Following in the footsteps of the 10.2-inch iPad yesterday, today Walmart has Apple's brand new iPad mini 6 for up to $50 off. Prices start at $459.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini, down from $499.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $599.00, down from $649.00. These sales are available in all four colors of the iPad mini, although stock is dwindling on the new Purple color.
With the exception of initial discounts on announcement day from Expercom, Walmart's sales today represent the first notably steep cash discounts on the iPad mini 6. Free shipping is available, with delivery as soon as September 27.
Apple just revealed the iPad mini 6 earlier this week at its "California Streaming" event, two and a half years after launching the previous generation. The new model features a complete redesign with a larger display, no Home Button, Touch ID in the Power Button, the A15 Bionic chip, and a USB-C port to support USB-C accessories for the first time.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders started today, and while many customers have successfully placed their pre-orders, some have experienced issues when attempting to complete their purchase with an Apple Card or Apple Pay.
Some customers have turned to Twitter to express their frustration with the pre-ordering process, sharing screenshots of errors that they received, such as "there was a problem with the card details you entered" or "something went wrong." Apple's system status page does not yet reflect any widespread issues with the Apple Card or Apple Pay, but it's clear that quite a few customers have been impacted by the issues this morning.
In the U.S. and the U.K., some affected customers are trying to place their pre-order through the iPhone Upgrade Program, but this is not always the case.
There isn't a clear-cut solution to the issues for now beyond switching to a different payment method, but for Apple Card holders, this could mean missing out on 3% Daily Cash. The pre-ordering issues have also resulted in some customers missing out on securing their preferred iPhone 13 configuration for launch day delivery on September 24, as delivery estimates have already started slipping into October for some models.
Update: Apple has since acknowledged the issues on its system status page, noting that "some Apple Card customers are not able to make iPhone Upgrade Program purchases." Apple said it will update the page when the issue is resolved.
Citizens One not taking Apple Card was not on my Bingo card for this year’s iPhone cycle.
— Craig Hockenberry (@chockenberry) September 17, 2021
The funniest thing about Apple not accepting Apple Card for payment of the Apple iPhone, is that the receipt will no doubt say “you could have earned 3% back if you’d used Apple Card to pay for this” #iPhonePreOrderpic.twitter.com/CXsnlSnjF8
— Dave Wood 🇨🇦 (@DaveWoodX) September 17, 2021
Well this was fun. 😑
For anyone trying to order the iPhone 13 using an Apple Card, try switching to a muggle card, instead. Seems to have better luck. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/bkBew7zHIf
— Howard Pinsky (@Pinsky) September 17, 2021
In 2021, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro as the successors to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, featuring a smaller notch, the A15 Bionic chip, longer battery life, significantly improved cameras, and new color options across the lineup.
When they were both available together, the iPhone 13 started at $799, while the iPhone 13 Pro started at $999. As both of these iPhones share a large number of features, should you consider purchasing the lower-cost model to save money, or opt for the high-end "Pro" model? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you.
Comparing the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro share a majority of features, such as display size, processor, and 5G connectivity. Apple lists these same features of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro:
Similarities
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, featuring HDR, True Tone, P3 Wide Color, and Haptic Touch
12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras with sensor-shift optical image stabilization and 2x optical zoom out
Photography features including Photographic Styles, Portrait mode, Night mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, and more
Videography features including Cinematic mode in 1080p at 30fps, Dolby Vision HDR video recording in 4K at 60fps, Night mode Time-lapse, and more
12MP front-facing TrueDepth camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and features including Retina Flash, Photographic Styles, Portrait mode, Night mode, Smart HDR 4, Cinematic mode in 1080p at 30fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision in 4K at 60fps, and more
Ceramic Shield front glass
IP68 dust and water resistant up to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes
Compatible with MagSafe accessories and wireless chargers
Available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options
Lightning connector
Apple's breakdown shows that the iPhones share a large number of important features, but there are some key differences between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, including the ProMotion display, LiDAR Scanner, and Telephoto camera lens.
Differences
iPhone 13
Aerospace-grade aluminum design
Weighs 174 grams
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 800 nits max brightness (typical)
A15 Bionic chip with four-core GPU
4GB of memory
Up to 19 hours of battery life (during video playback).
12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.6 Wide cameras
2x optical zoom out and digital zoom up to 5x
Available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Green, and PRODUCT(RED)
Available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options
iPhone 13 Pro
Surgical-grade stainless steel design
Weighs 204 grams
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) and ProMotion with adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz
A15 Bionic chip with five-core GPU
6GB of memory
Up to 22 hours of battery life (during video playback).
12MP ƒ/1.8 Ultra Wide, ƒ/1.5 Wide, and ƒ/2.8 Telephoto cameras
3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range and digital zoom up to 15x
Apple ProRAW and Night mode portraits
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30fps
LiDAR Scanner for Night mode portraits, faster autofocus in low light, and next-level AR experiences
Available in Sierra Blue, Gold, Graphite, Silver, and Alpine Green
Available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPhones have to offer.
Design and Colors
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro both have the same squared-off industrial design with a flat band around the sides that was first introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup. The most noticeable visual difference between the two devices is their different use of materials and finishes.
The iPhone 13 uses aerospace-grade anodized aluminum on the edges and a single piece of polished glass on the rear, while the iPhone 13 Pro uses surgical-grade polished stainless steel on the edges and a single piece of matte, frosted glass on the rear. The dimensions of both devices are the same, but the iPhone 13 is 30 grams lighter due to its use of aluminum rather than the much heavier stainless steel.
The iPhone 13 in PRODUCT(RED), Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green
The two devices also use completely different color palettes. The iPhone 13 is available in PRODUCT(RED), Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green while the iPhone 13 Pro is available in Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, and Alpine Green.
The iPhone 13 Pro in Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue
The iPhone 13 Pro espouses a more luxurious appearance and heavier, tactile feel in the hand, but the iPhone 13 still looks like a premium device with a more diverse range of color options. As the designs are similar, and only vary in terms of color options, materials, and rear camera configurations, preference for the iPhone 13 or the iPhone 13 Pro will come down to personal taste.
ProMotion Display
The iPhone 13 Pro features the ProMotion technology that Apple initially introduced with the iPad Pro in 2017, offering an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz. This means that the refresh rate of the display changes based on what is on the screen. The display of the iPhone 13 Pro is also able to get 200 nits brighter than the iPhone 13 in typical, non-HDR use.
When viewing a website that is static, the device will use a lower refresh rate, but while playing a game, watching sports, or scrolling through content, the refresh rate will increase to provide a smoother and more responsive experience. ProMotion technology is even able to accelerate and decelerate the frame rate to match the speed of a user's scrolling on the screen.
The iPhone 13 does not have ProMotion, but it is not an essential feature for most users. The iPhone 13 Pro is the first iPhone to feature the technology, with all other iPhones to date having a display with a non-variable and lower maximum refresh rate. This means that the iPhone 13's display still provides a good, familiar experience, and those who have not enjoyed a 120Hz display on a device in the past will likely not feel that they are missing out.
Cameras and LiDAR
The main difference between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro is their rear camera setups. The iPhone 13 has a dual 12MP camera system with Ultra Wide and Wide lenses. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 Pro has a triple camera setup that adds a Telephoto lens. The iPhone 13 Pro is also able to optically zoom three times in due to its Telephoto lens, which the iPhone 13 lacks entirely. It is also able to digitally zoom in ten times further than the iPhone 13.
iPhone 13 Pro triple camera setup
Each lens of the iPhone 13 Pro features a larger aperture than on the iPhone 13 to allow more light in, with an ƒ/1.8 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.5 Wide compared to the ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.6 Wide cameras of the iPhone 13, which should make for better image quality.
The iPhone 13 Pro is also able to take photos in Apple ProRaw and record video in 4K ProRes at 30 fps, file formats that take full advantage of the device's rear cameras. These features are aimed at professional photographers and videographers, so users with workflows that can make good use of these formats should get the iPhone 13 Pro. For the vast majority of users, ProRAW and ProRes will likely not be used at all, making the iPhone 13 a more fitting option.
In addition, the iPhone 13 Pro has a LiDAR Scanner in the rear camera array to accurately map the environment and depth. This allows the iPhone 13 Pro to take Night mode portrait photos and offers enhanced AR experiences.
iPhone 13 Pro clearly provides a more capable, pro-oriented, and fully-featured camera experience, so users who prioritize maximum quality and a range of photo and video capabilities should get the more expensive device. However, beyond the telephoto lens, many of these features, such as ProRAW, ProRes, and LiDAR, will not be important to the majority of users. For most people, the iPhone 13's camera setup will be more than sufficient to take excellent photos and videos, and it still offers a range of practical, easy-to-use camera features such as Night mode, Portrait mode, and Deep Fusion.
A15 Bionic Chip
Both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro contains Apple's latest A15 Bionic chip, which offers moderate performance improvements over last year's A14 chip. While the chips in both iPhones are the same, the GPU in the iPhone 13 Pro contains one additional core. Users can therefore expect slightly better performance from the iPhone 13 Pro when performing activities such as gaming or video editing.
The A15 in the iPhone 13 Pro is also paired with 2GB more memory than the standard iPhone 13, meaning that it should be able to keep more browser tabs and background tabs active at any given time.
Battery Life
When playing back video, the iPhone 13 Pro offers three extra hours of battery life compared to the iPhone 13, and it can provide five extra hours when streaming video. The iPhone 13 Pro has a clear advantage over the iPhone 13 in terms of battery life, and those users who need the absolute maximum available battery life in this form factor should choose the higher-end model as a result.
Storage Options
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are both available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage, but the iPhone 13 Pro is also available with a 1TB storage option for $1,499.
Users who already easily fill up smaller storage capacities with music, apps, and movies, may prefer to get the iPhone 13 Pro since it offers a much larger maximum storage option. The 1TB capacity is likely more aimed at professionals who intend to store large ProRes files, but could be useful to anyone with large enough libraries of podcasts, photos, or games.
Other iPhone Options
It is worth noting that the iPhone 13 mini provides the same feature set as the iPhone 13 for $699, simply with a more compact design, a 5.4-inch display, and a slightly shorter 17 hours of battery life (during video playback). Likewise, the iPhone 13 Pro Max mirrors the feature set of the iPhone 13 Pro, but with a larger design, a 6.7-inch display, and a longer 28 hours of battery life (during video playback) starting at $1,099.
If you feel that the iPhone 13 is slightly out of your budget and you do not need the latest A15 chip or the most advanced cameras, you may wish to consider the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 broadly uses the same design as the iPhone 13, has the same 6.1-inch display size, and starts at $599. The iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip, 17-hour battery life, and dual-camera setup are still highly capable for everyday use, and the device shares an overwhelming majority of the iPhone 13's most versatile features, such as 5G connectivity, Night mode, MagSafe, and IP68 water resistance.
We have a host of Buyer's Guides that take deep-dive into all of the differences between various iPhone models, so if you are now considering either the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro, take a look at our comparisons with the iPhone 12, iPhone 13 mini, and iPhone 13 Pro Max to be sure you are making the right decision:
We also have dedicated review roundups for both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, giving an in-depth look at what YouTubers and journalists made of the new devices immediately after launch.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the iPhone 13 Pro offers clear advancements over the iPhone 13, particularly in terms of its materials, display, and rear cameras. The iPhone 13 Pro is $200 more than the iPhone 13, and many people will find it difficult to justify the additional cost simply for display, camera, battery, and design improvements that do not significantly change the day-to-day use of the device. Those opting for the iPhone 13 Pro will be seeking a more premium and full-featured iPhone that offers a better experience and set of capabilities in all areas, or be interested in specific features such as ProMotion, the Telephoto lens, or shooting video in ProRes.
Since the two phones share a large majority of features, including design, an OLED Super Retina XDR display, 5G connectivity, the A15 Bionic chip, and MagSafe, it is difficult to actively recommend the more expensive model. As the improvements of the iPhone 13 Pro are specific and do not hugely change daily interaction with the device, most people should get the iPhone 13.
Today we're tracking a pair of deals on Apple's two MagSafe accessories, the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger. The most notable deal can be found on Verizon for the MagSafe Duo Charger, priced at $96.74, down from $129.00.
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.
The previous best price on this accessory was at Best Buy earlier this year, when it was $99.99. With Verizon's sale today, we now have a new record low price on the MagSafe Duo Charger, and you can get free two day shipping on the accessory from Verizon.
MagSafe Duo launched in December 2020 and offers a MagSafe charging puck for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, along with an Apple Watch charger. The MagSafe Duo features a foldable design for easier portability, and it ships with a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Amazon is offering Apple's MagSafe Charger for $27.14, down from $39.00. This remains the best price we've ever tracked on the MagSafe Charger at any retailer.
The MagSafe Charger magnetically aligns with the magnets in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. It's also compatible for wireless charging with iPhone models dating back to the iPhone 8. It has an attached USB-C cable, but it doesn't come with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Coinciding with the start of iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders, Apple today started offering 0% financing for an extended 24 months on new iPhone purchases in Canada through financing partner PayBright, up from six months previously.
For example, customers with approved credit can now pay for the iPhone 13 Pro with 128GB of storage for 24 equal monthly payments of $58.29, with zero interest applied over those two years. Taxes must be paid in full upfront at the time of purchase. The financing option is available through Apple's website, retail stores, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE.
With the lack of an iPhone Upgrade Program or the Apple Card with Monthly Installments in Canada, this financing offer from PayBright finally provides Canadians with a way to finance an iPhone purchase directly from Apple over two years.
Update: PayBright has been experiencing issues today with the iPhone 13 pre-order process, according to complaints on Twitter.
@PayBrightCanada, the company responsible for financing, has been down since preorders started. It had been impossible to complete a purchase.
— Noah Segal (@noahsegal3) September 17, 2021
Unfortunately it doesn’t get through. Paybright is down.
— Fayaz😷 (@faythebest) September 17, 2021
iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max pre-orders went live on Apple.com earlier today, and now you can also pre-order the newest Apple smartphones across many carriers and retailers in the United States. Carriers typically offer numerous deals and bonuses to ordering through them instead of Apple, and that's no different for the iPhone 13 launch.
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.
To get the maximum $1,000 off the new iPhone, you'll need to trade in an iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, or XS Max. A few Android devices are also eligible, and all must be in good working condition.
If you trade in an iPhone X, XR, or XS you'll get $700 credit to put towards the iPhone 13 Pro, and an iPhone 7, 7 Plus, SE, 8, or 8 Plus will get you $350 credit. Credits start within three billing cycles after trade in is completed.
Shoppers should note that this offer is not an early upgrade program, and the trade in device can not be on an existing installment plan on AT&T. For existing customers looking to upgrade their iPhone, you can get up to $500 off the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro.
T-Mobile/Sprint
T-Mobile has introduced a new "Forever Upgrade" offer this year, allowing users to get ongoing discounts on new iPhones every two years. Specifically, if you trade in an eligible smartphone you'll get up to $1,000 off iPhone 13 or 13 Pro on the Magenta MAX or Sprint MAX plans.
Then, in two years you can get up to $800 off the newest iPhone and every two years after that. T-Mobile says that customers will be able to access this $800 credit every two years "forever."
Additionally, if you're on another T-Mobile plan, you can get up to half off the iPhone 13 Pro via 30 monthly bill credits, or up to $500 off the iPhone 13. Both of these deals require an eligible trade in.
You can also buy one iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 and get a second one free (up to $800 credit) with 30 monthly bill credits. This requires you to add a qualifying line on any T-Mobile plan.
Verizon
At Verizon, current and new customers can get up to $800 off the iPhone 13 lineup with select trade in offers and on select unlimited plans. If you're switching to Verizon, you can get up to $500 to help cover the cost of switching, for a total of up to $1,300 off new models.
If you purchase an iPhone 13 on a Verizon device payment plan, you can get up to $250 off select iPads or $150 off select Apple Watches. Apple Music is also included in the Get More Unlimited Plan, while all other plans have six months of Apple Music at no cost.
Visible
Visible won't have the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro available to order until launch day on September 24. But once they do, if you port in your number to Visible and buy an iPhone 13, you'll get a $200 digital gift card and a free HomePod mini.
Best Buy
In addition to carriers, a few retailers have also opened up pre-orders on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Starting with Best Buy, you can save up to $720 on iPhone 13 and up to $1,000 on iPhone 13 Pro.
The iPhone 13 deal requires qualified activation and trade in of an iPhone 8 or newer, while the iPhone 13 Pro deal requires qualified activation and trade in of an iPhone 11 or newer. These deals will run through September 23 and you'll have to trade in your old iPhone in a Best Buy store to see the offer.
Apple today opened pre-orders for all four iPhone 13 models through its website and the Apple Store app, and estimated delivery times are already slipping into October for Pro models with the all-new 1TB storage option in the U.S. and select other countries.
iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are available with up to 1TB of storage, which is the largest storage capacity ever offered in an iPhone. The storage option is not cheap, with prices reaching up to $1,599 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max with 1TB in the United States. 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options are also available, with many configurations still available for September 24 launch day delivery as of writing.
The standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini models are likewise available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of storage, but there is no 1TB option for those devices.
Key features across the iPhone 13 lineup include a faster A15 Bionic chip, camera improvements, longer battery life, and a smaller notch. The two Pro models also feature a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. All four iPhone 13 models will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 24.
Update: In the time since this story was published, certain other iPhone 13 models, storage capacities, and color combinations have started facing extended delivery estimates into October. Discuss your pre-order in the MacRumors forums.
Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max through its online storefront and through the Apple Store app.
Pre-orders are available in more than 30 countries and regions around the world. Those who used the "Get Ready" feature to prepare for pre-orders will just need to hit a button to get their orders in.
This year's iPhones are similar in design to last year's models, but feature upgraded camera capabilities, a smaller front notch, faster A15 chips, improved battery life, 128GB starting storage, and ProMotion technology for the Pro models.
The iPhone 13 mini is the most affordable of the new iPhones, priced at $699, while the iPhone 13 mini is priced at $799. These iPhones are Apple's less expensive flagship devices, featuring a diagonal dual-lens camera setup and lacking some of the bells and whistles of the Pro models. You can get the iPhone 13 and 13 mini in Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED.
For those who want the best possible technology regardless of price, Apple offers the $999 iPhone 13 Pro and the $1099 iPhone 13 Pro Max. The upgraded models feature stainless steel frames, triple-lens camera setups with improvements to the Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses, ProMotion, A15 chips with a faster 5-core GPU, and up to 1TB storage. The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max come in Silver, Gold, Sierra Blue, and Graphite.
We haven't heard rumors of significant supply shortages this year, but it's always a good idea to pre-order right away just in case. Some colors, such as Sierra Blue, are likely to be highly popular and could sell out.
Major U.S. carriers including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are also accepting pre-orders for new devices, as are other carriers worldwide. Retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart also have pre-orders available.
Alongside the new iPhones, Apple is offering new iPhone cases and accessories, and for those unaware, the iPad mini 6 is also available for purchase at this time. The Apple Watch Series 7 is not coming until later this fall and cannot be pre-ordered alongside the new iPhones.
In the United States, customers can purchase the new iPhones from the four major carriers using Apple's site or Apple Store app, or choose a SIM-Free version. Purchase options include carrier payment plans, the iPhone Upgrade Program, Apple Card Monthly Installments, or paying in full.
Customers who pre-order one of the new iPhone models can expect to begin receiving their devices on Friday, September 24, which is the official release date for the iPhone 13 lineup.
In June, we reported that starting with iPadOS 15, Apple is giving developers the ability to allocate their apps more RAM, allowing apps to use more of the available memory in the iPad to run faster and smoother.
Via an entitlement, Apple is giving developers the ability to let iPadOS know that certain functions of their apps may perform better if they have access to more system memory. Currently, Apple caps the amount of memory an app can use, mainly to ensure that a single app does not utilize all of a device's memory, impacting other core system functions.
Till now, we had limited information regarding specific details of this entitlement, including exactly how much RAM an app can request. However, with iPadOS 15 launching on September 20, we now know that on the highest-end M1iPad Pro, apps can use up to double the amount of RAM that was previously allowed.
The new details were shared by the developers behind the graphic design app Artstudio Pro, and according to their findings, on the highest-end M1 iPad Pro, which features 16GB of RAM, apps can request through the entitlement to use up to 12GB of that available memory. On the other M1 iPad Pro models, which feature only 8GB of RAM, apps can request up to 6GB.
In both cases, even if an app informs iPadOS that additional memory is needed, iPadOS still allocates a 2GB buffer for the app, on top of the 4GB available for 16GB iPad Pro models, and the 2GB free for the other models.
The new change is likely to be most beneficial to graphically intensive apps, such as those for drawing, modeling, and photo and video editing. While the added RAM allocation is welcomed, some users may continue to argue that iPadOS is not taking full advantage of the hardware within iPad, especially with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros powered by the M1 chip.
Apple says the new entitlement will be available on "supported devices," and at this point, which devices are supported beyond the new iPad Pros is unknown. For example, this week, Apple released a new iPad mini and a new baseline ninth-generation iPad, with 4GB and 3GB of RAM respectively. For these new models, Apple is unlikely to allow apps to request RAM above the system limit, as it may impact core functions of iPadOS.
iPadOS 15, which includes the ability to place widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, an improved multitasking experience, Live Text, and more, will launch alongside iOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 on Monday, September 20.
Alongside iOS 15, Apple introduced an iCloud+ service that adds new features to its paid iCloud plans. One of these features is iCloud Private Relay, which is designed to encrypt all of the traffic leaving your device so no one can intercept it or read it.
According to Apple, "regulatory reasons" prevent the company from launching Private Relay in China, Belarus, Colombia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Uganda, and the Philippines.
Apple mentioned these country limitations in June, but it seems that Private Relay will not be available in Russia either, after Apple apparently disabled the feature there over the last day or so.
Based on reports from Twitter users and as reported by iPhones.ru, the feature was previously available to use in Russia via beta versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, but now when they try to enable it, those same users are met with the message "Private Relay is not supported in this region."
Private Relay works by sending web traffic to a server that is maintained by Apple to strip the IP address. Once IP info has been removed, Apple sends the traffic to a second server maintained by a third-party company that assigns a temporary IP address and then sends the traffic to its destination, a process that prevents your IP address, location, and browsing activity from being used to create a profile about you.
Involving an outside party in the relay system is an intentional move that Apple says was designed to prevent anyone, including Apple, from knowing a user's identity and the website the user is visiting.
Why Apple has apparently disabled Private Relay in Russia only recently isn't entirely clear, but the company has bowed to demands from the Russian authorities in the past, so there's good reason to presume this is down to another regulatory issue.
iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 will be released on Monday, September 20.
Apple has made much of its iPhone 13 battery life improvements, noting for example that the 13 Pro Max offers the longest battery life ever in an iPhone. However, when you look at Apple's own battery comparisons versus the iPhone 12 lineup, it's the streaming video performance that the company has eked out of its new smartphones that really stands out.
iPhone 12 mini: 10 hours
iPhone 12: 11 hours
iPhone 12 Pro: 11 hours
iPhone 12 Pro Max: 12 hours
iPhone 13 Mini: 13 hours
iPhone 13: 19 hours
iPhone 13 Pro: 20 hours
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 25 hours
The iPhone 13 lineup features new low-power displays, a more efficient A15 chip, larger batteries, and more power-efficient components, all of which make for dramatic improvements when streaming, as the numbers above show.
For example, Apple claims that when streaming video, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max last nine hours and 13 hours longer than last year's equivalent models, respectively. Taking the same metric, the battery in the iPhone 13 mini manages 13 hours, which is longer than even the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
With video streaming services so ubiquitous these days, not to mention Apple TV+ (and obliquely, Fitness+), Apple has clearly factored the computations involved into the power optimizations that it has achieved through the tight integration of its hardware and software.
Of course, battery life varies by use case and many other factors, so actual results will vary, but if they're anything near what Apple is claiming, binge-watching your favorite show should be a cinch on these latest devices.
Apple's online store is down ahead of iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max pre-orders, which are set to begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States.
"You're... early," reads the Apple Store message when attempting to visit the U.S. website. "Pre-order begins at 5:00 a.m. PDT. Enjoy the extra sleep." Apple used to do new device pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, but since 2019, has been holding iPhone pre-orders at 5:00 a.m.
The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are launching in more than 30 countries and regions around the world, and a full list of launch times can be found in our time zone guide.
All of the new iPhone 13 models are nearly identical in design to last year's iPhone 12 models, featuring flat edges, an aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure, a glass back, and a slight increase in thickness.
Key features across the iPhone 13 lineup include a faster A15 Bionic chip, camera improvements, longer battery life, and a smaller notch. The two Pro models also feature a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. The iPhone 13 models are available in Pink, Blue, Midnight (black), Starlight (silver/gold), and (PRODUCT)RED.
If you're hoping to get one of the models in the new iPhone 13 lineup on launch day, it's a good idea to purchase early because there's no word on how much supply Apple will have.
Pricing on the iPhone 13 mini starts at $699, while pricing on the iPhone 13 starts at $799, the iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max begins at $1099. The official launch, when pre-orders will be out for delivery, is next Friday, September 24.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 132 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web Inspector, CSS, JavaScript, Web API, WebRTC, Rendering, Media, and Web Extensions. Apple says that Tab Groups do not sync in this release.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is built on the new Safari 15 update included in macOS Monterey, and as such, it includes several Safari 15 features. There's a new streamlined tab bar with support for Tab Groups to organize tabs, along with improved support for Safari Web Extensions.
Live Text allows users to select and interact with text in images on the web, but the macOS Monterey beta and an M1 Mac is required. There's also Quick Notes support for adding links and Safari highlights to remember important information and ideas.
Other updates include WebGL 2 and new HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features.
The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS Big Sur and macOS Monterey, the newest version of the Mac operating system that's set to release this fall.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max will kick off on September 17 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, allowing customers to purchase any iPhone model in Apple's 2021 iPhone lineup.
Apple is planning to make the new devices available in multiple countries around the world simultaneously, so we've created a list of when pre-orders will kick off all around the world.
Australia West - 8:00 p.m. AWST
Australia East - 10:00 p.m. AEST
Austria - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Belgium - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Canada West - 5:00 a.m. PDT
Canada East - 8:00 a.m. EDT
China - 8:00 p.m. CST
Denmark - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Finland - 3:00 p.m. EEST
France - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Germany - 2:00 p.m. CES
Guernsey - 1:00 p.m. BST
Hong Kong - 8:00 p.m. HKT
Ireland - 1:00 p.m. IST
Isle of Man - 1:00 p.m. BST
Italy - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Japan - 9:00 p.m. JST
Jersey - 1:00 p.m. BST
Luxembourg - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Netherlands - 2:00 p.m. CEST
New Zealand - midnight NZDT next day
Norway - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Portugal - 1:00 p.m. WEST
Puerto Rico - 8:00 a.m. AST
Saudi Arabia - 3:00 p.m. AST
Singapore - 8:00 p.m. SGT
Spain - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Sweden - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Switzerland - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Taiwan - 8:00 p.m. CST
UAE - 4:00 p.m GST
United Kingdom - 1:00 p.m. BST
United States West - 5:00 a.m. PDT
United States Mountain - 6:00 a.m. MDT
United States Central - 7:00 a.m. CDT
United States East - 8:00 a.m. EDT
US Virgin Islands - 8:00 a.m. AST
We haven't listed every time zone for every country, such as in Canada, Russia, and the United States, nor have we listed every available pre-order country, so make sure to double check your specific time zone so you're certain you know the exact time that pre-orders will kick off. A time zone converting website is a useful tool for confirming accurate pre-order times.
Reports detailing Apple’s iPhone 13 manufacturing preparations suggest that Apple has been taking steps to prevent launch delays. That said, it's best to pre-order the iPhone 13 model you want as soon as possible if you're aiming to get a new device on release day.
iPhone 13 pre-orders will be available on Friday, September 17 and all four devices will launch one week later on Friday, September 24. These dates apply to customers in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, and more than 30 other countries and regions.
All of the iPhone 13 models will subsequently be available in Turkey on Friday, October 1, followed by Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and select other countries and regions beginning Friday, October 8, according to Apple.
Customers who order one of Apple's lower-cost Apple Watch SE devices will now receive an upgraded USB-C charging cable in the package, rather than the previous USB-A charging cable.
Apple is changing the cable in the box as it continues to transition away from USB-A and for consistency across the Apple Watch lineup.
The Apple Watch SE will apparently ship with the same USB-C Fast Charger that's available with the Apple Watch Series 7, but fast charging is limited to the new models. Though the cable is the same, the Apple Watch SE will charge at standard speeds.
With the fast charge cable, the Series 7 is able to charge 33 percent faster than with a standard Apple Watch charging puck thanks to new charging architecture that is not built into the Apple Watch SE.
The Apple Watch SE's product page confirms the upgrade and lists the device as shipping with a "1m Magnetic Charger to USB-C Cable" rather than the standard Magnetic Cable that used USB-A. Apple previously had a non-fast charging version of the USB-C Apple Watch cable, but it has been discontinued and is no longer available.
While the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE will ship with a USB-C Apple Watch charging cable, the Apple Watch Series 3, Apple's lowest cost option, still continues to feature a USB-A charging cable.
Classicbot designer Philip Lee has created a range of robot figurines, toys, plushes, and pins that are modeled after classic Apple devices like the Mac and the iPod.
The latest Classicbot product is an updated version of the iBoy that's available in pouch form. Lee's previously released iBoy was made from plastic and modeled after the Classic iPod. The iBoy Phone Pouch looks similar to the original figurine, but in a larger plush format.
Because it uses an iPod design, the iBoy Phone Pouch is rectangular in shape with plush stuffed headphones for ears, long arms, and short legs. The stitching is top notch and this feels like a high-quality accessory, which I would expect at this price point.
There's an embroidered display at the front with a cute robot face and an embroidered click wheel, which is what gives the iBoy its recognizable iPod styling. All of the limbs and add-ons are well attached, and it feels like a durable little bag that's going to hold up well.
Size wise, the iBoy has a limited amount of space inside. It will fit an iPhone, including the iPhone 12 Pro Max in a case, but that's a snug fit and not much else is able to go inside. In fact, it's such a snug fit that I don't think this is something I'd want to use for my Pro Max unless I wasn't using a case, but it is a looser fit for the smaller iPhones. There is a soft plush lining inside that's going to prevent an iPhone (or whatever else is inside) from getting scratched up, and a plastic zipper at the top keeps the pouch closed up.
In terms of measurements, the iBoy Phone Pouch measures in at 7 inches by 4.25 inches by 1 inch, and there's an adjustable 34-inch strap that attaches to the earbud antennas for carrying it cross body or around the neck. It is not big enough to hold more than an iPhone, a set of keys, and a few other small accessories. There's also a small pocket at the back with the iBoy branding, and this pocket is big enough to hold a chapstick, a pen, or something similarly small.
Given its small size and plush design, the iBoy Phone Pouch isn't something that's practical for most people for everyday use. I personally would not use this out and about on a day to day basis, but I might bring it along on an Apple-themed event like MacRumors' annual WWDC meetup.
I don't think most Apple enthusiasts who might be interested in this will want to wear it, but the strap can be removed and it can be placed on a desk as a little accessory that can also hold your odds and ends, and this is my preferred way to use it. The iBoy Pouch does not stand up on its own, but it can kind of sit leaned up against something on a shelf.
The front of the iBoy is white and the back is a light gray, so I'm concerned that if this was used as a bag, it could potentially get dirty, so it will need to be used with care. On a shelf as a trinket holder, it's much less prone to dirt stains. The iBoy Phone Pouch could also be used to hold cables and other small accessories in a bigger backpack for those who need more storage space or don't want to carry it like a purse.
Bottom Line
The iBoy Phone Pouch is undeniably adorable and will be appealing to some, but it's a niche product that isn't entirely practical and definitely something to be bought for the aesthetic rather than the function. It works as a pouch for small accessories, but I suspect most people on MacRumors who might be interested in it would prefer to use it as a desktop or shelf decoration, and luckily it also looks great as decor.
Both the iPhone 13 and the new iPad mini are equipped with Apple's latest A15 Bionic chip, but benchmark results reveal that the chip is downclocked to 2.9GHz in the iPad mini, compared to 3.2GHz in all iPhone 13 models.
As to be expected, the downclocked chip appears to have a small 2-8% impact on the iPad mini's performance compared to iPhone 13 models. In early Geekbench 5 results, the new iPad mini has average single-core and multi-core scores of around 1,595 and 4,540, compared to averages of around 1,730 and 4,660 for the iPhone 13 Pro.
MacRumors ran the benchmarks by Geekbench founder John Poole, who said the results appear to be legitimate, including the 2.9GHz clock speed.
It's unclear why Apple has downclocked the A15 chip in the iPad mini, but most users are unlikely to encounter any issues with performance using the device. Even with a downclocked A15 chip, the new iPad mini is up to 40% faster in single-core performance and up to 70% faster in multi-core performance compared to the previous-generation iPad mini with an A12 chip, according to benchmarks. We've reached out to Apple for comment.
The new iPad mini is available to order now and launches Friday, September 24. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders begin tomorrow at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, and we've also shared iPhone 13 benchmarks for those interested.
MacRumors readers can take 30 percent off Satechi's Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard this week, knocking the price of the accessory down to $56.00, from $79.00. The keyboard comes in Silver and Space Gray color options.
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.
To see the sale, all you'll need to do is add the keyboard to your cart on Satechi.com, then enter the code MAC30 in the discount code box. This sale will be live from today through September 23.
Satechi's keyboard features enhanced scissor-switch keys, an extended layout with full number pad, Bluetooth 3.0 connection, rechargeable USB-C port, and up to 80 working hours of battery life. You can also connect up to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously, and switch between them thanks to a dedicated button.
The Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard is compatible with the iMac, iMac Pro, 2018/2020 Mac mini, 2016 and later MacBook Pro, 2018 and later MacBook and MacBook Air, 2018 and later iPad Pro, 2019 and later iPad, and all iPhone models following the iPhone 8.
Satechi's keyboard is less than half the price of Apple's own Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad ($129.00), thanks to our exclusive discount. Readers should note that Satechi's model does not include Touch ID, like Apple's own Magic Keyboard with Touch ID ($179.00).
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The iPhone 13 in PRODUCT(RED), Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green
The iPhone 13 Pro in Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue
iPhone 13 Pro triple camera setup
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.
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.
