OWC just launched an 8TB variant of its rugged external SSD with Thunderbolt 5. Photo: Other World Computing
OWC launched an 8TB version of its Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD on Monday. Previously, the rugged portable SSD topped out at 4TB. Thanks to Thunderbolt 5, the external solid-state drive can move files at up to 6,000 MBps, making it up to twice as fast as Thunderbolt 4 and USB4.
After doubling the capacity, this is the first 8TB drive with Thunderbolt 5 support.
Govee Floor Lamp 3 supports Matter and HomeKit. Photo: Govee
Smart light maker Govee used CES 2026 as a platform Monday to introduce three adaptive, customizable flagship products that work in Apple smart homes. The company’s “Lighting the Future” showcase featured Govee Floor Lamp 3, Govee Ceiling Light Ultra and Govee Sky Ceiling Light, all of which are Matter-compliant and Apple Home compatible.
The company also said it formed a new partnership with Samsung SmartThings for ecosystem integration.
Moft launched its Trackable Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet. Photo: Moft
Moft, known for its origami-inspired tech accessories, unveiled a lineup of Apple Find My-compatible MagSafe iPhone wallets — including one that works as a stand and another that’s more like a tripod — plus a new iPad folio case at CES 2026 in Las Vegas Monday.
The announcements mark a significant expansion of the company’s product ecosystem with enhanced tracking capabilities and integrated device protection.
Belkin used CES 2026 to show off new high-speed power banks, chargers and a wireless HDMI adapter. Image: Belkin
Belkin used the giant CES 2026 trade show going on this week in Las Vegas to unveil a wide range of new accessories for iPhone, Mac and iPad. There are high-speed power banks and desktop chargers that support MagSafe, a wireless HDMI adapter and more.
These all hit shelves in the early months of the year.
Almost all the iPad lines get a refresh in 2026. Image: ChatGPT
Using an aging iPad? Or maybe you’re thinking about getting your first tablet. Great news! Updated models with significantly more horsepower will hit store shelves soon.
Apple Fitness+ introduced new ways to stay active and motivated to kick off 2026, including a new lineup of workout programs, Artist Spotlight workouts and new guests in Time to Walk. Photo: Apple
New research from the Apple Heart and Movement Study reveals that Apple Watch wearers tend to buck the trend of abandoned fitness goals, Apple said Friday.
Data shows Apple Watch users consistently maintain elevated exercise levels well past the notorious “Quitter’s Day” in mid-January. To build on that in 2026, Apple now offers more ways to keep Apple Watch users motivated so they can nail their New Year’s fitness resolutions.
Next year's going to be one for the ages. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple’s got a fantastic year ahead of it, with a genuinely prodigious pipeline of new products coming in 2026. From a folding iPhone and a low-cost MacBook to entirely new product categories, get ready for 12 months of exciting new Apple hardware.
In our first show under the new Cult of Mac branding, and our final podcast of 2025, we discuss all the great stuff that Apple fans have to look forward to in 2026.
Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:
We kick off with a thorough explanation of what’s up with the new podcast name, the direction we plan to take the show in 2026, and what Erfon is up to with The CultCast. We also apologize for any confusion about the changes (and, as always, we wish Erfon the best).
We wrap the show with Griffin’s dead Apple products draft, in which we each select discontinued hardware that’s ready for a comeback.
Listen to this week’s episode of Cult of Mac 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.
Reps & Sets works on iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
Reps & Sets 26 is a brand-new strength training app designed exclusively for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. It was developed by a long-time Cult of Mac contributor: me, Graham Bower.
Reps & Sets 26 isn’t just another generic cross-platform fitness app. I made it Apple-exclusive, to take full advantage of the latest OS 26 technologies like CloudKit, SwiftUI and HealthKit, to deliver a truly native experience. And right now, it’s a free download. Perfect timing for your New Year’s resolutions. Get Reps & Sets 26 now, and get ripped in 2026.
Think of your iPhone's camera plateau as a blank canvas ready to be personalized. Screenshot: SK telecom
There’s a fun way to personalize your iPhone 17 Pro: tiny stickers around the camera. Social media is blowing up with pictures from people showing off how cool their handset looks with the new decorations.
The trend may have started in Korea, where it’s part of ponku — personalizing phones, cases, laptops, etc., with stickers. A recent iPhone 17 Pro ad made by a Korean wireless carrier certainly added fuel to the fire.
Rumors predict 2026 will bring the first MacBook with a touchscreen. Image: ChatGPT
Apple will improve the MacBook line in multiple ways during 2026. We’re not talking the usual “chip and ship” updates — major changes are on the way. Really, there’s never been a better time to be in the market for a macOS laptop.
We can look forward to a complete redesign, possibly including a touchscreen. Plus, the most affordable MacBook ever is also reportedly coming next year.
Apple TV has plenty in store for 2026. AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac
Apple TV is poised for a banner year in 2026, with an impressive slate of new original series, highly anticipated spinoffs and beloved returning favorites. From cyberpunk epics to gripping thrillers, the Apple TV 2026 lineup helps cement the streamer’s reputation as a powerhouse for quality programming.
Here’s your complete guide to the most highly anticipated shows coming to Apple TV next year.
Apple has a busy 2026 in store. Which of these new and upgraded products can we expect? AI image Google Gemini/Cult of Mac
With more than a dozen new Apple products in the pipeline, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and important year for the company. Among a plethora of high-profile device launches, we should see the first folding iPhone next year
If all the rumors prove true, Apple’s 2026 product road map looks bold, exciting and ambitious. Check out all the new products Apple likely will launch in 2026.
2026 could be the year Apple reinvents the iPhone — again. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
The first folding iPhone is expected to break iOS out of its years-long rut, and new rumors give us the most complete picture yet of a handset supposedly set to launch in 2026.
These come from a formerly prolific source of often reliable Apple leaks.
Remembering prominent figures associated with Apple who passed away in 2025. AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac
As 2025 draws to a close, the Apple community mourns the loss of four remarkable individuals whose contributions shaped the company’s history and the broader technology landscape.
From revolutionary software engineering to visionary leadership and marketing genius, these pioneers left indelible marks that continue to influence how millions interact with technology today.
Thank the EU's DMA for this change. AI Image: Google Gemini
Apple is opening up its walled garden further with iOS 26.3. As part of the update, it will allow third-party Bluetooth earbuds to pair with an iPhone just as seamlessly as AirPods.
It will also enable third-party smartwatches and wearables to receive and mirror notifications from the iPhone.
They're not all in the junkyard or recycled just yet, but they're headed that way. AI image: Grok/Cult of Mac
In 2025, Apple moved several well-loved gadgets to its dreaded obsolete list — including the original and popular iPhone SE — meaning hardware service is no longer available. Also chopped were the Apple Watch Series 1, second-generation iPad Pro (12.9-inch), and Apple Watch Series 4 Nike and Hermès models.
There’s often a fuss when Apple makes products obsolete, stemming from frustration with planned obsolescence. A lack of parts makes these older devices unrepairable, forcing upgrades and creating e-waste. Here’s the list of products Apple killed in 2025, and the ones heading to the chopping block in 2026.
The iPhone 17 Center Stage selfie camera improves your video calling experience significantly. Image: ChatGPT
If you’re strongly tempted by an iPhone 17, but haven’t yet found a reason to make the jump, then you must not realize how amazing the phone’s new Center Stage selfie camera is. It’s my favorite feature of Apple’s latest smartphones because it makes video calls so much easier on me, and smoother for the people I talk to.
Even better: The base model iPhone 17 gets this great feature, not just the Pro variants.
Apple's high-end all-in-one computer might reappear soon. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Leaked code indicates Apple is working on a new iMac Pro, years after the powerful all-in-one faded from the scene.
Does a new iMac Pro make sense in the Apple silicon era? And what price point would make it appealing? We discuss the possibilities.
Also on The CultCast:
The 20th-anniversary iPhone sounds like a real cracker — if Apple can pull off the impossible.
Another leak gives us a look at new features coming in iOS 26.4.
Hate iOS 26’s Liquid Glass user interface? Griffin walks us through a weird hack that will keep your iPhone on iOS 18 forever.
We wrap up the show with our new trivia segment, Apple Genius. Should we make it a regular addition to the podcast?
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.
This was a big year. Photo: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
2025 was a big year for Apple. In this end-of-year roundup, we gathered up the most consequential news, groundbreaking rumors and biggest surprises of the last 12 months.
There were plenty of leaks — in fact, the entire iPhone 17 lineup was exhaustively shown off in the months leading up to September. We also knew most of the other product releases, from the MacBook Air and iPad Air to MacBook Pro and Vision Pro, would consist of simple spec bumps.
But there were tons of curveballs, too. Tariffs rattled Apple’s international supply chain. The Blood Oxygen app for Apple Watch made a sudden return. And no one was expecting a UI redesign quite like Liquid Glass.
Apple might struggle to make enough folding iPhone units to meet demand. Concept image: ChatGPT
Apple’s long-rumored folding iPhone — expected to be one of the most significant new product launches in years — is generating strong buzz, with a respected analyst warning that consumer interest could far outpace Apple’s ability to supply the device when it hits the market.
And a separate report may have revealed the sizes of the two screens coming in the first foldable iOS device. The large internal display is what’s expected to drive demand.
A gorgeous OLED display might come to Apple’s all-in-one iMac. Graphic: Apple/Cult of Mac
An iMac with an OLED display is in development, according to a fresh supply-chain leak. This would bring a significant upgrade to the look of Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer for the consumer market.
The report comes shortly after a new professional-grade iMac was rumored. Clearly, it’s a big week for Apple desktops.
Apple’s App Store will introduce additional ad placements in search results beginning in 2026, Apple said Wednesday. The move represents a significant shift in how users will encounter sponsored content while browsing for new applications. And the iPhone giant took pains to explain why it’s making the move.
Replacing the battery on the M5 MacBook Pro gets a lot easier. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Apple made it significantly easier to replace the battery on the M5 MacBook Pro. Instead of removing or replacing multiple internal components, users can now swap out the battery directly.
Will Face ID finally go under-display in 2026? Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple’s 2026 flagship iPhones — the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max — might feature under-display Face ID sensors, according to a new port. As part of the change, the company will reportedly relocate the devices’ front cameras to their top-left corner.
The report also sheds light on other changes coming to next year’s iPhones, including a new rear camera sensor.
The iMac Pro might be back with a huge processor upgrade for professional users — the M5 Max. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The iMac Pro could be poised for a major return — years after Apple discontinued the power all-in-one computer. This time, the professional desktop will be powered by Apple’s next-generation M5 Max chip, according to information found in internal Apple software.
It would be a change in strategy for Apple, but it seems the company is at least exploring the idea of an updated all-in-one desktop for the pro and prosumer markets.