The Anker PowerExpand Elite includes so many ports it’s almost easier to list the ones it doesn’t have. Photo: Anker
Anker boasts that the just-released PowerExpand Elite hub lets you “connect everything imaginable,” and there’s a certain amount of justification. This accessory has no less that 13 ports. There’s Thunderbolt 3, USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, audio ports, memory card readers, and more.
The company also launched on Wednesday the Anker PowerExpand, which “only” has seven ports of a range of types.
Sitting in a movie theater is a luxury many of us won’t get to enjoy again for a long time. So bring the cinema home to you with huge savings on Anker projectors today only.
Prices start at under $160 (down from $229.99) for the Nebula Prizm II, which offers 1080p video, built-in speakers, and a long-life lamp that lasts up to 30,000 hours before it needs changing.
A set of origami-style lights illuminate the cozy setup of Instagram user @mrisad, an integration delivery manager. The Nanoleaf lights floating above his dual monitors evoke the control panels from some ’70s sci-fi show. And they’re integrated with HomeKit, Apple’s home-automation platform.
The heart of his rig is a beautiful pair of screens. The large main screen is a $1,000 curved, 38-inch screen from LG. The second screen is a 28-inch Asus gaming monitor. He hooked them both up to a Mac mini, and elegantly suspended them in midair by an inexpensive ($40) but fully articulated desktop stand.
To round out his setup, @mrisad has a Magic Keyboard and Trackpad from Apple, and a trio of chargers for his iPhone, iPad and AirPods. As for audio, he has a HomePod and a pair of Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones.
One of these two has a lot more computing power. It’s probably not the one you’d expect. Photo: Wikipedia CC/Anker
Even today’s simplest accessories include more powerful computers than were used decades ago. To demonstrate, an engineer set out to prove that a USB-C charger from accessory-maker Anker includes a more capable CPU than the one that guided Apollo 11 to the Moon.
The biggest photography stories of the decade all involved the iPhone in some way. The approaching decade’s first story will likely be the rise of add-on strobe lights for iPhone photographers.
Less than two weeks after news broke that Apple told accessories companies that it would add flash support for the iPhone 11 lineup, Anker is claiming to have the first MFi flash unit that plugs right into the Lightning port.
Don't know what to buy? Let Cult of Mac help. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
With so many iPhone accessories available today, it’s hard to know where to start when buying holiday gifts for the iPhone lover in your life. But Cult of Mac can help.
We’ve rounded up some of the best accessories out there for iPhone owners. We’ve got great cases, superb headphones, gorgeous charging stands, and more.
Prices start at just $25, and many of the products are currently on sale for Black Friday. Snap them up while they’re cheap!
Bag 'em! It's time to accessorize that monster laptop. Photo: WaterField Designs
Your shiny new 16-inch MacBook Pro arrives this week, and of course you want to deck it out with all the latest accessories. What you need will depend on what you use your computer for, but almost everyone will want a case, a keyboard and a mouse. And there are plenty of other MacBook Pro accessories you might need to get the job done.
Check out our guide for dongles, cables and even battery packs that will help you get the most out of your new MacBook Pro.
Anker’s little dongle is super handy. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
The latest iPad Pro comes with a proper USB port, in the shape of USB-C. Now, as long as you can find the right cable or adapter, you can plug in pretty much anything short of a printer, and it will work as expected.
But you still need to find the right cable, or resort to a USB hub (none of which are really designed to work well with a tablet). In the past, that meant buying lots of USB-C to microUSB, USB-C to miniUSB, USB-C to USB-B cables, and so on.
Anker eufyCam 2 protects your privacy. Photo: Anker
Anker is adopting Apple’s tech that makes video security systems more private and secure. It’s upcoming eufyCam 2 uses the Apple Home app to stream live video directly to an iPhone or iPad, without going through an Anker server.
The Liberty 2 Pro brings high-end audio, thanks to a coaxial driver setup. Photo: Soundcore
Soundcore wants to “democratize premium audio” with its new Bluetooth earbuds. The new wireless headphones continue the company’s pursuit of delivering quality products at affordable price points.
“It’s a value proposition for us,” said Soundcore rep Adam Weissman in a demo at the Cult of Mac offices in San Francisco. He showed off two lines of headphones — one for regular audio fans and one for fitness fiends. All the new models deliver features similar to AirPods, but at price points far below Apple’s smash-hit product.
The Anker PowerPort Atom III is minuscule for a 30W charger. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Wall chargers made with gallium nitride (GaN) transistors can be considerably smaller than ones that use silicon instead. An outstanding case in point is the Anker PowerPort Atom III Slim, which is tiny but can still put out 30W to quickly power up an iPad Pro or even a MacBook.
We tested this svelte USB-C battery charger in the field. Read on to see how well it lives up to its promise.
We’ve rounded up the best iPhone accessories right here. You’ll find cheap Beats and Bose headphones, smart speakers from Sonos, must-have battery packs from Anker, and lots more.
Bust out your wallet and enjoy these massive savings while you can.
Use iPhone headphones with your MacBook or iPad Pro with this handy adapter. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Anker’s latest adapter lets Apple fans bring a single pair of wired headphones to use with their iPhone, Mac and even iPad Pro. It’s a simple gizmo that converts Lightning audio to USB-C.
You won’t need an adapter to read our hands-on review.
It’s been impossible to get the Lightning earbuds that come with the iPhone XS, XS Max or XR to work on the USB-C ports of the new MacBook and MacBook Pro. Luckily, Anker is out here doing God’s work and has finally come up with a solutions: another dongle.
The sun finally came out, so I took this photo outside. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Ever since I got a 2018 iPad Pro last year, I’ve gone through a drawerful of USB-C hubs. And finally, I’ve found one that works. Or rather, one that works without any odd, annoying or inexplicable behavior. It’s the Kingston Nucleum, it doesn’t have quite enough ports, and it’s just great.
Wireless chargers are easy to use and look stylish in any room. Photo: Mophie
Owners of late-model iPhones (starting with iPhone 8) can stash all their old Lightning cables in a desk drawer and start charging their phone more easily with a wireless charger. Instead of sticking a wire into your phone and attaching it to a power adapter, you just place the phone on a small charger pad — or on a stand-up charging pad — and you’re good to go.
There’s no reason to get Apple’s Lightning-to-USB-C cable when Anker’s is at least as good for less money. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Anker is taking pre-orders for a Lightning-to-USB-C cable that costs much less than Apple’s version. We tested this new accessory to see how quickly it can charge an iPhone to be sure it’s a reasonable copy and not just a cheap knockoff.
Read on to see how well the Anker Powerline II USB-C cable stood up to our tests.
This Bluetooth speaker lets you set the mood with full sound and adaptable light. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
No matter where you listen, music is all about creating a feeling. So when you’re deciding on music to play at home, you want to make sure you’re creating the right vibe.
Get real work done on your iPad Pro. Photo: Satechi
Is the iPad Pro a laptop replacement? Despite what you might think, and what many reviewers will tell you, it can be for a lot of professionals. But not by itself.
If you’re going to use your iPad to get real work done, and to be as productive as possible, you’ll need some things to go with it. In this roundup, we’ve listed affordable accessories that turn iPad Pro into a productivity powerhouse.
Buying for a Mac fan? Start here! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
We’ve shown you the best gifts for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users, but what if the person you’re buying for is a long-time Apple fan whose first love was the Mac? Then you should start your shopping right here!
This guide is filled with awesome accessories and gadgets that every Mac addict will enjoy. We’ve handpicked only the best — things we’ve used, reviewed, and would recommend — so that you can be sure your hard-earned cash is being well spent.
Check out our gift guide selections for Mac users below.
Buying for an iPad fan? Start here! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The holiday shopping season has rudely crept up on us, which means it’s time to start buying for friends and loved ones who have been good this year. Fortunately for you, Cult of Mac is here to help.
Our gift guides are full of great products Apple fans are sure to love. We’ve hand-picked awesome accessories and glorious gadgets that we all use and recommend, so you know your money is being well-spent.
This guide focuses on the iPad lovers in your life, and there’s something to suit every budget.
USB-C battery packs, chargers, hard drives, cables and hubs will future-proof newer Macs. Photo: Anker
USB Type C — it’s no longer a novelty but an emerging connectivity standard for Apple products. As a newer, more powerful variation of the same USB we all know and love (well, kinda), USB-C features higher power and faster data transfer than its predecessors via a smaller connector.
While older USB Type A and B were a great gift for Mac users — few mourned the passing of ADB and SCSI — USB is often finicky. Just plugging in an old-school USB cable can prove challenging, since you must position the connector just so for it to slide smoothly into the port. That often means several tries to achieve the proper angle and orientation.
Those obstacles disappear with USB-C because, in addition to its smaller size, it is designed to be reversible — with no up or down orientation, just like a Lightning cable — and the cables can have the same type of connector on both ends.
This week on The CultCast: Alex Jones and free speech, Part 2. Plus: Ming-Chi Kuo says the Apple Car is real, and you might drive it off the lot in 2023! And stay tuned for our most-loved tech! We’ll discuss the gadgets and apps we can’t go without.
These accessories are perfect for any Mac owner on your gift list. Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Christmas creeps up on you quickly, so if you haven’t already started your shopping, it’s time to do something about it. Cult of Mac can help! In this guide, you’ll find a selection of stellar gifts that are perfect for the Mac lover in your life.
We have killer keyboards, stunning stands, super speakers and more!