features for:

Keynote

Pages

Numbers

Freeform

Adobe and Microsoft also offer student discounts.

How to verify student status to use Apple’s Education Store

Verify your student status at UNiDAYS.

Foundry

Before gaining access to discounted pricing on Apple’s Education Store, students, teachers and education staff must verify their eligibility.

In many regions, Apple requires shoppers to confirm their educational status through the third-party verification service UNiDAYS. While UNiDAYS verification had already been mandatory in the U.K., Apple expanded the requirement in May 2026 to additional regions including the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Turkey and Chile as part of a stricter verification process.

Visit the UNiDAYS website and create a UNiDAYS account.

Provide details of your college or university.

Provide your student email address.

UNiDAYS can usually verify student status by confirming your email address, but if that isn’t successful you may need to provide your student ID or other evidence.

How to shop at Apple’s Education Store 

Get Education Savings from Apple.

Foundry

With your status verified, you can shop at the Education Store for your country. 

Apple’s U.S. Education Store

Apple’s U.K. Education Store

Apple’s Canada Education Store

Apple’s Australian Education Store

Here you will see special pricing for Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and certain accessories. Apple indicates education savings for products where applicable. 

Select the product and configuration you wish to purchase. 

Add accessories of software if required.

If you have one you can add a trade-in device and get even more money off. 

Choose whether to add AppleCare+, which also includes an education saving. (£179 3 years/£69.99/yr)

Verify eligibility if prompted

Complete checkout

Those buying on behalf of a school or university, rather than for individual use, need to sign in their institution’s account at Apple’s Store for Education Institutions. 

Visit the U.S. Apple Store for Education Institutions (if that link doesn’t work), the U.K. Apple Store for Education Institutions (if that link doesn’t work), or the Canadian or Australian equivalent and search for your Educational Institution. If your institution is found you will be able to sign in to access your institution’s store.

Other ways students can save

There are several ways to save beyond the standard Education Store pricing. Additional savings can often be found through Apple Certified Refurbished products, trade-in programmes and discounts from third-party retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.

Apple Certified Refurbished Store

Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store is one of the few places where the company directly reduces prices on its hardware. Refurbished devices undergo extensive testing, are restored to “like-new” condition, and include a one-year warranty with the option to add AppleCare coverage.

Discounts typically range from 15% to 30% compared with the original retail price. Recent examples have included savings of around $200 to $250 on refurbished M4 iMac models in the US store.


See Best place to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac for more information.

Third-Party Reseller Deals

Resellers often provide deeper discounts than Apple, especially during major shopping events like Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, or clearance periods.

In the U.S., check Amazon, B&H Photo, Best Buy, and Walmart.

In the U.K., Amazon, Currys, John Lewis, and KRCS are recommended.

Check our Best Apple Deals collection for the best deals we’ve seen, updated regularly.

Trade-In Programs

Apple and various resellers allow you to trade in old devices for credit toward a new purchase. This effectively lowers the out-of-pocket cost and is a convenient way to dispose of older hardware responsibly.

Read: How to sell or trade-in your old Mac and save on a new one.

How much is the iPad student discount?

Want to save money on the Best iPad for students? Here’s how the iPad MSRP compares to the student price in the U.S., U.K, Australia and Canada:

ProductU.S.U.K.AustraliaCanadaiPad (A16) MSRP$349£329$599$499iPad (A16) Student Price$329£309$559$469iPad mini (A17 Pro) MSRP$499£499$799$679iPad mini (A17 Pro) Student Price$449£449$719$609iPad Air (11-inch, M4) MSRP$599£599$999$799iPad Air (11-inch, M4) Student Price$549£549$919$729iPad Air (13-inch, M4)MSRP$799£799$1,349$1,099iPad Air (13-inch, M4) Student Price$749£749$1,259$1,029iPad Pro (11-inch, M5) MSRP$999£999$1,699$1,399iPad Pro (11-inch, M5) Student Price$899£899$1,529$1,249iPad Pro (13-inch, M5) MSRP$1,299£1,299$2,199$1,799iPad Pro (13-inch, M5) Student Price$1,199£1,199$2,029$1,649Apple’s discounted price for students compared to the usual price, checked May 2026.

How much is the Mac/MacBook student discount?

Want to save money on the Best MacBook for university? Here’s how the MacBook MSRP compares to the student price in the U.S., U.K, Australia and Canada:

ProductU.S.U.K.AustraliaCanadaMacBook Neo, A18 Pro, MSRP$599£599$899$799MacBook Neo, A18 Pro, Student discount$499£499$749$67913.6-inch MacBook Air, M5, MSRP$1,099£1,099$1,799$1,49913.6-inch MacBook Air, M5, Student discount$999£999$1,639$1,35915-inch MacBook Air, M5, MSRP$1,199£1,199$2,199$1,79915-inch MacBook Air, M5, Student discount$1,099£1,099$2,029$1,65914-inch MacBook Pro M5 MSRP$1,699£1,699$2,699$2,39914-inch MacBook Pro M5 Student discount$1,599£1,599$2,539$2,25914-inch MacBook Pro, M5 Pro MSRP$2,199£2,199$3,499$2,99914-inch MacBook Pro, M5 Pro Student discount$2,049£2,049$3,259$2,78916-inch MacBook Pro, M5 Pro MSRP$2,699£2,699$4,299$3,59916-inch MacBook Pro, M5 Pro Student discount$2,499£2,499$3,979$3,329iMac M4 MSRP$1,299£1,299$1,999$1,699iMac M4 Student discount$1,249£1,249$1,919$1,629Mac mini M4 MSRP$799£799$1,299$1,099Mac mini M4 Student discount$699£699$1,149$969Mac Studio M4 Max MSRP$1,999£2,099$3,499$2,699Mac Studio M4 Max Student discount$1,799£1,899$3,199$2,399Apple’s discounted price for students compared to the usual price in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia, checked May 2026

How much is the Apple Watch student discount?

Here’s how the Apple Watch MSRP compares to the student price in the U.S., U.K, Australia and Canada:

ProductU.S.U.K.AustraliaCanadaApple Watch Series 11, MSRP$399£369$679$549Apple Watch Series 11, Student discount$359£329$609$489Apple Watch SE 3, MSRP$249£219$399$329Apple Watch SE 3, Student discount$229£199$369$299Apple Watch Ultra 3, MSRP$799£749$1,399$1,099Apple Watch Ultra 3, Student discount$719£669$1,259$989Apple’s discounted price for students compared to the usual price in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia, checked May 2026.

FAQ
1.
Are there purchase limits?

Yes. Student shoppers are subject to annual purchase limits:

Apple limits the number of discounted items you can buy from the Education Store each year:

One desktop Mac.

One Mac laptop.

Two iPads.

One Apple Watch.

Two accessories.

2.
When is the best time to shop at the Apple Education Store?

The best time to buy is during Apple’s annual Back to School promotion, which usually runs between June and September in the Northern Hemisphere, and January to March in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

During the promotion, Apple adds extra incentives on top of its standard education discounts, making it one of the cheapest times of year to buy directly from Apple.

Recent Back to School offers have included:

Free AirPods or Apple Pencil models with qualifying Macs or iPads

Discounted upgrades to AirPods Pro

Savings on accessories such as the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad

Gift cards with eligible purchases in selected regions

3.
Who qualifies for Apple Education pricing?

In the U.S., Apple says the following groups are eligible for Education Store discounts:

K–12 employees, including homeschool teachers

School board members and some PTA/PTO officers

University and college students, including those accepted into higher education

Parents buying on behalf of eligible higher education students

Faculty and staff at higher education institutions

Apple has similar eligibility rules in the U.K., where discounts are available to:

Employees of public and private educational institutions

Students attending or accepted into post-secondary education

Parents purchasing for eligible post-secondary students

Apple may request proof of eligibility during or after purchase.

4.
Can parents buy through the Apple Education Store for their children?

Parents can purchase products through the Apple Education Store for their children, but only if the child is a student in higher education (college or university). Apple’s education pricing is not available to parents buying for children in K-12 (grade school, middle school, or high school), unless the parent is a teacher or a home educator.

5.
Does Apple offer student discounts on AppleCare?

Apple does not offer separate student discounts on AppleCare+, but education customers can still add AppleCare+ to their Apple Education Store purchases.

6.
Can you pay monthly or use Apple finance plans on the Apple Education Store?

Yes. In most countries, Apple allows customers to use monthly payment plans and financing options when buying through the Apple Education Store.

7.
How often does Apple change Education Store pricing?

The discounts are typically updated when Apple introduces new products. The percentage saving is usually the same: between 5% and 15% off.

8.
What happens if Apple asks for proof of eligibility after purchase?

You may need to provide the following, in addition to being verified via UNIDAYS:

A student ID card

University acceptance or enrolment documents

A school or university email address

Without this your order may be cancelled.

As Spotify users around the world await the return of their good old fashioned app icon, the company has a handful of news to share in a range of areas. New features coming soon include AI-powered remix tools, concert ticket reservations, and more.

more…

Good news for Apple fans, as sources indicate that production of OLED screens for the touchscreen MacBook Pro are back on track. This removes at least one feared cause of delay to the highly anticipated product.

The Korean news site The Elec reports this week that Samsung Display has achieved a “golden yield” of more than 90 percent, and in some cases 95 percent, with its latest generation of OLED panels. This will provide much-needed momentum as it heads into the supply schedule for Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro. The figure refers to the proportion of input glass which is output as a normal product; in the display industry, The Elec explains, anything above 90 percent is considered suitable for stable mass production.

Following these positive developments, sources indicate that Samsung will be able to ship its new OLED panels to the customer, which means Apple, not laptop buyers just yet, as soon as next month: “The input of glass has just begun,” the site quotes an industry official as saying (via Google Translate). “It typically takes at least a month from the input of the substrate through the module process to mass production shipment to the customer, so shipments are expected to take place in June.”

This is an especially pleasing development because there had been widespread fears that production difficulties could see a delay in the shipping of Samsung’s OLED panels, and consequently the launch of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models which will use them. The Elec’s own report acknowledges that this set of OLED panels have been a challenge. “The manufacturing process for OLEDs used in the MacBook Pro is more difficult than that for standard smartphones,” the site writes. “Laptops have larger screen areas than smartphones and maintain the same display for longer periods. Consequently, requirements for brightness, lifespan, and large-area uniformity are also high.”

With the panels lined up for imminent mass production and shipping in June, they no longer represent a threat to Apple’s expected late-2026 launch schedule. But other factors may still stymie this. A Bloomberg report in April suggested the laptops could be pushed back to early 2027… and this was predicated not on display production difficulties, but on the ongoing memory shortage.

Whenever Apple’s next batch of MacBook Pros arrive, they should be worth the wait. For all the latest news and rumors, bookmark our regularly updated touchscreen MacBook Pro superguide. And if you can’t wait that long, make sure you’re paying the lowest possible price on the current range with the assistance of our best MacBook Pro deals roundup.

In a significant win for Apple in the education sector, Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) has officially announced its transition to an “all-Apple district.” The move marks a major shift away from Windows PCs and Chromebooks in favor of Apple’s ecosystem, aiming to equip students with more secure, durable, and future-proof technology.

According to the district’s announcement, KCPS will replace more than 30,000 existing devices over time. High school students (8th grade and up) are already receiving MacBook Neos — Apple’s newest addition to the Mac lineup that combines quality, value, and industry-leading security. Younger students will continue using the district’s existing iPads and MacBook Airs as part of the rollout.

“Students are now proud of their schools because they have the best products,” said KCPS Chief Technology Officer Scott Jones.

The decision was notable enough to earn a shoutout from Apple during its Q2 2026 Earnings Call. Apple highlighted the MacBook Neo’s strong resonance in both enterprise and education markets, specifically calling out KCPS as an example of a district completing its transition to an all-Apple environment.

Why This Move Makes Sense for KCPS

With enrollment on the rise, district leadership emphasized the need for technology that doesn’t just meet today’s demands but grows with future needs. Apple devices are being positioned as the superior choice for reliability and security — a common refrain among education IT leaders who have increasingly favored Macs and iPads in recent years.

This isn’t just about hardware. By standardizing on Apple, KCPS stands to benefit from seamless integration across devices, powerful creative tools like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro (increasingly popular in education), and a unified management experience through Apple School Manager and MDM solutions.

A Growing Trend?

KCPS joins a growing list of districts and institutions making the switch to Apple. The combination of long battery life, robust build quality, excellent performance, and strong privacy features has made Apple gear increasingly attractive in K-12 and higher education environments.

As one of the larger districts to make such a comprehensive commitment, KCPS’s move could encourage others to evaluate similar transitions. The spotlight in Apple’s earnings call only adds to the momentum.

MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, students and teachers in Kansas City Public Schools, the future just got a lot more Apple-colored — and that’s a bright outlook indeed!

‎
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 Kansas City Public Schools goes all-in on Apple: Transitioning to an “All-Apple District” with 30,000+ devices appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple TV makes history Saturday with a full MLS match captured entirely on iPhone 17 Pro — a whole bunch of them, in fact.

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

Apple iMac M4

View Deal

(function () {
document.querySelector(“#sticky-promo-block a”).addEventListener(“click”, function(e) {
const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1;
const text = this.closest(“#sticky-promo-block”).querySelector(“p.promo-title”).textContent;
const data = {
event: “stickyConversionUnitClick”,
eventCategory: “Sticky Conversion”,
eventAction: “Click”,
eventLabel: text
};

if(debug)console.log(“Sticky Conversion CLick – pushing to dataLayer: “, data);
dataLayer.push(data);
return true;
});
})();

With so many color options, getting the iMac you want on sale can be tough. But if you want a purple one, you’re in luck. Today’s deal brings it down to $1,386, a savings of $103 and the the lowest price we’ve seen for this color all year.

This specific model features 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, delivering sleek aesthetics and the daily performance you need. If you’d rather get a different color, the green option is just $1,372, while the silver model is down to $1,375. However, deals on those models are much more common than the purple one.

Otherwise, you’re getting the same great machine no matter which color you buy. This all-in-one machine is an ideal pick for professionals, students, remote workers, or creatives who want a clean, minimalist workspace that’s both sleek and ready to tackle any hurdles. Powered by Apple’s powerful M4 chip, this computer can easily handle just about anything you want to do in a day, including video and photo editing or working with complicated apps. The vibrant 24-inch Retina display will ensure you get to enjoy vibrant colors, too.

Finding price drops on Apple’s most expensive hardware is always great, but finding this particular iMac on sale was a happy surprise, so make sure you take advantage of this one.

Joining the 2026 Memorial Day sales at Amazon and Best Buy, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is adding Apple’s base 15-inch M5 MacBook Air hitting a new Amazon all-time low at nearly $200 off as well as Amazon clearance pricing on the 13-inch 1TB M3 iPad Air dropping again to the best price ever at a giant $400 off. We also have a rare $99 price drop on iPhone 17 Pro Max today and Apple’s mid-range 512GB 13-inch M5 iPad Pro at just shy of $150 off. All of that joins ongoing discounts on Satechi’s new Space Black metal 25W 3-in-1 MagSafe stand, this exclusive launch deal on SANDMARC’s new precision-machined aluminum bike mount for iPhone creators, and the new Nintendo Switch 2 bundle. Get a closer look below.

more…

Two months ago, Perplexity brought its Comet AI browser from the Mac to the iPhone and iPad for the first time. Now Perplexity has launched a big update to Comet for iOS that it says includes eight major improvements.

more…

Last week, OpenAI updated ChatGPT for iPhone and iPad with access to Codex, its agentic coding tool for Mac. Since launching, the Codex iOS experience has improved in a few key ways.

more…

Apple has announced noteworthy global expansions for some of its latest health features for Apple Watch and AirPods. Here are the details.

more…

Amazon is offering one of the best deals yet on Apple’s latest MacBook Pro just in time for Memorial Day. The 2025 14-inch MacBook Pro with the powerful M5 chip, 16GB unified memory, and 1TB SSD has dropped to $1,499 in Space Black — $200 below Apple’s regular $1,699 pricing and its lowest price in the last 90 days.

This limited-time discount makes the compact yet incredibly capable laptop more accessible for professionals, creators, and power users who want premium performance without waiting for a full refresh cycle.

Why This M5 MacBook Pro Stands Out

Powered by Apple’s latest M5 chip with a 10-core CPU and integrated Neural Engine, this MacBook Pro delivers exceptional speed for demanding tasks including video editing, software development, AI workloads, and multitasking. Apple Intelligence features are fully supported, enabling smarter writing, image generation, summarization, and organization tools directly in macOS.

Key highlights include:

• Stunning 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display — Up to 1600 nits peak brightness, excellent contrast, and vibrant colors perfect for photo and video work.

• Premium audio and video — Six-speaker system with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, plus a 12MP Center Stage camera.

• Versatile connectivity — Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe charging, and support for up to two external displays.

• Ample storage — 1TB SSD ensures plenty of room for large files, apps, and projects.

The laptop also integrates seamlessly with other Apple devices for Continuity features like answering calls or messages directly from the Mac.

A Rare Discount on New Apple Hardware

Apple products rarely see significant discounts, especially on recently released models. At $1,499, this configuration represents a solid 12% savings and is an excellent opportunity for anyone considering the M5 MacBook Pro. Demand for these deals is typically high, so the offer is expected to sell out quickly.

MacDailyNews Take: Whether you’re upgrading from an older Intel or M1/M2 Mac or buying your first high-end laptop, this Memorial Day pricing makes the M5 MacBook Pro a compelling choice right now. Get ’em while they last here.

‎
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 Amazon drops 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro to all-time low of $1,499 for Memorial Day appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple TV is home to Major League Soccer, Formula 1, and Friday Night Baseball. And this weekend, the streamer just announced it will broadcast the first major professional live sporting event shot entirely on iPhone 17 Pro.

more…

9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIALtoday and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

As Steve Jobs once said “Who wants a pop-up?[…] yuck.” Or was he referring to an iPhone stylist? Either way, if your an avid downloader of apps you probably get annoyed by the amount of app tracking prompts that appear. You know, the one asking whether you’ll let the app “track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites.” You tap “Ask App Not to Track” and move on, but minutes later another app shows you the same thing.

You’ll be glad to know there’s a way for iPhone to automatically default to “no” and never see these prompts again…

more…

Next year is the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, and new leaks corroborate a prior report that Apple’s iPhone 19 Pro models will both feature a radical new design.

more…

We go hands-on with the Nyrius Phoenix Home, which offers wireless HDMI streaming at stunning 4K60 video over a wide range.

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

Wearables like the Apple Watch and Oura Smart Ring often have substantial positive impacts on the health and fitness of their wearers thanks to providing detailed information and encouraging healthy activity.

One dangerous condition they’re often able to detect is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic condition that disrupts breathing during sleep and can prove fatal. Oura rings are now not only able to detect signs of this condition, but also to help sufferers get medical assistance …

more…

SignIt gives you legally binding e-signatures, AI-powered document setup, automation and more. Get a lifetime of digital signatures for $79.

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

In a significant recognition of Apple’s growing influence in the entertainment world, Senior Vice President of Services and Health Eddy Cue has been selected as the 2026 Cannes Lions Entertainment Person of the Year. The award will be presented next month during the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, running from June 22 to 26, 2026.

Cannes Lions, which honors excellence in creative work, advertising, and talent across the global marketing and communications industry, praised Cue for “shaping the future of entertainment through groundbreaking storytelling and innovation.” The award specifically acknowledges individuals whose creativity inspires compelling, meaningful, and entertaining content.

Building Apple’s Entertainment Empire

Cue has played a pivotal role in developing Apple’s expansive services ecosystem, which includes Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, Apple News, Fitness+, and more. Under his leadership, Apple TV — launched just over six years ago as a fully original streaming platform — has quickly become one of the most critically acclaimed services in the industry.

For five consecutive years, Apple TV has held the top spot for the highest critically rated slate of original programming among all streaming services. Hits like Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, Shrinking, and The Studio have not only earned awards but also helped define modern television.

Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, highlighted Cue’s impact in a statement:

“Eddy Cue has consistently pushed the boundaries of entertainment and storytelling, building platforms and experiences that have redefined how audiences engage with culture. Under his leadership, Apple has not only produced world-class content but has also shaped the future of entertainment through innovation, creativity and an unwavering commitment to quality. We’re delighted to honour Eddy as our 2026 Entertainment Person of the Year.”

A Keynote Moment in Cannes

In addition to receiving the award, Cue will deliver a keynote seminar on June 22. He’ll be joined by legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose recent Apple project F1 The Movie has generated significant buzz.

This honor comes as Apple continues to rack up accolades at Cannes Lions. The company previously earned Creative Marketer of the Year honors in 2019 and 2025, along with Grand Prix wins for campaigns like “Shot on iPhone.”

Eddy Cue’s recognition underscores Apple’s successful evolution from a hardware company to a major force in entertainment and services. With Services now representing a massive and highly profitable segment of Apple’s business, Cue’s vision has helped diversify revenue streams while delivering high-quality experiences that keep users deeply engaged with the Apple ecosystem.
‎
MacDailyNews Take: Congratulations to Eddy Cue on this well-deserved honor. It’s a testament to the creative ambition and execution that continues to set Apple apart in an increasingly competitive landscape.

‎
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 Eddy Cue named 2026 Cannes Lions Entertainment Person of the Year appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Strava is completely overhauling its strength training experience, with a new workout log, automatic muscle maps, new sharing tools, and expanded integrations with apps and devices. Here are the details.

more…

Having a web browser on your Apple Watch occasionally comes in handy, especially if you have a cellular model and left your phone at home. 

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

Indie singer-songwriter Brye has shared a TikTok video revealing that her song Lemons – that notched up 100M streams – was produced in GarageBand on a school iPad with a cheap plug-in mic.

The pop singer, whose full name is Bryanna Noelle Sebring, says her experience demonstrates that you don’t need fancy equipment in order to achieve a music hit – and echoes the promise made by Steve Jobs when launching the app for the Mac back in 2004 …

more…

Jelanry USB-C Earphones

View Deal

(function () {
document.querySelector(“#sticky-promo-block a”).addEventListener(“click”, function(e) {
const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1;
const text = this.closest(“#sticky-promo-block”).querySelector(“p.promo-title”).textContent;
const data = {
event: “stickyConversionUnitClick”,
eventCategory: “Sticky Conversion”,
eventAction: “Click”,
eventLabel: text
};

if(debug)console.log(“Sticky Conversion CLick – pushing to dataLayer: “, data);
dataLayer.push(data);
return true;
});
})();

Apple isn’t usually a big fan of bright and fun colors for its iPhones, which is why Cosmic Orange is such a hit. And if you’re like us and instantly grabbed the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange, then we’ve got the perfect accessory for you. These wired earbuds have an old-school vibe with a Cosmic Orange flair and only cost $12.55 after applying the 10 percent coupon at Amazon.

The Cosmic Orange color is likely to be discontinued this year, but the abnormally bright shade has already secured its place as one of the best iPhone colors ever made. So until Apple makes a pair of orange AirPods, these USB-C headphones are the next best thing. They’re fun and bright, and, since they’re wired, you won’t be able to lose them. Even better, the buds have a little magnet on them so they clasp together around your neck when you’re not using them. Oh, and you’ll even get a mini portable storage case for them, so you won’t even have to worry about them getting tangled up in knots when shoving them into your pocket.

If you’re old enough to remember the good old days of wired headphones, then you’ll be happy to hear that these come with a built-in mic so you can take calls, as well as on-wire music and call controls. Classic. Just like Cosmic Orange.

We’ve long been expecting a major redesign of the MacBook Pro this year, with an OLED screen one of the key features. However, a Bloomberg report last month suggested that the launch might be delayed into early next year.

We still don’t have any clarity on that, but a new supply chain report does seem to suggest that Apple’s manufacturing partners are now gearing up for production …

more…

On May 21, 2010, Apple quietly ended its award-winning “Get a Mac” ad campaign starring Justin Long as a Mac and John Hodgman as a PC.

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

When Apple launched the $599 MacBook Neo, there were pained cries of disbelief from the tech media and the general public alike. “B-b-but Apple is for gullible suckers with too much money!” they exclaimed. “Its products are overpriced! Out of touch! Won’t somebody please think of the Apple Tax?”

But to more astute Apple watchers, the MacBook Neo was just the latest in a long line of reasonably priced devices from the Cupertino marquee. And while the tides of affordability have ebbed and flowed over the years, a vein of fair pricing and premium quality has run through Apple’s lineup from start to finish.

If you’ve been paying attention, the idea that Apple can put out a remarkably good laptop for $600 should not feel at all unusual. In fact, that kind of value for money is everywhere you look in the Apple Store. It’s something that can be traced right back to Apple’s foundation, flowing through its DNA despite the shifting sands of the tech industry. And you can bet it’s here to stay.

The MacBook Neo’s incredible value

When initial reports surfaced that Apple was working on a secret low-cost laptop that would run on a mobile chip, many were quick to pooh-pooh the idea. A mobile chip? In a laptop computer? Don’t those Apple sheeple realize they’ll be throttled within seconds of booting up that overpriced garbage?

Of course, we all know that nothing of the sort is happening with the MacBook Neo. That comes down to two big factors.

The first is that anyone paying $600 for a laptop has modest needs. If you’re interested in a laptop in that sort of price range, you’re not after something that can crunch enormous datasets or chew through 4K gaming at 120fps. Checking your email, browsing the web, listening to music–these are the sorts of simple tasks that a laptop like this is built for. When that’s what you are up to, throttling is less of a concern.

The other, more pertinent, factor is the Apple silicon that powers the MacBook Neo. Unlike many products in the PC or Android space, Apple’s mobile chips and desktop chips run on the same architecture. The A-series chips that power the iPhone are essentially the little siblings of the M-series chips in the Mac. The chips outfitted in an Apple laptop are not gimped in any way.

Add to that the fact that Apple’s mobile chips are the best in the industry–it’s not even close–and the idea that an A-series laptop is underpowered is well and truly destroyed. Even the tasks that the iPhone 17 Pro Max was designed to handle struggle to slow down its A19 Pro. Do you really think any MacBook Neo customer is going to test the chip’s limits when they draw up that simple Pages document?

Worried about a mobile processor in a laptop? You don’t need to be if it’s a MacBook.

Foundry

But it’s not just the phenomenal power for the price that makes the MacBook Neo such a great bargain; there’s also the build quality. Start sniffing around the lower end of the laptop market, and you’re confronted with a sea of tacky plastic chassis, flimsy, wobbly keyboards, and small, uncomfortable trackpads. This is an area where price compromises are stubborn, obvious, and keenly felt.

Pick up the MacBook Neo and it’s clear that it’s in a separate class entirely. Apple kept the metal frame found in all of its laptops, which exudes the kind of quality that budget competitors cannot hope to match. The Magic Keyboard is present and correct, and while the trackpad lacks haptic feedback, it’s still usable at every point on its surface. Touch the MacBook Neo and you know it’s something different.

And that’s absolutely key. Apple knows that first impressions matter, and if you’re picking up a rickety plastic laptop every day, you’re going to be acutely aware that it’s poorly made.

It might not sound like much, but that kind of dedication to quality, even at the budget end where concessions must inevitably be made, is a perfect example of the shortcomings of the Apple Tax myth. No MacBook Neo customer is paying over the odds here. If anything, the opposite is true. Price-conscious shoppers deserve quality, even if they need to save money. The MacBook Neo provides that in spades.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra (right) costs $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro, yet the iPhone obliterates it in terms of performance.

Foundry

Overpriced versus expensive

While the MacBook Neo might represent low-cost affordability, Apple’s more expensive devices still offer tremendous value for money. Most Apple products fall under one of these two headers: either surprisingly low in price, or more expensive but packed full of premium features.

The MacBook Neo might be the most obvious example of Apple cramming in the value, but it’s far from the only one. The iPhone 17 Pro costs $1,199 to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s $1,299, yet obliterates it in terms of performance. The iMac is by far the best all-in-one desktop on the market and is very reasonably priced. And don’t even get me started on the Mac mini versus its pint-sized competition.

Yet the myth that Apple’s products are overpriced persists. It seems to me that this comes down to a simple idea: people are confusing overpriced with expensive. If something is overpriced, the perceived value for money drops as the cost increases. An expensive product, though, can still be a fantastic bargain: the value rises in line with (or faster than) the cost.

True, you’ll often pay more up front for Apple products than for rivals’ offerings. No one can deny that the Mac Studio costs a big old heap of change, after all. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s in any way overpriced.

Even Apple’s most expensive Mac Studio offers good performance value.

Foundry

Think of it like this. If you had the chance to pay $1,000 for a MacBook Air or $700 for a similar Windows laptop, you might think the latter is the better deal. But if that Windows laptop only lasts you two to three years and the MacBook lasts you six, then Apple’s device is a much better bargain. Over that six-year period, you’d have to buy two or three Windows laptops for a total of $1,400 to $2,100. Suddenly, that $1,000 MacBook Air seems like quite the steal.

This isn’t just a fantasy example, either. There have been numerous reports and studies over the years that show that Apple’s products endure far longer than those from other companies. They’re sturdier, more capable, and built to last. Simply put, you get what you pay for.

Smart and cheap and good

When you trace a path back through Apple’s history, affordability has often been a key consideration for the company. Take the Apple I, for example, the very first product that Apple put out into the world. When looking for a microprocessor for the computer, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak balked at the price of the then-current Intel 8080 CPU–each one “cost almost more than my monthly rent,” he said–and instead designed the computer without a chip until one arrived that was affordable enough. When it finally arrived, it wasn’t the fastest chip on the market, but it allowed Apple to focus on getting the details right while keeping the Apple I’s price down.

Or take the time in 2007 when Steve Jobs was asked whether he wanted Apple to overtake the PC in market share. He told the interviewer that Apple’s goal was to make “the best personal computers in the world and to make products we are proud to sell and would recommend to our family and friends. And we want to do that at the lowest price we can.” The problem, Jobs said, is that “we just can’t ship junk.”

“What you’ll find,” Jobs continued, “is that our products are usually not premium priced. You go and price out our competitors’ products and you add the features that you have to add to make them useful, and you’ll find in some cases they are more expensive than our products.”

This was something that mattered to Jobs. The idea of shipping a low-quality, low-effort device just to keep the costs down–a product that was cheap in every sense of the word–was anathema to him because it compromised the product, the experience, and Apple’s good name too much. Instead, Apple raised the price but also raised the quality in equal measure. As a result, Apple gained a reputation for premium tendencies, but many people forgot that the higher price came alongside a better fit and finish.

Perhaps the best summation of this philosophy was, again, espoused by Jobs himself. Speaking to biographer Walter Isaacson, Jobs compared Apple to the modestly priced Eichler homes that were built for working-class families in the 1950s.

“Eichler did a great thing,” Jobs said. “His houses were smart and cheap and good. They brought clean design and simple taste to lower-income people … I love it when you can bring really great design and simple capability to something that doesn’t cost much. It was the original vision for Apple.”

That idea served Apple well for its first 50 years. With the MacBook Neo and many of its other products, Apple is bringing that mindset into the next half-century.

AT&T has just announced a new wireless plan—‘Build-a-Plan’—that lets customers choose exactly the right features for them, and it starts at just $15/month. Here are the details.

more…

Samsung Display’s latest OLED production breakthrough could benefit Apple’s upcoming MacBook Pro refresh.

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

TL;DR: The VIONTA B5 is a compact solid-state power bank with magnetic charging, 20W fast charging, and a foldable kickstand for $59.99.

A good portable charger is one of those things you don’t think much about until you’re stuck at 12% battery in an airport. The difference is that some chargers feel like cheap emergency backups, while others actually stand strong through your day-to-day hustle.

At just $59.99 (reg. $75), the VIONTA B5 stands out because it uses a solid-state battery instead of a traditional lithium battery pack. That matters for both safety and reliability. Solid-state batteries are designed to run cooler and more stably, which helps reduce some of the concerns people have around overheating or travel-related battery issues.

The magnetic wireless charging snaps into place easily, while the built-in foldable stand rotates 360 degrees so you can prop your phone up while you work or watch.

The charger also supports 20W USB-C fast charging and can power two devices simultaneously. Despite all that, it remains compact enough to toss into a backpack, carry-on, or jacket pocket without being annoying to carry.

Enjoy an everyday smart tech upgrade with this VIONTA B5 portable fast-charging power bank while it’s just $59.99 (reg. $75).

VIONTA B5 5000 mAh Solid-State Power Bank with Foldable StandSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: ARTA is an AI design tool that actually works well on iOS and Android, and it’s only $64 for a 5-year plan with code AI20.

Creating interesting visuals used to mean spending hours learning software you’d barely use, and more often than not, those apps were virtually unusable on mobile. ARTA puts AI image generation, video creation, avatar building, and photo editing in one mobile app, and a 5-year Premium Plan is only $64 right now (reg. $199.99).

This platform runs on some of the most popular image generation AI models around and doesn’t ask you to pay a separate subscription for each one. That includes Stable Diffusion, Flux, GPT-4o, and Nano Banana, and it gives you 500 weekly credits to use across all of them. Generate images from text prompts or existing photos, turn static images into short videos, create studio-quality headshots from a single selfie, or experiment with AI fashion and makeup looks. Over 45 art styles run from photorealistic to anime and retro pop, and the content gallery updates regularly with new trending formats.

For anyone who wants a full AI creative studio on their iPhone, use code AI20 to get an ARTA AI Premium 5-year plan for $64.

ARTA AI Premium Plan: 5-Year SubscriptionSee Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The MacBook Neo has had a profound effect on the laptop market. On this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we discuss the recent announcements by Microsoft and Google that are directly influenced by Apple’s most affordable laptop. 

This is episode 984 with Michael Simon, David Price, and Roman Loyola. 

Watch episode 984 on YouTube

Listen to episode 984 on Apple Podcasts

Tune in to episode 985 on Spotify

Get info 

Click on the links below for more info on what was discussed on the show. 

MacBook Neo is living rent-free in PC rivals’ heads

Microsoft’s MacBook Neo whitepaper is a very serious joke 

Googlebooks are the first anti-personal computers (PCWorld)

Sorry, Intel’s new chip won’t help PCs beat MacBook Neo 

I pushed my MacBook Neo to the limit. It didn’t break

MacBook Neo review

A tale of two Apple Stores (the first two)

Macworld Podcast episode 244: The Apple Store’s tenth anniversary

IfoAppleStore Archive

Comment Corner 

I find it hilarious how people are comparing the MacBook Neo to Chromebooks. In retrospect, I can see why they are comparing both of those machines even though they are not the same thing. 

Christopher via Spotify

Nobody wants AI on their phone 

Darkfairy1234 via TikTok

What Apple has done is kinda genius. They’ve let other tech companies spend $billions on developing AI infrastructure, come along a couple of years later and just licensed that tech. No risk in owning, developing and maintaining the infrastructure. Just a licence fee. 

Warrick Howell via Facebook

All I want is iOS and macOS to get fixed. 26 OSs killed all my devices. M1 Air and 13 Pro worked fine, and after upgrading, are hot garbage. 

Dani via Spotify

Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast

You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcast—or leave us a review!—right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel.  Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld

To find previous episodes, visit Macworld’s podcast page or our home on MegaPhone.

Apple

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has published this year’s Telecommunications, Cell Phone, and Smartwatch Study. Here’s how the iPhone and the Apple Watch did.

more…

Adobe released Photoshop version 27.7 today, and one of the most interesting additions is an on-device AI model for the Remove tool that, alas, comes with rather steep hardware requirements. Here are the details.

more…

Apple SVP of Services and Health Eddy Cue has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Entertainment Person of the Year Award, which will be presented next month at the Cannes Lions festival. Here are the details.

more…

Apple SVP of Services and Health Eddy Cue has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Entertainment Person of the Year Award, which will be presented next month at the Cannes Lions festival. Here are the details.

more…

Apple may be working on a way to make titanium iPhones run cooler.

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

Fortnite’s global App Store comeback marks a major moment for Epic Games, but the legal dispute is still unresolved.

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

Just days after being nominated for a 2026 Apple Design Award in the Interaction category, The Outsiders rolled out a major update with Home Screen widgets, expanded workout import options, new metrics, additional workout types, and more. Here are the details.

more…

Apple’s App Store was built on two core principles: provide users with a secure, trusted place to discover apps, and offer developers a vibrant marketplace to grow their businesses.

Delivering on these principles requires vigilance and dedication. As the digital landscape expands, malicious actors continue to evolve their methods, often using deceptive tactics to target consumers and legitimate businesses. To outpace these challenges, Apple continuously improves its multilayered defenses, leveraging a combination of expert human review and advanced machine learning technologies to detect and stop malicious activity.

In 2025, Apple prevented over $2.2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions, adding to a total of more than $11.2 billion over the past six years. Apple also took a number of actions to block bad actors from distributing malicious software, rejecting over 2 million problematic app submissions last year alone.

Apple’s protections not only prevent harm to users, but also allow developers to thrive in a global marketplace. Today, the App Store is a global destination that welcomes over 850 million weekly visitors across 175 storefronts.

Account Fraud

Over the years, bad actors have evolved their methods to defraud users, leveraging tactics such as implementing bot networks to create fake accounts, spam users, manipulate charts, or generate fake reviews.

In 2025, Apple’s Trust and Safety teams stopped multiple large-scale attempts to create fraudulent accounts. Last year, Apple’s systems also successfully rejected 1.1 billion fraudulent customer account creations — blocking bad actors at the outset — and deactivated an additional 40.4 million customer accounts for fraud and abuse.

Apple also takes decisive action to prevent malicious developers from entering the ecosystem, helping to ensure legitimate creators aren’t competing against fraudulent actors. In 2025, Apple terminated 193,000 developer accounts over fraud concerns and rejected more than 138,000 developer enrollments.

To further protect users from harmful software, Apple in 2025 detected and blocked 28,000 illegitimate apps on pirate storefronts, which include malware, pornography apps, gambling apps, and pirated versions of legitimate apps from the App Store. By restricting these storefronts and illicit distribution channels, Apple also protects developers from having their apps cloned, altered, or weaponized for spreading malicious software.

In the last month alone, Apple has also prevented 2.9 million attempts to install or launch apps distributed illicitly outside the App Store or approved alternative app marketplaces.

App Review

As powerful AI development tools drive a surge in app submissions, Apple’s App Review process has seamlessly scaled to handle the volume and to help ensure every new app and app update meets the App Store’s high standards for privacy, security, and quality.

In 2025, the App Review team evaluated more than 9.1 million app submissions, helping to welcome over 306,000 new developers to the platform. In addition, the team rejected over 2 million app submissions — including over 1.2 million new apps and nearly 800,000 app updates — for failing to adhere to the App Store Review Guidelines.

Apple’s App Review has always combined human expertise with machine learning, and that system continues to evolve. Today, a multilayered approach helps reviewers analyze submissions at scale, identify complex malicious patterns, and flag potentially fraudulent apps with greater speed and accuracy.

This compounding investment in advanced systems does more than just catch bad actors — it makes the entire curation process more efficient. By utilizing AI to rapidly identify complex malicious patterns, analyze app similarity, and flag potentially problematic changes in app updates, Apple’s systems help human reviewers focus their expertise where it matters most. This not only improves the customer experience by ensuring a high-quality, curated storefront, it also helps legitimate developers get their great apps and updates to users faster.

As deceptive tactics increase in complexity, App Review remains highly vigilant in catching problematic apps. This includes apps that were initially approved as standard games or utilities, such as a puzzle or calculator app, that then modified their software post-review with the intent of financial fraud. In 2025, the team removed nearly 59,000 apps for engaging in such bait-and-switch maneuvers.

Apple also rejected over 22,000 submissions for containing hidden or undocumented features; over 371,000 submissions that copied other apps, were found to be spam, or otherwise misled users; and over 443,000 submissions for privacy violations.
Apple provides developers with a number of tools and features to assist them as they build their apps, including TestFlight — a service that allows app makers to test and receive feedback on their products from actual users. Apple checks prerelease software before it’s made available to users on TestFlight to help ensure apps maintain the company’s high security and safety standards. In 2025 alone, Apple blocked more than 2.5 million submissions from distribution on TestFlight due to fraud or security concerns.

Discovery Fraud

Ratings and reviews are an essential feature for discoverability, helping users make informed decisions on the App Store and allowing developers to reach new audiences.

To maintain a safe and trusted App Store, Apple leverages a combination of human review and advanced artificial intelligence to identify problematic reviews and inflated ratings. Apple’s Trust and Safety teams integrate AI throughout the entire moderation process to detect spam, offensive content, and inauthentic reviews at scale. Additionally, AI-powered dashboards and rapid data analysis tools accelerate the discovery of new fraud vectors, enabling Apple’s teams to react quickly to deceptive activity and protect the integrity of the platform.

In 2025, Apple processed over 1.3 billion ratings and reviews. Using proactive detection tools, Apple identified and blocked close to 195 million fraudulent ratings and reviews from ever appearing. To further protect the integrity of app discovery, Apple blocked nearly 7,800 deceptive apps from appearing in App Store search results and an additional 11,500 apps from appearing on App Store charts, ensuring that honest developers are properly showcased for their innovation and hard work.

Payment and Credit Card Fraud

Apple empowers developers to build secure businesses by providing access to world-class payment technologies. When consumers make a purchase with Apple Pay or StoreKit, their payment information is protected by industry-leading encryption. Today, over 680,000 apps employ Apple’s secure payment technologies to sell goods and services safely.

Apple utilizes both human review and advanced technology to identify and stop the use of stolen financial information. By leveraging machine learning, Apple teams build powerful models to accelerate fraud detection and quickly evaluate new deceptive tactics. These technologies also provide a comprehensive view of fraudulent activity across customer accounts, devices, and payment methods.

Last year, Apple prevented more than $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions, stopped more than 5.4 million stolen credit cards from being used to make fraudulent purchases, and banned nearly 2 million user accounts from transacting again.

Empowering Users and Families

In addition to Apple’s robust systemic defenses, there are a number of tools and features designed to empower users and families to manage their own App Store experiences with confidence.

The Kids category on the App Store is a great way for families to easily find apps that are designed for children. Apps in this category must adhere to a stricter set of App Review guidelines, such as restrictions on age ratings and in-app advertising. In 2025, Apple rejected more than 5,000 apps from appearing in the Kids category for failing to adhere to the App Store’s strict rules. In addition to this category, Apple provides developers with many cost-free tools to help them build age-appropriate experiences within their app, including the Declared Age Range API and PermissionKit.

Apple also offers features like Screen Time to help parents manage their child’s device usage, including the ability to set app limits, downtime schedules, and content and privacy restrictions. Parents can also use Apple’s Ask to Buy feature to approve every app download and in-app purchase on their child’s devices. If users do encounter issues with any app download or purchase, they can use Apple’s Report a Problem tool to flag these concerns.

Apple will continue to invest in its long-standing commitment to protect the quality and security of the App Store, ensuring it remains the premier destination for users to explore and developers to innovate for years to come.

MacDailyNews Note: Learn more about staying safe on the App Store at support.apple.com/en-us/122712.

‎
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 App Store stopped over $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2025 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

‘Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars’ has been renewed for a second season on Apple TV, following an acclaimed eight-part season 1. Here’s what to expect from season 2.

more…

Next month tvOS 27 will be unveiled, the next major version of Apple TV 4K software, and Apple confirmed this week that it will bring a useful new display setting: Larger Text.

more…

In Nasdaq trading today, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose $3.28 to $32.25 to hit a new all-time closing high. Apple’s all-time intraday high of $303.20. Today’s intra day high hit $302.80.

Apple’s 52-week low stands at $193.46.

Today’s trading volume for AAPL shares was 34,292,947 versus Apple’s average trading volume of 43,770,847 shares.

Apple’s PE Ratio currently stands at 36.64.

Apple currently has a market value of $4.439 trillion, making it the world’s third-most valuable company.

The top five U.S. publicly-traded companies, based on market value:

NVIDIA (NVDA) – $5.413 T
Alphabet (GOOGL) – $4.711 T
Apple (AAPL) – $4.439 T
Microsoft (MSFT) – $3.124 T
Amazon (AMZN) – $2.844 T

Selected companies’ current market values:

• Taiwan Semi (TSM): $2.083 T
• Tesla (TSLA): $1.567 T
• Meta Platforms (META): $1.536 T
• Walmart (WMT): $1.048 T
• Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A): $1.038 T
• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): $729.311 B
• Intel (INTC): $595.229 B
• Cisco (CSCO): $450.347 B
• Netflix (NFLX): $371.666 B
• IBM (IBM): $210.031 B
• SoftBank (SFTBF): $207.897 B
• Disney (DIS): $181.397 B
• Dell (DELL): $158.553 B
• Sony (SONY): $134.467 B
• Adobe (ADBE): $102.408 B
• Spotify (SPOT): $89.844 B
• Nokia (NOK): $76.062 B
• Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): $19.365 B
• SiriusXM (SIRI): $8.988 B
• BlackBerry (BB): $3.683 B
• Sonos (SONO): $1.771 B
• Liquidmetal (LQMT): $0.136 B
• RealNetworks (RNWK) was delisted from U.S. exchanges on December 21, 2022 and is no longer publicly traded.

Apple all-time high (AAPL) via NASDAQ here.

MacDailyNews Take: Onward and upward, Cupertino soldiers!

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 shares hit new all-time closing high appeared first on MacDailyNews.