January 21, 2015: Months before the first Apple Watch goes on sale, users get a glimpse at what playing games might look like on the smartwatch. Thanks to Apple making the WatchKit API available to third parties, game developer NimbleBit releases a mockup of Letterpad, its simple, work-in-progess word game.
Suddenly, we get a peculiar desire to play games on our wrist that we haven’t had since the days of the Nintendo Game & Watch three decades earlier.
The plastic used to make the casing for the upcoming Apple Watch SE 3 will be taken from the ocean, making it environmentally friendly, according to a tipster.
The next-gen smartwatch will supposedly be more colorful so it’ll appeal more to an important demographic.
Like Apple’s rumored smart home hub, the refreshed Apple Watch SE might not launch as soon as initially expected. A new report says the Apple Watch SE 3 will debut in the second half of 2025.
Apple supposedly will give its cheapest smartwatch a big redesign this year, launching it with a totally new look.
The Apple Watch Series 10 just dropped back to its lowest Black Friday price on Amazon. This fantastic deal reduces the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10’s price to just $359 from $429. The 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 is now going for just $329 (down from $399).
Those are Amazon’s lowest prices in 30 days — and Best Buy is matching them.
2025 should be an Ultra year for the Apple Watch. In an unusual move, Apple only launched the Apple Watch Series 10 this year. It kept the Ultra 2 around, only releasing a new black titanium colorway.
But next year won’t be all about Apple’s most expensive smartwatch. For more budget-conscious customers, the third-gen Apple Watch SE should arrive in 2025.
How do you set up a new Apple Watch? Whether you got the Series 10 with its thin design and advanced sensors or leapt for the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2, you might be wondering how to get started. After all, the Watch is unlike any other Apple device, both in its dependence on an iPhone and in the way it works.
The good thing is, Apple has made it really, really easy to get things up and running. Let’s take a look.
The PowerBand is a sporty Apple Watch band that comes with a built-in magnetic Apple Watch charger. The clever design will help you deal with two of the smartwatch’s most annoying shortcomings: its so-so battery life and the fact that you can only top up the Apple Watch battery using a specific type of charger.
Right now, you can snag a PowerBand for only $39.99 (regularly $49.99). That’s less than the cost of many Apple Watch bands that don’t come with a secret charger built in.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: According to the latest Apple rumors, the 5G OLED MacBooks we’ve been anticipating forever are finally on the way … in 2026.
Also on The CultCast:
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Apple Watch Ultra 3 reportedly will let hikers and other travelers send texts via a satellite connection when cellular communication isn’t available. Anyone who gets into trouble in a remote location could turn to Apple’s top-tier smartwatch to ask for help — a potential lifesaver.
In addition, Apple is still working to add blood-pressure monitoring to the wearable.
Amazon bargain site Woot! brings you all the colors of the rainbow in deeply discounted Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch bands. You can get incredible price cuts — 59% to 70% off — on many classic colors through Friday at 10 p.m. Pacific. That means you pay prices like $20 instead of $49.99 for Solo Loop and $30 instead of $99 for Braided Solo Loop.
And, as part of Woot’s “buy more, save more” promo, you can cut those prices even further. “Spend $39 or more & use code ‘APPLEBANDS’ at checkout for an extra 15% OFF these items,” the bargain site says.
Apple Wallet-compatible smart lock Alloy Deadbolt+ will make life easier for renters and landlords alike, SmartRent said Wednesday. Debuting at a Starwood Capital Group property, Alloy Deadbolt+ expands on the security, functionality and convenience of smart locks by integrating with resident keys in Apple Wallet. It easily lets you in, as well as your property manager and designated friends and service providers.
“Alloy Deadbolt+ enhances the way we think about secure access, providing a straightforward and reliable solution for both residents and property managers,” SmartRent Chief Technology Officer Isaiah DeRose-Wilson said.
Note: This post has been updated with new deals and the latest price drops. Some prices vary according to Apple Watch color, band, etc.
Apple Watch Cyber Monday deals are live, featuring some significant price drops on both the most affordable and the priciest models.
The best deal is the entry-level Apple Watch SE 2 from just $149 (save $100 or 40%). This is a great price for a great watch that boasts almost all the same features as its pricier siblings. It’s a great starter watch and perfect for kids (and you can track them with it). Meanwhile, the latest high-end Apple Watch Ultra 2 in sleek black titanium is also $80 off. Or pick up a refurbished Ultra 1 for just $380.
Not to be left out, the brand-new Apple Watch Series 10 with its big beautiful screen is available at its best price to date on Amazon, starting at just $329. The biggest savings are on Series 9.
Tesla is rolling out a significant holiday software update, headlined by the launch of its first Tesla Apple Watch app. The new app, long expected and finally available next week, will allow owners of Tesla electric cars and trucks to use their Apple Watch as a digital key to lock and unlock their vehicles. That eliminates the need to carry a smartphone (at least for that reason).
Users can also view battery charge levels, control climate settings, and remotely open the front trunk (“frunk”) directly from their wrist.
There are plenty of great Apple deals this Cyber Monday 2024—but not from Apple directly. As usual, Apple keeps its discounts minimal (Tim Cook loves his big fat profits!). This year, you can get up to a $200 gift card with select purchases, but the newest products, like the iPhone 16, M4 MacBook Pros, iMac, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, aren’t included.
That said, third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and B&H Photo are offering significant discounts on a ton of Apple gear. From AirPods to iPhones, Apple Watches, and iPads, you’ll find some fantastic deals. Here’s a roundup of the best offers we’ve come across.
We’ve seen loads of Apple Watch deals in Black Friday sales, but this refurbished Apple Watch Series 8 looks pretty good. It’s an incredible discount on a smartwatch that tracks your steps, keeps you in the loop with your notifications and offers cellular connectivity.
Strap one on while it’s price-dropped to just $219.99 during our Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. Whether you’re treating yourself or someone special to this Apple Watch, you’ll want to act while supplies still last.
If your Apple Watch feels like it’s not responding to your taps, it could be in Water Lock mode. It’s easy to forget to turn off Water Lock Mode after you go for a swim or a shower.
There’s also a bit of confusion about how Apple Watch’s Water Lock feature works. Read on to see how to (and how not to) use it.
When it comes to charging an Apple Watch, you typically have two choices: Use a wired charger that plugs into a power source or go with some sort of battery pack. This portable Apple Watch charger is different — it can do both. It comes with built-in USB-A and USB-C and USB-A cables so you can plug it into a computer or wall wart, and a 1,200mAh battery so you can use it to charge wirelessly wherever you go.
It’s ideal for anyone who’s always on the go and wants to keep their Apple Watch powered up without needing an outlet. At just $29.99, it’s a surprisingly capable Apple Watch charger. And it makes a great stocking stuffer for anyone who wears an Apple Watch!
In what could be a breakthrough for wearables and other electronics, xMEMS Labs unveiled Sycamore on Tuesday. It’s the world’s first full-range near-field MEMS micro speaker. Measuring just over one millimeter thick, the innovation promises to make some noise with compact gear you don’t put in your ears. Those would be items like open-fit earbuds, such as AirPods and sport earphones, smartwatches like Apple Watch, AR glasses and headsets like Vision Pro, and other consumer electronics.
Like other xMEMS micro speakers that bring solid-state sound to earbuds and headphones, the new technology uses a novel “sound from ultrasound” platform. It generates full-frequency audio from ultrasonic waves within a chip-sized form factor.
“With Sycamore, mobile electronics can now achieve thinner, more stylish form factors while maintaining big, rich sound,” said Mike Housholder, xMEMS VP of marketing and business development. “With better performance at both the low and high ends, Sycamore delivers powerful, full-range audio for smartwatches, smart glasses, and any other small, mobile form factor that engineers dream up.”
Apple is now selling a Gold Link Bracelet for the Apple Watch. Listed for $349, the band is made from 316L stainless steel alloy and features over 100 components.
Apple first showcased the band while unveiling the Apple Watch Series 10 at its September “It’s Glowtime” event.
Everyone misplaces their iPhone.* You’re walking around, you set down your iPhone, you do some chores, you get ready to go. Where is it? If you own an Apple Watch, it really is the fastest way to find your lost iPhone.
It’s totally easy to ping your iPhone from your Apple Watch. At the push of a button, you can make your iPhone ring, even if it’s on silent. And, while you might know about the basic feature that lets you ping your iPhone, the Apple Watch also offers advanced options for tracking down your missing device.
Bonus: Even if you don’t own an Apple Watch, anyone in your Family Sharing group can ring your iPhone even louder with the Find My app. And if you don’t have a family, you can use any other device signed into your Apple account.
★★★★☆
In a world of look-alike 3-in-1 chargers for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, the new Journey Nova 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station stands out. Like its distinctive looks or not, seeing it without any devices charging might make you wonder what the hell it is — an abstract sculpture, or maybe a prop from the original Star Trek? But for many it could be the sleek charger that subtly fits in with modern decor — if they’re willing to pay the hefty asking price ($139.99).
Apple Watch sleep stage tracking might help you get to the bottom of what’s going on with your sleep. Ever since watchOS 9, it can track what sleep stage you’re in. That means you can see if you’re not getting enough deep sleep or REM sleep, or if you’re waking up too often in the middle of the night. If you have insomnia or sleep apnea, this information could be very useful.
Read on to see how to use the advanced sleep stage tracking on Apple Watch.
Apple is secretly testing a new health app designed to help individuals with prediabetes manage their diet and lifestyle choices, according to a new report. The experimental app, tested with select employees earlier this year, focuses on helping users understand how different foods affect their blood sugar levels. That might help stave off Type 2 diabetes for some.
Some might use it just to marvel at how that cookie is spiking their blood sugar and choose an apple next time, instead.
Multi-device chargers for iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch come and go, but Journey just rolled one out that really catches the eye: the Journey Nova 3-in-1 Fast Charging Station. It’s available for preorder now.
“Our designers envisaged an anti-tech aesthetic for Nova,” said a Journey spokesperson. “The exterior complements decors much like a vase, chair or pot plant might.”
A pot plant, they say! Well, that is a good aesthetic model to emulate, although it being on the “anti-tech” side seems debatable.
The Apple Watch doesn’t just take your step count — it has three activity rings that track different levels of energy you burn throughout the day.
New to watchOS 11, you have additional options for customization and for taking a break when you need it. You can have different goals for each ring for different days of the week, so it can fit your workout schedule. When you want a rest day or if you fall ill, you can take up to a month-long break without losing your streak.
If you’re all-in on the fitness tracking, you can add widgets that show your rings on your Apple Watch face and widgets on your iPhone. Or, on the other hand, if you find it a bit annoying, you can turn off all the notifications so they won’t bother you anymore.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch activity rings.