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News

The latest Apple news, opinion and analysis posts from Cult of Mac writers.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on News:

A new Apple Pencil could give the Vision Pro a sense of touch

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A photo of the Apple Vision Pro with an Apple Pencil.
A special Apple Pencil could bring a sense of touch to the Vision Pro headset.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

While the Apple Vision Pro is one of the best spatial computers money can buy, touch is one sense it can’t fake. But a newly granted Apple patent hints at a new stylus that can simulate the texture of virtual surfaces on your hand.

The Apple Vision Pro is capable of showing virtual surfaces with great clarity, but it lacks haptic feedback. But the new sort of Apple Pencil could close that gap and make the headset’s XR experiences physical for the first time.

Microsoft will break Office apps on older iPhones, iPads and Macs next month

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A photo of Microsoft Office files on an iPhone.
Old iPhones and Macs will soon be unable to edit and create Microsoft Office files.
Photo: Microsoft

If you use an older Mac, iPhone or iPad, Microsoft might be about to break your Office apps. Starting July 13, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote will stop letting you edit, save or create new files unless you meet certain requirements. You’ll still be able to open and print documents, but that’s it.

The move affects more people than you might think. If you’re running anything older than iOS 17 or macOS 11 Big Sur, your Office apps will mostly be defunct. Microsoft calls it “reduced functionality mode,” which is a fancy way of saying your Office apps will lose editing functionality.

4 reasons to get excited about iPadOS 27

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iPadOS 27 rumors give tablet users plenty of reasons for optimism
Rumors of iPadOS 27 give iPad users so much to be excited about.
Image: Cult of Mac

With Apple’s WWDC26 keynote just days away, the latest iPadOS 27 rumors should give iPad owners plenty of reasons to pay close attention. Beyond the new artificial intelligence features for all Apple devices, tablet users can look forward to Monday’s keynote unveiling of iPadOS 27 enhancements that should make tablets easier to use in multiple ways.

Here are four reasons for iPad users to be eager for these announcements, whether you use your tablet for writing, creative projects or daily multitasking.

Nvidia finally gives Apple silicon a real competitor

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A photo of RTX Spark chip used in a story about Nvidia's new Apple silicon competitor.
RTX Spark laptops will arrive this fall, potentially offering all-day battery life on Windows laptops.
Image: Nvidia

Apple has been making some of the best laptop chips for years, but Nvidia’s new ARM-based RTX Spark processor might finally give the MacBook a real fight.

For Mac users, the announcement of an ARM-based rival to Apple silicon could be good news. Not because they will switch to Windows, but because this kind of competition could pressure Apple to step up its game and keep innovating.

Apple brings its first European Developer Center to Berlin

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Apple opens its first Developer Center in Europe
A new Apple Developer Center is coming to Berlin. It's the first of its kind in Europe. This is the auditorium.
Photo: Apple

Apple will open a new Developer Center in Berlin later this year. It’s the first of its kind on the continent and its fifth worldwide, the iPhone giant said Wednesday.

“Europe is home to an extraordinary community of developers who are building apps that create connections, encourage creativity and drive innovation,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We have always believed that when developers have the right tools and resources to do their best work, incredible things follow. That belief is what this center is built on, and we look forward to seeing what the community continues to develop.”

iOS 27 might finally bring split-screen multitasking to the iPhone

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A photo of a concept showing split screen multitasking on the iPhone.
With the iPhone Ultra, Apple might finally bring multitasking to the iPhone.
Photo: Techblood.in

Apple is reportedly working on new multitasking features in iOS 27 that would automatically adapt any iPhone app for landscape and split-screen layouts.

With the rumored folding iPhone on the horizon, a lack of multitasking would translate to a waste of screen real estate. But this rumored capability could mean your entire app collection would work instantly, without Apple waiting for developers to redesign their apps.

What makes Apple’s fave apps and games of 2026 so good?

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Apple Design Awards crown top apps and games 
Find out which 12 apps and games took top honors.
Photo: Apple

Apple chose 12 apps and games as the best of the best in 2026 from its developer community on Tuesday, honoring titles spanning six award categories for recognition at WWDC26 next week. 

“This year’s Apple Design Award winners are a remarkable reflection of how developers are creating exceptional experiences,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. She added that honorees “represent the very best of what our platform makes possible.”

MacBook Neo sales blast past Apple’s pricier laptops

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MacBook Neo in Blush and Indigo showing the desktop on a wood table
MacBook Neo is a huge hit for Apple.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

MacBook Neo outsold every other MacBook in Apple’s lineup in its launch quarter. IDC reports Apple shipped 1.1 million units of its cheapest Mac, higher than the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

What’s impressive is that the Neo achieved this feat despite being on sale for only three weeks during the quarter.

Leaker: Foldable iPhone with liquid metal hinge undergoing carrier testing

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Photo of a folding Android device, used to illustrate a story about a rumored liquid metal hinge for the first folding iPhone
The hinge is a critical component of any foldable, and Apple wants the best technology possible for its first folding iPhone.
Photo: Amanz/Unsplash License

Apple is building its long-anticipated folding iPhone around a liquid metal hinge, and the device has now actually reached mobile carriers around the world for compatibility testing, a prominent Apple supply chain leaker said Tuesday.

Congress pressures Apple to keep first unionized US store open

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Shuttered US Apple stores include first to unionize
Slated for closure, Apple Towson Town Center store in Maryland was the first one to unionize.
Photo: Apple

With a letter signed by 40 members of Congress sent Monday, Apple faces increased federal pressure over its plan to shut down the Apple Towson Town Center store in Maryland. The location, set to close on June 20, holds the distinction of being the first Apple retail store in the United States to unionize.

The congressional letter pulls no punches. The lawmakers describe the closure as “unacceptable in its impact, and deeply troubling in its national implications for workers’ rights.”

Next-gen OLED Apple Watch displays could lead to longer battery life

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Next-gen OLED Apple Watch displays
Apple Watch OLED displays are great now, but more advanced tech could boost power efficiency and, therefore, battery life.
Photo: Apple

The display in your Apple Watch may already seem pretty great, but a new type of screen technology in development could make models in the next year or two even better by running for longer on a single charge, according to a new report.

A free tier for Apple Music might be closer than you think

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A photo of the Apple Music app on an iPhone screen, used in a story about Apple Music rumored to get a free tier.
A free Apple Music plan could help the service significantly increase its user base.
Photo: Brett Jordan/Pexels

Just a month after Apple Music’s chief called a free tier a “terrible idea,” code found in a beta version of the streaming service’s Android app suggests Apple might be prepping to do just that.

For years, Apple has avoided offering a free or low-cost subscription tier. But as it races to catch up with Spotify, Apple could be reconsidering its stand.

iOS 26.5.1 update fixes charging problem with Phone 17 and iPhone Air

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iOS 26.5.1 update
If you're one of the unlucky few the charging problem vexes, here's your solution.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple made an update available for its iPhone operating system Monday with iOS 26.5.1. It addresses a wired charging problem some users with iPhone Series 17 or iPhone Air handsets face.

Apple said the problem affects a “small number of users.” But for the few users who face it, the problem probably feels pretty big. The same goes for a Mac glitch fixed by macOS 26.5.1, also released Monday.

Samsung’s new monitors offer features Apple still doesn’t

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A photo of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 used in a story about the same.
Samsung's new OLED monitors are cheaper than Apple's, and have higher refresh rates.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung just launched three new monitors that finally give Mac users a big reason to upgrade, addressing many of the gaps that Apple’s own monitors have left open for quite some time.

The new Samsung monitor lineup includes a 40-inch curved ultrawide and 4K OLED models in two sizes (27-inch and 32-inch). They also come with Thunderbolt 5 ports, built-in KVM switching and faster refresh rates than Apple’s displays.

iOS 27 could make it way easier to split the bill

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Bill-splitting tool coming to iOS 27
Soon iOS 27 could make this process a lot smoother.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple prepares to bring one of the most-requested social money features directly into iPhone, with a new bill-splitting tool expected to debut as part of iOS 27 this fall, according to a new report Monday. We expect to hear more about it next week at WWDC26.

Apple reveals ‘All systems glow’ tagline, wallpaper and playlist for WWDC26

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WWDC26: All systems glow
Apple wants to get us all ready for its big developer conference, iOS 27 and more.
Photo: Apple

With one week to go until its annual developer showcase, Apple leaned into a luminous theme with the new WWDC26 tagline “All systems glow.”

You can get your devices ready for the WWDC26 keynote, which kicks off the weeklong event on June 8, with new wallpaper and an Apple Music playlist.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 headphones offer something AirPods Max don’t

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Sennheiser Momentum 5
Being able to easily swap out the battery could adds years of life to these premium cans.
Photo: Sennheiser

New Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless over-ear headphones bring Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, upgraded noise cancellation and one killer feature major players like Apple and Bose will have to consider adding — a user-replaceable battery, which can greatly extend the life of the product.

The new Sennheiser cans arrive June 16 for $399.99.

Airline passenger picks the worst possible name for Bluetooth accessory

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Airline passenger picks the worst possible name for Bluetooth accessory
Don't choose a stupid name for a Bluetooth accessory you bring on a plane.
Photo: 정규송 Nui Malama/Pexels

Think for a minute. What’s the absolute worst name you could give a Bluetooth accessory you’re going to take on a plane? A teenager on a flight from Spain reportedly chose one so bad that it caused the airliner to turn around halfway and return to New Jersey.

It’s a warning that airlines do not have a sense of humor, and you’re probably not as clever as you think you are.

First Apple smart glasses may not arrive until late 2027

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Apple Glasses render
Apple Glasses is over a year away from launch.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first smart glasses will reportedly stand out based on strong brand value, “industrial design and iPhone integration,” according to new information that surfaced Sunday.

The company will seemingly launch its first smart glasses near the end of 2027.

Ferrari Luce is the Apple car we never got [Cult of Mac podcast No. 22]

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Photo of a blue Ferrari Luce, along with the words,
That ain't no Apple car, but it's close!
Image: Ferrari/Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The new Ferrari Luce is a $540,000 electric vehicle that’s the closest thing to an Apple car we’re ever going to see. That’s no surprise, considering the key role ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive played in crafting the EV.

We discuss the good, the bad and the laughable about the car (and fantasize about sliding behind the wheel).

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • A last-minute bombshell gives us an awfully good look at what the new AI-powered Siri — and the rest of iOS 27 — will look like. It’s filled with major spoilers for the WWDC26 keynote, which is coming on June 8. Tim Cook must be seething!
  • A long-overdue tweak in iOS 27 should make it easier to use AirPods‘ advanced features. We’re thrilled. But will the changes go far enough?
  • And finally, special guest Christina Warren returns to join in on all the fun. Plus, she gives us an update on what’s going on at GitHub amid the AI frenzy.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast 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 version, embedded below.

Best look yet at 4 iPhone 18 Pro colors: Can dark cherry top cosmic orange?

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iPhone 18 Pro colors may include dark cherry
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could come in a wine-inspired purplish-red color.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro color lineup may have just been revealed, thanks to images of a fresh batch of dummy units shared by a noted Apple leaker.

The good news: there’s a beautiful new dark cherry option. Now the bad: the popular cosmic orange iPhone is apparently going away.

Apple’s next-gen Siri could rely heavily on local AI

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Upgrading Siri with Google Gemini will be $1 billion quick fix
Apple is betting big on local AI processing.
Graphic: Apple/Google

Apple will reportedly play up the on-device AI prowess of its devices next month during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. The company will supposedly highlight how its A-series and M-series chips allow AI models to run locally for better efficiency and privacy.

With Apple’s competitors aggressively pushing cloud-based AI features, the company will likely position on-device AI as a key advantage of its ecosystem throughout WWDC26.