Black Friday is over for another year, but Cyber Monday has just begun, which means there’s still time to enjoy big discounts on Apple devices.
AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad and more are currently available at tasty discounts from third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. And to make shopping a little easier, we rounded up all the best deals on Apple’s hottest gear.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If you thought the M1 Max MacBook Pros were powerhouses, wait till you hear about the iMac Pro that might be coming down the pike. Apple reportedly wants to double up the world-beating chip to amp up the performance even more. Prepare to be amazed!
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
Apple just gave customers another big reason to avoid its trade-in service by slashing prices on almost all iPhone models. Instead, sell your old handset to Cult of Mac to make more from it, and get real cash you can spend anywhere.
Find out how much your old iPhone is worth today in just a few simple steps, and secure your quote for 14 days.
Apple is offering customers up to $200 back in Apple Store gift cards when they buy eligible products this Black Friday. Its four-day shopping event runs from November 26, and you can enjoy in in-store, online, and over the phone.
Find out what you’ll get back on certain products right here.
What’s in that firmware update for a couple of AirPods that came out Tuesday. Who the hell knows?!? Apple doesn’t announce updates for its truly wireless headphones — and won’t tell anyone what’s in them. It’s very frustrating.
Apple’s attempt at making AirPods firmware updates simple instead makes them way more complicated than necessary. Currently, they happen in the background, but what’s really needed is an “Update Now” button.
Satechi rolled out a new 3-in-1 MagSafe-compatible charger on Thursday to help users power up their iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches. The sleek black Satechi 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger features a hands-free, adjustable, MagSafe-compatible mount for your phone, plus solid steel-and-aluminum construction.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or just like to be different, the new Elago Ice Cream AirPods 3 Case definitely stands out. The nicely detailed silicone case looks like a tiny ice cream bar, right down to the colorful 3D sprinkles scattered on it. (A wooden stick at the bottom finishes off the look.)
It comes in two vibrant colors — mint and lavender — and for me, this case only has positives.
AirPods are arguably one of Apple’s most popular products. Over the last five years, the wireless earbuds have become so common that it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing someone wearing them.
And now, with the third-generation AirPods, Apple has improved them in almost every way. That makes the latest AirPods one of the best, if not the best, all-around earbuds you can get.
We could be waiting almost another year for Cupertino’s second-generation AirPods Pro refresh. A new report — citing sources in Apple’s supply chain — claims the new buds won’t drop until the third quarter of 2022.
Earlier rumors have indicated the upgrade could bring an even more compact design with a more rounded shape, plus motion sensors for fitness tracking.
Apple’s over-the-ear — and over-the-top — AirPods Max headphones just hit their lowest price ever. A deal knocks a whopping $119 off the regular cost.
If you have AirPods Max on your holiday shopping list, then now might be your best opportunity to pick up a pair.
What I’m about to write is so shocking you might want to sit down: AirPods 3 are the first Apple wireless headphones I’ve ever owned. I never saw a need to pay the Apple Tax when I had cheap wireless earbuds that were good enough.
But I changed my mind for the newest model. Here are all the reasons I’m happy about the purchase. And the one reason I’m not.
Apple’s recently released AirPods 3 have a longer battery life than either AirPods 2 or AirPods Pro. But a teardown of the new truly wireless headphones finds batteries that can’t fully explain the extra time between charges.
Watch a video of the teardown showing why along with some other internal details of AirPods 3.
AirPods might just be the best wireless buds you can pair with Apple devices, but they’re also pretty expensive. Plenty of more affordable options that deliver stellar sound and reliable connectivity in a neat design are available.
So, if you’re buying on a budget this holiday season, skip the Apple Store and check out these six brilliant but more affordable alternatives to AirPods.
The Zens Magnetic + Watch Wireless Charger stands in the ranks of MagSafe-compatible chargers designed to be your go-to device for juicing up multiple pieces of Apple gear — and the sleek and compact 4-in-1 device does it in style. But not with a huge amount of charging power.
The Zens Magnetic + Watch Wireless Charger tops up four devices — all at once, if you like.
A puck on a dark metallic stem holds a MagSafe iPhone (12 or 13 series) firmly in place, horizontally or vertically. The surface underneath charges an AirPods case or any Qi-enabled device. A USB-A charging stick lets you top off an Apple Watch in Sleep mode. And a USB-A port on the side powers up something else, like an iPad.
ColorWare is now offering Apple’s newest AirPods in much prettier, more colorful designs. You can choose how you want yours to be painted, but be warned that you’ll have to cough up a lot more to stand out.
Prices start at a rather eye-watering $319 — up from just $179 when you buy AirPods in white — and that price covers only the AirPods buds themselves. It rises even higher if you want a colorful charging case as well.
A pre-Black Friday price cut from Amazon makes the new AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case surprisingly affordable at just $189.99. With active noise cancellation, excellent audio quality and three sizes of silicone ear tips for a comfortable fit, Apple’s high-end earbuds hit all the right notes.
If you want a pair — or want to knock out some early holiday gift shopping — you might want to jump on this deal. Or one of Amazon’s other surprising discounts on the Apple gear you crave, like an Apple Pencil 2 for just $99.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first MacBook Pro benchmarks and reviews reveal just how beefy these astonishing beasts really are. Powered by Apple’s outrageous new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, these laptops blow away their predecessors — and basically blow our minds. Erfon is in awe!
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in Apple’s Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
With the new Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds, I seem to have found near-ideal audio with active noise cancellation (ANC) for both music and phone calls. The compact earbuds offer surprisingly expansive sound and are incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
The new AirPods 3 are marvelous little earbuds. They sound fantastic, are dead easy to set up and use, and the wireless charging case is a godsend.
Compared to their predecessors, Apple greatly improved just about everything — and they are well worth their $179 price tag.
The first wave of AirPods 3 reviews just came out, and they’re full of good news for those considering Apple’s latest truly wireless earbuds. Sound quality draws praise, as does battery life. But reviewers don’t seem as happy about the lack of active noise cancellation. And some would have preferred silicone ear tips.
Read on for reviewers’ specific comments about AirPods 3.
Anker expanded its lineup of iPhone 13 accessories Friday with a new version of the PowerWave Magnetic Stand. Now with a 3-in-1 form factor, Anker’s new MagSafe-compatible stand will juice up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch — all at once, if necessary.
AirPods always look great when you first take them out of their box, but it only takes a few days for their shiny white case to become covered in scuffs and scratches. That’s why you should protect yours with a great case.
Check out Elago’s brilliantly cool new lineup of cases for AirPods 3, which includes simple silicone sleeves, luscious leather options, and others inspired by awesome retro tech, including the original Game Boy and Macintosh.
Your iPhone charger doesn’t have to look like a charger when it’s off-duty. Twelve South launched its PowerPic Mod Wireless Charger on Wednesday. The Qi-enabled charging stand serves as a picture frame, with a detachable magnetic lucite frame that fits any 4 x 6 photo or graphic.
Apple’s third-generation AirPods and slightly refreshed AirPods Pro ship with Charging Cases that are fully compatible with MagSafe. And there are whole host of third-party accessories that make MagSafe charging even better.
Choose from a wide variety of docks and trays, in-car mounts and more. We’ve rounded up some of the best MagSafe accessories for AirPods to help you ensure that you’re hard-earned cash is well-spent.
AXS Technologies has rolled out a more modular design for its Power1 battery pack case for iPhone and AirPods, Cult of Mac first wrote about in 2019. It’s an interesting product because it will carry and charge both devices at the same time, right in your pocket.