The 12 most ridiculously overpriced Apple products, ranked
Macworld It’s no secret that Apple isn’t a cheap brand. While the company sells relatively affordable “SE” and “e” variants of certain devices, its main focus has always been on the higher-end tiers—and the public generally knows what to expect. Nevertheless, there have been several instances of Apple releasing exceptionally overpriced products that transcend the typical “Apple tax,” shocking customers with ridiculously high markups. Let’s take a look at some of them, starting with the most accessible of these notoriously pricey items and working our way up to the most jaw-droppingly expensive product in Apple’s history. 12. Polishing Cloth (2021) Apple Arguably, the cheapest overpriced Apple product is the Polishing Cloth released in 2021. For $19, you get a 6.3 x 6.3 inches (16 x 16 cm) cloth made from non-abrasive material, suitable for wiping fingerprints off your Apple display. While 19 bucks may be negligible for some people, the product is still objectively overpriced compared to similar microfiber cloths sold by third parties. Many enthusiasts justify paying premium prices for the tight Apple ecosystem integrations, long years of software support, and reliable build quality. These arguments, however, don’t apply to the Polishing Cloth, since, well, it’s a mere cloth. 11. Crossbody Strap (2025) Apple Earlier this year, Apple launched the iPhone 17 series, along with an all-new Crossbody Strap accessory. The $59 product is made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn and lets you dangle your iPhone across your body when paired with a compatible Apple case (starting at $39). Like the Polishing Cloth, there’s really no advantage to buying Apple’s $100-plus version, as third-party options made from the same material are offered for a fraction of the price. A similar argument could be made about Apple’s iPhone cases, which cost around $50 and aren’t always durable or… finely woven. 10. iPhone Pocket (2025) Apple Now, onto the reason this list is being typed in the first place: Apple’s highly innovative iPhone Pocket. For just $149.95 or $229.95, you can get the short or long variant of this 2025 fashion statement. For those unfamiliar, the iPhone Pocket is a special-edition project in collaboration with Issey Miyake, the namesake of the Japanese designer famous for making Steve Jobs’s trademark turtleneck. As its name suggests, it’s a 3D-knitted pocket for your iPhone that you can wear or attach to your bag—a Posh Cloth, if you will. While it may visually resemble the fan-favorite iPod Sock, it absolutely doesn’t match its more reasonable $29 pricing. 9. Pro Stand (2019) Apple Next, we’ve got the Pro Display XDR’s $999 Pro Stand, launched in 2019. Given the display’s exceptional color accuracy, it would be a steal at $999. Well, except the one grand only gets you the display’s stand—not the display itself. Now, I’m not going to argue whether the stand-less Pro Display XDR’s $4,999-5,999 pricing is fair, as it’s a niche product for a very specific group of professionals. However, there’s no defense for a separate aluminum stand to cost as much as an iPhone, regardless of how versatile it is. 8. Apple Vision Pro (2024) Apple We all knew Vision Pro was going to have a high price tag, but when it was unveiled at WWDC 2023, its whopping $3,499 price tag was at the highest end of expectations. While one could suggest that the price is fair for a first-generation, highly sophisticated spatial computer, Apple retained the same price with this year’s M5 refresh, which brought little more than a new chip. Given that it still can’t replace a Mac and how constrained visionOS is, we can safely declare that the ambitious headset is ridiculously overpriced. 7. Macintosh XL (1985) Vladeep – shutterstock.com Back in 1985, the Macintosh XL wasn’t actually a new Mac—it was rather a retooled version of Apple’s failed Lisa PC with $3,995 price tag, which would translate to around $12,000 today when accounting for inflation. Considering the original Lisa (see #3 below) sold for $9,995, the Macintosh XL was downright affordable and actually sold pretty well, but it was discontinued just four months later. 6. iMac Pro (2017) Apple As a way to placate professionals who were hamstrung by the cylindrical Mac Pro but still wanted a new machine, Apple launched the iMac Pro in 2017 as a more capable version of the iMac, catering to professionals with exceptionally demanding needs. It was loaded with high-end specs, including up to an 18-core Intel Xeon processor, 5K display, and AMD Vega graphics, but started at an eye-watering $4,999. Initial rumors suggested that the machine would cost up to $17,000, so maybe customers were pleasantly surprised to learn that the maxed-out version capped out at just $13,199. 5. Twentieth Anniversary Mac (1997) Six Colors To celebrate 20 years in business, Apple produced 12,000 units of the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (TAM) in 1997 to show off Apple’s flair for design. This high-end machine had a flat screen LCD and a Bose sound system, but its $7,499 price tag (around $14,600 today), made it one of the company’s priciest devices yet. It was so futuristic, Apple actually delivered it to customers in a limo, but it didn’t sell out until Apple cut the price all the way to $1,995.  4. 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition (2015) Foundry Remember when the Apple Watch was still going through its identity crisis phase? A few unlucky customers’ wallets sure do. In 2015, the 18-karat Gold Apple Watch Edition debuted for an insane $17,000. Not only was it the same watch as the $349 version, but it became obsolete a few years later. Apple still tailors its smartwatches to luxury fashionistas, but the high-end Hermès models top out at $1,949 instead, much easier to swallow. 3. Macintosh Portable (1989) RR Auctions If you think the 16-inch MacBook Pro is expensive, 1989’s Macintosh Portable, Apple’s first battery-powered Mac, cost $7,300, or around $18,500 today. While technically “portable,” it weighed 16 pounds and lasted about 10 hours when not plugged in. It was a major step toward the PowerBook and MacBook, but its high price barred it from being adopted by the masses, and the company discontinued it in 1991. 2. Lisa (1983) Computer History Museum Released in 1983 for $9,995 (over $31,000 today), Lisa was one of Apple’s first desktop computers. Due to its exorbitantly high cost, however, Lisa’s sales didn’t meet the company’s expectations. As such, Apple buried 2,700 Lisa units in a landfill and launched the Macintosh line a couple of years later for a lower price. 1. Mac Pro (2019) Apple Last but not least, we have the world’s most expensive cheese grater. In 2019, a year before entering the M-chip era, Apple launched a modular Mac Pro tower for power users. When maxed out, the Intel-powered computer cost $52,748—excluding the display. This possibly crowns it as the most expensive product Apple will ever release, now that the self-driving car project has been axed. Today, the latest, maxed-out Mac Pro with an M2 Ultra costs a mere $12,448, a significant drop from $50K. Though the $699 wheel kit is still sold separately.

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Black Friday pitfall: Avoid this Apple Watch SE 2 deal at all costs
Macworld With the Black Friday deals season rapidly approaching, Apple fans are living their best life. Bearly everything on sale for all-time-low prices, from MacBooks to AirPods and Apple Watches. But it’s important to be wary of the non-bargains that retailers will mix in with the worthwhile offers. Amazon is currently selling the Apple Watch SE 2 for an all-time low of $160. That’s almost $90 off the launch price: the SE 2 started at $249 when it came out three years ago, and the best price we’ve ever seen. So, on first glance, you might think it’s a great deal, even for a watch from 2022. But you should look again. Just over two months ago, Apple released the Apple Watch SE 3, and as I explain in my review, it’s a huge improvement over the SE 2. It now has an always-on display with tougher glass, new medical features and gestures, on-device Siri, 5G, twice the capacity, fast-charging, and improved battery life. I like the SE 3 so much that I had to tell people not to buy the Series 11. And it’s so much better (and more future-proofed) than the SE 2, that I would recommend buying the SE 3 at its full price, $249, over its predecessor at $160. But you don’t have to! Despite being just two months old, the Apple Watch SE 3 is already on sale for $200 at Amazon. Even though it’s still $40 more than the SE, you’ll be much happie with it. View Deal on Apple Watch SE 3 We’ll be keeping track of all the great deals (and warning you about the bad ones) right here on Macworld. For the latest smartwatch savings, check out our roundup of the best Black Friday Apple Watch deals.

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Google announces Quick Share, allows for interoperability with Apple’s AirDrop feature
If you love AirDrop as a feature, it now plays nice with Google’s Quick Share and vice versa. Google on Thursday announced that its new cross-platform feature allows for sharing between iPhone and Android devices. With AirDrop on the ‌iPhone‌ and QuickShare on Pixel 10 devices, there is a new file transfer function available. The […] Source

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Spotify’s latest tool makes switching from Apple Music effortless
With TuneMyMusic integration, Spotify now lets you import your music library from rival services in just a few taps. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple to include at least three new features with macOS Tahoe 26.2 update
Apple’s macOS Tahoe 26.2 operating system update is currently in beta testing, but is reported to bring the following three new features to the Mac: 2. Thunderbolt 5-powered Mac Clusters: While Apple is rumored to have no plans to ship an updated Mac Pro, the company seems to be working towards a cluster computing idea: […] Source

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Best mouse and trackpad for your Mac or MacBook
Macworld Black Friday Mac Mouse Deals Grab a saving on select Mac mice in the Black Friday sales. Check the live price-comparison boxes underneath each one or see the vendor site sale deals. 21% off the Logitech MX Master 3S For Mac at Logitech At Satechi you can save 30% off sitewide with code BFCM2025 at checkout 40% off the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Mouse at Amazon 20% off the Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse at Amazon 20% off the Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse at Amazon If you’re looking for a mouse for a Mac or MacBook, you’ve got plenty of options beyond Apple’s Magic Mouse. These days most mice will work on either Mac or PC, so you’ve got access to just about the entire PC mouse market, from wired to wireless, trackpads to trackballs, and even over-the-top dedicated gaming mice. The more sophisticated mice require software, so ensure that the settings app works on a Mac. All the mice tested here that have Settings apps are Mac-compatible. A lot of people prefer using a mouse to their laptop’s trackpad. A mouse makes things much easier and just feels more comfortable and familiar. But for some people mice can be an ergonomic nightmare, so luckily there are alternatives. Beware of the cheapest wireless mice out there. Many require a nano receiver to plug into an old-school USB-A port on the computer, and newer MacBooks have just one or two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports instead. Ideally, you’ll want a Bluetooth-compatible mouse to connect wirelessly to a MacBook or Mac. We’ve rounded up our favorite Mac mice below, starting with Apple and moving to ultra-productive mice with multiple buttons and scroll wheels, gaming mice and trackpads, and ultra-ergonomic solutions. Whether you want a basic spare or travel mouse, we’ve tested the best Mac mice we can find. If you’re trying to get the hang of your Apple-friendly mouse, incidentally, you may want to know how to right-click on a Mac. We also have a round up of the best deals for Apple accessories like the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and the Magic Trackpad. We also have a round up of the Best Keyboards for Mac. Apple Magic Mouse – Default Apple Wireless Mouse Pros Sleek and elegant design Top of the mouse acts like a trackpad Touch controls allow vertical and horizontal scrolling Cons Terrible design choice with the position of the charging port Not so comfortable if you have large hands Price When Reviewed: $79 Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal $79 View Deal $79 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Magic mouse 3 Wireless – White $74 View Deal Magic mouse Wireless – Silver $82 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Like it or not, the Apple Magic Mouse is the mouse that all others have to square up to in the battle to find the best mouse for Mac users. Unchanged since 2015 (aside from an update to USB-C from Lightning in 2024) and in reality little changed since 2009, the Magic Mouse is what Apple ships with every iMac (in seven accented colors) and Mac Pro (black) and one of only two mice you can buy as a separate on the Apple Store (in black or white). The Magic Mouse is sleek and elegant, the way an Apple product should be. There are no old-fashioned buttons or scroll-wheels to spoil the mouse’s streamlined design, as the entire top multi-touch surface panel acts like a small, touch-sensitive trackpad. It works really well and cleverly combines the fluidity of a trackpad with the physicality of a mouse. Some mice have scroll wheels that can be noisy, but the Apple Magic Mouse’s trackpad top is silent in that regard. The low-profile design won’t suit people with larger hands, but the touch controls do work very well, allowing you to scroll both horizontally and vertically simply by flicking your finger in the required direction. You can set up a secondary button, rather than settle for the all-over click, on either side within the Mouse tab in your Mac’s System Settings. Where the Magic Mouse stands out of the nest of Mac mice, is gestures. You can control gestures, such as zooming and switching between applications and pages, by using the Mouse Preferences panel on the Mac. Double-tap with two fingers to launch the Mac’s Mission Control. In Settings you can also turn on Pointer Acceleration for faster or more precise mouse movements. The button-free design also means that the Magic Mouse is suitable for both left- and right-handed users—unlike the Logitech MX Master 3S mouse reviewed below. The rechargeable battery lasts for only about a month at a time—which would be fine if it weren’t for one thing… Apple did finally get around to switching the Lightning connector to a USB-C connector for charging the internal battery, but it is still on the base of the mouse, which means that you can’t use the mouse while it’s charging, as you have to flip it over on to its side in order to insert the cable. Apple also sells a black version of the Magic Mouse for an extra $20/£20, which is a bit cheeky as no other mouse manufacturer charges more for color choices. Read our full Apple Magic Mouse review Logitech MX Master 4 – Best Wireless Mouse for Mac Pros Sturdy and comfortable design New haptic feedback features Two scrolling wheels Lots of programmable buttons Cons Right-handed only  Expensive Few apps support haptic technology right now Price When Reviewed: $119.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Logitech $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Apple’s Magic Mouse is what iMac users get in the box with their new computer. It’s a fine mouse but is rather limited with just two buttons. Logitech’s MX Master 4 mouse has eight buttons. The latest 2025 version updates 2022’s MX Master 3S in subtle ways, with new haptic feedback technology (just for Adobe users right now), an Action Ring, and longer battery life. Note that there is the “Logitech MX Master 4” and a version called the “MX Master 4 For Mac”. Either works just fine with the Mac. The Mac version is priced the same but doesn’t come with the USB-C Bolt receiver that is bundled with the plain version. Some prefer using the longer-range and more secure USB receiver—which is aimed at busy office environments where there may be lots of Bluetooth devices in use all together—so buy the standard rather than “For Mac” version if this fits your situation. The USB dongle is now thankfully USB-C rather than legacy USB-A but it will take up a Thunderbolt port on your Mac or docking station. Its smoothly curved surface fits the palm of the (right) hand very well, along with a thumb-rest for extra comfort. It has the usual left/right buttons and a scroll wheel at the top. The scroll-wheel works in two different modes, with a feature called SmartShift that automatically switches the scroll wheel from line-by-line scrolling to super-fast scrolling when it senses you want to scroll much faster. There’s also a second scroll wheel on the side, which allows you to scroll horizontally—which is great for photo-editing and graphics work plus very long spreadsheets—and three more buttons that can be programmed using the excellent Options+ app. The MX Master 4 has the same 8,000dpi sensor and high-speed scrolling wheel as its predecessor, but includes a new processor and an antenna inside the mouse that provide a more reliable wireless connection. The outer casing of the mouse uses a more robust, stain-resistant coating, and the thumb rest is larger to accommodate the new haptic feedback features. The “For Mac” version comes two differently named although startlingly similar colors—Space Black and White Silver—to the plain MX Master 4’s Graphite and Pale Gray. Read our full Logitech MX Master 4 review Apple Magic Trackpad – Best Trackpad Pros Useful gestures and scrolling options Rechargeable battery life is about a month Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $129 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $107 View Deal $109.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket While some people never get the hang of a MacBook’s trackpad and prefer to use a mouse, others want the wonders of a trackpad when controlling their desktop Mac. It’s pretty expensive, but Apple’s Magic Trackpad avoids the mistakes that it tends to make with its mice. The design works well, with a large surface area that measures 160mm wide and 115mm deep, so you have plenty of room to comfortably control your on-screen cursor and to use the various ‘gestures’ that are the Magic Trackpad’s greatest strength. As well as the usual left and right mouse clicks, the Magic Trackpad lets you use two fingers to scroll up/down or left/right, which is great for photo-editing and other types of graphics work. You can also zoom in or out on images or web pages by ‘pinching’ in or out with two fingers, or move back/forwards through a series of web pages by flicking left/right with two fingers. And, as well as being touch-sensitive, the Magic Trackpad is also pressure-sensitive, so you can ‘force-click’ by pressing and holding on documents to activate the Mac’s Quick Look previews, or even to look up words in a dictionary. The low-profile design may not suit everyone, but the versatility of the Magic Trackpad makes it a great alternative to a conventional mouse, especially for left-handed users. The rechargeable battery lasts for about a month at a time–and, unlike Apple’s Magic Mouse, the charging port (now USB-C rather than Lightning) is on the back edge of the trackpad, which means that you can actually charge it up and continue to use it at the same time. Just as it does with its Magic Mouse, Apple also sells a black version of the Magic Trackpad for an extra $20/£20. Satechi M1 Bluetooth Wireless Mouse – Best Budget Wireless Mouse Pros Affordable Allows for very accurate scrolling Curved ergonomic design Color choices Cons No horizontal scrolling Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $20.99 View Deal $24.29 View Deal $27.99 View Deal $29.99 View Deal $29.99 View Deal Satechi $29.99 View Deal $29.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Satechi’s USB-C aluminum M1 Bluetooth Wireless Mouse comes with an old-fashioned scroll wheel, which the company claims will offer faster and more accurate scrolling and tracking. The cursor fairly flies around the screen as I move the M1—much faster than my Apple mouse, and almost disconcertingly at first. It feels like it floats across my desk, and allows for more accurate scrolling than Apple’s. As it can also be a Windows mouse, it has a right button—handy for the extra controls that you’d usually need to press Ctrl to access using Apple’s one-button device. The M1 mouse has a pleasingly curved ergonomic design, making it fine for both left- and right-handed users. Its aluminum body is available in silver, something similar to Apple’s Space Grey, Gold, and Rose Gold colors so can attractively match your Mac or MacBook. There are no removable batteries, so you recharge via USB-C (cable included), which is better placed than the Magic Mouse 2’s frustrating equivalent. It uses Bluetooth 4.0 so has a range of 32 feet. We like the choice of five colors—Space Gray, Silver, Blue, Gold and Rose Gold—and its low price makes it a perfect second mouse for travel or for those times your other mouse loses power or goes missing. Logitech MX Anywhere 3S For Mac – Best Portable Mouse Pros Streamlined shape High-speed mode 70-day battery life with quick charge mode Cons Horizontal scrolling a little awkward Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $74.99 View Deal $74.99 View Deal $74.99 View Deal $74.99 View Deal $74.99 View Deal $89.99 View Deal $89.99 View Deal $103.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Logitech’s portable MX Anywhere 3 was already on our list of best mice for the Mac, and the new MX Anywhere 3S actually manages to improve on that winning formula. Look out for the special “For Mac” model. The design of the mouse has been fine-tuned a little, with a more streamlined shape, while the two side buttons seem to be a little further back and closer to my thumb, making it easier and more comfortable to use. This compact little mouse still manages to find room for four buttons, all of which can be programmed using Logitech’s Options app. The scrolling wheel also works in two modes, with a high-speed mode that lets you quickly zoom through long documents, or a slower, more precise mode that works well for graphics and photo-editing. It doesn’t have the second scroll wheel found on the larger MX Master 4, reviewed above, which allows you to scroll horizontally as well. But, if you press and hold one of the side buttons while scrolling, you’ll find that the main scrolling wheel temporarily switches to horizontal scrolling as well—although this approach is less intuitive than a separate horizontal scroll wheel and slightly uncomfortable. Battery life is around 70 days–twice that of Apple’s Magic Mouse–and its quick-charge mode will give you three hours of use after just one minute of charging time, which is great when you’re travelling with your MacBook. It is available in a choice of two colors, Space Gray (which is really black) and Pale Gray. The generic version includes both Bluetooth and a separate USB wireless transmitter, while the specific Mac version is Bluetooth only. Razer Pro Click V2 – Powerfully programmable Mac mouse Pros Sturdy, comfortable design Horizontal and vertical scrolling wheel Programmable buttons Versatile app Cons Expensive  Charging cable and wireless dongle use USB-A App isn’t very intuitive Right-handed only Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Razer is known for its gaming gear, and the Pro Click V2 is festooned with the gratuitous glowing lights and high-precision sensor that you’d expect from a gaming mouse. Apart from the lighting effects, the Pro Click V2 actually looks fairly conventional, but it’s neatly designed and solidly built. The top panel has a contoured surface that fits comfortably into the palm of your hand, and a smooth matte finish that lets you move your fingers easily around the various buttons and controls. There are plenty of options here too, with the standard Left and Right mouse buttons on the top, along with a scrolling wheel that can also tilt to the sides to allow both Up/Down and Left/Right scrolling when viewing documents or photos. There’s also a Scroll Mode button that allows you to switch the scroll wheel between high-speed, free-scrolling mode, and a more precise, tactile mode that clicks as you scroll from page to page. There are also two thumb buttons on the left side of the mouse, with a small thumb rest just below for extra comfort. A new Mac version of Razer’s not very intuitive Synapse app can be used to reprogram the various mouse buttons and to adjust other settings, such as the glowing lighting effects and the sensitivity of the mouse sensor. Synapse does include more powerful features such as the ability to record ‘macro’ commands that can automate and speed up many repetitive tasks. It’s also possible to create profiles for use with specific apps, such as using the scroll wheel to control the Presenter View in a PowerPoint presentation. There’s also an ergonomic version of the mouse called the Pro Click Vertical, which tilts the surface of the mouse to provide better support for your wrist and fore-arm, priced at $119.99/£119.99. Sadly, though, both models are only available for right-handed users. Read our full Razer Pro Click V2 review Logitech POP mouse – cute and colorful Pros Precise navigation and fast scrolling with SmartWheel Programmable Action buttons Color choices Cons Small No Horizontal scrolling Price When Reviewed: $29.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $18.98 View Deal $19.99 View Deal $19.99 View Deal $19.99 View Deal $19.99 View Deal $29.99 View Deal $29.99 View Deal $29.99 View Deal $35.55 View Deal $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Logitech’s POP Icon keyboard has a matching POP mouse that are available as a combo set or individually (we review the Logitech POP Icon Combo set here). The keyboard is attractive and colorful, the mouse, in contrast, is rather plain and small. It’s not for large hands or people who complain of wrist pain during prolonged use.  From the other perspective though, the fact that the mouse is small could be a benefit if you need to carry it around, and although small, it’s round, flat shape is comfortable in the palm. The SmartWheel wheel ensures precise navigation and allows fast scrolling, while the mouse sensor also reacts quickly and smoothly to movements. The mouse has two action buttons that can be used to easily set specific commands. For example, you can open several applications by clicking on the mouse wheel, which can be particularly useful when starting work. Or you can define completely different Smart Actions that are frequently used in everyday life, for example, to minimize all applications. It is compatible with multiple operating systems and devices, and can be connected to up to three devices simultaneously. This means you can switch between different laptops with a single click. The mouse uses standard batteries rather than being recharged via USB and a battery should last up to 24 months. It is available in eight fun colors: Cosmos, Daydream Mint, Graphite, Heartbreaker Rose, Lilac, Mist, Off White and (presumably less heartbreaking) Rose. Steelseries Aerox 3 – Great wired or wireless mouse for gaming Pros Comfortable to use Lightweight Cons App works on Macs, but isn’t very easy to use No Horizontal scrolling Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $41.99 View Deal SteelSeries $59.99 View Deal $63 View Deal $69.99 View Deal $69.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Strictly speaking, the Aerox 3 from SteelSeries is very much designed as a gaming mouse. However its sleek, lightweight design is so comfortable to use that we can recommend it as a good all-round mouse for other tasks too. It features a, wait for it, “Radiant 3-zone PrismSync RGB” that means the mouse can shine in 16.8 million configurable colors. Aside from the crazy colored lighting, it wins as a gaming mouse as it is super accurate 8000dpi sensor that is even more precise than the Logitech MX Master 3S reviewed above. It also features PTFE Glide Skates to provide the smoothest swipes and enhanced control Available in Onyx or Snow—aka black or white—the Aerox has a perforated shell that keeps its weight down to just 59g, compared to 99g for Apple’s Magic Mouse, so that gamers can respond quickly with just light movements of their fingers. I mostly play RPGs these days, which don’t really require lightning fast reflexes, but I still found the lightweight Aerox really comfortable to use, both for gaming and general office work too. The mouse doesn’t compromise to achieve that low weight though, providing an IP54 rating for resistance to water, dust and any other nastiness that might gum up the works, and a sturdy, braided USB cable. Like a conventional mouse, the Aerox includes standard Left and Right mouse buttons, along with a scrolling wheel, and there’s a third button on top of the mouse that can be used to adjust the speed of the mouse cursor as it moves around the screen. There are also two buttons on the side of the mouse that you can control with your thumb—although this is where things get a little complicated. We were pleased to find that the SteelSeries GG app does run on Macs from Catalina onwards and allows you to record ‘macro’ commands for all the buttons on the mouse (although you need to check this FAQ for Mac-specific installation instructions). The app isn’t easy to use though, and is primarily aimed at hardcore gamers for high-speed action games, so SteelSeries could do a bit more to make this smartly designed mouse more accessible for the rest of us. Logitech Lift – Ergonomic mouse curves Pros Ergonomic design to reduce RSI Programmable buttons Great for smaller hands Cons May be small for some users Horizontal scrolling a little awkward Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Logitech $69.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $88.99 View Deal $94.09 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The top surface of Logitech’s Lift mouse tilts by 570 into an upright handshake position that helps to reduce strain on the wrist. Along with the standard left and right mouse buttons and scrolling wheel, the Lift has two additional buttons that sit just by your thumb. By default, these extra buttons are set up to work as Back/Forward buttons for your web browser, but you can use Logitech’s Options+ app to customize all the buttons if you need to. And, thankfully, the latest version of the Options+ app—for macOS 10.15 or later—is a lot more Mac-friendly than it used to be, so getting all those buttons set up the way you like is now very straightforward. Both models cost $69.99/£69.99, but while the Mac and universal versions of the Lift look virtually identical, the universal version actually has a couple of additional features that make it better value for money. The Lift For Mac just uses Bluetooth, but the universal version also includes a Bolt USB adaptor that provides an alternate type of wireless connection that is more reliable and more secure than Bluetooth. The universal model is also available with a left-handed version, while the Mac version is just right-handed only. You can get the standard Lift from Amazon U.S. or Amazon U.K. Our only complaint is that the Lift is designed for small to medium hands, so if—like me—you find it a little small, then you might need to look at the larger, and more expensive, MX Vertical ergonomic mouse instead. Contour Design Unimouse Wireless – Adjustable ergonomic mouse Pros Ergonomic design to reduce RSI Right- & Left-hand models Adjustable Programmable buttons Cons No horizontal scrolling Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99 View Deal $99 View Deal $99 View Deal $99 View Deal Contour $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket More adjustable than the Logitech Lift but maybe too radical for some users, the Contour Design Unimouse features a highly adjustable design in an ergonomic shape that reduces the strain on your hands and wrists. Its patented articulated hinge can be adjusted to any angled position from 35 to 70 degrees. In addition, the adjustable thumb support can be moved in all directions, tilted and rotated until you are happy with the position that best fits your hand and usage. Compared to traditional mice, this level of adjustability can reduce grip pain and pressure on the base joint of the thumb. Although it feels a little odd at first use, it’s a lot more like a standard mouse than a trackball favored by some for even more ergonomic strain relief. It’s been a bestseller for several years for good reason. There are 6 programmable buttons, including a neat up and down scroll wheel, although I would have preferred if the Unimouse also boasted a sideways scroll wheel like the Logitech MX Master 3S For Mac, reviewed above. With a touch of the button near the front of the base, you can quickly change DPI settings—between 800 and 2800dpi. As you change the settings the green to red LEDs light up. These LEDs also show remaining battery life with another tap on the DPI button once. For a little less and if you don’t like to charge your mouse, there’s a Unimouse Wired model that’s often a little cheaper. Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse – Most sensitive mouse Pros Adjustable tracking speed beyond what macOS offers Good price Comfortable Cons Uses USB-A or USB-C receiver No Horizontal scrolling Price When Reviewed: $69 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $39.20 View Deal $39.2 View Deal $39.2 View Deal Keychron $69 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Keychron’s wireless mouse, the M3, is a high-performing alternative to Apple’s Magic Mouse. It was made with PC gaming in mind, but it can be used on a Mac without any major operational issues. There’s an optional RGB light that shines through cutouts along the M3’s edges and the scroll wheel. This light can change colors while in use, or toggle between different lighting modes via a button underneath the scroll wheel. This is the kind of aesthetic that is popular in the gaming community, but it nicely complements the colorful iMacs. There is a PAW3395DM optical sensor, which supports 26,000dpi resolution–a huge boost over the Magic Mouse with its 1,300dpi resolution. The higher the resolution, the more sensitive the mouse is to hand movement, this is another bonus for gamers. Tracking is also super fast, rated at 650 inches per second. If that is too fast, the M3’s tracking speed is adjustable. It also offers another gaming-focused feature–an adjustable polling rate. We found the higher profile to be more comfortable in the hand than the Magic Mouse. The built-in battery is rated at 70 hours and charges through a USB-C slot on the top end of the mouse (adapter included). Read our full Keychron M3 Wireless Mouse review Contour Design RollerMouse Red – Centered static ergonomic mouse Pros Creates a neutral, symmetrical posture Solid, premium build Comfortable wrist rest Cons Steep learning curve Not precise enough for some duties Expensive Price When Reviewed: From $374 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $374 View Deal Contour $374 View Deal $394 View Deal $394 View Deal $394 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Also from Contour Design is the even more radical ergonomic Rollermouse Red, a centered static mouse with its own wrist rest and a built-in slidable rollerbar that you maneuver the cursor with—hence the name Rollermouse. It’s not a mouse as we expect, but it does the same job without forcing your shoulder, arm and wrist into damaging repetitive movements. The Rollermouse is designed to promote a more symmetrical, neutral position in front of the keyboard. Instead of being to the right or left of the keyboard the static mouse sits in front of it. As with any smart mouse, there are reprogrammable buttons (six in total) with Copy and Paste being two of the preloaded actions. The smooth scroll wheel is clickable and the most like what you will be used to with a traditional mouse. Cursor speed is up to 2800dpi, but movement precision is not enough for users such as designers who need pinpoint accuracy in their mouse movement. The removable leatherette on memory foam wrist rest is comfortable, and comes in two sizes, with a Plus size for larger hands. There are two risers to raise your keyboard to a matching height if required. If you need to protect your shoulders from unnecessary repetitive movements be prepared for a steep learning curve with the Rollermouse Red. Getting used to operating something that makes a lot of sense but which bucks decades of ingrained non-symmetrical, shoulder-busting usage is going to take time—but your upper body may thank you in the long term. Kensington Optical Expert Mouse Wireless Trackball – Best ergonomic trackball Pros Ergonomic design Large buttons Large scroll ring Cons Complicated app No rechargeable battery Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal $109.99 View Deal $109.99 View Deal $141.99 View Deal $180.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Trackballs have really gone out of fashion in recent years, but they’re a good option for many people as you can control the trackball with just small movements of your fingers, which helps to reduce the strain on your wrists and forearms. That can be a lifesaver for people who suffer from RSI or tendonitis, or may have problems gripping a conventional mouse. Kensington is one of the few companies that still makes trackballs, and it actually has quite a wide range in different shapes and sizes, but I like the large buttons and trackball mechanism on its Expert Mouse, which can be useful for both adults and children who may find the tiny little buttons on some mice a little too fiddly. The Expert Mouse can use Bluetooth for quick and easy pairing, but Kensington also includes a USB wireless receiver that provides greater range and reliability than Bluetooth (although the receiver has a USB-A interface, so some people may need an adaptor if their Mac has only USB-C). The trackball is surrounded by four large buttons, two of which act like standard Left/Right mouse buttons, while the other two can be programmed with custom commands using the KensingtonWorks app. There’s also a scrolling ring that runs around the trackball itself, which acts like the scrolling wheel on a conventional mouse. Our only complaint is that the Kensington app can be a bit fiddly to use, and it took us a little while to figure out how to assign the commands we wanted to the various buttons. The Expert Mouse doesn’t have a rechargeable battery either, although Kensington includes a pair of disposable AA batteries, which should last for a full year before being replaced. There’s also a wired version of the Expert mouse available as well, which is around $20/£20 cheaper. ESR MagMouse – Magnetically sticks to your MacBook Pros Magnetically clamps to your MacBook Integrated USB-C charging cable Vertical and Horizontal scrolling Cons Requires a magnetic base to be stuck to the laptop Forward and Back buttons don’t work with Mac Price When Reviewed: $35.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $22.39 View Deal $27.99 View Deal ESR $34.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Ever walk away from the meeting room or café without your mouse? With the ESR MagMouse that problem might be solved as you can simply clamp it to the front of your MacBook and carry it back to your desk or wherever you’re going without using up a hand to carry it. That’s its big trick and it works well, although you need to stick a removable 0.48cm magnetic base to the laptop first. Unless you knock it pretty hard it will stick to that base while you move around. There are two little pins to back up the magnetic connection. There are five non-cutomizable buttons in total, including the scroll wheel but the two side-mounted Forward and Back buttons unfortunately don’t work with a Mac. Still, three buttons are two more than Mac users are accustomed to if they have used only Apple’s Magic Mouse up till now. There’s no USB port. Instead, the MagMouse has its own built-in short USB-C cable you can connect to a wall charger. Read our full ESR MagMouse review Alogic Echelon USB-C Rechargeable Wireless Mouse – Lightweight budget mouse Pros Affordable Lightweight Cons Scroll wheel a little noisy No Horizontal scrolling Price When Reviewed: $24.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $24.99 View Deal $25.99 View Deal $25.99 View Deal $25.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The low-cost Echelon Wireless Mouse from Alogic is super lightweight and makes for a great travel mouse. It’s quite a bare-bones mouse, as you might expect at this price. For example, there’s no software for changing the functionality of its keys. While the mouse’s two buttons (left and right click) operate quietly, we found the scroll wheel noticeably noisier than others tested here. It gives away its Windows origins with its 2.4Ghz USB-A dongle tucked away underneath. Such wireless adapters are preferred by some as more secure and responsive, but it connects to a computer via USB-A, and, well, Macs don’t have USB-A ports any more. This doesn’t matter as it connects just as well via Bluetooth like all the other mice reviewed here. It ships with the nicest braided USB-C charging cable we got in any of the Mac mice boxes. It’s available only in white but there is a black version as part of a Windows-only Echelon Wireless Keyboard Mouse set, so maybe a darker version will one day be available separately. HP 715 Mouse – Now Mac compatible Pros Competitively priced HP app lets you reprogram mouse buttons Good battery life Vertical and Horizontal scrolling Cons Mouse isn’t ambidextrous as claimed Price When Reviewed: $94 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $88.46 View Deal $88.46 View Deal $88.46 View Deal HP $94 View Deal $94 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket As well as being Mac-compatible, the HP 715 Multi-Device Mouse is well designed, versatile and provides good value for money. The HP 715 mouse is quite compact, so you can easily carry it around with a laptop. I found it a little small compared to the chunky Logitech mouse that I normally use, but that’s a matter of personal taste. And, despite the compact design, the HP 715 manages to find room for lots of useful features, including left/right mouse buttons, and two thumb buttons on the left-hand side of the mouse (which seem mostly suitable for right-handed people). We reviewed this mouse alongside the HP 975 Keyboard here: HP 975 Keyboard and 715 Mouse review, both of which work with the HPAC app (HP Accessory Centre). It’s good to see HP extending its support for the Mac, including full Mac-compatibility for its HPAC app. Like the HP 975 keyboard, the mouse can be paired with two devices using Bluetooth, and a third device using the USB-A dongle included with the mouse (you may need an adaptor).  There’s a clickable scroll wheel that can scroll both horizontally and vertically. You can use the HPAC app to reprogram the buttons and scrolling wheel functions – although you’ll need to do a bit of experimenting to make the most of the mouse’s many features. The mouse should last for around three months when fully charged, and HP says that a quick one-minute charge will give you up to three hours of battery life.

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Run smarter AI prompts with this all-in-one Mac-friendly workspace — 87% off lifetime access
Macworld TL;DR: ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Lifetime Plan gives you access to 25+ leading AI models in one streamlined workspace for $79.97. The streaming wars barely cooled off, and somehow we’ve already landed in the middle of the AI wars. Dozens of models launch every year, each promising smarter answers, faster performance, or more “human-like” reasoning. ChatPlayground AI takes that chaos and turns it into a single, organized, and easy-to-navigate workspace. Instead of hopping between platforms, you enter a single prompt and instantly compare responses from 25+ top models, including GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 1.5 Flash, and DeepSeek V3, all displayed side by side. It’s a dramatically faster way to pinpoint which output matches your tone, style, or technical needs. The interface is clean, polished, and designed for people who prefer their tools to work quietly in the background while they focus. Whether you’re writing, coding, researching, brainstorming, or generating visuals, everything happens in one hub. If you’re tired of bouncing between AI apps and want a single workspace that keeps pace with evolving technology, this platform brings everything together under one roof. Get lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI for $79.97 (MSRP $619). ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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iPad vs iPad Air: With a $170 price gap, is the Air still worth the premium?
Apple has two great, affordable iPads that most people consider: the base iPad, and the iPad Air. Over time, these iPads have always been relatively similar, making it a rather interesting debate. With current deals, theres only $150 between these two iPads, which really begs the question: should you pay more for the iPad Air, or save some money with the base iPad? more…

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How to use the Apple Maps Library feature
Apple added an Apple Maps Library feature for all of your saved and pinned locations to live, making them easier to find later. Here's how to use it on your iPhone.iOS 18 adds a new Library feature to the iPhone's Apple Maps app.Adding new locations to the Apple Maps Library is easy and iPhone owners will be able to do so in a couple of different ways. We're going to run you through both so that you can make the most out of an Apple Maps feature that will make it easier and quicker than ever to get to where you want to go. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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‘The Family Plan 2’ premieres on Apple TV
The sequel to one of Apple’s most-watched comedies is now available to Apple TV subscribers. more…

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‘The Family Plan 2’ premieres on Apple TV
The sequel to one of Apple’s most-watched comedies is now available to Apple TV subscribers. more…

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‘The Family Plan 2’ premieres on Apple TV
The sequel to one of Apple’s most-watched comedies is now available to Apple TV subscribers. more…

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Roborock’s Qrevo CurvX vacuum delivers powerful performance at a competitive price [Sponsored]
Holiday shopping season is here, and if you’re thinking about a great gift for someone special (or let’s be honest, yourself), Roborock’s Qrevo CurvX should be at the top of your list. Robot vacuums have always had this problem: you either get something powerful that looks like a sci-fi reject, or something sleek that can’t really clean. Qrevo CurvX doesn’t make you choose. It solves real frustrations while actually looking nice in your home. With Black Friday around the corner, it’s getting an incredible $650 discount, down to $849.99 from $1,499.99. more…

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Here’s the one Microsoft PowerToys feature I really hope Apple copies soon
macOS Tahoe 26 brought clipboard history to Spotlight, which is great. However, there’s much more that Apple can do, particularly with the help of Apple Intelligence and third-party models. Here’s how. more…

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Apple’s second limited-edition iPhone accessory in a month is all about accessibility
Following the introduction of iPhone Pocket, Apple announced today the Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand, celebrating the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple. Here are the details. more…

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Pluribus is Apple TV’s biggest drama series launch ever
Apple TV today revealed that Pluribus has become its most successful new drama series debut ever, topping the viewership set by Severance season two earlier in the year. Via Deadline, Apple says Vince Gilligan’s mysterious new show has captivated audiences and set a new viewership record for biggest global drama series launch for the streamer. Pluribus was most popular in US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Mexico, India and France. New episodes of the show are rolling out each Friday, with episode four dropping in a couple of hours. more…

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Apple AirPods 4 fall to record low $79.99 during Amazon's Black Friday sale
Price wars continue to erupt for Black Friday Deals Week, and holiday shoppers can snag the lowest price ever on AirPods 4.AirPods 4 hit lowest price ever during Amazon's Black Friday Deals Week event - Image credit: AppleSave $50 on Apple AirPods 4 at Amazon, bringing the price down to just $79.99. This is the lowest AirPods 4 price to date on the earbuds, making it a great time to pick up a holiday gift for someone special or a treat for yourself.Buy AirPods 4 for $79.99 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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9to5Mac readers get the lowest ever prices on Narwal’s entire robot cleaner range
Smart cleaning pioneer Narwal is officially launching its Black Friday discounts, and 9to5Mac readers get priority access to additional saving, allowing you to save up to 49% across the company’s entire lineup. It even extends to non-robocleaners like wet/dry vacuums. It’s unusual for a discount to apply to every single product a company offers, from its most affordable models right the way up to its latest and most sophisticated ones – but that’s exactly what you get here. more…

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TidBITS Memberships Now Support PayPal
Thanks to a reader request, PayPal is now available for TidBITS memberships. It’s a convenient alternative to using a credit card for renewals or new sign-ups. Stripe keeps things simpler for our administrative operations, but if you prefer PayPal, you’re welcome to use it.

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What’s new in macOS 26.2? Three new features coming to your Mac
Apple is gearing up to release macOS Tahoe 26.2 next month, bringing three new features to the Mac. From a clever video call enhancement that lights up your face in low-light conditions, to powerful Thunderbolt 5 clustering for building AI supercomputers at home, and smarter “Urgent” alarms in Reminders that won’t let you snooze critical […] The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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