Tim Cook retirement ‘leak’ is clearly a deliberate test of market reaction
There’s long been speculation about when Apple CEO Tim Cook might retire and who is likely to replace him. That intensified earlier this month when he turned 65. Cook himself has made only two on-the-record statements, but a new report over the weekend suggests that the company is now ramping up preparations to replace him “as soon as next year” … more…

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2026 Mac mini: What we know about the upcoming M5 update
Macworld 2026 Mac mini: In summary The current M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini were released in November 2024. A report states that Apple is planning an M5 update in 2026. No design changes are expected. With its November 2024 release, Apple drastically changed the Mac mini, reducing its overall size. The smallest Mac you could buy actually got even smaller. It also features new M4 and M4 Pro chips, making the Mac mini a mighty machine. In October 2025, Apple released the base M5 chip in the MacBook Pro, but it hasn’t introduced the M5 Pro chip yet. But now that the M5 chip is here, customers could be wondering if it’s going to make its way into the Mac mini soon. This article keeps track of the reports on the upcoming Mac mini. For information on what the upgrade will include and when it could be released, refer to this page. 2026 Mac mini: Release date Possible release in the first half of 2026 The Mac mini has had an erratic release history. Apple went through periods of updating the Mac mini annually and then decided to wait as long as four years. Switching from Intel to Apple Silicon didn’t create any consistency; the M1 Mac mini was around for three years before it got its M2 upgrade. The Mac mini skipped the M3 and got an M4 upgrade (and a redesign) in November 2024. Since laptops dominate Apple’s Mac sales, desktop Macs like the Mac mini won’t see consistent annual upgrades. And with recent reports of Apple doing some redesigns for its higher-end chips, it is possible that we could see the Mac mini with the Pro chip see longer upgrade cycles in the future. The M5 is out, however, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini are on Apple’s product schedule for 2026. When in 2026 remains a question, though with the M6 expected in the second half of 2026, expect the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini to be released in early spring or, at the latest, at WWDC26 in June 2026. 2026 Mac mini: Processor Expected to have M5 and M5 Pro Apple has yet to establish a consistent upgrade cycle with the Apple Silicon Mac mini. Apple released M1 and M2 versions but skipped the M3 and went with the M4. So, Apple isn’t afraid to skip a chip cycle with the Mac mini. But it looks like Apple isn’t going to skip the M5. Mark Gurman reported that Apple has the Mac mini on the 2026 release schedule with M5 and M5 Pro chips. The new M5 chip may make its way into the Mac mini. Apple 2026 Mac mini: Specs 16GB RAM (M5); 24GB RAM (M5 Pro) Thunderbolt 4 (M5); Thunderbolt 5 (M5 Pro) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 With the M4 Mac mini, Apple increased the base RAM from 8GB (base M chip model) and 16GB (Pro M chip model) to 16GB and 24GB, respectively. That’s the standard configuration going forward, with user options to add more memory at the time of purchase. The M4 Mac mini has Thunderbolt 4, while the M4 Pro Mac mini has Thunderbolt 5. The recently released M5 chip has Thunderbolt 4, so that’s what will be in the M5 Mac mini. While specifications on the M5 Pro have not been reported, it will have Thunderbolt 5. The current Mac mini has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3. This didn’t change with the M5 MacBook Pro, so it looks like Apple will not upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 with the M5 Mac mini. This also means that Apple might not use its N1 wireless networking chip, which made its debut with the iPhone 17. No reports have been made about changes to the inner workings of the Mac mini. New Mac mini: Design Mac mini redesign was introduced in 2024 Apple did a major redesign of the Mac mini in 2024, making it much smaller. This design will be in place for several years to come. It can’t really make it any smaller and still have it provide the features users need. No reports have been made on whether Apple will offer new colors. Expect the ports to remain the same on the new Mac mini.Foundry The port offerings are also expected to remain the same. The M4 Mac mini has: 2 front USB-C ports (supporting USB 3 at 10Gbps) Front 3.5mm audio jack 3 rear Thunderbolt ports HDMI port gigabit ethernet port (10Gb ethernet option available) New Mac mini: Price Here are the prices for the current standard base configurations of the 2024 Mac mini for reference: $599/£599/CA$799/AU$999 M4, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD $799/£799/CA$1,099/AU$1,299 M4, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD $999/£999/CA$1,399/AU$1,599 M4, 24GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD $1,399/£1,399/CA$1,999/AU$2,199 M4 Pro, 24GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Pricing for the new Mac mini has not been reported, though pricing could go up because of the U.S. tariffs situation–the components are made overseas. The prices may be adapted to more recent exchange rates elsewhere.

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The iPhone is stuck in a very successful rut
Macworld Steve Jobs took the Henry Ford approach to listening to customers, which is to say that he unashamedly didn’t listen. “If I’d asked customers what they wanted,” the carmaker is reported to have said, “they would have asked for a faster horse.” And tech fans in the 1980s might have asked for a faster IBM. But Jobs’ Apple had other ideas. The problem is, customers can be quite insistent. Earlier this fall, Apple launched another bold and groundbreaking product in the form of the iPhone Air. However, multiple reports suggest it’s sold very poorly, so poorly, in fact, that the company is believed to have cancelled plans to launch a 2nd-gen model in 2026. And last week, another report claimed the iPhone 16e is also a flop as the “attempt to lower prices has failed.” I doubt that the 16e’s problem was being too cheap, but we’ll come back to that later. Figuring out what customers want before they do is a lovely idea, but ultimately, they’re the ones with the casting vote. You can tell them what they really want is an ultra-slim smartphone as many times as you like, but you can’t force them to buy the thing. Which leaves Apple in a strange position. The most traditional iPhones—the 17, the 17 Pro, and the 17 Pro Max from the current generation—are selling just fine. It’s the outliers and experiments that are struggling. And that’s been the case for a while: the mini format didn’t work, the Plus format didn’t work, and now the Air and e formats don’t seem to be working either. The iPhone is a product of era-defining commercial dominance, but only within quite narrow parameters. And whenever Apple tries to break out of those parameters, it fails. Based on recent sales activity, it would appear that what customers want from their iPhone is a medium to large screen, a state-of-the-art camera, excellent battery life, and premium processing power. What they’ll settle for is a basic phone at a bargain price. But an iPhone that compromises on those key criteria for the sake of a middling price and AI support (like the 16e) or an absurdly slim chassis (like the Air) is going to be given the shortest of shrifts. In the short term, this is obviously fine, and both Apple and the iPhone line remain enormously profitable. But the fact that the company keeps trying to find the elusive fourth format shows how aware it is of the long-term danger. The traditional iPhone is clearly what customers want now, but they won’t want it forever. Or rather, Apple won’t be able to keep making noticeable improvements to that format forever. The yearly refreshes barely register as it is, and at a certain point, customers are going to realise that they don’t need to pay big to get what they want from a smartphone. They can just hold on to their existing handset for longer, buy a cheaper model from Apple’s range, or worst of all, buy at a lower price from an Android manufacturer. Apple will need to woo them with something new. And despite the failures, the company must keep trying. We don’t know what will come next, but Apple won’t prosper as a business if it can’t grasp the opportunity when it arrives. With the trinity of boring iPhones bringing in the money, the loose-cannon fourth model is free to experiment unprofitably. And to find the key to the smartphone’s future, whether that means lower prices, thinner handsets, folding or curved screens, AI, or something else entirely. Just don’t ask me what that something is. I’m waiting for Apple to figure it out. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Five years later, the M5 chip just made Apple silicon exciting again. 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the Mac, reports Roman Loyola. Mahmoud Itani rounds up 9 AI features you can use on your iPhone without enabling Apple Intelligence. From iPod Hi-Fi to iPhone Pocket: Apple’s most head-scratching products ever. Wait, writes the Macalope. Is Apple actually going to make the Mac everyone wants? The one thing Vision Pro is great at is basically guaranteed to fail. Podcast of the week In November 2020, the M1 chip made its debut and it changed the Mac for the better. That’s on this week’s episode of the Macworld Podcast. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Adobe Acrobat Studio review: The most popular PDF editor goes all in on AI. Mackie CR3.5BT review: Compact audio monitors at a good price. Best over-ear headphones: Top AirPods Max alternatives. The rumor mill Report: The next iPhone Air update is up in the air due to terrible sales. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, meanwhile, will reportedly be the heaviest iPhone ever. New HomePod mini imminent? Major retailer calls current model ‘discontinued.’ Video of the week @macworld.com New cheap MacBook is months away #macbook #apple ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld A brand-new MacBook for just $699? Find out more in our latest short. You can enjoy all our short-form video on TikTok or Instagram. Software updates, bugs, and problems PSA: Dozens of critical security updates are waiting for your iPhone and Mac. Will your iPhone get iOS 27? We think we have the answer. See how well macOS 26.2 Tahoe’s new ‘Edge Light’ works in the dark. You can now use your iPhone as your Digital ID–here’s how. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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Rumor: After 14 years, Tim Cook may be looking to step down from Apple’s CEO position
After 14 years at the helm, Apple CEO Tim Cook may be loooking to pass the reins to a successor. According to the Financial Times, Apple has stepped up its preparations for the handover of the CEO role from Tim Cook. Per sources close to the story, Apple’s board and senior executives have “recently intensified” […] Source

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If your iPhone is a disaster, this AI app gives it a fresh start for a one-time $30
Macworld TL;DR: Cleaner Kit is an AI app that cleans up your iPhone’s photos, contacts, and inbox, and the lifetime plan is only $29.99 for a limited time. Chances are your iPhone is overflowing with unwanted photos, duplicate files, and ancient contacts you haven’t touched in years. Cleaner Kit swoops in to handle the mess. This smart AI-powered organizer keeps things clean for life, and it’s only $29.99 for a limited time. Trusted by more than 67 million users, Cleaner Kit goes beyond photo cleanup. It intelligently detects duplicate and low-quality pictures, compresses large videos without killing quality, and keeps your gallery organized with swipe-based sorting. It even merges messy contacts, removes empty entries, and clears out old calendar events in seconds. Need extra privacy? Stash sensitive items in the secure vault. Cleaner Kit doesn’t stop there — it also tackles inbox clutter. It groups Gmail messages by sender so you can clear thousands of emails with one tap, or manage them individually if you’re the detail-oriented type. Best of all, your private data never leaves your phone, so you stay in control. Cleaner Kit is like having a digital housekeeper for your iPhone, working quietly in the background while you focus on more important things. Grab this lifetime subscription to a Cleaner Kit iOS Premium Plan for just $29.99 (MSRP $104.97). Cleaner Kit for iOS Premium Plan: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple may shake up iPhone launch cycle from 2026
Apple may change how it launches new iPhones starting in 2026, with the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18 slated for an early-2027 debut. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple Speeds Planning for Replacing CEO Tim Cook Next Year
From the Business Standard: Apple has accelerated its succession plans as the company prepares for Chief Executive Tim Cook to potentially step down as early as next year, Financial Times reported. Apple's board and senior leaders have recently increased their focus on a smooth leadership transition after Cook's more than 14 years at the helm of the $4 trillion tech giant, the news report said. John Ternus, senior Vice-President of hardware engineering, is seen by many inside Apple as the top contender to become the next CEO. However, no final decision has been made yet. The leadership shift has been in the works for years and is not connected to its present performance, the news report said. Apple expects a strong year-end sales season, especially for the iPhone... Cook, who turned 65 this month, became Apple's CEO in 2011 after the passing of co-founder Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple's market value has grown from around $350 billion in 2011 to $4 trillion today. Apple's stock is near a record high following strong results last month. Apple "is unlikely to introduce a new CEO before its earnings report in late January, which covers the crucial holiday quarter," the article points out. "An early-year announcement would allow the next leadership team time to settle before Apple's major annual events — the Worldwide Developers Conference in June and the iPhone launch in September..." Slashdot reader BrianFagioli points out that top-contender Ternus "is deeply technical and has been central to Apple Silicon and the hardware comeback in the Mac line." If Apple elevates him, that would be an unmistakable signal that the board wants a return to stronger, more grounded hardware leadership. The company may finally realize that accessories aren't enough to keep Apple fans excited, and that expensive experiments are not a substitute for devices people can actually use and afford... Financial success can only hide hardware misfires for so long. Apple needs a leader who can reconnect the company with its reputation for creating devices people can't live without, not ones people return or ignore. Tech blogger John Gruber "absolutely loves" the idea of Cook's successor "being a product person like Ternus, and Ternus is young enoughâ — â50, the same age Cook was in 2011 when he took the reins from Steve Jobsâ — âto hold the job for a long stretch." Ternus took over iPhone hardware engineering in 2020, and was promoted to senior vice president of hardware engineering in January 2021, when Dan Riccio stepped aside. Apple's hardware, across all product lines and including silicon, has been exemplary under Ternus's leadership. And Ternus clearly loves and understands the Mac. I would also bet that Cook moves into the role of executive chairman, and will still play a significant, if not leading, role for the company. And Gruber makes another observation about that Financial Times article. "That 'several people' spoke to the FT about this says to me that those sources (members of the board?) did so with Cook's blessing, and they want this announcement to be no more than a little surprising." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus review: Premium, but solid power
The EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus is a premium power station that is more than enough for home power loss emergencies, if a little too heavy to be used regularly for off-grid vacations.EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra PlusThe peace of mind that comes with knowing you'll have electricity during difficult times has produced a robust industry. There are several manufacturers offering a range of portable power stations, solar panels, and alternator chargers aimed at meeting every need, large or small.Among these companies in the market is EcoFlow. A company with a growing catalog of power stations and accessories ranging from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand for larger, more industrial models. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Amazon slashes Apple Watch Series 10 46mm to record low $279
Amazon's early Black Friday Apple deals continue to roll in, with the steepest markdown to date on the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10.Grab the lowest price ever on the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10.Save $150 on the Apple Watch Series 10 GPS with a 46mm Jet Black Aluminum Case and Black Sport Band.Get the $279 Apple Watch deal Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Keep holiday lights shining with Bluetti's new Elite 400 & B500K home battery backup & save up to 65% for Black Friday
Bluetti is rolling out two powerful additions to its lineup for winter storm preparedness this Black Friday: the Elite 400 portable power station and the B500K expansion battery (and they're up to 56% off).Bluetti has great offers for Black Friday through December 3. Image source: BluettiKnown for dependable portable power stations that keep everything from your MacBook Pro to your iPhone running during outages, Bluetti's latest systems bring even greater output, capacity, and flexibility — and they're launching with some great holiday-season discounts.Alongside these discounted new products, Bluetti is offering sitewide Black Friday deals with savings up to 65% off. Apple users will especially appreciate Bluetti's reliability, fast charging, and UPS capability, ensuring your essential devices stay powered without interruption. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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This USB-C travel hub is your new vacation bestie
This USB-C travel hub has it all: 10 USB ports, high-power USB PD charging, memory card slots and even wireless MagSafe charging. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs secures Macintosh name
On November 16, 1982, Steve Jobs wrote to the head of McIntosh Labs, requesting to use the name "Macintosh" for Apple's new computer. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Bloomberg: Here’s what’s actually going on with the iPhone Air 2
It’s been a whirlwind of a week for iPhone Air fans. First, The Information reported that Apple had indefinitely delayed the iPhone Air 2 due to lower-than-expected sales. The next day, a separate report said the iPhone Air 2 had actually just been delayed six months, with Apple targeting a spring 2027 launch instead of fall 2026. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has more details on what’s going on with the iPhone Air 2. more…

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Apple throws Mac Pro under the bus … again
Apple's ill-fated Mac Pro might not get an M5 Ultra upgrade in 2026, with the company pushing the Mac Studio instead. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Clever phone lanyard is also a convenient USB-C charging cable [Review] ★★★★☆
We test the Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable, a crossbody iPhone strap that also helps power up the handset. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple has no plans to release a new Mac Pro anytime soon, report says
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple has “largely written off the Mac Pro.” The Mac Pro was last updated in 2023 with the M2 Ultra chip, and there are no plans for a new update anytime soon. more…

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iPhone Air isn't annual, iPhone Air 2 was never coming in 2026
Rumors suggested Apple had given up on iPhone Air due to one not being prepped for 2026, but that was apparently never the case. A future model with an improved chipset and longer battery is in the works.iPhone Air has only one rear cameraThe iPhone Air may not be Apple's most popular model, but it doesn't have to be. The device was a replacement for Apple's worst-selling iPhone Plus line and serves as a proof of concept more than anything.According to the Power On newsletter, the iPhone Air was never expected to have a second iteration in 2026, so rumors of any delay are inaccurate. A future model is in the works, but the focus is on a better chipset, not necessarily a second camera system. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Expect big changes in iPhone release timing in 2026 and 2027
Apple is expected to split the 2026 fall iPhone and shift to a twice-yearly release schedule to spread out income throughout the year, and keep a stranglehold on the smartphone market.A render of what the iPhone Fold could look like - Image Credit: AppleInsiderThe iPhone roster is centered around the launch of four models in the fall, but Apple does introduce other variants at a different time in the year. If reports on the topic are accurate, Apple will be making a bigger shift to formalize that arrangement for a wider selection of devices.According to Mark Gurman in Bloomberg's "Power On" newsletter, Apple is currently planning to bring out three high-end models in the fall of 2026. This will consist of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the probable iPhone Fold. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Mac Pro may never be updated, Apple backs Mac Studio instead
Once the most coveted as well as the most powerful Mac, the Mac Pro went through some lean years and was trounced by the Mac Studio. It doesn't look like it's coming back.The Mac Pro could finally get an M4 upgradeDespite recent rumors that there might yet be a newly updated Mac Pro in 2025, a new report says that Apple has all but abandoned the model. Bloomberg says there won't be an update either slipping in before the end of 2025, or at all in 2026.That's partly because Apple has scrapped the expected M4 Ultra processor. It had been intending to launch that in a New Mac Pro, but that model has been dropped too. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Crime blotter: Apple product haul worth $320,000 is recovered
NBA gambling indictment included evidence from iCloud, Jeffrey Epstein's emails were sent from his iPads, and Find My iPhone led to a carjacking arrest in this week's Apple Crime Blotter.Man in handcuffs (Source: Pixabay)The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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