The Weekender
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Apple review-a-thon

Apple review-a-thon

Our reviewers tackle iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10.

Lewis Wallace
September 28, 2024

In partnership with

iPhone 16. iPhone 16 Pro. AirPods 4. Apple Watch Series 10. Even a variety of iPhone 16 cases.

Cult of Mac writers got their hands on all sorts of new Apple gear this week and wrote up reviews that explain what makes the products great (and what Cupertino can improve).

You can find them all in our reviews section or get links to individual reviews below.

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

We’ve got loads of how-tos on the new features in iOS 18, including one of my favorites: all the new texting tricks in the updated Messages app.
Like some other iPhone 16 Pro owners, I’ve been experiencing some weird touchscreen problems. Have you?
I’m honestly amazed at the deep discounts you can get on Apple’s official iPhone 16 cases. These come with a “sapphire crystal coupled to a conductive layer to communicate finger movements to the Camera Control,” the company says.
And finally, the biggest seller this week from Cult of Mac Deals is a new iPad/MacBook stand that moves a little like an iMac G4 — and comes with a USB-C hub built into its aluminum arm.

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

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Reviews and recommendations

Why you should choose iPhone 16 or 16 Plus over iPhone 16 Pro [Review] ★★★★★

Our iPhone 16 and 16 Plus review shows these models might be a better choice for many people than the more expensive Pro and Pro Max.

AirPods 4 deliver better sound and ‘ANC Lite’ [Review] ★★★★☆

AirPods 4 bring professional-grade features to Apple's non-Pro earbuds. Our hands-on review puts them through real-world testing.

iPhone 16 Pro: Not much new, but everything is better [Review] ★★★★☆

The iPhone 16 Pro is not an all-new iPhone, but it's a much-refined iPhone. This year, the best gets a little better all around.

Apple Watch 10: The best gets gloriously better [Review] ★★★★★

Our Apple Watch Series 10 review finds the best wearable for most people just keeps getting better. Sleeker. More functional. Just beautiful.

Which iPhone 16 case works best with new Camera Control?

iPhone 16's new camera button is pressure- and touch-sensitive. So what kind of iPhone case works best with the Camera Control?

Best cases you can buy right now for iPhone 16 handsets [Updated]

If you're getting an iPhone 16 series smartphone, you should check out our best iPhone 16 cases roundup to protect it.

How-tos

Try the 5 best new Messages features in iOS 18

With iOS 18, Messages gains five great new features that will make texting all the more fun. Here’s what you can look forward to.

How to customize the endlessly editable Control Center in iOS 18

You can customize the iPhone Control Center for faster access to the buttons and toggles you actually use, and remove the junk you never use.

What do the Apple Watch buttons do? Click, double-click and hold.

In watchOS 10, Apple adds a new Widgets view, assigns Control Center to the side button and changes what double-clicking the Digital Crown does.

How to hide apps on your iPhone and iPad in iOS 18

Find out how to hide apps on iPhone, plus how to lock them behind Face ID. A new feature in iOS 18 makes extreme privacy easier than ever.

Get the time without even looking at your Apple Watch

You can read the time without even looking at your Apple Watch using a little-known feature called Taptic Time.

News

iPhone 16 Pro users face intermittent touchscreen problems

Several iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max users report touchscreen problems, including missed touches and swipes.

Plus, more iPhone 16 news:

iOS 18.1 beta 5: All the new features and changes

iOS 18.1 beta 5 brings some much-needed improvements to the Control Center and expands RCS support to more carriers and countries.

Here's when new Apple Intelligence features are expected to roll out

After releasing Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 in October, Apple will roll out more features to it with iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.4.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

Over 50,000 album booklets now on Apple Music Classical

The Apple Music Classical streaming service now includes thousands of album booklets featuring in-depth liner notes, translations and more.

Why Apple can't decrypt iPhones of would-be Trump assassins

iPhone encryption can’t be bypassed, not even to gather more information on the men who tried to shoot the former president.

Deals

This iPad and MacBook stand stashes a USB-C hub in its aluminum arm

The Casa Hub 360 stand works with laptops and tablets. Its sleek aluminum design puts a USB-C hub in the sturdy arm that lifts your device.

Plus, more hardware from Cult of Mac Deals:

Grab an official Apple case for iPhone 16 at a sweet discount

Don't pay full price for Apple's own iPhone 16 case. You can already get one on sale, even though the handset just launched.

Plus, more deals on Apple gear:

Your key to the PDF kingdom -- just $60 for life

If you find yourself working with PDFs day in and day out, a PDF Reader Pro Permanent License could become your new best friend.

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

Setups

Powerful speakers and subwoofer blast MacBook Pro rig's sound

Want to crank up your computer setup's sound? This MacBook Pro user added a subwoofer to his stand-mounted Audioengine speakers.

From one dock user to another: CalDigit or Satechi?

An M2 MacBook Air setup spurs a discussion about one user's success with a CalDigit Thunderbolt dock and another's Satechi woes.