Tim Hardwick
Tim is a Senior Editor at MacRumors and has been writing for the site since 2016. Formerly a magazine journalist, his work has appeared in over 30 newsstand print publications and online brands covering a range of topics, from the latest trends in technology to the mysteries of ancient history.
Based in the UK, Tim's current role at MacRumors involves editorial oversight and how tos, in addition to covering daily news and contributing occasional reviews. Tim can be reached at tim@macrumors.com, Telegram (@waxeditorial) or Twitter.
Based in the UK, Tim's current role at MacRumors involves editorial oversight and how tos, in addition to covering daily news and contributing occasional reviews. Tim can be reached at tim@macrumors.com, Telegram (@waxeditorial) or Twitter.
Tim Hardwick's Articles
Set a Custom EQ for Your AirPods in iOS 27
Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser owners have been able to adjust the audio frequency spectrum of their headphones for years, whereas AirPods owners have had to make do with Apple's default tuning. That's no longer the case in iOS 27, which adds a three-band equalizer to the AirPods settings screen.
It's worth noting that iOS has had an EQ setting for years – it's buried in Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Music, ...
Read Full Article • 27 comments
2TB iCloud+ Plan to Feature Another Key Benefit With iOS 27
Apple has indicated there will be increased AI limits for certain iCloud+ subscriptions when iOS 27 launches this fall with Siri AI and new Apple Intelligence features.
At WWDC in June, Apple revealed there would be daily usage limits for some Apple Intelligence features, like the much-improved Image Playground, but it said that users could get increased access through iCloud+ plans.
In...
iPhone 18 Pro Models Could Be Up to $300 More Expensive, Says Analyst
This year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could be $250-$300 more expensive than existing iPhone 17 Pro models due to higher silicon and memory costs, an analyst claimed today.
According to an earnings note by Jeff Pu of GF Securities, higher 2nm silicon and DRAM/NAND costs could drive the price hikes, as Apple grapples with global component shortages owing to the AI infrastructure...
Spotify Adds Running Mode to iOS App With Tempo-Matched Music
Spotify today announced a new Running Mode that turns playlists into structured running sessions built around workout type, tempo, and listening habits. It's launching on iOS first.
Located in the app's Fitness Hub, the feature lets runners choose from 25 presets that can be tweaked to fit workout type (interval, steady, or pyramid, for example), with options for duration, beats per minute,...
iOS 27 Finally Unlinks Alarm Volume From Your iPhone Ringer
For the better part of two decades, an iPhone's alarm volume has matched its ringer. In other words, if you slide the ringtone volume down to silence your iPhone overnight, you're also turning your alarm's volume down with it. That's no longer the case in iOS 27.
Settings now includes an "Alarms and Timers" section with its own Match Ringtone Volume toggle. If you toggle it off, a dedicated...
25 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27
Apple will release iOS 27 in September, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features on the way, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era.
This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though, as the following feature list...
iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes: What to Expect
Apple won't change the display size of this year's iPhone 18 Pro models, but a different change to the display has been rumored several times now.
Apple is expected to stick with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, respectively. For context, those are the display sizes of the current iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Meanwhile, rumors continue to ...
iOS 27: Tone Down Liquid Glass Transparency
If you've never been a fan of Liquid Glass – Apple's glass-like interface effect introduced in iOS 26 – then there's some good news in iOS 27. Apple has added a setting that lets you finely adjust the level of translucency, giving you more control over the look and feel of your iPhone.
Perhaps you find notifications too see-through, or you want to see more of your wallpaper through...
5 Reasons to Buy the iPhone 17 Now Instead of Waiting for iPhone 18
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable are less than two months from being unveiled. That may sound like a reason to sit tight if you're looking to upgrade from an iPhone 16 or older series, but between looming price hikes and Apple's new split-launch calendar, there's a decent case for grabbing an iPhone 17 series model right now. Here are five reasons in favor of putting your order ...
iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...
iPhone 18 Rumor Reality Check: 20 Claims Ranked by Likelihood
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable iPhone are less than two months away from being unveiled, with the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 expected to follow in spring 2027 as part of the company's new split-launch strategy. We've looked back at everything we know so far, and ranked the most consistent rumors, followed by the more speculative ones.
Solid Rumors
...
iOS 27 Lets You Hide the Messages Button Everyone Hits by Mistake
If you accidentally press the dictation or voice icon after sending a text in Messages, your music may pause while your iPhone starts listening. It's a small annoyance, but a frequent one, since the dictation/audio icon sits so close to the send arrow that stray taps are almost inevitable. In iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, Apple has finally given you a way to get rid of it.
The issue is one that...
iOS 27 Speeds Up the iPhone You Already Own: Here's How
Apple has spent a good chunk of development time on its upcoming iOS 27 software update to improve the speed of your iPhone, rather than simply adding new features or AI bloat.
Apple says that app launching on iPhone and iPad is up to 30 percent faster, while photos taken on iPhone appear in iCloud Photos up to 70 percent sooner.
Not only that, AirDrop transfers are said to run up to 80...
iPhone Driver's Licenses May Soon Expand to Another US State
Driver's licenses and IDs may soon be available in Apple Wallet for iPhone and Apple Watch users living in Oklahoma. MacRumors discovered signs of an Oklahoma ID in Apple's backend.
With input from Apple, a House bill was passed in March 2026 that allows Service Oklahoma to issue mobile or digital versions of state identification cards, driver's licenses or permits – suggesting this is...
WhatsApp Rolls Out Web Calling, Call Transfer Across Devices, and More
WhatsApp has announced a handful of enhancements for group calling over the encrypted platform, including seamless call transfers across devices and a new web calling feature.
It's now possible to make and receive audio and video calls, including both one-on-one and group calls, directly from WhatsApp Web. The new browser-based service provides access to common features available on other...
Samsung Can Name Its Price on MacBook Pro OLED Panels
Apple will rely on Samsung Display exclusively for the OLED touch panels going into its redesigned MacBook Pro models, according to Korean outlet The Elec.
The 14-inch and 16-inch panels are set to be made on Samsung's 8.6-generation line at Asan, starting with an initial run of around 2.5 million units. Mass production is expected to start next month.
The report says Apple never...
5 Reasons to Buy a MacBook Air Now Instead of Waiting
Apple's next MacBook Air is several months away, but if you've been holding off on an upgrade, here's why now could actually be a good time to buy.
The Current Air is the Best Value Mid-Tier Mac
The M5 MacBook Air starts at $1,299 following Apple's recent $200 price hike, but Amazon is already knocking $100 off, bringing it down to $1,199. The base model's 16GB of RAM means it's no longer...
WhatsApp Rolls Out Redesigned Message Bubbles for iOS
WhatsApp is rolling out a new design for message bubbles on iOS, reports WaBetaInfo.
Old design (left) vs. new design (Image: WaBetaInfo)
The platform's message bubbles are rounder than before with a softer shape – similar to iMessage – while shared media files appear without the original borders, giving them a cleaner look.
The message bubble update follows several Liquid...
6 Display Upgrades Coming With Apple's Redesigned MacBook Pro
Apple is expected to give the MacBook Pro its biggest redesign in years with a next-generation model rumored to arrive in early 2027. The overhaul is expected to include a thinner design, Apple's next-generation M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a Dynamic Island replacing the notch, and support for touchscreen input for the first time on a Mac.
Here's a closer look at six features of the new displays ...
MacBook Ultra OLED Touch Panel to Be Exclusively Supplied by Samsung
Apple will exclusively rely on Samsung Display for the production of OLED touch panels for its redesigned upcoming MacBook Pro models, according to a new report from Korea-based The Elec.
Citing industry sources, the publication says that the 14-inch and 16-inch panels will be produced at Samsung's 8.6-generation OLED line at Asan, in Korea's South Chungcheong Province. The estimated initial ...
