The Lightning-to-Headphone jack adapter's time might be up. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple might soon discontinue its Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter. The company’s online store in the United States and several other countries already lists the item as “sold out.”
The adapter remains available for sale in some countries. However, once existing stocks run out, Apple is unlikely to replenish it.
November 15, 1990: Cupertino wins a design patent for the Apple Extended Keyboard II, arguably the greatest computer keyboard of all time.
Delivering the perfect combination of durability, feel and a pleasing click-clack sound, the Extended Keyboard II will become a mainstay of pro-grade Apple setups during the early 1990s — and perhaps the best-loved keyboard in Apple history. Courtesy of an ADB-to-USB adapter, some people continue to use these input devices today.
★★★☆☆
The new Magic Keyboards. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The new Apple Magic Keyboard, updated with USB-C, is a fine option if you want Touch ID and if you like laptop-style membrane keyboards. It’s not my preferred typing experience. It also, unfortunately, only comes in a limited number of colors and only two sizes.
It’s the stock keyboard that comes if you order an iMac. It’s also available if you want an external keyboard on your Mac mini, Mac Studio or a desktop-docked MacBook.
The Magic Keyboard is the only way to get Touch ID on the Mac, which is a pretty excellent experience. You just have to pay the rather high price for it — and the even greater sacrifice of giving up on a clicky mechanical keyboard.
★★★☆☆
It comes in Black and White, with matching color accents if ordered with an iMac. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The Magic Mouse has been updated with USB-C, and … well, that’s about it. You can ditch the Lightning cable on your desk, but that’s where the changes end.
It still has a design that’s uncomfortably thin for my hands and lacks modern niceties like Force Touch and multi-device pairing.
The Magic Mouse is, however, still the best (and maybe only) mouse that uses trackpad-style swiping and scrolling gestures in place of a traditional scroll wheel. If you can set all else aside, it’s a great experience.
★★★★☆
The new Magic Trackpad. It photographs like a black void. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The new Apple Magic Trackpad with USB-C still holds the crown for the best Mac peripheral. It’s the best trackpad in the world and the best input device for macOS.
I was hoping for a little more out of this update, like built-in Touch ID or multi-device pairing. I also wish there were a neutral silver color, not just black and white.
But even without either, it has features that are still unparalleled anywhere else. Force Touch and Apple’s perfected multitouch gestures make the Magic Trackpad the king.
Prime Day is over but the savings haven't stopped. Image: Tamanna Rumee/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
It’s that time of year again, Amazon Prime Day (the fall edition, October 8 and 9). So the early deals flowed starting over the weekend, with the full-on sale hitting with even better deals on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll show you the best Amazon Prime Day deals on Apple gear, from AirPods to iPads to MacBooks to Studio Display. And that includes Apple audio subsidiary Beats, too. Click on the links below, and return to this page often — deals are subject to change, often for the better, and we’ll add more as we find them.
Update: Though prices on some items continue to fluctuate, Amazon has extended most deals beyond Wednesday.
★★★★☆
Although daylight brightens them up considerably, the colors shown here are livid green (left), green smoke and dark tan. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
If you got a new iPhone 16 series smartphone, you probably want to protect it with a new case. And if you’re into classic materials, you can’t go wrong with a Mujjo Full Leather Case for iPhone, one of best-looking and best-made leather cases out there. For this Mujjo leather iPhone case review, I tried it out on my new iPhone 16 Pro in three different colors.
This pristine version of a FineWoven case doesn't show any of the scratches and stains users complained about. Photo: Apple
A prominent leaker with a fair-to-midding record for accuracy claims Apple will ditch its much-maligned FineWoven iPhone cases. Instead, the company will release a new alternative that appears to look like leather — perhaps a vegan or faux variety — at the “It’s Glowtime” event Monday.
If Apple replaces FineWoven iPhone cases with something else, other accessories like Apple Watch bands likely will follow.
Anker's new three-way MagGo charger folds up into an incredibly small package. Photo: Anker
Anker’s new MagGo lineup includes five accessories designed for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods owners. The star of the lineup, which the company unveiled Thursday ahead of IFA Berlin, is the MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. It’s a cleverly designed three-way travel charger that an Anker representative referred to as “The Button” during a briefing ahead of the German electronics show.
Another standout — the strangely named MagGo Power Bank (10K, Apple Watch) — is a portable battery pack that includes a flip-out Apple Watch charging puck. Those two new additions show Anker striving to design new types of charging products. And, while the other three accessories look fairly typical, they do come with attractive features … and at attractive price points.
The incredibly clever SwitchEasy EasySelfie Selfie Stick is just one of 100 items on sale. Photo: SwitchEasy
Labor Day weekend is a great time to kick back, take a rest from work — and be thankful for the paycheck that lets you buy tons of Apple Labor Day sale items. The Cult of Mac Store marks the holiday this year by taking 20% off everything from SwitchEasy.
That’s 100 products to choose from! The company makes a wide variety of cool accessories for Apple Watch, AirPods, AirTag, iPhone, iPad, MacBook and more, like various chargers. So whatever Apple gear you have, check out these Labor Day deals on SwitchEasy Apple accessories.
The images Apple submitted to the FCC of its new mouse. Photo: Federal Communications Commission/Apple
July 24, 2006: The world gets its first glimpse of Apple’s new wireless Mighty Mouse, a multibutton Bluetooth device with super-accurate laser tracking.
This is one of the hottest deals on Apple Pencil 2 we've seen. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Amazon is running some deals on Apple accessories right now, with discounts on AirTag trackers and Apple Pencil models. In addition to some lesser savings, you can actually get $50 off Apple Pencil 2, a solid deal on a great iPad stylus.
Memorial Day weekend is a great time to bag bargains on Apple gear, peripherals and accessories. Photo: Apple
Memorial Day weekend has arrived in the United States, and you know what that means — widespread sales on Apple gear and accessories (and pretty much everything else you can buy). Memorial Day deals on Apple gear can be irresistible.
We’re building a list, below, of solid deals at major retailers for Apple deals on gear, peripherals and accessories. Check back, because you might find something new.
Belkin makes great MagSafe chargers like the BoostCharge Pro line. Photo: Belkin
Belkin is such a favored maker of MagSafe chargers and other Apple accessories that the iPhone giant sells many of them directly on its site. But for bagging bargains in the Memorial Day Sale Belkin launched this week ahead of the holiday, you’re better off hitting the links to its site, below.
iPhone cases from Case-Mate, OtterBox and Speck are included in the sale. Photo: Case-Mate
Amazon bargains site Woot! always brings the bargains on Apple gear and accessories. Now you have your pick of super-low prices on iPhone cases and other accessories, mixed in with some of the same for Android users.
And while the sale includes 85 items as of midday Wednesday, seven have sold out so far. The sale ends May 31 at 10 p.m. Pacific.
You will see this guy and his Nomad Glow accessories coming, even in the dark. Photo: Nomad
Apple accessories maker Nomad turned up the wattage Tuesday on its second-generation glow-in-the-dark Sport Band for Apple Watch. And it also unveiled its first-ever Glow Sport Case for iPhone 15 Pro models. They both glow in the dark — even more so than the first Glow Sport Band.
Rebound Hybrid Case 360 features a shock-resistant clear back and lets you mount Pad Air in landscape or portrait orientations. Photo: ESR
Rumors say a new 12.9-inch iPad Air will come out soon. And ESR is banking on it early with the release of its new range of cases for the expected tablet — the first time Apple would offer that size outside of its iPad Pro lineup.
Elago's W6 Apple Watch charging stand looks like a classic iPod. Photo: Elago
Elago makes a staggering array of accessories for Apple products, from Apple Watch bands and device chargers to iPad stands and whimsical cases that look like classic gear from yesteryear.
The Cult of Mac Store offers 173 Elago products for sale. Check them out, and see some highlights below.
Woot includes a choice of Apple Watch 8 models. Photo: Apple
Amazon bargain site Woot! keeps the Apple savings coming. On Wednesday it surfaced an Apple Watches and More! sale with a handful of great deals on different models of the wearable, plus an accessories bundle. And the sale page doesn’t even include all the discounted Apple Watches on the site. We added a few below.
“Look like a Silicon Valley tech mogul,” Woot wrote. “And if smart watches aren’t your thing, we’ve also got a wide array of ‘More!'”
BoostCharge Pro is made for MagSafe. Photo: Belkin
One of the great Apple accessories makers is Belkin, and now through April 1 you can get up to 70% off products across its website, plus free shipping on orders over $50 in Belkin’s Spring Sale.
So whatever you need — charger, dock, case, mouse, cable and many other choices — you can get a good deal on a good product. After all, Apple trusts Belkin enough to sell dozens of its products at apple.com.
You can get a MagSafe Duo wireless charger for iPhone and Apple Watch for 38% off. Photo: Apple
Amazon bargain site Woot! is offering deep discounts, anywhere from 13% to 83% off, on dozens of Apple accessories and a few choice items like Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro — but only until Wednesday at 9:59 p.m. PT.
As of Tuesday morning, one item had sold out and 52 remained, including accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch, AirTag, AirPods and more. See some highlights below.
Insignia's 3-in-1 MagSafe charger is on sale, along with plenty of iPhone accessories from Apple and others. Photo: Best Buy
Here’s your last chance of the year to grab certain outstanding deals on iPhone accessories from Best Buy before 2024 comes along, including one item for an astounding 80% off the regular price.
Jump on the links below to nab bargains on iPhone cases, screen protectors, wallets and chargers. Keep in mind the examples below are just a sampling of all that’s on offer. Sales lasts through December 31.
Belkin's BoostCharge Pro charging pad with MagSafe is an elegant (and portable) charging solution. Photo: Belkin
Belkin, a big name in Apple accessories, is extending Cyber Monday deals on some of its best-selling products through Sunday, December 3, on Amazon.com (but note that some deals end Saturday. The company’s Amazon storefront showcases a diverse selection of tech accessories at discounts of up to 50% off.
So whether you need something for yourself or for someone on your holiday shopping list, check out Belkin’s sale. Everyone needs things like MagSafe chargers and iPhone mounts!
Score Cyber Monday savings on Elago, Mifa, Laut and many more. Photo: Adel/ Cult of Mac
Cyber Monday at the Cult of Mac store is a massive event you won’t want to miss. We’ve got deals on all kinds of accessories for all your Apple gear.
Get ready for incredible discounts, with savings of up to 75% on selected brands including Elago, Elkson, Mifa, Rilee & Lo, Laut, and many others. Don’t miss out on these fantastic offers!
Black Friday 2023 in the Cult of Mac Store Photo: Adel/ Cult of Mac
The Cult of Mac Store’s big Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale is now in full swing, offering big discounts on awesome accessories for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more.
Enjoy up to 50% off everything from HEDocks, 30% off Laut and Rilee & Lo, and 15% off Mifa and Elkson. The sale ends Monday, so check it out today and bag yourself a bargain before it’s too late!