Accessories maker ESR recently launched a new lineup of iPad accessories that aim to expand the usefulness of iPad for casual users. They are focusing on users who frequently switch between the many modes of iPad: typing, drawing or writing, and regular tablet usage, such as playing games or watching videos.

There are a ton of smart trackers flooding the market right now, especially with Apple’s Find My network continuing to grow and the recent release of the Gen 2 Airtags. But those new AirTags still have the same issues that the first gen had, which is that their form factor makes it awkward to put in wallets, and they use disposable batteries. KeySmart’s new SmartCard aims to alleviate all of that. It is just 1.7mm thin compared to the 8mm thickness of the AirTag, and it recharges wirelessly! There is a lot to like about the new SmartCard, and I think anyone who uses a wallet should consider getting one. Here is what you should know.

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle 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.

If you have walked into a conference room with a MacBook Air in the last five years, you know the struggle. You look for the cable, realize it does not fit your laptop because it’s HDMI, hunt for a USB-C dongle, find one that is broken or doesn’t do the handshake right, and eventually just join the Zoom call from your laptop screen. Owl Labs has been a staple in small conference rooms for a while with their 360-degree cameras. I really saw them take off during COVID and remote work. They look unique, but they solved the camera angle problem of getting everyone on the screen. Recently, they announced the Meeting Owl 5 Pro. While the camera specs are improved, the real upgrade story for Mac users is the connectivity that this new model brings.

While my preferred way to use an iPhone is with no case or screen protector, I’m actually enjoying both on iPhone 17 Pro and can recommend them. They’re inexpensive enough to try without committing for a year or more.

AI Note Taker is the newest addition to Speechify’s ever-increasing collection of voice-based productivity features. Here are the details.

Limited to Germany, the promotion features several iconic album covers from German music history printed on Ritter Sport’s classic 100g bars. Here are the details.

Apple has new products launching next week, but no Apple Watch models will be among them. Later this year though, Apple Watch Ultra 4 is coming, with four rumored new features so far.

Apple has confirmed that we’re in for a series of product launches starting Monday, and the rumored MacBook is easily what I’m most excited to see. Almost none of the rumored compromises to make it more affordable worry me (and some actually sound like features).

Some users in the UK began seeing an age verification prompt after installing iOS 26.4 beta 2. Apple now says the message appeared in error. Here are the details.

A recap of iOS 26.4 Beta 2, the upcoming touchscreen MacBook Pro, Jeff and Fernando are impressed by the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new Privacy Display feature, 1Password vs. Apple Passwords, and the subscriptions we can’t live without.

9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more.

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After this week’s controversial decision by 1Password to raise its subscription prices by an extra dollar a month — its first price increase in a decade — the tech community has been losing its mind. Many critics on X are calling the 33% hike unjustified, frequently citing Apple’s free Passwords app as a primary reason to jump ship. While I do think Passwords is a fine option for most people, there are still many ways 1Password continues to have a leg up.

I have been a Philips Hue user for a number of years. They are rock solid, but they aren’t cheap. Recently, one of the bulbs in my hallway finally gave up the ghost. Instead of dropping $45 on a replacement, I decided to look at what the “Matter era” has brought to the table in terms of Wi-Fi only bulbs. I found a Matter-native option that costs less than $10 per bulb. It connects directly over Wi-Fi, requires no hub outside of a HomePod/Apple TV, and works with Apple Home right out of the box.

Apple’s Wallet app received a variety of great features in iOS 26, but one of my favorites is a convenient new way to manage and access credit cards. Here’s how to use it.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by BenQ: Check out BenQ’s smarter displays made for how Mac users actually work. Sign up for the giveaway here.

Apple’s Reminders app recently got my favorite new feature in a long time: ‘Urgent’ reminders. And in iOS 26.4, the feature’s getting upgraded with the one thing it was missing: a dedicated smart list.

It’s all about Pokémon Day 2026 over at 9to5Toys today, but our Lunch Break deals are still ready to go with some solid deals on Apple gear and accessories. Firstly, we spotted a notable chance to score AirPods Pro 3 at nearly $100 off today in “excellent” open-box condition (if you’re fast) alongside up to $200 off M5 iPad Pro configs and a chance to land a particularly deep $250 price drop on this 1TB M3 iPad Air model as stock begins to disappear at Amazon. All of that and more awaits below. 

Tim Cook has confirmed it: Apple has new hardware being unveiled next week, starting Monday morning. Among the many products rumored to launch, two are new iPads: a base iPad with A18 and an M4 iPad Air. Here’s what to expect.

OpenAI is well on its way to reporting 1 billion weekly active ChatGPT users. The company today claims 900 million weekly active users, a 350% increase since just 18 months ago.

Rumors indicate Apple has two new Studio Display models in the works, launching as soon as next week. Here’s what leaked Apple code says the higher-end model might include.

Spotify is continuing its push into the world of books with a new Audiobook Charts discovery feature. The feature is available to explore starting today in the United States and United Kingdom for free and paid Spotify users.

Netflix’s popular ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ docuseries premiered its latest season today, and Apple TV subscribers in the US have access to the full season too thanks to a deal announced yesterday.

Apple has released the third episode of Elevated, its original Immersive Video series for Apple Vision Pro that started in 2024. The latest entry offers viewers an otherwise impossible view of Switzerland from above.

Blender has long been a powerhouse application on the Mac, especially as Apple Silicon has unlocked new levels of 3D rendering performance for creative pros. That’s why it was so exciting last summer when the team behind the open-source software confirmed iPad Pro support was planned. Seven months later, however, the project appears to be on hold as an Android tablet version takes priority.

Apple clearly needs some way of distinguishing the upcoming low-cost MacBook from the more expensive MacBook Air. We’d wondered whether color might be sufficient to limit cannibalization, but it’s been suggested that the new machine may have a number of compromises.

9to5Mac readers aren’t really the target market for an entry-level machine, but some might consider it as a second Mac, while others might recommend it to family and friends. However, would any of the rumoured compromises be a deal-breaker … ?