Mobile menu toggle

MacBook Pro - page 7

MacBook Pro rig relies on very unusual charger [Setups]

By

Anker Prime Charging Station setup
That little box under the right side of the Studio Display is an Anker Prime Charging Station.
Photo: [email protected]

These days so many people run external displays that operate as USB-C hubs that it’s getting rare to see a charger in the middle of a computer setup. But today’s MacBook Pro and Studio Display outfit features a powerful charger right in the mix — an Anker Prime Charging Station. It blasts up to 250 watts of power, works in Wi-Fi mode and features one very interesting and unusual feature.

Try not to trip over all the Mac Pros in this guy’s office [Setups]

By

Mac Pro collection
This guy's a MacBook Pro and PC laptop user, but he's got three Mac Pro machines he wants to work on.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured M3 MacBook Pro setup comes from a user who packs not one, not two but three Mac Pro desktop computers (you know, the famously powerful and expensive ones). He uses a “trash can” Mac Pro regularly, but he’s not sure what he’ll do with the other two that he acquired recently for his Mac Pro collection, other than work on them. In the meantime, he’s got his Apple laptop, but his work makes him deal with a PC laptop most of the time, he said.

Apple’s October Mac event is on … sort of

By

Apple October 2024 event invitation
An invitation went out to watch out for Apple product announcements all next week.
Photo: Apple

Apple let the world know Thursday that its much-anticipated October event won’t be a traditional one. Instead, it’ll be a week of announcements of new products via press releases.

What the PR blitz will bring is supposed to be a secret, of course. But we already know much of what’s likely coming: MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini, all running the M4 processor, plus the iPad 11.

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

By

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.

Gorgeous MacBook Pro rig reveals key cable-management tip [Setups]

By

MacBook Pro cable managment
Underneath and behind that Studio Display and MacBook Pro lurks a key cable-management practice that even RGB lighting can't reveal.
Photo: [email protected]

It’s another thrilling Monday, so we thought we’d sex things up with everybody’s favorite scintillating subject — cable management. Sarcasm aside, it’s high on the list of things folks only love having done, not planning (and dreading) or actually doing (in half-assed ways). Anyone who’s ever been forced to clean their room can relate. So today’s easily digestible tidbit comes from a MacBook Pro user offering one simple and effective MacBook Pro cable management tip.

iPad mini 7 is here — but where are the M4 Macs? [The CultCast]

By

Cultcast Episode 669: iPad mini 7 is here!
iPad mini 7 raises questions about Apple’s October plans.
Image: Cult Of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: iPad mini 7! But does this mean Apple canceled its October Mac event? And if so, are updated M4 Macs still coming this year?

Also on The CultCast, we discuss a “Cheaper” Vision headset, what Steve Ballmer is up to, plus Apple’s smart home strategy.

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.

Logitech StreamCam kicks up video-call quality [Setups]

By

Logitech StreamCam webcam
Logi's StreamCam is a fine choice of webcam for video calls and content creation.
Photo: [email protected]

Late-model MacBook Pro laptops include a decent camera. But many users find it falls a bit short for use on their video calls, podcasts and other needs. So a display-mounted webcam creeps into many MacBook setups. Today’s MacBook Pro user relies on the well-regarded Logitech StreamCam webcam to punch up his video footage.

Why we might not get an Apple October Mac and iPad event

By

Apple October 2024 event: Yes or no?
Apple October 2024 event: Yes or no?
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

While there’s much anticipation for an Apple October product launch event, something happened Tuesday to make one less likely.

But don’t worry: Mac notebooks and desktops with the M4 processor are still expected to premiere soon. Just maybe more quietly.

M4 MacBook Pro stars in a massive leak [The CultCast]

By

M4 MacBook Pro stars in a massive leak [The CultCast]
Listen to the latest The CultCast for a glimpse of the near future: M4 MacBook Pro.
Image: Erfon Elijah

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: new Macs and iPads are coming soon — but the MacBook Pro is already here! It’s the biggest leak since the iPhone 4.

Also on The CultCast, Apple silicon modems are back on the table, our hands-on with Apple Intelligence and the scoop on Apple’s new update strategy.

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.

You won’t believe which mouse this coder loves (and which he hates) [Setups]

By

Coding with Magic Mouse - setup
Coding with Magic Mouse? This dev loves it.
Photo: [email protected]

Coding with Magic Mouse? Apple’s sleek input device has plenty of haters of all stripes. But at least one developer, who works with an M1 Max MacBook Pro, loves it. And perhaps even more surprisingly, he detests the mouse that is surely Magic Mouse’s biggest competitor, given how it shows up in most of the setups we cover.

What to expect from the speedy M4 MacBook Pro

By

Leaked M4 MacBook Pro: Geekbench scores
M4 MacBook Pro is right around the corner.
Photo: Wylsacom

Whether Apple launches the M4 MacBook Pro at a glitzy press event or a quiet press release, the next-generation macOS notebook is undoubtedly mere weeks away — probably reaching customers on November 1.

Here’s what to expect from the late-2024 MacBook Pro when it gets upgraded with the new Apple M4 processor.

MacBook Pro rig rocks cool NuPhy mechanical keyboard [Setups]

By

Nuphy mechanical keyboard setup
This MacBook Pro setups rocks a NuPhy Air96 mechanical keyboard.
Photo: [email protected]

Run by a software developer, today’s M1 Pro MacBook Pro setup doesn’t just rock two external displays. It also features a very cool input-device duo — the mouse we see more than any other in setups, which is the Logitech MX Master 3S wireless mouse, and the super-cool NuPhy Air96 V2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard.

Best Amazon Prime Day deals on all things Apple [Extended!]

By

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

It’s that time of year again, Amazon Prime Day (the fall edition, October 8 and 9). So the early deals flowed starting over the weekend, with the full-on sale hitting with even better deals on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll show you the best Amazon Prime Day deals on Apple gear, from AirPods to iPads to MacBooks to Studio Display. And that includes Apple audio subsidiary Beats, too. Click on the links below, and return to this page often — deals are subject to change, often for the better, and we’ll add more as we find them.

Update: Though prices on some items continue to fluctuate, Amazon has extended most deals beyond Wednesday.

How would you improve this MacBook Pro rig’s lighting? [Setups]

By

setup lighting
Commenters gave this user plenty of good advice for improved lighting.
Photo: [email protected]

Most users obsess about the main hardware they have in their computer setup, from computers to mechanical keyboards, but lighting plays a big role, too. After all, you have to be able to see what you’re doing without eye strain (and how better to snap pics and show off your rig on social media?). Today’s MacBook Pro user asked for lighting advice and got it, below.

Developer finds ‘sweet spot’ with 34-inch curved display [Setups]

By

curved ultra-wide monitor setup
A 34-inch curved ultra-wide monitor with 1440p resolution perfectly suits this developer.
Photo: [email protected]

When it comes to Mac-centric computer setups, not every external display is Apple’s 6K Pro Display XDR or 5K Studio Display — far from it. And users’ choices come in various shapes and sizes. Today’s M1 Max MacBook Pro-using developer settled on a 34-inch Alienware curved ultra-wide monitor that hits his “sweet spot.” Find out why below. And don’t miss that nostalgia-inducing iPod Classic!

M4 MacBook Pro allegedly unboxed weeks before release

By

Leaked M4 MacBook Pro
Watch the M4 MacBook Pro getting unboxed weeks before its official unveiling. Maybe.
Photo: Wylsacom

An alleged unboxing video of the M4 MacBook Pro went live on YouTube over the weekend. The early hands-on, if real, shows that Apple’s next MacBook will pack impressive performance improvements over the M3 version.

The video supposedly reveals the M4 MacBook Pro’s specs, featuring a 10-core CPU, 16GB RAM, and an unchanged design but with a color twist.

Apple’s next-gen M4 Macs and iPad mini 7 are almost here

By

Apple M4 chip components and specs
M4 MacBook Pros could debut before the end of 2024.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-gen M4 Macs will reportedly arrive November 1, rather than in October as is generally expected. A few days before that, the company supposedly plans to release iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence support.

The new Macs that will debut include M4 MacBook Pros, Mac mini, and an iMac.

What Macs and iPads to expect at Apple’s rumored October event

By

Apple October Event rumors 2024
This year’s Halloween treats might include new Macs and iPads.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Mac and iPad users have a lot to look forward to in October: rumors say an Apple event should bring new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with the M4 chip, with a new iPad mini and budget iPad also on the agenda. To know more about what’s coming, check out the latest insights on Apple’s Mac Studio and Mac Pro updates.

Here’s what to look forward to at an October Apple event, plus the products that’ll likely come even later.

Developer sees the light in dual Studio Displays [Setups]

By

dual monitor setup
Another user sees the light with dual monitors.
Photo: [email protected]

While the dual display setup has become so commonplace it seems standard, debate still rages over exactly what works best. In today’s MacBook Pro setup, a developer experiments with single- and dual-display configurations before coming to the conclusion, on the way to their one true configuration, that size really does matter more than most other considerations.

Last chance: Apple Back to School promotion ends soon

By

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.

Get your hands on a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar for $450

By

Product photo of the Apple MacBook Pro 13.3
At just $449.99, this refurbished MacBook Pro delivers power and versatility for a fraction of the original price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Looking for a powerful, affordable second computer? This grade-A refurbished 2019 MacBook Pro might be the one for you, and it’s available for only $449.99. Whether you need it for work, personal use or entertainment, it delivers much of the performance and style of Apple’s premium laptops — at a fraction of the price.

Nab your choice of M3 MacBook Pro for hundreds off

By

hundreds off M3 MacBook Pro models
Great a great deal on M3 MacBook Pro models today!
Photo: Apple

Need a great new laptop, but don’t want to wait for Apple’s models with M4 chips to come out? (Or maybe you just don’t want to spend that much.) Well, you can’t do much better than a few hundred bucks off M3 MacBook Pro models. Amazon offers some smoking-hot prices on 14- and 16-inch versions with various specifications. Take a look at some bargains below.

Powerful speakers and subwoofer blast MacBook Pro rig’s sound [Setups]

By

Audioengine speakers setup
Audioengine A5 speakers on Kanto stands and an Audioengine S8 subwoofer on the floor power this setup's sound.
Photo: [email protected]

If you’re serious about high-quality audio, you should crank up the quality level of audio components in your computer setup just like you do in your living room. Today’s MacBook Pro user maxes out sound using Audioengine speakers mounted on stands along with a powerful Audioengine subwoofer on the floor under the desk. So they can get clear and detailed audio at low volume, but they can also shake the whole room with powerful sound when they want.

iPhone 16 Pro unboxing reveals the sad truth about desert titanium [The CultCast]

By

iPhone 16 Pro unboxing photo from The CultCast podcast
The iPhone 16 Pro's new desert titanium finish looks disappointingly demure.
Photo: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Griffin takes the wraps off his new iPhone 16 Pro in desert titanium — and he doesn’t like what he sees. The new “color” revealed in his iPhone 16 Pro unboxing fails to knock our socks off.

Still, there’s plenty to talk about, though, including the new Camera Control and how third-party case manufacturers are coping with it.

Also on The CultCast:

  • The new satin black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the other hand … smokin’! It’s enough to make a guy upgrade for the color alone.
  • The first AirPods 4 reviews say the active noise cancellation works surprisingly well. They’re on Erfon’s list.
  • New delays hit the rumored plastic Apple Watch SE and the first MacBook Pros with OLED screens.

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.