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What to expect from the Mac in 2025

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New Macs in 2025
A lot of Macs are coming next year.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

What does Apple have planned for the Mac in 2025? For the last couple of years, Apple’s been killing it with its desktop and laptop computers. The chips scream, the industrial design has never been better, and the Mac lineup is undoubtedly the best in Apple’s history. Just look at the amazing new Mac mini.

But can Apple keep up the pace next year?

Expect 2026 to be a huge year for OLED MacBook and iPad

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OLED MacBook Air
Your next MacBook could have an OLED screen.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple intends to introduce its first MacBooks with an OLED screen in 2026, according to industry analysts. And the iPad mini will allegedly go OLED that same year. Apple’s full transition to OLED will take until 2028, though.

And that’s supposedly the same year the company will introduce a computer with an 18.8-inch foldable display.

Nab these Cyber Monday deals on M4 Macs and more [Updated]

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early Black Friday Mac deals
Most of the new M4 Macs are on sale for Cyber Monday.
Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

Seems like the new Macs with M4 chips just got here — and you can already get great deals on them! Why? Well, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, of course. While it’s still a couple weeks away, that never stops deals from coming earlier and earlier every year, just like holiday decorations and pumpkin-spice-flavored everything. Check out early Black Friday Mac deals, below.

Update: The deals below saw updated on the runup to Black Friday and then again for Cyber Monday.

The MacBook Air I love is on sale for Cyber Monday [Updated] ★★★★★

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Keyboard and screen of 13-inch MacBook Air.★★★★★
The 13-inch MacBook Air may be the prefect laptop.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 13-inch M2 MacBook Air in Midnight is just $749 for Cyber Monday. I recently bought this machine myself, and I’m head-over-heels in love with it. It’s the best laptop I’ve had for years, and if you’re looking for a lightweight, everyday Mac, I highly recommend it.

15-inch MacBook Air hits its best price yet after massive 20% discount

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M4 MacBook Air coming
15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip has never been this affordable.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip is on sale for its lowest price just days before Black Friday. The world’s slimmest laptop packs plenty of power, and a lower price tag makes it an even better buy.

If you take advantage of the Amazon deal, you can get the 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip, 16GB storage, and 256GB storage for $1,044—a whopping $255 cheaper than its MSRP.

Don’t hold your breath for an OLED MacBook Air

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OLED MacBook Air
An OLED MacBook Air is coming. Someday.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The predictions of a MacBook Air in 2027 could turn out to be optimistic, according to sources in the screen panel industry. Prices for the OLED display are high, and there’s reason to question demand for the new type of screen.

An OLED MacBook Pro is expected sooner, however.

Nab more than 100 great Apple deals in this early holiday sale

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Apple holiday deals
Maybe lays hands on an M3 Max MacBook Pro for the holidays.
Photo: Apple

Doesn’t it seem like the B&H Photo Holiday Head Start sale gets going earlier every year? Just kidding, never heard of it — but it looks tempting all the same. Sorting by brand, we saw that you can scroll down the page to see miles of Apple holiday deals, bagging more than 100 great bargains on pretty much the whole range of products, from MacBooks to AirTags.

M4 Macs: So much to love [The CultCast]

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The CultCast episode 671: M4 Pro and M4 Max chips from the new M4 Macs.
You can almost feel the power of the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After a whirlwind week of M4 Mac releases, we weigh up the pros (tons) and cons (very few). Mostly it’s a lovefest as we talk about the new M4 Mac mini, iMac and MacBook Pros.

Also on The CultCast:

  • What’s up with Apple putting the new Mac mini power button on the bottom? (Luckily, the internet has some “fixes.”)
  • Apple surprised us by upgrading the RAM on M2 and M3 MacBook Airs — without raising the prices!
  • We wrap up with a discussion of what new Apple gear we ordered after this week’s Mac-o-rama.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Shocker! Apple doubles RAM in M2 and M3 MacBook Air

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MacBook Air Price
Twice as much RAM, same price.
Image: Apple

Apple on Wednesday increased the RAM in the base model M2 and M3 MacBook Air from 8GB to 16GB. And the enhancement comes without a price increase.

Seems like Apple’s days of being stingy with RAM are over. The Apple store no longer sells a Mac with only 8GB.

Stuffed penguin rocks to Edifier powered speakers [Setups]

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Edifier powered speakers
That penguin doesn't just use an Edifier speaker as a chair, according to this MacBook Air user.
Photo: [email protected]

As we’ve pointed out in product news coverage and reviews, Edifier is one of those smaller companies that always seem to come across with great value. Its audio gear is solid and sounds great, but it’s on the inexpensive side of things. And that’s the case for the Edifier powered speakers in today’s MacBook Air setup. The workstation features a penguin plush toy that doesn’t just use an Edifier box as a chair, according to the user. The stuffed animal apparently rocks out, too.

Apple plans early-2025 M4 MacBook Air refresh, delays next Mac Studio

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M4 MacBook Air coming
Slim new MacBook Air models will pack M4 chips to handle Apple Intelligence features.
Photo: Apple

While some M4 Macs may arrive in the next week, Apple also gears up for a bigger expansion of its M4 chip rollout, including the M4 MacBook Air coming in early 2025, according to a new report. However, it may push back launch plans for the next Mac Studio desktop computer a few months into next year, amid other release plans next spring. Those include a redesigned iPhone SE and a new entry-level iPad (11th generation). If you’re curious about the Mac M4 lineup and its expected features, take a look at this in-depth coverage.

If you’re wondering when will iPhone SE 4 come out, speculation suggests a release could be just around the corner.

M3 MacBook Air rides alongside ultra-wide external display [Setups]

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monitor arm laptop tray
Some external monitor arms come with a laptop tray for your MacBook.
Photo: [email protected]

We see more laptop-based computer setups using the machine in clamshell (mode) on a vertical stand than we see setups with open laptops. But they’re both pretty popular options. Today’s M3 MacBook Air sits on a tray attached to the same arm that holds the ultra-wide external display. So they float together above the desk. That monitor arm laptop tray situation wouldn’t work for everyone, but it’s a cool way to add a second display when you need one (and you have an external keyboard so you don’t have to use the laptop’s).

Score huge Prime Day deals on M3 MacBook Air models [Extended!]

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Prime Day M3 MacBook Air
Now's the time to nab that M3 MacBook Air you've been wanting.
Photo: Apple

With the fall edition of Amazon Prime Day falling on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, it’s a great time to nab yourself a coveted M3 MacBook Air. Discounts abound on both 15-inch and 13-inch models, with an array of specification choices. See the deal links below. Most of the deals cover all four colors — midnight, silver, space gray and starlight. And don’t miss our full guide to Apple deals for Prime Day.

UPDATE: On Wednesday we updated fluctuations in prices and color availability for various models, below. And though prices on some items fluctuate, Amazon has extended many deals beyond Wednesday.

Bookshelf speakers kick out MacBook Air’s jams on the cheap [Setups]

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Sanyun bookshelf speakers
This product shot shows Sanyun Bookshelf Speakers in black pumping out gaming audio.
Photo: Sanyun

Lots of Mac users pump up their computer setups with pricey, high-powered speaker systems. But it doesn’t have to cost much to provide a bigger, fuller sound than most computers or monitors can provide on their own. Today’s MacBook Air user enjoys Sanyun Bookshelf Speakers, which pump out 60 watts of sound using proprietary technology, and look pretty good doing it. And you can get a pair for less than $70.

Last chance: Apple Back to School promotion ends soon

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Apple Back to School promotion ends soon
Nice deals for students and teachers end September 30.
Photo: Apple

Launched in June, Apple’s annual Back to School promotion is still in full swing — but time is running out. The Apple Back to School promotion ends soon, as in Monday (September 30), so eligible students and faculty members have only a few days left to receive up to a $150 gift card on select Mac and iPad purchases. Apple also offers a 20% discount on AppleCare+, its premium support and repair service.

Studio Display user loves M4 iPad Pro as second monitor [Setups]

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mirror M4 iPad Pro setup
This MacBook Air users loves using his 13-inch M4 iPad Pro as a second external display. His Studio Display displays his iPad screen in the photo above.
Photo: [email protected]

Many users out there on social media can’t seem to get enough external displays into their computer setups. Sometimes we see as many as six big screens. But don’t forget a simple way you can always add another small screen. Namely, don’t just add your MacBook open on the desk or on a stand. Include your iPad, too. Today’s M1 MacBook Air user proudly has his M4 iPad Pro mirror on Studio Display as it sits in the mix on a Twelve South stand.

This trick makes Xbox play nice with Studio Display [Setups]

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using Xbox with Studio Display
This MacBook Air user found an easy way to use Xbox with Studio Display.
Photo: [email protected]

Macs have gained ground in the gaming world with the rise of Apple silicon chips, as those M-series chips massively boost performance. But sometimes you just want to play on a console rather than your computer. Today’s MacBook Air user switches to Xbox One for gaming. And he gave simple advice, below, to curious commenters who wanted to know how he gets the system to work with his Studio Display. He describes his method below.

MacBook Pro user loves this über-affordable monitor mount [Setups]

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affordable SupTek Monitor Mount setup
You can get this external monitor mount in black for about $20.
Photo: [email protected]

On Wednesday we drooled shamelessly over an M2 Ultra Mac Pro driving a Pro Display XDR and two Studio Displays, a rig that prices out somewhere around $20,000. So on Friday it’s back to financial reality for us, none too soon. And in today’s MacBook Pro setup from a college student, part of that thrifty reality means deploying a ridiculously affordable SupTek Monitor Mount for the external display. The user recommends it. Why? It just works.

Chop $250 off the price of any 15-inch M3 MacBook Air

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$250 off 15-inch M3 MacBook Air
For such a thin and light laptop, it's a powerhouse.
Photo: Apple

Looks like now’s a good time to grab yourself a very cool and quite powerful laptop you can take anywhere. That’s because Amazon invites you to select from various models and take $250 off 15-inch M3 MacBook Air. That includes any model with the specs to suit your needs. For example, you might want to go for the recommended 16GB of unified memory to help ensure the laptop keeps handling tough tasks for a while — like all that Apple Intelligence stuff gearing up to change people’s lives.

Ready for the fall semester? You will be with this deal on a refurb MacBook Air.

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refurbished Intel MacBook Air
Get a back-to-school Apple laptop at a back-to-school price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your old computer might have gasped its way through last semester, but if you’re getting ready for fall classes, it might be time for a machine that can handle more than two Chrome tabs. No, that doesn’t mean you must take your financial aid and hand it all over for a big fancy computer with a big fancy price tag. Instead, check out the specs on a refurbished Intel MacBook Air.

You can get this near-mint MacBook Air for just $449.99.

MacBook Air vs. Surface Laptop 7: Time to ditch macOS for Windows?

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M3 MacBook Air vs. Surface Laptop 7
How does the Surface Laptop compare to the MacBook Air?
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Microsoft/Rajesh Pandey/CultofMac

In late 2020, the switch to Apple silicon introduced a major leap in the MacBook Air’s performance, efficiency and battery life. Almost four years later, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop lineup is undergoing a similar transition.

The latest Surface Laptop 7 uses Qualcomm’s newest Arm-based Snapdragon chips, which bring a major leap in performance and efficiency. Do these upgrades make the Surface Laptop 7 better than the M3 MacBook Air?

Best Amazon Prime Day deals on all things Apple [Updated – deals extended!]

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best Amazon Prime Day Apple deals - extended
Prime Day is over but the savings haven't stopped.
Image: Tamanna Rumee/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

Amazon Prime Day officially ran July 16 and 17, but it’s not over yet, as Amazon extended many big bargains on Apple products. Tons of goods from Apple and others are discounted. See our selection of the best deals on AirPods (and Apple subsidiary Beats), AirTags, Apple Watch, iPads, MacBooks, Mac mini and more below. Return to this page for updates (and beware that deals can change suddenly with supply fluctuations, so you may click through to find updated pricing or sold-out items in some cases).

UPDATE: Amazon extended a host of Prime Day deals on Apple products into Thursday and Friday and even into Saturday, so you can still shop many of the items below!  Items with full strikethroughs represent deals no longer available.

Get a speedy new MacBook every 2 years with Upgraded subscription

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The MacBook Upgrade Program from Upgraded.
It's easy to sign up and get started.
Photo: Upgraded

A fresh approach to owning a MacBook is here. With Upgraded’s subscription service, you can enjoy the latest MacBook every two years without the hefty upfront cost.

Starting at just $36.06 per month for a MacBook Air and $52.17 for a MacBook Pro with AppleCare+ included, this service keeps you updated with the newest models seamlessly. Interest rates start at 0% and vary based on your credit score. You can check out all available models at getupgraded.com.