The Weekender
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5 'secret' iPhone gestures you need to know

5 'secret' iPhone gestures you need to know

These quick tips will make you feel like a pro every time.

Lewis Wallace
November 25, 2023

Think you know everything about whizzing around your iPhone? Chances are there’s at least one tip in this weekend’s top how-to that will make your everyday iPhone usage easier.

And who doesn’t like that? Here’s our guide to five more secret iPhone gestures you need to know. Consider it a challenge to master them all!

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

Want a USB-C hub to expand your iPhone 15’s capabilities? We put together a roundup of the best ones money can buy. We also just launched gift guides for iPhones and AirPods that could come in handy as we approach the holiday shopping season.
If you travel internationally and don’t want to hand over hefty fees to your cellular provider, you need an eSIM. And now we’ve got a deal that lands you a lifetime eSIM, plus $50 worth of data, all for just $18.97. I tried aloSIM on my last trip to Italy, and it worked flawlessly.
The latest Apple Original film sounds like another stunner from legendary director Ridley Scott. Read our Napoleon review.
Plus, we’ve got Apple TV+ recaps of this week’s episodes of Godzilla series Monarch: Legend of Monsters and alt-history space race drama For All Mankind.
Black Friday might be over, but we’re nursing a serious shopping hangover. Check out the best Apple Black Friday deals still in effect, and shop the Cult of Mac Store for even more savings on fine Apple accessories.

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

How-tos

5 more secret iPhone gestures you need to know

These hidden gestures help you text pictures to your friends faster, scroll through big pages and screens, type special characters and use your phone one-handed.

Look up symbols from laundry tags and car dashboards with your iPhone

You can figure out the meaning of those cryptic symbols with your iPhone camera. You don’t have to look up a guide or Google what they mean; just take a picture and your phone will tell you.

News

Who will lead Apple when Tim Cook steps down? [The CultCast]

This week on Cult of Mac's podcast: Apple's "very detailed" succession plan gets us thinking. Who's next as Apple CEO?

Leak shows iPhone 16 Pro's battery with a metal shell

A purported photo of a battery prototype indicates Apple could use a metal backplate for better heat dissipation.

New 'Shot on iPhone' video gives you all the holiday feels

Apple starts the holidays off with "Fuzzy Feelings," a short that combines stop-motion animation and live action.

EU's proposed right-to-repair law incentivizes repairs, bans parts pairing

The European Parliament approves a measure that would require manufacturers to offer an additional year of warranty on repaired products, among other things. What will this mean for Apple?

Apple Vision Pro launch likely delayed to March 2024

Due to the complexity of the mixed-reality headset, Apple reportedly pushes back the Vision Pro launch from its initial target of January 2024.

Deals

Apple Black Friday deals: AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad and more [Held over!]

Black Friday's killer deals on Apple products are still going live, and you can score some hot Apple gears and accessories at their all-time low prices.

Plus, more Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals:

This 6-in-1 cable does USB-C, Lightning and more for just $17

Grab a cable that can streamline your charging experience and declutter your home or bag: the inCharge X Max 100W 6-in-1 charging cable.

Achieve maximum results from AI with The Ultimate ChatGPT Prompts Guide

Learn to achieve the best possible results from ChatGPT with The Ultimate ChatGPT Prompts Guide for only $19.97 (regularly $119).

Plus, more AI and software from Cult of Mac Deals:

Black Friday drone deal: Get a foldable 4K drone for just $69.97

Why pay more for a drone? The ProVision Foldable 4K HD Camera Drone delivers high-end features at a low-end price.

Get $50 worth of data for just $18.97 with this international eSIM

Get a lifetime eSIM from aloSIM and save on international travel data forever. This package lands you $50 worth of data for less than $19.

Reviews and recommendations

iPhone gift guide: Pick the best model and accessories

An iPhone is no small investment, so take care to pick the best model as a gift, along with the right accessories, of course.

Plus: AirPods gift guide: Choose the best models and accessories

Best USB-C hubs for iPhone 15

Now that iPhone 15 comes with USB-C instead of Lightning, you can easily attach all kinds of things to it. But you'll need a USB-C hub. Here's our guide to the best ones currently available.

‘Napoleon’ stands tall as one of Ridley Scott’s finest films [Apple TV+ review] ★★★★☆

The Apple TV+ epic couples unflinching violence with a keen sense of absurdity. It's a strong showing from the legendary director.

Plus, this week’s Apple TV+ recaps:

700 Apple Watch workouts, make text talk and the best-ever Safari extension [Awesome Apps]

In this week's roundup, we have a way to play Legos without the mess, an app that’ll read aloud almost anything, 700 workouts on your Apple Watch and more.

Elago Clear band for Apple Watch looks great, feels even greater [Review]

Almost everything is cooler when you can see right through it. Sadly, Apple stopped making transparent devices when it discontinued the iconic iMac G3. But you can get your see-through fix with this awesome Apple Watch band.

Setups

Thunderbolt 4 dock helps M3 MacBook Pro share massive display and more

In this setup, two powerful MacBook Pros connect to a giant smart TV and other peripherals via a capable Thunderbolt 4 dock.

Super-cool vertical Mac mini stand does it all

The Mac mini is compact yet mighty, but a vertical stand with massive data storage and a 5-in-1 USB-C hub make it better (while saving space).