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20th anniversary iPhone might sport bright new Samsung OLED display

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new Samsung OLED display in 20th anniversary iPhone
Bright and beautiful displays might get even better in the 20th anniversary iPhone, thanks to new Samsung OLED displays.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to adopt Samsung’s cutting-edge OLED display technology for its 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027, marking a significant leap forward in screen brightness, thinness and power efficiency, according to a new report Tuesday.

The move would see Apple implement Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE) technology for the first time in a traditional smartphone, following Samsung’s lead.

Don’t miss these great deals on portable SSDs for Mac or iPad

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SSD deals
Now is the time to save on that portable SSD you’ve wanted.
Image: Samsung/Cult of Mac

Thanks to generous deals, the portable SSD you’ve been wanting is probably available at well below the usual cost. There are top-quality ones available at low prices — we found deals on portable SSDs from Samsung, Kingston and more. Save up to 21%.

You can easily increase the storage capacity of your Mac, iPad, etc., without over-stressing your credit card.

Save up to 36% on terabytes of storage in Samsung SSD sale

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Samsung T9 portable SSD review
The Samsung T9 puts terabytes of storage in your pocket.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A deal on the Samsung T9 SSD lets you add terabytes of storage to your Mac or iPad without breaking the bank. The T9 offers up to 4TB of capacity and offers blazing fast data transfers, without the risks of cloud storage. And you can grab the SSD now at up to 36% below the original cost.

For an even more affordable option, the older Samsung T7 is available with considerable discounts, too.

Best external SSDs for Mac or iPad in 2025

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Best external SSDs for Mac or iPad
The best external SSD options add terabytes of storage, and are designed for portability.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adding high-speed plug-in storage capacity to your computer is so easy it’s something every Mac user should consider. Here are some of the best consumer-oriented external SSDs that are designed for portability. Even better: many of these are on sale.

We did hands-in testing for nearly all of these — look for links to our reviews.

Manufacturing deal could put 200MP Samsung camera in iPhone 18

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200MP Samsung cameras in iPhone 18
As soon as iPhone 18 in 2026, Apple's handsets could pack 200MP Samsung sensors.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

A major shift in Apple’s iPhone camera technology could come soon, as it partners with Samsung to manufacture advanced image sensors at a Texas facility for the first time, according to new reports. They stem from Wednesday’s big news from the White House about the iPhone giant’s new US manufacturing program.

“By bringing this technology to the US first, this facility will supply chips that optimize power and performance of Apple products, including iPhone devices shipped all over the world,” Apple said.

Previously, Apple worked exclusively with Sony on iPhone camera sensors, including its recent 48MP sensors. Now, it may use more advanced 200MP Samsung sensors — perhaps as soon as iPhone 18 drops in 2026.

iPhone rakes in 3 times the revenue of any rival

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Apple vs Samsung
Apple’s revenue from iPhone dwarfs Samsung’s revenue from Android sales.
Image: Apple/Samsung/Cult of Mac

Apple’s revenue from selling iPhones makes up a whopping 43% of the global smartphone total, according to a new report from a market research firm. That’s close to triple the revenue the next closest rival brings in from its Androids.

Apple rakes in such a high percentage of the total by selling high-end models, versus its rivals who get their revenue from basic smartphones.

How much is too much screen space? This, maybe. [Setups]

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4 display setup
A 4-display setup is one thing. But in this rig, the monitors are massive.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup may win the external display arms race — for bigger monitors and for more of them. A 4-display setup displayed on social media is not super rare, but one sporting such large screens is. This one pushes the limit of too much screen space with two stacked 57-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung displays bookended by two 32-inch Samsungs in portrait (vertical) orientation. Yikes, that’s a lot of screen.

iPhone sales tumble in the US as Samsung grows

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Desert and Black Titanium iPhone 16 Pro laying on top of each other
Desert Titanium and Black Titanium.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iPhone shipments in the US declined by a whopping 11% to 13.3 million units. This is despite the market itself growing by a modest 1% annually.

Samsung made the most of the slowdown in iPhone sales, with its shipments growing by 38% YoY.

New Samsung Galaxy watch adds health features Apple Watch can’t match — yet

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New Samsung Galaxy Watch health features
The upcoming Galaxy Watch Ultra (current model pictured) and other other models could bring some pretty impressive new health features. Apple should take notice.
Photo: Samsung

Looks like Samsung might push the boundaries of wearable health technology with its upcoming Galaxy Watch, due in July. Its features go beyond what Apple Watch currently offers. Galaxy will include a groundbreaking, needle-free blood analysis tool among other intriguing features, according to a new report.

The new capabilities might offer a prescription of sorts for future Apple Watch upgrades.

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.

Samsung’s ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge takes aim at upcoming iPhone 17 Air

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge side view
The Galaxy S25 Edge is seriously thin, but the iPhone 17 Air might be thinner.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung jumps on the super-slim phone bandwagon ahead of Apple with the Galaxy S25 Edge, arriving months before its rival’s release. It’s the company’s slimmest Galaxy phone yet, with a waistline of 5.8mm.

Despite its slim profile, the phone packs high-end flagship internals. The Galaxy S25 Edge will take on the iPhone 17 Air when Apple’s slim model launches in fall 2025.

5-computer workstation boasts gargantuan 57-inch display [Setups]

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huge computer monitor
Three Macs and two PCs work with that 57-inch Samsung curved ultra-wide monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

Believe it or not, today’s magnificent featured setup includes five computers — each with a job to do, even the ol’ trash-can Mac Pro — and one absolutely huge computer monitor. It’s a 57-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung. What, 49 inches wasn’t big enough for ya?

And the workstation includes other great features. Those include a Rode PodMic, the same great open-back Sennheiser headphones I own, and powerful Klipsch bookshelf speakers paired with a subwoofer that I wish I owned.

Samsung buys legendary audio brands, cranking up battle with Apple

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Samsung purchases legendary audio brands
Did Samsung just stack the odds in a war with Apple for audio supremacy?
Photo: Pixlr AI

In a big move reshaping the premium audio landscape, Samsung subsidiary Harman International acquired Masimo Corporation’s Sound United consumer audio business for $350 million in cash, the companies said this week — including some of the industry’s most storied brands.

The deal brings renowned audio brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz and Polk Audio under Samsung’s expanding audio empire — potentially creating new challenges for Apple in both the consumer audio, automotive and smart home markets.

And the seller happens to be Apple legal rival Masimo, whose lawsuit against the iPhone giant put a stop to blood oxygen sensing in Apple Watch. Ouch.

Mac mini user ditches Studio Display for ultra-wide OLED monitor [Setups]

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ultra-wide monitor
In a back-and-forth battle, Studio Display ultimately lost out to a Samsung G8 OLED ultra-wide monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

The turf war between standard displays and ultra-wide monitors continues — sometimes within one computer setup. Today’s M4 Mac mini user went back and forth multiple times before their Samsung ultra-wide OLED display retook the crown from their Studio Display, which is now “gone.” And that’s the case despite their acknowledgement that “Studio Display is the best monitor for Mac, no discussion.”

Apple chooses Samsung for foldable iPhone OLED displays

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Folding iPhone concept
Folding iPhone concept
AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple chose Samsung Display as the exclusive supplier of OLED panels for its first foldable iPhone, expected to launch in 2026, according to a new report. The decision marks a departure from Apple’s typical multi-supplier strategy. It could help ensure high quality and reinvigorate the foldable OLED market.

Today in Apple history: Apple frenemy Microsoft is born 50 years ago

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Bill Gates
Apple and Microsoft had a long and storied history together.
Photo: Fulvio Obregon

April 4: Today in Apple history: Microsoft founded April 4, 1975: Microsoft is founded by childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The software company destined to become a tech behemoth — and a major Apple frenemy.

A few years later, Microsoft will break through to the mainstream with Excel and Word, becoming a key developer of Macintosh software. Then comes the Windows operating system, looking suspiciously Apple-like. After Windows arrives, Microsoft and Apple will embark upon a long-running feud.

Look bad on video? Try this weird lighting trick. [Setups]

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Ulanzi lights
This slick setup's lighting arrangement is unusual.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s M4 Mac mini setup jumped out at me not because of the powerful little desktop or the gorgeous-but-distracting display wallpaper, but because of all you can see riding on top of the monitor. It features a typical monitor light bar with a pronounced webcam riding on top. But look to the corners and notice something I’ve never seen: two separate LED light panels — Ulanzi lights — mounted there to make the user look better on video calls.

Studio Display beats down Samsung ultra-wide monitor [Setups]

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displays for Mac mini
Here's the ultra-wide Samsung 1440p monitor used with Mac Mini.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple’s 27-inch 5K Studio Display continues to impress users — aside from its steep price tag. Lots of folks look for affordable alternatives. Today’s Mac mini user owns a Studio Display, but he wanted to try an ultra-wide Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED display. Well, guess what. He keeps going back to the Studio Display. See below for all the reasons why.

M4 Mac mini user loves his Samsung ultra-wide monitor [Setups]

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Samsung ultra-wide monitor
The user loves using his M4 Mac mini with the Samsung ultra-wide 4K display.
Photo: [email protected]

In the world of computer setups, I see lots of people with two displays, loads of people with one ultra-wide display and tons of people arguing over which is best. Today’s M4 Mac mini user loves his Samsung ultra-wide monitor, which is one I haven’t seen often. But it looks like a keeper for both Mac and PC setups. And it’s deeply discounted right now.

Should you mount speakers sideways on stands? [Setups]

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Yamaha studio monitor - pair
Yamaha HS7 studio monitor speakers far outstrip the small speaker inside a Mac mini.
Photo: Yamaha

Today’s Mac mini setup really pumps up the clear audio with Yamaha studio monitor speakers, suitable for the user’s music production. They mount the speakers on stands, which is great. But they mount them sideways, which is … odd. And despite having those, they love their HomePod mini for most uses.

Good luck finding the Mac mini in this workstation [Setups]

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Mac mini mounted on back of monitor
You can see this user works with an iPad. But where's the Mac mini?
Photo: [email protected]

It’s a fun game for a Friday: Find the Mac mini in today’s featured setup photo, above. Or maybe it’s not so fun, because you’re doomed to failure. It’s not visible because the user mounted it on the back of his 5K Samsung ViewFinity S9 external monitor (which just happens to look just like its ultimate foe, Apple’s 5K Studio Display).

“It’s interesting to see how minimalist every Mac user seems to go with their setups,” noted a commenter. So our user quipped, “Apple store energy, hehe.”

Genius MacBook rig makes space with clever wall mounts [Setups]

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MacBook setup with wall-mounted display
While some commenters quibbled with the ergonomics, most people raved about how cool this MacBook setup is.
Photo: [email protected]

You’ve got to love a computer, gaming and TV setup with a big external display that’s so efficiently arranged it barely even takes up any desk space. Today’s featured MacBook Pro workstation manages the feat by mounting a big smart TV as a display on the wall, along with a pegboard for peripherals storage. But the MacBook setup with wall-mounted display took some pretty serious DIY skills, described below.

Samsung blows another chance to adopt the MagSafe-like Qi2 standard

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Samsung Qi2: Nope
Despite a promise from Samsung, the Galaxy S25 series doesn’t have Qi2. Not really.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Qi2 wireless charging could have helped the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S25 series better compete with the iPhone. But no — the Korean phone-maker let another opportunity to integrate this useful feature into its products sail by.

Samsung did build a half-assed version of Qi2 in the S25 series, so it might claim it met its promise to adopt the charging standard. But it’s a clunky solution.

iPhone users should care about Samsung’s poor decision because it means accessory-makers are less likely to produce Qi2-compatible products that are also compatible with Apple’s handsets.

Samsung showcases the Galaxy S25 Edge, its iPhone 17 Air rival

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An image from the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 22, 2025, shows the Samsung Galaxy Edge coming together.
Here's your first official look at Samsung's iPhone 17 Air competitor.
Image: Samsung

After unveiling its Galaxy S25 lineup Wednesday during its Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung pulled a “one more thing” to tease its iPhone 17 Air competitor: the Galaxy S25 Edge.

Although the company didn’t disclose the phone’s exact thickness, it showcased the S25 Edge’s thinness by putting it alongside its Galaxy siblings.

Samsung’s iPhone 17 Air rival could be just 6.4mm thin

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim leaked renders
This is Samsung's super-slim Galaxy that will take on the iPhone 17 Air.
Photo: SmartPrix

Apple is not the only company reportedly working on a slim flagship phone for 2025. Samsung is also working on one, and a new leak indicates the company’s iPhone 17 Air rival will have a 6.4mm thick waistline.

Despite the slim profile, Samsung’s super-slim Galaxy reportedly will pack impressive specs, including a 200MP rear camera.