Holiday tech support, Hold Assist, Ask9to5Mac
Benjamin and Chance return from the holiday break with some classic stories of tech support from the trenches. Also, iOS 26 Hold Assist proves better in theory than in reality based on listener feedback, and we do some Ask9to5Mac to close out 2025.  And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance debate what should be 9to5Mac’s Product of the Year. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.  Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm. Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour. more…

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Apple may see the future of LLMs very differently than most: report
Apple has been subject to a lot of criticism over its AI strategy, especially after it delayed several powerful Siri upgrades earlier this year. But a new report may help explain why, in part, Apple’s AI approach differs so much from competitors. more…

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Study links excessive infant screen time to altered brain development and teen anxiety
Children with greater screen time exposure before age two exhibited alterations in brain development associated with elevated anxiety… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple Watch 'Quit Quitting' ad spots want you to escape your sofa
Apple's latest ad spot collection urges people to "Quit Quitting," by showing Apple Watch users running away from furniture.Apple Watch 'Quit Quitting' ads - Image Credit: Apple/YouTubeWith the start of 2026 on the horizon, many people take the opportunity to make resolutions for the new year to get fit. This time around, Apple wants people to stick to their resolutions, via the Apple Watch.A collection of new ad spots posted to the official Apple YouTube account is collectively titled "Quit quitting with Apple Watch." In each video, a person is shown being chased by furniture as they undergo a workout. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Grab great year-end deals on Samsung displays — up to $1,400 off!
Year-end Samsung monitor deals could net you the display of your dreams to make the most of your Mac setup. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iOS 26 adds new ‘Preview’ app on iPhone, here’s how I’m using it
iOS 26 adds two brand new apps to your iPhone’s Home Screen, here’s how I’m using one of them: the Preview app. more…

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7-port magnetic mini hub makes your iPhone way more useful [Review] ★★★★☆
Unlock your iPhone's potential with the Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter. Connect monitors, SSDs and more with ease. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Today in Apple history: Microsoft hits the height of its ’90s power
On December 30, 1999, Microsoft hit the height of its 1990s dominance and began its early-2000s decline. It was a major turning point. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple TV unveils trailer for season three of ‘Shrinking, starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford
Apple TV on Tuesday debuted the trailer for the upcoming third season of “Shrinking,” starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Best year-end Apple deals: AirTag $19, Apple Watch Ultra 2 $549, $799 MacBook
Amazon's year-end sale is in full swing, with steeper discounts issued on Apple AirTag, the closeout Apple Watch Ultra 2, and more.Grab year-end Apple deals at Amazon, with prices starting at $19 - Image credit: AppleWhether you're looking to pick up an Apple Watch to embark on a fitness journey for 2026 or need a Mac for your business before the end of the year, Amazon has competitive deals across Apple's hardware lines (and even accessories like the Apple Pencil).Shop Amazon's Apple deals Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 27: Here are seven new features rumored to be coming
The next major iPhone software update will be unveiled in less than six months, at WWDC in June. Here are seven new features rumored to be coming with iOS 27. more…

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Shrinking season 3 is coming soon, and the new trailer looks excellent
One of Apple TV’s best comedies, Shrinking, returns for season 3 very soon, and the newly released trailer shows a lot to look forward to. more…

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Keep your holiday haul safe with a 4-pack of AirTags for just $65
Macworld If you got some new gear for Christmas and want to keep it safe, you can two one of two things: Never leave the house or track it with an AirTag. And since you have to go to work eventually, this 4-pack of AirTags at Amazon for just $65 is your best bet. It’s not quite an all-time low, but it’s just $2 away from the best price we’ve ever seen. AirTags are easily Apple’s most underrated devices, silently keeping tabs on the things they’re traveling with. Pairing and setup are a snap with an iPhone, and they’re small enough to disappear into a pocket or purse. If you lose something, you can launch the Find My app to track it with ease. If it’s nearby, you can play a chime to locate it, and if it’s actually lost, you can use the power of Apple’s Find My network to pinpoint its location anywhere in the world. Plus, every AirTag has a replaceable battery that lasts about a year and a cute design that will look great hanging from a set of keys. Speaking of which, you’ll need a keyring holder to attach it to a zipper or keys, which just so happens to be on sale at Woot! for nearly 65 percent off. AirTags normally cost $24 each, but this sale brings them down to just $16.25. So grab a 4-pack and a couple of keyrings and never worry about losing your favorite things again.

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watchOS 26 has three big new updates for Apple Watch faces
The watch face is easily among Apple Watch’s most important features, and watchOS 26 offers big improvements to watch faces in three main ways. Here’s what’s new. more…

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15 new products to expect from Apple in 2026
Apple is preparing a wave of new products for 2026, including a folding iPhone, powerful new Macs, refreshed iPads and new smart home gear. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Zombie Roombas still Matter to HomeKit with support upgrades
Despite the impending sale of iRobot, some Roomba models are still getting updates, with a few getting last-minute Matter support and HomeKit integration.A Roomba - Image Credit: iRobotRoomba has taken a hit in 2025, with a drop in sales amid intense competition leading to the sale of the parent company, iRobot. Despite the impending acquisition, the robot vacuum line is still receiving updates.In the case of some models of Roomba, MacRumors reports that Matter support has been added, expanding the range that works with Matter by three units. A firmware update has been released, adding Matter integration to: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple debuts new ‘Quit Quitting with Apple Watch’ ads to boost New Year’s fitness motivation
Apple is rolling out a fresh series of motivational advertisements highlighting the Apple Watch as the ultimate tool to stick with fitness… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Just unwrap a new Mac? Here’s how to upgrade it
Optimizing and perfecting my Mac setup is one of my favorite things to do. I love my M4 MacBook Pro, and surrounding it with accessories that improve my productivity is key to my workflow. If you just unwrapped a new Mac, there are tons of ways to upgrade your experience even further. In fact, almost all of these products are on my desk as I write this story. more…

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Marko's best tech of 2025 — iPad Pro, and an unexpected MacBook Pro
With the holiday season finally here, it's time to talk about the tech products we found most useful in 2025. Here are my top picks of the year.Three Apple products that have proven themselves useful in 2025.Technology has made its way into virtually every facet of our lives, and that's especially true for us here at AppleInsider. We talk about the latest and greatest tech releases daily, covering everything from the relatively inexpensive AirPods to the $3500 Apple Vision Pro.Still, many of us don't rush to buy the newest devices, especially without a good reason. In with the new and out with the old doesn't always make sense, after all. The fact is that Apple products can easily last you several years without issue, if not more. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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As a Mac expert, these are the first 9 tweaks I recommend for every new MacBook
Macworld You went out and splashed the cash on a new MacBook, you’ve completed the hallowed unboxing ritual, and you’re ready to get started with your latest fascination. What now? We’ve got a few ideas of great things you can do with your fresh new computer, from loading it up with all the best apps to making it truly yours. Before long, you’ll have the perfect setup, whatever you want to do. Get your apps in order Your fresh Mac won’t be totally bereft of apps, and Apple does a pretty good job of loading it up with most of what you might need in day-to-day life. But there’s no doubt that you can augment Apple’s selections (or replace them entirely) with a wide array of excellent alternatives. You can find apps in the App Store or on third-party websites, although if you download apps from the latter, you’ll need to open the System Settings app and go to Privacy & Security in the sidebar, then scroll to the Security section. Ensure that “Allow applications from” is set to App Store & Known Developers rather than just App Store, otherwise macOS might prevent your new apps from running. To set a default app for a file type, Control-click a file and select Other.Foundry Then in the Application window that opens, select the app you want, check the Always Open With Box, and click Open.Foundry Once you’ve got a few apps loaded onto your Mac, you might want to change your default settings–your default browser, default email app, and so on. There are a few ways to do this. To change your default browser, go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and choose an option next to “Default web browser.” For email, open Mail and go to Mail > Settings in the menu bar, click the General tab, then pick an app next to “Default email reader.” For other apps, you’ll want to open the Finder and right-click a file that will be opened by your chosen app, then click Get Info. From here, click the arrow next to Open With, and select Other. A window of your Applications folder will open; select the app you want to use, then click Away Open With. Set up automatic updates Updating your Mac is important, not just to ensure you get all the latest features, but to keep it safely protected with relevant security patches. Enabling automatic updates is a good way to do that, both for your apps and for macOS in general. To automatically keep macOS up to speed, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. Click the “I” button next to Automatic Updates and ensure all the toggles are switched on, then click Done. You can set your Mac to automatically download and install macOS updates. Foundry For apps downloaded from the App Store, open the App Store app and click App Store > Settings in the menu bar. Now, click the checkbox next to Automatic Updates. And if you have apps not downloaded from the App Store, you might want to look at a third-party app like Updatest or MacUpdate that can scan your Mac and download and install all the updates you need. Otherwise, you’ll have to check developers’ websites individually. Learn hidden trackpad gestures Apple’s Mac trackpads are the best in the business, and they come loaded with a ton of clever gestures that help you get more done. What you might not know is that Apple has a couple of hidden gestures that aren’t enabled by default–they can make a real difference to your day. To turn them on, open System Settings and navigate to Trackpad in the sidebar. Click the More Gestures tab, then pick an option from the dropdown menu next to App Exposé. This lets you see all the open windows of whichever app you’re currently using, with everything else hidden. There are other useful gestures in this menu window, so be sure to explore to see what you might need. In macOS’s Accessibility settings, you’ll find useful options for your trackpad.Foundry There are other gestures to enable elsewhere, and one of my favorites can be found by going to System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options. Here, enable “Use trackpad for dragging” and pick an option from the dropdown menu. This lets you move a file by double-tapping it on your trackpad and swiping, or by using a three-finger swipe, both of which are much easier than trying to hold the trackpad down while you move something. Set up the Time Machine Use any computer long enough, and there’s a good chance that, sooner or later, we’re all going to suffer a fatal crash or lose files. When that happens, you’ll be kicking yourself if you haven’t backed up your files. Luckily, backing up your Mac is very easy to do thanks to Apple’s Time Machine app, and all you need is an external storage drive to house your documents. First, connect your storage drive. Then open System Settings and go to General > Time Machine > Add Backup Disk. Select your drive and click Set Up Disk, then follow the on-screen instructions. Now, macOS will automatically back up your Mac on a regular schedule, provided your drive is connected. That makes sure everything is safe and sound, with Time Machine ready to come to the rescue whenever required. Lock down your privacy Compared to many of its rivals, Apple does an excellent job of taking privacy and security seriously. One of the ways it does so is through Touch ID, which lets you unlock your Mac, verify purchases, and more using your fingerprint, ensuring no one else can gain access to things they shouldn’t. Touch ID buttons come equipped on many MacBooks and Magic Keyboards, including all the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. You can add more fingerprints to your Touch ID profile.Foundry When you initially set up your MacBook, you are taken through the Touch ID setup with one finger. However, you can add other fingers. Just go to System Settings > Touch ID & Password. There, click Add Fingerprint, enter your Mac’s password, then place your finger on the Touch ID scanner until it is fully registered. While you’re there, you might want to check your Mac’s privacy settings in the Privacy & Security section of System Settings. This contains many options, from location services and microphone access to sensitive content warnings and per-app controls. Go through these options and make sure you’re happy with your choices. Turn on FileVault If you have a Mac with an Apple silicon chip or a T2 security chip, your computer’s data is encrypted by default. However, that data is automatically decrypted when you use your Mac and is not locked behind any kind of password, making it potentially vulnerable. That’s where FileVault comes in. With this setting enabled, you can add an extra layer of protection by requiring your Mac’s login password to be entered before any data is decrypted. If you forget your password, you can also recover access by logging in with iCloud. FileVault can be found in System Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down to the Security section and click FileVault. Now enable the toggle next to FileVault (note you must be using an administrator account to do this). You’ll need to choose whether to use iCloud for recovery or to create a recovery key–it’s a good idea to pick the former if you use iCloud. And just like that, you’ve strengthened your Mac’s defenses against would-be attackers. Prolong your battery’s lifespan If you own a MacBook, you’ll want to protect its battery to ensure you get as much life out of it as you can for as long as possible. One way you can do that is by adjusting a few settings on your new Mac. Open System Settings and go to Battery in the sidebar. At the top, you can enable Low Power Mode based on a couple of different scenarios (such as when you’re on a mains adapter or on battery power), and this setting reduces your Mac’s energy consumption to keep the battery level as high as possible. Next, click the “I” button next to Battery Health, then enable the toggle next to Optimized Battery Charging to guarantee that your Mac charges as safely and efficiently as possible. This involves macOS learning your charging habits so that it can finish charging beyond 80 percent when you actually need the power. The Battery settings in macOS have several ways for you to get the most out of your battery life.Foundry Finally, click Options at the bottom of the Battery section. There are a few settings here that might aid your battery life, such as ‘”Slightly dim the display on battery” and “Optimize video streaming while on battery.” Enable those if you want to eke even more out of your battery. Protect your eyes Staring at a bright screen all day and all night puts undue strain on your eyes, but macOS gives you a few tools to lessen the impact. The first can be found in System Settings > Displays: switch on the toggle next to “Automatically adjust brightness.” By doing this, you know that your Mac’s brightness will never be too bright for your surroundings–thereby protecting your eyes–and shouldn’t put undue stress on your battery, either. Night Shift is another handy tool, and it automatically tweaks your screen’s colors to provide a warmer image after dark, which in turn softens the impact on your eyes. To get started, click Night Shift at the bottom of the Displays settings. Here, you can set a custom schedule for Night Shift or use the option that turns it on at sunset and off at sunrise. There’s also a slider to adjust the color temperature of the effect. You can create fun images with Image Playground.Apple Try Apple Intelligence Apple Intelligence was meant to be a huge leap forward for Apple, but it’s safe to say that the artificial intelligence (AI) system has had a bit of a sputtering start. That’s not to say you should avoid it, though, and there are actually plenty of great Apple Intelligence features you can (and should) try on your new Mac. Just make sure to enable it in System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri before you begin. You can create images with the help of Apple Intelligence in the Image Playground app; just type in your prompt and let it get to work. Or you can highlight some text, right-click it, then pick Show Writing Tools from the context menu. These tools can rewrite your text, proofread it, list its key points, and more. Apple Intelligence works in a wide range of Apple’s own apps, including Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Photos, and Shortcuts. It also lets you tap into ChatGPT for certain queries and requests, putting more power at your fingertips.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: 2026 predictions for Apple IT admins
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, I discuss how I believe the world of Apple IT will evolve in 2026. more…

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iPhone 2026 preview: A year of change for Apple’s biggest product
Macworld For the last several years, the iPhone line has been stuck in a rut. Incremental improvements to performance and battery life are great, but the iPhones of last year sure seem a lot like the iPhones of 2021. That started to change in 2025. In the spring, a new strategy for more affordable iPhones, with the iPhone 16e replacing the old SE line. Then in the fall, the iPhone 17 models (more incremental improvements) were joined by the first really new iPhone in years: iPhone Air. But that’s just the start: In 2026, the iPhone shakeup will really kick into gear. Here’s what Apple is planning for next year: iPhone 17e In the spring, the successor to the iPhone 16e will be the iPhone 17e (naturally). Last year, when Apple updated its budget phone line from the seldom-refreshed “iPhone SE” to a numbered release “iPhone 16e,” it signaled that the “e” model would be a yearly update, and rumors say Apple will do exactly that. The iPhone 16e’s successor might look more like the iPhone 17.David Price / Foundry The iPhone 17e is likely to be a refreshed iPhone 16e: Expect a 60Hz display and a single rear 48MP camera, with an upgrade to the A19 processor and C1X modem, and twice the starting storage (256GB). And we’re almost certain to get MagSafe support after it was oddly left off this year’s model. But there could be two possible major upgrades as well: the notch may be replaced by the Dynamic Island, and the front camera may be upgraded to the new 18MP square-sensor front camera found in the iPhone 17 line. We expect the new phone to cost the same $599 as this year’s model. Therefore, it will still be hard to recommend it over the standard iPhone 17, which starts at $799 and will still have several features not found in the 17e, including ProMotion and a second ultra-wide camera. iPhone 18 Pro In the fall, Apple will introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, accompanied by a larger Pro Max variant. Visually, they should appear very similar to the iPhone 17 Pro, with a wide camera “plateau” on the back and three rear cameras, including wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto. These are expected to have larger apertures on the telephoto cameras, while the Pro Max variant will reportedly get a mechanically-adjustable aperture on the standard Wide camera. This should help allow users to take images where both the foreground and background are sharp when in good lighting, while allowing more light for nighttime shots. The iPhone 17 Pro’s new look will likely stick around for another year.Britta O’Boyle We’ve also seen a rumor that some of the Face ID sensors will find their way under the display, which will shrink the size of the Dynamic Island area or even reduce it to a simple “punch hole” camera design. A report in December claimed that the camera will move to the left corner for the first time, which could mean the Dynamic Island disappears altogether. We also expect the iPhone 18 Pro models to use Apple’s next-generation C2 modem as well as the N1 networking chip or its successor, too. Of course, there will be a new chip next year, as there is every year, but the A20 could be a bigger boost than usual. It’s said to be using a new Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging method that will move the chip’s RAM into the SoC package itself, which could bring significant boosts in performance and battery life. iPhone Fold The iPhone 18 Pro models won’t be what everyone is talking about next year, though. According to rumors, next year will finally be when Apple actually introduces a folding iPhone. We’ve heard the iPhone Fold is coming “in a couple of years” since at least 2018, but it looks like it really will arrive in 2026. The folding iPhone is said to be a “book” style folding phone with a 5.3-5.5-inch screen when folded and a 7.7-8-inch inside display. It should be less than 10mm thick when folded, and even thinner than an iPhone Air when unfolded. Most reports say the inside display will be widescreen rather than square like other folding phones. Furthermore, Apple has reportedly solved the creasing problem and has developed a “very strong” hinge. Apple’s folding iPhone will reportedly be more widescereen that offerings from Samsung and Google.Luke Baker Expect an A20 or A20 Pro and two rear cameras: wide and ultra-wide. There should be a pair of front cameras as well: one for when the iPhone is folded up and one for when it’s open. Face ID might not be a feature of either of them, though. The compact and ultra-thin design might necessitate a switch to Touch ID in the side button, as seen on the iPad Air. Above all, expect an eye-watering price. Most rumors suggest Apple will charge over $2,000 for the iPhone Fold (or whatever it’s called), with a figure of $2,400 not unrealistic. But even with a sky-high price tag, it’s still exciting that we may finally get a look at what Apple has been working on all these years. So, be sure to check out our article on everything we know so far about the folding iPhone for the latest rumors. iPhone Air 2? Will there be another iPhone Air? The rumors are mixed. Some say Apple has cut production of this year’s Air and delayed the second-gen model, others say it’s coming in 2026, and a report from The Information in December 2025 said it would release in spring 2027. So we don’t know. The biggest question is, why doesn’t the current version have a number? If Apple intended yearly updates, why not call it iPhone 17 Air? A next-generation iPhone Air seems likely, but it’s unclear whether it will be a minor refresh with an A20 chip and some other minor improvements or a massive upgrade with a second camera, one of our biggest complaints about the current iPhone Air. If it’s the latter, it’s likely to launch in 2027. The iPhone Air 2 might have a second camera—but might not arrive until 2027.Anyron Copeman / Foundry No iPhone 18 next year! Of course, the first folding iPhone will be the big Apple news of 2026, but just as significant is the shake-up to the iPhone release schedule. If the current leaks are accurate, there will be no iPhone 18 next year. Instead, Apple will release only the Pro models, the folding iPhone, and the iPhone Air successor next fall. The iPhone 18—the “base” model most popular with consumers—won’t be released until the following year. It will presumably join the iPhone 18e for a release around March of 2027; a springtime event for those who don’t want to spend $1,000 or more on a new iPhone.

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These 13 tips will help you get your new Mac set up right
Macworld Got a new Mac? If this is the first one you’ve ever owned, a hearty congratulations! Your new Mac is easy to use and more powerful than it’s ever been. As easy as the Mac is to use, doing some things may not be instantly obvious (especially if you are coming from Windows). You owe it to yourself to make sure you’re getting the most out of your new investment. Here are a few things that you should do right away that will help you get started down the path toward being a Mac power user. Most of these will cost you absolutely nothing except a bit of time to set up. We have a separate guide to how to set up your Mac, we also explain how to move everything from your old Mac to your new Mac. And if you are moving to Mac from a PC read: How to move from PC to Mac. 1. Enter your Apple Account and password Foundry There’s a good chance that even if this is your first Mac, you already use an iPhone or an iPad. Just like those other devices, your Mac wants you to enter your Apple Account and Apple Account password. Enter your Apple Account and password to connect to iCloud on your Mac when you first set it up or later through the Apple Account system settings. By connecting to iCloud with your Apple Account, you can access all your photos, contacts, calendars, and much more on all your Apple devices without ever having to physically tether or sync them. Once all your Apple devices are linked this way, you’ll also be able to take advantage of features like being able to cut and paste between devices, use a mouse and keyboard to control more than one Mac, and make purchases on the Mac App Store. Depending on whether you are an iCloud subscriber, you will also be able to sync files to the cloud, including documents and everything you save to your Desktop. Because you can access everything in iCloud on any Apple device you own, you won’t need to have your Mac handy to edit a Pages document you are working on, for example. Find out about iCloud here: How to use iCloud and What is iCloud Private Relay. To find out how much iCloud costs, read iCloud storage plans and prices. If you haven’t created an Apple Account yet, now is the time to do so. Think of your Apple Account as your keys to the kingdom. For help, read How to create an Apple ID. You can get to your Apple Account by going to System Settings and clicking Apple Account at the top. 2. Use the Help menu Foundry If you’ve ever wondered why the Mac doesn’t come with a thick owner’s manual explaining how it works and how all the apps work, wonder no more: that manual is actually built right into the computer. The Help menu is so obvious that most of us overlook it altogether. But we do so at our peril because it can be a huge help. The Help menu sits right there in the menu bar, and it’s contextual: Its contents will change depending on which app is open. Clicking on the Help menu will bring up a search field, table of contents, lists of shortcuts, and other helpful tips and step-by-step instructions, often with visual cues to show you which menus to click on and what menu items to select. Any time you get stuck in an app and don’t know what to do next, click on the Help menu to get out of a jam. 3. Get familiar with the Apple Menu Foundry The Apple menu is in the upper left corner of your Mac’s screen. Clicking on the Apple icon gives you instant access to your Mac’s System Settings, the Mac App Store, and apps and documents you’ve recently opened (see Recent Items). You can also use the Apple menu to restart your Mac and shut it down. If an app misbehaves and stops working, the Apple menu also sports a special function that’s worth knowing: Force Quit. Force quit will immediately quit a stubborn application, so you can restart your computer and get back to business. 4. Get to know Spotlight Foundry Built right into macOS, Spotlight helps you quickly find things on your computer: documents, apps, images, contacts, maps, and files. What’s more, it can connect to the internet to search places like Wikipedia, news sites, movie listings, and much more. You can even use Spotlight to do calculations, like converting feet to meters or any sort of simple arithmetic you’d rather trust to the computer. Spotlight lives on your Mac’s menu bar; it’s the icon that looks like a magnifying glass, and clicking on it brings up the Spotlight search field. You can also open Spotlight by pressing Command and Space at the same time. Type anything into the search field, and Spotlight will search for it. Once you get the hang of it, using Spotlight is the fastest way to launch apps, find documents, and do tons of other stuff on your Mac really quickly. Over the years, it’s gained more and more features, including robust web and image search, and quick actions like timers built right in. In macOS Tahoe, Spotlight offers access to your clipboard and support for running Actions from Shortcuts. Learn more. 5. Customize the Dock Apple The Dock is that bar of icons that sits at the bottom of your Mac’s screen. Docks on new Macs will be filled with Apple’s own built-in apps, like Safari, Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Notes, but you can customize them to your liking. Your Dock is the most important part of your Mac Desktop, so spend some time getting it just the way you want. You can tailor your Dock to show you only the apps you care about. Don’t use Maps or FaceTime? Drag them out of the Dock until the word Remove appears and let go. Use Mail more than anything else? Move it over to the left or right, instead. You can also add applications, folders, and files you need frequently simply by dragging them and dropping them into the Dock. To further reduce the space taken up by the Dock you can change the size of icons. To resize the Dock, click and drag on the bar that separates applications from folders and stacks. You can also change the size of icons, change the magnification of icons as you pass your cursor over them, turn off the bouncing animation, reposition the Dock to the left, bottom or right edges of your screen, and much more in the Desktop & Dock settings (macOS Ventura and later) or Dock & Menu Bar settings (macOS Monterey and earlier). 6. Personalize the way your Mac looks Foundry This is your Mac. Make it look the way you want it to. Change the wallpaper: Right-click the desktop and select Change Wallpaper, or open System Settings and select the Wallpaper option. You can pick from the beautiful images Apple provides or choose one of your own. Customize the interface: Open System Settings and choose Appearance. You can choose things like highlight colors and whether your interface changes to light or dark depending on the time of day, and more. Change the screen saver: In System Settings > Wallpaper, click on the Screen Saver button. You can pick from tons of screen savers, including some beautiful views of the Earth from the space station, underwater video, and more. Use Desktop Stacks: If you want to keep your Mac’s desktop tidy we recommend switching on Desktop Stacks, which will group all the files on your Desktop by category (you can choose whether they are sorted by kind, date, or tags.) To switch on Stacks click on the Desktop and choose View > Use Stacks from the menu. Now everything will be slotted into category-appropriate ‘Stacks’ on your Desktop rather than your Desktop being cluttered by thousands of screenshots and files. 7. Learn keyboard shortcuts and master gestures Foundry Apple’s user interface is set up with straightforward menus such as File and Edit, and most apps expose their major features through those menus as well. Need to print something? Just click on the File menu and select Print. But you can save yourself so much time by using keyboard shortcuts to do commonly used tasks instead. Instead of clicking on the File menu and selecting Print, for example, you can just hold down the Command key and press P. (If you are coming from a PC, mostly you will press Command where you used to press Control). Each app on the Mac has its own shortcuts. Opening Mac Help and searching for “keyboard shortcuts” will yield some references, we also recommend this article: These useful Mac keyboard shortcuts will help you work faster and smarter. If your new Mac includes a trackpad—either because it’s a laptop with a built-in pad, or you scored a Magic Trackpad to go with your new desktop—take some time to learn about the many gestures built into macOS, your new Mac’s operating system. One of the simplest ways to discover the various gestures available is right in System Settings. Once there, click on Trackpad. There, you’ll find three tabs’ worth of mouse shortcuts. Move the cursor over any of them, and you’ll get a video preview of how to trigger the gesture. Some may well improve your Mac computing experience; I, for one, love the three-finger double-tap on any word to bring up its definition. 8. Visit the Mac App Store Foundry The Mac App Store is a convenient and safe way to download software for your Mac, all using the same Apple Account and password you use for Music and iPhone apps. There are thousands of apps available, including many that won’t cost you a dime. The Mac App Store is much more important than just a way to download great new apps for your Mac. It’s also how Apple distributes essential app updates. To keep your Mac running in tip-top shape and to keep everything as secure as possible, download updates when you see notifications from the Mac App Store or set apps to automatically update like on your iPhone. On a new Mac, it’s right there in your Dock—the blue circle with a stylized A inside it. The Mac App Store offers thousands of apps, and downloading and installing those apps is straightforward. Many apps are free; others require a payment, ranging from $1 to a couple of hundred bucks. While you can—and likely will—find plenty of apps outside the cozy confines of the Mac App Store, browsing it is a great way to discover interesting apps, read reviews, and get a sense of the Mac software marketplace. On the M-series Macs, you can even install iPhone and iPad apps. When you’re searching, just click over to the iPhone & iPad Apps tab to download iOS apps right on your desktop. 9. Start a backup Time Machine snapshots appear as volumes in the Finder. Foundry Setting up a backup is boring, un-fun, and doesn’t involve playing with any cool apps or doodads. But your future self will thank You-Of-Just-Past-Christmas, and with good reason: Having a good backup solution now means you won’t lose irreplaceable data later. We’ve covered numerous ways to back up your Mac with minimal fuss. Pick at least one and get started. Trust me. Probably the simplest solution is to use Apple’s own backup solution, Time Machine, which is part of the Mac operating system (see How to use Time Machine to back up your Mac). All you need is a separate external storage device that you can buy for a relatively small investment (see: Best external SSD for Mac or best external hard drives if you want something a bit cheaper/bigger). Time Machine makes recovering from big problems easy because it keeps a snapshot of your Mac and makes it a breeze to migrate to a new Mac when the time comes to replace or upgrade your system. The “time” in Time Machine is a timeline that you can review, restoring files or changes to files that were made at the points where Time Machine saved its backups. Time Machine backs up your Mac hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly, so you’ll always be able to recover to that point in time. As long as that drive is connected your Mac will be backed up. To set up Time Machine follow these steps: Plug in an external drive. Open System Settings and go to General. Find Time Machine in the column on the right. Click on Options to set the backup frequency. 10. Set up your email Foundry Are you still accessing your email using a web browser, going to Gmail or Microsoft’s website to see what new messages you have? There’s a better way: Apple gives you a Mail app that can connect to almost every email service. Using the Mail app is a lot more convenient, especially if you check multiple email accounts, and it’s well-integrated with macOS’s other core applications, such as Contacts, Calendars, and Maps. You’ll find the Mail app in your Dock on new machines. Click it to open it and follow the instructions to set up your account. 11. Find your printer Foundry With so many of us working from home these days, printers are a big thing in many of our houses. In the past, you had to download and install drivers and software, but the Mac makes it way easier to set up. All you need to do is to connect your printer to one of your Mac’s USB-C ports or connect to a Wi-Fi network. Open System Settings Click on Printers & Scanners. Click on the Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax button. If your Mac recognizes the device (and it should), it’ll configure it as needed and download any applicable drivers from Apple’s servers. 12. FaceTime a friend Video chatting might not feel like the future anymore, but it’s still a delight. No software makes it easier to start (or receive) a video call than FaceTime, which is built right into macOS. Find FaceTime in your Applications folder, or use Spotlight to search for FaceTime by typing in the first few letters of the app’s name. Now all you need is the email address or phone number of another FaceTime user. Read more about using FaceTime on a Mac in our guide. 13. Check out Apple Intelligence Apple Apple Intelligence has some new tricks, including Image Playground and ChatGPT integration. And that’s in addition to the features introduced with macOS 15.1, including Writing Tools and a smarter Photos app.

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A lifetime of Microsoft Office now costs less than two years of Microsoft 365
Macworld TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 works for Mac or PC, and a lifetime license is now only $150. One of the only benefits to using Microsoft 365 over older versions of Office is the new AI integrations, but that just changed. You can now get recent versions of Microsoft apps without a subscription by switching to a Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business Lifetime License. This version has all the new AI integrations, but instead of paying minimum $99.99 per year, it’s only $149.97 for life (reg. $249.99). This version of Office works for Mac or PC and comes with Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook This version gives you the most recent updates for the core apps. In Word, that includes Focus Mode, which hides extra toolbars, and Smart Compose, which uses AI to suggest text as you write. PowerPoint adds built-in presentation recording with voice, video, and captions. Excel gets dynamic arrays and AI-driven data insights that can pull trends from large spreadsheets and suggest chart types. Outlook improves search and includes an updated accessibility checker that flags unclear language, formatting issues, and missing elements. If you don’t want to pay every month for software you can own, don’t miss this deal. Right now, it’s only $149.97 to get Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac or PC. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Don’t settle for a no-name laptop when $200 gets you a MacBook Air
Macworld TL;DR: A fully functional MacBook Air for $199.97 (MSRP $999) makes the perfect backup laptop (or budget upgrade) — light, fast, and dependable. Every household needs a backup laptop—the one you grab when your main machine dies mid-deadline, when your kid leaves their Chromebook at school, or when you simply don’t feel like lugging around your expensive daily driver. And for $199.97, that backup should absolutely be a MacBook. This refurbished 13″ MacBook Air (2017) hits the sweet spot: lightweight, reliable, and powerful enough for everyday tasks without feeling outdated. With its Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD, and 12-hour battery life, it handles browsing, streaming, emailing, video calls, and light productivity. Need a travel laptop? A couch laptop? A “just in case” laptop? This one checks all the boxes. The bright 13.3″ display, smooth Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth support, and classic MacBook build quality make it a pleasure to use — especially given the price. And because it ships with free delivery and a Grade A/B refurbished rating, you’re getting excellent condition hardware without the guilt of buying brand-new. Backup computers don’t need to be clunky or cheap-feeling. They can be a MacBook Air. Just grab this refurb MacBook Air for $199.97 (MSRP $999) with free shipping before everyone else realizes that. Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13″ i5 1.8GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Slop Is Slop
The image Tim Cook posted on Twitter/X (and which the Apple TV account retweeted) is ugly and awkward. It either *is* AI-generated slop or it looks like AI-generated slop for no artistic or thematic reason whatsoever.

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Security Bite: What ‘Ask App Not to Track’ actually does
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. When Apple dropped App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompts in iOS 14.5 back in 2021, it was a watershed moment for user privacy within third-party applications. Nothing like it had existed prior. The initiative gave iPhone users control over whether their in-app data could be aggregated and shared with third parties for advertising or other purposes. Still, today, I often find comments online from people who don’t really know what it does and find the wording very taboo. Like, why “Ask” the app? And is it still effective? Let’s briefly look at App Tracking Transparency in 2025… more…

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'Pull Over and Show Me Your Apple Wallet'
Longtime Slashdot reader theodp writes: MacRumors reports that Apple plans to expand iPhone and Apple Watch driver's licenses to 7 U.S. states (CT, KY, MS, OK, UT, AR, VA). A recent convert is the State of Illinois, whose website videos demo how you can use your Apple Wallet license to display proof of identity or age the next time you get carded by a cop, bartender, or TSA agent. The new states will join 13 others who already offer driver's licenses in the Wallet app (AZ, MD, CO, GA, OH, HI, CA, IA, NM, MT, ND, WV, IL). There's certainly been a lot of foot-dragging by the states when it comes to embracing phone-based driver's licenses -- Slashdot reported that Iowa was ready to launch a mobile driver's license in 2014; they didn't get one until nearly a decade later, in late 2023. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Roomba expands Matter support, adding HomeKit compatibility to multiple vacuums
The latest firmware update expands Matter compatibility to multiple Roomba models. Here are the details. more…

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Amazon slashes Apple Watch Series 11 to $299 heading into the new year
If you're embarking on a new fitness journey for 2026, keep track of your steps and monitor sleep patterns with the Apple Watch Series 11, which is now on sale for $299.Save $100 on a variety of Apple Watch Series 11 styles at Amazon - Image credit: AppleAmazon's year-end deals are plentiful, and if you're looking for a top discount on a new wearable, the Apple Watch Series 11 is especially attractive at $100 off.Buy Apple Watch S11 for $299 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Canada Fines Cybercrime Friendly Cryptomus $176M
Financial regulators in Canada this week levied $176 million in fines against Cryptomus, a digital payments platform that supports dozens of Russian cryptocurrency exchanges and websites hawking cybercrime services. The penalties for violating Canada's anti money-laundering laws come ten months after KrebsOnSecurity noted that Cryptomus's Vancouver street address was home to dozens of foreign currency dealers, money transfer businesses, and cryptocurrency exchanges — none of which were physically located there.

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Email Bombs Exploit Lax Authentication in Zendesk
Cybercriminals are abusing a widespread lack of authentication in the customer service platform Zendesk to flood targeted email inboxes with menacing messages that come from hundreds of Zendesk corporate customers simultaneously.

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Patch Tuesday, October 2025 ‘End of 10’ Edition
Microsoft today released software updates to plug a whopping 172 security holes in its Windows operating systems, including at least three vulnerabilities that are already being actively exploited. October's Patch Tuesday also marks the final month that Microsoft will ship security updates for Windows 10 systems. If you're running a Windows 10 PC and you're unable or unwilling to migrate to Windows 11, read on for other options.

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DDoS Botnet Aisuru Blankets US ISPs in Record DDoS
The world's largest and most disruptive botnet is now drawing a majority of its firepower from compromised Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices hosted on U.S. Internet providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, new evidence suggests. Experts say the heavy concentration of infected devices at U.S. providers is complicating efforts to limit collateral damage from the botnet's attacks, which shattered previous records this week with a brief traffic flood that clocked in at nearly 30 trillion bits of data per second.

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ShinyHunters Wage Broad Corporate Extortion Spree
A cybercriminal group that used voice phishing attacks to siphon more than a billion records from Salesforce customers earlier this year has launched a website that threatens to publish data stolen from dozens of Fortune 500 firms if they refuse to pay a ransom. The group also claimed responsibility for a recent breach involving Discord user data, and for stealing terabytes of sensitive files from thousands of customers of the enterprise software maker Red Hat.

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AirPods Pro 3 on Holiday Sale for $50 off Apple’s MSRP, now only $199
Amazon has Apple AirPods Pro 3 on Holiday sale for $50 off MSRP, including free shipping: - AirPods Pro 3: $199, $50 off Their price is the lowest we've seen so far for these new AirPods Pro models. Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.

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Holiday Sale: 24-inch iMacs for $150-$170 off MSRP
Amazon has Apple's 24-inch M4 iMacs on Holiday sale for $150-$170 off MSRP, starting at $1149, each including free shipping: - 24-inch M4 iMac (8-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD): $1149, $150 off MSRP - 24-inch M4 iMac (10-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD): $1349, $150 off MSRP - 24-inch M4 iMac (10-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1549, $150 off MSRP - 24-inch M4 iMac (8-Core CPU, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1729-1749, $150-$170 off MSRP Amazon's prices are the lowest available for one of these new iMacs. Note that stock can vary. Price posted above is the lowest price available for each standard configuration, regardless of color. For the latest prices and deals, see our iMac Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Holiday Sale: Apple 11-inch M3 iPads for $100-$50 off MSRP
Take $100-$50 off 11-inch M3 iPad Airs at Amazon as part of their ongoing Holiday sale. Shipping is free: - 11" 128GB WiFi M3 iPad Air: $499, $100 off MSRP - 11" 256GB WiFi M3 iPad Air: $599, $100 off MSRP - 11" 512GB WiFi M3 iPad Air: $824.99, $75 off MSRP - 11" 1TB WiFi M3 iPad Air: $1049, $50 off MSRP Be sure to order from Amazon itself rather than a third-party seller. These are the lowest prices currently available for new 11" M3-powered iPad Airs. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our iPad Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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27-inch 5K Studio Displays back in stock and on Holiday sale starting at $1368, up to $231 off MSRP
Amazon has Apple Studio Displays (Standard Glass) back in stock and on Holiday sale starting at $1368, up to $231 off MSRP. Shipping is free: - Studio Display (Tilt Adjustable): $1368 $231 off MSRP - Studio Display (Tilt & Height Adjustable): $1849 $150 off MSRP Their prices are the lowest available for Studio Displays among the retailers we track, and $1368 is the lowest price we've seen for a new Studio Display for the past few months. For the latest prices and sales, see our Studio Display Price Tracker, updated daily.

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2nd generation Apple HomePods on sale for $20 off MSRP with free 1-2 day shipping
B&H Photo has Apple's 2nd generation full-size HomePods (White or Midnight) on sale for $20 off MSRP. This is the steepest discount available on 2nd-gen HomePods among the Apple retailers we track. In addition, B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping on these models to most US addresses: - HomePod (White): $279, save $20 - HomePod (Midnight): $279, save $20 See our HomePod Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals from Apple and its resellers.

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Update: Apple’s new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pros on Holiday sale again for $250 off MSRP, prices start at $1349
Amazon is now offering $250 discounts on new 14" M5 MacBook Pros as part of their Holiday sales, each including free shipping: - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Black): $1349, MSRP $1599 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Silver): $1349, MSRP $1599 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Black): $1549, MSRP $1799 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Silver): $1599.00, MSRP $1799 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Black): $1749, MSRP $1999 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Silver): $1749, MSRP $1999 These are the lowest prices available for new M5 MacBook Pros right now. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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The latest AirPods Holiday sales: Take $80 off AirPods 4 w/ANC, $30 off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon has Apple AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3 on Holiday sale for up to $80 off MSRP, including free shipping: - AirPods 4 with ANC: $99.99, $80 off - AirPods Pro 3: $219.99, $30 off These are currently the lowest Holiday sale prices available for these AirPods models. Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.

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Lowest Holiday Sale Price Alert! Apple Watch Series 11 models for $100 off MSRP
Amazon is now offering a $100 discount on new Apple Watch Series 11 models as part of their Holiday sales. Shipping is free: - 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS: $299, save $100 - 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS: $329, save $100 - 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + 5G: $399, save $100 - 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + 5G: $429, save $100 These are the lowest prices available for Apple Watch Series 11 models. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Holiday Sale: Take $200-$100 off Apple’s new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pros, prices start at only $1399
Amazon is offering $200-$100 discounts on new 14" M5 MacBook Pros as part of their Holiday sales this weekend, each including free shipping: - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Black): $1399, MSRP $1599 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Silver): $1399, MSRP $1599 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Black): $1599, MSRP $1799 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Silver): $1599, MSRP $1799 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Black): $1849, MSRP $1999 - 14" M5 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Silver): $1899, MSRP $1999 These are the lowest prices available for new M5 MacBook Pros right now. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Here are this weekend’s lowest Holiday sale prices on Apple 14-inch M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros
Apple retailers are offering Holiday sale prices on 14" M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros ranging up to $400 off Apple's MSRP. Here at the lowest prices currently available: (1): Amazon has Apple's 14-inch M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on Holiday sale for up to $400 off MSRP. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party seller: - 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB): $1749, $250 off MSRP - 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB): $2099, $300 off MSRP - 14" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB): $2799, $400 off MSRP (2): B&H Photo is offering 14-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Pro or M4 Max CPUs for up to $400 off Apple's MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB): $1749, $250 off MSRP - 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB): $2099, $300 off MSRP - 14" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB): $2799, $400 off MSRP For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Holiday Sale: $250 off 13-inch M4 MacBook Airs, prices start at only $749
Amazon has all 13" M4 MacBook Airs on Holiday sale right now for $250 off Apple's MSRP, starting at only $749. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party: - 13" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $749, $250 off - 13" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB): $949, $250 off - 13" M4 MacBook Air (24GB/512GB): $1149, $250 off Their prices are the lowest Holiday sale prices for new MacBook Airs among Apple's retailers. For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Holiday Sale: Take $200 off Apple’s 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs
Amazon has all 15" M4 MacBook Airs on Holiday sale right now for $200 off Apple's MSRP, starting at only $999. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party: - 15" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/256GB): $999, $200 off - 15" M4 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB): $1199, $200 off - 15" M4 MacBook Air (24GB/512GB/): $1399, $200 off These are the best Holiday sale prices currently available for 15" M4 MacBook Airs. For the latest sales & prices, see our 15" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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