Apple today shared a new "Outrun" Apple Pay ad on its YouTube channel, highlighting the usefulness of the payments service when a physical payment method is unavailable.
In the spot, a woman fleeing from an attacking monster pulls into a gas station, then realizes she doesn't have her wallet to pay for gas. She's able to make her purchase with her iPhone instead. "Count on Apple Pay," reads the video's tagline.
Apple has been running the 35-second ad on TikTok and other social networks since November, but it is new to YouTube as of today.
Apple Pay works on all modern iPhones and Apple Watch models, allowing users to link a debit or credit card to a device and use the Wallet app to make contactless payments in supported locations.
Apple led global smartphone sales with the iPhone 16 in the third quarter of 2025 while simultaneously accelerating demand for the iPhone 17 lineup and expanding its promotional footprint in the United States, according to new analyses from Counterpoint Research.
Counterpoint Research's Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker shows that the iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone worldwide during the third quarter of 2025. Well into its second year of life, the device's sustained performance is attributed to continued demand among users upgrading from older iPhone generations, expanded carrier promotions in developed markets, and the broad appeal of the standard iPhone configuration in regions where ultra-premium models represent a smaller share of total volume.
Alongside the iPhone 16's continued leadership, Counterpoint says the iPhone 17 Pro Max entered the quarterly global top-10 list and became the best-selling smartphone in September 2025, despite "limited availability towards the end of the quarter." According to the firm, demand for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max was strengthened by a large cohort of users who purchased iPhones during the COVID-19 period and returned for major upgrades this year. New features such as a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 8x optical zoom and a vapor-chamber cooling system represent one of Apple's most substantial year-over-year camera and thermal architecture revisions and contributed materially to monthly sales growth.
The same dataset indicates that, while Apple maintained its position at the top of the global rankings with the iPhone 16 and expanded momentum with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Samsung increased its presence in the top-10 list to five positions, all from the Galaxy A series.
A separate Counterpoint analysis of the global foldable smartphone sector shows that the premium market segment where Apple has not yet entered continued to grow at a materially faster pace than the broader industry. The firm reports that global foldable shipments increased 14% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, which is the highest quarterly shipment volume ever recorded for the category.
Counterpoint attributes much of this performance to Samsung's Galaxy Z 7 series, especially the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which generated "exceptionally strong consumer response" due to a slimmer and lighter enclosure, reduced crease visibility, and an upgraded hinge mechanism designed for improved durability. While Apple has not released a foldable iPhone, rumors suggest that the company will debut such a device as soon as next year.
Meanwhile, Counterpoint's U.S. Weekly Smartphone Promotions Index shows that Apple intensified its promotional activity in response to unusually early and aggressive Pixel 10 discounts led by Google. Apple finished the period overtaking Google.
Apple Wallet car key support is coming to Rivian's second-generation R1S and R1T electric vehicles with a 2025.46 software update later this month, according to the company's software chief Wassym Bensaid. He did not provide a specific date.
This feature will allow you to remotely unlock, lock, and start a second-generation R1S or R1T with an iPhone or Apple Watch, without needing to use the Rivian app. Express Mode will be supported, meaning you can keep your iPhone in your pocket as you approach the vehicle, as unlocking the device with Face ID is not required.
Rivian is implementing a newer version of the feature with Ultra Wideband technology for passive entry, eliminating the need to place your iPhone near an NFC reader.
If your iPhone battery runs out, a Power Reserve feature ensures the Apple Wallet key can still be used for up to five hours after the device shut off.
You can share an Apple Wallet car key with up to eight family and friends via AirDrop or any messaging app, such as the Messages app or WhatsApp.
Apple Wallet car keys will not be supported in Rivian's first-generation R1S and R1T vehicles that were built through the 2024 model year.
Apple's AirPods Pro 3 have returned to the low price of $219.99 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. We first tracked this deal during Black Friday, and today is one of the first times it's returned since that event ended.
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The AirPods Pro 3 have 2x better Active Noise Cancellation than the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2, better audio quality, a revised fit that's meant to improve comfort and stability, Live Translation for in-person conversations, and heart rate sensing for workouts.
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.
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Apple today announced that Fitness+ is expanding to 28 new markets on December 15 in the service's largest international rollout since launch, accompanied by new language dubbing and a K-Pop music genre.
Apple Fitness+ will become available in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and additional regions on December 15, with Japan scheduled to follow early next year. The expansion increases total availability to 49 countries.
Hundreds of sessions will initially be available with digitally generated voice dubbing in Spanish and German, with Japanese added when the service launches in Japan. New dubbed episodes will be released weekly across all supported regions.
The new dubbing system uses a generated voice modeled on each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers' real voices. Users will be able to switch audio tracks after starting a session or set a preferred language in the Fitness app, which will automatically default to the dubbed version when available. Apple has not previously offered dubbed workout content on Fitness+, instead relying on subtitles for non-English markets since the service launched in 2020.
Apple is also adding a new K-Pop music genre to the service, which will be available across workout types. The new category joins existing genres such as Upbeat Anthems, Latest Hits, Hip-Hop/R&B, and Latin Grooves. Apple also noted that the latest episode of Time to Walk features Japanese Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda, and is available today.
Fitness+ is currently available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, and the U.S. The service will reach the newly announced 28 markets, which include Norway, Poland, the Philippines, Sweden, Vietnam, and others, on December 15.
Amazon and Best Buy today introduced new all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. These discounts beat the Black Friday prices we saw last month by about $30.
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You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and three of the 46mm GPS models on sale.
If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
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Apple is actively testing under-screen Face ID for next year's iPhone 18 Pro models using a special "spliced micro-transparent glass" window built into the display, claims a Chinese leaker.
According to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shared accurate supply-chain details on Chinese Android hardware, Apple is testing the special glass as a way to let the TrueDepth system's infrared sensors pass through the panel without distortion.
The approach is similar to existing industry techniques that use micro-perforated or nano-patterned glass to selectively improve IR transmission in a localized region above the sensor array.
The report also suggests Apple's work has already prompted related suppliers to accelerate preparation for potential production.
There have been several rumors suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro models will include under-display Face ID, but some disagreement over whether we'll see the technology in 2026. A May report by The Information claimed that iPhone 18 Pro models will have no Dynamic Island with just a pinhole cutout located at the upper left of the display, but other rumors suggest there's still going to be a Dynamic Island.
Analyst Ross Young said that the iPhone 18 Pro models could have under-display Face ID, but that doesn't mean there won't be no Dynamic Island at all. Instead, the pill-shaped hole will be smaller. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also spoken of a slimmed down Dynamic Island for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
The new claim of a micro-transparent glass window supports the view that there will be a smaller Dynamic Island that shifts TrueDepth sensing components below the screen while retaining a smaller cutout for the front camera. While Smart Pikachu does not specifically mention the Pro models, supply-chain sources often use "series" loosely when discussing early panel and materials testing, and all previous rumors have related to Apple's high-end models.
Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, alongside an all-new foldable iPhone, as part of a new split cycle launch. The regular iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e are not expected to debut until early 2027.
Apple today announced an expansion of the Apple Manufacturing Academy with a new set of virtual training programs for small- and medium-sized businesses across the United States.
The update marks the first time the Academy's training has been accessible online. It was previously only available via in-person sessions in Detroit. Apple describes it as a free resource intended to accelerate innovation among American manufacturers as part of its broader plan to invest $600 billion in the U.S. economy over the next four years.
Apple said the new online courses cover a range of advanced manufacturing topics, including automation, predictive maintenance, quality control optimization, and the use of machine learning with vision systems. The training program also incorporates professional development content on communication and presentation skills to help participants prepare for operational and leadership roles.
The expanded program is intended to increase access for companies that have not been able to attend in-person sessions. Launched in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) in August, the Apple Manufacturing Academy has already provided hands-on training and consultation to more than 80 businesses from Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah.
Businesses enrolled in virtual programming at manufacturingacademy.msu.edu. The current learning materials form the initial phase of what Apple says will be a continuously expanding digital curriculum.
A new image shared by prototype collector and leaker Kosutami appears to show parts designed for an unreleased all-black Apple Vision headset.
The image shows what seems to be a Vision Pro's left power strap and audio pod with the attached power cable. It seems to be identical to Apple's existing hardware, but uses a dark finish not seen on any production Vision Pro hardware.
Kosutami previously claimed that Apple has been testing a thinner and lighter mixed-reality headset referred to internally as "Vision Air," featuring a Midnight-colored exterior and reduced weight achieved by switching several structural components and the battery enclosure to titanium. According to the leaker, this model would retain an aluminum exterior but adopt a deep bluish-black finish rather than the Vision Pro's current silver and white.
Earlier this year, Kosutami also shared images of a new Lightning-style connector in Midnight said to be intended for a next-generation Vision headset. The existing Vision Pro uses a 12-pin connector, while the unreleased cable featured only eight pins, which seemed to indicate that Apple may have been redesigning the external battery system for future headsets.
Apple had been widely expected to release a lower-cost headset called the "Vision Air," as well as a redesigned second-generation Vision Pro. However, Bloomberg reported in October that Apple paused development of all Vision headsets in order to accelerate work on AI-powered smart glasses.
India is reviewing a proposal that would require Apple to keep GPS location services permanently active on every iPhone sold in the country, according to Reuters.
Under the proposal, smartphone makers including Apple would be required to activate satellite-assisted GPS on their devices at all times with no option for users to disable the feature. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) argues that location data from cell tower triangulation is not sufficiently precise for investigative use and that authorities should have access to meter-level coordinates provided by GPS.
GPS is typically activated only when specific apps request location access or when an emergency call is placed. The COAI has also asked the government to require smartphone makers to disable pop-up notifications that inform users when a carrier is attempting to access location information.
Apple has formally opposed the proposal. In a letter sent in July by the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents Apple and Google, the companies warned the government that forcing GPS to remain active at all times would constitute a regulatory overreach.
The news comes shortly after India reversed a separate directive that would have required all smartphone makers, including Apple, to preinstall a government app and prevent users from disabling its functions. The order was rescinded after widespread criticism.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji could be the next leading executive to leave the company amid an alarming exodus of leading employees, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
Srouji apparently recently told CEO Tim Cook that he is "seriously considering leaving" in the near future. He intends to join another company if he departs. Srouji leads Apple's chip design and pioneered the transition to Apple silicon.
Earlier this week, it emerged that Meta had hired multiple significant Apple employees, including longtime Apple designer Alan Dye, while conducting its own recruiting blitz for AI and smart glasses development. Meanwhile, Apple announced the retirement of Senior Vice President and General Counsel Kate Adams, Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, and AI chief John Giannandrea. Earlier this year, Apple lost Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, who is retiring, and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri. There have also been rumors about Apple CEO Tim Cook retiring, with rumors suggesting he is preparing to leave his role as soon as next year.
Gurman says that the losses are partly due to veteran executives nearing retirement age, but there is still a "disconcerting brain drain" taking place in the company. Nevertheless, Gurman says the accumulative weight of the departures all adds up to "one of the most tumultuous stretches of Cooks tenure." Some of the losses are said to be a "cause for deep concern," and Cook is now looking to prevent further loss of leading talent with stronger compensation packages.
Gurman notes that "Apple hasn't launched a successful new product category in a decade," leaving it increasingly vulnerable to having its talent poached by more agile rivals who are said to be better equipped to develop the next generation of devices and AI technologies.
Cook himself is thought to be likely to join the exodus and step down in the not-too-distant future. He turned 65 last month and now exhibits a noticeable, unexplained tremor in his hands. He is likely to transition to the role of chairman, rather than vacate the company entirely.
The departure of Srouji is said to be "a more imminent risk" and Cook is purportedly working hard to retain him by offering a substantial pay package and the potential of more responsibility. Some executives have suggested elevating Srouji to the role of chief technology officer. This would move him to oversee a broad range of hardware engineering and silicon technologies, making him Apple's second-most powerful executive.
Gurman says this change would likely require John Ternus to be promoted to CEO, but Srouji apparently would prefer to not work under a different CEO, even with an expanded remit. If he does leave, Srouji would likely be replaced by Zongjian Chen or Sribalan Santhanam. Beyond Srouji and the other reported departures, Apple is believed to be contending with a significant talent drain among its key engineers.
Gurman explains that there has been "a broader collapse within Apple's artificial intelligence organization" triggered by AI models chief Ruoming Pang departing earlier this year, along with colleagues such as Tom Gunter and Frank Chu. Apple lost Siri and search overseer Robby Walker, as well as his replacement, Ke Yang, to Meta.
Apple's AI group is apparently suffering from low morale and there is growing worry over the increasing use of external AI technology such as Google Gemini. Around a dozen of Apple's leading AI researchers have also now departed.
The company's AI robotics software team has seen widespread departures, including its leader Jian Zhang, who joined Meta. The user interface team has also lost members, such as Billy Sorrentino, culminating in Dye's exit.
Apple's hardware design group "has been nearly wiped out," with many employees vacating to other companies or following former design chief Jony Ive to his studio, LoveFrom. Abidur Chowdhury, the designer behind the iPhone Air who narrated its unveiling in September, left for an AI startup.
The company has lost a key director in charge of display technologies, Cheng Chen, to OpenAI. He also oversaw the optics of the Vision Pro headset. In addition, one of Apple’s top hardware engineering executives, Tang Tan, similarly left for OpenAI.
Apple has even lost the dean of Apple University, Richard Locke. Apple University is the internal program intended to preserve the company's practices and culture following the death of Steve Jobs.
The exodus has become a major concern for Apple's leadership, which has instructed human resources to ramp up recruitment and retention efforts. See Gurman's full report for more information.
OWC's Cyber Week sale is set to end soon, and it's still offering big discounts on a variety of USB-C docks, external drives and enclosures, and Mac accessories. Some of these deals won't be applied until you add the items to your cart, at which time an automatic coupon will be applied to your order.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
There are a few notable deals in this sale, including $130 off the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock for Mac, available for $149.99, which is the steepest discount we've seen since the summer on the accessory. If you purchase a qualifying new or used Mac at the same time as this dock, you can get an additional $20 off the accessory at checkout.
Atlas Pro 240GB - $89.99 when added to cart, down from $134.99
Atlas Pro 512GB - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $179.99
Atlas Pro 480GB - $149.99 when added to cart, down from $199.99
Atlas Ultra 1TB - $279.99 when added to cart, down from $299.99
Atlas Pro 960GB - $299.99 when added to cart, down from $399.99
External Drives and Enclosures
1TB 1M2 SSD - $199.99 when added to cart, down from $249.99
2TB 1M2 SSD - $329.99 when added to cart, down from $399.99
4TB 1M2 SSD - $559.99 when added to cart, down from $629.99
8TB 1M2 SSD - $949.99 when added to cart, down from $1,399.99
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.
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Samsung's Cyber Week event will come to a close later this weekend, and you can still find great deals on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and home appliances for a few more days.
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Highlights from this event include quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including a new all-time low price on The Frame Pro models. You can get the 65-inch The Frame TV for $999.99 ($1,000 off), as well as The Frame Pro for $1,999.00 ($1,200 off).
Other deals include savings on monitors like the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 for $389.99 ($310 off), the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Gaming Monitor for $899.99 ($900 off), and more. We're also tracking big markdowns on home appliances including refrigerators and washer/dryers, and a few Galaxy device discounts.
Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset also has a few notable offers during this event, including up to $1,140 in savings with the Explorer Pack. This features various content at no extra cost with the purchase of the Galaxy XR, like one year of YouTube Premium, one year of Google AI Pro, and more.
For even more potential savings, eligible shoppers have the chance to get additional discounts through Samsung offer programs. These programs provide extra discounts for students, military, and employees of select businesses, and they provide up to 30 percent extra savings on Samsung's website, so be sure to check whether you're eligible for any of these programs.
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.
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You'd expect things to be starting to wind down for the holidays by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case yet in the world of Apple news, with Apple just about ready to release iOS 26.2 and other operating system updates to the public.
There was also a flurry of news this week about Apple executive departures, some expected and some not so expected, while we also learned that Apple and Intel may be developing a new chipmaking partnership, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 Release Candidate Ahead of Public Launch
With the Thanksgiving holiday in the rear-view mirror and the calendar turned to December, Apple is putting the final touches on iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, macOS Tahoe 26.2, and related updates, with several new features and tweaks. Apple this week seeded release candidate versions of the updates to developers and public beta testers, suggesting an official release for everyone will come next week.
The imminent iOS 26.2 update arrives as Apple has started to more aggressively push users still on iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app, with iOS 18 updates displayed more prominently.
Starting this week, that's changed. iOS 18 users who have not upgraded to iOS 26 now see iOS 26.1 (and soon iOS 26.2) as the recommended iOS update in the Settings app. iOS 18 updates are still an option, but are now displayed at the bottom of the app.
Dye oversaw the major Liquid Glass design update that debuted this year, which has not arrived without controversy, and some both inside and outside of Apple are not exactly sorry to see Dye go.
Dye's departure follows closely on the heels of Apple announcing that AI chief John Giannandrea has stepped down from his position and will serve as an advisor until he retires early next year. Giannandrea has been under pressure as Apple has fallen behind in the race to develop and deploy AI capabilities, and some of his responsibilities had already been shifted to other executives.
Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac and iPhone Chips in a New Way
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way.
If this rumor proves accurate, Intel could supply Apple with M6 or M7 chips for future MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models at a minimum. However, while previous Intel chips for Macs were designed by Intel and based on x86 architecture, M-series chips are designed by Apple and use Arm architecture. Intel would only assist with manufacturing.
The partnership may also extend to the iPhone with Intel producing future chips for non-pro iPhone models starting in 2028, which could perhaps mean the A22 chip for devices like the iPhone 20 and iPhone 20e.
iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device.
As rumors continue to surface, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Apple will allegedly call the device the "iPhone Fold," which is the name the media has already adopted when sharing rumors about the product.
There are two main components of the Replay 2025 experience. First, there is a full year-end playlist containing the Apple Music songs that you listened to the most over the past year, and second, there is a Highlight Reel with images and a video that are designed to be shared on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records
Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple.
Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to grow 1.5 percent, primarily because of the success of the iPhone.
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.
If you're looking for the perfect tech or tech-adjacent present for someone who loves Apple products or just uses them daily, we have some suggestions that might be helpful to you.
We've shared some of our favorite products, many of which we use personally or have gifted to our friends and family members in the past. If you're still looking for a present for someone that's hard to shop for, check out the list below. We update our guide regularly when we come across new, useful items.
For Apple fans or fans of classic PCs, the Maclock is a tiny Macintosh 128K that works as an alarm clock. It is super detailed and has all of the design touches of the original, and there's even a tiny floppy disk that turns it on when you put it in.
There are multiple display modes, and it can tell you the time, day of the week, and temperature, plus it is a functional alarm clock. There's also a classic Mac face you can set it to.
There are a few different versions of this product, but this variant has no third-party logo on the front, and it's just $30.
If you want to spend a bit more, RayCue has some retro-style Macs that are actually designed to be docks.
On the subject of mini Macs, it would be a shame to leave out the Pico-Mac-Nano from Nick Gillard. The Maclock is palm-sized, but the nano is even smaller at just under 2.5 inches, plus it has an actual Mac operating system. Gillard did sell these fully assembled at one point, but Apple asked him to stop.
You can still get the parts to make one, and Gillard has instructions. There's a full kit for GBP62.00 (around $100 shipped to the U.S.), and it would be a great gift for someone who likes retro items and a project.
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.
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.
The Aura Frame is the best go-to and for people who are hard to shop for. A few months ago, Aura launched a frame that uses e-ink for a softer, more art-like look. It changes images less often and it's expensive at $449, but it has a different vibe than your standard photo frame.
Priced at $100, the Retro Radio from LEGO has a sweet, nostalgic design, complete with a tuner, knobs, and speaker grille. It's actually functional, because you can remove the back plate from the set and place an iPhone inside so that the radio plays music.
There's a built-in smartphone stand that holds the iPhone in place, but if you don't want to use an iPhone, there's also a little sound brick that plays different sounds when you turn the knob.
There are other LEGO sets that make for good gifts, even for people who aren't LEGO collectors. Anyone that likes a puzzle would probably like a LEGO set, and some have wide appeal. Here are a few that would make for good gifts:
LEGO Super Mario Game Boy ($60) - This isn't a working Game Boy, unfortunately, but it does come with swappable screens and LEGO game cartridges. It is possible to make a working version if you're so inclined.
LEGO Botanicals Happy Plants ($19) - LEGO botanicals work for everyone, even those who aren't LEGO fans. This set is small, inexpensive, and fun for the desktop.
LEGO Botanicals Hibiscus ($70) - All of the LEGO botanicals make good gifts, but the hibiscus is a newer set that has a unique flower shape and it comes with a pot so it matches sets like the orchid. Other great botanical options include the mini bonsais and the tiny plants set (a personal favorite).
LEGO Kingfisher ($40) - This set was a lot of fun to put together, and it makes a great desk display because of its bright colors. It would be nice for a bird lover.
LEGO Insects ($63) - This set has a butterfly, a Hercules beetle, and a praying mantis, and it's another excellent display piece. This one is delicate and can be a little frustrating, but it's undeniably cool.
Earlier this year, we reviewed the Nanoleaf LED Expo Display Cases, and they're an excellent light-up display option. They're far from cheap at $270, but they would make an excellent gift for someone that collects high-end sneakers, anime figures, or anything in that vein. The boxes can be set to 16 million colors or shades of white, and colors can change in time with music.
Nanoleaf designed these for sneaker collectors, but anything can be put inside. Like a lot of Nanoleaf devices, these aren't going to go with every decor choice, but collectors and gamers will love them.
You'll never go wrong with AirPods as a gift, and there are two really good options to choose from this year. The AirPods Pro were just refreshed with a third-generation version, and for $249, you get excellent Active Noise Cancellation and sound quality.
The AirPods Pro 3 have a new design that's more ergonomic and foam-infused silicone tips that fit snugly in the ears to drown out sound. With hearing aid support, AirPods Pro 3 could be useful for a family member that has mild hearing loss but doesn't wear hearing aids.
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 as much noise as the AirPods Pro 3, but it's enough to make a difference.
The AirPods 4's ANC isn't quite as good as the AirPods Pro ANC. The AirPods Pro can easily drown out the sound of the heater, leaf blowing outside, the TV in the next room, road noise, and other irritating sounds. You won't get quite as much noise reduction with the AirPods 4, but they're much more affordable and are a great option for a budget gift.
Philips Hue lights are the best you can get for a HomeKit setup, because they never have connectivity issues. You need to pay $65 to $100 for a Bridge, but it's worth it just to never deal with connectivity problems.
The $143 White and Color Starter Kit comes with two 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.
For a cheaper option, there's the $99 Essentials Starter Kit that comes with a hub and four lower-power E26 multi-color bulbs. Hue Essentials bulbs don't dim quite as low and the color isn't as precise.
Lightguide bulbs ($99) - These are perfect paired with a simple lamp base, because the bulb is meant to be the star.
String lights ($132) - 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 ($363) - 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 ($99) - 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.
Downlights ($66) - If you know someone that has those old can style downlights, a Hue upgrade would make a good gift. Downlights are super simple to swap out, and switching from the older models to Hue saves money and adds new lighting options.
Outdoor Lights ($176+) - Hue's outdoor lights are great for the porch and other areas, plus there are string lights for the holidays. Some great options include the Appear and the Econic. Hue also has some Festavia globe outdoor lights that look amazing.
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 $219, or $329 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 H2S and P2S come with an enclosure, and there are now several machines like the H2D that also have a laser cutting module.
Bambu printers are 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, Fusion 360, or Nomad Sculpt on the iPad. They also get better all the time with new print options from Makerworld.
The A1 mini is an affordable way to try 3D printing, and it could make a great gift for an older child or a partner who likes to tinker.
Power banks are a gift that's perfect for anyone with a smartphone, which gives them wide appeal.
The $54 MagGo Nano Power Bank is great for wireless charging. It's one of the slimmest MagSafe power banks on the market and it's so much better than thicker, bulkier models. It's only a 5,000 mAh battery so you won't get a full charge if you have a Pro Max, but it gives you extra to get through a long day.
The $60 Nano Power Bank with Retractable Cable is also super useful, especially with multi-device charging. It has a lanyard that makes it easy to carry, and the retractable USB-C cable is useful because you never need to hunt one down.
Ugreen's "Uno" line features chargers with fun little faces.
There's a $35 65W charger with four ports, which has legs and a digital panel 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.
There are also two power banks that have the little emoji faces, one that's 5,000 mAh with Qi2 for $35, and one that's 10,000 mAh with USB-C for $50. 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.
Nimble has $42 65W Wally Wall Chargers that come with a retractable 2-foot USB-C cable. The prongs fold down and the cable retracts inside the enclosure, so they're ideal for travel. There's an extra USB-C port at the bottom so you can actually charge two devices at once.
If you buy them from Apple, you can get fun colors that include deep purple or teal, though they're more expensive at $60. Nimble also has power banks in colors you don't often see.
Available starting at $99, the Bird Buddy is the kind of gift that almost anyone will like, which makes it great for the person that has everything. It's a Wi-Fi connected smart bird feeder that sends you pictures of the birds that come to visit.
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, there's a solar version, which starts at $149.
Birdfy is a lot like Bird Buddy, but it has product options that Bird Buddy doesn't offer. You can get a standard Bird Feeder for the same $99 price as Bird Buddy, but if you're willing to spend a little more, there's a bigger version with multiple cameras.
The $330 Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo has a triple-lens camera, including a dual-lens front camera and a second side camera to capture birds from every angle. It holds more seed than a standard version and comes with a solar panel. If you've gifted someone a Bird Buddy and they love it, this is the next upgrade option.
Birdfy also sells the Bath Pro, which is a solar-powered smart birdbath with a camera. It's priced starting at $200 and lets you get photos of birds bathing and drinking. In some areas of the U.S., people in apartments and condos aren't able to put out bird feeders because of rats and pigeons. This is an excellent gift for someone that wants to attract birds but isn't able to have a feeder, but it's also great for avid birders.
With bird feeders, you often need a specific kind of food to attract the birds you want, but a bird bath has more universal appeal.
Robot vacuums are excellent at vacuuming and mopping, and can be real time savers. Some particularly good options we've checked out include the Deebot X11 Omnicyclone, the Deebot X9 Pro, and the Roborock Saros 10R. Some of these are over $1,100, but you get what you pay for.
Lower-end models are more affordable, but tend to lack the navigation capabilities of the more expensive versions and can add a lot more frustration to the cleaning process. Not all brands are the same, though, so it's worth some research on the best option.
For printing photos, Epson's printers are some of the best, though Canon has its fans too. Epson's EcoTank Photo ET-8550, is a great option if you want to get your images off of your phone.
It's normally $800, but Best Buy has it for $500 right now. EcoTank printers are more expensive than your standard printer because the ink is cheap. These use refillable liquid ink rather than printer cartridges, making it more affordable in the long run.
Epson has to make its on the printer upfront because the ink lasts so much longer. There are other EcoTank printers that aren't as expensive, but this one is optimized for images and prints at up to 13"x19".
An iPhone-connected light is a great gift for someone that's into plants, and you will never go wrong with a light for an indoor plant collector.
Modern Sprout has a lot of lights that are attractive, but also functional. There's a $90 light bar, a $200 grow house ideal for the kitchen counter, and a $270 Growframe that goes on the wall. The app lets you set the brightness and the schedule for the lights, which is essential.
Aerogarden is also a good option, with prices that start at $16. The lights are programmable with the Aerogarden app.
For someone who is creative or wants to get into drawing, 3D sculpting, modeling, or similar, an iPad with an Apple Pencil is the best possible gift. Apps like ProCreate and Nomad Sculpt are powerful, and the Apple Pencil gives you a level of control that's hard to get on a Mac or PC.
The iPad does a lot and it's an ideal gift for anyone, but it could really spark the creativity of an artistic child, or provide a new medium for an adult that already likes to sketch and draw. All of Apple's iPads can be used with an Apple Pencil, even the $349 model.
The $499 iPad mini is the best for something to use on the go, and the $899 13-inch iPad Air is a good option if you want the biggest screen without paying iPad Pro prices.
Gift Suggestions
Have a great product suggestion we don't have in our list? Let us know in the comments below.
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For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with GRID Studio to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a new iPhone 17 from Apple. GRID Studio is a company that takes discarded Apple devices and turns them into collectible art for Apple fans.
If you're still looking for holiday gifts, GRID Studio has a Christmas sale going on this week. You can get 20 percent off site wide with promo code CM20, and there are also deeper discounts on select items.
The iPhone 2G is available for $299, down from $399. The GRID 2G is one of the most popular devices that GRID Studio sells, because it showcases the first iPhone that Apple made. It highlights all of the components that were in the original 2007 iPhone, including the curved shell, power button, headphone socket, speaker, logic board, and ear piece.
Apple's original iPhone was made well before Apple started manufacturing its own chips, so there are some unique components to reminisce about.
The iPhone 4s is available for $99, down from $139. The iPhone 4S was the last iPhone introduced during Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' lifetime, and it was the first iPhone Apple CEO Tim Cook released without Jobs. It was the fifth iPhone that Apple came out with, and in the name, the "S" stood for Siri. The iPhone 4S was the first iPhone that included Apple's personal assistant.
Compared to the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S included an upgraded A5 chip, an 8-megapixel camera, and up to 64GB of storage. It ran iOS 5, a major operating system update that brought features like iCloud and iMessage. All of the internal components from the iPhone 4S are thoughtfully arranged in GRID Studio's piece, and there's even a look at the default app arrangement that was available at the time.
GRID has the iPhone 5 available for $109, down from $139. The GRID 5 highlights the 2012 iPhone 5, which was the first iPhone that was developed under Apple CEO Tim Cook and the last iPhone that Apple CEO Steve Jobs was involved with. The iPhone 5 is an important part of Apple's history because it included a taller 4-inch display, and it was the first iPhone to use the Lightning port rather than the 30-pin port.
GRID also makes art from other Apple products, like Apple Watches. The GRID Watch 1st Gen is available for $149, and it features Apple's first-ever Apple Watch. Components include the heart rate sensor, flex cable, display, main board, S1 chip, speaker, power button, battery, and Taptic Engine, along with the casing and band. It's a fun piece of Apple history for Apple Watch fans.
We have an iPhone 17 to give away to one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, 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 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 5) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 12. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after December 12 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.
In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028.
The non-pro iPhone chips would be manufactured with Intel's future 14A process, according to Pu.
The research note did not provide any other details about these potential plans, but based on the stated timeframe, Intel could start supplying Apple with the A22 chip for devices like the "iPhone 20" and "iPhone 20e" in around three years from now.
Importantly, there is no indication that Intel would play a role in designing the iPhone chips, with its involvement expected to be strictly limited to fabrication. Apple would continue to design iPhone chips, and Intel would start to handle a smaller percentage of manufacturing alongside Apple's primary chipmaker TSMC.
Last month, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects Intel to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip for select Mac and iPad models as early as mid-2027. For this, Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest available sub-2nm advanced node manufactured in North America."
Intel supplying Apple-designed, Arm-based chips would differ from the era of Intel-based Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture.
Apple reaching a chip supply deal with Intel would boost its reliance on an American manufacturing company and help to diversify its supply chain.
Intel previously supplied Apple with cellular modems for some iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Samsung's new Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone and how it could compare to Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone.
Samsung this week introduced the Galaxy Z TriFold, its first smartphone with two folding sections instead of one. When unfolded, the device presents a 10-inch screen, while the cover display measures 6.5 inches. Samsung says it has minimized visible creasing across the panels.
The Galaxy Z TriFold uses an inward-folding design intended to protect the main display. The folding mechanism has been engineered with an alert system that notifies users if the device is being folded incorrectly. Samsung is using a titanium Armor FlexHinge with two differently sized hinges joined by a dual-rail structure. According to the company, this enables a smoother and more stable fold despite uneven panel weight distribution, and increases durability thanks to a thin metal reinforcement that protects the hinge assembly.
A third of the unfolded display measures 3.9mm thick, increasing slightly around the triple-lens camera module. The center display section is 4.2mm thick, while the segment containing the side button is 4mm. The device includes a reinforced overcoat atop a shock-absorbing display layer for impact resistance, and an aluminum frame prevents the screens from coming into contact when closed.
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Z TriFold with a 5,600 mAh three-cell battery, with one cell behind each display panel. The company says this is the largest battery it has ever used in a smartphone. The rear camera system includes a 200-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultra wide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Two 10-megapixel selfie cameras are integrated into the cover display and the main display.
The Galaxy Z TriFold supports three portrait-layout apps running side-by-side, multi-window resizing, full-screen video viewing, and a vertical reading mode. Samsung has also added standalone Samsung DeX, enabling up to four workspaces with five apps active simultaneously. Samsung apps have been optimized for the triple-panel layout, and Google's Gemini Live has been optimized as well.
The Galaxy Z TriFold launches in Korea on December 12, followed by China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the UAE. It will arrive in the United States in the first quarter of 2026. Pricing has not yet been announced.
The device is only expected to include two rear cameras, unlike the TriFold and all of Samsung's book-style foldables. Apple will likely use a wide and an ultra-wide camera, similar to the iPhone 17, while reserving a telephoto camera for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Early information also suggests it will also not be as thin as Samsung's Galaxy Fold 7.
We discuss the importance of rear camera setups on foldables, the rumored price point of Apple's version, and the risk of it falling victim to some of the same pitfalls as the iPhone Air. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.
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.
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