Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey team up in Apple TV's new comedy series “Brothers”
A decades-old family secret threatens to unravel a lifelong friendship in "Brothers," set to premiere on Apple TV in September.Image credit: Apple TVThe series follows fictionalized versions of McConaughey and Harrelson, a pair of lifelong best friends. After Woody's daughter's wedding falls apart, he turns to Matthew for comfort, only to find out from Matthew's mother that the pair may actually be related.While Woody will do anything to uncover the truth, Matthew finds himself navigating a different kind of identity crisis: running for Governor of Texas. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 18 Pro is getting larger camera bump per leaks, here’s why
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to have largely the same dimensions as their predecessors, except in one key area: the camera plateau. Here’s why iPhone 18 Pro’s camera bump is expected to get even larger this year.

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Grace Gummer joins Dakota Fanning in Apple TV thriller series
Grace Gummer ("Love Story"), daughter of Meryl Streep, has signed on to join Dakota Fanning in Apple TV’s new thriller series from Alex Cary… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple announces major App Store changes for Brazil, including alternative app marketplaces
Starting today, app developers will be able to distribute apps through alternative app marketplaces in Brazil, as part of a broader set of changes to the app distribution and payment rules in the country. Here are all the details.

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Today in Apple history: John Sculley steps down as Apple CEO
On June 18, 1993, Apple CEO John Sculley gave up the reins after a 10-year run, following a crash in AAPL's stock price. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple TV reveals new comedy series with Matthew McConaughey coming soon
Apple TV just announced the release date for Brothers, a new comedy series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Here are the details.

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Here’s why I think the AI photo features in iOS 27 are so well considered
In my roundup of what I saw as the 11 key AI features announced by Apple at this year’s WWDC, I said that the camera features seemed extremely well thought through. In the two weeks since, my view has been very much reinforced. The Clean Up tool is now significantly more powerful, while the Reframe and Extend tools address similar real-life needs …

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iPhone 18 Pro could start at $1,399 or more, per report
Due to unprecedented cost increases for RAM and storage, Apple has confirmed that price increases are coming for its products. Here’s how much the iPhone 18 Pro is now expected to cost, per WSJ estimates.

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Best MacBook & Mac Prime Day Deals 2026: The best early discounts
Macworld Best Mac deals at Amazon U.S. $149 off MacBook Air $9 off MacBook Neo $29 off Mac mini $250 off MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) Best Mac deals at Amazon U.K. £110 off MacBook Air £50 off MacBook Neo £220 off MacBook Pro, M5 Pro If you’re looking to get a great price on a new MacBook, Amazon’s Prime Days event is a great time to grab a bargain. The sale runs from June 23-26, and we expect some huge savings on MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros and maybe some small discounts on the MacBook Neo. If it’s a Mac mini you are after we don’t expect that the deals will be as forthcoming as there are supply issues affecting availability of the Mac mini and Mac Studio. We could see a discount on the iMac, but with M5 update expected soon, we’d avoid that unless it’s a huge saving. Be sure to check out our roundup of the best Apple Prime Day deals for the best bargains on iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods, and more. For help deciding which Mac to buy read our comparison of every Mac and MacBook. Best Amazon Prime MacBook deals MacBook Air Apple / Amazon The latest MacBook Air models were released in March 2026. The M5 MacBook Air introduced several significant hardware upgrades over previous generations, most notably doubling the base memory and storage capacities. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon already has 14% off the price of the 13-inch MacBook Air and 11% off the 15-inch MacBook Air. You can get the 512GB model for $950. However, we recommend waiting because back in May the price dropped to $900. MacBook Air, 13-inch, M5, 512GB: $950 U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon has already cut the price of the both the 13-inch MacBook Air and 15-inch MacBook Air by 10%. The price of the cheapest MacBook Air is now £988.97, a saving of £110 of the usual price and the best price we’ve ever seen. MacBook Air, 13-inch, M5, 512GB: £988.97 MacBook Pro Apple / Amazon The latest MacBook Pro models are the M5 series, released in late 2025 and early 2026. The lineup includes 14-inch and 16-inch models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips. Key upgrades include improved performance and power efficiency, along with the introduction of Thunderbolt 5 connectivity on M5 Pro and M5 Max models. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon is currently selling the M5 MacBook Pro for $1,549, a savings of $150. This isn’t the lowest we’ve seen the price though: it was $1,499 in May. If you have a bit more to spend, the ultimate MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) is at it’s lowest ever price of $3,649, that’s $250 off. MacBook Pro, 14-inch, M5, 1TB: $1,549 U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon has discounted the M5 MacBook Pro by 9% in the U.K. dropping the price to £1,545. That’s a savings of £154, but we saw it drop to £1,529 in April. The other MacBook Pro models have better savings, with the 14-inch, M5 Pro model at it’s lowest ever price of £1,978.97, £220 off. MacBook Pro, 14-inch, M5, 1TB: £1,545 MacBook Neo Foundry The MacBook Neo is Apple’s most affordable laptop to date, launched in March 2026 with a starting price of $599/£599. It’s designed primarily for students, first-time Mac users, and budget-conscious consumers. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon is currently selling MacBook Neo for $590, a savings of $9. This is the same as their all-time low in May so we hope to see it drop even further. MacBook Neo, $590 U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon is selling the MacBook Neo for £549, £50 off and its lowest ever price. MacBook Neo, £549 Mac mini Apple/Amazon The Mac mini is Apple’s ultra-compact desktop computer. The latest models, released in October 2024, feature a significant redesign that reduced the chassis to a 5-by-5-inch footprint, making it the smallest desktop Mac ever produced. It’s recent surge in popularity, coupled with component shortages, has constrained stock. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon is currently selling a Mac mini for $769, that’s a savings of $29, but due to stock shortages the delivery date isn’t until after June 29. During Black Friday the price dropped to $669, but such price cuts are unlikely currently. Mac mini, $769 Watch List: The Prime Day MacBook (and Mac) deals we are looking out for Based on recent reviews and pricing trends for Apple’s MacBooks and desktop Macs these are our buying recommendations: ModelLowest Ever $ PriceLowest Ever £ PriceBuying AdviceMacBook Neo$589.99£549If you are on a strict budget, the MacBook Neo offers premium build quality a low price. At $550/£549 it would be a true bargain.13-inch MacBook Air$900£988.97The best overall choice for most users and highly recommended if discounted to $899/£899.15-inch MacBook Air$1,100£1,168.97We’ve previously seen the price drop to $1,100, which is an excellent deal.14-inch MacBook Pro, M5$1,499£1,528.97An easy recommendation at $1,499/£1,499, if it drops to that level.14-inch MacBook Pro, M5 Pro$1,983.94£1,978.97If the price dips below $2,000/£2,000 we recommend buying.16-inch MacBook Pro, M5 Pro$2,428.97£2,428.97If you want the ultimate Mac laptop and find the 16-inch for around $2,400/£2,400 we recommend it.  iMac, M4$1,021.51 £1,099Unless you really need one, we recommend waiting for Apple to update the iMac. Mac mini, M4$669£689.99If you can find a Mac mini for sale at a discount and you need one now, get it. If you can wait until the M5 update we would recommend you do that.  Best Mac & MacBook Deals Right Now Check below to find the best price we are seeing right now for each configuration compared to the best price we have ever seen and the full price. We’ll start with U.S. prices. U.K. readers can find the best prices in the section below. We indicate in bold where the current price matches the lowest. U.S. deals MacBook ProDealLowestMSRP14-inch, M5, 1TB$1,549 Get the deal$1,499 $1,69914-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB$2,034.05 Get the deal$1,983.94$2,19914-inch, M5 Max, 2TB$3,316.31 Get the deal $3,316.31$3,59916-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB$2,492 Get the deal$2,449$2,69916-inch, M5 Max, 2TB$3,649 Get the deal$3,649$3,899 MacBook AirDealLowestMSRP13-inch, M5, 512GB$949.99 Get the deal$899.99$1,09913-inch, M5, 1TB$1,149.99 Get the deal$1,099.99$1,19915-inch, M5, 1TB$1,149.99 Get the deal$1,099.99$1,299 MacBook Neo DealLowestMSRPA18-Pro, 256GB$589.99 Get the deal$589.99$599A18-Pro, 512GB$689.99 Get the deal$689.99$699 Mac miniDealLowestRRPM4, 512GB$769.99 Get the deal$669£799M4 Pro, 512GBOut of stock $1,173.49£1,399 iMacDealLowestMSRPM4, 256GB, 8-core$1,194.48 Get the deal$1,149$1,299M4, 256GB, 10-core$1,364.79 Get the deal$1,347.50$1,499 U.K. deals MacBook ProDealLowestRRP14-inch, M5, 1TB£1,544.97 Get the deal£1,528.97£1,69914-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB£1,978.97 Get the deal£1,978.97£2,19914-inch, M5 Max, 2TB£3,238.97 Get the deal£3,238.97£3,59916-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB£2,439 Get the deal£2,428.97£2,69916-inch, M5 Max, 2TB£3,508.97 Get the deal £3,508.97£3,899 MacBook Air DealLowestRRP13-inch, M5, 512GB£988.97 Get the deal£988.97£1,09913-inch, M5, 1TB£1,555 Get the deal£1,154.97£1,19915-inch, M5, 1TB£1,168.97 Get the deal£1,168.97£1,299 Get the dealGet the dealGet the dealRRPA18-Pro, 256GB£549 Get the deal£549£599A18-Pro, 512GB£629.97 Get the deal £617.97£699 Mac miniDealLowestMSRPM4, 512GBOut of stock£689.99$799M4 Pro, 512GBOut of stock £1,249.99$1,399 iMacDealLowestRRPM4, 256GB, 8-core£1,149 Get the deal £1,099.00£1,299M4, 256GB, 10-core£1,249 Get the deal£1,249.00£1,499 Which MacBook should you buy? Foundry MacBook Neo: Best for students, basic tasks, budget buyers. MacBook Air: Ideal for most users, commuters, university students. MacBook Pro, M5: Great for entry-level pro work, creative students. MacBook Pro, M5 Pro & M5 Max: For 4K video, 3D rendering. Choosing the right MacBook depends on your needs and budget. Apple’s laptop lineup ranges from the affordable MacBook Neo to the powerful MacBook Pro models powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. For most people, the MacBook Air is the best choice, offering an excellent balance of performance, battery life, portability, and value. MacBook Air: Best for Most People Released in March 2026, the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 chip is our top recommendation for the majority of users due to its balance of portability and power. We recommend: Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 2026) Price When Reviewed: From $1,099 Best Prices Today: $949.99 at Amazon | $1042.52 at Walmart | $1099 at Apple MacBook Pro: Best for Creative Professionals For those with demanding workloads like 4K video editing or software development, the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro is essential. These models feature active cooling to prevent thermal throttling during sustained tasks. We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $2,199 Best Prices Today: $2,045 at Amazon | $2065.54 at Walmart | $2149 at B&H MacBook Neo: Best for Budget Buyers Introduced in March 2026, the MacBook Neo is Apple’s most affordable laptop ever. It is aimed at K-12 students and casual users who previously might have chosen a Chromebook or a budget Windows laptop. We recommend: Apple MacBook Neo Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $539 at Walmart | $589.99 at Amazon | $599 at Apple Which Mac desktop should you buy? Mac mini: Best for students, home offices, AI developers. Mac Studio: Best for creative pros, engineers, power users. iMac: General consumers, all-in-one fans. Choosing the right Mac desktop depends on whether you prioritize value, professional workstation performance, or an all-in-one design. Currently the lineup is affected by global memory shortages that have constrained availability and led to the discontinuation of several entry-level and high-RAM configurations. Mac mini: Best for Value The Mac mini remains the most versatile and cost-effective entry point into the macOS ecosystem. It is particularly popular for home offices, students, and AI developers. As of June 2026, stock is very limited with long delivery times and we are also expecting an update to the M5, so unless you really need one now we don’t recommend buying. See Should I buy a Mac mini. We recommend: Apple Mac mini (M4, 512GB/16GB RAM) Price When Reviewed: $799 Best Prices Today: $749.99 at Best Buy US | $769.99 at Amazon | $799 at Apple United States Mac Studio: Best for Professionals We don’t tend to see the Mac Studio for sale at Amazon. Like the Mac mini stock is limited and we expect an update to the M5-series soon. iMac: Best All-in-One The iMac is a strong choice for users who want a tidy, single-cable setup for home or office use. Like te other desktops, it is due an update to the M5 so we don’t recommend buying unless the price drops significantly. Prime Day Mac & MacBook deals to avoid The cheapest Mac isn’t always the best value. Rather than using Prime Day to spend less, use it as an opportunity to get better specifications for the same budget. When buying a Mac in 2026, avoid models with too little memory or storage. Most current Macs now start with 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD, which is a much better baseline for modern workloads. The main exception is the entry-level MacBook Neo, which still ships with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Because Apple Silicon uses unified memory and storage that can’t be upgraded later, it’s worth buying as much RAM and SSD capacity as you can comfortably afford. Memory is especially important for Apple Intelligence features and other AI workloads. While the MacBook Neo supports Apple Intelligence, some advanced features require an M3 chip or later. For most buyers, prioritizing memory upgrades will deliver greater long-term benefits than paying extra for a faster processor. Professional users should consider at least 36GB of memory, while 64GB or more is recommended for demanding tasks such as video production, software development, and AI work. Should you buy a MacBook or Mac during Prime Day? Prime Day is widely considered one of the best times of the year to buy Apple products, alongside Black Friday. However, there are a few things to consider before making a purchase: Prime membership is required: Many of the best deals are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. If you’re not already subscribed, you might be able to take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day free trial or you could sign up for a month and cancel afterward. As well as getting free two-day shipping, Prime customers also get access to Prime Video and Music. Prime memberships cost $139 / £95 annually, or $14.99 / £8.99 / AU$6.99 every month. Other sales: If you miss Prime Day, you’ll have another chance to save during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days in October, followed by Black Friday sales in November. Student Discounts: Students can take advantage of Apple’s “Back to School” promotion, which runs from June to September in the U.S. and July to October in the U.K, to get free AirPods with the purchase of a qualifying Mac or iPad. Students and educator can save significantly through the Apple Education Store. For example, the MacBook Neo drops to $499 and the MacBook Air to $999. Compare Prices: Amazon isn’t always the cheapest option. Retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy frequently run competing promotions around the time of Prime Day, so it’s worth comparing prices before buying. Prime Day is available in multiple countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S. Why you can trust Macworld’s recommendations The MacBooks picked here are all chosen by our editors, who have decades of experience with Apple devices. We’ve reviewed everything we recommend, and we only highlight deals that are genuinely good value. The products selected in this article are at the best current price, usually at or near all-time low prices, and we’ve selected what we think is the best configuration for each product type. We know Apple is expensive, so we’ve chosen products at prices we would be willing to pay, so you can trust that our recommendations will steer you in the right direction. Prime Big Deal Days: More Apple bargains For more Amazon Prime Day coverage, check out our other Apple deal roundups and see all our Prime Day Apple Deals coverage. Best Apple Prime Day Deals Best Amazon Prime Day AirPods deals Best Amazon Prime Day iPad deals Best Amazon Prime Day Apple Watch deals Best Amazon Prime Day MacBook & Mac deals

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Smart business owners can now get QuickBooks Premier 2024 for just $399.99 (regularly $625)
QuickBooks Premier 2024 helps businesses track inventory, manage cash flow, create custom reports and monitor profitability from one place. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Smart business owners can now get QuickBooks Premier 2024 for just $399.99 (regularly $625)
QuickBooks Premier 2024 helps businesses track inventory, manage cash flow, create custom reports and monitor profitability from one place. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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10 features in macOS Golden Gate that Apple barely mentioned
macOS 27 is packed with hidden features — which will make your daily life on the Mac all the better. Here are the 10 best. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Higher Apple prices are sending Micron stock to a record high
Micron shares hit fresh record highs after outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook signaled higher iPhone prices, underscoring robust demand for… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Adobe expands Firefly capabilities, extends agentic tools to Creative Cloud apps
Adobe is out with a massive update to its suite of creative agents today, including new Firefly capabilities and agentic features across several Creative Cloud apps. Here are the details.

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Time Capsule survives macOS 27, but Apple really should make a new one
While macOS 27 introduces lots of new features, it does have a few drawbacks. One of these appeared to be that it bricked Time Capsules. A Microsoft engineer has found a way to maintain compatibility, but it really just leads me to renew my belief that Apple needs to revive the product …

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Fox Buying Roku: A Cage Match for the TV Home Screen
Fox’s plan to acquire Roku is one of those deals that looks obvious only after someone finally has the nerve to do it. The fight for television is no longer just about what people watch. It is about where they decide to watch it. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Trump confirms that Apple will buy chips made by Intel
Intel's stock has risen after Trump announced that the company will make chips for Apple, but it's not clear when chips will get delivered, how many will ship, or how much the deal is worth.Intel is confirmed to be producing chips for Apple - image credit: IntelFollowing initial rumors that Apple was in discussion with Intel over manufacturing processors, it was revealed in May 2026 that test production had begun.Now in a late-night posting on Truth Social, Trump announced that "Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its chips in America." Consequently, according to CNBC, Intel stock rose 8.8% in premarket trading, while Apple was up 0.6%. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone Air 2 will reportedly fix its two biggest problems
Macworld A 2nd-gen version of last year’s iPhone Air will address two of the biggest complaints about the original model, according to a new report. Sources also claim that the new Air is being prepared for a launch next spring. Writing for Bloomberg, leaker-analyst Mark Gurman says Apple is “aiming to boost the appeal of the slimmed-down device” in two ways. If the project goes as planned, it will feature both a second rear camera lens and improved battery life. When Apple unveiled the startlingly slim original Air last fall, it had to address three obvious customer fears: that the device would bend, that it would have disastrously poor battery life, and that it wouldn’t have room for the camera setup of a larger phone. These attempts at reassurance met with mixed success. On the design front, the Air is clearly a marvel of consumer tech engineering, and you’ll struggle to find a single report of the device bending or breaking in normal use. But battery and (particularly) camera performance remain areas of dissatisfaction. Improvements to these aspects could do a lot to convince customers that this is the phone for them. Citing “people with knowledge of the matter,” Gurman claims prototypes of the 2nd-gen Air, codenamed V62 and currently in “advanced testing,” feature a second rear camera for ultrawide-angle photography. The original Air only has a single rear 48MP main camera. Adding an ultrawide lens would bring it to parity with the iPhone 17, although it would still be missing the third telephoto lens from the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. In our iPhone Air review, my colleague Jason Cross reports that he was painfully conscious of the device’s limited camera setup. “Not a day went by that I didn’t miss having a second (or third) camera,” he writes. “The lack of an ultrawide didn’t bother me for landscape shots, but the inability of the standard wide camera to focus less than about 6 inches is a killer. I missed my macro photography! And I was surprised at just how often I regularly use a telephoto of around 4x or 5x. I can always use digital zoom and get the shot, it just doesn’t look as good as it should. Not for a thousand-dollar iPhone.” It’s less clear how Apple will address the battery issue. Gurman simply says Apple is trying to improve performance. “It’s unclear if that will come from a larger battery, which may be impractical in the Air’s compact chassis, or efficiency gains,” he admits. If the iPhone Air’s battery performance is so good, how come Apple pushes the MagSafe battery so hard?Apple The original iPhone Air has an estimated battery life of up to 27 hours of (non-streamed) video playback, compared to 30 hours for the iPhone 17 and 33 for the iPhone 17 Pro. That isn’t disastrous, but it’s also not ideal when you bear in mind that the iPhone 17 is $200 cheaper. It also seems noteworthy that Apple feels it necessary to include the battery life for the Air when using the MagSafe battery accessory in the comparison table, as if the company knows 30 hours isn’t really acceptable and that customers will be looking for more. (The augmented total is 40 hours, by the way.) Perhaps most intriguingly, Gurman’s sources claim to know the planned launch timing for the 2nd-gen Air: spring 2027, 18 months after the first model came out. Whether that would put it on an 18-month update cycle or whether it would be updated each spring—as appears to be the plan for the baseline and e model of each iPhone generation—is, like much else, unclear at this point. Indeed, up to now, it hasn’t been clear if the iPhone Air would get a second model at all. Back in January, a report on Chinese social media claimed it would launch in fall 2026, but the muted critical response to the device and its seemingly pedestrian sales have led some pundits to speculate that the Air might be entirely replaced by the iPhone Ultra later this year rather than sitting alongside it.

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President Trump reveals Apple-Intel domestic partnership, boosting American chip stocks
Following President Donald Trump's announcement that "Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its Chips in America," chip… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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AirPods Pro 3 just crashed to an insane $169 ($80 off)
Macworld Apple AirPods Pro 3 View Deal (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 price is getting ready for Prime Day and taking another dip. For the first time, you can get your hands on these earbuds for just $169, a massive 32 percent under their MSRP and the best price we’ve ever seen, even lower than last week’s rock-bottom price. And it’s not even Prime Day yet. The AirPods Pro 3 are our favorite earbuds, and it’s easy to see why when you check out our review. We gave the earbuds a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, finding they’re a lot more comfortable than the previous generation, have a better battery life, and generally deliver better noise cancelling and transparency. It’s not just about the better audio these earbuds deliver, of course. The AirPods Pro 3 are so much more than that because they come with built-in heart rate tracking sensors, which means they’re a great fitness companion. Live Translation helps you understand what those around you are talking about while traveling abroad. The Pro 3 buds have a better life, delivering up to 8 hours of listening with noise canceling on, or up to 10 hours in Transparency mode. With the charging case, the number climbs to 24 hours with ANC on. The one thing we don’t love about these buds is that the upgrades over the previous generation in terms of audio are a bit light when compared to the previous version. But while at full price, this may not seem like a worthy upgrade from AirPods Pro 2, but at this discounted $169, it feels like a justified splurge. Grab the AirPods Pro 3 for $169 while this early Prime Day deal is still around.

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iOS 27 speed improvements won’t matter individually, but will collectively
It’s not unusual for both hardware and software companies to make claims about faster performance for new models and new software releases. I generally roll my eyes a little at these since they often refer to tiny improvements that would hardly be noticed in real life usage. Apple has claimed more than 40 speed improvements in iOS 27, and I have to say that I did do a little eye rolling …

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Is this fall’s folding iPhone already a flop?
Macworld Apple discontinued the Mac Pro earlier this year, and it’s not hard to imagine why: the flagship computer was simply too high-end and too expensive for its own good. As if to demonstrate this, Apple launched the budget MacBook Neo at almost the same time, and it proved a huge hit. Public judgment doesn’t get much clearer than that. Given this scenario, it’s tempting to wonder why Apple is charging full steam ahead with the iPhone Ultra. Like the Mac Pro, this foldable phone is set to raise Apple’s price ceiling considerably at a time when many customers are having to reassess their outgoings. Foldable phones remain a niche market, and the iPhone Ultra risks following in the footsteps of the Mac Pro and other top-shelf Apple products that failed to move the needle, including the Apple Watch Edition, iMac Pro, and Vision Pro. I’m worried, in short, that the iPhone Ultra could end up being dead on arrival. It feels like a risky move at the best of times, but with the Mac Pro’s demise fresh in everyone’s minds, is Apple dooming its device before it even arrives? The hard sell There’s a common misconception that Apple overprices products to gouge gullible fans out of their hard-earned cash. And sure, Apple products can tend to be on the pricey side. But with reports showing that its devices last far longer than rivals year after year, it’s hard to believe that Apple is ripping off its customers. Nevertheless, it remains true that Apple is not afraid to charge an arm and a leg to welcome you into its walled garden. The company’s philosophy is not to be the first but to be the best, and that sometimes means going all out with a premium offering that boasts all the bells and whistles. The iPhone Ultra will be a unique device with a sky-high price tag.Foundry The iPhone Ultra will undoubtedly fall into this category. For a start, you can’t make a foldable smartphone without incurring major costs. This is a sector that is both niche and cutting edge, and no one has really worked out how to perfect the form factor yet, never mind make products that are remotely affordable. Throw in Apple’s tendency to include superior features in an effort to improve the experience and the iPhone Ultra is well on its way to expensive territory. Indeed, that’s exactly what Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says we should expect, with the journalist predicting the device will “cross the $2,000 threshold” when it’s launched later this year. Interestingly, it’s not clear if Gurman meant the iPhone Ultra could be configured to cost over $2,000 or start at that point. If we assume its initial, baseline cost is $2,000, you could be looking at a price of around $2,800 if you outfit it with 2TB of storage. That’s based on the costs involved with an iPhone 17 Pro Max, the current top-end iPhone. Regardless, $2,000 is almost twice the price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That likely won’t be an easy pill to swallow, even for seasoned Apple fans. The solid-gold Apple Watch was a gimmick that put Apple’s wearable in the wrong light.Foundry Apple’s previous experiences at the ultra-high end of the market have not been encouraging. The past is littered with failures: not only is there the recently deceased Mac Pro, but the Vision Pro is another clear example. Going a little further back, the $10,000 Apple Watch Edition was so unappealing to users that it almost derailed Apple’s wearable entirely. It was only by reorienting the device towards health and fitness that Apple was able to turn it into a success. Yet despite all these ill omens, Apple keeps trying to convince its users that sacrificing their future financial stability on a luxury product is exactly what they should be doing. Not only is that past form concerning, but it runs counter to the evidence that’s right in front of Apple’s eyes. The MacBook Neo alternative There’s an alternative to all this premium posturing: make affordable products that most people want to buy. This was Apple’s founding vision and the one that motivated Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in all their work. Indeed, Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson: “I love it when you can bring really great design and simple capability to something that doesn’t cost much… It was the original vision for Apple. That’s what we tried to do with the first Mac. That’s what we did with the iPod.” To counter claims that Apple was overpricing its products, Jobs also pointed to their quality and said that getting rivals’ devices up to Apple’s standards often meant paying more than if you’d just stuck with Apple in the first place. And this isn’t all theoretical; just look at the MacBook Neo. It’s brought a level of power and quality to the entry-level side of the market that has been entirely absent for years. Pay $599 to a PC manufacturer, meanwhile, and you’ll get a plastic laptop with a nerfed version of Windows and a chip that runs hot, loud and slow. The MacBook Neo shows what can be done on an affordable budget.Foundry Despite some concerned pundits wondering aloud about what kind of Mac you’d get for $599, the MacBook Neo has garnered near-universal acclaim and has been flying off the shelves. Indeed, there are reports that Apple is selling so many that it might run out of A18 Pro chips before the A19 version of the laptop is ready. In other words, Apple has proof positive that making an insanely great, affordable product can lead to both critical and commercial success. The contrast with the Mac Pro, which was discontinued a mere 15 days after the MacBook Neo went on sale, is stark and unmistakable. By looking at both the Mac Pro and the MacBook Neo, we can see two diverging paths for Apple. The former–paved with other stuttering efforts, most recently the Vision Pro–presents a risky, high-cost road for customers. The latter lowers the barrier to entry and has proven to be remarkably successful. I’m not saying that it’s cut and dried or that things always play out this way, but the contrasting fortunes of the Mac Pro and the MacBook Neo provide a helpfully cautionary tale. None of this is proof that the iPhone Ultra’s failure is pre-ordained. While I’m not expecting it to sell in record numbers, perhaps Apple is confident that it will move enough units to justify the cost, effort and research. For Apple’s own sake, you’d hope that it knows what it’s doing, given that plans for the iPhone Ultra appear to be going ahead. But the trail of very public misfires, and the obvious success of the MacBook Neo, hasn’t settled my nerves.

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Best AirPods Prime Day Deals 2026: The best early discounts
Macworld Best AirPods deals at Amazon U.S. $30 off AirPods 4 $30 off AirPods 4 with ANC Best AirPods deals at Amazon U.K. £49 off AirPods Pro 3 £39.20 off AirPods 4 £43.60 off AirPods 4 with ANC Amazon Prime Day is kicking off a little early this year, running from June 23-26, but we still expect a steady stream of excellent Apple deals. In fact, if you’re looking for a new pair of AirPods, you’re likely to find the biggest savings of the year on all four models—and hopefully some all-time low prices as well. Apple’s current AirPods lineup consists of four models: AirPods Pro 3 ($249), AirPods 4 ($129), AirPods 4 (with ANC) ($179), and the most recent release, AirPods Max 2 ($549). Amazon always has them on sale, usually between $30 and $50 off, depending on the model. We’ll spotlight each model below as well as its current price and whether it’s a good deal or not. In the U.K. Amazon is already listing Early Prime Day deals on AirPods, with some of the best prices we have seen so far. We expect prices in the U.S. to drop further as we get closer to the official event start. This article focuses on AirPods. For the very best discounts across Apple’s entire product range, see our roundup of the Best Apple Prime Day Deals. Best Amazon Prime AirPods deals AirPods Pro 3 Apple Apple released AirPods Pro 3 in September 2025. They brought a slightly new design with foam-infused tips for a better fit. They also brought several new features, including an in-ear heart rate sensor, better battery life, enhanced noise cancellation, and improved sound. U.S. Prime Day price: On June 17, Amazon was selling AirPods Pro 3 for $169, a savings of $80 and the same as their all-time low from Black Friday 2025. However, as of June 18, only refurbished AirPods Pro 3 are available – we suspect just until Amazon lists the Prime Day price. AirPods Pro 3: TBC U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon has already discounted the AirPods Pro 3 to the best price we’ve seen so far. Get them for £170, a savings of £49. AirPods Pro 3: £170 AirPods 4 Apple/Amazon Apple’s fourth-generation AirPods have been on shelves since September 2024. They were a dramatic upgrade over the previous model, bringing a new design, H2 chip, and a USB-C charging case. Additionally, Apple cut the price from $169 to $129 for the standard model and introduced a higher-end version with noise cancellation. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon is offering the AirPods 4 (without ANC) for $99, a savings of $30. While this is a good price, it’s not any better than Amazon’s normal sale price, so we don’t recommend rushing to buy a pair until they drop below $90 or nearer their Black Friday price of $69. AirPods 4: $99 U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon has an “Early Prime Day Deal” and are selling AirPods 4 for £79.80, a savings of £39.20 and their lowest price ever. AirPods 4: £79.80 AirPods 4 with ANC Apple / Jan Gruber Sitting between the low-end AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 are the AirPods 4 with ANC for $179. As the name suggests, the only difference between these earbuds and the standard AirPods 4 is the addition of noise cancellation. They also miss out on some features enabled by noise cancellation, including Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode, and Conversation Awareness, as well as Live Translation. U.S. Prime Day price: AirPods 4 with ANC are currently reduced to $149, a savings of $30 off their $179 MSRP. That’s not much different than Amazon’s regular sale price, so there’s no reason to rush to buy a pair unless they drop down to $125 or, even better, if they drop to $99 as they did for Black Friday. AirPods 4 with ANC: $149 U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon is currently selling AirPods 4 with ANC for £125.40, a saving of £43.60 in an “Early Prime Day Deal” and the lowest ever price. AirPods 4 with ANC: £125.40 AirPods Max 2 Apple Apple finally updated its AirPods Max headphones in April with a new H2 chip and better noise cancellation. Unlike Apple’s earbuds, they come in a variety of colors, including blue, orange and purple. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon has cut the price of AirPods Max 2 to $499, a savings of $50 and the lowest price they’ve reached since their April debut. We’re not sure if they’ll drop much lower until Black Friday, so if you want a pair, you’ll be getting them for a very good price. AirPods Max 2: $499 U.K. Prime Day price: Amazon is currently selling AirPods Max 2 for the usual price of £499. We haven’t seen a saving yet. Watch List: The Prime Day AirPods deals we are looking out for Based on recent reviews and pricing trends for the AirPods these are our buying recommendations: ModelBuy?Best PriceBest DealAirPods Pro 3Yes$169 / £170Highly recommended if discounted to $179/£170 for its top-tier noise cancellation and new heart-rate tracking features.AirPods 4Yes$69 / £79.80An easy recommendation at $99/£79.80, especially for those who dislike silicone ear tips.AirPods 4 (ANC)Yes$99 / £125.40With several pro-level additions compared to the standard model, if the price drops to $125/£125 this is a good buy. AirPods Max 2Compare$499 / £499The AirPods Max are expensive so any deal below $499/$449 would be attractive. Consider the Beats Studio Pro (frequently on sale for around $170/£170) as a good alternative. Which AirPods should you buy? AirPods Pro 3: Best for most people, especially if you want top-tier noise cancellation and built-in health tracking. AirPods 4: The most affordable option. AirPods 4 with ANC: Ideal if you want noise cancellation without silicone ear tips. AirPods Max 2: Best if you prefer over-ear headphones. Apple’s AirPods lineup caters to different priorities, from premium audio and health features to budget-friendly everyday listening. AirPods Pro 3: The Best All-Rounder Released in September 2025, the AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s flagship earbuds. They combine excellent noise cancellation, improved comfort thanks to foam-infused ear tips, and new health-tracking capabilities. We recommend: Apple AirPods Pro 3 Price When Reviewed: $249 Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Target | $239.95 at B&H | $239.99 at Best Buy US AirPods 4: The Budget-Friendly Choice The AirPods 4 offer a more affordable entry point and are a good choice for anyone who prefers an open-ear design over silicone-tipped earbuds. We recommend: Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) Price When Reviewed: $129 without Active Noise Cancelation Best Prices Today: $85 at Walmart | $99 at Amazon | $99.99 at Target AirPods 4 with ANC: A good compromise For listeners who want some noise reduction without the fit of in-ear tips, the AirPods 4 with ANC strike a strong balance between comfort, convenience, and noise cancellation. We recommend: Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) Price When Reviewed: $179 with Active Noise Cancelation Best Prices Today: $92 at Walmart | $148.99 at Amazon | $149.99 at Best Buy AirPods Max 2: Premium Over-Ear Audio Launched in April 2026, the AirPods Max 2 retain the premium design of the original model while adding Apple’s H2 chip for improved performance and audio processing. We recommend: Apple AirPods Max 2 Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: $549 at Apple Still not sure which AirPods to buy? Take a look at our Best AirPods buying guide. Also, if it doesn’t have to be AirPods, take a look at how other over-ears compare to the AirPods Max, and our favorite AirPods alternatives. Amazon Prime Day AirPods deals to avoid In previous sales, the AirPods Pro 2 offered a cheaper alternative to Apple’s latest premium earbuds. This year, however, we expect any significant discounts on the AirPods Pro 2 to be limited to refurbished models. If you find the AirPods Pro 3 at a good price, they’re the better buy. If they’re still beyond your budget, consider the AirPods 4 with ANC instead. You could also look at Beats headphones and earbuds, which use much of Apple’s technology but are often available for less. Be wary of promotions that advertise “free” AirPods. These offers often require long-term financial commitments or involve complicated rebate processes. For example, a recent Apple Card promotion offered AirPods Pro 3 for signing up, but only through a reimbursement scheme outlined in the fine print. You should also be cautious of AirPods being sold at unusually low prices. Counterfeit models are common and are often advertised at discounts far below Apple’s normal pricing. If a deal seems too good to be true, it’s worth checking whether the product is genuine. See our guide on How to tell if AirPods are fake. Amazon Prime Day: Beats headphones deals Beats If AirPods aren’t in your budget, Apple also sells a line of Beats headphones and earbuds that offer many of the same features for a lower price, including the popular over-ear Solo 4 and PowerBeats Pro 2. The savings here are all good, though Beats headphones often see deep savings at Amazon, so these deals aren’t exclusive to Prime Day, even if Amazon says they are. We’ll also track headphone deals in our round-up of the best earbuds for iPhone and best over-ear headphones if you’d like to see deals on other brands. U.S. Beats Prime Day deals Beats Solo 4: $130 ($70 off, MSRP $200) Beats Solo Buds: $70 ($10 off, MSRP $80) Beats Studio Buds +: $100 ($70 off, MSRP $170) Beats Studio Pro: $170 ($180 off, MSRP $350) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: $200 ($50 off, MSRP $250) Beats Powerbeats Fit: $170 ($30 off, MSRP $200) Beats Pill: $85 ($65 off, MSRP $150) Beats Flex: $49 ($21 off, MSRP $70) U.K. Beats Prime Day deals Beats Solo 4: £150 (£50 off, RRP £200) Beats Studio Buds +: £109 (£70 off, RRP £179) Beats Studio Pro: £179 (£170 off, RRP £349) Beats Powerbeats Fit: £149 (£51 off, RRP £200) Beats Pill: £107 (£42 off, RRP £149) Beats Flex: £57 (£13 off, RRP £70) Should you buy AirPods during Prime Day? AirPods Pro and AirPods 4.Petter Ahrnstedt Prime Day is widely considered one of the best times of the year to buy Apple products, alongside Black Friday. However, there are a few things to consider before making a purchase: Prime Membership Requirement: Many of the best deals are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. If you’re not already subscribed, you can take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day free trial or sign up for a month and cancel afterward if you don’t plan to keep the membership. Prime membership costs $139 / £95 / AUD$59 annually, or $14.99 / £8.99 / AU$6.99 on a monthly basis. As well as getting free two-day shipping, Prime customers also get access to Prime Video and Music. Alternative Sales: If you miss Prime Day, you’ll have another chance to save during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days in October, followed by Black Friday sales in November. Student Discounts: Students may find better value through Apple’s “Back to School” promotion, which typically runs from June to September in the U.S. and July to October in the U.K. The offer often includes free AirPods with the purchase of a qualifying Mac or iPad. Compare Prices: Amazon isn’t always the cheapest option. Retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy frequently run competing “anti-Prime Day” promotions, so it’s worth comparing prices before buying. Prime Day is available in multiple countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S. Why you can trust Macworld’s recommendations The AirPods picked here are all chosen by our editors, who have decades of experience with Apple devices. We’ve reviewed everything we recommend, and we won’t tell you to buy something that’s not actually worth your money. The deals we recommend are all at or near all-time lows, and we’ve selected what we think is the best configuration for each product type. We know Apple is expensive, so we’ve chosen products at prices we would be willing to pay, so you can trust that our recommendations will steer you in the right direction—and save you big bucks. Amazon Prime Day: More Apple bargains For more Prime Day coverage, check out our other Apple deal roundups: Best Apple Prime Day Deals Best Amazon Prime Day iPad deals Best Amazon Prime Day Apple Watch deals Best Amazon Prime Day MacBook & Mac deals See all our Prime Day Apple Deals coverage

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My 17 favorite iOS 27 features have nothing to do with Siri or AI
Macworld Apple dedicated this year’s software development cycle to making its devices smarter and more efficient. At the opening WWDC26 keynote, the company primarily focused on Siri AI and the performance gains coming with OS 27. It was notably lighter on new features than usual keynotes, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be anything new for phones that miss out on the new AI stuff. Despite the update packing fewer user-facing changes than the last several releases, iOS 27 still introduces numerous smaller features that didn’t get much attention at the Apple event. These 17 new additions truly make this fall’s update worthwhile for anyone, even if you’re skipping Siri AI. Custom Wallet passes iPhone users know all too well how convenient it is to store your digital passes, keys, and cards in the Apple Wallet app to minimize the number of physical items you carry around. The problem, however, is that many gym and venue apps don’t natively support exporting your membership details or tickets to Wallet. While you’ve been able to manually generate Apple Wallet passes using third-party apps for a while, Apple is baking the pass creation feature natively into Wallet, letting you securely store the relevant QR codes.  There are several design templates and customizable fields to choose from during creation, or you can scan a QR code if one is available. The passes also sync to watchOS 27 automatically, letting you get through your frequented gates via a quick wrist scan. iOS 27 will let you create custom passes in the Wallet app so you’ll be able to ditch your real wallet for good.Foundry A sharper keyboard When you copy a photo or a bit of text on your iPhone, it’s generally intended to be pasted somewhere else within the next few seconds. Apple acknowledged this user behavior in iOS 27 by incorporating a paste shortcut into the built-in keyboard’s predictive text bar. Instead of manually hitting a text field a couple of times to paste a clipboard item, you can now directly tap the prediction to quickly insert it without using the contextual text menu. Another welcome keyboard update coming with iOS 27 is Apple’s forcing of the Liquid Glass UI—even if the app developer hasn’t yet adopted it. The same applies to native menus in outdated third-party apps. While purely visual, the change brings consistency to all iPhone apps and makes them look more modern. Clearer voice messaging iMessage has long supported playback speed controls for voice messages through a hidden menu that required users to tap and hold on the play button. With iOS 27, Apple is bringing these controls to the surface, as many users are likely unaware they exist. The supported playback speeds include 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, and 2x. To make the UI less confusing, iOS 27 also allows you to pick whether the audio button in the iMessage text field functions as Dictation or a voice message recorder. In previous releases, the functionality alternated per chat, depending on the feature you used last. Letting users pick the functionality universally across all chats through a Settings option clears things up. Apple is making the audio controls in Messages much clearer in iOS 27.Foundry Drawing app With iOS 27, Apple seemingly retired the ability to send handwritten texts in iMessage—which was accessible by rotating your iPhone sideways. The update, however, does introduce a richer alternative: the Drawing app. The new iMessage applet mimics the sketching functionality found in Apple Notes and other first-party apps, letting you choose between various colors, styles, shapes, and stickers directly inside a specific chat. Dual Capture in FaceTime With the iPhone 17, Apple introduced Dual Capture, allowing users to record videos using the front and rear cameras simultaneously. iOS 27 is porting this perk to FaceTime, making conversations more fun and engaging. If you’re hiking, for example, you could show the other party the mesmerizing views surrounding you while still maintaining virtual eye contact. Birthday reminders in calls During WWDC, Apple previewed Call Context—a feature that surfaces relevant information when calling customer support. This tool’s utility, however, extends beyond confirmation codes and order numbers. If you call a contact on their birthday, the call screen will display a festive banner on your end to remind you about it. Of course, that’s assuming you’ve saved their birthday to their contact card. Silent location pausing For the longest time, there hasn’t been a way to stop sharing your Find My location with a contact without notifying the other person. iOS 27 addresses that by adding a tool to silently pause location sharing. This allows you to go incognito for one day at a time without any awkward confrontation. iOS 27 has introduced several new AI photo modes, including faster Clean Up.Foundry New Clean Up modes When Clean Up in Photos first debuted, it had a habit of generating nightmarish results due to the underlying model’s limitations. iOS 27 not only improves the output, but it also allows you to pick between quick edits and high-quality ones. So, if you’re rushing to eliminate a few blemishes, you could opt for the fast mode. Otherwise, if you’re removing complex objects in a detailed setting, you’ll want to choose the slower mode to produce a more realistic image.  New photo categories The Photos app on iOS 27 also adds two handy automatic categories: “Captured by Me” and “Identity Documents.” Captured by Me compiles every single photo you’ve ever taken with your own iPhones, excluding screenshots and images sourced from third-party apps, while Identify Documents doubles as an ID card hub for quick access. You’ve always been able to search your library for passport and driver’s license images, but this shortcut simplifies the process. Snap a high-res video frame A more concealed Photos feature in iOS 27 is the ability to save a video frame. Instead of taking a screenshot that strips the quality and metadata, you can now hit the dedicated button under the 3-dot menu while watching a video to maintain the image’s resolution and geotag. Redesigned workout screens As a fitness enthusiast, I’ve always disliked how dull the workout summary looked in the native Fitness app. Unlike Strava and similar apps, Apple Fitness hadn’t offered presentable, full-screen workout summaries that you can share as Instagram Stories. iOS 27 refreshes workout summaries by placing your personal map front and center, followed by neatly stacked metrics. Your runs are now Instagrammable without using third-party fitness or design tools. The Fitness and workout screens are getting a glow-up in iOS 27.Foundry Hide watched workouts Another relevant change I appreciate in iOS 27 is the ability to hide completed Fitness+ workouts when viewing the vast catalog. In iOS 26 and earlier, I’d spend time browsing through kickboxing workout videos to find one that I hadn’t already completed. The app now offers the option to surface only unwatched videos. Landscape apps iOS 27 prepares for the iPhone Ultra’s foldable form factor in multiple ways—some of which will also impact regular iPhone users. One of my favorite changes is support for landscape orientation in several first-party apps, including Music, Fitness, Health, and Weather. This allows you to unlock more versatile UIs that adapt to whichever way you want to hold your iPhone. Larger widgets The update also prepares for the wider iPhone screen by supporting extra-large widgets. You can now place gigantic data snippets that occupy full Home Screen pages, including widgets from Weather and Calendar. But even if you’re not buying a folding phone, it’s ideal for those with busy schedules who want a comprehensive overview at all times. Yes, that’s a giant widget.Foundry Granular volume sliders Android users have been laughing at us for years, but iOS 27 finally introduces individual volume sliders for ringtones, alarms, and alerts. The change is optional, so you could stick to a single slider for all output audio if you so desire. CarPlay audio scrubber One thing I disliked about CarPlay is the lack of an audio scrubber to easily jump ahead to my favorite part when playing a certain song. iOS 27 addresses this limitation by incorporating a draggable knob in Apple Music and other audio apps. iPhone recovery menu Finally, iOS 27 introduces a bona fide recovery mode for iPhones, similar to that of macOS. If you’re dealing with software issues, you can now boot into this overhauled menu to pick between Recovery Assist, Software Update, Diagnostics Mode, Erase All Content and Settings, and Recovery Mode. iOS 27 is now available as a developer beta, with a public beta coming in July and a general release to follow in September.

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Apple and Intel are working together to build chips in America, says President Trump
President Trump took to TruthSocial tonight to confirm what was previously rumored: Apple and Intel have agreed a partnership where Intel will manufacture chips for future Apple devices, using Intel’s American-based fabrication sites. The breadth and depth of the agreement is unclear. It is unlikely that Intel will be able to supply the latest-generation chips for Apple’s highest-end iPhones, any time soon.

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Best Apple Watch Prime Day Deals 2026: The best early discounts
Macworld Best Apple Watch deals at Amazon U.S. $100 off Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm or 46mm) $100 off Apple Watch Ultra 3 $30 off Apple Watch SE 3 Best Apple Watch deals at Amazon U.K. £70 off Apple Watch Series 11 £80 off Apple Watch Ultra 3 £20 off Apple Watch SE3 Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales event officially starts on Tuesday, June 23, but we’re already seeing some fantastic Apple Watch deals. This year’s event runs from June 23 to June 26, and Prime Day is usually a great time to save significantly on a new Apple Watch. So far, we’ve seen discounts of $100 on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, along with a more modest $30 off the affordable Apple Watch SE 3. The same discounts are currently available across both watch sizes and for both GPS and GPS + Cellular models. If pricing starts to vary significantly by size or cellular option, we’ll note that here. For more coverage of Amazon’s deals, check out our roundup of the Best Apple Prime Day Deals as well as our main Prime Day page. Best Amazon Prime Apple Watch deals Apple Watch Series 11 Apple / Amazon The Apple Watch Series 11 was released in September 2025, and honestly isn’t very different from the Series 10. It’s slightly more durable and has marginally better battery life, but really, there’s no need to upgrade unless you have an older watch. It’s also harder to find existing inventory of the Series 10 than it was, while discounts on the Series 11 are abundant, so you don’t need to hunt for the older model to save money. U.S. Prime Day price: Amazon is currently selling the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299, which is a 25% discount from the $399 retail price and the same price as it was for Black Friday. Jumping up to the 46mm size adds $30, and adding cellular tacks on $100 more, but in all cases you’re looking at a $100 discount. Apple Watch Series 11: $299 U.K. Prime Day price: You can get £70 off the price of the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 in the U.K. Amazon is selling it for £299, as it did for Black Friday. Apple Watch Series 11: £299 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a significant leap over the Ultra 2. Faster chip, longer battery, better display, satellite connectivity, and improved durability. You can’t really find the Ultra 2 new any more, but the Ultra 3 is probably worth the price anyway. U.S. Prime Day price: You can save $100 on the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is almost the biggest discount we’ve seen. Unlike other Apple Watch models, the Ultra series comes in one size and always includes cellular connectivity. The only price differences are for different finishes and bands. Apple Watch Ultra 3: $699 U.K. Prime Day price: In the U.K., the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available at an £80 discount – the same as the Black Friday price. Apple Watch Ultra 3: £669 Apple Watch SE3 Apple / Amazon Apple’s “budget” Apple Watch SE3 has a retail tag considerably cheaper than the Series 11. It’s a lot better than the SE2 ever was, though you do miss out on a few premium health features. With the Prime Day sales, the gap in price is narrower, so it might be worth springing for the Series 11. U.S. Prime Day price: The Apple Watch SE3 is currently down to $219, a $30 discount, but we’ve seen it as low as $199 before and it may dip down that low during this Prime Day event. The larger size adds $30 and the cellular option adds $50. Apple Watch SE3: $219 U.K. Prime Day price: You can pick up the Apple Watch SE3 for £199, which is barely a discount over the £219 retail price, but not far off the lowest price we’ve seen – £197 back in March. Apple Watch SE3: £199 Watch List: The Prime Day Apple Watch deals we are looking out for Based on recent reviews and pricing trends for the Apple Watch these are our buying recommendations: ModelBuy?Best priceBest DealApple Watch Series 11Yes$399 / £299We don’t expect the discount to go any lower, so $399 / £299 for Apple’s best watch is excellent, especially as we don’t expect a big upgrade this fall.Apple Watch Ultra 3Yes$679 / £669We’d like the U.S. price to fall a little more to $679, but even $699 is a good deal, while in the U.K. this is as cheap as we’ve seen it.Apple Watch SE3Maybe$199 / £197Unless the SE3 price goes lower than $199/£199 we’d recommend a discounted Series 11 instead. Which Apple Watch to buy this Prime Day David Price / Foundry Choosing the right Apple Watch depends on your specific needs, whether you are looking for a rugged outdoor companion, a feature-rich flagship, or a budget-friendly entry point into the ecosystem. Our top recommendation for Prime Day is the Apple Watch Series 11. Apple Watch Series 11: Best for Most Users The sweet spot for the average iPhone user, the Series 11 includes a comprehensive suite of sensors for ECG readings, blood oxygen monitoring, and sleep tracking that can flag signs of sleep apnea or hypertension and offers several key improvements over previous generations. Apple Watch Ultra 3: Best for outdoor sports The Ultra 3 is the most capable and rugged option for avid runners, hikers, and athletes. It offers dual-frequency precision GPS for accurate tracking in rough terrain and battery life of 42 hours of normal use or 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Apple Watch SE 3: Best value A competent smartwatch without the premium price tag, the SE 3 offers an always-on display, essential safety features like Fall Detection and Crash Detection, and a heart rate monitor. If you can afford the Series 11 we recommend that instead, though. For more advice read our Best Apple Watch guide. Amazon Prime Day Apple Watch deals to avoid David Price / Foundry Avoid buying older Apple Watch models, such as the Series 10 or Ultra 2, unless the discount is exceptional. At this point, most remaining stock is refurbished, and with strong discounts often available on the latest models, there’s little reason to choose an older generation. Before you buy, compare prices across different colors and sizes. While most configurations are discounted equally, popular color options can sometimes carry a small premium. Don’t pay an extra $100 for a Cellular model unless you specifically need standalone connectivity. Cellular Apple Watches also require a separate wireless plan, typically around $10 per month. Double-check that you’re not accidentally selecting a cellular version when the GPS model would meet your needs. Students and educators should check that they can’t save even more through the Apple Education Store: eligible buyers can save up to $80 on an Ultra 3 or up to $40 on a Series 11. Should you buy an Apple Watch during Prime Day? Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to buy an Apple Watch, alongside Black Friday. While Apple typically unveils new hardware in September, major Apple Watch changes aren’t expected this year, making current-generation models an easy recommendation if you find a strong discount. Before you buy, keep the following in mind: Prime Membership Requirement: Many of the best deals are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. If you’re not a Prime subscriber, you can take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day free trial or sign up for a month and cancel afterward. Prime membership costs $139 / £95 / AUD$59 annually, or $14.99 / £8.99 / AU$6.99 on a monthly basis. As well as getting free two-day shipping, Prime customers also get access to Prime Video and Music. Compare Prices: Amazon isn’t always the cheapest retailer. Stores such as Walmart and Best Buy often run competing promotions during Prime Day, so it’s worth checking prices elsewhere before making a purchase. Alternative Sales: Missed Prime Day? Similar discounts often return during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event in October and Black Friday sales in November. Student Savings: Students may find better value through Apple’s “Back to School” promotion, which typically runs from June to September in the U.S. and July to October in the U.K. Eligible purchases often include a free accessory, such as AirPods, with select Macs and iPads. Prime Day deals are available in multiple countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S. Why you can trust Macworld’s recommendations We have decades of experience with Apple devices and have tested and reviewed every Apple Watch since the original model. Everything we recommend has been thoroughly tested and weighed against its contemporaries and previous models. We don’t recommend products we wouldn’t buy, and we don’t point out a deal unless it’s actually a deal—a product that can always be found at the “sale” price really isn’t on sale. Macworld checks Prime Day deals, comparing against MSRP, price history, model relevance and deal quality before we give our recommendation. Amazon Prime Day: More Apple bargains For more Prime Day coverage, check out our other Apple deal roundups: Best Apple Prime Day Deals Best Amazon Prime Day iPad deals Best Amazon Prime Day AirPods deals Best Amazon Prime Day MacBook & Mac deals See all our Prime Day Apple Deals coverage

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This upcoming change could end up breaking iCloud+ Hide My Email
Macworld One of the great features of Apple’s iCloud+ online storage service is Hide My Email, a feature that allows users to create and use an anonymous email address when signing up for something online. It currently creates an email address using @icloud.com; since the email domain is the same as the one for your actual iCloud email address, a site can’t block you for using a “fake” address. But Apple announced some news to developers about Hide My Email, and it’s not the best. Apple said that “later this summer,” it is changing Hide My Email so that the email address created uses @private.icloud.com instead. That’s a distinct difference from @icloud.com and could allow services to filter the two domains and reject @private.icloud.com from being accepted when an email address is demanded. That could be bad news for users who depend on the service and want to keep their personal email free from spam. On the bright side, existing Hide My Email addresses that you’ve already created will continue to work and will remain @icloud.com addresses. But at some point this summer, any new addresses you create will have the new domain, so be prepared for the possibility that Hide My Email address will be rejected. Apple did not offer an explanation for the change in its news release. Our friends at TechCrunch contacted Apple for a comment, but did not receive a response either. If, after this new policy goes into effect, you find that Hide My Email isn’t effective anymore, you could do what I used to do (and will probably go back to doing) and create an account at a free online email service for the specific purpose of non-critical logins. It’s not as convenient as Hide My Email–you need to log into the email account to confirm and complete any registration. But it’s better than exposing your actual email address to a service that will likely use it for marketing purposes.

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This Deal Days Babbel offer gets you linguist-built language lessons for less
Macworld TL;DR: New U.S. users can get a Babbel Lifetime Subscription for $159 (reg. $299) with code LEARN through June 22 and unlock all 14 languages, 10,000+ hours of lessons, and lifetime access. Learning a new language sounds like a great idea—right up until you’re staring at a 300-day streak requirement and another monthly subscription charge. Babbel completely shakes up language-learning. As part of the Deal Days savings event, new U.S. users can get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for just $159 with code LEARN. Babbel’s library includes more than 10,000 hours of language education covering Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Norwegian, Danish, Turkish, Indonesian, Russian, and English. You don’t have to pick just one, either—you can explore as many languages as you like. Most sessions take just 10 to 15 minutes, making it easy to practice during a coffee break, commute, or while waiting for your flight to board. Babbel also includes speech recognition technology, personalized review sessions, offline learning, and an AI conversation partner. Whether you’re planning a trip abroad, expanding your professional skills, or reconnecting with family heritage, Babbel offers a flexible way to do it. Get lifetime access to all of Babbel’s languages for a one-time $159 (reg. $299) through June 22 with code LEARN. Click here to view more of the Deal Days collection. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal StackSocial prices are subject to change.

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Tim Cook warns of ‘unavoidable’ price hikes as iPhone launch looms
Macworld Tim Cook is just a couple of months away from stepping down as CEO, but he’s still very much involved in Apple’s day-to-day business. And according to his comments in an interview this week, it’s getting harder with each passing day. In no uncertain terms, Cook told the Wall Street Journal that prices will be going up, an ominous sign with barely three months to go until the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone Ultra. He declined to share specifics, but he didn’t mince words when asked about future price hikes:  Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable. We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable. Apple has already taken some significant steps to mitigate rising component costs. In March, Apple discontinued the Mac Pro as well as some higher-end configurations of the Mac Studio. It also eliminated the 256GB Mac mini and the 512GB MacBook Pro from the lineup, effectively increasing prices across the board. It’s not yet clear which products will receive price increases. But Apple is launching several new products this fall, including the iPhone 18 Pro (the baseline iPhone 18 isn’t expected to arrive until the spring), the Apple Watch Series 12, and its first folding phone, the iPhone Ultra. Reports have claimed the folding phone could cost as much as $2,499. Cook said the current situation is like “a hundred-year flood” and unlike anything he’s seen in 40 years. Several companies, including Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, have increased prices due to rising memory costs. Reports claim that RAM prices doubled earlier this year and the situation has only gotten worse.

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Macworld Podcast: What to know about watchOS 27
Macworld Apple unveiled watchOS 27 at WWDC last week, and there wasn’t much to see—at least that’s the impression you’re left with after the presentation. So, on this week’s Macworld Podcast, we’re talking about what you’ll find in watchOS 27.  This is episode 988 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 988 on YouTube Listen to episode 988 on Apple Podcasts

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