Macworld #### At a glance ### Expert's Rating ### Pros * Great value for money * Excellent sound quality * Impressive battery life * Bundled aptX adaptor ### Cons * Expensive * Manual could be clearer * Not everyone needs aptX ### Our Verdict It’s aimed at audiophiles who really care about sound quality, but the HDB 630 is excellent value for money. It provides a quick-and-easy Bluetooth connection when convenience is most important, and a separate aptX Adaptive dongle for times when you want the best sound quality. It also provides impressive battery life and useful accessories that are ideal for life on the road. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today ### Price When Reviewed $499.95 ### Best Prices Today: Sennheiser HDB 630 Retailer Price $499.95 View Deal Sennheiser $499.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Many high-quality Bluetooth headphones use the popular aptX codec for Bluetooth audio – well, it’s popular with Android users, Apple has avoided aptX for years (possibly because of a long-running patent dispute between Apple and Qualcomm, which owns the aptX technology). Luckily, most of the best Bluetooth headphones and earbuds support Apple’s preferred AAC codec, so you can still use Apple devices with a wide range of Bluetooth headphones, but many people argue that aptX provides superior sound quality, especially for listening to the lossless or hi-res music that is now available on Apple Music and other streaming services. Apple’s refusal to support the aptX codec means that it’s not something AirPods users can enjoy, but non-Apple headphones are starting to add their own means of support, and we are looking at one such pair of headphones here. (The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 also support aptX). Priced at $499.95/£399.90, Sennheiser’s HDB 630 gets around the problem by providing a versatile set of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that even gives Apple devices a choice between using AAC or the latest high-quality aptX Adaptive codec. Aimed at “the high-performance audio enthusiast who wants it all”, the HDB 630 headphones support both aptX Adaptive and AAC for Bluetooth audio, as well as providing a USB-C interface for a wired connection as well. And, if you’re using Apple devices that don’t support aptX, the HDB 630 also includes a small Bluetooth dongle (adaptor) called the BTD 700, which uses a USB-C interface to connect to your computers or mobile devices, and then acts as a Bluetooth transmitter that supports aptX Adaptive. Sennheiser says that the dongle’s aptX Adaptive can handle hi-res audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz, so it’s a good option if you want to listen to lossless or hi-res music. The HDB 630 can be used with Bluetooth or wired connections, and also includes a USB-C adaptor for aptX as well. Sonova/Sennheiser This means that people using Apple devices have a choice of audio options. You can use a direct Bluetooth connection with AAC to provide a quick and easy connection to the headphones, which will be convenient when you’re out and about or working out at the gym. But, if you’re relaxing indoors or on a long plane flight, then you can plug the dongle into your Mac, iPhone or iPad – as long as they have USB-C, of course – and use its aptX Adaptive support to wallow in your favourite tunes with the best possible sound quality. And the sound quality really is excellent. The design of the HDB 630 is very similar to that of Sennheiser’s less expensive Momentum 4 headphones, but Sennheiser says it has fine-tuned the internal design of the earpieces to improve both the mid-range and lower-treble performance. Some people will argue that aptX doesn’t sound much better than AAC, but I could hear a clear difference when listening to the hi-res version of The Beatles’ _Eleanor Rigby_ on Apple Music. With the BTD 700 dongle plugged into my iPad Air, the sharp, stabbing strings sound more forceful and dramatic, and the deep cellos in particular have a richer, more resonant tone than when listening via the iPad’s standard AAC connection. The dongle also does a great job with the dense rock sound of _Sing Along_ by Sturgill Simpson, laying down a deep, grinding sound for the fuzzy rock guitars, but also picking out the fine detail of the ticking percussion that holds the track together. Sennheiser’s Smart Control app also provides a Bass Boost option that lands the bass drop towards the end of the track with a satisfyingly weighty sound. The headphones also boast up to 60 hours of battery life, so they’ll be a good option for a long flight or train journey. Using the BTD 700 dongle does reduce the battery life to around 45 hours, but that’ll still see you right around the world with no trouble at all. The BTD 700 dongle allows Apple devices to use the high-quality aptX Adaptive codec for Bluetooth audio. Sonova/Sennheiser Our only complaint is that it wasn’t entirely clear how to switch between using the built-in Bluetooth with AAC on my iPad Air, and the aptX Adaptive option with the separate BTD 700 dongle plugged into the iPad. It took a few minutes of random button-stabbing before I managed to connect the headphones to the little dongle. Once that’s done the Sennheiser app lists the BTD 700 and the iPad’s standard Bluetooth as separate connection options, making it easy to switch between them, but it would help if the instructions in Sennheiser’s PDF manual were a little clearer. The Sennheiser app has also been updated for the HDB 630, with a new parametric equaliser that provides more fine control over individual frequency bands, and improved controls for the noise-cancellation features. The noise cancellation works well too, providing quick preset options at the tap of a button, as well as a slider control within the app that lets you manually adjust the level of noise cancellation to suit your surroundings. With noise-cancellation set to full the HDB 630 was able to stamp right down on the low-frequency rumble of an aircraft engine in our simulated tests (courtesy of mynoise.net). It did let in some higher frequency sounds in our second test, which simulates the noise of a busy airport, so Apple’s AirPods Max and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra still have a slight edge with the overall effectiveness of their noise-cancellation features. However, the AirPods Max and Bose QC Ultra are more expensive – and, of course, the HDB 630 has the added bonus of its BTD 700 dongle, which provides improved sound quality for Apple devices when listening to lossless and hi-res music. Sennheiser throws in some other useful accessories too, including a sturdy carrying case, airline adaptor, USB-C cable and 3.5mm cable for devices that still have an old fashioned 3.5mm headphone socket, providing excellent all-round value for money. Useful accessories for travellers include a carrying case and airline adaptor. Sonova/Sennheiser ## Should You Buy The Sennheiser HDB 630? If you’re just looking for an affordable set of Bluetooth headphones then there are certainly less expensive options available. However, the HDB 630 will earn its keep for audiophiles who want the very best audio quality, thanks to its versatile connectivity features that include standard Bluetooth along with the BTD 700 adaptor for aptX Adaptive, and wired connectivity as well. And, with impressive battery life and useful accessories, the HDB 630 really does provide excellent value for money.

Macworld We love iPads, but it’s clear that they’d be so much more versatile if they had multiple ports. Well, this tiny little StayGo Mini USB hub from Twelve South that turns one port into four is just $10. This hub originally sold for $60 (and still sells for that much on Amazon), but somewhere along the line, the price dropped to half. Now, it’s on clearance for a fraction of even the sale price, and that’s absolutely glorious! So, what does the Twelve South StayGo offer? Well, there are four ports — USB-A, HDMI, a headphone audio jack, and USB-C for power. This means you can hook an external 4K display to your iPad, add wired headphones, and charge your gadget at the same time. Oh, and you can transfer some of those photos that occupy your tablet’s storage space. While this Twelve South gadget is uber useful for iPads, it’ll be just as great to use with Macs, too. Considering this product is on clearance, you should hurry and order yours for $10 before the stock runs out. Buy now at Twelve South

Macworld #### At a glance ### Expert's Rating ### Pros * 3-in-1 charging * 25W iPhone charging * Fast charge Watch * Foldable for travel * Super compact design ### Cons * U.S. only ### Our Verdict This is a lightweight small-footprint multi-device charging station that at 25W is as fast as wireless charging currently gets—folded up it’s easily pocketable for the travelling iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods user. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today ### Price When Reviewed 99.99 ### Best Prices Today: ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station (25W) Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal ESR $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket You don’t have to be an Apple fanatic to own an Apple iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch too, but, if that’s you, you’d be crazy to ignore a 3-in-1 multi-device charger that will keep your desk free of snaking cables and three different chargers each requiring power. We’ve reviewed the best magnetic wireless chargers for iPhone and best Apple Watch chargers, and that includes multi-device 3-in-1s and even 4-in-1 chargers. One section of that collection is for wireless chargers that can power up multiple Apple devices but also slip into your pocket or backpack for travel convenience. The ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station (25W) has a name longer than its compact body but includes the latest, fastest wireless charging technology to keep your iPhone charged to full in the shortest time. ## Cool design The black-only fold-out stand design is a familiar one, seen before on earlier chargers and similar to Ugreen’s equally speedy 25W MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger. ESR’s model is more plasticky, which might sound unattractive but it means that it’s lighter and therefore much more portable for travel or commuting purposes: 148g compared to 210g for the more metallic Ugreen. The ESR foldable charger is smaller and lighter than the similarly designed 25W Ugreen MagFlow. Simon Jary At 4.3 x 2.4 x 0.63 inches (11 x 6.2 x 1.6cm) it’s easily pocketable, and a little shorter than the MagFlow. While there are prettier (Journey SWIV) and smaller (Kuxiu X40 Turbo) 3-in-1 travel charging stations, only the 25W ESR 3-in-1 boasts a clever fan to keep your iPhone cool while it charges at top speed. Folded shut for transit, the Qi 2.2 pad remains available for charging while covering the AirPods and Watch charging modules. Pull the pad up to create a stable stand, as well as opening up the other two wireless charging points. It’s a neat design that also exposes the CryoBoost fan that helps chill the phone as it charges. 25W is a lot of power and that heat can trip the heated iPhone into a slower charging mode. The fan is whisper-quiet and should ensure that the full 25W is employed throughout the session. Simon Jary ## Performance ESR claims that the CryoBoost active cooling can reduce heat by up to 10.8°F and therefore maintain the 25W power before the iPhone overheats and turns off charging until it’s feeling better again. It’s a technology that ESR introduced for even some of its 15W wireless chargers, and it certainly makes a difference in terms of performance. While it can take a 15W charger around 45 minutes to charge an iPhone from 0 to 50%, a 25W charger can do the same in around 30 minutes. If you’re just charging overnight that saved 15 minutes won’t mean much, but if you have little time to get powered up it might make all the difference. Simon Jary At 5W the Apple Watch is also fast-charged, and the AirPods couldn’t take in any more power than its Qi pad offers. Note that only the iPhone 16 and 17 series benefit from that full 25W. Earlier iPhones (12-15) are pegged back at 15W. That’s an Apple limitation, and nothing to do with ESR or other third party charger makers. The included USB-C cable features a right-angled connector to keep things neat and tidy at the side. Simon Jary ## Price & availability The ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station (25W) costs $119.99 (although was on sale for $99.99 at the time of writing), and is currently available only in the U.S. Customers who want something similar should look to Ugreen’s folding MagFlow 3-in-1. Or they can go for ESR’s 15W Foldable 3-in-1 Travel Charger that features a detachable Watch charger. Included in the box is a one-port 50W power adapter and 5-foot (1.5m) right-angled USB-C cable. ## Should you buy the ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station (25W)? This is a lightweight small-footprint multi-device charging station that at 25W is as fast as wireless charging currently gets, and folded up is easily pocketable for the travelling iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods user.

Macworld Apple updates its macOS desktop and laptop operating system once a year, like clockwork, bringing new features and improvements. That’s all very well, but Apple’s most recent version – macOS Tahoe – only runs on M-series Macs and a few of Intel-powered Macs (the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019, 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports from 2020, the 2020 27-inch iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro). What if you want to run macOS Tahoe, or any version of macOS, on an unsupported Mac? If Apple deems your Mac too old to run a version of macOS updating is not simple, but it is often possible with an OpenCore Legacy Patcher. The patcher functions by injecting necessary drivers and data into the macOS boot process, allowing the operating system to recognize and function on older Intel-based hardware. This unofficial workaround is not for the faint hearted though, as it means that hardware checks are bypassed, some features missing due to unsupported hardware, and drivers missing – so expect problems. Updating your system will also be much more complicated, leaving you vulnerable to security threats and your Mac less stable. ## Can you run macOS Tahoe on an unsupported Mac? * _At the time of writing the OpenCore Legacy Patcher isn’t available for Tahoe, but it is expected in February 2026._ There can also be a delay while the patchers are developed, so don’t expect them to be available for some time after the macOS launch. In the case of macOS Tahoe, it is not yet possible to run it on unsupported Macs because the OpenCore Legacy Patcher hasn’t been released (as at January 2026). The patcher is expected to be available in February 2026. ## Can you run macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac? Yes, it is possible to run macOS Sequoia on many unsupported Mac models by using third-party patching tools. While Apple officially limits Sequoia to specific hardware (see our macOS compatibility checker for more information about which Macs are supported by which macOS update) the developer community has created workarounds to bypass these restrictions. The primary method for installing macOS Sequoia on hardware that Apple no longer supports is through the OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP). When the OpenCore Legacy Patcher for Tahoe is realised it is likely to run in a similar way to the OpenCore Legacy Patcher allows macOS Sequioa to be installed on an unsupported Mac. _Patchers are also available for macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey and Big Sur._ ## What are the risks of using a patcher to run an unsupported version of macOS? Before you go ahead and follow our tutorial, a word of warning: there is a reason why Apple chooses not to support the new Mac operating system on older Macs. Older Macs just don’t have the necessary components or power required to cope with the demands of the more modern systems. So if you do install Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, or older, on an unsupported Mac don’t expect it to run smoothly. Be aware that there can be issues if you choose to run an unsupported version of macOS. Here are some of the risks and limitations of running Sequoia via a patch: * **Performance Issues** : Older Intel processors may struggle with the graphical demands of Sequoia. For example, while some games like Civilization VII list Sequoia as a minimum requirement, they are optimized for Apple Silicon and may not perform well on older Intel chips even if the OS is patched. * **Feature Gaps** : The most significant limitation is the absence of Apple Intelligence. These AI-driven features are strictly limited to Macs with M1, M2, or M3-series chips . Even if you successfully install Sequoia on an Intel Mac, you will not have access to these tools. * **Stability and Security:** Beta versions of the software are particularly unstable, and third-party app compatibility is never guaranteed on patched systems. For example, there was a problem with the T2 security chip in certain MacBook Air models when booted through OpenCorePkg as outlined here. Additionally, while Apple provides security updates for the current and previous two versions of macOS, running a patched version may complicate the delivery of these updates. * **Installation Bugs** : Even supported Macs have faced issues; for instance, some M3 Ultra Mac Studio users were initially unable to install Sequoia 15.7 due to driver conflicts, though this was later resolved in macOS 26.0. If you decide to proceed, it is highly recommended to back up your data and, if possible, install the OS on a separate volume rather than your primary partition to minimize the risk of data loss. Be prepared for the fact that your Mac will not function optimally and you could lose data. Running macOS on an unsupported Mac may also be considered against Apple’s terms and conditions. If your Mac supports by the version of macOS you want to install, read: How to update macOS for a simple way to update your Mac to the latest compatible operating system. If you really want to run a newer version of macOS then maybe it’s time to upgrade your Mac and sell your old one. Read How to sell an old Mac and take a look at our frequently updated best Mac deals to get the best prices: * Best MacBook Air deals * Best MacBook Pro deals * Best Mac mini deals * Best iMac deals ## How to install Sequoia on an unsupported Mac If your Mac is more than a few years old and you try to install macOS Sequoia (or Sonoma, Ventura or Monterey) on it you will hit a few hurdles – the first being the fact that Software Update won’t let you install the new version of macOS. However, this doesn’t mean that installing Sequoia on an older Mac isn’t possible. It is – you just need a patch. Luckily there’s a patcher for installing macOS Sequoia on older Macs available – the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. The download and instructions can be found here. Note that macOS patchers cannot perform magic and not all Macs will be compatible. Before installing Sequoia on an older Mac, make sure that your Mac is compatible with the patcher. You can find a list of all the Macs supported here. The procedure for updating to a new version of macOS on incompatible Macs is as follows. We recommend following the instructions on the GitHub page. 1. Before you do anything back up your Mac. 2. First you will need to obtain the installation files for the version of macOS you are after – in this case Sequoia. You’ll have to obtain these using a compatible Mac. If they don’t show up in Software Update you can get the installation files from the Mac App Store. They are over 12GB so expect the download to take a while. 3. Once they are downloaded you need to load these installation files onto a USB stick and prepare the USB stick for installing macOS Sequoia. We explain how to create a bootable installer of macOS in a separate article. You’ll be able to find the installation files in Finder > Applications. (Open Finder and press Shift + Command + A). The patcher also guides you through creating the macOS Installer. 4. Next you need to obtain the patcher software that will essentially trick the installation files of the version of macOS you want to install into believing that the Mac is compatible. You can download the latest version of the patcher we mentioned above here. Click on OpenCore-Patcher-GUI.app.zip and it should Download. 5. After extracting the archive from your download you will find the application OpenCore-Patcher. 6. Run the OpenCore-Patcher app. 7. Choose Build & Install OpenCore. If you are planning to install on a different Mac you need to select the correct Mac – click on Settings. 8. Once in Build OpenCore the process should quickly build and then you will return to the main menu. 9. The next step is to choose Install OpenCore to USB/internal drive from the options. (The recommendation is to install on a FAT32 drive. 10. Once that has been created you need to reboot your Mac while holding down the Option (Alt) key. 11. When the Mac starts up there will be a black screen with a few drive options. Select EFI Boot. 12. This will load up OpenCore. Next you need to select Install macOS, you should see the option Install macOS Sequoia in the OpenCore Picker. 13. Now install macOS Sequoia. Foundry We recommend that you follow the steps outlined here if you have any problems. Expect the update to take several hours. ## How to install macOS updates on an unsupported Mac Once you have installed macOS Sequoia (or whatever version of macOS you choose), updates will appear in Software Updates as soon as they are available. However, you should not install these. Instead you need to create a USB stick with the new installation files and install the update in that way. See How to create a bootable USB macOS installer. ## How to install older macOS versions on an unsupported Mac The process is the same if you want to install Sonoma or another version of macOS on your Mac. As above, the download and instructions can be found here. You can check to see if your Mac is compatible with the patcher here. The same patcher is used which ever version of macOS you want to install. The procedure for updating to a new version of macOS on incompatible Macs is the same as above, although you’ll need to use the Sonoma (or other) installation files (which you can get from the Mac App Store). Once OpenCore is up and running you will be able to select Install macOS, you should see the option Install macOS Sonoma in the OpenCore Picker. The update can take several hours. In our case it sometimes looked like the installer had crashed during the update. In this case you should wait, as the installation is usually still in progress. Over time, better ways to update a machine may be found. Currently, the safest approach is to update using a bootable USB stick. If you are trying to install an older version of macOS on a newer Mac see How to install an older macOS over a new one and How to download old macOS Versions.

Macworld It’s an open secret in Silicon Valley that Apple spent years trying to make an electric and/or self-driving car, before eventually giving up and focusing on related fields. But while the evidence for the existence of Project Titan is widespread and persuasive, it’s never been officially confirmed. Until now. As spotted by TechRadar, the secret was blown last week by none other than… Airbnb. And if that sounds strange, allow me to explain. Airbnb just hired a chief technology officer, and chose for the role a former Apple employee: Ahmad Al-Dahle. In publicly available social media Al-Dahle keeps details to a minimum when discussing what he did at Apple Park, referring from 2014-2021 only to “autonomous systems software & algorithm development.” Partly this may be simply the discretion of a man who doesn’t want to burn any bridges, but Apple is also likely to have required him to sign an NDA. However, Airbnb is far less coy in its announcement of Al-Dahle’s new role at the company. In a post that’s still live at time of writing, co-founder Brian Chesky hypes up the CTO at some length, including the following lines (with my italics) referring to life at Cupertino: “At Apple, Ahmad worked on the frontier of technology. He was one of the core technologists behind the iPhone’s display and multitouch systems. He later worked in Apple’s core technology platform group, shipping major features in nearly a dozen devices, including the first Apple Watch. In 2014, Ahmad created and led Apple’s autonomous technology group, responsible for developing the core AI systems for the company’s _self-driving car project_.” Chesky (or the employee who wrote the post for him, if it was ghost-written) is unlikely to have signed an Apple NDA, and it’s good for morale to be able to explain exactly why the new CTO is a big deal in the tech world. Still, it will be interesting to see if the post stays up. Even if the secret wasn’t much of a secret in the first place.

Macworld Like its counterparts on the other Apple devices, in September 2026 macOS got a brand new look along with a new name. Because Apple is aligning the names of all the operating systems this year, the new version of macOS is called macOS 26 rather than macOS 16. It also takes the name Tahoe, inspired by the lake, beaches, and the ski resorts of that area of California. Along with a big redesign, macOS 26 brings new Continuity features to bring your iPad, iPhone, and Mac even closer together, a brand new Phone app, and more. Spotlight also gets its biggest ever update with the ability to action things like sending emails directly from Spotlight. Those with compatible Macs have been able to install macOS Tahoe since it was released on September 15, 2025. If you haven’t yet, read on to find out how to do so, whether you can, and whether you should. macOS Tahoe might have launched, but Apple is continuing development with new features being added every couple of months. You can get a first look at the new upcoming features via Apple’s developer and public betas, which are available to download if you join the beta program (we explain how to do so below). You will find all the things you need to know about macOS Tahoe and all its new features below, including which Macs are compatible with macOS 26 and the new features you can expect, including what’s been added since the September launch, and what’s coming in the next update. Stay tuned to this superguide for everything you need to know about macOS 26 Tahoe. ## **macOS 26 Tahoe: Summary** * The new version of macOS, called macOS 26 Tahoe, was released on September 15 2025. Some M3 Mac Studio users were encountering issues and unable to install the update, but the macOS 26.0.1 update addressed this issue. The current version is macOS 26.1. * macOS 26 Tahoe is still being developed and you can access new features before they are launched via the Developer and Public Betas. * Tahoe runs on Macs released since 2019. It runs on all M-series Macs, but it runs on a small number of Intel-powered models. Apple has confirmed that macOS Tahoe will be the last macOS version to support Intel-powered Macs; from macOS 27 Intel Macs will not be supported. * With its new Liquid Glass interface, macOS 26 has its biggest design change since 2013. * New features in macOS Tahoe include more options for personalization, improvements to Spotlight and Shortcuts app, and the introduction of a Phone app on the Mac and all the associated features. ## macOS 26 Tahoe latest version * Latest version of macOS is macOS Tahoe 26.2, which arrived on December 12, 2025 Apple released the first version of macOS 26 Tahoe on September 15, 2025. The release coincided with the iOS 26 update. Since then the following updates have been issued by Apple. * macOS 26 – September 15, 2025 * macOS 26.0.1 – September 29, 2025 (bug fixes) * macOS 26.1 – November 3, 2025 * macOS 26.2 – December 12, 2025 Wondering whether to install macOS Tahoe? Read: macOS Tahoe vs macOS Sequoia: What’s different, what’s new, and should you update? ## macOS 26 Tahoe next update: macOS 26.3 release date * Current beta is macOS Tahoe 26.3, full version likely to launch towards the end of January or in early February 2026. Development continues even after the official macOS update is released, as Apple seeks to introduce new features that missed the initial introduction date. Apple is running a developer beta as well as a public beta so that upcoming new features can be tested. The macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta arrived on December 15, there have been updates for developers and public testers since. Both betas are free, though the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. Apple issues updates to the betas fairly regularly. The public beta updates tend to come a day or two after the updated developer beta. If you are interested in trying out the beta, you can join Apple’s beta program. For help installing the macOS beta, see our guide to installing the macOS beta. ## What’s coming in macOS 26.3 macOS Tahoe 26.3 is currently in active development and testing. This update continues the refinement of the major features introduced with the initial launch of macOS 26 Tahoe. It’s not yet known what new features are coming, however in iOS 26.3 there are a number of EU-mandated changes coming. Read our iOS 26 guide for more information. ## What’s new in macOS 26.2 macOS Tahoe 26.2, released in late 2025, introduced several specialized updates focusing on video conferencing enhancements, AI development tools, and hardware-specific performance boosts. While it was not considered a massive overhaul, it brought a few “genius” utility features that improved the daily user experience, particularly for those working in remote or low-light environments. * **Edge Light** : The most prominent consumer-facing feature in macOS 26.2 is Edge Light, a virtual ring light designed to improve webcam image quality. It places a bright white border around the display to mimic a selfie ring light, significantly improving visibility in dark rooms. It uses the Neural Engine to detect the user’s face for appropriate light adjustment and can even detect the cursor to hide the light when it might interfere with navigation. Users can adjust the intensity of the light and choose between warmer or cooler color temperatures. It requires an M-series Mac, but on M4 Macs and later, the feature can be set to enable automatically when low light is detected . * **AI and Developer Enhancements** : For developers and power users, macOS 26.2 introduced significant updates to machine learning frameworks and hardware clustering. Developers using the open-source MLX framework can now leverage the Neural Accelerator in the M5 chip. The update enhanced the ability to create AI clusters using the Mac Studio’s Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. * **Security Updates** : Critical patches for vulnerabilities, aligning with security fixes found in iPadOS 26.2. * **Interface Polish** : Continued refinement of the “Liquid Glass” UI, which introduced more translucency and visionOS-style effects across the system. * **Performance** : General “under-the-hood” changes to improve system stability and responsiveness . ## What was new in macOS 26.1 The macOS 26.1 update includes fixes for problems with games controllers and some other issues. There are a lot more changes coming to iPhones with iOS 26.1. New features in macOS 26.1 include: * **Liquid Glass** : Ability to tone down Liquid Glass effect. Choose between clear and tinted look for increased opacity. * **AutoMix** support for Apple Music over AirPlay. * **FaceTime audio** improvements over low-bandwidth. * **Regional Communication Safety** and Web content filters for adult websites. * **Icons** : Changes to the Macintosh HD icon. * **New TV app icon** with Apple TV+ rebranded to Apple TV. * A new **Results from Clipboard** setting for Spotlight, where the user can turn on/off Spotlight’s ability to search and display clipboard items. Users can also set an expiration time for the clipboard and clear the Clipboard history. (_Settings_ > _Spotlight_ > _Results from Clipboard_.) macOS Tahoe 26.1 has a new Spotlight setting for Clipboard management. Foundry ## macOS 26 Tahoe problems & fixes YouTube / Apple Some M3 Ultra Mac Studio users have reported that they are unable to install macOS Tahoe. It seems the problematic Mac Studios already had Sequoia 15.7 installed, and during the attempted installation, Tahoe would look for a driver, and when it failed to find it, it resulted in a failed installation. The macOS 26.0.1 update addresses the initial bugs, including the Mac Studio installation bug. ## macOS 26 Tahoe supported devices: Which Macs get macOS Tahoe * Requires M-series chip or Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 Security Chip * Apple Intelligence features require M1 or later * No Intel support from macOS 27 onwards When Apple updates the operating system for its devices, it sometimes means that certain models are no longer supported. The good news is that Macs that ran macOS Sonoma will be able to run the new macOS. Apple states that the base requirement includes Macs with M-series chips and Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 security chip. Here are Macs with Apple Silicon that will be able to run macOS Tahoe: * MacBook Air (M1/2020 and later) * MacBook Pro (M1/2020 and later) * iMac (M1/2021 and later) * Mac mini (M1/2020 and later) * Mac Studio (M1/2022 and later) * Mac Pro (M2/2023 and later) There are four Intel-powered Macs able to run macOS Tahoe. These models won’t support Apple Intelligence features: * MacBook Pro (16‑inch, Intel/2019) * MacBook Pro (13‑inch, Intel/2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) * iMac (Intel/mid 2020) * Mac Pro (Intel/2019) Apple confirmed that this is the last version of macOS that will run on Intel Macs. ## What were the biggest changes in macOS 26 Tahoe macOS 26 Tahoe represents one of the most significant overhauls to Apple’s desktop operating system in over a decade. The update is characterized by a dramatic visual redesign, the introduction of core mobile apps to the Mac, and a complete rethinking of system-wide tools like Spotlight. We’ll run through each new feature in detail below, including the Liquid Glass redesign, Spotlight overhaul, new apps, new iPhone features that are coming to the Mac and more… ## macOS 26 Tahoe design: Liquid Glass and other interface changes Apple At WWDC in June, Apple showed off some enticing new features for macOS that will be coming later in 2025. A number of new features and interface enhancements were promised, but one of the biggest changes is coming to all of Apple’s products: a new design based on a graphical user interface that Apple is calling Liquid Glass. Apple showed off the brand new look for macOS in the WWDC keynote. As with Apple’s other operating systems, macOS Tahoe uses Apple’s new Liquid Glass effect to create reflective, glossy elements around the interface. The Liquid Glass elements will change color to reflect the content beneath as you scroll and will dynamically react. Buttons appear more curved and less flat. You’ll see the effect in the Dock, sidebars, toolbars, and elsewhere. The menu bar is fully transparent, and you can adjust the transparency of icons in the Dock, for example. If you don’t like the new transparent look or if it affects how well you can see items, there is a way to reduce it, and in some instances, turn it in off altogether. Read: How to reduce transparency in macOS Tahoe. This is the first time in years that Apple has made significant changes to the visual style of macOS, and it certainly makes the OS appear more modern. > @macworld.com > > Top 3 features in macOS Tahoe from WWDC #wwdc #macostahoe #fyp > > ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld ### macOS Tahoe interface changes Apple Apple says the design overhaul will elevate the key elements of macOS and enhance the macOS experience. The cleaner design is intended to help the user to focus on their content rather than other distractions, while elements like the translucent menu bar will make the screen feel larger. Users will be able to choose to add third-party apps to the menu bar and even drag widgets and buttons from the Control Centre into the menu bar, thanks to a customizable layout, similar to iOS 18. Users will also be able to add controls for their favorite apps to the Control Centre. We have a guide to how to use Control Centre in macOS Tahoe where you can read about how to add controls, remove the ones you don’t want, and arrange them in a way that makes sense for you. Apple is taking advantage of the Liquid Glass introduction to bring some new icon designs to the Mac as well to help give macOS a fresh look. Some of the icons look drastically different, for others the changes are more subtle. The ‘hard drive’ icon will now be replaced with one that looks more like an SSD, for example. The new icons tend to take the form of ‘squircles’. The changes may make some third party icons less recognisable. Take a look at: 21 of the new macOS Tahoe icons with new designs for the Finder, Automator, Calendar and Contacts icons among others. You can change the icons if you want, read: How to change the icon of a macOS storage device. The new Finder icon. Apple macOS will also gain a feature that arrived on the iPhone and iPad with iOS 18: tinted and dark app icons. Users will be able to personalize their Mac in other ways, too, such as changing the color of folders and adding emoji or symbols to help them identify folders. Users can also pick personalised wallpapers and choose theme colors. If you want to change your folder color read: How to change folder color and add icons in Tahoe. New dynamic screensavers will be included. One, based on the default macOS Tahoe wallpaper, depicts the landscapes of South Lake Tahoe in a stylized artistic manner, is available in both light and dark versions. See how it looks in Tahoe’s gorgeous new screen saver. There are up to 15 other new screensavers with images of Tahoe at various time of the day, Himalayas, Goa, The Ganges and more. ### macOS Tahoe Spotlight overhaul Apple Spotlight has always been much more than a search tool built into macOS, helping users find anything on their Macs, make calculations and conversions, and more. In macOS Tahoe, Spotlight will be able to do even more. Spotlight’s design and functionality have been completely rethought for macOS 26, with changes that will help Mac users get things done faster. Rather than being a single bar, on the right-hand side of the new Spotlight search box, you will find icons for things like apps, files, Shortcuts, Actions, and clipboard. Select one of these buttons, and Spotlight’s box expands to house relevant items in an easy-to-browse view. When you search for something, you’ll see relevant filters under your search terms – click one to quickly apply it. Not only will Spotlight be the easiest way to find anything on your Mac, but in macOS 26, Spotlight will be contextually aware so it can make suggestions based on what you are doing. Search results will be listed based on their relevance to you, and it will be possible to use new filtering options for more specific search results. Spotlight will also have the ability to perform actions that normally require you to be inside an app. For example, you will be able to create a calendar event, begin an audio recording, or play a podcast from within Spotlight. It will even let you fill out parameters for actions, such as typing out an email message and filling in the recipient and subject. You can essentially compose an email from inside Spotlight, without opening your email app. This will be simplified further with Quick Keys, with which you will be able to type a short string of letters to launch an action, such as typing “sm” to start sending a message to a friend. An App Intents API will make it possible for third-party developers to add Spotlight shortcuts for their applications. One of the most exciting new arrivals in Spotlight is Clipboard History, something we have wanted for years. Instead of being limited to pasting the last copied item, you will be able to view previous text and photos you’ve copied and re-insert them as needed. Why did it take Apple so long to offer this? Apple Tied to the new Spotlight is the new Apps app, which replaces Launchpad, which has been a feature of Macs for more than a decade and provides users with a Home page like view of all their apps. Instead Spotlight will be the means of finding apps. This will take some adjustment, especially if you were a Launchpad user. Learn more about Apps replacing Launchpad, and if you want to get Launchpad back we have a tutorial to show you how. ## macOS 26 Tahoe: New and updated apps There are also lots of updates coming to Apple apps that are included with iPads, iPhones, and Macs. Many of the changes are shared across all the new apps, but there are a number of Mac-specific updates coming. ### Phone app A Phone app on the Mac is the latest Continuity feature to come to macOS. Continuity is Apple’s name for the features that work seamlessly between Macs, iPad and iPhones, these include Handoff (which enables you to start a task on one device and switch to another to finish it), Universal Clipboard (which allows you to copy something on one device and paste it on another), and Universal Control (where you can use one mouse and keyboard to interface with more than one Mac), among other features. With the new Phone app, users will be able to receive their calls and voicemail on the Mac. The Phone app is getting some new features of its own, including **Call Screening** , which is designed to help you avoid spam calls, and **Hold Assist** , which means you will never have to listen to hold music again. With Call Screening, before a call is put through, an unknown caller will have to share their name and reason for calling, and you will then be provided with that information. With Hold Assist, when you join a queue to wait for a call operator and the hold music starts, you can choose to be called back. YouTube / Apple ### Live Activities Another feature that demonstrates the interoperability between the iPhone and Mac is Live Activities. In iOS 18, you can see a live update on your Lock Screen relating to things like a takeaway order. Live Activities show the process of a food delivery driver, for example. Now, that functionality is coming to the Mac. It will be powered by the iPhone Mirroring function, and will take the form of an iPhone-style widget that you will see on the screen of your Mac. ### Games app The Games app is another one that is available across all three main operating system updates: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. As with the iOS Games app, the Games app on the Mac will bring together all the games you have on your Mac (bought from the App Store, Apple Arcade and elsewhere), as well as your friends list, achievements, and leaderboards. Tabs will make it easy to find the games you and your friends are playing. A new Game Overlay will make it easy to adjust settings for a particular game. You’ll also be able to chat with friends and ask them to play. > @macworld.com > > New Mac gaming features just dropped! #wwdc25 #gaming #apple #fyp > > ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld There is also a new Low Power Mode coming, which gamers will be able to turn on to maximise battery life when playing games. And in related news, Metal 4 is coming, which will enable next-gen features for Mac game developers, such as MetalFX Frame Interpolation and MetalFX De-noising. Apple ### Shortcuts Apple The Shortcuts app is getting an overhaul in macOS Tahoe. Shortcuts is a tool for automating tasks and repetitive actions. For those with more specific needs, there is also Automator on the Mac, but Shortcuts is simple to use and available on iPhone and iPad as well. In Tahoe, Shortcuts will be able to run workflows based on factors like time of day, or in response to an email from a specific person arriving. This functionality was previously limited to the iPhone and iPad versions. There are new intelligent actions available that can be used to create Smart Shortcuts. Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT can be used to enhance these Shortcuts. Apple says that “Users will see dedicated actions for features like summarizing text with Writing Tools or creating images with Image Playground.” ### Live Translation One of the most useful new features announced at WWDC is Live Translation. With Live Translation, you can text a friend who speaks a different language and have the translations appear in real time, or get instant translations during a phone call or FaceTime conference. Everyone gets their own translator. You’ll be able to take advantage of Live Translation in the Phone app, Messages, and FaceTime on your Mac. Apple ### Journal The Journal app, which arrived on iOS in 2023, is coming to the Mac (and iPad). ### Terminal Terminal is getting a colorful redesign and the Liquid Glass treatment, with support for 24-bit color and the ability to use Powerline fonts. ### Reminders Reminders is getting some help from Apple Intelligence. Reminders will scan a website, note, email or other content, then decide the most relevant action items for you based on its findings. You’ll be able to use Apple Intelligence to automatically categorize your reminders into sections, making them easier to find There are also changes coming to Safari, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, and Notes.

Macworld Call me cynical, but from time to time, I hear about a “leak” that’s so positive I wonder if it’s actually a press release in disguise. In August, for instance, the transcript of an internal Apple meeting escaped into the wild and revealed that the company, get this, had amazing products ready to launch. And last week it emerged, no doubt to Apple’s consternation, that its upcoming partnership with Google will result in Siri getting a raft of new features without having to make any compromises whatsoever in terms of privacy and the user interface. Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder! Ultimately, news that Apple’s makeover of its misfiring Siri voice assistant will be powered by Google Gemini rather than in-house technology is a black eye for Cupertino, which has all along said that it will innovate, not spend, its way to AI relevance. Simply buying an established model was always an option for cash-rich Apple, but it preferred to make its own. That’s not to say that Apple is too proud to acquire; Siri itself is an acquired product. It just prefers to absorb small companies, rather than ask for help from an equally large and powerful rival, so that it can maintain control. Basing Siri on Google Gemini, then, is a concession of defeat, and the question is what that defeat will cost. Of course, it will result in more features and very likely a far more capable Siri. Google is in a better position than Apple to deliver on the reckless promises and vaporware demos we heard and saw at WWDC 2024. The question is what compromises Apple will be asked to make, and which compromises it will be _prepared_ to make, in return. The privacy element is the most important, being essentially Apple’s unique-selling proposition. And Apple is clearly conscious that working with Google might make customers nervous about who is going to be able to do what with their data, because assurances were issued even before the report in The Information. In the otherwise detail-light official announcement, the two firms hastened to collectively tell us that Apple Intelligence “will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards.” The leak further emphasised that customer data won’t go anywhere near Google’s servers and that Apple’s “privacy pledge” will be maintained. No compromises on privacy, then. Likewise, albeit more superficially, we are assured that Siri, along with other Apple Intelligence features, is going to continue to look and behave like an Apple product, not a Google one. Google will reportedly tweak Gemini to Apple’s specifications, and Apple’s own engineers will be able to modify it if they prefer. The mysterious sources in The Information report even claim that prototypes of the new software don’t feature any Google branding, although I’d be surprised if the final shipping product completely erased Google’s existence, since Google and ChatGPT currently get namechecks when you use their respective services in Visual Intelligence. Credit where credit’s due, after all. Still, even if Google gets to put its name on GemiSiri (Sirini?) the signs appear to be positive that it will remain a fundamentally Apple product in both fundamentals and cosmetics. But do you know the best thing about leaking favorable information rather than announcing it in an official statement? There’s absolutely no consequences if those anonymous sources later turn out to be wrong. And I’m in a suspicious mood. Put it this way. What’s in it for Google? On the face of it, we’re asked to believe that one of the most ruthless companies in the world has found itself in a position of power over its principal rival, able to make or break that rival’s prospects in the all-important AI arena. And instead of invoicing Tim Cook for a pound of flesh, Sundar Pichai bent over backwards to help? I’m not saying it’s surprising for one tech giant to work with another; this happens all the time. Apple continued to work profitably with Samsung even while the two companies were suing each other in multiple courtrooms around the world. But it’s surprising for the tech giant with all the power in the relationship to go along with all of the other giant’s requests. I’m reminded of the moment (spoiler alert) where Mr. Wickham marries Lydia Bennett near the end of Pride and Prejudice, and her father can only wonder in despair what this uncharacteristically honourable act will cost him. Why would Google help Apple if it’s not to further its aims and improve its position? Perhaps, like Wickham, Google has merely asked for an exorbitant amount of money. Apple has money, and Google likes money, as do we all. Money is useful; it can be exchanged for goods and services, not to mention political influence. But I’m not entirely convinced this is the one. For all its cash reserves Apple is bizarrely tight-fisted, protective of its profit margins to the extent of nickel-and-diming its customers, resisting self-repair at all costs, and even sticking ads in Apple Maps. If Pichai wrote an enormously long number on a piece of paper and slid it meaningfully across the table, I’m 99% sure that Cook would slide it back and turn the conversation to manageable compromise. So does that mean customer privacy is negotiable? Again, I suspect not, not least because the privacy pledge was highlighted in the official announcement as well as the leak. That’s an assurance that Apple will have to stand behind when the product launches. But a lot can be hidden behind a public assurance, provided you keep things vague. Your data will be kept on your own device and Apple’s protected architecture rather than Google’s servers. At the same time, it may prove mutually beneficial, and allowable within the terms of the privacy pledge, for the companies to share general anonymised usage data. Some may argue that the deal is worth it for Google purely for the higher profile it will give to Gemini, which may be light-years ahead of Siri but has legitimate rivals of its own. I’m reminded of the arrangement making Google search the default on all iPhones, which reportedly nets Apple tens of billions per year. Google might be prepared to pay Apple something for the privilege of Gemini being the default AI on all iPhones, but it’s scarcely as lucrative as being the default search engine, which means an enormous volume of search ads. And in this case, it isn’t even allowed to harvest any data and has to give up control of the interface. And Apple _needs_ a working AI platform. It’s not remotely the same dynamic. In the end, the most likely answer is some complex mixture of incentives that may never be completely understood outside the companies (or outside an antitrust court hearing). Money may well be changing hands, more likely in the Googlewards direction, but I can’t imagine it will be enough to make the arrangement worthwhile on its own. So there may also be some data sharing in general terms. And perhaps some prominent branding, or favorable placement in the App Store. Maybe Apple won’t have quite as much control over the design as The Information’s anonymous sources would like us to believe. At this point, it’s all speculation. But one thing is clear: Apple has got itself into an awkward spot, and Google is in a position to profit. And to paraphrase Austen, Sundar Pichai would be a fool if he let Apple have access to Gemini for a farthing less than a few billion pounds. Foundry _Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too._ ## Trending: Top stories 20 years ago, the **first MacBook Pro** changed the world. Will history repeat itself? There’s never been a worse time to buy an **iPhone 16e**. Jason Cross explains why Apple’s **M5 Pro and Max chips** will be worth the long wait. The state of Apple and AI: The good (**Gemini**), the bad (**xAI**), and the ugly (**Grok**). Not convinced of **macOS Tahoe’s terrible design**? Here’s the best (worst) example. Here’s everything you need to know about **Creator Studio** , Apple’s new pro app bundle. ## Podcast of the week Apple could release some major products that change how we think about the iPhone and MacBook Pro. In the latest episode of the Macworld podcast we reveal what you can expect in the second half of 2026. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. ## Reviews corner * Flexbar: The **Touch Bar replacement** you’ve been missing. * Blue Prince: A magical mystery tour of a game, packed with **tantalizing puzzles**. ## The rumor mill Siri is expected to gain these 7 new features when **Google Gemini** takes over. Apple might have just revealed the launch date for the **M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro**. A **case maker** might have leaked the iPhone Fold design. ## Software updates, bugs, and problems This strange Google Fast Pair flaw even puts **users with iPhones** at risk. Verizon is **paying $20** to anyone affected by last week’s outage–here’s how to get it. **‘Inexcusable’ Logitech blunder** borked its Mac mice, but there’s a fix. Further examination could explain why **iOS 26’s adoption rates** are so low. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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Macworld When we reviewed the first Mac with an M5 processor—the 14-inch MacBook Pro—we were pleasantly surprised. While most of the laptop hadn’t changed much (outside of a much faster SSD), the leap from M4 to M5 resulted in a pretty big performance jump. Despite still employing a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU as in the M4 before it, the M5 version of the MacBook Pro saw single-core CPU gains of around 13 percent, an even bigger multi-core boost of about 22 percent, and extremely impressive graphics performance uplift of 35-50 percent. This year, possibly in just a couple of weeks, we’ll meet the rest of the family, starting with the M5 Pro and M5 Max in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, likely followed by spring launches of the M5 Pro Mac mini and M5 Max and M5 Ultra in the Mac Studio. Here’s what we expect from those new chips. ## Same core count, but big improvements We don’t think Apple will increase the maximum number of CPU or GPU cores. Rather, we expect the M5 Pro to still have a maximum of 14 CPU cores, and the M5 Max will have a maximum of 16 cores. Some product configurations may have fewer, as Apple has always done. The GPU, similarly, will likely have a maximum configuration of 20 cores for the M5 Pro and 40 cores for the M5 Max. We expect other particulars, such as memory bandwidth, video encoders, and so on, to follow a similar pattern as we saw with the base M5. In other words, by looking at the leap in performance between the standard M4 and the M4 Pro/Max, and then applying that to the base M5, we can come up with a pretty good estimation of what the M5 Pro/Max performance will be. Those are pretty stellar estimated scores for the top-end M5 Max. Around 4,500 for single-core CPU performance is a lot, but over 31,000 for the multi-core score is astounding. That’s in the same league as chart-topping 64-core AMD Threadripper CPUs. The M5 Max may be the first Apple GPU to break 250,000 on the Geekbench 6 GPU compute test. Even the M3 Ultra, with its 80 GPU cores, landed just a hair under it. If Apple can get there with half as many GPU cores in just two processor generations, that’s an impressive pace of improvement. The most impressive gains on the base M5 were in graphics performance, and if that holds true for the M5 Pro and Max, we’re in for a treat. A score over 2,300 on Steel Nomad is a little better than the laptop version of the GeForce RTX 4050. The bigger M5 Max, with a score over 4,600, would be comparable to a GeForce RTX 4070. Apple is still a long way away from matching the performance of the best modern desktop GPUs (such as the GeForce RTX 5080 with a score over 10,000), but this would be a big step forward. ## Flexible configurations? The M5 Pro and M5 Max may have one more chip up their sleeve: more flexible configurations. A recent rumor suggested that the M5 Pro and Max will be fabricated with separate CPU and GPU areas, linked together on the same silicon substrate. In other words, separate pieces of silicon form a single chip. This would allow Apple to freely mix and match CPU and GPU core counts. It’s unlikely that Apple would allow any configuration you can think of, but it may be possible to buy an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip with more GPU and less CPU, if that would be a better balance for the workloads you run. This is all thanks to the chips being manufactured using a new TSMC packaging technology called SoIC-mH (System-on-Integrated-Chip, Molding Horizontal). This may also allow Apple to integrate the RAM more tightly into the packaging, so as to improve memory bandwidth. Flexible configurations of this sort would be new for Macs since the end of the Intel days, and there’s no guarantee it will happen. Apple could be using this new technology just to have separate silicon for the CPU and GPU in order to improve yields and heat dissipation, both of which should be improved over a single monolithic die. We shouldn’t have long to wait to find out what Apple is up to. The M5 Pro and Max chips should debut soon, possibly later this month when Apple Creator Studio arrives on Wednesday, January 28.

Macworld Many of us are quite used to carrying around a handy power bank to top up our iPhone batteries during a long day away from a power socket, but these pocketable battery packs are usually not powerful enough to keep an unplugged and energy-hungry MacBook going all day. We’ve rounded up the best portable laptop power banks with battery capacities high enough to recharge a fading Apple MacBook if you won’t be able to plug it into an electrical outlet for some time. Despite new laptops boasting improved battery life duration, it’s easy for your trusty MacBook to lose power after a day of intense meetings and PowerPoint presentations. No one wants to see the Mac’s “Your battery is running low” warning, especially when halfway through watching a downloaded Netflix series on a long-haul flight. We looked at seven main factors for recommending laptop power banks: battery capacity, charging speed, total power output, power input, USB ports, portability and safety. For more details on each see below this list of the best MacBook power banks. ## Power vs portability There are some giant power banks, usually called portable power stations, that can keep a family going all weekend, but they are way too large to carry with you on your travels. We have tested the most MacBook-friendly models in our roundup of the **best portable power stations**. As a rule, the higher the battery capacity, the larger and heavier the power bank. We have included size and weight so you can determine if each power bank suits your traveling needs. Some laptop power banks are built to last in the great outdoors so will feature more rugged IP-rated shells; read on for our reviews below. There are much smaller, lighter and more portable power banks for phones—check out our recommendations of the best power banks for iPhone. You could use some of these to recharge a laptop but we recommend the power banks tested and reviewed here for the best results when powering up a laptop. ## Macworld Test Score We test each power bank’s real-world charging prowess by recharging a spent 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro from 0% to 100% (or as far as it gets) and then repeat, adding the two percentages together to create a comparable Test Score. ## Which power bank is best for your MacBook in 2025? We have indicated which models of MacBook we think each power bank is best suited to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pair any with different MacBooks. The 16-inch MacBook Pro can be fast-charged at 140W so owners of that model should look for a PD 3.1 power bank. But even a 13-inch MacBook Air will work well with the higher-capacity power banks. They might not charge any faster, but they will be recharged more times if you pick a high-capacity battery pack. ## Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W) – Best overall MacBook power bank ### Pros * Large battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * 300W total output * 250W input * Dedicated app ### Cons * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $229.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Anker $169.99 View Deal $199.99 View Deal $199.99 View Deal $229.99 View Deal $229.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 26250mAh (99.75Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 300W **Power Input:** 250W **USB ports:** 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-A (22.5W). **Dimensions:** 6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches (16 x 6.4 x 3.8cm) **Weight:** 21.1oz (599g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 125% The Anker Prime 26K Power Bank (300W) is one of the most powerful laptop power banks that you can match with your MacBook. It is a great fit with the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has a battery rated at around the same watt hours (99.6WH) as this power bank (99.75Wh). There are three USB ports. Each of the two USB-C ports can be used to power at 140W. Attach Apple’s USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable or the included 240W USB-C cable to the power back and you can utilize one of the 140W PD 3.1 ports to fast-charge the 16-inch Pro. Indeed, with its 300W total output at your disposal you could fast-charge two of the top-end MacBooks at the same time and still have enough juice to fast-charge your iPhone! Anker claims that you can fast-charge that top-end MacBook Pro up to 50% in 27 minutes. In our tests, we charged a 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro to full power with enough left over to power it back to 25% on the second recharge. You can recharge the power bank itself to 50% in under 150 minutes using the two USB-C ports at the same time at an impressive 250W. This is a sophisticated power bank with some tricks of its own. It can be controlled by an app, which gives real-time charging stats (Remaining Charging Time and Input and Output power indicators) and can be optimized to help extend the battery life of the devices being charged as well as its own. You can even use the app’s Find Device feature to activate a sound alert from the power bank when you need to locate it. Anker also sells a 27K Prime Power Bank, available in either black or gold colors. We prefer the 26K model as it’s a little smaller, performed better in our tests, and out guns the 27K model in total output (300W vs 250W) and input (250W vs 170W). ### Who should buy the Anker Prime 26K 300W Power Bank? Powerful enough to charge two 16-inch MacBooks at the same time, this power bank is a great travelling companion for any of Apple’s laptops. Both its 300W total output and 250W input are top-end for a truly portable power bank. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our full Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W) review ## EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank 27K (300W) ### Pros * Large battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * Integrated charging cable * 300W total output * 280W input * Dedicated app ### Cons * No USB-A port Price When Reviewed: $219.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $189.99 View Deal EcoFlow $219.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 27650mAh (99.54Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 300W **Power Input:** 280W **USB ports:** 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 2x USB-C (65W). **Dimensions:** 6.5 x 2.2 x 2.3 inches (16.6 x 5.5 x 5.8cm) **Weight:** 24.7oz (699g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 120% Although a little larger and heavier than the Anker Prime 26K 300W Power Bank, reviewed above, the EcoFlow RAPID Pro 27K Power Bank (300W) has a hidden weapon in its battle for the best MacBook power bank: a built-in retractable USB-C cable tucked away in its base—saving you from carrying a spare cable around with you and keeping your travel bag neat and tidy. Like the Anker Prime 26K, this power bank can fast-charge two 16-inch MacBook Pros at full pelt. It boasts the same 200W total output, and has two more USB-C ports—both at a potential 65W—but no legacy USB-A port. If you need a USB-A port, look to the Anker Prime instead. USB-A aside, it can recharge up to four devices at the same time, although. With three devices it can output at 140W, 95W and 65W—enough for three MacBooks at the same time. And using all four charging points, still allows for two MacBooks at 140W. with the remaining two USB-C ports sharing 20W. In our tests it scored 120%—a little lower than the Anker Prime’s 125% but nothing substantial in comparison. It can be recharged itself at 280W, which is a little faster than its Anker rival. ### Who should buy the EcoFlow RAPID Pro 27K 300W Power Bank? As powerful as the Anker Prime 26K Power Bank and boasting a built-in USB-C cable plus an extra port, the EcoFlow RAPID Pro is a real rival for the crown. If you can take the (minimal) extra weight and don’t need a USB-A port, it is highly recommended if only for the retractable cable. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our full EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank 27K (300W) review ## Ugreen 48000mAh Portable Power Bank (300W) – Best high-capacity MacBook power bank ### Pros * Massive battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * 300W total output * Carry handle * 5 powerful ports ### Cons * Larger and heavier than most * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal Ugreen $169.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 48000mAh (153.6Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 300W **Power Input:** 140W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 2x USB-A (22.5W). **Dimensions:** 6.3 x 5.7 x 3 inches inches (16 x 14.5 x 7.6cm) **Weight:** 3.6lb (1.65kg) **Airline compatible:** Yes (with carrier approval) **Macworld Test Score** : 180% The Ugreen 48000mAh 300W Portable Power Bank is the missing link between a laptop power bank and a full-blown power station. It has a huge battery capacity but is still portable, although you wouldn’t want to carry it around in your backpack all day, and it’s too powerful to take on a commercial flight. It has a handle so is carriable, but the bulk and weight mean it is one to move around inside or carry in a car. It would be the perfect power companion on a camping trip. It’s not super-heavy, but it is noticeably larger than the other laptop power banks tested here. Keep it powered up in case of power outages and it should keep your laptop and phone going for days. In our tests we recharged a 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro 1.8 times, so you can expect to get maybe as many as two charges for a MacBook Air. The Pro charged from 5% to 90% in an hour, which impressed us. There are five ports (three USB-C and two USB-A) with a maximum simultaneous power output of 300W. As it has a 140W PD 3.1 USB-C port, it can be used to fast charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro. At the same time, you could charge another top-end MacBook Pro at 100W, and use one of the USB-A ports at 22.5W. The smart display shows the remaining battery, total input and output power. ### Who should buy the Ugreen 48000mAh Portable Power Bank (300W)? Portable but certainly not pocketable, this is the border between power banks and power stations and would be a great travel gadget if you have a vehicle to carry it in. It is also a mini-prepper’s safeguard against power outages at home. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our full Ugreen 48000mAh 300W Portable Power Bank review ## Ugreen Nexode 20K 165W with Retractable USB-C Cable – Best mid-range laptop power bank ### Pros * Decent battery capacity * Lightest 20K power bank * Integrated charging cable * 100W input * 165W total output Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal Ugreen $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 20000mAh (72Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 100W **Total Power Output:** 165W **Power Input:** 100W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C cable (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C port (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (33W) **Dimensions:** 5.7 x 2.1 x 2 inches (14.6 x 5.4 x 5cm) **Weight:** 18.9oz (535g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 78% Retractable cables are very in right now—although nicely tucked away when not in use—for power banks and chargers. This 20K Ugreen Nexode Power Bank has one 2.1-foot retractable 100W USB-C cable nestled and ready for action right next to another 100W USB-C port and a 33W USB-A port. At under 19oz it’s a little lighter than the cable-friendly Anker 25K 165W power bank, reviewed below, and is half an inch shorter, too. Although it matches the Anker on 165W maximum power output and 100W ports it does have a smaller battery capacity—although is therefore $20 cheaper. In our tests the 25K Anker recharged a 14-inch MacBook Pro to 92% while this 20K Ugreen power bank reached a respectable 78%. In the battle for power and cable convenience, these two power banks must be chosen on capacity, portability and price. ### Who should buy the Ugreen Nexode 20K 165W Power Bank? This mid-range laptop power bank is compact and lightweight with a handy retractable cable, and will get your MacBook back up to about three-quarters power on a single recharge. Ugreen Ugreen sells another 20K model with a built-in USB-C charging cable. The $79 **Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W** (above) is shorter at 5.1 x 2.1 x 1.9 inches (12.9 x 5.3 x 4.8cm) and $20 cheaper with the same 20K capacity but a lower max power output of 130W vs 165W. It weighs fractionally less than the 165W Nexode. Buy the 130W model if all you need is to charge a MacBook at 100W and an iPhone at 30W—this stubbier cousin may be all you need. It’s integrated 5.4-inch USB-C cable—useful for MacBooks and later iPhones—is nowhere near as long as the 165W model’s 2.1ft retractable cable but it can double up as a carry handle. Buy the 165W model if you regularly charge two laptops at the same time: one at 100W and the other at 65W. On both 20K models, the USB-A output can be handy for legacy devices. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 165W with Retractable USB-C Cable review ## Anker Power Bank (25K, 165W) with Cables – Most convenient MacBook power bank ### Pros * Large battery capacity * Two integrated charging cables * 100W input * 165W total output Price When Reviewed: $119.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal Anker $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 25000mAh (90Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 100W **Total Power Output:** 165W **Power Input:** 100W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) built-in cables; 1x USB-A (33W). **Dimensions:** 6.2 x 2.1 x 1.9 inches (15.7 × 5.4 × 4.9cm) **Weight:** 21oz (595g) **Airline compatible:** Yes (with carrier approval) **Macworld Test Score** : 92% The performance is impressive—we recharged a 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro to a respectable 92%, not far off the 100% from its slightly higher-capacity sibling Anker 27650mAh power bank—but what we love about this laptop battery pack is its handy 2.3-foot (70cm) retractable USB-C cable that means you don’t have to carry one with you when you take the power bank walkies. There’s even a second built-in USB-C cable that doubles up as a carrying loop. Each USB-C port can output and provide input at 100W. The cable wraps neatly into a groove at the top of the power bank. There’s spare USB-C and USB-A ports on one side, so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. Note that if you want to charge more than one device, they must share the maximum output of 165W between them. However, 165W can only be supplied by two devices; with three and four devices, the maximum output is limited to 133W, although that is likely enough for most needs. It’s available in either Space Black or Silver. With its integrated cables this is one of the the most travel friendly laptop power bank we’ve tested. A cheaper alternative is the 65W Baseus Free2Pull Power Bank that features one retractable USB-C cable, which is available in the U.S. at Amazon or in the U.K. via AliExpress. ### Who should buy the Anker Power Bank (25K, 165W) with Cables? If you frequently recharge multiple devices at the same time, maybe one integrated USB-C cable won’t be enough for you. This power bank boasts two cables, and performed well in our tests. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Anker Power Bank (25K, 165W) with Cables review ## INIU Cougar P62-E1 20000mAh (65W) Power Bank – Lightest, most compact and fun 20K laptop power bank ### Pros * Compact size * Decent battery capacity * 3 ports * 200W total output * Color choices ### Cons * 65W maximum power * 45W input Price When Reviewed: $50.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $39.99 View Deal INIU $50.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 20000mAh (65Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 65W **Total Power Output:** 65W **Power Input:** 45W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (35W); 1x USB-A (18W). **Dimensions:** 4.3 x 2.8 x 1.1 inches (11 x 7.1 x 2.9cm) **Weight:** 11.4oz (324g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 87% The INIU P62-E1 20000mAh (65W) Power Bank may have a dull name but it stands out a mile with its colorful looks—it’s available in six bold colors—and dare-to-be-different compact shape. Not just fun to look at and easy to hold, it performed excellently in our tests, recharging a 14-inch MacBook Pro to 87% from a flat start, outperforming our recommended 20K power bank, the Ugreen Nexode 20000mAh Power Bank, reviewed higher up, by nearly 10%. That Ugreen power bank features an integrated retractable USB-C cable and is more powerful with 100W outputs and a maximum 165W power—beating the 65W INIU. The INIU P62-E1 might not have a retractable cable but it does boast a removable USB-C cable that creates a handy carrying loop. While 65W is a little lacking—but not unusable—for the Pro MacBooks it’s ample for the MacBook Air. ### Who should buy the INIU Cougar 20K (65W) Power Bank? Stand out from the crowd with this cute and compact laptop power bank that offers impressive performance for MacBooks that don’t require top-end power output to fast charge. That said, even MacBook Pro owners may desire something as lovely as the Cougar. **Great for:** 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full INIU Cougar P62-E1 20000mAh (65W) Power Bank review ## Anker Prime 20000mAh Power Bank (220W) – Compact mid-range laptop power bank ### Pros * Compact size * Decent battery capacity * 3 powerful ports * 200W total output ### Cons * No built-in cable * Premium price Price When Reviewed: $179.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal $149.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Anker $179.99 View Deal $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 20000mAh (72.36Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 220W **Power Input:** 100W **USB ports:** 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-A (22.5W). **Dimensions:** 5.8 x 2 x 1.7 inches (4.4 x 5.0 x 14.7cm) **Weight:** 18oz (529g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 102% The Anker Prime 20K Power Bank is a recommended laptop power bank that is lighter and smaller than the top-end Anker Prime 27650mAh Power Bank, but boasts the same number of USB ports. Anker has a couple of 20K laptop power banks that are worth considering. The latest model is the 3-port **Anker Prime 20K Power Bank (220W)** , which boasts two 140W PD 3.1 fast-charging USB-C ports and a 22.5W USB-A. When charging with all three ports at the same time, it offers two 100W outputs and a 20W. With two it can output two USB-C at 110W or one at 140W and the USB-A at 22.5W. The older but slightly cheaper **Anker Prime 20K Power Bank (200W)** doesn’t feature the 140W PD 3.1 USB-C ports, instead packing two 100W USB-C ports and a generous 65W USB-A port. That doesn’t rule it out as a battery pack for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but it can’t fast-charge Apple’s largest laptop. Its maximum output of 200W is a little below the 220W model. Both feature a clear display but only the 220W model works with the Anker app. While the 27650mAh Anker Prime can be charged itself at 200W, the two Anker 20K Power Banks can be charged at a lower, but still reasonable, 100W using just one of its USB-C ports. The 200W model is noticeably shorter than the 220W, measuring 4.9 x 2.1 x 2 inches (12.7 x 5.5 x 5cm) compared to the 220W’s 5.8 x 2 x 1.7 inches (4.4 x 5.0 x 14.7cm), although the 220W is a little lighter at 1.1lbs (510g) compared to the 200W’s 1.17lbs (529g). The 200W model is cheaper at $139 compared to the 220W model’s $179 price tag, but both appear quite expensive when compared to some rival 20K power banks; see the Ugreen 20K Power Bank reviewed below. The 200W model fared impressively in our recharge test. ### Who should buy the Anker Prime 20K Power Bank (220W or 200W)? Although priced at a premium, these are great options for the smaller MacBooks unless you need as much power in the bank as you can carry. If you don’t need the 140W outputs, the 200W model will save you some cash, or consider the lower-output Ugreen Nexode 20K Power Bank below.. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Thomas Bergbold Ugreen’s equivalent to the Anker Prime 20K Power Banks is the much cheaper $89 Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh, pictured above. The battery capacities of both are identical, but the Ugreen is noticeably lighter (1lb or 480g) even though its dimensions are closely aligned: 5.1 x 2.1 x 2.0 inches (13.1 x 5.4 x 5.1cm). Each has a smart display that tells you more than enough about what’s going on between the power bank and the devices being charged. The Ugreen Nexode is a more portable solution, but we still prefer the Anker Prime model for both its impressive USB ports. The Anker has two 100W USB-C ports, while the Ugreen’s USB-C ports are rated at 100W and 30W. As the Ugreen power bank has a maximum power output of 130W, this doesn’t matter, but the Anker can pump out up to 220W simultaneously, making its powerful ports more useful. Power input is also better on the Anker (100W) vs the Ugreen (65W). However, we’ve seen the Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh priced a lot more competitively than the Anker Prime 20K, and that weight difference may be important to you. Also, for the lone traveller one port for the MacBook and another for fast-charging an iPhone or iPad might be all that’s required. Read our full Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W review. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. ## Cuktech 15SE 85W 20000mAh Power Bank – Best budget 20K laptop power bank ### Pros * Compact size * Decent battery capacity * 3 ports * 200W total output ### Cons * Lower recharge than rivals in tests * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $49.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $35.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 73.44Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 65W **Total Power Output:** 85W **Power Input:** 65W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (33W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (33W). **Dimensions:** 6 x 1.7 x 2 inches (15.2 x 5.2 x 4.4cm) **Weight:** 17.4oz (492g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 60% The Cuktech 15 laptop power bank we tested might not perform to the same degree as more expensive rivals but offers great value for money. Despite its somewhat confusing name, the Cuktech 15 has a 20K (20000mAh) battery that managed to charge our test 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro to 60% power. That’s not as impressive as other 20K power banks reviewed here but at under $50/£50 it’s one of the cheapest MacBook battery pack that we trust. You can use it as a multiple-charge iPhone power bank, too: it should charge an iPhone 15 around 3.5 times. You double-click the power button to enter low-power mode for devices such as a smartwatch or headphones. With the three USB ports all in action, you can charge the MacBook at 65W and share the remaining 20W between the other USB-C and USB-A ports. ### Who should buy the Cuktech 85W 20K Power Bank? Offering great value for money, this mid-range laptop power bank might be all you need for shorter travel trips. **Great for:** 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. ## Baseus EnerCore CR11 20000mAh 67W Power Bank – Lightweight 20K laptop power bank ### Pros * Compact and lightweight * Decent battery capacity * Retractable USB-C cable ### Cons * Just two power outputs * 67W maximum power Price When Reviewed: $89.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $26.99 View Deal Baseus $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 20000mAh (72Wh) **Fastest Power Output:** 67W **Total Power Output:** 67W **Power Input:** 45W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C cable (67W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C port (65W PD 3.0) **Dimensions:** 5.7 x 2.7 x 1.1 inches (14.5 x 6.9 x 2.8cm) **Weight:** 13.7oz (389g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 95% The Baseus EnerCore CR11 even sounds like a battery name and maybe power banks are becoming as ubiquitous. This handy-sized 20K battery pack is the lightest one we have tested and includes a retractable 27.6-inch (70cm) USB-C cable that tucks away at the top when not is use. In our tests it recharged an 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro from 0% to 95%, which is excellent going for such a compact power bank. It is probably best suited to the MacBook Air as its power output is 67W, which is just enough to fast-charge one of Apple’s entry-level laptops. It will work fine with the Pro models—as proved by the tests mentioned above—but will be a slower charge. At a total output of 67W and 45W input (charging the power bank itself) the EnerCore CR11 looks a little weak in comparison to some of its 20K rivals. That said, it’s lightweight and compact with a simple remaining-charge display, and won’t weigh down your hand luggage as much as the others. ### Who should buy the Baseus EnerCore CR11 20K 67W Power Bank? Its big and bold front battery-life display will show you how much power you have left even in a dark environment. **Great for:** 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Baseus EnerCore CR11 20000mAh 67W Power Bank with Retractable Cable review ## Cuktech 15 Ultra Power Bank 20000mAh (165W) – Best budget 140W 20K laptop power bank ### Pros * Decent battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * 165W input * 165W total output ### Cons * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $119.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 76.56Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 165W **Power Input:** 165W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (18W). **Dimensions:** 6 x 2.3 x 1.8 inches (15.2 x 5.7 x 4.4cm) **Weight:** 20.8oz (590g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 123% A little cheaper than the higher-capacity Cuktech 20, reviewed below, this slim laptop power bank can also fast-charge even the 16-inch MacBook Pro with its 140W output. The 20 looks the better buy in terms of capacity and at a similar price, but the 15 Ultra has a special feature known as Beast Mode. While the 25000mAh battery of the Cuktech 20 is certainly worth the small extra investment on this 15 Ultra in terms of capacity, this 20000mAh power bank impresses with its super-speedy 165W input, which means you can recharge itself faster than most using Beast Mode where you use both the USB-C ports to recharge the power bank up to 70% in around 20 minutes. The smart display shows you what each of the ports is doing, battery status, connected devices, and when the unit is powering up in Beast Mode. ### Who should buy the Cuktech 15 Ultra Power Bank 20K (165W)? If you need as much power as you can get in a short time, look for this laptop power bank’s Beast Mode option. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Air. ## Sandberg Survivor Powerbank 27000 PD65W – Most robust power bank for MacBook ### Pros * Large battery capacity * Super rugged IP66 shell * Flashlight ### Cons * Chunky * More USB-A than USB-C * 60W power input * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $104.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Sandberg $104.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 99.9Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 65W **Total Power Output:** 65W **Power Input:** 60W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 2x USB-A (18W) **Dimensions:** 6.6 x 3.3 x 1.7 inches (16.8 x 8.5 x 4.2cm) **Weight:** 28.4oz (804g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 100% Outdoor adventurers and in-the-field professionals need devices that are stronger than softy office desk jockeys and occasional airport travelers, and the Sandberg Survivor boasts a tough !P66 shell that is impervious to water and dust. As such it is bigger than most power banks but it would survive outdoors much longer and has a big enough battery to keep a bunch of devices charged up before being introduced to a wall charger again. Behind a protective rubber flap there are three USB ports: two old-school USB-A and one USB-C. We would have preferred more USB-C, which is used on most modern devices, and that singular USB-C port is also where you will charge the power bank itself. The USB-C port outputs at up to 65W and receives power at 60W. Each of the USB-A ports can output at 18W. Total simultaneous power output is 65W. Uniquely, there is also a 24W DC 5525 port if your devices can be powered using this connection. As it charges at a maximum 65W, it’s better suited to the lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pro and 13 and 15-inch MacBook Air, rather than the more powerful versions of the 14- and 16-inch Pro MacBooks that prefer a 100W or higher charger. That said, if your 16-inch Pro is on an outdoors adventure, the Survivor will still charge it, just a little slower than a 100W or 140W power bank. ### Who should buy the Sandberg Survivor Powerbank? If the other laptop power banks reviewed here look too fragile for your next trip to the mountains or jungle, the Survivor is built to take some punishment—just look out for your MacBook! **Great for:** 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air or any adventurer’s laptop Read our full Sandberg Survivor Powerbank 27000 PD65W review ## InfinaCore P3 Pro – 10K Power Bank and Wall Charger combo ### Pros * Compact size * Wireless charging pad for iPhone * Plugs into wall as 3-port charger ### Cons * Smaller battery capacity * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Infinacore $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 37Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 65W (in wall) **Total Power Output:** 65W **Power Input:** 30W **USB ports:** 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (18W) **Dimensions:** 3.8 x 3.3 x 1.5 inches (9.7 x 8.4 x 3.8cm) **Weight:** 12oz (339g) **Airline compatible:** Yes **Macworld Test Score** : 45% Built for travel, this combo 4-in-1 wall charger and 10K battery pack can charge a laptop at 45W as a power bank and at 65W when plugged directly into a wall power socket. It comes with international plug adapters for U.K., E.U. and AU/NZ that slip onto the built-in U.S. foldable prongs—great for travel or just use in your own region. It even has a fold-out rubber handle that you can use to attach it to your backpack while hiking. Its 10000mAh battery capacity is certainly not the highest of the laptop power banks we have reviewed here, but it did recharge a completely faded 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro back up to 45%, which should get you an extra few hours charge when on the move, depending on your laptop’s battery health. Its two USB-C and one USB-A ports make it a capable AC wall charger, and a magnetic side pad works as a 15W Qi2 wireless charger for the MagSafe-ready iPhone 12 to 16 families. If charging by wall, the USB-C port output is 65W. When operating as a power bank, the USB-C port outputs 45W, unless also wireless charging when the maximum out put is 30W (15W wireless plus 15W USB-C). A smart displays shows the power bank’s remaining battery charge, remaining time to full charge, real time output/input, and temperature. ### Who should buy the InfinaCore P3 Pro? While its battery capacity is at the low end for recharging a MacBook, this power bank is built for backpack travel around the world with its compact size and slip-on international plugs. **Great for:** 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. ## Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank 20000mAh 145W ### Pros * Compact size * Decent battery capacity * Tilting wireless charging pad for iPhone ### Cons * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal Ugreen $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 72Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 100W **Total Power Output:** 145W **Power Input:** 65W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (22.5W Max) **Dimensions:** 4.4 x 2.7 x 2.4 inches (11.2 x 6.8 x 6cm) **Weight:** 19.6oz (555g) **Airline compatible:** Yes Both a 20K power bank and mini desktop charger (when connected to a USB-C wall charger). this stubbily compact battery pack features a 100W USB-C port at its rear and a 45W USB-C and 22.5W USB-A port at the front underneath a large color smart display. While certainly portable it isn’t one to slip in your pocket or clamp to your phone on the move—the Nexode Qi2 is aimed at the iPhone using laptop owner. It’s a handy travel companion that should handle most of your power bank needs while out and about, and then sit on a desk as a smart-looking and informative charger that can charge four devices simultaneously. ### Who should buy the Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank 20K 145W? This semi-permanent desktop charger can be picked up and taken on your travels as a mid-range laptop power bank. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank 20000mAh 145W review ## Cuktech 20 Power Bank 25000mAh (210W) – Budget 140W 25K laptop power bank ### Pros * Large battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * 110W input * 210W total output ### Cons * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $114.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 90Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 210W **Power Input:** 110W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (30W). **Dimensions:** 6.3 x 2.2 x 2.2 inches (16 x 5.5 x 5.5cm) **Weight:** 22.4oz (636g) **Airline compatible:** Yes The Cuktech 20 Power Bank 25000mAh 140W PD 3.1 power bank looks a lot like the Anker Prime 27650mAh, reviewed above, in a tall format with an informative smart display. As with the Anker, there are three USB ports, with one at the required 140W for fast-charging a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The other two ports aren’t as powerful as the Anker’s though: 45W vs 140W, and 30W vs 65W. An M2 MacBook Air should be fully charged with a little power left over for your iPhone, AirPods or Apple Watch. Power input is also not as great, but at 110W it’s impressive enough compared to most. Maximum simultaneous power output is 210W—again not as high as the Anker but still respectable. The Cuktech’s display gives more data than the Anker, which is informative for wattage junkies but probably overkill for most of us, who just need to know how much battery life remains in the power bank. Anker’s dedicated app is perhaps more useful. Again, this is a nice to have and the Cuktech power bank does the important stuff of recharging the laptop at a price point that is noticeably lower than Anker’s. ### Who should buy the Cuktech 20 Power Bank? This is an affordable 140W-capable power bank that lacks some of its rivals’ top-end specs but might be all you require at that price. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Pro. ## Cuktech CP253L 20000mAh Power Bank – Budget 20K 45W Power Bank with cable ### Pros * Decent battery capacity * Integrated retractable USB-C cable * USB-C and USB-A ports * Affordable ### Cons * USB-C cable quite short * 40W power input Price When Reviewed: $34.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $20.39 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 74Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 45W **Total Power Output:** 55W **Power Input:** 40W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0) built-in cable; 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (QC 18W Max) **Dimensions:** 6.4 x 2.8 x 1.2 inches (16.2 x 7.2 x 3cm) **Weight:** 17.6oz (499g) **Airline compatible:** Yes The Cuktech CP253L is a budget rival to the Anker 165W Power Bank and Baseus Free2Pull Power Bank, and indeed any of the 20K laptop power banks reviewed here. It wins points for its built-in USB-C cable, although at 6 inches (15cm) the cable not as long or handy as the 2.3-foot (70cm) retractable cable on the Baseus. It is also a less powerful: 45W vs 60W via USB-C, and charges itself slower, too. It recharged our test MacBook Pro to 75%, again a little off the Baseus performance but probably enough for most users in need of a power boost. At 45W it’s fine for the MacBook Air but a little underpowered for the Pro MacBooks, which will charge a little slower. (We’re only interested in Apple’s MacBook here but if you also own a Xiaomi laptop, its USB-C connectors can charge at 55W and the USB-A supports 33W UFCS charging for some Chinese phones.) ### Who should buy the Cuktech CP253L 20K Power Bank? The lower power input and output plus shorter cable, along with a slightly heavier weight, are compromises you may well overlook when you see the price. This is a great-looking—in either black or a cool white—and solidly performing portable battery pack for your laptop. It’s also available in the U.K. unlike the Baseus. **Great for:** 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. ## Alogic Ark 27000mAh Power Bank – Budget 140W laptop power bank ### Pros * Large battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * 140W input ### Cons * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 97.2Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 140W **Power Input:** 140W **USB ports:** 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-A (22.5W). **Dimensions:** 6.1 x 2.1 x 2 inches (15.5 x 5.3 x 5cm) **Weight:** 22.4oz (635g) **Airline compatible:** Yes This is another column-shaped laptop power bank with a high-capacity. The three top-mounted USB ports support PD 3.1 so it is particularly useful for owners of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which can be fast-charged using one of this power bank’s 140W ports. As total power output is also 140W, you can’t charge another device at the same time as fast-charging that top-end MacBook. If you want to simultaneously charge more devices, look for a power bank with a higher maximum power output. The similarly designed Anker Prime 27650mAh, reviewed above, can use all three of its ports up to 250W. The Ugreen 48000mAh Portable Power Bank, also reviewed previously, is a larger unit but can reach 300W total power output. The Alogic Ark has a smart display screen that shows you how fast devices are charging, remaining battery capacity, and how long it will keep charging at the current speed. ### Who should buy the Alogic Ark 27K Power Bank? It’s a well-priced laptop power bank so you might be happy to choose the Ark over an alternative that can pump out more power at one time. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Pro. ## Baseus Laptop Powerbank PD 100W 20000mAh – Slimmest power bank for MacBook Pro ### Pros * Slim body * Decent battery capacity ### Cons * No display in watts * 65W power input * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Baseus $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 74Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 100W **Total Power Output:** 100W **Power Input:** 65W **USB ports:** 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 2x USB-A (30W). **Dimensions:** 5.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches (13.4 x 13.4 x 1.8cm) **Weight:** 445g **Airline compatible:** Yes The Baseus Blade HD Laptop 20000mAh Power Bank is a different design to most other laptop power banks. It is slim (1.8cm) and almost square rather than a rectangular obelisk. This makes it easier to slip into the laptop compartment of a backpack or case. There are four ports: two 100W USB-C, and two 30W USB-A. The 20000mAh capacity is enough to charge a 13-inch MacBook Air from zero to 100% once, with about 5% remaining. The Blade HD also recharges via either of the two USB-C ports—although at 65W it’s slower than others reviewed here. In our tests it reached 90% after just 90 minutes and is fully charged after just under two hours—batteries always take longer to fill the last part of the charge. Like other laptop power banks, it features a smart display, but this one is harder to read than the others tested here. It provides information about the capacity percentage, voltage, and current, as well as the approximate time for the charging process, but the practical benefit of the display would be even greater if the power was displayed in watts and not in a combination of volts and amps. Baseus makes good products but can be let down by a confused product lineup. As well as the “Blade HD“, there is also a “Blade” with very similar specs and price but slightly longer (6.4 vs 5.3 inches). As far as we can tell, only the Blade is available in the U.K. while the smaller Blade HD is available in the U.S. and E.U. ### Who should buy the Baseus Laptop Powerbank 20K? If slimness is key in carrying your laptop power bank, the Blade will slip into a backpack or briefcase with ease. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Read our full Baseus Laptop Powerbank PD 100W 20000mAh review ## Ugreen 25000mAh Power Bank (145W) – Power in a portable package ### Pros * Large battery capacity * 140W (PD 3.1) charging power * Portable shape ### Cons * 65W power input * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $99.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $65.99 View Deal Ugreen $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 90Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 140W **Total Power Output:** 145W **Power Input:** 65W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-A (22.5W). **Dimensions:** 6.3 x 3.2 x 1.1 inches (16 x 8.1 x 2.8cm) **Weight:** 17.7oz (503g) As well as its oblong Nexode laptop power banks, Ugreen offers an alternative slab shape in the form of the Ugreen 25000mAh Power Bank. We think the slab shape works better for portability, while the more vertical Anker shape looks good when sitting on your desk. Offering 140W PD 3.1 via one of its USB-C ports, it is ideal for fast-charging the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Maximum power output, however, is only a little over 140W so there’s not much power left if you want to charge another device at the same time. There’s not enough battery to fully recharge Apple’s top-end MacBook Pro, but it gets very close when recharging our test 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro. It is closest to the 27650mAh Anker Prime power bank, and while having a little lower battery capacity it is nearly a quarter of the weight so is easier to carry around with you. The Ugreen battery pack can charge the same number of devices (three) as the Anker, but the Anker can pump out 250W of power simultaneously while the Ugreen is limited to 145W. The Anker is also much faster to re-charge itself, with 170W power input compared to Ugreen’s 65W. The display is not as smart as those on other laptop power banks reviewed here, showing just the remaining percentage. That said, this is the key statistic you’ll be interested in rather than more detail on power input and output wattages. ### Who should buy the Ugreen 25K Power Bank (145W)? The max power output means you’ll only charge one MacBook at a time, but this is a slim portable power bank that offers enough charge for short travels. **Great for:** 16-inch MacBook Pro. ## Ugreen 100W 20000mAh Power Bank ### Pros * Decent battery capacity * Lightweight * Portable shape ### Cons * 65W power input * No built-in cable Price When Reviewed: $79.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $49.99 View Deal $54.99 View Deal Ugreen $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket **Battery capacity:** 72Wh **Fastest Power Output:** 100W **Total Power Output:** 100W **Power Input:** 65W **USB ports:** 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0); 1x USB-C (30W); 1x USB-A (22.5W). **Dimensions:** 5.5 x 3.2 x 1.1 inches (14 x 8.2 x 2.8cm) **Weight:** 14.8oz (419g) As well as its 25000mAh laptop power bank, Ugreen the a smaller and lighter Ugreen 100W 20000mAh Power Bank that is well-suited to the MacBook Air. This power bank should have enough juice in it to fully recharge a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. This model has a 100W power output so is less able for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, although it would still offer enough recharge to give even that laptop a few more hours of usage on the road, although with a total 100W, it’s limited to also charging other devices at the same time as a larger laptop. ### Who should buy the Ugreen 100W 20K Power Bank? This one is a useful option when portability is the main aim, as at 419g it’s one of the lightest laptop power banks with a decent battery capacity. **Great for:** 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air. Ugreen ## Power bank battery capacity The larger the laptop power bank’s capacity the more charges it will be able to give your MacBook. While nearly all laptop power banks give their battery capacity in **milliamp hours** (mAh) it’s more instructional to know the battery capacity in **watt hours** (Wh) as Wh provides a more accurate estimation of a battery’s energy capacity for devices with varying power requirements. A 13-inch MacBook Air has a battery capacity of around 50Wh. The 16-inch MacBook Pro’s battery is rated at nearly twice that—just under 100Wh. To find out the Wh rating of your MacBook, check our our list of all the MacBook battery capacities. In theory, a 100Wh power bank could recharge the smaller laptop twice and the larger one once. While it’s not quite that simple—due to issues such as the laptop using some power during charging and environmental conditions such as temperature—you will certainly get more charge from a power bank with a higher Wh rating. Watt hours is also the measure used by airlines to determine whether you can carry the power bank onto a plane with you: see below our list of the best MacBook power banks for national and international in-flight battery regulations. ## Battery to laptop charging speed The speed at which a power bank can charge your laptop is important, especially if you are charging the MacBook while using it. Like any USB-C charger, look for the wattage at which the power bank can output power. A small laptop requires perhaps as little as 40W to keep it powered up. A larger MacBook might require 65W or 100W. A 16-inch MacBook Pro can be fast-charged at 140W. In technical terms, chargers and power banks have a USB PD (Power Delivery) rating. PD 3.0 has a maximum power output of 100W. PD 3.1 (useful for the 16-inch MacBook Pro) can output at 140W. The PD rating is assigned to each USB port (see below). That top-end MacBook can be charged at 100W, but it will take longer to charge. If you use a much lower wattage charger, or power bank, your MacBook battery might not fill up as fast because the laptop battery is being used by your applications. As such we haven’t looked at any laptop power bank rated at under 65W and make recommendations for each power bank we have tested as to which MacBook model it is best suited for. It is fine to use a 140W PD 3.1 charger or power bank on a smaller laptop—nothing untoward will happen as the power output is regulated by the laptop being powered. Indeed, you can safely charge your AirPods case with a 140W charger even though it won’t take more than 5W. ## Total power output A power bank with multiple ports will also have a maximum total output, which is how much power all the ports can give out together at one time when each is connected to a different device. A power bank might have two ports each rated at 100W, but if the total power output is 100W then that power will be shared between the ports. Look for a total power output that means the power bank can handle charging multiple devices at the same time at full speed. ## Power input Power Input is the wattage at which the power bank itself can be charged via a USB-C charger. Again, the more watts, the faster the charge up to the power bank’s full capacity. ## USB ports A power bank needs at least one USB port to carry the power from itself to the device being charged. USB ports today come in two basic varieties: old-school rectangular USB-A and modern reversible USB-C. You will get the fastest charge using USB-C at the power bank end. At the MacBook end, the USB-C end of the cable will connect with the MacBook’s Thunderbolt port, which is identical to USB-C in looks and basic operation. Thunderbolt is backward compatible with USB-C. Look for power banks with multiple USB ports so you can charge more than one device at a time: more than one laptop, or a laptop plus a phone or two, or your AirPods case and Apple Watch. A USB-A port might be useful if you need to power-up a device whose charger uses the older standard; for example, a Fitbit. ## Power bank safety Batteries can present a fire risk in certain circumstances, such as rapid overheating (a process called thermal runaway), overcharging and exposure to high temperatures. As such we recommend only power banks from trusted, premium manufacturers with a long record of producing safe, high-quality products. You will find cheaper power banks, but we believe that the safety of the device you are charging, your home or office, plus your bag if carrying it around with you, are paramount. If you want to take your power bank on a plane, there are also regulations to abide by—or you’ll be leaving it at the Security Desk. See below the chart of our favorite laptop power banks for international airline rules on permitted power banks and batteries. ## Which spare batteries and power banks can you take on a plane? When damaged, short-circuited or overheated, batteries can catch fire and explode, so there are regulations in place to ensure safety onboard commercial aircraft. If you are lucky you’ll find a charging point at the airport, but we know these are usually already taken. Many plane seats also have a USB port, but it’s often old-school USB-A where most chargers these days use the more modern, powerful and reversible USB-C connector. You’d be wise to carry your own USB-C wall charger, which you can use if your plane seat includes a regular AC power socket. Remember that you might need a travel adapter depending on the nationality of the airline. Most national and international batteries in flight regulations allow for lithium-ion batteries up to 160Wh, if permitted by the individual airlines. **U.S. TSA and FAA battery and power bank regulations** The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that any “spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only”. Both TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) state that “with airline approval”, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium-ion batteries (101–160Wh). TSA requirements apply to both air carriers and airports, and the FAA requirements only apply to commercial airlines. **U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) battery and power bank regulations** Up to two “spare batteries for portable electronic devices containing lithium-ion batteries exceeding a Watt-hour rating of 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh when carried for personal use are allowed for carry-on baggage and on one’s person. They are not permitted in checked (hold) baggage.” **European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) battery and power bank regulations** The European Union regulations are stricter: “If the Wh is higher than 100 but not higher than 160, you will need an approval from the operator to carry the item”. EASA also states that “power banks should not be connected or providing power to a device while on board the aircraft”. So you can carry the power bank with you but not actually recharge your phone or laptop while on the plane. ## How to find a battery’s Watt Hour (Wh) rating Manufacturers are required to mark lithium-ion batteries with the watt-hour rating, but it’s often not clearly indicated on the packaging or on the power bank itself—look for some tiny writing on one side of the battery pack and you’ll eventually find the Wh rating. Don’t worry, we’ve done that for you in our recommendations below. You can calculate the number of watt-hours your battery provides if you know the battery’s nominal voltage (V) and capacity in ampere-hours (Ah), by using this calculation: Ah x V = Wh. If you know only the battery’s milliampere hours (mAh), divide that number by 1,000 to get the ampere-hours (Ah). For example, 1200mAh divided by 1,000 = 1.2Ah. Then multiply that number by the power bank’s voltage.

Macworld **TL;DR:** Pay $269.97 once, get 10TB of Internxt private, encrypted cloud storage for life—and stop worrying about space forever. Running out of storage has become a modern stress trigger. Phones fill up. Hard drives pile up. Cloud subscriptions quietly renew every year. Internxt 10TB Cloud Storage flips that script by offering something refreshingly simple: 10TB of private cloud storage for life—with a single $269.97 (MSRP $2,900) payment. This deal gives new users lifetime access to Internxt Drive’s post-quantum, zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage, meaning only you can ever access your files. Internxt can’t see them. Third parties can’t read them. Everything is encrypted end-to-end, split into pieces for extra security, and protected by open-source code that anyone can audit. Internxt works across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web, making it easy to sync files and photos across all your devices—even if you live outside the Apple-only ecosystem. Upload once, access everywhere. And yes, 10TB is massive. It’s enough for years of photos, videos, work files, backups, and “I might need this someday” folders—without constantly cleaning house. Performance is fast, the interface is simple, and sharing files is straightforward. Don’t miss Internxt’s 10TB Cloud Storage for $269.97 (MSRP $2,900) while it’s available through Jan. 25. It’s a one-time purchase, available to new users only. Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB PlanSee Deal _StackSocial_ _prices subject to change._

Macworld Jeff Pu, a research analyst at GK Securities, has shared an investor note in which he shared what he believes will be the tech specs of the folding iPhone when it debuts later this year. There’s not much new here–his specs are right in line with the latest leaks and rumors we’ve heard from other sources. We don’t have any providence for Pu’s information, but he has been fairly accurate in the past. According to the report, the iPhone Fold will feature the expected A20 Pro processor with 12GB of RAM, made on TSMC’s N2 (2nm) process. There will be two rear 48 megapixel cameras (he doesn’t mention the type, but we can assume it’s a wide and ultrawide). There will be two front-facing cameras as well, one for when the device is closed and one for when it is open. At 18 megapixels, this sounds like the same new square-sensor selfie camera found on the latest iPhone 17 line. When closed, the folding iPhone is said to have a 5.3-inch display, according to Pu. A novel size (and perhaps aspect ratio) for an iPhone. Unfolded, the inside display will be 7.8 inches. The case will be a combination of aluminum and titanium parts. Finally, the iPhone 18 lineup and iPhone Fold will use Apple’s upcoming C2 modem. The information from Pu lines up well with prior rumors, and it’s hard to tell what is independently verified and what is just coming from the same sources those previous rumors did. But one thing is certain: for the first time in years, it seems very likely that the folding iPhone is actually going to happen this year.

Macworld Here’s the thing about the iPad Pro: the M-series chips Apple uses in them are very powerful, so much so that you’ll be very happy with a model with an older chip while saving money, too. In this case, a lot of money: Costco is currently offering the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro with a 1TB SSD and nano-texture glass for $899, a remarkable savings of $800 off its original price of $1,699. The current iPad Pro sports an M5 chip, so the M4 is one generation older. But the M4 is only 11 percent slower than the M5, a difference you’re not going to notice in a tablet. Aside from the chip, you’re getting the same incredible display, gorgeous design, and excellent battery life, along with a Thunderbolt/USB 4 port, fast charging, Apple Intelligence support, landscape Face ID, the list goes on and on. A new M5 iPad Pro with the same specs is $1,699–is that speed difference really worth the $800 price difference? Unless you’re rendering high-resolution video files, it’s not. Here’s another way to look at it: Apple doesn’t offer certified refurbished M4 or M4 iPad Pros, but it does offer an 11-inch M2 iPad Pro with a 1TB SSD and a standard display for–get this–$1,179. That’s right, $1,179! If that’s how you want to spend your money, then I have a bridge I’d like to sell you. Seriously, this Costco deal is a good one, even if you aren’t a Costco member–you’ll need to pay $10 for shipping. Members can save on shipping by picking it up at a warehouse. But we don’t expect them to last long, so act now before they’re gone. Get the 11-inch M4 iPad (1TB) for $899 Buy now at Costco

Macworld There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install an old version of macOS or Mac OS X. Perhaps you’re relying on software you have discovered doesn’t work properly in the latest version. Perhaps your Mac has run slowly ever since you updated. Or maybe you just don’t like the new version of macOS that you have installed. Either way, you have questions and we have answers. In this article, we will cover how to get old versions of macOS, including Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even old versions of Mac OS X. We explain how to get hold of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac. Just note: if you were hoping to run Catalina, Mojave, or a version of macOS older than Big Sur on an M1 or later Mac, that’s not possible. If you are looking for a way to go back to the previous version of macOS, we have an article about reverting a macOS update. You also might want to get the installer for a version of macOS to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs. We have a separate article that explains how to downgrade macOS when you get to that stage of the process. ## Where to get older versions of macOS Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to get ahold of these files, as long as you know where to go on the Mac App Store. If you’re unsure of your Mac’s compatibility, check out our list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X. It is possible to download older versions of macOS from the Mac App Store. Click on the links to download the installers for the following macOS versions: _*Note that we have discovered that the links we give below will only work if you are using Safari, so we suggest you switch to Apple’s browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not work*_ * macOS Sequoia * macOS Sonoma * macOS Ventura * macOS Monterey * macOS Big Sur * macOS Catalina * macOS Mojave * macOS High Siera Foundry Older versions of macOS aren’t available on the Mac App Store, but Apple does provide dmg files of them. You need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image. * macOS Sierra * OS X El Capitan * OS X Yosemite * OS X Mountain Lion * OS X Lion We discuss this process in more detail below. ## How to download macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave and High Sierra Foundry You can download the installers for many versions of macOS from the Mac App Store. Follow these steps to download the version of macOS that you want from the Mac App Store. Use Safari and close the Mac App Store app if you have that open before you begin. 1. Follow the Mac App Store link above to the software you require. Use Safari and the Mac App Store will open on the page for the macOS version you require. 2. Click on _Get_. 3. Software Update will open with the words “Finding Update”. Eventually a message “Are you sure you want to download macOS [name]” will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you’ll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for macOS. 4. Once the installer has downloaded **do not** click “Install”. If you do, the installer will automatically be deleted (plus it won’t install if you are already running something newer). 5. You should be able to find the “Install macOS name]” app in your Applications folder, which you can use to [downgrade macOS to an older version (see our separate tutorial). ## How to download Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain Lion and Lion Apple provides dmg files of these older macOS versions, but you need to download them using Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image. Prior to June 2021, you could purchase OS X 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for $19.99/£19.99 each – Apple would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the aging operating system versions. Instead, you can download the operating systems directly from the company along with these other versions. * macOS Sierra * OS X El Capitan * OS X Yosemite * OS X Mountain Lion * OS X Lion We have seen a warning about the connection not being private when trying to download these, this message is appearing because it’s not an https connection, probably because these files predate that standard, but do exercise caution here. The links come from this Apple page so should be secure. ## How to get Mac OS X Server Apple discontinued macOS Server in April 2022. The last version was macOS Server 12 Monterey (version 5.12). Apple has published a support document in which is explains that despite being discontinued “Existing macOS Server customers can continue to download and use the app with macOS Monterey.” macOS Server 12, 5.12 was available on the Mac App Store here, but Apple removed it. If you have previously downloaded it you may be able to get it again. Mac OS X server 3.2.2 is listed on the Mac App Store here. It costs $19.99/£19.99. ## What to do if the Mac App Store links above aren’t working We’ve said above that in our experience usually the reason the above links don’t work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are still finding that the link isn’t working you could try the alternative methods below. Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, but you see an Update not found error message when you try to download it. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven’t. In that case, we suggest you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac. You may also encounter issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually, when Apple introduces a new Mac it will not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not support certain components in that Mac, for example. ## What to do if the macOS version won’t install on your Mac There are a few reasons why this could happen. Most likely your Mac doesn’t support this version of macOS. Either because it is too old, or because it is too new. **Verify Compatibility** : Ensure your Mac actually supports the version you are trying to install. Apple began transitioning away from Apple silicon with the release of macOS Big Sur in 2020, so any version of macOS before that won’t run on an M1 Mac or later. For instance, macOS Tahoe requires an M-series chip or an Intel-based Mac with a T2 Security Chip (generally models from 2019 or later). Older versions like macOS 15 Sequoia support some Intel Macs from 2018. If you have a M1 or later Mac you will see a message that your Mac is not compatible with versions of macOS that predate Apple’s move to its own silicon. All versions of macOS prior to Big Sur require an Intel Mac. **Too old?** There is a way to install versions of macOS onto Macs that aren’t new enough to support them. To do that requires the use of the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. We explain how to do that here: How to install macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac. **Too new?** If your Mac is too new to run the old version of macOS you are after, you are probably out of luck. We recommend seeking a second hand Mac capable to running the version you want. **macOS Version**| **Supported Macs**| **Apple Silicon Support** ---|---|--- Sequoia| Most Macs 2018+| Yes Sonoma| Most Macs 2018+| Yes Ventura| 2017–2021| Yes Big Sur| 2013–2020| Partial Catalina & Older| Older Intel Macs| No We explain which Macs support which macOS version in our macOS compatibility guide. ## Other ways to get older macOS versions If you are running an older version of macOS – or someone you know is – you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will be determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac. Prior to macOS Mojave’s arrival in 2018, the installers for the older macOS versions could be searched for or found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years). However, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers can no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although we do have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.) If you happen to have access to a Mac that’s running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store with your password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively, ask a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. Once the installer has downloaded don’t install it! If you do the installer will be deleted. You’ll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you can copy it onto your Mac or create a bootable installer. You may also find updates to an older version of macOS on Apple’s website. However these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won’t be much help if you are trying to get the full download. The one thing you really mustn’t do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the macOS you want. Just because Apple gives away its software for free, don’t think it’s fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac. ## How to get OS X Snow Leopard If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you won’t have access to the Mac App Store. For a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard, they couldn’t update. Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $19.99/£19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost $25/£25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc – so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that old). Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, this isn’t a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update via the links provided above. ## How to get OS X Leopard or earlier If the old version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6. You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, but you will only be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with the Apple Developer Program, which costs $99 to join. Join the Apple Developer Program here. You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system or perhaps a Mac running one.

Macworld After conflicting rumors, we’ve been unsure whether Apple is going to release its rumored OLED-based M6 MacBook Pro later this year or in early 2027. But according to a new report, it looks like it’ll arrive before the end of 2026, according to a recent report. According to the Naver blog, Samsung has started production on its 8.6-generation OLED display, the one expected to debut for the M6 MacBook Pro. As reported by The Elec, the new 8.6G process produces larger 290x2620mm glass discs targeted for laptop use and is more efficient than current methods. The start of the display production could mean that Apple could have the new laptop ready by the end of this year. The report also states that production involves a “dual stack method,” which sounds like the next generation of the tandem OLED Apple uses for the iPad Pro. In a tandem OLED, two panels are used to produce a high level of brightness. The current M5 MacBook Pro supports an XDR brightness of 1000 nits sustained full-screen, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only), and an SDR brightness up to 1000 nits. Previous reports have stated that Apple will implement touch input support with the OLED MacBook Pro. but it is not clear if this support will be available across the M6 lineup, or only in the M6 Pro and Max models, and not in the base M6 model. For more about the OLED MacBook Pro, check out our superguide.

Macworld Apple surprised creative professionals this week with its new Creator Studio. The bundle combines several apps, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro, into a single subscription. Even if you don’t use every app, it’s a pretty good deal. But while Apple sells the idea that Apple Creator Studio is a cross-platform bundle, the reality is that most of the tools offered are either made or only available on the Mac, which makes the bundle much less appealing to those who prefer to work on the iPad or even the iPhone. In an age with iPads that have desktop processors and iPhones that will soon unfold into tablet-sized screens, it doesn’t make sense. ## On the Mac, Apple Creator Studio delivers on its promise On the Mac, Apple Creator Studio makes perfect sense. For just $12.99 per month, you get access to all of Apple’s Pro apps. That includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage, which would cost nearly $700 separately. The subscription bundle also adds some extra features to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. It’s hard to find arguments against subscribing to Apple Creator Studio if you’re a Mac user. Final Cut Pro alone costs $299, which is enough to pay for two years of Apple Creator Studio. If you were to buy all the apps individually, you would spend around $700. Also, it’s much more compelling than paying $70 per month for Adobe Creative Cloud. Apple Creator Studio is an incredible value if you work mostly on a Mac. Apple On the iPad, however, subscribers won’t get the full experience. That’s because only Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro will be available on the iPad – and when it comes to Final Cut Pro, the iPad version still lacks many features available on the Mac. And Apple doesn’t offer standalone versions of any Creator Studio apps for the iPad, so you have to subscribe (either individually or as a bundle) to use them. Of course, some people only use their iPad as a companion device to their Mac, but Apple itself sells the idea of using the iPad as a computer replacement. In that case, if you only have an iPad, you won’t be able to use all the apps available with Apple Creator Studio. Yet, you’ll still pay the same price. ## iPhone users are also creators One group of creators Apple has almost completely overlooked is iPhone users. Don’t get me wrong, I know that many pros work from their Macs, but in the age of social media, I also know many people who shoot, edit, and publish directly from their iPhones. And not offering anything new for the iPhone is a missed opportunity. CapCut has become one of the most popular mobile editors due to its simplicity and built-in AI features. At the same time, even Adobe has created a mobile version of its Premiere video editor, focusing on people who shoot and edit with their phones. Adobe offers strong mobile companions for its pro apps. Where are Apple’s versions? Foundry Unfortunately, the first version of Apple Creator Studio ignores the iPhone. Apple wants to sell Creator Studio as a creator-focused bundle, but it largely ignores the reality that many creators today are mobile-first, not Mac-first. The situation gets even worse when you think about Pixelmator, which was acquired by Apple last year. Apple confirmed this week that Pixelmator Classic, which works with the iPhone, will soon be discontinued. As for Pixelmator Pro, it will be exclusive to the iPad and Mac, another missed opportunity with creators who work exclusively with their phones. Photomator, on the other hand, is available on iPhone, and Apple says it will continue to offer the app on the App Store. For those unfamiliar, Photomator is a photo editor from Pixelmator and was also acquired by Apple. It’s perfect for Creator Studio but not part of the initial release. Therefore, it’s not hard to imagine that it will eventually meet the same fate as Pixelmator Classic, and iPhone users will lose another tool for creating on the go. Apple hasn’t explicitly said Photomator will be shuttered, but it also hasn’t done much to convince users that it won’t. Apple Creator Studio doesn’t offer much to users who don’t use a Mac. Apple ## A strong bundle with an unresolved future None of this means that Apple Creator Studio is a bad product. In fact, I’m really excited about the idea of creators having access to a suite of professional tools at a very affordable price. But Creator Studio also makes it clear that Apple is still not exploiting the full potential of its mobile platforms for professionals. Until it does, mobile creators are left in an uncomfortable position, paying like Mac users, but creating with tools that feel less complete. And if Photomator’s current limbo is any indication, that uncertainty may be the most troubling part of Apple’s creative future. Still, if you have a Mac, you should definitely give Apple Creator Studio a try if you’re looking for alternatives to Adobe apps or even if this is your first time working with pro-level creativity apps.

Macworld It’s been nearly four years since Apple released its first Studio Display and even longer for the high-priced Pro Display XDR. According to a new Chinese regulatory database listing, it appears as though at least one of them will get a new model soon. As spotted by MacRumors, an unreleased Apple monitor with the model number A3350 appeared in a Chinese regulatory database this week. The listing only describes the display as having a high-performance LCD display, so it’s unclear whether it’s for the Studio Display or the Pro Display XDR, which currently have A2525 and A1999 model numbers, respectively. This listing implies that the model will likely appear in the spring, which would be almost exactly four years since the Studio Display debuted in April 2022 at the Peek Performance event. Apple also debuted an updated budget iPhone (the third-gen SE) and Mac Studio at that event, both of which are rumored to arrive this spring. A new Studio Display has been rumored to have an A19 chip, ProMotion, and HDR, a major upgrade over the current model. It is expected to have the same 27-inch display and design.

Macworld _**Updated:** Google contacted us to let us know Pixel Buds were patched to fix this vulnerability a while ago, and that results represented in the WhisperPair vulnerable devices list represents testing done months ago._ If you use a Bluetooth device that supports Google Fast Pair, there’s a decent chance that it can be taken over by a hacker, who could then play audio, record through the device’s microphone, or even track you if the device supports Google Find Hub as well. And you’re not safe just because you use an iPhone or Mac—the vulnerability is in the device itself, and the hacker implements it from their own device within Bluetooth range. The vulnerability, called WhisperPair, exploits a flaw in the way many bluetooth devices implement Google Fast Pair technology. Here’s how it works: When a host device (like your phone or laptop) tries to pair with an accessory using Google Fast Pair (such as a pair of headphones), it tries to communicate with the accessory it wants to pair. If the device is not in pairing mode, Fast Pair is supposed to ignore any further action or requests. But according to researchers at the COSIC group of KU Leuven, some devices don’t implement this protocol properly, allowing the host to pair with the accessory anyway. If you use Apple accessories like AirPods or AirTags, you’re in the clear. These don’t support Google Fast Pair. But if you use popular Bluetooth accessories from other brands, such as ~~Google Pixel Buds~~ (patched—see note above) or Sony WH-1000 headphones, they have been tested to be vulnerable. And because this vulnerability exists in the accessories themselves, it doesn’t matter whether you use an iPhone or Android, Mac or PC. You can search a list of known vulnerable and known safe products on the WhisperPair site. Of note, the only Beats product that has been tested is the Solo Buds, and it’s been cleared from vulnerability. Several other models are listed on the site but haven’t been properly tested. If you have a vulnerable device, a fix will have to come in the form of a firmware update for that device. You’ll have to check in the future if the manufacturer of your bluetooth accessory has issued a firmware update and apply it. This could take some time, and for many accessories it may never arrive.

Macworld **Update:**_Verizon has announced that customers affected by the outage will receive a $20 account credit. This article has been updated to reflect that._ If you’re a Verizon subscriber, there’s a good chance your iPhone was without service yesterday. For much of the day, hundreds of thousands of U.S. customers were left without voice and data service so they couldn’t make calls, send texts, or access any Internet services when away from Wi-Fi. In a post on X Wednesday night, Verizon promised it would “make this right,” and followed up Thursday morning with some specific information: “To help provide some relief to those affected, we will give you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app.” The company hasn’t offered any details about what caused the outage, though it seems to have been an avoidable issue rather than a hack or attack. Verizon has apologized and admitted that it “let many of our customers down.” An additional post reinterated that the credit “isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us. Verizon says customers will receive a text message when the credit is available in the myVerizon app. Users will then need to log in and claim the credit, which should show up on the following month’s bill. Verizon says the credit represents “multiple days of service.” Additionally, business customers who service multiple people will be contacted directly. According to Down Detector, East Coast cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami were among the most affected, though the outage also affected Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The outage began around 1pm ET and lasted well into the night, with users seeing “SOS” displayed on their phones where the bars should be. While Verizon said the issue was resolved as of 11pm ET last night, Down Detector was still showing scattered reports of outages around the country, but the bulk of the affected customers appeared to have been restored. If you’re still showing “SOS” and not receiving service, try restarting your phone or toggling the cellular button in Settings> _Cellular_ to restore the connection.

Macworld #### At a glance ### Expert's Rating ### Pros * Revives the Touch Bar experience * Place it on top of your current keyboard * Extremely customizable * Works with macOS, Windows, and Linux * High-quality build ### Cons * Software is a bit clunky * Touch Bar emulation has a few bugs * Occasional reliability issues * Wired-only connection ### Our Verdict Flexbar is a cool accessory for Mac nerds who miss the Touch Bar. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today ### Price When Reviewed $179 ### Best Prices Today: Flexbar Retailer Price Enilinx $179 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket When Apple discontinued the Touch Bar from its MacBook Pro lineup, it left a small number of users nostalgic for the futuristic, context-sensitive control strip that divided opinions for years. Although the Touch Bar is gone for good, those who miss it can now have it back thanks to an accessory called Flexbar. I’ve been using Flexbar with my Mac for the past few months. Let’s look at how it compares to the original Touch Bar and whether it’s worth buying. ## The rise and fall of Apple’s Touch Bar When Apple introduced the Touch Bar with the 2016 MacBook Pro, many users were skeptical about having physical keys replaced by virtual ones. The Touch Bar did not offer tactile feedback, so many complained about having to look at the keyboard to know where they were pressing. At the same time, the Touch Bar had its own software, which meant it was more prone to bugs or crashes. It’s no surprise that the final revision of the latest MacBook Pro with Touch Bar brought back the physical Esc key. The Flexbar includes a stand that props it up at an angle for better access. Filipe Esposito/Foundry Still, the Touch Bar introduced many cool concepts, some of which I miss to this day. You could select emojis with your fingers, choose suggested words as you typed, and customize which buttons you see for different apps. Apple didn’t opt for a middle ground. Instead, it killed the Touch Bar on all MacBooks. Luckily, the engineers and developers behind Flexbar found a way to bring the Touch Bar back. Flexbar requires a USB-C connection. Filipe Esposito/Foundry ## A Touch Bar you can place anywhere Essentially, Flexbar is an external Touch Bar that connects to your Mac (or Windows PC) via a USB-C cable. This alone offers a major advantage: you can use it with any keyboard you want, so you won’t lose the traditional function keys or the physical Esc key. It works as an add-on to the setup you already have. Thanks to the magnetic stand that comes included in the box, it’s super easy to place it on a desk, and it places the Flexbar at a comfortable angle for use. I placed my Flexbar above my Magic Keyboard. Another thing I like is the aluminum finish, which looks quite premium and Apple-like. Flexbar supports an animation rate of 30 fps. Filipe Esposito/Foundry The Flexbar itself features a high-resolution AMOLED display, which looks very similar to the panel used by Apple in the old MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar. The size is also nearly identical to a real Touch Bar, which makes the Flexbar sit perfectly alongside Apple’s wireless keyboard for Mac. ## Customizing Flexbar Flexbar relies on software called Flex Designer, which manages all the controls you see on the touch screen. You can deeply customize it with the buttons you want. This includes shortcuts to open apps, run specific tasks, and even execute Terminal commands. Flex Designer also includes a series of official and third-party widgets that let you monitor your computer’s hardware usage and even integrate with apps such as Photoshop and Final Cut. The software is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, so you can use Flexbar with other operating systems. Flex Designer is a bit clunky, probably due to its cross-platform support and not being designed specifically for macOS. You can drag and drop buttons to add them to your Flexbar, and there are options to customize things like colors, icons, and actions. Flex Designer allows for customization of the Flexbar. Filipe Esposito/Foundry ## Touch Bar emulation changes everything But if you want to have the real Touch Bar experience instead of relying on Flexbar software, developers have come up with an incredible idea. Thanks to a new plugin called Touch Bar Emulator, Flexbar can run the official Touch Bar software on the latest Macs. This is possible because the software behind the Touch Bar is still in macOS, even on Macs that don’t have a Touch Bar. What the plugin does is run this software and show it on the Flexbar screen. But is the experience good? It works fine most of the time. I can access all interactions created for the Touch Bar, even in third-party apps. This includes controls such as adjusting volume and brightness, selecting emojis (one of my favorite Touch Bar features), and even scrolling through a project timeline in Final Cut Pro. However, since we’re talking about an accessory that “hacks” Apple’s official Touch Bar, you may notice some annoyances from time to time. It’s rare, but I’ve noticed the Touch Bar plugin becoming unresponsive sometimes, which requires me to close it and reopen it. Also, because Flexbar is limited to 30 fps, the animations don’t look as smooth. Again, you can use Flexbar with its own software (which is more reliable than the Touch Bar plugin) if you want. But this plugin is what really got me interested in Flexbar. For the future, I’d love to see a new version of Flexbar with a higher refresh rate display and perhaps a built-in battery to make it wireless. The community behind it seems genuinely committed to making the product work better with each software update, which is also a good thing. ## Should you buy Flexbar? If you’re like me and miss the Touch Bar, you’ll probably be happy with Flexbar, despite its limitations. It’s super fun to have the Touch Bar back in some form and be able to combine it with a conventional keyboard. Because you can use Flexbar’s own software to customize its interface the way you want, it also works as an alternative to accessories such as Stream Deck.

Macworld Oh, wow! The Logitech MX Keys S combo keyboard and mouse for Mac is on sale for $155 at Amazon right now. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen by quite a bit. Let’s take things one by one. The Logitech MX Keys S keyboard is an absolutely insanely good keyboard. I have one, and I’m 100 percent going to get another one if this one eventually kicks the bucket. I’ve had it for over a year and a half, and everything is still working as if I took it out of the box yesterday, so there’s nothing to complain about. The keyboard has low-profile keys that make little noise, an aluminum frame, and a rechargeable battery that only requires a USB-C cable every couple of weeks or so. Then, there’s the Logitech MX Master 3S mouse with an 8K DPI sensor and a super-precise scroll wheel. It has programmable buttons on both the keyboard and the mouse, making it possible to automate your workload with ease. You can attach macros and use the Logi Options+ to program AI actions, launch a series of apps, and so on. This fantastic keyboard and mouse combo also comes with a wrist rest for that extra boost of ergonomics and comfort. Frankly, for $155, this Logitech MX combo is an absolute steal, so grab it before the deal is over. Buy now at Amazon

Macworld When we reviewed the first Mac with an M5 processor—the 14-inch MacBook Pro—we were pleasantly surprised. While most of the laptop hadn’t changed much (outside of a much faster SSD), the leap from M4 to M5 resulted in a pretty big performance jump. Despite still employing a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU as in the M4 before it, the M5 version of the MacBook Pro saw single-core CPU gains of around 13 percent, an even bigger multi-core boost of about 22 percent, and extremely impressive graphics performance uplift of 35-50 percent. This year, possibly in just a couple of weeks, we’ll meet the rest of the family, starting with the M5 Pro and M5 Max in the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, likely followed by spring launches of the M5 Pro Mac mini and M5 Max and M5 Ultra in the Mac Studio. Here’s what we expect from those new chips. ## Same core count, but big improvements We don’t think Apple will increase the maximum number of CPU or GPU cores. Rather, we expect the M5 Pro to still have a maximum of 14 CPU cores, and the M5 Max will have a maximum of 16 cores. Some product configurations may have fewer, as Apple has always done. The GPU, similarly, will likely have a maximum configuration of 20 cores for the M5 Pro and 40 cores for the M5 Max. We expect other particulars, such as memory bandwidth, video encoders, and so on, to follow a similar pattern as we saw with the base M5. In other words, by looking at the leap in performance between the standard M4 and the M4 Pro/Max, and then applying that to the base M5, we can come up with a pretty good estimation of what the M5 Pro/Max performance will be. Those are pretty stellar estimated scores for the top-end M5 Max. Around 4,500 for single-core CPU performance is a lot, but over 31,000 for the multi-core score is astounding. That’s in the same league as chart-topping 64-core AMD Threadripper CPUs. The M5 Max may be the first Apple GPU to break 250,000 on the Geekbench 6 GPU compute test. Even the M3 Ultra, with its 80 GPU cores, landed just a hair under it. If Apple can get there with half as many GPU cores in just two processor generations, that’s an impressive pace of improvement. The most impressive gains on the base M5 were in graphics performance, and if that holds true for the M5 Pro and Max, we’re in for a treat. A score over 2,300 on Steel Nomad is a little better than the laptop version of the GeForce RTX 4050. The bigger M5 Max, with a score over 4,600, would be comparable to a GeForce RTX 4070. Apple is still a long way away from matching the performance of the best modern desktop GPUs (such as the GeForce RTX 5080 with a score over 10,000), but this would be a big step forward. ## Flexible configurations? The M5 Pro and M5 Max may have one more chip up their sleeve: more flexible configurations. A recent rumor suggested that the M5 Pro and Max will be fabricated with separate CPU and GPU areas, linked together on the same silicon substrate. In other words, separate pieces of silicon form a single chip. This would allow Apple to freely mix and match CPU and GPU core counts. It’s unlikely that Apple would allow any configuration you can think of, but it may be possible to buy an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip with more GPU and less CPU, if that would be a better balance for the workloads you run. This is all thanks to the chips being manufactured using a new TSMC packaging technology called SoIC-mH (System-on-Integrated-Chip, Molding Horizontal). This may also allow Apple to integrate the RAM more tightly into the packaging, so as to improve memory bandwidth. Flexible configurations of this sort would be new for Macs since the end of the Intel days, and there’s no guarantee it will happen. Apple could be using this new technology just to have separate silicon for the CPU and GPU in order to improve yields and heat dissipation, both of which should be improved over a single monolithic die. We shouldn’t have long to wait to find out what Apple is up to. The M5 Pro and Max chips should debut soon, possibly later this month when Apple Creator Studio arrives on Wednesday, January 28.

Macworld Apple could release some major products that change how we think about the iPhone and MacBook Pro. Here’s what to expect in the second half of 2026. This is episode 966 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola. ## Watch episode 966 on YouTube ## Listen to episode 966 on Apple Podcasts ## Listen to episode 966 on Spotify ## Apple in 2026 (July to December) Click on the links below for more information on what was discussed on the show. * Strap in Apple fans, 2026 is going to be a wild ride * From iPhone Fold to a touchscreen Mac, Apple’s 2026 is going to be epic * 2026 iPhone preview * 2026 Apple Watch preview * 2026 Mac preview ## This Week in Apple History On January 10, 2006, Apple announced the first MacBook Pro. The laptop started shipping a month later. ## Macworld Mailbag A couple of weeks ago, we posted a clip from a previous podcast. That clip talked about Apple’s failure to make public any progress the company has made with AI. A lot of people responded to that clip. > Apple would prefer to be the best, over the first. Not everyone wants Al unless it’s done right. I like their approach here. > > flyingdarwin on TikTok > A phone without Al jammed onto it sounds great to me. > > kglueck 9 on TikTok > It’s like you guys don’t know who or what Apple is about anymore. Apple isn’t implementing anything half baked (in their view) and they won’t go against the environmental bros. > > tedman1138 on TikTok > How can Al on my phone make the experience better? I’m serious. Someone please explain. > > wherngren6 on TikTok > Siri is an abomination now. > > MrGrundle on TikTok ## Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcast—or leave us a review!—right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworld’s podcast page or our home on MegaPhone. Apple

Macworld **TL;DR:** With the year still young, Windows 11 Pro is available for $9.97, making it an easy, low-cost upgrade to modernize your setup early. The year is still young, which makes this a practical moment to handle upgrades you know you’ll need eventually. One of the simplest is software: right now, a genuine Windows 11 Pro license is $9.97, down from its usual $199 price. For anyone running an older or sluggish PC, Windows 11 Pro can noticeably improve how your system feels day to day. Faster boot times, stronger built-in security, smoother multitasking, and better support for modern apps all come standard. Instead of replacing hardware, this upgrade helps extend the life of what you already own. Mac users also get added flexibility. A Windows 11 Pro license lets you run Windows alongside macOS using tools like: * Boot Camp on Intel-based Macs * Parallels Desktop or other virtualization software on Intel or Apple Silicon systems That setup makes it easier to access Windows-only software for work, school, or specific applications without committing to a second computer. Windows 11 Pro includes features aimed at power users and gamers, including DirectX 12 Ultimate, Auto HDR on supported displays, and DirectStorage for faster load times with compatible hardware. Combined with a cleaner interface and improved window management, it’s a noticeable step forward even on older machines. Get Windows 11 Pro for $9.97 and take care of the upgrade while the year is still young. Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal _StackSocial_ _prices subject to change._