For Apple fans who want the latest and greatest MacBook, there’s never been a simple way. Upgrading is expensive, and reselling takes time most people don’t have.

That’s where Upgraded comes in.

It’s a better way to stay current, without the upfront cost or the trade-in hassle. You get a new MacBook, pay monthly (starting at $33.28/mo), and every 2 years, you’re eligible to upgrade. It’s easy, clear, and is quickly becoming the top option for Apple fans who want to be on the cutting edge.

Apple on Monday seeded to developers the release candidates for iOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, iPadOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6 and visionOS 2.6. This is usually the final step before new versions launch.

The general public should get access to these RCs soon.

Two innovative new outdoor cameras could change how homeowners approach property surveillance, Baseus said Sunday. The standout feature? The more advanced Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera 4K packs a small solar panel on top that actually moves to follow the sun throughout the day, keeping the cameras charged. And the budget-friendly new Baseus Security S1 Lite 2K model uses solar charging, too.

Sometimes even a MacBook in a vertical laptop stand takes up too much space on the desk. Today’s dual MacBook Pro setup user asks the question of how to “get rid of” the laptops — as in how to mount MacBook out of the way but still in use. And they get plenty of excellent advice, below.

And in addition, the workstation grabs the attention for its “odd couple” of Apple monitors, old and new. The user said they love both displays (despite that rather significant differences between the two).

Apple rolled out version 3.1 of its Sports app Monday, delivering expanded soccer content with the UK’s FA Cup and making the application available to users in Mexico for the first time.

The update arrives just in time for the FA Community Shield match and marks another significant milestone in the app’s rapid evolution.

The United Kingdom government reportedly had to give up its demand for a backdoor into encrypted Apple iCloud accounts. The reversal reportedly came as part of ongoing trade talks between the UK and the Trump administration.

Apple fought the demand, and it seems like it won.

Severance, the dystopian workplace thriller that captivates Apple TV+ subscribers, makes the leap from screen to desk with a meticulously crafted replica of the show’s distinctive keyboard. Atomic Keyboards announced recently that its MDR Dasher Keyboard — inspired by the mysterious input device used by Mark S., Helly R., Dylan G., and Irving B. in Lumon Industries’ sterile offices — now heads to Kickstarter with reservations open for just $10.

Just remember, the retro keeb is three keyboards in one, but it features no Escape, Option or Control keys. And it’s steep pricing might make you lose hope altogether.

Apple sometimes mixes up connector types among devices, and that might confuse people even more over the differences between USB-C and Thunderbolt. The connectors look alike, work similarly and accept the same cables. Yet they’re not the same.

Let’s look at the key differences, how the ascendant Thunderbolt 5 improves on Thunderbolt 4, and which kind of port and cable best suits your tasks like charging and data transfer.

Apple’s 2025 iPad Pro will reportedly sport dual front-facing cameras and Face ID scanners to address a major limitation in the previous version of the tablet: its struggles to work in portrait mode.

Last year, the company repositioned the front camera on the M4 iPad Pro to a landscape orientation, which solved some problems but caused others. Apple allegedly has a solution, though.

With a foldable iPhone widely rumored for 2026, the next version of iOS will concentrate on a user interface revamp needed for the new type of device, according to a noted tipster. iOS 27 will apparently need to handle two screens with different resolutions, for example.

Tech travel accessories have become essential companions for modern travelers who rely on their Apple and other devices for everything from navigation to entertainment. Ever found yourself with a dead iPhone in a foreign country or frantically searching for your AirPods before boarding a flight? These scenarios can quickly stress-bomb an exciting trip. Peruse our guide to learn about the best tech gifts for travelers (whether that’s you or someone else in your life!)

You can get a temporary debit card number to pay with Apple Cash online in case you want to pay with your balance on a site that doesn’t accept Apple Pay. If you have a lot of money sitting in your Apple Cash account, this can be a convenient way to pay without using your other cards. (It’s also handy if you don’t have any credit or debit cards from other banks.)

In case it’s unclear, Apple Cash is what you receive when someone sends you money via iMessage. It’s not to be confused with the other products with similar names. Apple Card is a highly rated credit card you can apply for. (It’s a physical card, made of titanium.) Apple Card Savings is a high-interest savings account for people with a physical Apple Card. And Apple Pay is a payment method (secured by Face ID, Touch ID or your device’s passcode) that lets you pay with credit/debit cards from other banks.

Previously, you could only pay with your Apple Cash via Apple Pay (or transfer it to your bank). Now, you can tie your Apple Cash to a virtual card number to pay using your Apple Cash balance online. Here’s how to set it up.

Guess what, it’s time for another installment of Dave’s Setup Upgrades. Only about six weeks after I last wrote about my own computer setup instead of everybody else’s, here I go again. An M4 Pro MacBook Pro driving a pair of 5K touchscreen displays remains the core of my rig. But I’ve gone a little nuts lately with computer input devices as I strive for a more ergonomic workstation. I’m up to four, with backups for most, and that’s got to be some kind of record.

And I added a webcam because my current external displays don’t pack one. And my laptop, with its only-pretty-good webcam, sits hidden away on a vertical stand. I don’t want to have to pull it out for video calls.

Those needing to keep track of something living a tough life should consider the Rolling Square AirNotch Pro. It does the same thing as an Apple AirTag, but beats Apple’s tracker tag with sheer volume and a few other tricks, too.

It’s rugged, and connects to Apple’s Find My network so no additional app is needed to locate the tag with an iPhone.

I tested AirNotch Pro for months. Here’s what I found.

Apple sued notorious leaker Jon Prosser and an associate Thursday, alleging that they concocted a “scheme to break into an Apple development iPhone, steal Apple’s trade secrets, and profit from the theft.”

Prosser published several renders showcasing iOS 26’s rumored visionOS-inspired glassy redesign months before WWDC25. While not completely accurate, his leaks proved pretty much on point regarding the look of the Liquid Glass design language of Apple’s upcoming operating systems.

The AAA game Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition hit Mac on Thursday. The graphically intensive action role-playing game earned a lengthy list of awards since its original debut on other platforms in 2020.

CD Projekt Red committed itself to the release last fall, saying at the time the game would be out in early 2025. The wait was longer than expected, but is finally over.

On World Emoji Day, it’s time to give some respect to the little digital images used to express emotion. A new study shows that people who use emojis in their text messages come across as more responsive and likable.

So if you always just 🙄 at emojis, you should think seriously about using them instead.

Struggling trying to figure out the best way to edit PDFs? Thanks to the PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® app for Mac, iPhone and other Apple devices, editing and managing PDF documents doesn’t need to break the bank — or frazzle your mind.

It’s a great all-in-one PDF app — and Cult of Mac readers can get a free one-year subscription.

Apple Arcade subscribers can now enjoy special SpongeBob SquarePants content across multiple games on the platform — if they’re into that fishy sort of thing. The gaming service continues its strategy of bringing beloved characters to its exclusive titles. The latest crossover events feature the iconic Nickelodeon character in Snake.io+, Crossy Road Castle and an updated SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit game.

Said Phil Schiller, Apple fellow and former SVP for worldwide product marketing, in a post on Mastodon Social: “Jumping Jellyfish!”

Apple gave its News+ subscribers an unexpected treat Thursday. It rolled out the new Emoji Game on Apple News+ ahead of schedule to celebrate World Emoji Day. Originally slated to debut with iOS 26 this September, the puzzle game is now available for users running iOS 18.4 and later versions.

“Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News.

ChatGPT for Mac can now record and transcribe your meetings. The feature, which went live in early June, is now rolling out to the Mac app.

Besides meetings, you can use ChatGPT’s record mode for transcribing voice notes and brainstorming sessions.

Contrary to previous rumors, a new report says Apple will equip the iPhone 17 Pro with a new antireflective display. The coating will help cut down on glare and unwanted reflections, making the device easier to use — especially outside on sunny days.

Apple suppliers seemingly improved their yields enough to allow mass production of the antireflective displays for use in the upcoming iPhones.

The new Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma promises to transform how Mac users connect their devices while delivering blazing-fast data speeds, support for massive SSD storage expansion, expanded display capabilities and RGB lighting, the gaming peripherals giant said Wednesday. Priced at $399.99, the dock stands in the first wave of major accessories to fully embrace Intel’s latest Thunderbolt 5 standard.

“The Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock is designed to meet the growing need for faster data transfer and robust multi-display support,” said Travis Furst, notebooks and accessories chief at Razer.

I love the “before” and “after” setups posts with photos on social media. Today’s is on the basic side, but it’s always fun to see clear visuals of what people do. In this one, an iMac toiling away for eight years gets judged into well-deserved retirement by Apple’s hot little M4 desktop machine on a Satechi Mac mini hub that greatly expands connectivity and storage. With the iMac’s lovely screen gone, the new rig is a Dell-4K-display-Mac-mini combo.

Multiple iPhone models might be blocked from import into the United States. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that one of the companies that makes displays for iOS handsets infringes on the patents of another, and products that use the infringing displays face an import ban.

President Donald Trump has the option to veto the ban, however.