A number of 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro owners that have a machine with ProMotion support are reporting seeing smoother Safari scrolling and performance since installing the macOS 12.2 beta, suggesting ProMotion support is finally working as intended.
After upgrading, multiple MacRumors forum members have said that ProMotion is functional and has improved the Safari experience on their machines.
Since the mini-LED MacBook Pro models launched in October, there have been complaints about Safari scrolling and a lack of ProMotion support. ProMotion has been working and functional for some apps on the Mac, but not others, and Safari is one of those apps where it was not working as expected.
MacBook Pro owners who have noticed the lack of ProMotion will be able to get smoother, more fluid Safari scrolling experience when upgrading to macOS Monterey 12.2. The update is available to developers at the current time, and a public beta will likely be released in the near future.
As the beta just came out today, it will be a few weeks at least before the software update sees a public launch.
Apple is creating a new office that will focus on wireless chip production as the company works to bring more of its chip development in-house, reports Bloomberg.
Apple is hiring a few dozen engineers for an office in Southern California to develop components that may eventually replace parts that are currently sourced from companies like Broadcom, Skyworks, and Qualcomm. The office is located in Irvine, California, which is close to Los Angeles and where major chip makers are located.
Based on job listings, Apple is seeking employees who have expertise in modem chips and wireless semiconductors, and at the facility, employees will work on wireless radios, radio-frequency integrated semiconductors, and semiconductors for connecting to Bluetooth and WiFi.
"Apple's growing wireless silicon development team is developing the next generation of wireless silicon!" one job listing says. Another says employees will "be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless connectivity solutions into hundreds of millions of products."
Apple in 2020 signed a multi-year deal with Broadcom, which was set to last for three and a half years, which means it will expire in 2023. Under the terms of the deal, Broadcom supplies Apple with "range of specified high-performance wireless components and modules."
When the contract expires, Apple will no longer need to use Broadcom components and can instead rely on its own components.
Apple has been working to bring more of its chip production in-house to reduce its reliance on third-party suppliers. Apple is fairly far along on its development of a 5G modem chip, for example, and when work on that chip is complete, the company will be able to stop sourcing 5G chips from Qualcomm.
Current rumors suggest that Apple's modem chips will be ready for use in the 2023 iPhone models, so Apple will continue to use Qualcomm chips for the iPhone 14 lineup.
Longtime Apple supplier TSMC will manufacture the Apple-designed 5G modems for the 2023 iPhones, and Qualcomm has already acknowledged that it expects to supply only 20 percent of the modems for the 2023 iPhone, with Apple largely relying on its own 5G chips.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming shortly after the release of macOS Monterey 12.1.
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.
We don't yet know what's included in macOS Monterey 12.2, but Apple has yet to implement a major feature -- Universal Control. Universal Control is designed to allow a single mouse and trackpad to be used with multiple Macs and iPads, and Apple has said it will be launching this spring.
We'll update this article when we find out what's new in macOS Monterey 12.2. Apple has also seeded a macOS Big Sur 11.6.3 beta for those who are still running Big Sur.
Apple's AirPods Max Smart Case is sufficient for the high-end headphones in day-to-day use. When traveling or out and about, however, the case can be problematic given the headphones' canopy remains exposed and prone to be easily damaged when put in a bag or handled with little care. Woolnut's Leather Case aims to provide customers an easy way to store their AirPods Max while traveling or as simply an alternative to Apple's Smart Case.
Build Quality and Materials
The case is made from high-quality Scandinavian leather and offered in three different colors: black, brown, and dark green. We'll be looking at the brown option for this review, though all remain the same in functionality, price, and design. Compared to other leather-branded cases and accessories, the exterior of Woolnut's case feels premium and on par with what you should expect from a case intended to store $549 headphones.
In the two weeks I've been testing and using the case as my primary AirPods Max storage compartment, I've noticed very little exterior damage besides normal smudges and dents that can be wiped away or are too minor to see at first glance. Overall, I'm impressed with the case's build, including the durability of the leather and the quality of the stitching.
The case comes with a "Premium YKK EXCELLA zipper" made in Japan. Woolnut describes the zipper as "the world's most exclusive metal zippers with fully polished individual elements." While all of that may be true, they aren't anything special and certainly should not be a key factor in any customer's decision to purchase the case. They're regular zippers that zip open and closed and have, so far, stood the test of time.
One downside of the design of the case is the lack of an external handle. With Apple's Smart Case, the AirPods Max's canopy serves as a handle for the headphones, making it easy to carry around. In Woolnut's accessory, no such handle exists, making it a slight inconvenience.
Usability and Functionality
AirPods Max are a uniquely designed pair of headphones. The ear cuffs rotate to allow the headphones to be fully flat, but creating a case for them is a challenge, even for Apple. I must applaud Woolnut for their efforts in designing a case designed to store the headphones, but they don't entirely hit the mark.
I have little to practically no complaints regarding the placement of the headphones within the case but would point out that it's not an entirely snug fit. The AirPods Max do move around when they're inside the case, and that was my experience from only minimal testing and movement.
In scenarios where this case may be used for travel where sudden movements and jerking around may be more prominent, the fit of the headphones may be problematic. With that being said, the non-snug fit and movement within the case are not drastic enough to cause damage to the high-end headphones, but it is, nonetheless, something to consider.
The material and padding on the inside of the case are soft and delicate enough to keep your AirPods Max free of any scuffs, dents, or scratches. On the base of the inside of the case, there is a storage compartment for a power adapter, and at the top of the case, a place to store a Lightning cable for charging the headphones. Both are welcome additions. For customers outside of the U.S. or Canada who may have larger power adapters, though, including myself, they may find the elastic holder to be a very tight fit.
A nice addition that comes with the case is a cloth bag, which offers protection for the AirPods Max case itself when traveling or simply being stored.
Power Saving Mode and Charging
One feature of Apple's controversial Smart Case offered with Woolnut's Leather AirPods Max case is a power-saving mode. With Apple's Smart Case, AirPods Max enter a low power mode to preserve battery life when inserted. That same technology is brought to Woolnut's case, which uses magnets to detect when the headphones are in the case and begins to preserve battery life.
To charge the AirPods Max, the case offers a cut-out hole to access the built-in lightning port on the headphones. With the case closed, it's a tough challenge to plug in AirPods Max to charge.
Due to the angle of the cut-out and the design of the case, charging AirPods Max is challenging since forcing the Lightning cable into the port causes the headphones to move up inside of the case. If you need to charge your AirPods Max and keep it within the case, plug them in using the cut-out with the case open rather than close. It'll make your experience significantly better.
Conclusion
Woolnut's AirPods Max Leather Case is one of many alternatives to Apple's Smart Case on the market. The material and build quality are on-par with what customers should expect, but weird design quirks, such as those making charging more difficult and the non-snug fit of the headphones, make it hard to flat-out recommend.
For customers simply looking for an alternative to Apple's Smart Case, Woolnut's offering is a reasonable choice. For customers looking for a case to travel with their AirPods Max in, I would advise scouting other options first before landing on this case.
How To Buy
Woolnut's AirPods Max Leather case is currently, at the time of writing, out of stock and hence is available for pre-order for $130, with shipments resuming in early January 2022.
Note: Woolnut provided MacRumors with the leather case for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Pixelmator today announced that its Pixelmator Photo app is now available on the iPhone. Previously limited to the iPad, the photo editing app features over 30 desktop-class color adjustment options, support for over 600 RAW image formats like Apple ProRAW, integration with the Photos app and iCloud Photos, and several AI-powered editing tools.
Pixelmator Photo for iPhone also includes batch editing features for editing entire photoshoots at once, copying and pasting edits between photos, a split comparison view for comparing edits in close detail, essential tools like Crop and Straighten, and more.
Pixelmator Photo for iPhone requires iOS 14 or later and is available today on the App Store as a free update for existing users of the iPad app. New users can take advantage of a special launch price of $3.99, and the app will be regularly priced at $7.99.
Pixelmator is best known for its popular Pixelmator Pro image editor for the Mac.
SiriusXM today announced that customers who subscribe to its Platinum VIP plan can access 12 months of Apple Music for free with their subscriptions, a promotion that applies to both new and existing subscribers.
Priced at $34.99 per month, the Platinum VIP plan offers SiriusXM service in two vehicles along with Apple Music content. SiriusXM provides ad-free music channels based on music genres, artists, decades, and more, along with talk shows, podcasts, sports content, comedy shows, and more than 5000 live concert video and audio recordings.
With the Apple Music promotion, subscribers will have access to more than 90 million Apple Music songs, as well as features like spatial audio, Lossless Audio, time-synced lyrics, and music videos. SiriusXM and Apple are providing a full Apple Music subscription, valued at $9.99 per month.
More information on the offer and the SiriusXM Platinum VIP subscription can be found on the SiriusXM website. Next year, SiriusXM says that it plans to offer a six month Apple Music subscription with other qualifying SiriusXM subscription plans.
Apple's AirPods 3 have returned to their lowest-ever price of $139.99, down from $179.00. Today's sale beats the Black Friday price by $10, and only Amazon is offering the deal.
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.
Unfortunately, the AirPods 3 will not arrive in time for Christmas. The fastest method will deliver around January 3-4, while the regular free shipping option has a January 4-5 delivery estimate for most places in the United States. If you're a Costco member, you may have more luck getting the AirPods 3 before Christmas at that retailer, which is also matching this sale.
In regards to AirPods with rock-bottom prices but delivery after Christmas, Amazon also has the AirPods 2 for just $89.99, down form $129.00. This is a match of the lowest price we've ever seen on this model, but it won't arrive until January 7-8 at the earliest.
In both cases, if you aren't specifically shopping for holiday presents and just want the absolute best deals on these AirPods models, now is still a great time to buy. These are the best prices we've seen all year on the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
Since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016, Apple has not offered a consumer-oriented external display. Apple did release the Pro Display XDR in 2019, but it is aimed at professionals and costs a hefty $4,999.
Fortunately, rumors suggest that Apple is developing two new lower-priced external displays that will be more suitable for everyday users. A new version of the Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip is also said to be in development.
Heading into 2022, we've rounded up everything that we've heard so far about Apple's future display lineup below.
Early Rumors
In January 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to report that Apple had started early development of a lower-priced external display to sell alongside the Pro Display XDR. Gurman said the display would be geared more towards consumer than professional use and would have lower brightness and contrast ratio compared to the Pro Display XDR.
In July 2021, 9to5Mac's Filipe Espósito reported that Apple was testing a new external display with an A13 chip, and he said it would likely be a new Pro Display XDR. The report speculated that the chip could help a Mac achieve better performance when connected to the display and/or enable some dedicated features like AirPlay.
24-Inch Display
Earlier this week, often-accurate leaker @dylandkt claimed that LG is developing two new displays that have the same specifications as the current 24-inch iMac and an upcoming 27-inch iMac. While he said the displays currently have unbranded enclosures, he believes they will likely end up being standalone Apple-branded displays.
According to @dylandkt, one of the standalone displays will be based on the current 24-inch iMac, which has the following specs:
4.5K Retina display with 4480×2520 resolution
500 nits brightness
Support for 1 billion colors
Support for DCI-P3 wide color gamut
True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the white balance of the display to match the color temperature of the light around you for a more natural viewing experience
Like the 24-inch iMac, the standalone 24-inch display likely won't have mini-LED backlighting or ProMotion, meaning the display won't have increased brightness for HDR content or a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling.
Given that the 24-inch iMac starts at $1,299 in the United States, a standalone 24-inch display without any of the computer-related components like storage would almost certainly be priced at less than $1,299, but pricing ultimately remains to be seen.
27-Inch Display
According to @dylandkt, Apple's larger 27-inch display will be based on the rumored Apple silicon version of the 27-inch iMac. The leaker said this display appears to have mini-LED backlighting and a 120Hz variable refresh rate, so it should feature ProMotion.
Earlier this week, display industry analyst Ross Young claimed that Apple is planning to release a new 27-inch iMac with a mini-LED display and ProMotion in the first half of 2022, so rumors do appear to be aligning for these products.
Little else is known about the 27-inch display at this point since the upcoming 27-inch iMac has yet to be released, so we don't have complete specs.
The current 27-inch iMac starts at $1,799 in the United States.
New Pro Display XDR
LG is also working on a 32-inch display that is likely to be a new version of the Pro Display XDR, according to @dylandkt. The leaker said the display appears to be equipped with an unspecified Apple silicon chip and will gain support for ProMotion.
It's likely that the new Pro Display XDR would remain priced around $4,999.
Release Timeframe
Rumors have yet to provide a release timeframe for the new Apple displays, but @dylandkt said LG is still at an "early development" stage.
Apple today shared a Christmas-themed "Ted Lasso" short featuring animated versions of popular characters like Roy Kent, Rebecca Welton, Leslie Higgins, Jamie Tartt, Keeley Jones, and Ted Lasso himself.
Called "The Missing Christmas Mustache," the short is voiced by "Ted Lasso" actors and it features a humorous storyline where Ted Lasso's mustache goes missing.
"Ted Lasso" is one of Apple's most popular TV shows to date, and it has won a number of awards. Two seasons have aired so far, and the series has been renewed for a third season, which could be its last.
Apple employees are no longer going to be returning to corporate offices in February as planned due to the continued spread of COVID-19 and the newly emerging omicron variant, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a memo sent out today.
Back in November, Apple sent out a letter telling employees that Apple would expect them to start returning to the office on February 1, but that return date has now been pushed back indefinitely.
BREAKING: Tim Cook just sent out an email delaying Apple’s return to work to a date “yet to be determined.” He also said the company is giving every corporate employee $1,000 to spend on home office equipment.
— Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) December 15, 2021
There is no word on when employees will be expected to go back to work, and for now, those who are able to do so will continue to work from home.
The delay will be welcome news to Apple employees who have been dreading the return to corporate offices, but Apple does plan to have employees come back at some point. Cook said that the return date is "yet to be determined" at this time.
Apple executives have made it clear since the beginning of the pandemic that employees will eventually need to return work. "Video conference calling has narrowed the distance between us, to be sure, but there are things it simply cannot replicate," Cook said back in June.
When it is safe for employees to return to the office, Apple is planning for a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be expected to be in the office three days a week, but will have the option of working from home for two days a week. Apple also plans to allow employees to work remotely for up to one month per year, giving them more time to travel and be closer to loved ones.
Because employees will need to continue to work from home, Cook said that Apple is giving every corporate employee $1,000 to spend on home office equipment.
A year ago today, Apple's AirPods Maxlaunched, marking the company's first push into the high-end over-ear headphones market under its own brand name. One year later, rumors about a successor are thin on the ground, but there have been some indications about what customers can expect from AirPods Max 2.
A report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that AirPods Max, thought at the time to be called "AirPods Studio," had suffered from several development challenges, such as problems with the headband being too tight, leading to multiple delays and scaling back of functionality.
It was initially believed that AirPods Max would offer unique customizability with interchangeable headbands and earcups, repeating the concept behind Apple Watch bands. Amid these delays and development issues, Bloomberg predicted that Apple would drop the concept of a replaceable headband to accelerate production.
Evidence of this concept can be seen in the final AirPods Max design. Users can easily remove the headband from AirPods Max without any disassembly of the headphones. To do this, users simply need to remove the magnetic ear cushions, fold the earcups flat, and insert a SIM card ejector tool into a small hole above the speaker.
Once the earcups are removed, the spokes on either side of the headband reveal a small Lightning-style connector for transferring power, and potentially data, between the earcups. It is possible that this system for removing the headband is a remnant of the original, more modular approach to AirPods Max.
Moreover, it was believed that AirPods Max would have left and right ear detection so users could reverse the headphones' orientation, as well as touch pads on the earcups for controls. This appears to have been replaced by the Digital Crown from the Apple Watch in the final product. It seems plausible that some of these features, including greater customization, could come to the second iteration of AirPods Max.
Rumors also suggested that the AirPods Max would be available in two varieties, including a more affordable sports-oriented model. Mixed-record leaker Jon Prosserrepeatedly said that AirPods Max would come in a "sport-like variant" for $350 and a "luxury variant" for $599. While Prosser's $599 was not far off the final $549 AirPods Max price tag, the cheaper $350 "sport variant" has yet to emerge. Apple could still launch this lower-end version of the AirPods Max at some time in the future.
AirPods Max in Silver, Space Gray, Pink, Green, and Blue
The last we heard about the next-generation AirPods Max was a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in May of this year, which explained that Apple was not actively working on a new model, but had considered launching new colors.
With the AirPods Max now being a year old, Apple could choose to refresh the device with new color options. The company has chosen to do this with other products, such as the iPhone 12 and the HomePod mini, and it would now be particularly fitting for the AirPods Max given the general disarray of Apple's current offering of colors across its devices.
We're still months away from the launch of the iPhone 14 models, which we're expecting in September 2022, but we've already heard enough rumors about the new devices that we have a clear picture of what to expect.
Rumors for upcoming products can sometimes be hard to follow, so we thought we'd do an at-a-glance rumor summary for the iPhone 14 so our readers can get a quick overview of what we might see without having to delve into tons of reading. We've separated the info into iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro lists, as these models are expected to be quite different in 2022.
Note that these are early rumors, and some of these features might not pan out or might have to be scrapped if there are manufacturing issues. What we get in September might ultimately look different than what we're expecting in December, but in past years, most early iPhone rumors we've heard have turned out to be accurate.
If you want to read more about the iPhone 14, we have an in-depth roundup that's regularly updated with all of the new rumors.
LG is developing three new standalone displays that may end up being for Apple, including one based on the current 24-inch iMac, one based on the upcoming 27-inch iMac, and a 32-inch model that may be a new Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip, according to Twitter account @dylandkt, who has a mostly accurate track record with Apple-related rumors.
In a Twitter thread, the leaker said the displays are currently encased in unbranded enclosures, but he believes the displays might be for Apple given that they have similar specifications as iMac and Pro Display XDR models.
🧵Thread 1/4: There are three LG made Displays encased in unbranded enclosures for usage as external monitors that are in early development. Two of which have the same specifications as the upcoming 27 inch and current 24 inch iMac displays.
— Dylan (@dylandkt) December 15, 2021
The leaker added that the 27-inch and 32-inch displays seem to have mini-LED displays with a 120Hz variable refresh rate for ProMotion, and he said the 32-inch display appears to be equipped with an unspecified Apple silicon chip.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to report that Apple was working on a consumer-level standalone display that is more affordable than the $4,999 Pro Display XDR, and if today's information proves to be accurate, the display could be available in both 24-inch and 27-inch sizes. These would be the first Apple-branded consumer-level external displays since Apple stopped selling the Thunderbolt Display in 2016.
Most of the information shared by @dylandkt today lines up with previous rumors from display industry analyst Ross Young, who just this week said that Apple is planning to release a new 27-inch iMac with a mini-LED display in the first half of 2022. 9to5Mac also reported that Apple was working on a new Pro Display XDR with an A13 chip.
Apple today released Swift Playgrounds 4, an update to the Swift Playgrounds app that's been in the works for some time. The newest version of the app allows iPhone and iPad apps to be created directly on an iPad without the need for a Mac.
Swift Playgrounds 4 includes App Store Connect integration for uploading a finished app to the App Store, plus there is an App Preview feature that shows live updates as you make changes. Apple's release notes for the update are below:
Swift Playgrounds 4.0 features: - Build iPhone and iPad apps with SwiftUI right on your iPad (requires iPadOS 15.2 or later) - App Store Connect integration lets you upload your finished app to the App Store - App Preview shows live updates as you make changes to your app - Full-screen preview lets you see your app edge-to-edge - Smart, inline code suggestions help you write code quickly and accurately - App Projects make it easy to move projects to Xcode and back - Project-wide search finds results across multiple files - Snippets Library provides hundreds of SwiftUI controls, symbols, and colors - Swift Package support lets you include publicly-available code to enhance your apps
Designing and uploading an app on the iPad requires the iPadOS 15.2 update that was released earlier this week. Swift Playgrounds can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Apple Fitness+, Apple's paid fitness subscription service, officially turned one year old this week. The service was announced in September 2020 and launched on December 14, 2020.
Fitness+ was initially only available to customers in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, but last month Apple expanded the service to many more countries. Apple Fitness+ is centered around the Apple Watch, which tracks critical metrics during workouts and displays them alongside the workout on the iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. New workouts are added every week.
There are currently 11 categories, including meditation, HIT (High-Intensity Training), yoga, core, strength, pilates, dance, cycling, treadmill, rowing, and mindful Cooldown. Each category includes its own set of trainers, with some types requiring equipment, such as dumbells, while others require no equipment at all. Depending on the category, workouts can be as short as 5 minutes long, with other ones being up to 45 minutes.
In October, Apple added new capabilities to Fitness+, including allowing friends and family to work out together using SharePlay. Since its launch, Apple has also introduced "Time to Walk," a new offering of Fitness+ which features audio stories from influential people that Apple Watch users can listen to with AirPods or other wireless headphones while walking.
In celebration of the service's one-year birthday, Fitness+ is offering a "Best of 2021" section within the Fitness app. Fitness+ is also celebrating the milestone on its Instagram. "Thank you for an incredible year. Here's to all that we've accomplished, and how far we've come together. Ready for Year 2? Let's Go!," the post reads.
We're just four days away from Christmas, placing us firmly in the last-minute holiday shopping season. Over the past few weeks MacRumors has been tracking all of the best Apple-related deals going on this season, and although many have now expired, there are a few left that you still have a chance of receiving before the 25th.
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.
Shoppers should note that most of the deals listed below are available from third-party retailers like Amazon and B&H Photo. The deadlines for ordering directly from Apple have come and gone for many products due to demand and supply shortages. You can see the full list of items still offering Christmas delivery on Apple.com.
In regards to the deals listed below, also take note that while these are all discounted, they may not be the best sales we've ever seen. However, if you missed Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals on these products and need them in time for Christmas, these are the absolute best deals you'll find right now.
Lastly, in regards to shipping and delivery dates, remember that these are constantly shifting and being updated across every retailer. What was in stock and delivering before the 25th when this article goes live may be pushed past a Christmas delivery mere hours later. If you see something you want, now is the time to buy. Also remember that the closer we get to the 25th, the more you may have to pay in shipping to guarantee a good delivery date.
AirPods Pro
Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case are available for $179.00 on Amazon, down from $249.00. Although not a record low price, this is only a $20 difference from the Black Friday sale we saw this year, and $70 off is still a great deal for the updated AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case.
These can currently be delivered as fast as Friday, December 17, and regular delivery will see them arrive on Tuesday, December 21 for most places in the United States. This is one of only two pairs of AirPods that currently have a delivery window before Christmas.
AirPods Max
The second model available to deliver before the 25th is the AirPods Max, available for $479.00, down from $549.00. Amazon has every color at this price, and all will arrive before Christmas.
Most colors are showing a delivery date between December 21 and December 24, so estimates are beginning to close in on the 25th.
MagSafe Accessories
You'll find a large number of MagSafe accessories discounted on Amazon this week, including iPhone 13 Silicone and Leather Cases, as well as the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Battery Pack.
Amazon has been discounting numerous models of the Apple Watch Series 7 over the past few days, taking $50 off these devices and introducing new record low prices across the board. Starting with the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 in Green Aluminum with a Clover Sport Band, this model is available for $339.00, down from $399.00. The only other 41mm GPS model on sale at this price is the Blue Aluminum with an Abyss Blue Sport Band.
Lastly, there is only one Cellular device being discounted this week on Amazon. You can get the 41mm Cellular Apple Watch Series 7 for $439.00, down from $499.00. As with the GPS models, only a few colors are available for Christmas delivery.
Apple TV 4K
Amazon has the 32GB Apple TV 4K for $169.99, down from $179.00. The only way you can currently ensure that this one arrives before Christmas is to pay for the fastest delivery option (free for Prime members).
Amazon and B&H Photo have the 128GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $999.00, down from $1,099.00 and with Christmas delivery. Although there are some other iPad Pro models being discounted, few others will arrive before the 25th.
You can also pair your new iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil 2, available for $99.00, down from $129.00. This continues to be one of the best deals we've seen this year on the accessory.
AirPods Max are Apple's first AirPods branded over-ear headphones and are undoubtedly a premium option for customers looking for over-ear headphones in the market. Rumors had initially indicated the headphones would be called "AirPods Studio," and their launch was deemed "imminent" for the majority of 2020.
AirPods Max feature a knit mesh canopy that's flexible to fit various head sizes. The headphones themselves are entirely metal, resulting in a heavy overall footprint. AirPods Max come in five colors: silver, space gray, pink, green, and sky blue.
Borrowing innovations from the Apple Watch, AirPods Max feature a Digital Crown for volume adjustment and a press to invoke Siri, as well as a Side Button for toggling on or off Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. Like all AirPods and select Beats headphones, AirPods Max feature Apple's H1 chip, which powers tight integration with Apple devices, such as easy pairing and automatic device switching.
Priced at $549, AirPods Max are not an inexpensive purchase for customers, and other options such as Apple's own Beats line offer significantly more affordable over-ear headphones. Along with their hefty price tag, however, reviews of AirPods Max have been favorable, applauding the headphones for being "more than enough to compete with other high-end headphones."
AirPods Max initially saw very high demand that saw shipping estimates stretch out into months, but since the initial backlog was cleared, they've become much more readily available with third-party retailers sometimes even offering even discounts of $100 or more.
Amazon currently has Apple's 2020 27-inch iMac (3.1GHz 6-Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,399.99, down from $1,799.00. You'll see this sale price after an automatic coupon worth $299.01 is applied at checkout.
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.
This is now the best price we've ever seen on this model of the 27-inch iMac, and it's likely your last chance to get the iMac shipped in time for Christmas. Amazon currently has an estimate of December 21 for most places in the United States.
Final price includes $299.01 taken off at checkout.
You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.
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.
Image via 
AirPods Max in Silver, Space Gray, Pink, Green, and Blue
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.
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.
