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The latest Apple news, opinion and analysis posts from Cult of Mac writers.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on News:

Everything new in iOS 27.2: Siri AI tweaks, new Apple Music icon and more

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iOS 27.2 is here.
iOS 27.2 is here with plenty of new features and improvements.
Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

iOS 27.2 is here as the first major update for iOS 27. Released Monday, iOS 27.2 addresses a few annoying bugs while also adding several new features and improvements to the iPhone experience.

Here’s everything you can try after updating to iOS 27.2.

iPhone Duo Reachability mode could slide content sideways for lefties

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iPhone Duo Reachability mode could slide content sideways for lefties
With its Dock on the right side, the iPhone Duo isn't as convenient for lefties.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly working on an iPhone Duo Reachability mode that shifts the outer screen’s content to the left or right.

The movie is an (overdue) response to the criticism from left-handed iPhone users levied toward Apple’s first foldable ever since its September announcement. The outer screen’s Dock and other controls sit along the right edge, and this upcoming mode will make that arrangement easier on lefties.

Faster, redesigned iPad mini packs an OLED display at a higher price

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OLED is the highlight of the latest and greatest iPad mini (A20)
iPad mini (A20) ushers in a lengthy list of improvments.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple introduced the first iPad mini with a larger OLED display on Monday. The upgrade delivers better contrast and richer colors than the LCD screen in the previous model.

In addition, the redesigned tablet features a faster A20 processor, improved water and dust protection … and a considerable jump in price.

“iPad mini is beloved for its fantastic portability, performance, and display by a wide range of users, from creators and small business owners to doctors, field service workers, and gamers,” said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of hardware engineering, in a press release. “With a remarkably thinner and lighter design, a stunning new OLED display, the incredibly powerful A20 Pro, and water and dust resistance, the new iPad mini is a huge leap forward for users who love having the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand.”

Apple packed the iPhone Duo with clever repair tricks

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iPhone Dup innards as revealed by iFixit teardown
iFixit's iPhone Duo teardown reveals some repair surprises.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s first foldable is also the most repairable one yet. The iFixit team tore down the iPhone Duo, revealing its internals and assessing its repairability.

Surprisingly, the Duo sets a new standard for repairability in the foldable category, earning a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10.

iPhone Duo photos show bizarrely cracked screens on launch day [Updated]

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Photo of an iPhone Duo with cracked screen on launch day
Some photos show damaged screens on iPhone Duo launch day.
Photo: Bitter_Offer7123/Reddit

Photos circulating online Friday show some iPhone Duos with distinctive-looking cracks in their folding screens. It’s too early to call it Crackgate, but the launch-day images might make some people nervous about shelling out $2,000 or more for Apple’s first folding phone.

Most of the pictures lack context. However, one user on Reddit posted an image of a screen that reportedly cracked after very little use.

By Sunday, even more images and videos have been posted online, along with theories about what might be causing the problem. Plus, the inevitable iPhone Duo drop tests showed just how fragile the device’s inner screen is.

iPhone Duo drop test delivers a painful reality check

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iPhone Duo drop test reveals just how fragile Apple’s foldable is
A drop test shows you should put your iPhone Duo in a protective case. Now!
Screenshot: PhoneBuff

Drop tests with the new iPhone Duo suggest that carrying the device without a protective case would be a major mistake. While Apple’s first foldable isn’t as fragile as some critics predicted, it is undeniably breakable.

Earlier tests show the handset can easily stand up to heavy use, but drop the device even once and you could crack one of the screens.

5 reasons to get excited about the first touchscreen MacBook Pro

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Touchscreen breaks MacBook Pro out of the rut
A touchscreen is only one of many improvements coming in the next MacBook pro.
Concept art: Apple/Cult of Mac

We’re apparently just days away from Apple launching a touchscreen-enabled MacBook Pro. And that’s not the only major change — this is the most significant revamp of the MacBook line since 2021. It’ll set the pattern for macOS models for years to come.

Here are five reasons to get excited about the touchscreen MacBook Pro expected to launch at Apple’s “Pro and Tell” event on Wednesday.

The problem(s) with iPhone Duo (and most tech reviews) [Cult of Mac podcast 38]

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Image of iPhone Duo, folded and unfolded, with the words
The reviews are in!
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The first iPhone Duo reviews are a mixed bag — both the verdicts on Apple’s first foldable and the reviews themselves.

We go over the predictable pros and cons, toss out our own opinions, and highlight some of our favorite reviews.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • Speaking of great iPhone Duo reviews, Joanna Stern’s was brilliantly creative. She and a hardware expert deviced a device to fold the Duo automatically — more than 32,000 times!
  • Surprisingly, some iPhone Duo ship dates are moving in a positive direction, despite continued concerns about availability when the phone launches.
  • We’re less than a week away from seeing the first touchscreen MacBook. Let the last-minute speculation begin!
  • And finally, Leander and Graham give me a reason to feel bad about not owning an Apple Vision Pro: They watched Remnants, a spooky VR movie from horror master Ti West that arrived just in time for Halloween.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in your favorite podcasts app. Or watch the video version, embedded below. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!)

Apple celebrates iPod’s 25th anniversary with virtual music player

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The iPod Classic is back for the 25th anniversary! Sort of.
Apple commemorated the iPod's 25th anniversary with an Easter egg: a virtual music player.
Screenshot: Apple/Cult of Mac

The original iPod is back — at least in your web browser. The company snuck an interactive recreation of its iconic music player into the Apple Music website, giving fans a nostalgic way to revisit the device that helped transform how the world listened to music.

Friday, October 23, is the 25th anniversary of Steve Jobs unveiling the original device. Giving music fans a way to relive 2001 is Apple’s way of honoring the product’s birthday.

iOS 27.1 is here, but you probably can’t install it

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iOS 27.1 is out, but it's probably not for your iPhone.
iOS 27.1 is out, but it's only for one iPhone model.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple released iOS 27.1 on Thursday, but most iPhone owners won’t be able to install it. The update is specifically for the foldable iPhone Duo, which went on sale on Friday.

But don’t feel frustrated: iOS 27.2 is expected as early as Monday.

Apple shows off iPhone Duo apps built for the foldable

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A photo of the iPhone Duo used in a story about Apple optimizing apps for the big inner display.
Netflix is among the iPhone Duo apps optimized for the foldable’s inner display.
Photo: Apple

A fresh batch of iPhone Duo apps is rolling out just as Apple’s first foldable reaches customers. And that includes many very popular titles.

Software can make or break a new form factor, especially for foldables. Apps built for the larger inner display show more at once and adapt to how you fold the phone.

iWork Intelligent Assistant adds powerful AI tools to Apple’s productivity apps

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A picture showing Apple's iWork apps used in an article about Apple adding new capabilities to its app suite.
The iWork Intelligent Assistant is rolling out in beta to Apple Creator Studio subscribers.
Photo: Apple

A beta version of Apple’s newly launched iWork Intelligent Assistant is now live in Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, after the apps briefly vanished from the App Store.

The tool goes way beyond the AI features Apple brought to its apps back in January, but only Apple Creator Studio subscribers can access it.

iPhone Duo goes on sale with a $1,999 price and a stock problem

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iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable, is now on sale.
The iPhone Duo starting hitting Apple Stores on Friday.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s first foldable and its most expensive iPhone to date, the iPhone Duo, is now on sale.

If you placed your preorder early and secured a launch-day delivery slot, your unit should arrive today. Or if you are camping outside your nearest Apple Store, you might be able to pick up a Duo when it opens — depending on where you live.

iPhone Duo 2 might fix one of original’s biggest problems

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Face ID could arrive on iPhone Duo 2, removing a major compromise
The iPhone Duo lacks Face ID, but it's successor might have it.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple is reportedly testing prototypes of a second-generation iPhone Duo with Face ID beneath the display. The upgrade would address a frequent complaint about the company’s first foldable iPhone, which relies on Touch ID instead of facial recognition.

Plus, this is apparently another sign that Apple is working to get rid of the Dynamic Island from all iPhones.

New Apple Music logo was made with sound and mineral oil

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The new Apple Music logo used in a story about how it was made.
The new Apple Music logo was shaped by sound played through mineral oil.
Image: Apple

Apple unveiled a new Apple Music logo Wednesday that’s shaped by sound waves rippling through mineral oil. And yes, it’s real. Not AI. Not even CGI.

It’s the first major overhaul for the streaming service’s logo since its launch back in 2015. The new look is expected to arrive with iOS 27.2 next week.

Tesla iPad app finally gets a layout built for big screens

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A picture showing Tesla's redesigned app used in a story about the same.
Tesla iPad app now uses a two-column layout, with controls on the left and a large car view on the right.
Photo: Alex Guichet/X

The Tesla iPad app finally has a layout built for bigger screens. The redesign also covers the iPhone Duo, which launches Friday.

Until now, iPad owners had to use a stretched-out version of Tesla’s iPhone app rather than a proper big-screen interface.

iPhone Duo queues form days before Apple Store doors open

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Apple North County store Escondido Calif
Are you queueing up for the iPhone Duo?
Photo: Apple

Some Apple fans started camping out days in advance of the iPhone Duo’s release, hoping to get their hands on the first foldable iPhone.

However, with Apple confirming extremely limited stock for walk-in customers, even camping out days ahead of launch might not guarantee them an iPhone Duo when the foldable hits stores Friday.

Plugable’s new USB-C hubs bring 4K 144Hz support to Mac for less than $60

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Plugable USB-C 8-in-1 Hub includes HDMI 2.1, Ethernet and much more.
Plugable USB-C 8-in-1 Hub includes HDMI 2.1, Ethernet and much more.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable launched two new USB-C hubs that let compatible Macs drive high-refresh-rate monitors at up to 4K 144Hz or 8K 30Hz thanks to support for HDMI 2.1. And without requiring additional drivers.

The USB-C 6-in-1 Hub and USB-C 8-in-1 Hub with Ethernet also provide extra ports and up to 85W of pass-through laptop charging, with prices starting at $39.99.

iPhone Duo won’t launch with Apple Pencil support, but it’s coming soon

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iPhone Duo finally takes Apple Pencil beyond the iPad
You could be using your Apple Pencil with your iPhone Duo next week.
Photo: Apple

If you open your new iPhone Duo on Friday then grab your Apple Pencil and start sketching, don’t be surprised that it won’t work. Apple’s first foldable will be able to use a stylus eventually, but not at launch. Still, that might change sooner than you realize.

No matter when the feature shows up, it’s the answer to a request users have made for years.

WhatsApp tests in-app browser that would let iPhone users skip Safari

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A WhatsApp logo used in an article about WhatsApp working on an in-app browser.
WhatsApp’s in-app browser is still under development for iPhone.
Photo: Pixabay

WhatsApp is reportedly working on an in-app browser for iPhone. It would open any chat link without leaving the app to go to a separate web browser.

Today, WhatsApp can only open certain business links in the app. Everything else you send opens in the device’s default browser, but this change would end that.

After 32,000 folds, iPhone Duo’s hinge serves up a big surprise

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Hingey automatic folding machine to test iPhone Duo hinge
A custom-built test machine called Hingey puts the iPhone Duo's hinge to the test.
Photo: Joanna Stern

A tech reviewer took a novel approach to testing the iPhone Duo’s hinge, using a custom-made device to automatically fold the phone more than 32,000 times.

The goal was to find out if the Duo’s hinge got loosey-goosey after repeated folds. The result proved pretty shocking.

First iPhone Duo reviews call Apple’s foldable impressive but not perfect

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First reviews call iPhone Duo impressive but not perfect
We now have real-world results of people using the iPhone Fold.
Photo: Apple

Early reviews of the iPhone Duo are in, and the results are generally positive. But certainly not always. Apple’s first foldable iPhone wins praise for its clever design and big inner display, but reviewers disagree about whether it is worth its $1,999 starting price.

Read on for a variety of comments from people who’ve had hands-on time with the iPhone Duo.

HomePod Sound Glow headed to older Apple speakers

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A picture of a HomePod used in a story about HomePod getting Sound Glow feature.
HomePod Sound Glow with colors pulled from album artwork.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

HomePod Sound Glow won’t be exclusive to the new HomePod mini 2. Apple’s upcoming HomePod Software 27.2 is bringing the pulse light show to the older speakers.

That’s a nice perk for owners of the second-generation HomePod and the original HomePod mini. Apple announced the feature as a hardware addition to the HomePod mini 2 on October 13.

Apple expands DIY repairs to iPhone 18 Pro and its latest Macs

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You can now purchase iPhone 18 Pro repair parts from Apple.
iPhone 18 Pro repair parts hit Apple's self-service repair store.
Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max repair parts can now be purchased directly from Apple. Additionally, the company offers repair parts for the M5 Max/Ultra-equipped Mac Studio and the new Mac mini under its Self Service Repair Program.

With the use of Apple’s official repair manuals, you can buy the replacement parts to carry out Do-It-Yourself (DIY) repairs.