MacRumors

We're just over a week away from the WWDC keynote where Apple will reportedly finally reveal its long-rumored mixed-reality headset, and there are undoubtedly a number of other announcements planned for the event.

top stories 27may2023
Ahead of WWDC, Apple this week released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, bringing versions of the company's professional video and audio apps to the tablet for the first time. This week also saw various rumors about the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups, plus some fresh news about the upcoming iOS 17 update, so read on for details on these stories and more!

Apple Releases Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad

Apple this week released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for select iPad models. Apple says both apps have been designed to take advantage of the iPad’s touch-first interface, providing the "ultimate mobile studio for video and music creators." Both apps have subscription-based pricing set at $4.99 per month or $49 per year in the U.S. after a one-month free trial.

Apple iPad Final Cut Pro Logic Pro hero feature actual icons
Final Cut Pro is compatible with iPads with the M1 chip or later, and Logic Pro is available for iPads with the A12 Bionic chip or later. We went hands-on with Final Cut Pro for iPad earlier this week, and reviews were shared by other media outlets and YouTubers.

iOS 17 to Turn iPhone's Lock Screen Into Smart Home Display

iOS 17 will include a new interface that shows information such as calendar appointments, the weather, and notifications in the style of a smart home display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. His report said the new view will appear when an iPhone is locked and positioned horizontally.

iOS 17 Icon Mock Feature Feature
Gurman also reported that iOS 17 will feature a new journaling app, as well as enhancements to the Wallet app, Find My app, SharePlay, and AirPlay.

Apple Shares WWDC 2023 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

WWDC 2023 is fast approaching! Apple this week shared a schedule for the first day of the annual developers conference, confirming that the opening keynote will be on June 5 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

wwdc 2023
Ahead of WWDC, the Apple Developer app has been updated with new stickers and other preparations. 175 coding session videos will be available in the app for anyone to watch, free of charge, starting June 6.

iPhone 15 to Support 15W Wireless Fast Charging Using Non-MagSafe Chargers

Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will support the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, according to ChargerLAB, a reliable source of charging-related information.

magsafe blue 2
Qi2 is based on Apple's MagSafe standard, meaning that Qi2 chargers will likely be able to charge iPhone 15 models at up to 15W speeds like Apple's MagSafe Charger, as first reported earlier this week.

Alleged iPhone 16 Pro Max CAD Model Reveals Significantly Taller Display

Next year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to feature larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively. Based on an alleged CAD for the Pro Max model, it appears the devices will have significantly taller displays vs. existing models.

iphone 15 16 pro max render
iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to be released in September 2024, so they are still far away from launching, and Apple's plans could change before then.

2023 Pride Band for Apple Watch Now Available to Order

The new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch is now available to order for $49 on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app. The band is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and newer.

Apple Watch Pride Edition Band 2023 Feature
Inspired by the LGBTQ+ community, the new Pride band features a sprinkles-like design showcasing the original Pride flag colors and five others. Apple continues to support LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations around the world.

MacRumors Newsletter

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Ahead of new iPhone launches, case makers invest significant money into sourcing leaked details on updated designs to be the first to come out with appropriate cases. That often results in dummy models that are accurate replicas of future iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 dummy models that we're sharing today.


We were able to get our hands on a set of dummy models that represent the ‌iPhone 15‌, ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, aka the four new iPhones that we're expecting Apple to launch in September 2023. We've already heard endless rumors about the ‌iPhone 15‌ models, but it helps to be able to see all the changes and design updates in person.

iphone 15 usb c port
At first glance, the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models look similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models, but there are notable differences when you look a bit closer. There are no more Lightning ports, for example, as Apple is adopting USB-C this year. There are USB-C ports at the bottom of each device, which will allow for charging with the same USB-C cable that can be used to charge a modern Mac or iPad.

iphone 15 dummy model lineup
On the surface, the USB-C ports on the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro look identical, but we are expecting the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models to support faster data transfer speeds with possible Thunderbolt support. There have also been hints that Apple will restrict some functionality to Made for ‌iPhone‌ cables, but we can't tell if that's the case with dummy models.

There have been multiple rumors of a minor design change to the corners of the ‌iPhone 15‌ models, which you can indeed see. It's a subtle shift, but the corners are rounder than before, making for a more comfortable feel in the hand.

Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models will use titanium instead of stainless steel, but that's a feature we can't see in the dummy models. Rather than the shiny finish of the dummy models, we'll likely see a more high-end matte finish. All of the dummy models feature a frosted glass back, something that has in the past been limited to the Pro models. We have heard rumors that frosted glass will be used across the board, but it is a curious choice.

All four iPhones in 2023 are also expected to have the Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and that will effectively mark the end of the notch in Apple's flagship ‌iPhone‌ lineup. Right now, the ‌Dynamic Island‌ is limited to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and Pro Max, but even the lower-priced ‌iPhone 15‌ will have the updated design in 2023.

The ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and Pro Max dummy models feature a unified volume button, but that design tweak may have been changed last minute. Apple was rumored to be implementing solid-state technology into the volume buttons, but there were too many bugs to be worked out, so the function has been held until the iPhone 16. Because of that, we may see the traditional two-button design rather than the unified button.

iphone 15 dummy
What's more certain is Apple's elimination of the mute switch, which is turning into a button. We'll have a button above the volume buttons, and it may be an Action button instead of a dedicated mute button, similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra. The Action button would be programmable and able to do more than just mute the ‌iPhone‌.

iphone 15 dummy stack
Cameras look about the same and you won't notice major external changes, but the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max is expected to get a new periscope lens with up to 6x optical zoom. It takes a lot of space inside the phone to implement this technology, so it's going to be limited to the Pro Max.

We're about four months away from the debut of the ‌iPhone 15‌ models, which means the design has been finalized and Apple will soon start mass production. We'll be hearing more about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models as a launch approaches, with everything we know aggregated in our dedicated roundups.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Apple's "My Photo Stream" service is set to shut down on July 26, 2023, which means customers who are still using that feature will need to transition to using iCloud Photos prior to that date.

icloud photos
My Photo Stream is a free service that uploads the last 30 days of images (up to 1,000) to iCloud, making them accessible on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC. It predates ‌iCloud Photos‌ and has largely been replaced by the ‌iCloud Photos‌ service at this point.

Going forward, Apple plans to have all customers use ‌iCloud Photos‌ instead of My Photo Stream. New photo uploads to My Photo Stream will stop on June 26, 2023, and images will remain in ‌iCloud‌ as usual for 30 days until the shutdown point.

Because all of the images in My Photo Stream are stored in their original format on at least one Apple device, there isn't a danger of photos being lost as part of the shutdown process. Apple recommends that users who want to have their images on a particular device save them to the Photo Library on that device prior to July 26.

macos mojave photos my photo stream
Images in My Photo Stream can be saved to the Photos app on the ‌iPhone‌ by opening up ‌Photos‌, going to the My Photo Stream album, selecting individual photos, and using the Share button to save them to the Library. The process is the same on the Mac, but you will need to drag images from My Photo Stream to the Library.

Apple suggests that ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and Mac users turn on ‌iCloud Photos‌ to view their photos and videos across their devices. ‌iCloud Photos‌ is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8.3 or later and Macs running OS X Yosemite or later.

Earlier today we shared the best Apple-related tech accessory deals happening this Memorial Day weekend, and now we're focusing on the best deals you can find today for Apple products. This includes all-time low prices on AirPods, iPads, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, and much more.

Memorial Day Deals Feature Bluie TriadNote: 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.

Most of the sales in this article will be found on Amazon, although there are a few deals at other retailers like Verizon and B&H Photo as well. Like with the accessory sales, we don't know how long these holiday discounts will last for, so if you're interested be sure to place your orders before the long weekend ends.

AirPods

airpods memorial day

AirPods 2

The AirPods 2 sit at $99.00 on Amazon this weekend, which has been one of the most consistent deals on any AirPods model for all of 2023, and is an overall second-best price.

AirPods 3

Verizon has the AirPods 3 at $20 off this weekend, with both models just $10 away from their previous all-time low prices.


AirPods Pro 2

The AirPods Pro 2 have again hit $199.99 on Verizon, down from $249.00. If you prefer to shop on Amazon, the retailer is matching this price.

AirPods Max

Amazon has the AirPods Max at $99 off in multiple colors this weekend, available for $449.99. Keep an eye on delivery dates, some colors are seeing delayed arrival windows into late June.

Apple Watch

apple watch memorial day

Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8 models have dropped by $70 on Amazon this weekend, starting at $329.00 for the 41mm GPS model. Both GPS models are all-time low prices.


SE (2022)

It's been a few weeks since we tracked record low prices on the 2022 Apple Watch SE, but these have returned on Amazon. Prices start at $219.00 for the 40mm GPS model, and also include cellular devices.


Ultra

The Apple Watch Ultra is on sale for $701.99 for the Yellow Ocean Band, which is an all-time low price. However, delivery is delayed into July, so it may be worth looking into the second-best price options also available on Amazon this weekend, priced at $729.99.

iPads

ipad memorial day

iPad (2021)

Amazon has Apple's 2021 iPad on sale for up to $79 off for the Wi-Fi models, and there are also a few discounts on cellular models as well.



iPad (2022)

For the more recent model, you'll find $50 off these tablets. Across the board these are all-time low prices on the newest iPad.


iPad Air (2022)

The iPad Air from 2022 has hit $99 off every model this weekend, including Wi-Fi and cellular tablets. Prices start at $499.99 for 64GB Wi-Fi.


iPad mini 6 (2021)

Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 has returned to $399.99 on Amazon, down from $499.00, which is a match of the record low price on this model.

Macs

mac memorial day

MacBook Air (2020)

The best entry-level price in the current MacBook lineup can be found on the 2020 MacBook Air for $799.99 on Amazon, down from $999.00. This is an all-time low price.

14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

The best deal on the previous-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro can be found on the 1TB model, which is down to $1,899.00, from $2,499.00.

13-inch MacBook Pro (2022)

Amazon has Apple's M2 13-inch MacBook Pro for $1,099.00, which is $200 in savings and an all-time low price.

14-inch MacBook Pro (2023)

Multiple retailers have best-ever prices on the new 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is available for $250 off from B&H Photo and Amazon.



16-inch MacBook Pro (2023)

Similar to 14-inch models, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is seeing $250 off numerous models. All of these sales listed below represent all-time low prices.


M2 Mac mini

Amazon also has record low prices on the M2 Mac mini, starting at $499.00 on the 256GB model.


Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

MacRumors founder Arnold Kim joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss some of the history of the website and the world of Apple news and rumors.


Arnold started MacRumors as a hobby while studying for his final year of medical school in 2000. It has since grown to become the most popular Apple news and rumor site on the internet, sporting round-the-clock news coverage, helpful tutorials and a buyer's guide, a discussion forum with over 1.1 million members, and much more.

Arnold tells us about the website's beginning, his feelings about giving up his medical career to focus on Apple news, and growing MacRumors over the years. He weighs up some of the biggest challenges and satisfying wins in the site's history.

We talk through some of the other interesting domains and websites Arnold has owned, the future of Apple news, introductions to the website, and the MacRumors forums. We also discuss some of the original iPhone and ‌iPhone‌ 4 leaks and rumors, and whether Apple's headset will succeed in replicating an "‌iPhone‌ moment" when it debuts at WWDC as rumors suggest.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion with Ben Sullins about all of the latest rumors and expectations around the Apple Car.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Mark Gurman, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Andru Edwards, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, and Rene Ritchie. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

We're now just a few days away from Memorial Day on Monday, May 29, and numerous retailers have opened up major discounts on Apple-related products as we head into the long weekend. This includes sales from popular accessory companies like Twelve South, Mophie, Satechi, Belkin, and much more.

memorial day 2022 featureNote: 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.

Anker

Anker's Memorial Day deal event is focusing on its portable power station accessories, with as much as $400 off these devices. You'll only find these deals on Anker's website, and each one has a unique coupon code that you can clip on their product pages to get the deals.

anker memorial day

Twelve South

This weekend, Twelve South is offering 20 percent off sitewide and no coupon code is required for you to see this discount.

twelve south memorial day

ZAGG/Mophie

ZAGG has one of the biggest sitewide discounts this Memorial Day, offering 40 percent off sitewide. This covers ZAGG's family of brands, including Mophie, Invisible Shield, and Gear4.

mophie memorial day

eBay

On eBay, you can get an extra 15 percent off select brands for Memorial Day weekend. You can find the specific list of compatible sellers on eBay's landing page for the sale, which includes a variety of tech accessories including Anker products, Apple devices, gaming accessories, and more.

To see the discount, add an eligible product to your cart and enter the code MEMORIALDAY23 at checkout to get 15 percent off your order. The code only allows for one redemption per user and it's capped at a maximum value of $500.

Belkin

Belkin is hosting a Memorial Day sale with up to 30 percent off chargers, audio accessories, portable batteries, and more. You'll need to enter the code MD23 at checkout to get these discounts, and this is not a sitewide sale, so be sure to shop directly on the Memorial Day sale event page to shop compatible products.

belkin memorial day

Best Buy

Like it does for most major holidays, Best Buy is hosting a big Memorial Day sale this year, with discounts on TVs, laptops, video games, headphones, smartphones, streaming devices, and more.

Pad & Quill

Pad & Quill is hosting a 30 percent off sitewide discount this weekend in celebration of Memorial Day. With this event, you can save on Pad & Quill's iPhone cases, iPad folios, Apple Watch bands, wallets, and other leather goods.

pad and quill memorial day

All of these deals have been applied automatically and do not require any coupon codes.

Satechi

Satechi has 20 percent off sitewide with the code MEMORIAL20, and if you spend $150 or more you can enter the code MEMORIAL25 to get 25 percent off your order.

satechi memorial day

Satechi sells a huge variety of Apple-compatible products, from USB-C hubs for MacBook Pro to wireless chargers that support iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously.

More Deals

  • AT&T - Get up to $1,000 off iPhone 14 models
  • Hyper - Get up to 50 percent off select USB-C hubs, adapter, and more
  • Newegg - Save on PCs, laptops, memory, and more
  • Nomad - Save big in Nomad's overstock sale
  • Office Depot - Save on office furniture, PCs, monitors, tech accessories, and more

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Following the launch of iOS 16.5 on May 18, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.4.1, the previously available version of iOS. Now that iOS 16.4.1 is no longer being signed, iPhone users are prevented from downgrading to that software version.

iOS 16
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS after new releases come out to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date, so the fact that iOS 16.4 is no longer being signed is not unusual.

Released on April 7, iOS 16.4.1 was a minor bug fix update that came just under two weeks after the launch of iOS 16.4, an update that introduced new Emoji, Safari Web Push notifications, Voice Isolation for phone calls, and more.

iOS 16.5, the current publicly available version of iOS, brought some important bug fixes and a couple of feature additions, including a dedicated Sports tab in Apple News and a Pride Collection wallpaper for Lock Screens. Apple is also testing iOS 16.6 with developers and public beta testers.

Related Forum: iOS 16

OpenAI this week announced that its official ChatGPT app for the iPhone and the iPad is now available in more than 40 countries in addition to the United States. The app first launched in the United States last week, and OpenAI promised that it would expand to more countries in the coming weeks.

chatgpt for iphone feature
As of today, the app can be used in Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Slovenia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the United States.

OpenAI's ChatGPT has long been accessible on the web and has previously been made available on iOS through multiple third-party apps, many of which are little better than scam apps, but the legitimate app gives users a safe way to use ChatGPT on the go.

For those unfamiliar with ChatGPT, it is an AI-based chatbot that uses generative artificial intelligence to answer questions and provide advice on all manner of subjects. OpenAI says that ChatGPT can help with all of the following:

  • Instant answers: Get precise information without sifting through ads or multiple results.
  • Tailored advice: Seek guidance on cooking, travel plans, or crafting thoughtful messages.
  • Creative inspiration: Generate gift ideas, outline presentations, or write the perfect poem.
  • Professional input: Boost productivity with idea feedback, note summarization, and technical topic assistance.
  • Learning opportunities: Explore new languages, modern history, and more at your own pace.

History is synced across devices, so you can see your ChatGPT interactions both on the web and on iOS devices, and it integrates the Whisper speech recognition system.

The ChatGPT app is free to use, but it does cost $19.99 per month for the ChatGPT Plus service. That is the same price available through the web, with Plus providing availability even when demand is high, faster response times, and priority access to new features such as GPT-4, the more advanced version of ChatGPT.

An OpenAI account is required to use the ChatGPT app, and it can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: ChatGPT

United this week announced that it has updated its iPhone app to add support for Live Activities and the Dynamic Island, allowing United passengers quicker access to flight tracking information.

united live activities
With Live Activities integration, customers have access to their boarding passes, gate, and seat number, as well as a countdown clock to their departure time. The information is visible on the Lock Screen even when the ‌iPhone‌ is locked and the United app is closed, and on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and Pro Max, it can also be viewed in the ‌Dynamic Island‌.

According to United, it is the first U.S. airline to implement support for Live Activities, and the feature was added as United customers check their mobile boarding pass and flight status nearly 800,000 times each day.

When it's time to board the plane, the Live Activities widget can be tapped to open up the boarding pass, and during the flight, there's an in-flight countdown. The United Live Activities integration also offers access to flight number, flight status, inbound aircraft status, estimated departure and arrival times, departure and arrival gates, and baggage carousel information.

United said that Live Activities would be widely available to all United customers by the end of May, but there are already many users who have reported being able to access the feature. Requirements include an up-to-date United app and an ‌iPhone‌ running iOS 16.1 or later.

(Thanks, Adam!)

Google today announced that it is opening up access to Search Labs, allowing testers to try out its new Search Generative Experience. The AI-powered Search option is limited to those who have signed up to be a part of Google Labs, with Google letting in a small number of people who have joined the Google Labs Waitlist.

google search ai
AI for search is a feature that Google announced during its I/O developer conference earlier in May.

Google says that AI Search is designed to "take some of the work out of searching," which can make it easier for users to understand new topics, uncover different viewpoints, and "get things done more easily."

Google suggests that AI search can break down complicated searches into smaller parts, offer quick tips for specific questions, and provide background on what should be considered when searching for items to buy.

The addition of generative AI to search is a new concept for Google, and the company says that it will be making "many updates and improvements over time" based on user feedback. Access is limited to those in the U.S. right now, with the Google app or Chrome desktop browser required. Google customers eligible to use Google Labs will receive an email.

Tag: Google

We kicked off the month of May with an exclusive partnership with OWC, which nets our readers an extra 20 percent off their purchase of select memory cards with the code MACRUMORS. This code lasts through the end of May, and right now OWC has another flash sale on memory cards going on that stacks with our promo code.

owc greenNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

OWC's flash sale is offering up to an additional 40 percent off already-discounted memory cards, and the company says this sale will end later today. This discount stacks with our existing 20 percent off promo code (MACRUMORS), delivering major savings on these memory cards.

We've listed all of the memory cards on sale below. The higher storage memory cards will have the best discounts during this event, with as much as $175 off these cards. Remember to enter the promo code MACRUMORS on the cart page prior to checkout to get the total savings of each card.

Atlas Pro

  • 64GB - $9.59, down from $27.99
  • 128GB - $11.99, down from $49.99
  • 256GB - $35.74, down from $89.99
  • 512GB - $69.99, down from $159.99
  • 1TB - $168.99, down from $259.99

Atlas Ultra

  • 64GB - $42.24, down from $74.99
  • 128GB - $47.99, down from $139.99
  • 256GB - $91.99, down from $259.99
  • 512GB - $324.99, down from $499.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple has started preparations for the Worldwide Developers Conference that's coming in under two weeks, and today, the Apple Developer app was updated for those who are attending or planning to join sessions and labs.

apple developer app feature
The Apple Developer app outlines the 2023 session videos, 1-on-1 labs, Slack activities, and more, plus it introduces new WWDC 2023 stickers. When iOS 17 and the other new software updates are introduced, the Developer app will include videos and sessions organized into specific topics, as well as scheduling for sessions and activities.

Thank you for your feedback! New in this release:
- Explore all WWDC23 has to offer, including session videos, activities in Slack, 1-on-1 labs, and more.
- We've also fixed bugs and added various other enhancements.

Apple's 2023 WWDC event is set to begin on June 5 with a 10:00 a.m. keynote that will see the company unveil iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, and more, including the long awaited AR/VR headset.

Developers will be able to watch the WWDC keynote using the app, and can also access all of the new development content. The Apple Developer app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. It is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. [Direct Link]

Related Roundup: WWDC 2025

Apple today began selling refurbished M2 Pro Mac mini models in its online store in the United States, offering the latest high-end version of the desktop machine at a discounted price for the first time.

mac mini green
Refurbished M2 Pro Mac mini models are priced starting at $1,099 for the entry-level version with a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. That's a $200 discount off of the original $1,299 price tag for that machine.

Apple is selling a range of ‌Mac mini‌ models with various RAM, Ethernet, and SSD upgrades, both with the ‌M2‌ chip and with the ‌M2‌ Pro chip. Standard ‌M2‌ ‌Mac mini‌ models were added to the refurbished store earlier this week, but the ‌M2‌ Pro models just surfaced today.

Prices range from $1,099 to $2,799 depending on ‌Mac mini‌ configuration, with savings up to $400. Customers purchasing a refurbished ‌Mac mini‌ can expect to get between 12 and 15 percent off.

The ‌M2‌ and ‌M2‌ Pro ‌Mac mini‌ models came out in January 2023, replacing the prior M1 and Intel ‌Mac mini‌ options. There have been no external updates to the ‌Mac mini‌, with Apple instead focusing on internal upgrades that include the M-series chip.

Refurbished products from Apple are almost identical to new devices, with each one undergoing a refurbishment process that includes full functionality testing, blemish-free external enclosures, and more. Refurbished products are eligible for AppleCare+ and have the same 14-day return period as new Apple devices.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Mac mini

ZAGG is celebrating Memorial Day this year with a massive 40 percent off sitewide discount. This sale will last through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time and you can purchase up to three products at once to receive 40 percent off your order.

zagg better imageNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with ZAGG. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You won't need any coupon codes for this sale, which also excludes anything that is already discounted. Overall, this is a huge sale that covers items from ZAGG, Mophie, Invisible Shield, and Gear4. You can find a bigger list of Mophie-specific products on sale in the lists below.

For Mophie products, this even includes the company's car vent mounts with MagSafe that launched earlier this week. The Wireless Charging Vent Mount with MagSafe is just $59.97, down from $99.95. This is the first major discount we've tracked on this accessory.

Wireless Charging

mophie green 2

Power Banks

mophie green 3

Wall and Car Chargers

mophie green 1

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Belkin today launched the BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K, a first-of-its-kind power bank capable of fast charging newer Apple Watch models and providing up to 20W of power to another device simultaneously.

belkin boostcharge proNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Belkin. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The BoostCharge Pro has a 10,000mAh capacity, allowing it to charge an Apple Watch Series 8 fourteen times or an iPhone 14 twice. The power bank features a 20W USB-C PD port, which is also used to fast charge the power bank itself, and a built-in Apple Watch charger. When the USB-C port and Apple Watch charger are both in use, each can operate at up to 20W and 7.5W, respectively.

The Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra support fast-charging with compatible chargers. The BoostCharge Pro is MFi certified and able to charge the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch Series 8 from 0% to 80% in around 45 minutes, and charge an Apple Watch Ultra from from 0% to 80% in an hour. Since the second-generation AirPods Pro can charge via an Apple Watch charger, the power bank can also wirelessly charge the ‌AirPods Pro‌.

The power bank includes a 12-inch USB-C cable. The BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K is available now for $99.99 on Belkin's website and ships starting in June.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will support the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, according to ChargerLAB, a reliable source of charging-related information. The first Qi2-certified chargers are expected to be available in time for the 2023 holiday season, according to the Wireless Power Consortium.

magsafecasedangle
Qi2 is based on Apple's MagSafe standard, meaning that Qi2 chargers will likely be able to charge iPhone 15 models at up to 15W speeds like Apple's MagSafe Charger. With current iPhones, non-MagSafe wireless chargers are limited to 7.5W speeds.

ChargerLAB notes that Qi2 chargers do not need to use Apple's pricy MagSafe module, and are not required to be certified under Apple's "Made for iPhone" program, which will bring more affordable MagSafe-like chargers to the market. The website confirmed with supply chain sources that the wholesale price of Apple's MagSafe module is about $16, while the Qi2 module apparently costs less than one third as much.

ChargerLAB and its Chinese sister website Chongdiantou appear to be the source behind the rumor from earlier this week claiming that iPhone 15 models will support 15W charging with third-party chargers. The websites have leaked several accurate charging-related details about future iPhones and Apple power adapters in the past.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 15 lineup in September. MagSafe is expected to remain supported on the devices alongside Qi2.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Last week, the Apple Pencil 2 hit a new all-time low price on Amazon and quickly went out of stock. Today, Amazon has returned with this record low price of $85.00 on the accessory, down from $129.00, and it's in stock and ready to deliver between May 26 and 31.

apple pencil 2 purpleNote: 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 Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the following iPads: iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later). The second generation Apple Pencil is a perfect accessory for anyone planning to use the new Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro apps now available for the iPad.

If you have the newest iPad Pro models, the second-generation Apple Pencil can now be detected while hovering up to 12mm above the display. This allows users to see a preview of their drawing before they make it, and with Scribble text fields automatically expand when the pencil gets near the screen.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

WhatsApp appears to have a username feature in the works that could potentially provide people on the messaging service with an additional layer of privacy.

Whatsapp Feature
As things stand, if someone wants to add you as a WhatsApp contact, you're required to share your phone number with them, even if they add you via the QR code method.

That's how it's always worked in WhatsApp, but it looks as if Meta's developers understand that users might sometimes prefer to add certain contacts without revealing their phone number.

WABetaInfo has spotted a WhatsApp username field in the latest beta Android app, allowing users to choose unique usernames for their accounts. The likelihood is that WhatsApp intends to let users reach other people by entering a username instead, much like Telegram.

As the feature is still in development, it's too early to tell how usernames will work when they are rolled out. They may allow users to safeguard their phone numbers when communicating with particular accounts, like businesses, but the hope is that they will provide more general private communication between users.

WhatsApp has been on a roll recently in announcing new features, including the ability to edit sent messages, a new chat Lock feature, and the ability to use the same account on multiple phones. There's still no sign of an iPad app, though.