Black Friday Week deals: iPhone 15/16 Pro up to $800 off, AirPods Max $119 off, AirPods 4 $80, iPad Pro $400 off, more
We are now quickly approaching Black Friday proper, but the seriously discounted holiday pricing is already in full swing. New all-time lows on AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 continue into this week, and we are now tracking all five AirPods Max (USB-C) colors at $119 off. Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break also features a new all-time low on Apple’s 16GB/512GB M4 Mac mini at $130 off with deals starting from $479 and some official Black Friday price drops on iPhone 15 Pro/Max and iPhone 16 Pro/Max at up to $800+ off the original list prices. That is just for starters here though folks – the 2TB M4 iPad Pro is $400 off today – and there are plenty more waiting below.  more…

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Save $400 on Apple's M4 Max MacBook Pro in Black Friday price war
A Black Friday MacBook Pro price war is in effect now as retailers slash Apple's M4 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro to $2,799 — a discount of $400 off.Save $400 on this M4 Max MacBook Pro for Black Friday - Image credit: AppleDiscounts of up to $493 off can be found in our 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro & M4 Max Price Guide, but we're especially fond of this M4 Max configuration that's on sale for $2,799 as Amazon and B&H engage in a Black Friday price war.Save $400 on M4 Max MacBook Pro Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Best cheap antivirus deals for Mac
Macworld With Apple already including built-in antivirus protection for Macs you might be wondering “Do Macs need antivirus software?” especially when confronted by pricy monthly subscriptions for services. In this article we’ll explain why you need an extra layer of protection and how to get the best cheap Mac antivirus software with the best deals. Mac security software adds another layer of protection to what Apple already provides, with features that can help to protect your identity, passwords, and financial details. These are the things that criminals are after, and they’ll often use cunning ways to extract them rather than spending time trying to break past Apple’s defenses in macOS. Although some of the packages here are solely focused on macOS, others will also protect Android and Windows devices you might also own, and that makes the price of protection much cheaper per computer. It’s November, which means that Black Friday is looming, and in our experience we see some great Black Friday deals on Mac Antivirus, so bookmark this page because we will be updating the deals as we see them! Our best deal this month is our top choice of Mac Antivirus Software: Intego Mac Internet Security X9 – you can get it for $24.99/£20.99 a year for one Mac, normally $49.99/£49.99 a year get the deal here. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Read our review Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, usually $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link Best Prices Today: $24.99 at Intego There are lots of other great options if you are looking for cheap antivirus software for Mac. We’ve evaluated antivirus for Mac solutions from several companies, including free and low-cost options as well as some more feature-packed alternatives. See our round-up of the Best antivirus for Mac and our guide to How to remove a Mac virus for free, where we also run through the best free options. Here we will share the best free antivirus options as well as the best deals we have seen on the paid-for antivirus solutions. Best free antivirus for Mac Several companies offer free antivirus software for Mac, one of our top recommendations is Intego VirusBarrier Scanner (read our review), we also liked Avast Security for Mac (read our review). However, you should always be cautious using a free antivirus and don’t expect all the features of the paid-for options. Intego VirusBarrier Scanner (read our review) – free virus scanner. Get it here. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac (read our review) – is free and also includes a VPN. Get it here. AVG Antivirus For Mac (read our review) – free version offers basic features. Get it here. Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac (read our review) – is free to use. Get it here. Malwarebytes Antivirus for Mac (read our review) – has a free version as well as a paid version. Get it here. Avast Security for Mac (read our review) – offers a free option alongside the Premium plan. Get it here. Cheapest antivirus deals for Mac You’ll find the following Mac antivirus recommendations in our round-up of the Best antivirus for Mac. We’re just presenting the lower-priced options here, but if you look at the roundup you may find alternative deals that suit you better. 1. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Pros Built for Mac Easy to set up Cons No protection from phishing links in email Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, usually $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link First year, 1 Mac, Internet Security X9$24.99First year, 1 Mac, Mac Premium Bundle$29.99First year, 1 Mac, VirusBarrier X9 only$19.99See all plans & pricing at Intego Intego Mac Internet Security X9 offers a useful set of security utilities that help keep your Mac safe and running smoothly and its user-friendly interface is right at home with Apple’s macOS aesthetic. We have a special deal for Intego Mac Internet Security X9, which bundles Intego VirusBarrier and NetBarrier, so you can get it for $24.99/£20.99 a year ($2.08/£1.75 a month) for one Mac: get the deal here. Intego also regularly discounts the Mac Premium Bundle that includes Mac Internet Security X9 as well as NetBarrier, Washing Machine, Content Barrier and Personal Backup apps. The deal is currently: $29.99/£23.99 a year ($2.50/£2 a month). Get the deal here. There’s also a deal to get Intego VirusBarrier X9 for $19.99/$17.99. Get the deal here. Read our full Intego Mac Internet Security X9 review 2. Norton 360 Pros Fast, good performance and stability Minimal performance impact Cons Unable to scan .zip archives Price When Reviewed: Standard (3 devices): $41.88 for first year, usually $94.99 a year; Deluxe (5 devices): $53.88 for first year, usually $119.99 a year 1 year, 3 devices$39.991 year, 5 devices$49.991 year, 3 devices (Amazon)$17.99 The user interface is clean and friendly and the program ran both its foreground and background tasks briskly, with no crashes or slowdowns. There are some differences between the UK and US versions of Norton 360. In the U.S. you pay $39.99 for Norton 360 Standard which gives you protection for three devices, or $29.99 to protect one device with Norton AntiVirus Plus. In the U.K. it’s £24.99 for Norton 360 Standard for just one device. Norton also has a deal on Norton 360 Deluxe, which is $49.99/£29.99 for the first year. That version covers 5 devices (including Macs, PCs and iOS devices). But the best deals are on Amazon. For example, at Amazon U.S. Norton 360 Deluxe (covering three devices) is $29.99 for a year get the deal here. In the U.K. there’s a deal on Amazon U.K: get cover for three devices for just £10.50. Get the deal here Read our full Norton 360 review 3. McAfee Total Protection Pros Good, customizable set of security tools Background scanning feature Cons Can be laggy Price When Reviewed: Single: $29.99 (1 device) for first year, usually $89.99; Essential: $39.99 (5 devices) for first year, usually $119.99 a year 1 year, 1 device$29.991 year, 5 devices$39.99PCWorld Software Store$19.99 McAfee Total Protection offers some good tools with good background protection and customization as well as an easy means of keeping your devices secure. You can get the Basic McAfee Total Protection for one device for $29.99 a year, or cover five devices for $39.99 for one year in the U.S. – get the U.S. deal here. McAfee Total Protection Basic is £34.99 a year for one device for the first year in the U.K. or £39.99 for five devices – get the U.K. deal here. Read our full McAfee Total Protection review 4. Avast Premium Security Pros Impressive malware detection and network tools Easy to specify antiviral scan types and target volumes Cons Descriptions of suspect files lack detail Price When Reviewed: From $49.08 for first year, usually $77.99 a year (1 Mac). First year, 1 Mac$49.08 (usually $77.99)First year, 10 devices$69.48 (usually $99.99) This suite offers a good suite of tools at a good price. The best functions such as VPN, disk cleanup, and anti-tracking tools are only available on the “Ultimate” subscription tier. Avast will cover for one Mac for $49.08/£39.99 for the first year. Read our full Avast Premium Security review 5. Surfshark One Pros Good speed and performance Impressive anti-virus/anti-malware shielding Identity alert and protection Cons Multi-year contracts Occasional trouble accessing Google services Price When Reviewed: Surfshark One, 24 months at $2.19 a month with 3 free months (Total for 27 months: $59.13); 12 months at $3.39 a month with 3 free months (Total for 15 months: $50.85); or $17.95/month. 15 months, 1 Mac$50.8527 months, 1 Mac59.131 month, 1 Mac17.95 Surfshark One offers a genuinely excellent suite of tools that combine its VPN with anti-virus/anti-malware and privacy-focused identity protection. It’s price is high compared to other options here, but it’s saving you the price of a VPN too. The VPN module includes tools such as IP configuration, an Internet kill switch, rotating IP addresses, and Invisible on LAN features. While Surfshark One’s real-time protection tool was able to catch dozens of our sample malware installers. Sign up for two years and get three free months: that’s $59.13/£42.93 for 27 months coverage. Get the deal here Read our full Surfshark One review 6. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac Pros Easy to scan external volumes such as flash drives Nice user interface Cons Occasional freezes Limited VPN Price When Reviewed: $24.99 per year for 1 device (usually $39.99), $29.99 per year for 3 devices (usually $59.99) 1 year, 3 devices$29.99 (usually $59.99)1 year, 1 device$24.99 (usually $39.99) Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers a handy, customizable user interface and good features. Bitdefender Total Security is currently $29.99 (usually $59.99) in the U.S. for a one-year subscription for one device. In the U.K. it’s £17.99 (usually £29.99) for a year and one device: get the U.S. deal here / get the U.K. deal here. Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac review 7. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac Pros Good malware detection Low system load Cons Fewer extra features than less-expensive options Price When Reviewed: $29.95 for first year, usually $39.95 a year (1 Mac) 1 year, 1 Mac$29.95 Trend Micro Antivirus is a good program with well-rated antivirus protection and a simple, straightforward interface that users will appreciate. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac is currently $29.95 for first year for one Mac, usually $39.95: Get the U.S. deal here / Currently £19.95 for first year for one Mac, usually £49.95: Get the U.K. deal here. Read our full Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac review 8. Eset Home Security Pros Good level of antiviral and real-time protection Excellent customization options Cons Slow drive scan Didn’t include the promised password manager or encryption features Price When Reviewed: Essential: $24.99 a year for one device; Premium: $39.99 a year for one device 1 year, 1 Mac (Premium) $39.991 year, 1 Mac (Essential)$24.99 ESET Home Security Premium completes its primary task of antiviral and malware prevention and there’s an excellent level of customization. We did encounter a few bugs when we tested it though. The ESET Home Security Premium is $39.99/£39.99 (usually $79.99/£64.99) for first year for one device. There’s also the cheaper ESET Home Security Essential: $24.99/£24.49 (usually $49.99/£34.99) for first year for one devices. Read our full Eset Home Security review How to find a good antivirus deal It can be hard to know where to start with antivirus. Protecting your tech from malware, ransomware and other cyber attacks is such an important thing to do, but most of the services available appear to be very similar to one another, so it’s hard to understand which are the most secure, and which are the best value. Many of the offers are for more than one device – do you have multiple devices to protect? Do you need to protect an iPhone as well as your Mac? Do you really need to protect your iPhone at all? Many of the best deals spread payments over a number of years. This can save you money because the price of a deal that covers you for one year can increase significantly in the preceding years. But do you want to be stuck paying every year for the cover? You can rest assured that we will only share deals here if we think they’re good enough to be worth buying. Everything we share here will be a great saving on a service we trust. We recommend taking a look at our article all about the best Mac antivirus to help you get a better understanding of which services we like most. You’ll find that antivirus discounts can be huge, often at more than half price for your Mac or mobile devices. Do note that these are typically first-year deals, and at renewal you’ll pay the regular price.

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Apple’s new Siri solution already has me more excited for iOS 26.4
Earlier this month, a pair of Bloomberg reports indicated Apple will partner with Google to power its highly anticipated Siri upgrades. I was initially hopeful this would prove a smart solution, but now following the rollout of Gemini 3 last week, I’m more excited than ever for the new Siri in iOS 26.4. more…

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Apple focusing on ‘quality, underlying performance,’ and AI for iOS 27, macOS 27 next year
For iOS 27 and 2026's other flagship OS releases — including macOS 27 — Apple is prioritizing "quality and underlying performance." The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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This 10K Anker magnetic iPhone power bank is just $36 for Black Friday–lowest price yet
Macworld Your iPhone has great battery life, but if you’re going to be away for a while, it’s always best to leave the house with a power bank tucked away in your bag. And today’s a great day to grab one: This Amazon Black Friday sale drops the price on the 10K Anker magnetic power bank to just $36, a savings of $24, and the best price we’ve ever seen. Even better, all three colors — black, white, and sky blue — are on sale for the same price, so you don’t have to settle for a color you don’t want. With a 10,000mAh capacity, the power bank offers at least two full recharges for your iPhone. The super-strong magnet keeps it in place without problem, even if you’re using the phone while you’re out and about. If you’d rather use the USB-C port on the side of the power bank, you can expect 20W charging, which will refill your phone in no time. One of the coolest things about this particular Anker power bank is that it comes with a kickstand. So, if you’re at your desk, for instance, you can just open the stand, magnetize the phone to it, and enjoy watching videos or checking notifications while it’s charging. So get some peace of mind this Black Friday and get this $36 Anker power bank with a kickstand from Amazon because this Black Friday deal won’t last forever. This Anker power bank is 40% offBuy now at Amazon

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CNN's Apple News feed goes dark while contract talks continue
CNN quietly pulled its feed from Apple News, a temporary move allegedly tied to ongoing contract talks.Apple NewsIf you woke up expecting to read your CNN feed from the Apple News app, you were probably a bit confused this morning. That's because CNN has decided to pull its content off the Apple-branded news aggregator — at least for now.The reason is, fortunately, pretty routine. CNN's contract to bring its feed to Apple News is up for renewal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Do You Use It? Contact Posters Remain a Niche Feature
Two years after Apple introduced contact posters in iOS 17, our Do You Use It? poll shows that over half of respondents haven’t created a single one. The feature’s limited visibility and fussy creation process may explain the lackluster adoption.

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Apple is losing many hardware engineers to OpenAI’s Jony Ive AI device efforts
OpenAI is aggressively recruiting talent from Apple’s hardware engineering team. While Jony Ive’s design firm LoveFrom has long been… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple TV dropping next episode of Pluribus early this week
It’s Thanksgiving week in the United States, and Apple TV is giving viewers around the world one more reason to be thankful. Apple has confirmed that the fifth episode of Pluribus will arrive earlier than expected this week. more…

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Apple iOS 27 to Be No-Frills 'Snow Leopard' Update, Other Than New AI
Apple's next major iPhone software update will prioritize stability and performance over flashy new features, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who reports that iOS 27 is being developed as a "Snow Leopard-style" release [non-paywalled source] focused on fixing bugs, removing bloat and improving underlying code after this year's sweeping Liquid Glass design overhaul in iOS 26. Engineering teams are currently combing through Apple's operating systems to eliminate unnecessary code and address quality issues that users have reported since iOS 26's September release. Those complaints include device overheating, unexplained battery drain, user interface glitches, keyboard failures, cellular connectivity problems, app crashes, and sluggish animations. iOS 27 won't be feature-free. Apple plans several AI additions: a health-focused AI agent tied to a Health+ subscription, expanded AI-powered web search meant to compete with ChatGPT and Perplexity, and deeper AI integration across apps. The company has also been internally testing a chatbot app called Veritas as a proving ground for its re-architected Siri, though a standalone chatbot product isn't currently planned. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Today in Apple history: Toy Story 2 arrives in theaters
On November 24, 1999, Steve Jobs got another feather in his cap when Pixar's "Toy Story 2" arrived in theaters and became a massive hit. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iOS 27 could be Mac OS X Snow Leopard all over again
Macworld In various ways, this year’s Apple operating system updates (iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and so on) represented a major departure from the past, from the new version numbering system to the radical new Liquid Glass design language. But not everyone was convinced. Liquid Glass proved controversial, so much so that Apple was forced to add a toggle to let users tone down its showy visual effects. iOS 26 and its siblings were also beset by bugs, from keyboard typos to battery drain. And this all follows the heavily AI-focused launches in 2024, which promised numerous features that would end up heavily delayed or fail to appear at all. With this background, it’s perhaps not surprising to learn that 2026’s launches will reportedly take a different approach. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman reports that iOS 27 and the other OS updates next year will be what’s known as maintenance releases, focusing on improving stability and performance rather than new features. He doesn’t cite a source for this prediction, but usually bases his claims on anonymous reports from within the company. “For iOS 27 and next year’s other major operating system updates,” Gurman writes, “the company is focused on improving the software’s quality and underlying performance… Engineering teams are now combing through Apple’s operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality.” As Gurman points out, this would be reminiscent of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the Mac update released in 2009. Much like iOS 27, this followed a major and somewhat disruptive update, in the shape of 2007’s Mac OS X Leopard; rather than trying to pile on even more change, Apple chose to fix and optimize the raft of new features it already had. The slight problem is that these days, iPhone OS updates in particular are big news, generally forming the centerpiece of Apple’s publicly broadcast WWDC keynote in the summer. Having to get on (virtual) stage and spend more than an hour talking about bug fixes and bloat elimination may not be an appealing prospect for Craig Federighi, who will want at least a few tentpole features to discuss. And Gurman concedes that this will probably happen. The tentpole features, inevitably, will focus on AI. Gurman says we can expect Apple’s AI health agent to arrive next year, as well as AI-powered web search. With the new Siri finally expected to roll out in the spring, iOS 27 will be able to build on a firm AI foundation. Watching WWDC, one will no doubt be left with the impression that AI is the big news for 2026. But look more closely, and the evidence suggests that the real change will be more understated, and perhaps more valuable.

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New rumor makes ‘iPhone Ultra’ foldable next year seem more likely
After years in development, Apple’s first foldable iPhone is coming next year as a high-end new model. Today an analyst has shared a very high expected price for the new foldable that might, in my opinion, push Apple to call it ‘iPhone Ultra.’ more…

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French lawsuit again turns Apple's App Store fees into a high-stakes legal test
Spotify hasn't paid Apple a dime in fees since 2018, but a new lawsuit in France with the EU-dominant music streaming service at its center is challenging the payment rules that help power Apple's App Store.An EU flag with the App Store logoApple is facing a representative action from French consumer group Consommation, Logement et Cadre de Vie (CLCV) over higher prices paid by users who subscribed to music services through the App Store. The claim argues that people who signed up on an iPhone or iPad paid about $1 to $3 more per month than if they had subscribed on the web.The target is Apple's commission structure and the way it shapes pricing inside the ecosystem. The lawsuit applies to subscriptions purchased through the App Store between 2011 and 2025, a period that spans Apple's entire modern Services push. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple News just lost a major media partner after a decade
Apple News readers will see one less source in the app starting today. A major media partner has pulled its content from Apple’s News app after a decade. more…

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Manage files and record 4K ProRes RAW video on iPhone with new Lexar ES5 MagSafe-compatible SSD
Apple introduced the ability to record ProRes RAW at 4K 120FPS on iPhone when connected to an external SSD, and Lexar's ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD makes using this feature simple and convenient.Lexar ES5 MagSafe SSD can attach to your iPhoneExternal storage that is fast and reliable has become commonplace, with small-sized SSDs holding 2TB or more popping up everywhere. Though, when looking for one that's great for iPhone, they're harder to find and don't always have a good way to mount.The Lexar ES5 Magnetic SSD solves these problems in a small, lightweight SSD that can attach to an iPhone via magnets. A small clip keeps the needed USB-C cable always within reach when not in use. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Save hundreds as MacBook Air, Mac mini, and more hit new lows for Black Friday
The Black Friday deals have arrived for Apple’s latest and greatest lineup of Macs. We’re tracking solid deals across the board on the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. Whether you’re tempted by the ultra-slim and cute design of the Mac mini, the portability of the MacBook Air, or the sheer power of the MacBook Pro, there’s something for everyone in this lineup of Mac Black Friday sales. more…

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I’d love to see Apple adopt a tick-tock approach to software releases
A Bloomberg report suggests that next year could be a Snow Leopard-style update for each of Apple’s operating systems. In other words, the company will prioritize working on bug fixes and reliability over new features. The timing of this claim seems dubious to me: as Gurman himself acknowledges, Apple absolutely has to introduce a lot of AI improvements next year, so I don’t see how it can possibly qualify as a bug-fix year. Timing aside, however, this is something I would love to see … more…

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Ugreen’s most affordable NAS units will solve your data storage problem [Review] ★★★★☆
We tested Ugreen’s DH2300 and 4300 Plus, which aim to offer large, reliable storage without the complexity of traditional NAS setups. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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CNN drops out of Apple News, for now
CNN has pulled its articles from Apple News, terminating its content-sharing partnership with the platform, according to… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iPhone Fold nears mass production, screen crease issue rumored to be solved
Apple has reportedly solved the creasing problem of foldable displays, as the supply chain continues to prepare for the iPhone Fold's production in 2026.A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsiderThe iPhone Fold is anticipated to be launched sometime in 2026 or 2027, and have a book-like flexible screen as part of its design. If reports are right, Apple has managed to crack one of the biggest problems of foldable devices.According to supply chain sources of UDN, Apple has made a breakthrough to solve the crease problem. It's a solution that will make the iPhone the first with a true crease-free design. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPad 11 hits all-time low for Black Friday — limited time deal!
An iPad Black Friday deal offers a big discount on Apple's most affordable tablet: the entry-level iPad 11. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Game development diary: Planning failures and the fyre festival of game expos
Development on iPhone game "Character Limit" continues apace, but I learned two lessons that stole valuable time: trade shows are dying, and feature creep is the main enemy fighting completion of a project.November had Malcolm struggle to add Welsh to the game, and be disappointed by an overhyped expo. When you're working on a difficult project on your own, it can get lonely and bewildering in equal parts. When it's game development and your first real attempt at making a product, it's also a process where you learn to regret your actions.AppleInsider readers will be familiar with my ongoing quest to make a game on my Mac, with the coding assistance of ChatGPT in Xcode. Character Limit is a simple word game, which I intend to bring out on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and PC, using both Steam and the App Store. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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AI-Powered Ways To Save on Christmas in a Post-Shutdown Season
Today’s consumer AI tools can help you stretch your budget without sacrificing meaning — from smarter price tracking and personalized gift ideas to creating custom AI art for family and friends. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Apple promotes iPhone 17 Pro vapor chamber cooling in dynamic ad
Apple has promoted the vapor chamber of the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro in a new ad involving a runner supercharged by a drop of water.The multi-talented athlete in Apple's A19 Pro vapor chamber ad - Image Credit: Apple/YouTubeThe A19 Pro is the first iPhone chip to take advantage of vapor chamber cooling. To promote the thermal management element, Apple's latest commercial for the iPhone 17 Pro demonstrates its effectiveness by comparing it to an athlete.Monday's video posted to Apple's YouTube account shows a man running in a desert, who suddenly hears thunder from above. With dark clouds indicating it's about to rain, the clip zooms in on a single raindrop falling from the sky and landing on the runner's forehead. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Retail chain accidentally sold iPad Airs for $17 – and wants them back
A large retail chain offered 13-inch iPad Air models to loyalty card holders for $17, with both online orders and in-store collection sales processed and the iPads handed over to their new owners. It took the company 11 days to realize it had made a mistake, and it is now asking customers who bought the iPads to either return them or pay almost full price for them. Unfortunately for the retailer, the terms and conditions attached to the order did not exclude pricing errors … more…

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The myth of the Apple Tax is officially dead
Macworld By the time this article is published, there will only be four days to go until Black Friday, the most magical and beloved day of the year. I hope you’ve put up your decorations. At this time of year, tech fans can pick up bargains (while avoiding non-bargains) on products that would otherwise be outside their budget. But as an Apple fan, I always feel an inexplicable sense of second-hand embarrassment. “Will there be Apple Store discounts on iPhones?” friends ask me with naive optimism. No, I have to answer. There will just be gift cards. That’s not to say that you won’t see any discounts on Apple products: there are plenty to be had already. It’s just that the discounts will be offered by other retailers. Buy direct from Apple and you’ll pay not one cent less than MSRP, while receiving a moderately generous gift card you can use on your next purchase. It’s almost like the company wants to help out its reseller partners by pushing business their way. This lack of direct discounts shouldn’t come as a surprise, of course. Partly because Apple always does the gift card thing, but also because it doesn’t do bargains more generally. Certainly not in the sense of sudden, time-limited, slightly panicky price drops you have to pounce on before they’re gone. It simply doesn’t feel the need to compete, either on price or for attention; after years of nurturing a sense of community, even tribalism, Apple knows that customers will come to it, rather than the other way around. Apple doesn’t do out-and-out cheap products, either. These days, you can find a perfectly decent Android phone for less than $250, or even $200 if you’re willing to make some sacrifices, but that’s not a market Apple is interested in. This time last year, the iPhone SE sat at the top of the budget category, starting at $429 by March, but that was phased out in favor of the defiantly mid-market (and in my opinion ill-conceived) $599 iPhone 16e. It suits Apple’s purposes to focus on selling a smaller number of higher-margin handsets, knowing that each iPhone owner represents a micro-advert to their friends. Ultra-budget phones are not aspirational. All of this might make it sound like I subscribe to the idea of the Apple Tax, that proverbial premium supposedly added on to the prices of iPhones, Macs, and the like for no good reason other than Apple customers being gullible enough to pay it. But I don’t. Apple doesn’t do cheap, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t do value, as we’ve seen this past year in particular. Cupertino steers clear of the true budget market but consistently offers strong value with its mid-market products. My favorite release of 2025, for example, is the Apple Watch SE 3, which delivers so much bang for its 249 bucks that I was obliged to advise readers to choose it over the fuller-featured Series 11. You don’t need to pay $399 to get an excellent watch because Apple has significantly raised its game at the lower price point. There’s also the iPhone 17, which starts at the same $799 but has a slew of upgrades over last year’s model, including double the storage, a pro-caliber display, and a higher-end selfie camera. It’s a fantastic value. This year’s M4 MacBook Air, which got a new chip and an upgraded camera, actually saw a price drop of $100 compared with the previous version, which is basically unheard of in Cupertino. Apple fans can now get the latest-generation Air for under a grand or right now under $750 if you take advantage of Amazon’s Black Friday sale.) Don’t get me wrong: Chromebook prices these are not. But you won’t find a tax for the sake of a brand name either. Having dispelled that particular myth, it becomes less of a surprise to hear reports that Apple is planning to release a cluster of cheap products in the spring of 2026. And by cheap, of course, I mean sensibly affordable: $599 for the iPhone 17e, $699-$899 for the new budget MacBook, and hopefully not much more than $349 for the newly AI-compliant 11th-gen iPad. So sure: they’re not the sort of prices that make you set your alarm on Black Friday. They’re not doorbuster deals. But they’re good products at good prices, and that’s something to be praised all year round. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Here they are: the 12 most ridiculously overpriced Apple products, ranked. How Filipe Esposito’s first iPod touch made him love Apple forever. Mahmoud Itani finally switched from a MacBook to an iPad Pro, and he’s not going back. John Brandon used Google Gemini to design the next iPhone. Here are the hilarious results. Option key secrets: Get more from your Mac with these hidden shortcuts. The iPhone Air is doomed because one guy returned it. Alex Blake lists 6 reasons why your new Mac needs a second storage drive. Podcast of the week The Thanksgiving holiday is this week in the U.S., so we spent the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast talking about things to be thankful for. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Best of 2025-2026: Must-have products for Mac, iPhone & iPad tested by Macworld. Cosmic Orange gift guide: 30 gifts to match the ultra-bright iPhone 17 Pro. The rumor mill Apple may finally let users switch from Siri to another voice assistant. Apple Fitness+ might get cut and rolled into a bigger Health+ service. Don’t expect the Apple Watch to change much for the next two years. Tim Cook is going to retire at some point, but probably not next year. Video of the week @macworld.com The first Apple product you ever owned? #apple #applefan ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld What was your first ever Apple product? And which one made you feel like an Apple person? For Jason Cross it was the Apple IIe–but we want to hear from you. Join the conversation on TikTok or Instagram. Software updates, bugs, and problems Watch out for this clever and dangerous new ‘Apple Support’ hoax. These new AI features are coming to macOS Tahoe 26.2 and Mac Studio. PSA for Apple fans: It’s time to update your keyboard and trackpad. Apple hit with massive fine over Apple Watch dispute. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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I use an iPad every day and these are the deals I’d buy this Black Friday
Macworld Black Friday week is here, and it’s always the best time to buy a new Apple device for an all-time low price, especially iPads. However, there are a lot of models to choose from, not to mention the accessories available, and choosing the best can be tricky. If you’re planning to buy your first iPad or upgrade your current tablet to a newer model, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of which iPad models are worth buying, what accessories we recommend, and the best deals for this Black Friday. The best iPad deal foe everyone: M3 iPad Air Right now, the M3 iPad Air is the best iPad you can buy. Not only because of its incredible $150 discount on Amazon for Black Friday (across all colors, sizes, and configurations), but also because the iPad Air is the model I recommend to everyone who wants a good iPad without spending too much.  The iPad Air is essentially the mid-range iPad in the lineup. It doesn’t have all the fancy features of the Pro models, such as an OLED display with ProMotion or Face ID, but it’s still a very capable iPad that can do just about everything the iPad Pro can do. Apple The M3 chip is still extremely powerful, especially for running iPadOS apps and multitasking. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that pushes this chip to its limits on the iPad. From lightweight apps to more intense games, everything runs smoothly. In terms of software, you won’t be missing out on anything by choosing the iPad Air over the more expensive iPad Pro. The iPad Air can run the same apps and features, such as Apple Intelligence and Stage Manager with support for external monitors. You can find nearly every M3 iPad Air model on Amazon for $150 off, with prices starting at $449, less than an iPad mini at full price. It’s definitely the best deal for almost anyone looking for a new iPad. M5 iPad Pro: Now $100 off While the iPad Air is great for most people, some users need the high-end features provided by the iPad Pro. I know because I own one. If you’re like me, the newly released M5 iPad Pro is already $100 off on Amazon for Black Friday. The M5 iPad Pro stands out from other iPads because of its ultra-thin design, OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Face ID, and a LiDAR scanner on the back. It’s also the only iPad with four built-in speakers and a USB-C connection with Thunderbolt 4 support for faster data transfer. An Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are great companions to the iPad Pro.Foundry The M5 models also come with some exclusive features you won’t find on any other Apple product, including 12GB of RAM in the entry-level models, Wi-Fi 7, and fast charging. While prices for the M5 iPad Pro start at $999 for the 11-inch model, you can now find the base model with an 11-inch screen and 256GB of storage for $899. It’s a good deal for a product that has just been released. The iPad mini is also a great option How could we not mention the iPad mini? The most adorable and smallest iPad is ideal for people who want a good tablet to take with them on the go, and it’s also on sale this Black Friday. The current model was released last year, but Apple doesn’t upgrade the iPad mini regularly, so it’s istill a safe purchase. It has the same A17 Pro chip as the iPhone 15 Pro, which is capable of running almost all iPadOS and Apple Intelligence apps with ease. Its compact 8.3-inch screen makes it perfect for reading, using social media, and even using it as a portable console. I’d still recommend the Air, but if you want something super portable, you can pair it with an Apple Pencil (see below) to turn your iPad mini into a great notepad. Typically, prices for the iPad mini start at $499, but you can buy the base model this Black Friday for just $399. Most other options are $100 off as well. Give your iPad an Apple Pencil Pro One of my favorite accessories for the iPad is the Apple Pencil, and the Apple Pencil Pro takes it to another level.  I’m not an artist, and I have zero drawing skills. Still, I love using Apple Pencil Pro to write quick notes and edit photos with precision. It also works as a precision pointing device. The Apple Pencil Pro is a fantastic companion to the iPad AIr, mini, or Pro.Foundry Apple Pencil Pro also has some cool tricks. It has pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and a gesture that lets you squeeze the Pencil to open a menu for quick access to useful options. Plus, it works with the Find My app, so you can easily locate your Apple Pencil if you ever lose it. Normally $129, you can find the Apple Pencil Pro this Black Friday for $99, an impressive 23 percent discount. Just keep in mind that the Apple Pencil Pro only works with the M2 iPad Air and later, the M4 iPad Pro and later, and the A17 Pro iPad mini. If you don’t see the need for all the advanced features of the Apple Pencil Pro and just want a stylus for writing notes without spending too much, Apple sells the USB-C Apple Pencil. It looks a lot like the Apple Pencil Pro, but there are some key differences. The USB-C Apple Pencil recharges via cable rather than wirelessly. It also lacks support for the squeeze and double-tap gestures, and has no pressure sensitivity – although it does have tilt sensitivity. One advantage is that the USB-C Apple Pencil works with all of Apple’s 2025 iPads, while the Pro isn’t supported by the entry-level iPad. During this Black Friday, Amazon is selling the USB-C Apple Pencil for $69 (down from $79). It’s not a huge discount, but it’s still a good deal cheaper than the Apple Pencil Pro. The iPad Pro is great with an Apple Magic Keyboard, but it’s expensive.Foundry Logitech Combo Touch: a great alternative to Apple’s Magic Keyboard Your iPad also deserves a keyboard, especially if you plan to use it as a laptop. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find good deals on Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Luckily, Apple’s keyboard has a worthy competitor: the Logitech Combo Touch. The Logitech Combo Touch is essentially an iPad case with a built-in full-size keyboard. More than that, it also has a multitouch trackpad. Although it doesn’t feel as premium as Apple’s alternative, the Combo Touch has one big advantage: It doubles as a rugged case to protect your iPad. And if you don’t want the keyboard, you can easily detach it without having to remove the case. There are different versions of the Logitech Combo Touch available for each iPad model, but Black Friday discounts are up to 25 percent off. For instance, the Combo Touch for the M3 iPad Air is now $160, almost half the price of Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Now that you know the best Black Friday deals on iPads and accessories, choose the one that best suits your needs. It may also be worth checking out Apple’s offers for students.

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Hackers steal customer data from JPMorgan Chase and Citi
Hackers have obtained customer data from a third-party company used by major Wall Street banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Citi. The disclosure comes just days after a Doordash data breach exposed names, addresses, phone numbers, and more. SitmusAMC helps banks process mortgage applications and other real estate loans, and says that accounting records and legal agreements have been impacted by the hack … more…

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