Mobile menu toggle

Reviews

Here at Cult of Mac, we regularly review Apple products and other tech gear and accessories. We also frequently write about Apple TV+ offerings. If we receive a review unit, we disclose it. (Read our reviews policy.) We frequently employ affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking a link from our website, we might earn a commission.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Reviews:

Clever phone lanyard is also a convenient USB-C charging cable [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable★★★★☆
This lanyard lets you keep a convenient iPhone charging cable with you all the time.
Photo: Satechi

Crossbody iPhone slings are in style, and the Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable is a unique addition to the category. It’s both a strap to make carrying the iPhone easy and a USB-C charging cable.

I put the accessory to the test with my iPhone 17. I especially liked that I can easily swap it between iPhone cases.

3 reasons Pluribus is the new must-watch series on Apple TV

By

Pluribus season 1 review
As Carol, Rhea Seehorn finds herself in a waking nightmare.
Photo: Apple TV

Pluribus, Vince Gilligan’s newest TV series, has already bagged a perfect 100% rating on RottenTomatoes.com — a feat topping even acclaimed Apple TV shows like Severance.

The creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul wowed the critics once again with Pluribus, a post-apocalyptic science fiction psychological thriller that premiered on Apple TV on November 7. And it’s generating big-time buzz as one of the year’s most compelling television events. Its third episode airs Friday. And if you’re anything like me, you can’t wait because the first two blew you away. 

To me, the show is like the world’s longest episode of The Twilight Zone — in the best possible way, and in the here and now rather than circa 1959.

Caution: Pluribus spoilers ahead.

Tiny Soundcore AI voice recorder redefines note-taking for iPhone users [Review] ★★★

By

Soundcore Work AI Voice Recorder review★★★
This tiny recorder can transcribe and summarize meetings.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In an ecosystem where seamless integration matters most, the new Soundcore Work AI Voice Recorder arrives with a compelling proposition for Apple users. As this Soundcore Work AI Voice Recorder review finds, the coin-sized device promises to transform how iPhone and Mac users capture, transcribe and organize voice recordings.

After examining its features through an Apple-centric lens, here’s what you need to know about whether this $159.99 recorder deserves a spot in your productivity arsenal.

Kuxiu X40 Turbo: The best, fastest 3-in-1 charger money can buy [Review] ★★★★★

By

Kuxiu X40 Turbo with an iPhone, an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro all loaded up on it.★★★★★
This 3-in-1 charger tops up all your devices in a compact and elegant form factor.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Kuxiu X40 Turbo is a great three-in-one charger that supports the fastest MagSafe and Qi charging speeds possible on the latest iPhones. That means you can get 25W wireless iPhone charging while simultaneously topping up your Apple Watch and AirPods.

The X40 Turbo is the follow-up to my previous personal favorite charger, the X40. In addition to extra power, the new model boasts a refined design while maintaining its predecessor’s stellar build quality. It comes with everything you need in the box: the charger, a cable, a power adapter and a nice linen travel case.

Here’s why it’s the perfect three-way charger for home or travel. Keep reading or watch our video review.

Tiny, super-fast Planck SSD is perfect for recording iPhone video [Review] ★★★★★

By

Planck SSD review: Tiny drive perfect for iPhone videographers★★★★★
This is the SSD your iPhone has been waiting for.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Planck SSD was created specifically for iPhone, and is so small and well-designed that it plugs into the handset’s USB-C port and practically disappears. But there’s still room for up to 2 terabytes of storage.

Even better, it’s rocket-fast. So fast that it enables high-resolution/high-framerate ProRes video to be recorded from iPhone Pro models, making the Planck SSD an ideal tool for creators and professional videographers.

I tested the drive and came away very impressed. It even comes with a useful collection of accessories.

Take great surround sound on the go with Treblab’s killer speaker [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Treblab HD-360 Pro speaker review★★★★☆
With 360-degree surround sound, Treblab's HD-360 Pro wireless speaker sounds great indoors or out.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

After spending quality time with the Treblab HD-360 Pro, I’ve come to appreciate what this Bluetooth speaker represents: excellent audio that’s good enough for home use but just happens to be wireless for portability — unlike Apple’s excellent-but-limited HomePod 2.

In a market saturated with speakers that promise much but deliver mediocrity, HD-360 Pro stands out by focusing on what matters most — genuine audio quality backed by serious hardware. And at roughly half the price of great home speakers like HomePod 2 but with the option of portability, it’s worth considering, depending on what you want in a speaker. 

Watch this stunning folk horror show on Apple TV for a thoroughly creepy Halloween

By

Nell Tiger Free in “Servant,” now streaming on Apple TV+.
Nell Tiger Free plays creepy nanny Leanne in Apple TV+ thriller Servant.
Photo: Apple TV+

M. Night Shyamalan’s wonderfully dark series Servant is the creepiest horror show on Apple TV. The engrossing show, about a supernatural nanny with designs on an upper-class Philadelphia power couple and their missing baby, shines thanks to an amazing array of directorial talent and some fantastic on-screen presences.

Here’s why you should watch all four seasons of this runaway freight train of a show.

3 reasons to watch Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV

By

Down Cemetery Road review
New Apple TV thriller Down Cemetery Road is a compelling whodunnit (and who did what, exactly?).
Photo: Apple TV

New Apple TV crime thriller Down Cemetery Road, based on British author Mick Herron’s debut novel, might not always match the fast-and-dirty fun of Slow Horses, the hit stablemate also derived from Herron’s work.

However, it offers enough intrigue, stellar performances (especially from star Emma Thompson) and dark humor to deserve your attention. 

Here’s why you should stream the eight-episode conspiracy thriller.

EarFun’s top budget earbuds punch way above their weight [Review] ★★★★

By

EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus with closed case★★★★
For under $100, EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus are killer.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The budget wireless earbuds market has become increasingly competitive, but this EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds review finds they manage to stand out with a compelling combination great sound, premium features and aggressively good value. Priced at $100 — with a launch discount coupon on Amazon bringing it down to about $80 —  these earbuds challenge what we’ve come to expect from the sub-$100 category. And they do so while going toe-to-toe with Apple’s $249 AirPods Pro 3.

Slim wall charger blows away anything from Apple [Review] ★★★★

By

Satechi OntheGo 67W Slim Wall Charger review★★★★
The Satechi On-the-Go 67W Slim Wall Charger packs outsized power.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi OntheGo 67W Slim Wall Charger lives up to its name. It’s sleek and very portable, but can pump out enough power to juice up a MacBook. It makes anything from Apple seem bulky, slow and limited.

I tested out its capabilities for this hands-on review.

Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 dock blazes through data transfers and brings big laptop power [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 dock★★★★☆
Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 dock
Photo:

The Wavlink Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station (WL-UTD58) heralds the company’s ambitious entry into next-generation connectivity. It offers users impressive charging power and access to remarkable data-transfer speeds in complex computer setups. I tried it in my dual 5K-display M4 MacBook Pro workstation — and found it excellent. Not perfect, but excellent. 

The M5 Vision Pro is still the ultimate entertainment device [Review] ★★★★☆

By

M5 Vision Pro sitting on its box on a pine table★★★★☆
The box makes for a good display stand.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The new M5 Vision Pro brings a huge leap in compute power and graphics performance to Apple’s novel mixed-reality platform. The tweaks to the formula deliver better graphics and passthrough video, and longer battery life — plus a more comfortable head band in the box. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include more storage or a lower price.

Apple doesn’t appear to be pushing M2 Vision Pro owners to upgrade. I wouldn’t, either. Rather, if you’re still Vision Pro-curious — and you’ve been pinching your pennies for the past year and a half — the Vision Pro you buy today will be a bit better.

I quickly fell in love with the original Vision Pro. Here’s what I think of the new one.

M5 iPad Pro review: What’s actually new — and worth your attention ★★★★★

By

An image of an M5 iPad Pro floating above grass, used to illustrate a hands-on review of Apple's new tablet.★★★★★
The M5 chip is only one of seven major ways that Apple improved the latest iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The 2025 iPad Pro is the best high-end tablet Apple’s ever made. Don’t make the mistake of dismissing it as a “chip and ship” upgrade because the major change is the new M5 processor. Plenty of other enhancements make the tablet better than the M4 model. It moves files much faster, charges more quickly, offers better Wi-Fi and more.

If you’re still using an older model like the M1 iPad Pro, you’ll see really huge changes for the better if you upgrade to Apple’s latest tablet.

Based on my time with the M5 iPad Pro, here are seven new features that make the tablet really stand out.

Don’t call it boring. M5 MacBook Pro gets a lot right. [Review] ★★★★

By

M5 MacBook Pro review★★★★
It's a lot like M4 MacBook Pro -- but under-the-hood upgrades make it much better.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

After spending some time with Apple’s new base-model 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, I’ve come to a clear conclusion: It’s an excellent laptop that represents the absolute best iteration of a formula Apple perfected years ago. But whether you should buy one depends entirely on what you’re upgrading from and what you actually do with your computer.

This brilliant Bluetooth travel keyboard/stand works with any iPad [Review] ★★★★

By

Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand★★★★
The Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand works with any current or future iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand is an ideal option for those who need to add a travel keyboard to their iPad and don’t want to limit the accessory to only one tablet. Or want to add a portable keyboard to their iPad without giving up the case they like.

It can switch between computers with a simple push of a button. Plus, it’s not limited to tablets.

I’ve tested the multi-device input device with my iPad and iPhone, and came away quite pleased.

First reviews call M5 MacBook Pro a beast — but M4 owners can skip this upgrade

By

M5 MacBook Pro reviews see modest but meaningful upgrades
Reviewers find the incremental update impressive for performance upgrades, but not necessary for M4 or M4 Pro users.
Photo: Apple

The first reviews for Apple’s new M5 MacBook Pro just landed, and the consensus among tech reviewers is clear: The incremental update improves an already excellent laptop. The 14-inch machine’s design remains unchanged from last year’s M4 model. However, improvements to processing power, storage speed and AI capabilities make it a compelling option for those upgrading from older machines. Still, current M4 MacBook Pro owners have little reason to feel envious.

Across M5 MacBook Pro reviews from The Verge, Wired, Tom’s Guide and Engadget, the laptop earns praise for its performance while raising questions about who should actually buy it.

M5 iPad Pro reviews roundup: Closer to Mac than ever

By

M5 iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
The Apple M5 chip boosts the performance of the 2025 iPad Pro, but not as much as iPadOS 26 does.
Image: Apple

Many early reviews of the 2025 iPad Pro with Apple’s new M5 processor share a general theme. The new chip makes the device faster, and paired with the major redesign of iPadOS 26, the tablet might just rival a MacBook.

Read on for M5 iPad Pro reviewers’ comments.

5 best Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone users

By

Best Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone
When it comes to the best Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone, users are spoiled for choice.
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Pairing your iPhone with the right earbuds shouldn’t be a compromise. While Apple’s ecosystem makes AirPods the obvious choice, Sennheiser’s German-engineered earbuds deliver superior sound quality that transforms how you experience music, podcasts and calls. We ranked the five best Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone users, with picks for various price points and uses.

From flagship audiophile options to budget-conscious picks, here’s everything you need to know about finding your perfect Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone.

Ugreen MagFlow Qi2.2 charger tops up iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch fast [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Ugreen MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger review★★★★☆
When not unfolded for use like this, the charger folds flat.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In the evolving landscape of wireless charging, Ugreen has positioned itself at the forefront with the MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger — one of the first products to receive official Qi2.2 certification from the Wireless Power Consortium. With that boost from 15 watts (Qi2) to 25W (Qi2.2) for late-model iPhones, it’s great — but not without some minor problems.

Logitech MX Keys Mini vs. Apple Magic Keyboard: Which to choose?

By

Logitech MX Keys Mini vs Apple Magic Keyboard
See which of these highly productive keeb suits you best.
Photo: chatGPT/Cult of Mac

It’s the ultimate battle of the small Mac keyboards: Logitech MX Keys Mini vs. Apple Magic Keyboard. Choosing between these two premium compact keyboards is tough, and the decisions you make can significantly impact your daily typing experience and productivity.

They’ve both become top contenders for professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. And while they’re similar, they’re not the same.

Find out which is better for you in our head-to-head comparison. 

This tiny external SSD plugs into new and old computers [Review] ★★★★

By

PNY Duo Link V3 review★★★★
PNY Duo Link V3 is a portable SSD for your new computers and your old ones, too.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The PNY Duo Link V3 external SSD includes both a USB-C and a USB-A connector. That means the flash drive can plug into a recent Mac, iPad or iPhone, but can also go into a smart TV or other accessory that lacks a USB-C port — no adapter needed.

And it’s quick, with data transfers at up to 800MB/s. Capacities go up to 2 terabytes.

I put the affordable SSD through a series of real-world tests. Here’s what I found.

8 best Sony headphones for iPhone users

By

Best Sony headphones for iPhone
Choose the best Sony headphones to use with iPhone.
AI image: Grok

Finding the perfect Sony headphones for iPhone might seem challenging when Apple pushes its own audio ecosystem so heavily. This comprehensive guide examines each model’s features, pros, cons and pricing to help you find the perfect match for your specific needs and budget. Let’s dive into what makes these Sony headphones exceptional companions for your iPhone.

How Backbone enhances mobile gaming for iPhone users

By

Photo of a person using a Backbone gaming controller to enhance mobile gaming on iPhone
A Backbone game controller makes iPhone gaming much more like using a console.
Image: Gemini

Nothing makes playing advanced games on an iPhone better than a Backbone game controller. Clip one to your phone, and it basically turns the handset into a mobile gaming console, ready to play wherever you go.

There are many top-quality first-person shooters and RPGs available for iPhone. Don’t waste your time playing these great games with just a touchscreen. Get a Backbone One or a Backbone Pro controller and snap it onto your iPhone. You’ll be glad you did.

Live Translation with AirPods: A hands-on test

By

Two people, one wearing AirPods, smiling at each other, with an image of AirPods in the middle
AirPods can now connect you to talk to people who speak other languages.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

I put AirPods’ new Live Translation feature to the test and came away impressed with the results. 

I tested the feature with the help of Niléane, a native French speaker and fellow tech blogger. While we hit a few stumbling blocks in our conversation, we were able to have a perfectly good chat for a solid 10 minutes.

I cut it down to a seven-minute video, where you can see it for yourself. Keep reading for my full thoughts and analysis of the fantastic new feature. 

Folder Quick Look fixes an all-time Mac grievance for free [Awesome Apps]

By

Folder Quick Look on the Mac App Store
A simple app that solves a big problem.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

Folder Quick Look is a totally free Mac app that scratches an irritating itch the Mac has had for a long time. It lets you preview the contents of a folder when using Quick Look.

It’s a great utility that does one thing, does it perfectly, and doesn’t cost you a dime — it’s free and collects no data! There’s no reason not to try out Folder Quick Look. Find out why it’s an instant must-have Mac utility in our Awesome Apps review below (or watch our video demo of the app).