This accessory allows you to mount your iPhone to the top of your TV, or it can be placed on the stand below. Then, you can conveniently use your iPhone's rear camera for FaceTime video calls on any Apple TV 4K model running tvOS 17 or later.
Key features of the mount, as listed on Apple's online store:
Mount directly to your TV or display up to 4 inches (10.1 cm) in depth
Works as standalone mount on desktop or a TV stand
Tilt from –20 to +30 degrees to adjust to your environment
Easily flip iPhone orientation to stream or record in portrait or landscape
Keyhole mounts and mounting bracket included for added stability
Designed for Continuity Camera–supported apps
Belkin already offered a very similar version of this mount for use with the iMac and Apple's external displays, but it is currently listed as unavailable on Apple's online store. Apple continues to sell a version of the mount for MacBooks.
Priced at $49.95 in the U.S., the TV version of the mount ships in one business day.
Apple this morning announced new models of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, now with the M3 chip. With Apple moving onto the next generation of MacBook Air models, we're looking back at the original 13-inch M1 MacBook Air, which is at a great all-time low price on 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.
You can get the 256GB 13-inch M1 MacBook Air for $749.99, down from $999.99. Best Buy has this notebook in all three colors, and offers free two-day shipping to all customers. Although nearly four years old, this version of the MacBook Air still has an Apple silicon chip and should be perfect for anyone who wants to prioritize saving money over having the latest and greatest product.
With the launch of the new MacBook Air models, this M1 device from late 2020 has now been discontinued from Apple's official lineup. Additionally, Apple has discontinued the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, so we'll likely be tracking last-chance deals on those notebooks soon. 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.
Apple and Hermès today released an all-new knitted "Tricot" Apple Watch band, available in four color options.
Apple describes the Tricot Single Tour as "a knitted textile band that comfortably hugs the wrist like a glove." It is available as a single tour band only.
Patterned on 1930s-era Hermès gloves created for driving, sailing, and golf, the Tricot band takes what was old and makes it new again. The continuous textile knit comfortably hugs the wrist, imparting both a freedom of movement and a sense of élan.
Hermès already sells a number of "Tricot" luxury accessories such as neckties. Unlike its main selection Tricot accessories, which tend to be made of 100% silk, the Apple Watch Hermès Tricot Single Tour is made of polyamide yarn. Polyamide is waterproof and enables the band to be used when swimming, just like all of the other non-leather Apple Watch Hermès bands.
The Tricot Single Tour band is available in Bleu Jean, Jaune de Naples, Orange, and Beige de Weimar. It is only compatible with 38mm, 40mm, and 41mm Apple Watch models.
The Tricot Single Tour replaces the both the single and double tour Apple Watch Hermès Bridon bands on the company's main Apple Watch band webpage. The Apple Watch Hermès Bridon bands are knitted just like the Tricot, suggesting that the new band could replace it when stock runs out.
The Bridon band is still available, but it may only be while stocks last as a result. Apple tends to allow discontinued Apple Watch Hermès bands to sell out over a longer period of time rather than outright de-listing them. The Navy/Gris/Ciel Bridon band also continues to be available directly from Hermès, but now on a separate webpage, just like many of the leather Apple Watch Hermès bands that Apple stopped selling in September last year.
Alongside its refresh of iPhone and Apple Watch band color options earlier today, Apple and Hermès added Bleu Céleste/Écru and Framboise/Écru Color options to the Hermès Toile H Single Tour band, Bleu Céleste/Bleu Jean and Jaune d'Or/Bleu Jean color options to the Hermès Twill Jump Single Tour and, and Blanc and Bleu Céleste color options to the Hermès Kilim Single Tour band.
If you frequently work with external displays, it's worth noting that Apple's just-announced M3 MacBook Air models support two external displays – one more than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same M3 chip.
Launched last October, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip simultaneously supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.
In contrast, both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip support one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, and two external displays with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz when the laptop lid is closed, also known as clamshell mode.
Given that the machines use identical chips, it could be that the additional external display support on the MacBook Airs has been made at the software level. If so, there would seem to be no reason that it could not be added to the M3 MacBook Pro in a future software update. However, it could also be a hardware-based change, and we might not know for sure until a teardown is performed on the new laptops.
The new M3-powered MacBook Air models start from $1,099 and can be pre-ordered on Apple's website, with availability beginning on Friday, March 8. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip starts at $1,599.
Apple's Silicone Case with MagSafe for iPhone is now available with new Soft Mint, Sunshine, Light Blue, and Pink color options.
Many of the new Apple Watch band colors match up with the refreshed silicone cases, with the exception of Raspberry and Ocean Blue. The new Apple Watch band color options are as follows:
Sport Loop: Soft Mint and Ocean Blue.
Sport Band: Soft Mint, Sunshine, and Light Blue.
Braided Solo Loop: Sunshine, Light Blue, and Raspberry.
Solo Loop: Pink, Soft Mint, Ocean Blue.
All of the Apple Watch Hermès bands available directly from Apple also today received new color options:
Hermès Toile H Single Tour: Bleu Céleste/Écru and Framboise/Écru.
Hermès Twill Jump Single Tour: Bleu Céleste/Bleu Jean and Jaune d'Or/Bleu Jean.
Following the announcement of new M3 MacBook Air models, Apple has reduced the starting price of the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip by $100, putting it at under $1,000 for the first time.
Apple originally launched the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip in June 2022 with a $1,199 starting price, but dropped the price to $1,099 in June 2023 when the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip was launched. The base configuration includes an 8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB of unified memory, and 256GB of internal storage.
Pre-orders of the new MacBook Air models with M3 chip start today, with orders arriving to customers on Friday, March 8. The laptops continue to be available in Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver with a starting price of $1,099. Apple today also discontinued the MacBook Air with M1 chip and the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip.
The previous generation MacBook Air models with M2 chip, the 13-inch model of which Apple still sells, only officially offer support for one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.
By contrast, the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models support one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz with the laptop lid open, and two external displays with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz with the lid closed.
Apple announced the two new MacBook Air models today. Pre-orders are now open on Apple's website, with the laptops set to launch on Friday, March 8. Apple today also discontinued the MacBook Air with M1 chip as well as the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip.
Apple today discontinued the MacBook Air with the M1 chip, which launched in November 2020 as one of the first Apple silicon Macs.
In the U.S., the MacBook Air lineup now consists of the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip starting at $999, the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starting at $1,099, and the 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starting at $1,299.
For more details about the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip, read our coverage of Apple's announcement.
Apple today announced new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M3 chip, improved external display support, Wi-Fi 6E, and more.
Apple says that the new MacBook Air is up to 60% faster than the M1 model and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air. With a faster and more efficient Neural Engine, Apple says that the MacBook Air continues to be "the best consumer laptop for AI." It also gains an AV1 decode engine to provide more efficient and higher-quality video from streaming services.
In addition to the M3 chip, the new MacBook Air offers Wi-Fi 6E, Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes, enhanced voice clarity in audio and video calls, and a more fingerprint-resistant finish with the Midnight color option. It also now supports up to two external displays when the laptop lid is closed, increasing from just a single external display on the previous Apple silicon models.
Pre-orders of the new MacBook Air start today, with orders arriving to customers on Friday, March 8. It continues to be available in Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver with a starting price of $1,099.
The European Commission today fined Apple €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for anti-competitive conduct against rival music streaming services. In a response published on its website, Apple fiercely attacked the Commission's decision, as well as Spotify's behavior.
The fine comes as the conclusion to a long-running investigation by the EU, triggered by a complaint from Spotify, into Apple's treatment of third-party music streaming services on the App Store. The Commission now says that Apple abused its dominant position in the market by forbidding music streaming apps to tell users about cheaper subscription prices outside the app.
The European Commission has fined Apple over €1.8 billion for abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps to iPhone and iPad users ('iOS users') through its App Store. In particular, the Commission found that Apple applied restrictions on app developers preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app ('anti-steering provisions'). This is illegal under EU antitrust rules.
In an extensive public response, Apple noted that while Spotify has a dominant, 56 percent share of Europe's music streaming market and a "large part of their success is due to the App Store," the company does not pay anything to Apple because it refuses to sell subscriptions in its app. Apple listed a large number of services that it provides to Spotify for free, such as distribution, APIs, frameworks, TestFlight, App Review, and in-person engineering assistance. "But free isn't enough for Spotify," Apple says. "They also want to rewrite the rules of the App Store — in a way that advantages them even more."
Instead, Spotify wants to bend the rules in their favor by embedding subscription prices in their app without using the App Store's In-App Purchase system. They want to use Apple's tools and technologies, distribute on the App Store, and benefit from the trust we’ve built with users — and to pay Apple nothing for it.
Apple said that Spotify claimed in 2015 when it started working on the investigation with the European Commission that the "digital music market had stalled, and that Apple was holding competitors back." "Unfortunately for their case, Spotify continued to grow," Apple added.
Apple noted that three different related cases mounted against it by the European Commission over the past eight years consistently found no evidence of consumer harm and no evidence of anti-competitive behavior.
The reality is that European consumers have more choices than ever. Ironically, in the name of competition, today's decision just cements the dominant position of a successful European company that is the digital music market's runaway leader.
Apple also said that it is set to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) within days, alluding to the release of iOS 17.4, which includes a number of significant changes for users in Europe to meet the legislation's requirements. It believes that today's fine is "an effort by the Commission to enforce the DMA before the DMA becomes law," since it is "not grounded in existing competition law." Apple plans to appeal the decision.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple likely plans to launch a new accessory this week rather than a major product, with stores currently planning for only a minor refresh, predicts Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The prediction follows a rumor we reported on over the weekend that Apple plans to announce new products with press releases on its website this week.
Apple stores are actually planning a larger refresh early next week that is more likely to be related to once of the larger rumored announcements, according to Gurman. These include new iPad Pro models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, and new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models.
Rumored accessories that we could see before then include at least one new Apple Pencil, and new color options for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with a larger trackpad is also said to be imminent, but Apple is unlikely to launch this prior to new iPad Pro models being announced.
One other outlying possibility is a new color option for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, although this has not been rumored and is only based on the timing of previous colorway releases. Also, a new iPhone color is a major product, not an accessory.
A few additional points: retail stores are low on MacBook Airs and iPad Pros; Stores are planning a minor refresh for this week (I think it's a new accessory rather than a new product); Stores are planning a larger refresh early next week (which sounds more product-related). https://t.co/kUkeYjT4rK
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) March 4, 2024
Gurman previously said he believes that Apple is not planning to hold a traditional event to unveil new products, and instead plans to announce them "on its website" and with a "series of online videos and marketing campaigns" at some point in March or April.
Apple remains committed to microLED, despite suggestions that its project to bring the display technology to Apple Watch Ultra has been ditched, according to reports out of Taiwan and Korea.
Last week, Apple supplier ams OSRAM announced that a "cornerstone project" was "unexpectedly cancelled." Counterpoint Research's Display Supply Chain Consultants informed MacRumors that this project related to the rumored Apple Watch with a microLED display.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo later weighed in on the matter, saying that Apple has canceled the project for the "foreseeable future."
Pushing back against this narrative, DigiTimes and ETNews report that Apple still has multiple internal teams dedicated to microLED projects and is actively seeking alternative suppliers. "The OSRAM LED chip may have been replaced due to a drop in performance, and Apple may have already found a replacement for Taiwan or China, which is ahead in the microLED field," said ETNews.
Taiwan's AU Optronics (AUO) and PlayNitride are said to be among the prospective frontrunners to fulfill Apple's production needs, according to DigiTimes. AUO has just begun mass production of microLED watch display panels, while PayNitride is mass producing related chips.
Talks between Apple and PlayNitride have reportedly faltered due to scale limitations, but AUO has apparently emerged as a "promising partner" with its advancements in microLED display applications.
The reports align with comments made by TrendForce, which previously said that Taiwan and South Korea have a "robust lineup of manufacturers for Micro LED chips, backplanes, and related transfer processes."
Kuo last week claimed that microLED production costs are currently "too high" for its Apple Watch Ultra project to be "economically viable." But according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes, the high costs of early microLED production remain within expectations.
"Based on Apple's track record in development, high expenses tied to pioneering technologies are typically manageable and can be addressed as long as production scales up," said the report. "However, the primary challenge persists in overcoming associated technological bottlenecks."
These bottlenecks are said to include an absence of circuit control design within the LEDs, which potentially increases the risk of LED chip damage. "Furthermore, the stamp technology solution falls short in achieving precise transfer, particularly when interfacing with Osram's vertical chips," according to DigiTimes.
The main takeaway from today's reports is that Apple likely still hopes to eventually transition to microLED in the future, but the Apple Watch Ultra may not necessarily be the first product to adopt the technology. According to a separate report today by The Elec, Apple may instead decide to prioritize microLED technology for future, lighter versions of Apple Vision Pro while it waits for watch implementation costs to come down.
Apple plans to announce new products with press releases on its website this week, a proven source familiar with the matter told MacRumors. While the products that Apple plans to announce have not been disclosed, there are rumors about new iPads, Macs, and accessories. It is unclear exactly what will be announced this week.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reiterated that Apple is planning new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air models, along with new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories for select iPads. Gurman believes that Apple is not planning to hold a traditional event to unveil these products, and instead plans to announce them "on its website" and with a "series of online videos and marketing campaigns" at some point in March or April.
The following announcements are expected in this March-April window:
Two new iPad Pro models with the M3 chip, OLED displays, a thinner enclosure, a landscape-oriented front camera, a redesigned rear camera bump and other design tweaks, and possibly MagSafe wireless charging
Two new iPad Air models with the M2 chip, including a first-ever 12.9-inch model
A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with a larger trackpad, a partially-aluminum enclosure, and other design tweaks
At least one new Apple Pencil
New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip, and the laptops will likely gain support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
A new color option for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus has not been definitively rumored, but it is likely based on precedent
New color options for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands
There have also been rumors about a new Apple TV and a HomePod with a screen launching in the first half of 2024, but it is unclear if these products are ready. There are also alleged CADs for a fourth-generation iPhone SE, but it is likewise unclear if that device is imminent, as 2025 has been a more widely rumored timeframe for it.
If this information from our previously-accurate source proves to be correct, keep an eye on the Apple Newsroom page for announcements this week.
The rumored design of the fourth-generation iPhone SE was today corroborated in a series of CAD renders shared by Indian tech blog 91Mobiles.
The images show a 6.1-inch, all-screen design display with a notch housing the TrueDepth camera array for Face ID, flat sides, and a USB-C port in place of Lightning. This design would be a substantial upgrade over the current iPhone SE, which features curved edges, a 4.7-inch display, a Home Button with Touch ID, and large bezels.
The new iPhone SE is apparently 147mm tall, 71.5mm wide, and 7.7mm thick. This is almost identical to the size of the iPhone 14, which is 146.7mm tall, 71.5mm wide, and 7.8mm thick.
Overall, the images corroborate MacRumors' reporting from last year, which revealed that the next-generation iPhone SE would largely re-use the design of the iPhone 14, including Face ID authentication and a 6.1-inch OLED display, but with a single rear camera, an Action button, and a USB-C port. The device is expected to launch next year.
Apple does not plan to hold a traditional event to unveil new iPads and Macs, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Instead, he said Apple plans to announce the products on its website with a "series of online videos and marketing campaigns."
If this plan is accurate, we can expect the new products to be announced with press releases on the Apple Newsroom website.
Gurman expects Apple to announce the following products:
Two new iPad Pro models with the M3 chip and OLED displays
A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro
Two new iPad Air models, including a first-ever 12.9-inch model
At least one new Apple Pencil
New 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip
In terms of timing, Gurman said that Apple is planning to release a "special version" of iOS 17.4 with support for the new hardware at the end of March, leading him to expect the devices to "arrive sometime in March or April." Presumably, there would also be special iPadOS 17.4 and macOS 14.4 versions preinstalled on the new iPads and Macs.
iOS 17.4 includes major changes to the App Store and more in the EU, as a result of the Digital Markets Act. Apple has until March 6 to comply with the Digital Markets Act, in order to avoid fines, so the common belief has been that iOS 17.4 will likely be released by then. The special version would follow later in the month.
Apple's former hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio told colleagues he is "nearing retirement" after more than 25 years at the company, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
John Ternus succeeded Riccio as Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021. That year, Apple said Riccio would "transition to a new role focusing on a new project," which Gurman said was the Vision Pro headset.
Here is how Apple described Riccio when it announced that transition in 2021:
Riccio has been a leader in designing, developing, and engineering almost all of Apple's products. From the first generation iMac to the more recent 5G iPhone lineup, M1-based Macs, and AirPods Max, Riccio built the Hardware Engineering teams and scaled Apple's ability to innovate across multiple new product lines with the highest quality. After joining Apple in 1998 as a leader on the Product Design team, Riccio became vice president of iPad Hardware Engineering in 2010, and in 2012 he joined the executive team as the leader of Hardware Engineering.
Here is what Riccio said in that press release:
Working at Apple has been the opportunity of a lifetime, spent making the world's best products with the most talented people you could imagine. After 23 years of leading our Product Design or Hardware Engineering teams — culminating with our biggest and most ambitious product year ever — it's the right time for a change. Next up, I'm looking forward to doing what I love most — focusing all my time and energy at Apple on creating something new and wonderful that I couldn't be more excited about.
Apple launched the Vision Pro in the U.S. in early February, and it said the headset will be released in additional countries later this year.
There is no timeframe for Riccio's retirement, as Gurman said specific details related to his planned departure are still being worked out.
Best Buy this weekend has a fresh set of discounts on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including some of the best prices we've ever seen on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, iPad, iPad Air, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you'll get free 2-day shipping, an extended 60-day return window, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
iPad
The cheapest iPad in this sale is the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad at $249.99, down from $329.00. For a more recent model, Best Buy has the 64GB Wi-Fi 10th generation iPad at $349.00, which is an all-time low price at $100 off. You'll find every model of the 10th generation iPad on sale at a record low price during this sale. This includes all Wi-Fi and cellular tablets, in all colors.
You can get every model of the 5th generation iPad Air on sale at an all-time low price right now at Best Buy, starting at $449.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $599.00. These are $150 off across the board, and also include best-ever prices on both cellular models.
Best Buy has the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 for $399.99 this weekend, down from $499.00, and the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini is available for $549.99, down from $649.00. Both of these are solid second-best prices on the iPad mini 6.
The cheapest MacBook Air deal you'll find this weekend at Best Buy is on the 256GB 13-inch M1 MacBook Air for $749.99, down from $999.00. If you want a more recently updated model, the 256GB M2 15-inch MacBook Air is priced at $999.00, down from $1,299.00. You can also get the 512GB M2 model on sale at $1,199.00, down from $1,499.00. Across the board these are the best prices we've ever seen on the MacBook Air.
Unlike the MacBook Air deals, Best Buy's MacBook Pro sales all require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership in order to see the all-time low prices. If you don't have one, you can still get solid second-best prices on these computers at Best Buy this weekend.
These deals are focused on the 16-inch models of the MacBook Pro. Some highlights include the M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB, 18GB RAM) for $2,249.00 and the M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB, 36GB RAM) for $2,649.00, both of which are $250 off and all-time low prices.
Note: My Best Buy Plus/Total membership required to see final deal price.
Apple shocked the world this week by canceling its long-running electric vehicle project into which it invested billions of dollars over the past decade. Rumors indicated the project had been struggling for years, but to see it officially end up on the chopping block is still quite startling.
Other news and rumors this week included the pending release of iOS 17.4 and the significant changes for EU users that come along with it, rumors about device support for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 later this year, and more, so read on below for all the details!
Apple is expected to release iOS 17.4 on or before March 6, the deadline for complying with the Digital Markets Act. In advance of the release, Apple has published a deep dive into the steps it has taken to try to keep users safe among the changes, while Spotify, Epic Games, and others have protested that the changes do not comply with the intent of the act.
iOS 18 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhone Models
Apple Expands Do-It-Yourself Repair Program to M3 Macs
Apple this week expanded its self-service repair program in the U.S. and Europe to support M3 Macs, including the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and iMac variously equipped with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips.
Parts, tools, and manuals are now available from Apple for customers who wish to attempt repairing these Macs, but Apple of course still recommends that most customers visit an Apple Store or other authorized repair shop.
HomePod With 'iPad-Like Display' Rumored to Launch in 2025 at Earliest
Gurman reiterated that Apple has also explored a device that combines an Apple TV, HomePod, and FaceTime camera, along with iPad-like smart displays that could be magnetically attached to a wall in a house.
Not-So-FineWoven iPhone Case 'Browning Like a Rotten Banana'
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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 Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Concept rendering
