MacRumors

The increasingly popular privacy-focused browser Brave is officially saying goodbye to Google as its default search engine, replacing the world's most popular search engine in favor of "Brave Search," the company announced in a blog post.

Brave Search is Brave's answer to customers wanting a "privacy-preserving" search engine, and it's built using Brave's own "independent index, and doesn't track users, their searches, or their clicks." Brave users in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada will automatically have Brave Search set as their default search engine in the address bar instead of Google. Brave Search is also replacing other default browsers, such as Qwant in France and DuckDuckGo in Germany.

Today's Brave desktop browser update (version 1.31), as well as the Brave Android app (version 1.31)* and the Brave iOS app (version 1.32) all automatically offer Brave Search as the default for new users in these five countries, with fully localized versions in non-English geographies. Brave users can easily choose a different search option if they prefer by managing their search engine settings. Brave Search is also available in any other browser at search.brave.com.

Users in all countries will still be able to revert their default search engine back to Google or DuckDuckGo, but Brave is hoping the majority won't. Brave Search does not display any ads in its current form, but the company announced plans this week to change that. Brave says that the free version of its search engine will "soon be ad-supported," with the company planning to offer a premium ad-free plan later down the line. Brave launched Brave Search in beta earlier this summer.

Apple is planning to introduce a new 27-inch iMac in early 2022, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young. This information comes from both Young's tweets and additional details that he shared with MacRumors.

Young told MacRumors that the 27-inch display for the iMac will feature mini-LED backlighting, which likely means that it will have XDR branding. Young tweeted that Apple is currently planning to release the new iMac in the first quarter of 2022.

Young added that the 27-inch iMac display will feature ProMotion, allowing for an adaptive refresh rate between 24Hz and 120Hz. At the time this story was published, Young did not say what the display's resolution would be, but the current 27-inch iMac has 5K resolution.

Apple has introduced a few other products with mini-LED displays, including the 12.9-inch iPad Pro earlier this year and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro this week. Young expects Apple's recent leadership with mini-LEDs to continue with the new iMac.

While he made an initial misstep with this rumor in stating it was for a standalone display rather than an iMac, Young has proven to be very accurate with display-related rumors, having accurately forecasted that the new iPad mini would feature an 8.3-inch display and that the new MacBook Pro models would feature ProMotion. Young has 25 years of experience in the display industry and seems to be well connected with sources within the supply chain.

Update 9:45 p.m.: This article has been rewritten to reflect a correction issued by Young. While he initially stated the 27-inch mini-LED display was for an external monitor, he is now saying it is destined for an updated iMac. A monitor could come later.

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros both feature a notch, a first for the Mac. Given we've never had a notch on a Mac, there are some questions over how macOS handles the notch, and more specifically, how the mouse pointer does.

The predicament about how the mouse pointer handles the notch has been a question floated across Twitter and Reddit over the last 24 hours or so since the new MacBook Pro's announcement. An animation posted on Reddit portrayed two main possibilities, one in which the mouse pointer travels behind the notch, being invisible to the user. The other option showcased the mouse pointer traveling around the notch.

The new MacBook Pros will begin arriving next week, but thankfully, we don't have to wait that long to get an answer. Linda Dong, an Apple designer, has confirmed on Twitter that the macOS pointer travels behind the notch, allowing users to essentially hide the mouse pointer from view.

This behavior will come in handy, fundamentally making the notch a hiding place for the mouse pointer. This may come in good use, for example, when users want to more easily hide the mouse pointer while they watch a video.

Apple is taking steps to make the notch less of an annoyance for most customers in day-to-day use. When macOS apps are in full-screen mode, Apple adds an artificial black bar to the top of the display that hides the notch. Developers can, however, opt to allow their apps to make full use of the entire screen real estate, notch included. Learn more about the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros in our comprehensive roundup.

Alongside the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple introduced a $19 "Polishing Cloth" that's designed to be used with Apple devices.

Made from a "soft, nonabrasive material," the cloth is suitable for Apple displays, including the nano-texture glass of the Pro Display XDR. It's also suitable for use with the mini-LED display of the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models and all manner of iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Those who were hoping to get a Polishing Cloth with their MacBook Pros and who have not already ordered may be out of luck, as initial supplies have sold out. If ordered today, the Polishing Cloth will not arrive until November 18 to November 24, which is quite a long wait for a piece of cloth.

Apple's support document on cleaning Apple products recommends a soft, lint-free cloth and minimal wiping. Cleaners should not be used, but if a deep cleaning is required, a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution can be used to moisten the cloth.

Apple has been shipping a similar Polishing Cloth with the nano-texture Pro Display XDR since its launch. Based on the instructions provided with that cloth, the new cloth can be hand washed with dish soap and water should it become dirty.

As of now, the Polishing Cloth is not available in Apple's retail stores, though retail locations could potentially begin offering stock next week when the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models launch.

A day after Apple unveiled redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, we continue to learn smaller details about the notebooks that Apple did not mention during its event, and the latest discovery pertains to fast charging.

Apple's website indicates that its 67W USB-C power adapter included with the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro is not capable of fast charging any 14-inch MacBook Pro. To take advantage of fast charging, which allows for a 50% charge in around 30 minutes, Apple says customers can upgrade to its 96W USB-C power adapter for an additional $20.

Apple includes the 96W adapter with any 14-inch MacBook Pro model with an M1 Pro chip with a 10‑core CPU or any M1 Max chip, so customers choosing those higher-end configurations don't have to worry about any fast charging limitations.

The exact wording from Apple's website:

Two power adapters are available with the 14‑inch MacBook Pro. The 67W USB‑C Power Adapter is compact and provides efficient charging at home, in the office, or on the go. It's included with the standard configuration of MacBook Pro with M1 Pro with 8‑core CPU, 14‑core GPU, and 16‑core Neural Engine.

Or you can choose the 96W USB‑C Power Adapter, which lets you take advantage of fast charging, so you can go from 0 to 50 percent charge in around 30 minutes.

The 96W adapter is included with any MacBook Pro that has an M1 Pro chip with a 10‑core CPU or an M1 Max chip.

Those who opt for the new 16-inch MacBook Pro don't need to worry about any fast charging limitations either, as all 16-inch configurations include a 140W USB-C power adapter in the box that is capable of fast charging.

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro feature next-generation Apple-designed M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, improved mini-LED displays, up to 10 hours longer battery life, the return of an HDMI port, SD card slot, and MagSafe, and more. The notebooks can be ordered now and will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores October 26.

Last year, Apple announced a major update for its high-end MacBook Pros, with the new machines featuring a complete redesign, larger mini-LED displays with ProMotion, an HDMI port and SD card slot, full-sized function keys, and more. The new machines contain one of two all-new scaled-up variants of the M1 System on Chip (SoC), the M1 Pro or the M1 Max.

When choosing your MacBook Pro configuration, should you choose the M1 Pro or M1 Max? Despite both being powerful Apple silicon chips with some overlap, they do have different capabilities. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two chipsets for the high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ is best for you.

• Apple's M1 Pro Chip: Everything You Need to Know
• Apple's M1 Max Chip: Everything You Need to Know

Comparing the M1 Pro and M1 Max

The ‌M1 Pro‌ and ‌M1 Max‌ feature the same basic architecture based on the ‌M1‌ chip, resulting in the same core functionality. Apple lists these identical features of the two SoCs:

Similarities

• Up to 10-core CPU with eight performance cores and two efficiency cores
• 16-core Neural Engine
• Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
• Video decode engine

Apple's breakdown shows that the two chips share most of their basic features, but they have several differing capabilities.

Differences

Real-World Performance

Our in-depth tests of the entry-level 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with an ‌M1 Pro‌ chip and the high-end 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with an ‌M1 Max‌ chip shows what you're getting with the upgrade to the ‌M1 Max‌.

Priced at $1,999, the base 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ features an ‌M1 Pro‌ chip with an 8-core CPU, a 14-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, and a 512GB SSD. The $3,499 high-end 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ we compared it to has an ‌M1 Max‌ chip with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 32GB unified memory, and 1TB SSD. The two machines represent the most affordable and the most expensive stock ‌MacBook Pro‌ models that don't take into account upgrade options.

In our testing, the ‌M1 Max‌ unsurprisingly outperformed the lower-end ‌M1 Pro‌ chip, but what was a bit of a surprise was how well even the base ‌M1 Pro‌ chip did in our tests.

In Final Cut Pro, a video export test saw the ‌M1 Max‌ machine export a 6-minute 4K video in one minute and 49 seconds, a task that took the ‌M1 Pro‌ 2 minute and 55 seconds. When it comes to 8K RAW footage, both machines were able to handle the load. The ‌M1 Max‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ performed close to flawlessly, while the ‌M1 Pro‌ had a few issues with dropped frames and stuttering, but was ultimately able to keep up.

For comparison's sake, the 2017 Mac Pro that we have is not able to handle 8K footage as well as the base model 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with ‌M1 Pro‌ chip. The ‌M1 Max‌ ultimately did better with our Final Cut Pro testing because of the 32 GPU cores, but the ‌M1 Pro‌ machine offered impressive performance.

In a Blender test, a complicated image of a classroom was rendered in just 8 minutes and 23 seconds on the ‌M1 Max‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌, a process that took the ‌M1 Pro‌ ‌MacBook Pro‌ 10 minutes and 58 seconds.

We tested the memory in both machines by opening up a series of apps that one might use in a video editing workflow, like Final Cut Pro, Lightroom, Chrome, Safari, Music, and a few others, and there were zero performance hiccups across either ‌MacBook Pro‌ model. Intel machines with 16GB RAM often see issues with this same setup, so again, even the low-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ is doing well here. Both the 512GB SSD in the base model and the 1TB SSD in the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ performed about the same, with a 128GB file transferring from an external SSD to an internal SSD in 44 and 43 seconds, respectively.

As for straight Geekbench numbers, the ‌MacBook Pro‌ with ‌M1 Max‌ earned a single-core score of 1781 and a multi-core score of 12785, while the ‌MacBook Pro‌ with base ‌M1 Pro‌ chip earned a single-core score of 1666 and a multi-core score of 9924. Metal scores came in at 38138 for the ‌M1 Pro‌ and 64134 for the ‌M1 Max‌.

All in all, real-world tests show that if you have a workflow where seconds matter, like exporting video or working with large 3D files, you're going to save time with the ‌M1 Max‌, but the ‌M1 Pro‌, even with the base model, is still a very capable machine.

Pricing

The base-level 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ costs $1,999 as standard and starts with the ‌M1 Pro‌ with 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU. On the other hand, the base-level 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ costs $2,499 as standard and starts with the ‌M1 Pro‌ with 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU. It is possible to upgrade the chip in both machines for an added cost:

• Apple ‌M1 Pro‌ with 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
• Apple ‌M1 Pro‌ with 10-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine – +$200
• Apple ‌M1 Pro‌ with 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine – +$300
• Apple ‌M1 Max‌ with 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine – +$500
• Apple ‌M1 Max‌ with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine – +$700

With the 16-inch model already starting with the top-end ‌M1 Pro‌ chip, the upgrades to the two ‌M1 Max‌ options are priced at $200 and $400 respectively on that model.

It is worth noting that adding the ‌M1 Pro‌ with 10‑core CPU or better to any 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ configuration also includes the 96W USB‑C Power Adapter, worth $20, as a free upgrade.

In addition, adding the ‌M1 Max‌ to a ‌MacBook Pro‌ configuration automatically adds 32GB of memory for an additional $400, making the cost of adding one of the two ‌M1 Max‌ options to the base 14-inch model $900 and $1,100 respectively in real terms.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the ‌M1 Pro‌ is a highly capable chip and the best option for most professional workflows. The ‌M1 Max‌ is not uniquely specialized toward specific tasks, so ‌M1 Pro‌ users are not missing out on any abilities. Instead, the ‌M1 Max‌ is simply a more powerful variant of the ‌M1 Pro‌ that most users will not need.

A maximum of 32GB of memory should be enough for many professional users, but if you need more than 32GB of memory, the ‌M1 Max‌ is the only Apple silicon chip to support this.

The ‌M1 Max‌ is better suited to extremely demanding GPU workflows, such as high-level graphic design, 3D modeling, and video editing. Users who often work with video may also benefit from the ‌M1 Max‌'s additional video engines. You will probably know if you fall into the bracket of users that needs this added performance.

The ‌M1 Max‌ is also likely to be a more future-proof chip in the coming years, so if you plan to keep your ‌MacBook Pro‌ for several years, you may consider getting a more powerful chip than you need right now.

Apple yesterday provided the release candidate version of macOS Monterey to developers, and the RC represents the final version of Monterey that will be going out to the public on Monday.

In the update, Apple introduced a new "Monterey" screen saver, which is designed to accompany the Monterey wallpaper that was already available.

The Monterey screen saver offers slow transitions through hills and valleys in different shades of pink, purple, and blue, as demonstrated in the video below.

Apple made some major changes in the final beta of macOS Monterey, undoing nearly all of the Safari design changes that had been introduced in June. Safari looks like it did in macOS Big Sur, but there is an option for the new "Compact" Monterey design for those who prefer it.

macOS Monterey is set to be released on Monday, October 25, one day ahead of when the new MacBook Pro models are launching.

Google today announced its latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro. The two new devices are already garnering positive reviews for their high-end feature set available at an affordable price tag.

Priced at $599 and $899, respectively, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are Google's first smartphones that are equipped with the Google Tensor system-on-a-chip, which Google designed. Apple has long used mobile chips that it designs in house, and Google's choice to design its own Tensor chips will allow for better integration of hardware and software.

The Pixel 6 features a 6.4-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 6 Pro features a larger, curved-edge 6.7-inch OLED display and a 120Hz refresh rate.

As we saw in photos prior to the launch of the new smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have a unique unibody look with a rear camera bar and an edge-to-edge display with hole punch cutout for the front-facing camera.

According to Google, the matte black camera bar is designed to provide a "clean, symmetrical" design. The Pixel 6 devices are available in several colors, each with a two-tone design.

Both the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro have an improved 50-megapixel wide angle camera that lets in 150 percent more light, and both are also equipped with a 12-megapixel ultra wide lens. The Pixel 6 Pro has an additional 48-megapixel telephoto lens that supports 4x optical zoom and "Super Res Zoom" up to 20x.

Google has also introduced new camera features, such as Magic Eraser, which removes unwanted objects from an image. There's a Motion Mode with Action Pan and Long Exposure, and a Real Tone addition that is designed to make photos look more true to life. Google consulted photographers, cinematographers, and colorists to improve its auto enhancement features.

There are differences between the front-facing camera between the two models. The Pixel 6 has an 8-megapixel front-facing lens while the Pixel 6 Pro has an improved 11.1-megapixel lens with a wider field of view.

The Tensor chip allows for AI improvements, with the new smartphones offering better speech recognition and language understanding models. With Live Translate, Pixel 6 users can message people in different languages, with support for English, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. Apple has added a Translate app for these kind of translations, but Google's version works right in the messaging app.

Both smartphones support 5G with mmWave speeds available, and the Pixel 6 Pro also includes an Ultra Wideband chip for better indoor positioning. The Pro also features 12GB RAM compared to 8GB in the Pixel 6, and it supports up to 512GB of storage.

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro run Android 12, the latest version of the Android operating system. Google has also introduced a new Pixel Pass that bundles several Google services together for $45 (Pixel 6) to $55 (Pixel 6 Pro) per month, similar to the Apple One offering. Pixel Pass includes YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, Google One with 200GB cloud storage, Google Play Pass for games, and Preferred Care device coverage.

For those interested in a hands-on look at the new Pixel 6 smartphones, several media sites have already done reviews.

• Engadget
• 9to5Google
• Pocket-lint
• Android Authority
• BGR
• SlashGear

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can be pre-ordered starting today, and will launch on October 28.

Instagram still doesn't offer an app for the iPad, but the social networking company has expanded how users can upload content to the site, allowing for pictures to be posted from the desktop.

According to TechCrunch, Instagram is rolling out desktop posting support this week after testing the feature with a limited number of users over the summer.

Sharing a photo or a video under one minute on Instagram from the desktop can be done by navigating to the Instagram website and signing into an account. From there, click on the "+" button in the top right corner of the webpage and select photos from your computer. Filters, captions, and location tags can be added.

The desktop posting feature is still rolling out, so not all users will see it right away.

Apple Arcade is set to gain another LEGO game, with LEGO Star Wars: Castaways set to launch on the gaming service on Friday, November 19. The game is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

LEGO Star Wars: Castaways features a storyline where players crash land on a mysterious planet in the middle of a maelstrom. The planet is not abandoned, and gamers can meet both LEGO NPCs and other players as this is the first online social LEGO Star Wars game.

Players can customize their character with hundreds of LEGO Star Wars pieces and compete in games with others. Iconic Star Wars content will be available, so players can fight Tusken raiders, battle stormtroopers on Endor, and see Jabba's Tatooine palace. There are even Death Star simulations to participate in. There is an underlying mystery to solve, and players can work with a team or go solo.

Build your own in-game LEGO minifigure from hundreds of LEGO pieces in a new Star Wars game on Apple Arcade. Discover a secret world, now home to fellow Castaways, and build a life in this new home! Explore a new island, meet new characters, race Microfighters and even throw a dance party on the island! Team up or play solo and immerse yourself in simulations, recorded by the technology of an ancient civilization, spanning moments across the Star Wars universe. Battle foes, solve puzzles, build your skills in battle arenas and learn to pilot your way through flight simulations! Unearth mysteries and discover a growing threat to life on the planet.

Apple Arcade users can opt to "Get" LEGO Star Wars: Castaways right now, and it will install on their devices when it launches. [Direct Link]

Starting today, NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition is also available on ‌Apple Arcade‌. The latest title in the NBA 2K series, 2K22 allows players to choose their favorite NBA teams and take on competitors. The game features the latest 2022 NBA rosters and features an online multiplayer mode. [Direct Link]

Several ‌Apple Arcade‌ apps have received updates as well, including Mini Motorways, Doodle God Universe, Crossy Road Castle, and SpongeBob Patty Pursuit.

Apple's new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are equipped with improved "XDR" displays with mini-LED backlighting. Impressively, both new MacBook Pro models have up to 3x brighter displays compared to the previous-generation models, although the increased brightness is likely limited to HDR content.

The new MacBook Pro models achieve up to 1,000 nits sustained full-screen brightness and up to 1,600 nits peak brightness, according to Apple's tech specs, whereas the previous models were listed as having up to 500 nits of brightness. In line with Apple's Pro Display XDR, though, it's likely that the increased brightness is limited to HDR content, as the Pro Display XDR is limited to up to 500 nits of brightness for SDR content.

Here is how Apple describes the display:

The best display ever in a notebook features Extreme Dynamic Range and a million to one contrast ratio. HDR content comes to life in photos, video, and games — with refined specular highlights, incredible detail in shadows, and vibrant, true-to-life colors. Each display is factory calibrated and features pro reference modes for HDR color grading, photography, design, and print production.

Apple also said the new MacBook Pro displays have an impressive 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and support for one billion colors.

Like the iPad Pro, the new MacBook Pro displays feature ProMotion, allowing for an adaptive refresh rate between 24Hz and 120Hz. This can result in smoother appearing content while scrolling, watching videos, and playing games.

The display improvements are part of several upgrades to the new MacBook Pro, alongside next-generation Apple-designed M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, up to 10 hours longer battery life, the return of an HDMI port, SD card slot, and MagSafe, and more. The notebooks can be ordered now and will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores October 26.

Update: Apple has since confirmed that the new MacBook Pro displays indeed have a peak brightness of 500 nits for SDR content.

Amazon today has Apple's 256GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro for the new low price of $999.00, down from $1,199.00. The iPad Pro is shipped and sold directly from Amazon, and it's in stock today.

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 new sale is particularly notable because it's matching the price on the 128GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro, meaning you can get more storage for the same deal. For the 256GB Wi-Fi model, only Space Gray is available on sale.

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.

Apple has confirmed to The Verge that its new 140W USB-C power adapter is the company's first charger based on gallium nitride or "GaN" technology, which allows for smaller, lighter, and more power efficient chargers than silicon-based chargers.

Without the use of GaN, the 140W power adapter likely would have been fairly larger given its wattage. Many other brands like Anker and Belkin have introduced GaN-based chargers over the last few years for use with Apple products.

Apple also confirmed that the 140W power adapter supports the USB-C Power Delivery 3.1 standard, meaning that it can be used to charge other devices that support that standard. It also means that those who buy the new 16-inch MacBook Pro can use compatible chargers from third-party brands to charge the notebook if they prefer.

We continue to learn smaller details about the new MacBook Pro models that Apple didn't mention during its "Unleashed" event, including that fast charging is only possible with the MagSafe port on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, whereas the 14-inch model can be fast charged using either MagSafe or any of the Thunderbolt 4 ports. This shouldn't be a big deal given that the MagSafe port has no other use than charging, but it's worth knowing.

Key features of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro include Apple's next-generation M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, the return of an HDMI port and SD card slot, mini-LED displays with a ProMotion adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, up to 10 hours longer battery life, and more. The notebooks can be ordered now and launch on Tuesday, October 26.

Apple's new 140W power adapter is included with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro and it is also sold separately for $99.

Following yesterday's reveal of the third generation of AirPods, Amazon today is offering a new all-time low price on the second generation model. You can get the AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case for $129.00, down from $199.00.

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.

This is particularly notable given the fact that the AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging case is being discontinued from the AirPods lineup. Moving forward, Apple will sell the AirPods with Wired Charging Case for $129.00 as the entry-level AirPods model.

We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.

Apple is making impressive and eye-catching claims about the performance of its new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and on paper, the highest-end ‌M1 Max‌ chip actually has more raw GPU performance than Sony's PlayStation 5.

The ‌M1 Max‌ chip can be configured to include up to a 32-core GPU, a gigantic leap compared to the 8-core GPU option offered in the M1 chip. Apple says that the ‌M1 Max‌ chip uses 70% less power at peak graphic performance than a PC laptop with a discrete graphics card. Apple also claims that the ‌M1 Max‌ chip offers "similar performance" to a "pro laptop with high-performing discrete GPU" while using 100 watts less power.

To make the claims, Apple tested the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the ‌M1 Max‌ chip, featuring a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, and 64GB of RAM compared to the MSI GE76 Raider and the Razer Blade 15 Advanced. For a further breakdown of the GPU performance, Notebookcheck estimated how many teraflops the new ‌M1 Pro‌ and ‌M1 Max‌ chips can handle based on Apple's information about the new chips. These are their findings:

• ‌M1‌ 8-core = 2.6 TF
• ‌M1 Pro‌ 14-core = 4.5 TF
• ‌M1 Pro‌ 16-core = 5.2 TF
• ‌M1 Max‌ 24-core = 7.8 TF
• ‌M1 Max‌ 32-core = 10.4 TF

On paper, the ‌M1 Max‌ chip maxed out with 32-cores of GPU can tackle more teraflops of graphics than Sony's PlayStation 5, which maxes out at 10.28 teraflops. Notebookcheck's numbers are based on estimations and not real-world testing, but until the new laptops begin arriving in the hands of customers next week, they are all we have to rely on. As noted by YouTuber ZoneOfTech on Twitter, the ‌M1 Max‌ chip can also read up to 7.4GB per second, higher than the PlayStation 5's 5.5GB read speed.

The new MacBook Pros cost more than the PlayStation 5, but nonetheless, Apple's ability to make claims about a portable laptop that rivals a high-end gaming console is impressive. As stated above, these claims are just on-paper, and proper performance and speed tests will surely come shortly after the new MacBook Pros start arriving for customers next week.

With the debut of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple has brought a fast charge capability to the Mac for the first time, allowing users to charge the laptop battery up to 50% in just 30 minutes.

But there's a difference between models with this feature that Apple didn't really mention. While both models can be charged over Thunderbolt or MagSafe, only the 14-inch MacBook Pro can fast charge over the USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports as well as ‌MagSafe‌.

By contrast, the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is limited to fast charging over the ‌MagSafe‌ port. The reason is likely down to the fact that the Thunderbolt 4 ports are capable of charging at a maximum of 100W, and the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ uses a 140W power adapter, so the same fast charging speed can't be claimed. Meanwhile, the 14-inch model uses a 67W power adapter for the 8-core machine and a 96W power adapter for the 10-core machine, so it doesn't reach the maximum TB4 power delivery.

This limitation on the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is unlikely to be a big deal for most users, as the ‌MagSafe‌ 3 port is made exclusively for charging and won't be engaged for any other reason. That said, this difference between the two seems worth highlighting given the various cable/dock setups prospective owners could be envisioning for their workflow.

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models can be ordered now, with pricing starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch model and at $2,499 for the 16-inch model. The notebooks will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Tuesday, October 26.

Following a promise of "later this year" in June, Apple has officially rolled out its new and updated Apple Maps in Australia.

The new ‌Apple Maps‌ offers richer details in roads, parking lots, parks, buildings, airports, and more, and is part of Apple's push to rival Google Maps and other third-party map services. In Australia, customers will now have access to new ‌Apple Maps‌. Apple last month rolled out the revamped ‌Apple Maps‌ to Italy, and Spain, and Portugal earlier in the summer.

Update: Not all users are seeing the new maps yet, so it appears Apple is still in the testing phase with them.

(Thanks Ross and Phillip!)

Apple on Monday announced third-generation AirPods, featuring an updated design, improved sound quality, and an extra hour of battery life compared to the second-generation AirPods, which offer five hours of listening time. However, what Apple didn't make very explicit in its marketing is that to get six hours out of its latest earphones, spatial audio must be disabled.

As noted in Apple's fine print, if spatial audio is enabled, users can expect up to five hours of battery. That's the same amount of listening time offered by the second-generation AirPods, which don't support spatial audio, but still half an hour longer than the AirPods Pro. That said, ‌AirPods Pro‌ can also be pushed to five hours of listening time by turning off Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency mode.

The new ‌AirPods‌, as rumored, feature a design similar to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ but without silicone eartips or Active Noise Cancelation. The new ‌AirPods‌ also include Adaptive EQ, which adjusts frequencies in real-time based on what a user is listening to deliver even improved sound quality.

According to Apple's specifications page for the new AirPods, the third-generation AirPods do not support the iPhone 6, ‌iPhone‌ 6 Plus, and the ‌iPhone‌ 5s, because they require iOS 13 to work. They also drop support for the iPad mini 2 and ‌iPad mini‌ 3 alongside the sixth-generation iPod touch.

The new third-generation AirPods are being offered alongside the second-generation AirPods, as well as the higher-end ‌AirPods Pro‌. The new AirPods are available for pre-order now and will begin shipping next week.

(Thanks, Anton!)