Apple recently added a "Leaving Arcade Soon" section to its Apple ArcadeApp Store service, signaling that approximately 15 games are going to be removed from Apple Arcade at some point in the near future.
Apple did not provide details on why the games are leaving or what happens to the games downloaded onto the devices of Apple Arcade customers, but MacRumors spoke to an inside source that was able to offer some insight into what's going on.
When Apple Arcade first launched, Apple signed three-year deals with a number of developers, entering into contracts that provided a fixed payment and ongoing royalties. Those contracts are now ending, and Apple is opting not to renew some of them. Many of the games that are being removed were launch titles or were added to Apple Arcade soon after it debuted.
Developers retain the rights to their games and can re-release them on the App Store and/or through other platforms, but games that are removed from Apple Arcade won't be accessible under the Apple Arcade service.
Games can be re-added to the App Store on the same day that they're removed from Apple Arcade, but the games will be uploaded with a new bundle ID. That means Apple Arcade subscribers can redownload the games, but they won't have access to the same game that was available through Apple Arcade.
It is not yet clear if saved progress will be able to transfer over from the Apple Arcade version of the game to the new version should the developers choose to reintroduce their games to the App Store, as that will depend on whether developers implement support for data transfer.
Games leaving Apple Arcade include Spelldrifter, Projection: First Light, Lifeslide, EarthNight, Cardpocalypse, Dead End Job, and more.
Update: Apple has shared a support document with more details about what happens when games are removed from Apple Arcade.
Apple plans to slow hiring and spending next year in some divisions due to potential economic downturn, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The report claims the decision is not a companywide policy and will not affect all teams within Apple.
The report claims that Apple is giving select teams a "lower-than-expected budget" for spending on research and development, resources, and hiring in 2023, and adds that some teams will not be expanding or maintaining their headcount next year.
Apple is still planning an "aggressive" schedule of product launches in 2023, including a widely rumored AR/VR headset, according to Gurman.
Apple's alleged plans to slow hiring and spending in 2023 comes amid especially uncertain times, with the COVID-19 pandemic, Russo-Ukrainian War, and high inflation driving concerns about lower consumer spending and a recession.
Apple shares were trading nearly 2% lower following the report.
A few months ago, Apple reported its best March quarter ever, with $97.3 billion in revenue and $25 billion in profit. Apple is set to report its earnings results for the June quarter on July 28 at approximately 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
Bloomberg updated its report with additional information. This story has been updated accordingly.
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.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
There's no word yet on what new features or changes might be included in macOS Monterey 12.5, and nothing new of significance was documented in the beta testing period. It's likely this update focuses on bug fixes and other minor improvements to the operating system.
The release candidate update should represent the final version of macOS Monterey 12.5 that is expected to be released to the public as soon as later this week.
Overall, the internal design of the new MacBook Air looks similar to the previous model, but the flatter shell allowed for Apple to fit larger battery cells inside the notebook. The new MacBook Air is equipped with a 52.6-watt‑hour battery, compared to a 49.9‑watt‑hour battery in the previous model, according to Apple's tech specs. However, Apple says both the 2020 and 2022 models of the MacBook Air achieve up to 18 hours of battery life per charge.
The teardown reveals the new MacBook Air's logic board, which includes Apple's new M2 chip. As confirmed by Apple last week, the teardown also shows that the 256GB model of the new MacBook Air is equipped with only a single NAND storage chip, resulting in up to 30% to 50% slower SSD speeds in benchmark testing compared to both higher-capacity MacBook Air models and the previous model with 256GB of storage.
M2 chip (outlined in blue) and empty NAND storage flash chip pad (outlined in red)
As usual, storage and RAM chips are soldered to the logic board in the new MacBook Air, making it very difficult/unfeasible to upgrade these components after purchase.
Repair website iFixit will likely share a more in-depth teardown of the new MacBook Air eventually.
Meross's smart essential oil diffuser seeks to allow you to add a pleasant aroma to the air using any essential oil of your choice and increase a room's humidity to counteract dry air, with HomeKit support for control and automations.
Meross offers a wide range of HomeKit-compatible smart home devices, including garage door openers, lighting, power strips, air purifiers, and more. Compared to its direct competitors, Meross's smart home products are among the most affordable HomeKit-compatible devices on the market and set themselves apart with no need for a hub or third-party app.
Setup
Meross's smart home devices differ from many other brands in the same space, such as Philips Hue smart lighting, because they do not require a hub or third-party app. In theory, you need only open the Home app on your iPhone, tap Add Accessory, and scan the code on the device to add the device, allowing you to control and automate it from the Home app thereafter. Accumulatively, this significantly eases the setup process compared to the clunky hubs and apps that many other smart home brands demand.
While this is the ideal scenario for most smart home accessories, I sometimes have problems setting up Meross's devices on my network, where they repeatedly fail to connect with the Home app. Some users may need to temporarily disable their router's firewall and the 5GHz portion of their network during pairing to get around these potential problems. This may not be necessary in your case, and Meross's setup experience is generally good, but prospective customers should be prepared to troubleshoot their network in the event of any issues. It is also worth noting that Apple does not directly support essential oil diffusers in the Home app, so the device is simply set up as a humidifier.
To add essential oil to the diffuser, lift off the top section, which reveals a large, 400ml liquid reservoir. Meross recommends using the included measuring cup to add the correct amount of water along with one or two drops of essential oil, before putting the lid back in place. All of this is explained further in an instruction booklet that came with the diffuser.
Once the oil diffuser is set up, it has good responsiveness and provides a reliable connection to the Home app, being quick to respond to commands and working well with automations. Like Meross's other devices, the diffuser works over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only. With no hub, Meross's HomeKit accessories can be slow or refuse to reconnect to the network when Wi-Fi is temporarily unavailable, but this is a random occurrence and cycling power seems to fix the problem.
Daily Use
The smart oil diffuser features a faux wood finish. I am not a fan of the look and would have preferred a more neutral and premium-looking option that could better fit in a variety of spaces, but I'm sure that it could look okay in some interiors. The diffuser is also possibly a little bit too large for my taste, and its design might make it more obtrusive than it needs to be, but Meross now offer a more compact version of the oil diffuser in a range of finishes to address these concerns.
There are buttons to control the diffuser and the LED ring, which runs around the circumference of the diffuser and adds a gentle accent light. By default, it cycles through colors. For a more subdued look, you can easily set a particular color or brightness to meet your preferences – but it is important to note that this is not a lighting product. Powered by just a few LEDs in the base, the lighting is subtle and needs to be in a dimly lit room to be clearly visible.
Even then, colors are not always accurately reproduced from the Home app on the diffuser, so it can take a while to find your preferred hue. This is fairly normal for low-cost LED smart lighting, particularly for shades such as green and purple. I also find the lighting to be fairly slow to respond once a change as been initiated in the Home app, but these minor issues did not bother me since the lights are only an accent and clearly not the accessory's main purpose.
When activated, the diffuser quickly blows water vapor out of the top. It is quiet when running and only emits a soft trickling noise. Water in the reservoir should last for a considerable amount of time, with seven and a half hours of heavy spray or ten hours of light spray. Choosing between these modes also allows you to select how strong you want the scent to be in a room.
The diffuser is surprisingly dynamic when it comes to HomeKit, offering multiple controls for both the spray and the LED light. There is plenty of potential for automation, such as setting the target humidity of another sensor accessory and automating the diffuser to come on to reach that threshold, or having the diffuser activate for a brief period when arriving home. Apple would need to add proper diffuser support for more granular controls.
That being said, I feel that the diffuser has some problems. The top does not lock onto the base, which poses a high risk of spillage if you happen to knock the diffuser. Water is blown up inside the lid, so taking it off during operation is likely to result in splashes.
Meross recommends cleaning out the reservoir every few days. Since the water tray does not lift out, you need to disconnect the power cable to clean the accessory. If the diffuser still has any water left in it, this can be difficult and feels needlessly dangerous. The power cable is recessed and pushed in deeply on the underside of the device. This means you have to lift up the water-filled container sufficiently to gently pull out the power cable, which itself is stiff, requiring force that risks further spillage, and frequently causes sparks.
Users may be better off keeping the diffuser on until the water reservoir is empty if possible, but even then care will need to be taken to not get the power connector wet, and I strongly encourage anyone buying this device to disconnect the power adapter from the wall before trying to remove the power cable.
Since the water tray is fixed to the base that contains all of the electronic components, cleaning is also somewhat inconvenient and I was cautious to not get water in the power socket or in the vents. A connection for the power cable on the back of the device would have made this entire process feel much less perilous, but a removable water reservoir that you could lift out of the device would clearly be a much better solution.
The Bottom Line
Meross's smart essential oil diffuser is a good addition to any smart home setup, enabling a surprisingly wide range of automations. The accessory works well, bringing a straightforward way to emit a scent via the Home app, and the accent lighting is a nice bonus touch to work into scenes.
I would have preferred a more minimal design, but the company now offers a more compact version of the diffuser with multiple finish option that some users may prefer. The biggest problem for me is cleaning the diffuser and disconnecting it from power, which seems borderline dangerous, especially when the reservoir has any liquid left in it, but other than that my experience with the device has been good.
MacRumors readers can get seven percent off all Meross devices from the official online store with the code MacRumors at checkout. The Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Diffuser is also available for a total of $22 off on Amazon thanks to a $10 reduction and a $12 on-page coupon on.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner of Meross. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Meross provided MacRumors with a Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Diffuser for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Amazon today has a rare deal on a cellular model of Apple's iPad mini 6, knocking the price of the 64GB Cellular tablet to $549.99, down from $649.00. In addition, one color of the 256GB Cellular iPad mini 6 has been discounted to $699.99, down from $799.00.
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.
For the 64GB Cellular iPad mini 6, all four colors are on sale at this price, which is an all-time low sale on this tablet. All models are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon today, with delivery as soon as July 21 for a few colors.
The price on the 256GB Cellular iPad mini 6 is a second-best price, but it's only about $10 higher than the previous all-time low price. Only Pink is available for this deal on Amazon.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
Apple has announced that its new Apple Brompton Road store in the heart of Knightsbridge, London, will open on July 28.
Our newest store on London's iconic Brompton Road, a moment away from Hyde Park, is almost ready to explore. It's a place where your boldest ideas can bloom, and we're here to help them grow.
Situated just a few doors down from the world-famous Harrods department store and other luxury shopping outlets, Apple Brompton Road was made possible thanks to a deal Apple made in 2019 with Chelsfield, the property asset manager overseeing a makeover of The Knightsbridge Estate, to secure retail lettings opposite Harvey Nichols.
To celebrate the store's opening, Apple has a lineup of free music, art, and wellness sessions taking place at the store between July 28-31. Live performances and Q&As are scheduled over the weekend, and there will be a "fantastical AR realm" for visitors to experience inside the store, along with a special guest DJ set on July 28.
Original Apple store development proposal in Knightsbridge (Image via Chelsfield)
Apple Brompton Road will join Apple Covent Garden and Apple Regent Street to become the third Apple store in central London and the 39th Apple retail location in the United Kingdom.
Apple Arcade is set to lose 15 games in the near future, according to a new section in the Arcade area of the App Store titled "Leaving Arcade Soon."
The following games are listed in the new section, which allows Arcade subscribers to download the games while they are still available, without specifying when they will be gone.
Projection: First Light
Lifeslide
Various Daylife
EarthNight
Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree
Over the Alps
Dread Nautical
Cardpocalypse
Towaga: Among Shadows
Dead End Job
Don't Bug Me!
Spelldrifter
Spidersaurs
Explottens
BattleSky Brigade: Harpooner
This isn't the first time Apple has removed a title from Arcade, but it has not previously officially revealed which games are leaving and in such large numbers.
As noted by MacRumors sister site TouchArcade, Apple doesn't explain what happens to the games that are exiting the service, leaving players unsure about what will happen to their save data. Whether the games will transition to a premium or free release, or be delisted altogether, is also unclear.
Apple Arcade is priced at $4.99 per month, and it includes more than 200 new and original gaming titles. All of the games are free to play with no additional in-app purchases or payments required. Up to six family members can share a single Apple Arcade subscription through Apple's Family Sharing features.
Apple today shared a pair of iPhone 13 ads highlighting key features like the device's splash resistance and the durable Ceramic Shield front display.
In the first spot, titled "Shake," a dog dives into a swimming pool on a hot, sunny day, then gets out, walks over to its owner, and proceeds to shake dry, showering her and her iPhone 13 in water. "iPhone 13. Spill and splash resistant," reads the slogan. "Relax, it's iPhone."
In the second ad, titled "Edge," an iPhone 13 sits on a table in an apartment, and an incoming call proceeds to vibrate the phone right off the table and onto the floor with a loud thud. "iPhone 13 with Ceramic Shield. Tougher than any smartphone glass. Relax, it's iPhone," reads the slogan.
The "Relax, it's iPhone" series isn't new, and Apple has shared other videos in this series to preview Find My, the iPhone's durability, battery life, and other features. Apple has used the "Relax, it's iPhone" tagline for both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13.
Apple this week added the Apple TV HD with the original Siri Remote to its vintage products list. The device became vintage on June 30, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors, but the public-facing list was only updated recently.
When the Apple TV HD was first released in 2015, it came with a first-generation Siri Remote without a white ring around the Menu button — only units that shipped with this ring-less remote are now considered vintage. Apple added a white ring to the Menu button in 2017 to make the button more prominent when picking up the remote.
Apple TV HD units that shipped with a Siri Remote with a white ring (which is still considered the first-generation Siri Remote) or the second-generation Siri Remote (silver with a circular trackpad) have not been classified as vintage.
A device is classified as vintage after five years have passed since Apple last distributed the device for sale. Vintage products are typically ineligible for repairs at Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers, unless parts are still available.
Apple continues to sell the Apple TV HD (originally known as the fourth-generation Apple TV) for $149. Beyond changes to the Siri Remote, the device has not received any hardware upgrades since being released nearly seven years ago.
If you've been waiting since last month for a chance to try out iOS 16 and all of Apple's other upcoming operating system updates without needing a developer account, now's your chance, as Apple has launched public betas for all of the updates.
This week also saw the launch of the redesigned M2 MacBook Air, the official end to the working relationship between Apple and Jony Ive, and a couple of special guests on our podcast, so read on for details on all of these topics!
Apple Releases Free iOS 16 Public Beta
Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 16, allowing anyone with an iPhone 8 or newer to test out the software update for free. iOS 16 includes plenty of new features, ranging from a customizable Lock Screen to the ability to edit or unsend iMessages and more.
We put together a guide explaining how to install the iOS 16 public beta for those interested in testing the update. For those opting to wait, iOS 16 should be released to all users in September.
The headline new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to customize the Lock screen with multilayered wallpapers, custom fonts for the date and time, and widgets, but our list includes six other useful new features that improve the overall experience of using an iPhone.
M2 MacBook Air Reviews: 'Apple's Near-Perfect Mac'
One of the reviews described the new MacBook Air as "Apple's near-perfect Mac," but be aware that the base model with 256GB of storage has slower SSD speeds in benchmarks compared to the equivalent previous-generation model.
The MacRumors Show: Ross Young Talks iPad and Mac
One of the latest episodes of The MacRumors Show podcast features special guest Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants and a well-known source of info for future Apple products.
Later in the week, we talked with Justine Ezarik ("iJustine") about her earlier impressions of the M1 MacBook Air given that she's had around a week to spend with it already. She shared her impressions of the design and specs, as well as how well it's holding up for everyday use.
If you have installed the iOS 16 beta on your iPhone, or you are simply curious about what is new, be sure to watch the video for a closer look at 10 useful features and improvements in the update.
Apple Ends Partnership With Former Design Chief Jony Ive
Ive played a key role in designing some of Apple's most iconic products, including the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Apple Watch. Ive had served as a consultant to Apple through his design firm LoveFrom since 2019.
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.
The iOS 16 Maps app didn't get as many changes as some of the other apps in the update, but there is at least one major change that's worth noting -- multi-stop routing. Multi-stop routing is a long-awaited Maps feature, plus there are a few other new options.
This guide highlights all of the features that are new to the Maps app in iOS 16, which is available now for all eligible devices.
Multi-Stop Routing
With iOS 16, you can plan a route that has multiple stops for the first time. Prior to now, you could only route yourself to a single location, and the Apple Maps app was far behind competitors like Waze and Google Maps when planning for more than one stop on a trip.
When you type in a destination in the Maps app in iOS 16, you can tap on the new "Add Stop" button to choose multiple locations. Up to 15 locations can be added on one route, and the Maps app will go to each stop in turn. Note that the Maps app does not optimize the route, so you'll need to do that manually when you type in stops.
If you're already on the road and want to insert a stop into your route, you can use Siri voice commands to do so.
Plan Routes on Mac
For planning a trip with multiple stops, you can get everything ready on the Maps app on Mac, then port it over to the iPhone when you're ready to go.
Maps Interface Updates
To accommodate the new multi-stop routing option, getting directions has been streamlined. It's simpler to change between driving, walking, transit, cycling, and ride share.
There are also drop down menus for changing travel mode, time you want to leave, and options to avoid tolls or highways, which makes it quicker to drill down into your preferences when getting directions.
The recent routes that you've used will show up in the Recent section for quicker access.
Transit Cards in Maps
Transit cards added to the Wallet app are integrated into the Maps app, so you can see if your balance is low and add more funds without having to swap over to the Wallet app.
Transit Fares
When planning a transit route, you can see how much it will cost in transit fares in select cities.
Photo Use Permissions
The Maps app in iOS 16 has a toggle for allowing companies to use photos that you upload using the built-in Maps rating feature. This is applicable to companies that provide photos to Maps, and it includes location information, but not identity.
Revamped Apple Map Design
Apple in iOS 15 introduced a new, more detailed Apple Maps design that provides more detail for roads, pathways, greenery, and more. The updated Maps app is coming to the following countries in iOS 16:
Belgium
France
Israel
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Palestinian Territories
Saudi Arabia
Guide Feedback
Have questions about Maps in iOS 16, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Happy MacBook Air launch day! Today is the official debut date of the new M2 MacBook Air, which features the first major redesign to the MacBook Air in a decade. We picked up one of the new M2 MacBook Air machines and decided to do a hands-on video where we answer questions from MacRumors readers.
The M2 MacBook Air no longer has a tapered design, and it instead looks a lot more like the MacBook Pro. It's thinner and lighter than the prior model, and it comes in new colors that include Midnight and Starlight.
In the video, we answer questions about the M2 chip's performance for everyday tasks, the SSD storage you should choose and what you need to know about the SSD, whether you should upgrade the RAM, how the M2 chip compares to the M1 Pro chip, how the display measures up to the prior-generation MacBook Air, and tons more.
You'll want to watch our video for our full MacBook Air overview that includes details MacRumors readers wanted to know, but we also want to hear from you. Have a new M2 MacBook Air? Let us know what you think of it in the comments.
Apple today submitted its final filing in the ongoing Apple v. Epic legal battle, which is playing out in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Both Apple and Epic Games chose to appeal the original ruling as neither company was satisfied with the outcome.
Throughout the appeal, Apple has maintained that Epic Games lost the initial trial because of a flawed argument and "unprecedented" and "unfounded" accusations of anticompetitive conduct, not a legal error. In today's cross-appeal, Apple continues to argue against the injunction that would require Apple to make App Store changes to allow developers to use outside payment methods.
Apple claims that it was an "unprecedented result" that was handed down despite the fact that Epic was unable to prove irreparable harm from Apple's anti-steering rules that prevented it from directing customers to alternate payment methods.
Epic introduced no evidence below that it ever suffered injury-in-fact from the anti-steering provisions, and it cites none on appeal. Having failed to prove such harm--before, during, or after litigation--Epic never had standing to sue under the [California Unfair Competition Law].
Apple goes on to point out that Epic Games in fact no longer meets the legal requirement of "standing" because it is not an iOS developer and cannot be impacted by a Guideline that applies to iOS developers.
Back when Epic Games first violated the App Store rules by implementing alternate payment methods in Fortnite, Apple suspended its developer account, and has not since reinstated it. Apple has said that it has no plans to allow Fortnite back on the App Store while the legal dispute is ongoing.
Apple suggests that the injunction that was handed down as part of the original ruling goes too far because it applies to all developers when it should not. Epic was the sole plaintiff in the case, and there was no class action lawsuit. "The trial involved Epic alone, without a shred of evidence about consumers or other (non-subscription) developers, whose interests have been or are being pursued in separate class actions," Apple writes in the lawsuit.
Following the briefs submitted by Apple and Epic Games, the court will set a date to hear arguments. Apple has said that it expects a decision to come by summer 2023 at the earliest, so there is still some time to go before the legal dispute is settled.
Apple today seeded second release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, with the new software coming three days release of the first RCs. The release candidate updates represent the final versions of iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 that are expected to be released to the public next week.
Developers can download iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad. Public beta testers can download the profile from Apple's beta testing website.
According to Apple's release notes for the update, it adds new options for live sports games and addresses issues with device storage Settings, Safari, and more.
iOS 15.6 includes enhancements, bug fixes and security updates.
TV app adds the option to restart a live sports game already in-progress and pause, rewind, or fast-forward
Fixes an issue where Settings may continue to display that device storage is full even if it is available
Fixes an issue that may cause braille devices to slow down or stop responding when navigating text in Mail
Fixes an issue in Safari where a tab may revert back to a previous page
iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 could be some of the last updates to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as Apple is now working on iOS 16, which is set to be released this fall.
To end the week, we're tracking deals on Apple's iPad Pro and AirPods, which include a few best-ever prices that match Prime Day deals we saw earlier in the week.
iPad Pro
Starting with the 11-inch iPad Pro, you can get the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet for $699.00 on Amazon today, down from $799.00. At $100 off this is an all-time low price on this version of the 2021 iPad Pro, and it's only available on Amazon in Space Gray.
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.
With this record low deal on the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro, this is now the cheapest entry point into the iPad Pro lineup. There are a few other models on sale, like the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet ($849.00) and 512GB Wi-Fi tablet ($999.00), which are second-best prices.
AirPods
You can also still get Prime Day prices on two pairs of Apple's AirPods, including the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Starting with the AirPods Pro with MagSafe, these are on sale for $169.99, down from $239.00, which is the best price of the year.
Meross's smart air purifier provides a way to filter out dust and pollutants from the air to improve air quality at an affordable price, with full support for Apple HomeKit and the Home app.
Meross makes a wide range of HomeKit-compatible smart home devices for regions around the world, including garage door openers, smart lighting, smart power strips, and more. Compared to its direct competitors, Meross's smart home products are among the most affordable HomeKit-compatible devices on the market and often set themselves apart with no need for a hub or third-party app.
Setup and Connectivity
The air purifier is fairly easy to set up, simply requiring the hatch at the base to be twisted off to access the three-stage H13 HEPA filter, which comes in a bag that needs to be removed. Meross says that the pre-filter can capture 99.97 percent of particles at 0.3 microns in size, including smoke, pollen, pet dander, hair, and dust. The innermost layer of the filter uses activated carbon to remove odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and more. Meross suggests replacing the filter every three to six months, and the Meross app helps monitor its condition over time.
Once the filter is in and secure, users simply need to connect the power cable. The air purifier is powered by a USB-C port on its rear, making it easy to obtain a longer or replacement cable if necessary.
Meross's smart home offerings differ from many other brands in the same space, such as Philips Hue smart lighting, because they do not require a hub or third-party app. In theory, you need only open the Home app on your iPhone, tap Add Accessory, and scan the code on the device to add the accessory, allowing you to control and automate it from the Home app thereafter. Accumulatively, this significantly eases the setup process compared to the clunky hubs and apps that many other smart home brands demand.
While this is the ideal scenario for most smart home accessories, I have sometimes had issues setting up Meross's devices on my network, where they repeatedly failed to connect with the Home app. Some users may need to temporarily disable their router's firewall and the 5GHz portion of their network during pairing to get around these potential problems. This may not be necessary in your case, and Meross's setup experience is generally good, but prospective customers should be prepared to troubleshoot their network in the event of any issues.
Once the smart air purifier was paired, it had good responsiveness and provided a reliable connection to the Home app, and also worked well with automations. Unlike some of the other HomeKit devices I use, the Meross offerings are fairly consistently connected to my network, with no "no response" alerts. The smart air purifier is quick to respond to Siri commands or Home app actions, taking place within seconds.
The devices work over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only, directly connecting to the router rather than via a hub. As a result, the Meross devices can be slow or refuse to reconnect to the network when Wi-Fi is temporarily unavailable, but this is a random occurrence and cycling power seems to fix the problem.
Daily Use
The smart air purifier features a cylindrical, all-metal design with ventilation around the circumference. A large fan inside draws air in through the holes around the outside and pulls it through the three-stage H13 HEPA filter, before gently blowing it out the top. The design is relatively slim compared to other air purifiers and it feels fairly premium and well-made.
The air purifier features four speed settings controlled by the Home app or a capacitive button on the top. The button emits a loud beep when touched to confirm that it has been pressed. I would have preferred a physical button, but the capacitive button does the job well enough.
While the low settings are extremely quiet, stepping up to the third or fourth fan speed can get quite noisy. It didn't bother me, but users who want to counteract allergies during the night with the air purifier on high might want to bear this in mind. Thanks to HomeKit support, there are a huge number of automation options, such as activating the air purifier when you arrive home, control another accessory, or set a particular scene.
It is important to note that Meross's smart air purifier does not contain any air quality sensors, meaning that there is no built-in way to monitor when the purifier should activate, what setting is required, and whether it is working to purify the air. An easy way to get around this is to use another HomeKit accessory that offers air quality monitoring and then set up automations in the Home app that can activate the air purifier when needed.
Nevertheless, the lack of air quality monitoring is an important consideration. It may be an unsurprising omission given the price of the air purifier, but if this is a must for you, you'll need to factor in the added cost of buying another accessory that can offer this functionality and the need to set up automations.
The Bottom Line
Meross's Smart Air Purifier succeeds in offering a compelling air purifier at an affordable price. Its sleek and unobtrusive design, USB-C port, and quiet operation on low settings make it an option worth considering for most HomeKit setups.
While an air quality sensor with a visual indicator, better physical controls, and quieter operation, would have been appreciated, at the device's price point it serves its purpose extremely well. Occasional problems with my network during setup are easy to overlook once things are running smoothly. If you are looking for more a feature-rich smart air purifier, then Meross's offering may not be for you, but it is good for its price point as an entry-level option.
MacRumors readers can get seven percent off all Meross devices from the official online store with the code MacRumors at checkout.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner of Meross. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Meross provided MacRumors with a Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Justine is one of the most influential tech YouTubers and has had a chance to test out the M2 MacBook Air for almost a week. In this episode, we talk through the M2 MacBook Air's most important features and upgrades, including its design, display, color options, webcam, four-speaker setup, and more.
We discuss how the new machine faces up to full-time use, compare it to the M1 MacBook Air, and consider who it is targeted toward. We also look at the SSD controversy associated with base model configurations of the M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, and consider where the MacBook Air could be headed next, with rumors of a larger model with a 15.2-inch display and M2 and M2 Pro chip options on the horizon for early 2023.
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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.
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.
