Starting today, customers who purchase a Mac Pro can choose to add a Radeon Pro W5700X graphics card with 16GB of GDDR6 memory to their machines when using Apple's build-to-order feature, a new option that was just added.
When the Mac Pro was released, Apple said that the W5700X graphics card option would be coming in the near future, but it has taken a few months for it to show up.
Selecting the Radeon Pro W5700X adds an additional $600 to the price of the Mac Pro, with Apple also offering an option to add two Radeon Pro W5700X graphics cards for a total of $1,600. It's also available as a standalone purchase for $1,000.
These graphic card options are in addition to the default Radeon Pro 580X and Radeon Pro Vega II and Duo options that were already available.
When Apple unveiled new iPad Pro models and the Magic Keyboard with trackpad, which is now on sale, Logitech also introduced new keyboard cases with trackpads that are designed for the 10.2-inch 7th-generation iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Air.
Logitech's keyboard cases combine a full-size backlit keyboard with a trackpad that supports multi-touch gestures and scrolling, much like Apple's own Magic Keyboard.
Designed with input from Apple, the cases support the Smart Connectors on the iPad and iPad Air, which means no charging and no need to connect over Bluetooth.
The keyboards provide protection for the iPad when not in use, and have a kickback stand with 50-degree tilt and four usage modes for tasks like typing, viewing, reading, and sketching. There's also a holder for the Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon.
Logitech's keyboards are the only available keyboards with trackpads that work with older iPad models at this time, as Apple's Magic Keyboard is limited to the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models.
The new iPhone SE, like the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max, features support for Haptic Touch instead of 3D Touch, which means that 3D Touch has officially been eliminated from Apple's iPhone lineup as the now-discontinued iPhone 8 was the last iPhone Apple sold that supported 3D Touch.
Apple first removed 3D Touch from the iPhone XR in 2018, replacing it with Haptic Touch. The feature was then rolled out to the entire 2019 iPhone lineup, and now, added to the iPhone SE.
Haptic Touch is similar to 3D Touch and offers a lot of the same functionality, but it is not pressure sensitive so there are no longer multiple functions for each press, such as the "Peek and Pop" gestures that were possible with 3D Touch.
Haptic Touch is more like a long press or a press and hold with haptic feedback, and like 3D Touch, it works throughout the iOS operating system. It can be used by pressing in a relevant location until a small haptic pop is felt under the finger and a secondary menu pops up, with content varying based on where the feature is used.
For those coming to an iPhone SE from an older phone with 3D Touch, the transition to Haptic Touch will feel unfamiliar at first because it's slower than the 3D Touch gestures, but because it ultimately works in the same way, most users should become accustomed to it quickly.
Eliminating 3D Touch in favor of Haptic Touch across the iPhone lineup allows Apple to provide a similar interface experience for all iPhone and iPad models. For more on how Haptic Touch works and where it can be used, make sure to check out our Haptic Touch guide.
Apple's new iPhone SE is essentially an iPhone 8 with some updated hardware that brings it in line with the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. Along with an A13 chip, the iPhone 8 has a few other notable hardware upgrades worth noting.
Like the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, the iPhone SE supports 802.11ax WiFi 6, according to the technical specifications page for the device. In fact, it has the same LTE, Bluetooth, and WiFi specifications as the iPhone 11:
Gigabit-class LTE with 2x2 MIMO and LAA4
802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
NFC with reader mode
Express Cards with power reserve
WiFi 6 is the latest WiFi protocol, and it allows for download speeds up to 38 percent faster than WiFi 5 (802.11ac). WiFi 6 has not been widely adopted as of yet, but addition of WiFi 6 will become increasingly important over the next few years as routers and modems begin implementing support.
The iPhone SE also supports NFC with reader mode as all modern iPhones do, plus Express Cards with power reserve. This feature, also included in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, allows for authentication of Express Transit cards even when an iPhone's battery is exhausted. It will also be a useful feature for the "CarKey" function that Apple has in the works, which will let an iPhone serve as an alternative to a traditional car key in vehicles that support the feature.
Though the iPhone SE shares many connectivity features with Apple's flagship iPhones, it does not include the U1 chip that enables Ultra Wideband technology for improved spatial awareness.
The U1 chip, which is in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, allows iPhones to precisely locate other U1-equipped Apple devices, making it easier to locate missing devices indoors. Ultra Wideband has been described by Apple as "GPS at the scale of the living room," and it is believed to be a key feature of the AirTags that Apple is developing.
AirTags are Bluetooth trackers much like Tile, and will attach to items like keys and wallets to allow them to be found in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. AirTags will be locatable through standard Bluetooth, but it is believed they will have U1 support and tracking could be more accurate with devices equipped with a U1 chip.
At this time, the U1 chip is limited to Apple's flagship iPhones, and there have been two new devices released without it - the iPad Pro and now, the iPhone SE.
Apple today announced that it is partnering with (RED) to redirect 100 percent of eligible proceeds from purchases of its (PRODUCT)RED products to The Global Fund's newly established COVID‑19 Response Mechanism, through September 30.
Apple says the COVID-19 Response Mechanism will provide critical support in countries with health systems most threatened by outbreak and, in turn, help preserve lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa that (RED) proceeds usually go towards. The funds will go towards personal protective equipment like masks, diagnostics treatment, lab equipment, public safety communications, supply chain support, and more.
iOS and iPadOS 13.4.5 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer center or over the air after the proper developer profile has been installed.
The iOS 13.4.5 update appears to focus primarily on bug fixes, under-the-hood improvements, and other small tweaks and changes. It may address an issue with Personal Hotspot that prevents it from working for some people and it could also fix a VPN-related vulnerability.
The update includes a new Apple Music feature that allows Apple Music songs to be shared on Instagram Stories. Tapping the Share button on a song in Apple Music creates a story with a song title, album name, and animated background, but at this time there is no way to get to Apple Music from the shared information.
No other major changes were found in the first beta, but if something new is found in the second beta, we'll update this article. iOS 13.4.5 could be one of the final updates to the iOS 13 operating system as Apple will soon shift its focus to iOS 14.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.2.5 update to developers, two weeks after releasing the first beta and a month after releasing the watchOS 6.2 update that added in-app purchases to the Apple Watch App Store.
watchOS 6.2.5 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.
To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
There is no word yet on what features might be included in watchOS 6.2.5, if any, and nothing new was discovered in the first beta, suggesting it focuses on bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the tvOS 13.4.5 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS updates are typically minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes. There's no word yet on what's included in tvOS 13.4.5, and we saw no new features in the first beta.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
AppleCare+ for the newly released $399 iPhone SE is available for $79, a $50 price drop compared to the $129 AppleCare+ price that Apple charged for the now-discontinued iPhone 8.
The standard AppleCare+ plan extends the one-year warranty and provides coverage for two incidents of accidental damage every 24 months, with the service fee priced at $29 for screen damage and $99 for other damage.
Apple also offers AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss for the iPhone SE for $149, with this plan covering damage and also offering a replacement device should the iPhone SE be stolen or lost. A replacement phone requires a service fee of $149 in addition to the AppleCare+ plan price.
There are monthly payment options for each of these AppleCare+ plans, with the standard AppleCare+ priced at $3.99 per month and the Theft and Loss AppleCare+ plan priced at $7.99 per month. Monthly plans renew automatically each month until canceled.
All AppleCare+ plans need to be purchased alongside a new iPhone or within 60 days after purchase with in-store inspection or remote diagnostic. All of Apple's AppleCare+ plans, monthly and standard, are renewable for the life of the device.
AirPods Pro feature an in-ear design with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips included in the box, and if you happen to lose those tips, Apple now sells replacements through its online store. The replacement tips will likely also be stocked at Apple Stores, although all locations outside of Greater China remain closed.
Apple offers two sets of small, medium, or large ear tips for $7.99 each in the United States, with pricing varying in other countries.
Replacement ear tips were previously only available through Apple Support, priced at $3.95 for a single set in any size. This remains an option for customers who want to save a few dollars. Follow our step-by-step instructions.
Apple today introduced the long-awaited low-cost iPhone SE, and alongside of the new device, Apple has unveiled silicone and leather cases designed to fit it.
Silicone cases for the new iPhone SE are available in pink sand, white, and black, and are priced at $35, while leather cases for the device are available in (PRODUCT)RED, black, and midnight blue and can be purchased for $45.
According to the compatibility section of the case product listing, the cases are only compatible with the new iPhone SE, but because of the design similarities between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 8, existing iPhone 8 cases will also fit. That should mean that earlier iPhone cases, such as iPhone 7 cases, should also fit the new iPhone SE models.
In fact, Apple confirmed to The Verge that cases designed for the iPhone 8 "will work fine on the SE."
Apple today introduced a Mac Pro Wheels kit designed for the Mac Pro, which adds wheels to the machine after purchase. The kit is priced at $699.
When adding wheels to the Mac Pro when making an initial purchase, Apple charges $400, but the standalone kit to be used after purchase is $300 more because the pre-purchase price includes the price of removing the $300 feet.
Apple says the kit includes a 1/4-inch to 4mm hex bit for installing the wheels, but additional tools are necessary. The purchase price includes a total of four wheels and an installation guide.
Apple also offers a Mac Pro Feet Kit for those who ordered wheels but want to swap back to standard feet. The Feet Kit is priced at $300.
The second-generation iPhone SE is essentially an upgraded iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch display and Touch ID home button, but with a faster A13 Bionic chip. As of now, there is no Plus-sized version of the new iPhone SE, so there is no direct replacement for the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus, although rumors suggest that an iPhone SE Plus is under development.
Apple introduced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus alongside the iPhone X in September 2017. Key features included a glass-backed design with wireless charging, improved water resistance, and upgraded cameras.
Apple today announced the second-generation iPhone SE with a 4.7-inch display, A13 Bionic chip, Touch ID home button, up to 256GB of storage, and more.
The new iPhone SE sports a single-lens 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with Portrait mode support. With a glass-backed design like the iPhone 8, the new iPhone SE is also capable of Qi-certified wireless charging.
The new iPhone SE comes in black, white and (PRODUCT)RED and will be available for pre-order beginning at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, April 17. The device will also be available for purchase at select Apple Authorized Resellers and carriers starting Friday, April 24 in the United States and more than 40 other countries and regions.
Pricing starts at $399 in the United States with 64GB of storage, with 128GB and 256GB options available for $449 and $549 respectively. Given this price point, the new iPhone SE has some tradeoffs, including an LCD display instead of OLED, an aluminum frame over stainless steel, Touch ID instead of Face ID, and a single rear camera lens rather than multiple.
Other features of the new iPhone SE include a 7-megapixel front camera, IP67-rated water resistance, Wi-Fi 6, and similar battery life as the iPhone 8. And unlike the original iPhone SE, there is no headphone jack.
Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller:
The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable. iPhone SE features the industry-leading performance of A13 Bionic that enables great battery life, takes stunning Portrait mode and Smart HDR photos, shoots amazing videos with stereo audio, is great for games and super fast web surfing, and is built with the same industry-leading security features our customers expect. We can't wait to get iPhone SE into customers' hands.
The new iPhone SE comes with a 5W power adapter, Lightning to USB cable, and EarPods with a Lightning connector in the box.
Apple today announced that its new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is now available to order on Apple.com and begins arriving to customers next week. Apple previously said the Magic Keyboard would be available in May, so this news comes as a surprise.
This is the accessory that Apple previously revealed last month, alongside the launch of the new 2020 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. The Magic Keyboard attaches to the iPad Pro magnetically, providing a "floating" cantilevered design for smooth adjustments of the viewing angle up to 130 degrees.
The keyboard itself is full-sized with backlit keys and a scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm travel. There's also a trackpad, which works with iPadOS 13.4 and its new feature that supports both trackpads and mice.
In terms of charging, the Magic Keyboard supports pass through USB-C charging, and when the Magic Keyboard is closed, the iPad Pro microphones are disconnected, preventing any audio data from being compromised.
Although it's being sold alongside the 2020 iPad Pro, the new Magic Keyboard is compatible with the previous-generation 2018 iPad Pro models as well.
You can order the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro for $299, and for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $349 on Apple.com. The accessory has layouts for over 30 languages, and it's available to order today.
Apple's widely rumored successor to the iPhone SE will be announced at 8 a.m. Pacific Time aka 11 a.m. Eastern Time today, according to Jon Prosser of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech. This would line up with a tweet from Prosser a few weeks ago that claimed the device would be announced on April 15.
Prosser adds that the device will be called the "iPhone SE" and start at $399 in the United States. The new iPhone SE is expected to be an upgraded version of the iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch display and a Touch ID home button, but with a faster A13 chip and an increased 3GB of RAM. It is said to come in white, black, or red with up to 256GB of storage.
This would be the same device that has commonly been referred to as the "iPhone 9" in rumors.
Amazon today discounted a few Apple Watch Series 5 models to notable low prices, including a new Amazon low price on the 44mm Space Black Stainless Steel Apple Watch Series 5 (cellular). This model is now on sale for $649.00, down from an original price of $749.00, and comes with a Black Sport Band.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
We've previously tracked this model of the Apple Watch on sale for $699.00, similar to the current sale price of the same model with a White Sport Band. Below you can find this sale among other cellular Apple Watch Series 5 models on sale right now.
Many of the Apple Watch Series 5 models on sale today are facing shipping delays and won't arrive until May. Be sure to head to Amazon to browse the full range of its Apple Watch Series 5 discounts before they expire.
Twelve South today launched a new accessory called the "ColorKit for MacBook," which is a solid color wrap for the top, bottom, and inside of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. When applied, ColorKit changes the shade of the MacBook to Aqua, Coral, Black, Forest Green, or Deep Rose.
ColorKit also includes a cover for the MacBook Pro's keyboard, so that your keys will match the color of the outside of the notebook. The accessory leaves cutouts for the MacBook Pro's speakers, as well as the Thunderbolt 3 ports and headphone jack.
Twelve South said that ColorKit uses a lightweight adhesive that holds the wrap in place, and leaves no residue when removed. This means that if you don't get the application exactly right, you can peel them off and reposition. The accessory is also described as protecting your MacBook Pro from scratches and discoloration.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Twelve South. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
