If your MacBook Air seems a little brighter recently, you’re not imagining it. Photo: Apple
Installing the latest macOS version on a 2018 MacBook Air increases the maximum screen brightness.
Apple’s own description of this notebook indicates that the highest potential brightness level is now 400 nits. That’s much higher than with this laptop launched.
The eGFX Breakaway Puck can be linked with other eGPUs. Photo: Sonnet
Mac gamers can finally add more horsepower to their Mac without breaking the bank on an expensive external GPU.
Sonnet unveiled its new eGFX Breakaway Puck today that packs Radeon RX 560 graphics for just $400. This is the cheapest eGPUs we’ve seen yet, making it perfect for MacBook owners that are hampered by the machines’ weak internals.
AirPower's dead! But the real problem is why... Photo: Apple
This week on The CultCast: The death of AirPower — the real problem that no one is talking about. Plus: 2019 iPhone rumors point to some wildly useful new features; more evidence the 2018 MacBook, Air and Pro keyboards are still having problems. And we wrap up with a review of Leander’s favorite wireless charging mat, Lewis’ take on the new AirPods 2, and Erfon’s got a favorite new podcasting gadget on an all-new Under Review.
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A critical component in your expensive new MacBook can fail on you. Photo: Apple
MacBooks made over several years were prone to keyboard issues. Apple tweaked the design of this critical component last year, and there was great optimism that the problem had been fixed in the latest macOS computers.
Guess what turned up in the pocket of Huawei’s CFO. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The arrest of the CFO of Huawei in Canada last year brought to light an embarrassing secret about Meng Wanzhou: the daughter of the founder of China’s biggest mobile phone maker apparently prefers Apple.
Building a MacBook Air with a 1.5TB SSD is less expensive today. Photo: iFixit
Apple lowered the prices of building high-capacity SSDs into the latest MacBook Air and Mac mini models today, potentially saving buyers as much as $200.
Apple's new iPads underline its problem with product naming. Photo: Lucille Pine/Flickr CC
As thrilling as new Apple devices are, this week’s surprise hardware updates really screwed the pooch on one important front: product naming.
The “new” iPad Air and iPad mini join a lineup of tablets with a variety of features and price points that will boggle the minds of even the most ardent Apple fanatics.
How did Apple’s naming strategy go so far off the rails? For the sake of the average customer, Cupertino’s once-brilliant branding needs to kick into gear. Because right now, the toxic hellstew of Apple product names is utterly confusing.
And you could just be sitting on a small fortune. Cult of Mac typically pays more for your old Apple devices than other trade-in services — and we won’t leave you waiting ages for your cash. Get a quote today and find out how much your old Mac is really worth.
Things have come a long way in 35 years. Photo: iFixit
Today marks 35 years since the launch of the original Macintosh computer, the product which most defined Apple until the iPod and iPhone came along years later. The Mac changed the course of personal computing history, and started a product line which Apple continues today. But which Macs along the way rank as the biggest game changers?
We went right back to the start to bring you our picks for the top 20 most important Macs of all time.
What was your favorite device Apple released this year? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
It’s been one heck of a busy year for Apple, and we’ve got the devices to prove it! Truth be told, despite Apple’s shrinking share price, this has been one of the company’s best years in a while for hardware.
What was the cream of the 2018 Apple crop? Here’s how we rank Apple’s major new product launches for 2018.
It was a busy year in Cupertino. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
2018 was a rollercoaster year for Apple — with incredible highs, massive dips, and probably an executive or two throwing up along the way.
Apple became the first $1 trillion public company in U.S. history, unleashed some amazing new products, and pulled in record amounts of cash. But it also faced lows, from the iPhone-throttling controversy to a tanking stock price at the end of the year.
One thing that can’t be said, however, is that this was an uneventful 12 months for Cupertino. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s most memorable Apple moments.
Some adopters of the 2018 MacBook Air are reporting poor camera quality during FaceTime calls.
Apple’s newest ultraportable has a 720p camera above its display, which should provide HD video capture. However, for a small few, its performance seems a lot worse than that.
A totally legit audio-routing setup. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Up until last year, if you plugged a pair of headphones into your Mac, the speakers were effectively disconnected. There was no way to send simultaneous audio stream to both headphones and speakers. Now, with modern T2-equipped Macs, you can double up on audio. For instance, you could have alerts sound through the built-in speakers, with music routed through the headphone jack, so you don’t get notifications interrupting your banging tunes.
The best part is that its really easy to set up. And, if you prefer the old behavior, you don’t have to do anything.
The Yohann Wood MacBook Stand is artful and sturdy. Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac
In German, the boy’s name “Yohann” means “gift of god.” The same could be said about the Yohann MacBook stand, a sculptural walnut base divine in both look and function.
You may want to say a little prayer when you place your MacBook Pro on this elevating perch for the first time, though. You will wonder how this thing can support your rather expensive machine.
See what's inside the new MacBook Air. Photo: iFixit
Even if you take good care of your new MacBook Air, there’s always a small chance something could go wrong. But it is a lot easier for Apple and its Authorized Service Providers to fix the new ultraportable than other Apple notebooks.
A new teardown reveals all the changes Apple has made to make swapping components simpler.
Battery replacements will be faster, more affordable, and environmentally-friendly. Photo: Apple
Buyers of the new MacBook Air will be pleased to know that it’s much easier to perform a battery replacement.
Apple has glued its battery in place again, but according to a leaked internal document, it will provide authorized repairers with the tools required to remove it so that it can be easily swapped out when necessary.
Have you got yours yet? Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
It’s wet and miserable outside here in the United Kingdom, but for Apple fans who have preordered one of the company’s brand new devices, it’s going to be a wonderful day.
The first iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini preorders have started reaching customers around the world. Those in Australia and New Zealand were the first to get their hands on them, but as the sun rose in other countries, more and more packages arrived.
The original ultraportable is back with a bang. Photo: Apple
The long-awaited MacBook Air update sports an all-new design and more powerful internals, but early reviews indicate there’s still room for improvement.
It’s also the most expensive MacBook Air to date. So, should you spend $1,199 on it when it lands in stores this week? Here’s what the first 2018 MacBook Air reviews have to say.
We're dying for updated AirPods. Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac
There’s still a slight chance Apple could release updated AirPods before the end of the 2018 holiday season.
A newly granted Bluetooth SIG certification indicates that new wireless earpods are in the pipeline. Tim Cook recently bragged that Apple has the best product lineup ever going into the holidays, but there may not be enough time to add AirPods 2.0 to the roster.
This week was one heckuva wild ride for Apple fans. First we got new MacBook Airs, iPad Pros, Mac minis and Apple Pencils. Then Apple threw Wall Street a curveball during yet another surprising (and surprisingly positive) earnings call.
Get the scoop on the latest Apple hardware, plus reviews and how-tos, in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Then get ready to spend your weekend drooling over it on your iPad or iPhone. Grab your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes now.
Bonus: Don’t miss your chance to win an iPhone XR!
New Macs, new iPads, new specs, new prices. We break it all down. Photo: Apple
This week on The CultCast: Apple’s “There’s More in the Making” keynote was an action-packed ride stuffed with one hardware update after another! We’ll tell you what we like (and what we don’t) about Apple’s newest product updates. Plus: Apple quietly offers a big “screw you” to 2018 MacBook Pro owners. Prepare for a rant!
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That’s partly because of the price of the laptop, but also because of a bit of belt-tightening on Apple’s part which will reduce how much it has to pay manufacturers.
The iPad Pro has a secure home in the Sutter Tech Sling. Photo: WaterField Designs
If you’re going to move all of your personal computing to a new iPad Pro or MacBook Air, you may want to consider a bag made to fit Apple’s newest devices.
WaterField Designs, makers of bespoke tech cases, has a one-shoulder solution with its all-new Sutter Tech Sling.
The gold MacBook Air looks amazing. Photo: Jessica Whitaker
It didn’t take long for the first unboxing videos of the new MacBook Air to hit YouTube.
Apple just introduced its new MacBook Air yesterday but some lucky YouTubers have already gotten their hands on the new notebook and they’re raving about it.