Released in December 2019, the Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch screen with LED backlighting, 6K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 1,600 nits of brightness, a Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999, while the optional Pro Stand costs $999 extra.
Gurman today said a new Pro Display XDR is currently "less of a priority for Apple" as an expensive, niche product.
In 2022, he said that Apple was working on an updated version of the Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip, but it is unclear if that remains the company's plan as of today. In Apple's Studio Display, an A13 Bionic chip powers features such as Center Stage camera framing for video calls, spatial audio, and Siri voice commands.
While no other features have been rumored for the next Pro Display XDR, customers are hopeful for a camera, speakers, and a higher refresh rate.
Larger iMac
It has been nearly three years since Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac, as part of its move away from Intel processors. Since then, the 24-inch iMac has been Apple's only all-in-one desktop computer, with no larger model available.
Will a larger iMac ever make a comeback? Gurman today merely said that Apple will "probably eventually get around" to it.
It might not be another 27-inch iMac, specifically, though.
In November 2023, Apple announced that it had no plans to release a new version of the 27-inch iMac with an Apple silicon chip at that time. Instead, Apple recommended pairing its standalone Studio Display with a Mac Studio or Mac mini.
But an even larger iMac could materialize one day.
In late 2023, both Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple was developing a 32-inch iMac for release in late 2024 or in 2025. Kuo said the larger iMac's screen would feature mini-LED backlighting, which would allow for increased brightness, higher contrast ratio, and other benefits compared to LCD technology.
The late 2024 window has now passed, but a 2025 launch is still on the table, perhaps. Gurman's latest update on the larger iMac is vague, though.
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again.
This time around, he said Apple has yet to start engineering work, so ads in the Apple Maps app might still be a ways away.
Ads in the Apple Maps app would not be the traditional banner ads that you see on websites, but rather paid search results. For example, a fast food chain could pay Apple to appear near the top of the results when a user searches for "burgers" or "fries." Many similar apps already offer search ads, including Google Maps, Waze, and Yelp.
Apple already displays search ads in the App Store, allowing developers to pay to promote their apps to users who search for relevant keywords.
Ads in the Apple Maps app would further boost Apple's services revenue.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new Studio Display "should arrive by 2026," alongside Macs with M5 chips.
The new Studio Display will have a similar design as the current model, including a 27-inch screen size, according to Gurman.
The new display is codenamed J427 within Apple, he added.
Gurman did not reveal any new features or changes planned for the next Studio Display. Last week, however, display industry analyst Ross Young said Apple was developing a new 27-inch display with mini-LEDs that could launch in late 2025 or early 2026. Young believes this display could be a new Studio Display with mini-LED backlighting.
Mini-LED technology would provide benefits such as increased brightness and higher contrast ratio compared to the current Studio Display with LEDs.
Apple released the Studio Display in March 2022, alongside the Mac Studio. It has a 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits brightness, a camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. U.S. pricing starts at $1,599.
Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal.
That's no longer the case.
As noted by Tech God on X, Apple has since revised its refurbished Mac mini pricing, and the latest prices are quite impressive. In the U.S., you can now get a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for just $319. And the model that previously cost $559 is now priced at $459.
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead.
There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event:
Vision Pro-related announcement (hardware refresh to add the M5 chip with Apple Intelligence support, a price drop, a significant software update, or something else)
Tim Cook's recent social media teaser for an Apple "launch" on February 19 is widely expected to relate to the fourth-generation iPhone SE. While the post confirms at least one product unveiling, it also suggests the company will not be holding a full-fledged event in the next few weeks.
Historically, Apple has used press releases to introduce products when the updates are more iterative, but the company has also hosted entire events for relatively modest announcements, such as the "Scary Fast" event in October 2023, which only saw the reveal of the M3 MacBook Pro and iMac models.
Several new devices are widely expected to be announced soon, including the fourth-generation iPhone SE, the new MacBook Air with the M4 chip, and updated iPad Air and entry-level iPad models. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that the M4 MacBook Air should launch within weeks, while Apple's supply chain has been preparing for the arrival of new iPads. Software references have already confirmed the existence of many of these products, so launch is almost certainly right around the corner.
Apple has occasionally held February events, but they are rare. In recent years, the company has preferred March for spring product announcements, as seen with the 2022 event that introduced the green iPhone 13, third-generation iPhone SE, Mac Studio, and Studio Display. If Apple had opted for a February event this year, it would seemingly have had a more substantial series of announcements than some of its previous keynotes.
Apple is in the middle of trickling out a variety of announcements including Powerbeats Pro 2 and an Apple TV+ app for Android phones this week, and based on a tease from Tim Cook it looks like there's at least one bigger announcement in store for next Wednesday.
While a new iPhone SE is the odds-on favorite for Wednesday's announcement, there are a few other products we're expecting to see launch in the relatively near future, so we'll have to hang tight to see just how Apple plans to roll them out. Read on below for all the details on this week's biggest stories!
"Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said in a social media post, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag.
Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so his post is a bit of a mystery. However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes the post is a teaser for Apple announcing a new iPhone SE.
iPhone SE 4 Launch is Imminent - What to Expect
If next week's launch is indeed the next-generation iPhone SE, we're expecting a host of upgrades to modernize Apple's low-end iPhone, including Face ID, an A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, and more.
M4 MacBook Air Release Continues to Appear Imminent
There continue to be signs of a new MacBook Air with an M4 chip, indicating that we could see the machine launch in the not too distant future. A reliable source this week shared the identifiers that the MacBook Air will use, and those identifiers correspond to the M4 chip.
Rumors have suggested that the M4 MacBook Air has been in production for months already, and Apple itself leaked references to it in macOS Sequoia 15.2 back in December, but Apple has yet to officially announce it.
Powerbeats Pro 2 Debut With Heart Rate Monitoring, H2 Chip, Active Noise Cancellation, and More
Among the upgrades for Powerbeats Pro 2 are Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with Transparency mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, an H2 chip for improved power efficiency and Apple ecosystem integration, and for the first time in an Apple audio product, Heart Rate Monitoring.
Apple TV+ App Now Available on Android
Apple has debuted a new Android smartphone app on the Google Play store that will allow users on that platform to more easily subscribe to and watch Apple TV+ content, including MLS Season Pass.
Android users can access Apple TV+ and MLS Season Pass by signing into their Apple Account, or subscribe directly through Google Play's billing system.
On devices that support Apple Intelligence, some users who previously turned off the feature have found it automatically turned back on after updating, so be sure to double check your settings if you don't wish to use Apple Intelligence.
World's Thinnest Foldable Phone Launches Next Week
Apple has yet to enter the foldable smartphone market, but other manufacturers continue to press forward with their efforts and push the boundaries of what's physically possible.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
We've been hearing about the iPhone SE 4 for quite some time now, and we essentially know everything to expect. If you want a sneak peek at what's coming, read on.
Naming
Apple first introduced the iPhone SE in 2016, and the "SE" stands for Special Edition. Apple has used the SE naming for the last three models, but it's possible that's going to change this year.
There have been rumors that the new low-cost iPhonecould be called the "iPhone 6E" instead of the iPhone SE 4, but the information came from a source without a well-established track record.
The low-cost iPhone will have the same chip as the iPhone 16, along with a few other iPhone 16 features, so it would not be a shock for Apple to give it a new name to better tie it into current flagship models. When announcing the upcoming product launch, Cook also said "get ready to meet the newest member of the family," which could be a reference to the iPhone 16 family. At the same time, "family" could also just be the iPhone family.
Design
We're expecting the iPhone SE to have an iPhone 14-style design, with a 6.1-inch display. Its launch will mark the end of smaller iPhones, and 6.1 inches will be the smallest screen size that Apple offers.
While the current iPhone SE is 4.7 inches, the size difference between the 4.7-inch model and the new 6.1-inch model isn't as extreme as you might think. The updated size will be noticeable, but getting rid of those thick bezels means there's a limited increase in physical size despite the larger display.
An iPhone SE 4 dummy model
The iPhone SE is 5.45 inches tall and 2.65 inches wide with a thickness of 7.3mm, and the new model will be 5.78 inches tall, 2.82 inches wide, and a thickness of 7.8mm. Weight will increase just an ounce.
Apple used to sell a 5.4-inch iPhone "mini," but it was discontinued after the iPhone 13 mini because it didn't sell well. In the future, Apple may appease those who want a small iPhone with a clamshell device that folds in half, but rumors suggest that such a device is a year or more off.
If you want to know what the iPhone SE will look like, take a look at the iPhone 14. It'll have the same general design with an all-display design, aluminum and glass build, mute switch, volume buttons, notch, power button, and 5G antenna/SIM tray. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have a single-lens rear camera, though, rather than the dual-lens setup of the iPhone 14.
You likely saw early rumors about an Action Button or Camera Control button for the iPhone SE 4 during the rumor cycle, but it sounds like those are not features that are coming to Apple's low-cost device after all. iPhone SE dummy models have not included an Action button or a Camera Control button, nor have cases designed for the device.
Both early iPhone cases and dummy models are often crafted based on supply chain leaks, and they're usually accurate because there's a good money in having a case ready to go right when a new device launches.
Display
The iPhone 12 introduced Ceramic Shield, which is stronger than typical smartphone glass and better able to hold up to drops and scratches, and it's likely the new low-cost iPhone will adopt the Ceramic Shield material. The current iPhone SE just uses a standard glass front rather than the Ceramic Shield material.
Apple is updating the iPhone SE with an OLED display, which means the end of LCD display technology in the iPhone lineup when the current model is discontinued. LCDs are still used for some Macs and iPads, but the iPhone lineup will be all OLED when the SE 4 launches.
The iPhone 14 had a notch to house the TrueDepth front-facing camera and facial recognition hardware, and the iPhone SE will have the same notch design. There were rumors suggesting Apple could use the Dynamic Island for the iPhone SE, but that's another feature that looks like it'll be reserved for the more expensive iPhone options.
No More Touch ID
With an all-display design like the iPhone 14, Apple is eliminating Touch ID. When the current-generation iPhone SE is discontinued in favor of the new model, there will be no iPhone with Touch ID in the lineup.
The current iPhone SE
Touch ID is still used for Macs and some iPads, but Apple will transition fully to Face ID for its iPhone models with the iPhone SE 4.
There are people who prefer Touch ID to Face ID, but Apple is all-in on facial recognition, and it's more secure than Touch ID. There's a less than 1 in 1,000,000 chance that a random person could unlock your iPhone with Face ID, but a 1 in 50,000 chance for Touch ID.
Eliminating the Touch ID home button provides much more viewable screen space, which is a major bonus. Android manufacturers have married large display sizes with fingerprint recognition by putting sensors on the back of their smartphones, but Apple has never adopted that kind of design.
No More Lightning
The iPhone SE will have a USB-C port for charging, with Apple continuing its mission to phase out the Lightning port.
The iPhone SE is one of the last Apple devices that continues to use Lightning, and when Apple discontinues the iPhone 14, which could happen with the iPhone SE launch, Lightning will be eliminated from the iPhone lineup. It's quite possible the iPhone 14 will be discontinued when the iPhone SE launches because it makes little sense to keep a lower spec iPhone 14 around for $599 when there's a more powerful iPhone SE available that costs less.
MagSafe
The iPhone 14 added support for MagSafe, and since the iPhone SE 4 is using an iPhone 14 design, it will work with MagSafe accessories and will support MagSafe wireless charging. MagSafe is not an option for the current iPhone SE, but MagSafe charging and MagSafe accessories have become an increasingly important part of the Apple ecosystem over the last few years.
A18 Chip and 8GB RAM
Apple plans to equip the iPhone SE 4 with the same A18 chip that's in the iPhone 16, which means it's going to have flagship performance at a much more affordable price. The A18 chip will allow it to last for years to come, and it's going to be the most affordable way to get Apple Intelligence in a smartphone.
With the A18 chip, the iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence features, and it's going to be a huge improvement over the A15 chip in the current iPhone SE. Apple Intelligence requires 8GB RAM, so the new iPhone SE 4 will also have double the RAM of the current model.
Storage Space
There's no concrete storage space rumor, but the rest of Apple's iPhones start with 128GB of storage, so it's quite possible we're going to see the end of the 64GB storage option this year. 64GB is simply not enough storage space, even for a low-cost iPhone.
Camera
The iPhone SE could get the same 48-megapixel Wide lens that's in the iPhone 16, which will bring a major leap in photo quality compared to the 12-megapixel camera in the iPhone SE 3.
An iPhone SE dummy model
The iPhone SE 4 won't have a Telephoto lens or an Ultra Wide lens, but if it does indeed use the same Wide lens, it will support next-generation portraits with focus and depth control, the newest photographic styles, and an option to crop in to 2x optical zoom.
Connectivity
Apple is going to debut its new in-house modem in the iPhone SE 4, and it'll give us our first look at how Apple's modem technology compares to Qualcomm's modem technology.
Apple's modem chip won't support the fastest mmWave 5G speeds, but it will connect to the more widespread 6GHz 5G networks. Apple wants to cut down on its reliance on Qualcomm, and this new modem chip is the first step.
We don't know how much Apple will promote the new modem, but expect to see a range of speed and performance comparisons where the new modem is pitted against Qualcomm's current iPhone 16 modem.
Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection
This is speculation, but with the iPhone 14, Apple added a Crash Detection feature that alerts emergency services if you're in a car accident. It's an important safety feature that's likely to be included in the iPhone SE 4.
The iPhone 14 and later also support Emergency SOS via Satellite, and there's a good chance that'll be added to the iPhone SE 4 too. Apple loves to promote its safety features, and they can be a major selling point, so we wouldn't be surprised to see both of these options.
Battery Life
Rumors suggest the iPhone SE 4 will have the same battery as the iPhone 14, which means it'll offer up to 20 hours of video playback, up to 16 hours of streaming video, and up to 80 hours of audio playback.
There's quite a bit more space in a 6.1-inch device for a battery than there is in a 4.7-inch device, so it should come as no surprise that there will be a major improvement in overall battery life.
The current iPhone SE offers 15 hours of video playback and up to 10 hours of streaming video playback.
Pricing
With higher-end components, the iPhone SE 4 could be more expensive than the current model, but Apple is still aiming for a price point under $500. The iPhone SE 3 is priced starting at $429.
No Event
The iPhone SE 4 is an important new iPhone in Apple's lineup, but it reuses components from the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, so it's not the most exciting device. Apple isn't going to hold an event to unveil the iPhone SE 4, instead introducing it through a press release and coverage on the Apple website.
Facebook parent company Meta is investing heavily in AI-powered humanoid robots, according to a report from Bloomberg. Meta wants to create robots that can act like humans and help people with physical tasks, and has developed a new team in its Reality Labs hardware to work on the project.
Meta's first focus will be on robots that can do household chores, but the company's overarching goal is to develop AI, sensors, and software for robots that can be manufactured and sold to third-party companies to allow those companies to develop their own robots. Meta is aiming to be the Android of robots.
Robot technology is not currently advanced enough to allow robots to fold clothes, do dishes, or complete other household chores, but Meta feels that its work in artificial intelligence and virtual reality could boost robot development.
In 2025, Meta will spend around $65 billion on artificial intelligence infrastructure, robotics, and virtual reality products. Meta plans to build some of its own hardware, and work with robotics manufacturers to build prototypes.
If Meta does end up creating a humanoid robot, it could compete with an Apple-designed robot in the future. Apple is working on both humanoid and non-humanoid robots, but the company's work on humanoid robotics is in the proof-of-concept stage and years away from launching.
Non-humanoid robots could come sooner. Apple is said to be working on a tabletop robot with an iPad-style display that's attached to a robotic arm, and such a product could come as early as 2026 or 2027.
Apple robotics researchers recently shared details on a lamp-like robot prototype with lifelike movements and human-like interaction capabilities.
Apple's smarter version of Siri that incorporates Apple Intelligence features could end up being delayed, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is running into engineering problems and software bugs that could push back the launch of the new functionality.
Rumors suggested that Apple planned to introduce the new Siri features in iOS 18.4, but the first iOS 18.4 beta is expected as soon as next week, and it appears Siri won't be ready in time.
Apple has already promised that Apple Intelligence will be available in new languages in April, suggesting that's when the iOS 18.4 update will launch, so Apple has a limited amount of time to get Siri ready to go. Some features may now need to be postponed until May later, with Apple perhaps planning to introduce them in an iOS 18.5 update.
Apple has promised three Apple Intelligence features for Siri, including personal context to better understand and respond to requests, the ability to do more in and between apps, and on-screen awareness to respond to requests that involve content the user is looking at. Employees testing the new Siri features have reportedly said that they are not yet working consistently.
Major new features rarely come as late as May, because Apple typically transitions to working on the next-generation version of iOS in June after WWDC.
Gurman says that Apple could still debut the features in iOS 18.4, but turn them off by default as testing continues until iOS 18.5, and in that case, we'd still see the new functionality in iOS 18.4. We should be getting the first iOS 18.4 beta soon, though it is not likely that Siri will be in the initial beta given today's report.
Apple Downtown Detroit is "coming soon," according to Apple. The store page does not provide any further details, including an address or grand opening date.
Apple does mention that the Downtown Detroit store is now hiring.
Last year, it was reported that the Downtown Detroit store will be located on the 1400 block of Woodward Avenue, and construction was already underway.
Apple already has three stores in the Detroit area, but this would be the first location serving the city's downtown core, which has been experiencing a revival in recent years. The store could also serve customers from nearby Windsor, Ontario in Canada.
Apple launched the original MacBook Pro 19 years ago today.
Jobs announced the MacBook Pro at the Macworld Conference & Expo in 2006. It was the first Mac notebook to transition from PowerPC processors to Intel's Core Duo architecture. Designed to be an Intel-based replacement for the PowerBook line, the MacBook Pro took a similar aluminum chassis and added an Intel Core processor, a webcam, and the MagSafe power connector. Its display was 67% brighter than its predecessor, matching the luminance of Apple's standalone Cinema Displays.
Apple claimed that the Intel processors delivered "up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4." The transition was supported by Rosetta, a software translation layer that allowed PowerPC applications to run on Intel-based Macs.
The original MacBook Pro came in two configurations, both with 15.4-inch widescreen displays offering 1440 x 900 resolution. The entry-level model featured a 1.67 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, and an 80GB hard drive, while the higher-end model boasted a 1.83 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 100GB hard drive. Both models included ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics cards. The 15-inch model weighed just 5.6 pounds and was only one inch thick.
It also featured two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 400 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an ExpressCard/34 slot for expandability. The exclusion of FireWire 800 in the initial 15-inch models drew criticism from some users, but this port was later restored in subsequent revisions. Initially only available with a 15-inch display, Apple introduced a 17-inch variant in April 2006.
Over the years, the MacBook Pro line evolved through various design and technological iterations, including the unibody construction in 2008, the Retina display in 2012, and the controversial Touch Bar in 2016. The transition from Intel to Apple Silicon in 2020 marked the end of the Intel-based MacBook Pro era, as Apple moved to its proprietary M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max chips.
Earlier today, some Netflix users in the United States began seeing Netflix content in the Apple TV app's Continue Watching queue, which prompted speculation that Netflix was rolling out Apple TV integration.
As it turns out, Netflix content showing up in new places in the Apple TV interface was a bug, and Netflix is not introducing expanded Apple TV functionality. In a statement to The Verge, a Netflix spokesperson confirmed that temporary support for the Continue Watching feature was an error, and it has been rolled back.
Netflix is one of the only major streaming services that has refused to offer integration with the Apple TV app, preferring instead for customers to manage watch lists and browse for content directly in the Netflix app.
Netflix has never supported integration with the built-in content tracking feature in the Apple TV app, so Apple TV users are not able to see Netflix shows and movies in their watchlists. Content from Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other services can be tracked with the Apple TV app across Apple devices, but that is not the case for Netflix.
Instagram is testing a "dislike" button that can be used for comments, Instagram head Adam Mosseri confirmed today. The dislike button is designed to give people a "private" way to signal that they don't feel good about a particular comment.
Mosseri says that the feature is just a test at the current time, but the goal is to help "make comments more friendly." If the test goes well, the dislike signal could be integrated into comment ranking to move disliked comments lower down in the comment section of an Instagram post or reel.
There is no dislike count for posts, nor can the post creator or other commenters see if a user has disliked a post. Dislikes are an internal signal hidden from users. In a statement to TechCrunch, an Instagram spokesperson said the company is testing the feature with a small number of users.
We're working on ways to help people better control their Instagram experience and what they're seeing on the app. We're testing a new button next to each comment on a Reel or Feed post for people to privately signal they don't feel good about that particular comment or find it relevant. We're testing this with a very small group of people to start. Later, we may also test moving these comments lower down in the comments section to help create a better experience.
Users who have access to the dislike feature will see a downward pointing arrow available to tap, which is similar to the downvote feature that Reddit uses.
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the imminent Apple product "launch" that is widely expected to be the fourth-generation iPhone SE.
In a social media post on Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cookteased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle.
We analyze the possibilities for the announcement and why it's most likely to be a new iPhone SE, with rumored features including the A18 chip, a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, Apple Intelligence support, and more. The launch of other new devices, such as the M4 MacBook Air, also appear to be right around the corner.
We also discuss Apple's new Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones, which tout Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with Transparency mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, an H2 chip for improved power efficiency and Apple ecosystem integration, and Heart Rate Monitoring–a first time for an Apple audio product. We talk through the utility of the heart rate monitoring feature, fit, and how they compare to the AirPods Pro 2.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Apple is likely to sell over 20 million iPhone SE 4 units this year, making it the most popular iPhone SE model ever, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new post on X, Kuo said that the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to see shipments of approximately 12 million in the first half of 2025 and 10 million in the second half of 2025–which is apparently better than previous iPhone SE models.
The new device will reportedly reduce the impact of lower iPhone shipments at this time of year, as well as "accelerate the penetration of models that support Apple Intelligence."
Kuo also noted that the iPhone SE's custom modem may be the source of patent litigation from Qualcomm. The company apparently believes it may be able to obtain part of the patent licensing fees from Apple's custom modem to reduce losses from cancelled component orders.
The new iPhone SE is expected to debut as soon as next week, featuring the A18 chip, a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, Apple Intelligence support, and more.
Amazon this week updated its Prime Video app for the Apple TV with several improvements.
According to The Verge, the app is now better optimized for the tvOS platform. You can now use the Siri Remote to swipe through TV shows and movies, and touchpad gestures for fast forwarding and rewinding content are now supported.
Suggested search results now appear as you type, and you can search with the Siri Remote.
The app now shows higher-resolution imagery, and there are new motion and sound effects.
Last, the app now supports the Apple accessibility features VoiceOver, Hover Text, and Bold Text.
All in all, the app now provides a more "native" experience on tvOS.
You can download the Prime Video app from the App Store for free, but you will need a Prime subscription to stream content. The latest version of the app is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models.
February has been full of great Apple deals, and this week continued the trend with ongoing all-time low prices on AirPods, AirTag, Apple Pencil Pro, iPad, and MacBook Air. We're also still tracking solid deals on third-party earbuds and headphones over at Woot.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The best deals this week centered on AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, both of which are seeing the year's best prices so far on Amazon. You can get the AirPods 4 from $99.99 and the AirPods Pro 2 for $169.00 on Amazon.
Amazon this week has the AirTag 4-Pack for the all-time low price of $69.99, down from $99.00. You can also find a solid deal on the 1-Pack on Amazon right now, available for $22.99.
Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale kicked off earlier this week, and there are still an abundance of iPads on sale today. You can find record low prices on iPad mini 7, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro in this sale, so be sure to visit our original post for more details about the event.
In addition to iPads, Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale has solid discounts on MacBook Air as well. The highlight of this sale is the 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air for the all-time low price of $749.00 for My Best Buy Plus/Total members, down from $999.00.
Woot
What's the deal? Save on earbuds and headphones from Beats and more
Finally, Woot introduced a big sale on earbuds and headphones this week, and you can get up to 75 percent off select accessories during the event. This includes Beats products like the Beats Studio Buds+ for $99.99 and Beats Fit Pro for $129.95, both record low prices.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple may have a fight on its hands in the 27-inch 5K display space. Recently we've seen a solid budget competitor to the $1,600+ Apple Studio Display arrive on the market with the $799 ASUS ProArt 5K Display, and now here we have the BenQ PD2730S, part of the company's Designer Series that promises "always accurate and consistent colors."
Price-wise, this monitor sits $400 either side of the Apple and ASUS offerings at $1,200. As you'd expect, it packs more features than the cheaper ASUS display. For a start, it's Thunderbolt 4. But the extra capabilities don't end there. I've spent several weeks with it, putting it through its paces alongside an Apple Studio Display. So how did it fare?
Key Display Specifications
Panel Type: 27-inch IPS with Nano Matte coating
Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (5K)
Brightness: 400 nits peak
Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 (IPS Black technology)
Color Gamut: 98% P3, 100% sRGB
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Response Time: 5ms (GtG)
HDR Support: VESA DisplayHDR 400
VESA Mount: 100 x 100mm
Built-in Speakers: 2x 3W stereo
Included Accessories: HotKey Puck G3 wireless controller
Design and Build Quality
First off, the PD2730S doesn't match Apple's all-aluminum aesthetic. Let's be honest, nothing on the market quite does. But BenQ has remained faithful to the same design ethos that was evident in our MA270U 4K monitor review. While it may not be to everyone's taste, it's tried and tested.
The monitor combines black, white, and silver elements into a cohesive whole. The black bezels remain pleasantly slim, the rear of the display is a white plastic that curves outwards slightly, and the silver stand is a brushed metal pipe about 2.5 inches in diameter. Assembly is extremely simple and requires no tools. You just click the neck of the stand to the back and then use the key-screw to fasten on the rectangular base.
Once set up, the monitor feels remarkably solid, and the stand deserves special mention - it's a robust piece of engineering that provides great stability. I particularly like how the display panel remains steady even when adjusting its position, something that's surprisingly rare in this price range.
Speaking of adjustments, BenQ hasn't skimped here. The stand offers a comprehensive range of movement: height adjustment up to 150mm, -5° to 20° tilt, and smooth 60° swivel capabilities. This versatility comes as standard - no $400 upgrade required, Apple. For those preferring alternative mounting solutions, there's a standard VESA mount option.
Connectivity and Features
Connectivity is where the PD2730S really shines. The monitor boasts a genuinely useful selection of ports. The Thunderbolt 4 input delivers 90W of power delivery, which is enough for my 14-inch MacBook Pro. You'll also find HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and a downstream Thunderbolt 4 port supporting display daisy-chaining. These ports face outward rather than downward - a small detail that makes a big difference in daily use.
A thoughtful array of USB ports rounds out the package. There's both USB-C (2x) and USB-A (3x) connectivity, making this an effective hub for any desk setup. That said, most of these are located directly under the panel next to a headphone jack and they face downwards, so the dangling cables can look a bit messy if you use them all. On the other hand, BenQ includes a hook that attaches to the stand behind the monitor for funnelling cables through, which is a much more aesthetically pleasing cable management system than the one found on the ASUS ProArt 5K Display.
Another point worth noting is that the hub can provide power even when the display is off, so you can keep your MacBook and whatever else plugged in and charging regardless.
BenQ also includes its unique HotKey Puck G3 controller. This wireless dial provides quick access to display settings and input switching. It's customizable and works well, and creative professionals might appreciate it, but it's not something I've found myself using regularly.
Display Performance
Let's get down to brass tacks: image quality. The IPS panel delivers outstanding clarity. Text on the panel appears razor-sharp, and images pop with vivid detail. With 5120x2880 resolution, you're getting the same pixel density as Apple's Studio Display. And just like the Apple Studio Display, you get 218 pixels per inch, ensuring that sweet spot for 5K Retina.
Likewise, color accuracy impresses right out of the box. The monitor covers 98% of the P3 color gamut, which is crucial for creative work. BenQ's factory calibration proved spot-on as far as I'm concerned, although you can fine-tune things further using the included software tools. Display ColorTalk lets you easily match colors between a MacBook and the monitor or between two monitors – no calibrator needed – while Palette Master Ultimate lets you achieve more precise color matching using a calibrator.
The panel employs BenQ's Nano Matte coating, which effectively manages reflections without compromising image clarity. The panel's maximum brightness reaches 400 nits, which is less than the Studio Display's 600 nits. This is the one visually noticeable difference between the two panels, but I've found 400 nits to be perfectly adequate for my environment. It's worth noting that the panel is "only" 60Hz. That may irk hard-core gamers, but I had no problems playing Resident Evil 2, and it's totally adequate for everyday tasks and image editing work. Lastly, the PD2730S has 2000:1 contrast ratio, providing a solid dynamic range.
Software Integration
We covered BenQ's Display Pilot 2 software in the MA270U review, but it deserves special mention. It enables seamless brightness and volume control using your Mac's keyboard - a feature that's surprisingly rare in third-party monitors. The software also provides straightforward access to color profiles and monitor settings. ICCsync ensures consistent color matching between your MacBook and external display, and while HDR support is limited to HDR400, it's there if you need it. The KVM switch functionality should also prove handy when working with multiple computers.
All that being said, you don't have to use the software to control the monitor, since you can access all of the settings in the OSD menu via the physical controls along the bottom of the display.
Summing Up
The BenQ PD2730S makes a compelling case for itself. At $1,199, it delivers 5K resolution, excellent color accuracy, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and other thoughtful features at a significantly lower price point than Apple's Studio Display. Yes, the speakers are terrible, but that seems par for the course in third-party monitors. And no, it doesn't have a webcam like the Studio Display, but that just means you can invest in a better one than the latter offers. While the PD2730S can't match Apple's premium build quality or 600-nit brightness, it compensates with superior ergonomics and connectivity options.
This monitor deserves serious consideration by creative professionals seeking a high-resolution display without breaking the bank. It strikes an impressive balance between performance and value, offering most of what makes the Studio Display great at a more accessible price point.
Where to Buy
The BenQ PD2730S is available directly from BenQ's website and through authorized retailers for $1,199.
Note: BenQ provided MacRumors with a BenQ PD2730S monitor for the purpose of the review. No other compensation was received.
