Apple today indicated that its extended return policy is now in effect for the 2024 holiday shopping season. The policy applies to most products that Apple sells, but there are a few exceptions, including carrier-financed iPhones.
In the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and many other countries, most products purchased between November 8 and December 25 of this year may be returned through January 8, 2025, according to Apple's website. All purchases made after December 25 in those countries are subject to Apple's standard 14-day return policy.
If you placed an order through Apple's online store, the extended return policy applies to eligible products that you receive between November 8 and December 25 too. That means anyone who pre-ordered a new Mac mini, iMac, or MacBook Pro has until January 8 to return those computers, if they choose to.
In some countries, such as Italy, Spain, Japan, and Mexico, the return window is slightly longer. Apple says most products purchased in those countries between November 8 and January 6 may be returned through January 20.
Apple has also updated its online "Store" page with gift recommendations for the holidays.
The MacBook Pro is available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, with three distinct models starting at $1,599, $1,999, and $2,499, so which should you choose?
With a range of three similar models in the lineup to choose from, our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these MacBook Pros is best for you. The three models are as follows:
14-Inch MacBook Pro with M4: An entry-level model for users who need a machine that is more powerful and versatile than the MacBook Air.
14-Inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max: A more powerful, high-end model with a choice of performance-focused chips. It comes with higher memory bandwidth, larger quantities of memory, support for additional external displays, and an 8TB storage option, but loses two hours of battery life.
16-Inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max: A model with identical specifications to the 14-inch model with the M4 Pro or M4 Max chips, but with a significantly larger display and up to two extra hours of battery life. It also gains High Power Mode to boost performance.
Each MacBook Pro is configurable to add more a more powerful processor and larger quantities of memory and storage. Read on for a detailed break down of all of the differences between the three MacBook Pro models.
14-Inch MacBook Pro (With M4)
14-Inch MacBook Pro (With M4 Pro and M4 Max)
16-Inch MacBook Pro
14.2-inch display
14.2-inch display
16.2-inch display
0.61 inches thick (1.55 cm)
0.61 inches thick (1.55 cm)
0.66 inches thick (1.68 cm)
Weighs 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg)
M4 Pro: Weighs 3.5 pounds (1.61 kg) M4 Max: Weighs 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg)
M4 Pro: Weighs 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg) M4 Max: Weighs 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg)
Configurations start with M4 with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
Configurations start with M4 Pro with 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU
Configurations start with M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU
Fast charging over MagSafe 3 or USB-C port (with 240W cable only)
Up to 24-hour battery life
M4 Pro: Up to 22-hour battery life M4 Max: Up to 18-hour battery life
M4 Pro: Up to 24-hour battery life M4 Max: Up to 21-hour battery life
Integrated 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Integrated 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Integrated 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
70W USB-C Power Adapter
70W USB-C Power Adapter (with M4 Pro with 12-core CPU) or 96W USB-C Power Adapter (with M4 Pro with 14-core CPU or M4 Max, configurable with M4 Pro with 12-core CPU)
140W USB-C Power Adapter
512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage
512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage
512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage
Starts at $1,599
Starts at $1,999
Starts at $2,499
Display Size
The MacBook Pro is offered in 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch display sizes. The 16.2-inch display is a better replacement for a desktop machine and provides much more screen space to arrange multiple windows and use professional applications that benefit from the additional display area. The 14.2-inch display is still larger than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, and will likely be the best overall balance of needs for most users.
Design
The 16-inch model is, of course, physically larger than the 14-inch model, with a markedly bigger overall footprint. It is also worth noting that the 16-inch model is also 0.13 cm thicker and up to 1.4 pounds (0.64 kg) heavier.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro is decidedly more portable and comfortable than the 16-inch model to carry around on a daily basis. Though the 16-inch MacBook Pro can still fit in larger bags and is an acceptable size for travel, it is a much bigger, heavier machine. If you are considering the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you should make sure you are comfortable with its size and weight—especially if you plan to use it on the go.
Chip Configurations
Both the 14-inch and 16-inch models are equally upgradeable to the M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, but if you are looking to spend as little as possible or do not need a high level of performance for intense workflows the 14-inch MacBook Pro is also available with the standard M4 chip. The M4 offers a more balanced processor with more of a focus on efficiency to prolong battery life, which will be more appropriate for users with less demanding requirements. Buyers should be aware that the M4 chip is limited to 120GB/s memory bandwidth, 32GB of memory, 2TB storage, and supports just two external displays.
The base configuration of the 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M4 Pro with 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, while the base 16-inch model contains an M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU. If you upgrade the 14-inch model to the same M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU that the 16-inch model starts with, it increases to $2,299 – just $300 less than the starting price of the 16-inch model.
For those who are leaning toward buying the 16-inch MacBook Pro and want the 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU at a minimum, the slimmer price difference between the two models to just $300 may make it easier to justify getting the larger machine. On the other hand, if you do not need the performance of the M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, the 16-inch model may be overkill, and getting the 14-inch model will be the best way to keep costs down.
High Power Mode
The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips offer a software feature called High Power Mode. When enabled, High Power Mode boosts the machine's performance to better meet the needs of intensive, sustained workloads.
High Power Mode is designed to optimize and improve performance for resource-intensive tasks, such as color grading 8K ProRes video, according to Apple. When enabled, High Power Mode will de-prioritize resource-hungry system processes in order to leverage the full performance capability of the M4 Max chip. The setting is effectively the opposite of "Low Power Mode," which aims to decrease system performance in favor of prolonging battery life.
The M4 and M4 Pro chips do not feature High Power Mode, so if you want the ability to selectively push your processor to its limits, you will need to buy a machine with the M4 Max chip.
Battery Life
Owing to its larger size, the 16-inch MacBook Pro contains a larger battery and has longer-lasting battery life. The 14-inch model contains a 72.4-watt-hour battery, while the 16-inch model contains a 100-watt-hour battery.
Apple says the M4 14-inch MacBook Pro can deliver up to 24 hours of battery life when playing back video, but this drops to 18- or 22-hours when configured with the M4 Pro or M4 Max. The 16-inch model features 22-hours of battery life with the M4 Max and 24-hours with the M4 Pro when playing back video. For users who need maximum battery life, the M4 14-inch model or the M4 Pro 16-inch model will be the best options. That being said, the battery life of the other configurations is still good enough for most users.
Charging and Connectivity
The 14-inch MacBook Pro uses a 70W or 96W USB-C power adapter for charging, while the 16-inch model comes with a 140W power adapter. Both models support fast charging, but a 96W or higher USB-C power adapter is required. The 96W USB-C power adapter is a $20 option on the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro, but it comes as standard with M4 Pro configurations with a 14-core CPU and ones with the M4 Max.
Both models can use the MagSafe 3 or USB-C ports to fast charge. They can charge with up to 100W via their USB-C ports, but since the 16-inch model has a larger battery, it is not classified as "fast charging" on this machine.
The MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips features Thunderbolt 5 ports, but the model with the standard M4 chip is limited to Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 4 wired transfers should be more than sufficient for most users, but it is still a difference worth noting.
Final Thoughts
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is $500 more than the 14-inch model with the base M4 Pro chip, so you should be sure that you need the additional display area, battery life, and perhaps even High Power Mode support to justify its higher price. That being said, if you upgrade the 14-inch model to the same M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU that the 16-inch model starts with, the price difference shrinks to $300, and it may be worth opting for the larger model—especially if you could take advantage of its longer battery life.
Buyers of the 16-inch model should be aware that it is considerably larger, thicker, and heavier than the 14-inch model, to the extent that it could be needlessly cumbersome to some users. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is clearly a more portable machine, so if you intend to carry your MacBook Pro around frequently or need the versatility of it easily fitting into a bag for transport, the smaller model is the better option by far.
If you need more than 16GB of memory and are interested in the 14-inch model with the M4 chip, a 24GB memory configuration pushes the price up to $1,799. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip has 24GB of memory as standard and starts at $1,999. In this case, it may be worth spending the extra $200 to gain two extra CPU cores and six extra GPU cores, unless you are particularly concerned about losing two hours of battery life.
Amazon today has Apple's AirPods Pro 2 earbuds for the all-time low price of $169.99, down from $249.00. It's been about a month since we last tracked this price on the AirPods Pro 2, and right now Amazon is the only major retailer with the deal.
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.
If you're looking for deals on other AirPods models, like the new AirPods 4, be sure to check out our guide on the Best Early Black Friday AirPods Deals. Right now you can get the AirPods 4 for $114.00 from Woot, an all-time low price.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Update: This deal has expired.
Deals Newsletter
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Apple has returned to using two 128GB storage chips in the new Mac mini with 256GB of storage, according to a partial teardown video shared on social media today. This means the base-model Mac mini with the M4 chip will not have significantly slower SSD speeds compared to higher-end configurations of the computer with 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage, as multiple NAND chips allows for faster SSD read and write speeds.
The teardown video also reveals that storage is modular in the new Mac mini, meaning that it can be easily removed since it is not soldered down. As we saw with the Mac Studio, however, replacing the modular storage is complicated.
The previous-generation Mac mini base model with the M2 chip has a single 256GB storage chip, resulting in 30% to 50% slower SSD read and write speeds compared to higher-capacity models. The slower speeds led to criticism from some customers.
A single 256GB storage chip also led to slower SSD speeds in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro base models with the M2 chip a few years ago. Apple returned to using two 128GB storage chips in 256GB configurations of MacBook Air models with the M3 chip earlier this year, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro line was discontinued last year and replaced with an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro that starts with 512GB of storage.
The criticism surrounding Apple's decision to use a single 256GB chip in some base-model Macs a few years ago primarily came from a vocal contingent of tech enthusiasts, and the average customer is unlikely to even notice the slower speeds in common day-to-day tasks. Nevertheless, it appears that customers who do want the fastest SSD speeds do not need to worry about which storage capacity they choose when ordering the new Mac mini.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models will feature an upgraded main rear camera with a variable aperture for the first time, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple has gradually expanded new camera technologies, such as sensor-shift stabilization, 48-megapixel sensors, and the tetraprism 5x telephoto camera, across its iPhone models in recent years. It now appears that after completing the rear camera array's transition to 48-megapixel sensors by bringing one to the telephoto camera on next year's iPhone 17 Pro models, the next significant camera upgrade will be the introduction of a variable aperture.
The information comes from Kuo's latest post on Medium, where he outlined how upcoming products such as the iPhone 17 "Slim," M5 MacBook Pro, and iPhone 18 will affect Apple supplier Sunny Optical. Kuo believes that Sunny Optical and Luxshare will be the primary and secondary shutter suppliers for the iPhone 18 Pro's new main camera, while the variable aperture lens will be supplied by Sunny Optical and Largan Precision.
The iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and 16 Pro's main cameras feature a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78. A variable aperture on future iPhone models would allow the main camera to control the amount of light entering the lens, allowing it to adjust to different lighting conditions. It also would provide more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. The iPhone 18 is expected to launch in 2026.
When Image Playground was first introduced in June as one of the key Apple Intelligence features, Apple said that it would generate images in three styles: animation, illustration, and sketch.
The version of Image Playground available in the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas only offers animation and illustration as style options, but Apple is planning to add the sketch style to Image Playground in the future.
As of right now, sketch can be used as an option in Image Wand in the developer and public betas of iOS 18.2, but it does not appear that it is ready for Image Playground just yet. Image Wand is the feature that allows users to add a drawing to written notes, either by sketching out an idea or referencing words in the note.
Apple did recently remove sketch from the Image Playground app description, but that's just because it's not yet in the Image Playground app.
Sketch is described as a "highly detailed and academic" style that "produces gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds." It is distinct from the illustration style that has strong outlines, bold colors, and simple shapes, and the animation style that has a "whimsical, 3D cartoon look."
Image Playground and Image Wand will be released to the public in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in December.
Update: This article has been updated to clarify that the sketch style has not been removed entirely and that it will be coming to Image Playground at a later time. The prior version of this article suggested that sketch had been entirely removed.
Nvidia today announced plans to start capping the number of hours that GeForce NOW players can game each month, with the company charging an additional fee for more game time.
Performance (formerly the Priority plan) and Ultimate subscribers will get 100 hours of gameplay a month starting in January 2025. Up to 15 hours of unused playtime will roll over to the next month. Performance subscribers can purchase 15 additional hours for $2.99, while Ultimate subscribers can purchase 15 additional hours for $5.99.
Current GeForce NOW subscribers that have a paid membership as of December 31, 2024 will continue to have unlimited playtime until January 2026.
Nvidia says that limiting playtime will allow it to provide exceptional quality and speed, along with shorter queue times. The 100-hour monthly playtime limit "comfortably accommodates" 94 percent of subscribers.
The Performance plan, priced at $9.99 per month, provides subscribers with access to a GeForce RTX with 1440p streaming quality. The Ultimate plan is priced at $19.99 per month and offers a GeForce RTX 4080 and 4K HDR 120fps streaming.
Nvidia continues to offer a basic free plan for entry-level cloud gaming, as well as day passes priced starting at $2.99.
Max, the streaming service previously known as HBO Max, is cracking down on password sharing in the coming months, reports The Verge. During an earnings call today, parent company Warner Bros. Discovery said that customers will start seeing "very soft messaging" about the upcoming change.
After that initial message about password sharing, more strict rules will be put into place in 2025 and 2026. Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Widenfels said that Max would be asking viewers who have "not signed up, or multi-household members to pay a little bit more."
Max could also get a price increase in the future, and the company has not ruled out raising the cost of a subscription. Widenfels said that there is a "fair amount of room to continue to push a price" that Max has been "judicious about."
Max has a total of 110.5 million subscribers globally, and the service is priced starting at $9.99 per month for an ad-supported version ($99.99 per year), or $16.99 per month for an ad-free version ($169.99 per year). There's also a more expensive "Ultimate" $20.99/month plan that provides 4K streaming.
Streaming services are putting an end to password sharing after Netflix successfully cracked down on the practice last year. Netflix saw its subscription numbers increase after preventing customers from sharing accounts across multiple households.
It's already Friday, November 8 in Australia and New Zealand, so customers who pre-ordered a new iMac, Mac mini, or MacBook Pro are beginning to receive their orders.
Apple introduced the new M4 Macs last week, with staggered announcements on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The iMac is equipped with the M4 chip that we first saw in the iPad Pro, while the Mac mini uses the M4 and the M4 Pro, a new higher-end chip.
The MacBook Pro can be purchased with the M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max chip in the 14-inch size, or with an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip in the 16-inch size. Apple has bumped up the minimum RAM to 16GB, but starting prices have not changed. For the M4 Pro and M4 Max models, Apple added Thunderbolt 5, which allows for faster transfer speeds.
The Mac mini has a new, slimmed down size that takes up less space on a desk, and the MacBook Pro and iMac got a nano-texture display option that cuts down on glare. The Mac mini is priced starting at $599, the iMac starts at $1,299, and the MacBook Pro starts at $1,599.
New Zealand doesn't have any Apple retail stores, but Apple Stores in Australia will have stock configurations of the new Macs available for walk-in purchases. Supply constraints are not expected.
Following New Zealand and Australia, sales of the M4 Mac models will begin in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and finally, North America.
Wheel of Fortune Daily is modeled after the popular TV gameshow, providing players with a short daily puzzle to solve. Gameplay works like the TV series, starting with a selection of letters and allowing players to spin the wheel and guess additional letters to solve a phrase.
Drive Ahead! Carcade is a multiplayer PVP car battle game where the players smash into each other until just one car is left standing. Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ is a classic game that has returned to the iPhone via Apple Arcade. It merges the gameplay of both Space Invaders and Arkanoid, and the goal is to reflect attacks to destroy enemies and break blocks.
Texas Hold'em Poker: Pokerist lets players compete against others in a series of casino games like Blackjack, Omaha poker, video poker, Split Bet Poker, and Set Poker. There are weekly tournaments and special modes to play.
Apple Arcade is priced at $6.99 per month, which gives up to six members of a Family Sharing group unlimited access to Apple Arcade games. Apple Arcade titles do not have ads or in-app purchases.
Law enforcement officials in Detroit, Michigan are warning other police officers about an alleged iPhone change that causes Apple devices stored for forensic examination to spontaneously restart, reports 404 Media.
iPhones that are undergoing examination have apparently been rebooting, which makes them harder to unlock with brute force methods, and Michigan police think that it's due to a security feature that Apple added in iOS 18. A document found by 404 Media speculates that iPhones running iOS 18 are causing other iPhones to restart when those iPhones have been disconnected from a cellular network.
The purpose of this notice is to spread awareness of a situation involving iPhones, which is causing iPhone devices to reboot in a short amount of time (observations are possibly within 24 hours) when removed from a cellular network. If the iPhone was in an After First Unlock (AFU) state, the device returns to a Before First Unlock (BFU) state after the reboot. This can be very detrimental to the acquisition of digital evidence from devices that are not supported in any state outside of AFU.
It is believed that the iPhone devices with iOS 18.0 brought into the lab, if conditions were available, communicated with the other iPhone devices that were powered on in the vault in AFU. That communication sent a signal to devices to reboot after so much time had transpired since device activity or being off network.
After First Unlock, or AFU, denotes a device state where the owner has unlocked their device with a passcode or Face ID at least one time since it was powered on. It is easier for law enforcement to get into a device in AFU mode with iPhone unlocking tools from companies like Cellebrite. A restart apparently makes the process more difficult.
The digital forensics lab that noticed the issue had several iPhones in AFU state reboot, including iPhones in Airplane mode and one in a faraday box. Since a faraday box blocks all electronic signals from reaching a device, there wouldn't be a way for an iPhone running iOS 18 to communicate with an iPhone in a functional faraday box.
The police document speculates that this is "an iOS 18.0 security feature addition" because one device running iOS 18 also rebooted after a period of isolation and inactivity. Several other devices in the same area did not, however, restart, and there is no evidence that Apple has added a feature that causes older iPhones to reboot when in contact with an iPhone running iOS 18.
Law enforcement officials recommend isolating iOS 18 devices from other iPhones that are in an AFU state as further testing takes place.
The specific conditions that must exist for these reboots to occur is unknown and further testing and research would nee to be conducted to add more specifics to the new hurdle we are now faced with. What is known is that this new "feature" of some sort has increased the difficulty with forensically preserving digital evidence.
Matthew Green, a cryptographer and Johns Hopkins professor told 404 Media that the law enforcement officials' hypothesis about iOS 18 devices is "deeply suspect," but he was impressed with the concept.
"The idea that phones should reboot periodically after an extended period with no network is absolutely brilliant and I'm amazed if indeed Apple did it on purpose," he said.
Update: Apple added an "inactivity reboot" feature in the iOS 18.1 update, but it does not relate to phone/wireless network state.
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.
The Travel Bag from Belkin is not quite as large as Apple's own Vision Pro travel carrier, measuring in at 9 inches by 8 inches by 5 inches. The smaller size will allow the bag to better fit inside a travel bag or backpack, but it is not as small as the WaterField Designs travel case.
Belkin's Travel Bag has multiple compartments to house the Vision Pro and accessories like the battery, power adapter, and additional headbands like Belkin's Head Strap. It can be carried using a handle or a strap, and there is cushioning to keep the device safe. The bag comes in gray, so it will presumably stay cleaner than Apple's white case.
Belkin's Travel Bag is priced at $99.95, so it is $100 cheaper than Apple's Travel Case. It can be purchased from the Apple website.
Apple is also selling the Belkin Head Strap, a $49.95 accessory that goes over the top of the head to make the Vision Pro more comfortable to wear by better distributing weight.
Back in October, Sonos ended its moratorium on new product launches and introduced the Arc Ultra, a new version of its popular Arc soundbar. We thought we'd check out the Arc Ultra to see if it's worth picking up as Sonos still struggles to overcome negative perception of its app.
Priced at $999, the Arc Ultra brings an upgrade in sound quality compared to the original Arc. It can be paired with the Sub 4, which is also new, for added bass. The Sub 4 isn't required, and the Arc Ultra sounds great even without it. For audiophiles, the Arc Ultra has 9.1.4 spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, and it is able to produce sound that feels like it's coming from all around you.
In terms of design, the Arc Ultra has a lower profile than the prior version, but it is a bit longer. It otherwise looks similar, with an HDMI port for eARC, a power button, a Bluetooth button for pairing, Ethernet, and a slider to turn the microphone for the voice assistant on and off. Power and volume can be controlled via a TV remote, but the app is required for other features.
With the Sonos app, you can use TruePlay to fine-tune sound, and there are different levels of speech enhancement for you to select from. Sonos held off on introducing new products after the criticism that it received over its May app overhaul. When the Ultra launched, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence said that the company felt that the app had been improved enough to allow for new hardware.
Sonos has committed to regular app updates, and released an update alongside the new products. The app worked well with the Arc Ultra for setup, but if you're not a fan of the redesigned layout and the navigation issues that come alongside it, nothing has changed. It is also worth noting that some users have run into a problem with surround sound and TruePlay, which Sonos is working on.
In the Apple ecosystem, the Arc Ultra serves as an AirPlay 2 device so you can use it alongside other AirPlay 2-enabled speakers.
If you're all-in with Sonos products or if you're looking for a new soundbar, the Arc Ultra is worth checking out.
High Power Mode is available on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models with the M4 Pro chip, according to Ars Technica's Andrew Cunningham. The feature was previously limited to Macs with Apple's highest-end "Max" chip, so this is the first time it is available on Macs with a "Pro" chip.
This is the second time that Apple has expanded availability of High Power Mode in as many years. The feature was initially limited to 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Max and M2 Max chips, but Apple made it available on both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip later last year. Now, the feature is available on even more MacBook Pro models, and on the higher-end Mac mini for the first time.
Apple says High Power Mode allows a Mac's fans to run at higher speeds, and this additional cooling allows the system to deliver higher performance for graphics-intensive sustained workloads, such as 8K video color grading. On supported Macs, the feature can be used when the computer is running on battery power or connected to a power source.
In his Mac mini review, Cunningham said High Power Mode performance gains were "essentially negligible" despite "considerably increased" fan noise. However, he acknowledged that his tests were short and that High Power Mode could be more beneficial "over many hours of activity." As mentioned, Apple said the feature is for "sustained" workloads.
In our tests on the Mac mini, any performance gain from using High Power mode was essentially negligible, so small that we haven't bothered to make charts showing the difference—there are signs of a very small upward nudge in a couple of GPU tests, but all the CPU tests and many of the GPU tests show differences that are essentially within the margin of error.
While performance is a bit of a wash, fan noise is considerably increased under High Power mode. The Mac mini is mostly inaudible most of the time, the same way most Apple Silicon Macs have been, but under sustained CPU or GPU load, the mini emits a louder whoosh that you'll definitely hear unless you're wearing headphones. That could be a sign that, over many hours of activity, High Power mode will produce better or more consistent results than most of our tests, which generally take no more than a few minutes to run. But from where I sit, the benefits of High Power mode in the M4 Pro Mac mini are negligible, and the downside is noticeable. I would generally leave it turned off.
On recent macOS versions, High Power Mode can be enabled in the System Settings app under "Battery" or "Energy" by clicking on the dropdown menus next to "On battery" or "On power adapter" and selecting the "High Power" option.
Apple is planning to consolidate the retail space dedicated to the Apple Vision Pro headset in some of its store locations, Bloomberg's Mark Gurmansaid today.
Most stores have two tables dedicated to the Apple Vision Pro, one for display units and one for customer demos. Apple is planning to move both the demo and display sections to a single table, using the extra space to display the new M4 Mac models.
Gurman says that Apple is piloting this new store arrangement, and that the change will only be coming to some locations at this time.
Apple's plan to dedicate less retail space to the Vision Pro comes just two weeks after The Information said that Apple had reduced Vision Pro production and could stop making the device entirely by the end of 2024. Some factories cut production of Vision Pro components as early as May based on poor sales forecasts.
Estimates suggest that Apple will sell fewer than 500,000 Vision Pro headsets this year, even as the rollout of the device expands to additional countries. Apple suppliers have already produced enough components to manufacture between 500,000 and 600,000 headsets, so Apple does not need additional supply.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will iterate on the Vision Pro as soon as 2025, introducing a new headset with a faster M5 chip. Apple is also developing a more affordable version of the Vision Pro, but rumors are mixed on when it might come out.
In a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the Vision Pro is "not a mass-market product" because of its high price, and is instead aimed at early adopters, or "people who want to have tomorrow's technology today."
Apple's "Center Stage" feature that keeps you centered in the camera's view as you move around is available on the new iMac and MacBook Pro models, making them the first Macs that offer this feature without needing a connected Studio Display.
All new Macs configured with the M4 Pro or M4 Max chips support Thunderbolt 5, which has theoretical data transfer speeds up to 120 Gb/s.
The new Mac mini is significantly smaller, and it has two USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the front of the computer for the first time.
The new iMac and the existing Mac Pro now come with USB-C versions of the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box, and a USB-C Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade. The accessories are also sold separately.
Nearly all of Apple's devices released in 2024 do not come with Apple stickers in the box, including the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air, iPad mini, all iPhone 16 models, Vision Pro, and more. Unboxing videos shared today confirm that this trend has continued with the new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models launching this Friday.
Apple has stopped including stickers with its latest devices as part of its goal of removing plastic from its packaging by next year. One exception is the latest MacBook Air, which still comes with Apple stickers in the box, but that will likely no longer be the case once the laptop receives its rumored update to the M4 chip around March next year.
You can still ask to receive Apple stickers for free when purchasing one of these devices in person at an Apple Store, provided they have supply, so the era of Apple stickers is not completely over. You'll just no longer find them inside the box.
Target's early Black Friday sale has officially begun today, with an online shopping event that will run through Saturday, November 9. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including sitewide savings on Beats headphones, TVs, Apple chargers and iPhone cases, home appliances, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Target. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Target's Black Friday Schedule
Target's Black Friday sale begins today with this week's three-day event and thousands of deals available sitewide. Target is also offering a "Deal of the Day" every day through December 24, with many exclusive deals available only to Target Circle members.
Additionally, a new lineup of deals will drop every Sunday in November and last through the following Saturday. All of this leads up to the week of Black Friday, where shoppers can expect even more discounts and offers both in Target stores and online.
Target's Early Black Friday Sale
Like many retailers, Target's early Black Friday offerings are wide and varied. You'll find notable markdowns on video games, appliances, TVs, smart home products, speakers, headphones, and more this week.
Shoppers should note that some of the deals below do require Target Circle, which does have a free tier and is worth signing up for if you're interested in any of these offers. Once you're a member, the deals will be applied automatically at checkout.
Apple Accessories
The best Apple-related deals during this sale are on Apple's USB-C power adapters and iPhone 16 cases, including both Silicone and Clear options. These Apple deals are today's Deal of the Day, and will expire later tonight.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
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The new Mac mini has modular storage (via 
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