Apple may be continuing its plans to bring back the 12-inch MacBook, a sketchy rumor shared on the Korean blog Naver claims.
The post comes from the account "yeux1122," which has a mixed track record aggregating accurate Apple rumors. According to an alleged source at a company that supplies parts to Apple in Taiwan, Apple is preparing to reintroduce the 12-inch MacBook. The company purportedly seems to be weighing up the future of the device and has yet to confirm if it will reach launch. Nevertheless, production activities related to the device are said to be ongoing. Apple apparently plans to confirm whether the device will move forward to mass production as soon as the second half of this year.
In 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he hadn't heard of any plans for a new 12-inch MacBook model. Display analyst Ross Young similarly expressed "skepticism" about Apple launching new MacBooks with display sizes below 13-inches.
Introduced in March 2015, the original 12-inch MacBook featured a thin and light design that weighed just two pounds, and was Apple's first notebook to feature a fanless design, USB-C port, and butterfly switch keyboard. Apple updated the 12-inch MacBook in June 2017 and discontinued the device in 2019. Upon the announcement of Apple's transition to its own custom silicon chips for the Mac, there was renewed interest in the potential of a new 12-inch MacBook.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to spark serious rumors about Apple reintroducing a 12-inch MacBook model with Apple silicon last year, saying that the device could come at the end of 2023 or in early 2024. Last month, he said that the new 12-inch MacBook was no longer on the company's near-term roadmap, but stopped short of ruling the device out completely, meaning that it being pushed into 2024 or later may still be possible, which could align with the latest claims from Naver.
RiotPWR, known for its line of gaming controller accessories compatible with Apple devices, today announced the launch of the RiotPWR Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS, which is designed to work with both Lightning and USB-C devices.
The new RiotPWR controller is equipped with Lightning and USB-C cables so that it can be played with Lightning-based iPhones and USB-C based iPads. It will also come in handy if Apple transitions to USB-C for the 2023 iPhone lineup, as is rumored.
"While competitors' controllers come in Lightning and USB-C variations, the design of those controllers limits users to that one connection ability. This means that iOS gamers would need to buy a brand-new controller to play on their future Apple devices such as iPads," said Fraser Townley, CEO of RiotPWR. "RiotPWR has always made future-proofing a priority when designing our controllers with our unique swappable and upgradable connection design."
Modeled after console controllers, the RiotPWR controller offers two joysticks, Xbox-like button options, and an eight-way D-pad. Passthrough charging is available to keep your device battery full, and a phone mount accommodates any phone case.
There's a built-in share button for streaming and recording gameplay or social media, along with audio DAC and headphone sockets.
Apple's rumored 15-inch MacBook Air will be equipped with the M2 chip, according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. The report claims the laptop will be released in the second quarter of 2023, which runs from April through June.
"Industry sources said the 15-inch MacBook Air began mass production after the Lunar New Year and is expected to be released in the second quarter," the report reads.
Apple already updated the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip in July 2022. The chip is manufactured based on TSMC's second-generation 5nm process and is considered by some industry observers to be a stopgap until the 3nm-based M3 chip is ready. TSMC began mass production of 3nm chips in December.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo last year claimed that a new 15-inch MacBook with M2 and M2 Pro chip options would be released in the second quarter of 2023 or later. Kuo said this MacBook might not have Air branding.
The report's sources believe that Apple could update the MacBook Air again with the M3 chip in the second half of 2023. It would be unusual for Apple to update the MacBook Air twice in such a short timeframe, but it is certainly possible. The sources said the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were originally expected to be equipped with 3nm chips, but the M2 Pro and M2 Max are ultimately 5nm chips still.
This information comes just one day after display industry analyst Ross Young said Apple's supply chain started production of display panels for a 15-inch MacBook Air this month. Young estimated that the new MacBook Air will launch in "early April," which would be at the beginning of the second quarter timeframe reported today.
A new 15-inch display size would be the largest ever for the MacBook Air. The laptop has been offered in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes over the years.
Back at CES 2022, Schlage introduced the Encode Plus deadbolt, the first smart lock in North America to support Apple's home key feature that lets you unlock your door via NFC just by using an iPhone or Apple Watch. The Encode Plus has been in very short supply since its launch, but I finally got a hold of one and have spent the past few months testing it out.
I have some previous experience with Schlage's HomeKit-enabled smart locks thanks to the Schlage Sense, and my Encode Plus review unit is very similar to the Schlage Sense down to the Camelot trim in Aged Bronze to match my other door hardware. A Satin Nickel color option is also available for the Camelot trim and there's a more modern Century trim available in both of those colors plus an additional Matte Black option.
Installation and Setup
If you've ever installed a deadbolt before, you'll find the hardware installation process for the Encode Plus very straightforward. Even if you haven't, it's not a particularly tricky process. Removing your existing deadbolt typically requires just taking out a few screws on the inside portion of the lock and pulling the two sides apart to remove the main body.
Once that's done, it's simple to take out a couple of screws from the edge of the door and remove the bolt, and then a couple of screws to remove the strike plate where the bolt slides into the door jamb if you wish to replace that as well.
It's essentially the same process in reverse to install the Encode Plus, with a little bit of added complication from the need to feed the wires for the keypad through to the interior unit. The Encode Plus uses a metal plate on the interior of the door to initially hold the two sides of the lock together, and then the bulkier interior unit screws onto that plate.
From there, it's just a matter of installing the four AA batteries into the holder, sliding the holder into the interior unit, and sliding the cover on to hide all of the internals.
Configuring the lock for operation is also very simple, and it can be initiated either from the Schlage app or from the Home app. Either way will prompt you to scan the HomeKit code to add it to your Home app and then ask if you'd like to set up home key access. It's a quick setup process and I had no problems with it. You can also set up extra access codes to allow pet sitters, house sitters, or other visitors to get in without giving away your master code.
Lock details in Schlage app
With Apple's Home app setup, other members of your family can also access the Encode Plus status, automations, and home keys, but due to frustrating HomeKit issues dating back years, I haven't been able to test out this functionality. For some reason, I have been unable to share my HomeKit home with my wife for several years as she never receives my invitations.
In the process of trying once again to set it up for this review, it ended up with me losing ownership of my own HomeKit home and forcing me to set up every HomeKit device in my house from scratch. It's been months and a few of them still remain in limbo even after supposed full resets, claiming they are linked to another home that I of course can't remove them from because no one has ownership of said home.
Operation
Compared to the previous Sense, the Encode Plus operates nearly identically for the most part, with both locks offering keypad and traditional key access from the outside with most of the electronics and the batteries housed on the interior side of the door. It's a much bulkier setup than the new Level Lock+, but it's not an uncommon arrangement and Schlage has managed to shrink the interior unit a bit with the Encode Plus over the Sense.
As HomeKit locks, both the Sense and the Encode Plus show up in the Home app across Apple's platforms, making it easy to view their status along with the rest of your smart home devices. You can also include them in automations and scenes in the Home app, making them work hand-in-hand with those other devices if you wish.
What separates the Encode Plus from the Sense is of course home key support, which means you don't need to type in a code on the keypad or use a physical key to unlock your door. All you have to do is bring your iPhone or Apple Watch close to the deadbolt and it will unlock, granting access to your home.
You can configure home keys to require authorization before they will unlock the door, or with Express Mode they can automatically trigger it to unlock without authentication or requiring you to bring up the key on your device. Express Mode also means you will be able unlock your door for a while even if your iPhone runs out of battery, taking advantage of the last little bit of reserve power in the phone's battery to give you a few hours of cushion.
Home key in Wallet app on iPhone - access code details automatically blanked out in screenshots but can be seen in the app
The home key for your lock lives in the Wallet app on your iPhone and Apple Watch, appearing like a high-quality metal card that fits in with the rest of your cards but which has the extra little touches you expect from Apple like glare on the card that shifts around as you tilt your phone. There's not a lot of functionality on the home key card in the Wallet app, but it lets you see the manual keypad access code linked to it, offers a toggle for Express Mode, and provides a way to quickly jump to the Home app to configure other settings.
I quickly found I needed to hold my iPhone or Apple Watch quite close to the Encode Plus before it will register to unlock. That's not terribly surprising for NFC as a very short-range wireless communication technology and it's good for preventing unintentional activation of the lock, but it also made the home key functionality less convenient for me than I had hoped for.
Rather than pulling my phone out of my pocket, I prefer to use my Apple Watch whenever possible for tasks like this or paying with Apple Pay, but in this case I found it a bit unwieldy to use my Apple Watch.
With a protruding door frame just to the left of the lock, I have to somewhat awkwardly bend my wrist around to get my watch close enough, and that's after having pushed my coat or sweatshirt sleeve up a bit to expose my watch. And then it takes a moment before it registers and unlocks the door. It actually feels more convenient to just use the keypad to type in my access code if I want to unlock the door, but your mileage may vary.
But that's where another minor issue crops up. As on the Sense, the numbers on the Encode Plus keypad are extremely faint under typical lighting conditions, making it hard to see where they are. They illuminate as soon as you press a button on the keypad, but it's an extra key press and a moment of uncertainty each time you enter your code.
Unilluminated keypad
There is a set of wireless signal icons bracketing the "5" to show you where to hold your device for NFC unlocking, and they also help orient you on the keypad at a glance, but it would have been nice to have the full set of keypad numbers similarly visible without requiring illumination.
Using a bit of contrasting color for the keypad numbers would make them easily visible upon approach in daylight with illumination still available to help when it's darker out. It's not a big deal and the extra key press to turn on illumination only takes a moment, but better contrast for the numbers is an easy improvement I wish they had made in the seven years since the Sense launched.
On the interior of the door, the reduction in size of the unit compared to the Sense is a welcome change, although it never really bothered me on the Sense. With a keyed lock cylinder, the electronics, and four AA batteries needed to power the Encode Plus, it's still on the bulky side, so if you're looking for a clean aesthetic, be aware.
Aside from the reduction in size for the interior unit, there is one other change of note on this side of the door. While the Sense had a graspable round knob to manually lock the deadbolt from the inside, the Encode Plus uses a rotating lever. The operation is essentially the same (turn toward the door jamb to lock, turn away to unlock), but the lever design makes it easier to see at a glance from across the room whether or not the door is locked.
I also find the mechanical operation of the Encode Plus significantly quieter than on the Sense, which is nice for not disturbing other home occupants during late night entries or startling my cat.
Wrap-up
Overall, I've found the Encode Plus a nice addition to Apple's HomeKit ecosystem. It's easy to install, offers a fairly clean look, and gives you several different options for unlocking your door.
I've got a few nits to pick with it, mostly around the close proximity required for the NFC to trigger it and the visibility issues on the keypad, but overall it's a worthwhile addition if you're considering a HomeKit lock. It's one of your only options with home key support, and Apple's implementation of that feature is just about as slick as you'd expect and hopefully it will continue to improve with features like easy key sharing via iMessage and other apps.
My HomeKit frustrations do weigh on me a bit, though I acknowledge they aren't Schlage's fault and in this most recent case aren't specifically related to the Encode Plus at all. But in general I've mostly learned to live with HomeKit being a finicky and unreliable system. I'm certainly hoping things will improve with the new home architecture that appears set to finally roll out for real in iOS 16.4, but especially given the hiccups that resulted in Apple pulling the upgrade from the iOS 16.2 update, I'm not holding my breath.
Even with HomeKit's overall issues, I enjoy having dozens of smart switches, lights, locks, and more from around my home right at my fingertips wherever I am, and the Encode Plus fits right into that.
The Schlage Encode Plus is priced at around $320 at vendors like The Home Depot and Lowe's, but availability can be spotty.
Note: Schlage/Allegion provided the Encode Plus to MacRumors for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors may be an affiliate partner with some vendors mentioned in this article and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
The next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature even thinner bezels around the display, similar to the Apple Watch Series 7 and newer, according to an anonymous leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro" on Twitter.
In a tweet this week, ShrimpApplePro said additional sources now agree that iPhone 15 Pro models will have thinner bezels following the initial rumor last month. The leaker also expects the bezels to be curved on all iPhone 15 models, but the other sources were not able to corroborate that potential design aspect at this time.
ShrimpApplePro accurately leaked the hardware design of the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models, giving them an established track record, but the thinner bezels rumor has yet to be corroborated by other reputable sources.
The leaker also previously claimed that at least one iPhone 15 model will feature a titanium frame and curved rear edges, which could mirror the curved bezels.
Other features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models only include Apple's next-generation A17 Bionic chip, a faster USB-C port, Wi-Fi 6E, an increased 8GB of RAM, and solid-state power and volume buttons that provide haptic feedback when pressed. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 series in September as usual.
Amazon today has discounts on Apple's 2022 iPad Air, including multiple all-time low prices on these tablets. In total, you'll find up to $99 off these tablets, with record low prices available for both Wi-Fi 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.
The 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air is available in two colors at $499.99 on Amazon, which is down from $599.00. As of writing, shipping on this version of the tablet is delayed, with the earliest available for delivery around February 21. Given this is an all-time low price, you can lock in this deal today ahead of those slightly delayed arrival dates.
Secondly, the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air has hit $649.99 on Amazon, down from $749.00. This is another record low price, and it's available in two colors. Shipping dates are slightly delayed for this model as well, with the earliest estimated for around February 21.
You can pair the Apple Pencil 2 with your new iPad Air, now available at the all-time low price of $89.99 on Amazon, down from $129.00. Besides the iPad Air, the Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the following iPads: iPad mini (6th generation), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later).
As of writing, there are no discounts on Amazon for the cellular models of the 2022 iPad Air. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Primate Labs today announced the launch of Geekbench 6, the newest version of the company's cross-platform benchmarking suite. Geekbench 6 is an upgrade from the existing Geekbench 5 that was introduced in 2019, and it includes support for new hardware standards along with results that better mimic real-world device performance.
The updated software navigates away from heavy reliance on pure single-threaded CPU numbers, with machine learning and other workloads changing the way that benchmarks need to work. Testing datasets have been replaced to better "reflect modern hardware and applications."
Bigger photos in resolutions captured by modern smartphones (12 to 48MP)
HTML examples representative of modern web design standards
A larger library of images for import tests
Larger maps for navigation tests
Bigger and more modern PDF examples
An increase in Clang workload size.
Primate Labs says that the tests are able to better represent the file types customers are likely to use or interact with in 2023, and are closer to workloads used by apps. Geekbench 6 has been updated to take better advantage of the GPU for machine learning for more accurate cross-platform comparisons.
Multi-core benchmarking has been overhauled and is designed to measure how cores share workloads in true-to-life workload examples, and there are a number of new tests that measure how people use devices. Existing tests have been updated as well.
Background blur, as during video conferences
Photo filters, similar to those used by modern social media apps
Object detection for AI workloads
Photo library for importing and semantic tagging photos and metadata
Text processing for parsing and converting things like markdown and regex in Python (more true to real developer use cases)
Geekbench 6 is free for all non-commercial personal use, while the Pro version of the software is priced at $79 for the next two weeks thanks to a 20 percent launch discount. Pro functionality adds command-line automation, offline result management, and more. Geekbench 6 can be downloaded from the Geekbench website.
Apple plans to release a new MacBook Air series in the second quarter of 2023, according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes.
"The first quarter of 2023 is expected to see Apple's MacBook shipping low, but the second quarter will see the release of a new MacBook Air series, according to industry sources," reads a paywalled preview of a DigiTimes report shared today. The full report has yet to be published, so no additional details are available at this time.
The second quarter runs from April through June and includes Apple's annual developers conference WWDC in June. The current 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip was announced at WWDC last year and became available in July.
This information comes just one day after display industry analyst Ross Young said Apple's supply chain had started production of display panels for a larger 15-inch MacBook Air this month. Young estimated that the new MacBook Air will launch in "early April," which would be at the beginning of the second quarter timeframe provided today.
A new 15-inch display size would be the largest ever for the MacBook Air and would presumably be offered alongside the 13-inch model. Given that DigiTimes mentions a new MacBook Air "series" will be released, Apple could be planning to announce both 13-inch and 15-inch models, but this is not certain yet.
It's unclear if the 15-inch MacBook Air would be equipped with the M2 chip or the next-generation 3nm-based M3 chip, which has yet to be announced. Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC began mass production of 3nm chips in December, but it's unclear if the M3 chip would be ready for release by the second quarter. Apple still has to announce the high-end M2 Ultra chip for the new Mac Pro as its final chip in the M2 series, and it will likely want to announce that chip before introducing the M3 chip.
DigiTimes previously reported that Apple planned to announce a new MacBook Air with the M3 chip in the second half of 2023. The website has a fairly unreliable track record compared to more reputable sources like Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman.
The company is apparently contending with immense difficulties in ramping up production in the country. At a factory in Hosur run by Apple supplier Tata that manufactures iPhone casings, only one in every two components coming off the production line "is in good enough shape" to be sent forward to assembly at Foxconn. The 50 percent yield is particularly low for almost any production operation and works against Apple's "zero-defect" manufacturing and environmental goals.
Former Apple engineers told the Financial Times that Chinese iPhone suppliers and government officials have a "whatever it takes" approach to win iPhone orders, describing how work was often completed weeks ahead of schedule at "inexplicable speed." Operations in India, on the other hand, are not running at this pace. "There just isn't a sense of urgency," one Apple engineer remarked.
Apple is apparently focused on a long term plan to improve manufacturing proficiency in the country. The company has sent product designers and engineers from California and China to factories in southern India to train locals and help set up production operations, according to four individuals who purport to be familiar with the matter.
Apple began producing entry-level iPhone models, starting with the iPhone SE, in India in 2017. Last year, Apple significantly stepped up its production in India, building some iPhone 14 models in the country within weeks of their launch in China.
Tata is said to have ambitions to become a full-service Apple supplier in the future and is in talks to take over a troubled Wistron iPhone assembly plant in Karnataka. Apple's long-term plan to diversify its global supply chain continues.
Apple has "expressed interest" in acquiring an NBA streaming package, according to a new report from CNBC. Apple is among other interested parties that include Amazon and NBC Sports, with NBCUniversal particularly interested in reacquiring NBA games.
NBCUniversal is aiming for a deal that would allow it to air playoff games on the NBC network, with some regular season games exclusive to Peacock streaming service. The report does not have specifics on what other potential buyers like Apple might be interested in.
NBC used to have rights to the NBA until Disney and Turner Sports purchased them more than 20 years ago, and negotiations cannot restart unless Turner Sports and Disney agree to waive an exclusive negotiation window that expires in April 2024. The NBA could ultimately opt to extend its contract with Disney and Turner Sports rather than taking bids from outside companies, but there is a chance at this point that Apple will be able to make a bid.
CNBC suggests that the NBA could create two packages for bidders, with content for three or four partners split between streaming and traditional TV.
Apple has been pursuing sports content in an effort to attract new viewers to the Apple TV+ streaming service. The company has signed deals with Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. MLS games will be available in February, with the MLS Season Pass priced at $14.99 per month or $99 per season, while MLB content premiered last spring with Friday Night Baseball.
The iOS 16.3.1 update that was released today appears to be causing issues with Google Photos, so iPhone and iPad owners who use Google Photos should probably avoid updating.
Multiple reports on social media complain about the issue, which The Verge also highlighted. It appears that the Google Photos app is crashing instantly when iPhone and iPad users attempt to open it after upgrading to the latest software.
There is no word on when the problem will be fixed, and whether a fix requires an update to the Google Photos app or can be done server side.
Unfortunately, the update also includes a fix for a vulnerability known to be actively exploited in the wild, so Google Photos users will need to choose between the Google Photos app and improved device security until the problem is addressed.
Update: A new version of the Google Photos app with a fix for this issue is now available.
Parallels today introduced a new premium Mac app bundle, which includes 14 free macOS apps when you purchase Parallels Desktop 18. The bundle will remain on sale through the end of the month and is available to new and existing Parallels customers.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Parallels. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apps in the bundle include the following: Parallels Desktop 18, Snagit 2023, Fantastical, PDF Expert, MindManager Essentials, Painter, TextExpander, Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9, WinZip for Mac Pro, Hype 4.1 Professional, Parallels Toolbox, Cardhop, AdRemover, Fantastical Scheduling, and Parallels Access.
Most of the apps in the bundle are one year subscriptions that will require you renew in 12 months if you wish to keep the services. We've listed all of the apps in the bundle below, along with noting the ones that are subscription services.
New customers can purchase the bundle starting at $99.99 for Parallels Desktop 18 Standard Edition. The Parallels Desktop 18 Pro Edition and Business Edition are available at $119.99/year and $149.99/year respectively. You can also opt to pay a premium price for a one-time purchase of Parallels Desktop 18.
When purchasing any version of Parallels Desktop 18, you'll get the 14 other apps at no extra cost. Existing customers can upgrade to Parallels Desktop 18 Standard Edition for a one-time payment of $69.99. Pro Edition options are available in the form of an annual subscription at $69.99/year.
Snagit 2023 - $62.99 value
Fantastical Premium (1 Year) - $19.00 value
PDF Expert Premium (1 Year) - $79.99 value
MindManager Essentials (1 Year) - $99.00 value
Painter Subscription (1 Year) - $199.00 value
TextExpander (1 Year) - $39.96 value
Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 (1 Year) - $84.99 value
WinZip Pro Suite (1 Year) - $54.95 value
Hype v4 Professional - $99.99 value
Parallels Toolbox (1 Year) - $24.99 value
Cardhop Premium (1 Year) - $19.00 value
Ad Remover (1 Year) - $39.99 value
Fantastical Scheduling Premium (1 Year) - $19.00 value
Parallels Accesss (1 Year) - $19.99 value
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.
Jackery is known for its range of battery options, from small single-device batteries to power stations that are designed for multi-day off-grid living. The 2023 Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro and accompanying SolarSaga 200W solar panel feature the company's latest technology, with an array of charging ports, quick solar charging, and a thoughtful design. It is a bundle that Jackery refers to as the Solar Generator 1500 Pro, due to its sun charging capabilities.
For those unfamiliar with these products, the Explorer 1500 Pro is basically a giant battery pack. It's akin to the small little power banks that you get for iPhones and iPads, but on a much larger scale. The Explorer 1500 Pro has a 1512Wh capacity. For comparison's sake, an M2MacBook Air has a 52.6 watt-hour battery, so we're talking about potentially days of charging power depending on what you're charging.
The word "generator" often invokes an image of a gas or propane-powered device that's meant to keep electronics running during a power outage. Jackery's Explorer 1500 isn't powered by fuel, but is instead a power bank that can be charged up using the sun and solar panels, or a standard electric outlet. Jackery sells the 200W SolarSaga solar panels alongside the Explorer 1500 Pro, and with a couple of panels, the battery can be charged in a handful of hours.
Oversized batteries are useful to have on hand in case of an emergency where the power goes out, such as a storm, and that's how I've used a prior larger-sized power bank that I have had for years. They're also good for operating appliances and charging up while camping, and there are people who use them in RVs and vans as a main power source. Jackery's Explorer 1500 Pro can be paired with up to six solar panels for recharging purposes, ideal for off-grid or when there's a multi-day power outage.
I do want to point out that this is a 37 pound battery, so you're not going to want to be hiking around with it, but it's perfect if you're driving up to a campsite or using it in a vehicle like a van. At home, the weight is inconsequential since it's mostly on standby for emergencies, but I also find these power banks useful for when I need to use a corded tool in an area with no power outlet so I have lugged it around the house. 37 pounds is not exactly small, but I did some looking around and it is smaller in size and weight than many of the other equivalent options. The heavy duty carrying handle also makes it easy to transport.
The 200W SolarSaga panels that Jackery recommends for charging the Explorer 1500 Pro are also absolutely huge, weighing in at around 25 pounds and spanning five feet when unfolded. You'll need significant space for charging if you're using these at a campground or out on the road, or even in your yard. They fold up into fourths so they're easy to store when not in use, and you can tuck them away without taking up too much space.
The Explorer 1500 Pro is designed for charging multiple devices, and it has several ports. There are three AC outlets that support 1800W and 3600 peak watts, two 100W USB-C ports, two 18W USB-A ports, and a car charger, along with places to attach the solar panels and an AC input for wired charging of the battery itself.
1800W is powerful enough for almost all tools, appliances, and devices. It should run most portable electric heaters or portable AC units, and it works with fans, microwaves, blenders, and mini fridges. Many people use these as backups for CPAP machines and other health-related devices.
Because it takes forever to drain a battery of this size, I didn't test it to completion, but charging my iPhone 13 Pro Max from 0 to 100 percent barely moved the meter. Charging my 16-inch MacBook Pro used less than 10 percent of power, so if you're just looking at Apple devices, you're going to be able to charge multiple times before the battery runs out. I was also able to power my router and modem for well over a day so it's handy for staying online in a power outage.
It will run a small lamp for multiple days, and it can also be used with higher power devices. Based on Jackery's estimates, a microwave can run for over an hour, a rice cooker for two hours, a mini fridge for 10 hours, and a TV for 17 hours. It can run a drill or a grinder for three hours or a saw and blower for two hours. I've never needed to use a tool for that long consecutively, but my weed whacker, orbital sander, and shop vac were able to run off of the Jackery.
I had a limited amount of time for testing, but my shop vac used ~1,000 watts of power and used about 10 percent of the battery in 10 minutes, so it would last around an hour. Running my PlayStation 5, a 50-inch TV, a light, and a few other accessories used between 320 and 1150 watts. Starting at 64% power, it was able to run everything for just over two hours.
A battery this size does not come cheap and it is priced just over $1,400 with Jackery's current discounts, so it's not something to pick up on a whim. This pricing is higher than some cheaper options that are available on Amazon, but Jackery is a name brand that has a reputation for good quality batteries, which has the potential to be a major factor for a device purchased for use in an emergency situation.
Jackery has smaller options and frequent sales, but this is the kind of purchase that you need to do a lot of research for, and I'd encourage anyone thinking about buying a power station to look at all of the available options and compare them against what needs to be charged and what other features you might need like quick recharging, solar panel compatibility, ergonomics, and wattage required.
Anecdotally, I have had a different Jackery battery for three years, and it's still going strong. It holds a charge for months at a time even when I forget to check on it, and it has been nothing but reliable, so that has generated some trust for the Jackery brand in my mind. I have not had months to test this new battery, but I expect the same performance over time. That said, I think it's worth reading a lot of reviews to get perspectives from a range of people.
As for charging, the speed at which the Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro 1500 can charge is one of the main perks. With a pair of 200W SolarSaga panels, it was pulling 330W on my deck, which does have some tree cover. With that charging speed and that amount of sunlight, it would take approximately 3.5 hours to charge to full. It can be even quicker in 100 percent full sun, and with additional solar panels.
Over the course of an hour, the Explorer 1500 Pro charged from 23 percent to 48 percent at a range of 280 to 330 watts (fluctuating with shifting sun at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). After another hour check-in at 1:30 p.m,, it was charged to 62%, and at this point it had dropped to about 150W as it got shadier. From 1:30 to 2:30, I lost a lot of the sun on the deck and it went to 66 percent at around 70W, and at that level of sunlight, it slows down quite a bit.
Maximum performance from the Explorer 1500 Pro and the SolarSaga panels requires full sunlight, and unless you're in an open area, you may need to do some panel shifting as the sun moves in the sky. Up on the roof of an RV or a van, charging will probably be more uniform, but I was dealing with a lot of trees.
Even in partial shade the Explorer 1500 Pro is able to maintain around 70W, so you're going to get some power, and with almost no direct sun, it was still pulling 15W, enough to power an iPhone. Even on a cloudy day, you'll get some power, and I was impressed with what I got when in partial sun conditions.
When charged through a wall outlet, it took about two hours and 15 minutes to charge the Explorer to full, and it was charging at about 1150 watts before slowing down to 875 watts at the end. Jackery says that it should take around 16.5 hours to charge via the car, which I did not test.
There are some other bells and whistles to be aware of. There's a display that you can activate with the press of a button to see the current charge, the input charge if you're charging the Explorer 1500 Pro, and the watts being used if you're charging something. There's also a bright built-in flashlight, and there are fans inside the enclosure.
Large power banks can be loud because the fans kick on when you have devices plugged in, and this is no exception. It's quieter than the prior model I've tried, but it's still on the level of a fan. I could probably sleep in a room with it, but when it's charging from a wall outlet at max power, there's something of a loud whine so you might not want to have it in the same room that you're in when it's being powered up.
There are vents on the side of the Explorer 1500 Pro, and Jackery says that there's more heat dissipation efficiency compared to older products, along with eight temperature sensors inside to allow the fans to adjust to the interior temperature for safety purposes. It got warm, but it did not feel super hot to me. The maximum I had it at was about 1,200 watts, so it might get warmer as it's approaching its maximum.
Bottom Line
If you're in the market for a large battery for camping, emergencies, or another purpose, the Explorer 1500 Pro and SolarSaga panels from Jackery should be on your list to check out. The Explorer 1500 Pro can run a wide range of appliances and provide plenty of power to Apple devices, and it charges up fast, either using the sun or an electric outlet.
How to Buy
The Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro can be purchased from the Jackery website for $1,445 using a discount that's available through February 15. Use promo code OFFER15 when checking out to get the deal, or purchase from Amazon and add the $240 discount to your cart.
Note: Jackery provided MacRumors with Solar Generator 1500 Pro for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
The macOS Ventura 13.2.1, iPadOS 16.3.1, and iOS 16.3.1 updates that Apple released today include minor bug fixes and address security vulnerabilities, and because one of the vulnerabilities was known to be exploited in the wild, it's important to update to the new software as soon as you can.
According to Apple's security notes for the updates, The software fixes a WebKit issue that could allow maliciously crafted web content to result in arbitrary code execution. Apple says that it is "aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited."
The vulnerability was a type confusion issue that Apple says has been addressed with improved checks.
While there are no other notable fixes in macOS Ventura 13.2.1, the iOS 16.3.1 update adds a SiriFind My fix, addresses a problem with iCloud settings, and introduces additional Crash Detection optimizations for iPhone 14 models.
Apple today released macOS Ventura 13.2.1, a minor update to the macOS Ventura operating system initially released in October. macOS Ventura 13.2.1 comes three weeks after macOS Ventura 13.2, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID.
The macOS Ventura 13.2.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings.
macOS 13.2.1 will be followed by macOS 13.3, an update that Apple is expected to release to developers as soon as this week.
Apple today released watchOS 9.3.1, a minor update to the watchOS 9 operating system that first launched in September. The software coming three weeks after the launch of watchOS 9.3.
watchOS 9.3.1 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
According to Apple's notes, watchOS 9.3.1 adds "bug fixes and important security updates" to the Apple Watch.
Alongside iOS 16.3.2, Apple today released new 16.3.2 software that's available for the HomePod, second-generation HomePod, and HomePod mini.
According to Apple's release notes, HomePod software version 16.3.2 addresses an ongoing problem with HomeKit-related Siri requests, which could fail.
This update addresses an issue where asking Siri for smart home requests may fail, and also includes general performance and stability improvements.
There have been multiple complaints about Siri failing to correctly respond to a HomeKit-related requests the first time a request is received, with a timeout occurring. The update should fix that problem for those who have been impacted.
Apple today released iOS 16.3.1, a minor update for the iOS 16 operating system that first came out in September. iOS 16.3.1 comes over two weeks after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID and support for the new HomePod.
iOS 16.3.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 16.3.1 update includes multiple bug fixes, addressing issues with iCloud and Siri requests for Find My, plus it adds more Crash Detection optimizations.
This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including: - iCloud settings may be unresponsive or incorrectly display if apps are using iCloud - Siri requests for Find My may not work - Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
The iCloud settings fix may address an issue that could cause some people not to be able to toggle on automatic iCloud backups on the iPhone and the iPad, a problem that some users have been experiencing since the launch of iOS 16.3.
Crash Detection optimizations likely address ongoing issues with Crash Detection reported at ski resorts and amusement parks. At ski resorts in particular, emergency personnel have been receiving multiple accidental reports, which drain resources needed for actual emergencies. Apple has made multiple optimizations to Crash Detection to attempt to fix the problem.
Lock details in Schlage app
Home key in Wallet app on iPhone - access code details automatically blanked out in screenshots but can be seen in the app
Unilluminated keypad
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