With the Studio Display and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR set to launch on Wednesday, members of the media have started publishing their reviews of the new display options.


According to The Verge, the ‌Studio Display‌ is the same panel as the prior model, but with an upgraded camera, speakers, and ports. The brightness is the same, and there appear to be no other changes to the display quality.

The ‌Studio Display‌ XDR is the much more exciting update, because it is a replacement for the $5,000 Pro Display XDR. The Verge says that the display is a "great improvement" over the prior model due to the mini-LED backlight, though at this cost, it's only ideal for pros because there are more affordable options for general use. Images and text are "crisp and clear," with minimal light bleed thanks to dimming control, though light bleed is worse than with OLED technology, and viewing angles aren't as wide.

Presets are accurate, and the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR was able to maintain up to 2,000 nits peak brightness. It's "very bright at a normal desk sitting distance." The built-in speakers are loud enough for listening to music, watching videos, and taking calls, and the 12-megapixel camera provides clear video.

YouTuber Marques Brownlee said the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR is "better in every single way" than the Pro Display XDR because it's brighter with improved contrast and less blooming, plus it has an extra Thunderbolt port.


Since the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR has a 120Hz refresh rate, it pairs better with the MacBook Pro that has the same refresh rate. "This is about as good as it gets" for a display to use with a ‌MacBook Pro‌. Brownlee said that Apple doesn't appear to be targeting professionals with the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR since it's a small market, with the display serving as more of a mixed use product.

There are no displays to compare the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR with because no companies make 27-inch 5K mini-LED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate.

PetaPixel said the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR's build quality is "phenomenal," but the site wasn't a fan of the integrated power cable, the sharp edges on the stand, or the thick bezels around the display.

The ‌Studio Display‌ XDR was color accurate across presets at all brightness levels, but the display was only able to get gamut coverage up to 86 percent with Adobe RGB profiles. PetaPixel also saw some "slightly higher than acceptable contrast deviation" at the upper right corner of the XDR, but most human eyes won't be able to see a difference.

HDR content looked spectacular with no "stutter or judder" and limited haloing, but contrast and black levels did not measure up to OLED because mini-LED is still LED. PetaPixel pointed out that few companies are making displays that are super bright, HDR compatible, extremely color accurate, and with Thunderbolt 5 support. The closest match is the Asus ProArt OLED display.

Other reviews are below:









The ‌Studio Display‌ and ‌Studio Display‌ XDR launch on Wednesday. Pricing on the ‌Studio Display‌ starts at $1,599, while pricing on the ‌Studio Display‌ XDR starts at $3,299.
This article, "Apple Studio Display XDR Reviews: 'Great Improvement' Over Pro Display XDR, Some Shortcomings Compared to OLED" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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This will mark the third collaboration between Apple TV and Daniels. Here are the details.

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Apple’s new MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips arrive this Wednesday, and reviews for the latest models have just arrived. Here’s what reviewers are saying.

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The Apple Partner Discovery Tool will help businesses and governments find authorized resellers and technical partners to support device purchasing, deployment, and IT management. Here are the details.

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Last week, Apple announced two new desktop monitors: the updated Studio Display, and the all-new Studio Display XDR. Now the first unboxing videos and reviews have arrived ahead of release day on Wednesday.

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iOS 26.4 beta 4 arrived today, and with it a new ’Reduce Bright Effects’ setting that lets you disable various flashing elements common in Liquid Glass.

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Apple has a new version of the HomePod and a new Apple TV 4K ready to go, but the devices may be tied to the Siri update that's been continually postponed, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In a report on a planned September launch for new ‌Siri‌ capabilities and the home hub that's reliant on the revamped version of ‌Siri‌, Gurman says the updated ‌Apple TV‌ and ‌HomePod‌ are both linked to "new artificial intelligence features."

We've been hearing rumors about a new HomePod mini and a refreshed ‌Apple TV‌ 4K since 2024. Gurman said several times in 2025 that Apple was aiming for a launch before the end of the year, but no new Apple TV or HomePod materialized. We also didn't hear a word about the devices at Apple's early 2026 launch event last week, which saw the introduction of the iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, and more.

At this point, it seems like Apple may not introduce the new ‌Apple TV‌ 4K and ‌HomePod‌ until the new version of ‌Siri‌ is ready. Apple was planning to debut the Apple Intelligence version of ‌Siri‌ in iOS 26.4, but the revamp has been pushed back because ‌Siri‌ still isn't working reliably. Apple is now aiming to launch all of the new ‌Siri‌ features in iOS 27 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, though it's possible we could see some of the capabilities before September as part of an iOS 26.5 update.

Gurman's wording today mentions a "‌HomePod‌" rather than a ‌HomePod mini‌ specifically, but in past reports, he has claimed that Apple has a new version of the ‌HomePod mini‌ ready to go. It's not clear if the larger ‌HomePod‌ is also getting refreshed, or if Apple is only planning to update its smaller speaker.

The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K hasn't been refreshed since 2022. Rumors suggest that it will get an A17 Pro chip and Apple's N1 networking chip, but no major design updates. The A17 Pro chip is capable of supporting ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, and it was previously used in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPad mini.

The ‌HomePod mini‌ is expected to get a newer Apple Watch chip and it could also adopt the N1 and an updated UWB chip.
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Apple is postponing the launch of its planned smart home hub until September 2026, reports Bloomberg. Apple has pushed back the debut of the home hub multiple times due to ongoing issues with the revamped version of Siri. The hub has a heavy AI focus and it is tied to the more intelligent ‌Siri‌ that Apple has in the works.


Prior to realizing the Apple Intelligence version of ‌Siri‌ would not be ready until 2026, Apple planned to launch the home hub in spring 2025. After it became clear ‌Siri‌ would need to be delayed, Apple then aimed for a spring 2026 launch for the home hub because it planned to release ‌Siri‌ in iOS 26.4.

‌Siri‌ is not present in the iOS 26.4 beta because the new version is still not ready, so Apple is now going to hold the home hub until September. Apple is reportedly experiencing issues with ‌Siri‌ accuracy and it hasn't managed to get all of the promised ‌Siri‌ features working reliably.

A September launch timeline suggests we are not going to see new ‌Siri‌ capabilities until iOS 27, as September is when iOS 27 will come out. Apple has promised that the new version of ‌Siri‌ will launch in 2026, and as long as it debuts before December, Apple won't miss the timeline that it gave to the public.

The smart home hub has apparently been finished and ready to launch for several months, but it can't be released without the ‌Siri‌ update. The device is similar in design to an iPad, but with a 7-inch square display. It can be attached to a wall or used with a speaker base, and there is a camera for facial recognition. The hub can tell when people are in the room and when someone walks up to it, and it will offer content specific to each person in the home.

Apple designed it to be an AI hub for controlling smart home products, making calls, viewing apps like Calendar and Reminders, and much more. It is meant to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show, which is an Alexa-enabled speaker with a display.

Apple's home hub does not include its own App Store, but it does run Apple apps. It will feature round app icons that are arranged similarly to apps on the Apple Watch, and it will run a version of tvOS 27.

Apple first showed off the new version of ‌Siri‌ in June 2024, and planned to launch the features in iOS 18.4. ‌Siri‌ capabilities include personalization, onscreen awareness, and the ability for ‌Siri‌ to do more in and between apps, as well as image generation using Image Playground and a web search feature that summarizes information from web results.

The ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ updates were meant to be followed by an iOS 27 update that turns ‌Siri‌ into a ChatGPT-style chatbot, but now it seems like all of the new features could come at once in iOS 27. Apple is planning to revamp ‌Siri‌ to make it look and feel more like a chatbot.
This article, "Apple's Smart Home Hub Won't Launch Until September as Siri Remains Unfinished" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPadOS 26 introduced a brand new windowing system for apps, and iPadOS 26.4 adds a key enhancement that multi-window power users should appreciate.

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Tech columnist David Pogue's new book Apple: The First 50 Years will be available in hardcover and digital formats starting this Tuesday, March 10.


In time for Apple's 50th anniversary on April 1, the 608-page book explores the first five decades of the company's history. Pogue interviewed 150 key people who shaped Apple into what it is today, including the company's co-founder Steve Wozniak, former CEO John Sculley, former design chief Jony Ive, and others.

While many aspects of Apple's history are well documented, the book's official description promises "new facts that correct the record":

In time for Apple's 50th anniversary, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent David Pogue tells the iconic company's entire life story: how it was born, nearly died, was born again under Steve Jobs, and became, under CEO Tim Cook, the most valuable company in the world. The book features full-color photos, new facts that correct the record and illuminate its subversive culture, and fresh interviews with the legendary figures who shaped Apple into what it is today.

Pogue is a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, and he spent many years writing about Apple and technology for The New York Times and Macworld. An excerpt from his book, focused on the late Steve Jobs, is available on the CBS News website.

Pogue has been on a media tour to promote his new book, so there are lots of interviews and excerpts coming out. He recently sat down for an extended interview with Apple's CEO Tim Cook, and he made an appearance on CBS Mornings today.


Pogue will also be interviewing Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller on March 18 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Apple was officially founded on April 1, 1976. The company has yet to announce any plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary in a public-facing manner, but it will likely mark the occasion in some way over the coming weeks.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment.
This article, "'Apple: The First 50 Years' Book Available Tomorrow" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has been developing a smart home display for years, but the product relies the promised Siri upgrade to ship first. A new report corroborates a recent leak that claims Apple is targeting a smart home display release around iOS 27.

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I like a simple desk setup. The LISEN Qi2 3-in-1 charging station might be the one charger to rule them all if you feel the same. With Qi2 standard support for up to 15-watt fast charging and an Apple-inspired design, it is a perfect companion for anyone all in on MagSafe charging. This is what makes it a great purchase and how it fits nicely with the existing Apple setup.

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The colorful new wallpapers that Apple introduced with the MacBook Neo are available for all Macs in the fourth beta of macOS Tahoe 26.4 that came out for developers today.


Featuring bubble-style lines with colorful gradients, the wallpapers come in Mac Purple, Mac Blue, Mac Pink, and Mac Yellow. The design and the colors spell out the word "Mac."

Beta testers can use the new wallpapers by opening up the System Settings app, going to the Wallpaper option, and scrolling down to the Pictures section.

Apple typically makes all of the wallpapers that it designs for Mac marketing images available to all Macs, so the new Neo wallpapers join wallpapers created for the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and other machines.


Today's ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 update also adds new emoji characters, like trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca, and landslide.

The fourth beta of ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 is limited to developers, but it should soon be released for public beta testers as well. The update is expected to launch this spring.
This article, "MacBook Neo Wallpapers Now Available for All Macs in macOS Tahoe 26.4 Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The fourth iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4 betas that Apple provided to developers today introduce nine new emoji characters.

• Trombone


• Treasure Chest


• Distorted Face


• Hairy Creature (aka Bigfoot or Sasquatch)


• Fight Cloud


• Orca


• Landslide

There are also new skin tone modifiers people wrestling and dancers with bunny ears, as well as a gender neutral option for the ballet dancer emoji.

The emoji characters are part of the Unicode 17 update that the Unicode Consortium previewed in fall 2025. It often takes Apple several months to implement new emoji characters because new art needs to be drawn for each one.

Updated emoji are often added to Apple devices in the spring, typically in .4 software updates.

Apple last added new emoji characters in iOS 18.4, introducing bags under eyes face, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, and splatter.

Next year, in iOS 27, we could get a squinting face emoji, a monarch butterfly, left- and right-pointing thumb gestures, a pickle, a lighthouse, a meteor, an eraser, a net with a handle.
This article, "Latest iOS 26.4 Beta Adds New Emoji Characters" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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You don’t have to buy a MacBook Neo to run those cool new Apple wallpapers. macOS 26.4 adds the marketing wallpapers first introduced with Apple’s new $599 laptop.

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iOS 26.4 beta 4 rolled out today for developers, and it includes a number of brand new emoji for iPhone users. Here are all the new emoji coming with iOS 26.4.

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Apple today provided developers with the fourth betas of upcoming watchOS 26.4 and visionOS 26.4 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the third betas.


The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

watchOS 26.4 adds a new Average Bedtime metric to the sleep features that sync to the health app, so you can better keep an eye on how bedtime impacts overall sleep quality.

tvOS 26.4 eliminates the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps on the Apple TV. These apps haven't worked for some time and have directed users to the ‌Apple TV‌ app for purchases, but Apple is finally phasing them out entirely. Apple also added a Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output.

visionOS 26.4 includes support for foveated streaming for apps and games. Foveated streaming allows video to be streamed to the precise area where a user is looking, and peripheral areas are compressed. It allows for higher visual quality and lower latency.

This article, "Apple Releases Fourth watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4 and visionOS 26.4 Betas" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Update, 3:56 p.m. ET: Apple has also released macOS 26.4 public beta 4. It has the same build number as the developer beta released earlier today.

Apple is rolling out macOS 26.4 developer beta 4, ahead of the official release. Here’s what to expect.

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Apple has released new beta software updates today, including developer beta 4 for iPadOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, and more. Update: Public betas have now rolled out too, hitting several hours after the developer releases.

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Apple today provided the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a week after Apple seeded the third beta.


Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 adds a new Charge Limit feature so Mac users can select a maximum charge level that ranges from 80 to 100 percent. Apple also brought back the Compact tab layout in Safari for those who missed the option in earlier versions of ‌macOS Tahoe‌.

Apple silicon Macs who are running apps that still rely on Rosetta will see warnings about the upcoming end of support for Rosetta. After ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 27, Apple will phase out Rosetta support, and all apps will need to be updated before that time.

‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.4 will be released to the public in the spring after several weeks of beta testing.
This article, "Fourth macOS Tahoe 26.4 Beta Now Available for Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple provided the third betas to developers.


Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 add multiple new features to the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌. A Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music lets you generate songs for any idea, mood, emotion, or activity using a text-based prompt. There's also a Concerts Near You feature for finding local shows, and a redesigned look for albums and playlists with full-page artwork.

Apple Podcasts is getting native video podcasting capabilities that will make it easier to create, distribute, and monetize video podcast content through the Podcasts app. Video episodes will integrate with existing Apple podcasts features, like personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions.

Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS, which will eventually bring full encryption to text conversations between Android and ‌iPhone‌ users. Apple is testing ‌RCS‌ with iPhone-to-iPhone conversations and iPhone-to-Android conversations.

Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default, there's a new ambient music widget, new average bedtime metrics in the sleep app, and plenty more. All of the features in iOS 26.4 can be found in our iOS 26.4 beta features guide.
This article, "Apple Seeds Fourth Betas of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Update: Apple released the public beta version a few hours after the developer beta version.

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iOS 26.4 developer beta 4 is now available. The update comes after Apple released two versions of the third developer beta version. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including AI-powered Apple Music updates.

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Apple Fellow Phil Schiller will be the subject of an upcoming interview at SXSW in Austin, Texas, next week. Schiller will be interviewed by David Pogue, author of the new book Apple: The First 50 Years, on March 18, at 2:30 p.m. central:

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While there is now less than 48 hours left to score the pre-order deals on the new MacBook Neo, M5 Air, and M5 Pro MacBook Pro, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is kicking off some notable cash discounts on the new iPad – Amazon is now offering up to $100 off M4 iPad Air ahead of release this week with discounts on every configuration. It also happens to have already slashed up to $300 off the new 2026 Apple Studio Display pre-orders alongside deals on Powerbeats Pro 2 with Find My, this massive $450 price drop on a maxed out M5 iPad Pro, and the official Anchor Blue Apple Sport Loop and Band are up to41% off right now. We also now have AirPods Pro 3 down at $199 shipped (matching the 2025 holiday price). Head below for a closer look.

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