Macworld

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Quick, speedy, reliable and reasonably priced. Additional backup and customization options. Easy to fine-tune a backup, synchronization, or clone function. Cons Slightly awkward navigation to the home screen. YouTube tutorial videos for ChronoSync are six years out of date. Progress bar elements should show estimated time remaining. Our Verdict ChronoSync gives casual Mac user complete control over custom and scheduled backups. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today There’s something to be said for customization and control of a backup application, and while Apple’s free Time Machine feature is terrific at automatically sending backups to an external hard drive throughout the day, there isn’t a ton of control offered as to file choice, scheduling, or other options. ChronoSync for macOS, from Econ Technologies, can give those who want it tighter control over their backup options, and while you may not have heard of it, it’s garnered a fan base over the years that’s arguably justified. Where price and offerings are concerned, ChronoSync offers something valid for your money. A single license currently retails for $49.99 as of this writing, there is also a ‘cut-down’entry-level’ ChronoSync Express package for $29.99, with that app also being part of the SetApp bundle. The company also offers a 15-day trial without requiring a credit or debit card as well as a lifetime of support in terms of free updates after one-and-done payments without bothering you to set up an ongoing subscription. See how Chronosync compares to other Mac Backup apps we’ve tested. The software requires macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later to install and run, and during testing, downloaded and installed cleanly, the software’s installation engine requesting full access to the hard drive in the Security and Privacy settings and assigning this without any fuss. ChronoSync presents a world of backup options to you, in a format that doesn’t overwhelm. The software is based on several core modules such as Home Folder Backup, Data Volume, Synchronize Two Folders, Multiple Folder Backup, Bootable Backup, Backup to a Disk Image, and Folder Backup. The ChronoSync Organizer, which serves as the program’s home screen and offers easy access to modules.Foundry Simply select your desired function from the ChronoSync Organizer/home screen, and you can begin creating or editing a task that can be saved and worked with later. Select the task you want to create, specify your settings (such as folders you want to copy over, file types you want to copy, a schedule you want for backups to take place, etc.), hit “Synchronize” and you’re off to the races. Test synchronizations can also be set up to simulate functions, and a readily-accessible manual offers quick access to a guidebook that comes in handy. For the truly die-hard and geeky, rule-based copies and tasks can be set up, while the Analyze feature offers extensive information about documents such as a file types and permission settings. The task container option can be used for easy scripting, and you can quickly set up multiple steps for ChronoSync to follow. Other features include being able to readily back up to NAS and file servers, the program supporting Apple’s HFS+ and APFS file formats as well as allowing for easy archiving tools and AES-128 and AES-256 encryption tools. For users looking to make bootable clones, this is as easy as it should be, ChronoSync’s module allowing for something just as easy as what SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner have become known for, and it was simple to choose a source volume, choose a target volume, hit “Synchronize,” let the process run, and have a volume that was a cinch to boot from at the end of the process. Configuring a test backup in ChronoSync.Foundry ChronoSync has a few areas for improvement, but they’re essentially cosmetic. A lack of a quick button that can be clicked to go back to the ChronoSync Organizer/home screen is a bit odd, as you just close the window to navigate back. The application’s built-in manual is good, and there’s easy access to the company’s ticketing system should you require tech support, but the company’s YouTube tutorial videos are now six years old and there’s apparently been no efforld t to update these videos. I feel as if this is a missed opportunity, as users tend to love these, they’re easy to refer to, and would allow an easier learning curve if people are a bit overwhelmed by the number of customization and options available within ChronoSync. Finally, the synchronization function displays the elapsed time and a progress bar, but no estimated time until completion, which could come in handy as a user interface element. Should you buy ChronoSync? Still, these are small things, the application is responsive, ran well in both the foreground and the background, and while it’d be amazing to see this grow into a program that could readily back up to cloud-based services such as Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox, there’s something excellent here for both the home user and the more tech-focused user who wants more customization than Time Machine offers. Yes, a few user interface elements could be improved upon and I think Econ Technologies could go the whole hog with a set of both funny and useful YouTube tutorial videos, but I think ChronoSync has found a good place in terms of its pricing, support, offering a countdown as to days remaining on the free trial, and not bombarding its users with marketing or ads to purchase a license for the full version of the software. If anything, this offers a bridge for the casual Mac user to create custom, scheduled backups and have complete control over their backups, making the process that much more satisfying. ChronoSync may not have the name recognition of Apple’s Time Machine or some of its competitors, but what’s present here is excellent, and offers the potential for additional backup control for more casual Mac users, or the ability to utilize an amazing amount of customization and go entirely bananas for geekier Macheads. There’s a 15-day free trial, and if you haven’t given ChronoSync a gander, this is worth your attention.

Macworld Other than a new HomePod mini color that’s suspiciously similar to the color it replaced, Apple has all but ignored its smart speaker lineup this year. However, even though HomePod missed out on Apple Intelligence this year, Apple gave Siri an upgrade in the latest software update. Shipping with iOS 18.2 yesterday, HomePod Software version 18.2 includes a new feature that will be noticeable when asking Siri to play a song from Apple Music. According to Apple’s release notes, Siri on HomePod is “now integrated with Apple Music natural language search so you can describe what you want to hear using any combination of categories like genre, mood, decade or activity.”  The feature, which was also added to the Apple Music app’s search bar, “lets you describe what you’re looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more.” While not quite Apple Intelligence, the feature is definitely Apple Intelligence adjacent and will make it easier to play and discover new music. HomePod should now be able to play music with vague prompts when you don’t know the specific song you want to hear. Additionally, 2nd-gen HomePod users will get a new Enhance Dialogue option when paired with an Apple TV 4K to “hear speech more clearly over background sounds using real-time audio processing and machine learning.” HomePod software version 18.2 also includes the usual bug fixes and stability improvements. You can update your HomePod by going to the Home app and tapping the menu button in the top right corner, then Home Settings, Software Update, and Update All.

Macworld The ambitious Apple Car project, known internally as Project Titan, was cancelled earlier this year after almost a decade of development. But that much work doesn’t just vanish overnight. What’s left behind? What has become of the employees brought in to work on the project, and the technology they’ve developed? Will Apple divert the resources into new avenues, or is the whole thing a total loss? In this article we look at how Apple is dealing with the aftermath of its car project, what it learned from the failure, and the impact all of this is having on the company and the tech industry at large. Apple’s mysterious fleet By January 2024, Apple had a fleet of 68 autonomous test vehicles and 162 registered drivers. Despite the cancellation of the project, Apple decided not to decommission these vehicles. According to media reports, the test vehicles remain fully registered. However, the number of drivers has been drastically reduced from 172 to 15. The permits are valid until April 30, 2025. Why is Apple holding on to its fleet? One possible explanation is that the company wants to sell intellectual property from the project, and that the vehicles could serve as demonstration units to present the developed technologies to potential buyers. Another possibility is that Apple is archiving the research data obtained in order to use it for future developments. The remaining employees could play a central role in the orderly management of project resources. Shutterstock.com / Joaquin Corbalan P Why did the Apple Car fail? Project Titan was launched in 2014 in a bid to catapult Apple into the automotive industry. The aim was to develop a self-driving electric vehicle that met Apple’s high standards, but despite around $10bn of financial investment and the collaboration of more than 2,000 specialists, the project failed. One of the main reasons was the lack of clear direction. The project repeatedly changed strategy, from an electric vehicle to an autonomous vehicle and back again. These constant realignments led to confusion and frustration within the team. In addition, the technological hurdles were greater than expected. Developing a safe and reliable autonomous vehicle proved to be more complex than Apple originally anticipated. Internal differences of opinion and staff changes exacerbated the problems. The leadership of the project changed several times, and each new leader brought their own vision to the table. External factors, such as challenges in the automotive sector, worries about safety, and the slower-than-expected progress of self-driving technologies, also contributed to the failure. (Read next: Crash of the Titan: The long and winding saga of the Apple Car) A lesson for the entire industry The cancellation of the Apple Car project is not only a setback for Apple, but a worrying signal for the entire industry. It shows that even large tech companies face significant challenges when entering new industries. The automotive industry is complex and requires specialized expertise that cannot easily be transferred from other sectors. Apple is now focusing on other pioneering technologies. The remaining Project Titan employees have been integrated into the Special Projects Group (SPG), which is led by John Giannandrea, the head of Apple’s AI division. Their focus is now on generative artificial intelligence, an area in which Apple wants to become more active. The accumulated knowledge and technologies developed in Project Titan could yet be incorporated into future products. Possible applications include AI-controlled devices or innovative user interfaces. The legacy of the Apple Car could thus live on indirectly in other projects and strengthen Apple’s position in the tech industry. Foundry Apple’s car dream lives on Although the Apple Car project has been discontinued, the company hasn’t given up on its dream of breaking into the automotive industry. With CarPlay 2, Apple plans to significantly expand its presence in vehicles. While CarPlay has long offered a way to integrate several of your iPhone’s apps into your vehicle’s dashboard, the software’s second major iteration takes things to the next level. It enables complete control over all displays in the car, including climate control. CarPlay 2, which was first unveiled at the WWDC 2022 developer conference, offers seamless integration between the iPhone and vehicle systems. By working with several car manufacturers, Apple wants to revolutionize the vehicle user interface. The aim is to create a standardized and user-friendly interface that increases convenience and functionality. For car manufacturers, this represents both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, they benefit from Apple’s expertise in user experience and software integration. On the other hand, they have to relinquish some control. Some manufacturers, such as Porsche and Aston Martin, have already announced that they will fully support CarPlay 2. Others are more cautious and have concerns about data and brand identity. Porsche CarPlay 2 could be Apple’s indirect way of entering the automotive industry without producing its own vehicle. The Apple Car is dead, long live the Apple car! By expanding its software platform, Apple is strengthening its position and creating new opportunities for in-vehicle services and applications. And in this endeavour the experience and technologies from Project Titan could prove to be of great benefit.

Macworld With iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, Apple finally adds image generation capabilities to its Apple Intelligence tools. One of the slickest ways to use the new AI image gen capabilities is to make custom emojis with the new Genmoji feature. All you need is a compatible iPhone or iPad up to date with version 18.2 or later. Here’s everything you need to know about the new feature. What is Genmoji? Genmoji is Apple’s name for its built-in AI-powered emoji generator. Some have taken to calling images of themselves made with the Image Playground app “Genmoji,” but that’s not quite right. Those are not styled like Apple’s emojis, are created in a different way, and are not accessible in the standard emoji picker. To create Genmoji, you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or a new iPhone 16 with iOS 18.2; or an iPad with an A17 Pro or M-series processor with iPadOS 18.2. Macs running at least macOS 15.1 can use a Genmoji that you created on an iPhone or iPad, but can’t yet create new ones. That’s another difference between Genmoji and images created with Image Playground. How to find the Genmoji creator To start making Genmoji, open any app with text input that accepts emojis, such as Messages or Notes. Then launch the emoji picker as you normally would by tapping the smiling emoji in the lower left of the keyboard. Foundry Next, tap the Genmoji icon to the right of the search field. Foundry Describe the emoji you want to create Now for the fun part. To make a new Genmoji, simply type what you want your emoji to look like. It’s best to keep it simple and avoid all but the broadest action verbs. If there aren’t any existing emoji to match your query, you’ll see an option to “Create New Emoji” to make one that matches your prompt. You’ll see a dreamy soap-bubble blob appear and, after a few seconds, fill in with an image result. And you don’t need to be connected to the internet either—Genmoji even works offline. Foundry Swipe through the results and pick a winner You’ll see a spotlighted emoji in the center of the screen, but that isn’t your only option. Swipe left to view other interpretations of your prompt. The AI feature will generate additional images as you keep swiping. Some will be pretty good, others will be far off the mark, but hey you might like them better! Foundry Tap the one you like, and it will insert into your text just as any other emoji would. It will also go into the recent emoji section of your emoji picker, so you can use it again next time. You can also access your saved Genmoji from a Mac there, even though you can’t create a new one yet. Read our complete guide to iOS 18 for everything you need to know.

Macworld Apple Intelligence isn’t a thing, it’s several things that are being released piecemeal over the course of several iOS/iPadOS/macOS updates. It started with iOS 18.1, but aside from some neat writing tools, the really good stuff didn’t arrive until now. With iOS 18.2, your iPhone has quite a few new useful features and improvements powered by Apple Intelligence, and gives you a much better idea of where Apple is going with its AI vision. The features introduced in iOS 18.1 were just the start; these are all the big ways Apple Intelligence levels up in iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2. Image playground is Apple’s DALL·E With the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 updates, you’ll find a new app installed on your devices: Image Playground. Like DALL·E and other AI image generators, it allows you to make AI-made images by typing a description or using a variety of selected settings, objects, and modifiers. You can opt to draw in either animation or illustration styles, but it’s very limited in both scope and quality, probably to avoid any potential for trying to trick anyone. But you can select people from your Photos library to use a subject, which is kind of fun. Foundry You can use the Image Playground engine in the Notes app with a new Image Wand too. It can make a new image from a description or surrounding text, or take a rough sketch and flesh it out. Anywhere you can draw an image in Notes, just select the new “Magic Wand” tool at the right and circle the blank area or rough sketch you wish to replace with an AI-generated one. It’s based on the same image generation tools as Image Playground, so it has the same strict limitations and middling quality. But unless you’re an artist, it’s probably going to look nicer than the rough sketch you made with your finger or Apple Pencil. Genmoji is built into the keyboard The next image generation tool built into the latest version of iOS and macOS is called Genmoji, and it will make a new custom image in the style of Apple’s emoji. Just open any app that accepts emoji input, select the emoji picker in the keyboard (or your Mac’s menu), and tap/click the smiling face icon to the right of the emoji search box. Then you can describe the emoji you wish to see and Apple’s image-generation AI will give you several options. Foundry Writing Tools will do what you say The Writing Tools prompt in iOS 18.1 will let you change your selected text to automatically make it more professional, friendly, or concise. Those options are still there, but the Writing Tools interface now includes a text input line where can describe any sort of change you want. Tell Writing Tools to make it into a poem, make it scary, or whatever else you like (within reason of course). Foundry ChatGPT can write anything Also new in the Writing Tools box is a “Compose” button, which lets you type a prompt to compose whatever text you want with ChatGPT. You can include any sort of prompt you would on the ChatGPT site to generate new text. When it’s done, you can use ChatGPT to refine it, with another prompt or by selecting one of ChatGPT’s suggestions. Foundry Visual Intelligence sees the world (if you have an iPhone 16) One of the core functions of the Camera Control button finally comes to iPhone 16 in iOS 18.2. Visual Intelligence can use Siri and ChatGPT to tell you all sorts of things about what you point your camera at. Press and hold the camera button for a second or two to launch Visual Intelligence. Frame what you want information about and press the shutter button (the Camera Control button or the on-screen shutter button). The information you get depends on your subject and takes into account details like your location. If you point it at a restaurant, for example, you might get its Yelp rating, hours of operation, some photos of it, and even the option to make a reservation or order from the menu. For random objects, you’ll usually see two buttons at the bottom of the screen: Ask and Search. Search performs a Google Image Search for similar images. Ask will ask ChatGPT about your image (after prompting you for permission first). A ChatGPT prompt at the bottom of the screen will let you ask specific follow-up questions like “how much does this cost” or “how many calories are in this?” Foundry ChatGPT makes Siri much smarter ChatGPT integration into Siri really makes it a lot more useful. Siri is good at knowing what’s on your calendar or in your text messages and can give you some general information from the internet, but it’s quite limited. ChatGPT knows nothing about what’s on your iPhone, but it knows a basically everything about the world at large (except for recent events). You can ask Siri a question, and if it doesn’t know the answer, it will prompt you to use ChatGPT instead. You can even browse your Photos library and ask all sorts of things about one of your photos or ask about what’s on your screen (websites and such). You’ll always be prompted to send your photo or a screenshot to ChatGPT to get the answer. If you don’t want the prompts before every time Siri asks ChatGPT, open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > ChatGPT and disable the “Confirm ChatGPT Requests” option. You’ll still be prompted before sending images or screenshots, though. If you’re a ChatGPT subscriber you can log in here to get the full benefits of your account. If not, you can still use ChatGPT, even without an account, you’ll just be limited as to how many advanced requests you can make in a 24-hour period. You can even tell Siri to have ChatGPT generate images, which will use OpenAI’s advanced DALL·E 3 engine. Foundry

Macworld These days cloud storage is all the rage, offering the convenience of access to your digital files without having to clog up your mobile devices’ storage. It’s also particularly useful now that so may of us work from home and need to be able to access our data outside the office. Provided you’ve got internet access, everything is hunky-dory. A good cloud storage solution backs up your important documents, photos, and videos, but it also helps keep all your devices in sync. It’s a great way to make sure your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet all have instant access to all your digital content. It should also allow you to access and edit documents from a web browser and easily share files and folders with others. Another reason to use a cloud service – or any service that offers offsite back up for your Mac – is that it protects your data if something happens at the location where your Mac and backup are located. PROMOTIONSecure Cloud Storage for Growing Businesses Get ample space for all your files with Google Workspace. Enjoy up to 5 TB of secure cloud storage, plus business versions of Gmail, Calendar, Meet, and more. Now with Gemini for Workspace to boost productivity with AI. Try free for 14 days Owners of Macs, iPads and iPhones will naturally tend to favour iCloud, Apple’s own cloud service, because it’s so well integrated with those devices’ operating systems. Here’s our full guide to using iCloud and here is iCloud’s current pricing structure. However, iCloud only really syncs your data and it isn’t a way to back up your Mac. If you want to back up your Mac to the cloud you need to look at options like Backblaze, Carbonite and Acronis included below and in our guide to the Best Mac backup software. You may only be looking for a way to store a few items so you can access them anywhere, or so you can share them with others, in which case iCloud and other options like Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive could meet your needs. In this article, we round up all the best iCloud alternatives: the cloud storage services for Mac, iPhone and iPad that offer the most appealing combination of price, features, security and reliability. If you use Apple products, we think these are the best cloud storage solutions to which you should subscribe. We are starting with iCloud because Apple’s service is simple to use and mostly intuitive. It’s available on all Apple products and syncs all your data – as long as you have enough iCloud storage. It doesn’t act as a backup for your Mac, but you can access a backup of your iPhone or iPad via iCloud. Read: Time Machine vs iCloud: Do you need to use both and can one back up to the other? Read on to find out what the alternatives offer. Apple iCloud Drive – Best for Apple fans View Apple iCloud here As an Apple user, you’ll have heard of iCloud, but we don’t blame you if you find it confusing. It’s Apple’s own cloud-based storage system, and if you own an iPhone or iPad and have an Apple ID, you’ll already have 5GB free storage. It’s the easiest way for those bought into the Apple ecosystem (users of iPhone, iPad and Mac) to sync contacts, notes, files, photos and more across devices and access them on all their devices. For example, you can use the Files folder on an iPhone or iPad to view all your files stored in the cloud. Because it integrates so seamlessly with all of Apple’s products and services, iCloud really is the best cloud storage solution for someone who is all-in with Apple. And I do mean all-in: All your computers are Macs, your mobile devices are iPhone or iPads, you work in Apple’s productivity software (Pages, Numbers, Notes), and so on. Frustratingly, Apple only provides a paltry 5GB of free iCloud storage, which isn’t so bad if all you want to do is store some Pages and Numbers documents, but is grossly inadequate for photos and videos. Apple is years overdue for increasing this limit (Google offers 15GB free), but at the very least, it should stop counting iOS backups against it. Since the fall of 2021, Apple has offered to “loan” you as much iCloud storage space as you need to backup and restore your data onto a new device, for up to two weeks. It’s a good feature for those buying a new Apple device, but it won’t help you protect your data if your iPhone gets lost/stolen/damaged. From there, it’s $0.99/£0.99 per month for 50GB, $2.99/£2.99 for 200GB, $9.99/£8.99 for 2TB, $29.99/£26.99 for 6TB and $59.99/£54.99 for 20GB. See: iCloud storage plans. You can enable family sharing on the 200GB and above plans—if you do, it doesn’t mean your family members can see all your cloud stuff. It just means your whole family’s iCloud usage will count against the same storage limit. These paid tiers are branded “iCloud+” and include several benefits. There’s iCloud Private Relay, free storage for HomeKit enabled security cameras, a Hide My Email feature, custom domain names for iCloud email accounts, and additional contact options for recovering your account. These are all excellent features that help solidify our view that iCloud is by far the best choice for those who are all-in on Apple devices. The main benefit of paying for more iCloud storage is that nearly all of Apple’s apps can seamlessly sync through it. Photos, productivity apps, Mail, Calendar, and anything you drop into your iCloud Drive folder in Finder on a Mac are immediately available across all your Apple devices. A significant number of iOS apps optionally back up and sync through iCloud, too. If you use non-Mac computers or non-iOS mobile devices from time to time, Apple provides a full suite of web apps at iCloud.com, but they’re sort of mediocre. Apple also provides an iCloud Windows app that syncs data and integrates your iCloud mail with common Windows apps like Outlook, but there are no native productivity apps for Windows or Android: If you want to edit a Pages document, you have to use the web interface. We like using iCloud, but we also pay for it. Most decent cloud services require you to pay a small fee. If you’re a heavy Apple user, you might consider the Apple One service bundle. It’s much more than a cloud storage solution, and thus beyond the scope of this article, but the value offered may tip the scales in iCloud’s favor for you. Read our full Apple iCloud review Google Drive – King of Cloud View Google Drive here While the idea of using Google’s tools on Apple hardware may make some squirm, it’s deep integration with Google Docs, Sheets, and other popular Google tools means it’s never been easier to share a document with a colleague, collect feedback, and make amendments.  Google’s system, alongside Dropbox and OneDrive, is arguably one of the most common file-sharing options. It’s much more prevalent than, say, iCloud Drive, making it much more useful across multiple platforms. If your workflows and job require any degree of rapid sharing of files back and forth, it’s a perfect fit. Outside of work, Google Photos may also appeal as a nice backup option to have, but it’ll start to eat into your storage pretty quickly. That said, Google Drive does comes with a whopping 15GB of free storage – that’s triple what Apple offers for free on iCloud Drive. 15GB is plenty generous, but you can enjoy 100GB for just $1.99/£1.59 a month, 200GB for $2.99/£2.49, and 2TB for $9.99/£7.99 per month. There’s even a massive 30TB for $150 a month. You can use Google Drive on Mac through a dedicated app, or via the web interface. Whether you’re on Mac, iPhone, iPad, or just about any other platform, Google Drive remains the best option around. Read our full Google Drive review Microsoft OneDrive – Cloud storage home workers View Microsoft OneDrive here If you need a cloud plan for a family or small team, and you’re already leaning on Microsoft’s Office apps, then OneDrive is a great option. One of the best parts of OneDrive is that it opens up the Office ecosystem, both for Mac and iPhone or iPad. With access to Microsoft mainstays like Word, Excel, and with those apps using OneDrive to sync across platforms, it’s got potential for the workplace – or for families with kids working on school projects. If you’re not keen on Google Docs or Sheets, or Apple’s Pages and Numbers, having Word and Excel documents spread across your devices could be a huge boon. The 5GB base storage is painfully low for free users (although still better than Dropbox’s 2GB). Microsoft clearly wants to nudge you to one of its paid plans. You can spend $99.99/£79.99 per year to get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more, with 1TB storage per person for up to six people (6TB total). Alternatively, the Microsoft 365 Personal version with 1TB storage costs $69.99/£59.99 a year, and Microsoft 365 Basic is $19.99/£19.99 a year for 100GB cloud storage. Whichever option you go for, OneDrive is a model citizen when it comes to macOS. The app is lightweight an

Macworld As more devices enhance our working and personal lives, so more cables and individual chargers clutter our desks and homes. Put all those away in your drawer because a new flexible series of multi-device chargers promises to not only declutter your working space but speed up charging and boost your productivity. The Baseus Nomos family of chargers brings innovation and efficiency to the muddle of modern-day life for all Apple users, and each one is currently available with huge holiday savings. View Baseus Holiday Deals Baseus Nomo 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W – 33% off Baseus The new lynchpin of your desk should be the super-versatile Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W—one of the most compact and flexible charging stations we’ve seen. It has five charging points, including an adjustable 15W wireless iPhone charger that utilizes the latest MagSafe-friendly Qi2 magnetic technology embraced by Apple and other top manufacturers. This can lay flat when not in use or double-up as a charger for your AirPods or other wireless devices. The unique Nomos 5-in-1 beats all other desktop chargers by boasting a 2.6-foot (0.8m) retractable USB-C cable that is hidden from sight when not in use but can power a laptop or other devices at up to 100W. It pulls out and magnetically snaps back in a smooth and quiet operation. Baseus One of the two other USB-C ports is rated at 140W PD 3.1 so can be used to fast-charge a large laptop such as a 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro at full speed. The other USB-C port is rated at 100W. And there’s a powerful 15W USB-A charging port for legacy devices. As if this charger wasn’t smart enough already there’s a detailed display that shows the real-time charging speeds of each output. Unlike most desktop chargers, the Nomos 5-in-1 is highly portable as its power cord is detachable. The unit measures 4.7 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches and weighs just over 1lb. Right now the Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Desktop Charger Qi2 140W is available at a 33% discount for just $99.99, down from $149.99. It is also available from Amazon. View Deal Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Charging Station – Qi2 67W – 40% off! Baseus Another travel-friendly Nomos power solution is the super-slim Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Charging Station Qi2 67W that can power and charge up to eight devices simultaneously. Imagine being able to pull out of your bag an AC power strip with three spare power sockets, as well as three USB-C ports and one 12W USB-A. Two of the USB-C ports are rated high enough to charge a laptop at up 67W. On top of that is an adjustable 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless iPhone charger that can be laid flat for easy portability. Get a great discount on the Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Charging Station Qi2 67W, which is available at a 40% discount for just $59.99, down from $99.99. It is also available from Amazon. View Deal Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh – 30% off! Baseus While both the 5-in-1 and 8-in-1 Nomos desktop chargers can be slipped into a bag, the flexible Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh can be carried in your pocket. Its 10K battery capacity can recharge a phone nearly twice over. This sleek top-end power bank—available in either Black or Silver—features ultimate phone charging speeds, offering the best of both worlds: 15W Qi2 wireless charging plus up to 45W wired charging via its built-in retractable USB-C cable. There’s also a side-mounted USB-C port so that you can charge three devices at the same time: via wireless, USB-C cable and USB-C port. This port is powerful enough to add extra life into even a connected MacBook. As if that isn’t useful enough, the alim airline-approved power bank—measuring just 4.8 inches long and 2.67 inches wide—features a pull-out stand so you can set your charging phone in either landscape or portrait orientations. Right now there is a great deal on the Baseus Nomos Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 45W 10000mAh, which is available at a 30% discount for just $69.59, down from $99.99. It is also available from Amazon. View Deal Baseus Nomos Retractable USB-C Cable – 31% off! Baseus Alongside the two versatile desktop chargers and flexible 10K power bank, the Baseus Nomos Retractable USB-C Cable is another compact charging solution that we would recommend to any digital workplace or home and travel environment. Rated high enough to support 100W laptop charging this durable, tangle-free and easy-to-store 4.9-foot (1.5m) cable is kept desktop- and pocket-friendly by retracting into a compact body. Get yourself a great discount on the Baseus Nomos Retractable USB-C Cable, which is available at a 31% discount for just $19.99, down from $28.99. It is also available from Amazon. View Deal Versatility, efficiency, power and portability Each of the Baseus Nomos power solutions will make your work and home lives cleaner, more flexible and highly efficient, while opening up practical opportunities in portability and travel. Black Friday is the perfect time to reward yourself with one of these charging solutions or spread the efficiency by making a gift that will keep on giving all year round. Check out the Baseus holiday sale View Offers

Macworld The 2025 MacBook Air is expected to be a chip upgrade to the M4, but according to a new report, the release will feature another new feature. According to AppleInsider, regulatory documents that they obtained mention a “Front Ultra Wide Camera” for the upcoming MacBook Air. That’s different from the 1080p FaceTime camera in the current M3 MacBook Air, which could mean that the M4 MacBook Air will feature an upgraded camera. With the M4 MacBook Pro and M4 iMac, Apple upgraded the 1080p FaceTime camera to a 12MP Center Stage camera, so it’s not much of a leap to think that Apple will also outfit the M4 MacBook Air with a Center Stage camera as well. There was some speculation that Apple might not upgrade the Air’s camera to differentiate the laptop further from the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. AppleInsider also points out that references to the upcoming M4 MacBook Air are in the code of the macOS Sequoia 15.2 update that was released on Wednesday. That makes it practically certain that Apple will release the laptop, it’s just a matter of when (probably in the March-April-May timeframe). Apple released the M3 MacBook Air in March of 2024. Get the lowdown on the upcoming M4 MacBook Air.

Macworld In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we take a look at the year in review for Apple. What were the big products, events, and happenings that were landmarks in 2024 for the company? Tune in and find out!  This is episode 913 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.  Listen to episode 913 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 913 on Spotify Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcast—or leave us a review!—right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel.  Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworld’s podcast page or our home on MegaPhone. Apple

Macworld Are you tired of dragging multiple dongles around just to connect your laptop to a monitor, mouse, or transfer files? You could eliminate your dongle nightmare by upgrading to this 13-in-1 docking station. It might just turn your laptop into a desktop with all its connectivity options, and it’s now only $44.97 (reg. $70). Order it for yourself or as a stocking stuffer by December 15 to get it by the holidays! Rather than rummage through your bag for your arsenal of adapters—or worse, realize you forgot the one you needed—you could have all your connectivity needs met with this singular docking station. Just plug it into your laptop’s USB-C port, and from there, you can have your laptop screen displayed via a projector or TV with its two HDMI ports with 4K@30Hz and a VGA port with 1080p@60Hz. Want to charge your smartphone with your laptop? Use the 100W USB-C port and transfer photos and files with the USB 3.0 connection. Your connection, transfer, and viewing opportunities are nearly endless. Ditch the dongles and adapters for good by grabbing yourself or someone on your shopping list this 13-in-1 docking station, now just $44.97 while supplies last. Purchase on or before December 15 at 11:59 PM Pacific for guaranteed holiday delivery. 13-in-1 Docking Station with Dual HDMI Only $44.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Macworld How often do you have a pen when you need one? When pocket real estate is at a premium, a full-sized pen probably isn’t the first thing you grab in the morning.  If you want to make sure you always have a pen, get the ForeverPen™. This little pen earns its name. It’s made of titanium with a unique inkless design that lets you write on almost anything, and look how little it is. Pop this pen on your keychain, especially now that they’re only $23.99 (reg. $40).  Whether you need to jot down a quick note, sign a check, or even write underwater, the ForeverPen is up to the task. Its inkless design means it writes permanently without smudging and works on almost any surface, from paper to plastic. And did we mention it’s made of titanium? That’s not just for looks. You can also use this pen to slice open boxes.  The pen really is mightier than the sword.  Get a ForeverPen™ on sale for $23.99.    ForeverPen™ Tiny Inkless Pen & Multi-Tool – $23.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Macworld The M4 MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini are all available, but the M4 MacBook Air is nowhere to be seen. Just how long will we have to wait to see the new MacBook Air and what specs and price can we expect? We look at the rumors and keep track of what’s being reported, as well as offer a perspective based on Apple’s current lineup. Update December 11, 2024: A report states that the M4 MacBook Air may get a Center Stage camera. M4 MacBook Air: Release date January – March 2025 (Predicted) In an April 2024 report, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that the Mac’s version of the M4 chip would be introduced in the MacBook Pro and iMacs later in 2024, and indeed it was. However, Gurman predicted that the M4 MacBook Air release won’t come until spring 2025, which would be about a year after the M3 MacBook Air was released. In June 2024, Gurman reported again that the M4 MacBook Air is not expected until the spring of 2025. In August, he reiterated that the M4 MacBook Air will not be available until 2025. In October 2024, Gurman reported that Apple is getting ready to start production on the M4 MacBook Air, with a possibility of a release between January and March of 2025. M4 MacBook Air: Processor Apple surprised us with the release of the M4 chip in the iPad Pro in early May, barely six months after the M3 debuted in the MacBook Pro. In October 2024, Apple released the M4 MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini. Here are the specs: iPad Pro models with 256GB or 512GB of storage 9-core CPU (3 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) 10-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 120GB/s memory bandwidth 8GB RAM iPad Pro models with 1TB or 2TB storage; 14-inch MacBook Pro 10-core CPU (4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) 10-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 120GB/s memory bandwidth 16GB RAM How will Apple allocate the M4 in the next MacBook Air? We could see the company use the 10-core CPU version of the chip. It doesn’t seem likely that the 9-core version will be in the Air. Compared to the 8-core M3, the M4 has two extra efficiency cores and higher memory bandwidth (120 GB/s vs 100GB/s). Apple will likely use the same design for the Mac, making the M4 the first non-Pro or Max chip that has Before the M4 arrived in the iPad, Gurman reported that the chip would focus on AI enhancements. Apple talked briefly during its Let Loose event about the improved Neural Engine and its ability to deliver over 38 trillion operations per second but didn’t get into much detail about real-world use. M4 MacBook Air: Design and specs The M4 upgrade would be the fourth generation of the M-series chip in the MacBook Air, but it’s not the fourth time around for the current Air design. Apple shipped the M1 MacBook Air in 2020 with an older design that was used with Intel chips and the current design wasn’t introduced until the M2 chip upgrade in July 2022. Apple isn’t expected to change it at all for the M4. Apple made a slight change to the Air’s design with the M3 update in March 2024, but only for one specific color. The Midnight version now has an anodization seal to help cut down on fingerprints–it’s a similar process introduced with the Space Black MacBook Pro. Apple is not expected to offer the process for the Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight colors.  When Apple released the M4 MacBook Pro in October 2024, the company increased the base amount of RAM to 16GB. It also did the same with the M2 and M3 MacBook Air that is currently for sale. Apple will; no longer release a laptop that starts with 8GB of RAM. Another feature that could get an upgrade is battery life. If the MacBook M4 follows the iPad Pro’s chip design, it could be more energy-friendly with two extra efficiency cores. That could mean more battery life. The Midnight MacBook Air now has an anodization seal to cut down on fingerprints.Macwelt AppleInsider reported that it has seen a regulatory document for the M4 MacBook Air that refers to a “Front Ultra Wide Camera.” That could mean that the 1080p FaceTime camera will be replaced with a 12MP Center Stage camera, like the one in the M4 MacBook Pro. Everything else about the MacBook Air will likely stay the same with an M4 upgrade. The display, size, weight, mics, speakers, ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are expected to remain unchanged. M4 MacBook Pro: Price Here are the prices for the current standard configurations of the M3 MacBook Air for reference. 13-inch MacBook Air $1,099/£1,099: M3 with 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 256GB SSD $1,299/£1,299: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 512GB SSD $1,499/£1,499: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 16GB unified memory; 512GB SSD 15-inch MacBook Pro $1,299/£1,299: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 256GB SSD $1,499/£1,499: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified memory; 512GB SSD $1,699/£1,699: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 16GB unified memory; 512GB SSD Apple will likely offer similar configurations and we don’t expect the M4 MacBook Air prices to change.

Macworld The latest visionOS 2.2 update doesn’t add much. Compared to iOS/iPadOS 18.2 with its numerous Apple Intelligence features, the updates in visionOS 2.2 seem positively threadbare. But if you have one, you should upgrade right away, as there is one new feature we’ve been waiting for since it was first announced: Support for wide and ultrawide resolutions when using Mac Virtual Display. Since Mac Virtual Display replaces your Mac’s output with the floating display in VR space, the feature in its original form didn’t offer much benefit other than being larger than your Mac’s original display. With support for wide and ultrawide formats, however, the feature can now actually add significant new screen real estate compared to the built-in display on your Macbook or standard monitor hooked up to a desktop Mac. As Apple says, it’s like working on two 5K monitors side by side. VisionOS 2.2: Release notes Here are Apple’s release notes for visionOS 2.2: Mac Virtual Display– Use Mac apps and games with a new aspect ratio: wide (21:9) and ultrawide (32:9) – the equivalent of two 5K monitors side by side– Route audio from your Mac to Apple Vision Pro Apple TV– Watch up to five MLS and MLB games at once with Multiview– Watch live sporting events together with SharePlay Safari– Tap to view spatial photos and videos embedded on web pages visionOS 2.2: How to update your Apple Vision Pro Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install or Install Now. When the update is ready to install, an alert asks you to take off your Apple Vision Pro. You can see the progress of the update on the front of your device.

Macworld We got our first taste of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1, but there were many missing features. With iOS 18.2, we get a lot of them, including Visual Intelligence, image generation, ChatGPT integration, and more. And if you have an older iPhone or just aren’t interested in Apple Intelligence, there are quite a few welcome improvements in the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 release that are not related to AI, too. However, while Siri’s interface changed in iOS 18.1, the new smarter Siri, one of the premier Apple Intelligence features, still isn’t a part of this release. That will likely be coming in iOS 18.3 in January or 18.4, due for release around March 2025. You can learn more about it in our article about upcoming Apple Intelligence features. Apple announced Wednesday morning that iOS 18.2 will be arriving today. Apple usually pushes its software updates at 10am PT, but it could arrive at any moment. Update December 11: Apple has released iOS 18.2 (and it’s fellow iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS updates). iOS 18.2: New Apple Intelligence features The Apple Intelligence features part of iOS 18.2 are still limited to just six phones: the entire iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. If your phone supports it, there is a secondary waiting list to access certain features. If you were on the original waiting list for Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 you will get access to ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence, and the new Writing Tools features. But you’ll have to hop onto a second waiting list for the image generation features—Genmoji, Image Playground, and the Image Wand tool. Here’s are all of the new Apple Intelligence features available in iOS 18.2: Writing Tools: Instead of just choosing to make a selection of text more professional, causal, or concise, you will have a freeform field to describe how you want to transform text. Examples: make this a poem, include a lot of dad jokes, or use a lot of sarcasm. Genmoji: Create a new emoji right on the system keyboard. Image Playground: Generate new images based on text prompts. Apple will suggest new costumes, items, or locations, and will make suggestions based on the context of a Messages thread or note in the Notes app. Images can be based on people you know by using identified images in Photos. Images are limited to cartoon or illustrative styles rather than realistic. Visual Intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners with the Camera Control button. Press and hold Camera Control to get additional information about a location, translate a sign or poster, detect phone numbers and addresses to quickly add to Contacts, and more. You can also tap a button to ask ChatGPT about what’s on screen, or another to perform a Google image search. Image Wand: An offshoot of Image Playground, this uses Apple’s image generation tools to create an image in an open area on a note in the Notes app, using the context from the surrounding area and the rest of the note. Start with a blank area or a rough sketch you make yourself. ChatGPT integration: If Siri can’t answer a question, it now has the option to ask ChatGPT. You need to give permission for each request and only limited data is shared. You don’t need to log into ChatGPT, but you are able to if you want to, or have a premium ChatGPT account you wish to use. You can ask Siri to have ChatGPT generate images., and use ChatGPT in the Writing Tools to generate text, too. Foundry iOS 18.2: Other new features In addition to the new user-facing features below, there are new developer tools for integrating image generation and writing tools into third-party apps. Apple Intelligence is localized into English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in this release. Default Apps: Users worldwide have a new “Default Apps” section at the top Settings > Apps, where you can choose your default email, messaging, calling, call filtering, browser, password app, and keyboard. The messaging and calling options are new, and the other options have all been brought under a single menu. EU-specific features: In the EU, third-party browser that use their own custom web engines can now add web apps. EU users will also be able to delete the App Store. AE/AF Lock: In Settings > Camera, you’ll find a new toggle for a light press on the Camera Control button to lock exposure and focus. Find My share item location: Find My will let you share the location of an AirTag (or other Find My compatible item) with a trusted person. The link can be opened on a non-Apple device and expires after a week. Mail app categories: The Mail app gets its AI-powered auto-category feature, splitting your inbox into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Volume limits and lock screen slider: You’ll be able to set volume limits for media playing from the iPhone’s speaker, and can restore the volume bar to the media card on the lock screen. The iPhone 16 is one of six phones able to run Apple Intelligence.Chris Martin / Foundry iOS 18.2: Release notes These are Apple’s official release notes for iOS 18.2: Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max) Image Playground A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud Genmoji Genmoji allows you to create a custom emoji right from the keyboard Genmoji are synced in your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud ChatGPT support ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won’t be used to train OpenAI’s models Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI’s data policies Image Wand turns sketches and handwritten or typed notes into images in Notes Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you’d like something rewritten, for example as a poem Camera Control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Visual Intelligence with Camera Control helps you instantly learn about places or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the option to tap into Google Search or ChatGPT Camera Control two-stage shutter lets you lock focus and exposure in Camera when light pressing the Camera Control Mail Mail Categorization sorts your messages to help you prioritize the most important messages Digest view groups all of the messages from one sender into a single bundle for easy browsing Photos Video viewing improvements, including the ability to scrub frame-by-frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections Safari New background images to customize your Safari Start Page Import and Export enables you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible File Download Live Activity shows the progress of a file download in the Dynamic Island and on your home screen This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes: Voice Memos supports layered recording, letting you add vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones — then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you’re looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in United Arab Emirates Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open Fixes an issue where recently captured photos do not appear immediately in the All Photos grid Fixes an issue where Night mode photos in Camera could appear degraded when capturing long exposures (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) iOS 18.2: Security updates As with all updates, iOS 18.2 will include numerous security patches and fixes that are crucial to compatible iPhones. More information can be found on Apple’s security releases support page. iOS 18.2: How to install To get the latest version of iOS 18 on your phone, head over to the Settings app, then Gen

Macworld iOS 18.2 is rolling out to all compatible iPhones today, and most of the focus is on the new Apple Intelligence capabilities, and for good reason: AI is Apple’s big marketing hook but the features are rolling out gradually over several months. The iOS 18.2 (and macOS 15.2) adds long-awaited image tools and ChatGPT integration that make Apple Intelligence a lot more useful. But if you don’t have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro (or just don’t care about AI), none of that matters to you. Fortunately, iOS 18.2 isn’t just an Apple Intelligence drop, it adds a host of other great quality-of-life features and improvements as well. Here are all the new things in iOS 18.2 coming to your iPhone that have nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. Update December 11: Apple has announced that iOS 18.2 will arrive today. OS updates generally appear at 10am PT/1pm ET. Camera Control improvements After months of criticism, Apple is making several tweaks to the Camera Control button in iOS 18.2, for those with an iPhone 16. First, pressing and holding the button will launch the new Visual Intelligence feature. But there are some other quality-of-life improvements, too. In Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control you’ll be able to adjust the double-click speed. You can also enable an autofocus/exposure lock in Settings > Camera > Camera Control, so a light press on the button locks exposure and focus much as it usually does on the shutter button of a DLSR. Finally, there’s a new toggle that requires the screen to be on for the Camera Control button to launch a camera app. You’ll find that in Settings > Display & Brightness, which is sort of a confusing place for it. Foundry New Mail app with smart categories The Mail app will analyze the content of your emails and automatically categorize them into four categories: Primary: Your personal mail or mail that needs to be acted on right away. Transactions: Receipts, order confirmations, shipping notices, etc. Updates: News and newsletters, social media notifications, and the like. Promotions: Coupons, marketing offers, and so on. The four categories will exist as buttons at the top of the Mail app, and you can swipe left on them to show All Mail. And no, Apple isn’t reading your emails. All of this happens on the device. Volume limit and lock screen slider In the Settings > Sound & Haptics menu, there’s a new Volume Limit feature for your iPhone’s built-in speaker (volume limits for headphones have been around for a long time). It only affects media playback, not calls/FaceTime, alerts, or system sounds. There’s also a new option in Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual called “Always Show Volume Control.” This will put the volume control slider back on the bottom of the media playback controls on your Lock screen. That volume slider was removed back in iOS 16 (unless you were using AirPlay), and if you miss it, you can have it back now. Default messaging and calling apps In iOS 18.2’s Settings > Apps you’ll find a new selection at the top, before your list of installed apps, called Default Apps. In this menu, you’ll choose default applications for things like email, browser, passwords & codes, and more. Most are options you had before (albeit scattered throughout Settings), but Messaging and Calling are new. There are no applications that qualify to populate those areas right now, but that’s probably just a matter of existing apps needing new versions that use new frameworks. Foundry Sudoku puzzles in News+ If you’re a News+ subscriber, you have access to several puzzles in the News app. Apple publishes daily crosswords, crosswords mini, and a word game called Quartiles. Now, daily Sudoku puzzles join the list. There is an easy, moderate, and challenging puzzle available each day. Foundry AirTag item location sharing You’ve been able to share an AirTag with another iPhone user, but that’s only really helpful for family members or trusted friends. With iOS 18.2, Apple is going to let you create a secure link you can share with someone else to let them see the location of an AirTag. They’ll be able to open it on any device, even just a web browser on any computer, and see the location of that AirTag. The link automatically expires after 7 days or when the AirTag is reunited with its owner, and of course the owner can turn off the sharing at any time. What’s more, Apple is working with a bunch of major airlines to make this sharing process a part of their customer service flow for lost luggage. Apple Charge time estimates? This isn’t yet available in the IOS 18.2 beta, but 9to5Mac discovered code that suggests Apple will soon show you how much longer your iPhone has until it reaches a full charge. It’s a feature that’s been present on Android phones for a while and would be a welcome overdue addition to the iPhone. However, while the feature first popped up in one of the early iOS 18.2 beta codes, it’s not live yet. There’s a chance it will be switched on when iOS 18.2 is available for all on Monday. If not expect it in iOS 18.3 sometime in February.

Macworld You don’t have to pay full price to buy an iPhone; if you shop around you can find a bargain. Every month the Macworld team hunts down the best prices on iPhones at all major retailers and cellphone operators, saving you the hassle of finding the best iPhone deals. In this article, we reveal the best iPhone deals, contracts, and bundles available right now. We’ll help you find a discounted iPhone suitable for any budget, and cover all the currently available models, including the brand-new iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, as well as 2023’s iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. We also have the best prices for older iPhones, including models that Apple has removed from sale, but which you can still buy elsewhere. The iPhone 16 is the latest iPhone to arrive, debuting in September 2024. It will be followed in 2025 by the iPhone 17 and (probably) iPhone SE 4. You might also like to read our detailed iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone available to buy today. Best iPhone deals right now U.S. In the U.S., the only big iPhone deals you can find come from carriers, and have a lot of strings attached. Typically, you have to buy a phone on a multi-year installment plan and get your discount in the form of monthly bill credits. AT&T: Get up to $1,000 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. Up to $700 towards an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus. T-Mobile: Get up to $830 in bill credits toward the purchase of any iPhone 15 model when you trade in your old phone and join the Go5G plan. Verizon: Get up to $839 in bill credits toward any iPhone 15 model with trade-in and the activation of a new line. U.K. In the U.K., Apple-certified resellers discount unlocked iPhones frequently. Look for money off at Amazon, John Lewis, Currys, and Very. There aren’t yet any discounts on the new 16-series iPhones, but in the U.K. it’s possible to find discounts on older iPhones, including the now-discontinued iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro. Amazon, iPhone 15 (128GB): £639 (£60 off, RRP £699) Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus (128GB): £779 (£20 off, RRP £799) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro (256GB): £999 (£100 off, RRP was £1,099 – Clearance) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB): £1,049 (£150 off, RRP was £1,199 – Clearance) Amazon, iPhone 14 (128GB): £549 (£50 off, RRP £599) KRCS, iPhone SE (2022, 64GB): £375.21 (£53.79 off, RRP £429) KRCS, iPhone SE (2022, 128GB): £424.71 (£54.29 off, RRP £479) Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB): £441 (£158 off, most recent RRP was £599 – Clearance) For models that Apple no longer sells, bear in mind that we can only compare current prices against RRPs from before their discontinuation. It’s reasonable to assume that the price of the iPhone 15 Pro, for example, would have dropped in September 2024 if Apple hadn’t stopped selling it. There’s more information in the individual sections below. Also see our dedicated round-ups of the best iPhone deals: iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Pro deals iPhone 13 deals Best iPhone SE deals Where to buy an iPhone Apple is the obvious place to look for a new iPhone. You can purchase directly from Apple’s online store (there’s a separate U.K. store), which won’t give you savings, but does at least allow you to take advantage of trading in your old iPhone (see: How to sell or trade-in your old iPhone). We also have a complete guide to every iPhone Apple sells. Alternatively, Amazon U.K. regularly discounts iPhone models, so it’s well worth keeping an eye out there. If you think you’ll be doing lots of Amazon shopping, we’d recommend signing up to the 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime for free next-day delivery and access to deals 30 minutes early. You can sign up here. Amazon U.S. offers fewer savings on SIM-free iPhones, but we do see them from time to time. It’s always worth checking the price of the iPhones in the following U.S. stores, which occasionally provide solid savings: Amazon Walmart Best Buy And U.K. readers should try these shops: Amazon U.K. John Lewis Carphone Warehouse KRCS In addition, we recommend you check out our automatically updated price tables, embedded below, which gather the best prices from a wide range of retailers in your region. Where to buy an iPhone on contract Most of the major networks will offer the iPhone at a discount if you meet certain conditions (usually opening new lines, or buying on multi-year installment plans). Here are links to browse the latest deals: AT&T T-Mobile Verizon U.K. readers can browse contract deals using the tool embedded below. Click ‘Choose Smartphone’ to register which model you’re interested in. If you’d like to research deals for yourself, try the following U.K. providers: O2 Vodafone Three Virgin Mobile EE Sky Mobile Carphone Warehouse (use the comparison tool by clicking View Deals, and remember to tick the box labeled “Show total cost of ownership”) Note that you can save money if you’ve got another iPhone to trade in, see: How to sell or trade in your old iPhone. Best prices for Apple’s iPhones Apple currently sells eight iPhone models: the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max; the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus; the iPhone 13; and the iPhone SE. We look at the best prices for each model, plus a handful of discontinued models that are still available from other retailers, in the sections below. Best iPhone 16 deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 at the following prices: iPhone 16 (128GB): $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 iPhone 16 (256GB): $899 / £899 / AU$1,599 iPhone 16 (512GB): $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,949 Other retailers will undercut those prices, but it may take some time. Check the automated table below to see which retailers have the best deals in your region right now. iPhone 16: From $799/£799 New Refurbished Retailer Price $829 View Deal $829.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 16 128GB – Teal – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $775.15 View Deal iPhone 16 128GB – Pink – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $775.15 View Deal iPhone 16 128GB – Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $775.15 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 16 Plus deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 Plus at the following prices: iPhone 16 Plus (128GB): $899 / £899 / AU$1,599 iPhone 16 Plus (256GB): $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 iPhone 16 Plus (512GB): $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 For the lowest prices across a range of retailers, check the automated comparison table below. iPhone 16 Plus: From $899/£899 Retailer Price $929 View Deal $929.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 16 Pro deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 Pro at the following prices: iPhone 16 Pro (128GB): $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 iPhone 16 Pro (256GB): $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999 iPhone 16 Pro (512GB): $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,349 iPhone 16 Pro (1TB): $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,699 Check the table below for the lowest prices across all retailers in your region. iPhone 16 Pro: From $999/£999 Retailer Price $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 16 Pro Max deals Apple sells the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the following prices: iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB): $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 iPhone 16 Pro Max (512GB): $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,499 iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB): $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,849 Best current deals across all retailers can be found in the table below. iPhone 16 Pro Max: From $1,199/£1,199 Retailer Price

Macworld Even if you’re not planning to buy one of the new iPhones, your existing iPhone (XR and later) can now get a bunch of new features following the release of iOS 18.  Among the new features in iOS 18 are a redesigned Photos app, new ways to customize your Home screen and wallpaper, new Messages reactions, privacy-related features and dozens of other smaller changes. There are also be some AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence available on some iPhones (find out if they’ll be on your iPhone below). This free software update brings interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. It is like getting a new iPhone without paying a penny. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about iOS 18, including which iPhones will be able to run iOS 18, the new features – and the new features still to come because they weren’t ready in time for the launch of iOS 18. We’ll also discuss any problems and fixes, what’s new in the latest update, and what’s coming in the next update to iOS 18. We also have information about the beta program including the latest version of the public and developer betas. Update December 11: Apple has released iOS 18.2. iOS 18: Latest version iOS 18.2: December 11, 2024 iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 were also launched at the same time. The latest version is iOS 18.2, which arrived on December 11. iOS 18.2 includes a number of Apple Intelligence features but that’s not all. Read about Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if your phone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. Prior to iOS 18.2, iOS 18.1.1 included fixes for two security vulnerabilities that have actually been used in attacks on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the update, Apple writes: “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.” The fixed issues include a flaw in JavaScriptCore framework and a flaw in WebKit. iOS 18.1 arrived on October 28, and brings the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 16 models and iPhone 15 Pro and Max. There will be more Apple Intelligence features released in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you want to know more about the staggered release of Apple Intelligence features, read: Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—here’s what you’ll get, and when. What’s new in iOS 18.2? The main thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence features, especially those centered around images. There are updates to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, Genmoji, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 phones. You can expect the following: Writing Tools updates – more options. Genmoji – new emoji you can create. See: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji. Image Playground – ability to generate images based on text prompts. Image Wand – uses Apple’s image generation tools to create an image and add as context to a note. ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri. Default Apps – new section in Settings. Visual Intelligence – get information using the Camera Control button. AE/AF Lock – new toggle to lock exposure and focus via the Camera Control button. Find My – share the location of something with a trusted person. Mail – New auto-categories (primary, transactions, updates and promotions) to help manage your Inbox. Volume limits – set volume limits for iPhone speaker. Camera Control – Improvements. News+ – Sudoku puzzles. AirTag – Item location sharing What’s new in iOS 18.1? iOS 18.1 brings a selection of Apple Intelligence features to iPhones that are compatible with Apple Intelligence (that’s the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Max, and the entire iPhone 16 range). New features include: Writing Tools – Rewrite, proofread, and summarize text. Siri – New look. Type to Siri so you don’t have to speak to your iPhone. Conversational context so Siri remembers what you had already asked and maintains the context. Photos – Improvements to search. Clean Up to remove things from photos. Memory movies. Notifications – Notification summaries. Reduce interruptions Focus. Mail – Smart reply. Priority messages. Notes – Transcritipns of audio recordings or phone calls. Phone – Record phone calls. Camera – Camera Control button can be used to switch to TrueDepth camera. Spatial photo capture for 16 Pro and Max. AirPods – Hearing Test and Hearing Air features for AirPods Pro 2. There were also bug fixes and security updates in iOS 18.1. iOS 18.3: Release date and new features iOS 18.3 – expected late January/February Apple will start to beta test iOS 18.3 soon. A new framework called “BatteryIntelligence” was discovered hidden in the 18.2 beta, suggesting it will be a feature in iOS 18.3. The feature will calculate the remaining charge time based on the amount of power the phone is receiving. See: Your iPhone may finally tell you how long it will take to charge. Other new features in iOS 18.3 are likely to include: Siri on-device context awareness: The ability for Siri to give sensible answers based on data found in Messages, Mail, Contacts, and other on-device information. Siri on-screen awareness: Siri will be able to see what is on your screen when you ask it to perform a task and take that information into account. Siri application control: A big expansion of App Intents, which lets Siri perform actions in your apps. Currently limited to things like playing music or getting directions, there will be hundreds of actions Siri can take in apps. This will start with Apple’s own apps and expand to third-party apps over time. iOS 18: Problems and bugs Messages bug: A Messages bug that could cause crashes and may even result in the loss of valuable data was reported. It seemed to be connected to an Apple Watch feature that lets users share their watch face over Messages (or Mail). Obviously, those are quite a niche set of circumstances and the best way to avoid it appears to be to not reply to watch faces in a thread. We have more information here: Link-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages can cause iPhone crashes, data loss. Apple fixed this bug in iOS 18.0.1. Unresponsive touch screen: iPhone 16 Pro owners have complained of display ‘dead spots’, with taps and swipes are being ignored. It is thought that this is related to the Camera Control button. Apple addressed this bug in iOS 18.0.1. Camera freezes in macro mode: This was addressed in iOS 18.0.1. Photos redesign: Probably the most hated feature of iOS 18 is the redesigned Photos app. So we’ve written this: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying. There are concerns that macOS Sequoia’s iPhone mirroring feature could expose personal data at work. Servco Security has highlighted the problem to Apple who claims to be working on a fix. If you have any problems with iOS 18 you may be able to downgrade. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 18 to iOS 17. iOS 18: Should I install iOS 18 on my iPhone? As long as your iPhone can run it, we recommend updating to iOS 18. The new features–all of which we discuss below–look enticing enough, and, so far, the only problem (see above) will not affect many people. We address how How iOS 17 and iOS 18 compare separately. Also take a look at: All the little details and hidden features in iOS 18 you won’t want to miss. However, we do recommend you wait a week or more so that any issues with the early release can be addressed: despite the beta program, there are often issues once the software update gets installed on mass-market iPhones. It’s also wise not to be one of the first downloaders because the download will likely take a lot longer if you try soon after it becomes available. iOS 18: How to install Installing iOS 18 and any subsequent updates is a breeze. Just open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update; iOS will check for any available updates and guide you through the process of installing them. You simply have to follow the instructions, which we explain in our iOS updating guide. And it’s easier still if you’ve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen. A little work preparing your iPhone before installing the update can help avoid problems. We advise you follow these steps: Back up your iPhone: Back up before installing the new version and you will always be able to recover your iPhone with the older version of iOS running on it should things go wrong. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone. Make space on your iPhone: If your iPhone doesn’t have a lot of available space internally we recommend having a bit of a tidy-up so you can reclaim some iPhone storage. Simple ways to do this could include deleting apps you don’t use, deleting old Notes, Messages, and duplicated photos. Update your iPhone to the latest version: Don’t skip an update and go straight to iOS 18. If you haven’t installed iOS 17.6.1 yet do so now. iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18? The following iPhones get support for iOS 18, the same lineup of supported devices as iOS 17. iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Pro, Pro Max  iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, Pro, Pro Max  iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Pro, Pro Max iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max  iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone SE (2nd gen or later) Read: iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones support iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker Some of the new features will not be supported on the older phones, because they lack the hardware necessary (a powerful enough Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or enough RAM). This is typical of new iOS releases. In 2022, for example, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff due to their older process

Macworld The iPhone 16 launched in September 2024, but you can still buy 2022’s iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus from Apple. And if you’re prepared to shop around you may still be able to get the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max (both of which were discontinued in 2023). This article is designed to help you spend as little money as possible. We provide a summary of the best deals and promotions offered by popular retailers, plus automatically updated price-comparison tables covering the wider market, all of which will help you find the very best deal on your new iPhone.  If you’re looking for other models, check out our overall Best iPhone deals roundup. And if you can’t decide which iPhone to buy, read our reviews and take a look at our Best iPhone chart. Where to get the best iPhone deals Buying direct from Apple is one option if you’re looking for an unlocked, SIM-free iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus, and it’s the go-to place to join the iPhone Upgrade Program. Apple will also let you trade in your old iPhone and get up to $650 in credit toward a new purchase. Find an unlocked or SIM-free iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus at Apple. With the arrival of the 15-series iPhones in late 2023, Apple stopped selling the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but they are still available from other retailers, as you will see in the price comparison tables below. Best unlocked iPhone 14 series deals in the U.K. Amazon, iPhone 14, 128GB: £549 (£50 off, RRP £599) Best iPhone 14 series carrier deals If you want to buy a recent iPhone for less than the full retail price, you’re probably going to need to get it from a carrier or mobile provider, and there will often be significant strings attached. These deals can be complicated, so be sure to read the fine print. In the U.S., Apple partners with carriers to offer discounts on the 2022 iPhones. You get a $30 discount if you buy a phone activated on AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile/Sprint, however, if you shop around there are some good deals to be found. See our table below for the best deals right now. U.S. AT&T: Get up to $800 in bill credits when you buy a new iPhone 14 and trade in your old phone, with a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile: Get up to $800 in bill credits when you buy an iPhone 14 and trade in your old phone when you add a new line. Verizon: Get up to $1,000 in bill credits toward an iPhone 14 Pro with trade-in and select Unlimited plans. U.K. Contract offers vary widely in price, but you’ll need to check the fine print and the perks and extras that are thrown in. You can browse the best current deals in the U.K. using the tool below; click ‘Choose Smartphone’ to filter by model. Readers who would like to do their own research should try the following U.K. carriers: EE O2 Sky Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone Best iPhone 14 deals The iPhone 14 has now had two price cuts: once when the iPhone 15 came out, and again when the iPhone 16 was unveiled. At launch, the iPhone 14 started at $829 / £849, but you’ll pay less now: You can keep up with the best prices across a range of retailers for the iPhone 14 by using our automated table below: iPhone 14, 128GB: MSRP $599 / £599 New Refurbished Retailer Price $629 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 128GB – Midnight – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $382.83 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB – Starlight – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $398.99 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB – Blue – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $401.01 View Deal iPhone 14 128GB – Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $420 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best iPhone 14 Plus deals The iPhone 14 Plus has also seen two price drops. It started at $929 / £949 at launch, but now costs less. iPhone 14, 128GB: MSRP $699 / £699 Best iPhone 14 Pro deals The iPhone 14 Pro has been discontinued by Apple, so it no longer has an official MSRP/RRP. The best we can do is look at the prices when it launched in fall 2022, and knock off a little to account for the price cuts it would have received in fall 2023 and 2024. iPhone 14 Pro, 128GB: MSRP was $999 / £1,099 New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $513.94 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Space Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $515.05 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Silver – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $520.99 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro 128GB – Gold – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $525.67 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Space Black – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $594.99 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $594.99 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Gold – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $634.17 View Deal iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Silver – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $653.62 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket View more prices Best iPhone 14 Pro Max deals The 14 Pro Max has also been discontinued. If Apple had kept it around, we can assume it would probably have received price cuts in fall 2023 and 2024. iPhone 14 Pro Max, 128GB: MSRP was $1,099 / £1,199 New Refurbished Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB – Deep Purple – Unlocked – Dual eSIM $594.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to get refurbished iPhone 14 deals If you haven’t already, you may want to consider buying a refurbished iPhone 14 to save money (and the environment). Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested and repaired to work and look just like new. In the case of official Apple refurbished iPhones, you get a brand-new body and screen, box, accessories, battery, and warranty. It’s almost indistinguishable from buying a new iPhone. See our full guide to buying refurbished or second-hand iPhones for more. The first place to shop for a refurbished iPhone is on the Apple Refurbished Store. At time of writing, Apple does not yet offer refurbished iPhone 14 models for sale, but that could change at any time. Rest assured, the Apple Refurbished Store is where you can get the highest quality of refurbished iPhones. You may want to shop at the following refurbished resellers instead: U.S. BackMarket Best Buy Refurb.me Gazelle Reboxed U.K. Music Magpie Envirofone Reboxed 4Gadgets Smartfone Store

Macworld If you’re in the market for a 13-series iPhone, you’ve come to the right place. This article offers a summary of the best deals and promotions offered by popular retailers to help you get the best deal on this discontinued handset. The company discontinued the iPhone 13 Pro when the 14-series handsets came out in fall 2022; it then dropped the 13 mini in fall 2023, and finally killed off the standard iPhone 13 in fall 2024. If you want to buy a 13-series iPhone, you won’t get one from Apple, unless it’s from the Apple Refurbished Store (U.S.) or Apple Refurbished Store (U.K.). Luckily we’re here to guide you to the best deals available from a wide range of vendors. (If you’re considering other models, check out our overall Best iPhone deals roundup.) Best unlocked 13-series iPhone 13 deals Because Apple no longer sells the 13-series iPhones, you’ll need to shop around. Here are the best deals we’re seeing right now. U.K. Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB): £441 (£58 off, most recent RRP was £599) iPhone 13 carrier stores and contract deals You can try to get a good deal on an iPhone 13 from a carrier or mobile provider, but there will often be significant strings attached. These deals can be complicated, so be sure to read the fine print. U.S. AT&T T-Mobile Verizon U.S. readers can also view the best current iPhone 13 contract deals in their area by perusing the table below. U.K. EE O2 Sky Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone U.K. readers can also view the best current iPhone 13 contract deals in their area by perusing the table below. Best unlocked iPhone 13 prices right now Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 now, so you’ll need to buy elsewhere. For comparison purposes, these were Apple’s prices, as of summer 2024. iPhone 13, 128GB, WAS: $599 / £599 / AUD$1,099 New Refurbished Retailer Price $764.25 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 13 128GB – Pink – Unlocked $249 View Deal iPhone 13 128GB – Midnight – Unlocked $326.47 View Deal iPhone 13 128GB – Starlight – Unlocked $339.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Unlocked iPhone 13 mini prices The iPhone 13 mini has also been discontinued. At launch, it started at $729, but it dropped in price when the iPhone 14 came out. You may still find an iPhone 13 mini on sale. If it’s available prices should appear below. iPhone 13 mini, 128GB, WAS: $599 / £599 / AUD$1,099 New Refurbished Retailer Price $660.73 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 13 mini 128GB – Midnight – Unlocked $276.65 View Deal iPhone 13 mini 128GB – Blue – Unlocked $276.86 View Deal iPhone 13 mini 128GB – Starlight – Unlocked $284.97 View Deal iPhone 13 mini 128GB – Pink – Unlocked $288.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Unlocked iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max prices Apple no longer sells either of these handsets. If Apple had carried on selling them, they would probably have seen price cuts in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but we’ll never know exactly how generous those cuts would have been. The best we can do when evaluating third-party deals is look at the launch prices from 2021 and demand a significant drop to take into account the passage of time. Then again, a full two years after they were discontinued, stock of these models is likely to be extremely scarce. If there’s anything available, it will show up in the price comparison tables below, but you may be better off checking the Apple Refurbished Store. iPhone 13 Pro, 128GB, WAS: $999 / £949 / AUD$1,699 New Refurbished Retailer Price $941.50 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 13 Pro 128GB – Graphite – Unlocked $409.36 View Deal iPhone 13 Pro 128GB – Gold – Unlocked $418.25 View Deal iPhone 13 Pro 128GB – Sierra Blue – Unlocked $430.07 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone 13 Pro Max, 128GB, WAS: $1,099 / £1,049 / AUD$1,849 New Refurbished Retailer Price $1,045.60 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB – Sierra Blue – Unlocked $452 View Deal iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB – Gold – Unlocked $472.07 View Deal iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB – Silver – Unlocked $481.74 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to get refurbished iPhone 13 deals Buying refurbished is the best way to get an iPhone 13 Pro or 13 Pro Max, since stock of new units has fallen so low. It’s also a great way to get a good discount on the iPhone 13 and 13 mini. You may find a refurbished iPhone 13 series phone on sale from Apple’s refurbished store, or one of the other resellers mentioned below. These are the best prices we have seen for the 13-series iPhones at the Apple Refurbished Store. Apple doesn’t always have stock available so if the phone you want isn’t there, check again in a few weeks. U.S. Apple Refurbished Store, iPhone 13 Pro (512GB): $849 U.K. Apple Refurbished Store, iPhone 13 (256GB): £509 Apple Refurbished Store, iPhone 13 Pro (128GB): £679 Apple Refurbished Store, iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB): £679 Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested and repaired to work and look just like new. In the case of official Apple refurbished iPhones, you get a brand-new body and screen, box, accessories, battery, and warranty. It’s almost indistinguishable from buying a new iPhone. See our full guide to buying refurbished iPhones for more. The Apple Refurbished Store can be the most expensive place to buy refurbished handsets, however, so you may want to try the following resellers instead: U.S. BackMarket Best Buy Refurb.me Gazelle Reboxed U.K. Music Magpie (U.K.) Envirofone (U.K.) Reboxed (U.K.) 4Gadgets (U.K.) Smartfone Store (U.K.)

Macworld If you’re looking for an iPhone but don’t want to spend a fortune, the third-gen iPhone SE, Apple’s cheapest current handset, is the phone for you. It features a powerful processor (the A15, which also appeared in the flagship iPhone 13 Pro from 2021) at an affordable price, starting at $429 in the U.S. or £429 in the U.K. In this article, we round up the best deals and discounts currently available on each iPhone SE model, as well as cheap bundle offers worth considering. We cover both SIM-free and contract deals, identifying which retailers which have the handsets in stock, and which offer the best price. If you want to get yourself an iPhone SE, read on for the best deals. Just be aware that Apple could soon upgrade the iPhone SE. The new model expected in spring 2025 may lose the Home button and be more like the iPhone 14. Read iPhone SE 4: Everything you need to know. Best iPhone SE deals U.K. KRCS, iPhone SE (64GB): £375.21 (£53.79 off, RRP £429) KRCS, iPhone SE (128GB): £424.71 (£54.29 off, RRP £479) How much does the iPhone SE cost? Apple’s most affordable iPhone starts at $429/£429. (And you can get it for less if you trade in an older qualifying phone.) The 2022 model is currently available in three configurations: iPhone SE (2022, 64GB): $429 / £429 / AUD$719 iPhone SE (2022, 128GB): $479 / £479 / AUD$799 iPhone SE (2022, 256GB): $579 / £579/ AUD$969 (If you’re buying the iPhone SE we recommend that you avoid the lowest-capacity model. We explain in a separate article: Why you shouldn’t buy the 64GB iPhone SE.) Best iPhone SE (2022) deals on contract Try the following stores and carriers for the best iPhone SE contract deals. As mentioned above, make sure you’re getting the 2022 model with the A15 processor and 5G. It’s also bearing in mind that you’ll want the contract to include 5G support too: you need both hardware and contract to support the tech, and this may cost extra. If in doubt, ask a member of the sales support staff. U.S. readers can browse the best contract deals using the table below: AT&T T-Mobile Verizon U.K. readers can browse the best contract deals using the table below: If you’d like to research further, try the following U.K. carriers: Affordable Mobiles BT Mobile Carphone Warehouse EE E2Save iD Mobile Fonehouse Giff Gaff O2 Sky Mobile Tesco Mobile Three Virgin Mobile Vodafone Mobiles.co.uk Mobile Phones Direct Best iPhone SE (2022) deals – SIM-free Apple sells the iPhone SE starting at $429/£429. You can buy from Apple right now. (That’s the U.S. store; depending on where you are, the U.K. store or the Australia store may be more suitable.) It’s also available from other retailers, who may offer discounts on Apple’s price. But this phone is relatively cheap (at least by Apple’s standards), so you’re unlikely to see any startling savings just yet. In the U.S., in fact, all the major retailers are sticking at Apple’s price. You can check the best and latest offers in our automatic pricing tables, below. iPhone SE (64GB), MSRP $429/£429 New Refurbished Retailer Price $429 View Deal $429 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price iPhone SE (2022) 64GB – Midnight – Unlocked $153.22 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone SE (128GB), MSRP $479/£479 Retailer Price $479 View Deal $479 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket iPhone SE (256GB), MSRP $579/£579 Numerous retailers are stocking the iPhone SE. Just make sure you get the third-gen or 2022 version of the iPhone SE: many will continue to stock the second-gen model from 2020, which features the older A13 processor and doesn’t support 5G. U.S. readers should check the following stores: Amazon Best Buy Target Walmart U.K. readers, meanwhile, should check the retailers below. Affordable Mobiles Amazon Argos Carphone Warehouse Currys E2Save Giff Gaff John Lewis KRCS Mobiles.co.uk Mobile Phones Direct Very Trade-in discounts Don’t forget you can save when you trade in your old qualifying phone with Apple or other retailers participating in a trade-in program. Apple offers up to hundreds of dollars off the iPhone SE when you trade in your old iPhone (but if your phone is older, you’ll likely get much less). You’ll have to select the trade-in option during purchase and answer a few questions about your existing phone model, storage capacity and condition. You’ll need to provide your IMEI number as well. Read about Apple’s Trade In scheme in the U.S. and U.K. In the U.K. you could get even more money off if you trade-in via Currys PC World, which has offered up to £240 off previous iPhone SE models when you trade in an older iPhone. Head to Currys to see how much your device is worth. Amazon offers some good trade-in values, so you should see if you can get more there. Check out Amazon’s Trade In program in the U.S. U.K. readers can see how Amazon trade-in process works here. Apple reseller KRCS also offers a trade-in scheme. Refurbished deals You can save on the iPhone SE by opting for a refurbished model. This is an excellent option for the second-gen model from 2020. Although you’re buying a device that has been pre-owned, buying refurbished isn’t the same as simply buying second-hand, the main difference being that the product has been repaired and rigorously tested to ensure it works just like new. Refurbished devices often come with additional warranty arrangements for peace of mind if you are to run into any issues after purchase. Decluttr (better known as MusicMagpie in the U.K.) is a great source to shop for refurbished deals, although right now its prices are higher than Amazon’s. You reduce the rate if you choose to trade-in your old device or old tech for cashback. When shopping refurbished, look out for Apple Certified Refurbished products. These have been repaired, with parts replaced as needed, and thoroughly tested (and cleaned) to meet the Apple standard. You can find Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones from the Apple Refurbished Store. We have a dedicated guide on buying refurbished iPhones with everything you need to know, as well as the best refurbished iPhone deals. Wondering if there’s a more affordable option than the SE? We answer the question What is the cheapest iPhone? in a separate article. Our iPhone buying guide, meanwhile, offers in-depth advice for those looking to buy or upgrade.