Apple introduced its first in-house cellular modem, the C1, last week with the announcement of , and while it didn’t get into too much detail about it, the company reportedly has some big plans for future iterations. According to ’s Mark Gurman, “Apple intends to eventually meld the modem component into the main processor.” Integrating the modem into the main processor could have energy and cost benefits, but that design is still a ways off. We’ll likely see the C2 and C3 without it first, which the company is already testing according to Gurman, and the integrated design won’t follow until “2028 at the earliest
During its unveiling, Apple called the new C1 modem its “most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone.” The $599 iPhone 16e also has an A18 chip (but with four GPU cores) and supports Apple Intelligence, even if that’s not .
As per an analysis by Kaspersky, malware with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities has been spotted on the App Store for the first time. Instead of stealing files stored on a phone, the malware scanned screenshots stored locally, analyzed the text content, and relayed the necessary information to servers.
The malware-seeding operation, codenamed “SparkCat,” targeted apps seeded from official repositories — Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store — and third-party sources. The infected apps amassed roughly a quarter million downloads across both platforms.
Interestingly, the malware piggybacked atop Google’s ML Kit library, a toolkit that lets developers deploy machine learning capabilities for quick and offline data processing in apps. This ML Kit system is what ultimately allowed the Google OCR model to scan photos stored on an iPhone and recognize the text containing sensitive information.
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But it seems the malware was not just capable of stealing crypto-related recovery codes. “It must be noted that the malware is flexible enough to steal not just these phrases but also other sensitive data from the gallery, such as messages or passwords that might have been captured in screenshots,” says Kaspersky’s report.
Among the targeted iPhone apps was ComeCome, which appears to be a Chinese food delivery app on the surface, but came loaded with a screenshot-reading malware. “This is the first known case of an app infected with OCR spyware being found in Apple’s official app marketplace,” notes Kaspersky’s analysis.
It is, however, unclear whether the developers of these problematic apps were engaged in embedding the malware, or if it was a supply chain attack. Irrespective of the origin, the whole pipeline was quite inconspicuous as the apps seemed legitimate and catered to tasks such as messaging, AI learning, or food delivery. Notably, the cross-platform malware was also capable of obfuscating its presence, which made it harder to detect.
The primary objective of this campaign was extracting crypto wallet recovery phrases, which can allow a bad actor to take over a person’s crypto wallet and get away with their assets. The target zones appear to be Europe and Asia, but some of the hotlisted apps appear to be operating in Africa and other regions, as well.
Data broker Gravy Analytics has been hacked, and location information from millions of iPhone and Android users is at risk, reports TechCrunch. Gravy Analytics’ parent company Unacast disclosed the data breach earlier this month [PDF], and said that its AWS cloud storage environment had been accessed by an unauthorized person using a “misappropriated access key.”
“Some files” were obtained, and preliminary findings suggest those files “could contain personal data” collected from users of third-party services that use Gravy Analytics. According to 404Media, hackers are claiming to have customer lists and location data from smartphones that shows peoples’ precise movements, with millions of users affected. Some of that data, which does indeed include the historical location of smartphones, has been published on private forums.
Gravy Analytics says that it tracks more than a billion devices around the world daily, and security researchers that saw a sample of the data collected by Gravy Analytics confirmed that the information can be used to track a person’s recent locations, with no anonymization.
In December, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibited Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel from selling, disclosing, or using sensitive location data in any product or service. The FTC warned that the two companies exposed consumers to privacy harms that could include disclosure of health information, political activity, and religious practices, and put people at risk of stigma, discrimination, violence and other harms.
The order required Gravy Analytics to delete all historic location data and any data products developed using data collected from consumers, but it was apparently too late because the company’s systems had likely already been breached at the time.
Gravy Analytics collects location data through a real-time ad bidding process that allows companies competing to buy an ad to see customer IP address and more precise location data if enabled. Gravy Analytics’ database had location data from iPhone apps that include FlightRadar, Grindr, and Tinder, and while the apps did not have a direct relationship with the data broker, user location information was collected through their ads.
Turning off app tracking in the Privacy and Security section of the iPhone’s Settings app keeps ads from being able to obtain a unique device identifier to link location data to a specific device, and preventing apps from using precise location data is also a way to preserve more privacy.
Baptiste Robert, CEO of security firm Predicta Lab, told TechCrunch that iPhone users that had app tracking disabled did not have their data shared.
Every year, I test more than 30 smartphones to see which ones are worth your hard-earned dollars. Guess what? The following Cyber Monday and Black Friday phone deals include many of my top-rated recommendations—now at a more reasonable price. If your current device is on its last legs, this is the best time of the year to upgrade. (I don’t expect prices to drop much more on Cyber Monday, but don’t quote me.) Whether you need a new Samsung phone, Google Pixel, or even an iPhone, this list has all the top discounts, even deals on cases and accessories. All these smartphone deals are for unlocked devices (except for the iPhones).
Updated December 1: We’ve added a couple deals and updated prices.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Gear team tests products year-round and handpicked these Black Friday deals. I’ve covered sale events like Prime Day and Black Friday for nearly a decade, as have many of my colleagues. We’ll update this guide regularly throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday by adding fresh deals, correcting prices, and removing dead deals.
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Flagship Phone Deals
The entire Pixel 9 series is seeing its first major discount, and these Pixel deals are pretty fantastic, especially on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL (9/10, WIRED Recommends). The difference between these two is purely size and battery—the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s screen is 6.8 inches versus the Pixel 9 Pro’s 6.3 inches, and its battery can comfortably last a little more than a full day. Everything else is the same. However, there’s a bigger gap between the Pixel 9 and the Pro phones. The cheapest in the lineup, the Pixel 9 lacks the 5X zoom camera and the vapor chamber cooling system, meaning it will get warmer faster. I say go Pro, but if your budget doesn’t stretch as high, consider the Pixel 8A (see below). Read our Best Pixel 9 Cases guide to keep it safe!
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series is its flagship phone range of 2024, comprised of the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Keep in mind that Samsung is expected to debut a successor in just about a month and a half—the Galaxy S25 series. If you don’t need the latest and greatest, then these are solid Galaxy deals. I’m partial to the Galaxy S24 Ultra because it has a 5X optical zoom camera and the S Pen stylus baked inside (which you can use as a remote shutter for the camera. It also looks a little more interesting.
OnePlus, like Samsung, is also rumored to be releasing a successor to its OnePlus 12 flagship in January 2025. But that phone will probably cost closer to $1,000, and it will be many more months before it’s at a price like the OnePlus 12. This 2024 Android flagship is a heck of a phone (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s super smooth, supports wireless charging, and I was even able to hit two days of battery life on a single charge. Oh, and the OnePlus 12 can even recharge to full in just 30 minutes. How crazy is that?
Phone Deals Under $500
This is my top smartphone pick for most people. It’s well-rounded—you can call it the Renaissance Phone because it does a bit of everything well. The Pixel 8A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a sharp, colorful, and bright AMOLED display, water resistance, wireless charging, seven years of software support, and excellent performance. It was already fantastic value at its MSRP, but this deal makes it a steal. I didn’t even touch on the many great software features that will make you keep coming back to Pixel phones. For more, read my Google Pixel buying guide.
The brand-new Galaxy S24 FE—which stands for “Fan Edition”—is a bit of a tough sell at its MSRP because it’s not far in price from the flagship Galaxy S24, but it’s an absolute beast of a phone at this sale price. Seriously, a triple-camera system with a 3X optical zoom for under $500? That’s rare. It’s kind of like the Galaxy S24+ but with lesser specs all around, though you won’t feel the difference all that much. The screen is still a 120-Hz AMOLED panel, and the Exynos processor is quite chipper.
If you’re a heavy gamer, then I think the OnePlus 12R is a better fit for anyone on a budget. It packs last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which can handle most demanding games without too much issue. The AMOLED screen is large at 6.78 inches (and sports a 120-Hz screen refresh rate), and the 5,500-mAh battery lasted me roughly two days. The camera is decent, but the charging speed is more impressive—like the OnePlus 12, it goes from zero to 100 in around 30 minutes. Just know that its water resistance is lackluster (IP64), there’s no wireless charging, and software support isn’t as long as the Pixel 8A.
The Moto G Power 5G (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is hands-down the best value in a smartphone right now. Not only is this the best Moto G smartphone Motorola has ever made, but at this discounted price, you’re getting a fantastic device all around. Performance with the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 is good enough that I never got frustrated or annoyed, the 120-Hz 6.7-inch LCD screen gets bright enough in the sun, and there’s even wireless charging (NFC too, finally). The biggest downside is once Motorola updates it to Android 15, that’s all the software updates you’ll get, except for two more years of security updates. But hey, it’s $200.
The Motorola Edge is a much more reasonable buy at $350, though I’d first steer you to the Pixel or OnePlus above. It will only get two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates, but at least you get all the perks you’d want in a phone, from wireless charging, IP68 water resistance, NFC for contactless payments, and an AMOLED 6.6-ich screen with a 144-Hz refresh rate. Performance is pretty great thanks to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip. My main gripes are that the cameras aren’t great, and I’m not a fan of waterfall displays that curve the glass at the edges. But that’s literally the point of this phone. Edge. Get it?
The Moto G Stylus 5G has the same big fault as the Moto G Power 5G above—it will only get one Android software update to Android 15 (though 3 years of security updates). If you’re cool with that, performance is a smidge better and largely lag-free, and there’s a nice faux leather back that’s fun. The screen gets an upgrade to OLED (120 Hz), but the one trick that makes this one unique is in the name. Yep, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, there’s a stylus built into the bottom of this phone for ultimate doodling. Did I mention there’s a headphone jack? Remember those?
What the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has over the Motorola phones above is longer software support. Samsung promises four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, not to mention there’s an IP67 water resistance rating, a microSD card slot to expand storage, and a 120-Hz screen. Too bad the performance can be a little choppy.
A $100 smartphone that won’t make you want to rip out your hair? Yep, it exists. The Moto G Play only supports 4G LTE, which there’s still plenty of, so it shouldn’t give you connectivity problems. Performance, all things considered, is surprisingly solid. Apps launch slow and it might feel laborious moving from one app to another, but it’s not frustrating. Just don’t bother with the camera.
Folding Phone Deals
Flip phones! Like the good ol’ days! Except this one’s a smartphone too. The Razr+ (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is Motorola’s latest folding flip phone and, yes, it comes in hot pink. The exterior screen is nice and large, enough to even use some apps in a quick pinch. Open it up and the 6.9-inch OLED screen feels like a normal phone. Performance is great and the cameras are better than before, though battery life is still a bit lackluster. Still, it’s too stylish and fun to use for that to be a deal-breaker. You can save even more if you go with the standard Razr, on sale for $425 ($275 off), but the performance isn’t as smooth and the external screen is smaller and less useful.
I really wish the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (6/10, WIRED Recommends) had the same camera system as the standard Pixel 9 Pro (it’s very similar, but the results aren’t as crisp), but it’s otherwise my favorite folding phone that’s shaped like a book. The front screen is nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro’s 6.3-inch display, meaning it feels like a normal device, and it helps that the whole thing is so thin. Open it up and you get a vast 8-inch OLED panel for streaming shows, multitasking, and gaming. I’d never buy a phone that costs nearly $2,000 but at this price? Maaaaybe.
I think Samsung might have made a mistake. You can currently get the company’s latest, priciest folding smartphone—the Galaxy Z Fold6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends)—directly from Samsung.com for a little more than $1,000. Wha? Seriously, this is a massive drop on the book-like folding phone, which has an improved and larger front screen and slimmer design. I like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold more, but this price is far too tempting. Samsung also has been making folding phones far longer than most brands, so it’s easier to repair if something goes wrong.
I prefer Motorola’s Razr+ but Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) bests it in a few ways: longer software support, better build quality, better cameras, and faster performance. But I still think the Razr+ has more charm and has the more useful and larger external cover screen. Still, this is a great price for a relatively new flagship folding phone.
Deals on Last Year’s Phones
Black Friday iPhone Deals
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
I always recommend buying an unlocked smartphone. However, Apple never discounts the iPhone, and Americans overwhelmingly buy smartphones from carriers directly. So, today I’m going to break my one rule. Below are a few of the best offers the big US carriers have on the iPhone. Make sure you look at the fine print; there are hoops to jump through to get the savings.
T-Mobile: If you switch to T-Mobile, you can get four iPhone 16 models for free when you activate four lines for $25 per line. The caveat? The savings come as bill credits over 24 months, and if you cancel your account before it’s over, the credits stop flowing and you’ll need to pay a balance. You also have to trade in four eligible devices to get the deal.
Verizon: Buy an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max with a new line on the Unlimited Ultimate plan (you can upgrade your phone plan too), and you can get a free 10th-gen iPad and Apple Watch Series 10. You need a phone to trade in first, and you’ll need a plan for the iPad and Apple Watch for cellular connectivity too (that’s how they get you). These “savings” arrive as bill credits over 36 months, so you’re locked to that contract. Be wary of activation fees. Honestly, my head hurt reading the fine print.
AT&T: You can get an iPhone 16 for free if you trade-in an eligible device and upgrade or choose a select unlimited plan. The savings are in the form of bill credits, applied over 36 months. (This also applies to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.)
Apple just launched the iPhone 16 line, and it’s been quite an upgrade this year. Though the base models got some nice updates, like the A18 chip and some of the best colors I’ve seen from Apple in years, I’m still all about the Pro models. Once you go with 1TB storage and 120Hz ProMotion displays, it’s hard to go back.
This year, things are a little different. Ever since Apple introduced a Pro model, I’ve always gone for the smaller variant. After one year with a Plus model phone, I learned that I simply don’t care for large phones, so I never tried out a Pro Max. I’ve always just gawked at how humongous the size is, and this year, Apple went ahead and made it even bigger with a 6.9-inch display instead of 6.7 inches.
I have been spending some time with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and while there’s one thing about it I love, another part of me can’t stand it.
Big phones are not meant for small hands
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
I’ve had every generation of iPhone so far, and one of my favorite models was the iPhone 5. For me, that 4-inch display was the perfect size for single-handed use, as I have petite hands. That’s why the first iPhone SE was a great compact phone, but the sequels that followed weren’t quite as perfect with the larger 4.7-inch display size.
Then, Apple moved to the 5.8-inch size with the iPhone X for a couple of years. I learned to manage one-handed use with that size, though it still required some finger gymnastics, but I put up with it. I was happy that Apple seemed to recognize the need for small phones when it introduced the mini size with the iPhone 12 and 13, but it sold so poorly that Apple replaced it with a large “Plus” model.
Apple eventually moved on to 6.1 inches as the standard “small” size while having a 6.7-inch display for the Plus and Pro Max. This year, the Pro Max got bumped up to 6.9 inches, which isn’t that big of a difference from the previous size.
But still, for someone like me with tiny hands, this is a behemoth of a phone, and I absolutely cannot use this one-handed at all unless I’m only scrolling through an app. When I hold the phone with one hand (typically from the bottom), the tip of my thumb barely reaches the middle of the bottom half of the screen. Reaching the top corners is impossible without two hands. And the phone’s weight causes fatigue in my hands (especially if my pinkie supports it from the bottom).
I can see why large phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max appeal to those who are the opposite of me and have large hands, whereas the regular iPhone 16 Pro could be “too small.” But after spending time with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, my very first Pro Max model after all these years, I learned that I was right — it’s simply too big for me.
The battery life is great, though
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
I have to give credit where credit is due. The battery life on the iPhone 16 Pro Max has been fantastic. Out of the entire iPhone 16 line, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the most battery, followed by the iPhone 16 Plus.
As someone who has been using the smaller Pro models for the past several years, I can definitely appreciate having a battery that can make it through the day and then some. It’s the same feeling I had when I went from an Apple Watch Series 5 to an Apple Watch Ultra.
My old iPhone 15 Pro, which I have had since launch day, already has a degraded battery that fell below the 90% threshold. That means I’ve been having to charge it up at some point in the middle of the day. I also have the regular iPhone 16 Pro, which appears to have better stamina with the battery, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max takes it to a whole different level. It’s like some of the larger Android phones I’ve tried, like the OnePlus 12 or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Perhaps if I didn’t have trouble with such a large phone, the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be my personal device. The battery really is that good.
The Camera Control placement is wrong
The Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 Pro.Joe Maring / Digital Trends
One of the big selling points for the entire iPhone 16 lineup is the new Camera Control button, which is located at the bottom right of the frame on all models. A single press opens the Camera app (but you can change it if you want), another click captures your photo or starts recording, and you can do light presses and slide gestures to adjust various settings. The Camera Control button makes your iPhone 16 feel more like a standalone camera.
While I’ve tried using it on both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the placement of the button itself is not practical. It’s even more of an issue with the Pro Max because of its larger size.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
If Apple had just put the Camera Control a smidge lower on the frame, closer to the rounded corner, it would have felt more comfortable for landscape photos. When I use the camera in landscape orientation, my index finger is wrapped around the side. But with the current position of the Camera Control, I can’t reach it that way and need to obstruct part of the screen/viewfinder to press it.
Again, this issue isn’t just for the Pro Max model; it’s not great on the smaller Pro either. But the larger size of the iPhone 16 Pro Max just exacerbates the issue.
A powerful iPhone, but not for everyone
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
This is the first time I’ve used Apple’s large-size phone since the Plus versions, and while I love that extra battery life and seeing more on the display at once, the size just isn’t for me. Props to those who like the big size of the Pro Max, though! It’s just impossible for me to use it comfortably.
I am glad that Apple at least gives us a choice with the iPhone lineup. This year, there’s feature parity with both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. That means those who prefer the smaller size aren’t missing out on major features, unlike last year. Now, the choice just comes down to whether or not you want a big phone or a small phone — and that’s how it should be.
For over two decades, the MacRumors Buyer’s Guide has served as a valuable resource for keeping track of when Apple products were last updated.
Below, we have highlighted five current-generation Apple products that have not received hardware upgrades in several years. We also provide some purchasing recommendations based on both rumors and our own opinions.
This list excludes previous-generation Apple products still sold, such as the iPhone 13, along with various accessories and cables.
Pro Display XDR
Apple released the Pro Display XDR in December 2019, so it will be five years old later this year. The high-end monitor starts at $4,999 and features a 32-inch screen size with 6K resolution, but it lacks a built-in camera and speakers.
In December 2022, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors, including an updated version of the Pro Display XDR that will be equipped with an Apple silicon chip, just like the Studio Display with the A13 chip. However, it’s unclear when the new Pro Display XDR will be released or what other new features it will have.
Age: 4 years and 8 months
Recommendation: Given how expensive the Pro Display XDR is, it is worth waiting for the next model at this point. Also consider the Studio Display, which is over two years newer, more affordable, and has a built-in camera and speakers.
HomePod mini
Released in November 2020, the HomePod mini is also nearly four years old. The smaller Siri-enabled smart speaker has not received any hardware updates since launching, although it did get Blue, Orange, and Yellow color options in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish a few months ago.
In February 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass shipments of a second-generation HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024, but it is unclear if that info is still accurate, as there have not been any recent HomePod mini rumors.
Age: 3 years and 9 months
Recommendation: Given there was a rumor that a new HomePod mini might be released later this year, it might be best to hold off for three to four more months to see if that happens. However, given the HomePod mini is a modest $99, there is not too much harm in purchasing one now if you don’t want to wait.
AirPods Max
Released in December 2020, the AirPods Max will turn four years old later this year. Apple’s over-ear headphones have not received any hardware updates since, and remain priced at $549 on Apple’s online store, with five color options available.
Age: 3 years and 8 months
Recommendation: We recommend waiting for the AirPods Max with a USB-C port to launch later this year, but the headphones will still more or less be four years old beyond that change, so you may wish to consider newer competing options, such as the Sony XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Sonos Ace. Amazon does have the AirPods Max on sale for $399 if you are interested in purchasing them now at a discount.
iPad mini
Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.
In November 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the next iPad mini would begin in the second half of 2024. More recently, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said inventory of the current iPad mini was starting to dwindle at Apple Stores, which could be a sign that the device will be updated in the near future.
Rumored features for the next iPad mini include a newer chip, upgraded cameras, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, new color options, and a fix for the so-called “jelly scrolling” effect on the current model’s display.
Age: 2 years and 11 months
Recommendation: At this point, we suggest waiting for the new iPad mini that is rumored to launch later this year.
AirPods 3
Released in October 2021, the third-generation AirPods are nearly three years old.
Two new fourth-generation AirPods models are expected to be unveiled at Apple’s special event on September 9, with both options rumored to feature a tweaked design with better fit in the ear, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. The higher-end AirPods 4 are also said to feature active noise cancellation, and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking.
Age: 2 years and 10 months
Recommendation: Do not buy! Apple is expected to announce the fourth-generation AirPods in less than two weeks.
The Apple Vision Pro can be used as a display for a connected Mac, but it is bulky, heavy, and uncomfortable. The Spacetop G1, a new laptop from former Magic Leap employees, promises to solve those problems by pairing a computer with a set of lightweight AR glasses that look more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Priced at $1,700, Spacetop is basically a keyboard with an attached set of glasses. There is no display, but there is a top case that the glasses can be stored in when the device is not in use. Videos featuring the device show users typing on the keyboard while viewing a set of AR windows that are placed around them.
The Spacetop runs SpaceOS, which the company says is a spatial operating system built for productivity. It focuses on web tasks, which provides content without the company having to recruit developers to build apps.
The AR glasses weigh in at 85 grams, while the Vision Pro weighs between 600 and 650 grams depending on the attached Light Seal. The keyboard is just under 12 inches wide, and the whole setup weighs three pounds, which is heavier than a MacBook Air or iPad Pro.
It includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550 chip, 128GB storage, 16GB RAM, and two open-ear speakers. There are two USB-C ports on the keyboard component that allow it to be connected to a traditional external display, and the battery lasts for up to eight hours. The glasses are equipped with two OLED display panels with a 1920×1080 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate, and custom prescription lenses are supported.
The Spacetop G1 will retail for $1,900, but those who reserve it early can get a $200 discount, dropping the price to $1,700. A machine can be reserved for a $100 refundable deposit, and it is expected to start shipping in October 2024.
TikTok appears to be quietly showing some users an option to purchase “coins” on the web instead of through in-app purchases, circumventing the commission that Apple receives on digital purchases.
As noted by David Tesler (via TechCrunch) TikTok has been offering a limited number of TikTok app users an option to purchase coins on TikTok.com instead of in the app. “Try recharging on tiktok.com to avoid in-app service fees,” reads the text. “You can save the service fee and get access to popular payment methods.”
TikTok might get banned from the app store next week
Why? It looks like they’re circumventing apple fee by directing users to purchase coins via external payment methods pic.twitter.com/VG8ihvsRmv
— David Tesler (@getdavenow) April 30, 2024
Following through and opting to purchase from TikTok.com brings up an interface for using payment options such as PayPal or a credit/debit card. “Save around 25% with a lower third-party service fee,” the app suggests. The purchase workflow can be completed entirely in the TikTok app with no requirement to use in-app purchase.
TikTok’s coins are used as a way for users to provide “Gifts” to creators. Users pay real money for a certain number of coins, and those coins are used for little gift emoji that can be provided to creators. TikTok says that gifts are used to determine the number of “diamonds” awarded to content creators, and diamonds can be redeemed for money. A TikTok coin is worth about half a diamond, and 100 diamonds is worth 50 cents, so TikTok is collecting quite a bit of money during the conversion.
Apple requires in-app purchase to be used for digital goods and services, and TikTok’s “coins” presumably count as a digital good. If TikTok is indeed offering customers a way to purchase coins without in-app purchase as suggested by the screenshots from Tesler, then TikTok is breaking Apple’s App Store rules.
TikTok coins would likely be considered tips, and Apple has forced other major social networks like Facebook to use in-app purchase for a creator tipping feature. What TikTok is doing is actually similar to the direct purchase options that Epic Games added to the Fortnite app back in 2020, a move that ultimately led to the banning of the Fortnite app and a multi-year legal battle.
Most TikTok users are only able to purchase coins through the in-app purchase interface, and the option to purchase direct from TikTok with a credit or debit card is allegedly a feature showing up only for a small number of users. The option is perhaps being limited to those who have spent a lot of money on coins in the past.
If you’re anything like us, your Apple iPhone is a beast with multiple uses. It can go from an email-firing machine to a dedicated Netflix device in seconds and then into playing video games just as fast. But just because it can do all of those things doesn’t mean it couldn’t stand a little fine-tuning when it comes to optimizing it for productivity.
“Productivity” can mean a lot of things, whether it’s sending emails, making tweaks to documents and spreadsheets, or just planning for your day ahead. Whatever being productive means to you, there are apps that will make it easier. Here are 10 iPhone productivity apps you need to download today.
Todoist
The best to-do app
If there’s one app that most will agree needs to be on this list, it’s Todoist. Todoist is the to-do app, but it isn’t just an app where you tick boxes. No, it’s much more than that, as Todoist has grown over the years to become something much more comprehensive.
The to-do list is the app’s bread and butter, and you can add whatever you like, from household chores to high-level business meetings. To sort the wheat from the chaff, you can select four priority levels for a task so that Todoist knows which ones are the most important to you. Labels help you keep work, play, and home separate from each other, and you can create different projects to really keep tasks apart from each other. After all, you might not want to be reminded of your upcoming work tasks at 1 p.m. on a lazy Sunday, whereas remembering you have laundry to hang up is rather more important. A morning report will let you know what you have coming up for the day, while the evening review tells you what you have left — though you can switch those off if you’d rather not have them.
Todoist is largely free to use, but some of its features require a subscription to Todoist Pro. For instance, you’ll need Pro if you want to add a reminder or location to a task or see your tasks in the useful Calendar View. Pro costs $5 a month, or you can pay for a year upfront for $48.
AI is a controversial subject for many, but we have a soft spot for Goblin Tools. It has a great name, for one thing, and it’s the perfect app to grab if you have a project to tackle but aren’t quite sure where to start. Essentially a wrapper for an AI chatbot, Goblin Tools is simple to use. Enter what you’re trying to do into the text box at the top of the app, and select the plus button to add it as a to-do checkbox.
From here, it gets a little special. Select the magic wand icon, and Goblin Tools will break down your task into several steps. Changing the number of spicy chili pepper icons will adjust how detailed and granular the steps should be. If you want a further breakdown of one of your main goals’ steps, you can do that, too.
The steps can be a little vague — after all, “create a plan for world domination” is a little easier said than done, but it’s meant to be a stepping-off point for your creativity. You can keep breaking those tasks down until your creative juices finally get flowing. It’s not free, unlike many of the apps on this list, but it costs just $1, which is worth parting with even if you just want to play with it.
A good work-life balance is a must, but what about making sure you don’t get burned out during the work day? Pomodoro is a very popular working method that balances periods of work with smaller periods of rest, and there are a number of apps out there that can support this style of working. One of the best, at least in our eyes, is FocusPomo.
Frankly, it’s adorable. The symbol for Pomodoro timing is the tomato because “Pomodoro” is Italian for tomato, so it’s no surprise the app has a lot of tomato imagery. They’re cute (though we’ll admit they look more like oranges than tomatoes), and they roll around the main page when you tilt your phone, which is a nice touch. You’ll earn tomatoes for every five minutes you stay in focus mode, and they’ll grow and mature the more you use the app. Twenty-five minutes of work with a five-minute break is the standard for the Pomodoro technique, but you can change them as needed.
It’s a simple design and a simple app, but that’s not all it does. It supports iOS’s new Standby mode and home screen widgets, so it can show your current timer on your StandBy dock, or you can kick off a focus timer from your home screen. It has charts and stats, including a timeline showing when you worked and when you rested, and it has iCloud syncing across devices and app blocking and whitelists.
Some of those features are locked firmly behind a paywall, though. You won’t be able to access cross-device syncing, the timeline, or app blocking and whitelists without paying for a Plus subscription. On the plus side (pun not intended), the costs are fairly low. You can pay $2 a month, $10 a year, or just fork out $20 for a lifetime subscription. If you find this a useful part of your workday, then $20 may well be worthwhile.
Organizing a group of people is often a thankless task — and an extremely hard one, too. Whether you’re trying to make sure everyone is free for a critical meeting, DnD session, or just a gathering at a restaurant, the constant back-and-forth of “I’m free on Wednesday, but not Thursday” can be wearing for even the most patient person. That’s where TimeTree comes in.
Essentially a group calendar, TimeTree has enormous utility and can be configured to fit almost any group. When you set up your group, you’ll be asked to choose a preset, with slightly different options and tuning for each. Invite the members of your group, and they’ll be able to see shared tasks and events and mark whether they’re available to attend events, leave comments, or just chat.
There’s a Plus subscription, but it doesn’t limit the free version too much, which is a nice surprise. Plus costs $5 a month, or $45 a year, and gives you access to file attachments, event priorities, and a vertical view of your calendars.
A lot of the apps on this list shine because of the extra features they add to a simple concept, but Google Keep is best appreciated for its simplicity. It’s a notetaker, and that’s pretty much all there is to it — but because it’s so well executed, it’s a mainstay that should be on every smartphone.
The first and most important part of the app is its notetaking. It’s pretty good. You can take notes as plain text files, checkboxes, or even handwritten notes. But it doesn’t stop there, as you can insert images, take photos, and record voice notes as notes. While you often can’t mix and match, it’s not often you need to, and Keep gets away with its simplicity.
Since it’s Google-made, it has strong cross-device support. Sign into your Google account on any other device, and your Keep notes will be there. Heck, even the price is fantastic because, well, there isn’t one. It’s completely free, and that puts it head and shoulders above everything else if all you need is a notetaking app that’s available pretty much anywhere.
While there are plenty of password managers out there, few are as good as Bitwarden. Another app that revels in its simplicity, Bitwarden offers unlimited storage for passwords on an unlimited number of devices. Whereas most password managers now charge for access to your passwords from more than a set number of devices, Bitwarden has stayed steadfastly free, earning it a lot of respect in our book.
But not having to charge doesn’t mean it loses out in capability. Bitwarden has passkey support and apps and companions for iOS, Android, desktop computers, browsers, and pretty much any device you could need it on. Your vault is secured with end-to-end encryption, including AES-256 bit, salted hashtag, and PBKDF2 SHA-256, as well as third-party audits that keep your data safe and secure. When Bitwarden is this good, why would you need to pay for any other password manager?
Forming habits is a case of just doing that thing over and over again. We all know this, but it’s much easier said than done. If you struggle to keep up with habits, then maybe you need a feathery friend from Finch to make sure you keep up those good habits.
Finch is, at its core, a to-do list app. But it’s so much more than that, thanks to the central conceit. Boot up the app, and a small baby bird greets you. Introduce yourself and give them a name, and they form the backbone of the app’s effectiveness. By completing tasks, your baby bird will grow into a toddler, child, and beyond, go on adventures, and learn more and more about the world. As you progress, you’ll earn currency and buy your bird clothes and accessories, and even decorate its birdhouse. It’s a cute and surprisingly effective way to establish new habits, as who would want to let down their very own baby bird?
It’s not just about tasks, as there’s a mental wellness aspect to the app, too. Every time you open the app, it’ll ask you how you’re feeling about the day, and if you score low, it’ll prompt you to fill out a journal entry, instilling even more healthy wellness habits. The dastardly little chicks will constantly trick you into treating yourself better, and you’ll soon find yourself shopping for new clothes for your bird and picking out a birdhouse theme.
It’s free to use, and while there are paid elements, they’re spread thin enough that you’ll rarely encounter any paywalls. Finch Plus costs $6 a month and provides access to more insights, exercises, shop options, and customization options within the app.
There’s no shortage of cloud storage apps out there, so what makes Google Drive so good? Is it the relatively generous 15GB storage offered on the free plan? The massive cross-device support means you can access your files pretty much anywhere. The strong auto-backup options. Or is it the fact it supports pretty much every file type out there and can often send them straight into the Google Suite of editors as well? It’s a mix of all of the above, and all of that together means Google Drive is the best cloud storage app you can download.
Drive’s cross-support with the rest of Google’s suite is the real key to its brilliance. Upload photos and pictures and you can find them organized in Photos, while text files will end up on Docs, spreadsheets in Sheets, and so on. Using Google’s built-in suite can save you time and effort, and it especially shines on mobiles, where the smartphone-optimized apps will function just as well as a desktop program. Add to this a game-changing search function that can identify and find just about anything, plus security options that can keep your sensitive files safe from prying eyes, and you’ve got a very good service.
It’s free to use, but even the 15GB of free space won’t go too far if you start using Google Drive to back up your phone pictures, documents, and videos. Thankfully, upgrading your storage doesn’t cost too much, at least not initially. Going to the first tier with 100GB of cloud storage will only set you back $2 a month, which is something of a bargain when it also comes with advanced photo editing tools for Photos.
You probably know what ExpressVPN is if you’ve ever seen a YouTube sponsorship, but for those who don’t know, ExpressVPN is a solid choice if you’re looking for a good VPN app to keep your surfing safe and secure.
A VPN works by tunneling your internet traffic through an encrypted and safe virtual private network, meaning your connection is less at risk than it would otherwise be. Of course, that means a slight hit to your connection speeds, as your traffic is being ferried elsewhere as it goes and comes back to you. That’s why ExpressVPN has created the Lightway, a fast VPN network that strives to reduce the lag you might otherwise feel.
ExpressVPN also comes with a password manager, doubling down on security. It also has servers in 105 countries, ensuring there’s a server near you. It doesn’t save your browsing details either and is constantly audited to assure users this isn’t the case.
But all of this won’t come free. A one-month subscription will set you back $13, which is quite a lot. You get a seven-day free trial, so you can at least be sure it’s for you before committing — but cancel before the hefty yearly subscription comes out if you’re not sold on it.
Be honest. Are you still using the standard Apple keyboard? Keyboards are an oft-overlooked element of productivity, and the right keyboard can be a key tool in your productivity arsenal. This has never been more correct than in the case of Grammarly, which uses artificial intelligence to ensure your writing is thoroughly spellchecked, grammatically correct, and more finely tuned than the finest Formula 1 car.
Grammarly has been around for a long time, and it’s built a strong reputation. Grammarly’s capabilities begin with spelling and grammar fixes, but they don’t end there — not by a long shot. As you write, it’ll check to see whether any synonyms would work better (changing “very happy” into the stronger “thrilled,” for instance), suggesting changes to create a more formal, casual, or whatever tone you’re aiming for, and it’ll rate your own words for tone too. Because it’s a keyboard, it works in any app, and the onboard AI can also generate text for you in whatever style you need.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t come cheap. Grammarly Premium is where all the fun toys live, including the Formality rating, the ability to tell you when sentences need clarifying, enhanced word choices, and more. The free version is also limited to 100 AI prompts a month. The Premium version will set you back $12 a month, but without it, Grammarly is mostly a glorified spellcheck, so it’s definitely worthwhile.
