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This Anker 3-in-1 charging stand quickly powers up your iPhone [Review] ★★★★

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Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station review: for iPhone, Apple Watch and more★★★★
Juice up your iPhone, Apple Watch and more with the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

No patience for slow wireless chargers? Then you need to check out the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station. It delivers up to 25W, and so can give an iPhone 17 a nearly 50% charge in half an hour. There’s even a fan to keep things cool.

At the same time, the accessory boasts charging mats for an Apple Watch and an AirPods wireless charging case. And it folds up for easy travel.

I put Anker’s sleek 3-in-1 fast-charger through its paces for this review. Here’s what I learned.

Here’s one thing John Ternus must not screw up as Apple CEO

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John Ternus must follow a rule that Tim Cook and Steve Jobs both knew.
John Ternus must follow a rule that previous Apple CEOs Tim Cook and Steve Jobs both knew.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

As the upcoming CEO of Apple, John Ternus is surely getting deluged with advice, and I do not have the hubris to tell him what he should do. But my decades of reporting on the tech business have shown me that there’s something he absolutely must not do … because it could ruin the company.

Do not ship anything before it’s finished. You’d think that would be obvious, but it’s a mistake companies make over and over. Even Apple has done it a time or two — and that includes with a product still in its lineup today.

Apple releases iOS 26.4.2, which ensures deleted messages actually disappear [Updated]

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Apple releases iOS 26.4.2 with focus on stability and security
Update your iPhone today to get rid of bugs.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Apple on Wednesday released iOS 26.4.2 to fix a bug that allowed messages deleted by a user to remain on the iPhone.

“Notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device,” Apple said in its security notes about the update. “A logging issue was addressed with improved data redaction.”

Beyond that, it seems like a minor update that focuses on various bug fixes and incremental performance improvements rather than new features. Tablet users got iPadOS 26.4.2 at the same time.

Plus, those not yet willing to make the jump to iOS 26 got their own update — iOS 18.7.8 also appeared on Wednesday, along with iPadOS 18.7.8.

Powerful new charger streamlines charging for busy households

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Satechi ChargeView 140W Desktop Charger targets cluttered desks
The Satechi ChargeView 140W Desktop Charger can give a MacBook Pro full power.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi ChargeView 140W Desktop Charger offers four USB-C ports to power up a MacBook, iPad, iPhone and other accessories all at once.

A highlight is a display that shows how much current is flowing through each port.

Expect John Ternus to be more decisive as Apple CEO

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Apple bets on decisiveness with John Ternus as next CEO
Future Apple CEO John Ternus is a man willing to make the difficult decisions.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s appointment of John Ternus as its next CEO signals a potential shift in leadership style at the company, with insiders pointing to his decisive approach to decision-making.

In contrast, outgoing CEO Tim Cook is more of a consensus builder.

Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO, John Ternus steps in

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Apple names John Ternus CEO as Tim Cook becomes executive chairman
Apple just named John Ternus as its next CEO, with Tim Cook becoming executive chairman.
Photo: Apple

Apple announced a sweeping leadership transition on Monday, naming longtime executive John Ternus as its next chief executive officer in September. Current CEO Tim Cook will move into a new role as executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors at that time.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” said Cook in a statement. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world.”

Folding iPhone could include feature many assumed was off the table

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The folding iPhone Ultra could include a feature many though it would lack
The folding iPhone Ultra could include a feature many though it would lack.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Potential folding iPhone buyers can breathe a sigh of relief. New images of cases for the device — supposedly dubbed the iPhone Ultra — show it including MagSafe. Previously, we saw no sign of this feature in leaks about the much-anticipated handset.

This could have been a deal-breaker for some buyers.

Make your iPhone completely hacker-proof — with a huge downside

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iPhone Lockdown mode: Apple’s most powerful iPhone security tool
You can be confident that Lockdown Mode will keep your iPhone safe from spyware.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

There’s a setting called Lockdown Mode you can activate on your iPhone that will make it virtually impossible to hack. Just by flipping a switch, you can make your iPhone incredibly secure. So secure, in fact, that Apple says no phone using Lockdown Mode has ever been hacked.

Sure sounds great. Surprise — here’s why you don’t want to use it.

iPhone users are more loyal to Apple than ever

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iPhone loyalty hits a new high
Love your iPhone? You are not alone. Very few iPhone users have any interest in switching.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Phone users are sticking with Apple at unprecedented levels, according to a new nationwide survey, underscoring the growing strength of the company’s ecosystem and the challenges facing rivals trying to win them over.

And while Android users’ loyalty to their smartphone maker is noticeably weaker, that doesn’t mean huge numbers are switching to Apple.

Why Apple is sending Siri developers to AI coding bootcamp

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Photo of two people coding on a laptop, used to illustrate a story about Apple employees learning AI coding skills to finish Siri
Apple will retrain existing employees with AI coding skills.
Photo: Mizuno K/Pexels

Apple will reportedly send a sizable share of its Siri development team to an intensive, multi-week bootcamp to improve their AI coding skills. To be clear, the employees won’t be learning how to make an AI, but how to use AI to develop.

It’s part of a push to finally complete the revamp of Apple’s voice assistant that the company promised years ago.

Gemini Mac app puts Google AI right in your workflow

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Gemini for Mac app gives you a new AI option.
Gemini for Mac offers a faster, more integrated way to get AI help.
AI image: Google/Apple/Gemini/Cult of Mac

Google brought its Gemini AI assistant directly to Mac, launching a new native macOS app on Wednesday. The app makes it easy to share what’s on your computer’s screen with the AI.

It’s designed to be more tightly integrated with the user’s workflow than the web version.

3 ways to give your old iPhone a performance boost

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Cartoon image of three iPhones with white beards and tennis shoes running down a track, used to illustrate a story on how to speed up again iPhones.
Simple steps can give your older iPhone better performance.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Stop me if this sounds familiar: Your old iPhone just doesn’t have the same pep it used to and you’re desperate to speed it up. Ignore the nasty iPhone conspiracy theory — the real reason for the slowdown is rooted in battery chemistry, diminishing amounts of available memory, and the evolving demands of modern iOS apps.

Fortunately, you can take steps to improve the speed of your older iPhone. Here’s what to do.

Apple holds the line while rivals jack up prices

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Microsoft and Samsung raise prices, testing consumer demand
Prices for lots of Samsung and Microsoft gear just took a jump. Ouch!
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Rising costs across the global tech supply chain are forcing some of Apple’s biggest competitors — most notably Microsoft and Samsung — to increase prices on smartphones, tablets and notebooks, signaling a potential shift in the competitive landscape for consumer electronics.

Apple has not increased prices. It’s actually recently moved the opposite direction by introducing the most affordable MacBook ever.

Apple seems confident that folding iPhone will be a hit

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Apple increased its bet on folding iPhone success
Apple is allegedly upbeat about demand for the iPhone Ultra, its first foldable.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly ramping up its supply of a critical component for the foldable iPhone, even as the broader market for foldable smartphones shows signs of slowing.

According to a supply chain report published Tuesday, the company increased its orders of foldable display panels by roughly 20%, a move that signals growing confidence in the long-rumored device.

New 10-port hub brings 8K video and high-speed networking to MacBooks

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Plugable USBC-10IN1E helps reduce MacBook port limitations
The Plugable USBC-10IN1E could be the powerful hub your MacBook needs.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable Technologies on Tuesday launched the USBC-10IN1E, a new 10-in-1 USB-C hub aimed at delivering docking station-level performance in a compact design. The company says the device stands out in a crowded market by combining high-wattage charging, advanced display support and faster networking in a single accessory.

Despite the advanced features, the new product is quite affordable — which is not surprising for Plugable.

Slim MagSafe iPhone power bank is made for wireless charging haters [Review] ★★★★

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Clutch Pro review: Slim power bank without wireless charging★★★★
With Clutch Pro, you can have a slim power bank while avoiding wireless charging.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Clutch Pro is for anyone who wants a very slim power bank that magnetically attaches to their iPhone, but who doesn’t like wireless charging. This tiny 5,000mAh external battery includes a USB-C connector on a cable for easy charging.

I tested it with my iPhone 17 and my iPad too. Here’s why I like it.

Save on Apple’s Silicone, Clear and TechWoven cases for iPhone 17 lineup

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Photo of a cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro in an orange Apple silicone case, sitting on a bathroom sink.
Apple's silicone cases feel silky smooth and come in a variety of vibrant colors.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iPhone cases provide stylish protection, and a new deal cuts $9.01 off the price of various Silicone, Clear and TechWoven models for iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

As you might expect, the company’s cases fit its smartphones perfectly. This sale applies to cases for various models in multiple colors and sizes. And if you happen to own an iPhone Air, you can currently save a whopping 54% on a bumper case.

Find big discounts on practically the full range of official Apple iPhone 17 cases in Amazon’s sale.

Why MacBook Neo 2 will boast 50% more RAM

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12GB of RAM in MacBook Neo 2 looks locked in — here’s why
The way Apple will source chips for the MacBook Neo 2 means it's getting a RAM boost.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Anyone still dissatisfied with the amount of RAM in the MacBook Neo should be pleased to learn that the second-generation version of Apple’s hit entry-level notebook will almost certainly boast 50% more RAM.

And that’s not a guess. Apple is already making the processor/RAM combos to go into the notebook, even though the release is not expected for almost another year.

To understand why, you need to know where Apple gets the chips for this popular computer. And once you know that, you’ll realize why we can confidently say the 2027 MacBook Neo will include 12GB of RAM.

Apple takes the crown as iPhone 17 surges ahead globally

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iPhone shipments Q1 2026: Apple beats all rivals
Strong iPhone shipments put Apple on top of the world smartphone market.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple once again beat all its rivals to stay the world’s top smartphone vendor, according to new data from a market-research firm, with its latest quarterly performance underscoring the strength of the iPhone lineup. This is the first time the iPhone has led the world in Q1, traditionally a weak quarter for the company.

Apple’s smartphone shipments grew 5% year over year, while all of its top competitors declined.

iOS 26.4 adds new way to tone down Liquid Glass

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Reduce Bright Effects: A new way to tone down Liquid Glass
There's a new tool to amp down the look of Liquid Glass.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Those who aren’t fans of Apple’s Liquid Glass have a new way to disable some of its distracting features. “Reduce Bright Effects” appeared in iOS 26.4, as well as macOS and iPadOS. As the name suggests, it is intended to minimize highlighting and flashing when pushing on-screen buttons.

Here’s how to find the toggle switch.

Apple releases macOS Tahoe 26.4.1 with bug fixes and behind-the-scenes improvements

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macOS Tahoe 26.4.1 is a bug fix update
There's a new version of macOS ready to install on your Mac.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple on Thursday released macOS 26.4.1, a minor but essential update for Mac users running macOS Tahoe. The software arrived a day after the corresponding iOS 26.4.1 and iPadOS 26.4.1 reached iPhone and iPad users.

The update does not introduce major changes. Instead, it focuses on fixing bugs.

MacBook Neo helps power Mac to its best quarter in years

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Mac shipments keep climbing as Apple’s momentum continues
MacBook Neo, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air all pushed up Mac sales in Q1 2026.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple shipped more Macs in the first three months of 2026 than it has in any quarter going back years. And its share of the world PC market reached a milestone, too.

It’s surely no coincidence this occurred in the quarter the the MacBook Neo launched — Apple’s first entry-level notebook is a huge hit.

Biggest problem with the MacBook Neo? It’s too popular!

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MacBook Neo sold out? Suffering from its own success?
Apple has a problem with the MacBook Neo that other companies can only dream of.
AI image: Apple/Gemini/Cult of Mac

Want a MacBook Neo? Better order it soon. It’s possible Apple will sell out of the affordable notebook … and not just for a few weeks. It’s not impossible that the laptop will go completely off the market until Apple can solve a shortage of a critical component … and it’s not RAM! Alternatively, Apple could be forced to raise the price.

And it’s all because the Neo is so wildly popular. Here’s what’s going on.

Apple’s folding iPhone might ditch expected branding

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AI-generated image of a folding iPhone concept. The rumored device might be called the
Not the iPhone Fold at all. You could be looking at the iPhone Ultra.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Surprise! Apple might not release an iPhone Fold this fall.

Wait, it’s a joke. Sort of. It’s still virtually certain that Apple will introduce a folding handset in a few months. However, it reportedly won’t be named what everyone expects. A reliable source says the real name is (drum roll) … iPhone Ultra.

First look: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold ‘dummy’ units appear in new leak

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iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone design teased in newly leaked 'dummy' units
The iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone should look much like this.
Photo: Sonny Dickson

“Dummy” units of all three smartphones that Apple is expected to launch this fall appeared in images posted Tuesday by some noted leakers. The pictures show the first folding iPhone, as well as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, all in a strange magenta color.

The basic iPhone 18 doesn’t appear in the pictures. And there’s a good reason for that: It’s reportedly not coming this fall.