Latest Intelligence

Quick Answer: AppleInsider Reviews Editor Amber Neely shares her "utility-first" desk setup for late 2025. Centered around a sunny yellow M1 iMac and an M2 MacBook Air, her workspace prioritizes proven reliability and comfort over the latest hardware, blending professional Apple gear with personal creative hobbies like crochet and sketching.

• Primary Workstation: Amber continues to use her yellow 2021 M1 iMac as her main machine. Despite its age, it remains her favorite computer due to its ample screen and ability to handle daily tasks smoothly on macos.
• Mobile Setup: For work outside the home, she relies on an M2 MacBook Air. While she identifies as a "desktop person," the Air provides the necessary portability for occasional remote sessions.
• Key Accessories: Her setup includes a Lofree Flow mechanical keyboard with a number pad—essential for both typing and gaming—and a simple Logitech Design Series wireless mouse that recently replaced a failed unit.
• Ergonomic Furniture: Her desk is a Jaxson Compact sit-to-stand model, paired with a long-serving Sihoo M18 chair. She plans to upgrade the chair to a Pipersong model to better accommodate her active sitting style.
• Legacy iPad: An iPad Air 4 (over five years old) still sits on her desk, though its use is declining due to poor battery life. She expresses little interest in upgrading the tablet, as it primarily serves as a secondary screen on ipados.
• New Addition: One of the few updates in 2025 is the addition of a label printer sourced from eBay, which has significantly streamlined her process for shipping crafts and personal items.
• Lighting & Power: A BenQ ScreenBar provides directional lighting for late-night work, while a Mag:3 Classics Device Charging Tray manages her iPhone 17 and AirPods Pro 2, though she finds the tray difficult to keep clean.

Quick Answer: The 13-inch M4 MacBook Air is on sale for a record-low $749 at Amazon and Best Buy, representing a $250 discount. This base configuration features 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, making it one of the best value laptops of late 2025 for students and travelers.

• Significant Savings: As of mid-December 2025, the $250 discount applies to all four colorways: Midnight, Silver, Starlight, and Sky Blue. While the Sky Blue model was slightly cheaper on Cyber Monday, this matches the all-time low for the other three colors.
• High-Performance Specs: Despite being the "base" model, the M4 chip paired with 16GB of RAM makes this laptop faster than 85% of models in Mashable’s testing database, outperforming several current-gen gaming laptops in speed and efficiency.
• Portability & Design: The 13-inch model is highly recommended for its lightweight, fanless design and quiet operation. It includes a high-quality 12MP webcam, making it an ideal choice for remote work and video calls.
• Holiday Shipping & Availability: Amazon currently guarantees delivery before Christmas for the "Starlight" model, while Best Buy offers same-day pickup at most major U.S. locations for all colors.
• Upgraded Options: For those seeking more storage or a larger screen, the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air and configurations with 24GB of RAM or 512GB SSDs are also seeing $250 price cuts at major retailers.
• Battery Life Champ: Running the latest version of macos, the M4 MacBook Air continues to lead its class in power efficiency, though the newer M5 models (released late 2025) have recently claimed the top spot for pure battery endurance.

Quick Answer: Apple is reportedly developing a budget-friendly 12-inch MacBook designed to compete with high-end Chromebooks. Expected in late 2026, the device will likely feature a cloud-centric version of macos, emphasizing integration with Apple iCloud, Google One, and Microsoft 365 for the education and entry-level markets.

• Targeting the Budget Sector: Ewan Spence reports that Apple is reconsidering the 12-inch form factor as a low-cost "MacBook Lite." The goal is to capture the $600–$800 market where Google’s Chromebook Plus and entry-level Windows laptops currently dominate.
• Cloud-First Strategy: Unlike the MacBook Air, this model may rely heavily on cloud storage and web-based applications. Apple is reportedly optimizing macos to prioritize iCloud integration while maintaining robust compatibility with Google One and Microsoft 365.
• Hardware Compromises: To reach the lower price point, the 12-inch MacBook is rumored to use older M-series silicon (likely an improved M2 or M3) and a more cost-effective LED display rather than the premium OLED or Mini-LED panels found in Pro models.
• Education Focus: The device is strategically aimed at students, offering the prestige of the Apple ecosystem and the stability of macos in a lightweight, portable chassis that fits the limited budgets of schools and colleges.
• Ecosystem Hook: By introducing a cheaper entry point, Apple aims to hook younger users into its Services ecosystem early, driving long-term revenue through iCloud+, Apple Music, and TV+ subscriptions.
• Connectivity Over Power: The focus is expected to be on battery life and seamless connectivity (potentially featuring an integrated 5G option) rather than raw processing power for high-end creative tasks.