GoKawiil
Tech News
Amazon is discounting mid-range 13-inch M5 MacBook Air configurations by $150, bringing 16GB/1TB models down to $1,449 and 24GB/1TB models to $1,649. Separately, Apple's official refurbished store has 15-inch M5 MacBook Air units marked down by as much as $300. These sit alongside other current promotions including $50 off AirPods Pro 3, $240 off the entry Studio Display, and over $100 off various M4 iPad Air models.
Ahead of its imminent launch, comparisons show Apple's foldable iPhone Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display when unfolded, close to the iPad mini's 8.3-inch screen, despite Duo being physically smaller in height and width. Thinner bezels on the Duo help shrink the visible size gap between the two devices.
Apple offers built-in tools called Sidecar and Universal Control that let Mac users extend or mirror their desktop onto an iPad, effectively turning the tablet into a second monitor. Both features require the Mac and iPad to be signed into the same iCloud account, with Universal Control also needing two-factor authentication enabled. Windows PC users cannot use these native tools and must rely on third-party alternatives instead.
E Ink tablets rely on reflective displays rather than backlit or emissive screens, making them easier on the eyes and far more readable outdoors than most iPads, aside from the high-brightness iPad Pro. Devices like the reMarkable Paper Pro also offer longer battery life and lighter builds because their screens only draw power when content changes, unlike an iPad's continuously lit display.
A troubleshooting guide outlines the most frequent reasons an iPad fails to charge, including faulty or underpowered chargers, damaged cables, extreme temperatures, and batteries that have been fully drained after long periods of disuse. It recommends using official or high-wattage first-party chargers, testing multiple cables and outlets to isolate the problem, and avoiding charging in very hot or cold conditions.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman outlines Apple's near-term product roadmap, saying six devices should ship before year's end, including touchscreen MacBook Pro models, an updated non-touch 14-inch MacBook Pro, a refreshed iMac with an M6 chip, a HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K with Siri AI, and an OLED iPad mini. The long-rumored HomePad smart display remains unconfirmed for this window, with Gurman calling its timing still fluid. He also previews a first-half-2027 wave covering an iPhone Air 2, an OLED iPad Air, and mostly iterative chip upgrades across iPhone, MacBook Air, MacBook Neo and iPad Pro lines.
Analyst Mark Gurman reports Apple's roadmap through early 2027 includes three new iPhones—the iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and budget iPhone 18e—all built around an A20 chip, with the Air 2 gaining a second ultra-wide camera. The plans also cover refreshed iPads, including an OLED iPad Air and a budget model for students, new Apple Pencils, updated MacBook Air laptops, and a MacBook Neo successor.
In an interview with MKBHD, Apple's Craig Federighi addressed concerns that the foldable iPhone Duo could overlap with the iPad, particularly the iPad mini. He compared it to how users naturally settled into distinct usage patterns for iPad and Mac, predicting the same will happen with iPhone Duo and iPad. Federighi also emphasized that Apple built iOS for the Duo's form factor from scratch rather than stretching an existing interface to fit.
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo introduces an easy split-screen multitasking system, letting users drag an app into half the screen while still seeing the home screen, save app pairs, and even split a video alongside an app. Meanwhile, iPadOS 27 continues to force users into an all-or-nothing choice between full-screen apps and its more complex windowing system.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new iPad interface that replaces the bottom tab bar with a Mac-like sidebar for navigating Chats, Updates, Communities, Calls and Meta AI. Users can hide the sidebar to expand the chat list and conversation view for a less cramped layout. The feature is currently reaching some TestFlight beta testers as well as a portion of regular App Store users.
Following the debut of Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, at $1,999, commentary suggests Apple should now build smaller flip-style and larger tablet-style foldables similar to Samsung's Z Flip and Lenovo's X1 Fold. The idea is that Apple has proven it can engineer a durable hinge and thin foldable body, making it easier to scale that design up or down for new devices.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first folding phone, at a recent event, drawing comparisons to both Microsoft's 2020 dual-screen Duo and Apple's own iPad Mini. The device supports Apple Pencil input and some split-screen app functionality reminiscent of iPad multitasking, though Apple describes it only as 'inspired by' the iPad rather than a replacement for it. Pricing is expected to start around $2,000.