By Oliver Haslam Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro has been my notebook of choice in recent years, but it isn’t perfect, and that led me to check out the competition — namely, Acer’s $2,000 Predator Helios Neo 14 AI laptop.Two very different notebooks at very similar price pointsMy current notebook is an M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, and that replaced my M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro after it took an unfortunate tumble from a table. As you might expect, I’m very comfortable with macOS, and switching to Windows full-time isn’t in the cards.But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for a Windows PC in my life. Because as much as Apple might try to tell you otherwise, Mac gaming just doesn’t quite cut it. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By Oliver Haslam Choosing a high-resolution display for your Mac doesn’t mean splashing out on an Apple Pro Display XDR, and the $2,500 Alogic Clarity 6K Touch monitor proves it.Alogic Clarity Touch 6K review: 32 inches makes for a huge canvasAt $4,999 before you add a stand, the Pro Display XDR is a beast of a display. Its 32-inch size makes it a great option for productivity and creativity alike, and the 6K resolution makes for Retina-like pinpoint sharpness.Alogic’s alternative matches all of those specs. It also measures 32 inches from corner to corner, and its 6K resolution gives it a pixel density of 216 pixels per inch. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By Oliver Haslam A global shortage is responsible for every electronics and computer manufacturer in the world — including Apple — paying twice as much for RAM and flash storage as it did in 2025, and 10 times more than it paid in 2020. Here’s why there is little hope of that improving anytime soon.Memory is in short supply globally — Image credit: SK HynixApple has historically been able to closely control the cost of its components. Buying in huge numbers, from multiple suppliers has historically given an economy of scale that made Apple a sought-after customer for everything from display makers to storage vendors.But that dynamic has changed. A global shortage of key components like memory and storage has seen the price of both skyrocket. Apple is far from the only company impacted. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By Christine McKee Apple’s current 15-inch MacBook Air equipped with the M4 chip has dropped to $1,049 as Amazon competes for your business this weekend.Grab weekend deals on Apple’s M4 MacBook Air.The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air features a 10-core GPU, with the standard model also equipped with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD. Amazon is discounting the standard spec to $1,049, representing a 13% markdown off MSRP.Buy 15″ MacBook Air for $1,049 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By William Gallagher Code fragments found in the latest iOS 24.6 beta are being taken by some to mean that there will soon be two new models of the Studio Display, with one adding more ports and better speakers.Apple’s current Studio Display, which has not been updated since its launch in 2022Back in 2022 when the Apple Studio Display was first launched, it was seen as very good but very expensive. The monitor has not been updated since, but from practically the moment it was launched, there have been rumors of better versions to come.Now according to Macworld, references in the code of the iOS 26 developer betas appear to be proof an update is finally coming. The references are to models with code names J427 and J527, which is a strong sign that there will be two versions of the display. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By William Gallagher Tim Cook made us want to skip the weekend and get straight to the new launches Apple has for us starting on Monday. That might include a low-cost MacBook, but then further ahead there’s a hint of a touch-screen MacBook Pro later this year, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.If a MacBook is announced in March, it won’t be a MacBook Pro — but a touch-screen one is expected later in 2026What we actually know about next week is that there will be launches. Tim Cook doesn’t hint if there’s nothing much to say, but he also tagged his post #AppleLaunch.So we know something is coming, and if you listen to the leaks, actually everything is coming. If you’ve ever heard it rumored, it’s all due out next week for sure. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By Malcolm Owen Sony’s latest audio release, the WF-1000XM6, are flagship earbuds with improved active noise cancellation. Here’s how Sony’s flagship personal audio accessories compare against the AirPods Pro 3.AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony XM6 earbudsFebruary saw Sony bring out an update to its upper-tier earbuds. After a three-year wait, the WF-1000XM6 are the electronic company’s new best option for in-ear audio.The WF-1000XM6, not to be confused with the similarly-named WH-1000XM6 headphones, lean on the firm’s heritage of audio quality, with improvements to noise cancellation also thrown in for good measure. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By William Gallagher As Apple hits 50 years old, AppleInsider recounts the pivotal role of each of its CEOs, starting with the very first one, Michael Scott. He made bold choices, but he made them badly.Michael Scott, age unknown — image credit: Business InsiderSteve Jobs was not Apple’s first Chief Executive Officer. While he founded the company on April 1, 1976, with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, Jobs had no experience running what was aiming to become a large company.So a CEO was needed, but actually Apple’s first two chief executives are tightly interlinked. Mike Markkula would become the second one, but he hired the first — and then later persuaded that first to leave. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By Wesley Hilliard Apple has requested that the lawsuit against its AI delays and response to an Epic injunction be dismissed. It cites that both counts are unsubstantiated.Apple’s AI delays are fodder for class action lawsuitsThere are multiple lawsuits around Apple’s delay of a more personalized Siri. One class action suit is being led by South Korea’s National Pension Service, and claims that Apple’s recent actions have cost billions in stock market losses.According to a report from Reuters, Apple is being targeted by two counts of defrauding shareholders. The first claim is that Apple is overpromising Siri capabilities, Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By Marko Zivkovic Paramount is now on track to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery, as Netflix has announced it will not provide a competing offer to purchase the studio.HBO Max could soon become property of Paramount.Warner Bros. Discovery has been working to find the right buyer for months now. In October 2025, it was even reported that Apple TV was among the companies in discussions with Warner Bros. executives regarding a potential purchase agreement.Two months later, Netflix emerged as the top contender and potential new owner of Warner Bros. Discovery. However, the enthusiasm was short-lived, as Paramount offered to buy the venerable Warner Bros studios and its extensive library for $31 per share, as part of an all-cash deal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
