Firehose – News, Alerts, Docs
- Thursday March 19
- 03:13 amSandbox user help : Testflight requires your real ID which puts me in a Already Purchased loop | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingSandbox user help : Testflight requires your real ID which puts me in a Already Purchased loop
My paywall keeps disappearing because I have already "purchased" with my real ID, so as far as I can tell it keeps dismissing when I DL it. So how am I supposed to test the paywall with the sandbox account? Im in a loop! so for testing every time you need to test an alteration […]02:52 amLHR (London) on 2026-03-23
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 23, 00:00 - 07:00 UTCMar 19, 02:25 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LHR (London) datacenter on 2026-03-23 between 00:00 and 07:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.02:39 amApple TV: Grey’s Anatomy alum joins The Morning Show’s season 5
Following the recent news that Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) will join The Morning Show’s upcoming season, Deadline reports that Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) will also be added to the show’s lineup. Here are the details. more…02:39 amApple TV: Grey’s Anatomy alum joins The Morning Show’s season 5
Following the recent news that Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) will join The Morning Show’s upcoming season, Deadline reports that Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) will also be added to the show’s lineup. Here are the details. more…02:34 amTim Cook on iPhone's Future: 'There's So Much Left That We Can Do'
In an interview with Nikias Molina at New York's Grand Central Terminal last week, Apple's CEO Tim Cook briefly commented on the future of the iPhone. "There's so much left that we can do with the iPhone," said Cook. "I think it's going to continue to be the center of people's digital lives." While this is just typical corporate speak, it is still interesting that Cook thinks the iPhone will remain the core device in people's lives, given that Apple is pushing into new areas like spatial computing. Apple is reportedly also working on things such as augmented reality glasses and an AI-powered pendant without a screen. Next year, the iPhone turns 20, and the device's popularity is still reaching new heights. iPhone revenue last quarter came in at $85.2 billion, a new all-time high. Cook said iPhone demand during the quarter was "simply staggering." "iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment," said Cook, in January. It remains to be seen if there is ever a device that supplants the iPhone, and smartphones in general, but Cook is certainly not worried right now. "iPhone's going to be around for a very long time," he said. Related Roundup: iPhone 17Tag: Tim CookBuyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums01:49 amViwoods AiPaper e-reader review: a damn fine digital notebook
Viwoods wants you to embrace artificial intelligence with its AiPaper e-reader — but I think it's actually banking on the wrong features.Viwoods AiPaperThe e-book reader market is growing, with plenty of companies offering their own takes on the genre.Some, like most of Boox's lineup, offer an option that lies somewhere between a Kindle and an iPad. Others, like Durobo's Krono, want you to focus on portability over all else. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:33 amBrazil’s competition watchdog inquires Apple over iPhone NFC restrictions
Apple has until the end of the month to respond to a set of technical and legal issues from CADE, Brazil’s competition watchdog over alleged anticompetitive rules tied to the iPhone’s NFC. Here are the details. more…01:20 amI need guidance
Hello, I used to build mobile apps using flutter and I build an app using jetpack compose in android and I recently bought a Mac and I wanted to try building native IOS , I'm impressed by how many people build amazing things in IOS and share on twitter, also lots of peoplel embrases IOS […]12:53 amMAD (Madrid) on 2026-03-19
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 19, 02:00 - 06:00 UTCMar 19, 00:43 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in MAD (Madrid) datacenter on 2026-03-19 between 02:00 and 06:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.12:45 amBOG (Bogota) on 2026-03-19
Mar 19, 00:45 UTCIn progress - Scheduled maintenance is currently in progress. We will provide updates as necessary.Mar 19, 00:37 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in BOG (Bogota) datacenter between 2026-03-19 00:45 and 2026-03-20 06:45 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.12:22 amBOG (Bogota) on 2026-03-19
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 19, 00:30 - 06:45 UTCMar 19, 00:19 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in BOG (Bogota) datacenter on 2026-03-19 between 00:30 and 06:45 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Wednesday March 1811:39 pm‘Your Frustration Is the Product’
The people making these decisions for these websites are like ocean liner captains who are *trying* to hit icebergs.11:17 pmApple Adds 'Genius Browse' Movie and TV Recommendations to Apple TV in tvOS 26.4
tvOS 26.4 includes a new Genius Browse section in the Apple TV app, which gives recommendations for TV shows and movies across multiple suggested categories. Suggestions vary based on your content preferences, and the categories are updated regularly. Some example categories include Upbeat Workplace Comedies, Tense Psychological Thrillers, History Gets Hilarious, Breathtaking Nature Docs, Thrilling Blockbusters, Bittersweet Family Dramas, and Fun for the Whole Family. Selecting one of the categories provides a list of relevant content suggestions, which can be further explored with For You, TV Shows and Movies, and Genres sections. When browsing through the suggested movies and TV shows, tvOS 26.4 also provides titles related to the one that's highlighted. Genius Browse suggestions are not static and will continually show new content categories. The content that Apple suggests is not limited to shows and movies on the Apple TV service, though those are included. Apple suggests titles from other streaming services like HBO Max and Amazon Prime. As with other Apple TV app suggestions, Netflix content is not included. Apple is limiting Genius Browse to tvOS 26.4, and you won't find the option in iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, or macOS 26.4. tvOS 26.4 also phases out the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Show apps, plus it improves Apple TV Audio Format settings and adds more easily accessible customization options for subtitles. We're expecting tvOS 26.4 to be released as soon as next week.Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Apple TV and Home TheaterThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums11:13 pm9to5Mac Daily: March 18, 2026 – App Store vibe coding, more
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 Backblaze: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily. more…10:33 pmPerplexity Launches Comet AI Browser for iPhone With Built-In Assistant
Perplexity today expanded its Comet browser to iOS, making its AI Comet Assistant available to iPhone users. The Comet browser for iOS has many of the same features as the Comet browser for the desktop, including a voice mode for speaking questions and a hybrid search experience, but it does lack extensions. Comet offers standard search results like you might expect from any web search, but the added Comet Assistant is able to provide more in-depth answers and complete tasks. Comet supports Perplexity's Deep Research feature that's able to ingest information from multiple web sources and provide quick, useful summaries. The Comet Assistant can also complete web-based tasks, like summarizing emails, searching for products, comparing prices across websites, and more. With the new iOS app, Comet works across different devices, so users can start a search on one device and pick it up on another. Perplexity does collect browsing and search history from Comet to create ad-targeting profiles to serve ads to users. Comet was priced at $200 per month when it first launched last year, but it is available on iOS for free. Pro and Max subscription plans are available starting at $20 per month. Comet for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store as of today. [Direct Link]This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums10:30 pmHomeKit Secure Video hits 24-hour outage as downtime continues
Apple’s platform for recording and managing security camera footage has been experiencing performance issues for over 24 hours. Here are the details. more…10:09 pmLoad Balancing Health Monitor Delays
Mar 18, 22:09 UTCInvestigating - We are investigating an issue where processing of Load Balancing health events is degraded, leading to delays in notifications and analytics regarding Load Balancing health monitoring, as well as delays in steering decisions for some customers.09:37 pmLiquid Glass and long-standing bugs push Apple’s grades down in visual accessibility report card | 9 to 5 MacLiquid Glass and long-standing bugs push Apple’s grades down in visual accessibility report card
AppleVis has released its 2025 edition of the Apple Vision Accessibility Report Card, which focuses on the needs of people who are blind, DeafBlind, or who have low vision. Here are the highlights. more…09:33 pmWhat’s New in Apple’s Platform Security Guide
Did you know Apple holds most of your satellite SMS messages until you’re back on cellular? That’s just one detail from Apple’s updated Platform Security Guide, which now covers quantum cryptography, device unlocking, and the MacBook Neo’s camera indicator.09:32 pmOAuth Authorization Page Is Blank
Status: InvestigatingWe're currently investigating an issue where users are seeing a blank OAuth Authorization page on zapier.com "zapier.com": http://zapier.com and when attempting to create new connections. We will provide an updated status by 2:30 PM PSTAffected components Website (Degraded performance)09:29 pmPerformance degradation in one of the Cloudflare Los Angeles POP
Mar 18, 21:29 UTCMonitoring - We have mitigated an issue in one of the Cloudflare Los Angeles POPs causing performance degradation between 20:32 to 20:53 UTC09:23 pmBest LLC + Banking solution for indie iOS devs? (Used Stripe Atlas for other web startup) | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingBest LLC + Banking solution for indie iOS devs? (Used Stripe Atlas for other web startup)
Stripe atlas was easy for my other startup – and useful since we were going to use Stripe for the B2B payments and it was a web app. We also used Stable since I had cofounders and we wanted a virtual address – which made Stripe more affordable because they get 40% off via Stable. […]09:18 pmIncrease in 300* Error for WAF challenges, and Turnstile Challenges
Mar 18, 21:18 UTCIdentified - The issue has been identified and a fix is being implemented.Mar 18, 21:16 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating reports of increased 300* errors for WAF Challenges, and Turnstile Challenges09:06 pmAI training lawsuit drags Apple in yet again for alleged use of pirated book dataset
AI training with sketchy data repository "The Pile" returns to the courts in a lawsuit by Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC accusing just about all of big tech of piracy. The problem is, Apple denies using it to train Apple Intelligence.Apple accused of using 'The Pile' for AI training yet againArtificial intelligence is a term that has virtually lost all meaning because of its being applied to everything. In that sense, it seems a lawsuit has mistakenly included Apple when it has previously denied utilizing the dataset in question.According to a lawsuit from Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, Apple, Meta, xAI, Google, Anthropic, OpenAI, Perplexity, and NVIDIA are all in violation of copyright thanks to training their respective artificial intelligence tools on a dataset known as "The Pile." While that dataset is filled with proprietary content, like YouTube subtitle files, it wasn't used by Apple to train Apple Intelligence. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:05 pmApple iPhone dominates North America, Europe, China, and Asia-Pacific
Apple dominated the list of highest-shipping models globally in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research’s "Market Monitor Monthly… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:05 pmOvercast is gaining transcripts, and it will have an edge over Apple Podcasts
Overcast, the third-party podcast player for iOS, will soon include transcripts for podcast episodes. When the feature arrives, it will have an edge over the version in Apple’s Podcasts app. more…08:51 pmPages API, Pages Builds and Workers Builds issues
Mar 18, 20:51 UTCMonitoring - Cloudflare has identified and resolved an issue impacting the Pages API, Pages Builds and Workers Builds. Customers may have experienced an elevated number of 500s or build failures.Customers may have seen impact from 18th March 2026 20:22 UTC to 20:50 UTC08:34 pmBuilt a mesh networking + E2E encrypted chat library for iOS/macOS and open sourced both (MIT, no external dependencies) | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingBuilt a mesh networking + E2E encrypted chat library for iOS/macOS and open sourced both (MIT, no external dependencies)
Hey everyone, We've been working on StealthOS, a privacy app for iOS, and we just open sourced two of the core networking packages we built for it. Sharing here in case anyone finds them useful for their own projects. ConnectionPool (https://github.com/Olib-AI/ConnectionPool) handles local peer-to-peer mesh networking on top of Apple's MultipeerConnectivity framework. If you've used […]08:30 pmDashboard Login Issues
Mar 18, 20:30 UTCInvestigating - Investigating issues with logging into the Dashboard silently failing, especially via SSO08:01 pm‘Grey’s Anatomy’ alum Jesse Williams joins season 5 of Apple TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ | Mac Daily News‘Grey’s Anatomy’ alum Jesse Williams joins season 5 of Apple TV’s ‘The Morning Show’
The fifth season of Apple TV+'s acclaimed, multi-award-winning series "The Morning Show" has added Jesse Williams to its cast… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:00 pmwatchOS 26.4 fixes a major Apple Watch Workout app complaint
Apple redesigned the Workout app in watchOS 26, but not everyone has loved the new Apple Watch exercise tracking experience. It turns out Apple has been listening, because watchOS 26.4 addresses a major complaint about the new design. more…07:50 pmCloudflare Dashboard and Cloudflare API service issues
Mar 18, 19:50 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating issues with Cloudflare Dashboard and related APIs. These issues do not affect the serving of cached files via the Cloudflare CDN or other security features at the Cloudflare Edge. Customers using the Dashboard / Cloudflare APIs are impacted as requests might fail and/or errors may be displayed.07:48 pmApple named in AI lawsuit over data set it says doesn’t power Apple Intelligence
Apple is named in a new AI lawsuit by publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul, reports Reuters. However, the lawsuit points to a data set that Apple has already said doesn’t power Apple Intelligence. more…07:48 pmiOS 26.4 to finally let Family Sharing members use their own payment methods
With the iOS 26.4 RC released earlier today, Apple solved one of the longest-standing limitations of Family Sharing. Here’s what’s new. more…07:23 pmmacOS 26.4 release notes: Apple details six new features for Mac
Alongside the iOS 26.4 RC, Apple released the macOS 26.4 RC to developers and public beta testers today. The update...07:11 pmNew iPhone hacking tool puts hundreds of millions of devices at risk
Researchers just discovered the DarkSword iPhone hacking tool, which could infect hundreds of millions of devices. Here's what to do. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)07:02 pmBook publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul sues Apple, other tech companies over AI training | Mac Daily NewsBook publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul sues Apple, other tech companies over AI training
Book publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul sued several Big Tech companies in California federal court late Tuesday for allegedly… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:56 pmHere Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4
Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes, giving us final details on what's included in the update. Apple Music - Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your description, complete with a title, description, and tracklist - Concerts helps you discover nearby shows from artists in your library and recommends new artists based on what you listen to - Offline Music Recognition in Control Center identifies songs without an internet connection and delivers results automatically when you're back online - Ambient Music widget for Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing brings curated playlists to the Home Screen - Full screen backgrounds give album and playlist pages a more immersive look Accessibility - Reduce bright effects setting minimizes bright flashes when tapping on elements like buttons - Subtitle and caption settings are available from the captions icon while viewing media, making them easier to find, customize, and preview - Reduce Motion setting more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass for users sensitive to on screen motion This update also includes the following enhancements: - 8 new emoji including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face are available in the emoji keyboard - Freeform gains advanced image creation and editing tools, and a premium content library, joining Apple Creator Studio - Mark reminders as urgent from the Quick Toolbar or by touching and holding, and filter for urgent reminders in your Smart Lists - Purchase Sharing lets adult members in Family Sharing groups use their own payment method when making purchases, without relying on the family organizer - Improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/100100 Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models. To learn more, please visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/. Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit: https://support.apple.com/125039iOS 26.4 is likely to see a launch next Monday or Tuesday, ahead of when Apple begins accepting orders for the AirPods Max.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums06:55 pmFamily Sharing no longer means sharing a credit card in iOS 26.4
Apple is finally fixing one of Family Sharing's most awkward limitations in iOS 26.4, letting multiple adults on one family pay for their own purchases without breaking shared access.Apple updates payments for Family SharingFor years, Family Sharing forced everyone into a single payment method whenever purchase sharing was enabled. The approach worked for traditional households, but it created friction for anyone sharing with friends, partners, or extended family.One person effectively became the default payer, even when it made no practical sense. iOS 26.4 changes the structure by letting adult members use their own payment methods while still joining shared purchases. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums06:54 pmHere’s when Apple will launch iOS 26.4
Apple just seeded the iOS 26.4 Release Candidate to beta testers, signaling to iPhone users when the launch date will be. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)06:50 pmKeyboard accuracy bug quashed in iOS 26.4
Apple is gearing up to release iOS 26.4 soon, and with it, a fix for a persistent, pesky bug that has plagued iOS 26.Apple quashes keyboard bug that lead to decreased accuracy in iOS 26Many iPhone users have been complaining that the iOS keyboard has gotten worse in iOS 26. For many users, typing quickly would cause the software to miss characters.While it would appear that the user had tapped the character, it ultimately would fail to insert into the text field. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums06:45 pmiOS 26.4 release date: Here’s when new iPhone features are coming
iOS 26.4 is a big update with lots of new features across Apple Music, Podcasts, CarPlay, and more. Here’s when to expect its public launch. more…06:31 pmHealthKit workout duplicate and running cadence question
Hi, I am working on iOS app where I duplicate HKWorkout and save corrected copy back to HealthKit. I can preserve many things already: – heart rate – energy – steps – running power – running speed – stride length – ground contact time – vertical oscillation – intervals / workout activities But I still […]06:25 pmiOS 26.4 fixes iPhone keyboard accuracy, here’s how
Apple released the iOS 26.4 RC to developers and public beta testers today, setting the stage for an official release as soon as later this month. Apple has also shared its official release notes for iOS 26.4, confirming that the update improves keyboard accuracy when typing quickly on your iPhone. more…06:23 pmEndpoint Root Certificate Update – April 2nd at 00:00 UTC
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 2, 00:00 - 02:00 UTCMar 18, 17:54 UTCScheduled - On April 2nd at 00:00 UTC, New Relic will permanently transition to the DigiCert G2 root certificate for all endpoints. This aligns with an industry-wide security change. On April 15th, 2026, major browser trust stores and security authorities will officially distrust the legacy DigiCert G1 Root Certificate. To maintain its strong continued security posture, New Relic is updating its infrastructure to utilize modern root certificates prior to this deadline. Most modern systems and agents are designed to handle this change automatically.If your systems do not recognize and trust these newer root certificates when the update is applied, the secure handshake will fail and would result in a telemetry data drop, meaning your metrics, events, traces, and logs may stop reporting to the New Relic platform. This risk is primarily associated with legacy Java agents (older than v6.4.2), certain Docker images, and systems using pinned certificates. Any further updates will be posted on status.newrelic.com, as well as our forum: https://support.newrelic.com/s/hubtopic/aAXPh000000HVSPOA4/action-required-root-certificate-update-on-april-1-202606:23 pmCanada SMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 23, 23:00 PDT - Mar 24, 05:00 PDTMar 18, 11:02 PDTScheduled - Our SMS carrier partner in Canada is conducting a planned maintenance from 23 March 2026 at 23:00 PDT until 24 March 2026 at 05:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to and from SaskTel Wireless Canada handsets via Canada long codes and toll free numbers.06:06 pmFamily Sharing in iOS 26.4 No Longer Forces Adults to Share a Payment Method
With iOS 26.4, Apple has made a small but useful change to the way that Family Sharing works. Each adult member of the family can now use their own payment method for purchases, rather than being forced to share a payment method. Apple has long required all of the members of a Family Sharing group to use a single shared payment method for app and content purchases when purchase sharing is turned on, with no option for family members to use separate payment methods. The shared payment restriction is changing in iOS 26.4, and now Family Sharing members can share their content without having to share a payment method. Apple's release notes mention the change, and Apple has also updated its purchase sharing support document. Old wording: When the family organizer turns on purchase sharing and other family members in the group also turn on purchase sharing, they get access to each other's shared content, such as apps, music, movies, and more. The family organizer pays for everyone's purchases unless they turn off purchase sharing. New wording: When the family organizer turns on Purchase Sharing and the members enable the feature for their devices, they get access to each other's shared content. The family organizer pays for everyone's purchases unless they turn off Purchase Sharing or other adult family members use their own payment method to make purchases. Other adults in a Family Sharing group can still opt to use the organizer's payment method, but they can also input a separate payment method. The change will make it easier for people to share Apple content and subscriptions like Apple TV with friends, siblings, and others without having to pay for that person's purchases. There was an option to maintain an Apple Account balance to pay for purchases without having the Family Sharing organizer pay, but that required each Family Sharing member to make sure to reload their purchase balance. The option to add a separate payment method is much more convenient. Family Sharing accounts for children will continue to use the organizer's payment method for any purchases. iOS 26.4 is likely to see a public launch next week.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums06:05 pmHow to take stunning selfies with the Apple Watch Camera Remote
Use the built-in Apple Watch Camera Remote app to take your iPhone selfies to the next level with these helpful tips and tricks. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)06:05 pmHow to take stunning selfies with the Apple Watch Camera Remote
Use the built-in Apple Watch Camera Remote app to take your iPhone selfies to the next level with these helpful tips and tricks. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)06:05 pmHow to take stunning selfies with the Apple Watch Camera Remote
Use the built-in Apple Watch Camera Remote app to take your iPhone selfies to the next level with these helpful tips and tricks. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)06:02 pmResearchers uncover iPhone spyware capable of penetrating millions of devices
This powerful tool can silently penetrate and extract sensitive information from potentially hundreds of millions of iPhone models running… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:58 pmBest MacBook for 2026: Air vs Pro vs Neo compared
Macworld Apple sells several MacBook models across different sizes and performance tiers, so choosing the right one comes down to how much you want to spend, what kind of work you do, and how much power you actually need. In this in-depth guide to buying a MacBook, we explain which MacBook is best for different users, compare the latest models, advise on how much RAM you need, how much storage is enough, and help you decide whether a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or a MacBook Neo makes the most sense for you. Which MacBook is right for you? In 2026, Apple’s laptop lineup spans three clear tiers: the budget-friendly MacBook Neo, the mainstream MacBook Air, and the high-performance MacBook Pro. Best for basic use and tight budgets: MacBook Neo Ideal for students, casual browsing, streaming, and light productivity at the lowest entry price. Best for most people: MacBook Air (M5) The best mix of portability, battery life, silent operation, and everyday performance. Best for professionals: MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max) Best for demanding workflows such as 4K video editing, 3D work, heavy multitasking, and software development. Use the table below to quickly find the MacBook that best suit your needs, or read on for more detailed guide to help you choose the best MacBook for your specific needs. ModelBest ForStarting PriceKey SpecsMacBook NeoStudents, casual users, and first-time buyers.$599 ($499 for education)A18 Pro chip, 13-inch display, 16-hour battery MacBook Air (M5)Most users; perfect balance of power and portability.$1,099 (13-inch) / $1,299 (15-inch)M5 chip, 13.6 or 15.3-inch display, 18-hour battery MacBook Pro (M5)Users needing sustained performance and better displays.$1,599 M5 chip, 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 24-hour battery MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max)Creative pros, developers, and high-end video editors.$2,199 (Pro) / $3,599 (Max) M5 Pro/Max chip, Thunderbolt 5, up to 128GB RAM Table: The best Mac for various use cases. Apple’s MacBook lineup 2026: Overview As of March 2026, Apple’s MacBook range falls into three categories: the budget MacBook Neo, the mid-range MacBook Air, and the high-performance MacBook Pro. As you can see from the MacBook specs table below, the current generation is defined by Apple’s latest chips, including the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max, while the entry-level MacBook Neo uses the A18 Pro. ModelScreenChipPortsBattery LifeStarting priceMacBook Neo13-inchA18 Pro2x USB-C16 hours$599MacBook Air 13-inch13.6-inchM52x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe18 hours$1,099MacBook Air 15-inch15.3-inchM52x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe18 hours$1,299MacBook Pro 14-inch14.2-inchM5/M5 Pro/M5 Max3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe22-24 hours$1,699MacBook Pro 16-inch16.2-inchM5 Pro/M5 Max3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe22-24 hours$2,499Table: MacBook line up since March 2026. Which MacBook is best in 2026 Below we recommend the best MacBooks for various users, from students and every day users, to professionals, creatives and content creators. We also compare MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for those wondering which model to buy. Below this section you can find general advice about choosing the best specs, including screen size, when purchasing a new Mac. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026) – The best MacBook overall Price When Reviewed: From $1,099 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,049 View Deal $1049 View Deal $1049 View Deal $1099 View Deal $1191.04 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The MacBook Air (M5) is the best MacBook for most buyers because it offers the strongest balance of price, portability, battery life, and performance. The 13-inch MacBook Air is light, quiet, fast enough for everyday work, and easier to recommend than any other Mac laptop. The latest version, updated in March 2026, keeps the same winning formula while improving storage and connectivity. What’s newThe latest MacBook Air adds the M5 chip, doubles base storage to 512GB, and supports newer wireless standards including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Why we recommend the MacBook Air Excellent balance of performance and portability Silent fanless design Long battery life Strong everyday performance for work, school, and travel Now ships with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage as standard SizesThe MacBook Air comes in two sizes: 13-inch MacBook Air, 13.6-inch screen: Best for portability 15-inch MacBook Air, 15.3-inch screen: Better for multitasking and split-screen work DisplayAs you can see from the above measurements, the display, when measured diagonally is a little larger than the standard naming would suggest. As a result the 13-inch MacBook Air display is actually larger than that on the 13-inch MacBook Neo, discussed below. The MacBook Air uses a bright Liquid Retina display, but it still lacks the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and HDR capabilities found on MacBook Pro models. PerformanceThe M5 chip in the MacBook Air is fast enough for office work, school tasks, web apps, multitasking, and light creative work. Because the Air has no fan, though, performance can dip during long video exports or other sustained heavy workloads so that the temperature remains optimal. Battery lifeBattery life is excellent, making the Air a great choice for anyone who works away from a desk. It offers more battery life than the budget-friendly MacBook Neo, but falls short of the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Other specsYou get MagSafe 3 for charging and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The MacBook Air also supports up to two external displays. (Older M1 and M2 models were limited to one external monitor). 16GB RAM to 32GB RAM From 512GB to 4TB SSD Price 13-inch MacBook Air: Starts at $1,099/£1,099 15-inch MacBook Air: Starts at $1,299/£1,299 What to know before buyingThe Air’s biggest limitation is sustained performance. It is quick for most tasks, but it is not the right machine for users who regularly push their system for long periods. Read our full Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026) review Apple MacBook Neo – Best budget MacBook Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $595 View Deal $597 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The MacBook Neo is the cheapest way to buy a Mac laptop in 2026. Starting at $599, it is aimed at students, first-time Mac buyers, and casual users who mainly browse the web, stream video, join video calls, and work in basic apps. Despite its lower price, it still looks and feels like a MacBook, with an all-aluminum design and a lightweight chassis. Who is MacBook Neo for?The MacBook Neo is best for people whose computing needs are simple: web browsing, email, documents, streaming, and schoolwork. Why we recommend MacBook Neo Lowest price in the lineup Light and portable Quiet fanless design Good battery life Fast enough for basic everyday use SizesThe MacBook Neo comes in just one size: 13-inch MacBook Neo, 13-inch screen Display Like the MacBook Air the MacBook Neo offers a Liquid Retina display with max 500 nits brightness, but that’s where the similarities end. The display is slightly smaller than the display on the 13-inch MacBook Air, offering 2,408 by 1,506 pixels compared to 2,560 by 1,664 pixels. It also lacks the wide color P3 and True Tone technology of the other MacBooks, offering only sRGB color. Performance The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip – the same processor first introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro. While it is a mobile-class chip, its performance is optimized for a laptop environment, offering a highly responsive experience for everyday productivity. In our tests it proved faster than the M3 in single-core, while equal to the M1 when it came to multi-core performance and graphics. Battery life The budget-friendly MacBook Neo provides a modest but sufficient “all-day” battery for general productivity. In our tests it was slightly under Apple’s claimed 16 hours video playback. While this is the lowest battery life in the current Mac lineup, it it competitive against Windows laptops at the same $599 price point. Other specsYou get two two USB-C ports, but these are not identical in capability, one being USB 3 and the other USB 2. See MacBook Neo ports explained. The MacBook Neo only supports one external display with a resolution of up to 4K at 60Hz. 8GB RAM 256GB or 512GB SSD Price Starts at $599/£599 Education pricing starts at $499/£499 What to know before buyingThe Neo makes several trade-offs to achieve its low price, including the absence of a backlit keyboard, a limited selection of ports, and no Touch ID on the base model. It also features a lower-quality display compared to the Air and Pro, offers less memory with a maximum of 8GB RAM, and delivers lower sustained performance than M-series MacBooks. For many buyers, the $699 model represents better value, as it includes Touch ID and additional storage. AlternativesThe MacBook Neo is the best budget MacBook, but it is best suited to light workloads. If you can spend more, the MacBook Air remains the better long-term buy for most people. Another option, if a low price is your top priority, is a refurbished MacBook. Look out for clearance deals on older Apple silicon MacBooks, but avoid the older Intel-based models. Read our full Apple MacBook Neo review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 2026) – Best MacBook for creatives & professionals Price When Reviewed: $2,199 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check on Amazon Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you regularly edit 4K video, render 3D scenes, compile large code projects, or run demanding professional software, the MacBook Pro is the MacBook to buy. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are Apple’s most powerful laptops, offering better sustained performance, more ports, stronger display technology, and much higher memory ceilings than the MacBook Air. Why we recommend MacBook Pro Faster performance under heavy sustained workloads Better display with ProMotion and HDR More ports, including HDMI and SD card Higher RAM and GPU options Better support for multiple external displays SizesThe MacBook Pro comes in two sizes: 14-inch MacBook Pro, 14.2-inch screen: Best for portability 16-inch MacBook Pro, 16.2-inch screen: Better for multitasking and split-screen work Display The MacBook Pro uses Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR display, with higher brightness, better contrast, and ProMotion support up to 120Hz. Performance The MacBook Pro models featuring the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, released in March 2026, represent a significant architectural shift for Apple through the introduction of “Fusion Architecture”. This design combines two 3nm dies into a single unified system on a chip (SoC), allowing Apple to scale performance and efficiency more effectively than previous generations. There are three chips to choose from in the MacBook Pro line up: M5: Good for users who want Pro features without stepping up to the Pro or Max chips M5 Pro: Ideal for software development, 4K editing, and heavier multitasking M5 Max: Best for 3D animation, high-end video production, AI workloads, and the most demanding creative tasks Battery life Battery life is outstanding for a performance laptop, with the larger MacBook Pro model offering the best endurance in the MacBook range. Other specsThese models offer the broadest port selection in the lineup and are best suited to photographers, video editors, and other professionals who plug into external gear frequently. From 16GB RAM or 24GB RAM to 128GB RAM From 1TB or 2TB to 8TB SSD What to know before buyingThe MacBook Pro is heavier and more expensive than the Air, so it only makes sense if you will actually use the extra performance and features. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Should I buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro? The M5 MacBook Air and M5 MacBook Pro are different in some significant ways.Foundry Choosing between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro is straightforward if you want maximum performance and have a larger budget, as only the MacBook Pro can be configured with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. However, deciding between the similarly specced M5 MacBook Air and M5 MacBook Pro is less clear-cut. The key differences centre on thermal design, display quality, and connectivity. While both use the M5 chip, the MacBook Pro is built for sustained professional workloads, whereas the MacBook Air prioritises portability and silent operation. One significant distinction is cooling. The MacBook Pro features active cooling with a fan, allowing it to maintain peak performance during demanding tasks such as video editing or 3D rendering. The MacBook Air, by contrast, uses a fanless design, making it completely silent but more prone to performance throttling under heavy load. Display quality is another major differentiator. The MacBook Pro offers a superior Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion (up to a 120Hz refresh rate) and significantly higher brightness, reaching up to 1,000 nits for SDR and HDR content. The MacBook Air uses a standard Liquid Retina display, limited to 500 nits and without HDR or adaptive refresh rate. The Pro also provides a wider selection of ports, a more advanced audio system, and longer battery life, making it better suited to professional workflows. The Air, however, remains thinner and lighter – for example, the 13-inch model weighs just 2.7 pounds – making it ideal for portability. Price is another factor. The Air is more affordable, although the gap narrows when upgrading storage and memory to match the Pro. Why choose the MacBook Air? The MacBook Air is the better option for students, office users, travelers, and anyone who wants a light, quiet laptop for everyday work. Reasons to buy the Air Thinner and lighter Silent fanless design Lower price Excellent battery life Plenty of performance for everyday tasks Why choose the MacBook Pro? The MacBook Pro is built for people who push their system harder and need better sustained performance, more ports, and a better display. Reasons to buy the Pro Faster under heavy workloads Better screen Wider port selection Higher memory and GPU configurations Better for video editing, development, and pro creative apps What about MacBook Neo? If your budget is much tighter and your needs are basic, the MacBook Neo is the entry point. It gives you macOS at a much lower price, but with more compromises than the Air. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Key differences Choosing between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro is primarily a decision between portability and sustained power. With the recent launch of the M5 series, the gap in performance has widened, particularly for users with demanding workflows. MacBook Air is lighter and cheaper MacBook Air uses fanless cooling MacBook Pro is faster under sustained load MacBook Pro has better ports and display options MacBook Pro supports higher-end RAM and GPU configurations The table below shows the key differences between MacBook Pro and MacBook Air: FeatureMacBook Air MacBook Pro Starting Price$1,099$1,699Display13.6″ or 15.3″ Liquid Retina (500 nits)14.2″ or 16.2″ Liquid Retina XDR (1,600+ nits, ProMotion)ProcessorM5M5, M5 Pro, or M5 MaxBattery LifeUp to 18 hoursUp to 24 hoursPorts2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe3x Thunderbolt 4/5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafeCooling FanlessActive coolingSSDUp to 4TBUp to 8TBRAMUp to 32GBUp to 128GBComparing the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Best MacBook for specialist cases Not everyone will fit into one of the categories we have addressed above. If you work in the creative industries, development, machine learning, or software engineering, or other high performance use, we’ll address the best MacBook for you next. Best MacBook for video editing and creative work: 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max) We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $2,199 Best Prices Today: $2071 at Walmart | $2,149 at Amazon | $2149 at B&H The MacBook Pro is the best MacBook for video editing and creative work, especially if you regularly work with large files, high-resolution footage, or GPU-heavy apps. These models are built for demanding workflows and offer the sustained performance, display quality, memory headroom, and connectivity that creative professionals need. The following are reasons why crestives choose the MacBook Pro: Active cooling for long renders Stronger GPU performance Higher RAM ceiling Better display for color-critical work Better external monitor support Runs: Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and more Best MacBook for enthusiast creators: 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB, 1TB, 2025) Price When Reviewed: $1,699 (was $1,799) Best Prices Today: $1499 at Walmart | $1,499.99 at Amazon | $1599 at B&H The M5 MacBook Pro is the better middle ground if you want more than the Air offers, but do not need the full cost or power of an M5 Pro or M5 Max. Best MacBook for developers: 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max) We recommend: Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $3,899 Best Prices Today: $3642 at Walmart | $3,849 at Amazon | $3849 at B&H For professional developers, the MacBook Pro remains the strongest option. It is better suited to large codebases, longer compile times, virtualization, multiple displays, and heavier sustained workloads. It offers a good balance of price and performance for most engineers. The following are reasons why developers choose the MacBook Pro: Better thermal management for long build sessions More RAM options Better support for external displays More overhead for containers, emulators, and heavier dev tools Best MacBook for heavy workloads: 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max) The M5 Max chip is best for AI development, complex simulations, or users who need the highest memory ceiling. Best MacBook for gamers: 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max) We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $3,599 Best Prices Today: $3549 at B&H | $3,549.99 at Amazon | $3599 at Apple While Windows PCs still hold a performance lead in raw frames per second, Apple Silicon has made high-end gaming a viable reality on macOS, particularly with the latest Pro and Max models. The M5 Pro MacBook Pro, updated in March 2026, strikes a balance for those who need “oomph” for gaming without the extreme price tag of the M5 Max version of the MacBook Pro. It includes Thunderbolt 5 ports for high-speed data transfer and supports more unified memory than the base M5. It is specifically recommended for “serious gaming” and moderate media production. The M5 Pro model lacks the massive GPU core count of the Max chip, meaning it may struggle with the highest settings on the most demanding AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077. In our real-world gaming benchmarks, it provides “good results” for Mac users, even if it still faces a gap compared to dedicated PC gaming rigs. See our round up of the Best Games for Mac to see which A-list games are available to play. Is MacBook Air good enough? Eugen Wegmann The MacBook Air may suffice in some cases: Creatives: The Air works well for light creative work, especially photo editing, design, and shorter video projects. It is not as strong in sustained workloads, but it is much easier to carry and costs less. Development: The MacBook Air is still a good choice for lighter software development, especially for web development, scripting, and general programming. It is best for developers who prioritize portability over maximum sustained speed. Gaming: The M5 MacBook Air features a third-generation ray-tracing engine and enhanced shader cores, which Apple says improves 3D rendering and gaming tasks. However, in our tests the lack of active cooling caused performance to dip after playing for 10 minutes or so. You can play casual games just fine, but for a variety of reasons, if you’re into AAA gaming, the Air isn’t the best choice. Other MacBook buying decisions to consider When buying a MacBook, it’s important to consider how you will use it, as this will determine the right balance of performance, portability, and price. Key factors to consider include which chip you require, how much RAM you will need for multitasking, and the size of the SSD required for storage, all of which cannot be upgraded later. Screen size affects portability and productivity, screen quality is key for creative work, while battery life matters if you work on the go. You should also think about weight, port selection, and long-term value to ensure the device meets your needs both now and in the future. In the next section we’ll examine these elements of the buying decision. Best MacBook display and screen size Foundry The best MacBook screen size depends on how much portability, screen space, and display quality you need. Best MacBook screen sizes Best size for most people: 13-inch MacBook Air or 14-inch MacBook Pro Best size for portability: 13-inch MacBook Air or MacBook Neo Best all-around Pro size: 14-inch MacBook Pro Best large-screen option without Pro pricing: 15-inch MacBook Air Best for maximum workspace: 16-inch MacBook Pro The 13-inch and 14-inch MacBooks offer the best balance of portability and usability. The larger 15-inch and 16-inch options are ideal if you want more room for spreadsheets, side-by-side apps, or general multitasking. How MacBook displays compare Apple’s laptop lineup features three distinct display tiers: the budget-oriented MacBook Neo, the consumer-focused MacBook Air, and the professional-grade MacBook Pro. While all models now utilize “Liquid Retina” branding, the underlying technologies – ranging from standard LED to advanced mini-LED with XDR – create significant differences in brightness, color accuracy, and motion smoothness. MacBook Pro: Liquid Retina XDRThis is the best display in the lineup. It uses a mini-LED backlight array to achieve better contrast and higher brightness. The display provides 1000 nits sustained XDR brightness, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only); 1000 nits SDR brightness. Only the MacBook Pro features ProMotion technology, which allows for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. This results in smoother scrolling and more responsive UI animations. MacBook Pro also offers an optional Nano-texture glass with a matte finish that significantly reduces glare in bright environments. MacBook Air: Liquid RetinaBright and sharp enough for most people, with good color quality but without the advanced features of the Pro. Like the Pro and unlike the Neo, the MacBook Air supports P3, offering richer reds and greens for photo and video work. MacBook Neo: standard Liquid RetinaA decent display for the price, but it makes more compromises in color and overall quality. The MacBook Neo is the first modern MacBook to omit support for the P3 wide color gamut, sticking instead to the older sRGB standard. While this is sufficient for general web browsing, it marks a clear visual step down from the MacBook Air. The MacBook Neo is unique in the current lineup for not having a display notch; instead, it houses its 1080p camera in a traditional, slightly thicker upper bezel. External display supportIf you work mainly at a desk, built-in screen size may matter less because modern MacBooks can be paired with external monitors to create a much better workstation setup. For more advice read: How to use two or more monitors to a Mac. MacBook Neo: Supports only one external display up to 4K at 60Hz. MacBook Air (M5): Supports up to two external displays at 6K/60Hz. MacBook Pro (M5 Pro): Supports up to three external displays natively. MacBook Pro (M5 Max): Supports up to four external displays. You can compare the screen options in the table below: ModelScreen SizePanel TypeMax BrightnessColor GamutRefresh RateDisplay TechnologyTrue ToneMacBook Neo13-inchLED-backlit LCD500 nitssRGB60HzLiquid Retina (sRGB)NoMacBook Air13.6-inchLED-backlit LCD500 nitsP3 Wide Color60HzLiquid Retina (P3)YesMacBook Air15.3-inchLED-backlit LCD500 nitsP3 Wide Color60HzLiquid Retina (P3)YesMacBook Pro14.2-inchMini-LED (XDR)1,600 nits (Peak HDR)P3 Wide ColorUp to 120Hz (ProMotion) Liquid Retina XDR (ProMotion)YesMacBook Pro16.2-inchMini-LED (XDR)1,600 nits (Peak HDR)P3 Wide ColorUp to 120Hz (ProMotion) Liquid Retina XDR (ProMotion)YesHow the screens compare across Apple’s range of MacBooks. Best MacBook for battery life: MacBook Pro If battery life matters most, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models currently lead Apple’s laptop lineup, with the best official endurance figures. Both are rated by Apple for up to 24 hours of video playback. While the Pro models lead in official ratings, real-world testing shows that the entire current lineup – including the new budget-friendly MacBook Neo and the M5 MacBook Air – delivers “all-day” endurance. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M5 chip and the 16-inch model with the M5 Pro chip currently hold the record for the best battery life ever in a MacBook at 24 hours. The MacBook Air is one of the best choices for buyers who want strong battery life in a lighter, cheaper package. The MacBook Neo trails the rest of the lineup, but still delivers respectable endurance for its price class. See: MacBook Air, Pro and Neo batteries compared. You can compare battery life in the table below: ModelBattery CapacityVideo Playback (Apple)Video Playback (Apple)16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max)100WhUp to 24 hoursUp to 17 hours14-inch MacBook Pro (M5)72.4WhUp to 24 hoursUp to 17 hours14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)72.4WhUp to 22 hoursUp to 14 hours15-inch MacBook Air (M5)66.5WhUp to 18 hoursUp to 15 hours13-inch MacBook Air (M5)53.8WhUp to 18 hoursUp to 15 hours13-inch MacBook Neo (A18 Pro)36.5WhUp to 16 hoursUp to 11 hoursCompare battery life across Apple’s MacBook range. How much RAM do you need? For most buyers in 2026, 16GB of RAM should be the minimum. That is the sweet spot for a MacBook you plan to keep for several years. However, the MacBook Neo ships with only 8GB RAM, and there are no options to upgrade this capacity at the time of purchase or later. Whether this is enough RAM depends entirely on your specific use case, as the device is positioned as a budget-friendly entry point into the Mac ecosystem. For the target audience – students, teachers, and casual users – 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for general productivity. A significant concern regarding the 8GB capacity is its long-term viability. MacBook memory is not upgradeable after purchase. If you expect to keep your laptop for a long time, it is worth buying more RAM upfront if your budget allows. RAM recommendations by user type Casual users and students: 16GB recommended. 8GB is workable for very light use, but not ideal for longevity. Creative work and gaming: 24GB to 32GB is the safer target. Professionals and AI-heavy workflows: 48GB to 128GB, depending on workload. You can compare RAM options in the table below: MacBook ModelBase RAMMaximum RAMMacBook Neo8GB8GBMacBook Air (M5)16GB32GBMacBook Pro (M5)16GB32GBMacBook Pro (M5 Pro)24GB64GBMacBook Pro (M5 Max)36GB128GBCompare RAM allocation across Apple’s range of MacBooks. How much storage do you need for a MacBook? 256GB: Fine for cloud-first users with light local storage needs, but it can fill up quickly. 512GB: The better starting point for most people. It gives you more breathing room for apps, files, photos, and offline media. 1TB or more: Best for media professionals, developers with larger local workloads, or anyone who works with large files regularly. Determining the best storage capacity for a MacBook depends heavily on your specific workflow, as internal storage cannot be upgraded after purchase. While Apple previously offered 256GB as a baseline, most current models now start at 512GB or 1TB to accommodate the increasing space requirements of modern operating systems and applications. For most buyers, 512GB is the practical minimum if the budget allows. Experts now generally advise against 256GB drives for primary machines. Furthermore, SSDs can slow down significantly as they fill up. A common rule of thumb is to “buy at least twice the capacity of what you need to store” to maintain performance and account for drive wear. Storage (SSD) recommendations by user type Casual users and students: 512GB recommended. Sufficient for documents, web browsing, and light media use. General Productivity: 512GB to 1TB recommended. For users with moderate photo libraries and some video projects. Creative Professionals: 1TB to 2TB+ recommended. Necessary for 4K video editing, large high-resolution photo libraries, and professional audio suites. High-End Workflows: 4TB to 8TB recommended. For 3D animation, AI development, and massive video production projects. Is there a difference between SSDs in Apple’s MacBooks There are significant differences in SSD performance, capacity, and technology across the current MacBook lineup. In March 2026, Apple introduced faster storage technologies for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. The most notable differences lie in the read/write speeds, which vary based on the model’s processor and the physical capacity of the drive: MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max): The M5 Pro and Max models, released in March 2026, feature the fastest internal storage in the lineup. Apple claims these SSDs are up to twice as fast as the previous generation. MacBook Pro (M5): Apple also claimed the SSD in the M5 model, which launched in October 2025, delivers up to 2x faster read/write performance than the predecessors. MacBook Air (M5): The M5 MacBook Air also received a similar storage speed boost with the March 2026 update. MacBook Neo: The MacBook Neo uses a slower SSD to maintain its lower price point. Compare storage options in the table below: MacBook ModelBase StorageMaximum StorageMacBook Neo256GB512GBMacBook Air (M5)512GB4TBMacBook Pro (M5)1TB4TBMacBook Pro (M5 Pro)1TB8TBMacBook Pro (M5 Max)2TB8TBCompare SSD options for MacBooks. Which MacBook chip should you choose? Choosing the right MacBook chip in 2026 depends on your specific workflow, ranging from basic productivity to high-end professional creative work. Apple’s current lineup features the M5 family (M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max) and the budget-friendly A18 Pro. Apple’s MacBook chips currently fall into four clear tiers. A18 Pro: Best for basic users who want the cheapest MacBook possible. M5: Best for general users, students, and office work. M5 Pro: Best for photographers, editors, programmers, and users with heavier workloads. M5 Max: Best for high-end creative work, large AI models, 3D production, and anyone who needs the most performance possible in a MacBook. See our Mac processor comparison to find out how different generations of Mac chips compared. Compare processor and GPU options in the table below: FeatureA18 Pro M5 M5 Pro M5 Max MacBooks(s)MacBook NeoMacBook Air & MacBook ProMacBook ProMacBook ProCPU Cores6-core10-coreUp to 18-core18-coreGPU Cores5-coreUp to 10-coreUp to 20-coreUp to 40-coreMax Memory8GB32GB48GB128GBPorts SupportUSB 2/3Thunderbolt 4Thunderbolt 5Thunderbolt 5ArchitectureMobile-classStandard SoCFusion (Dual-die)Fusion (Dual-die)Best ForBudget choice for students & basic tasksMainstream choice for general consumersSoftware development, 4K video editing, photo editing Extreme processing power, massive memory capacityCompare chip options for MacBook Air, Neo and Pro. FAQ 1. Is a MacBook Air powerful enough? Yes. For most people, the MacBook Air is more than powerful enough for everyday work, school, multitasking, web use, and light creative tasks. 2. Which MacBook lasts the longest? For battery life, the MacBook Pro models lead the lineup, with 24 hours of playback. 3. Should I buy a refurbished MacBook? A refurbished MacBook can be a good value, especially if you buy Apple silicon rather than Intel. Just make sure the price gap is meaningful and the machine still has enough life left to justify the purchase. 4. Is a MacBook worth it compared to a Windows laptop? That depends on your priorities, but MacBooks are often worth it for buyers who want strong battery life, premium build quality, excellent trackpads, and tight integration with the Apple ecosystem. 5. How long will a MacBook last? The typical lifespan of a MacBook is generally between five and eight years, though this depends heavily on a combination of hardware durability and ongoing software support . While the physical components are built to last, Apple eventually classifies older models as “vintage” or “obsolete,” which limits your ability to get official repairs and parts. Find out more here: How long do MacBooks last: Lifespan, support and when to upgrade. Why you can trust Macworld Macworld has been covering everything Apple related since our first issue which arrived alongside the original Mac in 1984. Nobody knows Apple better, except probably Apple, but the difference is that we are completely impartial. We are made up of a team of experts with decades of experiences with Macs and other Apple products, and between us we have reviewed every Apple product meaning we are uniquely positioned to provide buying advice. Which MacBook should you buy Most people should buy the MacBook Air because it offers the best balance of performance, battery life, portability, and price. Choose the MacBook Pro if you regularly edit video, compile code, create 3D work, or run other demanding professional software. Choose the MacBook Neo if your budget is tight and your needs are basic, but be aware of the compromises.05:53 pmiOS 26.4 upgrades one of my most-used Control Center features in a big way
iOS 26.4 is launching soon, headlined by many new features in Apple Music. There’s also a music-related improvement to Control Center in iOS 26.4: Shazam song recognition will now work even when you’re offline. more…05:43 pmiOS 26.4 Fixes iPhone Keyboard Accuracy Bug
The iOS 26.4 update that Apple plans to release as soon as next week includes improvements for the built-in iOS keyboard. In its notes for the software, Apple says iOS 26.4 offers "improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly." It's not entirely clear what Apple means by improved keyboard accuracy, but it's likely a fix for an iOS keyboard bug that was highlighted on YouTube late last year. When typing some words, the autocorrect keyboard sometimes inexplicably inputs the wrong letter even though the user typed the correct letter, leading to typos. The YouTube video pointing out the issue received over a million views, and it was also further publicized by news sites. There were thousands of comments from people experiencing the problem. It sounds like iOS 26.4 addresses the root issue, preventing the keyboard from inserting the wrong letter when the user is typing quickly. If you've experienced issues with the iOS keyboard that have been fixed in iOS 26.4, let us know in the comments below.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:42 pmPerplexity's Comet AI-powered browser arrives on iPhone with a new surfing paradigm
After hitting the Mac earlier, Perplexity's Comet browser is now on iPhone and focuses on using AI to summarize and extract information instead of relying on tabs, surfing, and search results.Perplexity search interfaceThe release follows a short prelaunch period with App Store listings and a March window. It builds on earlier versions on Mac and other platforms that positioned Comet closer to an AI interface than a conventional browser.On iPhone, the focus shifts toward working with the information contained instead of just rendering pages. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:40 pmAmazon is blowing out remaining Apple Watch Ultra 2 inventory at $499
Amazon is clearing out remaining Apple Watch Ultra 2 inventory, with a new record-low price in effect thanks to a $300 discount.Save $300 on remaining Apple Watch Ultra 2 styles at Amazon - Image credit: AppleThe $499 deal at Amazon delivers the lowest price ever on the last-gen 49mm wearable with a titanium case.Buy Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $499 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:40 pmWhy rent cloud storage? Own 2TB for life for just $76.
This user-friendly platform makes it simple for anyone to manage their digital assets. Save on a 2TB lifetime FileJump cloud storage plan. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:27 pmApple highlights 13 enhancements coming to iPhone with iOS 26.4
Apple has released the first iOS 26.4 RC build, highlighting 13 enhancements coming to your iPhone, and that means three things. more…05:23 pmRC builds of iOS 26.4, macOS 26.4 arrive as release draws near
Apple's first RC builds for 26.4 have surfaced, with the new builds of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4 out as the release to the public gets closer.Apple's hardware that works with the 26-generation operating systems - Image Credit: AppleThe release candidate builds for iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 arrive after the fourth developer betas, which were brought on on March 9. The third landed on March 2 for most, March 3 for macOS.The second round appeared on February 23, and the first round arrived on February 16. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:18 pmApple debuts RC for tvOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, and more
Beta testers, the RC (Release Candidate) versions of tvOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, and more are now available. Here’s what to expect. more…05:17 pmApple Releases watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4 and visionOS 26.4 Release Candidates
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4 and visionOS 26.4 updates for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the fourth betas. Release candidates are the final updates that will be provided to the public in the near future if no final bugs are discovered. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device. tvOS 26.4 and watchOS 26.4 are available to public beta testers and developers, while visionOS 26.4 is limited to developers. watchOS 26.4 adds a new Average Bedtime metric to the sleep features that sync to the health app, so you can better keep an eye on how bedtime impacts overall sleep quality. tvOS 26.4 eliminates the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps on the Apple TV. These apps haven't worked for some time and have directed users to the Apple TV app for purchases, but Apple is finally phasing them out entirely. Apple also added a Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output. visionOS 26.4 includes support for foveated streaming for apps and games. Foveated streaming allows video to be streamed to the precise area where a user is looking, and peripheral areas are compressed. It allows for higher visual quality and lower latency.Related Roundups: Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, watchOS 26Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy), Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, Apple Vision Pro, Apple WatchThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:16 pmPSA: Spotify investigating outage that’s kicking users off their plans
If you’re having trouble accessing Spotify this afternoon, you’re not alone. The streaming music service has confirmed an ongoing issue causing some listeners to be kicked off their subscription. more…05:15 pmmacOS Tahoe 26.4 Release Candidate Now Available
Apple today provided the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.4 update to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple seeded the fourth beta. The release candidate represents the final version of macOS Tahoe 26.4 that will be provided to the public if no additional bugs are found. Developers and public beta testers. can download the macOS Tahoe 26.4 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required. macOS Tahoe 26.4 adds a new Charge Limit feature so Mac users can select a maximum charge level that ranges from 80 to 100 percent. Apple also brought back the Compact tab layout in Safari for those who missed the option in earlier versions of macOS Tahoe. Apple silicon Macs who are running apps that still rely on Rosetta will see warnings about the upcoming end of support for Rosetta. After macOS Tahoe 27, Apple will phase out Rosetta support, and all apps will need to be updated before that time. macOS Tahoe 26.4 will be released to the public in the spring after several weeks of beta testing.Related Roundup: macOS TahoeRelated Forum: macOS TahoeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:14 pmmacOS 26.4 RC now available for developers
Following last week’s rollout of beta 4, Apple is now rolling out the macOS 26.4 Release Candidate. Here’s what to expect. more…05:11 pmApple Seeds iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 Release Candidates
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of upcoming iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming a week after Apple provided the fourth betas. The release candidate represents the final version of iOS 26.4 that will be provided to the public if no additional bugs are found. Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 add multiple new features to the iPhone and the iPad. A Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music lets you generate songs for any idea, mood, emotion, or activity using a text-based prompt. There's also a Concerts Near You feature for finding local shows, and a redesigned look for albums and playlists with full-page artwork. Apple Podcasts is getting native video podcasting capabilities that will make it easier to create, distribute, and monetize video podcast content through the Podcasts app. Video episodes will integrate with existing Apple podcasts features, like personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions. There are new emoji characters in iOS 26.4, including trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca, and landslide. Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default, there's a new ambient music widget, new average bedtime metrics in the sleep app, and plenty more. All of the features in iOS 26.4 can be found in our iOS 26.4 beta features guide. Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:11 pmSome R2 assets incomplete on 206 responses
Mar 18, 17:11 UTCInvestigating - Some R2 customers may experience incomplete assets and broken connections during 206 responses05:11 pmApple releases iOS 26.4 RC for iPhone with upcoming features
The first iOS 26.4 release candidate is now available. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including new emoji and AI-powered Apple Music updates. more…05:10 pmiPadOS 26.4 RC available now, and public launch soon
Apple just shipped the RC (Release Candidate) version of iPadOS 26.4 for testing, which means the public launch is coming very soon. Here are the details. more…05:09 pmiPhone 18 Pro models expected to get exclusive camera upgrade
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just six months from launch, and fresh rumors point to at least one significant camera… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.05:05 pmDemanding spatial apps can now stream directly to Vision Pro
Nvidia CloudXR for visionOS can handle graphically intensive games, sims and 3D apps for use with the Vision Pro headset. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:59 pmThis clever 4-port Twelve South charger that never gets lost is $50 off today
Macworld Twelve South PlugBug, 120W View Deal There are plenty of chargers out there, but this is the only one that checks off all of these boxes: Four USB-C ports, downward-facing ports for neat cable management, 120W of power, and FindMy support. Now available for $70 you can save $50 on its usual $120 MSRP. As we mentioned, this charger comes with four USB-C ports that should be more than enough to charge all your gadgets at once, including your iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. You’ll also get dynamic power allocation, so power will be split between all ports when multiple are in use. If all four ports are in use, for instance, one of them will cap at 50W, while the others will deliver less power. When only one of them is in use, all the 120W will be delivered through it. Either way, your gadgets will get charged in no time. The beautiful part about the Twelve South PlugBug is that it comes with a slim and compact design and downward-facing ports, which make for a neat look. When you’re traveling, the foldable prongs will be super helpful too, as they won’t snag on things or scratch your tech. And the coolest part is that the charger comes with built-in Apple Find My integration so you’ll never have to worry about losing it while traveling. Don’t miss out on the chance to get this 4-port Twelve South PlugBug charger for $70.04:53 pmYUL (Montréal) on 2026-03-20
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 20, 08:00 - 12:00 UTCMar 18, 16:26 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in YUL (Montréal) datacenter on 2026-03-20 between 08:00 and 12:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.04:48 pmApple releases first Background Security Improvements patch for iPhone and Mac
Apple updated iOS, macOS and iPadOS with a Background Security Improvements patch, the first time a new system has been used. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:45 pmiPhone 18 rumors say Pro models will get exclusive camera upgrade
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are just six months away, and rumors indicate they’ll get at least one camera upgrade that’s exclusive to the Pro line. more…04:39 pmThis severe and international iPhone hack is the best reason to update to iOS 26.3 yet | AppleInsiderThis severe and international iPhone hack is the best reason to update to iOS 26.3 yet
A sophisticated iPhone hacking technique and surveillance campaign ran rampant internationally for months, prior to a patch in iOS 26.3.iPhone AirA new and severe attack vector focused on iPhones paired two different vulnerabilities into one. The "DarkSword" attack started with malicious web content in Safari, and ended with full kernel control, allowing attackers to break out of browser protections and access core parts of the system.With that level of access, attackers can read messages and stored data, track location, access photos and files, and potentially activate the microphone or camera. In practice, it gives near-complete visibility into the device and the user's activity. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:39 pmPerplexity AI ‘Comet’ browser for iPhone now available
Last summer, Perplexity launched one of the first AI-focused web browsers with Comet on the Mac. Now, the long promised iOS counterpart to Comet is available. more…04:35 pmM4 iPad Air vs. M5 iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: 40+ Differences Compared
Apple recently updated the iPad Air, narrowing the gap with the iPad Pro, but how different are the two product lines and which should you buy? Apple has now refreshed the iPad Air with the M4 chip, representing a small update over the previous model from 2025, which introduced the M3 chip. While the upgrade brings improved performance and efficiency, it does not significantly alter the feature set or overall positioning of the iPad Air within the lineup. By contrast, the iPad Pro continues to sit at the top of Apple's tablet range, now equipped with the latest M5 chip. This update builds on the major redesign introduced in 2024, which brought a substantially thinner and lighter design, tandem OLED display technology, and a range of high-end features aimed at professional workflows. The latest revision focuses more on internal improvements, particularly in GPU performance and AI acceleration, rather than introducing major new capabilities. M4 vs. M5 Chip Buyer's Guide: How Much Better Really Is M5? As a result, the gap between the iPad Air and iPad Pro is now less about general performance and more about specific features and use cases. The iPad Air delivers much of the same core experience at a lower price point, while the iPad Pro differentiates itself with its display technology, advanced hardware capabilities, and additional headroom for demanding tasks. Should you consider purchasing the iPad Air to save money, or do you need the high-end features of the iPad Pro? Our guide answers the question of how to decide which of these two iPads is best for you. iPad Air (M4, 2026) iPad Pro (M5, 2025) Liquid Retina display (LED backlit display with IPS technology) Ultra Retina XDR display (Tandem OLED) ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz 11-inch model SDR brightness: 500 nits max 13-inch model SDR brightness: 600 nits max SDR brightness: 1,000 nits max XDR brightness: 1,000 nits max full screen, 1,600 nits peak (HDR content only) Nano-texture display glass option on 1TB and 2TB models Drive external displays at 60Hz Drive external displays at up to 120Hz Adaptive Sync support M4 chip M5 chip Made using TSMC's enhanced 3nm technology (N3E) Made using TSMC's third-generation 3nm process (N3P) Based on iPhone 16's A18 chip (2024) Based on A19 Pro chip from iPhone 17 Pro (2025) 8-core CPU (3 performance + 5 efficiency cores) Up to 10 CPU cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores) 9-core GPU 10-core GPU Integrated Neural Accelerator in every GPU core Metal 4 developer APIs Metal 4 developer APIs with Tensor APIs to program GPU Neural Accelerators 12GB memory 256GB and 512GB models: 12GB memory 1TB and 2TB models: 16GB memory 120 GB/s unified memory bandwidth 153 GB/s unified memory bandwidth Second-generation ray tracing engine Third-generation ray tracing engine First-generation dynamic caching Second-generation dynamic caching Shader cores Enhanced shader cores GPU with standard power efficiency More power-efficient GPU: Maintains performance with significantly less power Improved thermal design with graphite sheets and copper Touch ID in top button TrueDepth camera system for Face ID Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono) Animoji and Memoji LiDAR scanner Adaptive True Tone flash Rear ambient light sensor ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps (1080p at 30 fps for 256GB capacity) ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording Two microphones Four studio-quality microphones Audio zoom Stereo recording Landscape stereo speakers Four speaker audio Weight: 462 grams or 617 grams Weight 444 grams or 579 grams Depth: 6.1 mm Depth: 5.3 mm or 5.1 mm Fast-charge capable (Up to 50% charge using a 60W adapter or higher in 30 minutes with the 11-inch model or 35 minutes with the 13-inch model) USB‑C connector USB‑C connector with support for Thunderbolt/USB 4 Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad Air Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage Up to 2× faster SSD read and write speeds Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Blue Available in Space Black and Silver Price starting at $599 Price starting at $999 Overall, the iPad Air is the better option for the majority of users, simply on the basis of value for money. For most people, the additional $400+ needed to buy the iPad Pro is not justified to get the likes of Face ID, a thinner design, four-speaker audio, and a ProMotion OLED display with refresh rates up to 120Hz. One of the more significant changes in recent years is that performance is no longer the primary differentiator between the iPad Air and iPad Pro. With the M4 chip, the iPad Air already delivers a level of CPU performance that is effectively indistinguishable from the Pro in most real-world tasks. The remaining gap is increasingly concentrated in GPU-bound workloads, AI acceleration, and display technology, rather than general responsiveness or app performance. Some iPad Pro features, such as LiDAR, up to 16GB of memory, and Thunderbolt connectivity are only practically useful to a small niche of users and most will never use some of these high-end capabilities. Many features, such as Adaptive Sync and Audio zoom, will not be meaningfully utilized by many users. Many users who choose the iPad Pro are effectively paying for experiential enhancements rather than functional necessity. Professionals who have a clear use case for needing larger amounts of RAM and storage, a matte display, Thunderbolt connectivity, and OLED for HDR content will clearly benefit from buying the iPad Pro. That being said, "prosumer"-style customers who simply want the best iPad will enjoy features such as 120Hz ProMotion for smoother scrolling and gaming, a thinner design, deeper blacks and more vivid colors with the OLED display, and the Adaptive True Tone flash for document scanning, even if they are not strictly necessary. Beyond these individual circumstances, the iPad Air is the best value for money and will be more than ample for most users' needs. With the iPad Air, users can get a modern all-screen design, the highly capable M4 chip, practical features like USB-C and 5G connectivity, and compatibility with the core Apple accessories for a price well below that of the iPad Pro. Related Roundups: iPad Air , iPad ProBuyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now), iPad Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:31 pmYour iPhone and Mac might have updated overnight. Here’s why
Macworld Apple has released an update to iOS 26.3.1, iPadOS 26.3.1, macOS 26.3.1, and macOS 26.3.2 (currently a MacBook Neo-only version). The update is part of Apple’s Background Security Improvements feature in its newest operating systems, which used to be called Rapid Security Responses. The update doesn’t appear in Software Update. According to an Apple support document, the update contains a single fix for a WebKit vulnerability (WebKit is the engine used by Safari and other software with web access). The vulnerability involves WebKit’s same-origin policy, which is a mechanism that manages how data is used based on the origin of a website. A malicious user could figure out a way to bypass WebKit’s SOP, but the update fixes that. The vulnerability was documented as CVE-2026-20643 in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database. The update has been labeled iOS 26.3.1 (a), iPadOS 26.3.1 (a), macOS 26.3.1 (a), and macOS 26.3.2 (a) by Apple. It appears in Settings/System Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, and you can manually install it here if it hasn’t been installed already. If you’ve opted to automatically install regular software updates, Background Security Improvements will also be set to automatically install, but you can change the toggle here as well. Adam Boynton of Jamf, a software company specializing in device management and security, issued a statement regarding the update: “For organizations, it’s crucial to ensure this update is issued immediately, as any postponements will leave devices and operations vulnerable. More importantly, users should set updates to be issued automatically, so there’s no window for attackers to exploit.” Background Security Improvements are updates that Apple issues between its regular update cycle. They are usually security patches that Apple wants to issue immediately without waiting weeks or months for a regular software update.04:23 pmI don’t get it, I copied my bank account number correctly, what the f*** am I supposed to do? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI don’t get it, I copied my bank account number correctly, what the f*** am I supposed to do?
submitted by /u/Sweet_Brief6914 [link] [comments]04:22 pmCloudflare Analytics degraded in US region
Mar 18, 16:22 UTCInvestigating - Users of GraphQL API may experience issues reaching certain datasets in US region. The team is investigating the issue with the underlying platform. Data might be delayed.04:21 pmApple Blocking VideCode Apps
submitted by /u/mksreddy [link] [comments]04:06 pmAirPods Max 3 rumored for 2027 with lighter-weight design
This week, Apple finally unveiled the proper successor to its original over-ear headphones: AirPods Max 2. Powered by the H2 chip… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:51 pmGoTo Webinar, GoTo Training and GoTo Meeting- Issue starting sessions
Mar 18, 15:51 UTCIdentified - Our engineers have identified the issue and are now actively working towards a resolution.We will provide another update shortly.Mar 18, 15:37 UTCInvestigating - We are actively investigating reports that some GoTo Webinar customers may be experiencing an issue starting sessions. Our engineers are working to identify the issue and will provide another update shortly.03:33 pmMatic Robots vacuum/mop adds Apple Home support, here’s how it works
I’ve been testing a robot vacuum and mop from Matic Robots for several months now. It’s a solid product built on privacy and intelligence. I’ll share more about my overall experience with Matic in the future. For now, I want to quickly highlight an exciting update that rolled out overnight: Apple Home integration. more…03:33 pmDeals: AirPods Pro 3 $50 off, M4 MacBook Air $300 off, MacBook Neo + $50 credit, M3 iPad Air $200 off, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: AirPods Pro 3 $50 off, M4 MacBook Air $300 off, MacBook Neo + $50 credit, M3 iPad Air $200 off, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by one of the best prices to date now live on AirPods Pro 3 down at $200 alongside the return of Apple’s 24GB M4 MacBook Air models at $300 off. We also spotted Best Buy doubling down with FREE $50 credits on new MacBook Neo purchases for members, alongside Apple’s most affordable current-gen iPad at $299 and M3 iPad Air models at $200 off the original list prices. Head below for a closer look. more…03:30 pmToday in Apple history: Steve Jobs gets hitched
On March 18, 1991, Steve Jobs married 27-year-old Laurene Powell. They had three children together and remained married until his death. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:18 pmWhatsApp Replaces Settings Icon With New Profile Tab
WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned tab bar on iOS that swaps out the familiar Settings gear icon for a new "You" tab featuring your profile photo. The change is arriving with version 26.10.73, which is now available on the App Store. The tab itself still opens the same account and privacy controls. The main reason for the switch is that Meta is laying the groundwork for multi-account support. Meta has been developing multi-account functionality for WhatsApp for some time, and the profile tab is a clear step toward that goal. The idea is that users will eventually be able to manage separate personal and business profiles from a single device, tapping the profile icon to switch between them. In that sense, showing your profile picture in the navigation bar makes it immediately obvious which account is active – an approach that appears to have been borrowed straight from Instagram. Image credit: WABetaInfo WhatsApp is also testing a default cover photo banner at the top of the profile page, but users can't customize it yet. Not every user will see the change right away. WhatsApp's feature rollouts are typically gradual, so don't be surprised if your Settings gear hangs around a little while longer.Tag: WhatsAppThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:13 pmCan’t build to device – anyone having problems with xcode today?
Just stopped working, I've been trying to re-pair the device and build for the past 20 mins and keep seeing weird errors. Version 26.0.1 (17A400) — (not sure why, should I switch to a non beta version?) submitted by /u/OptimismNeeded [link] [comments]03:05 pmAirPods Max 2 are here, but rumors say a bigger overhaul might be coming
Apple unveiled AirPods Max 2 earlier this week, with lots of new features to entice upgrades from prior AirPods Max models. If you’re on the fence about AirPods Max 2, you should know that another new model might be coming next year. more…03:02 pmJudge rules Apple can remove apps from App Store ‘with or without cause,’ dismissing Musi lawsuit | Mac Daily NewsJudge rules Apple can remove apps from App Store ‘with or without cause,’ dismissing Musi lawsuit
A federal judge has ruled in Apple's favor in a lawsuit brought by the developers of Musi, a popular free music streaming app that pulled… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:00 pmApple Can Delist Apps 'With Or Without Cause,' Judge Says In Loss For Musi App
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Musi, a free music streaming app that had tens of millions of iPhone downloads and garnered plenty of controversy over its method of acquiring music, has lost an attempt to get back on Apple's App Store. A federal judge dismissed Musi's lawsuit against Apple with prejudice and sanctioned Musi's lawyers for "mak[ing] up facts to fill the perceived gaps in Musi's case." Musi built a streaming service without striking its own deals with copyright holders. It did so by playing music from YouTube, writing in its 2024 lawsuit against Apple that "the Musi app plays or displays content based on the user's own interactions with YouTube and enhances the user experience via Musi's proprietary technology." Musi's app displayed its own ads but let users remove them for a one-time fee of $5.99. Musi claimed it complied with YouTube's terms, but Apple removed it from the App Store in September 2024. Musi does not offer an Android app. Musi alleged that Apple delisted its app based on "unsubstantiated" intellectual property claims from YouTube and that Apple violated its own Developer Program License Agreement (DPLA) by delisting the app. Musi was handed a resounding defeat yesterday in two rulings from US District Judge Eumi Lee in the Northern District of California. Lee found that Apple can remove apps "with or without cause," as stipulated in the developer agreement. Lee wrote (PDF): "The plain language of the DPLA governs because it is clear and explicit: Apple may 'cease marketing, offering, and allowing download by end-users of the [Musi app] at any time, with or without cause, by providing notice of termination.' Based on this language, Apple had the right to cease offering the Musi app without cause if Apple provided notice to Musi. The complaint alleges, and Musi does not dispute, that Apple gave Musi the required notice. Therefore, Apple's decision to remove the Musi app from the App Store did not breach the DPLA." Read more of this story at Slashdot.02:53 pmUS SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 31, 02:00 - 04:00 PDTMar 18, 07:44 PDTUpdate - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting a planned maintenance from 31 March 2026 at 02:00 PDT until 31 March 2026 at 04:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets when sending via long codes and short codes.Mar 18, 07:38 PDTScheduled - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting a planned maintenance from 31 March 2026 at 02:00 PDT until 31 March 2026 at 04:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets when sending via long codes and short codes.02:44 pmI’ve released my app the 2026-02-22 and don’t know if advertising it is worth it or not | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI’ve released my app the 2026-02-22 and don’t know if advertising it is worth it or not
I've made $2 out of 375 users (the third one is a friend who didn't use his free code) and my conversion rate completely collapsed when I turned the app from $.99 to a free model with an in-app purchase (at least, people downloaded the app for free when it was free). Is it a […]02:39 pmiPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the screen on the devices, which will result in merely a smaller Dynamic Island. Below, we have recapped eight features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of March 2026:Red Color: The special color for the iPhone 18 Pro models will reportedly be red. Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that Face ID's flood illuminator will be moved under the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro models, paving the way for a smaller Dynamic Island on the devices. 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch Display Sizes: The next Pro models are expected to have the same overall design as the iPhone 17 Pro models, including 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras. LTPO+ Displays: More power-efficient displays could contribute to longer battery life. Variable Aperture: The main 48-megapixel Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models is rumored to have a variable aperture, which would allow users to control the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. This would provide greater control over depth of field. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to smartphone size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be. A20 Pro Chip: Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip is expected to use TSMC's first-generation 2nm process, whereas the A19 Pro chip is 3nm. With a 2nm architecture and a new packaging design, the A20 Pro chip should deliver solid year-over-year performance and power efficiency gains. C2 Modem: Apple's custom C1 cellular modem for 5G and LTE debuted in the iPhone 16e last year, and that was followed by a C1X chip in the iPhone Air. Apple says the C1X modem is up to twice as fast as the C1 modem, and the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone ever. The improvements should continue with Apple's third-generation C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models. N2 Chip: Most of the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air are equipped with an Apple-designed N1 chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Apple says the N1 chip also improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to have Apple's next-generation N2 chip, but it is not yet known what improvements would come with this upgrade.These are only some of the changes planned for the iPhone 18 Pro models, with others outlined in our iPhone 18 roundup, including these four:A simplified Camera Control button with no swipe gestures. Design changes to the rear Ceramic Shield for MagSafe charging, potentially including a more frosted glass appearance. Web browsing via satellite. The iPhone 18 Pro Max may be slightly thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, perhaps to accommodate a larger battery.Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone in September, followed by a standard iPhone 18 model, a lower-end iPhone 18e, and potentially a second-generation iPhone Air early next year.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums02:23 pmPMO (Palermo) on 2026-03-24
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 24, 09:00 - 17:00 UTCMar 18, 13:54 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in PMO (Palermo) datacenter on 2026-03-24 between 09:00 and 17:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.02:23 pmIAH (Houston) on 2026-03-18
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 18, 14:30 UTC - Mar 19, 10:00 UTCMar 18, 14:20 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in IAH (Houston) datacenter between 2026-03-18 14:30 and 2026-03-19 10:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.02:16 pmBad vibes: Apple blocks updates for some AI coding apps in the App Store
Apple is clamping down on apps with AI vibe coding capabilities listed in the App Store, preventing the rapid creation of apps that don't pass through the App Store Review process.Vibe coding is OK in Xcode, but not in some apps in the App StoreVibe coding has become a phenomenon that enables non-coders the ability to create apps, by harnessing AI. However, while making apps is now much easier for the uninitiated, Apple is working to prevent some forms of vibe coding from taking place.In an investigation by The Information published on Wednesday, Apple has blocked coding apps including Replit and Vibecode from receiving updates in the App Store. The move is seemingly temporary, as Apple wants modifications to be made to the apps. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:15 pmApple One is better than ever, here are my favorite recent additions
Apple One bundles together popular Apple services at a discount, and it continues becoming a better value all the time thanks to new improvements for each service. Here are some of my favorite recent Apple One additions. more…02:05 pmAmazon Big Spring Sale Introduces Early Discounts on Popular Accessories
Amazon's annual Big Spring Sale will kick off one week from today, on Wednesday, March 25, but ahead of that event the retailer is already discounting a wide array of popular accessories. Below we're tracking deals on monitors, headphones, iPhone and desktop accessories, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Highlights include Samsung's 32-inch Smart Monitor M9 for $1,299.99, which is $300 off and a match of the all-time low price on the monitor. We're also tracking discounts on unique products like the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 for $119.99 ($30 off) and Satechi FindAll Wallet Card for $29.98 ($5 off). $30 OFFAnker Prime 3-in-1 Foldable Charging Station for $119.99 $300 OFFSamsung Smart Monitor M9 for $1,299.99Monitors 32-inch Samsung Odyssey Curved Gaming Monitor - $267.99, down from $329.99 27-inch LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor - $319.99, down from $499.99 27-inch ASUS ProArt 4K Display - $349.00, down from $429.00 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 Gaming Monitor - $474.00, down from $549.99 32-inch Samsung Smart Monitor M9 - $1,299.99, down from $1,599.99 Wall Chargers Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger - $29.99, down from $39.99 UGREEN Nexode 100W GaN USB-C Charger - $42.99, down from $59.99 Anker 14-in-1 Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock - $339.99, down from $399.99 Wireless Chargers Anker 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible UFO Charger - $69.99, down from $89.99 Anker 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Foldable Charging Station - $85.99, down from $109.99 Anker 3-in-1 Prime Wireless Charging Station (NEW) - $119.99, down from $149.99 Anker Prime MagSafe-Compatible 3-in-1 Charging Station - $169.99, down from $229.99 Portable Chargers Anker MagGo Power Bank 10,000 mAh - $71.99, down from $89.99 Anker Prime Power Bank 26,250 mAh - $199.99, down from $229.99 Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $489.99, down from $799.00 Miscellaneous Satechi FindAll Wallet Card - $29.98, down from $34.99 Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 - $119.99, down from $149.99 Sonos Beam Gen 2 - $369.00, down from $499.00 Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Cancelling Headphones - $398, down from $459.00 If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums02:00 pmApple CEO Cook heads to China amid growing pressure on App Store policies
Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared at a company event in China on Wednesday, following the recent reduction in App Store fees for developers… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.Firehose II – Jobs, Deals, Apps
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