The Apple Watch SE starts at $249, providing an accessible, low-cost option for those interested in owning an Apple smartwatch. The company also now offers the Apple Watch Series 10, which starts at $399, so what exactly do you get by spending an additional $150 and is it worth it? Our comparison helps to answer the question of which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.
Apple announced the second-generation Apple Watch SE in 2022 alongside the now-discontinued Apple Watch Series 8. The Apple Watch Series 10 launched two years later in 2024. The Apple Watch SE is designed to be a low-cost option that still offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years, while the Apple Watch Series 10 offers a more feature-rich experience with additional health monitoring capabilities.
Both the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 10 feature Crash Detection, water resistance, an optical heart sensor, up to 18 hours of battery life, and more, but there are significant differences between the two devices. Our comparison helps to answer the question of which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.
Apple Watch SE (second generation, 2022)
Apple Watch Series 10 (2024)
Same design as Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6
Refined design with a thinner casing, display with more rounded edges and a wider aspect ratio, and front glass that extends further over the sides for a higher screen-to-body ratio
Aluminum casing
Aluminum or titanium casing
Ion-X glass front
Ion-X glass (aluminum) or sapphire crystal (titanium) front
Color-matched nylon composite back case
Metal back with larger charging coil and integrated antenna
40mm or 44mm case size
42mm or 46mm case size with edge-to-edge display
40mm: 1.57-inch display 44mm: 1.78-inch display
42mm: 1.89-inch display 46mm: 2.04-inch display
Retina display
LTPO3 OLED Always-On Retina display (faster refresh rate in always-on mode, enabling a live ticking seconds hand on select watch faces)
Wide-angle OLED (up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle)
40mm: 324 by 394 pixels with 759 sq mm display area 44mm: 368 by 448 pixels with 977 sq mm display area
41mm: 374x446 pixels 989 sq mm display area 46mm: 416x496 pixels 1,220 sq mm display area
Up to 1,000 nits of brightness
Up to 2,000 nits of brightness
Display can get dimmer in dark rooms and at night (down to 1 nit of brightness)
S8 chip (based on A13 Bionic chip)
S10 chip (based on A15 Bionic chip: 60% more transistors, 30% faster)
Neural Engine
4-core Neural Engine (up to twice as fast)
Siri processed in the cloud via internet connection
Siri processed on-device for requests that do not need information from the internet, resulting in quicker and more reliable responses
Dictation
25% more accurate dictation
Siri can access health and fitness data
Second-generation optical heart sensor
Third-generation optical heart sensor
Blood oxygen sensor and Blood Oxygen app (outside the U.S. only)
Sleep apnea notifications
Electrical heart sensor and ECG app
Body and water temperature sensor
Depth gauge to 6m
Depth app
Oceanic+ app for snorkelling (available on the App Store)
Microphone
Microphone with voice isolation
Single, elongated speaker hole
Redesigned speaker with individual holes
Speaker
Speaker with media playback
Cycle tracking
Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
Precision Finding for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, providing distance and direction, as well as visual, haptic, and audio guidance to a misplaced iPhone
HomePod integration (when a user gets within four meters of a playing HomePod, the Apple Watch launches Now Playing to control playback. If nothing is playing, media suggestions appear at the top of the Smart Stack.)
Fast charging (0–80% in about 30 minutes)
Double Tap gesture to stop a timer, play and pause music, snooze an alarm, answer and end a phone call, take a photo with the Camera Remote, open the Smart Stack, and scroll through widgets in the stack, all without touching the display
32GB storage
64GB storage
Available in anodized Silver, Starlight, Midnight finishes
Aluminum: Available in anodized Silver and Rose Gold, and polished Jet Black finishes Titanium: Available in polished Silver (matches previous stainless steel casing, Apple Watch Hermès only), Gold, Slate, and Natural finishes
Starts at $249
Starts at $399 (aluminum) or $699 (titanium)
The Apple Watch Series 10 is a relatively minor improvement over the previous Series 9 model, offering a thinner design and an improved display. Yet compared to the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a considerably more feature-rich device with advanced capabilities.
With its larger display, additional health monitoring features, and range of colors and finishes, the Apple Watch Series 10 will be the model of choice for those who want more out of their smartwatch. If you feel that the always-on display, added health monitoring features (such as ECG and sleep apnea notifications), or fast charging would be particularly useful to you, or simply like a specific casing and color combination not available with the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 10 will be the best model for you. It's also worth noting that the Apple Watch SE is now over two years old, while the Series 10 has only just come out, so the latter is likely to be more future proof.
If you are on a budget and are not particularly attracted to the additional features of the Series 10, the Apple Watch SE is still a compelling option. As it shares many key features with the Apple Watch Series 10, many customers will be happy choosing the more inexpensive model, unless you particularly value features such as the larger, always-on display or advanced health monitoring and can justify the added cost.
The Apple Watch SE is an ideal device for kids and senior citizens who do not have an iPhone thanks to Family Setup, but it is also the go-to model for most customers who are new to the Apple Watch and those who are upgrading from a Series 4 or older due to its competitive pricing and generous feature set, allowing users to get a balanced Apple Watch experience at a low price.
The batteries inside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus use an innovative type of adhesive that can be loosened with low-voltage electrical current from a 9V battery, USB-C charger, or another power source. While this change does not apply to iPhone 16 Pro models, it has now been rumored for iPhone 17 Pro models next year.
iPhone 16 Pro battery
According to a blog post today from the leaker known as Majin Bu, who has a hit-or-miss track record with Apple rumors, the electrical battery removal process will be extended to all four iPhone 17 models launching next year, including the iPhone 17, tentatively-named iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The leaker shared a photo of the new adhesive in four different sizes, which may correspond with the four iPhone 17 models.
In the meantime, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max batteries still have stretch-release adhesive pull tabs, like many previous iPhone models.
While no other sources have corroborated this rumor yet, the electrical battery removal process expanding to all four iPhone 17 models at least sounds like a reasonable possibility. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series in September.
From the information I have been able to get, it looks like the entire iPhone 17 series will feature new battery adhesives and will use electrically induced adhesive peel technology.
Full Article: https://t.co/A3y6Z103sspic.twitter.com/r13FYGRs4q
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) October 10, 2024
Amazon today has introduced a new all-time low price on the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, available for $349.99, down from $499.00. This price is available in all four colors on Amazon, and we're also tracking low prices on the 256GB model and the cellular models.
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.
In regards to the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, this beats the previous record low price by about $30. The 256GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $499.99, down from $649.00, which is another best-ever price on the miniature tablet.
Apple launched this version of the iPad mini back in 2021, and we're expecting the next generation of iPad mini to debut next month. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
Amazon has announced that Apple TV+ will be available as an add-on subscription through Prime Video in the United States later this month. Prime members will be able to subscribe to Apple TV+ for $9.99 per month directly within the Prime Video app.
The partnership potentially allows Apple's streaming service to reach a wider audience through Amazon's popular Prime Video platform, thereby avoiding the need to download additional apps or navigate separate billing systems. Subscribers will have access to Apple TV+'s full catalog of original content, including hit shows like "Severance," "Ted Lasso," and "The Morning Show," as well as films and live sports events.
Mike Hopkins, senior VP of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, described the move as part of Amazon's strategy to expand Prime Video's offerings and allow customers to "personalize their streaming experience within a single app." Apple's senior VP of services Eddy Cue was also quoted in Amazon's press release:
"We want to make Apple TV+ and its award-winning library of series and films from the world's greatest storytellers available to as many viewers as possible. We're thrilled that Prime Video will now offer Apple TV+, giving viewers an incredible breadth of viewing options."
The arrangement mirrors Apple's own strategy of offering third-party video subscriptions through its Apple TV Channels feature, though Prime Video is not currently available as an Apple TV Channel.
While Apple TV+ is already accessible on various platforms, including smart TVs and streaming devices, this partnership may simplify the subscription process for Prime Video users who were previously unfamiliar with how to access Apple TV+.
The companies have not disclosed specific details about their business arrangement, but it's clearly mutually beneficial. Apple gains increased visibility and potential subscriber growth, while Amazon enhances its content offerings within the Prime Video ecosystem.
With iOS 18.1, Apple plans to introduce the first Apple Intelligence features, but we're only getting a small sample of the functionality that's going to be rolling out over the next year. Writing Tools, summaries, and smart replies are coming, but more exciting AI options like Image Playground won't be available until later.
This guide includes what's not coming in iOS 18.1, along with current rumors on when we can expect those features. For a feature list of what you can expect to see in iOS 18.1, check out our iOS 18.1 Apple Intelligence guide.
Image Playground
Image Playground will let you generate cartoon-style images using any phrase. It'll be a standalone app, but it will also be integrated into Messages and Notes. In the Notes app, Image Playground can be used to generate an image based on what you've written.
In Messages and in the Image Playground app itself, you can make up whatever you want, even using pictures of your friends and contacts to inspire images. Apple is sticking to non-realistic styles for these, so you won't get anything photorealistic that can be mistaken for real.
Genmoji
Genmoji is similar to Image Playground, but it's a feature that lets you generate any emoji that you want. Right now, you're limited to the emoji characters defined by the Unicode Consortium, but that'll change with Genmoji.
You can design all kinds of things, just like you can with Image Playground. Want a dog eating pancakes? No problem. An alligator skateboarding? The Genmoji feature will be able to create it. As with Image Playground, you can base Genmoji on photos of your friends. Genmoji that you create can be used just like emoji, but people you send them to will need to have iOS 18 for the Genmoji to display properly.
Image Wand
Image Wand is an Image Playground-based feature coming to the Notes app. You can use it to insert images into your Notes based on context. On the iPad, you can draw a crude graphic and have Image Wand whip up something nice to accompany your notes.
Priority Notifications
Priority notifications will show up at the top of your notification stack, so you can get to what's most important first.
Mail
In the Mail app, Apple is adding a feature that will sort your incoming messages into categories automatically for better management of things like newsletters and purchase emails.
Siri
Some initial Siri updates are coming in iOS 18.1, such as Siri's new glow that encompasses the edges of the display, but a lot of the more advanced functionality isn't going to be available until later.
Apple is working on onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to take more actions in and across apps.
Onscreen awareness will let Siri take actions when you ask something about what's on your display. If you're looking at a photo and want to message it to your friend Eric, you'll be able to tell Siri to "Send this picture to Eric," and Siri will understand and do it.
Personal context will let Siri do more with your personal data like emails and messages. This is an on-device feature, and it will let Siri learn more about you, who you're communicating with, and how you use your device. Personal context will let you do things like ask Siri to find a specific message, or remind you when you took a photo that you're looking for.
The Siri option to take more actions in and across apps will drastically improve what Siri is capable of. You'll be able to move files from one app to another and control app functions with Siri that you never could before. It'll work in third-party apps as well as Apple's own apps.
ChatGPT Integration
Apple is adding a feature that will let Siri hand complex queries off to OpenAI's ChatGPT, but this won't be available in iOS 18.1.
Additional Languages
Apple Intelligence is available in U.S. English only as of now, but support for additional languages will be coming in the future.
When to Expect More Apple Intelligence Features
More Apple Intelligence features will come in iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3, and iOS 18.4.
We'll get iOS 18.2 before the end of 2024, and it is expected to include Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT Siri integration.
In January or so, we'll get iOS 18.3, which could potentially have some new Siri features.
iOS 18.4, which isn't expected until around March 2025, will have the bulk of the Siri Apple Intelligence features. We're also expecting to see Apple roll out support for additional languages in 2025.
iOS 18.1 Launch Date
iOS 18.1 is expected to see a release on Monday, October 28. Apple plans to release Apple Intelligence in a beta capacity, and the feature set will continue to be refined over time.
Apple plans to release an updated Magic Keyboard for new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models at some point "early next year," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air will adopt "some" of the new features that were added to the latest Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, which was released in May. That means potential features for the next iPad Air version of the accessory include a thinner and lighter design with an aluminum palm rest, a larger glass trackpad, and a row of function keys with shortcuts for things like display brightness and volume.
Here is the excerpt from his report earlier this month:
The new iPad Air models — codenamed J607 and J637 — will focus on internal improvements. Apple also is preparing an updated version of its Magic Keyboard accessory, codenamed R307 and R308, for both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the new Air. These will bring some of the features of the iPad Pro keyboard down-market.
Apple released the current iPad Air models with the M2 chip in May.
Both Samsung and Apple have come out with new top-of-the-line tablet options this year, with Apple introducing the M4 iPad Pro back in May and Samsung debuting the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra earlier this month. Given the similarities between the two, we thought we'd see how Apple's high-end iPad Pro compares to Samsung's best Galaxy Tab.
In terms of design, Apple makes the iPad Pro in 11-inch and 13-inch size options, while Samsung's tablets are bigger at 12.4 (S10+) and 14.6 inches (Ultra). The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra looks a lot like the iPad Pro with slim bezels, a thin design, and rounded squircle corners. Like Apple, Samsung is using OLED display technology, and there is a new anti-reflective coating this year, but it's not quite as good at cutting down on glare as Apple's nano-texture display.
Samsung added a lot of Galaxy AI features to the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, and some of them are similar to what Apple will bring with Apple Intelligence in iPadOS 18.1. There's a Note Assist option that can auto format notes with headers, bullet points, and paragraphs, which is useful if you just want to write, and Galaxy AI can also provide summaries of notes and voice recording summaries. Those summaries also extend to the web browser for quick summaries of long articles.
In Samsung's image app, you can sketch an object onto a photo and AI will create a more realistic version of what you sketched, adding it in to your picture, plus you can use portrait studio to change the look of your images. There's also built-in access to the Google Gemini chatbot, and with Circle to Search, you can circle anything on your screen to get more information about it.
Year over year, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a lot like the S9 Ultra, but with AI features. Samsung is advertising an 18 percent increase in CPU performance and a 28 percent increase in GPU performance, but it doesn't come close to M4 chip performance.
Samsung's tablets come with the S Pen, and there are optional Book Cover Keyboards, but the keyboard isn't as premium or as nice as Apple's latest Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. The trackpad just doesn't come close, and you might be better off with the keyboard that doesn't have trackpad functionality. Samsung does still come out ahead at multitasking and it's simpler to use multiple apps on the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra than on the iPad Pro, plus there's DeX for a desktop-like experience.
Pricing on the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra starts at $1,200, while the 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,300. Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.
The Home Depot has finally caved and started rolling out the ability to pay with Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay payment methods at some of its U.S. stores in recent weeks, according to a photo shared by the blog Appleosophy.
The home improvement retailer has not officially announced that it accepts Apple Pay, so it is unclear which stores offer it. In a social media post earlier this year, the company said it was "evaluating a number of new payment methods, including a number of mobile payments," but it had yet to make any "permanent decisions."
The Home Depot was one of the largest remaining Apple Pay holdouts since it dropped support for the service in 2015. Another was Texas-based grocery store chain H-E-B, which is also gradually starting to accept Apple Pay this month.
In a press release this week, H-E-B said it will begin rolling out the ability to pay with Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay methods at all of its stores throughout October. The company's other chains Central Market and Joe V's Smart Shop already began accepting Apple Pay earlier this year, and now it will be accepted in actual H-E-B stores.
Longtime Apple employee Dan Riccio is set to retire from the company later this month, reports Bloomberg. Riccio has worked at Apple for 26 years, most recently overseeing Vision Pro development as an engineering VP reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Riccio joined Apple in June 1998 as a product design director, and in August 2012, he was promoted to senior vice president of hardware engineering, a role he held for more than eight years before transitioning to an unspecified project in 2021. The unspecified project turned out to be the Vision Pro headset.
John Ternus succeeded Riccio as Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, and Ternus will also now take over Vision Pro development and the couple thousand engineers in the Vision Products Group. Mike Rockwell, who has been working under Riccio, will continue to oversee the day-to-day work on the Vision Pro and similar headsets.
In addition to working on the Vision Pro, Riccio also was a key proponent for Apple's work on a self-driving car, a project that the company ultimately scrapped earlier this year. Over his time at Apple, he also oversaw development of the AirPods, iPad Pro, and the initial larger-screened iPhones.
Amazon Prime Day is coming to a close later today, so we're quickly recapping all of the best Apple and Apple-related deals that are still live on Amazon right now. Since many of these products have been on sale for a few days, shipping may be delayed, but they're all at some of the lowest prices we've ever seen.
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.
You will need an active Amazon Prime subscription to see these deals. You can get one month of Amazon Prime for free when signing up this week, and afterwards the service will renew at $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
AirPods
The best AirPods-related discounts this Prime Day are on the AirPods Pro 2 ($80 off) and both AirPods Max models (up to $155 off), and all of these are still available right now.
Top Apple Watch deals during Prime Day include the Apple Watch SE available from $169.99 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Black for $729.99. Both of these are all-time low prices on each model.
You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad for $199.99 in both colors, down from $329.00. This is a match of the record low price on this version of the 2021 tablet, and it's a deal we haven't seen in a few weeks.
MacBook Air discounts were abundant this Prime Day, with both M2 and M3 models getting huge markdowns on Amazon. You can still get many of these at all-time low prices today, starting at $749.00 for M2 models and $849.00 for M3 models.
One of the best accessory deals this week is on the Apple Pencil Pro, now down to $97.00, from $129.00. This is a record low price on the Apple Pencil Pro.
Amazon has $306 off the Apple Studio Display for Prime Day, starting at $1,294.99 for the standard glass option. For this model, this is a new all-time low price.
Anker brought back a steep discount on the popular Portable Power Station with Smart Display and Retractable Light this Prime Day, available for $89.99 with an on-page coupon, down from $149.99. This beats the price we tracked earlier in the year by $10, and it's accompanied by many more Anker deals still available for Prime Day. You can find a big list in our dedicated article.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Amazon is discounting Twelve South's HiRise 3 Deluxe stand to $106.86 for Prime Day, down from $149.99. This is a 3-in-1 accessory that can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, and this is an all-time low price.
Level Lock has a huge discount on the HomeKit-compatible Level Lock+ Smart Lock, available for just $129.00 when using the on-page coupon, down from $329.00.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Apple's standard AirPods now offer active noise cancellation for an additional $50, bringing them closer in terms of features to the AirPods Pro than ever before, so which should you choose?
Almost three years after the launch of the first-generation AirPods Pro, Apple unveiled the second-generation model alongside the iPhone 14 lineup. Although the second-generation AirPods Pro feature the same design as their predecessor, they improve on features like Active Noise Cancellation, in-ear detection, and battery life, while introducing new functionality like Adaptive Transparency, volume adjustment touch controls, and precision finding.
Apple recently introduced a major update for its standard AirPods, with the earbuds gaining a more refined design for improved comfort, H2 chip, dust, sweat, and water resistance, 5GHz connectivity, a vent system for pressure equalization, Personalized Volume, Voice Isolation, a USB-C port, and "Siri" command support – just like the AirPods Pro 2. For an additional $50, the similarities with the AirPods Pro go even further with active noise cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, support for Apple Watch chargers, and a speaker in the case for Find My.
Should you consider purchasing one of the fourth-generation AirPods models, or do you need the higher-end AirPods Pro, which sell for $249? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you.
AirPods (Fourth-Generation, 2024)
AirPods With ANC (Fourth-Generation, 2024)
AirPods Pro (Second-Generation, 2022)
Open-ear fit
Open-ear fit
In-ear fit with silicone ear tips (four size options)
Optical in-ear sensors
Optical in-ear sensors
Skin-detect sensors
Force sensor controls
Force sensor controls
Force sensor and touch controls for volume adjustment
Active noise cancellation
Up to 2x more effective active noise cancellation
Transparency mode
Transparency mode
Adaptive Audio
Adaptive Audio
Conversation Awareness
Conversation Awareness
Conversation Boost
Loud Sound Reduction
Hearing Protection (coming fall 2024)
Hearing Test (coming fall 2024)
Hearing Aid (coming fall 2024)
Up to five hours of listening time with a single charge
Up to five hours of listening time with a single charge
Up to six hours of listening time on a single charge
Compact charging case
Compact charging case
Wider charging case
Lanyard loop
Capacitive pairing button
Capacitive pairing button
Physical pairing button
Speaker in charging case for Find My
Speaker in charging case for Find My
U1 chip for Precision Finding
Charging Case compatible with USB-C only
Charging Case compatible with Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C
Charging Case compatible with MagSafe chargers, Apple Watch chargers, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C
$129
$179
$249
The standard AirPods are now very similar to the AirPods Pro, offering almost all of the same key features at a lower price point. As a result, the fourth-generation AirPods should be the default choice for most prospective buyers. If you also have AirPods Max, which already offer ANC, and are looking for an additional pair of headphones to use while working out or on the go, the fourth-generation AirPods are also a good choice.
You should only buy the AirPods Pro if you are happy with its in-ear fit, which provides better sound quality and active noise cancellation, but can be somewhat uncomfortable for prolonger periods of time. While the fourth-generation AirPods do now offer ANC, it is not as effective as that of the AirPods Pro due to the lack of an in-ear fit, so if noice cancellation is your main priority, the AirPods Pro 2 are still the best choice.
In addition to better sound quality and ANC, the AirPods Pro 2 also offer slightly longer battery life, Conversation Boost, touch controls for volume, MagSafe charger compatibility, Precision Finding with the U1 chip, and a lanyard loop, as well as hearing protection, testing, and aid features via an upcoming software update. Many users will be able to justify the additional $70 to get the AirPods Pro as a result. Nevertheless, the fourth-generation AirPods are still a solid option for most average customers and will be better for those who do not like the AirPods Pro's in-ear silicone tips.
AirPods Pro frequently see hefty discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so stepping up to the Pro version may be more worth it if you can take advantage of one of those deals. The standard AirPods also often see solid discounts, so it is always worth seeking the best price using our Deals roundup.
Amazon's second Prime Day of the year ends later today, and a few retailers have been hosting their own 48-hour discount events to compete with Prime Day. Below we've collected deals from Best Buy and Samsung, including some of the best prices of the year on popular monitors and other products. Similar to Prime Day, both of these sales are planned to end later tonight.
Best Buy
Note: 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, you'll find many of Amazon's Prime Day discounts being matched for all shoppers. This includes the 9th generation iPad, M2 and M3 MacBook Air, M3 MacBook Pro, AirPods Max (Lightning), and more. We've collected these deals in the list below, but be sure to check out the full sitewide sale at Best Buy before it ends later today.
Best Buy also has big discounts across the Beats headphones lineup, with record low prices on the Beats Studio Pro at $169.99 ($180 off), Beats Studio Buds at $79.99 ($70 off), Beats Solo 4 at $99.99 ($100 off), and Beats Fit Pro at $149.99 ($50 off). In total, you can get up to $180 off Beats headphones during the 48-hour sale.
Besides the Apple deals, Best Buy's sale features discounts on TVs, laptops, video games, appliances, smartphones, sound bars, Bluetooth speakers, and much more.
Samsung
Samsung's Prime Day-like sale is offering deals on everything from robot vacuums to Galaxy smartphones and The Frame TVs. There are a few monitor deals during this event as well, but the best sales on Samsung's most popular monitors are still available on Amazon.
Apple's grip on the U.S. teen market remains strong, with new survey data showing high iPhone ownership and increasing interest in Apple Intelligence, despite a slight dip in demand for the iPhone 16.
A new report from Piper Sandler's fall 2024 survey provides a comprehensive look at how Apple products continue to dominate among U.S. teenagers. According to the survey, which involved more than 13,500 teens across 47 states, 87% of respondents said they own an iPhone. Additionally, 88% of teens expect their next smartphone to be an iPhone.
The data also highlights a marginal decrease in the number of teens planning to upgrade to the iPhone 16. About 22% of respondents said they intend to upgrade this fall or winter, which is a slight drop from the 23% who planned to upgrade to the iPhone 15 at the same time last year, and from the 24% for the iPhone 14 in 2022. The decrease suggests a growing trend of teens holding onto their iPhones for longer periods before upgrading, with the average iPhone now being three generations behind the iPhone 16. This is a notable shift from two years ago, when the average gap was only 2.5 generations.
Despite the slight decline in immediate upgrade plans, a significant driver of future purchases appears to be Apple's forthcoming suite of AI features. Nearly 30% of surveyed teens indicated that they plan to upgrade their devices because of Apple Intelligence, which Apple plans to roll out starting later this year.
In addition to iPhones, other Apple products remain popular among teens. AirPods continue to be a major hit, with about 70% of respondents reporting ownership of a pair. The report also noted that 25% of teens expect to purchase new AirPods in the next six months.
Meanwhile, ownership of other Apple devices including iPads and Apple Watches, is also strong, with more than 30% of teens saying they own each of these products. However, Apple TV+ appears to have less traction, as only 10% of teens reported using the service, and they spend only about 1% of their total media consumption time on Apple TV+. Apple Music, on the other hand, has maintained a steady presence among teens, with approximately one-third of respondents saying they have access to the service.
Apple released the HomePod mini nearly four years ago, so you may be wondering when the speaker will receive hardware upgrades.
Below, we recap rumors about a next-generation HomePod mini.
The firmest rumor came from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in February 2023 said mass shipments of a second-generation HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024. However, it is unclear if that info is still accurate, as there have not been any recent HomePod mini rumors from credible sources.
Kuo did not reveal any new features planned for the next HomePod mini, but plausible upgrades could include a newer S-series chip for more advanced computational audio, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for a lower-latency Handoff experience, and new color options. The current HomePod mini is equipped with an S5 chip and a U1 chip.
Apple has already refreshed the color options for the HomePod mini a few times. The speaker was released in Blue, Orange, and Yellow in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish in July.
Due to the lack of recent rumors, the likelihood of a new HomePod mini being imminent seems low. However, a new HomePod mini could end up being a surprise announcement at Apple's rumored October event, or it could be introduced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website at any point over the coming months.
Amazon today has the Apple Studio Display for $1,294.99 during Prime Day, down from $1,599.00, which is a new all-time low price on the monitor. This is the standard glass version of the Studio Display with the tilt adjustable stand, and Amazon also has a few other models on sale as well.
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.
You can get the standard glass model with the VESA Mount Adapter for $1,294.99, down from $1,599.00, while the tilt- and height-adjustable stand model is available for $1,699.99, down from $1,999.00. In regards to the VESA model, this is another new all-time low price on the display.
If you want to upgrade to the nano-texture glass option, Amazon also has this model of the Studio Display on sale. It's available for $1,594.99, down from $1,899.00, which is a second-best price on the Studio Display with nano-texture glass.
The Studio Display features a 27-inch 5K Retina display with a 5120 x 2880 resolution and up to 600 nits of brightness. Apple says that the standard display is engineered for "extremely low reflectivity," but for rooms where there is a lot of glare, Apple suggests the nano-texture glass option with even less reflectivity.
Yesterday we highlighted some of the best Apple-related product discounts that you can find on Amazon during Prime Day, and now we're focusing on third-party accessory markdowns during the event. In this article you'll find all the best accessories for charging, smart homes, smartphones, and more.
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.
Shoppers should remember that Prime Day sales are typically time sensitive, so purchase quickly if you're interested. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime on Amazon if you're a new customer; afterwards the service runs for $14.99/month or $139/year.
Twelve South
Amazon is discounting Twelve South's HiRise 3 Deluxe stand to $106.86 for Prime Day, down from $149.99. This is a 3-in-1 accessory that can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, and this is an all-time low price.
Prime Day deals have hit Anker's most popular portable batteries, Bluetooth speakers, wall chargers, USB-C hubs, and portable power stations. We've collected some of the best Anker discounts in the list below, but be sure to browse Amazon for even more sales.
There's a big collection of Beats headphones discounted for Prime Day this year, starting with the Beats Studio Buds for $79.00, down from $149.95. The newer Beats Studio Buds+ are on sale for $129.99, down from $169.95.
The Beats Studio Pro are on sale for $169.99, down from $349.99, which is a new record low price. You can also get the Beats Solo 4 Headphones for $99.99, down from $199.99 and the Beats Fit Pro for $149.99, down from $199.99.
Monitors
Samsung's popular 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (Model M80D) is down to the best price we've ever seen it on Amazon, available for $399.99, down from $699.99. This is the newest model of the Smart Monitor M8, and it beats the previous low price by $100.
Of course, some of the best discounts can be found on Amazon's own line of products. This includes Kindle e-readers, Blink security cameras, Fire tablets, and more.
Amazon has the Google Nest Thermostat for $84.99, down from $129.99 during Prime Day. This is one of the lowest prices we've seen for the Nest Thermostat, and it's available at this price in two colors.
If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.
Apple's M4 iPad Pro models with OLED displays are reportedly facing weaker-than-expected demand since their debut in the second quarter, according to a new analyst report.
Released in May of this year, the 11-inch and 13-inch devices marked Apple's first use of OLED technology in larger screens and were initially projected to ship up to 10 million units in 2024. However, in its latest analysis, market research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) has significantly lowered that forecast to just 6.7 million units.
DSCC's Ross Young reports that shipments of the 11-inch model are likely to decrease by 40% in the third quarter and a further 30% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter. The larger 13-inch model is said to be experiencing an even steeper decline, with shipments projected to drop by over 50% and 90% in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Young attributed the lukewarm reception to several factors. The high price point, starting at $999 for the 11.1-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch version, may be deterring potential buyers who view tablets as complementary devices to smartphones or laptops. That's not to say that the new M4 processor and advanced display technology aren't impressive, but they may not provide enough incentive for consumers to upgrade their existing tablets. The limitations of Apple's iPadOS software could also be a factor.
The situation raises questions about the viability of OLED technology in maintaining Apple's premium pricing for tablets. Young noted that in the TV market, OLED has successfully competed with mini-LED technology, but the price differential remains a significant hurdle in the tablet space.
Apple is also said to be working on an OLED version of the iPad Air, and prior rumors have suggested that it will be released in 2026. However, due to sluggish sales of OLED iPad Pro models, Young expressed concern that the iPad Air's switch from LCD to OLED could be delayed by more than a year.
Despite the disappointing sales figures for the OLED iPad Pro, Young remains optimistic about the future of OLED in Apple's MacBook lineup. The analyst has previously predicted that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will switch from mini-LED to OLED as early as 2026. Young said he still expects stronger demand for OLED laptops compared to tablets, pointing at the increasing adoption of OLED displays by PC manufacturers.
MacBooks with OLED displays would offer increased brightness and improved contrast ratio compared to LCD models, and the displays would also be more power efficient for longer battery life. The switch to OLED displays could also contribute to future MacBook Pro models having a thinner design.
iPhone 16 Pro battery
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.
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.
Note: 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.
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.
