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
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air to Feature Same OLED Panel as Current iPhone 16 Pro Models
All iPhone 17 models in Apple's upcoming flagship iPhone 17 series will use Samsung's high performance "M14" OLED display panel, according to the Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital.
Samsung's "M" series of OLED panels are made for flagship smartphones, while "14" refers to the number of high-performance materials used to produce them. The "M14" panel was used in last year's Apple's iPhone 16 ...
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xAI Launches Grok-3 AI Model, Claims Superior Performance Over GPT-4
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI on Tuesday announced Grok-3, and Musk is making some bold claims. The new AI model is said to have more than ten times the computing power of its predecessor and outperforms leading competitors, including OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini.
The latest iteration of xAI's flagship model introduces new "reasoning" capabilities through two...
Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.3, Downgrading No Longer an Option
Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.3, preventing iPhone owners who have upgraded to iOS 18.3.1 from downgrading to that version of iOS. Apple released iOS 18.3.1 a week ago, two weeks after the company released iOS 18.3.
Apple often stops signing an older version of iOS, usually within a week or two after a new version is released. When an update is no longer signed, it can't be installed on...
iPhone 17 Pro: Here's What It Could Look Like
Is this what the iPhone 17 Pro model looks like in Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series? Front Page Tech's 3D artist Asher on Tuesday shared this image of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro, offering perhaps the most polished example yet of Apple's next-generation premium smartphone, should it turn out to be accurate. The image is based on increasingly consistent reports that Apple is adopting...
Spotify Readies Premium Tier With Hi-Fi Audio and AI Features
Spotify users waiting to learn when the service's long-delayed high-quality premium audio service will materialize may finally have something to chew on. Bloomberg reports that the streaming service hopes to roll out a new "Music Pro" tier later this year.
The company is said to be developing the new premium subscription plan that will cost up to $5.99 per month on top of existing plans,...
Apple's New iPhone SE Could Ship With Shockingly Low Base Storage
A leak out of China suggests Apple may make a controversial storage decision with its upcoming iPhone SE 4, equipping the $500 base model with just 64GB of storage, despite the fact that it's the year 2025.
A product listing گابایت-حافظه-دا/">discovere on a Chinese retail website suggests the iPhone SE 4 will be offered in three storage configurations: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Based on...
iPhone 16E to Debut Wednesday? Apple's Budget iPhone May Get a New Name
Apple's upcoming budget iPhone might not be called the iPhone SE 4 after all, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman lending credence to rumors of a potential name change for the device being unveiled this Wednesday.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman mentions Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent social media announcement about a new product unveiling on February 19, in which Cook teased the "newest...
MacBook Pro Now Expected to Get M5 Chip Before iPad Pro
Apple will bring its next-generation M5 chip to the MacBook Pro in the fall, followed by the iPad Pro in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Gurman's latest claim flips the previously expected order of devices to transition from M4 to M5 chips, which was based on last year's M4 product launch order. Apple first introduced its M4 chip in an updated iPad Pro in May...
Gurman: M4 MacBook Air Models to Launch by March 'At the Latest'
Apple will begin selling new MacBook Air models featuring its latest M4 chip by March "at the latest," mirroring the time frame of the M3 MacBook Air launch last year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple last updated the MacBook Air line in March 2024.
Gurman's comments appeared in his latest Power On newsletter, suggesting the reporter is no further forward on learning the exact...
Review: BenQ PD2730S 5K Designer Monitor – A Studio Display Alternative That Doesn't Break the Bank
Apple may have a fight on its hands in the 27-inch 5K display space. Recently we've seen a solid budget competitor to the $1,600+ Apple Studio Display arrive on the market with the $799 ASUS ProArt 5K Display, and now here we have the BenQ PD2730S, part of the company's Designer Series that promises "always accurate and consistent colors."
Price-wise, this monitor sits $400 either side of...
Netflix Content Begins Appearing in Apple TV App for Some Users [Updated]
Netflix appears to have softened its stance on Apple TV integration, with some users in the US now reporting seeing prompts to connect their Netflix accounts directly to Apple's TV app.
FlatpanelsHD was first to spot the reports. The change means users can add Netflix Originals to their TV app watchlist. After accepting the integration prompt, these shows appear in the "Continue Watching"...
Apple Intelligence Plan for China Detailed in New Report
Apple is working to bring its AI features to China as early as May, with Alibaba and Baidu acting as local partners to help the company meet strict state regulations, according to a new Bloomberg report.
Apple is said to have dedicated teams in both China and the US working to adapt its Apple Intelligence platform for the Chinese market, as it navigates the country's complex regulatory...
WhatsApp Rolls Out Customizable Chat Themes and Colorful Bubbles
WhatsApp has announced the introduction of chat themes, giving users the freedom to personalize their conversations using custom colors for both chat bubbles and backgrounds. The encrypted messaging platform is also adding 30 new wallpaper options to help users further customize their chat experience.
The new customization options let you either choose from preset themes that modify both...
iPhone 17 Air Could Look Like This in Real Life
There have been several alleged leaked details of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple's rumored new slim iPhone, but images have been limited to grainy shots taken in component factories. However, this hyper-realistic concept created by WEIS Studio gives us the best idea yet of what Apple's thin device might actually look like.
The concept design is inspired by recent leaks indicating that the device...
US Lawmakers Urge Intelligence Chief to Fight UK iCloud Backdoor Order
Members of key congressional oversight committees have called on the United States' new top intelligence director to pressure the United Kingdom to withdraw its controversial demand for Apple to create a backdoor into encrypted user data stored in iCloud, according to The Washington Post.
Last week The Post revealed that a secret UK order, issued under the Investigatory Powers Act last...
Apple Maps Cycling Directions Expanded in UK and Ireland
Apple Maps now has expanded coverage for cycling directions in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The expansion, first spotted by a Reddit user, means cyclists can plan a journey on the app from, say, Land's End to John o' Groats, if they're that way inclined.
Cycling directions have been available in the UK and Ireland for a few years, but until now, support didn't cover the whole of the...
OpenAI Reveals GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 Roadmap, Promises Simplified AI Experience
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced plans to streamline the company's AI offerings and provided details on the upcoming releases of its GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 large language models.
GPT-4.5 will be OpenAI's final non-chain-of-thought model, said Altman in a post on X (Twitter). "After that, a top goal for us is to unify o-series models and GPT-series models by creating systems that can use all...
iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Claims Leaker
Apple's largest high-end model in the upcoming iPhone 17 series this year will feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.
The leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a "metalens" for Face ID that integrates the transmitter and receiver components, which will reduce the size and thickness of structural elements, resulting in a smaller...
Apple Partners With Alibaba to Bring iPhone AI Features to China
Apple will partner with Alibaba to offer AI features in China, the Chinese company's chairman said on Thursday, resolving months of speculation around Apple's strategy in the region.
"They talked to a number of companies in China," said Joe Tsai at the World Government Summit in Dubai. "In the end they chose to do business with us. They want to use our AI to power their phones. We feel...
WhatsApp Will Soon Let Users Add Instagram Links to Profiles
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow users to link their social media accounts to their WhatsApp profile, according to findings in the latest iOS beta version of the app (via WABetaInfo).
Based on the beta's current state, the upcoming feature adds a dedicated section within WhatsApp's Account settings where users can input links to their social media profiles. The beta...
