What was your favorite device Apple released this year? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
It’s been one heck of a busy year for Apple, and we’ve got the devices to prove it! Truth be told, despite Apple’s shrinking share price, this has been one of the company’s best years in a while for hardware.
What was the cream of the 2018 Apple crop? Here’s how we rank Apple’s major new product launches for 2018.
It was a busy year in Cupertino. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
2018 was a rollercoaster year for Apple — with incredible highs, massive dips, and probably an executive or two throwing up along the way.
Apple became the first $1 trillion public company in U.S. history, unleashed some amazing new products, and pulled in record amounts of cash. But it also faced lows, from the iPhone-throttling controversy to a tanking stock price at the end of the year.
One thing that can’t be said, however, is that this was an uneventful 12 months for Cupertino. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s most memorable Apple moments.
Scoshe now makes an iPad Pro charger with two USB-C ports. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Before Apple started selling the 2018 iPad Pro USB-C power charger as a stand-alone product, Scosche introduced one that’s slightly more expensive but offers significant advantages.
In addition, Scosche sells a USB-C/USB-A car charger that iPad Pro users should consider as well.
Buying for a Mac fan? Start here! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
We’ve shown you the best gifts for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users, but what if the person you’re buying for is a long-time Apple fan whose first love was the Mac? Then you should start your shopping right here!
This guide is filled with awesome accessories and gadgets that every Mac addict will enjoy. We’ve handpicked only the best — things we’ve used, reviewed, and would recommend — so that you can be sure your hard-earned cash is being well spent.
Check out our gift guide selections for Mac users below.
Lightning cables that plug into USB-C ports charge your iPhone more quickly. Photo: Apple
You could be able to get your hands on less expensive, but still MFi certified, Lightning-to-USB-C cables more quickly than first thought. Apple is allowing third-party manufacturers to produce these, and shipments could start in just a few months.
These cables allow iPhones and older iPads to charge far more quickly than Lightning-to-USB-A ones.
More spectacular savings have arrived for Cyber Monday. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Black Friday 2018 has been and gone, but that doesn’t mean the sales have disappeared just yet. Cyber Monday is here to help you pick up big products at bargain prices. You won’t find the best deals at the Apple Store, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save a small fortune on Apple devices.
Third-party retailers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, MacMall, and many more are offering big discounts on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac — as well as all the accessories you’ll want to go with them. There’s plenty of discounts on other tech, too.
You’ll find some of the best deals right here in our Cyber Monday live blog — as well as some helpful tips on where to find more. All you have to do is bust out your credit card and shop!
Luna Display easily makes your iOS tablet into a screen for your Mac. Photo: Astro HQ
Even a 15-inch MacBook Pro screen feels cramped when compared to a big desktop display. Too bad toting around a second screen for your laptop isn’t practical.
But maybe it is. Luna Display is a tiny wireless adapter that lets an iPad act as an external display for a Mac. We tested this accessory to see how well it lives up to its promise of a hassle-free way of extending our MacBook screen when on the go. Read on to find out how it did.
Neither of these MacBook Pros apparently set the world on fire. Photo: Apple
Apple’s MacBook lines performed surprisingly badly in the third quarter of 2018 — with double figure declines in growth worse than any of the other five leading notebook manufacturers.
While Dell managed 8 percent year-on-year growth, market leader HP saw its shipments decline 1.8 percent. That’s nothing compared to Apple’s decline, however, which saw the company plummet a whopping 24.3 percent. That’s not good!
A totally legit audio-routing setup. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Up until last year, if you plugged a pair of headphones into your Mac, the speakers were effectively disconnected. There was no way to send simultaneous audio stream to both headphones and speakers. Now, with modern T2-equipped Macs, you can double up on audio. For instance, you could have alerts sound through the built-in speakers, with music routed through the headphone jack, so you don’t get notifications interrupting your banging tunes.
The best part is that its really easy to set up. And, if you prefer the old behavior, you don’t have to do anything.