MacFormat

Whether your loved ones are going back to school or heading off to university, or you’re just looking to upgrade before the next round of OS updates, this month’s lead feature should help. In it, you’ll discover the best Macs (and iPads) that’ll give you the biggest bang for your buck. Plus, we recommend some great accessories and some brilliant ways to save money on your purchase – you can find out more starting on p20. While Apple Intelligence promises to bring all kinds of clever new ways to use your devices later this year and next with macOS Sequoia, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, there’s lots you can do to speed up things today – with one of the biggest being Shortcuts, Apple’s replacement for Automator. In our Shortcuts…

Jo Membery Operations Editor › Jo’s come up with a handy shortcut that’ll put the bins out, walk the dog and do the washing up after dinner. It’s called ‘What Else Are Kids For?’ and it’s great! Paul Blachford Art Editor › When he’s not been busy beavering over the designs of this month’s pages, Paul been coveting Jony Ive’s old Product (RED) Mac Pro (p72) – a snip at $977,000. Ian Osborne Contributor › Ex-MacFormat staffer Ian’s been pouring over Apple’s Mac and iPad line-up for this month’s Ultimate Buyer’s Guide. Find out more on p20.…

With the iPhone 16 range just around the corner, there’s not long until we see what Apple has been working on for the last year. But what significant improvements and updates can we expect from the upcoming devices? We’ve scoured the rumour mill to find out. There are some features that are anticipated to come to every iPhone 17 variant. Across the range, we anticipate 120Hz ProMotion screen tech and always-on displays, as well as 24MP front-facing cameras. The entry-level iPhone 17, meanwhile, might even get a larger 6.3-inch screen. On the inside, there will be an A19 chip, 8GB of memory and Wi-Fi 6E. There could even be a new iPhone 17 Slim to replace the 17 Plus This year’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are…

Replacing your iPhone’s battery can be an exercise in frustration – but not if a reported change comes to the iPhone 16. According to The Information, Apple is working on a new system that will let you use a small jolt of electricity to pop out your iPhone’s battery, making the whole process significantly simpler. That’s a very different system to what exists now. Current iPhones hold their batteries in place using adhesive strips, which can be difficult to work around. The Information says that Apple’s new system, though, would house the battery in a metal case, which would lift up the battery when a small dose of electricity is applied to it. However, Apple would still recommend that you carry out the work via a repair shop. Apple says…

Apple has now classified the iPhone X, the original AirPods and the first HomePod as ‘vintage,’ marking an important change in these devices’ life cycles. Apple designates products as vintage when between five and seven years have passed since it stopped selling them. At that point, Apple Stores and Authorised Service Providers will continue to offer repairs for up to two years, as long as parts remain available. These products are not yet deemed ‘obsolete,’ which happens when Apple stopped selling them more than seven years ago. At that point, Apple will not repair them and third-party shops will not be able to get genuine parts.…

EU TARGETS APPLE PAY THIRD-PARTY ALTERNATIVES ARE COMING > Apple is being forced to open up the tap-to-pay system that underpins Apple Pay to third-party apps. With the company committing to changes in light of pressure from the European Commission, it means EU users will soon get more options to pay for goods using their iPhones, and will also be able to switch their default iOS Wallet app. The changes are legally binding and will last for the next ten years. APPLE GIVES VITALS ADVICE WEAR YOUR WATCH TO BED > One of the headline features in watchOS 11 is the new Vitals app that records your key health metrics and shows you how you can improve them. If you want to get the most out of it, however, Apple…