The best smart rings are highly capable wearable devices that are packed with sensors and yet small and light enough to be worn on one of your fingers. The quest to make the perfect smart ring has been a tricky one – many companies have tried and failed. But 2024 could be the year of the smart ring with Samsung's on the way and even Apple is rumored to be working on one. 

But which is the best smart ring to buy right now? Over the past few years there's been a big influx in new smart rings. However, they're not all created equal. Some smart rings have a poor battery life, aren't accurate and come with confusing apps. We're here to help. In our guide below, we've included the best smart rings you can buy now. We've included what we think each device is best for, as well as our first-hand experiences of trying them. Read on to find the best smart ring for you. 

The quick list

The best smart ring for most people

The Oura Ring (Gen 3) is our favorite smart ring and the one we recommend for most people. That's because this smart ring ticks all of the boxes. It looks good, coming in a range of shades and a few different styles. It's also comfortable and lightweight, weighing in at 4-6g depending on which size you opt for.

But it's the wealth of data it collects that makes it an excellent smart ring – and a solid upgrade over the original Oura and the Gen 2 ring that came before it. New sensors allow it to measure your blood oxygen (SpO2) levels, 24/7 daytime heart rate (previously it was only at night), workout heart rate, restorative time, Period Prediction, improved temperature sensing, and so much more. The companion app has also been beefed up with new content, women's and reproductive health, and improved sleep algorithms.

The only notable downside of the Oura Ring (Gen 3) is it's a little pricier than some of the competition. It's also only available as part of a subscription fee. It's worth pointing out we still think the Oura ring is good value for what it offers, but if you're on a budget or don't like the idea of subscribing there are other options that will bring you a similar experience. 

Read our full Oura Ring (Gen 3) review

The best smart ring for comfort

The Ultrahuman Ring Air is packed with sensors to track data about your health, fitness and sleep. It does this well, feeding back information via an insightful app that allows you to see trends, progress and even recommendations. There's a big focus on sleep and energy levels – great news for anyone who leads an active lifestyle and wants more guidance about rest and recovery.

Design-wise, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is very light, weighing in at only 2.4g to 3.6g (depending on the size you need) and comfortable enough to wear 24/7. The only downside is it did get a little scratched during testing, which I think was due to the matte black finish.

The biggest competitor to the Ultrahuman Ring Air is undoubtedly the Oura Ring (Gen 3) above, the rings look similar and offer a lot of the same features. Oura just about beats Ultrahuman to the top spot. But if you don't like the idea of a subscription and want the comfiest option, Ultrahuman is better. 

Read our full Ultrahuman Ring Air review

The best budget smart ring

The RingConn is one of the best smart rings you can buy. Unlike its rivals, it has an unusual design. Yes, it's definitely a ring. But it has subtle squared edges, which makes it stand out. It's one of our favorites for looks, and not only is it stylish, subtle and less prone to scratches than the Ultrahuman Ring Air, it's incredibly comfortable too.

It's also more affordable than both the Oura Gen 3 smart ring and the Ultrahuman Ring Air. Its app and performance aren't quite as slick as Oura's. But it does come close in most respects. It offers reliable data tracking, and an app that performs well despite feeling a little busy and slow to sync at times.

So the RingConn smart ring isn't the best one in this list, but it's still refreshing to discover it's a solid alternative to the Oura (Gen 3) smart ring and it's cheaper without the commitment of a subscription, too. 

The best smart ring for payments

The McLear RingPay 2 is the only smart ring in our guide that we haven't had chance to test ourselves yet. But we really wanted to include it to show that, for the most part, smart rings are highly-advanced devices packed with sensors. But there are some outliers, like the McLear RingPay 2 which is still smart but in a very different way. 

The McLear RingPay 2 is designed to help you make payments, there's no health tracking here. Thanks to NFC tech fitted into the ring, it works like a contactless card does. Add a card to your RingPay wallet, then place your hand over a payment terminal. Because its features are fairly basic, no charging is required.

You're able to track your spending in the app, set funds to top-up automatically at a certain point, add up to four rings to an account, transfer funds between rings, suspend your account if you lose it, and more. As you'd expect from a device designed to be worn often, it's scratch-resistant, waterproof and hypoallergenic. 

The best lightweight smart ring

Like its rivals, the Circular Ring Slim continuously monitors essential health metrics directly from your finger, including heart rate and sleep duration. The accompanying app becomes more intuitive and useful over time, delivering tailored health insights and lifestyle recommendations.

In this way, it's similar to the competition. But it does fall short in a few key areas. Most notably, it has a disappointing battery life. If you use all of the features (because why wouldn't you?), it'll only last two days, which is a lot less than the likes of the Oura ring (Gen 3) and Ultrahuman Ring Air. 

But during testing we did like that it's comfortable to wear with a stylish design and an incredibly lightweight build. This is the cheaper version of the brand’s Ring Pro model, which explains why it falls short against its more polished competitors but is more affordable.

How to choose the best smart ring for you

Although plenty of new smart rings are entering the market, right now there isn't a huge amount of choice. So bear that in mind when you're weighing up your options. 

The first thing to consider is: what do you want a smart ring for? Some more basic options, like the McLear RingPay 2 above, are for NFC tasks and payments. Whereas all the others in this list are smart rings with sensors in them for tracking your health and sleep. 

It's also important to think about your priorities. If you want the best of the best smart ring, we'd recommend trying the Oura ring (Gen 3), but the Ultrahuman and RingConn options are more affordable and very similar in terms of performance and features. 

Finally, do you really need a smart ring? I know that might seem like an odd question. But although smart rings are innovative and exciting, they're not for everyone. For example, if fitness tracking is your number one priority, you might be best off with a sports-focused smartwatch. And if you're on a budget, you may want to try a cheaper activity tracker instead. 

If you’ve decided now is the time to make some healthy changes to your life and you’re seeking out some tech assistance to help you on the way, the good news is that there’s plenty of accessories that can do just that.

Fortunately, Apple has done the very handy job of picking out some of those health and fitness-focused devices on its own storefront that promise to help you make sure you’re drinking enough water, help recognise when you’re feeling under the weather and should take things easy and even keep a close eye on your heart.

In this guide, we’ll take you through some of that health and fitness kit to find out just how well they work and see whether they’re really worth adding to your current collection of Apple-friendly kit. This is our verdict on the health and fitness accessories you can pick up from the Apple Store.

The quick list

Best smart water bottle

We think the HidrateSpark Pro Steel is a useful bottle to have around if you’re bad at remembering to drink enough water during the day. It’s hard to ignore the glowing reminders when it’s time to top up on your hydration.

It’s bigger than your typical water bottle, but the stainless steel exterior and secure lid feels like it’s built to last and helps to justify that pretty steep price tag. It’s easy to set up with an iPhone with a companion app that clearly presents your water intake and whether you’re hitting your daily goals. The big glowing LED ring around the sensor base can be customised but it’s a shame you have to pay for a subscription to adjust the colour. You can at least control the brightness if you don’t want it proving a distraction in more public places.

While you can’t store hot drinks in it, it does manage to keep colder ones chilled for a day and the battery life can last a few weeks before you need to remove the sensor base to power it up again. The Apple Health integration to track water intake alongside your other health tracking devices is a nice touch too and gives this water bottle added value to have around glowing at you to make sure you drink up.

Best heated coffee mug

The follow-up to the first-generation temperature-controlling Ember Mug notably boosts battery life to keep hot drinks at your preferred temperature for longer, along with tweaking the design of the all-important charging coaster.

We found the ceramic look and stainless steel core offered a bold look that is a little heavier than your standard coffee cup. Like its predecessor, it’s a shame that the onboard components means you can’t stick it in a dishwasher but if you can live with manually giving it a clean, the temperature technology alongside the cleanly presented app makes it very easy to start putting this mug to good use.

The phone notifications work well to let you know when it’s hit your desired temperature and the built-in LED light at the base clearly lets you know when it’s adjusting to your desired temperature. It also gives you a heads-up to the battery status, which is 80 minutes for the 40z version we tested. If you drink a few cups in a short period though, that battery might become a problem, putting a greater reliance on dropping back on its coaster charger.

Ultimately it does work and is satisfying when you’ve forgotten about a hot cup of coffee you made. You just have to be willing to pay the pretty steep price and be willing to charge it or keep that coaster nearby.

Best smart thermometer

The Withings Thermo is your larger-than-average thermometer and offers a way to non-invasively check your temperature and then store that in the Withings Health companion app. From there it can help identify trends and spot if you’re coming down with a fever.

It’s a clinically validated device that we used alongside a traditional oral thermometer and found that measurements were nicely in line. Taking a reading is really easy to do, but does first require setting the Thermo up with the Withings phone app before you can proceed to swipe the array of 16 infrared sensors across the forehead.

Readings take seconds and are displayed on the built-in display, which does also support the ability to scroll through up to eight different users, making it useful if you’re trying to monitor multiple people at one time.

It does feel like a lot of money to pay for a thermometer, but if you’ve been looking for a non-invasive option that’s quick and easy to use, well-built, and offers strong battery life, that’s what the Thermo offers.

Best smart scale

The Withings Body Comp isn’t your average smart scale and while it will tell you about things like muscle and fat mass, it takes things further by letting you also closely monitor your heart and nerve health.

It does that from a pretty sleek design that’s topped with tempered glass and has a larger display than most smart scales. That means Withings can expand on those body composition, heart and nerve health readings to give you a sense whether they’re normal or not so normal.

Those measurements are all taken in less than 30 seconds and can be synced over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to the Withings Health app where Withings does a really good job of detailing what those most recent measurements tell you about your current health. If you don’t know what your latest vascular age means or you don’t understand your basal metabolic rate, then you’ll get a much clearer idea of it here.

We’ve used the scales over a period of a few weeks and this is certainly a slick smart scale operator. There are cheaper smart scales in Withings’ own collection, including the Body Smart, which offers similar features for less. If you want those extra metrics though, then the Body Comp is a great smart scale supported by an overall useful and insightful app.

Looking for the best MacBooks for programmers, coders and developers? We've got you covered. There's a good reason why Apple's laptops are so popular with developers - they are fast, dependable and look great as well. With the launch of Apple's very own silicon, the M1, back in 2020, the company put a lot of effort into making sure compiling and running code was incredibly quick - and this has continued with the M2, M3 and now M4 chips that followed.

In fact, since the M3 generation, gaming on MacBooks is now better than ever, with support for advanced graphic effects like ray-traced lighting - and this means programmers working on games are now able to test out their creations without having to change machines.

For those really intensive workloads, you're going to want a 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro armed with an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. But what about coders who don't need quite that much firepower?

The good news is that even Apple's most affordable MacBook — the MacBook Air (M2) — does a brilliant job when it comes to coding, and with the launch of the M3 MacBook Airs (which are great coding machines themselves), the M2 model has had an official price cut, making it a brilliant choice for people on a budget - or for students who are keen to learn how to code.

Apple's current MacBook lineup is one of the most varied and exciting in the company's history, and that means there's going to be a MacBook for any of your coding needs. Want a big display and ultra-powerful performance? The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is the one to go for. Want to code on a MacBook but are on a budget? Check out the MacBook Air (M2). Fancy the best of both worlds? The 15-inch MacBook Air (M3) is a great choice.

To help you find the best MacBook for your coding needs, we've put together this guide, which gathers together all the different models and generations of MacBooks that are currently on sale - and we've tested every single one, so you can be sure that our recommendations for the best MacBook for programmers, coders and developers come backed with years of experience.

Quick list

Best overall

If you’re after the absolute best MacBook for programming on in 2024, then we recommend the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip. Released towards the end of 2023, this is an incredibly powerful laptop – especially if you go for the model with the M3 Pro, which features 11 CPU cores, divided up into 5 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores to start. This can be upgraded, and you can also go for the more powerful M3 Max chip – but that also ups the price considerably. The 14-inch MacBook Pro also comes with a (slightly) more affordable model with the M3 chip and this is a good choice if the M3 Pro or M3 Max models are too pricey for you.

However, we think the M3 Pro version offers the best balance between value and performance – for the vast majority of programming tasks the M3 Pro is more than enough, so the M3 Max model is likely overkill.

We also think the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the best choice thanks to the fact that it packs all of this power into an impressively portable package, and the 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR panel is an absolute joy to work on with sharp and clear image quality and smooth 120Hz refresh rates. If you’d like a larger display to work on, then you can go for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro, which offers the same level of performance, but with a larger screen.

Best affordable MacBook

When Apple launched the M3 version of the MacBook Air, it continued to sell the older M2 model, but with a new lower price - and because the M2 chip remains a formidable bit of silicon despite its age, we now recommend the 13-inch MacBook Air M2 as the best affordable MacBook for programming.

The M2 chip that powers this model of MacBook Air offers plenty of power for coding, and compile times for even complex projects are impressively short, which means there's less waiting around when you're waiting to test out your code. Sure, it doesn't have the raw power that chips like the M3 Max or M3 Pro have, but to be honest, most people simply don't need that kind of performance for most coding tasks - you just want something that is quick, dependable and good value for money; and the M2 MacBook Air offers all of that in spades.

Running things in the background is the 8 CPU-core M2 processor, which also features 8 GPU cores to handle the graphics processing. It offers plenty of power for browsing with loads of tabs open, and its battery life is excellent, so you can work on this MacBook pretty much anywhere you want without worrying about where you're going to plug it in. The 13-inch model is thin and light with a stunning design which Apple was so pleased with that it kept it for the newer M3 model, but if you want something with a larger screen, then you'll be pleased to know that there's also a 15-inch version which can make programming on a lot more comfortable.

Best of both worlds

While the 14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro offers incredible performance, and the 13-inch MacBook Air M2 is a great affordable choice, if you want something that offers a great balance between power and price, then the 15-inch MacBook Air M3 is our pick.

Thanks to the base M3 chip, this MacBook Air is the most powerful version of Apple's thin and light laptop, and offers a decent jump in performance compared to the M2 chip. For most programmers, the M3 offers more than enough power, and it means you're not paying for performance you won't make use of, like you might with an M3 Pro or M3 Max-powered MacBook Pro.

The M3 MacBook Air doesn't come with a new design - but that doesn't matter as the redesign ushered in by its predecessor, the M2 MacBook Air, remains superb, with a gorgeous 15-inch Liquid Retina display and with 500 nits peak brightness, you can comfortably work on the M3 MacBook Air no matter what the lighting conditions you're working in are.

You can fit this model with up to 24GB of memory, and with the M3 chip offering 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, you'll have plenty of power to program, test, run and even emulate the apps you make, all without the high price tag of the MacBook Pro series of laptops. The 15-inch MacBook Air also features two extra cores in the base model compared to the 13-inch version, which means that you get a nice extra boost in performance if you pick the larger version, especially for graphic-intensive tasks. If you don't need that power and would like a smaller, more portable laptop, then the 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 is a great alternative.

Most powerful

If you're after some serious firepower to help you compile and test your code, then the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is the one to get. This is the most powerful laptop Apple has ever made, and while the base models offer huge amounts of performance, if you fully max out its specifications, you get a desktop-replacement laptop that will last you for years to come.

Featuring the most powerful iteration of the M3 chip - the M3 Max - you get 16 CPU cores and a huge 40-core GPU, and you can configure it with up to 128GB of memory and 8TB of SSD storage, this is a seriously future-proof MacBook. The price is incredibly high (it costs $7199 for the maxed-out model), but you won't need to buy another laptop for a long time.

The power that the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max offers, along with the price tag it comes with, means this is a MacBook that won't be for everyone. However, if you're a programmer who needs to quickly compile and test code, then it can seriously speed up your workflow. There's enough power to emulate other platforms as well — so you can see how your app runs on various iPhone models, and if you're a game developer you can play your games while you work on them.

This means that while the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is a huge investment, it could end up being a very wise one, especially if you end up using it for many years to come.

If you're not going to need that kind of performance, however, then we recommend you go for a more modest MacBook - either a MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro or base M3 chip, or even the M3-equipped MacBook Air models.

There's more than just the power on offer with this machine — the ProMotion 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is one of the best screens you can get on a laptop in 2024, and the large screen size means that working on pages of code is comfortable (while also ensuring that games, movies and TV shows look fantastic when you're not busy coding).

The larger screen means that the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is also a very large (and heavy) laptop, which makes it a lot less portable than many of the other MacBooks on this page. If you're looking for a MacBook to carry around with you no matter where you go, then this won't be the best choice for you. Read on for our best portable pick instead.

Best portable MacBook

These days many of us are used to a more hybrid way of working, which means we don't always need to be sat in an office - or even by a desk - when we're coding, and that means having a laptop that is both portable and powerful enough to handle complex workloads is now more important than ever.

So, if you're in the market for a MacBook to code on that is thin and light enough to take with you almost anywhere, the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 is the one to get. As you'd expect, this is an incredibly thin and light MacBook that's easy to carry around. With the 13-inch model, you get a smaller screen, but it also reduces the overall size, making it a better choice than the 15-inch MacBook Air M3 if you want the best portable MacBook for programming on. The smaller size doesn't mean you're having to make sacrifices to the performance, however, as it offers the same powerful M3 chip as the larger model.

And, while the M3 chip isn't as powerful as the M3 Pro or M3 Max, it is still a fantastic performer, easily competing with Windows 11 laptops of around the same price - if not beating them. For most programming tasks, this offers plenty of firepower.

Another great thing about the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 when it comes to portability is its impressively long battery life - you should get around 15 to 18 hours of life out of a single charge, depending on the kind of tasks you're performing with the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 (more intensive tasks will make the battery deplete faster). This long life means you can take the 13-inch MacBook Air M3 pretty much anywhere, including outdoors, and you don't have to worry about finding a power outlet to plug it into. This gives you the freedom to program on the MacBook Air M3 anywhere you want.

Best on a budget

The MacBook Air M1 is certainly getting on a bit - it launched in 2020, and Apple no longer stocks it - but it remains a brilliant budget MacBook for programming on. This is for two reasons. The first is that while Apple no longer stocks the MacBook Air M1, other retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, still do.

The second reason is that with each new MacBook Air that launches, the price of the M1 model drops further, and this makes it exceptional value for money, especially around big sales events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.

The M1 chip was the first ever ARM-based chip for Macs made by Apple, and it's no exaggeration to say that it revitalized Macs and MacBooks. It was so successful that we're now on the M4 chip, and that success is down to just how well the M1 performed - and continues to perform.

Sure, the MacBook Air M1 won't be able to compete with an M3 MacBook, but for the price you're getting an excellent thin and light laptop that is still more than capable of most coding tasks. It's the perfect choice for someone looking to get a MacBook to code on, but can't afford the high price tags that newer devices come with.

The M1 chip features 8 CPU cores and a 7-core GPU that handles graphics, and thanks to its power efficiency, its battery life can last well over a workday - and there's no annoying fans either to distract you when it's working hard.

The M1 MacBook Air does miss out on the new redesign that was brought in with the M2 model, but this is still a great-looking super slim laptop with Apple's unmistakable design flair. You get a 2560x1600 native resolution screen with P3 wide color support as well, and the 400 nits peak brightness means you can comfortably use it in bright daylight.

If you don't need the most powerful MacBook out there, then you can save yourself a huge amount of money by getting the M1 MacBook Air. As long as you keep your expectations in check, you'll be very pleased with your purchase.

Q&A

The new iPad Air 6 (M2) is more powerful and capable than ever before. The iPad Air, powered by the M2 chip, comes in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. The front camera has been moved from portrait mode to landscape mode, which is the way most people use it. The iPad Air 6 has AI capabilities, faster Wi-Fi, and support for the new Apple Pencil Pro. Protect your investment from the very start with one of the best iPad Air 6 cases.

Quick list

Q & A

Will my old iPad Air 5 case fit the iPad Air 6?

Yes and no. The iPad Air 4 and iPad Air 5 are exactly the same size as the 11-inch iPad Air 6 (M2), so those cases will all be interchangeable. The 13-inch iPad Air 6 (M2) is an entirely new device, so most old cases won't fit. Any 13-inch sleeve should be fine, though.

What features should I look for in an iPad Air case?

First and foremost, check the listing carefully to make sure you're choosing the correct case for your specific model. Next, think about what sort of functionality you need. Simple protection? Back protection, edge protection, front protection? Do you want it to be a stand as well? Do you want an attached keyboard? Do you want the Apple Pencil to be able to charge while your iPad Air is inside the case? Once you've sorted all of that out, your choice will be easier.

Do I really even need a case for my iPad Air?

This depends on your usage. If your iPad only goes from your couch to your bed and back again, maybe not. Or you could get away with just a lightweight one like the Apple Smart Folio. But I always use a case anyway. Partly to protect my iPad but also because my case converts into a stand, which I use all of the time. Plus, it houses my ZAGG Pro stylus, and allows it to charge while in the case. If you take your iPad on the go a lot, particularly to your workplace, I'd strongly suggest getting a case. You'll probably want a heavy-duty case, like the ZAGG Denali case. It might not hurt to get AppleCare+ as well.

The new iPad Pro with M4 chip is here in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch. It's thinner and lighter than any of its predecessors, even thinner than an iPad nano! Yet it's not light on features. The Ultra XDR display shows off Apple's state-of-the-art tandem OLED display. The M4 chip represents a big jump in speed and performance. And it's further enhanced with some brand new accessories: the Apple Pencil Pro and sleeker new Magic Keyboard. You'll certainly want a new case to protect your latest investment.

Quick list

Q & A

Will my old iPad Pro case fit the iPad Pro M4?

No. The new iPad Pro with M4 chip models are thinner than their predecessors, so any kind of form-fitting or snap-on case won't fit properly. However, any 11-inch or 13-inch sleeve or bag should be fine for their respective size iPad Pro models.

What features should I look for in an iPad Pro case?

Before buying anything, be sure to check the listing to be sure it matches your iPad model exactly. After that, look for the features that matter most to you. Is it drop protection? Do you want a cover that has Sleep/Wake functionality? Do you want your case to convert to a stand? Do you want a built-in or detachable keyboard? Do you want to be able to charge and store your Apple Pencil within the case? Once you know what you're looking for exactly, choosing a case will be easier.

Do I really even need a case for my iPad Pro?

If you really only use your iPad Pro in carpeted places on padded furniture, maybe you can skip it, or just get a super lightweight case like the Apple Smart Folio. However, if you use your iPad in different places for different things, especially in a workplace, you'll want some protection. Something protective like the OtterBox Statement Series Studio Case gives you some peace of mind. You might also consider further covering your iPad Pro with AppleCare+.

It's important to buy one of the best docking stations for MacBook Pro if you want to turn your Apple laptop into a truly great workplace powerhouse. 

MacBook Pros may have more ports than they used to have, but they still don't have many. Even the best MacBooks could do with more options for hooking up accessories. If you need to plug in loads at once, like screens, hard drives, or keyboards, you need a docking station to get the most from your setup. A MacBook docking station removes the strain from the MacBook itself. You only use one plug while gaining multiple inputs and outputs. Whether you need to add more Thunderbolt 4 ports, or you need old favorites like full-size USB-A ports, a docking station can take the hassle out of juggling connections.

Below, we've curated the best MacBook Pro docking stations you can buy right now. Each will make it easier to connect lots of devices and peripherals including those that need high-speed data transfer.

Quick List

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Best Overall

The weighty, aluminum shell of the CalDigit TS4 gives you some idea of the quality on offer — it's a monster of ports and connections, giving you plenty of ways to hook your accessories up to your MacBook. It can be laid out horizontally or vertically as well, so you won't have to worry about how much space there is on your desk, or how you want your setup to look.

There are loads of ports on offer, as we covered in our review: "three Thunderbolt 4 ports (all on the rear), three 10Gb/s USB-C ports (one rear, two front), five 10Gb/s USB-A ports (four rear, one front), a DisplayPort 1.4 port, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, two UHS-II card slots (in both full size and microSD sizes, both on the front), 3.5mm audio in and audio out, plus a 3.5mm combo audio in and out on the front." That's loads of different ports, and makes for one of the most fully featured docks that you can plug your Mac into.

Thanks to its excellent port selection and solid construction, the CalDigit TS4 is easily the best dock overall — although if you want an HDMI port, then you're going to have to look elsewhere. The TS4 only uses a Display Port or Thunderbolt 4 to connect to a display.

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Best Ports

The iVanky FusionDock Max 1 is an absolute monster of a dock, packing in more ports than you can shake a very large stick at. You can orient its metal shell in both portrait and landscape and still have every single one of its ports easily accessed. Its floating design is a cool look too, so it will slip nicely into whatever kind of desk decor you've got going on.

The port layout is excellent, with a good number of ports on the front so that you can easily reach over and plug in anything you need more access to — there are even USB-C ports for displays on the front in case you swap monitors out a lot. On the topic of the ports, there's a grand total of 21: "Five USB-A 10GBps ports, Two HDMI 2.1 ports, An SPDIF optical port, Two headphone jacks, A 2.5Gigabit Ethernet port, Two 10GBps USB-C ports, one with Power delivery, Four Thunderbolt ports with support for a 6K monitor up to 60Hz, A microSD card slot, and a miniSD card slot."

In our review of the dock, we loved the dock in our review, although we lamented the lack of 8K support and Display Port sockets. Bear in mind as well that the dock only supports M-series Macs, so you'll be left high and dry if you've got an older machine.

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Best for 8K

While the Ugreen USB C Triple Display Docking Station might not have the same smattering of ports as the other entries on this list, it more than makes up for it with its display support and more compact design. It's powered by a USB-C port on the back, and it'll let you connect an 8K monitor in a triple display setup thanks to its Display Port 1.4 port.

There's no Thunderbolt on board, which is a shame, but its array of different connection options is still going to be plenty for most people. There's a pair of HDMI ports and a Display Port connector for monitors, and USB-C and type A connectors on the front for some easy access plugging in. Those front ports are joined by SD card readers and a Headphone jack, while the back of the dock houses the extra two USB-A ports, the monitor connectors, the power USB-C port, and the USB-C input for your MacBook.

We loved the way that the dock looked in our review, as it seemed to pay more attention to its appearance than other options. It's not cheap, and later model M-series Macs might not work quite so well, but it's a solid desktop dock for most people — especially if they want something that supports 8K.

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Best Vertical

While the Plugable 14-in-1 can be oriented on its side, it's more suited for being sat in a stand, pointing towards the sky. It takes up less space on a desk this way, and means you can more easily hide it behind a monitor or a laptop stand. With a mixture of aluminum and plastic in its construction, it's a sturdy dock too, and the rubber feet on the bottom of the included stand mean that it won't move around too much if you're plugging accessories in and out.

Port selection is also very solid, with a pair each of HDMI and Display Ports, alongside five USB-A ports shared between the front and the back. Camera users are served with a microSD card slot and a full-sized SD slot, and then a 3.5mm jack rounds out the selection. It might not be as fully featured as the other docks on this list, but there's plenty here for someone who needs some more ports for their MacBook.

Be aware that M-series users might find some weaknesses. There's only support for a single display, unfortunately, even if you plug multiple in. It's also not been tested with the latest Apple Silicon, so you might want to look elsewhere if you've got a shiny new M3 MacBook Air. Intel Mac users will be served well by the dock, however, so it might be one for the users of older Apple hardware.

Best Portable

If you're looking for something smaller, more compact, and portable, then the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Mini might be just what the doctor ordered. It's a portable dock, for one, but it has a surprisingly extensive gamut of ports to connect to your MacBook. It connects over Thunderbolt 3 as well, so you'll be able to hook up a display to your MacBook.

There are two HDMI ports on the dock, alongside two USB-A 3.0 ports and a Ethernet connector. That might not sound like much, but its plenty to hook up a keyboard, mouse, and display while you're on the go. It's small enough to slip into a bag as well, so you'll never be without ports.

As with all Thunderbolt 3 docks, Mac users with M-series machines won't be able to connect multiple screens with their dock. Unfortunately, there is only support for one screen over HDMI, so no multi-display setups with your MacBook Air M1. Users of older Intel Macs will be fine, however, and you can easily connect two different HDMI displays to your MacBook using the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock mini.

Back to the top^

Most Compact

The final dock on the list is one that's great if you travel to different desk setups. It's not 'portable', per se, because it needs a power supply to work properly, but its compact design means that it will easily fit into a backpack or rucksack if you're moving between work zones.

Port selection is solid as well, with two HDMI ports handling most display duties, and then a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port handling the rest. There are four USB-A ports, and an SD card slot for photographers, rounded out by the requisite 3.5mm headphone jack so that you can connect some cans and listen to your favorite tunes while you work. The dock connects to your machine over USB-C.

This is another dock with iffy support for M1 Macs, so you might want to go for something else if you've one of Apple's first M-series devices. Other M-chips should be fine, and Intel Macs aren't going to have any problems at all.

Q&A

If you want to get the most from your shiny new MacBook, such as if you've just bought the latest 15-inch MacBook Air with M2, then the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 dock is a must-have. Outside of HDMI ports, it offers multiple sockets for every conceivable physical connection to your MacBook Pro or Mac (and even your iPad), while also providing fast charging at 98W. It's expensive but it's the ultimate docking station for most people.

If portability or price is a concern, then you may wish to consider Belkin's Thunderbolt 3 Dock Mini instead. It has two HDMI and two USB-A ports, along with Gigabit Ethernet, all while being tiny and almost half the price of more expensive docks. It also has a built-in cable so you can unplug the dock and easily toss it in your bag before traveling.

To expand your workspace or home office setup, check out our best charging stations and best webcams for Mac guides for further ways to enhance your working environment. 

If you’re after one of the finest laptops that money can buy, you should look no further than the best MacBooks. Whether you’re looking at the MacBook Air line-up or the MacBook Pro range, weighing up a 13-, 14-, or 16-inch model, all MacBooks have oodles of power and an attention to detail in their designs that are second to none.

It’s the reason why the best MacBooks are so popular with so many different types of users. From the high-end designer working on a major creative project to the simple student looking for a lightweight workhorse to bring to a lecture, Apple’s portable computer range has a MacBook to suit all needs.

But which MacBook is right for you? With a wide range of prices, specification options, sizes and capabilities, making the choice can be difficult. Do you need an M3-chip in a 16-inch MacBook Pro, the top-tier supercharged machine at the premium end of Apple’s MacBook line-up? Or can you get by with an older M1 MacBook Air which, years after its initial release, still represents the best bang-for-buck laptop on the market?

We’ve tested every generation of MacBook to make sure you’re served with the precise information you need. Looking at every generation of Apple silicon, weighing up every screen size and chip configuration, if you’re looking for the best MacBook for you, this guide will make sure you grab the right model for your needs.

Quick list

Best overall

The best MacBook around isn't necessarily the most powerful, but arguably the best when power and price are balanced — as such, the best MacBook in our eyes is the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Pro. That's not the most expensive Mac by any stretch of the imagination (although it is not cheap), but it takes a top-quality processor in the M3 Pro and puts it in the svelte and attractive 14-inch MacBook Pro chassis.

For anyone looking for plenty of power, the M3 Pro MacBook Pro has it in spades. The M3 Pro chip features 11 CPU cores, divided up into 5 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores. You can boost that up to 12 CPU cores and 18 GPUs, but you'll have to pay a lot more for the privilege.

Display duties are handled with a 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR panel, and it's an absolute stunner. Color is handled with aplomb, and the ProMotion runs everything along at a slick 120Hz. For the display nerds, there are 1 billion colors here meeting the P3 Wide color gamut, and TrueTone color keeps everything looking good no matter the environmental light. There's Apple's XDR high dynamic range as well, giving a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 nits peak brightness across the whole screen.

Battery life is top-of-the-line as well — on a full charge, the 14-inch MacBook Pro will last 18 hours, and that only drops significantly if you start doing loads of hard work like video rendering. It's all kept cool with an active cooling system in its aluminum shell, and just like the previous models, you're only going to hear those fans turn on if you run the machine super hard.

Why is this the best MacBook overall? Because it gives everything you could ever actually need out of a MacBook, and means you don't have to spend through the nose to own one. This model, if you head to the Apple Store sets you back $1999. Sure, there are cheaper MacBooks, but this won't break the bank quite as much as some of the really powerful models.

Best on a budget

The MacBook Air M1 is not the newest machine out there, but it is the cheapest of the MacBooks that you can currently buy. It’s no longer stocked at Apple, but third party retailers still carry the MacBook Air M1, and we’ve seen its price tag reach crazy lows of as little as $399. You're still getting a hell of a computer — and you're not paying the most to get it. While it might not satisfy those who are looking for a MacBook with bucket loads of power on tap, it is more than adequate for users who want a MacBook for the lowest price possible.

That's not to say it's not got any power — far from it. For some light computing, document editing and even rudimentary photo editing, the M1 that resides inside its super slim shell is still a great performer for everyday computing. There are 8 CPU cores in there for all the computing stuff, and then a 7-core GPU that handles graphics duties. The M1 was a very powerful chip when it came out, and it's no-less powerful now — it's just that its sequels have upped the game.

The display is nothing to be sniffed at either, even if it does lack the Liquid Retina moniker of the newer models. It's plenty colorful for watching some YouTube videos, and the 2560x1600 native resolution makes text look super crisp on a smaller display like this one. There's P3 wide color as well, and it gets bright enough for use in broad daylight with 400 nits peak brightness.

Battery life is good, with a solid 18 hours of video playback. That means you can slip it in your bag and not worry about losing battery when you take it out and about — be that to class or to work. It'll be easy to slip into your bag as well, with its super slim chassis. In fact, at its slimmest the MacBook Air M1 is a paper-like 0.41 inches, making it one of the thinnest MacBooks ever made. That makes the laptop super portable — more so than most of its range mates.

The MacBook Air M1 is the best MacBook on a budget because it's so cheap. You can often save extra money on top of its already super low price. The best time to pick one of these up is during one of the many deals events throughout the year — that way you'll get the absolute best price possible.

Best for students

Students need a little more power than your average person for all the research and work they do on a daily basis — but they also need a machine that is portable enough to put into a bag without any trouble at all. The MacBook Air with M2 chip is just the right laptop for a student studying at college, striking the perfect balance of price, performance, and portability. It’s now the cheapest model available direct from Apple, replacing the M1 Air on Apple’s shelves — and its price tag means we still recommend it for students despite a more powerful M3 chip version now also being available.

Running things along in the background is the 8 CPU-core M2 processor, which also features 8 GPU cores to handle the graphics processing. That's not a top of the range processor, but a student doesn't need top of the range. Instead, this power option gives plenty of juice for all those Chrome tabs you need open while you revise for tests, and runs productivity apps like Pages with aplomb so you can get those crucial papers written. Crucially, it also offers phenomenal battery life, easily getting you through a day and into the next morning’s lecture if you forget to plug the charger in overnight.

That's not to mention how the MacBook Air looks — after all, that kind of thing can be important to the cool kids on campus. The slim MacBook Air has a new svelte design with a more uniform chassis than its wedge-like predecessor, and it's a look that we really like. It's slim too at just 0.44 inches thick. Portable and powerful: just what a student needs.

The display on this one was upgraded too, now a Liquid Retina. More importantly, however, it's also changed shape slightly — and it's a productivity godsend. Rather than 16:9 like most displays, the MacBook Air's screen is 16:10 which adds some vertical space, something you really notice when you're working on text in Pages or even in spreadsheet apps like Numbers. It's bright and colorful to boot — perfect for when you've stopped working.

This is the best MacBook for students because, as said up top, it balances power with portability — something that's super important when you have to cart your laptop around a college campus while getting some work done. If you're a student on a budget, then grab an M1 MacBook Air — you'll get a slightly less impressive machine, yes, but a solid one nonetheless.

Best for gaming

Gamers might think they want the most powerful laptop they can find — they also will unlikely be looking for a Mac. If you're after a Mac for work reasons or personal choice and you want to do a bit of gaming on the side, however, you should look no further than the base model M3 MacBook Pro 14-inch — and we'll tell you for why.

No, the M3 isn't going to run all the AAA games at 120FPS and 4K, but most of those games aren't available on Mac anyway. Instead, the kinds of games that you can run on a Mac are those directly ported over and optimized for use on a MacBook. Games like the Resident Evil 4 Remake run very well on an M3 chip, and even the very new (and award-winning) Baldur's Gate 3 will be munched up by the latest base model Apple chip with no problems at all. Indie games? Indie games are no challenge for the extremely potent M3 at the heart of the entry-level MacBook Pro.

"What about my AAA games? I want to play Cyberpunk!" Worry not, there is a solution. There is a very limited number of those optimized games that will run natively on Mac — and those that you'll find on Steam don't always work very well as they rely on a compatibility layer, which isn't an issue that those monster M3 Pro and Max chips are going to solve. Instead, you're better off running those AAA games on a service like Nvidia GeForce Now, which will stream games over the internet directly to you for a monthly fee. With these two things — the M3 running the ported, optimized games and GeForce now running those that wouldn't normally run on a Mac — you've got everything a gamer could want from a Mac.

The other bonus is that incredible screen — the same 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR from the more expensive models. That's a top quality display, and its ProMotion refresh rate of up to 120Hz will make any games you run on the MacBook buttery smooth. Just remember to grab one of the best wireless mice for Mac — the trackpad just isn't made for gaming.

Beyond your gaming specs there's some extras that just make it a great machine for normal computing tasks. Up to 22 hours of battery life is exemplary, and will give you plenty of juice if you're looking to game on the go. An excellent laptop, and our pick if you're looking for the best MacBook for gaming.

Best for creatives

If you're an on-the-go creative, photographer, or artist, then the latest 15-inch MacBook Air is the top pick for. It still provides plenty of power thanks to the upgrade to the base-level M3 chipset, but without the overkill in performance (and price) that the M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro line-up represents. And, you still have lots of screen real estate to see your canvases and art in large-scale detail.

As the name suggests, the headline feature here is the 15-inch Liquid Retina display. It's gloriously colorful, and while it lacks the 120Hz refresh rate of the ProMotion displays in the Pro models, it's still a wonderful panel, with great contrast and accurate color reproduction. P3 wide color is supported, with the ability to present 1 billion colors. The 500 nits peak brightness is a great bonus too, and you'll love how vibrant it is on the eye, even in direct sunlight.

Even without going up to the M3 Pro and M3 Max chip levels, there's plenty of power on tap as well, with M3 providing more than enough power for PhotoShop or Illustrator sessions. With support for up to 24GB of RAM there's plenty of multitasking power there as well, so you won't have to worry about having multiple layers in a project at all. For the computer nerds, there are 8 CPU cores here, joined by 10 GPU cores that handle those all-important graphics. Curiously, that's 2 more GPU cores than the base model 13-inch MacBook Air gets — which is just more juice for you to use in your work, as well as opening up some 3D overhead for gamers and CAD projects.

Battery life is good for when you want to take your work on a train or a bus, or you fancy working at the local cafe — you'll get up to 18 hours which means far fewer trips to the power outlet. You won't worry about anyone tripping over the cable and yanking the power cord (and your laptop with it): MagSafe is back so the connector just pops out without taking the laptop with it.

Artists and other creatives will love the extra screen size of the 15-inch MacBook Air, and then they'll slip it into their bag super easily with its 0.45 inch belt line. It's the creme de la creme of ultimate portable laptops, giving you oodles of power on the go. Hook up a USB-C drawing tablet and you're away. If you’re working on really demanding 3D projects or need to carry out light-speed video exports, maybe consider stepping up to a MacBook Pro. But for many creatives, they won’t be able to touch the sides of what this MacBook can achieve.

Most powerful

If you want the most powerful MacBook you can lay your hands on then you won't need to go any further than the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max. That's an impressive $7199 worth of laptop if you go for the fully specced machine — a true desktop replacement for all but the most power-hungry of users.

That is for the most extreme version of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, however, with 128GB of memory and an 8TB SSD, so make some sensible cuts and you still get a monstrous machine with a slightly less monstrous price tag. The M3 Max is a beast right across its configurations — there are 16 CPU cores on board, connected to an insane 40-core GPU. For those keeping track, that's an absolute powerhouse of a processor, and will absolutely destroy pretty much any computing task you throw at it.

For some users, however, that's exactly what they need. If you're a video editor for movies, a programmer or graphics specialist, then you'll need all the power that the most powerful MacBook can provide you with. Granted, you don't need to opt for all the RAM or SSD space that Apple tempts you with — the base Max option with a mere 32GB of memory is only $3499. Still a lot of money, but you're still getting that incredible processor for a little less financial outlay. 

There's more than just the power here — that ProMotion equipped 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is a stunner, with sumptuous colors and oodles of brightness on tap. The whole package is incredible, with all that power on tap in a deceptively slim chassis. The most powerful, most impressive MacBook Pro is the best if you want a laptop with everything — although you'll have to pay to get it.

Q&A

The best iPad stands can attach to any iPad and have it propped up in landscape or portrait mode, so you can use the tablet hands-free, whenever you want.

You might use an iPad to draw, play games, or watch your favorite Apple TV Plus shows. After a time though, you may find yourself getting aches and pains in your hands as you try to hold one of Apple's best iPads after a long period. As every iPad, bar the ninth-generation model, has a bunch of magnets built-in for accessories, it's easy to snap these to a sturdy stand. This way, you can save your hands with the ache.

Apple recently announced its 'Let Loose' event on May 7. We're expecting to see M2-powered iPad Air 6 models, including a 12.9-inch iPad Air, as well as an M3 iPad Pro and Apple Pencil 3. It's a perfect opportunity to look into a new stand if you've been planning to upgrade to one of these iPads.

With this in mind, we've rounded up some of the best iPad stands that we've reviewed, which can be attached with ease.

The quick list

Take a fast look through the best stands for your iPad, featuring different needs and for different budgets. If you want to read more about any of them, just click to jump down to our full write-ups.

Best overall

If you usually work at home and you have your iPad beside you, the MagFlött Pro iPad Stand would be perfect to use for the tablet as a secondary display.

Compatible with the 12.9-inch and the 11-inch iPad Pro, as well as the 10.9-inch iPad Air, it also works with the iPad Air and the regular iPad 10th generation. It's a sturdy stand that features a great, adjustable design. 

You can re-arrange the height and angle to make sure that the iPad is at your eye level at all times.

Best budget

This Foldable Magnetic iPad Stand from Lululook would not look out of place as an official Apple accessory. Compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th and 5th generations), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd and 3rd generations), and iPad Air (4th and 5th generations), you'll get plenty of use from this stand.

Your tablet sits on a 360-degree rotatable magnetic panel which can be tilted forwards or backwards. There's also a stiff hinge that can let you change the height of the stand. What also sets this apart from the rest, is how you can fold up the stand. If you regularly commute and you want something to attach to your iPad at a moment's notice, Lululook's stand can help with that.

At $80 / £79, it's a pricy stand, but its build quality and strength of its magnets, as well as being foldable, justifies the price tag for us.

Most adjustable

Another stand that has a great design, but is also one of the most adjustable. Benks' Infinity Pro Magnetic iPad Stand comes in a bunch of sizes to fit the following iPads: iPad Pro 12.9-inch tablets from 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022, iPad Pro 11-inch from 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022, and iPad Air (4th and 5th generations). You can rotate the stand to be portrait or landscape, as well as being able to adjust the height so you can get the right angle.

The biggest issue here is that there's a risk of your iPad falling over — as long as you don’t go beyond Benks' recommended angle of 55 degrees. Make sure that you've bought the correct stand for your iPad, but otherwise, it's very adjustable to fit your workflow, wherever you may be.

Best for compatibility

If you constantly change between an iPad and a Mac, this stand from Twelve South could be a great option.

ParcSlope has your device at 18 degrees, which is the perfect ergonomic angle as you reach for your Mac's keyboard or the iPad's display. As we mentioned in our review, the stand is also perfect for your device when taking conference calls.

This isn't the most portable of stands, but it gets the job done — especially if you usually work from home.

Most simple

This iPad stand is to the point in what it offers — the HoverBar Duo is a black stand that comes with both a weighted base and a shelf clamp. Because of this clamp, it works with most iPads, so you won't be wondering if its magnets are strong enough for your tablet.

The stand is also super-flexible, so you can adjust its height and angle however you want, which can fit into a variety of workflows — from working on a train to watching videos as you work out.

Strike a pose

The best iPad stands can give your tablet another lease of life if you're working on a Mac. For instance, thanks to Universal Control, which is a feature that allows your mouse to move between your iPad and Mac, could help boost your productivity as the iPad is attached to a stand.

Our favorite stand from this list is the MagFlött Pro iPad Stand. Easily adjustable as well as having a great design, it's a fantastic accessory to have if you need to use your iPad during a commute, or as a second screen while you work on your Mac.

Q&A

The Apple Watch is a great running watch, but that hasn’t always been the case. With every new iteration of Apple’s smartwatch, its run tracking powers have evolved and improved and in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple has a watch that truly can hold its own against the running watch establishment.

Out of the box, the latest Watches offer a good, strong running experience, but take the time to seek out what’s available in the Apple App Store and you’ll be able to bolster and enhance the Watch’s powers to track, analyze and help you train. For every feature you get on a dedicated running watch, there’s pretty much an app to offer a similar, and at times better experience on Apple’s Watch.

If you’ve got the latest Apple Watch Series 9 or better still, the more run-friendly Ultra and still getting to grips with turning it into your perfect running companion, we’ve picked out the Apple Watch apps that can make that a reality.

1. Workoutdoors

Apple is improving the mapping support for tracking workouts on the Apple Watch, but it’s not there for running just yet. Until it is, you can use Workoutdoors to fill that mapping void in your life.

It is a paid-for app, but what you get in return is the ability to view detailed topographic maps and make good use of the breadcrumb-style navigation to help guide you on your way or help you get back home.

You don’t need to be wed to your iPhone to put it to best use as it’s available as a standalone app and Apple Watch Ultra owners can additionally assign the Action button to make it easier to kick off the tracking or get a quick view of your current map if you’ve got a few apps running while you’re running.

2. Watch to 5k

If you’re looking for an Apple Watch app to start your running journey, Watch to 5K is a great app to ease you into things. It’s an app designed to provide an easy-to-follow plan that will help you run your first 5km run in nine weeks.

This standalone app keeps the user interface and stats it tracks simple, and does work with music players, so you can listen to your own sounds and will interrupt with training cues while you’re tackling sessions on your plan. You can add a complication to your main Watch screen to have quick access to tracking and it will let you delve deeper into your progress and upcoming runs in the iPhone companion app.

There are no in-app purchases, so once you’ve paid up, you’ve got an app for life to help you tackle that 5k distance whenever you feel ready to do it.

3. Zones

The Apple Watch possesses a great optical heart rate sensor and also gives you the capability to pair up one of the best external heart rate monitors if you want to boost heart rate tracking accuracy. If you’re sold on training by heart rate, Zones is one of the simplest Watch apps available to help you do that.

Zones covers a range of exercises including running, putting your real-time heart rate front and center of the Watch, and delivering haptic cues when there’s been a change in your heart rate. Once your running session is done you can head to the iPhone app to get a more detailed story of your run and the effect it had on your heart rate.

There aren’t many apps out there better for focusing your running time on heart rate and letting you simply see when it drops and spikes.

4. Footpath

Footpath is another Watch app that seeks to make Apple’s smartwatch better equipped at mapping out your runs and navigating them as well too. While it’s free to download, you’ll need to pay for the monthly or annual subscription to get the best out of it.

It’s an app that lets you store routes for offline use so you don’t need to lean on your iPhone. You can view topographic maps and use the Apple Watch Crown to zoom in and out of those maps. It calls out navigation directions and still keeps its navigation skills in play when you’re listening to music on your Watch. 

It’s another app built for use with the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button letting you pull up the next direction with a single press of that bigger Watch button.

5. YouRace

For the more seasoned runner, YouRace lets you ditch the Workout app for one that makes it easy to track all your running sessions. That includes interval runs and it also has a race mode to provide race estimates to help you better strategize when a PB is on the line. It also works with the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button to make it a much better fit for racing.

It’s free to download, but there are some features like building interval training plans, uploading GPX route files, or firing your data to Strava to soak up that kudos that you’ll need to pay up for. In return though, you’ll get a very slick, feature-rich app to cover all of your runs and can turn the Apple Watch into more of a race-ready smartwatch.

6. RunGo

RunGo is an Apple Watch running app that’s focused on voice and using voice to help guide you on routes. It has an extensive library of voice-guided runs including city tours narrated by the locals who know it best to fill your running time with information about your surroundings.

It will of course track runs and display staple running metrics like distance pace, but navigation is at its heart and even offers turn-by-turn directions and offers the ability to import routes from the Watch screen.

You will need to pay extra for features like letting close friends and family track your runs live, but if you love the idea of a running app that cares about getting you where you need to go and enhancing your knowledge about your surroundings, it’s well worth the download.

7. Tempo - Runner’s Workout Stats

Tempo is for the stats-obsessed, whether you’re a new runner or someone who wants to drill into the data of your last big marathon training run.

It works with a host of run tracking apps, including Apple’s own Workout one, and takes that data and presents it in a more digestible manner. That includes the advanced running metrics that you can capture on Apple’s Watches and does also provide an easy way to see your personal best times for different running distances.

There’s the ability to compare data from previous workouts to gauge your progress and a handy intensity calendar to see if your training is building nicely. You can even build your workouts from here and stick a complication on the main watch screen to make sure you have quick access to those more detailed running stats. 

8. Training Today

Apple does a great job of tracking your runs and adding Training Today into the mix will give you a better sense of when you’re in the best shape to run.

It uses Apple’s heart rate sensor and looks at your heart rate variability measurements throughout the day along with workout data to give you a simple Ready To Train (RTT) score to help you make better decisions when to train.

It doesn’t need an iPhone to operate, but does require a subscription to get access to features like using Siri to check your training scores, see when scores drop and add those scores to Apple’s new smart stack widget.

Basically, if you’re staring enviously at Garmin’s training readiness scores, this is a way to get something similar on Apple’s smartwatch.

9. Lupa Run

Lupa Run is part running coach, part mindfulness coach, using audio to push you in the right direction both physically and mentally.

It’s a paid-for app that offers structured training sessions to help you push to run a faster 10k or add running into your routine to benefit your functional fitness like strength training. It also serves up what Lupa Run calls body scan meditation runs, designed to make you feel less anxious or even give sleep quality a boost.

You can favorite sessions on the iPhone app and then those will become available on the Apple Watch app, so all you need to do next is connect your headphones and follow the audio cues to make the most of this pretty unique approach to run training and coaching.

10. Strava

If you’re already a runner, then there’s a good chance you know about Strava, if you’re new to this world, then you’ll get to hear about it soon enough. This is an alternative place to fire your run stats to and also tap into one of the biggest running communities that will want to keep you motivated to keep moving.

The Strava Apple Watch app lets you track indoor and outdoor runs, delivering real-time data including heart rate, pacing, and run splits. There’s support to turn on the audio feedback if you don’t want to glance down at your Watch screen and there’s a dedicated Strava complication so you don’t have to mess around if you just want to get out the door and run.

The Apple Store: Clean, bright, and filled with helpful staff that want to find the best Apple product for you. The online Apple Store is slightly different: Easy to navigate, with plenty of information, but nothing that tells you what you need. Be that deciding how much RAM you need in a Mac Studio, whether you want a Pro iPhone or a standard model, or if you should go for a cellular or GPS Apple Watch, there are so many questions that you want to be answered — and yet somehow, no one does.

We here at iMore know our stuff about Apple products. What kind of spec options you should choose for different Macs, which storage options you should choose for your iPhone — the list goes on. if there’s a question about an Apple product then we’ve been asked it and answered it. Now, we’re putting all of our knowledge into one page, so that you can find out exactly what you need at the Apple Store — and how you can find it.

Helping you make the right choices

We’ll start off by explaining how we’ve split the page up. It’s divided into the products that you’ll be looking at buying from the Apple store, in such a way that it helps you compare what you’re looking for. For example: If you’re looking for an iPhone 15 Pro, it’s unlikely you’re also looking for the entry-level iPhone 15 — so we’ve compared it primarily instead against the more powerful iPhone 15 Pro Max. With some products, like the Mac lineup, the choice may be a bit more clear cut between some areas (desktop or MacBook, for instance), so we’ve specced out the best options for that branch so that you can see what you need to get the most out of your purchase. 

Beyond that, we’ve got a library of buying guides if you’re looking for the best accessories for your Apple products, so we’ve laid them all out too to make it easier to find what you need. 

Want to know whether you should wait for the next model? We’ll let you know how far along a product is in its expected life cycle, and we’ll update it as time goes on and an update gets closer and closer, so you never get caught out buying a device that's soon to be superseded.

It's a big guide, so use the navigation bar on the left to jump to whichever section interests you the most. But take a browse throughout too — you might get tempted by something totally different along the way.

iPhone

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Models currently on sale:

• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro models are the top-of-the-range iPhones, and they come with prices to match. No matter which of the two you’re looking for, be ready to pay $999 and above. But what’s the difference between the two top-level iPhones?

The main difference is the screen. The iPhone 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Pro Max features a larger 6.7-inch screen. If you’re not sure which screen is the right size for you, the best way to find out is to head over to a physical Apple Store and pick them up — you don’t want to be stretching your thumbs too far to use your phone, but you might be willing to sacrifice compact-ness for media consumption on the larger display.

The Max also has an extra bonus in the form of its optical Zoom lens. While the iPhone 15 Pro is no slouch when it comes to zoom with 3x optical zoom, the Max has a camera capable of 5x optical zoom so you can get really up close and personal with your subjects.

Battery life is the other consideration between the two — the Pro Max has a much larger cell inside that powers it for longer. Apple says that the Pro Max will get 3 hours of extra video playback, and our testing has confirmed the improved staying power of the larger model. 

Beyond the screen size and the camera, the two phones are vastly the same. There’s the A17 Pro chip keeping everything running along smoothly and powering some very impressive games and apps. The screens are both what Apple calls ‘Super Retina XDR’, and they feature ProMotion to up the refresh rate to 120Hz.

Buying the best iPhones will net you the full gamut of features built up over successive iPhone generations as well; Dynamic Island on top to hide the camera hole in the front, an impressive camera with a 48MP main shooter, and the all-important USB-C port on the bottom. There’s more to the iPhone 15 Pro line than just that, however, and we go into great detail in our iPhone 15 Pro review and iPhone 15 Pro Max review.

But which model should you buy, and which storage amount should you get? Simple: If you want the biggest and the best iPhone Apple has to offer, then buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Those with smaller hands or tighter pants should consider the iPhone 15 Pro, as it will take up less space and require less stretching of your thumbs to use. If you’re a photographer, mind you, then you’ll likely miss the improved zoom lens of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Storage-wise, you should take a few things into account. How many apps are you going to install? Are you going to watch all your video content as downloads on-device or are you going to stream it? And are you going to take loads of pictures? At a minimum, you should be going above the base storage, and getting an iPhone 15 Pro with 256GB of storage. That will give you plenty of space for some of the App Store's best iPhone apps, your photo library, and other things you might store on your iPhone later down the line, like documents or digital publications.

Bear in mind that you can’t upgrade your iPhone's storage like you can with some Android handsets, so what you buy is what you get through the life of the phone. 256GB is a minimum that you should be thinking about, but you might want to go even higher. The 512GB storage option is the best middle ground between space and price. You won’t be paying top dollar for more storage, but you’ll have enough to store more apps as they take up ever more gigabytes of space.

If you’re looking to buy an iPhone 15 Pro Max for the camera so that you can use it in a more professional setting, then you should go for the 1TB option. You’ll pay the most, but you’ll get all the storage you’ll need. Remember as well that the Pro Max supports video recording to external storage media, so you don’t have to worry too much about those professional video or photography shoots taking up all your space.

Confused about color? The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are available in several different Titanium finishes — Black, White, Blue, and Natural. Be aware that the Blue and Black Titanium options are susceptible to fingerprints, which can change the color for a little while when you use them. If you want to avoid this problem, stick with the White and Natural options.

The exact model you should buy is:

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

Models currently on sale:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 13
• iPhone SE 3rd generation

The iPhone 15 line is the flagship of the iPhone fleet — it might not be the most expensive or most powerful, but it is the most important to Apple. It’s the iPhone that most people are going to buy, coming in at a lower price than the Pro models and in more colors. While not as impressive as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, it’s no slouch — and the iPhone 15 generation gained some features to bring it closer to the top models than previous iterations. If you want to learn more about the two devices in more detail, check out our iPhone 15 review and our iPhone 15 Plus review.

Price-wise, you’ll be paying from $799 for an iPhone 15 all the way up to $1,199 for the largest model with the most storage. That price is going to depend on a couple of factors — the size of the phone, and how many gigabytes of storage it's got inside.

The iPhone 15 Plus was released alongside the iPhone 15, following on from the larger model that came with the iPhone 14. There’s no real difference in specs, apart from the size of the screen (bumped up from 6.1 inches to 6.7 inches) and a larger battery afforded with the extra space in the chassis. That battery will give you around six extra hours of video playback, according to Apple.

Beyond the screen and the battery, there’s not much difference between the two iPhone 15 models. Both have the A16 Bionic chip, the same that powered the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year that’s capable of some impressive processing. The cameras are both the same, with a pair of lenses in the form of a 48MP main and an Ultra Wide system. Optical zoom goes up to 2x, and there are all the bells and whistles in the image processing engine for those well-known incredible iPhone photos.

You are giving up some things with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus over the Pro and Pro Max. One of the most noticeable is the lack of ProMotion — the non-Pro models are noticeably less smooth than the more expensive iPhones, which might put you off. That screen also lacks the Always-On feature of the top-of-the-line iPhones, so you’ll miss out on the StandBy mode. There are also fewer storage options, only going up to 512GB, so if you need more room to store stuff on your iPhone, then you might want to look elsewhere.

One thing you don’t miss out on, however, is the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen. It’s a nice, Pro feature that’s moved over, and lets you track now playing music and other apps with a glance at the software bubble that appears over the front camera module. All the new iPhone models also received a USB-C port on the bottom, reducing the number of cables you’ll need to cart around with you.

What of the other iPhones that you can buy on the Apple Store? Apple has left some of the older iPhone models up for purchase, and you might save some money if you go for something a little less new. 

The iPhone 14 is the newest of the three other models, and you’ll still get a solid phone. You’ll take a hit in camera and processing power, but you’ll still get an excellent phone. The chassis will be slightly different as well — this year's iPhones got new, smoother lines whereas the iPhone 14 is more angular in the edges. No USB-C, either — only Apple's proprietary Lightning charging and data transfer. The iPhone 14 will save you around $100 if you go for it: They start at $699. For more about the iPhone 14, check out our iPhone 14 review.

The iPhone 13 can still be bought at the Apple Store, and if you’re looking for an iPhone that’s still potent but don’t want to spend too much, then it’s the way to go. The screen is vastly the same as the iPhone 14, the processor similar, and the camera identical — if you put the two side by side, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any difference beyond the color options. The iPhone 13 starts at $599, a $200 saving on the iPhone 15. For more details, read our iPhone 13 review.

Finally, you can buy an iPhone SE 3rd generation — the base model iPhone that comes in at $429. It’s completely different in most ways from the rest of the iPhone lineup, bar the OS that runs at the center. It’s got a 12MP single-lens camera, a Touch ID sensor on the front for fingerprint security scanning, and large bezels around the 4.7-inch screen. If you want the best iPhone for dipping your toes into the line, then this could be what you’ve been looking for. Still not sure? Check out our iPhone SE 3 review for more information.

But which iPhone 15 should you buy? The color, of course, is up to you — but there are a couple of things inside the iPhone that you should think about. For one, whether you should get the Plus or the non-Plus iPhone. Our choice would be to save a little money and go for the iPhone 15 — the screen is fine for almost everything you could ever want to do with your phone, and it won’t require as much thumb stretching to use.

The second thing to think about is storage — and this is where you should spend the extra. As apps, games, and high-quality photos become larger and larger, you need extra storage to keep more on your phone. We’d recommend at least paying the extra $100 on the 256GB iPhone — that doubles the base storage, and gives you plenty more space for anything you want to store on your iPhone.

Still not sure about the screen size? Pop over to the Apple Store and get both in your hand — have a play with the phone, turn it over in your hands, and work out whether it's too big or just right for you. It’s more sensible than ordering and hoping for the best and gives you a better idea of the size of the handset.

The exact model you should buy is:

iPad

iPad and iPad Air

Models currently on sale:

• iPad Air 6th generation 11-inch
• iPad Air 6th generation 13-inch
• iPad 10th generation

Price-wise, all the iPads fall into slightly different categories and price points. The iPad Air starts at $599 and climbs up to $899 for a Cellular edition with a max 256GB of storage. The iPad 10th generation starts at $449 and then goes up to $749 when you add in the 256GB storage option and a Cellular SIM slot. The last on the list, the 9th gen iPad, is the cheapest (and oldest) of the lot, starting at $329 and climbing to $609 when you bump all the spec options up.

There are now only two larger-screened non-Pro iPads to choose from at the Apple Store, although one of them has a couple of different display sizes to select. The iPad Air 6 has now been launched, and you can opt between an 11-inch display, or a larger 13-inch screen akin to the two Pro options. The other iPad to choose from is the iPad 10th gen, which only has one screen size. There are other key differences between the two, and we'll go through them to give you a good idea about which is best for you.

Price-wise, there are now very clear price differentiators between the iPad models. The iPad Air starts, in its 11-inch guise at $599, and then the 13-inch costs $799. Those can both be configured into cellular versions with more storage, hiking that price up, potentially, significantly over $1000. The iPad 10th gen on the other hand has cost $349 in its base form, and then $649 for a fully equipped 5G model.

iPad Air

First up is the iPad Air 6. If anything, this is the best iPad all around for a multitude of different uses. There's an M2 chip at its core, that comes directly from the previous model of iPad Pro, and the MacBook Airs of last year. That gives the tablet some beefy processing behind it, and will even allow for some heavier workflows. It's going to be solid for multitasking, great for playing games, and it's going to make sure that your iPad is still speedy for a longer. If you want the full low down on the iPad Air 6, make sure you check out our iPad Air 6 hands-on.

There are now two screen options in the iPad Air — an 11-inch option, and a 13-inch option. Those two lack the ProMotion high-refresh-rate displays of the iPad Pro line, but they are still big, bright, and plenty colorful. There's an anti-reflective coating as well, so you can view it more easily in different levels of direct sunlight, something the lower-spaced iPads lack.

There's a single-lens 12MP camera on the back of the Air, and a front camera mounted on the side edge of the device. That means that it's easier to hold the iPad for FaceTime calls, unlike some portrait cameras. There's a TouchID sensor in the power button as well, to make logging into the iPad easier — no more risk of forgetting your passwords. There's a smart connector in the bottom edge of the rear of the tablet as well, so that you can magnetically clip it to a keyboard cover or other type of accessory without needing to go through a finicky pairing process.

iPad 10th gen

The iPad 10th gen is the ‘new’ kid on the block. Bringing the design of the Air to a lower price point, the iPad 10th-gen features a similar 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. There isn’t the anti-reflective coating of the Air here, however, so you might find it more difficult to use in direct sunlight. It also lacks some of the color features of the Air, with sRGB color space rather than P3 wide color — that just means that the colors will be a little less accurate, but will likely only be of real concern for creative professionals.

The camera system is also slightly different from the iPad Air. While you’ve still got the 12MP shooter on the back, the camera on the front is mounted on the leading edge of the screen — that means you can have a video call in landscape mode, and not worry about covering the screen with your palm while in use. The A14 bionic chip powering the tablet is a solid performer, and while it's not the latest mobile chip that Apple has pumped out, it’s still got plenty of grunt where it counts. For web browsing, some light gaming, and a spot of movie or TV watching it's going to be perfect.

There are attachments available for the iPad 10th gen as well, although you’ll pay a pretty penny to get hold of them. There’s a keyboard case for example, called the Magic Keyboard Folio, and that will cost around $249 from Apple itself. It’s compatible with the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, although artists will be disappointed to find out there’s no support for the second version of the Apple Pencil. The 10th gen is a great tablet for those who don’t need the extra power of the Air, but want something a bit more interesting and capable than the 9th gen. For more information, check out the iPad 10th generation review.

The exact model you should buy is:

iPad Pro

Models currently on sale:

• iPad Pro 11-inch M4
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch M4

You can currently buy one of two different types of iPad Pro at the moment — the smaller, and more portable 11-inch model, and the larger 13-inch model. There is only one main difference between the two beyond size this time around, and it all comes down to the slimness of the device. The 11-inch is 5.3mm slim, while the 13-inch is 5.1mm. Other than that, they both share the exact same specs.

The screens are some of the best that Apple has ever put out, using dual-layer OLED panels to bring super dark blacks and incredibly bright and vivid colors. Both sizes receive this panel, unlike the previous options where you’d have to choose the larger Pro if you wanted the fancier screen. Both are capable of 1,000 nits constant brightness, with peak HDR brightness of 1,600 nits. Those displays still feature ProMotion as well, for some very impressive frame rates of 120Hz.

One thing to bear in mind with the screens is the new nano-texture coating. On higher-specced models of the iPad Pro, you can opt for a special coating on the screen to make it easier to see in direct light. If you're going to be out and about and near lots of direct light, this might be a good idea.

The chips on the inside are the brand-new M4, brought out just for the iPad Pro. These are chipsets that haven’t yet appeared on any other Apple devices as yet, and they’ll power even the most power-hungry apps. Expect to be able to edit videos and photos, and do light rendering tasks on the go, as well as other more power-hungry tasks. If you add in a Magic Keyboard accessory, then you’re getting close to a legitimate laptop replacement.

The chips raise an important thing to remember with the new iPad Pros as well — if you want the most powerful chips, you need to choose either 1TB or 2TB storage options. That will get you the 10-core CPU M4 chip, whereas the smaller storage options only get you the 9-core version. RAM also changes too, from 8GB on anything under 1TB, and then 16Gb for everything above 1TGB.

There are more impressive specs under the hood of the iPad Pro as well. There’s a 12MP camera on the back, flanked with a LiDAR sensor. It’s not going to be anywhere near as good as the shooter on the back of your iPhone, but it will get the job done in a pinch. It will record 4K video as well, so you’ll never be stuck without a video-taking machine.

It’s one of the few iPads that unlocks with Face ID as well, thanks to the more impressive front camera. While Touch ID is a useful unlocking feature found on the other iPad models, Face ID brings a new level of security that makes it easier to use, and harder to break into. It’s actually particularly useful for older people, whose fingerprints can often find themselves becoming less defined as their skin changes.

The price is where the iPad Pro models become a harder sell. They are now even more expensive than the old versions, with the 11-inch starting at $999, and the 13-inch version stepping up to $1,299. With the more specs you add on, the more expensive they become as well, going all the way to $2,599 for a 2TB, Nanocoating-covered iPad Pro 13-inch.

Then, as with the other iPad models, you need to decide if you want your iPad to be a cellular model or a simple Wi-Fi-connected tablet. The benefits of the former are many, but you do have to pay more for the privilege of ‘internet wherever you have signal’ and there are always the added monthly data costs that come with a cellular-connected device. Wi-Fi models are cheaper, but due to their reliance on a separate internet connection, they are less flexible than their cellular counterparts.

If you are going to be leaving the house loads with your iPad and nothing else, then a cellular iPad is going to be the way to go for you. For everyone else, the mobile data paring option that your iPhone offers is more than capable enough to get your iPad connected to the internet when there’s no other source of WiFi connection around. If nothing else, it's worth the saving you’ll make when you don’t opt for a cellular model — they are around $200 more expensive, no matter how much storage you put in the iPad.

When looking at an iPad Pro, there is one question you need to ask yourself — do I really need all this power? If you just want an iPad that’s powerful enough for some light work tasks, then an iPad Air is going to be plenty for your needs. If you want something super compact to do some video editing or other tasks on, then the iPad Pro is going to be more your speed. For all the information, go check out the iPad Pro M2 review.

The exact model you should buy is:

iPad mini

Models currently on sale:

• iPad mini 6th generation

There is currently only one model of iPad mini on sale at the moment, the 8.3-inch version. That comes in a range of different colors, including Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight. While it might be the smallest iPad, that doesn’t mean it's going to be the cheapest however — and it’s also one of the oldest models available to buy on the Apple Store. For a full rundown, check out the iPad mini 6 review.

It starts from $499 for the Wi-Fi equipped, 64GB model, and then climbs up to $799 for the cellular connection-equipped 256GB version. Interestingly with this iPad, there are only two different storage options, in the form of the base 64GB and upgraded 256GB. 

That price makes it more expensive than the budget-oriented iPad 9th gen and the newer iPad 10th gen, but it does make a case for itself being costlier than its larger brethren.

For one, the chip on the inside is the A15 Bionic, one more level above the A14 that you’ll find in the iPad 10th gen. That means it's going to be better at light workflow tasks, and more importantly, it’s going to play all the best Apple Arcade games at greater frame rates with more performance on tap.

The 8.3-inch display isn’t the highest resolution panel in Apple’s arsenal, but it's a decent enough screen for its size. One thing worth noting about the iPad mini: the tablet suffers from  “Jelly scrolling”, a phenomenon that makes the scrolling on the tablet feel stilted, harsh, and anything but the usual Apple smooth. Some users don’t notice it, mind you, so make sure to have a go with one to make sure it’s not going to affect you should you pick one up.

The camera on the back is a 12MP camera, and it’s going to be fine for most normal shooting. It’s not going to stand up against any of the iPhone cameras in the most recent models, but given it's a more portable device than the other iPads it’s good that the camera is semi-reasonable. The front camera is more than adequate for video calling and a few selfies, although you might miss Face ID given the tablet's use of a Touch ID sensor instead.

USB-C handles charging on the bottom, so if you’ve got any of the most recent Apple devices you won’t need to remember multiple cables when you go out and about with your iPad.

There are a couple of things to take into consideration when thinking about the iPad mini. The first is whether or not you might find yourself wanting for screen space — if you think this might be the case, it’s worth going for the more expensive iPad Air. It’s more powerful, and you get more screen. The second thing to consider is the amount of storage, and as always, we recommend getting more than the base 64GB, and your only option then is 256GB. Unless you want to wait for the iPad mini 7, of course. 

The exact model you should buy is:

Apple Watch

Apple Watch Series 9 / Apple Watch SE

Models currently on sale:

• Apple Watch Series 9 41mm
• Apple Watch Series 9 45mm
• Apple Watch SE 2 40mm
• Apple Watch SE 2 44mm

There are a few models of Apple Watch to choose from, from the budget to the massively expensive. You’ll start with the Apple Watch SE, Apple’s cheapest Apple Watch, then head to the Apple Watch Series 9, the flagship model, and finally land on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the expensive (and sublime) top-of-the-range watch. There are some key differences between each model of watch, so we’ll go through all the details so that you can more easily tell them apart.

Apple Watch Series 9

The Series 9 is the flagship of the Apple Watch line, and perhaps the most recognizable. This is the Apple Watch with the most options available on the Apple Store, from the color that you can get to the material that it’s made from. Color-wise, if you go for the base aluminum material, there are five different options. You can get a Pink color, Midnight, Starlight, Silver, or the ever-popular (PRODUCT)RED crimson. There are the stainless steel options, which are slightly more restrictive in color. There are Gold, Silver, and Graphite options for that material.

The size options are slightly larger than the SE as well. There are two — a 41mm, and a 45mm. That’s so that everyone and their different wrist sizes are catered for, making sure that the watches fit a wide array of different people. For those that want the largest screen, wrist size be damned, then the 45mm face is the one to go for.

The screen housed in whatever material you choose is solidly bright and visible in most different lighting conditions. Thanks to the always-on technology as well, the screen stays for perpetuity (unless the battery dies), so you can tell the time no matter where it is — unlike the SE, where you have to move the watch to wake it up. To save power, this feature can be turned off.

On the battery front, you won’t get any more than you do with the SE. That’s impressive considering the always-on screen on the front, although with normal use, you’ll find the 18 hours of power on time will get you through most days and need a charge when you go to bed. You can get more out of the battery if you put the watch in low-power mode, but then you lose more of the features like the heart rate monitoring and always on screen.

There are more features for the battery to run on this model as well. The normal heart rate monitor is present, although its more accurate and will also take an ECG to check what your heart is up to. In the UK and other parts of the world, there is a Blood Oximeter as well — although users in the US will find that particular sensor disabled. It will track the cycles of people with Ovaries as well, and even estimate ovulation based on your past period frequency and timing. It will track sleep as well, although the aforementioned battery life might put a stop to that.

It’s a powerful little watch as well, with the more potent S9 SiP (System in Package) at the core of the device. That’ll be great for the extra sensors, as well as running multiple apps at the same time. You can locally store things like Apple Music tracks on the watch as well, so that you can listen to them with your AirPods over Bluetooth if you want to leave your iPhone at home.

On leaving your iPhone at home, this is one of the few watches we’d recommend getting the cellular version of. With its more serious array of fitness sensors, it means that you can move about sans iPhone, and not worry too much about remembering your iPhone. It will mean you have to pay extra for the data plan, but if you’re serious about tracking your fitness then it adds enough to be worth the extra cost.

The Series 9 isn’t cheap, mind you. The aluminum 41mm GPS watch is $399, and that can go up slightly when you choose a different strap. The aluminum cellular watch starts at $499, and if you want a stainless steel watch then you’ll have to go for a cellular version which starts at $699. In our minds, the stainless steel option is only really worth it if you want something that looks all shiny and cool, as it doesn’t really add much to the function of the watch. Need more? Check out the Apple Watch Series 9 review for the full lowdown.

The exact model you should buy is:

Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is Apple’s budget-oriented smartwatch — but that doesn’t mean it skimps on the features or the comfort. It’s available in two different sizes for different-sized wrists, in the form of 40mm and 44mm models. That dictates not only the size of the watch itself, but more importantly the square screen that sits on the front.

That screen is a tiny little Retina display, covered with what Apple calls Ion-X glass. That just means that it won’t get cracked or scratched when it gets clonked on a table or the nightstand. It’s bright and visible in most light (unless the direct sunlight you’re standing in is blazing), and while it lacks the always-on feature of the more expensive models, it will wake up when you tilt your wrist toward your face.

The chip powering everything from behind the scenes is what Apple calls a ‘System in Package’, in this case the S8. It’s not as advanced as the SiPs you’ll find in the Series or the Ultra watches, but it’s got enough power to run everything you could want with your Apple Watch.

As for what it will actually do, the Apple Watch SE is a great fitness companion for those who don’t need any of the more serious features of the more expensive models. That means you get a heart rate sensor that will not only monitor your BPM, but give you high and low heart rate warnings, as well as notifications when you’ve got an irregular heartbeat rhythm. There is also sleep tracking on board, although the battery life might get in the way of that being useful.

You’ll get 18 hours with a full charge, which will you get you through your normal work day. You may find that, however, with more use (such as using the exercise functions) you’ll burn through that battery faster than you expect, leaving you to plonk it on the MagSafe charger when you go to bed — so no sleep tracking. If you’re disciplined with your charging you may well get more life out of the battery every day, but otherwise, you’ll soon find yourself charging it when you sleep more often than not.

One of the best things about the whole Apple Watch line, and by extension the SE, is the range of straps on offer. There are silicon sports bands in various forms, stretchy fabric options, as well as more expensive metal options. You don’t have to worry about compatibility either — the straps that fit the smaller measuring Apple Watches will fit the 40mm SE and the 41mm Series Watches, while the larger bands will fit on the 44m SE, 45mm Series, and the Ultra watches.

As for whether you want a cellular or GPS watch there are a couple of things you should consider — and the first is price. Going with a 40mm watch, you’ll pay $249 for a GPS model, or $299 for a cellular model. For the extra $50, you’ll be able to take your Apple Watch for exercise without the need for your iPhone to be nearby. It’s useful if that’s what you want to do, in case you don’t have any pockets in your cycling shorts or you don’t want to take your iPhone swimming, but remember you’ll also have to pay a monthly data plan on top of the cost of the watch.

For most people, a GPS watch is going to be just fine, connecting to your iPhone, notifying you of messages, and helping out with some light exercise data. If you want to know even more, give the Apple Watch SE 2 review a read.

The exact model you should buy is:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Models currently on sale:

• Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s top-of-the-range smartwatch, packed to gunnels with impressive features and powerful internals. There aren’t that many options for the watch itself with the Ultra 2 — there’s only one color in light titanium, and then three different exclusive strap options. Those are the textile Alpine and trail loops, and then the silicon Ocean Band. You can always choose another strap from the rest of the lineup at the Apple Store as well, including one of the many metal bands that are available.

That would mean paying more than the already high asking price, however. The Apple Watch Ultra is the most expensive Apple Watch you can buy, and comes in at $799. There are no GPS options either, so you have to pay for a data plan to use your fancy watch as well. That’s a hefty price to pay for the watch, although you get one of the most useful devices that Apple sells.

You get the same heart rate sensing as in the Series 9, including the heart sensor, and optical sensor. There are extras here as well, however. There’s a depth gauge so that you can see how deep you’re diving underwater, as well as a water temperature sensor, a compass, an altimeter, a high-g accelerometer, and more. That makes for the most accurate fitness tracker out of the bunch, as well as a cool bunch of features for the most adventurous of us. For those who like to go on long hikes in the wilderness, wild swimmers, or even divers, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a very compelling device if for nothing other than its litany of helpful sensors.

Of course, it will still generate ECGs, track your cycle, and give you notifications about heart health. The sleep tracking is also actually useful here, thanks to its much longer battery life.

A single charge will net you 36 hours of battery life, so you can wear it while s; sleeping and only need to charge it once every few days or so. If you turn it into low power mode you’ll get even longer — 72 hours, to be exact. You can also charge the watch up to 80% in only an hour, which is helpful when you need to be out and about as quick as possible when your watch has reached 0%.

The battery life is a big surprise because you would have thought the screen would have drained it quicker than the other models. It’s a large, always-on 49mm OLED panel, which is super bright in direct sunlight and incredibly crisp when you look at it. It’s covered with a flat sapphire panel of glass for sturdiness as well, so it’s less likely to be scratched or damaged come a meeting with a table edge.

As for which you should choose, you’ve only got one option in the long run — the cellular, 49mm, light titanium option. The strap choice is up to you, but make sure you go to an Apple Store and try an Ultra 2 on. It’s not a small watch, and you want to make sure that its width and height aren’t going to be a problem on your watch. It will also mean you can try on the various different straps, so that you can work out which is the strap that you want to purchase with your watch.

On the straps front, you can fit all existing 44mm and 45mm straps to the Apple Watch Ultra. That means straps you’ve got left over from old Apple Watches are still going to fit the much larger Apple Watch Ultra, and you’ve got the whole lineup of straps for the Apple Watch on the Apple Store as well. Don’t be surprised if the metal straps aren’t a complete color match to the light titanium material mind you — they are designed for the stainless steel Apple Watches first and foremost. There's loads more to learn about the most expensive Apple Watch in the Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.

The exact model you should buy is:

Mac

MacBook Pro

Models currently on sale:

• MacBook Pro 14-inch M3
• MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro
• MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max

There are three different options for the MacBook Pro that you’ll find in the Apple Store, although you’ll quickly find that it goes a lot deeper than just those. On the surface, there’s the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3, the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Pro or M3 Max, and then the MacBook Pro 16-inch, also with M3 Pro or M3 Max. For more information on the line as a whole, check out our MacBook Pro M3 Max review.

The first MacBook Pro, the 14-inch with M3, is the newest model to the lineup featuring a 14-inch display and the brand new M3 processor. It’s a powerful computer, and also the cheapest way to get a MacBook Pro in your house. There are a couple of different upgrade paths with the laptop, in the form of extra RAM and extra storage, although you can’t choose a better processor unless you upgrade to the next Pro model up. There are only two color choices for this model as well — Space Gray and Silver.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro brings more than just a snazzier processor. There’s a new color to choose from, in Space Black, and then extra processor, RAM, and storage options. You can choose either the M3 Pro chip or an M3 Max chip, and then equip it with even more memory and storage than the M3 model.

Both of the fourteen-inch models have the same screen — a 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a resolution of 3024x1964. It’s super bright, and the ProMotion technology that keeps it buzzing enables 120Hz. For designers and image manipulators, it's a great screen and strikes a happy medium between large and portable. If you want something a little larger, however, then there’s the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

The 16-inch Pro retains the same upgrade path as the 14-inch with M3 Pro but adds some more inches to the screen. That’s a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, again featuring the 120Hz refresh rate of ProMotion. If you want to get the most out of your MacBook Pro, then the large screen of the 16-inch model will do just that — although you will sacrifice some portability at the shrine of screen size.

Beyond screen size, chip, and RAM options, the rest of the specs of the MacBook Pro models are very similar. They all feature a notch at the top of the screen which holds the webcam, which sounds worse than it actually is. That camera is capable of 1080p video for all of your work conference calls, and the notch doesn’t encroach on macOS as much as you might think.

I/O is excellent across the board. For the M3 Pro models, you get an SDXC slot, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a MagSafe charging port, and three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. The M3 model loses one of the USB-C ports but retains the rest of the selection on its sides.

The keyboards are well known for being some of the best around, with plenty of finger feedback and clicky keys. There’s a Touch ID sensor on there as well for speedy login and Apple Pay when you want to buy something in the Apple Store, or if you want to use your cards when online shopping. The trackpads are large, glass affairs, and they feature some very useful multitouch gestures to make panning around and using macOS even easier.

When you buy your MacBook Pro, you can also choose to add some of Apple’s popular creative apps as well, such as Logic Pro or Final Cut Pro, although they’ll come as download codes for the App Store rather than pre-installed on the MacBook.

You can also configure your keyboard layout in the Apple Store: If you prefer the US ANSI layout, for example, and you live in the UK, you can choose that keyboard in the Apple Store Mac configurator. If you live in the US and prefer the larger enter key of the ISO layout, you can choose that one instead. It’s useful and makes buying a MacBook when you’re in a different country a little easier than it might otherwise be.

One thing to remember when you’re buying a MacBook Pro is that you can’t upgrade it once it's been delivered. That means that you have to be completely certain that the specs inside your MacBook are what you’re going to need for the lifetime of the laptop. We’d recommend saving up and spending more at the outset. If you think you might need more RAM and you have the workflow to justify it, upgrade to a larger amount. Think you might need more storage? Make sure you grab it on day one, because otherwise you’ll be stuck with the wrong amount for the duration of your ownership.

This brings us, finally, to the topic of price. The MacBook Pro models are not cheap computers by any stretch of the imagination. The base model with M3 costs $1,599 and then rises from there as you add different upgrades. The M3 Pro 14-inch costs $1,999 in its base, unupgraded form, and then costs more from there for extra RAM and a larger SSD. The 16-inch costs $2,499 without upgrades, and then goes up from there. If you don’t think you really need the extra specs of the MacBook Pros, then you should look at the MacBook Air models instead. They cost less, and give you everything that most people need from a MacBook.

The exact model you should buy is:

MacBook Air

Models currently on sale:

• MacBook Air 13-inch M3
• MacBook Air 15-inch M3
• MacBook Air 13-inch M2

The MacBook Air models are the MacBooks for everyone. They’ve got plenty of power on tap and some extra portable chassis, but they don’t cost anywhere near as much as their Pro brethren. There are three options that you can choose from. There are the M3 options, which come in 13-inch and 15-inch flavors, or you can save some money and go for the M2 13-inch which is still on sale in the Apple Store. For more information, check out the MacBook Air M3 review, and the MacBook Air M2 review.

First off, the main difference between the models — the screen. There are two different screen sizes on the MacBook Air: A 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2560x1664 and a 15-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2880x1864. Both displays are bright, crisp, and good to look at. If you want to watch Apple TV Plus on them then you’ll have a great visual experience.

There’s a difference between the two 13-inch models as well, in the form of the chips. The M2 model is slightly older and less powerful than the M3 version, the latter being the newer machine. If you want to save money, then the M2 is still a great choice and will save you $100. The M3, however, is more ‘future-proofed’ and is likely to continue to receive macOS updates for longer.

Beyond that, however, the three models are very similar. They have the same RAM and storage upgrade paths, which let you increase their specs on the Apple Store. They also share the same basic design (although the 15-inch model is larger on account of the bigger screen), so you get all the best bits no matter the MacBook Air you choose.

The keyboards, much like those on the MacBook Pro, are solid and clicky, giving plenty of under-finger feedback, and the trackpads are big, glassy, and silky smooth. There are the same multitouch gestures as with the MacBook Pro as well, making panning and operating macOS easier than you might expect.

Battery life is solid as well, lasting more than 20 hours on a single charge. That will go down depending on your use case, but it’s still some respectable staying power.

If you’re looking for a laptop that you can plug loads of different accessories into, then you will want to invest in one of the best MacBook docking stations when you choose a MacBook Air. I/O isn’t a strong point of the MacBook Air line, with each machine only receiving a pair of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the side of the machine, in addition to the MagSafe charging port.

The biggest boon of the MacBook Air is its unreasonably thin design. The 13-inch and the 15-inch are just 0.44 and 0.45 inches thick respectively, making even the larger model super easy to slip into your backpack. What they lack in out-and-out power they more than make up for with their extreme portability.

The price is where you’ll find the other benefits of Apple’s more powerful machines. The cheapest way to get a MacBook on the Apple Store is found in the MacBook Air line — the MacBook Air with M2. One of those is going to set you back $999, crucially sticking to a sub-$1000 price tag. If you go further afield to other retailers to find your MacBook Air, you’ll find that it’s reduced further still. The other MacBook Airs aren’t too expensive either. The M3 13-inch model costs $1,099, and the 15-inch version costs $1,299. Of course, those prices do rise when you start to add extra specs to your MacBook, but the base prices are at least more affordable than most of Apple’s Mac line.

As for choosing a MacBook Air, there are a couple of different factors you need to think about. The first is how much power you need: If you’ve no interest in Apple’s focus on AI, and you’re only going to be browsing the web or writing Pages documents, then you’ll probably only need a MacBook Air M2. If you need more power for heavier workloads or if you want to see what Apple has in store for us in AI, then one of the M3 models will be more your speed. Of course, if you want a larger screen, then your choice has already been made for you — there’s only one option for you.

We would recommend upgrading a couple of things when picking a MacBook Air, however. The first thing we’d add in is the extra RAM option, and spend the extra $200 on the 16GB of RAM. That will give you more multi-tasking headroom, and allow you to have more tabs open in the notoriously RAM-hungry Chrome or Safari. We’d also say you should opt for a larger SSD than the base model, in the form of the 512GB option. That’s another $200 again, but it will mean that you can store more apps, photos, and other important files on your MacBook. Apple already sells this configuration pre-made as its $1,499 model. 

Remember that it’s important to choose the upgrades you think you might want for the future — you can’t upgrade your Mac once it’s in your hands. Apple solders the RAM and SSD chips directly to the motherboard of its machines, so adding anything after the fact is impossible.

The exact model you should buy is:

Mac Studio

Models currently on sale:

• Mac Studio M3 Max
• Mac Studio M3 Ultra

If you’re looking at a Mac Studio with jealous eyes and you only need to browse the web and write some documents for work, then there are other machines in the Mac lineup that you should consider instead — you don’t need a Mac Studio. If you’re a creative looking for their next super-powerful desktop to run professional programs like Logic, ProTools, or Photoshop, then you’ve just found it. For all the information, check out the Mac Studio review.

The Mac Studio is available in two guises. The incredibly powerful M2 Max version, and the unreasonably powerful M2 UItra variant. There is no physical distinction between the two models, instead focusing on the inside of the Mac to differentiate them. The two chips feature different upgrade paths, so if you want the most RAM possible, then you need to spend the extra initially and get the M2 Ultra model.

Without going too much into the technical details, the M2 Max and Ultra chips at the heart of the Mac Studio are some of the best chips that Apple currently offers. They are super powerful and built from the ground up for professionals who need the most powerful desktop computers they can lay their hands on. As for who needs what chip is a trickier question — most professionals will be just fine with the Max chip, as it will easily handle almost any workload they throw at it. The Ultra chips are effectively in the domain of the animation house or large-scale creative workspace. Priced far beyond the reach of most people, you’ll find them lining desks at CGI creation offices rather than in the homes of the local professional photographer.

It’s the prices that set them apart as unavailable for most people, as even the cheapest machine starts at $1,999. That’s the same price as the M3 Pro MacBook Pro, and that has a portable chassis, screen, keyboard, and mouse built-in. If you go all the way to the end of the upgrade process and choose all the extras, you’ll be paying $8,799. That does give you a Mac with 192GB of RAM and an 8TB SSD to go with its ridiculous M2 Ultra chip, but the price reflects its power.

Upgrade-wise, you can upgrade the RAM and SSD in the Mac Studio from the Apple Store. The M3 Max chip can have up to 64GB of RAM and go up to the full 8TB SSD, while the M3 Ultra can go all the way up to 192GB of RAM. Neither of these can be upgraded after your Mac has been delivered, so make sure you choose exactly what you think you might need when you spec it up on the Apple Store. 

Beyond the internal options and the different chips, the Mac Studio is the same on the outside between all configurations. That means a compact, aluminum cuboid that’s surprisingly small when you pop it out of the box, and especially impressive when you remember how powerful it is. 

I/O is solid as well, with two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the front, joined by a SDXC card slot. Round the back is where the meat of the ports are, including four more Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, an ethernet connector, a pair of USB-A ports, a HDMI port, and a headphone jack. Most users will want a dock to go with it, however, given its lack of legacy ports and other connectors like DisplayPort that you might need.

Given that it’s a desktop Mac, you’ll need to buy a display, a mouse, and a keyboard to go with it. Apple doesn’t include anything other than the Mac and the power chord in the box, so you’ll need to buy them separately. Apple would recommend you pick up the Studio Display to go with your Mac Studio, but there are plenty more of the best monitors for the Mac Studio that you should consider. The Magic Keyboard is always an option for a keyboard at the Apple Store as well, although again, with a little shopping around there are some of the best keyboards for Mac you should look at as well. Finally, you’ll need a mouse, and as nice as the Magic mouse looks, there are still plenty of the best wireless mice for Mac that you should think about as well.

The exact model you should buy is:

Mac mini

Models currently on sale:

• Mac mini M2
• Mac mini M2 Pro

The Mac mini is the Mac that most people should buy. It’s compact, powerful enough for almost anything beyond heavy workloads, and very well-priced. If you’ve wanted a Mac Studio and now come to realize you don’t actually need one, then the Mac mini is the Mac that you should buy. To learn more, check out the M2 Mac mini-review.

The Mac mini is available with two different chip options, with each getting its own upgrade path. The first is the M2 Mac mini, which is plenty powerful for most people who just need a well-priced desktop machine that’ll browse the web, write Pages documents, and even do some light photo editing. The M2 Pro Mac mini is more powerful and comes at a higher price, but it will be better for a few more heavy workloads.

For most people, the M2 Mac mini will suffice. There are some other upgrades you should consider for this machine, however. For one, the standard 8GB RAM is not enough in 2024. Instead, you should upgrade to the next level up and put 16GB of RAM inside your Mac mini. That will give you enough RAM to keep more windows open at one time, and perhaps more importantly, it will give you more space for Chrome and Safari tabs. You should also consider upgrading the SSD, although you can always grab an external hard drive for Mac later on down the line if you find yourself wanting for storage space.

The M2 Pro, on the other hand, doesn’t need upgrading — the base model is plenty for most different applications. You still get 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, but this time you get the more powerful M2 Pro chip. That does make it more expensive, however, although, in the grand scheme of the Mac lineup, that price could be one of the highlights.

The Mac mini base model costs $599, making it the cheapest Mac available in the Apple Store. That price does rise with every upgrade you strap onto it, but it never becomes completely unaffordable even then. The M2 Pro Mac mini starts at $1,299, and while that’s more than the base model by some margin, you effectively get all the powerful internals of the MacBook Pro sans keyboard, screen, and mouse for $70 less.

Beyond the internal differences, the Mac mini models are identical on the outside. They share the same flat, square aluminum design that fits perfectly onto most desks, and looks good doing it. I/O, however, does leave something to be desired, so you may well want to look at one of the best Mac mini docks before you make your Mac mini purchase.

There are no sockets on the front, but you’ll find a pair of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the back, along with an ethernet port, a pair of USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. The M2 Pro model also gets an extra pair of Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports.

As with all the Mac lineup, you’ll need to add your own screen to the package to be able to use it as a computer. You’ll also need to bring your own keyboard and mouse to the party, as all Apple packs in the box are the Mac itself and the power chord.

Display-wise, Apple recommends you go with the Studio display, but we know of loads of different options out there that pair with the Mac mini instead. The Magic Keyboard is a nice keyboard too, but there are still some excellent keyboards for Mac that you should also look at. Finally, Apple does make the very attractive Magic Mouse, but you should look at some of the best mice for Mac before you opt for the option that needs to be turned upside down to charge.

The exact model you should buy is:

iMac

Models currently on sale:

• iMac M3

The iMac is a great option for families. It’s not portable like a MacBook, or incredibly powerful like a Mac Studio, or cheap like a Mac mini, but it comes with everything you need to get a Mac setup on your desk. No need to buy a screen, it comes with one built-in, and it’s one of the few machines that includes a Magic Keyboard and mouse in the box as well. For all the information, check out the M3 iMac review.

There is only one option to choose from when it comes to building out your iMac, and that’s the base M3 chip that also lies at the heart of the Mac mini, MacBook Pro 14-inch, and MacBook Air. It’s a powerful processor that keeps everything moving apace, with plenty of headroom for most different tasks that a family could throw at it — including some light gaming thanks to the built-in graphics.

You can also add in more specs at the Apple Store, including upgrades to the RAM and the SSD. Those will add to the cost, however, so have a play with the iMac configurator to find the best iMac for you. That will make the price go up, of course, but even then, the iMac never reaches the heady heights of ‘unaffordable’. The base model is $1,299, although you’ll likely want to spend a bit more than that to get the most out of the machine. You don’t really need to spend as much as you might on the most expensive option, however, as you can go all the way up to $2,099. Instead, we’d say the happiest medium is spending $200 extra on another 8GB of RAM, giving you a total of 16GB and a cost of $1,499.

For the price, you get a great package with the iMac. The front of the device is dominated by a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display which is crisp and colorful to look at. It’s not going to hold a candle to the expensive Studio display or the pro-grade Pro Display XDR, but it's still a lovely panel that will display webpages, movies, and even games with delightful clarity. There’s a built-in 1080p webcam as well, perfect for school video calls or family group chats.

I/O on the back is not exemplary, so you should look at getting a dock to make sure you have enough ports to plug everything in. The base model iMac with M3 only has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and then that doubles when you go for them slightly more powerful M3 upgrade. There’s a headphone jack as well, but if you want any more ports you’ll need to plug something in that has more for you to use.

The keyboard and mouse that come in the box are Apple’s ever-popular and excellent Magic keyboard and Magic mouse. They are both color-matched to the iMac that you choose, which is a nice touch. You can also choose whether you want to upgrade the keyboard to include a Numpad or a TouchID sensor, and if you want a Magic Trackpad instead of a Magic Mouse. Of course, if you don’t like either option, then there are loads of excellent keyboards for Mac and mice for Mac out there that might be more your speed.

The design is of course the bit that everyone really likes about the iMac. It’s a very simple and elegant glass and aluminum slab of computer to sit on your desk, and it fits into loads of different kinds of home decor. The color-matched keyboards are pretty cool too, bringing the whole package together. The iMac, importantly, is available in a range of different colors, including Blue, Green, Pink, Silver, Yellow, Orange, and Purple.

As for working out which iMac you should buy, you’ve only choice in chassis, but we’d make some recommendations about what should go inside it. The first thing you should do is upgrade the RAM to 16GB, so that you can do more multitasking and have more Safari or Chrome tabs open. You should also consider upgrading the SSD from the base form up to the 512GB option, which will give you more space for apps and files.

Remember that when you buy an iMac, you can’t upgrade the machine after its been delivered. That means you need to choose what you’ll need from the moment you choose the internals on the Apple Store — and also means that you need to be sure they are what you’ll need throughout the life of the Mac.

The exact model you should buy is:

Mac Pro

Models currently on sale:

• Mac Pro

Before you even consider looking at a Mac Pro, you need to look outside, see what car you might have parked outside on your driveway, and unless there’s a 2024 reg Ferrari parked there, ask yourself “Do I really need a Mac that costs as much as that?” The answer for pretty much everyone but the most dedicated creatives who need the most power they can possibly get their hands on is going to be “No, I should get a Mac Studio instead.”

If you’re one of the few who actually needs the incredible amounts of power on offer from the Mac Pro, then there are a couple of things to think about with the Mac. Each of the upgrades costs a lot, in some cases as much as $2,200. The most powerful and expensive Mac Pro will cost $12,299, and that’s before you’ve added a display (or multiple).

There are some impressive options on the Mac Pro, including a max of 192GB RAM, and 8TB storage space. The Mac Pro is the stomping ground of the likes of Pixar and other big animation houses, those that have enough money to buy multiple machines for an office full of people to use.

You do get a Magic Keyboard and a Magic Mouse in the box with the Mac Pro, which is a big bonus, as well as its slick-looking design. Like the rest of the Mac lineup there is no way to upgrade once you’ve bought the Mac, so make sure that the upgrades you choose for it now are what you’re going to need for the future.

The Truly pro-grade status of the Mac Pro, it’s one of the machines you build out for your use case — it’s difficult to make the best Mac Pro for everyone looking to buy one, because there isn’t one. Instead, carefully consider the apps that the Mac will be running, and then work out from there how many of the upgrades you need.

The exact model you should buy is:

AirPods

AirPods Pro 2 (2nd-gen), AirPods (3rd-gen) and AirPods (2nd-gen)

Models currently on sale:

• AirPods 2nd generation
• AirPods 3rd generation
• AirPods Pro 2nd generation

The in-ear Airpods line is made up of three different styles of AirPods, each offering its own feature set and look. The AirPods 2 are the cheapest option, and they are known for their low price rather than feature set. The AirPods 3 are slightly more expensive, but pack in some extra features. Finally, the AirPods Pro 2 are the best of the in-ears, and add some useful features for their extra cost.

AirPods 2

The AirPods 2 are Apple’s most affordable AirPods, and the AirPods you’re most likely to see in other people’s ears when you’re out and about. They aren’t as fully featured as the rest of the AirPods line, but there are still plenty of reasons to pick them up. For more information, check out the AirPods 2 review.

One of the biggest is the way that they fit in your ears. Unlike many in-ear buds that you can buy today, the AirPods 2 forgo the silicon ear tips and make for a fit that is less invasive than the competition. That does mean that in larger ears they are more likely to fall out, but many users prefer the less intrusive fit of the AirPods 2 over those with silicon tips.

Battery life is good on the AirPods 2, but given that the AirPods 2 are now coming up on their fifth birthday, it’s been beaten by nearly every major competitor. You’ll get about 5 hours of music from the buds themselves before you need to put them back in the charging case, and then you get a further 18 hours from the case itself. You can pop them in the case for 15 minutes and get 3 hours of listening time as well, for when you really need to get back into that podcast on the train on  the way to work.

They charge over lightning, which shows their age in the rest of the lineup. If you’ve got an iPhone 15, then you’ll have to take an extra cable with you when you go on a trip, for one, but it also shows the age of the buds. What doesn’t feel old, however, is the way that the AirPods connect to your iPhone. Open the case, and the AirPods appear immediately, ready for pairing. Want to use them post-pairing? Open the case and they automatically connect up with your iPhone, Mac, or iPad again.

Sound-wise you’re going to find a very middle-of-the-road audio experience, although one that most people aren’t going to mind. They’re not studio quality, but neither do they claim to be. Instead, they are a simple, ok-sounding pair of earbuds that look cool and connect effortlessly with your Apple equipment.

AirPods 3

The AirPods 3 are the mid-range option in the AirPods lineup, packing in more features than the AirPods 2, but not quite matching the extras that the Pro 2 provide. They’re middle-of-the-road price wise as well, coming in just between the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro 2. For more information, give the AirPods 3 review a read.

The fit of the AirPods 3 is also somewhere between the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro 2. They have the same silicon tip-less fit of the AirPods 2, but their shape is more similar to the AirPods Pro 2. That means that while they are less invasive in fit than the AirPods Pro 2, they will also stay in your ears better than the AirPods 2. For some they are the most comfortable AirPods product out there, although your mileage may vary — they are, after all, more likely to fall out in use than the AirPods Pro 2 and their more secure fit.

Connection is going to be just as magic as it is with the AirPods 2. Open the case near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and they connect up immediately, joining your other Apple devices on your Apple ID so that you can use them with every Apple device that you own. There’s Find My on board this time as well, although it’s not as fully featured as the AirPods Pro 2 and their more impressive Find My features.

There are some other extra features to justify the extra cost over the AirPods 2 as well, the main being Spatial Audio. If you use Apple Music on your iPhone, Mac, or iPad, then the AirPods 3 can make use of the Dolby Atmos surround soundtracks that the service pumps out, and play them to make the music sound like it's coming from all around you. Some people love the sound of Spatial Audio, but others like the effect less — it’s worth trying it out in the Apple Store before you decide whether it’s worth the extra cost of the AirPods 3 over the cheaper options for you.

The sound quality has also been improved in the AirPods 3, with a more neutral and pleasing sound signature than the AirPods 2. It’s not a game-changing improvement, but it is one that makes them a better option for those who appreciate the sound of their tunes.

Battery life is improved as well, as the buds last for six hours of music listening (that does drop to five hours when you activate Spatial Audio, mind you). The battery in the case has grown as well, as you now get a total of 30 hours of listening time, and five minutes in the case will provide an extra hour of listening.

There are touch controls to control the buds as well, the sensor tucked into the stem on the buds. They are intuitive and easy to use, and they’re much better than other touch control methods in that they’re harder to press randomly — no more accidental volume changes when you just want to adjust them in your ears.

AirPods Pro 2

The AirPods Pro 2 are the top-of-the-range in-ear AirPods, and they come with some top-shelf features to make them worth their higher asking price. Noise-canceling, Spatial Audio, and improved Find My go hand in hand with a USB-C charging port and solid battery life for the best pair of AirPods that you can buy today. For all the information, check out the AirPods Pro 2 review.

The AirPods Pro 2 are the only AirPods to feature the silicon ear tips that so many other firms have adopted for their earbuds, and it makes for a much better seal in your ear. That means that they’re going to allow less of the outside world into your music, making them perfect for a busy commute or loud office environment. They’ll also stay in your ears better than the other AirPods options, along with being more comfortable for some users.

The eartips also work in tandem with the active noise canceling on board the buds to block out all the noise of the outside world so that you’re not disturbed when you don’t want to be. The noise canceling in the AirPods Pro 2 is some of the best around, but it’s also made more powerful with some extra modes. There’s a transparency mode that you can turn on which amplifies the outside noises so that you can talk to someone with the buds in — great for ordering that morning's coffee or buying a bus ticket on the way into work. New to the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2 is an adaptive transparency mode, which blocks out the kind of noise you don’t want (think construction, loud motors) and lets in the noises you do want, like conversations. You can of course turn them all off completely, if you’d rather there was no processing of the outside.

Battery life isn’t a strong point of the AirPods Pro 2, as the buds themselves only have around 6 hours of listening time. That reduces further if you listen to Spatial Audio tracks as well, and then you’ll be able to charge them a further five times from the case before that needs re-juicing. Given that you’ll want to use the Spatial Audio and noise-canceling that the buds offer, the lack of battery life is a shame. 

The Spatial Audio is also better here, with greater reproduction of the Dolby Atmos Surround Sound tracks. There’s head-tracking Spatial Audio on board as well, which moves the mix around as you pan your head, keeping individual parts of the track in one spot while you look around. The Spatial Audio portion of the buds is particularly useful for Apple TV users. Rather than a full surround sound setup, you can connect your AirPods Pro 2 to the box and then enjoy surround sound that doesn’t bother anyone else.

The AirPods Pro 2 are also the first to feature a USB-C port, which brings them up to speed with the rest of Apple’s lineup. That means you only need one charger and cable when you go out and about to charge your AirPods and your other devices, saving you space. There’s wireless charging on the case as standard as well, and you can even use an Apple Watch charging puck to give them some more battery life.

Finally, the sound in the AirPods Pro 2 is the best of the bunch. Again, it’s not the best in the business, but the buds sound very good when compared to the other options in the AirPods family. Most people are going to think the AirPods Pro 2 sound excellent, and the noise canceling lets you enjoy it more. You can control the music and the noise canceling modes with the excellent touch controls on the stems of the buds, which work better than any touch controls on any in-ear wireless earbuds.

Once you’ve considered all the options in the AirPods line, you’ll then wonder which ones you should choose. It would be easy to say ‘Just choose the AirPods Pro 2, they are the best’, but that would forget the price bonus of the AirPods 2.

The ones to avoid are the AirPods 3. It’s not that they’re bad, but they don’t offer enough solid extra features over the AirPods 2 to justify the extra cost, and they are too close in price to the AirPods Pro 2 to ignore the more feature pair. Instead, think of it like this: If you want a pair of budget AirPods, you should go with the AirPods 2. They are well priced, and still a solid pair of buds for the money. If you want Spatial Audio, then you should choose the AirPods Pro 2 and their noise canceling — they are well worth the extra few dollars over the AirPods 3, and have more features to justify their price.

The exact model you should buy is:

AirPods Max

Models currently on sale:

• AirPods Max

There’s only one pair of AirPods that you can buy today that isn’t an in-ear style, and that’s the sublimely opulent AirPods Max. They are the most expensive piece of audio gear that Apple sells, and they are the kind of headphones that AirPods fans lust after. Lined with premium materials and boasting a full gamut of features, the AirPods Max come at a lofty price. For more information, check out the AirPods Max review.

They cost $549 from the Apple store making them over double the price of the AirPods Pro 2. For the price, you get headphones with aluminum ear cups, stainless steel frames, a cool, mesh headband, and some of the deepest, most comfortable padding that you’ll find on a pair of over-ear headphones. You can also choose what color you want your AirPods to be, from a selection of five colorways: Silver, Black, Sky Blue, Red, and Green.

One thing to be aware of with the AirPods Max is that they don’t ever truly turn off — they live in a kind of semi-permanent sleep mode. This mode is activated when you pop them in their terrible case, which rather than feeling protective feels like a suede-lined headphone diaper. That case gets mucky quickly as well, so make sure you try and keep it as clean as possible. That does make connection super easy, however. Just take them out of the carrying case, and they connect to your iPhone, Mac, or iPad with no issue.

Once connected, there are some great features that make the AirPods Max well worth the asking price. For one, the sound is actually really good, if a little bassy, and to many listeners, they’re going to sound like the best thing they’ve ever heard. In addition, the noise canceling is some of the best around, blocking out noises of all types and volumes, letting you enjoy your music to your heart's content.

There is also a good transparency mode, activated with the little button that sits on the top of the left earcup. That will let the outside world in, in case someone else in the office has something important to say. The hybrid mode from the AirPods Pro 2 is missing here, however, so if that’s a feature you like then the in-ear option may be better for you. Those noise canceling modes, the volume, and play/pause are all controlled with the digital crown and the button on the left earcup.

Battery life is solid, giving you 20 hours on a charge. If you plug them in for five minutes you’ll have one and a half hours of battery life to listen to music with as well, which while not incredible is useful if you need some extra battery life in a pinch. The battery charges over Lightning, which does make them feel older than they look.  

Head-tracked Spatial Audio is here as well, much like the AirPods Pro 2. That’s a cool feature for the big headphones, and it makes them excellent for watching Apple TV Plus shows with Dolby Atmos surround sound for extra immersion. They’re heavy but comfortable as well, so you’ll not mind wearing them for too long either when listening to music or watching something on your Apple TV.

The exact model you should buy is:

HomePod

HomePod and HomePod mini

Models currently on sale:

• HomePod 2
• HomePod mini

There are currently two models of HomePod available for you to buy at the Apple Store — the larger, more expensive HomePod 2 and the smaller, cheaper HomePod mini. Both are excellent ways of making your home smarter, but there are some key things you should consider before you buy either one. For more information on the pair of smart speakers, check out the HomePod 2 review and the HomePod mini review.

The first is size. The HomePod 2 is a much larger device and will take up more space in your home. It’s harder to tuck away in a corner and forget about, being more a central focus of your room decoration. That’s not to say it’s a big, ugly mass of speaker, but rather you need to ensure that you don’t mind it being in your room, its attractive design aside. The HomePod mini, on the other hand, is much smaller, and blends in much easier with a range of different home decors. It’s a kind of mesh-covered sphere, and you can easily tuck it into the corner or a room and only remember it’s there when you go to ask Siri to do something for you.

Then it should be all about sound quality, and there can only be one choice if you intend the HomePod to be an audio device — the HomePod 2. It’s a rich, bassy affair, but thanks to its solid Spatial Audio support, it can fill even the largest room in your house with very good-quality sound. The HomePod mini, on the other hand, sounds better than its size and price might have you believe, but it is nothing compared to the weight and sonic might of the HomePod 2.

Both speakers can be set up in Stereo pairs as well, although in the case of the HomePod 2, that would cost you $500 for two. The HomePod mini benefits more from this as well, making the little speaker a more viable listening option than a solo device. That brings us to price. The HomePod 2 costs $299, while the HomePod mini only costs $99. If you’re looking for a small smart speaker that can become the center of an Apple home setup, then a HomePod mini is the way to go.

Apple Home is an important part of the existence of both speakers — you can dot them around the house so that they can be the presence of Siri where you might ask the assistant to do something in your house. That could be opening your Apple Home-connected curtains, or turning the heating no matter where you are in the house. Again, if audio isn’t your primary concern, then a few HomePod mini devices dotted around the house is going to be a far more cost-effective way to increase Siri’s presence in your home.

The HomePod mini is also available in more colors. Where the HomePod 2 can only be had in Black or white, the HomePod mini comes in White, Yellow, Red, Blue, and Black.

The exact model you should buy is:

Apple TV

Apple TV 4K

Models currently on sale:

• Apple TV 4K 3rd generation 64GB
• Apple TV 4K 3rd generation ethernet 128GB

Going up against the likes of the Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV 4K is Apple’s box that hooks up to your TV and gives you all of your favorite streaming platforms in one place. It’s a small, black cuboid that sits below your TV and blends into the background — but despite its relatively high cost and small size, it’s a very useful, powerful device. For all the information, check out the Apple TV 4K review.

There’s only one choice you’ll have to make when choosing an Apple TV 4K box, and that’s whether you want the WiFi-only version or one that comes with WiFi and Ethernet built in. The WiFi model costs $129, while the ethernet version is an extra $20 at $149. Storage is different between the two models as well. The cheaper box has 64GB of storage, while the more expensive model has 128GB. We’d say go with the extra storage. You might not need the ethernet port, but you might want to store music, movies, or TV shows you’ve bought on the Apple Store. You can also download apps for other streaming services like Netflix or Disney Plus, bringing all your watching into one place.

The best part of the whole experience is the remote for Apple TV that comes in the box. It’s an aluminum oblong with a few buttons and a touchpad, and it makes browsing around Apple’s excellent TV UI a joy. The touchpad is intuitive and helpful, and the buttons are clicky and precise. It does need charging every now and again, which is achieved with a USB-C connector on the bottom.

Given that it’s called the Apple TV 4K, you’d likely not be surprised that it can pump out a 4K signal. It supports different HDR formats as well, including Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and more. The picture quality from the box is excellent, although part of that will also be down to the TV you plug it into. If your TV supports it, you can also match the power state of your Apple TV and TV, so that if you hold the off button on your Apple TV remote you can turn the Apple TV and your TV on and off together.

You can connect AirPods and HomePods to Apple TV as well, so you can get Spatial Audio with supported devices and shows. Connecting up AirPods with Dolby Atmos support is great for late-night watchers, as well as those who live in flats or apartments who don’t want to disturb housemates with loud surround sound systems. You can also use the Apple TV as a part of an Apple Home setup, letting you command Siri while you use it, or it can show you different views of your home through connected security cameras. Extra fun Apple Home feature on the Apple TV — if you have a connected doorbell, a small window will appear on your screen showing you who’s at the door. Helpful if you’ve got your AirPods in when watching TV and you might have otherwise missed an important package.

You can connect up a games controller and play Apple Arcade games with the Apple TV as well, and the current model, while not as powerful as the current generation of home consoles, is a great way to play some of the best Apple Arcade games. You can even connect PS5 and Xbox controllers as well, so you might not have to buy new hardware to give it a go.

Setup is easy as well — just plug it in, and connect the HDMI connection to your TV. Make sure you use one of the enhanced connections on your TV for the best experience, as not all HDMI ports where created equal, and some lack features that the Apple TV makes use of.

The exact model you should buy is:

Mac Displays

Pro Display XDR and Studio Display

Models currently on sale:

• Pro Display XDR
• Studio Display

There are two options when it comes to displays from the Apple Store, the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. Both are expensive, but one is more designed for home professional use and the other for the serious professional that needs the best of the best — and just spend small hatchback money on a Mac Pro.

Pro Display XDR

The Pro Display XDR is a massive slab of glass and aluminum designed for those who need the best display that they can lay their hands on, price be damned. It’s a 32-inch monster of a display, with a whole bunch of features that make it the most impressive screen that Apple has ever put in the Apple Store.

To get the obvious out of the way first — the Pro display XDR is expensive. It’s a $4,999 screen, and you can make it even more expensive by choosing the anti-reflective nano-texture glass, bringing the price up by another $1,000 to $5,999. That’s more than most of Apple’s Mac lineup cost, and, indeed, almost half the cost of a fully specced current generation Mac Pro.

For the price you get a stunning screen, with a 6K resolution and what Apple calls ‘Extreme Dynamic Range. That’s just a fancy name for HDR, so you can edit HDR content on the monitor and it will look exactly as you would want it to. The stand on the back of the monitor can adjust in every which way, although you can also buy a Vesa adaptor to stick it to a monitor arm. The bad news — you have to pay for both options, to the tune of $999 for the stand or $199 for the VESA mount adapter.

Everything to do with the Pro Display XDR is expensive. For the price you don’t even get speakers — although for the kind of user that this is targeting, you probably won’t want or need them.

You connect the display to a Mac with the USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports on the back, and then the remaining three act like a hub for whatever device you’ve plugged in, which is a useful feature. It will even charge your MacBook if you plug one of those in, so you only need one cable to use the MacBook and the display together at the same time.

Studio Display

The Studio Display is the smaller sibling of the massive Pro Display XDR, but it packs in more features that make it a better bet for more users. It’s a 27-inch 5K display, featuring a similar design to the Pro Display XDR that matches the rest of the Mac lineup. For all the information, check out the Studio Display review.

The Studio Display is not cheap, but it is nowhere near as expensive as the Pro Display XDR. The standard panel is $1,599, and the Nano-texture glass option is $1,899. That adds a matte finish to the screen so that you can use it in more direct light and not suffer from reflections or glare.

There are stand options here as well, but thankfully you don’t have to pay extra to get a stand with the monitor. There are two free options with the display: The tilt-adjustable stand, or the VESA mount adapter. Both of these options are solid — although bear in mind that you can’t choose a different one once you’ve already chosen the stand you want. The height-adjustable stand costs a little more, bringing the price up to $1,999.

The monitor connects to your Mac using the four USB-C connectors on the back. Two of them are Thunderbolt 3, and will power your MacBook if you choose to plug a portable machine into the screen. It will also act like a dock for your Mac, so you get more ports than you would have otherwise.

There are some extra features on the Studio Display that make it a solid option for Mac users as well. For one, there are some Spatial Audio speakers inside for when you want to watch some of the best movies on Apple TV Plus, and they’re surprisingly good. There’s also a 1080p webcam built into the top of the display, so that you don’t have to take up another slot with a separate one.

The exact model you should buy is:

AirTag

AirTag

Models currently on sale:

• AirTag

The Apple AirTag is a very simple device, albeit one that is incredibly useful. It’s a tiny, button-sized device that uses a combination of Bluetooth and GPS to track your most treasured possessions — or whatever you choose to put it with.

It’s powered by a button cell, and a battery will last about a year before you need to pop a new one in. Helpfully, your iPhone will tell you when you need to put in a new one. Tracking-wise, you can use the AirTag to track anything you might want to stick it to, like your keys, TV controller, or even your car. Just go into the Find My app, tap the Find My Airtag option, and then track your stuff if it gets lost. It’s cheap too — a single AirTag costs just $29, while a pack of four costs $99.

If you’re at all worried about being stalked by an AirTag, then Apple has you covered. All Apple devices and even Android devices will tell you if there’s an unknown AirTag nearby that might be being used to track you without your knowledge.

The exact model you should buy is:

Apple Vision Pro

Vision Pro

Models currently on sale:

• Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro is the latest device that comes from the Cupertino giant, and it’s a whole new product category. It’s a mixed-reality headset made out of glass, aluminum, and premium textiles, and it comes at a price tag to match.

It’s important to get the price out of the way first. The Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 and then goes up to $3,899 when you add in the increased storage options. You can buy a carrying case for the Vision Pro as well, and that will cost an extra $199. You can buy extra bits for the Vision Pro as well, because so much of it is catered to the user that bought it, including the size of the eye seal that keeps it on your face, and the strap that goes around your head.

We’d recommend heading to the Apple Store and booking a demo of the headset to make sure that it’s something you’d actually be interested in buying first. That way you can have a play with the device, and see what you think about how it works, whether it's comfortable for you, and whether you want to spend the near $4,000 asking price to get one in your living room.

There are some incredible features on offer with Vision Pro. It’s designed with work in mind, so it can run all the best productivity apps and use its Augmented Reality cameras to place a workspace around your physical space in a virtual world. That means loads of screens with different apps open, as well as a digital keyboard and mouse. It controls using your eyes and your fingers — your eyes act like a pointer, and pressing your fingers together is like the clicker on your mouse.

With its all-encompassing displays, it’s also a good media consumption device. It can fill your vision with the best Apple TV Plus shows, and play games either in VR or on a massive screen. You can connect game controllers and keyboards as well thanks to it’s Bluetooth connection, letting you type more comfortably and play games with physical controls.

It can even act as a secondary display for your MacBook, or a primary one for your desktop Mac. That makes it great for people who need lots of screen real estate, but who don’t have the space on their desk necessary for the large screens it would normally require. It’s all done wirelessly as well, so you only have to worry about the battery that the device is connected to around your waist.

That battery could be a sore spot for some, as it doesn’t last as long as you might hope. The little pack will give you two hours of normal use, or two and a half hours of video watching. Thankfully, you can use Vision Pro while its plugged in, so you don’t need to worry about not being able to use it if the battery is dead and you’re near a charging socket.

Audio-wise the Vision Pro has a pair of speakers nestled into the headband, which feature Spatial Audio. They will also be audible by anyone you might be sharing your space with, so you can also hook up a pair of AirPods should you want to keep the noise down for those around you. Interestingly, if you connect a pair of AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C to the Vision Prom you’ll be able to listen to Hi-Res tracks wirelessly. This latter feature is not available with any other pair of AirPods.

This is a stand-alone computer, so you don’t need to worry about being near another Mac, iPhone, or iPad for it to work. The only choice you need to worry about in the long run is how much storage you want to get with the headset. There are three options: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The final storage option is an extra $400 — but given there’s no way at all to add any more storage after the fact, we’d say it's well worth spending the extra.

It’s also worth talking briefly about the purchase process of Vision Pro because it’s a whole lot more involved than the rest of the Apple product line. First, Apple asks you to do a facial scan with your iPhone or iPad. That uses the FaceID camera to measure your face and head for the eye seal that goes around the edge of the device, keeping it on your face and the light out of the experience. This can be tricky to get right, so take your time and redo if necessary. Then, you’ll be asked if you need any vision inserts. You can’t really wear glasses inside the headset, so Apple makes lenses that click into place for glasses wearers that fit with their prescription. Reading lenses cost $99, but prescription lenses cost $149 — and you’ll need to make sure that your prescription is offered. That’s all of the personalization options sorted, and then you just need to choose the storage option.

The exact model you should buy is:

Accessories

While Apple is most known for its iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and Macs, it also produces some excellent accessories that pair with its products. If you need a new phone case to go with your iPhone 15 Pro Max, then Apple has you covered with a multitude of different options, or if you want a keyboard to match your svelte Mac Studio and Studio Display.

If you want to ensure that you get the most features that work with Mac and the best compatibility with your hardware possible, then Apple's own accessories are the way to go. There are even non-Apple-made accessories that you'll find in the Apple Store, selected by Apple itself to ensure quality and compatibility. Here, we'll show you some of the accessories that you can buy from the Apple Store and which devices they work with.

iPhone accessories

There are also plenty of third-party iPhone accessories out there as well, and we test as many of them as possible to find out which are the best for you. Here's a list of our comprehensive buying guides so that you can find the best iPhone accessories for you.

• Best iPhone cases
• Best iPhone 15 cases
• Best iPhone 15 Pro cases
• Best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases
• Best iPhone 15 Plus cases

iPad accessories

While Apple's accessories are going to be some of the best around, you can also find some wicked options form thrid party companies. We've tested as many of these as possible, and made comprehensive buying guides so that you can find the best iPad accessories for you, from cases to stands.

• Best iPad Air cases
• Best iPad Pro cases
• Best Apple Pencil alternatives
• Best accessories for iPad Air
• Best iPad mini cases
• Best iPad stands

Apple Watch accessories

It's not just Apple that makes some excellent accessories to pair with your Apple Watch, of course — you can also find some great options from third party companies. We test as many of them as possible, and then build out informative and helpful buying guides so that you can find the best Apple Watch accessories for you and your needs.

• Best Apple Watch accessories
• Best Apple Watch bands
• Best Apple Watch chargers
• Best Apple Watch cases
• Best Apple Watch screen protectors

Mac accessories

Apple isn't the only company that makes accessories for its Macs — there are plenty of third party options out there as well. We've tested as many as possible and then assembled them into handy buying guides, so that you can find the best for you.

• Best accessories for Mac
• Best Keyboards for Mac
• Best mechanical keyboards for Mac
• Best mice for Mac
• Best 4K displays for Mac
• Best external hard drives for Mac

Finding the best Apple Pro Display XDR alternative is a tricky business. Apple's behemoth 6K monitor is one of only two mainstream monitors on the market that offer that 6144 x 3456 resolution. Fortunately, the other contender is significantly cheaper and a very solid alternative contender. Beyond that, however, you'll have to sacrifice at least some of that hefty resolution in order to find a worthy alternative. 

So if you've had your eye on Apple's Pro Display XDR but simply can't justify that $4,999 price tag, where else can you turn? We've rounded up alternatives from Dell, Samsung, and indeed Apple, given its 5K Studio Display is a worthy alternative for some people. 

If you're not sure whether the Pro Display XDR or a cheaper alternative is for you, consider what you'll be using your Mac for. If you need a display for the most intensive graphic work imaginable, you're in the right place. The Pro Display XDR boasts immense contrast, brightness, and detail, something each of these alternatives also offer in part, if not as a whole package. With that in mind, here are the best alternatives to Apple’s Pro Display XDR out there right now.

Quick list

Best Overall

Dell’s UltraSharp U3224KB is a bit less bright than Apple’s premium choice and offers a much lower contrast ratio. However, it is a lot cheaper, offers the same 6K resolution, comes with support for 1.08 billion colors, and has some excellent features like anti-glare, a built-in microphone, a 4K webcam, and speakers. It also has a -30°/+30° swivel angle, a -5°/+21° tilt angle, and a -90°/+90° rotation angle, allowing you to hold it at almost any angle you could want. If you are someone who likes to customize the setup of your screen depending on the work you are doing, you can save multiple profiles on the monitor, which can then be flitted between to get different settings easily. 

Dell boasts that this monitor is the “world’s first 6K IPS black panel technology monitor”, giving up to 156% more pixels than a 4K monitor, and this, when working with its very impressive static contrast ratio of 2000:1, allows for incredibly accurate and vivid colors. If you are a professional working with colors, this is an excellent choice for a monitor and can even work in a more casual environment thanks to a breadth of ports. 

Our friends over at Tom’s Hardware gave the Dell UltraSharp U3224KB a positive review stating “It provides the sharpest image I’ve ever seen along with solid contrast and accurate color”. You can try it yourself for much cheaper than Apple’s choice. 

Best Budget

You will be getting a resolution downgrade here and a smaller display but you get an otherwise excellent screen with fantastic build quality and tonnes of connectivity options with compatibility for DisplayPort, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4. It helps that it’s even a few hundred dollars cheaper than the comparatively affordable Apple Studio Display. Like the others on this list, it has IPS technology but it also comes with a super cool “PowerSensor” which can detect when you are sat in front of it, reducing brightness when you are away to preserve power. It’s a nice little function that should help you save on your energy bills and will help the lifespan of the monitor. 

Capable of 1400 cd/m brightness in its HDR mode, it’s a super bright and clear monitor that looks fantastic in pretty much every setting. It is also a surprisingly capable dock in disguise, thanks to the grouping of connections. You can essentially plug anything you want into it and the 90W power delivery can keep your best Mac going at the same time. 

In our glowing 4.5-star Philips 27B1U7903 review, we said “If you spend your hard-earned cash on the Philips 27B1U7903 you will not be disappointed. It has display quality to die for, ports aplenty, and great build quality. You will lose out on some things but, for that price, it makes up for it. 

Best Apple alternative

The Apple Studio Display is a flawed yet excellent monitor that excels in all the places Apple is known for. It looks fantastic, has excellent build quality, and is super easy to set up thanks to the ability to get it hooked up to your Mac with just a Thunderbolt cable. As it is created by Apple, it will get automatically updated as you plug it into a Mac and just works easily. Its 5K Retina display is capable of 1 billion colors and 14.8 million pixels, which really pop despite the relatively low 600 nits of brightness. 

It comes with True Tone, allowing for a more natural look, which will change color temperature and brightness based on ambient light and its anti-reflective coating makes up for that lack of brightness. As well as this, nano-texture glass allows for less glare from any light source. It does unfortunately suffer in its camera and speaker quality, which are significantly less good than the screen would imply. It is also missing HDR and ProMotion, both of which can be currently found on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the best iPhone right now

In our 3.5-star Apple Studio Display review, we said “Important drawbacks give this display a rating much lower than perhaps we expected. However, there are plenty of reasons to consider sitting this display next to your new Mac Studio or other Mac.” There are better choices on this list but if you’re looking for something with that distinctive Apple charm and design language, this is still a solid choice. 

Best 8K

Dell’s Ultrasharp UP3218K is an incredibly impressive monitor capable of 33.2 million pixel density. Being the first 31.5-inch 8K monitor in the world, it allows users to see “four times more content than Ultra HD 4K” and “sixteen times more than content than Full HD” according to Dell. Dell’s premier Color offers 100% Adobe RGB, 100%sRGB, and 98%DCI-P3, for incredibly accurate colors. Thanks to Dell’s InfinityEdge, it also has a surprisingly small border, allowing for even more screen real estate on the monitor. 

If you are someone who likes to swivel your monitor to both horizontal and vertical, you can do that with Dell’s choice, thanks to a wide range of motion and super strong build quality. This is an excellent choice for professionals that is only held back by how impressive that 8K resolution is. It’s the type of monitor you may want to upgrade your rig for. 

Our friends at TechRadar gave the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K a positive review, stating “The Dell UltraSharp UP3218 is an absolutely stunning monitor that combines incredibly high resolutions with gorgeous colors”. Though it is quite a bit of money for a non-Apple monitor and you will likely be limited by your choice of PC, thanks to 8K still being an emerging resolution type, it’s a truly excellent display almost unparalleled in the market, due to that resolution. 

Best 5K

Being an arguably better choice than Apple’s own Studio Display and capable of displaying HDR content, Samsung’s ViewFinityS9 is a great monitor that is a little smaller and significantly cheaper than the Apple Pro Display XDR. It does lose out a little with a standard brightness of 600cd/m and the 5K resolution is a good bit lower than Apple’s best. However, support for 1 billion colors, sRGB coverage of 100%, and an included 4K webcam ease that blow a little. 

Connectivity is a particular high point of the Samsung ViewFinity S9, thanks to a Thunderbolt 4 connection, Mini DisplayPort, and three USB-C ports. As well as this, it can be hooked up to Apple AirPlay and a whole host of smart apps to allow users to use it wireless with their Macs. This means it can fit into a super clean desk setup very easily and can even be used from a bit of a distance. 

This is a very good choice if you’re looking for a slightly smaller display and want to connect it to a few more devices, but still want to do professional-level color grading or editing. It even comes with a game mode, which allows for a lower response time — a great addition if you play some of the best Mac games. 

Thunderbolt 3 vs. USB-C displays

USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 both utilize the same reversible port, leading to a lot of confusion surrounding the two protocols. While a USB-C port and a Thunderbolt 3 port look the same, Thunderbolt 3 has some extra hardware compared to the more widely adopted USB-C. The biggest and most significant difference is that Intel developed Thunderbolt 3. It offers high-bandwidth data transfers between devices, with maximum transfer rates of 40Gbps — on a plain USB-C connection, you won't get transfer rates this fast.

If your workflow needs the fast transfer speeds or daisy-chaining capabilities of Thunderbolt 3, I would suggest the LG UltraFine 4K Display. It has two Thunderbolt 3 ports and an additional 3 USB-C ports, giving you a ton of space to plug in your favorite accessories. There's also the Samsung ViewFinity S8 Series with its vibrant colors and plethora of options.

If you prefer an ultrawide monitor, the LG 38WN95C-W is one of the best external monitors we have used. It comes with USB-A and HDMI ports, has a fantastic-looking display, and can even provide power delivery up to 94W, meaning most MacBooks will stay charged up when plugged into the monitor.

If you're looking for a new monitor but don't need one that rivals Apple's Pro Display XDR 2022, then take a look at our best 4K monitors for Mac guide.

The best accessories for Apple Watch are those that can make you look stylish, charge up your watch super quick, or just give you a good place to put your bands at the end of the day. It will likely depend on the type of user you are. If you like to go for a run, you may want a nice band that can handle all your adventures can throw at it. If you are a big fan of music, you might want an audio source to play it with. 

With there being three main types of Apple Watch out there — the SE line, Series set, and Ultra range, our list of the best accessories will focus more on the first two as they share the same sizes and are compatible with the same band types and more. However, if you are looking to charge your wearable or store your band, some of these accessories will work with all Apple Watch types. 

Here are the best accessories for Apple Watch right now.

Quick list

Best 3-in-1 charger

Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 wireless charger offers super speedy charging rates in a reasonably compact stand, all powered with just a single wire. It can be a bit of a dust magnet and can be somewhat cramped for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but these are only small downsides for an otherwise excellent device. 

If you are looking for a good place to put your Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods while you sleep, this is an excellent choice that will charge them all up super quickly. Being able to charge an iPhone at 15W, you are only taking a small hit from the 20W the standard wired charger works at, and it’s entirely wireless. Given it is entirely flat, Belkin’s charger can even be popped in a bag to go with you as you travel and it’s super sturdy so you don’t need to worry about it breaking. 

If you don’t mind losing a charging port and want something that looks a lot better, the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 charger is a little cheaper and looks like a sculpture. 

Best band for sports

The Apple Watch Sport Band is a fluoroelastomer-based band that is both very durable and great for swimming, as it dries in no time. Similar to rubber in feel, it can take a little while to get used to, and having a strap that clicks into holes to fit around your wrist means you may end up with it feeling a little looser or tighter than you might want. 

However, once you are over those small growing pains, you are left with a band that is very unlikely to break as you exercise and can be cleaned super easily thanks to a material that doesn’t take in water. If you’re looking for a band that will serve you day to day but also fare well in the gym or at sea, this is an excellent choice thanks to its smart design and great material. 

As well as all of this, the Apple Watch Sport Band has a wide array of colors available and also tends to get new colors a few times a year. The new Sunshine yellow color is a particular winner and almost worth the upgrade for that lovely look alone. 

Best power bank

When your Apple Watch dies, it essentially becomes a paperweight attached to your wrist. Luckily, with the ability to fully charge it in just over an hour, it doesn’t take very long to get your wearable back in business. iValux’s portable wireless charger has 1000mAh of charge, which is nearly double the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the best Apple Watch right now. Though this isn’t a huge amount of charge in raw figures, Apple Watches are relatively undemanding, which means you can get up to a few days worth of charge with just the portable charger. 

Being a simple keychain, it can be held with you at all times without even having to think about it. It also looks fairly inconspicuous. With a simple USB-C cable, it can be charged up and even has four handy LED lights to signify the level of battery. This makes it easy to charge up just before going out, whilst knowing how many charges you have left before you have to start charging it again. With built-in security features like short-circuit protection, over-current protection, and more, you never have to worry about carrying this tiny little charger around with you. 

If all of this isn’t quite enough for you, iValux offers the portable charger in a whole host of color options, like a sleek Black, eye-catching Blue, and a vibrant Rainbow color. If you find your Apple Watch running dry earlier than it should, this is a great solution. 

Best for audio

The Apple AirPods 3 are not only super convenient but have excellent connectivity for linking to your other Apple devices and are also super comfortable. Doing away with the buds of most earphones, AirPods aren’t capable of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) like the more expensive AirPods Pro 2 range but also have an instantly comfortable fit. 

With a new contoured design, up to six hours of listening time out of a single charge, and spatial audio for dynamic head tracking, the AirPods 3 are an excellent audio source that can be hooked up to your Apple Watch, allowing you to move between tracks and change the volume in just a swipe. This is an excellent accessory for someone who likes to go running but might not have room on them for an iPhone. They can be popped in and can play music downloaded directly to your Apple Watch. They also have IPX4 water resistance, making them tackle sweat and water easily. 

If you have a bigger budget and really want ANC, you could opt to go up to the rather great AirPods Pro 2 but you also have to think about which fit suits you most. Bud tips aren’t for everyone. 

Best for storage

Though the idea of a $99.95 device to hold Apple Watch bands in might feel a little extravagant, Von Holzhausen’s The Watchband Portfolio makes up for that price with an excellent look and feel. Made from Technik, a vegan leather alternative that can biodegrade in landfills, it has room for six Apple Watch bands, as well as two interior pockets and one exterior pocket. This means you could throw two chargers in it and even your Apple Watch when you aren’t using it. Alternatively, you could give yourself a room for some Apple Watch cases, to swap out on the fly. 

It is stain, crack, and water resistant, whilst being a third of the weight of the same size case made from Leather. Thanks to that special material, it can be easily cleaned with nothing but soap and water. It has a nice handle on the top to easily carry it around with you, whilst staying small enough to pop in a bag and go. If you have enough Apple Watch bands to take advantage of all that space and even want to display them on a table, this is the best way of doing so, thanks to its durable material and great look. Von Holzhausen even sells its own Apple Watch band, made in a fantastic-looking vegan leather. If you’re looking for an excuse to get a new band and want somewhere to store it, Von Holzhausen can sort out both of your problems. 

Best for travel

Moko’s storage box is an excellent choice for anyone looking to display their Apple Watch on their nightstand or take it with them on the go. With the exterior being made from a durable and wear-resistant PU material and the inside made from soft Silicone, it’s a case you can pop into a bag without any worries about breaking your Apple Watch while you do so. It’s a surprisingly cheap device that is excellent for when you want to travel with your Apple Watch without wearing it. If you find your Apple Watch to be uncomfortable on a flight, this is a solution that will ensure it stays safe throughout. 

As well as this, the box comes with the ability to pop an Apple Watch charger in the middle, meaning you can use to it display your Apple Watch while it charges overnight. Though it doesn’t have room for a spare band or two, it does have the capacity to pop a pair of AirPods in it. Assuming you will have your best iPhone in your pocket and the best Mac in your backpack, this is a great way to hold the rest of your Apple devices. With it coming in Black, Navy Blue, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, it looks pretty good to boot. 

Best colorful band

Apple’s Solo Loop is a great choice for anyone looking for a cheap Apple Watch band with a bit of color. Thanks to fantastic additions like Soft Mint, Pink, and Starlight, there’s a good array of options here that can go with nearly any Series line Apple Watch. One of the more interesting features of the Solo loop is the fact that it doesn’t have a buckle or pins to put one side of the band into the other. Instead, the material is designed to be stretched around your wrist. 

On the official Apple website, you can put in your wrist measurements to get given a number, which will determine your specific band size. This is both one of the biggest selling points of the band and the thing that will put some off. You can’t adjust the size too much after buying so have to be very comfortable in the size. As well as this, the fact that it holds to your skin means that it is less good for sports and general exercise than bands specifically designed for movement. The material is less breathable but great for day-to-day use. 

Best heart rate monitor

If you’re looking for an affordable heart rate monitor that is more accurate than your Apple Watch, The Polar H9 is an excellent choice with a comfortable and soft strap to go with it. The benefit of using a small coin battery means that you will never have to charge the heart rate monitor. After about 400 hours of use, it will need replacing but this is a cheap and easy fix that you won’t need to worry about for a long time. If you want to keep an eye on your heart rate and are a little unconvinced by the accuracy of Apple’s offering, the H9 is a really great choice at a good price point. 

Thanks to that price point, you can get the better Polar H10 model for not much more, especially when accounting for sales but this is a really great choice at its price and well worth the money. It doesn’t have built-in storage, which means you will be reliant on other tech like your iPhone or Apple Watch to store all that data but you will be doing that anyway if you pick it up to go with your Apple Watch. If you are someone who cares about fitness or you have a health condition you want to stay on top of, the H9 is worth getting on your radar. 

Best case

Otterbox’s Eclipse Apple Watch case is perfect for someone worried about scratching the front of their wearable. With a protected glass front and plastic bumpers to wrap around the digital crown and buttons, this not only looks great but is super sturdy. Thanks to that casing, it is entirely drop-proof and great if you find yourself bumping your Apple Watch off door frames or doors as you are out and about. If you haven’t gone for the rugged Ultra lineup of Apple Watches, this mimics a little bit of that security without the huge price point. 

The Eclipse comes in traditionally sleek colors like Black and Beige but also more vibrant and eye-catching themes like Yellow, Pink, and Rose. Paired up with the right band, this could really pop, making up for the bulkiness of having an extra case on your device. Thanks to that tempered glass top, the screen stays just as sensitive and responsive as it should. It is also super easy to remove and put back on again as it doesn’t require any real installation. You can pop it on and go about your day. 

Lots of incredible choices

The best Apple Watch accessories enhance the wearable device experience. You can choose our favorite accessory, the multi-functional Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Dock that's priced right. For something different, consider the Moko Storage Box or von Holzhausen The Watch Band Portfolio. These accessories will bring you years of enjoyment. The only limit is your creativity and the size of your wallet!

If you're looking for a charger, a great-looking band, or a travel case, you've come to the right place! One or more likely several of the products on this list will prove useful if you love your Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch and Whoop are two of the most high-profile wearables you can slap on your wrist right now. On one side you have one of the best smartwatches you can buy, on the other you have a fitness band wearable that’s favored and used by some of the biggest athletes and sports teams on the planet to help make sure they’re in tip-top shape.

They might seem slightly odd ones to mention in the same sentence, but in terms of being wearables that can help you better track your health, fitness and pay good attention to your recovery time in between, there are probably more similarities than you’d think.

So if you only have the money to spend on one of them, which should you buy? We’ve tested both the latest Apple Watch and the Whoop 4.0 to give you a better sense of where the biggest differences and similarities lie to help you decide which is a better fit for you.

Apple Watch vs Whoop: Pricing

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of what these two wearables can do, we need to talk about pricing. The Apple Watch pricing varies from £219/$219 for the Watch SE to £799/$799 for the Watch Ultra 2, Apple's best Apple Watch. It’s not cheap, but there are more affordable smartwatch options in Apple’s collection.

For the Whoop, you’re going to need to pay for a subscription to get the band and access to all of the features in the Whoop companion smartphone app (iOS and Android). That costs £27/$30 for a 12-month subscription. You can also pay £229/$229 upfront for an annual membership or £384/ for a 24-month membership. There is also the option to trial it for free for one month. Bottom line, it’s expensive too.

Apple Watch vs Whoop: Design and displays

So, these are decidedly two very different-looking wearables. One is a smartwatch, the other is a more simple-looking fitness band disguised as a stylish fabric bracelet.

The Apple Watch comes in different sizes and models led by the Apple Watch SE, the Series 9 and the Ultra. It’s a blockier affair that does come with a removable strap and uses a combination of an OLED touchscreen display and physical buttons to interact with it. You also have Siri and Apple’s latest Double Tap gesture feature to use it hands-free as well.

The Whoop 4.0 comes in just one size and matches up a fabric band with a metal buckle that houses the tracking hardware. Whoop also offers those bands in a variety of looks. 

Like the Apple Watch, it’s worn on the wrist, though Whoop does offer the ability to track other parts of the body with its garment range that includes shorts and workout tops. There are also straps that let you wear it on your bicep, which can improve tracking accuracy in some scenarios. Unlike the Apple Watch, there is no screen and simply includes a battery status LED indicator that can be illuminated by tapping on the strap.

They’re both devices you can take swimming and wear in the shower with the Whoop 4.0 suitable to be submerged in water up to 10 meters depth. The Apple Watch Series 9 and SE are waterproof up to 50 meters depth, while the Ultra goes deeper up to 100 meters and is suitable for deep sea diving as well.

Apple Watch vs Whoop: Health and fitness features

This is what things really boil down to. What these two wearables can offer in terms of tracking your fitness and health.

We’ll start with the Apple Watch and it’s fair to say it does a lot here. It can track your daily steps and sleep, heart rate, including notification when heart rate is low or spiked from its usual rate. With the Watch Series 9 and Ultra, you get an ECG sensor, which can be used to detect signs of serious heart conditions like atrial fibrillation. While Apple’s latest Ultra and Series Watches launched with blood oxygen sensors, those features have been dropped (for now) due to Apple’s patent dispute with Masimo.

The Whoop isn’t considered a medical device, but does offer a rich array of sensors that can be used to offer an insight into your general wellness. It has sensors to track blood oxygen, heart rate, skin temperature and respiratory rate. Whoop compiles that sensor data in a health report to help you identify if anything is out of the ordinary. As mentioned, these aren’t medical-grade insights but as many Whoop’s have discovered, it can offer a useful and pretty reliable heads-up if you’re starting to become unwell.

When it comes to tracking your exercise, the two devices take slightly different approaches. The Apple is more traditional in that sense using sensors like accelerometers and built-in GPS to track your indoor and outdoor workouts. Apple has its own native Workout app and also has access to a rich collection of fitness apps via the Apple App Store. It also works with Apple’s Fitness+ workout app, letting you see daily activity tracking Rings close in real-time as you work out.

The Whoop 4.0 focuses on tracking your heart during workouts and includes automatic exercise recognition along with support to track outdoor workouts using your phone’s GPS. That’s because GPS isn’t included on the device itself. Whoop translates your movement into its Strain metric and that Strain score will dictate the necessary recovery needed and that does mean the Whoop tracks your sleep time. Crucially, it does it in a very accurate fashion too. With core tracking heavily reliant on heart rate, the sensor accuracy needs to be strong. We’d say accuracy is better for some workouts compared to others and definitely improves when worn on the bicep, which is a supported wearing position. 

No screen means you need to spend a lot of time in the Whoop companion app to get a sense of your strain, recovery and along with general insights. It’s quite a full-on app, so it takes time to work out which information is going to be most useful.

Apple Watch vs Whoop: Smartwatch features

How useful are these wearables when you’re not getting sweaty? Well, Apple comfortably wins that one. It’s a smartwatch and gives you one of the best smartwatch experiences available — if you’ve got one of the best iPhones. That includes payments, notifications, music features, app support, and the option of extracellular connectivity.  

What does the Whoop give you in comparison? Not a lot we’re afraid. It does work with both Android phones and iPhones, though that lack of a display means you’re getting none of the features on offer on the Apple Watch. It doesn’t even count steps. Its single redeeming smartwatch feature is having the ability to set an alarm, which can send haptic vibrations to the device to gently wake you up in the morning.

Apple Watch vs Whoop: Battery

If you’re looking for a wearable that will keep you away from the charger for longer, it’s the Whoop you want. 

Whoop promises up to 5 days battery life, which is longer than what you can expect to enjoy from the Apple Watch Series 9 (18-36 hours) or the Ultra 2 (36-72 hours).

Both use proprietary chargers, though how they’re put to charging use does differ. Apple’s charging puck sits on the rear of the watch case. The Whoop 4.0 is charged from a battery pack that clips onto the band and can store charge letting you charge it on the move as well.

Apple Watch vs Whoop: Which should you go for?

Now that you’re armed with all the key information, should you go for the Apple Watch or Whoop? These are two different wearables first and foremost, but if you want a fitness wearable that doesn’t look like a wearable and can be a useful tool for better understanding the relationship between exercise, recovery, and staying in tip-top shape, then the Whoop might be for you.

If you want some of that Whoop experience in a smartwatch form factor that’s going to be more useful outside of tracking time, then it’s the Apple Watch you want. While Apple doesn’t deliver all of those Whoop-esque insights natively, it can lean on a host of third-party apps that can give you that.

The best iPads need the best iPad pens to get the most out of their potential. By adding one, you're able to take notes, draw, edit photos, and more, all on the move with the benefit of pressure-sensitive features. Such pens and styluses are often far superior than using your inaccurate fingers instead, plus you avoid fingerprints.

There are loads of options beyond just the Apple Pencil, even if that device in its various guises is our preferred option, with many alternatives sharing a lot of the Pencil's key features while being more affordable.

But how do you know where to start? Below, we've taken a look at which are the best iPad styluses you can buy, along with what options will suit you best. Each is the ideal addition if you're thinking about using best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil or one of the best drawing apps.

Quick List

Best iPad pens and stylus options: in depth

The best overall

We've come a long way since Steve Jobs' rather frank dismissal of the idea that you might want to use a stylus with an iPad. These days, the Apple Pencil is an incredibly popular tool with creatives, and the Pencil Pro is the most advanced version yet, introducing all-new gesture controls, haptic feedback and reassuring security features. 

We really like the squeezable pressure sensor near the Pencil Pro's tip, which acts as a time-saving shortcut control that lets you access tool menus more quickly. Also great is 'Barrel Roll', which uses a new built-in gyroscopic sensor to detect when you rotate the pen in your hand. Doing so gives you more control of shaped digital pens and brushes, allowing for more realistic strokes in your art apps. Helpful haptics and Find My network support round off the suite of Pro features. And that's on top of all the great features carrying over from previous generations, like the excellent pressure sensitivity, instant pairing and magnetic charging. 

Unfortunately, the Pencil Pro is only compatible with the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, which Apple says is due to a new magnetic charging and connection system required by the 2024 tablets, owing to the rearranged FaceTime cameras. That means that you'll need to upgrade at some expense if you want to benefit from the Pro features.  

COMPATIBILITY: 

• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)

The best Apple Pencil Pro alternative

The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is one of the pricier iPad styluses around but the cost is worth it, especially for artists. Also known as the Apple Pencil 2, the device offers fantastic pressure sensitivity, even if Apple doesn't officially reveal how many levels of pressure sensitivity it has. Such great sensitivity means it's perfect for demonstrating the different stroke pressure levels in all kinds of apps including the best iPad photo editing apps. 

The stylus really helps artists have more control over their work, especially if they're using it on one of the best iPads for artists. It's also more likely to work properly with different software because apps are designed specifically to work with it. These include big-hitters like Adobe Photoshop for iPad and Procreate. The palm rejection technology isn't perfect but makes it so the display is less likely to show marks made by hands. 

Besides the great stroke sensitivity, the Apple Pencil 2 also has the convenience of magnetic charging. There's no need to struggle with charging cables here, as the Apple Pencil 2 has a flat side that magnetically attaches to compatible iPads and charges (and pairs) that way. It's much easier to keep the two together which also cuts down on the risk of misplacing it. Make sure your iPad is compatible with it by checking the list below.

COMPATIBILITY: 

• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)

The best for older iPads

Owners of older iPad models or the new base-level iPad can't use the Apple Pencil 2. Instead, the best option is the Apple Pencil (1st generation). It's not as refined as the newer model as it lacks wireless charging and the magnetic attachment, but you still get exceptional pressure sensitivity. Again, Apple hasn't released figures so we can't directly compare, but anyone who uses it can confirm it's great for drawing, writing, or editing photos. It works consistently and feels the right kind of weighty in your hand.

It also costs less than the newer versions of the Apple Pencil. Sound perfect? Not quite. Its charging is truly awkward. There's a cap on the bottom of the stylus that reveals a male Lightning connection. You then need to plug it into your iPad or another female Lightning port to charge it. It's far less convenient than the magnetic method of the newer model, although you can purchase an adapter to change it to a port.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)
• iPad (10th generation, requires adapter for charging)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch

The best on a budget

If you're looking for a reliable iPad stylus and don't need pressure sensitivity then you'll want to go with the JamJake K10. It's one of the cheapest options on the market while still being very convenient to use. Just bear in mind that you can't change stroke width based on pressure and there's no tilt stroke function for changing to a different thickness.

The battery also doesn't last as long as the official Apple Pencil, although 10 hours is still very good. It's compatible with magnetic charging so you can charge it that way, or you can use the included USB-C to USB-A charging cable to charge via the port on the side.

Its palm rejection technology isn't perfect but it still mostly only picks up on strokes made from the stylus tip rather than from your hands. It's possible to turn it off too via a tap to the bottom, while the pen comes in three colors: white, black, or pink.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Mini (5th and 6th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation)

The best for value

The standout feature for the Adonit Note+ is its 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity. It works very well with drawing apps so it's ideal for artists on a budget. It isn't the least expensive option out there, but it's a great price for what it offers. Besides the impressive pressure sensitivity, it also has tilt stroke functionality to replicate the side of the pencil within compatible software.

The side of the pencil also has two programmable buttons so you can set it up to quickly swap between different tools. It's particularly helpful in apps like Photoshop for iPad or Adobe Fresco. It'd be even more useful if it was fully supported by all apps but you'll need to check the software you use supports button shortcuts. 

While there's no wireless charging, 10 hours of battery life on one charge is respectable. It can be replenished using the included USB-C to USB-A cable with the USB-C port on the bottom of the pen.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Mini (5th and 6th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd and 4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018-2021)

The best for school or business

The Logitech Crayon is marketed as somewhat of a child's accessory but it's a great stylus for people of any age. It's very responsive and pairs instantly to compatible iPads, so it's a highly reliable choice. It also comes in two colors with the option of a playful silver and orange or a more professional gray and silver.

There isn't pressure sensitivity but it does have tilt stroke capabilities for software that supports thicker strokes or an angular point of contact. Its palm rejection technology works well too so there's no need to worry about accidentally marking your document or selecting anything by accident with your hands.

There's no wireless charging but the bottom of the pen opens on a hinge to reveal the Lightning port for charging the stylus. Battery life is a little low compared to the competition at 7.5 hours, but if you charge between sessions, you'll be fine.

Users must remove the orange top of the stylus to replace the tip. It's not the easiest thing to do, which might make this a good choice for a children's school accessory since they won't be able to play around with the tips as easily and lose them. 

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th and 6th generation)

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Q & A

If you're an artist who wants the best control over your work, you need the official Apple Pencil. Which version you buy will depend on which of the best iPads you have, as the compatibility can be a bit of a minefield. The various Apple Pencils offer the best accuracy and pressure sensitivity of any of the styluses out there, so it's worth the investment. Also, iPad drawing apps are specifically designed with these tools in mind, so you get a better experience overall.

If you're an artist on a budget then you should look into the Adonit Note+. It lacks the convenient wireless, magnetic charging of the Apple Pencil 2, but it does have 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity to help give more depth and variance to your strokes. Plus, the programmable buttons allow you to switch tools more quickly within software that supports shortcuts. 

If you just need something reliable for simple drawing, writing, or editing, the JamJake K10 Stylus Pen is a good alternative. It costs less than many of the others, while still being reliable. There's no pressure sensitivity or tilt stroke functions, but it does last up to 10 hours. It feels great to hold too.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a piece of software that keeps your internet activity private. It does this by creating an encrypted connection called a tunnel between your device and the VPN provider’s server. This additional layer of security stops nosy third-parties, like your government or Internet Service Provider (ISP), from tracking and logging what you do online.

With so many VPNs to choose from, a free VPN is a great way to get a taste of the service before you commit to a premium product. However, as the saying goes "nothing is ever truly free”. Some free VPNs may have annoying data caps, others may bombard you with ads, others may track and sell your data and others still may not even be real VPNs at all, and are instead malware-ridden apps masquerading as a free VPN.

To help you pick a free VPN that won’t let you down, we have provided this guide to the best free VPNs.

The 3 best paid-for iPhone VPNs in 2026

The risks of using free VPNs

As mentioned at the start of the article, using a free VPN comes with a few inherent risks that you really need to consider before you trust them with your personal data.

Logging and selling of your private data

Always remember that your private data is worth a lot of money to, at best, marketing and advertising companies and, at worse, cybercriminals of all stripes. Many free VPNs actually state that they reserve the right to sell your data, but they hide it deep inside the Terms and Conditions because they know the average user will never see it. 

Limited security features

Many free VPN providers use outdated and insecure methods of encryption along with old and insecure VPN protocols, making them little better than useless when it comes to keeping your internet activities safe. They also often embed trackers in their service and cheerfully collect your user data, utterly defeating the point of having a VPN to begin with. 

Presence of malware

Luckily this doesn’t happen too often, but there have been instances where an app purporting to be a “free VPN” turns out to be nothing more than malware, and other free VPN providers have been caught installing both spyware and malware on devices without warning customers about what they were really downloading. 

Use of your resources and internet connection by others

Fake VPN providers like Hola neglect to inform you that by using their service you’re really signing up to let other people use your connection. It bills itself as a “community-powered VPN” but it’s closer to a peer-to-peer network. When you connect to a server in another country, you’re literally getting the IP address of another Hola user who has chosen to share their connection, and someone else will end up with yours. Why is this a bad thing? Because if someone is then caught downloading pirated things or trying to access illegal websites, it’s your IP address that will get logged!

Data caps

The biggest truth about many free VPN providers is they don’t want you to use their free service. They want you to pay to upgrade to whatever “premium” paid tier they offer, so they’ll heavily limit the amount of data you can use in a day. TunnelBear, for instance, limits you to 2GB of data a month. Most free VPNs are too restrictive to be any good for daily usage. 

Weak connections

As well as poor data limits, most free VPNs only offer limited numbers of server locations for you to pick from. This means their servers are often overcrowded, leaning to slow and unreliable connections that are useless for anything but basic web browsing. 

Ads and pop-ups

Without users paying a subscription, free VPNs have to serve adverts in order to make money and these can be both inside their app, and within your web browser as you’re using the internet. As well as being annoying and intrusive, serving these ads also uses up a little more of that already limited bandwidth. 

The best free iPhone VPN overall

Not only does PrivadoVPN offer fast download speeds, with peak speeds at 900 Mbps in our testing, it offers secure connections as well with support for the latest VPN encryption standards, so you never need to worry that your online activities are being snooped on. It also has a no-logs promise, something that is rare in free VPN providers. Many claim to provide this, however may have invasive ad partners, meaning if you use their free version, you’re signing up for said partner’s dodgy privacy policy and tracking of your data.

As well as this, PrivadoVPN has a generous number of servers in 10 different countries available for free users, meaning that you won’t need to worry about servers becoming over-congested.

▶ Try PrivadoVPN for 10GB of free data a month

Unlike many other free VPN services like Proton VPN Free, including which are easily and quickly blocked by streaming sites due to their limited range of servers, locations and IP addresses, PrivadoVPN sports a dedicated team, even for free users, which works to make sure that you will always be able to unblock the most popular services like Netflix, Disney+, Max and more—just another thing that some premium VPN services struggle with.

Its apps are easy to use and reliable, and it’s simple to set up and configure advanced features such as split-tunneling, and even change your VPN encryption protocol if you need to.

The best free iPhone VPN for data allowance

One of the main benefits of ProtonVPN Free is that it doesn’t come loaded with advertising and it doesn’t set any intrusive tracking cookies on your devices. It also comes with additional features to help protect you online, such as a kill-switch and the latest WireGuard encryption protocol.

There are some limits to this free version. You don’t get access to the streaming-specific servers, or any streaming at all, in fact. There’s no additional features like an adblocker or malware-blocking. Additionally, Proton recently removed the option to choose server locations, meaning you risk the server you connect to being overloaded.

▶ Try ProtonVPN for a truly free VPN, forever.

Despite being a free offering, ProtonVPN has the security and privacy chops of any premium offering. As well as top of the line encryption to protect your online browsing, it’s got an independently verified no-logs policy so you don’t need to worry that it’s secretly tracking you or logging your IP address or what you do online.

ProtonVPN even offers speeds that are fast enough to shame some paid-for VPN offerings, with download speeds of up to 520 Mbps. Plus, an unlimited data cap means you can use the service to your heart’s content and never need to worry about data limits.

The best secure free iPhone VPN

Windscribe Free VPN’s biggest strength, compared to others on this list, is its ability for you to choose from 14 locations across 11 countries. Windscribe also lets you choose the specific server you want to connect to, allowing you to pick the fastest or closest one instead of being automatically connected to a server.

Like the other options on this list, Windscribe is no slouch when it comes to security and privacy. It sports the latest VPN protocols including OpenVPN and WireGuard, secured with military-grade AES-256 encryption which will keep you safe from any snooping at all. It even offers “stealth” technologies which hide the fact you’re using a VPN at all, useful in countries where VPNs are blocked.

▶ Try Windscribe and choose from 14 different free locations

While Windscribe struggled to unblock Amazon Prime Video, it passed all our other tests with flying colors, giving access to UK channels such as BBC iPlayer, ITV and Channel 4 as well as Netflix libraries around the world.

As with other free VPNs there are limits to what you can do with Windscribe Free. Simultaneous connections allow you to install the app on as many devices as you like, but you’re still limited to a monthly cap of 10GB of data.

The Windscribe app isn’t the best compared to some of our other choices, with an app that’s functional and easy enough to use, but just isn’t as slick or smooth as its competitors. 

Other VPNs I've tested and recommend

Hide.me’s free offering closes out our list. As with other picks it offers a 10GB monthly data limit, but it also supports streaming and torrenting as well as coming with a full suite of additional features including browser extensions, split-tunneling, a kill switch and even auto-connect which start a VPN connection if you connect to an untrusted WiFi point.

It offers five server locations to choose from, with two in the USA and one in Canada, Germany and the Netherlands respectively. As with most free VPNs, if you’re looking for a VPN to access content in the Middle East or Asia, this isn’t a great choice.

▶ Try Hide.me for unlimited bandwidth.

 The app is simple enough to use, however its settings screen is a little cluttered, and might be intimidating for novice users. Also, once installed you are forced to accept a five day trial of Hide.me’s premium version. There is no way to progress without accepting this trial and closing the offer takes you back to the initial start screen. It’s a very poor user experience and is likely to confuse more novice and inexperienced users.
 

How to pick a free VPN

While I, of course, recommend any of the free VPNs listed on this page, picking the right one for you comes down to what you want to use it for.

If you want a VPN for streaming you’d be better off with Privado or Hide.me over Proton, whereas if you know you want a larger data limit, Proton or 

Any reliable VPN provider, even a free one, should come with a robust no-logs policy that’s clearly stated on their website and in their terms and conditions and has, ideally, been audited by an independent party.

Unblocks location-restricted content

One of the biggest use cases for a VPN is to unblock content that’s restricted in your country, such as streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ so if your free VPN can’t do that, we would suggest checking out one of our other recommended providers

Doesn’t bombard you with ads

Many free VPN providers will serve you adverts and put advertising cookies on your device as well. None of the providers we recommend in this list will do that, making them entirely safe for you to use.

Is from a safe, trusted provider

One of the best ways to work out if a VPN is safe is by its reputation. If you search the VPN’s name online, what comes up? A load of bad reviews and forum posts about how it is not to be trusted? Or guides like this one recommending it? This can help you find out from those who have actually used the VPN if it is safe.

Additionally, VPN audits are a great way to find out more about a VPN. By looking at audits you can see if they are actually delivering on their promises. Plus, since they are carried out by third parties, you are assured that those telling you the information don’t have an ulterior motive.

Doesn’t hijack your browser with malicious code

Some “free VPNs” are nothing more than malware disguised as a VPN app or a browser extension. Make sure you investigate the service provider thoroughly to make sure you’re not exposing your device to dangerous malware.

How we test free VPNs

Any VPN test starts with a look at the provider’s website, be that free or premium, to see what the experience is like for first time users. Is there aggressive advertising? Is the sign-up experience straightforward? Is everything available to download without having to jump through too many hoops? Have their apps and no-logs claims been audited?

After that it’s the testing of the app. How difficult is it to install and get running? What’s the first time user experience like? I take a look at the GUI features, the settings, additional features and, at the end of the day, if the VPN app actually functions properly. I do this by testing to see if it gives decent download speeds while also protecting your personal information, making sure there’s no WebRTC or DNS leaks.

First we put the free VPNs and their data limits  to the test to make sure you can use it for day-to-day browsing the net. Next, we check their streaming and/or torrenting to claims to see if they check out. If they do, this helps decide if a VPN deserves to go on any list we publish here.

To find out more, take a look at our VPN testing methodology page for full details.

Free iPhone VPN FAQs

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

So you’ve decided to make health and fitness a priority beyond a New Year’s resolution, and now you’re looking for a smart scale to provide you with easy-to-understand data to help you track your progress. Well, bioelectrical impedance analysis scales are the way to go. They’ll provide you with more than just your weight, which can be deceptive. You’ve been working out for two months but you haven’t lost any weight and you’re understandably frustrated. A BIA contextualizes your efforts by showing you that you’ve actually put on some muscle mass AND lost fat. Did you know that muscle weighs more than fat? So that may be why you’re not seeing results in the numbers on a traditional scale. I will add that you should be seeing some of those results in the mirror, or in how your clothes are fitting (or not), but we all get so fixated on the numbers on a scale. 

If you’re going to be fixated on the numbers on a scale, they should at least be the right numbers. But in this case, the trend numbers more than the daily readings. I recommend weighing in once a week at the same time.

The scales in this guide have been chosen for price, “accuracy,” Apple Health and Apple ecosystem integration, and the amount of body composition data they provide. “Accuracy” is important to note because smart scales’ body analysis is more of an approximation, and should be used by you to understand trends on your fitness journey instead of daily or weekly hard numbers. Now, the industry standard for getting “hard numbers” is something called a DEXA scan and I had myself scanned in the process of reviewing these scales so that I could tell you which were the most accurate.

The quick list

Take a fast look through these BIA smart scales , with choices for different needs and budget. To read more about any of them, just click to jump down to our full write-ups.

 The best scale for most people: in depth 

The best BIA smart scale: in depth

Anker does a great job of bringing products with a lot of value to market. Their mix of competitive pricing with a robust feature set, often makes them a go-to look for those gadget shopping, and their Eufy P3 BIA smart scale is no different. When you first remove the P3 scale from the box, you’ll notice its elegant mirror-finish design in black and once you power it up, that large, vibrant display. You can see all of your analysis data without having to open an app as it scrolls through different cards on the screen.

Anker’s Eufy P3 “intelligent analysis scale” is easy to set up and to use. Download the EufyLife app and create a user account. Enter the appropriate info: weight, height, birthday, etc. Once you’ve done that, install the batteries, select “add device” in the app and follow the directions. Having removable batteries will mean that you aren’t trying to find an outlet to recharge something which sits on your floor. The 4 AAA batteries should last you 3-4 months. It’s platform isn’t the widest we tested but should work for most people and is one of two in the roundup which supports up to 440lb users instead of just 400lbs like the other scales.

The Eufy P3 measures 16 data points, including: weight, heart rate, body fat, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, baby weight, and pet weight. It even offers a “Basic Mode” which turns off the electrical current if you’re pregnant or wear a pacemaker. What makes this the best overall scale for most people is the mix of features, ease-of-use and accuracy. The Eufy P3 was the second most accurate body analysis smart scale when compared to my DEXA results. It was off by approximately a point with the body fat percentage and was close enough with my lean mass and fat mass numbers.

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The best info dense display: in depth 

The best info dense display: in depth

Etekcity’s ESF00+ is built like a tank, so if you’re a large human, you won’t feel like you’re about to break it. But your tummy may not be the only thing hindering you from seeing the data on the display. There’s a lot of it, and the text is small. Unlike some of the others in this roundup, you get to see 7 of the 12 metrics the scale analyzes at-a-glance on the long, vertical screen and there’s even a section of color-coded has lines at the bottom of the display to show you at-a-glance how your BMI is trending, though I take BMI with a grain of salt.

The Etekcity ESF00+ really feels like it’s going to last you quite some time. It’ll likely outlast the 1000 mAh lithium ion rechargeable battery embedded in it. It’s the heaviest of the lot that I’ve recently tested, weighing in at just over 7 pounds, so you may actually lose even more weight just shuffling it around if you don’t have a permanent location for it. The wide, nearly 15 inch deck accommodates those of us with large feet and thick thighs which is a boon as BIA scales work best when you stand with your arms not touching your sides and your legs not touching each other. A tough feat for some of us with heartier frames, standing on a narrow scale. 

That said, the body composition was off on some metrics by a few points, though the weight measurement was consistent and pretty accurate. My DEXA scan showed me having a BMI of 28.3, ESF00+ was 28.3. DEXA total body fat % was 23.6, ESF00+ was 28.7. DEXA lean mass showed 165.20lbs, ESF00+ was 149.2lb. DEXA fat mass was 51.14lbs, ESF00+ doesn’t offer this metric, per se. Just subcutaneous fat % and a separate visceral fat score.

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 The best premium scale: in depth 

The best premium scale

 “Connected health station.” That’s how Withings bills the Body Scan smart scale, and it is just that. It has all the bells and whistles (literally), and uses a handlebar to give you more precise measurements than just about any other consumer smart scale. But this scale isn’t for those looking for “simple,” or those on a budget. At $399.95 this isn’t an impulse purchase for most people however, after using it for a few weeks, I think it’s worth every penny if you can afford it. Why? I’ll tell you.

There is pretty much nothing this scale won’t do, including show you the air quality index, along with the weather. It feels like Withings was attempting to replace your doctor’s office visits with this scale. I’m only partially joking! The Body Scan takes measurements you’d see from other smart scales like overall body fat %, total body water %, or muscle mass farther by including an ECG which gives it the ability to detect heart arrhythmia aka AFib, and is FDA approved so bank on this one. If it detects something “off” see a doctor right away. You’ll also get heart rate info every time you weigh yourself because of that ECG. 

The scale also includes an electrodermal sensor which evaluates your sweat gland response to electrical stimulus, and gives you a score. Why is that important? I have Type 2 and one of the issues common to that is nerve problems in your feet if you let the disease progress. Along with other ailments, this EDA score will help you keep tabs on the healthy functioning of your body’s nervous system and blood flow, which is critical to having healthy lower body appendages, and can be an indicator of health issues if the numbers start trending in the wrong direction. Body Scan also includes something called Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) technology, which measures the stiffness of your arteries and tells you your “Vascular Age.”

As expected, the Body Scan provided the most accurate body composition analysis, even going as far as to provide segmental analysis (no other scale in this roundup does that), and showing you the stats on your trunk, separately from each arm and each leg. It was within one to two points or pounds in just about every metric it measured when compared to my DEXA results.

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Best Apple ecosystem integration: in depth 

Best Apple ecosystem integration

 I know we’re looking at a scale twice, but Withings’ Body Scan took best of show in its Apple ecosystem support as well. Most of the scales we featured here sync to their companion apps via Wi-Fi, a couple via Bluetooth only, and all of them connect with Apple health except for the Garmin Index S2. But only three of the scales have WatchOS companion apps, and frankly, there’s only one which excites me. To be fair though, I LOVE data density, whereas some others may find it all a bit overwhelming and prefer one of the competitor’s WatchOS apps.

As I’ve gone through all of the companion apps for these scales, the Body Scan appears to  have the most robust two-way sync with Apple Health and because the Withings app actually is built to be its own version of Apple Health, if you really wanted to, you could look at it solely for all of your Body Scan data and the info your Apple watch gathers from your workouts. Remember that Withings has its own stable of smartwatches which is why their app is so feature rich. 

The standout feature for the Withings app, in this roundup, is the segmental body composition  analysis. Tapping this card allows you to deep dive and see your fat mass for your arms, legs, and torso as percentages, then your muscle mass for those same body parts in pounds. But you can go deeper and see that information at an even more granular level for each leg, and each arm, and with all of those segmental numbers, they include where you lineup according to your age and height with other users.

The WatchOS app is beautifully designed and let’s you scroll through a list of headings which show trending numbers as “+” for going up, and “-” for trending down. Those headings are: Activity, Sleep, Body, Heart, and Menstrual Health. Of course, since you’re using the Body Scan, tapping on the “Body” radio button takes you to a screen with more granular data on 5 of your body composition data points captured by the smart scale.

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The best scale for hardcore runners: in depth 

Best scale for hardcore runners

 There are scales which do what the Index S2 does and more, for less, but they don’t support Garmin Connect. If you’re a hardcore athlete and you live by your performance metrics, and keeping everything easily accessible in one place is important, it may be worth the premium price ($149.99) to you to add this Garmin product to your high performance ecosystem. In my research, I found Garmin’s scale to be the most widely available online and in brick-and-mortar stores, so if you don’t like to wait for shipping, this is a good option if it fits the bill for you.

Garmin’s Index S2 is easy to use, and best of all, features Wi-Fi syncing so you don’t need your phone nearby to use it. Additionally it runs on 4 AAA batteries which Garmin says should last you roughly 9 months, so no need to fuss with finding an outlet to recharge the scale near wherever you’re keeping it. The only challenge I faced here was that on more than one occasion I had to measure multiple times to get a satisfactory result. One attempt, weighing myself three times until I got a weight I knew was in line with four other scales I was testing. The Index S2 was about 5 pounds off until the fourth measurement. I said this isn’t a deal breaker because the S2 does give you the proper weight. You may have to hop on a couple times to get it and that’s something I’ve actually experienced with more than one scale.

Probably the most important feature for those who would consider this scale is its connection with the Garmin ecosystem through the Garmin Connect app. On the scale itself you can see data points for 9 metrics, including weight, but those metrics become analytics in the app once you’re presented with multiple trend graphs, your daily measurement numbers, and your 1 day, 7 day, 4 week, and 1 year averages at-a-glance. And all of that data is in Garmin Connect so you can cross reference it with your workout or race data and see how you’re performing at various weights and body fat percentages, and optimize your rest, recovery, nutrition, and training accordingly. And to aid with how all of that data connects, you can also connect to MyFitnessPal, and Strava if you don't use Garmin Connect for your running data.

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 The best scale for aesthetics: in depth 

Best scale for aesthetics

Much like many smartphones, many of the smart body scales are the same. Boring black or white slabs. Enter: RENPHO’s Elis Chroma. A “smart body scale” with an RGB deck which isn’t just pretty, it’s also functional. And while the scale does come with some caveats -they all do- I really liked the simplicity of its apps, and its bluetooth connectivity was rock solid!

The reason you’re here is for the light show! You need to have an active connection with the scale, but when you do, you can go into the Color Management settings and play to your heart’s content. You can set the lights so that when you weigh yourself the color corresponds to the BMI reading but It’s the pulsing light customizations that I loved, AND the ability to use the scale in ambient light mode like a night light.

The scale is light and plasticky, but when you step on it, you don’t feel or hear any creaks or other signs that it might be cheaply made. The only real drawback to the build is the size of the deck. I wear men’s US size 12 shoes and my feet barely fit, requiring me to be very intentional about how I place my feet on the scale. It has a USB-C port on the front edge, which doesn’t feel cheap. It does come with a charging cord which unlike some of its competitors, is NOT comedically short. Next to that you’ll see a reset button and microphone for sound activated use. If you want to add some swag to your bathroom, and a night light (if you have an outlet in the right place), this may be the scale you’ve been looking for!

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How to choose

These are bioelectrical impedance analysis scales and as such, there are some things you should know about how they operate which will help you make the best decision possible when choosing the scale that’s right for your needs. So, let’s get into those.

The “Explain it like I’m 5” low down on BIA function is this: the scale sends undetectable (to you) levels of electrical current through your body. That current flows through your body and back down to the scale, where algorithms analyze and tell you about your body composition. In order for that analysis to be reliable, the scale needs to know your age, weight, and height. Secondarily, your (low) hydration levels can negatively affect the accuracy of the result, and for scales using only electrodes in the feet (built into the platform), your bare thighs touching may affect accuracy as well. And that is the super simple explanation of BIA and what you need to know to get the most out of using one of the scales in this roundup.

These are the things to consider as you make a decision based on this guide:

• Most of the scales in this roundup are 11-12 inches wide. That will be fine for a lot of people but there are certainly large segments of our population for whom that may not be ideal. So, if you’re a wider framed person, you should consider a scale with the widest platform possible. Note that, even if you’d consider yourself “petite” you can still have wider hips and thighs, or as we say you can be “slim thick.” So, for you the Etekcity ESF00+ which has a platform that is almost 15 inches wide, may be the best option. But you should know that your thighs touching while wearing lightweight shorts during your weigh-ins works as well. Just as long as the shorts prevent skin-to-skin contact.
• If you wear a US size 12 shoe or greater, platform size is also something you should be considering. Be sure to look at the platform length dimensions for the scale you’re interested in. We’ve included those numbers in this roundup’s “Specifications” section for each scale so you don’t have to go searching for them.
• Is the scale battery operated or rechargeable via USB? If your bathroom isn’t set up to make recharging easy, you may want to consider removable battery operated scales. I don’t know that this is a huge deal because most of these scales should last you months with removables or rechargeable Li-ion batteries (USB), in one case the manufacturer claims up to a year on a charge.
• I’ve seen some complaints on Reddit about users not getting accurate measurements from the Withings Body Scan but after reading through them, and as pointed out by other users in those comments, many people didn’t read the directions and weigh themselves accordingly. The Body Scan has a handlebar and just like scales with electrodes only in the feet which require your thighs to have space between them, or cloth, your arms should be slightly flared out when holding that handlebar so that they aren’t touching your sides. The Body Scan does a lot, so be sure to really read the manual to get the most out of using it!

And that's it! Get out there, get to know your bodies better -on the inside- and let’s be metabolically healthy! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on the Internet. You can find me @tshakaarmstrong pretty much everywhere!

The best flash drives for backing up your iPhone come in all shapes and storage sizes. Instead of using cloud storage like Apple's own iCloud service or Google Drive, having a real-world accessory that stores all your sentimental media can give you extra peace of mind.

Since iOS 13 arrived in 2019, all of the best iPhones compatible with that software update have been able to accept external storage devices. This means that those spare USB-C pen drives you may have hidden in your drawers at work can now work with your device.

With the arrival of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023, the Lightning Port was replaced with USB-C. This meant that any storage device with a USB-C cable could now be plugged in without using an adapter.

With this in mind, we've picked a few and listed them below to see which one may suit your needs best.

Best flash drives to back up your iPhone

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Find the best flash drive for your iPhone

While some users might still prefer to rely solely on iCloud, there's never any harm in also using physical storage such as a flash drive with your iPhone to keep its files safely backed up. You could always AirDrop files to your Mac once you run out of space, but sometimes AirDrop has a tough time with bigger files or many files at once. Similarly, you could use one of the best cloud storage apps to store your files off the device, but that can take a while depending on internet speeds, and usually requires an ongoing subscription cost to keep the service ticking. 

For a physical solution, we're fans of the SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C because of its fair price, and compact, colorful design.

If you need to multitask with many types of device, or have a ton of data to back up, we'd suggest the PioData iXFlash series. With a Lightning port on one end and a USB-C connection on the other, you'll easily be able to move entire generations of iPhone back-up files from older devices to another — capacities of 1TB mean only the very, very largest iPhones can't be backed up in full. It's a great — if pricey — option.

If you're worried about longevity -- don't be. Reports suggest that the average flash drive for an iPhone can last from 10,000 to 100,000 write cycles. That means you won't have to worry about replacing it for a while to come.

On March 4, 2024, Apple unleashed a surprise press release — M3-powered MacBook Airs are on the way. The biggest surprise of the whole thing? It’s only a few days until you can slip one into your bag.

The M3 MacBook Air is available to preorder now, for delivery on Friday, March 8th. That’s not far away at all, although if you want to make sure you can get your hands on one as soon and as close to the release date as possible, then you’ll want to preorder.

There are a few ways to preorder the M3 MacBook Air, in both its 13 and 15-inch sizes. The first is to head over to the Apple website, where you’ll find preorders live now. There are other places you can preorder as well, with a number of third-party retailers putting the newest MacBook Air up for order.

What's inside the new M3 MacBook Air?

The new MacBook Air brings the much-lauded M3 chip to the thin and light line, replacing the M2 models from yesteryear. If you’re looking for a visual update with the latest MacBook you’re going to be out of luck — all of the improvements come with the M3 chip rather than with new design features.

That new chip is a doozy, however, trouncing the M1 and outperforming the M2 in all computing tasks. Gaming is 60% faster than the M1, for a start, and there are more performance gains across the board. It’s a very powerful chip that lies at the heart of the new M3 MacBook Air, and it makes it a great update opportunity for old Intel Mac users and those who rock an M1-powered machine.

Where can I preorder the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air?

Where can I preorder the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air?

The best monitors for Mac allow you to unlock the true potential of your Apple computer by giving you beautiful displays to work, game, and relax with whether you're looking for a monitor for your desktop Mac mini setup or looking to get a portable monitor to use with your M3 Max MacBook Pro in a café.

There are so many monitors for Mac to choose from, and scouring the web for the right display can feel overwhelming with endless lists of specs, confusing names, and even difficulty understanding if the monitor has the correct ports.

At iMore, we pride ourselves on our reviews and have been rigorously testing some of the best monitors for Mac throughout the years. Depending on your needs and budget, we've got options for everyone on this list, so hopefully, a glance helps make your next monitor purchase an easy one. 

If you're looking for a specific type of monitor, iMore also has buying guides for the best monitor for Mac Studio, the best 4K monitors for Mac, and the best alternatives to Apple's Pro Display XDR.

Quick list

Best overall

The Dough Spectrum One is our current pick for the overall best monitor for Mac thanks to its gloriously rich display, great selection of ports, and robust design. The 4K 144Hz monitor is available in multiple glass finishes, including glossy, matte, and Gorilla Glass, so there's a finish for everyone regardless of preference.

With support for both Nvidia's Gsync and AMD's Freesync, the Spectrum One is perfect for those wanting to game after a long day at work, and thanks to its good selection of ports, you'll have no problem plugging in your Mac.

Our review said: "It’s got all the ports a modern worker or gamer needs, has a sensibly-reserved design, and a to-die-for panel." This is truly one of the best monitors for Mac, and anyone looking for their next monitor won't be disappointed by the Spectrum One.

Best for office

The Philips 27B1U7903 is a fantastic display that makes for the perfect all-round option for office use and if you want to game after 5 PM. This monitor boasts great color accuracy, a 4K resolution, and the perfect 27-inch size for productivity. Not only will it look brilliant on your desk, but the plethora of ports make this an excellent option for any work-from-home setup.

In our review, the only drawbacks were the speakers (no one should use monitor speakers anyway) and the confusing buttons to navigate the menus. If you can look past these small issues, then the Philips 27B1U790s is a monitor that will last you years to come.

If you're looking for the best monitor for Mac, the Philips 27B1U7903 is a fantastic option that will stand out on your desk, perfect for anyone looking to get some serious work done with their incredibly powerful Mac.

Best for creatives

The Apple Studio Display is an incredibly expensive monitor, but would you expect anything less from Apple? If you can see past the negatives of costly extras like the adjustable stand for an extra $400 and the lack of HDR support, then this is the perfect monitor for any creative looking to do photo editing or create art on their Mac.

This stunning display offers a 5K resolution, which makes it sharper and more detailed than the other displays on the list, making it perfect for when you need to see every single detail of an image or a drawing.

Ports are lacking slightly, but if you are connecting to a Mac (which most Studio Display owners will be), then you'll just need a single USB-C to connect and get started.

Best for gamers

The Philips Evnia OLED is the most overkill and amazing gaming monitor we've ever used. It's 42 inches with incredible contrast and lighting, a 138Hx refresh rate, and HDR 10. For gamers, there are few monitors that scratch the itch, as well as the Evnia, and it's the best gaming monitor for Mac because of this.

With great port selection, you'll be able to use the Evnia with any Mac, games console, or PC, and with its stunning image quality, you will NOT be disappointed. Unfortunately, amazing gaming performance comes at a steep price — the Evnia 42 is around $1,500, but if you look hard enough, you might be able to grab a sweet deal.  

In our review, iMore News Editor Stephen Warwick said, "Where it matters, on-screen, the Evnia 42M shines as one of the best all-around gaming displays I’ve ever used."

Best budget

If you don't mind a 1440p monitor, then this Dell is an excellent budget option. It's less than $400 for a start, making it the cheapest monitor on the list, and you get loads of performance for the money. It's got a blazing fast refresh rate of up to 165Hz depending on the connection you use on the back, and its massive screen has a 1440p resolution that might not be as sharp as a 4K image but does make it a great deal more impressive than the equivalent 1080p display.

You won't get a Thunderbolt port on the back here, so you'll have to connect over DisplayPort or HDMI, but with the right dock, you'll be connected in no time.

Best portable

The espresso display started out as a Kickstarter and has since become one of the best portable monitors for Macs on the market. This super slim metal portable monitor is one of the best monitors for Mac full stop, thanks to its bright 1080p display that is a joy to use whenever you're away from home.

Unfortunately, if you want the best experience with the premium stand and a protective cover, you'll need to fork out extra cash. This means that the espresso is only the best option if you're going to be working while on the go — for anyone else, you can find a much better display to use at home.

The espresso monitor starts at $299, but you'll quickly rack up the cost if you opt for the larger 15.6-inch display or for any of the aforementioned accessories.

Q&A

What to look for in a monitor for your Mac

A Mac is a big purchase that deserves a beautiful display, so it's important to ensure you don't opt for a poor-quality monitor when picking one for your desk. The monitors we've chosen as the best monitors for Mac have all been selected based on rigorous testing as well as specific factors such as:

• Size - this is an obvious one, but the size of a monitor is very important. A larger display will mean more information and content shown on screen, while a smaller display will take up less room, be cheaper, and use less energy
• Resolution - the number of pixels in a display determine how much detail you see and how good the picture is. A 4K monitor is the standard these days. A 5K monitor like the Apple Studio Display will offer twice as much detail while keeping the proportions of macOS just right, but at a cost. You may also want to consider a normal 1080p HD monitor, which will have lower visual fidelity but cost much less. 
• Colors - Monitors will offer various color modes that can be used for things like photo and video editing, this is particularly important if you want to undertake visual heavy tasks using your new monitor.
• Ports and connectivity - A monitor will take up one of your Mac Studio's ports, but the right monitor can actually expand and increase connectivity, with the best options listed here also acting like hubs to add USB connectivity, charging, and more 

How we test monitors

All of these best monitors for Mac have been reviewed by iMore, and we've put them through their paces in a number of different ways. A monitor review includes testing in day-to-day use, such as office work and gaming, as well as testing the monitor in different viewing scenarios to test performance in specific areas. Our testing includes viewing videos, photo and video editing, gaming, and more. We also test these products over an extended period to ensure that they are reliable regarding durability and build quality and are designed and built to last.

We consider the different conditions a monitor might need to work in, too — whether that's in harsh direct lighting, on a cramped desk, in vertical or horizontal orientations, and more.

At iMore, we pride ourselves on our thorough monitor reviews to ensure you can make a purchase decision with concrete information from a trustworthy source. Our tech expertise spans decades, allowing you to make a purchase without worrying about buyer's remorse.

Thanks to the Apple Watch Family Setup feature, you're able to offer anyone in your household (child, spouse or otherwise), an Apple Watch that will work without the need for an accompanying iPhone. It'll need to be a cellular Apple Watch, as the feature only needs to communicate away from Wi-Fi with the 'host' iPhone, but that can be a major saving to keep your family connected. The best Apple Watch comes in cellular models, so if you have a Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or an Apple Watch SE, you can use them for Family Setup.

While many of the best cell plans for Apple Watch can overlap with the best cell plans for Family Setup, there are a few certain plans from some carriers meant for this application specifically. Here's what you need to know to pick the best cell plans for Family Setup.

Disclaimer: Not every cell plan can be found everywhere, even from the same carrier in different locations. Many factors determine which plans carriers offer near you. Check with your local cell provider to see if our suggestions are available to you.

Truphone

Truphone offers a special deal for Family Setup specifically, including unlimited data, call, and text, and a U.S. phone number, all for $10.99 a month. There's no lock-in contract, making it easy to cancel whenever you need, and there's even a 7-day free trial to see if you like the service.

AT&T

If you're invested in the AT&T cell service, the carrier allows you to add Apple's timepiece to its AT&T Unlimited Starter, AT&T Unlimited Extra, AT&T Unlimited Elite plans for $10 a month. With each of the three plans you gain access to unlimited talk, text, and data, including speedy 5G downloads. Those perks extend to Mexico and Canada, and add international texting to the mix, too.

Buy an Apple Watch at full price through AT&T and you can keep your plans distinct, as the carrier offers separate plans for just the Apple Watch from $10 a month.

T-Mobile

If you can't get enough of T-Mobile's pink aesthetic (and strong offers!), you can add an Apple Watch to either its Essential plan, Magenta plan, or Magenta Plus. It costs $10 a month to add an Apple Watch to either of those plans. Each of ht eplans gets you unlimited talk, text, and data allowances, while also opening access to premium speedy-tier data.

U.S. Cellular

If you're on U.S Cellular's unlimited plan for your iPhone, you can easily add an Apple Watch to the mix for an additional $10 a month, and that includes Family Setup for multiple watches at an additional $10 per device. Each plan provides allowances for  unlimited talk, text, and data, while the Everday and Even Better plans add improved  video streaming quality and limited roaming in Mexico and Canada on top, too. You'll get the first three months of Apple Watch service for free — a nice customer-first boon that let's you see if the concept works for you.

Verizon

You can add an Apple Watch to any Verizon plan for $10 a month. Verizon's unlimited plans cost can vary in price depending on how many additional lines you add, but they all include unlimited talk, text, and data and allowances across its 5G network.

While there are no special deals or pricing for Family Setup, the carrier does support the feature. You can add multiple Apple Watches using Family Setup to a plan each for the $10 a month.

How to pick the best plan cell plan for Apple Watch Family Setup

You've got lots of options across the major carriers for Family Setup cell plans on Apple Watch, and thankfully they all keep things quite simple with more-or-less flat (and similar!) fees per Watch on the plans.

If you're already happy with a phone plan on one of the above carriers, it makes sense to stick with them for the Watch family plans too. But if you're new to the scene, take advantage of U.S. Cellular's try-before-you-buy trial period.

Apple’s Vision Pro headset is here. It’s been a long, long time coming but the company’s biggest bet since the iPhone is so near that we’re desperate to get our hands on one and see what it can do.

Sadly, though, that MSRP of $3,499 isn’t going to make that easy, and nor is the need to be based in the US. Still, that does give us a chance to look into alternatives, and none are more popular than the Meta Quest 3.

Love it or hate it, Meta has done a great job of getting consumer VR units into households all over the world with the Quest 2, and the Quest 3 is leaps and bounds beyond what its predecessor could do. Still, it’s not perfect, but it’s also nowhere near $3,499.

Here’s our rundown of the Apple Vision Pro versus the Meta Quest 3.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: Features and specs

Unlike the Valve Index, Meta’s Quest 3 headset is at least a little closer to Vision Pro since it’s an all-in-one headset, meaning it doesn’t need a PC or Mac to power it.

It also only launched a few short months ago, meaning it stands a much better chance against the Vision Pro than the Quest 2 would have, although they’re still very different devices.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: What’s new?

Starting with Apple, everything is new here. Apple dubs Vision Pro ‘Spatial Computing’, where you can see and interact with your content within the same space, can interact with items and people around you, and can even let those people see your eyes.

It’s ambitious, and we’re excited to use it for ourselves to see just how it holds up. Will we fall in love with gesture controls, or wish we had a controller? Time will tell.

On the Quest 3, the premise is much the same as the second iteration - it’s a VR headset that packs everything into one unit. No PC is required (although we’ll come to that shortly), and while that can mean it lacks the power of something like the Valve Index, it remains much easier to set up and can handle room-scale VR.

It can also offer mixed reality experiences thanks to improvements made to the cameras, although there’s no real ‘killer app’ for that just yet. That passthrough mode is much, much clearer than the Quest 2’s, though, so you can feasibly move in and out of VR with relative ease.

Thanks to backward compatibility and Meta throwing its considerable financial weight around, Quest 3 is also home to some truly excellent games and experiences, many of which are exclusive.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: Power and Features

To set an expectation right off the bat, the Quest 3 is nowhere near as powerful as the Vision Pro. That’s because Apple’s headset literally has a laptop chip inside, as well as another chip.

That combo of the M2 and R2, plus the micro-OLED display, removes the “screen door” effect many headsets offer - although the Quest 3’s sharper resolution and increased RAM, coupled with the next-generation Snapdragon processor inside, make it much less of an offender than the last model.

Both have front-facing cameras, too, but while Vision Pro makes them core to the experience of having your apps floating in mid-air in front of you, Quest 3 leans more toward using them for mixed reality experiences and ensuring you don’t walk into your coffee table.

In terms of interaction, you’ll be using controllers for the Quest 3. They’re impressively accurate for tracking (there is some hand tracking without them, too, but it’s hit or miss) and don’t come with those weird circles on the end now, but sadly still charge through AA batteries which feels decidedly less futuristic.

For Vision Pro, you can just track with your eyes and click with your finger and thumb, making for a much more impressive way of interacting with your content - including those much-discussed spatial videos.

While Quest 3 will see firmware updates over time, it’s built on a version of Android (although you’d be hard-pressed to tell), while visionOS is something new entirely, albeit with the potential to run many Apple apps.

That means that while Quest 3 has a vast library now, there’s every chance Vision Pro will evolve in ways we weren’t expecting when 2.0, 3.0, and more arrive.

Speaking of the library, if you buy a Meta Quest 3 right now you’ll gain access to Asgard’s Wrath 2 free of charge. That’s because Meta really wants you to play the game, and for good reason - it’s one of the best VR games you’ll find anywhere.

In our comparison with the Valve Index, we referenced Half-Life Alyx as another phenomenal VR showcase. I mention it now because you can connect your PC to the Quest 3 to power much more demanding games and experiences, including Half-Life Alyx through Steam. That’s a killer feature for anyone looking to get into PCVR.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: Battery Life

Vision Pro caps out at 2 hours of battery life, which isn’t a lot. You can buy additional battery packs, but you’ll need to keep them charged and ready to hot-swap, meaning you’ll likely want to rely on the Vision Pro’s passthrough charging for the most part.

The Quest 3 is only just ahead with up to 3 hours, and naturally, there are accessories you can buy, too. It’s not a big jump but might make it more conducive to your use case if you’re planning on spending plenty of time in Beat Saber with friends over.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: Which should you buy?

As with our Valve Index comparison, it’s tricky to compare the Vision Pro to an existing headset - although the Quest 3’s all-in-one nature makes it a little closer.

Both are great products, but both do very different things. While working in VR with the Quest 3 is definitely possible, it’s much more geared toward entertainment apps and gaming, with the added bonus of being connected to a PC for additional power.

The Vision Pro stands alone as a computer you literally put on your face, but the jury’s still out on how much the general public will want to use one.

Apple’s Vision Pro headset is finally up for order, and while it’ll undoubtedly sell out for early adopters, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about.

If you’re like many of the non-iMore reading tech enthusiasts we know in our daily lives, you may be balking at spending almost $4,000 on “another VR headset”. The truth, however, is that Vision Pro is a sideways step from VR and a forward step in overall computing - at least as far as Apple will tell you.

That makes pitting it against a more traditional virtual reality device like a Valve Index somewhat of a moot point, but the comparison can be used to show just how different Apple’s thinking is from what the likes of Valve, Meta, and more are doing.

Here’s a rundown of the Apple Vision Pro versus the Valve Index.

Apple Vision Pro vs Valve Index: Features and specs

It’s hard to believe that the Valve Index is approaching five years of age at this point, but it’s true - Valve’s headset remains near the peak of the PCVR space, but there’s always the chance it’ll be replaced sooner than expected.

Valve, while previously famed for its software (and we’ll come to that soon), has shifted into hardware with impressive success thanks to its handheld PC, the Steam Deck, which got a surprise OLED revision late last year. Could the Index be next? It’s hard to say.

In any case, that four-and-a-half-year gap has made the Vision Pro spec sheet much better reading for Apple, outside of the price and battery life.

Apple Vision Pro vs Valve Index: What’s new?

As covered above, the Valve Index is a very good VR headset, but that’s all it is. That feels like a damning statement, but from 2019 onward it’s been a sensational headset that pushes more power than the likes of Meta Quest 2 and 3 thanks to it being hooked up to a PC.

It’s got a wide field of view, and a huge library of titles to play and experience on Valve’s own Steam platform. It can run on pretty modest hardware, too, but you’ll naturally get more from it with a more powerful GPU.

On the other hand, Vision Pro is pretty much all new. There are throwbacks to other Apple products, sure (the Digital Crown, the iCloud integration, FaceTime) but all of those come with tweaks that help them fit Apple’s “Spatial Computing” terminology.

Put simply, the Valve Index is an additional way to use your PC, primarily for games and experiences. On the other hand, the Vision Pro is pretty much its own PC, running visionOS.

So, while you can hop on and play Beat Saber with a Valve Index, or load up your PC’s productivity apps, Vision Pro is intended to have apps, including the likes of Apple Mail, Safari, and more, be the centerpiece of the experience.

Naturally, that ambition plays into the price. A Valve Index will set you back $499, but you’ll likely want the bundle with the controllers and base station which will come to $999. That seems like a lot until you consider Apple Vision Pro is $3,499.

An extra battery is another $199, as is the travel case, and optical inserts start at $99, cementing the fact that while this may be a leap in computing, it’s not one everyone can make right now.

Apple Vision Pro vs Valve Index: Power and Features

Within the Vision Pro headset, two chips are working to provide the real-time, moment-to-moment experience of VisionOS. The M2 chip is working in tandem with the R1, but there’s naturally every chance things move to M3 and R2 in the future, especially since the M3 chip is already here for the Mac.

There are cameras, too, capable of capturing depth so you can record not just an image or a video, but what Apple calls “Spatial Photo and Video” which lets you shift perspective and look into your captures as if you’re reliving them.

There’s eye-tracking, too, which combines with gesture-based inputs to negate the need for controllers at all, while you can also use Siri if you’d prefer to use your voice.

It’s worth remembering that Vision Pro is, in many ways, a first draft, and its capabilities are likely to improve as new versions of visionOS roll out. There’s also a need for developers to go hands-on with the headset to see what they can bring to it, too.

That’s something Valve’s Index doesn’t have to worry about, with a surprisingly vast number of VR titles on Steam. While it is possible to get work done in an Index, it’d be fair to say its focus is much more on games and experiences.

To that end, Half-Life: Alyx, a game developed by Valve itself, is a true “once in a generation” kind of title, offering visual fidelity, interactivity, and more that we hope Apple can one day match. For now, though, you need a PC to play it.

Valve’s headset also opts for controllers, and they offer familiar button and trigger layouts as well as very impressive hand tracking. It’s not quite as futuristic as pinching your fingers, though.

Apple Vision Pro vs Valve Index: Battery Life

Here’s an area where Apple’s ambition hasn’t quite been realized with the available technology. The Vision Pro, for all of its power, will require a battery charge after two hours or less, depending on what you’re doing.

That may sound like a long time to wear a headset, but with Apple suggesting the Vision Pro could be a boon for work, you may want longer to make it through a full day.

On the other hand, the Index can hit up to 5 hours on a single charge, but naturally, you’ll get less than that with more demanding activities. Still, it’s something to consider if you want to enjoy a VR movie that’s as long as Killers of the Flower Moon.

Apple Vision Pro vs Valve Index: Which should you buy?

There really is no correct answer here because both platforms offer something almost wholly different from each other.

If you’re looking to get work done and be on the cutting edge of an entirely new computing platform, the Vision Pro is worth a look, as long as you can afford it.

On the other hand, the Valve Index is a fantastic VR headset that offers some of the most popular VR games but could be due a hardware revision at any time.

Every Apple Vision Pro spatial game uses the headset's unique features to place the world in front of you and let you explore. Using both its revolutionary hand tracking and incredible eye tracking, you can physically reach out and control everything with just a bit of movement and a pinch. 

Even the games you have played before will work very differently thanks to them being 'spatial' games. This means they take advantage of your physical surroundings, paying attention to your hands and head. They mix together physical things from your life with digital assets to fully immerse you in what you're playing. 

Apple Vision Pro can even work with the USB-C AirPods Pro 2 to give you full Spatial audio. If you're thinking of buying the headset or already have yours on the way, here are all the Apple Vision Pro spatial games we know about right now. 

Every confirmed Apple Vision Pro Spatial game so far

Game Room — we know almost nothing about Game Room right now, other than the fact it is a Spatial game coming to Apple Vision Pro. At a guess, it could be some kind of tutorial for Spatial games or a social function for connecting to other Apple Vision Pro users. Hopefully, we’ll know more soon. 

What the Golf? — whacky and strange, What the Golf? is funny, weird, and creative. Being a game all about putting a golf ball, you might suspect it’s simple, but it gets tougher as obstacles get in the way and the ball shifts into tennis balls, cars, cans of soda, and more. 

Super Fruit Ninja — taking the classic iPhone game Fruit Ninja and putting it in your living room, Super Fruit Ninja will likely take advantage of your real-life space to let you cut as much fruit as your heart desires. 

Cut the Rope 3 — Following on the famous puzzler series, Cut The Rope 3 is all about, as you might expect, cutting the rope. A physics-based challenge — you have to cut it at just the right time to finish the level. 

Jetpack Joyride 2 — One of the most well-liked endless runners out there, Jetpack Joyride has you control someone with nothing but a jet pack and a couple of powers to get as far as possible. 

Bloons TD 6+ — Bloons TD + is a tower defense game where you have to place down structures to defend against waves of enemies, all from the comfort of your sofa. 

stitch. — Part puzzler, part meditation, is all about creating embroidery patterns with math. You are given numbers and must coordinate them to build imagery and art out of stitches. 

Patterned — Somewhere between a traditional jigsaw puzzle and Tetris, Patterned has you building out images with nothing but smaller bits of art. It's beautiful and should look even better in your headset.

Illustrated — In Illustrated, you are given illustrations along with words and must piece together the story and puzzle underneath it all by placing puzzle pieces in the right place. 

Wylde Flowers — A witchy take on the farming sim genre, this is the best way of playing something Stardew Valley in spatial form.

Apple Arcade in Apple Vision Pro 

250 Apple Arcade titles will be available on your Apple Vision Pro when it launches. Given the best Apple Arcade games are likely to keep you busy for a long time, you may want to keep your subscription. 

Some spatial games are available via your Apple Arcade subscriptions so, hopefully, we'll see even more support for them in the future. 

Games we want to see on Apple Vision Pro

Beat Saber – One of the most intuitive and fun VR games out there, Beat Saber could be excellent with Apple Vision Pro’s mixed reality capabilities. A rhythm game all about smashing blocks with big glowing swords, this is pure fun

Tea for God — Tea for God was one of the more innovative VR games thanks to its ability to use the environments of its users. In Apple Vision Pro, you could map out your house and plan a shooter game that requires physically walking into rooms and around obstacles. 

Resident Evil 4 Remake — Being one of the best VR games of last year, and a nice addition to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPad, Resident Evil 4 Remake would really shine in the Apple Vision Pro. 

All Apple Vision Pro apps give something unique to the wearer, that feels different thanks to Apple's interesting and totally unique headset. Though some apps available are mostly straight ports of existing apps and some are designed specifically for the headset, the act of using them while wearing Apple Vision Pro makes them feel different in a way that other devices can't quite capture. 

The Apple Vision Pro has now been out for a month in the US, with an expected launch at some point in the future for the rest of the world. When people outside the US start to get the headset, there should be thousands of specifically designed apps to use but it's still a little limited right now. 

 Thanks to tech like eye tracking, HDR support, and some fantastic screens, Apple Vision Pro is one of the most interesting pieces of tech that Apple has launched in years. It's a spatial headset, which means apps work in your physical surroundings. Thanks to this unique setup, apps might take a little while longer to arrive. 

That all said, here are all the Apple Vision Pro apps that are natively supported on the headset right now. 

Every confirmed Apple Vision Pro app so far

The Apple Vision Pro comes with support for Apple's own suite of apps like Safari, Mail, FaceTime, Keynote, Notes, and Mindfulness. The Photos app comes with the ability to run Spatial Video and Apple TV + allows you to stream the best Apple TV Plus movies to whatever size screen you like. Freeform jumps to Vision Pro too — it's all about collaboration, giving you and members of your team space to sketch ideas, show off plans, and create mood boards. If you are looking to visually represent an idea quickly, this is an excellent choice. 

As well as this, you can play the best Apple Arcade games as the entire library can be played on a virtual screen at any time. 

As for third-party Vision Pro apps, here's what's been publicly announced so far:

A Spatial Tale — A fun and intuitive way to explore fairytales in your living room, A Spatial Tale animate scenes from fairytales and teaches you languages while it does it. 

Adobe Lightroom — Need to make some quick image edits? Adobe Lightroom lets you quickly touch up photos taken on your devices, and that's soon to include images shot on Vision Pro, too. It'll be interesting to see if these image edits take 3D composition into account, too.

Bills To Budget — A quick and efficient way to keep track of all your bills, your pay schedule, and general budget, Bills To Budget will be a great addition to your everyday headset use.

Cisco Webex — Cisco Webex is a video conferencing app with some smart functions like a whiteboard for team collaboration and calendar functionality, to plan meetings with multiple team members. 

Disney + — Through Disney +, you can stream almost everything Disney owns, from Pixar to Marvel to Star Wars. There are also some great original movies, documentaries, and even everyone's favorite dysfunctional animated family, The Simpsons. 

Fantastical — An award-winning calendar app, Fantastical combines an accessible UI with weather notifications, preset templates to plan your day, and functionality to add social media apps. 

Fin — Fin is a financial app that helps you easily keep track of your budget, with easy-to-read data and the Vision Pro release sees a whole host of whoever effect, charts, and accessibility options.

Game Room — Game Room is a unique spatial game allowing you to play a handful of board games with your friends online.

Haptics — Designed for developers, Haptics is an app to test out the haptic feedback on Apple devices in real-time.

HomeBatteries — If you have a smart home, this app checks all of your HomeKit device batteries and shows them in a single convenient place. 

Instructor — Instructor is an app for driving instructors to monitor and track progress as their pupils attempt to pass their driving test. 

JigSpace — JigSpace is an app for creating and sharing 3D presentations. This would be particularly good if you're in a team working on physical objects or for demonstrations when teaching.

Lowe's Style Studio — This is an app from Lowe's that allows you to decorate and customize your home in real-time, where you can buy the furniture you would like all from the comfort of your home. 

Max — HBO's streaming service, Max, includes HBO original films, TV shows, and documentaries, alongside brand-new movies. It recently just received the Barbie movie so watching that on the big screen of the Vision Pro sounds like a treat.

Microsoft 365 — This is less an app and more a whole suite of apps from Microsoft including Word, Excel, Outlook, Defender, OneDrive, and more. 

Navi — Navi is a live translation tool that visualizes the translation directly in front of you. It can directly detect someone's language and put appropriate subtitles to help you understand them. 

NowPlaying — NowPlaying is a music trivia app that gives you fun facts about your favorite artists and even connects with Apple Music to find what you like.

NQSubBlock — NQSubBlock is a content blocker that removes intrusive ads from Newsquest websites to allow you to more effectively read the news.

Orbit Meditation — Orbit Meditation is an AI-guide meditation app designed around the immersive nature of Apple Vision Pro.

Planner 5D — Planner 5D is a perfect fit for the Apple Vision Pro as it allows you to imagine 2D and 3D objectives in your space to help decorate your home.

Peppercorn — Peppercorn is a shopping list app, meal planner, and recipe finder all wrapped in one. If you don't know what you're having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this is a great choice.

Play — Play is an effective way of creating a 'Watch Later' for all types of content like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and more.

PCalc — Simple in concept but likely not in execution, given how complex the Vision Pro is, PCalc is a calculator app that is sure to be valuable in those work meetings. 

Sky Guide — Though it's yet to be publically demoed despite making an appearance in Apple's Vision Pro showcase video and press materials, we're expecting Sky Guide to be able to present the night sky constellations through the headset in your home, opening up the cosmos from the comfort of your sofa. It's already available on iPhone and iPad.

Slack — The ultimate communication platform for teams, Slack comes with the ability to make different chat rooms for different topics, has integration with Google services, and has plenty of ways to customize your experience to be more efficient. 

Shutters — An easy way to access all of your blinds in a single click. With this app, you can open them or close them, as well as check their battery. 

Spatial Noise — Spatial Noise gives you the ability to add ambient sound around you, where you can pick up their location in the room as if they're in your physical space. 

Subjects — Subjects is a school planner, allowing you to plan out your timetable, homework, grades, and more. It's designed to be easy to use and even easier to navigate.

Super Fruit Ninja — Taking the classic Fruit Ninja formula and letting you play it in your very own living room, the Apple Vision Pro will take advantage of both eye and hand-tracking to let you really feel the fruit you slice your way through.

Territory — Territory is an app for switching storefronts on your device for developers to check how their apps are ranking for certain keywords in different regions.

TV launcher — TV Launcher is the best way to watch live TV on Apple Vision Pro, as it gives you access to hundreds of channels in just one click.

TV Remote — As the name implies, this is a TV remote app that works on LG, Samsung, Roku, Sony TV, and more.

What the Golf? — A companion to What the Car?, which is currently on Apple Arcade, What the Golf? is a fun, charming, and brilliant little puzzle game all about golf. Using a club, your own body, and a host of other items, you have to get the ball in the hole but it's not nearly that simple. 

Zoom — Finally arriving on Apple TV just last month, Zoom had a huge surge in users back in 2020 and soon became one of the most popular video-chatting services out there. This should help you organize meetings or game nights with your friends. 

Apple Vision Apps in development

We had the chance to chat with developers working on Vision Pro apps and here are four we know are in development right now: 

Obscura — Obscura is an app designed to get you the most out of your camera, with some very smart controls and settings. In Vision Pro, this could pair with spatial videos excellently. 

Delta — Delta is an emulation app that can transport you into a digital environment like a museum or a park. 

Game Track — Games Track is a tracking system for keeping an eye on all those games you haven't yet made the time to play through. In Vision Pro, you can finally start to tackle that backlog. 

Broadcasts — Broadcasts can be used to stream audio from tonnes of radio stations across the world, which can perfectly accompany whatever Vision Pro environment you find yourself in. 

Apple Vision Pro apps we're hoping to see

Though it is an AR headset designed to work in everyday life and not a traditional VR headset intended for games, we still hope to see a few fun titles on there. The likes of Beat Saber could work great in the confines of your living room and even room-scale experiences like Thrill of the Fight or Tea for God could be enhanced by the Vision Pro's impressive Apple Silicon chip. With how much support Apple has thrown behind Apple to put out both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 on iPhone 15 Pro, it would be great to see a VR Resident Evil in Apple Vision Pro too. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a native Netflix app from launch but you can run your iPad version of Netflix on it. Hopefully, we'll see the app arrive in the future. Alongside this, apps like YouTube and TikTok will be welcome additions for when you need an entertainment fix. 

Though the headset seems to have some excellent productivity apps so far, it would be nice to see a reason for creatives to check it out too, with optimization for Logic Pro or Procreate. Drawing apps, in particular, could be great for their ability to replicate the feeling of drawing on a real easel. With such a big launch, 2024 seems set to be a big year for Apple fans. 

If you’re looking for the best running accessories for Apple Fitness Plus, then you’ve likely got an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV (or all of those devices) plus an Apple Watch and access to a treadmill. Now you’re on the hunt for some extras to help elevate that indoor running time.

In this guide, we’re going to help you find those add-ons that work with Apple’s subscription fitness service and key devices to make sure you’re getting the most reliable running stats, improve your running domain, and even change the way you can wear your Apple Watch when you pick up the pace.

What makes a good Fitness Plus accessory can vary, but there are definitely some standout qualities that separate a good one from a bad one. It needs to be well-designed and offer the kind of build that can handle sweatier use. It needs to be easy to use and truly enhance the experience of hammering that treadmill belt.

There are a lot of accessories out there to pick from, so in this guide, we’ve given you a good starting point for finding the best ones to add to your running-centric, Apple Fitness Plus setup, whether that’s at home or in the gym.

Quick List

Best running accessory

We think the Belkin Magnetic Fitness Mount is an ideal accessory if you like to move your running-focused Fitness Plus time around and want to make sure you always have somewhere to have your iPhone in good sight.

It’s a well-made, MagSafe-friendly mount that does its simple job in a very elegant way, letting you strap it to poles that measure 1-inch to 1.5-inch diameter and then quickly remove it when you’re done.

The magnetic approach to keeping your iPhone in place can handle the typical shakes as you pound the treadmill belt and doesn’t budge if your phone starts to vibrate with notification alerts. The rotating ball inside is a nice extra that means you can quickly rotate your phone screen 

It does come in just the one colour, but that does mean it should match most treadmill setups. You can’t remove or change the strap, so if you can’t get it strapped onto your preferred treadmill, that’s going to be a problem.

We’ve tested it on different treadmills and had no issues getting it secured in place. Crucially, our iPhone has looked like it’s going to jump out of place. It’s also small enough not to draw too much attention and means it’s not a bulky thing to carry around with you if you're doing a Fitness Plus session at your local gym.

Best for Apple Watch

This is the updated version of TwelveSouth’s strap that lets you wear your Apple Watch on your forearm or bicep and still track your running metrics including heart rate away from the wrist.

We found it a comfortable strap to wear with TwelveSouth using non-allergenic polyurethane to help make sure it can handle longer running sessions. It now works with 44mm and 45mm sizes of the Apple Watch, but that puts the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 off limits.

It’s easy to drop the Watch in and there’s also a cut out for the Digital Crown to make sure you can still navigate and scroll through data screens. It uses a velcro strap to keep it in place and while we’ve not issues with the fit, we do have question marks over how well the velcro will hold up over longer term use.

We’ve used it with the Apple Watch Series 6, which is one of the supported models, and the Watch did not jump about inside the strap, was still accessible and produced good running stats including real-time heart rate to make sure you’re not missing out by moving the Watch up the body.

Best for improved tracking

The Polar H10 is Polar’s most feature-packed heart rate monitor chest strap and its priciest too, but the ability to pair it over Bluetooth to compatible Apple Watches ensures you get the most accurate heart rate information from your workouts. 

That’s because the H10 swaps the optical heart rate tracking on your Watch for ECG-powered monitoring. Polar’s tracking is regarded as the gold standard for heart rate measurement and does work pretty effortlessly with Apple's smartwatch.

The strap has been designed to sit securely and uses silicone dots to make sure it doesn’t slip when you start to sweat more. It uses the kind of lithium battery many traditional watches are powered by and can hold up to 400 hours of training time before you can quite swiftly swap it out for a new one. 

We’ve used it paired to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and older Apple Watch Series 7 and had no connection issues while working out with the two in tandem. This isn’t the cheapest heart rate monitor chest strap you can get, but it’s arguably the most reliable of the bunch.

Best-fitting running headphones

Music is a big draw for taking your running workouts to Fitness Plus, so it’s good to have some headphones if you’re not blasting out playlists from your iPhone or TV speakers. The Beats Powerbeats Pro have been around for a while and they’re still around because there’s few other headphones that can touch them in terms of offering a strong, secure fit and delivering a really workout-friendly sound.

It perhaps doesn’t offer everything you’d expect from headphones at this price, like an ANC or Awareness modes or Apple’s latest chip technology. It does pack in well-integrated physical controls with Siri controls also available for the hands-free control kind.

They deliver big power and bass, which means if you go loud, then you might not miss the lack of ANC. Battery life is as big as the case you pack them into, giving you an impressive 9 hours off a single charge, which betters the new Beats Fit Pro for battery.

They stay put, sound good, and look good to help you look past some of the desirable extras it lacks and the big price you’ll need to pay to pick them up.

Best for sound

Apple’s latest truly wireless earbuds might not scream made for running but if you’ve only got room for one set of buds in your life, then these are more than up to the task.

Whether you’re pairing them up to your iPhone or Apple TV, seamless connectivity with fellow Apple devices is a big pull here. That’s not all. They sound great as well and offer an overall balanced sound profile. You want bass? You’ve got it. Need more finesse? It can deliver that too. Plus, you’ve got some of the best ANC support if you don’t want to drown out the world while you run or let them back in with the help of Apple’s new Adaptive Audio mode.

Built-in controls can often be a pain point for many headphones when it’s time to up the intensity, but the stem-based ones on the Pro 2 are more than up to the task. They also have improved durability now that they’re dust as well as sweat-resistant. The USB-C charging port replaces the Lightning one, but the battery life remains the same 6 hours with ANC in use. 

As far as passing the running test and Fitness+ test, the AirPods Pro 2 passes with flying colors.

Apple Watch launches are always one of two things: A massive upgrade that changes the way you use your Apple Watch, with a bigger screen, or a new form factor, or an incremental upgrade that doesn’t do a whole lot. On the surface, the Apple Watch Series 9 announcement seemed to be just that — an underwhelming update on an Apple Watch that keeps the design of its forebears.

Under the skin, however, there have been some upgrades that make the Apple Watch Series 9 a little more interesting than that, with some more spec bumps and features than you might have noticed. Is it worth upgrading from your Series 8, however, and should you pay more for a brand new Series 9 rather than a reduced Apple Watch Series 8?

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Specs

There were some significant spec bumps below the surface with the new Apple Watch Series 9, although they might not surface as much in everyday use.

If you read closely there, a lot of stuff remains the same as in Series 8, such as the size of the screen, and the chassis sizes available. There is a bump in the processor, in the form of the S9 SiP, or ‘System in package’ (that’s the chip that runs everything). That is more powerful to allow for some fancier features to run, like one that lets you navigate the watch with a tap of your thumb and forefinger. The screen is brighter too, so that it’s more viewable in direct sunlight, and Find My functionality has been improved by a new Ultra wideband chip that works alongside the S9.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Features

There are some new features on the Series 9 that you won’t be able to access on a Series 8.

On-device Siri

This means that the S9 SiP is strong enough to render Siri responses without the need to lean on your iPhone as a processing crutch. Siri commands and responses will be quicker and more accurate, so you’ll be less likely to throw your watch across the room.

Improved find-my

The new Gen 2 Ultrawide band chip in the Apple Watch Series 9 is primarily used to make the Find My function better. You’ll now get directions and sound feedback to help you find your devices.

Double tap

For those times when you can’t use your other hand, this feature lets you tap your forefinger and thumb together in order to use certain functions on the watch. You can select options on screen, answer and finish phone calls, and more — and it only works with the S9 SiP.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Sensors

There isn’t much difference here in terms of sensors — the two watches are identical in this regard. Both have a heart rate monitor, an ECG, a temperature sensor, and Blood oxygen sensors.

As always, these sensors make the Apple Watch perfect for fitness, and they all work side by side to make sure that you can track your workouts and health in the Apple Health app.

There is, however, no reason to upgrade here bar a slightly better algorithm that improves the accuracy of the heartrate sensor.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Processor

The Apple Watch Series 9 is equipped with the new S9 SiP, which we have touched a little on before. Where the iPhone line is powered with Apple’s A-series silicon, the brand's watches use ‘System in Package’ chips that control a few more of the watch’s functions. It’s all about getting as much power as possible in a small enough form factor that comfortably fits on your wrist.

The S9 chip features some extra goodies over the previous chip that you’ll find in the Apple Watch Series 8. It’s still a 64-bit dual-core processor, but there’s that new Ultrawideband gen 2 chip on board, as well as double the storage up to 64GB.

Apple also says that the new SiP has a 30% faster GPU, and a 2x faster neural engine so that Siri launches faster, and responds on-device rather than using the iPhone as a proxy. It’s here that you’ll find the biggest differences between the Series 9 and the Series 8 — and if our review is anything to go by, you'll notice them the moment you strap the watch to your wrist.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Display

Size-wise, there are still only two options of OLED display for the Apple Watch Series 9: 41mm, and 45mm. These are the same options that you got on the Apple Watch Series 8, and the Series 7 before it. There are some extra boosts to the display — in the form of a much brighter surface.

The new display in the Series 9 goes all the way up to a peak of 2000 nits, which is bright. That will make it easier to view in direct sunlight, something that for a device worn on your wrist is going to be a big boon. Other than that, however, the display of the Apple Watch Series 9 is the same as that of the Apple Watch Series 8.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Colors

There is an extra color this year for the Apple Watch Series 9, in the form of a rather fetching Pink. The other colors are Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and PRODUCT(RED). That’s one more color than the Series 8, which only came in the latter four colors.

There is also the Stainless steel option, which comes in Gold, Silver, or Graphite. These are the same colors as the Series 8.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Strap options

First things first about the Series 9; You’ll still be able to use all the same straps you’ve been using for your old Apple Watch, as long as it’s a Series 8 or 7. They are, after all, the same chassis at the core, and the attachment methods remain the same. That means your best Apple Watch straps are still going work.

There are, however, on launch more strap options for the Apple Watch, and they’re all aimed at being more friendly to the environment. That means more textile and rubber options, and nothing made of leather. The modern buckle and Magnetic link bands are now made with Apple’s new FineWeave material, the very same that is going into the new leather-like cases for the iPhone 15 family.

If you want a real leather strap, then there are other ways of getting one like heading over to the Hermes website — but there are no official Apple options that you can pick up.

Apple Watch Series 9 vs Apple Watch Series 8: Should you upgrade?

There’s a very easy answer to that question — no. The Apple Watch Series 9 has some cool updates, yes, with a more powerful chip and a brighter screen, but the updates are not worth the extra cost that you’ll spend on a new watch.

That answer does change if you’re looking to buy a brand new watch, and it’s your first Apple Watch — if you can afford one, then go for the Apple Watch Series 9. You’ll be a little more future-proofed, and you’ll get a couple more features. You might, however, be able to save some money and buy yourself a cheaper Apple Watch 8, as prices are reduced as the new model rolls out. This could be a great idea if you don’t want to spend brand-new watch money, as you’ll get a watch that is mostly the same.

All in all, the Apple Watch Series 9 is an update to the Series 8, but not enough to warrant you buy one if you’ve already got the latter.

If you want the most convenient headphone experience possible, then you're not going to find one better than true-wireless earbuds. You'll want several things from them, such as excellent sound quality, brilliant battery life, and a good charging case that's portable enough for you to take them anywhere.

There are some incredible options out there if you're looking for true wireless earbuds, with some big companies making some great options. The AirPods Pro 2 manage to top the list here, but some of the other options here are well worth a look. These are the best true-wireless earbuds.

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The AirPods Pro 2 scrape the top of the list, but they are followed in hot pursuit by some of their competitors. The Denon AH-C830NCW are the surprise of the bunch, pulling closely alongside the Apple option with a solid price point and compelling features, while the likes of the Status Between 3ANC closing in.

If you're going to get any from this list, I'd humbly suggest looking at the Status option as well. They're very reasonably priced, and you'll be impressed by the sound quality and fit — a neutral sound stage which present your tunes as the original mix intended, without breaking the bank. Whichever you choose, however, you're getting some of the best wireless buds out there. 

The best iPhone 15 Plus screen protectors need to be able to not only keep one of the best iPhones safe from harm but also need to work with your device and set up well. 

With your iPhone 15 Plus, you get a crisp 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display capable of a max of 2000 nits of brightness. This makes it fantastic to use at home or in that bright sun. As well as this, the brand new Dynamic Island is taken from the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Needless to say, this means that the iPhone 15 Plus needs a very specific type of screen protector to work for you. While some may prefer a super tough screen, others prefer something soft and more paper-like. We've rounded up a grouping of different styles for you to pick through. 

Here are the best iPhone 15 Plus screen protectors you can buy right now. 

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