If you're looking for the perfect tech or tech-adjacent holiday present for someone who loves Apple products or just uses them daily, we've come up with useful suggestions that might be helpful to you.

Gift Guide Feature
These are some of our favorite products, many of which we use personally or have gifted to our friends and family members in the past. We'll be adding to the list throughout November, so check back in for more ideas.

Aura Frames

Priced starting at $149, Aura digital frames make a good gift for anyone who has digital photos, which is most of us these days. You can load photos on the frame using the Aura iPhone app, and since images are stored in the cloud, there's no limit.

aura frames
Multiple people can upload images to a single frame, so it's a great way to share photos with friends and family members. If you know someone that's not technically savvy, like a grandparent, it's still the perfect gift because you can load photos for them remotely. The $149 10.1-inch Carver is Aura's most affordable option, but there are sizes up to 15 inches, like the $299 Walden. Aura also makes higher resolution options, including the $199 Mason, and all the frames come in multiple colors to match any decor.

aura frame bright
Everyone I've gifted an Aura frame to has loved it, and it's my go-to for people that are hard to shop for.

Nanoleaf Light Panels and Display Boxes

Nanoleaf recently came out with some of its most useful light panels to date, the Blocks. Priced starting at $225 for the combo kit, the Blocks come with different options like a pegboard you can hang things on, a shelf for knick knacks, and a texture panel that adds visual interest. There are smaller and larger squares, and all of the pieces are interchangeable for creating a unique setup.

nanoleaf blocks 2
Like all Nanoleaf products, the Blocks can be controlled with the Nanoleaf app or with HomeKit, and can be set to multi-colored patterns in a range of shades. These lights are bright enough to serve as a replacement for a standard light, which makes them extra versatile. Any gamer would appreciate these panels for a gaming setup, but they also work around TVs, in offices, and more.

nanoleaf blocks
If you know someone that has collectibles, Nanoleaf also has the $250 EXPO Smart LED Display Case. This is the perfect gift for someone that collects high-end sneakers, anime figures, or anything in that vein. It can be set to 16 million colors or shades of white, and colors can change in time with music.

nanoleaf display case 1
For those that already have a Nanoleaf setup, the $27 Sense+ Smart Wireless Switch is a sensible and inexpensive add-on that's super useful. It provides a physical control option for ‌HomeKit‌ lights, and there are built-in motion and daylight sensors for automating scenes. The Sense+ can be used for turning lights on or off, dimming lights, and swapping scenes.

nanoleaf smart switch

Sonos Ace Headphones

Apple's recent AirPods Max "refresh" was disappointing and only added a USB-C port, and there are several other noise cancelling headphones on the market that are a better investment in 2024, like the Sonos Ace. Priced at $449, the Sonos Ace are cheaper than the ‌AirPods Max‌ and offer a more comfortable fit thanks to a lighter weight. There isn't as much pressure on the head with the Sonos Ace, and the ear cups are a comfortable memory foam that can fit a wide range of ear shapes and sizes.

sonos ace headphones
When we tested out the Sonos Ace earlier this year, and we were impressed with the sound quality. Sonos added support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, and there's a TrueCinema feature that maps the space around you for the best surround sound. ANC blocks out irritating noise around you as well as the ‌AirPods Max‌ do, but if you need to hear sounds from the surroundings, there's an Aware Mode.

sonos ace purple
You can also pair the Sonos Ace with the Arc and the Arc Ultra Soundbars, which makes them a solid gift for someone in the Sonos ecosystem or someone looking for comfortable, premium over-ear headphones.

AirPods

You'll never go wrong with AirPods as a gift, and this year there are three solid options to choose from. For the best noise cancelling, Apple sells the $249 AirPods Pro 2, but you can probably find a pre-holiday sale to get them even cheaper.

airpods pro 2 gradient
The AirPods Pro 2 have silicone tips that fit snugly in the ears to drown out sound, and with hearing aid support, these are the best bet if you have a family member that has mild hearing loss but doesn't wear hearing aids.

People with hearing loss that have tested this out have been impressed with how well the hearing aid capability works, and ‌AirPods Pro‌ are much, much cheaper than traditional hearing aids. Hearing aid capabilities aren't yet available everywhere, including Canada and Australia, but support is available in Europe, the U.S., and 90+ other countries and regions.

If you're purchasing for someone who doesn't like silicone ear tips, the AirPods 4 are an option. You can get them with or without Active Noise Cancellation. The ANC version doesn't cut out quite as much noise as the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, but it's enough to make a difference.

airpods 4 blue
With ANC, the AirPods 4 cost $179, and without ANC, they're $129, which is the cheapest price Apple offers for AirPods. You might see some minor sales around Black Friday, but deep discounts are unlikely because the AirPods 4 are newer.

Aqara U300 Smart Lock

It's probably a little weird to gift someone a Smart Lock for the holidays, but it's a genuinely useful home product that a lot of people probably don't have already.

I've tested a few different smart locks, and I'm a fan of Aqara's options. The $200 U300 is the newest model, and it's for doors that only have a handle and not a deadbolt, like a door into a garage.

aqara u300 1
The $270 U200 is designed for doors that have a deadbolt, so your standard front or back door, plus there's the more affordable $190 U100 version. I like Aqara locks because there are so many ways to unlock them. They have support for Home Keys so you can use NFC with your ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch Wallet app, but there are also passcodes you can enter with the keypad, NFC cards, and even a fingerprint sensor that works surprisingly well. You can let in guests, have the door autolock after it's closed, and set alarms.

aqarau100
Aqara does recommend a hub with its locks so you can control them away from home, but it's not entirely necessary. I also like a hub, because it ensures my locks are always connected to Wi-Fi and I don't run into connectivity issues. Aqara has some other useful sensors like its Presence Sensor for motion detection and activating ‌HomeKit‌ scenes, but I haven't tried them out. They're worth looking at if you're considering an Aqara lock and hub, since they also connect to the hub.

Philips Hue Lights

I think I've tried every ‌HomeKit‌ smart bulb and light available at this point, and Philips Hue lights are unquestionably the best you can get. I have no patience for lights that constantly disconnect or have connectivity issues, and the Hue bulbs don't. Yes, there is a $60 Bridge, but it's worth it, and not all lights require it.

philips hue sync box 8k
The $200 White and Color Starter Kit comes with four Hue bulbs that can go in any lamp that supports E26 bulbs, and it comes with the hub. It's one of the best bets if you're buying a gift for someone who is new to smart home products. The bulbs can be controlled with the Home app or the Hue app, and they can be set to 16 million colors. Hue has great light effects and scenes that really shine when you have multiple bulbs.

hue pendant
For a cheaper option, there's the $70 Starter Kit that comes with a hub and two E26 white bulbs. There's no color with these, but they can be set to different shades of white.

hue go lamp orange grip
For computer or media setups, the Gradient Light Strips priced starting at $70 are excellent. Some other options:

  • Lightguide bulbs - These would be perfect paired with a simple lamp base, because the bulb is meant to be the star. I have two of the ellipse bulbs, and they're enormous and look great.
  • String lights - For holiday fans or those with patio setups crying out for lighting, the Hue Festavia String Lights would make a good gift.
  • Signe floor lamp - The Signe floor lamp isn't the most practical light because it doesn't have a wide radius and is meant to face the wall, but it makes for great accent lighting.
  • Hue Go - The Hue Go is a portable lamp that you can use plugged in or with the built-in battery, and it supports all of the same features as Hue bulbs. It's a nice accent light and good to have around for power outages.
  • Hue Go Portable Table Lamp - This is a lot like the Hue Go, but it's a more traditional looking lamp. It's water resistant, so it can go outdoors, too.

Mokuyobi Bags and Backpacks

For something beyond the boring black and brown computer bags you see everywhere, Mokuyobi has a range of multicolored bags in multiple styles. Most of them come with padded laptop compartments that are ideal for Macs and iPads, along with tons of other pockets.

mokuyobi laptop bag 1
I have several Mokuyobi bags that I have used for years and they still look brand new, and I get compliments on them all the time. This is a solid option if you're shopping for someone who likes color. I especially like the mega backpack because it holds a laptop and an absolute ton of other stuff, so it makes a useful carry-on for flights.

mokuyobi laptop bag 2
There are smaller backpacks too, from the classic looking Atlas to the pocket laden Flyer backpack. You can also get colorful laptop cases that fit everything up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The bags from Mokuyobi aren't cheap, but they come with a lifetime warranty.

Bambu Lab 3D Printer

Bambu Lab makes a range of 3D printers that you can print to using just an app on your ‌iPhone‌ or your Mac. The A1 Mini is just $200, or $349 with the AMS Lite that lets you print with up to four filament colors. Bambu's printers are sort of the ‌iPhone‌ of 3D printers in that they're relatively easy to operate and have a lot of bells and whistles to streamline printing and cut down on issues. Models like the X1C come with an enclosure.

bambu 3d printer a1 mini
I've had the $999 X1C for over a year now and do not hesitate to recommend it for those interested in getting into 3D printing. It's easy to use, there are thousands of STLs out there for making everything you can think of, and you can even make your own using software like Tinkercad or Fusion 360.

bambu 3d printer x1c
I haven't personally used the A1 Mini, but it's a much more affordable way to try 3D printing, and it could make a great gift for an older teen or a partner who likes to tinker.

Ugreen Uno Chargers

Ugreen wasn't a company I was familiar with until this year, but the "Uno" line of products caught my eye. Uno is a range of charging accessories that Ugreen cleverly outfitted with little digital faces, and I love them.

ugreen uno series
I'm reviewing Ugreen's Uno products later this month, but I wanted to include them here because I think they make for a fun gift that's not too expensive and that stands out from other charging products on the market.

There's a $47 100W charger with four ports and a $36 65W charger with three ports, both of which have legs and digital panels with face emoji that change based on charging state. When a device is fast charging, for example, there's a face that looks like it has its mouth full, and when charging is finished, there's a little face with sunglasses.

ugreen uno power bank
There are also two power banks that have the little emoji faces, one that's 10,000mAh with Qi2 for $50, and one that's 5,000mAh with USB-C and 7.5W Qi charging for $33. They come with built-in stands that look like little headphones, which is a nice touch because you can use the stand for watching videos or FaceTiming.

ugreen uno usb c charger
There's also a $49 desktop charger that can charge an ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods, a $17 6-port USB-C hub, and even a $13 USB-C cable with a little face. Of the bunch, I think the power banks will make the best gift, because who can't use another power bank?

As an adult, I'm a fan of the little robot chargers, and I'm sure I'm not alone, but these are also fun for kids.

Bird Buddy

Available starting at $189, the Bird Buddy is the kind of gift that almost anyone will like, which makes it great for the person that has everything. It is a Wi-Fi connected smart bird feeder that sends you pictures of the birds that come to visit.

bird buddy main image
You'll need to fill it with seed regularly and charge it up when necessary, but other than that, it operates on its own. To do away with charging, I recommend the solar version, which starts at $239.

bird buddy snapshots
There's a Bird Buddy Pro now that can capture 2K video in HDR and with slow motion for even better snapshots, or if you like hummingbirds, there's a model just for feeding them. I've gifted the Bird Buddy and it's been a huge hit, with adults and kids too.

Gift Suggestions

Have a great product suggestion we don't have in our list? Let us know in the comments below.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these companies and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.

OpenAI's ChatGPT service is experiencing an outage at the current time, which means the ChatGPT website and app are not available, and the Siri ChatGPT feature in iOS 18.2 is non-functional at the current time.

iOS 18 ChatGPT
According to OpenAI's website, the company is aware of an issue that has caused ChatGPT to be unavailable and it is investigating the issue. Functionality will be restored as soon as possible.

With the launch of iOS 18, Apple added support for RCS, or Rich Communication Services. ‌RCS‌ replaces SMS/MMS as the default messaging standard for any "green bubble" conversations, and because it's more modern, it supports features like read receipts and typing indicators.

apple rcs thumb
‌RCS‌ is also supposed to support emoji reactions from Android users, but it wasn't working properly when ‌iOS 18‌ launched. It's not clear what changed, but The Verge says that something that Google or Apple tweaked made it work as of this week.

When an Android user uses an emoji reaction to a message that you've sent over ‌RCS‌, the emoji will now show up in line with the message bubble, just like it does on with iOS Tapback reactions.

Prior to now, if an Android user used an emoji reaction to a message in a conversation with an iPhone user, the emoji would show up on a separate line, which was confusing and not how the feature was meant to work.

The Verge says it tested emoji reactions between iPhones running iOS 18.1 and several different Android phones, and reactions display both ways as intended.

Apple this week made parts and tools for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max available to order through its self-service repair store in the U.S. and many European countries, seven weeks after the devices launched.

iPhone Self Service Repair
There are parts and tools available for repairing or replacing an iPhone 16's display, battery, rear camera system, TrueDepth camera for Face ID, back glass, bottom and top speakers, main microphone, and more. Tool kits are available to rent for seven days for all four iPhone 16 models, with U.S. pricing set at $49 for each kit.

Apple already shared repair manuals for all four iPhone 16 models in September, and now the necessary parts and tools are available to customers.

Launched in 2022, Apple's self-service program provides customers with access to genuine parts, tools, and manuals to repair select iPhones and Macs, as well as the Studio Display. The company has said the program is "intended for individuals who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices." Some of the repair manuals on Apple's website have warnings outlining important information, such as safety risks.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

YouTube channel Brandon Geekabit today shared a teardown video for the new Mac mini base model with the M4 chip, 256GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM. The video provides the first complete look inside Apple's smallest Mac ever, revealing the computer's logic board, built-in power supply, cooling system, and other components.


While previous Mac mini models with Apple silicon chips had plenty of unused internal space, since the computer had not been redesigned since it used Intel processors, components take up nearly all of the space inside the new model.

The bottom metal plate on the Mac mini continues to double as an antenna. Once that is removed, you can see the fan and heat sink that help to keep the computer running cool. Beyond that, you can see the Mac mini's modular storage that we reported on earlier today. The base model with 256GB of storage has two 128GB chips, which means it will no longer have slower SSD speeds compared to higher-capacity models. Last, you can see the Mac mini's logic board with the M4 chip and the power supply below that.

The new Mac mini has an innovative thermal architecture, in which air is guided from the bottom foot to different levels of the computer.

mac mini thermal architecture feature
As far as the new Mac mini's repairability is concerned, we will have to wait for the website iFixit to share its own teardown video.

Overall, the new Mac mini is an impressive engineering feat made possible by the industry-leading performance-per-watt characteristics of Apple silicon. The new Mac mini launched in stores today, and we recently shared our own hands-on video.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Mac mini

Apple launched the new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models with M4 chips today, and because the ‌Mac mini‌ is the only one of the machines that got a design update, we thought we'd check it out to see how it compares to the prior version.


The 2024 version of the ‌Mac mini‌ is much smaller than the previous M2 model, so it takes up less space on a desktop. It's 5 by 5 inches, down from 7.75 by 7.75 inches, and you can really see a difference when they're side-by-side. There were rumors that the ‌Mac mini‌ could be as small as the Apple TV, but it's not that small.

It's impressive to have a powerful M4 computer in such a small enclosure, and with so many available ports. There are two ports on the front and three on the back, all USB-C or Thunderbolt. If you have USB-A accessories, you'll need an adapter. There's also an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an Ethernet port, and a port for the power cable.

You can get the ‌Mac mini‌ with an M4 or an M4 Pro chip, and the M4 version has three Thunderbolt 4 ports at the back while the M4 Pro version has three Thunderbolt 5 ports that support faster transfer speeds. The M4 and the M4 Pro offer notable speed improvements over the prior ‌M2‌ and ‌M2‌ Pro chips. We've got the full array of benchmarks in the video, but CPU performance is up to 55 percent faster in the M4 Pro compared to the ‌M2‌ Pro. GPU performance is up significantly, and even the SSD is faster.

Apple is also selling the M4 Macs with 16GB RAM at a minimum, which is a major upgrade over the previous 8GB starting RAM for the base model.

The ‌Mac mini‌ is priced starting at $599, but that's because it doesn't come with a display or peripherals. You'll need to supply your own. It's a solid machine for home or work, and because it's so small, you can take it from one place to another if you have two setups with displays and accessories.

There is one downside to the ‌Mac mini‌. If you often turn your Mac off and on, you might be annoyed to find that the power button is on the bottom of the device. To access it, you'll need to lift the ‌Mac mini‌ up a bit. That's no big deal if you don't turn your computer off regularly, but if you do, just note there's a little bit of an extra hassle to deal with.

Did you get a new M4 Mac mini, or do you plan to? Let us know in the comments below.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Mac mini

Black Friday sales are continuing today with Best Buy kicking off early Black Friday deals that will last for the next few days. Similar to other retailers, Best Buy's early Black Friday event includes sitewide savings on Apple products, headphones, TVs, monitors, video games, and more.

best buy holidayNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Best Buy's Black Friday Schedule

Best Buy's early Black Friday sale begins today, and new doorbusters will go online every Friday in November. On November 21, the retailer's Black Friday sale will officially begin and run through November 30. We've broken down the schedule below:

  • Friday 11/8: Doorbusters every Friday begins
  • 11/8 through 11/20: Early Black Friday deals
  • 11/21 through 11/30: Black Friday sale
  • 12/1 through 12/2: Cyber Monday sale

Best Buy's Early Black Friday Sale

You'll find plenty of Apple devices on sale during this event, including MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, iPad, MacBook Air, and more. Of course, there are plenty non-Apple products to shop as well, including the best prices of the year on select TVs and gaming laptops.

Some of these deals will require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, which begin at $49.99 per year. With My Best Buy Plus you will get free two day shipping, exclusive discounts, and an extended 60-day return window on most products.

Apple

best buy apple holiday

iPad

14-inch M3 MacBook Pro

16-inch M3 MacBook Pro

Headphones

beats holiday

TVs

best buy tvs

You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.


Deals Newsletter

Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundups: Apple Black Friday, Apple Deals
Related Forum: Community Discussion

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss visionOS 2.2 and Apple's potential move into iPhone-connected glasses.

visionOS 2.2 brings Wide and Ultrawide modes to the Vision Pro's Mac Virtual Display feature. Mac Virtual Display allows Apple's Vision Pro headset to be used as an external display for a Mac. The feature has been available since visionOS was first released earlier this year, but the wider options are new in the latest beta. Apple has previously said the ultrawide version of Mac Virtual Display is equivalent to having two physical 4K displays sitting side by side on a desk.

We discuss the experience of using the new Mac Virtual Display modes and whether it makes the Vision Pro more useful. visionOS 2.2 will likely be released to the public in December alongside iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and other updates.

We also talk through where Apple's Vision product line is headed next. There are now a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about a new, M5-powered Vision Pro headset with Apple Intelligence that is apparently set to launch next year.

Apple is also said to be "seriously considering" a new Vision device that offloads computing to a paired iPhone and serves as an accessory for watching movies, similar to Xreal.

The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion with Jon Prosser about talk all of Apple's latest Mac announcements.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌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.

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips launched in stores today. If you are not planning to upgrade this year, be aware that there are already rumors about next year's MacBook Pro models with M5 series chips.

Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero
It appears the MacBook Pro will remain on an annual upgrade cycle next year. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said camera module shipments for MacBook Pro models with M5 series chips will begin in 2025, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also recently said MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips will launch next year. In fact, he said Apple's development of those chips was already near completion.

MacBook Pro announcement dates:

  • M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max models: October 30, 2024
  • M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max models: October 30, 2023
  • M2 Pro and M2 Max models: January 17, 2023 (it has been rumored that this launch was initially planned for October 2022)
  • M1 Pro and M1 Max models: October 18, 2021

Gurman believes the MacBook Pro will not receive any major design changes next year, with bigger changes like an OLED display and a thinner design rumored for 2026. The last major redesign to the MacBook Pro line occurred in 2021.

All in all, expect the MacBook Pro to receive yet another modest spec bump with performance improvements and other internal upgrades next year, and start saving your money for the two-generations-away models with a "total redesign."

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

It is launch day for the new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro in the U.S., and same-day pickup is now available at many Apple Store locations across the country. The same is true for many other countries around the world.

October 2024 Macs
To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP code, choose an available Apple Store location, and select a pickup date. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.

Same-day Apple Store pickup is not available for custom Mac configurations with upgraded specifications ordered through Apple's online store.

As we recently reported, Apple's extended return policy is now in effect for the holiday shopping season. If you purchase a new Mac from Apple between today and December 25, it is eligible for return until January 8 in the U.S. and many other countries.

Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini
Related Forums: iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini

Apple today indicated that its extended return policy is now in effect for the 2024 holiday shopping season. The policy applies to most products that Apple sells, but there are a few exceptions, including carrier-financed iPhones.

2024 iPhone Boxes
In the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and many other countries, most products purchased between November 8 and December 25 of this year may be returned through January 8, 2025, according to Apple's website. All purchases made after December 25 in those countries are subject to Apple's standard 14-day return policy.

If you placed an order through Apple's online store, the extended return policy applies to eligible products that you receive between November 8 and December 25 too. That means anyone who pre-ordered a new Mac mini, iMac, or MacBook Pro has until January 8 to return those computers, if they choose to.

In some countries, such as Italy, Spain, Japan, and Mexico, the return window is slightly longer. Apple says most products purchased in those countries between November 8 and January 6 may be returned through January 20.

Apple has also updated its online "Store" page with gift recommendations for the holidays.

The MacBook Pro is available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, with three distinct models starting at $1,599, $1,999, and $2,499, so which should you choose?

Apple MacBook Pro M4 lineup 1
With a range of three similar models in the lineup to choose from, our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these MacBook Pros is best for you. The three models are as follows:

  • 14-Inch MacBook Pro with M4: An entry-level model for users who need a machine that is more powerful and versatile than the MacBook Air.
  • 14-Inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max: A more powerful, high-end model with a choice of performance-focused chips. It comes with higher memory bandwidth, larger quantities of memory, support for additional external displays, and an 8TB storage option, but loses two hours of battery life.
  • 16-Inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max: A model with identical specifications to the 14-inch model with the M4 Pro or M4 Max chips, but with a significantly larger display and up to two extra hours of battery life. It also gains High Power Mode to boost performance.

Each ‌MacBook Pro‌ is configurable to add more a more powerful processor and larger quantities of memory and storage. Read on for a detailed break down of all of the differences between the three ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

14-Inch ‌MacBook Pro‌
(With M4)
14-Inch ‌MacBook Pro‌
(With M4 Pro and M4 Max)
16-Inch ‌MacBook Pro‌
14.2-inch display 14.2-inch display 16.2-inch display
0.61 inches thick (1.55 cm) 0.61 inches thick (1.55 cm) 0.66 inches thick (1.68 cm)
Weighs 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) M4 Pro: Weighs 3.5 pounds (1.61 kg)
M4 Max: Weighs 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg)
M4 Pro: Weighs 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg)
M4 Max: Weighs 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg)
Configurations start with M4 with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU Configurations start with M4 Pro with 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU Configurations start with M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU
High Power Mode to boost M4 Max performance High Power Mode to boost M4 Max performance
120GB/s memory bandwidth M4 Pro: 273GB/s memory bandwidth
M4 Max: 546GB/s memory bandwidth
M4 Pro: 273GB/s memory bandwidth
M4 Max: 546GB/s memory bandwidth
16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory M4 Pro: 24GB or 48GB unified memory
M4 Max: 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, or 128GB unified memory
M4 Pro: 24GB or 48GB unified memory
M4 Max: 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, or 128GB unified memory
Support for two external displays M4 Pro: Support for two external displays
M4 Max: Support for up to four external displays
M4 Pro: Support for two external displays
M4 Max: Support for up to four external displays
Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports
Fast charging over MagSafe 3 or USB-C port Fast charging over ‌MagSafe‌ 3 or USB-C port Fast charging over ‌MagSafe‌ 3 or USB-C port (with 240W cable only)
Up to 24-hour battery life M4 Pro: Up to 22-hour battery life
M4 Max: Up to 18-hour battery life
M4 Pro: Up to 24-hour battery life
M4 Max: Up to 21-hour battery life
Integrated 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery Integrated 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery Integrated 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
70W USB-C Power Adapter 70W USB-C Power Adapter (with M4 Pro with 12-core CPU) or 96W USB-C Power Adapter (with M4 Pro with 14-core CPU or M4 Max, configurable with M4 Pro with 12-core CPU) 140W USB-C Power Adapter
512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage
Starts at $1,599 Starts at $1,999 Starts at $2,499

Display Size

The ‌MacBook Pro‌ is offered in 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch display sizes. The 16.2-inch display is a better replacement for a desktop machine and provides much more screen space to arrange multiple windows and use professional applications that benefit from the additional display area. The 14.2-inch display is still larger than the 13.6-inch ‌MacBook Air‌, and will likely be the best overall balance of needs for most users.

Design

The 16-inch model is, of course, physically larger than the 14-inch model, with a markedly bigger overall footprint. It is also worth noting that the 16-inch model is also 0.13 cm thicker and up to 1.4 pounds (0.64 kg) heavier.

macbook pro sizes
The 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is decidedly more portable and comfortable than the 16-inch model to carry around on a daily basis. Though the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ can still fit in larger bags and is an acceptable size for travel, it is a much bigger, heavier machine. If you are considering the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, you should make sure you are comfortable with its size and weight—especially if you plan to use it on the go.

Chip Configurations

Both the 14-inch and 16-inch models are equally upgradeable to the M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, but if you are looking to spend as little as possible or do not need a high level of performance for intense workflows the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is also available with the standard M4 chip. The M4 offers a more balanced processor with more of a focus on efficiency to prolong battery life, which will be more appropriate for users with less demanding requirements. Buyers should be aware that the M4 chip is limited to 120GB/s memory bandwidth, 32GB of memory, 2TB storage, and supports just two external displays.

The base configuration of the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ features an M4 Pro with 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, while the base 16-inch model contains an M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU. If you upgrade the 14-inch model to the same M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU that the 16-inch model starts with, it increases to $2,299 – just $300 less than the starting price of the 16-inch model.

For those who are leaning toward buying the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ and want the 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU at a minimum, the slimmer price difference between the two models to just $300 may make it easier to justify getting the larger machine. On the other hand, if you do not need the performance of the M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, the 16-inch model may be overkill, and getting the 14-inch model will be the best way to keep costs down.

High Power Mode

The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips offer a software feature called High Power Mode. When enabled, High Power Mode boosts the machine's performance to better meet the needs of intensive, sustained workloads.

High Power Mode Feature 2
High Power Mode is designed to optimize and improve performance for resource-intensive tasks, such as color grading 8K ProRes video, according to Apple. When enabled, High Power Mode will de-prioritize resource-hungry system processes in order to leverage the full performance capability of the ‌M4 Max chip. The setting is effectively the opposite of "Low Power Mode," which aims to decrease system performance in favor of prolonging battery life.

The M4 and M4 Pro chips do not feature High Power Mode, so if you want the ability to selectively push your processor to its limits, you will need to buy a machine with the M4 Max chip.

Battery Life

Owing to its larger size, the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ contains a larger battery and has longer-lasting battery life. The 14-inch model contains a 72.4-watt-hour battery, while the 16-inch model contains a 100-watt-hour battery.

Apple says the M4 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ can deliver up to 24 hours of battery life when playing back video, but this drops to 18- or 22-hours when configured with the M4 Pro or M4 Max. The 16-inch model features 22-hours of battery life with the M4 Max and 24-hours with the M4 Pro when playing back video. For users who need maximum battery life, the M4 14-inch model or the M4 Pro 16-inch model will be the best options. That being said, the battery life of the other configurations is still good enough for most users.

Charging and Connectivity

The 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ uses a 70W or 96W USB-C power adapter for charging, while the 16-inch model comes with a 140W power adapter. Both models support fast charging, but a 96W or higher USB-C power adapter is required. The 96W USB-C power adapter is a $20 option on the base model 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, but it comes as standard with M4 Pro configurations with a 14-core CPU and ones with the M4 Max.

macbook pro magsafe 3 charging
Both models can use the ‌MagSafe‌ 3 or USB-C ports to fast charge. They can charge with up to 100W via their USB-C ports, but since the 16-inch model has a larger battery, it is not classified as "fast charging" on this machine.

The ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips features Thunderbolt 5 ports, but the model with the standard M4 chip is limited to Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 4 wired transfers should be more than sufficient for most users, but it is still a difference worth noting.

Final Thoughts

The 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is $500 more than the 14-inch model with the base M4 Pro chip, so you should be sure that you need the additional display area, battery life, and perhaps even High Power Mode support to justify its higher price. That being said, if you upgrade the 14-inch model to the same M4 Pro with 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU that the 16-inch model starts with, the price difference shrinks to $300, and it may be worth opting for the larger model—especially if you could take advantage of its longer battery life.

Buyers of the 16-inch model should be aware that it is considerably larger, thicker, and heavier than the 14-inch model, to the extent that it could be needlessly cumbersome to some users. The 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ is clearly a more portable machine, so if you intend to carry your ‌MacBook Pro‌ around frequently or need the versatility of it easily fitting into a bag for transport, the smaller model is the better option by far.

If you need more than 16GB of memory and are interested in the 14-inch model with the M4 chip, a 24GB memory configuration pushes the price up to $1,799. The 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with the M4 Pro chip has 24GB of memory as standard and starts at $1,999. In this case, it may be worth spending the extra $200 to gain two extra CPU cores and six extra GPU cores, unless you are particularly concerned about losing two hours of battery life.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
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Amazon today has Apple's AirPods Pro 2 earbuds for the all-time low price of $169.99, down from $249.00. It's been about a month since we last tracked this price on the AirPods Pro 2, and right now Amazon is the only major retailer with the deal.

airpods pro early black fridayNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

If you're looking for deals on other AirPods models, like the new AirPods 4, be sure to check out our guide on the Best Early Black Friday AirPods Deals. Right now you can get the AirPods 4 for $114.00 from Woot, an all-time low price.

You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.

Update: This deal has expired.


Deals Newsletter

Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple has returned to using two 128GB storage chips in the new Mac mini with 256GB of storage, according to a partial teardown video shared on social media today. This means the base-model Mac mini with the M4 chip will not have significantly slower SSD speeds compared to higher-end configurations of the computer with 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage, as multiple NAND chips allows for faster SSD read and write speeds.

mac mini thermal architecture feature
The teardown video also reveals that storage is modular in the new Mac mini, meaning that it can be easily removed since it is not soldered down. As we saw with the Mac Studio, however, replacing the modular storage is complicated.

The previous-generation Mac mini base model with the M2 chip has a single 256GB storage chip, resulting in 30% to 50% slower SSD read and write speeds compared to higher-capacity models. The slower speeds led to criticism from some customers.

M4 Mac Mini TeardownThe new Mac mini has modular storage (via iFixit Answers forum)

A single 256GB storage chip also led to slower SSD speeds in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro base models with the M2 chip a few years ago. Apple returned to using two 128GB storage chips in 256GB configurations of MacBook Air models with the M3 chip earlier this year, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro line was discontinued last year and replaced with an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro that starts with 512GB of storage.

The criticism surrounding Apple's decision to use a single 256GB chip in some base-model Macs a few years ago primarily came from a vocal contingent of tech enthusiasts, and the average customer is unlikely to even notice the slower speeds in common day-to-day tasks. Nevertheless, it appears that customers who do want the fastest SSD speeds do not need to worry about which storage capacity they choose when ordering the new Mac mini.

Related Roundup: Mac mini
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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models will feature an upgraded main rear camera with a variable aperture for the first time, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Smaller Notch Feature
Apple has gradually expanded new camera technologies, such as sensor-shift stabilization, 48-megapixel sensors, and the tetraprism 5x telephoto camera, across its ‌iPhone‌ models in recent years. It now appears that after completing the rear camera array's transition to 48-megapixel sensors by bringing one to the telephoto camera on next year's iPhone 17 Pro models, the next significant camera upgrade will be the introduction of a variable aperture.

The information comes from Kuo's latest post on Medium, where he outlined how upcoming products such as the ‌iPhone 17‌ "Slim," M5 MacBook Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 18 will affect Apple supplier Sunny Optical. Kuo believes that Sunny Optical and Luxshare will be the primary and secondary shutter suppliers for the ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro's new main camera, while the variable aperture lens will be supplied by Sunny Optical and Largan Precision.

The iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and 16 Pro's main cameras feature a fixed aperture of ƒ/1.78. A variable aperture on future ‌iPhone‌ models would allow the main camera to control the amount of light entering the lens, allowing it to adjust to different lighting conditions. It also would provide more control over depth of field, enabling sharper focus on subjects or smoother background blur. The ‌iPhone‌ 18 is expected to launch in 2026.

When Image Playground was first introduced in June as one of the key Apple Intelligence features, Apple said that it would generate images in three styles: animation, illustration, and sketch.

image playground ios 18 2
The version of Image Playground available in the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas only offers animation and illustration as style options, leaving us wondering if sketch might be added a later time.

It looks like the answer might be no, as Apple has removed Sketch from the Image Playground app description. ‌Image Playground‌ used to list three styles as design options, but it was updated to two, and the line about Sketch was removed. Here's what was removed:

The highly detailed and academic Sketch style produces gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds.

The updated app description only mentions animation and Illustration.

Animation style offers a whimsical, 3D cartoon look with expressive characters and cinematic environments. Illustration style is defined by strong outlines, simple shapes, and bold colors, providing uplifting and playful compositions.

While Apple updated the Style portion of the ‌Image Playground‌ app description, one mistaken mention of three style options remains at the top. "‌Image Playground‌, powered by ‌Apple Intelligence‌, lets you turn descriptions, concepts or people from your photo library into original, fun images in three unique styles."

Sketch is also still listed as an option on Apple's website highlighting ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, but Apple will likely remove these remaining references soon.

It isn't clear why Apple decided to eliminate the sketch option from ‌Image Playground‌, or if sketch or other styles will be added in the future. As it stands, ‌Image Playground‌ in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2 will only include animation and illustration as style options. The updates are set to launch in early December.

(Thanks, Nicolás!)

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia

Nvidia today announced plans to start capping the number of hours that GeForce NOW players can game each month, with the company charging an additional fee for more game time.

nvidia geforce now mac
Performance (formerly the Priority plan) and Ultimate subscribers will get 100 hours of gameplay a month starting in January 2025. Up to 15 hours of unused playtime will roll over to the next month. Performance subscribers can purchase 15 additional hours for $2.99, while Ultimate subscribers can purchase 15 additional hours for $5.99.

Current GeForce NOW subscribers that have a paid membership as of December 31, 2024 will continue to have unlimited playtime until January 2026.

Nvidia says that limiting playtime will allow it to provide exceptional quality and speed, along with shorter queue times. The 100-hour monthly playtime limit "comfortably accommodates" 94 percent of subscribers.

The Performance plan, priced at $9.99 per month, provides subscribers with access to a GeForce RTX with 1440p streaming quality. The Ultimate plan is priced at $19.99 per month and offers a GeForce RTX 4080 and 4K HDR 120fps streaming.

Nvidia continues to offer a basic free plan for entry-level cloud gaming, as well as day passes priced starting at $2.99.

Max, the streaming service previously known as HBO Max, is cracking down on password sharing in the coming months, reports The Verge. During an earnings call today, parent company Warner Bros. Discovery said that customers will start seeing "very soft messaging" about the upcoming change.

Max Formerly HBO Max
After that initial message about password sharing, more strict rules will be put into place in 2025 and 2026. Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Widenfels said that Max would be asking viewers who have "not signed up, or multi-household members to pay a little bit more."

Max could also get a price increase in the future, and the company has not ruled out raising the cost of a subscription. Widenfels said that there is a "fair amount of room to continue to push a price" that Max has been "judicious about."

Max has a total of 110.5 million subscribers globally, and the service is priced starting at $9.99 per month for an ad-supported version ($99.99 per year), or $16.99 per month for an ad-free version ($169.99 per year). There's also a more expensive "Ultimate" $20.99/month plan that provides 4K streaming.

Streaming services are putting an end to password sharing after Netflix successfully cracked down on the practice last year. Netflix saw its subscription numbers increase after preventing customers from sharing accounts across multiple households.

Tag: HBO Max