MacworldPDFs are extremely common. It is kind of remarkable that files that can interact with them fully arent nearly as easy to come by. Sure, Adobe has Acrobat, but thats a subscription that is, at its cheapest, still over $200 for a single year.If you want an app that can edit, annotate, and convert PDFs that you dont have to pay for every month, then check out this lifetime subscription for PDF Expert. There are no recurring costs of any kind, and its on sale for $79.99 (reg. $139).PDF expert packs a lot of different tools into one easy-to-navigate interface. You can edit PDFs by changing the text, inserting images, or adding links. You can annotate to highlight or comment on different areas. You can also merge, re-arrange, or split PDF files. PDF expert can also convert to and from JPG, PNG, Word, PPT, and Excel files.Working with an older file? The OCR scanner can recognize almost any text and turn it into a searchable document. You can even enhance scans and remove shadows.If you dont want to pay every month to access files youll need forever, then get a lifetime subscription to PDF Expert for $79.99.PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) $79.99See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsStylish, colourful graphicsCombat feels fast and fluidMultiple difficulty levels availableConsOnly available on the Mac App StoreNo DLC packs currently availableWorks best with a controllerOur Verdict The precise timing needed for the games combat and movement can be frustrating if youre not used to arcade games, but its good to see Prince Of Persia back on the Mac, and this latest chapter is one of the best arcade games currently available for the Mac.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayIts been a long time since any of the Prince Of Persia games was available on the Mac, and The Lost Crown episode was itself first released for Windows PCs at the start of 2024. However, its just appeared on the Mac App Store with very little fanfare and is rapidly working its way up Apples games chart.For more Mac games recommended by us read:Best Games for Mac.The Lost Crown turns out to be a real blast from the past too, as its a side-scrolling metroidvania a game that combines combat and platform-jumping elements from the Metroid and Castlevania arcade games (which were never officially available on the Mac). You dont need any knowledge of the previous games, though, as The Lost Crown has its own story, in which you play a young warrior called Sargon, who is a member of a group that modestly call themselves The Immortals. The game starts simply enough, with the kingdom of Persia under attack from an enemy army, and Prince Ghassan taken captive and imprisoned on the magical Mount Qaf. Sargon and chums head off to rescue the Prince, but soon discover that Mount Qaf is full of mystical enemies, puzzles and obstacles that have to be overcome.The game uses detailed and colourful graphics that seem to be in 3D at least for the main characters but is presented like an old-school 2D platform game where you mostly run left or right across the screen and use the Space bar to jump over obstacles. The game looks great, though, with detailed backgrounds that create a real sense of atmosphere, whether youre charging along corridors in the royal palace or hacking and slashing your way through a forest. FoundryThe only bad news is that the game doesnt run on Intel Macs, and requires an M1 processor or later, and macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later. However, the 2D presentation means that it doesnt need a powerful Mac, and we had no trouble running it with high graphics settings at 4K resolution on a MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip.Combat is fairly straightforward during the early stages of the game, with basic and heavy attacks assigned to your mouse buttons, as well as the ability to dodge and parry incoming attacks. The opening section acts as a tutorial that introduces the main moves, but the game also provides five difficulty levels so that newcomers can ease themselves into the action, along with more challenging perma-death and speed-run modes for more experienced players. Combat is fast and fluid, but will probably be easier with a game controller, as I found that parrying attacks using keyboard and mouse controls required very precise timing, and it took me quite a few attempts to slice and dice my way past the first Boss battle at the start of the game.FoundryThere arent many games on the Mac that also focus on parkour movement like Prince Of Persia, where you have to run, jump and climb with great precision in order to get past various obstacles. This can be tricky too, as you need to hit the Space bar for a quick jump, or press-and-hold to jump higher, and many obstacles require you to rapidly jump left and right in quick succession in order to reach areas that are otherwise out of reach. Thats a bit tricky on a keyboard, so again it might be easier playing with a controller (there is an assist option that can help you out with some of these obstacles, but much of the fun lies in learning to master your combat and movement abilities).As you progress further into the game, youll learn to master a magical energy called Athra that gives you more powerful attacks, and you can also find or buy magical amulets that provide additional powers too. And, of course, the traditional calling card of the Prince Of Persia games is the use of time powers that allow you to manipulate time in order to escape death or outwit your enemies. Should you buy Prince Of Persia: The Lost CrownThe need for really precise timing during combat and movement may be frustrating for newcomers, but if youre a fan of arcade games then The Lost Crown is a great way to re-live your misspent youth. Its a little annoying, though, that the Mac version currently seems to be exclusive to the Mac App Store, which means that people who already own the PC version on Steam or Epic dont get access to the Mac version as well (and Steam and Epic also seem to have additional DLC packs that arent currently available on the App Store too).

MacworldYou might think iCloud is the easiest cloud storage solution to rid your iPhone or MacBook of low-storage notifications for good. But think about how much youve spent on iCloud to date. Is it a couple hundred? Yikes.Instead of paying a recurring fee for the rest of your life, hop on this deal that gives you 1TB oflifetime cloud storage for only $59.97 (reg. $251) for one more day. This is the lowest the price has ever been, so grab it while you can!Youll be able to swiftly transfer your photos, videos, and files from iCloud Drive into FolderFort to save the money youd normally spend on your monthly cloud subscription.This1TB lifetime cloud plan stores around 200,000 photos, 300 hours of HD video, or a million documentsall for a one-time payment. Plus, FolderFort is compatible with every device, thanks to the fact that its browser-based.With FolderFort, you canshare your cloud storage with as many users as youd likeits like the iCloud family plan. Each person whos added gets their own 1GB of storage, and you have the option of creating private or shared folders to maximize your subscription.Get thisiCloud alternative at an all-time low price with this best-of-web offer: just $59.97 (reg. $251) thats 76% savings you cant find anywhere else!FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime SubscriptionOnly $59.97 at MacworldStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldApple updated its entry-level iPhone in March 2022, adding a few nips and tucks here and there along with a quiet price increase. It kept the iPhone 8 design with its Home button and small form factor that appeals to some, but the aging design and minimal upgrades meant the new iPhone SE was coolly received by the masses.The iPhone SE is in desperate need of a big upgrade, and it looks like it will get one in the spring of 2025.iPhone SE 4 release date: When will the iPhone SE 4 be released?Spring 2025 (estimated)Apples iPhone SE doesnt follow the same predictable annual release schedule as the standard iPhone line, and the intervals between updates can be harder to predict, but they seem to always be released in the spring, in March or April. Heres when the three models released so far made their debut:iPhone SE (3rd gen): March 2022iPhone SE (2nd gen): April 2020iPhone SE (1st gen): March 2016Apples current budget phone, the iPhone SE (2022)Dominik TomaszewskiiPhone 4 SE price: How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost?Pricing has steadily increased across the three existing generations, no doubt influenced by the global cost of components and distribution. While the iPhone SE (3rd generation) was released around the same price as the model it replaced, Apple added a chunk onto the cost, making the current model somewhat less desirable than previous iterations, especially when you factor in the measly amount of storage that comes with the baseline model. At launch the prices were even higher in the U.K. but, in September 2023, after adjusting for inflation, Apple dropped the price back to match the U.S. price. Apple did the same thing for prices in Euros in September 2024. Heres how they line up:iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022):64GB: $429/429 (was 449 at launch)128GB: $479/479 (was 499 at launch)256GB: $579/579 (was 609 at launch)iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020):64GB: $399/419128GB: $449/469256GB: $549/569iPhone SE (1st gen, 2016):32GB: $399/379128GB: $499/449However, the iPhone SE needs to be inexpensive relative to other iPhones, and wed be surprised to see the price increase too much with the next generation, even with several rumored upgrades. The latest rumors claim the 4th-gen iPhone SE could start at $499, still far less expensive than any other new iPhone Apple sells.Bloombergs Mark Gurman claims the next model is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China, so a low price would be necessary to achieve this plan.iPhone 4 SE design: What will the next iPhone SE look like?Will the iPhone SE get a long-overdue design revamp? Rumors suggest that we could see a move away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like modern iPhones, with Face ID and a full-screen display.That could be good or bad news, depending on your viewpoint. Some people prefer the Home button as a means to interact with their iPhone, for some older people and those who are less dexterous it is helpful to have a physical button.No Home button is likely to mean a notchand thats a notch, rather than the Dynamic Island. In terms of overall appearance, the iPhone SE would likely resemble the iPhone 14.A rumor in July 2024 suggested Apple will change course with the iPhone SE 4 and instead use the same body as the iPhone 16, making it a true budget version of the latest iPhone lineup.If Apple chooses to use the chassis of the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14 that could allow the best alignment of two camera lenses for talking videos for the Vision Pro. But that would mean that the iPhone SE would have two cameras on the back, rather than just one, as it does currently. It would also make it hard to differentiate between models, pushing some users who might otherwise consider the iPhone 16 to buy the iPhone SE 4 at a lower price.iPhone SE 4 specs: Will Apple Intelligence be supported?The iPhones this year are all about Apple Intelligence AI features, which first arrived with iOS 18.1 in the fall and will continue to get new features in iOS 18 updates. One of the biggest new features, a massive expansion of Siri capabilities, is due for release in iOS 18.4 around the same time the iPhone SE 4 would be released.Processor & RAM: To run Apple Intelligence an iPhone requires an A17 Pro or A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. There is some expectation that the iPhone SE 4 could meet these requirements. It is common for the iPhone SE to have the same processor as the latest non-Pro iPhone but skimp on other features to differentiate itself, so we expect the iPhone SE 4 to have the A18 processor.Other than the processor and RAM requirements, we may see some other internal changes including the following: Modem: The iPhone SE 4 might be the first iPhone to feature Apples own 5G modems (codenamed Sinope). It will offers sub-6 support but no mmWave, and lower performance than Qualcomms best 5G modems but better power efficiency. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Apple is also about to switch over to its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, codenamed Proxima. The rumors say this chip will actually appear first in a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV, but theres a chance it could be used in the iPhone SE 4.Storage: With the iPhone 13 range moving to a baseline of 128GB (and the 14-series handsets following suit), its hoped that the new iPhone SE might do likewise, as 64GB isnt enough for most users anymore, especially since system files take up more than 10GB (and you can add a multi-gigabyte Apple Intelligence model to that). There are no good rumors one way or the other about the minimum storage for the iPhone SE 4, but we wouldnt be surprised if it was 64GB.USB-C: We expect the iPhone SE 4 to feature a USB-C port for charging, as all new iPhones do, and IP68 water resistance. The current SE is one of the last remaining Apple devices to still have a Lightning port.Camera(s): One of the defining features of the iPhone SE is a single camera on the back. This is probably not going to change, although if the new iPhone SE does adopt the chassis of an iPhone 14 or 16 it is possible. The latest rumors suggest a single 48 megapixel camera, which would at least give the iPhone SE 4 a good 2x optical zoom mode using the center 12MP of the sensor, as the iPhone 16 does.Action Button: An alleged leak of an iPhone SE 4 case shows a cutout for the mute switch rather than an Action Button, and of course there will be no Camera Control buttonif the iPhone SE 4 had these features there would be little reason for anyone to buy an iPhone 16!iPhone SE 4: Will the new iPhone SE use Touch ID or Face ID?The most recent rumors say the new iPhone SE will have Face ID with a notch (not dynamic island), similar to an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14. That means Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, will go away.iPhone historyThe iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model were also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today.Original iPhone (2007) reviewiPhone 3G (2008) reviewiPhone 3GS (2009) reviewiPhone 4 (2010) reviewiPhone 4s (2011) reviewiPhone 5 (2012) reviewiPhone 5c (2013) reviewiPhone 5s (2013) reviewiPhone 6 (2014) reviewiPhone 6 Plus (2014) reviewiPhone 6s (2015) reviewiPhone 6s Plus (2015) reviewiPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) reviewiPhone 7 (2016) reviewiPhone 7 Plus (2016) reviewiPhone 8 (2017) reviewiPhone 8 Plus (2017) reviewiPhone X (2017) reviewiPhone XR (2018) reviewiPhone XS (2018) reviewiPhone XS Max (2018) reviewiPhone 11 (2019) reviewiPhone 11 Pro (2019) reviewiPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) reviewiPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) reviewiPhone 12 (2020) reviewiPhone 12 Mini (2020) reviewiPhone 12 Pro (2020) reviewiPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) reviewiPhone 13 (2021) reviewiPhone 13 mini (2021) reviewiPhone 13 Pro (2021) reviewiPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) reviewiPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) reviewiPhone 14 (2022) reviewiPhone 14 Plus (2022) reviewiPhone 14 Pro (2022) reviewiPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) reviewiPhone 15 (2023) reviewiPhone 15 Plus (2023) reviewiPhone 15 Pro (2023) reviewiPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) reviewiPhone 16 & 16 Plus review iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max review

MacworldIts the last chance to get your hands on a new M4 MacBook Pro this year, and its the best time to do it because its down $200, for a total price of $1,399 over at Amazon, matching its best price so far. This is the powerful M4 model were talking about with 16GB of RAM, so its truly a geat deal.The 14-inch MacBook Pro went from meh to marvelous, we wrote in our 4.5-star review. The laptop got a near-perfect score from us, with our main praise being the bump to 16GB of unified memory (over 8GB) and the introduction of the Space Black option, which was unavailable on this model last year.The laptop runs on the blazing-fast M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU for incredible speed in tackling demanding tasks. Youll also get fantastic battery life, with our tests clocking the battery at about 20 hours of use, good for a whole days work and then some. And of course, youre getting a fantastic 14.2-inch display with ProMotion and 1,600 nits peak brightness.Like the rest of the Apple silicon machines, this laptop is also ready to run Apple Intelligence, allowing you to perform work more efficiently with features such as Writing Tools and the upcoming next-gen Siri.So youre getting it all int he MacBook Pro: a gorgeous display, superb battery life, and rocket-level speeds, all for all for an incredible $200 off.Get the M4 MacBook Pro for its best price everBuy now at Amazon

MacworldKids love iPads. The simplicity of tapping on the screen when they want things to happen means they can learn to use them in seconds, but theres plenty that Apples tablets can do. Whether its educational games, entertainment apps, using them to create art with an Apple Pencil or just something to stop them getting bored on car journeys, iPads can be a godsend.Choosing the right one can feel a bit daunting. After all, dont they all do the same things? Whats the difference between the normal iPad and the iPad Air? Well, were here to simplify things so you can be sure youre buying the right one. You can also read our best iPhone and iPad apps for kids guide to get them off to a good start. Plus, we have a roundup of the best iPhones for kids if you want to immerse them fully in the Apple world as they grow up. Should I get an iPad for my child? Theres been lots of research published about how much screen time our kids should be allowed. Some parents might argue that kids shouldnt be exposed to screens at such a young age, but frankly, in a world where everything is dominated by technology we think that we owe it to our kids to make sure they are comfortable in that environment, hence the introduction of an iPad is good for their education.That said, just sticking them in front of an iPad rather than interacting with them probably isnt great: Disney+ shouldnt really be babysitting your kids for hours on end, but if it allows you a few minutes of peace to make dinner then fair enough.With that out of the way, there are many reasons why you should be confident about getting an iPad for your kids to use. There are, after all, many other tablets on the market, most of which are cheaper than the iPad. So, if you are looking for some reassurance on is whether the iPad is the best option for your child, here are a few compelling reasons:The App Store is full of great apps designed specifically for kids.Many of those apps will be ideal for school children of various ages, or even toddlers.There is an ecosystem of great accessories designed to work with the iPad.iPadOS is easy to use, especially if your child has used your iPhone. The bonus is your iPhone apps will be available on your iPad too and vice versa.If you have older children, then take a look at our guide to the best iPads for students.What iPads are there to choose from?At the time of writing, Apple offers four categories of iPad, which are as follows. iPad iPad mini iPad Air iPad ProIn all honesty, we wouldnt recommend the iPad Pros for children, as youd just be paying quite sizeable amounts for performance and compatibility features that they just wont need. The standard iPad and iPad mini range offer plenty of scope and power for younger users, and the iPad Air will satisfy the more demanding teen. Our advice is to stick with those and ignore the Pros. When it comes to older students though, its a potentially different argument, but the good news is you can put that off for a few years and save up for the more expensive iPad in the meantime.Speaking of savings, check out our round-up of the best iPad deals you can get on the whole range of iPads here: The best iPad deals.Is 64GB enough? This depends on how you want to use the iPad. For long trips, you might want to download lots of movies, TV shows, or games to entertain the kids in the car or on the plane. In that case, more storage is better. Otherwise, any apps you purchase can always be deleted and then downloaded again, plus public Wi-Fi can often be available as an easy solution for the little ones streaming a few episodes of their favorite shows. Our advice would be to get more than 64GB storage if you can. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) that launched in October 2024 starts at 128GB storage now, rather than 64GB as it did before, and as the standard iPad still does. If you compare the standard iPad with 64GB for $349/329 to the 128GB iPad mini which costs $499/499, its well worth spending $150/150 more to get the extra storage and everything else the mini offers. And if you want even more storage, the iPad mini with 256GB costs $599/599 compared to $499/479 for the 256GB iPad. If you are buying a refurbished or used iPad, then wed strongly advise against a 32GB or lower, it simply isnt enough storage and you will regret it. For more advice regarding buying a used or refurbished iPad read: Why a refurbished iPad could be the best tablet for you.Do I need cellular?Probably not. It adds $150/150 to the price of the iPad and wed suggest that money was better spent on upgrading the storage, or getting a better model. If you want to add cellular capabilities to your kids iPad, we recommend that when you are outside the house you hotspot from your own iPhone rather than spend money on a contract for your child. That said, most apps will work offline and you can download movies to the device when heading on a long trip.Best iPad for kids and toddlersHeres our advice on which iPad to choose when buying for a child.iPad mini (A17 Pro) Best for small handsProsLightweightPowerfulApple Pencil Pro support ConsSmaller doesnt mean cheaperPrice When Reviewed:599 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice579View Deal599View Deal599View Deal599View Deal631.9View Deal550,58 View Deal569,00 View Deal569,00 View Deal599,00 View Deal599,00 View Deal599,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket579 at Computeruniverse599 at Alternate599 at AppleView more prices from notebooksbilliger.deJACOBtease-Shopdigitalo.deClose Best Prices Today:iPad mini (A17 Pro) Best for small handsRetailerPrice579View Deal599View Deal599View Deal599View Deal631.9View Deal550,58 View Deal569,00 View Deal569,00 View Deal599,00 View Deal599,00 View Deal599,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhile the iPad mini might be the smallest member of the family, dont let that fool you, theres plenty of power and features packed into the diminutive frame. The only negative is the price, which is a little higher than the bigger iPad, so its not quite as much of a bargain for kids.The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is gorgeous. Like all the modern iPads, there is no Home button Apple ditched that a generation ago and instead put a Touch ID sensor in the Power button on the side.Under the hood, theres an A17 Pro driving things, this processor is the lowest spec required to run Apple Intelligence features. If you are choosing between the iPad mini and cheaper iPad and are curious about Apple Intelligence, only the iPad mini, iPad Air and Pro will support it). Even if Apple Intelligence doesnt peek your interest, the A17 Pro chip means there is no lack of power in this smaller iPad, ensuring the latest games and apps will absolutely fly on this device. It also has support for the Apple Pencil (USB C) or the Apple Pencil Pro, meaning your child can use if for doodling, creating art or note-taking at school when they get a bit older.The compact dimensions of 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm at 297g make it small and lightweight, which can be easier for little ones to hold. There are also four different colors to choose from, including soft shades of Purple and Blue. Oh, and there are 5G versions if you want to add a fast data connection for streaming and messaging on the go.The iPad mini is available in these configurations:iPad mini (A17 Pro) 128GB $499/499iPad mini (A17 Pro) 256GB $599/599iPad mini (A17 Pro) 512GB $799/799iPad mini (A17 Pro, cellular) costs $150/150 more than the non-cellular versions. Check our guide to the best iPad mini deals to see if you can get one for a lower price.Read our full Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) review iPad Air (M2) For bigger kids ProsInexpensiveApple Pencil Support (1st Gen)A13 Bionic Processor, Headphone JackConsLower quality screen than other modelsOlder design.No longer in productionBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice0.01View Deal649View Deal649View Deal659View Deal699View Deal633,15 View Deal649,00 View Deal652,31 View Deal658,64 View Deal699,00 View Deal699,00 View Deal714,00 View Deal740.82View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket0.01 at idealo649 at Computeruniverse649 at notebooksbilliger.deView more prices from AlternateAppletease-ShopnotebooksbilligerClose Best Prices Today:iPad Air (M2) For bigger kids RetailerPrice0.01View Deal649View Deal649View Deal659View Deal699View Deal633,15 View Deal649,00 View Deal652,31 View Deal658,64 View Deal699,00 View Deal699,00 View Deal714,00 View Deal740.82View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWe said in the introduction that the iPad Air is probably overkill for kids, but that does depend a bit on the age of the child. For some there will be a lot of appear in the 11-inch iPad Air (M2), with its 11-inch display, modern design, low weight (462g), great cameras, and hugely powerful processor, and as we recommend in our round up of the Best iPads for Students it is a great choice for students.Unfortunately, its a bit on the pricey side, starting at $599/599 (higher education students get a discount but not school aged children). Thats still only $100/100 more than the iPad mini though, and it has a lot more to offer. Not least the M2 chip than makes it the perfect combination of power, storage and features.The M2 processor is the same chip that powered the previous generation of iPad Pro models, not to mention several Macs. If your kid enjoys gaming on their iPad then the iPad Air will likely meet their needs (for anyone else then theres always the iPad Pro, which has an M4 and the addition of ProMotion for faster screen refreshes, but that really is overkill for kids!) The camera is a 12MP Wide lens (also like on the iPad Pro) and the front-facing camera is a 12MP Ultra-Wide that is positioned on the longer side of the chassis to allow landscape views during FaceTime calls.There are some nice colors to choose from including pale Purple and Blue shades (that are similar to those on the iPad mini). Theres also the standard Starlight and Space Grey. You can use the Apple Pencil Pro ($129/129) and Apple Pencil USB-C ($79/79) with the iPad Air. See: Apple Pencils compared: Which Apple Pencil works with your iPad?The iPad Air (M2) is available in these configurations:11-inch iPad Air (M2) 128GB $599/59911-inch iPad Air (M2) 256GB $699/69911-inch iPad Air (M2) 512GB $899/89911-inch iPad Air (M2) 1TB $1,099/1,09911-inch iPad Air (M2), cellular) costs $150/150 more than the non-cellular versions.If they want a larger display, there is also the 13-inch iPad Air (M2) that comes with all the same specs and features. It starts at $799/799. Read iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Pro (M4) to find out how the iPad Air compares to the iPad Pro.Read our roundup of the best iPad Air deals.Read our full iPad Air 11 Zoll (2024) review 10th-gen iPad (2022) Budget optionProsModern design10.9-inch Liquid Retina DisplayUSB-C for chargingVibrant colorsCons64GB SSDA14 Bionic processor doesnt work with Apple IntelligenceBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice399View Deal401View Deal445.6View Deal339,00 View Deal349,00 View Deal372,70 View Deal376,32 View Deal376,45 View Deal379,00 View Deal399,00 View Deal408,00 View Deal408,51 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket399 at Apple401 at Alternate445.6 at JACOB339,00 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.deOTTOdigitalo.deSMDVClose Best Prices Today:10th-gen iPad (2022) Budget optionRetailerPrice399View Deal401View Deal445.6View Deal339,00 View Deal349,00 View Deal372,70 View Deal376,32 View Deal376,45 View Deal379,00 View Deal399,00 View Deal408,00 View Deal408,51 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketIn 2022, Apple gave its standard iPad a makeover when it launched this 10th-generation model, replacing the classic Home button design with the mini/Air approach of gesture-based controls. There is still Touch ID available, but now youll find the sensor embedded in the power button on the top edge. This means theres more space for the display, which increases from the 10.2-inch panel in the 9th generation iPad to 10.9-inch in this 10th generation model.As with the previous standard iPad models, the display isnt laminated, meaning there is a slight air gap between the glass and the display beneath. This is a minor thing and probably wont even be something you notice, unless you use an Apple Pencil often, in which case youll probably experience a slight lag as you write. Its all good though, and after no time at all, youll be able to incorporate that into your technique and scribble away with the best of them. This model supports the 1st generation Apple Pencil or the Apple Pencil (USB C).Apple fits the 10th-gen iPad with an A14 Bionic processor, which is the same tech that powered the iPhone 12 range (including the Pros). That processor is a little on the old side now, and doesnt support Apple Intelligence, of which Apple is making a big deal right now. Apple Intelligence has some features that might appeal to students, so it could be a benefit, then again it might lead your child to cheat on their homework That said, the A14 chip will still provide adequate performance for playing basic games, streaming content, and running educational apps. Another notable feature is the inclusion of a USB-C port rather than Lightning. This opens up a world of peripherals that you can use with the iPad, and you can even connect it to a compatible monitor if your child needs a desktop-style experience.Of course, you can always pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to create the perfect, compact laptop for homework and any creative endeavors your child wants to try. The iPad comes in four bright, bold colors (Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver), so your child can pick one that reflects their personality or just the one with the hues they like the most.One of the best features of the 10th generation iPad is its low price. You can pick them up for the following prices:iPad (10th gen) 64GB $349/329iPad (10th gen) 256GB $499/479iPad (10th gen, cellular) costs $150/150 more than the non-cellular versions. We recommend opting for the 256GB storage variant, as 64GB can fill up pretty quickly if youre downloading games, large apps, or TV/movie content. At this point you might be better served by the iPad mini (A17 Pro) 128GB at $499/499 though, which is why this iPad isnt our top choice right now, but that may change when Apple gets around to updating it in 2025. Read: New iPad 11th generation rumours. Check our guide to the best iPad 10th-gen deals to see if you can get one for a lower price.Read our full Apple iPad (10th gen, A14, 2022) review

MacworldIf youre wondering which Mac to buy, youve come to the right place. In our Mac buying guide, youll find everything you need to know about the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio, with expert buying advice to help you choose the machine (and configuration) thats right for you.Apple makes six different types of Mac: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, but within each of those categories there are variations in the size, specs, and features, so things can get pretty complicated. Thats where this guide comes in, helping you make the right decision. If youre simply looking for a great offer, visit our MacBook Pro deals, MacBook Air deals, iMac deals, Mac Studio deals, and Mac mini deals pages which are regularly updated. For help choosing the best Mac laptop, we also have a MacBook buying guide.We have included the newest Macs: the M4 iMac, M4 Mac mini and M4 MacBook Pro. Read our M4 iMac review and M4 Pro Mac mini review. Those Macs were updated in October 2024. At the same time, Apple doubled the RAM in the MacBook Air M3 and M2, so we have updated our advice accordingly.Should I upgrade from my Intel Mac? We are now more than four years into Apples transition from Intel processors to its own silicon that includes CPU, GPU, and unified memory. The transition began with the introduction of the M1 in November 2020. Since June 2023 every Mac Apple sells uses Apples own chips rather than Intel processors.If youve yet to upgrade your Intel Mac to one powered by Apples silicon what are you waiting for? If you are concerned that a must-have app doesnt run on an M-series Mac, consider finding a new app because the performance gains are tremendous.Another good reason to update your Intel Mac is that it is unlikely to be supported by Apple for much longer in terms of security updates. With the arrival of macOS Sequoia, the number of supported Intel Macs is fewer than ever, and although Apple will be supporting Sonoma with security updates for a couple more years, and Ventura for another year, only a few of the most recent Intel Macs still be supported in a year or so. Read: The Intel Macs that can run macOS Sequoia.For more information see our Mac processor comparison where we compare Apple silicon and Intel. We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM, and cores in How much MacBook RAM, SSD, GPU, and CPU do you really need.Every Mac Apple sellsBelow well take you through each Mac currently available from Apple, to give you an overview of whats on offer and what youve got to choose from.13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (2022) Price When Reviewed:1.199 EuroWhat is it? The MacBook Air is Apples most affordable laptop, designed with portability in mind. There are currently three versions of the MacBook Air available from Apple: a 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip, a 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip, and a 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip. The M2 MacBook Air had a price cut when the M3 model was introduced in March 2024: it now starts at $999/999.The M2 MacBook Air was introduced in July 2022 with a brand-new look and a 13.6-inch screen (up from 13.3 inches). Its a great machine, but the newer MacBook Air is only $100/$100 more than the M2 model and is well worth the upgrade.Another update came in October 2024 when Apple doubled the RAM (unified memory) from 8GB to 16GB without changing the price. This is an excellent update meaning that the M2 MacBook Air is better value than ever.Whos it for? The MacBook Air is ideal for the budget-conscious. Its also for anyone who is always on the go, doesnt want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and needs a computer thats more versatile than an iPad.How much does the 13-inch MacBook Air (M2) cost? Prices start at $999/999 M2 MacBook Air with 256GB SSD and 16GB RAM and $1,199/1,199 for the MacBook Air M2 with 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM. Make sure to check how much RAM is in the model you are buying and that it is priced accordingly. To update the RAM to 16GB would previously have cost $200/200. What are the specifications?The entry-level M2 MacBook Air has 8 GPU cores, just like the entry-level M3 model, but the M3 is a step up from the M2 thanks to the newer 3nm manufacturing process. The M3 also offers faster Wi-Fi than the M2. Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $999/999.Apple M2, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,199/1,199.Additional options: 24GB memory. Up to 2TB storage.What are display specifications? The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina on the M2 MacBook Air display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness.How do I connect stuff? The MacBook Air with M2 chip has a MagSafe port for charging as well as a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apples $19 / 19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters. If you want to plug in more than one external display officially you cant but we know a workaround, read: How to connect two or more external displays to an M-series MacBook.The M2 MacBook Air has built-in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for connecting to a network (the M3 offers faster Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax). It also provides built-in Bluetooth 5.3 for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter.How fast is it? The M2 provides performance that is leaps and bounds faster than the Intel processors that were previously found in the MacBook Air, and Apple claims an 18 percent total CPU improvement over the M1 and a 35 percent improvement in graphics speed. Its plenty fast enough for general-purpose use. But because it doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code, for which the MacBook Pro with its fan is a better choice.Macworlds buying advice: The MacBook Air with M2 is a great affordable laptop for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person. But it only costs another $100/100 to upgrade to the M3 model, so unless you want to use that $100/100 to upgrade the storage, we recommend the M3 over the M2. You may also want to avoid the entry-level models due to slower SSDs, but that may not be an issue if the kind of work you do doesnt require a lot of writing to the hard drive.13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (2024)Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice1299View Deal1.034,81 View Deal1.049,00 View Deal1.049,99 View Deal1.049,99 View Deal1.119,95 View Deal1.229,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket1299 at Apple1.034,81 at tease-Shop1.049,00 at amazon.deView more prices from baur.deOTTOProshop.dedigitalo.deClose Best Prices Today:13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (2024)RetailerPrice1299View Deal1.034,81 View Deal1.049,00 View Deal1.049,99 View Deal1.049,99 View Deal1.119,95 View Deal1.229,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhat is it? The M3 MacBook Air looks identical to the M2 version (above), but there are some changes to the specs that make this a much better machineand it only costs $100/100 more. There is also a 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip, which we discuss below. Apple introduced the M3 version of the MacBook Air in March 2024, it then updated the Unified Memory (RAM) from 8GB to 16GB in October 2024 and didnt change the price.Whos it for? The MacBook Air with M3 is great value and ideal for the budget-conscious. If you are always on the go, dont want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and need a versatile computer, its a great choice. How much does the 13-inch MacBook Air (M3) cost? Prices start at $1,099/1,099 and Apple has doubled the RAM to 16GB from 8GB without increasing the price. There are three configurations and you can create build-to-order models with even more memory or storage. What are the specifications?The specs for the M3 MacBook Air look similar to the M2 model, but while it looks like identical cores and memory support, there is a leap from the M2 to the M3 which should improve performance. We used to recommend 16GB RAM as a build-to-order option because we didnt think 8GB was enough, but now Apple has listened and offers that as standard. Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,099/1,099.Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,299/1,299.Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,499/1,499.Additional options: Up to 2TB storage.What are display specifications? The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina on the M3 MacBook Air display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness.How do I connect stuff? All MacBook Air models (since the M2) have a MagSafe port for charging as well as a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apples $19 / 19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports. See our round-up of the best USB-C hubs and adapters. Unlike the M2 MacBook Air, the M3 MacBook Air is able to support more than one external display (although there is a workaround for older Mac laptops, read: How to connect two or more external displays to an M1-M4 MacBook.)The MacBook Air has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network (faster than the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) in the M2 model. It provides built-in Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter.How fast is it? In our tests the M3 shoots ahead of the M2 in fact the M3 was better than the M1 Pro was in some of our tests. Apple says the M3 is 60 percent faster than the M1 MacBook Air and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. So the MacBook Air should be more than fast enough for general-purpose use. The only issue is that, because it doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, it may slow down during long processing sessions to keep cool. So if you are likely to be video editing or compiling code the MacBook Pro with its fan is a better choice.Macworlds buying advice: The MacBook Air is a great choice for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person. Note that its impossible to upgrade the storage or memory after purchase, so you should buy the model with the largest amount of storage and memory you can afford. The good news about the M3 MacBook Air is that it doesnt appear to be saddled with slow storage in the same way that the M2 model is. We have previously recommended that buyers should avoid the entry-level models due to slower SSDs, but it appears that the storage in the 256GB M3 MacBook Air model is made up of two 128GB NAND chips, rather than one 256GB chip, so the two drives can process data simultaneously, so the storage in the 256GB M3 MacBook Air should work faster. We compare the MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro separately. Also read Best MacBook: Which MacBook should you buy?Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024)What is it? The 15-inch MacBook Air arrived in June 2023, and a few months later, in March 2024, Apple updated it with an M3 chip. Compared to the 13-inch MacBook Air the 15-inch model offers a bigger screen (obviously) and a six-speaker system rather than four speakers. Surprisingly, battery life isnt better on the 15-inch, despite the bigger battery. As with the other MacBook Air models, the MacBook Air now comes with 16GB RAM as standard.Whos it for? The 15-inch MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who wants a big-screen laptop without having to spend a fortune. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models cost considerably more than the 15-inch MacBook Air does. Its a great choice for anyone who is always on the go due to its lightweight design.How much does the 15-inch MacBook Air (M3) cost? There are three configurations starting at $1,299/1,399. The price hasnt changed despite Apple increasing the RAM from 8GB to 16GB, which used to cost $200/200 at the point of sale.What are the specifications?The specifications of the M3 MacBook Air are generally the same, although the entry-level 13-inch has an 8-core GPU option the 15-inch doesnt have. You are essentially paying $200/200 more for the bigger screen.Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,299/1,299.Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,499/1,499.Apple M3, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports: $1,699/1,699.Additional options: Up to 2TB storage.There are some differences between the 13- and 15-inch models in terms of audio, with the larger model featuring more speakers as well as a larger screen.What are display specifications? The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display has a native resolution of 2,8801,864 and 500 nits brightness.The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display has a native resolution of 2,5601,664 and 500 nits brightness.How do I connect stuff? All MacBook Airs with M2 or M3 chips have a MagSafe port for charging as well as a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors. The M3 MacBook Air offers Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for connecting to a network (faster than the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) in the M2 models. It also provides built-in Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripherals. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you need an adapter. Unlike the M2 MacBook Air, the M3 MacBook Air is able to support more than one external display (although there is a workaround for older Mac laptops, read: How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2 or M3 MacBook.)How fast is it? This is the same M3 as found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so you can expect similar performance, however, the Air doesnt have a fan to keep the computer cool, so it may throttle down its speed during long processing sessions, such as video editing or compiling code, for which a MacBook Pro would be a better option. In our tests, the M3 was better than the M1 Pro, and Apple says the M3 is 60 percent faster than the M1 MacBook Air and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air.Macworlds buying advice: Starting at $1,299/1,299, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a more affordable Mac laptop than the 14-inch MacBook Pro, so if you want your screen to be bigger than 13 inches, and you dont need the power of a MacBook Pro for the kind of work you do, the 15-inch MacBook Air is a great option. One thing to note is that the 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD costs $1,499/1,499, which is only $100/100 less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same 16GB memory and 512GB SSD, but that model has an M4 chip. So in that case the 14-inch MacBook Pro could well be a better choice. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice1779View Deal1799View Deal1899View Deal1899View Deal1.799,00 View Deal1.799,00 View Deal1.799,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket1779 at Computeruniverse1799 at notebooksbilliger.de1899 at AlternateView more prices from Appledigitalo.denotebooksbilligerOTTOClose Best Prices Today:Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)RetailerPrice1779View Deal1799View Deal1899View Deal1899View Deal1.799,00 View Deal1.799,00 View Deal1.799,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhat is it? In October 2024 Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip. The M4 14-inch MacBook Pro arrived a year after the M3 version replaced the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is no longer sold. The 14-inch MacBook Pro was already much better than the old 13-inch MacBook Pro thanks to the HDR ProMotion display, more storage, HDMI and SDXC slots, better battery life, and a newer design. The 2024 update makes it better than ever with double the RAM (16GB rather than a paltry 8GB).Whos it for? The 14-inch MacBook Pro is for a more demanding user than the MacBook Air. Its main benefit is the design allows for better cooling, which means that if you push the machine it wont slow down to avoid overheating. However, there are other MacBook Pros available from Apple (including a 16-inch model) that offer faster processors, so if you really need a powerful machine one of those might be more suitablewell discuss the M4 Pro and M4 Max models below.How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro cost? The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599. Theres another model available with twice the storage (1TB) for $200/200 more. Great news if you are in the U.K. the new models cost less than the predecessors did. What are the specifications?Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,599/1,599.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,799/1,799.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, SDXDC, HDMI, $1,999/1,999.Additional options: 32GB memory; up to 2TB storageWhat are display specifications?The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,0241,964 and 1,000 nits brightness, 1600 nits peak, 600 nits SDR brightness, and ProMotion for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP FaceTime camera which now features Centre Stage.How do I connect stuff? Apple now includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up from just two). These are compatible with USB-C (if you have wired devices that arent USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, youll need an adapter, we have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones youll need). The 14-inch MacBook Pro also comes with an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port also supports multichannel audio output.The 14-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. The 2024 models offer Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3, as was the case with the predecessor.How fast is it? The M4 version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is now a generation ahead of the MacBook Air. Even without the chip boost, you can expect more out of the MacBook Pro just because it features a fan for cooling (the MacBook Air doesnt have the space for this). If you need a really powerful Mac then you should look to the M4 Pro or even the M4 Max.Macworlds buying advice: The 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $1,599/1,599, which is quite a bit higher than the $1,299/1,349 price the 13-inch MacBook Pro sold for.And much more than the 13-inch MacBook Air (with the M3 model starting at $1,099/1,099). Thats $500/500 more than the entry-level 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, and $600/600 more than the M2 MacBook Air. Thats enough to buy a Mac mini and have money left over!The MacBook Pro is a chip generation ahead of the MacBook Air, but that is unlikely to be the case for long. So if budget is what is important to you, buy a MacBook Air.Read our full Macbook Pro 14 M4 (2024, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB, Silber) review 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024)Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice0.01View Deal2049View Deal2179View Deal2199View Deal2.049,00 View Deal2.049,00 View Deal2.064,41 View Deal2.070,58 View Deal2.148,71 View Deal2.186,80 View Deal2.399,00 View Deal2437.37View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket0.01 at idealo2049 at notebooksbilliger.de2179 at Alternate2.049,00 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.deComputeruniversenotebooksbilligerOTTOClose Best Prices Today:14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024)RetailerPrice0.01View Deal2049View Deal2179View Deal2199View Deal2.049,00 View Deal2.049,00 View Deal2.064,41 View Deal2.070,58 View Deal2.148,71 View Deal2.186,80 View Deal2.399,00 View Deal2437.37View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhat is it? The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max was introduced in October 2024 (a year after the M3 Pro and M3 Max models). This is one of Apples top-of-the-line laptops, the other being the 16-inch MacBook Pro (discussed next). Theres not a huge difference between the specs on offerboth offer the M4 Max as a processor optionbut the 14-inch MacBook Pro is cheaper than the 16-inch. If you want a laptop that can handle any task you throw at itand you dont have a constraining budgetyou want one of these laptops. The new M4 Pro/Max models offer better battery life (22 hours) than the previous generation did (18 hours).Whos it for? When Apple called these Pro laptops, they werent kidding around. If your work is very demanding processing power, these laptops are happy to handle it. Work in pro-level software all the time? Get a 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro. With either the M4 Pro or M4 Max processor, theyre the fastest laptops Apple has ever created.How much does the 14-inch MacBook Pro cost? There are three configurations starting at $1,999/1,999 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD, and $2,399/2,399 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, 24GB unified memory and 1TB SSD. The third option is the M4 Max version with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, and 1TB SSD, which costs $3,199/3,199. All those prices are 100 lower in the U.K. than they were.What are the specifications?Here are the standard configurations for the 14-inch MacBook ProApple M4 Pro, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 70W Power Adapter, $1,999/1,999.Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 96W Power Adapter, $2,399/2,399.Apple M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 96W Power Adapter, $3,199/3,199.Additional options: M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU; 36GB (now possible with Pro chip) 48GB, 96GB or 128GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD (with Max).What are display specifications? The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display hasnt changed from its native resolution of 3,0241,964, 254 pixels per inch, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. Youll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a refresh rate up to 120Hz.The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording. The notch does not affect the available screen areathe work area is a 16-by-10 space, while the screen surrounding the notch is considered extra space and is used to display the menu bar.How do I connect stuff? The 14-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. As for its ports, Apple includes three Thunderbolt 5/USB C ports. If you have a Thunderbolt device, you can plug it directly into the laptop. The same goes for any USB-C device. These laptops also come with an HDMI port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port in the 2023 model supports multichannel audio output. How do I charge the laptop? Battery life improved for this generation. Up from 18 hours to 22 hours for the M4 Pro (still 18 hours on the M4 Max). A fast charging feature allows the laptop to go from no charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes, but you need to have the proper power adapter to do this. It wont work with the 70W adapter that comes with the $1,999 MacBook Pro. The 14-inch models need to use the 96W adapter (which is a $20/10 upgrade) and can do fast charging through MagSafe or a Thunderbolt port.How fast is it? Apple built the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with pro users in mind and it shows in the performance. Now that Apple has introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max you can enjoy the fastest Mac laptops Apple has ever made, although when it comes to graphics prowess the Max will always beat the Pro. So if you need the fastest then youll want to upgrade to the M4 Max.Macworlds buying advice: The only reason not to buy the 14-inch M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro would be if you saw a good deal on the M3 Pro/M3 Max versionweve been seeing some excellent deals and price cuts on the older models, just remember that there was less RAM in those model (18GB rather than 24GB at the entry-level). Our other advice would be that if you are considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro because you need a powerful Mac then, ignore the $1,999/1,999 model in favor of the $2,399/2,399 model which has more CPU and GPU cores. If you dont need 1TB storage, save money by adding the M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, and 20-core GPU as a build-to-order option to the $1,999/1,999 model for an additional $200/200, bringing the price to $2,199/2,199.16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024)Price When Reviewed:2.899 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice2.549,00 View Deal2.559,84 View Deal2.599,00 View Deal2.599,00 View Deal2.599,00 View Deal2.668,05 View Deal2.668,05 View Deal2.749,59 View Deal2.848,00 View Deal2.899,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket2.549,00 at coolblue2.559,84 at tease-Shop2.599,00 at baur.deView more prices from digitalo.deOTTOAmazon Marketplace CEAmazon Marketplace PC NotebookClose Best Prices Today:16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max, 2024)RetailerPrice2.549,00 View Deal2.559,84 View Deal2.599,00 View Deal2.599,00 View Deal2.599,00 View Deal2.668,05 View Deal2.668,05 View Deal2.749,59 View Deal2.848,00 View Deal2.899,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhat is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro, like the 14-inch model above, was updated in October 2024. It offers a similar set of specs and configuration options as the 14-inch MacBook Pro (above), but it has a higher price, a bigger screen, and better battery life (24 hours, up from 22 hours on the predecessor).Whos it for? This is Apples largest Pro laptop and its designed for people who need a portable Mac to do work that demands extreme processing power. You could save some money by opting for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but if you need a big screen on your laptop this is the Mac for you. Youll also benefit from longer battery life. Configured with the M4 Max this is the fastest and most powerful laptop Apple has ever created.How much does the 16-inch MacBook Pro cost? There are four standard configurations starting at $2,499/2,499 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU and 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD; $2,899/2,899 for the MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB RAM, and 512GB SSD; $3,499/3,499 for the MacBook Pro M4 Max with 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB RAM, and 1TB SSD; and the M4 Max with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB RAM and 1TB SSD for $3,999/3,999. What are the specifications?Here are the standard configurations for the 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2024.Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $2,499/1,299.Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $2,899/2,899.Apple M4 Max, 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $3,499/3,499.Apple M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48GB memory, 1TB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC, HDMI, 140W power adapter, $3,999/3,999.Additional options: 48GB, 64GB, or 128GB unified memory. Up to 8TB SSD. What are display specifications? The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a native resolution of 3,4562,234, 1,600 nits of maximum brightness, and 1,000 nits for HDR content, but it now offers 1000 nits for standard content, up from 600. Youll also get a 1,000,000-to-1 contrast ratio and ProMotion support with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz.The notch at the top of the display conceals the 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and 1080p HD video recording. The notch does not affect the available screen areathe work area is a 16-by-10 space, while the screen surrounding the notch is considered extra space and is used to display the menu bar.How do I connect stuff? The 16-inch MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. As for its ports, Apple includes three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports that are compatible with USB-C. If you have a Thunderbolt device, you can plug it directly into the laptop. The same goes for any USB-C device. However, if you have wired devices that arent USB-C or are an older version of Thunderbolt, youll need an adapter. We have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt adapter guide to help you decide which ones youll need. Unfortunately, be prepared to shell out a good amount of extra cash.These laptops also come with an HDMI 2.0 port for connecting an external display or projector, and an SDXC Card slot for plugging in memory cards from cameras, audio recorders, and other devices. The HDMI port supports multichannel audio output. How do I charge the laptop? Apple has equipped the 14-inch and 16-inch laptops with MagSafe, a magnetic connector that breaks away with a good tug. Its a nice safety feature, but you can also charge using the Thunderbolt port, too. Battery life is improved for this generation: up from 22 hours to 24 hours. The fast charging feature allows the laptop to go from no charge to 50 percent in 30 minutes, but you need to have the proper power adapter to do this. Fast charging does not work through Thunderbolt or with an adapter with lower wattage, so youll need the 140W power adapter that is included in the box for this. How fast is it? The 16-inch MacBook Pro models were built with pro users in mind so you can expect excellent performance. Your software will be able to take full advantage of the CPUs multiple cores. If you are a professional, youll benefit from the M4 Pro or M4 Max.Macworlds buying advice: The M4 Pro and Max launched in October 2024, so dont expect an update until late in 2025 or beyond. As above, look out for deals on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models, but note that there is more RAM in the newer models (24GB up from 18GB for the entry-level M4 Pro). We often see excellent deals and price cuts on these models which while not as powerful are still excellent machines.Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Mac mini (M4/M4 Pro, 2024) Price When Reviewed:699 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice0.01View Deal649View Deal689View Deal699View Deal639,88 View Deal649,00 View Deal662,00 View Deal695.06View Deal699,00 View Deal758,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket0.01 at idealo649 at notebooksbilliger.de689 at AlternateView more prices from Computeruniversetease-ShopOTTOcoolblueClose Best Prices Today:Mac mini (M4/M4 Pro, 2024) RetailerPrice0.01View Deal649View Deal689View Deal699View Deal639,88 View Deal649,00 View Deal662,00 View Deal695.06View Deal699,00 View Deal758,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhat is it? The Mac mini with M4 and a Mac mini with M4 Pro were introduced in October 2024. This was already Apples smallest desktop Mac, but now it is even smaller following a redesign that means it now measures 5 inches by 5 inches, down from 7.75 inches by 7.75 inches. It offers a nice combination of speed and, at just $599/599, affordability (in fact the 2024 is even cheaper in the U.K. where it costs 50 less than it did). Its not only fast enough for general-purpose use, but its multi-core speed is quite goodif you use a professional app like a video editor, 3D software, or developer tools, the Mac mini can handle it, no problem.Whos it for? Because of its price and performance, the Mac mini is a great Mac for just about anybody. It makes for an ideal primary Mac for a home or small office. Professionals on a budget will be satisfied with the Mac mini. If youre switching from a PC, you can use your PCs keyboard and mouse with the Mac mini. The Mac mini is also ideal as a secondary Mac in your home, and it can integrate into your home entertainment center.How much does the Mac mini cost? There are three standard configurations starting at $599/599 for the Mac mini M4 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, and 256GB SSD. Theres also a $799/799 Mac mini M4 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory and 512GB SSD, and a $999/999 Mac mini M4 with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory and 512GB SSD. At the top of the range is an M4 Pro Mac mini with a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD which costs $1,399/1,399. The price is about $1,000/1,000 less for a similarly specced MacBook Pro, although, in each case, the MacBook has a bigger SSD.What are the specifications?Apple sells three Mac mini models.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $599/599.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $799/799.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $999/999.Apple M4 Pro, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, 2 USB-C, HDMI, $1,399/1,399.Additional options: M4 Pro with 14-core CPU, 16-core GPU; 48GB or 64GB unified memory; up to 8TB SSD.The Mac mini does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options.How do I connect stuff? Like Apples other Macs, the Mac mini has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The $599 and $799 M4-based Mac minis have three Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, while the M4 Pro-based Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 5 ports. All Mac minis also offer an additional two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a gigabit ethernet port. They no longer offer USB-A ports (the M2 models did).To connect a display, you can use the HDMI port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt.How fast is it? The $599 and $799 M4-based Mac minis are very fast, and offer the best performance-to-price ratio of any Mac that Apple offers. The Mac mini with M4 Pro offers the same 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB memory, and 512GB storage that is found in the M4 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,399 rather than $1,999 which represented a huge saving and a great way to get a powerful Mac without spending a fortune.Macworlds buying advice: The Mac mini is an excellent machine for most Mac usersnew or experienced, professional or general consumer. Plus the price is excellent: if youre on a budget, its a great choice, especially if you already have a spare keyboard, mouse, and display. Apple 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024)Price When Reviewed:1.749 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice0.01View Deal1559View Deal1589View Deal1599View Deal1.530,62 View Deal1.559,00 View Deal1.566,98 View Deal1.575,96 View Deal1.580,47 View Deal1.671,78 View Deal1.748,90 View Deal1.748,90 View Deal1.749,00 View Deal1778.43View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket0.01 at idealo1559 at notebooksbilliger.de1589 at AlternateView more prices from Computeruniversetease-Shopnotebooksbilligerdigitalo.deClose Best Prices Today:Apple 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024)RetailerPrice0.01View Deal1559View Deal1589View Deal1599View Deal1.530,62 View Deal1.559,00 View Deal1.566,98 View Deal1.575,96 View Deal1.580,47 View Deal1.671,78 View Deal1.748,90 View Deal1.748,90 View Deal1.749,00 View Deal1778.43View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhat is it? In October 2024 Apple introduced the M4 version of the 24-inch iMac. Little has changed since the redesign of 2021, which represented the first major update in more than a decade, with a cleaner design and a choice of seven bright colors (slightly lighter shades for 2024).Whos it for? The iMac is great for both novices and demanding users. It can handle general-purpose and heavy-duty tasks equally well, although those after a replacement for a 27-inch IMac or iMac Pro might want to wait to see if the rumored iMac Pro ever materializes, or settle for a Mac mini Pro (above) or Mac Studio (below). Its ideal for someone who needs to buy a complete computer setup (keyboard, mouse or trackpad, and display) and wants to maximize workspace efficiency. The 24-inch iMac is a design icon that will look great in any office. How much does the iMac cost? When the M4 iMac Apple dropped prices outside the U.S. The three standard configurations start at $1,299/1,299 for the entry-level model, $1,499/1,499 for the mid-range, and $1,699/1,699 for the top of the range.What are the specifications?The 24-inch iMac uses Apples M4 chip, the same M4 that features in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but in each case, there is half the storage and the price is $100 less. There are several configurations available as well as build-to-order options:Apple M4, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,299/1,299.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,499/1,499.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,699/1,699.Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,899/1,899.Additional options: 32GB memory; up to 2TB storageWhat are the display specifications? The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports the P3 wide color gamut, over a billion colors, 500 nits of brightness, and True Tone. Apple treats the display with an anti-reflective coating to help with readability. The display hasnt changed since the M1 model launched.How do I connect stuff?The $1,299 24-inch iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that also work with USB-C devices. The $1,499 and $1,699 iMacs have four Thunderbolt 4 ports (the previous generation had two Thunderbolt/USB 4 and two USB 3 ports). If you have a USB-A device, you need to buy an adapter, such as Apples ($19 / 19). If you have multiple USB-A devices and other items, consider a Thunderbolt hub. The 24-inch iMac also has a headphone jack on the side.Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are built-in. Apple doesnt put a gigabit ethernet port on the 24-inch iMacinstead, its on the power adapter. But that ethernet-equipped power adapter comes standard with the $1,499 and $1,699 models. Its not included with the $1,299 model, but you can select it as an option at the point of purchaseand yes, that means youll have to pay extra for it.How fast is it?:Since the 24-inch iMac has the same M4 as the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, its speed is very similar. That means its fast. Its got all the speed general consumers need, and it can handle pro applications with no problem. However, the $1,299 model has only one fan inside its body, while the $1,499 and $1,699 models have two fans. That means the high-priced models do a better job of keeping the internals cool. The $1,299 model may need to slow down its performance on heavy-duty tasks in order to maintain a proper temperature.Macworlds buying advice: The iMac was greatly improved when Apple introduced the 24-inch model back in 2021, from the design to the display to its performance. But, we hope rumors that Apple may launch an iMac Pro model are true. If you are buying one the sweet spot is the $1,499/1,499 model, which gets you more ports, Touch ID, and ethernet.Read our full Apple iMac (M4) review Mac Studio (M2 Max/M2 Ultra, 2023)Note: This model hasnt been updated since 2023. An update is expected in 2025. See: M4 Mac Studio rumors.What is it?The Mac Studio joined Apples Mac lineup in March 2022 and was updated in June 2023 when it gained the M2 Max and M2 Ultra. Its a desktop modular Mac thats more powerful (and more expensive) than the Mac mini and similarly specced to the Mac Pro, but lacking the Mac Pros expansion options.Whos it for?The Mac Studio is for the user who wants the maximum processing power. Its not the only powerful Mac availablethe Mac Pro also runs on the M2 Ultrabut it is the cheapest way to get either the M2 Max or M2 Ultra chips. If you want the expansion options of the Mac Pro then youll want to look elsewhere, but the Mac Studio brings all the power usually reserved for the ultimate Mac in a small package. How much does the Mac Studio cost? There are two standard configurations starting at $1,999/2,099 (was 1,999) for the Mac Studio M2 Max with 30-core GPU and 512GB SSD, and $3,999/4,199 (was 3,999) for the Mac Studio M2 Ultra with 60-core GPU and 1TB SSD. There are also build-to-order options that include a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB Unified Memory, and 8TB SSD. Fully maxed out a Mac Studio would cost $8,799/8,999.What are the specifications?The Mac Studio uses either theM2 MaxorM2 Ultraprocessors. Apple offers two standard configurations: Apple M2 Max SoC with a 12-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 32GB of memory, and a 16-core Neural Engine; 512GB SSD, $1,999/2,099Apple M2 Ultra SoC with a 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 64GB of memory, and a 32-core Neural Engine; 1TB SSD, $3,999/4,199Additional options: M2 Ultra SoC with a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB unified memory, and up to 8TB SSD.The Mac Studio does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse, so youll have to provide your own, or you can customize your order to include these devices as extra-cost options. Apple released the Studio Displayat the same time as the original Mac Studio, but it can be used with third-party displays, too.How do I connect stuff?The Mac Studio has the following ports:M2 Max: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two USB-C ports on the front.M2 Ultra: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the front.SDXC Card slot on the front.Two USB-A ports.10Gb ethernet.HDMI 2.0.3.5 mm headphone jack (with advanced support for high-impedance headphones, a feature lacked by the M1-series models)802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E (was 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 in predecessor)Bluetooth 5.3 (was Bluetooth5.0 in predecessor)To connect to a network, you can use the built-in ethernet port, or you can use Wi-Fi, which comes standard.To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or a Thunderbolt port. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays to the M2 Ultra. The M2 Max supports fewer displays.How fast is it? The M2 Max Mac Studio is a very fast Mac at a very competitive price point, however, the M4 Pro is now faster than the M2 Ultra, so the Mac Studio isnt the powerful machine it once was at the moment. Once Apple adds the M4 Max as an option the Mac Studio will be a beast of a machine, but until then instead of an M2 Max or M2 Ultra Mac Studio you might be better off with an M4 Max MacBook Pro. The only good thing is that it costs a fraction of the price of the MacBook Pro with M4 Max, making it an excellent choice for anyone on a budget.Macworlds buying advice:The Mac Studio is ideal for users who use processor- and graphics-intensive apps, such as media production, software development, graphics software, and more. If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching progress bars while you work, youll benefit from the power of the Mac Studio. However we would recommend that you wait until Apple upgrades the processors to M4 Max and M4 Ultra, which we anticipate happening around WWDC in June 2025.Other than that, the main disadvantage is that the Mac Studio relies on external connections for expandability. If you want a pro-level Mac with the ability to swap expansion cards you should look at Apple silicon-based Mac Pro below. Also read: Why Mac professionals should switch to a Mac Studio.Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023)Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice8.299,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket8.299,00 at AppleNote: This model hasnt been updated since 2023. An update is expected in 2025. See: M4 Ultra Mac Pro rumors.What is it? The Mac Pro is Apples workstation. Its designed for professionals who need a powerful and flexible machine. Apple took its time to update the Mac Pro with its own silicon, but in June 2023, three and a half years after the previous update, the company finally came up with the goods. Whos it for? The Mac Pro is designed for professionals who work with applications that use as many processing cores as possiblevideo-editing applications, image-editing software, 3D programs, audio editing, software developers, and the like.How much does the Mac Pro cost? The Mac Pro starts at $6,999/7,199 (which is up from the previous generations starting price of $5,999/5,499). Thats for the Tower version, there is also a Rack mount version that starts at $7,499/7,699. Those are the starting prices, you can choose various configuration options, such as the 76-core GPU and the 192GB unified memory and 8TB storage just as with the Mac Studio. A fully specced out Mac Pro Tower costs $11,799/11,999. What are the specifications? The specifications on offer are identical to the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra:Apple M2 Ultra SoC with a 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 64GB of memory, and a 32-core Neural Engine; 1TB SSDAdditional options: M2 Ultra SoC with a 76-core GPU, up to 192GB unified memory, and up to 8TB SSD.How do I connect stuff? Mac Pro has the following ports:Six Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back; two USB-C ports on the top.Two USB-A ports.10Gb ethernet.HDMI 2.0.3.5 mm headphone jack (with advanced support for high-impedance headphones, a feature lacked by the M1-series models)Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)Bluetooth 5.3To connect a display, you can use the HDMI 2.0 port or the Thunderbolt ports. You might have to buy an adapter if your display doesnt have either HDMI or a port that can connect to Thunderbolt. You can connect up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays.To connect external devices, the Mac Pro has six Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, two HDMI ports, and dual 10Gb Ethernet. But the real draw for creative pros will be the seven full-length PCI Express gen 4 slots, one of which comes with an Apple I/O card installed.How fast is it? When it announced the model, Apple said the 2023 Mac Pro was up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model. It was impressive at the time, but now the M2 Ultra has been superceeded by the M4 Max in our tests, and until Apple updates the Mac Pro with the M4 Ultra you might be better off with an M4 Max MacBook Pro. However, with support for 192GB of unified memory, the Mac Pro supports more memory than the MacBook Pro (the Mac Studio can also support 192GB memory). Apple says that, like the M2 Ultra Mac Studio, the M2 Ultra Mac Pro can plan an unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video. Just imagine what the new Mac Pro M4 Ultra could be capable of. Macworlds buying advice: The Mac Pro provides the processing power that the most demanding users need. Were talking about production environments, like TV and audio recording studios, animation houses, and software developers. If you feel like you can never have enough power, youre probably the professional the Mac Pro is aimed at. But if you dont need the expandability then the Mac Studio will probably be adequate. If youre more of a prosumer than a professionalsomeone who is an expert Mac user, but doesnt use high-end appsthe Mac Pro is overkill. Youre probably not going to be able to take advantage of what the Mac Pro has to offer.You just need to figure out whether you want to wait until June 2025 for the long overdue M4 Ultra.

MacworldFinding an unlocked iPhone for less than Apples listed price is a rare thing unless its refurbished or otherwise used. But we found one today: Amazons Woot is selling an unlocked iPhone 15 in black for $580 (128GB), $610 (256GB), and $695 (512GB), a savings of $149, $189, and $304, respectively.This iPhone 15 isnt sold by Apple but is promised to be in Pristine condition having never been in customer hands. Woot says the phone will arrive with a test sticker showing100% battery life and insidea sleek custom black box,not the original retail packaging. Itcomes with a 1-year vendor warranty but isnt AppleCare-eligible.While its a year old, Apple still sells the iPhone 15 for $699 and up. And its still a great phone, with an A16 processor, 6.1-inch OLED display, and Apples innovative Dynamic Island. We loved it in our 4-star review and Its even better with iOS 18. It will receive updates for years to come, but just note it isnt compatible with Apple Intelligence.So if you want a great iPhone at a great price without needing to jump through carrier hoops, go grab this deal before its gone forever.Save up to $300 on the iPhone 15Buy Now at WOOT!

MacworldWith 2024 closing, its time to look forward to 2025. What could we see from Apple in the new year? Thats coming up in this episode of the Macworld Podcast!This is episode 914 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.Watch episode 914 on YouTubeListen to episode 914 on Apple PodcastsListen to episode 914 on SpotifySubscribe to the Macworld PodcastYou can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review!right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworldTo find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone.Apple

MacworldIf you havent checked the calendar lately, the holidays are nearly upon us, and if you havent gotten around to getting something for the Apple fans in your life, we have the perfect solution: an eGift card. You dont have to spend a lot, youll get it immediately, and your recipient will love it.Of course, youll want to get them a card they can use to buy one of their favorite Apple devices, and there are several great options. The most obvious is an Apple Store gift card, which they can use to buy at the Apple Store or the App Store, but other official Apple retailers are an excellent choice too.Best eGift cards for Apple loversApple Starts at $10Amazon Starts at $25Best Buy Starts at $15Walmart Starts at $5Target Starts at $5All these stores feature an abundance of Apple products, quite often on sale, so theyre great picks for anyone who wants something now or is saving up for the flurry of new devices coming in 2025.More eGift ideasIf you want to branch out and get them something different, then check out these other gift cards you can get on slle right now:Meta Quest eGift Card Save $5 on $50 (via Amazon)Google Play eGift Card Save $5 on $50 with code GOPLAY (via Amazon)Taco Bell eGift Card Starts $7.50 on $50 with code TACO (via Amazon)VUDU eGift Card Save $10 on $50 (via Amazon)Uber/UberEats eGift Card Save $10 on $100 (via Amazon)Lyft Gift Card Save $15 on $100 with code LYFT (via Amazon)

MacworldUnfortunately, we rent many facets of our daily lives. That includes homes or apartments, Netflix, DoorDash, and the same goes for your productivity apps. Something you can do to ease the subscription loador someone elsesis to own your daily tools outright, which is usually more affordable in the long run.Tis the season toown the entire suite of Microsoft Office apps for less than $40. And no, were not pulling your leg. Lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac is price-dropped to $39.99 (reg. $229), which is over $30 less than a yearly subscription to Microsoft 365. It could be the perfect last-minute gift for a student or coworker.While this isnt the latest version of Microsoft Office, the 2019 version might be more compatible with an older or refurbished Mac. Users will gain lifelong access to the following apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic.Create stunning slide decks with PowerPoint to impress an incoming client for your marketing firm, or jump into Excel to crunch numbers for your project manager. If youre working remotely, use Teams to organize workloads with your colleagues more seamlessly.No one likes running into obstacles, so make sure you or your giftees Mac has had its OS updated to at least Monterey Version 12 or newer. All updates are also included with this license.December 2022 at 11:59 PM Pacific is the deadline to grab this practical last-minute present. Act now to get this lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2019 for Macfor just $39.99.Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacOnly $39.99 at MacworldStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldApple has had a jam-packed 2024. From kickstarting its spatial computing era with the Vision Pro to finally embracing AI on its platformsthe firm has laid some solid groundwork that could reshape the tech industry in the coming years. Nevertheless, the iPhone maker still has some tricks up its sleeve. If the rumors turn out to be accurate, Apple will launch several exciting products next year, and weve got our eyes set on a few of them.HomePadPerhaps the most thrilling 2025 announcement for smart home enthusiasts will be Apples long-rumored HomePod with a displaybetter known as HomePad. The HomePad is rumored to launch late next year as a smart home hub that rivals Nest and similar products. The tablet-like device will likely feature a 6- to 7-inch screen and pack the iPhone 16s A18, a chip more powerful than anything HomePod runs.While the HomePad is expected to offer a specialized interface that revolves around smart home controls, its purpose could extend beyond that. After all, the hub will reportedly support Apple Intelligence and next-gen Siri, FaceTime calls, and other features not necessarily related to smart home functions, including Music, Safari, and Notes. More importantly, it could mark the beginning of a new smart home chapter at Apple, as the company is also rumored to be working on a security camera for 2026.The iPhone 17 could introduce a model thats dramatically thinner than the iPhone 16.Connor Jewiss / FoundryiPhone 17 AirAnother exciting device that could launch late next year is the iPhone 17 Air. Apple is reportedly developing an ultra-slim smartphone that could dethrone the 6.9mm iPhone 6 as its thinnest ever, along with a new design.Opting for a 5mm to 6mm thickness will likely push Apple to make several compromises. For example, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to have a single rear camera centered on the top rear of the phone. It may also miss out on the Pro variant of the A19 chip and retire the physical SIM card slot globally. In short, the iPhone Plus replacement will likely appeal to those seeking the sleekest aesthetics rather than the best possible performance and specs.However, even if the iPhone 17 Air isnt the most technologically advanced compared to the rest of the line, it could act as the foundation for Apples future products, particularly foldables. The new design appears to be a way to test the real-world performance and durability of an ultra-thin handset as Apple continues to work on its rumored foldable iPhone, which isnt due until 2026.iPhone SE 4Despite being a midrange phone, the iPhone SE 4 will be getting a lot of loveand attentionin 2025. Rumored to launch in its usual spring slot, the budget-friendly model looks to finally retire the prehistoric chassis in favor of a more modern one. On the front side, it will reportedly resemble an iPhone 14, boasting a notched edge-to-edge display that drops the physical home button at long last. Other notable improvements could include Face ID support, a sharper rear camera, a USB-C port, and an A18 processor.For years, those opting for SE iPhones had to sacrifice the design and some nice-to-have perks. With the iPhone SE 4 supporting Apple Intelligence and finally adopting a modern enclosure, it wont feel like a device from the 2010s anymore. And if Apple can keep the price under $499, itll be a real winner.A new Studio Display could make an appearance in 2025.Willis Lai / FoundryStudio Display 2Apple released its first and only Studio Display back in 2022. The 27-inch LCD monitor starts at $1,599 and features a humble refresh rate of 60Hz, a stunning 5K pixel resolution, up to 600 nits of brightness, a 12MP ultra-wide webcam, multiple USB-C ports, six speakers, and three microphones.While the current Studio Display looks great and works well with Apples Mac lineup, its specifications could use a bump. For starters, Apple could give it a mini-LED display similar to the MacBook Pro, with a higher refresh rate, 1,600 nits of max XDR brightness, and a Nano-texture option. The design could also use an update, perhaps with Liquid Retina rounded corners and a thinner enclosure like the iMac.Its not as certain as the other products on this list, but the latest rumors suggest Apple will launch an update to the 27-inch monitor in the spring alongside the M4 Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Itll look equally slick next to the new micro Mac mini and the next item on our list.M4 Ultra Mac ProThe Mac Pro is no longer powered by an Intel chip, but its the only Apple computer that still has its Intel-era design. While all other Macs have been seriously slimmed down since the transition to Apples M-series processors, the Mac Pros bodydespite not needing memory slots for RAM sticks anymorecontinues to be relatively bulky.In 2025, Apple will reportedly launch an M4 Ultra-powered Mac Pro, boasting up to 32 CPU cores, 80 GPU cores, and 512GB of RAM when maxed out. While the rumors seemingly dont reference a fresh exterior look, itll be around six years since its last facelift. On the other hand, the Mac Pro is generally a niche computer, so Apple could easily get away with just boosting its performance.Not just an iterative yearThe HomePad and iPhone 17 Air will potentially ignite Apples push into two new categories: the smart home and foldables. Meanwhile, the iPhone SE 4 will be the first of its kind to offer both impressive specs and a modern exterior for a reasonable price tag. And while the Studio Display and Mac Pro may not be as popular as other Apple products, their potential 2025 successors will feature welcome enhancements that their fans will appreciate.Tech reviewers and enthusiasts often complain that todays devices, particularly those coming out of Cupertino, have become too iterative. Vision Pro aside, that was largely the case with 2024s slate of releases. But 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Apple.

MacworldApple has big plans for the smart home in 2025. Having long struggled with limited device support and complex standards, the company wants to move forward with simplified platforms, deeper device integration and improved software. This change in strategy is intended to strengthen the Apple ecosystem and make it competitive at a time when the larger industry is resting its hopes on Matter and Thread to restart a faltering market.In this article we outline Apples smart home strategy for 2025, and explain what this means for the HomePod range.The seamless smart homeApple is planning to significantly expand compatibility with cross-industry standards in 2025. Apple already supports the universal standard Matter, which makes it easier for you to use a wide variety of smart home products from different manufacturers. The Eve and Nanoleaf brands, which are well established in the Apple ecosystem, were among the first to jump on the bandwagon, and others are gradually being added.By doing this, Apple is breaking away from previous restrictions and opening up its platform to a wider range of devices. But it will also make it much easier for users to pick and choose which manufacturers they want to buy from and find the best-value choice. This can be a double-edged sword, as Apple is rarely the cheapest option.Apple Intelligence is also a central element of the new strategy. This AI-based technology is designed to understand commands, react flexibly and perform complex tasks. It is intended to enhance Siri so that the voice assistant can better implement contextualized commands. The goal is a true smart home experience in which your devices respond efficiently to your needs and work together seamlessly.Apple Intelligence isnt just about providing smart summaries of emails. It has an important role to play in the smart home.YouTube / AppleTheres no place like homeOSA key element of the new strategy is the introduction of homeOS. This operating system is intended to bring together several hardware lines and provide the basis for a standardized smart home. Currently, the Apple TV has tvOS running in the background, while the HomePod runs customized software. In future, homeOS could serve as a common platform that provides updates and functions more quickly.The new homeOS software wont be limited to the HomePod and Apple TV: it will play a role in new device categories too. These could include stationary smart displays that allow you to control your home devices more directly and intuitively, instead of using the fiddly controls on an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. This would benefit both the HomePod and the HomePod mini: the more devices are controlled via homeOS, the more seamlessly your HomePod integrates into the overall experience. But one question remains unanswered: What will the smart display be able to offer that cant already be accomplished with an (inexpensive) iPad?The Apple TV 4K is not yet capable of running Apple Intelligence, although it already has some useful smart home functions.AppleWhere does this leave the HomePod?The HomePod range has barely evolved since the launch of the original model. Although there have been software updates, there have been no real hardware innovations. We dont even want to talk about the 2nd-gen HomePod; rarely has there been such a loveless relaunch of an Apple product. As part of the new strategy, however, Apple could give the HomePod and HomePod mini more significance.In future, the HomePod should be able to handle Apple Intelligence. This is not yet the case, as the hardware requirements are high and the HomePods are controlled by lower-power chips from the Apple Watch range. But Apple is likely to equip future generations of HomePods with more powerful chips to process complex local commands. This would allow Siri to react more intelligently on the HomePod without delays caused by cloud processing, and would enable Apple to remedy the HomePods biggest weakness: its limited voice assistance.The next generation of the HomePod mini should also benefit from the new strategies. Improved processors and optimized wireless standards such as Wi-Fi 6E should reduce response times and make operation smoother and more intuitive. Apple can also upgrade its sensor technology to better capture environmental data, which would make it easier to use an updated HomePod mini as a smart hub.Another factor is new displays. Apple is understood to be working on HomePod variants with an integrated screen, and although these will not appear for some time, they could significantly enhance the HomePod family. With a display, the speakers could be used much more flexibly, for example for video calls or displaying camera images. The idea is not entirely new; Amazon has been offering the Echo Show for a long time.The smart home of the futureSupport for Matter, the introduction of homeOS, and the deeper integration of Apple Intelligence in Siri will all drive Apples smart home ecosystem forward. For the HomePod and HomePod mini, this means a long-awaited upgrade.While Siri was previously seen as a weak point, better hardware, AI features and a simplified software platform could turn the HomePod into a valuable home hub in the future. While new HomePods with displays and significantly upgraded hardware may not be launched until after 2025, Apple is laying the foundations for a more powerful smart home offering.

MacworldThe musician Stephin Merritt once joked that he would be happy to sell only a single copy of each album he makes, provided that single copy costs $100,000. Which coincidentally is pretty close to Apples marketing strategy for Vision Pro.I jest, of course: you cant run a multi-trillion-dollar corporation that way. Apple loves its margins, but it needs volume too if it wants to keep paying out those juicy shareholder dividends. And as much as Tim Cook would like every product sold to be marked with the surnames Pro, Max, or Pro Maxand as hard as the company works to upsell at every possible opportunitythe cheaper devices further down the range are just as important to Apples overall success.The Apple Watch SE hasnt gotten much of an update since 2020.Dominik Tomaszewski / FoundryIts odd, then, that this year has been such a disappointment for so many of Apples budget products. The current versions of the iPhone SE, Apple Watch SE, and baseline iPad all came out in 2022, but they received no more love in 2024 than they did in 2023. The 10th-gen iPad remains oddly appealing, thanks to a timely price cut and the generally lower importance of state-of-the-art specs in the tablet space. But the two SE devices are looking their age. They need an update, and soon.On which front, theres good news and bad news. Here in Europe, the 3rd-gen iPhone SE is set to vanish from sale at the start of 2025 not because it isnt good enough, but because Apple neglected to launch a version with USB-C despite having two years to prepare for incoming regulations. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are getting the chop too, which will leave Apple without any kind of remotely budget-focused smartphone in a major market. Presumably this will help motivate the company to launch the 4th-gen iPhone SE in a timely fashion, probably in March or April 2025.An overdue upgrade for Apples SE productsWeve had to wait a long time for it to arrive, but the next iPhone SE does sound like an intriguing proposition. Its all change on the design front, for example. At long last the SE is going to ditch the Home button (angry emails to the usual address) and catch up with the design trends of well, 2017. But thats still an improvement.In terms of componentry we can look forward to a powerful 48MP camera and Apples in-house 5G modem, which should mean improved battery life. And there will reportedly be an A18 processor inside that modern chassis, same as in the iPhone 16, plus 8GB of RAM. These upgrades are necessary to make the SE compatible with Apple Intelligence, with vastly improved all-round performance a happy side effect. And it all adds up to an iPhone SE thats actually special.The iPhone SE is reportedly getting an iPhone 15 glow-up next spring.Dominik Tomaszewski / FoundryThe Apple Watch SE is less likely to get a major revamp in 2025, but it will surely get an upgrade of some sort. This may well involve a new material; Apple is understood to be working on a switch from aluminum to brightly colored plastic in order to lower costs and appeal to younger customers. It will also get a processor upgrade; not something that one would normally view as a priority for a budget smartwatch, but worthwhile when the silicon in question is functionally identical to the S6 chip from 2020. A performance bump is overdue.And as for the standard iPad, 2025 should see the long-awaited launch of the 11th-gen model. As explained above this is less urgent than the sorely needed refreshes to the two SE devices, but could we dream of finally getting a laminated screen on the entry-level iPad? Obviously Cupertino will be keen to add support for Apple Intelligence, too, which means substantial spec upgrades. And a bump back up to $449? Lets hope not, but you know, swings and roundabouts.What about the cheaper Macs?On the other side of Apples portfolio, 2024 was a more productive year for the baseline models. The MacBook Air (which can be taken seriously as a budget product only if you keep an eye firmly trained on the MacBook Pros eyewatering price list) saw a handy upgrade to the M3 chipset that we felt improved on greatness; while the Mac mini received a fabulous redesign that meant it finally lived up to its name. Both are worthy of a hearty recommendation.But theres more to come next year. The Air will be updated again in the first half of next year (probably some time between January and March) to get the M4 chip and a new Center Stage camera. The latter should solve one of the machines few weaknesses: that 1080p FaceTime camera. The Mac mini will join the M4 gang too, although later in the year. An October announcement sounds about right.The trend towards cheapWe spent a couple of years complaining about Apples upsell strategy, whereby it would deliberately leave features out of entry-level products, sometimes going so far as to equip them with the previous years processors, in order to push customers towards the Pro models. This was annoying, we felt, not to mention ill-suited strategically to a time of stagnant wages and a high cost of living. But now were starting to notice a change: the companys cheaper products have started to look like excellent choices once again.If this trend started in 2024, it will spread its wings in 2025. The two SE updates are long overdue and should bring good-quality phones and watches within the reach of customers on a budget. And Im looking forward to seeing what Apple does with the 11th-gen iPad; if the price is too high then we can still buy the 10th-gen model, which might even get another price cut to celebrate. As for the M4 Mac mini who needs a Mac Studio when the budget model is that powerful?As I explained when discussing the new iPad miniperhaps not quite a budget product, but good value for what it offersthe tech industry and tech buyers in turn, are sometimes guilty of neglecting products that compromise. But compromise is important. That doesnt mean accepting devices that dont do what you need. But it means refusing to pay for anything more.Its taken Apple a while to remember that there are people out there who dont have a small fortune to throw at consumer tech, but Im glad weve got there in the end. And Im pleased to report that 2025 already looks like a bumper year for Apples budget lines.

MacworldIts a nightmare scenario: your Mac has been playing up for weeks and youve been ignoring it, or just havent been able to figure out how to fix it. Then it refuses to start up. Why didnt you make that backup? Is there any way you can get back the lost data from your Mac? Luckily there are apps that can recover your lost photos and damaged files from your failed Macs hard drive.There are a few techniques you can try before you spend money on an app though, as youll see in our How to recover data from a damaged Mac article. Also, prevention is better than a cure and we recommend adopting a regular backup routine going forward, so youll avoid this kind of situation again. For more tips on this, take a look at The best backup software for Mac and How to use Time Machine to back up a Mac.If these tips prove to be of no avail, there are apps that can rescue your files from a deleted, corrupted or crashed drive.Data recovery apps, like the ones we have reviewed below, work in a similar way: if the directory indicating where files were originally stored is salvageable, recovering the files is relatively easy. If that isnt the case, the software will scan the data for familiar patterns that would denote a file type. Once it finds a file type, theres a good chance that there will be data in that file.PROMOTIONData recovery software for Mac EaseUSRecover lost data in 3 simple steps: automated scan, preview, and one-click recovery. Cover any file format and deal with data loss issues. Undelete files from the Mac-based hard drive, fusion drive, SSD, USB drive, memory card, digital camera, and more. Macworld recommended, and a great choice for both Mac and Windows users.Now 25% OFF Exclusive Code: MACWORLD25Get It Now l WindowsGet It Now | MacBut expect it to be a time-consuming process to piece the bits of files back together. With patience, most files that havent been overwritten should, in theory, be saveable. Some drives can take days to fully scan, and the higher capacity they are, the longer the process. But if its irreplaceable photos or important documents that are lost, you can afford to wait.Unfortunately, this sort of software is pretty much always going to have a high price associated with it before you can recover what you needbut if youve lost hundreds of treasured photos or the first 1,000 pages of your novel, then no price is too high, probably. Sometimes you can pay for the software for a month, do what you need to do and then cancel. Sometimes you must subscribe for a year. Other options allow you to buy it outright, but pay extra for future updates. Your own circumstances will influence which option is best for you. Additionally, many of these tools offer a trial so you can at least see what you should be able to recover before you spend your money. Whether youre a casual user scrambling to recover your lost files, or a full-time tech shop doing everything it can to retrieve a clients most critical documents from a dying hard drive, these are the data recovery apps that get our recommendation. Looking to recover data from a iPhone? Read: Best data recovery apps for iPhone.Updated December 2024 to add Wondershares Recoverit. Best data recovery software for MacHeres our pick of the best data recovery apps for Mac. Recoverit, WondershareProsFree trial (only 100MB)ConsFree trial is only 100MBRecoverit by Wondershare is centered around the usual modules that you might see in this kind of suite: Hard Drives and Locations and SD Card for file recovery, Enhanced Recovery and Corrupted Video Repair for video and photo restoration and System Crashed Computer and NAS and Linux for additional recovery features.Theres a friendly home screen and user interface and the modules work as expected. Data recovery for hard drives, locations, and SD cards is simple and reliable, with Recoverit executing both a quick scan and diving into a deep scan.The video and photo repair modules work well with damaged files. The SD Card module was able to sift through a damaged 8GB SD card, pull some video data thought lost, and deliver the data back cleanly to a recovery folder without issue.Remote-based utilities allow for network-based drives to be located or accessed manually to have data recovered from them. The program can also save recovered data to a NAS drive or Google Drive, which is a nice feature.We had some problems with the USB boot drive creation module, but this mitght be due to Apples complications.Wondershare Recoverit presents an excellent data recovery package at a not-unreasonable, price. The package is currently on offer for $79.99/63.99 (usually $109.99/93.97) a month for unlimited recovery for two Macs, or $89.99/66.99 (usually $139.99/113.97) for a one year license for unlimited recovery for two Macs. Theres also a $139.99/118.97 (usually $169.99/144.97) perpetual license for two Macs. The company also offers discounts for students and educators, and small and medium businesses. While no trial version exists, the free version allows for all of Recoverits features to be used, with data recovery capped at 100 megabytes.Read our full Wondershare Recoverit review Data Rescue, Prosoft EngineeringProsExcellent toolset and recovery system Helpful Scan Management system to manage and continue up to 15 scansConsHigh subscription-based price In July 2024 the softwares last update was in 2023Inadequate tech supportNo means of creating a macOS Sonoma recovery drive (as of July 2024)Data Rescue, currently version 6.0.8, offers some excellent drive management and data recovery features, albeit at a steep price for occasional users.The software supports older versions of macOS and requires macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later. Users can download the software and assign full drive access, with a trial offering up to 1GB of data recovery for free. The company charges $19 per individual for non-licensed data retrieval, $79 for a standard license, and $399/year for a professional license. The hefty fee covers only one Mac or PC. The auto-renew option needs to be turned off via the web-based Prosoft account.The software has a compelling toolset, including Quick Scan or Deep Scan, view hex tables, secure erase, set drive parameters, manage virtual RAID setup, and work with numbered sectors on drives and allocation blocks. It allows users to work with up to 15 scans, pausing and resuming as needed handy if youre several hours into a Deep Scan. The software runs well in the background.Data Rescue 6 can create clone and recovery drives, handling different data strategies such as Straight, Reverse, Bisect, and Segment. However, it does not offer an option to create a macOS Sonoma recovery drive as of July 2024.There are other limitations. If the drive is mechanically failing, itll be harder for data to be pulled and reconstructed.Technical tools in Data Rescue 6 offer plenty to work with, but can get you in trouble if you arent familiar with them. For example, setting the wrong drive parameters or boot point can require troubleshooting.Overall, Data Rescue 6 offers excellent tools, but Prosoft should address issues like lack of customer responsiveness, the lengthy time between updates, the high, subscription-based price tag, and a lack of a tutorial system.Read our full Data Rescue review Stellar Data Recovery for MacProsQuick, clean interfaceGood data recovery tools and modulesImpressive net-based data recovery moduleConsRepeated crashes for the Clean Up Junk Files moduleStrange macOS Recent Items and serial number activation bugsKeeps an upgrade to a higher-level account, even after a full account has been purchasedStellar Data Recovery for Mac focuses on recovering data via standard scans, deep scans, drive image creation, and other recovery tools. It is available as a free trial, with standard, professional, and premium editions available on yearly or lifetime contracts. The software supports both HFS+ and APFS volume formats and can be installed easily.Stellar Data Recoverys main strength is its extensive data recovery engine, which supports hundreds of file formats and allows users to search and recover by file type, headers, and attributes. It also features a good scan management engine that allows users to save and work from previous scans, and an image creation feature that allows users to create a byte-for-byte image of a volume that can be restored later.One interesting feature is the Recover Non Booting Mac module, which allows users to log into their Macs recovery partition, load Terminal, and enter a command to open a remote version of Stellar Data Recovery (more details in our full review). Other modules such as Search Large Files and Search Duplicate Files perform well and provide a comprehensive look at your drive.The complete array of modules worked well with test drives, recovering data as needed, and snagging as much as possible.Unfortunately, we did experience some problems. Stellars Clean Up Junk Files crashed the application repeatedly and had to be force quit under macOS Sonoma 14.6.1.Other issues included activating the serial number, which took several days and multiple calls and emails to sort out. Additionally, Stellar Data Recovery refused to appear in the macOS Recent Items menu, preventing it from being quickly launched. Even after activating a Professional tier account, the software still presents an Upgrade button on its main menu, which seems to be asking for more money to be thrown in the companys general direction.Despite these failings, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is a good program able to dig deep to help reconstruct and recover deleted data. Theres also Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. Read our full Stellar Data Recovery for Mac review Disk Drill Pro, CleverFiles ProsFriendly interface, access to helpful YouTube instructional videosGood data recovery performanceData Shredder utility ConsOccasional crashes macOS Installer utility failed to create a viable boot drive after multiple attemptsData recovers to multiple folders and can be confusing to locateDisk Drill Pro from Cleverfiles is designed to recover data and rebuild deleted files on Macs and various other platforms and devices. It works with standard macOS file formats like HFS+, Mac OS Extended, and APFS.The basic version is available for free and can recover up to 500 megabytes of data. Theres a Pro version that supports one user and up to three simultaneous activations, paid for once with an additional expense for lifetime upgrades. The Enterprise edition has a similar extra expense for lifetime upgrades and supports 10 users and infinite activations with priority technical support and DFXML forensic data support. At the time of our review Cleverfiles was offering a 50% discount from past versions, 20% discount for education, non-profit, and government customers, and a 50% competitive upgrade.Disk Drill Pro requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or later and offers several new features, including a RAID utility, NAS & Linux via SSH utility, tools for recovering data from iPhones, iPads, and Time Machine volumes, a scan session manager, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, a macOS boot drive creator, a backup utility, a Clean Up utility to map drive storage, a duplicate file remover, a data shredder, and a free space erasure tool. YouTube-based tutorial videos are available.Devices can be scanned over a Wi-Fi network, and the S.M.A.R.T. function provides data about drive temperatures, drive condition, and life percentage left. Disk Drill Pro runs the scan in the background and can bypass file permission errors on the data being erased. During our data recovery scans, more than 90% of deleted files were readily recovered.Disk Drill Pro has some issues, such as the macOS Installer utility failing to produce a bootable volume after multiple tests, the Recent Sessions scan manager only sporadically working, and Disk Drill Pro crashing into the spinning rainbow wheel if a process is interrupted. However, it offers reliable data recovery from a wide variety of devices.Read our full Disk Drill Pro review EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac ProsFree version (up to 2GB)Great data recovery tools and file organization and categorizationVideo Repair toolConsHigh price point compared to competitors Unbootable Mac module failed to locate and work with drives for recovery testing Unable to log into some cloud-based services for data recovery and file storageEaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, at version 17.2.0 at the time of our review, is a Mac port of the Windows recovery software.There is a free version with a 2GB recovered data cap as well as a paid version, which offers additional features such as 1-on-1 remote assistance, is available as a free trial, and requires Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later to run. The paid version offers one license for one Mac paid monthly, yearly or as a lifetime upgrade plan that covers one Mac. The monthly and annual license payments auto-renew.The software supports over 1,000 file types and offers specific modules for SD cards, cloud-based recovery, and storage. It supports APFS, HFS+, HFS, XFAT, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS, making it useful for working with drives from Windows and Linux machines.The core functionalities of data recovery, reconstruction, and organization are its strongest points. A friendly interface guides users in choosing the volume to recover from and designating the target restoration drive or folder. The program organizes recovered and restored data logically into categories such as All Types, Pictures, Documents, Audio, Videos, Emails, Archives, and Others.The SD Card function is useful, and the iCloud module makes it easy to log into iCloud (requiring Two Factor Authentication). The Video Repair module is enjoyable for exporting cleaner copies of old videos. However, some issues need attention, including the Unbootable Mac module, which has the user shut down their Mac, boot into Recovery Mode, then boot off an external server run by EaseUS. While this is a good idea in theory, the tool went into a continuous loop of being unable to mount my M2 Mac internal and external drives. I allowed this process to run overnight, and when I woke up in the morning, the drives had still not mounted and the tool could not be worked with.The cloud tool was unable to successfully log into Dropbox for recovery, and the application required an administrator password every time the user launched it. Additionally, the software presented a customer feedback survey every time the user exited the program, which was infuriating.In conclusion, Data Recovery Wizard for Mac excels at its core functions and presents an attractive means of recovering data from Mac, Windows, and Linux volumes with a nice array of platform and file format support. However, the high price point, Unbootable Mac module failures, constant need for an administrator password, and repeating customer feedback survey window let it down.Read our full EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac review Alsoft DiskWarriorProsGood user interface, speed, and performanceGreat at locating and sorting out file and directory errors on supported formats and volumesNice customization and configuration optionsConsLack of APFS support puts the future of DiskWarrior in doubtHigh priceTime Machine volumes cant be repaired without booting off the included USB flash driveBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceAlsoft$119.95View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket$119.95 at AlsoftAlsoft has been producing high-quality utility software for over 20 years. DiskWarrior, a popular application for recovering damaged hard drives, has been in use since 1998. However, the latest version of DiskWarrior 5.3.1, released in 2024, seems to be falling behind in software and file system support.The software still supports the HFS+ format, FireVault 1 and 2, Core Storage for Fusion dries, RAID configurations, and disk images and sparse bundles, but it has not been upgraded to support the APFS format, which is increasingly prevalent on new Macs and Apples push towards this file system standard.DiskWarrior is available as a bootable USB flash drive that can boot Macs running HFS+ format volumes. Its ease of use remains unchanged, making it easy to mount and unmount drives and volumes, perform quick tests, access technical specifications, set up automated diagnostics, and receive notifications through alerts, emails, AppleScript programs, or text messages.However, theres bad news: DiskWarrior 5.3.1 still lacks support for the APFS standard. As more drives are moving towards this file system, the companys silence on this matter is concerning. A representative within the company confirmed that Alsoft is working on version 6.0, which will offer full APFS support. However, changes from Apples side, such as not allowing third-party kernel extensions and other technical changes, have made the development process more difficult and created more roadblocks than previous versions of DiskWarrior.The lack of a free trial version of DiskWarrior 5.3.1 raises concerns about the steep new user price and upgrade price, especially when the software lacks APFS support and can only work with certain volumes.Sometimes a great utility gets stuck in development. Theres still a great application to be had here, but Alsoft needs to put itself in a position where it can readily announce that an updated version will be out at a given date and that it will offer APFS support.Read our full Alsoft DiskWarrior review For more advice about accessories and software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks.

MacworldMany workplaces and educational institutions have completely switched from paper documents to digital ones. Consequently, Mac users are increasingly dealing with PDFs and other e-document file formats.Were here to help you find the best PDF editor for your Mac from the multitude of options. There are various PDF editing apps that cater to various budgets and workflows and among them are a few that stand out in terms of features, performance, and design.When selecting a PDF editor, consider one that can create, convert, and export PDFs from various file types, while preserving the original formatting and making the text searchable and editable through OCR technology.The editor should also allow for content editing, including modifying text, inserting, resizing, and moving images, and reorganizing pages. Additionally, it should enable users to add comments and annotations to PDF files during review, with tools for marking up both text documents and graphic-heavy files. Security features, such as password protection, permissions setting, and content redaction, are also important for access control. Lastly, consider a PDF editor with mobile support, either through a dedicated mobile app or cloud access.If youre looking for basic annotation and page organization, the free Preview app that is available as part of macOS may be sufficient. If you need more in the way of editing tools, then one of these apps could better support your needs.We have reviewed all the PDF editors below, so read on to find out exactly what we thought.Updated December 2024 to add Cisdem PDFMaster for Mac (aka EaseUS PDF Editor). 1. Apple PreviewProsPre-installed and freeClear user interface Lots of handy toolsConsNo iOS or iPadOS apps Doesnt allow you to edit existing text Apple Preview is the default document and image viewer on macOS, offering a range of useful features beyond just viewing photos and PDFs.Click on any PDF (or any image format) to open it and it will launch in Preview. Alternatively, open Preview and it will open the Finder, allowing users to browse through folders to locate the file they want to view. The app features a toolbar at the top of the screen, which allows users to view file details, zoom in or out, share the file, fill in a form, or mark up the file.The Markup button reveals tools for selection, doodling, inserting shapes or sticky notes, signing, and typing text. These tools are easily customizable, allowing users to control the color and size of a shape or text box, as well as pick between multiple fonts when typing. There is also an autofill helper.Apple Preview is not designed to replace image or PDF editors, but it still offers some power-user features. The menu bars Tools button allows users to reveal more advanced image controls, such as granular resizing, color adjustments, and automatic background removal. The File menu includes a Export button that allows users to choose the outputs quality and file format, allowing them to convert images to various formats.When viewing a PDF file in Apple Preview, users can easily re-order or delete its pages using the sidebar, allowing them to limit the file to the important bits they need. If exporting the PDF using Preview, users can optionally add a password, quartz filter, or file restrictions.If youd prefer not to pay for Adobe Acrobat or another solution, Apple Preview may be more suitable for you. Apple Preview offers free tools that Adobe has paywalled, including PDF page organization/deletion, password protection for PDF files, and document scanning.Just need to turn something into a PDF? Read: How to make a PDF on MacRead our full Apple Preview review 2. Readdle PDF ExpertProsWide range of handy toolsIntuitive user interfaceFlexible pricingConsLifetime license only for MacNot for Android and WindowsPDF Expert has a wide range of reliable tools and an intuitive user interface. Its a great option if you are looking for more than Preview offers for free.Upon launching PDF Expert, users are greeted by a Tools tab with shortcuts to various features, such as organizing, optimizing, protecting, reviewing, or converting documents. The app runs smoothly and gives you everything you need to fully control a PDF file, including edit text and images, sign, fill checkboxes, add links, redact content in multiple ways, insert shapes, highlight text, doodle, and even measure the distance between two points or calculate specific areas.The PDF Expert toolbar features layout settings, an advanced search bar, and an AI Chat button. The AI Chat button allows users to interact with the integrated chatbot, summarize PDFs, list key points, generate hashtags, and more. The toolbars center includes commonly used PDF editing functionalities, such as annotation, editing, file conversion and exporting, signing, and optical character recognition (OCR).For most users, PDF Experts features are sufficient, as it allows users to manipulate a documents content, add or remove elements, protect the file with a password, and shrink its size. While Adobe Acrobat offers more advanced tools, PDF Experts core functionalities are sufficient for most users.There are two payment options on macOS: a lifetime license, or an annual license that includes future updates and mobile support. Students can get 50% off and there is a free 7-day trial. It is available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, but is not available on Android or Windows devices.Read our full Readdle PDF Expert review 3. Wondershare PDFelementProsCross-platform solutionFlexible pricingSimple user interfaceConsSome unlabeled sidebar buttons are hard to identifyNot always intuitiveWondershares PDFelement is a document manipulation tool that offers essential features on all platforms at a reasonable price. The app features a minimalistic user interface and offers single- and cross-platform licenses, with the main difference being app updates. If you plan to use the PDF editor on your Mac exclusively, you can opt for a one-year, two-year, or lifetime license. PDFelement also supports iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and the web, offering an all-encompassing bundle that supports all of these platforms.The single-platform licenses include 20GB of cloud storage, while the highlighted bundles offer 100GB. Once you run out of the 20,000 AI tokens included with your purchase, you can buy more. PDFelement features a clean home page showcasing standard PDF editing tools, such as PDF conversion, optical character recognition (OCR), template selection, file compression, and more. It also has a sidebar that grants access to handy destinations like recent files, cloud documents, tagged PDFs, and agreements youve sent others to sign.PDFelement supports most commonly needed PDF editing functionalities, including text manipulation, image and URL insertion, adding, deleting, and editing the documents pages. Its not the most advanced selection out there, but it gets the job done in casual workflows. PDFelement is better suited for annotation and artificial intelligence needs, allowing users to insert text, shapes, comments, stamps, forms, checkboxes, text callouts, and more. It can also automatically bookmarks reflecting the documents chapters.Beyond text manipulation, PDFelement can redact text, add a password to the file, convert the PDF to a Microsoft Office format, change the pages background, compress the size, and insert a watermark. While not the most feature-rich PDF editor, it caters to casual users seeking a lightweight solution.Despite its minimalism, getting used to PDFelement may take some time. The unlabeled buttons in the editors sidebar can be confusing and challenging to identify, and some features, like text editing, can sometimes be unpredictable. PDFelement is an excellent PDF editor for those with casual needs, but its tools arent as advanced as those offered by many rival apps.Read our full Wondershare PDFelement review 4. Foxit PDF EditorProsExtensive set of PDF editing tools Native macOS, iOS, and iPadOS appsConsOnly annual subscription plansMobile app access excluded from base planOverwhelming user interfaceFoxit offers a range of PDF-centric solutions for Mac users, including PDF Reader and PDF Editor. PDF Reader is available on macOS for free, allowing users to view, annotate, sign, and have AI analyze their documents. The paid-for PDF Editor unlocks the complete editing toolbox for an annual fee, with a base plan and a plus (+) plan that includes more features. There are options to pay monthly, but it is still an annual contract: theres no option to cancel after a month.The free PDF Reader allows users to control the size, color, and style of inserted text or shapes, as well as customize features like changing the documents background shade, reversing and rotating pages, signing forms, and more. It can read text aloud, measure distances, calculate areas, magnify selected spots, and have AI analyze your document.The paid-for PDF Editor supports all of PDF Readers features but adds editing functionalities, such as file conversion, optical character recognition (OCR), and full manipulation of a documents text and images through addition, deletion, or tweaking. It caters to power users with advanced features like document sanitization, redaction styles, security layers, JavaScript, and accessibility checks.Foxits PDF Editor stands out for its ChatGPT integration, which can analyze and summarize documents and perform actions on your behalf. The base plan should suffice for most users, while the Plus plan offers exclusives like mobile app access, tracking other parties signatures, smart redaction, 130GB of cloud storage, and template support.While the app is generally swift, the user interface may seem too packed to some users, especially those who dont need all the offered tools. Foxit PDF Editor is designed for serious users rather than casual users, and if the UI overwhelms you, it may be an overkill for you.Read our full Foxit PDF Editor review 5. ABBYY FineReader PDF for MacProsReasonably accurate and reliable OCR functionalitySupports scanning and importing from iPhoneCan convert PDF to wide range of formatsConsSimilarly priced apps include superior PDF editing toolsOther PDF editing apps offer optical character recognition (OCR) as an added perk, Abbyy FineReader PDF leads on its optical character recognition software and file converter, and, while it offers reliable OCR and file conversion functionalities, it falls short when it comes to PDF editing.FineReader PDF is a simple user interface with three main tabs: viewing PDF documents, quick and advanced file conversion tools, and importing documents. It has been optimized for macOS and offers a modern design. FineReader PDF supports viewing and highlighting PDF files, with preset highlight colors and comments.The quick conversion feature processes inputted files to detect content and then selects the outputs format. Supported file formats include PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, EPUB, FB2, TXT, HTML, RTF, ODT, and CSV. It doesnt support Apples HEIC image format, so users may need to convert HEIC iPhone shots to JPG first. Each format offers its own customizations, such as ebook title, author, layout, and page size.FineReader PDF exports the document, making it more editable. However, it doesnt support proper PDF editing, so it may not be the ideal PDF solution for manipulating files.It doesnt offer a one-time purchase option and has relatively high recurring fees. Theres a yearly subscription plan on the Abbyy website, and a monthly subscription on the Mac App Store (which is a good option because you can cancel at any time). Theres a full-featured 7-day free trial.Read our full ABBYY FineReader PDF for Mac review 6. Adobe AcrobatProsCross platformAdvanced PDF manipulation toolsSupports signature collectionConsMac app is bloatedFree version is limited compared to PreviewExpensive subscriptionsPrice When Reviewed:9,95 pro MonatBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceAdobe9,95 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket9,95 at AdobeAdobe Acrobat is a popular PDF viewer and editor on Mac, offering basic annotation tools. However, the free Acrobat Reader tier offers the same basic annotation tools that are present in Apples built-in Preview app, which is far superior in most cases. One point in its favor is that Acrobat is available across macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and even the web, making it accessible from most modern computing devices, while Preview is limited to macOS.Subscribing to Adobe Acrobat Standard provides access to all PDF editing functionality, including more control over the PDFs content, reorganization of the entire documents layout, and more advanced tools like object measurements, accessibility preparation, JavaScript support, and search index insertion.For the advanced Adobe Acrobat Pro features you pay more each month to get permanent redaction, web form creation, PDF comparisons, accessibility checks, audio/video insertion, and much more. Acrobat Pro is necessary for tasks like converting scanned documents into searchable and editable PDFs.Adobe Acrobats paid subscriptions are expensive and do not offer one-time purchase options. The slightly higher monthly cancel anytime price is a good option if you only need the features temporarily.Read our full Adobe Acrobat review 7. Cisdem PDFMaster (aka EaseUS PDF editor)ProsSimple user interfaceFluid performanceOne-time payment optionsConsConfusing brandingNot always reliableNo version for iOS and iPadOSOne of the options you may come across during your hunt for a PDF editor is that from EaseUS. While the companys own PDF editor is exclusive to Windows, its website offers PDFMaster for macOSwhich is actually developed by its partner Cisdem. EaseUS packages Cisdem PDFMaster as EaseUS PDF Editor for Mac, but its essentially the same app. Confused? We were.Just to baffle you further, you can buy the app from EaseUS or Cisdem, and at the Mac App Store, all at different prices and there are a few differences. We reviewed EaseUSs version.The app features a minimalistic user interface with modern-looking buttons and labels.While PDFMasters feature set is somewhat limited compared to more professional apps, it generally gets the job done for those with casual PDF editing needs. You can edit the text in the document, including add or remove words, change the font, insert links and so on. You can also add shapes, highlighting, underlining, strikethroughs, and leave comments. Images, stamps, and digital signatures can also be added.Watermarking, document cropping, conversion to multiple file formats, size shrinking, optical character recognition (OCR), redaction, page reorganization, PDF comparisons, area calculations are also available.We did have a few issues during testing. For example, exporting a PDF after password-protecting it didnt actually secure it.Once its 14-day trial expires, you will have to pay $89.95 once or $59.95 per year to continue using the software. The macOS version doesnt provide a monthly subscription plan. There is no mobile version for iOS and iPadOS users.Read our full Cisdem PDFMaster for Mac (aka EaseUS PDF Editor) review FAQ 1.Do Macs have built in PDF?Macs have a built-in PDF editor called Apple Preview, which offers a comprehensive set of PDF markup tools, including form filling and password protection. This editor is superior to Adobe Acrobats free tier in terms of PDF editing capabilities. The PDF editing tools in macOS can be accessed through Quick Look or the Preview app, and they allow users to add text, highlight, underline, and strikethrough text, rotate pages, add and remove pages, add arrows and other shapes, and add comments to PDFs. Additionally, Apple Preview allows users to add their signature to a PDF. However, its worth noting that Apple Preview has limited native sharing options and is only available to Mac users.2.How to make a PDF on a MacTo create a PDF on a Mac, you can use the built-in Preview app. Simply create a document on your Mac, then choose Print > PDF and edit in Preview. The Preview app also allows you to export PDFs with options for quality and file format, and add password, quartz filter, or file restrictions. Alternatively, you can use tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro or Standard, one one of the other options in the list above, but these require a subscription.3.How to fill in a PDF on a MacFilling in a PDF with Apple Preview is easy. The Mac app, included on every Mac, includes a form-filling feature that automatically detects fields and allows easy filling. In addition, AutoFill, a feature introduced in macOS 14.2, uses Contacts to select the necessary information and makes filling out PDFs faster and more secure. If you need more advance features then one of the options above will give you additional viewing, editing, converting, and PDF signing abilities.Read: How to edit a PDF on a Mac 4.Can I edit a PDF for free on a Mac?Yes, you can edit a PDF for free on a Mac using Apples built-in Preview app, which offers a full set of PDF markup tools, including encryption, password protection, and permissions for files . Adobe also offers a free Acrobat Reader for reading and filling in PDFs, but it lacks some features that Apples built-in Preview app offers.Read: Best free PDF editors for Mac 5.Whats the difference between Preview and Acrobat?Adobe Acrobat and Apple Preview both offer basic annotation tools. While both have a form-filling feature, Preview automatically detects fields for easy filling, unlike Acrobat which requires manual alignment. Preview also offers free tools that Acrobat charges for, including PDF page organization/deletion, password protection, and document scanning . Furthermore, Preview is preloaded on Macs, providing faster performance and a sleeker design. However, Previews editing functionality is limited and it is not designed for advanced editing, unlike Acrobat which offers more functionality it you pay for it.Read: Apple Preview vs Adobe AcrobatSome other articles that might be helpful: How to make a PDF on an iPhone How to scan documents on iPhone How to edit a PDF on iPhone How to redact text in a PDF How to save a page from a PDF as a separate file

MacworldPicture your beloved AirTag, but so flat it actually fits in your wallet. Yup, no awkward bulge in your pocket to keep track of your cards and cashjust this wallet tracker in the shape of a credit card.Bold claim: These KeySmart SmartCards might be better than the AirTag. They work with Apples Find My app, are Qi-wireless rechargeable, and are almost the same price during Cyber Week! Get this AirTag alternative for only $29.97 with free shipping through December 8 (reg. $39.99) AirTags are $29.Unfamiliar with how Find My trackers work? Once paired with your iPhone or other Apple devices, you can track your wallet, luggage, or passport on a live map. You also get notifications when its left behind and play sounds to help locate it.Another perk of these wallet tracker cards is that you dont have to purchase a keychain holder like you do with the AirTag. They have a lanyard slot if you want to add them to your keys or ID reel.Get a KeySmart SmartCard for $29.97 with free shipping (reg. $39.99) during Cyber Week. Deal ends December 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT and no coupon is needed.KeySmart SmartCard Thinnest Card Tracker & Works with Apple Find My $29.97See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldJealous of those fancy new Macs with their Apple Intelligence that magically enhances photos and videos? Well, you dont need to upgrade your perfectly good Mac just to get in on the AI action. This photo and video enhancer adds the same capabilities to your machineno Apple Store visit required. Just pay $35.99 for a lifetime download (reg. $119).VideoProcs AI-powered video enhancer is like having a whole team of editors at your fingertips. It lets you edit, convert, and resize even those massive 4K UHD videos without your MacBook sounding like its about to launch into orbit. But its not just about speed; VideoProc also uses AI to boost video quality. Think smoother footage, sharper images, and even noise reduction.And if youre into photography, VideoProc has you covered there as well. It can help you touch up photos, create slideshows with music, and even convert images between different formats. Basically, its like having a mini version of Apples Photos app with Apple Intelligence.Get a VideoProc lifetime license here for $35.99 (reg. $119). You wont find a better price anywhere else.VideoProc Converter: Lifetime Family License $35.99See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsSuper fast 6GBps reading, 5GBps writing via Thunderbolt 5Rugged and weatherproofHandsome designA bargain compared to Apple internal SSD upgradesConsExpensive compared to Thunderbolt 3/USBRequires an M4 Pro/Max Mac for full 80Gbps performanceLimited compatibility with older hardware and software.Our Verdict We love that the new Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD from OWC is almost as fast as Apples internal storage, but its not cheap and backwards compatibility isnt all-encompassing.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayIf youre looking to take full advantage of the Thunderbolt 5 ports on your M4 Pro Mac mini or M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro and possibly circumvent Apples avaricious storage upgrade pricing, you should consider OWCs Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 external SSD. The Envoy Ultra is hardly cheap, but its nowhere near what Apple charges.On the downside, there are more backwards compatibility issues than expected.This is the compatibility statement from the Thunderbolt 5 PR deck. Broadly apparently doesnt mean Completely. Especially with older software and hardware. Thunderbolt 5 compatibilityWhile the speed is alluring, and Thunderbolt 5 itself is backwards compatible with older Thunderbolt specs, its not nearly as backwards compatible as you might think, we wish, or is hinted at.First, you need a Thunderbolt 5-enabled Mac or Windows PC to take full advantage of Thunderbolt 5s 80Gbps transfer rates. 80Gbps? Yes. While you may have seen 120GBps quoted in some articles as Thunderbolt 5s top speed, thats only unidirectional for displays. Bi-directional, as with storage, is limited to 80Gbps.The first compatibility issue is that to utilize a Thunderbolt 5 drive, Apple silicon Macs need either macOS 14 Sonoma, or macOS 15 Sequoia. Thunderbolt 3 Macs with Intel chips must run Sequoia. Note that the Envoy Ultra did enumerate on my Mac Studio Thunderbolt 4 bus when I was back on Ventura, but it wasnt available in Disk Utility or Finder.Also, while the Envoy Ultras captive cable prevents me from testing it on older Thunderbolt 1/2 using an adapter, the image above indicates that this is off the table. OWC confirmed that Thunderbolt 5 wont work with the older standards, so stick with Thunderbolt 3 equipment for older Macs.OWCs Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5SSD.Jon L. JacobiAdditionally, in my testing for PCWorld, there was a rather large issue with the official test bed. That issue is that the Envoy Ultra completely failed to register in the BIOS, Disk Manager, or Thunderbolt utility. Oops. This is despite updating all the drivers, removing everything non-essential, and even updating Windows 11 to the latest release on the test bed. Eventually, a BIOS/Thunderbolt firmware update from Asus solved the issue.This iffy backwards compatibility could be a problem if youre working in a mixed operating system environment. Some older equipment might not be updated.FeaturesThe OWC Envoy Ultra shares the handsome, sculpted styling of the Thunderbolt 3 40Gbps/USB 3.2 10Gbps Envoy Pro FX. However, its a bit larger chunk of black metal, measuring about 0.75 inches thick, 2.8 inches wide, and 5 inches long. The Envoy Ultra weighs in at a satisfyingly substantial 10.5 ounces or so.The OWC Envoy Ultra attached to the MacBook Pro M4 Pro used for testing.I already mentioned the captive cable, which is for weatherproofing (its not IP-rated, but it seems as if it could pass the tests) and making sure you cant lose it. It does, however, make it a bit harder to stow the Envoy Ultra in tight quarters. Also, as with all captive cables, you should avoid stressing the attachment point for longevitys sake.The OWC Envoy Ultra carries a three-year warranty, but no TBW (Terabytes that may be Written) rating was given.PriceIf you thought a Thunderbolt 5 SSD was going to be cheap.well, I have some interesting real estate properties you might be interested in. The Envoy Ultra costs a cool $400 in its 2TB form and $600 at 4TB.Given that you can grab a Thunderbolt 3/USB4 SSD for roughly half that, and a 20/10Gbps unit for far less than half, youd better really need or want the speed. Note however, that despite a new 20Gbps 3.22 tunneling protocol that may work with docking stations, 3.22 SSDs still drop to 10Gbps when attached directly to a Thunderbolt 5 port. 20Gbps USB4 SSDs will operate at full speed attached to Thunderbolt 5.Then again, compared with Apples egregious price gouging for internal storage upgrades ($1,200 for 4TB???), the Envoy Ultra is a fantastic bargain.PerformanceShort answer: Very fast. Benchmarks showed anywhere from 5.2GBps (Blackmagicdesigns Disk Speed Test), to 6.5GBps reading (AmorphousDiskMark), to near 7GBps reading and 5.57GBps writing (ATTO). Even my real-world read of approximately 330GB of .mov files showed an excellent turn of formalmost 6GBps reading. Alas, writing was considerably slower, only around 1.5GBps.Note I copied to and from the same M4 Pro MacBook Pro (2TB) that I ran the synthetic benchmarks on. By way of comparison, and for the enlightenment of those who might be looking to avoid paying ridiculous sums for Apples internal storage, I included the benchmark results from the MacBooks internal SSD. These are shown to the right of the OWC Envoy Ultras in the images below.The difference between the internal and external storage isnt as severe as you might expect. Long story short, read results are remarkably close for the most part, though the internal SSD was a good deal faster writing under nearly all circumstances. Note that the fastest external SSD weve previously tested, the USB4 Adata SE920 only just exceeded 3GBps reading. YesVery fast.Blackmagicdesigns Disk Speed test showed consistent 5.2GBps performance in both reading and writing for the OWC Envoy Ultra (left). The Internal M4 Pro MacBook Pro SSD results are shown on the right.AmorphousDiskMark showed better numbers for the Envoy Ultra readinga rather scintillating 6.44GBps. Not that far off the MacBook Pro M4 Pros internal SSD. Approximately 5GBps writing from the Envoy Ultra seems to be the consensus from all three synthetic benchmarks.AmorphousDiskMark showed the Envoy Ultra reading far faster than Disk Speed test. Nearly 6.5GBps. ATTO Disk Benchmark paints largely the same picture, though read speeds for the Envoy Ultra actually exceeded those of the MacBook Pro M4 Pros internal SSD. Writes? No, though around 5GBps is hardly anything to sneeze at. ATTO Disk Benchmark paints largely the same picture, though read speeds for the Envoy Ultra actually exceeded those of the MacBook Pro M4 Pros internal SSD. Writes? No, though around 5GBps is hardly anything to sneeze at. Although our real-world file writes didnt match the benchmarks, they were still quite good. In total, the OWC Envoy Ultra is a very nice upgrade performance-wise from the average Thunderbolt 3 SSD, and a worthy companion for any Thunderbolt 5 Mac.Note that the SSD inside the Envoy Ultra is the Auro Pro IV. You can read more about its performance (good at the time, not so much now) in sister publication PCWorlds review. That said, the Envoy Ultra, once running on our updated test bed, turned in a very, very slow 450GB write time.Should you buy the OWC Envoy Ultra?If you want, and can afford the absolute fastest storage for your new Thunderbolt 5 Mac, then the answer is yes. Have at it. Also, its a heck of a lot cheaper than Apples rapaciously priced internal storage and nearly as fast. That said, Thunderbolt 3/USB4 SSDs are still plenty fast, cheaper, and far more compatible with older Mac hardware and software. Ill leave the value equation up to you.

MacworldThe Mac lineup ended 2024 with a bang, with Apple introducing the M4 chip series and upgrades to the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. Those releases brought the Mac a nice momentum swing as we enter 2025.So what about 2025? The Mac releases next year may not be as drastic as the M4 flurry to close out 2024, but there will be more than enough to keep the Mac interesting and relevant. Here are the top five Mac developments were looking out for in 2025 (and one longshot).M4 MacBook AirThe model that kicks off the 2025 Mac releases will be the M4 upgrade to the MacBook Air, which will likely land between January and March. The current M3 MacBook Air was released in March 2024, so the M4 model will arrive about a year later.With the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro, Apple introduced other changes to go along with the new chip: an additional Thunderbolt/USB 4 port, an increase in RAM from 8GB to 16GB, an option for Nano-texture glass, and a Space Black color option. Rumors have indicated that the M4 MacBook Air will be little more than a chip upgrade, but any of these options could make an appearance.The M4 MacBook Air will be released in the early part of 2024.FoundryHowever, theres one functional change that will likely arrive with the M4 MacBook Air With the M3 MacBook Air, you can run up to two external displays (one at 6K/60Hz, the other at 5K/60Hz) with the laptop closed. The M4 chip in the MacBook Pro has more robust support, where you can run two external displays in addition to the laptops display, for a total of three usable screens. Now, maybe thermal considerations prevent the M4 in the MacBook Air from having the same support as the M4 in the MacBook Pro, but we still think its a likely upgrade. Also, Apple upgraded the M3 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM during the M4 Mac release, so its a lock that the M4 MacBook Air will start at 16GB, too.Read more about the M4 MacBook AirM4 Max/Ultra Mac StudioThe current Mac Studio has an M2 Max/Ultra chip and was released in 2023, so its overdue for an update and will get one in 2024. Reports have stated that the M4 Max and Ultra Mac Studio will be released in the first half of the year, perhaps at a spring event in March or at WWDC in June.The new Mac Studio will feature the debut of the M4 Ultra, Apples top-end chip, which was absent from the M3 family. Apples Ultra chips are basically two Max chips with an interconnect, so we can look at the M4 Max to get an idea of what we could see in the M4 Ultra: a 32-core CPU, an 80-core GPU, a 32-core Neural Engine, and 96GB of RAM to start. Even if the M4 Ultra Mac Studio changes the design and has slightly different specs, its going to be a powerful machine.Does an M4 Ultra Mac Studio with Thunderbolt 5 sound powerful enough for you?Willis Lai/FoundryAnother nice upgrade for the Mac Studio is Thunderbolt 5 support, which made its debut in the M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro. Thunderbolt 5 offers up to 120Gbps throughput, though you must have Thunderbolt 5 devices (and cables) to take full advantage of the bandwidth.Read more about the M4 Mac StudioM4 Ultra Mac ProSince the M2 Ultra is no longer the fastest Apple chip (surpassed by the M4 Pro and M4 Max), Apple needs to do something about the Mac Pro. According to reports, that something wont happen until the latter part of 2025.As mentioned with the Mac Studio, the M4 Ultra should be a beast of a chip and Apple will implement Thunderbolt 5, which will be a boon to media professionals who rely on Thunderbolt 5 devices for production.After the M4 Ultra upgrade, it may be a couple of years before Apple upgrades the Mac Pro again.FoundryAs for the tower design, it sounds as though Apple will stick with the same designat least we havent heard any reports to the contrary. The current design is fine and even though it will be six years old by the time the new Mac Pro is released, it doesnt seem dated. However, with the improvements in efficiency and heat dissipation, and the removal of RAM slots, It would be nice to see Apple do something different with the design, perhaps with a smaller enclosure.Read more about the M4 Ultra Mac Pro. New Apple displaysThe current Apple Studio Display will be three years old in March 2025. The current Pro Display XDR will turn six years old in 2025 as well. These displays need to be updated, the Pro Display XDR, especially. The M4 MacBook Pro features mini-LED displays that use quantum dot technology to improve color accuracy. That sounds ideal for a new ProDisplay XDR, along with a ProMotion-style higher refresh rate. The launch of a new display is harder to pin down, but we expect the Studio Display alongside the Mac Studio and the Pro Display XDR to arrive with the new Mac Pro.Could 2025 be the year the Pro Display XDR is updated?FoundryM5 processorHow can we be talking about M5 Macs when the M4 is barely a month old? With the Apple transition over and development moving fast, reports say that M5/M5 Pro/M5 Max upgrades to the MacBook Pro could happen a year from now. Another recent report said that Apple is also planning to release an M5 iPad Pro next year.The M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max are expected to provide an incremental boost over the M4 series they will replace. That likely means an increase between 15 and 25 percent.Reports about the Macs M5 have focused on the MacBook Pro and not mentioned the Mac mini and iMac. Its possible Apple could forego M5 upgrades for the Mac mini and iMac as it has previously skipped chip generations for those Macs in the past.Longshot: A bigger iMacFor years, there have been reports that Apple has an iMac larger than the current 24-inch iMac in development, but the company has not decided on when or whether it will be released. Some older rumors put its release around 2025, so It could be ready by the later part of next yearwhich would mean it would have an M5 chip.The iMac Pro could make a comeback in 2025.Dominik Tomaszewski/IDGSpeculation is that this larger iMac wouldnt just be a larger display, but a pro-level computer that follows the footsteps of the late iMac Pro. That could mean a Pro or Max chip, Thunderbolt 5 support, and a 32-inch (or larger) display that would make for a great high-end all-in-one and a fantastic 2025 surprise.Read the rumors about the new Mac Pro.

MacworldAfter skipping all of 2023, Apple updated its entire lineup of iPads in 2024 save one: the 10th-gen model. While it did get an aggressive price cut to $349, Apple opted to leave its cheapest tablet with the same specs its had since its 2022 launch. But it shouldnt be much longer until it gets an update: Heres what we know so far.When will the 11th-gen iPad be released?Apple once had a steady release schedule for its cheapest iPad alongside the latest iPhones in the September event. In 2022, the 10th-gen revamp saw a slight adjustment to this with an October debut alongside the M2 iPad Pro and Apple TV 4K (3rd-gen).Heres when the previous iPad models launched:iPad (10th-generation) October 2022iPad (9th-generation) September 2021iPad (8th-generation) September 2020iPad (7th-generation) September 2019iPad (6th-generation) March 2018So when can we expect an update to the standard iPad? It looks like Apple may switch things up with a spring release in 2025 alongside the 4th-gen iPhone SE at an event in March or April.How much will the 11th-gen iPad cost?Pricing was consistent up until the arrival of the iPad (10th-generation) in 2022, but following the redesign, Apple upped the price quite significantly, from $329 to $449. However, in May 2024, Apple dropped the price of the 10th-gen model around the world by $100 to $349/349/439.Therefore, we dont know what pricing is for the 11th-generation iPad. Apple may keep the same $349 price tag or raise it back to $449 and keep the 10th-gen model in the lineup as a budget option.What features will we see in the 11th-gen iPad?The 10th-gen iPad delivered a major redesign, so we dont expect too much to change with the 11th-generation model. However, there will be some notable upgrades:Processor and RAMLike the 2024 iPad mini, the most obvious update to the 11th-gen iPad will be the chipset. The current iPad 10 runs on an A14 chipset, which debuted in 2020 with the 4th-gen iPad Air and iPhone 12. We expect the new iPad mini will get either the A17 Pro or A18 processor with 8GB of RAM so it can run Apple Intelligence. Following the iPad minis 2024 A17 Pro update, the 10th-gen iPad is Apples only tablet that doesnt support Apple Intelligence, which requires at least 8GB of RAM.DisplayAs the display was increased from 10.2 inches to 10.9 inches with the 10th-gen revamp, we dont expect any changes to the screen size. The only possible change is the use of a laminated display, which would make the device slightly thinner and offer better clarity. AppleCameras Since the 10th-gen iPad was Apples first tablet to change the placement of the front camera from portrait to landscape mode and already has Center Stage, we dont expect Apple to change the front camera. Its possible Apple upgrades the rear camera slightly, but since the M2 iPad Air released in 2024 has the same 12MP wide camera, its likely any improvements come from software.Storage If theres a standout upgrade that could make life easier for people, its storage. The base model still has just 64GB of storage, while the rest of the lineup starts with at least 128GB. Like the iPhone SE, we expect Apple to bump the base storage of its entry-level tablet up to 128GB when the 11th-gen iPad arrives, as well as increase the top offering to 512GB.Well keep updating this article as more information becomes available. Until then, you should check out our best iPad 9th and 10th-generation deals and best iPad mini deals roundups to see if you can bag yourself a bargain on one of Apples other offerings.

MacworldWe know its the giving season, but sometimes its nice to get a little for ourselves. Like todays deal: Amazon is selling the 10th-gen iPad for $250 when you click the coupon box, a cool $100 off its already-low MSRP and matching its amazing Black Friday pricing.The 10th gen iPad features Apples A14 chip with a pair of 12MP cameras, a stunning all-screen design, and Apple Pencil support. The 10.9-inch tablet has 64GB of storage space, but you can get the 256GB model for $70 off, which isnt as great, but if you want more storage space, its going to have to do.One of the major upgrades for the 10th gen iPad was the 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, which keeps you focused when you move around during your calls. Its only drawback is it doesnt support Apple Intelligence, but that shouldnt be a huge drawback at this price.So go ahead and add the 10th-gen iPad to your cart for $250. It probably wont arrive by Christmas but itll be a nice gift to yourself once the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over.Buy now at Amazon

MacworldWeve looked in depth at CleanMyMac as a great solution for reclaiming space and optimizing you Mac and its one of our top choices in our round up of the Best Mac Cleaning Software. Among its many tools is a Protection tool that can scan for malware on your Mac and remove it. In this article we are looking specifically at this feature to see if it can compete on the same level as the big guns in our round up of the Best Antivirus solutions for Mac. CleanMyMacRead our reviewPrice When Reviewed:39,99 Best Prices Today:39.99 at MacPawOur big concern here is that sometimes a company can be lead by its marketing department who make promises the engineering team cant deliver. We felt this was the case when we first looked at the antivirus aspect of CleanMyMacs arsenal earlier in 2024, but its been updated since, so we wanted to take another look. Like previous versions, the version of CleanMyMac we are testing (CleanMyMac 5.0.4) comes out swinging the first time you launch it, its opening animations offering tutorial elements to learn from. CleanMyMac installs cleanly, but doesnt ask for Full Disk Access, which has to be assigned manually in the Privacy & Security settings, which proved a bit disconcerting. Still, the software offers a good level of customization, and its easy to choose between the three scan modes (Quick Scan, Balanced Scan, and Deep Scan), each of them offering quick performance as CleanMyMac scans your hard drive and external drives. Its easy to configure scan behaviors, such as whether or not to include external drives in your scans or target .DMG files, and whitelists can also be created to exclude specific volumes and folders from the scans.CleanMyMac homes in on the XLoader malware, offering to quarantine and remove it.FoundryTesting with CleanMyMac proved a mixed bag, and while the software teams up well with macOS GateKeeper feature, the two bringing down the hammer on questionable software that hasnt been signed as safe/compatible by Apple and preventing installation or the running of questionable scripts and functions, its still possible to get a fair amount of malware past these systems and into your Mac. Once installed, the Quick Scan feature found only three threats in the form of two elements from CrossRat and a threat in the form of the infamous AdWind malware. The Balanced Scan function was able to root out most of the Elite Keylogger malware, while the Deep Scan feature found the remnants of the AdWind malware, which had to be dug out with a third-party utility.To its credit, CleanMyMac was able to catch some elements of malware as they were being opened for the first time, but there were questionable chunks of software that remained even after theyd purportedly been removed and the Mac had been rebooted. Case in point, the Elite Keylogger software had to be manually located and removed from the Login Items. FoundryIn addition to this, CleanMyMac offers no tangible warning against visiting questionable websites, and essentially waved me on through without any kind of warning to every questionable link to be found in my Gmails Spam folder, in one case allowing full access to a mock utility that pretended to scan my hard drive for infections and located dozens of samples with the intention of having me install malware to remove the purported infections. None of this is encouraging, and in the midst of MacPaw and CleanMyMacs claims that the utility is a catch-all for just about everything on your Mac, this feels like a missing feature that could be capitalized on if executed well.Its not all bad news for CleanMyMac. To my surprise, the application was able to catch and remove no less than 216 malware samples that Id copied on an external hard drive, hunting them down after theyd been decompressed from their .zip archives and taking them out effectively. This was an excellent find, but these malware samples seemed to have been largely ignored when they were on my local hard drive awaiting installation, and CleanMyMac weirdly wraps external hard drives into its larger scans without offering a targeted scanning feature that can be used with an external drive such as a thumb drive on the fly.Its a strange mix of zippy speed that can perform a Deep Scan on an SSD with more than 800 gigabytes of data on it in five to ten minutes, but also allows prominent chunks of adware and malware that remain installed unless you specifically locate the files and remove them or use a third-party utility to hunt down what CleanMyMac missed. CleanMyMac was able to find and remove 216 instances of malware from an external drive.FoundryYes, there are some good features to be had with the new version of CleanMyMac, the interface is excellent, and MacPaw makes good use of its potentially great MoonLock antiviral engine and its real-time malware monitor, but theres too much that can be forced through that just ends up not being cleanly removed, and this is a problem.CleanMyMac 5.0.4 caught a fair amount of viral activity, but still left adware and malware such as AdWind in place, which needed to be cleaned out with another utility.CleanMyMac retails for $39.95/30.95 for one Mac for a one year subscription, or a one time purchase of $119.95/101.95 for one Mac (at the time of writing there is an additional 20% off those prices). It is available for a week-long free trial provided you give MacPaw your credit or debit card information to bill against.

MacworldTo many of us, backing up a Mac means setting up Time Machine to make incremental backups and signing up to various iCloud services so that we can keep copies of photos, music, files and more in the cloud.But, while Time Machine and iCloud are great resources, they arent perfect, and relying on them alone to keep your data safe is a mistake that could have disastrous consequences. An ideal strategy consists of at least two separate backup schedules, one backing up your Mac to a hard drive onsite, and one backing up to a drive thats stored offsite or in the cloud. At the very least, if you use Time Machine to back up to an external hard drive or network device, you should also have another tool running regular backups to a different drive just in case one fails. PROMOTIONMac backup software | EaseUS Todo BackupAs an ideal alternative to Time Machine and iCloud, EaseUS Todo Backup does backup tasks on Mac more simply and faster, by backup archive, disk cloning features, and file or folder sync. It can set up an automated backup schedule in stealth mode to create safe copies and protect your data proactively. Also, all backups will be compressed to save disk space and encrypted to protect privacy. Now 25% OFF by using code: MACWORLD25.Free TrialBuy and Save 25%In this article, we look at the best on-site backup solutions to use with your Mac. We look separately at cloud backup solutions that work with Macs including Backblaze, Carbonite, IDrive and others including options that offer the ability to combine local backups with backup to the cloud, such as Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office.Best backup software for MacOf the apps and services we look at here, Time Machine from Apple is by far the simplest option. Its also completely free and available to everyone with a Mac, so you might be wondering why you would want to consider another backup option for your Mac. Time Machine is good, but it is limited compared to some of the options out there. Read on to find out how options such as Get Backup Pro, ChronoSync, Carbon Copy Cloner, and SuperDuper might meet your needs. Apple Time MachineProsReliable, easy to set up, and good at working behind the scenes to create backup archivesEasy to migrate Time Machine data over to new Macs as neededGood level of encryption-based security for backup dataConsAlmost exclusively local backups rather than cloud-based backupsLimited backup scheduling optionsRestore interface can be confusingBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceFreeView DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketFree at AppleWe are starting with Apples Time Machine software because it is included with every Mac. But that doesnt necessarily mean it will be the best option for you. Time Machine is a reliable tool for local backups of Macs, providing a full-sized initial backup of every file on the Mac and incremental backups throughout the day as long as the Mac is attached to a designated Time Machine external drive. That drive can be disconnected and used as an external drive for other computers or paired with multiple Macs for backups.The first backup takes the longest while every file on the Mac is rolled into the Time Machine backup, but it gets quicker from there. Time Machines Restore function allows users to open and scroll through past backups to locate and restore files, which is useful if something was accidentally deleted or you made changes to a file and need to go back to an earlier version.When paired with Apples Migration Assistant, porting data and user profiles from an old Mac to a new one is simple. When importing a Time Machine backup to a new Mac, Time Machine inherits previous backups as well.For security, users can designate a password to encrypt their Time Machine backups and there are reminders about the number of days since the last backup that encourage you to keep it plugged in.However, Time Machine is more geared towards external hard drives, which can be lost, damaged, or stolen. It is best to have both a local and secure off-site copy of your data, and the online backup market has grown over the past few years with services like iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box.Despite its limitations, Time Machine is an excellent solution for local backups of Macs. While it requires an external hard drive connected to the Mac for consistent functionality, it offers excellent protection built into the operating system.Carbon Copy ClonerProsExcellent performanceGreat level of configuration, including scheduling, and task scriptingFrequent updatesConsCreating a bootable drive is hit or miss on M-series MacsHigh $49.99 price point for the initial Personal and Household licenseCurrently unable to clone to Windows file formats or over to Web and cloud-based platformsPrice When Reviewed:48,15Best Prices Today: RetailerPriceBombich Software48,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket48,00 at Bombich SoftwareBombich Softwares Carbon Copy Cloner has been a popular utility for cloning data on Macs since it launched in 2002. It supports HFS+ and APFS drive formats, local volumes, and NAS-enabled networks. However, it cannot back up Windows file formats, optical media, web-based platforms, or Apples Time Machine platforms.Carbon Copy Cloner has a comprehensive user interface, and customizable filters and grants access to configuration options like disk encryption, task notes, and bandwidth configuration for NAS backups. Other tools, such as scheduling, can be performed without issue. The task manager allows users to save and configure multiple backup tasks. A scripting feature allows custom scripts to be loaded and activated as needed.The SafetyNet feature allows for drive formatting or stopping processes before overwriting data on a volume. However, there are some weak points, including Apples lack of openness and the need for bootable external volumes. Creating a bootable external volume in Carbon Copy Cloner is currently a hit-or-miss proposition, with attempts at creating a bootable external volume failing due to Apples protocols. Other utilities face the same issues.Carbon Copy Cloner pairs well with utilities like Time Machine, Apples Migration Assistant, and SuperDuper!. The companys customer support is friendly and speedy, and the software offers quick access to help guides. A supportive community and frequent developer updates are another bonus. If Carbon Copy Cloner is not in your arsenal of handy utilities, you should download it and give it a try.A Personal and Household license is $49.99/40.10. Theres a full-featured 30-day trial.Read our full Carbon Copy Cloner review IDrive ProsGood control over scheduling and backup elements ConsCramped interfacelDrive is a backup utility that handles both local and web/cloud-based backups (similar to Backblaze and Carbonite). It allows you to continually backup your entire drive to the cloud, while also letting you drag and drop files to the cloud to access remotely. lDrive also allows you to back up external hard drives.lDrives user interface is very straightforward. Your Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures folders are automatically selected for backup, along with the contents of ~/Library/Mail.Features like Rewind and Snapshots allow you to restore from earlier versions of files or snapshots of the complete data set. To add other folders, click Change at the bottom of the window thats not exactly intuitive. You can add videos to the backup, but locating them in lDrives interface can be complicated.Both scheduling and restoring are straightforward, however. As is choosing a local drive as the destination for a backup in place of lDrives servers.All data is encrypted, with the option to set your own private encryption key.You have the choice of restoring by having data physically shipped to you. This is free for the first restore each year, but if you are based outside the US youll have to pay for shipping.The subscription-based tier system offers a free Basic account with 10GB of online disk space for free with no credit or debit card required. That 10GB free tier allows for local backups and is pretty generous, but the real steal is the $2.95 (2.32) per year IDrive Mini plan. Thats not a typo, either; for less than 3 bucks a year you can get access to 100GB of storage. That can be expanded to 500GB for $9.95 (7.84) per year. lDrives free tier and the ability to spread your data allocation in the paid tiers across multiple computers makes it attractive. Overall, though, its expensive for a single machine.Read our full IDrive review SuperDuper! ProsEasy installation, great user interfaceScripting and customization capabilitiesReliable updatesConsNo network volume supportNo FAT, exFAT, or NTFS supportPrice When Reviewed:31,54 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceShirt Pocket31,54 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket31,54 at Shirt PocketSuperDuper! (version 3.8 at the time of this review) is a popular Mac cloning and restoration app that is easy to install. It supports APFS and HFS+ file formats and can be customized to fit individual needs. In addition to cloning, the app supports scheduling and allows users to specify files to be copied over, including Unix-specific elements like user folders, shared users, shared users and applications, and backup files.SuperDuper! easily restores data from one volume to another, which is simpler than using Apples restoration options in macOSs Disk Utility. The user interface displays the number of files copied, copy speed, data evaluated, time elapsed, and amount of data moved from the source volume to the target volume. Users can edit provided scripts or write their own, choose between methods such as Total Backup and Smart Backup, and set up events like permission repairs before a copy begins, scripts to execute after a copy has completed, and for the Mac to eject the target volume, shut down, go to sleep, or quit SuperDuper! once the copy is done.However, SuperDuper! has room for improvement. For example, it cant back up to network volumes and it doesnt support FAT, exFAT, or NTFS for Windows and Linux volumes. We hope that the network backup comes with a further update.SuperDuper! retails for a one-time payment of $27.95/26.95 (you can use it for free, but you need to pay to unlock scheduling, smart updates, and some other features).Over the years, Shirt Pocket has consistently provided solid updates, pinned down bugs, supported new protocols introduced by Apple, and communicated well through its tech support and marketing. Overall, SuperDuper! is a reliable local cloning and restoration app for the Mac that can be readily customized and scripted, and is excellent value.Read our full Superduper review Get Backup Pro ProsFlexibility Can back up to network volumesGet Backup Proby BeLight Software is easy to download, install into the Applications folder, and run (although we did encounter a few problems assigning full disk access).The user interface keeps things simple, scheduling full backups, cloning, and incremental backups worked like a charm, and a slate of customization options allows for specific files and folders to be chosen and app data to be added to the backup/clone process.The impressive level of customization makes it easy to set tasks up, while an excellent restoration system installed data where it needed to be without fail. Get Backup Pro to be very capable, running flawlessly under macOS Sequoia.The software is priced well at $29.99 (23.59) for a single license, $49.99 (39.38) for a family license that covers up to five Macs. Get Backup Pro 3 is also available at a 30% academic discount for education. The software is also available through MacPaws SetApp subscription service, which retails between $9.99 and $14.99 a month depending on the subscription tier chosen. The option of a 30-day demo gives you time to play around with it, and the licensing is flexible.Get Backup Pro presents a nice array of options beyond what Apples free Time Machine utility offer and is excellent for the casual user and the home market.Read our full Get Backup Pro review Backblaze ProsFlexibility Can back up to network volumesBackblaze is an online, offsite backup service that allows you to back up your Mac to its servers automatically or according to a schedule you set.Backblaze backs up the contents of your Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music folders, but excludes your Applications folder. Backblaze also excludes some file types from being backed up, such as .dmg disk images that restriction can be switched off, however.Backups are kept for 30 days, so you can restore from any that ran during that time. As you would expect, backups are incremental so only files that have changed since it last ran are copied. Data is encrypted and you can optionally add a six-digit passcode to provide an additional layer of security.When it comes to restoring your data, you have three options: you can restore via Backblazes web interface or you can have files sent to you on a USB stick or hard drive for an additional fee. And theres a 100% refund if you return the USB stick or hard drive within 30 days, though youll have to pay shipping and taxes.You can view individual files and choose which ones to download. And you can view and share backed up files on an iPhone or iPad with the Backblaze mobile app.The Locate your Computer service tracks your Macs location to help you find it if its stolen similar to Find My. If a lost Mac is still running backups your Mac can tell you its current IP address and show you recently backed-up data.Backblazes user interface comprises a menu bar item and a System Preferences pane. However, that pane is more like a fully fledged application, with options to exclude files, add folders and disks to the backup, and throttle bandwidth. Its simple and very Mac-like.If you only need to back up one Mac, and particularly if you want to back up external disks, Backblazes simplicity and price give it the edge over Carbonite and IDrive.With Backblaze you can back up your Mac for $9 (approx 7) a month or $99/year (approx 78), data is stored in secure data centres and two-factor authentication adds an extra level of security.Read our full Backblaze review ChronoSyncProsSupports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon S3 storage as well as local hard driveConsComplexDont be fooled by its name. While ChronoSync has its roots in file synchronization and still focuses on that, its a robust, feature-filled, and highly configurable backup tool too.As youd expect, you can manually run backups or schedule them and you can back up to a local hard drive or NAS box. ChronoSync also supports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon S3 storage.You can use it to back up one remote location to another using SFTP and even set the location to be an iPhone or iPad using the optional InterConneX app. If you want to back up files and folders to another Mac, you can do that too.Backups are incremental, but ChronoSync doesnt just check the contents of a file for changes. If metadata has altered since the last backup, that will be reflected too. And backed-up files are copied to a temporary file and checked for integrity before the file on the destination volume is replaced with the new version.ChronoSync can create two types of bootable clones: standard and mirrored. The former creates a bootable system on the destination volume, leaving other files on the volume intact. Mirror replaces the entire contents of the destination volume with files from the source.ChronoSyncs interface is chock-full of options and that in itself may be enough to put you off if all you want it is a simple backup tool: Get Backup Pro or Acronis True Image are more straightforward options. However, if you need both synchronization across multiple Macs and backup, its worth persevering.ChronoSync costs $49.99 (approx 38). There is a 15-day fully functional trial or you could buy ChronoSync Express for $29.99 (approx 23), a cut-price version of the complete ChronoSync software, which allows you to sync and backup files locally but doesnt support cloud backup or cloning your Macs boot drive. You can download ChronoSync Express from the Mac App Store here.Read our full ChronoSync review MacBackup GuruProsGood control over scheduling and backup elements ConsCramped interfaceMac Backup Gurus prime function is to create bootable clones of your Macs startup disk. However, it can also synchronize backed-up versions of your disk, or even of just a folder, with the current version. And it can create snapshots, just like Time Machine does. So, for example, if you set it to take a snapshot on a regular schedule, you can then revert to whichever snapshot you choose.You can also choose which folders to back up and to where rather than having to backup a whole disk to your Time Machines disk and then designate folders to exclude. Theres more control over scheduling that Time Machine offers, and, of course, Apples utility doesnt offer the ability to synchronize folders or create bootable clones.While the snapshots feature is similar to Time Machine, Mac Backup Guru offers more control. You can, for example, browse snapshots in the Finder, rather than having to use the Time Machine utility to restore files.Mac Backup Gurus interface is simple and will be familiar if youve used some of the other tools listed here. However, some of the menu buttons, notably those for choosing source and destination, seemed small and cramped to us. Wed have liked those menus and the options contained within them to have been a little bigger to make them easier to select from.Once youve chosen a source, which can be a whole volume or a specific folder, and a destination, you can elect to exclude folders within that from being backed up. You can also schedule automatic backups. The scheduling is fairly basic, but that means its also easy to configure. Just click the days on which you want the backup to run and the time you want it to run. Its worth noting that while you can run the backup on whichever day you choose, you have to run it at the same time each day. You can also run ad-hoc backups by pressing the Backup button on the main window.The final option is to choose how many snapshots to keep. Once you reach the specified number, Mac Backup Guru will start deleting the oldest snapshot every time a new one is created.Mac Backup Guru is an easy-to-use backup tool that keeps options and settings to a minimum while offering several useful features. Its also good value at the time of writing it was on offer for less than $9/7.16, a significant discount on its usual $29/23.05 price.

MacworldTheres a new USB-C AirPods Max model out, but the older Lightning model is just as good, if not betterespecially when you can get a killer deal on them. And today weve got one: We found the AirPods Max for $399 at Walmart or Best Buy for delivery in time to wrap and put under the Christmas tree. Thats $150 off and only a couple of dollars off its all-time Black Friday low, a fantastic deal for a killer pair of headphones.The AirPods Max are some of the most comfortable headphones you can get and they deliver fantastic audio. We gave them a four-star rating when we reviewed them and stressed how pleasing the sound quality was, how great the active noise canceling is, and how awesome the build is. We werent thrilled about the price, but when you get to save $150 on them, thats not really an issue anymore.The level of noise cancelation achieved by Apple with these headphones is pretty awesome, allowing you to block out the world around you, whether thats a busy office or your upstairs neighbors remodeling their home. For all those moments when extra vigilance is required, the Transparency Mode will help you keep an ear on your surroundings without taking off your headphones.This model has a Lightning port but otherwise is identical to the newer USB-C model other than some different colors. Theres actually one advantage to the Lightning model: you can connect a Lightning-to-3.5mm audio jack for wired listening, which isnt available with USB-C.So, if you or someone you love has been wanting a pair of AirPods Max, you can grab a pair for a great price at Walmart or Best Buy and still get them in time to rock out on Christmas morning.Save $150 on the AirPods MaxBuy now at Walmart

MacworldApple is diversifying its products and services more than ever, but theres no question that iPhone is still king. No other Apple product, and perhaps not other product from any company, has a greater single cultural and economic impact.The iPhone updates in 2024 were mostly more of the samea new processor, improved cameras, and better battery life. The Camera Control button is maybe the biggest hardware innovation and its really just a new way to access the camera that isnt always an improvement. We still think theyre great phones, but it has been years since Apple changed up the design of its flagship iPhones, and the lower-cost iPhone SE is getting really old.In 2025, we expect both issues to be addressed. An all-new, super-slim iPhone (which many are calling iPhone Air in absence of an announced name) will be the biggest change to the iPhones look and feel in ages. And the new 4th-generation iPhone SE should address many of the missed opportunities in the 2022 model, bringing modern standards to Apples most affordable phone.Heres a look at what the latest rumors tell us to expect from Apples new iPhones in 2025.iPhone SE 4The first new iPhone of 2025 is likely to be the 4th-generation iPhone SE. (Most people call it the iPhone SE 4, and Apple may adopt that nomenclature as well it moved away from historical generation identifiers for most products in 2024, including the iPad and AirPods.) Apple has traditionally released the iPhone SE in the spring and we expect a similar launch next year.The iPhone SE 3 was a bit of a disappointment when it was released in March of 2022. It had a speedy processor but stuck with the same tired iPhone 8 body, with an aging display and cameras. Three years later, its downright ancient and in need of a major overhaul.In 2025 it will get one. The iPhone SE 4 will finally bring Apples mid-tier phone to modern standards. It should look roughly like an iPhone 14, with and edge-to-edge display and a notch. The home button will be gone in favor of Face ID (sorry Touch ID diehards, but that button takes up a LOT of space that Apple would rather use for a larger display).The iPhone SE 4 will finally dump the home button.IDGIt will probably have an A18 processor with 8GB of RAM so it supports Apple Intelligence. There is no firm word on storage, but we hope the base model offers 128GB, not 64GB like the iPhone SE 3. The iPhone SE 4 is also said to be the first product to use an Apple-designed 5G modem, which will support only sub-6 frequencies and perform about as well as a Qualcomm modem from two years prior.There will be one rear camera, upgraded to a 48MP sensor, so it will probably enjoy a 12MP optical 2x zoom. The front camera is expected to be the same 12MP camera you find in the iPhone 16. So expect the iPhone SE 4 to be very similar to the iPhone 16, but without the ultra-wide camera, no Camera Control button, and a mute switch instead of an Action button.Will it get a price hike as well? We think its very possible that Apple will raise the starting price to $449 or even $499, a slight increase from its current $429. But itll still be cheaper than the iPhone 14, which starts at $599.iPhone 17 and 17 Pro/Pro MaxNext fall (in September as usual), we expect Apple to once again release four new iPhones. However, the matric will be different. There will be an iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the current rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Plus will be replaced in the lineup by something totally new: an ultra-slim phone many are calling iPhone 17 Air. More on that phone in a moment.Most notably, the iPhone 17 line may include the first major change to Apples rear camera layout ever. Rumors point to at least some models, or maybe all of them, moving to a centered, wide camera bump that runs along the entire top back of the phone, similar in style to Googles Pixel line. Its also been rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro models may shift away from titanium and switch to aluminum, but that would be a surprising move just two years after Apple introduced titanium and used the new material as a main selling point.The iPhone 17 models will reportedly have a horizontal camera array for the first time.Chris Martin / FoundryFor the standard iPhones, we expect an A19 for the regular model and A19 Pro for the Pro and Pro Max, offering better performance and perhaps a boost to 12GB of RAM. There are conflicting reports about whether or not the regular iPhone 17 will get ProMotion and an always-on display for the first time in 2025, a feature that has been exclusive to the Pro phones since 2021. Apple has always made these Pro-only features, but most competing phones that cost $800 have had equivalent features for years.The front camera on all models is supposed to get an upgrade to 24 megapixels. The iPhone 17 Pro Max should have 48MP cameras for the wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. At least one iPhone 17 model is rumored to feature a mechanical aperture on the main camera, though were not sure which model yet.iPhone 17 AirThe biggest iPhone surprise next year will probably be a new ultra-slim model we have taken to calling iPhone 17 Air (or perhaps just iPhone Air). At around 6 mm thick, it will be the slimmest iPhone of all time, even thinner than the old iPhone 6 (6.9mm). It should be a larger phone, with a display just a little bit smaller than what youd find on a Plus modelfigure around 6.5 inches. It will likely support ProMotion and always-on, but that may be coming to the entire iPhone 17 line anyway.There will have to be a few compromises to achieve this devices thin designthe battery may not be as big as expected, there is said to be only a single speaker (where the earpiece is), and there may not be room for a SIM tray. Thats been gone from U.S. models for some time but is still required in places like China.This model will likely have the same processor as the regular iPhone 17 (the A19 rather than the A19 Pro), and may include Apples own 5G modem as well, while the other iPhone 17 models to retain Qualcomm modems. Like the other iPhone 17 models, were told to expect a top-center-aligned camera on the back of the phone rather than over in the upper left corner. Its rumored that it will only have a single 48MP camera like the iPhone SE, a somewhat significant downgrade from the other models.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsChallenging society-survival gameExciting story modeReplayable Utopia modeConsComplex game mechanics Needs a simpler tutorial for beginnersDoesnt run on Intel MacsOur Verdict Its more demanding than a conventional strategy game, but this society-survival game will present a rewarding challenge for Stewards who want to guide their snowy dystopia through the hardships of a new ice age.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayThe original Frost Punk was a surprise hit when it was launched a few years ago, largely because it took a different approach from most conventional strategy games in fact, the developers at 11bit Studios refer to it as a society survival game instead. Rather than pitting you in combat against rival armies, Frost Punk told the story of an alternate 19th century world that has been plunged into a new ice age by a vast, global blizzard called the Great Frost. Instead of pitting your wits against an enemy army, the game challenged you to fight mother nature herself, as you battle the blizzards to find food and fuel for the last survivors, and establish a home in a city called New London.For more Mac games recommended by us read: Best Games for Mac. Frost Punk 2 is set 30 years later, when New London has grown dramatically in size. As the Steward of the city, its your task to find new sources of food and fuel for the growing population. There are other threats too, as the restless population struggles with hunger, crime and factional rivalries. And, of course, theres the ever-constant threat of snowy whiteouts that can strike New London at any time.Like its predecessor, Frost Punk 2 is quite a challenging game, even for people who have played strategy games before and are used to the standard techniques of resource management and developing new weapons and technologies. This sequel does have a Prologue that introduces the story for new players, and also acts as a tutorial, in which you struggle through the icy frostlands to reach a wrecked train and scavenge its resources. However, even basic tasks such as gathering resources can prove to be quite complex. Rather than simply chopping wood or collecting metal and other components, as you might do in an ordinary strategy game, you first have to frostbreak a path, picking your way across the rocky terrain to reach to the trains overturned wagons. You then have to construct an extraction district a small factory that can retrieve the supplies from the train, followed by housing districts for your workers, and food districts to keep them fit and healthy.This means that Frost Punk 2 is a little more abstract than its predecessor, as the Steward needs to step back and take more of an overview of the structure of this society, rather than just rolling up your sleeves and digging up some coal. However, the scale of New London and its complex society provides a rich tapestry for the story that unfolds under your stewardship. The main story campaign provides several difficulty levels, where you can adjust economic conditions, such as the scarcity of food and fuel. You can also modify the weather, choosing the frequency and severity of the whiteout storms, and even adjust social factors, such as the levels of crime and political unrest, to maintain the citys zeitgeist. There are also rival factions within the city, whose demands and aims must be managed, such as the Icebloods who believe that only the strong can survive in the wintry wastelands, and the Machinists who prefer to rely on technology to keep the people safe and warm.Once youve finished the main game theres also an endless Utopia mode that allows you to start a new city by choosing from a variety of locations, with different terrain and weather conditions. The game also looks great, with dramatic and imposing 3D graphics that look like Blade Runner with added snow. You can zoom out to get an overview of the wintry landscape, or zoom in to explore the districts of the city in more detail. The game only runs on Macs with Apple Silicon, but it ran at a smooth 45fps using medium graphics settings on my MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip. An M1 might struggle a little, but you should be able to adjust the graphics settings for a basic M2 processor if you need to. Frost Punk 2 is available on both Steam and the Mac App Store, but the Steam version of the game is slightly cheaper, and Steam also has a Deluxe Edition that includes some additional DLC if you want to keep the story going.Should You Buy Frost Punk 2?The Frost Punk games arent as approachable as strategy games such as the Civilization series, focusing as the developers say, on their society survival mechanics, rather than just building a big army to overwhelm your opponents forces. But the challenge of balancing all the demands of this complex dystopia will appeal to many people and its a game that you can continue to play long after the main story has finished.

MacworldNo matter if you have a Mac Studio or a MacBook, you can never have enough ports, so a super fast Thunderbolt 4 dock will come in handy. And today, this Plugable model is a fantastic 48% off at Amazon when you click the coupon box, a savings of $90, and an excellent value for $140.The dock is perfect for those who want to use multiple displays with their devices, allowing you to hook up to two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor (which will work with M1 Pro/Max, M2 Pro/Max, M3 Pro/Max, and base M4/Pro/Max Macs). It even comes with an HDMI to USB-C adapter as well as a lengthy Thunderbolt 4 cable.Elsewhere there are a ton of ports to use, from HDMI to four USB ports, an audio jack, an SD card reader, and a high-speed 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Also, this small dock will deliver 100W charging to your device, taking your MacBook Pro from 0 percent to 50 percent in half an hour.So, if you want to do more with your laptop, then save $90 on this Plugable Thunderbolt 4 11-in-1 dock and upgrade your setup.Turn one port into 11 with this dockBuy now at Amazon

MacworldHands down, the cutest charger you can get for your iPhone right now is this Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 model that will smile at you while your phone is charging. Normally $70, its now available for $44 at Amazon, a 37% savings and a great price for an adorable desk accessory.This tiny charger features a foldable magnetic platform that allows you to adjust the viewing angle up to 70 degrees so your phone can lie flat or at an angle to use Standby mode, check notifications, or scroll your Instagram feed while charging. Underneath the magnetic stand, youll find a 5W charging mat for your AirPods. But our favorite part of this charger isnt its versatility or 15W charging speed. Its its adorable personality: While charging, the tiny screen on the front of the Ugreen Uno displays a tiny happy face, which changes expressions as the device reaches 100 percent.So, if you want to clear up your desk of wires and have some fun with one of the most adorable charging stations weve ever seen, the Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 is on sale for $44 at Amazon. Just note, youll need to be an Amazon Prime member to get the best price. If youre not subscribed yet, you can try the service free for 30 days and still get the lowest price.That's a massive discount for a 2-in-1 chargerBuy now at Amazon

MacworldLess than a week after the release of iOS 18.2, Apple has begun beta-testing the next iOS update. Its not yet clear when we can expect this release to into wide release or what features to expect in it, but it will surely be the first major iOS update of 2025.Apple Intelligence has been the focus of most iOS 18 updates so far, and were still waiting on the big Siri overhaul that adds personal context using the data on your phone and scores of new app intents that allow Siri to perform actions in apps. Those features are generally expected to come in iOS 18.4, which most believe will be released in March or April. If true, then iOS 18.3 would focus mainly on tweaks and improvements to existing features and will pause the gradual rollout of Apple Intelligence features.As of December 16, Apple has only released the first Developer BetaPublic Beta testing will likely begin later this week.iOS 18.3: New featuresWe dont yet know what significant new features are included in the iOS 18.3 beta, but we will update this section as we explore the update and learn more.iOS 18.3: How to install the developer betaYoull need to be registered as an Apple developer. You dont need to be in the $99 per year developer program to access the developer beta. A free developer account will do. You can get one via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Heres how to do it via the Apple Developer app:Download the Apple Developer App from the App Store.Open the app.Tap on Account.Sign in using your usual Apple ID.Registered developers can choose to get the Public Beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the Software Update screen. It may take a little time after registering as a developer for the option to appear in Software Updates.iOS 18.3: How to install the public betaThe public beta isnt out yet, but we expect it will arrive in a few short days. If you want to be among the first to test iOS 18.3, you can sign up for the public beta test. The process for installing a beta has changed in iOS 16.4. Heres how the new process works now:Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.Log in to the Beta Software Program.Click Enroll your iOS device.Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.

MacworldStill scrambling for last-minute gifts? Or maybe youre just tired of giving the same old boring socks and gift cards. Heres a fresh idea: a Sams Club membership for just $20 (normally $50). Its practical, its unexpected, and its a gift that keeps on giving for a full year.Think about it: Who wouldnt want to buy mountains of snacks, enough toilet paper to build a fort (okay, maybe not), and TVs bigger than your average apartment window? Plus, theyll score deals on everything from groceries to electronics, which means more money in their pocket for, well, whatever they want.But heres the real kicker: A Sams Club membership also unlocks discounts on travel, entertainment, and movie tickets. So basically, youre giving the gift of experiences, too.You have until Christmas Day to grab this Sams Club membership deal at $20 (reg. $50). No coupon is needed.Sams Club 1-Year Membership with Auto-Renew! $20See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldYou know how it is: youve got all year to do your Christmas shopping, but you always end up leaving it so late that you have to pay for premium delivery. Despite our best intentions to get things done early, we always do them at the last minute. Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.This, I assume, is whats been going on at Apple Park, whose residents seem bizarrely unprepared for the looming EU ban on the use of Lightning ports to charge smartphones. The company officially had two years to get ready for the new regulations, and its been on the cards a lot longer than that; yet Apple still finds itself having to simply halt the sale of three of its handsets in Europe with no obvious replacements.Obviously Apple has taken steps to get ready for the change, namely launching two generations of flagship iPhones with USB-C ports in the fall of 2023 and 2024. The 15- and 16-series iPhones comply fully with the law and will continue to be sold. But according to the French-language site iGeneration, the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, and crucially the 3rd-gen iPhone SE violate the regulations and as of January 2025 will no longer be available to buy in EU countries.This strikes me, frankly, as a sub-optimal response to an extremely predictable situation. Apples strategy is to sell recent iPhones at a premium price but to target budget buyers with older models. With the iPhone 13 only recently dropped from sale and the 14, 14 Plus, and SE soon to follow it, the range will be left with no cheap option; instead of starting at $429, it will start at $699. (Or 17 eggs in our quaint European currency.)This wont be a problem for long, admittedly. A few months after the ban comes into force Apple will launch the 4th-gen iPhone SE, and by next fall the iPhone 17 will come out, dropping the iPhone 15 into the $599 slot currently occupied by the 14, and well be back to normal. But the iPhone is Apples most lucrative product line in history, and I dread to think how many eggs Apple will be leaving on the table by going nine months without its full range in a major market. Think of how many Europeans will potentially be pushed into the arms of Googles lower-cost Android empire.Whats extra odd is that Apple could have fixed the situation quite easily. The last iPhone SE launch was way back in spring 2022 and the company could have arranged matters so that the 4th-gen model came out before the ban began. Orand forgive me for being so radical hereit could even have switched from Lightning to USB-C before being forced to when it was a customer-friendly thing to do rather than a legal necessity. If the iPhone 14 was the first post-Lighting iPhone, or if it was retroactively upgraded to support USB-C, things would now be a lot simpler.But this was always going to be difficult, because it was in Apples interests to fight against the transition for as long as humanly possible. Cupertino left its Christmas shopping to the last minute because it never wanted to buy any presents in the first place and still thinks it shouldnt have to. But the sad fact is that Christmas is coming, whether we like it or not.FoundryWelcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.Trending: Top storiesThese are the Apple stories that were bigger than the iPhone in 2024.Jason Cross lists six ways Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2.The real Apple Intelligence is the AI we met along the way.The best releases of 2024 all took Apple in a bold new direction.The Apple Car is dead. Where does that leave Apples auto ambitions?Here are five exciting Apple products to look forward to this spring.How Apple Intelligence can turn anyone into a star student (without cheating).Turn your iPhone into an iPod before Apple wont let you anymore.Podcast of the weekIn the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast, were taking a look at the year in review for Apple. What were the big products, events, and happenings that were landmarks in 2024 for the company?You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify,Soundcloud, thePodcasts app, orour own site.Reviews cornerWondershare Recoverit review: An excellent Mac data recovery package.Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charger review: Versatile all-in-one 140W desktop and wireless charger.The rumor millReport: The OLED MacBook Pro will dump the notch for a camera hole.Leaked iPhone 17 frame shows wide, Pixel-style camera bump.The MacBook with a modem dream may finally come true.MacBook Air likely to get an upgraded Center Stage camera in 2025.Satellite connectivity may be the next Apple Watch Ultra killer feature.Apple hopes to save Vision Pro with a fresh gaming strategy.Software updates, bugs, and problemsApple just gave us a few dozen reasons to update our devices right now.Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if you dont run Apple Intelligence.Jamf details scary iCloud flaw that was exploitable until this fall.Hate the new iOS 18 Photos app? Heres how to fix it.And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up forour newsletters. You can also follow uson Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

MacworldFiles build up over time, whether its pictures of your pets, work documents, or just random files you cant delete for one reason or another. Instead of dealing with constant low-storage warnings across all your devices, try consolidating.Internxt is a secure, open-source cloud storage that gives you more control over your data and plenty of room to play with. For a limited time, a 10TB lifetime subscription is marked down to $279.99 (reg. $2,999).Internxt encrypts your files end-to-end, breaking them into smaller pieces to make sure they remain unreadable to unintended recipients. This zero-knowledge approach means youre the only one who can access your files, perfect for anyone tired of big-name providers dipping into your data.Available across platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, it works seamlessly on any device, so file sharing and syncing is easy whether youre at home or on the go. With a web app and a sleek, user-friendly interface, Internxt feels intuitive and familiar, even to those new to cloud storage.Pay once and never again for 10TB of encrypted cloud storage.Use code HOLIDAY20 by January 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get an Internxt Cloud Storage 10TB Lifetime Subscription for $279.99.Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan $279.99See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldOkay, Mac users, we can admit there are some advantages to having a PC, right? Like those Windows-only apps and games. Instead of being eternally jealous, were getting Windows 11 Pro at its lowest price ever: $18 (reg. $199)this week only! Its the perfect time to dip our toes into the world of PC gaming or try out other Windows-exclusive software.How does it all work? With a little help from Boot Camp (if you have an Intel-based Mac) or a virtual machine like Parallels Desktop, you can run Windows alongside macOS. Then, you can finally download Red Dead Redemption 2 and other games. Windows 11 Pros DirectX 12 Ultimate gaming graphics pick up any slack your Mac might have.This is also your chance to try Windows OS without buying a PC. You might be pleasantly surprised by the sleek interface, multitasking features, and the AI assistant, Windows Copilot.You only have this week to download Windows 11 Pro to your Mac for $18 (reg. $199). No coupon is needed to get this price.Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $17.97See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldInstead of letting down the Apple lover on your gifting list this year with something like AirTags, why not surprise them with an iPad Air? No, you dont have to splurge to get them some Apple gear, at least if you shop refurbished.Check off your holiday shopping list with this4th Gen iPad Air. Grab it now for$324.97 (reg. $599). Youll have to place your order by December 15 if you want it to arrive on time for the holiday!Shopping refurbished allows you to save over 30% on this iPad Air, but that doesnt mean its used. This refurbished modelarrives in Grade A condition, so they probably wont even noticeor carethat it had a previous life.Whether theyre using this iPad for catching up on book club reads, FaceTiming family during the holidays, or streamingHome Alone, your giftee will love its sleek, portable profile and 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display.They can even work on this iPad Air, thanks to the A14 Bionic Chip that allows for smooth multitasking and Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) compatibility (both not included). Storing photos, apps, and files locally is also simple, thanks to its 64GB capacity.You might just outdo Santa Claus this year when you treat someone to thisnear-mint 4th Gen iPad Air, now$324.97 while supplies last. Order on or before December 15 at 11:59 PM Pacific so it arrives by Christmas!Apple iPad Air 4th Gen (2020) 64GB WiFi Sky Blue (Refurbished)Only $324.97 at MacworldStackSocial prices subject to change.

MacworldFaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and other apps offer live captions for calls and videoconferences. You can record calls in FaceTime. Several services and some apps transcribe audio to text using machine learning. Why not combine all these into a single service? Apple did with the Phone app and FaceTime in iOS 18.1.Starting with that release, you can opt to record calls if you meet Apples broad requirements. The integration into the operating system is still a little wonky: Apple has the Phone or FaceTime app record into a Notes item, which is also where you find a transcript in a special format embedded in the note.For transcription, you need at least an iPhone 12 model. Presumably for reasons of software development, call recording and transcription are limited to many of the most-spoken languages. See the bottom of this article for more details.If you have iOS 18.1 installed and you see the recording icon described and shown below, you have the right intersection of language, country, and hardware to record.Record a callHeres how to record a call:In the FaceTime or Phone app, look for the new Recording icon that appears overlaid in the app. Tap it. (If you dont see it, read the requirements at the end of the article.)A countdown begins with an automated message that speaks the phrase, This Call Will Be Recorded. Theres an X icon you can tap to prevent that message and back out of recording before it starts.The recording starts. You can tap the stop button to end the recording; when you end the call, the recording stops automatically.When the recording starts in a language supported by transcription, youll see a notification that says, Take notes on this call. Tap it, and youre taken to the note that is capturing the active calls audio and will later have a post-call transcription.The sequence from an active call to active recording starts by tapping the Record icon (highlighted in red with an arrow pointing at it) through alerts and notifications.FoundryPlaying audioVisit the note, which is nested in a Call Recordings folder, to play back audio. If youre using a language that supports transcription, the text of the conversation follows audio playback. If not, or if you tap the Transcription icon in the lower-left corner (to de-select it), you will see an audio waveform.Working with the transcriptIn languages that support transcription, opening the note reveals the conversation as text and audio control tools at the bottom. You can drag to scroll through the transcript. Speakers are identified based on Caller ID or contact information. Youre listed as You.Tap on any point in the transcript and the audio playback jumps to that position and starts to play. You can use the Transcription icon to switch between the audio waveform and the transcript to move the audio to the point you want to read the transcript and then tap the icon again.If you want to extract the transcript as plain text you can work with, tap the (More) icon and choose Add Transcript to Note. From the menu, you can also copy the transcript to use in another app (or paste on another device via Universal Clipboard), or save or share the audio.The transcript in Notes can be dragged through to find audio or, by tapping the Transcription icon (highlighted in red at right bottom), you can scrub through audio instead.FoundryYou can search within the transcript with Find in Transcript or by tapping Search at the bottom of the view. With Apple Intelligence available and enabled, you can tap Summary to get a short description of the conversation.Additional requirementsApple currently supports only a few languages for call transcription, whichit lists in this way: Cantonese (Hong Kong), English (Australia), English (United States), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland), and Spanish (United States).Call recording has broader support, but Apple alsolists availability by languagerather than country. There are 31 supported languages, which includes Chinese in both Cantonese Mandarin forms.Ask Mac 911Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns:read our super FAQto see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours tomac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered; we dont reply to emails, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.For more information about iOS 18 read our guide to iOS 18.

MacworldIf you havent yet downloaded iOS 18.2 for your iPhone, iPadOS 18.2 for your iPad, or macOS 15.2 for your Mac, youre missing out on a slew of improvements, most notably some excellent Apple Intelligence upgrades as well as other welcome features. But even If you dont have a newer iPhone or just dont care about AI, there are numerous security updates youll want to make sure are installed.As with all updates, Apple has outlined the security updates in each version, and there are more than a dozen for each, including some older OSes that got critical patches:iPhone/iPadiOS 18.2/iPadOS 18.2: 20 security updatesiPadOS 17.7.3: 14 security updatesMacmacOS Sequoia 15.2: 42 security updatesmacOS Sonoma 14.7.2: 25 security updatesmacOS Ventura 13.7.2: 23 security updatesApple WatchwatchOS 11.2: 15 security updatesApple TVtvOS 18.2: 15 security updatesApple Vision ProvisionOS 2.2: 12 security updatesNone of the vulnerabilities are known to have been exploited in the wild, but several contain serious flaws affecting various parts of the system, including WebKit issues that could lead to memory corruption and unexpected crashes, and a kernel flaw that could let an app leak sensitive kernel state. Theres also a fix for the Screen Sharing Server in macOS Sonoma and Ventura that could allow a user with screen-sharing access to view another users screen.The most serious vulnerability appears to be a flaw in the new Passwords app. The patch, which is available for iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2, involves using an unsecured HTTP protocol when sending information over a network and could allow an attacker in a privileged network position to alter network traffic. So if youve been on the fence about updating, let this be the reason to jump over quickly.You can find more informations about the various vulnerabilities and fixes on Apples security releases support page. To update your device head over to the Settings app, then General, and Software Update.

MacworldTraditionally, the most fruitful season for Apple is the fall: this fall alone we got new iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, iPads, and Mac desktops and laptops. But that doesnt mean the rest of the year is barren. Not by a long shot.In fact, according to 9to5Mac, we have a lot to look forward to next spring. Everything from smartphones and MacBooks to new smart-home products are on the radar for spring 2025. Here are the key launches we can expect.4th-gen iPhone SEThe biggest news could be the 4th-gen edition of Apples most affordable iPhone. Based on current information this will be the biggest upgrade to the SE model since it was first launched in 2016. The design is expected to be similar to the iPhone 14, with USB-C and no Home button, and it will also be Apples first iPhone with a proprietary 5G modem, which could dramatically increase battery efficiency.For the latest info, check out our iPhone SE 4 superguide.Foundry11th-gen iPadThe cheapest iPad is expected to get its first update in more than two years. The focus is likely to be on adding support for Apple Intelligence, and the tablet may also be equipped with an A18 chip. However, the design is expected to remain unchanged. Check out our 11th-gen iPad guide for the latest news and rumors.MacBook Air with M4Apple is understood to be planning an update to the MacBook Air with the new M4 chip some time between January and March next year, which should deliver a moderate bump in performance from the current M3 model. Beyond that, no major changes are expected. Stay up to date on the latest developments with our M4 MacBook Air guide.iPad Air with M3A minor upgrade of the iPad Air is expected. The new model will be equipped with the M3 chip (a worthwhile performance upgrade from the current M2, pictured below) and a new Magic Keyboard design adapted to its specifications.Petter AhrnstedtSmart display for the homeOne of the perennial Apple rumors could finally come to fruition with the launch of the first HomePod with a display in 2025. The product, which will reportedly give you the option of using a wall mounting an iPad-like tablet or attaching it to a speaker base, will have a 6-inch screen and support for Apple Intelligence. It will be Apples first HomePod-like device with a screen and a major step in the companys plans to target the smart-home market.But wait! Theres moreThis is only the tip of the iceberg. Other products expected to be launched this spring include:2nd-gen AirTag: A new version of the AirTag with updated ultra wideband technology.iOS 18.4: Likely to arrive this spring, with the final Apple Intelligence features unveiled at WWDC 2024. In April, Apple Intelligence will be rolled out in the EU.Products such as the new Mac Studio and Mac Pro are not expected until mid-2025. But there should be more than enough for us to enjoy a bumper spring.

MacworldTroubling news from inside Apple Park, where the engineering team is reportedly struggling to deal with the increasingly dire state of iOS 18 development.The public version of iOS 18.0 launched back in September, but it did so without the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, the most highly anticipated new feature for this cycle. Its debatable whether the company always planned to hold back Apple Intelligence until a later software update, but it seems unlikely, given that this meant the iPhone 16 launched without its flagship feature.Apple Intelligence eventually arrived as part of the iOS 18.1 update at the end of October, but was still missing many of its features (including Image Playground, the heavily hyped generative AI illustration feature), not to mention support for any countries other than the U.S. England-language users in Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and the U.K. had to wait until iOS 18.2, which has just arrived, and Apple is set to carry on adding new AI features well into 2025.iPhone owners in other countries who are keen to try out Apple Intelligence may be heartened by a seeming leak by Apple, which claims in the iOS 18.2 press release that the initial set of additional languages will arrive in April 2025. Its not clear which will be first, but the company said its working on support for Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.Nevertheless, according to well-informed Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the iOS 18 rollout is not going according to plan. So much so that engineers who were supposed to be working on next years iOS 19 update have been told to pitch in with iOS 18 instead. leading to delays of some features scheduled for iOS 19.Gurman previously reported that Apple was working on a major upgrade for Siri in iOS 19, including the development of a of more advanced large language model. Its not clear whether this delay will change the schedule for that release or if it was always planned for a mid-cycle launch like the next-gen Siri coming as part of iOS 18 in 2025.That diversion of resources may help in the short term, but its storing up problems for the future. With the result that iOS 19, according to Gurman, will have a staggered rollout of features much like iOS 18, and features that might have been slated to appear in iOS 19.0 being pushed back to a later release.

MacworldiOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. Its the operating system on which everything else sits, while also delivering plenty of features and dedicated apps built by Apple itself. Every year Apple adds new features to compatible iPhones, and through the months that follow more features arrive. If you want to know what the latest version of iOS is, or if youve ever wondered about when versions came out and what features they brought, we will answer your questions. We also show you how to check which iOS youre currently using and how to update to the latest iteration.December 2024: Apple has updated iOS 18. iOS 18.2 arrived on December 11, 2024. iOS version historyiOS made its debut in 2007 alongside the first iPhone. However, when Steve Jobs held the little device aloft revealing it to the world for the first time, it wasnt running iOS 1. Instead, it was reported by Apple to be powered by OS X, the software for the Mac. Over time it was called iPhone OS, until finally gaining its now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when it was shortened to iOS in 2010.Significant milestones are scattered across the iOS timeline, with the first being the introduction of the App Store in iPhone OS 2 in 2008. iOS 4 saw the iPad joining the scene and using the operating system alongside the iPhone.iOS 5 was introduced along with the iPhone 4S in 2011, which saw the debut of Siri as a built-in part of the operating system. Sadly, this was the last version of the software to be released when Apple CEO and Founder Steve Jobs was still alive.Steve Jobs holding the first iPhone at the launch in 2007.Apple Things changed significantly in iOS 11 in 2017 as it brought the first touch and gesture interface, allowing the first iPhone without a Home buttonthe iPhone X. Another major shift was with iOS 13 in 2019, as it marked the bifurcation of Apples mobile operating systems, with iPhones staying on iOS but the newly announced iPadOS powering the new iPads. This would continue through to the present day, although the version numbers have stayed in sync, with the latest ones being iOS 16 and iPadOS 16.iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are the latest versions of the software and launched in September 2023. You can install iOS 17 and get iPadOS 17 now.Coming in September 2024 are iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. List of iOS versions and latest versionsHeres a breakdown of all the versions of iOS that have been released, when they were released, when they were last updated, and the latest iOS version. 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 (LatestiOS 17.7.2 November 19, 2024)iOS 18 Released September 16, 2024 (LatestiOS 18.2 December 11, 2024)List of iPadOS versions While iOS was the initial operating system for iPad, this changed with the release of iPadOS 13 in 2019. Since then, iPads have had their own platform, enabling Apple to better harness the power of its larger devices. Heres the short release history of iPadOS:iOS 12 Released September 17, 2018 (Latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023)iPadOS 13 Released September 24, 2019 (Latest 13.7 September 1, 2020)iPadOS 14 Released September 16, 2020 (Latest 14.8.1 October 26, 2021 )iPadOS 15 Released September 20, 2021 (Latest 15.8.3 July 29, 2024)iPadOS 16 Released October 24, 2022 (Latest 16.7.10 August 7, 2024) iPadOS 17 Released September 18, 2023 (Latest iPadOS 17.7.3 December 11, 2024)iPadOS 18 Released September 16, 2024 (LatestiPadOS 18.2 December 11, 2024)Also see: How long does Apple support iPads?Which iOS versions are currently supported?In terms of new features, only iOS 18 is currently supported by Apple. For those with iPhones that only run older versions of iOS, Apple supports iOS 17 and, potentially iOS 16 with security updates (although as of December 2024, it is yet to update iOS 16 since the arrival of iOS 18). When iOS 18 arrived Apple stopped support for iOS 15 leaving the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhones 7 and 7 Plus vulnerable. Support for iOS 16 and the iPhones 8 and 8 Plus is likely to continue until September 2025.Luckily, many iPhones are able to run supported versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones?We run through which iPhone supports which version of iOS in a separate article: iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run. How to tell which version of iOS your iPhone is runningIf youre not sure which version of iOS youre currently using, its very easy to find out. Just go to Settings > General > About and look for the iOS Version number. Its the same steps for iPadOS. FoundryHow to install the latest version of iOSUpdating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS is simple, so long as your device is compatible. This doesnt require much detective work though, as your iPhone will know whether it is eligible for the upgrade or not.To find out, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and your iPhone will check to see if there are any available. You may also see a notification on the Settings page that says Software Update Available, which you can click to go straight to the update page. iPadOS works the same way. FoundryIf there are no updates, youll see a message along the lines of iOS is up to date. Should there be one available, it should tell you on the screen and give you the option to Download and Install. Do this and your iPhone will automatically apply the update and bring your software to the latest version.You can also read our tutorial on how to update iOS on iPhone for more details.So, there it is. A potted history of iOS. Want to know about all the versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and macOS: Every version released so far. You can also find out what the latest version of macOS is.