If you’re about to upgrade to a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Series 10, you're going to need a power bank to keep them charged, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

Earlier this month, Anker launched several accessories for its new MagGo range. This is the company’s effort to offer products that quickly charge multiple devices at once, wherever you are. These include:

• Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Foldable Pad)
• Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Stand)
• Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, 35W, For Apple Watch)
• Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) out October 5
• Anker MagGo Magnetic Case with Stand (360° Ring Stand, For iPhone)

A Foldable Winner

While the power banks explain themselves, the 3-in-1 Wireless Foldable Charging Station looks to be the highlight of the new MagGo range. When folded, the 3-in-1 is the size of an Apple Watch — but when unfolded, three Qi chargers appear, each with a respective label to help you tell which device to place on them.

I've been able to try out the 3-in-1 foldable, and I've already found it to be incredibly useful and compact. I've had it in the back pocket of my jeans when I was on a commute at the weekend that required me to be on multiple trains. Plugging the foldable into the mains with its USB-C port, followed by placing my iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 on them for a quick charge was very useful.

However, while the 3-in-1 foldable has already helped me on my travels, there are some other products in the new MagGo range that are also worth mentioning, available now:

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• Best stands to charge both iPhone and Apple Watch
• Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station Review
• Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe review

Mac gaming has been getting serious in recent years, with a slate of AAA games finally making their way to macOS. If you want a top-notch mechanical keyboard to blast your way through these titles, Razer’s new Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless could be the answer.

With high-quality build materials and many customisable features (even including the ability to change how hard you press each key to activate it), this is a device for the most discerning of Mac gamers. But does its high price and lack of software support make it a questionable choice for Apple fans? Let’s find out.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Price and availability

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless costs $219.99/£219.99 and is available from Razer and third-party retailers.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: What I love

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is priced for the top end of the market, and you definitely get a premium-feeling product for your cash. The body is made from solid plastic with an aluminium top plate, and there’s no bending or flexing anywhere you look. There’s also a crisp LED display above the arrow keys that indicates the profile that’s in use, whether caps lock or game mode are enabled, and more.

Razer has opted for textured PBT keycaps with a slightly rough texture to them, and they feel great in use and will be resistant to shining over time. They’re also backlit, and the lighting is beautifully bright and clear, making the keyboard a cinch to use in a dark room.

Underneath the keycaps are Razer’s analogue optical switches. These are linear, meaning there’s no tactile feedback when you press each one, and they offer a very fast response – ideal for high-intensity gaming. Unlike some linear switches, they’re still pretty comfortable for long typing sessions (although more tactile switches are still better suited to this).

The tenkeyless form factor is more compact than a standard keyboard layout (it chops off the numpad), and it’s a good balance for both typing and gaming. In the top-right is a volume dial with built-in mute button, plus buttons for media controls and opening the Xbox Game Bar in Windows (in macOS this does nothing). As with almost every other key, these can all be remapped in the Razer Synapse app in Windows (but not in macOS).

As we’ll discuss in the next section, Razer’s Synapse app – which is used to customise many of the keyboard’s features – doesn’t work with macOS. But Razer has a solution of sorts, in that you can adjust key actuation, switch profiles, and enable and adjust the Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap features using keyboard shortcuts. This is a little clunkier than using the app, but it means that Mac users don’t miss out on these features entirely.

The ability to tweak key actuation levels – that is, how far you need to press a key for its input to be registered – is really useful, as it means you can make the keys feel as heavy or as light as you like (and they can be made incredibly light). To use this feature in macOS, you press the Function and Tab keys, then twist the volume dial or use the arrow keys. The LED display shows your chosen key actuation level (such as “1.2” for 1.2mm). You can also press a key to test your chosen actuation level, then press Esc or Function and Tab to save your changes directly to the keyboard (which means they’ll carry over to any Mac or PC you connect the keyboard to).

There’s a similar feature for Rapid Trigger mode, which lets you re-activate a key without fully letting go and allowing it to return to its unpressed position. You press Function and Caps Lock, then press Caps Lock again to highlight currently active Rapid Trigger keys. Spin the volume dial to adjust their sensitivity, or try tapping them to test them out – their backlighting goes green when the key is actuated and red when it’s reset.

Similarly, Snap Tap is enabled by pressing Function and Left Shift. This lets you press and hold one key, then tap another and both keys will alternate (e.g. hold A and tap B and the output will be ABABABAB). Unfortunately, without Synapse you can’t tell when it’s on or off except by testing it, as there’s no visual indication.

Finally, you can also switch profiles using just the keyboard. Press Function and one of the six keys in the top-right corner (Home, End, etc) – each one has a corresponding profile number printed on its keycap. The LED display’s profile icon will change colour when you change profiles. You can pick from one of five pre-made profiles, each with custom actuation levels, Rapid Trigger settings and more, and the profiles include ones for FPS games, racing titles, a high-sensitivity mode, and more.

Being able to customise things with just the keyboard takes a lot of the pain out of the lack of Synapse compatibility, and Razer’s implementation is very easy to use and understand. While we’d prefer to use Synapse, adjusting things on the keyboard itself means you don’t miss out on a lot of these excellent gaming features.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: What I don’t love

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Razer Synapse. Razer’s companion app is used to customise all of its products, and the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is no different. You use Synapse to change key actuation levels, enable features like Snap Tap and Rapid Trigger, tweak the lighting mode, and more.

The problem? Synapse doesn’t work with macOS. That means a sizeable range of features – many of which are core elements of the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless – are unavailable to Mac users. That includes enabling Continuous Rapid Trigger (but not the regular Rapid Trigger) mode, remapping keys, creating new profiles, setting macros and creating advanced lighting patterns. As we’ve seen, though, the good news is that many of the keyboard’s essential features can be enabled without requiring Synapse. Still, you might feel that the keyboard’s price is a little too high to justify without Synapse.

There are a few other issues of note. There’s only one switch option (linear) and the switches are not hot-swappable. The typing sound might displease mechanical keyboard purists, too – it’s loud, clunky and heavy. The palm rest is also very firm (some people will like this, while others might not). While it magnetically attaches to the keyboard along its top edge, it lacks clips holding it in place, so it can slide from side to side. Finally, there’s no way to enable the macOS keyboard layout, so certain keys (such as Command) are not where you expect them to be.

But none of these issues are as pressing as the lack of Synapse support in macOS. We’ve spoken to Razer about this repeatedly in the past and they’ve always assured us that macOS support is on their to-do list. We followed up again regarding the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless and received the same reply: future support is possible, but there’s nothing definite just yet. The sooner support arrives, the better.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Competition

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is another tenkeyless mechanical keyboard built with customisable actuation and a rapid trigger function. Like the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, it comes with backlit PBT keycaps, an adjustable stand and an on-board display. It’s a little more affordable at $189.99/£189.99.

If the gamer aesthetic isn’t quite your thing but you still want many of the same features as Razer’s keyboard, the Keychron Q1 HE QMK is a much more subdued affair. You’ll still get a control dial and customisable actuation points, but in a more mature look. It also features hot-swappable switches with magnetic activation, a gasket mount design and a button to alternate between macOS and Windows layouts. It’s priced at $219/£193.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You’re looking for premium touches in a keyboard
• You’re after professional-grade gaming features
• You want to quickly customise your keyboard without using software

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You’re on a tight budget
• You prefer to set up your keyboard’s features using a companion app
• You want clicky, tactile mechanical key switches

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Verdict

A really solid keyboard with some excellent high-end gaming features and plenty of on-board customisation. it’s mostly just the price and lack of macOS support for the Synapse app that’s holding it back.

After owning an M1 Pro MacBook Pro for several years, I decided it was time to look at some new accessories to mark the arrival of macOS Sequoia, the latest software update for compatible Macs.

Having tested the public beta during the Summer, I found Sequoia to be a solid update, featuring great improvements when running games through its Game Porting Toolkit 2 framework via Whisky, and iPhone Mirroring Mode, which lets me use the best iPhones directly on my Mac.

After exploring these new features, I began to consider some new accessories to complement the arrival of Sequoia, released on September 16. Since I use my Mac everywhere, I wanted to see if there were some peripherals to help my workflow and gaming sessions.

With this in mind, I've found four great options — all at an affordable price.

Four accessories I've bought for my Mac

There you have it — four accessories that are already helping me use macOS Sequoia. Granted, some or all of these may not suit how you use your Mac. Are there any accessories you're thinking of buying? Let us know in the iMore Forums.

macOS Sequoia is the name of macOS 15, now available for all of Apple's best desktop Macs. Announced at WWDC 2024 and previously available through the macOS Sequoia beta, the headline feature is of course Apple Intelligence. Apple has jammed AI into every corner of macOS, with generative tools for images and text, file organization, and more.

Beyond that, there's an epic new iPhone Mirroring feature that lets you use any iPhone on your Mac, even when it's in standBy Mode. There's a new Windows tiling feature, and the new Passwords app also features. 

To update to macOS Sequoia head into the System Settings app on your device. Go to General and then Software Update. Select macOS Sequoia, and you'll begin your Mac update. Note that updates may take a while to install while the update is so new, as many users will be scrambling to download it.

We recommend making an iCloud backup of all your important content. From photos to documents and apps, it's always a good idea to prepare your Mac before updating its software.

What else is coming with macOS Sequoia?

The Calculator app has been entirely redesigned and will pair with Notes for smarter number note-taking. Passwords, a new password manager is also coming with Sequoia, making the Apple ecosystem even easier to use. The biggest change coming to Mac is the implementation of Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI suite. This will make Siri much faster and more efficient and will allow you to more easily create Shortcuts and customize your device. ChatGPT integration will be coming alongside it, allowing you to query the chatbot for information and advice. 

Finally, one that Mac fans have been waiting a long time for, tiling is arriving for program windows, allowing you to snap windows together while you work. Silicon Macs are about to get so much better. 

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• I'm a Windows user, here are my honest macOS Sequoia first impressions
• How to download macOS Sequoia beta — the latest operating system for your Mac
• macOS Sequoia just changed using your iPhone forever with iPhone mirroring

With Apple Intelligence about to become a big priority for Apple with its long-awaited AI features, the company is feeling emboldened enough to poke a little fun at longtime rival Microsoft.

After Craig Federighi joked about Apple "missing the boat" in a talk at WWDC about the rise of AI laptops (despite the company rolling out neural engines earlier than most), a new line of promos proudly proclaims that the "best AI PC is a Mac".

Apple even goes so far as to name (and shame) Copilot+ alternatives with spec comparisons (thanks, Aaron from MacRumors).

"MacBook Air with M3 has up to 40 percent faster graphics performance than Copilot+ PCs. So it’s great for things like video editing and playing graphics-intensive games. MacBook Air is also up to 25 percent faster for browsing the web."

Shots fired at Microsoft's Copilot+ laptrops

According to Apple, testing was carried out in August 2024 (just last month), comparing the 15-inch MacBook Air to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition.

It's all friendly competition, however. Back in June, Federighi admitted being impressed by Copilot, but shortly afterwards Microsoft axed the controversial Recall AI feature.

Just last month, Apple went after Adobe Premiere with a series of new Final Cut Pro ads as it gears up for its Glowtime event tomorrow and a reported October event to focus on Macs and iPads.

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• The M4 Mac Mini could drop USB-A ports entirely according to new report
• Here's how to use Window Tiling on macOS Sequoia
• M4 MacBook Pro could debut in November alongside a completely redesigned Mac mini

The iPhone 16 reveal event, Glowtime, might be tomorrow, but a new report has suggested we won't have to wait long for another Apple event.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is reporting that the company will reveal M4 versions of its Mac lineup as early as October, including the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac.

While we've known for a while Mac models with M4 were coming, including a redesigned Mac Mini, it seems we'll hear more about them next month - but that's not all.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Gurman notes "there are also new iPads in the works, including an upgraded mini."

Mac and iPad event leaked for October

Last year, Apple's "Scary Fast" event revealed the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, as well as new versions of the iMac and MacBook Pro.

It's a little different this year as the iPad Pro debuted the M4 chip earlier this year, meaning we'll be getting variants of those chips but not a whole new generation being revealed.

The promise of an iPad Mini is an interesting one, however. The iPad Mini sold today is the 2022 model, meaning it's getting a little long in the tooth. If it was to gain the M4 chip (or any M-series chip), it could go some way to becoming the ultimate ultra-portable computer I've been hoping it would in the past.

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If you were hoping to game with a new Copilot+ PC from Microsoft, we've got bad news.

The Wall Street Journal has run tests on over 1,200 games using these new PCs and has found mixed results, which seem to come down to the Snapdragon-X chips inside the new Copilot+ machines. For years, Windows has run on x86 chips from Intel and AMD, but Snapdragon runs on ARM, a different architecture than x86. ARM is also what powers Apple silicon chips, found in all of the best iPhones, iPads, Macs the company currently offers.

If you need to run an app that can only run on an x86 chip, both Apple and Microsoft offer a 'translation' layer for their ARM-powered operating systems to make this possible, respectively called Rosetta 2 and Prism. These tools allow apps like Adobe Photoshop and Zoom to run on machines like Copilot+ PCs. However, Apple has already gone one step further by introducing its Game Porting ToolKit (GPTK) back in 2022. This enables a vast library of games to run on the Mac through a Windows translation layer. Enthusiasts have even developed apps like Whisky to let users play their Windows games on Macs, and the results have been impressive, with games like Metal Gear Solid V running at full speed on M1 Macs.

When it comes to Microsoft's Prism layer, however, the results are the opposite. In response to the Journal's findings, Microsoft commented: "We are committed to making a quality gaming experience. Players who want a high-performance native gaming experience may choose an alternate PC optimized for gaming.”

So there you have it folks — if you want an ARM-powered computer that handles gaming well, buy a MacBook.

Why Whisky is still one of my best Mac apps — iMore's take

Back in 2023, I came across Whisky and ever since, I've been using it to play games from my Steam library on my M1 Pro MacBook Pro that I couldn't previously run. Titles such as Resident Evil 3, Dark Souls, and Tomb Raider Remastered can all be played on my Mac thanks to Whisky.

I use it every week, and I'm constantly amazed that this is all done by translating Windows games to run on a Mac thanks to Apple's Game Porting ToolKit. That being said, rumors are suggesting that an M4 MacBook Pro could debut in November. I can't help but wonder how this new chip will handle the games I've been playing through Whisky.

For me, Whisky stands out as one of the best Mac apps you can use on Apple's computers, and it highlights how well the company ensures compatibility with apps and games that can't yet run natively on its platforms.

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If you're in the market for a brand new MacBook right now, then you can't go too far wrong with this incredible deal on the M3 MacBook Air 15-inch. 

This is the larger variant of Apple's best MacBook for students. It's lightweight and portable, while boasting great battery life and snappy running perfect for taking notes, planning and productivity, and a bit of leisurely downtime. 

Usually, it retails at $1,299, but you can grab one right now for just $1,409 on Amazon. That gets you 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $150. 

Save $250 on MacBook Air M3

• MacBook deals: Amazon | B&H Photo | Best Buy

We love a good MacBook deal here at iMore, and you won't find much better than this one. It's the perfect computer for college or school students, with the powerful M3 chip buzzing away in the background to handle large amounts of video and photo editing. The 15-inch screen is big and beautiful, with the keyboard being a clicky joy to type on.

You don't need much more computer than a MacBook Air (unless you work for like, Pixar or something), and the 15-inch MacBook Air strikes the perfect balance between portability and power. Just remember to wrap it up in one of the best cases for MacBook Air, and you'll be powering your way through homework, research papers, and more. Oh, and some games too (We won't tell anyone if you don't).

macOS Sequoia (also known as macOS 15) is inching closer, and it's packing a few nifty features. From iPhone Mirroring, to a new Passwords app, there's a little something for just about everyone.

One of the major features that we've been waiting for for years is an updated suite of Window Management tools. Traditionally the domain of Windows (it's in the name, after all), Mac users have needed to use third-party apps like Magnet or Moom to be able to snap windows side by side or in a variety of configurations, but macOS Sequoia will finally bake it into the OS.

It's remarkably easy to use, but there are also a variety of additional features you may not have spotted if you're running the beta.

Here's how to get the most out of window snapping in macOS Sequoia.

How to use Window Tiling in macOS Sequoia

If you've used any Windows machine in the last decade and a half, you'll likely know what to expect from window snapping - and it works similarly on macOS Sequoia.

Click to drag a window, and move it around, and by holding it for a second or two along the side of your screen you'll have the option to snap it to that side.

It's a little finicky in the current beta, but it'll likely get better with time. Other apps can't get smaller than a certain size, though, so your mileage may vary.

You can hold your cursor over the green "traffic light" button on your app window, hold the click, and select a preset area there, too. Options include half-screen options, full-screen, and tiling with a couple of apps together.

The full-screen options allow for multiple apps to run on each side of the display, entirely borderless, too.

Additional window management options

If you head into the System Settings app on your Mac, and then Desktop & Dock, there are a few options inside the menu.

You can toggle "Tile by dragging windows to screen edges" on and off, as well as "Hold Option key while dragging windows to tile". The latter makes it easier to allocate space on your display, but Tiled windows will have small borders between them.

You can turn that off by toggling off "Tiled windows have margins". Try experimenting with the settings to find what works best for you.

What about third-party apps?

If you're already comfortable using an app like Magnet, you don't have to give it up just yet.

Third-party window tiling apps will still be able to be used with macOS Sequoia - but it's good to know Apple finally has an option, too.

Personally, I'll stick with Magnet. It's not that I don't like Apple's built-in option in macOS Sequoia, but it has a whole host of keyboard shortcuts that make it much easier to shift my active apps around.

Apple's brand new M4 MacBook Pro could debut in November alongside a completely redesigned Mac mini, according to a new leak. 

Apple unveiled the M4 chip earlier this year when it launched the M4 iPad Pro. A break in tradition, Apple normally unveils its new M-series chips in its Mac lineup first. As such, we've been hotly anticipating a series of new Macs we expect to be unveiled before the end of the year. The word on the street is the new M4 MacBook Pro and a brand new M4 Mac mini are close at hand, and now we have a firmer date. 

According to MacRumors, citing "a reliable source", Apple "will release new Mac models in November 2024." 

M4 Macs on the way

The report says a November launch does not preclude a Mac event in October, suggesting this leak indicates an in-store release date window, rather than a timeline for the unveiling. 

As mentioned, Apple is expected to unveil a new M4 MacBook Pro, including a 14-inch M4 model, and M4 Pro and M4 Max models in 14- and 16-inch sizes. There may also be an M4 iMac in the works, but the most exciting product in the pipeline might well be a new redesigned M4 Mac mini. According to reports, Apple is planning to launch a smaller, squatter Mac mini that might be a bit taller than the current model but with a much smaller footprint akin to an Apple TV 4K. 

It would be the smallest desktop Apple has ever released and a guaranteed pocket rocket. 

Before then, we can expect Apple to unveil the iPhone 16, Apple Watch X, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 at its iPhone event next week. 

Over the last few months, we've been hearing about a major redesign of the Mac Mini, with the diminutive desktop expected to be much smaller than its current iteration when the M4 Mac Mini arrives.

Aside from hearing the possibility that the company may finally make 16GB of RAM the baseline for its new Mac models, it appears the I/O will see a shift, too.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is reporting in his Power On newsletter that the Mac Mini will finally ditch USB-A ports - and the Mac Pro and Mac Studio could share the same fate next year.

Apple's Mac Mini to see port shakeup

According to Gurman, the M4 Pro version will offer five USB-C ports, with three on the back and two on the front.

It'll also include the Ethernet and HDMI connector found on current models, and a headphone jack.

The current Mac Mini lineup has two or four Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the back, but also maintains a pair of USB-A ports. That's the same as the Mac Studio, but the more expensive desktop also has two additional USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 ports depending on which model you opt for.

Apple has upset customers in the past with its willingness to adopt USB-C at the cost of USB-A, but the former is much more prevalent in 2024 - meaning the older connection could be on borrowed time.

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• Apple could debut four M4 Macs at a launch event this October, with the devices currently in testing
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Apple is in talks to invest big bucks into OpenAI as part of an upcoming funding round.

According to sources at the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI — known for its AI assistant ChatGPT — has been in talks with Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft about a funding round that could value the company at $100 billion. The article also highlights how Microsoft, already a major partner of OpenAI, is looking to invest even more in the company. 'It couldn’t be learned how much Apple or Microsoft will invest into OpenAI this round. To date, Microsoft has been the primary strategic investor in OpenAI. It owns a 49% share of the AI startup’s profits after investing $13 billion since 2019."

The timing of this impending funding round is curious. ChatGPT is set to be integrated into Apple's assistant, Siri, as part of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 when these are released as part of Apple Intelligence later this year. Once available, Siri will prompt the user if they want to use ChatGPT to help answer a query.

If Apple goes ahead with this investment into OpenAI, we could see ChatGPT be part of Siri for the foreseeable future, potentially leading to new features in the coming years.

How will ChatGPT work in iOS 18?

Showcased at WWDC in June, Apple's yearly developer conference, ChatGPT won't require users to create an account in order to use it with Siri. Instead, OpenAI's assistant will appear when Siri needs help with answering a query.

But that's not all that this integration will offer. Apple Intelligence will include Writing Tools, enabling users to rewrite an email or a report into distinct styles, such as casual or professional. ChatGPT will help with this through an overlay that will let you choose between these styles.

Although the latest betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 come with Apple Intelligence to test, ChatGPT integration is not yet available. However, it's expected to arrive with these updates later this year.

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• iOS 18.1 beta 3 arrives with long-awaited 'Clean Up' AI feature in Photos — here's how to use it
• Apple Intelligence can be switched on with ease in the latest iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 betas — here's how
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In order to work properly, generative AI (like Apple Intelligence) needs to pull from 'training information'. That can be gained from a range of sources, although if you want to make sure that as few people as possible are cross about your artificial intelligence model, then you'll need to make sure that the date used is 'ethical'.

That means you need permission from those range of sources so that you can use the data without concern. Otherwise, you end up in a mire of copyright infringement issues and legal trouble — as many are doing. Or, if you're Google, then you petition governments so that copyright law doesn't apply to you, and you can use whatever data you want to train your AI without needing permission, or to pay.

Because you're special. 

Apple reckons, however, that it does need to pay for the data it uses to train Apple Intelligence, although it's finding its own issues — namely, that a whole bunch of some of the largest publishers on the internet want nothing to do with the AI that it has created.

Publishers give a resounding 'No'

According to Wired, lots of publishers such as the New York Times and even Facebook have used a feature that stops Apple from scraping their content when training Apple Intelligence. It's called, imaginatively, 'Robot.txt', a text file that tells Apple's scraping bot to avoid the content at hand.

Apple's offer to pay for the data hasn't stopped 25% of websites from blocking the scraper, a number which could rise as the official launch of Apple Intelligence gets ever closer. AI is something that the publishing world is becoming increasingly aware and wary of — particularly when you remember that the New York Times is currently suing the largest generative AI model, ChatGPT, over its use of NYT content to train itself.

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• I downloaded the Apple Intelligence beta for my primary iPhone — here's why you shouldn't
• Apple Intelligence: Here's everything AI can do on iPhone, iPad, and more
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Apple Music subscribers can now transfer their playlists to Google's YouTube Music service free of charge.

According to a new support document, users can log in with their Apple Account to a Data and Privacy page, where a new 'Transfer a copy of my Data' option allows users to move playlists from Apple Music to YouTube Music. However, Apple has made it clear that only playlists will be transferred, not the actual music tracks. This limitation is likely due to rights agreements that Apple and Google have with record companies. In addition, Google is also offering a tool to transfer playlists on YouTube Music back to Apple Music if you feel like you've made a mistake.

At present, there are no options to transfer playlists from Apple Music to other music services, such as Spotify and TIDAL. For now, YouTube Music is the only choice. Nevertheless, it's a handy feature for those who have been using YouTube's music service instead of Apple Music and want to save time by transferring a bunch of playlists over.

How to switch

Transferring your Apple Music playlists to YouTube is a simple affair. All you need to do is the following:

• Go to Apple's Data and Privacy page, then sign in to your Apple ID account.
• Select 'Transfer a copy of your data'.
• Follow the onscreen instructions to complete your transfer request. To start the transfer, you’ll need to sign in to your YouTube Music account.
• If done correctly, you'll receive a confirmation email from Apple, and your playlists will appear in YouTube Music in the Library tab.

And voila! All of your playlists will now appear on YouTube Music. You'll have to re-download the songs for offline play, remember. YouTube Music will try to match up any songs that are on its service, but if there's a track in a playlist that's not there but is available on Apple Music, it won't be included.

Once the transfer is complete, you'll be able to browse and edit your playlists in no time.

However, it's important to mention again that, if you want to go back to Apple Music with your playlists (mostly) intact, Google offers its own tool to do just that.

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Game developer Capcom released a new patch on August 27 for several Resident Evil games for Apple devices, requiring them all to be connected to the internet in order to be played.

The patch doesn’t explain why this requirement has been added. Capcom’s website only states the following: “Due to changes to the startup process, an internet connection is now required when starting this app.“ When you next start up Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and Resident Evil Village on the best iPhones, iPads, and Macs, you must ensure your device has an active internet connection. 

It’s a baffling move, as these single-player games don’t need to be online — they never needed to be when they were all originally released on gaming consoles, starting with Resident Evil 7 in 2016. Indeed, users on social media site X are expressing many frustrations about the patch. One example is AppleGamingCat, making the good point that this will limit users from playing the games in places that don’t allow an internet connection, such as airplanes.

iMore has reached out to Capcom for further comment as to why this requirement has been rolled out.

Expect this to be the norm for future releases from Capcom

Let’s not forget that Capcom is planning on bringing another entry in the Resident Evil series to Apple devices soon. Originally released in 2019, the Resident Evil 2 Remake is coming to compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs later this year. It’s a fantastic game that honors the original sequel from 1998 in a modern way. But with this remake likely to have this internet requirement in order to play, it could spoil the experience before users reach the title screen.

With Capcom blaming ‘changes to the startup process’ for this patch, perhaps it’s something involving Apple’s upcoming software updates of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, all rumored to arrive next month. If this is the case, then it’s something that Apple should look into. It’s patches like these that go against recent efforts to bring games like Resident Evil to its products. Hopefully, we can soon see a reversal of this patch to let users play these games wherever they want, without an internet connection.

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At iMore we love Keychron’s mechanical keyboard offerings. From the company’s most premium options like the Q1 Pro to the more affordable K2 model. This time, Keychron is back with a new K2 HE mechanical keyboard that looks to expand on the iconic design of the K2 and fit perfectly into your desktop Mac experience. With a lower price point and fewer customization options than Keychron’s flagship models, is the K2 HE worth a spot on your desk?

Keychron K2 HE: Price and availability

The Keychron K2 HE is available in black and white, both options finished with real wooden sides to complement the metal frame. The K2 HE is currently available on Kickstarter for $125 ($130 once fully released) with expected delivery in November, and will be available to purchase on Keychron’s website and Amazon later in the year.

Keychron K2 HE: What I love

The Keychron K2 HE takes everything from its popular predecessor and makes it better. Straight out of the box, you’ll find a mechanical keyboard that not only looks right at home next to your Mac but also sounds and feels way above its price bracket. The K2 HE is a fantastic example of just how far the mechanical keyboard world has come over the last few years. $125 bags you one of the best typing experiences under $150, with a full-bodied sound that you would’ve needed to pay hundreds of dollars for in the past.

The metal frame combined with the wooden sides is a nice change from Keychron’s full-metal Q-series keyboards and has a welcoming design for anyone looking to purchase their first mechanical keyboard. Mac users will find all of the familiar keys such as option and command, and the function row shortcuts are identical to those found on the Magic Keyboard.

I love Keychron keyboards and the K2 HE gives an experience I’ve come to expect in products closer to $200 for way less. Everything you’d want in a Mac’s mechanical keyboard is here: A nice sound, a clean look, RGB lighting, a premium build, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity options. It’s a complete package.

In my Keychron Q1 HE review, I explained the benefits of the Gateron magnetic switches so if you’d like to read more I advise heading over to that article. The same switches are found here, allowing you to fully customize the accentuation point (the amount of press required to activate the key switch). The K2 HE is also hot-swappable so if you choose to use a different set of switches, you can easily remove the magnetic Gaterons with the tool included in the box.

Keychron K2 HE: What I don’t love

There isn’t much to not like in this Keychron K2 HE package — it ticks all the right boxes and gives you a great bang for your buck. Ideally, you wouldn’t have to wait until November for the keyboard to ship — it would’ve been nice to see stock readily available — but that’s just the way most mechanical keyboard production works.

Another issue you might find if you intend to upgrade the keyboard at any point is the lack of screws in the bottom of the chassis. I haven’t tried to take the Keychron K2 HE apart but it looks like you’ll be unable to modify the internals because the bottom plastic enclosure is sealed shut. That said, if you don’t intend to add internal foam or make other modifications, you’ll never need to open up the keyboard.

Keychron K2 HE: Competition

There are plenty of mechanical keyboards on offer at different price points. Keychron’s Q1 HE is a more premium option than the K2 HE, but it’ll set you back closer to $200 for a full metal enclosure and the ability to open it up from the bottom. 

Elsewhere you might be able to grab a Keychron Q1 Pro at a discounted price as it doesn’t have the fancy new magnetic Gateron switches. Closer to the K2 HE’s $130 price tag is our current choice for the best mechanical keyboard for Mac, the NuPhy Halo 75.

Keychron K2 HE: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You want a mechanical keyboard that matches your Mac
• You care about magnetic switches for gaming
• You’re looking for a mechanical keyboard that feels awesome to type on

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You want to modify your keyboard
• You don’t like the wooden rail design
• You aren’t fussed about modifying the accentuation point of the switches

Keychron K2 HE: Verdict

I’m thoroughly impressed with the Keychron K2 HE. It’s a very solid mechanical keyboard at a competitive price point and it matches the Mac ecosystem perfectly thanks to its clean and thoughtful design. For under $150, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend your hard-earned cash.

While you typically hook your desktop computer up to a monitor, plenty opt to connect the best MacBooks instead. You can dock the laptop, and get double usage out of your machine. But if you're using your MacBook with a monitor, getting a screen that plays nice is probably a good idea. Enter BenQ's latest addition: the MA Series of monitors, designed for MacBooks.

The MA Series monitors are designed with the kind of seamless integration that'll make you swoon. They sync up your brightness and volume settings directly with your MacBook, which means no more fiddling around to get things just right. And with BenQ’s Display Pilot 2 software, you can set up your screen with just a tap – easy peasy. Plus, they come with all the ports you could ever need: two USB-C, two HDMI, and a single-cable USB-C power delivery that keeps your MacBook charged at all times.

These screens are designed to be the perfect match for MacBook users, blending seamlessly with that minimalist aesthetic we all know and love. The 27-inch MA270U starts at $459.99/£449.99, while the larger 32-inch MA320U will set you back $599.99/£549.99.

What else can BenQ's MA Series monitors do?

One of the biggest gripes with most external monitors is that they just can’t keep up with the vibrant, true-to-life colours you see on your MacBook screen. Enter BenQ’s Mac colour-tuning technology – a fancy term that means these monitors actually replicate those gorgeous MacBook colours accurately. Peter Huang, the CEO of BenQ, claims that the MA Series is the first to nail this tricky feat, ensuring your 4K display isn’t just big, but also beautifully accurate.

The 27” and 32” displays offer a significant upgrade from the cramped screen real estate of even the largest MacBook Pro, making these monitors perfect for those who need extra workspace for their creative endeavours or just more room to juggle a million tabs (you know who you are). With flexible height and angle adjustments, you can set it up just how you like it.

The MA270U will run you $459.99/£449.99, while the MA320U comes in at $599.99/£549.99. Given that these monitors are designed to make your MacBook look even better (if that’s possible), they’re worth considering if you’re serious about having a matching, high-performance setup.

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The Mac Studio isn't technically the most powerful computer that Apple makes — that honor goes to the Mac Pro. It is, however, the most powerful computer in the Apple stable which is even remotely reachable for most normal professionals who don't have a small car's worth of money to drop on a desktop PC.

The Mac Studio is also currently at a great deal price at B&H Photo, where you'll find a $200 on the computer. That's only on the base model M2 Max with 32GB of RAM mind you, but that's going to be overkill for all but the most power-hungry of workloads.

Massive Mac savings

• Mac deals: Amazon | B&H Photo | Best Buy

For most people, the Mac mini M2 will be more than enough computing power — and that's before you've stuffed an M2 Pro chip on the inside. If you're a more demanding user, however, then you're likely already glancing jealously at the Mac Studio, the more powerful compact desktop.

The M2 Max at its core is going to breeze through pretty much any workload you throw at it, and its 30-core GPU will even run demanding games at high frame rates.  You'll need to toss in one of the best monitors for Mac Studio and one of the best Mac keyboards (which will jack the price up), but then you've got the ultimate workstation ready to power its way through anything that you might throw its way.

Apple is expected to hold a Mac launch event in October, where it will unveil the next best Mac. The new devices will be part of the M4 Mac line-up. A new report suggests Apple is testing four M4 devices that would launch at the event, all with base-level chips.

Report suggest the October launch will see new versions of the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac. And more recently, rumors suggest that the devices could finally ditch 8GB of RAM and start with 16GB. But the newest report about these Macs comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who says that Apple is currently testing four M4 Macs to launch in the fall.

Developer logs show that three of these M4 Macs are rocking a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Meanwhile, the fourth one is packing an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU – a setup that’s a bit of a mystery, considering we’ve not seen this configuration before. This could be for a cheaper Mac mini or iMac, that would be Apple's new desktop starting point.

The M4 chips in these Macs seem to mirror what’s in the higher-end iPad Pro models. The iPad Pro chips use a 9-core CPU and 10-core GPU for the 256GB and 512GB versions, while the high-end models with 1TB and 2TB tote the same 10-core CPU and GPU combo we’re seeing in these new Macs. This also confirms that they will be base-level M4 chips, perhaps even with an "M4 Lite" debuiting.

Where are the Pro and Max chips?

Gurman’s report is noticeably quiet on the M4 Pro and M4 Max front. If you were holding out for a souped-up Mac mini or one of the bigger MacBook Pros with all the cores, this might not be the news you were hoping for. That being said, just because they weren’t spotted in the developer logs doesn’t mean they’re not in the works. 

Previous rumours have suggested that both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are due for a refresh, and Gurman hinted that the new, slimmer Mac mini will likely be available with both M4 and M4 Pro options. It could be that they arrive at this event after all, or are revealed at the start of 2025, as has been done before.

More from iMore

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• I'm a Windows user, here are my honest macOS Sequoia first impressions
• The M4 MacBook Pro looks on track to launch this fall, with display panels already shipping

While it seems like an open secret that Apple is working on its M4 Mac lineup, a new report suggests it'll include the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac.

That's perhaps not all that exciting on its own, but Apple may finally be ready to cut loose the 8GB RAM starting configurations of models like the Mac Mini.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company is ramping up testing of base-level M4 chips of varying specs, while also offering 16GB or 32GB of Unified Memory. Considering one of the biggest gripes around Apple hardware these days is a lack of RAM at the low end, that feels like it's been a long time coming.

This could just be for testing purposes, though, but here's hoping the 8GB RAM option is no more.

The mystery M4 variant

That's not all, though. Gurman notes that four Macs are being tested with base M4 chips, and while three have the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU we've seen before, a fourth has eight of each instead. That's a new configuration for the M4.

Keep in mind these are all just the base-level chips, so there's no word on the Pro or Max versions as yet. Still, it's interesting Apple would essentially test a chip with fewer cores alongside additional RAM.

Maybe the rumored September 10 event will shed some light, but it's a good chance we'll be waiting until a little later in the year for our first look at M4 Macs.

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• macOS Sequoia is set to release at the same time as iOS 18 – in the middle of September
• I'm a Windows user, here are my honest macOS Sequoia first impressions
• The M4 MacBook Pro looks on track to launch this fall, with display panels already shipping

macOS Sequoia was announced at WWDC 2024 and is currently available to try through the macOS Sequoia beta. But now we know when it'll be released: around mid-September, alongside iOS 18.

You can expect macOS Sequoia in September this time around, rather than having to wait until October again. This comes from an exclusive MacRumors report that explains macOS Sequoia is expected at the same time as iOS 18. In the past, Apple has waited until October or November to release the next version of macOS.

macOS Sequoia is the name of macOS 15, coming to all of Apple's best Macs and MacBooks in the fall. The headline feature of the next major Mac software update is of course Apple Intelligence. Beyond that, there's an epic new iPhone Mirroring feature that lets you use any iPhone on your Mac, even when it's in StandBy Mode. There's a new Windows tiling feature, and the new Passwords app also features. 

When exactly will macOS Sequoia arrive?

Right now, Apple is in the latter stages of beta testing macOS Sequoia. At this point, you can expect one (maybe two) more beta updates before the final release. That puts us on track for the Mac update to debut at the same time as iOS 18.

Major iPhone software updates typically arrive on the Wednesday before the new iPhones arrive on the Friday. This year, we expect the iPhone 16 series to launch on September 10. This would mean they start shipping the following Friday, which would be September 20. Go back to Wednesday, and it looks like macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and watchOS 11 could all release on September 18.

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While most of our attention is on a foldable iPhone, rumor has it that Apple might actually release another foldable device first – a 20-inch foldable MacBook. But the alleged device has been kicked further down the road again, back to 2027, making me wonder if it will ever actually arrive.

Things have gone a bit back and forth on this device. Top Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo was the first to report on the foldable MacBook. Previously thought to be coming in 2027, Kuo released a blog post on Medium in May, sharing that he now reckons we could see this flagship device hit the shelves by 2026.

But now, Kuo reports that the production of the folding MacBook has hit technical difficulties. Production is now expected to move from 2026 back to 2027, the device's original timeline. In the same post on X, Kuo states that the display size has been finalized at 18.8-inches rather than 20.3-inches. The larger device has been cancelled.

The device would likely join the ranks of the best Macs available, and would be one of the first devices of its kind. However, it's starting to seem less and less likely that the device will ever arrive. This device has been kicked back down the road, with technical difficulties being the reason. It seems likely that Apple may now decide to scrap the device altogether.

What would a foldable MacBook look like?

It sounds like this device could be a hybrid Mac/iPad concept that essentially brings the iPad's multitouch capabilities into the world of macOS. But it looks like there are alternative ideas in the pipeline.

Under the hood, we’re looking at the upcoming M5 processor. Production could kick off as soon as the end of next year, which means the next couple of years could be very interesting for MacBook aficionados. We're still a few years away from prototypes for the device, so things are likely to change.

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Apple Podcasts has followed Apple Maps by offering a web version, allowing users to subscribe and listen to their favorite shows within a web browser.

Announced on August 19, the web version of Apple Podcasts is available on all web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, in 170 countries. You don’t need an Apple Account to use the web app, you can search for a show and listen to an episode in seconds. However, if you do sign in with your Apple Account, your previously subscribed shows and play progress will be synced to the web app.

We’ve been testing out Apple Podcasts on the web with the Arc browser, and it works exactly the same as its app counterpart, which has been available on the best iPhones, iPads, and Macs since 2012. Unlike Apple Maps on the web, which is labeled as a beta, Apple Podcasts’ web version is being presented as a brand new version available to all. This web app will be perfect for users who own a Windows laptop, as they can sign in with their Apple Account and their favorite shows will be synced without using a native app.

If you want to give the web app a try, follow this link to see if Apple Podcasts earns a place as a pinned tab in your web browser.

Using Apple Podcasts on the Web

As mentioned above, using Apple Podcasts on the web is straightforward, with a familiar appearance that mirrors the native app found on Mac and iPad. If you’ve used those apps before, you’ll feel right at home using this web version.

It’s great to see Apple expanding its web app offerings, especially so soon after the launch of Apple Maps last month. This opens up an opportunity to use the company’s services beyond Windows laptops, such as Meta Quest 3, Android smartphones, and more. If you’ve been a fan of Apple Podcasts but felt frustrated by a lack of a native app on your non-Apple device, this web app is a great alternative.

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One of my favorite macOS Sequoia features is backgrounds for FaceTime. And in the second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple has added some new FaceTime backgrounds. They're all based on the tech giant's very own architectural marvel – Apple Park. They let you get up close and personal with Apple's HQ.

It's a feature that other video calling apps, such as Google Meet and Zoom, have had for a while. But with FaceTime typically used more for social calls than work calls, it'll be interesting to see how popular this feature becomes. You can use one of your own images, or pick from one of the ones that Apple has added. This feature also expands to other video calling apps, letting you select new backgrounds from your camera settings built-in to the Menu Bar rather than the app's own settings.

And the default slate of backgrounds has now expanded to include 9 images from Apple Park. One standout is the background featuring Apple Park’s rainbow arch. But you can also pick from the Steve Jobs Theater, outside the campus inside the building, and other scenic locations around Apple's HQ.

macOS Sequoia 15.1 is still in its developer beta phase, with a full release expected later this year. We do not recommend that you install the developer beta on your device, as it is unstable. For anyone that does want to try out the new update, the macOS Sequoia public beta is available to download right now.

What else is coming in macOS Sequoia?

macOS Sequoia is the name of macOS 15, coming to all of Apple's best Macs and MacBooks in the fall. Announced at WWDC 2024 and currently available through the macOS Sequoia beta, the headline feature is of course Apple Intelligence.

Beyond that, there's an epic new iPhone Mirroring feature that lets you use any iPhone on your Mac, even when it's in standBy Mode. There's a new Windows tiling feature, and the new Passwords app also features. 

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• I'm a Windows user, here are my honest macOS Sequoia first impressions
• The M4 MacBook Pro looks on track to launch this fall, with display panels already shipping
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Ever wanted to make your Steam Deck look like a retro iMac from the late 90s? Well, one gamer has and it's a sight to behold.

Reddit user NekoMichi posted photos of their modded Steam Deck on r/SteamDeck to huge fanfare, showcasing a transparent Bondi Blue shell that mimics the iMac G3 from 1998.

Not only does the Bondi Blue Steam Deck look like an iMac on the outside, but it's also got a custom boot screen that mimics an older version of Mac OS renamed "SteamOS".

The Steam Deck is one of the best handheld gaming consoles on the market and this modification makes it look even better. When asked if the mod was hard to complete, NekoMichi said, "Not too hard, the most difficult step for me was ungluing the screen. I used an iFixit iOpener tool and it made it easier. Overall it took about 4 hours."

So while you may be tempted to make your Steam Deck look like an iMac of yesteryear, it's not worth the hassle unless you're happy to unglue your Steam Deck OLED's screen.

Is it an iMac? Is it a Steam Deck?

The back shell of a Steam Deck is very easy to replace with loads of custom shells available on websites like Amazon. If you'd like to get the transparent iMac look on the back of your device without committing to a full mod like NekoMichi, you can pick up shells for around $25.

With the ability to play some of the best PC games on a handheld device, the Steam Deck really is a fantastic product. So much so, that if you don't fancy playing Assassin's Creed: Shadows on Mac later this year, you could opt for Valve's portable powerhouse instead.

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macOS Sequoia, the upcoming update for compatible Macs, introduces a very annoying feature — a monthly pop-up prompt that users must click on, with no option to disable it.

If you use screen-recording apps like Record It or OBS Studio on one of the best Macs running macOS Sequoia, you’ll encounter a pop-up message stating, “App is requesting to bypass the system's private window picker and directly access your screen and audio. This will allow the app to record your screen and system audio, including personal or sensitive information that may be visible or audible.”

Clicking ‘Allow For One Month’ will close the pop-up and will allow you to use the screen-recording app of your choice. However, the permission will expire after 30 days, causing the pop-up window to reappear. It’s worth mentioning that this is better than previous beta releases of macOS Sequoia, where this window appeared weekly, but was quickly changed due to user feedback.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system had something similar when it was released way back in 2006. Called ‘User Account Control’ (UAC), this feature tried to improve security in Windows by letting users know of any major changes, such as new apps being installed, opening the Command Prompt app, and much more. UAC’s frequent pop-ups annoyed users so much that Microsoft relaxed the feature in Windows 7 debuted in 2009, and it’s now barely noticeable in Windows 11.

Apple hasn’t explained why this prompt exists in macOS Sequoia, nor clarified why it’s specific to screen-recording apps. As it stands, the feature is more of an annoyance than a benefit, and many are hoping that Apple will change its mind about this prompt before the update is released.

macOS Sequoia is expected to launch for compatible Macs later this year.

Role-reversal much?

This new prompt in macOS Sequoia is more apparent when you watch the above video. In 2006 at WWDC, Apple’s developer conference, the company made a point of mocking Microsoft for ‘copying’ macOS Leopard with Windows Vista. For five whole minutes, Apple spoke about how Vista borrowed features such as widgets and desktop search.

Almost 20 years later, Apple is introducing a feature in macOS that no one asked for or needed. macOS Sequoia is still in the testing phase, so if you’re using the public beta and you’ve come across this prompt as you launch a screen-recording app, be sure to use the Feedback Assistant app so you can share your frustrations with Apple.

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Top display analyst Ross Young has revealed that the M4 MacBook Pro is on track to launch later this fall, as expected.

Apple’s current best MacBook, the M3 MacBook Pro, was unveiled in October last year. While there were no major design changes, it did feature Apple’s M3 Apple silicon processor and its more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max variants. Despite being not even a year old, however, all eyes are now firmly on the next iteration of the MacBook Pro that'll come with the M4 chip. And there's good news for those waiting for the device.

In a tweet for subscribers, Ross Young revealed that the panel shipments for the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models kicked off earlier in July/August. That's in line with the Q3 timeline Young previously reported on. Now, if we do the maths based on Apple’s usual timeline this means we’re looking at a Q4 2024 launch – just as expected.

When to expect the M4 MacBook Pro

As for the big reveal, last year’s M3 MacBook Pro arrived during a Halloween-timed "Scary Fast" event in late October. So, if Apple sticks to its new event traditions, we could see the M4 models creeping onto the scene around the same time. October or early November seems like a solid bet, as that's always been when new MacBook Pros arrive.

Apple has already debuted the new M4 chip in Apple’s best iPad, the M4 iPad Pro. The M4 chip features a beefed-up GPU with better efficiency, and its Neural Engine can put out 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Apple says its M4 is an “outrageously powerful device for AI.” In all likelihood, the MacBook version of this chip should be even more powerful because it will feature significantly better cooling compared to the thermally-limited iPad.

When they do arrive, the new M4 MacBook Pro is likely to be the best Apple laptop on the market when it comes to Apple Intelligence, with the most processing power and thermal performance of any eligible device yet.

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If you're headed back to school or college later this year and you're in the market for a stunning new Mac monitor, then I've just found the best deal going. 

The Samsung 27-inch Viewfinity S9 is a 5K Studio Display alternative with a 4K webcam and smart TV features. It is perfect for any desktop Mac or as a MacBook monitor, delivering a stunning resolution perfect for editing and viewing content as well as productivity. 

We normally recommend this at hefty discounts of around $600, bringing the price of $1,599 down to just $899. Right now, however, you can get one in Samsun's Back to School sale for just $690. Simply head to Samsung's website, and select the Samsung Education Offers Program at the top of the listing to unlock that incredible discount. 

Samsung ViewFinity S9 now just $690

•  Monitor deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Dell | Lenovo | HP | Amazon | Newegg 

Having a 5K display is vital if you're a Mac user because that 2880p resolution lets you run macOS at full size without compromising any of the proportions, hence the clamor for a Studio Display in the first play. Like Apple's offering, Samsung delivers 600 nits of brightness, and it also has a pretty sleek metal design. The standard stand is also height-adjustable, and there is a paid extra with the Studio display. 

Perhaps the coolest feature is Smart TV apps, the ViewFinity S9 doubles as a smart TV complete with a remote and support for Apple AirPlay, so you can cast content from a Mac, iPhone, or iPad directly to the screen. 

Connectivity is powered by one Thunderbolt 4 port and one DisplayPort.

This is the lowest price we've ever seen on this monitor, more than 50% off and more than half the price of Apple's Studio Display. 

Have you been waiting patiently for a larger iMac? Good news, Apple is reportedly still developing a larger all-in-one desktop computer.

In his latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, top analyst Mark Gurman wrote, "A larger iMac remains something Apple is exploring," That's great news for those of us who have been waiting for a larger iMac since Gurman hinted at Apple's plans to develop one last year.

With rumors of an M4 iMac coming later this year, the stars could align for a star-studded iMac lineup before 2024 comes to a close. Gurman also stated that he wasn't sure if the larger iMac would use Apple's M4 chip and that would make sense if the development is still in early stages.

His initial report last year claimed, Apple was developing an iMac with a display larger than 30-inches, so it's nice to hear that Apple still has the behemoth in its plans.

A larger iMac — iMore's take

For years now, iMac fans have been forced to use the colorful 24-inch options Apple offers. Don't get me wrong, the retro-inspired design is a thing of beauty but 24 inches just isn't big enough for a power user. It can often feel cramped and using multiple windows can become very cumbersome — I should know, I bought one just because it was yellow.

As someone who uses multiple displays for work, I could never solely rely on 2. 4-inch monitor and I've been hoping for a larger iMac for a while. This new report gives fuel to those of us who are holding out for Apple to add another iMac to the best Macs in its lineup. After all, it has been two years since the company discontinued the iMac Pro.

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There are an awful lot of MacBook docks out there, but this new release from Plugable might be the best option. It instantly lets you use two extra external displays, and gives you a bunch of extra connectivity ports.

Plugable's UD-6950PDH isn’t your run-of-the-mill dock. It’s a slick, space grey marvel designed to slot in perfectly with your shiny Apple kit. Unlike some other docks, this device actually gives you two extra displays on every Mac. That includes the base models with those new-fangled M1, M2, M3, and upcoming M4 chips. All you need is one simple DisplayLink driver. And you still get a bunch of extra connectivity ports.

The best part? The UD-6950PDH is out now in the US and Canada, and will only set you back $199.95. That's cheaper than a lot of other options for your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. Plus, you can get $20 off while the device is new.

What can Plugable's new Mac dock do?

The usual suspects are all here: dual 4K at 60Hz via DisplayPort or HDMI, 100W fast charging, plus a few extra tricks. There’s a USB-C port upfront for speedy data transfer and device charging, a combined 3.5mm audio port, and even a power button to turn the dock off when it’s not in the spotlight.

The UD-6950PDH looks the part with its aluminium alloy chassis that blends seamlessly with your MacBook’s sleek look. It’s not just about design though; it’s packing 14 ports, including two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs, so you can mix and match your display setup to your heart’s content. There’s also a fast-charging USB-C port, a fast-charging USB port, and USB 3.0 ports for all your peripherals. Need Ethernet? Sorted. SD and Micro SD card readers? Check.

Audio’s been given a bit of a polish too. Gone are the days of juggling separate speaker and mic inputs. The new TRRS port lets you plug in your headset with ease, making those video calls a bit less of a faff. And speaking of convenience, the power button isn’t just for show. It lets you save energy and extend the lifespan of your devices by turning off the dock when it’s not in use.

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Sandisk has announced a groundbreaking 8-terabyte SD card that raises the ceiling for portable external storage, though the release date and pricing are yet to be determined.

Western Digital, the parent company of Sandisk, revealed this high-capacity SD card in a press release but didn’t share details on its price or release date. It’s worth mentioning that Sandisk previously announced the first 4TB SD cards in April, with an expected release date of next year. It’s possible the 8TB version may arrive around the same time. For context, 8TB of storage can hold up to 2,000 hours of high-definition video or 2 million high-resolution photos — making it unlikely that you’ll run out of storage anytime soon.

However, it’s important to note that any SD card that’s over 2TB has an SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) tag. This means that devices need to support SDUC otherwise these cards won’t work, which currently excludes every Apple device available. We may have to wait for the rumored M4 Macs to add support for these SDUC SD cards. In the meantime, if you need something with a lot of storage right now, you can buy a 1TB SD card on Amazon right now, which works with the best Macs, iPads, and iPhones.

Don’t wait for an 8TB SD card

Yes, an 8TB SD card sounds great in terms of both storage and size, but you can currently buy some of the best external hard drives that roughly offer the same amount of storage.

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Lenovo has just launched a new Mac Studio rival in China that blows Apple’s own boxy desktop out of the water. 

Dubbed the Lenovo YOGA Portal, this cuboid of creativity stands at just over 4 inches tall (a little higher than the Mac Studio), 7.7 inches wide, and 7.9 inches deep. Granted, it’s not a stunner — the Mac Studio’s sleek aluminum definitely stands out over Lenovo’s design, which looks more like an IKEA cable management box. But it’s what’s underneath that we’re more interested in. 

So far, there’s only one configuration. For 17,999 Yuan ($2,500) you get Intel’s latest Core i7-14700 and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070. That’s arguably spicier than the global version that comes with a core i9 and the RTX 4060, at least when it comes to gaming.

Lenovo’s Mac Studio killer?

The Lenovo YOGA Portal also features a dedicated M.2 slot so you can add in a separate dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) to give it a serious AI upgrade. The YOGA Portal features four total M.2 slots, one for WLAN, one for AI, and two for SSD expansion. 

There’s connectivity aplenty too, with 2 USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and USB-C on the front. Round the back, there are a further four USB-A ports, two HDMI 2.1 slots, Ethernet, and 4 DisplayPort 1.4 openings. You can even add further optional rear storage, with punch out ports for more USB, HDMI, DisplayPorts, or even VGA. 

It’s unclear whether the YOGA Portal will ever be sold beyond China’s shores, but the impressive graphics and AI expansion would make it an enticing desktop upgrade if it was. It’s a warning shot across the bow for Apple. The M4 Mac Studio isn’t expected to debut until the summer 2025, with Apple having skipped the M3 model. While the M4 chip has already debuted in the 2024 iPad Pro, the first Mac to include it is expected to be the M4 MacBook Pro later this year, followed by the M4 MacBook Air and M4 Mac mini. 

Apple’s answer to a potent Mac Studio rival could be the latter, with recent rumors suggesting the new M4 Mac mini might well be considerably smaller than the current M2 Mac mini. 

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ChatGPT for Mac has received a big update, with an update to the companion window as the standout feature, letting the AI assistant be a constant presence, wherever you are on macOS.

According to OpenAI’s release notes, version 1.2024.212, pressing Option + Space on one of the best Macs when ChatGPT is active will open the app as a new window, wherever you are on macOS. For example, if you’re browsing the web in Safari in full-screen mode, pressing this shortcut will summon ChatGPT, ready for you to ask the AI assistant any query you may have. You can also change the shortcut and the position of the window in the Settings section if needed.

Using a 'companion window’ could be a very useful feature for many users, as it removes the hassle of having to look for ChatGPT in the macOS dock or cycle through the list of active apps with Command+Tab. Instead, a quick press of the keyboard shortcut will instantly bring up the assistant in a new window, and you can simply close it when you’re done.

If you haven’t received the update yet, go to the Menu Bar when ChatGPT is active, click on ChatGPT > Check for Updates, and the update should be available to download.

What else is new in this new update?

There’s more than ‘companion window’ in this new update to ChatGPT on macOS! If you use charts and data analysis with the app, you can now expand generated charts to get a better view of the data, as well as being able to download them for offline use.

More shortcuts are available, such as ‘Command + .’ to stop ChatGPT if it’s generating a long response to your query, along with the ability to have the app launch once your Mac switches on.

Overall, this is a significant update to ChatGPT on macOS that’s only going to help your productivity, if you choose to use it.

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When the iPad Pro launched earlier this year, it came with a massive surprise – instead of the expected M3 chip on the inside, it released the brand new M4 chip instead. Thanks to Mark Gurman and his ‘Power On’ newsletter, we’ve got some idea of when we might see that chip enter the Mac line of computers. And a more recent update reveals that the new Mac mini will be a big deal.

According to a newer report from Mark Gurman, the Mac mini is getting a serious makeover. We’re talking a design overhaul that will make the desktop computer Apple's smallest ever, along with the shiny new M4 and M4 Pro chips.

The redesigned Mac mini is due to strut into the limelight later this year, shedding its 2010-era attire for something sleeker and significantly more compact. Gurman describes it as something similar to an Apple TV 4K, but slightly taller. For context, the current model stands at 1.4 inches high, so the new one will still be quite the petite computer. And reportedly, it’s sticking with its aluminium shell.

Inside this tiny Mac, we’ll find Apple’s latest silicon chipsets. The base model will pack the M4 chip, akin to the iPad Pro’s brains, while the higher spec will offer the M4 Pro chip. Gurman says that Apple’s been playing around with at least three USB-C ports, a power cable slot, and an HDMI port. So, connectivity won’t be an issue when you’re hooking up your myriad of devices – you can expect I/O similar to the Mac Studio.

When to expect Apple's redesigned M4 Mac mini

The base model is apparently shipping out from the suppliers this month, with a release planned for later this year. However, the high-end model with the M4 Pro will only appear slightly later until October. I suspect you'll have to hold out until October for both models, however. It's unlikely Apple would split availability, or debut a Mac at September's iPhone event. More likely, we'll see another October event dedicated to Macs.

Also interesting, the M4 generation marks a historic moment for Apple silicon. For the first time, they’re slapping the same chip generation across all their Macs. The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro are all getting the M4 treatment over the next year. You should expect some of these to arrive at this year's October event, while some will only arrive in early 2025.

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Stripe owes the developer of NotchNook hundreds of thousands in sales, but so far refuses to pay.

Developer Igor Marcossi posted on LinkedIn on August 7, explaining how, after NotchNook became a big hit with Mac users in July thanks to its ability to give Macs a Dynamic Island, Stripe is refusing to pay the sales amount generated by the app. “Yesterday they started the retaliation. Even though they already had all the documents from the company, they decided to pause sending money to my bank account and ask for some business docs,” Marcossi explains. “I sent them but they decided the corporate “bank owner account” wasn’t aware of where the money was coming from. They’ve now decided to CLOSE the account WITHOUT ANY NOTICE! There’s a risk of my company failing because Stripe decided to STEAL all our money. I literally don’t know what to do, I’m desperate, I have people to pay but Stripe won’t send me MY MONEY!!!!”

iMore reached out to Marcossi, who explained that NotchNook’s success has turned into a nightmare — all thanks to Stripe. “It’s been a nightmare, I already hired a lawyer nonetheless. I can’t develop with so much stress on me.” A representative from Stripe subsequently commented on Marcossi’s post, saying ‘We’re digging into things now.” Yet there hasn’t been much change at the time of writing.

We’ve also reached out to Stripe for comment and will update the story if we hear back.

What makes NotchNook so good?

Some of the best Mac apps usually fulfill needs that you hadn’t considered before. MacWhisper, a transcription app, and Whisky, a utility that can run Windows games on Apple silicon Macs, are great examples of this.

In the case of NotchNook, the Dynamic Island that the app places on a Mac can supercharge your productivity. It makes tasks like controlling music and checking Calendar straightforward, and it moves the volume and brightness indicators to NotchNook’s Dynamic Island, eliminating a big annoyance of macOS.

If you haven’t tried it yet, show your support by downloading a three-day trial. Currently, NotchNook can be bought as a $3 per month subscription or for a $25 lifetime fee.

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If you’re about to go on vacation like I am, or getting ready to go back to school, you’ll be pleased to know that premium accessory maker Anker has announced a bunch of updated accessories to help keep your Apple devices charged.

Today (August 7), Anker is launching several new accessories to its Prime series. This is the company’s high-end range of accessories designed to quickly charge multiple devices at once. All of the updated products can be bought right now, which are:

• Anker Prime 250W GaNPrime Charging Station
• Anker Prime 200W GaN Charging Station
• Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station
• Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger
• Anker Prime USB-C Charging Cable

While the 100W GaN Wall Charger and the Charging Cable are self-explanatory, the charging stations have seen some big improvements over their previous models. In particular, the 250W GaNPrime Charging Station includes extra controls to monitor voltage for connected devices, as well as a clearer LCD display to check this information at a glance. I’ve been using these charging docking stations for the past couple of weeks and I’ve come away impressed. I’ve been using the 250W GaNPrime Charging Station for my desk specifically, which lets me cycle through different bits of information to see how much power is being sent to certain devices, such as my iPhone.

As I’m going on vacation in a few weeks, I’m highlighting how these updated Prime accessories could be useful if you’re also planning on being away from home for several days.

Charge them up!

If, like me, you travel with a lot of devices, you likely pack in multiple chargers and power banks to make sure everything stays charged. Fortunately, the hotel I’m going to for my vacation later this month has plenty of wall sockets, so I’m planning on packing fewer power banks and more of these Anker Prime accessories.

As mentioned earlier, the 250W GaNPrime Charging Station is perfect for my desk, but for vacation, I’m going to be bringing the compact 200W GaNPrime Charging Station instead. With four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, this smaller station means that my MacBook, Nintendo Switch, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a backup power bank will all be charged as I sleep or have breakfast.

I’ve always been a fan of Anker’s products. They’ve always felt high-quality, and what I’ve bought, such as power banks and chargers, have never let me down. So, I’m not surprised that I’m impressed by these latest offerings in its Prime series.

If you’re starting your vacation soon, or even planning for the Christmas holidays, take a look below at what’s now available.

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It’s not every day that you get to say that one of your favorite laptops just reached its lowest price ever, yet here we find ourselves — the MacBook Air M3 just dropped to $849, the cheapest it's ever been. And just in time for back to school as well!

That makes it only $50 more than the M2 model, and for just fifty bucks? We’d say it's well worth investing in the newer, more powerful model. If for no other reason than future proofing or even just bragging rights, the M3 is the MacBook Air to buy right now.

MacBook Air M3 lowest price ever

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If you’re after a super portable, powerful computer, then you’re not going to get much better than the M3 MacBook Air. It’s super slim and compact, so you’ll be able to fit it in any backpack (or even handbag, if you must) The M3 chip is the current most powerful MacBook Air chip, bringing buckets of performance without a bank-breaking price, and the keyboard is one of the best in the business.

But why should you choose one of these over the slightly cheaper MacBook Air M2? If you absolutely need to save as much money as possible, then you won’t go wrong with the M2 — but for an extra $50, the M3 model is well worth picking up instead. You’ll get more power and a longer-lasting machine. If you really want to make sure that your new MacBook lasts as long as possible, you should upgrade to the 16GB RAM option — although that will cost you $1,249. There’s still a $250 saving there, but it doesn’t have that all-important sub-$1,000 tag.

When Apple announced the Apple Vision Pro at WWDC of 2023 it brought an end to years of rumors and expectations. The headset closely matched the rumors, including a key feature that Apple was apparently keen to offer — controller-free, gesture-based controls. While similar headsets used controllers, Apple's relied simply on hands and fingers. Some see it as a feature, some as a liability that will limit the Apple Vision Pro's gaming capabilities. A bit like it or not, the gesture-based controls might be on their way elsewhere.

The iPhone is touch-first, as is the iPad, while the Mac is cursor-based which requires a mouse or a trackpad. But Apple is clearly working on a potential input change that will see the Apple Vision Pro technology used across the rest of the company's lineups, and a new patent proves that even if the headset doesn't hit the mark with consumers, they could soon be using its technologies instead of mouse or a finger.

It's still very early days for the Apple Vision Pro and it's expected to set the foundations for Apple's spatial computing initiatives for years to come. But even if the headset never captures the public's imagination the way the iPhone did all those years ago, Apple will want to take as many learnings and technologies from its development as possible. And where best to use those things than its most important products?

Touch-free computing

A new patent, first spotted by AppleInsider, hints at such a move to a touch-free world. Titled "Devices, Methods, And Graphical User Interfaces For Using A Cursor To Interact With Three-Dimensional Environments," the patent suggests that Apple's future plans are all about waving hands and fingers around as a form of input.

There are of course similarities between the iPhone and Apple Vision Pro already. The technology behind Face ID can already bring eye-tracking to the iPhone, but the Mac doesn't have such a thing just yet.

Apple's patents are always as broad as possible which means they can be read in a variety of ways. But if the Apple Vision Pro brought a Minority Report-like experience to those who bought one, there are now hints that we could be controlling more devices using similar gestures in the future. Could we one day wave our hands at the TV to interact with tvOS, for example? Microsoft already did something similar with the ill-fated Kinnect, but the tvOS Home Screen is already suited to such a control scheme.

Expand that to the rumored Apple TV-turned-HomePod device and we could one day control an Apple smart display without touching it.

All of this could be a little way off becoming reality, of course, and there is always the usual caveat with these things. Apple patents a ton of ideas each and every year, and not all of them turn into products that we can buy at Apple Stores. But some do, and I'm absolutely here for a future where I don't have to ever touch a Siri Remote again.

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When you think of high-end gaming, Apple isn’t often a name that comes to mind, but the company is trying to change that. Apple is swiftly trying to upgrade its gaming offerings to make them more appealing to gamers and developers. In order for this push to work, it’ll need to impress both. 

Now that it solved the performance limitations on the Mac — Intel and AMD’s stalled performance in the prior decade nixed any shot Apple had at providing a great gaming product — Apple will be in control of its own destiny. iPhones, iPads, and Macs all run on Apple silicon, and each device is a category-leader in performance. Apple built it, but will gamers come? 

This newfound appreciation for gaming can be traced back to when Apple gave recent generations of the Apple TV 4K enough power to play light games. Then, it launched Apple Arcade, a subscription service for lightweight and ad-free games that could be played on basically anything Apple-branded, from an iPhone to an Apple TV to a Mac. More recently, Apple added Game Mode to macOS Sonoma and created the Game Porting Toolkit for developers to help them easily port Windows games to the Mac. 

Apple seemed to double-down on its gaming effort at the end of last year, when it announced that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Death Stranding, Resident Evil 4, and Resident Evil Village would be coming to its platforms. In a first, the iPhone 15 Pro powered by its A17 Pro chip would be able to play these flagship games. However, their eventual launches felt anticlimactic. 

Whether the cause was the limited number of devices that could actually support the AAA games or their high prices, the result was a lack of consumer interest in high-end gaming on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. According to June data from Appfigures, fewer than 3,000 gamers bought Assassin’s Creed Mirage on iPhone for $50. An estimated total of 123,000 people download the game, but only a small fraction actually unlocked the full title with a purchase. It’s a similar story for the other AAA games on the App Store, by all accounts.

No matter how you look at it, the numbers don’t point to Apple silicon gaming being anything other than a flop in 2024. This might make you think, like many of Apple’s gaming initiatives in the past, that the advent of AAA gaming on iPhones, iPads, and Macs will be short-lived. While it’s certainly possible that game developers bail on Apple platforms, there’s a massive incentive for them to stick around — and it has everything to do with what the company calls the unified gaming platform.

What is the unified gaming platform, and why does it matter?

I first heard the term "unified gaming platform" at a gaming showcase with Apple in New York City, and it’s crucial to understanding the company’s pitch for AAA game development. The idea is simply that iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are not separate platforms. Instead, they are one. Developers can port their games to macOS, and by extension, quickly and easily make them available on iOS or iPadOS as well. 

Game studios can’t develop for every device or platform; there are quite a few factors that determine whether a developer ports its games to one platform or another. Performance and power are a consideration, but Apple has that covered with the A17 Pro and M-series chips. Arguably the more important consideration is whether there is enough demand and consumer base to make the port worthwhile. Apple platforms have never been a significant home for gaming, outside of basic mobile games.

So, Apple doesn’t really check the demand box. But it does fulfill the consumer base requirement, as there are more than a billion active devices across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Still, those platforms are considered emerging as far as gaming is concerned, and there’s a risk for developers to put time and money into porting games to emerging platforms. To make it worth their while, Apple needed to make it easy and worthwhile to port games to the unified gaming platform.

The easy part comes with the release of the Game Porting Toolkit 2.0 (GPTK2), as it now supports Windows games that use the DirectX and AVX2 instruction sets. Developers can take their Windows games, and port it to macOS using the GPTK2 without having to rebuild the title from the ground up. Then, developers can take that macOS port and port it to iOS or iPadOS again. The end result is a AAA game made for Windows running on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac with minimal effort.

I saw the new Game Porting Toolkit 2.0 in action, running in tandem with Crossover, a compatibility layer that leverages the GPTK2 foundation to help Windows games run on macOS with little to no manual action required. Now that GPTK2 supports DirectX, AVX2, and ray tracing, people will be able to run more Windows games than ever using software like Crossover or Whisky. If it’s easy for end users to run Windows games on their Macs, imagine how easy it’s going to be for developers to port games to macOS — and by extension, the unified gaming platform.

It’s not only easy, but also worthwhile for developers to port games to the unified gaming platform. We talk about this platform representing over a billion active devices, and here’s some perspective: Microsoft has sold less than 30 million Series S | X consoles and Sony has sold less than 60 million PlayStation 5 consoles as of May 2024 estimations. There are plenty of Windows PCs out there, but a much smaller number are capable of running the latest AAA games.

In the past, developers would’ve needed to develop for Android, console, and PC to get the kind of reach Apple is offering with the unified gaming platform. Combined, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS make up one of the biggest and most lucrative gaming platforms on the planet. The question is whether all this promise pays off for developers in the end, and whether they’ll stick around long enough to find out.

Will high-end gaming on Apple platforms stick?

The unified gaming platform is in its infancy. The number of devices that can run AAA games today is actually quite small compared to the billion-plus active Apple devices that are in the wild. However, as people upgrade their iPhones, iPads, and Macs, that number will only grow. 

Developers would be smart to stick around, and people in the Apple ecosystem would be smart to buy in. With games supporting universal purchase and Ubisoft Connect, a buyer can pay for a game once, start it on an iPhone, pick up right where they left off on an iPad, and finish things on a Mac. That’s the pitch of the unified gaming platform, and I think it’ll catch on. 

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When the iPad Pro launched earlier in 2024, it dropped a massive surprise directly on our doorsteps — instead of the expected M3 chip on the inside, it released the brand new M4 chip instead. Now, thanks to Mark Gurman and his ‘Power On’ newsletter, we’ve got some idea of when we might see that chip enter the Mac line of computers.

According to Gurman, we’re likely to see the M4 Mac line update arrive at some point before the end of this year, or early into 2025. That’ll be the MacBook Pro, the Mac mini, and the iMac all potentially before the end of the year.

Apparently, the MacBook Air, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio will also each get an update next year, bringing the new chips to the whole Mac range.

What’s coming and when?

The encroaching upgrade to the Pro, mini, and iMac this year would make sense, given that those machines were the first to get the M3 upgrade during the ‘Scary Fast’ event in late 2023. The MacBook Pro launch would also likely mean the introduction of the M4 Pro and Max chips, the more powerful, beefed-up versions designed for professionals.

Then, in 2025, we’d expect to see the new 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro to get their M4 updates. The Studio and the Pro would bring the M4 Max and Ultra chips, the most powerful versions for the most power-demanding users. That’s an interesting one as well, because while the MacBook Air has received its M3 upgrade, the Studio, Pro, and even Mac mini haven’t received an M3 version at any point as yet.

Given the incredible power of the iPad Pro M4, it looks like the M4 chips are going to bring a massive boost to the Mac — although whether they’ll look any different is a completely different, as yet entirely unanswered question.

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Unless you've well and truly been living under a rock for the past better half of a decade, you'll know that Apple took the decision to ditch Intel from the Mac lineup and design its own chips instead. Dubbed Apple silicon, but more commonly known as M-series chips, these processors have made the best Macs faster, quieter, more powerful, and more efficient than ever.

And it looks like Apple was ahead of the curve in jumping ship from Intel, after the company unfortunately shared news of mass lay-offs. Around 15,000 employees will be laid off, and the company will have to cut $10 billion in costs, after some pretty heavy losses. It gives Intel a pretty bleak outlook for the future.

The numbers really don't look good. A loss of $1.6 billion in Q2 2024, a far cry from last quarter's $437 million loss, and a year-over-year revenue dip of 1%. Intel's Foundry business is a money pit, losing billions on new factories and fancy lithography that haven’t paid off yet. Even with the CHIPS Act ready to throw Intel a bone with up to $8.5 billion in funding, investors aren’t impressed. Intel is now the worst-performing tech stock in the S&P 500.

The situation is so dire that Intel’s big AI saviour, Lunar Lake, is already being downplayed by CFO David Zinsner as a "narrow targeted product" that won’t single-handedly save the day. Maybe Panther Lake will be better, but that’s not until 2026. By then, Apple will likely have M5 chips running circles around whatever Intel can muster.

The writing was on the wall when Microsoft jumped ship, ditching Intel for Qualcomm in its latest Surface devices. Even Microsoft, a long-time partner, saw the iceberg and steered clear. Intel's response? Scrambling to patch up two generations of defective CPUs with software updates, hoping to avoid recalls.

Thriving vs barely surviving

Intel’s plan to trim the fat includes cutting R&D and marketing spend by billions through 2026, reducing capital expenditures by over 20% this year, and halting non-essential work. They’re even suspending their dividend. These moves scream desperation, not innovation.

Apple, on the other hand, is thriving. The M-series chips have set a new standard, pushing the boundaries of what we expect from our devices. Since its launch, the M-series chips have been lauded for their performance, efficiency, and power, leaving Intel to eat Apple's dust. Intel, meanwhile, has been stumbling over its own feet, trying to play catch-up.

Being able to design custom chips to work with your own custom hardware is something that gives companies like Apple a huge advantage over those buying off-the-shelf parts. Of course, that was Apple's primary motivator in exploring Apple silicon. More power, less energy consumption, and a seamless integration with macOS that's left Intel's offerings looking like relics of a bygone era.

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In case you hadn’t noticed, artificial intelligence (AI) is taking over the world. Logitech is getting in on the action, not by launching its own chatbot, but by releasing a new mouse with built-in AI buttons. Is it a gimmick, or is there something more here?

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750: Price and availability

The Logitech Signature AI Edition M750 mouse costs $49.99/£54.99 and is available on Logitech’s website or at third-party retailers. That puts it roughly in the middle of the pack pricewise when it comes to Logitech’s mice.

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750: What I love

Let’s start with the feature the M750 mouse is designed around: AI. Logitech has built a Prompt Builder into its Logi Options+ software (so you’ll need that to get the most out of this mouse). Every time you press the mouse’s green button, up pops the Prompt Builder, ready for you to enter some text. There are four options: Rephrase, Summarise, Reply, and Create Email, and each has its own settings (like the length of the generated response and its tone). When you copy text and press the green button, it’s automatically pasted into the Prompt Builder window. Select your options, press Submit, then wait as it’s sent over to ChatGPT (in its own pop-up window).

You can add your own Prompt Builder preset (called a Recipe) and doing so is relatively simple. You need to give it a name, set a prompt that will be used to prod ChatGPT into action, then define what form the input will take and any custom parameters (such as writing style) you want to set. Using the Prompt Builder is easy, and if you’re the type of person who frequently refers to ChatGPT, having it at your beck and call will be a welcome addition.

The mouse has a compact shape with comfortable, grippy sides and sculpted, ergonomic flanks that fit easily into your hand. The right and left-click buttons are beautifully quiet, too. There are two side buttons, and while they are programmed to activate voice dictation and ChatGPT, they can be set to other functions in the Logi Options+ app.

The scroll wheel is one of Logitech’s SmartWheel specialties. Ratchet it gradually and it behaves as you’d expect; spin it quickly, however, and the ratcheting is loosened, enabling it to fly quickly down web pages and through spreadsheets. It works better scrolling down than up, but it’s a great feature.

Underneath is a button to switch between one of the three devices the M750 mouse can connect to. This is handy for controlling multiple Macs or iPads without needing to use different mice. That said, it’s not ideally located on the underside, as you have to stop what you’re doing to switch your connection.

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750: What I don’t love

The mouse’s small size doesn’t make it ideal for palm-grip users (although it should be fine if you prefer fingertip or claw grip). As for the scroll wheel, I’d prefer it if there was a bit more resistance between each “stop” so that actions performed by moving the wheel once (such as in games) are easier to perform.

The AI side of things isn’t perfect, either. I’m not a huge fan of the way the Prompt Builder window is permanently fixed on top of other windows. It’s not such a problem if you’re using an iMac or a large external display with your Mac, but it noticeably cramps up your screen space when using a MacBook’s more limited frame. That meant I was constantly moving it out of the way in order to see what I was doing behind it.

And then there’s the big question: is there actually any need for a feature like the AI Prompt Builder button? If you spend much of your day consulting ChatGPT and using it to summarise text, write messages or rephrase chunks of copy, being able to summon it with the press of a button instead of navigating to OpenAI’s website might be a helpful feature.

But if you don’t use ChatGPT much as it is, the M750 mouse is not going to change that. I use ChatGPT from time to time, but at no point did I feel that the M750’s easy access button made me more likely to use the chatbot to aid in my work. In other words, if you’re not already converted, the M750 probably isn’t for you.

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750: Competition

If you’re looking for an alternative mouse with an AI button, there aren’t really any other options out there. You could, however, use a different Logitech mouse with programmable buttons – like the $99.99/£119.99 MX Master 3S or the $79.99/£89.99 MX Anywhere 3S – and use the Logi Options+ app to reassign one of its buttons to launch the Prompt Builder.

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You want a quick way to access ChatGPT
• You’re looking for an ergonomic mouse that won’t break the bank
• You prefer smaller mice

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You have no need for a ChatGPT button
• You have large hands
• You want a greater number of programmable buttons

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750: Verdict

Scoring the M750 mouse is tough because its utility depends on how much you need ChatGPT. Look past that, though, and you get a solid, comfortable mouse that has a lot going for it.

The Razer Viper V3 Pro is the company’s top-end symmetrical esports mouse. It offers wired and wireless modes (the latter using Razer’s HyperSpeed dongle), a Focus Pro 35K optical sensor, optical button switches and up to 95 hours of battery life at the 1,000 Hz polling rate.

Compared to the more affordable Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed, the Pro model is more than twice as expensive, and its 95 hours of battery life can’t match the former’s 280 hours. Yet it also packs in wired connectivity in addition to wireless HyperSpeed, optical switches under the buttons versus mechanical switches, and a much lower weight. It’s probably one of the best wireless mice for Mac you can buy.

Razer Viper V3 Pro: Price and availability

The Razer Viper V3 Pro costs $159.99/£159.99 and is available from Razer’s website and third-party retailers.

Razer Viper V3 Pro: What I love

When you pick up the Razer Viper V3 Pro, you’ll immediately notice how lightweight it is. We weighed it at 55g, making it one of Razer’s lightest mice. I love how it can be quickly moved around without feeling like it’s dragging you down. I also appreciate that Razer has achieved this without poking the mouse full of holes like a cheese grater – an unfortunate technique employed by some rivals.

The experience is aided by the incredibly smooth way it glides over your mouse mat. There are two large white pads on the underside of the Viper V3 Pro, and these enable it to quickly cover ground on a variety of surfaces. It’s beautifully fluid in use.

Combined with all that smoothness, the mouse feels reliable and accurate. Its DPI rating (which essentially determines your pointer’s sensitivity) goes all the way up to 35,000. There’s no way I’d need anything remotely close to that much, but it’s worth knowing if you’re looking for that kind of rating.

Pushing the left and right buttons feels perfectly balanced – not too firm, not too soft — and they sound pleasingly clicky without being overly loud. The scroll wheel, meanwhile, is tactile and precise, meaning you can quickly turn it just one ratchet even in high-speed gaming sessions. I’d prefer it if it was slightly looser (or if you could adjust its resistance), but that’s only a minor complaint considering how good it feels.

The mouse’s wireless HyperSpeed dongle doesn’t plug directly into your Mac, but instead connects to a long USB-C to USB-A cable. That means your connection is always solid, as you can position the dongle close to your mouse. The sacrifice is that the cable clutters up your desk, and you’ll also need an adapter if your Mac doesn’t have any USB-A ports.

The Viper V3 Pro lacks any RGB lighting, even on the logo – an unusual departure for Razer. While your opinion of RGB comes down to personal taste, the lack of lighting means there’s much less drain on the battery. In my case, I’d rather take longer battery life than some shiny lights that I won’t look at anyway.

Razer Viper V3 Pro: What I don’t love

Let’s address the elephant in the room first: software. All Razer mice link up with the company’s Synapse app, and this is used to adjust the mouse’s sensitivity, create button macros, tweak its power-saving settings, and more. The problem, though, is that Synapse doesn’t work in macOS, and while Razer says compatibility is on the way, we don’t know when it will arrive. For now, you’ll have to use a third-party app to adjust your mouse settings, or just go without. It’s a real pain.

That problem is illustrated by the mouse’s side buttons. They don’t do anything out of the box, and without Synapse, you’ll have to configure them using a third-party app.

There’s also no on/off button on the underside of the mouse, and instead the Viper V3 Pro will enter sleep mode when it’s idle for five minutes (you can change this duration in Synapse … if you have a PC). You can wake it up by moving the mouse, but I feel like it would be better for battery life to be able to actually turn off the mouse when required.

At $159.99/£159.99, the Razer Viper V3 Pro is also very expensive, and unless you play a lot of games on your Mac, that kind of price is hard to justify. That said, it is a superb performer, so if you want a truly premium-feeling device, it’s a top contender.

Razer Viper V3 Pro: Competition

The Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 gaming mouse is a solid competitor to the Razer Viper V3 Pro. Like Razer’s pointer, it is feather light (weighing 60g), smooth on your mouse mat and lacks RGB. It costs $159.99/£149.

Alternatively, there’s the Turtle Beach Burst II Air, which cuts the bulk down to a measly 47g. You get 120 hours of battery life and a 26,000 DPI sensor for $99.99/£99.99.

Razer Viper V3 Pro: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You need a great all-rounder mouse
• You want your mouse to be as lightweight as possible
• You don’t like RGB lighting

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You want an easy way to customise your mouse settings
• You don’t want to pay so much for a mouse
• You don’t want a cable that clutters up your desk even in wireless mode

Razer Viper V3 Pro: Verdict

The Razer Viper V3 Pro is a phenomenal mouse. Lightweight, smooth, accurate and satisfying in use, it’s a brilliant all-rounder for work and play. It’s just a shame about the price and lack of macOS compatibility for the Synapse app.

If a regular Mac pointer like the Magic Mouse gives you wrist pain, an ergonomic wireless alternative like the Logitech Lift for Mac might help heal the discomfort. This Bluetooth mouse places your hand in an upright “handshake” position rather than flat and horizontal on the mouse, which channels less pressure through your wrist during the day.

Is it any good, though? And should you buy it instead of plumping for one of the best wireless mice for Mac? We’ve put the Logitech Lift for Mac through its paces to see if you should consider it for your Apple setup.

Logitech Lift for Mac: Price and availability

The Logitech Lift for Mac costs $69.99/£69.99. You can buy it on Logitech’s website and at third-party retailers.

Logitech Lift for Mac: What I love

The design of the Logitech Lift for Mac results in a fairly comfortable grip, although it does take a little getting used to. If you’re after an ergonomic mouse, though, you’ll appreciate the upright layout that fits snugly in your hand. It’s also superbly well-made and feels incredibly solid.

The mouse looks lovely with its white and grey colour scheme and grippy ridged rear half. I also appreciated the extremely quiet clicks, especially those of the left and right mouse buttons, which still feel satisfying in use. The sound is so discreet that you barely hear it in everyday use, and you won’t hear the buttons at all if you’re listening to music.

Most of the mouse buttons can be customised using the Logi Options+ app, including the two side buttons, the middle (scroll wheel) button, and the button that lies just behind the wheel. Assigning new functions to the buttons is incredibly easy in Logitech’s software, and there are plenty of choices available to you. You can set app-specific controls that only come into play when your chosen app is open, or allocate a button to launch Logitech’s ChatGPT-like AI Prompt Builder.

Speaking of buttons and controls, the Lift for Mac’s scroll wheel uses the SmartWheel tech found in popular Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S. Move it normally and it ratchets like any other scroll wheel. Spin it harder, though, and it moves much faster and more smoothly, allowing you to zip through long web pages and lengthy documents with minimal effort. It’s a great addition to the mouse.

On the underside is a button for switching between devices. You can connect the mouse to three different devices at once, including those running macOS, iPadOS and, despite the mouse’s name, Windows. It might have been preferable to have this button on the top of the mouse so you don’t have to keep turning it over, but it’s a very handy feature to have regardless.

Also underneath is the access point for the mouse’s battery. It uses a single AA battery that provides phenomenal longevity and means you never need to connect a wire and charge up the mouse. Logitech says you’ll get up to two years of life from a single AA battery.

Logitech Lift for Mac: What I don’t love

The Logitech Lift for Mac is designed for small-to-medium-sized hands, with Logitech saying you should try the MX Vertical mouse if the Lift for Mac is too small for you. I normally use a claw grip with my mice, but I found that didn’t quite feel right on the Lift for Mac. Despite ostensibly being for smaller hands, it felt like the Lift for Mac’s design was made with full palm grips in mind.

Part of the reason for that is the fact that the upright angle makes it hard to lift the device off your mouse mat if you need to reposition it. On a regular mouse you’d just pinch the sides and carry it upwards. With the Lift for Mac, the position of your hand and smooth vertical sides of the mouse result in your fingers frequently slipping off when you try to lift it. That’s not helped by its 131g weight, which also means it’s not ideal for fast-paced gaming sessions.

As well as that, every time I used it for more than a few hours at a time, I started to feel a little discomfort in my forearm. This could simply be because I’ve spent my entire life using standard flat mice and it takes time to get accustomed to their vertical siblings, but it wasn’t too encouraging considering the Lift for Mac is supposed to alleviate wrist pain, not cause it.

Because of the sideways angle of the mouse, it can be difficult to properly push in the scroll wheel and use the middle mouse button. This isn’t helped by the fact that this button is a tad spongey (its click is not very crisp) and stiff to press, so you often end up accidentally scrolling the wheel instead of pushing the button in.

Finally, Logi Options+ is good for the most part, but I really don’t like its method for configuring mouse pointer speed. Most apps like Options+ use a DPI rating, but Logitech’s app instead opts for a percentage figure. That makes it very difficult to set the speed to match what you use for other mice (or at least those that use DPI ratings, which is most mice). Even Logitech’s own gaming mice use DPI ratings instead of percentages because they come with a different app (Logitech G Hub).

Logitech Lift for Mac: Competition

Logitech’s own MX Vertical is another option if you’re in the market for an ergonomic mouse. It’s a little larger than the Lift for Mac and uses a top button rather than placing one behind the scroll wheel. It costs $99.99/£109.99. Alternatively, there’s the wordily named Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse. It uses two AAA batteries and a USB receiver instead of Bluetooth, and at $27.99/£23.99 it’s a much more affordable choice.

Logitech Lift for Mac: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You want to prevent wrist pain
• You prefer quiet mouse clicks
• You love Logitech’s SmartWheel tech

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You don’t find vertical mice comfortable
• You’re left-handed or have large hands
• You want a lightweight mouse for games

Logitech Lift for Mac: Verdict

A solidly well-made mouse that could be just the ticket for relieving wrist pain – although it might take some getting used to.

Have you been thinking about buying a monitor arm as well as a Thunderbolt docking station? It turns out Sabrent is offering both of these options in one accessory.

Available on Amazon for $349.99, Sabrent’s Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with Monitor Desk Mount is a great combo of two different product categories. Not only is it a monitor arm but when one of the best Macs, such as a Mac mini or M3 MacBook Air, is connected to the docking station, you get a bunch of extra ports. These include:

• 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports that both support up to 40Gbps transfer speeds
• USB power delivery (PD3.0) to the Mac, charging up to 60W
• 1x HDMI 2.1 and 1x DP 1.4 display output ports, supporting display resolutions up to 8K/30Hz (with DSC) with one monitor or 4K/60Hz simultaneously with HDR and HDCP 2.3
• 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A ports with transfer speeds up to 10Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) and 5V/1.5A charging for external storage, peripherals, and more
• 1x USB-A port with transfer speeds up to 5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) for external storage, peripherals, and more
• 1x SD, 1x microSD UHS-II card readers (SD 4.0 and TF 4.0) with speeds of up to 312MBps
• 1x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) port for network and Internet connectivity at speeds up to 1000Mbps
• 1x 3.5mm jack with mono/stereo audio output or microphone input

It’s safe to say that this docking station has all the ports you need for your Mac. When it comes to the arm, it’s easily adjustable to a single monitor that supports a standard VESA mount with displays of up to 32” and 10kg/22lbs.

If you’re looking for something for your desk that can expand your Mac’s capabilities, you won’t go far wrong with Sabrent’s Docking Station.

These external monitors would be a perfect fit with this docking station

If you’re looking for an external monitor to take advantage of Sabrent’s Docking Station with arm clamp, we’ve listed a few monitors below that would be a perfect fit for it.

• Monitor deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Dell | Lenovo | HP | Amazon | Newegg

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The latest version of Safari Technology Preview is here for anyone who wants to mess around with some of its latest experimental features.

Today, Apple released Safari Technology Preview 200. The latest version doesn't include any major features that end-users will notice but does include a number of notable updates for the underlying technology that powers the browser.

The latest version of Safari Technology Preview is an experimental version of Safari for users running a Mac that currently has macOS Sonoma or the upcoming macOS Sequoia — which is giving a huge upgrade to Safari — installed. The preview allows developers and the generally curious to test out the latest and greatest features of Apple's browser and provide feedback to the company before the public version goes live for everyone else.

What's new with Safari Technology Preview 200?

Apple has laid out in the release notes of Safari Technology Preview 200 that it has released a number of updates:

• CSS
  • Fixed: Optimized Masonry Grids for items with a span of 1. (280919@main) (131407028)
• JavaScript
  • Implemented Uint8Array.prototype.toHex in SIMD. (280719@main) (131249821)
  • Fixed class field initializers to disallow yield and await expressions. (280837@main) (119044881)
  • Fixed DestructuringAssignmentTarget to be evaluated prior to calling [[Get]] or a stepping iterator. (281013@main) (121960976)
  • Fixed throwing an exception for negative exponent in BigInt in the JIT compiler. (280841@main) (131051084)
  • Fixed RegExp range quantifier to allow 2^53 - 1. (280953@main) (131710011)
• Rendering
  • Fixed garbled bold text caused by glyph lookup using the wrong font’s glyph IDs when multiple installed fonts have the same name. (281022@main) (129891005) (FB13909556)
  • Fixed scrolling of content overflowing a flex item in an end-aligned flex container. (279992@main) (131201271)
• Web Extensions
  • Fixed Service Workers not appearing in the Develop menu or remote Web Inspector menu. (280912@main) (130712941)

If you want, you can download Safari Technology Preview and test it out for yourself. You can check out the release notes of Safari Technology Preview 200 on the Apple Developer website. It's currently unclear when the features in Safari Technology Preview 200 will make it to the general public.

If you want to try it on the latest software, you can try out macOS Sequoia as a developer or public user as well through Apple's beta programs.

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The Razer DeathAdder is one of the world’s most popular gaming mice, so getting the next-generation version right is important. Fortunately, Razer has hit a home run with the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, and it might even be a better purchase than its more expensive DeathAdder V3 Pro sibling.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: Price and availability

The Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed costs $99.99/£99.99 and is available from Razer and third-party retailers.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: What I love

The DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is Razer’s mid-range DeathAdder model. Yet despite that, it might actually be the shrewder choice over the high-end DeathAdder V3 Pro. Consider the differences:

• The HyperSpeed has a slightly lower maximum DPI rating (26,000 versus 30,000), but unless you’re a top-level pro gamer, that difference is unlikely to matter
• At 55g versus 63g, the HyperSpeed is lighter
• It’s also much, much cheaper, with an asking price of $99.99/£99.99 against the Pro’s $159.99/£159.99

Sure, the Pro model has a far higher polling rate (8,000Hz versus 1,000Hz), but the lower rating will be fine for us mere mortals. If you really want to, you can buy Razer’s 8,000Hz polling dongle separately, but not doing so confers a significant battery benefit, with Razer noting the V3 HyperSpeed’s battery life drops from 100 hours to 20 when you jump from 1,000Hz to 8,000Hz.

So, the V3 HyperSpeed is looking like a strong choice then. What else is going for it? Well, Razer has adjusted the shape of its famous DeathAdder mouse with the new V3 HyperSpeed model, and it’s an excellent revision. The slightly swooping, ergonomic design fits snugly in your hand, and it’s a subtle enough curvature that it’s comfortable without feeling overengineered. Start using it and you’ll settle into it pretty much straight away.

As we mentioned above, this is one lightweight mouse. We weighed it at 54g, which Razer managed without poking holes in the mouse’s body like some rivals do. Its low weight is ideal whether you’re playing fast-paced twitch shooters or just don’t want to feel like you’re lugging a brick around your desk. Combined with the large pads on the mouse’s underside, it can swiftly glide over your mouse mat without a hitch, making it lovely and smooth in use.

The left and right buttons are enjoyably clicky. They’re a little on the loud side, but nothing too distracting. On the left-hand side are two well-placed thumb buttons that are easily within reach, no matter your grip type.

The DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed’s scroll wheel is remarkably precise, which helps greatly when you’re changing weapons in the heat of a gaming session, although it is perhaps a touch too rigid. It would be good if we had a way to adjust its resistance, but it’s better than being overly loose.

You can connect the mouse to your Mac using the included USB-C to USB-A cable or wirelessly using Razer’s USB-A dongle. There’s a separate adapter that connects to the cable on one end and the USB-A dongle on the other, and it allows you to bring the wireless receiver much closer to the mouse, minimizing the risk of signal blockages. Alternatively, you can just use the plug-in USB-A receiver to minimize cable clutter on your desk.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: What I don’t love

As with all of Razer’s products, the main issue right now is that the company’s Synapse companion app – which in this case is used to create macros, change button functions, and tweak mouse sensitivity, among other things – isn’t compatible with macOS. Razer says it’s working on a version that will work on your Mac, but it doesn’t know when it’ll be ready.

That presents some problems. For example, the side buttons do nothing out of the box, and without Synapse, you’ll need a third-party app to assign functions to them. It’s hardly ideal.

What’s also not ideal is the fact that both the included cable and the wireless dongle use USB-A connections, so you’ll need an adapter if you have a modern Mac. As well as that, the cable is not braided and so is prone to kinks, which can drag on your mouse mat.

It’s also worth noting that while the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is capable of achieving an 8,000Hz polling rate, you’ll need to buy a separate $29.99/£29.99 dongle for that.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: Competition

If you like Razer’s mice, the Viper V3 HyperSpeed is a good alternative. It has a symmetrical shape rather than the DeathAdder’s curved design, has much more battery life but is a chunk heavier, and has a cheaper price of $69.99/£69.99.

You could also try the Logitech G703 Lightspeed, an ergonomically designed gaming mouse with a 1,000Hz polling rate and 25,600 DPI sensitivity. It’ll cost you $99.99/£94.99.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You want a great mouse that can do a bit of everything
• You want quality without breaking the bank
• You prefer lightweight mice

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You don’t want to look for third-party apps that let you adjust mouse settings
• You want pro-level performance
• You don’t want to buy USB-A adapters for your Mac

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: Verdict

The Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is a worthy upgrade to a classic mouse. Its excellent feature set makes it mightily appealing, whether you game or not.

Apple's Magic Mouse is certainly a clicker that gets people talking. You either love or hate the design, usually spurred on by the charging port on the bottom. But Logitech is working on a mouse that would let you ditch the Magic Mouse for good.

In an episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, Logitech's CEO hinted at a future mouse that could last forever. Instead of chucking the mouse in the bin when the next shiny upgrade comes along, you'd simply get new features via software updates, likely through a subscription model. This "forever mouse" concept is inspired by those timeless wristwatches – reliable, well-designed, and built to last.

What would a "forever" mouse look like?

Logitech CEO Faber shared her encounter with a prototype that was "a little heavier" but offered "fantastic-quality" and impeccable design. That's a trade-off you might have to make. The mouse would be a tad weighty, sure, but it’s a small price to pay for such longevity. Although, that could exclude gamers from this accessory.

However, before you get too excited, Logitech hasn't committed to bringing this marvel to market just yet. Faber herself acknowledged the challenge lies in devising a sustainable business model without slapping an exorbitant price tag on the hardware. A suggestion from Decoder host Nilay Patel pegged the price at $200 – a steep climb from the average $26 mouse but within reach for pros and tech enthusiasts.

Speaking of pricing, Faber floated the idea of subsidising the hardware through subscription payments. While software updates via a subscription model could make your mouse evergreen, the thought of paying regular fees might put some off. Plus, there’s the niggling issue of running constant peripheral software, which can hog computer resources – something Logitech users have grumbled about in the past.

On the flip side, the durability of this everlasting mouse is yet to be dissected. Self-repair and upgrade options could be key here, with Logitech possibly expanding its partnership with iFixit to include more parts and guides. Think hot-swappable buttons, replaceable shells and wheels, detachable cables, and customisation galore. Or, when you want a new mouse, being able to sell it on for a refurb.

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Apple’s M3 chips are, without a doubt, very impressive pieces of silicon innovation. They’re also attached to some very expensive pieces of Apple kit, with prices high enough to make you wonder whether the extra power is worth it.

Making that decision even harder are deals like this one, which reduce the price of the still powerful M2 MacBook Air to its lowest ever. That’s a $200 discount on RRP, and a whole $100 less than the M3 version. For all intents and purposes, unless you really need some of the extra processing beef, this model is the one we’d recommend.

M2 MacBook Air lowest price ever

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We adore the MacBook Air here at iMore, thanks to its incredibly thin, svelte chassis, wicked color options, and powerful internal hardware. This M2 might not have the ‘newness factor’ of the M3 model that you can also nab at Amazon, but the chip inside is still plenty powerful for all but the most demanding of workloads.

The deal here is on all the different colors of MacBook Air, including Midnight, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight, so you’re spoilt for choice. If you absolutely need the extra power of the M3 then you can pick up the newer model for $100 more, but the M2 still keeps up in a bunch of different applications. Only the most demanding of users are going to use everything the newer model has to offer, and if you’re looking for a solid everyday laptop, then the M2 MacBook Air is the way to go.

Apple's transition to its own Apple Silicon means we're likely to get a pretty regular cadence of M4 updates in the coming months, and one device that certainly feels like it needs an update is the Mac Mini.

Apple's adorable little computer is still on M2 hardware, but reports have suggested it'll get the M4 chip that's currently only found in the latest iPad Pro that debuted earlier this year.

So, while the Mac Mini skipped the M3 chip, it could be about to get a huge performance boost to make it a powerhouse for your desk - so long as you have accessories and a monitor to pair with it.

Here's everything we know about the Mac Mini M4, including when you might be able to buy one.

M4 Mac Mini: Release date rumors

It's hard to believe the M2 Mac Mini debuted back in January of 2023, making it closer to two years old than one year old as we approach the next generation.

In April, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggested we'll see a new M4 Mac model every few months, with an M4 Mac Mini expected in late 2024 or early 2025.

That would sandwich it between the low-end MacBook Pro and M4 iMac, as well as the high-end MacBook Pros and a new MacBook Air with M4.

M4 Mac Mini: Models

We're not expecting a big change in form factor for the Mac Mini, meaning it'll likely remain a rounded square, likely still only in Silver, but the M2 version may have set the precedent when it comes to which chips to expect.

The M2 Mac Mini can be configured with a base M2 chip or an M2 Pro for greater performance, without needing to spring for the Mac Studio.

That could mean the M4 and M4 Pro could be options for the Mac Mini whenever it arrives.

M4 Mac Mini: M4 chip

Apple's latest chip is already in the iPad Pro, so we know already just how capable it is when it comes to just about any task.

It offers 10 CPU and 10 GPU cores and runs about 1.5x faster than the current M2 chip found in the model available now. Then there's the connectivity improvements, with M4 allowing for additional port options (more on that later), potentially even letting you run more monitors with your Mac Mini.

That'll all be the same for the M4 Pro if it arrives with the M4 Mini, too, but you can naturally expect even more power - and likely a more capable base spec for the price you'll need to pay for it.

That should make working within macOS Sequoia and running potentially demanding Apple Intelligence tasks a breeze.

M4 Mac Mini: Memory and Storage

The Mac Mini is relatively affordable by Apple standards, but for $599 you'll only get 8GB of Unified RAM and 256GB of storage.

While the latter is arguably less important since you can hook up plenty of devices, the former will cost you $200 to double.

On the other hand, the M2 Pro version will set you back essentially double the price at $1,299, but does include double the storage and RAM, along with two more CPU cores and six more GPU cores.

That means Apple has plenty of space to work within in terms of the price of an M4 Mac Mini, but here's hoping we can get improved base specs.

M4 Mac Mini: Connectivity

The current M2 model of Mac Mini packs two Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, two USB-A ports and ethernet, as well as a 3.5mm jack at the back.

The M2 Pro model adds another pair of Thunderbolt ports, but given the M4 can work with even more, there's every chance Apple adds even more ports (maybe even to the front!).

Still, with so much packed into a small space, there's also a good chance the company sticks to what it has in terms of I/O.

M4 Mac Mini: Price

As mentioned above, the Mac Mini M2 will set you back just $599, provided you're happy to provide your own display and accessories.

It would be great to see Apple start the M4 version at the same price, but given the benchmarks suggesting an extra boost of around 1.5x the power, that could come at a price.

We'll know more soon, but the company could even nudge the M2 into the more affordable price bracket while positioning the M4 version as the premium one. It's done similarly with the M2/M3 MacBook Air, and it might help bridge the gap until the rumored M4 Mac Studio.