Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2025 i Macworld UK

Apple offers pretty good prices on the standard configurations of its Macs. $599 for an M4 Mac mini? $999 for a new M4 MacBook Air? $1,299 for a new M4 iMac? Those are attractively priced. But those prices involve a few sacrifices, most notably the starting storage of just 256GB. A quarter of a terabyte might sound like a lot, but much of what we do on the Mac involves large files—high-resolution pictures, videos, games (literally the biggest culprit), and a lot more—so 256GB runs out quickly. Apple does give customers the option to upgrade storage at the point of purchase, of course, but their prices are steep. Upgrading from 256GB to 512GB (the minimum amount we recommend) is an extra $200/£200, and jumping to a terabyte is another $200,…

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, 2027 will be a big year for Apple (fave.co/43Qs8ga), with a couple of dramatic new iPhone designs (fave.co/43Hnjof), smart glasses, AI servers (fave.co/4jnOjio) and Apple Intelligence developments, camera-equipped wearables, and a tabletop robot (fave.co/412e6qX). But it’s the year after that when we may finally see a product a lot of Apple customers have been asking for. Gurman reported that Apple is working on a “product that will cross a foldable iPad with a touch-screen Mac” that could be revealed in 2028. That’s the only thing Gurman says about the product, but based on past reports, we can piece together what this device is so far. The major hurdle to a touchscreen Mac (fave.co/49NYZCq) is the macOS user interface, which is not designed with touch targets…

The Corsair EX400U looks like a simple external SSD. It measures 6.4×6.4×1.2 centimeters and has a plastic housing. Underneath, however, is a MagSafe-compatible ring for attaching to an iPhone. It connects via USB-C and can also be used with a Mac. We used Ajax System Test Lite (fave.co/44YiJnV) to gauge its speed. Its 2709Mbps for writing and 3165Mbps for reading offer a convincing performance. In the read/write endurance test, the EX400U slows down by around 300Mbps, and the plastic casing also becomes noticeably warm, but not hot. Corsair states that the 2TB model we reviewed has a 500 TBW rating (the number of terabytes it can write over its lifetime); a value of 500 TBW or more indicates an SSD that is suitable for intensive use in video editing. It…

If you just updated to iOS 18.4.1 (fave.co/3T47nY0) this week, you may have noticed that Safari on your iPhone or iPad has started showing a list of your recent search queries. The feature was added in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, with the goal of making it quick and easy to look for something again (a common occurrence). Even though your search history was always just a couple of taps away, Apple has changed the way it behaves, opting to show your recent searches every time you tap into the search bar. If you don’t find it useful or if you’re worried about privacy, here’s how to disable this feature. HOW TO TURN OFF SAFARI’S RECENT SEARCH LIST When looking at the recent search list, you’ll see a small Clear…

Zens is an accessory maker with a stable of premium chargers for Apple devices. The Quattro Charger Pro 4 is a charging station that boasts four fully fledged 15W Qi2 charging slots. We’ve reviewed multi-gadget MagSafe chargers (fave.co/3vXHzkx) previously, of course, and some could handle four Apple devices. But none could do so wirelessly at the same time. The four charging slots are Qi2 and MagSafe compatible, each with a maximum charging power of 15W. Aside from iPhones from version 12 to 16, the charging slots are also compatible with the Apple AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2nd generation and later, as well as with other headphone charging cases. Total output is 65W, allowing for each iPhone charging pad to reach its theoretical maximum. In our tests, we measured an…

These days, iPhones can do a lot—and we mean a lot. From photography and video editing to gaming and artificial intelligence, it’s enough to make you forget they can also, you know, make phone calls and send text messages. With all these headline features, it’s not surprising that a bunch of clever capabilities slip through the cracks. Whether you’re an Apple veteran or an iOS newbie, we bet there are scores of interesting iPhone features you never knew existed. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best iPhone settings you’re probably not using. NAMEDROP: EASILY SHARE CONTACTS NameDrop, which lets you touch two iPhones together to exchange contacts, is a great example of Apple’s seamless and intelligent integration between hardware and software, and it’s something few other phone makers could…

One of the frustrations of setting up a new computer is downloading, installing, and logging into all the various applications I use every day. But whenever I set up a new Mac, I’m happy to download and install Rocket (fave.co/3GJ8Xtm)—the first app I install on any new Mac. In fact, it’s one of the utilities I miss most when I have to use a Windows PC. Rocket is a simple, free utility (fave.co/4jogaPj) from Matthew Palmer that adds Slack-style emoji typing throughout your system. That’s it—that’s all it does. If you spend all day on Slack like I do, you know how fast and easy it is to add emojis. Type a colon (:), followed immediately by a search term, and a little pop-up emoji picker shows relevant emojis. You…

Many recent power banks, whether for phones or laptops, have come with built-in, retractable USB-C cables, making them and you less reliant on separate cable carrying. While we haven’t been plagued by these handy integrated cables breaking, it’s true that they represent a potential point of failure—not catastrophic to the main function of the power bank but certainly frustrating. Alogic has come up with a neat compromise solution with its Ark Pro laptop power bank: a cable that tucks into the back of the battery pack but that is separate and not built into the top of the power bank. SPECS Battery capacity: 99.36Wh Fastest power output: 140W Total power output: 160W Power input: 140W USB ports: 2× USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1× USB-A (22.5W). Dimensions: 6.1×2.6×2.4 inches (15.5×6.5×6cm) Weight:…

With summer fast approaching, JBL recently updated several of its portable Bluetooth speakers, but the one that really caught our eye was the rugged and backpack-friendly design of the new Flip 7. Priced at just $149.95/£129.99, and available in a variety of colors, the Flip 7 is clearly a direct competitor for the recently released Beats Pill, but it manages to outdo its Beats rival in a number of ways. For starters, the updated Flip 7 now boasts a seriously rugged IP68 rating for resistance to water and dust—compared to IP67 for the Beats Pill—which allows it to survive complete immersion in 1.5m of water for up to 30 minutes. JBL says that it’s “drop-proof” too, thanks to a shock-resistant rubber trim that can survive a drop of 1m right…

HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTALLY PLACING PHOTOS IN THE iCLOUD SHARED PHOTO LIBRARY Apple added the iCloud Shared Photo Library in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura, dramatically improving sharing photos and videos with a group of people with whom you frequently exchange media. Shared Library, as it appears in the Photos app, is a kind of supercharged shared album that you might use with your family or a close friends group. However, it is usually the case we want to be circumspect about what we share: not every picture we take is one we want even a select group to see. Because of how the Shared Library is integrated into the iOS and iPadOS Camera app, it can be easy to drop a private photo into the group pool.…

The Apple Vision Pro (fave.co/3vlDfPS) is a perplexing piece of hardware. It’s a technological marvel that stuns the senses, but it lacks the killer app and content needed to overcome the initial cost of investment and awkward ergonomics. I’m fascinated by its potential and was brave enough to hold on to the Vision Pro beyond the return window. When I use it, I am reminded of its unique abilities, such as its Mac Virtual Display feature. Bringing a boring “real world” experience to a hybrid virtual one sounds good on the surface, but the original Mac Virtual Display was limited and didn’t offer much of a benefit. But in visionOS 2.2 (fave.co/4mD8KKT), Apple added the ability to support a wide or ultrawide monitor, making the feature much more useful. It…

A few weeks ago, Apple posted (fave.co/3HiTpit) the New Lumon Terminal Pro on its website to promote the season finale of Severance (fave.co/3FAhSzd), its hit show on Apple TV+. It’s not a real product, and the product page isn’t on Apple.com anymore (but it lives forever in the Internet Archive, fave.co/3FyDgVF). However, what is real is the MDR Dasher Keyboard (fave.co/4joTChk), a replica of the one Lumon employees use in the show. According to Atomic Keyboard, the MDR Dasher Keyboard is inspired by the Data General Dasher 200 (fave.co/3HeG3Uu), a computer terminal from the 1970s. The MDR Dasher is clad in three shades of blue and even features the trackball used to move the cursor. The keyboard “boasts a unique 73-key, 70% layout with no Escape, no Control, and no…

We’ve road-tested a lot of great backpacks, duffle bags, shoulder bags and totes in our bid to find the best MacBook bags (fave.co/43miXE9), but we fell in love with the Troubadour Matrix Backpack on first sight. Gorgeous, slim, and lightweight, it is specifically designed for the tech-carrying commuter or traveler—but you’ll pay a premium price for this luxury organizer. EXTERIOR DESIGNER LOOKS On the inside, the Matrix Backpack is all about organization. But the exterior (which is only available in black) is business smart, in a FortiWeave waterproof fabric that’s built with recycled polyester, and featuring elegant elements of vegan leather trim. The back provides a comfortable padded mesh panel for breathability to stop a sweat building up as you wear it. Staying with the outside of the backpack, at…

Since the very first iPhone, Apple has featured an on-off mute switch above the volume buttons. That all changed with the iPhone 15 Pro, and every iPhone since—the mute switch was replaced by something called the Action button. The idea is simple: Instead of a switch, you have a button you press and hold for a second (to avoid accidental presses in your pocket or bag) to mute or unmute your iPhone. But of course, being a button, it’s far more flexible than the mute switch. Just hop into your Settings menu to select a different function for your Action button. Here are all the things you can do with your Action button. BUILT-IN OPTIONS Open Settings and tap on the Action button menu to change what it can do.…

I have a confession to make: I am an inveterate Reddit scroller. But my viewing experience of choice isn’t the official Reddit iOS app, but a fantastic third-party client called Apollo. The only problem is, it doesn’t exist in the App Store anymore. Apollo was forcibly closed in June 2023 in what some Redditors regarded as a bullying attempt by Reddit HQ to force out competition to the platform’s official iOS app. Like so many others, I was devastated when Apollo shut down. With an ad-free interface and a smoother and more stable experience than the official app, not to mention tons of quality-of-life features, such as previews of linked images, in-app gestures, a host of customization options, It was the kind of Reddit client that felt like it belonged…

While Mophie has always lead the market for iPhone battery cases, Chinese maker Newdery has persevered with quality battery cases for most iPhone models in the past five or so years. It offers a battery case for each of the iPhone 16 range: 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. Mophie, on the other hand, didn’t bother with a case for the 16 Plus when it came to the Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 16 (fave.co/4khWUnR)—so Plus owners have an easier choice between the two battery cases. DESIGN The Newdery Battery Case for iPhone 16 differs from the Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 16 in a number of ways—some good, some more compromised. Unlike the two-part Mophie design, Newdery’s battery case is a one-piece. It looks good from…

For years, the Apple was infamous for offering users little control over their iPhone experience, especially compared to Android phones. Through recent OS updates, Apple addressed common user concerns by unleashing the system, letting you customize its functionality and appearance. Many of these new options, however, are buried deep behind endless menus, and many users aren’t even aware they exist. If you’re running the latest iOS 18 version on your iPhone, you may want to look into these seven settings right away. TURN OFF APPLE INTELLIGENCE Apple Intelligence is one of the most contentious iOS 18 additions, partially because of all the negative press it attracted. The first-party AI suite has been rolling out gradually throughout the past months, and some of its core features, like the new more capable…

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office), Google Docs, and Apple’s free iWork (which includes Pages, Keynote and Numbers) are arguably the three most popular productivity suites for Mac users. Microsoft’s option is perceived as the industry standard by many, and educational institutions tend to rely on its services. Google Docs, albeit web-based, has similarly been adopted by the masses due to its free offering and ease of real-time collaboration. iWork, although not as practical, also provides free and reliable tools for those in the Apple bubble. But what if none of these suites suit you? Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives, including free and open-source software (FOSS) with solid reputations. OnlyOffice is one of them, replicating the Microsoft 365 (fave.co/4hjyDMZ) experience—sans the subscription fees. Is it any good, though? FIRST IMPRESSIONS OnlyOffice…

Users are often reluctant to switch from one music-streaming service to another, even if they find the price, features, algorithm, curation, or song library more appealing. And that’s because of playlists. A huge part of the streaming experience is being able to create cross-device playlists of songs for studying, working out, driving, sleeping, parties, and so on. There are ways to take these playlists with you (fave.co/4mI0XeN) when you move from Spotify to Apple Music, for example, but for many it represents enough of a hassle to keep them with the original service. It’s enough of a problem, in fact, that Apple is releasing a tool to migrate playlists for you. A support document (fave.co/4jyrJDP) published this week (spotted by MacRumors, fave.co/4dLMzhB) reveals the existence of a new Transfer Music…

The Huawei Freeclip is eye-catching in two ways: its elegant, shiny surface and the unusual way they are worn. Unlike conventional open-ear headphones, which either sit in the ear canal or are attached with a headband, they are held directly to the ear with a clip. They work amazingly well. The Freeclip’s secure and comfortable fit is impressive, but since everyone’s ears are different, how they fit will vary from person to person. I found that the Freeclips fit like ear jewelry and are also comfortable while wearing glasses. While each Freeclip earbud looks identical, it doesn’t matter which ear you put them on. The Freeclip can automatically recognize which ear it’s in and adjust the audio appropriately. This is a useful feature and solves one of the most annoying…

With the release of the Mac Studio (fave.co/3QXIgWx) in March, Apple also released its fastest processor ever. However, that chip, the M3 Ultra (fave.co/3ZGew4D), is only available in the Mac Studio—it’s not available in the higher-end Mac Pro. Apple’s flagship Mac, once dubbed (fave.co/43FS6BS) “the world’s fastest personal computer,” still runs the M2 Ultra chip that was released in 2022. That leaves the Mac Pro as a glaring oddball in its Mac lineup. It’s an expensive tower computer starting at $6,999 with an out-of-date chip. Does this mean the tower Mac has come to an end? Perhaps, but there is a glimmer of hope, if you want to believe. MAC PRO’S HISTORY IN LIMBO Apple has a history of leaving the Mac Pro in limbo. When the Mac Studio was…

BenQ’s 27-inch MA270U (reviewed separately, fave.co/3Exw3EW) provides a very affordable alternative to Apple’s expensive Studio Display (fave.co/3E5nXk4), but its sub-$500 price tag does involve some compromises. In this review, we are looking at the 32-inch MA320U. It is slightly more expensive, at $599.99/£549.99, but as well as providing a larger screen, it also addresses some of the weaknesses of its 27-inch stablemate and produces a brighter display with bolder, crisper colors. Just for the record, though, we should point out that the screen actually measures 31.5 inches when measured diagonally. Unsurprisingly, the basic design of the two MA-Series monitors is very similar, with a silver and black case that is mostly made out of plastic. It can’t match the slimline elegance or the sturdy aluminum construction of Apple’s displays, but…

What I really love about smartphones is the extensive app catalog, which lets users try to pick between a wide range of options. If you don’t like how a certain application works, you can typically find solid alternatives in the same category that better match your expectations. However, this generally doesn’t apply to social media and communication apps, as the network effect locks us into the platforms our contacts use. In many regions, WhatsApp has become the default instant messaging service, connecting billions of users to their friends and family members, and even some businesses. Despite that, some people, including myself, still rely on iMessage for a number of reasons, such as concerns over Meta’s privacy practices. Nevertheless, when I text my friends on iMessage, I can’t help but notice…

There are countless online guides offering to help you stretch your Apple Watch’s battery life (fave.co/3HvZRTf), generally by turning off all the flashiest features. But I wanted to be more scientific about it. I wanted to know which features drain the battery the most and how much extra life you’ll gain by turning each of them off. That way we can decide for ourselves whether it’s worth the sacrifice to turn off the always-on display, for example, or the watch’s various health features. Let’s test! HOW WE TESTED For this experiment, I wore two identical watches (the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 without cellular) for two weeks. We did our best to ensure that they were in largely the same condition. One had 120 charges under its belt, the other—borrowed…

Wearing a hat when you’re spending time in the sun is ideal to protect your skin and help keep you cool. But why not go a step further and make the hat capable of charging an iPhone? That’s the premise with the EcoFlow Power Hat. It’s a sunhat with edges lined with solar panels. If the conditions are right, it can create solar energy that can be used to charge a mobile device, such as an iPhone. The Power Hat immediately catches the eye. Unlike conventional outdoor clothing in green, brown, or pastel colors, the hat is black to match the black solar panels. The pitch-black color and the creases on the brim led to somewhat unforeseen consequences: When trying them on in the office, my co-workers teased me about…

On some Apple products, including the M4 iMac, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro, a feature called nano-texture glass is available. This is something that was first introduced on Apple’s Pro Display XDR (fave.co/4myZZS5), before coming to other Apple products beginning with the long-discontinued 27-inch iMac. So, what is it, and should you spend hundreds more to have it adorn your screen? WHAT IS NANO-TEXTURE GLASS? Glare is often a problem in brightly lit offices and homes, which can render the large, glossy displays little more than hugely elaborate mirrors. One option it to choose a display with a coating to give it a matte finish, but that is not without disadvantages. Apple’s solution to the problem is nano-texture glass, which drastically reduces glare while avoiding the frostiness and washed-out colors…

There are times when an application has all the potential in the world but still can’t execute what its developers set out to do. This is the case with Nektony’s App Cleaner & Uninstaller (fave.co/3FsBUvH), the company’s general cleanup utility and the core of Nektony’s larger MacCleaner suite (reviewed here: MacCleaner Pro review, fave.co/4mHSQPq). App Cleaner & Uninstaller, which requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra or later) to download and install, is available as a two-day free download. The software is easy to download, install, and assign full disk permissions to, and is centered around the Applications, Startup Programs, Extensions, Remaining Files, and Updates modules. Where the Applications module is concerned, this chunk of App Cleaner & Uninstaller shines as the centerpiece of the application. Once this is launched and the…

Ever since Apple unveiled its ambitious next-gen CarPlay in-car experience at Worldwide Developers Conference 2023 (fave.co/3uM3lvf), we’ve been waiting for it to arrive. Nearly two years later, the first models running the new system are finally rolling off the lot—and it finally has a proper name. Apple and Aston Martin announced on recently (fave.co/3ZFGnll) that CarPlay Ultra will be available as a standard feature on all new vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada, and will be available for existing models that feature Aston Martin’s “next-generation infotainment system” through an upcoming software update. The system, which “builds on the capabilities of CarPlay and provides the ultimate in-car experience by deeply integrating with the vehicle to deliver the best of iPhone and the best of the car,” appears to be very…

The JBL Tour Pro 3 earphones are equipped with two drivers per earphone. The balanced armature driver ensures clear reproduction of high frequencies, while the 10.2 millimeter speaker driver is responsible for dynamics and bass. The Tour Pro 3 supports the wireless Hi-Res certified audio with LDAC, but that’s an Android-only feature, unavailable to Apple device users. The Tour Pro 3 has a total of six microphones, which are controlled by the JBL Crystal AI algorithm. Two external microphones on each earbud capture and transmit the voice, while an internal microphone isolates noise. The windproof design prevents distortion in windy conditions. The call equalizer allows you to adjust your sound precisely, and the sound level optimizer reduces loud sounds and amplifies quiet ones. The JBL Tour Pro 3 is also…