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Apple’s Back to School sale brings free AirPods with Mac or iPad

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Apple 2025 Back to School Promo
Apple's 2025 Back to School promo will get you a free AirPods.
Screenshot: Apple Store

Apple’s yearly Back to School sale is now live in the United States, India and other countries. As part of the deal, eligible students and teachers can get Macs and iPads on education pricing, along with an accessory worth up to $179.

Unlike the last few years, Apple will not bundle a gift card with your purchase. Instead, it will bundle a free accessory, ranging from the Magic Keyboard to AirPods 4 with ANC.

Unlike iPhone, the iPad remains ‘a beast to repair’

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iPad repair: “A beast”
iPad repair is doable, but it’s far, far from easy.
Image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple now offers tools and parts to repair your own iPad, but the instructions provided by Apple show that working on one of its tablets is not for the faint of heart.

Just removing the screen from an iPad Pro is a 32-step process that requires special tools to detach the glue, tape and screws holding everything together.

Powerful Mac Studio drives epic ultra-wide display [Setups]

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Mac Studio display
The user liked their dual 27-inch monitors, but likes the ultra-wide even better, comparing it to having three screens.
Photo: [email protected]

I’m currently enjoying a pair of 27-inch 5K resolution touchscreen monitors, but many people prefer to go with one ultra-wide display — especially a big, curved one. Today’s featured setup uses a Mac Studio to drive a 49-inch, curved Samsung gaming monitor. The user loves it, but said it took some getting used to. They graduated to it from two 27-inch 4K displays, actually, very similar to what I used until recently.

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 preorders set an impressive record

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Steve obs
The iPhone 4 sold 1.7 million units in its first weekend on sale.
Photo: Matthew Yohe/Wikipedia CC

June 16: Today in Apple history: Apple receives record preorders for iPhone 4 June 16, 2010: Apple reports a massive surge of interest in its latest smartphone, with iPhone 4 preorders racking up 600,000 sales on their first day.

The company calls the number “far higher” than expected. At the time, it’s the most iPhone preorders Apple has ever taken in a single day. AT&T suffers server problems thanks to the demand — with 10 times the usual traffic on its website. It’s proof positive that Apple is onto a winner!

Hidden iOS 26 features Apple didn’t talk about at WWDC25

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iOS 26 hidden features
There are plenty of smaller, hidden improvements in iOS 26.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult Of Mac

Apple focused heavily on the new Liquid Glass design language during the iOS 26 unveiling last week. But there’s more to the operating system than the glossy new look that’s coming to all the company’s operating systems.

While Apple highlighted iOS 26’s major features during the  WWDC25 keynote, many meaningful quality-of-life improvements flew under the radar. Here are some of the smaller, hidden features in iOS 26 that you shouldn’t miss.

Wait for AirPods Pro 3 likely stretches into 2026

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AirPods Pro 3 release date
The AirPods Pro 3 release date is apparently still months down the road.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Two reliable analysts recently predicted that the AirPods Pro 3 release date won’t come before the end of 2025.

Apple is reportedly loading the next generation of its high-end wireless earbuds up with new features, and that’s apparently taking some extra time. All the way to 2026.

Speedy new Ugreen GaN charger packs 500W and 6 ports

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Ugreen Nexode 500W charger 6 ports fast charging
This robust desktop charger meets many charging needs.
Photo: Ugreen

Ugreen launched what it calls the world’s most powerful gallium nitride (GaN) charger Monday — the Ugreen Nexode 500W 6-Port GaN Desktop Fast Charger. It promises to change how Apple users and other tech users power their devices.

At 500 watts, the $249.99 charger delivers unprecedented charging capacity through five USB-C ports and one USB-A port. That could eliminate the need for multiple adapters cluttering your workspace.

Today in Apple history: iPad 2 leak lands insiders in prison

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The iPad Pro.
Leaking pre-release images could land you behind bars.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

June 15: Today in Apple history: iPad 2 leak lands insiders in prison June 15, 2011: Three people get sentenced to prison in China for leaking information about the iPad 2 prior to its release.

The Foxconn R&D employees receive sentences ranging from one year to 18 months. They also must pay fines between $4,500 and $23,000. If you ever wonder why more Apple products don’t leak prior to release, this might help explain why!

Your Friends & Neighbors and Murderbot stay popular week after week

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Jon Hamm and Alexander Skarsgård  both have hits on Apple TV+!
Jon Hamm and Alexander Skarsgård both have hits on Apple TV+!
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ crime drama Your Friends & Neighbors has held onto a large audience for two months now, appearing yet again on a weekly list of the top 10 most popular series, according to a company that tracks ratings. The show stars Jon Hamm as a very unusual thief.

Plus, the Apple TV+ sci-fi action comedy series Murderbot settled into steady popularity.

Add an iPhone SE to your Apple arsenal for less than $125

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A refurbished Apple iPhone SE (second-gen from 2020)
Pick up this quality iPhone SE at a steep discount.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re itching to add a reliable iPhone to your pile of Apple gear — but without dropping flagship-level cash — this deal on an iPhone SE (a refurbished second-gen model) might make your week.

Right now, you can get your hands on a Grade-A refurbished second-gen iPhone SE with 64GB of storage, unlocked and in near-mint condition for just $124.99. Even better? Shipping is free, and the phone is ready to roll with any major carrier.

Hands-on with iOS 26 and Liquid Glass: The good, the bugs and the ugly

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iOS 26 and Liquid Glass
One week with the new iOS 26.
Image: Apple

I’ve spent the week hands-on with iOS 26, living with its stunning new design and incredible features. I really love the direction iOS is going — even if there are a lot of kinks that need to be worked out before its September release.

Liquid Glass, the flashy new user interface, is gorgeous. Loads of people will love the new Lock Screen and Home Screen features, like Spatial Scenes and clear icons. A few other features may need some tweaking, however, like the new Camera app and Phone app.

Should you install it yourself? God no, it’s a buggy mess. You should definitely not install it on your daily driver. But should you be excited to get it in September, after Apple irons out the kinks? Absolutely. Keep reading or watch our video for a hands-on look at the joys (and annoyances) of iOS 26.

Today in Apple history: Paul McCartney is unlikely star of iTunes ad

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An vividly animated Apple ad showcases Paul McCartney's
A vividly animated Apple ad showcases Paul McCartney's "Dance Tonight."
Photo: Apple

June 14: Today in Apple history: Paul McCartney iTunes ad features Dance Tonight June 14, 2007: Paul McCartney sings his new song “Dance Tonight” in an iPod + iTunes ad, the latest in a series of Apple spots starring music industry legends.

The new animated ad signifies a thawing of the icy relationship between Apple and McCartney, whose original band The Beatles has been locked in a legal battle with Cupertino for decades.

Why rent cloud storage? Own 2TB for life for just $70.

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Product photo of the FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription.
Make the smart investment today with FileJump’s 2TB lifetime subscription for $89 and enjoy secure, hassle-free storage for life.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We all know subscription fees multiply like rascally rabbits. Wouldn’t it be nice to have cloud storage that doesn’t add to the misery? FileJump offers a refreshing alternative. Why rent your cloud storage month after month when you can score 2TB of cloud space for just $69.97 for life?

No more recurring payments or surprise fees. Just a one-time investment for a lifetime of secure, accessible cloud storage.

AirTag helps couple swipe back their stolen Jaguar

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AirTag finds a stolen car
Thieves nabbed this Jaguar e-Pace despite it having two immobilizing devices. Luckily, it also had an AirTag.
Photo: BBC News/Metropolitan Police Service

A couple from London successfully tracked down and recovered their stolen Jaguar using an Apple AirTag after police appeared “too stretched” to provide immediate assistance. So they ended up asking, when AirTag finds a stolen car, who needs the cops?

Mia Forbes Pirie and her husband Mark Simpson discovered their $60,000 Jaguar E-Pace missing from outside their home June 3. They called the police and even explained the bit about the AirTag showing the car’s specific location in town. But they found themselves on their own, at least at first.

MacBook Pro rig adds dual 5K displays and badass mechanical keyboard [Setups]

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dual 5K displays
Since other recent changes, I added two 5K touchscreen displays and a mechanical keyboard. And yeah, please pardon my hideous cables.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

After several years of covering the Cult of Mac setups beat, I still rarely write about my own. But major new upgrades call for it. Since a spate of recent changes, I’m still rocking the M4 Pro MacBook Pro as my main daily driver. But I replaced dual 4K external displays with a pair of 5K touchscreen displays. And I dipped my toe into the world of serious mechanical keyboards for the first time.

Virtually all iPhones sold in US now made in India to avoid Trump tariffs

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iPhone 14 Pro in India
Your next iPhone could be assembled in India, not China.
Photo: Cult of Mac

We’ll have to stop thinking of the iPhone as a product made in China — nearly all Apple’s handsets for sale in the United States are reportedly now assembled in India.

It’s part of Apple’s effort to reduce paying the tariffs President Donald Trump places on most products imported into the U.S., especially ones that come from China.

This suction cup mount lets you put your iPhone anywhere

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Photo of iPhones and other mobile phones connecting to a suction cup phone mount
Save on a versatile mount that holds your iPhone securely.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re tired of fumbling with flimsy phone mounts that can’t handle your iPhone’s weight or your car’s bumps, this 360-degree suction cup phone mount is here to save the day. Designed for seamless integration with your iPhone, it’s perfect for cars, desks and multiple other scenarios.

A powerful suction cup holds the mount in place virtually anywhere, a magnetic ring holds MagSafe phones in place, and a flexible arm lets you position your iPhone any way you like. Grab one now while it costs just $19.99 (regularly $39.99).

Why Apple still won’t put macOS on iPad

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Why Apple still won’t put macOS on iPad
A high-level Apple exec explains why iPad and Mac will stay separate.
Image: Cult of Mac

iPadOS 26 moves the iPad closer to the Mac than ever before. But don’t take the upcoming operating system as a stepping stone toward an eventual unification between iPadOS and macOS. That’s clearly not going to happen.

The reason can be summed up with a phrase that Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software development, used in an interview at WWDC this week: “iPad’s gonna be iPad.”

Today in Apple history: Eddy Cue takes the stand to defend iBooks pricing

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ibooks_cloud_2x
Eddy Cue took the stand to testify about Apple's e-book pricing in a 2013 antitrust trial targeting the iBooks Store.
Photo: Apple

June 13: Today in Apple history: Eddy Cue takes the stand to defend iBooks pricing June 13, 2013: Apple exec Eddy Cue takes the stand to defend the company’s iBooks business strategy in an antitrust case regarding e-book pricing.

Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of internet software and services, runs the iBooks Store initiative. His testimony proves vital to a case brought by the Department of Justice, in which potential damages climb well into the nine figures.

Sydney Sweeney kills in thriller Echo Valley [Update: Now streaming]

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Echo Valley movie
It's described as an "edge-of-your-seat thriller," and it might actually be one.
Photo: Apple TV+

“It” girl actress Sydney Sweeney plays a drug addict and probable killer whose mom, played by Julianne Moore, will do anything to save her, according to a trailer Apple TV+ dropped recently for the new Echo Valley movie. It’s now streaming, as of Friday, and you can watch the trailer below.

Ridley Scott produces the thriller, which also stars Kyle MacLachlan and Domhall Gleeson.

Update: Echo Valley, now available to watch on Apple TV+, garners mixed reviews so far. Empire calls it a “superbly acted rural thriller.” Financial Times said it’s “delightedly twisty” with “dark dashes of Hitchcock.” But IGN calls it “hollow” and “dull,” and a New York Times review says: “A stellar cast led by Julianne Moore is unable to breathe life into this unsuccessful blend of maternal drama and crime caper.”

1Password unlock presets will cut down on constant unlocks

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1Password app sign in with FaceID
1Password's new app unlock presets promise a seamless experience.
Photo: 1Password

1Password is testing a new unlock system on Mac, aiming to reduce the need for constant reauthentication. The app introduces three preset modes — Convenient, Balanced and Strict — giving users control over how frequently they unlock the app based on their security preferences.

The changes are currently only available on 1Password’s beta channel for Mac.

Wait for AI-enhanced Siri stretches out almost a year

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AI-generated image of a circuit board with an Apple logo, and he words,
Work on a much smarter Siri will take about a long to finish as pessimists predicted.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

The release date for the AI-enhanced version of the Siri voice assistant will likely come in spring 2026, according to information leaking out of Apple. That’s nine months from now, and a year after it was first expected.

The long delay in the launch of smarter Siri was a significant black eye for Apple, clearly demonstrating that it wasn’t keeping up with rivals in AI research.