Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple's products and ecosystem.
Sonos’ first headphones and its AirPods Max competitor, the upcoming Sonos Ace, have leaked online. The slip-up revealed the headphones’ design and the array of buttons on both earcups.
Like other Sonos products, the Ace also appears to have a premium design, which should help it stand out.
2025 iPhones could pack some big changes. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly plans some big design changes for next year’s iPhone 17 lineup. The changes include a smaller Dynamic Island and a “more complex” aluminum design. The company might even revamp its lineup with the addition of the iPhone 17 Slim.
Google is paying Apple a lot to be Safari's default search engine. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Google paid Apple $20 billion for Google to remain the default search engine across all Apple devices. This figure came to light through court documents submitted in the US Justice Department’s lawsuit against Google.
During the course of the hearing, Google and Apple tried their best not to reveal the amount publicly.
iOS 17.5 will introduce a handy 'Repair State' option. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
A new feature in iOS 17.5 will allow you to submit your iPhone for repair without turning off Find My and Activation Lock. Apple added a new Repair State mode in iOS 17.5 beta 4 for this.
Currently, you must turn off the security feature on your iPhone before submitting it for repair. Failure to do so could prevent Apple technicians from repairing your device.
Apple’s Beats lineup is expanding with two new products: Beats Solo Buds and Beats Solo 4. They offer long battery lives and attractive price points.
Both offerings won’t rival Apple’s AirPods in any way but price, but if you frequently switch between Android and iPhone, you might like Beats’ new options.
You can soon play classic Pokémon and Mario games on your iPad. Screenshot: Testut Tech
Delta, the all-in-one retro game emulator for iPhone, will soon be available on the iPad. Riley Testut, the game emulator’s developer, confirmed its imminent launch on the App Store.
Could Apple's upcoming OLED iPad Pro sport an M4 chip? Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple’s upcoming OLED iPad Pro reportedly will begin the company’s shift into AI hardware. The new tablets could sport the next-gen M4 chip to power all the AI features.
If this report proves accurate, Apple will skip bringing its existing M3 SoC to its flagship tablet lineup.
Suddenly got logged out of your Apple account? You're not alone. Image: Cult of Mac
Many Apple users report suddenly being locked out of their Apple ID account on their devices. Worse, they could not log back into their account with their password, forcing them to reset their login credentials.
Apple has not yet acknowledged this issue, and it does not appear linked to any iCloud server outages.
Apple might partner with both Google and OpenAI for iOS 18's AI features. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple has reportedly resumed talks with OpenAI about using its technology to power iOS 18’s AI features. The company will use OpenAI’s LLM model to seemingly power an AI-based chatbot.
OpenAI and Apple are also discussing how they can integrate OpenAI features into iOS 18.
Passkey support finally comes to WhatsApp for iPhone. Image: WhatsApp
WhatsApp is making it easier to log into your account on your iPhone with passkey support. The feature will allow you to verify your identity through Face ID, Touch ID, or device PIN.
Once you have set up a passkey for your WhatsApp account, you can set up the app on a new iPhone through biometric authentication, skipping the SMS code entirely.
iPhone sales tanked in the US, but that doesn't mean buyers are switching to Android. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple saw iPhone activations decline to 33% of new smartphone activations in the US in Q1 2024, the lowest number in the country since 2017, according to a market-research firm. In the year-ago quarter, iPhones accounted for 40% of new smartphone activations in the US. In just 12 months, the company has seen its share fall by 7%.
The decline doesn’t necessarily stem from a lack of interest in Apple’s products — iPhone’s share of the installed smartphone base has actually increased. Partly it’s because iOS handsets last so long.
Which earbuds work better with your iPhone? Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh
If you want new wireless earbuds for your iPhone, Apple’s own AirPods Pro 2 are likely your top choice. But Apple offers another pair of earbuds you might consider: Beats Fit Pro. In this Beats Fit Pro vs. AirPods Pro 2 buying guide, we’ll compare the features of these two premium noise-canceling earbuds from Apple.
Do the Beats earbuds provide the same features and sound quality as Apple’s flagship earbuds? Find out in this comparison.
Time to say goodbye to Apple's FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands? Photo: Apple
Apple reportedly ceased the production of its FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. Announced alongside the iPhone 15 series in September 2023, the woven material replaced leather in Apple’s accessories lineup.
However, users criticized the FineWoven material for its poor durability and in-hand feel. Its shortcomings became especially evident after a few weeks of use.
Apple could run iOS 18's AI features on-device on the iPhone. Concept: Kevin Kall
Apple’s large language model that will power iOS 18’s AI features could run entirely locally. This would prioritize user privacy and offer faster response times.
However, running AI features on-device will have downsides, as they might not be as powerful as on some Android phones.
WhatsApp and Threads are no longer available for download in China's App Store. Photo: Unsplash
Following a request from the Chinese government, Apple has reportedly pulled WhatsApp and Threads from China’s App Store. Other Meta apps, like Facebook and Instagram, are still available for download in the country.
The Cyberspace Administration of China asked Apple to take down the two Meta apps, citing national security concerns.
The iPhone 17 Plus could be smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The 2025 iPhone 17 Plus could sport a smaller screen than previous Plus models. This could make the phone more compact and fit better in Apple’s lineup.
Apple currently uses a 6.7-inch OLED panel on the iPhone 15 Plus. This is the same display size as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, albeit the latter uses a superior 120Hz panel.
Chat Filters will make managing your WhatsApp inbox a lot easier. Photo: WhatsApp
WhatsApp is rolling out Chat Filters to make it easier to follow up on unread conversations. These filters allow you to swiftly go through your inbox based on unread messages or group conversations.
As WhatsApp has grown in popularity, so has the number of people and brands reaching out to you on the service. This means you’re more likely to miss out on an important message, which Chat Filters can help avoid.
Could Apple finally solve the flaring issue on iPhone photos and videos? Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple could finally eliminate lens flare, a longtime problem with the iPhone camera, with a new lens coating technology on the iPhone 16 Pro.
It’s common for lens flares to show up in photos or videos taken with an iPhone’s camera, but Apple has made little improvement in this area over generations.
Change these settings on your Mac now Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh
Setting up a new Mac is an experience in itself. But once you finish your initial setup, you should change these Mac system settings for a better experience. These five easy tweaks to default Mac system preferences will speed up your workflow and save you time.
Irrespective of whether you are a new or long-time Mac user, below are five settings to change on your Mac. Keep reading or watch our latest video.
Apple Watch ghost touch issues are more widespread than initially believed. Photo: D. Griffith Jones/Cult of Mac
Experiencing “ghost touch” problems on your Apple Watch, where the device responds to finger taps that never happened? You are not alone. Although the bug was initially limited to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, it appears to affect some older models, too.
Apple informed its service providers not to replace Apple Watch models plagued by the ghost touch bug. Instead, it has provided a temporary solution while the company works on a permanent software fix.
The OLED iPad Pro should ship with slimmer bezels. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple’s new iPad Pro could launch in early May with updated internals and a refreshed design. All rumors surrounding Apple’s next premium tablet indicate it will feature OLED displays.
The first iPadOS 17.5 beta seems to confirm this, as it contains four new display firmware for unreleased iPad models.
It's the battle of the 15-inch laptops. Photo/Graphics: Dell/Apple/Rajesh
If you are in the market for a slim laptop, there are few options better than the 15-inch MacBook Air. But if you look beyond Apple’s ecosystem, there’s the Dell XPS 15. It packs a slim and lightweight design and offers more value for money than the MacBook. So, which 15-inch laptop wins the MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 15 smackdown?
Find out in this buying guide, which compares the two laptops on their designs, displays, performance, ports, battery lives and prices.