Tim Hardwick
Tim is a Senior Editor at MacRumors and has been writing for the site since 2016. Formerly a magazine journalist, his work has appeared in over 30 newsstand print publications and online brands covering a range of topics, from the latest trends in technology to the mysteries of ancient history.
Based in the UK, Tim's current role at MacRumors involves editorial oversight and how tos, in addition to covering daily news and contributing occasional reviews. Tim can be reached at tim@macrumors.com, Telegram (@waxeditorial) or Twitter.
Based in the UK, Tim's current role at MacRumors involves editorial oversight and how tos, in addition to covering daily news and contributing occasional reviews. Tim can be reached at tim@macrumors.com, Telegram (@waxeditorial) or Twitter.
Tim Hardwick's Articles
Apple to Launch New Low-Cost 11-Inch iPad in the Spring
Apple will launch a new 12th generation entry-level iPad in the spring of next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Apple is said to have two versions of the entry-level 11-inch iPad in development, codenamed J581 and J582. These could refer to different storage capacities – in which case, Apple may be planning to drop the existing lowest capacity option. The current iPad 11 is...
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iPhone 17 RAM: How Much to Expect for Each Model
Apple is expected to introduce several notable hardware upgrades with the iPhone 17 lineup in 2025, and one of the most significant changes involves RAM. While all four iPhone 16 models feature 8GB of RAM, recent supply chain reports suggest that Apple plans to increase memory in several iPhone 17 models, potentially improving multitasking and gaming performance, as well as future-proofing the ...
Open Your Favorite Messages Chat From Your iPhone Lock Screen
In iOS 18.4, Apple added a new Shortcuts action to open a specific conversation in the Messages app. This means it's now possible to open a chat thread with someone important to you straight from your Lock Screen, for example. Keep reading to learn more.
If you'd like to reduce the time it takes to chat with a frequently contacted person, this new shortcut action is for you. Placing a...
Stop Your Recent Browser Searches Showing on iPhone
Apple in iOS 18.4 introduced a potentially privacy-compromising change to its Safari browser that puts your search history on full display when opening new tabs.
Previously in iOS, opening a new tab and tapping the search field brought up the keyboard while continuing to display the personalized Safari home page. However, Apple's iOS 18.4 software update modified how Safari handles new tabs...
Could the Next Apple Pencil Double as an iPhone Stylus?
Apple has been granted a patent for a next-generation Apple Pencil that could work across multiple devices, including the iPhone and Mac.
The patent describes a stylus equipped with optical sensors that wouldn't require a capacitive touchscreen. Instead, it would use sensors embedded in the Pencil itself to detect movement, tilt, rotation, and position.
Unlike current Apple Pencil models...
Add Custom Backgrounds to Messages in iOS 26
Apple's iOS 26 finally brings custom conversation backgrounds to the Messages app, letting you personalize your chats with photos, colors, or images generated by Image Playground. Third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp have offered this kind of feature for years, so finally iPhone owners can now also add their own visual flair to text conversations in Apple's stock messaging app.
Custom...
iPhone 17 Base Model Likely to Stick With 8GB RAM
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup could feature a notable RAM divide, with the base model potentially missing out on a rumored memory boost coming to the more high-end models.
According to leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the iPhone 17 will stick with 8GB of RAM while the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will jump to 12GB. The leaker previously revealed the iPhone 16e name...
Aqara Debuts G410 Doorbell, G100 Camera, and H2 Dimmer With HomeKit Support
Smart home company Aqara's G410 video doorbell, which is Matter-compatible and supports Apple's HomeKit Secure Video, is now available to buy.
Announced in January, the Doorbell Camera Hub G410 introduces several notable upgrades, including a 2K resolution sensor for sharper video, a 175-degree field of view, and built-in mmWave presence detection to reduce false alerts.
The G410 also...
IKEA Goes All-In on Matter for Apple HomeKit Compatibility
IKEA plans to overhaul its smart home lineup with full Matter support, making its budget-friendly products compatible with Apple Home and other ecosystems without requiring the company's own hub, reports The Verge.
Starting in January 2026, the Swedish furniture giant will release more than 20 new Matter-over-Thread smart lights, sensors, and remotes. The products will work directly with...
HBO Max Name Returns After Two Years as Max
Warner Bros. Discovery has completed its reversal from Max back to HBO Max today, marking the end of a widely criticized two-year experiment.
The streaming service's website and mobile apps now display the HBO Max branding once again. Max.com redirects to hbomax.com, while both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have updated their listings. Users won't need to download a new app, as...
iPhone 17 Air Design, Specs, and More: All the Rumors So Far
Latest Update: July 8 – iPhone 17 Air to come in new light blue finish
This year, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone "Plus" device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone "Air," so-called because of its ultra-thin profile.
Below is a compilation of every rumor and leak we have registered from reputable sources thus far about Apple's new entry in its flagship...
How Thin Is the iPhone 17 Air?
Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Air could be the company's thinnest iPhone ever, with multiple sources pointing to a remarkably slim design that could redefine smartphone portability.
Image showing iPhone 17 Air dummy alongside the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro
The most consistent thickness estimate comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes the iPhone 17 Air will measure just 5.5mm at...
How to Adjust Mac Volume and Brightness More Precisely
On a Mac that has a top row of function keys, Apple includes volume and brightness controls that can be used to make adjustments in stepwise increments. However, there may be times when you want to make more fine grained adjustments to these settings than the default increments allow – in which case, read on.
Whenever you tap the volume or brightness controls on your keyboard, you'll see...
Bluesky Adds New Notification Options, Including for Specific Accounts
Bluesky is rolling out some updates to enhance its notifications system, offering users of the social media platform and X (Twitter) rival a more customizable alerts experience.
First, there's a new Activity Notifications that enables you to receive alerts only for specific accounts, which is useful if you want to keep up to date with a particular friend, brand, or media outlet – like MacRumo...
Apple to Launch iPhone 17e Next Spring, Claims Korean Report
Apple plans to launch a second-generation iPhone 17e next spring, reports Korean outlet The Elec.
According to the report, the iPhone 17e will use the same OLED panel as that found in the iPhone 16e – a panel that originally debuted in the iPhone 14 – as part of its efforts to use lower-cost components based on established production lines.
Similar to the iPhone 16e, which launched...
Here's What Apple's iPhone Could Look Like Every Year Through 2030
Earlier this week, reputable display analyst Ross Young of Counterpoint Research reignited discussion around recent reports about the display changes we should expect for next year's iPhone 18 Pro, and perhaps more notably, broader changes coming to the 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027 – as well as what lies ahead for Apple's flagship device for the rest of the decade.
Contradicting a...
WhatsApp Now Summarizes Your Unread Messages Using AI
WhatsApp is making it easier to catch up on conversations you've missed with a new AI-powered feature that summarizes unread messages. The Meta-owned messaging app now lets users tap on unread message counts to "Summarize privately" and get quick, bulleted summaries generated by Meta AI instead of scrolling through every individual message.
The feature uses Meta's "Private Processing"...
Foldable iPhone Leak Reveals New Camera Details
A new rumor today surfaced about Apple's book-style foldable iPhone, set to be released next year, and this time it's about the cameras.
Mockup of foldable iPhone in its unfolded state (Image: Digital Chat Station)
In a previous report, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects the foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold" for short) to include a dual-lens rear camera, but Kuo provided no other...
Get Creative With Sound by Layering Tracks in Voice Memos
On iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Voice Memos app includes a recording feature that lets you record a second audio layer – like vocals, narration, or an extra instrument – over an existing memo, all without needing headphones. Keep reading to learn how it's done.
Thanks to the A18 Pro chip's advanced audio processing, iPhone 16 Pro models can play an original Voice Memo...
M5 iPad Pro OLED Displays Enter Mass Production for October Launch
Apple is expected to release new iPad Pro models powered by its latest M5 chip later this year, and both Samsung Display and LG Display have reportedly begun mass production of the devices' OLED panels in preparation.
For last year's iPad Pro models which debuted OLED displays, Samsung handled supply for the 11-inch panels, while LG dealt with the 13-inch panels. This year, ZDNet Korea...
