MacRumors

Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPTPerplexityGrokGoogle MeetWhatsAppand the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack.

Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay.

ChatGPT

Starting with iOS 26.4CarPlay supports voice-based conversational apps. This means that chatbots can extend their iPhone apps to CarPlay for voice-based conversationsand OpenAI's ChatGPT is one of the first options available.

With the ChatGPT app on CarPlayyou can have voice conversations with ChatGPT while the app is openand view the titles of your past conversations. For safety reasonsthe app does not show the text or images within conversations.

Other chatbots that recently came to CarPlay include Perplexity and Grok.

Google Meet

Google Meet is now available on CarPlay as wellallowing you to join meetings with a single tapview your upcoming scheduleand participate in audio calls. For safety reasonsyou cannot view video calls on the CarPlay interface.

WhatsApp

A revamped WhatsApp app for CarPlay is now available.

WhatsApp already supported CarPlaybut the original app provided limited Siri-based functionality. The revamped app displays lists of recent chats and phone callsand there is also a tab that displays a list of your favorite contacts.

Audiomack

Audiomack recently expanded to CarPlay. The 8th-most downloaded app in the App Store's Music category in the U.S. lets you stream and download songswith a focus on independent artists and especially the Afrobeats and hip-hop genres.

Audiomack's CarPlay app has DiscoverChartsPlaylistsand My Library tabsallowing you to listen to your existing songs and discover new ones.

Anthropic recently announced Project Glasswingan initiative that enables tech companies like Apple to use its new frontier AI model Claude Mythos Preview to find security vulnerabilities across operating systems and web browsers.

The Wall Street Journal today reported that researchers at cybersecurity firm Calif used Claude Mythos Preview to uncover a new macOS security vulnerability last month. Specificallythey used the model to write code that links together two macOS bugs in a way that resulted in what is known as a privilege escalation exploit.

The security researchers said the exploit would not have been possible with Mythos aloneas it still required their human expertise on topbut it nevertheless proves that AI can assist with discovering software vulnerabilities.

Apple said it was reviewing Calif's report to validate the findings.

"Security is our top priorityand we take reports of potential vulnerabilities very seriously," an Apple spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal.

It is unclear if Apple has already patched the exploit. Apple's security notes for the macOS 26.5 update released this week mention a fix for a kernel-level vulnerabilityand it credits Calif and Anthropic for discovering it. Yetthe report said that Calif only met with Apple this week and suggested that a fix was still coming.

We have reached out to Apple for comment.

Spotify today announced plans to adopt Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology for video podcastsa move that will allow creators to distribute video shows across both platforms without changing their existing setup.

Apple introduced an enhanced HLS-based video podcast experience for the iPhoneiPadApple Vision Proand the web at the end of March. The upgrade significantly improves how video shows are delivered and consumed within Apple Podcastsbut Mac and Apple TV support is not yet available.

Spotify says its Spotify for Creators and Megaphone platforms will support Apple's HLS video technology later this yeardescribing the move as "a major step toward truly platform-agnostic video distribution." The company says it is "actively working on this integration in coordination with Apple" and will share timeline details in the near future.

This will enable Spotify-hosted creators to distribute their video podcast content across platformsreaching audiences on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts without changing their existing setup.

Monetization will carry over alongside distribution. Spotify says it plans to support "monetization for video content on ‌Apple Podcasts‌ so creators don't have to choose between audience reach and revenue," with further details on how that will work across platforms to follow.

The company noted that video shows must be uploaded directly to Spotify rather than distributed via RSSwhich the company says is necessary to enable engagement-based monetizationreal-time analyticsand other Spotify-first features. RSS distribution to other platformsincluding ‌Apple Podcasts‌remains unchanged.

SeparatelySpotify also announced that several podcast hosting providers are now live with video support through the Spotify Distribution API. LibsynPodigeeAudioboomAudiomeansand Podspace have all completed integrationallowing creators on those platforms to distribute video content directly to Spotify and monetize eligible content through the Spotify Partner Program. Additional partner integrations are said to be in progress.

Earlier this weekwe began tracking a new all-time low price on the 32GB/1TB M5 MacBook Proand now the 16GB/1TB model has joined in on the deals. You can get this 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro for $1,499.99 on Amazondown from $1,699.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchasewe may receive a small paymentwhich helps us keep the site running.

At $199 offthis is a match of the lowest price we've ever tracked on this modeland it's available in Space Black and Silver. This is the model that launched in the fall of 2025 as part of a refresh of the MacBook Pro lineupfeaturing a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU.

You can also still get the 32GB/1TB 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro for $1,799.00down from $2,099.00. This one is only available in Silver on Amazon. In addition to the M5 dealsApple's newest M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are also available for new low prices on Amazon.

If you're on the hunt for more discountsbe sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

According to the latest rumorsApple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out.

Processor and Performance

Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chipaccording to information found in code that Apple mistakenly shared in August.

Apple's A19 Pro chip since debuted in the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. The iPhone 17 Pro models include the higher-end version of Apple's A19 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPUwhile the iPhone Air uses a mid-tier A19 Pro chip with one fewer GPU core than the A19 Pro chip used in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

If the code leak is accurate for the iPad mini 8Apple is likely to use the mid-tier A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone Air. This is based on the fact that the A17 Pro chip used in the iPad mini 7 has a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency coresalong with a 5-core GPUcompared to the 6-core GPU found on the A17 Pro used in the iPhone 15 Pro.

Apple built the A19 Pro chip on an upgraded third-generation 3-nanometer N3P process for modest speed and efficiency improvements. The chip includes a 16-core Neural Enginenext-generation dynamic cachingand unified image compression.

The GPU in the A19 Pro has an upgraded architecture with a larger cachemore memoryand Neural Accelerators that are built into each core. Apple says that this change provides 3× the peak GPU compute over the prior-generation chip. There's also an upgraded 16-core Neural Engine for AI tasks.

There is an outside chance that Apple opts for the A20 Pro chip for the new iPad mini. The claim has been made by a MacRumors tipster who analyzed a macOS kernel debug kit containing internal Apple codenames. Howeverthe iPad mini has not always received Apple's newest A-series chip at the time it was updatedso the A19 Pro cannot be ruled out at this time. iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to use the A20 Pro chipwhich will reportedly be fabricated with TSMC's advanced 2nm process.

Display

Apple's plan to transition the ‌‌iPad mini‌‌ from an LCD to an OLED display is widely rumored. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurmanthe small form-factor tablet is likely to be the next Apple device to adopt OLED. According to a Chinese leaker with sources in Apple's supply chainApple has evaluated a Samsung-made OLED display for its next iPad mini model.

It remains unclear whether the iPad mini 8 will feature a higher refresh rate than the 60Hz LCD display used in the existing iPad mini 7but since the new base iPhone 17 now uses a 120Hz ProMotion panelit would be reasonable to expect the same on the first OLED iPad mini. A separate report has suggested the ‌‌‌iPad mini 8‌‌‌'s screen could increase in size from 8.3 inches to 8.7 inches with the adoption of OLED.

OLED panels can individually control each pixelresulting in more precise color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to other common display technologies. They also provide superior contrastfaster response timesbetter viewing anglesand greater design flexibility. All of Apple's flagship iPhones use OLED panelsand in May 2024 the company brought the display technology to the iPad Pro for the first time.

Unlike Apple's ‌iPad Pro‌ modelswhich feature two-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels‌the ‌iPad mini‌ may have a single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panelwhich would make it dimmer.

Chassis Design

Apple is reportedly working to give the iPad mini 8 a more water-resistant designaccording to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The updated casing would bring protection levels closer to those of the iPhonemaking the tablet safer for use in damp environments.

To achieve thisApple is said to have designed a new vibration-based speaker system that eliminates the need for traditional speaker holes. By using sound-emitting surfaces instead of open grillesthe company can reduce potential entry points for water and dustresulting in a more sealeddurable enclosure.

On the iPhoneApple relies on adhesives and gaskets to shield speakers and other openings from moisture. The iPad mini's approach appears to go furtherdoing away with the holes altogether. Current iPad mini models lack any official IP ratingbut the upcoming version could mark the first in the lineup to feature a certified level of water protection.

Apple patents could offer further clues to the new design direction. For examplea 2014 patent outlines a "mechanically actuated panel acoustic system" that vibrates flat surfaces to generate soundeffectively turning parts of a device's chassis into a speaker diaphragm. This could potentially allow Apple to produce audio without visible speaker holes. The patent suggest Apple has been building towards a sealedvibration-based acoustic system for several years.

Release Date

According to research firm Omdiathe ‌‌iPad mini‌‌ is expected to adopt an OLED display in 2027. HoweverKorea's ET News and ZDNET Korea have both suggested that the iPad mini will be updated with an OLED display in 2026. Bloomberg has also said the update could come as soon as this year.

The most recent word on the subject comes from Weibo-based leaker Instant Digitalwho claims the OLED iPad mini will be launched in the second half of 2026 at the earliest.

In May 2024it was reported that Samsung Display had started developing sample OLED panels for a future ‌iPad mini‌with plans to initiate mass production at its facility in Cheonan in the second half of 2025. The same report claimed that Apple will bring an OLED panel to the iPad Air alongside the ‌iPad mini‌ in 2026though Apple only refreshed the iPad Air in Marchand more recent reporting suggests an OLED iPad Air will arrive in early 2027.

The latter outlook aligns with a December report by analyst firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) that said an 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini is planned for a 2026 launchwhile 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Air models are expected to follow in 2027.

Ultimatelythere are no rumors suggesting exactly when the next ‌iPad mini‌ will be releasedbut a launch later in 2026 has a high probability.

Pricing

Apple's ‌iPad mini‌ with OLED display technology and improved water resistance is expected to be more expensiveand Apple could charge up to $100 more for the deviceaccording to Bloomberg's Gurman. The ‌iPad mini‌ is currently priced starting at $499. Gurman has previously argued that Apple should consider a lower-end version of the minior at least a change to its current $499 starting pricegiven that it's up against rival products that cost a lot less.

HoweverApple users who are looking for a more affordable option should probably consider the 10th-generation iPad instead. Starting at $329the iPad offers many iPad mini featuressuch as Touch ID and Center Stagebut at a lower price that balances functionality and affordability.

Apple's interest in expanding its Formula 1 streaming deal for Apple TV beyond the United States may have stalledafter Sky Sports signed early renewals to retain the sport's broadcast rights across its largest European markets.

Sky and F1 jointly announced on May 6 that Sky will remain F1's exclusive live broadcast partner in the UK and Ireland through the 2034 seasonand in Italy through 2032. The five-year extension adds to a UK and Ireland deal that was already running through 2029so it won't impact any immediate plans Apple may have hadbut it certainly pushes those markets further out of reach. Sky's early move secured the rights before they could go to open tender.

Sky and F1 did not disclose the value of the dealbut trade publication IBC reported that the UK and Ireland portion is worth around £200 million (around $265–270 million) per seasonwhile other reports put the total figure at around £1 billion (around $1.34 billion).

The deal follows recent comments from Apple's senior vice president of services Eddy Cue at the Autosport Business Exchange in Miami. According to a report from MotorBiscuitCue said that clinching its F1 streaming rights in the U.S. first was "undoubtedly the best strategy," adding: "I hope we can expand into other markets."

Sky may have walled off the BritishIrishand Italian markets for nowbut other major European deals remain open – Canal Plus holds French rights only through 2029for example.

Apple's five-year U.S. deal began with the 2026 seasonand Apple has already folded its coverage into its wider offeringswith a dedicated F1 section in the Apple TV apprace tracking in Apple SportsF1 circuit guides in Apple Mapsand playlists in Apple Music.

Apple is already planning a second version of the "four-edge bending" display that is rumored to debut on next year's 20th-anniversary iPhoneclaims a new report out of Korea.

For the 20th-anniversary iPhoneApple is said to be introducing a display that curves down around all four edges of the device for a borderless visual experience. It could be one of the biggest design shifts in the iPhone's history since the 10th anniversary iPhone Xwhich saw Apple drop the Home buttonintroduce a notched displayand adopt an intuitive swipe gesture-based navigation interface.

TodayETNews reports that Apple is planning a two-stage rollout for the new OLED display technology that the commemorative iPhone will usewith a more advanced version said to be coming a year later.

For the 2027 variantApple will reportedly rely on OLED technology that uses a magnesium-silver (MgAg) alloy in the cathode layer. This implementation can cause image distortion and brightness loss in the curved areasbut Apple is apparently willing to live with the compromise for the 20th-anniversary iPhone while more advanced technology scales.

Apple then plans to address the issue in 2028 by transitioning to next-generation transparent electrodes. Apple will reportedly switch to indium zinc oxide (IZO) cathode materialsand because IZO is more transparentit should reduce distortionuneven brightnessand heat issues around the curved edges while enabling even narrower bezels.

ETNews reports that Samsung Display and LG Display have already been put on alert to prepare for the two-stage rollout. LG recently announced a ₩1.106 trillion investment (roughly $790 million) in OLED infrastructurewhich industry observers believe is connected to development and mass production of the new technology.

MeanwhileSamsung is reportedly evaluating whether its existing OLED lines can accommodate the required hardwarebut a dedicated production line is not out of the questionand may well be necessary.

Bloomberg in May 2025 reported on Apple's plans to launch a "mostly glasscurved iPhone without any cutouts in the display" for its 20th-anniversary model. The Information last year also cited multiple sources claiming that at least one new iPhone model launching in 2027 will have a truly edge-to-edge display.

Apple released iOS 26.5 yesterday with a new Suggested Places feature in the Apple Maps appwhich is a precursor to the ads that Apple plans to start showing later this year. There was some confusion over whether ads are livebut as of nowthe ‌Apple Maps‌ app still doesn't have ads.

Apple did start laying the groundwork for ads in iOS 26.5 and tested a splash screenbut no ads appeared during the beta testing period or after launch.

When Apple announced plans to bring ads to the Maps app in Marchit said that ads will be implemented in the United States and Canada "this summer." Astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere starts on June 21 and ends on September 22. Meteorologicallysummer begins on June 1 and lasts through Augustso depending on Apple's definition of summerwe'll get ads in Maps sometime between June 1 and September 22.

Ads will be displayed in ‌Apple Maps‌ search results and in the new Suggested Places section added in iOS 26.5. Suggested Places shows recommendations based on what's trending nearby and a user's recent searches.

There will be ads in the Maps app on iPhone and iPadand they will be clearly marked with an "Ad" labelsimilar to how ads appear in App Store search results. Businesses will bid for ad placementand the highest bidder for a keyword or search term will have its ad shown in search.

Apple says that location data and the ads that users see and interact with in the Maps app are not associated with an Apple accountand data is not shared with third parties. There is no opt-out for location-based or personalized ads in Suggested Places.

Apple's smartphone sales increased 1.3 percent year-over-year in the United States during the first quarter of 2026according to data shared by Counterpoint Research. Apple saw a sales increase while the broader U.S. smartphone market experienced a 5.7 percent decline during the same time period.

Android device sales declined 14.4 percentwhile Apple's market share grew 4 percent year-over-year. iPhone 17 performance is part of the reason Apple outperformed the marketbut Counterpoint says the company was also helped by a later launch of Samsung's Galaxy S26 series in March.

Apple's market share increased at all three major U.S. carrierswhile Android saw a decline. The iPhone made up 75 percent of sales at VerizonAT&Tand T-Mobilewhile Android devices made up 25 percent.

Counterpoint expects Apple to continue to draw users to iOS because it maintained pricing with the iPhone 17e and even increased storagewhile smartphone makers with slimmer hardware margins have had to raise prices.

If Apple can avoid significant price increases and continue to outpace its peers in promotional dollarsit will be tough for Android OEMs to keep up in the year ahead.

During Apple's April 30 earnings callCEO Tim Cook said the ‌iPhone 17‌ family was the most popular lineup in Apple's history. Cook said information from IDC indicated Apple gained market share during the quarter.

Cook also said iPhone demand was off the chartsleading to supply constraints during the quarter. Apple was having trouble getting the A19 and A19 Pro chips manufactured by TSMC due to demand for TSMC's AI server chips.

According to Cookmemory shortages and rising costs will have more of an impact on Apple later in 2026. Apple is expecting "significantly higher" memory costs and plans to look at a "range of options" for mitigation. Cook declined to provide insight into how Apple plans to deal with the problemand he did not comment on whether Apple will raise prices.

The Meta AI app and Meta AI on WhatsApp have a new "incognito chat" optionwhich Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said is a "completely private way to interact with AI."

Zuckerberg also said that Meta AI's incognito mode is the first major AI product where there is no log of conversations stored on servers. Zuckerberg likened the feature to end-to-end encryptionand said no one will be able to read the AI conversationsnot even Meta or WhatsApp.

AI inference for incognito chat is done in a Trusted Execution Environment that Zuckerberg said is not accessible to Meta. Conversations also disappear from the phone when exiting a chat sessionand nothing is saved or logged. Web searches are conducted privatelywith no search information linked to the user.

"To get the most from personal superintelligencewe'll all need ways to discuss sensitive topics in ways that no one else can access," Zuckerberg said.

WhatsApp head Will Cathcart told reporters that the AI has safety guardrailsand it will refuse to answer questions that could be interpreted as harmful or illegalsteering conversations in a different direction. The mode also only supports textand users are unable to upload images.

Incognito chat for Meta AI comes as OpenAI is facing a lawsuit for allegedly causing a teen's drug overdose. The teen asked ChatGPT for information on whether it was safe to take two drugs togetherand was provided with an incorrect answer that led to his death. OpenAI has been sued several times by the families of people who used ChatGPT before dying by suicide.

Lawsuits against OpenAI have involved chat logs recovered by the plaintiffsand without those logsthere would be far less evidence for a legal complaint over AI actions and advice.

Google and OpenAI also offer temporary chat optionsbut messages are still stored on remote servers. Google keeps data for up to three daysand OpenAI keeps logs for 30 days.

Meta's private chat option is rolling out in the coming months in the Meta AI app and WhatsApp.

Samsung is planning a Galaxy Unpacked event for Julyand the company plans to introduce new foldable smartphones and AI "Galaxy Glasses," according to Seoul Economic Daily.

Samsung's event will take place on July 22so it will debut new Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 foldable smartphones just weeks ahead of when Apple's first foldable iPhone is introducedplus it will beat Apple to AI glasses.

Apple has been racing to develop its own smart glasses to compete with the Meta Ray-Ban AI glassesbut rumors suggest Apple won't launch the glasses until 2027. There is a chance Apple will preview the glasses in 2026but there's no certainty yet.

Samsung is working with eyewear company Gentle Monster for its AI glassesand the wearable will run Google's Android XR operating system with Gemini integration. The glasses will feature a high-definition cameraspeakersand a microphonesimilar to the Meta Ray-Bansand there will be no built-in display. AI integration will be a main selling pointwith Gemini able to use video captured by the wearer to answer queries. Samsung will link the glasses to Galaxy smartphones and its SmartThings home appliance ecosystem.

The glasses that Samsung is working on sound similar to everything rumored for Apple's own AI glasses. Apple's glasses will rely on Siriand will include cameras to feed visual information to the AI. Speakers and microphones will be includedbut no display is expected for the first version.

Samsung is also planning for a Fold Wideor a foldable smartphone that's similar to the dimensions that Apple plans to use for its foldable iPhone. Samsung's foldables to date have been taller than they are widebut Apple is planning for a wideriPad-like 4:5 aspect ratio.

After Samsung's eventApple will unveil its next smartphones at its traditional September event. Dates are not known at this time.

Meta today announced the launch of Instantsa new image sharing option on the Instagram social network. Instants are ephemeral photos that disappear from Instagram after they're viewed by a user's friends or after a 24-hour period.

Reactions and replies to Instants images show up in DMs instead of on the post. Instants photos are only displayed for a short periodbut they are saved to a user's archive for a year and can be reshared to Stories. Instants cannot be editedwith no option for filtersstickersor modifications beyond captions. That sets them apart from Storieswhich is already an Instagram feature.

Instants is an Instagram featurebut Meta has also developed a standalone Instants companion app "for quicker camera access." The standalone app is a direct competitor to Snapchatthe original ephemeral image social network. The new app can be used for sharing Instantsbut on Instagramusers can also share Instants from a new camera option in the Direct Messages section of the app.

Instants can be viewed on Instagram by opening up DMs and tapping on the new Instants box in the bottom right corner of the inbox. Photos can be shared with friends set as close friendsor as mutualsaka followers that an Instagram user follows back. Instants are not able to be screenshotted or screen recordedproviding privacy features not available with other Instagram image types.

Meta says that Instants are designed for casualeveryday photos. The standalone app is limited to select countriesas Meta says that it is an experiment. Images shared on the Instants app will show up for friends on Instagramand images shared on Instagram will show up in the Instants app.

Instants on Instagram is available globally starting todayand the app is also available for download in countries where it is supported.

Apple is looking into ways to better support apps that include AI agents and AI coding capabilities in the App Storereports The Information. Apple is designing a system that would maintain its security and privacy standards while allowing for AI app featuresbut details on how the system will work are unavailable.

Apple started blocking updates for some popular vibe coding apps in March because those apps violated ‌App Store‌ rules that prohibit apps from executing code that alters their own functionality or that of other apps. Vibe coding apps let users build apps and websites with little to no coding experienceusing AI agents and natural language prompts. Vibe coding has become popularand Apple's rules have not been able to keep up.

Apps that include AI agents present similar problems for Apple. AI agents can autonomously complete complex actions and make mini apps using tools and capabilities that would not traditionally be supported under Apple's ‌App Store‌ rules. Apple will need to make changes to keep up with the software trends that developers and users want.

Apple wants to incorporate AI agents into the ‌App Store‌ while preventing some of the issues that people have run into with rogue AI agents deleting content and causing other problems.

As it works to prepare for future AI appsApple is also developing its own AI capabilities. Siri is set to get a major overhaul in iOS 27making it smarter and better able to compete with Claude and ChatGPT. Apple has partnered with Google to use custom Gemini models to power ‌Siri‌.

The Information says Apple has started contacting app developers to integrate app capabilities like booking flights and sending calendar invites into the new version of ‌Siri‌ and Apple Intelligence. Some developers are hesitant to work with Apple to integrate their apps into ‌Siri‌ because they are worried about providing new ways for Apple to collect commissions. Apple is telling some developers that it does not plan to charge commissions during the early stages of the partnershipbut that fees are a possibility in the future. Apple has held talks with BaiduAlibabaand Tencent about ‌Siri‌ integration in ‌iOS 27‌but the companies do not want to end up paying fees to Apple.

Apple also plans to allow users to select from multiple chatbots to use with ‌Siri‌instead of limiting people to OpenAI's ChatGPT. AI models from companies like Anthropic or Google could be used for Image Playground and Writing Tools the way ChatGPT can be used today.

It is not clear if Apple plans to open up more of iOS to third-party chatbotsbut OpenAI has reportedly been disappointed with Apple's limitations. ChatGPT can be used to generate images and text through the iOS integrationbut it cannot access user emails or other personal information. Customers are also rarely using the functionalityaccording to The Information.

Apple's new version of ‌Siri‌ is expected to be unveiled at the WWDC keynote on June 8and the plans that Apple has for agentic AI apps in the ‌App Store‌ could also be discussed at the same time.

Microsoft has responded to the MacBook Neo by commissioning a study that highlights advantages of some Windows laptops.

Market research firm Signal65 evaluated four Windows laptops:

• Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim 3x
• Lenovo's Yoga 7i
• HP's OmniBook 5
• HP's OmniBook X Flip

With a starting price of $549.99 on Best Buy's online store in the U.S. at the time of this writingthe IdeaPad Slim 3x is the only laptop in the study that currently rivals the MacBook Neo's starting price of $499 (college students) to $599 (general public). The other three laptops currently start at $749 to $1,029 at Best Buy.

Signal65 outlined some of the IdeaPad Slim 3x's advantages over the MacBook Neo:

In additionthe IdeaPad Slim 3x achieved longer battery life (16 hours and 29 minutes) compared to the MacBook Neo (13 hours and 28 minutes) in a Tom's Guide testwith Lenovo able to fit a larger battery inside a 15-inch laptop.

The study indicated that the IdeaPad Slim 3x has 512GB of storagebut the $549.99 base model has a 256GB SSDwhich matches the MacBook Neo.

Through June 30Microsoft is offering U.S. college students a free one-year Microsoft 365 Premium subscriptiona free one-year Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptionand a free Xbox controller with the purchase of a qualifying Windows laptopincluding the IdeaPad Slim 3x. The bundle has a value of more than $500.

On the other handthe MacBook Neo has some advantages over the IdeaPad Slim 3x:

Moreovermany reviewers indicated that the MacBook Neo has a superior trackpad and speakers compared to Windows laptops within the same price range. Plusthe MacBook Neo runs macOS instead of Windowsso it benefits from Apple's tight hardware and software integration and features that work across multiple Apple devices.

While it is unsurprising that this Microsoft-backed study is focused on promoting Windows laptopsthe reality is that the MacBook Neo and the IdeaPad Slim 3x both have pros and cons. More competition in the affordable laptop market is a win overall.

Apple has stepped in to warn that EU proposals to force Google to open Android to competing AI services pose serious risks to user privacysecurityand safety.

Apple's latest submission to the EU comes (via Reuters) in response to the European Commission's call for feedback on draft measures designed to help Google comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The proposals would allow competing AI services to interact with Android apps to perform actions such as sending emailsordering foodor sharing photos. Google has already pushed back on the plansarguing they would undermine key privacy and security safeguards for European users.

Applewhich is itself now subject to EU measures requiring it to open up its own ecosystemsaid it has a strong interest in the case given its own operating systems for iPhoneiPadand Mac. In its submissionApple said the draft measures "raise urgent and serious concerns," warning that if confirmed"they would create profound risks for user privacysecurityand safety as well as device integrity and performance."

Apple also took aim at the rapidly evolving state of AI as a particular source of concernarguing that risks are "especially acute in the context of rapidly evolving AI systems whose capabilitiesbehavioursand threat vectors remain unpredictable." The company questioned the EU's technical expertise in drawing up the proposalsstating that the Commission is "substituting judgments made by Google's engineers for its own judgment based on less than three months of work," and suggesting the only discernible goal of the draft measures is "open and unfettered access."

Apple has a long history of clashing with EU regulators over the DMA. The company challenged the regulation in court in October 2025and urged regulators to scrap it entirely the month beforearguing it had created security vulnerabilities and worsened the user experience. The EU said it had no intention of repealing the law in response.

The feedback period for the proposals ran from April 27 to May 132026. The European Commission has said it will carefully assess all submissions and may adjust the proposed measures as a resultthough its final decision must be adopted within six months of the opening of the specification proceedingsgiving a deadline of July 272026. The EU separately concluded in May 2026 that the DMA has had a positive impact overallsetting aside Apple's lobbying for the regulation to be revised.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topicthe discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the threadbut posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Following last month's coverage of an unofficial Mac port of Notepad++ that the original developer called out for trademark violationthe dispute has now been resolved with a rebrand.

The macOS port was previously released by Andrey Letov under the Notepad++ name without authorization. Don Ho created the original Windows code editor in 2003and had publicly objected to the unofficial app's use of his trademark and the inclusion of his name and biography on its author page. After settling the disputethe app has subsequently been renamed Nextpad++.

The site for Nextpad++ has been thoroughly updated and clearly states that the app is an "open-source and independent community port of Notepad++ to macOS." ElsewhereLetov's About page describes the project as a Mac port of the Notepad++ GPL codebasebuilt on Objective-C++Scintillaand Cocoaand shipped as a universal binary for Apple silicon and Intel Macs. The app also has a new icon.

Names asideit seems Daring Fireball's John Gruber is less than charmed by the resultdescribing the app as feeling "unholy" and suggesting the rapid port could only have been built with AI vibe-coding tools. The site states development began on March 10.

Have you tried out Nextpad++ for Mac? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Anker's new Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station has been marked down to $104.99 on Amazondown from $149.99. This is one of Anker's newest accessoriesand Amazon's sale today is a match of the all-time low price. This dealand many of the others shared belowis being matched at Anker.comwith additional savings applied for members.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchasewe may receive a small paymentwhich helps us keep the site running.

The Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station features Qi2.2 supportwhich lets a compatible MagSafe ‌iPhone‌ charge at up to 25W. It's the same speed as Apple's ‌MagSafe‌ chargerand it is 10W faster than the standard Qi2 ‌MagSafe‌ chargers. You can also simultaneously charge an Apple Watch and AirPods with the device.

There are plenty of other Anker discounts happening on Amazon this weekincluding Anker's popular 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube for $86.99down from $129.99. Below you'll find a list of the best Anker discounts on Amazon this weekalso including wall chargersportable chargersand more.

Although it's not on saleAnker recently launched a new desktop charging accessory with the Anker Nano Desk Clamp Power Strip for $69.99. The new device attaches to your desk and has 10 total ports including six AC outletstwo USB-C portsand two USB-A ports. It supports 70W USB-C fast charging and comes in white and black color options.

Wall Chargers

• Nano USB-C Wall Charger - $29.99down from $39.99
• 140W 4-Port GaN USB-C Charger - $79.99down from $99.99

Wireless Chargers

• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible UFO Charger - $69.99down from $89.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Foldable Charging Station - $85.99down from $109.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Charging Cube - $86.99down from $129.99
• 3-in-1 Prime Wireless Charging Station - $104.99down from $149.99
• Prime MagSafe-Compatible 3-in-1 Charging Station - $159.99down from $229.99

Portable Chargers

• SOLIX C300 Power Station with Lantern - $179.99down from $249.00
• Prime Power Bank 26,250 mAh - $171.48down from $229.99
• SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $449.99down from $799.00
• SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station - $799.99down from $1,499.00

If you're on the hunt for more discountsbe sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

While something new is always around the cornernow might be a particularly good time to hold off on buying a new iPhone if you are able to.

The reason to consider waiting is that Apple is reportedly working on a special 20th-anniversary iPhone for release in September 2027and rumors suggest that the device will feature the biggest redesign since the iPhone X in 2017.

According to Bloombergthe 20th-anniversary iPhone will have "glass edges that curve seamlessly into the display on all four sides."

The Information reported that one of Apple's early 20th-anniversary iPhone prototypes lacked bezels around the screen. The device had only a "narrow metal band running around the midpoint of the device's edgewhere the buttons sit."

Apple has also aimed for the device to have no cutouts in the screenaccording to The Informationbut it is unclear if the company will be able to move both the front camera and the Face ID system under the screen by next year.

Overallit sounds like Apple has ambitious goals with the 20th-anniversary iPhoneand that makes it a device that might be especially worth waiting for. Of coursethis advice will not apply to you if you upgrade your iPhone every single year regardlessbut the average customer holds on to their iPhone for two to four years.

In the meantimeApple is expected to release the iPhone 18 ProiPhone 18 Pro Maxand its first-ever foldable iPhone in September 2026followed by an iPhone 18iPhone 18eand a second-generation iPhone Air around March 2027.