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Macworld It doesn’t take long for iPhone rumors to circulate. It’s one of the most iconic and influential tech gadgets of all time, and everyone wants to know what’s coming next. That Apple is so secretive only heightens the appeal of iPhone rumors and leaks. So it should come as little surprise that iPhone 17 rumors, leaks, and info started to circulate months before the iPhone 16 was even formally announced. Here’s everything we know so far, but don’t take any of it as solid info: even when early rumors are accurate, plans can change, and nothing is ever certain until Apple announces it. Updated Feburary 18: Leaker Jon Prosser has a video up about the iPhone 17 “Air” that purports to have seen the iPhone 17 Air and has renders of what it should look like. iPhone 17: Release date Here’s something we do know: The new iPhone lineup is almost always announced in September—usually on a Tuesday in the second week of September, to be specific. So we would expect the iPhone 17 line to be announced on or around September 9, 2025. Here’s when the most recent models were released: iPhone 15: September 12, 2023 iPhone 14: Sepember 7, 2022 iPhone 13: Sepember 14, 2021 iPhone 12: October 13, 2020 (delayed due to Covid) Historically, preorders for the iPhone begin on the Friday after the announcement, and the phones ship a week later. On occasion, some specific models may ship a couple of weeks later than the others due to production issues. iPhone 17: Price We haven’t yet heard if the iPhone 17 line will cost the same as the iPhone 16 line. Most rumors suggest the “Plus” model will be replaced by the new super-slim “Air” model, which will take over its price in the lineup as well: iPhone 17: 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($799) iPhone 17 Pro: 6.27-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,099) iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.86-inch LTPO display, A19 Pro/12GB ($1,199) iPhone 17 Air: 6.65-inch LTPO display, A19/8GB ($899) This would mean a significant upward shift in overall iPhone pricing, with the Pro model jumping up $100 and a new model replacing the Plus with a price of $100 more than the Pro Max. iPhone 17: Colors We haven’t yet heard anything about what colors to expect from the iPhone 17 line. The iPhone 16 comes in five colors including Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White and Black. While the iPhone 16 Pro comes in Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium and Black Titanium, which are reminiscent of the classic gold and space gray options. There were rumors that the iPhone 16 would also come in purple, so perhaps that’s in the pipeline for 2025. iPhone 17: New slimmer ‘iPhone 17 Air’ model The iPhone 17 is expected to have an ultra-thin model like the M4 iPad Pro.Petter Ahrnstedt Several analysts have reported that the existing Plus model will be replaced by a new “Slim” model with a larger screen size and a much thinner body. Analyst Jeff Pu was the first to report this change (in May 2024), and in the same month, The Information reported on the Slim model, stating that it would be a new even-higher-end model that sits above “Pro Max” in the lineup and would have a centered rear camera and a smaller Dynamic Island. A video by Jon Prosser in August 2024 surmises that the slim iPhone will be called the iPhone Air (we agree that makes sense) and will not be the most expensive in the lineup (it’s been rumored for years that Apple is planning to launch a new model with higher-end features above the Pro Max), but rather be a mid-priced model that prioritizes form and design over specs, much like the MacBook Air. Additionally, a report by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in August 2024 claimed the new model will fit between the standard iPhone and the Pro: ” If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhone–but don’t really need the performance, screen size, or cameras of a Pro model–you can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone.” A report from Jeff Pu in November 2024 claims that the iPhone 17 Air/Slim will be around 6mm thick. That’s thinner than any iPhone so far. The iPhone 16, for context, is 7.8mm thick. The thinnest new iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick. According to Korea’s Sisa Journal in January 2025, the so-called iPhone 17 Air will be 6.25mm thick and cost in the same price range as the iPhone 16 Plus (starting at $899 U.S.). A medium post from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the “thinnest part” of the new ultra-slim iPhone is just 5.5mm thick, but it’s difficult to know what that means without more context. In October 2024 Pu said he expects the phone to have an A19 chip (not A19 Pro), 8GB of RAM, around a 6.6-inch display, an aluminum body, and a single 48MP rear camera. Another report (in July 2024) suggested that Apple won’t use resin-coated copper components on the mainboard due to quality issues with the supplier. This was one of the ways Apple planned to reduce internal space requirements, so it’s unclear if it will have an impact on the iPhone 17 slim model’s overall thickness or not. A leaked image in January reportedly showed the case of the new iPhone 17 Air, with prominent “camera bar” design. Majin Bu/X In a video, Jon Prosser claims to have laid eyes on the iPhone 17 Air himself, and has commissioned renders of what it looks like. iPhone 17: Rumored specs and features All iPhone 17 models have been rumored to feature a 24MP front-facing camera and the always-on display is supposed to finally be available on the non-Pro models. Some believe that ProMotion will come to the non-Pro models too, since the same LPTO technology that enables the always-on display is what makes ProMotion possible, in Apple’s iPhone implementation. If true, it would be the first time Apple has offered ProMotion on a non-Pro device. The iPhone 17 Pro Max may have a smaller dynamic island. Rumors have changed back and forth—Jeff Pu said the dynamic island (or rather, the hardware “pill” that the island surrounds) will be smaller in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Then Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said it will be the same size as current models. Then leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo said it will indeed be smaller. Some iPhone 17 models (maybe even all of them) will have a new camera bump, a wide rectangular raised area that stretches across the phone similar in style to Google’s Pixel line. According to a leaked image of one iPhone 17 aluminum frame (we don’t know from which model), it will be substantial in size. Apple is also said to be working with Corning on a new anti-glare and scratch-resistant glass for the iPhone 17 lineup. All iPhone 17 models are expected to have aluminum frames and bodies (with glass), rather than steel frames or titanium bodies in the Pro models today. The Pro models are expected to have a “camera bar” design like the iPhone 17 Air, only larger and with three cameras in the familiar array. According to leaker Jon Prosser, it should look something like this: Front Page Tech / @Zellozi A report from The Information in July 2024 claims that “at least one” model will feature a mechanical aperture, which would be new for iPhones but has been seen in a handful of Android phones so far. We don’t know much about what chips will power the iPhone 17 line, but we expect the high-end models will get an A19 Pro, while the non-Pro models may get a standard or cut-back version of the A19, or perhaps a more souped up variant of the A18. Since Apple bumped every iPhone 16 model to 8GB of RAM due to the demands of Apple Intelligence, rumors have suggested Apple will increase the memory in the iPhone 17 Pro models to 12GB. An October 2024 research note from analyst Jeff Pu corroborated these claims, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro would feature a 48MP telephoto camera along with a new 24MP front camera. When it comes to wireless, the cellular modem is likely to still be supplied by Qualcomm; Apple’s own efforts to produce a top-tier 5G modem seem to be stalled and likely won’t be ready in time for next year’s iPhone 17 line. Wi-Fi 7 support seems likely, too. iPhone history The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model we’re also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today. Original iPhone (2007) review iPhone 3G (2008) review iPhone 3GS (2009) review iPhone 4 (2010) review iPhone 4s (2011) review iPhone 5 (2012) review iPhone 5c (2013) review iPhone 5s (2013) review iPhone 6 (2014) review iPhone 6 Plus (2014) review iPhone 6s (2015) review iPhone 6s Plus (2015) review iPhone SE (1st generation; 2016) review iPhone 7 (2016) review iPhone 7 Plus (2016) review iPhone 8 (2017) review iPhone 8 Plus (2017) review iPhone X (2017) review iPhone XR (2018) review iPhone XS (2018) review iPhone XS Max (2018) review iPhone 11 (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro (2019) review iPhone 11 Pro Max (2019) review iPhone SE (2nd generation; 2020) review iPhone 12 (2020) review iPhone 12 Mini (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro (2020) review iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) review iPhone 13 (2021) review iPhone 13 mini (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro (2021) review iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021) review iPhone SE (3rd generation; 2022) review iPhone 14 (2022) review iPhone 14 Plus (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro (2022) review iPhone 14 Pro Max (2022) review iPhone 15 (2023) review iPhone 15 Plus

Macworld The iPhone SE 4 is coming Wednesday, so if you’re upgrading, you need to get yourself some new USB-C charging cables. None are better than Apple’s, especially when they’re on sale: Amazon is selling Apple’s 1m USB-C cable for 20 percent off today, which means you can get one for $15 right now. And what’s more, you can also grab Apple’s 35W dual-port charger for $35, a total savings of $24 on a great charging set. These Apple cables have a woven design, which means they will survive more bends and plugs, and even your overstuffed backpack pockets. The cables support charging of up to 60W, but you can also use it to transfer data if needed. Since Apple is officially swapping over to type-C cables with all its products now that the new iPhone SE is coming out, you’ll be able to use the same one for multiple devices, including iPads and MacBooks. With a compact design and dual USB-C ports, Apple’s 35W dual-port power adapter will fit right in with the rest of your Apple gear. It’s also travel-ready with foldable prongs so it won’t snag on any fear in your backpack. It maxes out at 35W, which is more than enough power to fast charge most of your Apple devices, including a MacBook Air. So get ready for Apple’s first non-Lightning iPhone SE with great prices on Apple’s 1m USB-C cable and dual-port charger for $35

Macworld Remember when there was a Windows Phone? You don’t?! How could you not? I mean, we all had such a good time laughing at it! The handsets were so memorable..there was the…um, you know, the Nokia something something… Well, someone in this big blue marble of a world we live in remembers the Windows Phone. A user on Reddit who goes by OceanDepth95028 had a Windows phone lying around–a Nokia LumiPhone 1020–and hacked it so it runs iOS. And by hacked, we mean that the LumiPhone’s innards were removed and replaced with those from a 3rd-gen iPhone SE. In their Reddit post, OceanDepth95028 details how the iPhone SE innards were placed inside the LumiPhone’s body. The Windows phone was modified to fit the iPhone SE’s display, front camera, rear camera, Touch ID, and SIM slot. The LumiPhone’s headphone jack hole was sealed, and the Lightning port is still accessible. Since it is an actual iPhone SE in a LumiPhone body, the phone “runs” iOS 18.3.1, which is the latest version of iOS. OceanDepth95028 says the phone, which they’ve dubbed “LumiPhone 1020 SE,” works “how it should (except wireless charging and Apple Pay).” We’ve seen plenty of Hackintoshes that were possible back when Apple made Intel-based Macs. Those Intel days are over and now that Apple’s devices run on its own silicon, we don’t see many hacks of Apple OSes running on other hardware. Hardware hacks like the LumiPhone 1020 SE are a kick, though–even if it means a perfectly good iPhone SE was sacrificed in the process.

Macworld The Apple rumor mill is like the theatre of the absurd at the moment. We’ve been waiting for the iPhone SE 4 for three long years, and Bloomberg leaker Mark Gurman keeps popping up to announce that it’s launching within days… but it never arrives. It’s all rather reminiscent of Samuel Beckett, or of the bar near our office where there’s always free beer. Tomorrow. Undaunted, Gurman promptly repeated his prediction: this week, the new iPhone will definitely arrive. And we’re pretty sure he’s right; after all, the other part of his prediction has already come true. Last Wednesday there was indeed a “smaller” announcement from Apple. In fact we got two: a new health study in the Research app, and the Apple TV app coming to Android and expanding the streaming service’s potential customer base. Neither of these is exactly a big deal, but we were warned. What Gurman probably didn’t have on his radar was that the most successful Apple leaker would turn out to CEO Tim Cook himself. On X/Twitter/Xitter he revealed that a “new member of the family” would arrive on Wednesday, February 19. That sounds a lot like the new iPhone SE, although there are other ways of interpreting the Cupertino oracle. Whatever the new family member turns out to be, we’re eagerly awaiting Wednesday and its announcements. The iPhone SE 4 actually is a big deal, deserving of a party, not just a press release. And not a bunch of undignified speculation about announcements this week, or next week, or a random Tuesday next year. But what can you do? The market always craves the new, and the media (including Macworld!) cannot resist puffing up what is probably a sensible but by no means revolutionary new smartphone into the eighth wonder of the world. However, there are numerous reasons why the iPhone SE 4 will be a highly interesting device for customers and reporters alike. For one thing, since the start of 2025, Apple hasn’t had a budget iPhone on sale in the EU, after updated charging standards forced it to retire the Lightning-based iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 14. An expansion of Apple’s lower-end range is needed as quickly as possible. What’s also interesting is that the iPhone SE 3 will be the last Apple device with a Home button, more than seven years after the iPhone X heralded the era of almost bezel-less iPhones with Face ID. But will customers accustomed to using the Home button finally switch over, or will many not be able to cope with Face ID and the new gestures? We shall see. And last but not least, we’re interested in the wireless technology in the iPhone SE 4 (assuming that all the rumors we’ve heard are true). Almost ten years after Apple started a dispute with chip manufacturer Qualcomm over its licensing fees, the new device is expected to get a proprietary wireless chip. As with other components it’s learned to build for itself, Apple first had to bring the expertise in-house, in this case in the form of Intel’s modem division. But the benefits should be worth it. So we have every reason to look forward to the iPhone SE 4. But why does Apple always have to keep us in suspense?

Macworld Apple updated the iPad Air with an M2 processor in May 2024, more than two years after the launch of the M1 model. Apple didn’t change the design much, though it did introduce a larger 13-inch model for the first time. It looks like the wait won’t be so long for the next model—less than a year later, rumors of a new iPad Air are already flying, and we’ve collected everything we know here. 2025 iPad Air release date: When will the new iPad Air launch? Spring 2025 (expected) February 19 (possible) Apple’s CEO Tim Cook teased on Twitter that there will be a Apple product launch on Wednesday February 11. This is widely expected to be a replacement for the iPhone SE, but there could also be a new iPad launched at the same time. One iPad is long overdue an update: the standard iPad, which currently doesn’t even support Apple Intelligence, is expected to get an update to become the 11th gen iPad. But the iPad Air may also be getting a surprise update. And if Apple is releasing details of a new iPhone on February 19, perhaps it will slip in news of these two iPads at the same time. There is one reason why Apple may not update the iPad Air on February 19. The company is currently running its Higher Education Offer 2025 in Australia until March 15, where they are offering an Apple Pencil with iPad Air and iPad Pro. Apple is unlikely to change the specs of a device currently in a promotion. However, in October 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple will release an iPad Air update at the same time as the new iPhone SE. In January 2025, Gurman reiterated that the iPad Air would become available this spring. The current M2 iPad Air was released in May 2024, so a spring 2025 release for a new iPad Air would be short of a year later. Here’s when the past five iPad Air models launched: iPad Air (M2): May 2024 iPad Air (5th generation): March 2022 iPad Air (4th generation): October 2020 iPad Air (3rd generation): March 2019 iPad Air 2: October 2014 2025 iPad Air price: How much will the new iPad Air cost? The iPad has remained at $599 since its 2020 redesign. The price may also be affected by component prices, plus unfavourable exchange rates may mean the iPad costs more where you are. The current 11-inch M2 iPad Air starts at $599/£599 while the 13-inch model starts at $799/£799. 2024 was the first year Apple offers the iPad Air in two sizes. It’s not unprecedented for Apple to raise prices. When Apple released the M4 iPad Pro in May 2024, it raised the prices by $100/£100. That price hike was accompanied by a new tandem OLED display, which the iPad Air is unlikely to receive. However, it’s possible Apple will increase the price of the 2025 iPad Air in places where the local currency has fallen against the dollar. This is something it has done in the past. 2025 iPad Air features: What specs will we see in the new iPad Air? A new chip is the main upgrade Other major upgrades are unlikely With the 2024 iPad Air release, Apple revamped the iPad Air lineup. In addition to creating two sizes (11- and 13-inches), Apple upgraded the chip from an M1 to an M2 and moved the front-facing camera to the landscape edge. Apple made a few smaller changes, such as upgrading Bluetooth to 5.3, Wi-Fi to 6E, and the Smart HDR implementation in the camera to HDR 4. The 2025 iPad Air is expected to be a chip upgrade without much else. What that new chip will be, however, is in question. When Apple upgraded the iPad Air in 2024 it used the older M2 chip while the iPad Pro jumped to the M4 due to numerous issues with the M3. In mid-January 2025, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that he “wouldn’t be terribly surprised” if the 2024 iPad Air jumped to the M4. The M5 iPad Pro update isn’t expected until later in 2025. Tthe 2025 iPad Air will feature an M3 or M4 chip.Petter Ahrnstedt A private post by leaker Evan Blass in January claims to show what is supposedly an official Apple document that identifies the new iPad Air as with an M3 chip, not an M4. However, that document also contained an image of the iPhone SE 4 with a Dynamic Island, which has been largely debunked. We’ll update this article as more information becomes available. Until then, you should check out our best iPad Air deals, our best 10th-gen iPad deals and best iPad deals roundups to see if you can find a bargain on the current range.

Macworld Expectations are high that Apple is planning a number of new product releases in the spring 2025 time frame, but will the company hold a spring event, and if it does, when will Apple’s spring event take place. Apple doesn’t always hold a spring event, but when it does, it usually takes place in March or April – with the exception of 2024, when Apple surprised us all by issuing invites to an event on May 7. This year Apple has announced that there will be an event-free product launch on February 19. Does this mean that there will be no spring event in 2025? We investigate below. In this article, we explain what you need to know about Apple’s spring event, including whether Apple will hold a spring event in 2025, and, if it does, when it might be held, how to watch it, and what products you can expect to be unveiled. Will Apple hold a spring event in 2025? In the past ten years Apple has held seven spring events, with the exception of 2023, 2020 and 2017 (and there would undoubtedly have been one in 2020 if it wasn’t for the pandemic). Apple’s spring event is one of the three or four big events in Apple’s yearly cycle of announcements. There’s the big iPhone/Mac software announcements at WWDC in the summer, the iPhone launch in September, sometimes we see Apple make Mac and iPad announcements in October or November, and (most years) we get some hardware reveals at a spring event in March or April. At these events Apple executives hit the stage–whether real or virtual–and boast about some recent successes, before revealing what new products are about to launch. For more detail on Apple’s calendar of events, read When is the next Apple event? But will there be an event in spring 2025? It is unlikely. Apple has indicated that a new product will launch on Wednesday February 19, but this will be a product launch via a press release to the media, and not an event. This is the same approach that Apple used in October 2024 when it issued press releases regarding M4 series of MacBooks, iMac, and Mac mini. These Mac announcements could certainly have been made at an event if Apple had wished: the new M4 Pro and M4 Max were worthy of attention, as was the new design of the Mac mini. But Apple settled on press releases spread over a few days. This could be the start of a trend to avoid the immediacy of an event, where smaller news gets dwarfed by the big stories, in favor of a more controlled, staggered release. Is the era of the Apple event is over? What will Apple launch in February 2025? The new iPhone SE (or iPhone 16E) is expected to launch on February 19, bringing Apple Intelligence and a brand news design to the entry-level iPhone. Here’s how to get Apple Intelligence on your iPhone if you have a compatible model. Apple may also launch the long overdue update to the standard iPad. The 11th-gen iPad needs an update to enable support for Apple Intelligence. There are also rumors that Apple may soon issue an update to the iPad Air. While we are also awaiting a new MacBook Air with M4 chip, it’s not thought that Apple will launch it in February. That launch could happen later in the spring. The MacBook Air probably won’t be launched at an event, unless Apple surprises us with a Mac update that also includes the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, but those product launches are expected at WWDC in June. When is the Spring Apple event 2025? So it is increasingly unlikely that there will be a Spring Apple Event in 2025, but, if Apple surprised us all when could such an event happen? We can make some educated guesses based on when the event has been held in the past, and other events happening around that time. It’s typical for Apple to hold events (other than WWDC) on a Tuesday or a Wednesday. If Apple holds the event on March 11, 18 or 25 it could be selling the new products before its second quarter ends on March 30. Alternatively, If Apple waits until April we wouldn’t expect the event to fall too close to the Easter time frame, so April 8 or April 29 would be the most likely dates. Apple previously held a Spring event on the following dates: 2024: Tuesday May 7: (“Let Loose”): 11 & 14-inch iPad Pro M4, 11 & 14-inch iPad Air M2, Apple Pencil Pro 2023: no event 2022, Tuesday March 8: (“Peek Performance,” virtual): New iPhone SE, new iPad Air, Mac Studio and Studio Display, and new iPhone color options 2021, Tuesday April 20: (“Spring Loaded,” virtual): New iPad Pro and iMac, Apple TV 4K, AirTags, new iPhone color options and iOS 14.7 2020: no event 2019, Monday March 25: (“It’s show time”): Apple Card, and the News+, TV+, and Arcade subscription services 2018, Tuesday March 27: (“Let’s take a field trip”): New iPad and education announcements 2017: no event 2016, Monday March 21: (“Let us loop you in”): iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and software updates 2015, Monday March 9: (“Spring Forward”): Apple Watch, a new MacBook, and iOS 8.2 2014: no event 2013: no event 2012, Wednesday March 7: (“We have something you really have to see. And touch”): 3rd-gen Apple TV and 3rd-gen iPad You can still watch the spring 2024 event on YouTube. What time will Apple’s spring event start? Apple’s events generally start at 10 am in local (California, PT) time, but in May 2024 the event started at 7am PT. Here’s what that time translated to in various locations around the world: U.K.: 3 pm (BST) Central Europe: 4 pm (CEST) U.S.: 7 am (PT), 8 am (MT), 9 am (CT), 10 am (ET) Canada: 7 am (PT), 8 am (MT), 9 am (CT), 10 am (ET) India: 7.30 pm (IST) Singapore and China: 11 pm Japan: next day at 2 am (JST) Australia: 11 pm (AWST), 11.30 pm (ACST), midnight (AEST) New Zealand: next day at 2 am (NZST) If Apple holds the event at the usual time of 10am PT the timing will be as follows (allow for daylight saving time changes, which happen at different times around the world). U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), noon (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT) Canada: as above, and 2 pm (AST/ADT) U.K.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST) Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST) India: at 10.30 pm (IST) Australia: Next day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT) New Zealand: Next day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT) Apple events generally last between one and two hours. What will Apple announce in spring 2024? We’ve mentioned the iPhone SE a couple of times, but there are other Apple products due an update: iPhone SE It’s expected that the new iPhone SE will support Apple Intelligence, which means we will see a processor jump that takes it beyond the iPhone 14 and 15 models still on sale. Rumor has it that this will be known as the iPhone 16 SE. Read: iPhone SE rumors. 11th-gen iPad The 10th-gen iPad launched back in October 2022 and is the only model that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, so an update to the same A17 Pro chip as the iPad mini seems likely. See: 11th-gen iPad rumors. New iPad Air It’s already running on an M2 chip, which is more than capable of running Apple Intelligence, but apparently Apple is going to update the iPad Air. If it does the M3 chip is expected to appear in that device, which is a surprise because apparently the M3 has been quite a challenge for Apple. Read about the 2025 iPad Air. M4 MacBook Air The MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini already have M4 chips so it’s time that the MacBook Air got upgraded to the M4. More here: MacBook Air M4 rumors. Other new products We could also see some updates to the Home products. There have been rumors of a faster version of the Apple TV, a HomePod with screen, or a product that combines the two products. We’ll probably be waiting until WWDC in June for the Mac Pro and Mac Studio M4 updates. What is the spring event tagline and what does it mean? When Apple announces the tagline for a spring event there is usually a lot of speculation as to what it might indicate about the product announcements. For the May 2024 event the tagline was Let Loose, a phrase that suggested freedom and the idea that creativity will be let loose. The image accompanying the invite was of an Apple Pencil drawing. So when a new range of iPads and a new Apple Pencil were launched it was no real surprise. The February 19 product launch was announced with a tweet from Tim Cook that many said reminded them of an AirTag. How to watch Apple’s spring event live The best way to watch an Apple event – if there is one – would be to get an invite to attend in person, but most of us won’t be so lucky. Fortunately, Apple will also live stream the presentation so everyone can watch along. The first place to try is right at the top of this article where we will have embedded Apple’s YouTube stream. You can also watch on Apple’s events page, which will have the live stream on the night. Indeed, the main Apple.com home page usually shows the presentation while it is happening. If you’ve got an iPhone, an iPad, an Apple TV, or a Mac–assuming the device has sufficiently up-to-date software–you can watch the stream on the TV app. PC owners can also watch, but will need to visit Apple’s site as mentioned above. After the event is finished, it will also be available to rewatch in the Podcasts and TV apps, and on Apple’s website. Finally, Apple has for certain events in the past held broadcast events in Apple Stores, so it may be worth contacting your nearest outlet to see if they have anything planned. More information about watching the event here: How to watch Apple’s event. Apple What has Apple launched in past spring events? Here’s what Apple has announced at previous spring events: 2024: Tuesday May 7: New iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4) models. Updates to Magic keyboards for iPads and new Apple Pencil Pro. Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro updates. 2023: no event 2022, Tuesday M

Macworld It’s a nightmare scenario: your Mac has been playing up for weeks and you’ve been ignoring it, or just haven’t been able to figure out how to fix it. Then it refuses to start up. Why didn’t you make that backup? Is there any way you can get back the lost data from your Mac? Luckily there are apps that can recover your lost photos and damaged files from your failed Mac’s hard drive. There are a few techniques you can try before you spend money on an app though, as you’ll see in our How to recover data from a damaged Mac article. Also, prevention is better than a cure and we recommend adopting a regular backup routine going forward, so you’ll avoid this kind of situation again. For more tips on this, take a look at the best backup software for Mac and How to use Time Machine to back up a Mac. If these tips prove to be of no avail, there are apps that can rescue your files from a deleted, corrupted or crashed drive. Data recovery apps, like the ones we have reviewed below, work in a similar way: if the directory indicating where files were originally stored is salvageable, recovering the files is relatively easy. If that isn’t the case, the software will scan the data for familiar patterns that would denote a file type. Once it finds a file type, there’s a good chance that there will be data in that file. PROMOTIONData recovery software for Mac – EaseUS Recover lost data in 3 simple steps: automated scan, preview, and one-click recovery. Cover any file format and deal with data loss issues. Undelete files from the Mac-based hard drive, fusion drive, SSD, USB drive, memory card, digital camera, and more. Macworld recommended, and a great choice for both Mac and Windows users.Now 25% OFF Exclusive Code: MACWORLD25Get It Now l Windows Get It Now | Mac But expect it to be a time-consuming process to piece the bits of files back together. With patience, most files that haven’t been overwritten should, in theory, be saveable. Some drives can take days to fully scan, and the higher capacity they are, the longer the process. But if it’s irreplaceable photos or important documents that are lost, you can afford to wait. Unfortunately, this sort of software is pretty much always going to have a high price associated with it before you can recover what you need–but if you’ve lost hundreds of treasured photos or the first 1,000 pages of your novel, then no price is too high, probably. Sometimes you can pay for the software for a month, do what you need to do and then cancel. Sometimes you must subscribe for a year. Other options allow you to buy it outright, but pay extra for future updates. Your own circumstances will influence which option is best for you. Additionally, many of these tools offer a trial so you can at least see what you should be able to recover before you spend your money. Whether you’re a casual user scrambling to recover your lost files, or a full-time tech shop doing everything it can to retrieve a client’s most critical documents from a dying hard drive, these are the data recovery apps that get our recommendation. Looking to recover data from a iPhone? Read: Best data recovery apps for iPhone. Best data recovery software for Mac 2025 Here’s our pick of the best data recovery apps for Mac. Recoverit, Wondershare Pros Clean, inviting user interface Good set of tools Good performance Cons Problem with USB boot drive creation module Recoverit by Wondershare is centered around the usual modules that you might see in this kind of suite: Hard Drives and Locations and SD Card for file recovery, Enhanced Recovery and Corrupted Video Repair for video and photo restoration and System Crashed Computer and NAS and Linux for additional recovery features.  There’s a friendly home screen and user interface and the modules work as expected. Data recovery for hard drives, locations, and SD cards is simple and reliable, with Recoverit executing both a quick scan and diving into a deep scan. The video and photo repair modules work well with damaged files. The SD Card module was able to sift through a damaged 8GB SD card, pull some video data thought lost, and deliver the data back cleanly to a recovery folder without issue. Remote-based utilities allow for network-based drives to be located or accessed manually to have data recovered from them. The program can also save recovered data to a NAS drive or Google Drive, which is a nice feature. We had some problems with the USB boot drive creation module, but this might be due to Apple’s complications.  Wondershare Recoverit presents an excellent data recovery package at a not-unreasonable, price. The package is currently on offer for $79.99/£63.99 (usually $109.99/£93.97) a month for unlimited recovery for two Macs, or $89.99/£66.99 (usually $139.99/£113.97) for a one year license for unlimited recovery for two Macs. There’s also a $139.99/£118.97 (usually $169.99/£144.97) perpetual license for two Macs. The company also offers discounts for students and educators, and small and medium businesses. While no trial version exists, the free version allows for all of Recoverit’s features to be used, with data recovery capped at 100 megabytes. Read our full Wondershare Recoverit review Stellar Data Recovery for Mac Pros Quick, clean interface Good data recovery tools and modules Impressive net-based data recovery module Cons Repeated crashes for the Clean Up Junk Files module Recent Items and serial number activation bugs Stellar Data Recovery for Mac focuses on recovering data via standard scans, deep scans, drive image creation, and other recovery tools. It is available as a free trial, with standard, professional, and premium editions available on yearly or lifetime contracts. The software supports both HFS+ and APFS volume formats and can be installed easily. Stellar Data Recovery’s main strength is its extensive data recovery engine, which supports hundreds of file formats and allows users to search and recover by file type, headers, and attributes. It also features a good scan management engine that allows users to save and work from previous scans, and an image creation feature that allows users to create a byte-for-byte image of a volume that can be restored later. One interesting feature is the Recover Non Booting Mac module, which allows users to log into their Mac’s recovery partition, load Terminal, and enter a command to open a remote version of Stellar Data Recovery (more details in our full review). Other modules such as Search Large Files and Search Duplicate Files perform well and provide a comprehensive look at your drive. The complete array of modules worked well with test drives, recovering data as needed, and snagging as much as possible. Unfortunately, we did experience some problems. Stellar’s Clean Up Junk Files crashed the application repeatedly and had to be force quit under macOS Sonoma 14.6.1.  Other issues included activating the serial number, which took several days and multiple calls and emails to sort out. Additionally, Stellar Data Recovery refused to appear in the macOS Recent Items menu, preventing it from being quickly launched. Even after activating a Professional tier account, the software still presents an “Upgrade” button on its main menu, which seems to be asking for more money to be thrown in the company’s general direction. Despite these failings, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is a good program able to dig deep to help reconstruct and recover deleted data. There’s also Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. Read our full Stellar Data Recovery for Mac review Data Rescue, Prosoft Engineering Pros Excellent toolset and recovery system Helpful Scan Management system Cons High subscription-based price Last update (v6) was in 2023 Inadequate tech support No means of creating a macOS Sonoma recovery drive Data Rescue, currently version 6.0.8, offers some excellent drive management and data recovery features, albeit at a steep price for occasional users. The software supports older versions of macOS and requires macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later. Users can download the software and assign full drive access, with a trial offering up to 1GB of data recovery for free. The company charges $19 per individual for non-licensed data retrieval, $79 for a standard license, and $399/year for a professional license. The hefty fee covers only one Mac or PC. The auto-renew option needs to be turned off via the web-based Prosoft account. The software has a compelling toolset, including Quick Scan or Deep Scan, view hex tables, secure e

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros High-quality finish Customizable Cons A few software driver errors Keypad only has nine fields Our Verdict The MX Creative Console will delight beginners and intermediates with its excellent price-performance ratio. Whether video editing or image processing, the dialpad in particular feels good in the hand and the software allows simple and flexible customization to your needs. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Logitech MX Creative Console Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket For creative professionals, the standard keyboard and mouse/trackpad configuration isn’t a model that promotes efficiency. The need to frequently access options and to fine-tune settings in creative pro software means these input devices aren’t ideal. What works are knob controllers and keypads that allow for precise control and quick access, like Logitech’s MX Creative Console. The MX Creative Console consists of two parts plus configuration software. The most striking part is the dialpad with a large rotary knob, four buttons, and a roller. Depending on the application, the dial can be used to set volume or adjust exposure. The roller can be used to scroll through documents. For a quick start, the setup wizard already configures the buttons for some programs and the Finder. These settings can be adopted, customized, or extended later. A large number of commands for each individual program are available in a library, and profiles can be downloaded later from the Marketplace. There is already a large selection to start with, which should increase over time. For example, there are profiles with commands for Ableton Live, Adobe Photoshop, Capture One, Twitch, and Zoom Meeting. Predefined key commands for important creative apps, free programming of the keys, the creation of new programs, and the direct transfer of text passages to ChatGPT are just some of the practical functions. For beginners, however, I would like to see more ready-made profiles that make it easier to get started. A rotary control like this is only useful if it runs smoothly– that’s exactly what the dial on the dialpad does. The lack of overtravel is a little unusual. Both dials, the large round one and the small roller, stop immediately when released. This is unusual when scrolling, but is an advantage when selecting and controlling. The fact that the dialpad has no cable also has a positive effect, allowing it to be used more flexibly when editing, for example. Thomas Bergbold The action ring is a very special function. It is called up by pressing a button and organizes eight commands around the mouse pointer position. By default, it is easily accessible for each program on the button to the right below the rotary knob. For example, eight commands from image optimization are displayed. If you move the cursor over the “Brightness” command, the brightness value can be adjusted directly using the rotary knob. This is a practical function for quick editing, especially in image processing. A real highlight that sets the MX Creative Console apart from its competitors is the Action Ring. This now works in most programs and is particularly helpful when optimizing images in Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. Unfortunately, there are still a few bugs in Capture One: instead of changing the values, it can happen that turning the wheel jumps to the next image. The second part of the MX Creative Console is the keypad with nine illuminated buttons and two buttons for changing pages. Up to 15 pages can be created in the configuration software. The buttons are complemented by large graphics that show either the command such as play/pause or the program icon. There is a stand for the keypad, which improves the legibility of the keys. When using the keypad, you first have to struggle with the stubborn cable. That is, until you insert the stand mount. The cable guide allows the keypad to be positioned better and the keys are also easier to read. The large, rubberized base provides reliable protection against slipping. Thomas Bergbold The MX Creative Console is available in light grey and graphite. A small contribution to environmental protection is the use of low-carbon aluminum, recycled plastic, and environmentally friendly paper packaging. Should you buy the Logitech MX Creative Console? All in all, Logitech has created an excellent tool that can be recommended to digital creatives. It is more affordable than other control knobs and keypads, which makes it appealing to aspiring image and video editors.

Macworld When Apple released the M4 iPad Pro last May, it threw an already uncertain schedule into upheaval. Half of Apple’s Mac lineup was still running M2 chips, and Apple had only just updated the MacBook Air to an M3 just two months prior. For the first time ever, an iPad had a faster chip than the entire Mac range. It would be another six months before the first Mac received an M4 chip, and two months into 2025, two M2 models, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, are still using 2023 chips, the MacBook Air has an M3, and three have M4s (the Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro). Buying a Mac right now requires intimate knowledge of spec sheets, timelines, and rumors, lest you get a model that’s essentially obsolete before you walk out of the Apple Store. But it looks like that’s about to change. According to Mark Bloomberg’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple will update the MacBook Air with an M4 chip in a few weeks, followed closely by the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with the M4 Ultra. That will bring the whole Mac lineup up to date with the latest generation of chips, and prepare the ground for the transition to the M5. It will also mark the first time since the Apple silicon transition arrived that every Mac is running a version of the same chip. The Mac Pro skipped the M1; the iMac skipped the M2; the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and Mac Pro skipped the M3. But apparently, the fourth time’s the charm for Apple silicon. Gurman reports that, unlike the M4, the M5 transition will begin with the Mac rather than the iPad Pro: “And once those are released, the M5 chip transition will begin—alongside new MacBook Pro models in the fall. Then we should get an M5 iPad Pro by the first half of 2026. In other words, the M4 and M5 chip transitions will see their release orders flipped, with the M5 coming to the Mac before the iPad Pro.” By debuting the M5 in the Mac, Apple is setting up an annual cadence that could look something like this: November: MacBook Pro/Mac mini March: MacBook Air/iMac June: Mac Studio/Mac Pro Not every model needs to be updated every year, but establishing a proper timeline for Mac updates and expectations for releases will make choosing when to buy a Mac much easier for consumers. The Mac is the only product that doesn’t have a clear identifier to let people know what generation it is, so a schedule will help give the lines some much-needed predictability.

Macworld In a clearing in a forest, near the magical river where the gnomes harvest mushrooms and the fairies argue over an editorial in the latest issue of Teen Vogue, sits a Macalope on a stump, hunched over a keyboard. Is it ergonomic? No. It’s a forest. How is it going to be ergonomic? Magic? Magic is surprisingly un-ergonomic. There isn’t even a power outlet. Thank god for the M-series processors’ low power consumption. There is Wi-Fi, though, because the centaurs set up an open network for their late-night MMORPG sessions. They are loud and anger the nymphs, who have to be up early to dance in the glade. It’s a whole thing. But let’s return to the lone Macalope. He’s trying to think of what to write for this week’s column. There’s going to be an Apple event this week. He could write about that. But it’s probably just the new iPhone SE, maybe with a new name. Nice, but it’s not exactly huge news. He could write about Apple Intelligence and the company’s rumored struggles getting Siri to be smarter. But there’s only so many times you can write about AI without your head exploding. The thing is, he knows what he should write about, he just doesn’t want to. The Macalope doesn’t want to write about politics. These days, he doesn’t even want to think about politics. Have you seen politics? Ugh. Blech. It was never good on a good day. But now… And writing about politics on a technology website is the very definition of a Kobayashi Maru. Except without the Klingons. And spaceships. So, not the very definition, but you know what the Macalope means. People will yell “Stay in your lane, mythical beast! Just shut up and be funny about Apple!” First of all, that’s an oxymoron. Unless the Macalope is supposed to do a funny interpretive dance about Apple and he wouldn’t even know where to start with something like that. Julliard? Could he even get in at his age? Second, though, believe the Macalope when he says he would love to just be funny about Apple. But it’s getting harder and harder to do. IDG And the Macalope isn’t the one who started it. Apple was conspicuously non-political for years, not having its own political action committee while almost all of its U.S.-based competitors did. Okay, sure, it hired a few famous former members of Democratic administrations. But it also took on the Department of Justice during a Democratic administration over privacy concerns. The first thing that drew attention to Apple’s new game was in January when Tim Cook made an unprecedented $1 million donation to the incoming administration’s inaugural fund. The Macalope says “unprecedented” because he’d never done it before. All of a sudden he’s really into the transition of power. Sure, Tim. Now, Apple has decided to resume advertising on the platform formerly known as Twitter. Let’s remember the reason Apple stopped advertising on that site in the first place: The move follows Musk’s endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy theories as well as Apple ads reportedly being placed alongside far-right content. Axios, November 17, 2023 And it’s not like he’s apologized. Still, at least since then, he’s stayed out of the spotlight and only gone on to… [pretends to put on glasses and read a piece of paper]… be the unelected, unconfirmed, unqualified auditor-in-chief of the entire U.S. government. Huh. Don’t remember that in that Schoolhouse Rock song. Guess he got the gig by doing such a bang-up job with Twitter. It’s little wonder that people are upset with Apple. The company has clearly decided to buy itself access, no matter what the cost to its reputation and, yeah, gonna say it, the rest of us. You picked a really bad time to start being political, Apple. And we see you. Plus, you’re apparently never going to make a phone in a size the Macalope likes again, either. So there’s also that. If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.

Macworld Let’s be real — subscription fees are the worst. If you’re tired of shelling out cash every month just to use basic apps like Word or Excel (or you’re missing them on your Mac!), it’s time to switch things up with Microsoft Office 2019. For $39.99, you’ll get lifetime access to the full suite of Office apps on your Mac computer — only pay once. No subscriptions, no sneaky renewal charges, just the tools you need to get stuff done. With this deal, you’re getting the full lineup: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic. Whether you’re drafting proposals, crunching numbers, or firing off emails, you’ll have everything you need to stay on top of your game. Plus, since it’s built specifically for Mac, it looks sharp with features like Retina display support and full-screen view for a smoother experience. Just make your one-time purchase, download the software, and you’re good to go. And because the license is tied to your Microsoft account (not your device), you won’t lose access if you upgrade your Mac in the future. Skip the subscriptions and get the tools you need without the hassle. Grab your lifetime license to Microsoft Home and Business 2019 for Mac on sale for $39.99 for a limited time.   Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac – $39.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Macworld You had every intention of booking early for your next trip, but life got in the way (again). Now, flights and hotels are sky-high — unless you have this secret travel deals app. OneAir gives you lower prices than sites like Expedia and Hotels.com, and a lifetime subscription is at its lowest price ever with this deal: $69.99 with code FLY30 until March 30. Let’s start with that airline ticket. You can find a cheap last-minute flight for $50 to $150 less than free websites, which pretty much pays for the OneAir subscription after your first trip. You’ll find deals from economy up to first-class by search, or you can set destination-specific deal alerts powered by an AI engine that finds the best prices online. You can also save $20 to $150 per night on hotel stays if you need it! When you book right on the OneAir app, you also earn 10% in cash rewards for future purchases, helping you double down on the savings. Save on your travels with a OneAir lifetime subscription at $69.99 with promo code FLY30.   OneAir Elite: Lifetime Subscription (Book Unbeatable Hotel and Flight Deals + Earn Up to 10% in Cash Rewards on Most Bookings) – $99.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Macworld In this article, we answer all of your questions about when you should and shouldn’t buy a new iPhone – including advice on when Apple is likely to discount the price of older iPhone handsets. There are certain times of the year when buying a new iPhone is a bad idea, and there are certain times of the year when you can get a bargain on a new handset. The trick is knowing when you should buy a new iPhone. Luckily we are here to help. Looking for to buy a new iPhone? Apple is about to launch a replacement for the iPhone SE. Normally we would say hold off until the new iPhone launch but that depends on which phone you want to buy. Read on for more information. Should I buy a new iPhone right now? If you want to buy an iPhone 16 series handset our advice is to buy now. If you want to buy an iPhone 15 you may find that the replacement for the iPhone SE could be a better choice as it is likely to support Apple Intelligence, which the iPhone 15 doesn’t support. However, prices for some or all iPhones could increase, at least outside the U.S. following this iPhone SE update. There are certain times of the year when you can get the best deals on a new iPhone, these are during the Amazon Prime Sales in July and October, and Black Friday. Those in the market for a new handset are probably wondering whether now is a good time to buy a new iPhone. Is there any danger that a new model will be released in the near future? Will prices drop or increase? To answer that question, a replacement for the iPhone SE is expected on Wednesday, February 19. If you want to buy a new iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, but is cheaper than the iPhone 16, this will be the iPhone to buy. If you don’t want to buy the soon-to-launch iPhone SE, you may think that there isn’t a bad time to buy one of the older iPhones. Normally, when a new iPhone launches Apple reduces prices of the predecessors and discontinues some models. So it can be best to wait until after a new iPhone launches to get the best price for the previous generation. However, in the case of the iPhone SE replacement we expect Apple to shake up the iPhone lineup somewhat. The iPhone 14 and current iPhone SE are already off-sale in Europe where Apple isn’t allowed to sell iPhones with a lightning port. As a result, you can expect that the $599 iPhone 14 will no longer be sold. If the new iPhone SE costs $599 that would already be a higher price than the current iPhone SE that costs $429. With the $699 iPhone 15 not supporting Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI features it has been making a lot of noise about, it is also possible that the company could discontinue that handset. Should Apple do so the line up may well start with a $599 iPhone SE (which may be known as the iPhone 16E). Or the iPhone 15 price could fall and the iPhone 16E may slot in above it. So, waiting may mean spending more to buy your iPhone and it may mean you have less choice. Although just because Apple doesn’t sell an iPhone doesn’t mean you can’t buy it. Check out our round up of the Best iPhone deals that includes all iPhones. After that the next new iPhone launch will probably be in September. The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, Pro and Pro Max were launched at an Apple Event in September 2024. In September 2025 you can expect the iPhone 17 line up to be revealed. Apple Should I buy an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus? Apple iPhone 16 Read our review Best Prices Today: $829 at Apple | $829.99 at Best Buy The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were Apple’s new standard iPhones for 2024. They went on sale on September 20, 2024. We have reviewed both handsets and recommend them. If you want an Apple iPhone capable of supporting Apple Intelligence these were the only iPhones currently on sale that could – although that will change with the launch of the new iPhone SE (or iPhone 16E if that is what Apple calls it). There are already deals on that handset. If you want to get the best price or find the best contract deal, we track the Best iPhone 16 deals in the U.S. and the best iPhone 16 deals in the U.K. these include both carrier deals and discounts on unlocked iPhones. Should I buy an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max? Apple iPhone 16 Pro Read our review Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple | $999.99 at Best Buy The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max were Apple’s new pro iPhones for 2024. They also went on sale on September 20, 2024. They are good, but so are the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, so this year you don’t have to opt for Pro to get a great iPhone. Should I buy a iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus? Apple iPhone 15 Read our review Best Prices Today: $729 at Apple | $729.99 at Best Buy When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 it dropped the price of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which were introduced in September 2023. If you want to save some money and don’t mind not having the latest iPhone it is a good time to get the 2023 model. However, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus do not support Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI features. You may find that in time this is a real disadvantage. Should I buy a iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max? Apple iPhone 15 Pro Read our review Best Prices Today: $899.99 at Best Buy When Apple introduced the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max it discontinued these models. You may still be able to find the 2023 Pro models on sale though, and if you find them at a good price then they will still be a good purchase. Should I buy an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus? Apple iPhone 14 Read our review Best Prices Today: $629 at Apple You might be considering buying the cheaper iPhone 14 or 14 Plus which also saw a price drop in September 2024. These are two year old iPhones, so whether you consider it a good purchase will depend on how much money you are prepared to spend on a new iPhone. With Apple set to launch a new iPhone that will support Apple Intelligence, at what may be a lower price than the iPhone 14 is currently, we wouldn’t recommend buying an iPhone 14 now. It is likely that Apple will stop selling these handsets after February 19, and it has already stopped selling the iPhone 14 in Europe. Should I buy an iPhone SE? Apple iPhone SE (2022) Read our review Best Prices Today: $429 at Amazon | $429 at Apple The iPhone SE is Apple’s smallest phone and the only iPhone with a Home button. If you want small and a home button you need to buy one now because Apple is about to replace this handset with a brand new iPhone on February 19. Read about Apple’s plans for the iPhone SE 4. When is the best time to buy an iPhone? It is always worth waiting for the big sales if you can, we often find some good deals on older iPhone handsets, though not usually the newest models. There are two Amazon Prime Day sales – one in July and one in October every year – at which we may see some savings on iPhones, and at the end of November even more stores cutting the prices of iPhones for Black Friday. Apple doesn’t drop the price of iPhones, but over Black Friday it offers vouchers alongside qualifying purchases in an Black Friday offer. Sometimes Amazon does a spring sale as well. We do see good deals all year round though, so take a look at our round-up of the best iPhone deals this month. We have also collected the Best iPhone 16 deals in the U.S. and the best iPhone 16 deals in the U.K., as well as the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.K. and the best de

Macworld The 4th-gen iPhone SE 4 is almost certainly going to be unveiled on February 19. That’s not baseless speculation: the clues come directly from Apple, with Tim Cook himself promising that the newest member of the family will arrive on Wednesday. We should acknowledge, however, that pundits were saying something similar last week, and obviously the new phone didn’t appear. In fact, likely prompted by those optimistic rumors, third-party vendors have already started offering cases for the iPhone SE 4… or the iPhone 16e, depending on which manufacturer you ask. We bought one of these cases from a German firm while researching the iPhone SE 4 and have since received it. We’re happy to share this case and its secrets with you now, but please note that all information should be taken with a grain of salt, as the manufacturer explains: We currently use the designation “iPhone 16e” based on information provided to us by our suppliers and various sources. These designations are not officially confirmed and are based on industry speculation and preliminary information. With the designs, as with the names, we are dependent on information and speculation from our suppliers and sources. This information is therefore not always reliable or definitive and is always subject to change or adjustment. DeinDesign (translated automatically from German) With that caveat out of the way, let’s take a look at the case and see what it has to tell us. First, there’s a horizontal cut-out for the camera. If that makes you think we’re getting two camera lenses on the rear, think again: this is just to accommodate a single lens and a flash next to it, as is the case on the 2022 iPhone SE. It’s been widely rumored that the 16e will be based on the chassis of the iPhone 14, but if Apple was going to use the design of that device’s camera module and diagonally arranged twin lenses it would be necessary to include a much larger square cutout. Most pundits agree that regardless of the chassis design, the new SE will have only one camera lens on the rear. Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – horizontal camera cut-out Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – speaker and USB-C connector Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – side button Your design case for iPhone 16e or SE 4 – Mute switch and volume buttons. Otherwise, the case sticks to the standard and familiar iPhone design elements: there are cut-outs for speakers and connectors on the bottom edge and for the mute switch and volume buttons on the left. There’s an area for the side button on the righthand side, but the case gives no reason to expect the 16e to feature the Camera Control from the iPhone 16. The clear silicone case from DeinDesign is a few millimeters narrower and shorter than an iPhone 14 case, which goes against the general consensus that Apple would use the iPhone 14 chassis for the upcoming iPhone SE. A few millimeters may not sound significant, but for smartphones, a difference of just one millimeter can mean that a case doesn’t fit. Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – narrower than a case for the iPhone 14 Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 – shorter than a case for the iPhone 14 Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 is about 70 mm wide Your design case for the iPhone 16e or SE 4 is 145 mm long. In fact, the discrepancies in size make us skeptical as to whether the case we’ve purchased will fit the upcoming iPhone at all. Apple uses elements from previous generations for its entry-level models for cost reasons: the production lines are tried and tested after years of manufacture, and it will cost money to make even small changes. An iPhone 14 chassis could be manufactured at zero cost in terms of research, development and quality assurance; a slightly different chassis is another matter. What’s more, iPhone dimensions have barely changed in years. The iPhone 12, 13 and 14 were all 146.7 mm long and 71.5 mm wide; the iPhone 15 and 16 were the same length and just 0.1mm wider. Significant change now feels unlikely. Our alleged iPhone 16e case measures approximately 148 mm by 75 mm, a good deal smaller than a comparable OtterBox clear case for the iPhone 16, which measures 151.7 mm by 77.2 mm. Based on these measurements, we’re worried that we might have to send the case back to the manufacturer. Or maybe Apple is in the mood for radical change after all. We’ll find out for sure on Wednesday. For all the latest news and rumors, keep an eye on our regularly updated iPhone SE 4 superguide.

Macworld Apple last updated its entry-level iPhone in March 2022, adding a few nips and tucks here and there along with a quiet price increase. It kept the “iPhone 8” design with its Home button and small form factor that appeals to some, but the aging design and minimal upgrades meant the new iPhone SE was coolly received by the masses. The iPhone SE is in desperate need of a big upgrade, and if you are wondering whether there be a new iPhone SE, it looks like a new model—maybe with a brand new name—could arrive very soon. Tim Cook has teased that “the newest member of the family” is coming on Wednesday, February 19. This is widely expected to be a replacement for the iPhone SE. Here’s what to expect from a big resign to AI capable specs and price hikes. New iPhone SE release date: When is the new iPhone SE coming out? An X post from Apple’s CEO Tim Cook hints that the iPhone SE 4 will launch on February 19. Otherwise, a launch at a Spring Apple Event is expected. Apple’s Tim Cook has ‘tweeted‘ on X: “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family” on February 19. That means a launch of something is imminent, which is likely the iPhone SE. Days earlier, rumor-monger extraordinaire, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who initially said the iPhone SE 4 would launch in the week of February 10, claimed we can expect the new iPhone SE to launch in the week of February 17, 2025. Gurman is saying that the iPhone SE will be included in product briefings being organized by Apple that week. If an iPhone SE isn’t the mystery new family member coming on February 19, an update is expected soon, and there is precedence for Apple to launch the iPhone SE in March or April. Apple’s iPhone SE doesn’t follow the same predictable annual release schedule as the standard iPhone line, and it doesn’t tend to have its release party in September like that handset. There tend to be much longer intervals between updates too. But one thing seems sure: The iPhone SE tends to be updated in March or April. Here’s when the three models released so far made their debut: iPhone SE (3rd gen): March 2022 iPhone SE (2nd gen): April 2020 iPhone SE (1st gen): March 2016 Apple’s current budget phone, the iPhone SE launched in 2022.Dominik Tomaszewski What will the new iPhone SE be called? SE 4 or iPhone 16E? While we assumed Apple would continue the iPhone SE for another generation, a rumor in January 2025 claims that Apple will introduce a new name: iPhone 16E. That name would align it with the current generation and also could indicate an annual upgrade cycle. It may also mean that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 are removed from the lineup, or that the price of the iPhone 16E is more than the iPhone 15. New iPhone SE price: How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost? iPhone SE currently from: $429/£429. New price could be $499 or more. While the iPhone SE is Apple’s cheapest iPhone, it is possible we could see pricing increase with the arrival of the new model. Higher component pricing and the effect of higher import duties is likely to lead to higher prices for consumers wishing to purchase the new iPhone SE. Additionally, the 2025 iPhone SE may also no longer be positioned as the ‘budget’ option, depending on how Apple places it in the line up related to the iPhone 15. Some rumors claim the 4th-gen iPhone SE could start at $499, which while more than the current price, would still be less expensive than any other new iPhone Apple sells. However, Apple tends to have a $100 jump between handsets, with the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the iPhone 15 at $699. If the iPhone SE replaces the iPhone 14 in the lineup, it could mean a $599 starting price. That’s assuming that the new iPhone SE doesn’t replace the iPhone 15 at a $699 starting price. Hopefully, Apple won’t push up the price that much. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims the next model is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China, so a low price would be necessary to achieve this plan. Will Apple adjust pricing due to exchange rates? When the iPhone SE (3rd generation) was released in 2022, Apple added a chunk onto the cost, making the current model somewhat less desirable than previous iterations, especially when you factor in the measly amount of storage that comes with the baseline model. At that time prices were even higher in the U.K. but, in September 2023, after adjusting for inflation, Apple dropped the U.K. price back to match the U.S. price. Apple did the same thing for prices in euros in September 2024. The company may be about to undo this positive price change. It seems likely that even if prices don’t chance in the U.S. price hikes will happen in the U.K. The pound has fallen against the dollar in recent months, and it is therefore likely that we will see some pricing adjustments correlating with Apple’s price hikes in the U.K. in January 2017. So the current like-for-like pricing is unlikely to continue. How much did previous generations of iPhone SE cost? 32GB64GB128GB256GBiPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022)$429/£429 (was £449 at launch)$479/£479 (was £499 at launch)$579/£579 (was £609 at launch)iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020)$399/£419$449/£469$549/£569iPhone SE (1st gen, 2016)$399/£379$499/£449How the prices of the iPhone SE have changed over the past generations. New iPhone SE design: What will the new iPhone SE look like? Will the iPhone SE get a long-overdue design revamp? Rumors suggest that we could see a move away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like modern iPhones, with Face ID and a full-screen display. That could be good or bad news, depending on your viewpoint. Some people prefer the Home button as a means to interact with their iPhone, for some older people and those who are less dexterous it is helpful to have a physical button. Rumors have long claimed the iPhone SE 4 will be based on the iPhone 14, the last iPhone to have a notch. However, there are suggestions that the new iPhone SE could take it’s design lead from the iPhone 15 and feature a Dynamic Island. Touch ID or Face ID? It looks very likely that the new iPhone SE will use Face ID. That means Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, will go away. A notch or not? No Home button is likely to mean a notch (where the Face ID sensors reside), but it could also mean a Dynamic Island. A report on January 21, 2025, by leaker Evan Blass states that the new iPhone SE will have a Dynamic Island and not a notch. Apple first introduced the notch with the iPhone 14 Pro followed by the iPhone 15 a year later. But, a later X post on January 29, 2025, this time from Ross Young, a displays analyst, stated “Notch like iPhone 14 is correct.” Young has a very strong track record for display rumors as he relies on supply chain reports rather than leaks. Read: The new iPhone SE will have a notch after all. A rumor back in July 2024 suggested Apple would change course with the iPhone SE 4 and instead use the same body as the iPhone 16, making it a true budget version of the latest iPhone lineup. New iPhone SE camera: One of two? One of the defining features of the iPhone SE is a single camera on the back. This is probably not going to change, although if the new iPhone SE does adopt the chassis of an iPhone 14 or 16 it is possible. Rumors suggest a single 48MP camera, which would at least give the iPhone SE 4 a good 2x “optical zoom” mode using the center 12MP of the sensor, as the iPhone 16 does. If Apple chooses to use the chassis of the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14 that could allow the best alignment of two camera lenses for talking videos for the Vision Pro. But that would mean that the iPhone SE would have two cameras on the back, rather than just one, as it does currently. It would also make it hard to differentiate between models, pushing some users who might otherwise consider the iPhone 16 to buy the iPhone SE 4 at a lower price. We got our first look at a “dummy model” for the new iPhone SE in January from leaker Sonny Dickson, and it definitely looks like an iPhone 14 with a single rear camera. Sonny Dickson/X iPhone SE 4 specs: Will Apple Intelligence be supported? The iPhones launched in 2024 were all about Apple Intelligence AI features, which first arrived with iOS 18.1 and will continue to get new features in iOS 18 updates. It is therefore likely that when the new iPhone SE (or iPhone 16E) launches, it will support Apple Intelligence. In fact, one of the biggest new features, a massive expansion of Siri capabilities, is due for release in iOS 18.4 around the same time the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be released. Processor & RAM To run Apple Intelligence an iPhone requires an A17 Pro or A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. There is some expectation that the iPhone SE 4 could meet these requirements. It is common for the iPhone SE to have the same processor as the latest non-Pro iPhone but skimp on other features to differentiate itself, so we expect the iPhone SE 4 to have the A18 processor. 5G modem The iPhone SE 4 might be the first iPhone to feature Apple’s own 5G modems (codenamed Sinope). It will offer sub-6 support but no mmWave, and lower performance than Qualcomm’s best 5G modems but better power efficiency. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Apple is also about to switch over to its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, codenamed Proxima. The rumors say this chip will actually appear first in a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV, but there’s a chance it could be used in the iPhone SE 4. Storage With the iPhone 13 range moving to a baseline of 128GB (and the 14-series handsets following suit), it’s hoped that the new iPhone SE might do likewise, as 64GB isn’t enough for most users anymore, especially since system files take up more than 10GB (and you can add a multi-gigabyte Apple Intellig

Macworld Apple went big on iPads in 2024, announcing new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini tablets. But one model missed out: the standard, basic iPad. Other than getting even cheaper (it got an aggressive price cut to $349/£329 last year) Apple’s cheapest tablet is still exactly the same 10th-gen model that came out way back in 2022, and it’s looking overdue for an update. Fortunately we won’t have to wait much longer before that happens. From likely release date to new features, design changes and tech specs, here’s what we know so far about the 11th-gen iPad for 2025.  UPDATE: February 17, 2025: Apple has a new product launch planned for Wednesday February 19, could we finally see the new iPad? When will the 11th-gen iPad be released? The new 11th-gen iPad could launch on February 19. Alternately, Apple may wait until later in the spring. It’s been a long time coming, how much longer will we have to wait for Apple to update the standard iPad? There has been an expectation that Apple will unveil the new model at a spring event in March or April 2025. However, with Apple set to launch a new product, expected to be the 4th-gen iPhone SE, on Wednesday February 19, we could see a new iPad arrive that day. In fact, an update to the iPad Air is also expected to happen soon. It’s possible we will see this new iPad in February. A DigiTimes report back in December 2024 suggested that the supply chain was preparing for the launch, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicated that the iPad and other new products would be “coming soon”. However, it is possible that Apple will hold the iPad back for a later spring launch. Apple used to have a steady release schedule for its cheapest iPad, launching a new one each year alongside the latest iPhones at a September event. In 2022, the 10th-gen revamp saw a slight adjustment to October… but since then the yearly pattern has been abandoned completely. Here’s when the past five iPad models have launched: iPad (10th gen): October 2022 iPad (9th gen): September 2021 iPad (8th gen): September 2020 iPad (7th gen): September 2019 iPad (6th gen): March 2018 Apple is keen to launch an affordable tablet that supports its Apple Intelligence AI platform as soon as possible, and in any case two and a half years is a long time to wait since the last update. We can’t see the company holding back the 11th-gen iPad until the summer or fall of 2025. How much will the 11th-gen iPad cost? The new 11th-gen iPad is likely to start at $449/£449, depending on whether Apple chooses to address currency fluctuations. This is Apple’s cheapest tablet, so pricing is important. For a long time Apple kept its entry-level iPad in the $300-$350 ballpark, but that all changed in 2022: following the 10th-gen redesign, Apple upped the price from $329 to $449 (and from £319 to £449 in the U.K.). At the time we complained about this putting it out of the reach of budget buyers, and it affected our review quite significantly. But that wasn’t the end of the story. In May 2024, Apple dropped the price of the 10th-gen iPad to $349/£349. It then dropped the price again in the U.K. to £329. And we were happy, once again, to recommend the device to potential customers. Which is a roundabout way of saying that we’re less confident than we usually would be in predicting the pricing of the 11th-gen iPad. Has Apple learned its lesson about pushing the price too high, and will it go back to the budget prices of the past? Sadly this seems unlikely. Between the company’s recent drive towards higher margins and the major increase in processing power we expect for this generation (discussed in the next section) the 11th-gen iPad is very unlikely to cost less than $400. Our guess would be $449 at launch, with a price cut to follow at a later date. And the 10th-gen model will remain in the lineup as a true budget option for those who don’t need Apple Intelligence. The U.K. price is a lot more difficult to predict. From time to time Apple adjusts UK pricing in line with exchange rates. With the pound against the dollar currently at early 2017 levels it looks likely that we will see some pricing adjustments correlating with Apple’s price hikes in the U.K. in January 2017. At that point the price of some iPad Pro and iPad Air models jumped £50. At that time Macs and iPhones also saw price hikes, with the MacBook Pro seeing gains from £249 to £750, and the iPhone 7 costing £60 more than its processor did. Similar price hikes happened in October 2022 when new iPad Pro and iPad Air models were introduced. What tech specs and new features will we see in the 11th-gen iPad?  The new 11th-gen iPad will get an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, plus support for Apple Intelligence. The 10th-gen iPad delivered a major redesign, so we don’t expect too much to change externally. However, there will be some notable upgrades on the inside of the 11th-gen iPad: Processor and RAM The most obvious update to the 11th-gen iPad will be the chipset. The current model runs on an A14 chipset, which debuted in 2020 with the 4th-gen iPad Air and iPhone 12, but we expect that to jump to an A17 Pro with 8GB of RAM so it can run Apple Intelligence. That’s a serious increase in processing muscle (and likely rules out a sub-$400 price tag), but the 10th-gen iPad is the only currently available Apple tablet that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence and it’s crucial to get as many users as possible on the platform. Display As the display was increased from 10.2 inches to 10.9 inches as part of the 10th-gen revamp, we don’t expect any changes to the screen size this time around. The only possible change in this area is the use of a laminated display, which would make the device slightly thinner and offer better clarity. It would also make the tablet feel nicer in use, as unlaminated screens (as used on the 10th-gen iPad, among many other budget Apple tablets) have a tendency to yield downwards very slightly when you press on them. Apple Cameras Since the 10th-gen iPad was Apple’s first tablet to change the placement of the front camera from portrait to landscape mode and already has Center Stage, we don’t expect Apple to change the front camera. It’s possible Apple will upgrade the rear camera slightly, but since the M2 iPad Air released in 2024 has the same 12MP wide camera, it’s likely any improvements will come in the form of software updates. Storage If there’s one obvious area where a simple upgrade could make life easier for people, it’s storage. The cheapest configuration of the 10th-gen iPad still comes with just 64GB of storage, which isn’t going to be enough for a lot of customers; whereas the rest of the range starts with at least 128GB. As with the iPhone SE, we expect Apple to bump the base storage of its entry-level tablet up to 128GB when the 11th-gen iPad arrives, while simultaneously increasing the top offering to 512GB.  iPad (10th gen): 64GB, 256GB iPad (11th gen, expected): 128GB, 512GB We’ll keep updating this article as more information becomes available. Until then, you should check out our best 10th-gen iPad deals and best iPad deals roundups to see if you can bag yourself a bargain on the current range.

Macworld Open the App Store app on your iPhone and pretty soon you’ll spot an ad: I’m seeing one for Temu on the front page, and a search for “monster hunter” surfaces another for Honkai: Star Rail before we get to any games of that name. This is mildly annoying and makes it slightly harder to find the apps you want, but including ads makes Apple money. Like it or loathe it, this strategy appears to be part of Apple’s future. It’s already expanded to include ad placements in Apple News and the Stocks app. And according to the latest instalment of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the company is “exploring” a plan to monetize its Maps app by accepting advertisements there too. This could take the format, as is most prominent in the App Store, of paid-for entries at the top of search listings, presumably distinguished from organic results by a colored background and a small label saying “Ad.” Or it could, as Gurman explains, “make certain locations appear more prominently on the map.” Swipe across your local area and you might find that branches of Starbucks catch the eye more than you’d otherwise expect. This is how search ads work in the App Store. The ad is clearly labelled, but it takes up space.David Price / Foundry While this isn’t unprecedented–Google Maps already does something similar–Apple fans are unlikely to be pleased to hear about this plan, which prioritizes advertisers’ interests over those of the user. But it fits with the company’s larger strategic direction at the moment, which is to look for ways to diversify its revenue streams beyond a small number of hardware lines and particularly to build its services income. Apple needs the services division to be ready to fill the shortfall when the iPhone stops being such a lucrative cash cow. In any case, we don’t need to worry about the plan just yet. Gurman reports that “there is no timeline or active engineering work being done.” So far the project has taken the form of speculative planning and an all-hands meeting for the Maps team.

Macworld All signs point to this being another big week for Apple. That’s unusual for February, generally a bleak and cold month for Cupertino watchers. Apple loves to launch in the spring, summer, and fall, but ever since Apple abandoned Macworld San Francisco, it generally hibernates during the winter months. There’s been precisely one February event in Apple’s history and that, inauspiciously, was the launch of the iPod Hi-Fi 19 Februaries ago. Of course, this week’s launch isn’t an Apple event in the usual sense of hype and hyperbole, skits and specs, and bento grids showing off the new features. All we have to go on is a brief and cryptic tweet posted last week by Tim Cook: “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family. Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch” That’s hashtag AppleLaunch, not hashtag AppleEvent as he tweeted last spring ahead of the Let Loose bash. Hashtag BigDifference. Rather than a weirdly early spring event, then, the newest member of Apple’s family will probably be announced via a press release and an update to the company’s website. One of the company’s lower-key launches, but still teased almost a week in advance. It’s the same sort of canny compromise–build anticipation, without raising expectations beyond what can be met–that we saw last year when Greg Joswiak advised us to ‘Mac’ our calendars for a week of event-free announcement action. Is this a model for how Apple will launch more of its products in the future? Maybe. In any case, as with the week of Mac, the likely absence of a conventional press event should not be taken as an admission of insignificance. We’re pretty sure, despite the AirTag-resembling artwork, that the family member in question is the latest iPhone SE (or 16e if one rumor proves to be correct), and as we’ve explained on numerous occasions, this is an important and valuable addition to the Cupertino ecosystem—one that will change the iPhone lineup in major ways. In one sense it helps to close out a departing era, with the new handset’s USB-C port likely to solve a big headache in the EU and marking the end of the Lightning port in the U.S. And in another, it helps to usher in a new one: Apple Intelligence on a sub-$500 phone would be something of a game-changer in driving the adoption of an AI platform that’s playing a desperate game of catch-up and starting to limp. We don’t know how much Apple will ask for the new SE. But if it’s anywhere close to the $429 previous model, we could be looking at a real bargain: a true budget phone we can recommend wholeheartedly. The 4th-gen SE is going to boast a killer set of specs, not because Apple is feeling generous, but because it needs the SE to support Apple Intelligence. So we’re looking at an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, minimum. On that level at least it’s going to be punching the same weight as an iPhone 15 Pro. That’s comparing the device to a phone that was state of the art as recently as late 2023. But compared to the 3rd-gen SE, which came out in early 2022 and was underwhelming even then, the SE 4 should be a massive step forward. Its screen will grow, lose the obstruction of a Home button, and see an upgrade from LCD (the last in Apple’s iPhone lineup) to OLED. The rear camera will get a lot more powerful (48MP is expected). The baseline storage is likely to jump from an inadequate 64GB to 128GB. We even think Apple’s long-awaited in-house 5G modem, bringing power and battery improvements, will make its debut on this phone, a solid six months before it lands on a flagship iPhone in the fall. For those who’ve been waiting three years for this update, it should represent an almost irresistible buy. For understandable reasons, Apple loves to talk about its top-end products. They’re the ones it’s most proud of, and the ones most likely to win over Android or Windows waverers. A budget phone is never going to get the same red-carpet treatment as a flagship. But a substantive upgrade to the SE will affect far more people in far more profound ways than a redesign to the camera module on the iPhone 17 Pro. This is about raising the baseline offering and delivering a high standard of design and processing power to those who can’t afford to pay silly money for a new smartphone every fall. Starting Wednesday, the clunky older iPhones still on the Apple Store will start to be phased out. Apple fans on a budget won’t have to settle anymore; they’ll be able to afford a phone with a relatively new design, top-notch components, and access to all the software features on the way in the next few years. This is huge. Event or no event, I’m really excited. Unless, you know, it just turns out to be a new AirTag. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Could it be that the era of the Apple event is over? Mahmoud Itani explains how a single Apple Watch alert changed his life. Apple Intelligence’s biggest problem isn’t the Intelligence–it’s Apple. Apple’s magic robot lamp is coming to save us all, reports a cheerful Macalope. iCloud encryption explained: How secure is your data? Any case can protect your iPad. This one protects you when you die. You can get extra cash for your Mac trade-in until April 2. Podcast of the week Apple’s smallest products are actually some of the biggest in its lineup. The latest Macworld Podcast discusses the state of Apple’s AirPods lineup, the new Powerbeats Pro 2, and more. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Powerbeats Pro 2 review: The best fitness earbuds groove to their own (heart) beat. Malwarebytes Free Antivirus review: Good at removing malware, but bugs don’t help. Surfshark VPN review: A great option for families. Best antivirus for Mac 2025: Top security software compared. Best Mac cleaner software: Boost performance and disk space. The rumor mill Apple’s going to unveil the “newest member of the family” on February 19! (Our money’s on a new iPhone.) Talking of new iPhones… Leak ‘reveals’ iPhone 17 Pro’s bizarre redesigned camera module. 2025 iPad Air: Everything you need to know about Apple’s next mid-range tablet. Apple research video offers a glimpse into its tabletop robot tech. Apple still chasing the AR glasses dream… but fears another flop. Software updates, bugs, and problems U.K. demands backdoor to Apple’s encrypted cloud storage, putting everyone at risk. iOS 18.3.1 released to fix ‘extremely sophisticated’ security flaw. PSA: Apple’s latest updates turn on Apple Intelligence even if you had switched it off. U.S. iPhone users can no longer find the Gulf of Mexico on Apple Maps. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 3440×1440 ultrawide screen Accurate color Apple-sensitive styling Built-in USB hub Cons Low pixel density Our Verdict With its ultrawide display, the Alogic Edge offers a remarkable amount of working screen space for a single monitor to maximize viewable multitasking apps and documents. Picky creatives may prefer a higher pixel density but for general productivity users the 34- to 40-inch screen is even more spacious than having two monitors side by side. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Adding more screen space by connecting two or more external monitors to your MacBook, Mac mini or Mac Studio can enhance your productivity by having multiple applications, documents or websites open side by side and therefore more accessible. With more screen space it’s easier to switch between tasks without cluttering your screen or desk-based workspace. But two monitors swallow up physical desk space and require multiple video ports—often meaning you need to use a MacBook docking station. Instead of having two monitors, why not choose one large display—to recreate the breadth of two monitors side by side, a widescreen display makes the most sense. One wide rather than two monitors is also a more ergonomic design, with the broader field of view potentially reducing neck pain by providing a productive workspace in a tighter space. We look at more differences between a two-monitor setup vs one ultrawide screen further down this review. Alogic is the maker of one of our favorite ranges of 4K displays, the Clarity, which has 27-inch and 32-inch models. At home I have two of these 27-inch Clarity displays—one a touchscreen model—hooked up to my M2 Pro Mac mini. I was therefore intrigued by the possibilities of Alogic’s latest displays: 34-inch and 40-inch ultrawide (UWD) 4K screens. Could one of these do the same job as the two existing monitors while saving me precious desk space and offering further single-screen benefits? I tested the larger of the two new displays, the Edge 40” Ultrawide QHD Monitor, but include details of the smaller but still ultrawide 34-inch Edge. See how these Ultrawide QHD Monitor compare to other displays we have reviewed in our Best Mac monitors round up. 40-inch Edge (top) and 34-inch Edge (bottom).Alogic Features Both 34-inch and 40-inch models support up to a 3440×1440-pixel resolution. This is known as UltraWide Quad HD or an unpronounceable UWQHD. The screen uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology that can deliver great color accuracy when being viewed from different angles with minimal diminishment of image quality. Here are the all-important technical screen specifications. Screen specs Maximum Resolution: 3,440×1,440 pixels Refresh Rate: 60Hz or 100Hz Response Time: 14ms (34”); 8ms (40”) Pixel Density: 110ppi (34”); 93ppi (40”) Aspect Ratio: 21:9 Viewing Angle: 178°(H) / 178°(V) Brightness: 370 nits (34”); 400 nits (40”) Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (34”); 1200:1 (40”) Color Saturation (NTSC): 91% (34”); 89% (40”) Color Saturation (DCI-P3): 90% (34”); 97% (40”) Color Saturation (SRGB): 95% (34”); 99% (40”) Color Saturation (Adobe RGB): 92% (34”); 94% (40”) Most ultrawide monitors, often aimed at gamers, are curved. A flat 40-inch ultrawide display is more appropriate to productivity jockeys. The ultrawide aspect ratio makes it ideal for multitasking and working comfortably with multiple windows open in one view. Standard monitors, like Alogic’s own 27-inch Clarity displays, have an aspect ratio of 16:9. The ultrawide Edge has an aspect ratio of 21:9, so is much longer horizontally. That extra width is perfect for keeping lots of things onscreen in the same view and not layered under each other. Normally, you’d need a couple of monitors side by side to achieve this. We have also tested the Mobile Pixels Geminos Dual Vertical FHD Monitor, which unusually stacks two screens vertically. Ultrawide monitors have slightly lower resolutions than more standard monitors, which is worth bearing in mind if you are a professional digital creative. My graphic-designer wife was impressed with the Edge’s color gamut (the range of colors it can generate), but less so with the crispness of the text. As a result of the 40-inch screen size combined with the 3,440×1,440 resolution, pixel density is lower than you’ll find on smaller displays. The 40-inch Edge supports 93 pixels per inch (ppi), compared to the shaper 110ppi for the 34-inch Edge. In comparison, the 27-inch Clarity screen is the crispest of all the Alogic displays at 163ppi. The Edge pixel density is greater than an HD screen (82ppi) but nowhere near as cystal as a 5K display such as the 218ppi Apple Studio Display. A close rival to the 40-inch Edge is the Monoprice 44394 40-inch Crystal Pro that offers the same resolution and pixel density. We much prefer the Edge’s more flexible and better-looking stand, but gamers will fancy the Monoprice’s screen’s superior 144Hz refresh rate. While many ultrawide monitors are used by gamers, the refresh rates on offer with the Edge monitors (6-Hz or 100Hz) are too low for that crowd. With up to an 100Hz option, the refresh rates are higher than the 60Hz supported by most 4K displays and is all you need for web browsing and other productivity tasks. For general productivity tasks I didn’t find this lower pixel density a problem for my eyes at least. Even a spreadsheet full of large numbers in tiny cells was clearly legible. This lack of crispness is, however, noticeable on very small text. Simon Jary / Foundry And, boy, does an ultrawide screen favor the longest Excel sheets—you can keep so much data in view without endless scrolling back and forth. The 40-inch width allowed me to fit almost four A4-wide Word docs side by side. Alogic Hub and connections That ultrawide resolution matches the working comfort that I get from my two 27-inch displays, but I need only one connection from my Mac mini to the single monitor’s hub. The hub port configuration is updated compared to the Clarity monitor hub, dropping one HDMI port plus two USB-A ports for more USB-C and Gigabit Ethernet. Hub specs 1x USB-C to Host Connection with 90W Charging and Data 1x HDMI 2.0 port 1x DisplayPort 1.4 port 2x USB-C ports (USB 2.0, 5W Charging) 1x 3.5mm Audio Output 1x Gigabit Ethernet port The two USB-C ports are primarily for charging purposes as the data-transfer speed is USB 2.0’s measly 480Mbps rather than the USB-C to host connection’s 5Gbps speed. They will be fine for connecting a wired keyboard and mouse or giving power to low-input devices. The 5Gbps USB-C connection to host is underpowered compared to the Mac’s own 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 so if you need multiple fast ports you should invest in a premium dock or more affordable hub. See Macworld’s recommended best Mac docking stations and best Mac USB-C hubs. Importantly, the Edge’s hub is powerful enough for the most important video connection, and you can choose between USB-C, HDMI or DisplayPort. Edge doesn’t require the extra bandwidth DisplayPort can offer over HDMI, so users can connect with either cable knowing they’re getting the full visual experience. Both options are included to make connection simple regardless of what input devices users have. Using USB-C means you can power your laptop by up to 90W, which is enough for most MacBooks, and take advantage of the ports in the hub at the back of the Edge display, such as the wired Gigabit Ethernet connection. The Edge includes built-in 3W speakers that are fine for video/voice calls but not what you’d enjoy using to listen to music or a movie. There’s a 3.5mm audio port that can be used to attach wired headphones or speakers, but not an audio-in microphone. Left: the Silver 40-inch Edge. Right: the Space Gray 34-inch Edge.Alogic Design The 40-inch Edge that we tested measures between an adjustable 57.5cm (22.6in) to 69cm (27.2in) tall, 94.1cm (37in) wide and 24.5cm (9.6in) deep. It weighs 11.6kg (25.6lbs) with stand. The smaller 34-inch Edge measures up to 64.1cm (25.2in) tall, 81.4cm (32in) wide and 24.5cm (9.6in) deep. It weighs 10.1kg (22.3lbs) with stand. Like its Clarity monitor siblings the Alogic Edge displays look fantastic, and in keeping with an Apple aesthetic—although at a far more affordable price than Apple’s Studio Displays. It is available in either Silver or Space Gray to match your Mac. The Edge’s frame is fine at just 8mm thick, or should that be 8mm thin? The back of the screen’s tempered glass looks great, too, if it’s not facing a wall. Setup is simple. The machined aluminum stand design is a two-piece that you can quickly put together with a single thumb screw connecting the stem and base, which then clicks into the rear of the display. The stand is heavy and offers sturdy support for the display, with less wobble than you’ll find with lighter monitor stands. As you might expect, width is something you should consider before purchasing an ultrawide display. The 40-inch screen is almost a meter wide (94.1cm), so check it will fit your work space. If you are replacing two 27-inch monitors, even the larger screen will free up desk space while still allowing multiple docs open in the same view. The stand is just under a foot deep as well, so you’ll need some space for sure. The base is about as wide as a full-size Apple keyboard. It’s one of the best stands we’ve tested, offering both tilt and height adjustment: 10 degrees Up/Down, and 45 degrees Left/Right. One ultrawide monitor vs two monitors A typical two-monitor setup. Foundry If you want to boost your screen productivity both ultrawide

Macworld Apple doesn’t participate in big industry-wide events such as CES or E3. The most valuable company in the world holds its own events, thank you very much. Several times a year, Apple invites the press and industry professionals to Apple Park to hear all about its latest products and services. Apple calls these ‘events,’ and streams them live online to millions of watchers. UPDATE: February 17, 2025. Apple is set to launch one or more new products on Wednesday February 19. An event isn’t expected, instead the company is likely to issue a press release after taking the Apple Store offline that morning. Read on to find out at what time Apple is likely to make the February 19 announcement. In 2024, Apple held three events: one on Tuesday, May 7, at which it launched new iPads, a keynote to kick off WWDC on June 10, where the features coming in the new operating systems iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia were revealed, and an event on September 9 at which Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and the new AirPods 4. In October 2024 there was no event, but Apple did announce new products (iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro) via press release. In 2023 there were three such events: WWDC in June, an iPhone event in September, and Apple’s second fall event on October 30 (or after midnight on October 31 if you weren’t in the U.S.). Similarly, in 2022 Apple held three events: a spring event on March 8, WWDC on June 6, and the iPhone 14 launch on September 7. In other years Apple has held four events though and it may do so in 2025. Read on to find out what events and new Apple product launches the company has in store for 2025. When is Apple’s next event? Apple has revealed (on X) that it has an “#Apple Launch” planned for Wednesday February 19. 2025. This is expected to be the new iPhone SE. This won’t be an event in the traditional sense – perhaps indicating that the era of the Apple event is over. Despite this, we are still hopeful that Apple will hold a spring event in 2025. If it does then, based on previous spring events, we expect that the event will be held in late March or early April, although in 2024 the spring event was in May. What time will the next Apple event start? Apple keynotes usually start at 10 am PT, but the February 19 ‘event’ is likely to be a press release rather than a keynote event. On launch days Apple usually closes the Apple Store early in the morning (depending on where you are) and then releases the news some hours later. Apple usually issues such press releases around 11 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. PT, and 4 p.m. in the UK. When Apple holds a keynote to announce a new product it usually starts at the following times in the countries where most of our readers live: U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), noon (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT) Canada: as above, and 2 pm (AST/ADT) U.K.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST) Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST) India: at 10.30 pm (IST) Australia: Next day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT) New Zealand: Next day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT) Timings may be slightly different if Apple holds the event during the period of a couple of weeks when the clocks have changed in the U.S. but not elsewhere (that’s between March 9 and March 30). Sometimes Apple holds events at different times, for example, in October 2023 the event was held in late afternoon in San Francisco, which meant it was midnight in the U.K. How long does an Apple event last? Apple keynotes usually last between one and two hours and feature CEO Tim Cook along with various other Apple executives. WWDC and the September event tend to be longer keynotes; the spring and late-fall events can be slightly shorter. The September 2024 event was 1 hour 38 minutes. When does Apple usually hold events? Apple holds three or four live or live-streamed events throughout the year. During these events, the company unveils its latest products and plans during a keynote address. They are usually held during similar times of the year: March/April: Spring event (in 2024 this was held in May) June: WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) September: Fall event (aka iPhone and Apple Watch launch event) October/November: Late-fall event(s) This event calendar is by no means set in stone, though, with the spring and October events being less regular. Some years, Apple doesn’t hold a spring event at all, as was the case in 2023. The summer and September events are more predictable, with software coming at WWDC in June and iPhones and Apple Watches in September. The October event often sees Apple launch new Macs, but this is another one that changes from year to year. Apple launched the new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro in September 2022.Apple What Apple events will take place in 2025? Here are the events we expect to see in 2025, and what could launch. Spring event 2025 Here are the dates of the past seven Apple spring events, as you can see, it’s not a regular occurrence, but a Spring event is held slightly more often than not. 2024: Tuesday May 7 2023: No event 2022: Tuesday March 8 2021: Tuesday April 20 2020: No event 2019: Monday March 25 2018: Tuesday March 27 2017: No event 2016: Monday March 21 2015: Monday March 9 2014: No event 2013: No event 2012: Wednesday March 7 As for what could be coming, Apple looks set to update the iPhone SE on February 19, so what does that leave? There are rumors that Apple could launch an 11th gen iPad and a HomePod with a screen. It is also probable that an M4 MacBook Air may also arrive in the spring so we could see this launch at a spring event. For more information about Apple’s spring events read: Apple Spring event: Date, time, product launch rumors. WWDC keynote 2025 WWDC 2024 took place from June 10-14 with the Apple’s keynote kicking the conference off at 10am on June 10, 2024. Expect similar timings for 2025. Apple uses WWDC each year to unveil details of the latest versions of its operating systems, so in 2025 we’ll get a preview of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12, and tvOS 19, and an update to Apple’s realityOS. Apple sometimes announces new hardware at WWDC, usually the high end models targeted at power users, so we could see new Macs. In fact, we may still be waiting for the following: M4 Mac Studio M4 Ultra Mac Pro M4 Pro 32-inch iMac Pro Following the keynote on the Monday, developer events and sessions will run throughout the week. Dates for WWDC: WWDC 2024: June 10-14 WWDC 2023: June 5-9 WWDC 2022: June 6-10 WWDC 2021: June 7-11 WWDC 2020: June 22-26 WWDC 2019: June 3-7 WWDC 2018: June 4-8 WWDC 2017: June 5-9 We are certain to get a preview of the new software, but what about hardware? Any of the Macs that don’t launch in October 2024 are likely to have been announced by June 2024, but if not, this is where we will see them. You can read more about WWDC date, times and everything you need to know in a separate article. September iPhone event 2025 Apple always holds an event in September, and almost always uses this to announce a new iPhone and Apple Watch. (The only exception in recent memory was in 2020, as a result of Covid-related production issues. That year the iPhone was announced in October, but there was still a September event.) In 2025 we expect that Apple will unveil the iPhone 17, Apple Watch 11, a new Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch SE. We may also see the M5 arrive in the iPad Pro. Here are the past few Apple September event dates: 2024: Monday, September 9 2023: Tuesday, September 12 2022: Tuesday, September 13 2022: Wednesday, September 7 2021: Tuesday, September 14 2020: Tuesday, September 15 2019: Tuesday, September 10 2018: Wednesday, September 12 2017: Tuesday, September 12 For more information about Apple’s September events read: Apple’s September iPhone event: Date, time, and what will launch. October event 2025 There was no October event in 2024, with Apple making product announcements via press release. Despite the lack of event in 2024 though, Apple has a president of updating certain Macs in the October time frame, so this may be when we see new Macs running M5 chips. In the past, Apple has held a second fall event on the following dates: 2024: No event 2023: Monday, October 30 2022: No event 2021: Monday, October 18 2020: Tuesday, October 13 and Tuesday, November 10 2019: No event 2018: Tuesday, October 30 2017: No event 2016: Thursday, October 27 2015: No event 2014: Thursday, October 16 2013: Tuesday, October 22 2012: Tuesday, October 23 2011: Tuesday, October 4 Apple may update certain Macs to M5 chips at this event, including the M5 MacBook Pro. For more information about Apple’s October events read: Apple’s October Event: Date, time and what will launch.