Apple generates a lot of news, and it can be hard to keep up. If your mind was on other things this week, our Saturday-morning roundup of Apple-related headlines will bring you up to date.
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Apple event on Monday!
And we started out the week so confidently. One of the most popular stories on the site, back in the dim and distant past of Monday, was a detailed explanation of why the next Apple event was sure to be on 26 October. Oh, we had such high hopes, such big dreams, and such flawless logic.
All of which was ruined on Tuesday night, when we got the invitations to an event on… 18 October. Surely some mistake, as they say.
But no: Apple is breaking recent tradition and holding an event on a Monday instead of a Tuesday, possibly to avoid a clash with Google’s Pixel event on 19 October and possibly just to annoy me personally. Which means we’re going to hear about the next raft of products (assuming you’re reading this on Saturday) the day after tomorrow. Don’t panic!
Insofar as we will ever be sure of anything ever again, we are reasonably sure that this event is going to focus on the Mac. Apple has a bunch of Macs overdue for a refresh, with the new MacBook Pro in particular poised for launch; the ‘Unleashed’ tagline and warp-speed graphic lend themselves to the announcement of faster M1X processors; the current Macs appear to be running out of stock; and all the pundits reckon it’ll be Macs too.
That isn’t to say, however, that the evening will be dedicated entirely to Macs, with no relief from their implacable milled-aluminium forms. (Oh, by the way, there might be a new pro-focused Mac mini, too.) We also hope that Apple will finally launch new AirPods – after all, it’s only been more than two and a half years since it last updated one of its most successful and popular product lines.
You can keep up with all the details and rumours in our October event news hub, and read about the latest leaked MacBook Pro specs. But at this point, why would you believe anything I say?
Video of the week, part I
Ken Mingis and Michael Simon join Juliet Beauchamp to discuss what to expect from Apple’s Unleashed event next week, including product details, benchmarks, release dates, and what the new models mean for users.
News in brief
The Republic of Ireland has announced it’s ending the 12.5% corporate tax rate that has made it a hugely popular location for companies’ European headquarters – including Apple, which employs more than 6,000 staff at its Cork campus. The rate will still apply to small firms, but Ireland’s new agreement stipulates a minimum of 15% for large multinationals. It’s unknown at this point if Apple and other companies will respond to the change by relocating.
In a bizarre twist, Apple has appealed against a legal verdict that it described at the time as a “resounding victory” and a “huge win” over Epic Games. The judge took Apple’s sides in most respects, but did stipulate that the company was not permitted to ban developers from offering alternative payment solutions on the App Store; it’s this part that Apple is now seeking to overturn.
The M1X chip could be a massive leap, reckons Michael Simon.
We all know the iPhone 13 handsets have better cameras than the equivalent models from the year before. But one mark of Apple’s progress in this area is the news that the standard iPhone 13 has scored higher in DXOMark’s camera benchmarks than the Pro model from 2020.
The Macalope has three letters for Intel’s anti-Mac ‘Spell’ ads: LOL.
Apple TV+ is a disaster movie without a happy ending, argues Karen Haslam in this week’s Different Think column. Tune in for a new controversial opinion every Tuesday, folks.
Will we still be using Apple devices in the future – or will we be living with them?
Apple has had to revise its plans for the iPhone 13 because of component shortages, and is now manufacturing up to ten million fewer units than planned. If you want one, in other words, you’ll need to be quick!
An engineering student made a USB-C iPhone because Apple won’t.
iPhones have got 50% more expensive in the UK since 2007, even when you take inflation and changes in GDP into account. And we’re not even the worst off: prices have gone up by 72% in Canada. (The US gets away with a piffling 12% rise.)
The iPad Air is everything that’s wrong with Apple’s tablets, says Dan Moren.
Halyna Kubiv shows how to fast-charge an Apple Watch Series 7. You can hit 80% in 45 minutes!
Video of the week, part II
David Price and Alex Walker-Todd have been testing out the new iPhone 13 and 13 Pro. Here’s their guide to choosing between the two, and their overall thoughts about the latest generation of iPhones.
Software, bugs & problems
The tenth beta of macOS Monterey has arrived; Universal Control still isn’t officially available, but it is possible to enable it manually if you follow some rather complex steps. We expect the full public version of Monterey to follow soon.
iOS 15.0.2 fixes some of the bugs that plagued iOS 15 installers – bugs such as photos being deleted accidentally. It also closes a zero-day security gap.
Apple has extended an AirPods Pro service programme for sound issues. Problems could include “crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phone”, Apple admits.
The rumour mill
A new gaming-focused Apple TV is under development, according to a new report. The device is set to feature a comprehensive redesign (including a plexiglass top and a thinner chassis), a powerful A14 processor and a dedicated games controller.
The Apple Watch Series 8 – yes, sorry, we are doing this already – will come in three sizes, rather than the current two, according to an analyst with a small but extremely impressive track record of predictions. We expect 41mm and 45mm models again, plus one that’s a bit bigger.
Apple deals of the week
I’ve embedded a list of the best current Apple deals below, but other than that, we’re done for this week. See you next Saturday, enjoy your weekend, and stay Appley!
Top 10 Apple Deals
Apple 11in iPad Pro (2021, M1, 2TB) – Wi-Fi + Cellular
We’re not sure if Amazon will bring back the £639 discount we saw in October on this iPad Pro M1 variant, but almost £600 off is still an excellent deal. See our review of the 11in iPad Pro with M1.
Adobe Creative Cloud – All Apps (1 Year)
Adobe’s slashed 20% off its Creative Cloud subscription prices. The offer ends 14 April.
Apple AirPods 3
The AirPods 3 offer better battery performance, an updated design, and support for Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. Save £30 from Amazon.
Smarty 12GB data SIM-Only
Grab three months of 12GB data for just £4 per month. If you’re after more data, you can see all its plans here. You can cancel anytime.
Apple iPad mini (2021, 6th gen, 64GB, Cellular)
This is the best deal we’ve seen on the iPad mini you can get the 64GB Cellular (RRP £619) for just £464 – which is less than the RRP for the Wi-Fi model!
Apple MacBook Air, M1, 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB (2020)
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm)
Bag the last gen Watch 6 for under £300 at Amazon’s Spring Sale!
Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm, Cellular)
Amazon’s just slashed £160 off the Watch Series 6 with Cellular connectivity as a part of its Spring Sale.
Apple 10.2in iPad (2021, 256GB, Wi-Fi)
Save $50 on the latest regular iPad. It’s a great affordable slate that’s perfect for web browsing or video calls.
Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard for iPad Pro 11
Save an excellent £74 on this Logitech keyboard for the iPad Pro 11 – this is currently the best discount we can see. The Combo Touch works with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen models.
Apple AirTags
Grab this set of Apple AirTags for just under £80 – that’s a saving of roughly £9 per AirTag, which costs £29 separately.
Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 41 mm)
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a solid $120 discount in Amazon’s Prime Day sale, making it one of the best prices around.
Beats Solo 3 Headphones
Get £80 off the Beats Solo3 Wireless on-ear headphones (which we gave four stars in our review). They’re available in a range of colours.
Apple AirPods Pro with MagSafe charging case
Amazon’s excellent £64 saving on the AirPods Pro from March is no longer available. Multiple sites are selling for £189 (a £50 saving), including AO and Laptops Direct – but we’d go with John Lewis on account of its two-year guarantee.
Apple Watch SE 2021 (44mm, GPS)
Get a great saving on last year’s Apple Watch SE from Amazon.
Logitech Crayon
Want a more affordable alternative to the Apple Pencil? Check out the Logitech Crayon, which works with all iPads from 2018 and later.
Apple iPhone 12 mini (256GB)
The 256GB iPhone 12 mini has over £100 off from Amazon.
Apple iPad mini (2021, 6th gen)
A handy saving on Apple’s new iPad mini model for 2021, but note that this price applies to the Starlight colour finish only. eBuyer is matching the deal on certain colours.
Apple iPad Air (2022, 256GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular)
KRCS has knocked money off the 2022 iPad Air. You will find savings across the whole range.
Apple MacBook Air, M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB (2020)
An excellent deal, this. Save money on the MacBook Air with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU from Very. The discount applies to the silver version only.
This deal is only slightly better than Currys who has the silver model for £1,099.97. John Lewis had the same deal, but it is currently out of stock there.
Author: David Price, Editor
David has loved the iPhone since covering the original 2007 launch; later his obsession expanded to include iPad and Apple Watch. He offers advice to owners (and prospective owners) of these devices.