India may finally get Apple Pay by mid-2026
A new report backs up recent claims that India is shortly to get Apple Pay after years of complex negotiations.Apple Pay may finally come to IndiaIn January 2026, it was rumored that Apple was in talks to get Apple Pay in India. Now Bloomberg is reporting which banks Apple is in discussions with, and when it may launch.Apple is said to be in talks with three of the largest banks operating in the country: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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A cheap MacBook is the shakeup Apple’s laptop lineup needs
Macworld Everything we know about the MacBook is about to change. There have been widespread rumors that Apple is about to shake up its laptop range in the most significant way since it introduced the failed 12-inch MacBook in 2015. And after many months of speculation, it now feels like a near-certainty that a budget MacBook powered by an iPhone chip will appear as part of Apple’s March 4 “experience” event. So far, almost all of the focus has been on this laptop itself, and understandably so—Apple has never released a sub-$1,000 MacBook, after all. But the impact of such a device won’t just be limited to the budget market. It will likely spur changes elsewhere in the MacBook lineup as well. Indeed, the new budget MacBook gives Apple the opportunity to rethink the MacBook Air and bring some much-needed upgrades to its mid-range MacBook options, creating space between it and the new budget model while also further distinguishing the Air and Pro lines. Gasping for Air For years, the MacBook Air has occupied the low-end slot among Apple’s portable Macs. It’s got the cheapest price, the lowest-end chips, and the least advanced display. For the majority of consumers, it’s more than enough, and it’s absolutely the best MacBook for most people. But the arrival of a cheaper MacBook will change that perception. Based on rumors, this new MacBook will have a significantly slower chip than the Air, but many of the same characteristics people want in a laptop: price, portability, and battery life. The Air has long checked all of those boxes, but now that something significantly cheaper will be available, Apple needs to reposition the Air as a mid-range device by addressing some of its shortcomings. The MacBook Air is a solid machine for $999, but it’s starting to feel stale.Foundry Primary among those quibbles is the display. Compare the Air’s 13-inch LED display to what you get with the MacBook Pro and the differences are stark. Even if you opt for the larger model, the MacBook Pro offers far superior resolution: 3024 by 1964 pixels in the 14-inch MacBook Pro versus 2560 by 1664 pixels in the 13-inch MacBook Air, or 254 pixels per inch (ppi) compared to 225 ppi. You also get much more in the way of brightness. While the MacBook Air is stuck at 500 nits in all situations, the MacBook Pro can ramp up to 1,000 nits outdoors and 1,600 nits for HDR content. That’s complemented by the Pro’s use of mini-LED technology, which provides much-improved colors and contrast. And finally, there’s the refresh rate. The MacBook Pro’s display is kitted out with Apple’s ProMotion feature, which dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz, depending on what’s on screen, resulting in much smoother motion during gaming, movie watching, and scrolling. Like the non-Pro iPads, the MacBook Air is locked to 60Hz. That all means that the MacBook Air is a categorically budget choice with a display that’s clearly inferior to the one you find in the MacBook Pro, but you get a concession in the form of the price. At $999 compared to the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s $1,599, the MacBook Air is much more affordable, and the tradeoffs are understandable. The M5 MacBook Pro could be redundant with the launch of the low-cost MacBook.Foundry A breath of fresh Air Once the new MacBook arrives, the MacBook Air will no longer be the budget laptop choice. It starts at $999, whereas the new MacBook is expected to cost somewhere around $699. With a price difference like that, the MacBook Air will suddenly become one of Apple’s mid-range Macs. Since Apple already differentiates its laptops with their screens, one way Apple could give the MacBook Air some mid-range attention is by upgrading the Air with ProMotion.That would make a significant difference in day-to-day usage, as higher refresh rates are instantly noticeable and give the Air a much-needed upgrade, not unlike how Apple handled the iPhone 17. And with the MacBook Pro already rumored to get an OLED Ultra Retina XDR display later this year, an Air with a ProMotion LED is an upgrade that steps up the MacBook Air without bringing it too close to the MacBook Pro. Apple’s new MacBook could impact the entire lineup.Eugen Wegmann This realignment of the MacBook lineup comes with another quandary: What should happen to the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro? Right now, this model features a similar M5 chip to the upcoming Air with a Pro display and a few more ports for $1,599, hundreds of dollars more than even the 15-inch Air. With the introduction of the new MacBook, Apple’s laptop roster will start looking a little bloated, especially if the Air gets ProMotion.  The entry-level Pro is already a cut-rate machine compared to its Pro- and Max-powered siblings, and the shift in the lineup will only highlight its flaws. And with the rumors of an OLED touchscreen coming later this year, it’s likely the model gets axed, leaving a much clearer lineup. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Apple shuffles the Air lineup, possibly eliminating the low-end chip or bumping the entry-level storage to 512GB for higher price points. So the lineup could look something like: MacBook: $699 13-inch MacBook Air: $1,099 15-inch MacBook Air: $1,299 14-inch MacBook Pro: $1,999 16-inch MacBook Pro: $2,499 With the high-end and low-end all but secured, this is an important time for the MacBook Air. It’s started to feel a little stale, with few exciting improvements since its 2022 redesign. Its lower price has helped it become the go-to MacBook for most people, but with an even cheaper MacBook breaking onto the scene, the MacBook Air will have to work even harder to justify its existence.

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Statik SmartCharge Pro Review: 15K all-in-one charger for MacBook, iPhone
Macworld At a glance Pros Multi-function charging tool 60W GaN USB-C wall charger 15W wireless charger 15K laptop power bank Built-in USB-C cable Orange model is cool Cons Too chunky for a pocket 60W won’t fast-charge MacBooks Our Verdict With 15K power bank, 60W laptop charging cable & port plus handy iPhone/Watch/AirPods wireless charger, the SmartCharge Pro is the Swiss Army penknife of charging, able to replace your MacBook charger, iPhone charger, travel adapter in one. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$99.99 Best Prices Today: Statik SmartCharge Pro Retailer Price Statik $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It’s bigger than a USB-C charger needs to be, and larger than a magnetic wireless power bank should be, so who is the Statik SmartCharge Pro aimed at? Yes, it comes in an unmissable orange color that will spark interest from the iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange brigade. Yes, it boasts Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W, and a built-in USB-C cable for charging to up to 60W, plus three more USB ports for extra devices. And, yes, it hosts a powerful 15K power bank that should keep your iPhone and MacBook charged when you’re away from a power source. But is this a handy multi-function utility charger or an attractive Frankenstein’s monster of power? Simon Jary Best for: Someone looking for a handy all-in-one charging solution for all their Apple devices. Not for: Someone who wants an iPhone power bank they can slip in a pocket, or a MacBook Pro owner in a hurry. Specs and features Power bank battery capacity: 15000mAh (54Wh) Integrated USB-C Cable: 60W PD 3.0 USB-C port: 60W PD 3.0 USB-A port: 18W Max output: 60W Wireless charger: 15W (Qi2) The SmartCharge Pro has most bases covered, with two USB-C output/inputs and one USB-A plus the wireless charging pad, all on top of a high-capacity power bank. The built-in AC plug prongs mean the SmartCharge Pro can be plugged direct into a power socket. Statik includes slip-on plug adapters for the U.K., E.U. and AU/NZ, which means customers in those regions can use the SmartCharge Pro and also take it on their travels. Those adapters mean it should be ready for action in over 200 countries without you having to carry extra converters. Both the USB-C outputs can charge at 60W, which is powerful enough to charge any MacBook, although it’s not enough to fast-charge them. Even the 13-inch MacBook Air demands a 70W charger for fast-charging, although 60W is not far off. MacBook Pro models are better served with 100W—or 140W for the 16-inch MacBook Pro—but 60W should be sufficient for steady if not super-speedy charging. We’ve reviewed the best USB-C chargers for MacBook if you need a simpler solution. Simon Jary Those inputs are easily powerful enough to fast-charge iPhones and iPads, as well as other devices. The magnetic wireless charging pad is Qi2 15W rated for iPhones and should charge an iPhone from 0-50% in around 45 minutes. It can also be used to fast-charge an Apple Watch or compatible AirPods case at 5W. It’s too big and too heavy to be a pocket-friendly wireless power bank that you can just clamp to your iPhone: for that see our reviews of the best magnetic wireless power banks. That magnetic attachment is there to support the 15W Qi2 wireless connection, not let you slip the whole thing in your pocket while charging. The power bank itself can be recharged at 45W. This isn’t as fast as some laptop power banks—the Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank has a 100W input port—which is surprising as the SmartCharge Pro plugs direct into a power socket rather than relying on a USB-C connection (which also works, by the way). Simon Jary Design The SmartCharge Pro measures 4.3 x 3.5 x 1.3 inches (110 x 90 x 33mm) and weighs 13oz (370g). In comparison an equal capacity 15K power bank such as the Cuktech 15 Air is smaller at 5.2 x 2.8 x 0.82 inches (132 x 72 x 21mm) and weighs 10.8oz (306g). Of course, it lacks the wireless charger and built-in USB-C cable hosted by the SmartCharge Pro. It’s obviously larger than a standard USB-C charger and much more so than a portable wireless iPhone charger, but that’s missing the point of a charging tool such as this. Statik It’s available in Blaze Orange or Black—the former not only appealing to owners of the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro but making it easy to find in your backpack or tech organizer bag. Performance We tested the Statik SmartCharge Pro in its prowess at recharging a MacBook and iPhone. First we run each device down to 0% and the power bank to 100%, then see how far the power bank’s battery can fill the Apple device’s own battery. There are higher-capacity laptop power banks—the top ones max out at around 27500mAh (99.5Wh), which makes them compliant with airline 100Wh battery carry-on rules. 25K (90Wh) and 20K (72Wh) are also popular laptop power bank capacities. 15K is an increasingly popular size, and these usually get a MacBook up to around 50% of a full charge. The 15K SmartCharge Pro scored 54% of a full MacBook charge in our test, which is what we expected. When tested with an iPhone 16 Pro we got a Macworld Recharge Score of 235. That means we recharged it fully twice plus another 35% on the third charge. That’s a lot of power for iPhone users on the road, although we’d expect a mix or MacBook and iPhone charging to be a more realistic use case, maybe with some Watch and AirPods action in there too. Simon Jary Price The Statik SmartCharge Pro is priced at $99.99. In comparison, the smaller, lighter Cuktech 15 Air 15K Power Bank costs $79.99, yet lacks the integrated AC plug pins and USB-C cable and of course the 15W wireless charger. If you’re carrying around that plus a wall charger and cable, the SmartCharge Pro is the much neater travel solution. See our reviews of the best power banks for MacBook for plainer solutions. Should you buy the Statik SmartCharge Pro? Because it has a magnetic wireless charger on top, it’s easy to mistake the SmartCharge Pro as a chunky iPhone charger. Because it plugs straight into the wall and has multiple USB ports plus an integrated USB-C cable, it’s easy to think of the SmartCharge Pro as a bulky laptop charger. In fact, it’s a reasonably sized portable laptop power bank with built-in iPhone and MacBook chargers. Rather than being a superhero with one special power the SmartCharge Pro is more of a Batmobile or James Bond gadget with multiple functions. With 15K power bank, 60W laptop charging cable and port plus handy iPhone/Watch/AirPods wireless charger, it’s the Swiss Army penknife of charging.

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The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Is $20 Off
The battery is exclusively made for the iPhone Air, fitting in your pocket. It gives a great feel when holding, and can extend the battery life of your iPhone Air further than the device’s normal battery life. You can attach it magnetically to the back of your iPhone Air to charge it for all-day use. […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Meta Releasing Smartwatch
Meta is looking to release their first smartwatch this year with a built-in Meta AI and health-tracking. The launch of the smartwatch would compete against its rival, Apple, and its Apple Watch and other smartwatch companies. This is the product of a resurrected project the company decided to back out of in 2022. The watch […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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The 2026 Major League Soccer Season Is Near
The Major League Soccer’s 31st season will start on February 21 (a Saturday), with games made available in a subscription service on Apple TV. Subscribers of the service in 100 countries are able to access Major League Soccer matches with no extra fees or blackouts. The company previously charged $99 or $14.99 monthly for a […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Quality of Life Updates For Chrome Added
Three new features have been added by Google to the desktop browser Chrome: PDF annotations, an option to Save to Google Drive, and split view. Split view is a tool that allows Chrome to support two tabs being used simultaneously. PDF annotations allow you to add notes, signatures, and highlight texts in a PDF. Save […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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This $24 slim tracker pulls off the things an AirTag can’t
Macworld TL;DR: The MagTag SmartCard has the same Apple Find My tracking ability — just flat enough to forget it’s there. Once upon a time, AirTags were revolutionary, until you put one in a wallet and suddenly feel like you’re carrying a stack of poker chips. The problem was never tracking — it was shape. The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card fixes that by ditching the puck design entirely. It’s basically a credit card with a GPS-style safety net built in. And it’s now on sale for just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99). Slide it into a wallet, passport holder, backpack sleeve, or luggage pocket, and it disappears until you need it. It connects directly to Apple’s Find My network, so you can see your item on a map, trigger a loud beep nearby, or get alerts if you leave it behind somewhere. It also recharges wirelessly (no coin batteries to hunt down) and lasts months between charges. The waterproof build means rain, travel, or everyday chaos won’t bother it. The best part is behavioral: you stop doing the pocket-pat dance before leaving a café because the notification tells you first. Same peace of mind, just without the weird bulge. Get this MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card while it’s just $23.99 (MSRP $59.99). MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card – Works with Apple Find My AppSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Macworld Podcast: What to expect from the Apple Experience on March 4
Macworld The Apple Experience event is next week, on March 4. On this week’s episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about what we expect: new MacBooks, new iPads, a new iPhone 17e, and a lot more. This is episode 972 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 972 on YouTube Listen to episode 972 on Apple Podcasts

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Experience F1 tracks with 3D art in Apple Maps ahead of each race
Apple Maps has been updated with a new "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World" guide that showcases each racing location. Updated 3D art will be added throughout the season, starting now with Albert Park in Australia.Apple Maps gets F1 guideIt's almost time for the first F1 season distributed by Apple TV to begin. Apple is known for its vertical integration and brand synergy, and it hasn't wasted any time with F1 either.As first discovered by 9to5Mac, Apple is promoting the F1 season in Apple Maps with a new guide. It is titled "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Maps adds detailed F1 experience ahead of 2026 season
The 2026 F1 season begins next month, and it’s Apple’s first season with exclusive streaming rights in the United States on Apple TV. In celebration of the kickoff, Apple has added a gorgeous new Apple Maps experience for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026 — with more to come. more…

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Apple Vision Pro users will get to see Disney's 'Muppet*Vision 3D' in all its glory
"The Muppet Show" rebirth has brought Jim Henson's creations back into the spotlight, and fans are awaiting news of the virtual return of the fan-favorite "Muppet*Vision 3D" via Apple Vision Pro.'Muppet*Vision 3D' may have closed, but it's being kept alive in VRJim Henson was responsible for a lot of the world's most popular entertainment, and even Apple has some in their studio. We're not here to talk about Fraggle Rock, but instead, a green guy and his friends that are a little more popular.It's a great time to be a Muppets fan, as Seth Rogen's new special seems to have successfully revived the brand. Long-time fans recently packed the theater for the first time in forever, and mourned the loss of the popular Muppet*Vision 3D attraction at Hollywood Studios in Orlando. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Grab Apple's M5 MacBook Pro for $1,449 before the month-end deals expire
Grab a triple-digit discount on Apple's M5 14-inch MacBook Pro, as retailers engage in a month-end price war.Save $150 on numerous M5 MacBook Pro configurations - Image credit: AppleApple's standard 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is on sale for $1,449 at both B&H and Amazon, as the retailers participate in a month-end price war.Buy M5 MacBook Pro for $1,449 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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9to5Mac Daily: February 25, 2026 – Touchscreen MacBook Pro rumors, Apple Card latest
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 and sign up for the giveaway here. more…

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U.S. lawmakers request briefing on the UK's iCloud encryption backdoor plans
The UK government's continued attempts to gain access to iCloud users' private data have prompted U.S. lawmakers to request a briefing about the issue.Apple's iPhone is encrypted to ensure no one can get in, good guys or badApple is a company widely known and often praised for its privacy-first approach, but sometimes that very same philosophy is at odds with the goals of world governments. The iPhone maker famously fought against an FBI request for an encryption backdoor, and it did the same when the UK came up with similar demands of its own.The drama surrounding the UK's seemingly never-ending pursuit of iCloud user data continues. On Wednesday, two U.S. lawmakers, U.S. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast, requested that the UK government hold a briefing about its planned iCloud encryption backdoor. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Should 1Password’s Price Hike Push You to Apple’s Passwords?
1Password is raising prices for the first time in ten years. With Apple’s free Passwords app maturing into a capable alternative, is it finally time to consider switching—or do 1Password’s features still justify its cost?

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iOS 26 has made Apple Passwords the only password manager I need
iOS 26 is packed with big and small changes, three of which have enabled me to make Apple’s Passwords app my one and only password manager. more…

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Apple TV just added three new movies to expanding future lineup
Apple TV has been on a hot streak with new movies, and the streamer keeps strengthening its future lineup too. Here are three new movies that, per reporting today, are now part of Apple’s upcoming film plans. more…

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Spain’s CNMC rules Apple and Amazon delayed removal of anti-competitive clauses, risking further fines
Spain's competition regulator has ruled that Apple and Amazon took too long to remove anti-competitive clauses from their distribution… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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The Mac is about to get a new AAA game in rare day-one launch
Next week will be a big one for the Mac, with several new MacBooks launching. But another big moment is around the corner: Crimson Desert, a AAA game debuts next month with a day-one macOS release. more…

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