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We put AirPods Max and Apple Fitness+ to the test

December 19, 2020

Between AirPods Max and Apple Fitness+, this was one big week for Apple. The company continues to expand its sprawling, intertwined empire of hardware, software and services -- and these new entries look like fine additions.

Read our dueling reviews for insight into how the new high-end headphones and subscription fitness service compare to rivals.

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

With a sleek design and some sweet Apple magic, AirPods Pro Max headphones look great, sound exciting and reward those in the Apple ecosystem. However, the hefty $549 price tag, some quirky design decisions and some very real limitations mean they’re not right for absolutely everyone.

When Apple's new subscription fitness service went live, Cult of Mac's workout guru immediately logged 10 workouts. Here's his take on Apple Fitness+.

News and opinion

The Apple TV app tries to do too much. It tries to be too much. And this lack of focus damages the Apple TV+ streaming service.

After the headphones' odd-looking Smart Case drew widespread mockery, Apple's designers explained the beauty of their creation.

Find out what's in the latest upgrades for all your Apple devices.

If the new $549 AirPods Max or the $249 AirPods Pro are a bit pricey for you, don’t worry: According to a new report, Apple plans to launch new wireless earbuds in 2021, priced significantly lower.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

Facebook went on the offensive this week, slamming Apple with a pair of frankly disingenuous broadsheet broadsides.

How-tos

Don’t you just hate having to give visitors your long and complicated Wi-Fi password? Instead, make connecting to your network quick and easy by turning your password into a QR code that can be scanned in an instant. We’ll show you how.

Apple's new repair program will fix iPhone 11 units with faulty touchscreens. The company says only a “small percentage” of handsets is affected — but is yours one of them? Here’s how to find out.

AirPods, like most wireless headphones, use Bluetooth to connect to your iPhone and other devices. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to enjoy them with older gadgets that don’t have Bluetooth connectivity baked-in.

Now it's easier than ever to share all those screenshots you capture during your finest gaming moments.

Deals

Are you suffering from a case of Cyber Monday KIMO? Here’s a little dose of Christmas delivered early — you can still snag The Official Cyber Monday Mac Bundle Featuring Parallels Pro & Luminar 4 for an extra 40% off, with code MACAPP40. It’s an incredible extension of our Green Monday sale that you should take advantage of before it disappears.

It's a lot like Apple's new MagSafe charger, only less expensive.

Plus, more hardware deals:

Are you worried your last-minute gift-shopping ways might come to a poor conclusion this year? Cult of Mac Deals is here to help.

The world needs more coders, and you can be one of them. Get started with this affordable coding boot camp.

Plus, more self-improvement deals:

Reviews

This combination case and stand is a truly brilliant piece of kit. It adds a two-level kickstand to your iPad Pro or iPad Air, and can even lift the tablet so it seems to float over the keyboard.

The company's impressive lineup of premium leather, nylon and steel bands for Apple Watch is now available from the Cult of Mac Store.

The Meross Smart WiFi LED Bulb integrates almost any lamp or light fixture into a HomeKit smart home. It can be controlled with an iPhone, and offers color-changing and dimming.