I’ve been using Macs since I was a teenager.
Age 19, I got to use one of the first Macs ever in the U.K. (at a lab in the Open University, where my dad worked).
In the early 1990s, I brought my Mac Classic in a suitcase when I moved to the United States. I soon replaced it with a “wicked fast” Mac IIfx.
Later, I had one of the first Bondi blue iMacs when I worked at MacWeek.
I haven’t used every Mac under the sun, of course, but I’ve had my hands on a fair few — and the current lineup is arguably the best that’s ever been.
The industrial design is just plain gorgeous, and has corrected many of the major faults of the past: flaky butterfly keyboards, paltry ports and the touchy Touch Bar. Even beloved MagSafe charging is back!
Plus, Apple silicon is running rings around everyone, which makes even an entry-level machine like my M2 MacBook Air an extremely capable computer.
But wait! Next year’s machines are going to blow even today’s lineup out of the water. 2026 may be the best year ever to buy a new Mac, and here is why.
Also in today’s newsletter:
My old roommate was chronically late, so he purposely set his alarm clock 10 minutes early. Comically, it fooled him every single morning. Here’s the modern version of that trick.
There are some real gems on Apple TV (The Studio, Foundation, early seasons of Slow Horses) — and the slate of upcoming shows looks like there’s gonna be a few more next year.
It’s well worth tweaking this Haptic Touch setting on your iPhone to speed things up a notch.
And again, Happy New Year to all! We’re taking a break tomorrow, but check back Friday for some great New Year’s resolutions posts!
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
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A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
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One more thing ...
Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything.
Today’s poll
Are you intrigued by a touchscreen MacBook Pro?
Results from yesterday’s poll: What Apple product are you most looking forward to in 2026?
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