Apple today increased the price of its Beats Flex headphones from $49.99 to $69.99, a pricing shift that may be related to supply chain constraints that have raised the costs of components across the industry.
First released last October, the Beats Flex made headlines at launch because of their low price compared to other Apple headphone options, and they have been a popular purchase option since. The Beats Flex are a follow-up to the BeatsX, and feature an in-ear design with a wire between the left and right earbuds.
Given their low price, the Beats Flex may have been more susceptible to cost pressures than some other Apple products. At $20 more expensive, the Beats Flex are still a very affordable option to get into the Apple headphone ecosystem, but it's not quite as impressive a deal as before. They come in Black, Flame Blue, Yuzu Yellow, and Smoke Gray, and offer much of the same seamless connectivity functionality available with Apple's more expensive Beats options.
Auto-play/pause is included, and the Beats Flex last for up to 12 hours without needing to be recharged. There's a Fast Fuel charging option that offers 1.5 hours of playback, and they feature Find My integration.
The pricing change of the Beats Flex was first noticed by Twitter user Pedro Henrique and was highlighted by 9to5Mac. The Beats Flex can be purchased from the Apple Store, but Amazon currently has them on sale for as low as $37, so those considering a purchase should buy them on Amazon before prices go up.
In 2021, Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini, featuring a complete redesign, a larger display, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. The iPad mini now effectively shares the design of the fourth-generation iPad Air from 2020, with both devices possessing many of the same features such as an all-screen design with no Home button, Touch ID in the top power button, and stereo speakers.
Since the iPad Air was released in September 2020, should you buy the now-discontinued, bigger-screened iPad Air, or opt for the new iPad mini? Our guide answers the question of how to decide which of these two iPads is best for you.
Comparing the iPad mini and iPad Air
The iPad mini and iPad Air share a large number of key features, such as design, a rear 12MP Wide camera, and a USB-C port:
Similarities
All-screen industrial design with flat edges
Touch ID scanner built into the top button
Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color, fingerprint resistant coating, 500 nits max brightness, full lamination, anti-reflective coating, and True Tone
A-Series Bionic chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture, 4GB of memory, and Neural Engine
12MP ƒ/1.8 Wide rear camera with 5x digital zoom and Smart HDR 3
4K video recording at up to 60fps with 3x video zoom, 1080p slo-mo video at 120fps or 240fps, and time-lapse with stablilization
Front-facing camera with Retina Flash, Smart HDR 3, cinematic video stabilization and 1080p video recording
Apple's specification breakdown shows that the two iPads share many of their most important features. Even so, there are a large number of meaningful differences between the iPad mini and iPad Air that are worth highlighting, including their A-series chips, front-facing cameras, keyboard compatibility, and more.
Differences
iPad mini
8.3-inch display with 2266‑by‑1488 resolution at 326 ppi
Smaller, compact design for maximum portability
A15 Bionic chip
Rear Quad-LED True Tone flash
1080p HD video recording at 25fps, 30fps, or 60fps and extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps
12MP ƒ/2.4 front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, and extended dynamic range
6GHz 5G on cellular model
Compatible with Bluetooth keyboards only
Weight of up to 0.66 pound (297 grams)
Available in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight
iPad Air
10.9-inch display with 2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi
Available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPads have to offer.
Design and Size
Size is the most obvious difference between the iPad mini and iPad Air, with the iPad mini being 52.2mm shorter and 43.7mm narrower than the iPad Air. This makes it possible for most people to hold the iPad mini from edge to edge in one hand. It is also 163 grams (0.36 pounds) lighter than the iPad Air.
The compact form factor and low weight of the iPad mini make it much more portable than the iPad Air, being far easier to fit in a small bag or even a large pocket and use on the go. Though the iPad Air is still thin and light to carry around, it simply is not as convenient to use on the go as the iPad mini, which is a device that pushes iPad portability to the extreme.
Users may feel more comfortable walking around with the iPad mini and using it discreetly in public spaces than the iPad Air, and it is also a great size for kids. Preference for one size or the other ultimately comes down to your personal use case.
Both devices feature the same squared-off industrial design language that has become the norm on a range of iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, which makes them easier to grip and pick up off a surface.
iPad mini color options: Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight.
The iPad mini and iPad Air are available in a range of different color options. The iPad mini is available in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight, while the iPad Air is available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue. If you have your heart set on a particular color, you will need to bear in mind that the color offerings are different across both devices with the exception of Space Gray.
iPad Air color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
Display
The iPad mini and iPad Air feature the same Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color, a fingerprint-resistant coating, 500 nits of maximum brightness, full lamination, an anti-reflective coating, and True Tone. As with design, the difference between the two displays comes down to size.
The iPad mini features an 8.3-inch display, while the iPad Air has a larger, 10.9-inch display. This means that the iPad mini's display is 2.6-inches smaller diagonally, which translates to an almost 45% reduction in total screen area. The higher pixel density of the iPad mini does compensate somewhat, however.
Both devices have slim bezels around the display for an all-screen look. The bezels are the same size on both devices, which makes them more pronounced relative to the iPad mini's smaller display.
The iPad mini's smaller display may feel more cramped than on the iPad Air, with smaller touch targets and more limited multitasking options. For example, the keyboard takes up most of the display in landscape, using apps in split view makes them very small, and app icons are smaller than they are on the iPad Air.
Even so, the iPad mini's smaller display may be more comfortable for reading or playing handheld games. The iPad Air's larger, 10.9-inch display is much more suited to productivity, multitasking, and watching videos, with considerably more screen space to fit app windows, UI elements, and more.
A14 Bionic vs. A15 Bionic Chip
The iPad mini features Apple's A15 Bionic, the chip used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. On the other hand, the iPad Air uses the A14 Bionic chip from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.
The A15 in the iPad mini is downclocked to 2.9GHz, compared to 3.2GHz in all of the iPhone 13 models, which has a small two to eight percent impact on performance compared to those devices.
Early benchmarks show that the A15 is around 10 percent faster in single-core tasks, 20 percent faster in multicore tasks, and 15 percent faster graphics than the A14. This is more of an iterative improvement, so while the A15 in the iPad mini does offer better performance than the iPad Air and it will be more futureproof with a newer chip, it is a marginal improvement that is unlikely to have a strong bearing on which device you should buy.
Cameras
Rear Cameras
Both the iPad mini and the iPad Air feature a 12MP ƒ/1.8 Wide rear camera with 5x digital zoom and Smart HDR 3, but the iPad mini features extended dynamic range and is able to record 1080p video at a range of framerates, rather than just at 60fps on the iPad Air. The iPad mini also adds a rear Quad-LED True Tone flash.
The iPad mini's rear camera is slightly more capable than that of the iPad Air, the True Tone flash may make it more suitable for scanning documents, and its form factor may make capturing videos and images more comfortable, but broadly the rear cameras on the two are very similar.
Front-Facing Cameras
Among the more significant differences between the two iPads are their front-facing cameras. The iPad mini has a much more advanced 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out and extended dynamic range. This is a huge improvement over the 7MP ƒ/2.2 FaceTime HD camera of the iPad Air.
The iPad mini's Ultra Wide front-facing camera enables its support for Center Stage, which automatically keeps users perfectly framed during video calls. As users move around, Center Stage automatically pans to keep them in the frame. When other people join in on the call, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to fit everyone into the view and make sure they are part of the conversation.
This means that for video calls and selfies, the iPad mini is a much more capable device that should deliver a markedly better experience and image quality.
Wireless Connectivity
Both the iPad mini and iPad Air feature Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and are available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular variants. For the cellular models, a key difference between the iPad mini and iPad Air is 5G connectivity. The iPad Air is able to connect to 4G LTE only, while the iPad mini can connect to 6GHz 5G for much faster speeds with the latest cellular technology. If you plan to use a cellular plan with your iPad, this may be an important consideration and would make the iPad mini much more future-proof.
Accessories
The iPad mini and iPad Air are compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, which magnetically snaps onto the side for pairing, charging, and storage. The iPad mini's form factor may make it a great match for note-making with the Apple Pencil, while the larger display of the iPad Air may be better for illustration and graphic design.
The iPad Air features a magnetic Smart Connector on its rear to connect to keyboards such as Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio. It is also compatible with Bluetooth keyboards and pointers.
Due to its small size, the iPad mini does not feature a Smart Connector or any first-party keyboard options. The iPad mini is still compatible with external keyboards and pointing devices, but these would need to be separate devices that connect via Bluetooth.
If you plan to transport your iPad with a keyboard or use it as a laptop replacement, you will be better off buying the iPad Air. The iPad mini is still workable with Bluetooth peripherals for occasional emails or word processing, but its size is simply not practical for use as a complete laptop replacement.
Other iPad Options
If the iPad Air is out of your price range but you would still like an iPad with a bigger screen, there is the ninth-generation iPad, which starts at $329 and serves as an entry-level model in the iPad lineup. This undercuts the price of the $499 iPad mini and $599 iPad Air, but still offers important features like an Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage, first-generation Apple Pencil compatibility, a Smart Connector for use with an Apple Smart Keyboard, the A13 chip, and more.
Alternatively, if you are looking for an iPad that is more geared toward productivity with "pro" features, there is the iPad Pro, which starts at $799. The iPad Pro features the M1 chip from the Mac, a ProMotion display, a Thunderbolt port, and offers an even larger model with a 12.9-inch display.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the iPad Air is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The additional $100 needed to buy the iPad Air over the iPad mini is more than justified for the benefits that come with a larger display, not least the ability to practically use it as a laptop replacement.
Yet, most customers buying the iPad mini will likely be buying it because of its screen size rather than in spite of it. The iPad mini is ideal for comfortably reading books, playing handheld games, and unobtrusive storage.
Those who buy the iPad mini will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go, throwing into a small backpack to use on public transport, or sliding into a large pocket to use while working.
The iPad mini is undoubtedly more futureproof with its newer A15 chip, 5G connectivity, improved front-facing camera, and Center Stage. Using a cellular connection or holding video calls is also a better experience on the iPad mini, but again, the main reason to choose the iPad mini will be its novel size.
If you do not see the iPad mini's smaller display, easy one-handed grip, light weight, and portable form factor as an active advantage and are focused on a more versatile larger display, you will likely prefer the iPad Air. If you want more of an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement, with the added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment, the iPad Air will be the better option for you.
Google today lambasted European Union regulators for ignoring Apple and the rivalry between Apple and Android in the antitrust accusations that have been levied against Google, reports Reuters.
Apple was brought up as part of Google's attempt to get a massive 4.34 billion euro ($5.1 billion) fine annulled. The European Commission first levied the fine against Google in 2018 because Google pre-installed its own services (Google Search and the Chrome browser) on Android to ensure its dominance in internet search.
According to Google, the European Commission has ignored the dynamic between Apple and Google and has downplayed the impact that Apple has on the mobile device market.
"The Commission shut its eyes to the real competitive dynamic in this industry, that between Apple and Android," Google's lawyer Meredith Pickford told the court.
"By defining markets too narrowly and downplaying the potent constraint imposed by the highly powerful Apple, the Commission has mistakenly found Google to be dominant in mobile operating systems and app stores, when it was in fact a vigorous market disrupter," he said.
Google is actually an "exceptional success story of the power of competition in action," Google's lawyers said.
The European Commission argued that "bringing Apple into the picture doesn't change things very much" because Apple and Google pursue different models and because Apple has a smaller market share. Android is installed on approximately 80 percent of the smartphones in the world.
Google is continuing to fight the fine, and a verdict on whether the fine will need to be paid is expected in 2022.
The European Union is planning on implementing sweeping legal measures that would require tech companies to share data with competitors and give no preference to their own apps and services, legislation that would impact both Apple and Google.
It would require Apple to allow iPhone and iPad users to download apps from third-party App Stores or from the internet, and Apple has been fighting against it. Apple CEO Tim Cook said earlier this year that the upcoming rules could "destroy the security" of the iPhone.
Last week, security researcher Denis Tokarev made several zero-day iOS vulnerabilities public after he said that Apple had ignored his reports and had failed to fix the issues for several months.
Tokarev today told Motherboard that Apple got in touch after he went public with his complaints and after they saw significant media attention. In an email, Apple apologized for the contact delay and said that it is "still investigating" the issues.
"We saw your blog post regarding this issue and your other reports. We apologize for the delay in responding to you," an Apple employee wrote. "We want to let you know that we are still investigating these issues and how we can address them to protect customers. Thank you again for taking the time to report these issues to us, we appreciate your assistance. Please let us know if you have any questions."
Apple did fix one of the vulnerabilities in iOS 14.7, but did not provide Tokarev with credit. Three others remain unaddressed, including a Game Center bug that allegedly allows any app installed from the App Store to access full Apple ID email and name, Apple ID authentication tokens, lists of contacts, and some attachments.
Details on all of the zero-day vulnerabilities have been published publicly by Tokarev, which may prompt Apple to fix them faster.
Tokarev first contacted Apple about these bugs between March 10 and May 4, so Apple has had months to issue patches, but it's worth noting that several security researchers and Tokarev himself have confirmed that the bugs are not highly critical as exploiting them would require a malicious app to first receive App Store approval.
Still, experts have criticized Apple's response and its bug bounty program. Cybersecurity expert Katie Moussouris told Motherboard that Apple's handling of the process is "not normal and should not be considered normal," while researcher Nicholas Ptacek said that Apple's response comes across as a "reaction to bad press."
Earlier this month, The Washington Post interviewed more than two dozen security researchers to expose the flaws in Apple's bug bounty program. Researchers said that Apple is slow to fix bugs and doesn't always pay out what's owed, leading researchers to be unhappy with Apple's program.
At the time, Apple's Head of Security Engineering and Architecture, Ivan Krstić, said that Apple is "planning to introduce new rewards for researchers" to expand participation, and that Apple is working toward offering new and even better research tools.
iFixit has started one of its traditional full device teardowns on the new iPhone 13 Pro, giving us a complete look at all of the components that are inside.
Prior to taking a look inside the new iPhone, iFixit did X-rays to show off the L-shaped battery, the MagSafe magnet ring, and stabilizing magnets for image sensors and logic boards.
This year's iPhone 13 Pro has an upper sensor cable near the top that's easy to rip during repairs, with iFixit calling it "scary thin." Visually, the Taptic Engine inside the device that controls Haptic Touch appears to be smaller, but it's actually bulkier than the similar component in the iPhone 13 Pro, weighing in at 6.3 grams, up from 4.8.
Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 13 Pro does away with the display-mounted speaker earpiece, a move that will make display replacements easier. iFixit suspects that Apple is using touch-integrated OLED panels that combine the touch and OLED layers of the display, cutting down on cost, thickness, and the number of cables to deal with.
The iPhone 13's flood illuminator and dot projector have merged into one module, which is part of the reason why Apple was able to cut down the size of the notch on this year's iPhones, and the Face ID hardware is now independent of the display. The earpiece speaker that was removed from the display has been relocated between the front-facing camera and the Face ID module.
According to iFixit, despite the decoupling of the Face ID module and the display, any display replacement disables Face ID. This means that screen replacements not authorized by Apple will result in non-functional Face ID components.
As we found out last week, the iPhone 13 Pro is using an 11.97Wh battery, which equates to 3,095mAh, up from 2,815mAh in the iPhone 12 Pro. The battery in the iPhone 13 Pro has an L-shaped design this year, a departure from the rectangular battery used in last year's Pro model. iFixit says that battery swap tests have been successful, despite rumors that battery replacements wouldn't be possible.
There's 6GB SK Hynix LPDDR4X RAM inside, along with several Apple-designed power management and ultra-wide band chips, and as expected, the iPhone 13 Pro is equipped with Qualcomm's SDX60M modem and what iFixit believes is a Qualcomm DRR868 5G RF transceiver.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the Qualcomm modem chip in this year's iPhones has satellite communication functionality, but if it's in there, iFixit didn't notice and as no satellite feature has been announced, it's a latent function if it exists. Bloomberghas clarified that Apple is working on a satellite feature that will let people send texts in emergency situations using a satellite connection, but this functionality isn't expected until 2022.
Moving on, the iPhone 13 Pro features Kioxia NAND Flash memory, a front-end module from Broadcom, an NXP Semiconductor NFC controller, and more.
iFixit's full teardown has more detail on all of the components that are inside the device, and iFixit ultimately gave the iPhone 13 Pro a repairability score of 5 out of 10 due to the Face ID display replacement issue, the double glass, and the waterproofing methods that make some repairs more difficult.
Today we're tracking a handful of solid accessory discounts offered by Verizon, offering a chance to save on a new case or screen protector for your iPhone 13, MagSafe bundles, and more. Verizon offers free two day shipping across the board on orders over $49, even if you don't use Verizon as a carrier.
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.
Starting with the MagSafe bundles, Verizon has a few offers that take 30 percent off three MagSafe-related accessories made by Apple. These bundles include devices like the MagSafe Charger, 20W USB-C Adapter, Leather Wallet with MagSafe, Silicone Cases, and more.
Moving to third party accessories offered by Verizon, you can get up to 25 percent off select cases and screen protectors for iPhone 13. This includes brands like Incipio, ZAGG, Gear4, Coach, Case-Mate, OtterBox, Kate Spade, Speck, and Sonix.
OtterBox cases start as low as $37.49 ($12.50 off) for the company's Symmetry Series case line, and rise to $44.99 ($15 off) for the Symmetry Series+ Case with MagSafe support. Other brands like Speck start even lower at $33.74 ($11.25 off) for its iPhone 13 cases.
A similar sale is going on for cases that support the new 10.2-inch iPad. You can get 25 percent off cases and sleeves from OtterBox, UAG, LifeProof, Incipio, and Speck. These iPad cases, and all other accessories sold on Verizon, support free two day shipping on orders over $49.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
The wireless headphones will be available in a slate color with a "speckled cement" finish that covers both the headphones and ear cushions. There's an ACW logo on the outside of the headband, while the inside of the headband has a clay color with more A-COLD-WALL branding. The included carrying case is also branded with an ACW logo.
The limited edition Beats are listed as coming soon on Apple's online store, with pricing set at $349.95 in the United States.
Apple first released the Beats Studio3 in September 2017 and several limited edition designs have been made available since then. The wireless over-ear headphones feature Apple's W1 chip for seamless setup with Apple devices, up to 22 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation enabled, a foldable design, and more. Keep in mind the headphones are four years old and still have Bluetooth 4.0 and a micro USB port for charging.
Apple made few design changes to the iPhone 13 lineup and the new devices continue to feature a durable Ceramic Shield front to protect the display, a glass back, and flat edges at the side.
Allstate Protection Plans conducted one of its annual drop tests on the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, and found that due to the similar designs, the iPhone 13 models are comparable to the iPhone 12 models when it comes to durability.
In a face-down drop test without a case, the iPhone 13 survived a single drop with only minor damage, but it cracked at the top and bottom corners in the second drop test. The iPhone 13 Pro cracked across the bottom in its first drop test, and these are the same results seen with the iPhone 12 models.
In a back-down drop test the iPhone 13 survived with hardly any damage, showing only minor cracks along one of the cameras and the corner. The iPhone 13 Pro shattered after one drop, and again, these results mirrored the results Allstate Protection Plans saw with the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro.
This year, Allstate Protection Plans added in-case drop tests to see how well protected the iPhones are in Apple's Silicone and Leather MagSafe Case options.
With the Silicone Case, the iPhone 13 survived three back-down drops in a row with only a small scratch on a camera lens. In a face-down drop, the iPhone 13 cracked on its second drop.
In the Leather Case, the iPhone 13 Pro survived three drops with no damage when dropped back-down, but it cracked on its first drop when dropped face-down.
"The Apple iPhone 13 series has been viewed as a product evolution rather than a revolution, and we've found that to be true when it comes to durability as well," said Jason Siciliano, Allstate Protection Plan vice president of marketing and creative director. "In our first test of an Apple case with MagSafe, we found that both silicone and leather did a great job of protecting the phones when dropped on their backs, though not as much when dropped face down. With back panel repairs costing as much as $549 for iPhone 13 Pro, a case is a must."
As with any drop test, what happens to an iPhone 13 model when dropped in the real world is going to depend on the height that it's dropped from, the material that it falls on, where the iPhone takes the hit, and other factors, so these demonstrations aren't necessarily indicative of what's going to occur when your phone is dropped.
Apple sells AppleCare+ for the new iPhones, which covers two incidents of accidental damage each year for a $29 deductible. AppleCare+ is often worth purchasing for those who have concerns about device durability and want peace of mind about any potential accidents.
Ferrari and its parent company Exor today announced a multi-year creative partnership with LoveFrom, the design firm co-founded by Apple's former design chief Jony Ive and fellow designer Marc Newson.
"The first expression of this new partnership will bring together Ferrari's legendary performance and excellence with LoveFrom's unrivalled experience and creativity that has defined extraordinary world changing products," said Ferrari, in a press release announcing the partnership. "Beyond the collaboration with Ferrari, LoveFrom will explore a range of creative projects with Exor in the business of luxury."
"As Ferrari owners and collectors, we could not be more excited about collaborating with this extraordinary company and in particular with the design team expertly led by Flavio Manzoni," said Ive and Newson, in a joint statement. "We see some uniquely exciting opportunities working together which we believe will yield important and valuable work."
Ive will also join Exor's Partners Council, a group that shares ideas with the company and explores potential business opportunities.
In June 2019, Apple announced that Ive would be departing the company to form LoveFrom. At the time, Apple said that it would remain one of Ive's primary clients, but it's unclear which Apple products he has helped to design since then, if any. Apple did confirm that Ive was involved in the design of the colorful 24-inch iMac released in April, but Apple did not confirm if any of that work occurred after Ive left the company.
Anker today introduced a new Gold Box sale on Amazon, taking up to 45 percent off select accessories for one day only. This time around, the deals include savings on USB-C wall chargers, portable batteries, and MagSafe-compatible wireless chargers.
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.
In terms of accessories that are compatible with MagSafe, you'll find the PowerWave Select+ Magnetic Pad for $19.99 ($10 off), and this one functions similarly to Apple's own MagSafe Charger. The main difference is that Anker's accessory only provides wireless charging up to 7.5W, compared to Apple's at up to 15W.
The other MagSafe-compatible accessory is the PowerWave 2-in-1 Magnetic Stand for $26.99 ($9 off). This accessory can magnetically hold an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 on its stand, and it also has a slot at its base to wirelessly charge the AirPods or AirPods Pro.
Following a flood of reports and complaints, Spotify has acknowledged that its app may be causing excessive battery drain and overheating issues on iOS 14.8 and the latest iOS 15 update, promising a fix in the not-so-distant future.
In a long and ongoing support thread on its website, which started weeks ago, Spotify says it is aware of battery drain reports and that it has passed those reports onto its technical iOS team. Spotify doesn't state when a fix could be coming or whether it would be an app update or other troubleshooting steps.
Users reporting the issue on the thread state that Spotify is listed as a consumer of battery life due to background activity, with no clear reason why. While most of the reports are from users running iOS 14.8 and iOS 15.0, there are also other sporadic reports of battery drainage on older iOS versions. Those users are advised to update for a possible patch and improved security.
While Spotify is being held as the main culprit for the excessive drainage, it could also be a bug in iOS 15 for some users. iOS 15 has been littered with multiple bugs, including one limiting Apple Watch functionality with the just-released iPhone 13, issues with Apple Music, and other bugs that Apple has promised fixes for. Apple may be planning to release iOS 15.0.1 as soon as this week to patch those issues and others.
Apple today added Guided Meditations and Pilates to Apple Fitness+, expanding the existing catalog of workout types already available on the service ahead of a significant expansion of 15+ additional countries later this year.
During the last Apple event earlier this month, Apple announced it would be expanding Fitness+ with Guided Meditations. This new workout type builds on the current Mindful Cooldowns workout, allowing Fitness+ users to "reduce everyday stress, develop a greater sense of awareness, and build resilience to face life's challenges." Guided Meditations sessions in 10 and 20 minute lengths will be available.
Alongside Strength, Core, and Yoga workouts, Fitness+ today also gained Pilates, a new low-impact workout that focuses on improving strength and flexibility. Pilates sessions will be guided and headed by Marimba Gold-Watts and Darryl Whiting, both professionals in fitness. Fitness+ is also gaining a new "Workouts to Get Ready for Snow Season" guide with workouts to improve skiers' and snowboarders' performance ahead of the winter.
Later this fall, Apple Fitness+ will be expanding to 15 additional countries, including Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UAE. Fitness+ will also be gaining group workouts powered by SharePlay later this year.
Now that new iPad mini 6 owners have had a couple of days with Apple's latest redesigned tablet, some users are noticing an issue being referred to as "jelly scroll" when viewing the screen in portrait mode.
The term refers to a noticeable effect when scrolling vertically through text-based content like a webpage or document, where each line of text appears to tilt down towards the left of the screen as it passes by. The effect makes it look as though one side of the display is responding faster than the other when a finger drags to scroll the page.
Several MacRumors readers have noted the issue, which seems to affect users to a variable degree. Some iPad mini 6 owners claim they noticed the effect despite being ignorant of similar reports in the wild, while others see it only after having been made aware that it was even a thing.
Moreover, some users, having seen it, claim to be unable to "unsee" it, after which it becomes irritating to witness and can even induce eye strain. The issue was first brought to wider attention in a tweet by The Verge's Dieter Bohn, who demonstrated the effect in a slo-mo video.
Here is is slow-mo video of scrolling on the iPad Min i slowed down EVEN MORE in a frame-by-frame step through. Notice how the right moves up faster than the left.
In normal usage you barely see it, but every now and then it become noticeable. In landscape it goes away entirely pic.twitter.com/iq9LGJzsDI
— Dieter Bohn (@backlon) September 22, 2021
MacRumors has independently confirmed that the effect can be seen by different people on the same sixth-generation iPad mini unit. MacRumors can also confirm that the issue was evident on all iPad mini 6 models on display in a local UK Apple Store. The issue wasn't reproducible in landscape orientation when scrolling, indicating this is a vertical refresh issue.
It's currently unclear if this is a hardware issue affecting only a certain batch of iPad mini units, a more widespread hardware problem, or something that could be fixed with a software update. We've reached out to Apple for comment.
Shipments of Apple Silicon MacBooks will be cut in the first half of next year due to component shortages, a decline in working from home demand, and the introduction of a redesigned MacBook Air in the third quarter of 2022, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's latest investor note, seen by MacRumors.
From the note:
We forecast that the shipment of Apple Silicon processor-based MacBook models will be cut by approximately 15% in 1H22 and attribute it to three reasons: 1) component shortages, 2) structural demand change in the post- COVID-19 era, and 3) product transition between legacy and new models.
According to Kuo, the shortage of components relates primarily to a continuing lack of power management integrated circuits, for which delivery times currently extend as far out as 52 weeks.
This shortage will hit all PC brands, but is said to coincide with the capacity expansion of Unimicron, one of the main IC providers in Taiwan and the sole supplier for the Apple silicon ABF substrate. As a result, Unimicron is expected to aggressively secure non-Apple ABF substrate orders to cut risk.
MacBook shipments are also expected to be impacted by the change in demand structure in the post-COVID-19 era will, with the number of people working from home declining and purchasing power falling due to inflation.
Kuo believes a new redesigned MacBook Air powered by next-generation Apple Silicon will enter mass production in the early third quarter of 2022, making the second half of next year a product transition period that will have an impact on MacBook orders.
Apple is still expected to launch redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models before the end of this year, likely to be announced via a digital event in October or November.
The latest macOS Monterey beta references two new built-in display resolutions that likely correspond to the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The new display resolutions are listed as "3456 x 2234 Retina" and "3024 x 1964 Retina," which would represent an increase in pixel density for a sharper image if the displays are the expected sizes.
Update: According to the video mentioned below, even if an iPhone 13 display is replaced with a genuine and original iPhone 13 screen, Face ID will stop working. In the video, the repair provider swapped two original iPhone 13 screens and in both cases, Face ID was inoperative after the new screens were installed. It seems to be the case that if the original screen is put back with the original iPhone 13, Face ID returns, ruling out the possibility of an improper installation.
If a customer gets their iPhone 13 display replaced by a third-party repair store or provider, such as those not licensed or affiliated with Apple through its Independent Repair Program, Face ID on the iPhone will no longer be useable.
Apple has long faced criticism for making it difficult for third-party repair stores and providers to fix and repair their products. Apple already displays a prompt for customers inside Settings that informs them that their display is a "non-genuine display," and a similar prompt for "non-genuine cameras" was introduced earlier this year.
Apple claims these prompts help inform customers that they aren't using genuine Apple parts and is part of its more comprehensive plan to ensure customer devices are only repaired and diagnosed by certified Apple technicians.
With the iPhone 13 this year, Apple further makes it more difficult for customers to get repairs from third-party stores and providers. As discovered in a repair video, the iPhone 13 screen includes no components for Face ID to function, as all the parts for the TrueDepth system are housed in the iPhone itself.
Despite this, if an iPhone 13 display is replaced with a "non-genuine" or even a genuine, original iPhone 13 display, Face ID stops working, despite there seemingly being no hardware within the display itself needed for Face ID to function.
Important Display Message Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display.
Apple runs its own Independent iPhone Repair Program, which is designed to allow any company or third-party repair center to become an authorized Apple service provider only if they meet the requirements and go through the process.
Apple has expanded the program to more countries worldwide, but compared to fully independent third-party repair providers, authorized Apple outlets often have higher prices, longer wait times, and poor customer service. Companies and stores certified through Apple get access to genuine Apple parts, manuals, and device instructions, including information not available to third-party repair stores.
Given the lack of hardware reasoning for the iPhone 13's Face ID to no longer be usable after a third-party screen is installed, Apple could patch this via an iOS update if it's a simple iOS 15 bug. Keeping in mind its past efforts to consolidate iPhone repairs to only stores and centers it chooses to consider "authorized," however, this is unlikely to be a mistake and will only further fuel the Right to Repair movement. We've reached out to Apple for comment.
Apple plans to begin mass production of an upcoming redesigned MacBook Air featuring an updated, more powerful Apple silicon processor in the third quarter of 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note obtained by MacRumors.
Kuo has previously stated that the new MacBook Air will feature an entirely new design, including a mini-LED display and a more powerful Apple silicon processor. Kuo had earlier pinpointed a launch around the middle of 2022, now providing a more specific timeline for the late second quarter or early third quarter of 2022 for mass production getting underway.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that the new MacBook Air will feature a "thinner and lighter" enclosure, two USB 4 ports, and a MagSafe charging connector. Apple leaker and YouTube personality Jon Prosser shared renders for the alleged upcoming MacBook Air earlier this year, showing most notably of all that Apple plans to release the new laptop in a range of colors, similar to the 24-inch M1 iMac.
Apple last updated its MacBook Air with the M1 chip last November, which maintained the previous MacBook Air design. Despite the expectation that Apple will update several Macs in its lineup with Apple silicon before the end of this year, the MacBook Air doesn't seem like it'll be one of them.
In a support document, Apple said affected users can turn off Unlock with Apple Watch and use their passcode to unlock their iPhone 13 until the software update is released. The feature, which is designed to let you unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask or ski goggles, can be toggled off in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode.
Apple did not specify which software update will include a fix, nor did it provide a timeframe. The first beta of iOS 15.1 was released five days ago, but Apple could also choose to release a minor iOS 15.0.1 update with bug fixes.
As we reported, affected users might see an "Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch" error message if they try to unlock their iPhone 13 while wearing a face mask, or they might not be able to set up Unlock with Apple Watch.
Following Apple's big media event last week, this week saw users able to get their hands on much of the new hardware and software, headlined by the iPhone 13 lineup and iOS 15.
This week also saw some new rumors, including a fresh report about next year's iPhone 14 Pro and our own discovery of what are likely to be the display resolutions for Apple's upcoming redesigned MacBook Pro models, so read on for all of the details!
First Impressions From New iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Owners
All four iPhone 13 models are now available, and we've had just a short bit of time with them to put together our initial thoughts on the new devices, so stay tuned for more as we spend additional time with them.
For a more thorough look right now, check out some of the early media iPhone 13 reviews and iPhone 13 Pro reviews that were published online earlier this week.
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 and additional camera features like Night mode portraits and ProRes video recording.
The Ultimate iOS 15 Walkthrough: Guides and How Tos for Every New Feature
First Look Inside iPhone 13 Reveals Face ID Changes, Smaller Taptic Engine, and Larger Battery
With customers around the world finally getting their hands on the iPhone 13 lineup, some users are starting to open up their devices to see what's inside. Sonny Dickson from Australia was one of the first to share photos that provided an early look inside the devices.
The photos reveal changes that Apple made to the TrueDepth sensor system for Face ID to accommodate for the iPhone 13's smaller notch, in addition to a smaller Taptic Engine, a larger battery, and more.
Kuo also said that the first iPhone with under-screen Touch ID has been delayed until the second half of 2023, and that the first foldable iPhone has been delayed until 2024.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
iPad mini color options: Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight.
iPad Air color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
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