ZAGG and Pad & Quill this week are offering sitewide sales that have up to 25 percent off select Apple-related accessories. This includes the most popular accessories from Mophie, the newest MacBook Pro cases from Pad & Quill, and more.
ZAGG
Starting with ZAGG, you can get 25 percent off up to three products sitewide through October 27. The company's sitewide sale includes brands like ZAGG, Mophie, and Halo, and all of the discounts will be applied automatically in your shopping cart. This sale excludes already-discounted items.
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.
Additionally, there's another ZAGG sitewide sale currently running that is taking 30 percent off two or more products when you add them to your cart. So, if you plan on buying multiple accessories on ZAGG this week, you should see 30 percent off your cart. All of these deals are automatic, so you won't need to enter a promo code or do anything special to see the savings.
This sale covers all of the new Snap+ accessories from Mophie, including the Snap+ Powerstation Stand, Snap+ Wireless Stand, Snap+ Juice Pack Mini, and Snap+ Wireless Charger. These devices are all compatible with MagSafe on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
Pad & Quill
Pad & Quill last week introduced new cases for Apple's 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro lineup, and now you can save 15 percent on these accessories by using the code PQ15. This code works sitewide, so you can also save on accessories for iPhone, iPad, and more.
The new Pad & Quill MacBook Pro cases are called the Cartella Slim Cases, and they were handmade to look similar to a hardcover book. The outside is covered in a hard linen cover, and there's a moleskin notebook inspired elastic band closure.
Outside of MacBook Pro cases, Pad & Quill also has leather cases for iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, AirTag keychains, iPad covers, and more. You can get 15 percent off all of these accessories, some of which we've highlighted below, by using the code PQ15 at checkout.
Apple today released macOS 12 Monterey, the newest version of the operating system designed to run on the Mac. macOS Monterey comes after months of beta testing and feature refinements.
The new macOS Monterey update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences, and it can also be found in the Mac App Store. Like all Mac updates, macOS Monterey is a free download. For those who don't want to upgrade to macOS Monterey, there's also a macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 update available, which Apple says includes security fixes.
macOS Monterey adds quite a few features that have already been introduced on iOS devices with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. FaceTime has gained spatial audio support and voice isolation to cut down on background noise, and in the future, it will work with the SharePlay feature for screen sharing and watching tv and movies with friends and family over FaceTime.
Messages supports Shared With You, and Tab Groups in Safari allow tabs to be organized together and accessed across devices. There were Safari design changes to the tab interface, but right before Monterey was released, Apple reversed the changes. The "Compact" Monterey look can be enabled for those who prefer it.
There's a new AirPlay to Mac option and a feature for using the Mac as a speaker for multi-room audio, and Focus mode helps you keep on task by cutting down on distractions. The Shortcuts app that's available on iOS devices has expanded to the Mac, and Apple added new features to Notes, including a Quick Note option that activates a note when you mouse over a section of the screen.
With Live Text, Macs can detect text in any image and it becomes interactive, so you can copy, paste, and translate text from photos. Visual Lookup in the Photos app uses machine learning to provide details on animals, art, landmarks, plants, and more that you've photographed.
iCloud Private Relay, a feature available to all paid iCloud users, hides your browsing habits and IP address from third parties. There's a Hide My Email feature for keeping your email address private, and you can use your own personal domains with iCloud.
Mail Privacy Protection prevents emails from using tracking pixels to monitor your activity, and on M1 Macs, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max now offer spatial audio support. Apple's full release notes for macOS Monterey are below:
FaceTime - Spatial audio makes voices sound like they come from the direction of a speaker on the screen in a Group FaceTime call - Voice Isolation blocks background noises so your voice is crystal clear - Wide Spectrum brings every sound in your space into the call - Portrait mode puts the focus on you by blurring your background on Mac computers with the M1 chip - Grid view displays people in same-size tiles and highlights the active speaker - FaceTime links for inviting friends to calls on Apple, Android, or Windows devices
Messages - Shared with You displays content shared over Messages in your Mac apps - New Shared with You section in Photos, Safari, News, Podcasts, and the TV app - Multiple photos display as collages or stacks in Messages
Safari - Tab Groups help you save and organize your tabs and sync across devices - Intelligent Tracking Prevention prevents trackers from viewing your IP address - Compact tab bar option lets you see more of the webpage on your screen
Focus - Focus lets you automatically filter out notifications based on what you're doing - Options to customize a Focus for activities like work, gaming, reading, and more - Focus sets across all Apple devices - Status lets your contacts know that your notifications are silenced
Quick Note & Notes - Quick Note lets you take notes on any app or website, and easily revisit them later - Tags help you quickly categorize your notes by topic and make them easy to find - Mentions enable you to notify others of important updates in shared notes - Activity view displays who made recent changes in a shared note
AirPlay to Mac - AirPlay to Mac lets you share content from iPhone or iPad straight to your Mac - AirPlay speaker support for playing music through your Mac sound system
Live Text - Live Text makes text interactive in photos across the system - Support for copying, translating, and looking up text that appears in photos - Visual Look Up helps you learn about art, landmarks, and other objects in photos
Shortcuts - New app helps you automate everyday tasks, helping you accomplish them faster - Gallery with pre-built shortcuts that you can add and run throughout the system - Shortcuts editor helps you design custom shortcuts for your specific workflows - Support for automatically converting Automator workflows into shortcuts
Maps - Interactive 3D globe with enhanced details for mountains, oceans, and more on Mac computers with the M1 chip - Detailed city maps display elevation, trees, buildings, landmarks, and more on Mac computers with the M1 chip
Privacy - Mail Privacy Protection helps prevent senders from tracking your Mail activity - Recording indicator in Control Center for apps that are accessing your mic
iCloud+ - iCloud Private Relay (beta) helps prevent companies from creating a detailed profile of your browsing activity in Safari - Hide My Email creates unique, random email addresses that forward to your inbox
Later this year, macOS Monterey will gain support for Universal Control, an addition that was not ready for release at launch. With Universal Control, users can use a single keyboard and mouse across multiple Macs and iPads. SharePlay, the feature that allows users to share their screens over FaceTime and watch movies and TV together, is also coming in a later macOS Monterey update.
To give a better overview of all of the new features that Apple has brought to the Mac with macOS Monterey, we have a dedicated macOS Monterey roundup that's available.
Apple today released iOS and iPadOS 15.1, the first major updates to the iOS 15 operating system that was released in September 2021. iOS 15.1 comes one month after the launch of iOS 15.
The iOS and iPadOS 15.1 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update. For those who don't want to update to iOS 15, Apple has also released a 14.8.1 update that includes security updates.
iOS 15.1 includes SharePlay, which is designed to allow users to call their friends and family and interact by watching movies and TV or listening to music together, plus there's a built-in screen sharing feature. There's ProRes video capture and an Auto Macro toggle for the iPhone 13 Pro, along with Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos support for the HomePod (with accompanying HomePod update). There's also support for generating vaccine cards in the Wallet app from vaccination records stored in the Health app.
Apple's full release notes for the iOS 15.1 update are below.
SharePlay - SharePlay is a new way to share synchronized experiences in FaceTime with content from the Apple TV app, Apple Music, Fitness+, and other supported App Store apps - Shared controls give everyone the ability to pause, play, rewind or fast forward - Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of a movie, TV show or song when your friends speak - Apple TV supports the option to watch the shared video on your big screen while you continue the FaceTime call on iPhone - Screen sharing lets everyone on a FaceTime call look at photos, browse the web, or help each other out
Camera - ProRes video capture using iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max - Setting to turn off automatic camera switching when taking macro photos and videos on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple Wallet - COVID-19 vaccination card support allows you to add and present verifiable vaccination information from Apple Wallet
Translate - Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) support in the Translate app and for system-wide translation
Home - New automation triggers based on the current reading of a HomeKit-enabled humidity, air quality, or light level sensor
Shortcuts - New pre-built actions let you overlay text on images or gifs, plus a new collection of games lets you pass the time with Siri
This release also fixes the following issues: - Photos app may incorrectly report storage is full when importing photos and videos - Weather app may not show current temperature for My Location, and may display colors of animated backgrounds incorrectly - Audio playing from an app may pause when locking the screen - Wallet may unexpectedly quit when using VoiceOver with multiple passes - Available Wi-Fi networks may not be detected - Battery algorithms updated on iPhone 12 models to better estimate battery capacity over time
On the iPad, the update adds the above listed features and support for Live Text in the Camera app. With Live Text, the Camera can detect text, phone numbers, addresses, and more, with the feature available on iPads that have an A12 Bionic chip or later. Live Text was already available on the iPhone.
Brian Tong's review provides a first look at High Power Mode, a new feature that is exclusive to 16-inch MacBook Pro models configured with an M1 Max chip. High Power Mode can be enabled in System Preferences under Battery > Power Adapter > Energy Mode when connected to a power source or under Battery > Battery > Energy Mode when running on battery.
High Power Mode is designed to maximize performance during intensive, sustained workloads such as color grading 8K ProRes video, according to Apple. Fine print in System Preferences indicates that High Power Mode may result in louder fan noise, suggesting that the feature allows the M1 Max chip to run hotter and ramps up fan speeds to accommodate this.
High Power Mode is not available on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, even when configured with an M1 Max chip, or on any models with an M1 Pro chip.
Tong tested High Power Mode on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Max chip by exporting a 19-minute video in Adobe Premiere Pro version 15.4.1. The export took 7 minutes and 18 seconds, which was just 16 seconds faster than the same export took with High Power Mode turned off, so there wasn't a significant difference in performance in this particular test, but High Power Mode could have more benefit with other workflows.
Tong also said the bottom of the MacBook Pro was noticeably hotter to the touch while he tested High Power Mode compared to normal usage.
Meanwhile, Dave Lee's review reveals that the new MacBook Pro models include black Apple logo stickers in the box rather than standard white stickers, as Apple associates the color black with its professional line of products.
We've seen Apple experiment with colors before. The new 24-inch iMac, for example, includes color-matching Apple stickers in the box.
SharePlay, a new feature that's been introduced in iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, macOS Monterey, watchOS 8.1, and tvOS 15.1, is compatible with Apple Fitness+ and adds a fun new feature to Apple's fitness service - working out with friends.
Using SharePlay, Apple Fitness+ users can work out with friends and family members over FaceTime. Apple says that this is a good way to help people "stay motivated and accountable on their fitness journey."
"We created Fitness+ so everyone would have a place they feel inspired and motivated, no matter where they are on their fitness journey. We are so excited to be available to millions more people as we bring Fitness+ to 15 new countries next week, and can't wait for them to meet our welcoming trainer team," said Jay Blahnik, Apple's vice president of Fitness Technologies. "We also think our users are going to love working out or meditating together with SharePlay. It's a really fun way to connect with friends and family, even trade some words of encouragement or friendly smack talk, while also making progress toward closing their rings."
Group workouts or meditations can feature up to 32 people over FaceTime on the iPhone or iPad, and the chosen Fitness+ workout will be in sync for all participants.
To use the feature, Fitness+ users can start a FaceTime call with their friends or family members and then navigate to the Fitness+ app to start a workout. SharePlay works with the Apple TV, so users can watch the workout on the bigger screen while staying connected with friends on a FaceTime call on the iPhone or the iPad.
Users who participate in a group workout over SharePlay will see their metrics and progress toward closing their own Activity rings while also seeing and hearing friends. When someone moves ahead on the Burn Bar or closes their Activity rings, all participants are notified and can celebrate together.
Fitness+ is available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the United States at the current time, but Apple plans to release it in 15 additional countries on November 3. Fitness+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, and it is included in the Apple One Premier plan for $29.95 per month.
New Apple Watch owners can get a free three month trial of Apple Fitness+, and starting on November 1, UnitedHealthcare members in nearly all states will be able to get a free 12-month Apple Fitness+ subscription.
Apple today released watchOS 8.1, the first major update to the watchOS 8 operating system that launched in September. watchOS 8.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and later, and it comes one month after the release of watchOS 8.
watchOS 8.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
According to Apple's release notes, the watchOS 8.1 operating system introduces enhanced fall detection algorithms, support for a COVID-19 vaccination card in the Wallet app, and Fitness+ workouts with others over FaceTime using SharePlay.
watchOS 8.1 includes the following improvements and bug fixes for your Apple Watch: - Enhanced algorithms to detect falls during workouts and option to enable fall detection during workouts only (Apple Watch Series 4 and later) - COVID-19 vaccination card support allows you to present verifiable vaccination information from Apple Wallet - Fitness+ supports SharePlay to allow subscribers to invite up to 32 people to workout together through a FaceTime call using iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV - Always On may not display the time accurately for some users when their wrist is down (Apple Watch Series 5 and later)
Apple today released tvOS 15.1, the first major update to the tvOS operating system that launched in September 2021.
tvOS 15.1 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 15.1 automatically.
Apple's tvOS updates are typically minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes, but today's update adds support for SharePlay.
With support for SharePlay, content from the Apple TV app can be watched over FaceTime with friends and family members. Content is synced across the devices of all participants so you can watch TV and movies right alongside others, discussing it as you go.
There are shared controls for playing content, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding, and there's a smart volume that automatically lowers the audio of a movie, TV show, or song when someone speaks.
Apple does not provide detailed release notes for its tvOS updates, but it does offer some tvOS details through its tvOS support document.
Alongside the iOS 15.1 update that was released today, Apple has introduced a new 15.1 software update that's designed for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.
The HomePod update introduces Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio to Apple's HomePods, bringing them in line with other devices that have supported the features since earlier this year. Lossless Audio is available on both the HomePod and HomePod mini, while Spatial Audio is available on the larger-sized and now-discontinued HomePod.
Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos can be enabled through the Home app. Open up Home Settings, tap on your profile, and then under Media, tap on Apple Music. From there, toggle on Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos. Note that these options appear in the iOS 15.1 beta, but the HomePod 15.1 beta seems to be needed to actually use the features on the HomePod.
HomePod software is installed automatically on the HomePod unless the feature is disabled, but the HomePod can also be manually updated in the Home app by following the instructions in our HomePod update how to.
Last month, Apple announced that its subscription-based Fitness+ workout service would be launching in 15 additional countries "later this year," and today, the company confirmed the launch will take place on November 3.
Apple Fitness+ launched in December 2020 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. Less than a year later, on November 3, Apple is expanding Fitness+ to millions of new customers in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.
Apple Fitness+ workouts will continue to be hosted and taught in English, with subtitles in major languages for all countries. New workouts are added to the database every week through the Fitness app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Apple Fitness+ costs $9.99 per month, with prices expected to vary in every country based on local currencies.
Alongside new MacBook Pro models, the AirPods 3 are set to launch on Tuesday, October 26, and ahead of tomorrow's official release date, reviewers and YouTubers have shared reviews on Apple's latest earbuds.
We've highlighted video reviews of the AirPods 3 in a separate article, and excerpts and details from written reviews can be found below.
Design
Gizmodo reviewer Andrew Liszweski said that the AirPods 3 "look and feel almost identical" to the AirPods Pro, just minus the silicone tips. They're a little bit smaller
Image from Gizmodo comparing AirPods 2 (left), AirPods 3 (middle), and AirPods Pro without silicone tip (right)
Reviewers also highlighted the Force Touch stems that are already present on the AirPods Pro, noting that the Force Touch feature is a nice improvement for control input, but that there's still no physical volume control option.
Fit
The Verge's Chris Welch said that the new AirPods shape works better, and that while ambient sound is still audible, the closer fit cuts out some of the outside noise.
They're staying put so well that I no longer feel the same anxiety about them tumbling onto the ground and down a sewer grate. That worry was always present with the older AirPods. The healthy dose of ambient sound remains, and I'm just someone who prefers earbuds that offer some quiet from the outside world.
Gizmodo's Andrew Liszweski also said that the AirPods 3 had a better fit in the ear. The AirPods 3 are "ever so slightly heavier" than the original, but the shorter stem and the more streamlined design orients the main speaker "at a better angle feels like it offers better weight distribution."
TechCrunch's Brian Heater said that the AirPods 3 are "unquestionably" more comfortable than older AirPods, but the AirPods Pro are still better.
The more contoured third-generation buds are unquestionably more comfortable than their predecessors, but the gulf between them and the Pros feels like night and day. That's likely to be even more the case for people with smaller ears -- having different-sized, removable tips is a lifesaver for some. The seal those tips provide also create passive noise canceling through a physical seal that effectively keeps in more audio frequencies and blocks out ambient noise.
Pocket-lint's Britta O'Boyle found the AirPods 3 to be too big for her ears, and said that they do fall out of her ears occasionally.
Sound Quality
Apple told The Verge that it aimed to give the AirPods 3 the same sound profile as the AirPods Pro. The Verge reviewer Chris Welch said that the AirPods Pro do indeed sound similar to the AirPods 3, and compared to the AirPods 2, they're "fuller." There's no "striking difference" between the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3, but among other earbuds with a similar design, Welch says the AirPods are "up there with the best."
Other reviewers expressed similar sentiments about the sound. Gizmodo's Andrew Liszweski said that the AirPods 3 don't sound better than the AirPods Pro, but they're a definite improvement over the prior-generation AirPods. "I'm legitimately surprised at how good they do sound," he wrote.
The separation between high and low frequencies isn't as pronounced and distinct as it is with the AirPods Pro and other wireless earbuds that use silicone tips--sometimes the highs get a little lost if bass notes are really thumping in a track--but the new AirPods' sound quality is a huge improvement, and because they're so comfortable to wear, I keep choosing them over my AirPods Pro for most of my daily listening.
Engadget's Billy Steele said that the AirPods sound "so much better" than prior models.
I don't want to mince words here: the new AirPods sound so much better than the previous two versions. Like almost night and day better. Apple didn't make any significant changes to sound quality from the first model to the 2019 version. But for gen three, Apple paired a custom driver with a high-dynamic-range amplifier to improve the audio chops. The company says that the duo work together to produce "rich consistent bass" and "crisp, clean" highs. From the moment I fired up the first song, this was all immediately evident. I don't think I've ever audibly said "woah" with the first note from a guitar on any review unit, but given how average older AirPods sound, it was involuntary this time.
Steele highlighted the Adaptive EQ feature of the AirPods, which customize the sound to the individual ear. The feature and other sound quality updates make the AirPods something he "actually wanted to listen to music with" rather than a listening device to choose just because they're more convenient than other earbud options.
He also tested call quality, and he said that FaceTime calls are "crisp and clear." Phone calls are better, but not to the same degree as FaceTime calls.
Charging Case
Apple added a MagSafe Charging Case to the AirPods 3, and according to reviewers, the case works identically to MagSafe iPhones, attaching with the same alignment to magnetic chargers. There's no reverse wireless charging, though, and Apple told The Verge that the MagSafe Case was intentionally designed so that it can't magnetically latch to iPhones to avoid confusing people.
Battery Life
Pocket-lint's Britta O'Doyle said that in her testing, the battery life of the AirPods listed by Apple was "conservative." Apple says that the AirPods will last for up to six hours, but she got "more listening than promised." The AirPods Pro lasted for 4.5 hours of talk time (Apple says 4), and 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio enabled (Apple says 5).
Wrap-Up
Overall, reviews of the AirPods 3 were highly positive. Reviewers like the new design, which is more comfortable and offers a tighter and more secure fit in the ears, and the improved fit also makes the sound quality better than before.
All of the great AirPods features like quick pairing and easy device switching are present, plus Apple has added Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ to boost them even further. Reviews lauded the new IPX4 water and sweat resistance rating, and were satisfied with the battery life.
On the downside, some reviewers still missed the silicone tips and the Active Noise Cancellation feature available in the AirPods Pro, but it's clear that these new AirPods are worth checking out, especially at the $179 price point.
Apple's embargo on reviews of the third-generation AirPods has now lifted ahead of its launch tomorrow, giving the first hands-on looks at the company's latest earbuds. In addition to our review roundup, we have gathered together a number of unboxing videos and reviews of the new AirPods.
Scroll down for the initial unboxing and review videos from a range of prominent YouTubers who have been first to get their hands on the third-generation AirPods.
Videos
For more in-depth impressions, read our AirPods review roundup. If you are on the fence about buying the third-generation AirPods, take a look at some of our buyer's guides:
The MagSafe Charging Case for the third-generation AirPods features sweat and water resistance, making the standard AirPods the first to feature an IPX4-rated charging case.
Apple promoted the sweat and water-resistance of the third-generation AirPods with the device's announcement last week, but the IPX4 rating applies to both the earbuds and the charging case. The AirPods Pro were the first AirPods to offer sweat and water resistance, but the feature only applies to the earbuds themselves, with the charging case featuring no accredited sweat or water resistance rating.
The IPX4 rating means that AirPods have ingress protection to withstand dripping, spraying, or splashes of water. It also means that AirPods cannot withstand water jets (IPX5) or water immersion (IPX7). The "X" part of the rating explains that the AirPods have not been rated for dust resistance.
The AirPods Pro also now ship with an updated Charging Case that adds MagSafe, but unlike the third-generation AirPods, the new case is not officially rated for any kind of ingress protection. Apple confirms on its latest AirPods Pro specs page that "The Wireless Charging Case and MagSafe Charging Case for AirPods Pro are not sweat and water resistant."
The third-generation AirPods feature improved sound quality, a new design with shorter stems, force sensor controls, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ, Find My support, and more. These features debuted with the AirPods Pro, but Apple has now brought the standard AirPods up to spec with its "Pro" sibling, with the exception of silicone in-ear tips and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
Sweat and water resistance is now an area where the AirPods surpass the AirPods Pro, but the IPX4-rated charging case is not the only new feature exclusive to the third-generation AirPods; the earbuds also feature an all-new skin-detect sensor.
Instead of skin-detect sensors in each earbud, the AirPods Pro use dual optical sensors to detect if they are in a user's ear. While they effectively perform the same function, the optical sensors can simply tell when they are covered up, rather than specifically against skin. This means that if you put an AirPods Pro earbud in a pocket or on a surface, it could accidentally resume playback.
There have been no rumors to suggest that the next-generation AirPods Pro will feature the new skin-detect sensor and a sweat and water-resistant MagSafe Charging Case, but it seems highly likely that Apple will bring its mid-range AirPods to parity with the entry-level model.
The third-generation AirPods have also begun shipping to customers around the world ahead of the device's official launch tomorrow.
For more detailed information about the third-generation AirPods, see our comprehensive roundup. If you are undecided about buying the new earbuds, take a look at our buyer's guides.
Popular accessory maker Anker today is launching a new family of MagSafe-compatible accessories for the iPhone 12 and 13 lineups, arriving under new "MagGo" branding.
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Anker is announcing six new MagGo products today: three desktop chargers, a car charger, a battery, and a phone grip.
Anker 622 Magnetic Battery: A 5,000 mAh magnetic power bank that offers up to 17 hours of extra battery life for an iPhone 12 or 13 and includes a built-in kickstand to support the iPhone in either landscape or portrait orientation. Despite the added kickstand flap, the battery is thinner than Anker's previous PowerCore Magnetic 5K power bank and only marginally thicker than Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack. I've been using the 622 for a few days, and while my iPhone 13 Pro Max gets great battery life on its own, Anker's battery pack is handy to have around for some extra juice (it charges the phone at up to 7.5W) or to prop up my phone. It's priced at $59.99 and is available in five colors: Misty Blue, Interstellar Gray, Dolomite White, Lilac Purple, and Buds Green.
Anker 623 Magnetic Wireless Charger: A can-shaped dual wireless charger with a hinged MagSafe-compatible surface to hold your iPhone in a range of orientations. The weighted base keeps your phone steady even in a semi-vertical orientation at up to 7.5W, and with the magnetic base deployed, it reveals a standard 5W wireless charging surface where you can charge AirPods or another phone. I've also been using this one for a few days, and it's a great addition to my desktop setup. It's priced at $79.99 and available in Misty Blue, Interstellar Gray, Dolomite White, and Lilac Purple.
Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charger: A 2-in-1 desktop charging stand with a MagSafe-compatible charging surface that's actually a removable 5,000 mAh portable power bank that charges at up to 7.5W. There's also a 5W wireless charger built into the base of the stand for charging AirPods or another device. It's priced at $119.99 and available in Misty Blue, Interstellar Gray, and Dolomite White.
Anker 637 Magnetic Charging Station: Another desktop charger, but this one is actually an 8-in-1 charger with a unique ball-shaped design featuring an angled 7.5W MagSafe-compatible charger on the front and a host of wired charging options on the back. There are three power outlets, two USB-C ports that can support up to 65W PD fast charging, and two USB-A ports. Priced at $119.99, the 637 will launch in early December and is available in Misty Blue, Interstellar Gray, and Dolomite White.
Anker 610 Magnetic Phone Grip: A simple ring grip and stand with enough magnetic strength to hold up to 800 grams, or about the weight of four iPhone 12/13 models. It's priced at $15.99 and available in Misty Blue, Interstellar Gray, Dolomite White, and Lilac Purple.
Anker 613 Magnetic Wireless Charger: A MagSafe-compatible charger for the car, the 613 sits on the dashboard and features an adjustable arm to position the 7.5W charging pad in just the right spot. It features both USB-C and USB-A ports on the rear for compatibility with most car models, and it has an always-on glow surface on the charging pad to help you find it in a dark car. It's priced at $69.99 and available only in Interstellar Gray.
All of the new MagGo products with the exception of the 637 Magnetic Charging Station are available to order today through both Anker's website and on Amazon.
Anker has also recently launched the 40W Nano Pro Dual USB-C power adapter, which we briefly mentioned last month alongside the launch of the single-port version. The new dual-port version is available for $35.99 at Anker and Amazon.
Apple's new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will begin arriving to customers this Tuesday, October 26, and ahead of time, the embargo has lifted on the first reviews of the notebooks across media publications and YouTube channels.
Image Credit: The Verge
We've rounded up more video reviews of the new MacBook Pro models in a separate story, while highlights from written reviews can be found below.
Performance: M1 Pro and M1 Max
Both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro can be configured with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max, with both chips featuring a 10-core CPU. The difference between the chips comes down to graphics, with the M1 Pro available with up to a 16-core GPU and the M1 Max available with up to a 32-core GPU.
The first Geekbench 5 benchmark results for the new MacBook Pro models revealed the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are over 1.5x faster than the M1 chip in lower-end Macs, while Apple said the M1 Max chip has up to 4x faster graphics than the M1 chip.
Jason Snell shared a useful chart comparing benchmark scores at Six Colors:
In my time with the 14-inch MacBook Pro and its M1 Pro chip, I didn't encounter a single instance of slowdown, even when editing photos with Lightroom and Photoshop CC, while also cutting video in Premiere CC when connected to a 4K HDR external monitor. In fact, the laptop's fans only turned on while exporting a 4K video file.
As we previously reported, 16-inch MacBook Pro models configured with an M1 Max chip feature a new High Power Mode that is designed to maximize performance during intensive, sustained workloads.
Design: Notch, Keyboard, and More
Key design changes to the new MacBook Pro models include a notch at the top of the display that houses an upgraded 1080p webcam, and a revamped keyboard with an all-black design and full-size function keys instead of a Touch Bar.
And yes, the display has a notch, which we know will be polarizing, but I very quickly stopped noticing it, just like everyone stops seeing the iPhone notch. We'll see how I feel after another few days with this thing.
I like that Apple got rid of the Touch Bar screen up top, which I didn't really find useful on earlier MacBook Pro models, and instead replaced it with full-sized function keys that are easy to tap to adjust the volume, screen brightness and more.
Added Ports: HDMI, SD Card Slot, and MagSafe
Apple has brought back many ports on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models that it had previously removed in 2016, including an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and MagSafe for a magnetic power cable.
It's as if Apple designers decided to go through all the feedback they've gotten for years and cherry pick everyone's top handful of wishlist requests (with apologies to whoever wanted mini-DisplayPort or DVI to return). […]
HDMI is something people have been asking to get back. It's great to be future-forward, but HDMI remains immensely useful, even if it's transitioning into being more of a legacy port. That's also why we had laptops with VGA ports for so many years after they should have vanished. People have older or legacy devices, like printers, projectors, displays, etc., and they want to be able to plug into those immediately, with a cable common enough that you might luck out and find one buried in the back of a desk drawer.
Displays: Mini-LED and ProMotion
The new MacBook Pro models are equipped with Liquid Retina XDR displays with mini-LED backlighting for up to 3x higher brightness when viewing HDR content, while the addition of ProMotion allows for an adaptive refresh rate between a power-preserving 24Hz and a smooth-looking 120Hz depending on the type of content that is showing on the screen.
The new Pro displays have also been upgraded with the iPad Pro's ProMotion feature, which is so good that it's now upsetting to use a laptop without it. ProMotion, which is turned on by default, makes it so the Pro can adjust its refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, depending on what you're doing. You can turn off ProMotion and use the Pro at a fixed refresh rate (47.95Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 59.94Hz, or 60Hz) if you want to, but I tried using it at 60Hz and found the difference too glaring after almost a week at 120Hz. It really is so much smoother with ProMotion turned on.
Battery Life
Apple said the new MacBook Pro models get up to 10 hours longer battery life per charge compared to the previous-generation models.
[T]he efficiency of the M1 chip's ARM design leads to great battery performance. The 14-inch MacBook Pro lasted 12 hours and 35 minutes in our benchmark, while the 16-inch went for 16 hours and 34 minutes. That’s over five hours longer than the last Intel model.
Key Takeaways
With very fast performance, the return of useful ports like HDMI and an SD card slot, and improved displays, the new MacBook Pro models check all of the boxes for a lot of professional users and are a very worthwhile upgrade.
Much like the return of MagSafe, the abandonment of the Touch Bar is a prime example of why the new MacBooks are the best in years. They build on the technologies and learnings of previous generations introduce some key breakthroughs and, perhaps, most importantly, listened to user feedback. That means moving on from what doesn't work and doubling down on what does, and above all, not ever assuming you know what's best for the consumer — particularly in the case of extremely particular creative pros.
Priced between $1,999 and $5,899, this is very much not the MacBook for everyone. For most consumers, the MacBook Air gets the job done — and then some. But if you're someone who regularly finds yourself pushing your machine to the limits, the new Pro is a great marriage of the line's best elements.
Apple's embargo on reviews of the new MacBook Pro has now lifted ahead of its launch tomorrow, giving the first official hands-on look at the company's much-anticipated new high-end laptop. In addition to our review roundup, we have gathered together a number of unboxing videos and reviews of the new MacBook Pro.
The key new features of the redesigned MacBook Pro include the M1 Pro and M1 Max chip, larger displays with mini-LED and ProMotion, HDMI and MagSafe ports, an SD card slot, full-size function keys, fast charging, longer battery life, and more.
Scroll down for the first unboxing and review videos from a range of prominent YouTubers who have been first to get their hands on the new MacBook Pro.
Videos
For more in-depth impressions of the new machines, read our MacBook Pro review roundup. If you are undecided about buying the new MacBook Pro, take a look at some of our helpful buyer's guides:
Apple's suppliers are currently developing components for next-generation sensors in the Apple Watch Series 8 that will allow users to measure their blood glucose level, according to a new report.
According to a paywalled report from DigiTimes, Apple and its suppliers have begun working on short-wavelength infrared sensors, a commonly used sensor type for health devices. The new sensors, likely to be fitted on the back of the Apple Watch, will enable the device to measure the amount of sugar in a wearer's blood.
The Apple Watch, over the years, has gained more comprehensive health features, most recently with the Apple Watch Series 6 that added a blood oxygen sensor. Compared to the first Apple Watch capable of measuring heart rate and primary daily activity, the Apple Watch is now capable of taking an ECG, detecting falls, high and low heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and more.
Continuing to build the Apple Watch as an all-encompassing health tool, Apple has already been rumored to be eying blood glucose measuring functionality for the next-generation Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 8. According to The Wall Street Journal, blood glucose level is one of multiple health metrics Apple is looking to add to the Apple Watch.
According to The Wall Street Journal, however, Apple is facing challenges in incorporating blood glucose capabilities into the Apple Watch. Current methods of measuring blood glucose levels include taking a sample of blood and using a medical-grade device. With the Apple Watch, Apple would be looking to take a typically invasive medical practice and make it non-invasive.
In iOS 15, the Health app added blood glucose highlights as a health metric. iOS 15 users have to use external hardware to provide the data, but that would change if Apple adds a glucose monitoring feature to a future Apple Watch model.
What Apple has in store for the next Apple Watch remains unclear, but the radical redesign that was rumored for the Series 7 but never materialized could make an appearance. The Apple Watch Series 7, announced last month, includes a larger display, faster charging, and a slightly larger battery. Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 8 in the 2022 fall season.
Blackmagic Design has announced a new update to its professional video editing and color correction software, DaVinci Resolve, adding full support for Apple's latest M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. As a result, the software runs up to five times faster on Apple's new MacBook Pro models, according to the developers.
DaVinci Resolve received an update in August for Apple's M1 chip, found in the low-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini. That update brought threefold speed increases to M1 machines, thanks to a completely reworked engine, and while the latest version of DaVinci Resolve isn't required to run natively on Apple silicon Macs, it has been optimized to take advantage of the more powerful chips in the new MacBook Pro models.
The optimizations rely on hardware acceleration support for Apple's ProRes code, which has been designed specifically for Macs with M1 Pro and M1 Max processors. Blackmagic says DaVinci Resolve runs up to five times faster on the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, even when editing 8K video.
DaVinci Resolve 17.4 Update! Get 5x faster 8K editing and grading on Apple Mac models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, plus Dropbox Replay integration, subtitling improvements, support for more languages and layouts with Text+ and more! Download now https://t.co/eBmOvN6BWlpic.twitter.com/MP83ZuYpaD
— Blackmagic Design (@Blackmagic_News) October 22, 2021
In addition to support for Apple's new chips, DaVinci Resolve 17.4 adds native HDR and 120Hz video playback support for the new MacBook Pro models. The update also adds native Dropbox integration, an improved 3D keyer, and enhanced compatibility with macOS Monterey.
The Apple TV 4K set-top box will launch in Korea on November 4 in tandem with the availability of the company's TV+ video streaming service, Apple announced on Monday.
Along with the launch of the Apple TV 4K, Apple TV+ will become available in the country for the first time, accessible through the Apple TV App, Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, and Apple One.
To celebrate its digital service's availability in the country, Apple will premiere its first Korean original series, "Dr. Brain," on the same day. "Dr. Brain" is a Korean-language show based on the popular Korean webtoon of the same name. The show is written and directed by filmmaker Kim Jee-Woon, best known for "A Tale of Two Sisters" and "I Saw the Devil," and stars Lee Sun-Kyun, best known for "Parasite."
The show tells the story of a brain scientist who works to find new technologies to access memory, tools that he uses when his family is in a mysterious accident.
"Dr. Brain" is an emotional journey that follows a brain scientist who is obsessive about figuring out new technologies to access the consciousness and memories of the brain. His life goes sideways when his family falls victim to a mysterious accident, and he uses his skills to access memories from his wife's brain to piece together the mystery of what actually happened to his family and why.
"Dr. Brain" is one of several Apple Original international dramas coming to Apple TV+. Apple is also working on "Pachinko," "Masters of the Air," "Slow Horses," "Shantaram," "Echo 3," "Acapulco," and other shows.
The launch of Apple TV+ in Korea is in partnership with local internet service provider SK Broadband. TV+ in Korea will be priced at 6,500 won ($5.50) per month.
The following week, Disney+ launches in Korea on November 12, releasing seven new Korean shows, ensuring stiff competition for Apple in its latest market.
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