Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
You can reach out to him at mail[at]rajeshpandey.me.
Surprise surprise! U.S. iPhone users are willing to pay for Apple Intelligence. Photo: Apple
Despite all the criticism and negative publicity, more U.S. iPhone users are willing to pay for Apple Intelligence than before. A survey conducted by Morgan Stanley found “stronger-than-expected Apple Intelligence engagement.”
The survey results also suggest that more than 80% of U.S. iPhone users tried Apple Intelligence in the last six months.
Improve your Mac experience with these accessories. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
Apple makes the best desktop PCs and laptops. But I cannot say the same for its accessories. While I have been using Macs for more than a decade, I rely on these five Mac accessories made by third parties to enhance my experience.
The list ranges from a wireless keyboard to an ergonomic mouse to headphones that will amaze you with their noise cancellation. Read about my five favorite Mac accessories below.
iPhones and Macs will eventually be slapped with reciprocal tariffs. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
After the U.S. government seemed to exempt iPhones, Macs and other electronics from hefty tariffs Friday, a clarification issued Sunday by President Donald Trump revealed that’s not the case.
Trump said on Truth Social that his administration did not announce a tariff exemption Friday. Instead, the “existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs” will still apply to electronics — with higher tariffs possibly coming soon.
Will iPadOS 19 allow the iPad to live up to its potential? Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The next big iPadOS overhaul will make the OS more like macOS. That’s what a new report claims, indicating Apple will focus on “productivity, multitasking and app window management.”
All these changes will make iPadOS behave closer to macOS than iOS.
Pick wisely between the M3 Ultra and M4 Max Mac Studio. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey
The Mac Studio reigns supreme as Apple’s most powerful desktop computer to date. However, when it comes to pitting the M3 Ultra Mac Studio vs. the M4 Max Mac Studio, which should you spring for?
The M3 Ultra processor packs up to a 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU. That’s a staggering amount of horsepower. However, the M4 Max uses a new CPU architecture, offering faster single-core performance.
So, which powerhouse Apple computer will suit your workflow better: Mac Studio with M3 Ultra or M4 Max? It depends on several factors.
Run DeepSeek or Meta's Llama locally on your Mac! Graphics: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Apple Intelligence are powerful, but they all share one major drawback — they need constant access to the internet to work. If you value privacy and want better performance, running a large language model like DeepSeek, Google’s Gemma or Meta’s Llama locally on your Mac is a great alternative.
Think it sounds complicated? It’s easier than you think. With the right tools, you can run DeepSeek or any other popular LLM locally on your Mac with minimal effort.
Broke your iPhone 16e already? You can now order replacement parts directly from Apple. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple now sells iPhone 16e repair parts for DIYers and enthusiasts. You can purchase replacement parts through Apple’s online Self Service Repair Store in the US and Europe.
The spare parts go on sale within 1.5 months of the iPhone 16e hitting retail stores.
Will it finally happen? Image: Instagram/Cult of Mac
Meta may finally launch an Instagram app for the iPad. Reportedly, the company plans to launch a dedicated iPadOS app to capitalize on the current situation surrounding TikTok.
The move could help further drive Instagram adoption among iPhone and iPad users.
A new YouTube video offers a glimpse at major design changes reportedly coming to iOS 19, with visionOS-inspired user interface elements and rounder “squircle” app icons.
Released Monday by Front Page Tech, the video shows re-created renders of the iPhone operating system based on information provided by an unnamed source within Apple.
The iPhone 17 Pro's design changes may or may not impress you. Concept image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro lineup might not ship with as many design changes as rumors initially suggested. Instead, a new report says the iPhone 17 Pro could look much like the iPhone 16 Pro.
Despite this, Apple reportedly will introduce the biggest design changes to the iPhone lineup this year since the iPhone 12 in 2020.
iOS 18.5 beta 1 packs little new features Screenshot: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
Apple pushed iOS 18.5 beta 1 to developers within days of iOS 18.4‘s public release. While the latter packed several notable new features, the first iOS 18.5 beta sports relatively few changes.
Below are all the changes we have discovered in iOS 18.5 beta 1 so far.
Trump's tariffs could undo Apple's years of supply-chain diversification work. Photo: Apple TV+
President Donald Trump’s new import tariffs will hit Apple hard. The president slapped all major manufacturing countries that Apple operates in with heavy import tariffs Wednesday in a bid to reshape international trade.
“It’s our declaration of economic independence,” Trump said during a speech at the White House announcing the tariffs. “Today we are standing up for the American worker and we are finally putting America first.”
This move undermines Apple’s efforts in recent years to diversify its supply chain away from China. The White House says the reciprocal tariffs will go into effect on April 9.
Meta's next smart glasses could pack some big upgrades. Photo: Meta/Ray-Ban
Apple’s smart glasses are years from launch. But Meta plans to roll out a more sophisticated version of its popular Ray-Ban Meta glasses later this year.
It will reportedly support hand gestures and feature a screen to display pictures and apps.
This one is the emoji update. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
iOS 18.4, which Apple released Monday, brings several significant new features to iPhones. It is one of the biggest updates to the operating system since the initial public release of iOS 18 in September 2024.
Among other things, the update will also introduce a key Apple Intelligence feature that Apple showcased at WWDC24. Keep reading to learn about all the new features in iOS 18.4 — or watch our video. (Apple also released iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4 and visionOS 2.4, which include similar upgrades, on Monday.)
M5 iPad Pro may only be a few months away from launch. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple’s M5-equipped iPad Pros reportedly already entered “late testing” stages inside the company and should go into mass production in the second half of 2025.
And, sticking to its regular upgrade cycle, Apple also will refresh the MacBook Pro lineup with the M5 chip later this year.
Google Maps on iPhone can identify locations from your screenshots. Photo: Google
Google Maps on iPhone can now identify locations from your screenshots and add them to a list. This should make your vacation planning easier, as you can take a screenshot and let Google Maps do the rest.
The feature leverages Gemini to identify text and location details in your screenshots, which Google Maps then processes to extract relevant information.
But will you do it? Screenshot: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
For the first time on an iPhone, you can set WhatsApp as the default calling and messaging app. The feature remains exclusive to the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS, but should soon expand to the public build.
WhatsApp is the first major app to adopt the necessary APIs, enabling you to replace Apple’s Phone and Messages apps on your iPhone.
A 4x jump in video recording resolution. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro could feature 8K video recording capabilities, bringing a big boost in resolution over Apple’s current models, which max out at 4K 120fps.
8K recording has been a standard feature on flagship Android phones for years, but Apple steered clear of the trend.
HomePod mini is tiny but will impress you with its sound quality. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you’ve been looking to buy a HomePod mini for a while, a new deal makes the rarely discounted smart speaker much more affordable. The HomePod mini discount slashes $15 off the price, dropping it to just $84.99.