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Rajesh Pandey - page 11

Grab an Apple Studio Display at a discount

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Firmware updates for Studio Displays failed over the weekend but they're fixed now.
Apple's Studio Display is a great 5K monitor for your Mac.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s Studio Display is the perfect monitor for most Apple users, and this deal makes it even better. The high-end monitor packs a gorgeous 27-inch 5K screen and lots of extras.

However, at its retail price of $1,599, the monitor is pretty expensive for what it offers, especially since it is a few years old now. However, a current Apple Studio Display deal on Amazon drops it to just  $1,539.95.

iPhone 16e’s C1 modem holds its own against iPhone 16’s Qualcomm chip

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iPhone 16e laying down flat on a pine table surface.
The iPhone 16e's C1 modem won't disappoint you with its mobile data speeds.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 16e marks the debut of Apple’s in-house 5G modem. Despite missing mmWave 5G support, the modem still impresses. Apple touts it as the most efficient modem ever in an iPhone.

Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, has released a detailed analysis of the iPhone 16e’s network performance based on their preliminary data.

iPhone’s Tap to Pay spreads its reach across Europe

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Tap to Pay on iPhone empowers businesses to securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets by using an iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app.
Apple's Tap to Pay to iPhone expands to more European countries.
Photo: Apple

In a major expansion, Apple’s Tap to Pay to iPhone has launched in several European countries. This includes Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Poland and others.

With Tap to Pay, retailers and small businesses can accept contactless payments directly using their iPhones.

iPhone 17 could give your selfies a 24MP boost

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iPhone 15 Ultra leaks points to dual front cameras, more storage
Apple's 2025 iPhones should capture sharper selfies.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seemingly plans to use 24MP selfie cameras across its entire iPhone 17 lineup. The higher resolution sensor should lead to a noticeable improvement in image quality.

All current iPhone models sport a 12MP TrueDepth camera.

iPhone 18 Pro could ditch Qualcomm for Apple’s C2 modem

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Apple C1 chip in an iPhone 16e
Apple's C2 modem may debut on the iPhone 18 Pro.
Image: Apple

Apple’s 2026 flagship iPhones could use its in-house second-gen modem. The C2 baseband should be a big upgrade over the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem in terms of performance.

More importantly, it will supposedly support mmWave 5G connectivity, fixing a major shortcoming of the current C1 modem.

Apple to soon manufacture AirPods in India

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Apple AirPods 4 design
India will soon make another major Apple product.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple will soon manufacture AirPods in India for export purposes. The move comes amidst the company’s push to grow its manufacturing presence in the country.

Apple already makes iPhones in India to meet local demand and export to other markets.

iPhone 17 Air will mark ‘new beginning’ for Apple

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iPhone 17 Air rumors
The iPhone 17 Air will offer much more than just a slim design.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Jon Prosser

Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air will be more than just a slim new iPhone. A report says “it’s really a new beginning for the iPhone.”

The super-slender device reportedly will pack cutting-edge technologies not used in other iPhones.

iPhone RCS texting to gain end-to-end encryption support this year

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RCS messaging on iPhone will get safer later this year.
RCS messaging on iPhone will get safer later this year.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/CultofMac

Apple will improve the RCS messaging experience by adding cross-platform encryption support. The company’s announcement comes as the GSM Association unveiled the latest RCS standard.

The new standard brings end-to-end encryption (E2EE) based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol.

iOS 19 could transform your AirPods into real-time translator

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AirPods Pro and Transparency Mode make for fine hearing aids.
Your AirPods could gain another handy new feature with iOS 19.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly will add a live translation feature to AirPods in iOS 19 that will enable real-time conversations between people who speak different languages.

The feature will come alongside Apple “bolstering the translation technology in iOS 19.” With this advancement, Apple is set to compete with other ai translation earbuds, bringing seamless multilingual communication to AirPods. Learn more about the update here.

Sonos scraps plans to launch Apple TV rival

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Sonos logo on a Sonos speaker
Sonos may not have any major hardware product launches lined up for H2 2025.
Photo: Jako Janse van Rensburg/Unsplash

Sonos reportedly scrapped plans to launch its streaming video device. The Apple TV rival was “deep into development,” yet the company decided to pull the plug on its release.

The streaming device was going to be Sonos’ next big hardware product.

M4 MacBook Air, M3 iPad Air, Mac Studio, iPad 11 go on sale

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Apple's 2025 iPad Air, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio are now on sale.
Several new Apple devices hit store shelves today.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

You can now purchase Apple’s 2025 MacBook Air refresh with a faster M4 chip from your nearest retail store. The upgraded Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips also hits retail stores today.

Additionally, the M3 iPad Air and iPad A16 are also up for sale starting today, March 12.

Apple Watch sales nosedived in 2024 as rivals surged

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Apple Watch 10 review
The Apple Watch Series 10 failed to boost Apple's smartwatch sales.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Despite the launch of the redesigned Apple Watch Series 10, Apple’s wearable sales declined by a whopping 19% in 2024. The overall smartwatch shipments also fell by 7% in the year.

Although sales declined, Apple remained the top player in the smartwatch market in 2024, beating Samsung and Xiaomi.

EU may slap Apple with modest fine for DMA violation

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The European Commission's draft law could force companies to detect, remove and report CSAM.
The European Commission could take a softer stance against Apple's DMA breach.
Photo: European Commission

The European Commission will reportedly slap Apple and Meta with “modest fines” for breaching the DMA (Digital Markets Act).

The act became a law in EU countries in May 2023, forcing Apple to open its devices to third-party app stores and be more open to competition. This ongoing regulatory pressure raises questions about Apple’s global operations, including where are iPhones made.

M3 vs. M4 MacBook Air: Are subtle refinements worth the upgrade?

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M3 vs M4 MacBook Air comparison
The M4 MacBook Air is all about small refinements.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

How do Apple’s latest laptops stack up? Our M3 vs. M4 MacBook Air comparison shows the differences between the two models. Spoiler alert: Adding the new M4 chip steals the spotlight, although a lower starting price tag comes as a welcome change.

So, how does the M4 MacBook Air stack up against its M3 predecessor? Are the upgrades game-changing or just incremental? Find out in our in-depth comparison.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone could cost a fortune

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Folding iPhone concept
A folding iPhone might look a little something like this concept.
AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first foldable iPhone may sport a book-style design and a steep $2,000+ price tag. It will apparently sport a 7.8-inch inner folding display, with a 5.5-inch cover display.

Despite its high price tag, the foldable iPhone will seemingly have a strong replacement demand among loyal Apple fans.

YouTube Premium Lite brings a more affordable ad-free viewing experience

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YouTube Premium Lite is a cheaper alternative to YouTube Premium.
YouTube Premium Lite is a cheaper alternative to YouTube Premium.
Logo/Text: YouTube/Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

YouTube introduced a new, cheaper paid tier in the US called YouTube Lite. While the “Lite” plan is light on perks, it also carries a lower monthly subscription fee of $7.99 per month.

YouTube Premium Lite retains the biggest advantage of paying for YouTube: an ad-free viewing experience. Well, almost.

iPad Air gets an M3 speed boost and new Magic Keyboard

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iPad Air with M3 chip is here.
The 2025 iPad Air is all about its M3 chip.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s iPad Air lineup is getting an M3 refresh. The chip upgrade boosts the performance of the latest iPads while promising the same battery life. This enhancement aligns with Apple’s ongoing efforts to integrate advanced technologies, such as Apple Intelligence, into the company’s devices.

“iPad Air is so popular because of its unmatched combination of powerful performance, portability, and support for advanced accessories, all at an affordable price,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. If you’re looking for a comparison with Apple’s flagship models, explore this iPad Pro M3 review for more details.

iOS 18.4 beta 2: All the new features and changes

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iOS 18.4 rumors
iOS 18.4 beta is packed with new features.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

A week after the first iOS 18.4 beta dropped, Apple released the second beta build. It packs even more changes and brings an iPhone 16 feature to the iPhone 15 Pro lineup.

Below are all the changes we have discovered in iOS 18.4 beta 2 and previous builds so far.

iPhone 16e teardown reveals surprisingly repairable design but can’t answer key question

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iPhone 16e gets the teardown treatment from iFixit.
iPhone 16e is as repairable as its other family members.
Photo: iFixit

The new iPhone 16e proves about as repairable as other members of the iPhone 16 family, according to iFixit’s teardown of Apple’s new budget phone. Despite its lower price tag, the iPhone 16e packs many of the repairability features of its more-expensive siblings, including the ionic liquid battery adhesive that makes replacement easier.

However, iFixit’s teardown leaves one key question unanswered: Why did Apple omit MagSafe from iPhone 16e?

Smarter Siri might not fully arrive until 2027

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Apple taps software veteran to fix Siri and Apple Intelligence
The Siri we deserve is still a few years away.
Photo: Apple

Despite big promises, the Siri experience in iOS 18 is nowhere as good as it should be. An improved Siri reportedly will arrive with iOS 18.5 in May this year, one that is much smarter. However, don’t expect Siri to become like ChatGPT or Gemini until at least 2027.

M4 MacBook Air launch is imminent; iPad Air refresh around the corner

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A 13-inch MacBook Air with the lid closed.
A MacBook Air refresh is almost here.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next MacBook Air refresh could reportedly happen “this coming week.” While an iPad Air refresh is also in the pipeline, it will arrive a few weeks later.

The company will supposedly launch the iPad 11 alongside the iPad Air refresh.

UPDATE (March 5): As predicted, the M4 MacBook Air launched on Wednesday. In addition, the new iPad Air came out a bit earlier than expected, and the iPad 11 debuted, also.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15 comparison: Which one should you buy?

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iPhone 16e vs iPhone 15 comparison
Is the iPhone 16e a better buy than the iPhone 15?
Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

Starting at $599, the iPhone 16e costs less than an iPhone 15. As you’ll see in this iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 15 comparison, Apple admittedly (and unavoidably) cut some corners while making its newest budget phone. However, the iPhone 16e also flexes some muscles the iPhone 15 can’t. If you’re interested in expert opinions and in-depth analysis, check out the latest iPhone SE reviews.

So, should you save your money and get the iPhone 16e or spend the extra $100 for the iPhone 15? Find out in this comparison.

iPhone 16e officially goes on sale

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iPhone 16e
The iPhone 16e replaces the iPhone SE with a larger screen, better cameras, Apple Intelligence… and a higher price.
Graphic: Apple/Cult of Mac

A week after preorders began, the iPhone 16e went on sale Friday. If you preordered the device, your order should arrive today.

The newest member of the iPhone 16 family starts at $599, replacing the third-gen iPhone SE as the budget model in Apple’s lineup.

Refurbished M4 iMac hits Apple’s store with big discounts

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Green iMac sitting on a light wood table
The M4 iMac is beauty with brains.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can now purchase the M4 iMac through Apple’s Certified Refurbished store. The refurb units are up to 15% cheaper than buying a new one.

The refurbished M4 iMac arrived in Apple’s refurbished store a couple of weeks after refurb M4 MacBook Pro and Mac mini went on sale.

Apple vows to fix iPhone dictation glitch that substitutes ‘Trump’ for ‘racist’

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Desert and Black Titanium iPhone 16 Pro laying on top of each other
President Donald Trump might not like this iPhone dictation bug.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

 Apple said Tuesday it will fix a bizarre iPhone dictation glitch that briefly shows the word “Trump” when a user says “racist.” The company acknowledged the bug and pledged to roll out a fix “as soon as possible.”

The glitch first gained attention after a video went viral on TikTok showing it in action. If you’re in need of a usb to usbc solution for seamless connectivity, check out this 10-port USB-C charger.