Skip to Content

Apple's 'Presto' Wireless Update Tech May Soon Reach the Mac

Apple is able to wirelessly update iPhones that are still in the box using a proprietary system called "Presto," and now 9to5Mac claims that the technology is going to be expanded to the Mac.

M4 MacBook Air 13 and 15 inch Feature Pink and Yellow
With Presto, Apple Store employees can place a sealed iPhone box on the Presto shelf. The ‌iPhone‌ then turns on, and the software the ‌iPhone‌ is running is updated to the latest available version. The process takes between 15 and 30 minutes, and it allows iPhones be updated to Apple's newest software before being sold to a customer.

There are hints of a similar Presto option for the Mac in the third beta of macOS Tahoe. As with the ‌iPhone‌, Macs could be updated to the newest software ahead of when they're sold, which would prevent customers from having to do day-one updates after purchasing a product.

It's not clear how a Presto for Mac feature would work, given that the ‌iPhone‌ version relies on NFC and Macs don't have an NFC chip inside, nor is it known when the functionality could roll out to Apple's retail stores.

Popular Stories

Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Apple Accidentally Leaks 'MacBook Neo'

Tuesday March 3, 2026 7:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have prematurely revealed the name of its rumored lower-cost MacBook model, which is expected to be announced this Wednesday. A regulatory document for a "MacBook Neo" (Model A3404) has appeared on Apple's website. Unfortunately, there are no further details or images available yet. While the PDF file does not contain the "MacBook Neo" name, it briefly appeared in a link...
MacBook Neo Feature Pastel 1

Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip

Wednesday March 4, 2026 6:15 am PST by
Apple today announced the "MacBook Neo," an all-new kind of low-cost Mac featuring the A18 Pro chip for $599. The MacBook Neo is the first Mac to be powered by an iPhone chip; the A18 Pro debuted in 2024's iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils Two New Products

Monday March 2, 2026 7:49 am PST by
Apple today introduced two new devices, including the iPhone 17e and an updated iPad Air. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the ...

Top Rated Comments

Sharky II Avatar
9 months ago
Off no longer means off. Privacy is truly dead, huh?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
insomniac86 Avatar
9 months ago

OS is still signed by Apple. It’s not open to any OS
Until there's a bug to exploit.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
insomniac86 Avatar
9 months ago

Off no longer means off. Privacy is truly dead, huh?
Yeah I was thinking how this could be exploited. Could be a really nice backdoor.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ijordano Avatar
9 months ago

Off no longer means off. Privacy is truly dead, huh?
Off has never meant off with a device that has a digital power button
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
racerhomie Avatar
9 months ago

Yeah I was thinking how this could be exploited. Could be a really nice backdoor.
OS is still signed by Apple. It’s not open to any OS
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wood1208 Avatar
9 months ago
What happens if sealed iPhone in box is out of juice while being updated? Hope, Presto shelf is also able to charge iPhone while updating software.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)