CodeWeavers CrossOver for Mac review: Run Windows apps on Mac without installing Windows
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 14-day free trial Doesn’t require a full version of Windows Improved interface and ease of use Regular updates, good technical support Cons Some Windows apps aren’t compatible Can be complicated to use Requires Rosetta on Apple Silicon Our Verdict CodeWeavers is one of the simplest ways to run Windows apps on a Mac, and you don’t even need Windows. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price CodeWeavers $74 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Price When Reviewed$59.95 for a year, $494 for life Best Prices Today: CrossOver for Mac Retailer Price CodeWeavers $74 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best for: Mac gamers who want to avoid buying Windows and for running older Windows apps. Not for: Users who need guaranteed compatibility and Apple Silicon users who want fully native performance – CrossOver requires Rosetta to work on Apple Silicon and some apps don’t work. CrossOver is based on WINE, which is one of the best options for running Windows software on your Mac. And, like WINE, it uses a compatibility layer that allows Windows apps to run on the Mac without actually requiring a full version of Windows to be installed as well. That can save you a lot of money, as you do need to buy a copy of Windows for use with virtualisation programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. But although WINE is a free, open-source program, it’s too complicated for most non-technical users, so the team at CodeWeavers developed CrossOver as a more straightforward and user-friendly alternative – that comes with technical support to help with installing a wide variety of Windows games and software. However, there are tradeoffs in comparison with full virtual machine options like Parallels and VMware, with compatibility not guaranteed, and some apps unable to run at all. See how CrossOver compares to other Mac Virtual Machines we have tested in: Best Virtual Machine for Mac. Our review is updated for 2026 to take account of the new version: CrossOver 26. CrossOver Performance At the moment, CrossOver is based on code that was originally written for Intel processors, so it relies on Apple’s Rosetta to run on Macs with Apple Silicon, but performance still seems to be pretty good, and CodeWeavers states that it is working on native support for Apple Silicon for the future. CrossOver works with a wide range of Windows software and apps, but many CrossOver users are dedicated Mac gamers, so much of CodeWeavers’ work is focused on getting it to work with popular Windows games. And, in fact, the Game Porting Kit that Apple provides to help games developers produce Mac versions of their games is based on open-source code from CodeWeavers – so these guys really know what they’re doing. There’s also a database on their web site that provides compatibility information and advice for running hundreds of Windows apps and games. CrossOver Usability CrossOver has always aimed to be more user-friendly than WINE, by allowing you to install Windows apps into ‘bottles’ – which are self-contained files that can be launched and run on your Mac without requiring a full copy of Windows. You can create lots of different bottles for different apps, and bottles can even be configured to provide compatibility with different versions of Windows. This is useful as it allows you to create bottles that are suitable for older games and software that might require a particular version of Windows in order to run properly. Even so, CrossOver can still be quite complicated at times, so version 22 introduced a new interface that was redesigned to be more Mac-like, and also to provide more help when installing many Windows apps and games. When you launch CrossOver you see the main Install window, which lists some popular Windows apps and games, such as The Witcher 3 and Diablo IV, and even productivity tools such as the Quicken accounting software for business users. There’s also a search tool that provides information on hundreds of other Windows apps, and an indication of how well they run with CrossOver. But, as we discovered, there are degrees of compatibility here, with some apps that run well, while others may run with problems – and some may simply not work with CrossOver at all. But, somewhat to my surprise, I was able to install and run a 20-year old copy of Microsoft Publisher from an old DVD with no trouble at all, and also Icewind Dale II, an old favourite of mine that doesn’t seem to be widely available these days. Latest CrossOver updates CrossOver continues to receive regular updates, many of which focus on improving support for specific Windows games. The most recent update came in February 2026: What’s new in CrossOver 26 CrossOver 26 was released in February 2026. Whilst there aren’t many major new features, this update does provide numerous technical updates that focus on improving performance for running Windows apps – and games in particular. Core engine update: As we’ve mentioned, CrossOver is based on the open-source WINE software, which allows Windows apps and games to run on macOS as well as other Linux-based operating systems. CrossOver 26 now adopts the latest Wine 11.0, which, according to the developers at CodeWeavers, introduces more than 6,000 technical improvements, and fixes hundreds of bugs. Gaming and graphics: Apple makes a contribution too, as its Game Porting Toolkit (GPT) – which uses open-source elements taken from both WINE and CrossOver – also includes a feature developed by Apple itself, called D3DMetal. This is designed to improve compatibility between games that use the Windows D3D graphics system and Apple’s own Metal graphics software, and CrossOver 26 now supports the latest version of D3DMetal 3.0, which should help to improve compatibility and graphics performance with many Windows games.  Interface changes: There are also some interface updates in CrossOver 26 to help it work more smoothly with the Liquid Glass interface in macOS Tahoe. And, of course, there are some fixes for a number of popular games that may not have worked well with CrossOver in the past. These include recent, big-name titles such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, The Outer Worlds 2 and – right at the top of my own gaming wishlist – the multi-award-winning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. What was new in CrossOver 25 The March 2025 launch of CrossOver 25 was one of the biggest updates of recent years, with CrossOver promising to bring “next level gaming to the Mac”. Core engine update: Some of the new features in v25 were under-the-bonnet changes, such as adopting the latest version of the underlying WINE technology, which CodeWeavers claims includes thousands of programming updates to improve performance and compatibility. Gaming and graphics: This update also introduced a new graphics technology, called DXMT that, according to CodeWeavers, provides better performance for less powerful Mac models when running Windows games that use DX11 graphics. The update added improved compatibility with lots of big-name Windows games, allowing you to play games such as Path Of Exile 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Fallout 76 for the first time. And, along with Steam, CrossOver 25 now supports the Windows versions of the GoG and Epic game stores so that you can download games that you own from those stores. Installation process improvements: CodeWeavers also continues to further streamline the installation process for Windows games and apps for new users who may not have a lot of technical experience. As well as providing a list of popular games and other apps that work well with CrossOver, this new version now has the ability to connect to the compatibility database stored on the CodeWeavers website, and can automatically apply the best graphics and audio settings for a variety of different games. CrossOver Price That technical support means that CrossOver isn’t free, costing $74/£60 for a license that provides 12 months of technical support and updates, or you can pay $494/£414 for lifetime support. However, there’s a 14-day free trial available, so that you can see if it works with the Windows software and games that you want to run before buying (and there’s also a version of CrossOver available for Linux as well). Should you buy CodeWeavers CrossOver? The sheer effort that the CodeWeavers team puts into providing regular updates for CrossOver is impressive, and we’ve had good experiences using their tech support to get help running the Windows version of Steam on our ageing office iMac. Even so, CrossOver can still be rather complicated for new users, so it’s definitely worth downloading the trial version to see how well it works with your favourite Windows games and other Windows software.

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Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses send ‘sensitive’ videos to human data annotators
A new report says that video feeds from Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are sent for review by human data annotators in Kenya, and that the footage includes sensitive content that is supposed to be excluded. Whistleblowers says that the video seen by third-party contractors used by Meta includes everything from people having sex to bank cards … more…

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Tapping may be ‘optional’ on the ‘touch-friendly’ MacBook Pro
Macworld If you’ve been following the developments of Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro with its OLED touchscreen, it’s easy to think that the worlds of iPads and MacBooks are on a collision course. Some of you have gone so far as to propose that this new laptop could run iPadOS, or future iPads could run macOS. But according to a recent report, those ideas are very far from the truth. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is quite conscious about preserving its iPad and MacBook markets, so much so that it will affect how the rumored touch interface will be implemented on the upcoming M6 MacBook Pro. Gurman refers to the MacBook’s UI as “touch-friendly” in that the touchscreen will simply be a third input device, along with the trackpad and keyboard. In other words, it sounds like Apple isn’t going out of its way to implement touch-based macOS features. Gurman explicitly says the device “will not feel like an iPad,” and “Touch will be completely optional.” Gurman previously reported that the touch UI will be more than a simple switch to allow for touch input. A new menu with touch-centric controls will appear in the area a user touches, and some items, such as menu bar icons, will appear larger when touching the screen to make selection easier. You’ll also be able to scroll and shrink/expand windows with finger gestures, he reports. The new laptops may also have support for Dynamic Island that works much as it does on the iPhone, showing alerts, task status, timers, app notifications, sports scores, and more. However, the Dynamic Island and the pill-shaped box that will replace the notch won’t have Face ID. So while the MacBook may seem like its looking more and more iPad-/iPhone-like, Apple has no plans to create a hybrid device, or to have one replace the other. If anything, Apple wants to continue thenarrative that the iPad and Mac work best as companions that complement each other.

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iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17e comparison: Here’s the smarter pick
The iPhone 17 packs more premium features, but the 17e is hard to ignore. So, which one is the better pick? (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17e comparison: Here’s the smarter pick
The iPhone 17 packs more premium features, but the 17e is hard to ignore. So, which one is the better pick? (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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'Palm Royale' cancelled after two seasons on Apple TV
Apple TV has reported cancelled its 1960s high society comedy drama "Palm Royale," starring Kristen Wiig."Palm Royale" has been cancelled by Apple TV — image credit: AppleFirst announced as part of Apple TV's production slate in 2024, "Palm Royale" went on to be nominated 35 times across awards such as the the Emmys and Critics' Choice, ultimately winning eight.Those winning awards, though, were across the craft and technical categories, rather than any for writing, acting, or directing. Star Kristen Wiig was nominated in the 2026 Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards), but lost out to the late Catherine O'Hara for Apple TV show "The Studio." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple does cheap better than most companies do good
Macworld Welcome to… Experience Week.On a scale of one to “bubble bath with Bad Bunny”, how would you say you are enjoying the experience so far?As of this writing, the experience so far has consisted of just two new products announced via press release: the iPad Air and the iPhone 17e. It occurs to the Macalope that the week that Apple has announced its new cheap phone and is widely expected to also announce a new cheap iPad and its cheapest MacBook ever, it’s a good time to remind you of something it feels like a lot of people have forgotten:You don’t have to buy the best, most expensive Apple products. It’s okay to get the cheaper ones.Of course, some people can only afford the less expensive products, but tech has taken on such a role in our daily lives that having the best has become a matter of status and self-worth. It is not uncommon to hear tech podcasters focus solely on the iPhone Pro lineup because that’s what they have. Well, of course, they have that, they’re tech podcasters.But if a tech podcaster jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you? (Use code BRIDGEJUMP for 15 percent off your fall!)The Macalope has a base model iPhone 17 and the next time he buys an iPhone, there’s a good chance it’ll be an iPhone [number]e. Looking at the 17e Apple announced on Monday, the only things he’d really miss if he switched are the Dynamic Island and always-on display (your mileage may certainly vary). The question is, will Apple continue to produce a cheaper iPhone in the spring when it moves the base lineup to shipping in that timeframe next year? As a long-time iPhone mini fan, if Apple gets wind the horny one likes a particular model, you can bet on the company canceling it soon.Okay, now time to do some math.No, you don’t! You sit down! You can go to Tosche Station and get some power converters after the math.Honestly, sometimes the Macalope doesn’t even know why he hired you to work on his moisture farm.The original iPhone started at $499 when it was released in 2007, which is equal to about $779 today. However, it’s fair to say that the original price was inflated because Apple reduced it by $200 just two months later and even refunded $100 to those of us who bought one early. So, if we say the original price was effectively $399, that comes out to $623 now, just $24 more than the iPhone 17e. (It’s worth noting that the SE line was consistently cheaper than the original iPhone in converted dollars.)When you consider that the higher-priced Pro line sells better than the base line and the e-line, people are spending vastly more for iPhones than they did 19 years ago. And that’s before Apple has shipped a foldable. Sure, we’re getting vastly more for our money, and Apple’s products are fairly well priced for premium products, but we’ve also just become inured to paying more for iPhones over the years. 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 While we don’t yet know what price point it will have, the low-cost MacBook, on the other hand, is likely to legitimately be the cheapest laptop Apple’s ever sold (at least directly and without an educational discount). It certainly won’t be the best Mac in terms of speed and features, but Macs have never held their value better thanks to Apple Silicon.We live in a time where tech companies are making decisions many feel are burlap-underwear-level uncomfortable while they are ramming technologies down our throats that most simply never asked for and do not want. Meanwhile, most Apple customers are already sending Tim Cook a monthly tithing for extra iCloud storage, an Apple TV subscription, and, the Macalope’s just looking at his list of Apple subscriptions here…Is that Bob Mansfield’s OnlyFans? Argh, why is the Macalope still paying for that?! He stopped doing it years ago!In an era when actual humans are getting laid off in the name of AI, it’s worth thinking about what you really need versus what you want. You don’t have to buy the best. Sometimes, good enough is better, and even Apple’s cheapest products are better than “good enough”.

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Even Apple knows the new iPad Air is a worthless upgrade
Macworld If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s Apple’s copywriting team. Even when the general public is picking apart new features and laying on the criticism, Apple’s website has a knack for selling the mundane and making it exciting. Even something like relocating the camera can be an opportunity for a rhetorical flourish. But with the new M4 iPad Air, even Apple’s marketing team has nothing to go on. While the new “Just Landed” ad is pretty cool, it doesn’t actually highlight anything that you couldn’t already do with the old Air, and the one before that. If you don’t want to dive into the spec sheet, here’s what’s new: M4 chip 50 percent more RAM  C1X modem N1 wireless chip Half of those (C1X and N1) are cost-cutting measures, and I’d have to guess the M4 chip is cheaper to manufacture than the M3 at this point. The extra RAM is the only thing that’s actually of value, but since there isn’t a single iPad Air user who would be able to tell the difference between 8GB of RAM and 12GB of RAM, I have to assume there’s some financial reason for that too. It’s such an unimportant upgrade that Apple has barely updated its iPad Air website. When you go to Apple’s homepage, you’ll see a prominent slot for the new iPad Air “supercharged by M4,” but if the image looks familiar, that’s because it’s the same one they used for the M3 Air. Click into the site, and you might experience déjà vu. Just take a look at how similar it is to the M3 site:  Apple’s iPad Air website: M3 (left); M4 (right) Apple’s iPad Air website: M3 (left); M4 (right) Apple’s iPad Air website: M3 (left); M4 (right) Apple’s iPad Air website: M3 (left); M4 (right) Apple’s iPad Air website: M3 (left); M4 (right) What’s more, the M3 model didn’t offer much over the M2 that it replaced. But at least Apple cared enough to update its website properly.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: 2 steps forward with cyber security using local AI
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, Christophe Frene from Dashlane joins the show to talk about the company’s new AI powered tool to detect browser based scams. more…

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Which magnetic wireless speed is my iPhone? Wireless charging speeds compared
Macworld Not having to find the right cable or carry one around with you makes wireless charging a convenient way of charging your mobile devices—iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and many third-party gadgets. There are multiple wireless charging standards and technologies. Here we will explain the major ones—Qi, MagSafe, Qi2 and the latest Qi2 25W. Knowing which is which will help you to make your charging life more efficient. Here we look at Qi2 vs MagSafe and Qi2 25W vs Qi2 and Apple’s updated 2024 version of MagSafe. Which is best for your model of iPhone? It’s a litle more nuanced, but in general, iPhones 16 and 17 should now charge wirelessly at up to 25W with supporting certified Qi 2.2 chargers. Older iPhones are limited to the 15W maximum if they support certified Apple MagSafe or Qi2. Chargers that are merely “MagSafe Compatible” are usually limited to 7.5W wireless charging. Note that the iPhone Air is limited to 20W wireless, the 16e to 7.5W and 17e to 15W. iPhone wireless charging speeds in brief: iPhone 8-11 series and 16e: Qi 7.5W. 0-50% in around 90 minutes. iPhone 12-15 series and 17e: MagSafe 15W and Qi2 15W. 0-50% in around 45 minutes. iPhone Air: 20W Qi2. 0-50% in around 40 minutes. iPhone 16 and 16 Pro: MagSafe 22W and Qi2.2 22W. 0-50% in around 35 minutes. iPhone 16 Plus, 16 Pro Max, 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max: MagSafe 25W and Qi2.2 25W. 0-50% in around 30 minutes. Don’t worry too much about the difference between 22W and 25W—the charging time difference will be marginal given environmental conditions such as room temperature will also make an impact. How does wireless charging work? Wireless charging uses electromagnetic induction to power your devices. The charging pad and your phone both include copper wire coils. Plug the pad into a power source and the charger’s coil generates a magnetic field. When you place your phone onto the charging pad, the phone’s coil converts that magnetic field into an electric current, thus charging the phone. Apple pioneered improved magnetic connection between charger and phone with MagSafe, and it’s mainly the tighter magnetic fit that drives faster and faster wireless charging. What is Qi2? Qi2, supported by the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families (except 16e) at launch and the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 as of iOS 17.2, speeds up wireless charging from 7.5W to 15W and makes chargers cheaper as well as more efficient. It is very like MagSafe, which is unsurprising as Apple allowed the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to use MagSafe as the basis of Qi2. In short, Qi2 brings the magnetic benefits of MagSafe, but also make third-party iPhone chargers faster and potentially cheaper. Manufacturers are more likely to create new products when the market is larger (iPhone and Android) and costs should come down, too. In September 2024, however, Apple announced that the new version of its iPhone MagSafe Charger can wirelessly charge the iPhone 16 series at 22-25W. Older iPhones can use this charger but at a 15W maximum as before. Qi2 took its time catching up, but it has now: keep reading. We have tested Qi2 chargers vs chargers certified as MagSafe by Apple, and can confirm that 15W Qi2 charges supporting devices at an equivalent speed to 15W MagSafe, and much faster than merely MagSafe-compatible 7.5W chargers. More details of our wireless charging speed tests below. Belkin first announced two Qi2 magnetic wireless charging devices in September 2023.Belkin What is Qi2 25W? The latest Qi2 25W standard (officially Qi 2.2) matches Apple’s 25W wireless charging speed. We have tested 25W chargers, including the Belkin 25W UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock, Ugreen MagFlow Power Bank, 25W Baseus PicoGo AM52 Power Bank and ESR’s 25W CryoBoost 3-in-1 Charging Station among others. Samsung waited until its Galaxy S26 Ultra to jump on the fast magnetic wireless charging bandwagon with Qi2 25W, and Google was first out of the Android blocks with Qi2 25W compatibility with its Pixel 10 Pro XL. The lesser Google Pixel 10 Pro is pegged back at 15W Qi2. Google calls its version of Qi2 “PixelSnap”. Wireless charging from Qi to Qi2.2 First, let’s look at the original Qi, which all iPhones post iPhone 8 support. Foundry What is Qi wireless charging? Qi is a Chinese word that means “energy flow”. Pronounced “chee”, Qi is the basic and most popular wireless charging standard, launched in 2008 but not seen on an iPhone until 2017’s iPhone 8. Note that plain Qi2 has little magnetic connection between phone and charger so is less efficient at transferring power as more is wasted depending on the placement of the phone on the charger. Better magnetic attachment and therefore faster charging arrived with MagSafe and Qi2. Apple continues to support the Qi wireless charging standard with its most recent iPhones—and the iPhone 13 and later models are compatible with Qi2, more on which later. This means that iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards can be placed on a Qi-compatible charger to start charging without a cable. (Of course, the Qi charging pad or stand itself has to be connected via a cable to a power charger.) While wireless charging means less wear and tear to your devices, it is not as efficient as charging via a cable (wired charging) as some of the energy is lost between the charging pad and the device placed on it. Qi users will know that you have to ensure your device is placed in exactly the right alignment for fast wireless charging to take place. Place the iPhone on the pad incorrectly and you end up either charging much more slowly or not at all. Many of us have dropped a phone on a Qi charger only to find out later that it wasn’t in the right place and so annoyingly never started charging—a problem largely solved by Apple’s MagSafe. While Qi’s maximum wireless charge is 15W, Apple’s iPhone supports only 7.5W via Qi. Which iPhones use Qi? Qi charging is built into the iPhone 8, X, XR, XS, SE, 11, 12, 13, and 14 families. The iPhone 15/16/17 work with Qi but are rated as Qi2; see later. The outlier is the curious iPhone 16e that goes all the way back to plain old Qi. Foundry What is MagSafe wireless charging? Apple’s magnetic MagSafe iPhones contain a ring of magnets built around its Qi charging coil. As a result, you can magnetically clamp charging accessories onto the iPhone. In fact, you can magnetically attach non-charging accessories, such as wallets and mounts, too. MagSafe—from 2020’s iPhone 12 on—makes missing the charging pad’s coils much less likely with its ring of magnets quickly finding the charging alignment sweet spot—on a compatible charger—so you will always connect and less energy is wasted. Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) technology uses magnets to perfectly align the coils of the wireless charging transmitter and receiver before transferring power. iPhones can work with wireless chargers that are either MagSafe certified by Apple (“made for MagSafe”) or are compatible with MagSafe—plus less sophisticated Qi chargers. Certified MagSafe chargers can supply up to 25W to the iPhone, while merely MagSafe compatible chargers are limited to 7.5W, but compatible chargers are usually cheaper. That 25W charging speed is currently limited to the iPhone 16 and 17 ranges and Apple’s own MagSafe Charger. iPhones 12/13/14/15 max out at 15W using MagSafe. The iPhone Air won’t charge faster than 20W wirelessly. In fact, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are pegged back at 22W, while the larger 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max support the while 25W. The 16e is out of the picture at just 7.5W and the 17e makes it to 15W. (Note that the iPhone 12 mini only charges at 12W with MagSafe.) We have tested the best MagSafe chargers for iPhones and the best MagSafe power banks for iPhones. This reviews roundup now also includes Qi2 chargers as they arrive to market. Some thicker cases get in the way of MagSafe wireless charging so make sure your iPhone’s case is MagSafe compatible—see our roundup of the best iPhone 15 Cases, best iPhone 16 cases and best iPhone 17 cases. Wireless charging is great, but it’s not as fast as wired charging. For truly fast iPhone charging, use a cable connected to at least a 20W USB-C charger. For the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 that means a USB-C to USB-C cable; for older iPhones you’ll need a USB-C to Lightning cable. A USB-A to Lightning cable won’t offer iPhone fast charging. Click here for more iPhone fast-charging tips. Somewhat confusingly, MagSafe is also the name for Apple’s wired-charging standard for its MacBooks—connecting the charging cable to the MacBook’s MagSafe port via magnets, meaning it is not only easy to connect but, if accidentally disconnected, it pops out rather than dragging your laptop to the floor. This version of MagSafe is magnetic and safe and has a charging connection for MacBooks but is not wireless. We explain the difference between MagSafe on Mac and MagSafe on iPhones in our Complete guide to Apple MagSafe: What is MagSafe? Which iPhones use MagSafe? MagSafe wireless charging is built into the iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 families, with the exception of the 16e. Foundry What is Qi2 wireless charging? Qi2 (“chee too”) is the latest version of the Qi “energy flow” wireless charging standard. Famed for its “Not Invented Here” strategy, Apple can be quite precious about adopting other technical standards. It has a long history of rejecting any idea that didn’t originate within Apple itself. However, thankfully Apple has cooperated with the creation of Qi2 to the extent that in effect it gave the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) MagSafe to use as the basis for Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile that defines how the new generation Qi works. Apple is a WPC “steering member” and chair of the board of directors. So what is Qi2 and why is it so great? Think of Qi2 as not just MagSafe for Android, but MagSafe benefits for all compatible wireless charging products. Qi2 will mean chargers won’t have to be certified by Apple to support 15W charging. They should, however, meet the technical demands of the WPC. In short, a Qi2 charger will deliver twice as fast charging as MagSafe-compatible chargers. As MagSafe certification costs manufacturers a fee to Apple, removing this should result in cheaper chargers that match Apple-certified chargers in terms of speed. Which iPhones use Qi2? Qi2 wireless charging is built into the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families (except 16e). As of iOS 17.2, Apple brought the technology to all iPhone 13 and 14 models as well. While Apple hasn’t stated that Qi2 support will reach the iPhone 12, the first iPhone to support MagSafe, Macworld readers have contacted us to say that Qi2 does indeed work with the iPhone 12 following the release of iOS 17.4. Tested with the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2, an iPhone 12 charged up to 15W with the on-screen animation also displayed. Simon Jary / Foundry What is Qi2 25W wireless charging? Qi2 25W is the latest version of the Qi “energy flow” wireless charging standard. It started rolling out in wireless charging products from the mid-2025 and is now seen in many new wireless charging products. So what is Qi2 25W and why is it so great? Qi2 25W means chargers can support up to 25W wireless charging. They have to meet the technical demands of the WPC. In short, a Qi2 25W charger will deliver 10W more power than Qi2 and 3.3 times as fast charging as MagSafe-compatible chargers. The use of a Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) provides better alignment but also reduces magnetic field leakage caused by misalignment. This minimizes the build-up of heat and ensures optimal charging efficiency. A ±0.5mm magnetic alignment precision improves charging efficiency by “up to 40%”, according to manufacturer Baseus. Qi2 25W products also feature next-generation thermal regulation with stricter 40°C surface limits and enhanced coil layouts. This ensures that less energy is wasted and provides 15% better charging efficiency—even in motion or with slight misalignment. Which iPhones use Qi2 25W? Qi2 25W wireless charging will work with the iPhone 16 family and later (except the 16e and 17e). The iPhone Air supports Qi2 25W but only up to 20W, which is likely caused by the super-thin phone’s thermal management. The iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can make it to only 22W according to Apple, For Qi2 25W to work at full 25W supporting iPhones must have installed at least iOS 26 or later. Which is best MagSafe, Qi2 or Qi2 25W? First, MagSafe, Qi2 and Qi2 25W are all better than plain Qi. Owing in large part to their magnetic connection, they are more efficient and definitely offer faster wireless charging than Qi. For all extents and purposes, Qi2 looks pretty identical to MagSafe so iPhone 13/14/15 users can choose between MagSafe or Qi2 without fear. iPhone 16 and 17 owners, however, should look to MagSafe or Qi2 25W, as Apple’s own MagSafe Charger and soon Qi2 25W chargers can reach charging speeds of up to 25W when paired with the latest range of iPhones. The fact that the iPhone 12 isn’t certified as Qi2 compatible demonstrates that Qi2 and MagSafe are not identical. All should clamp chargers magnetically to the iPhone in the same way and allow for between 15W and 25W wireless charging. Will Qi2 chargers work with MagSafe? Although technically very similar, Apple is likely to still require MagSafe certification for non-Qi2 products to reach 15W wireless charging. Both the charger and the device must be certified for Qi2 for it to work at 15W, in the same way as MagSafe. However, it is likely that future MagSafe-certified products will also be certified for Qi2, and post iOS 17.2 all iPhones 13/14/15/16/17 will work natively with Qi2 chargers. For consumers it’s a win-win as Qi2 and Qi2 25W means faster wireless charging will be brought to more devices and people. For product marketers it may be a bit of a labelling nightmare until all the chargeable devices catch up with the technology: expect MagSafe Compatible (7.5W), MagSafe (15W or 25W), Qi2 15W (15W) and Qi2 25W (25W). Is Qi2 as fast at wireless charging as MagSafe? As the Wireless Power Consortium used Apple technology to build the Qi2 specification, it is true that Qi2 matches MagSafe for speed. Both can charge at up to 15W and use the largely same magnetic attachment tech. Note the 25W charging potential of the Apple MagSafe Charger and iPhone 16/17, plus the same charging speed from Qi2 25W. The first Qi2 charger we tested and reviewed at Macworld was the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. We tested its Qi2 wireless charging speed by charging an iPhone 15 Pro all the way to a 100% full charge, and taking timings at 30%, 50% and 80%. We did the same using a Apple’s own MagSafe Charger and also via a straight wired USB-C connection. The fastest way to charge an iPhone is via a wired connection: USB-C to Lightning for iPhones older than the iPhone 15, and USB-C to USB-C for the iPhone 15 and later. The average wired-charging time in our tests was 25 minutes to 50%, 55 minutes to 80% and 70 minutes to 100%. Our wireless charging tests for officially Apple-certified MagSafe chargers (using Apple’s own Wireless Charger) and for Qi2 magnetic wireless charging (using the Anker MagGo) had remarkably similar timings. There was some variance either way but also small differences using the same charger so we are confident that using these two magentic wireless charging technologies came up with the same basic results on average: 45 minutes to 50%, 90 minutes to 80% and 115 minutes to 100%. In summary, then, MagSafe and Qi2 charging at 15W results in the same times and so can be considered equal—except for the 25W MagSafe potential of the iPhone 16/17–and the same from Qi2 25W now it is released. And, again as expected, merely MagSafe-compatible chargers took twice as long as the 15W chargers: 45 minutes to 30%, and 90 minutes to 50%. Our tests demonstate that Qi2 25W will charges an iPhone 16 Pro from 0–50% in just over 30 minutes—manufacturers often claim 25 minutes but that is under clinical conditions. In Macworld’s real-world tests 32-34 minutes is the average. In comparison, a Qi2 15W charger generally takes about 45 minutes to reach the same level—this would work out as the 25W option being around 45% faster than the 15W chargers. Wireless charging depends on many factors, such as device settings, usage during charging, and ambient temperature. Don’t concern yourself greatly about the 22W limit of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. The 3% difference between that and 25W is marginal. Why does phone charging speed slow down as the battery gets fuller? Batteries charge slower the fuller they get, especially in the last 10–20% of charging. The fuller the battery is, the slower it absorbs energy. To start with, a Lithium-Ion battery accepts whatever current it can, but as the battery gets closer to being full it accepts less current, and so the power being transferred tapers off. Imagine you were filling up a glass with water. You can start with the faucet or tap at full blast, but as the glass gets fuller, you have to slow the flow down to avoid the water spilling over, until eventually just a trickle of water goes in as you try to get it right up to the brim. If the battery didn’t charge this way and instead filled up at full blast till reaching 100%, it would get very hot and you’d risk damaging it to the point it might explode! Slowing down the charge when the battery is getting closer to full also increases the number of charge cycles a battery can go through before it permanently loses capacity. Taking advantage of this, if you need to charge quickly, stop at 80%, use the device for a while and then top back up to 80% before the charging speed starts to slow. Ugreen

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Ditch Adobe’s monthly fees — this Mac PDF editor is 42% off
Macworld TL;DR: Skip the Adobe Acrobat subscription and get the PDF Expert Premium Lifetime Plan for Mac for $79.97 (regularly $139.99). Adobe Acrobat is powerful, but for many Mac users, it’s more than they need — and more than they want to pay for. Monthly fees stack up quickly, especially when your main tasks are editing, signing, or converting PDFs. PDF Expert Premium offers a one-time alternative at $79.97. Instead of recurring charges, you get long-term access to a full suite of PDF tools built specifically for macOS. Here’s what you can actually do with it: Edit text directly inside PDFs Replace or resize images Fill out and sign forms Highlight, comment, and annotate Merge or split documents Rearrange, rotate, or delete pages Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, or plain text It also includes built-in OCR, which means: Scanned documents become searchable Text can be copied and edited Older scans are cleaned up with improved clarity Because PDF Expert is Mac-native, performance feels smooth and lightweight rather than bloated. Files open quickly, large documents remain responsive, and the interface stays clean and distraction-free. For everyday workflows, it handles what most users actually need without tying you to a subscription model. PDF Expert Premium Lifetime Plan for Mac is available now for $79.97 (regularly $139.99). PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple TV cancels Palm Royale after two seasons
Deadline reports that Apple won’t be renewing critically acclaimed comedy Palm Royale for a third season. Here are the details. more…

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March Apple event week kicks off with iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air
Benjamin and Chance discuss the just-announced iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air, as Apple begins its week of product launches. As well as bit of speculation about what is to come on Tuesday and Wednesday, the duo also respond to a report about the dysfunctional nature of Apple’s cloud infrastructure division, and look forward to the start of F1 on Apple TV this weekend. And in Happy Hour Plus, it’s time for Chance to make his house a (smart) home. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Shopify: See less carts go abandoned and more sales. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm. Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour. more…

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9to5Mac Daily: March 2, 2026 – iPhone 17e is here
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 BenQ: Check out BenQ’s smarter displays made for how Mac users actually work. Sign up for the giveaway here.  more…

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Here’s where to download Apple’s new iPhone 17e wallpaper
iPhone 17e announcement day means a new Apple wallpaper has arrived. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to buy the new iPhone 17e if you just want to try Apple’s latest wallpaper on your iPhone. more…

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Security Bite Podcast: RCS finally gets end-to-end encryption, 1Password blowback, more
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is...

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Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: Gamer-focused specs, Windows layout, & very plastic
The Gamakay TK75HE V2 mechanical keyboard is very much a gamer's keyboard with the RGB elements and lack of Mac keys, but it is fairly quiet compared to other options.Gamakay TK75HE V2 review: a middle-of-the-road keyboardI've tested a lot of mechanical keyboards over my years at AppleInsider, and I've never encountered one that just felt so Windows coded. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it leaves its mark from the moment you unbox it.What struck me right away was the passthrough keycaps that let the RGB shine through. I wish more keyboard companies offered keys like this, but to my dismay, there were a few things missing in the box. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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AI apps without age checks may soon be removed from the App Store in Australia
Australia could soon force the Apple App Store to remove AI apps that let users access adult or violent content without age verification.Australia might soon ask Apple to remove AI apps without age checks.Though Apple has already complied with Australia's social media ban for teens by updating the App Store's age-assurance tools, the iPhone maker might soon need to take further action.To be more specific, app marketplaces will likely be required to block AI apps that have not implemented age-checking measures. Regulators in Australia are targeting artificial intelligence apps that let users under 18 access adult content, extreme violence, self-harm, and eating disorder content. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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HazeOver — Mac Utility for Highlighting the Frontmost Window
What HazeOver does is highlight the active window by dimming all background windows. That’s it. But it does this simple task with aplomb, and it makes a significant difference in the day-to-day usability of MacOS.

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Apple Might Use Google Servers To Store Data For Its Upgraded AI Siri
Apple has reportedly asked Google to look into "seting up servers" for a Gemini-powered upgrade to Siri that meets Apple's privacy standards. The Verge reports: Apple had already announced in January that Google's Gemini AI models would help power the upgraded version of Siri it delayed last year, but The Information's report indicates Apple might lean even more on Google so it can catch up in AI. The original partnership announcement said that "the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," and that the models would "help power future Apple Intelligence features," including "a more personalized Siri." While the announcement noted that Apple Intelligence would "continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute," it didn't specify if the new Siri would run on Google's cloud. Apple's Private Cloud Compute is not only underpowered but it's also underutilized in its current state, notes 9to5Mac, "with the company only using about 10% of its capacity on average, leading to some already-manufactured Apple servers to be sitting dormant on warehouse shelves." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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