iPadOS 26.1 expands Apple Intelligence, brings back Slide Over
Apple has released its iPadOS 26.1 update to the public, bringing changes to Liquid Glass as well as a return of Slide Over following its removal in iPadOS 26.Slide Over is back again in iPadOS 26.1After the milestone release of iPadOS 26 on September 15, Apple has issued its first major public patch to the operating system. The update brings the iPad operating system to version 26.1, in line with others in Apple's ecosystem.While the main version 26 release introduced many new features, the version 26.1 update doesn't have quite as many changes. Instead, such releases make smaller tweaks to what's available, and typically introduce new elements that didn't quite make it to the first one. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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First major update of macOS Tahoe is now available
Following several rounds of beta testing, macOS Tahoe 26.1 is now out, with a focus on bug fixes and graphical improvements.The new macOS Tahoe brings Liquid Glass but also new features like the Phone appThe new macOS went through five rounds of developer testing, beginning back on September 22, 2025. Perhaps the most significant or visible difference is that Apple has added a control to allow users to customize Liquid Glass.The control is a toggle under System Settings, Appearance, which offers either Clear, or Tinted. It's Tinted that offers the new option — turning it on prevents quite so much of the background being visible through Mac windows and menus. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 26.1 arrives with new toggles and more Apple Intelligence languages
Apple's iOS 26.1 update is now available to all, featuring improved Apple Intelligence localization, along with new toggles for Liquid Glass, Local Capture, and more. Here's what's new.iOS 26.1 delivers new toggles and Apple Intelligence enhancements.Following the public release of iOS 26 on September 15, Apple has unveiled its next major operating system update. iOS 26.1 builds upon many of the visual changes and features previewed at WWDC 2025.With the initial rollout of iOS 26, Apple Intelligence received several enhancements. Apple delivered new ChatGPT-powered styles for Image Playground, along with improvements to Shortcuts and Visual Intelligence. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, more available now, here’s what’s new
Apple has just released a new lineup of software updates across all major platforms: watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and more are now available. Here’s what’s new. more…

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Apple releases iOS 26.1 for iPhone with these changes
Apple has officially released iOS 26.1 to all iPhone users. Here’s what changes are available to the iPhone in iOS 26.1. more…

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Apple releases iPadOS 26.1, here’s everything new
Apple has released iPadOS 26.1, the latest noteworthy software update for iPad. Here’s everything new. more…

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Neato shutdown, iRobot potential bankruptcy & more on HomeKit Insider
On this week's episode of the HomeKit Insider podcast, it's been a bad week for smart vacuum companies, a review of the Aqara G100, and more!HomeKit Insider PodcastStarting out the episode, your host gets into three bits of robotic vacuum news. DJI has launched its new Romo robotic vacuum cleaner with a clear outer shell and highly-touted AI navigation.Then we have Neato, the robotic vacuum company that went belly up in 2023. After pledging to keep its servers on until 2028, it's instead calling it quits early and decommissioning the cloud services by the end of 2025. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Next year will reportedly be a big year for Apple Intelligence (again)
Macworld It’s been over a year since Apple Intelligence arrived, and now we’ve gone nearly a year without any major enhancements. But according to a new report, 2025 2026 will be the year of Apple Intelligence! Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter doesn’t break any major news on the AI front, but it does have some interesting tidbits about Apple’s roadmap for the next year. It all starts in the spring, with the OS 26.4 updates. When iOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and so on hit our devices sometime around March, we should finally get the new Siri we were promised at the last WWDC. Wait, I mean, the one before that. This will bring three concrete features promised at WWDC in 2024: screen awareness (Siri can see what’s on your screen and act accordingly), personal context (Siri builds a graph of knowledge about you, on-device, and uses it to personalize its answers and actions), and the ability to take actions in and across apps. More than just new features, the very core of Siri is being updated to use a modern and sophisticated LLM model, which should give it better understanding of what users are saying to it and more natural responses, in addition to tapping into a wealth of world knowledge. Apple has reportedly been working with several external companies on the possibility of using a modified, bespoke version of their LLMs as the foundation for the new Siri, testing them against its internally-developed LLM in a “bake off” of sorts. In this latest newsletter, Gurman says the new Siri will “lean on Google’s Gemini model” it it sounds like Gemini—or some Apple-specific variant of it—will serve as the underpinning for Siri. You shouldn’t expect talking to Siri to be the same as talking to Google’s Gemini, though. Not only will the base model surely be modified in significant ways, but Siri will have access to entirely different sets of data. The new Siri is reportedly coming in iOS 26.4.Foundry Smart home and OS 27 The March-April timeframe is also when Gurman says Apple will kick off its big smart home strategy. The first release will be a new smart display with both speaker-base and wall-mounted versions, and of course the new Siri will be a major draw to the new device. Over time Apple is expected to introduce more smart home offerings like cameras, a more sophisticated smart display on a robotic arm, and maybe even a doorbell or smart lock. Apple has big smart home plans, and they all require a huge improvement to Siri and Apple Intelligence to get off the ground. In June at WWDC, Apple will unveil the OS 27 generation: iOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, etc. These are expected to again feature “major updates to Apple Intelligence,” according to Gurman. Of course they are. Every tech company is all-in on AI now, no matter the cost. While the specific improvements to Apple Intelligence for the OS 27 releases aren’t detailed, we can of course expect Apple to double down on Siri and expand capabilities related to the smart home, including AI vision recognition features that allow devices to recognize users and what they’re doing while protecting your privacy—these sorts of AI-powered features will be critical to future products like smart home cameras and smart glasses. Of course, we’ve been here before. Gurman’s sources are no doubt accurate, but Apple has shown willingness to delay AI features when they’re not deemed good enough, and some of the features they have released (like Image Playground) leave much to be desired. We’re looking at a big year for Apple Intelligence in 2026 if Apple stays on plan and if the results are good and if consumers are happy with the changes, and if it can start to reverse years of brand damage to the Siri name. That’s a lot of “ifs.”

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Apple To White-Label Google's Gemini Model for Next-Generation Siri, Report Says
Apple is paying Google to create a custom Gemini-based model that will run on the company's private cloud servers and power the next version of Siri, according to Bloomberg. The decision marks a departure from Apple's tradition of building core technologies in-house. The arrangement follows a competition Apple held this year between Anthropic and Google, the report said. Anthropic offered a superior model, but Google made more financial sense because of the tech giants' existing search relationship. Neither company is expected to discuss the partnership publicly, the report added. The new Siri will introduce AI-powered web search and other features users have come to expect from voice assistants. The custom model will not flood Siri with Google services or Gemini features already available on Android devices. Instead, it will provide the underlying AI capabilities through an Apple user interface. The company is betting heavily on the revamped Siri to undo years of brand damage. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Apple does launch new products in November, here’s when it happened last
Apple has long been expected to launch a new Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2, and AirTag 2 before the year ends. But it’s somewhat rare for the company to unveil new products in November or later. Here’s when it happened last. more…

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WhatsApp for Mac now lets you customize chat themes
With the update rolling out today, Mac users will have 38 color options to customize their WhatsApp chats, like on the iPhone version. Here’s how it works. more…

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Apple’s new Siri will quietly use Google’s Gemini in the background
Apple's revamped Siri will rely heavily on a custom version of Google’s Gemini models, running securely on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple’s new original podcast tells an ‘unbelievable true story’
Apple has announced “Adrift”, an eight-part original podcast premiering on Apple Podcasts on November 10. Here’s what to expect. more…

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Apple builds App Store for the web, and everyone asks, ‘What took so long?’
Apple finally put the App Store on the web. It lets anyone research the catalogue of iPhone, iPad and Mac software, and it’s long overdue. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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MagSafe Monday: Anker Zolo Wireless Charger delivers Qi2-certified 15W MagSafe charging for iPhone
MagSafe charging docks are great for desks or nightstands, but sometimes a simple cable or pad is all you want to travel with. The new Anker Zolo Wireless Charger takes that idea and gives it a boost with Qi2 support for 15W fast charging. It’s compact, affordable, and built for people who want MagSafe charging for low cost. more…

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Apple TV’s Pluribus is ‘riveting,’ ‘dazzling piece of entertainment’ per critic
Pluribus is a new TV show from Breaking Bad’s creator that premieres later this week on Apple TV. And a roundup of recent previews of the show, including one from a noteworthy critic, make it sound very much like a can’t-miss series. more…

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Apple TV's rebrand introduces a new logo and a signature sound
As part of its ongoing rebrand, Apple has unveiled a new Apple TV bumper — but blink and you could miss it.The new Apple TV logoOn Monday, Apple released a very short video showcasing the brand new Apple TV logo. The video will serve as the bumper that precedes every Apple TV production.The shift is part of the Apple TV rebrand. After removing the "plus" from Apple TV+ in October, Apple now oversees three different Apple TVs — the set-top box, the app, and, confusingly enough, Apple TV, its streaming service. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple finally brings the full App Store experience to the web
Apple's new browser-based App Store lets anyone browse, search, and share apps across every platform, no Apple device required.App Store on the webFor years, Apple's web domain at "apps.apple.com" served only as a collection of individual app pages. There was no central hub, no way to browse categories or curated content, and no real search interface.That changed on November 3 when Apple quietly turned the address into a full-featured version of the App Store built for the browser. It's a small change in appearance but a major shift in accessibility. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple launches new web-based App Store
Apple today unveiled a web-based App Store at apps.apple.com, enabling users to browse, search, and discover apps across… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Review: Asus ProArt Display 6K – a ridiculously good value at $1300 [Video]
Asus has been on a roll of sorts with new display releases over the past few years, and it’s showing no sign of slowing down progress. One of the latest, and genuinely most exciting new releases is the $1300 Asus ProArt 6K Display, which offers an outstanding value for Mac users looking for something greater than 4K or 5K. The $1300 Asus ProArt Display 6K PA32QCV features a native resolution of 6016 x 3384 within the confines of a 32-inch panel. For those keeping score at home, that’s the same 218 pixel density as Apple’s Pro Display XDR. Granted, the Pro Display XDR is in an entirely different league when it comes to display quality thanks to its incorporation of mini-LED, 1600 nits of brightness, and 576 local dimming zones, but its base $4999 price tag (sans stand and matte texture) most definitely reflects this. Asus has taken a decidedly more economical approach with its 6K display, providing the same amount of screen real estate as Apple’s monitor for less than four times the cost. But that doesn’t mean it sacrificed the ability to provide users with a display that performs admirably given its price. Watch our hands-on video review for the details, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more. more…

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Apple unveils new Apple TV title card and it’s very different
Macworld About three weeks ago, we got word that Apple was changing the name of its Apple TV+ streaming service to Apple TV. However, the announcement was followed by inconsistent implementation; for example, the app in recent xOS 26 releases was renamed Apple TV, but Apple TV+ references are still present within the service. And Apple still airs commercials that say Apple TV+. On Tuesday, Apple made another announcement about Apple TV. On X, the company posted a new title card, the branding you see just before a show starts on a streaming service. It has a new logo animation of the Apple TV logo, and the piano chord is gone, replaced by a jingle by Finneas, who’s mostly known as Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator, and has his own solo career. This is just the beginning.Music composed by FINNEAS. pic.twitter.com/DV8d2eK0B3— Apple TV (@AppleTV) November 3, 2025 The title card has become a valuable piece of video real estate for streaming services. Netflix set the bar with its familiar logo accompanied by the imposing “dah-dum” sound, and other services, including Apple TV, have followed suit. The old Apple TV+ title card was too much like Disney’s, but this new one finally feels more original and in tune with the company’s branding. Perhaps it also means that Apple will finally replace all the mentions of Apple TV+, making pedantic editors who work on websites that cover the company very happy.

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Apple TV debuts trailer for Apple Original podcast ‘Adrift’
Today, Apple TV announced “Adrift,” a new Apple Original podcast that shares the incredible true story of the Robertsons, a young British… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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GarageBand gets a minor iOS update, iWork still unupdated
While the iWork suite still hasn't seen an update for iOS 26, Apple has issued a minor update to GarageBand for iPhone and iPad for the first time in a year.GarageBand's new icon for iOS 26Apple doesn't make many updates to GarageBand in general, with relatively few changes over the years. However, the November 3 update is a tiny bit more significant than usual.The update in the App Store brings GarageBand on iOS to version 2.3.18. The notes that accompany the update simply state that it "includes stability improvements and bug fixes," just as it has done for the four previous updates. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple TV’s new intro has three different versions, plus more tidbits
Today Apple unveiled its new intro video for Apple TV content, with music created by Finneas. In an interview with Finneas at Variety, more details have emerged about the video, including the creative process, and the three different versions debuting. more…

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Apple launches rich new web interface for the App Store
Apple has launched a dramatic new web interface for the App Store. You can now get the full App Store experience right in your browser, with dedicated pages for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision, Watch, and TV app libraries. more…

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Apple just updated GarageBand for iOS 26, including new app icon
Apple has updated GarageBand for iOS 26. The updated version includes the new app icon that was previously spotted on Apple’s website. more…

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Apple shares vibrant new Apple TV intro with music by FINNEAS
“This is just the beginning,” says Apple about what appears to be its new Apple TV intro. Presumably, this will be appears in the beginning of Apple TV movies and TV shows going forward. more…

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9to5Mac Daily: November 3, 2025 – New Siri rumors, more
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Backblaze: Never lose a file again. Use code “9to5daily” at checkout for 20% off or try for free.  more…

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Best MacBook for students: Tried and tested for school, college & uni
Macworld Thinking of buying a Mac or MacBook for school, college or university? Here, in our best Mac for students guide, Macworld’s experts take a look at Apple’s current line-up and evaluate which Mac is best for students. We compare the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro for college and examine whether a desktop Mac might actually be a better choice. And we’ll recommend which Mac to choose based on your needs as a student and the course you are taking. Choosing the best Mac for college or university depends on what you are going to be studying as well as how much you have to spend. Luckily registered students can save money on a new Mac by shopping at Apple’s Education Store. Students can typically save $100 to $200 in the U.S., in the U.K. the savings are from £100 to £200, Australian students can save between $150 and $330 and Canadian students can typically save from $130 to $270. Plus, during the summer months students can also get a free pair of AirPods or an Apple Pencil with a purchase of a new Mac (or iPad) in Apple’s Higher Education offer. Despite Apple’s Student Discount and summer offer, our advice is to shop around for deals that may be even better. You may be able to get even more money off your Mac purchase if you go straight to a reseller and you can see the best offers right now below. How to find Apple’s Education Store Click on the links below to go straight to Apple’s Education Stores in the countries where most of our readers reside. Apple’s U.S. Education Store Apple’s U.K. Education Store (in the UK you will need to verify your student status via UNiDAYS before you can view the online store). Apple’s Canada Education Store Apple’s Australian Education Store Just note that some resellers may offer a better discount than the one Apple offers students, so check the best prices right now shown below before deciding where to buy your new Mac. Is MacBook Air or MacBook Pro better for students? This is likely the question you are hoping to get an answer to: should I buy a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro for college? As you will see from the summaries below, the MacBook Air is the model we would recommend for most students, it’s light, has great battery life, and comes at a great price. But there are reasons to choose the MacBook Pro, with its superior screen, extra ports, and 24-hour battery life possibly being essentials for your needs. We also have a dedicated article where we compare the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro in detail that you might find useful. Best MacBook for students Below we’ll evaluate the different MacBooks from the perspective of a typical student in the order that we recommend them for students. 1. MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 2025): Ideal student MacBook Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $899 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re looking for a MacBook that doesn’t break the bank and offers the ultimate in portability and great battery life, then the MacBook Air is the perfect fit. You might assume that the MacBook Air is low-powered in comparison to the MacBook Pro. Right now this is the case, but it isn’t normally. In October 2025 Apple introduced an M5 MacBook Pro which has a newer chip than the M4 MacBook Air. So if you are looking for the best specs the MacBook Pro beats the MacBook Air. However, in spring 2026 Apple is likely to introduce an M5 MacBook Air, at which point the gap will close between these two Mac laptops. But even when on paper they look the same, the differences are greater than you might think. There are differences to the specs if you look closer. The entry-level MacBook Air costs $999, but it has an 8-core GPU rather than a 10-core GPU (which would be better suited to more demanding applications, like high-end games and graphics). It also only offers 256GB storage. But, for an extra $200 you can get a MacBook Air with 10-core GPU and 512GB storage. It would certainly be worth the extra money if you can afford the mid-range $1,199 MacBook Air model. If your budget doesn’t stretch to that then we recommend that you factor in some iCloud storage so that you can avoid filling your Mac with photos and music). The MacBook Pro with a similar spec to that mid-range MacBook Air (albeit with an M5 chip) costs $1,599, which is a big jump in price. For some people the extra $400 will be worth paying (as we will discuss below), but for the majority of students we think the MacBook Air will be more than suitable for your needs. There are a few other things to consider. The 13-inch MacBook Air offers 18 hours of battery life, according to Apple. This is less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s 24 hours, but more than enough if you forget to bring your charging cable to the library. The other difference is that there are fewer ports on the MacBook Air compared to the MacBook Pro, but the two USB-C ports and separate MagSafe port for charging should be sufficient. How much can students save on the 13-inch MacBook Air, M4? MSRP: $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 / CA$1,399Student: $899 / £899 / AU$1,549 / CA$1,249 Students save: $100 / £100 / AU$150 / CA$150 You’ll see the best prices right now in the block above, which may be even better than Apple’s education pricing. 2. MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 2025): Best value big screen MacBook Price When Reviewed: $1,199 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $999 View Deal $999 View Deal $1079.88 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There is only one reason not to buy the 13-inch MacBook Air with M4: the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4. The 15-inch MacBook Air costs $200 more than the entry-level 13-inch model, but it offers a better M4 chip as standard with the 10-core GPU, rather than an 8-core GPU. And there’s also a bigger screen. Another benefit relates to the speakers, which are better than the smaller MacBook Air’s. Here you get a six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers rather than the four-speaker sound system of the 13-inch MacBook Air. Obviously, the 15-inch MacBook Air weighs a little more and will take up more space in your bag, but if you want a bigger screen then that’s a fair price to pay. Battery life is the same 18-hours as the 13-inch MacBook Air. How much can students save on the 15-inch MacBook Air, M4? MSRP: $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099 / CA$1,699Student: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,949 / CA$1,549 Students save: $100 / £110 / AU$150 / CA$150 You’ll see the best prices right now in the block above, which may be even better than Apple’s education pricing. Read our full Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025) review 3. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5, 2025): Best MacBook battery life Price When Reviewed: $1,599 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,537.65 View Deal $1549 View Deal $1570 View Deal $1599 View Deal $1599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 is quite a leap up from the MacBook Air in terms of price, so you may be wondering why anyone would want to pay more for the MacBook Pro. There are four main reasons to buy the MacBook Pro rather than the MacBook Air though. One is if the MacBook Air won’t be powerful enough for your needs. The thing about the MacBook Air is that it lacks a fan, which means that if you really push it then the Mac might slow down to avoid overheating. For this reason, if you want to use your Mac for heavy processing then you might be better off with a MacBook Pro. Although, in this case, if you have the budget, you might actually want to consider the M4 Pro MacBook Pro (discussed next). Another reason to choose the MacBook Pro M5 over the MacBook Air M4 is the display. The MacBook Pro offers a 120Hz Pro Motion mini-LED display with up to 1,600 nits brightness in HDR, while the MacBook Air display is a standard 60HZ LED display and 500 nits. Due to the higher-quality display, you can expect smoother visuals, better visibility in bright environments, and better contrast from the MacBook Pro. One other benefit of the MacBook Pro is the wider selection of ports than on the MacBook Air. The MacBook Air includes two Thunderbolt/USB C ports while the MacBook Pro models feature three Thunderbolt/USB C ports along with HDMI and an SDXC card reader, which will be convenient for those who want to connect external displays or transfer files directly from devices like cameras. Finally the MacBook Pro battery life is an impressive 24 hours. More than enough to get you through a day and an all-nighter at university. Are those extra features worth the extra money? The answer depends on what you need from the laptop. It offers better performance for CPU-intensive tasks, like video rendering, and the higher refresh rates will result in smoother visuals and be better suited to high-end games. How much can students save on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, M5? MSRP: $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,499 / CA$2,099Student: $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,349 / CA$1,969 Students save: $100 / £100 / AU$150 / CA$130 Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5, 2025) review 4. MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024): Ultimate MacBook Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1569.99 View Deal $1,748.16 View Deal $1789 View Deal $1999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It is unlikely that students need the power of the M4 Pro in the 14-inch MacBook Pro (or 16-inch MacBook Pro for that matter) and the price is likely to be prohibitive anyway. But we do see some good MacBook Pro deals, so if you can get a bargain then these more powerful MacBook Pro models are worth considering. If you need a more powerful Mac because your course calls for it, or perhaps because you are a gamer looking for a machine that can meet those demands, then you can save a bit of money by choosing the 14-inch MacBook Pro over the 16-inch model. Both models offer the same specs, so you aren’t forfeiting any high-power options. However, Apple may be going to update these MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips in the spring of 2025. How much can students save on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro? MSRP: $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,299 / CA$2,699Student: $1,849 / £1,849 / AU$3,069 / CA$2,509 Students save: $150 / £150 / AU$230 / CA$190 MacBook vs Mac desktop for students? Student life normally involves a fair amount of mobility – traveling to lectures, libraries, the occasional coffee shop, and then possibly home for weekends and term breaks–so it makes sense to consider a laptop rather than a desktop Mac. While the screen sizes in MacBooks are smaller than iMacs, you can always buy a cheap screen and use that with your laptop when you are home. Or, if you also have an iPad, you might be able to link your iPad to your MacBook and use the iPad screen too (here’s how to use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac). You could also use that iPad for taking notes when you are at lectures (read our guide to the best iPad for students). However, there are some benefits to buying a Mac desktop. Generally, it is the case that you pay more for a Mac laptop, compared to the same specs on a desktop. The Mac mini, for example, is Apple’s cheapest Mac despite having some pretty impressive specs. However, if you compare the 24-inch iMac with a similarly speced Mac laptop the iMac is considerably more expensive.  Best Mac desktops for students While we appreciate that there are plenty of benefits associated with choosing a laptop for university, you may be better off with a desktop. 1. Mac mini (M4, 2024): Cheapest Mac Price When Reviewed: $599 | $799 | $999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $499.99 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $599 View Deal $728.27 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Mac mini was upgraded in October 2024 when it gained the M4 chip (and the M4 Pro chip option discussed below). It also got a brand new, much smaller, design. It now measures a diminutive 5-inches by 5-inches (12.7cm x 12.7cm). So you can find room for it on your desk, or in your bag when heading home for the holidays. In the U.K. Apple also reduced the price, so it’s now $599/£599 (the price hasn’t changed in the U.S.). The only real compromise is the lack of monitor and keyboard. If you are on a budget the Mac mini is the way to go. Get an entry-level Mac mini and ask around for an old keyboard, mouse and monitor. How much can students save on the Mac mini, M4? MSRP: $599 / £599 / AU$999 / CA$799Student: $499 / £499 / AU$829 / CA$669 Students save: $100 / £110 / AU$170 / CA$130 2. Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro, 2024): Best value Mac Price When Reviewed: $1,399 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,269.99 View Deal $1309 View Deal $1311.67 View Deal $1399 View Deal $1399 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The M4 Pro Mac mini offers all the benefits of the Mac mini discussed above along with the more powerful M4 Pro chip which brings more GPUs and support for more RAM (unified memory). If you need an M4 Pro chip the Mac mini with M4 Pro is a lot cheaper, at $1,299 (student price) than a 14-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,849 for students. Sure, you need to buy a monitor, mouse and keyboard, but you can probably find good deal on those accessories. How much can students save on the Mac mini, M4 Pro? MSRP: $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,299 / CA$2,699Student: $1,849 / £1,849 / AU$3,069 / CA$2,509 Students save: $150 / £150 / AU$230 / CA$190 Read our full Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro, 2024) review 3. Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025): Ultimate Mac Price When Reviewed: $1,999 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1999 View Deal B&H $1999 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The M4 Max Mac Studio offers more GPU cores and support for more RAM, at a much lower price than similarly specced Mac laptops. If you need a powerful Mac, either because your course demands it, or because you want to spend your free time gaming, the Mac Studio is worth consideration, and the student discount is pretty good. We’d wait for the new model to launch though. As with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models though, we’d suggest that you probably don’t need this much power and could probably use the money for something more important, like accommodation or food. How much can students save on the Mac Studio? MSRP: $1,999 / £2,099 / AU$3,499 / CA$2,699Student: $1,799 / £1,899 / AU$3,199 / CA$2,399 Students save: $200 / £210 / AU$330 / CA$270 Read our full Apple Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025) review Which Mac should you get for university? Our pick of the entire Mac range, if you’re a student, is the M4 MacBook Air. It’s light, fast, and with student pricing starting at $899/£899 it’s very good value. Our advice would be to spend a little more to get the $1,199 MacBook Air with 10-core GPU and 512GB storage, we think the extra $200 is well worth it. If you are looking for the cheapest Mac you can get, the M4 Mac mini is a very good option. It’s powerful and with Apple’s education discount, it’s just $499/£499. You just need a monitor, mouse and keyboard. How much can students save on a Mac? You can save hundreds on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio and even a Mac Pro at Apple’s Education Store all year round. Students can typically save $100 to $200 in the U.S., in the U.K. the savings are from £100 to £200, Australian students can save between $150 and $330 and Canadian students can typically save from $130 to $270. Savings are even bigger on high-end products like the Mac Pro, although we aren’t sure that many students need one of those. Here’s how the Mac and MacBook MSRP compares to the student price: ProductU.S.U.K.AustraliaCanada13.6-inch MacBook Air, M4, MSRP$999£999$1,699$1,39913.6-inch MacBook Air, M4, Student discount$899£899$1,549$1,24915-inch MacBook Air, M4, MSRP$1,199£1,199$2,099$1,69915-inch MacBook Air, M4, Student discount$1,099£1,099$1,949$1,54914-inch MacBook Pro M5 MSRP$1,599£1,599$2,499$2,09914-inch MacBook Pro M5 Student discount$1,499£1,499$2,349$1,96914-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro MSRP$1,999£1,999$3,299$2,69914-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro Student discount$1,849£1,849$3,069$2,50916-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro MSRP$2,499£2,499$3,999$3,29916-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro Student discount$2,299£2,299$3,699$3,049iMac M4 MSRP$1,299£1,299$1,999$1,699iMac M4 Student discount$1,249£1,249$1,919$1,629Mac mini M4 MSRP$599£599$999$799Mac mini M4 Student discount$499£499$849$669Mac Studio M4 Max MSRP$1,999£2,099$3,499$2,699Mac Studio M4 Max Student discount$1,799£1,899$3,199$2,399Mac Pro M2 Ultra MSRP$6,999£7,199$11,999$8,999Mac Pro M2 Ultra Student discount$6,599£6,789$11,309$8,479Apple’s discounted price for students compared to the usual price. If you’re a student, you can also get Apple Music for half price with free Apple TV+ included. How to get a student discount on a Mac You can get a student discount at Apple’s education stores, but you have to qualify as a student in higher education, be a teacher, someone buying for an education institution, or a home educator. School-age children can only take advantage if the equipment is being purchased by their school or if their parent is home-educating them. If you are a registered student you’ll be able to get a discount on a new Mac if you shop in Apple’s various Education Stores (below). You can find out all about it in more detail in our Apple Education Store explainer. Apple’s U.S. Education Store Apple’s U.K. Education Store (in the UK you will need to verify your student status via UNiDAYS). Apple’s Canada Education Store Apple’s Australian Education Store Getting a student discount from Apple’s education store isn’t the only way to get a cheaper Mac as a student though. There are various ways to get a bargain: Look out for reseller discounts: Another way to get a bargain is to look out for deals at Apple resellers and Amazon, where we have see Macs with as much as $500 off the price. Take a look at our round ups of the best Mac deals to get the best prices right now: Best MacBook Air deals this month Best Mac Studio deals available now Best MacBook Pro deals this month Best iMac deals this month Best Mac mini deals this month Buy a refurbished Mac: Take advantage of Apple’s refurbished store where the company sells ex-display, returned, and previous-generation Macs at a discount. The benefit of buying refurbished from Apple is that the products are fully checked and come with a one-year warranty. You can also get a refurbished Mac elsewhere with many resellers offering the same service, but beware that not all refurbished Macs are equal. Usually refurbished means that the Mac is guaranteed to be in full working order, but do check with the reseller. Here’s a guide to how to buy a refurbished Mac. We also look at why you should buy a refurbished Mac. One thing to note: if you find what you think is a good deal on an older Intel Mac we do not recommend that you buy one. Intel Macs will likely only be supported with security updates for a couple more years, so you may find yourself needing to upgrade before the end of your course. Buy second-hand/used: One advantage of buying refurbished is that it should be guaranteed to work and you should have no problem returning it if there is a problem. These are reasons why we don’t recommend buying a secondhand Mac. If you do see a deal on a secondhand or used Mac just be especially cautious. The best Mac bargains are usually on older models, although we do see discounts on current Macs as well. If you see a good discount on an older Mac it’s important to be aware of what the newer models offers so that you know what you are missing out on and can judge whether the deal is as good as it appears to be. For one thing, older Macs are likely to feature Intel processors rather than Apple’s M1, M2, M3 or their variants, which could put you at a disadvantage in the future (and will certainly mean your Mac depreciates in value very quickly). Considering an Intel Mac? Our advice is: avoid, Apple will stop support for Intel Macs in September 2026. See: How long does Apple support Macs for. For buying advice on the best Windows laptops, see our sister site PCWorld. We also have a guide to help you get the best MacBook deals for students. We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM

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Apple’s iPhone is four-times more likely to be stolen than an Android phone
Even smartphone thieves don't want Android phones. An iPhone is four-times more likely to be stolen than an Android phone, but Apple… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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