Firehose – News, Alerts, Docs
- Tuesday December 16
- 10:18 pmApple releases new Powerbeats Pro 2 firmware
Apple on Tuesday released new Powerbeats Pro 2 firmware, build version 8A359. Apple hasn't released official release notes… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.10:13 pmLast-minute holiday deals: Apple Watch Series 11 $299, iPad $279, Mac from $479
Holiday savings are at a fever pitch this week, as last-minute deals slash Apple gear by as much as $436.Save up to $436 on Apple products with last-minute holiday deals - Image credit: AppleThese deals deliver heavily discounted prices for the holiday season, with discounts on Apple hardware, monitors, and accessories. Here's a roundup of our top picks: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:06 pmLightBuddy is a new ring light Mac app with color control, HDR, and multi-display support | 9 to 5 MacLightBuddy is a new ring light Mac app with color control, HDR, and multi-display support
What happens when Apple sherlocks the idea of an app that you had a while ago? You build it anyway. more…09:56 pmApple's HomePod Mini 2 Might Not Get This Rumored Feature After All
The next-generation HomePod mini won't include Apple's new N1 networking chip, according to code analysis provided by a MacRumors tipster. A macOS kernel debug kit distributed by Apple earlier this year included information on a number of upcoming devices, including the HomePod mini 2. Code associated with the HomePod mini 2 mentions the "Sunrise" wireless system, which is what Apple calls Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chips sourced from MediaTek. The N1 is called "Centauri" in Apple's internal systems. Based on the Sunrise mention, it appears that the HomePod mini 2 won't be upgraded with the N1 networking chip, which contradicts some prior rumors we've heard about it. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that both the Apple TV and HomePod mini will use Apple's N1 chip in the past. It appears that Apple plans to use the N1 chip for premium devices, while entry-level products will stick with cheaper MediaTek hardware for now. The upcoming HomePod mini 2, the iPhone 17e, the iPad 12, and the A18 Pro MacBook are all expected to use MediaTek chips instead of Apple's chip. The N1 was introduced in the iPhone 17 models, and it is Apple's first in-house networking chip. It supports Bluetooth 6, Wi-Fi 7, and Thread. Because it was designed by Apple, it better integrates with other hardware and software in Apple devices, leading to improved efficiency and reliability.Related Roundup: HomePod miniBuyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums09:54 pmApp developers escalate EU fight over Apple's App Store fees
A coalition of developers has petitioned the European Commission, saying Apple's revised App Store fees continue to disadvantage EU apps.Image credit: Coalition for App FairnessOn Tuesday, 20 app developers and consumer groups have petitioned the European Commission in an attempt to knock down Apple's commission fees even further. They argue that the fee structure puts their apps at a disadvantage compared to their U.S. rivals.The Coalition for Apps Fairness (CAF) is made up of companies, including Astropad, Epic Games, Masimo, Life360, Proton, Spotify, and more. Many of these companies have waged war on Apple both on and off U.S. soil. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:53 pmUnited States SMS Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Dec 17, 23:00 PST - Dec 18, 03:00 PSTDec 16, 13:30 PSTScheduled - Our SMS carrier partner in the United States is conducting a planned maintenance from 17 December 2025 at 23:00 PST until 18 December 2025 at 03:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to and from United States handsets via subset of United States short codes.09:48 pmX counters Operation Bluebird’s bid to claim the Twitter trademark
In response to a recent trademark petition claiming X had abandoned the Twitter name, the company updated its Terms of Service today, in an apparent effort to preempt the filing. Here are the details. more…09:37 pmSoo my app is getting review bombed… got a review yesterday that my app is “AI Slop” and that it “always crashes” but Crashlytics/Apple don’t show any crashes & I just saw an email with the same name of the review create an account today… | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingSoo my app is getting review bombed… got a review yesterday that my app is “AI Slop” and that it “always crashes” but Crashlytics/Apple don’t show any crashes & I just saw an email with the same name of the review create an account today…
I don’t know if it was from posting on here or it’s another competitor app but I have been getting reviews bombed on the AppStore the past 2 days which has been killing my mood. I’m a 10+ year iOS dev and put a lot of late nights into making my app because I find […]09:30 pmWavlink Thunderbolt 5 Dock review: Affordable fast Thunderbolt plus handy power options
Macworld At a glance Pros 12 ports, including four Thunderbolt 5 2.5Gb Ethernet 30W USB-C at front 230W Power Delivery Affordable Cons Upstream port at front Four USB-A but no USB-C Our Verdict As a dual-display dock with a handy bunch of top-rated ports the Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station is great value for money for 80Gbps speed and power. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$299.99 Best Prices Today: WAVLINK Thunderbolt 5 Dock Retailer Price $256.49 View Deal Wavlink $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station is a full docking station with 12 ports, including a full four 80Gbps Thunderbolt 4 and 2.5Gb Ethernet, available at an affordable price. It features a decent rack of high-end ports, and looks fancy, too. Even if your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) rather than Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) connectivity, buying the newer faster standard will future proof your purchase. Backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and 4, TB5 features the fastest 80Gbps bandwidth (up to 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost for unidirectional video) plus smart device daisy-chaining and super-fast storage connectivity. Foundry Specs and features One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W) Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) One downstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 30W) Four USB-A ports (10Gbps) Ethernet (2.5Gb) UHS-II SD Card reader (312MBps) UHS-II MicroSD Card reader (312MBps) 3.5mm audio jack 230W power supply As well as its upstream Thunderbolt 5 port that connects to your laptop, there are three downstream TB5 ports that connect to other devices such as monitors or storage drives: one is at the front with the upstream TB5 port, and two are at the back. Simon Jary Wavlink’s Thunderbolt 4 dock had just one downstream TB4 port as it sacrificed two possible Thunderbolt ports for dedicated HDMI 2.1 ports. With this new model, Wavlink ditches the video ports to give you the choice of which TB ports to use to connect to monitors either via a direct USB-C connection or using USB-C to DisplayPort or USB-C to HDMI adapter cables. This gives you flexibility, and if connecting two screens we expect you’ll choose the two TB5 ports at the back. The downstream TB5 port at the front can output at 30W, which is easily enough to fast charge an iPhone or iPad. The two TB5 ports at the back can handle 15W each. The upstream TB5 port can output at 140W (PD 3.1), which is what you need to fast-charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro so is good for the whole range. The external power supply can provide up to 230W of power, which is a welcome boost from the company’s rather puny 160W TB4 dock. USB: Thunderbolt is backwards compatible with USB-C, which uses the same end connector, so any of the TB ports not being used to connect a monitor can be used for USB-C devices as well as speedy Thunderbolt. There are four speedy 10Gbps USB-A ports. USB-A has a place for legacy devices, but do we need four them at the expense of a spare USB-C or two? Simon Jary Ethernet: While WiFi is great for phone use, sometimes hooking up to the home or office wired network gives you faster and more stable downloads. Most local area networks (LANs) use 1Gb Ethernet, known as Gigabit Ethernet or 1GbE. Increasingly networks are moving to much faster 2.5GbE, 5GbE or even 10GbE. The Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Dock offers 2.5GbE, which is backwards compatible with 1GbE so even if you’re not yet on the faster network speed you’ll be ready for it when you do. Simon Jary Card readers: Although Apple’s MacBook Pro laptop includes a 250MBps card reader, having one on the dock is convenient. The Wavlink TB5 dock has two: one SD and one MicroSD, both at the fastest 312Mbps. These are nicely placed at the front for easy access. Such cards offer very affordable and extremely portable storage. At the time of writing you could get a 512GB SD card for under $50, although faster cards are pricier. Other ports: At the front there’s an anti-theft Kensington Security Slot (also called a K-Slot) and a combo 3.5mm In/Out audio jack. Display capabilities For most people the number one reason for buying a docking station is to easily add external screens to their laptop. Connect a cable from the dock to each monitor and you massively extend your screen real estate. While the dock can support up to three displays for Windows laptops, limitations in Apple’s setup limits you to just two, unless you install third-party software such as DisplayLink that can give you access to up to five external displays. Five! However, for three or more monitors the dock needs to support DisplayLink, and the Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Dock isn’t one of those. See our reviews of the best DisplayLink docks for options, but note that at the time of writing there were no Thunderbolt 5 DisplayLink docks. Your only solution for TB5 plus three displays without DisplayLink is the iVanky FusionDock Max 2, which has a nifty dual-chip arrangement that uses two of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports. The Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Dock supports up to two 6K at 60Hz displays for most M1/M2/M3 Pro/Max/ MacBooks or any M4/M5 models. These MacBooks could opt for a single 8K/60Hz display instead. Non-Pro/Max M1/M2/M3 MacBooks support single 4K or 6K monitors. DisplayLink is also useful if your MacBook is running one of those plain M1 or M2 processors as Apple further limits those laptops to a single display. That’s by the by as M1 MacBook owners are unlikely to be in the market for a Thunderbolt 5 dock, and it’s time we got back to the review. Simon Jary Design and build The Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Dock is a smart aluminum build with some futuristic cooling vents at the top. Underneath are silicone pads that raise the dock off the desk surface for stability and further cooling. I’m not a fan of having the upstream Thunderbolt port at the front of the dock as it’s the one cable you know will always be in use, so we prefer it hidden around the back. Ideally, given the choice I’d have all the Thunderbolt ports at the back and a spare USB-C port at the front for charging. But that’s not how Wavlink has laid out its ports. Still, having three downstream ports is more than some docking stations offer and we’re happy with that. Wavlink has included an on/off button, which is appreciated. Although Apple has made the MacBook clever enough to manage its power in a sensible fashion, I still like to turn off power to the laptop’s battery as I don’t want it constantly kept filled to 100% when I’m not using it. A power button means I don’t have to yank the cable out to break the power between the dock and the laptop when I’ve finished working. Price At $299.99 or £239.99, the Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Dock is priced below most Thunderbolt 5 docks. It shares the sub-$300 price point with the Plugable Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station, and has a similar array of ports, although it has one more and faster USB-A ports. The Wavlink also wins on a higher overall power supply: 230W vs 180W. The Plugable can stand either vertically or lie flat like the Wavlink and sensibly places the upstream TB5 port at the back. The Wavlink’s 30W front TB5 port beats the Plugable’s 15W front TB5 port. Otherwise, they are very similar In terms of tech specs. See our roundups of the best Thunderbolt docks for Mac for other comparable solutions. Should you buy the Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station? While its triple-monitor potential is muted on Macs—Apple’s limitation, not the dock’s—as a dual-display dock with a handy bunch of top-rated ports the Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station is great value for money for 80Gbps speed and power.09:28 pmwatchOS 26 upgraded Apple Watch’s most popular face in two ways
Apple Watch offers a wide collection of watch faces to choose from, but Apple says its most popular is the Photos face, which received two new features in watchOS 26. more…09:17 pmDJ ChatGPT will soon be in control of your Apple Music playlists
ChatGPT may soon help iPhone and Mac users in another way, with an upcoming integration potentially allowing the AI service to manage your Apple Music playlists.Apple Music playlists may soon be controlled by ChatGPTOpenAI's ChatGPT already provides users with many different services to benefit their digital lives. But as part of a larger expansion, it seems ChatGPT will soon be able to dictate what songs you listen to on Apple Music.A Tuesday Substack post by Fidji Simo, the CEO of Applications at OpenAI, discusses the ways that ChatGPT will improve image generation via a new dedicated entrypoint. In the latter sections, the post goes on to state that there will be an expansion of app support within ChatGPT. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:14 pmApple Watch leads Q3 shipments with 23% market share
Global smartwatch shipments rose 9% YoY in Q3 2025. Apple led the shipments with 23% market share, followed by Huawei with 17%… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:10 pmSMS Delivery Delays and Failures to MTN network in Nigeria
Dec 16, 13:10 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to MTN network in Nigeria. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hours or as soon as more information becomes available.09:06 pmiOS 26.2 expands AirPods Pro’s powerful new feature, here’s how to use it
iOS 26.2 launched last week, and among its many new features, AirPods Live Translation has expanded to more users. Here’s how to use AirPods’ powerful recent addition. more…09:01 pmSnoc Sms Delivery Delays to xphone network in Israel
Dec 16, 13:01 PSTUpdate - We are continuing to investigate this issue.Dec 16, 13:00 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to xPhone network. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.09:01 pmNext iPad Mini With OLED Display Now Rumored to Feature A20 Pro Chip
Apple's next-generation iPad mini will be equipped with an A20 Pro chip, according to a MacRumors tipster who analyzed a macOS kernel debug kit containing internal Apple codenames. The kit was accidentally released on Apple's website earlier this year, but it was quickly pulled after information started leaking out of it. A previous rumor indicated that the next iPad mini would be powered by the A19 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 17 Pro, but our tipster is confident the codenames actually point towards the device using an unreleased A20 Pro chip. We cannot say for sure whether the next iPad mini will use the A19 Pro or A20 Pro. It is possible that Apple initially tested a model with the A19 Pro, but the company's plans do change from time to time. If the iPad mini will next be updated in September or October of 2026, perhaps Apple ultimately decided to give it the A20 Pro. In September 2021, Apple introduced the A15 Bionic chip across the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPad mini all at once. But over the years, the iPad mini has not always received Apple's newest A-series chip at the time it was updated, so the A19 Pro cannot be entirely ruled out at this time. iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to use the A20 Pro chip, which will reportedly be fabricated with TSMC's advanced 2nm process. Other rumored features for the next iPad mini include an OLED display, a redesigned speaker system with vibration technology, and a water-resistant design. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the next iPad mini could be unveiled as early as next year. The current iPad mini was unveiled in October 2024, with key features including an A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support.Related Roundup: iPad miniBuyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:50 pmThese holidays, protect your whole family’s data for life with up to 62% off pCloud
It’s no coincidence that pCloud is based in Switzerland, which has the strictest laws in the world when it comes to personal data. This is one of the reasons the cloud storage service has over 22 million users worldwide. Now for a limited time, pCloud’s holiday deal lets you save up to 62% off its Family Lifetime 3in1 Bundle and all Family Lifetime plans. more…08:44 pmDevelopers say Apple’s EU App Store terms lag behind new U.S. court limits
While the European Commission has signaled that it may be satisfied with Apple’s proposed changes to comply with the Digital Markets Act, recent U.S. court rulings are leading a group of developers to press European regulators for tougher enforcement in the region. Here are the details. more…08:41 pmChatGPT Gets Apple Music Integration and New Image Generator
OpenAI added several new features to its flagship ChatGPT product today, introducing Apple Music support and upgraded image generation capabilities. ChatGPT has supported app integrations since earlier this year, and it will soon work with Apple Music. With Apple Music integration, ChatGPT will be able to make music recommendations and playlists based on listening history and user suggestions. Music recommendations made by ChatGPT will be able to be clicked to open the Apple Music app on desktop or on an iOS device. Apple Music is not available as an app integration just yet, but it is coming in the near future. Along with Apple Music support, ChatGPT now has better image generation capabilities. ChatGPT Images is able to generate images up to 4x faster, and can make precise edits to an image while preserving details. OpenAI says that ChatGPT can tweak only the details you want updated, keeping lighting, composition, and people's appearance consistent across inputs, outputs, and edits. The new model "excels" at adding, subtracting, combining, blending, and transposing for more realistic image creations using real photographs. It is better at adding text to images and altering layouts, and OpenAI says that it follows instructions more reliably than the prior-generation version. With the update, the ability to generate some specific art styles like anime has regressed and it is no longer as good at altering images featuring many people, but OpenAI says that using preset filters can help, and the previous version of the image generator remains available to use. ChatGPT Images, an image editing experience built into ChatGPT, includes dozens of preset styles and prompts that users can try out. It's available in the mobile app and on the web. The updated Images model is rolling out today for all ChatGPT users, as is the new Images experience built into ChatGPT. ChatGPT's new image functionality will allow it to better compete with Google's Nano Banana image generator.Tags: ChatGPT, OpenAIThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:19 pmGift Guide: Last-minute Apple gifts that arrive before Christmas
As holiday shopping enters the final stretch, it’s not too late to secure your favorite Apple gear. Whether you’re looking to score a new pair of AirPods Pro 3, new Apple accessories, or a MacBook Air, time is running out but you can still act quick. Head below for the official 9to5Mac last-minute gift guide. more…08:10 pmDon’t miss out — get a refurbished M1 MacBook Air for just $399.99
This grade-A refurbished MacBook Air with an M1 chip inside is on sale for just $399.99. It's a reliable Mac you can take with you anywhere. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)08:09 pmApple Celebrating World Meditation Day With December 21 Apple Watch Activity Challenge
Apple is hosting an Apple Watch Activity Challenge on Sunday, December 21 to honor World Meditation Day. The challenge will show up for Apple Watch owners starting on December 19. Apple first did a World Meditation Day Activity Challenge in May 2024, but later in 2024, the date of World Meditation Day was moved to December 21 by the United Nations General Assembly. December 21 coincides with the timing of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, marking a time when days are short and nights are long. Before 2024, World Meditation Day was informally observed on May 21, but it had not been officially designated as a UN-recognized international day. Apple Watch owners can earn the Meditation Day badge by recording five or more mindful minutes with the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to the Health app. Time to celebrate World Meditation Day! On December 21, record five mindful minutes or more with the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health to earn this special badge. Apple Watch owners who earn the Meditation Day award will unlock a dedicated badge in the Fitness app, and a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app. Back in October, Apple also did a similar Mindful Month Activity Challenge, bringing awareness to mental health, self care, meditation, and mindfulness.Tag: Activity ChallengeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:09 pmThe iPhone of Your Dreams is Reportedly Less Than Two Years Away
In line with previous rumors, The Information today reported that Apple is planning to release a special 20th-anniversary iPhone less than two years from now. The report said the device will have a seamless design, with a curved glass enclosure and no cutouts in the display. Apple is expected to move Face ID under the screen starting with the iPhone 18 Pro models next year, and the report said the 20th-anniversary iPhone will also feature an under-screen front camera. The publication said it could not yet learn if the display itself will curve around the edges, as shown in our conceptual mockup above. Nevertheless, it appears that Apple is working on a very ambitious design for the 20th-anniversary iPhone, much like the iPhone X was a game-changer for the iPhone's 10th-anniversary. At a minimum, the report said the 20th-anniversary iPhone will lack bezels around the screen for a true edge-to-edge experience. It said the device has only a "narrow metal band running around the midpoint of the device's edge, where the buttons sit." Many of these details were previously reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is expected to release the 20th-anniversary iPhone around September 2027, so it is still early, and the device's design could change. If these rumors pan out, though, the 20th-anniversary iPhone could be something out of a dream.Tags: 20th-Anniversary iPhone, The InformationThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums08:00 pmCode leak confirms Apple is building the M5 Max iMac Pro
Apple is reportedly working on a premium iMac equipped with the M5 Max chip, based on details uncovered in leaked internal software… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.07:51 pmDirect links to Zap runs returning 'Zap Not Found' error.
Status: MonitoringOur team discovered the cause of the 'Zap Run Not Found' error and have released a fix to resolve those errors from occurring. All Zaps continued to run during this incident. We will continue monitoring and post another update shortly. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to support: https://zapier.com/app/get-help07:50 pmGet Ready to Earn the 2026 New Year Apple Watch Activity Challenge Badge
Apple's next Apple Watch Activity Challenge will begin on Thursday, January 1, with Apple Watch users able to earn an award by closing all three rings for seven days in a row in January. Start the year strong and stay active! Earn this award by closing all three Activity rings for seven days in a row in January. Apple Watch owners will need to complete their stand, exercise, and move goals for seven days sequentially at any time during the month of January to get the New Year's award. It will show up for Apple Watch owners starting on December 28, and can be completed between January 7 and January 31. Like all of Apple's Activity Challenges, the New Year challenge will be accompanied by an award that can be viewed in the Fitness app as well as a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app. The Ring in the New Year Activity Challenge happens every January, and it is one of many Activity Challenges that Apple offers throughout the year to encourage people to meet their Fitness goals and stay active.Tag: Activity ChallengeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums07:49 pmiPhone 18 Expected to Fix a Major iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 Annoyance
All of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models are equipped with a Camera Control button that provides quick access to the Camera app and camera settings, but not everyone is a fan of it. Fortunately, though, Apple apparently plans to improve it. The Information today reported that Apple plans to remove touch sensitivity and haptic feedback from the Camera Control on the standard iPhone 18 model, which suggests that it will be removing the button's capacitive layer. The report did not say if this change will extend to the iPhone 18 Pro models, but it seems likely for consistency. A simplified Camera Control button for iPhone 18 models has been rumored previously. With this change, iPhone 18 users would not be able to swipe on the Camera Control, which is something many users have complained about doing by accident. The redesigned button would only have pressure sensitivity. The report said simplifying the Camera Control would reduce Apple's costs, but it seems quite likely that the company is also listening to customer feedback. Apple has already taken steps to give users more control over the Camera Control's behavior, including adding a "Require Screen On" setting in iOS 18.2. And when you set up a new iPhone, the swipe gestures are now turned off by default. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models next September, while the regular iPhone 18 model reportedly will not launch until spring 2027.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Tags: Camera Control, The InformationRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums07:45 pmMaster Mac screenshots: Every shortcut and trick you need to know
The Mac offers many options for taking screenshots or screen recordings without third-party apps. Here's how to take a Mac screenshot. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)07:43 pmApple releases new Powerbeats Pro 2 firmware update
Powerbeats Pro 2 just got new firmware from Apple, here are the details and instructions on how to update. more…07:39 pmApple Music is coming to ChatGPT, OpenAI announces
Soon, you’ll be able to ask ChatGPT to quickly create Apple Music playlists, among other things. Here’s why. more…07:38 pmApple announces 2026 ‘Ring in the New Year’ challenge for Apple Watch users
Apple has announced its annual “Ring in the New Year” challenge for Apple Watch users. A new Apple Watch Activity Challenge is set for January, encouraging you to begin 2026 on the right foot by closing all three rings for seven days in a row. more…07:29 pmApple Releases New Powerbeats Pro 2 Firmware
Apple today released new firmware for the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds that came out earlier this year. The updated firmware has a version number of 8A359, an update to the prior 8A353 firmware that was released in September. It's not clear if the updated firmware adds new functionality, but it is likely to be a bug fix and performance improvement update. The prior-generation firmware update added iOS 26 functionality to the Powerbeats Pro, introducing compatibility with the Fitness app and support for real-time performance metrics. The Powerbeats Pro 2 were Apple's first earbuds to offer in-ear heart rate monitoring, but that capability has also now expanded to the AirPods Pro 3. The updated firmware can be installed on the Powerbeats Pro 2 by connecting them to power and ensuring that they are in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi. Firmware can be checked on the iPhone by going to Settings > Bluetooth and tapping the Info button next to the Beats headphones in the list. Android users can download new Beats firmware through the Beats app for Android.Tags: Beats, Powerbeats ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums07:20 pmHow to make your own external hard disk storage for your Mac
If you need to expand your Mac storage in a big way without breaking the bank, your best bet is with external hard drives. Here's everything you need to know about hard drives and enclosures to put them in.OWC ThunderBay 4 RAIDStorage can be a pain point for computer users. Apple's famously expensive storage upgrade fees can put off users from adding more capacity from the outset, leaving them constrained until their next upgrade.This is a solvable problem. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums07:14 pmMy PM insisted we switch to SwiftUI for a massive legacy app rewrite. The result is exactly what you’d expect. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingMy PM insisted we switch to SwiftUI for a massive legacy app rewrite. The result is exactly what you’d expect.
About six months ago, we got a new PM who read a few Medium articles about how SwiftUI is the future and speeds up development by 40%. He came into the planning meeting and said, "Why are we still messing with Auto Layout and Storyboards? Let's just rewrite the new dashboard modules in SwiftUI. It'll […]07:08 pmApple TV’s New Fanfare
Netflix’s “tadum” is so iconic that it’s the name of their company blog. HBO’s static + chanted om is the OG standard-setter. I suspect the new Apple TV fanfare will be seen in that class. The old one was not.07:08 pmApple TV’s New Fanfare
Netflix’s “tadum” is so iconic that it’s the name of their company blog. HBO’s static + chanted om is the OG standard-setter. I suspect the new Apple TV fanfare will be seen in that class. The old one was not.07:06 pmApple Aims to Boost Popularity of iPhone Air 2 in Two Ways
We have been covering iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Fold details from The Information's report about future iPhone models, and next up is the iPhone Air 2. The report says that Apple aims to make the iPhone Air 2 more attractive in two ways. First, Apple is apparently considering adding a second rear camera to the device, which would resolve a key limitation. The current iPhone Air has a single 48-megapixel Fusion rear camera, with Telephoto-like, optical-quality 2× zoom, so the additional camera on the second-generation model would likely be an Ultra Wide lens. Second, the report said Apple is considering lower pricing for the iPhone Air 2. In the U.S., the current iPhone Air starts at $999, despite having only a single rear camera, a single speaker, shorter battery life, and a few other minor limitations. While it has a bold, ultra-thin design, the iPhone Air has seemingly been unpopular relative to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, and Apple's suppliers are reportedly significantly scaling back production of the device as a result. Apple is expected to release the iPhone Air 2 in spring 2027. Related Roundup: iPhone AirTag: The InformationBuyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Buy Now)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums06:52 pmSoftware leaks point to the first Apple Silicon “iMac Pro,” among other devices
Resurrected high-end all-in-one could be a worthy successor to 2017's iMac Pro.06:24 pmFoldable iPhone's Screen Sizes Leaked
Apple's first foldable iPhone will be equipped with a 7.7-inch inner display, and a 5.3-inch outer display, according to The Information. Earlier this year, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the foldable iPhone would have a 7.8-inch inner display, and a 5.5-inch outer display, so the sizes shared in today's report differ slightly and might not be finalized yet. The publication said the iPhone 18 Pro will have a camera in the top-left corner of the screen, and it expects the same for the foldable iPhone's inner screen. The foldable iPhone's displays are made with a "complex" mix of "specialty glass and materials" from companies like Corning and SCHOTT, according to the report. Apple is expected to release the foldable iPhone in September 2026.Tags: Foldable iPhone, The InformationThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums06:21 pm9to5Mac Daily: December 16, 2025 – AirDrop features, new iOS rumors
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: Give yourself the gift of peace of mind. Till the end of the month, 9to5Mac listeners get 30% off with code 9to5Xmas. more…06:20 pmiPhone 17e, coming soon, said to feature Apple’s C1X modem
Anew entry-level iPhone model, referred to as the "iPhone 17e" and expected to launch in spring 2026, will feature the C1X modem… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.06:08 pmYet another question about Age Rating/Age Verification, Texas SB2420
As the rules around age verification keep shifting and the compliance rollout feels like a bit of a dumpster fire, here’s how I currently understand things and what I’m thinking of doing: What the app stores are required to do (not developers) For new users created on or after Jan 1, 2025, app stores must […]06:05 pmEveryone should know this essential iPhone safety feature
Find out how to use Check In, the iPhone feature that tracks your ETA during travels (and alerts loved ones if you go missing). (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:52 pmFuseCells – hit 1000 installs with 355 active players 🥳
Hi everyone, I built FuseCells, a minimalistic logic puzzle game where every level is handcrafted (no procedural generation). It started as a personal challenge to design a clean rule-set and scale it to thousands of puzzles without losing difficulty balance. What’s unique: • 2,500 handcrafted levels across multiple grid sizes • Deterministic logic – no […]05:50 pmiPhone Fold will be ‘more wide than tall’ when unfolded, per report
Apple is working to finalize designs for next year’s flagship iPhone lineup, and a new report says the highly anticipated iPhone Fold could have a unique shape, with an inner display that’s more wide than tall. Here are the details. more…05:49 pmiPhone 17e Will Reportedly Fix iPhone 16e's Biggest Limitation
In February, Apple discontinued the iPhone SE and released a new entry-level iPhone 16e. The device features a 6.1-inch OLED display, an A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, an Action button, a USB-C port, and more, but one capability that it lacks is MagSafe wireless charging. In a wide-ranging report today about future iPhone models, The Information's Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu said that the iPhone 17e will address this limitation. Specifically, the report said the iPhone 17e will support "magnetic wireless charging," which implies that the device will feature MagSafe for faster, magnetic wireless charging — likely at speeds of up to 20W or 25W. The iPhone 16e is limited to Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W speeds, and it is not a magnetic system. The iPhone 17e will be equipped with Apple's second-generation C1X modem for cellular connectivity, according to the report. The iPhone 16e is equipped with Apple's first-generation C1 modem, while the C1X modem debuted in the iPhone Air. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 17e in spring 2026. Overall, the report said the device will be an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 16e.Related Roundup: iPhone 16eTag: The InformationBuyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Neutral)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums05:45 pmiMac Pro could make an epic M5 Max-powered comeback
The iMac Pro all-in-one could be poised for a return, this time with a huge processor upgrade for professional users — the M5 Max. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:42 pmApple plans fabric displays for future devices like the HomePod
Future HomePods, iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands and more could display information right on their fabric covering, if one of the latest patents granted to Apple is anything to go by.A familiar HomePod, but with a mocked-up display within the fabricIf a HomePod with a screen is the most commonly expected new home device that Apple may make, it's also surely the easiest. Apple makes screens, Apple makes HomePods, so no matter how good it is, a HomePod TV is not going to be earthshaking.But it's also, quite definitely, not the only avenue Apple is exploring. There's a newly-granted patent called "Fabric-Covered Electronic Device With Light-Emitting Components," for instance. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:40 pmIs it true that Apple rejects apps that integrate HealthKit and contain ads? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingIs it true that Apple rejects apps that integrate HealthKit and contain ads?
I have a weight management app, and I'm working on a HealthKit integration that users can enable so their weight and BMI are also backed up in the Health app. This app contains ads (from AdMob), and after speaking with Chat GPT and Claude, they assured me that Apple will reject this update because of […]05:28 pmAn M5 Max iMac Pro reportedly exists–but we may never be able to buy it
Macworld 2026 is expected to be a significant year for the Mac. However, those reports don’t include iMac, leaving fans to wonder about the status of Apple’s iconic all-in-one. But a glimmer of hope was offered this week. According to MacRumors, Apple has built an iMac with an M5 Max chip. The files seen by MacRumors refer to an iMac with the identifier J833c, using a chip labelled as H17C, which is associated with the M5 Max codename Sotra C. MacRumors qualifies that this Mac is being used for testing purposes only and isn’t necessarily slated for release to the general public. Reports of a new iMac Pro or a large iMac have been sporadic in the past few years. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in 2022 that an iMac Pro would be released the following year. In 2023, Kuo predicted that a 32-inch iMac would be released in 2025. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman mentioned the iMac Pro in 2022 and 2023. The iMac Pro seems to exists within Apple Park, but the company is hesitant to release it. The leaked files also provide a peek at the Macs that are slated for 2026. The files mention the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, the M5 MacBook Air, the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini, the M5 Max and the M5 Ultra Mac Studio, and the A18 Pro MacBook, which are all expected in the first half of the year. The files also mention the M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max MacBook Pro that are expected in the second half of 2026.05:11 pmAxiom for Claude Code v1.0: 64 skills, 18 agents, 20 commands for iOS development | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingAxiom for Claude Code v1.0: 64 skills, 18 agents, 20 commands for iOS development
Axiom v1.0 is now available: https://charleswiltgen.github.io/Axiom/ If you're using Claude Code to write some or most code, Axiom's value will quickly be obvious. With Axiom, CC will be 2✕ better at writing idiomatic Swift 5/6 code that leverages modern Apple platform APIs per Apple's guidelines. If you're not a believer in using AI to write […]05:11 pmUse ‘git mv’ to record filename case changes in Git
After my previous post Tracking renamed files in Git, here’s another entry in my ongoing series “I thought git mv was useless but I was wrong”. This one’s especially relevant to users on macOS and Windows, where the file system is case-insensitive by default. More precisely, APFS on macOS is case-insensitive but case-preserving by default. That is, A.TXT and a.txt refer to the same file (and these two cannot coexist in the same directory), but the file system records the filename exactly as you entered it. If you’re on a such a file system and change the case of a filename, Git will not record the new name — unless you use git mv to perform the renaming. Demo 1. Without git mv (bad) Note: I tested this on macOS with the default APFS (case-insensitive) file system. You’ll get different results if your file system is case-sensitive. Let’s create a fresh repository and commit a single file named A.txt: mkdir testrepo cd testrepo git init echo "Hello" > A.txt git add . git commit -m "Create A" [main (root-commit) 3d73aea] Create A 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+) create mode 100644 A.txt Now we rename the file from A.txt to a.txt: # Rename the file (change case) # Note: not using `git mv` mv A.txt a.txt git status nothing to commit, working tree clean That’s interesting. git status says “nothing to commit” because nothing has changed from its perspective. Git is still tracking a file named A.txt, whose contents haven’t changed. If we now make edits to the file a.txt (aka A.txt; both names refer to the same file), Git tracks this as a change of the existing file, which is still named A.txt in Git’s datastore: echo "World" > a.txt git status Changes not staged for commit: modified: A.txt Let’s commit the change: git add . git commit -m "Edit A" [main e86bcb2] Edit A 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) Now we’re in a situation where the recorded filenames on the file system and in Git have diverged. A fresh clone of the repository will create the file with its original name A.txt because that’s the spelling Git has recorded: cd .. git clone testrepo testrepo-clone cd testrepo-clone ls A.txt I think this is a real problem. You might assume it’s not an issue as long as all people working with this repo are on case-insensitive file systems, but can you guarantee that? And even if you can, you cannot guarantee that the software you’re writing will only ever be used on case-insensitive file systems. For instance, if your code loads the file named a.txt from the app’s bundle but the CI step that packages your app for release checked the file out as A.txt, your app will fail for users on case-sensitive file systems. And the reason is that Git has stored a different filename than what you’re using. You can avoid this by using git mv for renaming, as shown in the second demo below. 2. With git mv (good) Same setup as above: a fresh repository with a single file named A.txt: mkdir testrepo2 cd testrepo2 git init echo "Hello" > A.txt git add . git commit -m "Create A" [main (root-commit) abc2bba] Create A 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+) create mode 100644 A.txt We now rename A.txt to a.txt again, but this time we use git mv: git mv A.txt a.txt git status Changes to be committed: renamed: A.txt - > a.txt Aha, Git recognizes the rename. This is exactly what we want! We can commit this to record the new filename: git commit -m "Rename A.txt to a.txt" [main 42d1974] Rename A.txt to a.txt 1 file changed, 0 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-) rename A.txt = > a.txt (100%) That’s it. Git and the file system use the same filename, and so will any new clone of the repository. Future bugs avoided. Workaround: 2-stage commit I said in my previous post that it’s not always practical to use git mv for renaming. What to do in this case? My workaround is to split the rename operation into 2 renamings and commit each separately: Rename A.txt to an arbitrary temporary name, e.g. a_.txt. This filename must differ from the original filename in more than just case. Commit this as “Rename A.txt to a.txt (step 1/2)”. Rename a_.txt to the final name a.txt. Commit this as “Rename A.txt to a.txt (step 2/2)”. By using an intermediate filename that differs in more than just case, we force Git to record the renamings. It looks a little clunky in the commit log, but I’ll take that over introducing a hidden bug.05:10 pmMacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max release date: Where are the Pro MacBooks?
Macworld In October 2025, Apple introduced an M5 MacBook Pro, but didn’t update the year-old M4 Pro or M4 Max machines. Instead, it looks like we will be waiting until spring 2026 for the M5 Pro and M5 Max models to arrive. While the M5 processor in the MacBook Pro boasts a new GPU architecture with a Neural Accelerator in each core that Apple says provides “over 4x the peak GPU compute performance for AI compared to M4,” and a 45 percent improvement in graphics performance compared to the M4, the new chip is still no match for the M4 Pro and M4 Max in the more powerful MacBook Pro models still on sale. But what changes could be coming to the MacBook Pro models, and is it going to be worth the wait, or would power users be wise to wait a little longer for the much bigger changes rumored to be just around the corner? The M6 generation of the MacBook Pro could offer a touch screen and more. This article will keep track of the rumors about the M5 Pro and M5 Max, and offer a perspective based on Apple’s Mac lineup. Here’s everything we know so far. At a glance: Current MacBook Pro compared to M5 Pro and M5 Max rumors FeatureM4 Pro / M4 Max (Current)M4 Pro / M4 Max (Current)M6 rumours…ReleaseOctober 2024 (current models)Early 2026 (rumoured)Late 2026/2027DesignSame as 2021 modelExpected to retain existing designRedesign DisplayMini-LED, up to 1,600 nits peakSame Mini-LEDOLED display, touchscreen CPU CoresM4 Pro: 12–14 cores M4 Max: 14–16 coresRumoured similar/core counts but with architectural improvements including modular CPU/GPU blocks GPU CoresM4 Pro: 16–20 M4 Max: 32–40Improved performance boost over M4 series Chip ArchitectureTSMC enhanced 3 nm (M4 Pro/Max) Enhanced M5 generation; chips. May separate CPU/GPU tiles for efficiency.PerformanceStrong pro performanceRumoured 25–30 % performance uplift compared to M4 generation for Pro/Max chipsAI / NeuralM4 features a 16-core Neural Engine Enhanced AI throughput rumouredMemory & BandwidthM4 Max supports up to 128 GB unified memory with up to 546 GB/s bandwidthWill maintain high bandwidth and configurations for professional usePorts & ConnectivityThunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 6E (current models) Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thunderbolt 5 possibleCamera12 MP FaceTime camera No significant camera upgrades expectedHole-punch webcam, rather than notch New M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Design Foundry No change to the design expected. Big changes are said to be coming to the M6 MacBook Pro. Apple updated the design of the MacBook Pro in 2021. There was no change to the design of the MacBook Pro when Apple introduced the M5 model. Apple will likely stick with the current design for the M5 Pro and Max models. It’s always possible that a new color makes an appearance—like Space Black in 2023—but for the most part, the MacBook Pro design is set for at least another year. Bigger changes are expected for the M6 generation. In July 2025, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the M5 MacBook Pro series is to be the last of this current design. Apple appears to be saving the next major design upgrade for the M6 MacBook Pro for 2026. The M6 upgrade is said to include OLED screens, a camera “hole” to replace the notch, and a thinner design. There have been suggestions that the overhaul of the MacBook design could mark the 20th anniversary of the MacBook Pro. However, the first MacBook Pro was introduced at Macworld Conference in January 2006 and the rumors aren’t pointing to an early 2026 redesign. New M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Display No change to display expected. There is no change to the display on the M5 MacBook Pro, so it’s unlikely that the M5 Max and M5 Pro models will get any screen updates. Although we could see a higher nits brightness rating, up from the current 1,600 nits peak. Back in February 11, 2025, The Elec reported that OLED displays for the MacBook Pro were going into production, but these weren’t expected to featured in the laptop until 2026. Unfortunately, the big display changes seem set to arrive with a subsequent generation of MacBook Pro, with rumors pointing to Apple introducing OLED screens with the M6 generation of MacBook Pro. There could be something even more exciting coming with the M6 generation: a touchscreen! Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple is going to launch a MacBook with a touch screen, and it could arrive on a MacBook Pro as soon as 2026. However, this update is not expected to arrive until the M6 generation and could be delayed until 2027. Apple could be saving any drastic changes to the MacBook Pro for 2026.Foundry New M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Camera No change expected. The M4 MacBook Pro added a 12MP FaceTime camera, a decent upgrade from the 1080p FaceTime camera. The M5 Macook Pro maintains this camera, so it is unlikely the Pro and Max models will gain anything. However, we could see a similar FaceTime camera update to 18MP as seen on the iPhone 17. The square sensor is less relevant here as the MacBook Pro will only ever be in one orientation, although it could allow for more of the area around a person to be visible. More changes are rumored for the camera in the M6 generation: reports suggest that in the future we may see a hole-punch webcam instead of notch. Petter Ahrnstedt New M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Processor The M5 MacBook Pro that launched in October 2025 is little more than a chip refresh, and the M5 Pro and Max will likely be a similar story, featuring chips based on the same generation as the M5, but scaled up for professional workloads. Reports had indicated that we can expect a typical performance boost from one chip generation to another–between 15 and 25 percent over the M4 chips. On July 3, AppleInsider reported that Apple plans the release four standard configurations with the following code names: J714c: M5 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro J714s: M5 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro J716c: M5 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro J716s: M5 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro However, there could be more coming to entice power users. In October 2025, MaxTech’s Vadim Yuryev reported that Apple is working on a new chip design for the M5 Pro and M5 Max that would feature the CPU and GPU on separate blocks. This modular chip design that could allow more flexible CPU/GPU configurations and would allow customers greater options to configure these components. For example, one could set up a base CPU configuration with a maxed-out GPU. Yuryev stated that this new design is why the M5 Pro and M5 Max are delayed until 2026. On May 8, 2025, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on M6 and M7 chips, but they won’t be in the MacBook Pro until later. Apple is also working on a “more advanced Mac chip” called Sotra, but no details were provided. And in December 2025 a MacRumors report indicated that a kernel debug kit used by Apple engineers referenced MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, indicating that the update is coming soon. New M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Specs N1 chip: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Thunderbolt 5. With the launch of the M4 MacBook Pro, Apple made a series of upgrades that replaced outdated components, including upping the base RAM to 16GB, bringing Thunderbolt 5 to the M4 Pro and Max models, and offering a Nano-texture glass option. The M5 MacBook Pro saw no changes to the specs other than the processor. The Bluetooth and WiFi remained the same. A new 4TB SSD option was added, but in the U.K. and Europe, Apple has removed the Power Adapter from the box. However, Wi-Fi 7 is expected to arrive on the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and Max. Apple may also integrate the N1 chip, as used in the iPhone 17, which will bring Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as improve features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop. Apple The entry-level model still only offers Thunderbolt 4, but the Max and Pro will continue to offer Thunderbolt 5. There are reports that Apple is working on a 5G modem for the Mac, but it’s unlikely to arrive before 2026. New M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: Release date Possible launch spring 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in March 2025 that Apple was on schedule to ship the M5 MacBook Pro “around the same time of year” as when the M4 and M3 MacBook Pro shipped. That suggests an October/November timeframe. Gurman then reported in May 2025 that the M5 MacBook Pro could arrive “as early as the end of this year.” Gurman was initially confident that Apple would release the M5 MacBook Pro by the end of 2025, and indeed it did, but his confidence was certainly faltering as the launch neared, with a tweet prior to the launch pointing out that the M4 MacBook Pro was constrained, but not the M4 Max or M4 Pro models. On the base level 14-inch MacBook Pros, custom configurations on the line store are constrained till the end of October. Not the case for the Pro/Max and 16-inch models.— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) October 6, 2025 Then, Vadim Yuryev, host of the Max Tech YouTube channel, predicted on October 6: “3 days of M5 chip product launches next week starting on Monday or Tuesday. M5 MacBook Pro 14-inch model ONLY, M5 iPad Pro, M5 Vision Pro.” So, for now a spring launch for the rest of the MacBook Pro lineup looks most likely. New M5 MacBook Pro: Price Prices are unlikely to change. Reports suggest pricing for M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros will align with the current Pro and Max models. Here are the prices for the current standard configurations of the M4 Pro and Max MacBook Pro, for reference. Prices are unlikely to change. 14-inch MacBook Pro $1,999/£1,999: M4 Pro with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $2,399/£2,399: M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $3,199/£3,199: M4 Max with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 16-inch MacBook Pro $2,499/£2,499: M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $2,899/£2,899: M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB unified memory, 512TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $3,499/£3,499: M4 Max with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 $3,999/£3,999: M4 Max with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 5 The M5 MacBook Pro prices haven’t changed, but in the U.K. and Europe the Power Adapter will cost extra: $1,599/£1,599: M5 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 $1,799/£1,799: M5 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 $1,999/£1,999: M5 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 1GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 Read our comparison of every Mac Apple sells: Every Apple Mac and MacBook compared.05:09 pmApple’s next iPhone 17 model could fix predecessor’s biggest flaw
Today The Information published an extensive report on future iPhone models, and it included an exciting new detail about the forthcoming iPhone 17e. MagSafe support is reportedly coming. more…05:08 pmBest portable monitors for Mac 2026
Macworld Most monitors sit on a desk and don’t move any more than their stand or arm allows. We have a separate round up of the best monitors for Mac. But sometimes a more portable solution makes sense when the MacBook’s own screen simply isn’t large enough. There are two main types of portable display: travel monitors that can be slipped into a backpack; or moveable monitors that can be carried from one room to another or quickly hidden from sight when not in use. Here are our picks for the best portable displays to match with your Mac. 1. Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Lightweight portable USB-C 15.6-inch HD screen Pros Full HD (1920×1080 at 60Hz) IPS display Lightweight Integrated folding travel cover and stand 85W pass-through charging 2x downstream 10Gbps USB-C ports Cons Not much larger than a laptop screen Price When Reviewed: $239.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $234.90 View Deal $239.95 View Deal $239.95 View Deal Plugable $239.95 View Deal $252.94 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 45% Connections: 3x USB-C Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape This 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display doubles most laptops’ screen space and is simple to setup and connect, and then disconnect and lightweight enough to carry away when you’re done. Weighing just 1.85lb (840g) with its cover/stand or 1.35lb (615g) without, it is barely noticeable alongside your laptop in your backpack or briefcase On the back of the display is a detachable PU vinyl cover that can protect the screen in transit or storage and doubles up as a foldable stand that is easy to setup.–Simon Jary Read our full Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display review 2. Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro: Portable USB-C 16-inch QHD screen that stacks Pros QHD (2560×1600 pixels at 120Hz) display Lightweight Can attach to MacBook Integrated folding travel cover and stand 65W pass-through charging Cons Not much larger than a laptop screen Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $244.99 View Deal $249.99 View Deal $249.99 View Deal Mobile Pixels $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Float 2 Pro Size: 16-inch (Pro) Resolution: 2.5K (2560×1600 pixels) aka QHD sRGB Color Gamut: 100% Connections: USB-C & Mini HDMI Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape As its name suggests, this lightweight 16-inch QHD display ‘floats’ above your MacBook’s screen via a clever built-in stand that is simple to setup. This Stacked mode doubles your screen space—yet doesn’t feel like a second screen, just an extension. You can keep it physically attached to your laptop with the included magnets but this is an option rather than a necessity. As well as Stacked (‘floating’) there are two other viewing modes: Free Standing (not floating and separate from your MacBook), and Presentation (the screen is flipped to share content with the person in front of you). The QHD (2.5K) screen sets it apart from many of the HD portable screens reviewed here. There is a non-Pro version, the Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2, with a slightly smaller 15-6-inch HD screen. Float 2 Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 62% Connections: USB-C & Mini HDMI Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape Read our full Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro review 3. Asus ZenScreen MB249C: Large but portable 24-inch HD screen Pros Large HD screen area Sturdy built-in and foldable kickstand Offers USB-C for easy single-cable connections Good image quality Cons Too large for a backpack Price When Reviewed: $349 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $339.99 View Deal $339.99 View Deal Asus $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $452.82 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 24-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 100% Panel type: IPS LCD Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape Portable monitors are usually associated with travel but, in reality, most never leave the home or office they’re shipped to. Many purchase portable monitors not for their portability but instead their versatility and ease of use—so it can be moved across a home or corporate office. At home, it could let you have two home office setups without having to purchase two monitors, or simply store the monitor out of sight in a cupboard when not in use. In an office, it could be carried to meetings if you need to lead a presentation or study a large spreadsheet. I’ve been on many a call, trying to keep on track on my MacBook as the presenter talks through a complex Excel doc. As large a portable monitor as possible is what you need in those situations—or a wide TV screen. The Asus ZenScreen MB249C pairs a sizable 24-inch screen with several stand options including a kickstand/handle that makes it easy to tote around a house or corporate office. It provides excellent image quality for its intended purpose. It’s bright enough and scores well in contrast, color gamut, and color accuracy, all while avoiding notable problems or pitfalls. The MB249C is a great choice for a second decent-sized monitor, too, as it offers multiple ways to mount and orient it alongside your primary monitor.–Matthew S. Smith Read a full Asus ZenScreen MB249C review on PCWorld. 4. UPerfect Delta Max & Delta Mega: Stacked dual-screen monitors Pros Quality dual HD screens Foldable Flexible adjustments Landscape or Portrait modes Cons Scant instructions Delta Max’s touch functions are basic and sporadic Price When Reviewed: $649.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $589.99 View Deal UPerfect $649.99 View Deal $739.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Delta Mega Size: 2x 23.8-inch Resolution: 2x 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 97% Panel type: IPS LCD Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape or Portrait The standard way of adding more than one external display is to have two external monitors side by side, creating a wide extended screen display. A vertically stacked monitor, such as two Delta models from UPerfect—the dual 23.8-inch Delta Mega and dual 18.5-inch Delta Max Touch—can be more ergonomic as the body doesn’t need to frequently turn left and right. The line of sight remains directly in front of the user, reducing frequent rotation of the neck. Both Delta models with IPS screens look sleek in black aluminum, with a built-in stand folded flush to the outside of the lower screen. You can modify the angle of the stand to adjust the height and angle of the screens to suit your best working posture. The central hinge also allows for flexible adjustment of the two screens to a comfortable and ergonomic angle when used in either a stacked arrangement or folded back on itself to share meeting content with people facing you—say, so you looking at one screen and the clients on the other side of the meeting seeing the other. These portable monitors are a great solution if you want a good-looking, well-built and super-adjustable portable extended dual screen that connects to your laptop for a more spacious screen experience. The flexibility to bend right back to offer front and back mirrored screens could be the solutions you are looking for in a adaptable dual-screen display. Simon Jary Delta Max Touch Size: 2x 18.5-inch Resolution: 2x 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 100% Connections: USB-C or Mini-HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape or Portrait The screens of the Delta Max Touch, pictured above, are supposed to feature touch controls and while it’s definitely there the touch functionality is basic at best and awkward in use. Ignore the touch features and this model is a super-portable dual screen. It can also support connections from two computers: one for each screen. Read our full UPerfect Delta Max Touch review. For our home-working setup we prefer the larger Delta Mega that is a little less portable by size but certainly easily carried short distances. When in use it creates a lot of HD screen space and, like the Delta Max, can easily be folded and stored out of sight when working from home, or commuted to an office or farther afield in a car. If you don’t need all that extra space the regular Delta Max without the average touch controls is a cheaper alternative.–Simon Jary Read our full Uperfect Delta Mega Dual Screen Monitor review 5. MSI Pro MP165 E6 Portable Monitor: Budget portable monitor Pros Includes kickstand, tripod, VESA mounts Has two USB-C ports, both with Power Delivery Super affordable Cons Modest color performance and accuracy Limited menu and image quality options Price When Reviewed: $89.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Costco $89.99 View Deal $94.99 View Deal $94.99 View Deal $94.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 47% Panel type: IPS LCD Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Kickstand Orientation: Landscape Budget portable monitors are a dime a dozen, and to be frank, many are interchangeable. That’s because most use the same IPS-LCD display panel technology, offer the same or similar ports, and are similar in size. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 also follows these trends but stands out with kickstand, 1/4-inch tripod and 75x75mm VESA mount options. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is a versatile option for shoppers who need a budget portable monitor that can be used with a VESA wall mount, a conventional monitor arm, or even a tripod. Color gamut is where the MSI Pro MP165 E6 falls towards the bottom of the budget competition. It has a very limited color gamut that covers just 63 percent of sRGB and 47 percent of both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB—compare that with the UPerfect Delta Max’s 100% or Delta Mega’s 97%. This is not a monitor for professional photo or video editing but, rather, a budget portable monitor for office productivity, digital signage, collaboration, and other tasks where color performance is less of a concern.–Matthew S. Smith Read a full MSI Pro MP165 E6 review on PCWorld. 6. Limink LK14 Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitor: Best screen extender for portability Pros Adds two 14-inch screens Portable Easy setup Cons HD, not 4K Price When Reviewed: $699.99 (reduced to $499) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Limink $499 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 14-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD Color Gamut NTSC: 72% Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Connected Orientation: Landscape If you need a bigger screen you can plug a display into your Mac laptop, but if you want multiple screens without the giant extra monitors, a better option is to buy a portable external display. These displays tend to not be much larger than the display on your laptop, but they don’t add a much more weight and can more than double your screen space. The Limink LK14 portable Tri-screen Monitor is a screen extender that your MacBook fits into and adds a 14-inch screen either side of the laptop’s own. It is compatible with 13-16-inch MacBooks, and connects via either USB-C or HDMI cables (included). Setup is easy and you can attach and detach this extender to your MacBook in about a minute. It’s HD rather than 4K and so is not as sharp and clear as the MacBook’s own. But it’s fine for spreadsheets, browsers and other mainstream applications. It’s great for adding supplementary screen estate when you’re on a video call, or for presentations. At $699, it is expensive, but you are paying for portability and two decent screens. The whole package, which comes with a leather protective cover, can be folded up and placed in a drawer when not in use, and is light enough (3.3lbs; 1.5kg) to take with you on your travels.–Simon Jary Read our full Limink LK14 Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitor review 7. Arovia Splay: Ultra-portable, foldable monitor and projector Pros Foldable display Converts into projector Power bank function Cons High cost Price When Reviewed: $1,299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Arovia $1299.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 24.5-inchResolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HDConnections: HDMI to hostWebcam: NoStand: FoldableOrientation: Landscape This clever display is actually an LED Pico projector that can transform into a fold-out 24.5-inch monitor via a collapsible shroud that surrounds the projector as it projects the image from your computer via the HDMI connection. The price is high but this portable all-environment, 2-in-1 screen might solve your display needs away from a standard desk setup. Setup is easy and there’s a useful video available for teaching you all its tricks. When collapsed the whole thing fits into a small box a bit larger than an iPad mini or over-ear headphones case (see our photo above), albeit quite a fat one, at 9.5 x 9.5 x 3.5 inches. It weighs 2.5lbs (1.1kg), so combined with the foldability it’s more portable than traditional fixed and firmer monitors. The 24.5-inch screen displays a native 1920 x 1080 resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with a max brightness of 760 nits in display mode. While the nanomaterial screen is flexible, it is taut and wrinkle-free. You adjust focus and brightness via controls on the top of the projector body. Comapred to a standard hard monitor it’s not as great for reading a lot of small text on the screen but its target function for viewing from distance. The Splay is marketed at on-the-road presentations and trade shows, videos, but it would work as well for showing videos at home or on a camping trip when a laptop just isn’t large enough. The 44Wh battery should keep the screen bright for up to four hours and handily can triple-up as a power bank to top up your phone or laptop via USB-C. It has stereo speakers built-in, with volume controls on the projector. A 35-inch version of the Splay is planned for launch in August.05:08 pmBest portable monitors for Mac 2026
Macworld Most monitors sit on a desk and don’t move any more than their stand or arm allows. We have a separate round up of the best monitors for Mac. But sometimes a more portable solution makes sense when the MacBook’s own screen simply isn’t large enough. There are two main types of portable display: travel monitors that can be slipped into a backpack; or moveable monitors that can be carried from one room to another or quickly hidden from sight when not in use. Here are our picks for the best portable displays to match with your Mac. 1. Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display: Lightweight portable USB-C 15.6-inch HD screen Pros Full HD (1920×1080 at 60Hz) IPS display Lightweight Integrated folding travel cover and stand 85W pass-through charging 2x downstream 10Gbps USB-C ports Cons Not much larger than a laptop screen Price When Reviewed: $239.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $234.90 View Deal $239.95 View Deal $239.95 View Deal Plugable $239.95 View Deal $252.94 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 45% Connections: 3x USB-C Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape This 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display doubles most laptops’ screen space and is simple to setup and connect, and then disconnect and lightweight enough to carry away when you’re done. Weighing just 1.85lb (840g) with its cover/stand or 1.35lb (615g) without, it is barely noticeable alongside your laptop in your backpack or briefcase On the back of the display is a detachable PU vinyl cover that can protect the screen in transit or storage and doubles up as a foldable stand that is easy to setup.–Simon Jary Read our full Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display review 2. Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro: Portable USB-C 16-inch QHD screen that stacks Pros QHD (2560×1600 pixels at 120Hz) display Lightweight Can attach to MacBook Integrated folding travel cover and stand 65W pass-through charging Cons Not much larger than a laptop screen Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $244.99 View Deal $249.99 View Deal $249.99 View Deal Mobile Pixels $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Float 2 Pro Size: 16-inch (Pro) Resolution: 2.5K (2560×1600 pixels) aka QHD sRGB Color Gamut: 100% Connections: USB-C & Mini HDMI Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape As its name suggests, this lightweight 16-inch QHD display ‘floats’ above your MacBook’s screen via a clever built-in stand that is simple to setup. This Stacked mode doubles your screen space—yet doesn’t feel like a second screen, just an extension. You can keep it physically attached to your laptop with the included magnets but this is an option rather than a necessity. As well as Stacked (‘floating’) there are two other viewing modes: Free Standing (not floating and separate from your MacBook), and Presentation (the screen is flipped to share content with the person in front of you). The QHD (2.5K) screen sets it apart from many of the HD portable screens reviewed here. There is a non-Pro version, the Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2, with a slightly smaller 15-6-inch HD screen. Float 2 Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 62% Connections: USB-C & Mini HDMI Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape Read our full Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro review 3. Asus ZenScreen MB249C: Large but portable 24-inch HD screen Pros Large HD screen area Sturdy built-in and foldable kickstand Offers USB-C for easy single-cable connections Good image quality Cons Too large for a backpack Price When Reviewed: $349 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $339.99 View Deal $339.99 View Deal Asus $349 View Deal $349 View Deal $452.82 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 24-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 100% Panel type: IPS LCD Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape Portable monitors are usually associated with travel but, in reality, most never leave the home or office they’re shipped to. Many purchase portable monitors not for their portability but instead their versatility and ease of use—so it can be moved across a home or corporate office. At home, it could let you have two home office setups without having to purchase two monitors, or simply store the monitor out of sight in a cupboard when not in use. In an office, it could be carried to meetings if you need to lead a presentation or study a large spreadsheet. I’ve been on many a call, trying to keep on track on my MacBook as the presenter talks through a complex Excel doc. As large a portable monitor as possible is what you need in those situations—or a wide TV screen. The Asus ZenScreen MB249C pairs a sizable 24-inch screen with several stand options including a kickstand/handle that makes it easy to tote around a house or corporate office. It provides excellent image quality for its intended purpose. It’s bright enough and scores well in contrast, color gamut, and color accuracy, all while avoiding notable problems or pitfalls. The MB249C is a great choice for a second decent-sized monitor, too, as it offers multiple ways to mount and orient it alongside your primary monitor.–Matthew S. Smith Read a full Asus ZenScreen MB249C review on PCWorld. 4. UPerfect Delta Max & Delta Mega: Stacked dual-screen monitors Pros Quality dual HD screens Foldable Flexible adjustments Landscape or Portrait modes Cons Scant instructions Delta Max’s touch functions are basic and sporadic Price When Reviewed: $649.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $589.99 View Deal UPerfect $649.99 View Deal $739.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Delta Mega Size: 2x 23.8-inch Resolution: 2x 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 97% Panel type: IPS LCD Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape or Portrait The standard way of adding more than one external display is to have two external monitors side by side, creating a wide extended screen display. A vertically stacked monitor, such as two Delta models from UPerfect—the dual 23.8-inch Delta Mega and dual 18.5-inch Delta Max Touch—can be more ergonomic as the body doesn’t need to frequently turn left and right. The line of sight remains directly in front of the user, reducing frequent rotation of the neck. Both Delta models with IPS screens look sleek in black aluminum, with a built-in stand folded flush to the outside of the lower screen. You can modify the angle of the stand to adjust the height and angle of the screens to suit your best working posture. The central hinge also allows for flexible adjustment of the two screens to a comfortable and ergonomic angle when used in either a stacked arrangement or folded back on itself to share meeting content with people facing you—say, so you looking at one screen and the clients on the other side of the meeting seeing the other. These portable monitors are a great solution if you want a good-looking, well-built and super-adjustable portable extended dual screen that connects to your laptop for a more spacious screen experience. The flexibility to bend right back to offer front and back mirrored screens could be the solutions you are looking for in a adaptable dual-screen display. Simon Jary Delta Max Touch Size: 2x 18.5-inch Resolution: 2x 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 100% Connections: USB-C or Mini-HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Foldable Orientation: Landscape or Portrait The screens of the Delta Max Touch, pictured above, are supposed to feature touch controls and while it’s definitely there the touch functionality is basic at best and awkward in use. Ignore the touch features and this model is a super-portable dual screen. It can also support connections from two computers: one for each screen. Read our full UPerfect Delta Max Touch review. For our home-working setup we prefer the larger Delta Mega that is a little less portable by size but certainly easily carried short distances. When in use it creates a lot of HD screen space and, like the Delta Max, can easily be folded and stored out of sight when working from home, or commuted to an office or farther afield in a car. If you don’t need all that extra space the regular Delta Max without the average touch controls is a cheaper alternative.–Simon Jary Read our full Uperfect Delta Mega Dual Screen Monitor review 5. MSI Pro MP165 E6 Portable Monitor: Budget portable monitor Pros Includes kickstand, tripod, VESA mounts Has two USB-C ports, both with Power Delivery Super affordable Cons Modest color performance and accuracy Limited menu and image quality options Price When Reviewed: $89.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Costco $89.99 View Deal $94.99 View Deal $94.99 View Deal $94.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 15.6-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD sRGB Color Gamut: 47% Panel type: IPS LCD Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Kickstand Orientation: Landscape Budget portable monitors are a dime a dozen, and to be frank, many are interchangeable. That’s because most use the same IPS-LCD display panel technology, offer the same or similar ports, and are similar in size. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 also follows these trends but stands out with kickstand, 1/4-inch tripod and 75x75mm VESA mount options. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is a versatile option for shoppers who need a budget portable monitor that can be used with a VESA wall mount, a conventional monitor arm, or even a tripod. Color gamut is where the MSI Pro MP165 E6 falls towards the bottom of the budget competition. It has a very limited color gamut that covers just 63 percent of sRGB and 47 percent of both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB—compare that with the UPerfect Delta Max’s 100% or Delta Mega’s 97%. This is not a monitor for professional photo or video editing but, rather, a budget portable monitor for office productivity, digital signage, collaboration, and other tasks where color performance is less of a concern.–Matthew S. Smith Read a full MSI Pro MP165 E6 review on PCWorld. 6. Limink LK14 Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitor: Best screen extender for portability Pros Adds two 14-inch screens Portable Easy setup Cons HD, not 4K Price When Reviewed: $699.99 (reduced to $499) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Limink $499 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 14-inch Resolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HD Color Gamut NTSC: 72% Connections: USB-C or HDMI to host Webcam: No Stand: Connected Orientation: Landscape If you need a bigger screen you can plug a display into your Mac laptop, but if you want multiple screens without the giant extra monitors, a better option is to buy a portable external display. These displays tend to not be much larger than the display on your laptop, but they don’t add a much more weight and can more than double your screen space. The Limink LK14 portable Tri-screen Monitor is a screen extender that your MacBook fits into and adds a 14-inch screen either side of the laptop’s own. It is compatible with 13-16-inch MacBooks, and connects via either USB-C or HDMI cables (included). Setup is easy and you can attach and detach this extender to your MacBook in about a minute. It’s HD rather than 4K and so is not as sharp and clear as the MacBook’s own. But it’s fine for spreadsheets, browsers and other mainstream applications. It’s great for adding supplementary screen estate when you’re on a video call, or for presentations. At $699, it is expensive, but you are paying for portability and two decent screens. The whole package, which comes with a leather protective cover, can be folded up and placed in a drawer when not in use, and is light enough (3.3lbs; 1.5kg) to take with you on your travels.–Simon Jary Read our full Limink LK14 Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitor review 7. Arovia Splay: Ultra-portable, foldable monitor and projector Pros Foldable display Converts into projector Power bank function Cons High cost Price When Reviewed: $1,299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Arovia $1299.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Size: 24.5-inchResolution: 2K (1920×1080 pixels) aka HDConnections: HDMI to hostWebcam: NoStand: FoldableOrientation: Landscape This clever display is actually an LED Pico projector that can transform into a fold-out 24.5-inch monitor via a collapsible shroud that surrounds the projector as it projects the image from your computer via the HDMI connection. The price is high but this portable all-environment, 2-in-1 screen might solve your display needs away from a standard desk setup. Setup is easy and there’s a useful video available for teaching you all its tricks. When collapsed the whole thing fits into a small box a bit larger than an iPad mini or over-ear headphones case (see our photo above), albeit quite a fat one, at 9.5 x 9.5 x 3.5 inches. It weighs 2.5lbs (1.1kg), so combined with the foldability it’s more portable than traditional fixed and firmer monitors. The 24.5-inch screen displays a native 1920 x 1080 resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with a max brightness of 760 nits in display mode. While the nanomaterial screen is flexible, it is taut and wrinkle-free. You adjust focus and brightness via controls on the top of the projector body. Comapred to a standard hard monitor it’s not as great for reading a lot of small text on the screen but its target function for viewing from distance. The Splay is marketed at on-the-road presentations and trade shows, videos, but it would work as well for showing videos at home or on a camping trip when a laptop just isn’t large enough. The 44Wh battery should keep the screen bright for up to four hours and handily can triple-up as a power bank to top up your phone or laptop via USB-C. It has stereo speakers built-in, with volume controls on the projector. A 35-inch version of the Splay is planned for launch in August.05:00 pmYour Apple Watch just got a lifesaving upgrade with Enhanced Safety Alerts
Apple Watch users can stay informed about critical situations through a variety of government-issued and enhanced safety alerts… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:57 pmiPhone Fold and more: Apple could release seven iPhone models per year by 2027
Apple's iPhone lineup is expected to undergo a radical shakeup in the next two years. Here's what to expect by 2027, including the long-awaited iPhone Fold.The iPhone Fold is part of Apple's future release lineup - Image Credit: AppleInsiderApple has a fairly packed iPhone schedule at the moment, with four mainline releases in the fall and occasional updates in the spring. While the current roster is for five devices, that won't necessarily be the case in the near future.In a breakdown of rumored expectations for the coming years, The Information believes that Apple could increase the iPhone count to seven releases per year by 2027. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:55 pmiPhone 17e and iPhone 18 Pro Modem Specs Leak Online
Apple's internal code suggests the iPhone 17e may ship with Apple's first-generation C1-series cellular modem technology, while omitting Apple's N1 wireless chip, and it indicates Apple is still deciding between the C1X and C2 for the iPhone 18 Pro. These details came from a version of a Kernel Debut Kit for macOS that was not supposed to be released to the public — it was later pulled by Apple. For the iPhone 17e, the code showed the device may be equipped with either the C1 or C1X modem, but no N1 wireless chip. The Information today reported that the device will use the C1X modem, which would be a natural progression over the C1 chip in the iPhone 16e. The omission of the N1 wireless chip may be consequential, since without N1 the iPhone 17e may lack Thread support, even if it uses an Apple-designed cellular baseband. For Apple's next Pro iPhones, the internal code points to a less settled picture. The iPhone 18 Pro is listed in separate rows with both C1X and C2 basebands, indicating Apple had not fully committed to the C2 across all configurations at the time the kernel debug kit was created. Apple seemingly intends N1 to be present on in the Pro models even while the baseband choice was still being evaluated. Since this information was sourced from Apple's internal code, there is no guarantee these are the finalized specs. The iPhone 17e is expected to launch in the spring of 2026, while the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall.Related Roundups: iPhone 16e, iPhone 18Tags: Apple 5G Modem, C1Buyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Neutral)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:49 pmApple Hit With Another Lawsuit Over Alleged Collusion With Amazon to Keep Prices High
Apple and Amazon are facing a new UK opt-out class action seeking more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) over claims that the companies struck an unlawful deal that pushed independent Apple and Beats sellers off Amazon and kept prices higher for consumers. The claim centers on an agreement from October 2018, from which point it is alleged that Amazon restricted third-party sellers from offering Apple products on Amazon's marketplace, while Apple gave Amazon better wholesale terms for Apple products sold directly by Amazon as a retailer. The lawsuit claims that by January 2019, most independent Apple resellers had effectively disappeared from Amazon, reducing discounted listings and leaving consumers paying closer to full price. The proposed class includes UK consumers who bought new Apple products since October 2018, whether from Amazon or other retailers, on the basis that the alleged conduct affected prices more broadly. It covers Apple hardware and Beats products, plus accessories, but it excludes Apple products bought as part of mobile network contracts. This is not the first attempt at a case over the same issue. A similar case was triggered in the United States in 2022. Collective action was brought forward in the UK in 2023, but the tribunal did not allow it to proceed. The new filing argues the core competition allegations remain strong and should be heard with a different proposed class representative and structure.Tags: Amazon, Apple Antitrust, United KingdomThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:45 pmSMS Delivery Delays and Failures to Movistar Network in Chile via a Subset of Long Codes
Dec 16, 08:45 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays and failures to Movistar network in Chile via a subset of long codes. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.This is related to incident: https://status.twilio.com/incidents/v6qnggjm7k4y04:45 pmToday in Apple history: Apple signs ‘clone Mac’ deal — and it’s a total disaster!
On December 16, 1994, Apple inked a deal with Power Computing, allowing it to make Macintosh-compatible computers. The Mac clones era began! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:44 pmiPhone 18 Pro Features Leaked in New Report, Including Under-Screen Face ID
Next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with under-screen Face ID, and the front camera will be moved to the top-left corner of the screen, according to a new report from The Information's Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu. As a result of these changes, the report said the iPhone 18 Pro models will not have a pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout at the top of the screen. Nevertheless, the devices will look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models, the report said. Apple is also planning to add a mechanical iris to at least one rear camera on the iPhone 18 Pro models, enabling variable aperture, according to the report. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the main 48-megapixel camera on iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, meaning that users will be able to adjust the amount of light that passes through the camera's lens and reaches the sensor. The main cameras on all of the iPhone 14 Pro through iPhone 17 Pro models have a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78, and the lens is always fully open and shooting with this widest aperture. With the iPhone 18 Pro models, users would be able to manually change the aperture, which would provide greater control over depth of field. However, given that iPhones have smaller image sensors due to size constraints, it is unclear exactly how meaningful this improvement would be. iPhone 18 Pro models are widely expected to use an A20 Pro chip fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process. The report said Apple plans to use TSMC's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) chip packaging technology, and this would result in RAM being integrated directly onto the chip's wafer with the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, rather than being adjacent to the chip and connected with a silicon interposer. This packaging change could contribute to a wide range of benefits for the iPhone 18 Pro compared to previous models, including faster performance for both overall tasks and Apple Intelligence, longer battery life, and improved thermal management. The change could also result in the A20 chip having a smaller footprint than previous chips, which could free up some space inside the iPhone 18 Pro models for other uses. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Tag: The InformationRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums04:44 pmiMac Pro may return in 2026 with M5 Max chip
A strong rumor claims that Apple is at least testing a new high-end iMac, giving some hope that an M5 Max iMac Pro may be coming.The rear of the 24-inch iMac.Back in 2017, the original iMac Pro was adored by many, but ultimately appeared to be just a stopgap while Apple worked on the Mac Pro. It was barely ever updated, and Apple discontinued it in 2021, by when the regular 27-inch iMac was outpacing it.Now in the latest of a slew of rumors drawn from various code references, MacRumors has found evidence of a new iMac running codename H17C. That's the processor that it is believed Apple will eventually launch under the name M5 Max. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:44 pmiMac Pro may return in 2026 with M5 Max chip
A strong rumor claims that Apple is at least testing a new high-end iMac, giving some hope that an M5 Max iMac Pro may be coming.The rear of the 24-inch iMac.Back in 2017, the original iMac Pro was adored by many, but ultimately appeared to be just a stopgap while Apple worked on the Mac Pro. It was barely ever updated, and Apple discontinued it in 2021, by when the regular 27-inch iMac was outpacing it.Now in the latest of a slew of rumors drawn from various code references, MacRumors has found evidence of a new iMac running codename H17C. That's the processor that it is believed Apple will eventually launch under the name M5 Max. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:42 pmDeals: AirPods Pro 3, M5 iPad Pro up to $175 off, 2025 MagSafe Charger $30, TechWoven, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: AirPods Pro 3, M5 iPad Pro up to $175 off, 2025 MagSafe Charger $30, TechWoven, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is highlighting some of the best Apple holiday deals you can still land under the tree. Those include down at $30 (nearly 25% off), up to 25% off TechWoven cases for iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and the new Last-Minute Savings sale at Best Buy. Check it all out below. more…04:33 pmApple has at least eight new iPhones in the works, here’s what we know: report
It’s going to be an exciting two years for iPhone users. A new report from The Information details the eight new iPhones in the works inside Apple, including the highly-anticipated iPhone Fold and iPhone. more…04:24 pmHoliday rush: Get up to 25% off Sonos headphones, soundbars and speakers
Sonos holiday deals on great headphones, speakers and soundbars are in full swing, and in time for Christmas if you hurry! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:15 pmShipped my first app 4 days ago. Crossed $100 in sales, but I can’t stop refreshing App Store Connect in fear. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingShipped my first app 4 days ago. Crossed $100 in sales, but I can’t stop refreshing App Store Connect in fear.
I finally released my native macOS video player (Vidi) about 4 days ago. My goal was literally "get 100 downloads by the end of the month so I don't feel stupid." (wasn't expecting any sales in the first month) The Numbers (Day 4): Downloads: 175 Conversion Rate: 13% Revenue: $112 ($20 Lifetime) Free trials: 15 […]04:12 pmApple TV unveils a first look at ‘Widow’s Bay’
Apple TV on Tuesday announced that its new 10-episode series “Widow’s Bay” will make its global debut on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:05 pmNew M5 iMac model aimed at pro users might be coming, per leak
Rumors indicate Apple has a packed lineup of new Macs coming next year, and the latest leak indicates there could be a surprise reappearance of the iMac Pro with M5. more…03:59 pmSMS Delivery Delays to Telenor Network in Myanmar
Dec 16, 07:59 PSTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Telenor Network in Myanmar. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.03:54 pmGrab Apple's iPad 11 for $279, with delivery as soon as today
The lowest iPad 11 price is back at $279, with free in-store pickup or delivery by Christmas to many locations.Pick up an iPad for $299 during Amazon's last-minute holiday sale.Walmart's last-minute holiday Apple sale includes a return of its best $279 iPad 11-inch deal, reflecting a $70 discount off retail on the standard 128GB Wi-Fi configuration.Buy iPad 11 for $279 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:52 pmLooking to hire someone
I’m looking for a iOS/swift dev to help debug and stabilize FamilyControls / DeviceActivity in a React Native app with native IOSSwift modules. Blocking mostly works, but I need help with automatic re-blocking, background behavior, and correct DeviceActivity scheduling. Must have Real experience building apps with FamilyControls / DeviceActivity Strong Swift + system API knowledge […]03:37 pmApple TV unveils new series starring Matthew Rhys of ‘The Beast in Me’
Apple TV just unveiled an early look at Widow’s Bay, a new series starring Matthew Rhys, who most recently gave a chilling performance in Netflix’s ‘The Beast in Me.’ Here are the first details and release date for Widow’s Bay. more…03:32 pmI launched my first Swift iOS app. I learned more from this experience than from any tutorial. | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI launched my first Swift iOS app. I learned more from this experience than from any tutorial.
Hey Reddit, After weeks of late nights, App Store rejections, and fixing Swift issues, I finally launched my first iOS app. I kept running into the same problem. Splitting long videos for Reels or Shorts was slow, messy, and often filled with ads. So, I built Splitly, a simple iOS app that: – Splits videos […]03:30 pmApple Developing iMac Pro With M5 Max Chip
Apple is developing a high-end iMac featuring the M5 Max chip, according to information from leaked internal software. The finding comes from leaked kernel debug kit files used by Apple engineers. These kernel debug kit files enumerate unreleased Apple hardware by internal identifiers, such as codenames and platform names, and they can also include separate references that map platform identifiers to chip codenames and marketing names. Secondary summaries and screenshots referencing the same internal code have also circulated in the Chinese tech community over the past week, including posts on Weibo and BiliBili. The software contains references to an iMac with the identifier J833c running platform H17C. H17C is associated with the codename "Sotra C," which relates to the expected marketing name "M5 Max." This suggests that an iMac with the M5 Max chip is in active testing. The software refers to a number of devices believed to be used exclusively for internal testing, such as iPad minis running tvOS and MacBooks with the A15 chip, so there is a chance that the M5 Max iMac is used for testing only. However, since the M5 Max chip is expected to be introduced next year and there have been rumors about Apple reintroducing a high-end "Pro" iMac for several years, it may well be destined for launch. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believed that Apple was still "working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market" following the launch of the Apple silicon iMac, a rumor supported by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Beyond the iMac entry, the kernel debug kit lays out several additional future Mac configurations. It lists 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip, and 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. There are new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, Mac mini models with the M5 and M5 Pro chips, and new Mac Studio models with the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. The leak also lists a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, which is widely believed to be an all-new, low-cost model. Related Roundup: iMacTag: 2025 iMac ProBuyer's Guide: iMac (Caution)Related Forum: iMacThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums03:23 pmSJC (San Jose) on 2025-12-17
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Dec 17, 09:00 - 13:45 UTCDec 16, 15:10 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in SJC (San Jose) datacenter on 2025-12-17 between 09:00 and 13:45 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.03:21 pmRAM prices are out of control. When should Apple users start worrying?
Macworld You have undoubtedly heard about the recent massive spike in RAM prices. RAM for consumer devices like desktops, laptops, graphics cards, and smartphones (DDR, GDDR, and LPDDR memory) has skyrocketed in recent weeks. Prices are 50-100 percent higher than they were back in the summer, with some premium 32GB DDR5 kits going for as much as $400 at Amazon! The problem, as it so often is, traces back to AI. The massive rush to build more AI datacenters at all costs has already increased demand for water and electricity, and previously sucked up much of the supply chain for the chips we use in consumer devices. RAM appears to be the latest culprit—AI data centers are using up a lot of the supply of DDR memory, but the GPUs they use often use a different kind of RAM called HBM—high bandwidth memory. Manufacturers have begun shifting some production to keep up with demand, making the DDR memory used in consumer devices even more scarce. It has gotten so bad that Samsung reportedly can’t even sell RAM to Samsung. The situation has caused prices to rise for PC desktops and laptops, graphics cards, and plenty of other consumer devices. But Apple products haven’t been affected—at least not yet. But will the surge in RAM pricing eventually make our iPhones and Macs more expensive? The situation is complicated. Apple’s supply contracts If nothing else, Apple is a big and popular monolithic producer of consumer goods with a locked-in supply chain. Apple doesn’t buy RAM month-to-month; it negotiates big, long-term contracts for parts in extremely high volumes. So for Apple, RAM likely hasn’t gotten more expensive yet, because they locked in prices months or even years ago for a huge long-term supply. What we don’t know is when Apple negotiates its supply contracts and how long this surge in RAM pricing will last. A Citi report published on X last year revealed that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron supplied DRAM for iPhone 17, but it’s unclear whether Apple negotiates contracts before each phone release or whether they are the same for Mac chips. Because the unified memory chips in Apple’s processors are soldered to the chip, there aren’t teardowns to reveal the make or model of the RAM. The M5 iPad Pro starts at 12GB of RAM for the same price as the M4 with 8GB of RAMApple However, there’s always the possibility that Apple’s prices go up to cover the threat of additional costs. When airlines raise ticket prices due to a surge in the price of oil, that’s usually an artificial increase. Major airlines buy fuel on long-term contracts and hedge prices by locking in rates well in advance of a price spike. Airlines are raising prices because they can, and we have seen many other industries use inflation and tariffs as cover to raise prices by a much larger amount than the increase in their actual costs. Also, prices rarely go down once costs stabilize, but that’s another issue. In other words, even if Apple isn’t paying more for RAM right now, it might have to in the near future, and prices could go up as a result. Apple prices may be stable for the moment, but in the next couple of months, who knows? Apple’s big margins Historically, increases in RAM prices affect products in which RAM is a huge part of the total cost. On an inexpensive smartphone, where RAM might be 10 or 15 percent of the total bill of materials (BOM), a doubling of RAM costs can completely destroy the slim margins it sells at. Apple’s typical RAM cost is estimated to be more like 4 percent of the BOM cost, and Apple’s margins are high—in the 20-30 percent range for most products, and higher on high-end Macs. Apple also charges a lot for additional RAM in Macs—you’ll pay $200 more for 8GB, essentially $20 worth of RAM. Even if Apple’s cost for RAM doubles, it still has margin to spare. A report from Counterpoint in December reported that Apple is “best positioned to weather the next few quarters” compared to its competitors due to this very fact. Senior Analyst Yang Wang wrote that “it will be tough for others that don’t have as much wiggle room to manage market share versus profit margins. We will see this play out especially with the Chinese OEMs as the year progresses.” Granted, Apple is very protective of its margins and doesn’t ever want to make less profit on each sale. But it certainly has the ability to withstand a few months or even a year of a big DRAM price surge without losing money, even at current prices. The M5 iPad Pro starts with 12GB of RAM—but also has a four-figure price tag.Britta O’Boyle Apple’s steady pricing The full retail price of an Apple product rarely changes. It has been known to happen, especially in specific regions where a big swing in the exchange rate and/or taxes that must be included in the price necessitate a shift. In general, though, Apple’s pricing is incredibly steady. When the company raises prices, it does so with the introduction of a new product. For example, Apple likely wouldn’t raise the price of the iPhone 17 mid-cycle due cover rising component costs, but would rather just raise the iPhone 18’s price when it is introduced to make up for the additional costs. One notable exception, however, was in March 2002, when it hiked the price of its new G4 iMac just two months after its launch due to “significant increases in component costs for memory and LCD flat-panel displays.” Of course, Apple was a much different company back then. Apple just released a number of its higher-priced products in late 2025: the iPhone 17 line (including an overpriced iPhone Air), M5 MacBook Pro, and M5 iPad Pro. Its next big product lineup will be higher-priced M5 MacBook Pros (which have margin to spare), the M5 MacBook Air, and perhaps some real budget value products like a low-cost MacBook and iPhone 17e. The iPhone 17e is one place where Apple could recoup rising memory costs.Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd In other words, Apple’s next products are a mix of some high-end, high-margin Macs and value products that by definition have to come in well under the rest of the product line. It would surprise me if we saw higher starting prices for those products due to the current RAM situation. In fact, Apple actually cut the price of the MacBook Air in 2025 when the M4 model arrived, so it’s possible it could recoup some costs by returning it to its 2024 prices. Nobody really knows what Apple will do with pricing, and anyone who claims differently is as trustworthy as a magic 8-ball. But our educated guess is that Apple won’t adjust its prices due to the RAM shortage in the short term. If this supply crunch lasts through the year to the fall 2026 product cycle, there’s a very good chance we’ll see some higher prices on specific SKUs to offset Apple’s increased costs and preserve its overall margins.03:15 pmFeds say US big tech is being targed by unfair regulations overseas
The US House Judiciary Subcommittee is conducting a hearing on US big tech discrimination by Europe and others, with witnesses saying that the regulations popping up harm the global economy and stifle innovation.The hearing is being held in the House Judiciary Committee's main building — image credit: House Judiciary CommitteeThe White House has previously said that it will not tolerate the European Union's fining firms such as Apple and Meta. Then on Monday, the US paused its agreed $200 billion technology deal with the UK, as it presses for more concessions.At 10 AM on December 16, the US House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust began a hearing on how foreign nations target American firms. It is ostensibly a hearing to "examine the threat that discriminatory foreign regulations... pose to American innovation and competition." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:12 pmHas anyone ever had unexplained issues enrolling in the Apple Developer Program? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingHas anyone ever had unexplained issues enrolling in the Apple Developer Program?
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone here has ever run into this kind of issue with Apple. Basically, I’ve had the same Apple account for over 10 years, and I’ve been registered as a developer for a long time (but I never actually paid for the Developer Program subscription until now). Recently, I decided […]03:09 pmSonos Kicks Off Last-Minute Holiday Sale With Up to 25% Off Ace Headphones, Arc Soundbar, and More | MacRumorsSonos Kicks Off Last-Minute Holiday Sale With Up to 25% Off Ace Headphones, Arc Soundbar, and More
Sonos this week introduced a last-minute holiday sale, offering up to 25 percent off the company's most popular devices. This includes the Sonos Ace headphones, Arc Ultra soundbar, Move 2 speaker, and more, with many prices matching the deals we saw over Black Friday. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. All discounts in this sale have been automatically applied, so you don't need to enter a coupon code in order to see the final sale prices. We've collected all of the deals in the list below, but you can also find a few bundle discounts on sale on the Sonos website. UP TO 25% OFFSonos Last-Minute Holiday Sale In terms of holiday delivery, many of the products in the sale have an estimated delivery by this Friday, December 19. Sonos also offers same-day pickup at select Best Buy locations, so there are a few options that should get you your gear in time for December 25th. Ace Headphones - $279, down from $399 Arc Ultra Soundbar - $879, down from $1,099 Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar - $369, down from $499 Ray Soundbar - $199, down from $219 Era 100 Speaker - $169, down from $219 Era 300 Speaker - $379, down from $479 Roam 2 Portable Speaker - $139, down from $179 Move 2 Portable Speaker - $399, down from $499 Sub Mini - $399, down from $499 Sub 4 - $759, down from $899 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 this holiday season? 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 forums03:07 pmRivian CEO wants CarPlay in other cars, but says Rivian doesn’t need it
CarPlay is widely available across most vehicles, with Tesla and Rivian among the most prominent holdouts. Now, Tesla is rumored to be adding support, and in a new interview Rivian’s CEO addressed criticism about its CarPlay stance. more…03:04 pmApple to participate in Trump admin’s U.S. Tech Force to modernize government technology | Mac Daily NewsApple to participate in Trump admin’s U.S. Tech Force to modernize government technology
The Trump administration has launched the U.S. Tech Force, a White House-backed program in which Apple will participate… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:01 pmPayPal has applied to become a US bank, offering savings accounts and loans
It looks like we could be seeing the launch of a PayPal Bank in the US after the company took advantage of looser conditions in order to make its application … more…03:00 pmNew Speechify Mac app lets you write 5 times faster by using your voice
With the new Voice Typing Dictation feature, users can now speak naturally and have Speechify’s new Mac app turn that recording into clean text across any app on macOS. Here’s how it works. more…02:54 pmApple spent $1.1 billion on more California office space in 2025
Despite Apple's HQ being already one of world's most expensive and expansive headquarters, in 2025 Apple spent a quarter of what it paid for Apple Park on more office space in California to house a still-growing employee base.Image Credit: Jay Paul CompanyBack in 2019, Apple's corporate headquarters at Apple Park was said to be worth $4.17 billion. Opened in 2017, it can house 13,000 employees — and practically from the start, it wasn't enough.Apple has kept on expanding with new sites and according to The Mercury News, 2025 alone has now seen it acquire over a billion dollars of office space. Apple doesn't publish this detail, so it's compiled from multiple real estate sources, but it appears Apple is spending half a billion every six months. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:53 pmRussia SMS Carrier Maintenance – Beeline
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Dec 17, 13:00 - 16:00 PSTDec 16, 06:37 PSTScheduled - The Beeline network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 17 December 2025 at 13:00 PST until 17 December 2025 at 16:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to Beeline Russia handsets.02:51 pmHate wireless? Apple’s classic EarPods are under $11 right now
Macworld Yes, yes, AirPods are great and all, but they don’t come without their share of issues. The fit can be wonky, and there’s always a risk you’ll lose one… and then you’ll be out $100 — at least. If these potential problems concern you, then Apple’s EarPods are a great alternative—and for the first time in a while, they’re a massive 42 percent off right now, bringing the price down to $10.94. These are the classic Apple earbuds from the iPod days that are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They’re no-frills wired earbuds that deliver great sound quality and have a built-in microphone so you can take calls or issue voice commands. You can even summon Siri with your voice, which is pretty awesome and super useful. The EarPods have a USB-C plug so you can use them with just about any recent model of iPhone, iPad, or MacBook. In fact, it works with just about any device that has a USB-C port, no matter the brand. There’s also a built-in remote on the wire so you don’t have to take out your phone to skip a song or adjust the volume. So, grab a pair of these $10.94 Apple EarPods for yourself or turn them into stocking stuffers for everyone in your family. Buy now at Amazon02:34 pmiOS 26.3 adds new iPhone wallpaper section, expands gallery
iOS 26.3 beta 1 arrived yesterday for developers, bringing some expected changes but also one small surprise: the wallpaper gallery has expanded with a new dedicated Weather section. more…02:34 pmiPhone will do pretty well in 2026, as RAM prices hammer the smartphone industry
Apple's iPhone is positioned to weather a looming smartphone memory price spike better than nearly any rival, even as industry forecasts point to softer sales in 2026.iPhone 17 Pro MaxCounterpoint Research released a report on December 16, lowering its 2026 global smartphone shipment forecast. The report attributes this to significant price hikes in DRAM and NAND flash memory.The revised forecast expects global smartphone shipments to fall about 2% year over year, reversing earlier expectations for modest growth. Memory costs are the primary driver, with Counterpoint pointing to supply tightness and aggressive pricing from memory vendors. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:30 pmYour book, published: This AI guides you from first word to final print
Struggling to finish your brilliant book idea? BookBud.ai writing software gives you tools you need to write the book you’ve always imagined. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:30 pmElevated number of 5xx errors in BKK
Dec 16, 14:30 UTCResolved - Between 14:36-14:44 UTC, customers reaching Bangkok, TH may have experienced an elevated number of 5xx errors.02:23 pmNetherlands Account Security Carrier Partner Maintenance – T-Mobile NL
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Dec 17, 23:00 PST - Dec 18, 01:00 PSTDec 16, 06:13 PSTScheduled - Our carrier partner T-Mobile NL Netherlands is conducting a planned maintenance from 17 December 2025 at 23:00 PST until 18 December 2025 at 01:00 PST. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for T-Mobile NL Netherlands customers.Impacted Products: Verify Silent Network Auth, Lookup Identity Match, Lookup SIM Swap, Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes02:23 pmI’m working on a data display in my app’s onboarding that shows the user’s current phone usage compared to recommended levels. The current version is confusing, and I’m looking for improvements. Any suggestions? | Reddit on iOS ProgrammingI’m working on a data display in my app’s onboarding that shows the user’s current phone usage compared to recommended levels. The current version is confusing, and I’m looking for improvements. Any suggestions?
submitted by /u/Rare_Prior_ [link] [comments]02:14 pmMost Parked Domains Now Serving Malicious Content
Direct navigation -- the act of visiting a website by manually typing a domain name in a web browser -- has never been riskier: A new study finds the vast majority of "parked" domains -- mostly expired or dormant domain names, or common misspellings of popular websites -- are now configured to redirect visitors to sites that foist scams and malware.02:14 pmApp developers call for EU action on Apple’s App Store fees
A coalition of 20 app developers and consumer groups urged European regulators on Tuesday to strictly enforce EU laws against Apple… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:52 pmZAG (Zagreb) on 2025-12-17
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Dec 17, 14:00 - 17:00 UTCDec 16, 13:24 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in ZAG (Zagreb) datacenter on 2025-12-17 between 14:00 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.01:26 pmThere may be two models of Apple's rumored budget MacBook
The low-cost MacBook using iPhone chips may include a lower-powered model, with Apple said to be testing the A15 chip alongside the A18 Pro.The 13-inch MacBook Air, the current lowest-cost MacBook model. Apple is believed to be working on a new model of MacBook aimed at the budget end of the notebook market. While those rumors have said that Apple will be using chips from its iPhone line in the models, it may end up using quite earlier variants.As part of a number of details revealed in an internal iOS build leak, Weibo leaker Kang and others have mentioned the budget-friendly MacBooks. It is claimed that Apple has tested the model using the A15 chip. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:22 pmDUR (Durban) on 2025-12-18
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Dec 18, 01:00 - 08:00 UTCDec 16, 13:10 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in DUR (Durban) datacenter on 2025-12-18 between 01:00 and 08:00 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.Firehose II – Jobs, Deals, Apps
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