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Review: ESR’s 3-in-1 charging stand delivers 25W MagSafe charging at a great price

Last year, Apple opened up its MagSafe standard to the Wireless Power Consortium, allowing third party companies to officially utilize MagSafe – at up to 15W. Earlier this year, the standard expanded with Qi2.2, making 25W MagSafe charging available to third party manufacturers.

Many manufacturers have come to market with fantastic 25W Qi2.2 chargers, and this ESR model is one of them. For Black Friday, you can get this ESR 3-in-1 for just $89.99, making it one of the more affordable Qi2.2 options on the market.

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Aqara’s Black Friday deals bring HomeKit smart locks, doorbells, and more into your home on a discount

Aqara, a leading company in the smart home sector, has just unveiled its top deals for Black Friday this season. With these deals, you can save big on smart locks, doorbell cameras, and other essential smart home gear – all at a steep discount for the holiday season. These products are excellent for Apple fans who utilize HomeKit and Siri, though they also work with the Google Home and Amazon Alexa ecosystems.

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HomeKit Weekly: Give the gift of HomeKit this Christmas with these 2025 top picks

Thanksgiving is incredibly late this year, so Christmas shopping is already in full swing. HomeKit accessories make great gifts for any Apple fan. They are usually low-cost and add real value to any smart home setup. For this week’s HomeKit Weekly, I have updated my HomeKit gift guide for 2025 to help you find the perfect addition for your favorite Apple smart home fan.

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Apple Black Friday, AirDrop on Android, macOS Tahoe thoughts 

Benjamin and Chance give their opinion on the 2025 Apple holiday ad ‘A Critter Carol’, and talk about some of the Apple tech deals they’ve found this Black Friday. Also, there’s more clarity on the Apple Watch WiFi sync changes coming to the EU next month, and Google pulls off an impressive stunt to make AirDrop work on Android. Finally, Benjamin installed macOS Tahoe for the first time and has some thoughts to share.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman delivers the first details about what to expect from iOS 27. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join

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Roborock’s best-selling vacuums on sale for Black Friday starting at $199.99 [Up to 50% off]

This Black Friday, transform your home cleaning routine with Roborock’s best-selling vacuums at unbeatable prices. Whether you’re looking for cutting-edge robotic technology or powerful cordless convenience, Roborock has you covered with savings up to 50% across their entire lineup.

From pet-friendly models with zero-tangling technology to flagship vacuums featuring industry-first innovations, there’s a perfect solution for every home and budget, starting at just $199.99. Don’t miss these exclusive limited-time offers for 9to5Mac readers on the smart cleaning tools that will make your life easier all year long.

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There’s one big problem with the iPhone Fold, and it’s almost the obvious one

The iPhone Air was arguably the biggest innovation in iPhone design since the iPhone X. The iPhone Fold we’re expecting to see launch next year will be an even bigger shift.

All the signs point to the iPhone Fold being the best foldable smartphone launched to date, but there is one big problem with it – and it’s almost the obvious one …

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Use ChatGPT as Your iPhone's Action Button Assistant

Apple doesn't currently allow iPhone users to change the Side button's Siri functionality to another assistant, but owners of iPhone 15 Pro and newer models can assign ChatGPT to the Action button instead. Keep reading to learn how.


OpenAI's free ChatGPT app for iPhone lets you interact with the chatbot using text or voice. What's more, if you assign voice mode directly to the Action button, you can use it to jump straight into a spoken conversation, giving you quick, handsfree access to a far more capable assistant.

  1. Install the ChatGPT app, then sign into your account or create a new one.

  2. Next, open the Settings app.

  3. Tap Action Button.

  4. Swipe to Controls, then tap the two chevrons beside the currently assigned control.

  5. Using the control search field, type "ChatGPT."

  6. Select the control Open ChatGPT Voice.



A long press of the Action button will now open ChatGPT's voice mode. The first time you activate it, the app may request microphone access. Tap Allow to proceed. After that, you can begin speaking immediately.

A recent update means voice conversations now take place inside the same chat window as text-based prompts, instead of switching to a separate voice-only interface. Responses appear in real time, combining spoken output with on-screen text and any visuals the model generates. This keeps your conversation's context intact and makes switching between typing and speaking smoother.

Continue the Conversation Anywhere


You can also leave the ChatGPT app during a voice session without ending it. When you swipe away, the conversation continues and appears in the Dynamic Island as long as the assistant is listening and preparing a response. To stop, tap the Dynamic Island to return to the app, then tap End.

Note that while this setup gives you a fast, physical shortcut to a richer, more context-aware assistant, ChatGPT can't perform Siri-like system actions like accessing your calendar or setting an alarm.
Tag: ChatGPT

This article, "Use ChatGPT as Your iPhone's Action Button Assistant" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Deals – Black Friday Edition: Apple Watch Ultra 3 $99 off, M5 MacBook Pro $250 off, M4 MacBook Air $300 off, Pencil, more

This is it folks…Black Friday 2025 is here and so are the best prices of the year on just all of Apple’s latest and greatest. We have already collected an AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max, alongside a whole bunch more, but some brand new deals went live this morning. Firstly, Apple Watch Ultra 3. On the Mac side of things, the brand new M5 MacBook Pro has now dropped to new lows at $250 off and we have a wild $300 price drop on select M4 MacBook Air configs. But there’s tons more below. 

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The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plans for iPad Mini 8

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors about Apple's upcoming iPad mini 8.


The next-generation version of the ‌iPad mini‌ is expected to feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024. It now apparently plans to bring the technology to more devices, such as the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and could start with the ‌iPad mini‌ next year.

The current ‌iPad mini‌ has a Liquid Retina LCD display, just like the ‌iPad Air‌. OLED offers higher contrast with true blacks, wider viewing angles, faster response times, better efficiency, and generally better perceived picture quality than LCD.

The current ‌iPad mini‌ came out in 2024, with the main upgrade over the previous version being the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. The previous generation introduced a complete redesign and the A15 Bionic chip.

In August, Apple mistakenly shared code that revealed key information about the next-generation ‌iPad mini‌ with the codename J510/J511: The device features the A19 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

The current ‌iPad mini‌ uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the ‌iPhone Air‌ also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next ‌iPad mini‌.

Bloomberg claims that Apple is working on a version of the ‌iPad mini‌ that has a more water resistant design, making it the first iPad with a water resistance rating.

While the ‌iPhone‌ has IP68 water resistance that allows it to withstand submersion in water up to six meters deep for 30 minutes, it is not yet known what IP rating the ‌iPad mini‌ might feature. The ‌iPad mini‌'s updated casing is expected to offer water resistance similar to the ‌iPhone‌, making it safe for casual use in wet environments like a bath or a pool area.

Apple has reportedly developed a new speaker system for the ‌iPad mini‌ that uses vibration-based technology, allowing for the speaker holes in the device to be removed. Removing the speaker holes would cut down on areas where water could get into the crevices of the ‌iPad mini‌.

For the ‌iPhone‌, Apple uses adhesive and gaskets to protect the speaker holes and other ingress points from water intrusion, so the ‌iPad mini‌'s design would be radically different. The current ‌iPad mini‌ does not have an official water resistance rating and it is not safe to get it wet.

With an OLED display, water resistance, a new speaker system, and a faster chip, the device is expected to be more expensive, and Apple could charge up to $100 more for the device. The ‌iPad mini‌ is currently priced starting at $499. Apple will purportedly launch the ‌iPad mini‌ 8 with OLED display in the third quarter of next year at the earliest.

We also discuss further thoughts on the M5 Vision Pro, weighing up its utility for travel and day-to-day use-case, and take a look at the growing differentiation and optionality within Apple's product lineups. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year's iPhone 18 Pro and ‌iPhone 18‌ Pro Max models.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plans for iPad Mini 8" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 17 Lineup Drives Smartphone Growth in China

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup was the clear driver of smartphone growth during China's "Singles Day" shopping festival, according to new industry data.


Apple was the top-selling smartphone brand throughout this year's month-long Singles Day period in China, accounting for 26% of all smartphone sales, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research shared by Reuters. Overall smartphone sales rose just 3% year-over-year, and Counterpoint says the iPhone alone prevented the market from seeing what would otherwise have been a 5% annual decline.

Counterpoint's data indicates that demand for ‌iPhone 17‌ models was particularly strong throughout the festival, which ended on November 11. The rebound continues a trend seen over recent months, during which Apple has steadily outpaced the wider Chinese smartphone market after years of cooling demand.

Data provider Syntun told Reuters that total Singles Day sales across all major e-commerce platforms reached 1.70 trillion yuan ($240 billion), up from 1.44 trillion yuan last year, which had a shorter promotional window. In its most recent earnings call, Apple said it anticipated what could be its strongest December quarter on record.

Huawei recorded the steepest decline among major brands, with its share dropping to 13% from 17% a year ago. Its new flagship Mate 80 launched too late to participate meaningfully in the festival. Xiaomi held the second-largest share with 17%, though its sales also declined year-over-year due to the earlier release timing of the Xiaomi 17 series.
This article, "iPhone 17 Lineup Drives Smartphone Growth in China" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way.


Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027.

Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest available sub-2nm advanced node manufactured in North America."

If this rumor proves to be accurate, Intel could supply Apple with M6 or M7 chips for future MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models at a minimum. However, while previous Intel chips for Macs were designed by Intel and based on x86 architecture, M-series chips are designed by Apple and use Arm architecture. Intel would only assist with manufacturing.

TSMC would continue to supply the majority of Apple's M-series chips.

Kuo said that Apple choosing to have Intel supply its lowest-end M-series chip would appease the Trump administration's desire for "Made in USA" products, and it would also help Apple to diversify its supply chain for manufacturing.

Apple began transitioning away from Intel processors in Macs in 2020, and its own M-series chips continue to provide industry-leading performance per watt.

Apple previously announced that macOS Tahoe will be the final major macOS release that supports Intel-based Macs with x86 architecture.
This article, "Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Security Bite: The malware your Mac can detect and remove

9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.


Updated on Nov. 28, 2025

Ever wonder what malware macOS can detect and remove without help from third-party software? Apple continuously adds new malware detection rules to Mac’s built-in XProtect suite. While most rule names (signatures) are obfuscated, with a bit of reversing engineering, security researchers can map them to their common industry names.

In this updated Thanksgiving edition of Security Bite, I revisit a story I started working on in May of 2024. Because Apple is continuously adding new modules to its XProtect suite to combat the latest malware trends, I suspect this column will continue to update over time. Here’s what malware your Mac can detect and remove on its own:

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Get an Apple Watch SE 2 for Just $129 During Black Friday [Update: Sold Out]

Black Friday is in full swing, and Amazon has a great deal on the previous generation Apple Watch SE 2 during the event. You can get the 40mm GPS model for just $129.00, down from the original price of $249.00.

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

This deal is only available in the Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band (small/medium), and it's selling fast with delivery dates slipping into mid December as of writing. If you're shopping for Apple Watch deals during Black Friday, check out our post for great sales on Series 11 and more.



You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find this holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundups: Apple Black Friday, Apple Deals
Related Forum: Community Discussion

This article, "Get an Apple Watch SE 2 for Just $129 During Black Friday [Update: Sold Out]" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Pay Supporting the Fight Against AIDS This Week — Here's How

Apple has announced that it will again donate $5 to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for every purchase made using Apple Pay on Apple.com, through the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store in the U.S. and many other countries from today through December 7. Apple's donation this year will be capped at $3 million.


The Global Fund is a public-private partnership that aims to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria throughout the developing world. Apple says that its annual donation will "help fund critical health programs that save lives."

Apple runs this donation campaign ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1 each year.

Apple has supported The Global Fund for 19 years through its partnership with the (RED) brand, co-founded by U2 singer Bono. However, Apple no longer offers any devices in the charitable (PRODUCT)RED color, so the partnership feels less prominent now. The only product still available in (PRODUCT)RED is a single iPhone 14 case.

Last year, Apple said it had raised more than $250 million for (RED) to date.
Related Roundup: Apple Pay

This article, "Apple Pay Supporting the Fight Against AIDS This Week — Here's How" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The 60+ Best Black Friday Accessory Deals on iPhone Chargers, Monitors, Headphones, and More

Black Friday is here, and as part of the event we're tracking great discounts on Apple-related accessories. If you're looking for Apple products, our dedicated post on all the Apple Black Friday deals available now covers every Apple device on sale right now. In this article, we're focusing on accessories for smartphones and computers, as well as a few extras like robot vacuums and more.

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

Many of the deals shared below will be found on Amazon, but there are a few other notable sales at sites like Sonos, Sony, Samsung, and others that you'll find in our lists.

Twelve South




Twelve South's big Black Friday sale kicked off this week on Amazon, and you can find the year's best prices on BookArc MacBook stands, wireless charging stations, AirFly, and more. Our pick of the sale is the HiRise 3 Deluxe Wireless Charging Station, which can simultaneously charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, for $59.99, down from $149.99.

MacBook Stands

Chargers

Miscellaneous

Satechi




Sonos




Sonos is hosting its annual Black Friday sale, and this year you'll find up to 30 percent off the company's most popular devices. This includes the Sonos Ace headphones, Arc Ultra soundbar, Move 2 speaker, and more.



All discounts in this sale have been automatically applied, so you don't need to enter a coupon code in order to see the final sale prices. We've collected all of the deals in the list below, but you can also find a few bundle discounts on sale on the Sonos website.


Jackery




Ecovacs




Sony




Sony is hosting a Black Friday sale with savings on the company's best headphones, speakers, sound bars, TVs, photography equipment, and more.



We've collected a few of the most notable products on sale in the lists below, but be sure to head to Sony's website for the full list of deals. Most devices have an option for free pickup if you live near a Best Buy location that offers local pickup.

You can get Sony's popular WH-1000XM5 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones for $249.99 during this event, down from $399.99. There are also a few earbuds and other noise canceling headphones on sale with notable discounts, all of which have been applied automatically and do not require any coupon codes.

Headphones



Earbuds



TVs




Anker




Highlights of Anker's Black Friday sale on Amazon include the 10,000 mAh Magnetic Power Bank for $29.99 ($19 off) and the popular 60,000mAh Power Station with Smart Digital Display and Retractable Light for $79.98, down from $149.99.



Beats




Amazon this week is discounting a collection of Beats headphones and speakers, including a low price on the Powerbeats Pro 2. You can get this new 2025 model for $199.95 in four colors, down from $249.99. This deal on the Powerbeats Pro 2 is being matched at Best Buy, along with a few other Beats deals.



This sale also includes major discounts on products like the Beats Pill, which has hit $99.95 on Amazon, down from $149.95. This discount is available in five colors of the Bluetooth speaker.

Additionally, Amazon has the Beats Studio Buds+ for $149.95, down from $169.95. These have up to 9 hours of playback (up to 36 hours with charging case), USB-C, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance.

You'll also find a few steep discounts on over-ear headphones, like the Beats Studio Pro at $169.95, down from $349.99. This is another all-time low price on this pair of Beats headphones.



Samsung




Samsung kicked off a sitewide Black Friday sale this week. This includes sales on monitors, storage accessories, TVs, Galaxy smartphones, home appliances, and more.



Highlights from this event include quite a few models of The Frame TV on sale, including a new all-time low price on The Frame Pro models. You can get the 2025 65-inch The Frame TV for $1,199.99 ($600 off), as well as The Frame Pro for $1,999.00 ($1,200 off).

Other deals include savings on monitors like the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 for $389.99 ($310 off), the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Gaming Monitor for $899.99 ($900 off), and more. We're also tracking big markdowns on home appliances including refrigerators and washer/dryers, and a few Galaxy device discounts.

Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset also has a few notable offers during this event, including up to $1,140 in savings with the Explorer Pack. This features various content at no extra cost with the purchase of the Galaxy XR, like one year of YouTube Premium, one year of Google AI Pro, and more.

If you purchase the Galaxy XR alongside other Galaxy products, there are also a few bundle offers during the early Black Friday sale. You can get 70 percent off Galaxy Buds3, 44 percent off Galaxy Buds3 Pro, and 25 percent off Galaxy Watch8 Classic when bundled with the headset.

TVs



Monitors and Storage



Appliances



Galaxy Products




TVs




Amazon's Black Friday TV deals are abundant, with most sales focusing on Smart Fire TV models with big discounts. You'll find brands like Insignia, Hisense, and Panasonic at solid low prices this season.



Video Games






We're keeping track of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find this holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundups: Apple Black Friday, Apple Deals
Related Forum: Community Discussion

This article, "The 60+ Best Black Friday Accessory Deals on iPhone Chargers, Monitors, Headphones, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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