Denon multi-room speakers have three new models starting at $399
Denon has upgraded its multiroom speaker system with three new models starting at $399. The ecosystem competes directly with Sonos by allowing up to 64 devices to be interconnected throughout your home … more…

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The best USB-C hubs for iPad
Macworld Apple’s iPads now all use the universal USB-C connector port rather than Apple’s old Lightning connector. The M-series iPad Pro models use the even more capable but identical-looking (and compatible to USB-C) Thunderbolt connection (USB4). What many people don’t realise is that the USB-C port is good for more than charging or plugging in wired earbuds. Apple’s tablets can also be used with other peripherals that transform it into an even more versatile computer. As such, iPad owners have a wide range of USB-C accessories available to them unless their older iPad still uses the Lightning connector. Some of the USB-C hubs connect directly into the iPad. Others require a cable connection; some come with both, which helps when the iPad is in a protective case. We have also included stands for iPads that include built-in multiport hubs. You can use most hubs—and elsewhere we’ve reviewed the best USB-C hubs for Mac—but we are these as especially suited to the iPad. Best USB-C hubs and docks for iPad HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best overall USB-C hub for iPad Pros 6 ports inc HDMI and SD/microSD 4K at 60Hz Direct fit to iPad 60W passthrough charging Cons UHS-I card reader speed Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $89.99 View Deal Hyper $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray, Silver Ports: USB-C PD (5Gbps/60W), USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI, microSD and SD card readers, 3.5mm audio Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: The HDMI port means you can add an external display, and it can handle 4K displays at 60Hz, although that might be a push if you are using all the other ports at the same time. This good-looking iPad-dedicated hub, with built-in USB-C connector, features a grip that secures it onto an iPad Pro without damaging the surface. However, you can remove the grip if you use a third-party iPad case. It connects direct to the iPad but handily also comes with a USB-C extender cable so you can use it as a USB-C hub for your MacBook or another USB-C device, too. It can charge a device at up to 60W. It’s also lightweight at just 33g (1.16oz) and at 3.66 x 1.3 x 0.39 inches (9.3 x 3.3 x 1cm) it’s small enough to slip into a pocket. If you don’t need the memory card readers, the $59.99 HyperDrive 4-in-1 USB-C Hub for iPad, available in either Silver or Space Gray, adds four ports: 4K 30Hz HDMI, 60W USB-C power delivery, 5Gbps USB-A, and 3.5mm audio jack. It weighs just 1.34oz (38g). Satechi Mobile XR Hub with microSD Reader – Smallest USB-C hub Pros 3 ports inc microSD Super small and lightweight 100W passthrough charging 4K at 60Hz Direct fit to iPad Cons No USB-A UHS-I card reader speed Price When Reviewed: $44.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $44.99 View Deal $44.99 View Deal $44.99 View Deal Satechi $44.99 View Deal $44.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Transparent gray Ports: USB-C (to iPad), USB-C PD (100W), USB-C PD (10Gbps), microSD card reader (33MBps) Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: This is the smallest and lightest USB-C hub we tested weighing just 16g (0.57oz). Its dimensions are 2.42 x 0.93 x 0.35 inches (6.2 x 2.4 x 0.9cm) so It’s even smaller than the Twelve South StayGo mini and a few grams lighter. This mini hub Is aimed at users with XR glasses but is just as able connected to your iPad to deliver up to 100W of passthrough power (35W for iPad) and a 10Gbps USB-C port that can link to a 4K display at 60Hz. The third port is a microSD card reader that, at 33MBps, is particularly slow but useful for uploading or off-loading photos and videos from the tablet. There is no legacy USB-A port, so if that’s important to you keep looking at what the other reviewed iPad hubs offer. There is an alternative version, the Satechi Mobile XR Hub with Audio, which swaps the card reader for an audio port. Satechi OntheGo Foldable Stand Hub – Best stand/dock for iPad Pros 7 ports inc HDMI and SD/microSD 4K at 60Hz Fast card readers Built-in iPad stand Foldable Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal Satechi $79.99 View Deal $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray Ports: USB-C (to iPad, 10Gbps), USB-C PD (100W), 1x USB-C (10Gbps), 1x USB-A (10Gbps), HDMI 2.0, SD and microSD card readers, 3.5mm audio Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: This ergonomic iPad accessory is both a USB-C dock and a convenient stand for up to a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. It features a broad range of ports, including a 4K at 60Hz HDMI 2.0 port, a spare USB-C port and a legacy USB-A port, both SD and microSD card readers at their fastest, and a combination In/Out audio port. It connects to the iPad via its USB-C port, and an 6.7-inch (180mm) USB-C cable is included. When folded it measures 4.3 x 4.3 x 0.75 inches (110 x 110 x 19mm) and weighs 6.6oz (187.5g). The iPad is tilted on the stand for a better height and viewing angle. An alternative with longer USB-C cable, more adjustable stand and more ports but a lower 5Gbps bandwidth and with slower card readers is the Anker USB-C Hub, and the slightly cheaper Plugable UDS-7IN1 Dock, reviewed below. Read our full Satechi OntheGo Foldable Stand Hub review Plugable USB-C Docking Station (UDS-7IN1) – Best budget stand/dock for iPad Pros 8 ports inc HDMI and SD/microSD Light, portable stand Cons Not height adjustable 4K at 30Hz UHS-I card reader speed Price When Reviewed: $69 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $64.95 View Deal $64.95 View Deal $64.95 View Deal $64.95 View Deal $112.61 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray Ports: USB-C (to iPad), USB-C PD (5Gbps/91W), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI, SD and microSD card readers, 3.5mm audio Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: Smaller than the Anker 551 Hub Stand, the diminutive Plugable USB-C Docking Station features two old-school USB-A ports, HDMI 1.4 port, both SD and microSD card readers and a combination In/Out audio port. It connects to the iPad via its USB-C port, and a 20-inch (50cm) USB-C cable is included. At the back, alongside the HDMI port is another USB-C port that you can connect to a USB-C wall charger to allow up to 91W charging for the connected device—plenty for even the hungriest iPad. The USB-A ports aren’t really built for charging connected devices, so are limited to 4.5W charging. With the HDMI 1.4 port you can connect a 4K external display at 30Hz. Gamers and streamers might prefer a hub with at least HDMI 2.0 to get smoother 60Hz screen refresh rates (so should consider the Satechi Hub/Stand reviewed above), but for general productivity usage 30Hz is perfectly acceptable. The Ugreen Steam Deck Dock, reviewed below, goes even further to 120Hz. Made of aluminum, it’s light enough (10.7oz or 303g) to be carried around and it folds up for added portability points. Like the Anker Stand the tablet can be tilted on the stand for the best viewing angles. Twelve South StayGo mini – Smallest 4-port USB-C hub for iPad Pros 4 ports inc HDMI Small and lightweight 85W passthrough charging Direct fit to iPad Cons Slower USB-A 4K at 30Hz No card reader Price When Reviewed: $59.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $59.99 View Deal $59.99 View Deal Twelve South $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Black Ports:  USB-C (to iPad), USB-C PD (85W), USB-A (480Mbps, 7.5W), HDMI 2.0, Audio Out Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: This small hub can connect to your iPad (or MacBook) via either the integrated USB-C connector or a detachable cable (20in). The cable is useful if your iPad is in a protective case, and you could use your own longer cable if required. StayGo mini adds just four ports, but enough for you to attach an external display (4K at 30Hz), a USB-A device and headphones as well as powering your tablet or laptop at the same time–especially handy for tablets that have just the one port. It weighs just 36g and measures 2.8 x 1.25 x 0.3 inches (7.2 x 3.2 x 0.8cm), making it one of the smallest USB-C iPad hubs we have tested—the Satechi Mobile XR Hub, reviewed above, is even tinier. This hub—unlike the Satechi Mobile XR Hub—does host an old-school USB-A port. It’s USB 2.0, so limited to 480Mbps data transfer compared to the 5Gbps on offer on some of the other hubs reviewed here. Twelve South has discontinued this product but it’s still currently selling via some retailers. Check our price comparison above. HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Media Hub for iPad Pro/Air – Best USB-C hub for media controls Pros 6 ports inc HDMI and SD/microSD 4K at 60Hz Media controls Direct fit to iPad Cons UHS-I card reader speed Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Hyper $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Gray Ports: USB-C (to iPad), USB-C PD (5Gbps/60W), one USB-A (5Gbps), one HDMI 2.0 port, UHS-I SD and microSD Card readers, 3.5mm audio, Play/Pause/Fast-forward/Rewind buttons Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: Alongside the handy extra ports, this mini hub adds a row of large Play/Pause/Fast-forward/Rewind buttons on the top for media control of your movies, songs or podcasts without interrupting your workflow. We’ve seen faster ports on the other hubs reviewed here, but it’s the media buttons that make the difference here. It can connect in a tight fit to the iPad or via a detachable longer 2in cable if you need the extra length. At 3.85 x 1.14 x 0.47 inches (9.8 x 2.9 x 1.2cm), it’s a little longer than other iPad hubs tested here, but it’s lightweight at just 1.62oz (46g). Ugreen Steam Deck Dock (6-in-1) – Best iPad USB-C hub for gamers Pros 6 ports inc HDMI and Ethernet 4K at 120Hz Cons No card reader Price When Reviewed: $45.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $34.99 View Deal $45.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Gray Ports: Angled USB-C to iPad, one USB-C 85W PD, one USB-C (5Gbps), one HDMI, two USB-A (5Gbps), Gigabit Ethernet Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: Alongside the handy extra ports, this mini hub adds a row of large Play/Pause/Fast-forward/Rewind buttons on the top for media control of your movies, songs or podcasts without interrupting your workflow. As its name (and picture above) suggests, this compact mini docking station is built for Steam Deck (OLED) gamers, but is equally adept when hooked up to an iPad. Its special power is its HDMI port that allows for connection to a 4K display at an impressive 120Hz screen refresh rate. VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync technologies provide a smoother gaming experience that eliminates screen tearing and stuttering. It creates a foldable and portable yet sturdy stand with adjustable angles up to 90 degrees, and measures 6.7-x-4.4-x-1.45 inches (17 x 11.2 x 3.7cm). Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter – Best magnetic iPad USB-C hub Pros 9 ports inc HDMI and microSD 4K at 60Hz Magnetic attachment Cons UHS-I card reader speed Price When Reviewed: $59.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer   Price Check on Amazon Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Black Ports: USB-C (to iPad, 10GBps), USB-C PD (80W), two USB-A (5Gbps), one HDMI 2.0 port, microSD Card reader, Gigabit Ethernet Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: The OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter is a neat solution that can clamp magnetically to your iPad. Attach the adhesive ring to the back of the iPad or iPad case to create a place where you won’t even see the hub while you work. The round hub has a 2.55-inch (6.5cm) diameter and sits just over an inch tall (2.7cm). It weighs 2.4oz (68g). We’ve seen faster ports on some of the other hubs reviewed here, we love that magnetic fit, and the HDMI supports full 4K at 60Hz. Read our full Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 Multiport Adapter review Ugreen Revodok Pro 109 USB-C Hub 9-in-1 – Best wired USB-C hub Pros 9 ports inc HDMI, card readers, Ethernet 100W passthrough charging 4K at 60Hz Price When Reviewed: $39.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $27.99 View Deal $39.99 View Deal Ugreen $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray Ports: USB-C cable (to iPad, 10Gbps), USB-C PD (100W), USB-A (10Gbps), USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI, SD/microSD Card readers, Gigabit Ethernet Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: There are many USB-C hubs that are built for laptops that work just as well with tablets. This wired USB-C hub has just about everything. Notably, its card readers are rated at 170MBps, which is faster than most that are limited to 104MBps. We’ve picked the Ugreen Revodok Pro 109 out for its broad range of ports, but there are many to choose from, so choose from the wide range at Ugreen, Anker, Satechi, Plugable and Baseus to pick out one that offers all you need at the right price. Connecting to the iPad via a built-in USB-C cable, this type of wired hub is a little less neat than those that plug directly into the iPad’s port, but they offer far more ports. The ribbed aluminum alloy Revodok Pro 109 measures 5.55 x 2.3 x 0.6 inches (14 x 6 x 1.6cm). Satechi USB-C Slim Multiport Adapter 4K – Best wired USB-C iPad hub range Pros 4-7 ports inc HDMI, card readers, Ethernet 100W passthrough charging 4K at 60Hz Price When Reviewed: From $59.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $59.99 View Deal $59.99 View Deal $59.99 View Deal Satechi $59.99 View Deal $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray, Black, Silver Ports: 4-in-1: USB-C cable (to iPad, 10Gbps), USB-C PD (100W), 2x USB-A (10Gbps), HDMI; 6-in-1: USB-C cable (to iPad, 10Gbps), USB-C PD (100W), 1x USB-A (10Gbps), 1x USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI, SD/microSD Card readers; 7-in-1: USB-C cable (to iPad, 10Gbps), USB-C PD (100W), 2x USB-A (10Gbps), HDMI, SD/microSD Card readers, Gigabit Ethernet Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: Satechi has a range of USB-C hubs that work with the iPad to choose from—with 4, 6 or 7 ports, depending on your needs. All can output 4K at 60Hz via the HDMI port, and charge the connected iPad at full speed—indeed the 100W passthrough power is enough for even the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The smallest 4-in-1 lacks card readers and Ethernet, which might suit you just fine. The 6-in-1 adds the card readers but lacks Ethernet; one of its USB-A ports is a weaker 480Mbps for some reason. The 7-in-1 has the card readers and Ethernet, plus the two 10Gbps USB-A ports. The card readers are rated at 104MBps, slower than the Ugreen’s 170MBps. StarTech.com USB-C Multiport Adapter – Impressive passthrough charging Pros 5 ports inc HDMI 92W passthrough charging 4K at 60Hz Direct fit to iPad Cons No card reader Price When Reviewed: $39.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $31.99 View Deal Startech.com $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray, silver Ports: USB-C (to iPad), USB-C PD (5Gbps/92W), USB-A (5Gbps), USB-A (5Gbps, BC 1.2 Fast Charge), HDMI, 3.5mm audio Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: The 92W passthrough charging is impressive. Although this may be overkill when used with a tablet, it makes a big difference when you use it with a laptop. The HDMI port means you can add an external display, and it can handle 4K displays at 60Hz. This compact hub, with built-in USB-C connector, is one of the lightest we have tested, at just 44g (1.5oz). It’s also small, at 3.5 x 1.3 x 0.3 inches (9 x 3.2 x 0.9cm). As well as the HDMI and audio port, it features two USB-A ports, one for data (5Gbps) and one for fast charging (7.5W). CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – Best Thunderbolt 4 hub for multiple USB devices Pros Four 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports Four fast USB-A ports 5K at 60Hz Multiple external displays Cons No card reader Large for an iPad hub Price When Reviewed: $179.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CalDigit $179.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Space Gray Ports:  Upstream Thunderbolt 4 (to iPad; 60W PD), three downstream Thunderbolt (40Gbps, 15W), four USB-A (10Gbps, 7.5W) Compatible with: All USB-C iPads Why we love it: Apple’s iPad Pro (2021) models use 40Gbps Thunderbolt rather than 5Gbps USB-C, so to gain that full bandwidth a Thunderbolt hub is the best you can get. This is a hub that you can also use for high 40Gbps MacBook bandwidth as well as with your iPad Pro. For maximum Mac bandwidth look to the $249 CalDigit Element 5 Hub that operates at up to 120Gbps, but you’ll pay a premium that maybe be overkill for an iPad user. Choosing a hub or dock with a Thunderbolt connection standard makes perfect sense as it is backwards compatible with USB-C and so will work with any USB-C iPad too. You won’t find more modern USB ports on a hub than on the later Element 5 Hub that has three downstream TB5 ports, two 10Gbps USB-C and three 10Gbps USB-A ports, but the Thunderbolt 4 model’s three downstream TB4 and four 10Gbps USB-A offer a lot of extension opportunities. Both are larger than other dedicated iPad hubs. The TB4 model measures 4.48-x-2.74-x-0.7in (11.4-x-7-1.8cm) and weighs 6.2oz (180g), while the TB5 model is 4.5 x 2.75 x 1 inches (11.4 x 7 x 2.5cm) and 7oz (200g). Recommended if you require multiple devices to connect to your iPad, and if you use it with a MacBook, too. Read the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub review and CalDigit Element 5 Hub review. Satechi Mini NVMe SSD Enclosure – Speedy USB-C NVMe enclosure Pros 10Gbps NVMe enclosure USB-C cable lanyard Cons No extra ports Price When Reviewed: $59.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $49.99 View Deal $59.99 View Deal $59.99 View Deal Satechi $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Colors: Gray Ports:  10Gbps USB-C to iPad, NVMe solid-state drive enclosure Compatible with: All USB-C iPads While not a hub, we love this dinky but high-speed SSD enclosure that can host interchangeable storage with tool-free installation, which makes it easy to switch between multiple SSDs. It includes a lanyard USB-C cable so you shouldn’t need additional cables when traveling. The enclosure supports 2230mm NVMe SSDs with speeds up to 10Gbps—Satechi claims this can transfer 3,000 high-res images in under a minute. A write lock switch protects files from accidental changes and malware. It supports Apple’s high-quality ProRes Log video format on iPhone 15 Pro and later, although you’ll need extra software to use it with the iPad’s camera. Choosing a USB-C hub With a hub you can add extra USB ports (Type-C and the older Type-A), storage card readers, ethernet networking, wired headphones, cameras, keyboards, and more. You can also connect your USB-C or thunderbolt iPad to your computer or to an external display using a hub’s USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort outputs. The latest iPad Pro models (with Thunderbolt/USB4) can even connect to Apple’s Pro Display XDR display. Some USB-C hubs are specially designed for the iPad (and fit neatly without the need for a long cable connection), but you can also use an array of generic USB-C hubs. And you can take it one step further with a full docking station that can also work with your laptop. Depending on which model you buy, a hub or dock connects to the iPad and offers an array of extra ports. USB-C Whatever hub you buy will use up the iPad’s sole port, so, unless it’s for short-term usage, you’ll need at least one extra USB-C port on the hub for pass-through charging, as you don’t want your tablet’s battery to fade mid use. Make sure at least one of the hub’s USB-C ports is capable of Power Delivery (PD) for charging. And look for high charging power if there is a maximum wattage on the hub. The iPad requires at least a 20W charger for fast charging, which all the hubs can handle but a more powerful charger may enable speeds up to 30W. The iPad Pro requires at least 60W for fast charging. More USB-C ports on the hub mean you can use them for more modern peripherals and an external display that connects via a USB-C cable. The minimum data-transfer bandwidth of USB-C is 5Gbps, so this is the most common speed on hubs, but some offer 10Gbps that is more capable for things like connecting an external monitor. In Apple’s latest iPad line-up, the iPad mini has a 10Gbps USB-C port, while the standard iPad has a USB-C port with a much slower USB 2 data-transfer rate of just 480Mbps. The iPad Air has 10Gbps bandwidth, and the iPad Pro uses 40Gbps Thunderbolt, see below. Thunderbolt The M1/M2/M4/M5 iPad Pro boasts the more capable Thunderbolt connection. It uses the USB-C connector, but Thunderbolt has bandwidth up to 40Gbps compared to just 5Gbps or 10Gbps for USB. Thunderbolt hubs and docks are more expensive than their simpler USB-C cousins, but power users will benefit from the extra bandwidth. For example, a Thunderbolt hub or dock can use this bandwidth to connect a 4K display running at 60Hz and still have data-transfer capacity for other devices such as hard drives. USB-A Universal and reversible, USB-C is a great connector, but most of us still have a few devices that connect via the more common Type-A USB port, such as flash memory sticks, hard drives, and input devices. USB-A ports are used mainly for lower-powered devices, but the ports do come in different speeds. USB 2.0 is the slowest at 480Mbps. USB 3.2 Gen 1 is rated at 5Gbps and USB 3.2 Gen 2 is 10Gbps. Some hubs boast multiple legacy USB-A ports, so consider how many you might need to use at the same time. SD and microSD Card readers You can connect a camera or a card reader directly to the iPad’s USB-C port, but a more flexible option is to use a hub with either an SD or microSD Card reader, and many hubs have both. These tiny memory cards are also an inexpensive portable storage and backup solution, with capacities of up to 1TB. Look for the faster UHS-II type reader, which can handle up to 312MBps data transfer, compared to UHS-I’s maximum 104MBps. The slower variety is more common on the iPad hubs reviewed above. For more options, take a look at the best USB-C hubs for Mac that will also work with your iPad. Gigabit ethernet Wired internet or network access is much faster than WiFi, so if you’re using your iPad at a desk, consider a hub with an ethernet port. Otherwise, you’ll need to use a USB-C-to-ethernet adapter that plugs directly into your iPad. Audio If you want to hook up some wired headphones or a microphone, look for a hub with 3.5mm audio jack port since none of Apple’s current iPad range has one. Some older iPads have an audio port. External displays A hub is basically essential when using an external display because the iPad has just one USB-C port and you can’t simultaneously charge the tablet at the same time. So, you’ll want to look for a hub with either two USB-C ports (one for charging, one for video) or a hub with an HDMI or DisplayPort (or even VGA if you have an older display). For general productivity purposes, 30Hz screen rates are acceptable for 4K monitors, but 60Hz or 120Hz is better for gaming or action-graphics video. Depending on the cable, you might get varied refresh rates. It’s a little confusing, but for the most part, 5Gbps USB-C is mostly limited to 30Hz (but can be pushed to 60Hz if the bandwidth is not taken up by the other ports), a 10Gbps USB-C connection should allow 60Hz 4K, and Thunderbolt will easily push 6K displays with high refresh rates.

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Ookla’s C1X report’s most shocking result? People are buying iPhone Air
Macworld Cellular research and analysis company Ookla, owners of the very popular Speedtest app and site, has issued a fascinating report gleaned from Speedtest user data in the fourth quarter of 2025. There are two key takeaways: The iPhone Air is more popular than other premium “slim” phone variants and the iPhone “Plus” models it replaced, and Apple’s C1X modem has made enough improvements over the C1 to be a fully “tier 1” modem, offering an overall equal alternative to Qualcomm’s X80 in most respects. iPhone Air sales While Apple’s C1X debuted in the iPhone Air, it has since appeared in a few iPads and now the iPhone 17e. Ookla’s data is from the 4th quarter of 2025 and focuses on smartphones, though. So all C1X results in this report are exclusively iPhone Air results. While Ookla doesn’t have sales data, it collects speed results and hardware identifiers from millions of users, so it is generally true that the ratio of Speedtest results more or less correlates with sales ratios. It appears to be especially popular in certain markets outside North America. Most of the results come from South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Then Italy, Spain, and the UAE. North American markets are further down the list. But the most interesting chart is this one, comparing the iPhone 17 generation to the iPhone 16 generation. Ookla It shows an increase in base iPhone 17 results compared to iPhone 16 (as expected) and a reduction in iPhone 17 Pro samples. But the iPhone Air has double the samples of the iPhone 16 Plus that it replaced. Given that it costs $100 more, and no other segment saw such a dramatic swing in test samples, it’s safe to say that people were more excited to pay for a super-slim phone than a slightly larger one. Ookla notes that it far outsells other competing premium slim phones. The Galaxy S25 Edge is behind, but competitive, in South Korea only. Elsewhere, it represents a tiny fraction of test results. C1X makes big strides Apple pitched the C1X modem as simply being “up to twice as fast” as the C1, which debuted about a year ago in the iPhone 16e. That sort of inexact and cherry-picking marketing promise is next to useless, but Ookla’s huge sample of test results gives us a good look at the improvements. And they are substantial. Ookla primarily compared the chip to the standard Qualcomm X80, while noting that the more advanced X18 and the MediaTek X90 are giong to be common in Android flagship devices this year. It’s also worth noting that the C1X does not support mmWave frequencies (a feature which is not terribly important globally, and may be overrated in North America). Ookla The iPhone Air (C1X) is now essentially equal in performance to the iPhone 17 Pro Max (Qualcomm X80). And that’s true under rough conditions, great conditions, and average conditions. The iPhone 16e (C1) lagged behind considerably. This data is from the U.S., but the story is the same in every market Ookla measures. Apple has caught up. This next chart is especially illuminating. It shows the improvement in latency (in milliseconds) for the iPhone Air vs the iPhone 16e (green) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max (blue). Ookla The C1X modem has a substantial and consistent advantage in latency compared to both the C1 and the Qualcomm X80. A couple of markets stand out as exceptions (notably South Korea and Taiwan), but it is clear that Apple has made a big leap in hardware and software integration. The Ookla report has some other interesting findings, and is well worth a look. For example, performance at the “network edge” (the 10th percentile) has improved a lot. Qualcomm’s X80 still performs better here, but the C1X handles poor network conditions a lot better than the C1 did. The iPhone Air is able to get almost gigabit speeds in ideal conditions, where the C1 in the iPhone 16e seemed to hit a wall around 600Mbps in many markets. The upper ceiling for ideal network conditions is a lot higher in most markets for the C1X. Ookla’s data paints a rosy picture for Apple’s cellular modems. The iPhone Air is a very challenging body in terms of thermal performance and antenna design, and the C1X has made big real-world strides compared to the C1. Assuming the C2 lands later this year with mmWave support for the iPhone 18 Pro, it could be a serious competitor to the Qualcomm X85, the current leading 5G platform. If Apple can keep up the pace of innovation, you can have confidence that choosing an Apple product doesn’t mean settling for a second-best cellular connection.

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Your wireless router is now banned from sale in the US, but you can still use it
Almost every wireless router used in US homes is now banned from sale within the country under a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling. The FCC says that all routers made outside the US “pose unacceptable risks to the nationalsecurity of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons” … more…

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Even PC users have caught MacBook Neo fever
Macworld The MacBook Neo is off to a good start, according to this one guy on the internet. According to this “Tim Cook” fellow: Mac just had its best launch week ever for first-time Mac customers. We love seeing the enthusiasm! Whoever this guy is posted this on X, which you will know as your go-to platform for generating non-consensual pornographic images, even of minors. Look for it on the Apple App Store, the safest place on Earth, where it is still available because billionaires get different rules than the rest of us. It is tempting to make an app that makes exactly the kind of reprehensible material Grok and X do and submit it to the App Store to see how fast it would get rejected but, in order to do that, you’d have to be the kind of monster that makes that kind of material, so that’s not happening. Some science you just can’t do. Anyway, back to the MacBook Neo! It’s apparently selling pretty well! As of this writing, online orders of the cheapest MacBook evah are out to April 7 to 14. And why not? It’s cheap, darn repairable, comes in one fun color and several other near-colors, and while it might not have the overall performance of even older M-series MacBook Airs, it does very well in single-core performance and, most importantly, is supported by Apple. Who’s going to support that used M2 you bought off Craigslist? Cousin Lars? With his drinking problem? Good luck. The last time you asked him for help he spent an hour trying to “reboot” the latest issue of Costco Connection because “its screen was frozen”. As you might imagine, the MacBook Neo is causing some consternation in the PC industry. How are you gonna keep them down in Plastictown when they’ve seen the bright lights of Aluminum City? PCWorld’s Michael Crider says: “The $600 MacBook Neo is Microsoft’s nightmare” Over on Microsoft’s official hardware store, you can get a Surface “Pro” starting at $800. … But what you don’t get is a keyboard cover… That seems like a bit of an omission when trying to use a device as a laptop. Windows Central’s Zac Bowden agrees: “MacBook Neo makes Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 13-inch seem like a bad deal” The Surface Laptop 13 starts at $899 and has a worse screen than the MacBook Neo. For a Windows laptop to be more desirable than a Mac laptop, it needs to be better than the Mac while being the same price. That’s a tall order that I don’t expect most OEMs will be able to meet. As a long-time Apple watcher, it is a little bizarre to live in a time when Macs are undercutting a PC category on price, but here we are. All of a sudden, the PC hardware makers have a real problem explaining what the MBAs like to call “their value proposition”. It’s not like you can claim it’s worth paying more to get Windows. Even if you’re Microsoft. The company said it will reduce Copilot AI integrations in some apps, starting with Photos, Widgets, Notepad, and its Snipping Tool. TechCrunch, March 20, 2026 Why, oh, why would the company be doing this when everyone loves- It’s clear that user feedback is influencing Microsoft’s moves around AI on Windows. Wild that Dell got this before Microsoft did. The company said it’s also introducing the ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen… The Macalope has a Windows machine in his woodland office that he uses for, well, never finishing playing “Starfield”, apparently, and God as his witness he had no idea you could not move the freaking taskbar. He could just never be bothered to try because to him Windows is a thing you get through as fast as possible in order to get to the place you really want to be. Sort of like driving through Delaware. This is not to say that the latest edition of macOS is his all-time favorite by any stretch of the imagination. The Macalope has one machine upgraded to Tahoe and one is enough. His daily use M4 MacBook Air will stay on Sequoia until the whole corner situation is resolved. Macs were always worth what Apple charged for them. Well, okay, the Mac Pro is not currently worth what Apple is charging for it, but almost always. It was just that Apple had never competed at the low end of the portable market. Now that it does, Windows OEMs are going to need to scramble. Apple MacBook Neo Read our review Price When Reviewed: $599 Best Prices Today: $596.5 at Walmart | $599 at Amazon | $599 at Apple

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Get ready iPhone users, these 8 new emojis are coming this week
Macworld Ballet dancers, bigfoot hunters, Fleetwood Mac fans, and trombone players are coming to your iPhone. As previously announced to celebrate World Emoji Day last year, the Unicode Consortium’s newest set of emojis is finally set to land this week as part of the iOS 26.4 update. Here’s the list: Ballet Dancer Distorted Face Fight Cloud Hairy Creature (Bigfoot) Landslide Orca Treasure Chest Trombone The Apple Core emoji, which was originally proposed as part of the 2025 update, was pulled from consideration. Since Apple adopts its own style for new emojis, they take some time to design and generally arrive in a mid-cycle iOS update. The previous set, which was announced in 2024, was also released as part of iOS 18.4 last March. The Unicode Consortium is a nonprofit foundation that maintains the Unicode Standard, a set of standards used to make sure text and emojis maintain their integrity across platforms. Every year, Unicode releases a new set of emojis, based on submitted proposals. Anyone can submit an emoji proposal online, and Unicode also has an Adopt a Character program that helps fund the foundation. The iOS 26.4 update reached Release Candidate status last week and is due to arrive for all users sometime this week.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: The challenges of remote support for IT
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, Tyler Luchtman from My Computer Works joins the show to talk about how they support businesses using Macs and the challenges of remote IT support. more…

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Take your Mac to the next level with Microsoft Office apps for less than $5 each
Macworld TL;DR: Give your Mac the best of Microsoft with this Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac lifetime license, on sale now for just $25.47 with code MARCH15 through March 29. Mac lovers don’t always have to stay in their lane. While Apple has plenty of incredible products, Microsoft has some good ones too. Now, you can enjoy the best of both worlds thanks to the Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac lifetime license. It gives your Mac permanent access to six powerful Microsoft apps, and they’re currently just $25.47 with code MARCH15 until March 29. Get six essential Microsoft Office apps for your Mac for just $25.47 Don’t let Microsoft lovers have all the fun. This Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac license gives you permanent access to six helpful tools, some beloved for decades — and with this deal they’re less than $5 each. Give your Mac a new lease on life with these six tools, all geared toward helping with personal and professional tasks. It includes Word for your document needs, PowerPoint for creating presentations, Excel for building spreadsheets, and Outlook for managing emails. You’ll also get Teams to stay connected with coworkers, friends, and family, and OneNote to upgrade the way you take notes. Don’t be deterred by the year of this edition — each app includes new features and updates. They’re also redesigned to take advantage of Mac-specific features like the Retina display, full-screen view support, and scroll bounce. Your purchase provides instant delivery and download, so the apps will be ready to use on your device immediately. There are no subscription fees required — just make sure your computer is running macOS 14 or newer prior to purchase. Get this Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac lifetime license for only $25.47 with code MARCH15 until March 29. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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iOS 26 Guide: New features in the latest iPhone update and what’s coming in iOS 26.5
Macworld The latest version of the iPhone operating system is iOS 26.4 and everyone with a compatible iPhone can install it now. Read on to find out what’s new, what is still to come, and everything else you need to know about the latest iPhone update. If you are yet to install iOS 26 (which arrived in September 2025), there is a lot to get excited about: not only did iOS 26 bring the biggest design change we’ve seen since 2013 (when iOS 7 dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat icons) it also puts the phone back in iPhone, with several call enhancements–from Voice Mail Summaries and Hold Assist to Live Translations–that will make it feel almost like you have a personal receptionist at your service. Digital security is top of mind for most of us these days–or should be. A focus for Apple is on-device spam filtering. iPhone will be able to screen calls before connecting you, while Messages will also filter out all types of scams and spam. There are dozens of tweaks and improvements throughout iOS 26. Efforts have been made to clean up and simplify menus, including in the Camera app and brand-new Games app, while Visual Intelligence, Genmoji and Image Playground that were all introduced in iOS 18 have new functionality that makes them simpler to use and smarter than ever. Small but significant, one of our favorite tweaks is quite simply the ability to copy just part of a text message rather than the whole thing. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about iOS 26–how to download it, which iPhones are supported, what major changes have been made, the latest version, what’s coming in the next update, and more. Read on to see what’s in store for iPhone (11 and later) users. Wondering whether to install iOS 26? Read: iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s different, what’s new, and should you update? Also find out why if you aren’t running iOS 26 you should update! iOS 26: Summary Apple has switched its iOS naming convention to match its primary release year. This means the new version of iOS is iOS 26, despite its September 15, 2025 release date. The latest version is iOS 26.4 which arrived on March 24, 2026 and adds AI music playlist creation, video podcasts, new emoji, and more. All iPhones released since 2019 will be able to install iOS 26, including iPhone 11, iPhone SE (2nd gen) and later. The new ‘Liquid Glass’ interface is the biggest design change since iOS 7 in 2013. iOS 26 puts the ‘Phone‘ back in iPhone, with Voice Mail summaries, Call Screening, Hold Assist, and Live Translations. Foundry iOS 26.5 release date and what’s coming? The iOS 26.5 beta should begin shortly after the iOS 26.4 release. It’s unclear what will be new—we could get the first set of features for an all-new revamped Siri, which was originally supposed to arrive in the 26.4 update according to multiple reports. But if Apple is still having problems in the development and testing of the new Siri, it’s possible this entire release is scrapped in favor of moving on to the even bigger and more dramatic changes to Siri expected in iOS 27 this fall. Latest version: What’s new in iOS 26.4 iOS 26.4 includes the following: Apple Music and Podcasts: When users are viewing an album or playlist, the background will follow the color of the artwork instead of solid white. AI Playlists: A new “Playlist Playground” feature will allow Apple Music subscribers to generate or edit playlists using text prompts or by selecting a group of songs. Concert Discovery: Apple Music will notify users about upcoming concerts and tour dates for their favorite artists near their location. Video Podcasts: The Podcasts app is adopting HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology, which Apple states will allow users to “switch seamlessly between watching and listening to shows.” Stolen Device Protection: This security layer, which requires biometric authentication for sensitive changes, is expected to be enabled by default starting with this version. Freeform “Creator Studio”: The whiteboarding app is to get a significant update with new features, a refreshed app icon, and support for tables. Health and Vitals: Blood oxygen data will be reintegrated into the “Vitals” overview, and the Sleep graph will include a line showing average bedtimes. Smart Reminders: A new “Urgent” smart folder will automatically organize any tasks marked as urgent. New emoji: At least nine new emoji introduced with Unicode 17.0 could be coming in this update including a Bigfoot, Ballet Dancers, and an Orca. Latest version: What’s new in iOS 26.3.1 Bug fixes: Apple hasn’t confirmed what these bug fixes are, but they seem to focus on stability and system improvements. Stability improvements: Fixes for system glitches, more responsive apps and better multitasking. System improvements: Reports that the update has reduced system storage usage, sped up performance and improved resource management. Compatibility iPhone 17e, iPad Air, MacBook Neo and Studio Display 2026 and Studio Display XDR. What was new in iOS 26.3 On February 11, Apple released iOS 26.3. The release notes only mentions bug fixes and security updates, but there’s a new Android-to-iOS switching experience, and some EU mandated changes as well. Here’s what is new: Easier switching between Android and iPhone: iOS 26.3 brings support for easier iOS/Android switching. You can  about that here. (EU mandated change) Notification forwarding for third-party devices: Apple will allow for notifications to be forwarded to third-party devices, such as non-Apple smartwatches. (EU mandated change) New Wallpaper section: Weather will get a dedicated section in the wallpaper gallery, it’s currently bundled with Astronomy. There will be three Weather wallpaper options that include things like live weather conditions. Limit precise location for carriers: This will allow you to disable precise location finding for your carrier. It requires a supporting carrier (EE or BT in the U.K., Boost Mobile in the U.S.). It has no impact on location for apps or the OS and only applies to carrier location tracking and changes it from precise (exact street address) to coarse (neighborhood). What was new in iOS 26.2 The iOS 26.2 update arrived on December 12 and included: Tweak to Apple Music including offline lyrics. Automatic chapters in Podcasts. Improved filtering and navigation in Games. A slider to tweak the clock transparency on the lock screen. Section links at the top of the Today tab in Apple News. Support for Tables in the Freeform app. This is the second significant update to iOS 26, with several more expected. So far, they have focused on polish and quality-of-life improvements, but we expect a big Siri overhaul and maybe some other features in iOS 26.4. What was new in iOS 26.1 Released on November 3, 2025, iOS 26.1 was the first major update to the iOS 26 operating system, introducing several interface refinements and quality-of-life upgrades. While the initial release of iOS 26 introduced the “Liquid Glass” design language, version 26.1 focused on giving users more control over this aesthetic and restoring features that had been removed or altered. Liquid Glass: The most significant change in iOS 26.1 was the addition of a toggle to adjust the controversial Liquid Glass interface. The new “Tinted” mode provides higher opacity and better contrast, addressing complaints from users who found the default transparency difficult to read. Digital ID: Enabled the ability to add a U.S. passport to the Apple Wallet for use at TSA checkpoints in approximately 250 airports. Lock Screen Camera: Added a toggle in Settings > Camera to disable the swipe-to-open camera gesture, preventing accidental battery drain . Apple Music: Introduced a new swipe gesture on the MiniPlayer to skip tracks and added AutoMix support over AirPlay . Apple Intelligence: Expanded language support to include Traditional Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Turkish . Security: Revamped “Rapid Security Responses” into “Security Improvements,” allowing the system to automatically install patches without a full OS update . Audio & Fitness: Improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth conditions and added manual workout logging directly in the Fitness app What’s still to come in iOS 26? Apple has delivered on pretty much all its promises for iOS 26 made at WWDC, but there are a few more things that could arrive over the next few months. Apple Intelligence enhancements for Siri. An potential overhaul of the health app. What was new in iOS 26 – At a Glance Here are just some of the new features you will find in iOS 26: Liquid Glass graphical user interface: A new translucent effect that mimics glass, with elements reflecting background content, and resizing to fit around onscreen items. Apple says Liquid Glass will blur the lines between hardware and software, and feel more like interactions in the physical world, with elements dynamically reacting to your touch. Updated Phone app: New to this core iPhone app are Apple Intelligence-generated Voice Mail text summaries, Call Screening for spam calls, Hold Assist for connecting you only when you are #1 in the queue, and Live Translations for real-time audible translations in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish (also available for FaceTime with translated live captions, Messages with auto-translated texts, and Apple Music with lyrics converted to your native language). Apple Intelligence updates: Spanning Visual Intelligence, which now supports screenshots, and lets you ask ChatGPT for more information about the information and products shown in the picture, Genmoji, in which you can edit existing emoji, combine emojis and Stickers, and even change emoji expressions, and Image Playground, with support for ChatGPT styles and prompts. Camera app overhaul: As with many iOS apps, the currently cramped Camera interface is getting simplified, with many of the less frequently used shooting modes and options tucked away. Plus, you can now add 3D effects to photos. New Games app: A Home tab puts games Apple thinks you’ll like at your fingertips; a Library tab shows all games you’ve ever downloaded; and a Play Together tab shows you what your friends are playing, compare scores, and even challenge them. iOS 26 brings a standard set of touch controls for buttons, thumbsticks, dpads, throttles, and touchpads, too. Some of the more overlooked new features in iOS 26 that are set to make a big difference include the ability to (finally!) create your own ringtone, an intelligent Adaptive Power mode that makes performance adjustments based on how you actually use your phone, and the ability to use AirPods as a high-definition microphone when shooting video. iOS 26 design and interface changes New Liquid Glass design language. General decluttering and simplifying of the interface and app menus. Apple The biggest change in iOS 26 is a visual one: a bold new redesign known as Liquid Glass. What is Liquid Glass? The new design features a graphical user interface that Apple is calling Liquid Glass, which creates a translucent effect that mimics the qualities of glass. The new Liquid Glass design language represents the biggest change to iOS since iOS 7 was introduced in 2013. Back then, Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons. This time everything is more curved, less flat, with translucent elements reflecting or refracting the content in the background, and resizing to fit around what is onscreen. The Liquid Glass elements will also change color to reflect the content beneath as you scroll, and it will be possible to see blurred and refracted elements of the background through the top layer. Apple says that it will feel more like interacting with the physical world, with elements dynamically reacting to your touch. The company also says the changes “blur the lines between hardware and software”. This new Liquid Glass design extends to all Apple products and apps. You’ll see the translucent effects on the Dock, widgets, and icons. Panes, windows, buttons and menus will be presented as translucent layers with specular highlights. Initial feedback to the new Liquid Glass design was negative with some beta testers complaining that content wasn’t visible due to the overlaying of menus over background images, later versions of the beta dialed this back to make the menus more visible. Of course not everyone likes Liquid Glass, and if you feel like you can’t read your notifications, read: How to reduce the Liquid Glass effect. iOS 26 interface changes  Apple Apple says iOS 26 will also see design changes that simplify app interfaces to make the controls more visible. Apple is making it easier to find the tools you usually use, without the clutter of all the other features you don’t need. Apple has adapted the interface to focus more on what is on the screen rather than cover things with tools and menu bars. Menus will shrink as you scroll to reveal the content below. Apple is also removing some of the clutter from menus to simplify things and emphasize the more frequently-used options. For example, rather than occupying a rectangular bar at the bottom of the screen, groups of controls will appear on floating elements that pop out additional controls, change as you move between views, and are tucked away when you scroll. These changes to the menus are designed to make it easier to access the features you use most often, and discover others. Apple is trying to make iOS and its apps more intuitive.  A good example of how these design changes will be applied is the Lock Screen, which will be more adaptive. The image you choose as your wallpaper will be scaled to fit the height and width of the Lock Screen and positioned to fill the available space around elements like the time. Additionally, the wallpaper image will slide up as notifications come in. Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 New Siri AI features not expected until later in 2026. Improvements still expected for Visual Intelligence, Genmoji, and Image Playground at release. Apple has been having trouble with some of its AI efforts, especially the Siri features that were touted at WWDC 2024. Apple had promised that iOS 18.4 would bring a major update to Siri, where it would be better at natural conversations with the user, using personal context, awareness of what is onscreen, and the ability to perform in-app actions. Apple has since confirmed that these Siri-related features have been pushed back until 2026, which means they should come as an update to iOS 26, perhaps in March, but we could be waiting even longer. Apple still has a number of impressive Apple Intelligence powered features in iOS 26, though. In fact, some of the new features coming to Spotlight on the Mac look like some of the features promised for Siri. Some of these new Apple Intelligence features will make a big impact in apps, especially the Phone app, which we will discuss below. Another beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visual Intelligence, which was introduced in iOS 18 and gains a very useful ability in iOS 26. Visual Intelligence Visual Intelligence in iOS 26.IDG In iOS 18 you can use Visual Intelligence by holding up the iPhone to view something you are curious about, triggering Visual Intelligence (via the Camera Control button if you have one, or via the Control Centre if not) and viewing information about what you were pointing the camera at. It could identify a building, or offer to add the date from a poster to your calendar, for example. That’s all very well when you are out and about, but what about when you are just browsing the web and want to know where something someone is wearing is from or where a video is being filmed? In iOS 26 it will be possible to take a screenshot and look up information about that image and products in it using Visual Intelligence. You can also ask ChatGPT for information about the screenshot.  Genmoji Apple Also benefitting from Apple Intelligence is Genmoji, another feature that arrived with iOS 18. Genmoji lets you create custom emoji using AI. To create a Genmoji you type a description in the Describe an Emoji field and tap on Create New Emoji. You can use photos of people you know as a basis and refine the emoji until it represents what you are looking for. The emoji will then be available in your emoji keyboard to use. In iOS 26 the Genmoji interface gets a redesign. Users will be able to mix two emoji together, or alter an existing emoji to create something new, or even combine an emoji and a Sticker (which can be created from a photo). Users will be able to further customize emoji inside Image Playground, changing expressions. Image Playground Image Playground, which is Apple’s app for making AI-generated images, arrived in iOS 18 and gets an update in iOS 26. In iOS 26 it will be possible to use ChatGPT with new styles and prompts, such as an oil painting as well as those provided by Apple to create images in Image Playground. Overhauled Phone app in iOS 26  Foundry Call Screening answers the call, finds out why they are calling, and lets you know before you decide whether or not to take the call. Hold Assist stops you needing to sit in a queue to be connected with an agent. Voice Mail text summaries quickly surface the most important details of missed calls. With each iteration of iOS the set of apps Apple provides grows and evolves, and many of the changes coming to the apps on the iPhone are shared by those same apps on Apple’s other devices. iOS 26 is no different. This time, some of the changes are going to be quite transformative to how you use the phone – and by which we mean the telephone aspect of your iPhone.   The phone app might not be the one we use the most, but as Apple says, it is fundamental to the iPhone. With iOS 26 the phone app is getting a big update that essentially turns it into a PA and a spam filtering tool.  Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to bring new Voice Mail summaries to surface the most important information, but even more exciting, it is aiming to eliminate unwanted calls with a new Call Screening option that can answer the call in the background, ask the caller to explain their reason for calling, and then provide a text summary of those details to you before you decide whether or not to take the call. Of course, this may make it harder to ignore calls from people you ought to actually speak to, but it will be a good way to siphon off spam and hoax calls from unknown numbers. That’s not all. Another new feature is Hold Assist, which will automatically detect hold music and mute the call until it is connected to an agent. As a result, you can get things done without having to keep your phone speaker playing irritating hold music until someone answers. When an agent becomes free they will be informed that you are there and your phone will ring alerting you to the connection and you can take the call. It’s going to be like having your own receptionist.  Another change in the Phone app should make it impossible to accidentally tap on contact in the Recents list and call them. Currently, if you tap on a name in your Recents list it will automatically call that person. A new setting will allow you to turn off “Tap Recents to Call”. Live Translations in iOS 26 Real-time voice translations in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Translated Live Captions in FaceTime video calls. Automated translations in Messages. Lyrics in your language in Apple Music. Coming to the Phone app, but also present as a feature in Messages and FaceTime, is Live Translations. This will help you communicate with someone who speaks another language. With this feature you will be able to have a conversation with some who speaks a different language to you. If you are familiar with the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy this is almost at the level of having a Babel Fish. If you are speaking to someone via the phone app, the iPhone will translate what is being said, with a spoken voice translating what has been said into your language. The recipient will also hear translations in their own language. Apparently, they don’t need to have an iPhone. The main restriction right now is that Live Translation for Phone is available only for one-on-one calls in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. As we said above, it’s not only the Phone app that will get the Live Translation features. FaceTime and Messages will as well. And Translation is also finding its way into the Music app. FaceTime translations When speaking to someone via FaceTime you will see real-time captions in your own language. Live Captions aren’t entirely new to FaceTime, you can already turn on that functionality in Accessibility > Live Captions – although this only works if your language is set to English U.S. As well as the new Live Translation feature, FaceTime also gets changes to the interface designed to surface the controls you need while keeping the caller visible. For example, controls float to the bottom right and recede when you don’t need them.  The FaceTime call list also gets a new look, with video messages autoplaying as you scroll.  Messages translations Apple If you are using Messages to communicate with someone who speaks a different language what you type is translated into their language and vice versa. As with the phone, Messages is getting a screening tool to combat spam. On-device spam detection will give you “total control over who appears in your conversation list,” according to Apple. It is already possible to filter out spam by using the Unknown Senders list in Messages, but in iOS 26 Messages will have a greater ability to screen for spam, and it will make sure you still receive verification codes and other critical or time-sensitive messages. Also in Messages you will be able to add a background image to Group Chats, and a new option to create a poll will be available. Messages will even suggest a poll if a situation calls for one. Anyone can add options to the poll.  Those who have access to Apple Cash (still U.S. only) can also access this from group chats.  Apple A small but brilliant update coming to Messages is the ability to copy parts of a text, rather than the whole thing. This is one of those incomprehensible failures of Messages on iPhone right now: the only option is to copy the entire message, paste it, and then edit out what you don’t want. When using Messages on the Mac you can just copy the part of the Message you need. It’s a long overdue feature for iPhone Messages. Apple Music lyric translations Apple In Apple Music you will be able to follow the lyrics alongside the translation into your own language. For some languages you will even see a pronunciation guide. Also coming to the Music app is a new auto-mix option that uses AI to fade between songs and match beats like a DJ would, animated Apple Music artwork option for the Lock Screen, and interface changes that should make it faster and easier to get to the music you are into. For example, you can pin your favourite album or playlist to the top of your library. Overhauled Camera & Photos apps in iOS 26 Redesigned Camera app hides away less common shooting modes to declutter the interface. Quick access to more common settings. Add 3D effects to photos. In iOS 26, Apple has redesigned the camera app, hiding most of the lesser-used camera shooting modes and options to simplify the increasingly cramped layout and giving users quick access to settings. In the Photos app there is the ability to add 3D effects to photos. We have a separate article covering how to use the iOS 26 Camera app, including where to find camera modes and features, how to change capture settings and how to use AirPods as a remote. New Games app in iOS 26 Find games that are perfect for you. Quickly discover all your previously played games. Challenge friends to battle. More consistent touch controls across games. Apple Apple is finally tidying up the gaming experience on the iPhone with a brand-new Games app. Apple says it is creating a new destination to help its gamers get more out of their games. The Games app offers various tabs to make finding the games you are playing or have played easier. The Home tab reveals what’s most relevant to you. The Library tab shows all the games you have ever downloaded.  There is also a Play Together tab where you can see what your friends are playing, play games with them, compare scores, and invite them to play games. You can challenge them to beat your highest score in single player games. Turning single-player games into fun competitions with friends, with scores in real time. This will be Apple’s second attempt to get users to connect socially: remember iTunes Ping? (Apple would probably rather you forgot). Another change to gaming on iPhone (and iPad) is a new consistency to how touch controls are applied in games. Developers working on an iPhone or iPad game that requires more advanced controls have always had to design their own touch controls, and this can be inconsistent. In iOS 26, Apple will provide its own touch controls for buttons, thumbsticks, dpads, throttles, and touchpads. More app changes in iOS 26 Apple Wallet Like Apple Cash, many of the new Apple Wallet features are U.S. only, such as the ability to add Drivers Licenses to Apple Wallet.  Apple says there will be more ways to pay with Apple Pay in iOS 26, for example you can redeem points or choose to pay in instalments. That feature is currently available in nine states. From the fall Apple says it will be possible to add a U.S. passport, but only for use for flights inside the U.S.  There will be a new API for developers to take advantage of, enabling them to provide customers with more information within the Wallet app, such as details of the services included with the fare and upgrade options that can be accessed from within the Wallet app. You can also track Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence finding the order details and tracking information and keeping them together for you.  Passwords The Passwords app, introduced in iOS 18, gets an update. You can check changes that you’ve made to accounts logged in the Passwords app, view previous passwords that were used for these accounts, and see when they were altered. Passkeys In addition, Apple has introduced improvements to iOS 26 that will make using passkeys easier. Passkeys is an authentication method that replaces traditional passwords with security keys and biometrics. Many apps and websites already provide support for passkeys and, with the iOS 26 update, it will be possible for iPhone and iPad apps to enable users to create a passkey with just a tap. Passkeys can be authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID, and credentials will be synchronized between your Apple devices via iCloud. Autofill It will also be possible to pre-fill personal data, such as name and email, so you no longer have to waste time filling in long sign-up forms. Even better, iOS 26 will be able to autofill verification codes from Gmail and WhatsApp. Verification code autofill may also work in Google Chrome; currently verification codes work only with Apple’s Safari browser. Apple Maps  Apple The Maps app gets an update, now using Apple Intelligence to understand your regular commutes and learn your favorites. With this information it will be able to warn you if you should take a different route due to heavy traffic.  Another change to Maps is that it can log (on your device, with encryption) Visited Places, which will make it easier to find and recall places you have been to in the past. It’s easy to delete this history, too.  Reminders In iOS 26, Reminders will suggest things such as tasks and grocery items, plus follow-ups based on your emails or other text on your iPhone, Mac, and more. Notes Notes will gain Markdown support. Weather Satellite-based reporting. Clock You will finally be able to set a snooze duration of between one and 15 minutes, rather than being stuck with set eight-minute snoozes! You will also gain the ability to set alarms from inside other apps. For example, you could set an alarm from within a recipe app without you needing to open the Clock. Other new features in iOS 26 There are lots of other changes coming to iOS, many of which will improve the overall user experience. AirPods: Pause Media When Falling Asleep Existing AirPods should get some new features due to the iOS 26 update. These include a new feature that will enable AirPods to pause when they sense the wearer has fallen asleep. Code in the iOS 26 beta indicates that this feature is tied to iOS 26, rather than the AirPods line specifically – it may even work on Apple’s Beats headphones. In addition, it will be possible to easily switch between different audio input devices – so you could switch from AirPods as dedicated microphones to another device, for example. Running tasks in the background iOS 26 will have a new API for running tasks in the background. So, you won’t have to keep an app open when they’re doing something important, such as uploading files or exporting a video. Users can switch to other apps without interrupting the previous task. Adaptive Power Mode This feature aims to extend battery life by adjusting performance based on usage patterns. Where Low Power Mode throttles your iPhone’s performance and kills certain background activities to save energy, Adaptive Power Mode makes smaller adjustments to your iPhone’s performance based on how you use it. As a result the impact should be subtler, and potentially something users could keep on at all times. Battery Intelligence: AI-powered battery management iOS 26 will introduce a feature dubbed Battery Intelligence. This presents the estimated charging duration to reach 80% (then 100%) when connected to a charger – so you know how long you will need to change your iPhone before you can leave the house. A new adaptive low power mode has been spotted in the iOS 26 developer beta. This doesn’t replace the regular low power mode (that’s still around) but instead uses machine learning to make adjustments that could help eke out a little more juice from your battery. In addition, the Lock Screen will now display estimated charging times to hit 80 percent and 100 percent battery power. Support for Qi2 25W wireless charging Since fall 2024, Apple’s MagSafe Charger has supported up to 25W wireless iPhone charging on the iPhone 16 family. Third-party chargers—previously limited to a 15W maximum—will be able to match that speed with the release of the new Qi2 25W, which the iPhone 16 and later will support from iOS 26. RCS Universal Profile 3.0 and other Android ‘friendly’ features Support for RCS Universal Profile 3.0 may come in an update to iOS 26. RCS 3.0 will encrypt iPhone-to-Android messages, and offer other features to make communicating between iPhones and Android phones more seamless. Currently, Android users can edit a message within 15 minutes of it being sent – this works in iOS 18.5 and the iOS 26 developer beta but the iPhone displays the edited message as a new one with an asterisk rather than replacing the message with the edited message. iPhone users are able to edit messages sent to other iPhones, but they are not yet able to edit RCS messages sent to an Android phone. RCS 3.0 should also make this available to iPhone users. There also be simplified eSIM transfer from Android. iOS 26 release date First seen at WWDC on June 9, 2025 Available to download on September 15, 2025 The release usually happens around the following times where most of our readers live. But note that Apple’s servers are likely to be overloaded so an early download may take a long time! If you wait a day or so the download will be faster – and Apple may have addressed any early bugs. U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), noon (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT) Canada: as above, and 2 pm (AST/ADT) U.K.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST) Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST) India: at 10.30 pm (IST) Australia: Next day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT) New Zealand: Next day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT) For help installing iOS 26 read: How to update iOS on iPhone. iOS 26 latest beta Latest Developer Beta: none Latest Public Beta: none We have a separate article that details how to join Apple’s beta software program. Beta development of iOS 26 will continue even after the iOS update arrives with the public, with even more new features being developed. Anyone using the beta is encouraged to file bug reports using the included Apple’s Feedback Assistant app so that the company can address them. If you want to learn more about the beta read: What’s in the latest iOS beta and how to get it. iOS 26 supported devices iOS 26 is a free software update for iPhone 11 and later. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will miss out on iOS 26. Apple has confirmed the following iPhones will be able to get iOS 26: iPhone 16e (2025) iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max (2024) iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max (2023) iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro/14 Pro Max (2022) iPhone SE (3rd gen) (2022) iPhone 13/13 mini/13 Pro/13 Pro Max (2021) iPhone 12/12 mini/12 Pro/12 Pro Max (2020) iPhone SE (2nd gen) (2020) iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max (2019) When Apple updates the operating system for its devices it often means that certain models are not compatible with the update. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which were supported by iOS 18 and launched in 2018, will miss out on iOS 26.  This doesn’t mean that those 2018 iPhones are unsupported by Apple. Apple will continue to issue security-related software updates to iOS 18 for a few more years. Read about how long iPhones are supported to find out which iPhones are no longer supported with security updates.  Nor does this mean that all the supported iPhones get all the new features. As was the case in 2024, only certain iPhones can support Apple Intelligence powered features. That’s the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and the whole of the iPhone 16 range. This means that if your phone isn’t one of those mentioned you miss out on features such as the Visual Intelligence and Genmoji updates, as well as the Phone app ability to manage your unwanted calls.  Find out how the new iOS compares with the current version in our comparison of iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s different, what’s new, and should you update? iOS 26 FAQ FAQ 1. What happened to iOS 19? After the release of iOS 18 in 2024, Apple decided to change its iPhone operating system naming convention to match the year in which it is available. What we were expecting to be called iOS 19 was confirmed to be iOS 26 at Apple’s WWDC in June 2025. 2. Why is it called iOS 26 and not iOS 25? Despite iOS 26 being released on September 15, 2025, the majority of its lifetime will be during in 2026. 3. When did iOS 26 come out? iOS 26 was released on September 15, 2025. 4. How do I get the iOS 26 beta? Updates to iOS 26 will be tested with developer and public beta releases. If you wish to try these beta releases, you will need to subscribe to Apple’s beta program to access the iOS 26 Developer beta, or enroll your iPhone into the iOS Public Beta program. 5. How do I downgrade from iOS 26? If you want to downgrade from iOS 26 beta before the full version of iOS 26 is released you will need to wipe your iPhone and manually install iOS 18. If you want to downgrade from iOS 26 beta after the full version of iOS 26 is released, you can turn off Beta Updates in Settings and update your iPhone. If you are looking to downgrade from the final version iOS 26 to an older version of iOS, however, you’re probably going to be out of luck. Within days of iOS 26’s release you may be able to downgrade to iOS 18 if a signed version of the software is still available; beyond this, and for older versions of iOS, your best bet is to buy an old iPhone. 6. How do I update to iOS 26? You can update a compatible iPhone by going to Settings > General > Software Update, then following the prompts. Macworld recommends backing up your iPhone before a software update. You will also need to ensure sufficient space is available on your device, and that you have plenty of battery power and are connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection. 7. How much will iOS 26 cost? iOS 26 is a free update for iPhone users. 8. Which iPhones support iOS 26? All iPhones released since 2019 will support iOS 26. That means iPhone 11, iPhone SE (2nd gen), and all iPhones that followed, will be able to upgrade to iOS 26. 9. What is new in iOS 26? The biggest change in iOS 26 is a visual one, with a new Liquid Glass design language producing a translucent effect that Apple says blurs the lines between hardware and software. Also new in iOS 26 are spam-filtering features such as Call Screening and a message screening feature – just one of several upgrades to the core phone functionality, which also gets text summaries for Voice Mail, Hold Assist, and Live Translation. There’s a brand-new Games app, and Apple has done a lot of work to tidy and declutter the interface in apps such as the Camera. But this is just the start, with countless smaller tweaks and improvements to the iPhone operating system. Apple’s Awe Dropping event on September 9, 2025 saw new hardware releases including the iPhone 17 (running iOS 26), Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3 and SE 3rd-gen (running watchOS 26), and new AirPods. Keep tuned to our Event Guide for all the latest coverage. iOS history iOS 18 is the current version of Apple’s iPhone operating system. Below you can find information about previous iOS releases, with links to our coverage for full details. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. iPhone OS 1 – Released June 29, 2007 (Latest 1.1.5 July 15, 2008) iPhone OS 2 – Released July 11, 2008 (Latest 2.2.1 January 27, 2009) iPhone OS 3 – Released June 17, 2009 (Latest 3.2.2 August 11, 2010) iOS 4 – Released June 22, 2010 (Latest 4.3.5 July 25, 2011) iOS 5 – Released October 12, 2011 (Latest 5.1.1 May 7, 2012) iOS 6 – Released September 19, 2012 (Latest 6.1.6 February 21, 2014) iOS 7 – Released September 18, 2013 (Latest 7.1.2 June 30, 2014) iOS 8 – Released September 17, 2014 (Latest 8.4.1 August 13, 2015) iOS 9 – Released September 16, 2015 (Latest 9.3.6 July 22, 2019) iOS 10 – Released September 13, 2016 (Latest 10.3.4 July 22, 2019) iOS 11 – Released September 19, 2017 (Latest 11.4.1 July 9, 2018) iOS 12 – Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023) iOS 13 – Released September 19, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020) iOS 14 – Released September 17, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021) iOS 15 – Released September 24, 2021 (Latest iOS 15.8.3 July 29, 2024) iOS 16 – Released September 12, 2022 (Latest iOS 16.7.10 August 7, 2024) iOS 17 – Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iOS 17.7.2 November 19, 2024) iOS 18 – Released September 16, 2024 (Latest iOS 18.6 July 29, 2025) iOS 26 – Released September 15, 2025

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