I often say that an important reason to install iOS updates is to improve your iPhone’s security. Here is an example of what I mean. Ionut Arghire of SecurityWeek reports that a Russian state-sponsored espionage group has developed a sophisticated method to exploit Safari bugs to hack iPhones and is using it against Ukraine. Apple already fixed the flaw for people running iOS 26, but if you are not running that version yet, your device is at risk unless you install a software patch Apple released on March 11, as detailed by Apple in this article. Not only does iOS 26 protect against this specific hack, but it also includes a new feature called Background Security Improvement (BSI). Thanks to this feature, Apple can push a security update between versions of iOS: Apple pushes the update to your iPhone, and you don’t need to do anything for it to be installed (unless you turn off these automatic updates in the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app). Juli Clover of MacRumors notes that this week, on St. Patrick’s Day, Apple released its first BSI update. Keeping one step ahead of the bad guys can be difficult, but I’m glad that Apple is taking steps like these to protect us. And now, the news of note from the past week:

• Speaking of clever hackers, here is something else you should know about. Matt Shumer—who goes by Ma.tt, who is one of the developers of WordPress, and who happens to be in New Orleans this week (hello!)—shares the incredible tale of how a creative hacker almost scammed him by pretending to be someone with Apple Support. And the hacker almost got away with it. I’d like to think that I would have figured out the scam around the same time that Shumer did and before I got hacked, but who knows. Yikes.
• Speaking of iOS updates, Apple is expected to release iOS 26.4 pretty soon, perhaps even next week. Zac Hall of 9to5Mac identifies 13 new features that are expected to be included, such as improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly and a Concerts feature in Apple Music that can tell you about nearby shows from artists in your library.
• Ed Hardy of Cult of Mac explains the “improved keyboard accuracy” feature of the upcoming iOS 26.4.
• One new feature included in iOS 26.4 is the 2026 emoji. As noted by Keith Broni of Emojipedia, there are eight new characters: distorted face, fight cloud, ballet dancer, orca, hairy creatures, trombone, landslide, and treasure chest. And as is typical, Apple’s versions of the characters look really good. What a fun and creative job it must be to design these for Apple.
• In light of all of the new Apple products that were announced two weeks ago, I didn’t think that Apple would have any other new products in March. I was wrong. This week, Apple introduced the AirPods Max 2. They are essentially the same as the prior AirPods Max—they look the same—but the guts were updated to achieve feature parity with the AirPods Pro 3. If you like over-the-head headphones and want something from Apple, you now have a new option.
• If you are like me and prefer AirPods Pro 3 over the AirPods Max 2, you will want to read this list from Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac about the many different things that you can do by touching the earbuds’ stems or otherwise interacting with them.
• Jason Snell of Six Colors—and, yesterday, a contestant on Jeopardy!—wrote an interesting article opining that the new MacBook Neo is a reflection of much of what has made Apple such a successful company for 50 years.
• Horace Dedieu of Asymco explains why the MacBook Neo is such a bargain—not just because of its price, but also because the life span of a Mac is twice as long as the life span of a PC.
• Although this article came out last month, I didn’t notice it until this week: Nick Guy and Sarah Witman of the New York Times recommend the best fast chargers and charging cords. For a USB-C charging cable, they recommend the Anker Nano USB-C Softline Cable ($22.99 on Amazon).
• There is a new breed of web browser that comes with AI features baked in. These browsers have not appealed to me, but Federico Viticci of MacStories explains why he believes that Comet, an angetic AI web browser for the iPhone and iPad, is the first one worth checking out.
• Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac describes some recent additions to the components of the Apple One service that he likes—in other words, new things he likes about Apple TV, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Fitness+, and Apple Music.
• Christoffel also explains how the Personal Voice feature—which allows your iPhone to replicate your own voice—is even better in iOS 26.
• Every once in a while, you can get an Apple Watch Series 11, which has a list price of $399, for only $299 on Amazon. That 25% discount is going on again right now, so check it out on Amazon if you are in the market. That’s the price for the 42mm case; the version with the 46mm case is currently discounted from $429 to $329.
• With the money that you save on that Apple Watch, perhaps you will want to spend over $1,000 on a MagSafe charger for it. If so, you’ll want to read her description of the new Hermès MagSafe chargers wrapped in calfskin leather.
• William Gallagher of Apple Insider interviewed David Pogue to discuss his new book about 50 years of Apple.
• Apple TV has new shows every week for the next five weeks. As noted by Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac, this week, the new show is Imperfect Women, a psychological thriller starring Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, Joel Kinnaman, Corey Stoll, Leslie Odom Jr., and others. Next week, we get the final season of For All Mankind. On April 3, it is the second season of Your Friends & Neighbors, starring Jon Hamm. The next week, it is a movie called Outcome starring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, and Jonah Hill. And on April 15, it is a new show called Margo’s Got Money Troubles that features Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, Thaddea Graham, Marcia Gay Harden, and Greg Kinnear, and that has been getting some great early reviews. Too little time, too many good shows to watch!
• Justin Kroll of Deadline reports on a new movie now in production for Apple TV called What Happens at Night. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Patricia Clarkson, and others, and it is directed by Martin Scorsese. With those names behind the movie, count me interested.
• And finally, to celebrate Apple’s 50th anniversary, the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, recently held an event moderated by David Pogue that featured former Apple CEO John Sculley, Senior Apple Employee Chris Espinosa (the only person who has worked at Apple for its entire 50 years), former Apple Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering Jon Rubinstein, former Apple Chief Software Technology Officer and SVP of Software Engineering Avie Tevanian, and many other important people in the history of Apple. I watched the video last night, and it is fantastic:

Between now and April 1, Apple is celebrating its 50th anniversary, so that is the first topic that we discuss in this week’s episode of the podcast. We also discuss some of the interesting stories in David Pogue’s new book, Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue, which I have just started reading. We also discuss the initial reviews of the MacBook Neo, the iPhone 17e, and the (barely) updated Apple Studio Display,. Then we check in the AirPods Pro 3, now that the product has been available for six months. We also discuss the upcoming changes to Good Maps navigation, Apple’s crazy new videos on TikTok, and more.

In our In the Know segment, Brett shares tips on switching between listneing modes on the AirPods Pro, and I share a tip for getting a signed copy of David Pogue’s new book.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

Apple was founded on April 1, 1976. That means we are less than three weeks away from its 50th anniversary. Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote a letter to the public this week called 50 Years of Thinking Different to celebrate how people have done amazing things with Apple products, and Apple also announced it will celebrate its anniversary over the next few weeks. This week also marked the release of the book Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue, which is sure to be a definitive history of the company’s first five decades. I have a copy of that book on my desk right now, and it looks fantastic. Apple has certainly had its ups and downs over the years, and it is astonishing how close the company came to bankruptcy in the 1990s. But right now, the company is doing great. It is one of the most successful companies in history, and its products have repeatedly changed and improved society. I will enjoy toasting Apple between now and April 1st. And now, the news of note from the past week:

• David Pogue is making the tour of Apple websites, podcasts, and YouTube videos to discuss Apple’s history as a way to promote his book. One interview that I particularly enjoyed was conducted by Leander Kahney of Cult of Mac. That interview is full of great stories, some of which I had never heard before.
• Jason Snell of Six Colors reviews the MacBook Neo and concludes that it allows a Mac “to be considered by a whole selection of people who have never considered a Mac before.”
• In a video review, Marques Brownlee does an excellent job of explaining who the MacBook Neo is for. His bottom line: “Not only is this really good, I think it is potentially Apple’s most disruptive product in the last 10+ years.”
• Kyle Barr of Gizmodo reviews the new iPad Air (M4). He says that while it is still the “better” in Apple’s “good, better, best” iPad lineup, this new iPad Air has performance that is much closer to the top-of-the-line, and more expensive, iPad Pro (M5).
• Cherlynn Low of Engadget reviews the new iPhone 17e, calling it the economical choice.
• John Gruber of Daring Fireball reviews the iPhone 17e, concluding that it is “recommendable without hesitation” for anyone “who considers price their highest priority.”
• Jason Snell of Six Colors reviews the new version of the Apple Studio Display, calling it the smallest of upgrades.
• The AirPods Pro 3 have been out for about six months (my review), and Andrew O’Hara of AppleInsider takes a look at how they have held up for him after daily use.
• Glenn Fleishman of Six Colors explains how to get information on how a shared note in the Notes app has been edited.
• Zac Hall of 9to5Mac explains that if you subscribe to DIRECTV, you can now use its Sports Central feature on the iPhone and iPad apps.
• Abner Li of 9to5Google describes the new Immersive Navigation feature coming to the Google Maps app, including the CarPlay app.
• Although I’m a happy user of the UGREEN 3-in-1 Foldable MagFlow Wireless Charger (my review), which is $99.99 on Amazon, I noted when Anker released its Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station that it looked to be even better because it offers faster charging, albeit at a higher MSRP of $149.99. However, I see that the Anker product is currently on sale on Amazon for only $115.99, and if I were looking to purchase a 3-in-1 MagSafe charger right now, this Anker product is probably the one I would buy. And if you don’t already own a product like this, you should strongly consider one. Having something like this on your desk is wonderful for using the iPhone’s StandBy mode, plus this type of device is incredibly useful when you are traveling.
• Apple has some creative and unusual videos on TikTok right now, and Stephen Hackett of 512 Pixels shows a few of them. These are very unlike the videos that we typically see from Apple.
• Alex Weprin of The Hollywood Reporter writes that, according to Apple VP Eddy Cue, the first week of F1 racing on Apple TV was a ratings success. Apple has certainly been promoting the sport quite a bit, including this cute video featuring Apple CEO Tim Cook “racing” next to Dutch driver Max Verstappen.
• And finally, here is an excellent segment from CBS Sunday Morning in which David Pogue discusses Apple’s first fifty years, the subject of his new book:

With seven new products announced by Apple this week, you won’t be surprised by what Brett and I discuss in this week’s episode of the In the News podcast. We start with a deep discussion of the MacBook Neo, a product that we suspect will be incredibly popular. We also discuss the new Apple displays, the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the new iPad Air, and the new iPhone 17e. We also discuss the new policy on United Airlines that can get someone kicked off of a plane, the newfound interest in the iPod by teenagers, and more.

In our In the Know segment, we talk about Apple Music. Brett discusses music with haptics, and I discuss the new AutoMix feature and its cousin, the Beat Detection feature in Final Cut Pro.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

This was a week full of new Apple product announcements. As Joe Rossignol of MacRumors notes, there were seven of them: (1) the iPhone 17e; (2) the iPad Air (M4); (3) the MacBook Air (M5); (4) the MacBook Pro (M5 Pro and M5 Max); (5) an updated Studio Display monitor; (6) the Studio Display XDR; and (7) the MacBook Neo. The new MacBook Neo is the most interesting new product. For the first time ever, Apple is selling a laptop computer for only $599 (or $499 with a student discount). John Gruber of Daring Fireball notes that while you can get a PC laptop for a similar price, the “screen sucks (very dim, way lower resolution), the speakers suck, the keyboard sucks, and the trackpad sucks.” In contrast: “The MacBook Neo looks and feels every bit like a MacBook,” with a nice aluminium case, good keyboard, good trackpad, good bright display, surprisingly good speakers, and more. Sure, you can pay more and get more features with a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro. But I think it is significant that Apple is now selling the most popular type of computer—a laptop—for a price substantially lower than Apple has ever sold a laptop computer. For those who want something inexpensive and decent, there is now an excellent option from Apple. Indeed, as Gruber also notes, for $1200—about the same price as a traditional Mac laptop alone—you can now purchase both a Mac laptop and an iPhone 17e. And now, the news of note from the past week:

• Stephen Hackett of 512 Pixels identifies the features that you don’t get when you purchase a MacBook Neo for $599 instead of a MacBook Air for $1099. I agree with Hackett’s prediction that “most folks in the market for a $599 Mac won’t care about most of these.”
• Instead of an Apple processor that is designed for computers and that begins with the letter “M” such as the current M5 processor, the MacBook Neo uses an iPhone processor: the A18 Pro. That is the same processor that Apple used in the top-of-the-line iPhone 16 Pro released on September 9, 2024. As John Siracusa notes on Mastodon: “The A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo is 19% faster than the M2 Ultra in the Mac Pro in single-core performance (Geekbench 6). The MacBook Neo starts at $599. The Mac Pro, which is still for sale, starts at $6,999.”
• William Gallagher of Apple Insider notes that for most common tasks like email, web browsing, and word processing, the A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo is going to be just fine. I agree with that. The bigger limitation may be the memory: the A18 Pro chip only supports 8GB of RAM, so that is what is included with the MacBook Neo.
• M.G. Siegler of Spyglass says that the MacBook Neo “is the smartest move Apple has made in years,” in part because it is perfect for students.
• Why is it called the “Neo”? In an interview with Lance Ulanoff of TechRadar, Colleen Novielli, Director of Mac Product Marketing at Apple, said: “We wanted something that felt fun and friendly, and fresh, and felt like it really suited the spirit of this product.” Ulanoff adds that the goal was to have a name that projected youth and energy.
• Why hasn’t Apple sold a laptop like the MacBook Neo in the past? As noted by Jason Snell in an article for Six Colors and Macworld, Steve Jobs answered that question in 2008, saying: “We don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk.” Eighteen years later, thanks to Apple’s processors and its manufacturing expertise, it has finally figured out how to do so.
• At the other extreme from the MacBook Neo is the new MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip. Joe Rossignol of MacRumors reports that the initial tests show that the M5 Max is more powerful than every other consumer PC processor.
• Adam Engst of TidBITS notes that the new $1599 Apple Studio Display is only a minor improvement over the prior model introduced in 2022: you get a better webcam, more capable USB-C ports, and an updated six-speaker sound system. I’m surprised that Apple didn’t also increase the brightness from 600 nits or change the refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz—both of which are important reasons that the screen on my iPad Pro looks so amazing. If you want those features in a monitor from Apple, you need to purchase the new Studio Display XDR for $3299.
• Nilay Patel of The Verge reviews the iPhone 17e after getting a chance to try it out on Wednesday. His conclusion is that it “is a nice thing to hold and Apple’s fit and finish make for a very sharp little package. But there’s nothing mindblowing here—which is probably exactly right for a $599 phone that most people will buy on sale or get for free on contract.”
• The iPhone 17e comes in a new color: pink. Cherylynn Low of Engadget got to see it in person and says that “this new pink color option is absolutely delightful. … it’s understated and elegant.”
• Chance Miller of 9to5Mac says that the iPhone 17e solves the biggest problem of the iPhone 16e: the lack of MagSafe.
• Miller also notes that Apple released iOS 26.3.1 and similar updates this week. It provides support for the two new displays announced by Apple this week, but presumably also includes some bug fixes and security improvements.
• Matt Novak of Gizmodo reports that United Airlines has a new policy: you can get kicked off a plane for refusing to use headphones while listening to your electronic devices. Amen to that.
• Kelly Huang of the New York Times reports that many young people are now using an Apple product that is new to them: an iPod.
• Coming to Apple TV this weekend: the French-language thriller The Hunt, and Formula 1 races, as noted by John Voorhees of MacStories.
• The first F1 race airs this Saturday, March 7, at 8 Pacific / 11 Eastern. Apple notes in a press release that it will feature not only 5.1 surround sound but also, for the first time, 4K with Dolby Vision. (And note that 4K shows look even better on Apple TV than other streaming services because Apple doesn’t compress the video as much.)
• Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac reports that Apple’s Super Bowl halftime show, starring Bad Bunny, broke all records with over 4 billion views.
• And finally, while Apple released videos for many of the new products that it released this week, I really like the video for the iPhone 17e because it points out that even though this is the new budget iPhone, it can still do quite a bit:

Apple announced two new products yesterday. The iPad Air (M4) is a great product for most lawyers, so that’s the focus of this post. At the end of this post, I discuss the new iPhone 17e.

iPad Air (M4)

For many years, Apple has sold three main iPad models. The high-end model is the iPad Pro, and it has all of the bells and whistles. The entry-level model is the iPad, and while it is just a basic model, that is more than enough for many folks, such as younger students. The iPad Air fits right in the middle. There is a fourth model as well, the iPad mini, but for the reasons I noted in this post, I don’t recommend the iPad mini for attorneys. Nor do I recommend the entry-level model, which is just called “iPad,” because of its compromises. Fortunately, for most attorneys and other professionals looking to get real work done with an iPad, there have been two good choices: the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. Since 2000, when Apple introduced many of the iPad Pro’s key features on the iPad Air, the iPad Air has been the sweet spot for most attorneys. However, if you want a premium product, you can spend another $400 for the iPad Pro with the same capacity.

Yesterday, Apple introduced the latest version of the iPad Air. Instead of 2025’s iPad Air (M3), now Apple is selling the iPad Air (M4) for the same price. It has all of the advantages of last year’s model, plus it is a little faster.

Apple says this year’s iPad Air is 30% faster than last year’s model. There are two reasons for that improvement. The first reason is in the name: the iPad Air (M4) uses the M4 processor, which is better than the M3 processor in the iPad Air (M3). The second reason is that the iPad Air (M4) comes with 12GB of RAM, a significant improvement over the 8GB in the iPad Air (M3).

There are two other changes from last year’s model, though I suspect many folks will not notice them. First, this year’s model includes Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which means it supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Of course, those two protocols are very new; you might not currently use either of them, but this support does help to future-proof this latest version of the iPad Air. Second, if you get the cellular version of the iPad Air (M4), it uses Apple’s C1X modem chip, which could, in some circumstances, help performance and extend battery life.

A faster iPad is a more responsive one, making it easier and more enjoyable to get work done. But the real story here is that you get everything that has made the iPad Air great over the last few years, plus some additional performance. You get thin bezels, flat sides, USB-C, a very nice screen, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and an option to choose between 11" and 13"—the size I prefer for reading briefs, working exhibits, viewing websites, etc. These are all features that used to require paying more for an iPad Pro, so it is great to see them all in the less expensive iPad Air.

The other reason the additional memory and processor speed are nice is that, at some point soon, I hope Apple will do even more with AI. On-device AI has real advantages over cloud-computed AI, especially given the privacy concerns important to lawyers. On-device AI is much better with more memory and faster processors, so this year’s iPad Air is better equipped for AI than last year’s.

The iPad Air continues to start at $599 for the 11" model and $799 for the 13" model with 128GB of storage. If you don’t plan to store a lot of documents on your iPad (for example, if you will keep most of your work documents in the cloud), that might be enough storage for you. A safer bet is to spend an extra $100 for the 256GB version, which is another good way to future-proof your purchase.

The 256GB versions of the iPad Air are $400 cheaper than the 256GB versions of the iPad Pro. What do you lose by saving $400? The iPad Pro has a nicer and brighter OLED screen, Face ID instead of Touch ID, four built-in speakers instead of two, and the speed of an M4 processor in the iPad Air versus an M5 processor in an iPad Pro. There is a version of Apple’s fantastic Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro and the iPad Air; however, as I explained last week, the version for the iPad Air is cheaper but not quite as good: the trackpad is smaller and lacks haptic feedback, the keyboard is not backlit, and it doesn’t have the aluminium metal finish that feels a little more premium. Finally, there are a few other minor differences that most lawyers are unlikely to care about. For example, the iPad Pro supports a faster USB-C connector (with Thunderbolt / USB 4) and the cameras are better on the iPad Pro (but note that I virtually never use the camera on my iPad Pro).

My iPad is a key part of my law practice. I use it every day for many hours, and for me, the $400 price is easily worth the iPad Pro’s premium features. On the other hand, I didn’t spend extra money on a premium car; my Honda Accord does everything I need. If you are looking to get a new iPad, you just need to decide whether you want a great iPad (the iPad Air) or an even better iPad (the iPad Pro). Thats the same choice that lawyers have faced for the last few years. It is nice to have two choices when both of them are great options.

iPhone 17e

Last Fall, Apple introduced the iPhone 17 line, including the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 17 (along with the brand new iPhone Air). Apple introduces new iPhones every Fall, but the Fall 2025 introduction was particularly strong.

Yesterday, Apple did the same thing it did this time last year: it introduced a budget version of the iPhone, calling it the “e” model. Of course, a budget iPhone is nothing new; even before last year’s iPhone 16e, Apple sold less expensive “SE” models of the iPhone, dating back to the original iPhone SE introduced in 2016.

If the starting price of $799 for the iPhone 17 seems too high, you can now pay $200 less for the iPhone 17e. That is the same starting price as the iPhone 16e, but the iPhone 17e starts with 256GB of storage (up from 128GB on the $799 version of last year’s iPhone 16e).

By paying $200 less for the iPhone 17e than the iPhone 17, you lose some features. The screen is a little less bright (800 nits versus 1000 nits—and up to 3000 nits when you are outside with an iPhone 17), a little smaller (6.1" versus 6.3"), and not as nice (lacking ProMotion, the always-on display, and the Dynamic Island). There is also no Camera Control button on the side, although it does have an Action button, which you could assign to launch the Camera app. The 17e has a front-facing camera, but it lacks the very useful feature of the other iPhones introduced last Fall: the ability to take a selfie photo in either portrait or landscape mode without having to rotate the iPhone in your hand. And like the iPhone Air, the back of the iPhone 17e has only a single camera, so you don’t get the Ultra Wide camera of the iPhone 17 (or the telephoto camera that is unique to the iPhone 17 Pro).

Unlike the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe (with Qi2 speed). MagSafe was a big omission in the iPhone 16e, and I’m glad to see it in the iPhone 17e MagSafe because it lets you use StandBy mode, which is really useful for the reasons I noted in this post. The screen on the iPhone 17e is slightly more scratch-resistant than the iPhone 16e’s. And unlike the iPhone 16e, which came only in black or white, the iPhone 17e now offers a third case color option: Soft Pink.

Note that the iPhone 17e has a smaller screen than the iPhone 17 because it is the same width but a little shorter: 5.78" versus 5.89".

If an always-on display on an iPhone isn’t important to you and a basic iPhone screen with a single camera seems sufficient, the iPhone 17e is an excellent purchase. It is a modern iPhone using the same A19 processor as the iPhone 17. A few months ago, my wife upgraded from an iPhone SE to the iPhone 17, and when I mentioned last night that Apple is now selling an iPhone 17e, her first reaction was that the iPhone 17e would have probably been a sufficient option for her. I suspect that many will agree, so I’m glad that Apple replaced the iPhone 16e with the iPhone 17e instead of continuing to sell the iPhone 16e for another year—something that Apple used to do with its iPhone SE models, which Apple would continue to sell even when they were starting to get a long in the tooth.

Conclusion

The iPad Air (M4) is an excellent model for most attorneys. It can do a lot, and it occupies that “just right” middle spot in the lineup. The iPhone 17e is a budget iPhone, but thanks to the A19 processor, MagSafe support, and other modern features, it is a solid choice for many people. Both the iPad Air (M4) and iPhone 17e can be ordered starting Wednesday, and they ship a week later on March 11.

We are days away from a week of new Apple product announcements, starting on Monday, so Brett and I begin the latest episode of the In the News podcast discussing what we might see and how Apple might unveil everything. We also talk about the upcoming ABA TECHSHOW, replacing a physical wallet with the Apple Wallet app, preserving experiences by recording them for the Apple Vision Pro, 1Password versus the Apple Passwords app, Apple’s announcement that Mac mini computers will be assembled in Houston, some great tips for the Apple Notes app, and why I love the Magic Keyboard for iPad.

In our In the Show segment, we discuss lots of Apple TV news: F1 races, Ted Lasso, and some fantastic Sci-Fi shows that are starting now or soon.

In our In the Know segment, Brett shares tips for using the Globe key on a Magic Keyboard for iPad, and I recommend two weather apps: CARROT Weather for CarPlay, and the new Acme Weather app.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

Four weeks from today, I’ll be in Chicago giving presentations on how to get the most out of technology in your law practice at the ABA TECHSHOW conference. I always meet and reconnect with lots of iPhone J.D. readers at that conference, and if you are trying to decide whether to attend this year, I encourage you to do so. The ABA announced this week that Nilay Patel (the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Verge) will be giving a Keynote address this year. This is great news. Patel practiced IP law in Chicago before he became a full-time tech journalist, and his reviews and insights on Apple products over the years have been top-notch. I really look forward to his presentation. One last note about TECHSHOW: Brett Burney and I are co-hosting a Taste of TECHSHOW dinner on Thursday, March 26. Spaces are very limited and, in the past, have filled up quickly; this year, instead of signing up online or in an app, you need to register onsite at the Conference Concierge, first-come, first-served. Keep that in mind as you plan your itinerary. And now, the news of note from the past week:

• Speaking of ABA TECHSHOW, Bob Ambrogi of LawSites announced the 15 legal tech startups that will participate as finalists in the 10th-annual Startup Alley.
• Speaking of former practicing attorneys who now focus full-time on technology, David Sparks of MacSparky writes about how Apple Wallet is now so valuable that you often no longer need a real wallet. I agree.
• We already knew that there would be an Apple event on Wednesday. Zac Hall reports that, according to a source who is in the know—that would be Apple CEO Tim Cook—the new product announcements will actually start on Monday. Time to grab some popcorn and get a good seat.
• Steve Jobs would have turned 71 years old this week. As unfortunate as it is that he was taken so young by a cruel disease—one that, unfortunately, my own family has experience with—how lucky we are for the things that he brought into this world. This week, the Steve Jobs Archive released a project called Letters to a Young Creator, which features short notes written by people who have created great things in business, design, technology, and the arts. I’ve only just started to read them, and they are inspiring. You can read them on the website, or can download them (for free) to your device from Apple Books.
• Fernando Silva of 9to5Mac recommends portable power banks. However, he doesn’t mention the Anker Laptop Power Bank (my review) ($119.99 on Amazon), which I use all the time with my iPad and my Vision Pro, and I highly recommend. I almost purchased one a few months ago as a birthday present for my brother, but when I talked to him first to try to feel him out on whether he might be interested, his response was that he already owned two of them.
• You should use a password manager, and I’m a big fan of 1Password. But the company announced this week that it is raising prices. The family plan that I use goes from $59.88 to $71.88/year. I know this has caused some people to wonder if now is the time to switch to Apple’s free Password app. Adam Engst of TidBITS compares the two services. For some people, Apple’s app may be sufficient. But for me, I need something that is cross-platform since I use a PC at work, I want something that stores more than just passwords (such as notes, medical records, Social Security numbers, etc.), and I appreciate a better system for sharing certain passwords with others in my family. However, if you don’t share with others and you only use Apple products, Apple’s system does have its advantages, and you cannot beat the price.
• Speaking of security, Apple announced yesterday that the iPhone and iPad are the “first and only consumer devices in compliance with the information assurance requirements of NATO nations.” This means that they can “be used with classified information up to the NATO restricted level without requiring special software or settings — a level of government certification no other consumer mobile device has met.”
• I don’t often discuss Android smartphones on this website, but this week, Samsung announced the new Galaxy S26 Ultra, which includes a new feature that will appeal to attorneys and others who often read confidential information on a smartphone screen and want to reduce the risk of someone reading over their shoulder. The new feature is called Privacy Display. It is not one of those screen protectors that you attach to the phone; it is a hardware feature that you can turn on or off as needed. Instead, Allison Johnson of The Verge describes it like this: “There are two sets of pixels in the display: one that projects the image straight ahead toward the viewer and one that projects light off to the sides, so you can see the screen from an angle. By turning off that second set of pixels, the screen looks basically normal to the person holding the phone, while looking very dim from an angle. Someone directly behind you with a good view over your shoulder might still see a bit of what’s onscreen, but the effect is stronger just off to the sides.” Interesting.
• In an article for TidBITS, Julio Ojeda-Zapata recommends products made by companies other than Apple that are compatible with Apple’s Find My system and that work in ways that an AirTag does not.
• Rolfe Winkler of the Wall Street Journal reports that Apple will move some of the production of the Mac mini to a Foxconn facility in Houston. The facility will also include a training center for advanced manufacturing, a potential precursor to even more Apple products being made in the United States.
• Mahmoud Itani of Macworld shares tips for using the Notes app on the iPhone.
• Jamie Jirak of Daily Dot reports that while the MuppetVision 3D attraction was recently closed at Disney World, a version of the experience will soon become available for the Apple Vision Pro. That sounds fantastic to me. It’s time to play the music; It’s time to light the lights…
• Josh Rubin of Cool Hunting interviewed the folks at Apple who created Immersive Environments in the Apple Vision Pro—such as the new Jupiter environment—to discuss their creative process.
• Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac shares a short video clip in which Ted Lasso actor Hannah Waddingham reveals that the next season will come out in August 2026 and shares what she loves about the show.
• F1 races come to Apple TV starting next week, and Jason Snell of Six Colors has an extensive post with all of the details.
• The second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is now airing on Apple TV. And as Christoffel notes, the initial reviews are very positive.
• And finally, For All Mankind is one of my favorite TV shows, and I’m excited that Season 5 will debut soon, on March 27. This week, Apple released a trailer for Season 5. Apple also announced that the spin-off series Star City will debut on May 29—the same day as the final episode of Season 5 of For All Mankind. I guess I know what I’ll be doing that night. Here is the trailer for the new season of For All Mankind:

I have tried out and reviewed so many different accessories for the iPhone and iPad since I started this website in 2008 that it is becoming increasingly rare for me to find a product that I consider an all-time great. I was delighted to learn that Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (Amazon link) falls into that elite category of accessories. I purchased one about three months ago, and this accessory has transformed my iPad into a far more useful and enjoyable device. It makes me a much more productive lawyer. And it has done so in a way that completely surprised me because I’ve been using external keyboards with my iPad for an incredibly long time; I had no idea that this version of an external keyboard would be such an improvement. If you use an iPad to get work done and you haven’t yet purchased Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad, I strongly encourage you to consider doing so.

What it is

I’m sure you already know the basics: this is an all-in-one keyboard and trackpad for the iPad.

The version I purchased is made for an iPad Pro. It works with both the iPad Pro (M4), released by Apple in May 2024, and the iPad Pro (M5), released in October 2025. Apple also sells a similar product for the iPad Air, and near the end of this review, I’ll compare those two.

Apple announced its first Magic Keyboard for an iPad Pro in March 2020. That first-generation model included a backlit keyboard and trackpad. But what was most notable was that it used a cantilever, meaning it was firmly attached at one end (the hinge at the back of the keyboard) and the other end extended to support the weight of the iPad. This means that instead of the iPad being positioned at the back of the keyboard, it can appear to float above it. This brings the iPad closer to you, making it easier to see and touch the display. It also makes it easy to adjust the viewing angle.

Because the iPad attaches to the Magic Keyboard via magnets, it is incredibly easy to lift the iPad away to use it as a tablet, and just as easy to reattach it. When connected via those magnets, the iPad uses the Smart Connector port (three dots on the back, near the edge) to communicate with the Magic Keyboard, so you don’t need to worry about making a Bluetooth connection. It just works. That original design also included a USB-C port in the hinge for power (not data).

This version is the second generation, introduced in May 2024, along with the iPad Pro (M4). It includes everything that I just described from the original model, but it is better. The most noticeable improvement is the addition of a 14-key function row across the top. It also features a larger trackpad that uses haptic feedback, so you feel like you are clicking down on the trackpad when you push it, even though that is an illusion. The palm rest of the second-generation version uses aluminum; I never used the original version, but I’ve read that this is an improvement that feels better. The new version is also lighter and slightly thinner than the 2020 model.

Why I love this product

All of the product details that I mentioned above were known to me in 2020 and 2024 when the two models were introduced. I thought that the product sounded nice, but it also seemed unnecessary for me. First, I already had a traditional Apple Magic Keyboard inside a Canopy case made by Studio Neat. I took that with me whenever I thought I might want a keyboard, such as when I travelled. And in my office, the Logitech keyboard that works with my PC can easily connect to an iPad just by pressing a button and waiting a few seconds. Second, I knew that a Magic Keyboard for iPad would add to the weight of my iPad; I liked the fact that an iPad with an Apple Smart Folio cover is lighter than a laptop. Third, I didn’t think that a touchpad was very important; I own an Apple Magic Trackpad, which works well with an iPad, but I don’t use it very often.

I was wrong.

First, having an external keyboard always available for my iPad is incredibly useful. I don’t have to get a Bluetooth keyboard and wait for it to connect. It is just there. And it works great, with very comfortable backlit keys. Having easy access to an excellent keyboard has caused me to do even more work with my iPad instead of a PC, whether I am typing emails or notes, entering text in a website or app (such as entering my time in my Firm’s time-and-billing software or adding items to my to-do software), or even just opening an app by typing command-space and then typing the first letter or two of an app name.

Having more reasons to use my iPad instead of my PC is nice because, for many tasks, I prefer how the iPad works. In my office, I’ll have my PC keyboard right there in front of me, but I still often prefer using the iPad to get the task done more efficiently. And even for the tasks that I previously did with my iPad, I can often do them faster and better with a keyboard and a trackpad.

As noted above, this second-generation model includes a 14-key function row. It is useful. Most importantly, there is an escape key in the top-left corner. I use that key frequently to exit certain functions. For example, when I am using the YouTube webpage in Safari and watching a video in full-screen mode, I can tap escape to exit full-screen mode. The volume buttons are in a more convenient location than reaching up to touch the buttons on the side of the iPad. The brightness buttons are far more convenient than using the on-screen buttons, which first require opening the Control Center.

When I don’t need the keyboard, I love that I can just lift the iPad and easily remove it from the magnetic connection. I still use my iPad as a tablet—either on its own, or with the Apple Pencil—very frequently. But thanks to the Magic Keyboard for iPad, I’m using my iPad even more. The only downside I’ve encountered is that sometimes, when I’m using my iPad as a pure tablet, I miss the Apple Smart Folio cover when this Magic Keyboard is serving as my iPad cover. The Smart Folio provides more friction on the back of the iPad, making it more secure in my hands. Also, the Smart Folio works well to put the iPad at a slight angle as I write notes. My solution is just to use both. The Smart Folio cover on its own is incredibly thin and light. So I keep it next to me at my desk, and I attach it to my iPad several times a week. When I travel, my iPad stays in the Magic Keyboard for iPad as a case, and I slide the flat Smart Folio right next to it.

The second thing I like about this accessory is the USB-C port on the hinge. When I’m working at a desk—in my office or at home—I plug in a USB-C cord. That keeps my iPad charged as long as it is magnetically attached. When I lift up my iPad to use it as a tablet, I virtually always have 100% power, so I never need to worry about the battery. Becuase of the configuration of my work and home desks, it would be more convenient for me if the USB-C port were on the right instead of the left. Or better yet, on both sides. But I understand why Apple put it on the left side, since the iPad’s USB-C port is on the right when it is in the Magic Keyboard for iPad.

For many years, I have been using the Simplex Tablet iPad Stand (my review) at my desk in my office to hold the iPad steady at a comfortable angle, with a USB-C cable plugged into the port. Whenever I picked up my iPad to use it, I would unplug the cord and then plug it back in later. Now that my iPad mostly lives in the Magic Keyboard for iPad, I no longer need to frequently plug and unplug a cord.

Third, the trackpad is far more useful than I realized now that I always have it around. I love that the iPad is a touch interface, and I still touch the screen frequently, but thanks to iPadOS 26, the on-screen pointer works incredibly well. It is very nice to use the trackpad and pointer to precisely select items on the screen without my finger getting in the way. This is nothing new, of course; we have been using a pointer since the days of the original Macintosh in 1984. I only rarely took the time to connect an external trackpad to my iPad. Now that a high-quality trackpad is always available to me, I truly understand how useful it really is.

Fourth, I love having all of my key accessories together. The Magic Keyboard for iPad gives me the keyboard and the trackpad. My Apple Pencil lives on top. Everything is together in a nice package. It is fast and easy to fold the keyboard into a case when I want to move to a conference room or another attorney’s office, or to a table or counter at home to get some work done. Once I am there, I have everything I might need.

Fifth, everything about this device feels very well-made. My iPad Pro just feels like a more premium product thanks to this accessory.

Put all of this together, and I have been using my iPad more over the last three months than ever before. And that is saying something because I was already an avid iPad user in my law practice.

Cost

This is an expensive iPad accessory, and that was the main reason that I waited so long to buy one. Apple sells the 13" model for $349, and the current Amazon price is $334. According to Camel Camel Camel, that $334 price is typical for Amazon, and there have been two past instances of deep discounts: $274.99 around Black Friday in 2024 and $279.99 around Black Friday in 2025 (which is when I purchased mine).

Having said that, now that I know how useful this product is, I would absolutely pay full price if I had to do so again. That is especially true now that iPadOS 26 makes it so much easier to work with multiple windows and use an external pointing device.

Comparison to the iPad Air version

If you use an iPad Air instead of an iPad Pro, Apple sells a similar model: the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (Amazon link). That version costs less: $269 for the 11" model and $319 for the 13" model. Most features remain the same, including the excellent cantilever design, Smart Connector support, and the USB-C port on the hinge. But there are a few differences: the trackpad is smaller and lacks haptic feedback, the keyboard is not backlit, and it doesn’t have the aluminium metal finish that feels a little more premium.

Conclusion

As I said at the outset of this review, this is one of the best iPad accessory purchases that I have ever made. If you are like me—i.e., you’ve heard of this product for many years now and have resisted getting it because of the price and questions about how useful it would be—you should reconsider. The iPad is already an amazing productivity tool, and with the Magic Keyboard for iPad, it is even better.

Click here to get the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro ($314 on Amazon).

What will Apple announce during its next big product announcement on March 4th, and how will Apple make the announcement? That’s the first topic that we tackle on this week’s episode of the In the News podcast. We also discuss new features coming in iOS 26.4 in the next month or two, the new Apple Watch app for Rivian vehicles, changing the iPad keyboard so you can swipe instead of typing, the HiWater app for tracking your fluid intake, the Twelve South Valet, and more.

In our Where Y’at? segment, we discuss Mardi Gras and the iPhone emergency satellite SOS service.

In our In the Show segment, we discuss two Apple TV shows that were supposed to be released last year and when they will come out in 2026.

In our In the Know segment, Brett describes a phone device to use with an old Apple Watch Ultra, and I share three useful Apple Watch tips.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just listen using your podcast player of choice. You can also watch the episode on YouTube: