Apple Watch - page 8

No major AirPods, iPad or Apple Watch upgrades planned for 2023

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Apple logo with red background.
Apple seems to be focusing on the launch of its AR/VR headset this year.
Image: Rajesh

Every year, Apple has some significant hardware upgrades planned for at least a few devices in its product lineup. 2023 could be an outlier, though.

This year, Apple’s major hardware launches will include its first AR/VR headset and the iPhone 15 series. While other products in the company’s lineup will receive a refresh, they will be relatively minor upgrades.

How to use Water Lock on Apple Watch [Pro Tip]

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Person swimming underwater wearing Apple Watch
Apple Watch makes for a good fitness tracker underwater.
Photo: Apple

Pro tip bugApple Watch is highly resilient to being submerged in water. You don’t have to worry much about ruining the electronics inside — your biggest concern is the water triggering random stuff on the screen. If your Apple Watch feels like it’s not responding to your tapping, it’s probably in Water Lock mode.

Water Lock will make sure your Apple Watch doesn’t glitch out when you’re in the shower, having a bath or going for a swim. Read on to see how to (and how not to) use it.

Set your Apple Watch to ‘crunch time’ with this fitness app

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Set your Apple Watch to
Get 66% off this celeb fitness app for your Apple Watch.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

As we approach a new year, it’s time to start reaching our fitness goals. Yes, there are tons of fitness features to help you track your fitness and monitor your health on Apple Watches, but they’re not much good unless you actually do some exercise. If you need a little extra incentive to move in 2023, the Jillian Michaels Fitness App might be just the thing — especially now that you can get it for 66% off.

$20 or less: Apple stocking stuffers that won’t drain your wallet

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Cult of Mac Store stocking stuffers for Apple fans
Great gifts at terrific prices.
Image: Amy Shamblen/Unsplash Licence/Cult of Mac

Looking for some sweet holiday gifts that won’t break the bank? The Cult of Mac Store has a massive collection of affordable stocking stuffers, sure to put a smile on the face of any Apple fan, for less than $20 each.

You’ll find cases, screen protectors, bands, stands and more from our most popular vendors. And every product has been used and approved by us, so you can be confident you’re spending your hard-earned cash on great products.

Last chance to save 40% on SwitchEasy Apple accessories

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More discounts added!
More discounts added!
Photo: Adel Neal/ Cult of Mac

Following Black Friday, the Cult of Mac Store added massive discounts over the weekend for Cyber Monday. So not only can you get a whopping 40% off SwitchEasy iPhone 12 series cases and accessories, you can get 30% a whole lineup of other great SwitchEasy gear.

See below for more details on all the great deals on many brands you can still get in the Cult of Mac Store. But if you like what you see, don’t hesitate. This deal ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, December 2.

These Black Friday deals on Apple gear are still going strong [Updated]

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Best Black Friday deals on MacBooks, AirPods, and iPads
These are the best Black Friday Apple deals you need to check out.
Photo: Rajesh

Black Friday 2022 is now one for the record books, but you can still take advantage of hefty discounts on Apple products.

So, if you have been looking to buy a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods or other Apple products for a while, take advantage of the best Black Friday deals on Apple gear right now. Just bear in mind that these deals can be slippery as an eel. If you see one you like, jump on it ASAP, because there’s no guarantee it will last.

Mayo Clinic finds new way Apple Watch detects bum tickers

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AI and ECG readings from Apple Watch could be crucial to detecting heart problems.
AI and ECG readings from Apple Watch could be crucial to detecting heart problems.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The famed Mayo Clinic showed us a new way artificial intelligence (AI) and Apple Watch can help save patients’ lives, according to a new study.

Instead of relying only on expensive tests conducted in clinical settings, doctors may be able to turn to AI and Apple Watch electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings to help determine which patients have previously undetected heart pump problems that could lead to heart failure.

Ugreen 3-in-1 MagSafe charger is perfect for the nightstand [Review] ★★★★☆

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Charge three devices at once.★★★★☆
Ugreen's MFi-certified charger tops off three devices at once.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

There’s something especially convenient about having a multi-device charging station on your nightstand. Or you could place at the edge of your desk or on a table by the front door. It’s a place you can charge your iPhone, AirPods charging case and Apple Watch all at once if need be.

Ugreen sent me its version to test out, the 3-in-1 MagSafe Wireless Charging Station. It’s a good charger for most people — especially because it’s MFi-certified for MagSafe. That means you get a full 15 watts for MagSafe iPhones and 5W apiece for an AirPods charging case and Apple Watch.

But the device isn’t without minor drawbacks.

NightWare for Apple Watch pulls veterans with PTSD out of nightmares

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NightWare for Apple Watch pulls veterans with PTSD out of nightmares
NightWare uses sensors built into Apple Watch to detect a nightmare then vibrates to pull the wearer out without waking them.
Photo: Apple

Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder can be tortured by their nightmares. NightWare running on Apple Watch can pull the wearer out of their horrible dream without waking them up.

It’s the first product developed specifically to treat nightmares to be cleared by the FDA.

Scary-good deals for Halloween: 15% off all Elago accessories

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Elago's R1 strap is perfect for your new AirPods Pro 2 charging case.
Elago's R1 strap is perfect for your new AirPods Pro 2 charging case.
Photo: Elago

Halloween is the time for kooky costumes, candy-induced belly aches and frighteningly good deals on Apple accessories in Cult of Mac‘s Super Sweet Deals sale. You can get anything made by Elago for 15% off this week.

Just head to the Cult of Mac Store to take 15% off all Elago accessories. That’s 162 products that go along with pretty much everything Apple. See some highlights below.

Apple Fitness+ hits iPhone on Oct. 24 with Taylor Swift in tow

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Apple Fitness+ hits iPhone on Oct. 24 with Taylor Swift in tow
Apple Fitness+ is coming to iPhone, along with a dedicated solo Artist Spotlight on Taylor Swift.
Image: Apple

Apple Fitness+ will finally become available to iPhone users starting next week. The subscription service, which offers an array of recorded workouts for a wide range of health levels, previously focused on Apple Watch, showcasing users’ performance metrics in real time.

The expansion to iOS handsets is not the only move in the works to make Apple Fitness+ more mainstream. Music by Taylor Swift is also coming to Fitness+, with workouts focused on the artist’s new album, Midnight.

Last chance: Protect Apple Watch from drops and scrapes with an aluminum case (20% off)

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SwitchEasy's aluminum alloy case protects Apple Watch and looks good doing it.
SwitchEasy's aluminum alloy case protects Apple Watch and looks good doing it.
Photo: SwitchEasy

If you spend a few hundred bucks or more on an Apple Watch, you may want to protect it. People put their iPhones in cases all the time, so why not Apple’s wearable?

Good thing SwitchEasy makes a pair of aluminum cases that are protective yet subtle, saving your smartwatch from bumps, scrapes and drops.

And through October 13, you can get 20% off the cases in the Cult of Mac Store.

Last chance: Save on tactical band that’s perfect for space gray Apple Watch

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It's a go-anywhere, do-anything Apple Watch band.
It's a go-anywhere, do-anything Apple Watch band.
Photo: Mifa

Your search for a perfect sports strap for your Apple Watch could be over. The Mifa Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band might just be the ideal go-anywhere, do-anything accessory for your wearable — especially if it’s space gray.

And through September 30, you can get 20% off the tactical, sporty utility band in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $5.

Apple Watch Ultra lives up to durability claims in hammer test

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Apple Watch Ultra review roundup: For extremophiles
The Apple Watch Ultra is truly ultra-durable.
Photo: Apple

A YouTuber has put the Apple Watch Ultra through an intense test to determine its durability. The wearable was dropped multiple times, repeatedly hit with a hammer, and even put in a jar of nails.

The watch emerged unscathed from the ordeal. While not an ideal replica of real-world use, the test gives a good idea of the Apple Watch Ultra’s durability.

Speidel’s black leather band is a tuxedo for your Apple Watch [Review]

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Speidel Royal English Leather Apple Watch Band review
The Speidel Royal English Leather Apple Watch Band is simply refined.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Simple. Elegant. These are the best words to describe the Speidel Royal English Leather Apple Watch Band. Supple black leather matches the style of Apple’s wearable, while adding a luxurious feel.

And it’s surprisingly affordable, given the quality of this band.

Apple Watch Ultra gets Day 1 bug-fix update

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Apple Watch Ultra
After buyers unbox the Apple Watch Ultra on Friday they can install an new watchOS version.
Photo: Apple

When the Apple Watch Ultra launches September 23 there’ll be a software update waiting for it. Apple on Thursday released watchOS 9.0.1 specifically to fix bugs in the new wearable.

Other Apple Watch models are expected to get their own update in the near future.

Apple Watch Ultra review roundup: Not just for extremophiles

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Apple Watch Ultra review roundup: For extremophiles
The Apple Watch Ultra is for those looking for adventure.
Photo: Apple

The first reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra praise the rugged smartwatch’s large display, its new Action button and its longer battery life. But a debate brews about whether the wearable is too big — there seems to be no agreement on this.

Anyone considering whether Apple’s sports-oriented smartwatch is right for them should read on. As the reviewers point out, this isn’t just for fans of outdoor adventure.

Slick new Apple Sport Loop is only a bargain by Apple pricing standards [Review] ★★★★☆

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Which one is the new Apple Sport Loop?★★★★☆
Which one is the new Apple Sport Loop?
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Whether or not you took the plunge and upgraded to a new Apple Watch Series 8 or SE, you can partake of something more affordable if you own any model of the wearable — Apple’s new lower-end Apple Watch bands. I picked up the new Apple Midnight Sport Loop for my Apple Watch Series 6.

I like the new band. But I found it interesting to compare it to third-party versions of similar quality that go for a lot less money.

Apple Watch Series 8 review roundup: Best smartwatch gets a tick better

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Apple Watch 8 is great. But it's not necessarily great enough to upgrade, given its minimal improvements.
Apple Watch 8 is great. But it's not necessarily great enough to upgrade, given its minimal improvements.
Photo: Apple

The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra garners most of the oohs and aahs, and the Apple Watch SE takes the cake as Cupertino’s best-selling wearable, but gosh darn it, people like the Apple Watch Series 8, too. And by people, I mean reviewers.

Early reviews of Apple Watch Series 8 started coming in Thursday morning. They tend to emphasize that it remains the best smartwatch you can buy, even though its upgrades over the Series 7 seem minimal.

Apple Watch SE review roundup: Amazing value

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Apple Watch SE 2022
Apple Watch SE 2022 is an outstanding value at $250.
Photo: Apple

The first reviews of the new 2022 version of Apple Watch SE highlight was a value the device is. Engadget calls it “a $400 smartwatch for $250.”

Considering your first model? Or an upgrade from an older one? Read on to see if the revamped Apple Watch SE is right for you.

This hybrid Apple Watch band makes leather fit for everything

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Mifa-Hybrid-Sport-Apple-Watch
Get yours for just $25!
Photo: Mifa

Mifa’s brilliant Hybrid Sport band for Apple Watch lets you enjoy the look and feel of vintage leather without the drawbacks.

A silicone backing means it’s ideal for both formal functions and the toughest workouts. It’s sweat-resistant, incredibly comfortable, and amazingly affordable. It also comes in a wide range of color options (including green and camouflage, which you don’t see all that often).

How watchOS 9’s Low Power Mode boosts Apple Watch battery life

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watchOS 9 demo
watchOS 9 will introduce a new Low Power Mode to double your Apple Watch's battery life.
Image: Apple

Apple is introducing a new Low Power Mode in watchOS 9 to boost your Apple Watch’s battery life further. The company claims the new mode will double the Series 8’s battery life to 36 hours, and let the new Apple Watch Ultra last up to 2.5 days.

You will have to sacrifice some of the advanced features of your wearable to get the longer runtime, though.

Apple’s Far Out event packs plenty of surprises

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Apple's Far Out Event delivered plenty of hardware and some solid surprises.
Apple's Far Out Event delivered plenty of hardware and some solid surprises.
Image: Cult of Mac/Apple

Apple definitely over-delivered with Wednesday’s Far Out event. The rumor mill’s constant churn of leaks and speculation gave us a solid framework for our expectations, but Cupertino’s hardware and software wizards still whipped out a few surprises.

Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 14 lineup, second-gen AirPods Pro and the 2022 Apple Watch models — including that hot new Ultra version for extreme athletes (and couch potatoes with solid credit ratings).

Apple Watch Ultra is a big, bulky, beautiful beast

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The age of Ultra. Apple Watch Ultra.
The age of Ultra. Apple Watch Ultra.
Photo: Apple

Apple took the wraps off Apple Watch Ultra — describing the sports-oriented smartwatch as the most rugged and capable Apple Watch yet — during Wednesday’s Far Out event. Big, bulky and beautiful, it delivered on everything the rumor mill predicted and more.

Apple Watch Ultra is huge, with a bulky exterior, chunky buttons and a massive display. It boasts a tougher case, designed to withstand knocks from extreme sports, and a battery that can last the distance for endurance races. It features a new Depth Gauge app for scuba and free divers, improved GPS for running and cycling, a redesigned compass app for exploring, and even an 86-decibel siren to let people know if you get lost. Like the new Apple Watch Series 8 models, the Ultra comes with a temperature sensor.

Retailing at $799, Apple Watch Ultra is the Apple Watch that hardcore fitness fans have long been craving. But will its quirky, uncompromising looks catch on with mainstream audiences? Or is the Ultra destined to occupy a niche in the lineup?