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The 5 Best Accessories That Look Like They Shipped in an Apple Box (They Didn’t)

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Apple has always had this gravitational pull when it comes to design — clean lines, considered materials, and that unmistakable restraint that somehow still feels exciting. It’s the reason a whole ecosystem of third-party accessories exists that speaks the same visual language, sometimes so fluently you’d swear they came out of Cupertino.

The five products on this list sit right in that sweet spot. They’re designed for your Apple devices, they match that premium sensibility, and yet they each bring something Apple itself hasn’t thought of (or wouldn’t dare try). From a keyboard that brings BlackBerry nostalgia to your iPhone to a carabiner that turns your AirTag into a proper adventure companion, these are the accessories that deserve a spot in your setup.

1. Akko MetaKey

There’s something almost rebellious about strapping a physical keyboard to an iPhone in 2026. Akko, a company celebrated in the mechanical keyboard community for its switches and keycap artistry, decided to do exactly that with the MetaKey. It connects to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max via USB-C and features a passthrough port, so you can still charge or transfer data without detaching the whole thing. It’s clever, it’s niche, and it’s built with the kind of intentionality that makes you pause and appreciate the craft.

The keyboard layout is compact and BlackBerry-inspired, with backlit keys that work comfortably in low light. What really sets it apart, though, is the thoughtfulness in the details — dedicated shortcuts for Siri, voice dictation, and number input, plus a scroll mode that transforms the top rows into navigation buttons for breezing through long feeds. Akko even includes a tiny nine-gram counterweight that clips behind the keyboard to keep your phone balanced in your hand. It’s the kind of consideration that separates a gimmick from a genuine tool for your Apple device.

What We Like

  • The USB-C passthrough is a smart move — you never have to choose between typing and charging your iPhone, which makes the MetaKey feel like a seamless extension of the phone rather than an inconvenient add-on.
  • The scroll mode is a surprisingly intuitive touch. Turning keyboard rows into navigation buttons for scrolling through social feeds or documents on your iPhone shows that Akko was thinking beyond just text input.

What We Dislike

  • The added length and weight, even with the counterweight, will take some getting used to. It shifts the balance of the phone noticeably, and one-handed use becomes a bit of a juggling act.
  • Compatibility is limited to just two iPhone models. If you’re on an older device or a non-Pro model, you’re out of luck — and that narrows the audience considerably for something this well-designed.

2. AirTag Carabiner

If you’ve ever attached an AirTag to something and felt like the holder was letting down the tracker, this one’s for you. The AirTag Carabiner is made from Duralumin composite alloy — the same material found in aircraft and marine vessels — so it’s as tough as it is minimal. It snaps onto bags, bikes, umbrellas, or whatever else you tend to misplace, and it lets Apple’s Find My network do the rest. There’s a quiet confidence in how understated this thing looks, like it was always supposed to be part of the AirTag’s story.

Each carabiner is individually handcrafted, which gives it a tactile quality that mass-produced holders simply can’t match. It’s also available in untreated brass and stainless steel finishes, so you can match it to your personal style or let it develop a patina over time. For anyone deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem who uses AirTags on everything from luggage to keys, this is one of those small upgrades that quietly elevates the entire experience.

Click Here to Buy Now: $129.00

What We Like

  • The Duralumin construction means it’s lightweight yet remarkably strong — suitable for use in water and at high altitudes, which makes it a genuine companion for outdoor adventures, not just a desk accessory for your AirTag.
  • The handcrafted quality and multiple finish options (brass, stainless steel) add a personal, artisanal dimension that feels right at home next to Apple’s own hardware.

What We Dislike

  • The AirTag itself isn’t included, which is expected but still worth noting — you’re investing in the holder alone, and the overall cost of the tracker plus carabiner adds up.
  • For something this minimal, the design language is almost too subtle. If you like your accessories to make a visual statement, this one deliberately doesn’t — it disappears, which is the point, but not everyone wants that.

3. Nomad Icy Blue Glow Stratos Band

The Apple Watch Ultra was built for people who push limits, and Nomad’s Stratos Band has always matched that energy. But the Icy Blue Glow edition adds something unexpected — a fluoroelastomer cast that lights up in Tron-like hues after dark. It’s a limited-run release, and it bridges the gap between serious performance gear and something you’d actually want to show off at a dinner table. Nomad describes it as proof that performance and fun can coexist, and honestly, it’s hard to argue.

Underneath the glow, the engineering is just as considered. Grade 4 titanium hardware handles the structural work, while compression-molded FKM fluoroelastomer links sit against the skin for comfort and flexibility. The dual-material design creates natural ventilation spaces between the links, helping with moisture and breathability during workouts or just everyday wear. For Apple Watch Ultra owners who’ve cycled through the usual band options and want something that feels both premium and a little playful, this Stratos edition is a standout.

What We Like

  • The hybrid construction of titanium and FKM fluoroelastomer strikes a rare balance — you get the refined, metallic look that matches the Apple Watch Ultra’s hardware with the comfort of a sport band, all in one piece.
  • The glow-in-the-dark feature isn’t just a novelty. It adds genuine visibility during nighttime runs or low-light conditions, making it functional for the adventure crowd the Ultra was designed for.

What We Dislike

  • It’s a limited-run release, which means if you don’t move quickly, it’s gone. For a band this well-made, it would be nice to see it as a permanent option in Nomad’s lineup for Apple Watch Ultra.
  • The glow effect relies on light absorption, so its intensity fades over time in darkness. After a few hours, you’re back to a regular (still great-looking) band — manage expectations accordingly.

4. Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers

There’s an elegance to things that work without electricity. The Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers from Yanko Design Select take your smartphone’s built-in speaker and amplify the sound purely through acoustic design — no charging, no Bluetooth pairing, no cables. You simply place your iPhone into the cradle and let the Duralumin metal body do the work, channeling and projecting sound waves across the room. It’s the kind of product that makes you appreciate physics as a design material.

Beyond the clever engineering, the speaker itself is designed using the golden ratio, so its proportions feel inherently pleasing on a desk or shelf. The vibration-resistant Duralumin construction — the same aerospace-grade material — means the body stays stable even when the sound is full. There are also optional add-on modules called +Bloom and +Jet that let you direct the sound in different patterns, which is a nice touch for people who care about how audio fills a space. For your iPhone, it’s a zero-fuss, zero-power way to fill a room with music.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179.00

What We Like

  • The completely passive, battery-free design is refreshing in a world of chargers and cables. You just drop your iPhone in and go — no setup, no pairing, no power source needed.
  • The golden ratio proportions and aerospace-grade Duralumin make it as much a desk sculpture as an audio accessory. It genuinely enhances the look of whatever space it sits in alongside your Apple devices.

What We Dislike

  • Acoustic amplification has its limits. Don’t expect it to compete with a powered Bluetooth speaker — it’s best suited for casual listening and background music with your iPhone, not filling a large room for a gathering.
  • The +Bloom and +Jet sound-directing modules are sold separately, which means getting the full experience requires additional investment beyond the base speaker.

5. Triple Boost 14 Pro

Dual monitors are fine. The Triple Boost 14 Pro thinks bigger. This accessory attaches to your MacBook and unfolds into three additional 14-inch IPS displays — two flanking the sides and one rising from the top — turning your laptop into a four-screen workstation that looks like it belongs in a mission control room. It connects via a single cable, and once you set it up, your MacBook’s workspace expands in a way that fundamentally changes how you multitask.

Each panel delivers 1920×1080 resolution at 60Hz with 300 nits of brightness and a matte finish that tames reflections. These aren’t color-accurate screens for photo editing or design work — they’re built for volume, for keeping your spreadsheets, code editors, Slack channels, browser tabs, and terminal windows all visible simultaneously on your MacBook. It’s a tool for people who work across multiple apps at once and hate the alt-tab dance. For MacBook users who’ve always wished their laptop could do more without being tethered to a desk setup, the Triple Boost 14 Pro is a compelling, portable answer.

What We Like

  • The sheer screen real estate is transformative for MacBook productivity. Going from one display to four means you can keep everything visible — no more cycling between windows or losing your place in a workflow.
  • The matte finish on all three panels is a smart, practical choice. It keeps reflections and glare under control, which matters when you’re staring at this much screen area on your MacBook for extended work sessions.

What We Dislike

  • At 1080p and 60Hz, the panels don’t match the Retina quality of your MacBook’s built-in display. The resolution difference is noticeable when you glance between screens, especially with text rendering.
  • Portability is relative here. While it technically travels with your MacBook, the bulk and setup process of three additional screens make this more of a semi-permanent desk solution than a true grab-and-go accessory.

Designed Different, But Designed Right

What ties all five of these accessories together isn’t just compatibility with Apple devices — it’s a shared design philosophy. They’re restrained where they need to be, bold where it counts, and built with materials and details that punch well above what you’d expect from third-party products. Each one feels like it belongs in the Apple ecosystem without trying too hard to imitate it, and that’s a difficult line to walk. These are products made by people who clearly care about craft.

If you’re particular about what sits next to your iPhone, MacBook, or Apple Watch, this list is for you. Not every accessory deserves a place in a carefully considered setup, but these five earn it. They solve real problems, they look good doing it, and they bring ideas that Apple hasn’t explored yet. Sometimes the best additions to your ecosystem are the ones that didn’t come from Cupertino at all.

The post The 5 Best Accessories That Look Like They Shipped in an Apple Box (They Didn’t) first appeared on Yanko Design.

I Ran Android On A MacBook And Even Airdropped Files To iPhone at MWC 2026… And You Can Too

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Mirroring a MacBook screen onto an Android phone is not something you expect to work, let alone work fluidly with smooth animations. At HONOR’s MWC 2026 booth, it did exactly that, and then went further by letting you mirror the Magic V6’s display back onto the MacBook, turning the interaction into a genuine two-way street. Tap your HONOR device near an iPhone and files transfer between them, photos, videos, documents, the whole lot, with the kind of animated polish you associate with Apple’s own AirDrop. The same trick works with iPads. HONOR calls the system HONOR Share, and the cross-platform angle is just one layer of a much deeper ecosystem play the company quietly walked in and demonstrated on final, shipping hardware at one of the world’s biggest tech shows.

This cross-platform handshake is part of a broader upgrade to HONOR Share, and it extends well beyond just sending a photo to your friend’s iPhone. The company is positioning its new flagship trio, the Magic V6, MagicPad 4, and MagicBook Pro 14, as an open bridge rather than another walled garden. For the Magic V6, a feature called OneTap transfer allows it to push files directly to a Mac with a single touch, a claim that seems to hold up based on the MWC demos. It’s a direct, pointed solution to a daily friction point for anyone living with a foot in both ecosystems. While Google is still in the process of rolling out its own Quick Share-AirDrop interoperability to the wider Android world in 2026, HONOR just went ahead and shipped a finished product.

Designer: HONOR

The MagicRing integration goes several layers deeper than the Apple-facing features (FYI, it’s a software feature, not an actual ring). Within the HONOR ecosystem, the Magic V6, MagicPad 4, and MagicBook Pro 14 all communicate through HONOR Connect, and any screen can project onto any device bidirectionally, something Apple’s Sidecar only partially replicates within its own hardware range. The mechanics are drag-based: open HONOR Connect, find your target device, drag the screen sharing icon over to it, and projection starts. Bidirectional means both directions work, the MacBook’s display mirroring onto the foldable, the foldable mirroring onto the laptop, same process either way. Dropping files and folders between devices with continuity-style drag behavior runs natively on the MagicPad 4, without a companion app or cloud relay.

At 4.8mm thick with a 12.3-inch 3K OLED running at 165Hz, the MagicPad 4 is a serious piece of hardware to run a MacBook’s extended display onto. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 inside means you’re not compromising on the secondary screen, which matters when you’re doing real creative or coding work. Used as a real-time extended display for a MacBook, it eliminates the need for additional hardware, and for mixed-ecosystem users that’s already a compelling argument on its own. Cross-device drag-and-drop turns it into a productivity node rather than a conventional Android tablet, a designation very few Android tablets have earned. Xiaomi’s iOS Bridge in HyperOS 3.1 gestures at something similar but still relies on companion apps and hasn’t been demonstrated on final shipping hardware.

Apple’s Continuity framework has set the benchmark for multi-device workflows since 2014, and the gap between what Apple offers and what Android could offer was real enough to function as a legitimate reason to stay in Apple’s ecosystem. That gap is narrowing. The Magic V6’s foldable form factor already does things no iPhone can, and layering genuine Apple interoperability on top removes the last practical friction for anyone straddling both worlds. The MWC demo landed on execution: working software on final hardware, smooth animations, no companion apps required. For a certain kind of user, the question of whether to stay full-Apple or go mixed just got significantly harder.

HONOR’s AI Connect Platform, projected to integrate over 20,000 AI services by end of 2026, is the infrastructure underneath all of this, and the MWC demos are its first serious public proof of concept. The company has been repositioning from a budget device manufacturer into what it now calls a global AI device ecosystem company, and this is the first time that framing has been backed by something you could touch and test on a show floor. The Magic V6, running the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, is the first foldable to carry that chip and the anchor device pulling the whole network together. Google’s Quick Share-AirDrop interoperability is confirmed for broader rollout this year, but it carries sharing mode caveats that HONOR has already cleared. The demo in Barcelona was an answer, not a preview.

The post I Ran Android On A MacBook And Even Airdropped Files To iPhone at MWC 2026… And You Can Too first appeared on Yanko Design.

Did Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo just paint a target on the Google Chromebook’s back?

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The cheapest MacBook now costs exactly the same as the cheapest iPhone. That’s not a punchline; it’s a price list. For $599, you can get a phone, or you can get a laptop that runs on a phone’s chip, specifically the A18 Pro that powered the iPhone 16 Pro a couple of years back. Apple looked at its vast bin of perfectly good, massively over-engineered mobile silicon and made the most logical leap imaginable. They put it in a beautifully milled aluminum chassis with a keyboard and a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, creating a machine that is, for all intents and purposes, a grown-up iPhone that doesn’t make calls. It’s a wildly clever, almost cynical, piece of product engineering that redefines the entry point to the entire Mac ecosystem.

This move wasn’t about inventing new technology, but about finding the perfect home for existing tech that had become inexpensive through sheer scale. The A18 Pro, with its 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, is more than capable of handling the daily workload of the average student or web-browser warrior. Paired with a baseline of 8GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, the MacBook Neo is engineered to be just enough computer for a massive audience that was previously priced out. Apple’s genius here is recognizing that the performance floor of their mobile chips has risen so high that it now meets the “good enough” ceiling for a huge segment of the laptop market. This is an exercise in masterful cost management, not a race for benchmark glory.

Designer: Apple

That brings us to the real target of this colorful little machine: the classroom. The MacBook Neo isn’t for the video editor or the traveling professional; it’s a precision-guided missile aimed directly at the heart of Google’s Chromebook empire. With an education price of just $499, Apple has officially entered a knife fight with a very sharp, very shiny knife. For years, schools have defaulted to fleets of cheap, functional, and ultimately disposable Chromebooks. Apple is betting that for a small premium, school districts will jump at the chance to give students a device that feels premium, integrates with their iPhones, and carries the weight of the Apple brand. It’s a compelling argument that repositions the Mac from an aspirational product to a practical, attainable one.

It’s not that Google completely fumbled its lead, but it certainly grew complacent. The Chromebook ecosystem won on price and dead-simple IT management, not on user experience. Google’s Auto Update Expiration policy, which effectively gives every device a software death sentence, has been a constant source of friction for budget-strapped schools that need hardware to last. This created an opening for a company known for its long-term software support. Apple can now walk into a school administrator’s office and offer a more durable, better-feeling machine with a clear software roadmap, making the slightly higher initial cost seem like a smarter long-term investment. Google sold schools a cheap solution, and Apple is countering with a cost-effective one.

Of course, a $599 Mac comes with an asterisk, and the MacBook Neo has a few big ones. The most glaring omission is the lack of a backlit keyboard, a feature that has been standard on laptops for over a decade and feels almost punitive to remove. There’s also no support for fast charging, so topping up the battery will be a leisurely affair. These aren’t accidents; they are carefully calculated sacrifices made to protect the profit margin and create clear feature differentiation from the more expensive MacBook Air. Apple is using the vibrant new color options, like Citrus and Indigo, to distract from the spec sheet compromises, but to be honest, nothing is more of a distraction than that price point.

The post Did Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo just paint a target on the Google Chromebook’s back? first appeared on Yanko Design.

iPhone 17e Gets MagSafe but No Dynamic Island or Gemini Apple Intelligence… Is It Worth Buying?

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Apple has a habit of making its budget phones more interesting than they have any right to be. The iPhone 17e packs the same A19 chip found in the standard iPhone 17 into a $599 body, with a 6-core CPU built on 3-nanometer architecture, a 4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for large generative models. Live Translation, Call Screening, Visual Intelligence, and Hold Assist all run natively on a phone that costs $200 less than the base iPhone 17. That’s the real headline, even if Apple hasn’t framed it quite that directly.

The A19 here is a binned variant with a 4-core GPU versus the 5-core in the standard iPhone 17, but graphics performance is still around 30% faster than the A18 in the 16e. The Neural Accelerators embedded in each GPU core are new to this tier and allow Apple Intelligence to run efficiently on-device rather than leaning on cloud processing. For everyday tasks, the performance gap between the 17e and the standard iPhone 17 will be essentially invisible.

Designer: Apple

MagSafe finally arrives on the “e” lineup, and it’s one of the more consequential additions Apple has made to this tier in years. The 16e’s absence from the MagSafe ecosystem was a genuine frustration, and the 17e corrects it with 15W wireless charging, double the 7.5W of its predecessor. The full ecosystem of snap-on chargers, car mounts, battery packs, and wallet accessories now works as intended. Storage starts at 256GB, double the 16e’s entry point at the exact same $599 price. On a phone shooting 48MP stills and 4K Dolby Vision video natively, that extra headroom is genuinely appreciated.

The C1X modem delivers up to twice the 5G speeds of the C1 in the 16e while consuming 30% less energy, matching the connectivity of the more expensive iPhone Air. The single 48MP Fusion camera pulls double duty with an optical-quality 2x telephoto mode, next-generation portraits with adjustable post-capture depth, and improved low-light processing through the A19’s image pipeline. Ceramic Shield 2 brings 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation, and a new antireflective coating makes the display noticeably more usable outdoors. Battery life sits at 26 hours of rated video playback, with a 50% charge in 30 minutes using a 20W adapter.

The honest part: the notch is still here in 2026, and the 60Hz display is increasingly hard to defend. The Gemini-integrated Apple Intelligence features remain locked to higher-end models for now, so the 17e gets the core AI suite but not the full picture of where Apple Intelligence is heading. For anyone on an iPhone 11 through 13, this is a clear, confident upgrade. For 16e owners, MagSafe and doubled storage are real improvements but may not justify a full cycle. At $599, the 17e is the most accessible entry point into Apple’s AI era, and that counts for more than the notch counts against it.

Pre-orders open March 4, units ship March 11, starting at $599 for 256GB.

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The Vintage Apple Computer That Belongs on Every Tech Lover’s Shelf, in LEGO Form

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In 1977, Steve Jobs walked through the kitchen appliance section of a Macy’s department store and came away with a vision for what a personal computer should look like. The result, shaped by industrial designer Jerry Manock and powered by Wozniak’s engineering genius, was the Apple II: a smooth, warm-beige enclosure that suggested domesticity rather than machinery. It belonged on a desk the way a telephone did. That calculated approachability helped sell millions of units across sixteen years of production.

LEGO Ideas builder BrickMechanic57 has translated that design philosophy into 1,772 pieces, and the attention to detail rewards anyone familiar with the original. The signature Pantone beige carries across the computer body, monitor, and dual Disk II drives. The rainbow Apple II badge sits front and center above the keyboard. Pull out the monitor screen and you get two display states: the authentic green-on-black DOS boot screen or a clean, powered-off black panel.

Designer: BrickMechanic57

Wozniak designed the Disk II floppy controller over the 1977 Christmas holidays and reduced the chip count from the industry standard of dozens down to six. Competing controllers from the same era used 50-plus chips and cost significantly more. Apple sold the Disk II for $495 in 1978, and the engineering inside that price point was borderline absurd. BrickMechanic57 stacks two of them beside the main unit, exactly as they appeared on real desks, and a brick-built floppy disk element actually inserts into the lower drive.

The real Apple II keyboard had no cursor keys in its original 1977 configuration, a REPT key for repeating characters, and RESET sitting exposed and dangerous in the top-right corner like a trap for clumsy typists. The close-up render of this build shows every one of those details reproduced faithfully, including the staggered layout, the CTRL and ESC placement, and the POWER button isolated at the lower left. The rainbow Apple II badge above it is sharp enough to make a vintage collector emotional.

The swappable monitor screen states are what separate a good LEGO set from a great one. The LEGO NES set had the working cartridge slot. The LEGO Atari 2600 had the joystick. This build has a DOS boot screen reading “APPLE II / DOS VERSION 3.3 SYSTEM MASTER / JANUARY 1, 1983” in green phosphor text, and that alone justifies the piece count. The monitor face pulls out cleanly, the off-state panel drops in, and suddenly you have two different display moments from the same machine’s life.

LEGO Ideas is the platform where fan-designed builds compete to become official retail sets. Any project that hits 10,000 supporter votes within its window gets reviewed by LEGO’s own designers, and the strongest candidates go into production. Previous successes include the NES, the Polaroid OneStep SX-70, and the Atari 2600. BrickMechanic57’s Apple II has 587 days left on the clock. Voting is free on the LEGO Ideas website, and if this one makes it to shelves, it will be because enough people who care about this history showed up.

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iPhone 17e Rumored for February 19 Launch With MagSafe, Dynamic Island, and a $599 Price Tag

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Apple’s budget iPhone is getting less budget and more iPhone. The 17e, set to arrive later this month, is rumored to bring MagSafe charging and the Dynamic Island to the $599 price tier. For context, MagSafe has been available on iPhones since 2020, but only if you were willing to spend at least $799. Now it’s trickling down to the entry model, along with faster wireless charging speeds and compatibility with the full range of Apple’s magnetic accessories.

The Dynamic Island is the other headline addition. While earlier leaks suggested the notch would stick around, newer reports claim Apple is finally retiring it across the entire lineup. That would make the 17e the first budget iPhone to feature the pill-shaped cutout that handles notifications and live activities. The price is staying put at $599 despite industry-wide component shortages and inflation, which makes this one of the rare years where Apple is adding features without inflating the cost. It’s a smart play in a segment where Google and Samsung are both raising prices.

Designer: Volodymyr Lenard

Look, the 16e was fine. Competent even. But that 7.5W Qi charging was a joke, especially when every other iPhone in the lineup had been doing MagSafe since 2020. You’d slap your phone on a charging pad and hope it actually aligned properly, then wake up six hours later to find it at 60% because you were off by half a centimeter. The 17e fixes this with 20W to 25W magnetic charging, which is fast enough that you can actually top up meaningfully during the day. And yeah, you get access to the full MagSafe accessory catalog without feeling like you’re missing out on features you already paid for.

Apple’s probably sitting on a pile of iPhone 14 display panels, which is why everyone assumed the notch would stick around for another generation. Cheaper to use existing inventory than retool the production line for Dynamic Island cutouts. But multiple sources are now saying the pill-shaped design is coming to the 17e anyway, which means Apple decided it was worth eating the cost to kill the notch completely. The notch lasted nearly a decade. Watching it finally disappear from the budget tier feels like the end of an argument that stopped being interesting years ago.

Component shortages are driving prices up across the industry. RAM is expensive, display panels are expensive, everything is more expensive than it was two years ago. Google’s probably launching the Pixel 10a at $549 or higher. Samsung’s A-series keeps inching upward. Apple could have easily bumped the 17e to $649 and blamed supply chain issues, but they didn’t. Holding at $599 while adding MagSafe and an A19 chip is either aggressive margin compression or a bet that ecosystem lock-in is worth more than short-term profit per unit.

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Apple iPhone Fold ‘Ultra’ Could Have a 5,700mAh Battery and $2,299 Price Tag

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Apple got thousands of people to pay $3,499 for an ambitious “spatial computing device.” Can they convince millions to shell out $2,299 for a foldable iPhone? Let’s just take a second to piece the logic. $2,299 gets you TWO latest iPhone Pros and some duct tape to hold them together. You’d get two screens, two camera modules, two processors. Heck, for $2,299 you could almost buy three iPad minis, giving you three 8.3-inch displays with Apple Intelligence running on all of them. What could a $2,299 iPhone Fold offer that would justify such a markup? Well, here’s everything we know.

The rumored clamshell-style foldable iPhone is shaping up to be a serious piece of hardware, not just a folding parlor trick. We’re looking at a 5,700mAh battery, which would be the largest ever in an iPhone by a significant margin, promising legitimate all-day power despite running dual displays. The device is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, essentially giving you an iPad-like canvas that folds into a pocketable form. The outer 5.5-inch screen would function as a standard iPhone when closed. Apple has reportedly solved the crease problem with advanced hinge technology, and the whole package would come wrapped in titanium, measuring just 4.5mm when unfolded.

Designer: 4RMD

Design studio 4RMD has visualized what this device could look like, and they’ve added the “Ultra” moniker to their concept to spice things up. The specs they’ve compiled from various leaks and reports paint a picture of a device that belongs in the upper echelons of Apple’s lineup, alongside the Apple Watch Ultra and potentially justifying that eye-watering price tag. The renders show a book-style foldable with dual 48MP rear cameras and a 24MP ultra-wide front camera, all running on the upcoming A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process. Three color options appear in the concept: White, Black, and Deep Purple, the latter being a callback to the iPhone 14 Pro’s most popular finish.

Of all those specs, the 5,700mAh battery is the one that really stops you in your tracks. It’s a direct shot at the Achilles’ heel of every single foldable currently available. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 limps along with a 4,400mAh cell, and anyone who has used one knows that’s barely enough to get through a busy day. Google’s Pixel Fold does a bit better with 4,821mAh, but it’s still a compromise. A battery that large, combined with Apple’s legendary efficiency, means this could be the first foldable that you can actually use without constantly hunting for an outlet. That alone is a massive selling point.

Of course, stuffing a battery that big into a chassis brings up the immediate question of weight. Foldables are notoriously heavy; the Pixel Fold is a hefty 283 grams, and the Z Fold 6 is 239 grams. For context, an iPhone 16 Pro Max is around 227 grams. This is where the rumored titanium frame becomes critical. Titanium provides the necessary rigidity for a complex hinge mechanism without turning the phone into a pocket brick. If Apple can keep the weight manageable while achieving that 4.5mm unfolded thickness, they will have solved a core ergonomic problem that competitors are still struggling with.

The physical interaction model also gets a rethink, with Touch ID making a comeback on the power button. This isn’t a step backward; it’s a pragmatic engineering choice. Putting Face ID on both the inner and outer screens would mean two expensive, space-consuming TrueDepth systems. A single fingerprint sensor on the side works seamlessly whether the device is open or closed, and it’s a proven, reliable technology. If anything, it makes sense after years of FaceID not working when the phone isn’t facing you head-on. Just let me unlock my phone while it’s beside me in bed, Apple…

All this premium hardware would be for nothing if the main screen still felt like a compromise, which brings us to the crease. The concept details a nearly invisible one, which lines up with reports of Apple using advanced ultra-thin glass and a unique Liquidmetal hinge. Competitors have made progress, but you can still feel and see the fold on every device out there. If Apple truly manages to create a seamless internal display, it will remove the last major psychological hurdle for potential buyers. It would finally make a foldable screen feel like a single, uninterrupted canvas.

So, when do we actually get our hands on this thing? The consensus has been fall 2026, launching alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. That timing is now looking a bit shaky. Apple has reportedly pushed the standard iPhone 18 into 2027 because of component shortages, and the company is still wrestling with getting Apple Intelligence just right. If the Fold’s software isn’t ready (or even a better Apple Intelligence to pair with it), a delay seems inevitable. A slip from late 2026 to early 2027 would place its release right inside the window for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. The original launched in June 2007, and it feels fitting that the 20th anniversary iPhone be one that bends in half on purpose.

The post Apple iPhone Fold ‘Ultra’ Could Have a 5,700mAh Battery and $2,299 Price Tag first appeared on Yanko Design.

6 Reasons Why Apple Needs to Build a Clamshell iPhone Flip (And 1 Reason It Shouldn’t)

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Remember when phones got smaller? The iPhone 13 Mini had a cult following, but Apple killed it because most people wanted bigger screens. Here’s the plot twist: a clamshell foldable iPhone could bring back that beloved compact size without sacrificing screen real estate. You get a full-size display when you need it, and a pocketable square when you don’t. It’s the best of both worlds, and Apple knows it.

Mark Gurman’s latest report suggests Apple is seriously exploring this form factor. It wouldn’t be their first foldable (a larger model is rumored for later this year), but it might be their smartest. A clamshell iPhone makes sense for reasons that go way beyond nostalgia. It’s cheaper to build than a book-style fold, it doesn’t compete with the iPad Mini, and it opens up a market where Samsung is basically the only serious player. There are six solid reasons why Apple should do this, and one big reason why it might not work. Let’s dig in.

The iPhone Mini lives on (just folded in half)

Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 Mini because the sales numbers didn’t justify keeping it around. Turns out most people prefer bigger screens, even if it means carrying a brick in their pocket. But the Mini’s fans were passionate, and they’ve been vocal about wanting a truly compact iPhone ever since. A clamshell solves this problem in the most elegant way possible.

When folded, it’s roughly the size of the Mini, maybe even smaller depending on how thick the hinge is. When unfolded, you get a full 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch display, same as the regular iPhone or Pro Max. The people who loved the Mini weren’t asking for a smaller screen, they were asking for a phone that didn’t dominate their pocket or require two hands for basic tasks. A clamshell gives them that portability without forcing them to squint at a 5.4-inch display.

This isn’t just about bringing back a discontinued product. It’s about proving that compact phones can exist in 2026 without compromising on screen size. The form factor itself becomes the feature.

It doesn’t murder the iPad Mini

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about book-style foldables: they’re iPad killers. If Apple released an iPhone that unfolds into an 8-inch display, who’s buying an iPad Mini? The overlap would be brutal. You’d have a device that fits in your pocket, runs iOS, makes calls, and gives you a tablet-sized screen when you need it. The iPad Mini’s entire value proposition collapses.

A clamshell doesn’t have this problem. Even at its largest, a clamshell iPhone would max out at maybe 6.9 inches unfolded. That’s still firmly in phone territory, not tablet territory. The iPad Mini’s 8.3-inch display remains the smallest “real” iPad you can buy, and it stays relevant for people who want that in-between size for reading, note-taking, or media consumption.

Apple’s product lineup is carefully segmented, and a clamshell iPhone slots in without disrupting the hierarchy. It’s a phone that folds smaller, not a tablet that folds into a phone. That distinction matters when you’re trying to sell both devices to the same customer.

Samsung owns this space, but they’re beatable

The Galaxy Z Flip has been around since 2020, and Samsung’s refined it through multiple generations. They’re the dominant player in the clamshell category, but “dominant” doesn’t mean “unbeatable.” Motorola’s putting up a fight with the Razr, but Google hasn’t touched this form factor yet. No Pixel Flip. No Nothing Flip. No OnePlus Flip. It’s basically Samsung’s game, and that’s an opportunity for Apple.

Apple doesn’t need to be first. They need to be better. And in a market where there’s only one major competitor, “better” is achievable. Samsung’s Z Flip 6 is solid, but it’s not perfect. The cover screen still feels like an afterthought, the crease is visible, and the software experience is classic Samsung (which is to say, inconsistent). If Apple can deliver a smoother hinge, a more useful outer display, and that signature iOS polish, they could own this category within a generation.

The fact that Google isn’t competing here is huge. The Pixel is Apple’s biggest threat in terms of owning both hardware and software (plus Gemini is vastly more superior than any AI Apple’s managed to roll out), and if there’s no Pixel Flip to compete with an iPhone Flip, Apple has a clear shot at Android users who want this form factor but don’t want Samsung’s ecosystem.

Smaller hinge, lower risk

Building a book-style foldable is expensive and complicated. You’re engineering a hinge that supports a massive, fragile display. You’re solving durability issues that Samsung and others have been wrestling with for years. You’re creating an entirely new product category that might flop. The R&D costs are enormous, and if it doesn’t sell, you’ve burned a ton of money.

A clamshell is cheaper to prototype, cheaper to manufacture, and cheaper to fail with. The display is smaller, the hinge mechanism is simpler, and the overall engineering challenge is less daunting. If Apple wants to dip their toes into foldables without betting the farm, a clamshell is the way to do it.

This also means Apple can price it more competitively. A book-style iPhone Fold would probably start at $1,799 or higher. A clamshell could reasonably launch at $1,199, maybe $1,299. That’s still premium, but it’s within reach of people who’d normally buy a Pro model. The lower price point expands the potential customer base, and if it sells well, Apple can use that momentum to justify a larger foldable later.

Hands-free everything

The half-folded “laptop mode” is one of the best features of clamshell foldables, and it’s criminally underrated. You can prop the phone up on a table, angle the screen however you want, and suddenly you’ve got a hands-free setup for FaceTime, vlogging, watching videos, or taking photos. No tripod required. No awkward propping it against a water bottle. It just works.

Apple’s been positioning the iPhone as a serious content creation tool for years. ProRes video, Cinematic Mode, all those camera upgrades, they’re aimed at people who make stuff. A clamshell iPhone would give those creators a built-in tripod mode that’s actually useful. Imagine shooting a cooking tutorial, a makeup video, or a product unboxing without needing extra gear. The phone holds itself at the perfect angle, and you’re free to use both hands.

This isn’t a niche use case. Every vertical video you’ve ever seen on TikTok or Instagram could’ve been easier to shoot with a clamshell. Apple knows this, and they know it’s a selling point that most mobile brands haven’t fully capitalized on yet.

Big screen, small pocket

Here’s the paradox of modern smartphones: people want huge screens, but they hate carrying huge phones. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a phenomenal device, but it’s a slab that dominates your pocket, your bag, and your hand. A clamshell solves this in the most obvious way possible: make the screen big, then fold it in half.

When unfolded, you get all the screen real estate of a Pro or Pro Max. When folded, it’s a compact square that sits comfortably in any pocket. You’re not sacrificing display size, you’re just rearranging it. This is especially appealing for people who want big screens but don’t want to upgrade their wardrobe to accommodate a 6.7-inch rectangle.

The folded form factor also changes how you carry the phone. It’s less likely to slide out of a pocket, it doesn’t create that awkward bulge in tight jeans, and it’s easier to grip when you’re pulling it out. These are small quality-of-life improvements, but they add up. A clamshell makes the big-screen experience more portable, and that’s a real advantage.

The one problem: MagSafe doesn’t love squares

Here’s where things get tricky. Apple’s entire MagSafe ecosystem is built around vertical rectangles. Wallets, battery packs, car mounts, wireless chargers, they all assume your iPhone is shaped like, well, an iPhone. A clamshell changes that. When folded, it’s a square. When unfolded, it’s a normal phone shape. But MagSafe accessories are designed to stick to the back of a phone that’s always the same shape.

How does a MagSafe wallet work on a folded clamshell? Does it attach to the outer cover, which is probably glass or plastic? Does Apple redesign the entire accessory lineup to accommodate a square form factor? Do they create clamshell-specific MagSafe products? None of these solutions are great.

This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s a complication. Apple’s accessory ecosystem is a huge part of their strategy, and a clamshell iPhone disrupts that in ways a book-style fold wouldn’t. You could argue that a book-style fold, when closed, is still roughly phone-shaped, so MagSafe accessories might work. A clamshell is just different enough to break compatibility.

Apple could solve this with clever engineering. Maybe the MagSafe ring is on the outer screen side, and accessories attach there. Maybe they introduce a new “MagSafe Flip” standard with different magnets. Or maybe they just accept that clamshell buyers won’t use traditional MagSafe accessories and move on. Either way, it’s a problem that doesn’t exist with their current lineup, and it’s worth considering.

So, is this happening?

Gurman’s report is credible, but it’s not a product announcement. Apple explores lots of things that never ship. They’ve been prototyping foldables for years, and we’ve seen patents dating back to 2016. The fact that they’re actively working on a clamshell now doesn’t mean it’ll hit shelves in 2027 or even 2028.

But the logic is there. A clamshell iPhone solves more problems than it creates. It brings back the Mini’s form factor without shrinking the screen. It enters a market where Apple could actually win. It’s cheaper and less risky than a book-style fold. And it gives Apple a foothold in foldables without cannibalizing their other products.

If Apple does this right, a clamshell iPhone could be the foldable that finally makes sense for people who aren’t early adopters. It’s practical, it’s pocketable, and it’s exactly the kind of product Apple excels at making. The only question is whether they’re willing to rethink MagSafe to make it work.

(Images via AI)

The post 6 Reasons Why Apple Needs to Build a Clamshell iPhone Flip (And 1 Reason It Shouldn’t) first appeared on Yanko Design.

Moft MagSafe Wallet Stand Stops You from Losing Your Phone and Cards

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Leaving the house with just a phone and a slim MagSafe wallet is convenient until the jolt of realizing you have no idea where you left that combo. Most wallets and stands solve carry and comfort, but do nothing for the “where did I put it” problem. Moft’s trackable stand-wallet is a small tweak to that daily stack, adding a Find My brain without bulking up the back of your phone.

The Trackable Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet is Moft’s thinnest design yet, just 0.25 inches thick and about the size of a credit card, managing to be a wallet, stand, and grip in one. It snaps onto a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, holds up to two cards, folds into three viewing modes, and quietly adds Apple Find My support so it shows up in the same app as your AirPods and trackers.

Designer: MOFT

On a commute or a day at a café, the wallet is just there on the back of the phone. On the train, you flip it into portrait mode to read, at a desk you switch to landscape for a video, and during a call you use floating mode to prop the screen higher. Walking, the folded panel becomes a comfortable grip, making the phone feel more secure without adding a bulky case.

Realizing the phone-wallet stack is not where you thought it was means opening the Find My app to see its last location, triggering a 70dB alert to find it in a messy room, or relying on the Find My network if it is truly out in the world. The tracker runs for about six months on a wireless charge, and the app shows battery level, so it does not quietly die.

The magnets are tuned to around 15N of snap force, strong enough to trust when using it as a stand or grip. Because it is MagSafe-ready, you can snap a charger onto the back without dismantling your setup. The 0.25-inch profile and 62g weight mean it does not turn the phone into a brick, which matters if you are sliding it into a pocket or small bag.

The outer shell uses Moft’s MOVAS vegan leather with high stain resistance and color retention, handling coffee tables and travel without looking tired. Underneath are fiberglass, magnets, metal sheets, and a compact PCB. It comes in four colors that pair with Moft’s Snap Case line, so you can build a coordinated stack or mix tones for contrast without losing the clean geometry.

This is not a brand-new category. It’s a quiet upgrade to something many people already use. By folding a tracker into a stand-wallet that was already thin and useful, Moft makes the everyday phone-back accessory into a little piece of insurance. It does not ask you to carry more, just to expect a bit more from what you are already carrying every time you walk out the door.

The post Moft MagSafe Wallet Stand Stops You from Losing Your Phone and Cards first appeared on Yanko Design.

The best laptops you can buy in 2026, tested and reviewed

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Choosing the best laptop can be a bit of a challenge, especially when “good enough” now covers everything from entry-level Chromebooks for college students to premium machines built for serious multitasking and heavier creative work. Specs can blur together fast, but a few basics still matter, like processing power, battery life and whether you’re getting enough storage for the long haul. For many people, that means looking for something that lands in the sweet spot with modern ports, a solid display and at least a 512GB SSD so you’re not juggling external drives a month after you bring your new laptop home.

Out of all of the notebooks we've tested and reviewed recently, we consider Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air M4 to be the best laptop for most people, and this is still the case for our top picks to start off the new year. It's powerful enough to handle most tasks (even light video editing); it has a great screen and built-in speakers; and its battery could last over 18hours (depending on what you're doing, of course). The MacBook Air M4 is also one of the lightest and thinnest systems we've reviewed, and it's dead silent, thanks to a fanless design.

Of course, not everyone wants a MacBook, and there are excellent Windows laptops and Chromebooks out there, too. Windows systems offer a range of configurations, from budget to high-end UHD screens with stunning IPS panels that boast high nits for vivid brightness. Chromebooks, on the other hand, tend to be more affordable and are great for users who mostly work online. Whether you need a powerhouse for creative work, a compact system for note-taking, or a laptop that can handle family movie night, there’s something for everyone in today’s laptop market.

Depending on the type of laptop you’re looking to buy, there are some specs we think you should look for to get a machine that’s powerful enough for your needs and future-proof for the next couple of years (at least). Here's a cheat sheet for you to use when you're shopping.

  • At least M2 processor

  • At least 16GB of RAM

  • At least 256GB of SSD storage

  • The most recent generation processor available from Intel or AMD

  • At least 16GB of RAM

  • At least 256GB of SSD storage (512GB SSD is a safer baseline if you plan to keep lots of files locally)

  • Intel Core i processor

  • At least 8GB of RAM (4GB is the bare minimum for a basic Chromebook)

  • At least 128GB of storage, preferably a SSD

  • At least AMD Ryzen 9000 series or Intel 14th Gen Core CPU

  • At least 16GB of RAM (ideally 32GB if you can swing it)

  • At least 1TB of SSD storage

  • For GPU recommendations, check out our guide to buying the best GPU for your needs

  • The most recent generation processor available from Intel or AMD

  • At least 8GB of RAM

  • At least 256GB of SSD storage (consider a 512GB SSD if you can swing it)

Engadget has been reviewing laptops for two decades, and while the definition of what a portable PC is has changed considerably since, our obsession with testing their limits and serving up informative buying advice remains the same. Be it a hybrid tablet like Microsoft's Surface machines, a rotating 2-in-1 convertible like HP's Spectre x360s or a plain old clamshell notebook, our review process follows similar beats. How does it look and feel? How fast is it? Whether it’s a Windows device powered by an Intel Core i5 or higher, a MacBook or a Chromebook, we aim to answer the most important question: Is it actually worth your hard-earned cash? We also pay close attention to portability, webcam quality and display features, including IPS panels and nits of brightness, as they can make a big difference in daily use.

There's a good chance you've already committed to an operating system, but my advice is to be as flexible as possible. These days, most major software is compatible with both Macs and PCs. (Of course, it's another story if you've become dependent on an Apple-only app like Final Cut Pro.) Web-based apps, naturally, will work on any platform with an internet browser.

If you're an Apple-loyalist, there aren't many reasons to consider Windows laptops (unless you want a secondary gaming machine). But for Windows users, macOS is becoming more tempting every year. Apple's MacBooks, powered by its M-series Silicon chips, are among the fastest and most efficient laptops we've ever seen. They're incredibly well-built and have outstanding battery life to boot. MacOS itself is also an easy platform to learn, especially if you're used to iOS and iPadOS.

That brings up another point: iPhone users may want to consider Macs because of the seamless integration with Apple's other platforms. You can't respond to iMessage conversations easily or hop into FaceTime chats on Windows PCs, but doing so is simple on Macs. (Microsoft's Phone Link app lets you send iOS users individual texts, but not media or group chats.) Android users, meanwhile, may be better off with Windows, as Phone Link can make calls, synchronize all your texts and also access your phone's photos.

If cloud gaming is your priority, Windows laptops with NVIDIA’s GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming compatibility may offer more flexibility and decent performance, especially when paired with fast internet speeds. Chromebooks also make a compelling case here as an affordable, lightweight solution for casual cloud gaming sessions.

As for whether you’ll want a PC with a dedicated Copilot AI button on the keyboard, that depends on how often you see yourself using Microsoft’s generative tools. Given we’re only just seeing the first slate of AI PCs, it would be wiser to wait out the hype and see what improvements might come over time.

And what about ChromeOS? Chromebooks are a smart and (typically) inexpensive way to do things like web browsing and hopping on a few video chats, but for most, they're not the best choice as a primary computer. There aren't many apps or games that work offline, and they also don't work with powerful software suites like Adobe's (you can use the stripped-down Adobe Express and Photoshop online tools, though).

Chromebooks are great secondary machines to use alongside a more powerful Mac or PC, and they're popular in schools because they're cheap and easy for IT workers to manage. And if all you need is web browsing access, or a notebook for a kid, a Chromebook might be enough.

If, for some reason, you’re looking for a powerful ChromeOS system, there are also Chromebook Plus models to consider. These machines sport faster processors and more RAM than typical Google notebooks, and they can also tap into a few of the company’s online AI features, like AI image generation and photo processing.

You can expect to spend between $1,000 and $1,800 for a new laptop these days, depending on the configuration. If you're looking for more of a workhorse, that could cost you well over $2,000 for additional RAM, storage, as well as a beefier graphics card and CPU. But you can also find some good laptops under $1,000 if you're willing to overlook build quality (or buy a refurbished or previous generation machine, which we highly recommend). For entry-level systems, you’ll often have to decide whether you’d rather prioritize processing power or storage, especially if 512GB SSD upgrades bump the price. Systems with AMD chips tend to come in cheaper than their Intel counterparts, but the bulk of their cost will come down to other components like RAM and storage.

I’ve included our favorite affordable model in this best laptop buying guide, but we have a list of the best budget laptops that you can check out as well.

So how portable do you want your laptop to be? That's the ultimate question you need to ask when choosing between various screen sizes. 13-inch machines have become a solid starting point for most shoppers — it's enough real estate for the majority of tasks like emailing and writing, and it also helps keep machines relatively light (typically between two to three pounds). Thanks to manufacturing advancements, these dainty machines sometimes even come with larger screens (the smaller MacBook Air actually has a 13.6-inch display).

If you have trouble seeing fine text, we’d recommend going for a display larger than 13 inches. ASUS’s Zephyrus G14 is a solid 14-inch option for gamers, and we’re also seeing more productivity-focused machines aim for that size, like the Dell 14 Premium and MacBook Pro. While 14-inch notebooks are a bit heavier than 13-inch models, coming in between three to four pounds, their screens are noticeably roomier.

For artists, or anyone else who needs a large canvas, a 15-inch laptop may make the most sense. They typically weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds, but that extra heft may be worth it to fit wider video editing timelines or Photoshop windows. And, as you'd expect, you'll also pay a bit more for a 15-inch notebook compared to smaller ones (the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,199, while the smaller model goes for $999). PC makers are also replacing 15-inch systems with 16-inch versions, which will give you even more space to work.

If you're in the market for a business laptop, size and portability might be key considerations. A lightweight yet powerful system with a long battery life can make a world of difference if you travel frequently for work.

You can still find laptops with 17-inch or 18-inch screens, but those are typically gaming systems or souped-up workstations. They're not meant for mere computing mortals.

These days, most laptops ship with a few USB-C ports, which can handle both charging and speedy data transfers. Apple's MacBooks also include a separate connection for MagSafe power, and you'll find custom power connections on some PCs like Microsoft's Surface. Older USB Type-A connections are less common now, but they still pop up in systems like HP's Spectre x360 14, as well as many models from ASUS.

For gamers or creators who rely on discrete graphics, ensuring your laptop has the right ports for external monitors or GPUs is crucial. DisplayPort or HDMI connections can also ensure you’re ready for dual- or multi-screen setups for more immersive experiences. Similarly, if you want to save high-resolution files or install multiple games, you might need to consider additional hard drive space; external hard drives are pretty affordable, as long as you have a proper port to connect them.

If you're a fan of wired headphones, it's worth keeping a close eye on headphone jack availability. They usually include a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, but that's a clunky solution, and it also takes up a USB port. Sure, most people use wireless earbuds and cans today, but it's still helpful to have a wired one around for when those devices run out of juice.

Most laptops today offer Wi-Fi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, which should mean faster and more stable connections if you have compatible routers and devices. While Wi-Fi 7 routers have started appearing, that spec hasn't made its way into laptops yet. As for cellular coverage, there are notebooks like the Surface Pro 9 and Samsung Galaxy Book models that offer integrated 5G. But from our testing, that feature may not be worth the cost of a separate data plan. Instead, you could tether to your smartphone or invest in a wireless hotspot that can keep multiple devices online.

A laptop's battery life depends on several factors: The power draw from the screen and other hardware, the optimizations used to avoid unnecessary power drain, and, of course, the size of the actual battery. One of our previous favorite systems, the Dell XPS 13, lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes in the PCMark 10 battery benchmark. In real-world testing, I was able to use it for a day and a half without needing a recharge. The MacBook Air 13-inch, meanwhile, more than 18 hours in our benchmark and kept running for more than two work days of my typical workflow. In general, you should expect a modern laptop to last at least eight hours.

If battery life is your absolute priority, I'd strongly suggest looking at Macs over Windows PCs. Apple's M-series chips are essentially mobile hardware, with all of the power efficiency you'd expect from something originally designed for phones. Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon chips could help Windows PCs compete with Apple’s astonishing battery life, but we’ve yet to see those in action. Chromebooks also typically get decent battery life (as long as you don’t overstuff them with power-draining tabs).

A laptop's refresh rate refers to the amount of times its screen is cycled every second. Modern displays like IPS LCDs and OLEDs support 60Hz refresh rates at a minimum, but we're seeing more devices offering 120Hz, 240Hz and beyond. The higher the number, the faster the screen is refreshed, which ultimately leads to a smoother experience while mousing around or scrolling through web pages. (If you want to get a sense of what a slow refresh rate looks like, just grab an e-reader like the Kindle and try to flip between book pages.)

While high refresh rates used to be reserved for gaming laptops, nowadays we're seeing more mainstream machines like the Dell 14 Premium offer 120Hz (or variable rates that move between 60Hz and 120Hz).

If you’re buying a new laptop, you’ll want to make sure it’s powered by the latest CPUs so you’re not short on processing power a year from now. For Windows PCs, that includes Intel’s Core Ultra chips for thin-and-light machines or the 14th-gen HX chips for beefier systems. The Core Ultra series have NPUs for handling AI tasks, while the HX hardware does not – they’re based on Intel’s previous chip architecture, and they’re more focused on delivering raw horsepower. Intel's older 13th-gen and 12th-gen laptop chips also don't have NPUs, so keep that in mind if you're looking at used systems.

You'll also see AMD's Ryzen 8000 and 9000 chips in plenty of new systems like the ASUS Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14. Those CPUs mainly target gaming laptops and high performance systems, while you'll still find AMD’s older Ryzen 7000 chips in ultraportables. AMD's main advantage is that its chips also include Radeon graphics, which are far more capable than Intel's Arc hardware (though those are getting better).

Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus are also an option in Copilot+ PCs (more on those below). Since they’re based on mobile chip designs, they’re likely also more power efficient than AMD and Intel’s hardware. In the past, we’ve avoided recommending Snapdragon chips because they led to a slow and frustrating Windows experience. But Microsoft claims it’s rebuilt Windows 11 around Snapdragon’s Arm-based architecture, which should lead to far faster performance and better app compatibility.

As for Apple's laptops, you'll be choosing between the M4 Pro, M4 Max and M5, each of which is progressively more powerful.

On the graphics side of things, a GPU, or graphics processing unit, is the component that communicates directly with a laptop's display. Laptop CPUs all have some form of integrated GPU: Intel has either its standard graphics or beefier Arc hardware, while AMD's chips include fast Radeon mobile graphics. If you want to play demanding games at high speeds (measured in frames per second, or fps), or if you need some extra power for rendering video or 3D models, you can configure a laptop with a dedicated GPU like NVIDIA's RTX 40-series hardware or AMD's Radeon RX 7000. Just be sure to leave room in your budget if you want a powerful GPU, as they typically add $300 or more to the cost of a laptop.

Apple's M-series chips, meanwhile, have GPU cores that can perform as well as NVIDIA’s and AMD's lower-end dedicated GPUs. That's quite the accomplishment for systems like this (especially the MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro), and it's another reason we highly recommend Apple's notebooks.

Simply put, an AI PC is a computer equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU), which is designed to handle AI-related tasks. Much like how GPUs tackle heavy-duty gaming and rendering workloads, NPUs are designed to handle the complex math necessary for AI workloads. They’re also far more power efficient than CPUs or GPUs, which could lead to better battery performance in laptops. While many factors go into NPU performance, for the most part we measure their potential speed by TOPS (tera operations per second).

We were primed for AI PCs based on the chips Intel and AMD announced in 2023. Intel unveiled its "Core Ultra" CPUs in December, its first to include an NPU for AI work. AMD also announced its Ryzen 8040 AI mobile chips that month (and it couldn't help but say they were faster than Intel's new hardware). But in May, Microsoft announced its Copilot+ initiative, which is pushing major PC makers to deliver premium AI PCs with specifications including 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSDs and NPUs with at least 40 TOPS of AI performance.

Copilot+ is more than just a marketing term: Microsoft is also launching AI-powered features in Windows 11 that take advantage of powerful NPUs. That includes Recall, which can help you locate anything you’ve done on your PC (whenever it finally launches), as well as Cocreator in Paint, which can generate AI images based on text prompts and doodles.

If you buy an AI PC that isn’t Copilot+ certified, you’ll still be able to use some features like Windows Studio Effects, which can blur your background in video calls or keep you in frame. Developers like Adobe and Audacity are also building features into their apps that can take advantage of NPUs.

At the time of this post, Chromebook Plus notebooks can also access a few of Google’s online AI features, like image generation and photo processing.

The ThinkPad X9-14 Aura Edition is a great spiritual successor to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, offering the best that business laptops have to offer. That includes long battery life packed into a thin and light chassis. This is an optimal ultraportable business laptop.

While the price might give you some pause, we tested the lowest configuration, and found that the X9-14’s performance is excellent for casual business users. The only issue with quality is that the keyboard is lacking. It’s mushier than we’d like, which could get a bit tiresome throughout the day. You’ll still miss out on a USB Type-A port, so you may need to carry a Type-C hub with you.

Where the ThinkPad X9-14 will win you over is its bold OLED screen. Combo that with its well-rounded audio, and the ThinkPad X9-14 makes for an excellent multimedia device in and out of the workplace.

Aside from its lovely OLED screen, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED doesn't stand out from the crowded laptop field in any way. It just looks dull and boring, especially compared to the strikingly beautiful ASUS Zephyrus G14, which also came out this year. While you can probably find the Zenbook 14 for a decent price, I'd recommend holding out for something with a bit more personality (and with a less wobbly screen hinge).

The Razer Blade has almost everything you'd want in a 14-inch gaming notebook, but it's far pricier than the Zephyrus G14 on this list, and it doesn’t even have an SD card reader. It would be a solid competitor once its price falls a bit, and it's certainly a great option if you just have to have a jet-black laptop.

Framework gave its modularity magic to the Laptop 16, delivering a gaming notebook where almost every single component is user replaceable. But you'll have to pay a pretty penny to snag it with upgraded hardware, and its optional Radeon 7700S GPU was surprisingly slow.

The Alienware m16 r2 has been revamped with a slimmer case, but it’s otherwise a fairly typical gaming laptop. It’s a solid option for Alienware fans, but you’ll find better hardware and deals elsewhere.

The Zenbook Duo is a fascinating dual-screened notebook, and according to my colleague Sam Rutherford it’s the first of its kind that’s worth buying. But its unique hardware isn’t really meant for mainstream consumers, and Windows 11 still doesn’t support multi-screen setups well enough to make full use of the Zenbook Duo’s ample canvas.

Dell’s XPS 16 is big and beautiful, but it’s far too expensive compared to the competition. Plus, it uses a capacitive row of function keys that you basically can’t see under bright light and has too few ports for a machine of this size.

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It’s hard to come up with an average battery life for laptops, since that will ultimately depend on what you’re doing with them. An ultraportable like the MacBook Air that sips power can last around 20 hours in our battery benchmark, and around two full work days of real-world usage. But a gaming laptop may last only a few hours if you’re actively playing something while on battery. At this point, Macs are delivering far better battery life than PCs, thanks to Apple’s Silicon chips, but Microsoft claims Copilot+ systems with Qualcomm chips will also get over 20 hours of batter life.

The more RAM you have, the more things your computer can do simultaneously. For that reason, we recommend buying PCs and Macs with at least 16GB of RAM. That gives you enough memory to have several applications open at once, as well as web browsers filled with RAM-hogging tabs. Many PC games also require at least 16GB of RAM. While you could use a system with 8GB of RAM for basic tasks, you’ll quickly run into slowdowns and error messages as your apps stack up. Many laptops, especially ultraportables, don’t let you upgrade RAM, too – so you’ll have to buy an entirely new computer if you didn’t equip enough memory at the start.

If you’re a hardcore gamer, programmer or planning to render videos or 3D models, then you may want to go for 32GB of RAM or more. And if you just need a secondary laptop for lighter work – perhaps a no-frills system for writing – then you can probably get by with 8GB. Just be sure to keep those browser tabs in check.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to laptop storage. You’ll typically find configurations between 256GB and 1TB SSDs (solid state drives) on most laptops, and I’d recommend most people get at least 512GB. That’ll be enough space for large apps, music and video files without stressing your system too much. If you’re a media hoarder, or want to play a ton of games, then it’s definitely worth getting a 1TB SSD.

If you’ll mainly be streaming your shows and music, and would rather invest in RAM or other hardware, then 256GB of storage would be serviceable. I’d recommend staying away from any machine with 128GB of storage though. Most of that will be taken up by the operating system, and you’ll likely run into issues cramming in large apps after a few months.

We recommend springing for extra built-in storage or investing in a portable SSD for backing up your most important files. It's also worth noting that Chromebooks tend to come with less built-in storage — 32GB, 64GB or 128GB — since ChromeOS encourages users to save their files in the cloud rather than on the device. In that case, 128GB is plenty.

You can expect to spend between $1,000 and $1,800 for a typical 13-inch laptop today. As I explained above, you'll pay more if you want to stuff in more RAM or better GPU hardware. But you can also find deals below $1,000 if you look for refurbished or older-generation models.

Simply put, macOS is the operating system in all of Apple's notebooks and desktops, while Windows powers the vast majority of PCs. You'll also find Chromebooks running Google's ChromeOS, but those are basically just web browsers running on top of Linux.

Debating the differences between Windows and Macs is something PC nerds have been doing since the '80s, so we won't be declaring a winner here. There are some small, negligible distinctions, like using a Command versus a Control key, how file explorers work and concerns about viruses and security. For the most part, those are minor issues or have become moot thanks to better built-in security.

But if you care more about playing the newest games, you'll want to have a Windows system. If you're more focused on creative apps, like Photoshop, Premiere and Final Cut Pro, then macOS may be a better fit (especially if you're running an iPhone).

There is no single "best" laptop brand, but judging from this guide alone, we're generally impressed by notebooks from Apple, Dell and ASUS. They all offer fast, reliable and sturdy machines. HP also makes some eye-catching devices if you want an option that’s the most aesthetic. Those four brands, along with Lenovo and Acer, dominate laptop sales worldwide. We'd avoid systems from any retail store brands, or companies that don't have a major presence in the US.

October 2025: Updated to add the latest MacBook Pro.

September 2025: Added a new "specs to look for" section.

August 2025: Updated our top picks to include the Dell 14 Premium.

May 2025: Updated to ensure top picks and details are still accurate.

March 2025: Updated to include the M4-powered MacBook Air.

November 2024: Updated to include the M4-powered MacBook Pros.

August 2024: Updated to include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops-120008636.html?src=rss