Duolingo Year in Review 2023: how to find yours right now | Digital Trends
Duolingo, the wildly popular language learning app, just added a big new feature. No, it’s not a melting face app icon again — it’s the Duolingo Year in Review for 2023!
This is something we see from many popular apps toward the end of each year. There’s Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music Replay, Reddit Recap — you get the idea. Lots of apps summarize your activity at the end of the year, and the results are usually pretty interesting.
If you’re a Duolingo user and want to see how you spent your time on the app in 2023, here’s what to do.
Digital Trends
How to find your Duolingo 2023 Year in Review
Accessing your Duolingo Year in Review is quite simple, but we’ll still guide you through the process — just in case.
Step 1: Open the Duolingo app on your smartphone.
Step 2: You should automatically see a pop-up for your 2023 Year in Review. Tap the blue See year in review button.
Step 3: If the pop-up doesn’t appear, tap the Profile button at the bottom of the screen and then tap the See year in review button there.
Step 4: Select Start or swipe up on your screen to browse through your Duolingo 2023 Year in Review.
Step 5: You’ll see stats for how many lessons you completed, how many minutes you spent learning a new language, how many words you learned, and more.
Step 6: Toward the end of the Year in Review, you can swipe up to see your unique “learner style.”
Step 7: On the final page, you can tap Share for a reward to share your Duolingo 2023 Year in Review. If you do share it, you’ll receive a special leaderboard badge.
Step 8: Alternatively, tap the X icon in the top-left corner to leave your Duolingo 2023 Year in Review.
The Duolingo 2023 Year in Review is available to anyone with a Duolingo account, and even if you’ve viewed it once, you can go back and watch it again at any time on your Profile page. Have fun!
5 things Apple needs to do with the iPhone in 2024 | Digital Trends
Apple iPhone 15 Pro MaxAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
2023 was an exciting one for Apple and the iPhone 15 lineup. Apple surprised everyone by giving the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus some unexpected upgrades with the camera, as well as bringing the Dynamic Island over to non-Pro models. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max also got substantial changes with the titanium frame, Action button, and tetraprism telephoto lens on the Pro Max model for 5x optical zoom.
But now that the year is coming to a close, what could Apple do with the iPhone lineup in 2024? Here’s what I want to see from the iPhone next year.
Of course, we don’t yet know exactly when Apple will enable this feature, but I’m going to guess it will be something we’ll see with iOS 18. If you were expecting RCS messages to be a different color than the green currently used for SMS, that’s unlikely. The green-blue-bubble-wars will continue, but RCS has more benefits for everyone than SMS/MMS, though it will probably go unnoticed by many.
With RCS, the messaging experience between iPhone and Android users will be much better. It will support high-resolution photos and videos, typing indicators, read receipts, location sharing, and the ability to send messages over Wi-Fi and mobile data. Just the high-resolution images and video make it worth it alone — no more videos that look like they were taken with a potato.
It will be interesting to see how Apple handles the encryption part of RCS down the road, though, as it doesn’t want to use Google’s proprietary end-to-end encryption extension that is used on Android phones. Instead, Apple will work with the RCS standards body to create a new universal encryption method.
I would love to see more features come to RCS on iPhone, including group chat features that bring it more in line with what you can do with iMessage group chats. But still, just having the basics of RCS on iPhone in 2024 will still be exciting.
I know this one is a little farfetched, but hear me out! I used to be skeptical about the folding phone concept, but now that I’ve tried a few, I’m actually a fan. I think it would be a good one for Apple to tackle one day, even if it’s not in the cards for next year.
There have been very few rumors that Apple will have a folding iPhone, if ever. But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. After all, Apple does have numerous patents filed that hint at a potential design for a foldable iPhone in the future, and reports have suggested that Apple has been developing and testing foldable OLED screens and hinges since 2017, with ongoing research.
Again, it’s very unlikely that the iPhone 16 lineup will have any kind of folding model. And while it may be nothing more than a fever dream, there are signs that Apple is at least looking into it.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro MaxAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Since the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple made the two Pro models pretty much equal in terms of specs, aside from the display size and battery life. One of the main reasons you choose a Pro model is the triple-camera system on the back with a telephoto sensor. For several years, both the small and large iPhone Pro models have had the same camera specs.
Apple broke this trend with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. While they both have a triple-lens camera system, only the iPhone 15 Pro Max has the new tetraprism telephoto lens that allows for 5x optical zoom capabilities. The biggest reason why this is not available on the smaller iPhone 15 Pro is due to physical size — it just wouldn’t fit in the smaller chassis.
In 2024, I hope Apple returns to making the camera specs on both Pro models the same again. One of the reasons why I prefer the smaller iPhone 15 Pro over the iPhone 15 Pro Max is that I don’t like large phones, but I still want the best cameras. I have had to compromise this year because I simply can’t do big phones, but it’s annoying that I have to miss out on the 5x optical zoom.
I really just want Apple to make the camera specs equal on both Pro models again so I can have the best iPhone cameras without having to use something that is largely uncomfortable for me. Is that too much to ask?
More interesting, bolder colors
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
One of the biggest disappointments with the iPhone 15 lineup was the color selection. The regular iPhone 15 colors were pretty much all too pale (aside from black), with the pink one being the best of the bunch. And the iPhone 15 Pro colors were really all varying shades of gray.
I would love to see Apple really take a chance this year and introduce more saturated and bold color options across the board with the iPhone 16. While I liked the green and pink of the standard iPhone 15 lineup more than I thought, the blue is just so bad — it barely even has a tint of blue. Some people went as far as to call it “hospital white,” which I agree with.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
And the Pro models need more color than ever before. I loved Midnight Green (iPhone 11 Pro), Pacific Blue (iPhone 12 Pro), Alpine Green (iPhone 13 Pro), and Deep Purple (iPhone 14 Pro). But when Apple revealed the new titanium colors for the iPhone 15 Pro, it was the biggest letdown yet. I ended up buying the blue one because it was the only somewhat interesting color out of the bunch.
Even the “fun” colors that Apple made for the past Pro models were kind of toned down to look more “professional.” But they’re still better than what we got with the iPhone 15 Pro. Still, I really just want to see Apple step up and add at least one bright and bold color for the Pro lineup.
Seriously, can I just have a bubblegum pink iPhone Pro?
A smaller camera bump
Prakhar Khanna / Digital Trends
As much as I like having the best cameras possible on the iPhone throughout the years, I absolutely hate how big the camera bump has gotten. It’s gotten to the point where you can’t even lay your iPhone completely flat on a surface without a case — it always wobbles if you tap it on a table.
I miss the days when the camera was pretty much flush with the back of the iPhone, like with the iPhone 5. I know that it’s pretty hard to have a flush camera on a smartphone these days, considering how big the lenses have gotten, but the point still stands. Perhaps making the phone a little thicker to make it stick out less while fitting a larger battery in there at the same time?
It’s just crazy seeing how the iPhone camera bump has grown each year. Call me crazy, but all I want is an iPhone without a camera bump that is as thick as the phone itself.
Plenty to look forward to
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
I know a few of these things I would like to see won’t come to fruition, at least in the next year. But at least RCS is a definite one, and I’m certain that the smaller iPhone 16 Pro will get some better optical zoom capabilities at least.
There’s still a lot to look forward to with the iPhone in 2024, even if it won’t fold or have smaller camera bumps. And I’m going to keep my fingers crossed for some better color choices; remember those awesome iPod colors back in the day? Let’s get back to the fun, Apple.
2023 was a strong one for the iPhone across the board, and if Apple plays its cards right, 2024 could be even better.
Will the Vision Pro replace the Mac? Apple has to be careful | Digital Trends
The Vision Pro headset is poised to be one of the most significant products Apple has introduced in years, and it has the potential to launch a new era of success for the company. But at the same time, there’s a risk that it could end up cannibalizing the Mac line by giving plenty of people something that could replace their computer altogether.
That means Apple has got to be very careful with how it handles the Vision Pro. It no doubt wants as many people to buy it as possible, but it wants that to happen without having to sacrifice sales of its other devices. How on earth is it going to do that?
The Mac killer?
Apple
Right from the word go, Apple has been busy hyping the Vision Pro’s capabilities. The company calls it a “spatial computer,” suggesting we need to completely reimagine what a computer is in the first place. The product’s sky-high $3,500 price tag and abundance of high-end materials and technologies give it an undeniably premium feel, far beyond what we’ve seen from even the best VR headsets.
At the same time, Apple has claimed that the Vision Pro will be able to do a host of tasks you’d normally perform with a laptop or desktop computer, from gaming and video calling to writing documents and browsing photos.
To be clear, Apple didn’t explicitly put the Vision Pro and the Mac head-to-head during its reveal event, nor has it ever said you can go ahead and ditch your Mac. But the comparison is obvious if you look at what both products can do. And that’s obviously what Meta is trying to do with the Quest Pro.
The risk, then, is of users asking why they need to bother with a Mac. If the Vision Pro can do 99% of what a Mac can, why not just get the headset? Of course, things are a little more complicated than that.
The ‘buy them all’ ecosystem
Apple
Apple is an ecosystem company, and that means all of the devices it makes fit perfectly together. Like every other business, Apple wants you to buy as many of its products as you can, but the way Apple has crafted its ecosystem makes that a much more tempting prospect than it is with many of its rivals, since everything clicks together seamlessly.
If the Vision Pro lives up to its promises, it might blur the boundaries of those products. Sure, it’s expensive, but you can pump the latest MacBook Pro so full of extras that it costs a whopping $7,199 — double the price of the Vision Pro. If you’re prepared to spend that much — and if the Vision Pro does everything the MacBook does and more — getting a headset instead isn’t such a leap.
Yet, despite the similar abilities, it seems to me that Apple is trying very hard to make sure you don’t forsake the Mac for a Vision Pro, or vice versa. To me, the term “spatial computer” implies something separate from a regular computer, and Apple has explained the ways you can use the two products together. In reality, they can do many of the same things, of course, but Apple doesn’t want you to ditch one for the other just because of that inconvenient fact. It wants you to see them as complementary.
Remember when Apple said the iPad can replace a PC? The company hasn’t done that with the Vision Pro, and I think that’s simply because it wants you to buy a Vision Pro and a Mac. And right now, there are some very strong reasons why you might not want to ditch your Mac for a headset anyway.
Deliberate positioning
Apple
As things stand, the Vision Pro can only really replace a Mac in theory, and even then, only in certain limited scenarios. If you want to watch movies, work with multiple displays, or conduct video calls, then it might make sense on the surface. But would you pay $3,500 just to do that? A cheap MacBook would be just as capable.
And what about if you render videos? Or play the best Mac games with a mouse and keyboard? Or work with data-heavy mathematical models? In those cases (and many more), chances you’re going to need a Mac.
Apple has also decided to launch its high-end, high-price headset first while keeping the rumored cheaper model back for another time. That could be a very deliberate ploy to ensure the Vision Pro doesn’t impact Mac sales too heavily by establishing it as a premium device way above what most Macs cost. After all, you can buy a Mac mini for $599 — you can’t say that about the Vision Pro. When the cheaper headset launches, though, that differentiation could be much harder to enforce.
I’ve got no doubt that the Vision Pro is going to be an incredible device, and maybe it could replace a Mac for for some people. But if Apple is going to turn it into the company’s next big thing, it’ll have to convince a lot of people that it’s not only better than their existing tech, but can replace it entirely. Based on what we’ve seen so far, that’s unlikely to happen until the cheaper Vision Pro sees the light of day.
Latest Apple TV beta adds search via the remote’s Siri button | Digital Trends
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
Apple TV 4K is still the best streaming device you can buy, but there’s also one button the remote I almost never press on purpose. But that may finally be about to change.
In the latest developer beta for the tvOS platform, Apple has added a wee bit of functionality to the Siri button on the side of the Siri Voice remote. (That’s the little button on the right-hand side that has a microphone on it.) In the production software — that is, what most folks are running today — clicking the button activates Siri, basically the same as if she were on your phone. Say “Ted Lasso” and it’ll take you straight into the Ted Lasso show on Apple TV+ in the Apple TV app on your Apple TV 4K. Say “Opeth,” and it’ll start playing Opeth on Apple Music.
(That wording, by the way, is my repeated reminder to Apple that using the same name for a premium streaming service, and the same name for the app in which that service resides, and the same name for the hardware on which you will find both of those things, is particularly silly.)
Pressing the Siri button on the remote now opens a search box in some apps.Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
But in the latest developer beta — which is not final software by any means and is subject to change — pressing the button once opens up a search box on your television screen, and activates the microphone. You’re encouraged to speak your query, which will then look up results across supported apps, and then you choose where to go from there.
For now, unsurprisingly, things seem to be pretty contained within Apple’s apps. This all works from the home screen and appears to search across multiple apps — “Search Movies, Shows and More,” it says. It works within the Apple TV app and invites you to “Search TV.” Pressing it within the Apple Music app invites you to “Search music.” Pressing it in YouTube TV or Hulu … does nothing. That’s not a surprise, given that this feature is part of the developer beta and not in release software. (It also doesn’t yet work in Photos, Podcasts, or Arcade.)
Long-pressing the microphone button, by the way, still activates Siri as before, throughout all apps.
Again, this is all subject to change. (And in the back of my head it has me wondering if Apple will change the microphone button on the remote to a search button instead.) But for now? It’s a fun little addition, alongside the beta changes to the Apple TV app itself.
These developers are doing something amazing with iPhone apps | Digital Trends
Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends
Every year, Apple announces the winners of its App Store Awards. In 2023, it recognized 14 titles across five platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. These titles are not only considered the “best” from a design standpoint, but they have also positively contributed to the world in some way.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with the teams behind three of these award-winning apps. At first glance, AllTrails, Prêt-à-Makeup, and Pok Pok may seem vastly different, but as I discovered, they all have at least one thing in common: inclusivity. Each also looks pretty sweet on an iPhone 15, iPad Air, and other Apple devices.
Inclusivity is not just a buzzword for these apps — it’s a core value reflected in every aspect of their design and development. From the user interface to the content and features, these apps are designed to be accessible and welcoming to everyone. And that’s what sets them apart from the countless other apps vying for our attention in the crowded app marketplace.
AllTrails, iPhone App of the Year
Alltrails
AllTrails may seem like just another fitness app at first glance, but it has evolved to become much more. Initially a website for hikers to share trails, it is now a mobile app used by over 60 million people in 191 countries. In the past year, the number of users has doubled, and over 420,000 trails are now available on the app — even in Antarctica.
The team behind AllTrails believes that everyone can benefit from being outdoors. As such, the app includes trails for users of all backgrounds and skill levels, making it accessible to anyone.
According to CEO Ron Schneidermann and CPO Ivan Selin, AllTrails is not just a fitness app — it’s one that focuses on holistic health and community.
Recently, the app has added some exciting new features, including 3D immersive video trail previews to give users a better sense of the route, terrain, and elevation. The app now also provides real-time advanced conditions, including temperature, mosquito index, and predictive conditions based on recent and historical weather data. There are also more than 200 national park guides available across eight countries.
This year, the app has also added stats and achievements so users can celebrate their time outside. And iOS Live Activities functionality is set to arrive soon.
According to Schneidermann, AllTrails’ recent success can be attributed to the end of the pandemic, which made people feel lonely. As such, people are now getting out more to explore the world around them. Selin says the App Store Award is validation that the iPhone maker recognizes the importance of AllTrail’s mission.
Selin explained to Apple: “AllTrails is honored to receive this recognition. It’s a testament to our commitment to designing innovative products that help people connect with the outdoors. We are excited to be able to positively impact people’s lives and look forward to bringing even more delightful experiences to our community in 2024.”
Prêt-à-Makeup, iPad App of the Year
Prêt-à-Template
Just to be clear, using Pret-a-Makeup, the iPad App of the Year, won’t improve your health. However, if you are a makeup artist or aspiring to become one, this app can be an excellent tool for creating realistic makeup looks. The app encourages inclusivity and self-expression, making it a unique and valuable addition to the beauty industry.
Pret-a-Makeup is an innovative makeup app designed for iPad or iPhone users. Developed by a team of 13 professionals based in Brazil, it allows makeup artists to test, plan, or register a look without needing actual makeup. With over 700 beauty products and 40 face templates available in 40 styles, the app provides users with a wide range of options.
During my meeting with the Pret-a-Makeup team, I wondered if the app provides a realistic experience. Although I am not a makeup expert, I have learned that makeup is designed for people of various backgrounds just by spending time in Sephora and Ulta with my teenage daughter. Surprisingly, the app does provide a realistic experience, which impressed me.
To begin each makeup session, users can choose a model from the digital sketchbook, which includes sketches of people from various ethnic backgrounds. The app’s library offers more diversity, making it a popular choice among users. The app is available in 12 different languages and has been downloaded over 5 million times in 170 countries.
Each brush stroke responds to light movement and face shapes as you continue, providing a real sketching experience using your finger, stylus pen, or Apple Pencil. The Ring Light feature is the most exciting one I’ve seen on an app in recent years.
Looking ahead to 2024, co-founder and illustrator Roberta Weiand has revealed that a new UX is coming next year. We can’t wait to see how the new look will enhance the app in the coming months.
Pok Pok, Cultural Impact winner
Pok Pok
Pok Pok is a game available on the iPhone and iPad that has been selected as one of the year’s five App Store Cultural Impact winners. The game takes inspiration from a living room floor filled with toys. It offers a digital playroom with various creative activities that encourage kids to learn, explore, and experiment through play.
The app currently includes 16 Montessori-inspired digital toys for preschoolers from diverse backgrounds and abilities. The game has no ads or rules and no language barriers, making it accessible to people worldwide.
According to Pok Pok’s co-founders, Melissa Cash and Esther Huybreghts, their app is appropriate for children ages 2 to 7 and encourages out-of-the-box thinking. They believe that the app was selected for an App Design Award because it stands out from other apps in the market. It also promotes inclusive representation to ensure that everyone feels included while playing.
One of the things that stood out to me when briefly looking at the app is that all the sounds for the app are hand-recorded. This winter, Pok Pok is expected to receive a significant winter update.
Other winners of the App Store Awards include Photomator (Mac App of the Year), MUBI (Apple TV App of the Year), and SmartGym (Apple Watch App of the Year). Among the game winners are Honkai: Star Rail (iPhone Game of the Year), Lost in Play (iPad Game of the Year), Lies of P (Mac Game of the Year), and Hello Kitty Island Adventure(Apple Arcade Game of the Year).
iOS 17: How to share contacts using Apple’s NameDrop feature | Digital Trends
If you’re like most Apple fans, you likely have your whole life stored on your iPhone, from significant events in your calendar and photos to a long list of friends, family, and co-workers with whom you’ve made those memories.
However, as useful as the Contacts and Phone apps on your iPhone 15 are for keeping track of everyone in your life, they also make it really easy to share that contact information with others when you need to. Whether that’s your own digital business card or the details of your favorite restaurant, you can beam an entire contact record over to somebody with only a few taps, which is much faster and easier than manually copying and pasting phone numbers, emails, and street address information one field at a time.
What’s more, with iOS 17, you can now share your personal details more easily than ever, thanks to Apple’s new NameDrop feature, which lets you swap contact info simply by holding two iPhones near each other. It’s never been easier to exchange some digits.
Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends
How to share contacts from an iPhone with iOS 17’s NameDrop feature
NameDrop is one of those features that seems so obvious in retrospect that it makes us wonder what took Apple so long to come up with it. After all, AirDrop has been around since iOS 7 was released 10 years ago, and it’s long been possible to use that to share contact information manually. NameDrop is simply an extension of AirDrop that automates the process.
With NameDrop, you can initiate an AirDrop session to share your personal contact card simply by holding your iPhone near somebody else’s; as long as they’re both running iOS 17.1 or later, they’ll recognize each other and offer to swap contact info. This also works with an Apple Watch running watchOS 10.1 or later, although in this case, it’s limited to Apple Watch models released in the last two years — that’s the Apple Watch Series 7, second-generation Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra and newer models in each of those lineups. Also note that NameDrop can only be used to share new contact information; it won’t update an existing contact card.
NameDrop is very simple to use, but contrary to a bit of fearmongering that’s been going around since iOS 17.1 was released, it’s also very secure. You can only start a NameDrop session when your iPhone is unlocked, which means you’ll have to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID (or enter your passcode) before anything happens, and then you still need to confirm that you actually want to share your contact information. Nothing is ever sent out with your express authorization. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: First, make sure that NameDrop and AirDrop proximity sharing are enabled by opening the Settings app, selecting General > AirDrop, and checking that Bringing Devices Together is toggled on. This should be on by default.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 2: Hold your iPhone within a few centimeters of someone else’s iPhone or Apple Watch. After a few seconds, each person’s contact card should appear in a full-screen view on both devices. If this doesn’t happen, confirm the other person also has the Bringing Devices Together setting enabled.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 3: Below your name, you’ll see a summary of what information will be shared. By default, this is just your phone number, but you can choose to share additional fields from your contact record — such as your email or physical address — by selecting the fields you want to include. When you’re done, tap Done.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 4: When you’re ready, choose Share to share your contact information with the other person. Alternatively, you can choose Receive Only if you only want to receive the other person’s contact card without sharing your own.
Step 5: If you change your mind at any time and decide you don’t want to share contact info, move your iPhone away from the other person’s iPhone or Apple Watch, swipe up to return to the home screen, or simply press the side button to lock your device. Doing any of these things will cancel the NameDrop session.
Apple
How to share contacts from an Apple Watch with NameDrop
You can also start a NameDrop session from an Apple Watch Series 7 or later (including the second-generation Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2) as long as you have at least watchOS 10.1 installed. However, since your Apple Watch is always unlocked whenever you’re wearing it, using NameDrop from an Apple Watch requires an extra step to prevent it from being triggered accidentally. Here’s how to start a NameDrop session from your wearable:
Step 1: Open the Contacts app on your Apple Watch.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 2: Select your picture in the top-right corner.
Step 3: Choose Share.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 4: Place your Apple Watch near another compatible Apple Watch or iPhone, as shown in the on-screen illustration.
Step 5: Wait for NameDrop to appear on both devices.
Step 6: Choose Share to share your contact information with the other person or Receive Only if you only want to receive the other person’s contact card without sharing your own.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
How to share contacts in iOS 17 the old-fashioned way
As cool as NameDrop is, it’s not the only way to share contact information. You can still initiate an AirDrop session manually, which can be handy if you don’t want to hold your iPhones near each other or the other person is using an older iPhone that hasn’t been (or can’t be) updated to iOS 17.
While NameDrop is designed to share your own contact information — the card you’ve designated as the “Me” card in the Contacts app — you can manually share any contact in your address book, and choose what fields you want to share when doing so. For example, you might want to share only a business phone number and email address without including other information like a street address or personal contact info.
You can also share contact information via other channels, such as Messages or Mail. This attaches a vCard that can be opened directly in the Contacts app on the other person’s iPhone or imported into third-party contact apps like Microsoft Outlook.
Step 1: Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. You can also open the Phone app and select the Contacts button at the bottom.
Step 2: Your My Card contact information should be shown at the top. Select this to share your own details or locate another contact on you want to share.
Step 3: Scroll down to the bottom of the contact screen and choose Share Contact.
Step 4: Select the fields you would like to include. By default, this includes first and last name and job title, plus all phone numbers, email addresses, and social media handles. Deselect any items you don’t want to share and choose any additional fields you’d like to include. You can also choose Select All Fields at the bottom if you want to share the entire card.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 5: When you’ve made your selections, choose Done in the top-right corner.
Jesse Hollington / Digital Trends
Step 6: The standard iOS share sheet should appear. Choose a method for sharing, such as AirDrop, Messages, Mail or a third-party app and follow the instructions to send out the contact info.
Best Apple Deals: AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook | Digital Trends
Saad Chaudhry/Unsplash / Saad Chaudhry/Unsplash
Apple products are praised for their high quality and interconnectivity, but that quality does come with a price. This is one large reason why we look for great Apple deals to shop, as it sometimes really is worth the wait. To help you out, we’ve compiled some of our favorite deals on all of the major categories of Apple products. Try these deals first next time you’re looking to expand or upgrade your Apple collection.
Best iPad deals
Andy Boxall / .Digital Trends
Whether you’re wanting to get a standard iPad, an iPad Air, or an iPad Mini, their is a sale on for you at the moment. If, however, one of the iPad Pro models is among the best iPads for you, don’t worry too much about holding off. These deals are small, typically taking off around 10% of the price, and are more of a bonus if you already wanted the model rather than an incentive to choose it over something you really wanted. Meanwhile, if you’re willing to go refurbished, our larger collection of the best iPad deals has larger deals and you can find an iPad Pro.
Apple iPad 10th Generation (WiFi, 64GB) —
Apple iPad 9th Generation (WiFi + Cellular, 256GB) —
Apple iPad Air 5th Generation (WiFi, 64GB) —
Apple iPad Mini 6th Generation (WiFi, 256GB) —
Apple iPad Air 5th Generation (WiFi, 256GB) —
Best AirTag deals
Digital Trends
Here, we found great deals on both Apple’s AirTags and third party accessories meant to hold and carry them. If you haven’t used one of these tracking devices before, be sure to check out our AirTag review.
If you aren’t willing to go refurbished, you won’t find many good deals on an iPhone. In some ways, that’s a good thing, as it signifies that the product is good and that Apple doesn’t need to discount the phones to get them to sell. If you’re concerned about the quality of what you’re purchasing, be sure to check out our refurbished product guide, which will lead you through the standards companies use for renewed and refurbished products, as well as what to look for. Otherwise, check out these iPhone deals:
Apple iPhone XS (64GB, Unlocked, Renewed) —
Apple iPhone 12 Mini (64GB, Unlocked, Renewed) —
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (256GB, Unlocked, Renewed) —
Apple iPhone 13 (128GB, Unlocked, Renewed) —
Apple iPhone 13 Pro (256GB, Unlocked, Renewed) —
Best AirPods deals
Zeke Jones / Digital Trends
Once again, there aren’t a ton of deals out there if you aren’t looking to head refurbished. There are, however, quite a few good deals out there in the AirPods category. We’re also highlighting the EarPods (while not techincally AirPods, they are legitimate Apple earbuds) as well as some accessories that you might want to pick up with the whole migration to USB-C going on right now.
Apple EarPods —
Apple AirPods 2nd Generation —
Apple AirPods Max —
Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable —
Apple Wireless Charging Case for AirPods —
Best MacBook deals
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
MacBooks are some of the most popular laptops around. MacBook Air and MacBook Pros are currently on sale with good discounts, plus they come with three months of Apple TV+ for free. Check them out here:
MacBook Air 13.6-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) —
MacBook Air 15-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) —
MacBook Air 15-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) —
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) —
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 1TB SSD) —
Best Apple Watch deals
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple’s products consistently rank near the top of the best smartwatches for their feature-rich and easy-to-use design. Right now you can get up to 28% off on these fitness trackers with the following deals:
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation (GPS, 40mm) —
Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation (GPS + Cellular, 44mm) —
M2 MacBook Air vs. M1 MacBook Air: things have changed | Digital Trends
The Apple MacBook Air M1 has been among our favorite MacBooks for some time now, and it’s even held a place on our list of the best laptops overall. The new MacBook Air M2 is a significant redesign, bringing with it a new chassis and Apple’s latest M2 processor.
Sometimes, it’s easy to recommend the new model over the old one, especially when the new model brings significant improvements. The M2 MacBook Air qualifies, as it feels a lot more like a completely new model than a simple replacement of the old one. While Apple continues to sell the original M1 MacBook Air at a lower price, the M2 MacBook Air can often be had for only a little more money. That makes the choice between them a lot easier.
Specs
Apple M1 MacBook Air
Apple M2 MacBook Air
Dimensions
11.97 inches x 8.36 inches x 0.16 to 0.63 inches
11.97 inches x 8.46 inches x 0.44 inches
Weight
2.8 pounds
2.7 pounds
Processor
Apple M1
Apple M2
Graphics
Apple M1
Apple M2
RAM
8GB 16GB
8GB 16GB 24GB
Display
13.3-inch 16:10 IPS 2560 x 1600
13.6-inch 16:10 IPS 2460 x 1664
Storage
256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD
256GB SSD 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 2TB SSD
Touch
No
No
Ports
2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 1 x 3.5mm audio jack 1 x MagSafe 3
Wireless
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
Webcam
720p
1080p
Operating system
MacOS
MacOS
Battery
49.9 watt-hours
52.6 watt-hour
Price
$999+
$1,199+
Price and configurations
The M1 MacBook Air starts at $999 with the eight-core CPU, seven-core GPU M1 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). It tops out at $1,999 for 16GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. Note that you’re likely to find the M1 MacBook Air discounted at various non-Apple retail outlets, sometimes as low as $850.
The M2 MacBook Air has an entry-level price of $1,099 for an eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU M2, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The next price jump is to $1,299 for a 512GB SSD, which you’ll want to consider (see the performance section below). The most you’ll spend is $2,399 for an eight-core CPU, 10-core GPU M2, 24GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Like the M1 model, though, the M2 MacBook Air can often be had for less from third parties, often as low as $950.
That means that you’re not necessarily spending a lot more money for the newer version.
Design
1.
M1 MacBook Air
2.
Apple MacBook Air M2
Right off the bat, the M2 MacBook Air drops the iconic wedge shape that made the Air famous. Instead, the M2 version adopts the same squared-off sides and rounded edges as its bigger brothers, the MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch. While it does lose a bit of flair (and extreme thinness up front), it does make the MacBook line more consistent.
The new M2 MacBook Air chassis also continues to live up to its namesake by being only 2.7 pounds and 0.44 inches thin across the entire chassis. It’s perfect for those who prize portability over raw power (though it has plenty of that, as we’ll see later). It should be noted: The M2 MacBook Air is just 0.1 pounds lighter than the M1 MacBook Air.
The keyboard on the M2 MacBook Air isn’t that different from the M1 version but does look more in line with the larger MacBook Pro models. This includes the Touch ID button being slightly different than the M1’s, as well as the full-size function keys along the top.
While the stereo speakers on the M1 MacBook Air flank the sides of the keyboard, the M2 MacBook Air places its four-speaker setup in between the keyboard and the hinge. This new speaker setup also includes support for Spatial Audio, both through Dolby Atmos in the built-in speakers and dynamic head tracking using the high-end Apple AirPods products.
Display
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The display has been widened ever so slightly from 13.3 inches on the M1 Air to 13.6 inches on the M2 Air. That change is because of the reduced bezel size, both along the side edges and the top. That means, yes, the new MacBook Air includes a notch, and the old one does not. The screen also has rounded edges along the top corners.
Tucked into the notch is an improved 1080p webcam, bumped up from the 720p option on the M1 MacBook Air. You might be enticed to use Apple’s Continuity Camera with the M1 MacBook Air, which converts your iPhone into a webcam. On the M2 MacBook Air, that probably won’t be necessary.
The panel itself has also been upgraded to a 2560 x 1660 Liquid Retina display, which Apple says is the biggest and brightest ever on a MacBook Air. Liquid Retina is certainly a bump up from the M1 MacBook Air, but don’t expect the same eye-popping look of the Super Retina XDR, which is the mini-LED panel saved for the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch).
This display does support up to a billion colors and has an increased brightness to 500 nits. That’s compared to the 400 nits possible with the M1 MacBook Air. Both displays have True Tone technology. As we can see in the table below, the M2 MacBook Air’s display is brighter, has wider and more accurate colors, and enjoys deeper contrast. It’s a real improvement over the M1 MacBook Air.
Apple M1 MacBook Air
Apple M2 MacBook Air
Brightness (nits)
389
486
AdobeRGB gamut
79%
90%
sRGB gamut
100%
100%
Accuracy (DeltaE, lower is better)
1.39
1.08
Contrast ratio
1,130:1
1,310:1
Ports
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When it comes to ports, both the M1 and M2 MacBook Air have the same arrangement: two Thunderbolt 3 ports that support USB 4 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds. Both devices are capable of supporting just one external display, however.
There’s also a combo headphone mic jack on the M2 MacBook Air that Apple says supports high-impedance headphones, which the M1 MacBook Air does not.
The one major difference is the inclusion of the MagSafe 3 magnetic charging port on the M2 version. For some, that itself is enough to justify buying a new MacBook Air. The main benefit is that it frees up one of the two USB-C ports for other purposes rather than charging. Don’t worry, though, you can still charge the laptop using the Thunderbolt ports.
Both laptops also support the same Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard and Bluetooth 5.0.
Performance and battery life
Other than the display and overall design, the M2 chip inside of the newest MacBook Air is what separates it from its predecessor.
Like the M1 version, the M2 MacBook Air is fanless, owing to the power efficiency of the M2 chip. Apple says the M2 chip is up to 1.4 times faster than the previous M1 model while still getting up to 18 hours of battery life.
While Apple doesn’t advertise a huge jump in battery life with the M2 MacBook Air, in our testing, the latest model was significantly longer-lasting. The M2 MacBook Air lasted two and a half hours longer in our web browsing test and almost three hours longer in our video test.
This means an overall 18% faster CPU, 35% faster GPU, and 50% more memory bandwidth as compared to the M1, now up to 100GB per second.
Importantly, the M2 MacBook Air has the same media engine used in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which the M1 MacBook Air lacks. The media engine supports hardware-accelerated ProRes encoding and decoding.
The M2 MacBook Air allows you to configure your laptop with an extra 8GB of RAM for a total of 24GB, whereas the M1 MacBook Air is stuck at a maximum of 16GB. Storage options, though, are the same — both starting at 8GB and maxing out at 2TB.
Our testing bore out Apple’s claims, with a 12% increase in the Geekbench single-core test and an 18% increase in multi-core. In Cinebench R23, the M2 MacBook Air was 8% faster in single-core and 19% faster in multi-core.
Apple M1 MacBook Air (Apple M1)
Apple M2 MacBook Air (Apple M2)
Geekbench 5 (single / multi)
1,727 / 7,585
1,925 / 8,973
Cinebench R23 (single / multi)
1,479 / 6,680
1,600 / 7,938
We’ll note that there’s been some controversy around the M2 MacBook Air in terms of its storage speed. If you buy the 256GB version, which is the least expensive, then you’ll get about half the storage performance as with the 512GB version. If you work with large files, you’ll certainly notice the difference, and you might even notice it in normal real-world use as you’re booting the laptop and opening apps.
The M2 is better, but the M1 offers amazing value
The M1 MacBook Air was already a capable machine for everyday computing, productivity, and even video editing. Those who already have an M1 Air probably don’t need to upgrade unless you really want the MagSafe connector. However, those still holding on to an Intel-based MacBook Air may want to consider upgrading. The M2 MacBook Air is the better choice, particularly if you have the budget to spring for the 512GB version.
Those who don’t already own a MacBook and are interested in buying one should probably just get the M2 model over the M1, especially if you can find it at around $950. You’ll have more options when it comes to CPU/GPU/memory and benefit from performance increases, and you’ll only spend $100 more.
These are the 10 settings I always change on a new Mac | Digital Trends
Every time I buy a new Mac, there are a bunch of settings I change to improve the macOS experience. Some are quick tweaks that solve minor annoyances, while others are vital changes that make my Mac safer, faster, or just plain better.
I recently wrote about a few key settings to change in macOS Sonoma, but the ones contained in the article you’re perusing now aren’t just for Apple’s latest operating system. Whether you’re running an earlier version of macOS or are reading this long after Sonoma has become old news, there are plenty of macOS settings you can adjust to get more from your Mac.
Turn on FileVault
Apple
Macs are impressively secure by default, with features like Gatekeeper and Touch ID keeping you safe from a world of nasty surprises. But you can go a step further by enabling a feature called FileVault. This encrypts your Mac’s files and locks them behind your login password, providing an extra layer of security should someone else gain access to your device.
To turn it on, open the Settings app and select Privacy & Security > FileVault from the left-hand sidebar. Now pick Turn On, enter your password, then select Unlock. You then need to pick either your iCloud login details or a generated recovery key from the on-screen options — this will be your backup if you forget your Mac’s password. Once you’ve done that, choose Continue and wait a few moments for FileVault to finishing setting up.
Note that if you forget both your password and your recovery key or iCloud login details, you will lose access to your files, so be sure to keep your passwords safe (such as by using one of the best password managers). Simply put, FileVault provides the much-needed comfort that even if someone takes your MacBook, they almost certainly won’t be able to do anything with it, ensuring your files, passwords, credit card information, and more do not fall into the wrong hands.
Change Dock settings
Rahul Chakraborty / Unsplash
The Dock is such an essential part of macOS that you might not think there’s much to it. But there are actually a bunch of ways you can tweak it to your tastes.
One of the first things I do when I get a new Mac is disable the “genie effect” when you minimize apps. This swipes them down to the Dock like they’re being sucked into a magic lamp, but in my opinion it looks weird and takes too long. To turn it off, open the Settings app and go to Display & Dock, then change Minimize windows using to Scale Effect instead of Genie Effect.
In this section of the Settings app, you can also automatically show and hide the Dock, display recent apps at the bottom of your screen, move the Dock to the sides or top of your display, and much more. Play around with the settings and see what you like.
Stop videos from autoplaying
Alex Blake / Digital Trends
There are few things more annoying than having your web browsing interrupted by an autoplaying video that inserts itself over the text you’re trying to read. No, random news website, I’m not interested in whatever it is you’re so desperate for me to watch, now buzz off.
Instead of wearily clicking the close button every time this happens, I use a better solution — but it requires you to use Safari for it to work. To get started, open Safari, select Safari in the menu bar, then pick Settings > Websites. Choose Auto-Play in the sidebar, then pick Never Auto-Play in the dropdown menu for each listed website. Finally, choose Never Auto-Play in the dropdown next to When visiting other websites.
Many of the best web browsers also have this feature built in, and how you enable it will vary by each app. But whichever one you use, blocking autoplaying videos is one of the best quality-of-life improvements you can make on your Mac.
Unlock extra trackpad gestures
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
Apple’s operating system is full of great trackpad gestures that help you do more with a few quick swipes. But you don’t have to stick with what Apple gives you — in fact, most gestures can be adjusted to suit you better. What’s more, some of the best gestures aren’t even unlocked by default, meaning there are some secret swipes waiting to be revealed.
Open the Settings app and head to Trackpad in the sidebar. You’ll see three tabs at the top; try going through each one and tweaking the options to your liking. One I always change is App Exposé, which hides all open windows except those for your current app. To enable it, go to the More Gestures tab. Next to App Exposé, change the dropdown menu from Off to either Swipe Down with Three Fingers or Swipe Down with Four Fingers.
And if you’re looking to get even more control over your trackpad gestures, I found a superb app called Swish that takes gestures to a whole new level. It’s the kind of app that feels like it should be part of macOS — it’s that good.
Download more apps
Apple
As part of the built-in security features in macOS, Apple blocks you from downloading apps from anywhere but the App Store by default. Yet, there are tons of great apps distributed by third-party developers that never make it onto the App Store, and I’d have missed out on all of them if I hadn’t changed this one setting.
To give yourself more app freedom, open the Settings app and find Privacy & Security in the sidebar. Scroll down to Security then, under Allow applications downloaded from, change the setting from App Store to App Store and identified developers.
Sure, you need to be careful when downloading third-party apps, so make sure you only get them from reputable sources. But some of the best Mac apps, including MacUpdater, Discord, Google Drive and more, are not on the App Store. I, for one, know my Mac would be a much sadder place without them.
Set up Hot Corners
Alex Blake / Digital Trends
Your Mac is overflowing with handy keyboard shortcuts and trackpad gestures, but there’s another way to quickly activate apps, settings and other tools that not many people know about. The feature is called Hot Corners, and it lets you do all sorts of things by merely moving your mouse pointer to the corner of your screen.
For example, you can launch Mission Control, lock your Mac, show your desktop, start a screen saver, and so much more. There are tons of useful options that will save you time and clicks in day-to-day use.
To enable Hot Corners, open the Settings app and select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar. Scroll right to the bottom and select Hot Corners in the bottom-right corner. Now, you’ll see four dropdown menus surrounding a miniature desktop image. Choose each menu and pick something from the options, or select the dash (-) to clear your selection. When you’re ready, select Done.
Prolong your battery life
Digital Trends
Ever since Apple switched its Mac chips to its own Apple silicon, battery life has gone through the roof — it’s not uncommon to get over 20 hours on a single charge with your MacBook. Still, there are ways to get even more juice out of your computer and protect its battery from premature degradation.
To get started, find Battery in the Settings app’s sidebar. Next to Battery Health, select the i button and turn on Optimized Battery Charging, which will prevent your Mac from charging past 80% until you’re nearly ready to use it. This will keep it healthy in the long run.
Next, choose Options in the bottom-right corner and enable Slightly dim the display on battery, then select Done. If you want to eke every drop of juice out of your battery, you can change Low Power Mode to either Always, Only on Battery or Only on Power Adapter. I don’t usually opt to turn this on, but you might decide it’s right for you if you know you’re going to be away from a power outlet for a long time.
Protect your eyes at night
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Staring at a bright white screen late at night is a surefire way to both disrupt your sleep and sear your retinas in one fell swoop. Fortunately, macOS has a built-in way to combat this, and it’s called Night Shift.
This uses your clock and location to work out what time sunset is where you are, then automatically shifts your display’s colors into the warmer end of the spectrum and away from the blue tones that can make it hard to get to sleep. In the morning, it puts things back to normal.
If you want to switch on Night Shift, you’ll need to open the Settings app, then go to Displays and choose Night Shift in the bottom-right corner. From here, select the dropdown menu next to Schedule and pick either Custom or Sunset to Sunrise. You can adjust the color temperature if you like, and turn on Night Shift right now if you don’t want to wait until sunset.
To go one step further, there’s an excellent app called Noir that automatically creates a dark mode for every website you visit in Safari, even if they don’t have one set up. I use it all the time for late-night reading.
Change your default apps
TheRegisti / Unsplash
When you first get a Mac, it will open files using the apps already installed in macOS. But as you expand your horizons and start using some of the best Mac apps around, you might want to use them instead — for example, by opening web links using Firefox or Chrome instead of Safari. That’s easy to do, but there are a couple of different ways to change your default apps on your Mac.
The first is to right-click an app that you want to change the default app for, then select Get Info. From here, select the > arrow next to Open with and pick an app from the dropdown list. Underneath this, select Change All, then Continue.
The other method affects the default web browser and email clients set in macOS. To change the web browser, open the Settings app and navigate to Desktop & Dock in the sidebar. Under the Widgets header (don’t ask me why), pick an option in the dropdown menu next to Default web browser.
As for your email client, first open the Mail app. Now, select Mail > Settings in the menu bar, then choose the General tab at the top. Next to Default email reader, choose a new option from the dropdown menu. If your favorite app is installed, but doesn’t appear in the list, choose Select and find it in the list of apps that appears, then pick Select again.
Automatically adjust screen brightness
Alex Blake / Digital Trends
Your Mac’s keyboard comes with a couple of buttons to quickly raise or lower your screen brightness (if you have an older MacBook, you might even be able to do it from the Touch Bar). But there’s no need to manually prod your keys — I like to let macOS handle this for me automatically.
Doing so is easy: just open the Settings app and go to Displays in the sidebar, then switch on the toggle next to Automatically adjust brightness. Now, your Mac will use its ambient light sensor to tweak your display’s brightness based on how light or dark your surroundings are. And don’t worry, you can still manually change your screen brightness if you want to.
The Pixel Watch 2 just got a feature it should have launched with | Digital Trends
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
Google has heard everyone’s demands and has given in to a highly requested feature that should have already been a thing with the Google Pixel Watch 2: a fully charged notification. Yes, that’s right — you’ll now get a notification on your Android phone when your Pixel Watch 2 is fully charged. Hallelujah!
This new feature should be available starting today via the Pixel Watch app on version 2.1.0.576785526. Google did not formally announce this feature, so it seems to be rolled out quietly (and was first spotted by Android Authority).
Essentially, when your Pixel Watch 2 is fully charged, you will receive a notification on your Android phone letting you know. Being notified of this lets you still leave the watch on the charger, but helps remind you not to forget to put it back on when it’s fully topped off.
Unfortunately, if you didn’t need this notification, there doesn’t appear to be a way to turn it off. However, it was a very highly requested feature, one that the Pixel Watch 2 should have shipped with, so it may be unlikely that anyone would voluntarily want to turn it off.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Those who are still using the original Pixel Watch should also get the notification, as it comes from the Pixel Watch app, not the watch itself. But as of right now, it only appears to be working with the Pixel Watch 2.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is not the first of its kind to have such a notification. Apple has had a notification system in place for Apple Watch and iPhone users for a couple of years now. This is a feature that many users of smartwatches simply expect at this point, so it’s surprising that it took Google this long to quietly implement it. Still, we’re happy to see it finally come to fruition.
