MacRumors

The completely redesigned 10th-generation iPad will start arriving to customers and launch in stores on Wednesday, October 26. Ahead of time, the first reviews of the new iPad have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.

Key new features for the 10th-generation iPad include a larger 10.9-inch display with slimmer bezels, flat edges, the A14 Bionic chip, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, a landscape-positioned FaceTime camera, 5G support on cellular models, Wi-Fi 6, and a new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio accessory with a row of function keys. Pricing starts at $449, with the ninth-generation iPad remaining available for $329.

The new iPad is available in Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow finishes, bringing some vibrant new colors to the lower-cost iPad range. iJustine shared a video unboxing of all of the new colors, providing a first hands-on look at the options in the real world.

Here's a look at all of the new color options side by side:

We have rounded up written and video reviews of the new iPad below.

Written Reviews

The Verge's Dan Seifert said the 10th-generation iPad sits in an awkward position between the iPad Air and the ninth-generation iPad:

In a vacuum, there's very little to complain about with the 10th-gen iPad. It's an excellent tablet that does all of the things you expect from a tablet very well. Even though its screen isn't as good as other iPads, it's still good enough, and its performance is unimpeachable. If this was the only iPad Apple sold, many people would buy it and be perfectly happy with it.

But in context with the many other iPads that Apple sells, I'm not sure why you'd pick this one. If cost is a factor, you're buying an iPad for a kid, or need a headphone jack, the still-available and much less expensive ninth-gen model is the one to go with. For a lot of people, the ninth-gen model is the better iPad for their needs. If you want the bigger screen and more modern design, the iPad Air is right there with its better display, even faster processor, and better accessory landscape, and you can frequently get it for less than $100 more than the new iPad.

WIRED's Brenda Stolyar also felt the new iPad sits in an odd spot in the lineup:

When you crunch the numbers, reality sets in. The affordable and plenty-capable iPad that used to start at $329 has now been hiked up to $449. That's without the added cost of accessories (Apple charges $249 for the Keyboard Folio). It's tough to justify a $120 price hike over its predecessor—especially when one of the "upgrades" is the removal of the headphone jack. It doesn't help that Apple is continuing to sell the ninth-gen iPad for $329, and you can typically find the iPad Air for roughly $519 at retailers like Amazon. The 10th-gen tablet sits in an odd spot.

CNET's Scott Stein praised the new landscape FaceTime camera:

The one big thing I wanted from the iPad arrived, like a magic wish granted: The weirdly placed front camera on the iPad is now on the landscape edge. This is great. Why is this great? Because I work on iPads in landscape mode, in cases and stands and keyboard docks. When I Zoom or FaceTime on other iPads, my face looks weirdly off-angle with my eyes looking elsewhere. That's fixed now. Combined with the auto-zooming Center Stage tech, this iPad's video chat camera is absolutely perfect.

Tom's Guide's Mark Spoonauer shared benchmark results showing that the A14 Bionic chip in the new iPad is up to 30% faster than the A13 chip in the previous model:

On Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance, the iPad 2022 scored 1,580 on single-core and 4,400 on multi-core, which is a marked improvement over the 1,384 and 3,387 turned in by the 9th gen iPad. However, the iPad Air with its M1 chip scored a much higher 1,707/7,151.

TheStreet's Jake Krol pointed out that beyond the 10th-generation iPad requiring an adapter to charge and pair the first-generation Apple Pencil, the device is a good buy, but he still recommends considering the ninth-generation iPad for its value:

The oddities come with the first-generation Apple Pencil support. I'm all for the move to USB-C, but it's not the most Apple-like experience for charging it. There's also the fact that the adapter is pretty hard to come by right now.

But if you can look past that, it's an excellent iPad and if you're someone who’s looking to swim between iPad tasks and more advanced ones, this is an excellent choice. The $449 price tag also includes 64GB of storage which is clutch. It can also be paired with the $249 Magic Keyboard Folio for a laptop-like experience that really lets you get work done here. And when it's time to play just detach the keyboard.

Of course though, you have to consider the 9th Gen iPad which still offers stellar performance and frequently falls below the $329 price tag. If you're not after the modern build of the 10th Gen or the new folio covers, that might be the best option for you.

Video Reviews and Unboxings

Best Buy today announced a new financing and upgrade program called "Upgrade+." The program involves a combination of interest-free financing through Citizens Pay and an option to upgrade to a new Mac laptop after three years.

As an example, Best Buy cites a base M1 MacBook Air priced at $999.99. Through the Upgrade+ program, a customer can pay $19.99 per month for 36 months toward the machine. At the end of 36 months, the user has the option to make the remaining $280.35 payment and keep the machine, return the machine and leave the program, or upgrade to a new Mac laptop. If they return the machine, either to leave the program or upgrade to a new Mac, no final payment is required.

Examples of base Mac laptop configurations with Upgrade+ pricing terms:

• ‌M1‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ ($999.99): $19.99/month with final payment of $280.35
• M2 ‌MacBook Air‌ ($1,199.00): $25.98/month with final payment of $263.78
• ‌M2‌ 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1,299.00): $28.15/month with final payment of $285.78
• M1 Pro 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ ($1,999.00): $43.32/month with final payment of $439.78
• ‌M1 Pro‌ 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ ($2,499.00): $54.15/month with final payment of $549.78

AppleCare+ and select Apple accessories can also be folded into the program and financed over the 36-month term. Members of the Best Buy Totaltech program (priced at $199.99 per year) will also receive their normal membership benefit of ‌AppleCare‌+ at no cost for up to 24 months while participating in the Upgrade+ program.

Best Buy notes that Best Buy Totaltech member pricing and other promotional discounts may not be used with the Upgrade+ program, but it may still be a reasonable option for customers who prefer a small monthly payment to spread out the cost of the machine over three years rather than having to pay for it entirely up front.

Customers may also be able to obtain more money for their used Mac after the three-year period by selling it through other channels rather than accepting the forgiven final payment from Best Buy, but customers who wish to do that could simply make that final payment and then sell the machine on their own.

Best Buy says the Upgrade+ program will also help to reduce e-waste, as Mac laptops returned at the end of the program will find their way to Best Buy's other programs for giving used machines second lives.

The Apple Pencil 2 has hit a new all-time low price on Amazon today, available for $89.00, down from $129.00. The accessory is in stock and available to deliver as soon as October 26 for Prime delivery, or October 29 for free delivery.

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 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 can also magnetically attach and pair to the iPad Pro, iPad mini, and iPad Air.

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.

The new iPad Pro with the M2 chip will start arriving to customers and launch in stores on Wednesday, October 26. Ahead of time, the first reviews of the new iPad Pro have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.

Key new features for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro include the M2 chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, new hover functionality for the Apple Pencil, and support for ProRes video recording. The device also has Smart HDR 4 and supports Bluetooth 5.3.

We have rounded up both written and video reviews of the new iPad Pro below.

Written Reviews

The new iPad Pro is able to detect the second-generation Apple Pencil while it hovers up to 12mm above the display, allowing users to see a preview of their drawing before they make it. Federico Viticci at MacStories called the feature a "very nice surprise," as he found it useful for interacting with iPadOS as a whole:

I'm here to tell you, however, that Apple Pencil Hover goes beyond enhancing the typical iPad drawing experience: it's also a neat way to control the iPadOS UI, adding a new dimension to touch interactions. I was not expecting to use Apple Pencil Hover at all because I'm no artist; its native integration with interface elements across the system turned out to be one of my favorite additions to iPadOS this year – definitely more so than Stage Manager.

For example, Viticci said Apple Pencil hover can be used to preview and scrub through videos on the YouTube website in Safari.

Jason Snell of Six Colors expressed disappointment that the iPad Pro still has a 2018 design and said the device would benefit from some features that the new 10th-generation iPad received, such as a landscape FaceTime camera and a Magic Keyboard with function keys:

That makes the fourth revision for this design without any substantial exterior changes. It's a good design, yes, but it's a little frustrating that it's been in stasis for four full years. The 10th-generation iPad's repositioned FaceTime camera would be welcome on a new iPad Pro. A revised version of the Magic Keyboard introduced in April 2020 with that extra row of function keys like the Magic Keyboard Folio would also be nice.

But while the low-end iPad points the direction to the future, the M2 iPad Pro remains in stasis. The display is unchanged from the M1 generation, meaning only the 12.9-inch model gets the excellent Liquid Retina XDR display, and the 11-inch model remains left out. There are several iPads available at the 11-inch size, so it would be nice if the iPad Pro were a bit better differentiated from (for example) the iPad Air. It's not.

Apple says the new iPad Pro has up to 15% faster CPU performance and up to 35% faster GPU performance compared to the previous model with the M1 chip. Engadget's Nathan Ingraham said the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M2 chip was "far more responsive" in his initial testing than his 11-inch iPad Pro with the A12Z chip from 2020:

In the short time that I've been testing the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro, I can say that it's far more responsive than my personal 11-inch iPad Pro from 2020 as well as the new iPad I've also been testing. Those other devices aren't slow by any stretch of the imagination, but the M2-powered iPad Pro responds to everything almost instantaneously. Of course, the same can be said about the M1 iPad Pro, especially given my modest workflow.

Mac Otakara shared Geekbench 5 results for the new iPad Pro that confirm about a 15-16% increase in multi-core performance over the previous model (8,516 score for 12.9-inch model with M2 chip vs. 7,326 for the 12.9-inch model with M1 chip):

Mashable's Stan Schroeder said iPadOS 16's new Stage Manager feature remains "buggy" on the new iPad Pro and is "far from perfect":

Stage Manager was also buggy. For example, invoking it with the Keyboard's trackpad, which you do by moving the cursor to the left of the display, occasionally wouldn't work. Some apps, including Facebook and Apple's own Weather (which is new to the iPad) would sometimes look messy when resized inside Stage Manager. Having the app windows stubbornly cling to a certain size when you need them to be just a little bit bigger or smaller is annoying. I do think it's better than both Slide Over and Split View as a multitasking tool, but it's still far from perfect.

Video Reviews and Unboxings

The European Union today gave final approval to legislation that will force technology companies like Apple to switch to USB-C across a wide range of devices.

Outlined in an official press release, the European Council today gave the European Parliament's common charger directive approval, finalizing the legislative procedure that will make a USB-C port mandatory across a wide range of consumer electronic devices, including the iPhone and AirPods, by the end of 2024. The directive has now been officially adopted and is set to be published in the official journal of the European Union. It will come into force 20 days after publication, and the rules will apply exactly 24 months after that date. Products that go on sale before the date of application will be exempt and can continue to be sold after that point.

USB-C as a legally mandated "common port" is a world-first statute and will likely impact Apple in particular since it widely uses the Lightning connector instead of USB-C on many of its devices. MEPs claim that the move will reduce electronic waste, address product sustainability, and make use of different devices more convenient.

Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to feature a USB-C port. Exemptions will apply for devices that are too small to offer a USB-C port, such as smart watches, health trackers, and some sports equipment, but the legislation is expected to expand to other devices over time. Companies will also have to ensure that dedicated labels clearly inform consumers about the charging characteristics of devices they buy.

In addition, the EU seeks to ensure that wireless charging solutions are interoperable as the technology evolves over time. The directive empowers the European Commission to develop delegated acts by the end of 2024 that force companies to make their custom wireless charging solutions more open and meet interoperability standards, helping consumers to avoid getting locked into proprietary charging solutions while preventing fragmentation and reducing waste. It is not clear if this would include Apple's MagSafe charging system for the ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods since it is based on the Qi wireless charging standard.

In 2018, the European Commission attempted to reach a final resolution on this issue but it failed to come into law. At the time, Apple warned that forcing a common charging port on the industry would stifle innovation and create electronic waste as consumers would be forced to switch to new cables.

The EU's effort resumed last year, with the European Commission spearheading a refreshed version of the directive. In April, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee voted to support the directive, with 43 votes in favor and just two against. In June, the EU's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection reached an agreement to introduce the directive to the European Parliament, which then voted overwhelmingly in favor of it.

Both Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believe Apple is testing a version of the ‌iPhone‌ that has a USB-C port instead of Lightning. Kuo believes that Apple could switch the ‌iPhone‌ to USB-C starting with 2023's iPhone 15, before transitioning AirPods and other accessories at a later date. This timing would allow Apple to switch many of its affected devices to USB-C ahead of the EU directive coming into force.

Last week, Apple launched a new Siri Remote for the Apple TV and the 10th-generation iPad, both of which replace the Lightning ports on their predecessors for USB-C, seemingly indicating that Apple's transition toward the common port is already well underway.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple reportedly scrapped plans to launch a low-cost iPad with a plastic body and a plastic keyboard included in the box for below $500, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in his Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple had "internally considered launching an ‌iPad‌ with a plastic back and plastic keyboard" that would ship in the same box for below $500. "The idea was seemingly abandoned, but that was probably Apple's only real hope of ever giving Chromebooks a run for their money in most schools," Gurman added.

It's unclear if the scrapped plastic ‌iPad‌ would have come as the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌, announced last week, or another distinct ‌iPad‌ model. The new 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ joins the ‌iPad‌ lineup as the newest entry-level ‌iPad‌ with the A14 Bionic chip, iPadOS, and an all-screen design. The new ‌iPad‌, however, does not support the latest Apple Pencil and does not have a laminated screen.

At $449, the new ‌iPad‌ is more expensive than the ninth-generation entry-level ‌iPad‌ that remains in the lineup for $329 but is cheaper than the iPad Air, which starts at $599. The new ‌iPad‌, alongside the M2 iPad Pro, will begin arriving to customers this week on Wednesday, October 26.

The next two weeks will be fairly busy for Apple, with multiple new product launches, software releases, and more expected over that time. Below, we have recapped five key dates coming up for Apple so that you can mark your calendar accordingly.

Key dates to remember:

• Monday, October 24: Apple confirmed that iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1, and macOS Ventura will be released on October 24, and it's very likely that tvOS 16.1 and watchOS 9.1 will also be released on the same day. iOS 16.1 includes at least eight new features, while iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura feature Stage Manager and more. The updates should be available around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
• Tuesday, October 25: Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joswiak are set to speak with tech columnist Joanna Stern at the WSJ Tech Live event on October 25 starting around 7:35 p.m. Pacific Time. It's likely that Federighi and Joswiak will discuss Apple's latest software releases and hopefully address the controversy surrounding Stage Manager.
• Wednesday, October 26: The new iPad Pro models with the M2 chip and the redesigned 10th-generation iPad will begin arriving to customers and become available for purchase at Apple Stores and select resellers on October 26.
• Thursday, October 27: Apple will announce its earnings results for the fourth quarter of its 2022 fiscal year on October 27 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the results on a conference call starting at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the same day.
• Friday, November 4: The new Apple TV 4K with the A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ support, and more will begin arriving to customers and become available for purchase at Apple Stores and select resellers on November 4.

In addition, the first reviews of the new iPads will likely be shared this week.

Apple is planning to debut several new Macs over the next several months, including new MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and Mac Pro models, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is continuing work on the first Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌, with the company reportedly ramping up testing of the device internally. The high-end Mac desktop is said to feature chip options that are at least twice or four times as powerful as the M2 Max, dubbed the "‌M2‌ Ultra" and "‌M2‌ Extreme." Gurman expects the ‌Mac Pro‌ to be offered with options for 24 and 48 CPU cores and 76 and 152 graphics cores, along with up to 256GB of memory.

Gurman added specific information about one particular ‌Mac Pro‌ configuration that is apparently undergoing active testing at Apple: a model with 24 CPU cores (including 16 performance and eight efficiency cores), 76 graphics cores, and 192GB of memory. The machine is said to be running macOS Ventura 13.3.

As expected, Gurman said that new 14- and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will be available in ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max configurations. The ‌M2‌ Max will reportedly have 12 CPU cores (with eight performance cores and four efficiency cores) and 38 GPU cores, and will continue to come with up to 64GB of memory. The ‌M2‌ Max is expected to continue to be available across both display size models.

The next-generation ‌Mac mini‌ will purportedly feature the same ‌M2‌ chip as the MacBook Air and the 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌. Apple has tested an M2 Pro chip inside the new Mac mini, featuring increased core counts, but Gurman did not offer any further clarity about if the company is proceeding with that model.

While he does not expect the new ‌Mac Pro‌ to launch until 2023, Gurman said that he expects the next-generation ‌MacBook Pro‌ and ‌Mac mini‌ models to launch "within the coming months."

In an email to developers this week, Apple announced that app-related ads will begin appearing in the App Store's main Today tab and in a "You Might Also Like" section at the bottom of individual app listings starting Tuesday, October 25, in all countries except China. All ads in the App Store have a blue background and an "Ad" icon.

"With a Today tab ad, your app can appear prominently on the front page of the App Store — making it some of the first content users see when they begin their App Store visit," says a page on Apple's website about App Store ad placements.

This marks the first time that developers will be able to run ads in the Today tab, which until now has only displayed content handpicked from the App Store's editorial staff, without any paid placement. And with the "You Might Also Like" section, developers will now be able to promote their apps on other apps' pages.

In a tweet, legal expert Florian Mueller argued the "You Might Also Like" ads are "another means of increasing the effective app tax rate, forcing developers to buy ads on their own app pages in order to avoid that others steer customers away from there."

App Store ads were previously limited to search results based on keywords and the "Suggested" section of the Search tab. With ads in the Today tab and the "You Might Also Like" section, the App Store will now offer four advertising options in total. Apple first announced plans to expand its App Store ad placement offerings in July.

In August, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple wanted to nearly triple its current advertising revenue to at least $10 billion per year in the future. In addition to the App Store, Gurman said Apple plans to launch search result ads in Apple Maps next year, while traditional banner ads are already displayed in Apple's News and Stocks apps.

Largely in line with expectations, we saw a number of Apple product updates this week via press release with the iPad Pro, iPad, and Apple TV. All three products are available to order now with launches coming over the next couple of weeks.

We also got official confirmation of release dates for macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16, while we're still expecting some Mac-related updates before the end of the year, likely sometime next month, so read on below for all of the details!

Everything Apple Announced This Week: iPad Pro With M2 Chip, Redesigned iPad, Updated Apple TV, and More

While there was no Apple Event this week, it was still a very busy time, with Apple announcing new iPad Pro models with the M2 chip, a redesigned 10th-generation iPad, an updated Apple TV, and more.

Apple also confirmed that macOS Ventura, iPadOS 16, and iOS 16.1 will all be released on Monday, October 24.

We've put together a video recapping everything that Apple announced and shared links to all of our coverage, while our latest episode of The MacRumors Show dissects all of the announcements.

Apple Announces New iPad Pro With M2 Chip and More

The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro received a relatively minor update this week with the M2 chip, support for new Apple Pencil hover functionality, Wi-Fi 6E support, and ProRes video recording.

The new iPad Pro is available to order now and launches on Wednesday, October 26. In the United States, pricing continues to start at $799 for the 11-inch model and at $1,099 for the 12.9-inch model.

Apple Unveils 10th-Gen iPad With Complete Redesign, 10.9-Inch Display, USB-C, and More

The entry-level iPad received a complete redesign this week and now features a larger 10.9-inch display with slimmer bezels, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, a landscape FaceTime camera, and an A14 Bionic chip. Pricing now starts at $449.

Despite gaining flat edges, the new iPad is still only compatible with the original Apple Pencil, but an adapter is now required for pairing and charging the accessory. The adapter has quickly become a meme on social media.

Apple Announces New Apple TV 4K With A15 Bionic Chip and HDR10+ for $129

The Apple TV 4K received a spec bump this week, with new features including an A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ video support, up to 128GB of storage, a Siri Remote with a USB-C port for charging, and more. Pricing now starts at a lower $129.

The new Apple TV is thinner and lighter with a fanless design, and it also has increased RAM. In total, there are at least 10 new features and changes with the new Apple TV, so be sure to check out our list to learn everything that is new.

macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16 With Stage Manager and More Launching October 24

Apple this week announced release dates for macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16. Both updates will be available starting Monday, October 24.

A key new feature of both updates is Stage Manager — although the implementation varies on each platform, and there are still some lingering issues with the iPad version of the feature in the latest betas.

Both updates will likely be released around 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday.

iOS 16.1 Launching October 24 With These 8 New Features

iOS 16.1 will also be released on Monday, October 24, according to Apple. The update includes eight notable features for iPhone users, including Live Activities in third-party apps, iCloud Shared Photo Library, Apple Fitness+ without an Apple Watch, and more.

There are still some previously announced iOS 16 features that have yet to be released, such as Apple's new digital canvas app Freeform and Emergency SOS via Satellite.

New MacBook Pro and Mac Mini With M2 Pro Chips Likely to Launch in November

With this week's announcements of new iPad Pro, iPad, and Apple TV models out of the way, attention now turns to the Mac. Rumors suggest Apple plans to launch new high-end MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with M2 series chips later this year.

In his newsletter this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the initial version of macOS Ventura will include support for new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which he expects to be released in the "near future." As for the Mac mini, Gurman previously claimed that new models with both M2 and M2 Pro chip options were in development, and those are also likely to debut before the end of the year.

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!

A quick search on Twitter reveals that Walmart faces numerous requests to accept Apple Pay on a daily basis, but the big-box retailer still does not accept the iPhone's tap-to-pay service at its over 4,700 stores across the United States.

Walmart has instead committed to its own payments service called Walmart Pay, available through the Walmart app on the iPhone. Instead of using NFC technology like Apple Pay and many other mobile wallets, Walmart Pay allows customers to scan a QR code displayed at checkout to pay for their purchase with a payment card stored in the app.

"We do not accept NFC and instead have implemented convenient solutions, such as Walmart Pay, that provide our customers easy, touchless payments on any smartphone," a Walmart spokesperson told MacRumors this week. "We have also invested in innovative technologies that go beyond payments, such as Scan & Go, which allow Sam's Club and Walmart+ members to bypass the checkout altogether."

There are certainly some benefits for Walmart in pushing its own mobile payments service, including getting more customers to download the Walmart app, being able to track a customer's purchase history, and avoiding Apple Pay fees, but it's clear that Walmart is ignoring one of its customers' most frequent requests as a result.

Apple Pay launched just over eight years ago, on October 20, 2014. In a press release earlier this year, Apple said that Apple Pay is accepted at more than 90 percent of U.S. retailers, with some major holdouts including Walmart, The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Kroger. Walmart did start accepting Apple Pay in Canada in late 2020.

Apple today added several new accessories to its online store, debuting popular products from brands like Anker, Mophie, and Twelve South. The new Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe is a MagSafe-certified charging accessory that can charge the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once.

Priced at $150, the Anker Cube is available in Apple retail stores as of right now, and it should soon be online. It collapses down into a portable cube shape, with the MagSafe Charger and the Apple Watch charging puck expanding from the top and side, respectively, leaving a charging platform for the AirPods.

The 3-in-1 Cube with ‌MagSafe‌ is able to charge a ‌MagSafe‌ ‌iPhone‌ at up to 15W as it is using Apple's official ‌MagSafe‌ charging technology, and Anker says it is also able to fast charge the Series 7, Series 8, and Ultra. An ‌iPhone‌ can be charged in either landscape or portrait orientation, and the Cube comes with a 1.5m USB-C to USB-C charging cable and a 30W charger.

Apple is also selling a new extendable "HoverBar Tower" from Twelve South, which is designed to hold the iPad upright for Apple Fitness+ workouts, FaceTime calls, and more. The stand is available in black or white and the ‌iPad‌'s height can be adjusted from under three feet to over five feet.

The Twelve South HoverBar Tower for iPad is a flexible floor stand that's perfect for Apple Fitness+ workouts and so much more. Attach your iPad to this height adjustable stand and workout with your favorite trainers anywhere in your home or outside on the porch. Position it low to the ground for a yoga class, at eye level for music lessons, or in front of your stationary bike. HoverBar Tower can even hold iPad above your desktop monitor as a second (or third) screen.

The product listing says that it works with all ‌iPad‌ models and most stands thanks to a clip design, and there is a weighted base and three tower post poles. The HoverBar Tower was just listed and it is not available for purchase as of yet, but it should be live soon. It is priced at $130.

Along with the Anker Cube and Twelve South HoverBar, Apple is now selling Mophie's latest power bank, the Mophie Powerstation Plus 10K. As the name suggests, it has a 10,000mAh battery for providing up to 43 hours of video playback on the go, and it offers up to 27W of power for an ‌iPhone‌ or an ‌iPad‌.

The Powerstation Plus has integrated Lightning and USB-C cables, along with a USB-C port for charging and LED indicator lights to display the charge level. Two devices can be charged at one time, but if you're using both ports, you will only get a combined 27W. With the Lightning cable or USB-C cable used individually, you can get up to 20W of power. Apple is selling the Powerstation Plus for $80.

Apple recently started sending payments to select App Store developers as part of a $100 million settlement it reached in the lawsuit Cameron et al v. Apple Inc., which alleged that Apple had a monopoly on the distribution of iOS apps and in-app purchases. Apple referred to the settlement as a "Small Developer Assistance Fund."

Eligible developers were expected to receive a payment between $250 and $30,000 from Apple depending on their total App Store earnings, but actual payments are higher since not all developers submitted a claim, thus increasing each developer's share of the settlement. Only developers in the U.S. who had App Store earnings between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021 and submitted a claim by the May 20, 2022 deadline will receive payment.

According to court documents, approximately 67,000 developers were eligible to submit a claim. It's unclear how many claims were submitted.

Apple denied all of the allegations and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by the company. Developers receiving a settlement can no longer sue Apple individually for the same claims brought in the class action lawsuit, including any claim that they were overcharged by Apple as a result of the App Store's fee structure.

The lawsuit dates back to 2019, when a group of iOS developers accused Apple of using its ‌‌App Store‌‌ monopoly to impose "profit-killing" commissions. The lawsuit took issue with Apple's standard 30% fee for ‌‌App Store‌‌ purchases, and was largely addressed with the late 2020 announcement of the App Store's Small Business Program that cut the commission that small developers have to pay to 15% going forward.

As part of the settlement, Apple also updated its App Store Review Guidelines to allow developers to use outside-of-app communications like email to share information about payment methods available outside of iOS apps. As always, developers are not required to pay Apple a commission on purchases that take place outside of the ‌App Store‌.

Apple also agreed to maintain the ‌App Store‌'s Small Business Program without any changes for at least three years and made a few other concessions.

In related news, Apple also recently started sending payments to eligible retail employees as part of a $30.5 million settlement to end a long-running lawsuit over employee bag checks. The lawsuit involved nearly 15,000 employees in California who were subjected to off-the-clock unpaid bag searches between July 25, 2009 and August 10, 2015.

Apple claimed that its bag searches ensured employees were not hiding stolen electronics in their personal belongings, and that employees who did not want to be subject to searches could leave their bags at home, but that argument was unsuccessful and a court ordered Apple to pay the employees for the time they had spent in bag searches.

With the announcement of new Apple products this week in the iPad Pro and iPad, we saw new record low prices hit previous generation tablets. Right now, these best-ever sales are still available for many 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro devices, and we're also tracking solid deals on iPad Air, MacBook Air, and AirTag and MagSafe accessories.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

iPad Pro

• What's the deal? Take $200 off 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week Apple introduced new iPad Pro tablets, and in the wake of this announcement we tracked record low prices on numerous models of the previous generation 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Prices start as low as $899.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad Pro, and include both cellular and Wi-Fi models. You can see the full list of deals in our original post.

MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take $200 off M1 MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Another big discount this week focused on the 2020 256GB M1 MacBook Air, available for $799.00 on Amazon, down from $999.00. This is a solid deal for the two-year-old notebook, and great for anyone okay with an older generation MacBook Air who wants to save money.

iPad Air

• What's the deal? Take $80 off iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Another deal Amazon introduced this week was on Apple's 2022 iPad Air, and it's still available at $519.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $599.00. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $669.00, down from $749.00.

AirTag Accessories

• What's the deal? Take up to $20 off AirTag accessories
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon brought back best-ever prices on a few AirTag accessories this week, including just $9.00 for the AirTag Loop and $19.00 for the AirTag Leather Key Ring. Only a few colors are available for each accessory at these prices.

MagSafe Accessories

• What's the deal? Take 25% off MagSafe accessories
• Where can I get it? Verizon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Verizon has great discounts on three of Apple's MagSafe accessories. You can get the MagSafe Charger for $29.99, down from $39.00. The MagSafe Duo Charger is down to $96.74, from $129.00; and the MagSafe Battery Pack is down to $74.24, from $99.00.

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.

Capcom today announced that the Mac version of survival horror game Resident Evil Village is set to launch on Friday, October 28. The game will be available on Macs that are equipped with Apple silicon chips.

Resident Evil Village first launched in 2021, but it has been limited to PCs and consoles. As with prior Resident Evil games, Resident Evil Village is a first person game that requires players to explore their surroundings in the hopes of discovering items and equipment to progress.

The game is set in a snowy Eastern European village, and there is a deeper focus on action and combat than the prior title, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Village is set approximately three years after Biohazard.

Capcom says Resident Evil Village is built on the first Mac version of the RE Engine Capcom game engine, and it is compatible with M1 and M2 Macs that are running macOS Monterey or macOS Ventura.

The Mac version of Resident Evil Village comes with the Trauma Pack DLC, raccoon weapon parts, and a Survival Resource Pack. It does not, however, include Resident Evil: RE:Birth, but Capcom says the Winters' Expansion will be coming in the near future. Winters' Expansion will introduce a new third-person mode along with new game content.

Resident Evil Village will be available from the Mac App Store when it launches on October 28.

Smart lock maker Level today announced the official launch of its Level Lock+, which is now available for purchase from Apple's online store. The Level Lock+ has been in Apple retail stores since last week as part of a soft launch, but those who do not live near a store location can now order it online.

Level Lock+ is an Apple exclusive product, as it is designed to work with the Home Keys feature from Apple. With Home Keys, users can tap an iPhone or Apple Watch on the lock to unlock their homes, with the device serving as an alternative to a key.

Smart locks that are HomeKit integrated have worked for some time, but Level Lock+ shows up in the Wallet app and it has Home Key features such as the ability to use power reserve to unlock a door even when the ‌iPhone‌'s battery is dead.

The Level Lock+ is equipped with a powerful NFC antenna, and the company says that it is BHMA AAA certified, which is the highest industry standard for safety and durability. Like the original Level Lock, the Level Lock+ has a sleek design that looks more like a standard door lock than a smart lock. Installation requires a screwdriver and Level claims that it takes less than 15 minutes to set up.

With the Level app, there are options for sharing access with guests, and auto locking and unlocking as a keyed ‌iPhone‌ approaches. There are also tools for setting up keycards that can activate the Level Lock+, activating the lock through the Level app, and an optional $79 Level Keypad that allows for entry through a key code.

The Level Lock+ is available in Satin Nickel and Matte Black and it can be purchased from Apple for $329.

The new Apple TV 4K hasn't even launched yet, but Amazon is already offering a small $4 discount on the streaming device as a pre-order deal. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi model for $124.99 when pre-ordering, down from $129.00.

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.

While not a massive discount, this is still a notable deal given it's the first pre-order discount on the 2022 Apple TV 4K. We don't expect much steeper discounts than this to come out any time soon; for those types of deals you'll need to shop for the 2021 models, which are as low as $99.99 today on Amazon.

The Apple TV 4K will launch on November 4, along with the 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model, which is not seeing a pre-order discount on Amazon.

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.

The 10th-generation iPad is now available for a starting price of $449, but its predecessor, the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌, remains available from Apple for the same $329 starting price.

The 64GB and 256GB ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ models continue to be available for $329 and $479, respectively. They are still offered in the same Silver and Space Gray color options, meaning that there has been no change to the pricing or available configurations of the device.

The entry-level ‌iPad‌ is an important device in Apple's lineup, particularly for the education market, because it provides an accessible on-ramp to basic computing on the ‌iPad‌ at a low price point. Despite being successive generations of the same device, there are substantial differences between the ninth- and 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ that justify their $120 difference in price, which may make it difficult to choose which device is best for you.

So should you consider buying the ninth-generation ‌‌iPad‌‌ to save money, or do you need the ‌10th-generation ‌iPad‌ instead? This breakdown serves as a clear way to see all the similarities and differences between the two devices.

Similarities

• Touch ID
• Retina display (264 ppi) with True Tone and 500 nits max brightness (typical)
• Apple silicon chip with 6-core CPU (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) and 4-core GPU
• Digital zoom up to 5x, 3x video zoom, slo-mo video support for 720p at 120 fps, and time-lapse video with stabilization
• 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera (ƒ/2.4 aperture) with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, Retina Flash, Extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps, Cinematic video stabilization, and 1080p HD video recording up to 60 fps
• Two speaker audio
• Up to 10-hour battery life
• 64GB and 256GB storage options
• First-generation Apple Pencil support

Differences

Overall, the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ will be the more suitable device to buy for most people. With a faster chip and more memory, the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ will be the better long-term purchase through annual software updates, not to mention 5G connectivity on the cellular models. Apple appears to be gradually transitioning to USB-C across all of its devices, so buying a device with this port instead of Lightning may be helpful in years to come. The design of the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ is also considerably more future-proof, fitting in well with any of Apple's modern ‌iPad‌ or all-screen designs.

The larger display, better performance, USB-C port, and Magic Keyboard Folio support may also make the 10th-generation a more useful productivity-focused device. The landscape front-facing camera will be better for video calls, while the rear camera offers more advanced photography and videography capabilities. It is also worth noting that some users may simply prefer the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌'s modern design and vibrant array of color options.

By comparison, the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ offers a good balance of the most important basic ‌iPad‌ features, but in an older design with slightly less advanced technologies. Prospective customers that simply need a new ‌iPad‌ at the lowest possible price are unlikely to care about many of these differences, so it may not be worth the extra $120 in some cases. Generally, where possible, it will be worth the upgrade to the newer model – especially if you plan to use the ‌iPad‌ heavily for years to come.