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.
iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again. Photo: Apple
Apple is extending free Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 Pro series for another year. The company initially promised two years of free access for the phones when they launched in 2022.
Emergency SOS via satellite allows the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series to connect to emergency services without mobile network or Wi-Fi access.
Time to try out iOS 17.2 beta on your iPhone! Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A week after seeding the second iOS 17.2 beta, Apple has released the third beta of the OS. The first two beta builds were loaded with new features, and iOS 17.2 beta 3 is no different.
Below are all the changes and enhancements we have found in iOS 17.2 beta 3 so far.
This is the Apple Pencil 2 deal ahead of Black Friday that you should not miss. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
You can get the incredibly useful Apple Pencil 2 for its lowest price ahead of Black Friday. Amazon is taking $40 off the iPad accessory, dropping its price to $89.
The Apple Pencil 2 works with iPad Air, iPad mini 6, and iPad Pro to make note-taking and drawing a breeze.
Should you save your money and get the M3 MacBook Pro instead of M3 Pro? Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh
The base model in the new 2023 MacBook Pro lineup comes with Apple’s standard M3 chip. This model, which replaces the discontinued 13-inch MacBook Pro, costs $400 less than the next model up, which runs on an M3 Pro chip.
The two laptops look almost identical. The big question is, will the entry-level M3 MacBook Pro suit your needs? Or should you spend the extra $400 and get the one with the M3 Pro chip? Find out in this comparison.
A 12.9-inch iPad Air could join the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2024. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple could overhaul its tablet lineup in 2024, delivering the first 12.9-inch iPad Air and upgrading iPad Pro models to OLED displays and the company’s fast new M3 chip.
The upgrades could help boost iPad shipments to between 52 million and 54 million units in 2024, up from about 50 million in 2023.
The new M3 MacBook Pro is almost the same as its predecessor from inside. Photo: Apple
From the outside, the new M3 MacBook Pros look the same as their predecessors — except for that gorgeous new space black finish.
How did Apple create this exotic new finish? And what’s changed inside its new laptops, aside from the powerful new M3 chips? The iFixit team posted a detailed teardown Friday that answers all your questions.
Apple Watch Series 9 gets an irresistible $50 discount. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The Apple Watch Series 9 is down to its lowest price ahead of Black Friday. Amazon has knocked $50 off most of the smartwatch’s variants, bringing its price down to a new low of $349.
You can score a similar $50 off the Apple Watch Series 9 with cellular connectivity.
The iPhone SE 4 might look very much like the iPhone 14. Photo: Apple
A new report sheds light on the iPhone SE 4’s design and camera setup. Apple’s next budget iPhone will use a modified iPhone 14 chassis that’s slightly lighter.
Based on the current development status, Apple’s next budget iPhone is unlikely to launch before 2025.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max's new camera system is 34% more expensive. Photo: Apple
A bill of materials (BoM) analysis of the iPhone 15 Pro Max provides insight into the prices of the individual components and how they have changed over the previous year.
Apple is charging $100 more for its flagship iPhone this year. And yet, the device only costs the company an additional $37.7 to manufacture over the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple stores in India are running a Diwali offer. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple is offering 50% off the AirPods in India when you purchase an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus. The company is providing this discount amid the country’s festive season and ahead of Diwali.
Additionally, new users will get a free Apple Music subscription for six months.
Just how good is the iPhone's new 5x zoom? Graphics: Rajesh
The iPhone 15 Pro Max utilizes Apple’s most impressive photographic tech yet, but it’s not the first smartphone with a 5x telephoto camera. In the Android world, you will find several phones with 5x to 10x optical zoom.
Only Samsung’s and Google’s devices deliver image quality capable of competing with Apple’s best. Only Google’s Pixel lineup directly competes with the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x optical shooter. (Samsung is ahead of the competition with its 10x periscope lens.)
So which 5x zoom is the best? See our side-by-side comparison shots to see how the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x tetraprism zoom stacks up against the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
You can now get your hands on the M3 MacBook Pro or iMac. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new M3 iMac and MacBook Pros are now officially on sale in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and select other countries. If you live in one of those locations, you can pick up the latest iMac or M3-powered MacBook Pro from your nearest Apple Store.
The new M3 Max MacBook Pro will go on sale later in November.
If you keep misplacing important items in your daily life, AirTags should be an indispensable item in your kit. One AirTag might not be enough, so you should consider buying Apple’s discounted AirTag four-pack. And if you take advantage of Amazon’s latest deal, you can score a decent 12% discount off the regular price of $99.
Apple Store's extended return period for the holidays is now live. Photo: Apple
Apple’s extended return window is now live in the US, Japan, Turkey, and several other countries. Under this policy, customers get a longer duration to return Apple products.
Typically, Apple provides a 14-day return period for its devices in most markets worldwide.
15-inch MacBook Air gets a big $250 discount. Photo: Apple
If you’re in the market for a 15-inch laptop, you need to see this MacBook Air Black Friday deal. With a sleek and svelte design, the 15-inch MacBook Air gives other Windows machines a run for their money.
At $1,299, the 15-inch MacBook Air is not cheap. And that’s why you should take advantage of Amazon’s latest deal, which knocks the laptop’s price by $250.
Apple has quietly discontinued the Apple Music Voice Plan nearly two years after its release. The $5 plan was the cheapest way to subscribe to the company’s music streaming service.
Going forward, you cannot subscribe to the Apple Music Voice Plan. If you are an existing subscriber, your membership will expire at the end of your current billing cycle.
M3 MacBook Pro is already available with $100 off. Photo: Apple
Looking to get the new M3 MacBook Pro? Best Buy is taking $100 off Apple’s latest laptop, dropping its price to as low as $1,499.
The deal is available on M3 and M3 Pro variants of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. But to take advantage of the offer, you must be a Best Buy member.
Apple had a surprise for viewers of its "Scary Fast" event: the camera. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Apple’s “Scary Fast” Mac event focused on the new M3 family of chips, refreshed MacBook Pros and an updated iMac. But Apple uncorked a big surprise at the end by revealing the entire presentation was recorded using an iPhone.
This marks the first time Apple used only one of its handsets to film an entire product-launch event. And the company released a behind-the-scenes video showing exactly how the magic was made.
How is the 2023 iMac better than its 2021 predecessor? Photo: Rajesh
Apple unveiled the 24-inch iMac with M1 chip way back in April 2021, and while the rest of the company’s Mac lineup got an M2 upgrade since then, the all-on-one desktop missed the boat. To make up for it, Apple announced the M3-powered iMac at its ‘Scary Fast’ event.
How does the 2023 iMac compare to its predecessor? Does it pack any other improvement besides the faster chip? Read this comparison to find out.
You can no longer buy a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh
Following Monday’s launch of the M3-powered MacBook Pros, Apple discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It was the last MacBook in the company’s lineup with a Touch Bar, a thin, customizable OLED strip at the top of the keyboard that replaced the usual row of function keys.
A cheaper 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip replaces the older Touch Bar model.
The online Apple store is down just before the start of the Scary Fast event. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Apple’s online store has gone down ahead of its ‘Scary Fast’ event this evening. It is typical of Apple to take down its online store before major product launches, but this usually happens hours before. This time it was mere minutes.
This will likely be the company’s last product launch event for 2023.
iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1 are here with several big and small changes. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 17.1, the first major point release of iOS 17, is here. It drops just over a month after iOS 17 arrived.
Alongside iOS 17.1, Apple is also releasing iPadOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1 to the public today. Below is a look at some of the top new features in the OSes.
Apple wants to make it easier to repair your broken iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Photo: Apple
During Tuesday’s right-to-repair event in the White House, Apple announced the expansion of its Self-Service Repair and Independent Repair Provider programs nationwide.
This move will help independent repair shops by providing them with the necessary tools and documentation for repairing Apple devices.