Availability of iPhone 14 Pro models are beginning to improve on Apple's online store as the holidays continue to approach, a sign that the company has possibly largely caught up with demand following production disruptions.
As we've reported previously, both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were estimated to begin shipping in three to four weeks, according to Apple's online store. Apple warned that production disruptions in China would impact supply and said it was doing everything possible to improve supply conditions.
As the holidays continue approaching, both models are seeing improved estimated shipping dates on Apple's online store. In specific configurations, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are estimated to begin shipping in just one to two weeks. Under the current estimations, customers looking to gift an iPhone 14 Pro are unlikely to receive the iPhone in time for Christmas, though that would depend on the specific location and the model.
Apple is working on multiple new external monitors, including an updated version of the high-end Pro Display XDR that launched alongside the Mac Pro in December 2019, according to the latest information shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his newsletter today, Gurman said the new monitors will be powered by Apple silicon, just like the Studio Display has an A13 Bionic chip. He did not share any additional details, or a timeframe for the monitors launching, but noted that an all-new Mac Pro is further along in development compared to the updated Pro Display XDR.
It's unclear if one of the new monitors would include an updated Studio Display. In October, display industry consultant Ross Young said Apple was planning to launch a new monitor with a 27-inch mini-LED display in the first quarter of 2023. Based on those specs, it's possible this monitor could be a new Studio Display with ProMotion.
Introduced alongside the Mac Studio in March, the Studio Display starts at $1,599. The display features a 27-inch screen with 5K resolution and a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera. The higher-end Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999 and is equipped with a 32-inch display with 6K resolution, but it does not have a camera.
Apple plans to release new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chip options "early next year," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The laptops were originally expected to launch this year, but reportedly faced delays internally.
No major changes are expected for the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models beyond the upgraded chip options and possibly faster RAM.
The current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips were released in October 2021 and featured an all-new design with a notch in the display and the return of an HDMI port, MagSafe, and an SD card reader. Macs often go several years between redesigns, so a mere spec bump in 2023 makes sense.
Gurman also said a new iMac with an M3 chip will "probably launch at the end of 2023 at the earliest," without sharing any further details. The current iMac launched in April 2021 with the M1 chip and a slim, colorful design, and Gurman previously said Apple planned to skip releasing an iMac with the M2 chip. He added that Apple remains interested in a new iMac Pro with Apple silicon, but that it has faced delays internally.
Apple also continues to test new Mac mini models with M2 and M2 Pro chip options, according to Gurman, but he did not share a launch timeframe.
Apple continues to test an all-new Mac Pro with an M2 Ultra chip, but the company has likely abandoned plans to release a higher-end configuration with a so-called "M2 Extreme" chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his newsletter today, Gurman said the Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip will be available with up to a 24-core CPU, up to a 76-core GPU, and at least 192GB of RAM. Like the current Mac Pro, he expects the new model to remain expandable, allowing for additional memory, storage, and other components to be inserted.
The higher-end model with the M2 Extreme chip would have been available with up to a 48-core CPU and up to a 152-core GPU, according to Gurman, but he believes that this configuration was scrapped due to cost and manufacturing complexities.
"Based on Apple's current pricing structure, an M2 Extreme version of a Mac Pro would probably cost at least $10,000 — without any other upgrades — making it an extraordinarily niche product that likely isn't worth the development costs, engineering resources and production bandwidth it would require," he wrote.
The current Intel-based Mac Pro was released in December 2019 and starts at $5,999 in the United States. Barring any further delays, the new model will presumably launch at some point in 2023, but Gurman did not provide an updated timeframe.
With the holidays right around the corner now, this week saw Apple push out the last of its updates for 2022 in the form of iOS 16.2 and associated operating system updates for other platforms. The updates include a number of new features, with attention on the software side now turning to iOS 16.3 for early next year.
Other Apple news and rumors this week included word that Apple is looking to satisfy European regulators by working to support alternative app stores starting with iOS 17, rumors of a larger 15.5-inch MacBook Air coming next year, and more, so read on below for all of the details!
iOS 16.2 Released With These New Features
Apple this week released iOS 16.2 for the iPhone 8 and newer following two months of beta testing. The software update has over a dozen new features, including the Freeform app, Apple Music Sing, an option to expand end-to-end iCloud encryption, and much more.
Apple also released iPadOS 16.2 this week with external display support reenabled for Stage Manager on compatible iPads, along with macOS 13.1, watchOS 9.2, and tvOS 16.2.
The report said Apple is aiming for the changes to be introduced as part of iOS 17, which is expected to be announced at WWDC next June. It's unclear if third-party app stores would be allowed globally.
15-Inch MacBook Air Expected to Launch in Spring 2023
Two unreleased Mac models have been spotted in Steam's monthly device survey — they are likely the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.
The same Macs seem to have appeared in Geekbench results a few times, offering a closer look at the performance of the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. The laptops are expected to be released in 2023.
AirPods Max 2: Everything We Know About Features and Launch Date
There are many features that AirPods Max 2 could adopt from the second-generation AirPods Pro, such as Adaptive Transparency, IPX4-rated sweat and water resistance, skin-detect sensors, and the U1 chip.
iPhone Features We're Still Waiting For Following iOS 16.2's Release
Following the release of iOS 16.2, we've recapped five upcoming iPhone features that Apple has previously announced but yet to launch, such as an Apple Pay Later financing option and an Apple Card savings account for earning interest on Daily Cash.
One of the features mentioned in the list has since been introduced in the iOS 16.3 beta, while some others might not appear until iOS 16.4 or later.
MacRumors Newsletter
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.
After the introduction of the Mac Studio and Studio Display in Apple's product lineup, and with mixed signs of a larger Apple silicon iMac on its product roadmap, will there ever be another iMac Pro?
Five years ago this week Apple launched the iMac Pro – presented at the time as "the most powerful Mac ever made". In March 2021, Apple announced that it was discontinuing the iMac Pro. By that time, the machine had been surpassed by the 2019 Mac Pro, a significant final update for the 27-inch iMac, and the first Apple Silicon Macs. In April 2021, Apple introduced the 24-inch iMac as its first all-in-one desktop Mac with an Apple silicon chip. Apple discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch iMac in March 2022, leaving the junior iMac with an entry-level chip as the only all-in-one in Apple's lineup.
Display Supply Chain Consultants analyst Ross Young has said since 2021 that Apple is working on an iMac with a 27-inch mini-LED display with ProMotion, but rumors about this device have faded since the launch of the Mac Studio and Studio Display in March this year. When Apple introduced these two new machines, it lauded their "modularity" and collective positioning between the iMac and the Mac Pro. As such, the location of the Mac Studio in Apple's product lineup aroused suspicion that there was simply no place for a "Pro" iMac anymore. Other reports suggested that Apple had no plans to release an new iMac Pro or an iMac with a larger display anytime soon.
I also still believe that Apple is working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market. I'd imagine this will use a variation of the M3 chip, likely an M3 Pro and M3 Max. That would match the chips inside of the MacBook Pro. I don't think the combination of a Mac Studio or Mac mini plus an Apple Studio Display cuts it for many pro users who want more screen real estate.
Beyond a rumor from Young explaining that the iMac Pro will have fewer mini-LED zones than the iPad Pro or MacBook Pro, little else is known about what it could feature. It seems likely that a larger, ~27-inch mini-LED display with ProMotion, M3 Pro and M3 Max chip options, and a slew of ports brought over from the MacBook Pro are on the cards for the iMac Pro based on what we are aware of at the current time.
With Young, Kuo, and Gurman all coalescing around the idea of a new high-end iMac, likely set to launch next year, it seems that the chances of Apple releasing a new iMac Pro are still relatively high, regardless of the presence of the Mac Studio and Studio Display.
December is coming to an end and 2023 will be upon us in just a couple of weeks. With holiday breaks and vacations coming up, the end of the month is a great time to sit down and do a little bit of iPhone maintenance to get ready for the new year.
If you're like many of us here at MacRumors, you have a lot of cruft in the form of photos that need to be cleaned up, old apps to be deleted, contacts to clear out, and more, so we thought we'd round up some useful suggestions on iPhone organization and optimization that can save space and make your device feel less cluttered.
Clear Out Old Photos
I bought a house this year, and I have about a thousand photos of peeling paint on the ceiling, marks on the floor, downed trees, efflorescence in the crawl space, rain gutters overflowing, and dozens of other little home issues that one photographs. If you're in the same situation, now's a good time to organize those images into albums, pull them off of the iPhone into a dedicated album on your Mac or other device, or delete them.
On iPhone, just open up the Photos app, select everything that's unnecessary, and add it to an album with the Share Sheet or delete it. You can also move it over to something like the Files app to keep a copy that doesn't clutter your Photos app, which is what I'm going to do.
Get Rid of Old/Duplicate Contacts
iOS 16 added a handy feature for merging contacts if you have duplicates. Just open up the Contacts app and it will let you know right at the top if there are duplicates, which can be merged with a tap.
If you have old contacts you no longer talk with, this is also a good time to go through and delete anything that's irrelevant to clean up your Contacts list.
Delete Unused Apps
Apple gives you a bunch of ways to get rid of apps you're no longer using, but perhaps the most efficient way is to simply open up the Settings app, go to General, and choose iPhone Storage. From there, you can see what's taking up a lot of room and you can get rid of what you're no longer using to save both Home Screen space on your iPhone and storage space.
Delete Old Messages
Old iMessages, especially those with a lot of images, can take up a surprising amount of space. While you're deleting apps, check out Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages to see what's eating up the most space in the app. From there, tap into a category like photos or videos to delete old content.
Note that it can take some time to load your photos and videos.
Clean Up Old Reminders and Notes
While going through photos, messages, and unused apps, it's probably also a good idea to clear out old Notes and Reminders from those apps, respectively.
I'm not good at keeping on top of Notes in particular, and it can get cluttered with content that I no longer need. It's not a big deal, but it feels refreshing to empty it out every now and then. Deleting notes is as simple as opening up the Notes app and swiping to the left, and the same is true of Reminders.
Review Your Notification Settings
Over the course of the year, it's easy to download apps, forget about them, and brush off the excess notifications you start receiving that you don't really need. Deleting apps solves the problem, but you may have apps you want to keep that you don't need notifications from.
In Settings > Notifications, you can manage all of your apps, deciding which can send notifications and which can't. Clearing out notifications can lead to less distraction, and it's also useful to add apps to App Summary so you only hear from them once a day.
Check Up on Battery Usage
It's a good idea to look in on your battery usage every now and then so you can see what apps are eating battery life and where you're spending your time to see if there are areas where changes can be made.
Under Settings > Battery you can see the last 24 hours and the last 10 days of app usage, with a breakdown of which apps used the most battery life. It lets you know if battery was drained through active use or background activity, which can be helpful if you're looking to maximize battery.
If you have apps like Photos or Weather that are updating in the background when you don't really need them to, you can turn off background updates. Go to General > Background App Refresh to toggle on background refresh on a per app basis.
More Tips
There are plenty more management categories you can delve into, with some suggestions for organization and updating below.
Go through your files in iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Box, or any other cloud service that you use.
Clean up your email inbox, deleting old emails to save space and to get to inbox zero.
Do a checkup on 1Password or your password management app to update any old passwords, close out old accounts, or get rid of data you no longer need.
Rearrange apps into folders for a more organized Home Screen.
Go through your Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets to make sure everything is still relevant and nothing is there that's not in use.
Update locations in the Weather app to clear out old vacation spots or other weather information you don't need.
A fully functional Apple-1 computer that was hand-numbered by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs sold for $442,118 at auction this month, exceeding the estimate $375,000 price tag.
Just 200 Apple-1 computers were produced by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak back in 1976, and it is believed that only 60 to 70 remain, making the machines the ultimate collector's item for Apple fans. The #78 Apple-1 that was sold was in working condition, restored to a working state in 2018 by Apple expert Corey Cohen.
It was accompanied by a letter of authenticity confirming Steve Jobs' handwriting on the board, plus it came with the original Apple Cassette Interface, original operation manual, a surplus ASCII keyboard from the same time period, and an open frame Sanyo 4205 monitor.
Apple-1 computers have sold for up to $815,000 in the past, depending on the history of the machine and the condition. The most expensive Apple-1 that we have seen sold to date was the "Celebration" Apple-1, which features a blank green PCB board that was not sold to the public and was not part of a known production run.
Alongside the hand-numbered Apple-1 that sold for over $440,000, auction site RR Auction also sold a Steve Jobs-signed NeXT brochure for $18,210, an early production 1988 NeXT computer for $6,094, and a Tim Cook-signed Auburn University football for $5,681.
In a press release this week, Apple said the iPhone 14's life-saving Emergency SOS via Satellite feature will be supported in additional countries next year. However, Apple did not provide a list of countries where the feature will be expanding to next.
Emergency SOS via Satellite first launched in November in the U.S. and Canada and requires an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 16.1 or later. The service became available in France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK earlier this week, with iOS 16.2 required for some local emergency service numbers. The service is free for two years starting at the time of activation of an iPhone 14 model.
In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 911. In France, call or text 112, 15, 17, 18, 114, 119, 191, and 196. In Germany, text 112 and 110. In Ireland and the U.K., call or text 999 or 112.
You need iOS 16.2 to connect to emergency services via satellite when you call or text 15, 17, 18, 114, 119, 191, and 196 in France, 110 in Germany, and 999 in Ireland. The availability of these additional emergency numbers might also depend on your cellular carrier.
The feature allows iPhone 14 models to connect to a Globalstar satellite, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Apple says a text message might take 15 seconds to send via satellite in "ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon," but foliage or other obstructions can result in messages taking longer to send or failing to send. Apple says satellite connectivity also might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Alaska and Canada.
Already, there have been reports of Emergency SOS via Satellite helping first responders rescue people in places like Alaska and California.
Meta-owned social networking app Instagram continues to be limited to the iPhone, with no sign of an iPad app on the horizon. That's a major source of frustration for iPad users who prefer to have an app to access the social network, as there isn't a full feature set available on the web.
As of iPadOS 16, some Instagram users who access the iPhone version of the app on their iPad have noticed that it's not working properly on the iPad's display, making it impossible to post stories, see the full content of images, access polls, and more.
MacRumors reader Phil shared images highlighting the issue. On a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, there is no available button to post a story from the app as the interface cuts off at the bottom.
Story text from others is cut off depending on the layout of an image, and there are graphical errors with interactive Instagram post elements like polls and text entry boxes.
There are multiple other complaints on the MacRumors forums and on Reddit about display issues with the Instagram app for iPhone used on an iPad when running iPadOS 16, some that date back to when the software was being beta tested.
Instagram is not having issues on all iPad models, with the problem seemingly limited to the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but it is a frustrating situation for iPad owners who are experiencing issues. Instagram has made it clear that an iPad app is not a priority because there simply aren't enough people who want the feature.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri said earlier this year that there's "not a big enough group of people to be a priority," though he did say that the company hopes to provide an Instagram app at some point. Since the iPad is not a priority, it is not clear if Instagram will fix the display issues that some iPad owners are experiencing with the iPhone app, but it seems to be an optimization that needs to be made on Instagram's end.
There is no solution until Instagram fixes the app, but some users have been able to address the issue by going to Settings > Display > Display & Brightness > Display Zoom and selecting the option for larger text. The web interface is also an alternative, as Instagram can be accessed from any browser.
Amazon has a low price on the 11-inch M2 iPad Pro and Apple Pencil today, and both are available for delivery by Christmas.
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 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Pro is on sale for $719.99 in Space Gray, down from $799.00. You won't see this sale price until you reach the checkout screen, where a coupon worth $9.01 will be automatically applied to your order.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Compared to past sales, this new deal beats the price we saw during Black Friday by $20. As of writing, only Amazon is offering the M2 iPad Pro at this low of a price.
The Apple Pencil 2 is available for $89.00, down from $129.00. This deal has been around on-and-off since Black Friday, and it remains the best price we've tracked on Amazon for the accessory.
Apple has yet to solidify a deal for the NFL Sunday Ticket package and talks could expand into 2023, according to a new report from Sportico (via The Verge).
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday that the negotiations for Sunday Ticket have reached a "very critical point," with Apple the apparent frontrunner for the rights. The NFL had originally planned to establish a deal in the fall, but the end of the year is approaching and no final terms have been decided as of yet. Goodell said that there is no timeline, and the NFL's decisions are "based on getting the best outcome with the best party."
Sportico says that pricing on Sunday Ticket is a sticking point. Apple wants to include Sunday Ticket access in the $6.99 cost of an Apple TV+ subscription, with no additional charges, but the NFL is not happy with such a low price point as it needs to "protect the interests" of CBS and Fox, its Sunday afternoon broadcast partners. Together, the two networks will pay the NFL $40 billion for the 2023 season.
Disney and Amazon are also both interested in Sunday Ticket, so there are other options for the NFL. Rumors have suggested for months that Apple is the "likely winner" of the NFL Sunday Ticket package, but there were signs of negotiation issues earlier this year when CNBC reported that Apple wanted more contractual flexibility than the NFL was interested in providing.
Apple has been ramping up its sports offerings in recent months in an effort to draw more subscribers to Apple TV+. The company partnered with the MLB for "Friday Night Baseball," and it has inked a 10-year deal with Major League Soccer that is set to kick off next year.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Lululook to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 256GB iPhone 14 Plus and a 100W Multiport USB-C charger that can charge an iPhone alongside other devices at the same time.
Lululook has a whole selection of different power adapters for charging Apple devices, but the 100W USB-C charger is the company's most popular. It features three USB-C ports and a USB-A port, with a 100W maximum.
There are two USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 ports that support 100W charging and one USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 port that supports up to 20W, plus an 18W USB-A port in case you have USB-A accessories that you need to charge up. With gallium nitride technology, the Multiport Charger from Lululook is 33 percent smaller than the 96W charger designed for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Lululook says that the charger has been designed with 95 percent power efficiency, and it has industry-leading overcurrent, overvoltage, overtemperature, and short circuit protection. It is also equipped with UK/EU converters so you can use it in many countries around the world.
With a 100W maximum, the USB-C Multiport charger can charge one of Apple's 16-inch MacBooks at full USB-C speed, and it can charge a Mac and an iPhone/iPad at the same time with the 100W distributed across devices. It also works with other USB-C devices like the Nintendo Switch, battery packs, Android smartphones, and more.
With two ports in use, you can get up to 65W for one device and 30W for another, and with three ports, you can get up to 45W from one port, 30W from the second, and 20W from the third. With all four ports engaged, the split is as follows: 45W, 30W, 7.5W, and 7.5W.
Lululook sells the 100W USB-C Multiport charger for $56, but there is a $6 coupon right now that drops the price to $50. Chargers can be good, practical holiday gifts, and it does arrive before Christmas with Prime delivery from Amazon. If you don't need four ports, Lululook also sells a more affordable 65W USB-C power adapter with two USB-C ports and a single USB-A port. It's priced at $35, with a $5 off coupon.
We have one 256GB iPhone 14 Plus and a 100W USB-C Multiport power adapter for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (December 16) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 23. The winner will be chosen randomly on December 23 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Verizon is providing a great deal on Apple's AirPods Pro 2 in the lead-up to Christmas, priced at $199.99, down from $249.00. This deal price remains just about $2 away from the best price we ever tracked on the accessory.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
With the Christmas holiday just over one week away, we doubt any other retailer will be matching this deal on the AirPods Pro 2 in time for them to arrive before the 25th. This makes Verizon's discount still your best chance to get the AirPods Pro 2 at nearly their best-ever price in time for the holidays with Verizon's free two-day shipping.
Quinn has created Apple and consumer tech videos for his popular YouTube channel, "Snazzy Labs," since 2008. See his work on the Snazzy Labs YouTube channel and follow him on Twitter @SnazzyQ.
In this episode, we initially discuss some of the standout features in iOS 16.2, including Apple Music Sing, the Freeform app, and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, before moving on to the biggest iPhone 15 rumors to date, including the switch to an "Ultra" title for the "Pro Max" model, a titanium chassis with curved rear edges, adding a USB-C port in place of Lightning, and an all-new 6x optical zoom periscope telephoto camera lens. We also look at some of the most likely impending controversies regarding the devices, such as USB 2.0 speeds on the standard iPhone 15 models despite the switch to USB-C and the potential problems brought on by moving to solid-state volume and power buttons.
If you haven't already listened to the last episode of The MacRumors Show, be sure to catch up for an in-depth discussion on how and why we use our Apple devices.
If you're shopping for last-minute holiday gifts, small tech accessories make for great presents and typically ship faster than bigger and pricier products. With that in mind, Amazon is holding a sale on a variety of Anker accessories this week, with notable discounts on USB-C cables, wall chargers, portable batteries, wireless chargers, and more.
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.
Shoppers should note that many of these sales require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the discount at the checkout screen, so be sure to watch out for those when browsing on Amazon. You can find all of the Anker accessories on sale below, most of which have guaranteed delivery dates before December 25.
Back in July, Apple agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the faulty butterfly keyboards that were used in MacBook machines between 2015 and 2019, and now emails about the settlement are going out to MacBook Pro owners eligible for a payment.
Dear MacBook Owner,
You are receiving this email because you previously reached out to our firm regarding your MacBook laptop. On November 28, 2022, the Court granted preliminary approval of $50 million nationwide settlement that would benefit MacBook purchasers who had their "Butterfly" keyboard repaired. You can find more information about the settlement, eligibility, the approval process, and your options at www.KeyboardSettlement.com.
MacBook Pro owners who had at least two topcase replacements from Apple within four years of purchase are considered Group 1 Settlement Class Members and will be receiving an automatic payment as well as an email about the settlement.
MacBook Pro owners who had a single topcase replacement will need to submit a claim form to get compensation, and they are considered Group 2 Settlement Class Members. Those who had a keycap replacement can also submit a claim form to get a small settlement as part of the third group of Settlement Class Members.
Monetary awards will be based on the number of repairs required, with amounts up to $395 provided to those who had two or more topcase replacements. Mac owners who fall in to this category will be receiving their class notices this month. Claims will be accepted through March 6, 2023, and a final approval hearing will take place on March 16, 2023.
The lawsuit dates back to 2018, when a group of customers sued Apple over the butterfly keyboard, claiming that the company concealed the defect from consumers in order to continue to sell Macs.
Butterfly keyboards were used in Macs between 2015 and 2019, and while Apple iterated on the design several times to try to improve durability, a design flaw made the butterfly mechanism prone to failure. Throughout those four years, thousands of customers had problems with repeating keys, sticky keys, and full keyboard failures.
Apple launched a keyboard repair program in June 2018, covering MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air models for four years after purchase. Apple was only replacing butterfly keyboards with another butterfly keyboard, so there was no real fix.
Apple ultimately did away with the butterfly mechanism and swapped back to a scissor switch mechanism, and today, all Macs use a scissor switch keyboard that is much more durable and able to stand up to small crumbs and dust.
Samsung today shared another ad in its anti-Apple "On the Fence" series that encourages iPhone users to switch over to Samsung devices.
In the spot, a man sits on a literal fence while a woman using a Galaxy Z Flip 4 starts a conversation. "I used to be you," she says. "Sitting on the fence between Apple and Samsung." The man laments on how he wants to switch to a Samsung device, but he's worried about what his iPhone-using friends will think. She goes on to explain that he should be, because his friends will be jealous.
"When you pull out your new Galaxy Z Flip 4, people are going to lose it," she says. "They'll never leave you alone." After that, she hands him one of the Z Flip 4 smartphones, and people immediately start popping up around him commenting on how cool the Samsung phone is. "I could get used to this," he says, jumping off of the fence to the Samsung side.
Unlike Apple, Samsung has a habit of naming and shaming Apple devices in its ads. Just this morning, a World Cup-themed ad from Samsung mocked Apple for not offering a foldable smartphone option.
Samsung in November launched the first ad in the On the Fence series, and many of its recent ad spots have been making fun of Apple for its lack of a foldable iPhone. There continues to be no word on when Apple might debut a foldable device, but reliability, durability, and cost could be holding the Cupertino company back.
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
