Tim Cook names Apple’s greatest contributions, talks tariff refunds and retirement rumors
Apple CEO Tim Cook continues the company’s 50th anniversary celebration with a press stop at Good Morning America on ABC News. The latest interview with Michael Strahan touches on a wide range of topics, including Apple’s greatest contribution, potential tariff refunds, Cook’s future as CEO, and more. more…

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9to5Mac Overtime 063: The new standard
Fernando and Jeff talk MacBook Neo impressions. The conclusion? The MacBook Neo isn’t necessarily about raw power or specs, it’s all about redefining what the new standard for a budget laptop should be. 9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more. more…

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App Store fees drop in China & Beijing immediately asks for more
China is escalating pressure on Apple's App Store just days after a fee cut, signaling the fight is shifting from commissions to the rules that govern payments and app distribution.China is escalating pressure on AppleChina's ruling party newspaper, the People's Daily, said on March 17 that Apple should ease what it called "monopolistic" policies. The editorial followed Apple's move to cut its App Store commission in mainland China from 30% to 25%.Chinese officials framed the move as a result of regulatory pressure, with the change following communication with regulators. The timing shows regulators are pushing beyond pricing and into how Apple controls iOS. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Beats and Nike team up on special edition Powerbeats Pro 2
Beats and Nike are teaming up for their first-ever hardware collaboration. The new “Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition” blend Beats and Nike design as part of a first-of-its-kind collaboration for Apple’s Beats subsidiary. more…

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Apple's next 50th anniversary concert is probably in China
New York had Alicia Keys, now China is celebrating Apple's 50th birthday with a score of dancers now seen rehearsing ahead of what looks to be a spectacular light show and concert.Dancers rehearsing ahead of a performance outside Apple Taikoo Li Chengdu — image credit: Chengdu City CDCApple promised a series of events celebrating the company's half century, and those began in New York City with a concert by Alicia Keys at Apple Grand Central. Now Chinese social media is starting to show what may be the next event, a dance and probably music concert in China.Images seen so far appear to show that Apple has created a stage in front of its Apple Chengdu Taikoo Li store. Surrounded by thick walls, the stage contains an large elevated section draped in black, and with what look to be floodlights and speakers. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The Oppo Find N6 gives us a preview of the iPhone Fold, with a 600k fold life
It’s taken Apple a long time to advance work on the iPhone Fold, and the reason for that was said to be that the company was unhappy with the visible crease in earlier iterations of the display technology. By late last year, around 100 iPhone fold models were said to have been made for testing purposes. These will of course be closely guarded, but a competing Android phone has given us a reasonable idea of what we might expect … more…

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By missing AI, Apple is winning AI
In an era when tech giants are burning hundreds of billions on massive AI data centers and infrastructure bets, Apple is conspicuously… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Get a 10th-gen iPad for just $239.99
This 10th-gen iPad (2022) packs a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and all-day battery life. Get a near-mint refurbished iPad 10 for less. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple TV’s new Keanu Reeves comedy looks hilarious, here’s the trailer
Apple TV has just released the trailer for its new comedy film, Outcome, starring Keanu Reeves and a stacked supporting roster. And based on this early look, it has all the makings of a hit. more…

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Why every Mac user should be thrilled MacBook Neo packs 8GB of RAM
MacBook Neo needs just 8GB of RAM, and that's great news for all Mac users, even users of high-end computers. Here's why. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple’s 50th anniversary celebrations move from New York to China
Apple began its 50th anniversary celebrations at New York’s Grand Central Station on Friday and is reportedly continuing them in China tomorrow. We’re again expecting a live performance by a popular singer, and Apple retail head Deirdre O’Brien has been spotted in the country … more…

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11 tech giants – but not Apple – have signed up to an anti-scam initiative
Eleven tech giants and major retailers have signed up to a new anti-scam initiative ahead of a United Nations global fraud summit. The Industry Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud recognizes the growing use of AI by criminal gangs to create more convincing scams, and pledges cooperation between the companies to combat this … more…

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BenQ MA270S review: Studio Display specs for a whole lot less
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Great image and text quality Height-adjustable stand is standard Several connectivity options Cons No built-in webcam 70Hz max refresh rate may not be high enough for gamers Our Verdict If you’ve been holding out for a 5K 27-inch display, take a look at the BenQ MA270S. It’s a good alternative to the Apple Studio Display with excellent image quality and more diverse connection options. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$999 Best Prices Today: MA270S Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket BenQ has been doing a great job with its displays geared towards Mac users. I’ve reviewed the MA270U and the MA270UP and recommend them. But those 27-inch displays do have one specific feature that may be a no-go for some customers: They are 4K displays, not 5K like the Apple Studio Display. Most people will be fine with 4K, but for others, that’s a deal breaker. Good news: BenQ now has a 5K offering, the new MA270S. It basically looks the same as the others, except it’s now a direct competitor to the high-resolution Studio Display. More good news: the MA270S lives up to the standard set by its two predecessors, with a great combination of image quality, features, and price. Specifications Size27 inchesGlass frontNano Gloss PanelAspect ratio16:9Native resolution5120 by 2880Panel type/BacklightIPS/LED backlightResponse time5 msContrast ratio2000:1Refresh rate70HzColor depth10-bitBrightness450 nitsDimensions with stand (horizontal)Highest height: 22.1 by 24.2 by 8.7 inches (560.1 by 613.8 by 220.2mm) Lowest height: 17 by 24.2 by 8.7 inches (430 by 613.8 by 220.2mm)Weight with stand19.05 lbs (8.64 kg) BenQ MA270S: Design and build The MA270S takes its design cues from its 4K brethren. It’s almost exactly like those two displays, with a plastic case and bezels that are less than 1mm. The one major difference is that BenQ moved the Visual Optimizer Sensor to the lower left of the front of the display. While it disrupts the previously clean line, it doesn’t stand out. You see it, but it’s not distracting. The MA270S’s base has a protective pad for resting an iPhone, AirPods, etc.Foundry The Visual Optimizer Sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on the room’s lighting. Placing it on the front allows the brightness to be closer in tune with what the user perceives. It’s a thoughtful change. A few months ago, BenQ released the MA270UP, which implements the company’s Nano Gloss Panel. The MA270S also uses the same panel, so it’s a glossy display and not available in matte. Apple’s Studio Display is also glossy, but it has a Nano-texture glass (matte) option that increases the price by $300. I didn’t experience any glare or eye fatigue while using the MA270S, issues that can occur while using a glossy display. Glossy is preferred by users who want colors that are vivid and black reproduction that is deep–some may say a matte screen, by comparison, has a washed-out appearance. BenQ MA270S: Ports The MA270S has the following ports: Two HDMI 2.0 ports One 35W PowerDelivery USB-C port One 96W PowerDelivery Thunderbolt 4 port One 15W PowerDelivery Thunderbolt 4 port Two USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, 7.5W) One USB-C downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, 15W) 3.5mm headphone jack Macs can connect via HDMI, USC-C, or Thunderbolt.Foundry MacBooks can connect to the display via HDMI, USB-C, or Thunderbolt, and I used all three types without any issues. However, if you connect via HDMI, your MacBook does not charge while connected–HDMI connections don’t provide power. If you want to use the display as a hub, you need to connect the MacBook to USB-C or Thunderbolt. BenQ MA270S: Image quality The MA270S produces pleasing images of great quality, and the text looks sharp. In the Macworld office, I usually use a 4.5K iMac to produce the Macworld Podcast in the studio, and when I switched to a MacBook Pro connected to the BenQ display, I could easily see the upgrade in quality. The blacks are richer, colors are rich, and text looks crisp. This display, like the other MA270 displays, is impressive. One small upgrade that the MA270S offers over the other BenQ displays is a 70Hz refresh rate, slightly higher than the standard 60Hz (which Studio Display uses). I didn’t notice a difference in general everyday use, but those with a more discerning eye might notice the difference over other monitors when scrolling or watching videos. The MA270S’s refresh rate is fixed at 70Hz, so if you want a faster rate (90Hz or 120Hz), you’ll need to look elsewhere. BenQ MA270S: Price The MA270S is priced at $999, and the company is offering a special deal where if you buy two displays, the second display is 20 percent off. This offer is good during the March pre-order period. At $999, it’s significantly cheaper than the Apple Studio Display. Keep in mind that if you want a height-adjustable stand with Apple’s display, you have to pay an extra $400–a feature that’s standard on BenQ’s display–which doubles the price. The MA270S tilts, swivels, and pivots 90 degrees, though you won’t get a webcam or Spatial Audio speakers. USB and a headphone jack are located on the bottom of the display for easy access.Foundry Should you buy the BenQ MA270S? If you’ve been holding out for a 5K 27-inch display, take a look at the BenQ MA270S. It’s a good alternative to the Apple Studio Display; the MA270S matches its image quality, while offering more options as a connection hub. One clear advantage the Studio Display has is a built-in webcam, which is missing from the MA270S, but the Studio Display is prohibitively more expensive if you need a height-adjustable stand. Apple released the 2nd-gen Studio Display in March 2026, and it’s not all that different than the previous model. It still costs $1,599, and the upgrades are minor: Thunderbolt 5 and a better camera. It uses the same 5K, 60Hz panel as before, so unless you want a built-in webcam or Thunderbolt 5, there’s no reason to choose it over the MA270S. Now read: Best Mac monitors: The Mac compatible displays we recommend

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AI Apps Generate Revenue but Struggle With Retention
AI-powered apps are driving higher conversions and revenue, but retention remains weak. High churn, shorter trials, and rising costs expose a gap between early excitement and lasting value. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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How a MacBook Neo bought for a high school student is worth $50k to Apple
One of the biggest mysteries ahead of the MacBook Neo launch was the price. We’d seen various estimates in the $599 to $799 range, and while we’d certainly hoped for that lower-end figure, experienced Apple watchers weren’t necessarily expecting it. Reaction to the price was universally positive, all the more so as it breaks the $500 barrier for education users. School and college students can buy the machine for just $499 … more…

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How Apple secures MacBook Neo's camera indicator without a hardware light
Instead of a secure, dedicated indicator light, MacBook Neo just shows a green icon when the camera is in use. Yet years of software engineering effort means the camera "exclave" still can't be hacked.MacBook Neo secures its camera in softwareFor the right audience, the MacBook Neo is a superb buy, plus you can repair it, you can even modify it a little. But reportedly, what you can't do is hijack the camera even though the MacBook Neo lacks the usual hardware indicator light.John Gruber reports in his Daring Fireball blog that the MacBook Neo's on-screen green icon indicator turns out to be pretty much as secure. He quotes developer Guilherme Rambo saying that "the software-based camera indicator light... runs in the secure exclave part" of the processor. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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AirPods Max 2 may look old, but these big upgrades are inside
Macworld It’s been a long time since Apple was able to release something without the whole internet knowing about it beforehand. But we were surprised by the announcement of AirPods Max 2, a product we weren’t really expecting anytime soon. AirPods Max were released in December of 2020, and received a minor USB-C update with new colors in 2024. AirPods Max 2 changes very little from a design standpoint. It’s the same headphones, with the same speakers and microphones. But Apple has replaced the H1 chip with the H2, and that brings with it a lot of improvements and new capabilities. Here’s how the AirPods Max models stack up AirPods Max vs. AirPods Max USB-C vs. AirPods Max 2 AirPods Max got a minor update to USB-C in 2024, but the new H2 version adds a lot on top of that. Here’s a look at everything that’s different bettern the three versions: AirPods Max (Lightning)AirPods Max (USB-C)AirPods Max 2ReleasedDecember 2020September 2024April 2026Price$549$549$549ColorsSpace Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Green, PinkMidnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, OrangeMidnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, OrangeSize7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inches7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inches7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inchesWeight13.6 ounces13.6 ounces13.6 ouncesProcessorH1H1H2ConnectionLightningUSB-CUSB-CWired AudioLightning-to-3.5mmUSB-to-3.5mm, USB-C (with software update)USB-to-3.5mm, USB-CLow-latency audioNoYes (USB-C only)Yes (USB-C only)Lossless audioNo24-bit, 48 kHz (USB-C only)24-bit, 48 kHz (USB-C only)Noise CancellationYesYesYes (1.5x better)TransparencyYesYesYes (More natural)Adaptive AudioNoNoYesConversation AwarenessNoNoYesSiri support“Hey Siri”“Hey Siri”“Hey Siri” and just “Siri”Live TranslationNoNoYesVoice IsolationNoNoYesPersonalized VolumeNoNoYesCamera remoteNoNoYesBattery LifeUp to 20 hours w/ANC enabledUp to 20 hours w/ANC enabledUp to 20 hours w/ANC enabledSmart CaseYesYesYes Three years after their introduction, Apple updated AirPods Max to swap out the Lightning port for USB-C and refresh the colors. It only impacted charging, though, and was hardly worth mentioning. Then, in the iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4 update (along with a firmware update), Apple added USB-C audio with enabled 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio with “ultra-low latency” when plugged in via USB-C. AirPods Max 2 appear to be identical to the USB-C updated version, but by swapping out the H1 chip for the newer H2, you get a lot of benefits. Apple says noise cancellation is up to 1.5x better, transparency mode sounds more natural, and you get all the other features common to H2-enabled AirPods: Adaptive Audio, the ability to say just “Siri” instead of “Hey, Siri,” Voice Isolation, Live Translation, and so on. They also come in the same five colors with the same magnetic Smart Case. The price has remained $549 throughout, but they’re almost always on sale from third-party retailers, with sites like Amazon usually selling them for $449 or less, and we’ve seen as low as $399 during sales events. Apple AirPods Max 2 Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: $549 at Apple

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Apple’s real intelligence? Winning the waiting game
Macworld Apple is behind on AI! We all know it! It was in all the papers. But Horace Dediu wonders if Apple didn’t pull off the most brilliant move in corporate history. That move? Not dumping hundreds of billions into AI. Just tens of billions. The Macalope has been suggesting much the same thing for a while now and Dediu questions the spend Apple’s competitors are making on AI. Amazon is spending $200 billion this year on AI data centers. Google, $185 billion. Microsoft, $114 billion. Meta, $135 billion. Combined: $650 billion. Well, surely it’s all going swimmingly, though: “Meta planning sweeping layoffs as AI costs mount” We’ve gone from “AI does everything so we can now lay off all our staff!” to “We have to lay off all our staff because AI is sucking all our resources.” It’s almost as if AI is being as an excuse for layoffs. Ha-ha! That would be silly! Because, in reality, we know that there really is no problem that cannot be solved by laying off vast swaths of the people who have devoted their careers to you. It’s just math. Speaking of math, it seems Apple’s spreadsheets are coming up with different numbers than everyone else’s. Dediu notes: …Apple’s capital budget is still a modest $14 billion… It’s not nothing, but it’s not close to the vast sums these other companies are throwing at it. And who is the big beneficiary of all this spending? Nvidia. Apple is refusing to transfer its cash flow to Nvidia. Curiously, it believes that its cash flow belongs to its shareholders, not to Nvidia’s. It’s weird how many recent tech trends have relied on Nvidia’s chips: crypto, NFTs, the blockchain, and now AI. Two years ago, the Macalope joked: The Macalope doesn’t consider himself someone prone to conspiracy theories, but he would not be surprised to find out years from now that Nvidia has been running a powerful psychological ops campaign that dreams up technologies that require its boards to run and then convince venture capital firms to invest in them. Was it a joke? He’s not even sure anymore. Dediu notes: The hyperscalers are now spending 94 percent of their operating cash flows on AI infrastructure. Eeeyow. There are places where AI is reaping some real gains in productivity and utility, such as programming, data analysis, and accessibility. And then there are all the other places where these companies are trying to jam it like a slippery herring into a carburetor. If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.Foundry Why are you trying to put it in there, Phil?! It doesn’t belong in there! You’re a terrible mechanic! The Macalope doesn’t know why he brings his car to you! Examples: Customer support? Customers don’t want it. Virtual assistants? Enhanced Siri may be late but enhanced Alexa is out there stumbling around looking for someone to hold its beer. A study showed that in the workplace, far from helping, AI is causing “brain fry”. The Macalope doesn’t really know what that is but it doesn’t sound good. And then there’s generative AI. At least that’s all fun and games, right—oh nooo… “Teens sue Elon Musk’s xAI over Grok’s AI-generated CSAM” (Grok and X, by the way? Still on the App Store, in case you were wondering.) Ultimately, however, Apple seems to be mostly taking the same stance with AI that it took with Dropbox. “You’re a feature, not a product.” So far, that seems 100 percent correct. Every attempt to make AI a product has failed or is having a lot of trouble getting off the runway. “OpenAI, Jony Ive AI hardware faces reported delays” “Uh, so far every prototype we’ve made has exploded inside the hangar. One of them exploded before we had even made the device. The artist’s rendering exploded. I don’t even know how that happens.” The one thing Apple definitely did do wrong was promising Apple Intelligence features it could not deliver and may not be able to any time soon. If Apple had simply said “Our devices are ready to fully support on-device models from whatever vendors want to work with us to retain privacy. Our software will also hook into cloud-based AI for customers who want more.” it might have saved itself some trouble. Apple didn’t miss the AI revolution. It just bet that the winners won’t be the ones who build the infrastructure. All this spending is predicated on big demand for AI products in the future and right now that’s a real uncertainty. On the plus side, can you imagine the first Spirit Halloween that sets up shop in a former AI data center? Just epic.

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HomeKit Weekly: Aqara releases its first Matter camera alongside a new Apple Home enabled wired doorbell
Aqara just announced two major additions to its smart home security lineup today. They have released the Camera Hub G350, which is the company’s first Matter-certified camera, along with the Doorbell Camera G400. I always look forward to seeing what Aqara does next, as they have been a great way to build out a low-cost smart home for years. These two devices bring so many needed features to the Apple Home ecosystem. more…

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Native apps with a cloud backing
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, AJ from Daylite joins the show to talk about native macOS apps, local AI compute, and the future of macOS software. more…

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Visual Studio Pro 2026 is only $43 with this coupon code
Macworld TL;DR: Use code MARCH15 to get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $42.49 through March 29 (MSRP $499.99). Macs are fantastic machines for development, but if you build software that has to run everywhere—Windows, Linux, cloud containers, enterprise environments—you’ve probably crossed paths with Visual Studio at some point. A new version just dropped with deeper AI integration, improved performance, and more powerful collaboration tools. What’s new in Visual Studio 2026? Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit development environment, designed to handle massive codebases and complex projects without slowing you down. You can build everything from mobile apps to web platforms and containerized cloud services. Some highlights include: AI-assisted coding with IntelliCode: suggests code based on patterns in your project, helping you write faster and reduce repetitive boilerplate. Cross-platform development tools: build and debug .NET or C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers, making it useful for mixed-device teams. Live Share collaboration: jump into real-time coding sessions without teammates needing to clone repos or install dependencies. CodeLens insights: see commit history, tests, and authors directly in your editor so you understand your codebase faster. Get Visual Studio Pro 2026 for $42.49 with code MARCH15 (MSRP $499.99). Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026See Deal Want to see more deals? Visit our shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Work smarter: Connect your Mac to an extra monitor
Macworld The more screen space you have the more efficiently you work apparently. So why not connect a second (or even a fifth) display to your Mac? In this article we help you identify which adapter you need to plug your Mac into an extra, external screen (or even more than one), and how to get everything set up. While it’s generally easy to set up an additional screen, there are a few issues that might cause your display not to be detected by your Mac, so we will also offer solutions for these problems below. It is also possible to use an iPad as a second screen. This may suit you if you don’t already own an external screen, but note that you do need a supported Mac and iPad. We look at how to use your iPad as a screen for your Mac in a separate article, along with which iPads and Macs support the feature. Apple has added the ability to use one keyboard and mouse with two Macs, or a Mac and iPad, which could suit your new way of working. To find out more see: How to use the same mouse and keyboard with two Macs. Another thing to bear in mind if you are hoping to add two external displays to your Mac is that while some Macs can support up to five additional displays, the plain (non-Pro or Max) M1 or M2 Macs and MacBook Neo support only one additional display—although there is a workaround, read: How to connect two or more external displays to Apple M1, M2 and Neo Macs. You may also be interested in how to use an old iMac as a second display. How to connect an external monitor to a Mac This is one of those things that should be easy, but because over the years Apple has changed the ports on Macs it can be difficult to know what connectors you actually need in order to connect a monitor to your Mac. That’s even before you have studied the ports on the back or the display to work out what connector is required there. Luckily once you know what wire you need to connect your MacBook to your monitor it should be plain sailing. The steps are relatively simple, but as you will see the first step is the hardest! Identify which Apple adapter and cable you need to connect the Mac and the monitor by following the guidance in the Which Port section below. Plug it in. Open System Preferences > Displays. Click the Arrangement tab.  Do not select the Mirror Displays tickbox (unless you want the second screen to show the same content as your original screen). Drag the illustrated displays into the arrangement you require. A white menu bar will be shown at the top of one of the screens. Drag this white bar to the screen you wish to be dominant. If you want to mirror the display on both (or multiple) displays go to System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement and choose Mirror Displays. You can also select ‘Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available’ and you will see a status menu in the menu bar making it easier to turn this off and on again. The options are a little different if you are attaching a desktop Mac, like a Mac mini, to a monitor as it doesn’t have its own display. If you are adding a second monitor to a Mac mini you will see something like this: As with the options for connecting a monitor to a MacBook, if you connect more than one monitor to a Mac mini you will notice the white block at the top of one of the displays. You can click on this and drag it onto the display you wish to be the main display. You can also adjust the position of each display to reflect how they are positioned on your desk, so that when you drag your mouse from one screen to the other you know where it will appear. If you have an Apple TV, or any TV that supports AirPlay, you can also use AirPlay to send a second screen output to your TV screen. Here’s how to do that: How to view your Mac screen on a TV. If you are using your Mac with an external screen and want to close the lid on your MacBook read: How to use MacBook with lid closed, stop closed Mac sleeping. Now that I’ve arranged the displays this way, I can move my mouse pointer to the second monitor just by moving it up. The transition is instant. Which port has my Mac got? As we said above, the hardest part of connecting a display to your Mac is working out what cable you need to plug into your Mac and the monitor. The cable you require depends on the model of Mac and the type of monitor. Apple has implemented quite a few different port types over the years, and your Mac desktop or MacBook might feature any of the following: HDMI, USB-C, Thunderbolt 2, 3, 4 or 5, or Mini Display. We’ll help you identify which port you have below. HDMI All today’s MacBook Pro models ship with an HDMI video port that is dedicated to connecting to external displays or projectors, starting with the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro introduced in 2021. The Mac mini and Mac Studio also host an HDMI port. HDMI ports are often found on TVs, making those Macs a popular choice for those setting up a media centre PC. Macs with an HDMI port include: Mac mini 14in MacBook Pro 16in MacBook Pro Mac Studio You’ll also find HDMI port on some older Mac mini models and the MacBook Pro from mid 2012 to 2015. Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 / USB4 / USB-C USB-C is the charging and data port found on most modern devices. It’s a small, elongated oval shape with rounded, symmetrical ends. It’s more capable than the older rectangular USB-A port with a cable that must be inserted one-way only—and always the other way than you first try it. USB-C is reversible so the cable can go in either way up, which is much more convenient. Thunderbolt versions 3, 4 and 5 are a supercharged version of USB-C, with a bandwidth of between 40Gbps (Thunderbolt 3 and 4) to 80Gbps (Thunderbolt 5) compared to USB-C’s 5GBps to 10GBps. Each is backwards compatible with USB-C and looks and acts in the same way, so with them you will be able to use any USB C-equipped monitor, or a Thunderbolt monitor, with your Mac. You’ll be able to use a USB-C data cable to connect your Mac to your monitor, but it must support DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode), meaning simple USB-C charging cables might not suffice for connecting to a monitor. The minimum recommended data speed is 5Gbps (USB 3.1/3.2 Gen 1), though a 10Gbps (USB 3.1/3.2 Gen 2) or 40Gbps/80Gbps (USB4/Thunderbolt 3/4/5) cable is better for higher resolutions, faster refresh rates, and data transfer. For suitable monitor/data USB-C cables consult our reviews of the best USB-C and Thunderbolt cables. The older Thunderbolt 1 and 2 connections (found on some Macs from 2011 to early 2016) are a different shape entirely and less capable than later Thunderbolt or plain USB-C. We’ll go into more detail on those older varieties later. Macs with a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port include: 13in MacBook Pro (from 2020) MacBook Air (from 2020) 24in iMac (from 2021) Mac mini M1 (from 2020) You’ll also find Thunderbolt 3 on Macs from around the end of 2016 and onwards. As with Thunderbolt 3 , Thunderbolt 4 shares the same port as USB-C (and USB4, which we discuss next). The port looks identical to the Thunderbolt 3 port (above) and is completely backwards compatible. Apple The big benefit of Thunderbolt 4 is it supports two 4K displays or one 8K display from a single cable connection. Macs with a Thunderbolt 4 port include: 14in MacBook Pro (from 2021) 16in MacBook Pro (from 2021) Mac Studio (from 2022) There isn’t a huge difference between USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, and all Thunderbolt 4 devices support USB4. While Thunderbolt 4 always has a full 40Gbps bandwidth, USB4 starts at 20Gbps, but can also reach 40Gbps. A USB4 port supports only one display, while Thunderbolt 4 can support two 4K displays. Learn about Thunderbolt 5, 4 and USB4. Mac mini M1 (from 2020) MacBook Air (from 2020) 13in MacBook Pro (from 2020) 14in MacBook Pro (from 2021) 16in MacBook Pro (from 2021) 24in iMac (from 2021) Mac Studio (from 2022) Most up to date is Thunderbolt 5, which is backwards compatible all the way back to plain USB-C. The two external displays from one cable limit remains except for Macs boasting an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, which can support three or four displays respectively over one cable. Alongside the four USB-A ports, this 2015-era iMac has two Thunderbolt 2 ports that look nothing like modern-day Thunderbolt 3, 4 or 5 ports.Simon Jary Thunderbolt 1 or 2 Thunderbolt first appeared on Macs in around 2011, then in 2013 Apple introduced Thunderbolt 2. The Thunderbolt port looks the same as Mini DisplayPort (below) and is backwards-compatible with that port. If you see a Thunderbolt symbol besides what looks like a Mini DisplayPort, your Mac has a Thunderbolt port. If your Mac is from 2011 to around 2016, chances are it offers Thunderbolt 1 or 2 rather than Mini DisplayPort, although the two are compatible. Mini DisplayPort Mini DisplayPort was announced by Apple towards the end of 2008. With an adapter the Mini DisplayPort can drive displays that feature VGA, DVI or HDMI interfaces. For more information about ports, here’s a rundown of some of Apple’s different port types. Which port does my display have? Now that you’ve identified which port your Mac has, you need to check the port on your display, we run through all the options below. You also need to confirm one more thing: Is the port male or female? You need to check whether the connection on the back of your display has “female” ( a port) or “male” (a connector) endpoints. The NEC MyltiSync E243WMI we used had a female connection, for example, so we needed to make sure that the adaptor we bought had male endpoints. HDMI HDMI 2.1 brings support for resolutions up to 8k and higher. It supports up to 32 channels of audio from version 2.0. HDMI is the most common connector you’ll find on the back of a TV. Want to use an 8K monitor? Read How to connect an 8K display to your Mac. As we noted above, some Macs ship with an HDMI port—in which case you just need an HDMI-to-HDMI cable to connect your display to your Mac. If your Mac doesn’t have an HDMI port then you just need an adapter or adapter cable: for example, a USB-C-to-HDMI cable or an adapter; see our reviews of the best USB-C adapters for Mac. DisplayPort DisplayPort brings support for resolutions up to 16K and higher (DisplayPort 2.1 and later), although the Mac is limited to 8K at this time. It supports up to 32 channels of audio from version 1.4. DisplayPort was designed to replace older standards like VGA and DVI (see below) and support high resolutions. It is regarded as superior to HDMI for gaming and multi-monitor setups as it offers higher bandwidth and refresh rates, plus daisy-chaining. No Macs ship with DisplayPort port, so you’ll need to get a USB-C-to-DisplayPort cable to connect the display to your Mac, or an adapter. Foundry Thunderbolt, USB-C or USB4 Modern monitors are likely to feature USB-C ports rather than Thunderbolt ports, although Thunderbolt is faster and can take more power. USB-equipped displays are likely to be cheaper than Thunderbolt options, too. Thunderbolt is closely related to DisplayPort (see above) as it tunnels DisplayPort signals alongside data and power over a single cable, allowing a Thunderbolt port to natively drive a DP monitor while also managing data/power. Because Thunderbolt and USB-C ports are identical, if your Mac has one, you will be able to use a USB-C cable to connect the monitor to your Mac but make sure it supports at least 5Gbps of data—many USB-C cables are just for charging and wimp out at just 480Mbps data transfer. Find the best USB-C data/monitor cable in our roundup. Thunderbolt 1 or 2 If you purchased the Apple Thunderbolt display, which was discontinued in 2016, then your monitor has a Thunderbolt 2 port, as seen above. VGA A VGA (Video Graphics Array) connector requires a three-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. VGA connectors transmit analog signals. A few Macs had a VGA connector, but none this century. You can buy a USB-C to VGA connector if your monitor is old enough to require one. Old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors were VGA but there are still some flat displays that use VGA—they just convert the VGA connector’s analog signal back to digital. This conversion from digital to analog and back again can cause degradation of video quality. VGA will carry HD video but only analogue audio. DVI DVI (Digital Visual Interface) offers a higher-quality signal than VGA because it’s a digital signal. You will see a marked difference when looking at HD video as compared to VGA. A DVI connector has the potential for 24 pins, depending on whether it’s DVI-A, DVI-D or DVI-I, there are different connectors with a different number of pins in use. There is also a long pin which may be surrounded by four other pins (which are required for audio in older models). Mini DisplayPort If you still have one of Apple’s LED Cinema Displays, introduced back in 1999 and replaced in 2011 by the Thunderbolt display, your display has a Mini DisplayPort connection, as seen above. Best cable, adapter or dongle for connecting a Mac to a monitor Now that you have established which port your Mac and display have, you will need to find a cable to connect your Mac to the monitor. This cable doesn’t need to be from Apple, but it will need to have the right connections and be capable of at least 5Gbps data transfer. Another thing that may be important to you is the length of the cable. It’s no good trying to hook up your Mac to a monitor if the cable or adapter is too short. Remember you will need enough cable to go from the back of the display to the port on the Mac.  Read our recommendations of the best cables and adaptors for connecting a display to your Mac. If the number of ports on your Mac is limited, and if you want to connect an additional two 4K displays to your Mac, you will benefit from using either a docking station or hub that will give you more ports, such as USB, Ethernet and card readers. We have a number of recommendations in the best docking stations for MacBooks. Of course a cable doesn’t have to cost that much. If you don’t want to buy a dock, you need to work with the ports you have available. Depending on what port you have on your Mac and your display, we recommend the following: HDMI to HDMI display As we noted above, some Macs ship with an HDMI port in which case you can use an HDMI cable to connect an HDMI display to your Mac, such as this Anker HDMI-to-HDMI cable USB-C/Thunderbolt to USB-C display You can buy Apple’s own USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 cable if you have a Thunderbolt 3-compatible monitor. It’s £39 in the UK Apple Store and $39 in the US Apple Store. Or you can save some money and buy the Cable Matters 20Gbps USB C-to-USB C Monitor Cable that is all you should need to connect a Mac to a USB-C monitor. USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI display Among other things, the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter ($69/£69) lets you connect a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac to an HDMI display. You will still need a separate HDMI-to-HDMI cable (such as this one from Anker) to do so. See our list of USB-C adapters for more options. If you have a standard HDMI-compatible monitor, the Six-foot USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI cable from Uni is an affordable solution. USB-C to VGA display Apple’s USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter lets you connect to a VGA display or projector. This is an analogue connection so it will not support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) content. This would include the streaming HD movies. The USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter is available for $69 on the Apple US store or £69 on the Apple UK store. This is a cheaper USB-C to VGA connector option. USB-C to DVI display Apple doesn’t sell one, but you’ll be able to find a USB-C to DVI adapter on Amazon, such as this Benfei USB-C to DVI cable ($11.85 Amazon or £12.99 on Amazon UK). USB-C to Mini DisplayPort display Apple doesn’t make a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter, so you won’t be able to connect a 2016 or later MacBook Pro to the old Apple Cinema Display, or any other monitor that uses a Mini Display Port. This JSaux USB-C to MiniDP Adapter is an affordable solution. Mini DisplayPort to HDMI display Apple does not manufacture a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, so try the Belkin 4K Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter. Thunderbolt (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter can be used to connect to a Thunderbolt display to a new Mac. It costs$49 from the Apple US Store or £49 from the Apple UK Store. How to connect a second or third monitor to a Mac The simplest way of adding a second or third monitor to a Mac is to use a hub or docking station. Depending on its number of video or Thunderbolt/USB-C ports you should be able to easily add one or two displays via a single connection to the dock or hub. See our reviews of the best USB-C hubs for Mac and best Mac docking stations. Most Macs are limited to a maximum of two external monitors via a dock; the exceptions are three with a MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip or four with an M5 Max chip. Below we list each Mac’s support for external displays without a dock. Neo: One external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz. Use a DisplayLink dock for more than one monitor on the MacBook Neo. M1/M2: One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. Use a DisplayLink dock for more than one monitor on these MacBooks. M3: Supports up to two external displays over a single Thunderbolt port, one with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz and one at 5K/60Hz when the MacBook lid is closed. Use a DisplayLink dock for more than one monitor on these MacBooks (with MacBook lid open) or more than two monitors. M4: Supports up to two external displays over a single Thunderbolt port, one with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz and one at 5K/60Hz. Use a DisplayLink dock for more than two monitors on these MacBooks. M5: Supports up to two external displays over a single Thunderbolt port, one with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz and one at 6K/60Hz. Use a DisplayLink dock for more than two monitors on these MacBooks. M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro: Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, or one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI. Or one external display supported at 8K resolution at 60Hz or one external display at 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI. Use a DisplayLink dock for more than two monitors on these MacBooks. M1/M2/M3/M4 Max: Up to four external displays: Up to three external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI. Up to three external displays: Up to two external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or one external display with 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI. M5 Pro: Supports up to three external displays over a single Thunderbolt port. Up to three displays up to a native resolution of 6K (6144 x 3456) at 60Hz or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 144Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI. Or one external display supported at 8K (7680 x 4320) at 60Hz, 5K (5120 x 2880) at 120Hz, or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 240Hz, plus a second display up to a native resolution of 5K (5120 x 2880) at 120Hz or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 200Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI. M5 Max: Supports up to four external displays over a single Thunderbolt port. Up to four displays up to a native resolution of 6K (6144 x 3456) at 60Hz or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 144Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI. Two displays up to a native resolution of 8K (7680 x 4320) at 60Hz, 5K (5120 x 2880) at 120Hz, or 4K (3840 x 2160) at 240Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI. Troubleshooting problems with a second display There are a number of issues you may experience with your display setup. Here we address some of them. Let us know of any further solutions or problems. Mac not detecting the monitor When you connect your display and your Mac the display should automatically be detected. But what should you do if it isn’t? If your Mac isn’t working with your monitor there are a few things to try:  Check the cable—make sure it is properly connected. Make sure the monitor is plugged in. Make sure your software is up to date. If the above don’t work, try these steps: Connect your monitor and Mac and open System Preferences > Displays. Press the Alt/Option key: This should make the Detect Displays button appear. Click on Detect Displays: This should cause your Mac to see the external monitor. Still not having any luck? There is one other reason that could stop your Mac working with an external display: In the past Apple has made changes to macOS that have stopped some third-party adapters working with extra displays. External display is not working with a Mini DisplayPort adapter If your adapter is not made by Apple, that might just be the issue here. Prior to macOS Sierra it was possible to use a third-party Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter with a Mac, but when Sierra launched in 2016 Mac users who were reliant on that setup found their monitors stopped working with their Mac. The only solution if this is the case is to purchase an Apple adapter like one of those listed above. If you have an Apple adapter and your external display isn’t working, try the following: Disconnect your adapter for a few seconds. Reconnect it and see if the issue persists. Disconnect the adapter again and power off the monitor. If it’s still not working, connect the cable again and power off the display. If when you turn the display back on it’s still not working, click on the Apple logo and choose Sleep. Wait a few minutes and then move your mouse or tap your keyboard to wake your Mac. If that doesn’t work, restart the computer. Try adjusting the display’s brightness or contrast just in case it’s turned down. Go to System Preferences > Display and try selecting a different resolution. If that still doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac in safe mode and then reset the display resolution to defaults. Another option is to reset the Mac’s NVRAM and SMC. DVI adapter doesn’t fit in the connection There are a few possible reasons why the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter might not be compatible with your monitor. There is more than one kind of DVI adapter and the likelihood is the one you have is different to the adapter you are using. For example, you may require space for four analog ports around the flat blade. If your problem is that you have two female or two male connections then the solution is to buy a male-to-female adapter. Cable too small between the two devices? You should be able to hook up your adapter to the screen via a third-party cable. Just make sure it has the correct port type. iPad won’t work as second display Thought you’d use an iPad as a second display with your Mac having installed macOS Catalina and found it doesn’t work? This is most likely because your iPad or Mac don’t support the Sidecar feature. iPads that work with Sidecar include: 12.9-inch iPad Pro11-inch iPad Pro10.5-inch iPad Pro9.7-inch iPad ProiPad (6th generation or later)iPad (5th generation or later)iPad mini (5th generation or later)iPad mini 4 or lateriPad Air (3rd generation or later)iPad Air 2 or later Macs that work with Sidecar include: MacBook Pro (2016 or later)MacBook (2016 or later)MacBook Air (2018 or later)iMac (2016 or later, as well as iMac 5K, 27-inch, late 2015)iMac ProMac mini (2018 or later)Mac Pro (2019 or later) We have more information about using an iPad as a second screen for your Mac here. Plus, we run through What Universal Control is and how Universal Control works separately. If you are wanting to use a second display with your Mac and not have your Mac’s screen on read: How to turn a Mac’s screen off.

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