Cult of Mac

This week: What the new Siri will actually do, WWDC26 is official, the grim reaper of services revenue is coming for Apple Maps, the top features of iOS 26.4 and the iPad Air versus the MacBook Neo! Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: What the new, AI-powered Siri will look like (and do) in iOS 27 Apple plans a total revamp of Siri in iOS 27 that turns the beleaguered voice assistant into an AI chatbot (and maybe a standalone app). From 2024: Apple Intelligence is AI, done Apple’s way Apple sets June dates for WWDC26 and its next major software updates Apple sets June dates for WWDC26, its major conference where it will unveil the next versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. Apple plans to bring ads to Maps app this summer Seems like it had to happen eventually, right?

This week, with special guest Christina Warren: The surprise drop of AirPods Max 2, a deep dive on OpenClaw and agentic coding, and our final thoughts after a full week with the Studio Display XDR, MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e! Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: AirPods Max 2 pack AI-powered listening and stronger noise cancellation H2-chip-powered AirPods Max 2 enhance sound quality and noise cancellation and bring new features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation. The MacBook Neo is the fantastic new Mac for the masses This will be a lot of people’s first Mac, and they’ll be very happy. A hands-on review of the MacBook Neo leaves us highly impressed. The Studio Display XDR is the final boss of all Mac displays Apple’s new flagship desktop display, the Studio Display XDR stands high in a class of its own. And for, like, half as much money. The iPhone 17e, now a solid budget phone with minimal compromise The iPhone 17e is a slight upgrade that makes all the difference. Now with MagSafe, it doesn’t have many compromises.

This week: We go hands-on with the new Studio Display XDR, MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e! Also: The Neo has everyone freaking out, bad news about the M6 MacBook Pro and new emoji coming in iOS 26.4. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: Hands-on with the Studio Display XDR, MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e Another PC maker sounds alarm as MacBook Neo shakes up industry We recently wrote about how $599 MacBook Neo could shake up the PC industry. Now more laptop makers are freaking out. MacBook Ultra rumored as Apple’s most expensive laptop yet Apple’s next big MacBook Pro refresh could bring an OLED touchscreen, but it may also come with a higher price tag and an "Ultra" moniker. iOS 26.4 beta 4 gives us first look at Apple’s new emoji Apple continues testing iOS 26.4 with the release of beta 4, with the new build adding eight new emojis and renaming a new feature. Listener Question Who should buy a MacBook Neo?

Leander speaks to David Pogue, renowned author and technology journalist, about his new book, Apple: The First 50 Years.

This week: Our reactions to Apple’s mad week of announcements — the good and bad from the iPhone 17e, the iPad Air, the incredible M5 MacBooks, the shocking new Studio Displays, and the all-new MacBook Neo. Plus, we’ll grade our predictions from last week! Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: A18 Pro-powered MacBook Neo brings power at lowest price ever The new MacBook Neo, powered by an A18 Pro chip, is Apple’s most affordable laptop ever, at $599 — just $499 for education. MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips deliver major performance leap Apple's newest M5 Pro and M5 Max-equipped MacBook Pros arrive, delivering unrivaled performance and additional storage. M5 Pro and M5 Max ‘super cores’ supercharge new Macs Studio Display XDR arrives with mini-LED backlighting and 5K clarity Introducing the Studio Display XDR: Apple's new premium monitor for professionals with mini-LED backlighting and Thunderbolt 5. iPhone 17e doubles built-in storage, adds MagSafe The new iPhone 17e includes improvements — like double the starting storage capacity — that make it an even better value. M5 MacBook Air ramps up speed, storage and connectivity With M5 MacBook Air's launch, Apple's top-selling laptop gains speed, storage and improved wireless networking without any design changes. 4 key upgrades make new M4 iPad Air a beast The new M4 iPad Air features a faster processor, more RAM, new Apple wireless chips and other enhancements to Apple's midrange tablet. March 2026 Predictions Congratulations to the two listeners who scored 7 points: Damian, and now four-time winner Michael Dennis.

This week, with special guest Casey Liss: Thanks to the success of Cosmic Orange, new colors are coming to iPhone 18 Pro, but they’re a bit WTF, the super clever way the first touchscreen Macs will work, exciting changes in iOS 26.4 beta 2, an even weirder keyboard setup than last week’s, plus our predictions for next week’s Apple announcements! Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: iPhone 18 Pro may double down on bold colors Apple reportedly plans a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro, following the strong response to cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro. New interface will be key to touchscreen Macs’ success Building a touchscreen into the MacBook Pro will require changes to macOS 27. We just got the first hints of the needed modifications. iOS 26.4 beta 2: All the new features and changes Apple continues testing iOS 26.4 with the release of beta 2, and the update brings more than just minor tweaks. Callsheet: Find Cast & Crew Callsheet is the best way to quickly look up information about the cast and crew in TV and movies. It respects your time, doesn't try to sell you stuff you don't need, and is designed to answer your questions quickly and easily. 15 coolest (and weirdest) keyboards in Mac setups We picked out the 15 coolest (and weirdest) keyboards for Mac setups, including ergonomic wonders and highly customizable options for gamers. Keeping it weird with a ‘dual-display laptop’ and an ortholinear keyboard March 2026 Predictions For the first time in 2026 (and on the new Cult of Mac podcast) we will lay down our predictions for Apple’s not-an-Event event. Submit your responses here Aftershow: Accidental Transportation Podcast Third-gen Ford Ranger / Mazda B-series BMW 3 Series (E90) BMW i4 Second-gen Range Rover Volvo XC90 Third-gen Toyota Prius Ford F-150 Lightning

This week: Apple’s got an "event" coming up in the first week of March! We’ll get into what we think it is. Also: Apple’s fast-tracking three wearable AI products and one of them is already a known bust, some big changes in iOS 26.4, a truly genius MacBook Air setup, and our hands-on with a great iPhone game controller for the rest of us. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: Apple just announced its March event — here’s what could be coming Get ready for the Apple March event! We're looking forward to new MacBooks, iPads, an iPhone and possibly more announcements. 3 game-changing AI wearables Apple is rushing to launch Apple is putting the pedal to the metal as it rushes to produce new types of AI-powered wearable devices — smart glasses, upgraded AirPods and an AirTag-size pendant. iOS 26.4 beta 1: All the new features and changes Apple has kicked off testing for iOS 26.4, with the update bringing more than just minor fixes. Here’s what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1. Top 10 MacBook Air setups Our collection of the top 10 MacBook Air setups really shows why the sleek machine is the world's best-selling laptop. ‘Headless’ MacBook Air runs alongside retro Macs Listener Question Why do we censor swearing? Upgrade iPhone gaming for cheap with GameSir X5s controller The GameSir X5s is a great and affordable way to upgrade mobile gaming. Your phone slides in and gives you console-quality physical controls.

This week: The new Siri is slipping yet again — but that’s a good thing, Eddy Cue pulls the plug on Apple’s AI doctor, more new AirPods Pro are on the way, the best multi-Mac setups, and we’ve got a great tip for the Messages app. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: M5 Pro MacBook Pro release date just became clearer After weeks of speculation, Apple’s M5 Pro MacBook Pros may finally be on the horizon. A fresh report offers the clearest launch window yet. That Siri upgrade coming in iOS 26.4? Don’t get your hopes up. iOS 26.4 may not live up to expectations. Apple is struggling to complete a long-delayed artificial intelligence upgrade for Siri. Apple shifts AI health coach plans to new focus A new decision by Eddy Cue means Apple shifts AI health coach plans to focus on incremental Health app updates. Next AirPods Pro’s new cameras could see your surroundings A new leak says new cameras in upcoming AirPods Pro 4 could see around the user. Look for them sometime in 2026. Maximum fun: Top 10 multi-Mac setups For Apple enthusiasts, one Mac is great — but two or more? That’s when things get seriously interesting. Developer dual-Mac dance: Mac mini and MacBook Air Listener Question Will AI actually eliminate white collar jobs? 6 great features in Messages in iOS 26 Get to know the great new features in Messages in iOS 26: polls, background images, group Apple Cash payments and so much more. Short YouTube video

Sponsors: The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: Xcode unleashes AI agents for fast and easy app creation Devs can work directly with Anthropic's Claude Agent and OpenAI's Codex, thanks to an Xcode update that builds in AI coding agents. iPhone Fold leak shows Apple borrowing design cues from iPad A new leak provides more details about the foldable iPhone's design, pointing to several similarity with iPads. Apple’s foldable plans may not stop at just one iPhone Before Apple even launches its first folding iPhone, the company is reportedly exploring a follow-up model with a clamshell-like form factor. Apple just killed the myth of iPhone forced obsolescence The conspiracy theory that Apple uses iOS as a tool of forced iPhone obsolescence is complete BS, and I can prove it. Never miss an important alert with this crucial iPhone settings tweak If you rely on timely alerts from certain critical iOS apps, set up persistent notifications so you don't miss something important. Listener Question Do people actually care about phone wobble?

Sponsors: The Cult of Mac Today and Weekender newsletters. Cult of Mac Today is a rundown of the top daily news, plus reviews and how-tos, with commentary by Leander himself. And the Weekender is an easy-to-digest roundup of the week’s top stories. Links: AirTag 2 launches today with longer range and louder speaker Apple’s tracking tag has been upgraded with a new Ultra Wideband chip, improved Bluetooth connectivity and a louder speaker. Why Apple’s AirTag 2 is way better than the original The tracker tag is easier to find with much longer range when using either a Bluetooth or Ultra Wideband connection from your iPhone. It also includes a louder, shriller speaker. AirTag 2 teardown shows Apple taking tampering seriously Apple’s second-generation AirTag looks unchanged on the outside, but a teardown reveals meaningful internal changes to avoid tampering. How to upload your own music to Apple Music If there’s a live concert recording or indie song you want in your library, you can upload custom music to Apple Music really easily. Radiohead Live - Blossom Music Center Listener Questions Those Darn Accordions The Wall of Wheeze Removing a Champagne Cork (French) with a Sword

Links: Apple may reinvent Siri as a conversational AI in iOS 27 Forget the old, nearly useless Siri — Apple will reportedly upgrade the iPhone’s voice assistant into an AI-powered chatbot with iOS 27. Users will supposedly be able to converse with the new Siri, not just give it orders. Apple works on AI wearable with mics, cameras and more An AI pin is reportedly on the drawing board at Apple. The hands-free device might may change the future of wearable technology. Why Apple faces new pressure to raise iPhone and Mac prices Apple is likely to struggle to get a critical component for all its products this year, which might force it raise prices. MacBook Pros disappear from stores — here’s why Speed up your Mac workflow with Hot Corners, the feature pro users swear by Hot Corners on the Mac work like shortcuts for your mouse. Just throw your mouse cursor to the corner of the screen to trigger a shortcut. Listener Question Hands-on with a folding iPhone mock-up: This thing is weird How these brilliantly lit setups strike a mood for work or gaming Proper desk lighting can make or break a Mac setup when it comes to boosting productivity, setting a mood or gaming like you mean it. RGB hues bathe Beatles-themed retro Apple rig in otherworldly light

This week’s stories: It’s official — Google Gemini will power Siri’s major AI overhaul Google’s Gemini AI is now set to power the long-promised overhaul of Apple’s Siri voice assistant, turning months of speculation into confirmation after Apple made the partnership official in a statement released Monday. Gemini-powered Siri reportedly will gain these capabilities New Apple Creator Studio subscription gives you 6 incredible apps for low price Apple Creator Studio bundles 6 big-time apps into a subscription, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro. OpenAI’s first device might take on AirPods OpenAI’s first consumer product may be AI-powered earbuds, designed by Jony Ive and positioned as a direct AirPods rival. Hands-on with a folding iPhone mock-up: This thing is weird I got my hands on a model, and have lots of thoughts — if the folding iPhone looks anything like this, it’ll be weird.

This week’s stories: Samsung teases the foldable iPhone’s biggest upgrade At CES 2026, Samsung showcased a crease-less folding OLED panel that might be headed for Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Decorating your iPhone with tiny stickers is 2026’s hot new trend Personalize your iPhone 17 Pro camera plateau with stickers. Lots of people are doing it in fun and creative ways. This is the weirdest auction of Steve Jobs memorabilia we’ve ever seen Some rather strange Steve Jobs memorabilia is up for auction, showcasing unique items related to the Apple co-founder. New fitness app Reps & Sets 26 gets serious about strength training Designed exclusively for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, strength-training app Reps & Sets 26 was developed by a long-time Cult of Mac writer. Reps & Sets 26 on the App Store Top 10 Apple setups of 2025 Cult of Mac's top 10 Apple setups of 2025 excel in raw computing power, aesthetic beauty, functional innovation — or all three. Turn your M4 Mac mini into a small-but-mighty ‘Mac Pro’

This week’s stories: 15 new products to expect from Apple in 2026 Apple is preparing a wave of new products for 2026, including a folding iPhone, powerful new Macs, refreshed iPads and new smart home gear. Spigen Classic C1 Mac mini stand New LG displays Dead Apple product draft: iPod Hi-Fi AirPort Extreme Apple LaserWriter iPod touch 12-inch MacBook Apple Watch Edition Apple AA Battery Charger SuperDrive Apple II

We’re going to talk about everything that happened in 2025 in extreme detail and wonderful nuance. Specifically, of Apple. This week’s stories: 2025 was huge for Apple — here’s why In this end-of-year roundup, we’ve gathered the most ground-breaking rumors, consequential news and biggest surprises of 2025. Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone

Introducing the new Cult of Mac podcast, coming January 1st (probably). Produced by Extra Ordinary for Cult of Mac. Music composed by Will Davenport, arranged by D. Griffin Jones.