Macworld - October 2021 UK

INSIDE: HOW APPLE
PLANS TO TRANSFORM
THE MACBOOK PRO
OCTOBER 2021
BEST MACS & iPADS FOR STUDENTS
EDUCATION
SPECIAL
PLUS:
HOW TO GET AN
APPLE STUDENT
DISCOUNT
CONTENTS
24
Credit: Getty Images/Jacob Ammentorp Lund

NEWS NEWS ANALYSIS
4 Apple delays controversial 14 Six ways Apple is planning
iCloud Photo CSAM scanning to radically transform the
6 Apple to slightly loosen iOS MacBook Pro
restrictions on ‘reader’ apps 21 Developers aren’t impressed
8 Apple allows developers to with Apple’s App Store
promote outside payments changes
10 Future iPhones could use
satellite communications for EDUCATION SPECIAL
emergencies 24 Best Mac for students
12 Apple acquires Primephonic 37 Best iPad for students
music streaming service 67 How to get an Apple Student
Discount
2 Macworld • October 2021

14
REVIEWS 67
71 CleanMyMac X
75 CCleaner
MACOS TIPS & TRICKS

78 macOS Monterey: How to
change the cursor colour on
your Mac
80 macOS Monterey: How to set
up and use Focus on your Mac 80
85 How to use Optimized
Storage in macOS
91 Make the macOS Dock tiny
by using Terminal
93 Use Activity Monitor to
handle troublesome apps
on your Mac
HELP DESK
96 Help Desk
October 2021 • Macworld 3

NEWS
Apple delays iCloud Photo

CSAM scanning
New features are coming ‘later this year’. Roman Loyola reports
A
pple has announced company will make the CSAM
that the three features features available “later this year in
it revealed to stop the updates”. In a press release (fave.
spread of Child Sexual co/3l2tKMp), Apple stated that:
Abuse Material (CSAM) will not “This programme is ambitious, and
be available at the autumn release protecting children is an important
of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS responsibility. These efforts will
8 and macOS 12 Monterey. The evolve and expand over time.” Apple

revealed the CSAM features in than CSAM, though doing so would
early August, and while many in the weaken Apple’s image as a company
tech community applauded Apple’s concerned about user privacy.
efforts to protect children, many also The other two CSAM features that
voiced concerns about the potential are being delayed are:
for how the technology behind the
CSAM features could be used for Messages communication safety:
other surveillance purposes. Over 90 The Messages app will use on-device
policy and rights groups published machine learning to warn children and
an open letter urging Apple to cancel parents about sensitive content.
its CSAM features.
The main feature that sparked Siri and Search: These functions will
controversy is the CSAM detection provide additional resources to help
feature, where images on your device children and parents stay safe online
are scanned for hashes, and those and get help with unsafe situations.
hashes are then checked on a list of
known CSAM hashes. The argument
made against this feature is that
it could be implemented for other
uses. For example, a government
could demand that Apple create a
similar process to check for images
of opposition groups.
Apple stated that in such
situations, it would turn down such
a request, but the declaration did
not create any confidence within the
concerned. Governments can (and
will) always create consequences
for not obeying an order, which
could cause Apple to change its
policy. There’s also the possibility
that Apple could decide to use the
technology for its own purpose other

NEWS
Apple to slightly loosen

iOS restrictions on
‘reader’ apps
So-called ‘reader’ apps will soon be allowed to link to their own
external sites for account management. Jason Cross reports
A
pple has long allowed of Apple’s usual in-app purchase
what it calls “reader” method (in which Apple takes 15 to 30
apps (like Netflix, per cent of subscription or purchase
Kindle, Spotify, Audible revenue). However, such apps are
or Dropbox) to bill users outside forbidden from mentioning that such

a thing is possible, and cannot link review of the guidelines for App Store
out from the app to their websites developers. It’s a relatively small
for account management (including concession: the apps in question will
subscription renewals or purchases). not be able to offer their own in-app
Apple has announced that is billing and payment processing, as
making a small revision to this policy apps that provide physical goods and
in order to close an investigation by services do (such as Amazon or Uber).
the Japan Fair Trade Commission Developer David Barnard explained
(JFTC). Apple’s press release states: what the change will mean for Netflix,
“The update will allow developers calling it “a big deal, but also not”.
of ‘reader’ apps to include an in-app It doesn’t sound like the new
link to their website for users to set guidelines will allow the apps to even
up or manage an account. While the state that subscriptions or purchases
agreement was made with the JFTC, are available on the web. Rather, the
Apple will apply this change globally apps will be allowed to, “share a single
to all reader apps on the store. Reader link to their website to help users
apps provide previously purchased set up and manage their account”,
content or content subscriptions according to Apple’s release. That
for digital magazines, newspapers, account management might include
books, audio, music and video. purchasing or renewing subscriptions,
“To ensure a safe and seamless but it sounds from Apple’s release as
user experience, the App Store’s if the single link in the app may not
guidelines require developers to sell be allowed to say ‘subscribe for just
digital services and subscriptions £9.99 a month’ and instead must say
using Apple’s in-app payment system. something like ‘Account Management’
Because developers of reader apps or ‘set up your account’.
do not offer in-app digital goods and
services for purchase, Apple agreed
with the JFTC to let developers of
these apps share a single link to their
website to help users set up and
manage their account.”
The change will go into effect
early in 2022, after an update and

NEWS
Apple to let developers

promote outside payments
Apple and developers reach an agreement in class-action suit.
Michael Simon reports
I
n a surprise announcement, Apple by Apple and small developers” that
announced several changes to will change several contentious terms
its App Store terms as part of the that were being challenged in court.
resolution of a class-action suit The biggest change involves
from US developers. The agreement, outside payments. While Apple isn’t
which is pending court approval, allowing developers to offer their
identifies “seven key priorities shared own payment methods inside iOS

apps, it is allowing app makers to • Apple agreed to create an annual
“use communications, such as email, transparency report based on
to share information about payment App Store data, which it will share
methods outside of their iOS app”. with developers.
That means that iOS users who sign • Apple will also establish a $100
up for a free trial can be directly million fund to assist small US
contacted by developers about developers who earn $1 million
outside payment methods without or less.
running afoul of the App Store terms.
Customers who make purchases The motion for the settlement is
outside the app won’t pay Apple the available online as a downloadable
usual 15 per cent or 30 per cent cut. PDF – go to fave.co/3tiWhRg.
Apple and developers have agreed
to maintain the fee in its current
structure for at least the next three
years. That includes a reduced
commission for developers making
less than $1 million in annual revenue.
Apple is also increasing the
number of price points available to
developers for subscriptions, in-app
purchases, and paid apps to more
than 500. There are currently than
100 price points to choose from.
Apple has also agreed to continue
to base Search results on ‘objective
characteristics’ such as the number
of downloads, ratings, and relevance.
Among the other changes are:
• Apple has agreed to add content

to the App Review website to help
developers understand how the
appeals process works.

NEWS
Future iPhones could use

satellite communications
for emergencies
Don’t expect to use your iPhone 13 to make satellite calls. Roman
Loyola reports
W
ith the iPhone 13 new phone. The latest comes from
release getting analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who states in
closer and closer, an investor’s note that the iPhone 13
speculation is could have low earth orbit satellite
heating up about the features of the connectivity, which would allow users

to make phone calls when cellular networks – see fave.co/3l13nGm.
coverage is unavailable. According He surmises that the new band in the
to Kuo (who has a record of reliable modem could be ground-based LTE
reports), the iPhone 13 will be rather than satellites.
equipped with a custom Qualcomm Later, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg
X60 modem that works with low cites “a person with knowledge of
earth satellites. Kuo also says that the situation” in a report that clarifies
Qualcomm has been working with the situation. Apple is apparently
Globalstar to use the company’s working to enable limited satellite
satellite communications service. communications for emergency
However, it’s unclear as to how situations. Users would not be able
the user can get access to a satellite to make phone calls, or even send
service. Kuo explains one ‘scenario’ regular full text messages, but would
in which the user’s network operator instead get a new third class of
has a partnership with Globalstar, and ‘grey bubble’ text in Messages that
connecting to the satellites would be are shorter in length. Another tool
done through the carrier. Also, in this could allow users to report major
scenario, the user doesn’t have to catastrophes like plane crashes or
sign up for another phone plan. sinking ships.
If the satellite feature comes to While these could be done
fruition, the iPhone 13 will be the without a cell network, it will be no
first consumer-level phone with it. substitution for cell service in any way.
According to Kuo, other companies The messaging features are severely
will be using Qualcomm’s X65 limited in a way that makes them
modem to implement low earth practical only in emergencies, and it
orbit satellite connectivity. could take up to a minute to connect
While it’s an interesting feature, to a satellite. Both features are
however, it’s unlikely to be one reliant on satellite coverage and local
most consumers are going to use. regulations. Gurman’s report says
And that if it’s accurate. A Twitter Apple is still working on the potential
thread by Sascha Segan of PCMag new feature and it won’t be ready until
explains how Kuo might have at least next year.
his information wrong due to the
intricacies of Globalstar and its

NEWS
Apple buys Primephonic

music streaming service
Apple will release a stand-alone classical music app next year.
Roman Loyola reports
A
pple has revealed that it Digital music can be challenging
has acquired Primephonic, to manage on streaming services
a streaming media – the metadata system for music
start-up with a focus on files was created with popular
classical music. In a press release music in mind. Apple made some
(fave.co/3yNup9d), Apple says users improvements years ago when Apple
will be able to access Primephonic Music was called iTunes, but it still
playlists and exclusive audio content, was frustrating for classical music
and that a “dedicated experience with listeners. With the Primephonic
the best features of Primephonic” will acquisition, Apple says it can provide
eventually be available. a better experience, with the ability to

search by composer and repertoire,
as well as “detailed displays of
classical music metadata, plus new
features and benefits.”
A note on the Primephonic website
(fave.co/3h9nWiK) seems to indicate
that the three-year-old company saw
the acquisition as necessary for it to
achieve its goals. “As a classical-only
start-up, we can not [sic] reach the
majority of global classical listeners,
especially those that listen to many
other music genres as well,” said the
company. “We therefore concluded
that in order to achieve our mission,
we need to partner with a leading
streaming service that encompasses
all music genres and also shares our
love for classical music.”
Primephonic shut down on 7
September, and its users will get
six months of Apple Music for free.
Apple will release a dedicated app for
classical music next year that will have
features that Primephonic are familiar
with, plus ‘more added features’.

NEWS ANALYSIS
Six ways Apple is planning

to radically transform the
MacBook Pro
M1X, mini-LED, and more. Roman Loyola reports
N
umerous reports – some take a look at what we could see in
from very reliable sources the next MacBook Pro and how these
– say that Apple will new features will transform the laptop
introduce a new MacBook from what we’re familiar with into
Pro in the next few weeks. This isn’t something completely new.
any ordinary speed bump release,
however. The new MacBook Pro 1. APPLE SILICON
promises to put Apple’s flagship Apple’s M1 System on a Chip (SoC)
laptop in a new light and set the took the industry by storm when it
momentum for future releases. Let’s was revealed last November in the

13in MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, and Mac
mini. Its performance
blew past expectations
(and Intel CPUs) and
extended battery life
so much that it boggled
the mind.
Now that initial
impressions of Apple
silicon are out of the
way, it’s time for the
company to show what
else is in store. And The M1 had a successful debut, but now it’s time to see
the idea that the next how much further along Apple can take its own silicon.
Apple SoC could be
significantly faster than the M1 makes Neural Engine for AI and machine
this the most exciting thing that will learning tasks, and that will likely
happen with the new MacBook Pro. get a big boost too. The M1 has a 16-
Various reports state that the core Neural Engine, but we haven’t
SoC in the new MacBook Pro will be heard as to how those improvements
called the M1X, and it could have a will be implemented.
10-core CPU, with eight performance Add it all up, and what you get is
cores and two efficiency cores. That’s performance that transforms the new
double the number of performance MacBook Pro from a solid, high-end
cores of the M1. Also, the M1X could laptop to one that’s more worthy of
support a maximum of 64GB of RAM the ‘Pro’ moniker. In comparisons of
– the M1’s max is 16GB. the M1 to Intel CPUs available last
On top of the CPU boost, graphic November, we saw performance
performance will jump ahead, too. improvements of over 80 per cent in
The M1X could be available in 16 or some tests, with many other tests in
32 graphics core options, a big jump the 50 to 70 per cent improvement
from the seven or eight graphics range. We can’t imagine what the
cores in the M1. Apple’s SoC uses a jump in M1X performance will be over

NEWS ANALYSIS
the Intel CPU in the 16in MacBook After all these years, the MacBook
Pro, but we know it’ll be impressive. Pro is undergoing a change in its
sizes – and the change actually
2. SIZES started nearly two years ago with
Apple introduced the first MacBook the introduction of the 16in MacBook
Pro in 2006 as a replacement for the Pro, which replaced the 15in model.
PowerBook. The first release was a To accompany the 16in laptop, Apple
15in model, then came a huge 17in is also rumoured to reveal a 14in
model a few months later, and finally MacBook Pro this autumn.
the 13in MacBook Pro in 2009. In The 16in MacBook Pro isn’t that
2012, Apple introduced the Retina much bigger than the 15in model
display in the laptop and focused it replaced. That’s because Apple
the line-up on 13- and 15in models. reduced the bezels around the screen,
Retina’s ability to create higher resulting in a larger amount of usable
screen resolutions negated the display. We’ll see a similar treatment
need for a 17in laptop and it’s been in the new 14in MacBook Pro: It could
that way since. be a smidge bigger physically than the
13in, but its bezels
will be much thinner.
Essentially, with the
new MacBook Pro,
you get a bigger
screen without an
obviously bigger
overall size.
Now, the sizes
of the MacBook
Pro may not seem
like a big deal.
As we’ve seen in
past iterations
The 16in MacBook Pro actually made its debut two years of the laptop,
ago. But the new one will use Apple silicon instead of Intel performance can
CPUs and AMD GPUs. influence the

size of the laptop
you decide upon.
With Intel MacBook
Pros, the larger the
laptop, the higher the
performance, and many
users would rather
have the smaller form
factor without the
speed sacrifice.
Reports have said
that the new 14- and
16in MacBook Pro will The 12.9in iPad Pro was Apple’s first product with a Mini
both have the M1X LED display.
SoC, and that the
performance will be the same between 3. MINI-LED DISPLAY
the two sizes. If that’s the case, Mini LED is a display technology that
picking a MacBook Pro becomes a lot made its Apple debut in the 2021
easier, since you don’t need to worry iPad Pro and we could see it make
about any performance sacrifices. its way to the new MacBook Pros.
Like the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone The specifications for a mini LED
12, you’ll be basing your decision on MacBook Pro display will likely be
screen size, not performance. very similar to what’s on the iPad
The 13in design may not entirely go Pro: 1,000 nits of brightness (up
away, however. Apple currently offers from 500 nits on the current model),
four standard configurations of the 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio, and
13in MacBook Pro, two with Apple’s support for the P3 wide colour gamut.
M1 System on a Chip, and two with And with Mini LED’s backlighting,
Intel processors. Apple could keep you’ll see less light bleed and a better
the M1 models and possibly reduce dynamic range of colour.
the price, while replacing the Intel MacBook Pro displays have
models with the new 14in MacBook always been very good, but lately, it
Pro that feature the next generation feels like Apple has stalled with its
of Apple silicon. laptop display advancements. The

NEWS ANALYSIS
implementation of Mini LED is another camera, and it needs to be in the next

feature that helps the MacBook Pro MacBook Pro to transform the online
feel like it’s a cutting-edge product. experience to one that you can enjoy.
Pros whose work involves fine detail Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like
will appreciate the improvement. But Face ID will be making an appearance
even regular users will appreciate the just yet, but we’ll take what we can get
boost in brightness and clarity, which
should be a tremendous improvement 5. THE RETURN OF PORTS
over the prior generation. For a large number of people, their
laptop is the primary (and often only)
4. 1080P FACETIME computer. So it helps if that laptop
HD CAMERA provides what’s needed not just
The 720p FaceTime camera that processing-wise, but with ports, too.
is currently in the MacBook Pro Currently, the 13in MacBook Pro has
is an embarrassment. It produces two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, and
subpar image quality, and you and the 16in model has four. That’s not
your colleagues are reminded of enough. If you’re charging while using
that every time you participate in the laptop, that’s one port occupied.
an online meeting or FaceTime call. Connect an external display, and
How can a pro laptop have such a you’ve already filled up the ports on a
terrible camera?
If the rumours
are true, Apple
will outfit the new
MacBook Pro with
the superior 1080p
FaceTime HD camera
that is used in the
24in iMac. It’s better
at handling poor
lighting conditions
and produces far
better image quality. How is it that a pro laptop like the 13in MacBook Pro has
It’s a really good only two ports?

13in MacBook Pro. What
if you need to connect
a third display, or an
external GPU box, or a
mixer, or an external drive
array, or a video capture
device, or a microphone,
or an SD card reader…
you get the idea. You run
out of ports quickly.
The MacBook Pro is
often used for production
work, so the number
of available ports is The Touch ID button on the new MacBook Pro will
important to connect probably look like the one on the Magic Keyboard.
the gear needed to get
stuff done. Sure, you can invest in will equip the MacBook Pro with a
a Thunderbolt hub, but you have magnetic power adapter connector
enough to carry already. The MacBook similar to the old MagSafe cable. I
Pro needs more ports. can remember numerous times I’ve
And it sounds like that could tripped over my current MacBook
happen with the new 14- and 16in Pro power cord and sent the laptop
MacBook Pro. Various reports have plunging to the floor. It’s a miracle my
stated that Apple is going to include laptop still works. A power connector
more Thunderbolt ports, likely four like the first iteration of MagSafe in
like the 16in MacBook Pro. (I’d love MacBooks from 2006 to 2016 would
to see four on the 14in MacBook be a great addition and a lifesaver for
Pro and six on the 16in model.) It’s the laptop.
also possible that Apple will add an
HDMI port and reinstate the SD Card 6. THE END OF
reader (which was in the MacBook Pro THE TOUCH BAR
from 2009 to 2016). That would be One of the early rumours about the
huge for pro users. new MacBook Pro is that the Touch
There’s also a rumour that Apple Bar could be replaced by traditional

NEWS ANALYSIS
Function keys. I’ve written about

my dislike for the Touch Bar and
I’ve heard from plenty of Macworld
readers about how wrong I am. It’s a
very polarizing feature and removing it
would be just divisive.
So despite my dislike for the
Touch Bar and hope for it to go away,
I actually don’t think it will. Apple
sees it as a pro-level feature and they
don’t believe it to be problematic
– at least not anymore after they
modified it to bring back the Escape
key. It’s a feature that provides even
more separation from the MacBook
Air, which Apple promotes as its
consumer-level laptop.
Whether the Touch Bar stays or
goes, you can count on the MacBook
Pro having Touch ID. It’s possible
Apple will update the Touch ID button
with new sensors and it will look
more like the Touch ID button on the
external Magic Keyboard. There are
also rumours that it could have a
glowing ring. If we can’t have Face
ID yet, we’ll be quite happy with an
improved Touch ID button – it’s such
a convenient alternative to looking up
and typing in passwords.

Developers aren’t
impressed with Apple’s
App Store changes
Apple announced several changes to its App Store terms but
developers don’t think they go far enough. Michael Simon reports
L
ast month, Apple announced to be approved by a judge, Apple
an agreement with developers has made several concessions that
involved in a class-action will change the way developers
lawsuit that involved several can sell subscriptions and in-app
changes to the App Store. As part purchases, including allowing
of the agreement, which still needs developers to promote outside

NEWS ANALYSIS
1.
payment options free of Apple’s fees

in correspondence with customers.
However, not all developers are
happy with the moves. As part of
the agreement, Apple also said it
will be keeping the App Store terms
the same for the next three years, 2.
which means Apple’s 30 per cent
cut for developers making over a 2. SMOKE AND MIRRORS
million dollars a year stays in place. Developer Ryan Jones pored over
It’s also not allowing developers to the terms of the agreement and
offer alternative payment methods concluded that Apple didn’t really
inside apps. Here’s what developers
had to say after Apple announced
the agreement:
1. AN AGREEMENT FOR ONE

Overcast developer Marco Arment
has been one of the most vocal
critics of Apple’s App Store terms
over the years and he doesn’t
think Apple is giving anything to
developers in this agreement. 3.

4. 5.
change much, despite headlines 5. THE FIGHT CONTINUES

to the contrary. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney vows to
continue fighting Apple’s App Store
3. A DIFFERENT terms – which probably means
PERSPECTIVE Fortnite isn’t returning anytime soon.
Tweetbot developer Paul Hadad put
the agreement in terms we can all
understand.
4. MISSING THE POINT

New York Times Silicon Valley reporter
Jack Nicas agrees that very little has
changed for Apple’s developers as
part of this agreement.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
Credit: Getty Images/Jacob Ammentorp Lund

Best Mac for students
Find out whether to buy MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, or if another
M1 or Intel Mac would be best. Macworld Staff report
T
hinking of buying a Mac for college, or if another Mac might
or MacBook for school, actually be a better choice.
college or university work? If you’re looking for stability,
Here, in our best Mac for security and a reliable and easy to
students guide, we take a look at use operating system then Apple’s
Apple’s current Mac line-up to find Mac’s come highly recommended. If
out which Mac is best for students. might seem that Macs are expensive
We’ll examine whether you should compared to their Windows
get a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro alternatives, however the added

premium is justified, and, as you will 7-core GPU and a 256GB SSD, while
see if you read on, you don’t have to the £1,249 model has an 8-core GPU
break the bank to buy one. and a 512GB SSD.
To find out how to get an Apple
Student Discount, go to page 67. How do I connect stuff? The MacBook
Air has only a pair of Thunderbolt/
MACBOOK AIR USB 4 connectors. If you want to
Models for sale were originally connect USB-A devices, you need
released November 2020. either a USB-C to USB adapter, like
Apple’s £19 one, or a USB-C hub
What is it? The MacBook Air is that has USB-A ports. The MacBook
Apple’s affordable line of laptops. It Air has built-in Wi-Fi for connecting
currently offers two 13in models. to a network. It also provides built-in
Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting
Who’s it for? The MacBook Air is a mouse or other peripherals. If
ideal for the budget conscious. It’s you want to connect to an Ethernet
also for anyone who is always on the network, you’ll need an adapter.
go, doesn’t want to be bogged
down by a regular-size laptop
and needs a computer that’s
more versatile than an iPad.
What are the specifications?

The two MacBook Air models
have Apple’s M1 system on a chip,
which features an 8-core CPU,
16-core Neural Engine, and 8GB
of RAM (upgradeable to 16GB).
Apple claims 15 hours of battery
life for wireless web and 18 hours
Apple TV app movie playback.
The main difference between
the models offered is the GPU and The MacBook Air is Apple’s most affordable
storage. The £999 model has a laptop and will be perfect for most students.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
How fast is it? The MacBook a portable computer that also

Air is one of the fastest laptops performs well.
around, full stop. The M1 provides
performance that is leaps and What are the specifications? The
bounds faster than what was MacBook Pro is available in screen
previously found in the MacBook Air. sizes of 13 inches and 16 inches.
It’s plenty fast enough for general All laptops include the Touch Bar
purpose use, but because it doesn’t interface at the top of the keyboard.
have a fan to keep the computer There are four 13in models:
cool, it may throttle down its speed
during long processing sessions, £1,299 model: Apple 8-core M1
such as video editing. But even then, system on a chip with 8GB of
it’s still plenty fast. memory, an 8-core GPU, and a 16-
core Neural Engine; 256GB SSD,
Verdict: The MacBook Air is a great two Thunderbolt 3 ports
affordable laptop for a student, who
does general-purpose work and £1,499 model: Apple 8-core M1
needs a mobile device. You can’t system on a chip with 8GB of
easily upgrade the storage or memory memory, an 8-core GPU, and a 16-
after purchase, so you should buy core Neural Engine; 512GB SSD, two
the model with the largest amount of Thunderbolt 3 ports
storage you can afford.
£1,799 model: 2GHz quad-core Intel
MACBOOK PRO Core i5 (10th generation) processor,
M1-based 13in models were released 16GB of memory, Intel Iris Plus
November 2020. Intel-based 13in Graphics integrated graphics, 512GB
models were released May 2020. 16in SSD, four Thunderbolt 3 ports
models released November 2019.
£1,999 model: 2GHz quad-core
What is it? The MacBook Pro is Intel Core i5 (10th generation)
Apple’s high-performance laptop. processor, 16GB of memory, Intel
Iris Plus Graphics integrated
Who’s it for? The MacBook Pro is graphics, 1TB SSD, four
for the demanding user who wants Thunderbolt 3 ports

The 13in Retina display has a The 16in Retina display has a
native resolution of 2,560x1,600, and native resolution of 3,072x1,920, and
macOS offers a scaled resolution up macOS’s highest scaled resolution on
to 1,680x1,050. those laptops is 2,048x1,280.
Apple has two 16in MacBook Pros:
What is the Touch Bar? The Touch
£2,399 model: 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Bar is an input device that sits on
Core i7 (9th generation) processor, top of the keyboard. The buttons and
16GB of memory, 512GB SSD, Intel controls available on the Touch Bar
UHD Graphics 630 integrated change depending on the software
graphics, 4GB Radeon Pro 5300M you are using.
discrete graphics, four Thunderbolt
3 ports How do I connect stuff? No need to
worry about wireless connectivity: it
£2,799 model: 2.3GHz 8-core Intel has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Core i7 (9th generation) processor, It’s the wired connectivity you
16GB of memory, 1TB SSD, Intel need to be concerned with. The
UHD Graphics 630 integrated MacBook Pro has only Thunderbolt
graphics, 4GB Radeon Pro 5500M 3 ports, which are compatible with
discrete graphics, four Thunderbolt USB-C. The £1,299 and £1,499 13in
3 ports MacBook Pro models have two ports,
The MacBook Pro is Apple’s high-performance laptop.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
while every other MacBook model different models are available with
has four. If you have a Thunderbolt 3 Apple’s M1. And the M1 outperforms
device, you can plug it directly into the other MacBook Pro models.
the laptop. The same goes for any If speed is you priority over
USB-C device. However, if you have everything else – port connectivity
wired devices that aren’t USB-C or and screen size aren’t serious
Thunderbolt 3, you’ll need an adapter. considerations – get a £1,299 or
We have a separate MacBook Pro. £1,499 13in MacBook Pro with
Unfortunately, be prepared to shell Apple’s M1 system on a chip.
out a good amount of extra cash. If you want speed, but also want
more ports, consider the £1,799 13in
How fast is it? The MacBook Pro MacBook Pro or the 16in MacBook
models are the fastest laptops Apple Pro. They’re still fast and they offer
has ever released. If it’s processing more ports than the M1 models.
power you seek, it’s the MacBook Apple will update the other
Pro you want. There is a thing you MacBook Pro models with its
need to consider. In November 2020, system on a chip, so if you can wait,
Apple updated the £1,299 and £1,499 the wait will pay off. You’ll get a really
models with its own M1 system on a fast laptop. If your work mostly
chip, replacing the Intel processors involves Internet access and other
used previously. The M1 is fast – it productivity tasks, however, go for
makes these two laptops faster than a MacBook Air.
the £1,799 and £1,999 Intel-based
models, and in some situations, it’s MAC MINI
faster than the 16in MacBook Pro. Models for sale were originally
released November 2020.
Verdict: For the most demanding
student – one whose work requires What is it? The Mac mini is Apple’s
a lot of processing power – the smallest desktop Mac. It’s a
MacBook Pro is the ticket. However, nice combination of speed and
it is in a transition period because of affordability. It’s not only fast enough
Apple’s switch from Intel processors for general-purpose use, but its multi-
to its own system on a chip. At the core speed is quite good – if you use
time of writing, only two of the six a professional app like a video editor,

3D software or developer tools, the 8-core GPU and a 16-core Neural
Mac mini can handle it, no problem. Engine; 512GB SSD
Who’s it for? Because of its price and £1,099 model: 3GHz 6-core Core
performance, the Mac mini is a great i5 (eighth generation) CPU, 8GB
Mac for just about anybody. It makes of memory, integrated Intel UHD
for an ideal primary Mac for a home Graphics 630 GPU, 512GB SSD.
or small office. Students on a budget
will be satisfied with the Mac mini. If The Mac mini does not include a
you’re switching from a PC, you can display, keyboard or mouse, so you’ll
use your PC’s keyboard and mouse have to provide your own – or you can
with the Mac mini. The Mac mini is customize your order to include these
also ideal as a secondary Mac in your devices as extra-cost options.
home, and it can integrate into your Since the Mac mini lacks an optical
home entertainment centre. drive, you need to buy an external
USB optical drive if you want to read
What are the specifications? Apple or burn CDs and DVDs.
sells three Mac mini models:
How do I connect stuff? Like Apple’s
£699 model: Apple 8-core M1 system other Macs, the Mac mini has Wi-Fi
on a chip with 8GB of memory, an and Bluetooth. The £699 and £899
8-core GPU and a 16-core Neural M1-based Mac minis have two
Engine; 256GB SSD Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, while the
£1,099 Intel-based Mac mini has
£899 model: Apple 8-core M1 system four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports. All
on a chip with 8GB of memory, an Mac minis have two USB-A ports, an
The Mac mini is a

great choice for
students on a
budget.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack and Who’s it for? The iMac is great
a gigabit Ethernet port. for both novices and demanding
To connect a display, you can use students. It can handle general-
the HDMI port or a Thunderbolt port. purpose and heavy-duty tasks equally
You might have to buy an adapter well. It’s ideal for someone who
if your display doesn’t have either needs to buy a complete computer
HDMI or a port that can connect set-up (keyboard, mouse or trackpad
to Thunderbolt. and display) and wants to maximize
workspace efficiency.
How fast is it? The £699 and £899
M1-based Mac minis are very fast. In What are the specifications? This Mac
fact, they are as fast as the 13in M1 model is currently available with a
MacBook Pro. As of this writing, the 21.5in 1,920×1,080-resolution display.
£699 M1 Mac mini gives you the best It has a 7th-generation 2.3GHz
performance for the price of any Mac dual-core Intel Core i5 processor,
that Apple offers. It’s impressive. Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 integrated
The £1,099 Intel-based Mac mini graphics, and a 256GB SSD.
offers good speed, but it’s not as fast You can’t upgrade the 21.5in iMac
as the M1 models. The Intel model is yourself after you buy it, so consider
the only one that allows you to install paying an extra £200 at the outset
32GB or 64GB of RAM, so if you do for a memory upgrade to 16GB. If
heavy production work, it might be a you want to add more RAM later, you
better fit for you. need to bring the iMac to an Apple
store. The 21.5in iMac also offers a 1TB
Verdict: The Mac mini is an excellent Fusion Drive upgrade for no additional
machine for most students. cost, but the Fusion Drive is slower
Whether you’re on a budget or not, than the 256GB SSD.
it’s a great choice. The iMac comes with Apple’s
Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse
21.5in iMAC 2. If you order online from the Apple
The iMac is Apple’s iconic all-in-one Store, however, you can switch the
computer. Made of aluminium, the keyboard to a version with a numeric
iMac has a built-in display and looks keypad, and/or switch the mouse to a
stately as it sits on a desk. Magic Trackpad 2. You can opt to get

the £1,099 iMac is
Apple’s slowest iMac.
Also, if you upgrade
to a Fusion Drive,
you get a significant
amount of storage
(1TB), but a Fusion
Drive isn’t as fast as
an SSD.
Verdict: The iMac is

worth considering,
but it’s a non-
portable Mac, which
may deter many
students from buying one. You won’t
The iMac’s large display may appeal to be able to take it with you to lectures,
some students. but you will be able to work more
efficiently through its bigger screen.
both a Magic Mouse 2 and a Magic
Trackpad 2 for £129 extra. 24in iMAC
The iMac does not have an optical Apple unveiled the 24in iMac at its
drive. If you want to read or burn Spring Loaded event in April 2021. It’s
CDs and DVDs, you need to buy an a fresh new take on the iMac and the
external USB optical drive. first update in more than a decade,
with a cleaner design, Apple silicon,
How do I connect stuff? Wi-Fi and and a choice of colours.
Bluetooth are built-in. All iMacs have
four USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt Who’s it for? The 24in iMac – like
3 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port and its 21.5in cousin –is great for both
an SDXC card slot. novices and demanding students.
It’s ideal for someone who needs
How fast is it? iMacs are among to buy a complete computer set-
Apple’s fastest computers, however, up (keyboard, mouse or trackpad

EDUCATION SPECIAL
and display) and wants to maximize can’t be upgraded after purchase.

workspace efficiency. Its Retina display has 11.3 million
pixels and support for the P3 wide
What are the specifications? T he colour gamut, over a billion colours,
24in iMac uses Apple’s M1 chip rather 500 nits of brightness, and True
than Intel’s processors, and there are Tone. Apple treats the display with
several configurations available: an anti-reflective coating to help
with readability.
£1,299: Apple M1 SoC with an
8-core CPU (4 performance cores, Why does it look different from the
4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural other iMacs? The 24in iMac has
Engine, and 7-core graphics a much different design than the
processor (GPU); 8GB of memory; 21.5in and 27in models. The bezels
256GB SSD around the display are much smaller
than on the other iMacs, but it still
£1,499: Apple M1 SoC with an has a ‘chin’, a section located below
8-core CPU (4 performance cores, the display that houses the iMac’s
4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural internals. The chin doesn’t have the
Engine, and 8-core graphics Apple logo on the front. Instead, it’s
processor (GPU); 8GB of memory; on the back. Most notably, the 24in
256GB SSD iMac comes in several colours: the £1,
299 model is available in blue, green,
£1,699: Apple M1 SoC with an pink, and silver, while the £1,499
8-core CPU (4 performance cores, and £1,699 models are available in
4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural the same colours as well as orange,
Engine, and 8-core graphics purple, and yellow.
processor (GPU); 8GB of memory;
512GB SSD How do I connect stuff? The £1,299
24in iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt
The 24in iMac 24 can have a 3 ports that also work with USB-C
maximum of 16GB of memory, and devices. The £1,499 and £1,699 iMacs
you can also upgrade to a 512GB SSD have two additional USB-C ports. If
in the £1,299 and £1,499 models. you have a USB-A device, you need
These upgrades cost extra and to buy an adapter, such as Apple’s

The new 24in iMac comes in a range of colours.
USB-C to USB Adapter (£19). If you you can select it as an option at the
have multiple USB-A devices and point of purchase – and yes, that
other items, consider a Thunderbolt means you’ll have to pay extra for it.
hub. The 24in iMac also has a
headphone jack on the side. How fast is it? Since the 24in iMac
The 24in iMac, unlike the older has the same M1 as the Mac mini, it’s
iMacs, does not have an SDXC speed is very similar. That means it’s
slot. Once again, you’ll need an fast, and it’s faster than the 21.5in
adapter, such as the Anker SD Card models it replaces. It’s got all the
reader (£13 from fave.co/3tnk6HT). speed students need, and it can
However, it does have a super-cool handle pro applications, no problem.
magnetic power cord. However, the £1,299 model has only
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are one fan inside its body, while the
built-in. Apple doesn’t put a gigabit £1,499 and £1,699 models have two
Ethernet port on the 24in iMac – fans. That means the high-priced
instead, it’s on the power adapter. models do a better job keeping its
But that Ethernet-equipped power internals cool. The £1,299 model may
adapter comes standard with the need to slow down its performance on
£1,499 and £1,699 models. It’s not heavy-duty tasks in order to maintain
included with the £1,299 model, but a proper temperature.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
Verdict: Everything about the iMac photos, or images. Or it’s for the
is greatly improved, from the design demanding user who wants the best
to the display to its performance. We image quality for everyday use.
think the sweet spot is the £1,499
model, which gets you more ports, What are the specifications?
Touch ID, and Ethernet, but if you Apple’s 27in iMac come with a
don’t need those things the £1,299 5,120×2,880-resolution Retina
model will be plenty good. display. Apple offers three models.
27in iMac £1,699: 3.1GHz 6-core Intel Core i5

The 27in iMac is Apple’s high-end all- processor, 8GB of RAM, 4GB Radeon
in-one Mac. Made of aluminium, the Pro 5300 graphics, and 256GB SSD
iMac has a built-in display and looks
stately as it sits on a desk. It also £1,899: 3.3GHz 6-core Intel Core i5
offers top-notch performance. processor, 8GB of RAM, 4GB Radeon
Pro 5300 graphics, and a 512GB SSD
Who’s it for? It’s designed for those
who work with high-resolution videos, £2,099: 3.8GHz 8-core Intel Core
i7 processor, 8GB
of RAM, 8GB
Radeon Pro 5500
XT graphics and a
512GB SSD
Students can
upgrade the RAM on
the 27in iMac easily.
The machine has four
RAM slots, accessible
through the back.
Apple installs the
standard 8GB as a
The 27in iMac is an amazing piece of kit, though it’s high price pair of 4GB memory
means it’s out of reach of most students. modules, so you can

add more RAM after you buy the dad is feeling particularly generous, it
system. Or if you prefer, you can will be out of reach of most students.
upgrade the RAM at the point of
purchase. MAC PRO
The 27in iMacs have the option of The Mac Pro is Apple’s workstation.
standard glass or nano-texture glass It’s designed for professionals who
(£270) in front of the display. The need a powerful and flexible machine.
standard glass is glossy, while the With prices starting at £5,499, it’s
nano-texture glass has a matte-like definitely not aimed at students, and
finish that produces less glare. so we haven’t included it here.
How do I connect stuff? Wi-Fi and

Bluetooth are built-in. All Retina
iMacs have four USB 3.0 ports,
two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a gigabit
Ethernet port and an SDXC card slot.
How fast is it? The 27in iMac is among

Apple’s fastest computers when it
comes to single-core performance.
When it comes to multi-core speed,
the Mac Pros are faster machines, but
the iMacs with 6-core processors have
closed the gap. You can improve the
multi-core performance by opting for
the 3.6GHz 10-core Core i9 upgrade in
the 27in £1,899 and £2,099 models.
You’ll pay more, but it may be worth it
to your for the performance boost.
Verdict: The allure of the 27in iMac is

strong; you’ll love the way it looks. You
may not love the way the price looks,
however. Unless the bank of mum and

MAC PRO: APPLE SILICON REDESIGN COMING 2022
13 ESSENTIAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
MACOS TIPS
REVEALED:
50 BEST APPLE
ARCADE GAMES
Best iPad for students
Wondering which iPad is best for school, college or university?
Read on to find out. Macworld Staff report
L
ife as a student is great, but Before you decide which iPad
it’s not all about partying; to buy, there are a few things to
you’ll also have to do some note. The biggest is the fact that
work. To make that easier, you if you are a student, a teacher or
will be looking for the best tech. Here, are employed by an educational
we help you select the best iPad for institution, you can get money off
student life, seeking out the devices a new Apple product by shopping
that offer the perfect combination of in Apple’s education store. You can
portability, power, ease of use and read all about how to get an Apple
value for money. Student Discount on page 67.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
BEST FOR BARGAIN What Apple is calling the eighth-

HUNTERS: 10.2IN iPAD generation iPad is in almost every
Price: £329 from fave.co/3zJWxeF respect the same as the 10.2in iPad
Since we expect that students are Apple launched in 2019. It differs
likely to be looking for a bargain only in having a processor that’s
we’d suggest that the 10.2in iPad is two generations newer – thereby
the closest you can get to a bargain promising a handy boost in speed
iPad – especially once you apply the – and being very slightly heavier. Is
student discount – see page 53. that enough to justify the cost?
The 2020 iPad was Almost certainly not if you’re
comprehensively outshone by the thinking of upgrading from the 2019
updated iPad Air at last year’s to 2020 models. But it’s important to
Time Flies event, offering only a dull note that the things tech journalists
(albeit significant) spec bump while its find appealing (such as differences
costlier sibling got a redesign and raft from the last generation) are not
of new features. always the things that make a useful,
The 10.2in iPad is perfect for those who don’t want to spend a fortune.

value-for-money product for the (10.2in, corner to corner) for gaming
average consumer – especially if they and watching films and TV. It’s 490g
haven’t bought a new iPad in years. (or 495g, if you go for the cellular
So I’m going to do my best to model) and just 7.5mm thick.
review this tablet as a thing in its own Apple’s engineers love to find
right, with only occasional mentions contrast between gloss and matte
of the similar model released last year. surfaces, like the precise, angled
Our review of the iPad (2020) tests its brushed-metal chamfer around the
speed and battery life, evaluates the edge of the glossy screen, or the shiny
design and feature set, and helps you Apple logo in the middle of the matte
decide if this is the right tablet for you. back. You keep finding these kinds of
small, thoughtful touches – details
Price that are pleasing to the eye or finger.
32GB: £329 These elements have been around
128GB: £429 a long time, but it’s an elegant, one
32GB, cellular: £459 might say classic, design. The screen-
128GB, cellular: £559 to-body ratio, however, is starting
to look a little dated: the inclusion
If the above prices leave room in your of a Home button on the front, and
budget, you can supplement your comparatively thick bezels – about
purchase with an accessory or two. 8mm at left and right, and a positively
The new iPad is compatible with the chunky 20mm at the top and bottom
first-generation Apple Pencil stylus – means you’re not getting as much
(which adds £89 to the cost), and screen ‘real estate’ for the size of
the Smart Keyboard (£159). the chassis as you would with an
all-screen design like on the last two
Design generations of iPad Pro and the most
The eighth-gen iPad has the same recent iPad Air.
design as last year’s model. But to The back edges of the iPad are
most people that doesn’t matter: curved whereas the front ones are
instead, we’ll simply say that this sharp; this has the same ‘pick me up’
is a slim, attractive tablet that’s effect, when the device is laid down
lightweight to pick up while offering with screen facing up, that Apple used
a display comfortably big enough on the iPad 2 back in 2011. Again, it’s

EDUCATION SPECIAL
You get
a 10.2in
display with a
resolution of
2,160x1,620 at
264ppi. That’s
standard for
Apple, roughly
matching the
iPad Air 1 from
2013 on the one
hand, and the
iPad Pro 11in
The rear-facing camera doesn’t stick out from the main body. (2020) on the
other. But again,
a well-worn design language, but I the lack of progress doesn’t matter if
personally find it more welcoming, not it gets the job done, and it does.
to mention easier to pick up, than the It’s a decent-quality screen,
uniformly squared-off edges of the certainly good enough for most uses
newfangled Pro line. even if hardly envelope-pushing in
We’ll finish with two old-fashioned terms of specs. It’s sharp, bright
elements of the design that we think and colourful, and while there are
almost everyone will applaud. The better tablets out there in those
eighth-gen iPad has a headphone departments (the Pros offer 600
port, and its rear-facing camera nits brightness to this device’s 500,
doesn’t stick out from the main body for instance, and a superior colour
at all: it’s totally flush. gamut), the iPad doesn’t suffer much
in comparison.
Display The size is in my opinion a good
We’ve established that the iPad does compromise point. iPad mini screens
not have an all-screen design. But the can be a touch cramped for movies
screen still dominates the front of the and working on the go, while the
device, and will monopolize your use largest Pro falls down on portability;
of it. Is it any good? this is the best of both worlds,

it’s unlaminated.
What does that
mean? There’s a
tiny gap between
the glass and
the display tech
underneath, and
this means that
when you press
down with a finger
or stylus it ‘gives’
The iPad (2020) has a decent screen, though it’s hardly very slightly: it
envelope-pushing in terms of specifications. flexes downwards
a microscopic
although it would be better still if amount. On a laminated screen (which
Apple could trim back those bezels. you’ll find on any iPad Pro, the iPad
The touchscreen function is slick mini 4 and later, and all Airs except
and seamless. You don’t get the the first one) there’s no gap, and
higher refresh rate and ProMotion consequently no give.
dynamic switching of the iPad Pro It’s a subtle effect, so please don’t
line, but in most situations you won’t imagine any kind of visible bending.
be conscious that you’re getting a Rather, the effect manifests itself
‘lesser’ experience.
The combination
of the screen tech
and iPadOS 14 are
enough to preserve the
fundamental illusion
behind all tablets: that
you’re literally moving
elements around on the
screen with your finger.
The last thing to say
about the screen is that Apple has opted to use an unlaminated display here.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
in a slight sense of cheapness, of this one will feel strange and a little
‘plastickyness’. It’s not reassuring, cheap. If you haven’t, then you won’t
when most iPad usage involves know what you’re missing.
touching the screen, to have this
sense, but it certainly isn’t intolerable. Photography
Indeed, we could go further and The iPad has an 8Mp camera on the
ask whether the average consumer rear and 1.2Mp on the front, with just
will notice the effect at all. a single lens in each case. Neither
I use and review iPads all the time; of these will challenge a good phone
my most commonly used tablet is camera for quality, but photography
a 2018 Pro. I’m used to laminated tends not to be a priority for tablets.
screens. So when I pick up the iPad Rear-facing camera performance
10.2in, it feels weird. But will it feel was solid, with good colour
weird to you? That depends on what reproduction and detail. I was
you’re used to. particularly impressed by its ability
My sense is that one laminated to handle mixed-lighting conditions,
screen will ruin unlaminated ones for with bright sun at the top of the shot
you, forever, and that you will always (not overexposed) but more shady
remember the way screens should undergrowth at the bottom (crisp
feel. But I may be wrong about that, and colourful).
because I was wrong once before. In the official specs list Apple says
A few years back I reviewed the this model offers HDR rather than the
iPad 9.7in (2017) and criticised its use exposure-blending Smart HDR of the
of an unlaminated screen, which I saw iPad Pro or Next-Generation Smart
as a throwback to the iPad Air 1 from HDR of current iPhones, but a glance
2013 and called “an economy too far”. in Settings shows that Smart HDR
And then everyone in the universe is enabled by default; regardless of
bought one, and I felt like a fool. the terminology, the A12 processor
So you’ll have to go your own way seems to be helping out behind the
on this one, but try to get your hands scenes in some capacity.
on the new iPad before buying if you The front camera is more basic. A
can. If you’ve ever used a laminated selfie in good lighting came out with
iPad, which means most of them and slightly soft edges and noticeable
certainly all the expensive ones, then pixellation when looked at closely.

Rear-facing
camera
performance
is solid, with
good colour
reproduction
and detail.
Selfies
come
out with
slightly soft
edges and
noticeable
pixellation
when looked
at closely.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
I suspect that the front camera newer than the A10; more specifically,
will primarily be used for FaceTime Apple claims it’s 40 per cent faster
and other video calls, particularly for CPU performance and twice the
given the state of the world as I write speed for graphics. We’ll test those
this. Your face would be rendered claims in a moment.
more accurately by a higher-specced Note that the A12, while new for
camera, but I (and the caller at the the standard iPad line, is by no means
other end) found it fine for FaceTime. the latest thing in Apple processor
The iPad has no flash on the rear world. The 2020 iPad Pros, for
camera, and only Retina Flash (a instance, have the A12Z, a souped-up
rudimentary and unflattering flash version of the A12, while the new iPad
performed by lighting up the screen) Air for 2020 gets the A14.
on the front; you don’t get Night You also get 3GB of RAM – that’s
Mode, either. It’s therefore no use at the same allocation as last year, and
all in very low light. There’s also no at the low end of what you’d expect
Portrait Mode. from even a budget tablet. Apple
tends to achieve better performance
Performance than its devices’ specs would lead
Subjectively, the new iPad performed you to expect, however, thanks to
every task we threw at it with aplomb. clever optimization with iPadOS.
It’s easily fast enough for gaming, Sure enough, performance in our
image editing and everyday tasks, and speed benchmarks was impressive.
in real-world use we never managed to The new iPad scored 2,588 in the
find a ceiling to its processing power. multi-core segment of Geekbench
But that’s true of almost all 5, up 82 per cent from last year’s
brand-new iPads, and a more relevant 1,424. Single-core performance
question is this: how future-proof was up a more modest 44 per cent,
is it? Will it be able to run the most from 771 to 1,114, suggesting that
demanding apps of 2021, and 2022? the biggest gains will be seen in the
To gauge that we need to look deeper. most demanding tasks. Note too that
The headline spec is the A12 the standard iPad still isn’t close to
Bionic processor, a big update on last rivalling the Pro models in multi-core;
year’s A10. It won’t surprise you to even the 2018 Pro was able to score
hear that the A12 is two generations 4,521 in the same test.

similarly pleasing.
The iPad managed
a playable 25fps in
even the most taxing
of GFXBench’s
on-screen tests
(‘Aztec Open High’),
a test where many
tablets languish in
the single digits.
Our US colleagues
The iPad performed every task we threw at it with aplomb. found year-on-year
improvements of
Geekbench 5 (single-core) between 60 per cent and 85 per cent
iPad (2020): 1,114 in 3DMark’s Sling Shot Extreme test.
iPad (2019): 771 We list the iPad’s specifications
iPad Air (2019): 1,110 in full on page 30. Aside from the
11in iPad Pro (2018): 1,125 performance-related specs discussed
above, it’s worth highlighting the
Geekbench 5 (multi-core) storage options: 32GB remains the
iPad (2020): 2,588 baseline, and that really isn’t very
iPad (2019): 1,424 much. If you take lots of photos, for
iPad Air (2019): 2,673 instance, consider plumping for the
11in iPad Pro (2018): 4,521 costlier 128GB model (or paying for
more iCloud storage).
Our US colleagues set the 2020
iPad against the 2019 iPad Air (which Battery life
is also based on the A12) and found The iPad 2020 has the same battery
that as far as CPU performance goes capacity as last year’s model,
the two are essentially identical. They at 32.4Wh, but improvements
recorded scores of 1,109 and 2,634 in other areas – presumably the
(single and multi) with the 2020 iPad, processor’s greater efficiency –
and 1,110 and 2,673 with the 2019 Air. enable it to noticeably outperform its
Gains in graphical performance were predecessor. This is despite Apple

EDUCATION SPECIAL
making the same claims

for both devices: up to
10 hours of surfing the
web on Wi-Fi.
We put the Air
through a punishing
day of Netflix, gaming,
speed benchmarks
and photography – far
more demanding than
a typical day’s usage
– and it died after 7 Performance in our speed benchmarks was impressive.
hours and 45 minutes.
Our US colleagues, under similarly you. It has twin speakers but they are
taxing conditions, managed just over close together on the Home button
8 hours. edge so you don’t get a stereo effect.
These numbers might sound For that you should be looking at
disappointing, given the published quad-speaker iPads, such as the Pro.
claims. But bear in mind a) that this is Sound is warm and detailed at
an improvement of around a fifth on lower volumes but can get a little tinny
the 2019 model and b) the average as you push close to maximum – which
consumer, mixing video, email and isn’t massively powerful in any case.
web surfing with the occasional break,
will get far longer life than this. Software
Indeed, in the Geekbench 4 battery The iPad (2020) comes with iPadOS
test, which we’d still rate as a more 14 pre-installed (it will also be able to
taxing assignment than everyday install future iPadOS updates for free
tablet life, the iPad managed 10 for around five or six years).
hours and 34 minutes. As a 2020 device the eighth-gen
iPad gets access to pretty much all of
Audio the upgrades in iPadOS 14. It doesn’t
If you’re looking for the consummate have a LiDAR scanner, however, so
surround-sound multimedia misses out on some augmented-
experience, this is not the tablet for reality features.

iPadOS is in general a slick, secure which will prove restrictive for those
and easy-to-use operating system, who want to store lots of music,
and you can download a huge number photos and videos on their device, or
of reasonably well-vetted apps intend to run a large library of games
tailored to the iPad screen size(s) and other bulky apps. Cloud-based
from the App Store, one of the biggest services such as Apple Music may
software ecosystems on the planet. help in some of these areas.
The rival Android OS has even In terms of performance, if you can
more apps available, granted, as stretch to the new Air or one of the
well as offering more customization Pros then you’ll have a device that’s
options. But the apps are less well faster still – which might not matter
vetted and the overall experience much right now but will ensure it’s
weaker: indeed there are no Android able to tackle the most demanding
tablets on the market right now that apps years into the future.
come close to the quality of an iPad. The design too, while a classic for
a reason – it’s attractive and feels
Verdict good in the hand – is starting to look
If you’ve never owned an iPad before, dated in comparison with the models
or you own an iPad from a few years Apple sells without a Home button. By
back – the iPad Air 2, say, or the fifth- removing that detail those devices are
gen iPad from 2017 – then this is a able to offer more screen space for
great tablet to pick up for general use. the chassis size and a generally more
It’s light, portable, comfortably quick modern-looking appearance.
enough for any app you throw at it Finally, do try to get your hands on
right now and affordably priced. And the screen before making a decision.
you still get a headphone port, which The unlaminated screen may not
is a dying luxury these days. Just bother you at all, but if you’ve tried
bear in mind that this is very much at a laminated version in the past it’s
the bargain-basement end of what likely to feel plasticky and cheap.
Apple’s iPads have to offer, and there David Price
are inevitably compromises.
Storage, for a start: it’s Specifications
disappointing that Apple continues • 10.2in (2,160x1,620; 264ppi) Retina
to offer just 32GB at the entry level, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen

EDUCATION SPECIAL
• iPadOS 14 surprise – it’s barely different on first

• Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) processor glance and yes, those bezels sure
• Hexa-core (2x 2.5GHz Vortex, 4 look huge after the past six years
x1.6GHz Tempest) CPU of consumer technology working
• Apple (4-core graphics) GPU towards bezel-less displays. But I’ve
• 3GB RAM been pleasantly surprised by the iPad
• 32GB/128GB storage mini, finding that I pick it up way more
• Rear-facing camera: 8Mp, f/2.4, often than I do with a larger iPad.
31mm (standard), 1.12μm, AF Using devices more is sometimes a
• Selfie camera: 1.2Mp, f/2.2, 31mm bad thing, but this iPad lends itself to
(standard) reading far more than it does scrolling
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, through endless timelines. It’s not an
hotspot iPad for Instagram or Twitter. At its
• Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE heart it’s a great eReader, news app
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS (Wi-Fi displayer and Netflix enabler.
+ Cellular model only) Unlike Apple’s other iPads it’s
• USB Type-C; magnetic connector not striving to replace your laptop,
• Fingerprint scanner (front mounted) but instead does some things better
• Non-removable 32.4Wh lithium- than one. If you don’t mind the ageing
polymer battery design, the smallest iPad could be a
• 250.6x174.1x7.5mm better option for you than any other.
• Wi-Fi, 490g; cellular, 495g
Petit power
MOST AFFORDABLE iPAD: There are two things that make the
iPAD MINI 2019 iPad mini a great iPad. One is
Price: £369 from fave.co/2YmXY4Q its portability, and one is its sheer
This wasn’t meant to happen. The processing power.
iPad mini hadn’t been updated since Yes, we know this is basically the
2015 and was left out in the cold, same design as the first iPad mini in
costing more than the larger 9.7in 2012, but wait.
iPads that were released since. We Ever since the 12.9in iPad Pro
thought Apple had left it for dead. was introduced in 2015, Apple
The introduction of the new has concentrated on larger tablet
2019 iPad mini came as a complete displays. With the 10.5in screens

joining the
standard 9.7in
iPad sizes, we’ve
been led to believe
bigger is better.
It’s no surprise
given Apple, and
everyone else,
has done the
same with their
smartphones. But
when I started
using the iPad You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the iPad mini.
mini it reminded
me of the pure convenience of a small when held, particularly for landscape
tablet – something around the size games. The iPad mini is very powerful
of a book (and definitely thinner) that thanks to the A12 Bionic chip. This
you can carry about unnoticed. It’s is the same processor found in the
only 300g and displays most content iPhone XS and XR, meaning the iPad
better than your phone can. mini is the cheapest Apple hardware
With those phones getting bigger with this extremely fast silicon inside.
and better, you may have found By this point there’s not even
your tablet use declining. But I much point in comparing it to the
found the iPad mini was irresistible A8 processor in the iPad mini 4 that
because of its size and I used it this new model replaces – the new
in meetings, at home and on the one is so, so much better. At the time
bus far more than the larger iPads of release, it is practically the most
that I’ve reviewed over the years. powerful mobile chip money can buy.
It measures 203.2x134.8x6.1mm, But if you really must know, here
thinner than an iPhone XS. you go:
On the bottom are two stereo
speakers which sound clear and have Geekbench 4 (multi-core)
enough bass for a tablet this small iPad mini (2019): 11,639
but will get covered up naturally iPad Air (2019): 11,369

EDUCATION SPECIAL
11in iPad Pro (2018): 18,381 iO-Yes

9.7in iPad mini (2018): 5,917 Inside the iPad mini’s frame, the A12
iPad mini 4 (2015): 2,989 drives a ferociously fast operating
system. iOS 12 undergoes more
GFX Manhattan 3.1 scrutiny when it’s on an iPad Pro and
iPad mini (2019): 55fps said to be able to replace a laptop,
iPad Air (2019): 54fps but when it’s running on the smallest
11in iPad Pro (2018): 84fps iPad it’s undoubtedly the best
9.7in iPad mini (2018): 27fps software on a casual-use tablet.
iPad mini 4 (2015): 6fps I’ve reviewed many consumer
Android tablets – none of them are
Geekbench clocks the CPU speed preferable to the convenience and
and GFXBench measures the GPU – polish of an iPad.
the latter shows the iPad Pro’s 120Hz On the iPad mini apps open and
frame rates at play, but note how close instantly and games flow
much more powerful the 2019 iPad unhindered, even high-end demanding
mini is than 2018’s larger, regular iPad. titles such as Fortnite. It’s by far
We also compared it to the iPad the best software experience on a
Air announced on the same day as tablet this small and is as smooth
the iPad mini. The mini is excellent as the iPhone XS that costs around
value for the performance you’re £600 more if we are talking base
getting here. The most expensive mode pricing.
version (256GB with 4G) costs The LCD display is well calibrated
£669 – £100 cheaper than the and laminated so it does not have
cheapest iPad Pro. a gap between the surface and the
Apple’s claim of 10 hours of battery screen like the cheapest 9.7in iPad
life when ‘surfing the web on Wi-Fi, does. You also get True Tone for
watching video or listening to music’ the first time on an iPad mini, so
proved accurate in our testing, though the screen (optionally) adjusts the
as expected I found it drained much white balance depending on the
faster when on 4G or video calling. ambient light.
I had to charge it about once every And while it supports the first-
three days, but I also personally never generation Apple Pencil and the
let my tech get down into the red. requisite apps, the screen doesn’t

have Apple’s 120Hz ProMotion tech also in use case. This is why I like it
found in the iPad Pro models that so much.
makes scrolling even smoother. What I mean is that I did not
Apple has admitted that it took feel compelled to load up Twitter
ages to update the iPad mini because or Instagram on it because of the
it assumed tablet buying would veer size. Instead I found myself opening
towards larger displays. In the tech the New York Times, Apple News
world we knew that the ageing 2015 or Feedly apps to read the morning
hardware of the iPad mini 4 wasn’t the headlines on the bus on a display that
best buy, but that didn’t deter people has room to breathe.
from still buying it because of the size. While doing this I pinged over to
There’s clearly still demand for the Pocket Casts and got a podcast on
7.9in display. Turns out most people the go (yes, there’s a headphone
don’t care about the large bezels. jack!). Sure, I could have done these
You also get second-gen Touch things on a phone but without the
ID which is excellently responsive. I constant message notifications
didn’t miss Face ID all
that much, though that
might be different when
it comes to an iPhone.
The things I do on the
iPad mini don’t really
require it.
Middle ground
What I found more
than anything (and this
might not apply to you)
is that the iPad mini
managed to take me
away from my phone
and bring me down from
my computer. It sits in The New York Times app displaying the same front
the middle in size, but page on iPhone XR (left) and iPad mini (right).

EDUCATION SPECIAL
rolling in and a larger

16:9 display to enjoy
newspaper style
content on, I was
personally chuffed.
My use of the iPad
mini took me away
from the mental burn
out of social media
and WhatsApp and
provided me with a
device that let me read
and didn’t distract. The iPad mini supports the first-gen Apple Pencil.
This was
accentuated even more by the 4G and the advantage of cloud-stored
review unit Apple provided me with notes is evident.
(the cheapest iPad mini is Wi-Fi only). Apple would of course like you to
I put my second SIM in it and it meant own multiple iPads and flit between
that I could watch YouTube on the bus, sizes as task dictates, but then again
check personal emails – again, things with two Apple Pencils that support
that we all do on our phones but is different models, this is user hostile.
easier on a larger screen, but not a If you wanted the iPad mini and
screen so large that I felt like an idiot a 2018 iPad Pro, you’d need both
for using it on the number 30. models of Pencil.
And sure, the second-generation
Pencil me in Apple Pencil is ‘better’ but the first-
One thing I personally did not use gen Pencil is absolutely fine, and
much was the Apple Pencil, which paired with the base iPad mini it’s the
the 2019 iPad mini now supports. cheapest way to use one. I remain
Apple’s suggestion that the iPad mini sceptical that many artists will opt for
would make a great digital notebook the iPad mini over the iPad Pro with
is cute, and you may be someone who its better display and larger digital
would genuinely use the tablet as a canvas, but there might be a niche. It
way to back up handwritten notes, probably didn’t cost much for Apple

to add the support to the mini and product we thought was about to bow
eke out a few more Pencil purchases out. Henry Burrell
from curious customers.
And yes, the iPad mini has a Specifications
camera on the back. If you really • 7.9in (2,048x1,536; 326ppi) Retina
want to be that person holding it at IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
head height to take a picture of the • iPadOS 14
Eiffel Tower then I’ll try not to judge • Apple A12 Bionic (7nm) processor
you. The 8Mp lens is nowhere near • Hexa-core (2x 2.5GHz Vortex, 4x
as good as something on any recent 1.6GHz Tempest) CPU
iPhone, but it’ll do. • Apple (4-core graphics) GPU
Better used is the front-facing • 3GB RAM
7Mp 1080p FaceTime camera. I used • 64GB/256GB storage
the iPad mini for a fair few video calls • Rear-facing camera: 8Mp, f/2.4,
and it was a great experience. But 32mm (standard), 1.12μm, AF
any close inspection on still images • Selfie camera: 7Mp, f/2.2, 31mm
from either camera shows these are (standard)
not great quality photos, with a lot of • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band,
noise when zoomed in. hotspot
• Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, EDR
Verdict • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS (Wi-Fi
The iPad mini lives on in a very + Cellular model only)
capable package that includes • Lightning, USB 2.0
the blazingly fast A12 chip. It’s the • Fingerprint scanner (front mounted)
cheapest hardware with Apple’s latest • Non-removable 19.1Wh lithium-ion
processor. The ageing design is a battery
downside, but this iPad design is a • 203.1x134.8x6.1mm
certified classic and we don’t think it’ll • Wi-Fi, 300.5g; cellular, 308.2g
put many people off – it doesn’t us.
With a headphone jack, BEST FOR FUTURE-PROOF
outstanding performance, Pencil FEATURES: iPAD AIR
support and unrivalled portability in Price: £578 from fave.co/3n2hE8y
the tablet market, the iPad mini is a Visually, you have to look very
surprisingly excellent upgrade on a carefully to notice that the latest iPad

EDUCATION SPECIAL
Air isn’t an iPad Pro: the angular, tablets as it is for smartphones.

nearly all-screen case design Especially if you like to edit photos
was previously reserved for the or videos on the big screen, which
more expensive tablets, but Apple quickly racks up the gigabytes.
has found room for an Air in that Nevertheless, when it comes to
exclusive club. equipping the iPad Air with flash
This isn’t the only area where this memory, Apple is sticking to its
release sees the Pro and Air lines strategy: you either get a little, or you
come closer together – in terms get a lot. You only have the choice
of CPU, in fact, the Air model is between 64 or 256GB. This is a
technically two generations ahead. difference from the Pro models, which
But let’s take things one step at a are available with 128 or 512GB, or
time. Over the following pages, we even with 1TB.
test and evaluate the tablet’s design, A similar differentiation between
new features, performance, battery the Air and Pro lines can be found
life and tech specs, and help you with the RAM allocation. The new A14
decide if this is the iPad for you. Bionic chip is here supported by 4GB
of RAM, whereas the A12Z Bionic in
Price the Pro models has 6GB. You can tell
The new Air starts at £579. It’s that there are significant differences
noticeably more expensive than the under the hood, which is why it’s
Air released last year, although as perhaps better not to compare the
we will discover, it offers numerous iPad Air directly with the Pro models.
upgrades to justify this. There are four A better – and we’d say fairer –
configurations to choose from: comparison would be with the direct
predecessor, the iPad Air from 2019.
£579: 64GB, Wi-Fi
£729: 256GB, Wi-Fi New display
£709: 64GB, cellular At 10.9in, the display is a little
£859: 256GB, cellular larger than the 10.5in screen of the
Air’s 2019 predecessor. The Home
Storage button has disappeared; you can
More storage is always better, and this now reach the home screen – as
statement is just as true for Apple’s with the Pro models – by swiping up

from the lower edge
of the screen.
The resolution is
now slightly higher,
while brightness
remains the same
at a maximum
of 500 nits. We
measured 404 nits
under laboratory
conditions in a The fingerprint sensor has been moved to the power button.
dark room, which
is a decent performance, and even innovation that Apple has never used
outdoors you should rarely find that in any other product: the fingerprint
you can’t see what’s on the screen. sensor moves to the power button on
Don’t forget to pick up a case for the the upper edge of the iPad case.
Air 4 if you want to keep that display This makes it significantly smaller,
looking new for longer. and considerably narrower. Can it still
The contrast ratio, which we reliably recognize fingerprints? We
measured at around 1,300:1, is also were initially sceptical, and tested
a reasonable figure, but we are still the function carefully.
a long way from the dream numbers Setting up fingerprints works in the
of an OLED display. Whether OLED same way as with the conventional
will ever make it into Apple’s tablets round sensor. First, the iPad saves
is hard to guess. One consolation is the middle area of the fingertip, then
that the Android competition is also the edges. As before, you can save
proving frugal in this respect. Only a up to five fingertips – which really
handful of manufacturers offer OLED makes sense now, because if you
tablets with screens larger than 10in. operate the iPad Air with the Magic
Keyboard (which it supports), the
Touch ID in the power button power switch is on the left. As a right-
No more Home button and no Face handed person, you definitely have
ID? How do you unlock the new iPad to include your left index finger as an
Air now? This brings us to a real unlock option, otherwise there will be

EDUCATION SPECIAL
unpleasant contortions in front of the screens. Touch ID in the power button

iPad. After an initial familiarization is a sensible compromise.
phase, unlocking with the narrow
sensor worked fine in practice. Maybe Staying connected
we had a few more unsuccessful As we’ve seen with the Pro models,
attempts than with the larger sensor, Apple is slowly saying goodbye to the
but all in all the narrow sensor worked beloved Lightning port, which is now
surprisingly well. getting on in years. The new iPad Air
It can be assumed Apple will use comes with USB-C.
this type of unlocking in other devices This may mean chucking out
in the future. Fingerprint sensors still a bunch of Lightning accessories
have their advantages, especially you already own, which is always
when there’s a pandemic, because frustrating. But there are plenty of
Face ID fails if you wear a mask. But third-party chargers out there, and
Apple is keen to leave out the Home Apple bundles a 20-watt USB-C
button, because this allows for larger power adapter and cable. Using
these accessories the
iPad charged from
zero to 100 per cent
in just under two-and-
a-half hours.
We’ll admit there are
possible annoyances
in switching from
Lightning to a new
connection standard,
but you can do a lot
more with USB-C.
Mass storage media
such as USB sticks
or even external
hard drives can be
connected directly and
The iPad Air works with the Magic Keyboard. a large number of files

can be opened immediately using
the Files app or copied to internal
storage. Other peripherals such
as USB Ethernet adapters will
also work. Simply plug it in and a
new item ‘Ethernet’ appears in the
Settings app.
We already alluded to this, but
thanks to three contact points on
the back and a couple of powerful
magnets, the new iPad Air works
with the Magic Keyboard. Apple
sent us one to test, and it’s amazing
how quickly you get used to using
the keyboard and trackpad. In no You’ll find a 12Mp lens on the back.
time you can work with the iPad just
like you’re using a MacBook. when writing German. For most of us
Whether it is actually a real though, that’s not an issue.
replacement for a notebook depends
– as so often – on the software. There Photography
are still programs that you can’t get Another big step forward compared
on an iPad, especially developer to the Air’s direct predecessor is the
tools such as Xcode or professional built-in camera on the back, which
software for audio/video editing. Even now has a resolution of 12Mp.
with a Magic Keyboard and trackpad, We took a few test photos with the
an iPad will not penetrate into these iPad Air in autumnal surroundings
areas so quickly. and compared them with the iPad
If you’re artistically inclined or like mini 5, which has roughly the same
to work by hand, you will be happy camera as the previous Air. You can
to be able to use the 2nd-generation see that the iPad Air (2020) shoots
Apple Pencil. In our tests, the sharper images and the colours come
handwriting recognition that Apple is out looking a little crisper and more
introducing with iOS 14 worked well, natural. In the macro area, however,
although it struggled with umlauts the look of the mini 5 is slightly ahead.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
In these
two shots,
you can
see that
colours
look a little
crisper
and more
natural
in photos
taken with
the Air
(2020).

Macro
shots
are less
impressive
on the iPad
Air (2020).
A14 Bionic processor it showed an improvement of 14 per

For the first time, Apple is using a cent (3DMark).
processor, the A14 Bionic, that was The A14 Bionic thus achieves
created using the 5nm process. desktop performance right from
This chip makes its official debut in the start and even outperforms
the iPad Air 4, although it has since established Intel chips in the
reappeared in the iPhone 12. Geekbench single-core test. This is
A lot has been written about the more than enough power for an iPad
A14 Bionic. Now we can measure in all situations and it shows where
ourselves for the first time. Apple wants to go with the A14.
CPU performance compared An A14, however optimized, in
to the A12 in the iPad mini 5 and a MacBook or iMac should provide
iPhone XS is between 12 per cent unprecedented computing power.
(Linpack) and a whopping 79 per Especially if you add active cooling,
cent (Geekbench 5 multi-core test) which is not available in the iPhone
better. In graphics-sensitive tasks, 12 or the iPad Air 4.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
Battery life that will bring joy for many years to

Despite the improved computing and come. André Martin
graphics performance, we found that
battery life remained essentially the Specifications
same as on the previous generation. • 10.9in (2,360x1,640; 264ppi)
In our exceptionally demanding Liquid Retina IPS LCD capacitive
worst-case test, we played an MP4 touchscreen
video in an endless loop at 100 per • iPadOS 14
cent screen brightness. Here the iPad • Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) processor
Air ran out of juice after five hours • Hexa-core CPU
and 42 minutes. The iPad 7 only ran • Apple (4-core graphics) GPU
slightly longer here. • 64GB/256GB storage
In a more realistic but still • Rear-facing camera: 12Mp, f/1.8,
demanding web-browsing test, we (wide), 1/3in, 1.22μm, dual pixel
continually called up a variety of PDAF
websites. Using this method the iPad • Selfie camera: 7Mp, f/2.0, 31mm
Air 4 ran for 10 hours and 30 minutes (standard)
– again, a very good performance. • Wi-Fi 8 02.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-
In everyday life you should expect band, hotspot
the iPad Air to last an entire working • Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, EDR
day without any problems. What more • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
could you want? (cellular model only)
• USB Type-C; magnetic connector
Verdict • Fingerprint scanner (top mounted)
The iPad Air (2020) is a significant • Non-removable 28.6Wh lithium-
step forward – especially compared polymer battery
to its direct predecessor, which is just • 247.6x178.5x6.1mm
over a year old. The gap between the • Wi-Fi, 458g; cellular, 460g
Air and Pro models is shrinking, but
remains noticeable in certain areas. THE BEST HIGH-POWER
Still, if you’re thinking about buying a OPTION: 12.9IN iPAD PRO
new tablet and don’t necessarily have Price: £999 from fave.co/3DOXXXHz
professional ambitions for it, the new The difference between the 2018
iPad Air is exactly the right companion iPad Pro and last year’s upgrade was

The 12/9in iPad Pro is Apple’s top-of-the-range model.
so modest that the generation was thicker). We still don’t get an iPad with
largely overlooked with a yawn. But screen bezels as narrow as those of
this year, Apple surprised us with such the iPhone. Even the camera module
a dramatic upgrade that we thought on the back is the same.
we must have heard wrong. This is not to say that the iPad
The same lightning-fast processor Pro is a bad design. On the contrary,
as the Mac range? A mini-LED screen it is extremely solidly built, with
that even the Macs haven’t got? Is confidence-inspiring material choices,
this finally the laptop replacement which makes it feel like a quality
that Apple has spent years trying product in the hand. We just wanted it
to convince us the iPad can be? to look new on the outside as well.
Let’s find out.
Models and accessories
Design As before, you can get the iPad
There are major upgrades on the Pro with an 11in or 12.9in screen.
inside, but very little has changed on Other than size and battery
the outside. The dimensions are the capacity, the main difference
same (except that the new screen between these options is that the
means the chassis is half a millimetre larger model has a mini-LED screen

EDUCATION SPECIAL
with higher brightness and thus lightning-fast external SSD disks,

even better contrast. which is probably necessary if you
Both have identical storage want to transfer movies and fill up
options, which now go up to a (slightly those terabytes of storage space.
crazy) 2TB. They also have more RAM: But there’s also support for a 10Gb
8GB gigabytes as standard, and Ethernet connection. DisplayPort
16GB for the terabyte-plus models. support allows you to connect it to a
Both are available either with Wi-Fi Pro Display XDR at full 6K resolution.
only, or with Wi-Fi and 5G. The Magic Keyboard (£329
The colour choices are silver from fave.co/3w3gGun) is starting
or Space Grey. If you want a more to look more and more like a real
colourful iPad, you’ll have to turn to laptop keyboard. The keys have
the iPad Air. good stroke length and are at least
A surprise was that the old as comfortable to type on as the
USB-C port has been upgraded to standard wireless Magic Keyboard
Thunderbolt 3, with USB 4 support. for Mac. They are even backlit, so
This means you can connect you can work in the dark.
The Magic Keyboard looks like a real laptop keyboard.

The trackpad has a good
feel and supports multi-
touch gestures. The floating
design it gives the iPad is
really nice and it’s smart that
you can plug the charging
cord into the keyboard when
it’s connected.
Display
The iPad Pro has long had
an excellent screen: it
was an early trailblazer for
features like a 120Hz refresh
rate (which the iPhone is We’re big fans of the iPad Pro’s screen.
still waiting for), automatic
adjustment to allow for changes in of 1 million to 1, while the typical
ambient lighting, and support for brightness has increased from
the extended P3 colour space. And 600cd/m2 to 1,000; it can increase
now the iPad Pro pulls away from the to 1,600cd/m2 when needed. Now
MacBook even more by being the we’re talking HDR.
first with a mini-LED screen, which As far as we can ascertain, nothing
in Apple language is branded as special has happened to the sound.
Liquid Retina XDR. Then again, the iPad Pro already had
Note that mini-LED is not a new the best speakers we’ve heard on a
screen technology: what it simply tablet. Apple clearly believes in the
means is that the backlight on the iPad Pro’s audio set-up, as it has now
screen now consists of thousands used the same technology in the new
of tiny LEDs. This allows the screen 24in iMac. The new iMacs also use a
to be divided into as many as 2,500 similar set of microphones.
local dimming zones, so when part
of the screen has to be black, those Photography
lights can be switched off completely. The only noticeable change for the
Apple says this provides a contrast camera set-up is that the FaceTime

EDUCATION SPECIAL
and the like. People

who take iPads into
museums and obscure
the view of everyone
behind them should
be expelled.
The LiDAR scanner
remains, of course,
which helps with
precise AR experiences.
Performance
We’ve saved the most
Centre Stage ensures everyone remains in the centre of spectacular revelation
the frame during a video call. for last. Namely,
that the iPad now
camera has been given a really has the same revolutionary Apple
smart new feature for video calls: M1 processor that has appeared in
Centre Stage. This zooms in on the the MacBook, Mac mini and most
person having the call, then pans recently the 24in iMac. This means
to keep that person in the centre of performance has made the biggest
the frame if they move; it can also leap between two generations that
pull back to fit in multiple subjects if we have seen in years.
someone else turns up. Overall performance has increased
This feature works so well by 46 per cent, based on the AnTuTu 8
and so smoothly that we wish it speed test – and bear in mind that the
was available on the iPhone and previous generation, which now looks
particularly on the new 24in iMac. so slow in comparison, already ran
On the back, the Pro retains its circles around the competition.
12Mp wide-angle and 10Mp ultra- Graphics performance has
wide-angle lenses. This lack of an improved by 41 per cent, according
upgrade doesn’t worry us because we to our test results in 3DMark Wild
believe that cameras on tablets are Life Extreme. We had to abandon
mostly a bonus for scanning receipts our 3DMark Slingshot test because

the iPad Pro hit the
performance ceiling!
Writing performance for
storage has improved by
243 per cent, according
to PassMark.
We will see what
this means in the long
run. Will we be able to
run macOS software
on the iPad, in the
same way that you can
technically run iOS apps
on the Mac? Apple has
dismissed speculation, We were blown away by the Pro's performance.
but in the long term
the company probably has some sort then we use a Mac, because it makes
of plan to standardize the platform us more productive. The argument
across its computers and tablets. that it is a smaller and more flexible
device than a laptop does not hold
Can the new iPad either. The new 12.9in iPad Pro has
Pro replace a laptop? become 41g heavier. Together with the
In short, no, it cannot. For three keyboard, it weighs 1,382g, which is
reasons. The iPad is primarily a 92g more than the MacBook Air with
device for consuming content on, the M1 processor, which has a larger
not creating it. Of course, we’ve screen and a better keyboard.
sometimes sat on trains or planes It’s not even cheaper. An iPad Pro
with an iPad and answered emails or 12.9in with 512GB of storage, 8GB of
even finished writing an article using RAM and without 5G costs £1,299.
the keyboard. We’ve sat in cafés and And if we add the Magic Keyboard,
cut together a few video clips, or that’s another £329. A total of £1,628.
edited a photo at a press conference. A MacBook Air with 512GB of
It can be done. But when we sit at the storage and 8GB of memory costs
desk and start working in earnest, £1,249. Or if we want to match the

EDUCATION SPECIAL
price, we can get a 13in MacBook Pro • Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR
M1 with 16GB of memory and the same • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS,
storage for £1,699. GALILEO, QZSS (Wi-Fi + Cellular
model only)
Verdict • NFC
Apple incorporates the best, fastest • USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4),
and most delicious hardware in its new DisplayPort; magnetic connector
professional tablet. We have never • Face ID
seen this standard of performance • Non-removable 40.88Wh
or image quality on an iPad – but it lithium-polymer battery
is very expensive, and we’re starting • Fast charging 18 watts
to wonder why we have to wait for • 280.6x214.9x6.4mm
the corresponding progress on the • 682g (Wi-Fi), 685g (5G)
MacBook range. Jonas Ekelund
Specifications
• 12.9in (2,732x2,048; 265ppi) Liquid
Retina XDR mini-LED LCD
• iPadOS 14.5.1
• Apple M1 processor
• Octa-core CPU
• Apple GPU
• 8GB/16GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
storage
• Three rear-facing cameras: 12Mp,
f/1.8, (wide), 1/3in, 1.22μm, dual
pixel PDAF; 10Mp, f/2.4, 125-degree
(ultra-wide); TOF 3D LiDAR scanner
(depth)
• Selfie camera: 12Mp, f/2.4,
122-degree (ultra-wide)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-
band, hotspot

How to get an Apple
Student Discount
Find out if you qualify for Apple’s Education Pricing and how to buy
from Apple’s Education Store. Ashleigh Macro reports
S
tudents, teachers, Students are a big market for
lecturers and those who Apple, which is why it has an entire
work for an educational separate education store that offers
institution can save hefty discounts on Mac computers
money on a new Mac, MacBook or and iPad tablets – and sometimes
iPad purchase thanks to the Apple gives away products like AirPods as
Education Store. In this article, an incentive for customers.
we’ll show you how to use the Apple Most Apple customers aren’t
Education Store to get a student aware of the Apple Education Store,
discount from Apple. or don’t think the discount applies to

EDUCATION SPECIAL
them. But this is a mistake, because iPads only. Unfortunately, there are
Apple throws the education net quite no discounts on the iPhone, Apple TV
wide, and there’s a good chance you or Apple Watch, or on accessories or
qualify if you are enrolled in a higher software for these items.
education course, or if you work in a
school, college or university. HOW MUCH IS APPLE’S
If you’re already at university, or MAC/MACBOOK
have been offered your place, then STUDENT DISCOUNT
you should ensure that you make use You can save hundreds on a MacBook
of Apple’s student discount. Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro or
Before we begin though, you Mac mini from the Apple Education
might be interested to know that until Store. Apple’s Pro Display XDR is also
11 October you’ll get a free pair of available at a discount, so there are
AirPods with your qualifying purchase some huge savings to be had. Here’s a
from the Apple Education store. selection of some of the discounts:
HOW MUCH IS THE APPLE • 24in iMac from £1,124.40 (usually

STUDENT DISCOUNT? £1,249) – £124.60 off
Apple doesn’t offer a single, universal • MacBook Pro from £1,168.80
discount. It sets different prices (usually £1,299) – £130.20 off
for each product range. These are • MacBook Air from £898.80 (usually
currently available for Macs and £999) – £100.20 off
Apple offers discounts on all of its iPad models.

• Mac mini From £628.80 (usually Employees of any education
£699) – £70.20 off institution: Any employee of a public
• Mac Pro from £4,948.80 (usually or private education institution.
£5,499) – £550.20 off
Post-secondary Education Students:
HOW MUCH IS APPLE’S Students attending or accepted into a
iPAD STUDENT DISCOUNT post-secondary education institution.
You can expect to save up to £80 on
the more expensive models. Parents of post-secondary students:
Parents purchasing on behalf of
• iPad mini from £379.20 (usually their child, who is a student currently
£399) – £19.80 off attending or accepted into a public
• iPad Pro from £711.60 (usually £749) or private post-secondary education
– £36.40 off institution
• iPad Air from £535.20 (usually
£579) – £43.80 HOW TO GET AN APPLE
• iPad from £309.60 (usually £329) – STUDENT DISCOUNT
£19.40 off Click this link (fave.co/3hqNPuT) to
Apple’s UK Education Store to access
WHO CAN GET AN APPLE the Apple Education site.
STUDENT DISCOUNT? Once there you’ll be encouraged
There are three types of people who to sign up on student discount
can qualify for a student discount: website UNiDAYS (fave.co/3yQ5ge7)
to access Apple’s educational
• Students in higher education. discounts. Alternatively, UK
• People who are buying for customers can also use the rival
education institutions. verification service Student Beans
• Parents of higher education (fave.co/3kW3mnf), which works
students buying on their behalf. in the same way as UNiDAYS. On
whichever site you use, you’ll need
Apple says that the following to provide your email address and
groups are eligible to purchase a a password, your name, institution,
Mac or iPad from the Apple Store subject of study, years of study and
for Education: course length.

EDUCATION SPECIAL
Once you have completed the

registration process and signed in
you will be able to access Apple’s
student discounts.
If you don’t want to register via
a verification site, you can also call
Apple, use Apple’s Chat online feature
or visit an Apple Store. The staff there
will guide you through the process.

CleanMyMac X
Price: £35 from fave.co/3hdTtjK
W
ith Mac utilities, a CleanMyMac X seems to be in
multifaceted approach danger of having run into the latter
the offers several category. The catch-all utility offers
base functions can be an assortment of modules with its
excellent. There’s also a possibility core focus centred around identifying
that the developer overextended and cleaning out gigabytes upon
themselves trying to be everything to gigabytes of unused system garbage.
everyone, and the result is that some The modules are Smart Scan,
features aren’t as good as others, System Junk, Mail Attachments,
making you wonder about the value of Trash Bins, Malware Removal,
the total app. Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance,

REVIEWS
Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, To its credit, CleanMyMac X offers

Space Lens, Large & Old Files and some nice surprises, and I was able
Shredder. to recover more than 30GB of drive
As with previous versions, a space as the program found unused
handy Menu Bar item provides useful files and disk images galore via my
information, such as drive capacities, iCloud storage. Other features such
CPU speeds, system temperature, as the Disk Lens and Uninstaller
system load, and network activity offered a clear view as to which
readouts. The modules themselves folders were consuming the most
generally live up to their purpose, and drive space and a quick means of
it’s handy to be able to do a general removing applications.
search for data that’s consuming large
parts of your hard drive as well as drill THE UPDATER AND
down and enable or disable specific MALWARE REMOVAL
system-level extensions as needed. FEATURES
CleanMyMac X still runs a handy Unfortunately, CleanMyMac X has
set of maintenance scripts, such as a couple of modules that are the
clearing the DNS cache and repairing app’s greatest hurdles. While well-
file permissions, which help to keep intentioned and focused as marketing
things in order. and selling points, the Updater
function seems
to only locate
a smattering
of available
application
updates, and it’s
almost anyone’s
guess as to what it
will see and what
will be glossed
over. In my case,
the Updater caught
The System Junk module after locating 7.41 gigabytes of major updates such
extraneous files. as Microsoft Office

components and
located a small update
to SimCity but missed
Zoom updates during
its scans as well as the
latest Firefox update.
That’s disconcerting,
as Firefox and Zoom
have an extremely
large user base.
The Malware
Removal system has The Malware Removal module locates two pieces of
gotten better but suspicious software.
isn’t where it could
be. After infecting my Mac with a and tutorials are as inviting and
fair amount of dubious software informative as ever, and it’s nice
(including an infamous keystroke to be able to easily dig down into
logger disguised as an Adobe Flash component-level elements of your
Player update), the Malware Removal operating system. Still, the Malware
module was able to diagnose and Removal system’s not where it could
remove most of my malware but kept be and it feels as if the Updater
the infamous MacKeeper in place, module is only catching updates
which then had to be torn out by the from the most prominent developers
roots by a copy of Malwarebytes. It’s or smaller third-party ones. This has
instances such as this that make one been marketed as a core feature, but
raise an eyebrow and wonder what there are still applications devoted to
else might be missed. finding software updates that handle
It’s not a question of whether this function much better than what
MacPaw, creators of CleanMyMac X CleanMyMac X seems to be capable
have backed themselves into a corner of at present.
as much as whether CleanMyMac
X can deliver on all it sets out to do. VERDICT
For the most part, the modules work While CleanMyMac X performs
well, the application’s introductions most of its functions admirably

REVIEWS
and provides an excellent means

of clearing gigabytes of unused
system detritus/gunk off your Mac,
it needs to catch up and perform
equally well where each of its
modules is concerned. Otherwise,
the software promises the world,
overreaches, and puts itself in a
position that almost no one can
hope to achieve. Chris Barylick

CCleaner
Price: £20 from fave.co/3l3doCZ
P
iriform’s CCleaner, which Designed as freeware with an
was initially created to option to pay for a pro version and its
help clean up Registry appropriate annual license, CCleaner
files on Windows-based achieves what it sets out to do: help
machines, made its way to the Mac clean up gigabytes of cache files,
in the Mac OS X 10.7 Lion days and internet history files, and locate and
hasn’t looked back. It’s been a techie purge large files on your Mac, all
staple on Macs, Windows PCs, and with an impressive level of control.
Android based computers for years CCleaner may not be as flashy as its
now, and rightfully so. competitors but it gets the job done.

REVIEWS
You provide CCleaner with full hard you want to save or purge and
disk access in the macOS Security the deletion method to be used
and Privacy preference pane, and (‘Normal file deletion’, which is faster
the software goes to work. A series or ‘Secure file deletion’, which is
of convenient modules (Mac OS X slower), Smart Cleaning preferences
and Applications under the Cleaner for files and specific web browser
tab, as well as Uninstall, Startup, behaviour, and user management so
Erase Free Space, Large File Finder, the professional version of CCleaner
and Duplicate File Finder under the can be configured to specific users
Options tab) provide easy access on your Mac. Per the pro version of
to specific tools. It’s easy to both CCleaner, your annual fee nets you
analyse a hard drive to determine active file monitoring, automatic
how much space certain files might updates in the background, full
be taking up, as well as view and access for all users on your Mac, and
organize a full list based on names premium tech support.
and file sizes to see what’s been Piriform seems to know what
devouring your hard drive. CCleaner’s strengths are and builds
The Options tab lets you dive in them out over time instead of jumping
and customize just about anything to the next shiny new feature which
you want, including which cookies would change the software outright.
A CCleaner
analysis
report prior
to running
a final
cleaning
function.

It’s capable of an amazing amount and is more problematic than it should
of customization, configuration, and be, especially if your goal was to
removes gigabytes of clutter at a time locate, download, and work with the
while functioning well, and no issues newest version of CCleaner. The user
arose while testing it under macOS interface questions are probably a
11.5 Big Sur. source of continuous debate, since
CCleaner has had a similar look and
WINDOWS LOOK & FEEL feel for the better part of 20 years.
If there’s something to nitpick with
CCleaner, it comes down to its user VERDICT
interface, which feels like a quick It may not be as eye-catching or as
Windows port and carries that shiny as some of its competitors, but
clunkiness with it. Where the Online what CCleaner seeks to accomplish, it
Help link in the main menu takes does well, and it’s actually fun to dive
you to a website with useful FAQ into this level of customization in the
and community links, the Check macOS. Pair this with your favorite
for Updates link doesn’t perform a Mac utilities and you have something
version check, instead taking you to that can truly help keep your Mac’s
a website to purchase a fully licensed storage in order, a facet that is not to
copy. This isn’t what the user expects be underestimated. Chris Barylick
Reports from
a Duplicate
Finder report
find multiple
copies of
underlying
macOS
system
components.

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
macOS Monterey: How to

change the cursor colour
on your Mac
Add some colour to your Mac’s UI. Roman Loyola reports
T
he Mac’s cursor is designed versions of macOS, you can’t change
with a white outline and the cursor colour without using a
black fill. It’s a good third-party utility. That’s changing in
combination, making it macOS Monterey, though.
easy to spot no matter what is on With Monterey, you can easily
screen. But man, is it boring. In past change the colours of the cursor to

something that is easier to catch with
your eyes or just add some flair to
reflect your personality. You can find
it in the Accessibility pane in System
Preferences. Here’s how it’s done.
HOW TO CHANGE THE

CURSOR COLOUR
1. Go to System Preferences and
click Accessibility.
2. In the left column, look for the
Vision section and select Display.
3. Click on the Pointer tab in the
section to the right.
4. You’ll find two setting here, Pointer
outline colour and Pointer fill colour.
Click the colour swatch button next
to each setting and the Colours
selection palette will appear. Select
the colours you want. If you want to
revert back to the default white and
black, click the Reset button.
5. Close System Preferences.

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
macOS Monterey: How to

set up and use Focus on
your Mac
When you need to be left alone, use Focus. Roman Loyola reports
T
hanks to the internet and that you aren’t interrupted by instant
modern-day communication messages, calls, and alerts, allowing
tools, it’s very easy to get you to focus on whatever you’re doing
in touch with someone – on your Mac.
maybe it’s too easy. With Focus in Focus is basically an expansion of
macOS Monterey, you can set it up so options that were originally available

in the Do Not Disturb feature that’s manually turn it on, you need to set up
already in macOS. To make Focus Focus profiles. Read on to learn more.
suitable for your situation, you can
adjust its preferences, which we’ll go SET UP A FOCUS PROFILE
over in this article. The default setting has three choices.
If you simply select Do Not Disturb,
HOW TO TURN ON it stays on until you manually turn it
FOCUS MANUALLY off. Or you can choose to set it for one
1. In the menu bar, click the Control hour, or until the evening.
Centre icon. It’s a pair of black and Besides the default, Focus allows
white switches. ‘ you to set up profiles for different
2. You can click the Focus icon and situations. For example, you can
that will turn on Focus until you turn have a profile you use for your lunch
it off. If you want more
options, click the Focus
label or the arrow.
3. The Window will switch
to the Focus window.
4. If you don’t have a profile
set up, you can select an
option under the Do Not
Disturb header. If you do
have profiles, you can
select one of them.
To turn off Focus, go

to the Control Centre
menu bar, and click the
Do Not Disturb icon.
If you want to set
up Focus to turn on
automatically, or you want
to define the conditions for When creating a custom Focus profile, you need to
a Focus session when you select an icon and colour and give it a name.

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
break or for your workout – basically field below the icon at the top. Click
any time period of time you want to Add when you’re done.
be uninterrupted.
The settings for Focus are in Now that you’ve made a profile,
the Notifications & Focus system here’s how to adjust its settings.
preference. (You can also select Focus
Preferences when you click the Do ADJUST NOTIFICATIONS
Not Disturb/Focus button in Control SETTINGS FOR A FOCUS
Centre.) Here’s how to set up a profile. PROFILE
1. In the Notifications & Focus system
1. In the Notifications & Focus system preference, click on the Focus tab.
preference, click on the Focus tab. 2. Select the profile in the left column
2. In the left column are your profiles. that you want to modify.
To create a new profile,
click on the + button at the
bottom of the column. A
pop-up will appear with six
options: Custom, Gaming,
Mindfulness, Personal,
Reading, and Work. These
profiles (except Custom)
have only a name, colour,
and icon assigned to them.
So if you want to create,
say, a gaming profile to
begin with, you can select
Gaming. Or select Custom
and you can customize it as
you like. Select a profile.
3. If you selected Custom,
you get to choose a colour
and icon to help you quickly
spot your profile. You also You can pick People and Apps whose notifications
need to fill in a name in the will be let through during your Focus session

3. In the box for ‘Allowed • Allow repeated calls, where a
Notifications From’, you can set which second call made within three
contacts and apps are allowed to minutes from the first call by the
notify you while this particular Focus same person is allowed to notify you
profile is being used.
ADJUST THE ‘TURN ON
• You can allow specific contacts to AUTOMATICALLY’ SETTING
notify you while the Focus profile is FOR A FOCUS PROFILE
on. Click on People, then click the You can set up a Focus profile to turn
+ button at the bottom of the box. on and off automatically. Here’s how.
A directory of your contacts will 1. In the Notifications & Focus system
appear, and you can select people preference, click on the Focus tab.
by highlighting the contact can 2. Select the profile in the left column
clicking the Add button. that you want to modify.
• You can allow specific apps to notify 3. In the box for ‘Turn On
you. Click on Apps, then click the + Automatically’, click the + button. A
button at the bottom of the box. A pop-up will appear and you’ll need to
list of your apps appears and you select one of the three conditions:
can highlight the app you want and
click Add to allow its notifications. Add Time Based Automation: Set a
profile to turn on and off based on a
To remove a contact or app from time of the day. You will need to set a
the list of allowed notifications, click time range and the days of the week.
People or Apps, highlight the one Add Location Based Automation:
you want to remove, then click the – Set a profile to turn on and off based
button at the bottom of the box. on where you are physically. The
Click on the Options button, locations you can set are based on
and you can make a few more your Favorites in the Maps app. (At the
adjustments: time of this writing using beta 5, the
only locations I was allowed to select
• Allow time sensitive notifications were Home and Work.)
• Allow calls from everyone, or you Add App Based Automation: Set a
can choose a group that’s based on profile to turn on and off based on the
your groups in the Contacts app use of a specific app. A list of your

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
& Focus system

preference. When
it’s on, this silences
all notifications from
apps, and people can
notify you ‘if something
is important’.
You can set Focus to turn on automatically based on the

time, location or app.
apps will appear and you’ll need to

select the one you want.
You can add multiple conditions to
a Focus profile if it suits your needs.
For example, you can set up a profile
that automatically puts you into
Focus when you are at a location and
during a specific time while you are
there. Just click the + button to add
another condition.
To delete a condition, select it in
the Turn On Automatically box, and
then click the – button.
SHARE FOCUS STATUS

This is a switch at the bottom of the
Focus section of the Notifications

How to use Optimized
Storage in macOS
This feature in Apple’s Mac operating system promises to free up
precious storage space. Roman Loyola reports
A
pple’s laptops rely on Optimized Storage feature in macOS
flash storage, and prices is designed to help free up precious
really shoot up if you want storage space on your Mac.
more local storage (the Optimized Storage requires iCloud,
actual storage on your computer) Apple’s online service, to use one
– if the model you want offers an of its features (Option 1 mentioned
upgrade in the first place. The below). Apple provides 5GB of free

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
2.
iCloud Drive storage per Apple ID, El Capitan, which provided a colour-
so you may want more to take full coded key below the bar to tell you
advantage of Optimized Storage. how your storage is being allocated.
iCloud storage pricing as follows: Now, the colour-coded key is gone,
5GB for free; 50GB for 79p per but if you move your cursor over the
month; 200GB for £2.49 per month; coloured sections, you can see what
2TB for £6.99 per month. Apple has each section represents.
instructions on how to buy more Below is the main interface for
iCloud storage at fave.co/2X69OA0. Optimized Storage. First, let’s go over
To access the Optimized Storage the choices in the Recommendations
options in macOS:
1. Go to Apple menu >

About This Mac.
2. In the window that
appears, click on the
Storage tab, then click
Manage.
This bar graph

has changed a bit
from the one in OS X The main window for Optimized Storage.

window that appears in
the main section. Then
let’s look at the options in
the left column.
OPTION 1:
STORE IN iCLOUD
This option houses your
most recently used files
and optimized photos
in local storage. Here’s
why you might want to Fine-tuning the Store in iCloud option.
upgrade iCloud: Your
iCloud Drive is used as long-term system preferences for Desktop and
storage for your original files and Documents, and the Photos app
full-resolution photos and videos, preferences for iCloud Photo Library.
which can be downloaded to your
Mac when you need them. OPTION 2: OPTIMIZE
You are able to fine-tune this STORAGE
option a little. When you click on Video files take up a lot of space.
the Store in iCloud button, you have If you like to watch TV shows and
the choice to save files
from the Desktop and
Documents folders in
iCloud. You can also
enable/disable the
ability to store photos
and videos in iCloud
Photo Library.
If you want to modify
the Store in iCloud
options after you have
turned it on, you have Automatically removes Apple TV shows and movies
to go to the iCloud you’ve already watched.

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
iTunes again
whenever you
want. If you
turned this on
and decide
later that you
want to turn
it off, you do
so in the TV
app (TV >
Preferences
Modify the Optimize Storage settings in the TV app’ preferences. > Files).
movies from iTunes, you may not OPTION 3: EMPTY TRASH

realize that the videos you have AUTOMATICALLY
already watched are just sitting What’s cool about this option is that
on your Mac. Optimized Storage it’s basically like the Recently Deleted
automatically removes these files folder of iOS’s Photos app. Items stay
for you. You can download them from in the Trash for 30 days; once the 30
days are up, the
item is deleted.
If you decide
to turn this
feature off,
you will notice
that there’s no
way to do so in
this interface.
You do it in
the Finder
preferences;
in the Finder,
Erase Trash Automatically deletes files that have been in your select Finder
Trash for 30 days. > Preferences,

way. Also notice that
when you click on the
Review Files button, it’s
the same as selecting
Documents in the
left column.
Large Files lists the files

on your Mac from the
largest to the smallest.
Downloads shows what’s
in your Downloads folder.
Unsupported Apps lists
software that may not
If you decide you want to turn off Empty Trash work on your Mac
Automatically, you can do so in the Finder preferences. Containers are used by
some apps in order to
then click Advanced. Uncheck the exchange data. They are often cleared
box for ‘Remove items from the Trash automatically, but you can use this to
after 30 days’. clean a container yourself.
OPTION 4:
REDUCE
CLUTTER
This is an interface you
can use to sift through
your files and figure out
which ones to delete
or move to another
storage medium. It’s
more efficient than
opening a bunch of
Finder windows and Reduce Clutter is the same as selecting Documents in
looking at the files that the left column.

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
File Browser lets you navigate your computer and lists them by size. When
storage device. It’s like viewing a you select an app, you get the Delete
Finder window in List view. and Show in Finder icons. Apple told
me that it has been making an effort
To delete a file in any of these to encourage developers to follow its
views, select the file, then click the standard procedures for proper app
Delete or Move to Trash button. installation, so if a developer has done
this, you should be able to uninstall
WHAT’S IN THE LEFT any app bought outside of the App
COLUMN OF THE WINDOW Store along with all of its components
The items that appear in the left through this interface.
column vary. What appears depends This view doesn’t show every
on how you use your Mac. For application on your Mac. None of the
example, if you use Mail, then you’ll Apple apps are shown here, though
see an entry for Mail. If you use App Store apps do appear. Mostly,
GarageBand, there will be an entry this view is for apps you’ve installed
for GarageBand. on your own from the internet or from
There is an Applications option in external media.
the left column that provides a view
of some of the applications on your
Applications can be deleted through Optimized Storage.

Make the macOS Dock
tiny by using Terminal
What to do if the Size slider in the Dock & Menu Bar system
preferences pane isn’t small enough for you. Keir Thomas reports
Y
ou probably already know Dock size in System Preferences,
that you can shrink (or by opening the Dock & Menu Bar
enlarge) the Dock by pane and dragging the Size slider
clicking and dragging the whichever way you want.
bar that separates the applications But these tools can only take
from folder stacks. You probably you so far. They’ll make the Dock
also know that you can adjust the small, but not really small. To do

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
Top: The smallest the Dock can be using the Dock & Menu Bar system preference.
Bottom: How the Dock appears after resizing to a 1 setting in the Terminal.
that, you need to open the Terminal check the box by Magnification and
(Applications/Utilities) and type: adjust the slider.
If you want to get back to normal,
defaults write com.apple.dock the easiest way to revert this setting
tilesize -integer 8 is to open that preferences pane
again and use the Size slider. As
Press Return, then type: soon as you click and drag it, you’ll
be returned to the normal size range
killall Dock for the Dock.
The number at the end of the

command can range from 1 (too small
to be useful) up to 16 (the smallest
size you can achieve with those other
tools); 8 is tiny but still visible.
To make such a small Dock useful,
you’ll probably want to turn on Dock
magnification: in the Dock & Menu
Bar system preferences pane,

Use Activity Monitor
to handle troublesome
apps on your Mac
Activity Monitor can show you which apps are chewing up the most
CPU resources, memory, and more. Lance Whitney reports
S
ometimes your Mac may performance issues, slowing down not
not run as smoothly or as just itself but your entire computer.
quickly as you expect. And An app may even freeze or become
the culprit may be a single unresponsive to the point that you
application. A lone app can bump into can’t close it the usual way. Whatever

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS
the problem, one tool that can help is You can sort the list of apps based
Activity Monitor. on the highest or lowest numbers
Built into macOS, Activity Monitor by clicking on the heading of each
shows you a list of all running apps column. A graph at the bottom
and processes and reveals the displays the total numbers for CPU
biggest hogs based on CPU, memory, percentage and other factors.
energy use, disk use, and network
bandwidth. And if a specific app is MONITORED ACTIVITIES
unresponsive and can’t be shut down You can switch views by clicking the
the traditional way, you can force it to tab in the upper right of the Activity
close. Here’s how it works. Monitor. CPU is the first tab, and the
To open this tool from Finder, click default view the app opens.
the Go menu, browse to Utilities, and On Macs with a discrete graphics
then launch Activity Monitor in the processor, the GPU section appears
window that appears. The utility starts after CPU. This shows which apps
by showing every running app and are the most demanding on your
process based on CPU resources. graphics processor.
Each column for CPU shows a The Memory screen shows the
useful result, but the stats for CPU amount of memory used by each
percentage are the most helpful for running app so you can find any
app troubleshooting. chewing up more than its fair share.
The bottom
of the screen
reveals the
total and used
amount of
memory on
your Mac. The
stat for Swap
Used can tell
you if your
Mac is copying
Activity Monitor can provide insight as to what apps are using too much
the most resources on your Mac. data between

physical memory
and your hard
drive’s swap
file, a sign that
you might need
more RAM.
The Energy
screen is of
value on a laptop
as it reveals
which apps You can stop apps from running from within Activity Monitor.
are consuming
the most juice from your battery. the app, select it in Activity Monitor
The bottom of the screen displays and click the Stop button (the octagon
the overall energy impact and the with an X) at the top. Then in the pop-
battery charge. up that appears, click Quit to see if
The screen for Disk tells you the app shuts down without any fuss.
how much disk activity an app is If not, click the Force Quick button to
generating in terms of data written force the app to close.
to and read from the disk.
The screen for Network reveals
how much network bandwidth an
app is using.
TROUBLESHOOTING
PERFORMANCE
For troubleshooting slow or unstable
apps, the screens for CPU and
Memory are generally the most
helpful. If an app is using so many
resources that it’s slowing down your
computer, try closing it to see if your
Mac bounces back. If the app refuses
to shut down the normal way within

HELP DESK
Help Desk
Solutions to all your Mac problems. Glenn Fleishman reports
HOW TO OVERRIDE THE But you lose most of the formatting,

FONT SETTINGS IN SAFARI some of the images, and other
FOR ALL PAGES elements of the page.
Sometimes web page designers make Safari for macOS has another
interesting choices. Why not use tiny, trick up its sleeve: custom CSS.
fancy type on a shaded background to Where HTML defines the structure
make reading a page more…legible? and content of a web page, CSS
Apple’s built-in Reader View in Safari (Cascading Style Sheets) is the
across all its platforms lets you make coding that underlies the appearance
short work of hard-to-read type. and formatting, from type sizes to

You can override web page’s definitions of how things should appear.
columns and floating boxes. In Safari everything else.’ The cascading part
> Preferences > Advanced, you can of the CSS name defines a hierarchy
select a custom style sheet from the about which style characteristics
Style Sheet pop-up menu. to use when there are overlapping
You don’t need to know much choices. The browser gets top pick
CSS to have an impact. For example, and the !important flag says, ‘I
suppose you like Arial above all other don’t care what any other style sheet
typefaces. A CSS file that contains says – use my parameter.’
this single line will change the If you prefer another typeface,
typeface on all pages to Arial: look through the Fonts pane in any
app that shows it (TextEdit is such
html body { font-family: Arial an app; press Command-T to display
!important } it), and enter the name in the style
sheet above exactly as it appears.
Decoded, that says: ‘For an HTML If it contains spaces, put quotation
page’s body section, the container marks around the name, as in
for all the stuff you see on a page, set font-family: “Cooper Hewitt”
the font family to Arial and override !important

HELP DESK
You can swap the sheet on and its text tracking (the overall spacing
off through the Style Sheet menu in between letters) set too large for my
Advanced. Just pick None Selected reading pleasure. (Kerning, by the
when you don’t want to use it. You can way, is the space between adjacent
also modify the text in the style sheet letters, not across a range.) This CSS
so it’s not applicable, like changing definition takes care of that for me,
html to nohtml and saving it. while also bumping the type size for
A CSS file is a plain text file with my aging eyes:
the .css extension. You can create
this with TextEdit, built into macOS. .post p { letter-spacing:
Ironically, TextEdit only creates rich -0.1pt !important; font-size:
text files with formatting by default. 17px !important; }
Choose TextEdit > Preferences and
select the Plain Text option under The .post p part means, ‘for
Format, and then choose File > New paragraphs [p] tagged with the name
to create a plain text file. Save it as ‘post’, apply this style’. This can
any name plus the .css extension. backfire for any other web page that
Now in the Style Sheet menu, select happens to use ‘post’ as a tagging (or
Other and choose that file. ‘class’) name, too, as those names
You don’t have to go global in your can be reused across websites.
definition, as you can target specific
elements on a page or other aspects HOW TO REMOVE AN
by diving into the HTML and CSS – APPLE DEVICE FROM
it’s not as daunting as you might think. YOUR iCLOUD ACCOUNT
On the easy end, W3schools offers WITHOUT THE DEVICE
straightforward tutorials and recipes iCloud is a convenient hub for syncing
(fave.co/3kKmDYM); on the more a large array of personal data, some
technical side, Craig Anthony wrote of it secret – like passwords. But
this look at Safari overrides (fave. if you lose or sell a device or it’s
co/3BxBZXa), which may give you stolen, you can wind up potentially
different insight. exposing your information in large
I’ve used some custom CSS for and small ways. Apple does protect
very particular fixes. For instance, your device’s data by requiring a
the Substack newsletter empire has passcode, password or a Touch ID/

Face ID requirement for
accessing the hardware,
and that’s enough of
a barrier most of the
time, coupled with
Apple prompting for
a password or other
validation when you try
to make purchases at
its various media and
app stores.
But even if you
can’t get access to the
device, you can sever
its connection to your
iCloud account, which
can reduce some of
the impact.
For a lost or stolen
device, you want to start Apple offers many ways to remove a device remotely
with Find My: you can from an iCloud account. Clockwise from upper-left: Big
lock, mark as lost, or Sur, iOS 14, Apple ID site, and Mojave.
even erase an iPhone,
iPad, Mac, or iPod touch via Find My, In each case, change your iCloud
and that might be the best course of password after removing the device to
action. You can also track its location ensure the greatest level of security.
when its connected to a network,
which might let you find a missing Remove via iOS/iPadOS
item or give law enforcement a lead 1. Open Settings > account name.
on finding a thief. 2. Swipe down to see associated
If that’s not the right choice, devices.
remove your device from your iCloud 3. Tap the device to remove.
account. You have four different 4. Tap Remove from Account and
paths to carry that out. confirm.

HELP DESK
Remove via macOS Mojave that keeps your secrets safe from all
and earlier snoopers – including Apple. iCloud
1. Open the iCloud preference pane. Keychain syncs passwords among all
2. Click Account Details. iPhones, iPad and Macs associated
3. Click Devices. with the same iCloud account for
4. Select the device to remove. which Keychain is enabled in Settings
5. Click Remove from Account and > account name > iCloud (iOS/
confirm. iPadOS), the iCloud preference pane
(Mojave or earlier), or the Apple ID
Remove via macOS Catalina preference pane’s iCloud section
and later (Catalina or later).
1. Open the Apple ID preference pane. However, when you log into an
2. Select your device from the list at iPhone, iPad, or Mac with a fresh
the bottom of the left-hand side of the install, on a new device, or with a new
pane. macOS account on a Mac, Apple will
3. Click Remove from Account and prompt you to enter the password
confirm. or passphrase of one of your other
devices. This might seem a bit like
Via the Apple ID website malware when you first see it – partly
1. Log in to your Apple ID account because you can’t find a match for the
at appleid.apple.com (fave. text that Apple displays on Apple’s
co/3gQFlNb). support site – but it’s a natural
2. Scroll down to the Devices section consequence of how Apple protects
and click the device’s name. your data securely without having
3. Click Remove from Account and access to your passwords.
confirm. iCloud Keychain and a few other
kinds of information – like facial
WHY iCLOUD KEYCHAIN recognition matches in Photos – are
MAY PROMPT YOU FOR encrypted using keys that are stored
A DEVICE PASSWORD on each device you own. While Apple
USED WITH OTHER APPLE operating systems generate these
HARDWARE YOU OWN keys, they’re kept locally and never
Apple lets you sync passwords via shared or transmitted. Apple syncs
iCloud through a clever mechanism encrypted data that only you can

process. It
bootstraps it
by using the
password or
passcode of an
already enrolled
device, like your
first in the set,
to encrypt the
keys needed to
access the set
While this message appears mysterious, it’s not insidious: it’s of passwords
really part of a clever validation step for iCloud Keychain. stored in iCloud
Keychain. It
decrypt – that’s why iCloud Keychain daisy chains it by letting the security
can’t be accessed from iCloud. you’ve established on your first
com. (Technically, there are ways device be extended to the second,
to do browser-side encryption that once you validate yourself.
doesn’t leak the keys; 1Password and When you’re prompted in iOS,
other companies offer this in their iPadOS, or macOS to enter a
ecosystems. But given Apple’s device passphrase or passcode from
focus, it doesn’t make sense for it.) another device, Apple uses that to
With iCloud Keychain, adding unlock the encryption keys needed
a device means enrolling it as a for iCloud Keychain. Apple doesn’t
member of a set of devices. Your have access to that device password,
first device initiates the process, either: it’s encrypted on the device
and Apple may display and have you to which the password corresponds,
enter a security code or validate your and only by you entering the identical
Apple ID login for that one. It can’t password can the contents protected
confirm with other devices, because by it be unlocked.
it’s the only member. For non-cryptographically minded
However, with your second and people, which is most people, this
any subsequent devices, Apple operation seems obscure and
bootstraps and daisy chains the potentially threatening. Apple

HELP DESK
could reduce the concern by adding and LaCie (fave.co/3gR9NGY);

documentation and screen captures and you can copy an icon from an
on its website. existing volume. You can also find
little projects, like these 20 icons
HOW TO CHANGE THE (fave.co/3mSgoVi) made from historic
ICON OF A STORAGE Japanese patterns by a designer at
DEVICE IN MACOS software maker Panic in 2012.
Apple hides some of its best features (In the below steps, don’t select
through obscurity, not intentionally. or drag onto the larger icon shown at
For many years – at least 15, by my the bottom of Get Info if the Preview
counting – you have been able to section is expanded. That shows a
select and change the icon for any larger size of the item icon, but it can’t
file, folder, volume or drive. But it’s be copied, and dragging onto it, is like
a multi-step process that requires dragging onto a folder or volume.) To
starting with the right image. copy an icon from an existing volume,
You can find the source icons all folder or other item in the Finder:
over the place.
Generic ones are
available at places
like IconArchive
(fave.co/3DyYz3z)
and DeviantArt
(fave.co/3mRtGSb)
(which has a lot of
NSFW content, but
not drive related);
companies that sell
drives often make
downloadable
icons available
of all the models
they sell, like One
World Computing
(fave.co/3jxxzJD) A designer at Panic made these lovely Waritsuki drive icons.

1. Select the item. from scratch, and then crop or export
2. Choose File > Get Info (or press to 1,024x1,024 pixels.
Command-I). The Finder relies on the ICNS
3. Click the small icon in the upper- file format, which stores multiple
left corner and press Command-C resolutions of items, so you can opt
to copy it. to customize the appearance at
sizes from 16 by 16 up to that full-
To replace the icon on an sized 1,024x1,024 pixels, and macOS
existing volume or other kind of item always picks the most appropriate or
in the Finder: closest size for its purposes.
However, if you just create the
1. Find the item you want to use. largest size, you can use free online
If it’s another icon already in use, tools or free apps in the Mac App
follow the steps above to copy it Store to convert your regular image
to the clipboard. file into a properly formatted ICNS
2. Select the target item. file. Image2icon (fave.co/38xcuZO),
3. Choose File > Get Info (or press for instance, allows drag-and-drop
Command-I). simplicity for free, and offers more
4. If the icon is in the clipboard, options with in-app purchases.
select the icon in the upper-left Cloudconvert offers a web-based
corner and paste; if it’s a downloaded utility for converting all manner of
file, you can just drag it from the files, including a huge array of formats
Finder over the current item in the into ICNS (fave.co/3t686KB).
upper-left corner.
In some cases, you may be

prompted to enter your password
(or an administrator’s account and
password) to complete the change.
You can make your own custom
icons quite easily. Finder item icons
are square, and are best created at
1,024x1,024 pixels in any software
you use to edit or create art or images

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INSIDE: HOW APPLE

BEST MACS & iPADS FOR STUDENTS

Credit: Getty Images/Jacob Ammentorp Lund

2 Macworld • October 2021

MACOS TIPS & TRICKS

October 2021 • Macworld 3

Apple delays iCloud Photo

4 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 5

Apple to slightly loosen

6 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 7

Apple to let developers

8 Macworld • October 2021

• Apple has agreed to add content

October 2021 • Macworld 9

Future iPhones could use

10 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 11

Apple buys Primephonic

12 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 13

Six ways Apple is planning

14 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 15

16 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 17

implementation of Mini LED is another camera, and it needs to be in the next

18 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 19

Function keys. I’ve written about

20 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 21

payment options free of Apple’s fees

1. AN AGREEMENT FOR ONE

22 Macworld • October 2021

change much, despite headlines 5. THE FIGHT CONTINUES

4. MISSING THE POINT

October 2021 • Macworld 23

Credit: Getty Images/Jacob Ammentorp Lund

24 Macworld • October 2021

What are the specifications?

October 2021 • Macworld 25

How fast is it? The MacBook a portable computer that also

26 Macworld • October 2021

The MacBook Pro is Apple’s high-performance laptop.

October 2021 • Macworld 27

28 Macworld • October 2021

The Mac mini is a

October 2021 • Macworld 29

30 Macworld • October 2021

Verdict: The iMac is

October 2021 • Macworld 31

and display) and wants to maximize can’t be upgraded after purchase.

32 Macworld • October 2021

October 2021 • Macworld 33

27in iMac £1,699: 3.1GHz 6-core Intel Core i5

34 Macworld • October 2021

How do I connect stuff? Wi-Fi and

How fast is it? The 27in iMac is among

Verdict: The allure of the 27in iMac is

October 2021 • Macworld 35

October 2021 • Macworld 37