MacRumors

Apple on iTunes recently discounted a few bundles for movies in the Cloverfield, Mission: Impossible, and Jack Ryan franchises. The sale prices have gone live on iTunes alongside the reveal of new trailers for the latest entries in each franchise (as well as an all-new Cloverfield movie on Netflix), which happened during last night's Super Bowl LII.

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We've listed all of the bundles and prices below, as well as a few other notable movie discounts happening this week on iTunes.

There are also a few returning deals happening today for products like the Apple Watch and iPad mini. Target has once again discounted the Apple Watch Series 1 by $70 in both 38mm ($179.99) and 42mm ($209.99). Similar to the last sale from a few weeks ago, the only devices marked down are the aluminum watches with Sport bands in Silver/White and Space Gray/Black. All models are available to ship for free, and you can get free shipping to your local Target as well, depending on stock.

deals article 2518Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

At Best Buy, the retailer has the iPad mini 4 (Wi-Fi only, 128GB) at $299.99, down from $399.99, in Gold, Space Gray, and Silver. The new offer matches the tablet's discounted price last seen in sales leading up to and following the holidays at Best Buy and Target. For those who purchase an iPad mini 4, Best Buy has also discounted Speck's StyleFolio Case for the tablet to $18.99, down from $34.99.

For more information on sales happening this week, be sure to head over to our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
Related Forum: Mac Apps

iPad remains the world's most popular tablet by a significant margin, having outsold competing devices from rivals Samsung and Amazon combined last year, according to data shared by research firm IDC today.

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Apple sold a total of 43.8 million iPad units in 2017, as confirmed by its quarterly earnings results, while IDC estimates that Samsung and Amazon shipped 24.9 million and 16.7 million tablets respectively on the year. The combined Samsung-Amazon total of 41.6 million tablets is 2.2 million lower than iPad sales.

Apple captured a 26.8 percent share of the tablet market in 2017, meaning that roughly one in every four tablets sold last year was an iPad. Apple's tablet market share rose 2.5 percentage points year-on-year.

idc 2017 tablet shipments
Last week, Apple reported revenue of $5.8 billion from iPad sales in the fourth quarter of 2017, representing growth of six percent compared to the year-ago quarter. Apple's average selling price of an iPad was $445, up slightly from $423 in year-ago quarter, suggesting more higher-priced iPad Pro sales.

Apple's growth in iPad sales, albeit relatively flat, contrasted with the overall tablet market's 6.5 percent decline in shipments in 2017 compared to 2016. iPad has been the world's most popular tablet since shortly after it launched.

Shifting focus to this year, Apple is rumored to launch at least one new iPad Pro model with slimmer bezels, no home button, and Face ID. We haven't heard much about the lower-cost 9.7-inch iPad and iPad mini, but each could certainly receive a routine speed bump this year among other upgrades as well.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad Pro, iPad mini
Tag: IDC
Related Forum: iPad

NikePlus members can now earn free Apple Music subscriptions and exclusive playlists by completing workouts or purchasing select Nike products.

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Nike didn't reveal exactly how to unlock the perks, but by achieving various milestones in the Nike+ Run Club or Nike+ Training Club apps in a given month, NikePlus members can earn rewards such as a free one-month Apple Music subscription or access to exclusive Nike playlists that include high-energy mixes.

Meanwhile, NikePlus Members who purchase Nike's Epic React Flyknit running shoes in its exclusive White Fusion color will unlock up to four months of free access to Apple Music. The shoes are available for $150 starting today exclusively for NikePlus members in the United States, and on February 22 for non-members.

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Nike's Epic React Flyknit running shoes in White Fusion colorway

NikePlus membership is free, with registration available on the web and through the Nike, Nike SNKRS, Nike+ Run Club, or Nike+ Training Club apps for iPhone. Apple Music is one of three new so-called NikePlus Unlocks, alongside rewards from fitness class startup ClassPass and meditation app Headspace.

Apple today announced a new cyber risk management solution aimed at the enterprise market and launching with partners Cisco, Aon, and Allianz. Each company is adding their own expertise into the solution, including cyber resilience evaluation services from Aon, the "most secure" technology from Apple and Cisco, and options for enhanced cyber insurance coverage from Allianz.

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The goal is said to help businesses better manage and protect themselves from the risk of cyber attacks, like ransomware and other malware-related threats. In the announcement, Apple said that the "low adoption" of cyber insurance amid an increased risk of attacks led to the new partnership, which ultimately aims to help businesses become "more resilient" to these threats.

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Businesses taking part in the solution will potentially qualify for lower, "or even no," deductibles in some cases, as well as gain access to "market leading" policy coverage terms. The key elements of the solution include:

- Cyber Resilience Evaluation: Aon cyber security professionals will assess interested customers’ cyber security posture and recommend ways to help improve their cyber security defenses.

- Cyber Insurance: Customers using Cisco Ransomware Defense, and/or qualified Apple products can be eligible for the Allianz-developed enhanced cyber insurance offering, acknowledging the superior level of security afforded to businesses by Cisco and Apple technology.

- Incident Response Services: Organizations will have access to Cisco and Aon’s Incident Response teams in the event of a malware attack.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the partnership will help make cyber insurance "more accessible" for the businesses that partake in the solution. In total, Apple's iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices are said to be the tools supported under the new insurance.

“The choice of technology providers plays a critical role in any company’s defense against cyber attacks. That’s why, from the beginning, Apple has built products from the ground up with security in mind, and one of the many reasons why businesses around the world are choosing our products to power their enterprise," said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“iPhone, iPad and Mac are the best tools for work, offering the world’s best user experience and the strongest security. We’re thrilled that insurance industry leaders recognize that Apple products provide superior cyber protection, and that we have the opportunity to help make enhanced cyber insurance more accessible to our customers.”

Cisco has launched a new website with more information about the cyber risk solution. For business interested, Apple said that the solution is available starting today.

Tag: Cisco

Apple refreshes much of its product lineup on an annual basis, and a new report reveals when that process may begin this year.

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Taiwanese website DigiTimes first claims some suppliers are poised to benefit from new or increased orders from Apple to help produce next-generation iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch models at some point in 2018:

Although some Taiwan makers in the iPhone X supply chain have been affected by Apple's move to scale back shipments of the device, some others including Career Technology, E&R Engineering, ShunSin Technology and Superior Plating Technology (SPT) are poised to benefit from new or increased orders from the client to support production of its next-generation iPad, MacBook and Apple Watch models in 2018, according to industry sources.

The report then replaces Apple Watch with iPhone in the sentence, and says the new products are slated for debut starting in March:

These makers have cutting-edge technologies or have newly tapped into the supply chains of Apple's consumer devices. Among them, SPT, which boasts pearl bright nickel processing technology, is ready to enjoy sizeable orders from Apple, which will incorporate the technology to process adapters for its new-generation iPhone, iPad and MacBook devices, slated for debut starting in March 2018.

The timeframe could simply be a guess based on Apple's new product releases last year. In 2017, the company announced a lower-cost 9.7-inch iPad in March by way of press release, alongside (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models, and larger 32GB and 128GB storage capacities for iPhone SE.

As a boilerplate disclaimer, DigiTimes does not have a perfect track record. The publication has shared inaccurate information about both what is coming and when on Apple's roadmap, including last year's prediction that Apple would unveil its 10.5-inch iPad Pro at an April event that never transpired.

If the report is accurate, the iPad lineup is likely the most ideal candidate for product refreshes as early as March. The launch of new iPhone and Apple Watch models now seems tied together in September, while Apple hasn't unveiled new notebooks in March since the Early 2015 model 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple could also unveil a second-generation iPhone SE in March, which marks the two-year anniversary of the budget device, but KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently cast some doubt on this possibility.

Broadcom is reportedly moving forward with its attempt to purchase chipmaker Qualcomm, by increasing its bid for the company to about $121 billion and $82 per share, described as a "final offer." The new offer comes three months after Broadcom's first bid for Qualcomm, originally valued at about $105 billion ($70 per share), plus $25 billion of net debt (via Bloomberg).

If the acquisition goes through it would still be considered the "largest-ever technology deal," although Qualcomm's board previously rejected the first offer and is said to have "dug in" against threats of potential hostile takeovers. With the increased offer, Broadcom now hopes to put pressure back on Qualcomm to accept the deal and "improve prospects" for Broadcom CEO Hock Tan to be nominated to Qualcomm's board should the deal go through.

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Broadcom Ltd. has raised its bid for Qualcomm Inc. to about $121 billion, in an attempt to force what could be the largest-ever technology deal. The new offer of $82 a Qualcomm share will be Broadcom’s final offer, according to a statement Monday. The deal would take the form of $60 in cash and the remainder in Broadcom shares.

Broadcom’s hostile bid for the larger San Diego-based company is the latest and most audacious move by Tan in a string of deals that have made his company one of the world’s largest suppliers of semiconductors. He wants Qualcomm for its leading smartphone modem chip division, an example of what he calls a “franchise” that will continue to dominate.

If completed, Broadcom would become the third-largest chipmaker in the world, behind Intel and Samsung Electronics, and the combined Broadcom-Qualcomm business would "instantly become" the default provider of certain components required to build more than one billion smartphones sold every year. The acquisition would eclipse Dell's $67 billion purchase of EMC in 2015, considered at the time the biggest in the technology industry.

Qualcomm is said to be pushing back against such acquisition offers because it see its own future to be "much brighter as a standalone company," further stating that it's "on the cusp" of entering new product markets. At the same time, Qualcomm has been in a legal battle with Apple for over a year now, after Apple accused Qualcomm of charging unfair royalties for "technologies they have nothing to do with" and failing to pay for quarterly rebates.

Throughout the lawsuits, Apple eventually considered removing Qualcomm modems from its devices altogether moving forward, and the latest report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pointed towards Intel-only modems for the 2018 iPhones.

Apple's HomePod pre-launch stock showed the first signs of dwindling supply on Monday. Customers in the U.K. placing new pre-orders on the company's regional online store can now expect deliveries of Apple's smart speaker to arrive no earlier than Tuesday, February 13, three days after the official launch day this Friday.

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In the United States and Australia, where HomePod is also launching this week, shipping estimates for the smart speaker in both White and Space Gray colors are still listed as Friday, February 9.

Despite the slip in Apple's delivery date, U.K. residents can still get hold of a HomePod on launch day by pre-ordering online from authorized Apple resellers. At the time of writing, stock is listed as available at Argos, EE, and Currys PC World. John Lewis will also be accepting HomePod pre-orders from 8pm GMT on Wednesday, February 7.

Last week, Apple's first batch of pre-order customers began receiving notifications from their banks about being charged for their orders, with many located in the U.K. Apple began taking orders for the HomePod on January 26 in the United States ($349), U.K. (£319), and Australia ($499). Later this spring, the HomePod will also launch in France and Germany.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

The Financial Times today highlighted a limited number of reports from users experiencing delays with incoming phone calls on the iPhone X. Apple later confirmed to MacRumors that it is "looking into these reports."

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The report, which links to a few discussions on the Apple Support Communities, notes that hundreds of customers have complained that the iPhone X's display experiences delays in turning on for up to 10 seconds during incoming phone calls, preventing these users from tapping the Accept or Decline buttons.

Indian blog PiunikaWeb rounded up similar complaints on the Apple Support Communities in January, but it appears affected iPhone X owners have been experiencing this issue since shortly after the device launched in November.

Based on what we've read, it appears that affected iPhone X units begin ringing when they receive a phone call, but the display does not turn on to show the caller ID or Accept and Decline buttons for a brief period—sometimes even longer than 10 seconds—which typically results in the call being missed.

The issue doesn't appear to be fixed in the latest iOS 11.2.5 software update, and based on the complaints, it would appear that all versions back to at least iOS 11.2 are affected. Earlier versions of iOS 11 could be affected too.

MacRumors hasn't been able to reproduce this issue, and we've seen only a handful of comments on our discussion forums related to the matter, but we did find a dozen more complaints from users across Twitter and Reddit.

Apple is likely collecting data from affected customers so that its engineers can investigate the matter, as it routinely does with any potential hardware or software issues, so contact Apple Support if you are affected. The issue likely can and will be addressed in a future software update.

Apple has dealt with a number of iPhone X hardware and software issues in recent months, some more widespread than others, including a defect causing green lines to appear on some displays, temporary unresponsiveness in cold temperatures, and the rear-facing camera failing to autofocus.

Last week, reports broke that Apple has decided to delay some new features planned for iOS 12 until next year so that it can double down on the performance and quality of the iPhone and iPad operating system in the near term.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple Music now has 36 million paying subscribers around the world, an increase from well over 30 million reported last September.

apple music logo
Apple confirmed the updated total to The Wall Street Journal, which today reported that Apple Music is growing at a faster pace than Spotify in the United States, and could soon eclipse the service in popularity in the country.

Apple's subscriber-account base in the U.S. has been growing about 5% monthly, versus Spotify's 2% clip, according to the people familiar with the numbers. Assuming those growth rates continue, Apple will overtake Spotify in accounts this summer.

On a worldwide scale, Spotify maintains a sizeable lead over Apple Music. The streaming music service revealed that it has 70 million paying subscribers a month ago, making it nearly twice as large as Apple Music. Spotify also has a free, ad-supported tier, giving it over 140 million listeners overall around the world.

Spotify expanded to the United States in 2011, while Apple Music simultaneously launched in over 100 countries in 2015. In terms of paid subscriptions, both services offer individual plans for $9.99 per month, student plans for $4.99 per month, and family plans sharable with up to six people for $14.99 per month.

Apple Music has the benefit of being preinstalled on hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads. It's also available on Mac, PC, Android, Apple Watch, Apple TV, vehicles equipped with CarPlay, Sonos, and HomePod.

Intel could be the exclusive supplier of LTE modems for all new iPhones launched in 2018, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

intel iphone x
The key takeaway of the research note, obtained by MacRumors:

We expect Intel to be the exclusive supplier of baseband chip for 2H18 new iPhone models, while Qualcomm may not have a share of the orders at all.

Kuo previously expected Intel to supply 70 percent of the modems, with Qualcomm providing the remaining 30 percent of orders, but he now believes Intel will be the sole supplier given several competitive advantages.

First and foremost, Intel's latest XMM 7560 modem [PDF] supports both GSM and CDMA, meaning that Apple could release a single iPhone model that works across AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Intel modems previously lacked CDMA, meaning Apple could never fully ditch Qualcomm for all iPhone models.

Apple is also embroiled in a major lawsuit with Qualcomm over anticompetitive licensing practices, and Kuo believes the iPhone maker switching to Intel as its exclusive modem supplier will place added pressure on Qualcomm.

Kuo added that it's too early to tell if Intel will be able to maintain its position of exclusivity in the future, as Apple typically prefers to diversify its supply chain. He adds that Apple may give orders to Qualcomm again in exchange for concessions in the ongoing lawsuit between the two companies.

Qualcomm was Apple's exclusive supplier of baseband chips until the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, when Intel began to share some of the orders.

In order to make up for the lost iPhone business, Kuo expects Qualcomm will be more aggressive in securing orders from Chinese smartphone makers. However, he believes these Chinese companies don't want a monopolized market, so Qualcomm's ability to gain market share in the country may be limited.

Kuo also reiterated that LTE transmission speeds will increase significantly in new iPhone models released in the second half of 2018.

In a previous research note from November, Kuo highlighted that Intel's XMM 7560 modem supports 4x4 MIMO technology, compared to only 2x2 MIMO in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. The faster LTE speeds will also be made possible by an upgraded antenna design in the next iPhones.

Related Forum: iPhone

A Chinese counterfeiter who participated in a scheme to traffic and smuggle counterfeit products mimicking Apple's iPhones and iPads today pled guilty to trafficking and conspiracy charges, according to a press release shared on the website of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jianhua "Jeff" Li, working through a company called Dream Digitals, conspired with several other individuals to smuggle more than 40,000 fake iPads, iPhones, and accessories into the United States from China from 2009 to 2014. The electronic devices in question included labels and packaging bearing counterfeit Apple trademarks.

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To get the counterfeit products into the country, Li shipped the devices separately from the counterfeit trademarks. Fake devices were sent all over the United States, and proceeds from the sales were funneled into bank accounts in Florida and New Jersey.

Li, who was officially charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and labels and to smuggle goods into the United States and one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods, received payments totaling more than $1.1 million from U.S. accounts.

Li could be facing several years in prison for his crime. A co-conspirator, Rosario LaMarca, was sentenced to 37 months in prison back in July, while two others Li worked with, Roberto Volpe and Andreina Becerra, are awaiting sentencing.

Apple employees will be able to purchase one of Apple's new HomePod speakers at a significant discount, with Apple dropping the price by 50 percent for its staff members. Several Apple employees have taken to Twitter to share news of Apple's generosity, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed the discount.

In the United States, the HomePod is priced at $349, so employees will be able to purchase it at a discounted rate of around $175.

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By offering the HomePod to employees at a reduced rate, Apple will ensure that some of its retail staff get hands-on real-world experience with the new speaker, allowing them to better assist customers with the device.

Apple also provides these kinds of discounts as a thank you to employees for all of their hard work, as a new product launch often entails a redecorating, training, and other behind-the-scenes efforts.

Apple offered a similar discount program for the Apple Watch when it launched in 2015, allowing employees to purchase any stainless steel or Sport Apple Watch model for personal use at a 50 percent discount.

The HomePod is available for purchase now from the online Apple Store, and it will officially launch on Friday, February 9.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

Apple today launched a repair program for iPhone 7 devices that are impacted by an ongoing bug that causes them to have no available service even when cellular coverage is available. Apple says the problem is caused by a component that has failed on the main logic board.

The problem affects "a small percentage" of iPhone 7 devices, causing them to display a "No Service" message instead of properly connecting to an available cellular network.

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Customers who are experiencing this issue will receive a free device repair from Apple, and those who have already paid for repairs are eligible for reimbursement. Apple will be emailing customers who may have previously paid for a repair related to this problem to offer a refund.

According to Apple, affected units were manufactured between September 2016 and February 2018 and were sold in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, and the United States. Model numbers that are impacted by the hardware failure include A1660, A1780, and A779, and customers can see if they are affected by checking the model number on the back of their device.

We first heard hints of this bug in September of 2016, when Apple launched an investigation into iPhone 7 devices that were displaying a "No Service" message after customers activated and then disabled Airplane Mode.

Apple's repair program is only available for the iPhone 7, and Apple will examine all iPhones prior to service to verify that the iPhone in question is impacted by the bug and eligible for repair. Apple says that devices with other damage, such as a cracked screen, will need to have those problems addressed before the "No Service" bug can be fixed.

Customers who are in need of a repair should contact an Authorized Apple Service Provider, visit an Apple retail store, or get in touch with Apple support. Apple will be sending all iPhone 7 models in need of repair to an Apple Repair Center.

The new iPhone 7 repair program covers affected iPhone 7 devices for two years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Related Forum: iPhone

Lifeprint, a company known for its iPhone-compatible ZINK photo printer, recently introduced a new, larger photo printer that's able to print images that are 3 by 4.5 inches instead of 2 by 3 inches, the normal standard size for mini printers designed for the iPhone.

The new Lifeprint 3x4.5 Hyperphoto Printer for iPhone, priced at $150, is an Apple exclusive that's designed to give customers a quick and easy way to instantly print their iPhone photos. Lifeprint asked me to check out the new 3x4.5 printer, and while I loved the larger image size, there are some drawbacks to be aware of before deciding to purchase one.

lifeprintpaper

Design

The new Lifeprint printer is similar to a large hard drive or an iPad mini, and it's a little over an inch thick, so not quite as portable as the original version, but also not a space hog like a traditional printer. I can easily fit it into my backpack for use while on the go, but it's not pocketable like the ZIP.

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It's constructed from plastic, with a silver plastic at the bottom and a glossy white plastic at the top, which matches the aesthetic of the iPhone. It's lightweight, but it doesn't feel like a cheap product.

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The Lifeprint printer has a top that slides off, which is where the printer paper and the printing internals are located. When you need to add more printer paper, you'll need to slide the top off, put the paper in facedown, and then slide the top back on. It's a simple process.

lifeprintinside
At one side, there's a slot where the printed photos come out, and at the other side, there's a microUSB charging port, which is how the Lifeprint charges. The battery is rechargeable, so this printer is fully portable and does not need a constant power connection.

➜ Click here to read more...

Apple yesterday announced that it sold 77.3 million iPhones during the first fiscal quarter of 2018 (fourth calendar quarter of 2017), and according to data shared by Strategy Analytics, Apple's record sales made the iPhone the top selling smartphone in the world during the quarter.

In Q4 2017, Samsung shipped 74.7 million phones, 2.6 million fewer than Apple's 77.3 million. Other vendors like Huawei and OPPO shipped far fewer devices at 41 million and 29.5 million, respectively. Apple also beat out competitors with the average selling price of its iPhones during the quarter, which came in at $796.

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Apple beat out all other smartphone vendors including Samsung, Huawei, OPPO, and Xiaomi, but its overall iPhone shipments were down from 78.3 million in the year-ago quarter. It's worth noting, however, that Q4 2017 was a 13 week quarter, while Q4 2016 was a 14 week quarter.

While Apple came out on top in global smartphone shipments during the quarter, Samsung continues to be the top vendor overall. Apple's share of the market was 19.3 percent in Q4 2017, compared to Samsung's 18.6 percent, but its overall marketshare for 2017 was 14.3 percent, compared to Samsung's 21.1 percent.

Overall global smartphone shipments declined year over year, falling from 438.7 million units in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 400.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. According to Strategy Analytics, it was "the biggest annual fall in smartphone history."

Over the course of 2017, though, smartphone shipments actually grew 1 percent and topped 1.5 billion units for the first time ever.

Apple does not break down its iPhone sales, but yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the iPhone X has been the top selling iPhone every week since it shipped in December. Cook also said that the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus lineup brought in the highest revenue of any lineup in the company's history.

Related Forum: iPhone

Just after adding refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models to its online store, Apple is now selling refurbished Apple TV 4K models for the first time in the United States. Apple TV 4K was released in September 2017.

apple tv 4k refurb
32GB and 64GB models are available for $149 and $169 respectively in the United States, reflecting modest savings of $30 off Apple's regular pricing for the equivalent brand new Apple TV 4K configurations. We've yet to see any refurbished Apple TV 4K models listed in other countries.

Apple says its refurbished products are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new white box and accessories.

Refurbished Apple TVs are covered by Apple's standard one-year warranty effective on the date the device is delivered. The limited warranty can be extended to up to two years from the original purchase date with AppleCare for Apple TV for $29, but note this plan doesn't include accidental damage coverage.

Apple's refurbished products are virtually indistinguishable from brand new products, so they represent an opportunity for savings, but better Apple TV 4K deals are occasionally offered by resellers. Keep an eye on our Apple Deals roundup.

In addition to the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple TV 4K, Apple also began selling refurbished second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro models in January.

Update: Refurbished Apple TV 4K models are now available in the UK for £30 off, and in several other European countries for €30 off, such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. (Thanks, Sam and Holger!)

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Mous to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an ultraprotective Limitless iPhone case for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or earlier iPhones.

Mous' Limitless cases all feature a shell that's made from a high impact "AiroShock" material, TPU, and Polycarbonate. Mous says the AiroShock lining of its cases contains thousands of micro air pockets. Air in the micro pockets acts as a spring in the event of a fall, minimizing the damage from an impact.

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Mous ships its cases with an included screen protector that's made from a triple-layered blend of TPU, PET, and Silicon, which it says is able to absorb three times more impact than a normal screen protector.

Because of the AiroShock material, Limitless cases are able to offer military grade protection in a slim package. Each Limitless case adds 2.3mm to the thickness of the iPhone, and the tapered design at the middle allows the case to be flush with the iPhone screen.

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In addition to offering complete device protection, Mous cases are also made from unique materials. Cases for the iPhone X, for example, are available in a dark carbon fiber, black leather, walnut wood, bamboo wood, or an iridescent shell, and every case is made from authentic materials.

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Inside of each Mous case, there are small magnets that work with a series of accessories that are set to launch in early 2018, including different accessory plates. Despite the magnets, Mous cases are fully compatible with wireless charging.

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Mous iPhone cases are priced starting at $45, but prices can vary based on material. We have 10 Mous cases to give away to MacRumors readers, with each winner able to choose case size and material. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (February 2) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 9. The winners will be chosen randomly on February 9 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Apple began selling refurbished second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro models last month, just a few days after adding refurbished 10.5-inch iPad Pro models. This was brought to our attention today by Reddit user Chaseism, and we decided to share the news since it went unnoticed at the time.

12 9 inch ipad pro refurbished
Apple has steadily added various Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular configurations with 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage since mid January, with prices reduced by around 15 percent compared to what Apple charges for brand new models. All three colors are available, including Space Gray, Silver, and Gold.

In the United States, for example, there are Wi-Fi models with 64GB of storage available for $679, a discount of $120. Wi-Fi models with 256GB and 512GB of storage are also in stock for $809 and $979, down from $949 and $1,149, respectively. Various other configurations are available, including in Canada.

Apple says its refurbished products are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new white box and all manuals and accessories. Apple also installs a new battery and replaces the outer shell, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between a refurbished and brand new iPad Pro.

All refurbished iPad Pro models come with Apple's standard one-year warranty effective on the date the tablet is delivered. The warranty can be extended to up to two years from the original purchase date with AppleCare+ for iPad, at a cost of $99 in the United States and Canada for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

All in all, these deals provide customers with an opportunity to save between $120 and $170 off the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, originally released in June 2017. Keep in mind better deals are often available from resellers, so keep an eye on our Apple Deals roundup for the latest sales.

Apple also began selling refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models in the United States for the first time yesterday.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)