Apple has no plans to release a larger-screened iMac, according to a new report from 9to5Mac. Citing unspecified sources with knowledge of Apple's product pipeline, the site says that Apple will not be introducing a bigger ‌iMac‌ "in the near future."

iMac Pro 2022 27 and 24 iMac
With the launch of the Mac Studio, Apple discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch ‌iMac‌, creating some confusion about the future of the iMac line. Apple confirmed to Ars Technica that the 27-inch ‌iMac‌ "has reached end of life," indicating the company has no intention of releasing a refreshed 27-inch model to go along with the 24-inch ‌iMac‌.

Despite the discontinuation of the 27-inch ‌iMac‌, there have been rumors of a larger-screened ‌iMac‌ Pro that could be in development, but at least some of those rumors may have been mixed up with the Studio Display. Display analyst Ross Young this week said that what his sources thought might be an ‌iMac‌ Pro was actually a "Studio Display Pro" that's coming later in the year, perhaps alongside the Mac Pro.

Young no longer believes that an ‌iMac‌ Pro is coming this summer, and 9to5Mac's information seems to agree with that take. The site says that Apple "currently has no plans to release new high-end versions of its all-in-one desktop for now," though there is a 24-inch M2 version of the ‌iMac‌ that's set to come out in 2023.

Other sources continue to suggest that we might see an ‌iMac‌ Pro at some point. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said last Sunday that an ‌iMac‌ Pro would come out in 2023, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is still developing an ‌iMac‌ Pro.

It is not clear how an ‌iMac‌ Pro would fit into the Mac lineup now that the more powerful Mac Studio exists, and it's looking more and more like we might not be seeing a new larger-screened ‌iMac‌ in 2022. For now, Apple suggests that customers who want a powerful desktop machine invest in the ‌Mac Studio‌, which is priced stating at $1,999, while those who want an all-in-one machine can opt for the 24-inch ‌iMac‌.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Caution)
Related Forum: iMac

The all-new Mac Studio is Apple's most powerful custom silicon standalone desktop computer, overtaking the entry-level M1-based Mac mini that Apple launched in November 2020.

mac studio vs mac mini
The ‌Mac Studio‌ starts at $1,999, dwarfing the $699 starting price of the Apple silicon-based ‌Mac mini‌, so do you need the latest high-end Mac, or is the humble ‌Mac mini‌ sufficient for your needs? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two desktop Macs is best for you.

Comparing the Mac mini and the Mac Studio

The ‌Mac mini‌ and the ‌Mac Studio‌ share some fundamental features, including a silver aluminum design, Apple silicon chipsets, and two rear USB-A ports. Apple lists these same features of the two devices:

Similarities

  • Apple M1-series chip
  • 16-core Neural Engine
  • HDMI port supports multichannel audio output
  • Two USB-A ports
  • 10Gb Ethernet (optional on ‌Mac mini‌)
  • 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
  • Built-in speaker
  • Silver aluminum design

Although these Macs share some features, the two machines have much more in contrast than they do in common, including different chips, memory capacities, ports, and external display capabilities.

Differences


Mac mini

  • M1 chip
  • 8-core CPU
  • 8-core GPU
  • Up to 16GB unified memory
  • Up to 2TB storage
  • Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Support for one display up to 6K and one display up to 4K
  • Starts at $699


Mac Studio

  • M1 Max chip or ‌M1‌ Ultra chip
  • Up to 20-core CPU
  • Up to 64-core GPU
  • Up to 128GB unified memory
  • Up to 8TB storage
  • Media engine with two video decode engines, up to four video encode engines, and up to four ProRes encode and decode engines
  • Up to six Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones
  • Support for up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display
  • SDXC card slot (UHS-II)
  • Starts at $1,999

What About the Intel Mac Mini?

Apple continues to sell its older, Intel-based ‌Mac mini‌, starting at $1,099. This high-end ‌Mac mini‌ model features two additional Thunderbolt ports, up to a six-core Intel Core i7 processor with Intel UHD Graphics 630, up to 64GB memory, and support for up to three 4K displays or one 5K display and one 4K display. It is also demarcated by its Space Gray enclosure.

mac mini intel gray
Despite theoretically being the ‌Mac mini‌ high-end model, it is effectively an aging 2018 model and is often surpassed by the ‌M1‌ chip in the ‌Mac mini‌. Unless you definitely need more Thunderbolt ports, more memory, the ability to connect to additional external displays, or have a specific need for an Intel-based system, you should buy the ‌M1‌ model.

The‌ ‌M1‌ ‌‌Mac mini‌‌ is a more modern device that will be the best option for the vast majority of users. Not only is the ‌‌M1‌‌ ‌‌Mac mini‌‌ markedly more powerful in practice, but it is also much less costly than its Intel predecessor.

As an older Intel-based machine, the high-end ‌Mac mini‌ does not directly compare to the ‌Mac Studio‌, and any prospective customers who are confident they need more Thunderbolt ports, more memory, or the ability to connect to additional external displays will be much better off buying the ‌Mac Studio‌ if they can afford it.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it is clear that the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ are very different machines intended for different customer bases. To some extent, purchasing decisions should be driven by budget, but it is worth bearing in mind that any savings on the desktop computer itself can be put toward a good external display such as the Apple Studio Display, which starts from $1,599. For example, a ‌Mac mini‌ paired with a Studio Display comes to $2,298, which is just $300 more than a lone base model ‌Mac Studio‌ with no display.

You should only consider the ‌Mac Studio‌ if you have a professional workflow that can leverage the extreme power of the ‌M1 Max‌ or ‌M1‌ Ultra, as well as its wider selection of ports. If you need the ‌Mac Studio‌, you will likely know that you are looking for a highly powerful machine that is capable of supporting an intense workflow.

For some workflows, the ability to upgrade the ‌Mac mini‌ to 16GB of memory, up to 2TB of storage, and 10Gb Ethernet can make it a very capable machine. This may be a good option for professionals or "prosumers" that have specific needs or can't stretch to the ‌Mac Studio‌. Nevertheless, the ‌Mac Studio‌ has greater potential, making it a better long-term option if you can afford it.

For most users, the ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ is still a powerful and versatile machine that can tackle all but the most intense tasks. It still has useful ports such as USB-A and Ethernet, which are absent from Apple's laptops, and boasts excellent performance that surpasses the ‌M1‌ MacBook Air or the ‌M1‌ MacBook Pro.

Related Roundups: Mac Studio, Mac mini
Related Forum: Mac mini

At CES earlier this year, Anker introduced the 535 Portable Power Station, the latest entrant in its PowerHouse lineup of large portable batteries for supporting electronic devices while camping, during power outages, and in other situations where you're off the grid.

anker 535 front
I've had a bit of time to test out the $500 Anker 535, and it delivers a handy set of connectivity options for charging up a variety of devices, and a decent charging capacity that can keep things going for quite a while.

The Anker 535 includes a 512 watt-hour battery, and it weighs in at a hefty 16.5 pounds (7.5 kg), so while it's not something you're going to want to carry with you on a hike, it's compact enough to be stored out of the way in your home or easily transported in a car.

While I haven't an opportunity to use the Anker 535 out on the road yet, I have been able to test it out around the house and it was comforting to know it was available during a couple of ice storms in my area over the winter, even though we ultimately experienced nothing more than a few power blips here and there.

So while I haven't needed the power station in a true off-the-grid scenario, I've used it quite a bit around the house for powering and charging up various devices, and it's worked very well.

There's a host of ports and outlets including four AC outlets supporting devices up to 500 watts, one USB-C port that supports fast charging at up to 60 watts, three USB-A ports, and one 12V vehicle-style outlet. An integrated light bar on the front of the unit helps to illuminate your surroundings while also making it easy to manage all of the devices you might be connecting to its ports.

anker 535 light
The power station comes with a 120-watt AC adapter, and it can also be recharged at 60 watts via its USB-C port. For even faster recharging (0 to 80% in about two and a half hours), you can connect via both methods simultaneously. It can also be recharged via a vehicle power port (though that will take significantly longer at just 12 watts), or via any 12V–28V solar panel charger equipped with an 8mm DC power connector.

On the front of the unit, there's an informative LED display that shows the current battery level in both percentage and a rougher pictorial display, and it reports real-time input and output wattages, as well as the estimated time to fully recharge or to power connected devices. A series of icons across the top of the display can illuminate to let you know what types of devices are currently connected and provide high- and low-temperature warnings.

I really like the amount of detail shown on the display, letting you know exactly which ports are currently active and giving you up-to-the-second data on input or output so you can tell how much battery life you have left or how long the station will take to recharge, or even just to have an understanding of how much power an individual device draws while charging.

A switch near the AC outlets let you turn a power-saving mode on and off. When turned on, the power station will automatically turn off once all connected devices are fully charged, saving battery. Turning it off will provide continuous, stable power for devices like CPAP machines that are running constantly while connected to the power station.

Anker says the 535 power station can fully charge a MacBook Air more than eight times or run a 40-watt CPAP machine for more than a full night's sleep, and while I didn't test those claims specifically, I did find it to offer plenty of power for the tasks I did test.

For example, fully recharging an iPad Air from the station's USB-C port took about an hour and a half and used approximately 6% of the power station's total capacity. I tested a variety of other devices from powering a room fan to recharging a cordless razor to running a HomePod and a lamp, all at the same time, and the Anker 535 had no problems keeping up.

Keep in mind that the 500-watt limit for the station means it won't be able to power some high-load devices like hot plates, toasters, hairdryers, and many larger household appliances.

anker 535 rear
The Anker 535 Portable Power Station is priced at $499.99, but the company has several other options available at a range of price points. The 521 model at 256 watt-hours has half the capacity of the 535, but it also comes at half the price, checking in at $249.99. It does also sacrifice some ports, checking in with two AC outlets instead of four, and two USB-A ports instead of three.

There's also an even smaller 511 model at 97-watt hours, normally priced at $219.99 and featuring a single 100-watt AC outlet, a 45-watt USB-C port, and two USB-A ports.

Finally, there's a pair of older models, the 389 watt-hour 533 model priced at $459.99 and the highest-capacity 545 model with 778 watt-hours of energy and priced at $699.99.

Note: Anker provided MacRumors with the 535 Portable Power Station for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Tag: Anker

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with BluShark to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an aluminum Apple Watch Series 7 and a matching BluShark Apple Watch band to go along with it.

blushark apple watch bands
BluShark has a wide array of Apple Watch bands available in materials that include Leather, Silicone, Cordura, Knit Weave, Canvas, and an AlphaPremier seatbelt weave. All of the bands are affordable, ranging in price from $10 to $42, and there are designs for both smaller 38/40/41mm models and the larger 42/44/45mm models. Each band comes with customizable Apple Watch lugs in silver, space gray, or black.

blushark alphapremier band
Leather bands from BluShark are available in several attractive styles and colors. The Rally band, for example, has a perforated design and comes in brown, black, and red, while Italian Calfskin Leather bands are available in blue, black, and gray.

blushark rally band
BluShark's Leather Basics bands come in an vintage gray, shade, and it features a weathered look and a soft leather design that makes them comfortable to wear. There are also Two Switch Leather Bands with a classic look.

blushark leather basics band
BluShark's Cordura bands use strong and lightweight Cordura fabric, which is wear resistant and will hold up over time. The bands are thinly padded with leather so they're comfortable to wear, and they come in colors like pink, silver, blue, black, gray, and orange.

blushark cordura band
The CanvaSoft bands are made from a soft canvas material that's meant to provide a rugged canvas look without the stiffness that's typically associated with canvas watch bands. The bands are 1.9mm thick and designed to be soft and pliable.

blushark canvasoft band
The Knit Weave Bands are available in eye-catching two-tone striped designs and are made from a nylon weave that provides a texture that resembles a knit fabric. BluShark says these bands are designed to create a complex depth of color.

blushark knit weave band
BluShark's AlphaPremier bands are made from a soft, supple seatbelt weave nylon and are modeled after BluShark's original AlphaPremier bands for traditional watches. The straps are dual-layer and held in place with nylon keepers, with the band available in black and white, black and red, black, navy blue, and gray.

blushark alphapremier band 2
Silicone bands are BluShark's most affordable offering at $10, with both textured and smooth options available. Silicone bands come in gray, blue, black/yellow, orange, and white pearl.

blushark silicone band
We have one aluminum ‌Apple Watch Series 7‌ to give away, with the winner to select the size and color. The winner will also receive a BluShark band of their choice.

To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (March 11) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 18. The winner will be chosen randomly on March 17 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Apple has aggressively defended its ecosystem in a newly-published response to the UK's competition watchdog.

app store blue banner uk fixed
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today published Apple's response to its Interim Report on mobile ecosystems, as well responses from dozens of other companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Epic Games.

The detailed 47-page response from Apple aggressively dismissed the conclusions of the Interim Report, saying that the CMA has set the benefits of Apple's ecosystem aside "without reasoned basis, either ignoring them entirely or dismissing them on the basis of nothing more than speculation." Apple alleged that the CMA's report is based on "unsubstantiated allegations and hypothetical concerns" from Apple's rivals that would commercially gain from "deep" changes to the iPhone:

... the IR reaches conclusions about technologies, product design, and competitive impact derived from the unsubstantiated allegations and hypothetical concerns raised primarily by self-serving complaints from a handful of multi-billion dollar developers such as Microsoft, Facebook, Match, Spotify, and Epic, all seeking to make deep changes to the iPhone for their own commercial gain, without independent verification.

Apple expressed intense concerns about potentially having to "redesign the ‌iPhone‌" to benefit this small, powerful group:

Apple is deeply concerned that the IR is proposing solutions to hypothetical problems that will result in real-world market interventions that could force it to redesign the iPhone to benefit a handful of powerful developers. The IR appears to assume that its proposed changes would be relatively simple. Yet many would require a complete re-architecting of a product that has existed for 15 years, has been constantly improved by Apple’s investment in IP and is valued and trusted by millions of consumers.

The CMA's proposition to allow alternative app stores on the ‌iPhone‌ or sideloading was shot down for "downplaying the security risks" and failing to account for "the fact that users highly value that security, and that many choose Apple over Android on that basis."

Remedies that jeopardize Apple's holistic approach to security would effectively remove the competitive differentiation between Apple and Android, taking this valued element of choice away from users.

Apple addressed specific issues raised by the Interim Report, such as the company's WebKit restriction on iOS and iPadOS, which bans any rival browser engines on the platform. It claimed that WebKit is innovative and responds to demand for features, such as adding "new functionality to enable greater features and functionality for web apps."

Open Web Advocacy, a group of web developers who are in talks with the CMA and have raised the profile of Apple's WebKit restriction, disagree and say that "Apple's ban of third party browsers on iOS is deeply anti-competitive... All artificial barriers placed by gatekeepers must be removed. Web Apps if allowed can offer equivalent functionality with greater privacy and security for demanding use-cases."

Apple highlighted the ‌iPhone‌'s high level of customer satisfaction, ease of use, and performance, as well as the company's commitment to innovation and privacy. Apple dismissed the findings of the Interim Report and ruled out the potential for discussion of changes to the company's ecosystem.

...the findings in the IR are, in effect, nothing more than hypotheses about how Apple's ecosystem "may" have the "potential" to harm competition, being as they are untested and based on one-sided evidence. Such hypotheses are insufficient to warrant, never mind support, discussion of potentially radical remedies at this stage...

Apple urged the CMA to "undertake a more fulsome analysis of the benefits that Apple's ecosystem brings to both consumers and developers, and to consider objectively the ramifications of any proposed interventions on consumers and competition in the markets that would be impacted." For more information, see Apple's full response to the CMA.

Today, pre-orders started for Apple's new iPhone SE, iPad Air, and the new green color options of the iPhone 13. For anyone shopping for the cellular models of the latest Apple devices, we've gathered the best offers in this article.

iPhone SE 3 stackedNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

All pre-orders for the new iPhone SE and iPad Air will begin shipping to customers on their March 18 release date. Shoppers should remember that shipping estimates from carriers may vary, so be sure to pay attention to that when ordering from these companies.

iPhone 13

You can now get the iPhone 13 in Green, with pre-orders up today at Apple and various cellular carriers. AT&T; has one of the best offers, providing the 128GB iPhone 13 for $0/month with eligible trade-in and installment plan.

Apple iPhone 13 green double

  • AT&T; - Get up to $800 off
  • Verizon - Save $439.99 when adding a new line
  • T-Mobile - Get up to $800 off

iPhone 13 Pro

Secondly, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are now available for pre-order in Alpine Green. Note that some carriers have multiple offers, so be sure to read more about each device's offers by following the links below.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro alpine green
iPhone 13 Pro

  • AT&T; - Get up to $1,000 off
  • Verizon - Get up to $1,000 off / BOGO up to $1,000 off
  • T-Mobile - Get up to $800 off

iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • AT&T; - Get up to $1,000 off
  • Verizon - Get up to $1,000 off / BOGO up to $1,000 off
  • T-Mobile - Get up to $800 off

iPhone SE

Also up for pre-order today is the new version of the iPhone SE, which now features the A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, and up to 256GB of storage. T-Mobile is one of the only carriers offering a discount on the new iPhone SE, where you can get up to $400 off the smartphone with an eligible trade-in.

iPhone SE 3

  • AT&T; - Starting at $11.95/month for 64GB
  • Verizon - Starting at $11.94/month for 64GB
  • T-Mobile - Get up to $400 off

iPad Air

The new iPad Air features the M1 chip and up to 256GB of storage. It comes in six colors: Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Blue, and Starlight.

ipad air 2022
If you plan on buying an iPhone at the same time as the new iPad Air, Verizon is offering a solid deal that provides $200 in promo credits when purchasing an eligible iPad and iPhone.

  • AT&T; - Starting at $20.84/month for 64GB
  • Verizon - Get $180 when trading in old device / Save when purchasing with iPhone
  • T-Mobile - Starting $30.00/month for 64GB

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

The first reviews of Apple's newly-introduced Green and Alpine Green color options for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have now been shared by various media outlets and YouTubers, and the general consensus is that the new shades are very saturated compared to similar colors from other smartphone makers, but still make for a subtle color option overall.

green iphone 13 iphone 13 pro engadgetImage via Engadget

The new green color options for the ‌iPhone 13‌ and the ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ follow the introduction of the Purple iPhone 12 last year. Green for the ‌iPhone 13‌‌ and ‌‌iPhone 13‌‌ mini is a dark, forest-like green, while the Alpine Green for the ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ Max is lighter. ZDNet's Jason Cipriani commented:

The iPhone 13's green color is glossy, like the rest of the color options, and looks more like a camouflage green to my eyes. It's as dark as the photos on Apple's website look, but perhaps slightly more vibrant.

[...]

As with the rest of the color options for the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, Alpine Green has a matte finish to it. It's a lighter version of camouflage green. I can't decide which color I like more, Sierra Blue or Alpine Green.

The Verge's Allison Johnson said that the new green shades are both better than the green color offered with the Samsung Galaxy S22:

The regular green on the standard iPhone is a little more saturated, more Kelly green than I was expecting. It also makes the Apple logo stand out more than I like. Alpine green is a bit softer and more muted. And sitting side by side by side, they both make the green S22 look much less green than I thought it was and more of a deep blue-green.

[...]

In any case, a green phone just looks different, but not in an attention-hungry kind of way. It's a subtle statement, something that makes you wonder about the person carrying it...

[...]

Anyway, the iPhone 13 Pro is the current best green phone, followed by the standard iPhone 13, and the Galaxy S22 ranks third.

Similarly, Engadget's Cherlynn Low compared the new green iPhones to the Sage Pixel 5 and the "Mostly Black" Pixel 5a, but ultimately concluded that the Midnight Green of the iPhone 11 Pro was better than Apple's new offerings.

Apple continues to sell the ‌iPhone 13‌ and ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ in all of its other colors, including Black, White, Blue, Green, and (PRODUCT)RED. Pricing starts at $699 for the ‌iPhone 13‌ mini and $999 for the ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ in the United States. Pre-orders of the ‌iPhone 13‌ and ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌ in Green and Alpine Green opened earlier today.

Videos

Related Roundups: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

At Tuesday's "Peek Performance" event, Apple introduced refreshed versions of the iPhone SE and iPad Air. Both devices are available for pre-order from today, along with Apple's new Green and Alpine Green color options for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

iPhone SE 3
The new ‌iPhone SE‌, which replaces the second-generation version, starts at $429, up from $399 on the 2020 model. It features the same A15 Bionic chip as the one used in the ‌iPhone 13‌, 5G connectivity, up to 256GB of storage.

Compared to previous models, it includes a higher-perfomance 12MP Wide camera system that offers a range of improvements and computational photography features including Deep Fusion, Photographic Styles, Portrait Mode, and Smart HDR 4.

The new ‌iPad Air‌, which replaces the fourth-generation version, starts from $599, and features Apple's powerful M1 chip that has previously only been seen in Apple's tablet lineup in the iPad Pro, as well as up to 256GB of storage.

Apple iPad Air hero color lineup 220308
Like the ‌iPad Pro‌, the ‌iPad Air‌ supports the $129 second-generation Apple Pencil and it works with the $299 Magic Keyboard with trackpad that Apple offers.

Available in a new array of colors, the ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ features Apple's Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage for a more natural video conferencing experience, a USB-C port with up to 2x faster transfer speeds, and 5G on the cellular models.

Both the new ‌iPhone SE‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ will be delivered to customers starting on Friday, March 18.

Related Roundups: iPad Air , iPhone SE
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Telegram Messenger has updated its iPhone and iPad app with several new features, including a new download manager, redesigned attachment menu, support for live streaming with third-party apps, and more.

telegram
Telegram users are able to send files of any type up to 2GB each and access them from any device, with no limit on cloud storage, which has made downloading files more popular on the platform.

To that end, when files are actively downloading, a new icon now appears in the Search bar that users can tap to view and manage downloads, pause and resume all downloads or just individual items, and select one to increase its priority or view it in a chat.

Meanwhile, a completely redesigned attachment menu appears when sending multiple photos or vides. Users can tap "X selected" (X being the number of items) at the top of the panel to preview how the album will look in the chat when it's sent, as well as rearrange or remove selected media.

Elsewhere, version 8.6 of Telegram integrates the in-app camera option into the gallery, while a new navigation bar gives quick access to photos, files, location sharing, and more.

Also in the latest update is the ability for users to create a unique @username from the Settings page, providing others with an easy way to contact them via Search or their t.me/username link without sharing their phone number.

In addition, Telegram now supports the use of third-party streaming tools like OBS Studio and XSplit to broadcast live video, allowing users to add overlays and multi-screen layouts for a more professional look.

Lastly, the web previews of t.me links have been given a new look, adding chat backgrounds and design elements from the fully-features Telegram Web client.

Telegram version 8.6 is available now on the App Store for ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌.

Immediately after Apple's "Peek performance" event on Tuesday in which it unveiled the Mac Studio and 27-inch Studio Display, Apple quietly discontinued the Intel-powered 27-inch iMac. This left some observers wondering whether we'll see a new larger iMac sooner or later, or if the existing 24-inch iMac is as big and as powerful as it gets for the foreseeable future.

iMac 27 Isolated Feature Blue
After unveiling the Mac Studio and Studio Display at Apple's spring event, John Ternus, SVP of hardware engineering, said that the Mac lineup's transition to Apple silicon was nearly complete, "with just one more product to go: Mac Pro."

The comment was interpreted by some to suggest that Apple sees the Mac Studio and Studio Display as natural replacements for the 27-inch iMac. Indeed, in conversations with MacRumors, Apple has suggested that existing 27-inch iMac owners looking to upgrade should consider its separately offered Studio products, while the 24-inch iMac is available for those still seeking an all-in-one experience.

And in what could be read as another nail in the coffin for Apple's 27-inch iMac, Apple also reportedly confirmed to Ars Technica this week that the machine has "reached end of life."

Despite these developments, not everyone has given up hope that Apple will unveil a larger iMac in future, though perhaps not as soon as rumors previously suggested. Over the past few months, persistent rumors from multiple sources have suggested that Apple is readying a bigger all-in-one desktop Mac.

Well-respected display analyst Ross Young last month said that an iMac Pro would launch as early as summer 2022. However, after Apple's reveal of the Mac Studio and 27-inch Studio Display on March 8, Young no longer believes that to be the case. Young explained that his sources were not aware of the separation between the iMac, Mac Studio, and Studio Display, which had added confusion to Apple's exact plans before this week's spring event.

The confusion apparently stemmed from the fact that the Studio Display features a webcam and built-in Apple silicon, making it appear in supply chains to be an iMac when it's not. Young now believes earlier rumors about an iMac Pro launching in June weren't referencing an actual iMac, but instead a Pro version of the Studio Display. Young now speculates that the 27-inch mini-LED panel Apple has in production could be a Studio Display Pro set to arrive in June, along with Apple's new Mac Pro.

Young's latest comments appear to corroborate information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who this week said that an "iMac Pro" would not launch until 2023. Well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman this week also reiterated his expectation that an iMac Pro is still in the works.


Rumors suggest a refreshed larger-screened ‌iMac‌ could be similar in design to the 24-inch ‌iMac‌, the Pro Display XDR, and the Studio Display. It's said to feature black bezels, and if it does indeed look similar to the Pro Display XDR, bezel size could be much slimmer and it could perhaps have less of a bottom chin, while being offered in darker shades than the colors of the 24-inch iMac.

As for what could power a new all-in-one under the hood, Apple could opt to use the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that were introduced in the MacBook Pro, and Apple could perhaps also introduce one additional higher-end configuration for the machine.

Whether or not the 27-inch iMac rumors turn out to be accurate, users who can't wait that long and want a top-of-the-line, large-screened Mac have the option of pairing a $1,999 Mac Studio with a $1,599 Studio Display, although doing so will cost around twice as much as the cheapest 27-inch iMacs did.

Apple will not launch a new Mac mini until 2023, reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today on Twitter, revising a previous prediction he made prior to Apple's spring event earlier this week.

mac mini intel gray
Last weekend, Kuo outlined his predictions for Apple's Mac lineup in 2022 and 2023, claiming that Apple plans to release a new high-end ‌Mac mini‌ and a 27-inch external display without mini-LED in 2022, while an Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌ and ‌iMac‌ Pro will not launch until 2023.

Today, however, Kuo issued an update to his original tweet to underline that he now believes Apple will launch all of these products no earlier than next year.

At the current time, the M1 ‌Mac mini‌ is sold alongside older high-end models that continue to feature Intel chips. The updated model could see Apple introduce M2 and M2 Pro chips. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also tweeted on Tuesday that Apple has M2 versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 24-inch ‌iMac‌, and ‌Mac mini‌ in development.

The ‌M2‌ chip is expected to feature the same 8-core CPU, but with speed and efficiency improvements, along with a 9 or 10 core GPU, up from 7 or 8 cores in the ‌M1‌.

As for the ‌M2‌ Pro, we don't know full details yet, but it could feature a 12-core CPU. The current M1 Pro chip has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, so we could also see a GPU boost. Testing on the ‌M2‌ is already underway as evidenced by references to the chip in the latest beta of macOS Monterey.

Prior rumors suggested a future ‌Mac mini‌ could get a redesign with a smaller chassis, a plexiglass like top, and two-tone color options.

For more on the ‌Mac mini‌, we have a dedicated guide that walks through all of the expected features and the release timeline.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Caution)
Related Forum: Mac mini

Apple's online store is down ahead of iPad Air and iPhone SE pre-orders, which are set to begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States.
apple store down

The new ‌iPhone SE‌ features the same 4.7-inch display as the current model, but now offers the toughest glass in a smartphone on the front and back — the same as on the back of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

The device's new 12MP Wide camera system offers a range of improvements and computational photography features including Deep Fusion, Photographic Styles, Portrait Mode, and Smart HDR 4.

The new ‌iPhone SE‌ contains the same A15 Bionic chip from the ‌iPhone 13‌ and ‌iPhone 13 Pro‌. With a 6-core CPU, the A15 Bionic means that the ‌iPhone SE‌ is 1.8x faster than the iPhone 8. The 16-core Neural Engine, aimed at machine learning tasks, performs 15.8 trillion operations per second, making it 26x faster than ‌iPhone‌ 8. The 4-core GPU delivers 2.2x faster speed than the ‌iPhone‌ 8.

The A15 Bionic also gives the new ‌iPhone SE‌ longer battery life than the previous-generation and older 4.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ models despite having a compact form-factor and 5G connectivity. It continues to support fast charging and be compatible with Qi-certified chargers for wireless charging.

The new ‌iPhone SE‌ is available in two new colors, Midnight and Starlight, alongside PRODUCT(RED). The new ‌iPhone SE‌ starts at $429, up from $399 on the 2020 model, and is available with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB of storage. Preorders begin on Friday, March 11, with the first devices shipping on March 18.

Available in a new array of colors, the new ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ features Apple's Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage for a more natural video conferencing experience, a USB-C port with up to 2x faster transfer speeds, and 5G on the cellular models.

In terms of the ‌M1‌'s pure performance, the 8-core CPU delivers up to 60% faster performance, and the 8-core GPU delivers up to 2x faster graphics performance compared to the previous ‌‌iPad Air‌‌. That makes it faster than the fastest competitive tablet, and 2x as fast as the best-selling Windows laptop in its price range, according to Apple.

The USB-C port is now up to 2x faster than the previous generation, with data transfers up to 10Gbps, enabling it to support a range of USB-C accessories, including cameras, external storage, and displays with up to 6K resolution. Lastly, the new ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ supports the second-generation Apple Pencil.

The new ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ is priced from $599. It is available in 64GB and 256GB configurations, and comes in space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and blue colors. The new ‌‌iPad Air‌‌ is available to pre-order on Friday, March 11, and will be available from March 18.

Related Roundups: iPad Air , iPhone SE
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Apple is working on the successor to the M1 chip, expected to be called the M2, and multiple rumors have already suggested that these chips are going to be used in machines that include a refreshed MacBook Air and a new version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

macbook air rounded mock purple
A new report today from 9to5Mac once again reiterates these rumors, with the site claiming that Apple will introduce a ‌MacBook Air‌ and a 13-inch MacBook Pro with ‌M2‌ chip later this year. Notably, 9to5Mac says that Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo's recent prediction that the next-generation ‌MacBook Air‌ will use either the ‌M1‌ or an updated version of it is incorrect.

While analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the new MacBook Air will have an updated M1 chip, our reliable sources have told us that the machine is being developed with the new M2 chip.

Codenamed J413, the next generation MacBook Air is expected to be released in a single version featuring M2.

As for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 9to5Mac claims that Apple could drop the "Pro" labeling, referring to the new machine as just "MacBook" as it has done in the past.

We've already heard plenty about the next-generation versions of the ‌MacBook Air‌ and 13-inch MacBook Pro from sources like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has confirmed that the new ‌MacBook Air‌ will see a complete redesign. Gurman has also provided details on the ‌M2‌ chip, which is expected to feature the same 8-core CPU as the ‌M1‌, but with 9 and 10-core GPU options.

There is no word on a release date as of yet, but ‌M2‌ machines are likely to come out in the later months of the year.

Related Roundups: 13" MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air

Sony today announced that PlayStation 4 owners who want to try out the Apple TV+ service can get an extended three-month free trial on their console. This offer applies only to those who have not previously had an ‌Apple TV+‌ subscription.

playstation apple tv plus
Interested users can download the Apple TV app from the PS4 TV and Video section, and then follow the on-screen instructions. An Apple ID will be required to redeem the deal, as will a PlayStation Network account.

After the trial period, the ‌Apple TV+‌ subscription plan will renew automatically at $4.99 per month until cancelled. The PlayStation extended trial deal will be available until July 22, 2022.

The trial is limited to those with a PlayStation 4 console, and it is not applicable to those who have the PlayStation 5 because there is a separate six month free trial for PS5 owners.

Facebook parent company Meta today announced an upcoming fitness update for the Oculus Quest 2, which will allow fitness data captured during VR workouts to be integrated with the Apple Health app.

oculus health app
Right now, when people exercise with interactive games like Liteboxer, Beat Saber, or Dance Central using the Oculus Quest 2, the data can only be viewed on the Oculus Mobile app on the headset itself, which is not particularly useful for those who like to track their fitness metrics.

Starting in April, fitness data from the Oculus Quest 2 will sync to the Oculus Mobile app on iOS devices or with the Apple Health app. Users will track minutes spent working out and calories burned while wearing the VR headset.

If you have an iOS device, you'll be able to choose to sync your VR fitness progress with the Apple Health app to automatically track your VR workouts on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch without having to manually input information about your exercise. This means all your exercise stats, including your activities both in and out of VR, can be tracked and available in one place.

Syncing Oculus Quest 2 data to either the Oculus Mobile app or the Apple Health app is opt-in, but choosing to connect to the Oculus Mobile app will see Move stats stored on Meta's servers. Meta says that Oculus Move stats will not be used to "inform the ads you see on any Meta services."

Tags: Facebook, Meta

Apple recently introduced the fifth-generation iPad Air, featuring the M1 chip, 5G connectivity, and an upgraded front-facing camera system. Last year, Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini, offering an iPad Air-style redesign with a larger display, the A15 Bionic chip, and more.

ipad mini vs air early 2022
The ‌iPad mini‌ now effectively shares the design of the iPad Air, with both devices possessing many of the same features such as an all-screen design with no Home button, Touch ID in the top power button, and stereo speakers. Now with Center Stage and 5G connectivity, the ‌iPad Air‌ is now broadly up to spec with the ‌iPad mini‌. There are still some important differences between the devices, such as their chips, that continue to set the devices apart.

Should you buy the more expensive, larger ‌iPad Air‌, or opt for the more affordable, smaller ‌iPad mini‌? Our guide answers the question of how to decide which of these two iPads is best for you.

Comparing the iPad mini and iPad Air

The ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ share a large number of key features, such as design, a rear 12MP Wide camera, and a USB-C port:

Similarities

  • All-screen industrial design with flat edges
  • ‌Touch ID‌ scanner built into the top button
  • Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color, fingerprint resistant coating, 500 nits max brightness, full lamination, anti-reflective coating, and True Tone
  • 12MP ƒ/1.8 Wide rear camera with 5x digital zoom and Smart HDR 3
  • 4K video recording at up to 60fps with 3x video zoom, 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p slo-mo video at 120fps or 240fps, and time-lapse with stablilization
  • 12MP ƒ/2.4 front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, Retina Flash, Smart HDR 3, cinematic video stabilization, and 1080p video recording
  • Second-generation Apple Pencil compatibility
  • Up to 10 hours of battery life
  • USB-C port
  • Two speaker audio landscape mode
  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
  • Sub-6GHz 5G connectivity
  • Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models
  • 64GB and 256GB storage options
  • Available in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight

Apple's specification breakdown shows that the two iPads share many of their most important features. Even so, there are meaningful differences between the ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ that are worth highlighting, including their A-series chips, front-facing cameras, keyboard compatibility, and more.

Differences


iPad mini

  • 8.3-inch display with 2266‑by‑1488 resolution at 326 ppi
  • Smaller, compact design for maximum portability
  • A15 Bionic chip with 4GB of memory
  • Rear Quad-LED True Tone flash
  • Compatible with Bluetooth keyboards only
  • Weight of up to 0.66 pound (297 grams)

iPad Air

  • 10.9-inch display with 2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi
  • Larger design that is better for productivity
  • ‌M1‌ chip with 8GB of memory
  • Smart Connector for external keyboards including Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio
  • Weight of up to 1.01 pounds (462 grams)
  • Available with additional Blue color option

Final Thoughts

Overall, the ‌iPad Air‌ is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The additional $100 needed to buy the ‌iPad Air‌ over the ‌iPad mini‌ is more than justified for the benefits that come with a larger display, not least the ability to practically use it as a laptop replacement.

Yet, most customers buying the ‌iPad mini‌ will likely be buying it because of its screen size rather than in spite of it. The ‌iPad mini‌ is ideal for comfortably reading books, playing handheld games, and unobtrusive storage.

ipad mini 6 lineup
Those who buy the ‌iPad mini‌ will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go, throwing into a small backpack to use on public transport, or sliding into a large pocket to use while working.

If you do not see the ‌iPad mini‌'s smaller display, easy one-handed grip, light weight, and portable form factor as an active advantage and are focused on a more versatile larger display, you will likely prefer the ‌iPad Air‌. If you want more of an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement, with the added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment, the ‌iPad Air‌ will be the better option for you.

Related Roundups: iPad Air , iPad mini
Related Forum: iPad

To celebrate the upcoming launch of the new Mac Studio from Apple, we've teamed up with GRID Studio to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a new M1 Max ‌Mac Studio‌ or one of GRID Studio's deconstructed Apple device art pieces.

Grid 4S
GRID Studio is known for creating art from vintage Apple devices that are an important part of Apple's history. Each device is disassembled, and the components are artfully displayed behind a glass frame that can be hung on the wall of any Apple fan.

grid frame all
Because GRID Studio works with classic Apple devices, there won't be any deconstructed ‌Mac Studio‌ art pieces for sale for some time, but there are plenty of other offerings on the GRID Studio website, with prices starting at around $40 and going up depending on complexity.

The GRID 1, for example, is one of GRID Studio's most popular pieces because it features an original iPhone, perhaps the most important device in Apple's history. Priced at $400, the GRID 1 is often sold out, but GRID Studio has a new series of GRID 1 pieces coming later in March.

Grid 1
Measuring in at 13x13x8, the GRID 1 features a torn apart ‌iPhone‌ with all of the internal components separated out and labeled so you can see everything that made the original ‌iPhone‌ so special at a glance. The shell of the ‌iPhone‌ is displayed next to individual components that include the power button, headphone socket, speaker, logic board, circuit board, ear piece, and other components.

Grid iPhone 4S
Each piece of GRID art highlights what was important about the featured ‌iPhone‌. With the $140 GRID iPhone 4S, for example, there's a clear look at the classic squared-off edges that Apple recently brought back for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, along with the circular volume buttons and the A5 chipset.

If you have a favorite classic ‌iPhone‌, there's a good chance that GRID has taken it apart. In addition to the original ‌iPhone‌, there are also GRID pieces for everything up to the ‌iPhone‌ X, along with A-series chips like the A5X, the Apple Watch, the Magic Mouse, and more.

Grid A5X
The $269 GRID iPhone X is interesting because the ‌iPhone‌ X was Apple's first ‌iPhone‌ with a notch and the Face ID facial recognition system. You can see the ‌Face ID‌ components laid out next to other ‌iPhone‌ X parts like the dual-lens camera, Taptic Engine, and A11 Bionic chip.

Every GRID Studio piece includes all of the original parts of the device, but the company does not use real batteries to prevent any issues with the battery expanding or exploding with age. GRID's artwork is perfect for an office decoration or as a gift for an Apple fan. Disassembled devices are attractive to look at, informative, and offer a fun glimpse into Apple's history.

Grid iPhone 2G

One grand prize winner will receive an ‌M1 Max‌ ‌Mac Studio‌ with 10-core GPU, 24-core GPU, 32GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD, plus a GRID 1 that features the original ‌iPhone‌. A second prize winner will receive the GRID ‌iPhone‌ X, a third prize winner will receive the GRID ‌iPhone‌ 4S, and three additional winners will receive the GRID A5X.

mac studio front
To enter to win our giveaway for one of GRID Studio's art pieces, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (March 10) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 17. The winners will be chosen randomly on March 17 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Apple plans to launch a series of Macs with M2 chips based on TSMC's 4nm process later this year, according to Taiwanese publication DigiTimes. This advancement should allow for continued performance and power efficiency improvements.

13 inch macbook pro m2 mock feature 2
"TSMC's 4nm process will also build Apple's M2 chip that will power the new Mac series slated for launch in the second half of this year," the report claims.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Tuesday tweeted that Apple has M2 versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 24-inch iMac, and Mac mini in development. In his newsletter last weekend, Gurman said Apple plans to launch at least some of those Macs around May to June of this year, while DigiTimes gave a second half of 2022 timeframe.


The standard M1 chip is built on TSMC's 5nm process and has an 8-core CPU, along with a 7-core or 8-core GPU depending on the configuration. The first M2 chip will also have an 8-core CPU, but with faster 9-core or 10-core GPU options, according to Gurman.

Curiously, oft-accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Tuesday tweeted that a 2022 version of the MacBook Air will still use the M1 chip, although he suggested it could be a modified version of the chip without elaborating further. Kuo said the new MacBook Air will feature a redesign with more color options and said that mass production of the notebook would begin in the late second quarter or the third quarter of this year.

The only Intel-based Macs remaining in Apple's lineup are high-end Mac mini configurations and the Mac Pro tower. During its "Peek Performance" event this week, Apple teased that an Apple silicon version of the Mac Pro is in the pipeline.